Page 7, At Sheringham paper, Norfolk UK

Cats Protection

It has been interesting to see how cats react to the recent weather. Most of the cats in care have spent their time snug in their housing units which are kept nice and warm with wall heaters. Very few have strayed far from their heated beds and only venture forth to eat and drink or use their litter trays. During the really cold weather we found their water bowls were becoming frozen so they too have been placed in the housing units.

Cats Protection

Lenin and Cyd, two of Stephanie's cats, have continued to come and see us at the cat pens and have not been put off by the weather at all. Amber has maintained her patrols of the stables, but the other cats have decided home and hearth is best. My own cats, all now in their teens, have shown very little interest in going out, although Molly and Spice, the younger two, who prefer to do their ablutions outside, have made quick forays out of the door and dashed back in as soon as they have finished. The stray cat, who has been a regular visitor to our garden for several years, has appeared as soon we give him a call and is obviously sheltering quite close knowing he will be fed regularly. Meanwhile, 18 month old Maxwell, who lives next door, has found it all so very new and exciting and has been dashing about in the snow, pouncing on imaginary prey and thoroughly enjoying this new experience. With the weather now improving I expect life for the cats will soon be back to normal and before we know it the cats will be out basking in the sunshine.

Cats Protection

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.

New Government policies push Sheringham supermarket plans back

Two planning applications for supermarkets at Sheringham will not now be considered this month January, following the Government’s sudden announcement of 19 new planning policies for economic development.

Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth was issued just after Christmas, and all applications in the pipeline need to be re-assessed in the light of these new policies. North Norfolk District Council hopes to set a date in February for its Combined Development Control Committee to discuss the rival Tesco and Greenhouse/Waitrose proposals for Sheringham. The Council, the applicants and the Council’s independent retail consultant now need to see if, and how, the 19 new planning policies, backed up by a 100-page ‘practical guidance’ document, affect these supermarket applications.

The new policies cover the whole range of land use, not just retail proposals, in the context of sustainable economic development. According to Planning Policy Statement 4, the Government’s aims include wanting to “deliver more sustainable patterns of development, reduce the need to travel, especially by car and respond to climate change”, and promoting “the vitality and viability of town and other centres as important places for communities”.

Steve Oxenham, North Norfolk District Council’s Head of Planning and Building Control, said: “We know these decisions are hugely important to the community of Sheringham, and
we want to bring this to a conclusion as soon as possible. The timing of these new Government policies is unfortunate, but we will work as quickly as we can to gather all the information we need, hopefully in time for a February meeting.”

If you want to read the policy Click Here

DEVELOPERS MUST HEED COMMON LAND AND PUBLIC PATHS

‘Developers must be aware of registered common land and public paths on their land before they finalise their plans—or they will have to face big hold-ups.’ So says the Open Spaces Society, national campaigner for open spaces and paths, in response to the Penfold Review of Non-Planning Consents (Department of Business, Innovation and Skills). The aim of the review is ‘to explore whether the process for obtaining non-planning consents is delaying or discouraging businesses from investing’.

Explains Kate Ashbrook, the society’s general secretary: ‘It’s a great pity that this review is all about making it easier to carry out developments, when such developments should be planned to cause minimum impact on places, spaces and landscape which the public holds dear. ‘However, before any development can occur which affects registered common land, the developer needs to obtain consent from the Secretary of State for Environment, food and Rural Affairs, or provide satisfactory land in exchange’.

‘Similarly if the plans affect public rights of way, the developer may need to apply to move those paths, by applying to the local authority for a legal order. ‘In both cases, if there are objections there are likely to be delays while a public inquiry is held. So it is in the developer’s interest to check early on whether his plans affect common land or public paths and, if so, to consult all those with an interest with the aim of reaching agreement before going into the formal process. That will speed things up considerably,’ Kate concludes.