News archive April to June 2007

Suffolk councils have formed a new partnership that will make it easier for people who want to buy a home get vital local land charge information to make sure their most important purchase is a wise decision.

Suffolk Coastal is launching special new exercise classes for those people in the district who want to keep fit but whose age, disability or lack of mobility means that a visit to the gym is out of the question.

Suffolk Coastal’s first arts directory has just been published, a one-stop shop information goldmine that aims to put the spotlight firmly on the district's cultural activities with a who's who list of contacts.

This summer promises to be one packed with fun things for children and young people to do, thanks to a bumper programme of activities that has just been published.

Suffolk Coastal’s ongoing commitment to green issues has seen it formally sign up to the CRed Suffolk Partnership Climate Change Partnership that is working to encourage behaviour changes across the county.

Suffolk Coastal has told the Government that it cannot support Ipswich Borough Council’s bid for unitary status because it would not help meet the problems and challenges facing local communities and their councils.

Aldeburgh Tourist Information Centre (TIC) is hosting a special wine tasting event this Saturday (June 23) from 10am to 3pm at its office in the High Street.

For the seventh year running, Felixstowe has earned the right to proudly fly the Blue Flag for the quality of its beach and its resort management, with the event officially being marked on Monday, June 18.

The call has gone out for a project co-ordinator who can work with people living along the Alde and Ore to create a community arts and heritage project that explores, reveals and celebrates the rich heritage of the area.

A series of roadshows is being held over the coming fortnight aimed at those living in the 4,500 homes that in July will switch to Suffolk Coastal’s improved recycling service.

A new partnership has been formed to make sure that all pubs, clubs and other licensed premises in Suffolk Coastal are providing a safe and legal service to their customers.

Anyone popping into Suffolk Coastal’s offices in Woodbridge on Tuesday, June 5 will be offered a free low-energy light bulb in return for them signing a personal carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction pledge.

Suffolk Coastal has received a cheque for £284,000 from the Government in recognition of how successful the district has been in attracting additional economic investment.

Following this month’s election, Suffolk Coastal’s Leader has announced the membership of his Cabinet, with three changes being made to the team that make the day-to-day policy decisions at the Council.

Woodbridge’s Cliff Cocker is officially the district’s new first citizen after being elected as Chairman of Suffolk Coastal District Council at its Annual Meeting last night (Thursday).

A 16 year old Felixstowe youth was this week (Monday) given a two-year anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) by a district judge at Ipswich Magistrates Court after calls from Suffolk Coastal and local police to extend and confirm an interim order issued last month.

Residents in Suffolk Coastal who are planning to make their homes more energy self-sufficient are being urged to apply to a national funding scheme which is open for bids from next Tuesday (May 29).

Today’s (Monday) Government announcements on proposed revised planning processes has prompted Suffolk Coastal to call for urgent reassurances if this does result in plans being submitted for a third nuclear power station at Sizewell.

The dream of young people in Felixstowe of having their own skatepark in Orwell Green has been revitalised by the news it has received a £25,000 grant to help turn it into reality.

Commercial property owners are being given an early warning of a significant change being introduced by the Government from April 1 next year that may leave them with a bigger rates bill.

The first ever districtwide forum for young people is now up and running, and Suffolk Coastal Teen Views (SCTV) could help change the future as it aims to put everyone in the picture about what young people really want.

Suffolk Coastal is looking for sporty youngsters to represent their district at the county’s own mini-Olympics - Suffolk Youth Games, the largest multi-sport festival for young people which is being held at Bury St Edmunds on Sunday, July 8.

Grants totalling over £37,000 have been agreed by Suffolk Coastal to support 32 groups working in the district to provide social or sporting facilities and services to local residents.

Pedestrians, motorists, rail and bus travellers, will all get a much better welcome to Woodbridge this summer as work is underway to make some long-awaited changes to the area around the town’s railway station.

People in Felixstowe are being asked to play their part in helping draw up a blueprint that will shape the future of their town, with a focus on the seafront area from Cobbold’s Point to Landguard Point, and significant parts of the town centre and surrounding areas.

The ideas and designs of five local youngsters have been used to create a special leaflet aimed at steering young people in Suffolk Coastal away from anti-social behaviour.

From Sunday, July 1, it will be illegal for people to smoke in virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England and managers should be getting ready for the new smokefree law.

Next week from Sunday May 6 is national compost awareness week and Suffolk Coastal is reminding its residents that their brown recycling bin is for far much more than just garden waste.

More residents than ever are tapping into the easy ways to pay their bills around the clock to Suffolk Coastal with last week seeing the £2 million mark being broken since the services were first launched last May.

Suffolk Coastal is seeking an independent person to join its Standards Committee that helps to ensure that councillors and officers of the District Council, and the district’s Town and Parish Councils, continue to meet the high standards expected of them.

The ongoing success story of Suffolk Coastal’s planning service has been further recognised with the news that it is one of 56 more councils that have been officially recognised as meeting or exceeding national targets.

Car washing, shoe shining, egg ‘n’ spoon race and a quiz night were just some of the fund-raising activities that members of Suffolk Coastal’s Sports and Social Club organised for their Charity Day on Friday, March 30 to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

A grand total of 136 candidates will fight the Suffolk Coastal District Council elections with only one candidate elected without a contest, as Les Binns was the only person nominated for the Woodbridge Kyson ward.