I know it’s February but as it’s my first column of the year let me start by wishing you a very Happy New Year.
The Council has a busy few months coming up, starting this month with the refurbishment of the Beresford Drive Play Park. We’re really excited about this project and we hope that the new park will be open late Spring. You can see the full design on the website: www.melton-suffolk-pc.gov.uk/beresforddrive/ It will offer lots more equipment and activities than the current park and has inclusive elements such as a sunken roundabout and sensory panels.
Active Travel Woodbridge Consultation
Suffolk County Council will be consulting on the scheme (formerly known as Mini Holland/Love Woodbridge and Melton) in February. Although there aren’t any changes planned for Melton in this first phase, we hope that you will find the time to respond to the consultation. When the next round of government funding is available we will work with Suffolk County Council to bid for funding for Melton.
The Parish Council will send out notifications via its usual communications when the consultation is live. Otherwise, you can visit the website at https://thewaytogosuffolk.org.uk/active-travel-woodbridge/
Bus Improvements and Adopt a Bus Stop Volunteers Needed
Melton Parish Council, working with Woodbridge Town Council, has bid for funding to Suffolk County Council to improve local bus services in the area. This included diverting Services 64 and 65 directly into Ipswich Hospital, some more bus shelters and improved information at stops. We turned around the bid in very tight timescales and was a great example of the two councils working together closely.
We are looking to work with the Council and bus operator Ipswich Reds to have up to date information at all bus stops. This would include notification about changes to our bus routes, for example where a stop might be suspended due to roadworks. We don’t know the results yet, but we remain optimistic about the outcome and will keep you posted.
As part of this project we are looking for volunteers to adopt a bus stop. This would include putting new messages in the timetable case, helping keep the area neat and tidy and reporting any problems to us so we can pass these on to the appropriate organisation.
Local resident John Bann has been keeping an eye on the uphill bus stop in Woods Lane opposite Hall Farm Road. He uses it to catch the bus to Kesgrave and Ipswich. Over the past months he has cleared the waiting area of leaves and picked up rubbish about once a month. We have asked the County Council to put a timetable case at the stop there as there is no information there at the moment.
John is our first resident to join the adopt a stop scheme. If you want to help out too or just find out more please contact the Parish Clerk on 01394 382224 or clerk@melton-suffolk-pc.gov.uk
Continuing on the theme of transport, representatives from Melton and other local Parish Councils met Chris Bally (East Suffolk Council’s CEO) and officials from SCC Highways and ESC Planning teams in November to discuss traffic issues on routes to and from the Deben Peninsula including the A1152 through Melton. ESC/SCC have been tasked to gather more data about vehicle movements, particularly about the impacts of the growth of facilities at the Bentwaters commercial site.
The group of local Parish councils, known as the JPTI (Joint Parishes Transport Initiative), wants to ensure that the cumulative traffic impacts of proposed commercial and housing developments on the peninsula are considered in Planning decisions by ESC and SCC and that, wherever feasible, action is taken to improve problems at known pinch points like the Melton crossroads and level crossing.
Save the Date – Melton Fete – 22nd June 2024
The Melton Fete will be taking place on Saturday 22nd June from 11am to 3pm at the Recreation Ground on Melton Road. There will be lots of stalls, refreshments and a dog show. We hope to see you there. If you’d like to get involved, please get in touch – email cllr.gradwell@melton-suffolk-pc.gov.uk or call the office on 01394 382 224.
Melton Pavilion
If you’re looking for a hall to hire for a birthday party, family gathering or you want to run a class, the Pavilion at the Recreation Ground on Melton Road is available for hire – both regular and ad hoc bookings. Availability, hire charge and full details about the space can be found on the website www.melton-suffolk-pc.gov.uk/pavilion/
I hope that in 2024, I get a chance to meet many more residents or workers in Melton. If you feel you would like to get involved with your community, please do get in touch.
Carol Gradwell
Chair of Melton Parish Council
