Summary

  • Updates for Suffolk

  1. Hammer murder by ex 'could not be prevented'published at 14:00 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    A review into Jane Bartholomew's killing by Scott Ellis in Suffolk says there was no warning of it.

    Read More
  2. What the papers say in Suffolkpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    • The Ipswich Star, external reports that the future of a metal works employing 85 people is in doubt
    • Bury Free Press, external writes that firefighters rescued a baby who was trapped in a car this morning
    • The Haverhill Echo, external reports that the new busway heading out towards Haverhill from Cambridge has moved one step closer as a route was chosen to progress to the next stage of development
  3. Suffolk 'Smart Towns' project expandedpublished at 10:32 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    Jason Noble
    Suffolk Local Democracy Reporter

    High streets in 12 towns are to get a £1.1m boost for a project to provide free wi-fi and footfall tracking.

    On Tuesday, Conservative-controlled East Suffolk Council’s cabinet, external said the successful pilot project held in Framlingham last year could be rolled out to 11 other market towns, which will see major digital upgrades.

    The project, titled Smart Towns, will include provision of free wi-fi, online promotions to attract shoppers, footfall tracking data, and new high street apps and town websites.

    FramlinghamImage source, Tim Marchant / Geograph

    "We need to make these towns as attractive and accessible as we possibly can,” said council leader Steve Gallant.

    Work to roll out the scheme is to begin later this summer and should be completed within two years.

    Around £400,000 has been spent on bringing the project forward to date, with council approving a further £500,000, while the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, external has pledged £200,000.

    The 12 towns to benefit from the scheme are:

    • Aldeburgh
    • Beccles
    • Bungay
    • Felixstowe
    • Framlingham
    • Halesworth
    • Leiston
    • Lowestoft
    • Saxmundham
    • Southwold
    • Wickham Market
    • Woodbridge
  4. Anglo-Saxon re-enactment village to reopenpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    West Stow Anglo-Saxon VillageImage source, West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village
    Image caption,

    Volunteers recreate Anglo-Saxon life at West Stow

    From tomorrow you will be able to visit more museums and historical places of interest.

    Moyse’s Hall Museum, external in Bury St Edmunds and the nearby West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, external will reopen.

    Councillor John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, said he was "delighted" they were in a position to reopen their sites in a "safe and considered way".

    "I ask that we all continue to do our part by observing the measures that are needed," he added.

    Although play areas are able to reopen, ensuring everyone can "socially distance", some play equipment is being "taken out of service for the time being", it added.

  5. Thousands given to arts groups in Eastpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    Wardown HouseImage source, Culture Trust

    Arts groups in the East have been given a share of a £33m fund to help them stay afloat until the end of September, because of the impact of Covid-19.

    The money from the Arts Council, external has been given to National Portfolio Organisations.

    It has come from its £160m Emergency Response Package, which was launched in March, with help from the National Lottery and the government.

    Hedley Swain, area director for Arts Council England, said: "We know that we are all still facing huge challenges.

    "We’ll use our remaining available funds, alongside those announced by government, to support our sector in the coming months.”

    The groups that have received help include:

    • Luton Cultural Services Trust - Wardown House: £51,471
    • Milton Keynes Arts Centre: £45,860
    • Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket, Suffolk: £88,950
    • New International Encounter, Cambridge: £28,081
    • Wavendon Allmusic Plan Ltd, Buckinghamshire: £297,090

    See also: Theatre boss had 'best night's sleep in 100 days'

  6. Former MP Eric Joyce admits child sex offencepublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    The ex-Army officer had a movie clip of children with one as young as 12 months old, a court hears.

    Read More
  7. Music venue saved with £12,000 from crowdfundingpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    As Sound City is postponed, one of its venues is to host socially-distanced gigs streamed online.

    Read More
  8. England's first 'beauty area' extension since 1991published at 10:35 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    A minister calls the growth of an AONB "a worthy addition, during this unprecedented time".

    Read More
  9. Multi-venue music festival postponedpublished at 09:22 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    The Murder Capital
    Image caption,

    The Murder Capital go crowd-surfing at the Manor Ballroom at Sound City Ipswich in 2019

    After a successful sold-out debut in 2019, the Sound City Ipswich, external music festival has been postponed for 2020 due to the ongoing lockdown restrictions and "uncertainty around large gatherings".

    It was due to take place on 2 October across various venues in the town, and has been rescheduled for Friday, 1 October, 2021.

    Organisers said nine of the 10 artists booked to play would appear and tickets would be valid or refunds available. Dry Cleaning will not be able to appear next year, but others including Truemendous, Warmduscher and Porridge Radio have been re-booked.

    In an email to ticket holders, they said: "We are so happy to be able to carry so many amazing acts on to next year’s festival which will be bigger and better and a real celebration of the resilience of the town and the live music industry."

  10. Arts venues across region 'light it in red'published at 08:37 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    Alex Pope
    BBC News Online

    Venues up and town the region were painted (not literally) red last night to raise the profile of arts venues, that have been hit hard during the coronavirus lockdown.

    The #LightItInRed campaign on social media shows buildings and places in a red glow to "bring light to the situation of the events industry during the Covid-19 crisis".

    Norwich Theatre Royal in red lightImage source, Norwich Theatre Royal
    Image caption,

    Theatre Royal, Norwich

    Red Basildon SignImage source, Basildon Council
    Image caption,

    Basildon, Essex

    As theatres and arts venues are still unable to open, the government announced a £1.57bn support package on Sunday evening.

