Sat 4th April will see Siam Gardens in the North Street car park offically open. Renovation has been going on for some time and this will be become part of the Heritage trail around the town.

There are some issues raised by residents that seem to have ignored their wishes. I am chasing these and hopefully we can sort them asap.

Sudbury Liberal Democrats surveyed 111 13-16 year olds as part of Sudbury on Show at Sudbury Upper School on Thursday 12^th and in St Peters Church on Saturday 14^th Feb.

The results show that the young people completing the survey were regular users of a whole range of leisure facilities in the town. 75% used Belle Vue Park, 63% Kingfisher Leisure centre while Friars Meadow, Dual use sports centres (Sudbury & Cornard) and playing fields were all used by approximately 50%.  A third used sports clubs while only 8% used the skate park and the BMX.

On their suggestions for extra leisure facilities they would like to see in Sudbury 57% made no suggestion while a quarter suggested a cinema would be the main improvement.

70% thought that Belle Vue Park had everything it required. The main suggestions for improvements were a football goal, play equipment for older teenagers and a better café.

On feeling safe when out in the town, 47% said yes, all of the time while 50% said yes but only during the day while a small 3% said none of the time.

The main fear was from the night time economy and of drunken adults coming out of and going from pubs. A fifth of all students wanted to see more police patrolling or the police being more visible in the town centre at night.

The top 3 issues were:

Public Transport mentioned by 40%

Climate Change mentioned by 34%

Education & Training/University fees and war & terrorism all mentioned by 28%

Results of the survey have been passed to Babergh District Council due to responsibility for leisure and community safety.             

Local people have a preference for the Church Field Road site. The poll revealed that residents wanted a say in where their new health facility went and that they could see clear strengths and issues  with the main 2 sites.  A major concern with Church Field Road is public transport whereas Walnuttree raises concerns of road access, parking and historic buildings.

There was clear relief that Belle Vue had been rejected by Babergh District Council. It was an extremely unpopular choice like St Leonards.

The Poll conducted by the Sudbury & Cornard Lib Dems at Sudbury on Show on Sat 14th Feb was completed by over 100 residents.

Result: Church Field Rd 51.5%, Walnuttree 41% and St Leonard’s 7.5%

It is a snapshot of public opinion and will be fed back to the PCT, WATCH and local Councils.

Yesterday at Strategy Committee, members rejected signing an option with Apollo who wanted to purchase Belle Vue House and the old swimming pool site to build a GP surgery and potentially a new health facility. Belle Vue House could have been demolished for car parking if planning permission had been achieved.  Over 2009-10, Babergh will look at the potential future uses of the old swimming pool site at Belle Vue and the House.

There is alot of scope for potential uses of the House eg continued or expanded use by the Citizens Advice Bureau, the West Suffolk College, some have talked of a museum but the old swimming pool site could be disposed for affordable housing, or could there be expanded leisure facilities there? Or someone may come forward with other suggestions. What is vital is public consultation on any future proposals and plans.

If you have any suggestions please comment.

The Strategy committee at Babergh has a paper on the future of Belle Vue House and the area of the old swimming pool. There is the option of disposing of the site to Apollo for a new surgery for Hardwicke House and potentially the new health facility or the Strategy committee could await the outcome of Local Government review which is due in February and the efforts by West Suffolk College to find new premises or Strategy could reject sale of all or part of the site.

The committee meet at 9.30am 12th Feb at Babergh District Council. See Paper H199 on Agenda of the committee via council website.