THE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR ONEHOUSE, HARLESTON & SHELLAND APRIL 2026 —ISSUE 617 ohsmag@onehouseparishcouncil.gov.uk - www.facebook.com/suffolkohsmag
Welcome to the April edition of OHSMag. With signs of spring all around us, you’ll find plenty of information in this issue about things happening in the community over the coming weeks. Many people give their time and energy to organise these events for us all to enjoy, so I hope you’ll be able to get out and support them if you can. Following our 50th anniversary last month, I’d also like to draw attention to the piece about the future of the OHSMag on page 23. While the world is increasingly moving online, please rest assured that whatever direction we take, the team will do all they can to ensure that everyone who wants straightforward access to this valuable community information will continue to have it. If you have any thoughts on this, or if you might be able to help with the transition, please do get in touch via our email below. Emma ohsmag@onehouseparishcouncil.gov.uk Next Mobile Library Visit Circle dancing Friday 17th April Gentle (mostly!) dances to world music. 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. £6/session 2pm-3pm at Trinity Hall, Onehouse Northfield Road, 9:30—9:55am No partner needed. Onehouse Church Room, 10:00—10:20am Jen Larner 07896 495574 Harleston Postbox, 10:25 –10:45am 3
Representing Onehouse, Great & Little Finborough, Combs, Harleston and Shelland councillor@matthissen.net - 07976 308128 or 01449 258894 or write to me at 2 Brick Kiln Cottages, Barretts Lane, Needham Market IP6 8RZ Council telephone number - 0300 123 4000 or drop in to see Council staff at the Ipswich Street, Stowmarket office. Open Monday – Friday 54 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, IP14 1AD ——————————— Councillor Penny Otton Some people may have heard our county councillor Penny Otton is standing down and will not contest the reinstated elections on May 7th. Many newer residents will not know just how long and hard Penny has worked in serving our local communities. First elected in 1991 as a district councillor, Penny has since been reelected many times, serving as leader of the Mid Suffolk for 4 years. Penny continued to represent Rattlesden ward until 2023. Penny was also elected as a county councillor in 2009 and has since been a valued member of the official opposition, currently speaking for the group on Education and Children’s Services. In both roles she has tackled so many problems for individuals and communities, succeeding against the odds to get speed limits on some of our dangerous rural roads. Rushing from village to village, attending countless parish meetings, Penny will be missed. Devolution and local government reform – elections reinstated. • The County Council elections will now be held on May 7th. • There will be Unitary elections in May 2027 for a shadow council to take control in 2028 • Elections for Mayor of Suffolk & Norfolk will be in May 2028. 4
The Council has published a map of all sites submitted for development https://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/web/babergh/w/call-for-sites No planning status is granted by submission. Sites do not benefit from any presumption of development. Armed Forces Day, Stowmarket Plans are beginning to take shape for Armed Forces Day, which will be held in Stowmarket on 27th June, supported by both Mid Suffolk District Council and Stowmarket Town Council. Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community. There will be a number of attractions such as climbing wall, assault course, and hopefully a helicopter from Wattisham. Recycling & Waste Collection The delivery of new bins ready for the rollout of Better Recycling has now started. This means the delivery of a new blue recycling bin and the new food caddie and food recycling bins. Coffee Caravan Dates for your diary Onehouse 10am-12noon, Harleston 1pm—3pm Monday 13th APRIL - Monday 11th MAY Monday 8th JUNE - Monday 13th JULY Monday 10th AUGUST - Monday 14th SEPTEMBER Monday 12th OCTOBER - Monday 9th NOVEMBER Monday 14th DECEMBER 5
Thedwastre South 07545 423847 - penny.otton@suffolk.gov.uk LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MAY 2026 REINSTATED: Following legal challenge, the government has reversed its plans to postpone local elections and has now announced that county council elections – as well as those due to be held by Ipswich Borough Council – will take place as originally planned on Thursday 7th May 2026. New councillors elected then will hold office until the new unitary authority/ies are vested in 2028, with councillors for the new unitary authority/ies elected in 2027 and ‘shadowing’ the existing councillors for a year. The government is due to make an announcement by the end of March on how many unitary councils will be set up in Suffolk. FLOODING ON FINBOROUGH ROAD; this has been investigated and have sent the response to the clerk. WHITE LINES; STAR HOUSE LANE JUNCTION; have checked if these now done? CUTLERS LANE; Word on this is scheduled. FOREST ROAD FOOTPATH; waiting today for comeback from Julia LIBRARIES; the scrutiny committee will look at how the new inhouse service is running ENERGY, WATER, TRANSPORT, COMMERCIAL AND ADAPTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY: At Cabinet on Tuesday 24 February, revisions to this policy were approved, including a change in the name of the policy to the Energy, Water, Transport, Commercial and Adaptive Infrastructure Policy. This details how the council will respond to large developments such as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), solar farms and data centres that may be attached to them, and changes to road systems in the county that may be needed following the projects. The policy also sets out that Suffolk County Council expects developers proposing projects to fund 6
