• BRAKES – Test them before every ride and make sure they are not rubbing against the tyres. If your brakes need changing or adjusting and you don’t know how to do it yourself, get some help.
• SEAT HIGHT – Do not ride a bike that is too big or small for you. Make sure your toes can touch the ground comfortably.
• TYRES – Give them a pinch to make sure they are hard. If they feel soft, pump them up or get someone to help you if you don’t know how to do them yourself. Check that they are not worn down.
• HELMET – Always wear a cycle helmet when you ride your bike to help keep you safe. Make sure it is the right size for you and fitted correctly, use the helmet’s straps to fit it securely on your head. Remember – Should you fall and hit the dirt, a helmet might prevent the hurt!
• BRIGHT GEAR – Be bright, be seen. Always wear bright or fluorescent clothing in daylight and in poor light, and reflective clothing at night so that you are visible to other road users and pedestrians.
• LIGHTS – Do not cycle at night, in the rain or if the weather is overcast without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector at the back. Make sure they are clean and working.
• BELL – Make sure you have one fitted and only use it when necessary.
• DON’T RIDE IN THE GUTTER – Give yourself space on the left, and don’t feel you have to hug the kerb if a car behind you gets impatient.
• SHOW DRIVERS WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO IN PLENTY OF TIME – Always look and signal before you start, stop or turn.
• MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH DRIVERS – Let drivers know you have seen them.
• RIDE SENSIBLY – Don’t weave across the road or change direction suddenly without signalling. Don’t dodge through stationary traffic – ride in a straight line on the left hand side of the road.
• DON’T LISTEN TO MUSIC / TALK ON MOBILE PHONE WHILST CYCLING – for the simple reason that you are not fully concentrating on what is going on around you and may cause an accident
• BE CAREFUL NEAR ANIMALS – give them plenty of room as you cycle past, and don’t scare them with your bell.
• CHOOSE THE SAFEST ROUTE – plan your cycle journey and if possible stick to cycle tracks and quieter roads. If the road looks too busy, get off your bike and walk
• USE CYCLE FACILLITIES – if available. If a cycle track (off road) is shared with pedestrians:-
Keep to the cyclists’ side
Watch out for people who might find it difficult to move out of your way, such as older people, children and people with disabilities
Use your bell to let people know you’re there
Be prepared to slow down or stop if necessary
• PARK WITH CARE – Park your bike with thought for other people, use a cycle stand if possible and make sure you ALWAYS lock it to something secure
• NEVER LEAD AN ANIMAL – whilst cycling
• NEVER RIDE MORE THAN TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE – and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding around bends
CYCLISTS AND THE LAW – Remember it’s against the law for cyclists to:
• Jump red lights, including lights at pedestrian crossings
• Cycle on pavements, unless there is a sign showing that the pavement has been converted to a cycle track
• Cycle the wrong way up a one way street, unless there is a sign showing that cyclists can do so
• Ride across pedestrian crossings, unless it is a toucan crossing with a sign saying that cyclists can do so
• You must not hold onto any other vehicle or another cyclist
• You must not carry another person on your cycle unless it is specially designed to do so.
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS OBEY TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS AND ROAD SIGNS AND THE SIGNALS MADE BY POLICE OFFICERS, TRAFFIC WARDENS OR SCHOOL CROSSING PATROLS.
Signs giving orders – these are mostly circular
Blue circles – tell you what you MUST do
Red circles – tell you what you MUST NOT do
2 other signs that must be obeyed are the red triangular “GIVE WAY” sign and the red octagonal “STOP” sign.
Warning signs – are usually triangular
Information signs – are usually rectangular

With the start of the new school year, there are going to be more children cycling to school early in the mornings along with drivers making their way to work in their cars. As well as cyclists needing to take care on the roads, we ask that drivers also be vigilant and watch out for cyclists using the roads, and young pedestrians making their way to school, keeping your speed down and giving them plenty of room, avoiding any accidents.
Road traffic accidents cause over 70% of all accidental deaths for children of school age, with child pedestrian casualties peaking at age 12.
We also ask that adult cyclists using cycle paths, especially near schools and shops, think about not travelling at speed so as not to cause collisions with parents with pushchairs or young children.
To raise any issues you may have please come along to our next Community Engagement Meeting on,
Wednesday 6th October 2010 – 6.30pm – 7.15pm
Parish Rooms, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham, IP12 4PD
The following meeting is on,
Monday 8th November 2010, 6.30pm – 7.15pm
Parish Rooms, The Green, Grundisburgh, IP13 6TA

PC 1469 Debbie Howgego
Kesgrave and District Team
Kesgrave.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

We are a small charity based in Kesgrave that help elderly and disabled people in our area with transport for those that find it difficult to use public transport. We take several residents to places like doctors, local shopping and clubs. Our 8 seater minibus also has a wheelchair access. Twice a month on Tuesday afternoons we take several residents to a club that is held in the Kesgrave Community Centre. Unfortunately the driver we had can no longer continue so we urgently need a replacement.

This involves collecting residents and getting them to the Community Centre for 2pm start and then returning them when the club finishes at 4pm. This would probably take approximately 90 minutes. If you think this maybe something you could do, even if it was only once a month, please contact me on Ipswich 620307.

Our charity also holds coffee mornings every Thursday morning in the Community Centre and is well attended by local residents. If you feel you would like to come along and have a chat you would be most welcome. We open at 10am and finish approx. 11.30am. Also fish&chips are made available every fortnight for those that stay on for lunch.

Sue Snoulten, An organiser, Kesgrave & District Help Centre

Until a few weeks ago our valued Police Support Volunteer Mr Rex Bryanton has assisted us at the office, but sadly he has recently retired from this role. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rex, from all the team, for the hard work he has done in improving the service we are able to provide for you. Rex will still be very busy with other voluntary duties within our local community.

This means that there is now a Police Support Volunteer role available. The purpose of this role is to provide support to the Kesgrave and District SNT by freeing up officers for frontline policing. The main purpose of the role is to:

* Deal with items of lost and found property.

* Maintain stock of stationery and leaflets, photocopying and re-ordering.

* Provide assistance with general admin such as taking messages, filing, photocopying.

* Take charge of the crime reduction retail merchandise by maintaining stock, the float and simple accounts.

* Staff the front office by dealing effectively and courteously with enquiries from the public, whether by personal visit or by telephone.

There are also additional opportunities if you wish including:

* Helping to maintain notice boards (located in the SNT and local community) to ensure that they remain relevant and up-to-date.

* Keeping a record of where / when posters have been displayed so that they can be updated quickly when required.

* Delivering local marketing flyers and newsletters in support of SNT activities and community events.

* Assisting in arranging, setting up and attending ‘surgeries’ and other SNT

events.

* Assisting officers to conduct local market research and surveys to identify community issues.

The role would suit someone who is able to regularly volunteer most weeks for two 3-4 hour sessions a week (times flexible between 9am and 5pm weekdays). For example one morning and one afternoon per week.

The individual should have good literacy and numeracy skills and be able to demonstrate good communication skills particularly verbal skills, to a variety of different people. They should have the ability to appropriately represent Suffolk Constabulary to members of the public and other organisations and be able to follow set policies and procedures. They would need to organise and process information, take messages and pass them onto relevant personnel clearly and accurately.

Desirable skills would include previous experience of using computer systems, some keyboard skills, cash handling experience or customer service experience.

If you are interested in applying or finding out more information, we would like to hear from you. You can contact me directly and I will be happy to discuss the role with you.

To raise any issues you may have please come along to our next Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday 7th September in Great Bealings Village Hall, The Street, Little Bealings between 6.45pm to 7.30pm. The following meeting is on Wednesday 6th October in the Parish Rooms, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham between 6.30 pm to 7.15pm

Sergeant 733 Peter Street

Kesgrave and District Safer Neighbourhood Team

Tel: (01473) 613500 Kesgrave.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

Nationally up to £20 million will be paid out through the scheme which could help a great number of households across the country. In Suffolk Coastal it is estimated that approximately 4,000 households could be eligible to receive the rebate and could benefit from the additional services and support available.

“This new deal is a welcome way to help older, more vulnerable residents in our district. The £80 discount will help to give a financial break to older people that may be finding it hard to keep on top of their bills,” said Cllr Chris Slemmings, Cabinet Member for Housing.

Residents aged 70 and over, receiving the guaranteed element of Pension Credit but not the Savings Credit element, or who are already receiving a reduction in their energy bill will be eligible for the saving from their energy bill.

The discount will automatically appear on most eligible residents fuel bills although some people may receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions to confirm their records are correct before it is issued.

“Many people have problems paying their energy bills but when these people are elderly and tend to limit their heating because of worries about bills, their health can be seriously affected. In the UK we experience a number of winter deaths every year, attributed in part to cold homes. This is not seen in colder countries because they are better prepared for the cold. This new scheme will ensure that our older more vulnerable residents who need extra financial assistance will receive it and be able to heat their homes with fewer worries.

“They should also look to get extra insulation installed, which is often free to older residents on low income. For more details residents can contact the private sector housing team on 01394 444506.

“The rise in energy and fuel prices is a growing concern and it is a positive step to see that the Government is taking action to ensure that older members of our community are getting more help to meet their living costs,” added Cllr Slemmings.

