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Sackers recycling centre expansion faces opposition amid fire concerns

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At least 30 residents have objected to plans to expand a recycling yard in Great Blakenham that has experienced three serious fires.

The big picture: Sackers recycling centre has submitted a planning application to Suffolk County Council to extend its site, aiming to reduce fire risks. However, more than 30 local residents have objected to the plans.

Why it matters: The facility has seen multiple large-scale fires, including a recent blaze caused by a discarded battery.

A huge fire at Sackers in Great Blakenham, Ipswich
The most recent fire on August 8th needed 80 firefighters to bring it under controlOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

The proposal: Sackers have submitted an application to extend the site. The application states the expansion would not increase the amount of materials stored, rather create smaller heaps of stored materials in order to lower large fire risks.

The company had previously announced plans to make "further investment" in firefighting equipment on-site.

The objections: Objections from local residents centre around fears of increased noise and traffic, while some remain unconvinced that the proposed solution will be effective in reducing the fire risk at the site.

The bottom line: While Sackers aims to improve safety with its expansion plans, residents' objections highlight ongoing concerns around increased noise and traffic.

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University of Suffolk to host first student research conference

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Students will present their research projects at the inaugural Journal of Suffolk Student Research Conference on 5 March as the university launches its online student research journal.

Why it matters: The conference creates a new public platform for undergraduate and postgraduate students to showcase their academic work, providing valuable presenting experience while engaging with the wider community.

Dr Rachel Grenfell-Essam, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and Dr Jennifer Coe, Lecturer in Psychology
Dr Rachel Grenfell-Essam, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and Dr Jennifer Coe, Lecturer in PsychologyUniversity of Suffolk

The details: The event will include student presentations, poster sessions, keynote speakers, networking opportunities and prizes for the best oral presentation and poster.

The conference is being organised by Dr Rachel Grenfell-Essam, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and Dr Jennifer Coe, Lecturer in Psychology.

"We are excited to hold our first conference dedicated to showcasing student research, bringing it to a wider audience," said Dr Grenfell-Essam.

"It is a brilliant opportunity for University of Suffolk students to be able to have the experience of presenting in front of an audience and for people to get a real insight into students' work here – while also supporting our commitment as a civic university to share knowledge and educational opportunities."

The bigger picture: The Journal of Suffolk Student Research Conference will become an annual event, aimed at showcasing research, promoting collaboration and engaging with diverse audiences.

It builds upon the university's existing online academic journal of the same name, which publishes high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate student research.

For those interested: While the inaugural conference is fully booked, the online journal is available free to view at: https://libguides.uos.ac.uk/journals/studentresearch

The bottom line: The event marks a significant development in the university's efforts to bring student academic achievements to public attention and provide students with professional conference experience.

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