Latest News
Very latest announcements are on the online forum and the front page.
May 2006: Kicked to the Kerb
- 12 May
- Apparently, the County Council will install the dropped kerb as soon as they have a work team available. There's a temporary patch there for now.
- 8 May
- An ill-planned full-width gate has been put across the Extons Road entrance, obstructing access for all wheeled vehicles (including wheelchairs, pushchairs and bicycles). Already the grass at its west edge has been trampled into submission: see photo (27k).
April 2006: Digging things up
- Restoring the Gaywood River
- The IDB have begin a year-long programme to dredge and repair the banks of the Gaywood River. Dredging is done and the silt is drying. The banks are prepared and ready for more work in May.
- Archaeological Investigations
- During April, there will be excavations to investigate and record any existing archaeology in the sensitive areas which will be affected by restoration, including the Red Mount Chapel, the Guannock Arch and the Seven Sisters and Red Mount Walks.
- Broad Walk Resurfacing
- During April and May, Broad Walk, Extension Walk and a small area near the Bowls Club will be resurfaced. This first stage is being done early to remove the potholes before they get any worse. The final top layer will be added at the end of the project, as originally planned.
- For more information...
- Council poster (JPG 101k)
January/February 2006: We Have Bats
Update: The bat survey report can now be read by asking at King's Court reception desk. It should be with the other public documents about the Walks. (3 February 2006)
The headline is: We Have Bats: Natterers and Brown long-eared, which are building and woodland bats respectively, according to Norfolk Bat Group.
There are ground surveys going on so that the project can figure out what sort of foundations to put on the kiosk and new bridge, how the old bridges will react to the repairs and maybe other repairs. A darker ground problem is the burial ground under St James Park, with the park planners now trying to reduce ground disturbance and use ground-penetrating radar to spot graves before digging.
On the school bridge, no-one at the Walks forum meeting seemed sure about when it would be replaced. (13 January 2006)
October 2005
- 24 October
- Felling starts, but only two trees. See site notice.
September 2005
Council Makes New Recommendations!
- Good:
- Ground-breaking survey work,
- Only 14 trees to fell until 2008,
- More time for the Walks users to make their case on most of this irreversable plan!
- Bad:
- Still the "avenues" approach,
- Wholesale felling still planned.
You can read the report for yourself in the agenda of the community and culture panel.
August 2005
The Council finally called a meeting of Friends of the Walks, which was in St John's Church on Tuesday 23 August from 6pm. This group needs all voices to be heard, to make the group a real grassroots initiative. Sadly, the meeting was dominated by the councillor that leads their project and the two officers responsible. The next meeting was set for Tuesday 27 September. Maybe it will be better.
Web site problems: the webserver hosting our site was attacked. Please bear with us while skilled technicians cure the problems.
June/July 2005
Don't Let Death in The Walks!
The Council came face to face with the Death they are inviting into the Walks. Meanwhile, inside, Cllr Loveless was to ask about the pointless replacement of trees around the new car park next to the Walks.
There was a peaceful protest on Saturday 16 July, by the library entrance to the Walks. In the first quarter of an hour, we probably got to 30 people or so, but then we were busy with cars from London Road parking up and coming to talk to us and we didn't have much time to count heads! All in all, it was pretty encouraging support for seeking further improvements to the plan.
May 2005
A quiet month for the Walks in public. Behind the scenes, the Walks Action Group didn't meet because of bank holidays and various other time pressures. The Council is drafting tenders following the approval of the bid by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The expected council-run meetings have been postponed until late June or early July. A supplement is expected in the Lynn News on Friday 3 June (comments)
This web site was redesigned a little.
April 2005
- 4 April
- Council planning permission committee approved the application for a wood-roof kiosk with steel shutters, despite the local plan forbidding it, despite a sustained objection from English Heritage (who are responsible for the Walks listed park and listed building status) and despite it not following police security advice. The applications now go to GO-East for the secretaries of state review. Please write to them. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister should be reviewing the breach of the local plan by the kiosk.
