A much needed facility could be coming to Cromer thanks to a planning application submitted by a local support organisation.

Allcare Community Support (ACS) has been operating in Cromer for four years, running a day centre for children and adults with learning disabilities.

Now the organisation has applied to open a cafe, complete with a much needed 'Space to Change' facility for people with physical disabilities to use.

As a seaside resort, Cromer is often visited by wheelchair users and their families who find it difficult to change from swimming and beach wear into clothes.

The space to change changing rooms are equipped to wheelchair users' needs, complete with full size adult changing bed, ceiling

mounted hoist, a shower and disabled toilet and sink.

Nicki Durrant is PA to the ACS's CEO Stacey Smith, she said: 'We're hoping that, should the application go through, we'll be open by the spring or early summer.

'The cafe will be run by volunteers who attend our day centre, to give them work experience, as well as out staff.'

The Cromer employee added: 'But the main focus really is the space to change facility. Quite often we have Mobiloo's in Cromer for events, which are portable adult changing facilities, but we wanted to create a permanent one for the community.'

The facility in Louden Road will also sell 'Slimming World' type meals and snacks.

'We'd also like to run autism workshops and such like at the venue,' continued Ms Durrant, 46.

'Autistic members of the community can often find going into a busy, crowded cafe overwhelming, so we want to have events which they can attend and be comfortable.'

In their application, ACS added: 'We wish to provide a valuable service for the local community as well as visitors to the locality.

'There is no such facility in the area that provides such a service as that proposed. The proposed facilities will be invaluable to those that would require such facilities and should be welcomed.'

The application will not be one of those discussed at the next NNDC Development Committee meeting on January 25.