Detailed car park design flaws

There are a number of flaws in the design of the proposed car park that make it not fit for purpose. The table below consolidates our concerns which have been entered in the planning system.

Issue Comments
Parking spaces are too small

  • The spaces are smaller than the NNDC recommended car park space size
  • why hasn’t this design taken into account the council’s own standard?
 Take a look at the scale plan of the car park and the way car images are placed in the spaces. It would not be possible to open the doors if two cars park side by side.The results will be:

  • bad parking, such as across spaces;
  • risk of car damage from cars manoeuvring close to other cars;
  • risk of car damage from knocked doors;
  • drivers will park elsewhere
No pedestrian routes

  • NNDC policy is that pedestrian routes should be clearly defined and not restricted by vehicular movement requirements, but there are no separate pedestrian routes in the proposal
  • why hasn’t this design taken into account the council’s own standard?
 After parking a car the passengers and their bits and bobs need to alight and move from
the car park. As a beach car park in summer this will include lots of children and lots of bits and bobs. In the summer there will be cars constantly moving round the car park looking for spaces. The result will be:

  • risk to children waiting for their family to be ready to move on
  • conflict between pedestrians, wheelchairs and cars with a risk of injury
  • drivers, especially with children and pushchairs/strollers will park elsewhere to minimise risk
No pedestrian access to Overstrand Road

  • the only justification for the car park is to improve the vitality and viability of the east end of Cromer
  • if this really is the justification why hasn’t this been given priority?
 The only pedestrian exit from the car park is at the north-west corner into the Park, from where pedestrians will walk through the Park and into town missing the east end of the town.

  • The design is not fit to match this justification.
Pedestrian access to Park

  • exit from the car park is via a small opening at the north west corner, much too small to cater for the expected flow of pedestrians, wheelchairs and cycles.
 Take a look at the scale plan of the car park and look at the only pedestrian exit and ask why no-one has thought about how to accommodate the flow of pedestrians to and from the car park.

A narrow exit such as proposed would cause pedestrian, wheelchair, pushchairs to ‘tail back’ into the car park causing further unnecessary risk to pedestrians.
Car Park entrance

  • a new entrance from Overstrand Road is proposed
 Take a look at the scale plan of the car park and look at where the entrance to the car park is, just to the west of the exit lane; without clear signage (not just a bodpave insert) drivers could easily enter on the exit lane causing holdups.
Whilst the ‘sweep analysis’ shows cars entering from the east and leaving to the west (which they can’t do on the current road system), there is no sweep analysis for car circulating, and the plan suggests this could be difficult
Bodpave surface

  • Bodpave is a reinforced plastic grid that can be infilled with gravel to provide a durable surface

 

Bodpave as installed in the NNDC Overflow car park

Bodpave as installed in the NNDC Overflow car park

 Take a look at the NNDC overflow car park, behind the Police Station on Holt Road in Cromer, which was made with this system and is currently unusable because it is coming apart.Whilst Bodpave can be successfully used in parking bays, on traffic routes where vehicles turn sharply (as in a car park) it can be problematic (as is seen from the NNDC overflow car park).

The gravel surface isn’t really suited for a conservation heritage site where a more
formal look is more appropriate.

The gravel surface isn’t ideal for wheel chair use.
Bodpave signage

  • limited space in the car park will result in on ground signage using plastic inserts
 Take a look at the NNDC overflow carpark, behind the Police Station on Holt Road in Cromer, which was made with this system and see if you can see the plastic inserts that mark out the spaces and think about how significant direction arrows will be.