- Monday 11 April
- Walks Action Group met at 8pm at the Queen's Arms, London Road. After a round-up of news (including the apparant preparation for the rail station car park expansion), we collected suggestions about who the council should consult about Green Space. We discussed security and sports, a possible three-part plan and the forthcoming elections. Some future work was planned and the next meeting set for Monday 9 May.
March 2005
- 1 March
- New round of committee meetings starts and Planning agenda for March has no Walks. The "Sports Provision in the Walks" item will return to Community and Culture committee later.
- 2 March
- Updated Council guide and The Walks News printer file.
- 7 March
- WAG met in Queen's Arms at 8pm to review drawings. and most people thought it was better, but not good enough. All agreed to call for more time for the public consultation.
- 8 March
- Council press conference (reported by Lynn News and EDP) to announce the revised plans.
- 14 March
- New edition of The Walks News printer file.
- 20 March
- A Walk in The Walks is a sponsored walk organised by Headway as part of national Brain Injury Awareness Week. Report on Indymedia Cambridge
- 22 March
- It seems that the project was approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund but no announcement or reply from them yet (30 March).
- 29 March
- The Council issued an over-celebratory press release about HLF approval. Somehow it went in that day's edition of the Lynn News?
February 2005
- 2 February
- Some changes have been made to the planning application. The kiosk is a bit smaller, and the turret has gone. It seems that only those who looked at the plans before are invited to comment.
- 11 February
- Council's thinking on the suggestion from the 19 January meeting won't be published for at least another week. Apparently they are preparing a detailed plan.
- 24 February
- HLF said that 22 March is the decision date. Detailed drawings for the revised plan appeared in Juniper House and the town library. Petition presented to Council.
January 2005
- 3 January
Heritage Lottery Fund people were spotted in the Walks on 20 December, along with members of the Council's project team. Why weren't friends told? (Report from supporter, confirmed by HLF.)
- 6 January
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Planning applications not on January meeting agenda. It will go to a board meeting, so I don't see how it can be decided by their target date of 19 January.
Heritage Lottery Fund say the Walks project won't be decided at the January meeting. Next possible date is 22 March. (Letter to supporter)
Posted a copy of the listing on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest with a small commentary and added its dates to the timeline. There are a few disagreements with the bid.
- 11 January
The protest locationTreetop protest near the police station and main road into town on a market day. Details still sketchy. See online forum.
- 18 January
Two WAG member letters urging council to compromise instead of simply naysaying printed in Lynn News.
- 19 January
WAG members met with Borough Council leader John Dobson, Cllr Nockolds and council officers. They presented some of their concerns, including the drastic short-sighted tree felling plan. Cllr Dobson said the council would look into a previously-overlooked alternative plan and then meet with WAG members again. Unfortunately, time is now very short.
The alternative plan is a type of interplanting. In any group of 4 trees in a Walk (A B C D), B and C are replaced by a new tree half-way between A and D. The problem is to try to pick groups with two failing trees surrounded by two stronger ones. The older trees will also receive less invasive in situ soil improvements. It's not as good as replacement as needed, but it's better than clearance. Expert advice is being sought on this.
- 21 January
New drawing LA/165 available as part of planning application 04/02500/F, showing the proposed design for the new footbridge between the bandstand island and the recreation ground. Galvanised stainless steel base and handrails, with "buff" deck tiling. Is this a joke?
- 31 January
The agenda for the next planning meeting doesn't include the Walks buildings. Now expected at the 7 March meeting.
December 2004
Technical troubles with the online forum. Replaced it with another one. Use the same link on the left bar under "This Site".
Contact made with friends of Crystal Palace Park and Chelmsford's Hylands Park. See the elsewhere section for current links. Some useful information: HLF partially approved Crystal Palace's plan, while it seems Scott Wilson's Hylands plans revealed stunning views of A-roads and an industrial estate.
Some supporters have started taking petition signatures in the town at weekends, handing out newsletters and urging people to get directly involved.
