Creeting St Peter Blog

Suffolk Libraries don't have a sleigh, but they'll bring books

2011-12-04T10:47:00.001Z

Even though Christmas is drawing ever closer, the Mobile Library Service elves will be coming to The Lane, here in the village, twice next month;

Friday, 9th December

Friday, 23rd December

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

Not got a Kindle? Why not try a real book instead?

2011-11-04T11:56:00.002Z

For those of you who enjoy a good read, the Mobile Library Service returns to The Lane, here in the village, twice next month;

Friday, 11th November

Friday, 25th November

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

As the nights draw in, Suffolk County Council return with more books

2011-10-05T09:54:00.000+01:00

Life returns to normal, as the Mobile Library Service comes to The Lane, here in the village, on two occasions this month;

Friday, 14th October

Friday, 28th October

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

Your Parish Church needs you!

2011-09-18T16:45:00.001+01:00

St Peter's Church is now thought to be well into its tenth century as a place of worship, and whilst it has been refurbished, altered and partially rebuilt, it remains a Grade I listed building. Much of the remaining fabric of the building dates back to the fourteenth century, although there are some areas of Norman flint walling.

But, like so many rural churches in small parishes, maintenance depends on a small number of volunteers, so the Parochial Church Council is seeking help with its efforts by holding a Church Maintenance Day and Spring Clean on Saturday, September 24th between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The intention is to tackle the more long term and difficult to reach dust and cobwebs in the church and to do some essential maintenance on the exterior. All are welcome, and refreshments will be available.

Public opinion sought on Suffolk's mobile libraries

2011-09-06T02:30:00.000+01:00

A consultation asking users of Suffolk's mobile library service how they think savings could be made was launched yesterday. The six week consultation will give people an opportunity to tell Suffolk County Council what they value in the service as well as make suggestions on how to save public money.

Suffolk County Council currently spends £600,000 a year providing the service for around 7,000 customers. This equates to £7.70 per customer visit as opposed to £2.51 in Suffolk's 44 built libraries. Six mobile libraries (plus a backup in case of breakdowns) make 630 stops fortnightly in 361 communities across the whole of Suffolk - predominantly in rural and isolated areas but also in areas with or near to library buildings.

Visits to mobile libraries have declined by 36,744 (32.46%) over the last 10 years and loans have decreased by 123,090 (37%). Statistics in the past three years show a rise in borrowing.

The main proposals being consulted on are:

Reducing the service from fortnightly to four weekly or monthly visits - as is the case in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire
Removing mobile library stops in parishes or towns which already have a library building.

If implemented, the proposals would save £225,000 of public money annually.

No decisions will be made until after the consultation responses have been thoroughly examined. Suffolk County Council's Cabinet will decide on the way forward in November 2011. For some people living in Suffolk's most rural communities, the mobile library service plays a significant role in given them access to reading and learning.

Councillor Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council's Portfolio Holder responsible for libraries, said: “There is therefore no question of removing it altogether. I want to reassure people that these proposals will not leave anybody who currently uses mobile libraries without any level of local library provision.

“What we're asking people for are their views on how to keep it running whilst making necessary financial savings. We think we can save money whilst keeping a valued public service running. But that decision is a long way off. Now's the time to work with Suffolk residents to find out what they want to happen.”

Villagers wanting to make their views heard are encouraged to visit the consultation website.

Heritage Open Day 2011 comes to the River Gipping

2011-09-05T17:10:00.002+01:00

Sunday, September 11th is Heritage Open Day this year, and to mark the occasion, the River Gipping Trust is taking part for the first time, when it will be welcoming visitors to Baylham, where volunteers are restorong the lock to full working order as part of their mission to return the full length of the River Gipping to navigation.

The Trust is proposing to undertake a feasibility study for providing a tourist boat service between Bosmere Lock and Baylham Lock when the work is complete, which will make the Needham Lakes facility even more attractive.

Baylham Lock is near the Rare Breeds Farm, and will be open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with volunteers available to answer questions and show visitors around the site.

Police come for tea and cake

2011-09-04T20:16:00.002+01:00

Saturday, September 10th sees another Parochial Church Council Coffee Morning. And as a bonus, the second in what is hoped will become a regular six-monthly visit by the Mobile Police Station is planned, with either PC Stefan Henriksen or PCSO Sam Knibbs in attendance to offer advice and tips on home and personal security, or to answer any questions you might have.

PC Henriksen is keen to meet as many villagers as possible, and is always happy to address any concerns about speeding, anti-social behaviour and other blights on village life.

So, make sure that you come to the Church Room, at the end of The Lane, between 10 a.m. and noon.

No time to get into Stowmarket for a good book?

2011-08-28T11:51:00.000+01:00

Unusually, the Mobile Library Service comes to The Lane, here in the village, three times next month;

Friday, 2nd September

Friday, 16th September

Friday, 30th September

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

County Council consult on Informal Adult and Community Learning

2011-08-20T13:23:00.000+01:00

Suffolk County Council and The Suffolk Partnership for Informal Adult Learning are consulting of the development of a strategic plan for Informal Adult and Community Learning. It is important for us that we hear the views of as many people and organisations as possible.

You can respond by completing the on-line survey that should take no longer than 10 minutes. Alternatively you can email your responses to k.brundish@ucs.ac.uk. Please put IACL in the subject line.

This consultation is open until 30th September 2011.

News for parents of disabled children

2011-08-18T13:38:00.004+01:00

Suffolk County Council's Short Break Duty Statement is now available to view. If you have a disabled child or young person, or know someone who does, take a look and let them know what you think.

A link to the document and an explanation of how to give your views is available here.

Suffolk's broadband plans get £11m boost

2011-08-17T16:20:00.002+01:00

Suffolk's £41m plans to build a super fast broadband network across the county have received strong financial backing from the Government.

The £11 million investment pledged by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport means Suffolk can move forward with its ambitious goal to create a broadband network fit for the twenty first century.

It follows a decision by Suffolk County Council to invest up to £10 million in the project - a move which almost certainly proved crucial in securing the backing from Government.

Councillor Mark Bee, Suffolk County Council's Leader, said:

"I'm ecstatic. From the day I was elected Leader I've wanted this and have worked hard with all our partners to make it happen. Today is an important milestone in our ambition to create for Suffolk a broadband network fit for the twenty first century. We can now crack on with the project and turn our ambition into a reality."

The Suffolk target is to have 85% of Suffolk premises with access to superfast (20Mbps or greater) fibre optic broadband. The remaining 15% of premises will be served by fixed wireless broadband.

Suffolk is hoping to complete the procurement phase (to secure a supplier to install the infrastructure) of the project by Q3 (July-Sept) 2012. Deployment should therefore commence before the end of 2012.

It is envisaged that the infrastructure will take up to 2.5 years to complete. The target date for completion is March 2015.

Suffolk Rural Arts Directory - everything you need in one place

2011-08-16T09:12:00.000+01:00

If you thought rural Suffolk was short of arts group and activities think again.

A new Suffolk Rural Arts Directory offering 120 pages of arts and heritage contacts to help residents and visitors looking for arts resources and information has just been published by Mid Suffolk and Suffolk Coastal councils working together to promote local tourism.

The directory lists crafts, dance, drama and musical theatre, film, galleries and art studios, museums and heritage, professional arts agencies and services, professional artists and makers, spoken and written word, technical services and equipment for hire, venues and visual arts groups - within Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal and some in Babergh.

“Cultural tourism is a vital part of the local economy” explains councillor Diana Kearsley, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Community “we have a wealth of arts groups presenting fantastic work across Suffolk, and a directory like this one is crucial in letting people know what’s going on and can choose to get engaged if they want to.”

The directories are free and available at libraries, arts venues, tourist information centres and local businesses and via the new website. There’s loads of other good stuff on there too, such as a what’s on guide, event and project profiles and artist opportunities.

If you are not already in the directory and are organising arts activity across rural Suffolk, you can register as an artist, organisation, venue or service by going online and completing a simple form.

For further information please contact Zoey Furzer on 01449 724638 or email zoey.furzer@midsuffolk.gov.uk.

Watch out for a new tax scam

2011-08-12T15:16:00.001+01:00

Suffolk Trading Standards are warning consumers about a serious tax rebate scam from a company falsely claiming to be from the well known brand name - Money Saving Expert.

