The village of Westleton

Westleton is situated some 2 miles in from the Suffolk coast is roughly mid-way between Ipswich and Lowestoft and approximately 100 miles from London.

It is set in a landscape of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within the parish lies the internationally renowned Minsmere Reserve, owned and managed by the RSPB.

Westleton Heath National Nature Reserve and parts of Dunwich Forest also lie within the parish.
The majority of the 500 or so inhabitants live close to the B1125 Blythburgh to Leiston road, the remainder living in scattered cottages and farmhouses in this otherwise agricultural landscape.

Photo by Hilas Smith

The Village Hall and St Peters Church are the focal points of village activities, whilst the White Horse and The Crown are the main social centres.

The parish of Westleton is bounded by the parishes of Dunwich, Darsham, Middleton cum Fordley and Theberton cum Eastbridge.

The placename Westleton (or Westledestuna as it appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086) is believed to derive from the Old Norse Vestlithi (a personal name) and Old English tun i.e. Vestlithi's homestead.

To contact the webmaster please send an email to                             Westleton webmaster.

BOTTLE BANK UPDATE

 NOTICE

The site to the rear of the White Horse Inn has been used as the public collection point for glass/ bottle recycling. However, from Tuesday, 12 January the two bins will be moved to a new location in the Reckford Road lay-by to the south of the village off the B1125

This Parish Council (working with Norse) have been seeking a permanent home for the bins and the idea of relocating slightly away from the centre will hopefully mean less noise disturbance to residents as well as not being placed in such a conspicuous site directly next to the popular village pond.

The weekly collection will remain in place and arrangements at the new site will be kept under review.

 Westleton Parish Council

January 2021

Do you have a spare laptop?

A request for help from Citizens Advice.

Dear all

We have become aware that some families are struggling to provide all the children in their households with laptops to enable them to work remotely now that schools have been closed. Schools are providing some support but have limited supplies. In order to boost supplies the IP17 Good Neighbour Scheme is collecting second hand, unwanted laptops which they are having checked by a tech expert at Alde Valley to check they are suitable before being distributed. The laptops will be shared out between schools - a lot depends on the number of laptops collected.

The only requirement is that the laptops need to be able to run zoom so need a working camera and microphone. Tablets are also suitable,

Laptops can be dropped at the Town House. Station Approach, Saxmundham IP171BW between 10-3. If this is difficult for you then please let us know so that we can see if alternative arrangements can be made.

Many thanks

Chiara Saunders

Chief Officer

Leiston, Saxmundham & District Citizens Advice

01728 832544

Coronavirus - Covid-19

Local Information for Lockdown

To see the latest update of local advice and information please read Useful Local Information 14th January 2021.

Update from Westleton Village Stores

05/01/2021

Good afternoon everyone,

We were really hoping that we would not need to send any further e-mail relating to Covid-19 but I am afraid that the situation appears to be heading in a direction that will be worse than when we went into the first lock-down in March 2020.Due to the fact that the majority of our customers have been told to shield once again we have therefore taken the difficult decision to close the Village Store and Post Office to customers with effect from 1600 today, realistically this will probably be the case until the back end of February.

We will start a click and collect service from tomorrow, this will operate from the Tea Room door and will be contact less i.e we will place items outside in a basket for you to pack into your own bags. Payment can be made via a contact less card payment or by bank transfer. Orders will need to be placed by 1500 in order to guarantee everything for next day delivery – orders can be made either by calling on 01728 648216 or e-mailing ianjohnson191069@yahoo.co.uk - we will allocate you a 10-minute time slot at the time of booking.

For those that are shielding and not leaving their houses we will also re-start the free home delivery service and I have already been approached by sufficient volunteers to ensure that this can happen. Once again, we will look to deliver in baskets to the doorstep for you to unload in a contact less manner.

We have been informing customers of the above throughout today, please spread the word to anyone that you might see in a “socially distanced way.”  We have not taken this decision lightly and clearly this will be difficult for us as a business but think this is the best way to try and keep the people of Westleton and surrounding areas safe until the vaccine can hopefully provide immunity.

Much love to you all, Jane, Ian Sian and Mabel xx

P.S The White Horse will continue to be open for takeaways, attached is their menu and opening times, your support to the local Shop and Pub really is appreciated.

Westleton White Horse

Take-Away Service

The Westleton White Horse is offering a Take-Away Service for delivery or collection. The White Horse menu will tell you what is avaiable and how to order. 

Westleton Food Bank

A Westleton Food Bank has been established. If you want to know what to donate and how donations can be made help is available.

A "Thank You" from Annie

"Many thanks to all the Westleton village residents who have been supporting the Leiston Food Bank so generously.  You are doing a great community service.  The numbers coming to the Food Bank have doubled in recent weeks and we anticipate  further increased need as the furlough scheme ends and school holidays begin.  So please continue your good work, keeping in mind meals that might be appealing to children.  Drop off is on Thursday at the Village Hall.  Just a tin or two of non perishable food would be gratefully received. Well done Westleton!"

Thanks,

Annie 

Annie Groves

Centre Manager, Westleton Village Hall

Contact Annie by email at centremanager@westletonvillagehall.co.uk

or telephone 01728 648354

Case-Sera Wines; Eve & Richard Berrill

Eve's latest wine list is available. Please order directly from Eve via their website, by email or by telephone 01728 638395.

Truly Traceable Pies and Sausage Rolls

The Truly Traceable Pies & Sausage Roll Company are now delivering to villages including Westleton.

Their latest menu and price list is available and more information and details about how to order is available on their website.

There is also "A quick guide to safe shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic" produced jointly by the Charted Institute of Environmental Health, Environmental Health Association of Ireland and Irish Global Health Network. To read this see A quick guide to safe shopping.

Annie has also attached a document she was sent from school regarding well-being for families during this pandemic; some useful information and links for you. Please read Coronavirus - Wellbeing Tips for Families (help and advice from Southwark Educational Psychology Service).

The Westleton Community Care Network co-ordinator is Annie Groves, Westleton Village Hall Manager. Annie can be contacted on  01728 648354 or centremanager@westletonvillagehall.co.uk , or contact your local co-ordinator  who is named on the leaflets which were distributed to all households.

Community Update from Suffolk Police

There is a Community Upate on Covid-19 issued by Temporary Assistant Chief Constable David Cutler.

A Railway Carriage by the Common.

Read Tony Ingram's article; A Railway Carriage by the Common.