Norfolk Live, Norwich (2025)

02/06/2025

A man who stole pedal bikes from multiple locations across King’s Lynn has been sentenced.

John-Bruce Miller, aged 41, of Goodwins Road, King's Lynn was variously spotted by witnesses or seen on CCTV stealing bikes which were locked up at different locations including at the College of West Anglia and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

He admitted to multiple charges comprising four counts of stealing a pedal cycle, one count of attempting to steal a pedal cycle, possession of an article for use in theft (namely bolt croppers), and a further count of being in possession of a pedal cycle without proof of ownership.

The latter charge put him in breach of a four-year Criminal Behaviour Order issued by Cambridge Magistrates Court on 20 April 2021.

While on remand Miller engaged with Operation Converter which further investigated. As a result of evidence put to him Miller admitted to a further 12 offences 11 of which were committed in and around Kings Lynn between 15 and 18 of March this year, with one taking place in Cambridge.

The additional offences were taken into consideration (TIC'd) by the court at sentencing. In a written statement he said he had stolen to feed his drug habit and was sorry.

At King's Lynn Magistrates court on Thursday (29 May) Miller was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay compensation to six victims.

Duncan Etchells, staff supervisor for Op Converter said: "Miller now has the threat of a six month jail term hanging over him.

"We hope this acts as a wake-up call encouraging him to seek the help he clearly needs and take the opportunity to turn his life around.”

01/06/2025

New powers could come into force in parts of a Norfolk town to tackle unscrupulous landlords and poor housing conditions.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is considering expanding a selective licensing scheme, which will introduce stricter rules for 5,000 privately rented homes.

Three wards targeted by the project include Nelson, Cobholm and Southtown and Central and Northgate – areas that are among the most deprived in England.

It follows a previous scheme launched in 2019, which focused solely on Nelson ward and generated £94,839 in fines paid by landlords to the council in the first three years.

The new powers, lasting for five years, would give the council the ability to better tackle health hazards, overcrowding, poor heating and insulation. It will allow for more property inspections.

This will be paid for through a £784 licence fee for landlords operating in the three wards and it will not be allowed to generate a profit.

Paul Wells, cabinet member for environment and licensing at GYBC, said: ‘’Most landlords are good ones, and want to provide good-quality homes, but sadly not all are. It is not acceptable that they get away with providing sub-standard accommodation for the people of the borough.

“We will be better able to tackle health hazards and overcrowding, which is a real problem for some of our residents.

‘’Where necessary, we could refuse to issue a licence and hold people accountable. We know the majority of landlords want to do the best they can for tenants, and we want to better engage with them and agents to ensure people have good housing.’’

While the move aims to better the lives of renters, the scheme has been criticised by Paul Cunningham, chairman of the Eastern Landlords Association.

He believes landlords will be forced to increase rents to cover the additional costs and has called it a “money-grabbing exercise” for the council.

It follows criticism of the pilot project in Nelson ward, with landlords complaining of big fines for not handing in the correct documents on time.

He said: “This is nothing more than a money-grabbing exercise to boost the coffers.

“The Renters Rights Act will cover all housing matters in any event and this is just duplication for the sake of it.

“GYBC fail to realise again that all this scheme does is alienate local landlords, who have a poor relationship with them already.

“The costs will mean rents increase and more landlords will sell up, meaning the shortage of properties to rent increases.”

Nelson, Central and Northgate and Southtown and Cobholm are among the top 20pc most deprived communities in England, according to a council report.

Compared to the rest of the borough, these areas have significantly higher levels of crime.

Of all the 9,809 crimes committed in the borough in the month of February, 56pc occurred in the three wards.

Privately rented properties in the three wards also have higher rates of hazards, excess cold conditions and disrepair than in other areas.

A feasibility study to support the selective licensing scheme also found there is a growing problem of overcrowding in privately rented properties in Great Yarmouth, with officers receiving 112 complaints in the last three years.

A recent report by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) found private rental housing in Yarmouth is in “poor condition” compared to England as a whole.

The study said 18pc of private rented properties contain one or more ‘Category 1’ hazards compared with an average of 12pc in the rest of the country.

Poor housing conditions can lead to a range of health issues, including respiratory diseases, mental health problems and social isolation.

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📸 Empty shops in Great Yarmouth's high street (Credit: Owen Sennitt via LDRS)

01/06/2025

Plans to double the size of a service station on the Norfolk border are set to be approved.

