Letters on Burnham Overy Staithe Tower Windmill, council tax bills in South Wootton and Downham Market’s public toilets
Letters on Burnham Overy Staithe Tower Windmill, council tax bills in South Wootton and Downham Market’s public toilets…
Contempt shown for North Norfolk
The National Trust is a major landowner along the North Norfolk coast. It is therefore disappointing that it continues to attract controversy with its decision making, management style and its relationship to those who live and work here.
The Grade II Burnham Overy Staithe Tower Windmill is a significant landmark which can be seen for miles in all directions. It has stood the test of time, being built in 1816. It has a prominent position in the North Norfolk Coast National Landscape.
It is ironic, however, that current custodians The National Trust have allowed it to fall into disrepair.
The Mill was fully restored in 1957, and then gifted to the trust in 1958, along with a significant sum of money to pay for its continued upkeep for a period of time. Over the years the sails have been replaced several times and repairs completed. The Windmill, with all its workings removed, could sleep up to 20 over six stories. It served families and youth groups .
However, a planning application has been submitted to West Norfolk Council to remove the stocks and sails, the first floor walkway and the fantail platform.
To store these safely (on site) and make the building weathertight, ceilings, insulation and partition walls will be removed.
The Trust’s plan is to then leave it ‘whilst future uses are considered’.
None of the application documents or schedule of works detail any proposals to repair or reinstate these items.
The application simply proposes to ‘dismantle, store and leave’. The application effectively legitimises the decision not to invest in this building.
A vague timescale is given of five years, but it seems that could be the timescale allowed for decision making - not reinstating the wooden structures or sails.
The National Trust have in the past looked willing to continue to invest in it as a holiday let. In 2016 a planning application was approved to make internal alterations to enlarge the kitchen but the work was never started.
At that time, ‘The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings’ strongly recommended that stock clamps were fitted but this was never done.
The current application gives reason for the necessary removal of the stocks and sails as ‘due to the lack of stock clamps and thus potential damage to the windshaft and curb at times of high wind’.
The National Trust seem to portray themselves as the victims in this saga. As if this 200-year-old building has suddenly and unexpectedly degraded.
None of this is unexpected. It was back in 2019 that the fantail was removed. The National Trust knew then that major works would be needed.
Instead, the National Trust have largely ignored this problem.
Having now left the windmill unoccupied and unused for over five years, their only investment is to engage experts to plan the dismantling of the building.
The National Trust have spectacularly failed to manage and maintain this asset.
The Grade II*listed Tower Windmill is just another National Trust mismanaged asset in North Norfolk. With battles at Brancaster Harbour, Stiffkey (with its marsh bridge) and Morston, the National Trust’s lack of engagement and unwillingness to invest in the future of this landmark asset, shows contempt for all those who know and love the North Norfolk coast.
Holly Smith
Burnham Thorpe
My council tax bill is not very transparent
The horribly huge council tax bills are landing but don't tell you much.
My bill contains a charge for "special expenses" but doesn't explain what it’s for.
I have emailed my district councillor to ask but don't you think it should be on the paperwork?
Not very transparent is it? And the leaflet is hardly written in plain English.
Arthur Lee
South Wootton
Brave Jackie lost her fight with cancer
At the West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association annual meeting, held at Wimbotsham and Stow Village Hall, the Board of Trustees sadly bade farewell to Kate Miles after many years. Her equestrian knowledge will be greatly missed.
Another loss was Jackie Westrop, of Downham, who died on February 16, aged 68, after a long battle with cancer. Jackie’s specialism was writing grant applications, with great success and her expertise in this area will be very hard to replace.
The board welcomed five new trustees: Mandi Bailey, Chris Bailey, Zoe Harris, Holly Mason and Catherine Robson, and meetings will be held in the coming weeks to apportion their roles.
Tea With a Pony sessions resume on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm-3pm at the Magpie Centre, Wallington Hall, South Runcton PE33 0EP. Cost is £6 per person. Call the Magpie Centre on 01553 810202 to book. This activity is suitable for individuals and/or groups of up to 30 people. Come and join us for tea and cakes in the Sensory Garden and meet one of our lovely ponies.
The venue is wheelchair-accessible, and tea is served in a marquee in bad weather.
And for group organisers looking for a speaker, call Caroline Dudley on 01553 828935 to arrange a suitable date.
Caroline Dudley
WNRDA publicity officer
Why have our toilets still not been fixed?
Might I enquire why Downham's public toilets still remain fenced off when the projected and advertised conclusion for the refurbishment was last September.
Forgive the sarcasm but had I been waiting for a plumber to come and mend my loo at home for six months I might have had a sense of humour failure by now.
Perhaps those who know could scupper the rumour in town that these three simple toilets have a budget of hundreds of thousands to get them fixed. Can we have some truth and clarity here? Hundreds of thousands of pounds for three lavatories?
Steve Mackinder
Denver
Let me set the record straight on my visit
Lynn Hubbard wrote into Lynn News on March 7 referring to my letter in Viewpoint quite erroneously about councillors’ surgeries in Downham's Saturday Market.
Please let me put the record right.
Firstly, the lady was wrong about me speaking to what she assumed were Downham Town Councillors!
South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy courteously and admirably told me there were no Labour members on that authority, endorsing my perception that the open air surgery had two Socialist members from further afield in Norfolk.
Ms Hubbard you should know that people go to MPs on local issues as well as national ones. Some MPs have a councillor in attendance for consultation, if not, they devolve.
As for the comment I was having a dig at the market overall; to the contrary I am a proven defender of this town asset and I have written letters in Viewpoint exposing incompetence at Downham Town Council in their meddlings on business issues.
When people vote in local elections, national matters inevitably feature.
Lynn, you have taken me out of context in your assessments and I will not dignify you with a detailed response over your use of the crass word "diatribe", but I will politely invite you to research your arguments when you correspond.
David Fleming
Downham
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