Plans in pipeline for Bawsey Pits

Plans for the future of Bawsey Pits are being compiled by the new owner.

Stephen Bacon bought the country park from minerals firm Sibelco in October last year and hopes to revive the area’s railway platform.

Mr Bacon is currently looking through the responses which were given in a public consultation over the last few years in order to compile a planning application for West Norfolk Council.

He said: “We want to make it a really enjoyable place for people to come to and I am talking with specialists to make that happen and put forward a really good long term project. We are studying and looking at the ideas and are preparing a planning application to be put forward.”

He hopes to work with railway enthusiasts to restore some life into the old station yard in the area.

Mr Bacon, whose grandfather was the station master at Bawsey, has an idea of creating luxury dining cars for visitors to enjoy the views and ambience of a bygone era.

In 2013, 41-year-old Lynn man, Ryan Pettengell and Umar Balogun, 16, who both drowned at the lakes after the no swimming signs were ignored.

A public consultation that followed attracted more than 600 responses and revealed a clear desire for the park to be given a new lease of life through modest development.