Sandringham Estate moves diggers on roadside verges as part of renovations

Sandringham estate is undergoing redevelopment changes due to an increase in visitors and vehicles.

The Lynn News has already reported that changes to the pathways leading to the visitor centre had upset some going to the park, claiming that it made it further for disabled and elderly people to walk.

Now the estate says it is working to encourage vehicles to park in designated spaces to preserve the grassed areas as an “important part of the landscape”.

This has seen diggers moving on to the verges that line the B1440 past the entrance to the estate and Park House. This is a popular spot for locals and those from further away to park up and picnic throughout the year.

But a spokeswoman for Sandringham said the grassed areas have become significantly eroded over time due to an increasing number of vehicles parking on them.

This would also maintain “reasonable access for visitors”.

Such work forms part of a wider development of the visitor centre and car parks.

The spokeswoman added: “The estate is in the process of developing a new visitor pedestrian route from the car parks to the shop, cafe and new ticket office.

“Various options are being explored with a view to creating one central arrival point for visitors.

“We recognise the current route is slightly further from the car parks and this will be taken into consideration as the plan develops, with priority given to the positioning of the disabled car parking spaces.

“We are not able to comment further at present.”

It is believed a two-hour meeting was held with estate staff this week outlining a number of new proposals for the estate.

However, introducing parking charges for those visiting the park was not one of them, contrary to rumours that have been circulating locally.

It is believed a new website for the estate should be unveiled in the next few weeks.

A concerned visitor to the park told us: “It appears they are blocking off all the left side as you head from the bypass to the visitor centre. You always see people parked up in the sunshine, sitting on chairs.”

Prince Charles took over the running of the estate from his father Prince Philip last year and is reported to have ambitious plans to turn the 20,000-acre estate into the country’s leading organic sheep farm with up to 15,000 sheep.