How could public services work better for you?

The national government wants to simplify how Councils work. This means the current County, District, and Borough Councils will be replaced and all services will be run by new “Unitary Councils”.

 Currently, local government services are delivered in Suffolk like this:

• Suffolk County Council is responsible for delivering services such as special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), roads, public transport, social care, libraries, and recycling centres across the county.
• Five district and borough councils (Babergh, East Suffolk, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk, and West Suffolk), are responsible in their areas for delivering services like bin collections, street cleaning, parking, leisure services, local planning, council housing, and helping homeless people.

A Unitary Council is a single authority which provides ALL these services for a specific area.

Suffolk’s Councils are now looking at how to reorganise to better meet the needs of residents, businesses, and communities, as part of the government’s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) initiative.

We want to know what you think. Please take a few minutes to share your views!

This survey is being conducted by Mid Suffolk and Babergh District Councils in collaboration with East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council and West Suffolk Council.

Please note that all responses to this survey will be treated in the strictest confidence and you will not be identifiable in reporting the survey findings. For full details of how we use personal data, please view our privacy policies at www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/uk-gdpr-privacy-notices

Have your say:

You can complete this survey online at:  www.babergh.gov.uk/devolution-and-lgr  

Alternatively, please download it here, complete it and either:

• Scan and email it to engagement@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk
• Send it to Have Your Say Suffolk, East Suffolk Council, Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft NR33 0EQ

The deadline for receiving completed submissions is Friday, 25th July 2025.

Members of the public have an opportunity to quiz Suffolk’s Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner during an online discussion later this month.

The online meeting will take place on Tuesday, 20th May at 6pm via Microsoft Teams.

Residents will be able to speak to Rachel Kearton and Tim Passmore about policing in the county, or type their questions in if they prefer.

Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: ‘Having direct contact with the public is vital and helps me to represent the views of all the communities in Suffolk. I invite everyone to join in online so we can answer their questions and gauge public opinions on a range of issues.’

He added, ‘I am hoping for an open and frank two-way dialogue, it is important that I listen and represent your views, so please spread the word.’

Chief Constable Rachel Kearton said: ‘I always look forward to these public events as it’s really important to hear the view from the people we serve.

‘We’ve made great progress with our call answering in the Contact and Control Room and we remain the third lowest county for recorded levels of crime according to the Office of National Statistics, but we can’t rest on our laurels.

‘We still need to hear from the public on how we can continue to improve and innovate to ensure we remain a compassionate, courageous and professional police service.’

To register, please contact katherine.boswell@suffolk.police.uk and an invite will be sent through via e-mail in advance of the meeting.

Suffolk’s five district and borough councils are launching a county-wide survey asking people for their views on the future of vital local government services.

The move comes as part of the government’s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) initiative which would see county, district and borough councils replaced and all their services delivered by one or more new unitary councils covering a specific area in the county. 
 
District and borough councils believe that Suffolk would be best served by more than one unitary council. They have submitted their interim report, which sets out the benefits of a multi-unitary model. In a letter sent earlier this month to all Suffolk councils, the government offered clear encouragement for the districts and boroughs to continue developing their proposals.  
 
With this in mind, they are now seeking to further develop the best possible case for a multiple unitary solution in Suffolk, creating councils that are big enough to deliver, but local enough to care; councils that will be efficient and financially sustainable, delivering genuine value for money. 
 
This is the most dramatic change to local government in 50 years, and the Leaders of the borough and district councils are committed to ensuring that every community is involved in shaping the new councils and their services. 
 
As part of the wider engagement work the district and borough councils are carrying out, residents, businesses, community groups and other organisations can now have their say on what is important to them, in the areas in which they live and work. 

Encouraging as many Suffolk people as possible to take part, the Leaders of the five district and borough councils – Cllr John Ward, leader of Babergh District Council, Cllr Caroline Topping, leader of East Suffolk Council, Cllr Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, Cllr Andy Mellen, leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, and Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council – said:

‘We want to transform public services, so they work for all our citizens and communities, and we want you to help us shape them.  

‘Suffolk County Council has only one plan – to create a single mega-council, which we believe would be out of touch with communities and residents. It would cover a vast geographical area seeking to save as much money as possible, no matter how perilous the impact on local democracy, the quality of services provided or proper accountability where you live – whether it’s Hadleigh, Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Felixstowe, Lowestoft or Ipswich. 

