West Acre Parish Council

Welcome to our website.

Here you will find information about the village, news about local events and links to local attractions. We hope that you find what you want. If not, please contact one of the Parish Councillors listed in the contact page.

Click on a picture to see a larger version. Please note that this site is not responsible for changes to any events listed.

West Acre Annual Parish Reports for 2020-21

Please click on the name of the group working in the village to download a full report.

Carpet Bowls Club       All Saints Church

Billiards Club       Exercise Class       West Acre Gallery

Westacre Theatre       Village Hall

West Acre Parish Council

Chair's Report

2021

Parish Councillors

The following people served on the council during this period:

Eoghan Sheils (chair)

Jeremy Cameron

Antonia Hanbury

Ralph Sliwa

Fiona Bolingbroke Kent

Ernest Heatley

Officers:

Henry Birkbeck (Clerk & RFO)

Richard Furze (Internal Auditor)

Delegation of main parish responsibilities

Planning & Highways: Eoghan Sheils

Roads: Eoghan Sheils

Youth activities: Antonia Hanbury

Theatre liaison, health/well-being & litter: Jeremy Cameron

Newsletter & website: Ralph Sliwa

SAM – speed awareness camera: Terry Howlett

Parish Council Meetings

There have been three meetings during the past year although, because of Covid restrictions, the meetings have been Zoom. The Parish Council (PC) would like to thank all those village groups and organisations who submitted written reports/resumés of their activity this year. As always, I would like to take this opportunity to formally thank all residents and local/district councillors who regularly attend and participate in the PC meetings. The feedback and comments we receive gives us an important sense of purpose and direction without which our time spent as councillors would perhaps feel a lot less useful. Thank you also to the village hall committee for all their work improving the village hall and getting it ready for its reopening for post-Covid village use - it’s great to be back in person.

Village Precept  Has remained unchanged at £750

Throughout the Year

Covid

The village, like many other parts of the country, has continued to see larger numbers of visitors. The PC continues to record complaints/issues regarding problems with visitor parking and careless littering. These issues are topics of ongoing discussion and consideration for the PC over the coming months in coordination with Westacre Estate and other interest groups/stakeholders.

Highway matters

We have continued to receive ongoing feedback from residents expressing concern with regard to highway matters – condition of verges, signs, bridge and Fullers Lane drainage and flooding.  The PC set up a schedule of defects document recording visually all the various issues. The PC continues to coordinate communications and meetings with Norfolk County Council Highways (NCCH) with mixed success. Councillor Heatley has pushed the repair of Laundry Bridge on River road – with a commitment that the necessary works are now programmed for completion in the next few weeks.

I have had less success in arranging a further meeting with NCCH in order to review the drainage improvement works completed last autumn. Residents may have noticed that some of the work has had limited impact in reducing surface water drainage which causes problems through the village and which currently eventually ends up at Fullers Lane. The PC will continue to make it a priority to maintain pressure on NCCH to adequately respond to outstanding issues. We will also continue to liaise with the Highways Rangers in an effort to keep West Acre’s paths and roads clean and tidy.

SAM speed awareness sign 

Many thanks to Terry Howlett for taking ownership of the ongoing management – rotating location and recording etc.

Planning matters – Abbey Barns 

Following representations from residents concerned with regard to the volume of peak time traffic in and out of Abbey Barns the PC has again recently written to the planning authority seeking clarification with regard to a range of matters impacting residents. In summary we have asked the following questions;

traffic – how many cars are currently allowed to park at the barn complex and what is the impact on surrounding highway infrastructure at the times of these larger visitor events – has this been considered as part of the current planning approval process;

noise generated by visitors – were outdoor events considered as part of the original application(s);

noise from music played by the brewery - does the brewery require any further approvals;

opening hours – we are aware that operating times for some businesses are not yet in line with the planning approval and are looking for you guidance as to how would you advise this is resolved;

beer garden/tap days with food stalls – it would seem these are OK under the current license but are they also authorised under the current planning approval;

parking overspill - how should the area of visitor and parking overspill into the wider areas be managed as this extends beyond the brewery red line boundary;

cumulative impact of this and other developments now and in the future – how will this be managed in planning policy terms?

We have also sought wider reassurance in that we know that the Estate is looking more widely in the village for further diversification of economic activity in coordination with their “rewilding” project and associated eco-tourism, all of which could offer some benefits, for example in terms of employment, but will mean that the changing character of West Acre as it evolves into a more significant visitor destination needs proper consideration in terms of all the potential and obvious negatives.

The PC is aware that planning policy for West Acre has sought to protect it as a small village/hamlet where development is expected to be very limited, and we are seeking reassurance that this continues to be planning policy. The Borough Council Planning officer responsible (Jade Calton) has asked for more time to review all these issues comprehensively. The PC will likely aim to update residents through the newsletter and website as we get any further feedback.

Rewilding & farm diversification generally 

The Estate is well underway with the exciting opportunities to enhance wildlife and conservation. Whilst naturally very supportive of this important project the PC continues to request and arrange updates from the Estate as residents will have read in the latest newsletter. In particular the PC will continue to monitor both the positive and negative impacts of anticipated increased footfall/visitors on residents. The PC will therefore be interested to hear residents’ views with regard to both positive and negative impact of the wider farm diversification. We believe that we can usefully continue to provide feedback aimed at encouraging the Estate to continue to have wider impacts on residents in mind as they plan for the future of the Estate and farm.

