Due to the generosity of Eric Reynolds, ( owner of Woodbridge Boatyard and founding director of Urban Space Management) Jetty Lane have been gifted cabin classrooms from Trinity Buoy Wharf so the charity can start addressing the huge pool of unmet need in greater Woodbridge, while continuing to fundraise for the building.
The Jetty Lane Centre project in Woodbridge was given an amazing boost last month by the sudden, unexpected and very generous donation of 2 cabin classrooms by Eric Reynolds, of Woodbridge Boatyard. These can act as temporary activity spaces while the charity continues to raise the £3.5million required for the final building work.
“The Jetty Lane Youth, Community and Arts Centre has been urgently required to fulfill unmet needs in Woodbridge since the previous longstanding Youth and Community Centre was of course demolished.And though the youth centre went, the need didn’t go away. In fact, as Woodbridge has become more expensive there has been much less affordable and available accommodation for community groups. Now, the proposed closure of the Caterpillar Childrens Centre, the sudden closure of Age UK and therthe effects of the pandemic have increased this problem. We could not have received a better gift at a more appropriate time!
The Spaces themselves were originally part of Trinity Buoy Wharf Jubilee Pier and are constructed from four 20 ft shipping containers. “They will be ideal for small groups of people to meet in, they’re quirky, fun and centrally located and will be an asset to our project and the wider community,” says ViceChair Caroline Rutherford. “Jetty Lane’s priority has always been to provide space for people to meet and use in Woodbridge at a cost that they can afford. These cabins will enable us to start doing that – and people will be able to see we are doing it.”
“When we were fortunate enough to get a phone call offering us these cabins, we jumped at it” says Cllr Page. “Eric Reynolds is definitely Renaissance man: both Man of Thought and Man of Action. He thought we would find them useful, and when we said yes please, they were on our site -practically before we could blink – with Eric, in his overalls, very much at the forefront of getting them installed. We cannot thank him enough.”
Eric has set up and ran/runs some of the most important people places in London since the early 1970’s including Camden Lock Market, Spitalfields Old Fruit and Vegetable Market, Gabriels’ Wharf, and Trinity Buoy Wharf and winner of the Regeneration & Renewal “Lifetime Achievement Award” for Regeneration in 2012.
Project Manager Cordelia Richman confirms: “Jetty Lane has achieved so much since 2017 but it hasn’t been visible. Now that we have the Activity Spaces everyone can see where Jetty Lane will be and our vision for the site is clear. As soon as we’ve completed a basic refurbishment of the Activity Spaces we will start putting them to use providing facilities for our community.”
MAKE A DONATION
Will you help build Jetty Lane to make a positive and lasting difference for local people?
Go to www.jettylane.org and click on DONATE or Telephone 01394 383128 or Email info@jettylane.org
Suffolk Local Outbreak Control Plan published Suffolk County Council has published a Local Outbreak Control Plan which sets out how Suffolk would prevent and respond to a localised outbreak of COVID-19 should one occur. A copy of the full plan and an executive summary can be viewed here: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/suffolks-response/
Suffolk has received £2.79m from the Government to support the delivery of the plan. The plan focuses on:
Preventing and managing outbreaks in ‘complex settings and groups’ e.g. care homes, schools, health settings, workplaces, public spaces, BAME communities and those that are shielded;
Strategic and coordinated approach to COVID-19 testing in Suffolk, with a focus on care home testing, hospital testing, lab capacity and workforce for swabbing;
Suffolk COVID-19 Data Centre, which will continue to monitor the local situation;
Providing clear guidance on NHS Test and Trace and what to do in the event of a local outbreak.
Suffolk’s concessionary travel pass rules now reintroduced on public transport Concessionary travel rules, which had been relaxed during lockdown, were reintroduced from July 6. As from Monday 6 July, concessionary bus passes in Suffolk are only valid Monday to Fridays 9:30am to 9pm, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. (‘9pm’ is a joke considering the time of the last buses to Woodbridge and beyond which leave Ipswich before 6pm)
The council says this is necessary to support social distancing on peak bus services, as more people return to work and school. I travelled from Ipswich to Woodbridge on Saturday 11th July and noticed that a maximum 12 passengers are allowed on a regular single decker bus.
All passengers are now required to wear a face covering on public transport.
Sizewell C: Planning Inspectorate accepts plans for Sizewell C; Suffolk County Council votes down motion opposing it On 24 June, the Planning Inspectorate agreed that EDF Energy’s DCO application for Sizewell C could proceed to the examination stage.
The formal pre-examination stage of the process (Section 56 Notification Stage) began on 8 July running to 30 September. If you wish to be involved in the examination process, you need to register on the Planning Inspectorate website to become an ‘Interested Party’ and provide a written summary of your views on the DCO application.
All registered Interested Parties will be kept informed of progress and about opportunities to participate in the next examination stage.
