Cats ProtectionWe have a dedicated band of fosterers looking after the cats in our care. They have become involved with the branch for various reasons. One of these is Jackie who became involved after her daughter contacted us for help with a feral colony of cats at Kelling Heath Holiday Park. As well as neutering the cats, several kittens have, over the years, also been caught, socialised and re-homed. This has all been done with the agreement of the management at the holiday park.
After helping her daughter to catch the cats, take them to the vets and care for them prior to their release back to the colony, she decided that she would like to do more to help. Jackie, a very busy lady who works full time and is also studying for a degree, now has two of our pens and also provides accommodation in two sheds with runs attached. At present she is caring for 4 cats, one of whom is Juliet, who had 5 kittens. Ironically, Juliet and the kittens have come into care via her daughter at the holiday park. We only found out that Juliet had kittens when she was caught to be neutered and ear tipped (this is done to identify that the cat has been neutered should it be caught in a trap again and thus avoid her having an unnecessary operation).
Because we did not know where or how old the kittens were we had to release her back to the holiday park after the operation. Emmy, Jackie's daughter, and her colleagues continued to feed Juliet to gain her trust so that she would bring her kittens out of hiding. Although she has a flea allergy it was important we caught all the kittens before finally catching her. Originally it had been planned to release her back to the park but because of the flea allergy and her having learnt to trust people, she will now be found a loving new home. Two of her kittens have already found new homes. Pingo and Pongo (two lovely tabby boys) and Wendy (their little black sister) are still waiting for that special person to offer them new homes. Juliet is still receiving treatment so is not yet available for re-homing.
If you are looking for a cat or kitten please call Stephanie on 01692 535858. Alternatively you can visit www.northwalsham.cats.org.uk for a description and photographs of the cats before giving her a call on the above number. |
Ivory exposes new plans for council tax rises in North NorfolkConservative Candidate reveals evidence that Government set to introduce a stealth council tax rise.North Norfolk’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Trevor Ivory, has described Government plans to increase taxes on houses in North Norfolk as, “unbelievable” and has warned of the serious financial impact that the plans would have on local families and pensioners. Mr Ivory has already warned that the Government’s tax inspectors have been quietly gathering information about every home in England in preparation for a council tax revaluation, but he has now seen part of a leaked Government presentation that confirms that tax inspectors are gathering information including the number of bedrooms in a house and whether it has a conservatory. The information collected also includes strange items like the quality of the view from the property. Whilst internal inspections have not started yet, the Conservatives have used the Freedom of Information Act to discover that inspectors have already recorded the quality of the view from 100,000 properties and has logged details of 780,000 conservatories – including whether they are single or double glazed. The database also includes the number of garage spaces for every home and identifies 5,000 “value significant” patios. “Council tax bands were re-valued in Wales in 2005 and four times more properties were moved up a band than were moved down,” explained Mr Ivory. “I am very concerned that many hard-pressed families and pensioners in North Norfolk will suffer if the Government presses ahead with these plans.” “We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the country but I am very concerned that we will be penalised for it. At a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet because of Gordon Brown’s mishandling of the British economy it is simply appalling that the Government is going to add to the burden by punishing people for living in a nice area or for having improved their property. If a property is moved from Band D to Band E in North Norfolk, this would mean a £328 increase in its annual council tax bill – an increase of 22%!” “Council tax levels have already rocketed under Labour and now it seems that they want to raise it even higher by punishing those who have had a new patio. I opposed the tax inspectors being given these draconian powers to come onto our properties in the first place and now I oppose any moves to try to plug Gordon Brown’s financial black-hole by a stealth council tax rise.” Government plans threaten North Norfolk’s high streets and shopsIvory warns that proposed changes to planning rules will further undermine local shopsLocal Conservative candidate, Trevor Ivory, has strongly criticised the Government’s proposed changes to planning rules, which will reduce local planning powers to control out-of-town retail development. A new cross-party report has warned that the Government’s proposed changes to planning rules on retail development will result in “many more out-of-town superstores”. This comes as a separate nationwide survey by the British Retail Consortium has found that 1 in 10 of all town centre shops are now vacant - three times as many as last autumn. The Government is proposing to scrap the ‘needs test’, which requires developers to prove the ‘need’ for additional out-of-town development and if the Government is allowed to go ahead North Norfolk District Council will be forced to observe the new rules when assessing planning applications. The small print of the Government’s proposals shows the changes would lead to an, “overall increase in [out-of-town] development, which could have environmental implications," resulting in “additional unplanned proposals outside town centres.” The influential committee also warned that the changes will create, “unnecessary risks to town centres.” Commenting on the news, Trevor Ivory said, “Given the number of shops that have closed in Norfolk over the last decade, this new legislation is the last thing we need.” "These proposals threaten to undermine our village shops and town high streets still further and it is vital for local communities to retain the power to curtail foolish out-of-town expansion and to promote town centre regeneration." |
@ Sheringham Community Paper - Issue 104 - 28 August