Added a page on the planning process with key dates.
Expanded Help Out page.
Added new information from Oct 2004 supplement to Youth and Sport page.
Added information about threatened and endangered bird listings to Wildlife listings.
Added response to Council "newsletter" to friends.
Added the "download, print and send" file for the Walks Christmas Card.
November 2004
Heritage Lottery Fund told a WAG member that information about the nature of the concerns and amount of correspondence goes into the paper given to the decision-makers. The level of detail is decided by the HLF officer.
Added a page about the scientific background to the bid.
Fair Play for Parks representative met with Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) about their parks policy.
Councillor Nockolds did not agree to meet MJ Ray, and said that she is too busy to attend a public meeting in early November. WAG members asked the Borough Council to hold a public meeting.
Mistletoe spotted in many of the trees to be felled. Richard Hales of the Borough Council reported that it's not a protected species, contrary to common belief. (Telephone conversation)
Walks Action Group (WAG) public opinion survey - phase one completed. Work started on first report.
Added a Frequently Asked Questions page.
WAG members attended the Borough Council full meeting on 25 November, during National Tree Week. Two questions were asked and Cllr Nockolds responded to both:
- Dave Cooper's question asking for the plan to be changed following the survey results was answered with a claim they "have received considerable support for the plans from all walks of life, both written and verbal support" and "cannot abandon plans to restore the tree avenues". Good - WAG asked the council to change it, not abandon it. Anyway, WAG has yet to see evidence of this "considerable support". It's not in the recorded comments or the stage two bid.
- MJ Ray's question about the quality control of Walks adverts didn't seem to get an answer. There was just a comment that "we have done our best". Does this mean there is no way to correct the mistakes in the adverts? Also, while Dave Cooper was offered a meeting, no meeting was offered to MJ Ray (see above).
We're waiting for transcripts or minutes of these replies before commenting further.
HLF decided that the Walks project will not be presented to decision-makers on 14 December (last chance this year).
Added first survey results summary and datafile to web site.
Held a photo-shoot for Lynn News, linking hands around the trees to protect them. First outing for new slogan: "Give trees a chance" which is asking for trying to restore the current trees and only replace them as a last resort. Cover story and Purfleet's comment. To be clear: WAG are not planning to chain people to trees (everyone hopes the council will change the plan), but people have told WAG they will if it comes to it.
The message is "give trees a chance". We don't want the council to abandon the project - we want them to change it. Trees planted over a 250-year period don't die from old age all at once. Let's try to restore the trees that are already there before replacing them. Most experts today acknowledge that it's important to keep mature trees: tree removal is a last resort.
The council submitted planning applications 04/02500/F and 04/02501/LB for "Construction of park management building/kiosk, new pedestrian bridge, new steps to bandstand, re-opening of entrance to Redmount Chapel and associated works" and "Alterations and repairs to Sevensisters bridge, Broadwalk bridge, re-opening of entrance to Redmount Chapel and repairs to Guannock gates/archway." These can be viewed at the Planning Department at Juniper House, Austin Street in Lynn during opening hours.
October 2004
Borough Council full meeting on 7 Oct approves increased spending on the project and gave general support for whole project.
Dave at ITF stand; Planting Ceremony
A delegation from the Walks Action Group (WAG) attended the International Tree Foundation's St Barbe Baker Memorial Lecture.
Added pages about the democratic and historic background to the bid.
MJ Ray and another supporter attended council panel meetings. Councillor Nockolds said that she is interested in a public meeting about the project, so WAG invited some councillors to a public meeting. Most agreed, subject to dates being confirmed. KLWN Friends of the Earth said they may co-promote it.
MJ Ray wrote to Councillor Nockolds to request a meeting about the accuracy of statements published by the Council.
Confusion over bats! Wildlife enthusiasts in WAG wanted to find out whether there are bats. Conflicting reports about what surveys are being conducted when. DEFRA told a WAG supporter that any applications for bat licences (to allow bat roosts to be moved, for example) will be kept secret.
