Home   News   Article A boost of more than £1,000 from a supermarket initiative will help a town’s heritage centre add to its attractions Discover Downham will receive £1,500 from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme and the money will be spent on its new children's area with tablets/digital displays allowing visitors of all ages to explore the history of Downham its legends and wildlife in an interactive way based in the old fire station at Priory Road adding to the library so children can read and borrow historical books both fiction and educational and is updating the children’s historical dressing-up options with information about how fashions have changed over time Importantly for younger children and neurodivergent visitors there will be sensory mats and toys available said: “This award from Tesco enables these upgrades which will benefit the local children schools and local youth groups who visit our museum as well as visitors to the town It will be an asset to our local community and we look forward to welcoming visitors both old and new.” Find out more about the centre at: www.discoverdownham.org.uk To boost funds for extra food and activity equipment Tesco has introduced a £5m grant programme to give children across the UK a stronger start in life The grants will help schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing Tesco’s Stronger Starts was previously Tesco Bags of Help and Tesco Community Grants - has already provided more than £115 million to more than 65,000 projects across Britain Click here to read Your Local Paper & Lynn News e-editions A 33-year-old accused of committing several outbuilding burglaries and stealing thousands of pounds worth of machinery will face trial appeared briefly at King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where it was confirmed he will face trial at Norwich Crown Court Hodgkins is accused of four counts of burglary other than dwelling in Downham Market The thefts were all thought to have taken place between Friday Hodgkins is accused of taking tools and machinery worth £10,000 from one unit and chainsaws worth £1,000 from another He is also accused of stealing tools from two other units worth £311 and £188 entered no plea at his appearance at the King’s Lynn court but it was confirmed he will face trial at Norwich Crown Court on May 29 He was released on conditional bail with orders not to enter Norfolk Enter a location to help give the most relevant search result for you Clear Former Pophams head baker Dan Frazer and Downham Market local Lucy Peacock have been delighting residents since setting up shop on the Market Place in 2024 Pophams fans might recognise the maple-bacon swirls the rosemary sea salt twists and the seasonal Danishes but there's plenty more to intrigue and delight – including damson iced buns Hawaiian pain suisse and sourdough loaves spiked with spelt If you’ve waited in the line snaking out onto the street a warm welcome awaits – so we suggest grabbing a seat at the communal table to savour it all 11 Market PlaceDownham MarketNorfolk PE38 9DFGB View opening times Chester brings a distinctive flair to the dining scene in Cheshire with a growing number of restaurants that balance creativity From bold Mediterranean flavours to plant-led plates and modern British cooking Ahead of the next instalment of our Claridge’s Supper Series we caught up with Elly Wentworth from The Angel The South Hams boasts some of the most beautiful stretches of the English coastline with fertile farmland stretching from sea-sprayed headlands to steep rolling pasture and cool It’s home to a fiercely local food and drink scene and .. Samantha Miller and Jane Baxter’s eccentrically located restaurant  brings people together in a shared table format Here’s a light summer recipe to bring to your dining table Have we seen the last gasp of late night London Critic and Good Food Guide columnist Jimi Famurewa doesn't think so Some of the best restaurants in the city will still seat you come 10pm Bangkok Diners Club began life as District a Thai fusion tasting menu restaurant on nearby Oldham Street that attracted plaudits from local and national press before closing in 2022 due to financial difficulties.  few things are as uncomfortable as having to hurriedly recalibrate opinions about a formerly wholehearted recommendation I excitedly dragged my wife along for a very late Restaurant Index Our website uses cookies to improve your experience and personalise content. Cookies are small files placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to improve your experience of a website, gather reporting information and show relevant advertising. You can allow all cookies or manage them for yourself. You can find out more on our cookies page any time These cookies are needed for essential functions such as signing in and making payments These cookies help us optimise our website based on data Using these cookies we will know which web pages customers enjoy reading most and what products are most popular A 36-year-old who kicked and damaged a front door claimed he was trying to save a young family member from “paedophiles” to appear at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday He admitted causing criminal damage under the value of £5,000 as well as having cocaine and cannabis in his possession Castleton went to an address in Downham after hearing that the teenage family member was in the property Castleton was not arrested for the offence until April 14 when officers found that he had both the Class A and Class B drugs in his possession Castleton admitted kicking the door down - and said his reason was to “save the child from paedophiles” Castleton had a total of 88 previous offences to his name, many of which are for possession of drugs or for threatening behaviour. explained to the court that Castleton had received a photo from someone of the child “cuddled up” with an older boy He accepted kicking the door - he wanted to get the child out of the property,” Ms Johnson said Castleton breached a community order previously placed on him Magistrates opted to leave the order running and also handed him a 12-week prison sentence He was ordered to pay £770 in compensation to the Downham resident whose door he kicked Home   Whats On   Article A community event will let people find out about hobbies and volunteering opportunities in their town Downham Town Council is hosting a community fair on Saturday It is a chance for local groups and charities to promote their community services and activities to residents and visitors to Downham This event is the ideal opportunity to find out about new hobbies or volunteer in and around the town This is a completely free event for both the public to attend and for organisations to have a space A new healthcare facility and pharmacy will be built in Downham after being given the green light West Norfolk Council has granted planning permission for the Willows Pharmacy to relocate into the old social club on Paradise Road - which is around three times larger The current pharmacy is said to have “insufficient capacity” to deal with the more than 6,500 patients currently registered there The new healthcare centre is expected to improve access for patients provide three consulting rooms and an automatic 24-hour medication dispenser and incorporate the NHS’s ‘Pharmacy First’ initiative a Downham-based planning agent acting on behalf of applicant Dr Ardeshir Danesh told the Lynn News that he received more than 600 letters or signatures of support after hosting a number of drop-in sessions to gain public opinion last year A report from borough council planning officers said: “The proposal includes some alteration of the existing building including demolition and a small extension to the front of the principle elevation “Amended plans were submitted during the course of the application to lessen the impact on the listed wall to the front of the site “These amendments removed the additional vehicular access which was proposed but included a pedestrian access on the western side of the site from Paradise Road and adjacent to Old Brewery Lane.” It adds: “The proposal is for a pharmacy and associated