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2023
March
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 15th March 2023 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre, clerk@worlingworthpc.co.uk Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the Parish Council section of this website.
Parish Council Elections – Thursday 4th May
Throughout England parish councils work towards improving community well-being and providing better services at a local level. They are the tier of local government below the level of district, borough or unitary council and are the tier of local government closest to the people. Every four years an election is held and volunteers are sought for nomination to the Parish Council. There are specific criteria that you have to meet to become a Councillor, but if you would like to contribute to your local community, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information about this important voluntary role. Nomination papers are available from Thursday 16th March.
Allotments
The Parish Council has recently been approached by a group of parishioners who are seeking the provision of allotments. Under the Small Holding & Allotments Act 1908 we now have a statutory duty to explore how Worlingworth could make such a provision. It may be that there is a plot of suitable land which could be either sold or leased to the Parish Council for such a purpose. Or it is possible there may be other ways in which land could be made available. At this point it would simply be an expression of interest, without prejudice to either party. If you feel you may have a suitable plot of land we would welcome an opportunity to enter into a dialogue to explore the viability of allotment provision within the parish.
New Village Noticeboard
The Parish Council has recently invested in a new noticeboard, which will (or may already by the time you’re reading this) be installed outside the Community Centre. Three of the sections will only be accessible by key to enable space to be kept for essential information to be displayed. The fourth section will be freely available for any village organisation to use to advertise events. Please note any business cards or adverts will be removed.
BE AWARE – LOCK IT OR LOSE IT!
There has been a recent spate of thefts in the village and therefore everyone is reminded of the need to stay vigilant and to ensure property is correctly secured to avoid opportunistic thefts.
February
Parish Council Meetings for 2023
Meetings are held every month, usually on the third Wednesday of the month, at the Community Centre. All members of the public are welcome at these meetings. If you wish to have an item added to the agenda, please contact a Parish Councillor.
Dates for 2023 are: 15th February, 15th March, 19th April, 17th May, 21st June, 19th July, 16th August, 20th September, 18th October, 15th November & 20th December.
Other Events for 2023:
Annual Parish Meeting – Wednesday 12th April
Spring Clean – Saturday 29th April
Walking Day – Saturday 9th September
Autumn Tidy – Saturday 14th October
(Further details on these events will be circulated closer to the time.)
CONGRATULATIONS TO 2022 JUBILEE CUP WINNER
BRIAN SMALLCOMBE - Brian has been involved with the Parish Council for many years giving unstinting and loyal support for the village, including organising two litter picks each year, along with serving on several other Worlingworth committees such as chairing the history club. Over the years he has willingly given up so much of his time to local causes and is a truly worth recipient.
Parish Councillor Vacancy
Would you like to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor? If you would like to find out more, please contact the Parish Clerk.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website, please email clerk@worlingworthpc.co.uk with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
January
No parking on the village green
Unfortunately, some vehicles have recently taken to parking on the Village Green (the location of the village sign), this has resulted in damage to the grass. Please note that under Section 12 of the Enclosure Act 1857 and Section 20 of the Commons Act 1876 it is an offence to damage or encroach upon a village green. Please DO NOT park vehicles on the village green as it will destroy the area for the whole community.
Battery disposal
Earlier this year there was a fire at the Materials Recycling Facility in Great Blakenham, near Ipswich (which recycles waste from across Suffolk). The fire is suspected to have been started by a battery dumped with household recycling, located deep within nearly 400 tonnes of waste it took firefighters and staff nearly two hours to extinguish. Batteries, or electricals containing batteries, that end up inside bins or recycling and waste lorries with other materials, get crushed in the waste or recycling process. This can result in them being punctured and self-combusting, setting fire to dry and flammable waste and recycling around them. Lithium-ion batteries are responsible for around 48% (more than 200) of all waste fires occurring in the UK each year costing some £158 million annually to waste operators and fire services, not to mention the damage to the environment. Therefore, it is ESSENTIAL that everyone does their part in ensuring that batteries DO NOT end up in the kerbside waste collections. Most large supermarkets have a battery recycling point, but in truth any shop that sells batteries is required by law to have a recycling drop-off point for old batteries. Alternatively, batteries and small electrical items can be safely recycled at any of Suffolk County Council’s Household Waste & Recycling Centres.
PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCY
Would you like to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor? If you would like to find out more, please contact the Parish Clerk
December
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 21st December 2022 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre All are welcome
worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
Allotments In Worlingworth
The Parish Council is looking to form a working party to conduct a feasibility study on the formation of allotments in the village and whether there is sufficient demand likely from parishioners. If you would be interested in renting an allotment and/or being part of a group who would look into ways to deliver such allotments then please contact Councillor Carol Garrett who is heading up the project on: chgarrett53@yahoo.co.uk
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website, please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Have you just moved in to Worlingworth, or do you know of someone who has?
Please contact Jane Butler on 01728 628330 so she can deliver a copy of the Worlingworth Welcome Pack, free to all newcomers to the village
November
Councillor Changes
At our October Parish Council meeting Brian Smallcombe stepped down after many years of serving the community, first as an ordinary member of the Council and then as Chair. The Council thanked Brian for all his hard work and support over the years, presenting him with a leaving gift.
The resignation meant that we needed one of our hardworking Councillors to step forward to take on the role of Chair, the honour of which was bestowed upon Councillor Jane O’Vel. Jane is looking forward to working with the Council over the coming months in her new role.
Brian’s resignation does now leave us with a vacancy on the Council, so if you would like to volunteer to contribute to your local community by joining the Parish Council, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
Jubilee Cup – Nominations Needed by Friday 2nd December
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the community. Any member of the community may nominate any individual, team or group for consideration by the Council. All you have to do is describe briefly (up to 400 words) why you feel they should be awarded the Jubilee Cup. Please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Friday 2nd December at the latest.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website, please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
October
Next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 19th October 2022 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre. All are welcome worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website here.
Following the sad passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II the September meeting of the Council had to be postponed due to National Mourning, therefore we just have a couple of diary reminders, we look forward to seeing you at one of these events:
Annual Footpath Walking Day – Saturday 1st October – we will be meeting at the Community Centre at 10.15 am before heading off to explore the wonderful network of paths around the village, then return to the Community Centre to enjoy a delicious lunch. By ensuring all parts of the footpath network are walked any issues that may require attention can be reported and remedied.
Autumn Tidy – Saturday 15th October – Again meeting at 10.15 am at the Community Centre. Litter pickers, high viz jackets and gloves will all be provided along with a light lunch for all participants upon completion. This is a chance to give back to your community and help improve your own local environment, whilst making new friends!
Website Update Emails If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website, please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other reason.
September
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 21st September 2022 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre All are welcome worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
FREE TREES!!!
The Parish Council has received a very kind donation of approximately 50 potted saplings of various native trees (elm/oak/holly/hawthorn to name a few) and as a result are looking for locations to plant these trees. If you think you have a suitable location for one or two (or maybe more!) then please let Tree Warden Francis Muldoon know by making contact with him on 01728 627166 or j50fjm@gmail.com
In addition, the Woodland Trust and again offering tree planting and hedging packs free of charge, in conjunction with the Suffolk Tree Warden Network. These packs are better suited for landowners with a larger area that can be planted. Again please contact Francis (details as above) if you think you have somewhere suitable.
Dates for Your Diary:
Annual Footpath Walking Day – Saturday 1st October – we will be meeting at the Community Centre at 10.15 am before heading off to explore the wonderful network of paths around the village, then return to the Community Centre to enjoy a delicious lunch. By ensuring all parts of the footpath network are walked any issues that may require attention can be reported and remedied.
Autumn Tidy – Saturday 15th October – Again meeting at 10.15 am at the Community Centre. Litter pickers, high viz jackets and gloves will all be provided along with a light lunch for all participants upon completion. This is a chance to give back to your community and help improve your own local environment, whilst making new friends!
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website, please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
August
New Councillor – parishioner Andrew Luton has stepped up to take on the role of Parish Councillor, Andrew is looking forward to taking a more active role in the community. This brings our Council back to full complement and we thank all our Councillors for their voluntary work on behalf of the village.
Tree Monitoring – Volunteers & Suitable Trees Sought – our hardworking Tree Warden has attended a workshop about tree health. As part of a project with universities in Newcastle and Strathclyde scientists are looking for trees to monitor across Suffolk. This would involve inserting a ‘Tree Talker’ device into a tree (using a couple of probes) and uploading the data periodically. If you think you have a tree that would be suitable then please let Tree Warden Francis Muldoon know by making contact with him on 01728 627166 or j50fjm@gmail.com
This project would be suitable for either those who have a tree, or who are tech savvy – so even if you don’t have a tree, but would like to be involved then please make contact, as we may have people who have suitable trees, but are concerned they may not be able to manage the technical side.
Welcome Pack Distributors – The lovely volunteers who have helped with distributing welcome packs to new residents for many years are now moving out of Worlingworth. We are therefore seeking someone else to take on this role. If you are willing to help then please contact the Parish Clerk. Also, if you have moved into the village recently and haven’t received a pack then do get in touch, so we can make sure the information is shared.
Fly Tipping – Unfortunately there has recently been a spate of fly tipping across the region. If you spot anything then please report it via the District Council website:
https://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/waste-services/everything-else-in-waste/report-litter-and-fly-tipping/
Please do not touch the waste - it may contain syringes, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances and disturbing the site may destroy evidence that could help identify the fly tippers and lead to their prosecution.
July
Thank you
The Parish Council would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all those who were involved in organising the fantastic Platinum Jubilee Celebrations throughout the village.
Speedwatch
Councillors have had recent meetings with Suffolk Constabulary and their Speed Awareness Team. The data from the taken from the village’s speed indicator sign over the past few years has been analysed and it has been agreed that speed enforcement measures will be taking place throughout Worlingworth in the coming weeks and months.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website, please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Parish Councillor Vacancy – Would you like to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor?
June
AGM of the Council
The May meeting was the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council and we are pleased to confirm that Councillor Brian Smallcombe has once again been voted in as Chairman, whilst Councillor Carol Garrett is taking up the role of Vice-Chair. The Council look forward to serving the village again in the coming months.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
Grants available to plant trees
The Parish Council does have funds available to offer small grants to people who wish to increase the numbers of trees in our parish. If you would like a native tree planted in your garden, or if you have a larger area that could take more, then please contact our Tree Warden, Francis Muldoon on 01728 627166 to discuss.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
May
“What Three Words” – Help the Emergency Services to Find You
In an emergency, callers often have difficulty describing location accurately. What 3 Words (W3W) is a new and simple way to identify a location, anywhere in the world. Unlike post codes, which at best cover a group of houses, and in a remote location, such as in a field, are non-specific, the W3W system has divided the entire world up into 3m x 3m squares.
