The big picture: The council announced changes to all pricing tiers at the centre, with most new charges taking effect from 1 November 2024.
Why it matters: The facility, which includes football and cricket pitches, a bowls green and pavilion, has been running at a financial loss despite growing popularity.
While the council has tried to minimise some increases – like the modest 20p rise for iCard holders – the changes will impact everyone from casual users to organised sports teams, with some fees rising by over 20%.
By the numbers:
Pitch hiring will increase from £65.50 to £80.00 (from July 2025)
Pavilion hiring rises from £33.00 to £40.25
Casual user fees jump from £7.00 to £8.60
iCard holders face a modest rise from £20.00 to £20.20
Between the lines: The council bought the club in the 1990s and leased it to a management committee for 15 years. The decision comes as the centre has seen significant growth in usage, with occupancy rising from 18% in 2023 to a projected 27% in 2024.
The centre continues to expand its health and wellbeing programmes, including Feel Good Suffolk sessions, strength and balance classes, and Breathewell classes.
What's next: While most changes take effect from November, pitch hiring increases won't come into force until July 2025.
The bottom line: The price hike is one of several made by the council over the last few weeks as it looks to balance its books, but comes at a challenging time for residents already facing rising living costs. Local football and cricket clubs using the pitches will be particularly affected when prices increase in July 2025.
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Menopause Vitamin Company
From its base in Ipswich, the Menopause Vitamin Company creates science-backed, all-in-one supplements that help women maintain their vitality and confidence during perimenopause and menopause.
ICS
Founded in 1998, ICS has been the trusted IT partner to businesses across Ipswich and Suffolk for over a quarter of a century.
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