Latest News
19 February 2026
Grit Bins in Badwell Ash and Long Thurlow
Currently the Parish Council owns and supplies the grit bins located throughout Badwell Ash. These bins play an important role in keeping our community safe during icy and snowy weather.
How Grit Bins Are Maintained
• Annual Replenishment: Suffolk Highways refills all parish grit bins from August each year, ensuring they are fully stocked ahead of the winter period.
• Local Monitoring: The Badwell Ash Street Cleaner checks and monitors the bins regularly, reporting any issues so they can be addressed promptly.
New Grit Bin Requests
The Parish Council has submitted requests for two additional grit bins at:
• The Broadway junction with Ladywood Drive, Badwell Ash
• Long Thurlow, beside the Community Hub
Before any new bin can be installed, Suffolk Highways must assess and approve the proposed location to ensure it meets safety and operational criteria.
Using Grit Responsibly
Grit from parish bins is provided for use on public roads and pavements to help keep the community safe.
It must not be used for private driveways, private car parks, or commercial premises.
Read more on Grit Bins – Winter Prep Update
18 February 2026
Greater ability for communities to set their own speed restrictions
Suffolk County Council has adopted a new policy, effective January 2026, that makes it significantly easier for towns and villages to introduce 20mph speed limits. Under the revised approach, applications are now more likely to be approved where the existing average speed is 28mph or below and where there is clear evidence of community support.
The intention behind the policy is straightforward:
• improve road safety
• reduce the number and severity of accidents
• enhance quality of life for residents, pedestrians, and cyclists
While the new framework is a welcome step, there are still areas that need to be streamlined. A common source of confusion arises when new housing developments are built on the edge of a village. Many residents understandably expect the speed‑limit boundary to move automatically to reflect the expanded settlement, yet this does not currently happen without a formal review and application.
Even so, the updated policy gives communities far more influence than before. If the majority of residents support a 20mph zone—and the existing speeds meet the criteria—villages should now find it much easier to secure approval.
If you would like to see the introduction of a 20mph speed limit though Badwell Ash and Long Thurlow contact the Parish Clerk badwellashpc@outlook.com
Read more on Community Speed Restrictions
20 January 2026
The Parish Council are seeking a new Parish Clerk.
Read more on Vacancy for Parish Clerk
16 December 2025
Local government re-organisation consultation - open until 11 January 2026
This statutory consultation is seeking views on proposals to change how councils are structured across Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is asking residents, businesses, and community groups to respond and help inform the assessment of these proposals.
What’s being proposed in Suffolk
Two proposals have been submitted for the future shape of local government in Suffolk. Both were received following the Secretary of State’s invitation to submit unitary proposals and are now open for consultation:
• One Suffolk Council (single unitary): Suffolk County Council proposes one unitary council covering the entire county—Babergh, East Suffolk, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk, and West Suffolk. You can find more detail and their case for change at:
View our Consultation Resources - One Suffolk Council• Three Councils for Suffolk (three unitaries): The district and borough councils propose three unitary councils, with modified boundaries by moving specific parishes between areas:
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Western Suffolk: West Suffolk (plus 21 parishes from Mid Suffolk) and Babergh (less 31 parishes).
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Central and Eastern: Mid Suffolk (less 29 parishes) and East Suffolk (less 25 parishes).
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Ipswich and Southern Suffolk: Ipswich (plus 31 parishes from Babergh, 8 parishes from Mid Suffolk, and 25 parishes from East Suffolk).
How to respond
• Read each proposal
• What you’ll be asked: The consultation includes questions about each proposal to help the government assess them. You can comment on the strengths, risks, local impacts, and your preference.
Read more on Local government re-organisation consultation - Have your say!
28 November 2025
The Parish Council has recently joined forces with the Church and the Village Hall Committee through the Community Working Group to address the priorities raised by residents. This marks the beginning of a more coordinated approach between the three groups, who have traditionally worked more independently. By collaborating in this way, we are better positioned to deliver inclusive, practical solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of our community.
As part of this work, the Community Working Group has created a Combined Village Mission Statement. This mission statement reflects the views and requests shared by the community and sets out how the Church, the Village Hall Committee and the Parish Council will work together for the benefit of the village.
With this mission statement now in place and published the Parish Council believes its important for the community to see how the Vision Statement related and supports the Combined Village Mission Statement.
How it links to our Parish Vision
The Parish Council will use the new mission statement alongside our Vision for the Badwell Ash Parish Community, which sets out our commitment to a thriving, healthy and safe rural environment. Our vision places importance on inclusive spaces, strong local identity, improved connectivity, support for local businesses, protection of green spaces and sensitive development aligned with future needs
By aligning the Parish Vision with the Combined Village Mission Statement, we can make sure our decisions and actions are guided both by long term goals and by the practical needs identified by residents.
What this means for the community
This joined approach will help us;
- Plan and deliver projects more effectively
- Improve communication and transparency
- Support village groups in a more coordinated way
- Respond more directly to the priorities raised by residents
- Encourage greater participation in village life
The Parish Council is committed to working openly and constructively with our partners and with the wider community. The mission statement is an important step forward and we will continue to work with the Community Working Group to turn shared ideas into visible progress across the parish.
Read more on Our shared approach to supporting the village
24 November 2025
Keep an eye out for the latest edition of The Broadsheet – it will soon be dropping through your door!
For those who can’t wait, you can read all the latest parish news online right now: 2305 BROADSHEET
Read more on Dec/Jan issue of The Broadsheet
6 November 2025
We’re thrilled to share that Badwell Ash has secured central government funding to install a limited number of on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging points around the village.
To make the most of this opportunity, we need your input! Your local knowledge will help us choose locations that are practical, accessible, and beneficial to the whole community.
Read more on Help Shape EV Charging in Badwell Ash!
6 November 2025
We are thrilled to announce that the Community Survey report is complete and ready to be acted on! It is an inspiring read, full of your hopes and ideas for our Parish.
In a momentous step forward, we have formed a Community Working Group with representatives from the Church, the Village Hall, and the Parish Council. This is a historic first, as these three pillars of our community join forces to make your wishes a reality!
Our collective vision is already in motion. We are actively pursuing grant funding for a Multi-Use Games Area and a new, revised planning application to make it a perfect fit for our village. We're also building on the fantastic work of the Village Hall Committee to expand our beloved hall, with plans for a spacious Sports/Function Hall and Cafe/Bar Area with a modern Industrial Kitchen!
This is an exciting time for our community, and we are working hard to bring these wonderful projects to life for everyone to enjoy.
Read more on New Community Working Group
26 October 2025
Mid Suffolk Council has commenced a Community Governance Review in all parts of the district. The purpose of the review is to enable councils and residents to consider what changes are needed to parish arrangements for effective future governance. The Council has published its Terms of Reference document for the review and a copy can be viewed from the QR code (below) or on the Council website at: https://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/community-governance-review
Read more on Notice of Community Governance Review
