IMPORTANT NOTICE

DO NOT FEED THE PONIES ON LITCHAM COMMON

If people feed the ponies then the animals will start to expect this,

which could make them aggressive towards those who do not have any

food, and also towards their dogs.

Anything other than a very low nutrient diet is also bad for the ponies’

health, potentially resulting in DEATH from laminitis or colic.

Please note that the ponies are regularly checked by volunteers to ensure their wellbeing.

They will lose weight over the winter months, but this is normal and not a cause for concern.

Thank you for your cooperation
Litcham Common Management Committee

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Litcham Entertainment Group

YOUR CHANCE TO SEE A GREAT SET OF LEGS!

Brush off the cobwebs. Check the waistline. Take down the decorations. Back to school. Yes-it's January again with winter calling the shots as the cold reaches bits you hope it wouldn't. Yet all in not lost because it means you are a month nearer to the event that is guaranteed to warm even the deepest parts. Yes- those really nice people from Litcham Entertainment Group(LEGS) are up to their tricks again with what can only be described as a unique version of "Puss in Boots". Grab the diary,make a note of the dates 16-18 February 2012, remember the venue-Litcham High School then pop down to see Michael Fuller at The Village Butchers to buy your tickets. Available from 7 January all tickets are priced at £3.50(prices held yet again). As always please be quick as tickets sell pretty quickly for what is probably the best laugh in the village all year.

See you there and bring your friends. Who knows- you may still be friends after the show!

For further information give Judith a call on 01362 820 750.

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SNOWDROP WALKS

As usual two snowdrop walks will be held at Lexham Hall, the first on Sunday February 12th and then the week after on Sunday February 19th. Both will start at  11.00am and end by 4:00pm in the afternoon

The first opening is in aid of the National Gardens Scheme with refreshments provided by Litcham Church.

The second is entirely in aid of the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind.

Plants for sale. Dogs on leads welcome.

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ANOTHER LOCAL OIL THEFT

Please be vigilant and make sure your oil tank is secure, there was another Oil theft recently from a house in Mileham.

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The website to check for emergency school closures during bad weather is www.schoolclosures.norfolk.gov.uk.  Alternatively you can tune into BBC Radio Norfolk on 104.4FM which will also give you a list of any school closures.

If Litcham Primary School is closed due to bad weather, Litcham Childcare will be closed too.  However, If Litcham Primary School is closed for any other reason, it does not necessarily mean that Litcham Childcare will be closed so please call 01328 701 703 if you are in any doubt.

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GRITTING ROUTES

Priorities for gritting roads have been established on the basis of the route hierarchy and level of use. The main roads will be gritted before other routes.

For information about gritting routes including route maps follow the ‘Gritting routes’ link below.

Norfolk Gritting Routes 2011-2012 (pdf - 3326kB) - Report a gritting problem

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HALF-TERM FUN

at Litcham All Saints Church

Thursday 16 February 10 am to 5 pm

BRASS RUBBING and EXPLORATION DAY

BRASS RUBBING  on brass replicas from across the country

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LITCHAM PARISH COUNCIL

At the December Meeting, attended by six Councillors, County and District Councillor M Kiddle Morris, and five members of the public the following was considered:

Finance: a further response had been forwarded to the External Auditor regarding the objection to the accounts. It is to be hoped that a decision will be taken by the External Auditor to conclude the matter in the near future. After conversations with the Diocese of Norwich it was agreed to remit the outstanding portion of the sum owing for the purchase of the extension to the graveyard.

Recycling: The Parish Council had requested Norfolk County Council Highways Department to recommend a suitable location in the village for the positioning of two recycling bins. The two bins would be for bottles and textiles. The most suitable location that was suggested by the Engineer was on Tittleshall Road on the opposite side of the road to Carters Coaches. Several parishioners voiced their concern at this site as it could cause a highway safety issue and that as the bins are close to properties there could be disturbance from noise if the bins are filled late at night. The Highways Engineer will be in the village again during December and will be requested to suggest another location.

Highways: The parking area outside the Post Office has been repaired and the problems reported last month are to be reported again. The first sharp frost of the year has brought two accidents along Dereham Road. The Dereham Road from Litcham to Gressenhall is not gritted. The Highways Department is to be written to stressing the problem with Dereham Road and again requesting that this road be added to the gritting routes. Parishioners are reminded that the gritted roads towards Dereham is either along the Mileham Road, B1145, and than to Dereham through Beetley  on the B1146 or to travel through the Dunhams to the A47 at Necton.

Diamond Jubilee Celebration: This is to be held on 2nd and 3rd June 2012 and further details will be published in the New Year.

Planning: the installation of three small scale wind generators at Crossways Farm, Dereham Road and a single small scale wind generator at High House Farm had been granted permission by Breckland Council.

The next meeting of Litcham Parish Council is on Monday 6 February 2012 at 7.30p.m. in the Jubilee Hall.

The first part of the meeting is set aside for parishioners to raise issues with the Parish Council. Full minutes can be viewed from the Meetings Page

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LITCHAM COMMON CATTLE GRIDS UPDATE

Litcham Common Cattle Grids Update

The Highway Authority has informed us that the installation of the cattle grids may be delayed until April or May, due to technical problems that might be encountered if the work is done during cold weather. Originally we were told that the grids would be installed during mid-February, but this now seems highly unlikely.