‘We can’t let that happen and we want to hear what you think, to understand the challenges and opportunities, and to ensure that all of Suffolk is listened to and properly represented in the generational changes which are taking place.
 
‘We are absolutely certain that a multiple unitary model, with each new council delivering all services to different, recognisable parts of Suffolk, is vital to meet the differing needs of our diverse communities.   
‘With this in mind, we are greatly encouraged by the government’s recent feedback which makes it absolutely clear that we can make a case for local unitaries focused on meeting the needs of all our communities, embodying a true sense of place and local identity. It also supports our argument to have greater representation in the Mayoral Strategic Authority to ensure local voices are heard from across Suffolk. 
 
‘Creating more than one unitary council in Suffolk will ensure strong local leadership and democratic representation, better community engagement, neighbourhood empowerment and more responsive councils.  We want more locally targeted, modern and flexible services, to drive better outcomes and value, rather than a basic and unimaginative “one size fits all” option which simply bolts district and borough services on to an old and tired county council system.

‘This is a fantastic opportunity to work with communities, service users and organisations to rewire how services are delivered and drive better outcomes to meet local needs. For example, the needs and challenges for people living in Ipswich are different to those in rural Suffolk. For the first time your council will be able to deliver services tailored to meet local needs when previously it was a one size fits all approach that only worked for the few.

‘It’s particularly important that we can make a strong financial case for change – not only highlighting how we can deliver savings in the short and medium term, but how we can absolutely guarantee the future sustainability of the services people depend on.’

The survey, which closes on 25th July 2025, can be found here.

Free Computer Club with Realise Futures @ Southwold Library

Every Thursday from 5th June until 17th July, 10am–12.30pm

Your tutor will facilitate and support you as part of a group to be able to effectively use your brand-new tablet which will be issued to you at the start of the course. Some of the tasks that you will look at are:

• Sending and receiving e-mails.

• Staying safe online.

• Installing and using apps.

• Finding information online.

• Taking digital photographs.

You may even want to add something else!

You will work in small, friendly groups and learn by completing practical tasks in the classroom. There is an expectation that you will attend all sessions to fully benefit from the course and, on completion, you will be able to keep the tablet!

To enrol, please speak to a staff member at Southwold Library – tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Partners in Crime: Talk by thriller writers Rachel Wolf and Heather Critchlow

Saturday, 7th June, 3pm @ Woodbridge Library, and 6pm @ Southwold Library

Free events, but booking required.

Rachel Wolf, author of the much-fêted debut thriller Five Nights, and Heather Critchlow, author of the Bloody Scotland debut prize-nominated Cal Lovett series – talk about their lives of crime (writing) and their latest books.

Rachel Wolf: Rachel is a travel executive turned thriller writer. She did the Curtis Brown Creative Writing Course before writing a successful crime series as Rachael Blok, which were well reviewed by magazines and the nationals. She went on to write her first glamorous destination thriller, Five Nights, last year, which did well, too. Sun Trap is her second thriller with a stylish and luxurious background with a sinister and downbeat thread woven into it. She writes about the undoing of the rich and privileged, and her novels, whilst having a luxurious background, have a gritty edge to them. It’s the locations that Rachel went to which were the inspiration for Sun Trap.

Heather Critchlow: Heather grew up in rural Aberdeenshire and trained as a business journalist after studying History and Social Science at the University of Cambridge. She is the author of the Scotland-set crime fiction series, the Cal Lovett Files (Unsolved, Unsound and Unburied). Heather lives in St Albans. Her new book, The Tomorrow Project,  is a speculative thriller, a near-future dystopian novel about the tail-end of a global pandemic and the people tasked with salvaging any trace of the world as they know it. When the end comes, what will you wish you had done? Contact Southwold Library (tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk), Woodbridge Library (tel: 01394 330855 e-mail: woodbridge.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk) or online (www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries).

Lin Le Versha: Southwold’s Own Resident Crime Writer Extraordinaire

Monday, 9th June, 11am

Lin Le Versha drew on her experience in schools and colleges as the inspiration for the Steph Grant crime series which now includes four books. Lin is the Director of the Southwold Arts Festival. Creative writing courses encouraged her to enrol at the UEA MA in Creative Writing and her debut novel, Blood Notes, was based on her final assessment piece.

