TRUE TO HIS WORD
When Mark Bee was elected to become Conservative Leader of Suffolk County Council he pledged not to cut Suffolk's School Crossing Patrols where they were most needed. In Holywells Ward we lost our patrolled crossing on Foxhall Road sometime ago due to everyone’s favourite lollipop man Frank being unwell, but in spite of the Opposition Party saying that he would never be replaced yesterday saw the start of a new era and so I say congratulations to Mark Bee for keeping to your word and a thank you too from the residents that live in that area that really appreciate the reinstatement of our school crossing patrol.
ITFC CHARITABLE TRUST
I am a Trustee of the Ipswich Town Charitable Trust which has worked with more than 60,000 people of all ages, abilities, communities and backgrounds over the last 12 months. Like all Charities it has lost some of its vital funding and relies heavily on the generosity of others. It was therefore a great privilege that Matt Holland agreed to become the Charity’s Patron following in the footsteps of the great and late Sir Bobby Robson.
Matt Holland the former captain of Ipswich Town Football Club lead the team to that famous victory at Wembley on the 29th of May 2000 when we beat Barnsley 4 : 2 to go into the Premiership. We then reached fifth in the League (if we had won at Derby we would have been 4th!!!) and went on a wonderful European tour starting in Moscow. Matt said he was delighted to be returning the Club and he was both honoured and humbled to be following in Sir Bobby’s footsteps.
SOUTH EAST AREA FORUM
The last Thursday in November saw the very last South East Area Forum in its present format. The meeting was held in Nansen Road Baptist Church and was packed to capacity with standing room only. A lot of residents had come from Holywells Ward to object to Ipswich Borough Council’s proposed grass management scheme along Clapgate Lane and Nacton Road. It was very refreshing that the Portfolio Holder Bryony Rudkin gave her word that if the people did not want this to happen then it wouldn’t. I do hope this will prove to be the case because it was quite clear that the residents did not want to see the grass left to grow. At the meeting a large petition was presented to Cllr Rudkin emphasizing the strength of feeling against this proposal. The meeting was quite shocked when a letter was read out from Cllr Sandy Martin saying that this would be the last meeting in its present form and that the new structure will become a more formal committee with Councillors making the decisions and members of the public, who can at the moment (as at this meeting) just turn up and speak, will have to give notice of their intention to speak. Not quite the same as now and a great shame.
STREET WALKABOUT
I believe this to be a great initiative and hopefully something that will catch on as time goes by. Debbie Owen one of the Council’s Community Development Officers organised our walkabout last week which was well attended by both Councillors, the police, the Environmental Health Officer and Highways Officer from the Council as well as residents. We walked all along Alan Road, Rosehill Road and Cavendish Street and found many issues which are now being dealt with by both the Borough and the Police. We hope to have further walkabouts like this and it was suggested by one of the residents that it would be a good idea to do this in the evening when the nights get lighter. So we will make sure this happens and thank you Debbie for organising this.
GLADSTONE ROAD
Over the years residents living in Gladstone Road have contacted me regarding indiscriminate parking especially on the rather sharp corner in the road. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when one resident’s wall was hit by a vehicle which mounted the pavement – and needless to say just drove off – Well within days I am so pleased to say that bollards have at last been erected on this dangerous corner and the residents are so grateful that this has been done. Thank you to the Council.
DR JOHN BLATCHLY
I have recently become a member of the Rotary Club of Ipswich East and it was a great honour to be accepted into this Rotary Club. Just recently I was invited by The Rotary Club of Ipswich to attend a lunch at which Dr John Blatchly was presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship, the highest honour a Rotary Club can bestow on an individual and indeed this award is not often given to non-Rotarians. The photograph shows John receiving the award from the President of the Club in honour of the considerable contribution he has made to Ipswich and its citizens over the past 40 plus years. I was so pleased to be there and to see John receive this award so richly deserved.
WHAT’S IN A BUS STOP
At a recent Residents’ Meeting on the Waterfront a question arose regarding the removal of the bus stop on Duke Street, near to where the new Travelodge is being built.
This bus stop on Duke Street has been suspended in order to allow works to take place for the construction of the new Travelodge. The suspension started over a month ago and is due to last until the necessary works are completed, but this won't be until 30th July 2012.
A suspension of a bus stop for such a long period is not something that the Council does lightly and as such they consulted on the proposal with Ipswich Buses who had no objection and carried out a survey of passenger usage (paid for by Barnes Construction) which showed that the bus stop was not especially well used. They also placed a notice on the bus stop for the benefit of the travelling public. This notice did not generate any complaints or enquiries and until recently no complaints since the bus stop was suspended.
Signage has been placed on the hoardings surrounding the building site informing the public that they should use the next bus stop along Duke Street, near the Myrtle Road roundabout. Some residents are finding this inconvenient and may find it better to use a Service 61, 62, 76 or 77 and board or alight at the bottom of Bishops Hill as this may be closer for them until the stop is reinstated next year.