Pre-school places, playgrounds and village facilities receive funding boost

Pre-school provision, playgrounds, footpaths to connect villages and village hall improvements are amongst the successful bids to receive Community Infrastructure Levy funding, following agreement by cabinet members at Babergh District Council this week.

In this latest allocation, more than £365,000 was awarded to six community projects across Babergh – including the creation of additional pre-school facilities in Hadleigh, upgrading a play area in Sproughton, footpaths connecting Lavenham and Freston with surrounding villages, and upgrades to Little Cornard Village Hall.

A further £123,000k contribution towards a new recycling centre in Ipswich was also agreed to help meet demand from residents either side of the district/borough border.

The Community Infrastructure Levy is paid by housing developers to the council and the funding is then earmarked to support projects that support local infrastructure keep pace with housing growth.

More than £5 million has now been allocated to cover the eligible costs of more than 80 infrastructure projects across Babergh since May 2018.

The latest successful bids, agreed by Babergh’s cabinet members at their meeting yesterday (Tuesday, September 9) include an award of £174,000 to Haleigh Parkside pre-school facility so more places can be offered for babies and young children; £87,500 to upgrade the play facilities on Church Lane in Sproughton; £65,500 for the Green Willows footpath connecting Lavenham and Harwood and a further £3,700 for the Boardwalk footpath at Holbrook; £25,400 to upgrade Little Cornard Village Hall and almost £10,00 for an improved eco lighting system at Acton Village Hall.

Sallie Davies, the cabinet member for Heritage Planning and Infrastructure at Babergh District Council, said: “The Community Infrastructure Levy helps us to support our communities and meet increasing needs for local facilities as a result of housing growth.

“Behind the scenes we work with our public sector partners and local service providers on services such as education, health and waste.

“We also work with towns and parishes to support a wide variety of bids and fund a range of forward-thinking projects to help meet local need and ensure communities remain resilient.  This leaves a welcome legacy for years to come.”

The funds have gone to:

Hadleigh Parkside Pre School, Hadleigh – £174,144

The Hadleigh Parkside Pre School Facility project include the creation of an additional baby room which will allow for an additional 20 preschool spaces, from three months.

Upgrading Church Lane play area, Sproughton – £87,502.55

A Sproughton Parish Council project to upgrade the play facilities on the Church Lane Play area. The updated equipment will provide an inclusive and accessible play area for local children and visitors.

Construction of permanent Green Willows footpath between Lavenham to Harwood – £65,550.76

The establishment of a permanent hard surface footway between Green Willows and Harwood (approximately 35 metres), supporting the council’s aim for sustainable travel and allowing safe connectivity in the village.

Little Cornard Village Hall upgrade – £25,428  

The Little Cornard Village Hall upgrade is set to create a welcoming and accessible environment for all village hall users. The improvement will upgrade the current facilities and blend with the traditional character of the building ensuring the village hall continues to be a focal point for residents.

Acton playing field and Village Hall eco lighting project – £9,990

Acton Village Hall eco lighting project will replace the existing florescent lighting system, creating a better lighting environment and experience for all users with the introduction of a new LED lighting system with motion sensors and timers.

Construction of a permanent footpath 023 Boardwalk, Holbrook – £3,745

The Boardwalk footpath is a well-used footpath, leading walkers through the wildlife site of Holbrook Gardens, joining a network of footpaths which connects Holbrook to Freston. The new permanent footpath will create new footpaths and cycle paths in the village with routes into Ipswich and adjacent villages and communities.

Recycling Centre Phase 2 Redevelopment of Site, Ipswich – £123,266

This contributes to Suffolk County Council’s £6,500 project to construct a new recycling centre to replace the current site in Portman’s Walk, Ipswich. This recycling centre will be for benefit those residents who live in Babergh close to Ipswich.