Latest news with #Dereham
BBC News
06-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Norfolk care home approved despite road danger fears
A large care home will be built next to a major road despite safety concerns that its location could be "dangerous" for Council in Norfolk approved an application for the 60-bed facility next to the junction of Draytonhall Lane and the A47 in faced strong local opposition, with residents concerned that late-stage dementia patients living there could venture to the busy road developers behind the plans said the home would meet safety and security regulations, and residents would not be able to "wander off". The plans for the site, on the western edge of Dereham, first emerged nearly three years ago and included designs for the new care home along with a garden, cafe and car application was originally refused in 2023, and an appeal of this decision to the Planning Inspectorate was also thrown out, the Local Democracy Reporting Service raised issues relating to nutrient neutrality rules, which prevented new housing developments from increasing pollution in sensitive after the developers agreed on a suitable mitigation scheme, a report for councillors recommended the plans should be approved, on the basis that more care places were "much needed" in the area. Scarning Parish Council raised fears about dementia patients in the facility "wandering off" into the Neil Parsons said the home would be "right next to one of the most dangerous junctions on the A47 and is entirely unsuitable"."We have grave concerns that this will result in a serious accident," he these concerns, no objections were raised by any of the highway authorities.A representative for the developers, TilCo, said the home would "meet current regulations surrounding security and safety"."Entry to and from a modern care home is exceptionally closely controlled – vulnerable residents will not simply be able to wander off," they added. The application was approved by Breckland Council's planning committee. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
29-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Council warns planned care home too close to A47 in Norfolk
Plans for a care home could "end in tragedy" because dementia patients could "wander off", a council has Parish Council in Norfolk said it opposed the 60-bed home on the outskirts of Dereham as it was near "a treacherous junction" with the developers behind the proposal said there was lack of modern facilities in the area – and that residents would be monitored at all times.A report for Breckland Councillors advises them to give outline planning permission, on the basis that more care places are "much needed" in the area. Tilco – the firm behind the plan – wants to build the home next to Draytonhall Lane, on the south-western side of Dereham and near the land is within Scarning, where the parish council said the close proximity to a busy road was potentially dangerous. "It is not unheard of for dementia patients to wander off, and due to the location, it is thought this could end in tragedy," its objection also said it felt that a 25 space car park was too small for a location that would mainly be accessed by a report prepared for Tilco said "the safety of vulnerable residents and their possessions is a fundamental priority in the design" – with CCTV covering the building and the home's garden secured by hedges and also said the home would be "designed above current Care Quality Commission standards" and would employ between 50 and 60 full-time staff. The company's plans were rejected by councillors in 2023, on the basis that the site was too far from amenities in Dereham and too close to the decision went against the recommendation of council officers who are – as they did two years ago – advising that the plan should be given the their report, the officers advise that safety upgrades - including road markings and signage – had "been successful in reducing incidents" at the junction with the also state that Breckland is expected to require another 900 care beds by 2036, and those provided by another home are "much needed".They recommend that councillors give outline planning permission for the site – with fuller plans to be agreed at a later proposals will be discussed at a meeting of Breckland's planning committee next Tuesday. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
28-06-2025
- BBC News
Eleven dead newborn puppies found by road near Dereham
The bodies of 11 newborn puppies were found on the side of a RSPCA said many of the grey puppies still had their umbilical cords attached and their bodies "were strewn along a grass verge" in the village of Hoe, near Dereham, in Norfolk earlier this month. The puppies were fairly large and thought to be some kind of bull breed, the charity added that vets thought it was unlikely all would have been stillborn or have died from natural causes, but a cause of death could not be established. A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "This was an incredibly distressing discovery for the member of the public who found these dead puppies."There are no injuries on the puppies, or obvious cause of death, but the circumstances in which they were found is suspicious."The charity said it suspected the puppies may have been thrown from a moving vehicle, "given they were found randomly spaced along the verge and not all together".The charity added it was also concerned for the welfare of the mother of the puppies, and officers were keen to find RSPCA appealed for anyone with information to get in touch. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Reel Recovery fishing retreat held in Norfolk for men with cancer
A group which aims to help men with cancer by teaching them fly-fishing is hosting its second weekend retreat in the UK. Reel Recovery started in the US in 2003 and says it has helped more than 4,700 men living with cancer. This weekend's event near Dereham, in Norfolk, will teach 12 men how to fly-fish while prompting conversations and offering a space for sharing their experiences of the organiser, Michael Sayers, said men were "notoriously bad" at talking about health and emotions and the fishing trip "really helps them to open up and think about how cancer has affected their lives and relationships and how they view their future". The retreat is free to participants and provides meals and accommodation at the location in North Elmham."Fly-fishing is basically like meditation in motion," said Mr Sayers."You're out there and you're literally immersed in nature or immersed in a river and you have the sound of the water flowing by and rustling the trees, no wifi, no interruptions and it's a simple, mindful, rhythmic act of casting a fly line."Reel Recovery ran its first retreat in the UK in Northumberland last year and it has worked with the Big C Cancer Charity and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital to organise this one. Comedians Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse have fished in Norfolk with their BBC TV programme, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing where they share personal experiences of life, and Mortimer's experience of heart problems, while fishing. Mr Sayers said the Reel Recovery activities were "cathartic" and offered men some escape as the weekend, a ceremony is held, where each man receives a fishing vest which has been passed down from each retreat. "We have fishing vests which go back 22 years from when Reel Recovery started this programme in the United States and we get every participant to sign and date it and write a message on it," he said."Some of them will be wearing vests that would have had 22 years of [being worn by] other guys with cancer."There's a real feeling of strength that comes from that, and brotherhood." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sharp rise in rural fires as temperatures continue to soar
As temperatures have soared this week, firefighters across the county have been busy battling blazes out in the open. Norfolk Fire and Rescue Services attended four fires in the open on Thursday, which turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far with a local peak of 29C. These were in Great Yarmouth, Terrington St Clement, Dereham and Gorleston. On Wednesday, crews attended another six of these incidents in Norwich, Dereham, Blackborough End, Crimplesham and Wretham. All regions across England remain under an amber health alert until Monday and temperatures in Norfolk are expected to exceed 30C. READ MORE: With this in mind, the fire service has issued a warning for people to be safe while out and about in the sun. A spokesman said: "Fires in the open are mostly avoidable. In this weather they can spread very quickly and become wildfires. "If you're out and about this week, please help us keep Norfolk safe by taking extra care. "And if you see a fire, calling 999 quickly will help us get to it before it spreads too far. "The main cause of wildfires is human activity. Help us by fully extinguishing smoking materials, taking a picnic instead of a disposable barbecue, putting litter in a bin or taking it home - including glass bottles which are a particular fire hazard in hot weather - and downloading what3words to your phone so you can pinpoint the exact location of a rural fire to our brilliant control room team."