Wherever you are, if you know your W3W address, anyone can find you. W3W is being adopted by most international agencies, and here in the UK this means Fire, Police and Ambulance, Coast Guard, Mountain Rescue, the AA, Air Ambulance, and others.
In a 999 call, for example, the operator may ask you for your W3W address. If you do not have this, or do not know what they are talking about, then they will send you a text message. By opening this message, your W3W address will be displayed, and this will identify to the emergency services where you are to within 3 m – anywhere in the world!
This is an innovative solution, and whist you may never use this, knowing your own address will save time in an emergency. Get the W3W App for your phone at what3words.com
Councillor Changes
At the April Parish Council meeting Juliet Pierce stepped down after 7 years of serving the community. The Council thanked Juliet for all her hard work and support over the years, she will be sorely missed.
However, at the same meeting parishioner Kevin Love stepped up to take on the role of Parish Councillor, a long-term resident of the village Kevin is looking forward to taking a more active role in the community.
Despite the two changes at the April meeting, we are still running with one vacancy on the Council, so if you would like to volunteer to contribute to your local community by joining the Parish Council, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
April
Is Your Birthday on or close to 6th February? Then we want to hear from you!
Festival of Suffolk – Lord Lieutenant’s Torch Relay
A symbolic torch will tour 250 towns and villages in Suffolk as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Worlingworth is on the route.
Parish Council are therefore looking for someone who lives in Worlingworth and has a birthday on or close to the 6th February – the same date Queen ascended to the throne in 1952. It doesn’t matter whether you are 3 or 93 – just sharing the Accession Day is what we’re after. The torch bearer will be transported in a rickshaw, so there is no restriction on age and all mobility needs can be catered for. If you (or someone you know) has a birthday on or close to 6th February and would like to be considered for this important role then please let the Parish Clerk know as soon as possible.
Primary School Drop Off/Pick Up Road Safety Plea – Again!!
Please DO NOT park on the yellow zig-zag areas, these areas must be kept clear for the safety of all.
In addition, please carefully consider where you park and DO NOT block resident’s access – this includes parking opposite driveways – recently an ambulance had difficulties in accessing a property. In life threatening situations a few seconds can make all the difference.
Finally – please DO NOT open passenger doors into the middle of the road to load/unload children. This is extremely dangerous for you and the children, as well as adding to the difficulties faced by all road users.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
March
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 16th March 2022 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre. All are welcome. worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Please Help Look After Our Sewers!!
Anglian Water have been hard at work in recent weeks dealing with blockages in the sewers caused by the notorious FATBERGS! Fatbergs are caused by a combination of items such as wet wipes, cottonwool, prophylactics or sanitary products mixing with congealed grease or cooking fat.
It is essential that EVERYONE ensures that only the “3 P’s” (PooPeePaper) go into the sewer system. NEVER pour fats, oils or grease down the sink, or flush wet wipes etc down the loo.
In order to dispose of cooking fat, put it in a heat-proof bowl and when it’s cool put it in the bin, or for oil simply wipe the pans clean with kitchen towel and bin that. Using a small bin in the bathroom to take all the non-flushable items which can then be tied up securely and disposed of with your household waste, is also the way to go. If you have a lot of oil to dispose of, this can be done at the Household Waste & Recycling Centres – to book a space visit www.suffolk.gov.uk
More information on how to dispose of cooking fats and oils can be found at https://experthometips.com/how-to-dispose-of-oils
Congratulations to 2021 Jubilee Cup Winner Geoffrey Robinson
Geoff had a number of nominations which covered the wide variety of roles that he has taken on in the village over the years, including: serving on the Parish Council, the Parochial Church Council, setting up and running the Worlingworth Local History Group, running the Over 65’s Xmas Lunch for a number of years, organising and running the annual Digger Turnbull quiz, playing and coaching at the Cricket Club, alongside publishing a number of books and pamphlets about the village and parish. A true community gentleman and a well deserved winner.
Footpaths - Walkers
We are very lucky to have a fantastic network of paths around Worlingworth, but please can we remind everyone of the need to care for them properly. The countryside is a working environment and therefore it is essential that dogs are not allowed to stray onto cultivated fields and MUST be kept on a leash around livestock. Also, don’t forget to pick up after your dog – wherever you are walking!
Footpaths - Landowners
Please ensure that footpaths are reinstated as quickly as possible after cultivation has taken place and take care to look after our wooden waymarkers – this will help ensure that walkers know where they are supposed to be!
February 2022
Parish Council Meetings for 2022
Meetings are held every month, usually on the third Wednesday of the month, at the Community Centre. All members of the public are welcome at these meetings. If you wish to have an item added to the agenda, please contact a Parish Councillor.
Dates of meetings can be round on the What's On page of the website.
Other Events for 2022:
Spring Clean – Saturday 9th April, Annual Parish Meeting – Wednesday 25th May
Walking Day – Saturday 1st October, Autumn Tidy – Saturday 15th October
(Further details on these events will be circulated closer to the time.)
Speed Indicator Sign – Thanks to our band of Volunteers
Many of you will be familiar with our speed indicator sign that was installed as part of the ongoing work of the Parish Council to address traffic concerns in the village. The sign is managed by a small band of volunteers who together move the sign around the village and collate the data into an understandable format. This work is essential to monitoring and evidencing the issues that Worlingworth faces and the Parish Council would like to publicly thank the team for all their hard work and effort. Since the sign has been installed, we are pleased to report the data has shown a general improvement year on year, although there is still the occasional spike of a vehicle travelling at excessive speed. The data from the sign can be viewed on the Parish Council website at:
http://www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net/parish-council/items-of-parish-council-news/road-safety-data
Roadside Planters
At the January meeting the Parish Council made the decision to purchase some roadside planters to be positioned at the entrances to the village and at various points throughout. Evidence has shown that planters of this type help reinforce to drivers that they are entering a residential area and it is hoped that the planters will not only help to ‘beautify’ the area, but assist in calming traffic. The planter purchases are possible due to Worlingworth receiving money via the Community Infrastructure Levy, which is a fee that all developers have to pay towards the community in which they are building new properties. Further traffic calming measures and road markings are also being considered following survey work by Suffolk Highways.
January 2022
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
THE SWAN INN – COMMUNITY RIGHT TO BID
Mid Suffolk District Council has received notice that the owner of The Swan Inn intends to dispose of the property. As this property is listed as an Asset of Community Value, a six week interim moratorium period has been triggered, during which disposal cannot proceed, other than by way of one of the exemptions defined in Schedule 3 of the Asset of Community Value Regulations 2012, or unless the disposal is to an eligible Community Interest Group. The six week interim moratorium period expires on 18th January 2022 and allows for any eligible Community Interest Group to submit an Expression of Interest to bid for this property. An eligible Community Interest Group is defined by Regulation 12 of the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012.
Further information on the Community Right to Bid is available on the District Council’s website as well as at: http://mycommunity.org.uk/
Part 5 of the Localism Act can be found on the following link:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/part/5/chapter/3
and a copy of the Asset of Community Value regulations can be found at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2012/9780111525791/contents
If you wish to speak to Mid Suffolk District Council about the matter please email:
NO PARKING ON THE VILLAGE GREEN
Unfortunately, some vehicles have recently taken to parking on the Village Green (the location of the village sign), this has resulted in damage to the grass. Please note that under Section 12 of the Enclosure Act 1857 and Section 20 of the Commons Act 1876 it is an offence to damage or encroach upon a village green. Please DO NOT park vehicles on the village green as it will destroy the area for the whole community.
December
COVID-19
At the November meeting of the Parish Council everyone was reminded that Suffolk is currently designated an Enhanced Response Area due to a significant rise in COVID cases and the resultant pressures on hospitals. Please remember; Hands, face space and fresh air.
FREE TREES!
Tree packs are being offered by the Suffolk Tree Warden Network (STWN) in part-nership with the Woodland Trust and Suffolk County Council. The packs of trees are fully subsidised by the Woodland Trust and are available for landowners to plant in Suffolk through STWN. The trees are eligible for inclusion in the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. For more details please visit:
www.suffolktreewardens.org.uk
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when up-dates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Defibulator machine available at the Community Centre, there will also be some new notices put up in in the village detailing how to use.
Defibrillator machine available at the Community Centre.
There will also be some new notices put up in in the village detailing how to use.
November
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 17th November 2021 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre
All are welcome
worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
Thank you to our fantastic volunteers
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Autumn Tidy such a success. It was refreshing to find that this year there was less general litter around the village and it is noted that many of you are keeping your own patches neat throughout the year, for which we thank you. Unfortunately, there was still a bit of litter that needed collecting, with this year’s noticeable find being a whole duvet!
Thanks also to everyone who helped with the Walking Day..
either on the day itself, or in the days leading up to the event. It is great to be able to have a snapshot of the state of our footpaths and fifteen actionable items have now been reported to Suffolk County Council. During the pandemic many more people have discovered the joys of the extensive footpath network that Worlingworth benefits from and it is important to look after such a valuable resource.
Unofficial Notices
At the last Parish Council meeting there was discussion about notices being pinned up for short periods of time advertising events in the village and surrounding areas. Please remember to remove any notices after the event, as these can add to littering problems if abandoned.
Anglian Water Sewerage Works
The Parish Council has been working closely with Anglian Water to address the flooding issues that have arisen in the village over the last couple of years. Remedial work has been carried out in Shop Street in front of Willow Tree Yard, with further work being planned on pipes that run across fields. It is good that this work is being carried out, but YOU can do your part too – please remember to only flush the ‘3 P’s’ down the toilet (PooPaperPee) anything else can combine to form the notorious ‘fatbergs’ and clog the system.
FINAL CALL - Jubilee Cup – Nominations by Friday 5th November
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the commu-nity. Any member of the community may nominate any individual, team or group for consideration by the Council. All you have to do is describe briefly (up to 400 words) why you feel they should be awarded the Jubilee Cup. Please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Friday 5th November at the latest.
October
Mobile Coverage in Worlingworth
Thank you to everyone who has contributed their experience regarding mobile phone coverage in the village. The matter was discussed at the September Parish Council meeting and possible solutions of how to deal with ‘not-spots’ are being explored. If you have not already sent in any comments we would still like to hear from you - the more information we have the better.