Money Saving Expert is best known through TV and Radio presenter Martin Lewis and the company’s popular consumer website moneysavingexpert.com. The fraudulent company are providing the Money Saving Expert company address in London and are also claiming to represent the ‘Ministry of Finance’.

Initially, a Suffolk consumer contacted Suffolk Trading Standards on 5 August 2011 after a company was cold calling him over the telephone saying he was due a tax rebate of nearly £6000.

Money Saving Expert has confirmed that they do not cold call consumers and do not provide cheques to consumers for tax rebates or any other purposes. It appears the company's name and address was being used illegally in an attempt to give some creditability to the scam.

The second claim that the company were representing the ‘Ministry of Finance’ was also entirely false as there is no such department in the UK.

This scam works by asking the consumer to buy a Ukash voucher, which are available for cash at a variety of retail outlets, for the value of £100.

The Ukash voucher is a less familiar form of payment that enables people to exchange cash for a voucher that can be used to pay for goods, mainly on the internet. However, once a consumer has provided the number located on the voucher, any one else can use its value in exchange for payment of goods. The consumer's voucher is then no longer of any value.

The company promised to send an agent to collect the voucher at the consumer’s home address in exchange for a cheque. At first, the company tried to complete the exchange on the same day as the initial call.

Fortunately, the consumer contacted Suffolk Trading Standards who waited for the business to return a telephone call to make arrangements for the cheque rebate. During the conversation the company repeated the false claims that they were from a company called Money Saving Expert and represented the ‘Ministry of Finance’.

Suffolk Trading Standards are warning people using Ukash vouchers not to provide the code numbers on the voucher to anyone calling them, particularly if they are claiming to be able to reclaim tax rebates, bank charges or similar.

County Councillor Colin Spence, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection said; “Consumers should be very wary of contact via distance communication from companies asking for an upfront fee or the purchase of money vouchers in exchange for tax rebates.

“In this case a well known company name has been used to try and provide the scam with some creditability and lure consumers into parting with hard earned money. The best advice we can give is if the offer appears too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers should contact Consumer Direct to report any suspicious contact of this type.”

Wendy Alcock, Campaigns Coordinator at Money Saving Expert said; “As campaigners on consumer rights we sadly hear tales like this every day. Scammers are good at making their scams look authentic and millions are caught out each year but it's great to see in this case the consumer knew things didn’t add up and contacted their local trading standards. We urge anyone else who is unsure of a company's claims to do the same.”

Anyone who has been contacted by a company they suspect may be trying to scam them should call Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Alternatively, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre Action Fraud can be contacted on 0300 123 2040 or on www.actionfraud.org.uk

Domestic Abuse: Be a part of ending it

2011-08-11T14:10:00.001+01:00

The Mid Suffolk Domestic Abuse Forum, a group of local residents and professionals who are committed to providing service to victims and survivors of domestic abuse, is looking for a new chair person to help organise and fundraise for the forum.

Organising conferences, supplying material and supporting front line delivery services, the Mid Suffolk Domestic Forum strives to reduce the occurrence of domestic abuse in Mid Suffolk.

The group has been meeting actively since April 2009 and is currently chaired by John Spitzer, the Community Safety Manger at Mid Suffolk District Council. The group organised its first conference in 2009 with the theme of “A journey through the legal system”. In 2010, the theme was “Under-represented Groups”. The conferences were free and attracted national organisations and speakers. The Forum has also supported the Freedom Programme and MARACs.

John Spitzer, Community Safety Manager at Mid Suffolk District Council said: “This would be the perfect situation for a dynamic individual who is passionate about helping others and putting an end to domestic abuse.”

If you are interested in becoming the new chairperson, or would like to find out further information, please contact John Spitzer at 01449 724646 or john.spitzer@midsuffolk.gov.uk

If you would like to attend the group or volunteer to be the chair, the next meeting of the Forum is at 2pm on September 8 2011.

Gold Star for Green Effort

2011-08-10T13:05:00.000+01:00

Businesses in Mid Suffolk are greener than they have ever been according to end-of-year figures released today by Mid Suffolk District Councils Trade Waste and Recycling service.

A record breaking 103 tonnes of recyclable material was collected from April 2010 to April 2011. That equates to almost two tonnes of waste per week which may have otherwise gone straight into landfill.

The success of the recycling service can be attributed to the wide range of materials accepted in the bins and a pricing structure which encourages businesses to maximise their recycling efforts. This coupled with excellent customer focused service delivered by the waste team in Creeting Road has made the service a winning choice amongst businesses in the district.

Cllr Roy Barker, portfolio holder for waste said: “The service is just what the district needs at the moment, it offers businesses a viable and sustainable way to reduce the waste they send to landfill whilst reducing the overall cost of disposal – everyone benefits.”

Rupert Tabley, Business Generation Officer at Mid Suffolk District Council said: “I’m really proud of what we have achieved in our first full year. In the future we hope to increase business recycling rates further by enhancing the range of materials we can recover through a variety of initiatives and strategic partnerships.”

More details of the scheme can be found on the Mid Suffolk District Council website or through the trade waste team on 01449 778623.

Tractors Boys crash out at first obstacle

2011-08-09T23:25:00.000+01:00

Ipswich Town 1 Northampton Town 2

On a disappointing night which promised so much more, Paul Jewell's men were knocked out in their home first round Carling Cup tie against a team they eliminated last season on the way to an unexpected semi-final appearance against Arsenal.

Whilst a number of first-teamers were rested, including Michael Chopra, there was enough experience in the side to provide the 9,000 home supporters with reason to hope, and things started well, with Ipswich pressurising the Cobblers early on, before Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored a great goal from the edge of the box, leaving the Northampton goalkeeper clawing at thin air to put Town one-up after fifteen minutes.

However, a good opening was missed later in the half after good work by Andy Drury, and Northampton took advantage of their generosity to score before half-time.

In the second half, the away team, cheered on by 400 noisy followers, were made to look rather better than they were by an increasingly insipid home team, and it came as no great surprise when Northampton scored again to take the lead. This drew little response from Ipswich, although they did rouse themselves in the last ten minutes, causing some nervous moments for the Northampton defence but rarely looking like grabbing an equaliser.

And so an opportunity for cup glory has been tossed away far earlier in the season than Paul Jewell and his squad would have hoped for. On this showing however, the squad needs reinforcing if Marcus Evans is to feel that he's getting value for money. Season ticketholders may not have his patience...

Time for tea once again

2011-08-08T18:30:00.001+01:00

Saturday, August 13th sees the next in the wildly successful series of monthly coffee mornings, organised by the Parochial Church Council and held in the Church Room at the end of The Lane.

The event offers another chance to meet fellow villagers, eat some excellent baked goods and perhaps buy a jar of preserves, for yourself or for a friend as a gift.

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs for two hours, leaving plenty of time for the shopping and other chores. All funds raised go towards the maintenance of the Church, so your tea drinking is for a worthy cause.

County Council announce street lighting proposals

2011-08-07T11:58:00.000+01:00

As reported here last month, Suffolk County Council will be turning off some street lights, and dimming others as part of a measure to cut costs and reduce light pollution, and notice has reached the Journal of the proposals for Stowmarket, Stowupland and Creeting St Peter. Readers will note that the nine street lights located within Creeting St Peter are coloured green, signifying that they are owned by the Parish Council.

Highlights of the proposals:

The heart of Stowmarket will remain lit.
The main routes into the town are likely to remain lit, albeit dimmed.
The street light on the corner of Creeting Lane and the A1120 belongs to Stowupland Parish Council, and an approach will need to be made to them to ensure that it remains lit.
Most minor roads around Stowmarket will be unlit overnight.

Cllr Mark Valladares is keen to ensure that any issues of concern to villagers are addressed quickly. "I am well aware that whilst the access routes to the village are unlit, there are places where lighting is essential to ensure the safety of anyone travelling to and from Creeting St Peter.", he said, "But as a non-driver, it would be really helpful to have the perspective of drivers across the Parish.".

Stowmarket & District Road Safety Committee to meet

2011-08-06T16:42:00.000+01:00

A meeting to discuss road safety issues in Stowmarket and surrounding villages will take place in two weeks time at the offices of Stowmarket Town Council in Milton Road, Stowmarket. New officers for the committee will be elected, and any issues that have arisen since their last meeting in May will be considered.

Cllr Mark Valladares will be representing the Parish Council for the first time. "I think that it is important that we use every forum available to us to make our voice heard. Villagers have concerns about speeding vehicles in and around Creeting St Peter, and there are other issues, such as the right hand turn into Creeting Lane from the A1120."

"I'll be reporting back to Parish Council at our September meeting, but if anyone has anything that they want to see raised, they should get in touch."

Breach of planning restrictions rewarded at Grove Farm

2011-08-05T12:00:00.000+01:00

After successfully breaching the planning restrictions placed upon the tied property at Grove Farm by allowing it to be occupied by someone other than an agricultural worker for more than ten years without seeking clearance, and then making lawful the breach by applying for retrospective permission, a follow up application has been made to make additional single-storey extensions to 'Orchard Lea', as well as the building of a garage.

Whilst the failure of Mid Suffolk District Council to enforce the restrictions placed on the usage of the property is unfortunate, the owners of the property have merely taken advantage of an opportunity, a point not lost on at least one Parish Councillor.

However, the new application gives an opportunity to local residents to monitor this latest bid to enhance the value of the site, and they have until 24 August to let Mid Suffolk know what they think, if anything. For more information, look here.

Go Wild this summer with Mid Suffolk’s Countryside Team

2011-08-04T08:20:00.000+01:00

Mid Suffolk's Countryside Team will be at Needham Lake every week putting on a family event throughout August. Join them for a varied programme of exciting, hands on countryside events for all the family.

For younger children there is a Summer Welly Walk on Monday 8th August from 10.30 – 11.30am. Enjoy the sights and sounds of summer and take part in activities on a ramble around Needham Lake. Children £2, accompanying adults are free.

Come and join the team on Wednesday afternoons between 12 – 3.30pm for a huge range of fun activities.

On Wednesday 10th August find out what lurks in the water and sweep the meadows for some amazing insets at A Bug's Life.

Find out all about trees and take part in games and crafts at "Wood You Be-leaf it" on Wednesday 17th August.

Delve into the past at Dig It, an archaeological discovery day. Meet an archaeologist and handle real artefacts. Use your detective skills to discover how people lived in the past.

Round off the summer holidays on Wednesday 31st August at Rockets Return and launch your own water powered rocket at the lake. Please bring an empty 2 litre lemonade bottle.

Contact the Mid Suffolk Countryside team or visit our website to find out more. Visit the Countryside section on the Mid Suffolk website for the 2011 diary. Alternatively, ring 01449 724633.

A physiotherapy practice to come to Cedars Park?

2011-08-03T14:18:00.000+01:00

The latest news to come from Mid Suffolk District Council is that a planning application has been made to convert the property at Alpha 1, The Buntings, off Kestrel Drive from business use to use as a physiotherapy practice.

This will, hopefully, open up new options for those needing physiotherapy services in the village.

For more information, details of the planning application can be found here.

Faster broadband to come to Creeting St Peter?

2011-08-02T11:10:00.000+01:00

BT has announced that it is to extend the availability of its next-generation ADSL broadband service to a further 2.5 million homes, around 900,000 of these in rural areas. The news comes as Ofcom reveals that the average speed of broadband in the UK is 6.8Mbps (megabits per second).BT had already pledged to roll out its faster ADSL technology to 80% of the UK and this latest announcement means it will now reach 90%, promising broadband speeds more than double what they are now. However, the technology that it is using relies on the older copper wire telephone network, and offers speeds of up to 20Mbps. Unfortunately, few people will achieve the maximum speed because ADSL degrades the further a house is away from the exchange.

Given that Creeting St Peter is reportedly seven miles from the nearest exchange, that does not augur well for significant improvements, with Cllr Mark Valladares noting the difficulties this presents to those wanting to run their businesses from home. "Rural communities need improved broadband services, from schoolchildren doing their homework using the internet, to the elderly relying on the internet to keep in touch with friends and loved ones, improved broadband speeds are a must. And if we are to secure the future of villages like ours, the ability to run a business remotely will encourage people to move here and put down roots.", said Cllr Valladares.

A Day for Play…family fun for everyone

2011-08-01T08:23:00.000+01:00

A giant cardboard kingdom, junk funk, a spider mountain, stilt-walkers, tightrope walkers and impromptu performances are just some of the treats in store for those heading to Needham Lake this August for the second free children's festival, A Day for Play.

The event, which is funded by Mid Suffolk District Council, Big Lottery Fund and Activities Unlimited, will be held on Sunday August 7 from 11am – 5pm, and promises to be jam-packed full of fun and frivolity.

Children and families will be able to have creative and messy fun working alongside artists in a range of workshops including clay, tie-dye, giant painting, raft making and jewellery and fairy making. You can even create your own mini-garden or sculpture to take home with you.

There will more activities for under 5's too, with the introduction early years activity based on playing and learning about around animals, habitats and countryside with fascinating stories and puppetry.

Cllr Diana Kearsley, Mid Suffolk District Council's Portfolio Holder for the Community said: "We are really looking forward to seeing families having fun and joining in the many activities we have planned for our second year at Needham Lake. After a fantastic turnout last year with thousands of people attending last summer, we look forward to seeing families enjoying another action-packed day for all to enjoy."

Free car parking will be available on site.

For further information about the day, visit this website or call 01449 724633.

Need something to read on those summer evenings?

2011-07-31T13:49:00.000+01:00

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

Friday, 5th August

Friday, 19th August

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

Local Station to be refurbished

2011-07-30T08:14:00.000+01:00

National Express East Anglia have announced that Stowmarket Station will be getting a 'refresh' over the coming weeks.

The project, starting next month and running until the end of October, will see painting, as well as some general repairs to the fabric of the station.

Passengers are asked to take extra care during the course of the works.

Planning application at Clamp Farm House

2011-07-29T11:49:00.000+01:00

Creeting St Peter Parish Council have been notified of a planning application intended to gain permission to remove infill from two recently discovered bricked up openings and install new windows. As a statutory consultee, the Council is obliged to consider such an application and, where there are concerns, ensure that they are recorded with Mid Suffolk District Council.

This particular application is the latest in a series of permissions sought in order to restore this Grade II listed property, and is unlikely to draw much comment at a Parish level, being more likely to be considered more closely by the relative experts of the Mid Suffolk Planning Services department.

However, if you're interested in finding out more, or are an expert in the restoration and maintenance of historic properties, more information can be found here.

Ofcom cuts rural broadband charges

2011-07-28T13:05:00.000+01:00

The company is the only operator in many smaller telephone exchanges and ISPs have to factor 'renting' BT's equipment into their price plans. Rural broadband bills could fall after telecoms regulator Ofcom moved to cut the wholesale price that BT charges other internet providers. That means customers often miss out on cheaper deals available in towns and cities. The reduction only affects broadband services of up to 8Mbps.

From mid August until March 2014, Ofcom has ruled that BT must cut its rates by 12% below inflation per year. The Countryside Alliance said it was "delighted" by the decision. "People living in the countryside have been left behind in the digital divide for far too long and it is vital that they have effective and affordable broadband if their rural economies are to grow and prosper," said a spokesperson.

The government is keen to see next-generation services thrive in rural as well as urban areas as it aims to make the UK the fastest broadband nation in Europe by 2015. Critics have argued that relying on copper technologies will not future-proof networks and have urged operators to invest in fibre optics which can provide much faster services.

"Any retail price reductions that follow from this wholesale announcement will be welcomed by consumers, but the extent to which providers will reduce prices is uncertain," said Sebastien Lahtinen, co-founder of broadband news service ThinkBroadband.

"The wholesale cost reductions may be used by broadband providers to ease congestion at peak times by adding capacity instead."

"It is also important to note that the price control only applies to 'up to 8 meg services', which may be seen as a regulatory green light to encourage BT to upgrade rural exchanges to support faster 'up to 24 meg' ADSL2+ services, in the knowledge that they will be able to secure a higher return on investment," he added.

County Council announces interim replacement for Andrea

2011-07-27T14:51:00.001+01:00

Suffolk County Council’s Staff Appointments Committee has appointed Lucy Robinson as the authority’s interim Chief Executive.

