JOTTINGS

At the Town Meeting held at Southwold Town Hall on Monday 17th March 2008.

Planning for the future
Before the meeting proper started, Mr Topliss, Community Emergency Officer, addressed a packed council chamber about the need to plan for emergencies in Southwold. He explained that he had come to this meeting to try and ‘sow the seeds’ to get local people to think about local emergency planning and emergency groups. This used to be a top-down process, whereby emergency planning was imposed over the years, not always successfully.

Most local people were concerned about the sea as there were not many other dangers (apart from the nuclear power stations). The 1953 floods were a good example of what it could do, with Southwold being cut off by the floodwaters and effectively becoming an island. The surge on 9th November last year showed that it could happen again. If a ‘widespread emergency event’ like 1953 happened again, then the emergency services would be thinly spread and concentrated on bigger towns. Southwold would have to wait. Waveney District Council (WDC) had few personnel, so these would have to be centrally located and in an area or premises not necessarily convenient for Southwold, particularly if people had to be evacuated. Southwold was the only community on the coast without an emergency group. Kessingland was presented as an example to follow: it was a similar-sized town with an emergency group and an ‘excellent emergency plan’, which had a list of premises to use, resources (such as specialist skills), what to do, who did what etc, a nominated leader. They had an idea of what they should be doing if an emergency happened.

The Kessingland Parish Council website had their emergency plan online for all interested parties to see. Clearly, it would benefit a community if they could help themselves in these circumstances.
An emergency group could be part of the Town Council, but this was not necessary. If any emergency happened then at least a community would have thought about it. An emergency group would also be good for community cohesion, adding not that Southwold needed it as it seemed to be close knit already.

What would be needed was a small number of volunteers to steer it; these could be anybody – councillors or non-councillors – and he would be happy to offer them guidance and support. Some groups had a leader, but inevitably there could be the danger they would be on holiday should an emergency arise. More than one member would be necessary; for example, Kessingland had nine on its emergency group and Walberswick had six.

Mr Topliss reported that he had sent the template for a local emergency plan to Southwold Town Council (STC) for its consideration. He added that he did not want survivalist types who did not wish to to have anything to do with the larger community: ‘one community has gone down this route, but I wouldn’t recommend it’. On the other hand, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators were people he felt could make a useful contribution to a local emergency group, as they had at Sweffling.

There was also the consideration of local versus far off. Local plans could lead to the use of local facilities, which people wanted, rather than going further afield. He therefore suggested that Southwold adopt an ‘island mentality’, giving examples of local roads flooding.

Speaking from the floor, Mr Veitch felt that ‘emergency’ was a broad term – did it mean just flooding? Mr Topliss replied that that the term was broader than that. Flooding was just the most obvious threat. He also gave the example of the oil transfer area just off shore, where crude oil was moved from ship to ship: Southwold was just one of two such areas around the coast of the UK, the other being off Lyme Regis. Large 300,000-ton Russian oil tankers were involved, so there was the potential for oil spillage.

He added, in response to another comment from the floor, that they had to walk before they could run. They needed volunteers to start with.

Mr Topliss was asked whether ‘emergency’ would cover fires on the Common and cattle getting loose on the Marshes. He responded that an emergency committee could do that, but generally they dealt with more general major threats to life and property, not discrete ones.

Mr Burrage commented that he was surprised that there was no Community Emergency Advisor for Southwold who had done things like this in the past. He knew about this as he had been one for 18 years! Mr Topliss replied that that role was a civil defence set up and was funded in that light, ending at the end of the Cold War. Mr Burrage responded that they did not get any funds, but continued after the Cold War, being concerned with matters like coastal defence.

Cllr Winter admitted that he was the current holder of that position on the Council, but that he had been supplied with no information when taking on the role. He added, as an aside, that in the late 1970s, Southwold did have an oil problem. A tanker sank off the coast, and the spillage caught many seabirds. Anglia Water provided a barrier to help fight the oil. He was Harbour Master at the time
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A comment that the local Red Cross could help train anyone on the committee was welcomed by Mr Topliss as evidence that local resources and training were already coming out of the woodwork.

The discussion closed with the Town Mayor (Mrs Teresa Baggott) noting that the Council had read the Kessingland plan and giving an undertaking that it would take a lead on it.

The meeting proper then commenced. After approving the minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on 19th March 2007, the Town Mayor briefly outlined the wide variety of activities the Town Council had undertaken in 2007/08, including what she described as a social whirl for herself. The accounts for the Southwold Parochial Charities, the Andrew Matthews Trust, the Farmiloe Memorial Fund, the Mayor’s Local Welfare Fund and the Sam May Trust were also received.

