Home   News   Article Concerned residents packed into a town council meeting over their concerns about the possibility of a property near them being turned into a children’s home It was an unusual occurrence to see Swaffham Town Council’s meeting packed full with members of the public which further highlighted concern among residents Dozens of people came to the meeting on Wednesday evening to express concerns about a planning application submitted to Breckland District Council wanting to change the use of a house on Vista Close to assisted living accommodation for children Residents advocated that the site wasn’t a suitable place for the home which would house three children with members of staff working shifts to look after them The application was submitted by Cleophas Ndhlalambi who said that the plans would provide a “safe and supportive living environment tailored to their needs” Proposals say that 12 members of staff would be working at the home residents highlighted issues with the position of the children’s home resident Emilia Rust asked town councillors if they could back them by expressing their objection to the proposals Residents said that the children’s home would result in an increase in cars and traffic in the area potentially restricting access for residents Ms Rust said: “We would like to urge the town council for support and to bear in mind those who live on this private road that will be affected by the home “The house has several borders that all face onto residents’ homes We are not people who are up in the middle of the night.” Other residents slammed Breckland District Council’s planning portal website saying that it is not user-friendly and that they’ve struggled submitting objections online told the town councillors that if the application is approved “stress levels” of elderly residents in the area would increase “The whole estate will be affected,” he said The man said that there are two car parking spaces allocated to the property but more would be used by staff working at the children’s home Mayor of Swaffham Paul Darby said: “I am sure we will make these points to the planning committee Cllr Graham Eves added: “I will make it my mission to pay a visit to Vesta Close to take a look.” Click here to read Your Local Paper & Lynn News e-editions This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website and professionals across Norfolk are invited to a groundbreaking conference in Swaffham focused on improving energy efficiency in traditionally built properties Organised by the "Swaffham - A Historic Market Town Project" in collaboration with the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership's Norfolk Net Zero Communities this one-day event will take place on 19 March 2025 and is now open for registration Through funding from Innovate UK and the partners behind Swaffham - A Historic Market Town the free workshop will provide practical guidance and expert insights into retrofitting historic buildings while preserving their unique character Attendees will hear from leading organisations Breckland's Executive Member for Economic Development and Growth "This conference is a fantastic opportunity for homeowners and landlords to gain valuable insights into how they can make their properties more energy-efficient while respecting the historical integrity of their buildings Retrofitting traditional homes is essential in our drive for a greener whilst delivering on our aim of making Swaffham's unique heritage the economic driver for the town." Partnership Manager for the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership "We are excited to be supporting this event Homeowners and landlord who have traditional buildings experience a real challenge knowing how they can retrofit their property to make it more energy efficient We hope that events like this will show them what steps they can take to make their properties work better for them and inspire them to take action."The event is open to homeowners so those interested are encouraged to reserve their tickets as soon as possible Further details and online booking. (opens new window) Get A Golf Handicap UK Golf Guide Golfshake Top 100s Find Golf Travel Deals Golf Competitions Community Forum When I first moved to Norfolk it wasn’t for the golf I had never considered the county to be a haven for our sport And to that list can be added one of the finest heathland courses I have ever played. Swaffham Golf Club is an absolute gem an 18-hole course designed for the purist that will be enjoyed by players of all standards Originally opened as a nine-hole course in 1922 on a Norfolk Breckland Heath just two miles from the centre of Swaffham the club expanded to 18 holes in 2001.  Some of the new holes were created from an area of mature woodland while others reflect the more open style of The Brecks and they have all matured to blend well with the older part of the course There is ample car parking for members and visitors alike The clubhouse feels warm and inviting and is well appointed with a well-stocked bar and a great choice of home-made food It is a course that positively encourages visitors and clearly makes them feel like they belong On the day we played there was a society following us and they were clearly looking forward to playing the course The club boasts superb practice facilities the opening hole is a par five measuring 516 yards It seems innocuous enough but two giant well-placed trees on the right mean you simply have to aim for the left Find the middle and you need to thread your approach to the green while avoiding three greenside bunkers The third is the first of four magnificent par threes It measures 190 yards and calls for a towering tee shot that must carry a deep bunker protecting the front of a large green that has many subtle slopes and borrows The fairway slopes from right to left with a bunker waiting to gobble up anything hit too far left From the middle of the fairway the next challenge is to avoid the well-placed greenside bunkers - you also don’t want to go long Take one club more than you think to this slightly elevated and narrow green there are bunkers to be avoided - and don’t go long The seventh measures 352 yards and is a dog-leg from left to right with a bunker waiting to catch any tee-shot that goes too far right The front nine closes with a 396-yard par four that plays gently uphill The fairway is pretty generous but you need to be in the middle to go for a green surrounded by sand The back nine starts with a real birdie chance But beware - out of bounds lurks behind the green It only measures 162 yards but plays slightly uphill and is another hole where you need to take one club more than you think to carry the bunker short of the putting surface You need to avoid two bunkers on the left and another on the right that is waiting to catch your second shot You then face an approach to a smallish green protected by four traps 17th and 18th represent a truly wonderful finishing stretch The 16th may only measure 131 yards but don’t be fooled It is one tricky par three that demands a well-struck and well-placed tee shot - find the wrong part of the green and you could find yourself facing a monstrous putt An accurate drive is vital to give you a shot to a green set in something of a valley and completely surrounded by trees The final hole is another great par four of 417 yards There are no fairway bunkers but you need to find a way through the trees that line both sides of the fairway before a second shot to another large green that is guarded by a bunker front right rising to £50-£60 during the full season There are also plenty of deals on offer