A wonderful time at Hunstanton Soapbox Derby and some great news from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn
It’s Independent councillor Jo Rust’s turn to write this week’s Friday Politics, and she has plenty to smile about…
Like many of you I was incredibly happy and relieved to learn that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Lynn wouldn’t be a part of the government pause and review of the New Hospital Programme.
Understandably the new Labour government would want to look at the uncosted spending commitments promised by the last Conservative government, but the dire condition of the QEH is well known and so to take it out of those hospitals which will be re-examined shows the understanding of the severity of our local situation.
Now we just need funding to be released so that the building work can actually start, hopefully before Christmas. It will come as such a relief to those hard working staff delivering services in a crumbling building as well as patients undergoing treatment.
Following on from that good news I attended the Soap Box Derby in Hunstanton on Sunday. The town was packed with tourists and locals enjoying the continued mild weather and the entertainment. It was an amazing event, one I was pleased that my grandchildren got to enjoy.
Next year I’m going to make sure that we schedule in the whole day so we actually get to see the races as opposed to viewing the soap boxes on the green. There was a real buzz about the place, and you could clearly see the enjoyment on the faces of those present.
The event was also so well staffed with a 100-strong council team making sure it all went without a hitch. I’m glad I wasn’t the team tasked with judging the vehicles and I didn’t envy Cllr Anota and the two Mayors their task.
We have so much that we offer at weekends for visitors and local residents - our towns really punches above its weight in terms of the visitor offer. Whether it’s free music festivals, Pride, the Soap Box Derby or all the children’s events put on by the Vancouver Quarter, there’s always something to do which means you don’t have to travel to other towns or cities to be entertained.
We’re really lucky and don’t shout loudly enough about it. We spent the weekend in a caravan park in Heacham for a family celebration and had an absolutely wonderful time enjoying our local coastal area; the views, the restaurants and the weather all made it a perfect weekend and one we rarely enjoy to the full because, when it’s on your doorstep, you just don’t tend to.
But I really can see why we’re such a tourist destination. Our beaches are beautiful and if only we could guarantee the weather, there are few places better to holiday than West Norfolk. The added benefit is that we didn’t have to spend hours in the car to get there.
On a final note, Food for Thought is running another series of 12 sessions where you can go along and see a chef cook tasty, nutritious meals on a budget. Jenny, the chef, shows you exactly how you can knock up delicious food in a limited time rather than resorting to expensive takeaways because you’re tired at the end of the day.
They’re running at the Methodist Church Hall on County Court Road. There’s free parking nearby and you don’t have to book the sessions to attend, you can just turn up. They run from 9.30am until 11.30am each Tuesday until December 3. It’s a great way to meet new people and to eat free food… which is my favourite part, of course. They’re put on by West Norfolk Council and are an excellent way to spend a couple of hours. I’d urge you to go along.
