By Martin Chown, Chairman Hunstanton Civic Society
A great deal has happened since last month – the proposal to build a 6 storey block of flats on the old Kit Kat site has been withdrawn, and the situation regarding the motorcycles on The Green has been regularised by the Borough Council who were themselves in breach of planning regulations since 2006.
However, Wash Week for Hunstanton beckons. There are events all around The Wash between 7 and 15th August – in celebration of the rich and diverse heritage of The Wash and the North Norfolk coast. In Hunstanton there will be an exhibition in the Coal Shed Gallery, Le Strange Terrace of photographs and fossils relating to the cliffs over the past century. Open the whole week from 8th – 15th between 10am and 4pm.
(Contact 01485 532376 – Civic Society event supported by Borough Council)
On Tuesday 10th there will be a special fossil identification day with Cindy Howells from the National Museum of Wales – at the Coal Shed, and she will be giving a Talk in the evening on local man James Frederick Jackson, who from a difficult childhood became a geologist of genius and passion and at age 15 wrote the definitive book on the geology of Hunstanton cliffs in 1910 – now re-published by John Smith. This is at the Town Hall at 7pm – entry on the door £3 or in advance £2.50 from Witley’s newsagents, High Street, Hunstanton.
(Civic Society event supported by Town Council)
On Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th the family can enjoy a Rock Pool Ramble – 10.30 am North Promenade (contact: 01553 818503). On Thursday 12th., the Civic Society is organising a Family Fossil Hunt with a guide from Natural England along Hunstanton beach– meet on the beach by the cliff at 11am (Contact 01485 532223)
Hunstanton made the television news over the Kit Kat site meeting with local MP Henry Bellingham. Civic Society members, Residents Action Group and other residents and visitors heard views from the MP, local Councillors, the Action Group and Civic Society. The opposition to the proposal for a six storey block was quite clear. Many people had also written to the Borough Council with their own strong views, and opposition came from the independent architectural advisory body, Inspire East. The Civic Society believes that there has to be a lot more discussion and full consultation before the next plan hoves into view – which we certainly believe to be the case.
The Borough Council have also regularised the parking of the motorbikes on The Green. Civic Society met with them recently and there was some discussion about the merits and demerits of access to parking on the promenade. Health and safety played a large part in keeping the status quo, but for the purists within the argument, The Green is sacrosanct, and there is frustration that the stipulations of the original covenant have been flouted.
So we have again looked to the future, but during Wash Week we will look firmly at the very distant past, and hoping that a revival of interest in geology, along with our glorious beach environment, will add even more reason for visitors to make the long trek along the A149 in holiday time to make Hunstanton a firm regular year round destination.
Tags: Hunstanton Civic Society