Worlingworth Walking Day – Saturday 16th October 2021
Please meet at the Community Centre at 10 am before heading off to explore the wonderful network of paths around the village, then return to the Community Centre to enjoy a delicious lunch. By ensuring all parts of the footpath network are walked any issues that may require attention can be reported to the County Council for remedial work.
Jubilee Cup – Nominations Needed by Friday 5th November
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the community. Any member of the community may nominate any individual, team or group for consideration by the Council. All you have to do is describe briefly (up to 400 words) why you feel they should be awarded the Jubilee Cup. Please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Friday 5th November at the latest.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website, please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
September
Please Park Considerately Outside the Primary School
With the start of the new school year, we would please ask that all parents/carers who are dropping off and picking up children from the Primary School carefully consider where they are parking their vehicles. The Parish Council has received complaints about vehicles being parked in private driveways and blocking access during peak times. This is completely unacceptable and although it may save the driver a few minutes of walking it can seriously inconvenience and delay others. Parking on private land is illegal and offenders can be prosecuted.
Remember also to respect the yellow zig-zag lines - they are there for the safety of all
.
Annual Autumn Tidy
We will be meeting at the Community Centre at 10.30 am on Saturday 18th September. Litter pickers, high viz jackets and gloves will all be provided along with a light lunch for all participants upon completion. This is a chance to give back to your community and help improve your own local environment, whilst making new friends!
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when up-dates have been posted to the village website, please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
New Parish Councillor
We are pleased to welcome Stephen Fugler to the Parish Council, bringing your Council back up to full complement.
August
Offset your Carbon Footprint & Increase Suffolk’s Biodiversity
The Parish Council has access to funds to help people to plant trees and hedgerows within the parish. This is through money set aside within the Parish Council budget and wider funding available from the District Council. If you have an area that you think would be suitable, then please make contact with our Tree Warden, Francis Muldoon, on 01728 627166 or j50fjm@gmail.com to find out more.
Mobile Coverage in Worlingworth
The Parish Council is seeking views from parishioners about how mobile phone coverage is functioning within the village. There have been concerns about certain areas being ‘not-spots’ and it would be good to have more information on which areas of the village may be struggling to connect, so that we can investigate further. In this age of home-working it is essential that everyone has adequate connectivity, but we need to collate information from as wide across the parish as possible in order to offer the best support. Please email the Parish Clerk if this is a matter of concern to you.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website, please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Parish Councillor Vacancy
Would you like to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor? If you would like to find out more, please contact the Parish Clerk.
July
Anglian Water Investigations – Some of you may be aware that, at the request of the Parish Council, Anglian Water is in the process of carrying out a full camera survey of the sewers in the village. This is in order to understand why there are repeated incidents of flooding from the sewers, particularly in Shop Street. A number of issues have been identified and over the coming weeks and months there will be work carried out on the system, but there are two areas that YOU as a resident of the village can help with:
Fatbergs – You may have seen reports in the national press of these monster sewer blockers. Although we haven’t set any records in Worlingworth, we are not immune to the problem and we do have a few residing beneath our feet in the village sewerage system. A fatberg is formed by a combination of non-biodegradable solid matter (such as wet-wipes, cotton buds, prophylactics or sanitary products) and congealed grease or cooking fat. That’s why it’s important that you NEVER pour fats, oils and grease down the sink or flush wet wipes etc down the loo. In order to dispose of cooking fat, put it in a heat-proof bowl and when it’s cool put it in the bin, or for oil simply wipe the pans clean with kitchen towel and bin that. Using a small bin in the bathroom to take all the non-flushable items which can then be tied up securely and disposed of with your household waste, is also the way to go. If you have a lot of oil to dispose of, this can be done at the Household Waste & Recycling Centres – to book a space visit www.suffolk.gov.uk
Riparian Duties – If have a watercourse alongside or crossing your property, you are legally termed a riparian owner. The term watercourse covers; river, brook, beck, ditch, stream, leat, goyle, rhyne or culvert. As a riparian owner you have a duty to allow water to flow through the watercourse without obstruction, pollution or diversion. This means that you have to remove blockages, such as fallen trees or overhanging branches from the watercourse, or cut back trees and shrubs on the bank if they could reduce the flow or cause flooding to another landowner’s property – you may have to pay damages if an obstruction in a watercourse that you are responsible for causes flooding elsewhere. The bed and banks of the watercourse must be maintained and debris removed (even if may not have originated on your land) and you must keep any structures such as culverts, trash screens, weirs or mill gates clear. It is also important to keep the surrounds of the watercourse free of loose debris, which could be washed into the stream during heavy storms or high flows. Anglian Water are aware that there are watercourses that are not being maintained correctly throughout Worlingworth and will be making contact with landowners to request that maintenance is carried out, but YOU can make a difference right now by assessing what work may need to be done on any ditches or watercourses adjoining or crossing your property and making arrangements to ensure the free flow of water.
Plea for help – The Parish Council is keen to improve the village website and are seeking help to understand how to effectively analyse the information about website visitors that Google can provide, in a way that is meaningful. If you have any experience in such matters and think you could help, then please contact the Parish Clerk.
Parish Councillor Vacancy – Would you like to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor? If you would like to find out more, please contact the Parish Clerk.
June
The Swan Inn – There has been recent speculation within the village about what could be done to bring The Swan back into service as a village pub. This is a matter which the Parish Council have considered many times since the pub closed in 2016 and considerable support has been given by the Parish Council to the Save Our Swan group in their attempts to look at purchasing the building for the community.
However, there are limited options available to the Parish Council in this matter. The building is listed as an Asset of Community Value, which gives certain protections. The Parish Council were instrumental in getting the ACV in place at first in 2014 and then successfully argued for a renewal of the ACV status in 2019 (the ACV lasts for a period of 5 years). ACV status means that if the owner of the building wishes to sell the property they have to notify the local authority and there is a moratorium period of six weeks to enable community groups to come forward with an expression of intent. If an expression of intent is received then a further 4½ months is granted to hold the sale to enable finances to be arranged. There are certain exemptions (such as inheritance or mortgage default) where the ACV can be overruled, but this status gives a valuable breathing space to community groups in most instances.
We have been asked what can be done to prevent The Swan falling into disrepair, as it appears that the current owner has no interest in re-opening the building as a pub. Regrettably only a small portion of the building is actually listed and although it is true that if the owner of a listed building does not ensure that the building remains sound measures can be taken against them, at present The Swan is quite clearly a watertight building, with sound walls and roof and boarded windows and as such is not deemed ‘at risk’ by the Heritage Team.
The Parish Council want to reassure all residents of the village that we are not immune to your concerns and are sympathetic to your worries, but we have done all we can as a corporate body for now, any further actions would have to be done at District or County level, which at present are not deemed appropriate.
Grants available to plant more trees
The Parish Council does have funds available to offer small grants to people who wish to increase the numbers of trees in our parish. If you would like a native tree planted in your garden, or if you have a larger area that could take more, then please contact our Tree Warden, Francis Muldoon on 01728 627166 to discuss.
May
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 19th May 2021 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre All are welcome worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
New Councillor
The Council are delighted to confirm that Tom Royall of Worlingworth Hall, has been co-opted to join the Council. This brings us up to a full complement of Councillors working hard on your behalf.
Flooding Concerns
Following the severe flooding experienced in the village over the Christmas/New Year period the Parish Council have met with Anglian Water, who will be conducting a full camera survey of the sewerage system in the next few weeks. Following a brief pre-survey visit Anglian Water have confirmed that it is clear that there is infiltration of groundwater occurring which is leading to overloading of the system, the survey will hopefully identify where this is happening. However, all parishioners are reminded of their riparian responsibilities, (legal duties to maintain any watercourse or ditch that runs adjacent to, running through or under your property). If the land on the opposite side of the watercourse or ditch is not in your ownership, you are presumed to be the joint riparian owner with the land owner on the other side. There is a presumption, in law, that each party owns up to the centre line of the watercourse and is therefore responsible for upkeep. The maintenance and clearance of ordinary watercourses and ditches is vital to help manage flood risk, help us to help you and ensure all watercourses and ditches that you are responsible for are regularly maintained.
Grants available to plant more trees
The Parish Council does have funds available to offer small grants to people who wish to increase the numbers of trees in our parish. If you would like a native tree planted in your garden, or if you have a larger area that could take more, then please contact our Tree Warden, Francis Muldoon on 01728 627166 to discuss
April
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
DIY - Village Spring Clean
We had planned to hold a Spring Clean on 10th April, however, due to the ongoing lockdown restrictions it is not possible to have our usual organised event. Therefore, we would like to encourage all residents to consider a DIY Spring Clean instead! If everyone picked up a few pieces on litter when they are out and about then the village will soon be looking spick and span again. If you would like to borrow litter picking sticks from the Parish Council then please contact Chairman Brian Smallcombe to make arrangements: beepsco@btinternet.com
Tree work in the village
The Parish Council would like to remind residents that ANY works carried out on a tree that is subject to a Tree Preservation Order requires formal planning permission to be sought from the District Council. If you are unsure if your tree is affected by a TPO then please check.
Also please remember that unless the tree work is to mitigate an immediate danger then NO work should take place between 31st March to 30th September, as this is considered the bird nesting season. Please stop and consider before carrying out tree work - we need to protect the wildlife in the village and remember trees can help with the reduction of greenhouse gases by capturing carbon from the atmosphere.
Grants available to plant more trees
The Parish Council does have funds available to offer small grants to people who wish to increase the numbers of trees in our parish. If you would like a native tree planted in your garden, or if you have a larger area that could take more, then please contact our Tree Warden, Francis Muldoon on 01728 627166 to discuss.
March
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
A year in the life of Worlingworth
A while ago the Parish Council asked if anyone was willing and keen to run a new group/activity in the village, which could be supported by the Parish Council (including funding if appropriate). Following on from this, the Parish Council has come up with a new idea which we feel might appeal to a wide variety of people in the Parish. It also has the support of Fred Clayson who originally proposed the idea of a photography club, in addition to support from Bernie Totten. The idea is to record a year in Worlingworth through photographs. They could be of events/people/flora and fauna or anything that reflects and captures life in the village.
Are you interested? Would you like to explore how this might work and what the end product might be? If so, without any commitment, please contact our Parish Clerk worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com or Carol Garrett chgarrett53@yahoo.co.uk
We'll then organise a zoom meeting to explore ideas and thoughts.
What a way to reflect our wonderful village!
February
Parish Council Meetings for 2021
Meetings are held every month, usually on the third Wednesday of the month, when permitted we meet in the Community Centre, but whilst COVID restrictions are in place we are meeting via Zoom.
