Mayor's Update - September 2025

August/early September - a holiday month for many

During the month, Woodbridge played host to many visitors. The evidence was all around. Kingston Field was very popular. The Deben Yacht Club’s regatta brought many people back to Woodbridge. Engaging with visitors provided a wonderful opportunity to get a glimpse into other people’s lives – people from Shropshire, Amersham, Stansted and a self-declared Cockney now living in Essex to name a few in my case.

Woodbridge now has improved bus services. There are more frequent services to Felixstowe, Grundisburgh, Rendlesham and Sutton.  The 73 Felixstowe bus now provides the link to Tesco, M&S and Aldi at Martlesham Heath.  The new 800 service provides a new link with Martlesham Park and Ride and a service into the centre of Ipswich hospital. The 70 bus provides a later return bus from Ipswich than previously available.

August did not turn out to be a complete holiday for the Council. Have you heard of the plans for Local Government Reform? Sounds a bit dry but it is going to impact Woodbridge and its ability to thrive as a Market Town. LGR will abolish the current two upper levels of local government - Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council - and replace it with a single Unitary Council. There will also, in addition, be a new Strategic Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk presided over by a directly elected Mayor.

What does this all mean for us in Woodbridge?   In July and August, we met with both SCC & ESC and there are some early indications that Woodbridge Town Council might need to play a bigger role in looking after some of the land and buildings currently owned by both – see photos of a couple of examples. Opportunity? Threat? We’re trying to work it out. 

We’ve established 4 working parties based on the four wards of Woodbridge to do an immediate review of the land and buildings. You might see us about - your engagement will be needed if we are to get this right.

Other events Woodbridge has held commemorations for Victory in Japan Day and Merchant Navy Day. Both paid homage to the bravery of many in wartime and reminded us all how vital it is that we work for peace and reconciliation rather than conflict and war.

We also hosted the opening stage of the Tour of Britain men’s cycle race. It was quite a spectacular event and, despite the traffic and the inconvenience caused, I hope you were able to enjoy it. As Mayor, I was also invited on to the panel of judges for the RSPCA’s annual dog show. Judging dogs was a first for me, but I was surrounded by other very knowledgeable people. By the time this is published, we will have celebrated the 450th birthday of the Shire Hall which we all hope will have been an enjoyable, Elizabethan celebration, for Woodbridge to mark National Heritage Week.(Photo credit - Adam Thorpe)

Councillor Nigel Phipps

CouncillorPhipps@woodbridge-suffolk.gov.uk

Mayor of Woodbridge