The Soap Box Derby returns to Hunstanton on 2 April 2023. From 17 February teams can enter online to take part in the event organised by the borough council.
This year marks 70 years since the first Soap Box Derby was held in Hunstanton, in 1953.
Places are limited and can be booked at west-norfolk.gov.uk/
Cllr Graham Middleton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Heritage at the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, said: “We let people know last September to pencil in the first Sunday of the Easter holiday, Sunday 2 April 2023, for the event, so we can start the holiday and events season with a massive splash of colour and 'eggsileration'.
“Having designed, and possibly even started building, their karts they can now enter to take part in our Easter 'eggstravaganza.' I also look forward to seeing the associated activities taking place in the town to support the event.
“It’s been nearly four years since our last Hunstanton Soap Box Derby, when nearly 50 home-built karts took part, and I’m eggcited to see what karts people create and the costumes they wear.”
Sgt Darryl Grief, West Norfolk Cadet Supervisor, added: “We’re so pleased to be back taking part in the Hunstanton Soap Box Derby as it is such a great opportunity for our Police Cadets. They’ll learn some key skills like team building and will also get the opportunity to be out and about in the local community speaking to locals and visitors alike.”
The course starts high up on Greevegate, has a few twists and turns, karts will ‘bunny hop’ over a new improved ramp, and ends up on Beach Terrace Road overlooking the sea.
There are four categories that can be entered, by driver age:
· 10-12 years
· 13-15 years
· adults 16+
· over 65s
New electric car charging points have become available to residents to use in King’s Lynn and Hunstanton.
The charging points based in five locations across west Norfolk have opened, ensuring that people with limited access to off-street parking can still choose an electric vehicle.
Mayor of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Cllr Lesley Bambridge, was joined by Cabinet member for Environment and CO2 reduction, Cllr Paul Kunes to visit several of the new points and used them to charge their electric vehicles.
The Mayor said: “I’m regularly driven to functions around the borough in the hybrid Mayoral car. This car is more economical and environmentally friendly. Many journeys are short enough to be completed on electric power only.
The Princess Theatre in Hunstanton has gone in to the New Year with a new roof, following the investment of nearly £200,000 from the borough council to improve the building.
It was agreed at Cabinet towards the end of 2021 that the building, which is owned by the borough council, needed work including a new roof as the current one was deteriorating and had been suffering from tile failure and periodic leaks.
Cllr Stuart Dark MBE, Leader of the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, said: “I am really pleased that this work is now complete. Concerns had been raised about the roof by Brian and the great team that run the Princess Theatre. We worked around their schedule of planned performances to install the new roof, which I believe is already benefitting the venue. The level of insulation not only makes the theatre far warmer it reduces loss of heat to the outside air, meaning it is both cheaper to heat and better for the environment. I am glad that we have been able to support their plans for a brighter future and improve a much loved venue that is a year-round centre-piece of Hunstanton life for residents and visitors alike.”
The Cabinet member for Environment recently visited the flood gate defences in Hunstanton to see how the borough council maintains them to keep residents safe should a flood occur.
Cllr Paul Kunes, Cabinet member for Environment and CO2 reduction, said: “17 gates were installed on the promenade in Hunstanton after the tidal surge in 2013 and the borough council continues to maintain them. They form part of the defences that protect lower parts of Hunstanton and also parts of the village of Heacham from tidal flooding.”
The borough council works with colleagues in the Norfolk Resilience forum that includes the police, fire, health and environment agency to keep the borough as safe as we can and have well-rehearsed multi-agency warning and evacuation plans for the area.
In the latest in our series finding out a little bit more about what it is like running a local independent business in Norfolk we caught up with the team behind The Hemporium Shops, one of our newest business members.
What is the History of The Hemporium Shops?
We opened our first Hemporium in Hunstanton in August 2019 followed by the second in Wells next the Sea in the first easing of the pandemic lockdown in June 2020. The third was in Holt in August 2020 with the fourth in September 2020 in Norwich just before the November lockdown. Finally shop number 5 was due to open on 5th November in Burnham Market but stalled due to the November lockdown being imposed but then opened briefly in the December prior to Tier 4 imposition for Xmas and then the January 5th 2021 lockdown! So the next stage of easing in April could see all 5 shops open for the first time ever!
More people than ever before enjoyed The Searles Soap Box Derby in Hunstanton on Sunday 22 September.
The event, organised by the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, returned to the town in 2017 and has got more popular each year. 44 teams raced down the new, faster, course that started at the town hall and finished near the bandstand overlooking the sea.
Teams travelled from all over the country to take part, including racers from Newark, Wellingborough and Milton Keynes.
This year, for the first time, there was a speed trap on the course. Some karts travelled at more than 30 miles per hour. The fastest vehicle on the day was driven by Ed Napolitano in the Hunstanton District Round Table kart. Completing the course in 31 seconds on his first run and 28 seconds on the second.