Eye, Suffolk's Community Website
Health chiefs have pledged to consider appeals for new services at Hartismere Hospital in Eye, contained in a petition signed by 1,940 people.
The pledge was given in an open meeting hosted by the Hartismere League of Friends which attracted members of the public from a wide area. Read more →
A major public consultation started this week to ensure the public gets a say on proposals to build a £200m gas-fired power station at Eye Airfield.
Energy distribution giant Progress Power on Wednesday sent leaflets to 19,000 homes and business in Eye, Diss and the surrounding area in advance of five public meetings Read more →
A town councillor in Eye resigned because he felt frustrated at being held up in a project to deliver heating for the benefit of hirers of the town hall. Read more →
The Eye Parish Church Development Campaign has received an unexpected, but very welcome boost by the promise of a £50,000 donation.
The congregation at last Sundays’ service were told by Father Ron Casebow that he would be giving the money in memory of his late wife, Ethel, who died on Boxing Day 2012, to put towards the new organ console. Read more →
Worlingworth has been named Suffolk’s Most Active Small Village 2013 in annual awards by Suffolk County Council, while Eye took the runners-up accolade as the Most Active Town. Read more →
The office of north Suffolk MP Dr Dan Poulter has defended the MP’s decision to give his mother, who works as his office manager in London, a pay rise during times of public sector pay freezes.
He is one of 150 MPs who employ members of their own families, as detailed in latest figures released by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).
The junior health minister’s mother, Carol Poulter, has a salary at a pay band rate of between £35,000 and £39,999 and was recently given a £1,500 pay rise.
Mr Poulter’s parliamentary assistant Adam Burt, working from the MP’s Suffolk constituency office, said Mrs Poulter had worked for her son since soon after he became an MP. She had considerable previous experience working for other MPs and took a pay reduction to join her son’s office.
“She does a lot more than an office manager,” Mr Burt said. “The office has reduced the number of staff and she has taken on extra work.” He added Mr Poulter’s role as a health minister since September 2012 had also created extra work for the office.
IPSA was set up in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal in 2009 to monitor how much was claimed in personal costs and running offices.
Its recently-released figures show three of the four Norfolk and Suffolk MPs who have constituencies in the Diss Express area claimed over £50,000 each in expenses in 2012/13.
The claims cover travel and hotel accommodation or rent when staying in London, as well as various office costs, but salaries for their staff members are paid from the public purse. MPs can charge staffing costs up to the value of £137,200 (for MPs outside London).
Dr Poulter’s expenses claim for 2012/13 totalled £52,885.76, plus a staffing payroll of £123,213.63 including the salary paid to his mother.
South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon claimed expenses of £53,775.92, with a staff payroll of £112,159.63.
Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley claimed £55,123.99 in expenses and £98,824.37 in staff salaries, while South-West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss claimed staff salaries of £111,771.31 and the lowest of expenses claimed by the four local MPs at £27,353.73.
IPSA figures show that expenses rose from £91.5million in 2011/12 to £98million for 2012/13, with the number of MPs employing family members rising by nearly a fifth.
The funeral service took place at SS Peter and Paul’s Church, Eye,on September 9 for William Edward Taylor (known as Bill) who will be well remembered in the town as a butcher for many years until his retirement.
The service was conducted by Father Frank Howard and the organist was Colin Bartlett.
Mr Taylor began his career as a butcher, being employed by the late George Edwards in Broad Street and, after serving for two years in the army, returned to his job, later being employed by Baxters.
He married Marjorie in 1950 and also leaves a daughter Pam, son in law John and one granddaughter Sharon.
In a tribute, Charles Flatman described Bill as a true gentleman who left behind a legacy of honour and respect. “Characters come and go, but some leave a lasting memory and Bill was such a person” said Mr Flatman.
Donations in his memory are being given to the St Elizabeth Hospice and can be sent to Rackham’s Funeral Service, Stanley Road, Diss
A veterinary practice which has been operating from Eye airfield for the last three years will be expanding and moving to Diss.
Med and Vet, an independent business, will be moving to the old doctors’ surgery at Cherry Tree Stables in Roydon Road, opening on Monday.
Dr Marie Bouvet, who has been a vet for 18 years and help to set up the practice in Eye from scratch, said the new vets would be an asset to Diss.
She said: “We’ve been providing care for animals for three years very successfully and I felt it was the right time to move to bigger premises.
“We’ve been tucked away on the airfield where people only came to us by recommendation but being by the Market Place and town centre in Diss, we believe we will be able to offer our services to more people, especially people who couldn’t drive out to see us before.
“We treat cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, we do routine surgery, dental work, microchipping, passports and high-tech x-rays.
“We do our own out of hours work on the premises and never send emergencies away.”
The vets will be open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Drinks and nibbles will be served at the opening event from noon on Monday.