NEWSLETTER APRIL 2021
At the April meeting of the Executive Committee, we were joined by Dr Julia McLean, Clinical Director of South Waveney Primary Care Network. She made us aware of plans for improved integration of healthcare systems in the NHS which will be operational from April 2022. We took the opportunity to thank her for the efficient roll out of the Covid vaccination programme in the local area.
Many members of our community have recently welcomed the news that the proposed extension to the Lime Kiln Gravel Pit in Reydon has been successfully opposed. We understand that there is now to be a community liaison group established by the operators of the current pit. We hope that the operators will commence the necessary restoration of previously worked land as soon as possible.
Many members of the Society continue to feel very concerned about Southwold Town Council’s plans for Station Yard. Following the publication of the Business Case Review by the Council in March, the Society again wrote to Council members expressing our continuing concerns. These include our fear that there is not enough evidence to support the premise that there is sufficient demand for office space for 65 to 74 people in Southwold, our concern that the proposed design is not appropriate to the entrance to Southwold and our concern that the project does not have the support of the electorate. We understand that the final design of the project has not yet been agreed and that issues about car parking are yet to be resolved. In spite of these and other outstanding issues, scoping for the demolition of buildings on the site is apparently to proceed. It is notable that a condition of the existing planning permission is that demolition should not commence until parking provision has been allocated. It will be interesting to see how Southwold Town Council resolve this particular conundrum.
We have been pleased to support Chris Ure and Tony Smith in their work to provide a so-called ‘Disability Map’ of our area which will identify accessible premises. We have made funds available to cover the costs of printing.
The news that we no longer have a Police Community Support Officer in Southwold is a cause for concern. The reasons for this are not completely clear, but it does seem surprising that this appears to have happened without consultation.
It is hoped that the Community Bus (popularly known as ‘Mr Bus’!) will be able to resume its planned route around Southwold, Reydon and Walberswick in May. However, it is dependent upon volunteer drivers and there is a need for more of these. Volunteers have to be over 25 years of age and must have a D1 on their licence. They receive training before commencing their three hour shifts which can be just once or twice a week. Anyone who is interested in volunteering should contact Flic Gellatly at the Voluntary Help Centre .
Catherine Wiltshire, Executive Committee Member
At the April meeting of the Executive Committee, we were joined by Dr Julia McLean, Clinical Director of South Waveney Primary Care Network. She made us aware of plans for improved integration of healthcare systems in the NHS which will be operational from April 2022. We took the opportunity to thank her for the efficient roll out of the Covid vaccination programme in the local area.
Many members of our community have recently welcomed the news that the proposed extension to the Lime Kiln Gravel Pit in Reydon has been successfully opposed. We understand that there is now to be a community liaison group established by the operators of the current pit. We hope that the operators will commence the necessary restoration of previously worked land as soon as possible.
Many members of the Society continue to feel very concerned about Southwold Town Council’s plans for Station Yard. Following the publication of the Business Case Review by the Council in March, the Society again wrote to Council members expressing our continuing concerns. These include our fear that there is not enough evidence to support the premise that there is sufficient demand for office space for 65 to 74 people in Southwold, our concern that the proposed design is not appropriate to the entrance to Southwold and our concern that the project does not have the support of the electorate. We understand that the final design of the project has not yet been agreed and that issues about car parking are yet to be resolved. In spite of these and other outstanding issues, scoping for the demolition of buildings on the site is apparently to proceed. It is notable that a condition of the existing planning permission is that demolition should not commence until parking provision has been allocated. It will be interesting to see how Southwold Town Council resolve this particular conundrum.
We have been pleased to support Chris Ure and Tony Smith in their work to provide a so-called ‘Disability Map’ of our area which will identify accessible premises. We have made funds available to cover the costs of printing.
The news that we no longer have a Police Community Support Officer in Southwold is a cause for concern. The reasons for this are not completely clear, but it does seem surprising that this appears to have happened without consultation.
It is hoped that the Community Bus (popularly known as ‘Mr Bus’!) will be able to resume its planned route around Southwold, Reydon and Walberswick in May. However, it is dependent upon volunteer drivers and there is a need for more of these. Volunteers have to be over 25 years of age and must have a D1 on their licence. They receive training before commencing their three hour shifts which can be just once or twice a week. Anyone who is interested in volunteering should contact Flic Gellatly at the Voluntary Help Centre .
Catherine Wiltshire, Executive Committee Member
NEWSLETTER MARCH 2021
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The CV pandemic has forced the closure of my local gym at Old Hall and access to the pool at St Felix, resulting in a daily walking and cycling round for exercise. I am struck by the large numbers of us locals mostly walking their dogs, enjoying the beach, harbour, pier, common and the marshes. Why then are so many hell bent on destroying these gems? This is all manmade – indirectly, through global warming, causing rising sea levels and combined with just awful local planning.
