It was reported that Norfolk County Council would not be able to sort out the situation in the near future and the process could take up to a year.

And with no other suitable plot of land identified within Necton, it left the allotment scheme effectively stalled.

Parish council chairman Frank Woodward said: "The council would welcome any suggestion from residents as to a possible alternative site and is keen to continue to pursue this scheme."

cycle rack

The council has been asked to consider providing a cycle rack near the bus stops on the A47 so that villagers can cycle there to catch buses to Norfolk's main towns.

It agreed that it was a good idea, but said providing a rack would depend not only on the cost but "the legality of its siting" and a disclaimer to ensure the council could not be held responsible for loss of, or damage to, cycles using the facility. It is to look into these aspects.

car scheme

News that Necton's community car scheme would be ending on December 31, as reported in the Lynn News recently, was greeted with "considerable regret" by councillors.

They were told the problem was not only a shortage of drivers but the lack of people able to continue organising and operating the scheme.

Councillors were also disappointed to hear that the Highways Agency's latest letter was offering no prospect of improvement to the A47/Tuns Road junction in the near future, despite the parish council's representations.

The council's working party looking at this issue was not happy with the response and would be producing further arguments for improvements, they were told.

In response to a letter from the council's drainage working party, Anglian Water has acknowledged that the foul drainage system flooding in parts of the village is caused by excess surface water entering the system during heavy periods of rainfall.

But the water authority said that it had been unable to identify the source of this water or to rectify the situation. Breckland Council was now involved and there was to be a meeting of all the parties concerned.