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East Bergholt Parish Council
Roads, Footpaths and Flatford (RFF) Committee
Annual Chairman’s Report for the year May 2022 to May 2023
The intention of this report is to provide a synopsis of the major work by the Committee, it does not
provide a chronological list of that work and by necessity there is not the time to acknowledge all the work
by the Committee.
Village Centre Car Park.
The car park continues to be well used.
The RFF Committee are happy to report that both the resurfacing and white car park space lining are
performing well.
The car park risk assessment and maintenance plan was reviewed in January. There are some
recommendations for CCT cameras, some information signs and the replacement of a door closure.
The cleaning contractors deserve my thanks for continue to do a very good job. I know of no complaints.
My thanks are also due to our Clerk and now also our Assistant Clerk for another year of their successful
management of this vital village asset.
Fen Foot Bridge
The old Fen Bridge was closed in June 2020. The replacement Fen Bridge was finally completed and
opened by Suffolk County Council on the 18
th
October 2022. The opening dignitaries being Councillors Paul
West and Georgia Hall from Suffolk County Council and a representative from the AONB.
East Bergholt Parish Council had complained about the lack of provision for disabled people and when this
was rejected by Suffolk County Highways, Councillor Price took the matter to the Ombudsman.
Unfortunately, the Ombudsman stated that they could not consider whether or not disabled people were
discriminated against by the fact that they could not use the bridge because that was a decision only a
court could make. They could only decide whether a process had been followed or not. After four months
of deliberation their decision was that a process had been followed and hence Suffolk County Council were
not at fault.
Talking to a rights of way officer on the 24
th
April this year it appears that the AONB has been active and
appears that they have indicated that they are prepared to make some funds available for the new bridge
to be retro fitted with some ramps and hence this might bring it into the twenty first century with respect
to the rights of the disabled. However, no designs for this have been done to date and there is no
agreement made with the local landowner. It is also doubtful that that the Suffolk Council rights of Way
team have the resources to undertake the design work, unless Suffolk County Council were to get behind
this project. We need to continue to help make the case.
Parking Problems in the Centre of the Village
At a meeting between Suffolk County Council and East Bergholt Parish Council on April 5
th
2022, which was
attended by the Cabinet Councillor for Highways Mr Paul West, Georgia Hall and four senior County
Council officers, Councillor Paul West made a promise that Suffolk County Council would resolve the
parking problems that missing parking signs were causing in the centre of the village. Councillor West
personally promised to do this within three weeks.
I have to report that the situation has not been resolved a full year and three weeks later.

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We now have to renew our efforts to get Suffolk County Council to either, complete and maintain the
Traffic Order made on 21
st
June 1991, or to provide the equivalent in terms of double yellow lines. Without
this being done the parking restrictions cannot be enforced and problems will continue to exist. My
apologies go to Mr Matt Bevan, who lives at Fern cottage and has borne the brunt of the traffic chaos
including many collisions with the boundary of his property. In the circumstances he and his wife have
been very patient.
Highway Flooding at “The Gables” opposite the pharmacy.
Each winter for at least eight years. The footway and part of the carriageway on “The Street” in the centre
of the village has flooded due to a failed highway drain. Suffolk County Council finally came and repaired
the highway drain last April and apart from a short period this winter when the gullies were blocked with
leaves. I do believe that the highway flooding has reduced and generally passage on the footway past the
house known as The Gables has now become possible even during the winter. Thanks to Suffolk County
highways for the work and to the persistence of our County Councillor Georgia Hall.
Village Centre projects
There are a number of village centre projects such as 20mph speed restrictions, safety driven highway
improvements on Hadleigh Road and also in the vicinity of the village centre and not forgetting parking
problems on Hadleigh Road. These were put on hold pending the outcome of the transport study by the
Neighbourhood Plan Group. We eagerly await the results of this study and hope that this coming year we
will be able to make progress.
Speed Cameras
The work on speed camera projects was also stopped pending the outcome of the study by the
Neighbourhood Plan Group. However, it is understood that Suffolk County Council tested a camera in East
Bergholt in 2022 and described it as a success. Nothing more has been heard but this is something that
needs to be followed up this coming year.
Footways
Many footpaths and footways in the Parish continue to be in a very poor state. Many footways are not fit
for purpose. Many footpaths are discriminatory. Many roads have no footways at all. There is a lot of work
to be done. Last year it was reported by the previous Chairman of the RFF Committee that there was much
community support to improve the footways. I am very pleased to report that last summer and autumn,
this community support has borne fruit. The WI has helped by surveying all the footways of the village and
we jointly with the WI, produced a report from that survey. This is already producing results. Suffolk
County Council have appointed a liaison officer, Melinda Hall, in an attempt to improve communication
and she recently announced that they, SCC, will be reconstructing the footway down Gaston Street and
also from the Hare and Hounds to the Medical Centre. This together with the footway work to be carried
out by the developers as part of the section 106 works from Hadleigh Road to Quintons and also from the
Medical Centre to the accesses to the new estate east of the Medical Centre, should make a big difference
in that part of our village.
While there is much left to do, I can therefore report some progress.
Rights of Way Footpaths
We seem to have a lot of support for accessible paths between East Bergholt and neighbouring villages.
The AONB Dedham Vale organisation and also from the SCC rights of way team have both embraced the
need. You may notice two new footbridges, an improved boardwalk, improved surfaces and removal of

