Weeds, Hedges & Verges
Waveney Norse advise that with the dryer weather now due they hope to be able to catch up with the cutting and the weather will slow the grass growth and current conditions will improve. The Town Council has been working with the other landowners in the town to try and encourage then to ensure that their areas are weeded, tidied and kept in good appearance. We have asked Norse to undertake more tidying of their areas including the weeding of the access points to the prom, especially those where the handrails have become difficult to reach due to the encroaching overgrowth. We have also contacted the letting agents and asked that the fronts of their holiday homes be kept tidy, as well as the agents for the empty high street shops (this has already resulted in the area outside Lloyds Bank being tidied up). The Town Manager will be contacting the businesses to ask them maintain the appearance of the front of their properties and the Millennium Trust have arranged for cutting and weeding of the areas either side of Mights Road where there is overgrowth from their land whilst the Common Trust have listened to the feedback and have arranged for overgrowth in the posts around the Paddock area to be strimmed and for footpath areas around the common to be cleared to a sufficient width. The Suffolk County Council footpaths are cut twice a year and we have asked that these are checked for accessibility and cutback now if there is an issue. Thanks to everyone involved in helping in this way.
Common and Marshes Management Plan from Suffolk Wildlife Trust
The town council has received funding to carry out some of the works highlighted within the report from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust which are being programmed to take place throughout the autumn and spring.
Face to face meetings
Due to the change in legislation the Town Council is back to having face to face meetings – the June full council meeting having been held at the Stella Peskett Hall. The July Town Council meeting, and all future ones will be held in the Town Hall. All committee meetings are also now taking place at the Town Hall. Members of the public who wish to speak at any of our meeting do ned to attend in person – but we are hoping to make the meetings available online for anyone who may just want to listen in. Please contact admin@southwoldtowncouncil.com for more details. All minutes of our meetings are available on the town council website.
Open Air cinema
There are 4 more chances to watch the open-air cinema during August – tickets are available via the TownApp – just download MYSOUTHWOLD onto your smart phone to keep up to date with things that are happening in Southwold and to buy tickets to events.
Flowers / Colour in the Town
The triangle of wildflowers on Gardner Road/ Godyll Rd has been enjoyed by many this year – giving a glorious amount of colour and attracting much wildlife. Thanks to Robert at Hillfield Nursery for planting this up – and for planting up the tubs and hanging baskets on the Town Hall, as well as the tubs around the Town Pump. Thank you also to Jan and Chris for planting the tub on the corner of Victoria Street and for looking after the garden in Electricity Green.
Hemlock
Concern has been expressed about the presence of Hemlock in areas around the town. Any that has been spotted has been notified to the appropriate landowner for them to deal with in the approved way.
Restoring the lagoons at the Boating Lake
The Town Council has been successful in with its expression of interest for funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the lagoons to their former glory. This means that we are eligible to submit an application to NHLF for the full project in the autumn.
Station Road redevelopment
The demolition and professional team have been appointed and the formal processes are now being undertaken to enable clearance of the site. The professional team are reviewing a design to ensure that it can be built within budget in view of the cost of materials having risen over the past 2 years. It was agreed at the last town council meeting that the structural engineer will also look at the present materials at the site to see if there were any that could be reused in the build. In view of criticism received around communication about the project, it was also agreed that a professional organisation be used to carry out the comms on the project as it moves forward. Having received several specific queries about the project there is now a FAQ on the town council website which provides responses to the frequently asked questions. https://southwoldtown.com/station-yard-development/
Extra Defibrillator
The Town Council has arranged for a defibrillator to be installed in the phone box by the Pier. Thanks to Mrs Shephard for her donation to this project and thank you also to Simon Tobin for making all of the arrangements. Defibrillator in phone box on Victoria Street – the phone box has now been repainted and looks shiny once again.
Parking Strategy for the town – on Street parking
East Suffolk Council will be sending out a consultation about on- street parking during August and September – their proposed scheme introduces permit parking throughout the town, and everyone is encouraged to respond.
Off street parking
In relation to car parks the car park at Godyll Road/ Gardner Road will become a 4-hour short stay car park (probably starting in September), and the town council is working with other parking providers including the Millennium Trust, East Suffolk Council and the Common Trust in respect of the local provision of longer-term parking.
Ferry Road Garden
work is continuing on recreating a sensory garden in this area. With financial assistance from Suffolk County Council, the town council, and individuals, it is hoped that that this will again become an area for all to enjoy.
Southwold Neighbourhood Plan
The Regulation 16 consultation process has now been completed and the Neighbourhood Plan is now on its way to the Inspection stage.
Planning applications
The planning cttee continues to meet fortnightly to look at all the applications submitted for works throughout the town. The cttee respond to each application – advising East Suffolk Council of the local aspect and considerations of each, to ensure that ESC is aware of local views before making their decision on each.
Donations/ grants
The Town Council has increased the amount it is allocating to assist local groups this year – and was pleased to be able to help the Southwold Arts Centre with a contribution to their new audio system, and The Old Hospital Hub with a contribution for the creation of the library at the new premises, who both applied in May. The next round of applications will be invited in September.
Gallopers on Klondyke
The gallopers are here again for August for people to enjoy.
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