consulting rooms which will have the impact of bringing customers/clients to the site and therefore the potential for noise and disturbance which could be started again would also have had a similar impact “The application form states that the pharmacy would be open 8.30am to 6.30pm and this is acceptable in this town centre location.” Downham Town Council supported the application stating the pharmacy will be beneficial to residents in an accessible location but will form part of an integrated care system with the NHS and the Willows Pharmacy itself - which is currently housed within The Hollies Surgery - is said to have “outgrown” its premises Planning documents said there is “inadequate working space” for its eight staff members and roughly 6,600 patients Downham has three doctors’ surgeries - The Hollies Surgery The new pharmacy will no doubt be welcome news for residents concerned about a lack of infrastructure to cope with the amount of new houses being built in the town A woman faces years behind bars after taking nearly £10,000 from a bed-bound 81-year-old a woman who is partially blind and deaf and lives in a Downham care home admitted fraud by false representation when she appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and had also been appointed to have her power of attorney - allowing her to make decisions on her behalf Part of this arrangement allowed Midgen-Romain to control her bank card purchasing necessities and making transfers between accounts the victim realised something was wrong when she noticed £20,000 had been stolen from her home and discovered that Midgen-Romain was responsible for spending £9,512.86 without permission having held power of attorney since the start of the year Numerous newly-bought items were found in Midgen-Romain’s home many of which were still in their packaging the victim asked: “Why are people doing this to me?” Magistrates committed Midgen-Romain’s case to the crown court due to the “high impact” she has had on a “very vulnerable victim” Sentencing guidelines mean she faces a starting point of three years in jail Midgen-Romain will appear at Norwich Crown Court on February 10 to learn her fate A pre-sentence report has been requested from the probation service A town’s historic horse fair will be marked in Downham tomorrow with a parade Join Discover Downham tomorrow when St Winnold’s Parade will make its way through the town People can also find out all about St Winnold by visiting the exhibition in the Market Square from 9am-noon The parade will gather in the car park at Discover Downham People will be able to follow the parade at 9.30am as it goes around the town towards the hall Police have launched an appeal following an arson attack which caused substantial damage to a business The incident happened between 12am and 12.30am on Friday on High Street in Downham when a sofa was set alight outside the business A spokesperson for the police said no one was injured Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any relevant CCTV footage Anyone with information is asked to get in touch by phoning 101 quoting crime reference 36/24704/25 people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via its online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org A community initiative set up in response to the cost of living crisis is celebrating two years of supporting individuals and families in need of a little extra help Since Downham Solidarity Fund was launched in May 2023 by Robert Shippey and George Broughton it has provided 88 grants totalling more than £3,000 to Downham residents who need help making ends meet And the fund expects demand to continue as cuts in welfare start to bite and bills such as water Downham Solidarity Fund provides emergency cash grants of up to £40 to people living within the town who need financial support Following the mutual aid model of ‘neighbours helping neighbours’ which proved successful during the pandemic the fund is supported entirely by donations from individuals in the town’s community Robert and George said: “We know people within our community are struggling with the cost of living and falling through the cracks of the existing system.” The inspiration behind the fund came from initiatives in Cambridge London and the North East providing direct financial support while maintaining people’s dignity Robert said: “When we started two years ago But we’ve been blown away by how willing people are to help strangers in need “We’ve kept access barriers low because many don’t ask for help even when they need it By trusting people to make their own decisions this model has proved incredibly effective.” which relies solely on community support in order to help others has received donations ranging from £2 and £250 and some people have set up regular monthly contributions “Money is the mechanism we use as a society to distribute our resources This is why we believe direct cash grants are the most efficient way to support those in need,” the duo said adding: “Many charitable or institutional funders do not support projects providing direct cash grants so we have been unable to access funding that way “We rely solely on people within the community offering donations in solidarity with their neighbours Grants of between £10 and £50 have been provided with the fund adjusting the maximum grant from £50 to £40 last November in order to support more people “We don’t require people to justify their application; we trust them to judge for themselves how to meet their own needs “People tell us the grants have supported them with groceries and bills such as electricity and heating - both affected by the cost of living crisis “Others asked for support with unexpected emergencies such as vehicle repairs One person helped by the fund told the founders: “I'm gutted that things have gone backwards for us at the moment My partner is now on reduced hours whilst waiting to have an operation which is going to take him out of work for up to six weeks Once again thank you very much for your support.” The fund is asking the community to ‘think about how we can support each other’ and consider giving a one-off contribution or setting up a regular donation to help neighbours in need The fund is a community project which is run by volunteers and is fiscally hosted/sponsored by The Social Change Nest C.I.C Those making a request for help need to provide proof of address with a Downham postcode and can only make one request per month up to £40 A town council has opposed the idea of selling government-owned land situated next to a care home Downham Town Council voted to oppose West Norfolk Council’s ‘disposal of land’ situated on Clackclose Road The piece of land in question has a pathway on it and was once home to some picnic benches before they got vandalised A disposal of land means it will be sold or transferred out of the ownership of West Norfolk Council and to a private owner Cllr Ali Buxton said: “This is a green space Cllr Frank Daymond added that it is a “discharge area” and that whatever ends up going there should be placed elsewhere in the town The majority of councillors voted against it and their views will be expressed to West Norfolk Council Police have informed the family of Mary White that they have found a body at a dock after the 73-year-old went missing at the end of September Officers said the discovery was made by a member of the public at Bentinck Dock just before 11am yesterday Police and firefighters from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service have been on scene Officers said formal identification was yet to take place but Mary’s family has been informed There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner in due course Mary, 73, went missing from her home on Nelson Avenue at around 10pm on September 24 specialist search teams and members of the public undertook extensive searches of the area in a bid to find her A school’s admissions policy could be altered to combat “significant issues” with youngsters not being offered a place at their local academy Norfolk County Council and the Eastern Learning Alliance trust have jointly launched a consultation asking people to have