Lowestoft Town Council
With so much information being shared on the COVID-19 coronavirus we should all be using government advice to inform decisions and be checking that advice regularly. Please refer to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus for official guidance.
The government issued a press statement on 16th March advising social distancing for everyone in the UK, particularly those at increased risk of servere illness. This includes the following groups of people:
Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce social interacitions between people, helping to minimise the transition of Coronavirus (COVID 19). These measures are:
You can read the full guidance on social distancing here.
The World Health Organisation has issued a report on protecting your mental health during the outbreak. Some of their recommendations inlude:
You can read the full Mental Health Advice here.
As government advice is updated, we will reassess and communicate as soon as possible.
With so much information being shared on the COVID-19 coronavirus we should all be using government advice to inform decisions and be checking that advice regularly. Please refer to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus for official guidance.
Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.
Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.
As a minimum, please ensure that you are following the Public Health England (PHE) recommendations for general cold and flu precautions to help prevent people from catching and spreading COVID-19:
As government advice is updated, we will reassess and communicate as soon as possible.
Last updated 13th March 2020
A wide-ranging group of leaders from a range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations has come together to help Lowestoft secure a funding pot of up to £25 million to regenerate and re-energise the town – and local people are also being asked for their views.
Following an announcement by the Government last year of a £3.6 billion Towns Fund, 101 UK places including Lowestoft are seeking to negotiate a ‘Towns Deal’ which would drive economic regeneration and help them become thriving places for people to live and work.
As part of that process, each town is required by The Ministry for Housing, Communities and local Government to develop a well-evidenced ‘Town Investment Plan’, which sets out its assets, opportunities and challenges. The amount of investment that Lowestoft receives from the Towns Fund will be determined by the strength of the Investment Plan presented to the Government. However, the plan will
Therefore, led by East Suffolk Council, the Lowestoft Place Board has been created to “think Lowestoft” and drive forward the town’s growth and regeneration ambitions. It will be the vehicle through which the vision and strategy for Lowestoft is defined and the Board will ultimately produce the Town Investment Plan, seeking to secure as much funding as possible for the town.
It will provide a strategic, place-led view and – above and beyond the Towns Fund – it will be the central, driving force for the promotion and development of Lowestoft locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
A critical priority for the Board will be local engagement and East Suffolk Council, who are the lead authority for the scheme, will begin important and constructive conversations with businesses, key partners, community groups and residents about the future of the town. Partnership working to develop the investment plan will be a clear priority. Work on this will begin immediately, ahead of the delivery of a final plan in Summer 2020.
Information about the investment scheme and how local people can take part can be found here: https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/lowestoft-investment-plan/
Local people can begin to provide their ideas by going to: https://mytown.communities.gov.uk/town/lowestoft/
Work to develop the plan will focus on five key geographical areas: Southern Lake Lothing, inner and Outer Harbour, Town Centre, the Norther Lowestoft Heritage Action Zone and South Beach. The key themes for improvement will be Housing, Employment, Town Centre & Leisure, Heritage & Culture and Transport & Infrastructure.
Having lived in Lowestoft all his life, Stephen Javes, Former Chief Executive of Orwell Housing Group, has been appointed Chair of the Place Board. He said: “We have been given a fantastic opportunity to secure considerable investment for Lowestoft. As someone from the town, I am very proud of our amazing communities and the people who deserve a town to be proud of. I know that a wide range of organisations are committed to making this happen and I am genuinely excited about working with them all.
Cllr Craig Rivett, Deputy Leader of East Suffolk Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development said: “A huge amount of work is already underway, with considerable investment already committed to infrastructure projects such as the third crossing, flood protection schemes and the offshore energy sector. Lowestoft is definitely a town on the up and access to this funding will make a huge difference to our ability to take the town further forward. We will be pulling out all the stops to make this happen.”
Read more on Leaders meet to “think Lowestoft” as town prepares plan for investment
Kitcheners Lowestoft are appealing for donations towards providing an accessible toilet for veterans with any excess donations going towards a complete refurbishment of the ground floor toilets at the Centre. The layout of those toilets has existed since 1919 and was planned for men only at a time when the accommodation was probably not much better than barracks. As time has gone by the other toilet facilities have been improved over the years, first close to the bedrooms and later with all bedrooms having en suite facilities and as a result the ground floor has been left behind as not essential.
Late last year the Kitchener stepped in to take over provision of breakfast to the local branch of the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club when they lost their venue. The Club keeps veterans in touch with each other and their still serving colleagues. Twice a month breakfast is served to some 35+ local veterans when they gather at the Centre to reminisce and keep up with friends. It is also an opportunity to try and ensure they do not need any further help with regard to their physical or mental health.
Work is progressing on the completion of the new Ness Park. Shown here is the pile driver play equipment which was installed this week along with the walk ways and bridge construction.
Also, the plans for the site have been updated, you can find the most resent plans on the Ness page.
The statement of Persons Nominated for the Elmtree By-Election on the 26th of March is published below:
