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Affordable Housing in Barton Mills

The Parish Council are currently are hoping to provide a new social housing scheme to provide affordable housing for “Barton Millers” with a “connection to the Village”.

The Parish Council have appointed Havebury to be the housing association to deliver the proposal

The scheme is planned to be adjacent to the Newmarket Road (car boot field) and looks like a superb scheme. The proposed scheme consists of fifteen 1, 2 and 3 bedroom houses which will be available as a mix of affordable rental and shared ownership.

There was be a public consultation held on Monday 5th July 2021, to view comment and feedback from the event and to look at draft site plans please visit the Havebury website.

Havebury have now submitted the planning application to West Suffolk Council. The plans are available to view on the West Suffolk Council website.

Havebury detail on their website that to apply, you must register with your local authority. You can register with Home-Link here

Litter Picking

West Suffolk Council can provide individuals with litter picking sets, if you wish to volunteer and pick litter in the village on a day and time that suits you.. Each litter pick pack will include a picker and black & blue sacks. The filled sacks can be left in or next to your bins on collection day.

For more information and to request a pack please visit the following website:

Arrange a litter pick as an individual (westsuffolk.gov.uk)

2023 Local Election

Notice of elections of parish councillors and Notice of election of district councillor

Elections are taking place across England on 4 May.

If you would like to be involved in making decisions to improve our local community then please consider this opportunity to join the Parish Council.

To qualify to stand as a Parish Councillor you must:

-be British, a citizen of the Commonwealth or other European Union Citizen
-be at least 18 years old
-be registered to vote in the parish, or have lived, worked or owned a property in the parish for at least 12 months prior to the election.

Standing: Notice of Election will be published on Wednesday 22^nd March and candidates need to deliver their nomination papers by 4pm on Tuesday 4^th April.

More detailed information including nomination packs can be found on West Suffolk Council website: www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/Council/elections

Voting: Statement of Persons Nominated will be published on Wed 5^th April

The deadline for registering to vote is Monday 17^th April

The postal vote deadline is Tuesday 18^th April

The proxy vote deadline is Tuesday 25^th April

The poll will take place on Thursday 4^th May

You’ll need to bring photo ID to vote at a polling station.

Check if your ID is accepted ⬇️

Voter ID | Electoral Commission

Highways Proposal to close the gaps in the central reservation of the A11 between Red Lodge and Fiveways

Highways propose to close three gaps within the central reservation. From north to south, these are located at, Newmarket Road North, Herringswell Road and Golf Links Road (Newmarket Road South). We also propose to extend the barrier in the central reservation at Park Farm Drive.

This follows a number of personal injury collisions at these gaps, ranging in seriousness from minor to fatal. Following a study carried out in 2021, Highways are now planning work to close the gaps and improve this section of A11 over the next 12 months.

The work involved in closing these gaps will include:

• removal of existing filter lanes that allow vehicles to manoeuvre in and out of the central reservation gaps.

• installation of new red coloured surfacing along the central reservation.

• replace, improve, or modify existing road markings.

• modify, remove, or relocate directional signs.

• removal of existing no entry and no U-turn signs.

• improve and extend the safety barrier along the central reservation.

• improve and extend the safety barrier along the northbound and southbound verges.

At Golf Links Road (Newmarket Road South), Herringswell Road and Newmarket Road North junctions, we propose the following:

• removal of hard surfacing along the junction islands

• replacement of existing junction island kerbs.

• changing road markings by removing give-way markings, removing give way triangles, and modifying the chevron markings.

• removal of give way signs.

Highways have confirmed they intend to arrange a meeting with the Parish Council, however a date has yet to be agreed.

Neighbourhood Plan

We are investigating the development of a NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN.

It would enable us as a community to identify the needs in the future within the parish. This would include the environment, services, roads and development. It would allow us to guide and shape these needs.

This would be a community driven project, not run by the parish council.

We are looking for volunteers to form a steering group. this will consist of 6-10 members who can develop "our" plan.

