Comments for A Fakenham Blog http://fakenham.org.uk Unofficial Fakenham blog, news, opinion & rumourmill Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:19:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Fakenham Fair 2010 – a resounding success! by Stephen Jacklin http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-fair-2010-a-resounding-success/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Stephen Jacklin Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:19:09 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=819#comment-95 Thanks for your posts & support for yesterday Steve - cracking photos too. Official shots of the day will be available from Keith Osborn shortly. Please give us your feedback & comments to help us make next year even bigger and better - there is a dedicated feedback post on Kick Start Fakenham's discussions page or you can email me, stephenjacklin@yahoo.com or pop into Sweets 'N' Things and see Lisa & Glen. Thanks again :) Thanks for your posts & support for yesterday Steve – cracking photos too. Official shots of the day will be available from Keith Osborn shortly. Please give us your feedback & comments to help us make next year even bigger and better – there is a dedicated feedback post on Kick Start Fakenham’s discussions page or you can email me, stephenjacklin@yahoo.com or pop into Sweets ‘N’ Things and see Lisa & Glen. Thanks again :)

]]> Comment on Mobile graffiti by debbie Osborn http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/mobile-graffiti/comment-page-1/#comment-93 debbie Osborn Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:29:12 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=793#comment-93 Love it, I want more! Love it, I want more!

]]> Comment on Fakenham – it’s our bag by Deiter Johanson http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-its-our-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Deiter Johanson Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:59:45 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=767#comment-92 Lucy Edwards Thanks Janet. BTW, By Googling 'Janet Holdom' I found more information, more readily accessible, on how Fakenham was trying to adress its issues (this return was particularly useful; http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=50109234042&topic=7766)...... ..than I did Googling 'Fakenham' (!) D. Lucy Edwards

Thanks Janet.

BTW, By Googling ‘Janet Holdom’ I found more information, more readily accessible, on how Fakenham was trying to adress its issues (this return was particularly useful; http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=50109234042&topic=7766)…...

..than I did Googling ‘Fakenham’ (!)

D.

]]> Comment on Fakenham – it’s our bag by Janet Holdom http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-its-our-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Janet Holdom Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:15:12 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=767#comment-91 Dieter, To avoid going round in circles on the matter of a single point of information access, I'll hold my response and look forward to your detailed comments, sometime at the other end of your frenetic week. In the meantime I'll make a point of talking to other people in the town and at meetings, which may provoke some wider participation. Regards Janet Dieter,
To avoid going round in circles on the matter of a single point of information access, I’ll hold my response and look forward to your detailed comments, sometime at the other end of your frenetic week. In the meantime I’ll make a point of talking to other people in the town and at meetings, which may provoke some wider participation.

Regards

Janet

]]> Comment on Fakenham – it’s our bag by Deiter Johanson http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-its-our-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Deiter Johanson Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:36:11 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=767#comment-90 Janet/Steve, Suddenly the conversation has taken a rather more objective turn...and a good thing too. Janet, I welcome your invitation to be more specific; please bear with me, as a I have a horrendous week ahead of me - so please accept that my formal reply to your invitation will be (well on) the drag. However, I can tell you that I started my detailed analysis with an really excellent lunch at D'Inacios - VERY good service, quality but low key surroundings and excellent food at a very reasonable price - now that is a venue that deserves repeat custom and something of a marker I think! In addition, despite the fact there is clearly a lot going on in the 'background' wrt the development of the Town, I would like to endorse both Steve's points (last post) about a, auslanders and their retail and hospitality experience, the town’s ‘face’ and the reason most of these visitors travel to the Town and b, Sub optimal external communication. As you yourself Janet, I think recognised, there is no really effective 'one stop media portal' allowing easy access to describe all the good work being done on behalf of the town by the various parties. Excuse yet another military metaphor, but the Information Battle is key – most people are sophisticated enough to see through 'sound bites'/vacuous platitudes, but they would still appreciate facts/plans/schemes/records of decision etc distilled into a readily absorbed format and available through ONE portal. Regards Deiter Janet/Steve,

Suddenly the conversation has taken a rather more objective turn…and a good thing too.

Janet, I welcome your invitation to be more specific; please bear with me, as a I have a horrendous week ahead of me – so please accept that my formal reply to your invitation will be (well on) the drag. However, I can tell you that I started my detailed analysis with an really excellent lunch at D’Inacios – VERY good service, quality but low key surroundings and excellent food at a very reasonable price – now that is a venue that deserves repeat custom and something of a marker I think!

In addition, despite the fact there is clearly a lot going on in the ‘background’ wrt the development of the Town, I would like to endorse both Steve’s points (last post) about a, auslanders and their retail and hospitality experience, the town’s ‘face’ and the reason most of these visitors travel to the Town and b, Sub optimal external communication.
As you yourself Janet, I think recognised, there is no really effective ‘one stop media portal’ allowing easy access to describe all the good work being done on behalf of the town by the various parties. Excuse yet another military metaphor, but the Information Battle is key – most people are sophisticated enough to see through ‘sound bites’/vacuous platitudes, but they would still appreciate facts/plans/schemes/records of decision etc distilled into a readily absorbed format and available through ONE portal.

Regards

Deiter

]]> Comment on Fakenham – it’s our bag by Janet Holdom http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-its-our-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Janet Holdom Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:49:16 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=767#comment-89 Thanks Steve and in response to your comment about communication - FAP holds regular monthly meetings open to anyone, latest details always available on our website, the minutes and update reports on projects are sent to all members and any interested parties, we usually have a couple of stories in the local papers most months and hold events throughout the year. I can send you reports from our meetings if you'd like to post them Steve, but they're a bit short on 'sound bites'. I can't say I'm convinced there is such a thing as ONE specific central point of access though, how we all assimilate news is different from person to person depending on many things. I also think people hear, see and remember only what they want to, no matter how many rooftops you shout from. You just keep doing it............. 'wotever'. Cheers Janet Thanks Steve and in response to your comment about communication – FAP holds regular monthly meetings open to anyone, latest details always available on our website, the minutes and update reports on projects are sent to all members and any interested parties, we usually have a couple of stories in the local papers most months and hold events throughout the year. I can send you reports from our meetings if you’d like to post them Steve, but they’re a bit short on ‘sound bites’. I can’t say I’m convinced there is such a thing as ONE specific central point of access though, how we all assimilate news is different from person to person depending on many things. I also think people hear, see and remember only what they want to, no matter how many rooftops you shout from.
You just keep doing it…………. ‘wotever’.

Cheers
Janet

]]> Comment on Fakenham – it’s our bag by Admin http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-its-our-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Admin Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:56:56 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=767#comment-88 Thanks for your comments, Janet. It strikes me that the visitor from outside the town usually gets to see Fakenham's retail and hospitality experience rather than the many community projects which are afoot. It's the town's 'face' and the reason most of our visitors come here. We need those visitors - and by that, I mean that the town as a whole needs them - if our shops/pubs/restaurants aren't doing well, it will ultimately mean less choice for us if they close due to lack of footfall. So, I think it should be a focus of our business community to see that we are well-presented both as a retail experience and as an entertainment destination. How that can be done, I'm not too sure. It's private enterprise we're talking about here and it's not simply a case of dictating to business owners how to do their jobs better! Perhaps the Chamber of Trade could have some kind of role in this - a bit of a project for the future maybe? Also, my 'bee-in'the-bonnet' of lack of communication gets another airing here. Janet spent a fair amount of time typing out her post, describing all the good work being done in the town by various parties, but if there was a central point of info where this could be accessed immediately she wouldn't have needed to. Been discussed before, I know (mainly by me!). Thanks for your comments, Janet.

It strikes me that the visitor from outside the town usually gets to see Fakenham’s retail and hospitality experience rather than the many community projects which are afoot. It’s the town’s ‘face’ and the reason most of our visitors come here. We need those visitors – and by that, I mean that the town as a whole needs them – if our shops/pubs/restaurants aren’t doing well, it will ultimately mean less choice for us if they close due to lack of footfall.

So, I think it should be a focus of our business community to see that we are well-presented both as a retail experience and as an entertainment destination. How that can be done, I’m not too sure. It’s private enterprise we’re talking about here and it’s not simply a case of dictating to business owners how to do their jobs better! Perhaps the Chamber of Trade could have some kind of role in this – a bit of a project for the future maybe?

