Summary

  • Updates for Friday, 18 August 2017

  • Plans revealed for third river crossing

  • Rail disruption continues

  • Third win in a row for Ipswich Witches

  1. Baaa - missing the sights and sounds of the Suffolk Show?published at 11:52 British Summer Time 27 May 2020

    The Sheep Show has been running for 29 years and they appear at more than 100 agricultural shows a year - showing off their shearing skills.

    Richard Savory talks about missing this year's Suffolk Show, which would have been taking place today and tomorrow.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus leads to 'huge loss' for events industry

  2. Suffolk Show cancellation will have 'long-lasting repercussions'published at 10:04 British Summer Time 27 May 2020

    Today should have been day one of the Suffolk Show but due to the coronavirus pandemic, along with hundreds of other events, it has been cancelled this year.

    Suffolk ShowImage source, Suffolk Show

    Last year, the county's largest pop-up event attracted 95,000 people to Ipswich's Trinity Park over two days.

    The agricultural show, external is worth millions to the local economy and it is thought to have only been called off seven times in a history that stretches back to 1832.

    Show director Bruce Kerr said contractors, exhibitors and visitors have been refunded.

    "The repercussions for us are going to be long-lasting but certainly with regards to this year's show, by making the decision back in March, we were able to mitigate some of the costs," Mr Kerr added.

    The show was previously cancelled in 2001 due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and in 2012 it was abandoned after the first day due to high winds.

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  3. 'Why a county show means so much to me'published at 08:13 British Summer Time 27 May 2020

    One of the region's largest county shows was due to take place today and tomorrow - and in this sunshine would probably have attracted about 100,000 people.

    The Suffolk Show, external on the edge of Ipswich is one of many events to have fallen victim to the coronavirus lockdown.

    BBC Radio Suffolk is helping create a "virtual" show to make up for it.

    BBC Look East will be making up for the loss of the event with special coverage at 18:30 on BBC One tonight, and here's a quick taster:

    Media caption,

    Suffolk Show: 'Why annual county showpiece means so much to me'

  4. 'Why a county show means so much to me'published at 05:56 British Summer Time 27 May 2020

    The Suffolk Show was due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday in Ipswich.

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  5. Planning application for nuclear plant submittedpublished at 00:13 British Summer Time 27 May 2020

    Critics say EDF's plans would take money from projects that could transform the UK energy landscape.

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  6. Government will 'look at' childcare-related finespublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 26 May 2020

    Matt Hancock has said the government may review fines which people were given for breaching lockdown rules for childcare reasons.

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  7. Town cancels free summer festivals programmepublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 26 May 2020

    A multi-stage music day, mela and waterfront maritime festival all bite the dust due to coronavirus.

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  8. What the papers are saying in Suffolk...published at 16:52 British Summer Time 26 May 2020

  9. Zoos charity set to lose a third of jobspublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 26 May 2020

    The closure of two zoos has caused a charity a loss of about £1.5m.

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  10. Suffolk brewery all set to reopen pubspublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 26 May 2020

    The head of Adnams, external brewery says the company is ready to reopen its pubs, as soon as they get the nod from government.

    Sole Bay Inn, Southwold

    His comments come as some retailers in England have expressed concerns they won't have enough business to make it profitable for them to reopen.

    Last night, the government announced that most shops can welcome customers back on 15 June, while outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to trade again next Monday.

    So far there are no reopening dates for restaurants, hairdressers and pubs, but Andy Wood, chief executive of Southwold-based Adnams, said the brewery's chain of about 45 pubs, external, has made preparations.

    "We are putting in screens to shield staff. We're going cashless, introducing technology for ordering and paying, to welcome back our customers with open arms in a safe way," he said.

    Mr Wood also appealed for clearer guidance on social distancing rules after the World Health Organisation stipulated a 1m separation rule compared to the UK's 2m specification.

