JANUARY 2021

Merton Parish Council Update

We very much hope you all managed to enjoy the festive season despite the restrictions and caveats in place. Here’s to a much better 2021!

Not much to report here other than to remind parishioners that the first Parish Council Meeting of 2021 takes place on Tuesday 5th January 2021 at 6p.m.; dependent on whether this newsletter hits the doormat before this date, of course 12 please feel free to email me on mertonparishcouncil@gmail.com for an invitation passcode to the virtual meeting.

Other than this, Agendas and Minutes will be posted online for your reference.

The only other matter to highlight is:

CENSUS 2021

Census day is 21 March 2021 and taking part is a legal requirement. This exercise gathers essential information that affects our communities such as in helping to plan and fund services like housing, education and healthcare. The website www.census.gov.uk has information. There will also be part time temporary jobs available at www.censusjobs.co.uk

Happy New Year from all at Merton Parish Council Vick Turner Clerk to Merton Parish Council

News from St. Peter’s Church

It is a great relief to have all the Nave Roof and other works at the church now finished and once again fully waterproof, especially with all the rain we have had during recent weeks! All furnishings are back in place within the church and there is a welcome for anyone who wishes to spend a while there for private prayer.

Please remember though that Covid precautions need to be observed. Access can easily be arranged by contacting one of the key holders. Contact telephone numbers are displayed in the church porch. Come the New Year we will hope to resume some Sunday Services again. This is currently being discussed with the necessary persons.

Now that all the Major building works are complete we are looking towards plans for Stage Two of our NHLF Project which is the installation of a Kitchenette and the supply of mains water to the Church. For those who may have visited the Church or Churchyard during the Christmas Season the PCC hope you enjoyed the Christmas Themed flower displays in the Entrance porch.

Meanwhile, we wish everyone a Peaceful and Healthy New Year.

Carole Haggett (Churchwarden)



DECEMBER 2020

Merton Parish Council Update

At the time of writing, we are in midst of a second lock-down period. With no Parish Council meeting until the New Year, we would just like to remind parishioners that if anyone needs any help or support over the next few weeks, please don’t hesitate to contact us either through the clerking email which is mertonparishcouncil@gmail.com or by calling either of our two volunteer Councillors who will be happy to help in any way they can: Louise Hyde on 01953 889419 Jayne Wesley-Smith on 01953 881919

Just to confirm our next Parish Council Meeting will take place via remote platform ‘Zoom’ on Tuesday 5th January 2021 at 6p.m. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for a link invitation if you would like to attend. All warmly welcome.

All that remains is for me to wish you all the best for a happy and healthy Christmas and a peaceful New Year – from all at Merton Parish Council. Vick Turner Clerk to Merton Parish Council



NOVEMBER 2020

Merton Parish Council Update

Dear All Hope you are all keeping well in these strange times that sadly continue for us all. At our last meeting in September, a more proactive strategy to tackle local flooding issue was discussed and your Councillors continue to advocate and intervene wherever possible on these matters. However, the more reports are made, hopefully this might mean better outcomes.

To this end, I have detailed below links for residents to use if they unfortunately find the need to have to report a flooding incident:

Overflows/Statutory Nuisances caused by drains/cesspools/septic tanks: Please notify Breckland council at https://www.breckland.gov.uk/reportehissue. Please provide as much information as possible including uploading supporting documents/photos. If you don’t have internet access, please call 01362 656870.

Issues relating to publicly owned drainage sewers: Please notify https://www.anglianwater.co.uk. Issues relating to ditches/non-emergency flooding issues: Please contact Norfolk County Council Floods at: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-planning/flood-and-water- management

The next Parish Council meeting is due to take place on Tuesday 5th January 2021 at 6p.m., once again, via Zoom, so anyone wishing to attend this meeting, is most welcome to contact me for a link at mertonparishcouncil@gmail.com In the meantime, please stay warm and well. Best wishes Vicky Turner Clerk – on behalf of Merton Parish Council