The role is initially for a period of six months, during which time the recruitment of a permanent chief executive will take place. Ms Robinson has been appointed on a salary of £150,000 pro rata.

Key objectives for Ms Robinson will include; effectively managing the budget setting process, to ensure the required savings of £50 million are made over the next two years, develop effective relationships with partners and effectively engage with staff.

Ms Robinson brings a wealth of experience to the position, having held a number of roles across local and central government, most recently as Director for Economy, Skills and Environment with Suffolk County Council since 2002. Ms Robinson has an in depth understanding of not only the county council but also the needs of residents and partners. For the past three months Ms Robinson has been covering the role of Chief Executive.

Cllr Mark Bee, Leader of Suffolk County Council said: “I am delighted that Lucy has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive. Lucy offers not only a wealth of experience but also the personal skills and drive to begin building foundations for the future.

“Over the coming years we are faced with a number of challenges, not least the need to save £50m over the next two years.

“I look forward to working with Lucy to deliver on our promises to the people of Suffolk – good quality, value for money services and keeping council tax down.”

For the Liberal Democrats, Kathy Pollard commented: "I am delighted that Lucy Robinson has accepted the role of interim Chief Executive at Suffolk County Council. She got the job on merit and the decision of the staff appointments committee was unanimous."

Lucy Robinson said: “I am delighted to be offered this role and look forward to working with Mark, Cabinet and councillors to meet their objectives.”

Ms Robinson will take up the role of Interim Chief Executive from 1 August.

Incinerator gets go ahead

2011-07-26T11:50:00.001+01:00

An energy from waste facility, which will turn all of Suffolk’s residual household waste into electricity, has been given the go ahead.

Planning permission for the plant at Great Blakenham near Ipswich was granted last week and earlier this month the Environment Agency issued the necessary draft permit for the site – effectively giving SITA UK the green light to proceed.

Building work is due to start later this year and the plant should be open by December 2014.

Mark Bee, Leader of Suffolk County Council, which has a 25-year contract with SITA UK to build and then run the site, said: “I am delighted we can now start work on this project which will provide Suffolk with a cheaper, greener solution for disposing of household waste which cannot reasonably be recycled.

“We are proud that Suffolk is one of the top recycling areas in the country with over half our household waste recycled. We want to do even better and aim to get to 60% by 2015.

“But there will always be waste left over. Now, we’ll be putting that waste to good use as a fuel to generate electricity. Over the life of the contract this will be around £350 million cheaper than continuing to landfill, and it will also be better for the environment.”

However, Opposition Leader, Kathy Pollard, has already indicated her opposition to the project, believing that there are better technical alternatives.

County Leader outlines priorities

2011-07-25T13:39:00.001+01:00

In a speech this week County Councillor Mark Bee, Leader of Suffolk County Council, outlined his priorities for the authority over the next two years.

Councillor Bee said; “Good quality, value for money services, protection of the most vulnerable and keeping council tax down – this is what the people of Suffolk want me to do and I am determined to deliver it for them.“To do this we need to think differently to think radically about how we operate in the future.”

He continued; “One of the key ways in which we can achieve this is to break down the barriers across the public sector and work in partnership removing duplication. I would like to see a single gateway for public services delivering joined up local government.

“A perfect example of this is public buildings. Working together with my fellow leaders across Councils in Suffolk and other public sector organisations including the police and fire service we will be looking to share accommodation, use space more efficiently and improve the services we are able to deliver.

“It’s about delivering what people need, not what we want to provide.”

County County saves libraries - but not all of them

2011-07-24T13:29:00.001+01:00

Last week, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet approved an approach that, it was claimed, will secure the future of library services in Suffolk retaining the current library network and putting it on a "strong and sustainable footing for the future".

Three options for the central organisation will be considered and a final decision made by Cabinet at its meeting in November. They are;

An in-house business unit similar to the Schools Library Service.
An external, but wholly council-owned, company.
An independent company managed by the county through contractual arrangements.

County Councillor with responsibility for libraries Judy Terry said the service had undergone significant changes over the last few years, but the council was determined to maintain the network.In the meantime, the council will be working to deliver a number of partnership pilots with town or parish councils, community or staff groups keen on running a library - providing them with the flexibility, funding and support to make it a success. Given that a wide range of groups have come forward with proposals to run their own libraries, it is hoped that the pilots will act as a model elsewhere. Community involvement is critical to the success of the vision throughout Suffolk and the council will work with other groups to develop their business plans.

Unfortunately, as far as the more rural communities are concerned, the prospects are not good, with a proposal to change the frequency of mobile visits from fortnightly to monthly. Whilst no decision will be made on mobile libraries until after the views expressed during the public consultation have been taken into account, the expectation is that Creeting St Peter will see a 50% reduction in its mobile library service to just fifteen minutes each month. The proposal will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting in November, whilst full Council in September will debate the best value options and mobile libraries plans.

Sewer ownership to change from 1 October

2011-07-23T17:06:00.000+01:00

Anglian Water have announced that, from 1st October 2011, they will be looking after many more sewers and pipes that take wastewater from loos and sinks as a result of a change in the law. If a house is connected to the public sewer system, they will be taking ownership of any pipes that are outside its property boundary.

This will mean that, from 2014, water bills will be increasing, although by a relatively small amount - the Government have estimated that it will be somewhere between £3 and £14 per year.

For more information, visit the Anglian Water website.

Village to lose popular vicar

2011-07-22T17:24:00.001+01:00

After nine years as vicar to the Benefice, the Reverend Christine Everett has announced her retirement. Serving the chuches at Stonham Parva, Earl Stonham, Creeting St Mary and Creeting St Peter, she has played a key role in the life of all four villages and will be sorely missed.

To celebrate her ministry, a Benefice service will take place at Earl Stonham chuch on Saturday, August 14th, starting at 10 a.m.

Alice Mathewson, Chair of the Creeting St Peter Parochial Church Council, commented, "It has been a joy to have her as our vicar.".

Child literacy goes to the Circus!

2011-07-21T14:08:00.000+01:00

This summer sees Suffolk Libraries take part in a literacy problem for the under-elevens, the brainchild of the Reading Agency.

Children are encouraged to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at Stowmarket Library during the school holidays – it’s FREE – and they will get a stage set and stickers to start them off. As they read their way through six books, they help the Circus Stars progress through Practice and Rehearsal to their ultimate goal – Showtime!

The fun doesn’t stop at the library though! They can create their own avatar and join the Stars on a journey through games and activities. They can keep track of the books they are reading, send messages to other Circus Stars, and even meet some famous authors.

For more information, go to the Suffolk Libraries website or to the Reading Agency's website. The programme kicks off on Saturday (July 23rd), just in time for the school holidays.

Time to turn off the street lights at night?

2011-07-20T09:58:00.000+01:00

Whilst Suffolk County Council are taking steps to turn off most of their street lights between midnight and 5.30 a.m., there will not be any change in Creeting St Peter for the time being, as the parish's nine street lights are operated and funded by the Parish Council.

At a recent meeting of the Suffolk Association of Local Councils Mid Suffolk South Area Committee, new lighting proposals were outlined, including the introduction of new gadgets that can control when an individual streetlight switches on and off. "It is estimated,", said Cllr Mark Valladares, "that introducing similar equipment in Creeting St Peter would pay for itself in electricity savings in just three and a half years, a very powerful consideration when financial times are tough, and a potential contribution to reducing our impact on the environment too.".

Cllr Valladares has called upon the Parish Council to give serious consideration to his suggestion that, where Suffolk goes, Creeting St Peter goes too, and it is likely to be a topic for discussion in September's Parish Council meeting. However, he is keen to ensure that there is proper consultation before any action is taken.

Village population grows by one

2011-07-19T14:47:00.000+01:00

Congratulations go out to Steven and Tracey Ashcroft, as Tracey gave birth to a baby boy recently. Steven, the Chair of Creeting St Peter Parish Council, and Tracey attended a recent village social event despite the impending birth, and the Creeting St Peter Journal wishes them, and their son, every good fortune in the future.

Barriers to housing and services blight village

2011-07-18T15:26:00.001+01:00

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published its report of Indices of Multiple Deprivation for 2010, and the Creeting St Peter Journal has uncovered a statistic that probably comes as no great surprise to villagers, in that the village falls within the bottom 10% of the more than 32,000 LSOAs (short for lower-level Super Output Areas, or in our case, District Council wards) in England on the index of barriers to housing and services.

The index is calculated with reference to the distance to key services (post office, GP, primary school and general store), as well as the availability of affordable housing. And villagers don't need to be reminded that we don't have any of these things here in Creeting St Peter. There is no doubt that the absence of these services has an impact, especially on elderly residents and those without access to their own transport.

All of this falls against a background of declining rural services. Figures provided by the Rural Development Commission, the Countryside Agency and Suffolk ACRE show that the number of rural parishes with a post office has fallen from 58% to 44% in England, and even faster in Suffolk, from 57% to just 33% since 1991.

The proportion of rural parishes with a general store is down from 25% to 14%, and whilst Suffolk has retained more village pubs than across England as a whole, that may have something to do with the emergence of gastropubs, as reliant on food sales as they once were on local drinkers.

The Creeting St Peter Journal will be running a series of reports on the rural economy, following on from the Suffolk Foundation's recently published report, 'Hidden Needs', looking at the impact of social and economic change on Suffolk villages.

Why not use the bus instead?

2011-07-17T13:59:00.000+01:00

The Journal is asked to remind villagers that the Suffolk Links Gipping North service is now available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, for pre-arranged journeys in an area including Mendlesham, the Stonhams, the Creetings, Haughley, Woolpit, Rattlesden and Great Finborough, connecting the villages with Stowmarket and Needham Market.

The vehicle, an example of which is shown above, is fully accessible with low steps, hand rails and a lift for wheelchair access. Best of all, concessionary passes are valid on all services after 9.30 a.m. Monday to Friday, and all day on Saturday.

And even if you don't have a concessionary pass, the return fare to Stowmarket is just £2.10 (£1.30 for a one way trip), and it will pick up as close to your door as is reasonable (usually on Pound Road).

Journeys can be booked up to a week in advance, and passengers can have two days worth of travel arranged at any one time. For more information, or simply to book a journey, call 01449 616000. Margaret, and her team of helpers, will do everything they can to get you to where you want to go, when you want to go.

But passengers are asked to bear in mind that the bus may not be available exactly when you want it, so some flexibility is really appreciated. And bring the exact fare if you can, as change may not always be available.

Parish Council to meet

2011-07-16T18:17:00.002+01:00

Parish Clerk, Rosemary Cochrane, has confirmed that the next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday, September 20th, at the Church Room in The Lane, starting at 7.30 p.m.

Reports from both the District and County Councillors are expected, as well as news of progress on the playing field project, and all residents are welcome to attend.

District Councillor mourns failed merger

2011-07-15T14:27:00.000+01:00

The newly elected Full Council met in Needham Market on 30 June, in part to discuss the aftermath of the ballot of residents in Babergh and Mid Suffolk on a proposed merger of the two district councils. It was agreed that, given the significant impact claimed as a result of the inability to merge the two councils, further undefined cuts would be necessary.

At a meeting of Creeting St Peter PC on 5 July, Cllr Caroline Byles declared her disappointment with the outcome, as it was her belief that this was the wrong decision to take, a view unlikely to be shared by residents of Babergh, 61% of whom voted against.

However, having been unable to attend the meeting of the full Mid Suffolk DC, Cllr Byles was unable to enlighten the Parish Council as to the nature of the cuts that are being considered, despite her membership of the Executive Committee.

Villagers will doubtless be keen to find out what the impact is likely to be on Creeting St Peter, although there are currently very few services supplied directly by Mid Suffolk District Council - street lights are provided by the Parish Council, the community bus is sponsored by Suffolk County Council, and the major impact is likely to be on those residents still living in accommodation supplied by the District Council.

The Journal will be attempting to find out more over the coming weeks and months so, if you want to keep in touch with events as they take place, keep reading the Creeting St Peter Journal!

Police urge caution over scrap metal thefts

2011-07-14T18:02:00.002+01:00

Writing in the Creeting St Peter Newsletter, the official publication of the Creeting St Peter Parish Council, a member of the Stowmarket Safer Neighbourhoods Team, PC Stefan Henriksen, warns that, following recent increases in the price paid for scrap metal, there has been an increase in thefts of such material of late.

"I would like to urge everyone to make sure that all doors and windows are always left secure, no matter how long people go out for, as well as securing sheds and any trailers or other property that might be left outside.", wrote PC Henriksen.

Anyone witnessing suspicious behaviour is urged to call 999 or, if they have information to pass on, to contact PC Henriken directly on 10473 613500.

Saving the cheque, a victory for commonsense

2011-07-13T11:24:00.001+01:00

The UK Payments Council yesterday announced that they are to reverse their decision to scrap cheques by 2018 and continue their use for as long as customers need them.

The MP for Cheadle, Mark Hunter, who originally launched the 'Save the Cheque' campaign through an Early Day Motion in Parliament in November 2009 said; "This is a great victory for people power and common sense, and proves the banks cannot afford to ignore the views of their customers. "After years campaigning alongside small businesses, charities and voluntary groups, who will welcome this with open arms, I am absolutely delighted by this news.

Commenting further, Baroness Scott of Needham Market also welcomed the news, noting that there are hundreds of small businesses who were concerned that the removal of cheques would drive up their costs and end up putting them out of business.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue compile County 'thatch register'

2011-07-12T10:44:00.000+01:00

Suffolk Fire and Rescue have responded to a recent increase in the number of thatch fires - twelve in the past year, with nineteen more just across the county borders - by starting to compile a thatch register.

Jon Southgate, writing to Parish Clerks across the county, has confirmed their wish to be proactive in helping the owners and residents of thatched properties by providing them with relevant information to reduce the risk of fire before it happens. The information gathered will be retained for use by the county's control room should such properties ever be subject to a roof fire, allowing it to better judge the number and type of vehicles to be sent to help minimise the level of damage.

Parish Clerk, Rosemary Cochrane, confirmed that details of the three thatched properties in the Parish have been notified to Suffolk Fire and Rescue, noting that no other information has been provided as part of the Parish Council's commitment to data protection and privacy.

Do you know someone worthy of a Community Achievement Award?

2011-07-11T09:53:00.002+01:00

Mid Suffolk District Council, together with the Rotary Club of Stowmarket Gipping Valley, have announced that nominations are open for the 2011 Community Achievement Awards, intended to be given to someone in the local community who, it is felt, deserve recognition and praise for their efforts, someone whose thought, perseverance and endeavour has played a vital role in making it a better place to live. Nominees should live in Mid Suffolk, and work on an unpaid voluntary basis.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 22nd., and nomination forms are available from the Cultural and Community Services department at the District Council headquarters in Needham Market. Time is short though, so you might prefer to call 01449 724645 and have a form sent to you.

And remember, you can't nominate yourself!

Villagers gather for a nice cup of tea - the morning after the night before

2011-07-10T13:54:00.000+01:00

And after the beer, lager and wine of the night before, plus a quick tidy, Sue and Margaret were up and ready bright and early to tend a remarkably perky collection of villagers, keen to pick up where they left off the previous evening at July's monthly coffee morning and produce sale.

Baroness Ros Scott was amongst those chatting away with a cup of tea and something baked, whilst others discussed the possibilities for future events.

In the course of a discussion with the Journal's Editor, Russell Stott noted the need to raise funds for the maintenance of the village's church, parts of which are thought to date back to the eleventh century, and was enthusiastic about finding ways of raising those funds whilst bolstering the community life of the village.

And we here at the Journal are keen to support the efforts of the Parochial Church Council, so make sure you come back for reports of their activities over the coming months.

Village Pub Night a great success!

2011-07-09T22:06:00.000+01:00

Creeting St Peter welcomed the second Village Pub Night yesterday evening, as thirsty villagers gathered to socialise and drink 'The Bees' Knees', another fine ale from Bartrams Brewery in Rougham.

Mein hosts, Russell Stott and Keith Brooks, tirelessly poured the drinks, took the money and made conversation as the Church Room filled to capacity and beyond with villagers keen not only to support the Parochial Church Council but to meet friends and neighbours.

Starting at 7.30 p.m., the revelry continued until after midnight, and a sizeable amount was raised towards the maintenance of St Peter's Church, our reporter was told the next day.

