Twice a month there are Council meetings held in the Council Chamber of Stowmarket Town Council, with the first meeting starting at 7pm, while the second meeting of the night will commence at 7.30pm. Members of the public and press are very welcome to attend. If you would like more information on how to attend, please contact Michelle Mackintosh on 01449 612060.

Town Councillors’ Surgeries

The Town Council runs Councillor Surgery appointments to suit you, at any time during the month (Monday to Friday during office hours). Surgeries allow anyone from the community to speak to a Town Councillor on a one to one basis about any issues or concerns that they may have. To make an appointment please telephone Sarah Page on 01449 776390. Stowmarket Street Market – Every Thursday and Saturday There are plenty of great quality products at excellent prices on our twice-weekly street market. We have been working to attract new stalls to the town and the Thursday market in particular has developed into a bustling, vibrant market. You can pick up fresh fish, fruit and veg, meat, flowers, cards, clothing, watches, jewellery and much much more.

Stowmarket welcomes new Town Clerk
The New Year brings with it the start of a new era for Stowmarket following the appointment of new Town Clerk, Mr David Blackburn. David took up his new position at Stowmarket Town Council at the start of this month. He has over 25 years experience working in senior management during which time he has undertaken various high profile roles in local government and also worked overseas supervising elections on behalf of the United Nations. Most recently, David has been working at Peterborough City Council. Of his new role, David said, “This is a new challenge for me and one that I am very excited about. I am looking forward to meeting people and working with them on matters that affect their everyday quality of life. I have been very impressed with the enthusiasm and ability of the staff here and the dedication of the Councillors in seeking to improve the Town and provide the best services possible.” So what brings David to Stowmarket? “I actually discovered the vacancy by accident whilst searching on line for a holiday cottage around the Stowmarket area!” he said. “This is a part of the country that I really love and have visited on holiday several times. On this occasion a one week break has suddenly turned into a permanent move!” David is married to Jennie and has 3 children Tom (12), Alice (4) and Jessica (1). He is now living in Stowmarket, and his family will be joining him later in the year as soon as the family home in Leicestershire has been sold. He acknowledges that it is going to be a challenging move in the short term but is already enjoying the new role. “Living in temporary accommodation is obviously not ideal but once the family are settled I know that Stowmarket will a great place for my young family to grow up. I had absolutely no hesitation in accepting the position when it was offered to me. I’m already enjoying the new role and looking forward to the challenge ahead. It will not be easy given the pressures upon public expenditure but I am confident that we can develop a Town Council here which will stand comparison with any other in the region.”

Special thanks to the following individuals and organisations for their support and contribution to the event: -

James Redmond , TDG Contract Logistics, Paul Morris from Town 102 FM, Ipswich Community Gospel Choir, The Guides, Chilton Hall Primary, Cameron Kerr, The Mayor Councillor Poppy Robinson, The Town Council Maintenance Team, Universal PA, Dumbfoundus, Dave Collins, Ipswich Youth Steel Band, Polstead Press, ONG Graphics, PPG and Hudson Signs, The Stowmarket Concert Band, Mid Suffolk District Council, United Security Solutions, St. John Ambulance, The Stow Lions Club, All Retailers, All Charity Stall Holders

Thanks also to everyone of you who attended the event despite the freezing conditions. We hope you all enjoyed the event and look forward to seeing you again next year!

There is no ‘Councillor type’.  Just ordinary, everyday people, making a difference. People like you.

You could be one of them.

It might be the state of the park, community centre or school that you think needs to change in your local area. Or perhaps you want the opportunity to do something worthwhile and rewarding to help your local community.

A new campaign has been launched, aiming to encourage more East of England people to consider becoming a local Councillor.

A new website, www.beacouncillor.org.uk/east has been created to give an idea of what it’s like to be a Councillor, and how to go about getting involved. As well as the real-life experiences of some of our local East of England Councillors, there is a host of further information about how to contact local political parties, where to find information about standing for your local council, and standing as an independent candidate.

For more information and details on becoming a Councillor, please visit www.beacouncillor.org.uk/east.

I would like to take this opportunity to express how delighted I am to see that town centre shops  which  have been empty for sometime are now being opened again.  

