Times letters prompt PR offensive

THE leaders of Breckland Council are set to embark on a public relations offensive in Thetford after concerns - many of them voiced in letters to the Times - about its future growth.

The district council has been subjected to a torrent of criticism over the last few weeks over its commitment and attitude towards the market town.

Leader William Nunn and chief executive Trevor Holden are set to speak with local residents next week after an exchange of letters in this newspaper.

The two men believe that comments made by some townsfolk in the letters pages have painted a picture of “negativity” about Thetford and have requested to meet residents to try and address some of the “misconceptions”.

The local authority has come under fire over a range of issues, including the closure of the bus station toilets, the condition of some of Thetford's historic buildings and the creation of a new temporary gipsy and traveller camp,

and has been accused

of a lack of investment in Breckland's largest town.

But Mr Holden said the future was bright for the town and the district council was investing a lot of time and effort in helping to improve Thetford as part of its

growth point scheme that will see the creation of 6,000

new homes and 6,000 jobs by 2021.

“Thetford is an up and coming place and there is so much waiting in the wings. The £6m of growth point monies we have to spend in Thetford over the next three years is not the end of the story. It is being used as a catalyst to lever more monies,” he said.

Mr Nunn also defended the lack of local membership on the new look Thetford Moving Forward board by saying that the panel had to involve “strategic” councillors and businesspeople and the public would be fully consulted on proposed new infrastructure improvements.

Mr Nunn and Mr Holden will be taking part in a question and answer session organised by The Thetford Society at the Carnegie Room on Tuesday from 7.30pm.