News from Suffolk Coastal

The call has gone out to women across the district to take up the chance to pick up their bib and try their hand at playing netball again, with a special free session lined up for Tuesday, February 21.

The first step towards an independent planning inspector’s thorough investigation of Suffolk Coastal’s recently agreed Core Strategy, part of its Local Development Framework (LDF), occurs this week when residents are invited to comment on its ‘soundness’.

Motorists and lorry drivers particularly are being targeted for the next four weeks with a special campaign to remind them not to drop litter which will include two roadside electronic message boards.

Views are wanted on the drafts appraisals that have been carried out on seven of the district’s 34 conservation areas and which aim to guide how any changes in the areas can be managed in the future.

Nominations are wanted for the third annual Quality of Place Award scheme which recognises the highest standards of design that contributes to the environment of the district.

The number of councillors at Suffolk Coastal could be reduced if next week’s Full Council agrees to an electoral review of the current total of 55 that represent the district’s 34 wards.

Suffolk Coastal’s Cabinet will look again at its decision to attract proposals for the future use of Felixstowe's Spa Theatre from local groups or leisure and entertainment companies from across the country.

Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Councils are backing a county-wide campaign to improve broadband speeds in Suffolk by asking residents to complete an important survey.

There is still time to book a place on Monday night’s (January 23) Suffolk Coastal Greenprint Forum when the spotlight will be on grass root community action on sustainability and carbon footprinting.

Two by-elections are to be held on Thursday, February 9 in Kesgrave after candidates came forward to contest the vacant seats due to be filled following last November’s death of Cllr John Klaschka.

The go-ahead was given last night (Wednesday) by the Cabinets of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney to proposals to radically modernise the planning service of the two Councils.

The call has gone out to residents and visitors to stop dropping litter and so help reduce the £600,000 a year that Suffolk Coastal is spending on clearing up other people’s mess.

Nobody came forward as candidates by last Friday’s closing date for the two vacant seats on Walberswick Parish Council so another attempt will be launched next month to attract new councillors.

With the launch of their first ever joint holiday guide, Waveney and Suffolk Coastal Councils have joined forces to promote the Suffolk Coast as a tourism destination in 2012.

Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Councils have been praised for their efforts and commitment to the wellbeing of their staff following a thorough inspection.

The reasons for last month’s decision by Suffolk Coastal’s Cabinet to call for leisure and entertainment companies, or those interested in forming a Trust, to come up with their ideas for the future use of Felixstowe’s Spa Theatre are set to be reviewed next week.

Three by-elections are set to be held on Thursday, February 9 and potential candidates have until noon on Friday, January 13 to submit their completed forms if they wish to stand.

Blue badge holders will get twice as long for their car parking as other motorists from April when disabled people will be asked to help play their part in bridging Suffolk Coastal’s £2.7 million budget gap.

Suffolk Coastal’s pressing need to bridge a £2.7m gap between its income and spending has forced its Cabinet to agree the first increases in town centre car parking charges for six years.

Volunteers are coming together to try to launch a Shopmobility scheme in Felixstowe, so that people with limited mobility can borrow manual or powered wheelchairs or scooters to make their way around the local shops and services.

The owners of historic buildings are being asked to put them in the public spotlight during the nationwide Heritage Open Days run by English Heritage that are set to take place next September.

Candidates for the two vacant seats on Walberswick Parish Council have until noon on Friday, January 6 to return their completed nomination forms to Suffolk Coastal’s elections team at Melton Hill.

Want to help make a change in your community in 2012? Then come along to the launch of the Woodbridge Information sessions at Woodbridge Library on Thursday, January 12 and find out more about how committing a few hours can make a real difference.

Businesses in east Suffolk are being urged to take a few minutes to add their support to the Better Broadband for Suffolk campaign which wants to see superfast broadband implemented urgently, helping local businesses to compete for work in the future.