Website & Newsletter 

The parish website continues to runs well and we are able to produce a regular newsletter. The feedback we have received regarding the newsletter in particular suggest that it is well received by many residents. We are as always keen to hear from residents of any topics, issues or stories they would like to see covered.

Finally, I would like to thank all the councillors for their continuing support of West Acre. In particular I’d like to thank Antonia who is resigning from the Council after many years of valuable service to our community. Henry is also resigning as Clerk to the Council. Henry first joined the council in 1987 becoming Chairman between 1999 & 2009 more recently also taking on the role of Responsible Financial Officer (a role we are pleased to sat he will continue with for 1 more year).

Henry has had the wellbeing of the village as a focus for his long years of service and commitment to the parish and the Council. This is, therefore, a significant moment for the PC as we seek to adjust to the retirement of an officer with such long standing commitment to the village. We should also recognise with gratitude the professional manner in which Henry, as officer, has sought a balanced view of issues as they impact both the village and Westacre Estate – this has not always been easy.

Whilst Henry may be leaving the PC, I think it fair to say that, with his many other village roles, for example with the village hall and church warden, we will see his commitment to village life continuing to flourish for many years to come. Many thanks Henry for your significant time to fulfil the roles of Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer so well and for keeping me on track!

Remaining Councillors will be “taking stock” over the next few weeks as to how we see the future for the PC. We will be seeking residents’ views and of course we are very keen to hear for anyone who would like to get involved directly with the PC.

Eoghan Sheils

Chair

May 2021

Images taken by Ernest Heatley at the Civil War Re-enactment held at West Acre on 28 and 29 August 

Click on an image to view a larger version.

West Acre Village Fete held on

Saturday 21 August 

This event would not have been possible without the marvellous support of at least 30 volunteers, including from East Walton and Gayton Thorpe. Despite unseasonal weather 340 adults came with an unknown number of children.  It was hugely enjoyed, by both grown-ups and children, and we ended up with a surplus of £2,345 for the West Acre Community Trust (including a small amount for the West Acre Church).

It was wonderful to have such generous offers of time and energy – and donations - to create such a happy day for so many of us and our neighbours.

 All images kindly created by Ernest Heatley.

Click on an image to view a larger version.

Could this be you?

West Acre Parish Council

Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer 

West Acre is a village with c.180 inhabitants in West Norfolk on the northern bank of the Nar River. It has a church, a pub, a small theatre, a brewery, some small-scale commercial businesses and boasts an impressive range of medieval ruins. Much of the land and many of the houses are owned by the West Acre Estate.

1. The Clerk is the Parish Council’s part time administrator. (S)he works in tandem with the Chair and the Councillors for the benefit of the entire community.

2. The main duty is to prepare, attend and minute 4 full PC meetings per year. From time to time there may be special PC meetings which will also require equivalent attention.

3. Between meetings the Clerk will deal with correspondence, follow up actions, and generally ensure that the PC is acting properly and on good advice.

4. The Clerk keeps the books for all expenditure and income and reports to the PC, taking professional advice and noting the possibility of grants where necessary. The PC’s accounts rarely turn over more than £3k a year. 

5. The Clerk and the parish councillors ensure that proper and thorough communication with the community is maintained through a variety of channels.

6. The Clerk is offered training to ensure that (s)he understands and can administer all statutory requirements. Ad hoc professional support can be provided on specialist matters.

7. The position is estimated to require a maximum of 208 hours per year, working mostly from home, and is remunerated competitively on that basis. The Clerk is expected to be well organised and motivated to ensure that work is prioritised and completed in a timely manner.

For an informal chat please contact the Chairman Eoghan Sheils on 01760 755045. Or email eoghansheilsy@gmail.com. 

Canon Stuart Nairn’s retirement

A tribute by Henry Birkbeck 

Stuart has worked for over 40 years in the Diocese of Norwich, and since 1997 when the Nar Valley Benefice was set up, he has looked after the Parishes of West Acre, South Acre, Castle Acre, Newton by Castle Acre, Narborough with Narford, and Pentney. During these 24 years he has lent his support to a great many in need in these communities, in particular those who have become ill or hampered by old age. He has of course helped a great many people arrange christenings, weddings, and funerals and from my own experience I have found his support over family bereavements to be extremely valuable and much appreciated at such times. Although only a few from West Acre have attended many of the services, he has always provided the opportunity for those who have wished to attend, regularly giving sermons that have provided great opportunity for reflection on the way we lead our lives. Across the Benefice he has put enormous effort into helping each Parish achieve necessary renovations to their churches by assisting with grant applications, and although we have had no significant success with our own church in recent years, he has tried on several occasions to secure large scale funding to redo the roof, external walls, interior plaster work etc. He fully supports our thoughts on adapting the church for a wide variety of uses by the Parishioners, and he has kindly offered to give us advice when applying for funding for such a project. Stuarts official position ceases on the 28th of November this year and although we have been promised a new parish priest for our group there will be a period of many months without one whilst his successor is chosen, so responsibility for the church will fall upon us Parishioners, in particular the Parochial Church Council and myself as Church Warden. In addition, during this time I’m very glad to say that Stuart has offered to help any of us to arrange funerals and to conduct such services where required. Throughout this time Stuart has been tirelessly supported by his wife Susan who has also led

the choir. If she is unable to continue with this her beautiful voice and musical arrangements will be greatly missed. Stuart and Susan will be moving to their new home in Swaffham, and I would like to wish them many happy years’ retirement in this area. 

Right, and below, images taken at Stuart's final service

in West Acre on Sunday 19 September