Lowestoft Town Council
The Tree Council has started a programme of cultural events for this very unusual national tree week (28 November - 6 December). Despite the Town Council being unable to progress a Tree Council funded planting scheme until next year, you are encouraged to enjoy some of the events the Tree Council are running, as well as getting out and about within our tree laden parks as you take your daily exercise. There are many events that you can enjoy from home, perfect for the last few days of the current lockdown.
National Tree Week is the UK's largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year). The Tree Council, one of the UK’s leading charities for trees, first established National Tree Week in March 1975 in response to the national replanting required after the outbreak of Dutch Elm disease.
For more details on how to be #TreelyConnected, visit:
https://treecouncil.org.uk/…/join-our-free-national-tree-w…/
Due to the resignation of Councillor Peter Collecott, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Town Council, within the ward of St. Margaret's West. A by-election to fill the vacancy will be held if ten electors for the ward give notice in writing claiming such an election to the Returning Officer not later than Thursday 17th December 2020.
Where ten valid requests for a by-election are received then under the provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 and The Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 the by-election will not currently take place, and the vacancy will be held open until the by-election takes place. The 2020 regulations provide for the by-election to take place on the date for the Ordinary Election of Councillors due to be held on Thursday 6 May 2021. However, this date may be brought forward or deferred by the Government depending upon the circumstances. Any Election that is in due course called will be duly publicised as required by law.
The Addresses of the Returning Officer is:
First Floor 2 Canning Road Lowestoft NR33 0EQ
Age UK Veterans at Home service has collaborated with the Royal British Legion and the Armed Forces Community Covenant Trust Fund, seeking to tackle isolation during the pandemic. This scheme includes Suffolk Veterans. Supplying tailored activity packs to assist with cognitive stimulation, providing puzzle books, magazines, jigsaws, and more.
To access this service, refer someone you know, or for more information, please contact: 07872 839605 or email activeveteransservice@ageukknotts.org.uk
East of England, including Suffolk and Norfolk, have been placed under Tier 2 (High Alert) following the Government regional tier announcement today, Thursday 26th November. These new rules will come into effect from the beginning of Wednesday 2nd December 2020.
Decisions on which area goes into which tier are primarily based on 5 key epidemiological indicators:
1. Case detection rates in all age groups
2. Case detection rates in the over-60s
3. The rate at which cases are rising or falling
4. Positivity rate (the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken)
5. Pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy
For the full list of local restriction tiers by area, use the following link: https://www.gov.uk/…/full-list-of-local-restriction-tiers-b…
In Tier 2:
> You must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
>You must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
>Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants.
>Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals. Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
-Provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol
-Close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)
-Stop taking orders after 10pm
>Early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls.
>Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to 50% capacity, or either 2,00 people outdoors or 1,00 people indoors.
> Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue
>Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing
>If you live in a tier 2 area, you must continue to follow tier 2 rules when you travel to a tier 1 area. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through a tier 3 area as a part of a longer journey
For the full list of rules and restrictions, use the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert
Greater Anglia Railway have announced their proposed timetable changes which will be in full operation by December 2021. With proposed extra services between key areas and routes, with the Norwich to London in 90-minutes services on the horizon.
Journeys to/from London and Norwich will have a direct 30-minute frequency from early morning to mid-evening Monday to Saturday. Most journey times between 1 hour 45 minutes and 1 hour 50 minutes. The weekday Norwich in 90 minutes services will all be scheduled at times that suit day trips to London and back with two morning services at 08.00 and 09.00 from Norwich, and two return services – one between 17.00 and 17.15 and another between 19.00 and 19.15 from London. All trains operated with new longer, higher capacity trains, with hourly Sunday frequency, plus a couple of extra services at key times of day.
Norwich to Lowestoft will see extra services at peak times on Mondays and Fridays, to and from the city to the town. Hourly Sunday service, similar to current service. With all trains continuing to operate with new, higher capacity trains. Ipswich to Lowestoft will continue to have core hourly service frequency on Monday to Saturdays. Hourly Sunday service, similar to current service, with trains continuing to operate with new, higher capacity trains.
Access to the full proposal is available on the Greater Anglia website for further proposed service alterations.