Some good news though; after many many years of debate, at a joint meeting of our local councils all agreed to set up the new Harbour Management committee. Better yet, it appears that it will be staffed by people with the skills to raise money to manage the harbour properly. It looks like a ball park figure of £5M is needed to restore the harbour walls etc, and protect the harbour from silting up.
And hand in glove with this is the establishment of The Southwold & Walberswick Flood
Board, whose participants include the Environment Agency, AONB, SCC, ESC, with Simon Flunder representing our Society, with Cllr David Beavan as Chair. This will manage the coastline between Walberswick and Southwold and be responsible for managing the sea defences against sea level rises. The key need is a strategy to control the sea encroachment at Easton Bavents and to protect the Bridge Rd/ North Rd area; apparently a similar exercise in Kessingland has been successful.
On a gloomier note though, The Station Road saga rumbles on, the machinations of which are about as clear as Blackshore mud. After a spend the thick end of £150k of our money, we can see little of value in the outcome so far; but there has now been a presentation of the future options. Since this so seriously splits our communities, how about a referendum on it on May 6th for all stakeholders?
The St Felix playing field saga is more complex. The school needs cash, is a very important local employer, shares their facilities with our community and, of course, provides a very good educational service. A pity then that the plans for the new houses/pitch replacement, includes the destruction of local rare bird habitat and some of those glorious holm oaks which will have to come down. In any event RAGE are seeking a judicial review of the recent planning consent for replacement playing fields (see www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-our-suffolknightingales/ ).
The Sizewell C juggernaut seems now unstoppable; I would guess we are split on whether we need nuclear power as a stopgap to when renewables can fill the void to reduce carbon emissions. We oppose SZC on the grounds of cost, unproven technology, Chinese involvement and the negative effect on local infrastructure and tourism.
Similarly, though we need the wind farms, we are objecting to the size and negative impact on the environment of the proposed on-shore substation at Friston. Note that our neighbours in Norfolk have effectively stopped a similar development; seems we do have some power after all.
More locally we have had the recent dangerous flooding on the Halesworth Road, caused by the run off from the pig farm. This is a mixture of rain water and slurry with obvious health risks; and the torrent has gouged out huge chunks out of the bridle path down Shepherd’s Lane. Clearly with the change from growing crops to livestock something has altered the soil retention there and needs to be investigated.
Dexter Kirk - President
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The CV pandemic has forced the closure of my local gym at Old Hall and access to the pool at St Felix, resulting in a daily walking and cycling round for exercise. I am struck by the large numbers of us locals mostly walking their dogs, enjoying the beach, harbour, pier, common and the marshes. Why then are so many hell bent on destroying these gems? This is all manmade – indirectly, through global warming, causing rising sea levels and combined with just awful local planning.
Some good news though; after many many years of debate, at a joint meeting of our local councils all agreed to set up the new Harbour Management committee. Better yet, it appears that it will be staffed by people with the skills to raise money to manage the harbour properly. It looks like a ball park figure of £5M is needed to restore the harbour walls etc, and protect the harbour from silting up.
And hand in glove with this is the establishment of The Southwold & Walberswick Flood
Board, whose participants include the Environment Agency, AONB, SCC, ESC, with Simon Flunder representing our Society, with Cllr David Beavan as Chair. This will manage the coastline between Walberswick and Southwold and be responsible for managing the sea defences against sea level rises. The key need is a strategy to control the sea encroachment at Easton Bavents and to protect the Bridge Rd/ North Rd area; apparently a similar exercise in Kessingland has been successful.
On a gloomier note though, The Station Road saga rumbles on, the machinations of which are about as clear as Blackshore mud. After a spend the thick end of £150k of our money, we can see little of value in the outcome so far; but there has now been a presentation of the future options. Since this so seriously splits our communities, how about a referendum on it on May 6th for all stakeholders?
The St Felix playing field saga is more complex. The school needs cash, is a very important local employer, shares their facilities with our community and, of course, provides a very good educational service. A pity then that the plans for the new houses/pitch replacement, includes the destruction of local rare bird habitat and some of those glorious holm oaks which will have to come down. In any event RAGE are seeking a judicial review of the recent planning consent for replacement playing fields (see www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-our-suffolknightingales/ ).
The Sizewell C juggernaut seems now unstoppable; I would guess we are split on whether we need nuclear power as a stopgap to when renewables can fill the void to reduce carbon emissions. We oppose SZC on the grounds of cost, unproven technology, Chinese involvement and the negative effect on local infrastructure and tourism.
Similarly, though we need the wind farms, we are objecting to the size and negative impact on the environment of the proposed on-shore substation at Friston. Note that our neighbours in Norfolk have effectively stopped a similar development; seems we do have some power after all.
