What's New?

The Notice of Public Rights and Publication of Annual Governance & Accountability Return (Exempt Authority) Year ended 31 March 2025 has been published.

This can be found on this website under Finance - Financial Information 2024 - 2025 

or by following the link Notice-of-Public-Rights-and-Publication-of-Annual-Governance-Accountability-Return-Exempt-Authority-Year-ended-31-March-2025.pdf

Latest news from the Parish Pump

 

A 20MPH speed limit in Stansfield? 

How do you feel about this?

Stansfield’s  Annual Parish Meeting in May unanimously voted to ask the village parish council to press for the lowering of the speed limit in the village to 20mph. 

Residents  voiced concerns about the dangers to pedestrians and wildlife from  speeding and intimidating driving through the village.  The speed of courier and delivery vans and even a school bus were discussed, as well as vehicles racing along Thurston Lane in dead of night.

It was reported that around 50 signatures had been collected to add to the petition being organised by our MP Nick Timothy asking Parliament to give greater powers to local councils to tackle speeding in villages.

Posters designed at the Village Coffee Morning at the end of April were to be laminated and erected in the village in an attempt to encourage all drivers to slow down.  

If you would like to add your comments on this issue please email the parish clerk, Anne Lines at stansfiedpc@outlook.com

A number of footpath issues were raised at the meeting.  SCC were to be requested to expedite repairs to  the damaged bridge along Thurston Lane known locally as Pooh Sticks Bridge.  Mess left after tree felling on Footpath 2 near the main bridge in Stansfield and noise into the evenings are to be raised with the landowner and SCC.

Loose dogs in Assington Green and around other parts of Stansfield have been causing alarm and could cause an accident, it was stated.  The matter has been reported to the Police.

Cllr Martin Slater offered to investigate the origin of noise from late night shooting near houses in the village.  

 

Want to Help Save a Life?   Volunteer needed!

 

Stansfield is fortunate to have its own Defibrillator … sited on the outside of our Village Hall.

 Could you spare half an hour a month to check it is working?  You would have the satisfaction of knowing you could help save someone’s life.

Stansfield Parish Council (SPC), who provided the defibrillator for the community to use in an emergency,  are looking for someone to help.  This only involves looking it over each month and reporting back on line.  Andrew and Jan Pallett were thanked at the May meeting of SPC for  doing this job for nearly two years and will  happily show any volunteer how to do it. Please ring Andrew on 01284 789434.

A leaflet on how the defibrillator can be accessed has been issued to every household in Stansfield, but if you would like another copy please ask the clerk at: stansfieldpc@outlook.com.

Here is a brief extract:                                                                                                                      

If someone collapsed from a suspected heart attack, what would you do?

  • First make sure you are not in danger
  • Speak to or tap the person to see if they respond
  • Shout for help
  • Dial 999 to call an ambulance, give your name and ask for the code for access to the defibrillator at the Village Hall, postcode CO108LW.

 

Speeding

Some  colourful posters will soon adorn poles in Stansfield.  Aimed at deterring speeding through the village and lanes around, they are the product of hard work by about a dozen youngsters (plus Ben aged 33!!) at the Village Coffee Morning held at the end of April.

Around 40 signatures were also collected for a petition to Parliament, organised by our local MP, Nick Timothy, with the aim of giving more powers to parishes to take action against speeding and intimidating driving.                                                                                                                

Steady progress:  review of 2024-25                                                                  The Parish Council’s main responsibility is to work in the interests of the community and to find ways to improve our quality of life and to care for our beautiful historic environment, said Rex Barnes, Chairman, at the Council’s AGM in May.   

They were aiming to focus efforts on ideas and concerns voiced by residents and were making steady progress, he said.  Alongside formal opportunities like the council meetings , they had created some informal opportunities to collect community views and had held three events in the past year.  The coffee morning in April, the wildlife event in autumn which raised around £245 for Suffolk Wildlife Trust, and summer Fun Day in August which is to be repeated on July 20th this year. 

“It was pleasing to see so many children and to have a chance to meet up with friends and neighbours and greet some of the newer residents too,” he added. 

A Community Engagement Policy for the Parish Council, which will set out the ways the council will seek ideas and concerns,  is in skeleton form and out for comment with interested residents.  If you would like to see it and help shape it, please tell the Clerk, Anne Lines at stansfieldpc@outlook.com.

The clerk along with councillors is working to improve the website to make it more accessible and easy to use.

The PC is still open to nominations for the list of Assets of Community Value – things like the old water pumps , the telephone booth, views from footpaths, the pub and the village hall that are not listed buildings but are valued by the community.  If anyone wishes to include any other item please let the clerk know.  Not all things can be recorded in this way and we will work towards a viable list during the coming year.

In all of this work the PC is mindful of the need to keep costs  to the residents to a minimum. So,  generous sponsors and volunteers, not least the Good Neighbour Scheme, were thanked for their help in this aim.

Also thanked were the Village Hall Committee and Dolly and Derek Adams for putting on so many interesting events at the VH for all to enjoy.  And the representatives at West Suffolk Council, Sarah Pugh, and at Suffolk County Council, Bobby Bennett, for their support during the past year.

Next Parish Council Meeting is Wednesday September 10th 7pm at the Village Hall.

Village Fun Day, including the infamous egg and spoon races, is Sunday July 20th at the VH.