Crime in the last year
The meeting then had an extra report from PC Mike Gard, not on the agenda, outlining crime developments in the last year. He has happy to be able to say that crime was down: 100 offences versus 120 the previous year, of which the police had detected 33. These included:
One case of grievous bodily harm
One case of possessing a firearm with intent to cause alarm.
One case of possessing Class A drugs
Three cases of robbery in the town last summer, with four youths awaiting trial.

The Stella Peskett Hall
Cllr Ladd, as Chairman of the Trustees of the Southwold Millennium Foundation then reported on the progress of the rebuilding of the Stella Peskett Hall. He admitted that people could be forgiven for thinking that not a lot had happened since this time last year. However, all the work had been internal. Much had actually been accomplished and the work, both internal and external, was almost complete. There had also been hold ups as they did not have all the money they needed at the time. The tendering had taken a bit longer than expected as well; the work did not start until August, missing the initial September deadline. The project was not time-critical (no rents were missed), but money-critical. He would rather have a complete hall overrunning rather than half a hall (as happened so often). They had had three separate generous bequests given to them over the last year. This was crucial as they now had the money to finish it. They had also had discussions with core users and had linked up with Lowestoft College, which was very keen to bring the College out into the community. It was intended to hold various courses, including IT, to replace the proposed IT suite. He could not say definitely when the Hall would be finished, but sometime in 2008 it would be opened. There were some hold ups with the sewerage, but Anglia Water would sort it out in the next few months.

The Blyth Estuary
Cllr Allen reported on the Blyth Estuary and coastal defences. The Blyth Estuary group had done much work since its founding just after the meeting chaired by John Gummer MP in November 2005. The recent tidal surge had created many breaches on the Walberswick side of the river, particularly in Tinkers Marsh, including a tidal breach. This had been filled by Natural England but had been washed away a couple of weeks before.

Natural England and the Environment Agency would not finish work on the Walberswick road beyond the Bailey Bridge until the marshes had emptied. This would take longer then expected, possibly several weeks or months.

The Blyth Estuary Group was working with landowners on a plan to repair the banks as soon as possible. A Blyth Estuary Strategy Group (in which Suffolk County Council (SCC) and the District Councils were involved) was looking at on the impact of the Environment Agency’s strategy on the A12 and the A1095. The plan was to hold the fort until government ideas about coastal defence changed. This could take a couple of years.

There had been plenty of repair work with sandbags recently (40 volunteers had filled 2,000 sand bags and taken them to the breaches). There was a question of planning permission for this – they were trying to convince the Environment Agency that this was repair work, not new building.
An agreement was possibly in the works to allow landowners to protect riverbanks up to pre-1953 flood levels. The Environment Agency had appeared to have changed its stance from what it had been saying just six months ago, and also appeared to have changed its position on the Bailey Bridge and Robinsons Marsh; these might now be the line of last defence.

All this was also affecting the Harbour: its dock walls were having to deal with a larger flow of water into the Estuary, which was having an impact on them. It was anticipated that WDC would be talking to STC about how it intended to deal with this.

William Godell
The meeting then came on to the 500th anniversary of William Godell’s bequest on his death and how to commemorate it, if at all. This had already been discussed informally, but the Council wanted suggestions from the public to take back to discuss in council. Mr de Kretser kicked off by noting that these days if anyone left the amount of land he did, he would be thought eccentric. Not to recognise the bequest from which the town had benefited and continued to benefit would be a crime. He had to declare an interest in this: they had had a competition last year about how best to commemorate William Godell and in his opinion the Council had come to the wrong decision. He proposed a permanent statue on the Common looking across the Marshes out to sea. He realised it would be expensive, c £30,000–£40,000, but Southwold had had 500 years’ use of the land. Surely public subscription in a place like Southwold could raise it? But they would have to start now, otherwise they would still be talking about it in 2009.

There was much discussion, with many ideas generated, including a day to commemorate William Godell each year, naming the Pavilion after him, beating the bounds and a William Godell town tea, a picnic every year on the Common, and placing a memorial on the Common that indicated the extent of the bequest with the points of a compass on it, and smaller outer pillars on the boundaries of the land that looked back to the main monument. It was agreed that the Town Council would discuss these further

Hearing from the electors
The meeting was then opened to comments and questions from the local government electors of Southwold.

Precepting: Mr Burrage did not understand why they needed a precept. They never had one before and they also paid more in Council Tax because of property values (‘and get less’ – Mr de Kretser). The Town Mayor responded that it was just that the Council was taking on more responsibilities and it did not have a bottomless pit of money. Mr Burrage countered that they were paying WDC to do all this through the Council Tax. If we were taking things back, then this money should come back to STC. Otherwise we would be paying twice. We would have to think carefully about this before going down this route. Cllr Ladd responded that they would only precept for extraordinary issues, not for something like taking back the Putting Green. The Blyth Estuary had been such an issue, although it turned out to be out of the area and so they could not do that for it. However, more things were on their way (like the Toilets) that would need maintaining. Much of STC’s income was spent on maintaining properties, many of which were old. Mr Burrage felt that perhaps STC were not charging enough in rents. Cllr Ladd countered that its rents were set with independent advice and it had to get the balance right – it wanted to attract tenants and business – not drive them away with extortionate rents. It would not take back properties from WDC where it (STC) would have to pay for them before taking them back and then expect Waveney to reimburse it. Mrs Pulford felt another way would be to see if savings could be made. She had had much council experience and making savings were a regular feature.

The Market: Mr Veitch was delighted about the Market, particularly as it now had a fishmonger. He was slightly concerned that there was a butcher (even though it was organic). The Town Mayor responded that they were giving people a choice as the butcher was organic. Cllr Doy added that she did not think it would have an impact on Hutsons. A little bit of competition was a good thing. She could remember four butchers in the town, plus Reydon was in the catchment area, which was as big as Southwold used to be.

Refurbishment: Mr de Kretser congratulated the Council on the refurbishment of the chamber. It was the first time in years he could hear everything. ‘I don’t understand any of it, but I can hear it!’

Town Appraisal: He then went on to ask what had happened to last year’s Town Appraisal. The Town Mayor replied that not much had happened. Waveney wanted them to redraft it as a local plan and they were waiting to hear back from them. Cllr Ladd added that it turned out the Town Appraisal did not conform to Suffolk ACRE’s town plan format, but the Town Council used it as a guide.

Yartoft: Mr Burrage was filled with dread at the prospect of a Yartoft authority. He wanted to know the Council’s views. The Town Mayor replied that they had discussed it and they did not want to be in Yartoft; if anything, they would rather become part of Suffolk Coastal District Council. There were to be more meeting/discussions about it. Cllr Allen added that the Local Government Minister John Healey had said that he would listen to local communities, so it was important for people to make their views known. There was an online petition on Waveney’s website and there were plenty of other petitions in circulation as well. The Town Meeting voted to oppose any link with Yartoft and to prefer to link up with Suffolk Coastal District Council.

The Klondyke: incredulity was expressed that there were enough children in Southwold who would use the Klondyke as skateboarders. The speaker was worried that unsupervised children from outside would come. She understood that previous attempts had been abandoned/vandalised. The Town Mayor replied that the Klondyke Support Group did want to do something down there. She did not want her to think that it would be an open space that was unsupervised. Cllr Ladd added that they had received a petition from 60–70 children in the Southwold/Reydon area. Catherine Wiltshire responded that Reydon children’s parents would be in Reydon. Cllr Ladd replied that it would be impossible to just keep it to Southwold. Also, why just children? He had seen a programme about swings for OAPs! It was also noted that wider recreational amenities than just a skateboard park would be provided.

The Town Sign: Cllr Tucker, responding to a question about progress, noted that the design had been agreed and discussions were underway with an engineer over foundations etc, so things would happen. The money for it had already been budgeted. The Town Clerk (Mrs Jenny Hursell) added that the designs were in the Town Hall.

Bins: Mrs Boucher felt that there were not enough bins. There was a big gap in the High Street. They also needed more dog fouling bins. The Town Clerk responded that dog faeces could go in ordinary bins on the Common. The Town Mayor admitted there were ongoing problems, but thanked her for her comments.

Mights Bridge Car Park: Mr de Kretser asked about how plans for the Mights Bridge site were progressing. The Town Mayor reported that the planned healthy living centre will probably move to one of two sites in Reydon as the Mights Bridge site was likely to be too small. The car park plan was still ongoing, but it was on hold at the moment because of the original application had been turned down pending a flood risk assessment. A Council subcommittee had been set up that was looking into funding and costings etc before the flood risk assessment was undertaken.

Railings at seafront: Mrs Cooper brought the Council’s attention to the terrible state of the seafront railings, which urgently needed painting. The Town Mayor explained that SCC had told them there was no money to do this (it would cost £100 per section). The Council was considering doing the very worst pieces itself at some point. They could not just get people to paint them as they needed to be treated as well because of the rusting. Part of the problem was that the posts were pitted inside and it was impossible to seal them completely so rusting soon came back. New posts would cost £200 each.

At the meeting of Southwold Town Council on Tuesday 25th March 2008.

Planning matters

23 Hotson Road
The meeting first considered the proposed construction of a detached garage to replace an existing one at this property. Cllr Windell noted that it was a double garage that was not actually in Hotson Road but in a lane at the side at the end of the garden. The existing garage was in a poor state and the new garage would take at least one car off the road, so the meeting therefore recommended approval.

5 Victoria Street
It then moved on to an application for planning permission to construct a bungalow, garden gallery and garage at this address.

Mr de Kretser used the public forum to make a plea on behalf of Mr Finch who operates a joinery that people would be living in proximity to if the plan went ahead; they would have a right to quiet enjoyment which might put Mr Finch’s right to use it in jeopardy, a well-established business. He asked councillors to please bear this mind when considering the application. Three letters of objection had also been received. Cllr Windell was not happy with what was proposed either. He did not like the mix of residential and industrial, the application had no change of use, there was the question of conservation area status that was not clear and needed to be resolved, it was unclear where the boundary was, there would be problems with car parking, and the planned deck roof would overlook other properties. He felt he needed more information from the applicants particularly in the plans and about dimensions, but the meeting nevertheless recommended refusal.

77 Victoria Street
Next on the agenda was an application for Listed Building Consent to construction of a rear extension and internal alterations at this property. As Cllr Windell reported that there were not many problems with it, the meeting recommended approval.

29 Hotson Road
Considering the application for permission to construct two dormer windows in roof and a replacement side porch at this house, Cllr Windell noted that the property in question was a bungalow on the corner of Hotson and Marlborough Roads and outside the Conservation Area, so he could not really object. Other properties down the road had similar dormers. The meeting recommended approval (although Cllr Bryant felt she had to comment that she had doubts about it).

The Crown Hotel
The proposed installation of 12 pavement barrier posts at the Crown generated much discussion in the meeting. It was noted that these were a response to the problems the Crown had had with temporary barriers last year (which had required sandbags). The Crown felt barriers were needed for health and safety reasons and these would operate in a similar way to the barriers last year, would be more sightly, and would be temporary in that they could be locked into holes in the ground, but then could be lifted out and removed when required. Some councillors were in favour, others were not. In the light of this, the meeting agreed to ask for more information from Adnams, set up an informal meeting with a person from Adnams and delegate authority to the Planning Subcommittee to make the decision for STC.

39A Marlborough Road
Cllr Windell felt the planned replacement windows at this property were uncontroversial and straightforward; the meeting therefore recommended approval.

Woodleys, The Common
Finally, the meeting considered that application for placing photovoltaic solar panels on the front and rear roofs of this house. Mr De Kretser used the public forum to say that he thought the application was confusing; there were issues over the length cited and also the description of ‘solar photovoltaic’ panels – these were two different types of cell. He was concerned that the applicants would then alter the plan to extend the area covered by solar cells and make them even more intrusive. There was also a letter of objection received. Cllr Windell agreed that there was a problem with the information as photovoltaic and solar cells were different types. There was also an issue over the potential size of the panels. He did not feel there was enough information on the drawings to make an informed decision. He was also concerned that, if they got this wrong, it would establish a bad precedent and open the floodgates. The meeting therefore agreed to go back and ask the applicants for more information before making a final decision.

The word from Waveney
The meeting was informed that WDC had given its approval to the proposed developments at the Bookshop, 10 Market Place; Landing Stage W05, Walberswick side, Southwold Harbour; 34 Hotson Road; Castle West, 35 North Road; and The Crown Hotel. It had refused the applications for the proposed developments at the Alfred Corry Museum, Ferry Road; 7 Mill Lane; and 20 Stradbroke Road.

A new fishmongers?
The meeting considered a letter from Crabapple seeking a variation in the lease of 21 Market Place (which currently limits business to that of a high-class fruiterer, florist and seller of vegetables) to allow the sale of fish on the premises. Cllr Windell was surprised about this. He was not happy about the idea of fish being sold alongside fruit and vegetables. There was also the question of space and, as there were now two fish stalls on the market, he did not see the need. The Town Mayor reported that she had been told that the fish would be at the back, where the flowers currently were, which would be moved. There were concerns about hygiene, ie handling vegetables after fish. Cllr Ladd was sorry to lose John’s Fish Shop, but agreed with Cllr Windell: this proposal did not feel right. It could be the thin end of the wedge, a way of changing the lease from fruit and veg to purely fish. Cllr Betts felt that their other shop (Black Olive) would be better for fish. The meeting therefore voted to refuse Crabapple’s request.