More locally we have had the recent dangerous flooding on the Halesworth Road, caused by the run off from the pig farm. This is a mixture of rain water and slurry with obvious health risks; and the torrent has gouged out huge chunks out of the bridle path down Shepherd’s Lane. Clearly with the change from growing crops to livestock something has altered the soil retention there and needs to be investigated.
Dexter Kirk - President
February Newsletter
For most of us, the past month has been much the same as many of the preceding ones. However, things are getting better. Thanks to the efficiency of the South Waveney Primary Care Network who organised the vaccines and the army of extremely helpful volunteers, organised by David Beavan, many of us have had our vaccinations. The only thing that slows the process is waiting for deliveries. Be patient, your turn will come. The Executive Committee have, on your behalf, written to the Sole Bay Health Centre and to David expressing our thanks and appreciation for all their hard work. Our thanks must also go to Nine Deli which has provided food for the volunteers.
The other upside is that spring is coming, snowdrops, catkins and primroses are making an appearance, the days are subtly lengthening and birds are busily checking out the real estate for their future nests. Obviously, several centimetres of snow have somewhat slowed this process!
The Executive Committee has been busy too. We identified a need in Reydon and Southwold for laptops or tablets for those students who are confined to home-schooling or virtual lessons. A couple of our members have been able to organise the supply of twenty laptops to those who would otherwise be disadvantaged without suitable access to IT. Our thanks go to the Reydon and Southwold Trusts who funded the laptops.
We again had a number of planning applications to consider and the same ‘favourites’, St Felix (Sport England have acknowledged that their consultation response to the construction of playing fields was incorrect), and the proposed extension to the gravel pits in Reydon remain on our agenda and elicit much discussion. We understand that there is an updated transportation proposal for Sizewell C to make more use of rail and sea. With regard to the proposed windfarms, we will be writing to Therese Coffey to reiterate our concerns that the energy infrastructure must be better co-ordinated and the impact on local areas be properly assessed.
We have heard that work on the Bailey Bridge is due to start on 1 April and last about three months. To date, we have not heard what arrangements have been made to provide people with an alternative way of getting to the other side of the river, but we understand that East Suffolk Council are working on plans to ease disruption.
The Committee was pleased to hear from Reydon Parish Council that in January two more councillors have been co-opted onto the Council which, added to the three that joined at the end of last year, means that the Council has nearly a full house, with only one more person to find. Our Interest was raised about the WW1 pillbox at Mights Bridge. Once insurance issues have been sorted, and Covid-19 restrictions allow, there are volunteers who will help tidy it. If RPC can get the required permission from the landowners, there is an idea of perhaps turning it into a bat roost.
Thank you to all those that have sent in nomination forms for our Excellence Awards. We received a good number of nominations which the Awards Committee will now consider and then notify the rest of the Committee.
Pam Cyprien
Committee Member
For most of us, the past month has been much the same as many of the preceding ones. However, things are getting better. Thanks to the efficiency of the South Waveney Primary Care Network who organised the vaccines and the army of extremely helpful volunteers, organised by David Beavan, many of us have had our vaccinations. The only thing that slows the process is waiting for deliveries. Be patient, your turn will come. The Executive Committee have, on your behalf, written to the Sole Bay Health Centre and to David expressing our thanks and appreciation for all their hard work. Our thanks must also go to Nine Deli which has provided food for the volunteers.
The other upside is that spring is coming, snowdrops, catkins and primroses are making an appearance, the days are subtly lengthening and birds are busily checking out the real estate for their future nests. Obviously, several centimetres of snow have somewhat slowed this process!
The Executive Committee has been busy too. We identified a need in Reydon and Southwold for laptops or tablets for those students who are confined to home-schooling or virtual lessons. A couple of our members have been able to organise the supply of twenty laptops to those who would otherwise be disadvantaged without suitable access to IT. Our thanks go to the Reydon and Southwold Trusts who funded the laptops.
We again had a number of planning applications to consider and the same ‘favourites’, St Felix (Sport England have acknowledged that their consultation response to the construction of playing fields was incorrect), and the proposed extension to the gravel pits in Reydon remain on our agenda and elicit much discussion. We understand that there is an updated transportation proposal for Sizewell C to make more use of rail and sea. With regard to the proposed windfarms, we will be writing to Therese Coffey to reiterate our concerns that the energy infrastructure must be better co-ordinated and the impact on local areas be properly assessed.
We have heard that work on the Bailey Bridge is due to start on 1 April and last about three months. To date, we have not heard what arrangements have been made to provide people with an alternative way of getting to the other side of the river, but we understand that East Suffolk Council are working on plans to ease disruption.
