Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council Newsletter A Sneaky Summer 2020 Peek Inside... Page 2 Chairman’s Open Communication for Page 7 WeBusiness are Net Zero Leiston Page 10 - 13 School News Page14 - 16 Leiston Film Theatre Page 18 Leiston Library Page 22 - 23 Leiston Long Shop SH P Page 27-28 Handy LOCAL Information to eis n L 2 3 Neighbourhood Scheme, Doctor’s It was disappointing that two events Surgery, Pharmacy, local businesses we had in our calendar, 75th VE Day Chairman’s volunteers, individuals and residents Commemorative Event and Leiston’s Communication keeping an eye on their neighbours and Big Weekend, had to be cancelled many others. I hope at sometime in due to the restrictions. I know both the future there will be an opportunity working parties were well advanced BEM to recognise all the good work done. with their preparations after many Cllr John Last months of hard work. Hopefully, these Of course, these uncertain times events can take place at a future ello and welcome to the meant so many having to do things in date. It was good to see that, given H different ways and the Town Council Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town the circumstances, many households Council Newsletter. It is a privilege is no exception, with meetings and did commemorate VE Day from their and honour to be the new Chairman the monthly Town Council meeting gardens in many parts of the town, of the Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town being conducted by means of a virtual on what turned out to be a glorious Council for the forthcoming year. meeting. Members of the public can Spring day. I look forward to working with my also attend these monthly meetings Councillor colleagues who work very by contacting the Town Clerk. Now is the time to look forward to the hard at trying to achieve so much in remainder of the summer days, and As the Pandemic crisis restrictions the best interests of our community. I The Town Council is supporting I wish you all the very best and hope ease, it is important still to follow the would also like to take the opportunity the Community Land Trust and the you are able to enjoy some sunshine. Government guidelines, whilst we to thank Councillor Lesley Hill for her vision they have for the regeneration open up the town again and support Finally, if you are able to visit the Town work as the previous Chairman. I also of our town centre and it is pleasing the local businesses in getting back Centre, spare a moment to look up report that Councillor Sammy Betson and exciting to see work continuing to the new normal. We all appreciated at the wonderful hanging baskets on has decided to stand down and thank to deliver an enhancement of areas the services offered by the local display again this year! her for her work as a Town Councillor. within our town centre. businesses during lockdown At the Having lived in Leiston all my life, I Of course, the last few months have time of writing, the Town Council are recognise Leiston’s past, but also been worrying and concerning times now following Government Guidelines John John Last BEM where it needs to go in the future. That for many of us. The Pandemic crisis and Risk Assessments have been Chairman said there will be many challenges has impacted on everyone, one way completed for our Parks and Play Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council and opportunities for our community or another, within the community. Areas with posters put up with all the along the way. I know I speak on behalf of all Town necessary guidance. Councillors, by saying that we all Socail distancing only works if we ALL EDF’s DCO submission has been recognise the fantastic work and accepted for examination and effort that has been done by everyone, participate. We all are responsible for the Town Council, other groups, in supporting one another during protecting those at higher risk. organisations and communities these difficult times. Not wishing to will now scrutinise the volumes of single anyone out, we are fully aware Think, take a step back documents relating to the Sizewell C of the efforts of NHS workers, Support and Spread kindness proposals. workers, Emergency Services, Good not germs. Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council Newsletter 4 5 visiting Hinkley Point C. Six Councillors Leiston Town Council and representation undertook the fact finding visit early in from the Leiston CLT. Last October Chairman’s March, which was funded by the Town it was confirmed that a further two Council. The itinerary included a visit years of funding had been agreed for Report 2019/2020 to the Hinkley Point Visitor Centre and Leiston Together to deliver a plan for the a site visit arranged by EDF, meetings benefit of our community and visitors with Councillors and Senior Officers under the headings of:- Destination Cllr Lesley Hill from Somerset West & Taunton District Leiston, Leiston People, Leiston Means Council which included a Councillor Business, Leiston Future, Digital Leiston he new four-year term in office from the Parish of Stogursey the nearest and Greener Leiston. Destination of Leiston Town Council saw village to Hinkley and Sedgemoor Leiston incorporates the Town Centre Councillors meeting at the District Council. A report on the visit Regeneration Project which the Leiston Annual General Meeting on 14th was formulated but, due to Covid 19, Community Land Trust have been TMay 2019. Two new councillors Cllr was delayed in coming to Council for undertaking and progress especially David Dix and Cllr Mary Anne Woolf were discussion. around plans for Phase 1 The United welcomed. I was elected as Chairman agree the Town Council’s response to Church Garden and Thoroughfare has and Cllr John Last as Vice Chairman. EDF Energy’s Stage 4 consultation on In December 2019 a Leiston Town been made. The Town Council support In November we welcomed Cllr Trevor proposals for Sizewell C. Councillors Council Transport Group was set up, the work of the CLT and two Councillors Hawkins following the sad death of had heard a presentation from Tom meeting with EDF Energy, Suffolk are representatives and both serve on Councillor Terry Hodgson earlier in the McGarry, EDF Energy on the Stage Highways and Leiston Community Land the Board as Trustees. Last September, year who had served this community 4 consultation at the 3rd September Trust to look into resolving transport East Suffolk Council launched a for many years. At the AGM Councillors meeting and this was followed by a issues arising from the proposed new scheme of eight Community gave their preferences as to which of the Public Meeting on 10th September to construction and operation of Sizewell Partnerships across the district with many Committees, Working Parties and enable the community to present their C in the Leiston area. The meetings funding for projects to resolve issues organisations requiring a representative views. A copy of the Council’s response are chaired by Steve Merry, the within communities. The Aldeburgh, from the Council they wished to serve to the Stage 3 and Stage 4 consultations Suffolk County Council Transport and Leiston, Saxmundham and Villages on. This meeting was immediately can be viewed on the Town Council’s Development Manager and the group Community Partnership met in January followed by the Annual Town Meeting website www.leistontowncouncil.gov.uk. are looking at various aspects including and discussed three priorities raised at where residents and representatives of After the March monthly meeting, due traffic modelling and predictions for a previous workshop:- Transport Links the Town organisations are invited to to Covid-19, the Council were not able the Town Centre, car parking issues in and Access to Services, Economic give a report to the Council. The three to hold meetings in April and May but regard to homes in multiple occupation Regeneration/High Street and Housing newly elected East Suffolk Councillors investigated holding virtual meetings and rented accommodation, cycle paths that meets local needs. Unfortunately, representing Leiston and Aldeburgh which for most was a new concept and and Public Rights of Way. the second Community Partnership District Cllr T-J Haworth-Culf, Cllr needed some adjustments and practice. meeting had to be cancelled due to the Jocelyn Bond were introduced by Other key partnerships that the Town Covid-19 lockdown. Cllr Tony Cooper, who is also a Town Before EDF Energy submitted their Council are involved with are Leiston Councillor. Development Consent Order for Sizewell Together, Leiston Community Land September 2019 saw the opening of the In addition to the Council meetings C, the Town Council agreed it would be Trust and the East Suffolk Community newly extended foyer area at Leiston held on the first Tuesday in the month beneficial to get a better insight about Partnership. Leiston Together involves Film Theatre. This transformed the front an extraordinary meeting was held the impact of constructing new nuclear Councillors and Officers from Suffolk of house experience and with funding on 24th September to discuss and reactors on the local community by County Council, East Suffolk Council, from the Coastal Revival Fund has Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council Newsletter 6 7 incorporated a Visitor Information Point to progress by paying for a Quantity (VIP) for visitors and residents. The Surveyor to ascertain a Cost Forecast. Net Zero Leiston Manager, Wayne Burns and staff took Prior to Covid 19 various funding Leiston-cum- on this work and must be congratulated streams were being investigated to help Sizewell Town on designing, organising and overseeing fund the proposed developments.