In the following pages are outlined a brief history of the parish; a history of the Grade II* listed church and a note of church services; details of the Parish Council including meeting dates, agendas, minutes and Freedom of Information publication scheme; local information and an outline of the facilities in the village hall and details of the many activities in the hall which include professional theatre productions as well as weekly events.

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MANY OF THE WEEKLY ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED

See the weekly events
on the village hall page

THE FARMERS' MARKET
HAS HAD TO BE CANCELLED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

To help those that normally attend to get provisions, and indeed anyone in the community, attached is a note of the main providers and their contact details

FRECKENHAM LITTERPICK

Saturday 4th April

The Litter Pick has now been cancelled. We are hopeful that the litter pick can be rearranged for later on in the year. 

BONFIRES

The Parish Council are aware that recently there have been more bonfires in and around the village.

Please can we ask that you be mindful of what you are burning and considerate of your neighbours when lighting a fire.

Please note that although there are no laws against having a bonfire, there are laws for the nuisance they can cause, please see the government website for more information.

West Suffolk Bin Collections

Garden Waste Collection

We have been informed that due to COVID-19 coronavirus, West Suffolk Council is prioritising essential services and from Monday 30 March we will be suspending the Garden Waste Collection Service to allow crews to be redeployed for essential bin collections.

The subscription year will be extended by the period of the suspension, however long that is, to compensate. If you have family, friends or neighbours who you know use the service, it would be very helpful if you could share this information with them.

We ask you please to keep your garden waste out of your black bin either by storing in your garden for the time being or by composting at home.

Information is available at www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/bins/gardenwaste Please check for updates here or on social media and the press announcing when the service is to be resumed.

West Suffolk Garden Waste Collection Service and remind you that it is time to renew your subscription. If you haven’t subscribed before why not sign up to and share a bin with a neighbour? The cost is £43 a bin a year, ensuring the cost of running the service is covered by those who use it. 

If you pay by direct debit you need take no further action.  Direct debit is convenient and secure and means you’ll never miss a collection. Full details of how to pay are online
www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/gardenwaste.

Easter Collections 

Easter holidays mean that ALL bin collections will be early the week of Good Friday and one day late following Easter Monday. Please note, bins due to be collected on Monday 6 April will be emptied two days early on Saturday 4 April. All households will be receiving a leaflet, also available online at westsuffolk.gov.uk/bins 

THE PARISH COUNCIL WELCOME
NEW COUNCILLORS

Cllr Michael King and Cllr Paul Brooks were both co-opted onto the Parish Council at the meeting held on 16th March 2020.

The Parish Council welcome them and hope they both
enjoy their new roles. 

CORONAVIRUS - COVID 19

Please visit the government website for the latest news, information and guidance in relation to Covid 19.

Please see statement from Cllr John Griffiths, leader at West Suffolk Council, detailing how the District Council are working to support businesses and communities.

Neighbourhood Plan and Sunnica

In November last year we asked for volunteers to help the Parish Council respond to the Statutory Consultation on the Sunnica scheme, which is expected in the first half of this year. We are very grateful to those who have already responded, please contact the Parish Council if you would like to be involved. The new sub-group met in January to read up about the Sunnica scheme, and the similar Cleve Hill solar scheme near Faversham which is further ahead in the NSIP (planning) process. We also learnt a great deal from a very interesting meeting organised by the Community Action Group at the Golden Boar where representatives from GREAT (Graveney Rural Environment Action Team) and Graveney with Goodnestone Parish Council kindly visited Freckenham. The representatives shared their experiences of the Statutory Consultation and Examination phases at Cleve Hill, as these are the next phases for the Sunnica scheme.

The Freckenham Neighbourhood Plan group continues to work towards the next community consultation, which will be a drop-in event at the Village Hall on Saturday 6^th June 2020. After a short tendering process, the group has commissioned the Landscape Appraisal. This is a grant-funded survey to be carried out by Chartered Landscape Architect Lucy Batchelor-Wylam during March 2020. The Landscape Appraisal will document the landscape in and around Freckenham as part of the Neighbourhood Plan. Coincidentally, it will also be very useful in the Parish Council's response to the Sunnica Statutory Consultation. For regular updates on the plan, follow the Freckenham Neighbourhood Plan page on Facebook.

All details concerning the Sunnica Energy Farm Scheme can now be found on the
Parish Council page under Sunnica

MEET UP MONDAY

organised by the Rural Coffee Caravan

Starting Monday 5th August 2019  Meet Up Monday will be at The Golden Boar from 2.30 to 4.30pm.

Meet Up Monday for ANYONE, any age, any anything to get away from the tele. screen and meet others in ones community.

People who would not normally go into a pub alone (shyness, not wanting to appear obviously alone) will hopefully make friends in an environment where they know others are in the same boat. Then who knows? They might pop in anytime. BECAUSE they can! With luck this will complement other community activities as folk become confident and connected enough to join in.

Film Nights

Film Night is on the first Friday of each month.

As from March 2020 all film nights have been suspended.

See the Film Nights page for full details.

  See Village Hall pages for all Special and Weekly Events with full details and website links.

   As we say "if we don’t move it, we lose it”, so we have brought Move it or Lose it classes to Freckenham! Delivered by a qualified Instructor, these fun-filled and low-impact exercise to music classes aim to get people moving whilst improving strength, balance and flexibility. Suitable for everyone in particular the 40+ and no experience required! now a weekly session - see Weekly Events page.

Strength and Balance classes have now become FABS (Flexibility, Aerobic health, Balance and Strength) classes - as before on THURSDAYS starting at 2.00 pm. Full details on the Weekly Events page.

CHOOSE YOUR PILATES COURSE

Pilates improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in the whole human body.     It puts emphasis on alignment, breathing, developing a strong powerhouse, and improving coordination and balance.

THURSDAYS with Rosie Trull with 2 classes:-

9.30-10.30am for intermediate/mixed ability 

10.45-11.45am for beginners/more gentle exercise

FRIDAYS with Julie Craig

11.00am - 12 noon.

or attend both!

Full information on the Village Hall Weekly Events page.

Come for an enjoyable Tuesday evening at Table Tennis. Amateurs to professionals, all are welcome! See the Weekly Events page for details

VISITS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

The Coffee Caravan is back in the village in 2020 and the proposed dates are:

7th April

5th May

2nd June

7th July

4th August

1st September

6th October

VISITS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Anyone & everyone welcome!

Their visits are in the East View Car Park from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

FITNESS AND NUTRITION

There will be no further sessions after
Friday 31st January 2020

Suffolk County Council is implementing changes to its School Travel Policy for Statutory School age children taking effect from September 2019.

Click here for full details

Action is required!!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO LISTEN TO CHILDREN READ

Can you spare an hour or two a week to listen to children read in your local primary school?  Schoolreaders is looking for more volunteers locally to carry out this important role.

If so click here for full details and contact email/telephone number

 REMINDER FROM CITIZENS ADVICE IN NEWMARKET

SOME FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN THE VILLAGE:

The next Farmers' and Craft Market is on the 28th March.

(Full details of all events on Special Events page)

The first Friday of each month is FILM NIGHT in the village hall. Full details can be seen on the Film Nights page under the village hall heading.

And further entertainment is always being planned!

See the village hall page for full details of all events in the hall and the church page for full details of services and events at the Church.

The Parish Council has undertaken considerable improvements to the RECREATION GROUND with an all-weather circular path and equipment for all ages. The whole of the cost of the works has been funded from various outside sources.

For full details see the Recreation Ground page.