Friday, March 31, 2006
Multi-million pound boost for housing in St Edmundsbury
Affordable housing in St Edmundsbury has received a multi-million pound boost following the Housing Corporation’s announcement of funding in the Eastern region.
Housing Associations in the borough are set to receive a total of £5.47 million from the Housing Corporation over the next two years, which will be used to build 234 affordable homes within St Edmundsbury.
The funding follows successful bids by Registered Social Landlords (RSL), which work in partnership with the council to provide affordable housing in the borough. Of the total pot, RSLs secured £4.8 million through the bidding process. The remaining £648,000 has been allocated through New Partnership Funding, which is a Government scheme open to submissions from both RSLs and the private sector.
St Edmundsbury will now work closely with RSLs in Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and rural areas to provide the region with high quality accommodation, for either rent or purchase on a shared ownership basis. This will include the provision of some homes suitable for wheelchair users. The funding will subsidise the delivery of these affordable homes.
This pot of funding will be split to deliver affordable housing in the following way:-
Bury St Edmunds - 70
Haverhill - 88
Rural areas - 76
Affordable housing in St Edmundsbury has received a multi-million pound boost following the Housing Corporation’s announcement of funding in the Eastern region.
Housing Associations in the borough are set to receive a total of £5.47 million from the Housing Corporation over the next two years, which will be used to build 234 affordable homes within St Edmundsbury.
The funding follows successful bids by Registered Social Landlords (RSL), which work in partnership with the council to provide affordable housing in the borough. Of the total pot, RSLs secured £4.8 million through the bidding process. The remaining £648,000 has been allocated through New Partnership Funding, which is a Government scheme open to submissions from both RSLs and the private sector.
St Edmundsbury will now work closely with RSLs in Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and rural areas to provide the region with high quality accommodation, for either rent or purchase on a shared ownership basis. This will include the provision of some homes suitable for wheelchair users. The funding will subsidise the delivery of these affordable homes.
This pot of funding will be split to deliver affordable housing in the following way:-
Bury St Edmunds - 70
Haverhill - 88
Rural areas - 76
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Managing the future in Haverhill town centre
The focus on improving Haverhill's town centre is growing stronger, following St Edmundsbury's pledge to invest £10 million over the next ten years, with Cabinet now being asked to approve funding to develop a town centre management scheme for the first time. If approved, the scheme will receive more than £100,000 investment over three years.
At yesterday's meeting of the Haverhill Area Working Party (HAWP), chaired by Cllr Jeff Stevens, members discussed a report set to go to Cabinet on 22 March outlining the idea. Town Centre Management is already very successful in Bury St Edmunds, bringing a whole range of organisations together to boost the town's vitality and viability. Its members also promote the town through a number of events, such as continental and flower markets and Christmas fairs. Now the idea is to build on that expertise and help retailers, businesses, councils and other organisations work together on town centre management in Haverhill.
After the HAWP meeting Cllr Jeff Stevens said:
"Last week we heard that progress is being made on redeveloping the Gurteen's site, a major element in the regeneration of Haverhill Town Centre. The chance to establish a town centre management will build on the foundations that are now being laid and experience elsewhere in the country has shown that a successful scheme can have a dramatic effect on a town's prosperity. It is not something that a council can do on its own - this will be a success through strong partnership working."
The report to Cabinet says it's clear that the newly-established Haverhill Chamber of Commerce can provide "a new impetus for the development of town centre management". In addition, Haverhill Town Council has "an excellent track record of delivering events in the town centre".
Experience in Bury St Edmunds and elsewhere has shown that building a comprehensive and effective town centre management scheme takes time and expertise. The appointment of a Town Centre Manager would provide the skills necessary to build a team which would actively work to promote Haverhill and on events to attract more people to the town centre.
The proposal is also backed by Cllr Nigel Aitkens, St Edmundsbury's Cabinet member responsible for economic development.
Cllr Aitkens said:
"There's a lot going on in Haverhill just now, with a huge amount of partnership working and co-operation at all levels from everyone who wants to see this town centre thriving. It does, however, take time but I'm sure a professional town centre management scheme will help us to get things moving more quickly."
Cabinet is being recommended to approve £25,000 a year for the next three years for a consultant to develop the town centre management function in Haverhill. Further funding of £5000, then £10,000 and in the third year £15,000 is also up for approval for partnership funding to stage promotional events in the town centre.
The focus on improving Haverhill's town centre is growing stronger, following St Edmundsbury's pledge to invest £10 million over the next ten years, with Cabinet now being asked to approve funding to develop a town centre management scheme for the first time. If approved, the scheme will receive more than £100,000 investment over three years.
