Ambassadors Newsletter - Borough Council of King's Lynn & West ...

Ambassadors Newsletter
Free Guided Walks
for Ambassadors
A special opportunity -
Book Now!
Following information learned on the
course, West Norfolk Ambassadors are
being offered a fantastic opportunity to
explore the history of King’s Lynn on foot
with one of the King’s Lynn Town Guides for
free! This is a chance to discover some of
the hidden gems of King’s Lynn and hear
the stories of Lynn’s historic past as it is
brought to life by your guide.
Ambassadors can attend the walk free
of charge, but spaces must be booked in
advance. One free walk per ambassador.
Guests are welcome on a walk but there is
a charge of £2.50 per guest. Choose from
the following dates;
Wednesday 10th June
Wednesday 1st July
Both walks will start at 7pm at Tales of The
Old Gaol House.
To book your space, contact Bev Howell
on 01553 616639 or by email
beverley.howell@west-norfolk.gov.uk
King’s Lynn
Festival Town
As well as offering a
superb programme of
arts and entertainment at
the town’s arts venues,
King’s Lynn is proud of
being recognised as
a ‘festival town’. The
renowned King’s Lynn Festival, now in its
59th year continues to be a high profile
event in the town along with Festival
Too. This year King’s Lynn celebrates its
Hanseatic connections with the King’s Lynn
Hanse Festival. Also look out for the town’s
annual fiction and poetry festivals.
Festival Too
Festival Too kicks off on 27 June with live
entertainment and a fireworks display
from the banks of the River Great Ouse.
Four live music events then take place in
Tuesday Market Place on 3, 4, 10 & 11 July.
This year’s headlining acts include Beverley
Knight, S Club 3 and Eric Faulkners Bay
City Rollers. Still one of Europe’s largest
free music festivals, this is not to be missed!
Visit
www.festivaltoo.co.uk
King’s Lynn Festival
12 - 25 July
The 59th King’s Lynn Festival will continue
its tradition of bringing world-famous
musicians to the town for a two-week feast
of music and the arts.
The festival has earned international
renown for the quality of performances
by major orchestras, ensembles and
soloists from the classical music world plus
personalities associated with literature and
entertainment.
A wide variety of events to suit every taste
will include a performance by King’s Lynn
Festival Chorus teaming up with a leading
orchestra, morning coffee concerts by
rising stars of the classical music world, a
literary dinner featuring renowned authors,
jazz and contemporary music plus an art
exhibition.
Call 01553 767557 or visit
www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk
King’s Lynn
Hanse Festival
30 July – 2 August
Get ready to marvel at the magnificent
Lisa von Lubeck,
sea shanties and
quayside merriment
as preparations are
almost complete for
this year’s landmark
Hanse Festival. The
Spring 2009 Issue Five
programme of events, which is available
from Tourist Information Centres, ranges
from business and history forums to street
theatre, classical concerts, fireworks,
lively continental markets and traditional
fairground rides, meaning there’s
something for everyone.
The Hanse Festival celebrates King’s
Lynn’s role in the powerful German-led
14th century trading guild, the Hanseatic
League, and its significance as the only
English town in the modern league. The
celebrations start in style with the arrival of
the reconstructed 15th century caravel Lisa
Von Lübeck on Thursday 30 July. Special
lunch events are being held by local waterfront
restaurateurs so people can relax,
enjoy lunch and watch the ship sail up the
River Great Ouse.
Over the weekend there will also be plenty
of opportunities to discover what it means
to be a Hanse town. The Hanse exhibition
at the Custom House, “Trading as” art
exhibition at King’s Lynn Arts Centre,
the Comings and Goings exhibition at
Lynn Museum focusing on the strategic
importance of the port, along with guided
Hanse walks and a raft of other activities
illustrate the importance of the league.
For more information visit
www.kingslynnhansefestival.com
Make a date
in your diary!
