West Suffolk Council

Hands up if you think West Suffolk parks are a winner.
It’s Love Parks Week (26 July to 4 August) a national celebration of parks to inspire you to get out and enjoy them.
They’re great places to socialise, exercise, walk, run, play and relax supporting people’s health and wellbeing as well as a rich mix of biodiversity and nature.
We also recently secured Green Flags status, a recognised national quality mark for all six of our parks for the fifth year running.
No wonder our young park visitor thinks they are such a winner.
We’ll be posting throughout Love Parks Week to celebrate our parks across West Suffolk.

Tell us about what you love about our parks in the comments below.

Abbey Gardens Aspal Close Nature Reserve, Brandon Country Park East Town Park Nowton Park West Stow Country Park and although we don’t run it, a special mention for the beautiful park at Clare Clare Castle Country Park Trust
Bury St Edmunds and Beyond Visit Clare, Suffolk

❗ Did you know that approximately 10 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean each year!

This July, try and reduce the amount of plastic you use by making some simple swaps to limit your consumption. ♻️

🌱 Follow this link for some changes you can make to help the environment! https://orlo.uk/ghWO5

Join us at the Newmarket Market Food and Drink Festival for a feast of flavours! Experience culinary creations and specialty drinks from local vendors.

📅 Saturday 27 July 9am – 3pm
📌 Market Square car park, Newmarket, CB8 8EQ

Newmarket Market

What is your experience in using taxis in West Suffolk?
We're carrying out an unmet demand survey, a legal check to ensure taxis are accessible for all residents and visitors including people with mobility needs and disabilities.
Tell us your views at https://orlo.uk/Wv1Ww Deadline 11 August 2024

Street trading includes outdoor retail and catering in public streets but does not include the council’s markets which are covered under different regulations.

Earlier this year we asked for your views to help shape our approach to how we regulate street trading across West Suffolk.

From that feedback we have created a new policy for street trading in West Suffolk which is now out to consultation.

Whether you are a resident, business or street trader, we want to hear from you. Find out more and have your say at https://orlo.uk/GOM4Y Deadline 5 August.

❗ Last Week of the Trovr giveaway!

Make sure to recycle any of your single use drinks bottles for the chance to win prizes.♻️

With 2 simple steps- taking your bottles to a Trovr recycling point and using your points as entries- you could be seeing the rewards.

📆 Giveaway closes 31st July

Batteries and electrical items should NEVER be put in your bins at home. They can cause serious fires! 🔥

Help us and other services by recycling them correctly♻️

Find your nearest recycling point here ➡️ https://suffolkrecycling.org.uk/recycling-composting/glass-textiles-and-electricals/electricals

the average family could save up to £1,000 a year by reducing food waste? 😲

Not sure where to start? Why not tackle the most wasted food item: BREAD.

Head over to our website to find clever ways on how to from storage tips to yummy recipe ideas. We’ve got you covered! 👌 www.foodsavvy.org.uk/use-your-loaf

Come along and show your support for our local young entrepreneurs by visiting the Young Trader Competition regional final in Bury St Edmunds next week!

It is sure to be an exciting day with great opportunities to shop for unique finds!

📆 Wednesday 31 July, 9am to 4pm

Bury St Edmunds Market

West Suffolk Council is seeking members to join its Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee. The committee is looking for local people with an interest in finance, audit and governance.

The committee meets at least four times a year in the evening, with the possibility of occasional special meetings appointed by the committee.

For more information and to apply visit: https://orlo.uk/BvQef

📆 Closing date: Friday 30 August 2024
💼 Interviews will be held Monday 9 September 2024

Don't forget to add Newmarket Market Food and Drink Festival to your calendars! From gourmet bites to craft beverages, there's something for everyone!

📅 Saturday 27 July 9am – 3pm
📌 Market Square car park, Newmarket, CB8 8EQ

Newmarket Market

🍞Bread is one of those 'essentials' that most of us put in our shopping baskets and trolleys! But with over 25 million slices wasted every day 😟 and with the school holidays upon us where routine goes out the window, it's time to re-think your shopping habits. ☀️🍦

This summer, think before you buy! Ask yourself:
🟠What are our plans this week? Are you having lunch out / seeing friends or perhaps the grandparents are looking after the kids for a day or two?
🟡Will we eat this bread?
🟢Perhaps you and the family will fancy wraps or pittas instead of the usual loaf?

But if you do end up with bread that is not getting eaten (tummies too full from ice cream!) then don't forget it can always be frozen and enjoyed another day! ❄️

For more top tips on how to www.foodsavvy.org.uk/use-your-loaf

♻️ Choose to refuse one form of single use plastic during and take a small step to make a big difference.

For example, not buying single use water bottles or disposable cutlery can reduce the amount of waste going into landfill. 🌱

📹 For more ideas on what you could choose to refuse watch this video.

https://orlo.uk/ZyQuw

Plastic Free July - Take the Challenge

♻️ Not long left to enter the Trovr recycling Giveaway!

Win prizes and help the planet easily. 🌎

Simply use Trovr recycle points as usual for single use drinks bottles and use your points as entries.

📆 Make sure you enter for the chance to win prizes before it ends on the 31st July!

