Time to have your say on budget ideas

Questionnaires will be dropping on to the doormats of 2000 residents throughout St Edmundsbury this week asking people to help the borough council save £3.5 million through changing services or raising more income. And all residents in the borough can take part through the online consultation at: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk

Cllr John Griffiths, St Edmundsbury Borough Council Leader, said: “We will have £3.5 million less to spend over the next couple of years so there are some very tough decisions to be made. We are consulting on a number of ideas before – not after – any decisions are made and and I stress that these are only ideas for possible consideration in the future. This is your money we are talking about, whether it comes from taxes paid to Government or through Council Tax, so I encourage anyone who lives in the borough to let us know your views, and your own ideas, through the online consultation. You will be helping councillors to decide how we can deal with our £3.5 million budget gap.”

The consultation asks some very specific questions, usually with indications of the potential money saved, or new income generated (such as raising £20,000 through charging to use the Abbey Gardens toilets, for example, or saving £50,000 by moving the Tourist Information Centre to Moyse’s Hall Museum). It doesn’t cover every council service, because savings may already have been made, or because the timing is wrong. The apex is an example – it was scheduled to be looked at two years after it opened, so will be reviewed in late 2012.  The consultation closing date is 4 October and the council will take consultation responses into account during the autumn budget-setting process, with the final budget set in February 2012.

If people do not have internet access at home they can complete the online consultation at libraries, the Lower Downs Slade council offices in Haverhill, or at West Suffolk House or Tourist Information centre in Bury St Edmunds. Replies can be anonymous, but if people give their contact details they will be entered in a draw with three prizes of £50.

Road closures in Bury St Edmunds this weekend

The Angel Hill area of Bury St Edmunds will be affected by road closures for three events this weekend. 

The seventh stage of the Tour of Britain will be held on Saturday morning, (17 September), followed by the Girl’s Night Out St Nicholas Hospice fundraising walk on Saturday night and the Battle of Britain observance on Sunday 18 September. 

Abbeygate Street will be closed between 4 pm Friday 16 September and 3 pm Saturday 17 September 2011, from its junction with the Buttermarket to its junction with Angel Hill. 

Angel Hill car park area will be closed in its entirety, between 6 pm Friday 16 September and 2.30 pm Sunday 18 September 2011 

Angel Hill road from its junction with Northgate Street / Mustow Street to its junction with Crown Street, and Crown Street from its junction with Angel Hill to its junction with Churchgate Street, will both be closed to traffic between 8 pm Friday 16 September and 2 pm Sunday 18 September 2011 

Crown Street on-street parking bay will be closed between 4pm Saturday 17 September and 2.30 pm Sunday 18 September 2011 

Crown Street will be closed from its junction with Angel Hill to its junction with Honey Hill between 10 am and 2 pm on Sunday 18 September 2011

Read the September 2011 issue online

Open publication - Free publishing - More family

Bury joins in the Tour of Britain

Bury St Edmunds will be turning out in force on Saturday 17 September to enjoy the thrills of the seventh stage of the Tour of Britain 2011, returning to the town for a second year. As well as welcoming the world’s top cyclists, there is a chance to join in a fundraising cycle challenge on Angel Hill.

Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, St Edmundsbury Cabinet member for Culture and Sport said,

“Bury St Edmunds is proud to welcome this prestigious event for a second year. The borough takes great pride in fostering the highest aspirations of our own residents, be it in sport or any other sphere. The Tour complements the broad Olympic legacy that we are creating and I hope that both events will inspire people to go for gold, whatever that represents in their lives”.

Over a hundred community riders will lead the race off from Angel Hill at 10.15am, before turning into Honey Hill allowing the 96 strong peloton to head south. The lead off pack will include members of the three-man Cycle to Rwanda team, who begin a 6000 mile 70 day fundraising trek in May 2012.

St Edmundsbury will be hosting the Rwandan Olympic and Paralympic teams for London 2012 and have set up the Sport for Rwanda appeal, to raise £80,000 to leave a lasting legacy in the country. Sport is not taught in Rwandan schools and the appeal aims to give more than 100,000 schoolchildren the ability to take part in sport, giving them sports equipment, a place to store it and educational materials to help teachers. www.sportforrwanda.org/cycle-to-rwanda

Local businesses will be hosting displays on Angel Hill as part of the Bury St Edmunds Business Festival and after the race has departed, donning lycra for a Business Challenge cycle event. Local organisations are being invited to enter teams of four riders to race against one another on a short route around Angel Hill. Bikes are available to borrow. To enter and to reserve a bike, please complete a form, downloadable from www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk . The participation fee of £30 per team includes insurance and a donation to Sport for Rwanda.

There are also free entry races for young people. The events are being organised by the West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathalon Club, using bikes provided by Cycle Suffolk. Riders are asked to bring their own helmets and some form of team t-shirt. Bikes can be borrowed by prior arrangement. To register and to reserve a bike, please send your details and a cheque payable to West Suffolk Wheelers care of Barry Denny, Denny Bros Ltd, Kempson Way, Bury St Edmunds IP32 7AR.

The Self Centre - Supporting the community

The Self Centre is holding its 2nd Charity Market Place Open Day on Friday 16th September from 1pm until 6pm.
 

"All proceeds from the event will go towards the self sanctuary foundation being set up to provide free and subsidised classes and workshops. These events are an opportunity for small entrepreneurs to showcase their wares to a wider local audience" said Carole Baker, director.

"Please pop in for a free cup of tea and to find out all about the de-stressing classes, workshops and therapies that are on offer at the self centre. On sale on the day will be Phoenix Cards, Ugandan Beads, Children’s accessories/jewellery and ladies jewellery; not forgetting the Herb & Spice Café’s famous Organic Chocolate Brownies and Flapjacks!"