24 - 31 May Downham Market Festival
17 - 20 Jun Hunstanton Drama Festival
20 - 28 Jun Hunstanton & District Festival of Arts
28 Jun Hunstanton Carnival
27 Jun Festival Too Opening Night
3,4,10 & 11 Jul Festival Too Live music events
10 - 11 Jul Hunstanton Lifestyles Festival
12 - 25 Jul King’s Lynn Festival
29 Jul Sandringham Flower Show
30 Jul - 2 Aug King’s Lynn Hanse Festival
9 Aug Downham Market Water Festival
23 Aug Hunstanton Kite Festival
4 - 13 Sept North Norfolk Music Festival
Find out more at www.visitwestnorfolk.com

Red Mount Chapel
& South Gate
Special Open Days
2009 sees the opening of Red Mount
Chapel, the unique 15th century chapel in
the heart of The Walks, King’s Lynn. Red
Mount will be open along with the iconic
South Gate, an impressive 15th century
gateway, the last major piece of Lynn’s
fortifications. Explore the fascinating
history of these scheduled ancient
monuments, both Grade I listed. Not to
be missed!
Both venues will be open every
Wednesday and Saturday from Saturday
23rd May through to Saturday 12th September 11am – 3pm.
A joint ticket for just £1 per adult will cover
entry to both sites.
Children go free but must be
accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are available on the door.
Further information from
Tales of the Old Gaol House
Tel: 01553 774297 or
King’s Lynn Tourist Information Centre
Tel: 01553 763044
The Walks Restoration
Project
A £4.3 million joint Borough Council
and Heritage Lottery Funded restoration
has returned The Walks, a 17 hectare
18 th century park to its former glory. The
addition of modern amenities make it the
perfect place to enjoy a relaxing stroll,
explore the history of the area or get the
blood pumping with some invigorating
exercise in the open spaces. Boasting
a unique 15 th century chapel and
only surviving example of a complete
Georgian walk in Norfolk, as well as
beautiful landscaping, a children’s
play area and a café. The park is
conveniently located at the heart of the
town. For more information and events
in the Walks visit
www.west-norfolk.gov.uk
King’s Lynn Waterfront Regeneration
This is the Borough Council’s flagship
regeneration project and is a key priority
in the growth plans for King’s Lynn. Once
completed, the area which has been
branded as ‘the Quays,’ will put King’s
Lynn on the map as an attractive place
to live, work and visit and will have a
considerable positive economic impact on
the town.
The 2007 masterplan for the area
included proposals for a 250 berth
Marina, housing, hotel, café/restaurants
and boating facilities for the area at Boal
Quay, King’s Lynn. Over the past year,
significant behind the scenes work has
taken place including land acquisitions,
ground and utility provision investigations
and flood risk assessments. As a result
of this investigative work, a revised
masterplan was published in January
2009.
Downham Market
Mini Guide
The Borough Council
of King’s Lynn & West
Norfolk’s tourism
team has produced
a new tourist guide
for Downham Market
and the surrounding
area.
The ‘Downham
Market Mini Guide’
showcases the
town as a base for
exploring the best
of rural Norfolk and
promotes many
local attractions as well as
activities such as bird watching, fishing,
boating and walking.
The guide is available from the Tourist
Information Centre, located in the
Council Information Centre in the Priory
Centre off Priory Road. A friendly
welcome is guaranteed from the team
and the centre is stocked with new
souvenirs, maps, leaflets and guide
books of West Norfolk as well as holiday
brochures for other areas of the UK.
The Downham Market Mini Guide
compliments the Hunstanton Mini Guide
and Discover King’s Lynn, also available
from Tourist Information Centres.
Downham Market
Tourist Information Centre
Tel: 01366 383287
E-mail: downham-market.tic
@west-norfolk.gov.uk
www.visitwestnorfolk.com
In addition, a bid was submitted by
Norfolk County Council in partnership
with the Borough Council to the
Community Infrastructure Fund for
funding worth £5.3m. The bid is part of
a package of transport measures for
the whole town which includes a public
transport route through the Waterfront
site. It was announced in March 2009 that
the bid was successful which will mean
construction of the public transport road
can begin in 2010.
Subject to other funding being approved,
applications for planning permission
and statutory consents for the diversion
of the River Nar, landscaping and the
public transport road is anticipated to be
submitted Summer 2009.
For further information visit
www.west-norfolk.gov.uk

Hunstanton Town Centre and Southern
Seafront - Sea Change for the Promenade?
An application is to be made to the
last round of the Government’s ‘Sea
Change’ programme for regenerating
coastal towns. The programme is
about regeneration though culture. The
opportunity for Hunstanton Promenade
is to develop a project which celebrates
the special environmental and cultural
qualities of Hunstanton, which can be
enjoyed from the promenade. The aim
would be for the project to be a ‘kick start’
to regeneration projects extending along
the promenade.
The Promenade Audit Walks in
October and November, and an
intensive ‘Spaceshaper’ workshop in
November involving 16 residents and
representatives of local businesses and
organisations, have provided a wealth of
information on what people want to retain,
remove or improve about the Promenade.
Together with the feedback from the
‘We Love Hunstanton Promenade’
competitions, they provide a sound basis
News from NORA
A planning application has been
submitted by Morston Assets for a
31,000 sq ft Enterprise Centre, to include
managed workspace, a medical centre to
be operated by the Southgates Medical
Practice, a pharmacy, child care facilities,
meeting rooms, a community cafe,
private gym and 8 live work units. This
development will hopefully start on site
late 2009 and be completed mid 2010.
The construction of the new St Michaels
Primary School is progressing well.
Work on the Central park is coming to an
end. The Borough Council will be taking
over the maintenance once all work has
been completed satisfactorily. A bedding
in period will then commence with the
opening expected early/mid 2010.
Road improvement works have begun
around South Lynn with Southgates
round-about, Nar Ouse Way and the
Nar link Road benefiting from the recent
for a consultant to work from.
The Sea Change open grant scheme is
competitive: only a few schemes from
around the country will be successful -
but if we are not among the lucky ones,
other funding will be researched to make
the scheme happen - even if it is over a
longer period of time.
Regeneration News
Other key projects around Hunstanton
include the shop-front design guide and
grant scheme, a youth facility in the Town
Hall basement and a new-look Oasis
for the summer season. Hunstanton
regeneration funds are also supporting
the sailing club to identify and apply for
funding for the new club building: as
a result, the sailing club has recently
appointed a consultant with considerable
experience in sports-related funding.
To keep updated on Hunstanton
regeneration news visit
www.west-norfolk.gov.uk
successful Community Infrastructure
Fund (CIF). It is estimated these works
will last around 2 years in total. Some
road closures will be implemented to
ensure the work is carried out effectively
and efficiently.
Work is also commencing on increasing
the NORA utilities infrastructure.
This will ensure that there is enough
capacity in the networks to enable future
development of the site.
The road closures associated with this
work are being combined with the CIF
work above to minimise disruption to
traffic in and around the town.
True’s Yard Museum
Extension Project
2009 is an exciting year for True’s Yard
Fishing Heritage Museum, heralding the
start of a Heritage Lottery Fund project
to extend the Museum into the adjacent
historic shop and cottages. This will
not only provide badly needed space to
improve facilities, but will also smarten
up the façade of the old tattoo parlour,
enhancing St Ann’s street for visitors and
residents alike. New facilities will include
an education room, an extended study
centre for students and family history
researchers as well as an improved
library and archive. However, the most
exciting aspect of this extension will be
the inclusion of a sound archive, allowing
people both to record their own oral
testimony, and research the growing
collection of fascinating tapes.
The project took on further significance
when it was revealed that the old
cottages behind the shop facade actually
contained the North End’s last surviving
smoke house, fortunately relatively well
preserved, which will form a working
exhibition. It is anticipated that building
work will begin by the end of June, and
it is hoped the new extension to the
museum will be ready to open in early
2010.
For information on True’s Yard
please contact 01553 770479 or email
info@truesyard.co.uk
www.truesyard.co.uk
Custom House
10th Anniversary
Celebration Day
On 24 March the award winning tourism
team at the Custom House was joined
by the Mayor, Cllr David Johnson, the
Mayoress and guests from the tourism
industry to mark the day 10 years ago
when the Prince of Wales opened the
Tourist Information Centre and Maritime
Exhibition in the Grade I listed Custom
House. During this period in excess of
850,000 people have visited the centre.
This iconic building in King’s Lynn houses
a wealth of tourist information. Call in
to get updated on all that is planned for
2009 or visit www.visitwestnorfolk.com

Oasis Leisure Centre
Refurbishment
Following £600,000
worth of investment
by the Borough
Council to the
Oasis Sports &
Leisure Centre
in Hunstanton,
the Centre which
celebrates its 25th
birthday this summer, will be marking the
completion of the works at the end of this
month with the grand opening of the Fun
Castle indoor adventure play area.
