Town Council Update August 2010

Anglia in Bloom

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.