Local MP Henry Bellingham wrote to the Borough Council, expressing his concerns about the project.
Borough Council project officer Richard Hales appealed for everyone to work together.
The Borough Council gave a WAG supporter the comments made by the public about the stage two bid. 13 comments were recorded in nearly six months. (Comments at the Charter Carnival were not recorded.)
September 2004
The group of concerned residents adopted "The Walks Action Group" (or WAG) as its name. WAG members started contacting media and opinion-formers. A survey based on the 1998 questionnaire was launched.
The council advertised in the Norfolk Citizen. The text was mostly from August and there was a confusing map with shades of green and little black rings to indicate tree felling.
The Walks Action Group created a stall for Lynn's 800 years Charter Carnival with multicolour maps and information panels, with an open comments book. The stand was covered by the Lynn News, BBC Radio Norfolk and KLFM. The council's project was also present, in a Heritage Tent, but did not record comments.
The Walks Action Group outgrew its meeting venue, so it moved.
The council's Culture Panel met on 14 September and did not discuss the Walks, according to the minutes.
King's Lynn and West Norfolk Friends of the Earth held a meeting about the Walks. MJR attended and tried to inform about the Earth issues.
The Walks Action Group outgrew its meeting venue again.
This web site was updated with a new design and more background information.
Contacts made with other urban nature preservation groups.
Vague allegations published in the press and on the web about WAG misinformation. Asked for details from both. No reply.
August 2004
The council sent the bid in to the Heritage Lottery Fund on schedule on 30th July. The HLF will take their decision towards the end of 2004 and give their response in January 2005. The Council's plan calls for the felling and replanting in the first phase to be carried out in 2005/2006, so the next few months will be crucial. However, August is the council recess.
The council issued a press release about the principal work in the project and attempts to explain the avenue clearances. It claims there is a decision to press on with avenue clearance ("avenue restoration work") even if the HLF bid fails.
Richard Hales posted out "Restoring and Reviving The Walks in King's Lynn - update August 2004" to the Friends of the Walks members and writes that the HLF board will consider the bid just before Christmas. Two pages are given to trying to justify the clearances.
Some concerned Lynn residents met as a group for the first time on 18th August and agreed "Our Aim - To stop the wholesale felling of avenues".
July 2004
The council are carrying on a propaganda exercise with an article in the Lynn News and a leaflet: the main line of argument is that the trees in the avenues are in such poor condition that they will need to be falled soon anyway. The gist of their argument is here The last statement in particular, that if the HLF bid fails the avenues go anyway, looks aimed at anyone who wants to keep the trees.
I'm afraid I was wrong about the next bit: I assumed that the cabinet decision would be ratified by the council before the bid went in, but hey, why should the council concern themselves? Sorry if I misled people on this one.
The submission for the grant application has been passed by cabinet (20th July). It goes to the main council for approval on Thurs 29th July. This would be a really good time to contact your councillor and tell him what you think. Then the application to the Heritage Lottery Board goes in on the 30th July.
The Ecological Report is here (Careful! it's huge (about 3MBytes!). It was carried out by one guy on one day in March, so it's a bit lacking in detail. Any naturalists out there care to comment?
The 'Master Plan' has evolved a bit. The teenage area, hard ball court area and parking that were slated to go in the carpark west of the football ground have all been scrapped (football club wouldn't give up the space) according to Richard Hales (council's project officer). The Linnet's carpark by Tennyson Road is going to be surfaced, marked out and (yes!) pay and display, but free for residents, who won't be able to use it on match days. I think I can see a few disputes coming there. Plus which, folk will park in Tennyson Road, instead of paying.
The suggestion vis-a-vis the avenues is that the trees on the west side of Seven Sisters and the beeches on the grass by Windsor Terrace won't be felled. The 'Master Plan' now shows seven trees (representing the original seven sisters) in the space currently occupied by the rose beds in Seven Sisters Walk. Hope they aren't going to be very big: that's a tiny space.