Sizewell B apprentices throw their support behind Leiston’s new town square

Picture: Lesley Dolphin, Russ Rainger, Kris Knights, Adele Jenner standing under the arch created by the Sizewell B apprentices and JT Pegg & Sons

Three Sizewell B apprentices and a local business have engineered the impressive archways marking the entrance to a new town square in Leiston, which was officially opened over the weekend.

‘Church Square’ is the first regeneration project completed by Leiston Community Land Trust, an organisation working to bring positive change to Leiston town centre.  The square links the High Street to the Co-op supermarket and includes an area where the community can meet near the Leiston United Church.

Sizewell B was contacted by the community land trustees to ask if apprentices and engineers would be involved in the project, a local architect Simon Merrett came up with the archway design and the apprentices worked on bringing it to life with one of the power stations local suppliers, JT Pegg & Sons of Aldeburgh.

Harry Campbell, Sizewell B maintenance technician, took the lead working on the project alongside Kris Knights, Year 4 apprentice, and Adele Jenner, maintenance technician. The team from Sizewell B worked on the project at JT Pegg & Sons machine shop.

Kris Knights, Sizewell B apprentice, said: “It was fantastic to work with JT Pegg & Sons on this project.  We got to see how their integrated mill lathe and industrial plasma cutter worked as we project managed the production of the arches with them. I found it really interesting being in their workshop and seeing the different projects they work on.  I felt very pleased to see the archways in place and hope the community enjoy the new space.”

Russ Rainger, Chair of Leiston Community Land Trust said: “It has been great to work with the stakeholders at Leiston United Church and the East of England Co-op Society and we are so grateful to all the sponsors who came together to deliver this new community space for the town.  We will now be turning our attention to the major objective of the town centre regeneration.”

Sizewell B apprentices worked with JT Pegg & Sons for two years to produce the archways which were put in place and officially opened by Lesley Dolphin from BBC Radio Suffolk.

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Picture: Apprentices at JT Pegg & Sons in Aldeburgh working to bring the design to life

Leiston Community Land Trust
The Leiston CLT is working with local partners, businesses and the community to bring about positive change within the town centre. It’s a not-for-profit organisation that seeks out, listens to and acts on the opinions of Leiston’s residents and visitors.