The town clock in Bury St Edmunds should be chiming once more from Tuesday - once we've given it 250 turns

Update: Clock restart and building works.

The town clock at Moyse’s Hall Museum is being serviced and will hopefully be restarted on Tuesday, 23rd July. West Suffolk Council which runs the museum has overseen essential building repairs to the 12th Century front of Moyse’s Hall which meant access to the clock had to be stopped for a couple of months. The clock is usually wound by the Heritage team every week, needing nearly 250 turns to keep the large Victorian timepiece ticking.

While it has been disappointing to have to stop the clock, the building repairs have uncovered a fabulous medieval doorway, c12/13th Century, that was possibly last seen around 3 centuries ago during previous restoration. There was also a 17th/18th Century clay smoking pipe fragment and medieval carved stone pieces found within infill of a repaired wall. The team will put together a post about the finds in a few weeks’ time. Watch this space.

Huge thank you to West Suffolk Council’s Property Services for the building works and for helping the Heritage Service catalogue the finds and features. A further thank you to stonemason, John Presly, and Pro-Flat Specialist Services for their care of the building while working here.

🛍️ The final local heat for the Young Trader Competition was held in Newmarket over the weekend and showcased the exceptional talent of young aspiring traders aged 16 to 30 years.

The young traders who won their category in the local heats are:

• Arts and Crafts: Izzy Alexander from Peaches Valley Crochet
• General Retail: Georgina Kiff from Moo’s Melts
• Food and Drink: Becky Bridges from B.B’s Bakery
• Grocery: Alex Brentnall from ABCakes

The following traders achieved highly commended awards in the local heat:

• Arts and Crafts: Heidi Prior from WitchCrafting
• Arts and Crafts: Joanne Fernando from Jsjewelerycrafts
• General Retail: Emily Fish from Emily Waller Norfolk

The winners from each local heat will then progress to the regional heat in Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 31 July then advance to the national final in Stratford-upon-Avon to compete over the August bank holiday weekend.

Newmarket Market NMTF

🛍️ Markets Matter! West Suffolk Council launches new Market Development Plan to empower local markets...

This initiative is designed to provide local markets with the tools, resources, and support necessary to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

The Markets Matter Development Plan sets out a three-year ambition for the future of West Suffolk markets with the individual needs of the towns, its traders and residents at the heart of the Council’s vision.

To read more, visit: https://orlo.uk/z0lUn

Newmarket Market Bury St Edmunds Market Clare Market Brandon Market Mildenhall Market Haverhill Market

We're looking forward to the opening of West Suffolk College's new skills and education centre in Haverhill next month following our investment at Provincial House.

It's an investment that will support adults to learn new skills, build their confidence and self-esteem and help them on their career path, in line with our own strategic priority for sustainable growth in West Suffolk.

It's an investment that will bring more footfall to Haverhill high street to benefit existing businesses as well as to encourage and develop business growth including start-ups and the regeneration of the town centre.

And it will also create income to support the day-to-day council services that we provide to residents across West Suffolk. Council tax makes up just 15 per cent of what it costs to deliver services so investments in projects such as this benefit both the local community and West Suffolk as a whole

Read more at https://orlo.uk/hFkjM

Street trading includes outdoor retail and catering in public streets but does not include the council’s markets which are covered under different regulations.

Earlier this year we asked for your views to help shape our approach to how we regulate street trading across West Suffolk.

From that feedback we have created a new policy for street trading in West Suffolk which is now out to consultation.

Whether you are a resident, business or street trader, we want to hear from you. Find out more and have your say at https://orlo.uk/jmX0p Deadline 5 August.

West Suffolk Council’s investment in parks to support people’s physical and mental health, the environment and the economy, has been recognised today

All six of the council’s parks – Aspal Close Close Nature Reserve in Beck Row, Brandon Country Park, East Town Park in Haverhill, Nowton Park The Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds and West Stow Country Park - have today (16 July) been awarded Green Flag status.

It’s the fifth year in a row that all six parks have achieved the status, a recognised national quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Parks and open spaces play a role in West Suffolk Council’s delivery of its strategic priorities for thriving communities, environmental resilience, and sustainable growth.

Read more at https://orlo.uk/VD6ZG

The school holidays are fast approaching...

Children and young people in West Suffolk who receive benefits related free school meals can now book for free activities throughout the school summer holidays.

And families who are in financial hardship but who wouldn’t otherwise qualify can also apply for activity places.

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is Government funded and coordinated locally by West Suffolk Council on behalf of Suffolk County Council.

Families in financial hardship in financial hardship can find out how to apply for a place or places at https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/leisure/holiday-events.cfm

What is your experience in using taxis in West Suffolk?
We're carrying out an unmet demand survey, a legal check to ensure taxis are accessible for all residents and visitors including people with mobility needs and disabilities.
Tell us your views at https://orlo.uk/WjYg3 Deadline 11 August 2024

❗ Today is the Young Trader Competition local heat in Newmarket!

Make sure you pop into the market square to see the amazing stalls the traders (aged 16-30) have worked so hard on.🛍️

📆 Saturday 13 July, 9am to 3pm, Market Square, Newmarket

Newmarket Market