Greater Anglia are welcoming comments from customers and stakeholders with a specific interest in these particular services on their views on these proposals. The consultation will run for 12 weeks and close on Friday 12th February 2021. All responses will be recorded and carefully considered to help shape the final timetable submission to Network Rail. Timetables are due to be loaded into the industry systems, 12 weeks in advance of the timetable coming into operation in December 2021. You can contact Great Anglia through the following ways:
Website: greateranglia.co.uk/december21tt
Email: december21tt@greateranglia.co.uk
Address: December 2021 Timetable Consultation, c/o Norwich station, Station Approach, Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1EF
Read more on Greater Anglia Railway – Proposed Timetable Dec. 2021
Essential maintenance works on Bascule Bridge on the A47 Lowestoft is being carried out from Monday 30th November to Saturday 12th December, between the hours of 8pm to 6am each night.
Whilst the A47 is closed, local traffic will be diverted via a well-signed route. Northbound traffic will be diverted via the A12, B1531, A1117, A1144 and A47. Southbound traffic will follow the same diversion in reverse.
Highways England are providing a free hourly bus service to take pedestrians between each side of the bridge via the diversion whilst it is closed. All sites have strict safeguarding measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and none of the sites are open to the public during work is being carried out.
To keep up-to-date with latest major roadworks, visit http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/highways-england to register for the latest alerts near you. If you have any enquiries please contact the Highways England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, or by e-mail to info@highwaysengland.co.uk
Read more on Highways England - Important Roadworks Information
East Suffolk Council has recently published its Local Validation List which can be found at ‘Making a Planning Application Page’ of the East Suffolk Council Website. This document details what information will be required to accompany an application to enable validation by the Local Planning Authority (East Suffolk Council). The document also includes clearer details regarding the basic plan requirements such as site location plans, block plans, elevations, floor plans and more.
The Town Council remains a statutory consultee for all planning applications in the Lowestoft area, its Planning and Environment Committee convenes once every two weeks to make recommendations to support or reject planning applications, which are then supplied to East Suffolk Council.
The Planning and Environment Committee meetings are available to observe on the Lowestoft Town Council's YouTube platform.
Yesterday, on Armistice Day, Councillors Peter Lang (Deputy Mayor) and Andy Pearce paid their respects with a two minute silence and laid a wreath at the war graves in Lowestoft Cemetery to commemorate the Town’s involvement in both world wars. Appropriate protocols and social distancing was adhered to.
The day also signified the 100th anniversary of the burial at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, London. The grave being the first honour to the unknown dead of the First World War. Pictured is the war grave of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
Suffolk County Council has been successful in securing European Social Funding to deliver a 3-year project titled Work Well Suffolk, with an aim to help more than 2,000 people into employment by tackling barriers that they may face. This project will provide a locally integrated coaching and employment service that tackles the deep-seated barriers to work for all who need it. Operating with strategic partners, including Steadfast Training and MENTA, dedicated Work Well Suffolk Employment Services will seek out, create and support employment and self-employment, volunteering and mentoring opportunities for individuals across the county.
The project will be managed by Suffolk County Council, delivered across the following areas of Suffolk: Ipswich, West Suffolk, Babergh and Mid Suffolk, East Suffolk and Waveney. Helping anyone who is over 18-years-old and eligible to work in the UK.
Steadfast will support participants to prepare them for their entry (or re-entry) to employment by equipping them with the skills to get them work ready. This will include employability and personal development workshops that cover CV and letter writing, guided and independent job search, interview skills practice and much more.
MENTA who deliver Work Well Suffolk’s self-employment service can work with any participants interested in finding out more about starting a business and being their own boss. Helping participants for free to understand how to write a business plan, how to market a business and understand how business finances work.
The Realise Futures Coaching Service are offering personalised support to you in life and work, one to one health, wellbeing, employability and skills support. Helping those who are 18+ years old, are unemployed or unable to work, or have a long-term health condition and/or are autistic or have learning difficulties.
To refer into Work Well Suffolk please use the website https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/work-well-suffolk/ or email workwellsuffolk@suffolk.gov.uk for further information.
'Right Up Your Street' is a video poem by Dean Parkin, celebrating Lowestoft's High Street and Scores. Commissioned by the North Lowestoft Heritage Action Zone, Dean gathered memories and stories - past and present - via local interest Facebook pages to create the poem and film.
The 10 minute video poem also includes over 60 rare archive photos, many from the Jack Rose Collection, and modern day location filming by Joshua Freemantle ('Life of Lowestoft''). 'Right Up Your Street' was produced by Naomi Jaffa and is a Poetry People production (2020).
Read more on 'Right Up Your Street' (Video Poem) by Dean Parkin
