In Touch Summer 2011
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iWIn TH YOtU AoND WAuVENEYcAUGhUST 20! 11 WHO’S WHO? New Councillors, new Cabinet, making decisions that affect YOU SUMMER FUN Fantastic events and activities for the school holidays, right here CUT YOUR BILLS Teaming up with British Gas to reduce the amount you spend on heating WWW.WAVENEY.GOV.UK WWW.TWITTER.COM/WAVENEYDC in touch! The exciting refurbishment project at A range of exciting membership packages Waterlane Leisure Centre continues and will be launched in the Autumn, including is on schedule for completion the offer of a lifetime price guarantee. If you THE SHOW in December 2011. would like to track the project as it develops GOES ON! please visit www.pulseselect.com/home Managed by Waveney District Council, the and click on the ‘Waveney’ page. The With a remarkable number of high multi-million pound revamp will see new Operations Team of Sentinel Leisure Trust calibre applicants seeking to be - facilities at the Lowestoft site, including are also working on the programming and come trustees of the Marina Theatre, a new learner pool, soft play area, thermal the activities for the new facility and the aim Waveney District Council hailed its spa, beauty therapy area and meeting is to have these publicised by the end of recruitment open evening an rooms. October. enormous success. Alongside these there is a refurbished and Meanwhile, with the installation of elec - Both the Council and theatre manage - improved fitness areas, dedicated studio tric hook up for visiting boats one of the ment teams alike were delighted with space, main pool and café / restaurant. The major obstacles to attracting boating the turnout and - subject to final Council centre will then be managed by the newly holiday makers to Beccles has now approval of the decision - believe the formed Sentinel Leisure Trust. been overcome . rigorous selection process will deliver a Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Stephen Sentinel Leisure Trust in partnership with brilliant team to guide the theatre as Ardley said: “This project is really beginning Waveney have now installed posts in the part of the new charitable, not-for-profit to take shape now and I cannot wait for the quay area and have received positive feed - organisation. Many local people with day when we can open the doors of this back from tourists who have been able to specialist skills attended the open fantastic new facility. extend their stay in the Beccles area. evening in Lowestoft on June 16 to learn more about the opportunity, and how they could work together to ensure WATERLANE ON SCHEDULE the long-term sustainability of the award-winning Marina Theatre. Cabinet Member for Partnerships Cllr Stephen Ardley said: "We couldn't be more delighted with the response we've had so far and I am certain that the the - atre would be in very safe hands." Subject to business case approval by the Council's Cabinet, Trustees will form the Governing Board that takes over the running of the Edwardian theatre, which is currently operated by Waveney . The Trust will continue delivering a diverse range of cultural entertainment, building on the venue's success in recent years. Waveney's Cabinet is due to consider the final Business case proposal from the Shadow Trust in November and, if successful, the Trust will formally take over the management of the Theatre in December. 2 www.waveney.gov.uk in touch! FIVE STAR BEACHES Waveney now boasts FIVE award- environmental initiative to recognise Accolades such as Blue Flag and Quality winning beaches, with three flying the beaches that promote positive coastal Coast Awards are of great benefit to the prestigious Blue Flag this year and two environmental care and first class local tourism industry. The Sunrise Coast more gaining Keep Britain Tidy Quality management standards. FEE European Visitor Survey 2010 identified that 69% of Coast Awards. Blue Flag Awards recognise beaches visitors to the area had to or intended to throughout Europe, which fulfil strict criteria visit our beaches during their stay, high - The hard work of a range of Waveney relating to both the water quality, manage - lighting just how important they are to teams, with Tourism and Cleansing most ment and the surrounding beach area. Waveney’s £255 million tourism economy, prominent, has helped raise the standard which attracts just under four million visitors yet higher, boosting the profile of the district More success came when two further per year, supporting 12.8% of all jobs. as a great destination. Beaches at Lowest - beaches – Southwold Denes and Kessing - oft North and South of Claremont Pier have land – won Keep Britain Tidy Quality Coast For more information about the beaches retained Blue Flags – an internationally Awards for the 2011 season. The Quality near you please go to the tourism website recognised symbol of a clean and well- Coast Award