Autumn is in the air! October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so I have been busy working alongside one of my charities, Breast Friends CIC, to raise awareness of breast cancer. In recognition of this important month, a number of Felixstowe-local bars and cafés have pledged a donation to Breast Friends CIC. We launched the fundraising scheme in the Boardwalk Café Bar on Felixstowe Pier on 30 September. Look out for the pink poster, displayed in the windows of participating local businesses, indicating their support. October also saw a Pink Ribbon Barn Dance in aid of the Mayors Charities, which was great fun.
I am pleased to announce that the Mayor’s Charity Cheese and Wine Evening, hosted at Landguard Fort, raised over £4,600. Thank you so much to everybody who was involved, to the charities who participated in the ‘bargain hunt’, to Adnams, the Alba Chiara and Maritime Transport for their generous sponsorship and donations, and to everyone who bought tickets, came along and placed generous bids on the lots.
September saw Stage Five of the Tour of Britain conclude in Felixstowe. It was wonderful to see Felixstowe so busy with thousands lining the route and watching internationally acclaimed cyclists racing across the finish line on sea road. The fabulous Love Felixstowe Festival, organised by the Felixstowe BID, returned for the second year, and was a great success, offering three days of free entertainment, including live music, an outdoor cinema, food and family friendly activities to all.
I also recently visited Wesel to celebrate 50 years of town twinning. This was my first visit to Wesel and I certainly hope to return in the future. I learned that Wesel was almost completely destroyed during World War II, but has been rebuilt into a vibrant and wonderful city. I was grateful to receive a warm welcome, and enjoyed learning about the local community, and everything that the city has to offer. The programme for the weekend was a busy one. My personal highlight was a tour of the city by night, rich with history, delivered by local two students. It is hoped that a delegation from Wesel will visit Felixstowe next April. I pay tribute to those from the Wesel Association, who have kept the enduring friendship between our two towns alive. Long may it continue.
In relation to Council business, Felixstowe Town Council is looking to develop its collective view on the North Felixstowe Garden Neighbourhood proposals, following a number of briefings from East Suffolk Council on this matter, and it is hoped that this will be agreed at the Full Council Meeting of 6 November 2024. This will be an overarching view, as many details will not be known until formal planning applications begin to be submitted, which we are advised will be in early 2025. The Town Council will, as it always does for every planning application in the town, carefully consider and make its recommendations to the Planning Authority, East Suffolk Council, for determination.
Cllr David Rowe
Mayor of Felixstowe