If you like the rest of Santon Downham suffered a power cut over the weekend you are eligable for compensation. The amount you can claim is probably £70 but may be as much as £100.

UK Power Networks have an online claim form

https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/multiple-outage-payment-bau-form/

A petition has been setup campaigining against the possible introduction of charges for parking in Brandon.

The goal is to reach 1,500 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://chng.it/d2BkkWQKsL

Changes to blue and black bin collection days and times

Blue and black bin days and times in West Suffolk will shortly be changing and a yellow tag on black bins will alert residents to look out for a letter containing full details of what this means for them. Roll-out of the new days and times will begin on Monday 11 November, but before then households will have been posted their new blue and black bin collection day letter together with a calendar to help manage the transition. Full details will also be available to look up, nearer the time, on the council website www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/bincollections

Demand for waste services has grown since rounds were last reviewed in 2010 and the changes coming up will help create capacity, save waste miles and make the service more efficient. Garden Waste Collection Service subscribers will not see a change in their brown bin collection this year and we thank all residents for their help in making sure bins are out by 6.30am.

Power Cut planned for 11th October 0900 to 1400 for tree trimming etc near power cables etc.

UK Power Networks Ref INCD-2774-O West Santon Downham

Following a succesfull summer of car boots and extra Car Boot will take place on the 6th of October

The car boot takes place outside the Village Hall/Breckland Club in the car park and on on the small village green.

For further information contact Sylvia.

Tel: 01842 815213        Email: sylvia@santondownhamcentre.co.uk

They are on the 1st Sunday of the Month

Santon Downham – or more particularly the surrounding Thetford forest featured in the Sunday Times 50 best autumn days out.

The piece on 50 days out also includes the best Autumn Drives which includes the route through Thetford forest and Santon Downham.

Special taskforce survey seeks YOUR evidence to help tackle rural issues

Residents, businesses and organisations are being urged to help a new West Suffolk Council taskforce identify opportunities and issues in rural areas.

The taskforce wants to talk to a broad range of individuals and organisations across West Suffolk in a variety of ways, including a simple online survey live now at www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/rural.
West Suffolk Council was set up to be large enough to champion the area while working closely with communities, such as those in rural areas, to tackle local issues. Council Leader Cllr John Griffiths made the commitment in his first speech to the new authority in May to set up a rural task force.

Cllr Mike Chester, who chairs the group, said: “Our task is to make sure that rural considerations are taken into account in future Council processes and decision making. We are contacting people who live and run businesses and organisations to ask them their opinions on what they see as the opportunities and issues. This will be crucial in developing options both to directly address some of the issues and also to rural-proof future decisions.”

A survey has been set up to allow everyone to give their views, available online at www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/rural , or hard copy at council offices, or on request from policy@westsuffolk.gov.uk or by calling 01284 757633 . The survey is open until 30 September but evidence will continue to be fed in throughout the review process.
The taskforce is also holding special meetings across the area, details to be published shortly, and inviting key people to attend taskforce meetings.
The review will encompass all of West Suffolk’s areas, in order to understand the issues and opportunities that all rural or all urban areas have in common, as well as those facing specific localities. As well as engaging direct with local communities and businesses, the Rural Taskforce will identify key issues, assets and challenges by using a range of existing local and national evidence and research produced by other bodies, for example, the Rural Services Network and the House of Lords Select Committee on the rural economy.
It is expected that Cabinet will hear interim recommendations from the Task Force.

Work has officially started at RAF Lakenheath to construct facilities for the new F-35 fighter jets due to be stationed there.

RAF Lakenheath which confusingly is USAF will become home to F-35s alongside the existing F15s.

The only operational F-35s (in Europe) belong to the RAF and are flying from RAF Marham.

See the news story on The Construction Index for more details of the project.

Lisa was present at the groundbreaking.