A new company, the Trimley Station Community Trust, has been set up and hopes to officially become a charity in the new year and attract volunteers to help them achieve the goal of turning a historic building into a locally run and used asset.

Those visiting Felixstowe and enjoying a night out during the festive season will be given all kinds of reminders on how to make sure it is also a safe experience, thanks to the Suffolk Coastal Community Safety Partnership (CSP).

The key work of putting nearly 2,000 fabric bags filled with sand and shingle in place as part of the second phase of an innovative partnership scheme to provide improved protection to Thorpeness’s coastline has been finished ahead of schedule.

Residents are being asked over the upcoming festive season to resolve to take their empty bottles to one of the 200 recycling banks across the district.

The formal go-ahead for a major set of planning policies that will help control the future development of the district over the next two decades was given yesterday (Thursday) by a special meeting of Suffolk Coastal’s Full Council.

Action on the environment that can be taken at the grassroot community level of our district while saving money is the theme of the January Suffolk Coastal Greenprint Forum which aims to bring together the experience and successes of groups already doing pioneering work.

The upcoming holiday period will see Suffolk Coastal’s recycling and refuse collections carrying on as normal except for the Boxing Day Monday rounds which will be carried out on the Christmas Eve Saturday.

Leisure and entertainment companies from across the country are set to be asked for their proposals for the future use of Felixstowe's Spa Theatre after Suffolk Coastal's Cabinet agreed it could no longer afford to give it the necessary long-term financial commitment.

Woodbridge’s long history of supporting the soldiers that live and work within the town and their families has been confirmed in writing.

Everyone with an interest in the district still has over two weeks to give their views on what Suffolk Coastal should do to bridge the daunting budget gap facing the Council over the next four years.

Sports clubs and organisations in Suffolk Coastal are being invited to book their place at a two hour free event which could give them all the help and advice they need to become bigger and better in 2012.

A special forum is being held next week when people are being asked to come along and give their views on what the important issues are facing Suffolk Coastal’s biggest town and how the Felixstowe Futures team can help.

The vacant seat on Blaxhall Parish Council was filled last night (Thursday) bringing it back to its full nine-member strength after the village’s voters expressed their preference from the two candidates standing.

Most of the recycling and refuse collections due to be made tomorrow (Wednesday, November 30) are set to be delayed by the national strike action among public sector workers.

Flood warning information for the Suffolk Coast on Sunday, November 27

The 37th annual National Tree Week starts on Saturday, November 26 and runs until Sunday, December 4, and Suffolk Coastal is urging people to play their part locally.

This coming Saturday, November 26, will see the first of five special Christmas-themed events at market towns in the district being given an extra boost by Suffolk Coastal providing free car parking.

The voters of Blaxhall have two candidates to choose from on Thursday, December 1 when they are filling a vacant seat on their parish council and bringing it back to its full nine-member strength.

Recognising the need to provide local career opportunities to young people in their districts has seen Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Councils press ahead with plans to offer apprenticeships to those looking to take their first steps into local government.

The fifth annual Suffolk Coastal Sport Awards ceremony saw 10 winners on a night which was a celebration of achievement and commitment from across the district.

An international White Ribbon campaign against gender violence is being marked in Woodbridge on Saturday, November 26 at the Turban Centre from 10am to 2pm when people can also find out what support is in place for those facing domestic violence and abuse.

Over 150 people attended the 2011 Annual Forum of the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership held last Friday, (November 11) and which brought together representatives from organisations from across the whole district.

Aldeburgh’s Terry-Jill Haworth is the newly appointed Cabinet Member for Housing after the recent mini-reshuffle of posts by the Council’s Leader.

The latest annual review of how the Council is managing its finances has concluded that it has in place the proper arrangements for securing value for money in the use of its resources.

In a fantastic boost for the two districts and its communities, 12 of the 16 Suffolk towns and villages which will welcome the Olympic flame next July are in Waveney and Suffolk Coastal.

