Latest at Leiston Library...

What’s on at Leiston Library…

Leiston Library has always offered a warm welcome, but during these tough times, we are also a ‘Warm Space’. Everyone is welcome to come in, have a hot drink or a cuppa soup and a nibble, and spend some time here. There are local newspapers, free use of computers and WiFi and various activities anyone is welcome to join in with. We also offer free menstrual products on a no-questions-asked basis.

Every month we have a drop in session with the East Suffolk Financial Inclusion team. They are here to give advice and tips on how to save money, deal with debt, and access grants for all sorts of things – childcare costs, broadband, rent, pay as you go energy bills – just drop in. Their forthcoming sessions are (all Tuesdays): 21st February, 21st March and 18th April, 10-12. No appointment needed and they offer a brilliant service.

East Suffolk Council is here every Friday to help with any council enquiries too –10-4, just drop in.

We would love to see more people coming along to our groups – perhaps you’ve decided to try something new this year? Our Art for Fun group is for people interested in painting and drawing who don’t know where to start – or who want to have a go with a bit of support. We have a helpful and artistic volunteer who can give you ideas! Last Friday of the month, 10-12.

We have two sessions on Thursday mornings for babies, under 5s and their grown ups. ‘Me Myself & Baby’ is a Stay and Play session for parents and babies. Drop in between 9.40 – 10.20 for this friendly group run by Suffolk Libraries in partnership with Suffolk Mind. It offers a chance to meet other parents, fun for little ones, plus signposting to support if it’s needed. It’s followed every Thursday 10.30-11.00 by our baby and toddler songs and rhymetime session, ‘Wordplay’. Just drop in and enjoy – grandparents welcome too.

For children and families we have a colouring drop in on Saturdays, 11-12, and a Lego drop in on Sundays 10.15-11.30.

Our familiar services are running as usualour fantastic selection of books for adults and children, audio books, reservations from all around the county, PC use, printing, scanning and photocopying.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates and other news. If you have any suggestions for groups or activities do let us know.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

The Suffolk Climate Change Partnership, which is made up of all the Local Authorities in Suffolk, have purchased several thermal imaging cameras which they are loaning out to community groups to carry out surveys in their areas for free.

Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council has booked a camera for Tuesday 11/04/2023 to Monday 24/04/2023 working with Net Zero Leiston https://www.netzeroleiston.info/

Our aim in running the project is to raise awareness about insulation, and if possible, help you to improve the energy efficiency of your house. This could mean a reduction in fuel bills, better health and reducing the total amount of carbon dioxide that we emit into the atmosphere.

What is thermal imaging?

Thermal imaging works by detecting the infrared radiation emitted by a building and using it to determine the temperature of the surface of walls, windows, doors, roof etc. Objects at different temperatures emit varying amounts of infra-red and the infra-red camera translates these differences into an image with different colours representing cool (blue/purple) to hot (white/red) temperatures.

Infra-red radiation cannot pass through glass and so the camera cannot see through your windows, doors, or walls. This means that a thermal imaging survey will not invade your privacy, and what we are seeing in the images is only the outside surface of the house. Glass reflects infra-red radiation, so any shapes you may see in pictures of the windows will be due to reflections from outside.

A thermal image of the outside surface of your house is useful because it can show areas which maybe conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the house. Ideally insulation, either in a cavity inside the walls or in a layer in the loft, should minimise the heat loss through the walls or loft. However, if there are gaps in the insulation, or places where it has been bridged by a conducting structure, then we will see a hotter pattern on the outside surface. Similarly for windows and doors, we can see in the image if there is a poor seal around them that is letting warm air escape, or if they are poorly insulated (e.g. single glazed windows).

What can you learn from a thermal imaging survey?

If your house is relatively new, already has insulated cavity walls and double glazing and feels warm – you might not learn much, except to get an even warmer glow after confirming your house is well insulated!

If your house is older and seems difficult to keep warm - you might learn exactly where the heat is escaping and get some ideas about where to insulate.

A thermal imaging survey might

• identify places which might have draughts

• detect whether cavity wall insulation is patchy or missing

• detect areas with less loft insulation (although roofs are tricky to image with the camera)

If you would like us to include your house in the survey please contact us on 01728 830388 or by email townclerk@leistontowncouncil.go.uk

Groundwork East have worked with us for several years are offering free impartial advice to householders which I am sure would be welcomed by many within our communities.

All the householders have to do is to either call them on 01473 350370 to go through some simple questions about their home or complete the home audit checklist here: https://www. surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SuffolkHomeEnergyAudit

The outcome will be impartial tailored advice for their property type or signposting where appropriate, to the ‘Warm Homes Suffolk’ scheme.

This impartial advice could really help if anyone is considering investing in renewable energy for their home and/or want advice on how to insulate their home properly.

I’m hoping you could promote this ‘Home Energy Advice Service.’ Suffolk Climate Change Partnership are also supporting and promoting this via: https://www.greensuffolk.org/low-impactenergy/

Haylings Pond Bulb Planting Bonanza

A chilly, bright morning in late October greeted volunteers from the community and Leiston Youth and Community Angling Society for a bulb planting and wildflower seed sowing session at Haylings Pond.

Thanks to the efforts of LYCAS volunteers, a once overgrown and untidy section of the meadow, close to ‘The Prom’ had been cleared to make way for native bulbs and a wildflower meadow area. It is hoped that the warm months in early winter will have given the bulbs and seeds a good start. We will all watch with interest to see how this area develops and hope that our residents enjoy the added interest to our hidden gem, Haylings Pond. Many thanks to Gary Whiting and his team of volunteers for helping to make this happen and to our residents who gave up their Saturday morning to help.