# Ipswich.co.uk > Purposeful journalism for people who care about Ipswich. Free to read. No ads. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### Studio URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/studio/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T07:56:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Frame-1.png) ## A professional content studio in the heart of Ipswich Most content studios are built for producers. Ours is built for everyone. ## A content studio for everyone Situated on Upper Brook Street in the centre of Ipswich, our content studio is designed so anyone can walk in, press record, and create outstanding content – even if you’ve never set foot in a studio before. You don’t need a technical background, a production crew, or any specialist knowledge, and we have all the video, audio and lighting equipment you need. ## Audio booth A podcast studio with sound-engineered walls, broadcast-quality microphones and an audio console that enables you to record brilliant podcasts with just one tap of a button. Perfect for podcasts and audio content creation. Includes mics, audio console and headphones. Up to two speakers. - **£180 for 4 hours** - **£300 for 8 hours** Prices exclude VAT. Contact oliver@ipswich.co.uk to book. ## Video studio A multi-purpose video content studio for 4K video production. Perfect for interviews, talk shows and talking head videos. Includes cameras, mics, lighting and video console. Supports up to 4 speakers and 14 guests. - **£240 for 4 hours** - **£400 for 8 hours** Prices exclude VAT. Contact oliver@ipswich.co.uk to book. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_0827.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/image-4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1122.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1120.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-22-at-16.07.49.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_0507.jpeg) ## Everything you need, nothing you don't Here's the equipment we have on site. It's all included in the cost. ### Video Create video content in 4K. - 4x Sony ZV-E10 4K cameras - 4x Sony wide-angle lenses - 2x Sigma 30mm f1.4 lenses - 1x Rodecaster Video S with 32" screen - 4TB SanDisk hard drive with ultra-fast USB-C cable - 1x iPhone 17 Pro Max - 1x BeastGrip Pro 1.7x telephoto lens, 0.75x wide-angle conversion lens and 77mm zoom filter - DJI Ronin RS4 gimbal with auto-tracker ### Audio Record radio-quality podcasts and audio content. - 2x Rode PodMic dynamic mics - 2x Rode Go wireless mics ### Lighting Professional continuous lighting that makes everyone look their best. - 2x Neewer key lights with hexagonal and lantern soft boxes - 1x Neewer hair light - 2x Neewer LED back lights ### Accessories Everything you need to configure the perfect setup. - 3x SmallRig floor-standing tripods - 2x Rode desk tripods - 2x Manfrotto floor-to-ceiling mounting poles and mounts ## Part of something bigger This isn't a standalone studio – it's part of Ipswich.co.uk, an independent community media and impact company hellbent on accelerating the regeneration of our town. We built our studio because we saw a gap: too many people struggled to create professional video content. So we created a studio that anyone could use. No complicated setup, no technical jargon, no steep learning curve. Just a space that works the way you'd expect it to and allows you to create journalist-quality content at an affordable rate. ## FAQs Here are some questions we're regularly asked: #### Is equipment included? Yes, everything you need to record 4K video content and broadcast quality audio is included: cameras, lights, mics and accessories. #### Can I bring my own equipment? Of course. We'll provide everything you ned to shoot 4K video with great sound, but if you want to bring one or more of our own cameras, you're very welcome to. #### Does the price include editing? No, we only provide studio and equipment hire. You will need to do your own editing. We can introduce you to people who can help with post-production if you need. #### Will you help on the day? We’ll spend 15 minutes running you through the equipment and then leave you to it. If you need a producer, we can provide one at an additional cost of £250 per day. #### ****Where is the studio?** Our studio is on Upper Brook Street, in Ipswich town centre. #### ****Where is the nearest parking?** NCP Tacket Street and the Buttermarket Centre are the closest car parks – both are within a two-minute walk. ### Share your story URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/share/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T13:56:25.000Z ## Share your story If you would like to share a story, press release or anonymous tip-off with us, please email editor@ipswich.co.uk. ## **How we handle it** We treat every tip in confidence. We will never name you in a story without your say-so. Full stop. ## **Our process** First, we talk. Usually by phone or in person. We want to understand what you know and how you know it. Then we look for proof. Documents, messages, contracts — anything that backs up what you're telling us. If there are other people who can corroborate your account, we'll ask to speak to them too. Please don't be offended, we're just doing our job. Corroboration matters. One source is a lead. Multiple sources and documents make a story. We're careful, which sometimes means we're slow — but we'd rather be right than first. Before we publish, we always contact whoever the story's about. Everyone gets the chance to respond. That's not optional, and we'll tell you when we're doing it. We'll agree with you upfront what we can and can't use, and we'll check back in if anything changes. Nothing goes in without you knowing it's coming. ## **On the record or not?** Some stories land harder when a real name is attached. We may ask if you'd consider going on the record — it's always your choice, and we'll talk through what it means either way. ## **Staying safe** If you're worried about being traced: - Don't contact us from a work email, phone, or network. - Consider unfollowing us on social media for now. ### Privacy policy URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T11:41:22.000Z _No content available._ ### Complaints URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/complaints/ Last updated: 2026-07-19T16:05:48.000Z ## Complaints We're dedicated to maintaining high standards of journalism and adhere strictly to the Editor’s Code of Practice. However, mistakes can happen. When they do, we are committed to transparency and promptly correcting them. ## Making a complaint Ipswich.co.uk is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation ([IPSO](https://www.ipso.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk)). If you have concerns about something we have published, believing it to be inaccurate or not up to our standards or the [Editor's Code of Practice](https://www.ipso.co.uk/editors-code-of-practice/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), please email editor@ipswich.co.uk within three months of the article’s publication. Please make sure you include: - Your name and the name of the organisation you represent, if appropriate. - Your contact telephone number and email. - The title and URL of the article in question. - A description of your complaint, including specific phrases or words that you object to and a detailed explanation of why that is. Your complaint will be reviewed by the editor and then discussed internally with the appropriate people. - We aim to reply to your complaint within 3 weeks of receipt. - If we believe there are grounds to make a correction or publish an apology, we will make those changes or post that apology within a week of our decision. - Your complaint will be handled sensitively and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of our review, you are able to make a formal complaint to IPSO [here](https://www.ipso.co.uk/making-a-complaint/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). ### Editorial policy URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/editorial-policy/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T11:41:33.000Z ## Editorial policy Anyone can publish a website and call it news. What makes us different is that we're independent, we're regulated, and we hold ourselves to a published standard. This page tells you what that standard is, so you can judge our journalism against it. We follow the Editors' Code of Practice, enforced by IPSO, our independent regulator. Below, we've set out what that means in practice — plus a few commitments of our own, because the Code is a floor, not a ceiling. ## Accuracy We take care to get things right. Every fact we publish is checked before it goes out, not after. You'll always be able to tell the difference between our reporting and our opinion. If something's a comment piece or an editorial, it says so. If it's news, it's fact — sourced, checked, and attributed where we can't stand behind it ourselves. If we get something wrong, we fix it. Quickly, clearly, and as prominently as the original mistake. We don't quietly edit errors away and hope no one notices. If a correction changes the story meaningfully, we'll tell you that too. ## Fair and balanced coverage Where a story has genuine disagreement — a contested council decision, say — we cover the real arguments on all sides, in proportion to the evidence behind them. We won't manufacture a false balance between a well-evidenced position and one with nothing behind it, just to seem even-handed. Anyone facing serious criticism in our pages gets the chance to respond before we publish, not after. If they decline to comment, we say so. ## Your privacy We respect the privacy of everyone we write about. If a story requires us to intrude on someone's private life, we only do it where there's a genuine public interest in doing so — and we hold ourselves to that same test whether the story is about a public figure or a private individual. We don't photograph or record people, or use information about them, in places or ways where they'd reasonably expect privacy, without their consent. ## How we treat people We identify ourselves as journalists when we're reporting. We don't harass anyone, and if someone asks us to stop calling or stop turning up, we stop. Where a story touches on grief, shock, or personal tragedy, we approach it with sympathy and discretion. If a story involves suicide, we report responsibly and avoid detail that could encourage others to harm themselves. We take particular care with children. We won't identify a child who's a victim or witness in a case involving a sexual offence, under any circumstances, and we won't use a parent's public profile as an excuse to publish details of a child's private life. We don't refer to anyone's race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or health in a way that's prejudicial or irrelevant to the story. ## Confidential sources If someone talks to us in confidence, that confidence is protected. We don't reveal sources, and we don't let anyone — including advertisers, businesses, or the council — pressure us into it. ## Editorial independence This is the commitment we care about most. No business, sponsor, or advertiser can buy coverage from us. A business partnership, an advertising deal, or a membership gets a business visibility and reach — it never buys them a story, a favourable slant, or the silence of one about a competitor. If anyone on our team has a personal or financial interest in a business or issue we're covering, they declare it, and someone without that conflict writes the story instead. Commercial and editorial processes operate separately. If there's ever a dispute between the two, editorial wins. ## Where AI fits in If AI tools ever play a part in producing something you read, a named editor is accountable for it, in exactly the same way as if a person had written every word. It's still checked against every standard on this page. "The AI got it wrong" will never be an excuse we offer you. ## If you think we've got something wrong Tell us, and we'll look into it properly and promptly — that's usually the fastest way to sort things out. If you're not satisfied with how we've handled a complaint, you can take it to IPSO, our independent regulator. [Make a complaint](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/complaints/) ### Headlines URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/headlines/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T15:49:50.000Z _No content available._ ### What's on URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/whats-on/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T20:21:47.000Z _No content available._ ### Submit an event URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/submit-event/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T20:20:55.000Z _No content available._ ### Write for us URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/write-for-us/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T11:33:51.000Z ## Write for us Ipswich.co.uk is fighting for a town that residents are proud to call home, visitors envy, and where business thrives. We do that through independent, nonpartisan journalism — and by giving a platform to the people who understand this town best. That's where you come in. We're looking for local people with something worth saying: residents, business owners, political voices, councillors, community leaders, students, campaigners, experts in their field, or simply people with a story to tell about life in Ipswich and Suffolk. Whether it's opinion, analysis, or a feature idea you think we're missing, we want to hear from you. ## Our reach Ipswich.co.uk has become one of the town's most trusted sources of news and information in a short space of time. Writing for us means your words reach: - 67,000–116,000 monthly unique visitors to our website - 9,300+ members - 1.5–2.5 million monthly views on Facebook That's a real audience of business owners, councillors, MPs, community leaders and residents who care about what happens here – and who read what we publish. ## What we're looking for We're looking for: - **Opinion and comment** on issues affecting Ipswich and Suffolk - **Local expertise** – if you know your subject inside out, we want your insight - **Community stories** – the people and projects making a difference, often quietly - **Fresh perspectives** on topics we may have missed or under-covered We're nonpartisan and impartial in our news reporting, but our opinion section is a genuine space for debate. We publish a range of views and don't expect contributors to agree with each other, or with us. ## Before you pitch A few details upfront: - We can't pay contributors. We're a small independent publication, and every penny we make goes into the journalism and infrastructure that enables it. - All contributions are lightly edited for spelling, grammar and formatting. - Opinion pieces are attributed to the author and represent their views, not ours. - We won't publish anything that's factually inaccurate, defamatory, or doesn't offer a fair reflection of the subject at hand. ## What you get While we can't pay for guest pieces, we can offer: - A genuine audience across Ipswich and Suffolk, including the people shaping the town's future - A byline and, where relevant, a link back to your own work, business or cause - The chance to help shape how our town understands and talks about the issues that matter to it ## A quick guide An op-ed is an argument, not an update. If a reader can't say what you think by the end of the first paragraph, it probably needs to be clearer. ### Pick one argument Every piece should make a single point of view. Not "here are some thoughts on the parking review" — but "the council's parking review will hollow out the high street, and here's why." If you find yourself making three separate points, you've probably got three pieces, not one. ### Say it upfront State your argument in upfront – explicitly or clearly implied. Don't bury it. Readers should know where you stand before they've finished the first paragraph. ### Back it up Opinion still needs evidence. Use stats, reports, expert quotes, history, or first-hand experience — whatever supports the point. Don't invent or paraphrase a quote as if it were verbatim. ### Try to include a "to be sure" paragraph Somewhere in the piece, try to acknowledge the strongest counter-argument or the obvious flaw in your case. This isn't hedging — it's what makes the argument credible. ### Write like you talk Plain language beats jargon. If a term needs explaining to your friend at the pub, either explain it or don't use it. Wit and anecdote are very welcome — sensationalism isn't. ### House style Don't stress about it – we'll lightly edit every piece to bring it in line with our house style: - British English throughout, always — no Americanisms - Numerals for 10 and above, words below (except units/percentages) - 24-hour clock, day-month-year dates - Imperial before metric - Single quote marks ('Your quote') in headlines, double ("Your quote") in body text ## Get in touch Send us a short pitch – a sentence or two on what you'd like to write and why it matters to Ipswich – to [**editor@ipswich.co.uk**](mailto:editor@ipswich.co.uk). Include any relevant background or expertise, and we'll get back to you. ### Photos URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/photos/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T19:08:18.000Z _No content available._ ### Weather URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/weather/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T13:03:32.000Z _No content available._ ### Ipswich Wanderers URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/iwfc/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T18:59:13.000Z _No content available._ ### Council project tracker URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ibc-project-tracker/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T16:40:12.000Z _No content available._ ### Trading in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/independents/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T16:20:24.000Z _No content available._ ## Posts ### Forgotten Ipswich: The rise of the new hippodrome URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/forgottethe-rise-of-the-new-hippodrome/ Last updated: 2026-09-11T08:59:23.000Z The St Nicholas Street Hippodrome rose quickly, shone brightly, and left behind a trail of memories that still surface whenever someone mentions "the Savoy" or "the old Hippodrome." It's the Hippodrome Ipswich embraced wholeheartedly, and the one whose ghost still lingers in Cardinal House. ## A theatre built to steal the show The new Hippodrome opened on Monday, 27 March 1905, designed by Frank Matcham, a celebrated theatre architect of the era, also responsible for the London Hippodrome. The St Nicholas Street Hippodrome was a building meant to mesmerise, inspire and impress, from the moment you stepped inside. One early postcard shows the auditorium in all its Edwardian splendour: ornate plasterwork, elegant iron balustrades, and a stage framed like a jewel box. Matcham’s design was peculiar: - 1,850 seats - One sweeping circle - No boxes - No slips - And a huge stage – 50 feet wide, nearly 40 feet deep, with a 30-foot proscenium It was built to host circus horses, acrobats, illusionists, variety stars, and anything else that needed space to gallop, tumble or fly. Much like his Brighton Hippodrome, it was a hybrid theatre – part circus arena, part music hall, part variety palace. ## Two hippodromes, one town The East Anglian Daily Times of 24 March 1905 carried advertisements for both Hippodromes: the Woodbridge Road Hippodrome, still gamely announcing its nightly shows, and the new St Nicholas Street Hippodrome, trumpeting its grand opening. [Forgotten Ipswich: The hippodrome that time forgotIpswich’s theatrical history is usually remembered through its grandest venues, but long before the famous Hippodrome on St Nicholas Street, there was another Hippodrome, on Woodbridge Road, almost entirely erased from local memory, with barely a trace left to prove it ever existed.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-0e9121e9-1d7c-45e7-af6e-75ff5ef2b092.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2026-09-02-at-10.10.33-1-9cdb15af-322d-4633-aa5e-56a3fbd97b47.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/forgotten-ipswich-the-hippodrome-that-time-forgot/) For a brief moment, Ipswich had two Hippodromes at once, confusing audiences and even postcard printers. One early card mislabels the new theatre as being on St Peter’s Street – a geographical hiccup that shows just how quickly Ipswich’s entertainment scene was changing. The confusion didn’t last long. Within a year, the Woodbridge Road venue was fading, and the new Hippodrome was the place to be. ## The variety years By the early 1910s, the Hippodrome had been taken over by the Bostock Circuit, a Glasgow-based entertainment empire known for circus acts, menageries, and variety bills. Bostock also acquired the Lyceum Theatre, turning Ipswich into a lively stop on their national touring network. Audiences flocked to see acrobats, illusionists, comic singers, equestrian displays and the kind of spectacular acts that needed a stage the size of a small sports hall. The Hippodrome was built for spectacle, and spectacle is exactly what it delivered. ## Cinema, Savoy nights and the sound of the sixties In 1929, the theatre was taken over by ABC Cinemas, and the Hippodrome entered its film era. The circus ring was removed, the seating re-raked, and projection equipment installed. It became a full-time cinema, though occasional live shows still graced the stage. After a brief return to live theatre in the 1950s, the building closed in April 1957\. But Ipswich wasn’t done with it yet. Under new ownership, the stalls were levelled, the exterior altered, and in June 1959 the Hippodrome reopened as the Savoy Ballroom – a name that still sparks nostalgia among Ipswich residents. One local recalled: “You could hear the bands from halfway down St Nicholas Street. Friday nights at the Savoy were electric.” Another remembered seeing The Honeycombs there in the mid-60s, their hit *Have I the Right?* rattling the rafters. Others recall early beat groups, local rock ’n’ roll hopefuls, and nights when the dance floor was so packed you could barely move. For a few golden years, the Savoy was Ipswich’s answer to the swinging sixties. By the late 1960s, however, the ballroom era faded, and the Hippodrome became a Top Rank Bingo Hall. Much of Matcham’s ornate plasterwork was removed or covered, though the ceiling – miraculously – survived. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2096-2-1-1-1.jpg) The Ipswich Hippodrome Theatre on St Nicholas Street was replaced by Cardinal House, after demolition in 1985 (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) ## The final act Bingo ended in December 1982, and the building stood empty. In May 1984, *The Stage* newspaper delivered the final verdict: “Another notable theatrical landmark will disappear to make way in the march of progress – for a car park!” It was a melancholy end for a building that had once hosted circus horses, variety stars, cinema crowds, ballroom dancers, and bingo regulars. In 1985, the Hippodrome was demolished. Cardinal House, an office block, rose in its place – a practical structure, but one that gives no hint of the spectacle that once stood there. ## The bottom line Unlike the Woodbridge Road Hippodrome, the St Nicholas Street Hippodrome left behind postcards, anecdotes, newspaper clippings, and memories. It was a building that evolved with Ipswich – adapting to new tastes, new technologies, and new generations. It was grand, it was noisy, it was occasionally chaotic, and it was loved. Today, only photographs and recollections remain. But for eighty years, the Hippodrome was one of Ipswich’s beating hearts – a place where the town gathered to laugh, dance, watch, listen and be entertained. 💡 If you have any information, memories or photographs relating to the St Nicholas Street Hippodrome, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch at [editor@ipswich.co.uk](mailto:editor@ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£53 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich unveils new brand strategy to challenge its 'comment section' reputation URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-unveils-new-brand-strategy-to-challenge-its-comment-section-reputation/ Last updated: 2026-09-11T08:20:46.000Z The strategy, which the council is understood to have begun in 2024, was unveiled on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, at the University of Suffolk. Shaun Bailey, founder of Jacob Bailey Group, the agency the council commissioned to develop the strategy, opened by defining what a brand actually is. "Your brand is what other people say about you when you're not in the room," he told the audience, attributing the line to Amazon boss Jeff Bezos. "Unfortunately, in this day and age, that room now has a comment section," he added as he displayed a series of negative online comments about the town. Comments included claims that Ipswich ranked among the "10 most miserable places to live in England" and had been dubbed "the most tired area in the UK." The new brand strategy is about "changing that conversation – actually trying to fill that void with some positivity," he said. Jacob Bailey Group has been based in Ipswich for 28 years, alongside offices in London, New York and Connecticut. Bailey said the firm now works on destination and place branding for more than 70 locations across England, Wales and Scotland, and has recently begun similar work in the United States. ## What the research uncovered Before drafting any strategy, Bailey said his team reviewed around 350 pages of existing council and partner documents, condensing them down to 16 pages to identify gaps rather than starting from scratch. That research was followed by 17 stakeholder interviews of 30 to 60 minutes each, three stakeholder workshops, and a youth focus group. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_5959-2-1.jpeg) Shaun Bailey of Jacob Bailey Group (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) One finding surprised him. "There was not much of a differentiation between the conversations and discussions we were having with young people and anyone else," Bailey said. "Age and life experience did not seem to make much difference in terms of what they wanted out of a place." The clearest signal to emerge, he said, was warmth. "There is a warmth about Ipswich," Bailey said, noting that some interviewees, particularly those who had moved to the town from elsewhere, described it as feeling "more akin to a northern town in the south" because of how welcoming it felt. ## From vision to value proposition Bailey structured the strategy using the "what, how, why" framework popularised by author Simon Sinek, arguing that successful organisations and places are defined less by what they do than by why they do it. "People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it," he said, quoting Sinek. For Ipswich, the "why" that emerged from the research was: "To create opportunity with ambition." That fed into a vision statement: "From a bold place in history to a future with ambition," and a set of four values: bold, ambitious, welcoming and in harmony. The resulting value proposition, and the strategy's central strapline, is "The home of opportunity." Underneath it sits a hierarchy of secondary positions, including "the home of enterprise," "the home of culture" and "the home of education" as primary themes, with further positions such as "the home of live music," "the home of theatre" and "the home of parklands" beneath them. Bailey said the town's new brand personality had been defined as energised and positive, welcoming and helpful, confident and assured, and joined up and forward-looking. "It is not shouty," he said. "It is being confident, it is being assured, it is being quietly assured at times." ## A logo built on the curve of the Orwell Bridge The new logo for the town takes its shape from the curve of the Orwell Bridge, described as "a defining landmark of Ipswich," by Bailey. It pairs a serif typeface, Argesta, intended to reflect the town's heritage, with a modern sans serif, TT Commons, intended to reflect its future ambitions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/Logo-Hero-Image.jpg) The new Ipswich logo Photography was described as central to the strategy's success. "The quality of your imagery is absolutely essential in terms of brand positioning and brand representation," Bailey said, citing research suggesting audiences judge an organisation's website "in a nanosecond." A new website has been created. Rather than competing with existing sites and information sources, the site is intended to direct visitors on to Ipswich Central and All About Ipswich for further detail. The new site is expected to launch in the next couple of weeks, though a firm date has not yet been confirmed. The URL for the new site is unknown. ## Who the brand is for, and why now The strategy identifies four audiences the brand is designed to attract and retain: human capital and talent, visitors and tourism, young people and students, and businesses and investment. Bailey argued that Ipswich, like any place, is in direct competition with other towns and cities for all four. He pointed to Halo, a technology company relocating to Ipswich in the next one to two months, which is already hiring 18 to 20 young people each month and aims to reach 1,000 graduates by 2030\. He also cited the University of Suffolk's potential to double or treble its student numbers from around 2,000, and existing employers including OCS and MSC, both of which have chosen to base their UK headquarters in Ipswich. ## Not a culture strategy Amy Vaughan, who is helping lead Ipswich's bid to become UK City of Culture 2029, followed Bailey's presentation by setting out how that bid fits alongside two other pieces of work: a ten-year Culture Strategy and a 'Culture Compact'. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_5976-1.jpeg) Ipswich City of Culture Bid Director, Amy Vaughan (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) The Culture Strategy, Vaughan said, sets out a theory of change built around several priorities identified through consultation, including supporting the freelance economy, connecting communities and strengthening cultural institutions. "It is ten years, it is big and bold, and it is going to happen regardless of the outcome of the City of Culture bid," she said. It replaces the previous Culture & Heritage strategy that the council spent £30,000 creating but never publishing or adopting. A final draft was due by the end of March 2025, but more than a year on, that strategy has never been published. Ipswich.co.uk submitted a Freedom of Information request for the document, but the council has since invoked a statutory extension while it considers an exemption under section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which relates to the effective conduct of public affairs. Ipswich.co.uk has contested what it believes is a baseless exemption – the latest in a series of recent actions by the council to evade public scrutiny. The City of Culture bid is a competition for a £10m prize from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which Vaughan said must be matched to the tune of roughly £30m in additional funding. The bid was submitted on 7 August, and Vaughan said a decision on whether Ipswich has progressed to the final round – a shortlist of four – is expected in early to mid-October. She stressed that not making the shortlist will not affect the 10-year culture strategy, which will proceed regardless. The Culture Compact, meanwhile, is described as a partnership body bringing together business, education, health, cultural institutions and local government to discuss shared priorities. "It does not necessarily have resources and money behind it," Vaughan said. "It is people getting in a room once a quarter with a direction of travel that they are talking about together." ## What the council says A council spokesperson told Ipswich.co.uk the new website "is in the final stages of development," with a launch date and web address to be confirmed "once testing and final preparations have been completed." On activation, the spokesperson described the council as "one of the partners" supporting a "collective approach" to raising Ipswich's profile, with activation "taking place through a phased approach, beginning with stakeholder engagement," funded through "existing communications and marketing resources" in line with normal budget-setting processes. On photography, the spokesperson said opportunities to refresh imagery "will be considered as part of future communications and promotional activity," subject to standard procurement and budget approval. Businesses and partner organisations will be offered "a toolkit and practical guides to support the activation," the spokesperson said, with use of the brand assets voluntary. On how the brand relates to other strategies, the council said the "Home of Opportunity" brand "is not replacing existing strategies or projects," but is intended to "complement and provide a consistent narrative" across them. On whether the Jacob Bailey Group contract was competitively procured and its value, the spokesperson said they did not hold that information and had logged it as a Freedom of Information request. ## The bottom line Ipswich now has a much-needed brand strategy. But a strategy is only as good as its execution, and Ipswich Borough Council must now show it is willing to fund the activation of the new brand – the visual identity, the photography, the public realm improvements, the advertising and comms, the sustained investment – with the same commitment it showed in commissioning it. Without that, "The home of opportunity" risks joining an ever-growing pile of publicly funded strategy documents left to gather dust. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£203 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Removable bollards to enforce town centre vehicle ban URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/removable-bollards-to-enforce-town-centre-vehicle-ban/ Last updated: 2026-09-10T15:14:54.000Z **Why it matters:** Vehicle access to the town centre is only permitted between 16:30 and 10:30, but many drivers are ignoring the restriction, creating a hazard for pedestrians and negatively impacting the experience of visitors to the town centre. **The details:** Ipswich Borough Council does not have the power to enforce moving vehicle violations, as this responsibility lies with the police. Instead, the council has opted to physically prevent access during the restricted period by installing removable bollards. Bollards will be locked in place at 10:30 each day and removed at 16:30 at: - Carr Street - Tower Street - The western section of Westgate Street - The junction of Princes Street and King Street Queen Street will also see bollards used to restrict vehicle access. There, vehicles are only permitted between 16:30 and 10:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays. At all other times, vehicle access will be prevented. There will be no bollards on Tavern Street or Buttermarket. The council didn't specify why. **What they're saying:** Cllr Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "The council doesn't have the powers to issue fixed penalty notices to vehicles which drive into the town centre during the periods when vehicles are prohibited. We can issue fixed penalty notices to vehicles that are parked where they shouldn't be parked, but we can't have enforcement officers in every part of the pedestrianised area of the town centre to do so. "Installing the bollards is a sensible approach to enforcing the long-standing vehicle restriction times in the town centre. Once Suffolk County Council install an ANPR camera on Upper Brook Street, these together will provide effective enforcement of the existing vehicle restrictions in the town centre. This will enable people to continue to enjoy the town centre, vehicle free." **What's next:** The bollards are expected to be followed by the installation of an ANPR camera on Upper Brook Street by Suffolk County Council. This will enforce vehicle access restrictions on Upper Brook Street and issue fixed penalty notices to vehicles entering the town centre via Buttermarket and Westgate Street from Upper Brook Street. Installation of the ground sockets for the bollards has begun, with the project expected to take up to four weeks to complete. Ipswich.co.uk has approached Suffolk County Council for comment. **For context:** Emergency services will still be able to gain access as necessary, and businesses will continue to receive deliveries before 10:30 and after 16:30. **The bottom line:** With no power to fine moving vehicles, Ipswich Borough Council is turning to physical barriers to enforce restrictions that have long been in place but widely flouted, with further enforcement expected once Suffolk County Council's ANPR camera is installed. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Fixing Ipswich's A14 problem could cost over £1bn and take more than a decade URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fixing-ipswichs-a14-problem-could-cost-over-1bn-and-take-a-decade-council-report-says/ Last updated: 2026-09-10T13:14:03.000Z **Why it matters**: The Orwell Bridge is the only strategic crossing of the Orwell Estuary, meaning closures for maintenance, high winds, collisions or police incidents send traffic flooding onto Ipswich's local roads. **The details**: Cabinet will be asked to approve up to £300,000 for a new stage of evidence-gathering, called a Pre-Strategic Outline Business Case (Pre-SOBC), rather than choose to proceed with a preferred solution. The report identifies six broad themes for further assessment: a replacement or alternative Orwell crossing (a bridge or tunnel is not specified at this stage), a similar crossing with a direct A12 link, a northern bypass route, an Upper Orwell-style town centre crossing, a package of tactical resilience measures, and a demand-management and mode-shift exercise to establish how many people would need to change travel habits to ease pressure on the network. Cabinet is not being asked to choose between these options. The report states that selecting a preferred scheme now, before the evidence has been refreshed, would risk legal challenge, delay and wasted costs. Past studies examined 32 options and found the highest-scoring were variants of the Ipswich Northern Route, though a new bridge or tunnel was discounted on cost and complexity at the time. A northern bypass scheme was developed as far as Strategic Outline Business Case stage before being cancelled in 2020 due to opposition, environmental concerns and cost, put at around £500m then and potentially up to £1bn today. The report notes that neither the Northern Route nor the previously proposed Upper Orwell Crossings was designed as a direct, like-for-like replacement for the Orwell Bridge. The Northern Route was primarily aimed at accommodating growth, while the Upper Orwell scheme was focused on urban regeneration and connectivity. **By the numbers**: - £300,000 – the estimated cost of preparing the Pre-SOBC, funded from the council's Local Transport Grant. - £500m to more than £1bn – the potential cost of a major infrastructure scheme, according to the report. - In the order of £200m – the potential development costs alone for the most complex options, representing 10-20% of the total scheme cost. - 3,978 – signatures on Ipswich MP Jack Abbott's petition calling for the Ipswich Northern Route to be revived. - 32 – the number of options examined in past studies, from public transport upgrades to new river crossings. - 87% – the proportion of 350 local firms surveyed by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce that reported negative business impacts from A14 issues in the past year. - 2036 – the earliest year construction could begin, subject to government funding and approval at each stage. **What they're saying**: Cllr Christopher Hudson, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "Resilience on the A14 corridor around Ipswich is not just a local concern; it is a matter of national importance. "When the Orwell Bridge is closed, there is huge disruption for residents, businesses and freight operators alike. "By fully assessing the evidence, we can develop a resilient and credible case for investment to present to the government, National Highways and regional partners. "Moving too quickly to a single solution without that evidence would risk \[a legal\] challenge and reduce confidence that all viable options had been properly considered." A Suffolk Chamber of Commerce spokesperson welcomed the report, calling it "a much-needed, timely and evidenced reset of the various options" and a "potentially game-changing opportunity." The Chamber said its recommendations were "broadly in accord with our longstanding view that no strategic options should be ruled out," and confirmed it is launching a second "Broken Down" survey of businesses this month to feed into the evidence base. **The other side**: Cllr Martin Cook, leader of the Labour group on Suffolk County Council, criticised the timescale and the council's evidence base, saying: "Suffolk County Council admits it does not even know how often the Orwell Bridge closes. Reform are so unconcerned by what that does to Ipswich that they are happy to spend the rest of their term redoing work on options that the council finished in 2020, when the northern bypass came out top, on a timetable that pushes any solution beyond 2040\. Cllr Hudson says the danger is moving too quickly. Nobody sitting in Ipswich's endless jams recognises that danger." The report itself acknowledges a gap in the data, stating that "no one organisation has accurate records of the total number of closures and incidents on the A14 and Orwell Bridge specifically," with National Highways holding records of planned closures and Suffolk Police holding records of crashes it attended, but no single, definitive picture of all disruption. Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said: "People will be very frustrated that we have had another wasted summer. We were led to believe that Suffolk County Council would finally be putting a proposal on the table, but that now appears to have been another delaying tactic, and they will now be carrying out further analysis for a further six months. "It will mean that it will have been seven years since Suffolk County Council cancelled plans for an Ipswich Northern Bypass, with nothing to show for it. "This new work can't be for nothing. It has to mark the start of a genuine process to deliver a credible, affordable and deliverable alternative to the Orwell Bridge. I will keep pushing for that outcome in the best, long-term interests of Ipswich and Suffolk." **For context**: The report follows a motion passed by Full Council on 21 May 2026, requiring the council to assess all realistic long-term options rather than pick one scheme early. It also responds to Jack Abbott MP's petition calling for the Ipswich Northern Route to be revived. The council says approving the Pre-SOBC would not commit it, or any successor authority, to delivering any particular scheme or further funding. Councillors were also presented with three alternatives: leaving the issue entirely to National Highways and the Department for Transport, waiting for government sponsorship before starting work, or pursuing only smaller tactical measures such as improved incident management – all of which the report says carry their own risks or limitations. **What's next**: If approved, the Pre-SOBC is expected to take around six months, with an evidence and options report due by spring 2027\. Subsequent stages, subject to government funding and approval, could see a Strategic Outline Business Case by late 2028, an Outline Business Case by mid-2030 and a Full Business Case by late 2032, with construction not starting before 2036 at the earliest. **The bottom line**: Suffolk County Council says it wants a fully evidenced case before committing to any single solution for the Orwell Bridge's resilience problems – a process officials say could take a decade or more and cost over £1bn – while critics argue it is moving too slowly to address a problem residents face today and that the cabinet paper hasn't gone far enough. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Why county council's £7.8m overspend is bigger than it looks URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/why-suffolks-overspend-is-bigger-than-it-looks/ Last updated: 2026-09-10T07:48:47.000Z **Why it matters:** Cabinet papers published ahead of a meeting on 17 September 2026 show the council is forecasting a £7.751m overspend against its 2026-27 net expenditure budget at the end of the first quarter. The gap will be plugged from the council's Risk Reserve, which is forecast to fall from £19.1m to £9.7m over the course of the year. **The details:** The overspend equates to 0.9% of the council's £850m net expenditure budget. It is overwhelmingly driven by Adult Social Care, which is forecasting an overspend of £11.3m, including an £11.5m overspend on care purchasing. The report attributes this to continuing demand pressures, including a rise in customer numbers during 2025-26 that has carried into the current year. This has been partly offset by underspends elsewhere, including £4.1m in the Capital Financing budget, resulting from lower debt interest costs. To fund the overspend, Cabinet is being asked to note that Unallocated Reserves – the council's core financial buffer – are forecast to stand at £38.8m by 31 March 2027, representing 4.6% of the net expenditure budget. That is £3.7m below the 5% threshold the council's Chief Financial Officer uses to assess financial resilience. As a result, Cabinet is being asked to require Directors to review Earmarked Reserves within their own areas and identify any that can be repurposed to replenish the Risk Reserve to acceptable levels. **The bigger picture:** Separately, the council is reporting a much larger forecast overspend of £104.8m against budgets funded by the Dedicated Schools Grant, almost entirely relating to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. The council expects this to be largely offset by a £147.5m High Needs Stability Grant from Government, which would reduce the accumulated deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant reserve from £163.8m to £121.2m. Receipt of the grant is subject to Government approval of Suffolk's Local SEND Reform Plan. The report notes that the council is forecasting delivery of £52.0m of savings and mitigations against a target of £46.5m, an over-achievement of £5.5m, driven primarily by Adult Social Care transformation programmes. **What they're saying:** Cllr Vicky Armstrong, Cabinet Member for Finance, Economic Development and Efficiency, said: "The Quarter 1 figures have given us an early and clear warning about where we are overspending – and we are taking decisive action now to put the council on a stronger financial footing. "We are instructing staff to go further and faster to identify savings and reduce the forecast overspend. "Every pound of taxpayers' money should be spent as if it were our own. That means slashing waste, challenging every pound we spend, getting better deals from suppliers and focusing resources on the frontline services that make the biggest difference to people's lives. "We are a council focused on getting things done, putting Suffolk communities first and delivering better value for taxpayers." **What's next:** Directors have been instructed to work with their Cabinet Members and services to mitigate expenditure wherever possible and to continue monitoring budgets closely so that further issues are identified and addressed swiftly. The report is due to be considered by Cabinet on 17 September 2026, with a further update expected in the Quarter 2 monitoring report in November. **The bottom line:** An overspend of less than 1% might not sound alarming on its own, but it is arriving at the same time as the council's financial cushion is shrinking and sitting below its own resilience threshold – a combination that has prompted Cabinet to order Directors to find savings and free up reserves before the position gets harder to manage. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Leaking ceilings, flooded floors: the latest crisis at Pipers Court URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/leaking-ceilings-flooded-floors-the-latest-crisis-at-pipers-court/ Last updated: 2026-09-09T19:24:48.000Z **Why it matters:** Residents at the 103-home block on Old Foundry Road pay £37.46 a week – £1,946.42 a year – towards cleaning, staffing and maintenance, yet conditions have seemingly continued to deteriorate rather than improve. One resident has said many people at the block rely on Universal Credit, meaning it is often the state, rather than the resident, that ultimately picks up the bill when things go wrong. The flooding raises fresh questions about what residents – and, by extension, the taxpayer – are actually paying for. **The details:** On Tuesday, 8 September, water ran down the first- and second-floor staircase and gathered at the ground-floor entrance. A resident in the block told us the flooding affected every floor, not just the entrance. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2177-2.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2175-1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2163-3.jpeg) Flooding at Pipers Court on Tuesday, 8 September, with water running from the first and second floor down into the ground floor entrance (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) At least eight wet floor signs had been placed across both levels: upstairs, where the water was coming from, and downstairs, where it was collecting. The flooding was still ongoing at the time of our visit. **The bigger picture:** This is the third time this year Ipswich.co.uk has reported on conditions at Pipers Court. In April, an investigation into the block's service charges found black mould on windows, what appeared to be congealed blood on a light switch in the laundry room, and a general state of disrepair throughout the communal areas, despite residents collectively paying £200,481.42 a year towards cleaning, staffing and maintenance. A follow-up in June found bin chutes stacked with rubbish and flies throughout the building, no evidence of window cleaning, and residents describing a pattern of unfulfilled maintenance promises stretching back to when Oak Housing took over the block in 2018\. One resident told us at the time: "Soon there will be rats running the building and maggots up the walls." [Black mould, blood stains and £200,000: Inside the Ipswich block questioning its service chargesWhen a resident raised concerns about service charges at Pipers Court, a 103-home apartment block on Old Foundry Road, we went to take a look. From the outside, it is not without a certain charm, but what lies beyond the entrance tells a very different story.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-0aaa07f1-8b6c-4dea-b858-a3e54a844250.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_0787-0bb3b5e6-702a-4e19-80c8-94a6b185f894.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/black-mould-blood-stains-and-200-000-inside-the-ipswich-block-questioning-its-service-charges/) [‘Soon there will be rats running the building’: Pipers Court two months onWhen Ipswich.co.uk first visited Pipers Court in April, we found black mould, broken tiles, blood-stained lights and “cleaning in progress” signs lining the dirtiest corridors. Two months later, with fly-infested bin liners stacking up inside, frustrated residents tell us little has improved.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-d42bd2f2-5121-45a7-977a-8df77faf2da3.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--36--f63e638f-4e94-4f04-9822-dc20382d773c.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/soon-there-will-be-rats-running-the-building-pipers-court-two-months-on/) **What they're saying:** Responding to our June investigation, Oak Housing's Senior Housing Officer, Rebecca Greenhalgh, said the company "takes all concerns raised by customers seriously" and was "actively reviewing estate management, cleaning, waste management and communal repair issues at the scheme." She added that Oak Housing "does not accept any suggestion that customer concerns are ignored." Oak Housing was approached for comment on the flooding but had not responded by the time of publication. **The bottom line:** In summer, the bins at Pipers Court overflowed because the building couldn't get rubbish out fast enough. Now, in the same block, water is pouring in faster than it can be dealt with. The season has changed, but residents at Pipers Court are still left to deal with the fallout. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Hadwen talks Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hadwen-talks-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-09-09T12:14:19.000Z Twenty-four hours after ministers unexpectedly withdrew their decision to restructure local government in Suffolk, Essex, Hampshire and Norfolk, I jumped on a call with the unsurprisingly buoyant Reform UK Suffolk County Council leader to ask what the announcement actually means – for Suffolk's two-tier system, for devolution, and, most importantly, for a town he has often been accused of overlooking. ## Not a 'pause' When Communities Secretary Angela Rayner announced the latest government U-turn, she told Parliament that "in light of legal advice" she must be satisfied that the government's entire LGR process "is robust and, of course, complies with the law." The government "withdrew" reorganisation decisions in Suffolk, Essex, Hampshire and Norfolk, and "paused" fourteen more pending review. Much talk followed about how long that 'pause' would last – with many confident we would see LGR reincarnated, and the government reach the same conclusion after following the correct process at a later date. [Government scraps council reorganisation in Suffolk and NorfolkThe government’s abrupt decision to abandon local government reorganisation (LGR) in Suffolk and Norfolk marks one of the most significant reversals in English local governance for a decade.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-718f089e-b743-4122-a6a3-9accbfe6627f.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--64--45de5cc7-b4de-4c71-9172-0e9b97aa9af7.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/government-scraps-council-reorganisation-in-suffolk-and-norfolk/) This isn't the case, according to Hadwen, who went on to say that, from his conversations with ministers, there is very little chance of LGR returning to the table in Suffolk before the next general election. He accepted that a future government could revisit it, but for the current Parliament, he is confident the county will enter the next general election in 2029 as a two-tier authority, maintaining its borough, district and county councils. ## Government to foot the bill Cllr Hadwen said the government will meet the full cost of Suffolk's judicial review, crucially at no expense to Suffolk taxpayers, and, to add insult to injury, will also repay Suffolk's six councils for all work undertaken on LGR to date – using money originally set aside to establish the new unitary authorities. This, in his eyes, amounts to a tacit acknowledgement of wrongdoing by the government, and a final nail in the LGR coffin. This marks a significant moment for Hadwen, who was relentlessly criticised by opposition group leaders for what they characterised as a gamble with public money on a legal challenge they believed had little chance of success. A gamble, it would appear, that has paid off. For a while now, we have understood that the council's legal challenge to LGR was expected to succeed, but the nature of the government's announcement, and the extent of the retreat, caught everyone – including Cllr Hadwen, it seems – off guard. He now, perhaps rightfully, feels vindicated in the decision to pursue the case, while acknowledging some "minor procedural issues" that resulted in a Section 5A notice being issued. The notice was issued earlier this July by the council's monitoring officer, who is, in effect, the council's solicitor, following complaints about the way Cllr Hadwen pursued the judicial review using his executive powers before the full cabinet had formally agreed to the action. 