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.

THE VILLAGE HALL 

 Weekly events are, at the present, greatly curtailed because of the lockdown.

A few classes are continuing via Zoom or similar so

See the Weekly Events page for full details

THE MARKET IS BACK ON 24th APRIL
See the Special Events page for full details

If you would like to purchase on-line then

Click for the main providers at the market and their contact details

The village hall committee is urgently seeking further volunteers to undertake some of the tasks of running a successful village hall. Give it a go - get in touch with Jane Leitch either on the mobile (07542 198933) or by email - freckenhamvillagehall@btconnect.com

May 2021 Elections

On Thursday 6 May 2021, residents in Suffolk will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them at Suffolk County Council and as their Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Suffolk County Council elections

The next scheduled elections for Suffolk County Councillors are due to be held on Thursday 6 May 2021. This gives the chance for the public to elect their representative on Suffolk County Council for the next four years.

For more information visit Suffolk County Council elections 6 May 2021

The Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll can be found here.

Notice of Elections Agents' Names and Officers can be found here.

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioners elections

The next election for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) is due to be held on Thursday 6 May 2021. This election was rescheduled from Thursday 7 May 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will be the third time these elections have been staged across England and Wales. It gives the public their chance to decide who should be accountable in their area for how crime is tackled locally. PCCs are elected every four years. One Police and Crime Commissioner is to be elected for Suffolk in 2021.

This election is coordinated and run by the Police Area Returning Officer for Suffolk, based at East Suffolk Council. For more information visit: Suffolk PARO - 2021 election

The Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll can be found here.

Appointment of Election Agents can be found here.

Have recently published the second edition of their Health & Wellbeing newsletter of 2021.

In this edition, they share details of their successful virtual Fit Villages launch and inform you of how you could be involved in future projects. They share an inspirational story from one of Suffolk's local This Girl Can ambassadors regarding her 7 year battle with breast cancer, plus some top tips from Suffolk Mind on managing our mental wellbeing through movement following this months Time to Talk Day.

Click here to read the February Newsletter

The Gramophones blast off!

SUFFOLK RAPID TESTING CENTRES FOR COVID-19

There are 28 COVID-19 rapid testing centres open in Suffolk, tests take 15 just minutes and results are returned within the hour.

The 28 centres use ‘lateral flow’ testing to identify people who may have coronavirus but who do not have symptoms. The tests are for people who do not have symptoms of coronavirus and cannot work from home.

It’s because one in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms so regular testing is vital in breaking the chain of infection and keeping Suffolk safe.

Councillor Matthew Hicks, Suffolk County Council’s leader and chair of the Suffolk Local Outbreak Engagement Board, said:
“Testing is a key weapon in the battle against COVID-19, so we are delighted to be able to open a further 16 sites in more rural communities across Suffolk.
“Whilst Suffolk’s vaccine rollout programme rapidly picks up pace, we need people who can’t work from home and who don’t have symptoms to get tested twice a week. It’s how we will break the chain of infections and protect vulnerable people.
“It takes just 15 minutes to get a test and you get the results within the hour. over 12,780 tests have already been completed. Suffolk needs everyone to play their part.”

All 28 centres are listed on Suffolk County Council’s website, including their addresses and opening times. The testing sites are operated on behalf of Suffolk County Council (SCC). Tests should be booked online or by phone in advance.

MEET UP MONDAY

organised by the Rural Coffee Caravan

CURRENTLY CANCELLED DUE TO GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS

Meet Up Monday will be at The Golden Boar
from 2.30 to 4.00pm.

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.

The Rural Touring Dance Initiative has lined up a series of fantastic filmed dance performances that are available for you to watch via the link below as well as the opportunity to register for artist Q&A sessions!    

The latest Dance Performance menu is available up to June 2021

https://www.ruraltouring.org/project/rural-touring-dance-initiative-2/

FRECKENHAM 100+

Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are now due (as from 1st October 2020)

Click to download the subscription form for completion

The Coffee Caravan will be back on the road!

The next visit will hopefully be

June 2021

East View Car Park. 

It will be bring your own chair and mug they will provide the tea or coffee with an extra apology of sorry no cake this time!  But the information, familiar faces and friendly chat will be there as always!  We will also be practicing social distancing. 

https://www.facebook.com/RuralCoffeeCaravan/

Parish Council Vacancy

Following the resignation of Cllr Paul Brooks, a vacancy on the Parish Council has arisen.

West Suffolk Council have issued a Notice of Vacancy.

West Suffolk Council have now confirmed  that an election was not requested by 10 electors, and therefore the vacancy can be filled by co-option.

The Parish Council hope to co-opt at the next scheduled meeting on 8th March 2021. See advert to fill vacancy for details on how to apply to be considered for co-option.

East Anglian Film Archive (EAFA) has put together a 10 minute compilation archive film that we can watch and share to help still feel part of it. You can watch the film via EAFA’s website by following this link:
EAFA VE Day Archive Film

Presenting a snapshot of life on the home front, the film features archive material from across East Anglia and the compilation includes clips from a number of films in EAFA’s collection dating from World War II, with scenes from Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands War Weapons Week, Norwich city centre after the Baedeker raids, street parties celebrating VE Day, and more.