proposals for these developments does not come out of the council’s budget. VEHICLE REMOVAL TRIAL FOR RESURFACING WORKS: Suffolk Highways have announced that they will trial removing vehicles that have not been removed for planned resurfacing works. The council plans to make sure that residents are made aware at least two weeks in advance of any works, with cards placed under windscreens and put through residents’ doors. Two days before the works are due to begin, cones will be put out along with signage to say when the works are due to be begin. If there are still cars parked on the road on the day works are due to start, officers will knock on doors to try and find the owner to move it, but, as a last resort, vehicles will be moved, ideally nearby where they are still in sight, but if this is not possible, they may be moved to a facility in Bury St Edmunds with a £70 fine issued. As with other Penalty Charge Notices, the amount payable is halved if the fine is paid promptly. Although it has long had the power to remove vehicles for planned works, until now Suffolk County Council has not exercised it – Essex County Council have been doing this for about a decade. This approach will be adopted by the council for a period between March to June 2026 initially, with a report prepared on the trial and making recommendations for the future. CHANGES AT THE TOP: On 13 February, it was announced that Nicola Beach, the Chief Executive of Suffolk County Council, would be leaving her role. Nicola has been Chief Executive since 2018 when she replaced Deborah Cadman, and will be stepping down at the end of March 2026. The council proposes to appoint two existing directors – Andrew Cook and Mark Ash – into new joint chief executive roles for the remaining two years of the council’s existence. As these directors’ existing posts would not be recruited into, the number of senior staff at the council will reduce by one, saving up to £92k a year. This decision must be ratified by councillors at the next meeting of full council on 19 March 2026. SUFFOLK SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES NOMINATED FOR AWARDS: Suffolk County Council has been nominated for a national award for its work on energy and sustainability. Only 24 local authorities in the UK have 7
the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The awards celebrate innovation and the role local authorities play in responding to the challenges of energy transition, climate change and long-term sustainability. The ‘Accessing & Managing Finance’ category recognises Suffolk County Council’s Warm Homes Suffolk Loan Scheme (administered by Lendology CIC), and the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders group’s Home Energy Efficiency Assessment Scheme (administered by Reed In Partnership). The loan scheme offers an interest-free loan to make energy efficient improvements, such as insulation, solar panels or heat pumps. Through countywide Sustainable Suffolk initiatives, the county is also up for a second award, in the ‘Working in Collaboration’ category which involves a range of projects such as a study into supporting taxi drivers to move to electric vehicles, and launching the Suffolk Sustainable Schools Network. You can find out more about these initiatives at sustainablesuffolk.org.uk/ Social Media and Helpful Links Twitter - Suffolk Green, Lib Dem & Independent Group (@ SuffolkGLI) / Twitter Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/suffolkgli_group/ Facebook - Suffolk GLI - Green, Liberal Democrat & Independent Group | Facebook Website - Suffolk Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent Group: The GLI Group at Suffolk County Council — suffolkgli.wordpress.com Advertise your business here For more information about advertising in the OHS Mag, please scan the QR code or email us at ohsmag@onehouseparishcouncil.gov.uk 8
BJW Extensions, Kitchens & General Building PLUMBING & HEATING Residential & Commercial Visit our website at www.sjwallacebuilders.co.uk Tel : 01449 672997 Mobile : 07788 560482 Free Estimates Est. 1987 Boiler Servicing Central Heating Installation Maintenance & repairs Bathroom Suites, Showers Burst / Leaking pipes Water Softeners General Plumbing needs For a local, reliable plumbing and heating engineer call: Barry Ward 01449 615339 or 07734 872549 PILATES CLASSES Onehouse Community Centre Classes: Mondays 5.15, 6.20 and 7.25pm Thursdays 5.45 and 6.50pm Tuesday 1.45pm in Stowmarket Pilates is low impact, controlled exercise suitable for all ages and abilities Medically recommended to improve back and joint pain Improve your core strength, flexibility, posture, balance & tone your body Please see www.firstchoicepilates.co.uk for more info call Lynn 07788 718095 Email: Lynn@firstchoicepilates.co.uk
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