A rallying call is going out to organisations in the Sheringham area to play an important roll in shaping its future as it takes the next step on from regeneration.

A rallying call is going out to organisations in the Sheringham area to play an important roll in shaping its future as it takes the next step on from regeneration.

It comes from the new Upcher Community Partnership -a forum looking for project ideas, and funding to turn them into reality.

The group will pick up the baton previously held by the SheringhamPlus regeneration group, but widens it scope to neighbouring villages.

A meeting to discuss social, community and environmental projects, transport issues and ways of sustaining a vibrant local economy will be held on March 4.

Invited organisations and businesses will join local councillors in the initiative, which has already taken over the former regeneration office near the town clock, and is now looking to re-launch and re-brand the partnership.

Acting manager Jane Shulver, who ran a similar group in North Walsham for three years, said it filled in the gaps not covered by local councils, whose powers and funding were limited - and was designed to complement rather than compete.

'It needs to be community driven, and a focus for community self-help,' she explained.

The partnership will also cover Upper Sheringham, Salthouse, Kelling, Weybourne, Beeston Regis and the Beckhams.

It has taken over the management and marketing of the Oddfellows Hall - the flagship community building, whose �300,000 conversion was the biggest single project under the town's �1.2m package of regeneration schemes.

It will also keep up the Experience Sheringham website tourism marketing initiative.

There are also moves to explore launching a local credit union - a locally-based savings and loan co-operative - while the office will remain a police drop-in point offering other services, such as education and career advice.

But other ideas needed to be raised by the March meeting, explained Mrs Shulver.

Former SheringhamPlus chairman Mike Crowe said there had been disappointments such as a planned seafront lighting project not happening through costs and infrastructure problems, while calls for a sports hall were dropped because of the existing facilities within a 20-minute travel radius making it a non-starter under European funding rules.

But it had left a legacy of bringing the town together to explore ideas and funding opportunities.

Anyone wanting to attend the meeting on behalf of a local organisation or business should contact the Upcher office on 01263 825952 or e-mail Jason@upchercp.co.uk

Upcher was the name of the family who lived at Sheringham Park and played an important role in the town's 19th and 20th century development through their generosity as benefactors including buying its first lifeboats the Augusta and Henry Ramey Upcher.