"A new version of Covid virus has hit our shores and we have moved quickly to stop its spread. The rollout of vaccines has been a huge success and is still our first line of defence to which we have added some mandatory measures like wearing masks in shops while we understand better the impact of the Omicron variant. We will review before Christmas.
As Christmas lights are switched on right along the coast, Small Business Saturday is celebrated this weekend and our small retailers and hospitality venues need your support. Government continues to support such venues with business rate relief. Businesses still pay for services like bin collection. That should go for residential businesses too and when I asked nearly a decade ago, I was assured that was happening so I was surprised to see East Suffolk council passing a resolution to do this. Good news that this practice is being reinstated.
Last Friday, I hosted a really important visit from one of the directors of BEIS, the government department responsible for energy policy. With the help of local councillors and representatives from Suffolk Energy Solutions, I was able to get across the need for the cumulative impact of various energy infrastructure projects to assessed as part of the site selection and planning process. Change is coming with the proposed National Policy Statements for Energy placing an expectation on applicants to demonstrate how the optimum connection locations have been identified and a requirement to coordinate multiple projects but I wanted to get across the current risk to our precious landscape and the risk of the eroding cliffs with cabling. I have engaged extensively in the various planning hearings and have always been clear that I would like to see the integrated infrastructure located at the brownfield site at Bradwell in Essex.
Finally, the Government has continued to support several arts organisations here in Suffolk Coastal with over half a million pounds from the latest tranche of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund. The Spa Pavillion in Felixstowe, The Leiston Long Shop Museum, The Riverside Restaurant & Theatre in Woodbridge and the Sole Bay Arts CIO will receive a combined total of £564k helping them to continue to provide rich cultural experiences for our area."