Also, my ‘bee-in’the-bonnet’ of lack of communication gets another airing here. Janet spent a fair amount of time typing out her post, describing all the good work being done in the town by various parties, but if there was a central point of info where this could be accessed immediately she wouldn’t have needed to. Been discussed before, I know (mainly by me!).

]]> Comment on Fakenham – it’s our bag by Janet Holdom http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-its-our-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Janet Holdom Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:04:02 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=767#comment-87 Much of what you say Dieter, is easy to agree with until we try to address the issues specifically. It’s widely agreed Fakenham is a working town and proud to be so. Your implied charge that Fakenham is unwilling to face up to the inevitable and that local government, councillors and the community at large are just sleep walking into smelly pub oblivion, whilst perhaps meant as a wake up call nevertheless seems to be based on a fairly superficial review of the case. Looking at it from a wider perspective you would see Fakenham is targeted as a growth town with plans for significant residential development along the northern by-pass. These plans may well suffer in the short term as a result of the recession and public spending cuts but the longer term view is expansion with housing, infrastructure and amenities. Details of the Local Development Framework and the Core Strategy Plan following a public consultation in 2009, now at the site specific proposals stage, are available at www.northnorfolk.org. I’m guessing from your comments you’re also unaware of the work being done by many organisations and volunteers within the town and as Co-ordinator at the Fakenham Area Partnership and a local councillor I feel an obligation to bring this to your attention. There are many voluntary or not for profit organisations who work on a day to day basis to access funding and build support for community projects. For example FAP is currently managing or supporting 20 or more projects of varying significance across a wide spectrum of community need and aspiration. We can’t build houses or start up private enterprise but on the community front a great deal is going on. We ran a successful campaign for support, are lobbying NNDC and participating in the planning consultation process for a swimming pool within the new development plans. FAP, KickStart and the Town Council are working together to source funds and improve the Millennium Park with skate-park and BMX amenities. Work is progressing to access funding for a feasibility study on the Community Centre with the aim of improving the building, its facilities, its social enterprise potential and an expanded remit to serve a wider community base. FAP also runs a Community Bank under the auspices of the Norfolk Credit Union, recruits for the Speedwatch project and liaises with the SNT teams to help with ASB issues and so on and so forth………… on the fun side......... the Christmas Lights event gets bigger and better each year, we organise and maintain over 100 hanging baskets around town in the Fakenham in Bloom project each summer. At this very moment KickStart and others are organising the Fakenham Fair on August Bank holiday Saturday at the Millennium Park. Hopefully year 1 of a plan to rebuild the annual Fakenham Carnival. I could go on and on because there’s plenty more but I think I’ve made the essential point – a market town like Fakenham is made up of so much more than a retail experience. Not that good shopping choices aren't important but the reality is that most shoppers like a bargain and will switch their allegiance without a single sentimental moment’s regret once the Argos type stores hit town. As a town councillor, I recognise immediately the frustration you speak about and know very well that changing things takes an awful lot of time, persuasion and energy. However one of the objectives during my year as chair of the council is to bring more young people on board with the town council and project working parties to balance and energise the process of change. The younger person’s input will be most welcome, mutually beneficial and so far there has been a positive interest from the High School and College. Though these examples are only a sample of the incredible amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to inject enthusiasm, fun, quality of life and at least some degree of progress in the community life of Fakenham they may well not have addressed your specific concerns as I struggle to encapsulate them myself. However, if you can be more precise with any suggestions on how you would address the issues as you see them, Dieter, I’ll be more than happy to raise your comments within town council or draw them to the attention of other tiers of local government or the appropriate community group. After all that however, going back to where this began, I’m glad at least you liked our eco bag. Another project with community wide participation from the students on the logo competition to promotion by and for the local independent shops, raising awareness of limited resources and reducing the level of plastic bags littering our streets and countryside! Quite a big ask for one small shopping accessory……..but nevertheless a START and a bit of fun. Cheers Janet Much of what you say Dieter, is easy to agree with until we try to address the issues specifically. It’s widely agreed Fakenham is a working town and proud to be so.
