Making connections for a better quality of life (November 21, 2007)

Suffolk Coastal was rated last month as the 17th best place to live in Britain, and quality of life in the district was at the centre of discussions at the fifth annual forum of the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) recently held at Trinity Park.

Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location gave its glowing review of the district after taking into account factors such as the environment, housing, education, crime and transport. The 140 representatives at the LSP forum were all interested in playing their part in maintaining and improving the district’s quality of life.

“This forum was called ‘making connections’ because our goal was to update everyone on our achievements, share information about current projects, and give the chance to guide our partnership work in the future,” said Cllr Ray Herring, Chairman of the Suffolk Coastal LSP Board.

“We have achieved a great deal through the partnership during the last year but we also recognise that we need to discuss and address some of the new and emerging issues facing this district and therefore the LSP.

“With representatives from across our community, including councillors and officers from all three tiers of local councils, public and private service providers, business people, the voluntary sector, community representatives and young people from SCTV and local schools, we had a range of knowledge and ideas to share and build on,” added Cllr Herring.     

Four topics were discussed during workshop sessions at the forum, focussing in on green issues, support for vulnerable residents, business needs, and the generation gap.       

Among the successes of the last year that the LSP has helped have been
• SCTV, the new districtwide forum for young people and its Generation Jigsaw DVD,
• work under way on 15 parish plans,
• the attraction of over £45,000 of funding for local organisations
• Publicity about the bus services on offer in Leiston/Aldeburgh/Saxmundham
• 14 rural businesses gained advice and support,
• the award-wining Let’s Get a Life project tackling anti-social behaviour
• a mobile skate park that has visited venues across the district
• the Active Life programme offering gentle exercise,
• the Health Walks programme,
• projects to reduce obesity in children, identify and treat Chlamydia, and generally raise health awareness in schools

“Our annual forums help promote a shared commitment to the ambitions of our LSP. By bringing together representatives of such a wide range of community, voluntary, statutory and business interests in Suffolk Coastal I hope that all the 140 who attended would agree that we are truly a community-wide organisation.

“For us to succeed, we need to support each other to develop projects that deliver our ambitions. I hope that everyone left the Forum with a better understanding of where we are heading as a Partnership and what role each of us can play in its success,” added Cllr Herring.

Each district is required by the Government to have its own LSP working to enhance the local quality of life, and helping coordinate and shape the future action of public, private, voluntary and community organisations. For more information about the Suffolk Coastal LPS visit its website www.sclsp.org.uk