Need to get rid of that Christmas tree? Want to recycle it?

Whilst delivering some 2011 calendars in Stowupland yesterday, I noticed this sign on one of the village's noticeboards, and thought that it might be useful.

But, just in case you can't read it, it will be possible to recycle your Christmas tree at Stowupland Village Hall, on Church Road, near the 'Crown' between 7 a.m. on Saturday, January 8th, and 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 9th.

I'll certainly be taking advantage of the opportunity...

Grit piles, and how to get more...

I have to admit that I learn a little more about village life every day. Sometimes, the information is unexpectedly gleaned whilst researching something else, but I thought that anyone reading this might be interested.

According to to the Suffolk County Council website,

Grit heaps and bins

We provide roadside grit heaps and bins on request from parish councils so local people can treat local trouble spots on minor roads which otherwise would not be treated.  Grit heaps/bins are generally placed in locations such as the bottom of hills and junctions on minor roads which are on lower priority routes for gritting.  The grit from these heaps/bins must only be used on the public highway. Requests for grit heaps/bins are only accepted from a town or parish council.

In honesty, I don't know how serious the County Council are on this point, especially in those Parishes where there isn't a Parish Council (and yes, they do exist) so, if you do need more grit anywhere in the Parish, leave a comment here, or contact our Parish Clerk, if the County Council aren't forthcoming. We'll do what we can to get grit delivered.

More bus news, and this time it's good!

Ironically, after yesterday's news of the review of local bus links, news reaches me of an improved community bus service. Here is the information, with some 'frequently asked questions'...

Suffolk Links Gipping North is a new facility, replacing the TaxiBus and serving the area around Rattlesden, Harleston, the Creetings, Stonham Aspal, Mendlesham and Wetheringsett. No other bus services in the area are being changed as a result of the introduction of Suffolk Links Gipping North and it will provide connections with the following bus services, or help you to complete your journey when no buses are available, just ask the operator when you call 01449 616 000.

Other buses are:

113: Every two hours between Diss - Mendlesham - Ipswich
114: Every two hours between Diss - Debenham - Ipswich
87: Every hour between Stowupland - Stowmarket - Needham Market - Ipswich
88: Every hour between Stowmarket - Needham Market - Ipswich
384: Every hour between Stowmarket - Elmswell - Bury St Edmunds

In addition, trains run from Stowmarket to Ipswich, London, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and Norwich (all hourly) and Peterborough (every two hours)

Where and when can I travel?

Suffolk Links Gipping North operates from 0700 to 1900, Mondays to Saturdays. The bus will take you to Stowmarket, Needham Market or any of the villages within the Gipping North service area. Connections can be made for onwards travel to places further afield such as Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds or Diss.

How do I book a journey?

• Simply call 01449 616 000 up to a week before you wish to travel and book your journey.
• The booking service is open from 0800 to 1300, Monday to Friday, making it easier for you to plan ahead.

Who runs the service?

Suffolk Links Gipping North is operated by Optua.

Is it goodnight for the 453?

We don't get many buses in Creeting St Peter, as demonstrated by our bus stop, or lack thereof (and that's a funny story in itself). The news that we might, and I emphasise might, be at risk of losing our market day bus, is an unwelcome reminder of the precarious nature of our public transport links.

It has been announced by Guy Macgregor, Executive Member for Transport on Suffolk County Council, has announced a review of bus routes currently in receipt of financial support. Given that both our scheduled bus route and our community bus fall into that category, we have good cause for apprehension.

I'm an occasional user of the community bus, although I understand that rider figures are a bit low. I've never seen a 453, and as it runs when I'm at work, I'm not likely to see one either. However, there will be those in the village who use them, and it would be nice to hear from anyone who does.

I suspect that the Parish Council will be discussing this at our next meeting, and I for one will be asking our County Councillor for his thoughts...

Suffolk County Council consults on care homes

As part of the County Council's plans to cut spending by £330 million, it has been announced that they plan to close a number of residential care homes, and sell the remainder to the private sector.

Such proposals are always controversial, and the risks that moving elderly residents to new locations raise are always emotive. However, if you do have a relative in one of the six proposed for closure (and Wade House in Stowmarket is one of those), you will undoubtedly want to find out more.

There is a consultation process, and anyone who wants more information should click on this link. The consultation will include meetings at the affected locations, and an internet survey, and a downloadable version of the full proposals is available.

Parish Council finances to be made easier

One of the things that puzzled me about Parish Council finances was that we used cheques, and now I know why. A law passed in 1894 requires parish councils to have all payments authorised by two signatories, making e-banking impossible.

The good news is that the law is to be changed, allowing Rosemary to connect our banking to the Internet in time for the abolition of cheques in 2018. It also means that we'll be able to pay our bills more efficiently, and our contractors can be paid sooner.

It will, I suspect, be a bit more complex than that, but it can only be a good thing...

Unexpected news from Suffolk County Council

Last week, Suffolk County Council unveiled the New Strategic Direction (NSD). Under the current proposals, the Council propose to divest themselves of the following services;

• Transactional property
• Registrars
• Suffolk traded services
• Employment enterprises, learning and careers advice
• Libraries
• Home First (this is a social care service)
• A record office
• Independent Living Centres (these provide advice and information on equipment which can be used by disabled people)
• Highway Services
• Country Parks
• Economic Development
• Youth clubs, and Integrated Youth Support and Outdoor Education
• Early Years & Childcare, including Children’s Centres
• Home Shield Plus
• Hate Crime Service

The timescale is an ambitious one, in that there will be three phases, beginning in April 2011, with the final phase starting in Autumn 2011. The first phase includes the divestment of the library service.

We'll see what this means for the village, as the Parish Council is yet to be properly briefed, consulted or, as far as I am aware, even told. I don't doubt that this will be an issue for discussion at our next meeting.

A free bus for Creeting St Peter shoppers

Much kudos goes to Rosemary, our Parish Clerk, for her persistence. After months of correspondence, we have been offered a free bus service to and from the Tesco store at Cedars Park.

If there is demand, the bus will pick up in the village on a Monday morning at 10.20 am, and return from the store at 11.45 am, just enough time to do some decent shopping and maybe grab a cup of coffee. It would be really good if people use it so, if you are a regular customer at Tesco, why not give your car a rest, and take the bus? 

From Glemsford to Eye, will bigger be better for us?

Last night, Babergh District Council voted in favour of a full merger between itself and Mid Suffolk District Council, with the expectation that £1.3 million could be saved with no effect on services. Good news then, for the council tax payers of Mid Suffolk, one presumes.

To be honest, I've developed the view that District Councils in Suffolk are too small to be efficient, unable to recruit and retain staff at a sufficient level, providing services that cost more than they should at a lower quality than they should. Indeed, I was of the view that, with proper standards of democratic accountability, unitary government for Suffolk, be it through a single countywide authority, or through the reinstatement of East and West Suffolk, was a step forward.

There will undoubtedly be short-term costs. Two Chief Executives, two Heads of Planning and so on, will have to be reduced to one, and that one might not be either of the incumbents. Pension enhancements, redundancy payments, they won't come cheap. On the other hand, the continuing savings will be substantial, especially if the number of councillors is cut by one-third (as the rumours indicate).

Of course, this does mean that, here in Creeting St Peter, we will be more remote than ever from the levers of power. New people to deal with, new relationships to build, something for our Parish Clerk, Rosemary, to get her teeth into. It could be good, it could protect some of the services we rely on as a small village.

On the other hand, depending on where power lies, we might find it harder to make our voice heard, that services will be focussed on those places with larger populations. At the moment, we are represented by about 10% of a district councillor, who is evidently more interested in Stowupland than in us. In the new setup, we'll be represented by about 6% of a district councillor.

There will, we are promised, be a referendum to decide whether the proposal goes ahead or not. As council tax payers, we need to make sure that there is something in this for us, even if it's only lower council tax levels or better services than we might otherwise get.

Piles and piles of grit...

Last winter, when snow fell in unusual large amounts in mid-Suffolk, our village was lucky enough to be gritted. At least, the main road through the village was gritted and remained pretty passable.

However, for those of us who live on The Lane, the village's only other significant street, the road surface was like an ice rink, treacherous underfoot, and decidedly tough to drive on. And so, as a Parish Council, we decided to seek help from the County.

I'm now told that the County Council have decided to provide us with some grit piles (apparently, these are not some kind of ailment), and we get to decide where they will go. I suggested that one be located part way up The Lane, next to the post box, where there is a small space. Yes, it's opposite my house (well, nearly) but without pavements, we'd have to put it in the road - not a good idea - or in somebody's front garden - probably an even less good idea.

We'd like grit bins, ideally, but they cost money. Luckily, our county councillor has a new quality of life budget, and as we don't usually ask for, or get, much, he might oblige. We'll see...

Mobile Library dates - October 2010

Just a brief reminder that the Mobile Library Service comes to The Lane, here in the village, on three dates next month;

Friday, 1st October

Friday, 15th October

Friday, 29th October

The Mobile Library will be present between 12.05 p.m. and 12.20 p.m.

MP to return to duty?

Following his accident in June, our local MP, David Ruffley, has been recuperating, whilst the two neighbouring MPs have been taking surgeries for him. 
Now, the East Anglian Daily Times is reporting that he is expected to return, albeit gradually, to duty, starting from next month.

Residents of Creeting St Peter won't necessarily have seen much of David in the past, but in fairness, he only became our MP in May, following the transfer of our Parish from the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency to the Bury St Edmunds constituency due to Boundary Commission review.

Pickerel Project Clean Up Day

I have received a reminder from our neighbours on Stowmarket Town Council that on Sunday, as on every first Sunday of the month, volunteers will be gathering at the Station Road bridge from 10 a.m. to clean up the River Gipping near the heart of the town.

I have, myself, taken part in one of these events in the past and, on a sunny day, even the water isn't too cold.

If you would like to join in, call Sally on 01449 776398 or email sallys@stowmarket.org for more information.

A little tidying up - done

As part of our duties, Parish Councillors tend to keep a general eye out for things that need doing. We report them to Rosemary, our faithful Parish Clerk, and she reports them to Mid Suffolk District Council or whoever.

At our last meeting, I noted that the sign pointing towards Creeting St Peter on the A1120 at the entrance to Stowupland was obscured by vegetation and, sure enough, within a week, it was gone. It's a little thing, I know, but if one traveller, seeking the village, is helped by that, it's surely good that it is done.

If you do see any signs that are dirty, or obscured, please leave a comment here, and we can do something to remedy the situation.

Mobile Library dates - September 2010

Just a brief reminder that the Mobile Library Service comes to The Lane, here in the village, on two dates next month;

Friday, 3rd September

Friday, 17th September

The Mobile Library will be present between 12.05 p.m. and 12.20 p.m.

Mobile Library dates - August 2010

Just a brief reminder that the Mobile Library Service comes to The Lane, here in the village, on two dates next month;

Friday, 6th August

Friday, 20th August

The Mobile Library will be present between 12.05 p.m. and 12.20 p.m.

Police Station opening hours - less of them...

Suffolk Constabulary write to advise that, due to budget cuts, the opening hours of public enquiry desks at local police stations will be reduced.

The expectation is that, from some point later this year, the desk at Stowmarket will be open as follows;

• 8 hours between 7 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. - Monday to Friday
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Saturday and Sunday

There will be public consultation to decide which eight hours will be covered on weekdays, but given that the only other police station in Mid Suffolk is at Eye, and will only be open for two hours a day, three days a week, whatever option emerges will be disappointing for residents in the area. However, please do take part in the survey, so that your voice can be heard. Here's the link...

I understand that times are tough for all public services, and if the loss of opening hours serves to preserve the effectiveness of our police, then it is perhaps the better choice. However, I always wonder about just how much consultation we really deserve.

On the other hand, there is the new mobile police station, coming to Creeting St Peter some time soon...

Stowmarket - a thriving market town?

Stowmarket's newly appointed Town Centre Manager has been in touch, to tell us about the exciting initiatives taking place in the town. Some of them I already knew about, others come as a bit of a surprise;

• £7 million for a new Supermarket adjacent to the Milton Road car park, scheduled to open in Spring/Summer 2011
• £12 million for the redevelopment of Ipswich Street, demolishing all of the buildings on the west side from the sorting office to the United Reformed Church, and replacing them with 'modern, attractive buildings suitable for larger retail chains'
• £5 million for "The Mix" - a project to create a world-class facility for young people opposite the Regal
• £2 million for development of the Museum of East Anglian Life
• £1 million to develop the Corn Exchange into the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts

Add £21 million for the construction of the B1115 relief road bridge, and that is a lot of money.

To be frank, Stowmarket needs investment, and a little tender, loving care. Far be it from me to criticise, but those responsible for its current state should hang their heads in shame. The District Council in particular, whose decision to brutalise the town centre in the sixties created a rather soulless parade of shops, need to do better. It isn't just retail that attracts visitors, restaurants and culture do too.

Ironically, the Town Council is making a real effort, with StowFest, the Carnival and the new Comedy Club at the Regal all noteworthy efforts to bring something different to town, and I wish them well. And if they could persuade someone to open a little bistro or cucina in town, with reasonable prices, I for one would be pretty keen to support it.

And maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't worry that the £48 billion to be spent would be in vain...

The watery boundary of Creeting St Peter...

From where the River Gipping is bridged by the railway, just south of Clamp Farm, to the bridge over the stream as you enter Creeting St Mary, the River Gipping forms the border of our Parish. It makes for a pleasant walk, and is a shortcut on foot if you want to get to Needham Market on a sunny day.

Three years ago, the River Gipping Trust was formed, with the intention of restoring the river for navigation from the Pickerel Bridge in Stowmarket, all the way to Ipswich, whilst preserving its unique flora and fauna. As someone who has spent a morning in the river by the Pickerel Bridge, supporting the Pickerel Project's efforts to maintain the cleanliness of the environment there, I tend to the view that this is a good thing, worthy of support, so my wife and I have joined (our cheque is in the post).

It is, I admit, hard to credit that the Normans brought Caen stone up the Gipping, and then the River Rat, on its way to build the Abbey at Bury St Edmunds in the late eleventh Century or that, in 1567, timber for the roof of the Royal Exchange in London's Cornhill was taken in the opposite direction. However, in 1790 a Board of Trustees was appointed to administer the Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation, which opened in 1793, with cargoes of manure (conveyed for free!), gun cotton, corn and hops being the main sources of traffic.

Alas, when the railway came in 1846, traffic levels dropped until, in 1932, the trustees  applied for a Revocation Order, as there were no funds available to fulfil their obligations to maintain the fabric of the Navigation. Now, the navigation is impassable, although it provides a home for what seem like millions of ducks.

So the Trust provides hope that the Navigation might once again become an asset to our local community, and a source of pleasure and preservation for future generations. So, if you're interested, why not join?

Two new Parish Councillors to take us to full strength

The Parish Council has been operating on something of a knife edge for the past year, with just the minimum number of members required to fulfil the legal requirements. Fortunately, at our last meeting, Dan Mason and Dean Scott-Webb offered themselves for co-option, bringing us up to full strength at a membership of five.

I welcome them to Parish Council, and look forward to working with them over the coming months until we're all up for election next May.

Have you seen this vehicle, Madam?

This is the recently introduced mobile police station for Mid Suffolk, intended to serve the villages of the area, pictured at Barking, I believe. Now I freely admit that I didn't know that such a thing existed until I spotted it leaving Creeting St Peter a week or so ago, so thought that some investigation was worthwhile.

The intention is that the vehicle will visit the various villages from time to time, parking for an hour or so, providing security tips and selling items such as counterfeit note detecting pens, shed alarms and ultra violet pens. There will also be an opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have on subjects such as speeding and anti-social behaviour.

If I can find out when it is due to return to the village, I'll publish the information here...

Mobile Library - July dates

Just a brief reminder that the Mobile Library Service comes to The Lane, here in the village, on two dates next month;

Friday, 9th July

Friday, 23rd July

The Mobile Library will be present between 12.05 p.m. and 12.20 p.m.

Making Cross Keys Cottage safe

Having had the builders in for a few months now, I've picked up a few things about how things are done. Health and safety is hugely important to a good builder, as is ensuring that the job is done well. Unfortunately, the work that has been done at the behest of the new owner of Cross Keys Cottage doesn't seem, at this stage, to reflect those drivers.

So, as a Parish Councillor, I called in Mid Suffolk District Council's Building Regulations team, given the unsafe way the building was left yesterday lunchtime, open to any passer-by (including children). Neil Stallard was on the scene within an hour, having done some research already, and has made the site as safe as he can, leaving his card pinned to the door.

The area in front of the tarpaulin used to be a porch, and was demolished on Thursday in a way that horrified a professional builder I spoke to. The fact that a young man with a lump hammer was demolishing the two outside walls whilst under the flat roof was bad enough, but yesterday saw another young man jumping up and down on what was now an unsupported flat roof.

However, an inspection this morning revelaed that Neil Stallard's card had been removed, and I hope that this means that action will be taken to regularise the position as soon as possible. I, and my fellow Parish Councillor, Sue Lawson, will be monitoring progress just to make sure though...

Mobile Library - June dates

Just a brief reminder that the Mobile Library Service comes to The Lane, here in the village, on two dates next month;

Friday, 11th June

Friday, 25th June

The Mobile Library will be present between 12.05 p.m. and 12.20 p.m.

National Express East Anglia - your chance to 'Ask the Managers'

As part of a policy of 'meet and greet', National Express East Anglia are offering us, the long-suffering passengers, a chance to meet their managers at Stowmarket station on Tuesday, June 1st, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

This is your chance to ask them why the Mainline service is so unreliable (only 87.8% of trains met the performance criteria). Just so that you know, these are the reasons why a train might be a 'public performance measure' failure.

• arrived at its final destination greater than 4 minutes later than the advertised arrival time (or greater than 9 minutes for Intercity services)
• did not run at all
• did not complete its booked journey
• did not call at all its booked stations

I'm intending to be there, if only to ask them how they plan to deliver upon their promises when they're going to lose the franchise anyway...

Needham Market FC - Ridgeons League champions 2009/10

It has to be admitted that Creeting St Peter is not exactly a hotbed of sporting endeavour. Too small to have a team of our own, for competitive sport, one needs to fish at Creeting Lakes or visit a neighbouring town or village.

In recent years, Needham Market FC has become a bit of a big fish in the lower tiers of English football. FA Vase semi-finalists two seasons ago, they reached the quarter-finals last year and this, whilst challenging for the Ridgeons League title in 2007/08. This season, the title race went to the last week of the season, as Leiston, CRC (Cambridge Regional College) and Needham Market tussled for supremacy.

It all ended happily, with a win over Kirkley and Pakefield clinching the title, and with it promotion to the next level. And that's where the fun starts. Tier 4 of the National League Pyramid takes in the Unibond Northern League, the Zamaretto League (ex-Southern League) and the Ryman League (ex-Isthmian League). Either of the latter two could have been Needham Market's destination but, following some geographical juggling, they'll be playing their football in the Ryman League Division 1 North next season, alongside such teams as Harlow Town, AFC Sudbury and Ilford.

As a transplanted North Londoner, some of these teams used to play my local teams in the seventies and eighties, and I might even find time to catch the odd away game next season. So the best of luck to the Marketmen next season - one more promotion and their results will be broadcast on Sky Sports News!

Is it a year already? Yes, it's time for another Annual General Meeting!

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun? It's hard to believe, but it's more than a year since the last AGM, and our ever-watchful Parish Clerk, Rosemary, has decided that we ought to have another one.

And so, if you live in Creeting St Peter, you are cordially invited to join the Parish Council in the Church Hall at the end of The Lane at 7 p.m. on Monday week, May 24th. I'll be there, as will Rosemary, our Chair, Steven Ashcroft and Vice Chair, Sue Lawson.

Hopefully, you'll find time to join us!

Creeting St Peter has a new Member of Parliament!

Yes, the election is over (and I suspect that we're all a little bit grateful for that, aren't we?), and we have a result. Regardless of the outcome, Creeting St Peter was always going to see a change, as the parish was transferred from the Central Suffolk & Ipswich North constituency into Bury St Edmunds as part of the most recent boundary review.

And so... (drum roll)... our new MP is David Ruffley. The full result can be found here... 

An apology is in order, gentle reader...

For those of you who have been kind enough to visit this blog in the past six weeks, you'll have noticed that not much has been happening. To be exact, nothing. My excuse? I've been busy on the campaign trail, campaigning for my political party across the country.

But now I'm back (from outer space), and I'll be trying to get back up to speed with events in, and around, our village. So join me, for continued tales of a small, but perfectly formed, village.

Honouring those who protect our freedoms

I was lucky enough to be in Stowmarket on Friday afternoon to catch the ceremony in Market Place in which the freedom of Stowmarket was awarded to the men and women of Wattisham Flying Station.

The bunting was up, flags were waved, and local dignitaries were out in force for a march past and flyover by a pair of Apache helicopters. The Mayor, Vera Waspe, made a brief speech, and quite a crowd were present to cheer and applaud.

It was nice to see such a gesture being made, as we need to recognise the sacrifices that our armed forces make, regardless of what we might think of the missions they are sent on.

Glossy leaflets may be the cause of some confusion

Residents of the village and, indeed, the wider Parish, will probably have received a copy of a glossy leaflet through the past, encourgaing them to vote for Daniel Poulter to be the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, in succession to Sir Michael Lord.

Regardless of the Party you support though, you won't be voting for Daniel, as boundary changes have moved the Parish into the Bury St Edmunds constituency...

We will be covering the contest on this blog over the coming weeks, so watch this space!

Stowmarket Relief Road - another update

Here's the latest report on the B1115 Relief Road project...

Now that the widening works have been completed and the new traffic islands constructed, we have the task of re-surfacing Gipping Way from Stowupland Road to South of Milton Road South, this work is still be finalized but this will probably be done at the middle to end of March with the Station Road junction being done over a weekend.

Milton Road South will be also closed for a couple of days (week commencing 15th March) to allow for its resurfacing from the Car Park to Gipping Way – the Car Park will be accessible from Ipswich Road.

Following completion of the re-surfacing at Station Road Junction – the traffic signals at the junction will be replaced, again this is planned for a Sunday, but the use of temporary four lights will cause delays.

The next major item on Creeting Road will be it’s closure from Elizabeth Way to the TOMO Industrial Estate – this section will be closed for two weeks commencing 6th April 2010.

Traffic will be diverted via Stowupland Road and Cedar’s Park – a pedestrian route will be maintained along Creeting Road, but this will consist of a shorter temporary division onto the new road and back again.

Once this new relief road has been tied into Cedar’s Park, Creeting Road will be re-opened with and traffic will have to go into Cedar’s Park.

Faster Broadband in Suffolk

Given how remote we are in Creeting St Peter, I thought that readers might be interested in this letter...

Dear Parish Councillor,

You may be aware of recent publicity around the campaign for faster broadband for Suffolk. This important issue has been given a high profile recently due to the possibility of accessing EEDA funding to support the roll out of faster broadband in Suffolk. This key issue has been growing in importance as more of our future economic prosperity and community well being relies on good fast broadband access to enable skills and business development, health care, access to services and generally improved quality of life. This is particularly true in rural areas where service provision is often more challenging.

The recent Digital Britain Report (2009) identified Suffolk as one of the worst for broadband access in the East of England. BT have recently identified that Suffolk is second only to Norfolk in terms of take up of broadband services – this indicates a high demand despite poor service. Overall internet usage in rural areas is growing at a much higher rate than in urban areas – so demand for faster broadband is set to continue to grow.

But why campaign for faster broadband? Faster broadband provides significant competitive advantage for businesses, it enables children to learn more effectively and to gain higher grades – recent DCF research into the Home Access Programme showed that if a child is given internet access it’s GCSE grades can rise by as much as 10 points overall. Broadband enables people and businesses to access services more easily, it widens social and cultural opportunities for people living in remote rural areas or those with mobility/transport problems and it assists in carbon reduction through enabling home working, remote access to services, home shopping, access to entertainment. Additionally it can help to provide new businesses for rural areas to replace the gap left by farming and other shrinking sectors – possibly attracting higher value jobs as well.

So how can you as Parish Councillors help to support the growing case for faster broadband for Suffolk? EEDA have set up a website for people and businesses to register their interest in broadband – essentially what businesses and residents want to use faster broadband for. I am writing to you to ask you to go onto the EEDA website and register your interest in having faster broadband services for Suffolk. There is information attached to this letter on the type of activities that faster broadband can help with.

Early indications from EEDA on registrations from Suffolk are very good – we are one of the highest following our publicity campaign over Christmas and into the New Year – EEDA commented that the response in January was ‘exceptional’ with over 3,000 registrations from Suffolk. We need to keep the pressure on the ensure that we get the maximum number of registrations as the information will be used by EEDA to judge where there is most demand for funding intervention.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Bruce Provan
Portfolio Holder for Skills and Economic Development

An excellent result for the residents of Creeting St Peter

I have to say that I am particularly pleased that Creeting St Peter Parish Council has proposed that its precept goes up by just 0.73% for 2010/11. After all, times are not easy, and for the three of us that sit on the Parish Council, it's our money too.

Of course, the decisions we take as Parish Councillors are not a matter of life and death. Cutting the grass, making sure that the street lights stay lit, considering planning applications, none of these will irrevocably change somebody's life. However, they are important, as they are part of making people's lives better, and I am touched by the willingness of my fellow councillors, Sue Lawson and Steven Ashcroft, to give up their time in order to play this part.

There are only three of us though, and given that we should have five Parish Councillors, it would help to share the burden if others came forward. There are no expenses, I'm afraid, and a bit of reading to do for the six or so meetings we hold each year, but it is an opportunity to put something back into the community and have a say in the issues that affect the village. There may even be the odd biscuit and a cup of tea in it...

News from the B1115 Stowmarket Relief Road project

The first phase of the works in Gipping Way/Station Road is coming to an end, the new footway will be opened and cones removed from the road (the new widening will left coned off).

On Monday 15th February 2010 the other side of Gipping Way will be reduced in width between Station Road West and Union Street West, alongside the Aldi Supermarket.

Given the restricted working space alongside the supermarket, pedestrians on Gipping Way will have to use the footway on the other side of the road.

Shortly after this, work will commence on the other side of the Junction in Gipping Way outside Hopgood’s.

The works on this side of Gipping Way (west side) should take 3 to 4 weeks.

Some delays may occur due to the reduced number of lanes at the junction, but at least one lane in eachl direction will be available at all times.

However during this Phase we will have to make some temporary adjustments to the existing traffic signals at Station Road - unfortunately the use of temporary 4 way lights during these adjustments will cause delays, but this should only be for one day.

Works will continue on Gipping Way at the new relief road junction for the next 4 weeks with the realignment of the footways followed by the installation of the new traffic islands in the middle of the road.

Works are also in progress in Creeting Road between Elizabeth Way and the Tomo Industrial Estate, most of these works should be alongside the existing road, but two traffic signals may be required from time to time.

Not the final verdict on unitary government for Suffolk

Local Government Minister, Rosie Winterton MP, today announced that the Government were, effectively, going back to the drawing board with regard to the review of local government in Suffolk.

"After careful consideration of the Boundary Committee's recommendations and representations from local councils, MPs, stakeholders and the public Ministers found that there were divergent views across Suffolk local councils as to what would be the best unitary solution for the county. No single proposal emerged that Ministers believed that local councils would unite behind.

"We are therefore inviting the all the Suffolk councils and MPs through a countywide constitutional convention to reach a consensus on a unitary solution for that area."

The format for this convention is yet to be announced, but there will be more news as we have it.

Exciting new arts opportunities for communities across Mid Suffolk

Culture, I hear you sigh. How do we cope without a cinema showing subtitled films, or an art gallery, or even an opera house within ten miles (if these things do exist, please let me know...)? Well, the chances of Creeting St Peter Parish Council building any of these things are pretty remote (and trust me, if there was any money available, I'd be spending it on a high speed rail link to London) but all is not lost.

Home Grown is a new project intended to offer help and support for groups in Mid Suffolk over the next two years. It will create a new touring arts scheme and offer mentoring opportunities and advice surgeries on how you can bring arts into your community.

If you're interested, there will be a launch event taking place on Saturday, February 20th at the Town Hall Galleries in Ipswich between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. There will be showcase performances and one to one surgeries after lunch. Attendance is free but booking is essential.

To book your space or to find out more, telephone 01953 713390 or e-mail admin@creativeartseast.co.uk

Are you getting everything you're entitled to?

We've had a letter from the Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice Bureau, based in the metropolis that is Stowmarket, informing us of a new venture.

The Benefit and Income Maximisation (BIM) project allows you to consult a paid project worker who will undertake a full benefit entitlement check, apply for any benefits to which you may be entitled but are not currently receiving and give advice and ideas on how you might increase income generally. You can make an appointment to see them at the bureau (5 Milton Road South, Stowmarket) or, if you have mobility issues, at home by arrangement. Call them on 01449 676060 or 01449 676280.

They also have a website, with a host of information available, and a link has been added from this blog in case you need it in the future.

And that's why your Council Tax is so high...

Courtesy of our Parish Clerk, I have received a bundle of papers to read, inwardly digest, and then pass on to my colleagues. It's amazing just how much of it there is, and indeed, how interesting it is. Amongst the latest bundle was an advertisement for bits of 'street furniture', including dog waste bins.

As a keen observer of our finances (it's your money, after all), I was astonished to find that a dog waste bin costs £245 plus VAT (£287.88 in total). Given that Creeting St Peter has three, one at each entrance to the village, that would equate to about 22% of our annual budget were we to have to replace them. I dread to think how much it would cost to replace the street lights...

Do you use the Suffolk County Council website? Want to make it more user-friendly?

The Council is thoroughly renewing its online presence to provide a comprehensive online gateway to its full range of services including social care, local democracy, information, education, etc. The aim is to provide a completely user-centred experience which people find natural and easy to use and which encourages them to use the site for everything from choosing a school for their children to arranging social care or researching volunteering opportunities in Suffolk.

As independent researchers, Cultural Intelligence has been asked to conduct a public consultation in two phases. The first is an exploratory phase to inform the development of the website and the second will be user testing of the site whilst it is still in development.

We are looking for around 40 Suffolk citizens who will participate in up to two 2 hour workshops – one in February and one in April/May or June. It should provide an interesting and rewarding experience for those involved. The workshops will be held in Ipswich and Lowestoft. The team will include relative beginners as well as advanced web users with people participating in small groups of a similar web experience to themselves. All participants will receive £30 per workshop as a thank you and to cover their expenses.

We are very keen to involve a broad range of people and are particularly keen to involve people from the following groups which are priority groups for Adult and Community Services:

· Parents

· Older people

· Family carers

· People with physical disabilities

· People with mild learning disabilities

· People with mental health issues

· People for whom English is not a first language

All participants will be aged 16yrs +. Whilst we plan to include relative beginners, participants will need some ability to use the web independently.

We are recruiting between now and 22nd January so there is a need for urgency. If you know of anybody who might be interested in joining the team please let them/us know. You can apply at www.audience.co.uk/speakup.html where there is a short online questionnaire to complete. Alternatively you can call 01394 388029 and we will complete the questionnaire for you by phone.

B1115 relief road in Stowmarket nears completion!

Courtesy of the site supervisor, news reaches us of progress on the relief road linking Cedars Park with the centre of Stowmarket...

With the end of the cold snap in sight, works will recommence in Stowmarket on the construction of the new relief.

On Monday 18th January 2010 works should start on the alterations to existing junction of Gipping Way and Station Road.

The first phase will consist widening Gipping Way between Stowupland Road and Station Road, which will require the existing road to be reduced in width on the approach to the traffic signals from Bury St Edmunds.

Whilst two-way traffic will be maintained at all times, the number of traffic lanes approaching the signals will be reduced from two to one, this in turn will delay traffic using the junction.

This lane reduction will be in operation for 24 hours a day, traffic delays should be minimal during the day but will be more noticeable at peak times.

As the works progress different lanes on different approaches to the traffic signals will be coned off to traffic.

Pedestrians movements will be maintained at all times and short local diversions will be set up, generally pedestrians will be re-routed onto the coned off sections of road.

This type of work will be on going for the next 6 to 8 weeks, with different lane closures of different approaches, with the final part of the works being the replacement of the traffic signals at the junction, hopefully this will be done on one Sunday at the end of March 2010.

*** Wednesday, January 13th - Emergency works at Stowmarket Station, level crossing closed ***

Due to Network Rail emergency repair works, the B1115 Stowupland Road, Stowmarket will be closed at the level crossing from 2330hrs Wednesday 13 January to 0600hrs Thursday 14 January 2010.

The alternative route will be via the B1115 Station Road East - A1308 Gipping Way - U4624 Crown Street - Cardinalls Road - B1113 Newton Road and vice versa.

Pedestrian access will be maintained although there may be some delays at times due to the nature of the works and for safety reasons.

Dustbin and recycling collections

For those of you struggling with full dustbins, here's the latest news, courtesy of Parish Clerk, Rosemary Cochrane...

If your recycling bin was due to be collected on Saturday, but was not due to the bad weather, please can you leave your bins out as the guys are trying to catch up using spare vehicles. Black rubbish bin collection will be back to normal this week.

So, don't worry, help is on the way!

Another opportunity to express yourself...

Yes, the Parish Council will be meeting next week, with the most critical item on the agenda being the budget, which includes the setting of the precept for 2010/11.

So, if there is something that you'd like to see happen, come to the Church Hall at the end of The Lane, next Monday, January 18th, at 7.30 p.m. There might even be coffee...

Need help because of the snow this weekend?

News has reached us via Parish Clerk, Rosemary Cochrane, that Suffolk County Council has arranged a Emergency Snowline telephone number for the weekend. If you know anyone who might need it, please pass it on...

Hotline for cold weather  

The weather is forecast to remain extremely cold over the coming days so Suffolk County Council will extend its usual customer service helpline to operate over the weekend.

The Emergency Snowline will respond to calls from the public on issues relating to the weather, anyone having difficulty accessing services on their usual numbers could also use this number if they are concerned. Staff on this number will be able to deal with calls related to the current weather conditions such as social care and highways.

Operators will have access to other agencies such as district and borough councils, the police and the health authority if necessary.   The number is 08456 037686 and will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 8pm.

It may be cold, but the District Council are here to help!

Here at Creeting St Peter Blog, we've received an email...


From: Vicky Smy [mailto:Vicky.Smy@midsuffolk.gov.uk]
Sent: 07 January 2010 10:26
Subject: Information and guidance for bad weather conditions  


Dear all,


Please find attached some information and guidance on how the public can try to cope with the current bad weather conditions. It includes information on driving conditions, waste collections and also school closures.


We have set an area up on our website - www.midsuffolk.gov.uk - (under bad weather information on the homepage) that includes this information, along with details about any council services/meetings that have been disrupted etc.


Please can I ask you to share this with as many people as possible, and also direct people to our website. If you have any questions/queries, please let me know.


Many thanks - and take care!


Vicky Smy
Senior Communications Officer - Mid Suffolk District Council
131 High Street, Needham Market, Suffolk, IP6 8DL
Telephone: 01449 724850
Email: vicky.smy@midsuffolk.gov.uk


Consider it done, Vicky!

The mobile library is coming to town!

Yes, culture comes to our village, in the form of the Suffolk County Council mobile library. It will be parked in The Lane for fifteen minutes, from 12.05 to 12.20, on the following Fridays:

• 8th January
• 22nd January
• 5th February
• 19th February
• 5th March
• 19th March

If you need any help, contact Christine on 07721 879853.