Over the past year there have been many good things that  have happened  in our town such as the opening of the new bridge linking the town centre with Cedars Park . Some wonderful events have taken place which brought the whole community together such as the Stowmarket Festival and the Christmas Festival. I was especially pleased that the town was awarded a Silver in the Anglia in Bloom competition, this demonstrates what is achievable when the whole town works together.

One piece of fantastic news is that the John Peel Centre has been awarded £50,000 from The “People’s Millions Lottery Fund”. This will enable work to be carried out at the old Corn Exchange to enable the venue to be open for events .   

 It gives me great pleasure to see that things are happening on the old Seamans site  which is with thanks to Mid Suffolk District Council and the portfolio holder for the regeneration of Stowmarket.

We are living in economical distressed times but we in Stowmarket, will I am certain, work hard and rise above the problems and prosper.

I would like to express my thanks to all the Town Councillors and to all the officers and staff of the Town Council whose hard work and devotion to duty inspires us all and makes it all happen to the benefit of all who reside in Stowmarket” 

Lastly but not least a big thank you to all the volunteers in our town who quietly and efficiently give their time for the benefit of others - how would we manage without them?

 In closing I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year with health and contentment for all. 

Market Contact: For more information on markets, including enquiries from traders interested in coming to Stowmarket, please contact Market Warden John Harvey on 01449 612060 or 07894751409 or  email johnh@stowmarket.org.

19th Planning, Consultation & Strategy
Committee : 7.30pm

Twice a month there are Council meetings held in the Council Chamber of Stowmarket Town Council. Members of the public and press are very welcome to attend. If you would like more information on how to attend, please contact Michelle Mackintosh on 01449 612060.

Town Councillors’ Surgeries

The Town Council runs Councillor Surgery appointments to suit you, at any time during the month (Monday to Friday during office hours). Surgeries allow anyone from the community to speak to a Town Councillor on a one to one basis about any issues or concerns that they may have. To make an appointment please telephone Sarah Page on 01449 776390.

Stowmarket Street Market – Every Thursday and Saturday

There are plenty of great quality products at excellent prices on our twice-weekly street market.

Farmers Market

Next farmers market is Friday 4th February. Market Contact: For more information on markets, including enquiries from traders interested in coming to Stowmarket, please contact Market Warden John Harvey on 01449 612060 or 07894751409 or email johnh@stowmarket.org.

A New Years message from the
Town Mayor

I do hope that everyone enjoyed a happy and peaceful Christmas. I would like to take this opportunity to express how delighted I am to see that town centre shops which have been empty for sometime are now being opened again. Over the past year there have been many good things that have happened in our town such as the opening of the new bridge linking the town centre with Cedars Park . Some wonderful events have taken place which brought the whole community together such as the Stowmarket Festival and the Christmas Festival. I was especially pleased that the town was awarded a Silver in the Anglia in Bloom competition, this demonstrates what is achievable when the whole town works together. One piece of fantastic news is that the John Peel Centre has been awarded £50,000 from The “People’s Millions Lottery Fund”. This will enable work to be carried out at the old Corn Exchange to enable the venue to be open for events. It gives me great pleasure to see that things are happening on the old Seamans site which is with thanks to Mid Suffolk District Council and the portfolio holder for the regeneration of Stowmarket. We are living in economical distressed times but we in Stowmarket, will I am certain, work hard and rise above the problems and prosper.

I would like to express my thanks to all the Town Councillors and to all the officers and staff of the Town Council whose hard work and devotion to duty inspires us all and makes it all happen to the benefit of all who reside in Stowmarket” Lastly but not least a big thank you to all the volunteers in our town who quietly and efficiently give their time for the benefit of others – how would we manage without them? In closing I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year with health and contentment for all.

Weather delays Skate park construction

The sub-zero temperatures and unusually early snowfall delayed the start of construction work on the new skatepark. At the time of writing, we hope that work will start during the week starting Monday 13th December. Construction is expected to take around 10 weeks so, allowing for bad weather and Christmas, it is perhaps realistic to expect work to be finished in March 2011……. But Play Area work starts Regardless.

