Community Issues
This section will list the community issues and actions as they emerge during consultations. As the consultations progress, we will have clearer information about issues that concern you about Heacham
However, in the meantime, these are some of the issues the Parish Council have received comments/complaints on in the past.
Community Buildings & Services
Currently the Parish Council runs its services for Heacham from three separate building (two rented, one owned). In April 2018 a consultation was undertaken by the Parish Council to seek residents support for consolidating these into one central, easily accessible building on the Old Dairy Site on the corner of High Street/Pound Lane. This will be designed to provide a core asset for the Village and offer residents a flexible one-stop community hub for information and services.
The consultation sought views on two possible options:
- Demolish the existing premises and build a one-storey facility further into the site (ie. not on the same footprint as the current building), which would providine space for car parking to the front with access from the High Street.
or
- Retain and redesign the existing two-storey Old Dairy premises with one-storey extension to the rear and High Street sides. This would maintain the High Street scene and providing car parking behind the building with access from Pound Lane.
A total of 593 votes were cast (a 26% return), the majority of which were in favour of retention of the existing building (388 to retain, 196 to demolish).
The result of this consultation will be used as evidence as policies for the Neighbourhood Plan are drafted, particularly in relation to the style and type of buildings in any new developments within the village.
Housing
We are unable to stop further development in the village, but how would you like to see this development managed, in terms of sites, size and design of buildings?
Come along to the Consultation Day on Saturday 7th July and let us have your views
Public Transport
What are your views on public transport provision in the village?
Infrastructure
What do you think are the key issues Heacham faces with relation to infrastructure (roads/traffic, power, communications, water/sewage, waste etc)?
Energy
Issues relating use of energy, and how we can improve/reduce this
Access
Issues relating to access – buildings, pedestrian footways and cycle ways
Community Spirit
How can Heacham build healthy community spirit and sustainability
Open Spaces
How can we increase/improve the open spaces within the village?
Any Other Issues?
Please tell us if you have other issues not mentioned so far, that will concern the Heacham over the coming 20 years.
Local Employment
What are the issues facing our residents in relation to the availability, or lack of, local employment?
Flooding – village & coastal
What do you think Heacham will need in order to manage issues relating to flood prevention/protection over the coming years
Heacham needs affordable housing, but it also needs good transport links so that people that liver here can travel to work safely as there is not enough employment in the local area that is not seasonal. The drains and sewers probably need overhauling due to extreme weather namely large amounts of rainfall all in one go that means surface flooding is becoming more of a problem. The community building planned for the old dairy needs to be built so there is somewhere that local groups can use alongside those already available in the village. It would be great if the old railway line could be opened up for cyclists and walkers going both ways to Hunstanton and also to Snettisham. The Doctors surgery is brilliant but needs more doctors especially if more housing is built and with an ageing population.
Thanks for your comments Mrs Pike. We will make sure they are added in to those we receive at the Consultation Day, which will be used to develop the Vision and Objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan.
Having just received my Heacham Newsletter, I have read about the landowners “offering” land for redevelopment, and some of the sites look totally unacceptable. The sites which are of particular concern, 1, Ref 182, apart from the fact that 30 dwellings is far too many, and as the lands slopes up to the A149, then putting 4 bedroom houses would be looking over residents of Hunstanton Rd of which I am one of them. Another concern is that the only thing between Heacham and Hunstanton is the roundabout. We need housing association houses in the village. The other concern is Ref H177 which is directly opposite my house, and will inevitably be second homes for golfers. We DO need housing, but for people who NEED somewhere to live not just for greedy landowners to make huge profits.
Thank you for your comments Anne – please be assured they will be fed into the consultation. One message that is coming through is, while there is a need for additional housing in Heacham, residents are clear that Heacham is, and should remain, a village, and that there should be clear open space between Heacham and Hunstanton, and Heacham and other neighbouring Parishes. The Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire, will explore these views further.