WARD FORUM UPDATE JANUARY 2022​

Carnegie Library, rail to river route enhancement and Southgates Masterplan

A new all-singing, all-dancing library could be in situ at a new building on the Argos site in 2024.

That is Norfolk County Councils’ plan — which of course also sees the closure of the Carnegie building, much regretted by so many.

The ward forum was given this information at a ‘remote’ workshop designed for ‘stakeholders’ to discuss what is referred to — at the moment — as a multi-user community hub. In the manner of libraries nowadays, the building will encompass far more than mere books, in particular there will be provision for community activities, children and young persons especially. There is money in place for this, part of the numerous grant funding that KL has won.

Speaking on behalf of the ward forum we emphasised complete opposition to any development plans for the present library (CL) such as turning it to residential use. Officers confirmed that it was intended the building should remain in public ownership — and use — and said suitable alternative uses were being sought. However, suggestions of making it into a satellite for the library service, such as a specialist local history library where Lynn’s historic book collections would be kept, were soundly rejected, all ‘librarian’ facilities would be concentrated in the new building.

Suggestions that the CL could house a meeting hall, more extensive than either Thoresby College or the top floor of Marriotts Warehouse, met with greater favour as did proposals for accommodation for local organisations, which do not have offices nor storage other than in homes their officers, met with equal favour. We were promised these would be considered.

We also introduced the idea of making a gallery where Lynn’s wealth of art, presently languishing in the council store, could form a moving exhibition. While there was no immediate outright opposition officers did voice concern over both security and manning.

Especially heartening was the confirmation that the CL is in the ownership of NCC and not our borough council, whose record with some of our other important and historic buildings such as the Custom House, is not precisely exemplary.

The hub is part of the Town Investment Plan (TIP) which also includes the Guildhall of St George, riverfront regeneration and (curiously) what is titled town centre repurposing. This last — the plethora of plans and projects does get confusing — covers the newly publicised Rail to River — Vision King’s Lynn, for which the public’s views are again sought. The plan here is to enhance the rail station, the point where visitors to the town arrive, and then a cross-town route to the river at Purfleet Street both of which are to be enhanced with ‘high impact public realm improvements’ such as artwork, seating and tree planting. For full details go to www.visionkingslynn.co.uk or sign up for a workshop on Sunday 13^th February.

Meanwhile the borough council is developing plans for strategic regeneration of the Southgates area under the Heritage Action Zone programme, identified as a priority in both the King’s Lynn Transport Strategy and the Town Investment Plan. Consultants have been appointed and their role ‘involves compiling a robust evidence base on which to ‘base the Southgates Masterplan formulating a series of development options and identifying an overarching vision and development principles to guide future development’,

The consultants say they are keen to involve local people and groups — hence the forum’s participation as stakeholders in yet another ‘virtual’ discussion; Julian, chairman, and Sally, secretary attended. As an illustration we cited the alternative plan which Simon Thurley has produced, which retains the Southgate as part of the road with traffic passing through rather than isolating it on an island.

We also highlighted the adjacent park as one of six formed to celebrate the silver jubilee of George V, which requires restoration and enhancement, the castellated wall that surrounds it and the water course beneath.

Former Post Office
The planning application to develop the building into residential and commercial use with what is described as a ‘roof garden’ has now gone through. As usual we were concerned about the cramped nature of the living accommodation and the lack of parking provision; we also stressed the need to retain the panelling and incorporate it into the development.

Originally it was designed as a statement building enhancing the view along the street, but the bulk of H&M has put paid to that. Perhaps the applicants will rise to the occasion and provide the town with a finer result than we fear.

Julian and the QE
Our chairman has just been voted to sit on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Trust,

King’s Lynn Under Siege. A reminder that the archaeological exploration of the town defences at St Ann’s Fort will be featured on 9^th February on More Four. The fortifications are proving to be more important than originally supposed. They were constructed after the Parliamentarians re-took Lynn following the siege during the Civil War, were designed by a foremost specialist of the time and were crucial in keeping open this strategically placed port.