Dates for 2021 are: 17th February, 17th March, 21st April, 19th May, 16th June, 21st July, 18th August, 15th September, 20th October, 17th November &
15th December.
All members of the public are welcome at these meetings. If you wish to have an item added to the agenda, please contact a Parish Councillor.
Other Events for 2021 - Subject to COVID restrictions we are planning:
Autumn Tidy – Saturday 25th September
Walking Day – Saturday 16th October
(Further details on these events will be circulated closer to the time.)
Allotments
The Parish Council is trying to gauge the interest level in the village for allotments, at the moment there is no formal provision, but if there is a demand then we will look into making arrangements. We are aware that many of you have gardens (indeed some may feel too much garden from time to time!), but if you would be interested in an allotment then please let the Parish Clerk know.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
January 2021
New Councillor
The Council are delighted to confirm that Jane o’Vel of The Acorns, Park View, has been co-opted to join the Council. This brings us up to a full complement of Councillors working hard on your behalf.
Ready, Steady, Census
The decennial census is almost upon us. Households across Worlingworth will soon be asked to take part in the nationwide survey of housing and the population. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. Information from the digital-first census will help decide how services are planned and funded in your local area. This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, housing or new bus routes. Households will receive a letter with a unique access code in the post, allowing them to complete their questionnaire
online. Paper questionnaires will be available on request. Census day is March 21 2021. For more information, visit: www.census.gov.uk
Allotments
The Parish Council is trying to gauge the interest level in the village for allotments, at the moment there is no formal provision, but if there is a demand then we will look into making arrangements. We are aware that many of you have gardens (indeed some may feel too much garden from time to time!), but if you would be interested in an allotment then please let the Parish Clerk know.
Speed Indicator Sign
We are pleased to report that we have one volunteer who has come forward, but it would be really good if we could have a second volunteer to help with the periodic relocation of the sign. Training will be provided, so if you are willing to help please email the Clerk.
Village Website
We are seeking a volunteer who is willing to actively engage with the various groups in the village to gather information on upcoming events as well as seek out information from District & County level Councils that is of use/interest to residents of Worlingworth and then upload this information to the village website. A basic level of IT literacy is needed, but specific training can be arranged with the website hosting service. If you are interested please email the Clerk.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
December
Make Sure You Stand Out In The Dark – Please remember with the dark mornings and evenings to wear hi-visibility clothing when out walking or cycling – research has shown that drivers slow down when seeing people in “hi-viz” clothing and the extra few seconds this gives them to react could just save your life.
The Home, But Not Alone free phoneline is up and running again – call 0800 876 6926 if you need any help due to the impact of Coronavirus. The line proved a valuable resource to help thousands of people and families access emergency support such as food and medicine deliveries and befriending schemes earlier in the year, paused in August, demand has risen again, the line will be staffed from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.
There is also a new service called The Suffolk Advice and Support Service phoneline (freephone 0800 068 3131). Specifically aimed at those who need help with debt advice, budgeting, mortgage, rent or credit card problems and employment queries. This phoneline is delivered by the Collaborative Communities Covid-19 Board. Call handlers use resources and information from across many Suffolk organisations and specialist providers, which are tailored to individual needs. Some of the help provided to date includes:
• Supporting families with food and fuel vouchers, paying utility bills, and buying school uniforms.
• Buying a bike for a man to get to his new job, after losing his old job due to Covid-19 and having to sell his car to cover expenses.
• Buying special boots for a child with disabilities, which the family could no longer afford.
Funding Opportunity - Matthew Hicks (County Councillor for Worlingworth) still has some locality funding available for this financial year. This is money that can be granted to community groups in support of projects and schemes. There have been few applications to the fund this year due to the COVID restrictions, but if you are involved in a group and are looking for funding please make contact with Matthew directly via: 01728 628176 or matthew.hicks@suffolk.gov.uk
Speed Indicator Sign – We are pleased to report that we have one volunteer who has come forward, but it would be really good if we could have a second volunteer to help with the periodic relocation of the sign. Training will be provided, so if you are willing to help please email the Clerk.
Village Website – We are seeking a volunteer who is willing to actively engage with the various groups in the village to gather information on upcoming events as well as seek out information from District & County level Councils that is of use/interest to residents of Worlingworth and then upload this information to the village website. A basic level of IT literacy is needed, but specific training can be arranged with the website hosting service. If you are interested please email the Clerk.
Parish Councillor Vacancy – Would you like to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor? If you would like to find out more please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
November
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 18th November 2020 at 7.30pm to be held remotely via Zoom.
All are welcome, if you would like to attend please contact the Parish Clerk:
worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com for a meeting link
Jubilee Cup – Nominations Needed by Monday 2nd November please
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the community. Any member of the community may nominate any individual, team or group for consideration by the Council. All you have to do is describe briefly (up to 400 words) why you feel they should be awarded the Jubilee Cup. Please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Monday 2nd November at the latest.
Parish Councillor Vacancy
The Parish Council expresses its thanks to Cllr Adrian Smith who has stepped down from his role as he prepares to move out of the village for pastures new.
As a result, we are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor. If you would like to find out more please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email
worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
October
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on
Wednesday 21st October 2020 at 7.30pm
to be held remotely via Zoom.
All are welcome, if you would like to attend please contact the Parish Clerk: worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com for a meeting link
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
Jubilee Cup – Nominations Needed by Monday 2nd November Please
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the community. Any member of the community may nominate any individual, team or group for consideration by the Council. All you have to do is describe briefly (up to 400 words) why you feel they should be awarded the Jubilee Cup. Please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Monday 2nd November at the latest.
CANCELLED – Worlingworth Walking Day
Due to the ongoing situation with the Coronavirus pandemic the Parish Council has decided to cancel the annual Walking Day, which was due to take place on 17th October. Instead one of your Councillors – Juliet Pierce will be walking all the paths in the parish herself to compile our annual report and identify any maintenance that needs to be carried out.
CAN YOU HELP?
Speed Indicator Sign
In the near future you will see solar panels being added to our Speed Indicator Sign, to help reduce the workload of keeping this valuable resource operating (no batteries to be recharged every two weeks!). However, the sign still needs to be periodically relocated to the different sites within the village to remain an effective deterrent/reminder to drivers to keep within the speed limits. Therefore, we are looking for volunteers to come forward to help with this relocation rota. If you are willing to help please email the Clerk who will put you in touch with Councillor Adrian Smith, who currently manages the signs.
Village Website
Councillor Carol Garrett has been working tirelessly to keep the village website relevant and up to date, but is now looking for additional help with managing content. This volunteer post would suit someone who is willing to actively engage with the various groups in the village to gather information on upcoming events as well as seek out information from District & County level Councils that is of use/interest to residents of Worlingworth. A basic level of IT literacy is needed to upload information to the website, but specific training can be arranged with the website hosting service. If you are interested please email the Clerk.
August
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 19th August 2020 at 7.30pm to be held remotely via Zoom.
All are welcome, if you would like to attend please contact the Parish Clerk: worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
for a meeting link.
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
Thank you – Chairman, Brian Smallcombe and the whole Parish Councils offer their heartfelt thanks to Rosemary Ingate and Annie Harvey for all their commitment to the Community Centre, and the wellbeing of the village generally, as they both step down from the Worlingworth Community Centre Committee. They leave behind a legacy of hard work and dedication that will be a hard act to follow.
Concerns over odours from the Chicken Farm at Newtown
There are ongoing concerns about the odours emanating from the newly extended chicken farm at Newtown Residents nearby have been regularly reporting issues to the Environment Agency (EA), but we are now asking anyone in the village who is experiencing issues to report on the smells as and when they occur on the EA 24 hour incident hotline 0800 80 70 60. This will help to build up a picture of how widespread the problem is.
When you call you will be asked to describe the odour and what direction the wind is currently blowing, this is important when considering other potential sources. Although calling the hotline immediately can be an inconvenience, reporting in real-time can help to resolve the situation sooner.
The EA have had representatives onsite, although there are still some areas that are off-limits due to lockdown restrictions, but they were view-able via CCTV. Independent monitoring of ammonia levels has indicated that there is no threat to public health, but the EA and the farm operator are both keen to resolve the problems that are being encountered as soon as possible.
Yellow zig-zag lines - reminder
The Parish Council has received reports that as lockdown eased and more children were attending school the problem arose again of people stopping/parking on the yellow safety zig-zag lines outside the Primary School. Although we are now moving into the summer holidays, please remember for the Autumn term that these lines are there for a very good reason - the safety of pupils, therefore please do not park or stop even for a short moment on these markings. Any cars stopped or parked in the restricted area can hide small children who are about to cross the road. The children may not see approaching cars, and approaching motorists may not see the children.
We want to keep YOUR children safe. You can help – keep the zig-zags clear.
Do you love trees and nature? - We have a vacancy for a Tree Warden in Worlingworth. The role of the village Tree Warden is to speak up for trees in our vil-lage, to save the old ones from the developers and to arrange for the planting of new native trees to offset the losses of trees in our beautiful countryside. The Tree Warden works closely with the Parish Council, which provides funding to support planting and can also provide relevant training for a new Warden. Please contact Brian Small-combe on 01728 628567
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworth-parishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Thank you to everyone all for your ongoing work to help the village through the Coronavirus Crisis.
For the most up to date information on the Coronavirus outbreak please go to:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
or
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
The Parish Council has a section on the website with information to help parishioners during this time, including daily statements from Suffolk County Council. For more information please go to:
http://www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net/parish-council/coronavirus/
Good News – We are pleased to report that the parishioner who was diagnosed with COVID-19 recovered shortly before the VE Day 75th celebrations and was able to return to the village to convalesce .
VE Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations
Thank you to everyone who helped make the ‘Stay At Home’ celebrations such a success.
COVID-19 Impact on Parish Council Meetings
As reported in the May newsletter the Parish Council are not holding meetings in person at the moment. Although we have looked into methods to conduct remote meetings, the cost of adopting the technologies, together with security concerns from some Councillors means that this has not taken place yet. The lack of meetings does not however mean that your Parish Council is not working in the background on your behalf. We are able to make simple decisions by email consensus and ratify at the next available meeting using powers under ‘exceptional circumstances’ this is being used to ensure that important matters are dealt with in good time. If any parishioner has any questions/concerns that the Parish Council may be able to assist with though then please do not hesitate to reach out to either the Parish Clerk or any one of your Councillors.