their say on the future of Downham Academy They are proposing to change its catchment area by removing Watlington Community Primary School and Upwell Academy from its list of feeder schools Watlington pupils would be moved into the King’s Lynn Academy catchment area with Upwell and Outwell youngsters reallocated to Marshland High School the changes would be effective from September 2026 They are being touted as a way to deal with the high volume of students missing out on a place at Downham Academy with the town previously described as an “outlier” due to this huge demand A consultation on the plans was launched last week and will run until January 17 with the outcome made public by February 28 in a determination notice on the school website Documents released as part of the process say: “Through the recent annual admission rounds there have been significant issues for children living within the catchment area of Downham Market Academy not being offered places at their local school “This has been particularly evident for those living in the areas furthest from the academy the local authority has a duty to offer a school place and children are offered places at the nearest school with a place available; as a rural locality alternatives have been some distance from home addresses involving home to school transport in most cases.” The consultation is linked to proposals from Marshland High School The changes would not affect pupils already attending the Downham school •Completing the online survey via the link https://forms.office.com/e/5E4cYT4TCS • Completing the above linked form and handing it into the school office • Emailing admissionsconsultation@dma.tela.org.uk Earlier this year, the Lynn News reported that at least 30 families were set to miss out on places at the school for their children told the Lynn News that this was largely down to an increase in homes being built around Downham Home   Lifestyle   Article In our weekly All Our Yesterdays feature we look back through the pages of old editions of the Lynn News for good memories… February 2012: Campaign Care 94 handed over cheques to Norfolk Hospice Tapping House and Bob Champion Cancer Trust during its annual dinner at the Le Strange Arms Prof Colin Cooper of the Royal Marsden Hospital accepts a £4,000 cheque for the cancer trust from Ros Taylor and the hospice chief executive Richard Shaw accepts a similar amount from Shane Martins Terry Wagg (left) and Deborah Godfrey are also at the front together with Janette Champion in the centre February 2012: Tremendous community fundraising over 18 months was rewarded when SW Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss officially opened a £45,000 car park at Watlington Village Hall She is pictured here with Cyril Pike (left) the hall committee chairman and Dr Hugh Lacey who had just retired after lengthy service on Watlington Parish Council February 2012: Members of Downham Lioness Club had every reason to be pleased with their efforts after helping two worthwhile organisations with cheques totalling £700 Seated centre is Mary Dunn of East Anglian Air Ambulance and centre front are Jackie Murphy managing director of Aspires at Fincham and service user Matthew Ellis receiving a cheque from club chairman Margaret Fox February 2012: When youngsters at Wimbotsham Primary School met members of RAF Marham’s 31 Squadron who had served in Afghanistan they proudly handed over a £400 cheque for the squadron’s own fundraising challenge to support Help for Heroes Wing Cdr Jim Mulholland and Cpl Rich Johnson (right) are in the centre with the cheque February 2012: Local 60s band the Teenage Mummies reunited for a charity gig to raise funds for the Norfolk Hospice At a rehearsal are (from left) Chalkie Bowman Richard Moulton (Molly the Mummy) and Billy Easthall; at the front are Mummettes Luwanne Key and Sammie Peel February 2018: This group of community-minded people rallied to clean up Holme beach to improve conditions for wildlife and the environment More than 20 people ranging from toddlers to pensioners turned up to clear away nearly eight bin-bags full of litter from a 1km stretch of the coastline February 2013: Nine-year-old Amy Cook (right) raised £110 for the RSPCA by baking cakes and cookies and selling them to her classmates at North Wootton Community School Amy is joined by Holly Delph to show off some of the cakes on sale February 2013: What started as a joke remark about a Calendar Girls calendar resulted in £1,600 being raised for Heacham Surgery Group The ladies disrobing for what became a sell-out calendar were members of the Pocahontas Players drama group including 92-year-old May Race the “drama queen” for January February 2013: Home Start volunteers who were to be working with the families of young children in West Norfolk are pictured as they receive certificates to mark the conclusion of their 10-week training course February 2015: Staff at Sainsbury’s in Lynn town centre joined forces with the British Heart Foundation to raise £65 for the charity’s “Wear It joined by British Heart Foundation volunteer Martin Hutchinson and Ginny Symonds the BHF Lynn shop manager Looking for something a bit different to enjoy on Easter weekend Why not go along to Downham Methodist Church to enjoy a few spooky laughs Melody Allsorts of Downham (MAD'S) is staging the comedy ‘Blithe Spirit’ becomes haunted by the ghost of his first wife Elvira who has been conjured up by the eccentric medium Madame Arcati she ‘passes over’ and joins Elvira in haunting the hapless Charles “The cast is made up of both old and new members of MADS all of whom are rehearsing hard,” a spokesperson said “Please come along and support your local community drama group.” Tickets, priced at £8, are available from either No 8 The Old Bookshop in Downham or online from www.ticketsource.co.uk/melody-allsorts-of-downham MAD’s will also perform - for one-night only - an adult panto ‘Sinderella’ at Downham Town Hall on May 30 in association with Downham Market Festival Plans are in hand for Downham to make a splash in this year's national Heritage Open Day (HOD) celebrations It is developing into an exciting free community event opening up properties hidden from the public’s view and showcasing the heritage of the Georgian market town – it is taking place on Sunday The theme of this year's event is ‘architecture’ which fits in well with Downham which is affectionately known as the ’gingerbread town’ due to its many carrstone buildings said: “We hope that this event will raise the profile of Downham and we look forward to welcoming a great number of residents and visitors of all ages to make the town and surrounding area the tourist hub it deserves to be.” HOD is a week-long event and is England’s largest volunteer-led festival of history and culture organised by the National Trust Coordinated by the Discover Downham Heritage Centre with support from the Downham Town Council there will be lots for the public to see and do Alongside the venues will be a number of other attractions Visitors can enjoy a trip on a vintage bus a gingerbread guided walk around the town centre and visit Discover Downham centre to see Mike Bullen’s popular ‘Then and Now’ local photos and postcards – a fire engine will be there too Have you ever noticed there is a door in the famous town clock Town crier Ray Wales will read the Proclamation and a re-enactment group will add colour and excitement to the day There will be a trail for children to explore the town photographic and art exhibitions in the town hall celebrating the architecture of Downham Traditional crafts will be demonstrated in the town hall as well If you would like to get involved and open your building in Downham on Heritage Open Day then get in touch by email at info@discoverdownham.org.uk A new Hearing Hub is being launched in Downham Market offering a full range of services and care for the community Operated by the West Norfolk Deaf Association the new hub will offer everything from earwax removal to servicing NHS hearing aids or supplying batteries All in a one-stop-shop in the heart of the town centre The Hearing Hub will officially open for business on Monday but visitors during an open day on Saturday are welcome to make appointments for any of the clinics on offer as well as meet the team and have a look at the new facilities The new hub is almost opposite the charity’s popular No8 The Old Bookshop which has been home to the charity’s Downham hearing services previously “We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our new Hearing Hub - it is a huge achievement for a small charity like ours to establish a centre dedicated to helping people with hearing problems and offering support and clinical conditions for everyone,” said WNDA manager Anna Pugh “The bookshop has been home to hearing support for a long time but it’s now very popular in its own right so we want to build on the great relationship we have with our community and create an area that is purely for hearing care both under the NHS and privately,” she added Aside from servicing NHS hearing aids and offering battery supplies the hub also offers earwax removal for anyone who needs it Private hearing tests will also be available along with supplying private hearing aids WNDA helps thousands of people across West Norfolk offering clubs clinics and services for both the profoundly Deaf and those with acquired hearing loss has been home to the charity for more than 25 years while the bookshop celebrates ten years in 2025 facilities hire (King’s Lynn) and myriad other support from Deaf Pub to the Kenny Swim School for children to learn in a safe environment with an award-winning coach For more information see the charity’s website www.wnda.or.uk but today is finally the day that Downham’s Lidl store opens its doors Four years ago, councillors in the town backed the proposals for the discount supermarket on land off of Bexwell Road That was despite fears over its impact on the town centre and road safety, and claims from Morrisons that its Downham store could close if Lidl was to open in the town In 2022, borough planning officials warned that the supermarket could damage the town centre and harm the area’s character Despite this, the plans were approved by West Norfolk Council’s planning committee in May 2022 by the skin of its teeth However, this approval was quashed in the High Court following a legal challenge from Tesco The proposals were again approved by West Norfolk Council’s planning committee when the scheme was back before it in March last year By November, we were still unsure of when the store would start to take shape with it believed that design changes to add carrstone - used in a number of buildings in Downham giving it its ‘gingerbread town’ nickname - following requests from the town council were causing delays foundations had started to be laid - and thanks to reader Thomas Eggett capturing the site’s progress we can see how the store finally began to take shape After a long and far from straightforward process, the town’s Lidl is finally ready to welcome customers when it opens today. Pupils from the town’s Hillcrest Primary School are set to help officially open it after Lidl donated £999 to the school to help fund sensory equipment The new store on Bexwell Road will be open from 8am–10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am–4pm on Sundays The store will feature the company's renowned bakery including toilets with baby-changing stations There will also be ample parking for both cars and bicycles Shoppers can look forward to Lidl Plus offers and complimentary food sampling throughout the opening weekend This multi-million-pound investment is set to boost the local economy with the creation of up to 40 new jobs said: “We are absolutely delighted to be opening our first store here in Downham “Those who previously travelled to Lynn now have easy access to their Lidl festive favourites while new customers will get to experience a Lidl Christmas for the first time “As well as providing residents with quality we are committed to making a positive impact in the community “It’s been our privilege to support Hillcrest Primary School with a donation for sensory equipment and we look forward to celebrating the store launch with the pupils during the ribbon cutting.” In our weekly All Our Yesterdays column we look back through the February pages of the Lynn News 10 parents and staff braved wet and windy weather when they released a sea of 370 balloons to officially open the new Nelson Academy in Downham – a replacement for the former Clackclose Community Primary School Every pupil wrote their inspiration for the future before tying them to the green and white balloons February 2013: Meet the Lynn News’ Christmas Cracker baby competition winners pictured receiving their prizes at Youngsters World in Lynn From left: Mark Waller and Nicole Russell with Ellie Waller (toddler runner-up) Coral Collison with Cherri-Rose Collison (baby runner-up) Liz Harrison (owner of Youngsters World) with Leah Willis and Ben Simpson (baby winner) The toddlers’ section winner Jeshaun Marks was unable to be present February 2013: Children from the Fairstead Community Primary School and King’s Lynn School of Dramatic Arts at rehearsal before their special appearances in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat which was to be staged at Lynn Corn Exchange February 2013: The shark tank at Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary reopened after a major £250,000 refit including new glass and a dinosaur skeleton Centre manager Nigel Croasdale cuts the ribbon helped by pupils from Redgate Junior and Hunstanton Infants schools head teacher of the infants school is at the back February 2013: A world-wide movement calling for an end to violence against women made its voice heard after the traditional opening of The Mart on Lynn’s Tuesday Market Place It was organised by county councillor Alexandra Kemp (second left) joined by local One Billion Rising campaigners who handed out leaflets February 2015: Celebration time for these Year 9 and 11 students at Swaffham’s Nicholas Hamond Academy where a new sports facility was to be built after their bid for the £1.2 million project was backed by education chiefs They are joined by PE teachers Gemma Teanby and Ian Hogarth February 2015: Youngsters got on their broomsticks to enjoy a magical Harry Potter night at Downham Library The session was organised by community librarian Elena Parkin February 2015: Members of Lynn WI had reason to celebrate when they marked the group’s 40th anniversary Cutting the cake are founder member Mary Oughton (right) and the president Rebecca Hardingham (left) Originally formed as North Lynn WI in 1975 the name change came on the 30th anniversary when the group moved to the Good News Centre in Lynn February 2015: Pupils at Lynn’s Fairstead Primary School swapped the classroom for the school grounds when taking part in the RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch programme Pictured here with Rowling class teacher Lisa King are Year 6 pupils February 2013: Pictured outside their ruined home in Downham are Robert Armsby holding Princess and Louisa Hawkins cradling Toby was hailed a hero for her loud barking which woke the family up when flames destroyed the kitchen of their Railway Road home enabling Louisa to get her young daughter Charlotte out Robert braved the flames searching for Princess’ puppy Toby who was eventually found by firefighters hiding behind a sofa council ‘ego trips’ and speedway feature in our regular On This Week feature… Lynn town centre car parks where drivers enjoy worry-free parking and pay on exit is the dream of shoppers and West Norfolk Chamber of Commerce is hoping that a feasibility study will lead to pay-on-exit car parks throughout the town West Norfolk Council’s environmental services committee has recommended that all car park charges should increase in June the committee has agreed to study the feasibility of pay-on-exit at three of the town’s car parks – the Old Cattle Market Regent Way/ South Clough Lane and Albert Street/Austin Street West shop at their own pace and enjoy other town centre facilities without a car parking deadline hanging over them is resigning from the town council in protest at its £180,500 “ego trip” says he is disappointed by the council’s decision to spend this much money on making the former Lovell’s site on Paradise Road its new headquarters without considering other options properly He pointed out that West Norfolk Council had offered the use of rooms in its offices in Priory Road for £4,000 per year Most of the money to pay for the new building has come from Somerfield which paid the town council £110,000 for licences to build two access points to its supermarket from Hollies public car park Lynn and Wisbech Hospitals’ NHS Trust has responded to public opinion in setting new visiting hours at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital The new visiting times – from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm on the surgical medical and orthopaedic wards – will take effect from the beginning of March Previously the visiting hours were 2pm to 8pm but the aim of the trial hours was to try and achieve a better balance between the benefits patients gain from seeing relatives and the need for quiet and privacy to aid their recovery The countdown is on for the start of the new Elite League speedway season in six weeks’ time and Lynn Stars chief Buster Chapman remains confident he will be able to start on schedule and with a strong home team He said everything was agreed with a bank and receivers for his take-over and he hoped to sign the papers in a matter of days and when that happened he would start work – with volunteers – on bringing the stadium facilities up to the standards demanded by the safety authority and the Elite League Czech riders Bob Brhel and Tomas Topinka are already signed up There was gnome way you could have missed the fact it was David Bradd’s birthday last week – for he had an outdoor party with a difference Mr Bradd awoke to find a garden gnome for each year of his life adorning the lawn of his Sedgeford home arrived in the middle of the night without so much as a sound to give Mr Bradd the surprise of his life on his birthday but I have a good idea,” he told the Lynn News adding he was at a loss to know what to do with his new-found friends Staff at Lynn Arts Centre have greeted proposals for a management merger with the town’s Corn Exchange and Hunstanton’s Princess Theatre with “frustration and anger” and criticised board members who agreed the move They vented their feelings in a letter to Alan Pask who is recommending that the borough’s policy and resources committee should approve the plan There are nine members of staff at the centre They fear that a merger with the borough council would harm the artistic integrity of the centre by taking away its independence Dersingham’s branch of the Girls’ Venture Corps Air Cadets is in danger of closing unless leaders and members can be found At present there are only four members and just one leader who is due to step down soon because of other commitments The quartet of cadets are currently joining in with the Lynn unit The Dersingham cadet unit is based at the Drill Hall Student support for rag week stunts at Lynn’s Norfolk College produced £450 for local charities After collecting all the donations from events which included a drag queen and king parade the Students’ Union are setting about deciding who should benefit All the money raised came from students within the college which the executive committee described as “excellent” Tributes have been paid to a “passionate community volunteer” and “very hard-working councillor” who has died aged 68 February 16 - but her “aggressive” ovarian cancer did not stop her from helping her community and being involved with a number of local causes Having been a borough councillor between 2015 and 2019 Jackie was also a town councillor in Downham until December as well as president of the town’s Rotary club and a trustee for Downham Dementia A spokesperson for Downham Town Council said: “It is with great sadness that I confirm that we have been informed by Cllr Westrop’s family that she died on Sunday “Jackie was a passionate community volunteer Jackie’s role as councillor was only one of the many organisations within Downham Market and the surrounding villages that Jackie supported following her retirement from the Probation Service Jackie never gave up and was still working with the council until Christmas 2024 on a project to help Downham Market become dementia friendly “Jackie was instrumental in the council achieving the Gold award in the Anglia In Bloom competition in the summer of 2024.” Two borough councillors have also remembered Jackie for her hard work within the community said: “I’m so sad to hear of Jackie’s passing which was something of a shock as I didn’t know she was suffering from ill health “We served together between 2025 and 2019 and Jackie was a well-liked and very hard-working councillor “She had a heartfelt concern for the more vulnerable among us and represented our community with passion and commitment leader of the Conservative group at West Norfolk Council said: “My thoughts go out to Jackie’s family and friends at this sad time “She was a committed councillor and always worked hard for her electorate in Downham Market.” who was president elect of Downham Market Rotary Club and has now taken up the role of president in her place said that it was with a “heavy heart” that it announced Jackie’s death “Jackie has been fighting cancer for a considerable time and the ravages of that horrible disease and the drastic treatment required slowly ate into her ability to carry on,” he said “She announced in December 2024 that she had to step back from duties as a Downham Market Town Council councillor and subsequently the Rotary club as well as other local organisations she was active in “Although she had been suffering the debilitating effects of her condition for some considerable time she absolutely insisted on carrying on and keeping busy Sadly she lost the battle on Sunday 16th February.” Other Downham Rotarians have also expressed their sadness at Jackie’s death stating that she had “contributed so much to the town’s life” Immediate past president Martin Chilvers said: ”We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Jackie’s family at this difficult time became our president in June 2023 and had agreed to serve a two-year term shortly after she assumed the role she was diagnosed with cancer but she tackled it with great determination and was working hard for the club until her final days “She exemplified the Rotary concept of ‘service before self’ and brought her very considerable knowledge of and love for her local community to our club where she had also been welfare officer and vice president “She was our third female president and will be sorely missed but long remembered as someone whose life was spent serving her community.” In her biography on Downham Town Council’s website Jackie shared that - having been born in East London - she had lived and worked in Downham since the mid-1960s Her main employment was in the Probation Service from which she had retired before taking up new challenges including being a borough councillor and a member of the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board sub-groups regarding quality assurance and development She had also been involved in training in adult safeguarding for community groups when required I spend the bulk of my time working with a wide range of community organisations grant writing and capacity building alongside organising events,” Jackie added She said she was “proud” to belong to the town’s Rotary club - of which she was president “I firmly believe in the work of the parish council and the power of community to make positive changes and love talking to residents about their views of what Downham can achieve and look forward to working on DMTC going forward,” Jackie added She leaves behind her brother Andrew and his wife As I walk through Downham town centre with Inspector Ben Jarvis three young boys stroll past us at a zebra crossing “Ohhh no,” they sarcastically exclaim when they spot us when there’s a police officer nearby,” Insp Jarvis tells them I doubt it’s the first time he’s had that reaction The interaction was fitting - I was being given a tour to highlight the major problems with anti-social behaviour the market