Page 8 - Town & Around - March 2026

8 Town & Around March 2026 Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net
A Banksy or not a Banksy: that was the question!
Dani Crawshaw

he recent hype around a potential Banksy almost valued a pub’s but the Margery Kempe Trust says, "King’s Lynn doesn’t need a
back doors at 10 million pounds. It depicted the playwright Banksy to tell us we are interesting.”
Tspray painting the wall, near to where William Shakespeare is Perhaps this recent artwork has highlighted that we need to celebrate
said to have performed. the town’s own literary heritage a lot more.
Now all the frenzy’s died down (it 'wozn't' a Banksy), some are
questioning whether Shakespeare was the right historical figure to
choose - is he really the most culturally significant icon for the town?
Having possibly been in Lynn for a week?
Gareth Calway, a retired English teacher from Sedgeford, says
Margery Kempe is overlooked. Born in the town in 1373, she wrote
the first autobiography in the English language. And Shakespeare isn’t
the only male historical figure she’s lost out to.
“Why is there a Bad King John statue and Margery Kempe, who is
in the British Library as an icon, gets a bench and after years of
campaigning a quite minimal coverage?” Gareth says.
King John’s link to the town is whilst travelling from Lynn he
famously lost his crown jewels in The Wash.
“Kempe is taught as a key figure in women’s writing in American
universities as well as celebrated in the British Library as one of five
mediaeval landmark writers. Kempe lived all her amazing life in and
travelling from Lynn and should have the statue, not John.”
Gareth admits the recent graffiti ‘really captured people’s attention’,

County Council update by Deputy Leader Cllr Andrew Jamieson

County council elections Growing Pressures on SEND Services apartments designed for
In January, the Government announced this The council continues to work tirelessly to people aged 55 and over
May's county council elections would not go support children and young people with Special who want to stay
ahead, so that the council can focus on local Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), independent.
government reorganisation and devolution. despite growing demand and sustained pressure Rising construction
The Council agreed to the delay on the on local services. The Council remains costs and new regulatory
promise that a Mayor would be elected in 2026, committed to improving outcomes for families, requirements have
which will not happen now until 2028. The investing in local provision and working with impacted delivery within
Government has chosen to prioritise schools, health partners and parents to meet the original £29 million capital budget. To deliver
reorganisation over local democracy, leaving increasingly complex needs. the remaining 532 homes, Cabinet is being asked
councils to absorb reputational damage and However, the scale of the challenge facing to approve the additional funding. These homes
residents without proper electoral accountability SEND services is being driven by national policy will help save the council money every year,
through no fault of their own. Norfolk County decisions and long-standing underfunding. avoiding the need for people to move into
Council has consistently made it clear that at no Without decisive action from Government, residential care.
point did we request the elections be delayed: to councils will continue to be placed in an
The future of care homes
say so is just political grandstanding. impossible position. This crisis is not of Norfolk’s A company that runs good and outstanding
making, it is a central government issue.
Norfolk's bus service improvements However, Norfolk’s residents are picking up the care facilities is interested in buying Norfolk
The Ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan bill. County Council's care company and 20 homes.
(BSIP) has transformed public transport across If the council agrees a deal with Stow Healthcare,
the county, driving a 26% increase in passenger Every 1p Rise in National Living Wage residents of the homes would continue to live
numbers since 2022 and making Norfolk a Costs Norfolk Council’s Adult Social there, and existing Norse Care staff would move
leading national example for sustainable travel, Care £300,000 to the new owner.
delivered thanks to the £65.45 million secured While fair pay for care workers is essential and The council launched a review of its care estate
from the Department for Transport. strongly supported, the scale and speed of last year, as its contract with Norse Care Ltd was
It includes new and enhanced bus services on national wage increases continue to place major due to end in March 2026.
more than 44 routes, more evening and Sunday financial strain on local authorities - without
services. more affordable fares and a greener matching increases in Government funding, Body worn cameras aid safety
fleet. Customer satisfaction’s also risen to 87%, councils are left to absorb these costs. Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service has 160 new
bucking national trends. Axon body-worn cameras to help improve safety
15% uplift to foster carers proposed and decision-making at incidents. Cameras have
Norfolk gritting vehicles Norfolk County Council looks to invest £1.5m been issued to all fire appliances and operational
Winter gritting is well underway, with gritters annually in its fostering service in a bid to support officers, protection and prevention teams, fire
active on A/B roads, key bus routes, and village more children in care to live with families. It’s investigation officers, the training school, and
access roads, using new tech for efficiency. The part of a three-year transformation programme Trading Standards officers.
first runs of the recent winter season (late aimed at recognising the contribution of foster The devices provide live streaming, location
2025/early 2026) started as temperatures carers and the vital role they play. data and two-way communication, allowing
dropped, utilizing the 58-strong fleet with Proposals also include enhanced practical footage to be shared in real time with control
automated salting to cover 2,200 miles of routes. support. room staff during emergency incidents.This
Updates are posted on their social media using supports quicker, better-informed decisions,
#NorfolkWinter. Residents can also check this Additional investment of £35m in improves firefighter safety by identifying risks
year’s gritting routes using the online map on the Independent Living Programme earlier, and helps coordinate responses with
council’s website, where you can also report any Since 2018 the programme’s contributed partner agencies.
issues. capital funding towards 603 high-quality, modern The cameras were introduced in December.