 An east Suffolk-based festival aimed at young people, is set to get underway - online, over this coming weekend.
Siren Calling is a group that focuses on helping young people find their voice through a range of topics, including nature, well-being and mental-health. This year’s festival, ‘Siren Digital’ - goes online from Friday, with a range of free and environmentally themed topics - which include climate activism and renewable energy. Details of these events are available on their website: sirencalling.org
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 Following ongoing investigations into the exposure of oil deposits on a north Lowestoft beach, East Suffolk Council has decided that it will be possible to remove some of these deposits, without causing damage to the immediate shoreline areas. Work to remove the oil will now be carried out by East Suffolk Norse and a specialist disposal company. East Suffolk Council have said that the work will be constantly reviewed and will cease immediately if there is a risk of pollutants being released into the marine environment. The oil remnants are a result of the historic Eleni V spill back in 1978.  Suffolk Police have now confirmed that a man in his 70s was been airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire last weekend, following a road incident in Beccles on Saturday (20th February) Emergency services were called just before 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon - and attended the scene of the accident on Banham Road near the junction of Wolsey Terrace. The road was closed for a time - with the victim, who was said to be on a push bike at the time of the incident, being taken away by the air ambulance for further treatment. The air ambulance landed on the playing fields of the SET Beccles School on Castle Hill. Earlier this week, a Suffolk Police Spokesperson said that a young boy from Beccles was involved in the incident but have now apologised for having to update this information. The police spokesperson also said that investigations into the details of what happened, are on-going. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Suffolk Police.   Using the 'lateral flow test' as pictured here from gov.uk - an additional 16 rapid testing centres for Covid-19 are to open across Suffolk. This will bring the number of centres to 28 and help serve our more rural communities. Opening over the next two weeks, the planned sites here in east Suffolk include testing centres in Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth, Southwold, Saxmundham, Aldeburgh and Framlingham. The centres use ‘lateral flow’ testing to identify people who may have coronavirus but who do not have symptoms, with the tests taking 15 minutes and results returned within the hour. Here is a full list of the planned centres in Suffolk:  Appointments for tests can be made online via: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus or calling 0333 772 6144.
The centres are only for people not showing symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone who is showing symptoms, or who may have been in close contact with someone who has, should not visit the centre. Instead, they should ring 119 or go to the NHS website to book a test at one of the 12 symptomatic testing sites in Suffolk. One in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms, so regular testing is vital in breaking the chain of infection and keeping Suffolk safe. Councillor Matthew Hicks, Suffolk County Council’s leader and chair of the Suffolk Local Outbreak Engagement Board, said: “Testing is a key weapon in the battle against COVID-19, so we are delighted to be able to open a further 16 sites in more rural communities across Suffolk. “Whilst Suffolk’s vaccine rollout programme rapidly picks up pace, we need people who can’t work from home and who don’t have symptoms to get tested twice a week. It’s how we will break the chain of infections and protect vulnerable people. “It takes just 15 minutes to get a test and you get the results within the hour. 12,780 tests have already been completed. Suffolk needs everyone to play their part.” All 28 centres are listed on Suffolk County Council’s website, including their addresses and opening times. The testing sites are operated on behalf of Suffolk County Council (SCC). Tests should be booked online or by phone in advance. Employers are being urged to encourage their staff to book regular testing. There are already 12 facilities open, including at the University of Suffolk in Ipswich, the STEM Centre including the Kirkley & Pakefield FC in Lowestoft. Lateral flow testing involves taking a swab from the throat and nose to see whether coronavirus is present in the body. The person tested will then receive a text message giving the result within an hour. Anyone giving a positive test will be told to self-isolate and advised on what to do next. People are being asked to get tested twice a week, three to four days apart, as part of their weekly routine. Anyone receiving a negative result needs to continue to follow the social distancing guidance as they may only be at the early stages of developing the virus. This is in case levels of the virus in a person at the earlier test were too low to be detected at that time. The centres are being run by contractors Commisceo on behalf of Suffolk County Council through government funding.  Residents are invited to comment on a draft document which proposes additions and changes to the existing North Lowestoft Conservation Area. As part of regular reviews of its conservation areas, East Suffolk Council has reappraised the North Lowestoft Conservation Area. A draft Appraisal Document has been produced, which includes some proposed changes to the boundary of the Conservation Area. A six-week public consultation is now underway and people are invited to comment on this draft appraisal. Councillor David Ritchie, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management said: “We undertake regular appraisals of conservation areas and public consultation is key as it ensures the appraisals reflect the aspirations of the local community. Once adopted, these appraisals are a material consideration when determining planning applications and can assist in the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas.” You can view the draft Appraisal Document at www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/conservation-areas Comments can be submitted by emailing conservation@eastsuffolk.gov.uk, by calling 01394 444610 and leaving a message, or in writing to Elizabeth Martin, Design and Conservation Team, East Suffolk Council, Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ. Residents living in the existing conservation area will receive a letter regarding the proposed additions and inviting them to have their say. The consultation closes on 26 March 2021.  Two men from Lancashire have been sentenced to a total of 14 years and 6 months in prison, after pleading guilty to importing cocaine into Suffolk from The Netherlands via the North Sea on a jet ski in September.