Concrete Crushing Plant Retrospective Planning Application
At the last full meeting of the Parish Council in February the Parish Council lodged an Objection to the retrospective planning application submitted regarding the concrete crushing operations that have been occurring at Poplar Farm. (The draft minutes of the February meeting can be viewed on the village website.) Since then the applicant has submitted additional documents and the Parish Council has been asked to comment again. Using the powers of exceptional circumstance the Parish Council has decided that their stance towards an Objection has not changed and will be submitting comments accordingly. All parishioners can also make comment on this matter in a personal capacity if they wish to do so, simply visit http://suffolk.planning-register.co.uk/ and put SCC/0075/19MS into the search function.
Crown Chicken Site – Concerns Over Odours
As reported in the May newsletter the Parish Council are aware of concerns that have been raised by residents living close to the Crown Chicken site at Newtown. We are liaising with the Environment Agency to address the situation. Unfortunately, it is difficult for the EA to carry out their work in the usual manner due to the COVID-19 social distancing regulations. We are pleased to report that Crown Chickens have now agreed a plan of action with the EA and are working to resolve the teething problems that have occurred during the first cycle of birds in the new houses. Residents who live nearby are asked to continue reporting in any issues as and when they occur, but please be re-assured that the matter is being dealt with as best it can in the current climate.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
May 2020
The next planned meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 20th May 2020
(to be confirmed, dependent on lockdown)
at 7.30pm in the Community Centre
all are welcome
worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
For the most up to date information on the Coronavirus outbreak please go to:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ or www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
Remember to Stay Home and Wash your Hands
The Parish Council has a new section on the website with information to help parishioners during this time, including daily statements from Suffolk County Council. For more information please go to:
http://www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net/parish-council/coronavirus/
COVID-19 Impact on Parish Council Meetings
The Parish Council will not be holding meetings in person until it is safe to do so. However, following recent legislation allowing Parish Councils to meet virtually we are looking at suitable inclusive ways of holding meetings, but will be restricting matters to urgent or essential matters only. At present we have been advised that simple decisions can be taken by email consensus using ‘exceptional circumstance’ powers and ratified at the next available meeting, but this will be used as sparingly as possible.
Thank you to everyone who is helping us all get through this
The Parish Council wants to express great gratitude to the Community Centre Committee who initiated the excellent neighbour support scheme that has been operating in the village. Some of the Councillors are volunteering with the Community Centre Committee to help, but some of our Councillors are themselves in the vulnerable category and therefore unable to help as much as they would like.
Annual Parish Meeting Cancelled – Due to the lockdown restrictions, the Government has advised against holding Annual Parish Meetings, so there will be no event this year.
VE Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations
The Parish Council were intending to take part in the “Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of WW2” on Friday 8th May, with support from the Church. Initial plans had been to have an afternoon tea to make the toast at 3pm, with the church bells being rung as part of the nation-wide “Ringing Out for the Peace” at 7pm. Unfortunately due to the lockdown restrictions all of this has now had to be cancelled, but the Parish Council would like to encourage everyone to think about a way to express their solidarity with the remaining veteran’s of WW2 by displaying flags/bunting on the day on your own property – similar to the rainbows in the windows supporting our keyworkers. For those who would still like to toast the heroes the official wording is “To those who gave so much, we thank you”
Exercising During Lockdown
The Parish Council is delighted to see people making use of our won-derful network of footpaths to get exercise at this time. Everyone seems to be observing social distancing principles. Please take care when the path is close to local homes where people may be socially isolating and remember that cycling is not allowed on foot-paths. Cycling is permitted on designated bridleways, please check for these on the Suffolk Council Website or look for bridleway signs. Further advice is available on the Suffolk County Council Website “Public rights of way and access in Suffolk
Concerns over odours
The Parish Council are aware of concerns about odours coming from the newly extended chicken farm at Newtown, residents nearby have notified Suffolk County Council and the Environment Agency and once lockdown restrictions have been lifted the matter will be inves-tigated.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
2020 April
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak
The Parish Council has been advised that its meetings should not be held for the time being, as they must be open to the public, however Councillors have been discussing what can best be done to support residents.
Government guidance is quite clear that Parish Councils should be referring people to the NHS and Public Health England and avoiding giving any advice as such, as it is important that all the information out there is consistent and as up to date as possible.
Therefore, for the most up to date information please go to:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
or
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
Unfortunately, with some of our Councillors being themselves in the vulnerable groups, we are not in a position to be actively going out and about, but there are established Social Media groups within the village that are being used to share information and volunteers mobilising to react to requests for help with getting supplies to those that are self-isolating. As some of the older people in the village may not be signed up to Facebook or NextDoor, we are asking everyone that if you have an elderly neighbour, to please make a phone call, or put a note through the door offering your contact details if you are able to help.
The village does have an emergency planning system and every resident has been issued with a fridge magnet with contact numbers. If you are unable to access Social Media then please don’t hesitate to use these numbers.
At the time of writing Suffolk is well placed with few infections, so try to enjoy the fresh air and the Spring as we all struggle to get through these difficult times.
Cancelled – Village Spring Clean on 4th April
Postponed – Annual Parish Meeting (was to be on 22nd April) – new date to be advised.
March
#SCRAPFlytipping – Who’s taking your waste away? Using a ‘man with a van’ could end up costing more than you bargained for, with you being fined for the crime - regardless of who dumped it. Make those checks and help #SCRAPFlytipping.
Your duty of care
Suspect ALL waster carriers
Check with the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506 that the provider taking your waste is registered
Refuse unexpected offers to have waste taken away
Ask what happens to your waste
Paperwork should be obtained - get a full receipt.
NEW COUNCILLOR - The Council are delighted to confirm that Larry Tournay-Godfrey of Halcyon House, Church Street has been co-opted to join the Council, this brings us up to a full complement of councillors working hard on your behalf.
NOTE CHANGE OF DATE – The July Parish Council meeting will now take place on Monday 13th July 2020.
Recently we have been continuing to think of ways of slowing the traffic through the village. We are gathering data through the Vehicle Activated Sign which shows some shocking evidence of speeding. We shall use the data to encourage Police speed checks. We have brought out the Council’s Road Safety Officer to review our proposals for traffic calming measures.
We have launched a new initiative called WORLYGIG (Worlingworth Gets It Greener) to green the village and improve our carbon footprint. We are seeing how we can use planters to slow traffic at the entry to the village. We have produced a leaflet with detailed local advice on recycling and we want to continue to promote tree planting. Grants are available if you can plant trees in your garden, talk to us about your plans. If you are interested in becoming our Village Tree Warden, we can support you to help get more trees planted and to preserve trees in the neighbourhood.
Dog poo continues to be a concern on the village green, and on the playing fields where dogs are officially banned. If you are a dog owner, please be considerate and PICK UP THE POO!
There has been no progress on saving The Swan as a pub as the owner does not reply to our messages. We are working with the District Council to try to get the hedge cut back.
We hope to get the Rural Coffee Caravan with all its information and advice services to visit the Community Centre in the near future.
We have given a start up grant grant to Worlingworth Players who were responsible for the recent wonderful village pantomime.
We are planning to celebrate VE Day on this special anniversary and hope to have St Mary’s Church bells ringing out on the day.
Dates for your diary:
Parish Council Meeting dates for 2020 at The Community Centre at 7.30pm are as follows
Wedesday 15th January
Wednesday 19th February
Wednesday 18th March
Wednesday 15th April
Wednesday 20th May (council AGM)
Wednesday 17th June
Wednesday 15th July
Wednesday 19th August
Wednesday 16th September
Wednesday 21st October
Wednesday 18th November
Wednesday 16th December
The Annual Parish Meeting when all residents are welcome to participate will be held on 22nd April at the Community Centre at 7.30pm
The Spring Tidy Up will be on 4th April starting at 10.15 am at the Community Centre. On that day we will be part of the Great British Spring Clean 2020. Special clothing and equipment is provided to all volunteers who can enjoy good company and a free lunch as a reward for all their hard work.
The Autumn Village Tidy Up will be on 26th September at 10.15 am at the Community Centre
The Footpath Walking Day will be on 10th October at 10.15 at the Community Centre.
February
Congratulations to the 2019 Jubilee Cup Winner – Val Swallow
Val had a number of nominations; having served for many years on the Parochial Church Council and the Worlingworth Community Centre Management Committee, she has also tirelessly edited and produced the Parish Newsletter every month over many years, whilst less publicly has taken on the task of opening and closing the Community Centre gate morning and evening at weekends and being on hand to open and close the Centre as needed. Heavily involved in village life, Val can be found at The Ladies Guild, Keep Fit, organising village outings and volunteering as a Church Elder. More recently Val has also taken on organising the monthly rota for the community bus. A willing volunteer, Val is always on hand to help with catering and other support for numerous village events. These are the persistent and laborious tasks that help to hold the fabric of our village together and we all thank her from the bottom of our hearts.
EXTRA Dates for your Diary:
Village Spring Clean
Saturday 4th April from 10.15 am at the Community Centre.
Annual Parish Meeting
Wednesday 22nd April from 7.30 pm at the Community Centre
Autumn Tidy
Saturday 26th September from 10.15 am at the Community Centre.
Worlingworth Walking Day
Saturday 17th October from 10.15 am at the Community Centre.
Speeding in the Village
Unfortunately, this is an ongoing and serious problem, the Parish Council now has two years of data from the Vehicle Activated Signs and has a case to take to Suffolk’s Police & Crime Commissioner to request enforcement. Please SLOW down – remember If you think Speed Limits are a Pain - Try having an Accident
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthpar-ishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information
January
Christmas Tree Recycling
Please drop off your real Christmas Trees (less than 7ft tall and with all decorations, stands and pots removed) at the Community Centre between 7am Friday 3rd January and 6.30am Monday 13th January. Last year in Suffolk over a thousand trees were recycled as part of this scheme.
Parish Council Meetings for 2020: The Parish Council meets every month on the third Wednesday of the month. The dates for 2020 are: Parish Council Meetings 15th January, 19th February, 18th March, 15th April, 20th May, (council AGM), 17th June, 15th July, 19th August, 16th September, 21st October, 18th November & 16th December, all at 7.30pm in the Community Centre.
The dates for the Annual Parish Meeting, Spring Clean, Autumn Tidy and Walking Day will be decided at the January 2020 meeting and reported after then.
Email Communications
In an effort to improve communication channels between the Parish Council and parishioners a suggestion was put forward at the November meeting that interested parties could subscribe to a list to receive notifications when new documents are posted on the website. Therefore, if you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive such notifications please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
December
Your Parish Councillors have been busy on your behalf meeting monthly on the third Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm at the Community Centre and doing lots of follow up work between meetings. Do come along to the meetings to see what we do or to raise any issues you think we should know about! We also have a Council vacancy, so why not come and join us?
