Monthly Report August’25 - Sproughton & Pinewood Ward

GENERAL UPDATES 

The district wide monthly update can be found here - Download https://suffolknet.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/connect/communications/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7BEFDF46D1-E625-4F52-BC16-DAD753B5F295%7D&file=Babergh%20TP%20briefing%20September%202025.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true

Devolution & Local Government Reorganisation: The case for three unitaries is nearing completion. Suffolk County Council are due to issue their ‘case for change’ on 09Sep & the five district councils on 15Sep. Voting on proposals is 16Sep for SCC and 23Sep for Babergh. Councillors have been attending workshops on the subject talking about numbers of councillors, warding arrangements and other matters. Public engagement has been taking place to try to brief parish/town councils & the public. I hosted a meeting in Sproughton on 11Aug attended by sixteen parish councils with a panel consisting of the Babergh & Ipswich leaders and Babergh & Ipswich CEO’s who answered questions and presented a status update. Concerns over housing, representation & council tax were probably most frequent. Activity is ramping up as we near the date for publication of the ‘case for change’. Assuming this gets passed on 23Sep it will be submitted to government on 26Sep. Public consultation happens Nov’25 – Jan’26 then a decision will be made by the government by May’26. It will take until Apr’28 to define how a new unitary council will work, dissolve existing councils and create the new unitaries. 

Cllr Dave Busby: 

Last month I wrote about Dave’s career in local politics. His funeral was held on 29th August and was so well attended it spilled out into the lobby and was standing room only. We learnt a bit more about why he was called ‘the Buzz’ and his son spoke very well about Dave as a father rather than just the local politician. Definitely bitter-sweet, but the final bit was very Dave – we all left the Chapel to the tune of ‘Nellie the Elephant’ – a fitting finale. 

Wherstead Warehouses Application: This application was heard recently – two new warehouses on the site close to the new service station at the A14/A137 junction – 14% BNG so a start.

 Bentley Fruit Farm Application:

This is a development for 18 homes on the site of a redundant fruit farm in Bentley – it is right outside the built up boundary so not completely straightforward but the developer has stated they will deliver a high number of affordables – as we all know that is what we need round here. The site does need to comply with Bentley’s Neighbourhood Plan but hasn’t quite got there yet. Due to go to Committee on 01Oct. 

PORTFOLIO 

Sustainable Travel: We have decided to place the second Eezybike installation in Lavenham. Given it’s a tourist attraction we expect a good take-up. Hiring numbers in Sudbury are good – it seems that a number of people are hiring the bikes and going to a convenient pub. Others are using it to try out an electric bike and to improve their fitness. I have begun to look at the River Gipping Path from Stowmarket to Ipswich with a view to identifying gaps that need to be improved to hopefully end up with a contiguous path – something that would be brilliant in terms of access, exercise, well-being etc.

Biodiversity: We are looking forward to the first draft of the Biodiversity Action Plan in early September. This will be reviewed by the working group – I want to actively get more Nature Reserves and would love to see a few projects come out of the upcoming Norfolk Suffolk Local Nature Reserve Strategy which is due out soon. 

Sproughton Nature Reserve: The Ipswich lawyers has reviewed the legal agreement and made a couple of changes – it will come back to Babergh ‘shortly’. My opposite number on Ipswich Borough Council has asked for a definition of ‘shortly’. So, multiple people are pushing this one!! 

THE WARD ITSELF

 Parking at Suffolk One: 

The paper I have been working on is nearly done. It needs to be read by stakeholders before being submitted formally to Highways. Complaints started rolling in the moment term started again.

Traffic Solutions 4 Sproughton: The final version of the traffic paper has been delivered to impacted residents. E have had a good number of replies from people. A few homes were missed out but  this should have been rectified now. Please, if you haven’t replied to date, do so. We need evidence to back up our requests. 

If you ever have an issue to raise with me please use the contact details below. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Helen Davies  District Councillor for Sproughton & Pinewood Mobile: 07514 951190 E-mail: Helen.Davies@ babergh.gov.uk Twitter: @HelenDSproughtn