Sudbury Belle Vue Park all set for new toilets after more funding approved

Funding of an extra £240,000 has been agreed to build new toilets in a Suffolk Park.

Babergh District Council agreed the cash injection for Belle Vue Park this week, which also includes improvements to the car park and walls.

It will come from community infrastructure levy payments (CIL) funding raised from developers.

Laura Smith, ward councillor for Sudbury South West, said: “I am delighted that Babergh District Council is giving the go ahead for funding these improvements – they will benefit the local community and encourage visits to the area.

“Park users of all ages will benefit from the new toilets, especially those needing enhanced changing facilities.

“I look forward to using the café and attending the events which will happening in the park.

“Hopefully, this is the start of the changes to Belle Vue Park that people in Sudbury have been waiting for.”

The finding was agreed amongst a number of projects, totalling more than £500,000, across the Babergh and Mid-Suffolk districts.

On Monday, cabinet members at Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils voted to approve the investments.

The funding will include ground works for the Belle Vue toilets, drainage and electrical provision, as well as repairs to a nearby wall and the recambering of the car park.

The cafe and toilet project was given the green light by planners in January this year and funding agreed in September 2023, which includes use of the proceeds from the sale of Belle Vue House.

A further £97,437 was allocated to the Cordell Place play area in Long Melford.

The money will go towards new equipment, while creating a more inclusive and accessible area.

This will include sensory play equipment, a safe enclosed area for under-fives and five-a-side goals.

The funding will come from community infrastructure levy payments, which are a legal requirement paid by developers of offset the impact of large housing estates.

Bids for CIL funding are reviewed by the council every six months and funding is earmarked for those projects that help to enable local infrastructure to grow alongside housing developments.

Sallie Davies, cabinet member for planning at Babergh District Council, said: “It is great to see the next round of CIL bids approved by councillors at Babergh District Council.

“Thanks to this funding, our communities can put in place vital facilities and ensure that the infrastructure is able to grow at the same pace as housing.

“I welcome all of the funding bids. I also look forward to more communities coming to us with great ideas and bringing them to life with CIL funding.”

Since May 2018, Babergh, alongside its neighbour Mid Suffolk District Council, has issued 12 rounds of CIL funding totalling more than £14 million, all of which has been provided to infrastructure projects.

Belle Vue Toilets/Changing Places Facility and improvements to car park/walls in Sudbury - £240,570.00

Funding for this project will enable the creation of a brand new toilet and changing places facility. This will also include the ground works for the toilets, drainage and electrical provision for the toilets, works to a nearby wall and the re-cambering of the car park.