DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT
Following the news that 15 of the districts 49 post offices are earmarked for closure, Suffolk Coastal District Council has responded by calling upon local residents to put forward their views during the consultation period and to ensure that their concerns are voiced.
Post Office Ltd has announced that the local community had six weeks from its announcement on October 9 to respond to its proposals as part of their so-called consultation period on its plans (which have already received approval from the Government.)
“I can fully understand the angry reaction that these proposals will probably provoke across our district, with nearly a third of our local post offices now under threat… What I hope that people will do now is to come up with their own alternative suggestions to stave off the impact of closure and put these forward to the Post Office as I suspect these are more likely to be positively listened to.”- Cllr Mary Neale, Cabinet Member for Rural Issues and Community Development.
The
branches at Fairfield Road, Aldeburgh, Bramfield, Crettingham,
Dennington, Great Bealings, Hacheston, Knodishall, Martlesham BT, and
Hasketon Road, Woodbridge are earmarked for closure from January 1,
2008 onwards.
A further six branches will be closed, at
Nacton, Sutton, Ufford, Walberswick, Waldringfield and within this
ward- Witnesham. It has been proposed that outreach services will be
provided, meaning that a mobile post office would visit every week,
or that services might be offered at a shop or community centre for a
few hours, or a reduced range of services could be offered from a
community facility like a pub. There is also the option of a home
service where pre-ordered items are delivered direct to a customer or
at a local drop-in session.
The Chairman of the Government’s own Commission for Rural Communities, Dr Stuart Burgess, has criticised the six weeks limit as this window of opportunity is far too narrow and subsequently urged rural communities to use the period to their best advantage.
“This Council will formally consider the proposals at its November Cabinet meeting. This district and its communities have a good record of creating innovative partnerships that have helped maintain post office services. The challenge is now to ensure that in as many as possible of these 15 areas under threat that the services currently offered are kept going in one way or another,”- Cllr Neale.
Suffolk Coastal supports local rural shops and businesses with rate relief and backed attempts by post offices at Ufford and Hollesley to successfully gain funding from the Suffolk Rural Services scheme which is part funded by the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership. Suffolk Coastal District Council is ready to offer help and advice to any community group in the affected areas that has a proposal which it wants to offer up to the Post Office to maintain some level of service. Groups should call the economic and regeneration manager, Andy Wright on 01394 444472.
For more about the Post Office consultation please refer to the following link www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange Responses should be sent by November 19 to Sheila McCann, Network Development Manager, C/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM or emailed to consultation@postoffice.co.uk. Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44.
The press release from the Commission for Rural Communities can be seen on www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/events/makeyourvoiceisheardinpostofficeconsultation
Suffolk Coastal insists on public consultation concerning Sizewell C plans
Suffolk Coastal’s Cabinet is calling on the Government to ensure that there is a commitment that local impacts should be fully considered as part of any future planning processes dealing with new nuclear power stations.
The Council is responding as part of the consultation on the Government’s Energy White Paper which sets out a possible key role for nuclear power to help reduce future carbon emissions in the country.
“We strongly believe that local communities should have their say - with the right to reject plans for a Sizewell C if, after detailed local consideration, that is seen to be the correct decision for this district.”-Cllr Nunn.
The
Council has already identified numerous factors that must be taken
into careful consideration that may potentially effect and impact on
the district in its entirety, for example its potential location
given the internationally recognised Heritage coastline
and surrounding area of outstanding natural beauty, the limitation of
new power lines and pylons to accommodate the new plant, possible
knock-on effects in the surrounding areas-such as erosion, the
careful planning of housing for the workforce to benefit the local
community as a whole, transportation and infrastructure changes to
accommodate this new development and issues surrounding the sensitive
storage of spent nuclear waste.
Online Bill Payments
Due to the recent uncertainties concerning the future of post offices locally, Suffolk Coastal are reminding residents that bills may be paid online and over the telephone.
Since May 2006 in excess of 28000 payments have been received with people now able to pay for their business rates, council tax, planning applications, housing benefit invoices and car park excess charge notices by telephone and online.
“We recognised that not everyone has access to the internet which is why we have worked hard to introduce a new improved payment service which is available to as many people as possible throughout our largely rural district, in line with our Customer Access Strategy- Cllr Robert Whiting, Cabinet Member for Fiscal and Democratic Services.
The automated telephone service is found on the following number 0845 880 1312 and the online payment service by referring to the following web link http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourcouncil/contactus/payments/
For further information about the new improved payment services email epayments@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or call 01394 444541.
Funding trees to help offset carbon emissions
Companies
have been making donations as part of a national initiative which
will see hundreds of trees and hedges being planted in November at
Hollesley and Rendlesham as part of a long-term contribution to
reducing their carbon footprints.
Suffolk Coastal has been
working in conjunction with the Tree Appeal to identify the first two
sites in Suffolk to benefit from the fund which aims to promote the
environment by planting broad-leaved trees and providing woodland
habitats.
Tree Appeal (www.treeappeal.com)
based in Durham, aims to plant and conserve trees within the UK and
globally in recognition and appreciation of the environmental and
humanitarian benefits that trees deliver to the wellbeing of the
planet.
The organisation strives to provide environmentally
responsible companies with the opportunity to make a significant
environmental contribution by assisting them in offsetting their
carbon dioxide emissions.
Most of planting by Tree Appeal will be
in low-profile surroundings where they are most needed, (for example
supplementing hedgerows, woodlands and nature reserves, or alongside
highways, rivers or farmland)
“Suffolk Coastal’s
role is to help attract volunteers and identify where future projects
could occur. We have been running our own Parish Tree scheme for over
20 years where we have worked with local communities to plant tens of
thousands of trees, so we already have a lot of experience and
knowledge.” added Cllr Nunn.
For further information
about this scheme contact Suffolk Coastal’s Joanna Payne
joanna.payne@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
SCTV Website
Young people within the district have launched their own website run by Suffolk Coastal Teen Voices (SCTV), the district-wide youth forum that strives to make a difference for you people across the district.
SCTV’s recent DVD entitled ‘Generation Jigsaw’ may be found on their new website www.sctv.org.uk which has links to You Tube where the film can be seen in its entirety.
“We meet every month and invite people like the police, or local councillors or those who provide services for young people. Our job is to make sure that youths aren't just forgotten and told what to do all of the time.”-SCTV Representative
SCTV
also attended a Suffolk Coastal Full Council meeting where they
conducted a presentation aimed at raising awareness of SCTV and the
work they do, as well as explaining how to get involved.
The
team outlined the child rights convention of 1989, and pointed to
article 12 of the UN convention which illustrates how young people
have the right to express themselves and have the right to make
decisions that affect them.
The launch of SCTV and the post of youth co-ordinator was funded by the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership.