Issues and Options consultation – Tuesday 13 October (9am) to Tuesday 22 December (5pm) 2020. West Suffolk is starting to develop its Local Plan. A local plan provides a vision for the growth and development of an area and policies which sets out the way that the plan aims to meet the housing, employment, social and community needs of an area while at the same time protecting and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment…
General News
Suffolk Risk Level update – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor
News about social distancing, coronavirus testing and general information for Public Health Suffolk…
Support line to help those with financial, job or housing worries
A phoneline has gone live as of 1 October to help people across Suffolk access information or support relating to debt, benefits, housing or employment…
Clare Community Hub – Memories are Golden
“Memories Are Golden” (based in Haverhill) are going to be running sessions at Clare Social Club to provide a supportive and caring environment for sufferers of dementia and their carers. A two-course lunch is provided, along with activities and respite space. Nursing care is on hand, as well as advice and guidance. This group is not solely for people living with dementia; it’s also for those over the age of 65 that are at risk of social isolation…
Beware of Green Homes Grant Scammers
The Government has launched the Green Homes Grant, designed to help homeowners and landlords with the costs of installing energy efficient improvements in the home. However, when the government launches high profile schemes like this, criminals will try to cash in and exploit those wishing to take up the scheme…
TV License Scam
TV Licensing is writing directly to anyone affected by the changes. No one needs to do anything until they receive this letter, and there will be plenty of time to set up a licence…
Walk around the Thurlows and Little Bradley
This 3.7 mile circuit runs from Great Thurlow to Little Bradley and back alongside the River Stour. There is a choice of routes for the last half mile but these directions give the ‘high street’ alternative which takes in several interesting buildings such as the Olde School built in 1614 by Sir Stephen Soame (one time Lord Mayor of London) to provide free education to sons of local farmers who were taught ‘English, Latin and Ciphering ’(arithmetic). ..
Brockley Circuit
This is a circular route around the village of Brockley and has the proud distinction of never visiting the village of Brockley. The 7 mile circuit makes use of the Bury St Edmunds to Clare long distance walk in the north/south direction and an old green lane cum bridleway in the south/north direction. There are sufficient undulations and views and variation to make life interesting without providing too much of a struggle. Most of the circuit is either on field edges, or tracks, or through grassy meadows or bridleways but there is one short cross-field section towards the end. In the middle of January this was very sticky. For reassurance take your copy of Ordnance Survey Explorer map 211 Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket with you…
Hargrave and Chevington
The walk explores the countryside around and between the two villages making use of mainly field edge paths and quiet country roads. There are some gentle slopes and the circuit is a mix of wide open spaces and village edges. At almost 7 miles it is a longer walk than usual but when you reach the seats in Chevington churchyard you are more than halfway round…
Track & Trace QR Code
From today (24th September), hospitality businesses, close contact services such as hairdressers and beauty salons, leisure, sports and visitor attractions as well as community and villages halls need to display a NHS QR code…
Suffolk residents who have been contact by someone purporting to be the Police
We have been made aware of two very recent incidents of Suffolk residents who have been contact by someone purporting to be the Police…
Fake Penalty Charge email
We’ve seen a number of reports of people receiving this fake Penalty Charge email. The email claims the recipient has driven on a road that has a charging scheme and as such a penalty is payable…
Suffolk CoronaWatch
Suffolk’s CoronaWatch is the online home of data and information produced under the Suffolk Joint Strategic Needs Assessment about COVID-19. It can be accessed 24 hours a day…
#YourFuture #YourSay on West Suffolk Local Plan
People’s views will be at the heart of forming a new Local Plan for West Suffolk which will help shape the future of communities and supporting development up to 2040…
Covid Blues – poem
Poem by Wendy Mansfield written whilst in lockdown
Volunteering Opportunity- The Voluntary Network
Do you enjoy making friends and chatting to people? Our Befriending Service could be for you!
Whepstead Wander
This five mile circuit, two and a half hours of walking at gentle pace, makes use of a stretch of the Bury St Edmunds to Clare path and includes two short sections across fields but the route is regularly walked so they should be clear of crops and accessible all year round…
Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor
News about social distancing, coronavirus testing and general information for Public Health Suffolk…
Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor
News about Samual Ward Academy closure and Pupil wellbeing top priority for Suffolk as children head back to school…
Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor
News about Ipswich Park & Ride and SCC funded school travel…
Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor
News about Love to Ride, Travel Survey and Back to School…
Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor copy
I am very pleased to report that under the DfE Covid-19 Technology scheme, Suffolk County Council has now allocated 700 laptops, 50 tablets and opened up 100 4G hotspots to children with social workers as well as care leavers who do not have adequate access to technology…
Denston Walk
This route will take you there and back in under three hours at leisurely pace. Most of the circuit is on field edge paths or minor roads with pavements. There is a seat outside the church that almost overlooks the village green. Please note that on one section of the return journey the path has been diverted and is not as shown on even the most recent copy of the Ordnance Survey Newmarket and Haverhill 210 Explorer map, but it is clearly waymarked…
End of Shielding
Government food parcels and medication deliveries to those who were shielding stopped on 31st July. Those affected will have already received a letter from Government outlining the changes. The volunteers of the Wickhambrook Coronavirus Support group have done a fantastic job supporting our more vulnerable residents during lockdown and shielding but many are now back at work themselves, and the group has not been able to offer continuing support after the end of shielding. If circumstances change due to an increase in cases or restrictions, we’ll keep you updated through the website if its support activities resume. Thank you to all the volunteers from Wickhambrook Parish Council…
Re-opening of Play Areas Update
Following our risk assessments, our play parks are now open. We’ve had to take some pieces of equipment out of use, either because it would be difficult for the children to maintain social distancing whilst using it, or because it would be difficult for parents and guardians to adequately sanitise the equipment before your children use it. These will be marked clearly with tape…
Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor
Mobile Testing Units: visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/testing for newly published dates for mobile testing units across Suffolk. Through this link you can find the dates are for the next two weeks. However, please be aware the dates are subject to change, so do check back regularly…
Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor
It should be obvious but we have been asked to share the message: Please do not put used PPE in your recycling bin! Equally do not discard it on the ground. All used PPE should be removed safely. Early on in lockdown I saw a short video showing how to remove gloves safely rolling up one into the other and taking them off so that no point do you touch the outer surface of either glove. Once removed, PPE should be double bagged and disposed of into your black bin…
Wickhambrook WI thank village shop staff
During the lockdown weeks of Covid-19, the village shop in Wickhambrook (Premier Stores) was absolutely vital for everyone. The ladies of the WI decided to say thank you to the shop staff by baking a cake for them each month for a year and the first cake was delivered this week…
Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3 years
There is much being shared across social media and in the press about face coverings and masks available for babies. Many of these have been shown to have embellishments, dummies and long attachments, all of which are a safety hazard…
Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives – Message from Mary Evans, Suffolk County and West Suffolk District Councillor
At the county council we are working through exactly what the announcement of extra funding for our schools will mean. You maybe aware that Suffolk and other rural counties have been underfunded for schools and for SEND but it looks like our rural schools and SEND budgets are going to get better than expected increase – which is very welcome…