Flood tide at Morston Quay North Norfolk

I visited North Norfolk’s Morston Quay recently and found that the National Trust (NT) had affixed an explanatory display board to the side of the lookout building detailing the Trust’s controversial plan to build a new visitor centre on the eastern edge of what is now the car parking area.

The NT’s plans have prompted strong opposition from Morston residents and the sailing fraternity, who feel that the ancient harbour should not be developed to become a major tourist attraction. Some have described the plans as “abhorrent”, and there has been much coverage in the local press about the public’s adverse reaction to the proposal.

I have been a regular visitor to Morston for more than 60 years, for walking, occasional sailing, trips to the seals at Blakeney Point and family picnics. Parking was free of charge (as was keeping a boat there) until relatively recently, and the only facility available was a public toilet.

As with much of North Norfolk, oldies like me can remember quieter and more relaxed times when the roads were not clogged with summer traffic and a major growth industry was not the supply of fish and chips. However, we have to live with the situation we face now.

With growing numbers of visitors attracted by glowing descriptions of this lovely place in the national press, North Norfolk is rapidly becoming a summer destination as busy as Cornwall. A significant increase in visitor numbers was also noticeable after the pandemic abated and everyone’s freedom of movement was restored.

 Morston – 100,000 Visitors Last Year

I have mixed feelings about the NT’s proposals for Morston. According to its stats (more likely a guess based on car parking fees), over 100,000 people visited Morston Quay last year. If that figure is reasonably accurate, Morston is already a major tourist attraction and visitors need to be catered for.

The design of the building for which the NT has submitted plans appears attractive, although it doesn’t meet with the approval of the locals, who would prefer a more traditional brick and flint structure with a pantile roof. However, if it is built, the position chosen appears to be a good choice. It is also fair to say that NT facilities for visitors are always of a high standard and are heavily used.

A new visitor centre at Morston seems to have become necessary, and if it is built, it is likely that after a short while, local users and visitors will come to appreciate its presence. However, opposition to the present design is growing, and the issue has now made the national press.

As we locals know, some of North Norfolk District Council’s decisions regarding planning consent have been problematic – the unsightly, totally out-of-keeping wooden box house on Cley’s Newgate Green being a prime example. However, I understand the main problem was that the original plans were not followed. But it’s still a wooden box! And it’s still there!

It will be interesting to see how the Morston situation develops.