James has welcomed plans for a new observatory in Hunstanton as dark skies venue to help to boost tourism outside the summer months and extend the season all year round.
The borough hopes to construct the observatory at the Pitch & Putt site, off Golf Course Road with building working aiming to start over the summer and the opening late September/early October.
The observatory will not only help to boost tourism outside the summer months and extend the season all year round, but will also help West Norfolk be a hub for ‘dark skies’ astronomical events and festivals.The project will utilise £30,000 of grant funding with the design intended to have a retractable roof.
Commenting James said:
“Along the outstanding Norfolk coast, we are fortunate to have stunning views of the dark skies and constellations, meteor showers, Milky Way, and more. As a member of the All Party MP group on dark skies, I welcome these plans for a new observatory which will help create more opportunities for star gazing and extend the tourism season. Hopefully, this will create a base which can build on the Norfolk Coast Partnership’s successful Dark Skies Festival that I had the pleasure to open last autumn.”
Since elected, James who is a member of the All Party MP group on dark skies has met regularly with The Norfolk Coast Partnership to see their work on dark skies as well as opening the Dark Skies Festival at Thornham in the autumn.