💡 A Section 5A report, issued under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, is triggered when a monitoring officer concludes that a breach of the law, or an act of maladministration, stems from a council's executive – its cabinet or leader – rather than the full council. It is reserved for the most serious cases, and its issuance has real teeth: the moment it lands with the executive, all further action on the decision in question is suspended. Pressed by Ipswich.co.uk, Cllr Hadwen said he intends to publish the legal advice that underpinned the judicial review, though not until the case has formally concluded. Ipswich.co.uk will cover this in more detail when Cllr Hadwen is minded to share it. ## A devolution deal 'within weeks' After the decision to scrap LGR, questions were raised about the impact on Suffolk and Norfolk's devolution schedule. Asked about his position on the matter, Cllr Hadwen argued that the collapse of reorganisation has, if anything, strengthened Suffolk's hand. Suffolk County Council and Norfolk County Council will now form a Combined County Authority (CCA), with an election for a new mayor expected in 2028\. Hadwen does not expect that timetable to change, and he confirmed that district council elections will go ahead next year. He told Ipswich.co.uk that Norfolk County Council is keen to get a deal over the line, and that discussions at last week's Reform UK party conference with leader Cllr David Bick had been very encouraging, with Norfolk keen to agree the terms of the deal as quickly as possible. Support our journalism ****Helping you** ***really** **understand Suffolk politics** From LGR's collapse to what comes next for Ipswich, we're the ones asking the hard questions of the people who run this county and surfacing unique insights you won't get anywhere else. £6 a month keeps us doing it. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) Cllr Hadwen said he remained instinctively opposed to unnecessary layers of local government, but described his approach as pragmatic, arguing the current devolution offer on the table provides "no protections for Suffolk residents". He said he and his team were working on a deal they would be prepared to sign, that was right for the county, and intend to send it to Norfolk "within the next couple of weeks". A level playing field with Norfolk was crucial, he said, stressing that any deal must work for our county first. Views on Michael Hadwen's leadership to date are mixed, but Reform UK has clearly entrusted him to lead Norfolk and Suffolk's devolution negotiations, which is interesting in itself. He said he intends to take the proposal to all prospective mayoral candidates and ask them to back it, as part of his commitment to prioritising the region's interests over party politics, in the coming weeks. ## Constitutional changes afoot When discussing how the LGR process and subsequent judicial review had played out in the chamber, Hadwen criticised opposition leaders, who, in his eyes, had "made a rod for their own back" by directing criticism not just at him personally, but at council officers, too. He believes opposition councillors have sought to influence officers in ways designed to undermine his leadership and administration, and that he was now exploring changes to the council's constitution to prevent that from happening again. Something we shall undoubtedly revisit in much more detail. ## 'A totally different side of me' A lot of the criticism directed at Cllr Hadwen during the LGR battle, he says, came from those who accused him of being "anti-Ipswich" – of pursuing a settlement that served him and his administration over the county, and at the expense of our town. He strongly rejects that characterisation. He made it clear he is not anti-Ipswich, but was rather specifically opposed to Felixstowe and Ipswich being placed into the same unitary authority under the government's three-unitary model. He makes no attempt to mask his loyalty to his hometown, describing himself as "a Felixstowe boy," elected in the first instance to protect his town. With that "fight" now over, he said his attention would turn to what he called "Ipswich's problems" – telling Ipswich.co.uk that people in the town would now see "a totally different side of him." As a marker of that shift, Cllr Hadwen pointed to his relationship with Ipswich's MP, Jack Abbott, a vocal supporter of the three-unitary model and a long-time campaigner for an Ipswich bypass. Despite their differences over LGR, Cllr Hadwen said he has committed to working with Abbott on tackling Ipswich's congestion challenges as part of a broader infrastructure agenda that will be kicked off with the unveiling of the council's much-anticipated cabinet paper next week. ## The bottom line Michael Hadwen has emerged from Suffolk's reorganisation battle believing he has been both victorious and vindicated. The government attributed its reversal to a national legal review rather than the specific merits of Suffolk's case, but what is clearer today than it was two days ago is that, in the eyes of the council's leader, this is much more than a pause of LGR – Suffolk will almost certainly enter the next general election as a two-tier county, and 2028 will almost certainly see a new mayor elected for a Combined County Authority of Suffolk and Norfolk. Locally, Hadwen has staked his credibility on a promise that our town will see a different side of him, but his and his administration's actions will define whether that commitment is genuine or just a rhetorical reset. Ipswich.co.uk shall be there to report it either way. Support our journalism ****Helping you** ***really** **understand Suffolk politics** From LGR's collapse to what comes next for Ipswich, we're the ones asking the hard questions of the people who run this county and surfacing unique insights you won't get anywhere else. £6 a month keeps us doing it. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£166 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Should Lloyds Avenue wait for Debenhams? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/should-lloyds-avenue-wait-for-debenhams/ Last updated: 2026-09-09T11:00:48.000Z Six years on from its first proposal, Lloyds Avenue has outlasted four changes of prime minister, several local elections, and more than one missed start date. Construction is now expected to begin later this year, following approval from Suffolk County Council's highways service. First proposed in December 2020, funded through the Towns Fund the following year, and delayed repeatedly since — most recently after problems were discovered with the substrate beneath its footpaths — the scheme has taken longer to reach a start date than many expected. Ipswich.co.uk has pressed the council on its progress for months. But the announcement of a start date for construction of Lloyds Avenue did not arrive alone. On the very same day, the council also revealed it had completed its own long-running saga: the acquisition of the former Debenhams building, a hulking, stripped-out shell that sits directly along the same street and adjoins the Grade II listed Lloyds Arch. Two ends of the same corner, two long-awaited announcements, one day. The council itself has described the two schemes as "far from separate." That overlap has raised a question that has, so far, gone largely unasked and unanswered: is Ipswich Borough Council building half a plan, and hoping the other half fits later? Put another way: should Lloyds Avenue be put on hold, and developed as part of a single masterplan? ## Two timelines, one street The current Lloyds Avenue design was unveiled in July 2024 — sketched out, costed and signed off more than two years before the Debenhams acquisition was confirmed. At the time, nobody drawing up those plans knew the derelict building at the end of the street would soon belong to the council too. The Debenhams site's future, by contrast, is still very much unwritten. The council intends to run a developer-led design competition, inviting full development teams to submit proposals covering design, funding, planning and delivery. It has not yet decided whether demolition will take place before or after that competition concludes, nor what the resulting mixed-use development will look like once the dust settles. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/former-debenhams-in-ipswich.jpeg) Former Debenhams in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Lloyds Avenue's scope, meanwhile, has already been fixed. The scheme includes expanded pedestrian areas, improved seating and high-quality paving across both footways and carriageways, similar to work already completed on St Peter's Street, alongside new cycle parking, the decluttering of Lloyds Archway and new planters. The Grade II listed Lloyds Arch will be retained, with additional green space created around it — as part of the Debenhams scheme, running on its own separate clock. ## The case for pressing ahead Council leader Neil MacDonald has framed the Lloyds Avenue works as central to the town centre's future. "This is fantastic news for Ipswich and another important milestone in our ambition to create a vibrant, attractive and accessible town centre for residents, businesses and visitors alike," he said, adding that the improvements would "transform a key route through the town centre, creating more space for people, encouraging walking and providing an attractive setting that supports local businesses and the wider visitor economy." For businesses and residents who have waited years for so much as a shovel in the ground, the case for finally proceeding is straightforward. The scheme has already survived multiple delays, and there is no guarantee that waiting for the Debenhams design competition to conclude would change the proposed Lloyds Avenue scheme. Sometimes momentum, once earned, is worth keeping. ## The case for waiting Others may point out that Lloyds Avenue and the Debenhams site do not simply sit near one another — they meet at the same junction, share a common landmark in Lloyds Arch, and will together define one of the most prominent corners of the town centre for generations to come. A design finalised in 2024, before the council even owned the Debenhams site, was necessarily drawn up blind to what would eventually replace it. Whether that timing gap matters in practice is itself an open question. The two schemes could proceed independently with no meaningful loss of coherence; equally possible is a masterplan encompassing both, producing a more considered outcome for the wider area than two projects arriving at different times, shaped by different pressures — one finished, one still a blank page. A more practical question also hangs over the council. If Lloyds Avenue's sparkly new benches, planters and paving are finished by mid-2027 while the Debenhams site is mid-demolition, the newly finished public space will open directly onto a building site. New outdoor seating outside the Three Wise Monkeys, within earshot of bulldozers, excavators and dump trucks clearing the site opposite, is obviously not the vision the scheme was sold on. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/image-3.png) An AI-generated image of the view from the new benches on Lloyds Avenue during demolition ## What the council says Ipswich.co.uk put these questions to Ipswich Borough Council ahead of publication, and the council was reluctant to address any of them in detail. A council spokesperson said the two schemes "have been considered" and "will be kept under review," but confirmed there was "no desire to delay" the Lloyds Avenue works if they could proceed "without adversely affecting the progression of a project to redevelop the Waterloo House site" — the original name for the former Debenhams building. "There is no part of the Lloyds Avenue improvements that would cause any issues with the redevelopment of the Waterloo House site," the spokesperson said, seemingly missing the crux of the question, which was about potentially missing an opportunity rather than causing issues. Asked whether demolition of the building would take place before or after the outcome of the developer-led design competition, the spokesperson said "a definite timeline for either the demolition or the developer-led design competition isn't yet known," adding that the council first needs consent to demolish the building and to engage the market for the competition. Asked directly how the redevelopment of the site would now be funded, following the government's decision not to proceed with local government reorganisation in Suffolk, the spokesperson did not address funding, instead explaining the mechanics of a developer-led design competition, in which development teams are invited to bring forward proposals they can design, fund, secure planning permission for and deliver themselves. In other words: there is no funding plan...yet. Asked whether the council had anything further to add on the relationship between the two schemes, or on residents' concerns that this corner of the town centre may be shaped by two separate decisions rather than one plan, the spokesperson said: "No." ## What happens next Lloyds Avenue is expected to be completed by mid-July 2027\. The former Debenhams building, by contrast, remains a question mark on the map: the council has yet to confirm the sequencing of demolition and its design competition, or the eventual form of the mixed-use scheme that follows. Funding adds a further layer of uncertainty. The purchase and demolition of the Debenhams building have been funded through the Local Regeneration Fund, formerly the Towns Fund, but the cost of developing whatever replaces it remains unfunded. It was expected that responsibility for funding the redevelopment would fall to the incoming Ipswich & South Suffolk unitary authority. But the government's surprise decision to scrap local government reorganisation in Suffolk has pulled that assumption out from under the scheme, leaving the question of how the site's future will actually be paid for hanging in the air along with the dust from whatever comes down first. ## The bottom line Lloyds Avenue and the former Debenhams building sit on the same stretch of street, share the same landmark, and will define the same corner of the town centre for generations. One is a finished blueprint and about to begin construction; the other is still an empty shell awaiting an idea. Both schemes, the council says, have been 'considered' and will be 'kept under review.' Whether that constitutes a masterplan, or two decisions that happened to land on the same day, is for residents to decide. Either way, this corner of town will not be redeveloped again — and the council will not get a second chance to get it right. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£176 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk Dog Day returns to Trinity Park URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-dog-day-returns-to-trinity-park/ Last updated: 2026-09-09T08:26:38.000Z **Why it matters:** The event, sponsored by Skinners, raises money for St Elizabeth Hospice, which supports more than 4,000 patients and families living with life-limiting illnesses across East and Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney every year. **The details:** Suffolk Dog Day will feature fun dog classes and Crufts-style competitions, a dog pool cool-off area, and dog agility and scurry activities. There will also be more than 50 stalls selling dog toys, treats and other canine goodies, alongside children's entertainment and food and drink stalls. **What they're saying:** James Fox-Golding, events and challenges manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: "We're all counting down the days until Suffolk Dog Day returns this September. "It's sure to be a brilliant day that gets tails wagging as we come together with the local community to celebrate our shared love of dogs. All while raising vital funds to support our services, which provide compassionate care to patients and their families when it matters most." **The bigger picture:** St Elizabeth Hospice's services cost around £12m a year to deliver, with 70% of this funded by the local community through retail shops, events, individual fundraising, and gifts in wills and donations. **The bottom line:** With Suffolk Dog Day coming up, organisers are encouraging dog lovers to book their tickets ahead of the Trinity Park event, which supports hospice care across the region. Tickets for Suffolk Dog Day 2026 can be booked at stelizabethhospice.org.uk. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### University marks 10 years with hedgerow planting URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/university-marks-10-years-with-hedgerow-planting/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T14:23:31.000Z **Why it matters:** The hedgerow planting marks the start of celebrations reflecting on 10 years of the university's independence, as well as its role in supporting the local economy. **The details:** Two long-serving members of staff planted the first of 10 hawthorn and blackthorn shrubs on Monday, 7 September 2026, for a new hedgerow on campus. - The hedgerow reflects the university's commitment to creating sustainable green spaces and habitats for birds and insects. - The day also gave staff and guests from across the county the chance to hear about the university's new strategy, which sets out its commitment to teaching and research, being a successful civic university, and making a positive impact in the region. - Celebrations will run over the next year, with students, staff, local businesses and the community invited to take part. **What they're saying:** Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, said: "Our 10-year anniversary is a landmark moment for everyone who has studied and worked here or partnered with us over the last decade. As the county's only University, we are committed to making a positive impact on our community through education, research and collaboration. "Celebration and information events will be taking place throughout the year and I hope to welcome guests from around the county to find out more about the University, how they can work with us and how we are contributing to Suffolk." Staff also shared memories to mark the launch of the celebrations. Sam Chenery-Morris, Executive Dean for the School of Business, Arts, Technology and Social Sciences, who joined Suffolk College in 2006, said: "One of the greatest pleasures has been seeing students develop over time. I can think of several who arrived as nervous first-year students, uncertain of their abilities and what the future might hold. I later had the privilege of watching them graduate, qualify into their professions and then return to the University as colleagues. "It is a reminder that a university is much more than its buildings; it is a community that shapes lives and creates opportunities." **The bigger picture:** The University of Suffolk was founded in 2007 as University Campus Suffolk, evolving from Suffolk College's higher education provision, with degrees initially awarded by the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex. It became an independent university in 2016. In autumn, the university will host Ipswich's first TEDx talk, featuring six keynote speakers, and welcome back former Chancellor Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE for an open lecture on equality in democracy. A wider programme of talks, panel discussions and public events at venues across the county will also be announced. **By the numbers:** The university's 2024 Economic Impact Study found it supports more than 13,000 jobs and helps support more than £860m in economic activity a year. **The bottom line:** As the University of Suffolk marks a decade of independence, it is using the anniversary to reflect on its growth and reaffirm its role as a civic institution for the county, with a year of events planned to bring the community into the celebrations. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£24 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich taxi fare rise proposed for October URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-taxi-fare-rise-proposed-for-october/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T14:04:17.000Z **Why it matters:** The proposal sets the maximum fare hackney carriage drivers can charge passengers in Ipswich, affecting residents and visitors who rely on taxis, particularly outside normal public transport hours. **The details:** The changes would apply only to licensed hackney carriages – taxis that can be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank – and would not affect private hire vehicles, which set their own fares. - If approved, the new fare structure would go to a public consultation before any changes are introduced. - Subject to the outcome of that consultation, the earliest date the new fares could come into effect is 13 October 2026. The Executive meets at 18:00 on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, to consider the proposal. **By the numbers:** - A two-mile daytime journey would rise from £8.00 to £8.10, an increase of 1.25%. - A two-mile evening journey would rise from £10.00 to £10.10, an increase of 1%. - The Ipswich Station Taxi Tenants Association, which has 70 licensed drivers as members, requested the increase. It consulted 146 drivers, of whom 72% who responded were in favour. **What they're saying:** Councillor George Lankester, the council's Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: "It is important to stress that this is only a review of hackney carriage fares, and not all private hire vehicles. The proposals will be subject to public consultation before any changes are introduced. "These taxis do provide a unique and important service in Ipswich and so play a vital role in our town's transport network. Alongside private hire vehicles, they can be the only form of on-demand public transport service available around the clock, every day of the year, helping residents and visitors travel safely at any time of day or night. "We want to ensure residents continue to have access to safe, reliable transport while keeping fares fair and proportionate. "I would encourage anyone with an interest in these proposals to take part in the consultation process should the Executive approve it." **The other side:** Councillors could instead choose to keep fares at their current level, which would avoid higher costs for passengers but could, officers warn, reduce the sustainability of the taxi trade and the number of licensed vehicles available. A third option would see councillors request an alternative fare figure, which officers would then need to model before returning to a future Executive meeting. For comparison, a two-mile daytime journey costs £7.70 in Chelmsford, £8.40 in Colchester and £8.60 in Cambridge. If approved, Ipswich's proposed £8.10 fare would move the borough from 81st to joint 78th on the national fare league table, out of 344 authorities. **What's next:** If approved by the Executive, the proposed Table of Fares will be advertised for public consultation. Any driver or member of the public will be able to object to the proposals or suggest alternatives. Objections will be considered by the Portfolio Holder for Communities, who could decide to revise the proposal and return it to the Executive, or proceed with the increase as agreed. **The bottom line:** Ipswich's taxi trade is asking for a fare rise to help cover rising fuel and insurance costs, and both residents and drivers alike will get the chance to have their say before any change takes effect. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£24 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Shrubland Hall: A terror threat that never was, and a taxpayer bill police won't disclose URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/shrubland-hall-a-terror-threat-that-never-was-and-a-taxpayer-bill-police-wont-disclose/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T10:49:37.000Z Shrubland Hall, the Grade II listed estate near Barham, was host to the UK Ijtima 2026 – a three-day gathering of the Tablighi Jamaat, a Sunni Islamic missionary movement, held from Friday, 10 to Sunday, 12 July 2026\. Promotional material for the event had advertised over 100,000 attendees, but Assistant Chief Constable Alice Scott of Suffolk Constabulary later put the number of those who safely departed the site at 15,000 – roughly a third of the size of Latitude Festival and more than half of the capacity of Portman Road. When Ipswich.co.uk investigated the event's planning in April, no Suffolk authority had been contacted, despite the estate's assurance that it had given "careful attention to all relevant local authority requirements," and separate assurances from Ipswich Borough councillor, Ruman Muhith, that planning was in "full regulatory compliance" – despite that not being the case at all. However, following our reporting, Mid Suffolk District Council later confirmed that the organisers did engage with the district's Safety Advisory Group ahead of the event, providing an event management plan and working with partner agencies on matters including traffic management, medical provision and food safety, addressing the gap identified at the time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_4067.jpeg) The approach road from the entrance to the hall passes through stunning Grade I listed grounds (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ## 'No evidence' of a terror threat The three-day event ran without incident until Sunday. A major incident was declared after Suffolk Constabulary received information about what a subsequent multi-agency statement described as "a credible threat" towards the event. Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London later confirmed it had opened an investigation, described as "extreme right-wing terrorism-related," into a suspected threat directed at the gathering. Acting on advice from Suffolk Police, organisers agreed to close the event slightly earlier than planned on Sunday, 12 July. Ms Scott said the declaration triggered "a multi-agency response convened to ensure a safe and properly co-ordinated departure from the event of the 15,000 attendees." The major incident status was lifted the following day. "This was a complex and fast-moving scenario with the priority of all the agencies working together to ensure the safety of all the attendees," Ms Scott said. "The Suffolk Resilience Forum wants to thank the organiser and attendees for remaining calm in very difficult circumstances, and we can reassure the public that everyone left the location safely." Ipswich MP Jack Abbott commended police, saying "Their actions undoubtedly saved many lives." Twelve people were arrested on 12 and 13 July at addresses across Suffolk, Surrey, Essex, London and Stoke. Eight were detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000; three men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder; a woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. On 16 July, a 13th man was arrested on suspicion of an offence under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. By Saturday, 18 July, seven of the eight men held under section 41 had been released from custody without charge. The 13th man was released on bail with strict conditions. No further update on either the seven or the 13th man's position has been made public since. Support our journalism ****Some questions are uncomfortable – but it's important they're asked.** Whether it's a religious group, a police force, a council, or all three, we hold everyone to the same standard of scrutiny. Support journalism that doesn't pick and choose who it questions. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) One man, aged 42, was charged with two offences linked to possession of extendable batons and a stun gun, and was remanded in custody to appear at Reading Magistrates' Court on Monday, 20 July. Police were explicit that these charges were "not believed to be connected to the alleged threat being investigated." No further public update on his case has followed the remand hearing. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, said on 18 July: "We have made extensive enquiries, but at this time, we have found no evidence to support anyone being charged with any offences linked to the alleged threat." No further statement has followed. As things stand, the most recent public position from Counter Terrorism Policing is that its investigation into the alleged threat produced no evidence to support any charge connected to it. ## 'Immediate enforcement action' Shrubland Hall's gardens are registered at Grade I on the national register of historic parks and gardens. Unlike a listed building, that registration does not itself require separate consent for works on the land – it becomes what Mid Suffolk District Council describes as a "material consideration" in planning decisions. The council said this meant no permission was required for vehicles to be parked on the grass during the event, and that Listed Building Consent did not apply to the grounds in the way it would to a listed structure itself. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/1x1-centered-portait--4-.png) Thousand of cars were parked on the Grade I-listed grounds (Photo: Contributed) It is a distinction the council was keen to draw, while pointing to real enforcement action it says it has already taken. "It is not unusual for large events to be held at listed assets," the council said after the event, pointing to Henham Park – home of Latitude Festival – as a comparable Grade II listed venue. "There is always an expectation on organisers and owners to protect the asset." A spokesperson for Mid Suffolk District Council told Ipswich.co.uk: "We worked with a number of partners to ensure both the owner of the site and the organisers of the event knew what was required in order to run a safe and legal event – and took action in our capacity as planning authority both before and during the event where breaches occurred. "We took immediate enforcement action ahead of the event over unauthorised work to create an additional access to the site. A Temporary Stop Notice was issued to put a stop to any further work, and the fence \[was\] reinstated. "A Grade II-listed pillar at the entrance to the Shrubland Hall Estate was also damaged and removed during the event, and we will be taking appropriate action to ensure it is fully reinstated." The council also confirmed it was aware of reports of pit latrines (toilets) dug into the grounds during the event, but said it treated this as an "urgent" environmental matter for the Environment Agency to lead on, rather than a planning issue. Its own multi-agency Q&A separately acknowledges that, instead of using the roughly 200 toilets and foul water tanks provided on site, some attendees "left the site and used local woodland or gardens" – behaviour it described as "unacceptable" and said had been raised with organisers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/1x1-centered-portait--3-.png) A photo reportedly taken from the event appears to show pit latrines dug into the Grade I-listed grounds (Photo: Contributed) Since the event, the council said its planning enforcement team has continued to liaise with the estate's owners and the organisers over waste collection and the reinstatement of the parkland. Ipswich.co.uk put these findings to the Shrubland Estate. It did not respond. ## The bill police won't disclose What the operation cost remains unknown. As does who's footed the bill. On 28 July, Ipswich.co.uk submitted a Freedom of Information request to Suffolk Constabulary asking for the total cost of policing the event and the response to the alleged threat, the number of officers and staff deployed, and whether any of the costs would be recharged to Counter Terrorism Policing or the Home Office. On 25 August 2026 – the day the statutory 20-working-day deadline for a response fell – Suffolk Constabulary issued an extension notice, stating that a decision on where the public interest balance lies had not yet been reached, and citing sections 24 (national security), 31 (law enforcement) and 40 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as to why it would not be willing to share the requested data with us at this stage. A decision, but not necessarily the requested information, was promised by 23 September 2026 – almost two months after the request was made, and more than six weeks after the event itself. Our request sought only aggregate figures: a total cost, and a total staffing number. It did not ask for operational detail such as deployment locations or tactical capability – the kind of information these exemptions are generally intended to protect. Section 40, in particular, is an absolute exemption where it applies to third-party personal data; it is not ordinarily subject to the "undetermined public interest balance" the extension notice describes, and it is not obvious what personal data is engaged by a request for two aggregate totals. Ipswich.co.uk put these questions directly to Suffolk Constabulary, along with whether any cost-recovery arrangement had been agreed with the organisers or the estate under section 25 of the Police Act 1996, which allows forces to charge for policing services at commercial or private events. It refused to comment and would not budge on its position to provide the requested data. Cllr Asa Downing, the county councillor for Gipping Valley, has been pressing Suffolk's police and crime commissioner for answers since the arrests. In a statement to Ipswich.co.uk, he said: "We now need to see the full and accurate cost of the policing operation. If significant public resources were required to facilitate and police this event, residents are entitled to know exactly what those resources cost and why that level of deployment was considered necessary." "This is not about hindsight or political point-scoring," he said. "It is about proper accountability for decisions involving public money." Cllr Downing called on Suffolk Police to publish the FOI figures in full, adding: "Public safety must always come first. But when taxpayers' money is involved, transparency and accountability must follow." ## The bottom line A major incident was declared, 15,000 people were evacuated from a private estate, and 13 people were arrested – yet, on the investigation's own account, no evidence was found to support any charge connected to the alleged far-right terror threat that triggered it all. On the ground, Mid Suffolk District Council confirmed breaches: an unauthorised access point was stopped before the event began, and a Grade II-listed pillar was destroyed during it and is still awaiting repair; action on the alleged pit latrines now lies with the Environment Agency. What the policing operation cost, and whether anyone besides the taxpayer contributed, remains unanswered more than six weeks on, with police yet to decide whether to comply with our Freedom of Information request. Support our journalism ****Some questions are uncomfortable – but it's important they're asked.** Whether it's a religious group, a police force, a council, or all three, we hold everyone to the same standard of scrutiny. Support journalism that doesn't pick and choose who it questions. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£287 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Indie record shop to open on St Nicholas Street URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/indie-vinyl-record-shop-to-open-on-st-nicholas-street/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T16:27:05.000Z **Why it matters:** The store will bring a new independent music retailer to one of Ipswich's main retail districts, adding to a growing cluster of music-related businesses in the area. **The details:** Musictakeaway has agreed a five-year lease on the Grade II listed premises, which spans 1,347 sq ft across three floors. The building was previously occupied by Idelo Travel agency for over 10 years. The company, based in Acle, Norfolk, specialises in original and reissue vinyl LPs, 45s and EPs spanning the 1950s to the present day, covering all genres. It has been looking to open its first store in Ipswich, before settling on the premises on St. Nicholas Street. **What's next:** Musictakeaway will begin fitting out the premises shortly and is expected to open to customers in the coming weeks. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk creates 648 new school places, including 87 SEND places in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-creates-648-new-school-places-including-87-send-places-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T08:17:00.000Z **Why it matters:** The council says the places will help meet rising demand for school places and specialist provision across the county, as it seeks to support children closer to home. **The details:** The council says the new capacity includes 405 mainstream school places and 243 additional SEND places. - The relocation and expansion of Lakenheath Primary School has added 105 primary places. - Expansion works at Stowmarket High School have added 300 secondary places. - New accommodation at Mildenhall College Academy becomes available this month, supporting a pupil admission number of 270 students per year group. **By the numbers:** The 243 additional SEND places are spread across three types of provision, according to the council: - 148 places in special schools, including 45 at The Bridge School and 40 through Warren School's Lodge provision. - 59 places in specialist units attached to mainstream schools, including 18 new places at Samuel Ward Academy and 18 at Coupals Primary Academy, due to open in January 2027. - 36 places in small group provision, including 24 at Roman Hill and 12 at The Willows. - Of the SEND providers listed, three are in Ipswich, with 45 places at The Bridge School, 30 at Woodbridge Road Academy, and 12 at The Willows, totalling 87 places. **What's next:** The council says work will begin this month on further expansion projects at Ormiston Endeavour Academy and Thurston Primary School, which it expects to deliver an additional 510 places when completed in 2027. **What they're saying:** Councillor Tony Gould, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, said: "Ensuring there are enough good school places for Suffolk children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, is one of our most important responsibilities." He added: "We know demand for SEND provision continues to rise and we are determined to provide the right support at the right time." **For context:** The council, over multiple administrations, has faced sustained and intense scrutiny over SEND provision in Suffolk. It says the new places reflect its "newly published strategic priorities," which include a commitment to give children and young people access to support "at the right time and in the most appropriate educational setting." This is the latest in a series of SEND funding announcements in Suffolk. In March 2026, the county received £9.4m in high needs capital funding for new specialist places. In April 2026, it was allocated a further £5.1m to establish an "Experts at Hand" support service. In July 2026, the council's cabinet approved spending £18.9m of government funding to create hundreds of further specialist places by 2030. **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council says it has added 648 new school and SEND places this academic year, with further expansions planned for 2027, as it works to address demand for specialist and mainstream provision across the county. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### How one Ipswich family is turning loss into something beautiful URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-one-ipswich-family-is-turning-loss-into-something-beautiful/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T14:18:44.000Z **Why it matters:** Around two dozen members of the Bluebird Lodge community, along with children, grandchildren and other family members, will take part in Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity's Colour Run at Christchurch Park on Saturday, 12 September, to raise money to transform the centre's garden in memory of Ian, a much-loved Ipswich grandfather. **The details:** Ian died in June at the age of 72, leaving behind a large and close-knit family and a community of people whose lives he had touched. He became a familiar face at Bluebird Lodge and surrounding community sites through his wife Mel, who works at the centre. Always willing to help, Ian became part of the wider Bluebird Lodge family. Described by Mel as a kind and loving husband, father, stepfather and grandfather, Ian was devoted to his family and particularly loved spending time with his grandchildren. He also loved Formula One and his dog Paddy, who was rarely far from his side. Following Ian's death, Mel's colleagues rallied around her as she returned to work. From that support came an idea to breathe new life into Bluebird Lodge's existing garden, with new raised beds and areas where people can sit together or find a moment of quiet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/Mel-with-grandchildren-paying-tribute-to-Ian-1-1.JPG) Mel with her grandchildren, paying tribute to Ian (Photo: Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity) **What they're saying:** Mel said, "Ian was such a kind and loving person, and he was always willing to help people – the team all knew and loved him." "I think he would be really proud of all of us doing this together. It has been a very hard time for our family, especially the grandchildren, so having them involved in the Colour Run with us makes it really special. "I would love the garden to become somewhere patients can go with their families, or somewhere somebody can sit quietly if they are on their own. Somewhere people can just relax, reflect and enjoy being outside. "It isn't only about remembering Ian. I want it to be something positive for everybody who comes to Bluebird Lodge." The idea to enter the Colour Run came from Sarah Gray, facilities team leader, who wanted to find a fundraising challenge that could bring colleagues and their families together. Sarah said: "We wanted to do something that everybody could be involved in, including the children and our families, and the Colour Run seemed perfect. "When I asked the team what they wanted to raise money for, everybody wanted to support Bluebird Lodge and the garden. It has brought people together and it feels fitting that we're doing something so colourful and positive to help brighten up the space." **The bigger picture:** The project reflects a growing area of in-memory fundraising, where families and communities choose to celebrate someone important to them by creating something positive for others. The charity is also currently fundraising for another outdoor project through its Time Garden Appeal, which aims to create a peaceful garden at Ipswich Hospital for patients receiving end-of-life care and the people closest to them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/Some-members-of-Team-Bluebird.jpg) Some members of Team Bluebird (Photo: Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity) Nichola Whymark, the charity's head of fundraising, said: "There is something incredibly powerful about what Mel, Sarah and the team are doing. Ian was clearly someone who quietly helped the people around him, and that spirit of kindness is continuing through this project. "We see through in-memory fundraising just how important it can be for people to turn their love for somebody they have lost into something that will help others. "Nature and outdoor spaces can also offer comfort when people are going through illness, grief or loss. Sometimes what somebody needs most is simply somewhere peaceful to sit with their family, gather their thoughts or have a private moment to reflect. "That is at the heart of our Time Garden Appeal, and it is also what makes the plans at Bluebird Lodge so special. This will be a space inspired by Ian, but one that belongs to the whole Bluebird Lodge community." **The bottom line:** What began as one family's grief has grown into a community-wide effort to create somewhere for reflection, connection and wellbeing at Bluebird Lodge – a project the team hopes will become an ongoing shared endeavour for years to come. To support Mel, Sarah and the Bluebird Lodge team's fundraising, visit their [JustGiving page](https://www.justgiving.com/page/sarah-gray-1784276631582?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Government scraps council reorganisation in Suffolk and Norfolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/government-scraps-council-reorganisation-in-suffolk-and-norfolk/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T07:42:43.000Z What began as a technocratic restructuring exercise has now become a test of ministerial judgement, legal robustness and political credibility, with implications that stretch far beyond East Anglia. Communities Secretary Angela Rayner told Parliament that "in light of legal advice" she must be satisfied that the government's entire LGR process "is robust and, of course, complies with the law." In one move, ministers have withdrawn reorganisation decisions in Suffolk, Essex, Hampshire and Norfolk, and paused fourteen more pending review. The plans, originally developed under Sir Keir Starmer's government and passed between successive Communities Secretaries, had been presented as a modernisation of England's fragmented local state. The reversal suggests the centre is no longer confident that the process can withstand judicial scrutiny. ## Suffolk's contested legal fight Suffolk's case was among the most politically charged of the twenty-plus reorganisation decisions made this year. In March, ministers opted for a three-unitary model – Western Suffolk, Central and Eastern Suffolk, and Ipswich and South Suffolk – despite officials having recommended a single unitary as the stronger option against the government's own criteria. County Council leader Cllr Michael Hadwen launched a judicial review almost immediately, using his executive powers before cabinet had formally agreed the action. The challenge, expected to cost up to £500,000 in public money, argued that the Secretary of State had acted beyond his powers and departed from published criteria without adequate justification. Opposition councillors criticised both the substance and the process of the challenge, and four formal complaints were dismissed by the monitoring officer, whose 26-page reasoning was withheld from public view. ## Victory, or vindication? Cllr Hadwen called the announcement "a resounding victory for Suffolk," saying ministers had "seen sense and withdrawn their plans." He argued residents had been spared "unnecessary upheaval" and that the council could now focus on "better value for money, stronger public services and a council that puts the interests of Suffolk first." However, Rayner's statement makes no reference to Suffolk's legal challenge. The government attributes the reversal to "updated and privileged" legal advice affecting the national process, not the merits of any single case. Politically, though, the optics favour Reform UK, which has campaigned hard against LGR in Suffolk. Suffolk is one of only four areas to have its decision withdrawn outright. ## What they're saying Cllr Richard Rout, leader of Suffolk's Conservative group, welcomed the news while criticising the government's handling of the entire process: "The reorganisation process the Labour government has pursued has been chaotic from start to finish. They seem incapable of following advice or making proper decisions." He reiterated the Conservative position that a single unitary council would be "smarter, simpler and better," but warned that the latest U-turn "means more chaos, delay and uncertainty" for residents and staff. Cllr Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green group and official opposition, said the reversal was "very frustrating": "Not only because of the amount of time and money already spent by Suffolk councils to bring services together, but because the challenges of delivering local government services still remain – from adult social care to fixing potholes, education and SEND to alleviating local flooding. All of these are essential for residents and deserve a sustainable financial footing, but under the current system, that is a distant dream. As Greens we believe in real devolution. That was not what was offered, but a little devolution is better than none." Inga Lockington, Leader of the Lib Dem Group at Suffolk County Council, said she was "really disappointed" by the decision, describing unitary councils as "a better form of Local Government," as "residents only have to contact one Council who can deal with their issues." Cllr Martin Cook, leader of the Labour group at Suffolk County Council, said: "Unitary councils are right in principle, and for Ipswich that means one council for the Ipswich area. Nobody should call this a victory for Suffolk. "The Government has withdrawn four decisions and paused sixteen more for a rapid review, and Suffolk is part of that review. Cllr Hadwen says the council can now focus on value for money and stronger public services. That is what he should have been doing anyway for the last four months." Cllr Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, confirmed that scheduled elections would go ahead as planned, adding: "We will continue to engage constructively with Government, our neighbouring authorities, and partners across the county as the review progresses. Our priority remains ensuring that any future changes to local government structures deliver better outcomes for residents, stronger local accountability, sustainable public services, and a real voice for communities." Ipswich MP Jack Abbott, who has been a vocal advocate of LGR and fully backed the three-unitary structure, said: "I understand the disappointment felt by residents, businesses, organisations and councils by today's announcement. "A huge amount of work has been undertaken on Local Government Reorganisation, particularly over the past six months when the original decision was made. "LGR is about looking forward, ending a status quo that isn't working for anyone, delivering better local services and offering value for money. "I will continue to back an ambitious future for our town and our county, and continue to press the Government for a settlement that works for us." ## What this means for Ipswich and devolution For Ipswich, the immediate consequence is the shelving of the proposed Ipswich and South Suffolk unitary authority. Ipswich Borough Council remains intact, for now. The impact on Suffolk's parallel devolution ambitions is less clear. Business leaders in Suffolk and Norfolk have been pushing for a Strategic Mayoral Authority, with elections pencilled in for May 2028, warning that the region risks falling behind areas further along the devolution path. Paul Simon, Head of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said businesses needed clarity on the government's next steps: "Suffolk Chamber notes the Government's decision to withdraw its plans to reorganise local councils in the county. It is imperative that Angela Rayner speedily clarifies what happens next: whether that is the end of the process in Suffolk or whether it will be bringing forward new proposals and timescales. Businesses will be nervous that further uncertainty and disruption might degrade council staff time and resources available for important frontline services such as planning, economic development and waste." [Suffolk ‘stands no chance’ without devolution dealFollowing last Thursday’s announcement that mayors will be handed a share of income tax and business rates revenue, Suffolk’s Chamber of Commerce and mayoral candidates have urged the government to press ahead with devolution for Suffolk and Norfolk.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-228e064d-9ed3-44ea-a6bb-f3df4313dd10.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/ipswich-from-above-including-waterfront-91774b67-1b94-4ef5-9084-6b3085b51d1d.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-stands-no-chance-without-devolution-deal/) He said the Chamber would continue to press its five principles for more business-friendly local government "regardless of the number of tiers and councils involved: greater efficiency, better economic development delivery through the use of the private sector, SME-friendly local procurement, better Suffolk-wide collaborative working and advocacy alignment whereby the Suffolk system works through the Chamber to secure the key economic asks of Government." On devolution specifically, Simon added: "Based on communications from the Government, we are not entirely sure what impact, if any, this announcement will have on its devolution plans to create a Norfolk & Suffolk Strategic Mayoral Authority. We fully back such a proposal and would be extremely disappointed were the timetable for this to be further delayed or entirely rescinded." Following previous announcements that mayors will receive a share of income tax and business rates revenue, Suffolk's Chamber of Commerce and prospective mayoral candidates have urged the government to accelerate devolution. Andy Burnham is among the most vocal national advocates for devolution, but it remains uncertain whether the collapse of LGR in Suffolk and Norfolk will alter the region's timetable, or political appetite, for a mayoral deal. ## The bottom line Suffolk's reorganisation plans are dead, at least for now. Ministers have withdrawn decisions in four areas and paused a further round pending a rapid national review, citing legal advice that applies across the entire process. The government has not endorsed Suffolk's legal arguments, nor has it ruled out revisiting reorganisation in future. Cllr Hadwen is entitled to claim victory. But whether the announcement represents a genuine win for Suffolk, or simply a temporary reprieve in a much larger national rethink, is a question that will only be answered in the months ahead, as ministers decide what comes next for local government, devolution and the future shape of English councils. One thing is settled for now, at least: May 2027's elections will go ahead on existing council boundaries. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£108 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Felixstowe electric truck hub edges closer with £50,000 boost URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/felixstowe-electric-truck-hub-edges-closer-with-50-000-boost/ Last updated: 2026-09-07T12:55:51.000Z **Why it matters:** The Port of Felixstowe sees over five thousand HGV journeys a day, of which only a small minority are currently electrified. The proposed hub aims to close that gap and support the wider decarbonisation of freight travelling through the region. **The details:** The electric truck hub, led by Maritime Transport, is planned for a site on Anzani Avenue in Felixstowe. It could offer up to 6MW of high-speed, open-access charging for electric HGVs, other heavy vehicles and buses. - The facility could serve hauliers, logistics operators, transport firms, employment sites and major infrastructure projects in the Freeport East region, including Sizewell C and other major energy projects. - Freeport East's initial £50,000 contribution will help move the project through the next stage of planning and technical development, including preparatory work towards a future planning application to East Suffolk Council. - The financial contribution could increase in subsequent phases. - If plans progress smoothly, the hub could be up and running in 2028. **The bigger picture:** The proposed facility would boost Freeport East's Green Freight Corridor initiative, launched in partnership with East Midlands Freeport in May 2024, which aims to decarbonise freight transport and support skills and employment along one of the UK's most important logistics routes. **What they're saying:** Steve Beel, chief executive at Freeport East, said: "Decarbonising freight is one of the biggest challenges facing logistics in our region, and access to reliable and high-capacity charging infrastructure is a critical part of the solution. "It is also a key part of maintaining the Port of Felixstowe's leadership position for international trade, with many of the leading shipping lines, logistics operators and freight customers wanting to see lower emissions in the sector. This facility, under the leadership of Maritime Transport, could help fill a real gap for hauliers and other operators. Anyone interested in how the project could support their decarbonisation objectives would be welcome to get in touch as the development evolves." Tom Williams, deputy chief executive at Maritime Transport, added: "This funding allows us to take the next step in assessing what a full-scale, open-access eHGV charging facility in Felixstowe could look like. We're working closely with our specialist infrastructure partners and with Freeport East to test the case for the site, and we're encouraged by the progress so far." **What's next:** Freeport East says it will continue to work with Maritime Transport as the project develops, and welcomes interest from hauliers, logistics operators and other stakeholders keen to learn more about the proposed facility. **The bottom line:** With a small initial investment now on the table, Freeport East and Maritime Transport are taking the first steps towards a large-scale electric charging facility that could help decarbonise one of the UK's busiest freight corridors – though full planning and funding decisions still lie ahead. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Hay Wain exhibition draws 11,000 visitors in eight weeks URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hay-wain-exhibition-draws-11-000-visitors-in-eight-weeks/ Last updated: 2026-09-07T13:43:34.000Z **Why it matters:** The exhibition has become one of the most popular and acclaimed ever held at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, with Ipswich Borough Council now urging residents and visitors who have not yet seen it to do so before it closes. **The details:** Tickets booked for the exhibition in its first eight weeks reached 11,219, contributing to an overall total of 15,217 visits to the Mansion over the period. At the heart of the exhibition is John Constable's most famous painting, The Hay Wain (1821), making its first-ever visit to Suffolk – the county whose landscape inspired the masterpiece. Visitors can also see an exceptional collection of loans from the National Gallery, Tate, Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Academy and National Galleries of Scotland, displayed alongside treasures from Ipswich Museums' own Constable collection. **For context:** The exhibition forms part of the council's year-long Constable 250 celebrations, marking the 250th anniversary of the artist's birth and exploring the landscapes, places and people that inspired some of Britain's most celebrated paintings. Alongside the historic paintings, visitors can also experience Constable Ambisonic, an immersive sound installation featuring contemporary recordings from locations depicted in Constable's landscapes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/image-2.png) John Constable Exhibition (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for planning and museums, said: "This is the first time this iconic painting has been displayed in Constable's home county of Suffolk. It's wonderful that we have it in Ipswich, and great to see how visitors have loved the whole exhibition. "I urge everyone to get to Christchurch Mansion before the exhibition ends on 4 October. As always, huge thanks to the brilliant Museums team who have procured The Hay Wain and other works and created a nationally important exhibition for us all to enjoy." **What's next:** The Hay Wain: Walking Constable's Landscape closes at Christchurch Mansion on Sunday, 4 October. Tickets and visitor information are available via [Ipswich Museums](https://ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/constable250/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). **The bottom line:** With less than a month left before the exhibition closes, there is still time for residents and visitors to see The Hay Wain on its historic first visit back to Suffolk. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk fly-tipping cases top 4,000 as government plans tougher fines URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-fly-tipping-cases-top-4-000-as-government-plans-tougher-fines/ Last updated: 2026-09-07T08:42:12.000Z **Why it matters:** Fly-tipping in Suffolk surpassed 4,000 cases last year, but enforcement remains low as the Government plans new powers to speed up action against offenders and restore affected streets and public spaces. **By the numbers:** - Data from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs shows 4,144 fly-tipping incidents were reported across all Suffolk local councils in the 2024/25 financial year. - Only 54 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued for or in conjunction with fly-tipping, with nine prosecutions in total. - East Suffolk accounts for more than half of all incidents in the county, with 2,155 incidents – and, like other authorities, has investigated most reports. - Despite this, the number of FPNs issued in East Suffolk remained at 29, with one prosecution. **What's next:** The Government's proposals, revealed last month, would give councils stronger powers to require offenders to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work and to recover the clean-up costs directly from them. The maximum on-the-spot fine for fly-tipping would rise by 400% to £5,000. **What they're saying:** Independent county councillor for Saxmundham and District, Julia Ewart said: "Our lived environment is crucial to all of us. I'm saddened and disappointed by the number of fly-tipping cases and the lack of substantial enforcement by our council. I am afraid I am again critical of the apparently 'green'-led council. Residents would like to think they will at least be capable of getting this right" A spokesperson for East Suffolk Council said the authority was committed to continually improving its response to fly-tipping. "We always take enforcement action where there is sufficient evidence available, and we welcome proposals to increase penalties for fly-tipping as a further deterrent to those who break the law," the spokesperson said. Cllr George Lankester, the lead for communities in Ipswich, said: "Illegal dumping is an unacceptable offence that has a negative impact on our communities and local environment." **The bigger picture:** Councils across Suffolk say the evidence needed to enforce fly-tipping cases, along with the county's rural makeup, makes fining and prosecuting culprits extremely difficult. Their comments echo those of other Suffolk local authorities, which continue to urge residents to report fly-tipping incidents when they occur. **The bottom line:** Fly-tipping cases in Suffolk have surged past 4,000 in a year, but with prosecutions in single figures, councils say a lack of solid evidence and the county's rural geography are hampering their ability to catch and punish offenders – even as the Government moves to hand them sharper tools to do so. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New playground put to the test by Ipswich Prep School pupils URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-playground-put-to-the-test-by-ipswich-prep-school-pupils/ Last updated: 2026-09-07T08:24:16.000Z **Why it matters:** The new play structure gave pupils an exciting welcome back to the classroom, with the school saying outdoor play helps children develop key social, emotional and physical skills. **The details:** The Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Pat Bruce-Browne, joined Prep Head Lucy Southgate, representatives from the Friends of Ipswich School and pupils for the ceremony marking the playground's opening on Thursday, 3 September. Pupils then had their first chance to try out the new equipment, with children climbing, balancing and exploring the structure during an extended first play session. **What they're saying:** Lucy Southgate, Head of Ipswich Prep School, said: "It was wonderful to welcome our pupils back for the start of a new school year and to see their excitement as they experienced their new playground for the first time. "Outdoor play is such an important part of children's development. Alongside supporting physical health and coordination, it helps children develop important social and emotional skills, including cooperation, communication, resilience, independence and problem-solving. "Time outdoors gives children the freedom to use their imaginations, build friendships and simply enjoy playing together, helping them to return to the classroom refreshed, focused and ready to learn." **For context:** The new play structure was funded by the Friends of Ipswich School, with the school's Estates Team working over the summer to have it ready for the first day of term. Southgate added: "We are extremely grateful to the Friends of Ipswich School for funding the new play structure, and to our Estates Team for all their hard work throughout the summer to ensure the playground was ready for the first day of term. It was also a pleasure to welcome the Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Pat Bruce-Browne, to officially open the playground and share such a special moment with our pupils." **The bottom line:** The new playground gave Ipswich Prep School pupils a memorable start to the academic year, with the school crediting outdoor play as a key part of children's development. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Zelly's picks: Five Ipswich events not to miss this month URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/zellys-picks-four-ipswich-events-not-to-miss-this-month/ Last updated: 2026-09-07T08:22:17.000Z This month, there is everything from forbidden love under the Norfolk skies and a town-wide celebration of local artists to intimate family drama, queer history and a dance performance asking whether we can still believe what we see. Here are the events that have caught my eye this September. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/Calendar-Girls-Production-Image-Desktop-2.jpg) Calendar Girls the Musical (Photo: New Wolsey Theatre) ## Calendar Girls the Musical at The New Wolsey Theatre **Thursday, 10 – Saturday, 26 September** The most extraordinary stories can sometimes begin with ordinary people deciding to do something completely unexpected. Calendar Girls the Musical arrives at the New Wolsey Theatre this September, based on the true story of a group of Yorkshire Women’s Institute members who created a nude calendar to raise money for charity following the death of a much-loved husband. What begins as a fundraising idea soon attracts far more attention than anyone anticipated, bringing humour, friendship and some unexpected personal consequences along the way. The story has already inspired the hugely successful film and stage play, while this musical version features songs by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth. I have always liked stories that find something quietly radical in ordinary lives, and Calendar Girls seems to balance that perfectly: grief alongside laughter, friendship alongside vulnerability, and a reminder that sometimes stepping completely outside your comfort zone can lead somewhere extraordinary. - **Where:** New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive - **Tickets:** From £15 [Book now](https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/calendar-girls/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/Ipswich-Town-Art-Trail.png) Ipswich Town Art Trail (Photo: All About Ipswich) ## Ipswich Town Art Trail **Saturday, 12 – Sunday, 13 September 10:00 – 16:00** Sometimes the best way to experience art is to go looking for it. Organised by Ipswich Visual Arts Community, the free Ipswich Town Art Trail spreads across 10 venues around the town centre, with exhibitions, demonstrations, drop-in workshops and artists creating work live. The trail begins at the Unitarian Meeting House before taking in spaces including Christchurch Mansion, St Clement's Arts Centre, Ginnel Foto Fest, Greenhouse Gallery, MF Gallery and Stoke Bridge Workshops. What I love about an event like this is that it makes the town itself part of the experience. You can wander, discover a gallery you may never have stepped inside before, meet local artists and perhaps come home inspired to make something yourself. It is also completely free, so there is very little excuse not to have a nose around. - **Where:** All over town - **Tickets:** Free [Download the free map](https://ivacadmin.wixsite.com/ipswichvisualartscom?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/image-1.png) Things I Know to be True (Photo: Gallery Studio Theatre) ## Things I Know to be True at the Gallery Studio Theatre **Monday, 14 – Saturday, 19 September 19:30** Families: nobody knows exactly where to press your buttons quite like the people who installed them. Andrew Bovell's *Things I Know To Be True* explores the lives of Bob and Fran Price and their four grown children as each tries to define themselves beyond the expectations, hopes and love of their parents. Presented by Gallery Players and directed by Rachel Lansdowne, the play moves through the changing seasons as truths emerge, and the idea of a settled family life begins to unravel. It is described as touching, funny and bold, but what interests me most is its central question: can you love someone too much? For anyone who enjoys theatre that digs into the messy territory between love, expectation, loyalty and independence, this looks set to be an emotionally rich evening. - **Where:** Gallery Studio Theatre, St George's Street - **Tickets:** From £14 [Book now](https://gallerystudiotheatre.co.uk/things-i-know-to-be-true?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/TM-SECTION-28-AND-ME--1.webp) The Island 2024 (Photo: Paul Blakemore) ## Section 28 and Me at SPILL Festival **Thursday, 17 September 19:30** Art is often at its most powerful when personal memory collides with social history. In *Section 28 and Me*, theatre-maker Tom Marshman examines the legacy of Section 28, the legislation that restricted the "promotion of homosexuality" by local authorities and had a profound effect on how queer lives could be discussed in schools. Drawing on his own memories, conversations with LGBTQ+ communities and intergenerational stories gathered through the project, Marshman explores what growing up under that silence meant, and what traces of it remain. The work has been described as playful, honest and heartfelt, which feels important. Queer history does not only belong in sombre retellings; it also contains humour, resilience, defiance and community. As part of SPILL, with its long history of bringing experimental and socially engaged performance to Ipswich, this is one I am particularly curious to see. - **Where:** SPILL Think Tank, High Street between Ipswich Museum and Ipswich Art Gallery - **Tickets:** £5 [Book now](https://www.spillfestival.com/section-28-and-me?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/Deepfake-Screenshots-6-1024x574.jpg) DEEPFAKE (Photo: DanceEast) ## DEEPFAKE | Jess & Morgs at DanceEast **Friday, 25 September 19:30** And finally, something for anyone who has looked at the internet recently and wondered whether reality has quietly handed in its notice. Award-winning choreographers and directors Jessica Wright and Morgann Runacre-Temple bring *DEEPFAKE* to DanceEast: a live dance work combining movement, film, text, green-screen technology and real-time visual effects. Built around a fictional television interview with a politician caught in scandal, the piece plays with misinformation, half-truths and the increasingly fragile line between what is real and what can be manufactured. Performers in green morph suits (brilliantly described as "green goons"), expose the mechanics of manipulation in full view of the audience. It sounds mischievous, strange and extremely timely. - **Where:** Jerwood DanceHouse, DanceEast, Foundry Lane - **Tickets:** From £14 [Book now](https://www.danceeast.co.uk/performances/deepfake-jess-morgs/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- September's arts calendar is a reminder of just how broad Ipswich's cultural life can be. Whether you want a classic story reimagined, a weekend discovering local artists, an intimate family drama, queer history brought into the present or dance colliding with digital technology, there is plenty worth leaving the house for. ### Enciso shines as Town pay for slow start against Liverpool URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/enciso-shines-as-town-pay-for-slow-start-against-liverpool/ Last updated: 2026-09-07T06:35:35.000Z ## Pre-match preamble Another heavyweight match today, but hopefully, being played at a packed and noise-filled Portman Road will give us an advantage. The predicted result, by whoever predicts these things, has Liverpool 64% likely to win and a 19% rating for a possible draw. You can work the other one out for yourself. I was curious to see how these stats were derived and found much talk of negative binomial and Poisson distribution – the latter sounding similar to French "fish". Perhaps that's where they got the inspiration for the World Cup octopus? That seemed a little top-heavy in favour of the "Reds", especially when you look at the table and find we are in 12th position whilst they sit way below us at 13th. Worry not, I won't be having table-position freak-outs every week this early in the season – hah! That way lies madness. I won't attempt my usual potted history of our opponents either, as the players and managers, past and present, and the Club itself are well known around the world. There are countless books, films and videos devoted to Liverpool Football Club; they have such a rich and interesting past with memories full of success, celebration, and tragedy. Many highs and lows. On the train, I made new friends, Tom and Dad Chris, who predicted the score the other way round. I walked to the ground with a family of three from Mexico – Samuel Felix, dad Fernando Felix and mum Egla Calderon. I do hope they enjoyed the game despite the score – Samuel's previous experience was at Oxford last year (he wouldn't get a job as Town's lucky charm). In the queue to the turnstiles, I kept company with Chris and David from the US – a very different conversation about the Club, the owners and our Ed. But lots of jokes too. I arrived just in time for the pyrotechnic show. ## The match Down to business. The first half was a little turgid from Town, and when the Reds scored two goals in less than ten minutes, I felt that impending dread of an upcoming rugby score and humiliation. The first goal came from a clever pass from Gakpo, across the circle to Isak, who netted easily past Scherpen at the near post. The clinical simplicity of it was a little disconcerting. The second goal, a few minutes later, was a well-worked opportunity by Isak – defeating Greaves with a twist and a turn, he easily fired it past Scherpen, who was out of his goal. It felt disastrous when a third goal was netted by the Reds before half-time, but it was mercifully ruled offside, somewhat of a feature in this match. **HT: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool** I think the crowd sighed with relief when we managed to reach half-time with no further damage. The second half was much livelier, with chances at both ends, but Liverpool were adept at slowing the game down, wasting time in a number of ways – some subtle, some blatant, which had the fans howling. They played very high up the field, which resulted in frustrating offside decisions against Town. The referee dealt with it all extremely well, ignoring Liverpool players who blatantly went down as if shot, and stayed there, for no apparent reason. Their subsequent reluctant rise and run back into play met with shouts of derision from Town fans. Thanks go to Mr Darren England, one of the best, an experienced Premier League referee with six years' service, who had complete control of the game from start to finish. Another calamitous happening saw what appeared to be a penalty award for the Reds, but the referee adjudged that a previous offside negated anything that followed. A foul stops the run of play, so anything that comes after it is irrelevant. Shades of our appeal in the last game after Maguire's handball. Interestingly, Manchester United are still talking about it even though they got the decision – or got away with it – depending on your opinion. Methinks they do protest too much. I saw my grandson Carl today, an avid amateur football player for many years and an avid Manchester United fan for at least thirty. He surprised me by saying it was definitely a deliberate handball, and the goal should have been ruled out. Mind you, when the final score is 5-2, I guess you can be magnanimous to your grandmother. Town kept pressing, and the game got livelier with the substitution of Clarke and Flemming, who looked like a promising future combination up front. The Reds responded by throwing many bodies into defence, and their Brazilian international goalkeeper Alisson, reputedly one of the best in the world, was well-equipped to save a shot from McAteer. Clarke and Enciso fired wide, with one shot taking a deflection. It was just not to be. At full-time, with no further goals for Liverpool, I felt a sense of relief rather than disappointment. I overheard a bunch of people on the train saying more or less the same thing. Putting it into perspective, player-wise and playing-together-wise, we were always going to be on the back foot. There have been many mentions of our big spending in this window, with twelve "incoming" players (not counting Kipre and Akpom), but Town's total expenditure would possibly buy you two of Liverpool's squad – Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez, for example. The chasm between the Premiership elite teams and many others is still very much alive and kicking. **FT: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool** ## The team I'm going to say it how I saw it, and be a little blunter than normal. Initially, it felt like Town had thrown the baby out with the bathwater: players missing that I expected to start, and players that I thought would be on the bench, not named at all. Jack Clarke and Zian Flemming played well and injected pace when they came off the bench. Lovely Leif was not quite as on point as usual. Maeda's work rate was admirable – as always, he never stops – but he has so far lacked the finishing touch. Fatawu – he didn't always get it quite right, but he put in a mammoth effort. Palacios was clever, produced some good passes, but needs more time to familiarise himself with the various strengths of his teammates – understandably. Scherpen made some good saves, but I confess I find him worrying. O'Shea seems a little lost in his new position. All the rest can be commended for keeping their heads up and fighting in a tough situation. Liverpool defended so very effectively. But we managed it too. ## Our MotM Enciso – he was everywhere, even though he was well marked. Runners-up – Flemming and Clarke. Overall man of the match – Alexander Isak. ## Team news Zian Flemming joined Town a few days ago from Burnley, with negotiations going to the wire on the transfer window's closing day. Zian is a 28-year-old Dutch footballer from Amsterdam who has come to us from Burnley, so he has some Premiership experience, contributing 11 goals last year to Burnley's efforts to stay in the top tier. He's a 6ft 1in right-footed forward, or attacking midfielder, who now wears our number 9\. I like what little we've seen so far and was impressed by his first interview on Town TV, very honest and responsive. ## Post-match pondering Wandering and pondering, I was brought abruptly to a halt by a large heap of people corralled outside the station by a police cordon. Nothing exciting had occurred, just a problem with the signals; trains were not running, and it was felt to be the best way to deal with any congestion build-up. Very sensible. Finally on our way, the train was strangely quiet and understandably quite full too. I was lucky enough to bump into Dave, Matt and Rob, who I haven't seen for a while, and who very kindly gave me a lift home. Many thanks, guys – great to see you again in this new season. ## Final thoughts Liverpool had done their homework well and knew which of our players to neutralise. Though, strangely, their strategy in the second half appeared to be just for all their players to be where the ball happened to be. To carry this off, you have to be alert and react fast to breakaways, at which, it turned out, they were adept. Takeaways? Commendably, Town didn't collapse when going 2-0 down in less than ten minutes, and to fight through the next 87 minutes without conceding again was no mean feat. It showed spirit and determination. I think another few games (and training sessions) will help inform their play, make them more truly a "team", but that's not unexpected considering our newest two signings have hardly been here long enough to hang up their coats. That process needs to happen quickly for obvious reasons. I'm looking forward to watching a close-knit team form an understanding … to develop and bring that to the pitch. I believe we have the raw materials; we now just need the soldering iron. Then, with optimism and belief, we can watch those fat three points come rolling through the door. Onwards and upwards. ### Exclusive: The demolition of Debenhams URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/exclusive-the-demolition-of-debenhams/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T08:50:20.000Z The council has confirmed to Ipswich.co.uk that it has completed its long-running acquisition of Waterloo House, more commonly known as the former Debenhams building, and will proceed to clear the site for a new mixed-use development. The purchase and subsequent demolition have been funded entirely by £5,274,500 from the Government's Local Regeneration Fund, formerly known as the Towns Fund, from which Ipswich was awarded £25m in 2021\. It is believed that the previous owner, the Unex Group, initially wanted £5.5m, before settling for a figure in the region of £4m. The council will incur additional costs associated with holding the asset, such as security and maintenance, and it will need additional budget to fund the design competition and consultant fees that will determine what will be built in its place. These costs are unknown at this stage. Councillor Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, described it as "one of the most important buildings in Ipswich town centre," adding: "By bringing the site into council ownership, we can remove a long-standing blight, unlock future redevelopment and create an opportunity for something much better for Ipswich." Ipswich MP Jack Abbott also welcomed the acquisition, saying the empty building had "left a scar on our high street for half a decade." While politicians tend to attract the headlines and quotes, it is officers who deliver deals of this scale away from the public eye. In this case, that responsibility fell to James Fairclough, the council's Executive Director of Place, Operations and Communities, who has been the driving force behind this and several other high-profile town centre deals. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2138.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2147.