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steps on the footpath the Stratford. You may also notice some new surfaces on the footpaths this side of
Fen Bridge and a renewed, “believed to be accessible”, wooden kissing gate that Flatford.
We hoped to continue to encourage improve to these footpaths and other footpaths in 2023/2024 and
provide more accessible kissing gates.
A14/A12 Interchange
Last year we took part in a consultation process regarding proposed changes to the A14/A12 junction at
Ipswich/Copdock. National Highways said that in November or December 2022, a decision would be made
by Government regarding whether the project would proceed or be cancelled and which option was to be
consider for further consultation. Nothing has been heard, so we await with bated breath.
Dog Bins
New and replacement dog bins have been installed following recommendations from dog walkers in the
village. This process is ongoing as we try to meet peoples requests wherever possible. One bin in Fiddler
Lane has, by request, been repositioned and lowered to meet the need of disabled dog owners
Vandalism
It is with sadness that I have to report that someone felt they could use a firearm, pellet gun or air rifle to
break the glass in the bus shelter at Foxhall Fields. Several attacks took place until we decided that we
could not keep carrying out the repairs just for the delight of a criminal vandal. It should be noted that the
police failed to respond when asked to do so.
Perhaps the issue of community responsibility may occupy the thoughts of the Parish Council in the year to
come.
Special Thanks
A Special Thanks to Georgia Hall for a Keep Clear road marking on the access to the home of one of our
Parish residents at the Church Plains. I hope that this road sign will dissuade those inconsiderate drivers
who thought it OK to park in front of his gates, leaving him unable to leave his house on his mobility
scooter, this happened not once or twice but many times and now my thanks go to Georgia for organising
and finding the funds for this, I do hope that the problem is now in the past.
Project Governance
It is very apparent that the governance process for highway projects is very poor. There is little to facilitate
smooth efficient cooperative work between the Parish and County Councils. The appointment of a liaison
officer by SCC is a step forward, but Suffolk County Highways appears to lack any proper project
management processes and any proper assessment of needs, costs and assessment of benefits for highway
projects in East Bergholt. There are no capital highway improvement projects shown on the SCC 20-year
plan for East Bergholt. The expectation seems to be that we need to prove need and also find the funds for
anything new, even though SCC are charged by the government to determine need and raise the necessary
money for highway spending.
This is going to be a real challenge for people on this Council, maybe, just maybe, the new status of our
Council as a “competent” council will help.
A look forwards
We hope for some improvement projects resulting for the work of the Neighbourhood group. We expect
to develop some especially exciting plans for our footpath network and we hope that the foundation work

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laid by the WI on the state of our footpaths will bring some dividends which might help to stop many
residents from being trapped in their homes.

Special Thanks are due
My sincere thanks go to all the members of the RFF Committee for their support and hard work over the
last year and also to our Clerk, Graham and our assistant Clerk, Louise and to Jane who continues to keep
our lovely village clean picking up the litter.

(Produced mainly by John Price who I thank for his efforts and support.)
Michael Hockley, Chairman of the Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee.