PARISH OF PINEWOOD
Pinewood is a large parish within the Babergh District of Suffolk, England and although not part of, is located on the south western fringe of Ipswich.
Formed in 1994 as a result of a boundary review, the parish has continued to grow in population through a number of new residential developments and now has around 5000 inhabitants in approx. 2000 homes.

The name 'Pinewood' was formed through combining the names of the two residential areas used to form the parish, i.e. Pinebrook previously within the Copdock and Washbrook parish boundary and Brookwood previously within the Belstead parish boundary.

The Parish of Pinewood has a Community Hall, Baptist Church, Doctors Surgery, Hairdressers, Convenience Store, Takeaway, privately run Nursery School, a Special School for children with disability and a large Retail Park which includes a variety of big name stores and food outlets.

Although the parish abuts the boundary of Ipswich along one edge, it benefits from Belstead Brook Park along much of the remainder, a pleasant place to walk and observe the wildlife.

PINEWOOD PARISH COUNCIL
A parish council is the tier of local government closest to the people. A parish council is a locally elected body who represents the concerns and interests of the local community.

We are able to play a vital part in and can influence other decision makers and can in many cases, deliver services to meet local needs. We can make a difference!

We have a wide range of powers and in Pinewood these range from commenting on planning applications: highways, traffic, community safety, lighting, litter, rights of way and by providing and maintaining bus shelters, seats, litter bins, dog-dirt bins, notice boards and by providing a community hall.

The parish council has the power to award grants to community organisations for capital projects.  In the past these have included funding a number of Neighbourhood Watch signs, supporting the Womens' Institute Sensory Garden project at B elstead School, grants towards improvement works in Belstead Brook Park, grants to charitable organisations that help those living in the parish and most recently in providing the majority of the funding to build the Pinewood Community Hall.

With funds already earmarked for the installation of more bus shelters, refurbishment of the existing ones, more litter bins, dog-bins and new noticeboards, 2011 looks as if it will be another very busy year!