The Encouraging Green Enterprise event is being held on Monday (April 4) at Suffolk Coastal’s Council Chamber, Melton Hill from 7pm and is open to any business, organisation or community group.

“The evening will be a mixture of talks and discussions that will show practical and proven ways that businesses can save money, help the environment and their local community, and indeed how they can tap into support from their local community to achieve those aims,” said Phil Gore, Suffolk Coastal’s Head of Environmental Services and Port Health.

Dr Michael Gell of Xanfeon will offer his wealth of experience on helping businesses in the areas of ecodesign, resource efficiency, and carbon footprinting, guided by leading-edge research in science and technology.

The spotlight will also be firmly put on the work of Suffolk Coastal’s business energy advice service which has helped over 80 businesses identify potential average energy savings of around £5,000 and 22 tonnes of Carbon, and is supporting businesses as they seek to implement those measures.

“This is an ideal opportunity for businesses to find out first-hand the ways that taking some relatively simple actions can both reduce their costs and keep them competitive in these financially challenging times, but also help protect the environment.

“There has been reports recently warning companies and consumers to be wary of so-called ‘greenwash’ – people making frivolous claims of being environmentally-friendly. Our meeting will focus solely on ways that businesses can take genuine steps to being both more efficient and really greener, and how communities can identify and support those businesses” added Mr Gore.

The event is being hosted by Suffolk Coastal District Council, Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership and the Greenprint Forum Steering Group. Places can be booked by calling 01394 444747 or emailing deborah.wargate@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk

You can visit our website on www.onesuffolk.co.uk/safersuffolk/Kesgrave where there is a page showing all your local officers and which specific towns and parishes they look after. There is a link and information about how you can email the team directly on kesgrave.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk.

If you prefer to phone please ring us on 01473 613500 where you will speak to our contact centre who will process the nature of your call in the appropriate way.  So now you know, why not get in touch to tell us about any problems or questions you may have about policing in your area.  If you are ringing about an emergency then please ring 999! This will give us and the other emergency services the best opportunity to respond to the situation. Please do not email us in these circumstances!

If you live locally in Kesgrave you can come and see us at the SNT office near Tesco in Ropes Drive. Although the office is not a police station, there is often an officer present who will be able to help you with your enquiry. You could even ring first to ensure someone is there if you are making a special trip to see us.

We also have monthly community engagement meetings where you can have a direct input on the priorities that the SNT tackle. We try to hold the meetings at different locations around the area to give local people the best opportunity to attend. The venues and dates for the meetings this year is as follows:

Wednesday 6^th April 2011, 6.30pm-7.15pm

Parish rooms, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham. IP12 4PD

Monday 16^th May 2011, 6.00pm- 6.45pm

Little Bealings Village Hall, The Street, Little Bealings IP13 6LJ

Monday 6^th June 2011 6.30pm-7.15pm

Grundisburgh Primary School, Alice Driver Road, Grundisburgh IP13 6XH

Monday 11^th July 2011 6.30pm-7.15pm

St. Botolph’s Church, Culpho IP6 6DH

Thursday 11^th August 2011 6.30pm-7.15pm

Village Hall, Church Lane, Witnesham IP6 9JD

Thursday 8^th September 2011 6.30pm-7.15pm

Village Hall, Humber Doucy Lane, Rushmere St Andrew IP4 3PD

Wednesday 5^th October 2011 6.30pm-7.15pm

Parish rooms, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham.IP12 4PD

Tuesday 15^th November 2011 7.00pm- 7.45pm

Village Hall, The Street, Little Bealings IP13 6LJ

Tuesday 6^th December 2011 6.30pm-7.15pm

Village Hall, Westerfield Lane, Tuddenham IP6 9BH

Sergeant 733 Peter Street

Kesgrave and District Safer Neighbourhood Team

01473 613500(Switchboard) or kesgrave.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

Local residents and community groups wanting to plan a spring clean in their area will be provided with gloves and waste and recycling sacks by Suffolk Coastal Services who will also arrange to collect any rubbish that is collected and dispose of it properly.  

“The countywide spring clean campaign starts on Monday, March 28 but residents are encouraged to get a head-start by organising a litter pick to take place at any time throughout the year,” said Cllr Andrew Nunn, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment.

“In previous years there has been a great deal of local involvement. Last year over 2,000 residents went out of their way to keep their local community clean and somewhere to be proud of collecting over 4,000 sacks full of rubbish much of which was recycled. It is great to see local residents keen to get involved in looking after their community and I hope there will be many others keen to give their local area a tidy up,” added Cllr Nunn.

Groups that have been involved in the past include schools, town and parish councils, community groups, scouts and guides groups, conservation groups, residents’ associations, local families and businesses. Residents do not have to be part of a group to take part and are welcome to carry out clean-ups individually or with a neighbour if there is a street or area near by that could benefit from a clean-up.  

“Littering is not only unsightly but it can be dangerous for young children and animals. With the help of volunteer litter picking groups we hope residents will be made aware of the vast amount of litter that accumulates in the district because of a thoughtless few dropping litter and fly tipping,” added Cllr Nunn.     

There is never any excuse for littering. Residents and visitors are reminded to either take their rubbish home and dispose of it with their refuse and recycling, or use a litter bin. Some litter bins in the district now have two halves collecting non-recyclable waste in one compartment and recyclable items including paper, plastic, drinks cans and cardboard in the other. Many also have special stubbing-out plates on top to dispose of cigarette ends properly. Anybody caught dropping litter, which includes items such as cigarette ends, wrappers and chewing gum, can receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £80.

“Keeping the district litter free is not only good for local residents but it is also important in attracting visitors to the district. With roughly one in ten residents working in the tourism industry it is important to make sure that our towns and villages are kept looking at their best,” added Cllr Nunn. 

To find out more about the spring clean campaign or request equipment to help carry out a clean-up residents or community groups can contact the waste management team on 01394 444033 or emailing waste.management@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk 

There is also an online registration form available at www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourhome/waste/springclean

After public consultations in July and December last year, residents views have been used to shape the designs that will be submitted. After being signed off by Cllr Mary Neale, Cabinet Member for Countryside and Leisure and the Seafront Gardens project team, the grant application will now be sent to the HLF this week.

“Thanks to the vital input of local residents and the hard work of the project team and design consultants Lanarca, the designs have been revised and finalised and we are confident the HLF will be impressed with what we have come up with,” said Cllr Mary Neale.  

Included in the designs for the gardens are improved access, seating and lighting, restored ponds and heritage features, a heritage trail, an outdoor performance space and a special shelter that will become a focal point for the gardens closest to the Town Hall.  

“The gardens are important to many residents and visitors to the area so it is important that they are restored to a high standard. The gardens are recognised for their important historical background, being Grade II listed on the National Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

 When drawing up the designs for the gardens the views of residents and visitors were very important. The public consultations have shaped plans based on residents and visitors needs and what is important to them. Many letters of support have also been received and the range of community involvement is a great strength of our bid and is something the HLF will be looking for,” added Cllr Neale.   

After considering the submission, and visiting the gardens, the HLF should give notification of whether the bid has been successful in June. The design team will then be appointed to take the scheme to completion. It is anticipated that works will commence on site around September 2012 and should take about a year to complete. The total project costs are in the region of £2.7 million with the other matched funding coming from Suffolk Coastal’s Local Authority Business Grant Initiative, Haven Gateway Partnership and other local sponsorship.  

“Now that the Round 2 grant application is completed we are eager to find out the outcome and look forward to putting our exciting designs and plans for the gardens into action should we be successful,” added Cllr Neale.

To view the final design plans that were submitted as part of the bid and application process so far residents and visitors can visit www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/felixstowefutures/projects/seafrontgardens