It would take 2-3 years to complete

Anyone with experience in planning, environment, law or other relevant skills would be welcome. But most of all we need people who care about the future development of this village.

Please contact: clerk@bartonmills.net

For more info: https://neighbourhoodplanning.org

Proposed changes to the River Lark

The Environment Agency are considering several significant changes to the river Lark. James Dyke from the Environment Agency has now attended two Parish council meeting 5th of October and 7th July, James talked about the history of the lark in the area, what they want to acheive and how they hope to achieve this.

For more information see briefing pack.

2023 Local Elections

If you would like to be involved in making decisions to improve our local community then please consider this opportunity to join the Parish Council.

If you are considering standing then please come to our next meeting on

to see what is involved and what your Parish Council does.

To qualify to stand as a Parish Councillor you must:

be British, a citizen of the Commonwealth or other European Union Citizen
be at least 18 years old
be registered to vote in the parish, or have lived, worked or owned a property in the parish for at least 12 months prior to the election.

Barton Mills Parish Council has a maximum of nine members. If there are more than 9 candidates, it is a contested election and a poll will take place on Thursday 4^th May. No poll is required if there are 9 or fewer candidates. The new members will take office from Tuesday 9^th May 2023 for four years.

Standing: Notice of Election will be published on Wednesday 22^nd March and candidates need to deliver their nomination papers by 4pm on Tuesday 4^th April.

More detailed information including nomination packs can be found on West Suffolk Council website: www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/Council/elections

Voting: Statement of Persons Nominated will be published on Wed 5^th April

The deadline for registering to vote is Monday 17^th April

The postal vote deadline is Tuesday 18^th April

The proxy vote deadline is Tuesday 25^th April

The poll will take place on Thursday 4^th May

To vote at a polling station, you will now need to bring photo ID.

For more information please visit:

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id

Police online reporting tool

Reporting a non emergency crime can now be reported online on the Suffolk Constabulary website.

Alternatively you can dial 101.

In an emergency dial 999

Lightwave Food Bank

Lightwave runs a food bank which is based at the Red Lodge Pavillion. It is open every Thursday from 11am to 2pm for people to access food parcels or for donations to be dropped off.

More details can be found on their website

https://www.light-wave.org/red-lodge

Barton Mills Playing Field

The Parish Council would like to remind users of the rules when using the playing field:

- that no organised events should take place on the field without prior consent from the Parish Council

- no litter should be left on the field, litter should be disposed of in the bins available, if no bins are avaialble then litter should be taken home to dispose of.

BARTON MILLS FOOTBALL CLUB/PAVILION

Barton Mills Football Club has not had a team for a number of years, and following breaches in the lease agreement there is no longer a Barton Mills Football Club.

The Parish Council have now taken control of the pavilion, and are now responsible for all costs involved, which includes insurance, water and electricity costs. The pavilion also requires some urgent repairs to bring back to a useable standard.

The Parish Council would like to ask residents whether there is any interest in setting up a new Barton Mills football team ready for the 23/24 season and therefore take control of the building (once brought back to a useable standard) including all the costs involved. Or whether any residents have any ideas for alternative sporting uses. If you are interested or require further information, please contact the Parish council clerk before the end of February 2023.

Street Lighting

The majority of the street lighting in the village is owned by the Parish Council of which some are maintained by Suffolk County Council and some by the Parish Council.

To report a faulty street light first go to the online reporting tool on Suffolk County Council's website and use the map to locate the street light, if this is maintained by Suffolk County Council you can log the fault, if not the reporting tool will inform you that Suffolk County Council do not maintain the said light. If this is the case, then please contact the Parish Council clerk at clerk@bartonmills.net

Pot Holes and other Highway issues

The majority of roads in Suffolk are maintained by Suffolk County Council.

You can use Suffolk County Council's simple reporting tool, found on their website to report Highways issues including pot holes, blocked drains, trees/hedges affecting a highway and pavement defects