It’s a Premier Store that will be occupying the downstairs of the former bank on the Heartsease Roundabout, ending one of the biggest mysteries in our area. The hypnotic nature of the magic roundabout seemed to be enchanting the locals with a range of rumours and misdirection. First it was set to be a Greggs. The planning application was in, but they changed their minds. Next it was a rumoured salon, then a tanning salon, then back to a Greggs. The taxi drivers then got involved and revealed that Aldi had bought it as part of their local shopping spree, trying to put a squeeze on any food competitors stealing their turf. With Aldi already buying the pub, the new logic was that they were buying up the entire area, maybe even the Great Wall of Thorpe. But… none of these concrete(ish) rumours were actually true. The placement of this new store will certainly cause intrigue. There is already a Premier Store on Gordon Avenue, and with a Tesco Express and Aldi within litter-throwing distance, add in the Minute Mart and BP Garage for good measure, and the area is already dense with convenience. Then there is the issue of the car parking, with much of it being swallowed by the roundabout redevelopment, and the parking restrictions outside the Harvey Lane shops directly around the corner. One thing we can be certain of is that the local eyesore is about to go. No, not the roundabout, but the empty building. The shelves are in and being fully stocked. And with that, we wish the new owners all the best and hope that they have a successful future. What are your thoughts on the new Premier Store? We would love to hear them!

Things are a changing around Pilling Park. Norwich City Council have secured £422,091 to improve Woodrow Pilling Park from the Greater Norwich Growth Board. This is a completely separate fund to the recently secured Pride in Place money, and it must be spent solely on regenerating the park. The funding is intended to improve play, fitness and nature in the park while creating better links to Lion Wood. So… what do you think of the initial proposal? It’s time to get your thoughts heard by completing an online survey! Norwich City Council would love your views on the early design masterplan for the improvements. While improving the paths, signage and route to Lion Wood, plus the resurfacing of the pump track are all set in stone, many are still open to change and debate. Your views will help shape: ⭐ The nature and biodiversity improvements they make, including new wildflower meadows and tree avenues ⭐ The type of outdoor gym equipment, and where the gym goes ⭐ Play equipment for toddlers, juniors and teenagers The consultation period is open for three weeks from the 20th of July to the 9th of August 2026. Here is your link to that all-important online survey: https://gettalking.norwich.gov.uk/pillingpark To discuss your views even further, the team will be at Lionwood Café in the Pilling Park Community Centre on Friday the 24th of July, between 10am and 2pm. Please drop in for a chat and enjoy a brew at the same time. There is no need to book for this important chance to see the plans, meet the team and ask questions. Once the consultation period is over, the team will then publish what they have heard and will release an updated plan online so you can see that your feedback was listened to. We at the Plumstead Road Press have lots of questions, so we will be at the café on Friday to ask them. Hopefully, we will see you there!

The Plumstead Road Library Friends have a real treat in store for you this month. They are delighted to announce that globetrotter Malcolm Metcalf, fresh from receiving his British Empire Medal from the King for his services to fundraising, will be talking to us all about his ‘90 Things to do Before I’m 90’ fundraising challenge for Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity. This man really has been there and done it. And even now at 92, he’s still doing more challenges to raise money! To hear Malcom tell us all about his adventures, and how you can take on challenges at any age, the place to be at 2pm on Wednesday, 29th of July, is the Plumstead Road Library. Adventure and new horizons have always been in Malcolm’s blood. Back in 1939, he left his family home as an evacuee during WW2. Then at 19 years of age, he became bed-bound with tuberculosis of the spine for more than a year. Every day, Malcolm would read a world travel book he had been gifted by his brother. He vowed that when he got better, there was no holding him back and he would travel the world. And that’s exactly what he did! So much so that he now goes by the nickname of ‘The Michael Palin of Gorleston’. From travelling to Australia with only £250, to going the length and breadth of England in only one month with just his bus pass when he was 82, Malcolm is always up for a challenge. One of his most recent challenges was set by Priscilla Bacon Hospice to do 90 things before his 90th birthday. Malcolm revealed, “I gave it some thought. My godson said I’d never do it, and that was all I needed. I needed someone to say I couldn’t do it! There was no stopping me!” His challenges included flying a plane, editing the EDP, taking a ride in a Formula 1 car, and many, many more! To find out how he got on with his fundraising mission, and to learn about his latest challenge: 93 things to do before he’s 93, the only place to be at 2pm on Wednesday, 29th of July, is the Plumstead Road Library. You only have to spend a few seconds with Malcolm to realise that he is one of a kind. He is a natural storyteller with such a big heart. Nobody tells Malcolm that he can’t do something! He really is an inspiration, and we can’t wait to learn more about his adventurous life. No need to book. Just turn up and enjoy. There's even a bus stop directly outside the library. And that's exactly how Malcolm will be arriving... with his much-used bus pass! See you there 😍

Today was a special day. The local community came out in force and made the walking bus protest an overwhelming success. There were banners, musicians, fancy dress, prams, bikes and scooters. The message was clear to Norfolk County Council: this community has had enough of the CARnage that is faced on a daily basis in our area.