  11. Head teacher says return will be 'really hard' for younger pupilspublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 26 May 2020

    A head teacher responsible for a cluster of Suffolk primary schools says staff are nervous about more pupils returning next week.

    children in primary schoolImage source, Getty Images

    Maria Kemble, executive head of two catholic primary schools, external in Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury, said: "They [pupils] won't be able to move around.

    "The'll be given their spot and be expected to stay there, which for reception and pre-school children is completely different to how they would normally be learning and that's going to be really, really hard."

    The Prime Minister confirmed plans for reception, year one and year six pupils to go back to school from 1 June.

    Teaching unions have also expressed concerns about safety.

  12. Harry Potter book printers to take on more staffpublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 26 May 2020

    The book printers that produced the bestselling Harry Potter series is recruiting staff again after not taking on any new roles for the past two and a half months during lockdown.

    Clays, external, based in Bungay in Suffolk, employs about 800 staff and is looking to take on 25 new people.

    Paul Hulley, its chief executive, said: "Online book sites are trading very well and trade is above expectations."

    printing of booksImage source, Clays
  13. Nurse shares lockdown journey of carrying tripletspublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 25 May 2020

    The 29-year-old discovered she was having triplets just as the coronavirus outbreak reached the UK.

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  14. Theatre awarded £35k to survive shutdownpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 23 May 2020

    A theatre has received a "wonderful moral boost" after being awarded a £35k grant from the Arts Council of England, to help it survive the coronavirus crisis.

    The Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, external, Suffolk, said: "This is a difficult time for regional theatres, and whilst this grant will likely not be the answer to all of our problems – it’s a really strong start.

    "We will be back", it added.

    Pantomime photoImage source, Lowestoft Marina
  15. Skatepark and public toilets to reopenpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 22 May 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    For those who want to get out and about this weekend without discomfort public toilets have been reopened in some Ipswich open areas following the coronavirus lockdown, the borough council , externalsaid.

    The riverside skatepark has also been reopened with new signs displaying social distancing reminders.

    Major's Corner public toilets, Ipswich

    Five of the council’s public toilets, at Major's Corner (pictured), Christchurch Park, Holywells Park, Lawn Cemetery and Millennium Cemetery will be open between 10:00 and 16:00 initially.

    Disabled toilets will be open on a strict "one person in, one person out" basis. The council confirmed there would be sanitising for cubicles after each use.

    A council spokesman said: "These are considered to be those which are used more frequently, where there are hand-washing basins, where we believe at this point in time there is a demand and where can supply resource to regularly sanitise them."

    Ipswich's riverside skatepark
  16. Woman's death at pub party 'not suspicious'published at 13:22 British Summer Time 22 May 2020

    A woman who was initially arrested on suspicion of murder will face no further action.

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  17. Identity of baby found at waste site still unknownpublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 22 May 2020

    The cause of the newborn girl's death also remains "undetermined", an inquest in Suffolk hears.

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  18. Ipswich road layouts could change to aid social distancingpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 22 May 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Some road layouts in Ipswich town centre could change under proposals to enable greater social distancing.

    IpswichImage source, Geograph/Adrian Cable

    Ipswich Borough Council, external is working with Ipswich Central, external business group, police and county council on a plan to begin opening up the town centre to more people from 1 June.

    Currently the only stores open are those deemed essential.

    Full details are due to be revealed on 29 May, but discussions are understood to include managing pedestrian flow and whether some narrow alleyways would need to close or be one-way only. How deliveries and rubbish collections are managed will also be considered.

    Labour borough council leader David Ellesmere said: "Plans are under way to follow government guidance and reopen the town centre – when the time is right."

  19. New 'on-the-spot' coronavirus test being trialledpublished at 20:59 British Summer Time 21 May 2020

    Ten million antibody tests will also start being rolled out next week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says.

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  20. Robbie Savage asks Hancock about football returnpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 21 May 2020

    The ex-Wales midfielder asks Matt Hancock if a vaccine will be needed for grassroots football to restart.

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