GREAT MASSINGHAM 
PARISH COUNCIL

Playground Redevelopment – Have Your Say!

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The Parish Council is supporting exciting plans to redevelop the children’s playground behind the

Village Hall. The aim is to create a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable space for children of all ages to play.  

We’re inviting residents to help shape the design by completing a short survey.

Your views will help ensure the new playground reflects the needs of our whole community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREAT MASSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL - JUNE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

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The Parish Council meeting began at 7.30pm on Monday 16th June, with five Parish Councillors in

attendance, eight members of the public along with Borough Councillor Alistair Beales and

County Councillor Stuart Dark.

 

Parish Council Finance Update

The Parish Council's annual accounts for the year ending 31st March 2024, along with the internal

audit report, are available to view on the Parish Council website.

Because the Council’s income or expenditure exceeded £25,000 during the 2023/24 financial year, we are required to complete and submit Form 3 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) to our external auditor, PKF Littlejohn LLP.

In line with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Local Audit (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 2015, and the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities, the Parish Council must publish a number of key documents on a publicly accessible website.

These include:

• Annual Internal Audit Report

• Section 1: Annual Governance Statement

• Section 2: Accounting Statements

• Bank Reconciliation

• Analysis of Variances

• The Notice of the Period for the Exercise of Public Rights

We remain committed to transparency and welcome any interest or questions from parishioners regarding our financial management.

 

Drive Safe: Supporting Older Drivers in Norfolk

Norfolk County Council’s Road Safety Team, alongside Norfolk Police, Fire & Rescue, and the

Ambulance Service, has launched a ‘Drive Safe’ campaign to help older residents continue driving safely for longer.

With 25% of Norfolk’s population now over 65, and a higher-than-average healthy life expectancy, the ability to drive safely remains an important part of independent living. However, a recent survey revealed that 81% of older drivers didn’t know where to find support for safe driving.

The campaign encourages drivers to:

• Be aware of changes in health that may affect driving

• Talk openly with family or professionals about driving ability

• Take proactive steps to maintain safe driving habits

One valuable initiative is the GOLD course, a free, one-hour on-road session with an approved driving instructor. It offers practical, tailored advice to help drivers build confidence and refresh their skills.

So far, over 2,000 people have accessed the new resources online, and 70 have registered for workshops.

To find out more or to access resources, visit: www.norfolk.gov.uk/drivesafe

 

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service offers free home fire safety visits to residents who are over 65 or have a disability that could make it harder to react to a fire. These visits include a safety check of the home, advice on reducing fire risks, and assistance with creating an escape plan. For eligible individuals, smoke alarms may also be fitted free of charge. 

To arrange a free home fire safety visit:

• Online: Complete the online home fire safety check on the Norfolk County Council website. 

• Phone: Contact Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service at 0300 123 1669. 

During the visit:

• A representative from the fire service will visit your home to assess fire risks. 

• They will provide tailored advice on how to reduce fire hazards. 

• They will help you develop a fire escape plan. 

• If needed, they may install smoke alarms and heat detectors for free. 

 

New Noticeboards and Millennium Bench

We’re pleased to share that, following the granting of planning permission, two new larger noticeboards will be installed in the village shortly. One will be dedicated to Parish Council notices, while the other will serve as a community board for local events, announcements, and public information. These new boards will offer improved visibility and more space for important updates.

In addition, the existing Millennium bench will be replaced with a new, sturdier version. A dedicated plaque will be installed to commemorate the Millennium in a meaningful and lasting way.

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New Dog Waste Bins to Be Installed

As part of continued efforts to keep our village clean and pleasant for everyone, the Parish Council will be installing two new dog waste bins in the coming weeks.

The new bins will be located at:

• The junction of Weasenham Road and Station Road

• Along Abbey Road, in a convenient spot for walkers and dog owners

These additional bins aim to encourage responsible dog ownership and help reduce waste left in public spaces. We kindly remind all dog walkers to clean up after their pets and make use of the bins provided.

Thank you for helping us maintain a tidy and welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike.

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Next Meeting: The next Parish Council meeting will be held in the Village Hall on 21st July at 7.30pm.  Members of the public are very welcome to attend the meeting and there is an opportunity to make comments or ask questions of the Council during the first part of the meeting.

 

Please note that the Parish Council will not respond to posts on social media and would ask that any comments, complaints or compliments be directed to the Clerk via the contact details provided. 

 

To contact the Clerk, Sarah Harvey you can telephone 01328 823391, email gmparishclerk@gmail.com or write to Byanoak, Leicester Road, South Creake, NR21 9PW. 

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Parish Council Votes to Support Pub and Village Hall Parking Solutions

At the recent Parish Council meeting, members reviewed the results of the Parking Consultation,

which saw 113 parishioners respond—representing 14.3% of eligible residents. A proposal was put forward to assume that the remaining 85% (680 parishioners) were either uninterested or indifferent to the issue. On this basis, a vote was held on whether to pursue the most supported solutions from the consultation: to support and promote the existing parking allocations behind both the pub and the village hall. The proposal received seven votes in favor. The Parish Council will now move forward with this initiative in line with the consultation findings.

 

The consultation was made available to every household in the village via The Mallard and was also available to access online to complete.  The consultation concluded on 31st October, 2024.  Here is a summary of Consultation Results. 

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1.    Should the Parish Council Take Action to Address/Manage Parking in the Centre of the Village?
•    Yes – something should be done: 61.9% 
•    Maybe/not sure – I would like to know more about the options available.: 21.2%
•    No – keep the current arrangements: 16.8% 

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2.    Should There Be Restrictions on Parking on the Greens or Other Spaces in the Village? 
•    Yes: 58.4%
•    No: 26.5%
•    Maybe/not sure – I would like some further information: 15.0% 

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3.    Support for Specific Parking Solutions 
•    Allow parking on the Greens in specific areas: 36.3% 
•    Allow parking on the green during specific times of the day/week: 4.4% 
•    Allow parking on the Greens and install matting and signage to support this – up to 20 spaces (at a cost): 7.1% 
•    Allow parking on the main Greens only for specific events: 23.9% 
•    Restrict or ban parking on the green in front of the Pub and install a low-level fence: 15.9% 
•    Restrict or ban parking on ALL Greens and install a low-level fence: 18.6% 
•    Restrict or ban parking on the MAIN Greens and install a low-level fence: 28.3% 
•    Create better parking solutions on the highway/local roads: 29.2% 
•    Support/promote the current parking allocation in the Village Hall: 77.0% 
•    Support/promote the current parking allocation behind the pub: 79.7%

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