🎥See the CARnage of a Thorpe Hamlet school run with the film in the comments🎥 Parents from Lionwood schools have seriously had enough. A couple of months ago, a car drove into the fence of Lionwood Junior School. Last week, another pedestrian was hit by the wing mirror of a car on the school run. This wasn’t the first, and it won’t be the last until something drastically changes. Before the summer holidays kick in, a walking bus protest has been organised this Friday morning to highlight the crazy situation that parents face, especially on Quebec Road. On Friday the 17th of July, from 8.20 to 8.45 AM, meeting at the Quebec Road One Stop, the walking bus invites you to dress up, bring banners, instruments and bikes, and happily walk with pride and protest as you travel down the road to school. As a Lionwood school run survivor, I say all this from experience. This situation is a horror show waiting to happen. The school run should be a chance for you to talk and enjoy time with your child. Instead, it’s about navigating the cars and lorries that have no option but to drive all over the paths, often leaving parents pinned against walls holding their children for dear life. We have spoken before about the dangers around Wolfe Road and Quebec Road. These are mostly all single-file roads due to parked cars with enough pinch points to create an almighty squeeze. During the school run, you have an outrageous number of cars all heading in different directions, all trying to get the closest that they possibly can to the prize – dropping their child off at school or nursery. Throw in local commuters, delivery drivers, taxis, lorries and more recently a bus, and you have a recipe for disaster. Whoever planned for the new Pilling Park bus to try and travel along Wolfe Road and Quebec Road has obviously never seen the carnage of a standard school run down there. This article is not about bashing parents who choose to drive their children to school. Yes, more could and should do it, but for some, it’s not an option. This isn’t even about bashing bad driving. Take Quebec Road, for example, you’re driving along and reach the brow of the hill. The coast is clear, so you bravely continue. Then you’re blindsided as you meet someone coming up the hill that you never saw coming. A standoff happens. Then the only exit strategy is for someone to try and squeeze past, sometimes with no choice but to mount the path. And if there is a serious flow of cars behind you, all hell breaks loose! There may be hope on the horizon, though. A feasibility study has finally been concluded, and Norfolk County Council has developed some potential options. After discussions with local residents and stakeholders, a preferred approach has now been identified. The current recommendation is a phased scheme which would initially introduce: A northbound one-way system on Quebec Road, including a bus gate. An 'access only' restriction on St Leonard's Road to discourage rat-running while maintaining access for residents. And as for the bus, which is much needed for the residents of Pilling Park, from 31st August 2026, bus movements during school peak times will be significantly reduced, with only one bus expected to use the route during the morning peak and no buses during the afternoon school peak. Something clearly has to change. But will these potential changes bring the school run harmony that local parents crave and deserve? Progress on this scheme was already paused during the local elections. And with all the uncertainty going on with councils at the moment, will these changes actually see the light of day? Throw in the fact that any future scheme will be subject to securing funding and further engagement with stakeholders and a public consultation before implementation decisions are made, and there is still such an air of uncertainty floating around. Maybe even a bigger stink than the Whitlingham Whiff! Time really will tell on this one. But to make sure that those in power clearly understand that this important issue must no longer be shelved or passed on to the next party to solve, please join the walking bus on Friday to show that this community is not going to stop protesting until something changes.

July is here, and there is so much going on in Pilling Park! 😍 Below you will find links to Facebook pages or websites so you can find out even more: • Every Tuesday, from 4-5 PM: Premier League Kicks at Pilling Park hosted by Norwich City Community Sports Foundation. • July 4th: Lionwood Cycle Project & Cafe — Learn to fix and low cost bike sale. • July 5th: Friends of Kett's Heights Guided Tour https://www.kettsheights.co.uk/guided-tours • July 14th: Mindful Movement — Free session of relaxing stretching & mindfulness. Call/text Sophie: 07824 897094 or email: communitywizards@juliansupport.org to book. https://www.juliansupport.org/pages/wizards • July 18th: St Matthew's Church Summer Fayre, 11 AM-2 PM Facebook Event Website: http://www.stmatthewschurch.org.uk/ • July 28th: Community Bingo at Lionwoodcafe with amazing prizes, 1-3 PM at Pilling Park Community Centre. • July 29th: 90 Things To Do Before I’m 90 — Talk by Malcolm Metcalf at Plumstead Road Library, hosted by Plumstead Road Library Friends. Keep up to date with everything at your local library: Plumstead Road Library Website Have you joined our Pilling Park Community Group on Facebook yet? This is the place to find out all the info about what’s going on in Pilling Park! Join the Group