RECESSION-BUSTING EASTER FUN in WOODBRIDGE

 Woodbridge is the destination of choice this Easter with two great events for all the family.

On Easter Saturday, 3 April, there will be a FREE Easter Egg Hunt in Elmhurst Park, Woodbridge. organised by Woodbridge Town Centre Management (WTCM). The egg hunt starts promptly at 10.30am and is open to children age under 14. The challenge is to find the hidden beans and swap them for chocolate eggs. This annual event has become a must-do fixture on family calendars with excited children racing round the park searching for hidden treasure.

 At this year’s event, the friendly pooch, ‘Pound the Hound’ from Ipswich Building Society will be making a guest appearance. Pound loves sniffing out the beans and is willing to help younger children to find those elusive beans. There will also be  Punch & Judy Shows to keep children of all ages entertained, plus a face painter to add some extra colour. Activities start from 10am and the event will finish around 12 noon.

This event has been well supported by local businesses, including Dee’s Budgens supermarket, The Co-op,  Boots and Les Chocolats Belges  who kindly donated the chocolate eggs. Other local businesses have donated discount vouchers and gifts, so don’t miss the free goody bags. The poster designs are supported by The Hearing Care Centre, Framfield Medical Centre, Woodbridge.

The first Woodbridge Vintage & Contemporary Market of 2010 takes place on the Market Hill and Shire Hall in Woodbridge on Easter Saturday 3^rd April from 9.30am to 4pm. Sarah Hill of Deben Events, said, “The market will have a really interesting mix of stalls, ranging from sought-after retro pieces and cool interior ideas, to classic fashion items and locally-made pieces.”

Deben Events say that the markets provide a great platform for smaller businesses, alongside those who might have a shop in another town and want to showcase their products to a new audience. “It’s shopping for the independently-minded,” explains Richard Ginger, fellow market organiser. “Our markets offer a great alternative to the mass-produced pieces found in High Street chains and supermarket. People are keen to find unique objects, examples of real craftsmanship and some fascinating one-off finds that are real talking points in their homes. It’s a million miles from Tesco!”

To create a relaxing environment for visitors, Deben Events is closing the road at the top of the market square, giving the event further pedestrianised space.

 “These two free events will make Woodbridge a must-visit destination over the Easter Weekend – there’s something for everyone and the town should be really buzzing,” says Marion Wells, Woodbridge Town Centre Co-ordinator.

 FREE car parking (organised by WTCM) is available on Easter Saturday from 8am to 6.30pm at the Suffolk Coastal District Council offices on Melton Hill (IP12 1AU).

• You no longer need to carry change.
• You don’t have to visit a parking meter.
• You don’t need to walk back with a parking ticket – parking attendants check which vehicles are parked with RingGo via their handheld units.

RingGo users can also top up their parking when they’re away from their vehicle. So if you get held up or delayed, simply ring the RingGo number again, top up remotely and avoid an excess charge notice.

RingGo is available at 9 of Suffolk Coastal’s pay and display car parks in Woodbridge and from 28 January 2010 it will also be available in 13 car parks in Felixstowe.

• Car park locations

How do I register with RingGo?

You can pre-register on the RingGo website (new window). Alternatively you can register at the time you first call to use the service. The number to call is shown on the car park ticket machines. If you are parking in a Suffolk Coastal car park, the local number to ring is 01394 642 645.

When you phone for the first time, you will be asked for:

• The number plate, colour and make of your vehicle.
• The four digit location code for where you are parked as shown on the ticket machine.
• The length of time for which you want to park.
• Your payment card details.

You will also be asked if you want a text confirmation of your parking session and a text reminder when your parking session is about to run out. The initial registration process could take a couple of minutes, but future calls to park will be much quicker – only about 30 seconds or so.

Parking with RingGo

The next time you call, RingGo remembers you from last time (by recognising your mobile phone number) and will ask you to:

• Confirm the vehicle that you want to park.
• Confirm the location.
• Say how long you want to park.
• Provide the security code from your credit card.

Again, you will be asked if you wish a text confirmation or reminder.

Cark parks where the RingGo service is currently available and their location codes are listed below – click on the links for information about car park charges and a location map.

RingGo is available at 9 of Suffolk Coastal’s pay and display car parks in Woodbridge:

From 28 January 2010, RingGo will be available in 13 car parks in Felixstowe:

Benefits of RingGo – extending your parking session

Unlike normal parking sessions, you can remotely top up your parking fee up to the maximum stay limit for that car park when you use RingGo. If you want to extend your stay, simply call RingGo again and the service will ask you:

• How long you want to extend for.
• What your card security code is.

How much does RingGo cost?

There is no charge for registering with RingGo and no charge for the PIN confirmation text when you set up your account. When you park your vehicle with RingGo, you will pay a 20p convenience charge on top of the normal parking tariff charges which apply. This parking charge will be shown on your monthly credit/debit card statement.