Those that do not qualify for the one-off rebate may still be able to receive help and can contact a member of the benefits team on 01394 444838 or Age Concern Suffolk on 01449 674222.

For further information about the energy bill rebate scheme or to check if they qualify residents can visit www.direct.gov.uk/energyrebate

Recently, Martlesham, Kesgrave and Rushmere heath land has been affected by numerous fires, which could have serious consequences. Heath fires are at their most devastating during periods of hot and sunny weather when the grass, gorse, undergrowth or common area becomes dry. The speed at which a fire can travel through gorse and dry undergrowth can be staggering, creating its own wind path as the blaze escalates. The fire can even spread through the root system of the gorse.  Large heath fires can draw on fire fighting resources, reducing the availability of resources for property fires, road traffic accidents and other life threatening incidents. The cost implications are also great.

As well as potentially fatal consequences to human life, the wildlife and natural habitat that has taken years to establish in these areas is also threatened by fire and can be destroyed in a matter of hours. These areas can then take many more years to recover. Many animals are unable to escape from fires with their nests and eggs left behind and destroyed. Other environmental impacts include large volumes of smoke that pollute the atmosphere and the disruption of natural water supplies and associated plant or pond life when water is taken for fire fighting.

This all may sound very serious, and believe you me, it is. These fires can often be caused by people unintentionally or wilfully starting them. The message is simply this; take care if you are out on the heath in periods of dry conditions. If you are responsible for deliberately setting fires because you think it will be a laugh, stop and think, you are not only putting the lives of residents in the area and their properties at risk but your own life may also be at risk as a fire can often travel faster than you can run. Parents, please educate your children on the dangers of setting fires and the potential consequences. If you see any person deliberately setting a fire, report it immediately to the fire service and police, giving as much information as possible.

On another note, a message to all cyclists using the cycle paths in the Martlesham and Kesgrave area. There have been a number of complaints from members of the public concerning the speed at which some cyclists travel along the cycle paths, especially along by Gorseland Primary School, between Deben Avenue and Eagle Way. Please could all cyclists have consideration for other cyclists and pedestrians, especially when there are parents with pushchairs and young children on their way to school who may have trouble getting out of the way of a fast moving cycle. We would like to try and avoid anybody getting unduly hurt, cyclists included.

Finally, if you have mislaid your cycle, please contact the Safer Neighbourhood Team to see if it has been recovered. We have a shed full of found cycles, which have to be somebody’s! If these cycles had been coded, it would make our job of returning the cycle to the owner far easier.

If you are interested in getting involved in the setting of local priorities, the next Public Community Engagement Meetings are to be held on Monday 12^th July 2010 between 6.30pm and 7.15pm at St Botolph’s Church, Culpho, IP6 9DJ and then Wednesday 11^th August 2010 between 6.30pm and 7.15pm at The Village Hall, Westerfield Lane, Tuddenham, IP6 9BH.

If you would like to find out more information about your Safer Neighbourhood Team you can visit our website on www.onesuffolk.co.uk/safersuffolk/kesgrave

PC 1469 Debbie Howgego

Kesgrave and District Safer Neighbourhood Team – 01473 613500 (switchboard) – kesgrave.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

Nominations are now open for this year’s awards. Residents have until Friday, July 30 to submit nominations ahead of the awards taking place in September.

“There is a wealth of local sporting talent across the district and the awards provide a chance to recognise the efforts of all those taking part no matter what the sport,” said Cllr Mary Neale, Cabinet Member for Countryside and Leisure.

Categories for the awards include Sports Personality of the Year, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Disabled Sports Personality of the Year, Club of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sports School of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award. In order to qualify nominees must live or attend a club in the district.

“This year we have a new category, Team of the Year, recognising a local sporting team that has been successful over the past 12 months. There are a number of very promising up and coming teams in the district so I am particularly keen to see the nominations for this new award,” added Cllr Neale.

Nomination forms can be found online at www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourfreetime/sportsawards where they can be filled in and emailed to active.communities@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk. Forms can also be printed and returned to SCDC offices, Melton Hill, Woodbridge, IP12 1AU.

“The sports awards are the perfect opportunity to celebrate sporting success in the district and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. I would encourage residents to nominate their deserving team mates, coaches, schools and volunteers so that they are recognised for their outstanding efforts by the local community.

“Last year we had a good number of nominations for each of the categories and I hope that we will also have a wealth of talent and sporting success to choose from when making our decisions this year,” added Cllr Neale.

The awards are being supported by the Coastal Sports Alliance, Suffolk School Sports Partnership, Suffolk Sport, Felixstowe TV, DC Leisure, The Spa Pavilion, Optua and British Energy.