Your implied charge that Fakenham is unwilling to face up to the inevitable and that local government, councillors and the community at large are just sleep walking into smelly pub oblivion, whilst perhaps meant as a wake up call nevertheless seems to be based on a fairly superficial review of the case. Looking at it from a wider perspective you would see Fakenham is targeted as a growth town with plans for significant residential development along the northern by-pass. These plans may well suffer in the short term as a result of the recession and public spending cuts but the longer term view is expansion with housing, infrastructure and amenities. Details of the Local Development Framework and the Core Strategy Plan following a public consultation in 2009, now at the site specific proposals stage, are available at http://www.northnorfolk.org.
I’m guessing from your comments you’re also unaware of the work being done by many organisations and volunteers within the town and as Co-ordinator at the Fakenham Area Partnership and a local councillor I feel an obligation to bring this to your attention. There are many voluntary or not for profit organisations who work on a day to day basis to access funding and build support for community projects. For example FAP is currently managing or supporting 20 or more projects of varying significance across a wide spectrum of community need and aspiration. We can’t build houses or start up private enterprise but on the community front a great deal is going on. We ran a successful campaign for support, are lobbying NNDC and participating in the planning consultation process for a swimming pool within the new development plans. FAP, KickStart and the Town Council are working together to source funds and improve the Millennium Park with skate-park and BMX amenities. Work is progressing to access funding for a feasibility study on the Community Centre with the aim of improving the building, its facilities, its social enterprise potential and an expanded remit to serve a wider community base. FAP also runs a Community Bank under the auspices of the Norfolk Credit Union, recruits for the Speedwatch project and liaises with the SNT teams to help with ASB issues and so on and so forth………… on the fun side……… the Christmas Lights event gets bigger and better each year, we organise and maintain over 100 hanging baskets around town in the Fakenham in Bloom project each summer. At this very moment KickStart and others are organising the Fakenham Fair on August Bank holiday Saturday at the Millennium Park. Hopefully year 1 of a plan to rebuild the annual Fakenham Carnival. I could go on and on because there’s plenty more but I think I’ve made the essential point – a market town like Fakenham is made up of so much more than a retail experience. Not that good shopping choices aren’t important but the reality is that most shoppers like a bargain and will switch their allegiance without a single sentimental moment’s regret once the Argos type stores hit town.
As a town councillor, I recognise immediately the frustration you speak about and know very well that changing things takes an awful lot of time, persuasion and energy. However one of the objectives during my year as chair of the council is to bring more young people on board with the town council and project working parties to balance and energise the process of change. The younger person’s input will be most welcome, mutually beneficial and so far there has been a positive interest from the High School and College.
Though these examples are only a sample of the incredible amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to inject enthusiasm, fun, quality of life and at least some degree of progress in the community life of Fakenham they may well not have addressed your specific concerns as I struggle to encapsulate them myself. However, if you can be more precise with any suggestions on how you would address the issues as you see them, Dieter, I’ll be more than happy to raise your comments within town council or draw them to the attention of other tiers of local government or the appropriate community group.
After all that however, going back to where this began, I’m glad at least you liked our eco bag. Another project with community wide participation from the students on the logo competition to promotion by and for the local independent shops, raising awareness of limited resources and reducing the level of plastic bags littering our streets and countryside!
Quite a big ask for one small shopping accessory……..but nevertheless a START and a bit of fun.
Cheers
Janet

]]> Comment on Fakenham – it’s our bag by Admin http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-its-our-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Admin Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:41:10 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=767#comment-86 It's three days since I passed these comments on to people. So far I've had a posting from one District Councillor and some verbal feedback from another (thanks Dawn and Sean). I know at least one person is out of town though, so we'll see what happens in the next few days. It’s three days since I passed these comments on to people. So far I’ve had a posting from one District Councillor and some verbal feedback from another (thanks Dawn and Sean). I know at least one person is out of town though, so we’ll see what happens in the next few days.

]]> Comment on Fakenham – it’s our bag by Admin http://fakenham.org.uk/2010/08/fakenham-its-our-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Admin Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:07:43 +0000 http://fakenham.org.uk/?p=767#comment-85 Ees no prodlen :) Ees no prodlen :)

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