Full-length versions of most of the films featured can be found on the EAFA website www.eafa.org.uk, along with a variety of other films of wartime Britain, and for more information about the films or to delve deeper into the Archive’s collections, then you can contact eafa@uea.ac.uk. You can also follow EAFA on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/eastanglianfilmarchive/.

Below are two images from EAFA -

Patience wearing thin or enjoying the abundance of extra time at home?! Are you getting a little bit fed up or bored with the regular telephone conversations with family or friends. Nothing much to talk about, you’ve said it all before in previous conversations...

Well if you would like to talk to someone different/new then why not  give Elaine or Diana at the Coffee Caravan a call?

Diana 07494 572 153

Elaine 07494 570 905

Farmers' Market

For full details of many local organisations that are willing to deliver -
Flowers, Plants, Meat, Pies, Chocolate, Local Honey, Preserves and Chutneys and more!!

Go to the Village Hall page, Special Events, to see a link to the main providers and their contact details

BONFIRES

West Suffolk Council have advised the following:

Garden Fires – please don’t burn – do your bit by being aware that those around you may be self-isolating, have respiratory issues or can’t escape the effects of burning by leaving the house. Compost your garden waste or store it safely until normal disposal services resume. And never burn plastics or household rubbish which release polluting and toxic compounds. Burning trade waste is illegal. For information on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle waste visit www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk

REPORT FROM YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

CLLR BRIAN HARVEY

Each month our District Councillor sends his monthly report of which he then reports further on at the Parish Council meetings which he regularly attends.

His latest report is available here.

The Suffolk Resilience Forum who are working to tackle the spread of the virus in the county have issued a letter with the #stickwithit which is available to view here.

ANGLIAN WATER BEXWELL TO BURY ST EDMUNDS PIPELINE

Anglian Water will be building up to 500km of new, interconnected pipelines. The new pipelines will help them move water more freely around the region and divert it from areas of water surplus in north Lincolnshire, to the south and east of the region, where it isn’t readily available. A new 70km pipeline, known as the Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline will connect into our existing water network. The below ground pipeline will run north to south from an existing reservoir at Bexwell to an existing reservoir at Rede, to the south of Bury St Edmunds. There will be three pipeline spurs which will connect into existing infrastructure at the Isleham and Gazeley water treatment works, and the Woodditton water tower. For more informtion and to comment on the plans please see full update.

CORONAVIRUS - COVID 19

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

DOG FOULING

There appears to have been a recent increase in the amount of dog fouling within West Suffolk.

If you are a dog owner or walker then you must pick up your dog's mess if it fouls in areas open to the public. This is a legal requirement as described under the Public Spaces Protection Order (Dogs) 2017. If you do not then you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Details of the Freckenham Neighbourhood Plan can be found on the Neighbourhood page.

Please note the deadline for the Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire in regards to employment changes and working from home is 31st August 2020.

For further information see the Neighbourhood Plan page.

SUNNICA

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

LITTER PICKING FOR INDIVIDUALS

The Parish Council is aware that residents are kindly and regularly picking up litter around the village and disposing of it, something for which we are all very grateful.  We would like to support this activity, especially as the group litter picks run and carried out by volunteers cannot take place at the moment due to COVID-19 restrictions.

 Inspired by the efforts of a young volunteer litter picker in the village, the Parish Council has started a scheme for individuals who wish to carry out litter picking with the support of the Parish Council. Litter pickers who make themselves known to the Parish Council by contacting the Clerk in advance will receive:

 Guidance leaflets from West Suffolk Council on litter picking and COVID-19 safety:

• Guidance Leaflet https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/lwyl/upload/guidance-for-litter-picking-volunteers.pdf

• FAQ https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/lwyl/upload/FAQs-litter-picking-for-individual-volunteers.pdf

• A copy of the risk assessment covering the litter picking scheme.

• Cover under the Parish Council’s Public Liability insurance, as a volunteer carrying out litter picking on behalf of the Parish Council.

• Please request further details if needed, and note this cover is only available to volunteers who make themselves known to the Clerk in advance.

• (optional) Help to arrange equipment on long-term loan from West Suffolk Council, including:

• A high-visibility gilet

• A long-handled litter picker

• A supply of specially-marked black (general) and blue (recycling) rubbish bags to be placed beside the same coloured domestic wheelie bin on refuse collection day. Usually, bags beside wheelie bins are not collected, but these marked bags allow litter pickers to dispose of the rubbish without taking space in their own domestic wheelie bins.

 The Parish Council requests that, for residents’ safety, they carry out litter picking from established paths and in recreation areas only. 

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

The Coffee Caravan is back in the village in 2021

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 Farmers' and Craft Market has been cancelled for the time being. See the Special Events page for full details

(Full details of all events on Special Events page)

The first Friday of each month is FILM NIGHT in the village hall (but suspended at the present time). 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.