Village green cash boost

RESIDENTS are celebrating after they finally clinched a grant of more than £64,000 towards their own village green.

At the moment, Kettleburgh near Framlingham, has no green - only a small village pound at one end.

They can now begin work on creating an outdoor haven for villagers and visitors, with everything from playspace to a pond.

The grant, awarded by the Countryside Agency as part of their green spaces initiative was among the final batch to be approved before the scheme ends.

The village had tried for a grant before, but had been knocked back.

However, it was worth the wait, as it is one of the largest grants awarded through the initiative.

Owners Suffolk Coastal District Council have agreed the parish council can have the two-and-a-half acre pocket of land which lies opposite the village hall.

The £64,265 award is a major boost to villagers' £90,000 scheme to purchase and renovate the site.

Villagers now plan to fundraise for the extra cash needed.

"This is really our first opportunity to have a green space for the village. What goes perfectly with it is it has got a footpath running between the church and the village hall," said Gwenda Weeks, project co-ordinator of the Kettleburgh Doorstep Green Action Group.

"It has been basically used for grazing sheep, and it's suddenly now going to become something everyone can enjoy."

There will be a footpath with wheelchair access around the site, a picnic area, play area, pond, three access points, planting, a recreational area and an area of meadow.

"The whole village has been behind it from the beginning and we have had lots of meetings in the village hall," said Mrs Weeks. "They are very keen to see it happen."

She asked to thank their local sponsors, and especially Hollins Architects and Clarke & Simpson estate agents for their help with the project.

"We have had really good support from Suffolk Coastal and really good support from the Countryside Agency," she added.