FREE THE HEACHAM 5000

DEMONSTRATION PROTESTING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE A149 AT THE LAVENDER JUNCTION VERGE SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2021 11.00AM -1.00PM
Photos by Stella & Malcolm

An excellent turn out showed the solidarity of the Heacham residents. The photos below also show the heavy congestion of traffic at the Lavender Junction on the A149 at Heacham. 

Above and below shows the problem of motorists trying to cross or join the A149.

A constant queue of cars on the B1454 trying to cross or join the A149.

The same story of cars trying to get out of Heacham at the same junction.
Above & below more photos showing the problem & the strong contingent of protesters who have had enough & want action, so when will the County Council do something about it.

click here to see the second demonstration held on 29 May 2022
 

PRESS STATEMENT FROM HEACHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Heacham Parish Council organises a static demonstration at the Lavender Junction on the A149 on Sunday 28 August 11.00am-1.00pm

“Free the Heacham 5000”

Members of Heacham Parish Council have decided to take direct action to highlight the village’s frustration over the lack of action on the problems of the A149 which runs along the outskirts of the village.

The Bypass when it was built decades ago was great for the village, but no suitable provision to enable residents and holiday makers trying to leave the village was included - unlike at Hunstanton, Snettisham and Dersingham  - Heacham’s neighbours.  Traffic levels on this road have gone way beyond the original planner’s estimations, resulting in Heacham residents being penned in as a steady stream of traffic makes its way through to Hunstanton and the popular holiday coast beyond. 

Each Heacham junction with the A149 has seen its fair share of accidents some resulting in a fatality, many shunts are due in part to the frustration of drivers trying to leave the village and the speed of oncoming traffic.  Heacham’s population doubles in the holiday season which results in queues of cars in trying to exit the village. The problem is also no longer all one way as the traffic levels going the other way towards Kings Lynn have seen a marked increase.

The demonstration is the latest step in an ongoing campaign going back to the early nineties to try to  get the County Council to address the problem. The present Parish Council are equally frustrated that the County Council have acknowledged after numerable studies that there is a problem, but believe that it is neither bad nor dangerous enough to commit funds the necessary funds to  help the village. The Parish Council are aware that the County feels it is more of a summer season problem, but the Council states that whilst that may well have been true a decade ago, the holiday season in the area has lengthened considerably. Weekend visitors come all the year round, often Hunstanton is as busy on a Winter Sunday afternoon as it is on a week day in High Season.   

The Councillors are inviting members of the public to join them in this demonstration. The demonstration’s theme “Free The Heacham 5000”, referring to Heacham’s population is light hearted, but underlines the “trapped” feeling of many residents. 

All enquiries Heacham Parish Council - The Clerk - 01485 572142