The new facility will have 124 spaces, nine of them for disabled drivers, and work should start next February or March, the clerk told last month's parish council meeting.

Cllr Rockcliffe introduced the plans which had to be redrawn due to drainage and property access issues. On the chairman's proposal, the council approved the new scheme.

Norfolk County Council and rail company First Capital Connect are funding the project. It was noted that it was unlikely that any nearby road parking restrictions would be introduced before the construction of the new car park. The matter would be revisited at a later date.

A number of parishioners present voiced objections to the planning application for a takeaway service in Church Road, on the grounds of traffic/parking problems, noise and litter pollution. Letters of objection were also handed to the chairman. The applicant for the proposed takeaway spoke in support of his application. The council objected by six votes to three on the grounds of inadequate traffic and parking arrangements, noise and litter pollution. It was agreed that a S106 agreement should be sought towards additional costs of litter clearances in the village if this application is approved by the planning authority.

Following a report from the clerk, the council agreed a proposal from the chairman, that if a final letter to the managing director of May Gurney, regarding the damaged street light in Church Road, elicits no result, a county court small claims case should be brought against May Gurney for the recovery of repair costs to the street light unit.

The council noted that no further action is possible by the West Norfolk Council to clear untidy land opposite 16 Station Road, as it has proved impossible to contact the landowner.

The circulation of the petition from the local MP has been agreed by the council, in support of 20mph zones outside all schools, with help from the post office stores, Angel pub, medical centre and Watlington information centre to obtain signatures.

The council agreed there were no reasonable grounds to object to the removal of the telephone kiosk at the junction of Mill Road/Plough Lane.
Cllr Mack reported that repairs to Stone Close play area safety surfaces and swings had taken place, although the swings may still have to be removed on safety grounds. Persimmon is to redesign the site, as the facilities are now totally inadequate, and provide additional facilities on Martingales under the S106 agreement.

Cllr Mack is currently pursuing the borough council's development services department for the implementation of the agreement in relation to play equipment. It was agreed that the parish should be consulted on any new play equipment installed on the two sites to ensure adequate facilities for all age ranges.

Cllr Mack is still pursuing the drain issues relating to Martingales, and the planning application from Persimmon relating to non-culverting has still to be resolved.

Cllr Pike advised that The Coppice development is now complete and that 47 houses are occupied on Martingales. Persimmon is currently not building any further stock properties on the site.

The clerk reported that Norfolk County Council highways will review the parking arrangements at the school as part of the safety audit to be carried out following the new footway layout installation.

They will also review the footpaths coming from Martingales to Fairfield Lane to ensure that vehicular access will not be possible from the footpaths.

Work on resurfacing Downham Road is expected soon and will include road repairs by the zebra crossing. The footway outside 52 Downham Road has now been resurfaced.

Cllr Pike reported that PCSOs are attending the school "rush hour" on an irregular basis to help resolve the parking problems. Cllr Dagnall reported that following the installation of kerbing on Fen Road, puddle holes are now forming in the highway. The clerk will report this to NCC Highways.

It was agreed to also report the continued poor state of the highway on John Davis Way from the Stone Close junction to Station Road. A revised scheme drawing has been distributed, for the proposed footpath from the village hall car park along Lynn Road, which would now extend round into Mill Road to near the junction with Plough Lane. The council agreed on a proposal from the chairman to support this revised scheme.

The chairman thanked Cllr Rockcliffe for his input.

A request was agreed to seek quotations for collapsible access barriers to the Warren Close Play Area. Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to supply a suitable log to restrict vehicular access to the John Davis Way open space.

It was agreed that the handyman and litter picker be asked to tidy up the footpath link between Chestnut Close and Downham Road and also ensure the gate from Downham Road to the Glebe Land remains closed when not in use.

The handyman has removed some concrete post stumps near the defensive mound to allow better access for mowers, and will also add strengthening material under the tots' play area gate to avoid puddle problems.