The Committee was pleased to hear from Reydon Parish Council that in January two more councillors have been co-opted onto the Council which, added to the three that joined at the end of last year, means that the Council has nearly a full house, with only one more person to find. Our Interest was raised about the WW1 pillbox at Mights Bridge. Once insurance issues have been sorted, and Covid-19 restrictions allow, there are volunteers who will help tidy it. If RPC can get the required permission from the landowners, there is an idea of perhaps turning it into a bat roost.
Thank you to all those that have sent in nomination forms for our Excellence Awards. We received a good number of nominations which the Awards Committee will now consider and then notify the rest of the Committee.
Pam Cyprien
Committee Member
NEWSLETTER, JANUARY 2021
Our first committee meeting of the New Year was via Zoom. As lockdown continues, we have become increasingly accustomed to this style of working and, in some ways, it has made us very much more efficient. As normal, we had a number of items on the agenda and the one that always takes the longest is to examine planning applications so that we can send our thoughts and deliberations to the local planning committee. We had a lively and illuminating exchange of ideas on some innovative plans and our opinions will now be conveyed to the authorities. There are some planning issues that drag on and they also take time at most meetings. These include the planned development at St Felix and also the potential gravel extraction pits at Reydon. The former considered the construction of the new playing fields which has been approved despite it destroying countryside in the AONB. There is every likelihood that this may be the subject of legal action. The latter is also of great concern since the land envisaged provides ‘nature bridges’ between various areas in Reydon including the Blyth estuary and Reydon woods. It was also instructive to hear of the environmental plans being discussed by Reydon Parish Council, which include verge wilding, quiet lanes and electric car charging points.
We are also very aware of the environmental impact that Sizewell C and the substation associated with the wind farm will have. We have expressed our concerns that enough recognition is not being given to their influences on tourism, wildlife and the local road infrastructure.
It is rather dismaying to discuss some things which drag on and on. We still seem to be no further with understanding what is happening with Station Yard, the Police Station site and Harbour Management. There are still ongoing discussions taking place about the ownership of the camping site next to the harbour. Will there ever be a resolution? We were made aware of the problems associated with flooding of York Road and understand it is a result of a blocked culvert under the road which has also increased the water levels on the Town Marsh, hopefully this will be resolved soon. In the same geographic area, we mentioned the bailey bridge in our last newsletter and expressed concern that regular users would be disadvantaged during its refurbishment. We have heard from a councillor that ‘we recognise the impact on people who use the bridge on a regular basis whilst it is closed for repair and we will be working with partners and providers to reduce the impact as much as possible with some alternative arrangements’.
On a final note, can I urge you to renew your membership and encourage new members. The larger the membership, the more lobbying power we have.
Jonathan Hadgraft (committee member)
Our first committee meeting of the New Year was via Zoom. As lockdown continues, we have become increasingly accustomed to this style of working and, in some ways, it has made us very much more efficient. As normal, we had a number of items on the agenda and the one that always takes the longest is to examine planning applications so that we can send our thoughts and deliberations to the local planning committee. We had a lively and illuminating exchange of ideas on some innovative plans and our opinions will now be conveyed to the authorities. There are some planning issues that drag on and they also take time at most meetings. These include the planned development at St Felix and also the potential gravel extraction pits at Reydon. The former considered the construction of the new playing fields which has been approved despite it destroying countryside in the AONB. There is every likelihood that this may be the subject of legal action. The latter is also of great concern since the land envisaged provides ‘nature bridges’ between various areas in Reydon including the Blyth estuary and Reydon woods. It was also instructive to hear of the environmental plans being discussed by Reydon Parish Council, which include verge wilding, quiet lanes and electric car charging points.
We are also very aware of the environmental impact that Sizewell C and the substation associated with the wind farm will have. We have expressed our concerns that enough recognition is not being given to their influences on tourism, wildlife and the local road infrastructure.
It is rather dismaying to discuss some things which drag on and on. We still seem to be no further with understanding what is happening with Station Yard, the Police Station site and Harbour Management. There are still ongoing discussions taking place about the ownership of the camping site next to the harbour. Will there ever be a resolution? We were made aware of the problems associated with flooding of York Road and understand it is a result of a blocked culvert under the road which has also increased the water levels on the Town Marsh, hopefully this will be resolved soon. In the same geographic area, we mentioned the bailey bridge in our last newsletter and expressed concern that regular users would be disadvantaged during its refurbishment. We have heard from a councillor that ‘we recognise the impact on people who use the bridge on a regular basis whilst it is closed for repair and we will be working with partners and providers to reduce the impact as much as possible with some alternative arrangements’.
On a final note, can I urge you to renew your membership and encourage new members. The larger the membership, the more lobbying power we have.