The LDGI Stop Sizewellc speakers: Cllrs Caroline Page, David Wood (Proposer), Andrew Stringer (Seconder, replacing Elfrede Brambley Crawshaw), Penny Otton, Robert Lindsey, Inga Lockington Note their names & faces.Together with @JohnFieldjd they made a stand for our future
Both Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council have raised concerns about the adequacy of EDF’s consultations so far, particularly with regards to the level and quality of information that has been made available throughout the consultation exercises.
If you are interested in watching the full debate, the Council meeting is available to watch on Suffolk County Council’s YouTube channel https://youtu.be/Nt_s4jAjvPM
County Cabinet approves 5-year cycling plan for Suffolk On 16 June the Cabinet approved a 5-year cycling plan for Suffolk, which identified 148 potential routes to be prioritised. This is as a result of a motion proposed by my group in July 2018, which called on the council to produce a strategic costed 5-year cycling plan.
Funding has not been secured for these routes, but county maintains the cycling plan will provide a strong basis to bid for funding as and when it becomes available.
The 148 routes identified by the plan are intended to be starting point, rather than a fixed programme of works. The Cabinet’s approval of the plan means that discussions can begin with district and borough councils on developing the five-year-plan further. I know that Woodbridge/Martlesham has known routes in the area it would like to see improved or created via the 20mph calming scheme, and I am feeding this into the process.
Road closures to support cycling and walkingAs part of the Covid-19 recovery and to support social distancing, the Department for Transport has told local authorities that they are expected to make significant changes to road layouts to support cycling and walking, with all measures implemented within the coming weeks. The Government has also asked that evaluation is included in the emergency interventions put in place so that authorities can make temporary measures permanent where possible, enabling a long-term shift to active travel.
Suffolk County Council plans include closing off sections of roads to motorised vehicles, widening existing footpaths and cycle lanes, providing temporary footpaths and cycle lanes and changing traffic signal timings to reduce waiting times at puffin and toucan crossings. The Council has been allocated £337k from the Department of Transport, with the potential for further funding if the measures they put in place are successful.
Alert: No spare seats will be offered on Home-to-School buses County Council normally allows families who are ineligible for free school transport to purchase a spare seat on the council’s school buses should there be space. However, due to social distancing requirements, school buses will only be able to transport a smaller group of children. The council have therefore stated that they are not in a position to be able to offer spare seats for September.
All affected families will be emailed directly to inform them of this change. If changes are made to social distancing rules, the council will review the guidance to see if they can safely offer spare seats.
Individual family circumstances will be considered under the usual review and appeal procedures, and we are told the council will use its discretionary power to offer transport arrangements where it is clear that this is absolutely essential to enable a non-eligible child to attend school. The usual cost of a spare seat will apply where a discretionary seat can be provided exceptionally.
Any parents who are concerned by this change can call 0345 606 6173.
Woodbridge Resident Ashley Meyer and County Councillor Caroline Page are deeply concerned about the threatened closure of Woodbridge’s Caterpillar Children’s centre
Children’s Centres Report delayed again The controversial and long-awaited report on the fate of Suffolk’s Children’s centres was due to be discussed in Cabinet on 14 July. Astonishingly, this 522pp report was withdrawn literally at the start of the meeting and will now be discussed in the August cabinet
To remind you, Woodbridge Caterpillar centre was to be closed because, according to the (pulled) report there were ample other venues in Woodbridge. The Caterpillar will remain open, as planned, to the end of its lease (2022), however no venues in Woodbridge had been identified beyond the GP surgery and the Library.
Suffolk County Council prevents likely FGM deportation I asked the following question about FGM at last full council (9th July 2020).
“I’m sure you will join me and all councillors in congratulating our social work team and the lawyers in their last-minute success in preventing the home secretary ,Priti Patel, from having an 11year girl deported , with the extreme risk of being subject to Female Genital Mutilation in her home country. FGM is illegal in this country. Please can you tell us what processes the council has in place to make sure any girl in Suffolk threatened with FGM will be protected.”
Although the answer was reassuring, the understanding of the chasm between the immigration courts (who consider children merely as dependents) and the family courts (who look at the human rights of the child) is disturbing.
ASB meeting I attended this on Thursday 16th, and brought two particular concerns to the meeting. One was the vandalism occurring in local parks, and the other was the concerns about dog theft and the anxieties of local residents.
Both of these were mirrored by surrounding parishes.
However, there was also the concern that anxieties were being amplified and increased by the ‘chinese whisper’ effect of unmoderated social media platforms such as NextDoor. For example, one parish representative pointed out that a description circulating of a particular van and two men, matched exactly the profile of a local gardening team who would naturally be visiting a number of properties. Similarly the police pointed out that chalk marks on the pavement ( which were being described as thieves marks) could as easily be marks used by utilities companies.
The general consensus was, while it is wise to take sensible precautions – as ever – it would be unfortunate if older or vulnerable residents become became worried by problems which had been amplified by social media.