for societies - before the 24th March a group of eight or more players will pay £48 for a tea/coffee and a bacon roll full seven day membership is £1,227.50 while five-day membership is £1,143.50 There are also reductions for various age groups - for instance if you are 26-30 you will pay just £805 rising to £1,088 for those in the 31-39 age group The menu is wide and varied and offers tremendous value for money An all-day breakfast costs just £7.95 a bacon sandwich £4.95 and a sausage sandwich £4.95 Chicken curry with rice or chips and a poppadum is £10.95 There is also a great choice of sandwiches and baguettes from £5.50 to £8.95 A pot of coffee will set you back a paltry £2 And there are gluten and dairy-free options Woburn is one of my favourite UK golf courses and one of the biggest compliments I can pay Swaffham is that it reminded me of that wonderful layout and has now become my favourite Norfolk golf course The ball sits up beautifully on the well-manicured fairways No two holes are same and the nine holes added in 2001 blend seamlessly into the course well-manicured with plenty of subtle slopes And the bunkering is perfect - the traps are in exactly the right place The greeting in the clubhouse was warm - we were welcomed with a smile and made to feel wanted.  This is an area that people choose to retire to and It is relatively flat so you are not going to be on your knees when you walk off the 18th green For more information, please visit Swaffhamgc.co.uk or call 01760 721621.  Related Content: Must Play golfshake golfbreaks Golf Courses Courses What do you think? post your thoughts and feedback on the Golfshake Forum: https://forum.golfshake.com/ Tuition Series Golf Forums Golf Course Directory UK Golf Courses Tee Time Search Golf Inspired Search for Golf Courses Tee Time Search Weekly Tour News Industry News Rating & Reviews Get a Golf Handicap Golfscoretracker Handicap Calculations Stat Tracking Cards Golfshake Services Terms, Cookies & Privacy A significant milestone has been marked in the expansion and relocation of the Fred Nicholson School as pupils visited the site and took part in a ceremonial steel signing The school is moving from its current location in Dereham to a new site on Lynn Road to better accommodate its growing number of pupils.  Fred Nicholson provides a nurturing and inclusive environment for children and young people aged seven to 16 with special educational needs and disabilities part of Norfolk County Council's multi million pound Local First Inclusion (LFI) programme means the number of pupils will grow from 197 to 224.  The ceremony was attended by pupils and staff from Fred Nicholson School which is funding and commissioning the new school With the completion of the steel frame on the 3.2-hectare site and the installation of precast floors cabinet member for Children's Services at Norfolk County Council said: "The relocation of Fred Nicholson School will allow us to address the growing demand for specialist education and support services Thank you to everyone involved for your commitment ensuring that every child in Norfolk can flourish."  Construction Director at R G Carter said: "We are delighted to be working with Norfolk County Council to deliver this much-needed bespoke SEN provision in Swaffham It has been wonderful to celebrate with everyone who has worked so hard to reach this important milestone and to see future pupils make their mark on a building which will make such a big difference to their own education said: "We are all getting excited about our move to Swaffham we have very much outgrown our current school in Dereham The new building will enable us to further extend the provision we offer our young people supporting them to continue to develop their independence and the skills they need to be successful We look forward to the opportunity to welcome a Key Stage One cohort into our school community as our new building will facilitate this growth."  said: "The groundbreaking event at the Fred Nicholson School represents a significant milestone in the relocation and expansion of the school We are now one step closer to the completion of the project and I look forward to seeing it finished."  The new site features a three-storey building with 17 main classrooms providing comprehensive special school education and dedicated areas for sixth form and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) provision The school also includes specialist teaching areas for life skills sensory immersion and sensory and physical development.  The County Council's special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) improvement programme Local First Inclusion (LFI) is bringing more than £100m of new investment by the Department for Education (DfE) and Norfolk County Council.  LFI builds on the council's £120m capital investment to build more special schools and specialist resource based in mainstream schools with three special schools delivered to date as well as hundreds of specialist places at mainstream school delivered and planned.  The relocated school is due to open in spring 2026 This blog will outline periodic updates on the Historic Market Town project in Swaffham This week has seen the virtual completion of the Plowright Place project The scaffolding has come down which has revealed the newly repaired frontage and the new central window This window is based on the original window of the property The carriageway roof has now been repaired and the walls repainted with a new entrance way at the courtyard The project has made Plowright Place much more attractive and will no doubt be enjoyed by the people of Swaffham and visitors alike Why not pop by and take a look at the fnished works There are some small parts still in progress such as a new hand painted sign and a directory to be added but the major repairs are now all complete Just take a look at the photographs below to see the improvements and how the restoration has really captured the heritage of the building We recently saw the premier and launch of a new film about Swaffham directed by local young people The premier took place in St Peter and Paul's Church and included the film followed up with a Q and A session about the film and life for young people in Swaffham The film is part of the collaboration between the Swaffham - A Historic Market Town Project and Norfolk and Norwich Festivals called Your Town Our Town.  Recognising that local young people are often disconnected from the social and cultural infrastructure of Swaffham Norfolk & Norwich Festival were commissioned to deliver a three-year youth engagement programme from 2024 to 2027 Our Town is designed to support and enable Swaffham's young people to help shape their towns future through a programme of activities that bring their voice to the fore The programme launched in summer 2024 with discussions This led to the creation of a film by the town's young people which maps out their hopes for the future Norfolk & Norwich Festival's Chief Executive and Artistic Director Daniel Brine said "Our aim with Your Town Our Town is to create a model of youth engagement that will help bring young people's ideas to the forefront of conversations and planning. It aims to put creativity at the heart of how children and young people experience their town by making a space where they can share experiences; create new ones; and build skills for their futures." The project will continue over the next two years with a number of creative projects being developed and the formation of an advisory group made up of young people images and artifacts in Swaffham Museum as guidance participants will explore the development