Derek Davis, Ganges ward (Shotley & Erwarton) 

Unwanted development in Shotley continues to loom over the village like a bad smell. 

Like everywhere, Ganges ward is obliged to take some new houses, although we are coming to the end of our tether and to meet housing targets set by the Conservative government, Shotley, which will become a core village in the district's new Local Development meaning we will supposed to build 50 new homes by 2030. 

We have already seen the village's less than positive reaction to build 48 new houses, despite a good percentage being earmarked for social and affordable renting, which at least is a benefit.

One of the written objectors to the scheme near Chapel Fields is developer Bristol Estates, owned by the Marquis of Bristol, who have subsequently put in their own application for outline permission to build 18 houses, as part of a larger scheme that could eventually reach 50 new houses, between Shotley Primary School and the village hall.  

Many concerns have been raised about this application, which does not appear to have any benefits for the village and huge questions have been asked about using the school entrance to access the site.

A public meeting will be held to discuss this and as always I'm keen to hear your views so I can reflect them at the planning committee hearing.      

My contact details are below.

As with all local authorities the 2023/2024 budget is going to be particularly painful.

 We have already had an indication with the Babergh cabinet deciding there will be increases in a range of services including the cost of garden waste collection and hygiene rating visits which affect many of our residents and businesses in the villages. There is also an increase in getting a zoo license, but that should not affect us here.

Joking aside, we are also likely to see an increase in our council tax, with Babergh, Suffolk County and Shotley parish increasing their individual precepts, with Suffolk police weighing in with a proposed addition of £15.

One piece of good news is there is an opportunity for those that qualify to get 100% relief, which has risen from 90%.

Costly market towns

One of the problems we face in the east of the district is we have to pay for the constant drain on our resources from the market towns Hadleigh and in particularly Sudbury. It is fundamentally unfair that we have to pay for their free parking and even though the cabinet that I was part of resolved to reduce free parking in council car parks from three hours to one (still generous) it is a failure of the current administration that it has not been implemented due to the Conservative Group's shenanigans,

Now, taxpayers are going to have to pick up any extra cost and financial risk after GPs in Sudbury refused to agree to a 25-year lease for a new health centre and, in the words of the Babergh leader: "The practice seems to have rewarded our help towards the health centre by effectively holding a gun to our heads by saying they won't agree to anything more than a 15-year lease." 

It is high time more investment was made by Babergh for the Shotley peninsula in general, and for me Ganges ward in particular, especially as the district is being forced by the Tory government to ensure more development here.

Please feel free to get in touch on all these and any other matter. 

Derek Davis

Ganges ward member

[email protected]

Council phone: 07548153784

Work phone: 07824167196