Officers at South Norfolk Council have recommended its planning committee give the green light to the proposals at a meeting next week.

The bid to expand Gillingham Services, off the roundabout between the A146 and A143 Norwich Road, includes a new M&S shop and a Greggs drive-through.

The current services include a petrol station, McDonald’s, KFC and Starbucks.

South Norfolk Council has received dozens of objections from locals who have concerns about the scheme, including fears about increased noise and light pollution as well as heavy traffic in the area.

The proposed development includes a farm shop, electric vehicle charging hub, and six other trade units, as well as the Greggs and M&S outlets.

The plans also include a battery energy storage system (BESS) but few details are known about its design and scale at this stage.

It is expected that the development will create around 115 new full-time jobs.

In a report to councillors, officers acknowledged concerns but said the development would provide “overriding” economic and social benefits.

The application will be determined on June 4.

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📸Gillingham services (Credit: Google Maps via LDRS)

31/05/2025

Plans have emerged for a huge solar farm spanning 230 acres of Norfolk farmland.

Development firm Exagen has lodged proposals for the new renewables site, called Warren Wood Energy Park, off Aylsham Road in Cawston.

The designs include the new solar panels as well as a battery energy storage system (BESS) and substation.

It is the latest in a series of controversial proposals for huge solar farms to have emerged in recent months, covering thousands of acres of agricultural fields across Norfolk.

The plans in Cawston span 230 acres of land between Aylsham Road and Holt Road, neighboured by a large area of woodland.

These designs will be considered and determined by Broadland Council.

However, some of the bigger solar farms proposed for Norfolk will be determined by the secretary of state, rather than following the normal planning process.

These include a development Gissing, where a site estimated at 5,000 acres is proposed, as well as the 4,000-acre High Grove solar farm on five sites between Castle Acre and Dereham.

There are also plans for East Pye, which will cover 2,700 acres around several villages near Long Stratton; the Droves, spanning 2,800 acres near Swaffham; and another Long Stratton scheme spanning roughly 2,500 acres.

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📸Site in Cawston (Credit: LDRS)

31/05/2025

Norfolk is facing an anxious wait for more rain after months of dry weather, sparking calls for urgent action to address the risks of future droughts.

Henry Cator, chairman of the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance (NSFA), said the next few weeks will be critical, with the region in desperate need of rain after one of the driest springs on record.

The east of England could follow the north east, where a drought has been officially declared and restrictions on water usage are due to come into place.

“Reservoir levels have fallen throughout the country,” Mr Cator said.

“We need an awful lot more water than what is coming out of the sky.

“While we are not in an immediate crisis after the recent rainfall the past week, we are not out of the woods yet.”

Met Office predictions forecast more rain next week, but a further dry spell is expected in the second half of June.

Warmer weather can bring thunderstorms. However, dry soil conditions create a higher risk of flash flooding as the water is not absorbed by the dry soil and it instead runs off quickly.

The Environment Agency (EA) said it is closely monitoring the implementation of water firms’ dry weather plans, working with farmers to help plan irrigation, and preparing advice to the public on small steps they can take to reduce water use.

A small number of abstraction licences – which allow for water to be taken from groundwater sources – have been stopped.

However, Anglian Water has said it has no plans for a hosepipe ban currently but it has urged people to “do their bit” and conserve water.

A spokeswoman said: “We currently have no plans for a hosepipe ban this summer, following a wet start to last winter and plenty of rain the year before.

“However, we can all do our bit to reduce how much we use, so we can manage demand for water when the weather heats up.”

Its reservoirs are about 90pc full at this time, the EA has said.

The firm hopes to install water smart meters in every home by the end of the decade to help people track their usage.

It will also invest £11bn in the region as part of its efforts to boost water security.

Anglian Water has shared top tips to help conserve water this summer:

- Leave a jug of tap water in the fridge to cool down rather than running the tap until it’s cold. Make sure you stay safe and hydrated in the heat.

- If you’ve already filled the paddling pool for the day, don’t empty it. You can save loads on your water bill by using gentle disinfectant tablets that keep the paddling pool water fresh for days of use and fun with the kids.

- If you can’t save the paddling pool for another day, make sure you reuse the water to wash the dog, the car or water the flower beds, before reaching for the hose.