News from St. Peter’s Church

Many congratulations to Joan Matthews for her fantastic achievement of raising a final total of £725.00 for the Norfolk Churches Trust Sponsored Cycle Ride which took place on 12th September. This year in particular, with the Corona 12Virus affecting so many activities and people, such a superb result is especially heart-warming and huge thanks are extended to all those kind and most generous folk from within Merton village and others round about for their support and donations. Joan, together with her sister, cycled a total of 20 churches in all on the day and the result of raising such an excellent amount of money, 50% of which will be paid direct to Merton Church and the other 50% to the continued work of Norfolk Churches Trust, is indeed a very gratifying result. Thank you again, Joan, for all that hard work!

This month there is also good news that the church is at last back in use and fully furnished after its lengthy closure for the Nave Roof repair and other associated works. It has been closed for almost a year, but now with the re-opening both the PCC and many others in the village are in no doubt that the finished result is quite outstanding. The craftsmanship and sustained workmanship undertaken by Eastern Foundry Lead Ltd, who were awarded the contract, are to be highly commended by everyone . It is hoped that, in due course, services will be resumed following local discussion and a PCC meeting. More detail to follow later when available.

Carole Haggett on behalf of St. Peter’s PCC

OCTOBER 2020

From Merton Parish Council Dear All, Hope that you are all keeping well and enjoying the late summer sunshine, at the time of writing anyway! Nothing much to report after the Summer recess. We held our regular September meeting via Zoom on Tuesday 8th September. In terms of update regarding holding physical meetings, NALC have advised us that whilst the government’s full guidance is still awaited, the recent reduction in the number of people allowed to meet together socially from 30 to 6, impacts on us meeting at the Church or any other venue at present. Typically, local council activities are gatherings for work purposes (for face to face meetings) but the impact on public attendance is problematic, and therefore in the interest of the health and safety of all, the meetings will continue remotely for the foreseeable future. Finally, a huge thank you, again, to Louise and Andrew Hyde for offering to makegood he damaged window at the Village Hall. If you need to make contact with the Parish Council, please don’t hesitate to email us on mertonparishcouncil@gmail.com.

Stay Safe. Vicky Turner Merton Parish Clerk

Norfolk Churches Trust Sponsored Cycle Ride

Another perfect day for the bike ride this year, dry and partly sunny but not too hot. My sister joined me, and we headed off to the north of Watton – our furthest point was Necton. We covered just under 40 miles and visited 20 churches/chapels, lovely buildings in some beautiful settings. Not surprisingly, most of the churches were unmanned this year and it was a less sociable event than usual, but we met several other people who were cycling for the Norfolk Churches Trust. The final total for the money raised will be in next month’s Waylander. So far it comes to just over £600 – a big thankyou to everyone in the village who has upported this so generously, even in these difficult times. If anyone wants to make a last-minute donation, this is still possible at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/JoanM3 Joan Matthews

Litter Pick, October 24th

Volunteers from Merton will be collecting up litter in and around the village on the morning of Saturday October 24th.Thompson will be carrying out their regular litterpick at the same time, and are kindly disposing of the bags of rubbish collected, and supplying grabs, gloves, bin bags and high-vis jackets. If you would like to help, meet at the bus shelter on the Green at 10a.m.

Joan Matthews



SEPTEMBER 2020



Merton Parish Council



We are still under guidance from our Local Council Advisory body to continue for the foreseeable future with remote meetings; some councils are phasing in physical meetings again with social distancing measures in place, but Merton for the moment, will continue to follow national recommendations for the continuing safety of its residents.



The next meeting is due to take place on 8th September at 6p.m. so anyone wishing to take part in that via the remote medium of Zoom, is most welcome to contact me for a link at mertonparishcouncil@gmail.com In the meantime, please stay well and we all look forward to seeing you soon either through the mode of the internet or hopefully in person once again soon!



Vicky Turner Clerk – on behalf of Merton Parish Council



Norfolk Churches Trust Sponsored Bike Ride



The cycle ride will be taking place again this year, on Saturday 12th September, though some arrangements may be rather different from previous years, due to coronavirus regulations.



As the Norfolk Churches Trust say: “We are very aware that churches have sadly had to cancel their summer fundraising activities and so the Bike Ride could be a great opportunity to raise some much needed funds for churches and the Norfolk Churches Trust…



The Bike Ride is an ideal opportunity to get out and about in the fresh air on a bicycle, on foot or in a car. It’s a great family day out, and as we have noticed, many people have enjoyed walking and cycling over the last few weeks! We hope that they can join in the bike ride and enjoy visiting and exploring our wonderful places of worship on the 12th September, and help raise some money at the same time.”



I will be cycling again to raise money for Merton church, and so I will be coming round the village with my sponsor form, hoping for your support! But if you would like to make a donation without having to answer the door, it is now possible to donate online by going to https://www.justgiving.com/norfolk churchestrust But PLEASE NOTE: there is an option just before you confirm the payment to “Add a message of support” – please add a message saying that you are making the donation as Bike Ride sponsorship for Merton Church.

If anyone else would like to cycle – or walk, or drive – for Merton, please contact me and I can give you full details, sponsor forms etc.



More about the Norfolk Churches Trust, and the Bike Ride, can be found at https://norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk



Joan Matthews



Norfolk Churches Trust Annual Cycle Ride

Saturday 12th September



This event will be taking place as usual, but due to Coronavirus infection precautions it is necessary to have one or two different arrangements in place at St. Peter’s Church.

1. The church will be not be manned, but signing in facilities for visiting cyclists will be on display in the church porch.

2. Hand Sanitising equipment will be available for use by those visiting.

3. Unlike other years there will be NO refreshments or drinks on offer this year.



The PCC sincerely hope that as many people as possible will feel able to support this event either by cycling, walking or riding or otherwise generously donating to Sponsor a cyclist in order to help keeping our church in Merton thriving.



We are delighted that the church Roof and 11 other building works are now complete due to a large grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, Norfolk Churches Trust, and several other grants from smaller bodies together with many very generous gifts from individual persons locally.



Hopefully, now the church will soon be open and back in full use for services as and when the current Coronavirus restrictions permit. Meanwhile, please do continue to support St. Peter’s Church in whatever ways you possibly can this, as always, is much appreciated.



Carole Haggett on behalf of St. Peter’s PCC



AUGUST 2020

Merton Parish Council Update

Dear All

Can’t believe it’s August already – where has this year gone? Merton Parish Council hopes that you are all well and have managed to emerge from these strange times relatively unscathed.

Not much has happened since the last edition in Parish Council world other than we have successfully undertaken the Internal Audit process and the Annual Governance Accounting Audit with the External Auditor – my first time so somewhat nerve-wracking from that angle – but collectively, it was a relatively painless experience and I am pleased to report that Merton has passed with ‘flying colours’ with only a few minor adjustments recommended in the Internal Audit and all approved and rubber-stamped by the External Auditor.

All done for another year!

Well done to Merton Cllrs for unning a tight ship.

We are still under guidance from our Local Council Advisory body to continue for the foreseeable future with remote meetings; some councils are phasing in physical meetings again with social distancing measures in place, but Merton for the moment, will continue to follow national recommendations for the continuing safety of its residents.

The next meeting is due to take place on 8th September at 6p.m. so anyone wishing to take part in that via the remote medium of Zoom, is most welcome to contact me for a link at mertonparishcouncil@gmail.com

In the meantime, please stay well and we all look forward to seeing you soon either through the mode of the internet or hopefully in person once again soon!

Vicky Turner Clerk – on behalf of Merton Parish Council

Age UK is still available to offer great support throughout our region:

Age UK Norfolk Information and Advice Helpline:T 0300 500 1217 Open 10a.m.–4p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 10a.m.–1p.m. Tuesday and Thursday (this is currently a call back service) E advice@ageuknorfolk.org.uk

 Age UK Norfolk Telephone Befriending Service: T 01603 785 223 E befriending@ageuknorfolk.org.uk