Locals stand up for Norfolk town after high street criticism

Growing problems with crime and anti-social behaviour on the high street and businesses witnessing a drop in footfall, along with lack of investment, have led some Stalham locals to fear for its future. 

But people living in the town have hit back at the critics who said the high street is “dying on its feet” and believe there is much more to celebrate than to deride.

Chris Foster, who is chairman of the Stalham Neighbourhood Plan Committee (Image: Chris Foster)

Christopher Foster, who is chairman of the Stalham Town neighbourhood plan committee and the recently established high street task force, thinks while the town may have its difficulties, it is in fact a thriving community of businesses and residents that are working hard to improve the area.

He said: “There are lots of misconceptions about Stalham.

“The high street has shown huge resilience in recent years and has managed to adapt well to the challenges faced today.

Shops in Stalham's high street (Image: Owen Sennitt)

“In some places, you will see half of the shops boarded up but here it is much different – it is thriving and full of a wide variety of services and stores.

A quiet day in Stalham's high street (Image: Owen Sennitt)

“People remember how busy the town was when the market opened every week – this has always been a market town – but while it doesn’t draw as many people it is still thriving.

Stalham's high street on a busy day in the summer (Image: Newsquest)

“Visit and you will find dog grooming services, arts and crafts shops, modern pubs, a fantastic fish and chip shop and much more.

“We are very lucky.”

A horse rider passes through the streets of Stalham (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Foster paints a different picture to other locals, who have raised concerns about the rise in crime and antisocial behaviour, which recently came to a head when a woman in her 60s was attacked in the middle of the high street.

A 15-year-old boy has since been arrested in connection with the incident, sending shockwaves through the community.

One local likened the street to downtown New York, with people “openly dealing drugs in broad daylight.”

Stalham district councillors Kevin Bayes (L) and Matthew Taylor (R) outside St Mary's Church (Image: Newsquest)

Stalham district councillors Kevin Bayes and Matthew Taylor have recently challenged North Norfolk District Council for what they see as “consistent neglect” of the town, which has seen little investment compared to the more affluent destinations of Holt, Sheringham and Cromer.

Mr Foster agrees that Stalham is deserving of more funding but he is positive about the town's future and believes the efforts of local people, the town council and local businesses are helping to change the perception of the town.

Steam boats visit Stalham's Broads Museum (Image: Newsquest)

“The recent comments have stirred residents to be even more proactive in making Stalham a better place to live and work,” he added.

“While we are not as big a tourist destination as the likes of Cromer, the focus is on local people, which is pleasing.” 

He says local groups are working together to develop ways to improve the high street, such as improving pedestrian access.

“We are keen to flourish as a market town,” he added.

Many businesses will now be looking forward to Easter and the summer months, when hundreds of people will flock to embark on boating holidays – Stalham has one of the largest boat hire fleets in the Norfolk Broads.

For Mr Foster, Stalham has a lot to offer all year round and is a town not to neglect visiting. 

READ MORE: Pictures of Stalham in days gone by

A man rows a boat in Stalham Staithe in 1961 (Image: Newsquest)

THE FORGOTTEN BROADS TOWN?

Situated on a branch of the River Ant in the northern reaches of the Norfolk Broads, Stalham has a rich history and there is evidence of human settlement in the area since the Stone Age.

It grew in prominence in the medieval period when it was a thriving farming community and it later became the centre of the basket-weaving industry, supplying fishing gear to the herring fleet that sailed from Great Yarmouth in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Stalham's railway station after it closed in 1959, prior to the Beeching Cuts in the 1960s which closed a number of railway lines across the country (Image: Newsquest)

In Victorian times the high street was a bustling place with saddle makers, bakers, a stone mason, drapers, milliners, wine shops, pubs, basket makers, an auctioneer, a surgeon, a post office, watchmakers, plumbers, blacksmiths and haberdashers. The town also had two corn mills.

In 1880, the railway came to Stalham, bringing cattle, sugar beet, coal and - increasingly - Broads holidaymakers, in and out of the town.

At the Broads Museum in the town, this rich history continues to be celebrated and there is also the Firehouse Museum located at the site of what is thought to be one of the earliest fire brigades in England.

Stalham's high street in the 1970s (Image: Newsquest)

In the later 20th century, much of its previous industry declined. The railway was dismantled in 1959. Its station building was later rebuilt at Holt on the North Norfolk Railway line.

Stalham's former trackbed to the east of the town now forms part of the Weaver's Way cycle trail. To the west, it is now the A149, which cuts the town centre off from its picturesque staithe area.

Despite the town's challenges, tourism remains an important part of its economy.

Boat hire firm Richardson's is one of the biggest employers and attracts hundreds of holidaymakers each summer.

The company has recently announced further investment into its facilities there.