KING’S LYNN & DOWNHAM MARKET: New walk after tax freeze
Plans for a new walking route linking Lynn and Downham with Thetford were unveiled as members of Norfolk County Council approved the authority’s budget yesterday.
The council has frozen its portion of residents’ council tax for the third successive year, a move the authority claims is unprecedented, while proposed investments in transport and housing were also backed.
The council’s budget for 2013-14 runs to £1.5 billion, of which around £300 million will be drawn from taxpayers.
Around £10,000 will be spent on public rights of way in West Norfolk and Breckland as part of a project to create a new 42 mile ‘Norfolk Trail’ from Lynn to Thetford, via Downham.
The path, which is expected to be ready by the end of this year, will also form part of a new circular route around the whole county when the coastal leg is mapped out.
Acting council leader Bill Borrett said: “The Norfolk Trails are the most popular countryside footpaths in Norfolk and a wonderful way to explore our county.
“They are a major asset for the county and estimated to be worth around £10m a year to our rural economy.
“I am very confident that our policy to continue to develop them will double that figure, increase countryside access and enhance Norfolk’s tourism industry.”
Other measures approved by councillors included a plan to set aside £1 million for the council to carry out its own housing developments, rather than simply selling off its lands to developers.
Around £2 million will go on road projects, while £500,000 will be spent to develop new public transport services aimed at communities which are not served by commercial bus routes.
Graham Plant, the authority’s cabinet member for transport, said: “Public transport is a critical lifeline for people without access to a car. But it is increasingly difficult to maintain traditional bus services to our more remote rural communities.
“We want to offer guaranteed connections, through-tickets and good interchange facilities. To do this we need to invest in the infrastructure of bookings and ticketing, to help make people’s journeys easier.”
The authority will also spend an extra £3.5 million on services to £1 million on education, while more apprenticeships will be created through an expansion of the Norse scheme.
And a further £250,000 will be used to target potential investment streams from the European Union.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