There is also the local call to the RingGo service – but if you have a mobile phone package which includes free bundled minutes, your call to RingGo is likely to be included within this. In any case, once you are registered, the call to park your car each time is very quick – usually less than a minute.

If you wish to receive a text confirmation of your parking session or a reminder when your parking session is about to run out, there is an additional 10p charge per text for these options.

Can I get a VAT receipt?

If you need a VAT receipt for your RingGo parking session, you can view and print a receipt online. For security you will be asked to enter your 4 digit PIN which was provided to you at the first time of use.

More information about RingGo

For general information visit the RingGo website (new window) or if you have a specific question about how RingGo operates visit the RingGo help centre (new window).

If you visit the RingGo website you can find out where the service is available (new window) across the UK.

Ringo is operated by Cobalt Telephone Technologies, a British-based company that have been developing and managing innovative automated telephone and web-based solutions since 1997.

Mark Pritchard said constituents had raised concerns about computers given out under the Home Access Programme apparently being sold for cash.

He has asked Schools Secretary Ed Balls for more safeguards to prevent misuse of the vouchers, worth up to £528.

The scheme said it could not guarantee parents would not sell the laptops but it was monitoring E-Bay and pawn shops.

The initiative, announced by Gordon Brown in his 2008 Labour conference speech, gives poorer households vouchers to spend on laptops and internet access from approved stockists.

Following pilot schemes in Suffolk and Oldham, the programme was rolled out across England last month.

Before their children can take part, parents have to fill in forms saying they will use the laptops for the correct purpose.

‘Exchange for cash’

Mr Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin in Shropshire, said: “There is very little policing of the scheme and there is nothing to stop a minority of recipients from selling their laptops in exchange for cash.

“I haven’t seen anybody down the market selling them, but I have been informed by my constituents that there are people who have sold them.”

One of Mr Pritchard’s constituents, mother-of-two Debbie, contacted the MP after her children were told they were not eligible for the scheme.

She told the BBC: “They are giving internet access and computers to children whose parents don’t work, when there are a lot of working families who can’t afford them.”

She added: “There’s nothing to stop people selling them the next week and the taxpayer is funding that. I disagree with the whole moral of the situation.”

The scheme is intended to benefit families with children aged seven to 14 who get free school meals.

It aims to help bridge the achievement gap between rich and poor pupils.

A recent study from the Institute of Fiscal Studies suggested having a laptop at home could lead to a two-grade improvement in one subject at GCSE.

After the first year of the scheme families can decide whether to keep funding the internet connection themselves.

‘Monitoring’

Becta, the government agency running the scheme, said that if any parents chose to sell on the equipment “it would be a minority and should not stop numerous other families from benefiting from the programme”.

A spokesman said: “There are a number of robust anti-fraud measures in place and parents who apply sign a legally binding form that states they will use the kit for the purposes intended.

“Becta will be monitoring key channels through which kit might be sold – such as eBay and Cash Converters.

“We can’t guarantee that some parents won’t attempt to sell the kit but the evaluation of the Home Access pilots reported that there were no attempted or committed frauds.

“There is also clear evidence that shows recipients are less likely to dispose of a device if they choose to opt into the scheme as opposed to simply being provided with a free device, and as a result this principle has been incorporated into the design of the Home Access programme.”

By Justin Parkinson
BBC News political reporter

Proposed enhancement scheme for St Andrews Street North and Risbygate Street

As part of the ongoing enhancement of the streets in the town centre the borough council would very much like your views on possible changes to the area of St Andrews Street North between Bishops Road and Risbygate Street together with Risbygate Street between School Yard and St Andrews Street.

These are important town centre streets linking parking areas and the bus station to the rest of the town centre. Like most town centre streets they serve a number of needs, and are key routes for pedestrians, cyclists, deliveries, bus, taxi and private hire vehicles, as well as a public transport interchange and are the access to the Bus Station.

The principal objectives of the scheme are to improve highway safety and pedestrian access together with enhancing the street scene. At the moment, there is some concern about vehicles using the adjacent St Andrews Street South illegally and this scheme is also designed to address that problem.

The proposals are:

• Risbygate Street will become one way eastbound from School Yard with build outs to direct traffic flows and provide pedestrian crossing points.
• St Andrews Street North between St Andrews House and Risbygate Street will become a Bus Lane in the southbound direction (towards Risbygate Street) with unrestricted access north bound.

Plans:

• Risbygate Street draft proposals (PDF 747Kb)
• Risbygate Street traffic flows (PDF 387Kb)

As so many people use these streets, it is particularly important that you let us know of any particular issues you may have so they can be considered during the design process. We value your opinions on these proposals and would be grateful if you could:

• complete the Enhancement scheme questionnaire (Word 62Kb) and email it to us at highways.engineers@stedsbc.gov.uk; or
• print off and return the Enhancement Scheme questionnaire (PDF 42Kb) to

St Edmundsbury Borough Council
West Suffolk House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3YU

Closing date 26 February.