Over the last few months we have been considering the following issues:
Road safety and speeding in the village: Vehicles are still going too fast through the village, we now have full sets of annual data to prove this (thanks to Adrian Smith’s efforts in changing the batteries in the VAR regularly and analysing the data) Councillors have instigated a Road Safety Audit to consider further traffic calming measures (thanks to Andrew Nunn for researching all the technical options )
Worlingworth Nature Reserve: The special roadside wild flowers on Fingal Street will soon be identified with signage
Consultation responses to the Mid Suffolk Local Plan have been submitted with a particular emphasis on the implications of increased heavy vehicle usage on our fragile local road network
Tree planting schemes have been negotiated and agreed at Home FarmNewtown and at Stanway Green (a big thank you to Victoria Alexander for her efforts as Tree Warden, we are sorry to see her go) Please let us know if you have space where we could plant more trees, we have a budget for this work to help with funding.
Tree Preservation Orders we are investigating listing more trees as maintaining and extending tree cover is so crucial.
The Jubilee Cup nominations for 2019 for the person who has contributed something special to the village will be discussed at the November meeting, so watch out for the winner!
The main village noticeboard has been refurbished and resisted near the entry to the Community Centre
The Village Tidy Up Day was held in September, thank you to all who came to help. It was good to report less rubbish was collected this year. Thank you to the WI members who have cleaned our village signs
The Footpath Walking Day was held in October, thank you to the committed walkers who helped us to check all our paths. Apart from some fallen signs and bridges in need of repair, everything was in reasonable order.
The Swan: the owner has not responded to any communications from the Parish Council or Mid Suffolk Council. We have asked for action to be taken to cut the hedge over-growing the footpath.
Safer Neighbourhoods: we have discussed local crime data and decided this does not justify paying for any jointly funded police support officers as yet (thanks to Michael Howard for attending all the local police liaison meetings)
Defibrillator and First Aid Training: the defibrillator is up and working and two training sessions have been paid for by the Parish Council to explain what to do before the defibrillator arrives and how to use it (a 999 call gives you the code to get it out of its box and then the machine tells you what to do). (Thanks to Richard Quinton and Carol Garrett for arranging all this)
Worlingworth Gets it Greener (WORLYGIG): we have launched a Parish Council drive to address concerns about climate change through more efforts to make repair, reuse and recycling easier, and to plant more trees and planters in the village. This initiative is designed to bring younger and older residents together to improve our village. Please contact julietpierce1@gmail.com Tel 01728627141 if you want to be part of this effort.
If you want to know more details of the Parish Council’s agenda and minutes these are published on the village website and on all three village noticeboards.
November
Tree Branches & Power Cables
The Parish Council have recently been contacted by residents who are concerned about tree branches rubbing against power cables. The Parish Council are not responsible for surveying and reporting cables, UK Power Networks carry out regular surveys across the region and carry out extensive tree management works where issues are identified. However, if you feel that there is a tree that may be causing a problem you can report it online at www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/safety the surveyor can then take a look when next in the area.
If you believe that the situation is actually dangerous, please stay away from the equipment and call UK Power Networks 24 hours a day - just dial 105 (free to call from either a landline or mobile).
Worlingworth Walking Day – Thank You
Thank you to everyone who came and walked, either on the day (Saturday 12th October) or before. We are pleased to report that the footpath network is in very good shape and a full report will be published shortly in the newsletter by Councillor & Footpath Warden Juliet Pierce.
Autumn Tidy – Thank You
Thank you again to all our helpers who turned out on the last weekend in September to help clean up the village. The good news is that this year there seemed to be less to collect, so hopefully the message is finally getting through
Jubilee Cup – Nominations Needed by Monday 4th November Please
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the community. If you would like to nominate someone, or a group, please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Monday 4th November at the latest.
October
First Aid Training (Including Use of the new Defibrillator) – Tuesday 22nd October
The Parish Council has arranged for First Aid, CPR and Defibrillator training to take place on Tuesday 22 October in the evening, at the Community Centre. If you would like to take part please RSVP to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible.
Recycling in Worlingworth
The Parish Council is looking to collate a definitive list of what can be recycled in Worlingworth and where parishioners need to take their recyclable goods. If you, or someone you know, collects specific items (such as printer cartridges/old glasses/crisp packets etc) then please share the details with the parish clerk for inclusion in the list worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Worlingworth Walking Day – Saturday 12th October 2019
Please meet at the Community Centre at 10.30 am before heading off to explore the wonderful network of paths around the village, then return to the Community Centre to enjoy a delicious lunch. By ensuring all parts of the footpath network are walked any issues that may require attention can be reported. Last year on our Walking Day a number of issues were identified, reported to the County Council and then swiftly remedied.
Dog Fouling
Again! This time particularly in relation to fouling the playing field at the Community Centre. Please remember that dogs are not permitted on the playing field. As always please clear up after your dog. There are a number of dog bins provided throughout the village.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
30 mph Speed Awareness Stickers
We still have some stickers available, please contact the Parish Clerk.
Jubilee Cup – Nominations Needed by Monday 4th November Please
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the community. Any member of the community may nominate any individual, team or group for consideration by the Council. All you have to do is describe briefly (up to 400 words) why you feel they should be awarded the Jubilee Cup. Please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Monday 4th November at the latest.
September
Save The Date & Possibly Save A Life!
The Parish Council has arranged for First Aid, CPR and Defibrillator training to take place on Tuesday 22 October in the evening, at the Community Centre. Further details will be circulated in the October Newsletter.
Village Signage
There have been reports of various signs in the village that are faded or overgrown and difficult to read. The Parish Council are always keen to help and will refer details on to Suffolk County Council Highways, but matters such as these can also be quickly and easily reported online via online reporting tool, at: https://highwaysreporting.suffolk.gov.uk/
Recycling in Worlingworth
The Parish Council is looking to collate a definitive list of what can be recycled in Worlingworth and where parishioners need to take their recyclable goods. If you, or someone you know, collects specific items (such as printer cartridges/old glasses/crisp packets etc) then please share the details with the parish clerk for inclusion in the list worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Worlingworth Fruit & Produce Show
The committee behind the Worlingworth Fruit & Produce Show has disbanded and passed a sum of money to the Parish Council for safekeeping. The money will be held in the Parish Council reserves until such time as a new committee can be formed to either run the show in its past format, or to organise a similar horticulturally themed event. The Parish Council invites anyone who may wish to take up the mantle of organising such an event to apply for consideration.
Flyposting
Please do not affix notices advertising events or services to the wooden signs or poles throughout the village. This is illegal and spoils public property, whilst adding to litter (as often the posters are not removed and just breakdown due to weather), which can pose a threat to wildlife. Advertisers can be fined up to £2,500 for illegally posting. Individuals who physically affix the poster (not the organisation who is being advertised) may also be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £75
August
Disposal of Old Paint – update
The Parish Council has been looking into the possibility of arranging a paint collection in the village (this is following a request at the Annual Parish Meeting for a way to dispose of old paint tins) unfortunately due to Health & Safety regulation the service offered by the District Council is only available to private individuals. The Parish Council has been advised to signpost parishioners to the District Council for safe collection and disposal of paints therefore please follow the guidelines as below:
Water Based Paint: If you have less than 1/4 tin left, leave the lid off and mix with dry sand or soil until completely solidified. Then double bag it and place in your black bin. No liquid paint must be placed in your bin or taken to a Recycling Centre.
Oil Based Paint: Please make contact with the District Council to arrange collection. Mid Suffolk covers Worlingworth and collections can be booked www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/waste-services/hazardous-waste-collections/ or by ringing 0300 1234 000 and selecting Option 4. It is possible if a group of private individuals want to ‘pool’ their tins together to arrange one collection, but there would need to be one designated name person who will be held responsible for declaring the nature of the waste material.
Dog Fouling in the Village – again!
The Parish Council funds a number of dog litter bins around the village, so there are plenty of facilities to enable dog owners to clear up after their pets. Don’t forget to take your poop bag when you go walkies and remember there is a potential fine of up to £80 for not clearing up after your dog. Please clear up on all footpaths (not just tarmac pavements), especially with the school holidays just starting and potentially more young people and children using our footpath network.
July
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 17th July 2019 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre all are welcome.
worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
The Swan – Re-Listed as an Asset of Community Value
Fantastic news for the village, the re-listing of this lovely old building confirms its place and value within the community, with wide support for the pub to re-open if at all possible as a hub for the village. Thanks go to Parish Councillor Juliet Pierce and Peter Allen from the Save Our Swan group, who together worked their way through the application process to a successful conclusion.
Parking Outside the Primary School – Respect the Zig-Zag!
It has been drawn to the attention of the Parish Council that a number of vehicles have been parking on the yellow zig-zag lining outside the school. These road markings been placed with the safety of the children in mind and all drivers are reminded that it is an offense to park on the lines.
Drone Use in Worlingworth
There have been a number of incidents concerning drones being flown over people’s gardens within the village. There is a code of practice for drone use and users are reminded that they are held legally responsible for each flight please visit:
https://dronesafe.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Drone-Code_March19.pdf
for more information. (This document will also be uploaded to the village website and displayed on village noticeboards). Please respect the privacy of your neighbours and use any drones responsibly and safely.
Funding Available
The Parish Council has some funds available that can be used to help support local charities and village organisations. If your group needs equipment or training, we may be able to help. All you have to do is complete a short application for funding form which can be accessed from the village website and submit it to the Parish Clerk, who will put it forward at the next available meeting for consideration.
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
June
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 19th June 2019 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre, all are welcome.
worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
Thank You to All Our Spring Cleaners
It was great to see so many helpers at the annual spring clean of the village. Although it was a big success with an enormous amount of rubbish picked up, it is a shame that so much needed to be collected. As always the message is - please take your litter home with you.
Disposal of Old Paint
Following a request at the Annual Parish Meeting for a way to dispose of old paint tins the Clerk had been in touch with Suffolk Recycling. The advice offered by the County Council is:
Water Based Paint: If you have less than 1/4 tin left, leave the lid off and mix with dry sand or soil until completely solidified. Then double bag it and place in your black bin. No liquid paint must be placed in your bin or taken to a Recycling Centre.
