Old Hunstanton parish councillors rocked by abusive calls

Rising tensions over a controversial new home in a charming Norfolk village linked to PG Wodehouse have led to some rather boorish behaviour that would have Bertie Wooster spluttering over his soft-boiled eggs.

Parish councillors in Old Hunstanton have been forced to issue a public warning to villagers over a string of abusive phone calls they have been receiving about the issue.

Jeeves and Wooster, played by (left) Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry (Image: Archive)

Their notice, posted online and on the village noticeboard, threatens to report the matter to police if the calls continue.

The angry calls - delivered in a manner that might be expected of Bertie Wooster's brutish nemesis Roderick Spode - relate to a new building on Wodehouse Road, which is named after the author who was a regular visitor to the village in the 1920s and 30s.

An aerial view of Old Hunstanton (Image: Mike Page)

The property is at the centre of a furious row, with locals and the parish council claiming the "unsightly" building has breached planning conditions and infringed the privacy of neighbours.

Nick Eastwell, the parish council chairman, pointed out that the planning dispute was not even a matter for his authority but was being dealt with by the borough council.

A quiet lane near the church at Old Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

The heart of the village has hardly changed in the 50 years since this picture was taken (Image: Newsquest)

"The calls related to an ongoing planning dispute which, as we have publicly pointed out, is a matter for West Norfolk Council planning and not Old Hunstanton Parish Council," he said.

He did not identify the caller or even state on which side of the dispute he or she was on.

He said the calls were "totally unacceptable", but added: "Happily thick-skinned councillors were largely untroubled."

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A view across the beach at Old Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

The village sign at Old Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

"The website statement was designed to warn the caller off from a repeat performance, at which point we would report the matter to the police."

In the message on the council website, he wrote: "Parish councillors are unpaid volunteers who strive as individuals and as a collective body to always act in the best interests of the village and parishioners.

The notice has been posted on the parish notice board next to the bus stop (Image: Chris Bishop)

"It is completely unacceptable for members of the public to make abusive phone calls to parish councillors.

"Please note that the making of malicious, abusive, or threatening phone calls is a criminal offence."

Mr Eastwell added if any member of the public has issues or comments, they should raise them with the parish clerk or bring them up at one of the council's monthly meetings.

WHAT'S SPARKED IT OFF..?

The dispute relates to a house which is being built on Wodehouse Road, not far from the beach, on the site of a cottage which has been demolished to make way for it.

The new house on Wodehouse Road at Old Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

Ten locals have objected to an application to West Norfolk Council to amend the conditions of planning permission regarding the elevations of the new property, granted in 2023.

The parish council is also objecting, stating that there may have been breaches of the original planning permission.

The parish council said on West Norfolk council's planning portal: "The breaches have led to the existence of a building that appears to be too big and high for its plot and the surrounding dwellings and which directly impacts upon the light and privacy of the immediate neighbours and is viewed as being unsightly within the local neighbourhood generally."

PG Wodehouse, pictured in 1930, was a frequent visitor to Old Hunstanton, where a road is named after him (Image: Wikipedia)

The developers are named in planning papers as Mr and Mrs Middleton. Parish minutes say Mrs Middleton spoke at a council meeting in March, saying "the objections have caused stress and been upsetting".

They add: "The parish council was asked to remove their objections but advised that they have to remain. It was suggested that we may look silly at the planning committee meeting."

A decision is expected later this summer from West Norfolk Council.

WHAT IS THE WODEHOUSE LINK?

The author (1881 - 1975) was a frequent visitor to Old Hunstanton and featured its moated hall in some of his stories about the adventures of an idle, wealthy toff and the valet whose wit and wisdom got him out of countless scrapes.

The village and nearby town are said to be the setting for Wodehouse's novel Money for Nothing.

A folly in the grounds of the hall also features in some of his stories, including Jeeves and the Impending Doom. 

Further afield, Norfolk provided the names of characters who appear in Wodehouse's works including Lord Brancaster, J. Sheringham Adair, and Jack Snettisham.

There is also a Lord Wisbeach.