Suffolk Tories challenge county council leader over £15k+ private office refit

A row has broken out at Suffolk County Council over an £18,484 office refit for new leader Michael Hadwen, with the Conservatives branding it "personal aggrandisement".

After 15 years of delays, The Mill takes a decisive step forward

Safety approval for the recladding of The Mill on Ipswich Waterfront marks the most significant breakthrough yet in a saga that has left residents in unsafe flats and Suffolk's tallest tower unfinished for over a decade.

Suffolk businesses stuck in economic 'holding pattern'

Suffolk's economy remains locked in a subdued pattern of weak activity and sentiment, with the county's latest business survey showing little improvement on the gloomy picture reported three months ago.

Suffolk voters splinter as Reform's lead narrows in region, new polling data predicts

New polling suggests Reform would still lead in Suffolk if an election were held tomorrow, but its grip on the county is loosening. Labour, the Conservatives and a Restore Britain are all cutting into its support.

Thrasher pub reopens on Nacton Road after refurbishment

The Thrasher, a Hungry Horse pub on Nacton Road, has reopened to customers following a six-figure investment in its interior, food offering and beer garden.

Harmonious Cafe: Coffee, community and wellness

Harmonious Cafe has launched at Curve Bar, pairing healthy brunches with a wellness-first approach that includes run clubs and lifestyle events.

Lloyds Avenue: Approved, funded...still waiting

Ipswich Borough Council first proposed redeveloping Lloyds Avenue in December 2020. Nearly six years on, and five years after securing funding, it still cannot say when work will begin.

Council plans £400,000 cash boost for cleaner streets

Ipswich Borough Council is proposing to invest £400,000 over the next two years in a new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team, aimed at improving the appearance of streets and public spaces across the borough.

Halo Festival brought a sold-out day to Trinity Park

Thousands of people gathered at Trinity Park on Saturday, 4 July 2026 for the debut Halo Festival, a homegrown event that swapped the usual long drive to a distant field for a day out on Ipswich's own doorstep.

Recovery-focused music night to hold summer event

A monthly Ipswich open mic night that helps people in recovery build confidence through music will host a family fun day on Sunday 12 July.

Ipswich set to get new town council to keep civic identity

Ipswich Borough Council will vote on 15 July to create a new Ipswich parish/town council, keeping a mayor and local representation as the town moves towards a unitary authority.

Dance workshop helps Ipswich family cherish son's memory

Laura Brinkley and her daughters Evelyn and Grace danced, played and tried on motion-capture suits at a special Ipswich workshop designed to help them feel closer to Elliot, the baby boy and brother who died in 2013 aged just 15 days old.

A12 scheme budget could increase to £63.6m

A major scheme to improve congestion along the A12 could see its budget increase to £63.6m, up from the £57.4m estimated when it received the authority's approval in 2021, under the previous administration.

Suffolk Preservation Society names new president

Lois Hunt, who has overseen the restoration of the Grade I listed Heveningham Hall for more than 30 years, has been appointed president of Suffolk's county-wide heritage charity.

Free HIV and syphilis testing kits available in Suffolk

Residents of Suffolk aged 16 and over can now order free, confidential at-home HIV and syphilis testing kits, as part of a public health campaign endorsed by Suffolk County Council.

£18.9m plan to expand SEND support in Suffolk

Suffolk County Council is set to allocate almost £19m in government funding to create hundreds of new specialist school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities, with Cabinet due to consider the plan on 14 July.

New tests could mean faster endometriosis diagnosis

Two new non-invasive tests to speed up endometriosis diagnosis have been given the green light for NHS use. The draft guidance has been welcomed by an Ipswich campaigner who waited 17 years for her own diagnosis.

The Tuesday club quietly shaping Ipswich's girls

On a rainy Tuesday evening above a shop on Tower Street, a group of Ipswich girls sit drawing on bunting, sharing pizza and catching up on their half-term. It is an ordinary scene — and, for the people behind Girls, Where You At?, that is rather the point.

How to get tickets for Ipswich Book Festival 2026

With tickets now on sale, here's what's on offer at this year's Ipswich Book Festival.

Suffolk awarded £564,000 for bus franchising study

Suffolk County Council is set to investigate whether taking control of bus routes, fares and timetables would improve services across the county. Meanwhile, new figures reveal two in five parishes have no service to their nearest town.

'I had no motivation' – how one scheme changed two teens' lives

Local 18-year-olds Chelsy and Jay both struggled to find direction before joining Beyond Boundaries – now one has a Sizewell C internship and the other a full-time job as a games designer.

Ipswich print firm expands again amid growth run

Evolve Business Solutions has expanded its premises for the second time in two years, taking on neighbouring space to almost double its warehouse and office capacity.

Most injury victims still in pain years later, local law firm finds

A new survey of more than 4,700 people across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk suggests the impact of an injury often outlasts the accident itself, with six in 10 people still reporting pain and reduced mobility long afterwards.

Ipswich MP's bypass petition handed in – but will it change anything?

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott says his 4,000-signature petition proves patience has run out over the Orwell Bridge. Council leader Michael Hadwen says he is "fully supportive" of finding a solution, but his response gives no sign that Suffolk County Council's position has shifted.