"Happy New Year. 2022 gives us lots to look forward to, especially the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. While the 6th of February will mark seventy years since Her Majesty acceded to the throne, the main celebrations will take place during the special bank holiday weekend at the beginning of June – including the lighting of beacons and traditional street parties. I’m also looking forward to marking 750 years of Saxmundham becoming a market town – when a charter was granted by Edward I in 1272 - with a weekend festival in early July, the Festival of Suffolk which launches at the Suffolk Show, the Commonwealth Games and much more.
Although I was busy visiting various local fetes last summer, this extensive programme of events is something we’ve all missed in the last two years, but boosters are helping us get through. A huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard over the Christmas and New Year period to get as many jabs in as many arms as possible as well as everyone who came forward to get vaccinated. At the time of writing, 69.1% of the population of Suffolk Coastal (12+) have now received their booster compared to the national average of 60.6%. If you haven’t booked your booster yet, then please do so via the national booking system at - www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-booster-vaccine or by calling 119. It’s essential that we all take action to help protect ourselves and our families and to minimise the risk of any further restrictions on our lives.
Recognising the impact of the Omicron variant on many businesses, especially in the hospitality and leisure sectors in the run up to Christmas, I’m pleased that the government have made available a further billion pounds to support those businesses. Grants worth up to £6,000 per business premises and a discretionary fund are being given through East Suffolk Council. The government have also added an additional £30m to the Cultural Recovery Fund – which has already supported organisations such as The Spa Pavilion in Felixstowe, The Leiston Long Shop Museum, The Riverside Restaurant & Theatre in Woodbridge and the Sole Bay Arts here in Suffolk."