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Suffolk County Council launches pothole prevention programme ahead of winter

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Suffolk County Council has launched a proactive pothole prevention programme. The scheme targets vulnerable road areas before winter weather hits, aiming to reduce road damage and disruption for drivers in the coming months.

The big picture: Highways authorities across the UK face increased pothole formation during winter. Water seeps into road cracks, freezes, expands, and breaks the surface. This programme aims to seal vulnerable areas and reduce the overall number of potholes.

  • Teams are using advanced technology to treat areas prone to deterioration.

  • The programme builds on successful trials of Roadmender Elastomac and Dragon Patcher machines.

  • Work will focus on sealing cracks and repairing smaller defects before they worsen.

Potholes
Potholes have long been a frustration for manyemilysophie2Getty Images

Why it matters: Potholes are a major concern for drivers, causing vehicle damage and safety hazards. This preventative approach aims to minimise these issues during the winter months when pothole formation typically increases.

Key details:

  • Roadmender Elastomac system will target urban roads, using a flowable material to seal repaired areas.

  • The Elastomac process reduces material movement and waste by 90%. They use HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) as fuel, generating zero waste.

  • Dragon Patcher machines, fuelled by biodiesel, will focus on rural roads.

  • Work will take place from 7am to 5pm, with potential traffic delays of up to 15 minutes.

What they're saying: Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said: "Cold and wet weather often wreaks havoc with our roads, which is why we have taken proactive steps and developed a targeted campaign to tackle and provide resilience to our road network ahead of this winter."

What's next: The council will continue the programme through December, aiming to complete repairs before the coldest months of January, February, and March when most potholes form.

For more information on the project, visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/flattening-the-curve.

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500 mobile phones donated to support domestic abuse victims in East Anglia

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Virgin Media O2 Business has donated over 500 mobile phones to help survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault across East Anglia, including Suffolk.

Why it matters: The donated devices will enable vulnerable people to contact support services, emergency services and family members when their own phones have been broken or confiscated by perpetrators.

The phones will be distributed to Leeway, Catch-22, and Mountain Healthcare support services across five counties – Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Some devices will come with free SIM cards and mobile data from the National Databank, which was founded by Virgin Media O2 and the digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation. The National Databank is described as "like a food bank but for free data, texts and calls, helping to connect people in need."

Leeway

Leeway provides support to adults and young people looking to break free from domestic abuse in Suffolk and Norfolk.

The background: The donation comes as part of Virgin Media O2 Business's social value commitment through a recent police contract with 7F Commercial Services.

7F Commercial Services uses collaborative buying power for seven police forces in the eastern region, including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent, to obtain better value for money from their contracts.

What they're saying: Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said: "Supporting victims is a key responsibility for me as Police and Crime Commissioner. We commission many services to support victims to help them cope with the immediate impact of crime, and, as far as possible, recover from the effects.

Tim Passmore, Police & Crime Commissioner for Suffolk
PCC

"I absolutely support this 'social benefits' approach. Funding is always tight and anything we can do to work with the commercial sector to access additional funding to support this work gets my full support.

"I know from speaking to victims just how devastating it is to be denied something as basic as the ability to talk to family and friends. I hope these phones provide a useful lifeline for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault to feel more secure and less isolated."

Charlotte Hails, Head of Public Sector Vertical Strategy at Virgin Media O2 Business, said: "As a former senior police officer who specialised in Safeguarding and Public Protection, I know first-hand that mobile phones and connectivity are critical to ensuring victims and survivors are not isolated and can receive support.

"By partnering with local organisations in East Anglia, Virgin Media O2 Business is helping ensure victims and survivors receive the smartphones and data they need. This builds on our commitment to support police forces and communities across the UK to improve public safety and reduce crime."

The bottom line: The initiative aims to reduce isolation among victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault by providing them with secure means of communication through donated mobile devices.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

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