MAYOR'S MONTHLY - MARCH 2026

Mayor’s monthly – March 2026

At the February Council meeting, we marked the completion of two long running projects.

With the sale of 15 Tide Mill Way, we are delighted that this cherished building will now host the ‘Art Haven Community Interest Company’, an affordable and inclusive project bringing more creative experiences into the heart of Woodbridge.

And it will come as a relief to many that the renovation of the public toilets in Elmhurst Park are finally complete. For greater resilience, most of the time 1 of the 3 toilets will be open – but at busy times in the summer and during special events we’ll open more of them.

However, at our meeting, we soon had to move on from celebrations. The threat to Woodbridge from 3 major infrastructure projects – Sizewell C, Sealink and Lionlink– is increasing. Councillor Robin Sanders, my predecessor as Mayor, chairs the East Suffolk Community Energy Partnership that brings together parish and town councils to make sure that local concerns are heard. In particular, we need more:

• consideration and support for all of our communities whose economies and ways of life are being upended; and more
• co-ordination during the construction phase.

However, it is becoming increasingly clear that we are not being listened to. While these are all Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects it should not mean local communities can be ignored.

On a specific issue, Woodbridge Town Council issued a letter of objection to the proposed plans for upgrading the A12. We agree that an urgent upgrade is necessary, but our view is that the plans as tabled are not fit for purpose in multiple ways. We are very specifically concerned that the proposed redevelopment of the Grundisburgh/Dobbies roundabout is dangerous.

More positively we signed off the first set of plans for Elmhurst Park as our new gardeners start the heavy work of bringing our parks back up to an acceptable standard. We already have a team of residents who have come forward to assist with two of our smaller green spaces, and we’re always keen to hear from more willing to come forward! Check our website for more.

Nigel Phipps

Mayor of Woodbridge

CouncillorPhipps@woodbridge-suffolk.gov.uk