Lowestoft Town Council
Unfortunately, owing to the adverse weather conditions from last week, all play equipment and park furniture at The Ness should not be used until further notice. It is currently being assessed for safety and the Town Council will advise further at the earliest opportunity. However, owing to COVID-19 affecting suppliers and services, it may be some time until the play area can be put back into use.
UPDATE | September 2023: The full results for Census 2021 are now available to view online. The results were released in different phases from June 2022 to September 2023.
Census 2021 is taking place on 21 March 2021 - by filling in your census, you will help shape your community for the next 10 years. Census 2021 will give information to improve the overall understanding of the pandemic. It will also help to make sure that the services you use meet the needs of our changing society, this could include hospitals, schools, universities and job centres.
Census 2021 is a digital-first census, which means that you will be encouraged to respond online if possible using any device to complete the census. If you need help, there will be an online help area on the Census website, as well as offering help by phone, webchat, email, social media or text message. Importantly, law protects your census information.
In East Suffolk there are two dedicated ‘Census Support Centres’ (CSC) – one at the Marina Centre in Lowestoft which will be operated by staff from East Suffolk Customer Service, and one at the Station House in Campsea Ashe operated by the social enterprise. These centres will not be open to the public, due to Government restrictions, however telephone assistance will be available to help complete the Census form and/or answer any general enquiries. To contact the Marina Centre CSC: 01502 523523 and for Station House, Campsea Ashe CSC: 07856810828.
To find out more and/or to download helpful resources, these are available on the Census website, or see below the following helpful documents for your knowledge:
Your Questions Answered Leaflet
Thanks to the support of Suffolk Community Foundation, a new support service for older people in Suffolk launched on Monday 8th February 2021. Later Life Community Connect is a single point of access telephone support line with a person at the end of the phone. This service being available between 10 AM – 2 PM, seven days a week. Offering the following:
Different from the Information & Advice Service Age UK Suffolk previously provided, this is based on a person centric model with open-ended questions and a listening ear. This service is about working collaboratively to ensure that the caller gets the support that is needed. Later Life Community strive to become the advocate for older people in Suffolk and offering support and advise.
Unfortunately, owing to adverse weather conditions, the play area on The Ness Park has been affected and should not be used at this time. It is currently being assessed for safety. However, owing to the current problems with weather and COVID-19 affecting suppliers and services, it may be some time until the play area can be put back into use. We will advise further at the earliest opportunity.
As a coastal town, Lowestoft faces the difficulties of flooding every year in many zones of the town. With weather forecasts predicting rain and snow over coming weeks, see latest Met Office UK Weather Warnings.
Suffolk County Council has gathered useful information on how they maintain drainage systems to reduce the risk of standing water on public pathways and roads, how flooding is managed in Suffolk and the responsibilities individuals and organisations have upon dealing with floods, and how to prepare in the event of a flood within your property or local area. Details available on Suffolk County Council Website.
Find out how to report a flood problem, which service will need to be contacted, and what will happen after you have reported the problem. Matters including, whom to contact about a blocked drain or flooding on the A11, A12 and A14 roads in Suffolk. Further details available.
Every year the Town Council will arrange a meeting at which local residents can discuss matters affecting them and the community. This is an opportunity to find out more about what is going on locally and ask questions in this friendly and inclusive forum.
The evening will commence with presentations from Member of Parliament for the Waveney Constituency, Peter Aldous, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, and there will be a presentation on the Gull Wing Bridge Project. The Mayor of Lowestoft will give an overview of the Town Council’s work during the last year and aspirations for the future.
20210302-Annual-Assembly-of-the-Town-Poster.pdf
Read more on Annual Assembly of the Town - Tuesday 2 March 2021
At the monthly Full Council meeting in the evening of Tuesday 26th January, the Council agreed the budget for the 2021/2022 financial year. Given the current challenges facing Lowestoft and after careful budget management, it was agreed to submit a precept of £1,765,245, Band D Council Tax equivalent £142.68 (equating to a 1.54% reduction on the Band D Council Tax equivalent for 2020 – 2021). This will not affect any services the Council is responsible for and will continue to maintain the facilities through your Council Tax.
The detailed budget is available to view on the Town Council website.
It is with sadness that the Town Council has to announce that Councillor Susan Barnard passed away peacefully yesterday (Tuesday 2nd February 2021) at the James Paget Hospital.
Sue was a dedicated and energetic councillor representing the Gunton Ward since Lowestoft Town Council was formed in 2017. She was re-elected in May 2019, with a large majority, testament to how well thought of she was in her local community. Sue served on many of the Town Council’s committees and had a particular interest in open spaces and the local historical environment. Her love and knowledge of gardening and plants was beneficial to the Council including the many voluntary hours she spent planting bulbs in Sparrows Nest and Arnold’s Bequest.
Outside of the Town Council, Sue was an active member of Gunton Residents’ Association, the Lowestoft branch of Suffolk Family History Society and helped to establish the Friends of Dip Farm Group.
Sue will be greatly missed by her fellow Councillors and the Officers of the Town Council.
