It's been a while since I last wrote for Hadleigh Nub News and I made a promise to the editor that I really would put fingers to keyboard at the weekend, so here goes.

Like everyone, I am disappointed that full relaxation of restrictions has been postponed for four weeks, but if it means that we can be really sure of a permanent return to a near normal existence next month, it will have been worthwhile.

The main casualty locally has been the reduction of the Suffolk Armed Forces Day celebrations, which Hadleigh was due to host. It's a shame as a lot had been planned and many people were looking forward to it.

At least we have had some great weather recently so can get out and enjoy it. Let's hope the much-needed rain of the past few days will soon be over and we return to sunshine. After all, the strawberries are ripening and the beaches are beckoning, although, if you are like me, the next few weeks will revolve around the Euro fixture dates, so perhaps more days of semi-lockdown won't be too much to bear. I am sure England will put the game against Scotland behind them and that it will be all the way to the final and this time football really will be coming home…

At Babergh, we are venturing back to meeting in person now that the Covid regulations allowing virtual meetings have expired. Our first in-person meeting was the Council AGM last month, which we had to hold at Wherstead Park to ensure social distancing. It all worked very well, even though the desk arrangement did have the feel of an examination hall. However, there were no papers to turn over as we are paperless now.

I am really pleased that the Hadleigh Virtual High Street has got off to a cracking start with more than 50 businesses already signed up. I am sure this will be as successful as the original project has been for Sudbury.

More good news for the local economy is the recent decision by cabinet to approve development of 1.5 acres of S106 employment land that Babergh acquired near the A1071. Feasibility and design work will lead up to a planning application soon. The plan is for a convenience retail unit and approximately 10 light industrial or workspace units for a range of uses including for micro and start-upbusinesses. We hope that this will be an additional boost to the town as we recover from Covid.

The Railway Walk car park has been resurfaced and parking bays marked out. Further work will be undertaken to erect bollards to protect the grass areas and reseeding will take place in early Autumn when growing conditions are better.

And finally onto the vaccination programme, which is continuing apace. Like nearly all of my vintage, I have had two jabs and feeling much more confident about going out.

All adults can book now and I really would encourage the younger cohorts to take the time to get theirs, not just for their own benefit, but to protect those older people who may not be fully protected – after all, although two doses offer extremely good protection it is still less than 100%. All the vaccinations are safe, effective and, most importantly, you won't feel a thing!