Jonathan Hadgraft (committee member)
NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 2020
2020 - (a year to forget, but one which we will always remember) - is drawing to a close and will be over by the time this appears in print. Our last meeting of the year covered a wide range and included a briefing from Hannah Wright, the Southwold Town Development Manager and Ian Bradbury, Southwold's Mayor, on the new Town App and support for local businesses. Hannah is, effectively, the new Chamber of Trade, organising promotions & modern aids for shops and shoppers and planning to stretch the tourist year with 'out of season' events. This has been given a bit of a kick in the teeth by the pandemic, but we support all efforts to stabilise and strengthen the local economy.
We looked at a number of planning applications and discussed, in particular, the implications of the application to develop a 'glamping' site on farmland beside the Lowestoft Road. There is a patent need for farms to diversify (the cafe complex at Old Hall Farm is an example) and to support our local dependence on tourism, but this plan has serious implications for the environment as it's in an area presently favoured by nesting birds, a number of which are on the 'red' endangered list and it is also well within the AONB.
Southwold Town Council (which does not usually get involved in Reydonian affairs) has voiced concerns about this and is, in any case, discussing possible extension of the existing campsite on Ferry Road.
In which connection...I believe that one of the suggestions for inclusion on the Police Station Site is a launderette. I propose the campsite as an alternative location. I think that most, if not all, holiday lets now include a washing machine as standard. Most tents don't.
In other planning/building news:
On Dec 8, ESC Planning Committee approved St Felix's application for replacement playing fields, despite acknowledged harm to the the County Wildlife Site. The way is now clear for the sale of their existing large field for the development of 69 houses - another major incursion into the AONB.
Planning permission has been given for the Town Trail but the final shape of this is far from settled. A Committee member suggested that the trail should start at the Arts Centre, which has just completed major structural work and is planning a busy programme for next year.
The Station Yard business plan is due for close examination in January - this may have implications for the type of development to follow.
At the time of writing STC is still considering whether to bid for the Police Station site for community use. Refreshingly, the Town Hall hosted an open zoom on the subject but, even so, was unable to be specific on the possible costs or the chances of success.
The Bailey Bridge is to close for repair some time in the New Year, with problematic implications for those who depend on it for access to and from Walberswick.
The Bowls Club is exploring the possibility of developing the land bordering the Halesworth Road to fund much-needed repairs to the cladding of the building containing the indoor bowling rinks and for the general improvement of facilities. There is room to create a new green at the rear of the site.
Southwold Harbour mouth has one of the fastest (possibly the fastest) flows on the East coast. By contrast, progress on the governance and development of the harbour and estuary has seemed positively sluggish at times. But now there is real progress: consultation results are expected by the year end with work on recruiting the membership of the Harbour Management Committee starting in the New Year.
In other congestion news:
Southwold is to charge for parking in STC car parks using a phone-based system for payment. It's not clear how this will affect residents, those holidaying in the chosen areas or those who need to drive and park in Southwold for work. As always with parking, there's a difficulty for every solution.
Watch all of these spaces.
By the end of December, we will have had a taste of the new 'normal', much ado about vaccines and a chance to test our comfort waistbands to the limit. Best wishes for a less memorable 2021.
Ridley Burnett, Chairman.
2020 - (a year to forget, but one which we will always remember) - is drawing to a close and will be over by the time this appears in print. Our last meeting of the year covered a wide range and included a briefing from Hannah Wright, the Southwold Town Development Manager and Ian Bradbury, Southwold's Mayor, on the new Town App and support for local businesses. Hannah is, effectively, the new Chamber of Trade, organising promotions & modern aids for shops and shoppers and planning to stretch the tourist year with 'out of season' events. This has been given a bit of a kick in the teeth by the pandemic, but we support all efforts to stabilise and strengthen the local economy.
We looked at a number of planning applications and discussed, in particular, the implications of the application to develop a 'glamping' site on farmland beside the Lowestoft Road. There is a patent need for farms to diversify (the cafe complex at Old Hall Farm is an example) and to support our local dependence on tourism, but this plan has serious implications for the environment as it's in an area presently favoured by nesting birds, a number of which are on the 'red' endangered list and it is also well within the AONB.
Southwold Town Council (which does not usually get involved in Reydonian affairs) has voiced concerns about this and is, in any case, discussing possible extension of the existing campsite on Ferry Road.
In which connection...I believe that one of the suggestions for inclusion on the Police Station Site is a launderette. I propose the campsite as an alternative location. I think that most, if not all, holiday lets now include a washing machine as standard. Most tents don't.
In other planning/building news:
On Dec 8, ESC Planning Committee approved St Felix's application for replacement playing fields, despite acknowledged harm to the the County Wildlife Site. The way is now clear for the sale of their existing large field for the development of 69 houses - another major incursion into the AONB.
Planning permission has been given for the Town Trail but the final shape of this is far from settled. A Committee member suggested that the trail should start at the Arts Centre, which has just completed major structural work and is planning a busy programme for next year.
The Station Yard business plan is due for close examination in January - this may have implications for the type of development to follow.
At the time of writing STC is still considering whether to bid for the Police Station site for community use. Refreshingly, the Town Hall hosted an open zoom on the subject but, even so, was unable to be specific on the possible costs or the chances of success.
The Bailey Bridge is to close for repair some time in the New Year, with problematic implications for those who depend on it for access to and from Walberswick.
The Bowls Club is exploring the possibility of developing the land bordering the Halesworth Road to fund much-needed repairs to the cladding of the building containing the indoor bowling rinks and for the general improvement of facilities. There is room to create a new green at the rear of the site.
Southwold Harbour mouth has one of the fastest (possibly the fastest) flows on the East coast. By contrast, progress on the governance and development of the harbour and estuary has seemed positively sluggish at times. But now there is real progress: consultation results are expected by the year end with work on recruiting the membership of the Harbour Management Committee starting in the New Year.
In other congestion news:
Southwold is to charge for parking in STC car parks using a phone-based system for payment. It's not clear how this will affect residents, those holidaying in the chosen areas or those who need to drive and park in Southwold for work. As always with parking, there's a difficulty for every solution.
Watch all of these spaces.
By the end of December, we will have had a taste of the new 'normal', much ado about vaccines and a chance to test our comfort waistbands to the limit. Best wishes for a less memorable 2021.
Ridley Burnett, Chairman.
NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2020
November saw the eighth meeting in our ‘new normal’ online world, and the national lockdown that started the previous day ensured that there could be no apologies for absence. Our calendars might be somewhat empty at the moment, but our agenda was very full and there was plenty to discuss.
First, we welcomed Councillors Jeans and Rowan-Robinson to present an update on the Southwold Neighbourhood Plan. Five new housing policies have been developed, driven by the need for more affordable housing in Southwold so that younger families can live and work in the Town. Policies SWD1 – 3 deal with redeveloping Assets of Community Value, community buildings and employment areas for permanently affordable housing. We will be interested to see how such policies might affect sites such as the former police station. Policy SWD4 is a principal residence requirement, similar to the one that already exists in the Reydon Neighbourhood Plan. Policy SWD5 seeks to impose conditions on development for holiday letting. A considerable amount of work and time has clearly gone into the drafting of these policies, which look to be innovative and workable.
Our meeting then continued as usual, with Station Yard right up at the top of the agenda, particularly since the date given for the remaining tenants to vacate the property was looming a few days after our meeting. We wrote to the Town Council adding our wholehearted support to the call to delay this. We understand that the date has now been put back to 11th January 2021.
We discussed the tricky balancing act of voicing our opposition to Sizewell C, while at the same time arguing for the strongest possible mitigation measures should it go ahead. The planning process continues, but now under the cloud of the recent news that the government is close to giving the green light for Sizewell C to go ahead, after the collapse of projects in Anglesey and Cumbria.
The proposals for the Southwold Town Trail continue to provoke lively debate. We received no response to our suggestions for less obtrusive (and less expensive) ways in which to provide information, such as online, via an app, leaflets, footpath maps etc. We continue to believe that, if grant money is available, it could be better spent elsewhere. The Arts Centre, for example, is a real asset to Southwold - a cultural hub that hosts major events and brings substantial income to the Town. The Trustees are working hard to upgrade the building and provide an exciting programme. The Town Council have recently donated £2,000 but the Centre desperately needs more funding.
With regard to the Harbour, we understand that East Suffolk has approved spending of £1.1 million for the repair to the Fender at the entrance to the Harbour. It was pointed out that, had these repairs been carried out some two years ago when the problem was originally raised, the cost would have been considerably less. On a brighter note, the new Harbour Management Committee is due to be set up in March/April next year, and the modelling survey appears to be relatively optimistic about the impact of rising sea levels.
We are still seeking nominations for our annual Excellence Awards, which will be going ahead next April. If you know of any individual or local organisation who might be deserving of an award, please let us know. A nomination form can be downloaded from our website sandrsoc.org.uk/awards-for-excellence.html or obtained from Brian Harrild (01502 724298) and the closing date for nominations is 31st January 2021.
Fiona Taylor
Secretary
November saw the eighth meeting in our ‘new normal’ online world, and the national lockdown that started the previous day ensured that there could be no apologies for absence. Our calendars might be somewhat empty at the moment, but our agenda was very full and there was plenty to discuss.
First, we welcomed Councillors Jeans and Rowan-Robinson to present an update on the Southwold Neighbourhood Plan. Five new housing policies have been developed, driven by the need for more affordable housing in Southwold so that younger families can live and work in the Town. Policies SWD1 – 3 deal with redeveloping Assets of Community Value, community buildings and employment areas for permanently affordable housing. We will be interested to see how such policies might affect sites such as the former police station. Policy SWD4 is a principal residence requirement, similar to the one that already exists in the Reydon Neighbourhood Plan. Policy SWD5 seeks to impose conditions on development for holiday letting. A considerable amount of work and time has clearly gone into the drafting of these policies, which look to be innovative and workable.
Our meeting then continued as usual, with Station Yard right up at the top of the agenda, particularly since the date given for the remaining tenants to vacate the property was looming a few days after our meeting. We wrote to the Town Council adding our wholehearted support to the call to delay this. We understand that the date has now been put back to 11th January 2021.
We discussed the tricky balancing act of voicing our opposition to Sizewell C, while at the same time arguing for the strongest possible mitigation measures should it go ahead. The planning process continues, but now under the cloud of the recent news that the government is close to giving the green light for Sizewell C to go ahead, after the collapse of projects in Anglesey and Cumbria.
The proposals for the Southwold Town Trail continue to provoke lively debate. We received no response to our suggestions for less obtrusive (and less expensive) ways in which to provide information, such as online, via an app, leaflets, footpath maps etc. We continue to believe that, if grant money is available, it could be better spent elsewhere. The Arts Centre, for example, is a real asset to Southwold - a cultural hub that hosts major events and brings substantial income to the Town. The Trustees are working hard to upgrade the building and provide an exciting programme. The Town Council have recently donated £2,000 but the Centre desperately needs more funding.
With regard to the Harbour, we understand that East Suffolk has approved spending of £1.1 million for the repair to the Fender at the entrance to the Harbour. It was pointed out that, had these repairs been carried out some two years ago when the problem was originally raised, the cost would have been considerably less. On a brighter note, the new Harbour Management Committee is due to be set up in March/April next year, and the modelling survey appears to be relatively optimistic about the impact of rising sea levels.
We are still seeking nominations for our annual Excellence Awards, which will be going ahead next April. If you know of any individual or local organisation who might be deserving of an award, please let us know. A nomination form can be downloaded from our website sandrsoc.org.uk/awards-for-excellence.html or obtained from Brian Harrild (01502 724298) and the closing date for nominations is 31st January 2021.
Fiona Taylor
Secretary
NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2020
After a glorious Summer anyone of a gloomy disposition will not have been helped by the recent briefings of the medical Brothers Grim and the general muddle of the powers that be, perhaps feeling that nothing much has progressed in our struggle to live with the great pandemic. Added to which, as I write, the weather seems to have set in for the duration. But we are very fortunate to live in such a fabulous part of the country and I heartily endorse Billy Connolly’s ‘No such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothes’. So we can still cheer ourselves up with the sea, the Common and the marshes with the wind blowing through our hair.
However, at local level really not much has changed and most issues rumble on without epiphany.
On the positive side, our annual Excellence Awards will be going ahead as usual with the presentations to be made, one way or another, in April 2021. We ask you to consider if you know of any individual or local organisation who might be deserving of such an award, especially in the response to Covid 19. If so, please obtain a nomination form and the accompanying notes either from our website (sandrsoc.org.uk/awards-for-excellence.html) or from Brian Harrild (01502 724298). The closing date for submissions is 31st January 2021.
The Society’s Tardis noticeboards on Electricity Green and outside the Randolph have been a feature of the community since 1992. But they are tired and we have recently had a good look at them which resulted in new legs and a shiny overhaul for the former and condemnation of the latter as completely rotten. We are looking at a replacement but the Electricity Green board is still available for use via the Post Office, notices to be on portrait A4 paper only.
Further to the note about the Southwold Arts Centre in the last newsletter the theatre will have a gala re-opening for audiences on 25 October and is holding twelve very wide ranging performances between now and the New Year plus six days of a Christmas Show. The ticket office is open for booking at https://southwoldartscentre.co.uk/
The revival of the Shuttle Bus was also mentioned in the last newsletter and this will re-start on 19 October with regular stops at Old Hall Café, venturing to Walberswick on Mondays and Thursdays. It will take 6 masked passengers, will be free to start with and full timetables are at the printers. There is still a shortage of volunteer drivers, so if there are any volunteers for 3½ hour shifts out there you would be very welcome – contact the Voluntary Help Centre 01502 72459 or www.southwoldvhc.com. Sponsorship or donations would also be welcome.
There seems to have been a regrettable impression that Solebay Health Centre has shut its doors and pulled up the drawbridge since the onset of the pandemic and we were keen to establish what the situation actually was. In response to our enquiry, we were assured that all our doctors are available at the surgery and appointments can be made in the usual way. What is different is that many more appointments are being taken by telephone or video consultations. Experience has shown that the vast majority of matters are able to be resolved in a timely manner via a call without having to attend the surgery. In addition, the pharmacy continues to run a very effective delivery service.
Following the membership’s response to our question about the Society’s stance on Sizewell, the Chairman has now written a note to supplement our representation to EDF and to make our opposition to Sizewell C stronger.
The public consultation on the proposed Town Trail was held on 10 September and the project received mixed views. It is not certain that we need more signage, random sculpture or the woodpecker to represent us. The Society feels that the money would be better spent on reviving the boating lake.
With regards to the Police Station site, in reply to having reported some of your views and suggestions, the Council has helpfully suggested in the Gazette that if SRS is so interested it should make an offer for the site. With our annual subscription remaining at £2 this would indeed be an ambitious endeavour.
Having thus mentioned membership obliquely I cannot let it pass without a recruitment plea. Normally at this time of year we get a bit of a membership boost with the Annual Lunch but with its cancellation this year I would ask you to encourage friends and neighbours to join.
Who knows where we will go next both on a local and a national level – perhaps the Eagle comics of the 1960s which illustrated the population all wearing glass bubble helmets when outdoors were prescient?
Andrew Wallington-Smith
Membership Secretary
After a glorious Summer anyone of a gloomy disposition will not have been helped by the recent briefings of the medical Brothers Grim and the general muddle of the powers that be, perhaps feeling that nothing much has progressed in our struggle to live with the great pandemic. Added to which, as I write, the weather seems to have set in for the duration. But we are very fortunate to live in such a fabulous part of the country and I heartily endorse Billy Connolly’s ‘No such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothes’. So we can still cheer ourselves up with the sea, the Common and the marshes with the wind blowing through our hair.
However, at local level really not much has changed and most issues rumble on without epiphany.
On the positive side, our annual Excellence Awards will be going ahead as usual with the presentations to be made, one way or another, in April 2021. We ask you to consider if you know of any individual or local organisation who might be deserving of such an award, especially in the response to Covid 19. If so, please obtain a nomination form and the accompanying notes either from our website (sandrsoc.org.uk/awards-for-excellence.html) or from Brian Harrild (01502 724298). The closing date for submissions is 31st January 2021.
The Society’s Tardis noticeboards on Electricity Green and outside the Randolph have been a feature of the community since 1992. But they are tired and we have recently had a good look at them which resulted in new legs and a shiny overhaul for the former and condemnation of the latter as completely rotten. We are looking at a replacement but the Electricity Green board is still available for use via the Post Office, notices to be on portrait A4 paper only.
Further to the note about the Southwold Arts Centre in the last newsletter the theatre will have a gala re-opening for audiences on 25 October and is holding twelve very wide ranging performances between now and the New Year plus six days of a Christmas Show. The ticket office is open for booking at https://southwoldartscentre.co.uk/
The revival of the Shuttle Bus was also mentioned in the last newsletter and this will re-start on 19 October with regular stops at Old Hall Café, venturing to Walberswick on Mondays and Thursdays. It will take 6 masked passengers, will be free to start with and full timetables are at the printers. There is still a shortage of volunteer drivers, so if there are any volunteers for 3½ hour shifts out there you would be very welcome – contact the Voluntary Help Centre 01502 72459 or www.southwoldvhc.com. Sponsorship or donations would also be welcome.
There seems to have been a regrettable impression that Solebay Health Centre has shut its doors and pulled up the drawbridge since the onset of the pandemic and we were keen to establish what the situation actually was. In response to our enquiry, we were assured that all our doctors are available at the surgery and appointments can be made in the usual way. What is different is that many more appointments are being taken by telephone or video consultations. Experience has shown that the vast majority of matters are able to be resolved in a timely manner via a call without having to attend the surgery. In addition, the pharmacy continues to run a very effective delivery service.
Following the membership’s response to our question about the Society’s stance on Sizewell, the Chairman has now written a note to supplement our representation to EDF and to make our opposition to Sizewell C stronger.
The public consultation on the proposed Town Trail was held on 10 September and the project received mixed views. It is not certain that we need more signage, random sculpture or the woodpecker to represent us. The Society feels that the money would be better spent on reviving the boating lake.
With regards to the Police Station site, in reply to having reported some of your views and suggestions, the Council has helpfully suggested in the Gazette that if SRS is so interested it should make an offer for the site. With our annual subscription remaining at £2 this would indeed be an ambitious endeavour.
Having thus mentioned membership obliquely I cannot let it pass without a recruitment plea. Normally at this time of year we get a bit of a membership boost with the Annual Lunch but with its cancellation this year I would ask you to encourage friends and neighbours to join.
Who knows where we will go next both on a local and a national level – perhaps the Eagle comics of the 1960s which illustrated the population all wearing glass bubble helmets when outdoors were prescient?
Andrew Wallington-Smith
Membership Secretary