town is currently facing Teenagers and school children are the main culprits For a town looking to identify itself as a food experience destination The police want to make clear that on the whole there are issues to address - and officers are doing just that by employing multiple different tactics Insp Jarvis says it is mainly “small pockets” of youths who are causing the majority of issues We’ve taken a deep dive to find out the root of the problem and what is being done to tackle it… two boys were arrested in Downham in connection with anti-social behaviour One was charged with two counts of causing harassment alarm and distress and has been bailed with strict conditions until his appearance at Lynn Youth Court in November The other has been bailed pending further enquiries Insp Jarvis has confirmed that both were previously known to the police This followed a summer of trouble in the town Norfolk County Council was forced to deploy security guards to the library to combat “unacceptable” and “unsettling” behaviour from youngsters over a number of weeks This was the latest in a line of anti-social behaviour problems with Downham Town Council reporting that drug paraphernalia had been found near the skate park a few weeks prior as has people taking their dogs to the skate park despite it being against the rules As Insp Jarvis and I walk towards some of the incident hot spots he tells me there are “ringleaders” who officers are aware of who tend to cause the main issues,” he says “It comes in waves - I think that's the easiest thing to say We are on it as much and as often as we can be Everyone I know appreciates that we can’t be there waiting for this to happen.” He says that when he speaks to the parents of those involved around 85% of them are shocked and appalled to hear what their children are getting involved in a lot of these youngsters will return to school the following day become galvanised when they reunite with friends “The perception that it never goes away is always going to be reinforced by those who come out and commit offences - those little pockets,” Insp Jarvis adds “The work that we're doing is an ongoing process there's always someone who's just about old enough now to come up and start to be on that periphery as well because you've got social factors and economic factors as well that link into all of it some of it does come down to personal responsibility.” dealing with young offenders is as much about education as it is about punishment A teenager who has just been caught causing criminal damage for the first time may be given a stern talking to and told about various groups they can get involved with which allows young people to take part in a wide range of different activities those who are more prolific with their offending will be dealt with in a more “robust” way This involves an escalation process beginning with “frank and honest discussions” with parents it also starts with the schools as well,” Insp Jarvis says for lack of a better phrase - that understanding that we all live in this world Treat people as you'd want to be treated and behave as you'd want others to behave as well.” there are regular targets which crop up again and again The Tesco and Morrisons supermarkets in the town centre are among them There have also been instances of random shop windows being “in the wrong place at the wrong time” when youths are walking by with business owners left frustrated by mindless damage Insp Jarvis says: “All of our beat managers have taken this on as a priority which effectively means increased foot patrols but also increased input with the businesses to speak with our designing out crime officer lending themselves to be more susceptible to anti-social behaviour.” issues such as drug use and electric scooter misuse have been reported in Downham too Insp Jarvis believes these sorts of incidents are more likely to be a one-off rather than a symptom of deep-lying problems HOW TO CRACK DOWN ON ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR “The main thing is visibility,” the Inspector adds “It's an incredibly busy time at the moment - it has been over the summer “Whenever the beat officers can get into Downham I’m making sure that they're fully briefed on not only the issues that are going on but also the policing expectation so that we have this driven approach rather than multiple angles and ideas “A lot of what we do is geared around catching people at an early age - and when I say catching people the best successes I had was from building those bridges with people at a really early stage.” A lot of the ongoing work tackling anti-social behaviour is part of a bid to make Downham a more pleasant place to live and raise families Officers are keen to put across the message to these youngsters that by acting in a negative way they are shaping the society they will grow up in “Think about how your behaviour is going to affect not only everyone around you in the now but also you in the future,” Insp Jarvis warns “What may seem like harmless fun now may have a very significant impact on any young person's future.” even when it comes to some young people’s attitude towards the police The three young boys who laugh and joke as they walk by us are a prime example Will they come to realise that people simply want them to contribute to Downham in a positive way A tree which presents “an immediate risk of serious harm” could be removed A planning application has been submitted to cut down a monterey cypress at 50 Bexwell Road in Downham which is within the town’s conservation area The applicant says that work is “urgently needed” to remove the “risk” it poses They add: “One of the large bows hit the back of our neighbours wooden shed/workshop and (we are) concerned further damage may occur to our neighbours property injury to persons if anyone is in the workshop if another bow falls.” West Norfolk Council has agreed to a five-day notice decision which means the tree’s future will be decided within the next week rather than the usual six-eight weeks that planning applications are subject to Strict conditions must be met for a five-day notice to be granted Councils will make a decision based on information given to them about the tree and the danger it may cause if the works are not completed quickly Funding from a supermarket scheme will help a town heritage centre launch a new community initiative The Discover Downham Heritage Centre is being included in the next round of the Tesco blue token scheme which gets underway this month The centre at the former fire station in Priory Road £1,000 or £1,500 depending on how many people vote for its ‘Love Your Gingerbread Town’ project via tokens at the Downham store Downham has long been referred to as “the Gingerbread Town” due to the distinctive yellowish brown carrstone buildings The aim of the project is to enable local children to get better acquainted with the heritage of their town and the exciting Fen land that surrounds it in a fun and interactive way The Tesco funding will mean the centre can redesign its children’s area to accommodate the growing number of families There will be a new designated work station with an interactive screen for children to engage with local history in a more child-friendly way and the children’s section of the library will be expanded The current Fen display will be replaced with a selection of handling objects from the museum’s own collection and a new interactive display will be created The activity boxes will also be updated to relate more closely to the school National Curriculum Trustee and volunteer Zowie Sweetland said: “We have seen an increase in local young people wishing to visit the centre to learn more about local history and the wider area “There has also been an increase in local families dropping in So we want to build on what we can offer to keep them coming back which will enable us to really upgrade our facilities for children.” A best man who crashed his car while drink-driving home from a wedding has been disqualified for nearly two years was travelling home from a ceremony near Swaffham in November when he collided with the roundabout which connects the A10 and A1122 outside