    Red light on theatreImage source, SMTT
    Image caption,

    Mill Theatre, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire

    The Portland Arms in redImage source, Martin Bond, A Cambridge Diary
    Image caption,

    The Portland Arms, Cambridge

    The Old Savoy in redImage source, Deco Theatre
    Image caption,

    The Old Savoy, Northampton

    Players Theatre in redImage source, Players Theatre
    Image caption,

    Players Theatre, Lowestoft, Suffolk

    The Archers Theatre in redImage source, The Archers Theatre
    Image caption,

    The Archers Theatre, Clifton Reynes, Olney, Buckinghamshire

  11. Consultation begins on nuclear power plant permitspublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    The company seeking to build a new nuclear power station at Sizewell, EDF SZC Co, external, has submitted applications to the Environment Agency for three permits needed for environmental protection during commissioning, operation and decommissioning of the plant.

    The permits cover disposals and discharges of radioactive wastes, operation of standby power supply systems using diesel generators and discharges of cooling water and liquid effluent into the North Sea.

    Sizewell CImage source, Environment Agency
    Image caption,

    Sizewell C would be build next to the existing Sizewell A and B sites on the Suffolk coast

    The Environment Agency is seeking feedback, external from local people on the permits during the consultation period which will run from 6 July 2020 for 12 weeks.

    If the agency grants permits conditions to ensure proper protection of people and the environment can be included.

    The agency’s nuclear new build project manager, Simon Barlow, said: "These applications represent the culmination of 10 years of pre-application discussions with EDF SZC Co.

    "We welcome people’s views on these permit applications and will carefully consider their comments before we progress to the next stage of our decision making process.”

  12. Funeral of US fighter pilot live-streamedpublished at 18:25 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Lt Kenneth Allen died when his US fighter jet crashed into the North Sea last month.

    Read More
  13. Couple's happiness at post lockdown weddingpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Trainee doctor Julia Payne, who contracted Covid-19, was originally due to marry Henry Matter in May.

    Read More
  14. Lifeguards continue to return to beachespublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    LifeguardsImage source, Nigel Millard/RNLI

    Lifeguards are continuing to return to beaches across the east coast.

    The RNLI said this weekend they will have an extra patrol in at Southwold north beach in Suffolk, adding to Lowestoft South beach, which they returned to last month.

    Lifeguards will wear personal protective equipment, and "new protocols for first responders means the lifeguards may not deal with some minor first aid cases but will support people to treat themselves", it said.

    Darren Lewis, RNLI lifesaving manager, said: "We must all continue to be aware that the risks from the pandemic have not gone away, but if people work with us and the other emergency services by following social distancing and other government guidance, we hope to be able to continue to provide lifeguard services this season."

  15. Three arrested over balcony death plungepublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 2 July 2020

    Three people are arrested on suspicion of murder after Gary Henderson, 64, died in Ipswich.

    Read More
  16. Bank staff stop payment to rogue traderspublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 2 July 2020

    Staff members at a bank have stopped an elderly woman from withdrawing £7,000 from her bank account to pay for her roof to be fixed.

    Suffolk Police, external said two men tried to convince the woman in Felixstowe that her roof had a hole in it, at about 10:00 on Tuesday.

    They drove her to the TSB bank in the town's Hamilton Road to withdraw cash.

    Bank staff called the police when they became suspicious, but when they arrived the men had gone.

    They are described as white, of medium height and build, with short hair and were driving a white van.

    TSB bank in FelixstoweImage source, Google
  17. Level crossing cameras to be installed across Eastpublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 2 July 2020

    Cameras are being installed at 13 level crossings in the East to catch motorists who do not stop when barriers are coming down.

    It is to help Network Rail , externalprosecute drivers who jump the lights across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

    Offenders are automatically notified of their offence, and could be sent on an awareness course, fined £100 and given three points on their licence, or prosecuted, it said.

    The RLSE cameras are being paid for by Greater Anglia.

    Daniel Fisk, from Network Rail, said: "They are clearly visible for people to see as a deterrent."

    Cameras at Baylham level crossingImage source, Network Rail
  18. Upgrade of 'most important' recycling site plannedpublished at 10:13 British Summer Time 2 July 2020

    Jason Noble
    Suffolk Local Democracy Reporter

    A recycling centre needs to be updated to make it "future-proof", a council says.

    Suffolk County Council, external said the Foxhall Recycling Centre on the edge of Ipswich "currently operates under a time-limited planning permission".

    Without site improvement, a new permission will not be secured and would result in the loss of the council’s "most important and well-used site”, it said.

    The planned upgrade includes a new feeder lane, raised car parking so that people do not need to walk up steps to dispose of waste, and increased capacity for the number of vehicles.

    Foxhall Recycling CentreImage source, Chris Holifield/Geograph

    Construction is due to start next year, should be completed by 2023, but costs have not been revealed.

    The council said that Foxhall alone receives nearly 12,000 tonnes of recycling waste per year, about 20% of Suffolk’s entire recycling waste.

    The consultation runs until 20 July.

  19. Raft Race organisers 'quack on' with new eventpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 1 July 2020

    An annual raft race will be replaced with an event involving rubber ducks, after it was cancelled.

    The "socially-distanced" alternative titled Operation Needham Duck Pond will see with people in the Suffolk town asked to decorate plastic ducks to put on display in either house windows, garden or dotted around the town.

    rubber ducksImage source, Needham Market Raft Race

    Entries are to be submitted on the Needham Market Raft Race Facebook page, external and the winner will be announced on 10 July.

    The raft race had been held every year since 2002, but was called off over the coronavirus pandemic.

  20. What the papers say in Suffolkpublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 1 July 2020