The design of the car park is such that there is not space for other signs so the only way drivers will know there is a one way system is through the plastic inserts.
Other signage / street furniture

  • there is nothing in the design to indicate where signs and bins will be
 There will be a need for other signs in the car park, such as to indicate to pedestrians how to get out of the park, where the pay meters are, and where the cycle park is. Additional furniture such as waste bins are proposed for the planted areas, ie behind where the cars will be parked so impossible to use
Pay meters

  • the pay meters are planned to be at the end of the planted area in the middle of the car park
 The pay meters will be placed opposite the entry point to the car park where pedestrians waiting to pay will be most at risk
No motorcycle spaces

  • NNDC standards state: Parking for motorcycles, mopeds and scooters should be provided in all new non-residential developments at a rate of 1 space per 20 car parking spaces with a minimum of one space
  • why hasn’t this design taken into account the council’s own standard?
Entrance 6ft barrier

  • to stop commercial vehicle and camper vans a height restrictive barrier is to be installed across the entrance
 The barrier will be a heritage design, spanning about 6 metres, about 8 feet from the ground (ideal height for people to swing from)

  • How long will it be before a roof-box or roof-cycle will accidentally knock into this requiring expensive repairs
Restrict vehicles to Park

  • the proposal will encourage more cars onto Overstrand Road looking for parking
 The park driveway will be mistaken for the car park and vehicle numbers in the park will increase.

There is already a problem with unauthorised vehicles, driving too fast, parking in odd places and turning where children are playing. There is no proposal in this design for how this will be addressed.
NNDC standard on cycle parking is that it should:

  • be secure, under effective surveillance and conveniently located to the entrance … with safe and direct routes to the surrounding road network;
  • it is difficult to see how this standard has been adhered to
 The cycle parking has been moved in the latest design to be adjacent to the pedestrian exit from the car park into the Park

  • why is the cycle parking at the back of the car park which will encourage cyclists down the Park drive rather than through the car park (the Bodpave surface isn’t good for cycles)
  • what is there to separate cyclists from pedestrians exiting the car park?
Excavations near trees

  • NNDC policy: a Tree Survey/Arboricultural Implications assessment is required where there are trees within the application site, or on land adjacent to it that could influence or be affected by the development (including street trees). Information will be required on which trees are to be retained and on the means of protecting these trees during construction works.
  • why hasn’t this policy been enforced?
 The proposal is to excavate the current surface and replace with a Bodpave and gravel covering. This will require excavations of at least 500mm less than a metre from mature trees in the Park. An independent arboricultural assessment would determine the impact of this on the trees and influence the design.
Entrance to new toilets

  • sloped access to toilets should be at least 1:20 for a ramp to rise to the necessary height
 Unfortunately there are no measurements on the plan but an estimate shows the ramp to the toilets to be too steep.
The lower end of the ramp is in the middle of pedestrian exit to the car which will
cause risk to wheel chair users, and pedestrians.The small turning area at the bottom of the ramp would make it difficult to turn wheelchairs and mobility scooters safely.
Potential of bats in building

  • Legislation states: local planning authorities must fully consider a proposed development’s impact upon protected species as they are a ‘material consideration’ in the determination of planning applications. In the context of bat surveys, where there is a reasonable likelihood of protected species being materially impacted upon by a development, surveys must be carried out before a planning application is determined. 
 NNDC acknowledge bats fly around the Park but, contrary to legislation, no independent bat survey has been completed, although a planning officer has stated: “it is recommended that the removal of the roof covering (felt) be executed under a Method Statement to ensure that, on the small chance a bat is discovered, proper procedure is followed.”

There has been no independent assessment of the impact of cars, their lights, noise and pollution on the bats in the Park.
Disturbance of bats and their habitats is illegal.
Assessment of noise and pollution

  • Government advice is: Noise needs to be considered when new developments may create additional noise and when new developments would be sensitive to the prevailing acoustic environment.
 Creating a car park in a quiet park in a residential area will increase traffic,
particularly slow moving traffic which causes the most pollution and noise.Increased pollution in a recreational area, particularly where children are playing, is a major consideration and an assessment of this should be undertaken to, at least, see if there are any mitigating design features that could alleviate the impact.
Lighting assessment

  • the lighting is all placed within the planted areas lighting will be behind parked cars or hidden by plants
 There has been no assessment of the effectiveness of the lighting plan, nor the
impact on local residents, or wildlife (including protected species such as bats).Lighting schemes can be costly and difficult to change, so getting the design right up front is critical; there is no independent assessment (other than a manufacturer’s proposal) that the planned lighting scheme is
appropriate.
Traffic analysis

  • there are no details about proposed traffic movement around Cromer as a result of this proposal
  • Why wasn’t NNDC Property Services asked for a traffic assessment before the application was validated?
 Traffic flow around Cromer is difficult in the summer; this proposal is for a car park on a route where traffic is discouraged so there will need to be a significant change to traffic flow to facilitate use of this car park:

  • how will carsget to and from the site, and onto other car parks?
  • What will the impact be on current on-street parking (for example, how many (free) on street spaces will be lost to enable the car park?)
  • What additional street furniture will be needed round Cromer?

Answer to these questions are a key part of the decision process and should have
been part of the original submission.

Highways have stated that “no works shall commence on site … until a detailed scheme for the off-site highway improvement[s]…”

 

 

OBJECTION TO PF/16/1251 Change of use of former tennis court/play area to public car park (48 spaces) with new access from Overstrand Road & conversion and alteration of former potting shed to form new public toilets in North Lodge Park

We have formally lodged our objection to the planning application PF/16/1251 for a car park and new toilet facilities on the old children’s play area in North Lodge Park.The reasons for our objection are that it appears that North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) have submitted this planning application, without considering the Park as a whole, without addressing national planning policy and without addressing its own Core Policies. Furthermore, against the spirit of Localism and National Planning Policy, NNDC have put forward a proposal without consultation with the community.

 

OBJECTION TO PF/16/1251OBJECTION TO PF/16/1251 Change of use of former tennis court/play area to public car park (48 spaces) with new access from Overstrand Road & conversion and alteration of former potting shed to form new public toilets.

It appears that North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) have submitted thisplanning application, without considering the Park as a whole, without addressing national planning policy and without addressing its own Core Policies. Furthermore, against the spirit of Localism and National Planning Policy, NNDC have put forward a proposal without consultation with the community.

There are a number of material planning considerations that are grounds for our OBJECTION to this application.

Summary

In applying to itself for planning permission NNDC have not produced the validation requirements that any other developer would have to prepare.

The reports and surveys that are usually required to make an application valid are necessary so that the impact of the proposed development can be judged, so the public can understand the implications of the development and so the Planning Authority can make an informed decision.

Without assessing the impact it is impossible to determine whether these proposals would have a detrimental impact on the special character of North Lodge Parkand the surrounding area.

We do not believe the application should have even been registered without an arboricultural impact assessment or an ecological survey. Moreover, the fact that in spite of the applicant being a member of North Norfolk District Council’s property services team, at Part 8 of the application form the box that declares whether the applicant is connected with the Council has been ticked “no”.

We are concerned that NNDC have been mis-representative with this proposal.

The Design and Access Statement and press release refers to the site as Brownfield Land. The National Planning Policy Framework specifically excludes parks from the definition of Brownfield Land.

The planning application form states the site is currently vacant. This is incorrect.

The site is still open and used by the public to learn to ride bicycles, skateboard and informal play. Earlier this year NNDC erected signs forbidding skateboarding.  Part of the site has in recent years and continues to be used as a waste transfer station. Although no planning permission, Certificate of Lawlessness or Environment Agency permits exists for this use, NNDC have stated that it is permitted as it has been used for over 10 years. Part of the site is being leased to a Contractor for a construction site compound. It is not a vacant site.

If the area subject to this change of use application was not being used by a commercial waste operator and building contractors it could be more successfully used for recreational activities and events.

The application does not consider the designations that have been put in place by the Local Development Framework to protect this land.

Rather than Brownfield Land the designations that are ignored in the Planning Application are the fact that it is Open Space, Public Realm and in a Conservation Area. There are a number of planning policies relevant to these designations and the application either contravenes or does not demonstrate compliance with 11 policies of NNDC’s Core Policy and at least 9 clauses of the National Planning Policy Framework. These are examined in further detail below.

