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!

Hoax Email

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We have been subject to a hoax email which was published in Frank Warby's Column in the June issue of the MHD, regarding mobile phone tricks, a couple of the points mentioned do work, a couple don't and are potentially not suitable to even try!.

For more specific information please see www.hoax-slayer.com/mobile-phone-tips.shtml

Moreton Hall Youth Club – can you help?

As the days grow longer more youngsters attend the youth club on Moreton Hall. This means they really need more mums and dads to help supervise.

On a rota basis, it would only mean having to attend once a month.

So come on mum and dads support your children’s club, we fought hard to get it please don’t let us loose it. Anyone interested please email Frank Warby at frankjwarby@aol.com or ring 01284 704138.