What will you stand for?

People become Councillors for many different  reasons, sometimes they are passionate about a local issue, or they just want to be involved in improving the lives of people around them. There is no ‘Councillor type’. Just ordinary, everyday people, making a difference. People like you. You could be one of them. A new campaign has been launched, aiming to encourage more East of England people to consider becoming a local Councillor. A new website, www.beacouncillor.org.uk/east has been created to give an idea of what it’s like to be a Councillor, and how to go about getting involved. As well as the real-life experiences of some of our local East of England Councillors, there is a host of further information about how to contact local political parties, where to find information about standing for your local council, and standing as an independent candidate. For more information and details on becoming a Councillor, please visit www.beacouncillor.org.uk/east. Stowmarket Christmas Lights Switch-on Event What a great success the Christmas Lights Switch-on event was this year! The line-up was excellent and was topped by a fantastic performance by the Ipswich Community Gospel Choir. Special thanks to the following individuals and organisations for their support and contribution to the event: – James Redmond , TDG Contract Logistics, Paul Morris from Town 102 FM, Ipswich Community Gospel Choir, The Guides, Chilton Hall Primary, Cameron Kerr, The Mayor Councillor Poppy Robinson, The Town Council Maintenance Team, Universal PA, Dumbfoundus, Dave Collins, Ipswich Youth Steel Band, Polstead Press, ONG Graphics, PPG and Hudson Signs, The Stowmarket Concert Band, Mid Suffolk District Council, United Security Solutions, St. John Ambulance, The Stow Lions Club, All Retailers, All Charity Stall Holders We hope you all enjoyed the event and look forward to seeing you again next year!

Combs Ford Switch On

Despite the freezing cold weather and snow, there was a fantastic turn out to see the Combs Ford tree get switched on by the Mayor at 6.30pm on 1st December. Guests were entertained inside the Boys Brigade Hall before the switch on with Dumbfoundus playing a selection of songs, while tombolas, raffles and games also took place. Santa also braved the elements to hand out sweets to the children. Thanks go to all members of the Boys Brigade for their fantastic assistance helping with the event.

StowFest grows in to a three day Festival – and moves home!

Plans are well underway for a bigger and better StowFest in 2011. The whole event is moving to Chilton Fields and will be organised jointly by Stowmarket Town Council and Chilton Fields Sports and Social Club. It is tentatively scheduled to take place over Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June with onsite camping on the Friday and Saturday nights. The Friday and Saturday will be ticketed days whilst the Sunday will be free entry. Co-ordinator Daniel Harvey said, ‘We want to grow StowFest into a bigger and better event each year and the three-day festival idea with camping is not something that would be feasible at the Recreation Ground. Chilton Fields is a much bigger site and it also enables us to work in partnership with the Sports and Social Club who have been extremely supportive of the project and keen to get involved.’ Plans are in the early stages at the moment, but the intention is for the Friday to become ‘The Acoustic Sessions’, Saturday will feature some top acts from around the region on the main stage whilst the Sunday will feature both a main stage and Amplitude Stage. The event is being meticulously planned with ample security staff being hired to ensure everything runs smoothly. The main stage will be positioned at the back of the club house to reduce noise impact and the camping site will be on the far side of the field, away from houses. Music will stop at 10.30pm.’ More details about StowFest 2011 will be available early in the new year with tickets set to be made available online at www.stowfest.co.uk

Council meetings are held in the Council Chamber of Stowmarket Town Council, with the first meeting starting at 7pm, while the second meeting of the night will commence at 7.30pm. Members of the public and press are very welcome to attend. If you would like more information on how to attend, please contact Michelle Mackintosh on 01449 612060.

Town Councillors’ Surgeries
The Town Council runs Councillor Surgery appointments to suit you, at any time during the month (Monday to Friday during office hours). Surgeries allow anyone from the community to speak to a Town Councillor on a one to one basis about any issues or concerns that they may have. To make an appointment please telephone Sarah Page on 01449 776390.

Stowmarket Street Market – Every Thursday and Saturday
There are plenty of great quality products at excellent prices on our twice-weekly street market. We have been working to attract new stalls to the town and the Thursday market in particular has developed into a bustling, vibrant market. You can pick up fresh fish, fruit and veg, meat, flowers, cards, clothing, watches, jewellery and much much more.

