2+ mon, 6+ day ago (1274+ words) Norfolk has a higher proportion of children getting extra support for special educational needs than almost anywhere else in the country, prompting new fears for the county's finances. Among comparable councils, only one other area in England has a higher rate of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). An aerial view of Norwich(Image: Mike Page) Once a child is judged to require such a plan, they become eligible for special measures to support their education, such as one-to-one teaching, extra therapy and equipment. This places additional costs on the county council, which has seen its spending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) soar in recent years. National politicians have warned the system is no longer sustainable and is overwhelming councils' finances, reducing their ability to spend in other areas. Last year, the number of Norfolk youngsters…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago (648+ words) Norfolk is among the top 10 worst places for mobile phone signal, sparking calls for companies to do more to boost connectivity in rural areas. Signalchecker, which measures mobile phone coverage in the country, has found the county is the 86th worst area in the UK out of 96 regions. A local initiative, using bin lorries to track mobile phone use, has also identified "not spot" areas, with north Norfolk communities bearing the brunt of poor coverage. Itteringham village shop owner Mike Hemsley complained of poor phone signal in 2013, but issues remain (Image: Newsquest) The worst-affected areas are the villages sitting between Norwich and Holt, and Fakenham to the west. Villages like Banningham and Itteringham have complained of having little signal, leaving some people feeling isolated. It can be problematic at times of emergency, causing problems with connecting to emergency services. Staff at…...

10+ mon, 2+ week ago (318+ words) More bin lorries are to be kitted out with'monitoring technology'to gather further data on Norfolk's mobile phone 'notspots'. Norfolk County Council's Streetwave project has seen'devices installed on 14 refuse vehicles to'gather data on signal strength and download speed, to create maps of coverage quality. And the county council has been so impressed by the results of the scheme, run in partnership with mobile analysts, that it has extended the scheme for a further year. The Conservative-controlled council intends'to install devices on more bin lorries - at about "3,000 per vehicle - to build up an even better picture of coverage. Devices have been installed on bin lorries (Image: Newsquest) Council officials said the data collected is crucial, because it allows the council to present evidence to mobile phone operators to encourage them to invest to improve coverage. Councillors agreed to the extension at a…...

7+ mon, 2+ week ago (235+ words) The Aylsham Show committee has'launched its'annual search'to celebrate'Norfolk's best farmers through the 2025 Norfolk County Farm Business" Aylsham Show launches 2025 Norfolk farm business competition The Aylsham Show committee has launched its annual search to celebrate the best of Norfolk's farming businesses. The 44th Norfolk County Farm Business Competition is now opened for entries for 2025. Rob Norman, who chairs the competition's organising committee for the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association, said he hopes to encourage a wider pool of entries this year - particularly from the west of the county. "This is for anyone who farms in Norfolk," he said. "One of the positives last year was we had a lot of new people entering, and we had a new winner. This year, we want even more new entries, and we never really have that many from west Norfolk, so it would be good to…...

4+ mon, 4+ week ago (146+ words) Were you one of the lucky winners in last month's Postcode Lottery? Norfolk won big throughout June, with seven different locations getting lucky in the national draw. In the Norwich area, winning spots included NR5 8FS, Lapwing Drive in Costessey, and NR5 8AN, Beverely Road, which both took home "1,000. The nearby villages of Mulbarton and Taverham also won big, with'NR14 8JH,'Forge Orchards, and NR8 6HS, Fakenham Road in Taverham, scooping a grand each. Heading to the seaside, players from'NR31 9BE, Station Road in Great Yarmouth, and NR29 4HS, Beach Road in Hemsby, also scooped "1,000 each in winnings,' And in north Norfolk, contestants living in NR28 0BB, Beatrice Close'in'North Walsham, also bagged "1,000. Playing the Postcode Lottery costs "12'per month, with 33pc of the ticket money going to good causes. There are 20 draws each month'and winning postcodes are'announced daily....