of Swaffham's historic market place over time and the circumstances advances and events which have influenced its growth After considering the current challenges facing the town centre the main output will be a visualisation of how it might look in 30 years' time The main outcome will be that participants better recognise and understand the impact of local national and international events on the character and landscape of a town centre A walk around the market place may form part of the workshop Friday 21 March 2025 - Helping Make Heritage Buildings Climate Change Ready We will be sharing the slides and links from the day soon The final Minecraft session with the Nicholas Hamond students took place this week - the pupils concluded their work building Swaffham Marketplace in Minecraft and we will be sharing a video of their successes shortly Please save the date for the following upcoming events this summer - the best from local crafters and makers will be showcasing their skills and demonstrating their art You can join in one of the workshops to create something special The Museum will be displaying artefacts and crafts of old including the towns Old Public Houses and the history of printing in the town On the Market Place there will be local and speciality Food and Drink artisan stalls to tempt visitors with some new tastes Musicians and Morris dancers will entertain throughout the day and for all your gardening questions we are delighted to bring you a Garden Party Question Time hosted by Anna Perrot Come and meet with some of your favourite local celebrities: - Jamie Marsh from Jamie's Little Allotment Holder; Richard Hobbs plantswoman and National Garden Scheme gardener Amongst the entertainment is Chanter's Jigge who will be presenting a feast of song and dance especially "tuned" for the event.  Sing stamp and clap your way through merry tunes and humorous anecdotes from ages past and have a closer look about a whole variety of unusual musical instruments The 15th century Black Book of Swaffham will be making a very rare appearance It lists all of the people who donated money to build the new church - including the pedlar The church is truly one built by the people of the town.  The Black Book was the work of the Swaffham born John Botright who also gifted Campingland to the town take part in family activities round the church enjoy the refreshments provided by the usual Church Saturday crew and much The Minecraft project continued last week with the Nicholas Hamond students building the historic core of Swaffham They are also able to continue this work out of school time at home The pupils were also interviewed and recorded to help evaluate the project They have one remaining session in the Town Hall to help complete the work and we will then be able to share a video of the work they have completed The work to Plowright Place is also continuing The first section of roof work has been completed in the carriageway between the courtyard and the Marketplace The leaking valley gutter towards the rear has been repaired to help ensure the building remains in good condition in the future There has also been some cleaning of the brickwork on the frontage to ensure the property is more attractive to visitors once the work is complete While the works take place the businesses remain open and the courtyard is accessible Finally next week is the free energy efficiency conference in the Assembly Rooms with Historic England and The National Trust supporting home owners with traditionally built buildings to make their properties more energy efficient There are some tickets remaining - if you are interested book a free ticket here - An introduction to energy efficient traditionally built homes. Tickets, Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite The building works to Plowright Place have been continuing the scaffolding is now up and repairs can take place to the main windows on the frontage The businesses are remaining open during the works so please keep using them as normal This week Breckland's Executive Member for Economic Development & Growth was joined at Plowright Place by the Deputy Mayor of Swaffham and Jack from NCL contactors (photographed) The community engagement programme is continuing with the second Minecraft session taking place Wednesday next week  The Nicholas Hammonds students will continue to recreate Swaffham and develop their understanding of the historic town centre There are still tickets available for the free energy efficiency conference in the Assembly Rooms The aim of the conference  on Wednesday 19th March is to allow homeowners to reduce their energy bills and support energy reduction The National Trust and also from Matter of Place Architects The conference is free but please book a ticket here - An introduction to energy efficient traditionally built homes. Tickets, Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite The project is really pleased to announce the start of the works to Plowright Place The scaffolding has been going up this week which will allow repairs to the frontage of the building but the shops will be remaining open during this period The signage on the front of the property will also be replaced and will be more in keeping with the historic property The works will make Plowright Place a more attractive destination and support the businesses located there On the 19th March a free conference will take place in the Assembly Rooms supporting home owners with traditionally built buildings to make their properties more energy efficient The aim of the conference is to allow homeowners to reduce their energy bills and support energy reduction The sessions will highlight local case studies and discuss some of the barriers home owners currently face The conference is free but please book a ticket here - An introduction to energy efficient traditionally built homes. Tickets, Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite Nicholas Hammond students started their 3 month project to recreate Swaffham's historic core in Minecraft The students had a history tour of the centre of Swaffham to highlight the key areas and buildings and this was followed by a 2 hour Minecraft building session in the Town Hall The students were fantastic and really engaged in the project and asked lots of questions They have already completed the Buttercross and the Methodist Church and made a great start on St Peter and St Paul's Church This has been helping develop their team work skills and an appreciation of the local history around them the start up meeting for Plowright Place took place today The works will now start on site the week of the 3rd February and scaffolding will go up that week Look out for repairs and new signage for the front of the building and a new central window based on the original design There will also be improvements to the passageway including new paving lighting and a new ceiling making the shops and courtyard more appealing for visitors it's a perfect time to reflect on the incredible progress made throughout 2024 on the Swaffham - A Historic Market Town project The Methodist Church frontage and window repairs are nearly complete and the upper floor window repairs of Myhill's Pets and Gardens and the Twisted Broom Stick have been finished While work on these properties has paused during the winter months it will resume in earnest as the weather improves in 2025 This past year also saw a variety of community events and training opportunities along with heritage training courses focused on photographing historic buildings and maintaining them for the future College students were given a unique opportunity to explore heritage skills not typically covered in their coursework 2025 promises even more exciting developments Work on Plowright Place is set to begin soon and the much-anticipated Minecraft project will kick off where Nicolas Hamond students will recreate the town in digital form Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success of this project over the past year Here's to another year of preserving and celebrating Swaffham's rich heritage Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year The project will be working in collaboration with The Nicholas Hammond Academy to build Swaffham in Minecraft This exciting project will allow 30 students from Y7 and Y8 to develop their knowledge of Swaffham Market Place and its history and architecture but using a familiar game to the students They will have three months to complete the project and to recreate the Town as accurately as possible.  