National Trust Plans for North Norfolk’s Morston Quay Opposed
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.
4 thoughts on “National Trust Plans for North Norfolk’s Morston Quay Opposed”
Hello Terry
Thank you very much for your comments.
I have visited Morston annually for coming up to 50 years. I have used the local facilities and estuary for many weeks each year. I have the utmost respect and love of that coastal part of Norfolk and especially of the local inhabitants with their unique accent and sense of humour. Since the National Trust involved themselves in Morston and also along that coastline I have seen them introduce other measures out of place with this unspoilt rural Norfolk area. Their approach is seen in too many aspects of our modern life where previously established customs, values and principles are being eroded away by modern unnecessary projects forced onto places like Morston and funded by voluntary public donations given for hopefully better use. I fear Morston will loose this battle. That is another aspect of the world we now live in compared to years ago. Sadly the National Trust, while doing so much good in other ventures, cannot hold back from projects that are unnecessary and unwanted. Part of the beauty and attraction of places like Morston is its basic rural appearance. It will loose more of its charm as unnecessary modern aspects are forced upon it.
Thank you for your input Philip. I see your point.
One of the main concerns voiced at a meeting of 54 locals in Morston Village hall in July was that the National Trusts plans make no attempt to relate to the buildings which make up ancient Morston. Everything else in the village is built of flint, brick and wood (usually tarred black) and roofed with pantiles. We feel that buildings on the Quay should architecturally reflect Morston , rather than the National Trust’s ephemeral and generic current ‘look’. We feel that their inability to respect even this simple ‘local’ distinction is alas typical of their Big Business attitude to something that doesn’t conform to their commercial needs. Essentially: bullying.