More Blyth developments
The meeting then considered another letter, this time from SCC about the maintenance of the former railway line route from Southwold to Walberswick and the possibility of its being given a statutory designation. Cllr Allen felt that it was important, after the surge last year, that SCC took this route over and that it became a public right of way. It would otherwise be in trouble in the future. Cllr Tucker was a bit cautious about this action. She was worried that it might then be under pressure to be widened etc, particularly as so many used it in the summer. She wanted to retain its atmosphere and for it to remain in keeping. Cllr Ladd felt that, as it worked at the moment, why change it? This proposal worried him. They needed to be careful. He agreed with Cllr Tucker. They needed more information. The Town Clerk suggested that SCC only take over part of the route. Cllr Windell wanted it to be designated a bridle path as currently there was nothing to stop cars using it at the moment. The meeting agreed to ask the Town Clerk to reply with its comments.

William Godell
Cllr Winter thought that there had been some good ideas at the Annual Town Meeting about how to commemorate William Godell’s life and bequest. As the anniversary was only next year, the meeting felt that the best step was to set up a committee of four (two councillors and two non-councillors) to look into what to what events should happen next year. Cllrs Winter and Miller and Mr de Kretser were nominated to this committee by the meeting. The memorial would be separate from this. The meeting had received extra information from the proposer at the Town Meeting of a memorial on the Common that indicated the extent of the bequest on the points of a compass, which had given the meeting much to consider. Ms Cllrs Ladd and Allen agreed to get together, look at all this, pool ideas and create something for the Town Council to consider. The Town Mayor felt that they had to get on with this and this be done in separate groups. The meeting approved this.

At the meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee on Tuesday 15th April 2008.

Planning matters
The meeting rattled through a full agenda of planning applications. It recommended approval for:
The provision of two rooflights to facilitate a 10-foot conversion at Harbour Cottage, 3 Blackshore.
The erection of a rear conservatory at North Green House, North Green.
The replacement of front railings and gate at 28 North Parade.
The construction of a second storey rear extension and alterations at 94 High Street.
The provision of floating pontoon and walkway at Landing Stage S23, Blackshore.

It recommended refusal for:
Listed Building Consent for construction of a bungalow, garden gallery and garage at 5 Victoria Street (the Council had recommended refusal of this at the last Town Council meeting (see above).
The construction of a single-storey rear extension and two dormers at 2 Stanley Cottages, Blyth Road (it would spoil the street scene and cottages and be out of keeping).
The demolition of existing shed and construction of a new larger shed at Fisherman’s Hut B05, Blackshore (this had been refused before and meeting could not see any difference this time: it was still too large, out of keeping and overdevelopment).
The construction of a house at 10 North Green (there was insufficient car parking and it was overdevelopment).

Waveney matters
The meeting was informed that WDC had given its approval to the proposed developments at the Southwold and District Tennis Club, Hotson Road; 3 Church Street; 3 Market Place; 22 Pier Avenue; and 7 Mill Lane.

In an explanatory letter about the 7 Mill Lane decision, Waveney said that it was aware of the strength of local opposition but had given its approval nonetheless. It felt that all the objectionable elements had been largely removed and that the building when completed would be worthy of its place in a Conservation Area. This development was not welcomed by the meeting. Cllr Windell was not happy about this and was concerned by Waveney’s Conservation Area statement. The Chairman (Cllr Ladd) was realistic: whether they liked it or not, the decision had been made and there was not much they could do about it. However, they should ask Waveney for more information about how it makes decisions.

Cllr Allen then reported to the meeting on the Conservation Areas Appraisal. WDC had ratified the Conservation Area, which was now extended as far as the Pier and The Blyth and as far down Ferry Road. Cllr Windell commented that it was nice to have this, but it needed to be enforced.

Developments since the Annual Town Meeting
The meeting considered the Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on 17th March 2008. Cllr Tobin said that he wanted to take the lead in putting together an emergency committee, which was welcomed by the Chairman. The Town Clerk reported that three people had volunteered for this since the Town Meeting. Cllrs Allen and Windell also reported that they had had a meeting with the relevant WDC officer about the issue of the bins. They had hammered out the locations and these would soon be arriving. Some 37 in all were to come. There were still three where they had to decide where to place them. The Chairman suggested revisiting the Town Meeting minutes in three months as these contained plenty of useful content about the important matters for the town, like the car park etc.

Fish revisited
The meting considered further letter from Crabapple about it possibly selling fish. It stated that fish would be stored separately from vegetables. A completely professional member of staff, a fishmonger, would be employed to serve it. Customers would be able to buy everything in one go at the till. The scales would be moved. It noted that Crabapple’s customers did ask about fish, notwithstanding the fish stalls in the Market. Finally, it wanted to diversify.

Cllr Miller had not been present at the original discussions about this matter and was dismayed. He had not been aware that the Town Council could dictate what businesses could sell. He thought it was a perfectly sane, reasonable letter and did not think it was an unreasonable request as people did want fish outside Market days and not everyone could drive down to the Harbour. Cllr Bryant was also surprised that STC had not supported this originally. There was a need. Cllr Windell had no problem with fish but was still not happy with a fruit and fish combination. He felt the Black Olive would be more suitable venue as it already sold some fish products. The Chairman reminded the meeting that the suitability of the premises was the consideration for the Town Council. The Town Mayor added that refrigeration was the issue – a fridge for fish would have to be kept separate as stipulated by the law. It would also need to be cleaned down at the end of the day, meaning tiled surfaces would be necessary. So there would be potential clash with the fruit area of the shop. The Chairman reiterated that he was concerned that this would be a way of changing use by stealth. Cllr Tucker felt they were not being arrogant or dictatorial: the flowers and fruit were stipulated in the lease. The meeting agreed not to change its mind.

Yartoft again
The meeting finally considered letters from WDC, the Boundary Committee for England and the Suffolk Preservation Society about the current Local Government Review. Cllrs Winter and Windell also reported on the Boundary Committee meeting they had recently attended. The Boundary Committee letter stated that it could not recommend the status quo. Cllr Windell reported that the Boundary Committee had been given a brief from the Secretary of State and that there would be a three-stage process:

Stage one: consultation period, from the beginning of March to April.
Stage two: proposal-drafting period, from now until 4th July.
Stage three: period for comments on the proposal, from 7th July until the end of September.

They wanted evidence-based comments. STC could not make comments until it had received the draft.

Parish boundaries could change, which could affect us through changes to the ward/council boundaries, ie STC might have more areas within its bounds. The Boundary Committee made it clear that it would ignore existing regional, district and county boundaries in its Review: it was very important to be aware of this.

Cllr Windell also confirmed that the transfer of responsibilities from WDC were not set in stone and could be affected by this Review. They would therefore need written conformation of transfers.
It would be a very quick process: all the changes would be in place by 1st April 2010. The idea was to move from a three-tier to a two-tier system of local government. This would be a streamlining of the system that would probably mean that district councils would go and town/parish councils taking on more responsibilities.

Cllr Winter added that this was a completely non-political process driven by the civil service, who had been given the brief by the Secretary of State to find the best form of local government for Devon, Suffolk and Norfolk.

Cllr Windell did get the impression that things were going to change. He added that the WDC website had information about all this. Cllr Allen noted that the relevant Waveney personnel were very aware that they needed to speed up the transfer process to STC as Waveney might be abolished. The Chairman felt that, as a result, they would have to put aside quite a bit of time when they got the draft proposal document as it would be very important.

Reydon and Southwold Healthy Living Centre

On 21st April, a well-attended meeting (about 70 in total) in Reydon Village Hall was treated to a presentation about the proposed new Reydon and Southwold Healthy Living Centre. A panel comprising Dr Andrew Eastaugh from the Southwold Surgery, Helen Tucker from Warwick University and Steve Millward of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft (and a local resident as well) outlined their case for the new development.

The case for the Healthy Living Centre
The Reydon and Southwold Healthy Living Centre project had come to an important stage in its progress. The next step was to get as much community involvement as possible, which was why all those present had been invited. It was suggested that they become ‘ambassadors’ for the project.

Healthcare provision in the area could continue as before, but it was made clear that this had the danger that it could end up being controlled and determined elsewhere, possibly by a private company or a larger NHS Community Trust.

Health care needs and delivery were changing. This was both a threat and an opportunity.
We enjoyed good healthcare provision in the area, but there were gaps in its coverage and the existing infrastructure was finding it increasingly difficult to keep up to existing standards. The Hospital was not economically viable in the long run and there were a small number of beds. There would come a time when