The building works which took place
throughout the winter included a
complete overhaul of the building’s front
window panels, a new easy-access
promenade entrance, a modified
Surfside Cafeteria and 32,000 cubic feet
of soft adventure play area, due to open
on Monday 25th May.
With a 450° spiral slide, ball cannon
arena, scramble nets and ball boggler for
the little ones, the Fun Castle is the ideal
place for children to let off steam and
learn new skills. Parents can sit back
and enjoy a tasty snack from the Café
on the new terrace seating area with its
panoramic views of The Wash.
For more information visit
www.oasisleisurecentre.com or
telephone 01485 534227
500 Ambassadors in
West Norfolk
The course held on 19th March 2009
marked the 500th Ambassador through
this popular programme. Special guests
were invited and the Mayoress cut the
celebration cake. The next available
Ambassadors Course is Thursday 18th
June.
If you have any colleagues who are
interested in the course please contact
Bev Howell on 01553 616639 or e-mail
beverley.howell@west-norfolk.gov.uk
Published by: The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Regeneration, King’s Court,
Chapel Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EX Telephone: 01553 616639 Fax: 01553 775726
E-mail: beverley.howell@west-norfolk.gov.uk
© Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk 2009
All the information published is believed to be correct at the time of going to press,
however the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors.
If you no longer wish to be on the mailing list, please use contact details above.
If you would like a copy of this newsletter in large print, please call us on 01553 616639
Norfolk Lavender -
An Exciting Future
Following the financial problems
caused by a large bad debt, a major
investment has been made by a
local company to secure the future
of Norfolk Lavender, an iconic brand
for Norfolk. This investment brings
stability so that Norfolk Lavender
can now move forward to embrace
the challenges of the forthcoming
season. With this investment there
are ambitious plans to develop the
gardens and site at Heacham and
generate more year round business.
Also, to cope with growing demand
for the company’s famous products,
further acreage of the unique varieties
of English Lavender that were raised
by the company will be planted.
Exciting new features are planned
for the gardens. These include:
• Norfolk’s largest spider - a living
willow sculpture.
• Woodland dell walks giving all year
colour.
• Construction of a bridge to the island
in the lake so that visitors can enjoy
an exciting elevated view across the
gardens.
• Extension to the orchard of rare
apples and pears.
• Organic vegetable garden.
Visit www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk
for more information.
What’s On in 2009
Events are very important to the West
Norfolk tourism industry. Events will
encourage first time and repeat visitors
to your establishment and may give you
the edge over the competition. Visitors
must know about your events, so take
advantage of some free publicity!
Post your event details onto the West
Norfolk visitor website:
www.visitwestnorfolk.com
Click on Entertainment & What’s On
then ‘submit an event’.
Top Equestrian Action
Organisers have yet again prepared
top equestrian action at the Subaru
International Horse Trials 21 – 24
May. Set in the stunning grounds of
Houghton Hall, the event attracts many
of the world’s leading riders. The event
promises to be a great country day
out providing four days of world class
competition and fun for all the family.
Tel: 08456 209961 or visit
www.houghtoninternational.co.uk
Also look out for more action at the The
Veranda Resort Burnham Market Horse
Trials on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th
September. Tel: 08456 209961 or visit
www.musketeer.co.uk
Food Fortnight 2009
The Around the World in 80 Dishes is the
only part of Food Fortnight that will run
in 2009 and will be organised as a stand
alone event. It is hoped the full festival
will return in 2010. The organisers are
confident that a year’s break will give
participants plenty of time to come up
with ideas for another full and creative
menu to make Food Fortnight 2010 the
most impressive yet. For more details
visit www.foodfortnight.co.uk
King’s Lynn Town
Guides launch Three
new walks for 2009
The King’s Lynn Town Guides
have an exciting programme
of walks this year with three
new walks being introduced
in addition to the regular
programme of afternoon
and evening walks.
The new walks titled
‘Greyfriars to Red Mount’,
‘Turbus Town’ and ‘Docklands Walk’ all
feature in the guides 2009 programme
leaflet which can be obtained from King’s
Lynn Tourist Information Centre on 01553
763044 or can be downloaded from
www.visitwestnorfolk.com
Also look out for special Hanse walks
during the Hanse festival weekend
(see page one). Tickets will be available
from Tales of the Old Gaol House.
Tel: 01553 774297