The news of the death today of John Klaschka, a district councillor for Kesgrave East, was greeted with sadness and surprise by Suffolk Coastal’s Leader.

The actions of local people to save Trimley Station from demolition appear to now be on the verge of success with a company board being set up to take on the lease of the building from Network Rail.

The majority of Central Felixstowe’s beach will be open to the public all next summer following a decision to press ahead with more of the vital coastal defence works this year.

Martlesham Community Centre is the venue for a special lunch next month when community, voluntary and faith groups have the chance to gain a feast of useful information.

The call has gone out to all volunteers and voluntary groups in Suffolk Coastal to register on Do-It.org, the online database that provides vital in helping building up the Voluntary and Community Sector in the future and help them get the volunteers they need.

The resignation of Cllr Marianne Fellowes from Suffolk Coastal’s Cabinet because of a change in her work situation has led to a reshuffle of posts by the Council’s Leader.

As part of the Woodwose 2 outdoor festival, officers from Suffolk Coastal are teaming up with local experts to lead special guided walks around three parts of the district.

The latest part of the on-going initiative to help make local communities more prepared for emergencies, a special half-day workshop, is being held at Hollesley Village Hall next week.

Funding from Suffolk Coastal’s coast protection budget is being used to carry out some repairs to groynes around the pier and The Dip in Felixstowe.

The fears that dogs could be at risk of Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) has led to Suffolk Coastal’s countryside team putting up warning signs around parks and woods owned by the Council.

The call has gone out for people to don their running shoes, or play a vital volunteer role, for this month’s first Poppy Run being held at Rendlesham Forest on Sunday, October 30.

It promises to be a warm squash at this weekend’s launch of the second Woodwose Outdoor Festival which begins its mouth-watering fortnight of events with a Pumpkin and Chilli Festival.

Fabric bags filled with sand and shingle are now being put in place as part of the second phase of an innovative partnership scheme to provide improved protection to Thorpeness’s coastline.

Wickham Market will be lit up and celebrating on Saturday, November 27 thanks to an early Christmas present from Suffolk Coastal’s Economic Development Support Fund (EDSF), a special scheme aimed at helping grass-roots efforts to boost the local economy.

A special one-day conference is being hosted at Trinity Park next month that will shine the spotlight firmly on the innovative partnership working between Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils.

Thousands of residents are being reminded that to ensure they have a voice in local elections they need to return their Voter Registration Form.

Following this month’s meeting with interested residents about the future management of Sutton Heath, they are being reminded that the follow-up event is being held next week when they can find out how their comments have been taken on board.

Film Flurry, the family friendly film festival for rural Suffolk, is bringing an action-packed week of movies and activities especially for young children to venues across the district during the half-term holidays.

A new initiative called Change Makers is underway in Suffolk Coastal and is there to provide support and guidance to local people who want to make a difference in their community.

The expectations are building up for the second Woodwose Outdoor Festival which will launch its mouth-watering array of events next month with a Pumpkin and Chilli Festival.

Suffolk Coastal’s highly successful recycling and refuse collection service will next week make some significant adjustments affecting all the district’s homes to help it provide an even more efficient service to the district’s residents.

The spotlight at next month’s Greenprint Forum meeting is being turned on some of the wonderful fruit and vegetables that are approaching their peak at this time of the year.

Town and parish councils across the district plus other interested groups should by now have received a request from Suffolk Coastal asking for their views on the first round of town centre car parking increases since 2006

A senior Suffolk Coastal councillor has expressed his confidence that initiatives like Felixstowe Futures and the work of those committed to the town will help put Felixstowe in a stronger position to beat the current national economic problems.

The winners of the first Landguard Partnership photography competition have now been chosen after being voted for by the public and all 12 will see their photograph feature in the Discover Landguard calendar 2012.

The efforts being made by people across Suffolk Coastal to add to its quality by helping conserve historic buildings or the local landscape or nature, or introducing new innovative designs will be celebrated tonight (Thursday).