A community comes together

Tess, Alison, Alice and Katie are four friends who live in a village in Suffolk. The single track lane outside their home is more than just a road, it’s their route into the countryside.

Recently the lane had become almost impossible to navigate in their wheelchairs. It was bumpy, unpaved and getting worse with the constant flow of cars. This wasn’t just inconvenient, it was affecting their everyday life. Just going out for fresh air and heading to the nearby fields that they love had become a challenge.

So they decided to do something about it. Their support team reached out to local neighbours and invited them round to discuss what they could all do about the problem.

The response was brilliant, neighbours sat with Tess, Alison, Alice and Katie, and their support team, listening, sharing their views and working through the options together. We talked about the traffic and the impact on the lane. In the end, everyone agreed to split the cost of resurfacing the lane – with neighbours covering two thirds and FitzRoy covering a third.

Egnes, deputy manager said: “This meeting wasn’t just about a road. It was about making sure the people who live here can get outside safely, enjoy nature and feel part of their community. It showed what can happen when you’re brave enough to start a conversation.”

This isn’t the first time the lane has highlighted how important it is for people to have their voices heard. Last year, when plans were proposed for a nearby farm development that would have significantly increased traffic along the same narrow road, Tess attended a Parish Council meeting to speak up, and she held up a placard that asked people to consider wheelchair users. Seeing Tess there advocating for herself and her friends changed the tone of the conversation. It was a powerful reminder that decisions about the community must include everyone who is part of it.

Once the lane is levelled it will mean safer journeys and easier access to the fields and a basic freedom many of us take for granted – being able to just step outside and go.

This whole process was about being brave enough to knock on doors and creative enough to find the right way to bring the community together to find local solutions.