- Learn to love your brown lawn – leave the sprinkler in the shed this summer. Grass is extremely hard to kill. Your lawn will soon bounce back and be vibrant and green again once the rain comes

- Use your bath or washing up water to top up your water butt to use on your plants.

- Cutting showers to just five minutes a day can help save each household an approximate 28,000 litres of water and over £100 in energy and water every year.

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📸Stock photo (Credit: Getty)

30/05/2025

Government officials have ruled a fish and chip shop can turn part of its restaurant into an Airbnb, despite new rules to limit holiday lets.

Platten’s, located on Wells Quay, appealed to the Planning Inspectorate – the department that presides over planning disputes – to rule on its plans to turn its first floor into a short-term rental accommodation.

This was due to North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) taking too long to come to a decision.

The family-run chippy, located in a Grade II-listed building on the harbour, says the first floor had become “difficult” to run as a restaurant so it had instead looked for other ways for the space to generate revenue.

Platten’s already rents out a trio of holiday properties in the town, including one on the top floor of the restaurant building.

NNDC ultimately called for the Planning Inspectorate to refuse the scheme, citing the introduction of new rules in the neighbourhood plan for Wells.

New holiday accommodation can be blocked in the town under the policy, unless it is established on an existing holiday complex.

There has been significant backlash to new short-term lets in Wells, which have been blamed for pushing up house prices and contributing to a lack of affordable housing.

But the government official ruled that, as there is an Airbnb already operating on the top floor of the property, the restaurant’s plans would comply with these rules.

The inspector also said it did not think that changing part of the restaurant into an Airbnb would affect housing supply in the town.

It was also deemed that the changes would not cause any harm to the listed building.

The inspector, therefore, approved the bid on these grounds.

Platten’s will continue to run as a fish and chip shop, operating solely from the ground floor.

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📸Platten's in Wells next the Sea (Credit: Google via LDRS)

30/05/2025

Concerns have been raised about “overcrowding” at a traveller site in a Norfolk village.

Breckland Council has issued a warning after 23 static caravans were installed at Otterwood Kennels in Saham Toney, near Shipdham.

The stop notice was handed to the landowners due to a breach of planning regulations at the site, which had temporary planning permission for one caravan.

Lisa Jay, who lives on the land with her six-year-old son, said people “should not make assumptions” and dismissed concerns about the development.

The family is seeking planning permission from Breckland Council for the caravans as well as a new bungalow, and has complied with the official notice, which requires them to stop living in the caravans.

Speaking at a recent meeting, Tina Kiddell, the local councillor for the village, described the issue as a “hot topic” in the area.

She said confusion had spread after the land was identified as a potential traveller site as part of Breckland Council’s local plan update, which will be used to guide developments in the district.

However, the council has not confirmed which sites will form part of the final plan.

Ms Kiddell added: “I’m worried about how big the caravans are and the site becoming overcrowded.

“There was no discussion with the local community about this and it seems the horse has already bolted.”

Ms Jay, who has lived at the site for more than 15 years, said the caravans had been installed to allow other family members to move onto the land.

She said: “People shouldn’t make assumptions and I am happy to speak with anyone who has concerns.

“We have complied with everything the council has told us.”

Sarah Suggitt, deputy leader of Breckland Council, said: “The temporary stop notice is currently being complied with.

“We are expecting a planning application in the next few weeks and have sought details about the land ownership and occupiers.

“We are currently looking at our next steps which could include full enforcement action.”

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📸Saham Toney travellers (Credit: Eleanor Storey via LDRS)

30/05/2025

Two men, two teenage boys and a teenage girl have been arrested following an incident in Stalham.

Officers were called at 11.40am to a physical altercation outside a supermarket on Old Market Road in Stalham yesterday (May 29).

The incident followed a verbal altercation between occupants of a vehicle and two pedestrians, a man and woman, on Ingham Road.

The two pedestrians were left with minor injuries, and a third woman also received minor injuries.

Two men in their 40s, two teenage boys and a teenage girl were arrested on suspicion of affray, questioned and bailed to appear at Great Yarmouth and Aylsham Police investigation centres on June 30, 2025.

Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with Norfolk Police.

30/05/2025

Plans have emerged for a 66-bedroom care home at the site of a former feather factory.

The proposals have been lodged with South Norfolk Council and set out designs for the new facility in Park Road, Diss.

Part of the site, which was previously home to the Norfolk Feather Factory, has already been earmarked for a new Aldi supermarket.

The latest planning application submitted by LNT Care Developments seeks permission to build a 66-bed care home and car park.