recognises the diversity and www.visit-sunrisecoast.co.uk ; for further managed beach – for the 2011 season, quality of England’s coastline and all details on Keep Britain Tidy and Blue whilst the beach at Southwold Pier has beaches achieving this award have one Flag visit www.keepbritaintidy.org ; and regained Blue Flag status after a two year thing in common: they provide the very for the Quality Coast Award visit absence. The Blue Flag Campaign is an best standards for their visitors. www.qualitycoast.org . VALUING THE VALLEY A project co-founded by Waveney and seeks to provide an identity for the worth of funding through the Rural Devel - District Council to create greater Valley, improve signage to the towns, opment Programme England, funded by awareness of the Waveney Valley as villages and features within the Valley and Defra. Cllr Bruce Provan, Portfolio Holder a tourism destination has received support promotion of the Valley as a for Tourism, said: “By developing the infra - crucial funding. visitor destination. As such, the three structure around the Valley we hope that Councils with communities in the visitors will be able to discover the won - The Waveney Valley Identity Project is a Waveney Valley have come together to ders that this special area has to offer.” partnership between Waveney, South develop this project, which has recently For information on the project email Norfolk and Mid Suffolk District Councils been allocated approximately £90,000 [email protected] www.twitter.com/waveneydc 3 in touch! REDUCING YOUR ENERGY BILL Did you know that through this scheme, To arrange a free, no obligation survey to you could receive cashback up to £100 just check whether your home is suitable for for insulating your home? Or that you could insulation improvements, or to simply find nsulate both your loft and cavity walls and out more about this scheme, customers save hundreds of pounds a year on your should call 0800 980 8174 and quote the energy bills? code 'Waveney11'. If you own your home or rent privately, and Lines open Monday – Friday 8am-8pm and receive certain income-related benefits, or Saturday 8am-4pm. Your calls may be are over 70, you may even qualify for recorded and/or monitored for quality FREE insulation. And you don’t even have assurance and compliance purposes. 0800 to be a British Gas customer to take advan - numbers are free from a BT landline. tage. You just have to own or rent a home Mobile and other providers' charges may within Waveney. vary. Waveney District Council is committed to increasing the energy efficiency of all Portfolio Holder for Housing Sue Allen said: If you would like to be able to reduce your the homes in our area, and have teamed “At a time when utility bills are rising, we energy bills and ensure that your home is up with British Gas to make it easier for are seeking ways to lessen the blow and warmer and cheaper to run next winter, residents to save money on their energy this particular scheme could make a real please do not miss this excellent bills. difference tio many households opportunity to do so. TAKING ACTION TO HELP TENANTS Waveney District Council’s Housing Team has been praised for its efforts to improve the lives of tenants. To help improve the service, the Housing Department spoke to tenants late last year about the housing service and the area in which they lived. Over 1400 tenants were contacted in early January and talked face to face about their views. Additionally a series of focus groups were staged, all leading to a presentation for tenant repre - sentatives and councillors to agree a new troducing an ‘Estate Ranger’ on two es - Mandie Wiles (the editor of the tenant’s action plan in response to the points raised tates in Lowestoft and improving the level magazine) said: “This really was a good by our tenants. of grounds maintenance in Waveney by piece of tenant engagement with views and developing a tenant led agreement with our comments really being taken into account. Two documents were sent to all tenants: partners Waveney Norse. “We asked…You said ”, and “ You said… “I know the Action Plan genuinely reflects We did ”. The latter included a full list of the The Housing Team is due to report back to those views as I was one of the five tenants agreed actions anmd direct answers to tenants in October next year to see how involved in deciding what should be in concerns; including improving how the the action plan is progressing. For now the plan after listening to a detailed council deals with low level nuisance by in - though, tenants are enthusiastic about it. presentation of the survey feedback.” 4 www.waveney.gov.uk in touch! FAIRER FOR ALL Following wide consultation with * Introduction of additional businesses and community groups, and extended free spaces proposals for revised car parking in Bungay and Halesworth charges throughout the district were in line with previous approved by Cabinet recently.