MADE IN NORFOLK AND THE LORD MAYOR OF NORWICH

Ivan Randall, director of Made in Norfolk Ltd presents The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Michael Banham, with an antique stone bottle from Caley's factory in Norwich. Michael Banham has been very closely connected with the Norwich based confectionery company for many years and admired the item on a recent visit to Ivan's craft centre and gallery in Sheringham.
Made In Norfolk is running regular craft fairs at St Johns Hall in Wyndham Street - details 01263-821122

GRANTS AND LOANS FOR HOME REPAIRS

Is your home in need of urgent repairs or renovation, or does it need insulating? Did you know that NNDC offers a wide variety of grants to help meet the cost of repairs and insulation?

Home Repair Assistance Grants of up to £3,000 are available to owner-occupiers in receipt of council tax benefit, to help meet the cost of minor repairs.  Home Insulation Grants are available to owner-occupiers and private tenants in receipt of council tax benefit and to landlords to help with the cost of installing energy efficiency measures, such as loft and cavity wall insulation, draught-proofing and secondary glazing.   Crime Prevention Grants can help owner-occupiers and private tenants in receipt of council tax benefit install measures to improve the security of their home, such as door and window locks.

If you are on a low income or on income-related benefits, and your property needs more major repairs of renovation, you may apply for a Home Maintenance Loan, up to £5,000 or a Home Renovation Loan up to £30,000. Typical works include damp-proofing, re-roofing, replacement windows and doors and other works to make a property fit to live in.
The provision of affordable rented accommodation has been highlighted as a key target area by NNDC. In order to help achieve this aim, NNDC offers financial assistance to property owners for the renovation and conversion of empty and vacant homes into swellings for let.   An Empty Home Grant is available to owners to help meet the cost of renovation of a dwelling which has been empty for 12 months or more. The maximum available is £20,000 and may be offered where the owner would otherwise be unable to fund the work. A Building Conversion Grant encourages the conversion of property not previously having a residential use into rented accommodation. The maximum available is £15,000 per unit. It is available when, without the grant, the conversion works would be un-economical for the owner. It is a condition of both grants that the property is let for 5 years after the work is finished.
For more information, please contact the Private Sector Housing Team on 01263 516316

THE POPPIES RETURN

It was in the 19th century that North Norfolk became known as Poppy Land, when Clement Scott started writing articles describing the surrounding area. Railway companies advertised the Norfolk countryside with 'Welcome to Poppyland' posters and the train to Cromer became known as The Poppy Line.

The Beeston Regis field had always been full of poppies but re-growth was slow, so it was decided earlier this year the field near the newly developed area of the Beeston Regis Caravan Park was to be ploughed to bring the seeds back to the surface. Local residents were concerned the skylarks would lose their natural habitat whereas in fact they are still nesting in the field.  Another concern was that the field looked ugly, but that was only for a few months, and it was worth the sacrifice as its back to its former glory and they will carry on self seeding for many years to come.