Editing Leiston (section)

==Economy and community==
===Business===
Since the closure of Garrett's, the town's economy has been dominated by [[Sizewell nuclear power stations|two nuclear power stations]] on the coast at [[Sizewell]]: the now decommissioned [[Magnox]] reactors of Sizewell A, and the more modern 1,200 MW [[Pressurised Water Reactor]] of Sizewell B. The 850 MW [[Greater Gabbard wind farm|Greater Gabbard and Galloper offshore wind farm]]s connect to the Leiston substation adjacent to the Sizewell nuclear power station;<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Report and Group Financial Statements |url=https://ggofto.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/210331-Greater-Gabbard-OFTO-Holdco-March-2021.pdf |publisher=Greater Gabbard OFTO |date=2021}}</ref> all supplying power to the 400kV [[National Grid (Great Britain)|National Grid]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Appendix B |url=https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/181721/download |publisher=[[National Grid (Great Britain)]] |date=2 December 2020 |quote=Leiston 400 kV}}</ref>

A number of smaller companies operate from industrial areas within the town.

Leiston's High Street serves as the business and market hub of the surrounding agricultural district. The town's facilities include a post office, library, banks, pubs and a range of shops and other services.

===Transport===
A railway branch spur from the [[Great Eastern Railway|Great Eastern line]], known as the [[Aldeburgh branch line]], went from Saxmundham to Aldeburgh, with intermediate stations at Leiston and [[Thorpeness]]. On 12 September 1966 [[British Rail]] withdrew all passenger services to Leiston and beyond.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aldeburghmuseumonline.co.uk/?page_id=34 |title=The Railway {{!}} Aldeburgh Museum Online |website=www.aldeburghmuseumonline.co.uk |access-date=1 March 2016}}</ref> However, the line to Leiston remained active for the purpose of removing nuclear materials from Sizewell power station.

Leiston has direct bus services to Ipswich, Saxmundham, Aldeburgh, Thorpeness and [[Halesworth]].

===Culture===
Leiston Film Theatre, a half-timbered building with street front shops, is the oldest purpose-built cinema in Suffolk. The cinema is owned and run by Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council and backed by Leiston Film Theatre Support Club, which has raised money for stage refurbishment and enabled the cinema to install a digital 3D projection system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leiston Film Theatre |url=https://film.list.co.uk/cinema/45594-leiston-film-theatre/ |website=film.list.co.uk |access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

The town has a traditional [[Anglican]] church, St Margaret's, with an ancient tower and an unusual 19th-century [[nave]]. There are [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Baptist]] churches on the edge of the town.

===Sport and leisure===
The town's football club is [[Leiston F.C.]], who as of the [[2023–24 in English football|2023–24 season]] play in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League Premier Central]]. In November 2008 the team reached the first round of the [[FA Cup]] for the first time in its history, drawing 0–0 with [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] before losing the replay 2–0.

Leiston also has a leisure centre, a [[skate park]] and several parks.

Leiston and Thorpeness Rugby Club was in existence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It closed in 1995, but was revived in March 2010 as Aldeburgh and Thorpeness Rugby Club, with many of the previous club's members.

===Media===
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Television signals are received from the [[Tacolneston transmitting station|Tacolneston]] TV transmitter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Tacolneston|title= Full Freeview on the Tacolneston (Norfolk, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=1 November 2023}}</ref> and via a local relay transmitter in [[Aldeburgh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Aldeburgh|title=Freeview Light on the Aldeburgh (Suffolk, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=1 November 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Suffolk]], [[Heart East]], [[Greatest Hits Radio East|Greatest Hits Radio Ipswich & Suffolk]], and Alde and Blyth Community Radio (ABC), a community based station.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.visit-leiston.co.uk/abc-alde-blyth-communityradio/#:~:text=ABC%20%E2%80%93%20Alde%20%26%20Blyth%20Community%20Radio%20%7C%20Community%20%7C%20Leiston%2C%20Suffolk|title=Alde and Blyth Community Radio |publisher=Visit Leiston |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref> 

The town's local newspaper is the ''[[East Anglian Daily Times]]''.

===Education===
Other than [[Summerhill School]], Leiston also has conventional primary and secondary schools.

Leiston Primary School caters for pupils aged 5–11 and runs a nursery with 52 places.<ref name="lpsprofile">[http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/Schools/ListOfSuffolkSchools/LeistonPrimarySchool.htm Leiston Primary School profile], Suffolk County Council. Retrieved 30 March 2011.</ref>

[[Alde Valley Academy]] is a secondary school with academy status, formerly known as Leiston Community High School, then as Alde Valley School from September 2012, after reorganisation involving the closure of Leiston Middle School and conversion from a 13–18 school to one taking pupils from the age of 11.<ref name="eadt06sep12">T. Potter (2012) [http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/leiston_pupils_take_first_lessons_in_new_look_high_school_1_1506110 Leiston: Pupils take first lessons in new-look high school], ''East Anglian Daily Times'', 6 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.</ref> The school received [[Academy (English school)|academy status]] in January 2015 and was renamed Alde Valley Academy.

In 2001 the school had become a [[Technology College|Specialist Technology College]], and in following years was named as one of the most improved schools in England. It was the lead school in the Schools Energy Network based at the Orbis Centre in [[Lowestoft]]<ref name="eadt19sep12">[http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/waveney_students_become_energy_ambassadors_1_1522602 Waveney students become energy ambassadors], ''Eastern Daily Press'', 19 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.</ref> and had strong links with the Sizewell nuclear power stations.<ref name="eadt20jan07">Green.D (2007) [http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/school_benefits_from_station_link_up_1_79206 School benefits from station link-up], ''East Anglian Daily Times'', 20 January 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2011.</ref>