Page 3, At Sheringham paper, Norfolk UK

HEAR'SAY

Hello again and welcome to this the ninety-first edition of hearsay, sounds almost as old as me doesn't it? However not dwelling on the fact that none of us are getting any younger I'll press on with the column before I reach the 100 mark! Now what's on the lips of the topical gossipmongers this month I hear you cry. Well it seems that there have been several topographical battering warfronts of late. Not least I even get a mention in the Sheringham's other paper all be it owned by an outsider firm. Not unlike anything that was British in industry there then.

Yes this is the debate that rages over the common land that can be seen on the "sea side" from the Main coast Cromer Road which has now incorporated a dew pond, Jungle and Nature reserve! Excuse me, but just exactly when was this decided and by whom I might well ask. Since when has this bit of Common land and I stress the word Common, been designated as a nature reserve. Just when did we commoners waive the right to tether our goats and hang out the washing come to that? Did I miss something here? Were we the parishioners, ever asked? I don't ever recall there ever being a consensus of opinion that decided the fate of the place where generations of carnivals started from, fireworks on bonfire night heralded from and the yearly carnival car boot site was ever openly discussed and decided by the public. So to suddenly stop and to be turned into ponsy orchid haven strikes me as rather bizzare, or am I really missing the plot? The Malcolumn may have been silenced but I haven't. And just in case you were wondering whether I have a good case to answer as to whether I am Sheringham enough, I can prove at least five generations have been living these here streets since 1888. So yes I think I do and should have an opinion as to what Sheringham folks want. I agree the dewpond is picturesque during the correct season and in the correct light, but as was said in the film Arthur you can't always rely on the right light! And who ever saw the light to carry out these stealth shenanigans in the hope no one would notice? If this is going to be an example of the typical carry on from the powers that be in office in this town to get a good mark in the Sheringham in Bloom competition then who and whatever are they going to prey on next? Well at least they can't procure the Priory Maize as that's already been bought out by Tesco along with the Esso garage by all accounts so who's next?

Still if Tesco have got the maize and garden centre perhaps they'll do well selling copious amounts of flora and fauna to the council to enhance and introduce even more mysteriously materialising rare species to the common that no one ever new were there before. My God there's even been a report of a Coypu. What next Lord Lucan's hideaway? Or perhaps that rarest of breeds, that being a Carnival Float!

Which leads me onto the next subject and bane of recent contention aired by many. Now before we get letters I'd like to point out that those folks that turned out and made the effort on the day need wholeheartedly congratulating as, as usual there would have been no event at all. Although this year must have been one of the poorest turnouts in living memory. How many more years can we expect thousands of folk to turn out and fight over a park and ride space if all we can offer them to watch after an hours wait is an event that is over quicker than I can sneeze. Surely to save future embarrassment of admitting that one is a town's man or woman of Sheringham, is to finally admit defeat and to cancel the procession altogether in future years. It clearly has become unviable to produce any kind of contraption that even resembles a float. Partially, thanks, one would think, to all the local and central government health and safety laws and insurance farce that is so much part of our every day suing culture.

Sadly we have been driven to what was put on show last week and it was shameful. I must stress that this had nothing to do what so ever with the organisers who, every year do a most sterling job and should be rewarded most generously. It's just a shame their rewards were not in bodies on the ground and on the road on the day its self. With that said I'm off to sweep away the flash flood debris of today's downpourings and hope that by the time next months edition is out, someone from the council has noticed the new rain forest emerging from the ruins up Holway Road that was once a budding school and is now owned by Tesco. Is this the new Jurassic Park venture? Or perhaps should the NNDC step in now after nigh on thirteen years and lay on a compulsory purchase on the eyesore as would have happened to any other ruin owned by any other individual!

And on that note I bid you farewell until next time take care now Vic