There has been quite a lot of good news for Downham Market and the surrounding villages over the past month which I will reveal to you all now! To kick us off, is the story about why Downham Market has it all for shoppers. It followed a week-long feature looking at the state of Norfolk s high streets and town centres and I was delighted to see the EDP highlight Downham Market for its high percentage of independent shops. Next there was the news that Network Rail will spend £100k on improving the road crossing at the railway station. The announcement came after the organisation shut the barrow crossing because of safety fears. Now I said in a previous post that when the feature on the scary wax effigy in Stow Bardolph went online I d let you lovely people know. Well here it is but I must warn you – Don t look directly into her eyes! Downham Market s MP Elizabeth Truss was also delighted following another announcement by Network Rail that it is looking into the possibility of increasing train services from King s Lynn to Cambridge which could give a massive boost to the town if given the green light. It was also revealed that patients will be allowed to have their say during a review of care at Downham Market Health Centre – at an as-yet un-named “neutral” venue. The review is looking at patient care between at the centre, in Paradise Road, between March 2010 and March 2011. The popular Hilgay raft race returned to the River Wissey on Sunday, July 18 which saw thousands of people flock to the village from across the region. This year the event raised money for Help for Heroes. And finally there was the brilliant news that RAF Marham will stay open – for now – which will please traders and businesses in and around the town. The campaign to save the base saw 37,000 people across Norfolk sign a petition which was then delivered to 10 Downing Street. Click here for a history of the campaign. However Make it Marham campaigners want to lobby the government in the hope that the Joint Strike Fighter will be based at the West Norfolk base.
