Spooner Row Message Board

Date: Jul 23, 2020

SRCC Residents Survey

Date: Aug 5, 2020

Dont forget to lodge your views during the parish council's consultation. Be aware that the street lights in the village are under review. You might want to keep them or have one or all of them removed but have your say now. There is a good chance they will go if the parish council doesnt adopt them from the district council

The council's website has specific details https://www.spoonerrow.cc/?page_id=1065&view=topic&id=30

Personally I would like the 2 Station Road lights retained as they provide light to the footway by the railway line and the School. these lights are on the main route through the village and a route used by HGVs.

Date: Aug 6, 2020

To say that we have had a disappointing response at 21 returns for over 250 deliveries is somewhat of an understatement BUT nevertheless the council cannot be accused of not asking the questions

The survey will be closed on monday 10th August so please do reply , even if you have lost the form. Just send an e mail response using the attached form above as a guide please, even if you feel some of the questions are unecessary or intrusive. Just do not comment on those you do not like.

It is very difficult to know what to do and what not to do with so little information but we have tried.

This is your money

Date: Aug 8, 2020

Cllr Julian Halls is absolutely right. It is our money and the Community (parish) Council need our views to help decide where resources go. The Community Council is fairly new and was only set-up last year. This survey will help them deliver what the community wants.

Click here for other ideas to include: https://spoonerrow.activeboard.com/t64416634/positive-vision-of-the-future-ideas/

One of the things I have included is a request for a Community Neighbourhood Plan to have more control over what happens locally. Spooner Row is incorporated within the Greater Norwich Local Plan for development. News this week is that the PM is proposing significant changes to the planning processes which will allow areas earmarked for growth to be automatically given planning permission. The Greater Norwich Local Plan is a top-down approach, I believe we should have a local approach particularly after what has happened previously.

I have forwarded my response to the clerk: clerk@spoonerrow.cc There are 3 days left to respond.

Date: Aug 10, 2020

I am split about the streetlights. I guess its about where you live. reduction in light pollution vs public safety.

Date: Aug 11, 2020

Yes, I am also split with regard to continuing with street lights.

Light pollution harms the environment and is a waste of money but on the other hand I also accept that certain people believe that street lights provide safety. Although I don't ever recall Spooner Row suffering a mugging, I think the safety element here in the village comes down to the likelihood of someone falling off a curb or into a pothole.

The Station Road light by the transformers should stay as it lights the main footpath through the village but I am not so sure about the light by the junction of School Lane. The school is lit up like a Christmas tree at night due to the flood lights covering the playground and they are on all night. If the School considered reducing their light pollution by using PIR's or two stage lighting then keep the street light but if not, remove it. The light on Queens Street seems a bit of an oddity; it doesn't light a path and its the only light on this street. I seem to remember that a number of nearby residents weren't happy with it when it was installed in 1984, so remove it.

One thing is certain, if we are to retain street lights then we must upgrade to LED straight away.

At the end of the day we live in a rural village and not a town or city.

Date: Aug 12, 2020

Anonymous wrote:
Light pollution harms the environment and is a waste of money but on the other hand I also accept that certain people believe that street lights provide safety. Although I don't ever recall Spooner Row suffering a mugging, I think the safety element here in the village comes down to the likelihood of someone falling off a curb or into a pothole.

or the safety element from vehicles not seeing pedestrians in the dark

Date: Aug 13, 2020

Blue letter box around the corner ! What corner !!

Date: Aug 13, 2020

It wasn't a blue box, as I used a white one. A white letter box with the councils name on the front located by the steps of the village hall.

But I noticed this morning that this letter box had been removed. It hadn't been up long and has just disappeared.

Date: Aug 13, 2020

" The light on Queens Street seems a bit of an oddity; it doesn't light a path and its the only light on this street. I seem to remember that a number of nearby residents weren't happy with it when it was installed in 1984, so remove it"

Rather dictatorial I think. There will have been a change of residents since 1984 : the light provides a soft glow in an otherwise dark street. I do not wish to see it removed. Is there any reason for upgrading to LED - this particular light seems fine to me ?

Date: Aug 13, 2020

"Is there any reason for upgrading to LED"

Probably the same reason why most households have moved across to LED for lighting, it saves money and they last longer. Between 35% to 85% saving dependent on type and up to 50 times longer life.

Then factor in that 90% of the energy used by a traditional bulb is released as heat, so less global warming.

Smart LED street lighting can also reduce light pollution. From a city centre you might see about 100 stars with the naked eyes but under a rural dark sky you will see over 1,000 stars.

Also, how many people actually walk along that Street at the dead of night and then ask yourself of the few that do, how many probably have a torch close at hand.

Date: Aug 14, 2020

I walked up to the village hall yesterday to post my reply and the box was gone. We were on holiday for little more than a week and I expected it to still be open to responses. Why so short a period to return?

Date: Aug 14, 2020

We were also away last week, and were not aware there was such a short time to complete the survey. I have only just found out tonight via this message board that the closing date has already passed. I imagine that others are equally unaware as there is no date given on the form. Maybe you could extend the survey to allow those who did not reply early on to also have a say.