The design of the proposal is of low quality.

A plastic grid in-filled with an unspecified aggregate with plastic inserts, no specified kerbing and no margins or paths might be appropriate for an informal parking area but is not a considered formal design within a structured park and Conservation Area. No positions for signage, lighting, bins or street furniture have been proposed in the layout.

The proposal ignores the Council’s own standards

As well as ignoring its own Design Guide recommendations the Council have ignored their own published parking standards resulting in more spaces in the area than it can comfortably accommodate. The proposed parking spaces are smaller than would be permitted on a commercial development and there is no parking for motorcycles.

We do not believe the justifications promoted by the applicant are material considerations

The dilapidated state of the existing area is being used as justification for this proposal on the basis that it is an improvement. The National Planning Policy Framework states that where there has been deliberate neglect, a state of dilapidation should not be taken into account in allowing permission for something that would otherwise be unacceptable.

Another justification promoted by NNDC is to increase the footfall to the East End of town but to achieve this a pedestrian entrance in the South West corner of the proposed car park would be required.

A surprising justification is to address a “wider concern that the town’s Victorian North Lodge Park was suffering from declining numbers of visitors”. The quality of the open space, its facilities and events attract visitors, and over the last 12 months the Park has been brought to life around the hub of the Café by the community which is currently being ignored by the District Council.

 

The Friends of North Lodge Park conducted a survey in March and April of 2015 that received 747 responses. The survey report concluded:

“The overwhelming view is that the special character of the Park as a beautiful, peaceful green space in the heart of Cromer should be safeguarded, and that the lawns and flower beds of North Lodge Park are an important asset to the town. Nothing should happen that is not in keeping with this special character. Respondents often spoke passionately about their fond memories of the Park throughout their lives and how it provides an ‘oasis of calm’, particularly at times when the town is very busy during the summer months.”

A further more detailed survey at the beginning of 2016 supported this conclusion

North Norfolk District Council know that introducing a car park into North Lodge Park is be an emotive subject with the Community and it is surprising that such a poorly documented and unsubstantiated application has been submitted that only addresses one aspect of the Local Development Framework and makes little attempt at addressing any material considerations that would justify a permission.

Any proposal for car parking in the Park needs to consider the Park as a whole, as a co-ordinated approach to this area of Public Realm and as a means of protecting and enhancing the recreational use of the Park.

The Council’s adopted Core Strategy Document states: “Applicants for planning permission should be prepared to demonstrate how the provisions of all relevant development plan policies have been taken into account”.

As the planning authority, NNDC’s own planning department must consider the relevant development plan policies and the decision must be taken in accordance with the development plan unless there are material considerations that indicate otherwise.

The details of our concerns can be viewed here.

 

Play Park Option Exhibition

play park options exhibition

The two surveys conducted by the Friends of North Lodge Park identified the lack of children’s play in the Park as a priority to be addressed.

As part of the cafe licence it was agreed the Friends would put forward plans for a children’s play area, on the old bowling green, funded in part by profits from the cafe.

Over the past month 5 suppliers have been contacted and asked to bring forward designs against the following criteria:

  • an innovative design, unique to the area, that will make the Park, and Cromer, a destination for play
  • a design sensitive to the surroundings, the heritage of the Park and nearby residents
  • low level play to not obstruct the vistas across the space
  • inclusive play for all, upto age 10/12
  • a budget of £100,000

By the end of October the supplier submissions will be ready for public viewing, for you to look at the options and help decide which, if any, proposal to take forward to the next stage.

Invitation to view options for a children’s play area
in North Lodge Park

Friday and Saturday
October 28 and 29
11am – 3 pm

Sea View pre-school
North Lodge Park

 

There is still much to do to make the project a reality, including fund-raising, and agreeing a sustainable maintenance plan, but we are aiming for implementation next year.

