I don’t know about you but this winter seems to have been rather a long and cold one so I have been heartened to see the snowdrops in full flower. The first daffodils of spring are just emerging in our garden (very early flowering ones) and these signs together with the sunshine we have been enjoying the last few days gives rise to knowledge that spring is thankfully just around the corner.

We have a thriving community here in the villages with many associations and clubs that contribute to the well being of our villages and help draw people to live here. However, the community is only as good as the time invested in it by the people who live here and get involved in what is happening.

We are blessed in the Marlpit that whenever some one retires from a post we always seem to have another volunteer step forward even if it does take a couple of months of advertising for it to happen! We are very grateful to our team of 57 people who ensure that you receive your Marlpit. We are always looking for staplers and deliverers and would welcome another editor (particularly a lady!), so if you feel that you want to contribute to the production please contact any editor for details.

The Marlpit Editors thoroughly enjoy producing the magazine for the villages and enjoy feedback from you whether it be glowing or on the constructive criticism side! We feel that indeed as an organization we have built on the foundations laid by the pioneers of nearly 26 years ago and now have a village magazine reflecting many of the activities happening in our community. However we would love to hear from more of you and have more articles with

memories and what it means to you to live in this beautiful part of Norfolk.

We are very thankful that both the Longwater and Tarmac applications for gravel extraction have been turned down by the County Council. While the reason for refusal was not for the detrimental effect on the villages, the environment or the increase in traffic, this editor’s thoughts are that the grounds given were possibly the least controversial that the County Council could put forward knowing that both applications would probably go to appeal. We see from the report of the Horstead Parish Council Meeting that the Longwater Application has already gone to appeal so we can only hope that the decision in respect of both applications is upheld. To all who have been concerned enough to write a letter of objection and to those who attended public meetings we say THANK YOU. We still believe that people power can make a difference and we can only hope that the weight of local opinion helps to endorse the original decisions. The Public Enquiry into the Longwater application will take place in July (venue to be announced) and I understand that while any further letters of objection to this application should be received by the Highways Committee by the 27th February deadline, it would be possible for anyone who has not previously written, to personally hand a letter of objection to the Inspector at the enquiry and he will most probably read it. This editor has already had an encounter with an empty gravel lorry hurtling along a narrow road near the Waste Tip and Frimstone site, bringing home to me exactly how dangerous our local roads could become! So we are still encouraging people to voice their objections – who knows, we could make a difference!

Finally, we are hoping someone out there can help as we are looking for a room in which to house our printer and print the Marlpit each month. If you have a lockable room which we could use or rent please contact us , for further information, as soon as possible.

Hilary Oliver