Hello, I hope you are all keeping safe and well.
It has been a busy spring and summer for all of us at the parish council, with work on all our on-going projects, our regular Parish Council and Estate meetings, Annual Meetings and Community Engagement Events at both the Queen’s Jubilee Picnic and the Wickhambrook Fete and Flower Show. I can’t believe summer is almost over, and I’m sure we’re all looking forward to cooler weather and some rain for the garden!
Since my last update, the parish council has:
- run a Street Art Workshop for children in the parish in conjunction with Reprezent Project, a good time was had by all and the skate park now has some fantastic Art
- held its Annual Meeting, and approved the year end accounts and documents for Audit;
- commissioned repairs and maintenance to the children’s play equipment at Cemetery Road (sadly, we had to remove the spinning pole, but will be looking at a replacement piece of equipment)
- reviewed and adopted its policies, Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Suffolk Code of Conduct;
- supported the Wickhambrook Fete & Flower Show, Memorial Clock and donated to a number of charities;
- instructed remedial works to the Culvert at Coltsfoot Green (installing rock rolls to protect the banks);
- appointed a contractor to undertake ad hoc and urgent work in the parish;
- instructed remedial work to the drive leading to the Chapel of Rest;
- considered and responded to West Suffolk’s consultation on Preferred Options for the Local Plan; and
- held two pop-up consultation events, asking for your views about West Suffolk’s Preferred Options and Site Allocations, the Neighbourhood Plan and options for the Multi-Use Games Area on the Recreation Ground
Neighbourhood Planning is coming to Wickhambrook!
The Neighbourhood Plan Working Group has been very busy over the spring and early summer, and has held two pop up events to canvass residents view on West Suffolk’s preferred options for the Local Plan. You can find a brief summary of their findings here
- The Housing Needs Survey commissioned from Cambs ACRE was completed in March and their report is published
- Work commissioned on the Design Codes has been completed and a report published
Over the summer the group will:
- Liaise with West Suffolk over the Master Design Plan for the site proposed by West Suffolk (WS Reference 4.12a)
- Prepare a plan for community consultation to take place in Autumn/Winter on the draft Master Plan and the Draft Neighbourhood Plan.
You can find a full update of progress by following this link to the Neighbourhood Plan page.
Alf Hicks Biscuit Barrel
In 2022, the Parish Council unanimously agreed that the Biscuit Barrel be awarded to Mrs Sandy Wood, Secretary and Trustee of Wickhambrook Memorial Social Centre.
Cllr Couzens presented the Biscuit Barrell to Mrs Wood and thanked her for all her time, experience and dedication to the Memorial Social Centre and the wider community of the parish of Wickhambrook.
Mrs Wood responded, accepting on behalf of all of the trustees over the past two years who have worked so hard to make sure the hall would continue in use for a further 75 years.
Refurbishment of Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) – UPDATE
In May ’21 a storm caused some significant damage to the boarding of the Games area. The parish council was already looking into the possible re-surfacing of the games area and skatepark, and consequently reviewed its options. Since my last newsletter, the parish council has:
- Put on a Street Art Workshop to overpaint old graffiti and brighten up the space
- Identified options for re-development based on an outdoor fitness area (including both low level cardiovascular workouts and sport street workout.
Any new development would have significant cost implications for the parish council, and whilst it has seed funding set aside, the anticipated cost of the mid range option was in the region of £25,000. This would require significant fundraising through grants, donations and sponsorship. In order to demonstrate the demand for such a proposal, the parish council therefore consulted again with residents at the Wickhambrook Fete and Flower Show in July.
Responses at the event were limited and the meeting therefore asked the clerk to undertake a further consultation on options for recreation space in the parish. Please help us by using this Survey to give your views on how you would like to see the parish council develop its recreation facilities for residents. This survey is open until 17th September.
Wickhambrook Parish Council needs a new team member.
If you are over 18 years of age and would like to become part of the team contact the Clerk, Hilary Workman on 07508 039810 or email
What is a councillor? Councillors are elected to represent an individual geographical unit on the council, in Wickhambrook it is the entire parish. They are generally elected by the public every four years, but there is a Co-option space available on the Parish Council at the moment following the resignation of Cllr John Barton. A notice of vacancy was published, and no electors having called for a poll, the parish council may now fill the vacancy by co-option.
What do councillors do? Councillors have three main components to their work.
- Decision making – Through meetings and attending committees with other elected members, councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and whatpolicies should be implemented (We have 7 full meetings and 5 Estates Committee Meetings each year).
- Monitoring – Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.
- Getting involved locally – As local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities and duties often depend on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available, and may include:
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- Going to meetings of local organisations
- Participating in a working group (e.g, Neighbourhood Planning or Road Safety)
- Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public
How much time does it take up? Quite often councillors say that their duties occupy them for about an hour a week. Obviously there are some councillors who spend more time than this – and some less, but in the main, being a parish councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community, and helping to make it a better place to live and work. As a councillor representing your community you will help keep it a great place to live and work. You will be supported in your role and will be expected to undertake training. You should be comfortable working electronically. You should have a positive outlook and a can-do attitude and be willing to work as part of a team.
Come and join the team – we need you!!
Can you help us with our Community Emergency Plan??
The parish council adopted a draft plan at its Annual Meeting in May. We would like to hear from you if you have skills you would be willing to volunteer (for example, emergency medicine, nursing, plumbing, electrics), if the plan is activated. Please drop me an e-mail at if you would be willing to help. We’d also like to hear from any contractors who provide services to Suffolk County Council (e.g. road clearance).
Join us for a day of bulb planting and tidying up in the Cemetery on 31st August – 11am until 3pm
Please also contact if you would like to take part in training as a footpaths volunteer for the parish on the same day.
Phew, what a lot of news!! Do feel free to forward this message on to neighbours, friends and family in the parish and ask them to get in touch with me at if they would like to be included in our e-newsletter mailing list!
Keep safe and well
Hilary Workman
Clerk for Wickhambrook Parish Council