Wickham Skeith Green News

Report from your Councillor Andrew Stringer Spring 2010 Central and North Ipswich Constituency Greens drop Green Party Candidate 6th May 2010 Election Bombshell

in & Wetherden

On the 26th of March mainstream parties were shocked at the result of a by- election triggered by the resignation of sitting conservative Bruce Cameron Laker. If you travelled through the villages in early march you would have noticed the posters After scaling the dizzying heights of becoming your District and proclaiming vote Rachel. If County Councillor, the power has gone completely to my head you wondered who Rachel is, and I have been selected as your parliamentary candidate . You Here she is : will shortly be receiving an election communication that I hope you will find both informative and entertaining; as ever if you Rachel Eburne District Councillor need any information or have any points you wish to raise with Haughley and Wetherden me please don't hesitate to contact me.

Andrew Stringer

Local Fly-tipper Caught The result in full : I have received news this week that a fly-tipper, caught dumping a sofa in a local lane, has been found guilty and charged with a fine of £100 plus costs of £500. This incident Green 444 Conservative 176 was spotted by an eagle-eyed (local) passer by. If you spot Labour 32 anyone fly-tipping, or find any items dumped in our local Lib Dem 51 ditches and lay-bys, please contact District UKIP 25 Council on 0845 606 6067.

www.suffolk.greenparty.org.uk Spring 2010

New Orchards set to Blossom ?

Following on from our ongoing project to plant native trees, we had an idea suggested by an allotment holder in Haughley Green that we look into planting Community Orchards. We investigated this idea and came across The East of Apples and Orchards Project who catalogue by county of origin, grow and sell traditional breeds of Apple, Cherry, Plum and Gage etc.

In early April we planted our first Orchard of 16 Suffolk apple trees at the allotment site at Haughley Green. Among the varieties planted were ‘Lady Henniker,’ ‘Old Blake,’ ‘Maxton,’ ‘Honey Pippin,’ and ‘Earl Stradbroke’. Pear and Plum trees will follow.

We hope that when these trees start to fruit locals will be able to have great tasting apples and possibly make crumbles, press juice or even brew cider !

This could be the start of a bigger project that can look at planting Community Orchards in more villages, keeping alive traditional Suffolk varieties of fruit.

If you think Wickham Skeith should have a community orchard just let me know.

Household Recycling centre changes

In the last few weeks changes have been made to the layout of the centre, including a re-use area with Ipswich Furniture Project and Suffolk Scrap Store and bicycles are being recycled by the Green Bike enterprise. The changes are also designed to limit the amount of time users have to wait.

The site already diverts 73% of material from landfill, and it is hoped that the changes will help this figure to rise.

An issue that still persists is the problem of some users turning left into the site; I have witnessed several near misses at this junction. One other issue that should now have been resolved is the problem of cars parking across the cycle path at the entrance. This may sound trivial but cyclists have to veer into heavy traffic if their route is blocked. Yellow hatching has now been extended to cover this oversight. If you have any issues regarding the site please contact me. Andrew’s Update

The John Peel Centre for Creative Arts

The long neglected Corn Exchange in Stowmarket (behind the NatWest bank) has for over a decade been owned by Stowmarket Town Council. In all this time it has only been used for storage, but it now has the opportunity to become ‘The John Peel Centre For Creative Arts.’ I have been given a seat on the Help make a difference: join Mid Suffolk Green Party today! management board, along with others including John’s Widow Sheila Ravenscroft. The group has been tasked with finding  I would like more information about between £500,000 and £1.5 million to renovate and transform Suffolk Green Party the old building into an up to the minute facility for all to use.  I can deliver Green Party newsletters in my street or village One stream of this work will look into the possibility of securing  I would like more information about the NatWest bank as part of this scheme, restoring the original practical tasks like tree planting and front of the Corn Exchange. It is envisaged that the centre will litter picks. host events ranging from Photographic Exhibitions to Comedy  I would like to join the Suffolk Green and Drama as well as Live Music of all kinds. Party.

£5 cheque payable to Suffolk Green Party. Please send to 3 Wash Lane Corner, Great Finborough IP14 3BJ ……………………… …. …. ………

Cast iron roof spans in Stowmarket Corn Exchange

NHS DENTISTRY AVAILABLE NOW!

THE STATION VIEW PRACTICE, WHICH THE LOCAL GREEN PARTY HELPED ESTABLISH, IS TAKING ON MORE PATIENTS - CALL 01449 613369 TO REGISTER

Your Local Green Party Contacts

Eye & District : Cllr Andrew Stringer, No 1 Broadway House, Broad Rd, Cotton, Stowmarket IP14 4ND 01449 780339 [email protected]

Stowmarket : Cllr John Matthissen, 3 Wash Lane Corner, Great Finborough, IP14 3BJ 01449 771742 [email protected]

Ipswich : Amy Drayson, 82 Hervey Street, Ipswich IP4 2ET Name:…………………………………………………………………………Phone :……………… … 01473 437253 [email protected] Address:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… E-mail …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… : Comments,questions, suggestions, problems ……. Spring 2010 Stowmarket’s New Bridge Taking Shape

The long awaited bridge over the Railway and River in Stowmarket is taking shape and is expected to be open in the early summer. One aspect of the new bridge that is not well known, is that Suffolk based artist Clare Curtis has designed images depicting the industrial past of Stowmarket including lawn mower production and the foundry. These images have been shot blasted onto the concrete sections to create a design that will run along both sides of the road bridge and both sides of a new footbridge.

A blast from the past, images being etched into a bridge section

Printed by Suffolk Greenprint, Printed on 3 Wash Lane Corner, Great Finborough, Stowmarket IP14 3BJ Recycled Paper Promoted by John Matthissen 3 Wash Lane Corner, Great Finborough