I am writing to tell you that we plan to carry out road marking, stud replacement and marker post works along the A14 both eastbound and westbound between junction 57 and 62. Once complete, drivers will benefit from a safer, smoother and better-defined road surface, as well as improved reflectivity of road markings and studs. 

 

We plan to commence this work from Monday 6 July 2026. We will work Monday to Saturday between 10pm and 6am only, weather permitting.

 

To carry out the work safely, we will need to close the A14 in phases, as detailed below.

 

Maps of the diversion:

 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and apologise for any noise and disturbance caused by our work.

If you would like more information, please contact us on 0300 123 5000, or by email at  info@nationalhighways.co.uk

Portal Woodlands is a much loved local space used by residents across Old Martlesham, Martlesham Heath and nearby areas.

With a section of the woodland now up for sale, Martlesham Parish Council has secured an Asset of Community Value status and triggered a moratorium to allow time for a potential community bid. While this doesn’t guarantee a purchase, the Council is exploring all options and has received support from neighbouring communities.

The Parish Council considers Portal Woodlands to be a vital community asset and strongly believes that it should be protected and preserved for future generations.

If you wish to pledge or donate to a potential purchase of the woodland, please contact the Parish Council office at enquiries@martleshamcouncil.org.uk

At this early stage, we'd like to hear your thoughts on what matters most for the Local Plan to address, including:

• What do you value most about East Suffolk and why?

• How can new development improve places you care about?

• What infrastructure or services are important to you?

• How can the new Local Plan support businesses and jobs?

• How can we reach people about the new Local Plan?

Please complete the questionnaire by 5pm on 29 July 2026. Your feedback will help identify the key priorities, opportunities, and challenges, and help shape policies developed at later stages.

Activities are free. Parents must stay with under eights.

Every Thursday Morning. Trained staff run these free sessions which are continuing throughout the summer holidays.

No need to book. Please just pop along. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Fridays 3rd, 10th, and 17th July 9.45 – 10.15 a.m. Fun stories, rhymes, and songs – this is a free activity. We hope to see you soon. We are taking a break for the summer whilst the Reading Quest is running.

Tuesday 7th and 14th July 3.30 – 4.30 p.m. Free play with each child given a basket of Lego bricks to create designs of their choice. We hope to see you soon. We are taking a break for the summer whilst the Reading Quest is on.

Tuesday 7th, and 14th July 10.00 – 11.00 a.m. Bring your little ones to our Stay & Play group for a relaxed and informal opportunity to meet other parents and carers, share experiences and chat. This session will be stopping over the summer whilst the Reading Quest is running.

Our Stay & Play groups are a chance for parents to socialise and give their babies and young children a fun, interactive play session that engages their senses and helps their development. These sessions are suitable for under 5s.

This event is part of our Me Myself and Baby perinatal support service. The aim of the project is to help reduce isolation and improve emotional wellbeing for new parent.

Tuesday 7th July 10.00 a.m. at the library. The group are discussing The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths.

Thursday 2nd July at 2.45 p.m. They are currently reading The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce.

This group is not running in August.

Thursday 30th July 7.00 – 8.00 p.m. The group are currently reading The Figurine by Victoria Hislop

If you are interested in joining any of the above book groups, please contact library staff on 01473 851374. The library supplies copies of the titles being read.

From 2.30 p.m. This month the session is on Thursday 9th July and then we are taking a break for the summer until Thursday 10th September. You don’t need to be able to knit, crochet or embroider to attend – just pop along for a natter.

Tea/coffee and biscuits are provided.

Saturday 18th July from 11.00 a.m. we are celebrating with coffee and cake! The friends and staff of Kesgrave Library would like to welcome our customers to celebrate our 20th birthday in our current location of Kinsey House. We are also celebrating the official unveiling of our new shelving and the launch of this year’s Reading Quest: Curious Creatures. Why not pop along? We look forward to seeing you.

This year the quest is running from Saturday 18th July to Monday 31st August.

Why not pop along to sign up to this year’s Reading Quest?

This year’s theme has new characters - a group of creatures who are detectives.

Kesgrave Library is running the following sessions each week throughout the challenge:

This is a free activity and open to all 2–12-year-olds.

