Residents across the city are feeling safer thanks to alley gates provided by the city council, through a scheme which is being extended for another 12 months due to its success so far. The scheme's criteria has been widened so that residents can also apply for repairs to existing gates, even if they were not provided by the council. Since the scheme was initiated in 2021, almost one hundred households have benefitted from the installation of new gates. The gates are provided through funding made available by the Safer Neighbourhoods Initiative, set up to provide a coordinated response across the council and external partners to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. This includes increasing neighbourhood engagement, looking at physical means of improving safety and a city-wide community fund to support measures…

Winners and finalists of the second annual Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards attended a glittering event on 23 March at Norwich City Football Club sponsored by Fosters Solicitors. It was a fantastic evening where both councils were joined by some of the most exceptional businesses in the area, and provided a chance to celebrate business innovation, entrepreneurialism and excellence. Jewellery and accessories company Lisa Angel won the Business Growth Award, sponsored by Big Sky Living. Despite a difficult couple of years, the company has managed to expand their high street presence, explore new lines and increased their online offering. Broadland Council Portfolio Holder for Economic Development Cllr Jo Copplestone said: ‘’They have continued to invest in their staff and have a clear understanding of the challenges ahead and what…

Having been put ‘on ice’ for the last two years due to the Covid pandemic, Cromer’s popular ‘Folk on the Pier’ festival is now set fair for the second weekend of May. Since its last outing in 2019, festival producer Scott Butler has managed to keep the majority of both artists and bookings for the 2020 production intact through the 2020 and 2021 ‘no shows’, and is delighted to be back on track and full steam ahead with the final preparations for what in real terms is the 22nd event, since it started in 1999. Apart from having to re-arrange two acts in the 2020 line-up, the real change concerns the fringe events whereby a new team will now be running this element of the festival. ‘Folk off the Pier’ …

A £1.8m project to provide modern, quality emergency accommodation to homeless people in Breckland is nearing completion. The Breckland Council project has seen Elm House, a former pre-school in Thetford, completely refurbished over the past year. When opened this spring, the service will provide temporary housing to single adults, couples, and families from Breckland district area. The building work is now complete, and once opened, Access Community Trust will manage the centre on the Councils behalf, residents will be supported to if they seek further services where required.