The event is open to all and if you would like to be involved by having a stall – please call 01284 769090 for details or email carole@the-self-centre.co.uk

For more information about the self centre, visit their website at: www.the-self-centre.co.uk

CALLING ROLLERSKATING FANATICS!

CurveMotion, the new Bury St Edmunds based family interactive leisure venue, has released details of a charity skateathon it will be holding on Sunday 11th September 2011 as part of the St Nicholas Hospice Accumulator Challenge.

The skateathon will be open to anyone of any age to skate as many laps of the CurveMotion rink as they can. Those who really want a challenge are being invited to skate the full 422 laps that make up the 26 miles of a full marathon. Skaters are being asked to raise a minimum of £20 sponsorship if they are 16 and under and £50 if they are over 16, with all sponsorship plus a percentage of the entrance fees on the day going directly to St Nicholas Hospice.

All those taking part in the event will receive a certificate detailing the amount raised, and those who skate the full 422 laps will receive free entry to a session of their choice.

Sarah Stamp, Spokesperson for CurveMotion explained: “We are really excited about the skateathon - not only is it going to be great fun, but it gives us a chance to raise money for an excellent local cause which is very close to our hearts. We have a number of other fundraising initiatives planned for the day, including a slave auction of staff members, so anyone visiting CurveMotion on the 11th September can expect a real party atmosphere and lots of fun!”

Those wishing to take part in the Skateathon should book online at www.curvemotion.com or email enquiries@curvemotion.com for further information and a sponsor form.

Thinking about a street party on 29th April? Road Closure deadline looming...

The deadline for applying for a road closure for a street party on 29 April in St Edmundsbury is Monday 14 March.

Road closures will be free in a private street, or a cul-de-sac, where there is no access to other roads and where neighbours and residents can gather easily and safely together.  

However a road closure for a through road is a more detailed process and will be more expensive. Organisers have to provide a traffic plan, detailed risk assessments, public liability insurance and to arrange for a contactor to sign diversion routes.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council is encouraging people to hold their parties away from through roads where possible. The Monday 14 March deadline allows sufficient time to check that individual locations are suitable and to carry out the legal process required for a road closure.

Visit: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/streetclosures www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/streetclosures for more information

SUFFOLK SKATERS SCOOP NEARLY £50,000 FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT

Bury St Edmunds Skatepark users are celebrating their successful bid for Lottery funding.

Bury Skatepark Experience, a group of young people and users of the Skatepark in Olding Road, were delighted to hear the news that they had been successful with their application to the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme and would soon be receiving £49,999 for some much needed improvements to the site.

Bury Skatepark Experience have been running officially since September 2009, although the history of the park dates back over a decade. The original planning began in 1998, after young people approached St Edmundsbury Council with a petition showing just how much local support there would be for the project. Taking the initiative, the young people who use the park regularly aged 10 – 25 formed a committee and were heavily involved in the original design and fund-raising for the site.

"Bury Skatepark Experience is a group ranging in ages and backgrounds, but with one common interest”, Chairman Will Pattenden, 19 explained “together we aim to maintain and improve the Bury St. Edmunds skatepark facility by raising awareness throughout the town and the region”

The group’s endeavours have been rewarded with a Changing Spaces grant of £49,999. Although the Skatepark has served the local young people well, after seeing ten years action, some upgrading is in order. The development will see the installation of a brand new BMX Pump Track, plus lights, planting, bins and benches. Jay Mills, one of the original committee members and now treasurer of Bury Skatepark Experience, told us "We are all very pleased to have been awarded the funding for the Bury St Edmunds BMX Pump track, this has come as a direct result of hard work put in by our Skatepark committee, who have pushed this project forward.”

The aim of the group is to create the best skatepark facility in Suffolk, for young people and the wider community, and this grant from the Big Lottery Fund is an important step on the way to achieving those goals.

“Our successful application to Changing Spaces gives us the opportunity to give the skatepark grounds much needed improvements, which we believe will open up the park for a broader clientele.” said   Will Pattenden “This, however, is just the beginning, our group plans to continue these efforts in order to achieve a better park for everybody". Jay Mills agreed -“expect even more great things in the future" he added.
 

The process for applying for the funding began just over a year ago with the group applying for the funding with support from St Edmundsbury Borough Council. Portfolio holder for community Cllr Robert Everitt said:

"watching this young committee take on the job of fundraising so professionally, and being successful, flies in the face of the criticism often levelled at the younger generation, we at St Edmundsbury will continue to support this well used and successful facility" 

Abbeygate ceremonial secured

Work has begun to ensure that a historic monument at the centre of arrangements for a homecoming parade will be open to the public.

Abbeygate, a historic building dating back to 1327, was closed for inspection on 24 December, when mortar and masonry damaged by recent cold weather began falling from the structure. It is an important gateway between the Abbey Gardens and Angel Hill used by thousands of people, and on Saturday 15 January, by 1 Squadron RAF Regiment who are due to march through it at the beginning of their homecoming parade.

To ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum, St Edmundsbury Borough Council is having an inner tunnel of scaffolding constructed, which will allow the gate to be used while English Heritage, the organisation responsible for its maintenance and repair, undertakes any remedial work necessary.

Cllr John Griffiths MBE, Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council said,

“Bury’s unique heritage adds greatly to the town’s quality of life and St Edmundsbury will continue to do everything it can to both preserve and protect it. We are happy to be working with English Heritage to make sure that the Abbeygate continues to be enjoyed not only today but everyday, and for generations to come.” 

Happy New Year to you all!

The new year brings new things, and one of those new things is a new look Moreton Hall Directory.

To see the January 2011 online version click the link here and let us know what you think!