Swaffham Newsletter

In Touch With Your Town
'In Touch with your Town' is put
together by the Town Clerk Richard
Bishop or occasionally by the Deputy
Town Clerk Claire Smith. It deals with
some of the most topical items of the
day and the odd item where the Council want to share
information with the Town.
Coronavirus – (Covid-19) - Communication
From a Town Council perspective, we are already
into unchartered territory as this Pandemic has been
declared by the World Health Organisation. The Town
Council are monitoring the practicalities of ensuring
the events and our weekly Market are held in a safe
environment for the general public, ensuring that our
services are continued for as long as possible. We are
also in the hands of government, as their guidance
and legislation will determine how things evolve in the
UK. Swaffham Town Council will be operating partly
from the Town Hall and partly remotely from home, in
accordance with government advice.
We need to look after the well-being of our Council
staff and our Councillors, so we have contingency
plans for all eventualities, particularly for selfisolation,
in terms of business continuity, for meetings
and essential services. It is likely that there could be
disruption, closures, postponements or cancellations.
We will keep the public informed via the Council’s
website www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk and social
media through our Facebook and Twitter feeds and
through the local press.
There are far too many if’s, but’s and maybes to give
you in this brief message, as things are evolving on a
daily basis. If you are feeling unwell, please use the
NHS 111 helpline. There is also a good initiative shown
locally with a ‘Swaffham Emergency Action Group’
set up on Facebook and it would be good if all who
have access to Facebook could join this group #BeKind
#StaySafe
Green Britain Centre/Days Field
At the 11th March Town Council meeting the following
resolution was agreed unanimously: -
‘To authorise the nominated working group to
continue Consultation and Negotiation, with an
intent to make the proposed Asset Swap a viable
and affordable proposition for the community of
Swaffham. The Green Britain Centre will require to
be offered for any such Transfer in a ‘Fit for Purpose’
condition, suitable for a commercial client/s to take
a Lease for occupation, without additional financial
obligation on Swaffham Town Council.’
The nominated working group consists of five
Councillors, the Mayor Cllr Jill Skinner, Cllr Les Scott,
Cllr Judy Anscombe, Cllr Ian Pilcher, Cllr Paul Darby,
working with the Town Clerk Richard Bishop and
Deputy Clerk Claire Smith.
There is still a lot of work going on, but please be
assured that when the time is right the Town Council
will consult on the options open to them, with the
townsfolk of Swaffham.
Christmas Light Switch-On
The ‘Christmas Light Switch On and Christmas Market’
is scheduled for Sunday 6th December later this year,
so please put the date in your Diary and we will bring
you up to date with further details nearer the time.
If any volunteers want to put themselves forward to
help out on the day, please do get in touch. It is a great
event to be a part of and the more volunteers we
have the better. Just drop a line to us at the Town Hall,
reception@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Annual Town Assembly
The Annual Town Assembly is scheduled to take
place on Wednesday 29th April 2020 at 6.30pm in
the Council Chamber at the Town Hall. It is likely that
this date may change as the Town Council will have
considered emergency measures by the time this
newsletter is circulated. The new arrangements will be
circulated in due course. There will be written annual
reports available from various community groups as
well as your Town Council at the end of their first year
since the local council elections last May. Look out for
the agenda and revised details which will be available
on our website www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk on
our Facebook Page and Twitter feeds, also there will
be a press release.
Allotment Vacancies & The Benefit Of Having An Allotment
In view of the events happening worldwide, it seems
appropriate to repeat the article from last month.
Why do we have allotments? It is generally accepted
that connecting people to their environment will
also improve their health and well-being. There is a
growing awareness of the role that gardening plays
in both preventing and alleviating mental ill-health.
Many allotment gardeners will tell you that a spell
on the plot nurturing plants and contemplating
nature makes them feel calmer and more hopeful.
There have been recent studies that have measured
this benefit. Working a plot year-round means that
allotment holders experience the seasons, the fresh
air, witnessing the behaviour of birds, insects and
other animals and gain an understanding of the ecosystem.
Plot-holders are also part of a community of
like-minded people, many of whom are eager to share
their knowledge and spare produce. In Swaffham we
also have our local allotment association in the name of
SCALGA, so if anyone wishes to join, do ask for contact
details at the Town Hall, also please note that we have
some allotment vacancies at our Shouldham Lane site.
Any enquiries please to Kerry at the Town Hall 01760
722922 or e-mail reception@swaffhamtowncouncil.
gov.uk All allotment holders have been given the
news that Allotment Rents have been frozen for the
forthcoming year 2020-21.
Swaffham Town Council invites
you to come and celebrate the
75th Anniversary of VE Day
Everyone is welcome to join the parade from the Buttercross
to St Peter & St Paul Church for a Service of
Commemoration at 1.45pm.
Bring a picnic, dress in 40s style, or just come along to
enjoy the music, dance and family entertainment in the
Market Place.
The Town Council
Mayor – Cllr Jill Skinner
CllrSkinner.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Deputy Mayor – Cllr Keith Sandle
CllrSandle.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Judy Anscombe
CllrAnscombe.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Lindsay Beech
CllrBeech.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Stewart Bell,
CllrBell.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Wendy Bensley
CllrBensley.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Paul Darby
CllrDarby.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Graham Edwards
CllrEdwards.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Brendan Holmes
CllrHolmes.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Colin Houghton
CllrHoughton.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Shirley Matthews
CllrMatthews.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Ian Pilcher
CllrPilcher.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Les Scott
CllrScott.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Officers:
Richard Bishop – Town Clerk
townclerk@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk,
@SwaffhamClerk
Claire Smith – Deputy Town Clerk
deputyclerk@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Hannah Duggan – Office Administrator
administrator@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Swaffham Town Council
Tel: 01760 722 922
www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Town Hall opening times:
Monday 9.30am – 1.00pm. 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Tuesday - Friday – 9.30am – 1.00pm.
Your Breckland District Councillors:
Cllr. David Wickerson
01760 725 741
david.wickerson@breckland.gov.uk
Cllr. Ian Sherwood
07795 236 878
ian.sherwood@breckland.gov.uk
Cllr Ed Colman - also your Norfolk County Councillor
07940 406 356
ed.colman@breckland.gov.uk / ed.colman.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk
Breckland District Council
www.breckland.gov.uk
01362 656 870. For all enquiries regarding:
Planning, Refuse Bins, Housing, Recycling, Licensing
& Benefits.
Highway issues
Norfolk County Council – www.norfolk.gov.uk
– 0344 800 8020
For Highway issues & faulty street lights:
- Highways - please give the location of the issue and
a telephone number where further information can
be obtained.
- Faulty streetlights – please give the precise location
of the light and the number on the column.
Alternatively visit the website and search for
Highways or Street Lights to report your concerns.
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