Oil Based Paint: Please make contact with the District Council to arrange collection. Mid Suffolk covers Worlingworth and collections can be booked www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/waste-services/hazardous-waste-collections/ or by ringing 0300 1234 000 and selecting Option 4
Hedge Cutting
Parishioners are reminded that they are not allowed to cut trees and hedgerows between 1st March and 30th September, due to the nesting season. It is a criminal offence to disturb nesting birds
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
May
ANNUAL REPORT
Enclosed with the May newsletter is a copy of the Parish Council Annual Report, it is also available to download from the website, where in addition you will find the reports from all the various groups who were represented at the Annual Parish Meeting. It is amazing just what goes on in this small Suffolk village. If you weren’t able to make it along to the meeting this year, then please do try to pop along next year and find out more about your community – with some delicious snacks and drinks at the end!
ROAD OR FOOTPATH ISSUES - INCLUDING POTHOLES, FLOODING, WORN OR MISSING SIGNS - PLEASE REPORT IT!
Remember that Suffolk County Council online reporting system covers all aspects of rights of way, including the footpath network, so any problems please go to www.suffolk.gov.uk and click on ‘Report’. Please don’t assume that someone else has already done it – if it has been reported it will show in the map, but if it hasn’t then no-one knows it needs fixing!
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR NEW AND EXISTING VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS
One of the functions of the Parish Council is to support activities for residents under what’s known as Section 137 Funding. If you are involved with an existing village organisation, or if you need funding to help get an idea off the ground, then please consider applying for funding. There is a downloadable form on the village website, with some explanatory notes, simply click on Parish Council and Finance.
WEBSITE UPDATE EMAILS
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthpar-ishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
April
DEFIBRILLATOR
The Parish Council is pleased to report that the defibrillator has now been installed outside the Community Centre. This has been funded in part through the Parish Council’s portion of the Community Infrastructure Levy – a charge paid by all developers who build new houses in the parish towards facilities for the community. Thanks go to Councillor Richard Quinton who has worked hard to bring the project to completion. Although the defibrillator itself literally talks you through how to use it, there will be an awareness session for anyone who wants to find out more about this amazing piece of life-saving equipment towards the end of April. As dates had not been finalised when copy needed to be submitted to the Newsletter please keep an eye out on the Parish Council Facebook page, the NextDoor app and on notice boards for more information.
POLICE CONTACTS
Councillors Adrian Smith and Michael Howard recently attended a Safer Neighbourhood Team meeting. During discussions about reporting incidents the advice given was that in an emergency (life-threatening or a crime actually tak-ing place) you should continue to call 999. Otherwise, to report for incidents that are discovered after the offence has been committed please call 101, or there is also the option of emailing for assistance either:
ceohalesworth@suffolk.pnn.police.uk or eye.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
30 MPH SPEED AWARENESS STICKERS – We still have some stickers available, please contact the Parish Clerk.
ROAD OR FOOTPATH ISSUES INCLUDING - Further to last month’s Newsletter article please remember that Suffolk County Council online reporting system covers all aspects of rights of way, including the footpath network, so any problems please go to www.suffolk.gov.uk and click on ‘Report’. Please don’t assume that someone else has already done it. If it has been reported it will show in the map, but if it hasn’t then no-one knows it needs fixing.
March
CHANGE OF DATE – The Village Spring Clean - Will now take place on Saturday 27th April from 10.15 am at the Community Centre. Please join your Parish Councillors and help tidy the village. All litter picking equipment and bags will be provided and there is a delicious lunch available to all volunteers upon completion.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY Annual Parish Meeting – Wednesday 24th April 2019 at the Community Centre from 7.30pm, why not come along and find out what the Parish Council and other village organisations have been up to over the last year - all followed by some deli-cious refreshments.
NEW COUNCILLOR - The Council are delighted to confirm that Victoria Alexander of Barn Meadow Farm, Swan Road has been co-opted to join the Council, this brings us up to a full com-plement of councillors working hard on your behalf and we thank Victoria for taking on this additional voluntary role alongside the important role of Tree Warden.
UPCOMING PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS - On Thursday 2nd May 2019 all Parish Councils in Suffolk are subject to an election. If you would like to stand as a Parish Councillor please contact the Clerk, (email above) who can provide you with nomination forms and de-tails of the process involved.
30 MPH SPEED AWARENESS STICKERS - The Parish Council is looking for volunteers to have stickers placed on their wheelie bins which act as additional speed limit signs. In order for this to be really effective we need volunteers whose bins are put out for collection on the main through route through the village. Please contact the Parish Clerk to take part.
POTHOLES & OTHER HIGHWAY ISSUES – PLEASE REPORT IT! - If you find a pothole, or indeed any other highway issues, such as worn lining or recurrent flooding, then please use the Suffolk County Council online reporting system. Go to www.suffolk.gov.uk and click on ‘Report’. Please don’t assume that someone else has already done it – if it has been reported it will show in the map, but if it hasn’t the highways team don’t know it needs fixing!
PARKING IN THE VILLAGE - Although it is not a Parish Council responsibility please do con-sider the needs of your neighbours and make sure that you are not causing any issues with access or making it difficult for through traffic. If you do have any concerns about parking being illegal or dangerous, then please contact the local Safer Neighbourhood Team officer eye.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk and they will investigate.
DOG FOULING - Again, please can we appeal to everyone to clear up after their dogs whilst walking around Worlingworth. The Parish Council has provided a number of bins for disposal.
WEBSITE UPDATE EMAILS - If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive noti-fications of when updates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
February
Congratulations to 2018’s Jubilee Cup Winners – Mick & Val Ariss Awarded the cup for a lifetime's commitment to serving the community, Val has been a committee member of the Community Centre Committee in its various forms since 1977 and ran the Youth Club for a number of years. She was a Parish Councillor for 10 years, Treasurer of Worlingworth Community Centre Committee for 8 years and is now the Worlingworth Social Club Treasurer. She also organised Harvest Suppers for many years. Both Val and Mick have provided a BBQ for the fete and Bonfire Night for as long as anyone can remember and both were responsible for creating the Quiet Garden. Mick was officially caretaker and groundsman for many years at the Community Centre and still mows the grass and sweeps the patio around the building to this day. Thank you to them both.
30 mph Speed Awareness Stickers
The Parish Council has recently acquired a small number of stickers for wheelie bins which act as additional speed limit signs. We are looking for vol-unteers who would be willing to display these signs on their bins, thus adding to the speed awareness of passing drivers on bin collection days. In order for this to be really effective we need volunteers whose bins are put out for collection on the main through route through the village. Please contact the Parish Clerk if you would like to take part. This is initially a small pilot, but if it proves effective then we will be looking to potentially expand the numbers available.
New Tree Warden & Extra Funds for Tree Planting
We are pleased to welcome Victoria Alexander who has volunteered to take on the role of Tree Warden for Worlingworth. At our meeting in January it was agreed to allocate some additional funds to the Tree Planting scheme that was initially begun in January 2016 and continue to look at ways to increase the numbers of trees within the parish. If you would like to have a native tree planted in your garden, or if you have a larger area that could take more, then please contact either Victoria direct, or the Parish Clerk.
EXTRA Dates for your Diary:
Village Spring Clean Saturday 9th March from 10.15 am at the Community Centre. Autumn Tidy Saturday 28thh September from 10.15 am
Website Update Emails
If you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive notifications of when up-dates have been posted to the village website please email worlingworthparish-clerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor. Please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
January 2019
Minutes of previous parish council meetings can be viewed on the village website at www.worlingworth.onesuffolk.net
Christmas Tree Recycling
Please drop off your real Christmas Trees (less than 7ft tall and all decorations, stands and pots removed) at the Community Centre between 7am Friday 4th January and 6.30am Monday 14th January. Last year in Suffolk over a thousand trees were recycled as part of this scheme.
Dates for your Diary:
Due to an ever-increasing workload the Parish Council have decided to meet every month on the third Wednesday of the month. The dates for 2019 are:
Parish Council Meeting
16th January, 20th February, 20th March, 17th April, 15th May, (council AGM), 19th June, 17th July, 21st August, 18th September, 16th October, 20th November & 18th December, all at 7.30pm in the Community Centre.
The Annual Parish Meeting 2019
Wednesday 24h April 7.30 pm also in the Community Centre
Email Communications
In an effort to improve communication channels between the Parish Council and parishioners a suggestion was put forward at the November meeting that interested parties could subscribe to a list to receive notifications when new documents are posted on the website. Therefore, if you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive such notifications please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
December
Volunteer Painter Required
Our main notice board at the entrance to the Community Centre is in need of a bit of TLC, it has been several years since it was last painted and we are looking for some-one who could spare a few hours to prepare and paint the frame. All materials will be supplied by the Parish Council. If you feel that you could offer your time to help the village in this way please contact the Parish Clerk.
Funding for Village Infrastructure
At our November meeting a query was raised about why developers who build houses in the village do not provide any funding towards infrastructure. As this is a query that many may ask, it was decided to put a short explanation in our monthly newsletter report. The simple answer is that they do have to contribute money towards the village! CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) - also known as Section 106 funding - is applied to all new builds, with the amount being proportional to the size of the site. It used to be a fund that only County and District councils managed, but last year it was decided to filter down a small section of this funding to local level and as a Parish Council we received our first CIL payment last November. We’re not talking huge sums and there are strict rules on what we can spend it on, so the first pay-ment was used to fund the additional notice boards to help facilitate better commu-nication between the Council and parishioners. This year’s CIL payment has just been received and at the moment it is proposed to use the money towards the purchase of the defibrillator, which will hopefully be installed soon. District and County level CIL payments are used towards education, health and transport costs, thereby helping the community as a whole, so please be assured that although we have re-cently experienced a high level of building in the village, developers are expected to contribute towards the community.
Email Communications
In an effort to improve communication channels between the Parish Council and parishioners a suggestion was put forward at the November meeting that interested parties could subscribe to a list to receive notifications when new documents are posted on the website. Therefore, if you would like to subscribe to a mailing list to receive such notifications please email worlingworthparishclerk@gmail.com with “PC Alerts” in the subject line. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
November
Make Sure You Stand Out In The Dark & Remember “20’s Plenty”
Recent analysis of the data from our VAS camera has identified an issue with drivers exceeding the speed limits within the village. Particularly important is the need to remember the 20mph zone outside the Primary School, which is in place to protect our young people. Also, please remember with the dark mornings and evenings to wear hi-visibility clothing when out walking or cycling – research has shown that drivers slow down when seeing people in “hi-viz” clothing and the extra few seconds this gives them to react could just save your life.
