Information:
The next Meeting will be on the 1st of May 2025 at the Community Centre from 7pm. This will be the Annual Parish Meeting followed by the Annual Parish Council Meting.
For details of Planning Applications see: www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20077/planning_applications
www.west-norfolk.gov.uk for all Borough Council enquiries
Introduction
Walpole is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It covers an area of 19.27 km (7.44 sq mi), and includes the villages of Walpole St. Peter, Walpole St. Andrew and Walpole Marsh, with a population of 1,804 in 719 households as of the 2011 census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
Located roughly half way between King’s Lynn and Wisbech, and on the borders of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. The Walpoles is made up of two former villages – St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s – as well as the hamlet of Walpole Marsh to the north-west.
Lying some 6 miles to the north-east of Wisbech. The Walpoles have a rich and intriguing history. The area is known to have been settled by the Romans, and it was they who built the massive earthen sea wall which is still called Roman Bank.
Until the installation of the 1st Sutton Bridge, in 1821, Roman Bank provided the only route from north Norfolk into Lincolnshire. King John is thought to have lost his treasure in Walpole, in 1216, while journeying from King’s Lynn to Newark with his train of horse-drawn wagons.
The name Walpole is derived from the 2 words ‘wall’ and ‘pool’ and was adopted as the surname of a local family that moved away from the area, and in time produced the country’s 1st prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole (1676-1745)
Medieval remains have been found in the parish, and Walpole is referred to in the Domesday Book.
St. Godric, who is said to have foretold the martyrdom of Thomas a Becket, was born in Walpole St. Andrew. In his time a pedlar and a seafarer, Godric made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem before spending the last 60 years of his life as a hermit, living among the birds and animals in the forest of Finchale, near Durham.
The author and broadcaster Alec Clifton-Taylor described the church of Walpole St. Peter as “probably the finest village church in England”. Unquestionably the area’s main attraction, its construction was started in the 14th Century on the site of an earlier church.
The church of Walpole St Andrew, which lies just a few fields away, is no longer used for regular worship, and is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. It features an anchorite’s cell built into the buttress and a sturdy, brick-built tower that dates back to the 15th century
Contact
Roadworks/Highways issues:
Norfolk County Council is responsible for most roads in the county. For details of their planned road closures, diversions and major projects, visit their website: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/39657/Planned-roadworks . For a full map, please visit the One Network website. https://one.network/uk/norfolk
PLEASE report any road issues including potholes via https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/highwayservices
Trunk roads ( A48) are managed by National Highways https://nationalhighways.co.uk/
www.norfolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roads/report-a-problem for:
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Roads, pavements and cycleways problem types - potholes/drainage/flooding/ highways damage, hedges/trees/grass verges/road signs damaged or missing/obstructions etc.
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Public right of way or trail problem types - overgrown surfaces, verges, bushes, trees, missing or damaged signs, obstructions etc.
National Grid Electricity Transmission 22.2.25
Dear Walpole Parish Council,
We wanted to provide an update and further details regarding the forthcoming phase of ground investigation works due to take place.
We will be commencing our intrusive surveys (ground investigation) located in the substation siting zone at Walpole starting 24 February.
The intrusive ground investigation works at Walpole will consist of five boreholes and five trial pits which are required to help us better understand the local ground conditions and potential effects of our work for informed decisions to be made on the siting of the Walpole B substation. The works are planned to start on 24 February 2025 and last six weeks in duration. This includes two weeks of mobilisation and establishment works, three weeks for completing the boreholes and trial pits, and one week for demobilisation.
We have reached voluntary agreements with all landowners affected by these survey works. The main access will be via Mill Lane. There will also be secondary access via a private road off of West Drove North, which has been agreed with the landowner.
If you would like any further information on this, or any other aspect of the project, please contact our Community Relations team at contact@g-w.nationalgrid.com or call our Freephone at 0808 258 4395 or visit our website www.nationalgrid.com/g-w for more information.
Statement from Council Leader on start of Government's devolution consultation
Councillor Alistair Beales, Council Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, said: “Devolution would represent a significant change to the way national Government investment happens in Norfolk and Suffolk. This involves the establishment of a Strategic Authority headed by a mayor, who could be elected as soon as May 2026. The Government is currently consulting on these proposals and I encourage our residents, businesses and partners to take part so the voice of communities is heard in this process.
“Norfolk and Suffolk are on the Government’s accelerated programme for devolution, which hopefully will mean additional investment for Norfolk. A consequence of being on this Devolution Priority Programme is there will be Local Government Reorganisation for all Norfolk and Suffolk authorities, which will be subject to a separate consultation and engagement process later in the year, once councils have made a submission to Government on how reorganisation could look. As ever, our focus is doing the best for our West Norfolk community.”
Further information about the Government's consultation, which runs from today (17 February) until 13 April, is available here: