Mobile Library dates - February 2011

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

Friday, 4th February

Friday, 18th February

The Mobile Library will be present between 11.45 a.m. and 12 noon.

Do you use the 453 bus to Stowmarket? Did you even know that the bus exists?

This, or something like this, is the 453 bus from Stowmarket, which runs through Stowupland and the Creetings, twice on a Thursday in a loop, once at about 9 a.m., and again at about 1.30 p.m.

Now why this is suddenly interesting is that, as part of a review of public transport subsidised by Suffolk County Council, it is potentially under threat. Normally, this would be an occasion for dismay, a vital link taken from us. There is a catch, however, in that we don't know whether or not anyone uses it, so we're not in a position to protest against its potential loss.

So, if you do use it, get in touch with any of your Parish councillors, and we'll make sure that your views are heard...

Creeting St Peter Parish Council, not costing you more next year!

Times are tough, as we all know, but as a Parish councillor, I take great pride in ensuring that our small precept isn't wasted, as do all of my colleagues.

So, we were particularly pleased to be able to agree that the Parish precept would be reduced slightly to reflect a slight fall in the number of council tax households (please don't ask me to explain, it's apparently quite complex and you can have a fraction of a household). If our sums are correct, it means that households will be paying the same as last year, whilst we retain the service levels that villagers are used to.

In addition, as we get more used to our roles (four out of five of us have been on the Parish council for less than two years), we're beginning to make the links between the various groups working for the village. Hopefully, you'll see the difference over the coming year...

Fly-tipping in the Parish again...

On my way to the station this morning, I noticed that somebody had dumped some old, broken furniture on the hard-standing on the Creeting side of the bridge over the A1120. I've reported it to Mid Suffolk District Council but, if you encounter any other incidents of fly-tipping, please report it to our Parish Clerk, Rosemary Cochrane, on 01473 657009, or contact Mid Suffolk District Council directly on 0845 606 6045.

Fen Alder Carr Nature Reserve

It seems that the County Council have, in their quest to cut costs, initiated a review of country parks and nature reserves, hoping that they can hand over responsibility to someone else, i.e. the Parish Council. So, why does this effect our village?

One of the nature reserves on the list is Fen Alder Carr, just off Fen Lane, at the southern end of the parish. It isn't a big place, as you can see from the map, but it is a valuable habitat for water vole, smooth newts and yellow-necked mice. On a nice day, you can walk along the boardwalk from the car park at the north end to the pond at the southern end through a marshy area planted with alder.

If we take it over, we will need to maintain the boardwalk and engage someone to manage  the site. Not full time, you understand, but if left to its own devices, the marsh will gradually be drained, changing the ecosystem forever. And that's clearly the catch. With a precept of just £4,000 each year, we couldn't possibly afford to do so, leaving the option of increasing the precept dramatically to fund something which is a resource to be enjoyed by all.

As a parish councillor, I took it upon myself to have a look today - I'd never actually done so before - and was pleasantly surprised. The reserve is quite unlike much of this part of Suffolk, and as a facility for educating children about biodiversity, it could be very useful.

However, I am intrigued by one thing. Suffolk County Council declared it as a Local Nature Reserve using powers vested in it by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, and I wonder if they can walk away so easily. I think that questions need to be asked...

Mobile Library dates - January 2011

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

Friday, 7th January

Friday, 21st January

The Mobile Library will be present between 11.45 a.m. and 12 noon.