NEWS Letter SPRING 2015 'SEEK the COMMON GOOD' Parish Councillors on Page
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Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council NEWS LETTER SPRING 2015 'SEEK THE COMMON GOOD' Parish Councillors On page . 2 Bus routes around Bixley Farm and Wards 4 Ipswich School Centre facilities This year, the Parish Council four-yearly former Parish Councillors returning – electoral process took place and due Mirabel Brown, Dennis Francis, Mark 7 Explaining precepts and to a shortfall in candidates applying, Newton, Philip Richings, Peter Tarling, budgets no elections were needed. Changes Brian Ward and James Wright. 8 History Project for in the Suffolk Coastal District Council With 12 seats available in the Tower Year 3 at school boundaries meant the Parish Council Ward, this left five vacancies. The Parish was split into two wards, one north and Council is mandated to fill such vacancies 10 Police action on matters the other south of the A1214 Woodbridge by co-option as soon as possible. of concern Road – the number of Councillors A number of people offered themselves 14 The Street flooding allocated to each ward being based on for consideration, but for personal or resolved? the relative sizes of the ward electorate. eligibility reasons, some dropped out of The northern 'Village' ward was the running. However, seeing a significant 15 Play areas to get a allocated three Councillors with existing void in the Council’s membership, three make over Councillors Ann Cracknell and Robert 'retirees' – Julie Clarke, Mark Sones and Whiting returning and a warm welcome John Withey – were co-opted back at the Would you like to be involved in your goes to Barbara Richardson-Todd, who May meeting of the Parish Council. community and decisions taken on your becomes a new Councillor for the Parish. This still leaves two vacancies to fill. Are behalf? If you are interested, please The southern 'Tower' ward saw seven you interested in becoming a Councillor? contact the Clerk as soon as possible. After years of dedication serving the community . Several Councillors decided not to seek with Council’s being far more open to table at the Clerk’s house – the final item re-election. In so doing, the opportunity scrutiny by the electorate. In days gone on the agenda always being 'Whisky or existed for some new faces to participate by, Gordon tells us that Parish Council Sherry'! Have a very happy retirement, as Councillors and serve the Community. Planning meetings were held round the Gordon, you’ve served us brilliantly. Ron Nunn called time a little earlier and the Council decided to run 'one short' for a few months prior to the formal Dig it, sow it, grow it and eat it election date. Gordon Laing, Stuart Skinner, Julie Clarke, Mark Sones and John Withey all decided not to stand for re-election, although Julie, Mark and John have since been co-opted back onto the council. John also called it a day as one of your Suffolk Coastal District Council Members. To our retirees we must put on record our thanks for the commitment, wisdom, help and assistance you have given to the Parish Council in your varying roles as Councillors. Best wishes for the enjoyment of your next challenges! Allotment holder Mandy working on her patch However, a really special mention As many parishioners are already aware the Parish Council owns allotment gardens must be made of Gordon Laing. The in The Street adjacent to Chestnut Pond. In the last couple of years we have carried 'father' of the Parish Council, Gordon out refurbishment work to improve some areas of the site. We now offer a total of 20 became a member of the Parish Council full size plots and 23 half size plots for cultivation. We currently have some half plots in May 1983 and has given 32 years of his available for rent at £25 for a full year. What better combination than healthy exercise life to the Parish he loves. Not only that, tending the plot and then picking your own fresh garden produce. Interested in he served as your Councillor for Suffolk taking the tenancy on a half-plot? Please contact the Clerk 711509, Assistant Clerk Coastal District Council for many years. 723409 or the Allotment Manager John Westrup 272257 for further details. Times have changed over the years www.rushmerestandrew.onesuffolk.net Bus routes around Bixley Farm Not all that long ago, Bixley Farm District of providing a public service but, like any a small number of early morning/ Centre was served by no fewer than business, are there to at least break even evening services). three bus routes all traversing the arterial – otherwise the business would fold. • The service has a significant number Broadlands Way corridor – First’s route The status of Concessionary Pass (47%) of Concessionary Pass Holder 55 to Ipswich via Foxhall Road, Ipswich Holders was discussed. Under this Passengers – no income would be Buses route 4 to Ipswich via Felixstowe scheme, passengers travel for free and gained from these passengers to Road and a short-lived Ipswich Buses the bus companies receive compensation diminish potential losses to move route 17 service to Ipswich via Ipswich for travel via Suffolk County Council. towards a profitable situation. Hospital. For whatever reason, remuneration is Ipswich Buses gave examples of their This seemed a rather excessive not paid on a ‘per passenger’ basis, but successes in providing services with provision for the limited number of via a block grant – in Ipswich Buses an ‘express’ psychological intimation. prospective passengers! Unsurprisingly, case around £2m. In consequence, Bizarre as it might seem, it might be that route 17 disappeared first – passengers there is no incentive for bus a route number of ‘X4’ might on the double decker bus were noticeable operators to provide Saga generate additional by their absence! In autumn 2014, additional services passengers! They Ipswich Buses decided to extend route 4 for this group of of disappearing have had great at both ends to provide links to Ipswich passengers – indeed success with X3 and Station and the business and retail areas it simply reduces buses – Parish Council X5, so much so that at Martlesham Heath. the ‘per passenger’ contacts Ipswich people wait for them However, a consequence of this was to amount received by the as opposed to getting on divert the service away from the District bus company should this Buses an earlier bus. Centre via the rather shorter Bladen category’s numbers increase. Ipswich Buses were willing to reroute Drive corridor. After a period of ‘cost- Indeed, for Ipswich Buses, this has the service over the longer distance cutting’ service reductions, First decided already decreased from a high of around District Centre corridor but at a cost of to withdraw their route 55 service at £1.20 to its current approximation of £8985 per annum. Christmas 2014 to leave the District 90p. It is actually contrary to Primary Suffolk County Council had already Centre and Broadlands Way corridor a Legislation for this group of passenger ‘bus-free’ zone. confirmed they were unable to provide to pay. The thought of a ‘collection any funding, under their subsidy powers, At the January Parish Council meeting, bucket’ has already been challenged, and on the basis of competition rules and the a considerable number of Parishioners frowned upon, elsewhere in the country. proximity of the existing route 4 and the turned up to express their disquiet to the The current route 4 service is nearby First route 66. Parish Council and see whether anything experimental and it is anticipated that could be done to get a service re-instated. its viability will be reviewed in autumn In order to provide the necessary funding, the Parish Council would A significant area of concern was the 2015. With any new service, it takes time seem to have been the only potential fact that people had actually moved to to establish itself and this is why a one benefactor. Bixley Farm because of the good bus year trial period has been given. service – indeed many had moved into However there are a number of In consequence, at the February the newly-built retirement bungalows concerns looming already at the half meeting, the Parish Council considered, adjacent to the District Centre. way point. and were willing, to make a ‘one off’ The Parish Council had also identified • The service is losing money at the rate contribution of approximately £173 per that approximately 60% of Bixley Farm of around £4,000 per annum. This week to cover the period up until the households were associated with the figure may decrease if fare paying planned route 4 review due in August District Centre/Broadlands Way corridor. passenger patronage increases. 2015. It was agreed that the Parish Council • The well-known traffic woes in However, having taken legal advice, would contact Ipswich Buses to see Ipswich, under the Travel Ipswich making such a contribution was whether route 4 could be re-routed scheme, are causing significant robustly thwarted in legalistic terms ‘I back to the District Centre corridor. We delays to services. In consequence, confirm that the Council may not incur can now report what we learnt from it is planned for the Ipswich Railway expenditure under s.137 of the Local our meeting with the Ipswich Buses Station link to be removed in the Government Act 1972 to get around the management and subsequent follow-up. near future (daytime services are limitations and conditions expressed set It was acknowledged that bus now advertised as being withdrawn out in 106A(1) of the Transport Act 1985’. companies run services with the objective from this section after 24 May leaving So to our Parishioners, sorry – we tried to get round your problem but sadly we’ve reached the end of the road for the It's time to think about Summer time being.