Poll no-win for North Lodge Park

Cromer parish meeting.
Last Friday’s Cromer parish meeting, of approx 80 registered electors, voted to request a parish poll asking the following question: Do you wish to see any part of North Lodge Park to be converted into a car park? Yes or No. This question is being forwarded to the Returning Officer at NNDC who will decide whether or not there will be a parish poll.

Discussions at the meeting showed the strength of feeling the community have for North Lodge Park, and how strongly the community want it to remain a special place at the heart of Cromer. Both our surveys have shown this to be the community’s highest priority for the Park.

Our view
We, the committee for the Friends of North Lodge Park, do not wish to see more parking in the Park. Ideally, we would like to get rid of all parking. We also want to see the Park put on a sustainable footing for the future, which requires a significant guaranteed revenue stream. No matter how often or how loudly anyone says “NNDC should be funding the park properly”, without new money we do not think there is any chance of anything beyond minimal maintenance for the foreseeable future because of the significantly increased financial constraints on local Government. .

As a committee, we have had to make a difficult decision. We would much rather the area proposed for the car park is used again for children’s games and educational activities; but we know from our surveys that a significant percentage (50%) of you would support a small car park provided it enabled the rest of the Park to be safeguarded and enhanced.
We do not support the current car park proposal, and have written to NNDC with our considered view that the current proposal has no benefit to the wider park. We have asked NNDC to work with the community to develop a long term plan for the whole Park.

Poll no-win for NLP
Therefore the Friends of North Lodge Park committee have adopted the policy to be prepared to accept a limited car park if – and only if – this benefits the whole park; we did not support the motion for a parish poll.

We believe holding this parish poll is a lose-lose for the Park.parishpoll-extract

  • In the event of a yes vote, or a significant yes vote, NNDC may feel they have the town’s support for the proposed car park without any benefit going to the Park
  • In the event of a no vote (which is not enforceable):
    if NNDC abides by the result, will there be new money for the Park or will it continue on a minimal maintenance basis?
    if NNDC rejects the result, will the proposed car park will be installed with no benefit to the wider Park?

 

Summary
The Friends’ objective is to protect and improve the whole of North Lodge Park. With the invaluable help of volunteers the cafe has become a successful community hub, the gardens around the cafe brought back to life, and there have been a range of successful events in the Park. But unless more people come forward to help, managing the whole park with volunteers may not be sustainable.

North Lodge Park will require significant funding which is unlikely to come from NNDC. A car park may prove to be the only realistic revenue source. So while opposed to the current planning application, your committee does not believe the option of a revenue-producing car park in North Lodge Park should be completely discounted. It should at least be used as a basis to discuss how North Lodge Park can be funded and managed in the future.
The Friends committee are passionate about bringing the Park back to be a Park we can be proud of. We spend hours of our time on your behalf working in the cafe and Park so know the issues. We live and work North Lodge Park. Should we not be trying to find a revenue source that will make the Park sustainable? If not a car park what other revenue source could there be (I repeat, it is unlikely to come from NNDC)? Would you be willing to put your hand deep into your pocket to replace revenue that a car park could generate?

We need to find a way to have a sensible debate within the community and with NNDC. We do not think the proposed parish poll is the way to do it.

48 Spaces and new toilets

proposed toilets in North Lodge Park

The car park proposal
North Norfolk District Council have submitted plans for a car park in North Lodge Park, with conversion of the old bandstand to public toilets.

In summary the proposals are:proposed car park in North Lodge Park

  • a 48 space car park, with 6 disabled spaces, wholly on the old children’s play area (‘concrete area’);
  • conversion of the old bandstand into public toilets;
  • no trees to be removed and additional trees planted;
  • a new opening onto Overstrand Road to facilitate car entry and exit with styling to match the existing entrance;
  •  ‘heritage style’ height restriction bar;
  • surface to be shingle style in a plastic grid;
  • lighting to be low level;
  • no other improvements to the rest of the Park.

