Carbrooke Parish Council

Welcome to the Parish Council website.

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Have Your Say

 

The Parish Council has prepared a draft Neighbourhood Plan for the parish and is inviting residents, landowners and other interested organisations to comment on it.

The formal Regulation 14 consultation runs for eight weeks, from Wednesday 5 August to Friday 25 September 2026.

 

What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

A Neighbourhood Plan allows the local community to help shape how its area develops in the future. Once adopted, it will form part of the statutory development plan and will be used by Breckland Council when deciding planning applications in the parish.

The draft Carbrooke Neighbourhood Plan contains planning policies covering matters including:

• the character and design of new development;

• the rural setting and distinct identity of Carbrooke;

• the landscape gap between Carbrooke village and Watton;

• important green spaces;

• wildlife, habitats, trees and hedgerows;

• dark skies; and

• walking routes and local connections.

The Plan is intended to help manage future change while protecting the places and features that local people value.

 

Why should you take part?

This is your opportunity to comment on the draft Plan before it is finalised and submitted to Breckland Council.

Please read the Plan and let us know whether you support its policies or think any changes are needed. Comments may relate to the Plan as a whole, an individual policy, or any of the supporting evidence.

 

View the Plan and supporting documents

The draft Neighbourhood Plan and its supporting documents can be viewed and downloaded below:

 

Draft Carbrooke Neighbourhood Plan

Local Green Space Assessment

Landscape Gap Evidence Paper

Environment and Nature Recovery Evidence Paper

Transport Evidence Paper

Demographic Profile Evidence Paper

SEA and Habitats Regulations Assessment Preliminary Screening Assessment

 

Paper copies of the draft Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed at Carbrooke Village Hall.

 

How to respond

You can submit comments:

 

Online:
Complete the Regulation 14 consultation questionnaire by following this link 
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/BMY6EX/

 

In writing:
Send your comments to Carbrooke Parish Council:

by email to: Clerk@carbrooke-pc.gov.uk

by post to: Oakleigh House, Shipdham Lane,

Scarning, NR19 2LB.

 

All responses must be received by the end of Friday 25 September 2026 to be considered when the Plan is finalised.

 

What happens next?

After the consultation closes, the Parish Council will:

1. consider all representations received;

2. decide whether changes should be made to the Plan;

3. prepare the final submission documents; and

4. submit the Plan to Breckland Council for the next stages, including further consultation and independent examination.

 

Questions

For further information, contact the Parish Clerk:

Email: clerk@carbrooke-pc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01362 687492

 

Council Vacancies

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​​We would like to welcome Jan Mackenzie and Jade Dixon-Murphy to the Council.

 

We still have vacancies on the Council and are actively looking for new members.

 

Are you interested in joining the Parish Council ? Becoming a councillor is a rewarding and valued form of public service. Councillors contribute to the work of the Parish Council by:-

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Seeking the best outcome to local issues

Putting forward ideas for better services

Responding to the needs and views of residents

Getting involved in decision making

Helping to make Carbrooke a better place to live

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We usually meet on the second Tuesday of every month except August. Meetings start at 7pm. All our members are volunteers and if you are able to give up a small amount of time this is a rewarding opportunity to make a difference. 

 

For more information please contact our Parish Clerk - Clerk@carbrooke-pc.gov.uk or 01362 687492 

 

​​​Next Meeting

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​The next Parish Council meeting will be in the Village Hall at 7pm on September 8.  Why not come along and see what we do ? There is always a designated part of the meeting in which you can address councillors. A copy of the agenda for the meeting will be available at least three working days before the meeting.

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Bee-Aware

 

As part of our commitment to protecting the environment we will be leaving selected areas of grass at Blenheim Grange to grow longer before cutting them. This approach is already being adopted by many councils across the country, because it supports biodiversity while still keeping spaces tidy and safe.

 

The areas are as follows:-

 

A strip on the left hand side of Lancaster Avenue heading toward Washington Drive.

 

Around the trees in designated areas on Washington Drive heading toward Anson Way.

 

The sides of the mound near the Lancaster avenue play area (the top of the mound will be cut). This area is particularly vital as it is home to bee orchids (see photo on the right) and other plants.

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An area on the Lancaster Avenue roundabout.

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In the longer term, the Council would like to raise awareness of what we can all do to support pollinating insects, which are vital to our ecosystem and our food supply. As part of this we will be seeding wildflower areas around the orchard we planted on the estate and which is currently thriving. This is an area maintained by volunteers. We also have an Environmental policy (available on our website) which outlines some of our ideas.

 

If you have any questions, or would like to know more, please contact our parish clerk, Nick Hartley (clerk@carbrooke-pc.gov.uk).

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Batteries and small electrical items

 

We have been made aware of some misinformation and misunderstanding circulating online regarding the recycling of small electrical items and batteries in Breckland.

 

Current position
Unfortunately, due to a recent fire at the processing centre, we have had to temporarily pause the collection of small electricals and battery items as part of the weekly household waste collection service.

 

In the meantime, residents are being asked to hold on to these items and store them safely at home until the collection service resumes. We will issue a further update when this is the case.

 

Alternatively, residents can take old batteries to alternative collection points, such as those held at a number of local supermarkets.

 

Never bin your batteries
It is essential that batteries and small electricals are never put inside main household bins as they are liable to explode and ignite other materials if crushed, which can happen when the bins are tipped into the collection trucks or at the waste plant.

 

We have unfortunately seen a number of incidents like this in Breckland and the wider county which you’ll appreciate pose a serious risk for our crews and residents, causes service disruption, and strains the Fire service. Therefore, we’re reminding all residents to ‘Never Bin Your Batteries’

 

Normal arrangements
When normal service is in operation, we ask that all small electricals, items containing batteries, and/or loose batteries are left in a separate bag on top of residents’ household bins on collection day. This enables our bin crews to collect these items for recycling but keep them separate from the main waste. We will update you when the pause on the collection service comes to an end.

 

Thank you for your support,

Breckland Council

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​Banking Review

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The Government has commissioned an independent review, led by HM Treasury, into access to banking services across the UK (the ‘Access to Banking Services Review’). The Review is currently inviting evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, including consumers, businesses, community organisations, local authorities, financial institutions, and trade bodies.

 

The Review is examining how changes in access to banking services, such as bank branch closures and access to cash, are affecting individuals, businesses, and communities. It will consider who is most impacted and whether further action may be needed to support continued access to banking services. The evidence gathered will inform the Review’s final report, which is due to be submitted to Government in October 2026.

 

Breckland Council intends to submit a response to the Review and is encouraging residents, businesses, and community organisations across the district to share their experiences. Submissions are welcomed from anyone affected by changes to banking services, including bank branch closures, access to cash, and face-to-face banking provision, and the wider impacts these changes may have had locally.

 

The call for evidence is open until 20th July 2026. Responses can be submitted via the online survey here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/accesstobankingservices.

 

Your feedback will help ensure that the experiences of people and organisations across Breckland are reflected in the Review’s findings and recommendations.

 

New Safety Surfacing

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We are pleased to announce that we have laid down new safety surfacing at the Lancaster Avenue play area. This was made possible by a grant from the Mick George Fund. The Council is grateful for this support. The work was carried out for the Council by NGF Play Ltd of Gressenhall. 

 

​Community Award 

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We are pleased to announce the presentation of two Community Awards. These were presented at the Annual Parish Meeting to Laura Fox and David Cook. Laura's award was in recognition of all her hard work in helping to set up and run Stay and Play at the Community Hub, and for all the work she has done in helping out at the Hub. David was recognised for all the litter picking which he takes on voluntarily at Blenheim Grange.

 

We are now taking nominations for our Community Award 2027. The award recognises all the achievements of those individuals and groups who voluntarily and selflessly improve the lives of those around them. We would like to make an award to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of the parish of Carbrooke. Do you know an individual or organisation, whose service to the community deserves to be recognised ? If so, please make a nomination. The full details can be found under Policies (Community Award). ​​

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Blenheim Grange (Reporting an Issue)

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To raise matters concerning the roads, such as potholes, and the adoption of the roads at Blenheim Grange, or to report a fault with a street light on the estate please contact the Taylor Wimpey Customer Care department (01494 509090, or TaylorWimpeyCustomerService@taylorwimpey.com).

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The Parish Council is responsible for many of the open spaces on the estate. If you wish to report a flytip, initially contact the parish clerk, preferably with exact location details (and photos where possible) and we will assess what action to take.

 

For dog and litter bins, please contact the parish clerk.

 

Regarding trees and grass cutting, please contact the parish clerk providing exact location details (and photos where possible) and we will assess what action to take.

 

Re children's play equipment and the open space next to the play area, please contact the parish clerk (Clerk@carbrooke-pc.gov.uk).​

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REPORTING OTHER ISSUES

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If you want to report issues regarding parking in the parish, please contact parkingoperations@westnorfolk.gov.uk

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To report a pothole, or other matters affecting the roads such as trees and hedges, please contact Norfolk County Council online through their Report a Problem facility (norfolk.gov.uk). Where possible, please send photographs.

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Flooding

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To report flooding please call the Norfolk Flooding Hotline - 0344 800 8013. Please note it is essential to report all incidents so that there are accurate and up to date records that can be used in flood prevention methods. IF THERE IS DANGER TO PEOPLE, PROPERTY, ENVIRONMENT, please call 999.

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​​Footpaths

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Some footpaths in Carbrooke are the responsibility of Norfolk County Council. If you are concerned that a footpath needs cutting back, you should report to Norfolk County Council using its Report a Problem facility. Please note that Norfolk County Council cuts the Summer Lane to Mill Lane footpath twice a year (usually around May and again around July). Please follow the link for more Norfolk Highways and Public Rights of Way 

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Flytips

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To report a flytip, please contact Breckland Council through their website (breckland.gov.uk)

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To report concerns over dogs please Report it to Animal Services (Breckland Council)​​