Letter from EH 29/9/2005 Thursday, 29 September 2005 20:26
Dear Mr Barton

Firstly I would like to apologise for any breakdown in communication that has lead to you and your fellow enthusiasts receiving late or poor responses to your e-mail enquiries, English Heritage has been undertaking a complete modernisation reform at the request of the Government over the last three years which has lead to certain areas of responsibility across the country to have become unnecessarily complicated and unfortunately some of your correspondence was lost or misdirected. For future reference I am the Visitor Operations Director responsible for all property related issues and should be addressed regarding any further enquiries you may have. I have been in post for just over a year and full responsibility for the properties was handed over to me some five months ago, my contact details are as follows:

Mr Phil Hackett
Visitor Operations Director
English Heritage
Brooklands
24 Brooklands Avenue
Cambridge
CB2 2BU
01223 582 730

phil.hackett@english-heritage.og.uk

Regarding your concerns relating to the condition of Berney Arms Windmill; English Heritage is responsible for over 400 historic buildings and monuments and has limited resources to deal with all the issues that affect the historic environment of this country, subsequently and unfortunately, budgets and spending need to be programmed very carefully, this is most important when it comes to the repair and maintenance of Windmills as they require a level of expertise that is increasingly rare and also one that requires a considerable amount of lead in time and construction preparation.

It is inexcusable for the web site and site signage to be out of date and this will be resolved immediately, the repair and replacement of the sails is part of a long term consolidation plan which was unfortunately knocked back a couple of years by the unexpected stock failure at Sibsey Trader Windmill in Lincolnshire (an operating mill) and subsequently our limited funds and the increasingly rare millwright expertise available to EH were diverted away from Berney Arms, this was not an easy decision but unfortunately was necessary.

The Berney Arms consolidation repair programme did however continue in areas where the Millwright’s expertise was not required and in the last 18 months has received major investment in terms of overhauling the construction, to date this has entailed extensive works to the mill cap and tower.

It now remains to refit renewed stocks and clamps, and the thoroughly overhauled sails and fantail. This is a significant logistical exercise due to the mills location and the lead in times required by the Millwright.

We currently plan to have these essential elements of the mill re-fitted in the first half of 2006, but are presently in the process of addressing the procurement of this final phase.

Finally could I thank you for writing as it is essential that we know people are as dedicated and passionate about our country’s industrial heritage as you and your colleagues are, it would also be helpful for you to include this correspondence on your website as a (much awaited) response from English Heritage and for you to continue to lobby for improvements in the level of care exercised in this country for the historic environment. Keep up the good work.

Yours sincerely,
Phil Hackett

Visitor Operations Director – East Territory

Andy (webmaster) Friday, 16 September 2005 15:57
I agree Mark. I've written to EH's Chief Executive so we'll see what happens now.

Mark C. T. Healy Monday, 19 September 2005 19:55
Update: Diane Hunt; Correspondence Assistant at EH has sent me this;
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Berney Arms Mill - Norfolk Broads

Thank you for your recent emails dated 22 August and 1, 8 and 12 of September, regarding the above.

I am sorry to hear that you have not yet received a response. I can confirm that your emails were forwarded to our East of England region on 23 August and again on 1 September for further attention. I have spoken to my colleague, Mr Jeff Dyer, Projects and Facilities Manager, telephone number 01223 582700 who confirms that they will endeavour to contact you with a full response in due course.

Thank you for contacting English Heritage.
Yours sincerely
Diane Hunt
Correspondence Assistant


Andy (webmaster) Sunday, 11 September 2005 09:54
Well done James, keep it up. Good to see the station getting a spruce up and look forward to seeing any photos.

Andy (Webmaster) Sunday, 4 September 2005 11:23
I agree Ron. Do let us know what the outcome of your call is.

Andy (webmaster) Sunday, 7 August 2005 16:54
Hi Mike
The book "Eastern Main Lines - Saxmundham to Yarmouth" by Richard Adderson and Graham Kenworthy, published in 2001 by Middleton Press, ISBN 1-901706-699, contains several pictures of the St. Olaves swing bridge plus many details of the whole line from Beccles.

Andy (webmaster) Saturday, 23 July 2005 21:40
Good to see someone is keeping an eye on the place. Well done.

Andy Sunday, 10 July 2005 22:49
Hi, I'm pretty sure the track out to the Berney Arms is not a public right of way. Not sure who owns it, it could be the Broads authority or maybe the RSPB nature reserve through which it passes. Some is also in private hands I think. I know that using it has always been discouraged but you could try phoning the pub to find out more.

Bill Maxted Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:10
There is a footpath and cycle route through the nature reserve but not vehicle access. It forms part of the Wherryman's way beween Reedham and Gt Yarmouth.

Dave Rogers Friday, 8 July 2005 17:57
There are some signs that The Berney Inn have put out from the pub leading in the direction of the mill but these stop well short of the Berney Mill. There are no signs outside the Berney Mill and upstream of it and there is plenty of room for boats to moor.

Andy Sunday, 10 July 2005 22:52
I am considering adding further railway photos from the GY - Lowestoft route and possibly as far as Hadiscoe but I don't intend to expand the area covered too much.

Grace and David Rogers Sunday, 19 June 2005 22:58
We visited the Berney this weekend and as you say there are still no signs that the sails will be returned onto the Berney mill. The tar finish to the outside of the mill that was applied about a year ago is already falling off due to inadequate preparation. It seems that mill is in need of urgent professional repair and is being let down badly by those responsible for its upkeep. On a more positive note the Berney pub is still going strong and the duck on the menu deserves a try.
Dave and Grace Rogers , Eastern Dawn.