In the meantime we will be pressing ahead with the roadside tree and scrub clearance, which may already have started by the time you read this. The clearance work will have a significant impact on the appearance of the common, and is being carried out for two reasons:

1. To give motorists a clear view of any animals (and people!) close to the road. (In other words, to improve road safety.)

2. 2.To increase the areas of open heath and acid grassland habitat on the common, and in particular help ‘join up’ the existing areas of open heath.
   

The preservation of this habitat, and the wildlife associated with it, is the primary objective of the whole grazing project at Litcham, and the reason why we are receiving significant grant funding from SITA Trust.

The visual effect will be to recreate the traditional open look of the common, at least to some extent. However, it is important to stress that the nature reserve will continue to be managed to include a variety of wildlife habitats, including significant areas of woodland and scrub/gorse.

Anyone who has questions about the work on the common is welcome to speak to a member of Litcham Common Management Committee. We are: Tim Angell, Sarah Cureton, Neil Foster, John Jones, John Mitchell, Mike Oldfield and Dave Wheal.

For more Information about the Litcham Common Grazing Scheme and the Cattle Grid project...

...and here for a Map showing position of Cattle Grid and proposed changes to fencing.

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LITCHAM CONSERVATION GROUP - NEXT TASK

The next conservation task on the common will take place on Saturday 11th February, meeting in the car park at 10.00 am. We will probably be cutting and burning scrub. Please call me on 01328 700045 if you are interested in joining us and would like more information.

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ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for the area covered by the Litcham and Tittleshall branch raised £2594.74.This is a small decrease of £77 compared to 2010, which is possibly as much as could be hoped for in the current financial climate.  We also know that certain of the town supermarkets were collecting well before the actual start date of the appeal, and as a consequence, quite a lot of people bought their poppies from there, rather than from our loyal band of local collectors.

The collection broke down as follows:

          House to house collection       £690.84

          Static point collections             £449.70

          Church collections                   £396.20

          Donations for wreaths              £58.00

          Donation from RBL Branch      £1000.00

For your clarification, Static point collections are those taken within commercial premises by way of a box on the counter.

Many thanks to anyone who contributed in any way to the success of the 2011 Appeal.

Sheila and Stephen Lynn 

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LITCHAM COMMUNITY FETE

Rescheduled Meeting

The 2012 Fete will be held on Saturday the 23rd June and we are looking for some original ideas to make it a real ‘not-to-be-missed’ event.  The 2011 Community Fete that raised £3,000 for local causes, thanks to some good weather plus a lot of hard work. This year we are planning Cake, Jam and Vegetable competitions and a family dog show by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Shaw.  If you have a local cause you would like to raise money for or if you would simple like to help us then please get in touch with Tracey Trinder, on 07900178540.

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FRIENDS OF LITCHAM ALL SAINTS - UPDATE 2011

During the year ending 30th Sept.2011 total income was £2,801 with expenditure of  £1,200 leaving a surplus of £1,600. Total reserves stand at £5,036. The fund raising income came from the Wine Tasting event, £793 nett, and proceeds from the Litcham Village fete over two years of £143.  Currently we have 44 members.

The main expenditure was spent on completing the Church Clock restoration work £432 and £300 for the installation of safety hoops on the Tower ladder.

We plan to contribute £5,000 in 2011/12 towards the Church building major restoration works currently being planned.

A full set of accounts is available from the Treasurer: Tony Wilson- Tel:01328 701444 or email awilson@greenbee.net.

AGM

The AGM for the Friends will be held on sat. 28 January 2012 at 4.30pm at The Old Rectory in Litcham.

Kerry Walpole, Friends of All Saints Church, Litcham 01328 700 161

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LOCAL BUSSES

On Tuesday and Friday Peeling Coaches runs a rural bus service mainly for shoppers to Kings from Tittleshall, Mileham, Litcham and the Lexhams.

What some of readers may not realise is that as this service is classed as ‘Rural’ bus passes can be used before 9.30.

Unfortunately the numbers have been down recently and in there is the ever-present danger of the funding for this service being cut.  So if you want this service to remain running please use it when you can.

Here is the timetable for our villages for Peeling Coaches Service No.1

          Outbound                Return

          Tittleshall            9.10              Depart kings Lynn        13.30

          Mileham              9.20              West Lexham               14.15

          Litcham               9.25              East Lexham                14.20

          East Lexham      9.27               Litcham                        14.25

          West Lexham     9.30               Mileham                       14.30

          Kings Lynn       10.15               Tittleshall                     14.40

The coach also makes other stops and you can view the complete timetable on the East Anglian Travelline website at www.travelineeastanglia.org.

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New Recycling Centre for Dereham

The new Dereham Recycling centre at the Trafalgar Business Park, Rash’s Green, Dereham opens on 16th December.

Facilities:
     • Clearly signed containers for recycling of different materials
     • One way entry and exit for smooth traffic flow and reduced queues
     • Pay as you throw service for disposal of DIY waste
     • Reuse shop
     • Low level bins for easy access
     • Site does not close for essential waste collection and servicing operations
     • CCTV for security and trade waste prevention
For more information on recycling please contact Norfolk County Council:
Tel: 0344 800 8020  - email: recycling@norfolk.gov.uk - website: www.norfolk.gov.uk/recyclingcentres