Highway Improvements

Gayton has the opportunity to bid for a portion of a £100,000 budget set aside by Norfolk County Council specifically to work with Parish and Town Councils.

The funds can be put towards the improvement or creation of footways, trods (untarmaced paths) and crossing facilities but cannot be used towards tackling speeding issues.

The Parish Council has often discussed the benefits that a pedestrian crossing outside Gayton School could bring to the village and feels that this may be an ideal opportunity to pursue the installation of one.

However, the funding that is available from the County Council has to be matched from other sources. A crossing could cost in the region of £15,000. This would mean, theoretically, that £7,500 of the cost would be covered by the County Council and the Parish Council would have to find funding for the remaining £7,500.

The Council’s reserves have been considerably depleted following the installation of the new play equipment on the playing field and the Council’s decision not to increase the precept over the past two years, despite increases in costs, due to the current economic climate.

To cover the cost of installing a crossing, the Council could take on a loan through the Public Works Loan Board. Indeed, the Council has just finished paying for a loan of £10,000 which was used to purchase the piece of land set aside for a new village hall, which the Jubilee Hall still owns.

If the Council were to take on another loan to pay for the installation of a pedestrian crossing, it would have no choice but to increase the precept to cover the repayment costs.

The Council wants to know what you think. Do you think that the installation of a pedestrian crossing would be beneficial enough to the village for the Council to increase its precept to pay for it? Do you think that there are other areas of highway improvements, within the limitations of the funding provided by Norfolk County Council, that the Council should consider?

Please give us your views so that the Council can make the best decision for the Parish.

You can email your thoughts to the Parish Clerk at kate@kvtbusinesscare.co.uk or write to the Council at:

2 Manor Close
Middleton
Kings Lynn
PE32 1RZ

The Council looks forward to hearing your views!