Framlingham Town Council

04/09/2026

🌟 Five on Friday – 4th September 2026 🌟
The start of a new month so time for a Full Town Council meeting. This month there was lots to discuss. 📋🏛️

🏘️ Hope Park Planning Application
As with all larger developments this application warranted discussion at the full council meeting this week. Views were varied with issues such as traffic, parking and general infrastructure but most Councillors supported the idea in principle. 🚗🅿️🏗️
This application was for outline planning permission – i.e. the principle of the development – and the Council has stressed the need for the developer to consult closely with not only direct neighbours but also the wider town before any full planning application is submitted. 🗣️🤝
Needless to say, watch this space. 👀

🚸 Road-safety concerns
Following a resident’s request for the matter to be included on the Town Council meeting agenda, councillors discussed road-safety concerns outside the College on College Road, where the road narrows near the Primary School, and near the Cemetery entrance on Fore Street. 🚸🚗
The Town Council continues to work with the Highways Authority, the College and local councillors to explore possible measures. We will ask Highways for permission to publish the mitigation options considered so far, including reasons why they cannot currently be taken forward. 🛣️📄
Residents are encouraged to report relevant incidents to the Police and, where safe, provide photographic evidence. 📸👮 The Council will also seek Police support to monitor these locations and is considering the potential for a town-wide 20 mph speed limit. 🐢🚦

🌿 Cemetery Consultation Update
Following consultation on the future of Framlingham Cemetery, councillors have agreed to focus on making the best possible use of the existing cemetery space, including provision for an area to scattering ashes. 🕊️
While only 47 parties responded to the consultation, the largest group of respondents supported ash interments and better use of the current site. The Council does not consider there is currently sufficient support or justification for the significant cost of purchasing land and developing a new cemetery. Only 12 parties responded in favour of a new cemetery or extending the current cemetery and burial rates contine to decrease. 📊
The existing cemetery will continue to be maintained and managed, and the Council will keep future opportunities under review. If suitable land becomes available, it may be considered subject to favourable initial surveys. Councillors will also explore future options such as memorial walls and monitor potential changes to national legislation on the reuse of historic graves. This is not a permanent decision and we will reconsider this fully in 2030. 🌳🕯️

👋 Welcome Cllr Adrian Cave
We are pleased to welcome Cllr Adrian Cave to the Town Council following his co-option at Wednesday’s Council meeting. 🎉🏛️
Although Adrian was unable to attend the meeting in person, he had formally expressed his interest in joining the Council. In accordance with the Town Council’s Co-Option Policy, his application was considered as he had attended the required number of Council meetings. 📋
Please join us in welcoming Adrian to the Council. We look forward to working with him and hearing all his great ideas for the town. 💡🤝

📢 And finally…
A reminder that the Town Meeting is being held on Thursday 10 September, at Hour Place, from 7.00pm. 🗓️🕖 The agenda is now available on our website at https://www.framlinghamtown.gov.uk/council-meetings
This is your chance, as a Framlingham resident, to share your ideas and views on what matters most in the town. 💬 Your feedback will help shape the Town Council’s budget for the coming year. 💷
Please come along and have your say — we hope to see you there! 👋

28/08/2026

🌟 Five on Friday – 28th August 2026 🌟

🏘️ Neighbourhood Plan – We STILL Need Your Views! 🗣️
We are still keen to hear from more residents. This revised plan will help shape the future of Framlingham for years to come, so it is important that as many people as possible share their views.
The consultation closes on Monday 31 August, so please do not miss your opportunity to have your say. ⏰
Visit our website to read the plan and submit your comments. https://www.framlinghamtown.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan-sub-committee and click on the highlighted consultation response form link 🖱️📝

🌿 Update on the River in Framlingham 💧
We know residents have been raising concerns about the current state of the river through the town, and we have been in touch with the Environment Agency to ask when the usual maintenance work will take place. 📞
The Environment Agency has confirmed that its usual cut and clear of the river is planned for September/early October. 🍂
The timing of this work is carefully planned. Cutting too early in the year can mean vegetation grows back before winter, reducing the benefit to the river's flow. 🌱 The Environment Agency also avoids carrying out this type of work during the main bird breeding season (March–August). 🐦
We appreciate that the river may currently look overgrown, but the planned autumn maintenance is intended to improve the river's capacity to convey water through the winter months. 🌊❄️
We will continue to keep residents updated if we receive any further information from the Environment Agency. 📢

