Rushmere Mysteries NEWS Letter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council NEWS LETTER SPRING 2013 'SEEK THE COMMON GOOD' Rushmere mysteries There are some interesting historic features in Rushmere St Andrew that seem to be shrouded in a bit of mystery. The timber house, known as 'Columbia House', Rushmere Mill and the Old Columbia House Tollgate on Woodbridge Road near Bent Lane. The Toll Gate and the windmill can both be seen on the adjacent 1928 map. The most outstanding of these is the fine timber house known as 'Columbia House' shown in the photograph below. The story goes that it was built by local timber merchant John Brown for the Royal Agricultural Show of 1934 as an elaborate gimmick to sell timber. The then Prince of Wales attended the show and was said to have 'Taken tea in the lounge'. It seems certain that the Prince of Wales attended the 1934 show Playford and Woodbridge Roads, circa 1928 as there is a record of the visit on the I don't know, as I can't find any hard the time thought it had been transported Pathé News. evidence. Just how would one transport a from the showground. Does anyone The story however, goes on to say that house from the showground to Playford know? after the show, the house was transported Road? Perhaps it was dismantled in Over the road from Columbia House and to its present location on Playford Road. some way, or perhaps the present house down Playford Road towards Ipswich is Just how much truth there is in this is so similar to the original that people of a road called, 'The Mills'. Columbia House, Playford Road, by kind permission of Mrs Frettingham The 1928 map shows that a windmill existed here and I've once seen a photograph of it in a book of old postcards where it was simply entitled, 'Rushmere Mill' but this seems to be the only record. Who owned the mill? When was it demolished? At the bottom of Bent Lane where it meets Woodbridge Road, the 1928 map shows, 'Old Tollgate'. There were a number of toll gates and houses around the area but this is the only one shown on the Rushmere St Andrew map. There doesn't seem to be any sign of it on the ground. Where was it? Which road was the toll road? If any of our readers have any further information on any of the above then please write to the Assistant Parish Clerk at the address on the back of the news-sheet and we'll publish any letters we receive in the next issue. Mark Newton www.rushmerestandrew.onesuffolk.net Explaining your Council Tax for 2013/2014 For the last three years, the Parish D element being £36.30 – only two So the January Parish Council Council managed to keep its Precept pence more than the 2010/2011 figure. meeting came to determine the final requirement unchanged at £91,000 per The final decision however would have Precept figure. The offer of the grant annum. to be taken at its January meeting. was accepted and no changes were To identify how much money each The Chancellor's Statement came and suggested to the overall content of the household pays, this amount was the overall effect of this was to revise original £93,000 figure. divided by the 'Total Band D property the calculation of the 'Total Band D However, the day before the meeting, equivalent' figure which equates to property equivalent' figure. a group of Parishioners had petitioned the number of Council Tax Band D For all Parishes, the effect was as the Electoral Authority to start an properties in the Parish. follows:- election process for our Councillor vacancy. With a small number of properties • An increase due to technical reforms being built each year, this figure such as the removal of the discount With the nil cost option of the Parish increased slightly each year leading for second homes and the reduction Council co-opting a replacement to the Band D Council Tax element for of empty property discounts. Councillor having defaulted with the Rushmere St Andrew reducing from calling of an election, Councillors • A reduction due to the Impact £36.28 to £36.01 over the three year considered the possible costs involved:- of Local Tax Scheme whereby period. Government had previously funded • Zero or one person standing – Interestingly, Suffolk County Council Council Tax for those people eligible uncontested election – estimated and Suffolk Coastal District Councils for Council Tax benefits but now cost £1,500. took a different approach and decided would be catered for locally. • Two or more persons standing – to keep their B and D figure unchanged contested election – estimated cost • A reduction due to provisions for £4,000. over the three years. losses in collection rate. With this unexpected cost now in In consequence, they actually took • A