Chelmondiston Parish Council

30/05/2026

Message sent on behalf of Mark Emms, Director of Operations, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils

Dear Parish and Town Clerks,

I wanted to update you on the position in respect of the Better Recycling ahead of commencement of new waste collection services from Monday June 1st.

New Bins and Caddies

The main roll out of these is now complete. It has been a huge undertaking – so, realistically, we know there will be a few households which have been missed and we’ll be mopping these up as soon as possible. Our best estimate is this will be completed by around the end of next week. With the main rollout finished, we have additional capacity to address the ‘snagging’, and resources will remain in place until we are happy the job is done.

Through Kee Environmental, SERCO and our own staff we will have delivered getting on for 380,000 items (bins, caddies and liners) in Babergh and Mid Suffolk to around 94,000 homes, which given the supply chain issues we have faced will be a massive logistical achievement.

If residents contact you to say they have not had their new bin(s), please can you help us by giving out the following information;

If this have not been reported to the district council email [email protected] advising that you have not received your new bins/caddies, include the full address – if they have no internet access, they can call the council on 0300 1234 000 (option 4) (note we are experiencing extremely high call volumes at the moment)
Continue to use your existing bins until the new bins arrive e.g.
Babergh residents: if you have not yet received the new green-lidded bin, continue to put paper and card into your blue bin, along with glass, plastics, metal, and cartons.

Mid Suffolk residents: if you have not yet received the new blue-lidded bin, put glass, plastics, metal, and cartons, along with paper and card, into your green-lidded bin.

Food Waste (both): Until you receive your new food waste bin, continue to put food waste into the black refuse bin.

Put out bins for collection as per the new schedule Babergh / Mid Suffolk
Change over to new system once bins arrive (or as soon as you practically can thereafter)
The mixed materials in your blue recycling bin, and green-lidded paper and card bin, will still be recycled

Collections

The collection days and crews for the existing rounds are not changing, so we expect missed collections for recycling, paper and card, residual and garden waste to remain very low. Some misdirecting of recycling (containers and fibres) is anticipated by BIFFA (who operate the recycling facility at Gt. Blakenham), along with an initial clear out of glass bottles. This can be accommodated during the changeover and will still be recycled.

The food collection service is new, along with the separation of recycling now into 2 bins and residual (black bin) moving to 3 weekly. The new food service is crewed in the main by new SERCO staff. Please be patient, they will take some time to learn their rounds, especially those properties that are tucked away and require assisted collections. However, the weekly frequency will mean they soon get on top of this.

Crews have in cab devices and are supported from the SERCO office, but we are expecting some missed bins until they have fully learnt their rounds. Any missed bins should be reported at end of day as usual; we have additional capacity for the changeover period, but with the speed of the reporting process, collection is still likely to be within our 5 days policy (for food this will be next collection as it is weekly).

If residents contact you next week to say they have not had their food waste bin emptied, please can you help us by giving out the following information;

Report the missed food waste collection by ideally emailing the details and address to [email protected] – or by calling 0300 1234 000 (option 4). We will aim to return and empty the food waste bin as soon as possible
Where this is not possible, the crew will be made aware, so they should then not miss the food waste bin again the following week

Typically waste collection changes are usually assessed after the first 2 complete cycles of collection (6 weeks in our case) and we expect it to take this time frame to settle down to a new normal.

SERCO have a full roster of staff for next week as it stands and will have caught up on all collections from the last Monday bank holiday by this Saturday

14/05/2026

Dear Customer


Important roadworks information

A14 eastbound junction 52 (Claydon) to 54 (Sproughton) – urgent resurfacing



I am writing to tell you that we plan to carry out urgent resurfacing on the A14 eastbound between junctions 52 (Claydon) to 54 (Sproughton). This will ensure the A14 continues to remain in a safe and serviceable condition.



We plan to complete this work overnight on Wednesday 13 May 2026. We will work between 8pm and 6am, weather permitting.

Closures and diversions

To carry out the work safely, we will need to close the A14 eastbound between junctions 52 to 54 and divert traffic as follows:

· from junction 52 Claydon, head westbound on the A14 to junction 44, Moreton Hall Interchange

· take the 1st exit at the roundabout onto the A134

· continue on the A134 through 3 roundabouts towards Sudbury

· at the next roundabout take the 1st exit and stay on the A134.

· at the 4th roundabout, take the 1st exit onto the A134, Newton Road A13

· continue westbound to join the A1071, Boxford Lane

· continue on the A1071 through Hadleigh

· travel through 2 roundabouts and into Ipswich

· at the traffic lights turn right onto the A1214 London Road

· continue on the A1214 to rejoin the A14 at junction 55 Copdock Interchange.


We have worked with Sproughton Parish Council to mitigate the impact of traffic passing through Sproughton village.

Tom Bevan

Service Delivery Manager

Operations East, Service Delivery Team

23/04/2026

Dear Customer

Important roadworks information

A14 eastbound carriageway closure between junction 52 exit slip Claydon and junction 52 entry slip road - urgent resurfacing and bridge joint renewal

I am writing to tell you that we plan to carry out urgent resurfacing and bridge joint renewal on the A14 eastbound carriageway between Claydon junction 52 exit slip and junction 52 entry slip road. Once completed, drivers will experience a smoother, safer road surface
We plan to complete this work over two nights starting Thursday 30 April 2026. We will work between 8pm and 6am, weather permitting.

Closures and diversions

To carry out the work safely, we will need to close the A14 eastbound carriageway between Claydon junction 52 exit slip and junction 52 entry slip road and divert traffic as follows:

Drivers planning to travel eastbound on the A14 should leave the carriageway at junction 52
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit
Rejoin the A14 eastbound and continue the journey

Please note emergency vehicles will not have access through the works.

A map of the diversion can be found below.

How to find out more

To find out more about the scheme, please visit our dedicated website page at: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/east/.



If you would like more information, please contact us on 0300 123 5000, or by email at [email protected].

Yours faithfully

Tom Bevan
Service Delivery Manager
Operations East, Service Delivery Team

18/03/2026

We are extremely lucky and are very proud of Chelmondiston Primary School. Well done to the teaching team and supportive PTA. And of course the brilliant students.

Read here:

Chelmondiston Primary School near Ipswich received strong across the board from Ofsted inspectors.

16/03/2026

Important roadworks information

A14 westbound between junctions 58 to 55 – resurfacing
on the A14 westbound junctions 58 to 55. Once complete, drivers will benefit from the A14 remaining in a safe and serviceable condition.
We plan to complete this work over one night on Wednesday 18 March 2026. We will work between 8pm and 6am, weather permitting.

Closures and diversions

To carry out the work safely, we will need to close the A14 westbound between junctions 58 to 55 and divert traffic as follows:
Traffic wishing to continue westbound on the A14 will be diverted at junction 58.
Take the A12 northbound to the A1214.
At the A12/A1214 roundabout, take the first exit.
Follow the A1214 to London Road.
Join London Road and rejoin the A14 at junction 55.
Traffic from junctions 57 and 56 will need to travel eastbound to junction 58 and then follow the diversion route above.

There will be no blue light access for this closure.

A map of the diversion can be found below.

If you would like more information, please contact us on 0300 123 5000, or by email at [email protected].

Operations East, Service Delivery Team

14/03/2026

Dear Customer



Important roadworks information

A14 eastbound Orwell Bridge junction 55 Copdock – junction 58 Levington – resurfacing/ patching works, communications - loop renewals, drainage remedials (sweeping & gully emptying), barrier repairs



I’m writing to let you know that we’re planning to carry out essential work including - resurfacing/ patching works, communications - loop renewals, drainage remedials (sweeping & gully emptying), barrier repairs work on the A14 eastbound junction 55 Copdock to junction 58 Levington.

We plan to carry out this work over two nights starting Monday 23 March 2026. We will work between 8pm and 6am, weather permitting.



Closures and diversions

To carry out the work safely, we will need to close the A14 eastbound junction 55 Copdock to junction 58 Levington and divert traffic as follows:

Eastbound traffic intending to travel towards Felixstowe will be diverted at junction 55 (Copdock Interchange)
Drivers should follow the A1214 London Road and turn left at the A137 crossroads to remain on the A1214 Yarmouth Road
Continue along the A1214 Valley Road and Colchester Road, travelling straight over five roundabouts
At Woodbridge Road East, turn left and continue on the A1214, passing through two further roundabouts
At the A12 Martlesham Roundabout, take the third exit and follow the A12 southbound
Continue through three roundabouts and rejoin the A14 at junction 58 (Levington), where the diversion ends.

To find out more about the scheme, please visit our dedicated website page at: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/east/



If you would like more information, please contact us on 0300 123 5000, or by email at [email protected].



Yours faithfully





Tom Bevan

Service Delivery Manager

Operations East, Service Delivery Team

National Highways current and upcoming road schemes in the East region.

09/03/2026

Dear all,
Please be advised that a road closure has been scheduled within the area detailed below.
Location: U4143 Hollow Lane, Chelmondiston
Date & Time: 10 March 2026, between 10am and 3pm
Please note that while the road closure times are as stated above, it's likely that the teams on site will not be present for the full duration. All works will be carried out within the timeframe stated.
Sometimes we are unable to complete works as planned. This could be due to vehicles parked on the road, adverse weather, or a variety of other reasons often beyond our control. When this happens, we will aim to reschedule the works for as soon as possible, although this is dependent on us obtaining the necessary road space.
Reason for Closure: Road repairs
Access Arrangements: Access and egress will be maintained where safe and possible to do so. Please speak to a member of staff on site. Through traffic will need to follow the diversion route in place.
Diversion Route: Pin Mill Road, Main Road, Church Road and vice versa.

PLEASE RESPECT OUR WORKERS

Please help keep our workers safe by driving carefully and slowly through the roadworks. Feedback from our workers shows that too many drivers travel at excessive speed through roadworks. Everybody is entitled to a safe workplace, and our operatives work next to moving traffic and risk injury every day.
Please remain polite and respectful to our workers whilst they are in your area. There is no excuse for abuse.
We apologise for the short notice provided for these works, this is due to the nature of the works and the road closure application process.
Updates regarding this road closure will be available via Suffolk Highways on X and on One.Network.
Please feel free to forward this information to anyone within your parish or division. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us on 0345 606 6171.
Kind regards,

Suffolk Highways

09/03/2026

27/01/2026

Due to non payment of the 2025 Permits these Dinghy's have been removed from Pin Mill Common and to contact the PC for more information. We have to highlight that they may be disposed of at the PC discretion after a reasonable period of time.