Jetty Lane is delighted to announce it has been fortunate to have been gifted two classrooms by Eric Reynolds owner of the Woodbridge Boatyard. These generous gifts – until recently part of Trinity Wharf – were put in place last week as a temporary solution to Woodbridge unmet needs. All permissions are, or have been applied for, but it had to be a fast operation.
You can see a charming short showing the cabins’ installation, speeded up and set to music on the Jetty Lane YouTube channel https://youtu.be/HAEPyR41Sy8 ).
These ‘Activity Spaces’ will be cleaned and made ready to meet Woodbridge’s unmet needs – in a covid-compliant fashion – as soon as possible.
Last week – National Carers Week – passed with even less than its usual muted tootle.
Not sure why. The pandemic has meant that unpaid carers are busier, lonelier, more stressed, less supported than ever. Maybe everyone was clapped out for the ‘real’ carers – you know, the ones we pay.
Carers Week is generally when those lucky enough not to be carers briefly acknowledge their plight, and then forget it again. This year we didn’t even bother to remember. The official hashtag #carersweek is matched by the unofficial #realcarersweek. Have a look: it is very illuminating. I’ve spent twenty years watching paint dry when it comes to raising awareness of the very existence of unpaid carers and their lives. It’s dispiriting.
Putting national apathy aside (and it was total) all I can imagine is that everybody in Britain – including our Prime Minister – is unaware of the void of difference between care workers (staunch, hardworking, poorly paid – but, crucially, paid) and unpaid carers, whose invisible lives are defined by high levels of ill-health (both physical and mental), poverty, stress and isolation. Carers are seven times more likely to be really lonely compared with the general public. Carers are in effect slaves, held hostage by love, saving the state billions. Many work 24/7 without a break for months, maybe years at a time. Unpaid carers have no pay, no sick leave (let alone sick pay), no holiday (let alone holiday pay), no employers pension contributions
Suffolk doesn’t even know how many unpaid carers it has – old couples locked behind doors, children worried sick that a parent may be collapsed when they get home, a sibling trying to keep a family member safe.
We do know that we have about 100,000 of them, because unpaid carers make up 13% of the population.
This year, lockdown gave everyone a sudden taste of being shut up involuntarily, unable to get out, unable to contact friends, losing livelihoods, careers, opportunities, very stressed, very concerned, very worried. And, like becoming a carer, it happened in a flash.
I am calling on the people of Suffolk – and those who represent them – to think what it would be like being locked down for life – for love. Without all the food parcels, the zoom quizzes, the sudden support networks and all the initiatives that are on offer now that sudden loss of of so much has hit the zeitgeist.
Clap for the carers? “Oh, of course we mean you you too.” Clap for no pay, no sick leave, no holiday, no work-related pension, no union representation – because you only work. You are not counted as workers.
Are the carers charities finally going to lobby to make real improvements to unpaid carers lives? Lobby for pay, sick leave, holiday entitlement, work-related pension contributions (because, sure as hell, carers work their socks off)? £67 Carers Allowance for the few, and a dismissive pat on the head for all is simply not enough!
This is the time to admit to and take responsibility for those hidden 100,000, many of whom – appallingly – we still can’t identify, still living lives of quiet desperation behind closed doors, whether the lockdown eases or not.
And having -finally – taken responsibility for them, we must be morally obliged to do something to make their lives better.
Caroline Page, LibDem County Councillor for Woodbridge
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Due to the generosity of Eric Reynolds, ( owner of Woodbridge Boatyard and founding director of Urban Space Management) Jetty Lane have been gifted cabin classrooms from Trinity Buoy Wharf so the charity can start addressing the huge pool of unmet need in greater Woodbridge, while continuing to fundraise for the building.
“When we were fortunate enough to get a phone call offering us these cabins, we jumped at it” says Cllr Page. “Eric Reynolds is definitely Renaissance man: both Man of Thought and Man of Action. He thought we would find them useful, and when we said yes please, they were on our site -practically before we could blink – with Eric, in his overalls, very much at the forefront of getting them installed. We cannot thank him enough.”
Eric has set up and ran/runs some of the most important people places in London since the early 1970’s including Camden Lock Market, Spitalfields Old Fruit and Vegetable Market, Gabriels’ Wharf, and Trinity Buoy Wharf and winner of the Regeneration & Renewal “Lifetime Achievement Award” for Regeneration in 2012.
Project Manager Cordelia Richman confirms: “Jetty Lane has achieved so much since 2017 but it hasn’t been visible. Now that we have the Activity Spaces everyone can see where Jetty Lane will be and our vision for the site is clear. As soon as we’ve completed a basic refurbishment of the Activity Spaces we will start putting them to use providing facilities for our community.”
Sizewell C: Planning Inspectorate accepts plans for Sizewell C; Suffolk County Council votes down motion opposing it On 24 June, the Planning Inspectorate agreed that EDF Energy’s DCO application for Sizewell C could proceed to the examination stage.
Suffolk County Council prevents likely FGM deportation I asked the following question about FGM at last full council (9th July 2020).
Last week – National Carers Week – passed with even less than its usual muted tootle.