Christmas Market Dates
The Market will be open for traders on the following days: Thursday 23rd December 2010 Friday 24th December 2010 Thursday 30th December 2010 There will be no market on Saturday 1st January.

Farmers Market – First Friday of every month
There will be no Farmers’ Market in January with the first one of 2011 taking place on Friday 4th February. Visitors can expect to enjoy a variety of local produce on offer including meats, fruit and vegetables, home made fresh bread, relishes, freshly cooked pies, flowers, plants and home baked cakes. Market Contact: For more information on markets, including enquiries from traders interested in coming to Stowmarket, please contact Market Warden John Harvey on 01449 612060 or 07894751409 or email johnh@stowmarket.org.

Community Centre
There are plenty of activities going on at Stowmarket Community Centre throughout winter and in to 2011, so why not come and join a class or group? Or why not book a room for your Christmas event?

For information on room and main hall hire please call Heather Tooke on 01449 613084 or e-mail heathert@stowmarket.org

The Anglia in Bloom Judges came to Stowmarket on Tuesday 20th July, where they were taken on a tour around the town. They visited many locations in the two hour judging window, including the Museum of East Anglian Life, 66 St Edmunds Road, the old and new cemeteries and the Community Centre.

The Stowmarket in Bloom team has worked extremely hard over the past few months in it’s bid for Anglia in Bloom 2010, and the judges were impressed with what they saw during their visit. The results for the competition will be announced in September.

Thanks go to Polstead Press for working with us to produce another fantastic competition portfolio which can be viewed by contacting Sarah Page on 01449 776390 or email sarahp@stowmarket.org

Also, a big thanks to all of you who supported the event and in particular the following businesses and individuals who provided specific sponsorship for the Hanging Baskets displayed around the Town.

The Bridge

Suffolk County Council and Birse have advised that the long awaited completion of the B1115 relief road with the construction of the bridge over the railway line is due to take place on 2 September 2010.

In order to commemorate this historic event, in conjunction with Suffolk County Council and Birse, Stowmarket Town Council will be arranging an opening ceremony to involve as many local residents and businesses as possible.

Summer Music in the Market Place acts confirmed

The Town Centre will be a lively place on Wednesday mornings during August with musical acts set to perform in the marketplace. Acts booked are as follows:
Wednesday 4th: Dumbfoundus www.myspace.com/dumbfoundus
Wednesday 11th: Ipswich Youth Steel Band
www.unitedreggaeband.co.uk/ICYSB/index.htm
Wednesday 18th: Dumbfoundus www.myspace.com/dumbfoundus
Wednesday 25th Swervy World www.swervyworld.com

Cafe No. 1 will also be providing an open air cafe on the marketplace to accompany the music. Town Centre Manager Mark Strachan said, “These acts are perfect for street performances and, along with the open air cafe, should help to create a wonderful atmosphere in the Town Centre.”

Some people may have seen all three acts at other recent appearances in Stowmarket. Dumbfoundus played at StowFest: The Acoustic Sessions and delivered one of the most fun, entertaining sets of the weekend. Ipswich Youth Steel Band played at the Town Centre Christmas lights switch-on last year and created a carnival atmosphere in the Town Centre. Swervy World performed in the Town Centre during the recent Stowmarket Festival and showed just why they are one of the region’s most sought after street acts. If you have any queries on the street entertainment, please contact Mark Strachan on 01449 776391.

Recreation Ground Play Area revamp edging closer

It has taken a long time but the construction of a new play area, skatepark and ballpark at the Recreation Ground is now in site. Legal paperwork with The Big Lottery has been completed and funding for all elements of the project has been secured. It is now a case of finalising a play area design, sorting out transmission issues with the CCTV camera and planning the overall construction project effectively. The project will see the current metal skate ramps removed and the surface converted into a ballpark for basketball and football, the construction of a new concrete bowl style skatepark, the installation of a CCTV camera, the installation of a new teenage shelter and the installation of a new play area which will be located the other side of the path from the current play area.