At yesterday's meeting of the Haverhill Area Working Party (HAWP), chaired by Cllr Jeff Stevens, members discussed a report set to go to Cabinet on 22 March outlining the idea. Town Centre Management is already very successful in Bury St Edmunds, bringing a whole range of organisations together to boost the town's vitality and viability. Its members also promote the town through a number of events, such as continental and flower markets and Christmas fairs. Now the idea is to build on that expertise and help retailers, businesses, councils and other organisations work together on town centre management in Haverhill.
After the HAWP meeting Cllr Jeff Stevens said:
"Last week we heard that progress is being made on redeveloping the Gurteen's site, a major element in the regeneration of Haverhill Town Centre. The chance to establish a town centre management will build on the foundations that are now being laid and experience elsewhere in the country has shown that a successful scheme can have a dramatic effect on a town's prosperity. It is not something that a council can do on its own - this will be a success through strong partnership working."
The report to Cabinet says it's clear that the newly-established Haverhill Chamber of Commerce can provide "a new impetus for the development of town centre management". In addition, Haverhill Town Council has "an excellent track record of delivering events in the town centre".
Experience in Bury St Edmunds and elsewhere has shown that building a comprehensive and effective town centre management scheme takes time and expertise. The appointment of a Town Centre Manager would provide the skills necessary to build a team which would actively work to promote Haverhill and on events to attract more people to the town centre.
The proposal is also backed by Cllr Nigel Aitkens, St Edmundsbury's Cabinet member responsible for economic development.
Cllr Aitkens said:
"There's a lot going on in Haverhill just now, with a huge amount of partnership working and co-operation at all levels from everyone who wants to see this town centre thriving. It does, however, take time but I'm sure a professional town centre management scheme will help us to get things moving more quickly."
Cabinet is being recommended to approve £25,000 a year for the next three years for a consultant to develop the town centre management function in Haverhill. Further funding of £5000, then £10,000 and in the third year £15,000 is also up for approval for partnership funding to stage promotional events in the town centre.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Exciting news for Haverhill town centre
Christopher Gurteen, Joint Managing Director of D. Gurteen and Sons Ltd, and Nic Rumsey, Managing Director of Carisbrooke Investments, have announced today that they have agreed to work together in trying to come up with a redevelopment plan for the Chauntry Mills site in the centre of Haverhill.
At this stage there are no plans for the site, which has a Grade II listing, but there is an agreement that work will start in turning what has been an aspiration for the town centre into a reality. The site has been recognised by St Edmundsbury Borough Council as an essential element of regenerating the town centre and its importance was highlighted in the Haverhill Masterplan.
Looking forward to the opportunity the redevelopment will bring, Mr Rumsey said:
"We are very excited to have reached this agreement with Gurteen's on their prime site and are very optimistic that working closely with them and St Edmundsbury we can deliver something appropriate for the town in the 21st century."
Cllr Jeff Stevens, Chairman of the Haverhill Area Working Party and Deputy Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, welcomed the agreement.
"St Edmundsbury has made a major commitment to the town centre of Haverhill so I am delighted that real progress is being made towards transforming the Gurteen's site. There are no firm plans as yet because there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done by all of us, but the first steps have been taken which is great news for Haverhill."
Mr Gurteen said:
"Gurteen's prominent position in the town centre has long been the subject of potential development speculation but no-one has ever come up with a viable economic scheme before. We have long realised that if Haverhill town centre is to develop successfully we must be prepared to make way for a proper planned town centre development. We feel confident that with Nic Rumsey's knowledge of the town, the borough and his development track record he will be able to come up with a scheme that will give the town a new heart and enable Gurteen's to relocate."
St Edmundsbury's economic development role has enabled the council to bring partners together and create the right conditions, through the production of the Haverhill Masterplan, for fruitful discussions. The borough council has also allocated £10 million over the next ten years to bringing the masterplan to life.
Christopher Gurteen, Joint Managing Director of D. Gurteen and Sons Ltd, and Nic Rumsey, Managing Director of Carisbrooke Investments, have announced today that they have agreed to work together in trying to come up with a redevelopment plan for the Chauntry Mills site in the centre of Haverhill.
At this stage there are no plans for the site, which has a Grade II listing, but there is an agreement that work will start in turning what has been an aspiration for the town centre into a reality. The site has been recognised by St Edmundsbury Borough Council as an essential element of regenerating the town centre and its importance was highlighted in the Haverhill Masterplan.
Looking forward to the opportunity the redevelopment will bring, Mr Rumsey said:
"We are very excited to have reached this agreement with Gurteen's on their prime site and are very optimistic that working closely with them and St Edmundsbury we can deliver something appropriate for the town in the 21st century."
Cllr Jeff Stevens, Chairman of the Haverhill Area Working Party and Deputy Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, welcomed the agreement.