In January repair works to Plowright Place will also begin supporting the businesses and this shopping area This weekend's activity in Swaffham is lantern making in the Methodist Church and you can take home your own lantern at the end of the session Please book a place on Eventbrite if you can but walk ins are also possible If you are a building owner in the Marketplace and are interested in a grant for a historic property or more want more details about the project please visit - www.breckland.gov.uk/historic-market-town The works to the Methodist Church are virtually complete The windows and columns have been repaired and the frontage of the building is currently being repainted This final piece of work will be the completion of the lime render on the side elevation this will take place in the new year once the wall has fully dried and there is not a risk of frost There will be a number of free family Christmas art activities also taking place at the Methodist Church  Please book a place on Eventbrite  - the activity for the 7th is making your own reusable advent calendar complete with gifts If you are a landowner and are interested in a grant for a historic property or more want more details about the project please visit - www.breckland.gov.uk/historic-market-town Come and enjoy some lovely traditional family crafts for Christmas at Swaffham Methodist Church this December on behalf of Swaffham - A Historic Market Town We're starting off with making a lovely pocket Christmas calendar on December 7th  There are four shorter sessions on the 14th of December making Christmas Lanterns and we'll be making our own personalised Christmas crackers on December 21st What's best about these crafts is that they are FREE Book your place on the Eventbrite link below soon The Love Your Market Town initiative has agreed to fund free Christmas based family activity for residents and visitors to Swaffham These will include making your own Advent Calanders Christmas Crackers and Christmas Lanterns which can be taken home at the end of the activity The workshops will take place on Saturday 7th 14th and 21st of December in the Methodist Church in Swaffham They will be free to attend but booking will be required Further details on how to book will be available shortly The cement render on the southern wall has been removed which revealed damp bricks underneath The wall now has breathable base coat of lime render but the work will be completed once the wall has fully dried out Inside the wall has been repaired with lime plaster In the long term this will help with damp and the overall condition of the building The windows are also being repaired keeping as much of the original woodwork as possible The stone flags outside the church are currently being re-laid flat to help with access to the building We are very excited to say that the first building works in the Swaffham - A Historic Market Town project have been completed The traditional sash windows above Myhill's Pets and Gardens and the bay window above The Twisted Broomstick have now been repaired and painted in a traditional linseed oil paint These works will help preserve the traditional windows and ensure they remain in good condition in the future Works to Myhill's shopfront is planned for next year As part of the Historic England Funded project a website was created - Swaffham-heritage.co.uk This website has historical information about all the properties around the Market Square in Swaffham allowing you to see historic photographs and previous owners and uses of each of the properties This website can also be accessed by the QR codes on each of the maps and information boards around Swaffham Home   Sport   Article Swaffham Town have announced their management team for next season as they prepare for life in the Anglian Combination The relegated Pedlars have named Stuart Gallon and Justin Short as the club's managerial team for next season A statement from the club read: "Following what has been a difficult season here at the Pedlars we are very pleased to announce the successful recruitment of our new Management Team of Justin Short and Stuart Gallon for the 25/26 upcoming season "We would like to extend our upmost thanks again to Paul Faulkner who departed the management set up in January due to personal reasons Callum Madigan who took over the reigns until March departing by mutual agreement and Stephen Curson-Pope who has stepped up from the management of the reserve team during this interim period "Justin (Cambridge United Academy and Kings Lynn Town Academy) and Stuart (King’s Lynn Town Academy) bring a wealth of experience to The Pedlars demonstrating previous significant successful academy prowess they have huge knowledge of both local and regional football Stuart having been a previous player here at Swaffham Town FC "They bring with them a drive to see a new era for the Pedlars particularly focusing on the progression of the youth set up and developing a strong pathway through to senior football "Alongside developing our own local talent there is a clear plan to continue developing their established connections with other clubs to facilitate movement of players through the system." Swaffham have won just two of their 36 league matches this season and remain rooted to the bottom of the Thurlow Nunn First Division North standings with just nine points The Pedlars are without a fixture this weekend before ending the season with fixtures against Pinchbeck United (away) and FC Peterborough (home) over Easter April 2024 saw the launch of the Swaffham - A Historic Market Town programme.Breckland Council look forward to building on the success of the High Street Heritage Action Zone using heritage as a vehicle to regenerate and maximise the potential of Swaffham Funding from the project is coming from Breckland District Council Swaffham Town Council and Norfolk and Norwich Festivals The project derives from the development of the Future Breckland Vision which saw 18 months of concerted community engagement alongside rigorous data collection and analysis The project will support the delivery of  the Future Breckland priorities set out in the Swaffham Town Delivery plan  The High Street Heritage Action Zone delivered repairs to the Assembly Rooms and Jewellery Unique along with new heritage shop fronts for Tutankhamun's and Mr Chips bus shelters and cycle stands along with a Conservation Area Appraisal and the Swaffham Masterplan Enhancement Scheme. To read these documents You can also keep up to date with the latest developments on the project blog: Swaffham Historic Market Town Blog The Swaffham - A Historic Market Town programme project will build on those successes and includes a continuation of the community grants scheme The initiative aims to restore and revitalize 9-12 historic buildings within the Swaffham conservation area breathing new life into the heart of the town The  Building Improvement Grant scheme will empower more local businesses to reclaim key historical features ensuring that Swaffham's high street remains a source of pride for generations to come Please see map below for the area eligible for larger grants Please submit an Expression of Interest (link below) to submit an application The Shop front Repair and Redecoration grant scheme for smaller works is open until the 6th December 2024 in Swaffham. This is for works up to £5000 and can include small scale repairs and traditional signage. For more information about the grant criteria and an application form, please visit the Swaffham Town Council website Further public realm design works will focus on creating a greener and more appealing space for residents and visitors alike the project aims to foster a sense of community ownership The public realm design works will work to develop the Swaffham Masterplan Enhancement Scheme.  