Wildmoor property company director Will Bowers told a Question Time-style annual town meeting that letting of the former Woolworths premises on the market square was just awaiting documents to be signed, although he was reluctant to say who would be taking over the store.

He also revealed that there had been a lot of interest in The Crown and he hoped it would not be long before the hotel and pub reopened.

Car parking, future development plans and concerns about empty shops were high on the agenda at the meeting of Fakenham Town Council at Fakenham College conference hall. The session was well-attended and lively.

The top table included Mayor Jayne Cubitt, town clerk Jan Perfect, district councillor Gloria Lisher, county councillor David Callaby, police Inspector Tony Toynton, racecourse manager David Hunter, Mr Bowers and district council strategic director Steve Blatch.

Anxieties about the proposed travellers' site on the A 148 bypass were fielded by Mr Blatch. He said there had been a proper consultation period and despite objections from local people, the regulation and control of a recognised site was a Government requirement and was seen as the best way of dealing with a difficult situation.

The management of travellers would be a combined responsibility of the council and the police.

800 homes

Future development plans for the town were confirmed with a proposal to build 800 homes and a new primary school on an area of land to the south of the A148 bypass. As part of the consultation exercise, an exhibition would be held in the town on Tuesday, June 23.

A number of questioners were concerned about parking in the town centre and the lack of any enforcement procedures.

Some thought the market square should be made available for parking as had been the case before its redevelopment.

There was a general feeling that Fakenham was a scruffy town and that more should be done by businesses and shops to tidy up their own areas. It was pointed out that in parts of Europe, councils could request owners and tenants to be good housekeepers and if they failed in this obligation, the council was empowered to carry out tidy-up work and then submit its bill.

Before the meeting ended, the mayor presented the council's annual volunteer award shield to Mrs Janet Vertigan who has run the Friday night youth club in the town for the past ten years.

She said there had been a number of applications for the award this time but Mrs Vertigan was a worthy winner for her tireless work in organising the club on behalf of young people.