Lin will be talking about her writing including her latest title, Blood Spots. Lin will be signing copies of her books. Free event, no need to book.

Now Booking: Friends of Southwold Library present Slaughter in Southwold – Southwold Library Crime Writers Festival

Saturday, 14th and Sunday, 15th June @ Southwold Arts Centre, St Edmund’s Hall

Author talks by: M J Arlidge and Lisa Hall, Jayne Chard, Kate Ellis, Robert Goddard, Chris Hammer, Barbara Nadel, Maureen Paton and Tim Sullivan.

Tickets: £6 per talk, £20 per day or £40 for the weekend.

Lunches with the authors.

Plus:

• Kate Ellis’ ‘Fatal Fete’ Murder Mystery Night Friday, 13th June, 7pm.
• Fun Crime Quiz Night Saturday 14th June, 7pm.
• Whodunnit Puzzle Sheet available from 1st May – £1. Solve the crime and you could win a £10 book token.
• Raffle for a Luxury Crime-related Hamper (raffle tickets available from 1st May at Southwold Library).

Book at Southwold Library (tel: 01502 722519 or web: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/slaughter).

Calling All Dog Lovers! Talk by Dogs Trust

Monday, 30th June, 11am @ Southwold Library

Paige from Dogs Trust Snetterton will be talking about Dogs Trust, their history, who they are as a charity and what they do that makes their work so vital.

Come along to this free, fun and informative talk.

Let Us Help You Get Connected

Every Wednesday starting on 11th June, 10am–12noon @ Southwold Library

Need help with tech? A drop-in advice session where we can help you with things like;

 • Setting up e-mail and social media accounts.

 • Online shopping (Amazon, eBay and more).

 • Basic support with smartphones, tablets and computers.

 • Travel plans using Google Maps and similar tools.

 • Staying safe online and avoiding scams.

For more information, ask library staff, call: 01502 722519 or e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

Maria (2024) 12 – Wednesday, 18th June, 3pm

Famed opera singer Maria Callas retreats to Paris in the 1970s after a glamorous yet tumultuous life in the public eye.

Tickets – £5, including refreshments. Book a ticket at southwoldartscentre.co.uk, visit the box office at Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP18 6JP or tel: 01502 722572.

Kids, Come and Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Thursday, 5th and 19th June, 3.30pm @ Southwold Library

The Read2Dogs scheme provided by PAT helps to improve literacy skills and wellbeing in young people by developing their confidence, interest, and enjoyment in reading.

Dogs are non-judgemental and great listeners – they don’t interrupt or correct – so they aid confidence and concentration levels. PAT Dogs are also known to encourage positive social behaviours, enhance self-esteem and inspire young people to relax and have fun.

Come and read to Ash and enjoy his calm company.

Southwold Library Jigsaw Swap Shop

Come and help yourself to a jigsaw at Southwold Library completely free! You can take one and return it, take one and return a different one or just take one (we have plenty).

Come and check out what we have available.

Blyth Poets ‘The Isle is Full of Voices’

Friday, 6th June, 2.15–3.30pm

First Friday of every month.

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library.

All welcome to read or just listen.

We invite contributions of original work or well-loved poems.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Mah-jong Group

Friday, 13th and 27th June, 2.15–4.15pm

Second and fourth Friday of the month

Can you play Mah-jong?

Do you want to learn?

Come along and join the group at Southwold Library. £1 per person.

Scrabble Club

Thursday, 12th June, 2.15pm

Second Thursday of every month.

All equipment supplied.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Crochet and Craft Club

Every Wednesday, 2.15–4pm

£2 each.

A friendly group for all crafters as well as those who crochet (to any ability). Barbara will be on hand to teach crochet beginners, add to your crochet skills or troubleshoot problems, should you want to. Or just bring along your latest craft project and work on them together.

Bring your own equipment or Barbara can supply crochet equipment at a price.

Hot drinks supplied.

Lego Club!

Sundays, 12.15–1pm

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages.

This spring, we’re building: Wonderful Wildlife.

All donations of Lego welcome.

Free event, no booking required.

Adults: Would you like to help with Lego Club? Just ask staff.

Southwold Library Reading Group

Thursday, 26th June, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

This month, we are reading: The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn.