For more information email: highways.engineers@stedsbc.gov.uk

All of your comments will be evaluated, but unfortunately the large amount of correspondence we are likely to receive means we cannot provide an individual reply to every response.

West Road pedestrian crossing

The borough council have a proposal to construct two pedestrian crossings on West Road adjacent York Road and Queen’s Road. The crossings will be in the form of a zebra crossing.

• Please see the proposed layout (83Kb).
• Scheme drawings West Road/Queens Road (782Kb)
• Scheme drawings West Road/Westley Road (829Kb)

Bury town centre cycle stands

Following extensive consultations installing work has started for additional cycle stands in Cornhill, St Andrews Street, St Johns Street, Brentgovel Street, Short Brackland and Sergents Walk.

Additional stands are intended for the Angel Hill area, for which further consultations will take place later this year. We have further cycle stands to erect and would appreciate any recommendations of additional sites within the town.

Location map

Source: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk

National Express East Anglia has been stripped of the franchise in the region and consultations are currently taking place before the Department for Transport awards a successor to take over in 2011.

However, Choose Suffolk – the umbrella organisation for tourism in the county – says it has yet to receive any invitation to comment on the new franchise.

Tourism manager Alex Paul is concerned that the hiatus following the announcement of the franchise change means he cannot negotiate improvements to the East Anglia line which will ensure that the county has a robust rail service to cash in on the Olympic legacy.

“We don’t know what level of service will be provided after the Games in the summer of 2012. Once the Games are over, we need to have a strong railway link which will encourage visitors to the area so that Suffolk can take full advantage of the Olympic legacy which we have been offered.”

The Department for Transport will lay down a base level of service which is the minimum required from the new operator. This will include guarantees for commuters and bidders for the franchise will then include whatever extras they think East Anglia requires and it is expected the Government will award the franchise this summer.

Mr Paul said: “The uncertainty is frustrating. Naturally, National Express East Anglia will not involve itself in future timetabling and until a new operator is appointed, we cannot bid for the county to receive an increase in the number of trains.

“We are about to launch a poster campaign on the London underground network with the slogan that Suffolk is just an hour away. We don’t know if that will still be the case after the Olympics.”

He is also worried about the decision to end through services from Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds to London from this December.

“Accessibility and connectivity are essential for the Olympic legacy. But at the moment, Suffolk’s hopes of becoming a green, sustainable destination are in jeopardy.

“We are about to launch a poster campaign on the London underground network with the slogan that Suffolk is just an hour away. We don’t know if that will still be the case after the Olympics.”

Endorsing the concerns, Paul West, county council portfolio holder for the greenest county, said: “It would be very unfortunate if Suffolk’s ambitions were hit by bureaucracy at a national level.

“A proper, regular rail service is essential if we are to ensure Suffolk achieves the Olympic legacy we have been promised..”

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said that Suffolk was welcome to contribute to the current consultation on the Greater Anglia franchise. “A level of service that meets passenger demand is likely to form part of any future franchise agreement.”

Source: EADT

Accountants KPMG said the Humber Royal Hotel in Grimsby had now been sold, in addition to the Humber Crown Hotel near Hull, the sale of which was completed in December.

“We are continuing to seek buyers for the hotels and public houses that remain in administration and have been encouraged by the strong levels of interest that we have received to date,” added a spokesman for the administrators.

“We are continuing to trade the business and would like to thank all of the staff, customers and suppliers who have worked with us in keeping the hotels and public houses open and running.”

In addition to specialist agent Colliers Robert Barry, which secured the sale of the two hotels sold so far and is handling negotiations for the rest, the administrators have also now appoint another firm, GVA Grimley, to handle the sale of the public houses which form part of the group.

Allan Graham and Jane Moriarty of KPMG were appointed shortly before Christmas as joint administrators of three businesses forming part of the Ryan Elizabeth Holdings group owned by Suffolk property entrepreneur Richard Cattermole.

The businesses in administration are Elizabeth Hotels Ltd, Cavendish Hotels Ltd and Elizabeth Estates (BS) Ltd. Between them, they operated a total of 11 hotels and 13 pubs.

The hotels include the Hotel Elizabeth Copdock, near Ipswich, the Mill Hotel in Sudbury, the Limes Hotel in Needham Market, the Rose & Crown, Haverhill, and Hotel Hatfield, Lowestoft.

Pubs affected include the Cock Inn at Polstead, near Hadleigh, the Three Tuns, Needham Market, the White Hart, Boxford, near Sudbury, the Five Bells at Rattlesden, near Bury St Edmunds, the Plough at Peldon, near Colchester, and the Globe, Harwich.

The administrators were appointed at the request of the Lloyds Banking Group.

Ryan Elizabeth Holdings and around 30 other subsidiaries are not in administration. These businesses include the company’s flagship Hotel Elizabeth Orwell in Felixstowe.

A petition brought by HM Revenue & Customs for the winding up of the holding company was dismissed in December after its debt to the taxman was paid.

Source: EADT