Parish Changes Rest with New Government Department

A new parish could be created in North Norfolk after the District's first review of boundaries since the 1980s.

Proposals submitted to the new Department for Communities and Local Government (the DCLG, which has assumed responsibilities formerly lying with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) envisage the creation of a parish at Walcott on the North Norfolk coast, where residents are currently served by Happisburgh Parish Council.

The review also proposed changes to the boundary between Beeston Regis and Runton (where properties on Cromer Road would become part of Runton Parish), and moving a boundary so properties in North Barningham, currently in Gresham Parish, become part of Matlaske.

The proposals are the result of a two-year review that went out to public consultation in the autumn of 2005, and in the light of which NNDC finalised its recommendations in February this year.

NNDC has now published its Parish Review Report, which is available for public inspection at the Council's office at Holt Road, Cromer, the North Norfolk Housing Trust office at New Road, North Walsham, and at Fakenham Connect on Oak Street, Fakenham. Comments on the proposals can still be made to the Government by writing to Mrs S Neumann, Democracy and Local Governance Division, Zone 5/G9, Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU.

Councillor Graham Jones, Cabinet Member for Democratic Services, said: "The Government has not given a timescale for making a decision on our proposals for boundary changes, but we hope it will be in time for the May 2007 elections."

ENDS