6+ mon, 2+ week ago (493+ words) Essex and Suffolk Water intends to erect an initial 157 poles up in Great Yarmouth alone, with plans to install up to 350 in other parts of Norfolk where it has customers. The company says the poles ... Furious council leaders will urge the people of Norfolk to unite and fight controversial plans to put up hundreds of poles across the county." Norfolk County Council is set to officially signal its strong opposition to a water company's contentious plans to install scores of wooden poles, up to 15 metres high. Essex and Suffolk Water intends to erect an initial 157 poles up in Great Yarmouth alone, with plans to install up to 350 in other parts of Norfolk where it has customers. The company says the poles are needed to transmit data from water smart meters to its monitoring system. Norfolk County Council's County Hall headquarters…...

10+ mon, 4+ day ago (749+ words) Millions of pounds of grant funding will be made available to businesses across Norfolk as part of an ambitious new five-year economic plan for the county. Norfolk's new Local Growth Plan aims to position the county at the forefront of the UK economy. A new "1.1m Business Growth Fund will offer businesses grants between "5,000 and "50,000, with an intervention rate'of 30pc'from April 1 this year. The Made Smarter Adoption programme for the East of England, meanwhile, will provide a boost for the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector, with grants of up to "20,000 and an intervention rate of 50pc. The plan hopes to build'on Norfolk's influence in key sectors like clean energy and agri-tech, as well as the'cutting-edge research taking place across'the county.' The launch of Norfolk's new Local Growth Plan at Norwich Playhouse'(Image: Lesley van Dijk) NORFOLK'S LOCAL GROWTH PLAN Norfolk's new Local…...

6+ mon, 1+ week ago (541+ words) Controversial plans to erect hundreds of new poles up to 15m high on Norfolk's streets should halted, say council leaders. Controversial plans to erect hundreds of new poles on'Norfolk's streets should be halted, say council leaders. Norfolk County Council has confirmed'its official opposition to a'water company's contentious plans to install scores of wooden poles'- each up to 15m high - to help gather data from customers' smart water meters. Hundreds of poles are being installed (Image: Nicholas T Ansell/PA Wire) Essex and Suffolk Water intends to put up an initial 157 poles in Great Yarmouth alone, with plans to install up to 350 in other parts of Norfolk. The company says the poles are needed to transmit data from water smart meters to its monitoring system. The company says the poles are needed to collect and transmit data from water meters (Image: PA) But…...

9+ mon, 3+ week ago (796+ words) It is one of the most endangered sightings in the Norfolk countryside - a red working phone box. But the pips may soon be sounding for the kiosk in the tiny village of Sharrington, near Holt. BT wants to disconnect the box - one of only a handful of its kind left in the county. It says only nine people used it in 2024with the most recent call made in December. Derek Harris, Simon Horton and Perry and Pippa Long outside their precious phone box (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) Locals, however, are determined not to see it disconnectedwithout a fight. They have mobilised Brinton and Sharrington parish council andSteffan Aquarone, the Lib Dem MP for North Norfolk, with both coming out in support of their campaign not just to ensurethe kiosk remainsin the village but that the phone inside keeps on working. They…...

3+ mon, 3+ week ago (316+ words) Three Norfolk primary schools will be able to get hands-on with nature thanks to a cash injection from a wind farm's community fund." Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT)"received "16,685 from'rsted's Hornsea 3 Community Fund to support the roll-out of its Wilder Schools programme. Over two years, the project will deliver classroom sessions for 150 children, teacher training, school assemblies and on-site conservation activities like wildflower planting and installing bat boxes. The schools that will benefit are Rollesby"Primary School, Loddon Junior School and Hillside Avenue Primary and Infant School. "This generous support from rsted will enable Norfolk Wildlife Trust to work with three primary schools in Norfolk to inspire children and their school communities to take action for nature," said Isabelle Mudge,"wilder learning manager at NWT. "The project will bring outdoor learning into the classroom, developing pupils' skills and confidence to help…...