Downham When a member of the public approached him and asked if he was okay and he was arrested after failing a roadside breath test He had 82mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath - more than double the legal limit to drive of 35mcg pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday £277 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs duty solicitor Tiffany Meredith said that drink-driving is not something that Turner “usually does” but when he went to check in after the wedding there was a problem with the reservation,” she said so he got in the car to drive himself and his partner home.” collided with the roundabout after “not taking it at the correct angle” Signs are set to be placed alongside a main road into town which is often subject to speeding and crashes Downham Town Council approved at their full council meeting for two vehicle-activated signs to be installed on the A1122 One sign will be installed on Downham’s side Half of the costs of the electronic signs - which use sensors to detect when a vehicle is speeding and illuminate to display the speed limit - will be met by Norfolk County Council as part of the parish partnership scheme The other half will be met by the town council All 16 councillors in the meeting voted in favour of installing the signs Cllr Barry Wiles informed his fellow councillors about speeding concerns on London Road as stated in a Safer Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP) meeting Data revealed that some vehicles were monitored travelling at speeds of 45-55mph “The data has been forwarded to the police it’s up to them to take action now,” Cllr Wiles said A highly anticipated supermarket has finally informed residents it will be opening in town next week Downham residents have been eagerly waiting for Lidl to announce it is ready to welcome customers on Bexwell Road the supermarket has been delivering flyers to Downham residents informing them that the store will be opening next Thursday (December 5) Work at the Bexwell Road site began in May and it will be the fourth supermarket in the town There had been delays with the building of the supermarket after concerns were raised by town councillors about its design plans. Plans for the Lidl were first approved by West Norfolk Council in March last year Will you be doing your grocery shopping at the new Lidl Let us know by emailing newsdesk@lynnnews.co.uk A Downham plumbing lecturer and football coach who scooped £90,000 on a popular game show has said her win feels “amazing” who works at the Anglia Training Centre at Lynn’s College of West Anglia earned the top prize on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel which aired on BBC One on Saturday night who is a former Downham Market High School student will be putting some of the money towards supporting Downham Town FC Girls Youth - which she helped set up earlier this year She is the coach and manager of the under-13s team - and hopes that the funds will help the youngsters feel like “little footballing stars” Having first applied for The Wheel back in April - after watching an episode and thinking ‘why not’ - Livvi went through a number of stages in the process including sending in a video of herself and taking part in a virtual show with other potential contestants on a video call “Then I didn’t hear anything for ages after that but one day I got a phone call saying ‘we think you would be a good contestant - can you do next week?’” Livvi told the Lynn News she travelled to the studio in Hemel Hempstead with her twin sister Maddie Belding The team explained the rules to Livvi and the other contestants and ensured that they were aware of the names of the celebrities who would be appearing on the show - unaware of a surprise guest appearance from popstar Robbie Williams “He was lovely - he was exactly how he seems on telly,” Livvi said you are below the main wheel and you have headphones on so you can’t hear a thing and you’re not allowed to talk to the other contestants but you can feel the vibrations of the wheel spinning.” who was last to be randomly selected and play the game said that the way the contestants are picked is “very fair” Asked what she felt when she was finally picked “I didn’t know until I got up there how many categories were left Never in a million years did I think I would clear it she hoped to use some of the funds on the football team as well as a family holiday With only three categories needing to be cleared from the game Livvi chose the ‘basketball’ question first and luckily the celebrity whose category it was I was so happy I got matched with Ade - I don’t think anyone else would have known that answer,” she said The next two questions were on the topics of weddings and fashion - both of which she got right with the help of Adepitan and actress Susan Wokoma “It was a process of elimination with the other questions,” Livvi said With only one final question left to answer correctly to win McIntyre told Livvi she could pick the ‘worst-performing’ celebrity to help her the ‘mid-performing’ celebrities actress Ayda Field and her husband or the ‘best-performing’ celebrity Susan and bag £22,500 Livvi told him that she had gone there with the intention to “go big or go home” and chose Madeley to help her “I always said I knew that if I got to the final that I was going to go for it no matter what celebrity - if I got into the final I was going to go for the biggest sum,” Livvi said They told us that 34,000 people apply to be on the show there’s 10 episodes and three contestants per episode so that’s 30 contestants per series I knew that if I ever got in that situation coriander or thyme was most often described as having a “distinct liquorice-like flavour” the pair both agreed on tarragon - and soon discovered it was the correct answer earning Livvi the highest prize available of £90,000 “It was just the most surreal feeling,” she said “I just remember all I wanted to do was cry Robbie came up to me and he was such a nice person he was asking me about the football team.” Although the show’s psychotherapist had warned Livvi that - in the event that she won - she could receive hateful comments she said she has not had “anything like that” I’ve been so humbled by the amount of love and support there’s been “I went to watch Norwich play yesterday and the amount of people who said ‘I saw you win on telly yesterday’ was crazy I expected to get some recognition in Downham but thought I wouldn’t in Norwich it feels amazing - and Downham girls have been put on the map.” there was no girls’ football team in Downham “I feel so grateful I can give them everything that they need for a few years so they can feel like little footballing stars I can just get it - like training kits and new boots We have discussed giving them all some money for new boots “We’ve already got a few things lined up for them.” After being approached by the youth team coach for boys in Downham Livvi helped set up the girls’ team in the spring She is now manager and coach of the under-13s team while there is also an under-15s and there are hopes to start an under-11s one in time for next season I played for Downham Ladies and we had the old mens’ kits which were stained and horrible I want them to wear the Downham badge with pride and be proud that they play for them “We also don’t want the parents to worry about money I feel so grateful that I can do that for them.” Livvi is also looking forward to an all-inclusive family holiday to Fuerteventura with her two sisters the three siblings’ children and her parents Police are reminding people about the illegal use of e-scooters after seizing one in town “It is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter anywhere other than on private land with permission,” a West Norfolk Police spokesperson said this is the same for children as well as adults.” If you cause serious harm to another person while riding an e-scooter the incident would be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car Using an e-scooter illegally in public risks the vehicle being seized under the Road Traffic Act for not having insurance Breaching the rules could also result in a penalty including