There are a number of points to be addressed to improve these proposals, such as

  • one objective is for the car park to serve the businesses at the east end of Cromer, but there is no easy way for pedestrians to exit the car park onto Overstrand Road and to that part of town;
  • there is a lack of clear pedestrian routes through the car-park;
  • the rear transfer areas to the disabled spaces conflict with the routes for cars;
  • the number of parking spaces restricts available roadway in the car park which suggests vehicular movement round the area will be difficult
  • there are no details about intended traffic flow to and from the proposed car park, nor details of signage outside the Park and the impact on traffic movement in Cromer is unclear;
  • implementation of measures that reduce traffic into North Lodge Park itself through the current entrance from Overstrand Road should be within this project .

Putting the proposals in context

How would it benefit our Park?
The old children’s play area (sometimes known as ‘the concrete area’), where the car park is proposed is not a brownfield site: it is a core part of the recreational space in the Park. The area has been left to deteriorate for a number of years, used for a waste transfer facility and more latterly a builders’ yard, but previous to that it has always been an area of recreation. Key questions to answer are; “Is a car park the best use of this part of the Park considering the Park as a whole and how would it benefit our Park?”

Policy Questions
On paper the current proposals seem to be counter to many of the council’s core policies (see footnote). These NNDC Core Strategypolicies can be summarised to say that any development of an open space must improve that space. It could be argued that the car park is an improvement to the current state of the old children’s play area. But that’s a bit like saying putting a new uPVC front door on a dilapidated Listed house is an improvement while the rest of the house falls down. The car park is like the new front door while the rest of the Park continues to deteriorate.

The whole park
NNDC policies support our strong belief, that the Park needs to be seen as a whole. NNDC are developing plans to work with a strategic partner for the long term sustainability of the Park (with a Prior Information Notice, PIN, providing information and seeking ‘bids’ from anyone interested in ‘managing’ North Lodge Park). We would like clarity on how NNDC see this project in the context of those plans for the proposed management of North Lodge Park. The income generated by a car park would fund the Park and take away future costs and liabilities from NNDC.

Summary

It could be argued, particularly by the 50% of respondents to our latest survey who said that you could accept – with caveats – a car park in North Lodge Park, that if a car park is inevitable then this proposal is about as good as we’ll get from NNDC. However, apart from providing parking for the Park, thereby increasing accessibility and footfall, these proposals take from the Park rather than give. These are proposals for part of the Park without the context, costs and benefits of plans for the Park as a whole.

This is a big decision for Cromer, and we need more information to make it an informed decision. We have written to NNDC requesting the fuller picture and will keep you informed..

Do let us know what you think. More importantly let NNDC know!
Barry Meadows

Footnote: NNDC policies that the car park proposals seem to be counter to.

  • NNDC’s Policy EN5 Public Realm states: Within areas designated as Public Realm proposals will be expected to enhance the overall appearance and usability of the area, and a co-ordinated approach to management will be encouraged;
  • Core Strategy Policy CT1 Open Space designations states: Development will not be permitted except where it enhances the open character or recreational use of the land;
  • NNDC’s policy EN8 Protecting and enhancing the Historic Environment states: Development proposals … should preserve or enhance the character and appearance of designated assets … and their settings through high quality, sensitive design. Development that would have an adverse impact on their special historic or architectural interest will not be permitted.

North Lodge Park proposed car park and public toilets

Initial response to NNDC regarding the plans for a car park and new public toilets in North Lodge Park

To: Cllr Rest, Steve Blatch Copy: Cllr Lee, Cllr Cox, Cllr Yiasmi, Cllr Pearce

12 September 2016

Proposed car park and public toilets at North Lodge Park, Cromer

Thank-you for sharing the proposed plans for car parking and public toilets in North Lodge Park. As agreed, Robert and I shared the plans with the Friends committee last week.

Implementation of the proposed car park in North Lodge Park will dramatically change the use of a significant part of this important and much loved Park. Acceptance of the development is a major decision for the community, one that should be made with all the right information, and put into context with the long term future of the Park.

