The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed that a version of this article appears in the In-Touch magazine. From next month a shorter version will also appear in the Flyer. This while the Melton Messenger is just an online magazine.
This month rather than looking forward I am having a look at what the Council has done over the last twelve months. I have to do a report for the Annual Parish Meeting, which is an event I always look forward to; meeting people, some light refreshments and a chat afterwards. Of course all that is not possible at the moment so yes you’ve guessed, it’s another Zoom meeting!
Every year I present an award to a local person in recognition of things they have done in Melton. This year has been a tough one for all of us and I asked for nominations. I received three nominations and rather than go for one or the other I thought “Why not make them all winners?”
The winners are:-
- Marie-Therese Ind – she has been a constant source of support for the Parish Council especially when we have had joint events with the church like the fete. She also works very hard within the community as part of the seniors’ lunch clubs, the church’s good neighbour scheme, Mothers Union, Flower Guild and the Free Little Pantry. Finally, she had been going in to listen to children reading in the school pre-pandemic.
- Emma Needs – This year Emma has volunteered at the EACH (East Anglian Children’s Hospice) shop in Woodbridge and helped them when they were preparing to re-open after the first lockdown. Emma has supported Melton Primary School as a volunteer. Prior to Covid-19, Emma was involved in renovating the boats for the new school allotment and she also helped put up and paint fences for the new area. Emma is secretary, committee member, and volunteer coordinator for the Melton Good Neighbour Scheme. Emma has been one of the main contacts for volunteers and volunteered a huge number of hours since the scheme was launched. She has also ensured the MGNS systems were in place to support our community effectively.
- Maggie Porter – Maggie Porter who has done 5 years’ service as a key player on the committee of Melton WI as Treasurer. At the recent Melton WI AGM set up by Maggie via Zoom, members had nothing but praise for Melton WI’s efforts to stick together and keep going through the pandemic. Many of the members are from an older demographic and quite a few live alone so the WI has become even more important for them this year. Maggie has done a great job of keeping everyone in contact and her sense of fun and “we’re all in this together, ladies” attitude has made a difference. Maggie is a real asset to the Melton community. I see first-hand all the good things she does as of course she is my wife.
The winners all receive a framed signed certificate and a voucher to spend on something they like.
Here are the highlights from 2020 – 2021. A busy year despite the virus!
- The office is well established and is an asset to MPC rather than squandering money on rent
- There obviously was no fete in 2020 or this year, however we are hoping to have a fete in 2022.
- The speed indicator (SID) was purchased and after some initial teething troubles is now working. We intend to buy a second one that will be solar powered to live permanently in Woods Lane.
- Some new benches have been fitted in the recreation ground.
- The process of divesting the 21 pieces of land from East Suffolk Council to has now been completed.
- This year we gave small grants to 3 local organisations.
- Two new dog poo bins were installed.
- The Melton Road Recreation Ground now has CCTV to try to reduce anti-social behaviour. We have replaced the tennis court fencing and I think it looks great. Also the car park is due to be slightly enlarged and resurfaced this year.
- Over the years the vegetation had crept out from the hedge bordering the park. We have had the footpath cleared back so it is wider.
- The Melton Village sign 2012 roundel was vandalised. A replacement is made from stainless steel now so it should last indefinitely.
- Two new roundels were fitted to the Beacon to commemorate the men and women of Melton who served their country in World War II.
- Following public consultations, we have Suffolk Highways working on designs for two island crossing points in Melton Road and looking at protecting road junctions with double yellow lines.
- We started work on designating two local roads as Quiet Lanes these are Lodge Farm Lane and St Audrys Lane.
- The Pavilion project is underway and the planning application to replace the existing building has been submitted.
Hopefully meetings will start to get back to a more normal footing with some of us at the office meeting room with others Zooming in.
Alan Porter
Chairman – Melton Parish Council
