West Norfolk’s mayor reflected on 50 years of the borough being formed at a special council meeting last night.
Councillors celebrated half a century of service to the area when they met at Lynn Town Hall last night.
Created by the reorganisation of local government in the Local Government Act of 1972, the borough of West Norfolk officially came into being on April 1, 1974.
This week’s meeting was the next to fall after that anniversary.
Borough mayor Cllr Maragret Wilkinson told the meeting: “Today is an opportunity to reflect on 50 years of the district of West Norfolk.
“The Local Government Act of 1972 was a significant piece of legislation that streamlined the number of councils in England from nearly 1,250 to just over 400.
“Ours is a large and diverse borough covering 550 square miles. Supporting a tradition of trade and agriculture, it has a wonderful blend of coast and countryside.
“These provide a fantastic quality of life to around 140,000 residents and many more who choose to visit during the year.
“In its 50 years, West Norfolk has experienced and achieved a great deal. As the borough’s longest-serving current councillor I have personally witnessed much of this.
“I would now like to reflect on those 50 years but, while my memory is very long, I do not want this to apply to my speech so I have picked out some highlights.”
“As a borough with a strong history of international trade, we should be proud of the links we have developed around the world, such as membership of the Hanseatic League.”
Cllr Wilkinson also made reference to Downham twinning with Civray in France in 1976, Lynn being twinned with Emmerich-am-Rhein in Germany in 1978, and Hunstanton being twinned with the 67th Special Operations Squadron of the US Air Force in 2016.
She added: “Our links with the military are close to the hearts of many in West Norfolk and we also gave the Freedom of the Borough to RAF Marham and the Royal Anglian Regiment in the early 1980s.
“Equally important is our Royal association. Her Late Majesty The Queen’s love of West Norfolk was well documented. She shared this love with her people in 1977 when she opened parts of Sandringham House and estate to the public.
“And in 2022 she chose to celebrate 70 years since she became Queen with a reception there.”
Cllr Wilkinson discussed the ways West Norfolk has changed throughout the past 50 years.
She believes the first borough mayor in 1974, Edgar Edgley, would be “astonished if he could see it now”.
“As a coastal community West Norfolk’s residents have often been at the mercy of the tide and in 1978 King’s Lynn experienced serious flooding once again,” she said.
“I am sure Mayor Edgley would have been delighted to see the flood defences that have since been built to protect the town.
“He might also have been impressed by improved leisure provision.”
The Hunstanton Oasis and Downham Leisure Centres, St James Swimming Pool and Lynnsport are all developments which have been constructed since 1974.
There have been many town centre improvements and much redevelopment in the past 50 years, including the refurbishment of Downham town centre, the pedestrianisation of the Tuesday Market Place and significant investment and improvement to the Esplanade Gardens in Hunstanton.
The Towns Fund, Norfolk County Council’s Southgates Levelling Up bid and other planned developments around the borough will see significant change coming again in the next few years.
“I know not everyone agrees about the way forward for some of these projects,” Cllr Wilkinson said.
“However I am sure I speak for the whole council when I say it is my wish to make sure that the people of West Norfolk gain the maximum benefit from these new schemes.”
Other ways in which the borough has changed include its transport infrastructure.
Dersingham bypass opened in the early 1990s, followed by electrification of the railway.
Health provision has changed too, with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital moved to its current site in 1980.
Festival Too started in 1985 and has gone become one of Europe’s largest free open-air festivals.
West Norfolk has also appeared in films ranging from James Bond in ‘Die Another Day’ to ‘Shakespeare in Love’.
“It seems fitting that in this year, when we celebrate 50 years of our district, we will also be celebrating 500 years since King Henry the Eighth’s charter of 1524,” Cllr Wilkinson added.
“I would like to say for the record that my long memory does not go back that far.
“I am delighted that as part of our celebration of the charter, we will be appointing 5 new aldermen in June.
“I am very much looking forward to that ceremony.
“But today is a celebration of our past and as I come to the end of my term as Mayor, I too become part of that story.
“I thank you for your support over this past year and wish you all very well for the future.”