The Friends of North Lodge Park know, through formal surveys and engagement with the community, that there remains significant opposition to a car park in North Lodge Park. However, we know that opinion has moved since the 2007 referendum, and there is some acceptance of a small car park development in the Park, on the old children’s play area, but with many caveats including the proviso that a proportion of the revenue generated is used for the benefit of the Park.

These proposals take away part of the recreational opportunity in Cromer, which council policy states is under supplied, without giving anything back.

On paper the current proposals seem to be counter to many of the council’s core policies (see footnote). These policies can be summarised to say that any development of an open space must improve that space. It could be argued that the car park is an improvement to the current state of the old children’s play area. But that’s a bit like saying putting a new uPVC front door on a dilapidated Listed house is an improvement while the rest of the house falls down. The car park is like the new front door while the rest of the Park continues to deteriorate.

North Lodge Park has been seen as a drain on the resources of NNDC since they assumed ownership on behalf of the community in the mid 70s, with many attempts over the years to reduce the financial burden. In parallel to these car park proposals NNDC are developing a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to work with a strategic partner on the future of North Lodge Park, to improve the Park whilst reducing its cost to the council. It is our view, supported by the council’s core policies listed above, that these two projects cannot be separated. Development of North Lodge Park needs to be seen as a whole.

To enable us to have a sensible debate on these proposals we ask NNDC to engage with the community, and openly discuss the future of all of North Lodge Park. Please can you tell the community how the car park proposals fit with the PIN opportunities and how the revenue from the car parking will be used to sustain and enhance the quality of the whole Park

 

 

Barry Meadows
Secretary, Friends of North Lodge Park

 

 

Footnote: NNDC Core Policies related to the car park proposal

NNDC’s Policy EN5 Public Realm states: Within areas designated as Public Realm proposals will be expected to enhance the overall appearance and usability of the area, and a co-ordinated approach to management will be encouraged;

Core Strategy Policy CT1 Open Space designations states: Development will not be permitted except where it enhances the open character or recreational use of the land;

NNDC’s policy EN8 Protecting and enhancing the Historic Environment states: Development proposals … should preserve or enhance the character and appearance of designated assets … and their settings through high quality, sensitive design. Development that would have an adverse impact on their special historic or architectural interest will not be permitted.

Cromer Carnival Open Air Open Mic | 13th August

AUGUST 13th | Midday to 4
North Lodge Park, Cromer
Part picnic; part carnival; part DIY music. All afternoon fun.

ROCK THE LOBSTER will be in North Lodge Park, Cromer, giving performers a chance to, well, perform. The day is to enable local performers gain experience, improve their skills and, perhaps most importantly, enjoy themselves! There will be 15 minute sessions across the afternoon giving amateur performers a chance to demonstrate their talents and to give novices of all ages an opportunity to shine.

Full details and booking at coastarts.co.uk

Dance Doctor Dance

Dance Night with the dancer and psychologist Peter Lovatt, aka Dr Dance.

Sunday 31 July 19:00-21:00 | North Lodge Park, Cromer | Free

Dance Doctor DanceDo you want to know how swing frees up memory and tango triggers creativity? Are you burning to learn how barn dancing boosts puzzle-solving powers, ballroom hormones influence social identity and hardcore rave relates to intimate attraction? Have you ever wondered why tango is tricky or the macarena feels easy? Why improvisation is awkward and dancing with friends, funny?

In this special night in North Lodge Park, Cromer, Dr Peter Lovatt will teach us the basic moves for a range of dances to get us dancing, while sharing what he knows from his research into how different moves affect our bodily chemistry creativity and emotions. It’s dancing but not what you expect.

Whether you’re a total dance novice who’s never been near a tea dance or an experienced Latin mover you’ll learn new moves and discover the surprising science behind them.

Join us for a fun and enlightening dance night. Part dance; part information. All fun. All free.

Suitable for all the family. Even reluctant dancers will soon be moving like never before.

Note: the café will be closed so please bring your own picnic / refreshments