Libraries kept in touch with customers via various acts of kindness as the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Jason Noble
Suffolk Local Democracy Reporter

The Orwell Bridge, external could stay open in high winds as long as a 40mph speed limit can be enforced with more speed cameras, Highways England told Ipswich Borough Council, external’s scrutiny committee last night.

Simon Amor, Highways England, external’s head of planning and development, said final wind tunnel testing for validation of the new design is expected to last about four weeks.

Image source, Highways England

But Mr Amor confirmed that while the existing average speed cameras for the bridge (used to enforce the general 60mph limit) could be used, more speed cameras were needed.

He said: "The design itself hasn’t been affected by coronavirus so we have managed to progress that.

"We can’t have a lower speed limit if you can’t enforce it, and how we enforce it is quite crucial to that."

• Orwell Bridges high-wind closure plans revealed
• A14 Orwell Bridge closures cost town "£1m a day"

Ipswich Town said Philip Hope-Cobbold's family had been "synonymous" with the club since 1878.

Former Ipswich Town director and patron of the club, Philip Hope-Cobbold, has died.

The 76-year-old, who was part of the Cobbold family that have been synonymous with the club since its formation in 1878, died on Wednesday afternoon.

He attended his first match in 1950, taken by his uncle John Cobbold, then a director of the club and accepted an invitation from chairman John Kerr to join the Club board in January 1995.

The club said he "remained a regular and popular attendee" on matchdays at Portman Road.

"All at Ipswich Town send deepest condolences to Philip’s family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all," a statement said.

Former player Matt Holland is among those who've paid tribute to him saying he was a "fantastic man with a great sense of humour".

Hard-hitting review calls for a patient safety champion after yet another scandal.

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

• 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

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.

Image 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

Image source, West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village

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.

Image 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'

Downing Street hits back at claims Boris Johnson was trying to shift blame for coronavirus deaths.

Labour's Jonathan Ashworth calls on Matt Hancock to apologise for the PM's comments about care homes' response to coronavirus.

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

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

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

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."

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".

Image source, Norwich Theatre Royal

Image source, Basildon Council

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

Image source, SMTT

Image source, Martin Bond, A Cambridge Diary

Image source, Deco Theatre

Image source, Players Theatre

Image source, The Archers Theatre

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.

Image source, Environment Agency

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.”

Matt Hancock defends releasing hospital patients into care homes without testing them.

Midnight haircuts as coronavirus restrictions ease - but people are urged to be "tremendously cautious".