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