Pick up a book at Southwold Library (tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk).

Free event, no booking required.

Baby Bounce and Tot Rock

Every Sunday and Tuesday, 10.30–11am @ Southwold Library

Instruments, clapping, jogging and action rhymes.

For babies and toddlers of all ages.

Free event, no booking required.

Saturday, 28th June, 7pm @ Reydon Village Hall

£5 per person. Bring your own snacks.

Teams of up to 6.

Bring your own drink.

Raffle!

Soft drinks, sweets and crisps available to buy.

Book your tickets with Charlotte at Southwold Library – tel: 07715 388916; e-mail: frogclock@hotmail.com. All funds towards the RVH Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund to repair, renovate and refit the Hall.

Friday, 30th May, 6.30pm – Eyes Down 7pm @ Reydon Village Hall

£5 per person.

Bring your own refreshments or purchase soft drinks/snacks.

Delicious and unmissable chocolate prizes! Raffle!

Book your tickets with Charlotte at Southwold Library – tel: 07715 388916; e-mail: frogclock@hotmail.com.

All funds towards the RVH Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund to repair, renovate and refit the Hall.

Further to last month’s works to carry out carriageway repairs along Mount Pleasant, Princess Road and Moyse Avenue, Reydon, we are planning to return to site to carry out remedial works from Tuesday, 13th to Wednesday, 14th May, between 8am and 6pm.

During this time, the road will be closed to ensure the safety of highway users and our operatives. For the duration of the closure, traffic will be diverted via Covert Road, Cox’s Lane and vice versa.

To enable us to carry works out as planned, we ask that local road users please move their vehicles from the area highlighted by ‘no parking’ cones.

As we plan roadworks in advance, we schedule extra days to allow for bad weather or other delays beyond our control. If we need to make major changes to our work dates, we will update the information signs on site and our social media channels accordingly.

A plan showing the diversion route for these works can be downloaded by clicking here. When we close the road and put a diversion in place, the route needs to be accessible to vehicles of all shapes and sizes. We make our diversions as clear as possible by placing appropriate signing along the route. The latest updates on our works can be found on the One.Network website.

There may be times that essential emergency works are required to take place on the highway network without advanced notice – you can follow Suffolk Highways on Facebook for the latest emergency roadwork updates.

If you have any queries on the above, please contact us on 0345 606 6171.

Suffolk Highways

www.suffolk.gov.uk/highways

The final quiz of this season was held on 18th April with guest quizmaster Graham, with all sorts of rounds to get the quizzers thinking, and a very enjoyable evening was had!

Winners were ‘What the Ecc?’ with 117 ½ points; in second place, ‘Who are we?’ with 115  points; and in third place, ‘Nirvana’ with 109 points.

Together with proceeds from the raffle, the evening raised a generous £312.

In her absence, the quizzers voted to donate the proceeds to Amanda Humphry’s London Marathon charities – Breast Cancer Now, Prostate Cancer UK and The Brain Tumour Charity. Further donations were also generously made by quizzers. Amanda is thrilled and humbled by everyone’s kindness and support, and sends a huge thank-you to everyone for their generosity. (By the time you read this, hopefully her legs will have recovered from the Marathon, which is on 27th April!)

This was the final quiz of the season. In total, we have raised £2,215 and have supported  New Leaf for Reydon and Southwold, Southwold and Dunwich RNLI, Reydon Christmas Lights, Guides/Brownie/Rainbows & Scouts/Cubs/Beavers, Friends of Southwold Library, Southwold & Reydon Pantomime Group, and Amanda’s London Marathon charities.

A great season! Special thanks to everyone who wrote and presented quizzes (which is never an easy job!), and huge thanks as always to our loyal quizzers for their generosity, participation and support, to hosts Sole Bay Bowls Club, and Jim, Steve, and other raffle helpers. Thanks also to Southwold Press for providing paper for the quizzes.

The new season will start in October and we look forward to seeing everyone then. There is sometimes space for another team, so do contact me if you are interested in joining us for the new season, at ahumphry@talktalk.net.

Fridays, 30th May and 27th June, 9am–11.30am @ Reydon Village Hall

Tea/coffee and toast (pastries when available).

Reydon Village Hall Management Committee in conjunction with Reydon & Southwold Community Fridge & Pantry.