During the evening of Wednesday 30th September, a multi-agency response involving Suffolk Police, HM Coastguard, the Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat and Border Force was launched after two men were located with a jet ski in the sea around 27 miles off the Suffolk coast. A survey boat reported the incident just before 7pm, after two men on a single jet ski approached the vessel reporting difficulties due to a fuel shortage. The vessel issued a mayday call and a HM Coastguard helicopter and volunteers from Lowestoft RNLI Lifeboat ‘Patsy Knight’ attended the scene. The two men were winched to safety on the HM Coastguard helicopter and transported to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston. Border Force contacted officers from Suffolk Police, who searched the men on arrival and seized two packages of class A drugs with a potential street level value of between £160,000 - £200,000. The two men were arrested on suspicion of importing controlled drugs and taken to Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre for questioning. The men were charged with importing class A drugs and appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court on Friday 2 October. They appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 30 October where they both pleaded guilty to importing cocaine and were remanded into custody. On Tuesday 16th February, the two men, both of Skelmersdale in Lancashire, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court. 36-year-old Steven Brogan was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months and 34-year-old Anthony Reilly was sentenced to 7 years in prison. Detective Inspector Matt Adams of East CID, Suffolk Constabulary said: “These men acted recklessly and put their lives at risk by crossing the channel to Holland on a jet ski to import class A drugs into Suffolk. This incident shows the incredibly dangerous lengths that those involved in the supply of drugs will go to in order to sustain their trade. Our compelling evidence and the swift multi-agency response involving Suffolk Constabulary, Border Force, HM Coastguard and the RNLI has resulted in bringing this case before the court and seeing those responsible being brought to justice. We hope that this sentence will act as a deterrent to criminals trying to bring drugs into our county.”  Police in Suffolk are appealing for businesses to stay vigilant - after four burglaries and attempted burglaries in the Lowestoft area.
Three incidents took place on Commercial Road with business premises all targeted. One business, reported to police at about 7.15am on Wednesday (17th February), was broken into but nothing stolen, while a second was broken into at about 10.30am with copper tubing and brass with an estimated value of £3,000 stolen. A third incident was reported later in the day at about 2.30pm with a Citroen number plate stolen and a rear plate from a Ford Transit stolen. Meanwhile, on Tuesday 16th February at about 6.30pm on Belvedere Road a lock of a main gate was cut off with an angle grinder - with a Ford transit van entering and a forklift and generator stolen. Two suspects were seen at the time with the generator loaded into the Ford transit that entered the premises. The fork-lift has since been located in the Carlton Colville area and recovered. The generator remains missing. Anyone who witnessed any suspicious behaviour, has knowledge of any of the incidents, knows who was responsible or knows the whereabouts of any of the items stolen should contact Lowestoft police  Police are appealing for witnesses to a burglary and theft of two vehicles that took place in north Lowestoft.
The incident took place between 11pm on Sunday 14th February and 6.30am on Monday 15th February at a property in Mount Pleasant. It is believed that entry was gained to the property via an unsecured rear patio door. They stole a small amount of cash and bank cards from a handbag in the hallway - and then car keys that were in coat pockets in the hallway were also taken. These were used to steal two vehicles that were parked outside the property; an orange Peugeot 208, registration, KV16 AZX and a red Ford Galaxy, registration AF53 OXR. The Peugeot 208 was later found abandoned in Robertsbridge Walk, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, while the Ford Galaxy was recovered abandoned in Sharon drive, Lowestoft. Anyone who saw any suspicious activity or has any knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Suffolk police, by phoning 101 or by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  A popular Suffolk hotel and restaurant has now been reunited with its iconic mascot - a giant and prized hedgehog. The Hog Hotel on London Road, Pakefield - said that the hedgehog which has 2500 handmade spikes, was stolen on Sunday evening (14th February). However, following a plea on social media - the spiny mammal has been found and returned home. Local businessman Johnny Spillings found the giant hedgehog 'battered and bruised' in a ditch in Gisleham, on his way to work this morning (17th February). Hotel owner, Nathan Jones said: ‘a huge and enormous thank you to everyone that shared, liked and commented on the post' and added that: true community spirit had been shown.'
It was not known how long the hedgehog (named Dave) had been left in the ditch - but the perhaps the power of social media, really did make him too hot to handle.  Lowestoft fire crews, pictured here on the town's South Station Twitter feed, were called twice to Corton just before the weekend.
The fire crews from Lowestoft South and North stations arrived to a caravan on fire on Friday morning (12th February) before 7am - fortunately no-one was hurt. Also Friday night the A47 was shut after a two car crash at Corton - one person walked away from their vehicle with slight injuries Meanwhile, Lowestoft lifeboat was also out searching for a 75 year old woman at the end of last week - checking the beaches from Hopton to Pakefield - fortunately the pensioner was found safely onshore. |
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