a £300 fine and six penalty points on your licence for having no insurance and a £100 fine and/or three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence you could be committing an offence if you are caught: • Riding on a pavement - a fixed penalty notice and a possible £50 fine • Using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding - a £200 fine and six penalty points • Riding through red lights - a fixed penalty notice Detailed advice on the rules is available on the Norfolk Police website here Two West Norfolk bakeries have been named among the best 50 in the UK The Good Food Guide has revealed the best 50 across the country has made the cut - as has The Old Store on Pedlars Mews is the product of expert on-the-ground knowledge from The Good Food Guide’s network of anonymous inspectors Mabel only opened at the start of last year, with partners Dan Frazer and Lucy Peacock giving customers the chance to enjoy speciality sourdough loaves It was forced to temporarily close in November after an electrical fire, but was able to reopen quickly thanks to some vital community support Meanwhile, The Old Store micro-bakery opened in Snettisham back in 2022. Managers Ania Wadolwska and Stefanos Boukas run the business with family members Lewis and Aga King said: “Some of the best talent on the food scene right now is in Britain’s bakeries “The bakers are the people most connected to their local food systems and celebrating the best of the British seasons and the quality of craftsmanship outshines the pastry sections of some of the country’s top restaurants you can get a taste of it for (mostly) less than a fiver Other bakeries which feature on the list include businesses in Edinburgh Searches have been continuing today for the missing 73-year-old Downham woman Mary White Yesterday, Norfolk Police issued an appeal for help to find Mary who was last seen at her home address on Nelson Avenue at around 10pm on Tuesday Officers said they were concerned for Mary’s welfare and asked for people with information regarding her whereabouts to get in touch Dozens of people in Downham and the surrounding areas have been sharing updates on their searches for Mary on social media - particularly in the Downham Market Discussion Forum with Admin Facebook group One of the search coordinators told the Lynn News: “All we want is that Mary is home safe and well.” Downham borough councillor and West Norfolk deputy mayor Andy Bullen said the community’s efforts to find Mary was an example of where social media could “bring people together” “This is a very distressing time for everyone involved particularly in adverse weather conditions,” Cllr Bullen said Everyone can do their little bit by searching and checking anything that looks unusual “These efforts show how the community of Downham - and those further afield - can work well together and get involved in situations like these.” “I’m sure the community will be out there until she’s found.” Norfolk Police shared the following description of Mary in its appeal for help to find her with grey shoulder-length hair - her hair is not coloured as in the photograph provided she was wearing white pyjamas and slippers and it is unclear whether she has taken a change of clothes Officers are asking anyone who has seen her or has any information about where she may be to contact Norfolk Police on 101 quoting ref 48 of September 25 Norfolk Police has been approached for an update Creative window displays have added some extra sparkle to shopping in Downham Market this Christmas Businesses have been praised for the time and effort they put into decorating their premises for a Best Dressed Window competition organised by the town council Town Mayor Barry Hobbs said: “It was wonderful to see the huge effort which has been put into the window displays this year and it was very difficult to choose a winner It was a great pleasure to be able to present the shield to the worthy winners – Cream Me Up Scotty.” The judges said: “This year more businesses than ever created wonderful Christmas windows and we have heard residents and visitors alike commenting on how lovely the town looks night and day The range of styles has made the judging a thoroughly enjoyable Cream Me Up Scotty was chosen as the winner for its use of the gingerbread theme reflecting that Downham Market is often called the ‘Gingerbread Town’ because of its carrstone buildings and much of the winning display was handcrafted Runner-up was Bond & Lanchester Carpets which the judges said had imaginatively made the display from scraps of recycled flooring 8 The Old Bookshop who used natural materials to tell a festive story A number of other businesses were highly commended for their wonderful efforts - Allium A supermarket chain has insisted its upcoming West Norfolk store is being built “in accordance” with planning rules despite a resident’s concerns Yesterday, we reported that George Dickson - whose home in Downham borders the Lidl premises currently being built - has serious concerns about his privacy He claims that a fence between his Bexwell Road house and the business has been made smaller than the required 1.8m - meaning customers will be able to peer directly into his garden he says the fence is supposed to be ‘acoustic’ helping to block out noise from the site - but alleges that this planning condition has not been met either a spokesperson for Lidl told the Lynn News that construction is still ongoing and will be 1.8m high when finished - while it will also meet the “acoustic specifications required” The spokesperson said: “It’s always our aim to keep disruption to an absolute minimum during the construction of a new store and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused “Our Downham Market store has been built in accordance with the plans approved by West Norfolk Council and we are confident that all construction requirements will be met before our opening “We truly believe that the new store will greatly benefit those in the community from the creation of jobs to providing easy and convenient access to our high-quality products available at the best value.” also said his house and cars are frequently left covered in dust and other materials from the building site The Lynn News was told that Lidl contractors are “actively managing” site levels and dust control measures and that Mr Dickson has been offered a clean of his windows and car ahead of a “final clean” once construction has finished Lidl was once again unable to confirm an opening date for the new Downham store A main road in Downham is closed following a five-vehicle crash this morning Police were called to the collision on the A10 at Bexwell Road at 9.24am The A10 is currently closed between the Bexwell Road roundabout and the A1122 Any injuries sustained by those involved in the crash are not believed to be life-threatening or changing although two drivers have been taken to hospital A sporting connection resulted in a friendly challenge between a care home and bowls club Staff and residents at Downham Grange Care Home took on members of Downham’s Conservative Bowls Club in a friendly game including club president Christopher Reynalds a film and television actor and former motor racing champion visited the Kingsley Healthcare nursing home in Clackclose Road last Thursday for an indoor bowls session followed by lunch The invitation followed Downham Grange’s decision to sponsor the bowls club and fund new mats who appeared as a wizard in the 2011 film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 said he had been keen to visit the home following its donation last summer Members who joined him on the visit included ladies president Joan Cobbin Kingsley’s regional activities coordinator Marcia Hughes said: “The staff and residents really enjoyed playing Some of them are now hooked on the sport after never playing before She said the indoor bowls equipment had been kindly donated by Robert “Lud” Lister a resident at Thorp House Care Home in Watton “He is thrilled to see residents at another care home benefiting from it,” said Mrs Hughes The maintenance team at Downham Grange put together a ramp to ensure the game was accessible to all