possible reduction for Ministry of the offing, it was reluctantly decided more money overall, year on year, Defence properties but fortunately to increase the Precept to a total of due to the increasing number of we have none in the Parish. £97,000 – a band D Council Tax figure households! Under these new rules, a significantly of £38.50 after taking into consideration Normally, the Parish Council formally lower figure changed the previously the Government grant made through determines its forthcoming year’s predicted Council Tax figure of £36.30 Suffolk Coastal District Council. Precept in November. However, at into £38.53 to continue to raise the Whilst acknowledging this unfortunate the last minute, we were advised not £93,000 Precept. increase, the overall amount still to set a precept at this time due to However, the Government compares very favourably with Parishes Government Proposals which would acknowledged that the new calculation of a broadly urban nature in Suffolk be announced in the Chancellor's method could have an impact on Coastal District. Autumn Statement. Towns and Parishes and paid a grant With Suffolk County Council After careful consideration at its of around £200,000 to the Collection taking £1,126.53, Police and Crime November meeting, the Parish Authority, Suffolk Coastal District Commissioner £166.77 and Suffolk Council took the decision to Council, to mitigate the blow. Coastal District Council £149.40, the review the budget and determine Initially, thoughts were that this would total band D amount within our Parish a provisional budget which would only be available to Councils who kept is £1,481.20. lead to a 2013/2014 Precept their Precepts unchanged – but at the In comparison, the adjacent Ipswich requirement of £93,000 – a £2,000 eleventh hour this was changed to an Borough Council bill is over 8% higher increase on the figure for the offer based on the 2012/2013 Precept at £1,609.11, a figure no Parish in previous three years. – for us this amounted to £4083.02 the Suffolk Coastal area surpasses It was felt this would have a negligible solely for reducing the parish council with figures ranging from £1,442.70 to impact on Parishioners with the Band tax element of the council tax charge. £1571.78. Photos request CHATSWORTH Do you have any photos of areas of the parish that you think would be of interest LADIES CLUB to others? If so we would be pleased to hear from you. Up to date ones or We meet at Tower Hall in Broadlands Way (near the historical, all are useful. We shall take Water Tower) on Monday evenings at 7.30 pm. We have care of them, and return them to you some excellent Speakers, also Social Evenings to afterwards. raise money for local charities. There is a Summer Of course if you can send them by email and Winter Buffet and a Christmas Dinner is also organised. that is even more useful, but please The Club is open to Ladies of all ages and the cost is £2.00 per meeting. remember they must be high resolution in Your first visit would be free of charge so do come along to see if you order to reproduce in print. Please contact Jean Potter 723409 or assistantclerk@ might like to become a Member of Chatsworth Ladies Club or contact rushmere-st-andrew.org.uk for more Loretta Jessup on 01473 612209. details or with offers of photos. 2 www.rushmerestandrew.onesuffolk.net a member of the public via the Cemetery New Councillor welcomed and Allotment Panels. In December, Dave Ealham took the 255, Michael Gilson - 246. Whilst noting his long-standing ties and difficult decision to relinquish his The result therefore brings the Parish commitment to the Parish Council, it is position as Councillor. Dave served Council back to its full strength of 15 all the more commendable that, for a long you as Councillor for many years but Councillors until May 2015 when all period, he has actually resided 'across the with increasing business and personal Town, Parish and District Council seats border'. However, it can be a very useful commitments, he felt it timely to take will be up for election. asset to have a critical friend who can peer a break. Our thanks go to Dave for his 'over the garden fence' to keep us in line. commitment and service to the Parish. Peter returns to the Council after losing out to a worthy opponent at the last As Sir Alex Ferguson might say, 'at In the interests of democracy, a group of election. Worthy of note is that, in May Parishioners took the decision to petition about £5.00 a vote cast, or about 80p this year, Peter will clock up an extremely per registered elector, he’s the Council’s for a by-election to be called to elect a impressive 30 years of commitment to replacement Councillor.