With the first two events being such a success, plans are already being made for a Curry Night and a Quiz Night later in the year or early in 2012, and we are confident that they will be equally well supported.

Mobile Library service to be reduced?

2011-07-07T11:28:00.001+01:00

Suffolk County Council's cabinet will this month be asked to approve a vision and model for the future of library services in Suffolk – which would retain the library network and put it on a strong and sustainable footing for the future.

At the meeting, cabinet will also be asked to approve a new public consultation on how mobile library services can be restructured to retain the service and make necessary savings. A proposal to change the frequency of mobile visits from fortnightly to monthly – bringing Suffolk in line with its county neighbours – will be put to the public. Absolutely no decision will be made on mobile libraries until after the views expressed during the public consultation have been taken into account.

Commenting on mobile libraries, Cllr Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council's Portfolio Holder responsible for libraries, said:

"I do not want anyone to jump to any conclusions on mobile libraries. The review has demonstrated to us that there could be a more efficient way of running the service in order to keep it going – so we're going to explore those issues via an open public consultation. No decisions will be made until we've taken those views into account."

Creeting St Peter is currently served by a mobile library which visits on alternate Fridays for fifteen minutes. Cllr Mark Valladares, Vice Chairman of the Parish Council, commented, "We'll do our best to enable residents to make their views known on the potential reduction of one of the very few services directly provided to the village. Whilst I am personally disappointed by the proposal, there may be alternative ways that allow villagers to use the county libraries, and we should explore these.".
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Suffolk moves closer to brighter broadband future

2011-07-06T09:56:00.010+01:00

Suffolk’s bid to build a broadband network fit for the twenty first century has taken a step closer – with the Government expected to make a funding decision for Suffolk next month.

Representatives from Suffolk have held positive talks with officials from the Government’s broadband body - and advised them how Suffolk County Council intends to invest up to £10 million in the project over the next four years.

Suffolk County Council’s Leader, Councillor Mark Bee, said:

“The discussions we’ve had with Broadband Delivery UK have been very positive and I’m pleased to say that our planned £10 million investment appears to be having the right impact.

“We must not underestimate the impact that securing this investment will have on local business growth, improving educational attainment and removing a major block to public service transformation in Suffolk.

“I very much hope the financial contribution we’ve pledged, and the partnership approach we’ve taken with our business, community, council and parliamentary colleagues, will secure the vital government support we need.”

The total cost of the Suffolk broadband project is estimated at £41.7 million, of which approximately half should come from the private sector. Suffolk County Council has committed up to £10m in the expectation that BDUK will match that amount.

The Government has set aside £530 million to support broadband projects around the country. Indicative funding decisions are expected to be announced in the first two weeks of July.

Given that Creeting St Peter is particularly poorly served, being as it is a long way from the telephone exchange, and dependent on aging telecoms infrastructure, villagers can only hope that the bid is successful.

Saturday morning is coffee morning

2011-07-05T11:34:00.001+01:00

Yes, it's that time once again, hot on the heels of the Village Pub Night, the Creeting St Peter Parochial Church Council is hosting another of its very successful coffee mornings.

And it isn't just an opportunity to drink coffee (or tea, if you're that way inclined) and eat extremely good baked stuff, there are plants to buy and other useful/interesting stuff too, including some Creeting St Peter notelets.

So, make your way to the Church Room at the end of The Lane on Saturday morning, between 10 a.m. and noon - you're sure of a warm welcome.

Andrea Hill goes!

2011-07-04T15:07:00.002+01:00

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council has confirmed that its Chief Executive, Andrea Hill, will be leaving her post with immediate effect.

"There has been significant media attention attached to Mrs Hill which has become a distraction and both parties accept that with new political leadership of Suffolk County Council in place, it is better to allow the organisation to move forward with new managerial leadership."

The Dismissals and Appeals Committee of Suffolk County Council has today concluded its investigation into the 'whistleblowing' allegations made her, concluded that whilst there were undoubtedly expenses claims which, in the current climate, might not represent best use of public money, the Committee accepted that there was no dishonesty in the claims made. It was also satisfied that there was no evidence to support claims of bullying and harassment, or that she was responsible for the death of David White (former Head of Legal Services).

After negotiations between representatives of Mrs Hill and the County Council, compensation is to be paid to Mrs Hill of £218,592. This figure includes her contractual notice period.

The response from the Leader of the Opposition on Suffolk County Council, Kathy Pollard (Liberal Democrat), was swift, condemning the Conservative Group and, in particular, those Conservative councillors responsible for altering the salary scale without proper authority, allowing her to earn such a vast salary.

One presumes that Andrea Hill's replacement will be engaged on a more appropriate salary, given the need to make large savings in the overall budget, with the prospect of more to come over the next three years.

Suffolk launches ‘Stay Safe’ card scheme

2011-07-04T11:52:00.000+01:00

Suffolk’s Hate Crime team has launched a new safety initiative to help protect vulnerable people when they’re out and about in Suffolk.

The ‘Stay Safe’ scheme, which was launched in Felixstowe ahead of its county-wide rollout, will give ‘Stay Safe’ cards to young people and adults with learning disabilities. The cards, which provide vital information about the card holder as well as helpful contact details, are there to give the person more confidence when leaving the house and enable them to be more independent in every day life. Card holders will soon be able to visit shops, restaurants, pubs and banks that support the scheme, all displaying specially-designed 'Stay Safe' window stickers. These safe places will have staff trained in how to support an individual who comes to them for support.

County Councillor Kathy Gosling, Portfolio Holder for Sport, Culture, Diversity, Health and Wellbeing said; “All those involved in the project recognise the need for all individuals to feel safe in their environment and understand the importance of having places they can identify as safe places to go for help if necessary."I am absolutely delighted that a scheme of this kind is being launched in our county. It will give vulnerable people a sense of safety and security should they find themselves in a challenging situation. I hope as many businesses as possible will sign up to join the scheme. We are pleased to be able to launch this scheme and look forward to seeing the results.”

The scheme is a project run by Suffolk's Hate Crime Service, in partnership with Suffolk Acre, learning disability groups and Suffolk Youth Parliament. The Hate Crime Service is co-ordinated by Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Police, and was set up to combat discrimination and hate incidents. Allocated workers from the team are on hand to support all those who have been victims.

Every incident is recorded and reported to Suffolk Police through the dedicated Hate Crime team number: 01473 668966.

The Hate Crime service supports people in all walks of life who have experienced prejudice on the grounds of race, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or age.

Suffolk Libraries roll into town again

2011-07-03T10:47:00.000+01:00

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

Friday, 8th July

Friday, 22nd July

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

The Parochial Church Council welcomes you to Village Pub Night, the sequel...

2011-07-02T17:16:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately, I missed the first pub night, held on Friday, May 20th, as Ros and I were in Dresden for a conference (although I must confess that I was drinking wine that evening in a schloss on the River Elbe, so it wasn't a total write off...). However, given that something like 20% of the parish's population turned up, and that a good time was had by all, it must be unreservedly declared a success.

I am therefore delighted to note that another such event will take place on Friday, July 8th, same time (7.30 p.m.), same place (the Church Room at the end of The Lane), same beer (Adam's Ale from the fabulous Bartrams Brewery in Rougham) and same cause (an armed services charity).

I'm going to be there, unless something very untoward happens, and I'll see you at the bar...

Pickerel Project holds AGM

2011-07-01T13:57:00.002+01:00

The Pickerel Project Group has announced that their Annual General meeting will take place at Stowmarket Town Council Chamber, Milton House, Milton Road South, Stowmarket IP14 1EZ on Tuesday, July 5th.

Apart from appointing a new management Committee, there will be a presentation of the Group's plans for Phase 2 of their project to look at ways of improving the river area in the heart of Stowmarket, close to the Pickerel Bridge. In phase 1, the group prepared a scheme of works for the river banks, between the river bridges in Stowupland Street and Station Road. The project group feel that there are opportunities to improve the accessibility of other parts of the river corridors in town for the benefit of all.

For more information, call Sally Sharma on 01449 612060 or email sallys@stowmarket.org.