Children will need their own library card, which can be issued before the challenge begins. Please speak to staff. Adults will need to bring ID to act as a guarantor.

To finish the challenge each child needs to visit the library four times throughout the holidays and tell our amazing volunteers all about what they have been reading. They can read anything they choose but we do ask for at least one of the choices to be non-fiction.

There are prizes and stickers throughout the challenge to motivate our young readers to finish, as well as a competition to enter.

Those who finish the challenge will be invited to the presentation of medals and certificates on Sunday 6th September.

Why not pop along and join in the fun!

If you would like to access the library but are unable to visit us, Kesgrave runs three home library routes, where volunteers come out with a selection of books to your homes. To access this service, whether you are house bound, recovering from an operation, receiving treatment for an illness, or enquiring for a relative/friend or someone you care for, please ring the library 01473 851374 or log onto the Suffolk Libraries website and complete the online form.

We are still looking for good quality book donations, mainly fiction – adult or children to fundraise for the library. Please speak to staff if you are interested in donating some items to us.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated items to the library.

We are preparing a new Local Plan that will guide how the area grows and develops up to 2045.

Police are urging families, friends and neighbours to make their elderly relatives or vulnerable members of the community aware of courier fraud after recent incidents were reported, including the theft of £80,000.

Courier fraud occurs when people are contacted by people pretending to be police officers or bank officials and convinced into handing over money, valuables or bank cards, which are collected from their home address, often by couriers. The criminals use a variety of different tactics, often claiming that there is a problem with your account and they need your help to catch the real criminals.  

In total there have been at least 14 incidents reported in the county between February and May, with around £160,000 stolen.

The incidents have occurred across the county, with recent incidents in the Ipswich and Babergh areas. One recent victim is believed to have had around £80,000 stolen after a fake company called ‘FCA’ contacted them. They stole from the victim via the online transfer of money, loans being taken out in the victim’s name and the collection of gold.

Other methods of theft included credit cards being collected from victims with amounts then spent using these, as well as the handing over large amounts of cash. Some tactics include being contacted by fake companies, pretending to be a police officer or pretending to be an official investigating fraudulent foreign currency.

Police are urging residents to share this warning with elderly and vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours – but stress that anyone can fall victim to these sophisticated crimes.

If you know of anyone that you feel might be susceptible to this, please help ensure they are aware of the dangers and consider measures such as call blockers.

Detective Constable John Payne of Suffolk Constabulary’s Fraud Assessment Unit said: “Courier fraud is a cruel and calculated crime. Criminals who carry out courier fraud will exploit a number of tactics, preying on the vulnerable, the elderly, and those that trust services such as police and banks the most.

“However, this can happen to anyone. These criminals are highly convincing and will go to great lengths to make their story sound legitimate.

“Please share this important advice with your friends, your family and your neighbours and make sure they know what to do if contacted.

“If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of the call please contact Suffolk police, ideally via another phone line or other method, to verify the details of the officer provided in the call.”

Officers have put together a list of some of the tactics used by the criminals to help advise members of the public:

Suffolk Constabulary is sharing a YouTube video from West Midlands Police to try and make people aware of the dangers of courier fraud, the signs to look out for and how you can protect yourself, your family and your friends. Courier Fraud Warning: Stay Wise, Don't Compromise

If you have any concerns or feel you or someone you know may have been targeted, please report it.

Reports can be made to both the police and to Report Fraud, while further advice on this and other scams is available on the Report Fraud website: Courier fraud - Report Fraud

Courier fraud occurs when people are contacted by people pretending to be police officers or bank officials and duped into handing over money, valuables or bank cards, which are collected from their home address, often by couriers. The criminals use a variety of different tactics, often claiming that there is a problem with your account and they need your help to catch the real criminals.

The victim may also be encouraged into handing over their bank cards, bank details and PINs, as well as handing over or buying high value items such as jewellery, watches and gold.

Older people are sadly the most likely to be targeted by criminals carrying out courier fraud. However, victims are not just elderly or vulnerable people. Those responsible are professionals, they know what to say and are very convincing.

For more details about checking police officers’ identities, please visit: How to check an officer's identity | Suffolk Constabulary