🏰 Castle Pond: Help Us Restore It 🌿
This is not a new project. Framlingham Town Council began working with the Castle team and English Heritage towards the end of last year to improve the much-loved pond area at the front of Framlingham Castle.
The plans include clearing the pond, maintaining the benches and tidying the surrounding space. 🧹 The Town Council secured external funding, and we were delighted that more than 15 local people came forward to volunteer. 🙌
Progress has taken longer than hoped due to English Heritage procedures and the newt season, preventing the pond being dug out. 🦎 However, the project has not been forgotten. We hope to soon see more progress from English Heritage and we are happy to help where we can.
We have also reported the broken bench beside the pond. The Castle Cluster Manager has confirmed that the Estates team has been notified and will assess it for safety and cordon off as necessary until repairs can be made. ⚠️🪑
Would you like to get involved? We would welcome anyone able to offer time, practical help or ideas. 💡🤝 Email us at [email protected]. 📧

🕊️ Cemetery Records 📖
Did you know that every burial is recorded in a dedicated burial register?
We recently received an enquiry about a historic burial. As many of our older records are held at the Suffolk Archives in Ipswich, locating the information was not as quick or straightforward as we would have liked. 🔎
We are pleased to say that we have now received digital copies of all of these historic burial records. 💻 This will make it much easier for us to investigate future enquiries, helping us respond more quickly and efficiently while continuing to preserve this important part of our local history. 🏛️

🎶 Summer Festival Suffolk is back! 📣
We are delighted that Summer Festival Suffolk is returning to Framlingham College this Bank Holiday weekend.
With a fantastic programme of well-known artists, live music, entertainment and delicious food, there will be plenty for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy. 🎤🍔🎪
We hope you will come along to celebrate, soak up the atmosphere and support the many organisers, performers, volunteers and local businesses helping to make this special event possible. 🙌
Have a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend — and enjoy the festival! ☀️🎉

📢 And finally…
A reminder that the Town Meeting is being held on Thursday 10 September, at Hour Place, from 7.00pm. 🗓️🕖
This is your chance, as a Framlingham resident, to share your ideas and views on what matters most in the town. 💬 Your feedback will help shape the Town Council’s budget for the coming year. 💷
Please come along and have your say — we hope to see you there! 👋

27/08/2026

24/08/2026

Neighbourhood Plan Review
*Just 8 days left to have your say*
The update of Framlingham's Neighbourhood Plan will affect decisions on new housing until 2044.
It's vital that the plan takes into account the views of as many residents as possible. If you haven't yet responded, please do so by Monday 31st August, online at www.tinyurl.com/FramTC or there are paper response forms available in the Town council Office and the Library, where you can also see copies of the draft plan.
The questionnaire asks for your views on 20 policies. To make navigating the draft plan easier, these policies can be found on the following pages:

Fram 1 - development principles page 45
Fram 2 - housing mix 50
Fram 3 - design principles 53
Fram 4 - important views 61
Fram 5 - protection of green spaces 64
Fram 6 - sustainability 65
Fram 7 - dark skies 67
Fram 8 - ecological corridors 72
Fram 9 - flooding 77
Fram 10 - education 80
Fram 11 - health 81
Fram 12 - green spaces 82
Fram 13 - sport 84
Fram 14 - recycling 85
Fram 15 - employment 89
Fram 16 - tourism 90
Fram 17 - walking and cycling 93
Fram 18 - traffic pinch points 95
Fram 19 - parking 96
Fram 20 - town centre 98

21/08/2026

🌟 Five on Friday 21st August– Town Council Updates 🌟

With the clerk taking a well earned break, the rest of the team has been covering this week. It's been wonderful seeing so many visitors enjoying wandering around Fram and leaflets and maps have been flying off our windowsill!

🛠️ 1️⃣ Pig's Meadow Slope Fixed
Good news: the hazardous slope at the College Road entrance to Pig's Meadow footpath has now been repaired, making the route much safer.

🌿 2️⃣ Church Street Hedge Cut
The hedge on Church Street has been trimmed back, ready for the wall to be rebuilt. We are expecting the planning decision any day now- once approved, the builders will get started.

🗣️ 3️⃣Neighbourhood Plan Events
We held another two events for people to come and talk about our Modified Neighbourhood Plan review; a stand at the Market on Saturday and an open evening on Tuesday where we had a steady stream of people through the door. The Modified Neighbourhood Plan consultation runs until 31st August - you don't need to answer every question but all responses will be considered. The plan and consultation can be accessed here: https://www.framlinghamtown.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan-sub-committee

🧩 4️⃣ Community Events
We supported two interesting events at the Castle Community Rooms this week- East Suffolk Council's Dementia Awareness Roadshow & Essex & Suffolk Water's Community Information Event. Thanks to all who came. We hope you found them useful.

🚗 5️⃣ One Way System Safety Update
We are also continuing conversations with Suffolk County Council about cars travelling the wrong way down Church Street and Castle Street. We will soon be adding a No Right Turn sign on the Castle Community Rooms' pillar to remind cars exiting their car park, and we hope SCC will install a No Left Turn sign at the top of Fore Street shortly. Please stay alert when travelling up Church Street- you may meet a car coming down.

A reminder that the Framlingham Country Show is on this weekend at the College from 10-5 on both days. See their website for more information and tickets: https://www.framlinghamcountryshow.co.uk/

Framlingham Neighbourhood Plan Review PRE-SUBMISSION CONSULTATION: Modified Framlingham Neighbourhood PlanThe draft modified Framlingham Neighbourhood Plan is out for pre-submission consultation (Reg 14) from 2nd July to 31st August 2026. We would be grateful to receive any comments through the onli...

20/08/2026

*Town Tidy*
Our next work party will be on Monday 7th September from 10am- 12pm.
We will be working on clearing weeds from the pavement at the top of Fore Street.
If you are able to help, please send us an email or pop into the office. Thank you.
[email protected]

20/08/2026

We continue to receive reports of cars mounting the pavement on College Road and near the cemetery on Fore Street. This is extremely dangerous and an accident waiting to happen- especially in term time as College Road is used daily by children and families walking to all three schools in the town.
We have spoken with Suffolk County Council about this on several occasions, but options such as bollards, railings, chicanes or priority systems aren’t possible due to the narrow pavements and the road layout. A “road narrows” warning sign is the only measure currently offered, costing £587 for two signs to be affixed to existing lampposts. We were shocked by this price, and we are not convinced these signs will deter drivers who are already choosing to mount the pavement.
We have asked nearby residents if they would be willing to display signs- possibly designed by local children- asking drivers not to mount the pavement.
🚫 Mounting the pavement is an offence. If you witness a driver doing this, you can report it to Suffolk Police via the non emergency number 101.
We are asking everyone to take a moment, slow down, and allow other vehicles to pass safely rather than driving onto the pavement. Let’s work together to keep pedestrians -especially our young people - safe.
Thank you.

19/08/2026

We are pleased to confirm that the Pig's Meadow path next to College Road has been repaired and will be reopened when it has set.

18/08/2026

💧 Got questions about your water supply?

Essex & Suffolk Water are holding a Local Action community event at Castle Community Rooms on Thursday 20th August, from 2.30pm–5.30pm.

It’s a great opportunity to meet their team of experts and ask questions about issues that matter locally, including:

💷 Water bills
🚰 The Temporary Use Ban
📱 Smart meters
🏗️ Local water supply projects
🌱 The future of our water supply and the local environment

We’re sharing this event as an opportunity for local residents to have their say, ask questions and find out more about Essex & Suffolk Water’s plans for the area.

📍 Castle Community Rooms
📅 Thursday 20th August 2026
⏰ 2.30pm–5.30pm

If you have questions or concerns about your water supply, why not pop along? 💧

18/08/2026

Church Wall Update: The hedge along Church Street has now been cut back in preparation for the wall to be rebuilt. The Diocese is currently waiting for planning permission to be granted, and then it is hoped that the building works will begin soon after.