The project will also deliver vital community engagement and training initiatives funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund will provide essential skills and education to building owners By nurturing a deeper connection to Swaffham's rich history and heritage these initiatives will ensure that the project's impact extends far beyond the physical realm There will be a particular focus on young people and part of this project will delivered in partnership with Norfolk and Norwich Festivals.  To find out more about the work of our partners To find out more about the history of Swaffham and the Marketplace please visit Swaffham Heritage (opens new window).  A serial shoplifter who targeted several stores in town has been jailed and ordered to pay nearly £500 to her victims appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court last Monday she admitted to six thefts from shops and asked for five others to be taken into consideration They took place between November last year and February in stores around Swaffham meat and laundry products among the items she took She was jailed for 34 weeks and ordered to pay £480.36 in compensation police staff supervisor for Operation Converter which further investigated after she admitted the six charges said: “We take shoplifting very seriously and understand the deep and detrimental impact it has on businesses and the wider community we are able to identify offenders and build strong cases to bring them to court “I hope she uses her time in prison wisely and receives the help and support she obviously needs the staff are exposed to greater risks and ultimately we all end up paying for these prolific and repeat offenders." Hundreds have been left heartbroken over the death of a “free-spirited” feline whose paws “touched the hearts of many” Sam the Cat was something of a Swaffham celebrity and would often be seen by residents roaming the streets getting up to all sorts of mischief The 16-year-old ginger furry friend had his own Facebook following of more than 1,400 and they would post photos using the hashtag #Samthecat his owner Nicky Holder announced that the “larger than life character” had passed away and his fans flocked to the comments to share memories and condolences he knew which side his bread was buttered on and he had a nice little place to sleep at night.” Nicky took Sam in when he became a regular visitor to her former workplace One Traveller but he didn’t get on with his fellow felines so he and Nicky ended up “adopting each other” “He used to come in every day and sleep there so we ended up putting a cat flap in the office took ownership of him and paid for his vet bills.” he was straight back to his old shenanigans “Sam used to jump in people’s cars all the time,” she added “I had to pick him up from Norwich and from Watton once because he had gotten into somebody’s van or somebody had found him thinking he was a stray.” When he wasn’t travelling across the county Sam would visit all his favourite town spots to see people and - although Nicky stopped working at One Traveller - he would still go back and visit the staff there too A spokesperson from the tour operator said: “Sam wasn’t just a cat he was one of us - a true part of the One Traveller family “He even got involved with brochure launches joined radio interviews with our director Ian and occasionally claimed the back seat of someone’s car for an afternoon snooze “From making his way round each one of us for fuss Sam had a way of making everything feel lighter “His gentle presence reminded us to slow down and those memories will stay with us always “Though he may no longer curl up beside us Sam’s presence is forever part of One Traveller and always will be Nicky said that it was clear he was well-loved in the community based on the number of Facebook comments that had flooded in One user said: “Sam had a special place in our hearts we were always greeted with a cheerful ‘meow’ when we walked up to Waitrose and my late wife and I met Sam while on a trip home to Norfolk from the USA and always went looking for him when we were home “We followed him on Facebook and want to say thank you to all who looked after this lovely little soul.” A major milestone has been reached in the construction of a new special school - with spades officially in the ground The official groundbreaking took place today to celebrate the beginning of work to build the relocated Fred Nicholson School The school will move from its current home in Dereham to a new site on Lynn Road in Swaffham to ensure it can better meet the needs of its growing number of pupils And an exciting announcement has revealed that another similar school could soon be coming to West Norfolk Fred Nicholson provides an inclusive environment for children and young people aged five to 16 with special educational needs and disabilities part of Norfolk County Council's multi-million pound Local First Inclusion (LFI) programme means the number of pupils will grow from 197 to 224 The ceremony was attended by the county council as well as pupils and staff from the school cabinet member for children’s services at the county council said: “Relocating Fred Nicholson School allows us to address the growing demand for specialised education and support services ensuring that every child in Norfolk can flourish “This project is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved from the planning stages to today’s groundbreaking and community members who have supported this initiative we are building a brighter future for our children and I am excited to see the positive impact this new school will have on their lives.” said: “Plans and ideas for our new school have been discussed for some time however today the vision and excitement became the reality “Today starts our journey to our new school which will offer us many more learning opportunities along with appropriate specialist rooms and facilities to truly meet the needs of our young people “While only a few of us have been able to attend the event today back in school everyone is awaiting news and photos We will all be following the progress of the build closely and look forward to helping our young people transition successfully.” general manager and director at R G Carter added: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver this much-needed SEN school for the local community and to host this celebration to mark its construction “We are proud to be continuing our partnership with Norfolk County Council children services with whom we have created many high-quality educational projects and specialist SEN provisions across the region and are looking forward to delivering this exciting new facility in Swaffham.” The new site spans approximately 3.2 hectares and features a three-storey building with 17 main classrooms providing comprehensive special school education and dedicated areas for sixth form and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) provision The school also includes specialised classrooms for creative arts The county council's special educational needs and/or disabilities improvement programme Local First Inclusion (LFI) is bringing more than £100million of new investment by the Department for Education (DfE) and the authority LFI builds on the council’s £120million capital investment to build more special schools and specialist resource bases in mainstream schools with three special schools delivered to date as well as hundreds of specialist places at mainstream school delivered and planned are also well under way - with sponsors and funding agreed with the DfE Swaffham and Downham have been competing in the TAGB (Tae Kwon Do Association of Great Britain) Midlands Championships 2024 The event was held at Worcester Arena and 16 fighting areas ran throughout the day with more than 1000 entries The Mark Farnham Schools provided 46 competitors and well over 60 spectators who all travelled over on the day power pad events and also for the Black Belts Destruction The schools landed a massive total of 29 awards at the championships Anyone interested in learning a martial art in a fun friendly atmosphere can contact Mark on 07771 644460 or visit www.mftkd.co.uk Downham: Gabriel Mrazek boys' red belt sparring third King's Lynn: Harley Carlton boys' black belt team sparring second Isaac Fysh boys' black belt team sparring third Weronica Geite girls' red belt sparring third Kasey Grimes cadet female black belt sparring second Emma Mattocks cadet female black belt sparring first and team sparring first Gvidas Norvilas cadet male black belt sparring first Carl Grimes executive men's black belt sparring third Swaffham: Charlie Palmer men's green belt sparring first A 24-year-old could face prison after driving erratically with a woman and child in his car became involved in a police chase after officers activated their blue lights Officers saw that Forbes’ Audi A3 had a defective exhaust and no valid MOT Forbes did not - and instead increased his speed to the point where he was driving at 60mph in a 30mph speed zone in Swaffham Officers noticed flames coming from Forbe’s exhaust and decided to stop their pursuit on safety grounds The incident took place on November 27 last year and officers later tracked Forbes down and arrested him A woman and child were in the car while the police chase unfolded failing to stop for police and driving without an MOT He said that he panicked when being chased because he thought his Audi would be seized along with his work tools in the back of the car solicitor Ruth Johnson said: “I think we can be thankful that there were no injuries or damage He knows all too well that this could have had an entirely different outcome “It is right to say in police interview he made full admissions Magistrates have ordered the probation service to carry out an all options pre-sentence report on Forbes He has been handed an interim driving disqualification and will return to court on April 16 to learn his fate A toy factory looks set to be demolished and rebuilt as part of a “restoration” of the site The Kitfix Swallow Group premises on Castle Acre Road in Swaffham can be crushed without receiving planning permission can go ahead and flatten the factory before commencing construction of a new The company was set up by toymaking tycoon Stuart Marcus The Swaffham site reportedly specialises in selling ‘Sequin Art’ craft packs Planning documents do not appear to give any specific reason for demolishing the factory although Mr Marcus’ two sons are currently embroiled in a High Court battle over who will receive their father’s fortune One has claimed that the other was “conceived by his mother on a one-night stand” and so should not be entitled to the fortunes It is unclear if the case is at all related to the Swaffham site’s future Breckland Council’s report said: “Prior approval is not required as sufficient information regarding the method of demolition and restoration of the site is considered acceptable to protect the character of the area and the amenity of local people.” It is expected that the “build” phase will see a new premises constructed within five years The mayor of a town that could be surrounded with solar farms if plans go ahead said he was “disappointed” with a district council’s appeal to find landowners willing to give up their sites Swaffham and its surrounding villages are at risk of being surrounded by solar panels as proposals for a mega solar farm have been submitted The farm would be big enough to power 363,000 homes and be built on land around the Swaffham and Breckland area spoke to Breckland District councillors at the town council’s full meeting on Wednesday He expressed his “disappointment” at the authority over its recent appeal to landowners to offer up fields for solar farm projects. Breckland District Council has not specified which solar farm projects the land will be going to Swaffham Town Council has continuously shown its objection to the plans for the mega solar farm which they say would take up space for farmland and ruin the surrounding countryside Speaking to Breckland District councillor Judy Anscombe Mr Darby said: “I was disappointed that Breckland is searching for renewable energy sites “After all the hassle our council has and the fact that the council voted against them I was disappointed that they have done this.” Cllr Anscombe said that it wasn’t just Breckland Council that launched the appeal and that several authorities across the country have done the same Breckland Council carried out its previous call for sites in 2022 but has launched an appeal to source additional land after the government published new mandatory housing targets in light of the government’s hugely ambitious net-zero targets the council is seeking land suitable for renewable energy projects as well as housing Cllr Darby has recently met with neighbouring villagers and councils over concerns about the solar farms A drink-driver who crashed into the wall of somebody’s home in the early hours of the morning exclaimed: “I’m sorry appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday Prosecutor Anna Crayford told magistrates that at 3.30am on February 15 a member of the public living in Lynn woke up to the sound of a loud screech They said it sounded “like a bomb was going off” They discovered that Da Rosa had crashed his BMW into a wall outside the house Da Rosa got out of the vehicle and said: “I’m sorry He was arrested and taken to Lynn’s Police Investigation Centre for further tests A reading showed he had 77mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath solicitor Tiffany Meredith said that Da Rosa was “extremely remorseful” for his actions and that the roads were icy at the time of his offence She said: “He tells me he fully accepts committing the offence “He had been out drinking with friends on Norfolk Street in Lynn He has a girlfriend that lives about a mile away so he was going to drive to her’s Ms Meredith said the damage was done to a “small brick wall” Da Rosa was disqualified from driving for 40 months and fined £120 He will also pay a £48 victim surcharge and court costs of £85 Swaffham Town concluded a tough Thurlow Nunn League First Division North campaign with two defeats over the Easter weekend The relegated Pedlars lost 3-0 at Pinchbeck on Saturday before suffering an 8-0 reverse against FC Peterborough at Shoemakers Lane on Easter Monday The Pedlars would like to thank their sponsors and spectators for their valued support this season Swaffham Town Reserves were on the wrong end of a 2-0 defeat to Costessey Sports in midweek as a difficult Anglian Combination campaign also concluded The only bright spot for the club has been the form of the club's A team which is closing in on the Division Two title in the Central and South Norfolk League Liam Rutherford (2) and Max Lanchbury were all on the scoresheet in an 11-1 victory over Yaxham Reserves in midweek They followed it up with a 4-0 success against Narborough on Good Friday with Manning Davies and Exley all scoring again and captain Ashley Rowland netting the other Blake Davies' first-time volley from 18 yards from a perfectly-weighted Harry Exley cross was one of the best finishes witnessed at Shoemakers Lane for several seasons Our weekly Memory Lane Schooldays feature focuses on a primary school production in 1990… Children at Lynn’s Whitefriars School enjoy a rehearsal joke ahead of their production of a play based on the story of the Swaffham Pedlar which was staged for parents and friends in April 1990 The story was written by Swaffham supply teacher Mr Richard Winch and described how a pedlar visited 13th century London where he was told of a dream about gold being dug up in a garden he discovers the gold in his own garden and puts it to good use in the town A town council is facing criticism after less than 6% of its population turned out to vote in a recent by-election Some residents say they were not made aware of the poll held to fill a vacancy on Swaffham Town Council last week The authority counted just 423 votes from an electorate of 7,676 after agreeing not to send out polling cards in order to cut costs While councillors agreed to “widely publicise” the election people living in the town claim they had no idea the poll was going ahead The by-election was triggered in January after Sarah Pickard failed to turn up to meetings for six months While polling cards are typically distributed ahead of elections to inform voters of the date and polling station this was estimated to cost the council up to £7,000 and is not a legal requirement during an election councillors said cards should not be posted to “minimise costs” The vote was held at the end of last month and three independent candidates stood to take on the seat – Bob Couzins while Mr Farag received 55 and Ms Mander 161 While town and parish councils typically have low turnouts during elections residents claim they did not know the vote was happening and accused the council of failing to carry out sufficient promotion The turnout of 5.5% compares to 35% during the Swaffham Town Council elections in 2019 The council posted about the election twice on its Facebook account and the poll was also advertised by Breckland Council on its own social media feed said: “Breckland issued and publicised the necessary election notices which Swaffham Town Council displayed on the town noticeboard by Costa as well as on social media and the town council website “Breckland asked the town council whether they wished to issue poll cards to all eligible electors as the cost of poll cards was estimated at £7,000 on top of the estimated administration cost of £6,000-£7,000 the town council unanimously decided not to proceed with them “These costs are met by residents of Swaffham in the form of the town council precept “Breckland District Council and Swaffham Town Council received complaints regarding the lack of information on the candidates It was clarified that providing such information is at the discretion of the candidates themselves “The only details available were the candidates' names and addresses which confirmed their eligibility to stand for election.” Councillors went ‘quackers’ and voted against contributing £250 towards a five-foot statue of a duck Swaffham Town Council was asked if it wanted to contribute to the art project conflicting opinions on the duck were voiced at the council’s full meeting on Wednesday One councillor even touched on the council’s dislike of the birds, after they previously debated culling some of them in the town to prevent a “health problem” Breckland District Council offered to contribute £2,000 towards the project which was started in a bid to promote tourism in the town Cllr Graham Edwards was against the statue and said: “It’s an embarrassment for this town.” Cllr Steph Cooper was in agreement and said that vandals would “decapitate the duck” it [the duck] should be fixed to the ground or it will wander off.” Cllr Jill Skinner said: “We used to be a council that were against the ducks I find it a bit of an embarrassment actually.” She said: “Ducks are a unique selling point Five councillors voted against funding the duck Town councillors advocated that an electric vehicle planned to be used on the roads is “suitable for a golf course” Repairs were needed on Swaffham Town Council’s current vehicle used for jobs around the town by council staff The council was trying out an urban N1 electric vehicle for the week Council staff reported using the vehicle throughout the week and said it was suitable Councillors were asked if they wanted to purchase the vehicle now that staff have tested it out Cllr Graham Edwards expressed his concern about road safety for the new vehicle and suggested getting the council’s current vehicle repaired He said: “That vehicle is supposed to be used on a golf course “I think we are opening a can of worms by buying this thing The catalytic converter needs replacing on the council’s current vehicle All councillors voted in favour of fixing the current vehicle and not buying the electric one Developers and a Norfolk council are due to face government officials for a showdown over plans to create an industrial site on land off the A47 A public inquiry is to be held late this year to determine the fate of the scheme in Swaffham Padley Property want to build the commercial facility on land south of the A47 It has proposed a hybrid site with a mixture of light industrial But its plans led to continued disagreements with Norfolk County Council’s flooding experts who worried the drainage system proposed would lead to flooding elsewhere councillors failed to come to a decision on the project and it was deferred to allow the two parties to work together to find a conclusion the county council has continued to insist the developer has not demonstrated the site will avoid causing flooding issues Due to a decision not being made in the allocated timeframe Padley Property has now appealed to the Planning Inspectorate – the government department which presides over planning matters wholly unreasonably” - and that this has contributed to a delayed decision “[Breckland Council] has been held hostage to the dilatory and uncooperative behaviour of the lead flood authority,” it adds The scheme has been backed by the local council which hopes it will provide much-needed employment and economic opportunities for Swaffham – a town which suffers from a lack of jobs It received no other objections apart from those related to flooding concerns Representatives from Padley Property and Norfolk County Council will face each other in three months time in a bid to persuade the inspector to approve or refuse the application It will be held at Elizabeth House in Dereham – Breckland Council’s offices – on November 20 from 10am Progress has been made towards repairing a town barn and getting it back into use for the community Swaffham Town Council decided on a contractor to use to make repairs to the Sacred Heart Barn The barn had previously been used by the former Sacred Heart School for productions The town council first purchased The Sacred Heart Barn in 2022 after extensive negotiations and consultations in the preceding years Residents have been eagerly awaiting for the Sacred Heart Barn to open once again Councillors voted in favour of employing a contractor to carry out the work Volunteers are being sought to help give a hand at Swaffham Car Show this year Swaffham Town Council is looking for volunteers to help at the annual show The council is looking to potentially collaborate with Swaffham Rotary Club to run the event as it needs hands-on people to put up marquees and carry out other manual jobs Cllr Graham Eves said that the club gave a “positive response” to lending a hand with the show Swaffham Mayor Paul Darby said: “Fingers crossed the Rotary club will get involved I think we should call for a joint meeting with them fit people to come and help put marquees up again.” “Opening soon” are the words emblazoned in the window of a new bakery which has caused so much controversy in recent months However, reports had suggested that Swaffham’s new Greggs had been set to open today - so the delay is likely to cause even more confusion Proposals for the chain sparked huge opposition among locals with more than 1,000 people signing a petition against the store Many fear the chain’s arrival will be catastrophic for Wellbread Bakers a family-run business which has been part of the community for more than 40 years and is located just yards away others have suggested the impact will not be as big as feared While locals have awaited Breckland Council’s decision to approve or refuse the application with bated breath the new shop was set to open this weekend despite not yet having planning permission - but did not appear to welcome customers today The Lynn News saw passers-by sneak a peak into the premises where large signs depicting sausage rolls flash the words: “Coming soon” Plans will move forward this year to start work at a derelict school site in the heart of Swaffham There have been concerns raised about the former Hamond’s Grammar School site in the town centre numerous times at Swaffham Town Council councillors received an update from Breckland councillor Judy Anscombe as to what is happening to the site - which was purchased by new owners last year The historic building has been unoccupied for a lengthy period of time and it is still unknown as to what it will be used for Cllr Anscombe told councillors that a planning officer from Breckland Council has recently visited the property with an agent “They will continue with plans which will move forward this year They are going through the contractual part of this project.” asked: “Is there any reason why this has been so delayed?” Cllr Anscombe added: “The current owners have only had it for a year “I think it’s good news there is a proposal that is moving forward.” In a previous meeting, it was said that security measures had been put in place on the building to prevent intruders from entering The empty 18th Century schoolhouse has previously been branded an “eyesore” of the town The former boarding grammar school was home to an antique shop for a time The site was vacant and boarded up in 2009 The site has been subject to vandalism and arson attacks and the level of repair required is thought to have increased over the years Concerns have been raised over planned boundary changes that would split a town in two Councillors in Swaffham have expressed their confusion over the recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) which is undertaking a review of political arrangements in the area The organisation will redraw the boundaries of wards represented on Breckland Council with the aim of helping to improve representation and encouraging the authority to work more effectively its initial recommendations have already resulted in backlash over the proposals to divide Swaffham and link the surrounding parishes to their nearest halves The LGBC is an independent body that aims to scrutinise and improve electoral arrangements for local authorities across the country It launched its review of Breckland Council last year after it was found that more than a third of wards in the district were under-represented The district is home to more than 141,000 people which is an increase of 8.5% compared to 2011 meaning that there is a disparity between the number of councillors and people living in certain areas the LGBC hopes to boost Breckland’s numbers of councillors from 49 to 51 to keep pace with population growth and carry out effective decision-making its other recommendations have proven more controversial The LGBC has set out plans for the council to create new Swaffham North and Swaffham South wards – thereby dividing the town which is currently governed within one ward The Swaffham North ward would include the surrounding parishes of Narford and Swaffham South would include Beachamwell said: “The proposal to split our town in two concerns me “I’m also not entirely sure what the relationship is between those surrounding villages and parishes and the town of Swaffham itself.” The LGBC is currently carrying out a public consultation into its recommendations which could come into force within the next few years A town council has appointed a disability advocate for residents to voice their concerns to Cllr Caroline Ellerbeck proposed to her fellow councillors that she should be the town’s advocate for disabled people and look at focusing on spreading awareness Cllr Ellerbeck highlighted some of the issues she has faced getting about town - including people parking on pavements and not being able to get into some shops Mayor Paul Darby said: “If Caroline wants to do that and make us more aware of things All councillors voted in favour of Cllr Ellerbeck becoming a disability advocate A man who is “disgusted” with his own behavior will return to court after verbally abusing four emergency worker where he pleaded guilty to using threatening words to provoke unlawful violence Prosecutor Asif Akram told the court that on February 14 the ambulance service received a call from Cole’s wife who thought he was having a heart attack he was originally compliant with the crew - but all of a sudden became aggravated and told the four paramedics to “f**k off” and the crew exited - leaving behind their equipment Mr Akram said that Cole ran out of the door after them telling them he would go after them and “kill them” He then punched the ambulance vehicle and the driver's window being forced to leave their equipment behind and Cole continued to be verbally abusive - telling the officers to “f**k off” but in interview he said he did not remember what had happened as he had been drinking - the reason he fell unconscious He was shown the officer's body camera footage solicitor Charlotte Winchester said Cole had been drinking vodka at home The court heard that Cole was particularly disappointed in himself as both his and his wife’s lives had been saved by the ambulance service previously He currently cares for his wife and suffers from anxiety Ms Winchester said: “He does not drink regularly - but when he does Magistrates ordered a response to supervision report to be completed before they sentence Cole He has previously been the subject of an alcohol monitoring requirement and probation officer Lewis Spicer informed the court he had been “compliant” Cole was released on unconditional bail to appear back at court on April 10