The site was occupied by Norfolk Feather Factory until 2022 when the luxury bedding firm went into liquidation.

South Norfolk Council granted planning permission for the new Aldi last year and construction is already under way to replace its current supermarket in Mere Street.

Representatives for Tesco objected to the application at the time, claiming the site should not be used for food retail, according to planning policy, and that the council had failed to consider issues arising from the closure of Aldi’s existing town centre store.

However, planning officials reassured councillors that the town centre would remain “relatively vital and viable” regardless of whether the Mere Street store closed down.

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📸Norfolk Feather Factory, Diss (Credit: Google Maps)

30/05/2025

A new swimming pool is on its way in a Norfolk town after councillors agreed plans for the £11m project.

Fakenham’s sports and fitness centre in Trap Lane expansion will now progress after North Norfolk District Council’s development committee unanimously approved the scheme.

As well as a 25m pool, other elements of the project include refurbished exercise studios, a 55-station fitness suite and new changing areas.

It is made possible thanks to government funding, confirmed last year by Labour, having been first proposed by the former Conservative administration.

The approval of the plans will mean people living in Fakenham will again be able to swim in the town after the previous pool closed in 2014.

At a meeting this week, Christopher Cushing, a Fakenham Conservative councillor, said: “News that Fakenham will get a new pool has been received enthusiastically by the majority of the town.

“It is the best form of exercise.”

During the debate, councillor Angie Fitch-Tillett, also praised the project, highlighting that Norfolk had some of the highest rates of drownings last year in the country.

She said: “We have more water than anywhere else. It is absolutely vital that people learn to swim.”

The eco-friendly elements of the project were also praised by councillor Adam Varley.

“It is fantastic to see what we are doing with our future estates,” he said.

While there has been a huge amount of support for the pool, Fakenham’s town brass band has previously complained about the project.

The pavilion, where the band used to rehearse, will be demolished to make way for the project, which upset some members.

Sports England also raised concerns that a cricket pitch will be lost through the development.

But ultimately, councillors voted unanimously for the plans to go ahead.

A 3G pitch will also be developed and will be able to offer an all-weather outdoor sports facility but this is subject to a separate application.

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📸What the new leisure centre in Fakenham could look like (Credit: NNDC)

30/05/2025

City Hall has finally revealed how much it paid for the Anglia Square shopping centre.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the LDRS has found Norwich City Council purchased the site for £5.6m.

The authority was awarded a total of £34m in government funding to cover this sum, as well as the cost of demolishing the existing buildings.

Now, after years of failed attempts to redevelop the site, it is finally empty and ready for work to start.

Anglia Square was bought by asset management company Columbia Threadneedle for £7.5m in 2014 and approved plans for the site included up to 1,100 new homes, plus office, retail and leisure space.

However, the scheme was suddenly scrapped last year after its private developers said it was no longer financially viable.

Norwich City Council purchased the site from Columbia Threadneedle using a grant from Homes England, the government agency to promote affordable housing.

Previously, the council said the cost of the site could not be revealed, due to “commercial sensitivity”.

The £5.625m paid was made up entirely of Homes England funding.

The new detail has emerged just days after Anglia Square was transformed into a ghost town, with traders being moved into new homes ahead of demolition works starting.

Norwich City Council recently unveiled its designs for a new box park under the Magdalen Street flyover. Existing Anglia Square businesses will be offered a space there when it is built, or an alternative location in the city.

However, the box park – a food and retail centre made out of refitted shipping containers – cannot be built until planning permission is granted. The council has found temporary locations for traders in the meantime.

It is hoped that the 40ft and 20ft shipping containers will be installed in the Magdalen Street Car Park off St Saviour’s Lane, and the council plans to commission local artists to install murals to brighten up the boxes.

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📸 Anglia Square (Credit: LDRS)

29/05/2025

Emergency services were on scene after reports an assault took place at a supermarket car park in Stalham this morning (May 29).

Officers were called at 11.40am to a physical altercation outside a supermarket on Old Market Road in Stalham.

The incident followed a verbal altercation between occupants of a vehicle and two pedestrians, a man and woman, on Ingham Road.

The two pedestrians were left with minor injuries, and a third woman also received minor injuries.

Four men and one woman have been arrested on suspicion of affray and taken to Police Investigation Centres around the county for questioning.

Enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with Norfolk Police.

Norfolk Live

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