"St Edmundsbury has made a major commitment to the town centre of Haverhill so I am delighted that real progress is being made towards transforming the Gurteen's site. There are no firm plans as yet because there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done by all of us, but the first steps have been taken which is great news for Haverhill."
Mr Gurteen said:
"Gurteen's prominent position in the town centre has long been the subject of potential development speculation but no-one has ever come up with a viable economic scheme before. We have long realised that if Haverhill town centre is to develop successfully we must be prepared to make way for a proper planned town centre development. We feel confident that with Nic Rumsey's knowledge of the town, the borough and his development track record he will be able to come up with a scheme that will give the town a new heart and enable Gurteen's to relocate."
St Edmundsbury's economic development role has enabled the council to bring partners together and create the right conditions, through the production of the Haverhill Masterplan, for fruitful discussions. The borough council has also allocated £10 million over the next ten years to bringing the masterplan to life.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
There is a new Haverhill website, giving news and information about our local boxing club. Go to:
www.haverhillboxing.co.uk
www.haverhillboxing.co.uk
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Cemetery Problems Latest From Council Leader
27 February 2006
"Dear Sir,
I deeply sympathise with the distressed feelings of people in the Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill areas in respect of the naturally emotive issue of cemeteries and headstones and I would be even more sorry if St Edmundsbury Borough Council had contributed unnecessarily to this. If this proves to be the case, I would both apologise without reservation and take the necessary action.
As soon as I was aware of concerns I called for a thorough review to double check that the Council was performing its responsibilities in the best, and the most sensitive, manner possible. The review is now complete, and it is difficult to see how our staff, who care for our cemeteries so well on a day to day basis, could have done things much differently. Burial authorities throughout the country are going through, or have gone through, this testing process and I am reassured by confirmations from the ICCM (Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management) and the Health and Safety Executive that we are going about this properly.
Having said that, there is always room for improvement. I personally believe that the Council could have given people more information before carrying out the work; as a result a step by step leaflet is available alongside information on our website (to add to the publicity already undertaken).
With regard to the posts and notices, which I agree are unsightly, these are to protect the headstones from falling and to advise their owners whom to contact for more information. This problem should be resolved as soon as stonemasons have had the opportunity to carry out repairs.
As for any damage caused, while responsibility for safe maintenance of a headstone belongs with its owner (usually the grave's deed holder), if St Edmundsbury Borough Council has caused any unnecessary damage, or been at fault, then I would expect the Council to pay and make things good.
This testing procedure will now need to be part of a regular programme of safety checks, as I understand it every five years. However I am assured that the associated problems will never be as severe again not least because the most recent headstones are built to higher standards, and so should not fail, and once the unsafe headstones now identified are secured, they should not fail the next time tests are carried out.
Yours sincerely
Cllr John Griffiths
Leader, St Edmundsbury Borough Council
Lynton Cottage
Bardwell Road
Ixworth Thorpe"
27 February 2006
"Dear Sir,
I deeply sympathise with the distressed feelings of people in the Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill areas in respect of the naturally emotive issue of cemeteries and headstones and I would be even more sorry if St Edmundsbury Borough Council had contributed unnecessarily to this. If this proves to be the case, I would both apologise without reservation and take the necessary action.
As soon as I was aware of concerns I called for a thorough review to double check that the Council was performing its responsibilities in the best, and the most sensitive, manner possible. The review is now complete, and it is difficult to see how our staff, who care for our cemeteries so well on a day to day basis, could have done things much differently. Burial authorities throughout the country are going through, or have gone through, this testing process and I am reassured by confirmations from the ICCM (Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management) and the Health and Safety Executive that we are going about this properly.
Having said that, there is always room for improvement. I personally believe that the Council could have given people more information before carrying out the work; as a result a step by step leaflet is available alongside information on our website (to add to the publicity already undertaken).
With regard to the posts and notices, which I agree are unsightly, these are to protect the headstones from falling and to advise their owners whom to contact for more information. This problem should be resolved as soon as stonemasons have had the opportunity to carry out repairs.
As for any damage caused, while responsibility for safe maintenance of a headstone belongs with its owner (usually the grave's deed holder), if St Edmundsbury Borough Council has caused any unnecessary damage, or been at fault, then I would expect the Council to pay and make things good.
This testing procedure will now need to be part of a regular programme of safety checks, as I understand it every five years. However I am assured that the associated problems will never be as severe again not least because the most recent headstones are built to higher standards, and so should not fail, and once the unsafe headstones now identified are secured, they should not fail the next time tests are carried out.
Yours sincerely
Cllr John Griffiths
Leader, St Edmundsbury Borough Council
Lynton Cottage
Bardwell Road
Ixworth Thorpe"