Planning Application - Mill House, Stowmarket Road, Badley

2011-06-30T22:17:00.000+01:00

Whilst this application does not directly affect Creeting St Peter, Mill House is within yards of the River Gipping which, at that point, forms the parish boundary. For more details, visit the Mid Suffolk District Council website.

The application will be considered by the Parish Council in its a role as a statutory consultee at its forthcoming meeting on 5 July. The deadline for comments is 22 July.

Do something for your environment and for the River Gipping

2011-06-30T09:46:00.001+01:00

The River Gipping forms part of the boundary of Creeting St Peter, and whilst the River Gipping Trust is working to restore the river along its full length, the Pickerel Project focuses on maintaining the area in the middle of Stowmarket, an area where litter is dumped in significant quantities.

Its declared aims are;

1. The improvement of wildlife habitat
2. Improvement/enhancement of the landscape and access to the river
3. The promotion of informal public recreation
4. The promotion of culture, heritage and the arts

On Sunday, volunteers will be out, as they are on the first Sunday of every month, meeting at the Prentice Road car park at 10 a.m. If you join them, you may be in the river (it isn't very deep) clearing litter, or on the banks, removing weeds and tidying the undergrowth.

Planning Application - 10 Peterhouse

2011-06-29T22:15:00.001+01:00

Residents of Creeting St Peter village may have noticed the orange sign outside 10 Peterhouse, announcing that a planning application has been lodged. For more details, visit the Mid Suffolk District Council website.

The application will be considered by the Parish Council in its a role as a statutory consultee at its forthcoming meeting on 5 July. The deadline for comments is 11 July.

Mid Suffolk Building Control retains quality accreditation

2011-06-29T09:49:00.001+01:00

The Building Control section of Mid Suffolk District Council has retained its prestigious accreditation for quality assurance for the 10th year in a row.

The ISO 9001accreditation is an internationally recognised standard of quality management systems and was retained by Building Control following a full day site inspection by BM TRADA, the accrediting body on 21 June 2011. This award is in recognition of Building Control continuing to deliver a consistently high level of service to their customers.

Nick Gowrley, Corporate Director at Mid Suffolk said,"I am delighted that we have retained this prestigious accreditation. The assessor was pleased with how we have performed over the last year and has therefore awarded us the ISO 9001 for the coming year. Working with the ISO framework has helped us look carefully at our quality assurance process and this has resulted in some improvements along the way. It is credit to our staff that the comments from the assessment were advisory rather than issues that require major change."

Whilst this is undoubtedly good news, local residents will remain aware of ongoing dissatisfaction with the performance of Mid Suffolk's planning department, whose failings remain unaddressed by District Councillors.

Thornham Walks launch online consultation

2011-06-28T19:44:00.000+01:00

Thornham Walks has launched an online survey to gain community feedback on its facilities and to gauge public opinion on whether it could diversify into other areas. The consultation document is part of a joint project with Beyond the Wall, a charity based at the Thornham Walled Garden, to help secure the long term future of both organisations.

The survey covers areas such as sources of funding and future events and activities at the Walks. It can be completed online at here and is open until the end of July 2011. A bulletin board forum has also been linked to the document allowing users to go into further detail if they wish to.

Helen Sibley, the countryside officer at Thornham Walks said: “We would really appreciate feedback from as many people who have used the Walks as possible; it’s essential that we get a clear understanding of what the community like and need from a countryside facility like Thornham.”

Ben Hall, the Commercial Manager for Beyond the Wall said: “We have a strong historical partnership with Thornham Walks staff and are happy to be part of this consultation project. We have built up a fine resource at the Thornham Walled Garden for people with disabilities and we are keen to extend our service to provide more benefits for this section of the community.”

The results of the survey will collated during August and may be used as evidence in future funding bids.

Parish Council meeting called for 5 July

2011-06-21T20:29:00.000+01:00

In local news, word reaches the Journal that Parish Clerk, Rosemary Cochrane, has published the calling notice for the July meeting of the Creeting St Peter Parish Council.

Recently re-elected Cllr Steve Ashcroft, having been nominated to resume as Chair, will be taking back the reins from Cllr Mark Valladares, who filled in for the Annual General meeting in May.

Items expected to appear on the agenda will be reports from Suffolk Constabulary, the County and District Councillors, but most important of all, a report on progress towards formalising the status of the playing field.

Residents of the village are cordially invited to attend, and the meeting starts at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Room at the end of The Lane.

Your chance to take a book out as the Mobile Library comes to town

2011-06-19T10:45:00.000+01:00

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

Friday, 24th June

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

County Council finally acts to attract broadband funding

2011-06-15T11:21:00.001+01:00

As village residents continue to voice their concerns at slow internet speeds, it appears that the County Council are finally taking the issue seriously.

Following last month's failure of the county's bid for funding for super fast broadband in the county, it emerged that, whilst neighbouring Norfolk County Council were offering a £15 million contribution to demonstrate their commitment to their county's bid, Suffolk County Council had offered to put in less than £500,000. Unsurprisingly, £15 million of funding went to Norfolk, and Suffolk got nothing.

Last week, county councillors decided to sweeten their renewed bid with a £10 million contribution, making the funding of the £41.7 million project to bring decent broadband services to the whole county much more likely.

In an increasingly internet-reliant world, super fact broadband has the potential to make smaller villages like Creeting St Peter sustainable by attracting small businesses, especially those that can work remotely from their customers. It will also help school children in the village, who will be able to use the internet to help with their homework, and allow elderly residents to keep in touch with family and friends.

Stop Press: Creeting Road now reopen

2011-06-14T23:22:00.001+01:00

Good news for villagers, as Creeting Road is now open to traffic after four weeks. Whilst the road is not entirely clear yet, we are now connected to Stowmarket by the normal route.

However, sources indicate that more disruption can be expected during future development phases in Cedars Park, as the road layout is scheduled to be changed, and The Creeting St Peter Journal will be covering news of any road closures and diversions as we get it.
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Concerns over parish roads raised

2011-06-14T16:52:00.003+01:00

At a meeting of the Mid Suffolk South Area Committee of SALC, the Suffolk Association of Local Councils, Cllr. Mark Valladares raised local concerns about poor communication of the closure of the village's main link to Stowmarket recently.

In a conversation with County Council Highways official, Steve Bone, Cllr. Valladares noted the failure to notify villagers of the closure, pointing out that had he not taken it upon himself to circulate the information, drivers would only have discovered the closure on reaching the junction of Pound Road and Mill Lane.

He also noted the failure to co-ordinate roadworks, given that at the same time, Church Road in Stowupland, the only other convenient route to Stowmarket, was the subject of redressing, reducing traffic speeds to 20 mph. Other subjects raised included the dangerous right hand turn from the A1120 into Creeting Lane, and the filling of the grit bin in The Lane.

"It really isn't good enough,", claimed Cllr. Valladares, "the County Council needs to be more careful in scheduling road closures, especially when fuel costs are soaring. Long diversions, especially when they are unexpected, are costly to those of us who live in villages.".

Meanwhile, the closure of Creeting Road, on the edge of the parish at the entrance to Cedars Park, has overrun, although the road is now passable, and should reopen to traffic shortly.

A new look for Creeting St Peter's only media outlet

2011-06-13T20:55:00.002+01:00

I'll be honest, I've neglected this blog a bit of late. What with the election (I lost) and a general sense of ennui, even my main blog, the one that reaches out beyond the Gipping Valley, has suffered a bit. So, I thought that I'd freshen it up a bit. But first, an explanation of how we got here.

I'm a relative newcomer to Creeting St Peter, having only become a resident in 2008, and then only occasionally. I sold my house in North London in July 2009, and began a life split between London and mid-Suffolk. When I joined the parish council, it seemed like a fun idea to start blogging, a notion which created a degree of trepidation amongst some of my new colleagues.

It was suggested to me that I shouldn't cover the events of parish council meetings, that, as a councillor, I should leave reportage for the official version. And, rather foolishly, I agreed. However, there were mobile library visits to report on, county consultations and stories of buses, so I kept going, with the income from advertising being donated to the parish council (worth 5.5p per household in 2010!).

Becoming the Liberal Democrat district council candidate provided more restrictions on the blog, as I wanted to separate the politics that I do away from the village separate from the politics of Stowupland ward. I had, however, moved my job from London to Ipswich and finally become a full-time resident.