Volunteer Painter Required
Our main noticeboard at the entrance to the Community Centre is in need of a bit of TLC, it has been several years since it was last painted and we are looking for someone who could spare a few hours to prepare and paint the frame. All materials will be supplied by the Parish Council. If youfeel that you could offer your time to help the village in this way please contact the Parish Clerk.
Worlingworth Walking Day – Thank You
Thank you to everyone who came and walked, either on the day (Saturday 13th October) or before. Also thank you to all the helpers who provided a lovely reviving ploughman’s lunch at the Community Centre for all walkers on their return. Lots of information has been gathered on the state of our footpath network and this will be passed on to Suffolk County Council for action.
Jubilee Cup – Nominations Needed by Monday 5th November Please
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the community. If you would like to nominate someone, or a group, please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Monday 5th November at the latest.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
October
Autumn tidy-up
It was great to see so many helpers out again at the end of September cleaning up the village. Although it was a big success it is a shame that so much needed to be collected. As always the message is - please take your litter home with you.
Worlingworth Walking Day – Saturday 13th October 2018
Please meet at the Community Centre at 10.30 am before heading off to explore the wonderful network of paths around the village, then return to the Community Centre to enjoy a delicious ploughman’s lunch. By ensuring all parts of the footpath network are walked any issues that may require attention can be reported. Last year on our Walking Day a number of issues were identified, reported to the County Council and then swiftly remedied.
Jubilee Cup – Nominations Needed by Monday 5th November
Each year the Jubilee Cup is awarded by the Parish Council to an individual, team or group who deserve recognition for their achievements or service to the community. Any member of the community may nominate any individual, team or group for consideration by the Council. All you have to do is describe briefly (up to 400 words) why you feel they should be awarded the Jubilee Cup. The Council will consider all nominations at the November meeting and the Cup will be awarded to the successful recipient(s) at an appropriate event soon after. If you would like to nominate someone, or a group, please send your nomination to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and by Monday 5th November at the latest.
September
Parish Council Planning Meeting Wednesday 8th August
In spite of short notice and concerns about sufficient publicity for the meeting, 37 Wor-lingworth residents turned out to discuss a recent planning application at Rose Villa. The Chair thanked everyone for coming, as clearly expressed public opinion was the best way of defending the character of the village and encouraged everyone to ex-press their views; explaining that the Parish Council’s role was to represent these views to the District Council where the planning decision would be made. The Clerk explained that the parish council does not make the final decision on any application, but is merely a statutory consultee in the process and can choose to: object, support,make a neutral comment or make no comment.
The Chair encouraged everyone to also write in personally before the deadline to ex-press their views to the District Council using the relevant planning reference number which was publicised at the meeting and subsequently on the NextDoor app. At the meeting the Parish Council unanimously agreed to object to the development, collat-ing the arguments expressed at the meeting to support their decision. Draft minutes of the meeting may be viewed on the village website
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For the record, historically the people of Worlingworth have consistently objected to further development on our lovely village, with the views of residents recorded in the Worlingworth Parish Plan of 2006 and again in this year’s Worlingworth Village Sur-vey. In the light of these views, the Parish Council has consistently raised objections to further development, citing concerns about creeping urbanisation destroying the historical character of the village, threats to wildlife and habitat, the loss of agricultural land, strains on infrastructure such as schooling and sewage disposal, the lack of fa-cilities such as a shop and dependence on car usage. Sadly, none of these objections have influenced the planners so far, except in the case of the site behind thepub Since the meeting there have been opinions expressed on social media about the way the meeting was conducted. In the interests of transparency, it should be noted that after everyone had been given ample time to voice their concerns, the meeting unfor-tunately descended briefly into disorder before the Council had an opportunity to con-tinue with the formal voting process, this occurred when the crowd attending the meet-ing all appeared to get up to leave as one, but instead lingered in the hall talking loudly. Both the Chair and the Clerk attempted to bring the meeting back to order a number of times before one of the Councillors decided to step in to get everyone's attention.
After the contentious whistle brought everyone's attention back to the fact that there was a meeting still in pro-gress, the Chair stated that everyone was welcome to stay if they wished, but if they wanted to continue talking to please go outside. Nobody was refused access to the meeting and anyone could have stayed to observe proceedings quietly. Unfortu-nately, some parishioners seemed to take offence to this statement, when none was intended.
Please note that that Parish Council meetings are not a public meeting, but a meeting conducted in public. An opportunity to provide a public forum is provided at the beginning of the meeting, but disruptive behaviours, such as was experienced at this meeting due to large groups talking in the hall, cannot be allowed as it pre-vents the proper conduct of formal business.
Finally, please remember that all your Parish Councillors give their time freely to help the village, being a Parish Councillor is a voluntary position and one that receives little thanks. In fact, we are looking for another volunteer as at the moment the council is running one short, so if you’d like to help look after the village please contact the Clerk for more information.
Worlingworth Autumn Tidy – Saturday 29th September 2018
Your village needs you! Please meet at the Community Centre from 10.30 am, picker sticks, gloves and hi-viz jackets are all provided. A delicious lunch of home-made soup and rolls will be served as a thank you to all helpers.
Worlingworth Walking Day – Saturday 13th October 2018
Please meet at the Community Centre from 10.15 am before heading off to explore the wonderful network of paths around the village. Then return to the Community Centre to enjoy a delicious ploughman’s lunch. By ensuring all parts of the footpath network are walked any issues that may require attention can be reported. Last year on our Walking Day a number of issues were identified, reported to the County Council and then swiftly remedied.
August
School Keep Clear Lines
Most of you will already have noticed that the new lines outside the Primary School have now been installed by Suffolk Highways. Thanks to everyone for their support in helping to keep our roads safe
Open Gardens
The Parish Council would like to say a big ‘Well Done’ to all those who opened their gardens for viewing this year. It’s been a very challenging season and it’s a credit to everyone who took part that the event was so successful.
Village Website – Plea for News & Photos
Thank you to those who have responded, but again please help us help the community by sending in your updates and photos for the website.
White Cottage Ditch
The Parish Council has been made aware of concerns about the way in which the drainage ditch is being piped as part of the White Cottage development. Suffolk County Council’s flood team have been notified and will be checking that the work is all compliant, along with the planning department ensuring that the development is carried out according to the agreed consents.
Dog Fouling in the Village
The Parish Council funds a number of dog litter bins around the village, so there are plenty of facilities to enable dog owners to clear up after their pets. Don’t forget to take your poop bag when you go walkies and remember there is a potential fine of up to £80 for not clearing up after your dog.
Councillor Vacancy
We are seeking a volunteer to contribute to the local community in the role of Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
July 2018
Dog fouling report yet again!
June 2018
Dog Fouling in the Village
Unfortunately, yet again the Parish Council has received complaints about dog fouling around the village, this time the area outside the Primary School has been particularly badly affected, causing distress to children, staff and parents alike. The Parish Council funds a number of dog litter bins around the village, so there are plenty of facilities to enable dog owners to clear up after their pets. Don’t forget to take your poop bag when you go walkies and remember there is a potential fine of up to £80 for not clearing up after your dog.
Mobile Phone Mast
The Parish Council is pleased to report that there has been some progress on the installation of the mobile phone mast at Worlingworth Hall. It is anticipated that the mast could be up and running by late July/early August. Although initially it will only offer connections to O2 and EE networks, (who commissioned the mast), the intention is for it to be eventually linked up to all UK mobile phone networks.
Grasscutting
Recent concerns about the grasscutting in the village (partly caused by the very changeable and unseasonal weather) have now been addressed and the Parish Council will continue to monitor the situation.
Parish Council - Vacancy
At the May meeting Brian Smallcombe agreed to continue in the role of Chairman for another year and Juliet Pierce agreed to continue in the role of Vice-Chair. However, the Council is still running one light and there remains a vacancy, if you would like to contribute to your local community in the role of Parish Councillor please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
May 2018
Annual Report
Enclosed with the April newsletter was a copy of the Parish Council Annual Report, it is also available to download from the website, where in addition you will find the reports from all the various groups who were represented at the Annual Parish Meeting. It is amazing just what goes on in this small Suffolk village and if you didn’t make it to the APM this year then please do try to pop along next year and find out more about your community – with some delicious snacks and drinks at the end!
Village Website – Plea for News
Those of you who visit the website will have seen that we’ve got a new look. We’re still getting used to it, so please bear with us, but the most important thing we need for the website is information – from YOU! The website is looked after by the Parish Council for the whole community, so if you are involved in a group, please check what’s on the website and keep us up to date with anything that’s going on. Just pop it on an email and we’ll update it as soon as we can.
Photo of the Month
Still thinking about the website, there has been a request for the return of ‘Photo of the Month’. It can be anything – from the local scenery and wild-life to photos of whatever you and your friends get up to at the variety of clubs and groups that meet in the village. Simply pop your pictures across on the email for your moment of fame on the website!
Thanks to Local Landowners
At the Annual Parish Meeting our Councillor with responsibility for foot-paths, Juliet Pierce, reported that she had recently met with a group of con-tractors who were replacing one of the bridges on our network. The contrac-tors cover the whole area from Mildenhall to Framlingham and they com-mented that the footpaths around Worlingworth are the best maintained and walked in the whole area. Something that landowners and parishioners should be all be proud about.
April 2018
What Worlingworth Wants – The Next Steps
Thanks to everyone who completed the What Worlingworth Wants survey. It was cheering to see so many people turn out on a chilly, damp Mon-day evening, all of whom have a genuine interest in the future of the village. An informative slide show was presented by Councillor Adrian Smith, which covered the salient points of the survey. The Parish Council now has a much better view of what the people of Worlingworth want for the future of their village and the next steps will be to go further into the analysis of the data to work out what the priorities are and how matters can be taken forward - either by the Parish Council, or co-operative working with other groups in the village. The full survey report is now available to download from the village website.
The “Beast from the East”, Community Spirit & a ‘Snowed-off’ Spring Clean
The Parish Council would like to thank everyone who helped keep the village going through the recent bad weather, from snow clearance to helping en-sure that vulnerable neighbours were kept warm and fed. The community spirit that came to the fore was uplifting and once again showed what a great village Worlingworth is. Unfortunately, the Village Spring Clean was ‘snowed-off’ this year, but perhaps instead everyone could ‘do their bit’ and collect one or two pieces of litter whilst out and about to help keep our vil-lage spotless. The next scheduled Village Tidy will be on Saturday 29th Sep-tember – why not pop it in your diary now!
Dates for your Diary:
Parish Council meetings (all welcome)
Wednesday 19thSeptember, Wednesday 21st November all at 7.30pm in the Community Centre.