However, election over, it's time that I made up my mind as to what I want to do with it. So, I've changed the template, to something more redolent of the village. I'll add in some more interesting links over the next few weeks, some to local businesses (none of whom will be paying me for the privilege), others to local community groups who serve the village. Occasionally, it will look rather odd, as I experiment with the layout, colour scheme, or whatever. But bear with me, I'll get there in the end.

I'll also change the reporting style a bit. I have a rather liberal approach to freedom of speech and besides, you have a right to know what I'm up to as your parish councillor. I'm sure that my colleagues will be happy to communicate in whatever way they're comfortable, but I find blogging to be a decent way of reaching people... or should I say, publishing a local online newspaper...

Time to have some fun!

Things to do over half term...

2011-05-28T11:10:00.002+01:00

Families across Mid Suffolk are being encouraged to take part in a range of activities, to suite all ages, across Mid Suffolk next week.

‘Family Eco-challenge Day’ All new for 2011, the first ever eco-challenge day to involve the whole family! Bring all of the family along to Needham Lake and take on the challenges! Work together as a team and use all of your family’s skills – physical, mental, identification and imaginative. Who will do the best at which task? Will you be able to complete all of the challenges to get your certificate?

Tuesday 31st May from 12noon – 3.30pm
Needham Lake, IP6 8NU
Families £6.00

‘Woodland Adventure Day’ Join the Rangers for an exploration of Redlingfield Wood near Eye. Build your own shelter, help build and use a charcoal kiln, and cook over a campfire! Please bring a packed lunch and suitable clothing. Suitable for children aged 8–12 years. Places limited to 12 so booking essential. Children do not need to be accompanied.

Friday 3rd June from 10am – 2pm
Booking and pre-payment essential: 01449 724633
Children £12.00

There are many more events coming up throughout the summer. The events diary can be downloaded from the Discovery Project web pages. Copies are available in paper format and for further information about any of our events please call 01449 724633.

Made in Stowmarket. You'd be amazed...

2011-05-26T21:09:00.000+01:00

Residents across Suffolk are being encouraged to come along to the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket on Wednesday June 1st to discover the range of items that are made within the town.

Open from 9 a.m., the exhibition will not only show the strength of the manufacturing sector locally but also the amount of people still employed making items ranging from lawn mowers to window blinds today.

There will also be Robert Oberhoffer, an award winning chef with his mobile kitchen who will be carrying out cookery demonstrations throughout the day using locally-sourced ingredients to make a range of delicious dishes.

Free sweets are also being given out – as the malt for the centre of every Malteser is also made in Stowmarket!

Made in Stowmarket has been funded by the Mid Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership and is part of the Stowmarket Festival. Details of the full range of festival activities can be found here.

Family fun at Thornham Walks

2011-04-14T16:22:00.001+01:00

Thornham Walks near Eye is offering a range of activities for all the family to get involved in this Easter.

A free lottery funded “Drop in & Join in” event will take place on Thursday 21 April between 10am and 3pm. This “Woodland Play” event will offer a variety of activities for children such as making mobiles, musical instruments, bogarts and also a scavenger hunt. In addition, there will also be ‘dragon activities’ from 1.30pm onwards at the newly carved dragon.

The second event will bring a spring to your step as you and your family can take part in the Easter Egg Trial on Easter Sunday (24 April). Why not join in the search by hunting high and low for hidden eggs. It couldn’t be easier, simply follow the clues and every child who reaches the end will be rewarded with a chocolate egg.

You can even guarantee you look the part by bringing along a homemade Easter bonnet, and entering a competition to win prizes.

Helen Sibley, Thornham Countryside Officer said: “Exploring the countryside is always a great opportunity to have plenty of fun. The Easter Egg Trail always manages to be an increasingly popular event, year after year.”

Admission for the egg trail is £3 for children, with accompanying adults free.

While at Thornham, why not make a day of it and visit the relaxing surroundings of The Forge Tea Rooms & Restaurant for Sunday Dinner or lunch. Booking is essential, please contact: 01379 783035. Alternatively you could bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful countryside around you.

Reduced hours for Household Waste Recycling Centres

2011-04-01T13:36:00.001+01:00

There's always something that needs to be disposed of, something that can't go in a wheelie-bin, and for those, the Household Waste Recycling Centres come into their own.

Unfortunately, as part of the cuts at Suffolk County Council, the Stowmarket site will now open an hour later, Monday to Saturday, making it just that little bit busier. The new hours will be as follows;

Summer (April to September)

9 a.m. until 5 p.m. - Monday to Saturday

Winter (October to March)

9 a.m. until 4 p.m. - Monday to Saturday

All year round

10 a.m. until 4 p.m. - Sundays and bank holidays

Also, bear in mind that the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Eye has been closed, and many of those currently going there will need to go to Bury St Edmunds or Stowmarket instead.

2011 Census: not far away now...

2011-03-14T20:51:00.001Z

Just a reminder that the decennial Census is due to place in two weeks time, on Sunday 27th March...

"But why is it important?", I hear you ask. Put simply, money. The amount of public service funding your council and primary care trust gets from the Government is based on the number and characteristics of the people who live in the area. So, a low completion rate means less money for local health care services, less money for schools and roads, for education and social services and all of the other things that rural communities like ours depend upon.

So, please make sure that you fill in your questionnaire on, or as soon after, Sunday week as possible. You know it makes sense...

2011-03-09T11:13:00.000Z

The now monthly coffee morning and produce sale, organised by the Parochial Church Council, will take place at the Church Hall, The Lane, between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday (March 12th).

And, following a discussion at Parish Council, we are hoping to arrange for the mobile police station to be parked outside at the same time

So, come along and support this very welcome social event in the calendar of village life...

Mobile Library dates - March 2011

2011-02-27T15:36:00.000Z

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 March

Friday, 18th March

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

Coffee Morning and Produce Sale - all welcome!

2011-02-10T12:38:00.016Z

The now monthly coffee morning and produce sale, organised by the Parochial Church Council, will take place at the Church Hall, The Lane, between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday (February 12th).

And, having attended January's event, I can heartily commend the quality of the tea (I take my tea very seriously!), and the cake too. The welcome is a warm one, and it's a great opportunity to meet your neighbours - they might even become friends, you never know. And kids are welcome!

So, come along and support this very welcome social event in the calendar of village life...

Crime report for December

2011-02-08T10:54:00.001Z

A new website allows you to type in your postcode, and discover how much street crime and anti-social behaviour has taken place in your area in the most recent month for which records are available.

So, your intrepid researcher had a look, entering IP6 8QR, i.e. The Lane, and here are the results;

burglary - zero
anti-social behaviour - five
robbery - zero
vehicle crime - zero
violent crime - zero
other crime - zero

So, where's all of this anti-social behaviour then? Closer examination indicates that the figures are for an area covered by a circle with a radius of one mile. Just inside one mile? Cedars Park... and guess where all of the incidences of anti-social behaviour took place...

Mobile Library dates - February 2011

2011-01-31T15:32:00.008Z

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?

2011-01-21T08:54:00.000Z

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!

2011-01-18T22:54:00.000Z

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...

2011-01-10T16:13:00.000Z

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

2011-01-09T20:41:00.000Z

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

2011-01-03T15:29:00.001Z

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.

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

2010-12-30T17:00:00.000Z

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...

2010-12-19T13:48:00.000Z

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!

2010-11-30T12:09:00.001Z

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?

2010-11-29T22:05:00.001Z

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

2010-11-05T08:18:00.000Z

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

2010-10-20T14:35:00.000+01:00

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

2010-10-04T12:14:00.001+01:00

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

2010-10-01T16:55:00.003+01:00

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?

2010-09-29T19:45:00.000+01:00

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...

2010-09-26T16:38:00.002+01:00

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

2010-09-25T13:50:00.002+01:00

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?

2010-09-05T13:04:00.000+01:00

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

2010-09-03T12:48:00.000+01:00

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

2010-08-31T13:53:00.000+01:00

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

2010-08-25T11:46:00.002+01:00

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

2010-07-28T11:46:00.001+01:00

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...

2010-07-25T15:01:00.001+01:00

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?

2010-07-22T09:19:00.002+01:00

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...

2010-07-19T13:42:00.003+01:00

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?