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2148.jpeg) Whatever replaces Debenhams will completely transform Ipswich's streetscape (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk The acquisition is the centrepiece of the council's Cornhill Strategy and its wider Proud of Ipswich Corporate Strategy, which prioritises a "thriving town centre." Recent investment in the immediate area includes the restoration of the Grade II listed former Post Office building, now home to The Botanist, the acquisition of the Grade II listed Lloyds Bank building in 2023, and the refurbishment of the former Grimwades building, which now houses Jamaica Blue, Lovisa, and an upper-floor education and skills facility that shall be run by Suffolk New College when it opens. The decision to proceed with the acquisition was originally taken behind closed doors, at an Executive meeting on 11 August 2026\. The report was placed on the closed agenda under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, which covers information relating to financial or business affairs. Following that decision, multiple councillors raised concerns with this publication about the lack of public scrutiny given to a decision of this scale, particularly given Ipswich Borough Council is due to be abolished within two years under local government reorganisation, and with next year's local elections on the horizon. While the council regularly hides behind commercial sensitivity to avoid media scrutiny, another factor was at play on this occasion: Unex Group are said to have threatened to walk away from the deal if details entered the public domain before completion. For that reason, we made the difficult decision not to publish until the deal was completed, despite one Labour councillor leaking confidential details to the BBC just days after the council publicly shamed Conservative councillor Ian Fisher for doing the same. [‘I’m not sorry, and I’d leak it again’ – Conservative councillor Ian Fisher speaks outIn an exclusive interview, Ian Fisher tells Ipswich.co.uk exactly why he leaked confidential council information – and why he would do it again. Now publicly disciplined for it, the Conservative group leader is asking whether a Labour councillor would have faced the same reckoning.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-553a8627-95fc-4150-874b-b182fe6ee373.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2070-1-658df070-4569-47b2-bc85-605c91a87b50.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/im-not-sorry-and-id-leak-it-again-conservative-councillor-ian-fisher-speaks-out/) ## Stripped to the bone Much of the difficulty in finding a new use for the building – and now, in demolishing it – stems from just how comprehensively it was stripped out by its former owner. Most of the building's mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems have been removed entirely. There is no heating, cooling or ventilation. The domestic hot and cold water pipework has been stripped back to the street mains, and the gas supply removed in its entirety, meaning the building currently has no gas supply at all. The fire detection and alarm system has been stripped out, with any remaining detectors non-functional. Of the building's four lifts, three have been removed, leaving one that operates manually. The escalators that once connected each floor have also been taken out, leaving voids in the concrete floor slabs between levels. It is understood that this scale of strip-out, carried out by Unex after it acquired the building in 2021, was itself a significant factor in the company's inability to secure a new tenant. Reinstating the building's services to a standard suitable for retail, office or leisure use would have required substantial further investment on top of any fit-out costs, making the economics of reoccupation increasingly unworkable the longer the building sat empty. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2149.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2150.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2151.jpeg) Inside the former Debenhams building (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) The same strip-out now has a direct bearing on the council's demolition costs. Demolition projects can often recoup some of their cost through the resale of scrap materials such as copper piping, wiring and metal fixtures. With the building already stripped of the vast majority of these, the council will have little, if anything, of that kind to offset against its £1.2m demolition budget – a figure some councillors are understood to have concerns is not robust. The demolition contract has been given to Handford Homes, the council's wholly-owned commercial property arm. ## What replaces it Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, the town's Business Improvement District, welcomed the acquisition while stressing that its significance would ultimately rest on what follows. "The proof of success will ultimately be in what comes next in the future use of the space, and the role it can once again play in the heart of Ipswich," he said. "But getting to that point required someone to step forward. The council deserves real credit for having the bravery to do exactly that: taking control of a building that has stood vacant for far too long and unlocking the opportunity for its next chapter. This is an important moment, but it has to be the beginning rather than the end of the story." But what does come next? The Grade II listed Lloyds Arch, spanning Lloyds Avenue, will be retained, and the council has separately committed to improvements to Lloyds Avenue and the arch itself, creating additional green space and pedestrian-friendly areas. For the rest of the site, the council intends to run what it has described as a developer-led design competition, rather than a conventional architectural competition. Full development teams – including architects, planners, cost consultants and funders – will be invited to submit comprehensive proposals covering design, funding, planning and delivery. According to the council, the successful bidder will be judged not simply on the quality of the design, but on their ability to demonstrate the scheme is financially viable and deliverable. It is understood the resulting development is intended to be mixed use, combining commercial and residential space. It also remains unclear whether demolition will take place before or after the outcome of that process, a question that councillors have raised as a concern with this publication. ## Lloyds Avenue, too On the same day, the council confirmed that construction on the long-delayed Lloyds Avenue revamp will finally begin later this year, after Suffolk County Council approved the highways works needed – six years after the scheme was first proposed and five years after funding was secured. Given the former Debenhams unit runs directly along Lloyds Avenue and adjoins Lloyds Arch, the two schemes are far from separate. Local contractor Brooks and Wood Ltd has been appointed to deliver expanded pedestrian areas, improved seating and high-quality paving across the street, similar to improvements already delivered on St Peter's Street, along with new cycle parking, the decluttering of Lloyds Archway and new planters. A taxi rank will be retained at the top of Lloyds Avenue, and the scheme is expected to be completed by mid-July 2027, subject to formal agreement with the county council's highways service. Taken together with the demolition of Debenhams and the eventual redevelopment of the site, the Lloyds Avenue works mean one of the town centre's most prominent corners is now set for its most significant transformation in decades. [Lloyds Avenue work to begin this year, six years onIpswich Borough Council says construction on the Lloyds Avenue revamp will finally go ahead, after Suffolk County Council approved the highways work needed – six years after the scheme was first proposed and five years after funding was secured.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-8bec507f-3a4c-41bc-9570-9bb76438cedb.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/lloyds-avenue-in-ipswich-1-c1bafdc3-e95f-4cd3-9927-65a4e4584670.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/lloyds-avenue-work-set-to-begin-later-this-year/) ## What could have been The building's recent history stretches back to April 2021, when it was sold by administrators acting for Debenhams to the Unex Group, headed by property tycoon and racehorse owner Bill Gredley, for just over £3m. Ipswich Borough Council is understood to have been among the bidders outbid at the time – the month after it received £25m from the Towns Fund. Five years on, with the council now paying around £1m more to acquire the same building, Unex stands to make a return in the region of £1m on the sale – a reasonable return in what has otherwise been a stagnant commercial property market, despite its inability (or unwillingness) to find a tenant. It raises the obvious question of whether the council – and town – might be better placed today if it had secured the building in 2021, with redevelopment potentially well underway or even complete by now. The more pressing question is whether the incoming Ipswich & South Suffolk unitary authority, due to take over from Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council in 2028, will succeed where Unex could not in finding tenants for whatever development replaces the current building. ## A problem faced by many towns Ipswich is far from alone in grappling with a vacant former Debenhams. Research by the Local Data Company found that more than half of the roughly 118 stores left empty by the chain's 2021 collapse remain vacant or under redevelopment nationally, with only around a third taken on by other retailers. Where former Debenhams sites have been successfully brought back into use elsewhere, they tend to fall into a handful of categories: large-format retail, leisure and entertainment, health and wellbeing, education, residential, or mixed-use redevelopment. Reuse of the existing building is typically only viable where there is a strong occupier or major institutional use lined up; many sites nationally have instead been demolished and replaced with residential-led mixed-use schemes, in some cases for uses as unexpected as a submarine engineering training centre for defence firm BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness. ## The bottom line The council has framed this as decisive action on a building that has blighted the Cornhill for half a decade, using government funding rather than local taxpayer reserves, and with an ambition to create something genuinely transformative for the town centre. But the fact that the underlying decision was taken entirely behind closed doors, without public scrutiny, sits uneasily alongside that ambition for some. And questions should and will be asked about why they allowed themselves to be forced out of the deal by Unex in 2021, fresh off being awarded £25m from central government precisely for this type of project. With the council itself facing abolition within two years, and a potential election looming next year, residents are right to ask not just what replaces Debenhams, but who will be accountable for making sure it gets built. Debenhams is to be demolished, but what is built in its place could – no, must – transform our town centre for generations to come. This is an opportunity that Ipswich can ill afford to blow. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£378 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Lloyds Avenue work to begin this year, six years on URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/lloyds-avenue-work-set-to-begin-later-this-year/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T08:43:08.000Z **Why it matters:** The scheme aims to transform one of Ipswich town centre's main streets, strengthening the route between the Cornhill and Crown Street with wider footways, new planters and improved lighting. **The details:** Planning permission for the scheme was secured in April 2025, and local contractor Brooks and Wood Ltd has been appointed to deliver the works. - Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, subject to formal agreement from Suffolk County Council's highways service. - The scheme includes expanded pedestrian areas, improved seating, and high-quality paving across footways and carriageways, similar to improvements already delivered on St Peter's Street. - Improvements will also extend to Tower Ramparts, strengthening links with the Plaza area. - New cycle parking, the decluttering of Lloyds Archway and new planters are also planned. - A taxi rank will be retained at the top of Lloyds Avenue. **For context:** The scheme has taken years to reach this stage. Lloyds Avenue was included in a shared £3m public realm improvements bid, alongside Arras Square and Majors Corner, as part of the Towns Fund allocation awarded to Ipswich in 2021\. Concept designs specifically for Lloyds Avenue were not unveiled until July 2024, followed by a public consultation that September. Construction was originally expected to begin in late 2025, then early 2026, but was delayed after issues were found with the substrate beneath the footpaths. Ipswich.co.uk has followed the scheme's setbacks closely, examining the scale of the delays. In August 2025, we submitted a Freedom of Information request to the council seeking a breakdown of spending on the scheme to date, confirmation of any changes to the £1.4m budget, and the reasons behind the repeated delays to construction. The council has yet to respond; a reply is due by mid-September 2026. [Lloyds Avenue: Approved, funded...still waitingIpswich 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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-871bba25-7bc7-4b25-a276-5e79de2a3f62.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--39--8e59e079-39b0-4803-879c-67cbf90a29a4.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/lloyds-avenue-approved-funded-still-waiting/) **What they're saying:** Council leader Cllr Neil MacDonald said: "This is fantastic news for Ipswich and another important milestone in our ambition to create a vibrant, attractive and accessible town centre for residents, businesses and visitors alike. "These improvements will transform a key route through the town centre, creating more space for people, encouraging walking and providing an attractive setting that supports local businesses and the wider visitor economy." He added: "We're delighted to be working with local contractor Brooks and Wood Ltd to deliver this exciting project and look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring for many years to come." **What's next:** Subject to the formal agreement with Suffolk County Council's highways service, the scheme is expected to be completed by mid-July 2027. **The bottom line:** After years of delay, Ipswich Borough Council says work on Lloyds Avenue can finally be scheduled. Subject to formal agreement, construction is expected to begin later this year and finish by mid-July 2027 – though a firm start date is still to be confirmed. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Forgotten Ipswich: The hippodrome that time forgot URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/forgotten-ipswich-the-hippodrome-that-time-forgot/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T06:31:57.000Z If you stroll along Woodbridge Road today, past the steady hum of traffic and the neat rows of Victorian terraces, you’d never guess that this unassuming stretch of Ipswich once hosted a fully fledged music hall. Not just any music hall, but a place with a somewhat complicated identity: Tudor’s Circus, Tudor’s Hippodrome, Woodbridge Road Hippodrome – three names, one building, and almost no surviving trace. This is the story of the Hippodrome that time forgot, the “other” Hippodrome – not to be confused with the grand, centrally located St Nicholas Street Hippodrome that opened in 1905 and stole all the glory. No, this is the tale of its older, humbler sibling, the one Ipswich built first… and then promptly allowed to vanish. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2087-1.jpeg) All that remains of Tudor Court (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) ## From circus tent to music hall The Woodbridge Road Hippodrome began life in the early 1890s as Tudor’s Circus, a lively entertainment space tucked into the Mullbery Tree Meadow. Ipswich at the time had a population of around 65,000 and, according to the *Music Hall and Theatre Review*, had been “taking a back seat in the way of amusements.” Tudor’s Circus was one of the few places offering something more colourful than a lecture at the Public Hall. By September 1903, Tudor’s Circus had been renamed Tudor’s Hippodrome, signalling a shift from travelling circus acts to a more stable programme of variety entertainment. Then, in 1904, the building underwent a reconstruction and emerged as the Woodbridge Road Hippodrome, ready to bring Ipswich into the modern age of music hall glamour. It opened on Monday 5 September 1904, under the management of T. M. Sylvester, formerly of Barnum and Bailey’s. Sylvester had taken over the last few months of Tudor’s lease and “fitted it up in a most elaborate style,” according to the *Music Hall and Theatre Review*. Opening night saw “two big houses” – a promising start for Ipswich’s newest entertainment venture. ## A year of applause…and then silence For a brief moment, the Woodbridge Road Hippodrome was Ipswich’s main music hall. It offered comic singers, acrobats, illusionists, small circus acts, and the kind of variety bills that were sweeping the country. It may even have hosted some of the greats of the era – performers like Dan Leno, Little Tich, or G.H. Chirgwin, who were touring East Anglia at the time. But here’s the problem: almost nothing survives to confirm it. No programmes. No posters. No interior photographs. Not even a reliable exterior shot. The building seems to have slipped through the cracks of Ipswich’s collective memory. For a venue that entertained hundreds, perhaps thousands, it left behind remarkably little. And then came the knockout blow. Just one year after Woodbridge Road’s Hippodrome opened, Ipswich unveiled its new star attraction: the Hippodrome Theatre on St Nicholas Street, a grand Frank Matcham-designed palace of variety. Bigger, better, centrally located, and architecturally magnificent, it instantly overshadowed its modest predecessor. The Woodbridge Road Hippodrome simply couldn’t compete. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2096-2-1-1.jpeg) The Ipswich Hippodrome Theatre on St Nicholas Street was replaced by Cardinal House, after demolition in 1985 (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) ## The final curtain By 1909, the end had come. The East Anglian Daily Times carried an auction notice for the Hippodrome’s fixtures and fittings – seats, curtains, lighting, scenery, everything. The building was stripped and repurposed, and by the 1920s it had disappeared entirely from Ipswich’s entertainment landscape. Today, nothing remains. No commemorative plaque. No architectural footprint. Just a few lines in old newspapers and a handful of references in theatre directories. It is, quite genuinely, the Hippodrome that time forgot. ## Where was it The best surviving evidence places the venue on Woodbridge Road, between Argyle Street and Surrey Road. This area once hosted several small entertainment halls and skating rinks, making it a lively corner of Ipswich at the turn of the century. Stand there now, and you’ll see ordinary houses and shops. But 120 years ago, you’d have heard applause, laughter, and the clatter of circus performers loading equipment through the doors of Tudor’s Circus. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-02-at-15.05.40.png) OS town plan from about 1880 (Photo: National Library of Scotland [https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=19.0&lat=52.05839&lon=1.15922&layers=117746211&b=1&o=100](https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/?ref=ipswich.co.uk#zoom=19.0&lat=52.05839&lon=1.15922&layers=117746211&b=1&o=100)) ## The bottom line Ipswich has a rich theatrical history, but it’s often the grand venues that get remembered. The Woodbridge Road Hippodrome is a reminder that entertainment in the town wasn’t just about the big names and big buildings. It was also about the smaller, scrappier places that brought joy to everyday people. It’s a story of ambition, competition, and the fleeting nature of local history. A building that entertained thousands, yet left almost nothing behind. And perhaps that’s why it deserves its place in Forgotten Ipswich, not because it was the biggest or the best, but because it was ours – a little music hall that tried its best, shone brightly for a moment, and then slipped quietly into obscurity. 💡 If you have any information, memories or photographs relating to the Woodbridge Road Hippodrome, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch at [editor@ipswich.co.uk](mailto:editor@ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£106 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Thomas Wolsey pub unveils new mural celebrating Sheeran gig URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/thomas-wolsey-pub-unveils-new-mural-celebrating-sheeran-gig/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T16:34:13.000Z **Why it matters:** The mural gives the pub a lasting reminder of the time Sheeran turned the venue into "The Old Phone" for a surprise gig - as well as shining light on local artistic talent. **The details:** The mural includes several personal touches, including the pub owner's dog, an ITFC flag, Portman Road stadium in the background, and pints of Guinness. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_4081-1.jpeg) New mural at the Thomas Wolsey pub (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Willis said the process came with a couple of setbacks along the way. "I had to stop for two days because of the rain, which is quite annoying," she said. Despite the delays, she said seeing the finished piece has been rewarding: "It's nice you can sort of see it as you're driving down the road too. It catches your eye." **What they're saying:** Willis said she valued being given the freedom to interpret the brief herself. "It's nice someone's trusting me to do it, and to sort of get on with it," she said. She also highlighted the response from the local community while she worked on the mural. "It's been really nice having conversations with people, hearing feedback," she said. "It's such a pleasure." Pub owner Damon Jeffery said the mural reflects what the pub means to the town. "It's about Ipswich, we've been named home pub by the home fans. Which is wicked, amazing," he said. "It's about passion." **For context:** Sheeran, who grew up in nearby Framlingham, performed a surprise, hour-long gig at the pub, temporarily renamed "The Old Phone" after his single of the same name, ahead of announcing a series of shows at Portman Road. The gig drew visitors from as far afield as Manchester and Liverpool, along with messages of support from fans in Australia and New Zealand. The pub reverted to its usual name once the show was over. **The bottom line:** More than a year on from Sheeran's visit, the Thomas Wolsey now has a permanent piece of art marking the occasion, with Willis calling the experience of creating it "such a pleasure." --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£30 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council's bagged waste crackdown cuts town centre mess by two-thirds URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/councils-bagged-waste-crackdown-cuts-town-centre-mess-by-two-thirds/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T14:54:38.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich Borough Council has issued 67 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to businesses leaving bagged commercial waste in the town centre since 22 July, with a further 22 cases being processed, bringing the total to 89. **The details:** The council began focused patrols and investigations on 22 July, targeting businesses that leave bagged waste outside their premises for extended periods, where it can be torn open and scattered by gulls and other wildlife. - The enforcement has focused mainly on the pedestrianised area of the town centre. - 67 FPNs have been issued so far, with a further 22 cases being processed, bringing the total to 89. - The fines are issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and cost £300, reduced to £180 if paid within 14 days. - Officers remain allocated to the initiative on an ongoing basis, the council said. **By the numbers:** Council figures show 84 instances of bagged waste being left out on the street in the first week of the initiative, falling to 29 in the final week of the period covered, up to 1 September. The council said not every bag left out results in a fine – for example, where a business had only recently put it out, or where it was unclear which business the waste had come from. Of the 67 notices issued so far, 50 individual businesses have received at least one, of which 14 have been fined more than once. One business has been issued 13 FPNs, and four others have received five or more. However, just nine of the 67 notices have been paid to date. **What they're saying:** Councillor George Lankester, the council's portfolio holder for communities, said: "Businesses have a responsibility to manage their waste properly and to play their part in keeping Ipswich clean. The vast majority do exactly that, but we will not stand by while a minority leave waste on our roads outside agreed collection times. Where businesses fail to put things right, we will take action." He added: "Our targeted enforcement work is delivering results. By focusing our patrols and investigations on the places and times where problems are most likely to occur, we can make the best use of our resources and tackle the problem where it is happening." **For context:** Bin bags left outside shops for extended periods were one of the issues highlighted in Ipswich.co.uk's State of our Streets campaign. Aaron Skerritt, managing director of Honey+Harvey, told this publication the mess had "certainly become more noticeable over the past year" and called for greater engagement with businesses who "see these issues every day." [The state of our streets: Ipswich’s biggest small problemsIllegally parked cars, litter, seed husks, bird mess, unexplainable stains, bins left out all day, street drinking – none of these alone is Ipswich’s biggest problem. Collectively, encountered every day – by every visitor on nearly every street in the town centre – they have become just that.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-bfe7f976-f276-4d7b-8ca6-2eb822a79c37.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--59--0f8a455c-d0a4-4f70-b79f-baa66b556562.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-state-of-our-streets-ipswichs-biggest-small-problems/) The waste enforcement work builds on the council's decision to invest an additional £400,000 in a new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team, approved by the Executive on 14 July. **What's next:** Council officers will continue to remind businesses of the need to pay outstanding FPNs, with unpaid fines potentially leading to court action. The council said it would continue monitoring bagged waste levels and working with businesses to change their practices. **The bottom line:** With the council's own figures showing bagged waste has fallen from 84 to 29 instances a week, the enforcement drive appears to be having an effect – though 58 of the 67 fines issued so far remain unpaid, and one business alone has racked up 13 notices. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### A pothole machine for two days does not make a war URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a-pothole-machine-for-two-days-does-not-make-a-war/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T12:41:16.000Z Reform UK has run Suffolk County Council for just over 100 days. I lead the Labour group there, and I hold the finance portfolio at Ipswich Borough Council, which means I spend half my week balancing the books and the other half asking where they are. This week both halves were about the same thing: who actually looks after the streets you walk down. On Tuesday the county council launched what its own strategy calls a "war on the pothole crisis". The weapon was a JCB Pothole Pro, a big yellow machine that cuts out a pothole in eight minutes. The leader and the cabinet member for highways stood beside it for the cameras. The cabinet member said he was "very excited". Here is what the press release did not dwell on. The machine is on loan from JCB for two days. It is free. It will work on about 90 square metres of road, so that its output can be compared with the way Suffolk Highways repairs potholes now. Two days, 90 square metres, then it goes home. Suffolk Highways says it currently has around 370 repair orders waiting. Anyone who drives in Suffolk will wonder which 370 those are, and what is happening to the thousands of other potholes we all know are out there. I hope it works. But a two-day loan is not a war. It is a photo opportunity. One more thing the press release left out. Last November JCB and its chairman gave Reform UK £200,000\. The council did not mention that when it borrowed the machine. I mention it only because a council that promises "absolute transparency about how we spend their money" should not need the local press to finish its press releases. Put a two-day loan, a donation and a photograph together, and you do not get a war on potholes. You get a party political broadcast on behalf of JCB. Now walk down your own road. Look at the kerb. Weeds in the gutter, weeds along the edge of the pavement, grass coming through the tarmac at the junction. That is not Ipswich Borough Council's job. The road and the pavement belong to Suffolk County Council, and the county council's own website explains how it looks after them: two treatments a year, weedkiller sprayed from a quad bike travelling at three miles an hour, and if it rains within six hours the treatment does not take. Two passes a year. You have seen the result. So, in July, Ipswich Borough Council did something about it. We put £400,000 over two years into a dedicated neighbourhood cleansing team, paid for out of the borough's positive financial results for last year. Some of what the team does is rightly ours: litter and fly-tipping. But a large part of it is clearing the weeds and debris from roads and pavements that the county is paid to look after and fails to. The team has been out for a few weeks, and the difference is already visible. Residents have noticed. Nobody from Endeavour House has sent a thank-you note. Think about the money for a moment, which is my job. Every household in Ipswich pays council tax to both councils. Seven pounds in every ten goes to the county. The borough gets less than two, and the police the rest. For seven pounds, the county's answer to the state of our roads is a quad bike twice a year and a free machine for two days. The borough, on its two, then pays people to do the county's weeding so that the town does not look like a rewilding project. Some partnership. The borough is picking up the tab. And when a pothole gets you before the machine fixes it? A constituent of mine hit one on Westerfield Road early this year and claimed for the tyre, about £100\. The council's published standard is a decision within 90 days. She was told four months. Her follow-up email was not answered. When I chased it this week, I was told there is a significant backlog in claim assessments. She should be ready for the answer, and so should you. In the last full figures the council has published, for 2024, 529 drivers had a pothole claim decided by Suffolk County Council. Seventy-six were paid. In the part of 2025 covered, 177 were decided, and seven were paid. Most are turned down because the council can show the road was inspected on schedule and the hole was not yet deep enough to reach the fabled "intervention level". So, the pothole is not repaired in time, the claim takes longer than the rules say, and then it is refused because the rules say the hole was fine all along. The county's new strategy document, published the same day as the machine, has a priority called Fix Suffolk's Roads and a principle that says "every pound of taxpayer money must be treated with care and respect, as if it were our own". It runs to 11 pages and contains not one figure: not the number of potholes, not the backlog, not the claims, not the budget for any of it. I have sat through enough budget meetings to know what a plan with no numbers is worth. I will be fair. If the Pothole Pro halves the cost of a repair, buy one. If the county wants to match the borough's £400,000 and take its weeds back, better still. Until then, the people who are working to restore pride in our streets are the borough's cleansing crews, and the people posing next to the machine are not paying for them. In May next year, Ipswich votes for the new council that will replace both the borough and the county. The choice will be the people who pose by a whizzy machine and call it getting on with the job, or the people who get the job done. Reform, or Labour. Until then, somebody has to tot up the bill, and I will. ### Bramford man jailed for six years over drug dealing URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bramford-man-jailed-for-six-years-over-drug-dealing/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T12:40:22.000Z **Why it matters:** The case follows a police investigation triggered by public concerns over anti-social behaviour, with financial checks later uncovering more than £300,000 passing through the pair's bank accounts. **The details:** Ellis Whitehead, 25, of Buzzard Lane, Bramford, and Elise Wells-Ram, 28, of Drumlin Drive, Creeting St Mary, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, 27 August. Whitehead was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to: - Being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug (cocaine) - Being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug (cannabis) - Two counts of possession of criminal property (a large quantity of cash) Wells-Ram was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after previously pleading guilty to two counts of permitting a premises to be used for the supply of drugs – one in respect of cocaine and one in respect of cannabis. **What happened:** Police officers first attended an address in Buzzard Lane, Bramford, on 24 January 2025, responding to concerns of anti-social behaviour linked to suspected drug-dealing. Whitehead and Wells-Ram were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences, interviewed and released on bail while the investigation continued. Following continued concerns raised with police, officers returned to the address on 3 October 2025 and executed a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act. They seized 22 grams of cocaine along with £1,000\. Evidence of cannabis supply was later uncovered through phone analysis work. Whitehead was re-arrested and charged the following day. Wells-Ram was charged and issued a summons to court on 22 December. Financial enquiries identified more than £300,000 passing through the pair's bank accounts between February 2022 and October 2025. **What's next:** Both defendants will be subject to Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings later this year. **What they're saying:** PC Alan Besley of the South Kestrel Team, who investigated the offences, said: "Suffolk Police will not tolerate people blighting communities by dealing drugs and the associated criminality and anti-social behaviour that often comes with it. "We will act on intelligence provided to us and respond to concerns raised by members of the public to disrupt this activity and bring those responsible to justice." **The bottom line:** A public tip-off about anti-social behaviour in Bramford ultimately led to a six-year jail term for one man and a suspended sentence for a woman, with further financial proceedings still to come. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk completes 141km road surface dressing programme URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-completes-141km-road-surface-dressing-programme/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T11:45:18.000Z **Why it matters:** The council says surface dressing is a faster, cheaper way to protect roads and reduce the need for more costly repairs, helping maintain Suffolk's highway network. **The details:** The programme covered 141 kilometres of roads across all areas of Suffolk, with more than 750,000 square metres treated in total – equivalent to more than 100 full-sized football pitches, according to the council. Surface dressing seals the road surface, restores skid resistance and helps protect against water damage. The council says the technique extends the life of roads and is significantly quicker and more cost-effective than full resurfacing. **What they're saying:** Councillor Christopher Hudson, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, said: "Our 2026 surface dressing programme has treated over 140 kilometres of roads across Suffolk, helping to protect and extend the life of our highway network. "This is a significant programme of work, and I would like to thank our highways teams for their hard work throughout the season. Coordinating these works alongside other activity on the road network has presented challenges, and our teams have worked hard to minimise disruption and make the best use of available road space. "Surface dressing is an important part of our approach to maintaining Suffolk's roads. It is significantly quicker and more cost-effective than full resurfacing, allowing us to treat more roads while making the best use of public funds. "By carrying out preventative maintenance before roads deteriorate further, we can help avoid more expensive repairs in the future and keep Suffolk moving." **For context:** The programme also included trials of new approaches. Variable Message Signs were used at busier sites to give road users advance warning and live information, which the council says was successful and will help shape how it communicates about future works. A product called Lockchip, designed to seal the newly applied surface and reduce loose chippings, was also trialled at nine sites. The council says both trials will inform future surface dressing programmes. **The bottom line:** Suffolk Highways says its 2026 surface dressing programme is now complete, having run between June and August, with the council pointing to the scale of works and new trials as evidence of its approach to maintaining the county's roads. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ten years of The Smokehouse and the scene it built in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ten-years-of-the-smokehouse-and-the-scene-it-built-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T10:57:50.000Z ## Small room, big moments The Smokehouse opened in 2016, converted from empty office space at South Street, and it gave Ipswich something it didn't quite have before: a dedicated, 70-capacity room built purely for live music. Just off Norwich Road – one of Ipswich's most multicultural streets – The Smokehouse is easy to miss from the outside. There's no flashy signage, no queue snaking round the block on an ordinary Tuesday. But step inside on a gig night and it's clear why people have kept coming back for a decade: a room small enough that every set feels intimate, run in large part by volunteers who give up their evenings for the love of it, in a building that has barely changed since the doors first opened. For Caitlin Whittaker, Director at Brighten The Corners, one night in particular marks the moment The Smokehouse found its identity. "A memorable moment for us was when This Is The Kit played The Smokehouse in 2019 for Independent Venue Week – the beginnings of programming nationally and internationally regarded artists in Ipswich, and what became Brighten The Corners Presents," she recalls. "The show sold out in less than a day. It was an incredibly special and intimate show, and you could sense the excitement for what was to come." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/External-1-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/IMG_2109.jpeg) South Street Studio when it first opened & The Smokehouse in recent times (Photo: Brighten The Corners) (Photo: Ipswich.co.uk) Joe Bailey, CEO of Brighten The Corners, has watched that spirit endure for a decade, even as much of the venue itself has stayed the same. "Over the last 10 years, The Smokehouse itself hasn't changed dramatically," he says. "The poster wall has grown, the ebb and flow of new bands, promoters and community groups continues. Physically we installed a small stage and upgraded our PA system which really was a game changer from our early days and the spirit of the venue has continued to develop over the years and it has become a cornerstone on the grassroots music scene. We have artists booking and playing from all over the country and a real hotbed of talented local and regional acts and promoters embracing the space." ## A cornerstone of the scene The numbers behind that reputation are considerable for a room built to hold just 70 people. "Over the first ten years, including the break we had to have for Covid, we have helped put on 838 gigs, supported over 2500 bands, 10k+ individual musicians/artists and had over 38k audience members which is quite impressive for a 70 cap venue," Bailey says. Much of that has been powered by volunteers – Brighten The Corners now counts more than 80 across its venues and annual festival – and by a rotating cast of promoters who've used the space to build nights, followings and careers of their own. ## A birthday shared This year's celebrations carry an extra layer of significance. The University of Suffolk – founded in 2007 as University Campus Suffolk before gaining independent status in August 2016, the same year The Smokehouse opened its doors – is marking its own tenth anniversary in 2026, and the two organisations have joined forces to celebrate together. "We're really proud to be partnering with the University of Suffolk for our Smokehouse 10 birthday celebrations," Bailey says. "We have worked with the university on our last two festivals and it made sense to link up for this exciting run of events that marks both of our first 10 years. Both organisations are forward thinking and have a love for supporting communities and showing the best Ipswich has to offer." Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, says the shared milestone reflects a deeper alignment between the two organisations. "We are proud partners with Brighten the Corners and The Smokehouse as we recognise their vital work in providing a platform for local, regional and touring artists to perform in Ipswich, as well as creating cultural opportunities in the live music industry for young people," she says. "This aligns with our own aims to foster young creative talent through our arts courses and support cultural excellence through our own programme of public events and exhibitions. "We share a civic pride in our county town and know that a thriving cultural life in Ipswich is incredibly important for those who live, work, and study here. Happy 10th anniversary to us both!" For Bailey, the coincidence of the shared anniversary has turned into something more lasting. "There was some serendipity with us both celebrating our 10th anniversary," he says, "however I think we have both proven we're here for the town, love the town and want to create opportunities and unforgettable experiences for our area." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/helix.webp) Helix performing at The Smokehouse in Ipswich (Photo: Brighten the Corners) ## A month to remember Smokehouse 10 runs throughout September 2026 with a run of gigs spanning hip hop, alternative, emo, soul and indie. The line-up so far includes: - **Friday, 4 September** – JayaHadADream, Kelci and Gen We, presented by Brighten The Corners - **Saturday, 12 September** – Loome, I.Am.Afiya and Oscar November, presented by Baker's Dozen Radio Show - **Friday, 18 September** – Doll Face, Milvain and Yarrow, presented by Tune Up - **Saturday, 19 September** – Return of the Boom Bap with Dylan Jay, Jimmy Green and JAL - **Friday, 25 September** – Mountain Peaks, Midweek and Buggery Act, presented by Offbeat Promotions - **Saturday, 26 September** – The Smokehouse 10 Birthday Party, presented by Brighten The Corners, with live music, DJs and street food (line-up still to be announced) The Tune Up showcase on 18 September carries particular weight, giving the venue's youth project a platform of its own within the wider celebrations. ## What's next The Smokehouse's tenth birthday arrives just as Brighten The Corners embarks on its next chapter. Down the road, The Baths – the organisation's mid-sized venue, formerly St Matthew's Baths Hall – is set for a £1.92 million transformation into a Creative Digital Skills Lab, funded through the Ipswich Towns Fund. The plans include a recording studio, alongside a video-enabled podcasting studio and only the UK's second publicly accessible Extended Reality (XR) studio. "Our town has so many incredible cultural organisations, innovative businesses, community groups and talented young people that are doing amazing work and we hope they will all benefit from this space," Bailey said of the project. "Our ambition is to help connect and inspire the next generation of creative talent." Construction is due to begin in late spring 2026, with doors opening in early spring 2027 – a reminder that, ten years on from The Smokehouse's first gig, Brighten The Corners' story is still very much being written. ## The bottom line Ten years on, The Smokehouse's significance to Ipswich has little to do with its size. It has given local musicians a stage, trained a generation of volunteers and promoters, and quietly become one of the town's most important cultural spaces. This year, that milestone is shared with the University of Suffolk – a partnership born of coincidence but built to last – and followed closely by the next stage of Brighten The Corners' growth at The Baths. As Bailey puts it, both organisations have proven they are here for the town. Smokehouse 10 runs throughout September 2026 at The Smokehouse, 6 South Street, Ipswich. Full listings and tickets are available at [brightenthecorners.co.uk/whats-on](https://www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/whats-on?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£80 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Buttermarket reopens after closure URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/buttermarket-reopens-after-closure/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T08:35:39.000Z **Why it matters:** The centre, a shopping, dining and leisure destination in Ipswich, had been closed since Friday, 28 August, affecting shoppers, tenants and staff. **The details:** Centre manager Rebecca Bird confirmed the centre and car park reopened from 08:00 today. **For context:** The centre, on St Stephens Lane, closed on Friday, 28 August, as a precaution after a mains water escape. At the time, centre bosses said: "We apologise for the inconvenience, but the Buttermarket Ipswich is closed temporarily as a precautionary measure following a burst water main. The health and safety of our visitors, tenants and staff is paramount, and we will reopen once necessary checks are carried out, and we are able to do so." The centre worked with specialist contractors to assess the impact and carry out the necessary works, while parts of the electrical systems remained switched off for safety checks. "The safety and welfare of our visitors, tenants and staff remains our absolute priority," the centre said in a further update. "We are working to restore areas of the centre to normal operation as soon as it is safe to do so." TK Maxx reopened ahead of the wider centre, accessible via the Queen Street entrance. **The bottom line:** After days of disruption, The Buttermarket is back open to shoppers, tenants and staff. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Buttermarket working to restore power after water burst URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/buttermarket-working-to-restore-power-after-water-burst/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T14:39:33.000Z **Why it matters:** The Buttermarket, a shopping, dining and leisure destination on St Stephens Lane, closed on Friday, 28 August 2026, after the water main burst. Parts of the centre remain closed while contractors carry out electrical safety checks, affecting shoppers, tenants and staff. **The details:** The centre closed that day as a precaution after a mains water escape. In a statement issued at the time, centre bosses said: "We apologise for the inconvenience, but the Buttermarket Ipswich is closed temporarily as a precautionary measure following a burst water main. The health and safety of our visitors, tenants and staff is paramount, and we will reopen once necessary checks are carried out, and we are able to do so." **What's next:** In a further update, the centre said it had been working with specialist contractors to assess the impact of the water escape and carry out the necessary works. Parts of the electrical systems remain switched off while essential checks and testing are completed. "The safety and welfare of our visitors, tenants and staff remains our absolute priority," the update said. "We are working to restore areas of the centre to normal operation as soon as it is safe to do so." The centre said it would provide a further update once more information was available. TK Maxx has reopened today, accessible via the centre's Queen Street entrance. **The bottom line:** Days on from the initial mains water escape, The Buttermarket is still working through electrical safety checks, with no confirmed date yet for a full reopening. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich poets create new free stage for undiscovered talent URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-poets-create-new-free-stage-for-undiscovered-talent/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T11:04:40.000Z **Why it matters:** The free event aims to give Ipswich's poets a stepping stone between open mic nights and full performances, helping local talent develop their craft and reach bigger audiences. **The details:** The launch night takes place at Bin93 Wine Bar on Monday, 7 September, with doors at 19:00 and performances running from 19:30 to 21:30\. Organisers David Mustill and Michael Bamber will take turns performing and hosting each event, with five poets at various stages of their careers each delivering a set to showcase a range of styles. The first line-up features Nancy T, a "funny confessional poet" from Chelmsford; Sany, a "thoughtful Lebanese/English poet"; Ipswich-based Brendan Wilson, who "writes tenderly of family history, memory and love"; David Mustill; and Michael Bamber. Entry is free, though contributions are welcomed to cover costs. **What they're saying:** Michael Bamber said the event grew out of a successful book launch at Bin93 for "Ten Poets Volume Three", the Earth Island Books anthology that brought him and Mustill together. "We decided that we enjoyed it so much that we would put together a similar event to give new poets a chance to deliver a twenty-minute set to a warm audience," he said. "More experienced poets would complete the bill. There would be a diverse mix of poets – something for all listeners." Amy Wragg, of SoapBox Spoken Word CIC, which is supporting the event with printing, press and publicity, said Ipswich has a "burgeoning" poetry scene. "This has unearthed some amazing talent that may have never been found, but they have often languished at the open mic stage," she said. "The new Five Poets event from David and Michael creates the next step for new talent, an event where they can develop their skills, craft longer sets, and build their audience. SoapBox Spoken Word CIC is delighted to support this brilliant new event, which will be an asset for our town." **What's next:** A second Five Poets night is planned for Monday, 16 November, and will feature Wragg herself. Copies of Ten Poets Volume Three will also be available to buy on the night. **The bottom line:** Five Poets gives Ipswich's growing spoken word scene a new home, offering emerging performers room to grow beyond the open mic stage – for free. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Facial recognition van leads to two arrests in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/facial-recognition-van-leads-to-two-arrests-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T09:32:11.000Z **Why it matters:** The results offer the first concrete outcome from the technology's return to Ipswich since Suffolk Constabulary confirmed on 25 August 2026 that a facial recognition van, loaned from Surrey Police, would be deployed across the town. **The details:** The deployment ran in two stages: from 10:20 to 13:50 on Tavern Lane, then from 13:58 to 16:40 on Upper Brook Street. Officers received five alerts from the system. Two led to arrests: - One person was arrested in connection with an outstanding domestic violence assault. - Another was arrested for breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. **What they're saying:** A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said: "This innovative technology can play a vital role in protecting people, keeping them safe, investigating crimes, and getting justice for victims. It also means we are saving time and effort for our officers, leaving them able to do other work to protect and help the public." He added: "It was also very encouraging to see the public expressing curiosity and approaching us in Ipswich to learn and understand more about the technology." **For context:** It is not the town's first use of the technology. In February 2025, a six-hour trial on the Cornhill scanned more than 47,000 faces and led to five arrests. Police are legally required to notify the public before deploying live facial recognition. The requirement follows a 2020 Court of Appeal ruling that covert use of the technology breaches the European Convention on Human Rights. Deployments must be advertised in advance, with signage placed outside the scanning area, and each use must be authorised in writing by a senior officer. **The bottom line:** Last week's deployment led to two arrests from 27,531 faces scanned. Suffolk Constabulary has framed the technology as a tool for protecting the public and freeing up officer time, and says residents have engaged with the process. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'I'm not sorry, and I'd leak it again' – Conservative councillor Ian Fisher speaks out URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/im-not-sorry-and-id-leak-it-again-conservative-councillor-ian-fisher-speaks-out/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T08:21:26.000Z In February 2026, the Conservative borough councillor for Castle Hill, Ian Fisher, discussed confidential details of a Towns Fund deal during a live interview on BBC Radio Suffolk: the letting of the first floor of the former Grimwades building to Suffolk New College, with £560k of Towns Fund money financing the interior fit-out of an adult learning centre there. He has never disputed doing so. "I was perfectly aware that I leaked confidential information," Fisher told Ipswich.co.uk. "I stand by the decision I made, and I will state that the information I leaked should never have been confidential in the first place." His justification rests on the status of the two organisations involved. "Two publicly-funded organisations, IBC and Suffolk College, are not commercial businesses," he said. "They have a duty to be open in all their financial dealings as it is public money they spend." The complaint that triggered the investigation came from council leader and long-time adversary Neil MacDonald, lodged with the monitoring officer on 12 February 2026, the day after Fisher's broadcast interview. Whether Fisher's disclosure was justified depends on a specific test set out in the Members' Code of Conduct – one that turns on process as much as principle. The Members' Code of Conduct *does* allow councillors to disclose confidential information in some circumstances, but the bar is specific. Paragraph 4.1(iv) permits disclosure that is reasonable and in the public interest, made in good faith, in compliance with the council's reasonable requirements, and only after the councillor has consulted the monitoring officer prior to release. A strong argument could be made that the disclosure was in the public interest and made in good faith, but crucially, Fisher did not consult the monitoring officer before his interview. In upholding the complaint, monitoring officer Shirley Jarlett wrote to him: "I do not accept that the fact someone else had disclosed the information justified you doing so again by discussing the detail of it in a media interview. Further, you did not make previous objections to the information being exempt either prior to the meeting of Executive or at the point when Executive went into closed session." Fisher's defence is that the BBC already had the information before he went on air, and that he was "put on the spot" during the broadcast. "The story would have been run, whether I was on the radio or not," he said. Whatever the merits of that account, it does not meet the code's procedural test, which requires consultation before disclosure, not justification afterwards. Support our journalism ****The council called it "standard practice," but couldn't name a single time it had happened before.** We put five questions to Ipswich Borough Council about how it publicised Cllr Fisher's disciplinary process. Every answer either evaded the question or cited an exemption that doesn't apply. Support the journalism that keeps asking anyway. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) ## From private complaint to public statement The complaint moved through a formal process set out by the monitoring officer: an investigation, a review by the council's Independent Person, and, in the absence of an agreed local resolution, a determination by the Audit & Governance Committee on the papers alone, with no oral evidence and no right of appeal. That committee met in private on 19 August 2026 and found Fisher in breach of paragraph 4.1 of the Members' Code of Conduct, covering the disclosure of confidential information, and paragraph 5.1, covering bringing the council into disrepute. It ordered him to apologise in writing to all councillors, undertake training on commercial confidentiality, and be barred from consideration for the executive until both were done. None of this is unusual, but what followed was – perhaps even unprecedented. On 28 August, the council issued a press statement naming Fisher and detailing the ruling to every media outlet in the county – something Fisher says he has never seen happen in any of the dozens of code of conduct cases he can recall since 2019, including his own previous breaches. ## Refusing the quiet way out Months before the committee ruling, Fisher was offered a private resolution: an apology to the executive at its meeting on 24 March 2026, with wording agreed in advance with the monitoring officer. He turned it down. "After considering the options, I have decided not to take the option of a local resolution," he wrote to the monitoring officer. "I am not sorry for the way this transpired, and thought it important that the information was in the public domain, where it should always have been." He has not shifted position since. "I will not be apologising," he told Ipswich.co.uk. "We do not live in North Korea, and nobody can force words from me that I do not believe." Fisher is equally dismissive of the training ordered by the committee. "The training is nonsense," he said. "I was on the Executive committee for nearly eight years and in that time had access to literally hundreds of confidential documents. I only ever leaked one of them." He views the bar on executive appointment in similar terms, given Ipswich Borough Council is due to be abolished under local government reorganisation. "Given that IBC will cease to exist in 2028 and there are no more elections, it is impossible for me to ever be on the Exec committee again," he said, "so the third punishment is equally as pointless as the first two." ## A fund under repeated scrutiny Fisher's disclosure sits in the context of a wider issue of scrutiny, transparency and accountability over the council's handling of the Towns Fund – a £25m government initiative, administered by the council, intended to drive economic growth, digital infrastructure and regeneration across the town centre. Ipswich.co.uk's own reporting has repeatedly found individual strands of the fund beset by delay, scaled-back ambition, or a lack of clarity over how decisions were reached. The redevelopment of Lloyds Avenue, first proposed in December 2020 and funded since 2021, is still without a confirmed start date, more than five years after the money was secured. The Ipswich Oasis project, pitched as a "trailblazing" five-kilometre green corridor with living walls and exercise equipment, had by 2025 been reduced to hanging baskets and a handful of raised planters. Expensive augmented reality trails have been a complete flop by nearly all measures. [Lloyds Avenue: Approved, funded...still waitingIpswich 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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-df0ffa1b-20e2-4316-b0b5-8c98b0162310.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--39--c14a1d6c-1a91-4d13-88ed-25437811c63c.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/lloyds-avenue-approved-funded-still-waiting/) [‘Commercially sensitive’ regeneration grants approved but opposition councillors expected to challenge decisionIpswich Borough Council approved £1.284m in regeneration grants yesterday, but we can exclusively reveal that the decision for one application, believed to be around £750k, faces an imminent challenge, with opposition councillors expected to call it in over concerns about the use of public funds.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1f073926-0980-4a02-b56e-2ec4a04fe3e6.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4669-1-1-4ee7ffa7-98a9-4b58-8886-48652da98821.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/commercially-sensitive-regeneration-grants-approved-but-opposition-councillors-expected-to-challenge-decision/) Separately, in June 2026, the council approved £1.284m in regeneration grants, with two of the awarded projects kept confidential as "commercially sensitive" – one only surviving a call-in because one councillor sent their email three minutes past the deadline. It is against this backdrop that Fisher frames his own disclosure – not as an isolated act, but as one flashpoint in a longer-running argument over how openly the council accounts for Towns Fund spending. ## 'Standard practice' Ipswich.co.uk asked the council why the case was made public, whether the sanctions were proportionate, and whether the same approach would have been taken with a councillor from another party. Here is what we asked, what the council said, and why the answers do not settle the question. We asked why the outcome was made public at all. The council said only that it was "standard practice for the council to issue a statement on the outcome of code of conduct complaints once the relevant governance process has concluded," and that "the standard practice was followed in this case." No prior example was offered, despite being asked directly for one. In fact, it is nearly impossible to make a case for this being standard practise. We asked whether the council had ever taken the same approach with a councillor from a different political group. It said that, despite being "standard practice," "there are no directly comparable cases." We asked the council to justify the specific sanctions handed down, and whether they were proportionate to the breach. Rather than answer, the council cited a legal exemption: "The discussion during the meeting is exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of the council and third parties." That exemption exists to protect commercial negotiations from disclosure – it is not obvious why a committee's own reasoning for disciplining one of its members would fall within it, and the council did not explain the connection. We asked whether Fisher was given the chance to include a statement in the council's release naming him. Their answer was: "No, the purpose of the statement was to communicate the outcome of the formal process." The council that declined to give Fisher a voice in his own public naming is the same council that, on every question about why it chose to name him at all, said it would not comment further. It is also the same council that regularly cites commercial sensitivity as grounds for not responding to media enquiries. ## The bottom line Fisher says he broke a rule to expose information that belonged in the public domain. The council says he broke a rule, and that punishing him publicly was nothing more than standard process. Whether the same rule would have been applied, and actioned, in quite the same way had he sat on the other side of the chamber remains, for now, an open question, but Ipswich.co.uk will be watching closely to see whether the same standard is applied the next time a councillor, of any party, finds themselves in breach of the Members' Code of Conduct. Given how local councils and councillors tend to operate, we don't expect to be waiting long to put the council's new standard practise to the test. Support our journalism ****The council called it "standard practice," but couldn't name a single time it had happened before.** We put five questions to Ipswich Borough Council about how it publicised Cllr Fisher's disciplinary process. Every answer either evaded the question or cited an exemption that doesn't apply. Support the journalism that keeps asking anyway. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£230 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk's 'pothole crisis,' and Reform's 'war' to fix it URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolks-pothole-crisis-and-reforms-war-to-fix-it/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T08:04:44.000Z ## A problem felt on every street Potholes are, for many, simply an irritant. For others, they are dangerous. Figures from the AA show call-outs to pothole-related breakdowns reached near-record levels in 2023, with more than 450,000 incidents involving damage such as broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers. The safety picture is more serious still. Department for Transport statistics record 7,847 casualties between 2021 and 2022 where the primary cause was a poor or defective road surface, including 452 cyclists and 725 motorists killed or seriously injured. Potholes form through a combination of three factors: cracks in ageing asphalt, water that seeps into those cracks and expands when it freezes, and the weight of passing traffic that breaks up the weakened surface. The UK's high traffic volumes, dense buried utilities and frequent freeze-thaw cycles over winter make the problem worse here than in many other European countries. In Suffolk, the scale of the task is considerable. Suffolk Highways currently has around 370 repair orders awaiting completion across the county, a figure the council says is constantly changing as new defects are identified through routine inspections and reports from road users. At this time of year, the council typically repairs around 1,000 road defects each month, with that number often more than doubling during winter as colder, wetter weather takes its toll on the network. ## The machine at the centre of the trial Suffolk County Council has begun trialling the JCB Pothole Pro, a specialist machine on a free two-day loan from the manufacturer, as part of what it describes as a new approach to delivering public services. The Pothole Pro is a modified wheeled excavator fitted with three dedicated attachments that cut, crop and clean a defect in preparation for permanent filling. A planer first removes the damaged surface to a set depth, a hydraulic cropper squares off the edges around the defect and ironwork, and an integrated sweeper clears away debris. JCB says a typical pothole can be prepared in around eight minutes, after which a conventional patching crew completes the repair using hot asphalt. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/JCB-Pothole-Pro.jpeg) A JCB Pothole Pro (Photo: Suffolk County Council) Suffolk Highways is running the JCB machine alongside its existing repair methods to allow a direct, like-for-like comparison. Both approaches will address approximately 90 square metres of carriageway defects, covering a similar number of potholes, allowing the council to assess excavation performance, productivity and operational efficiency. Trial locations were identified using RoadAI, a system that analyses highway imagery to flag defects before they worsen, alongside reports from residents. JCB points to results elsewhere in support of the technology. Stoke-on-Trent Council, which helped develop the machine, reported a 750% increase in output and a 97% reduction in potholes requiring a return visit within six months, compared with traditional repair methods. These figures come from the manufacturer and Stoke-on-Trent's own reporting; Suffolk's trial is intended to test whether similar results can be achieved locally. Councillor Christopher Hudson, the council's cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "I am very excited at the prospect of trialling Pothole Pro and seeing if it can help us here in Suffolk in the fight against potholes. If it performs here as it has elsewhere, it can help us get ahead of defects and deliver improved road surfaces for residents across the county. This trial is an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the technology in Suffolk and determine where, if anywhere, it can help us improve the way we manage road defects." The council said it will publish the results of the trial in due course. Asked whether it was considering leasing or purchasing a fleet of Pothole Pro machines to expand repairs across the county, the council said it was too early to discuss any wider strategy, as no decisions had been made ahead of the trial concluding. JCB and its chairman, Lord Bamford, donated £200,000 to Reform UK in November 2025\. Announced in November 2025, the £200,000 contribution marked a notable shift for Lord Bamford, a major billionaire donor who has historically given over £10 million to the Conservative Party. ## Not the first machine Suffolk has tried The Pothole Pro is not the first piece of specialist equipment Suffolk Highways has tested in recent years. In February 2024, the council trialled the Dragon Patcher, a single-operator truck that uses compressed air to clean a defect before injecting a heated bitumen and aggregate mix to seal it, initially targeting rural roads. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/dragon-patcher-2.xe3d21a85.webp) Councillor Paul West on site seeing the new Dragon Patcher in action (Photo: Suffolk County Council) At the time, Councillor Paul West, then cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said the machine could work five times faster than traditional repair methods and pointed to its use of HVO biodiesel and reduced material waste as environmental benefits. The council reported repairing 2,851 potholes across the county in the two months before that trial began, alongside separate figures showing more than 15,000 potholes repaired and over 141 miles of road resurfaced in the preceding financial year. Suffolk County Council announced that they invested an additional £1.23 million specifically to acquire new Dragon Patchers following the initial trial period. The two machines take different approaches. The Dragon Patcher offers a rapid, self-contained "clean and shoot" repair suited to higher volumes of rural defects, while the Pothole Pro carries out a more involved "cut and carve" process aimed at permanent, structural repairs on urban and suburban roads, though it still requires a following crew to lay the final asphalt. ## Part of a wider plan The pothole trial has arrived alongside a new strategic statement published by Suffolk County Council, setting out the priorities of the administration led by Cllr Michael Hadwen. Fixing Suffolk's roads is listed as one of eight priority actions, sitting alongside commitments to rebuild public trust, prioritise frontline services and manage council spending more tightly. The statement commits the council to waging "war on the pothole crisis", pushing for long-term solutions to A14 resilience and congestion in Ipswich, and campaigning for government investment in the A12, A14 and A11, alongside rail infrastructure upgrades at the Ely and Haughley junctions. Cllr Hadwen said: "Today is about two things – new ways of waging war on potholes and our fresh new approach to running the county council. Residents have been very clear that they are not happy with the way the council has been led in the past. My administration agrees, which is why we are here to break that mould. Fresh thinking, plain speaking and getting on with the job is how we are running this council and is what residents can expect from us. The Pothole Pro is one example of the kind of innovation we are keen to explore in Suffolk, and I look forward to seeing how it performs in practice, alongside a range of other improvements we are making to deliver better outcomes for residents, who must come first." ## The bottom line Suffolk's pothole backlog will not be resolved by a single two-day trial, and the council itself has stopped short of committing to any wider rollout until the results are in. But with hundreds of repair orders outstanding and winter set to add pressure to the network, residents will be watching to see whether this latest piece of kit, and the strategy it sits within, delivers on the Reform administration's first meaningful action since winning its majority control of the council in May. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£149 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Nominations open for King's Award honouring Suffolk volunteers URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/nominations-open-for-kings-award-honouring-suffolk-volunteers/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T07:26:11.000Z **Why it matters:** The King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) is the highest award given to local volunteer groups in the UK, often described as the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary organisations. Successful groups receive a certificate signed by His Majesty The King and an invitation to a Royal Garden Party. **The details:** Nominations for the 2027 awards opened on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, and will remain open until 1 December. Groups cannot nominate themselves – nominations must be made by someone independent of the organisation. **What they're saying:** Mark Pendlington, Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, said: "One thing has already become abundantly clear to me: Suffolk would simply not be the county it is without our thousands of charities and army of willing volunteers." "Every day, across our towns, villages and communities, volunteers quietly, without fuss, make a difference. They run sports clubs and youth groups, support older people, help preserve our heritage, protect our environment, raise funds for local causes and provide practical support to those facing challenging circumstances." "The King's Award for Voluntary Service gives us a wonderful opportunity to recognise those groups that go above and beyond for their communities. Suffolk has a strong and proud record of success, but I am certain there are many more groups across our wonderful county deserving of national recognition." **For context:** Previous recipients within Suffolk include Ipswich Outreach, Let's Talk Reading, Still Good Food, Tattingstone Good Neighbour Scheme and the Caribbean and African Community Health Support Forum. Across the county, past winners have supported literacy, tackled food poverty, helped homeless people, and promoted health and wellbeing. **What's next:** The Suffolk Lieutenancy Office is offering free guidance throughout the nomination process, including help completing the online nomination form. Anyone wanting to submit a nomination, or seeking advice before doing so, can contact the Suffolk Lieutenancy Office by emailing [lieutenancyoffice@suffolk.gov.uk](mailto:lieutenancyoffice@suffolk.gov.uk). **The bottom line:** With nominations open until December, the Lord-Lieutenant is calling on Suffolk residents to help ensure the county's community heroes get the national recognition he believes they deserve. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Police appeal to find missing Ipswich man, Gino Silva URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-appeal-to-find-missing-ipswich-man-gino-silva/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T12:52:16.000Z **Why it matters:** Gino was last seen on Saturday, 29 August, and officers are appealing for anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward. **The details:** Gino is described as around 5ft 9ins tall, of a slim build, with brown hair and brown eyes. **What to look out for:** Anyone who has seen Gino, or who has any information on where he may be, is asked to contact Suffolk Constabulary. Sightings can be reported via: - The [Suffolk Constabulary website](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/ro/report/mp/v3.1/add-something-reported-missing/report-a-sighting-of-a-missing-person/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) - Phone: 101 - Live Chat via the [Suffolk Constabulary website](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) In an emergency, always call 999. **The bottom line:** Police are urging anyone with information on Gino Silva's whereabouts to get in touch as the search for the missing 26-year-old continues. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich man to shave 20 years of hair for cousin's cancer fight URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-man-to-shave-20-years-of-hair-for-cousins-cancer-fight/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T08:26:23.000Z **Why it matters:** Claire, 21, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia just three months after her father, Richie, received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Aston French is raising money for three youth cancer charities that have supported the family through their treatment. **The details:** French began growing his hair during a summer, and has kept it long for 20 years. He will donate around 15 inches to the Little Princess Trust, which uses donated hair to make real-hair wigs for young people who have lost their own through cancer treatment or another medical condition. He will then shave off what remains. The head shave will take place at John Olivers on Great Colman Street on the 11th of September, 2026. **What they're saying:** "Ever since I first decided to grow out my hair in the summer between school and sixth form, it's been a really key part of my self-image and strangely comforting," French said. "It's obviously been one of my most defining external features, and the thought of suddenly losing that is honestly really rather unsettling." "But I just remind myself that the people I'm doing this in-aid of don't get the choice or ability to timetable it like I do, and I look at the total raised and messages I can share on to my cousin and it makes it all feel worthwhile. I'll definitely be looking forward to having it grown out again, though!" **The bigger picture:** French is raising money for Little Princess Trust, Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Lives vs Cancer, all of which have supported Claire and her family, including providing her with a free real-hair wig and helping fund the hospital wards where she has been treated. "I'm sure everyone will have had some experience of the impacts of cancer either on themselves, their family, or friends and loved ones," French said. "I've personally seen a number of diagnoses in my family, and knew people in school who were diagnosed at a young age too. "The sentiment that I keep coming back to, and the sentiment I hope others will share, is that humanity is at its best when it helps those in need. I think it's fantastically exemplified in offering support to the young people and their families battling this awful disease – be it monetary donations, emotional support, or just in terms of assistance with day-to-day tasks." **By the numbers:** French has set a target of £10,000, putting in £1,500 of his own money to start the campaign. More than £8,140 has been raised so far, with an additional £1,892.50 in Gift Aid. The money will be split between the three charities: 40% to Teenage Cancer Trust, 40% to Young Lives vs Cancer and 20% to Little Princess Trust. **The bottom line:** Two decades of hair, one head shave, and a family's experience of cancer have combined to raise thousands for charities supporting young people like Claire, with French's head shave now just a few weeks away. [Donate to Aston French's fundraiser](https://givewheel.com/fundraising/20259/hair-donation-and-head-shave-for-youth-cancer/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich accountancy firm Ensors rebrands as Azets URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-accountancy-firm-ensors-rebrands-as-azets/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T10:31:44.000Z **Why it matters:** The change means the Ensors name has disappeared from its six offices across the region, including Ipswich, as clients and colleagues are brought under a single brand. **The details:** Ensors joined Azets in September 2025, marking the group's entry into East Anglia. Over the past year, the two businesses have carried out a phased integration, with Ensors clients gaining access to Azets' wider range of specialist services, sector expertise, technology and international resources, while continuing to work with their existing local teams. The Ensors name is replaced by Azets across offices in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Ipswich, Norwich and Saxmundham. **What they're saying:** David Scrivener, regional managing director at Azets, said: "Today is an important milestone and the natural next step in our journey with Azets. "Ensors has been part of East Anglia for more than 130 years and we are enormously proud of the reputation, relationships and expertise that have been built over that time. Becoming Azets doesn't change those foundations. Our clients will continue to work with the same people, in the same locations, with the same commitment to high-quality, personal service." He added: "What has changed over the past year is the breadth of what we can offer. Being part of Azets gives our clients and our people access to greater expertise, investment and opportunities, while retaining the strong local relationships that have always defined our business." Peter Gallanagh, UK chief executive officer at Azets, said: "When Ensors joined Azets last year, we knew we were bringing together two businesses with a very similar approach to clients, people and long-term relationships. "Over the past 12 months, our teams have increasingly worked as one business and today's rebrand reflects that progress. "East Anglia is an important growth region for Azets, and we are proud of the platform we have established here. We will continue to invest in our people, capabilities and presence across the region, building on the remarkable heritage Ensors has created over more than 130 years." **For context:** Azets describes itself as an international business advisory group with 9,000 local experts across 190 locations in eight countries, serving more than 100,000 clients. **The bottom line:** More than 130 years after it was founded in East Anglia, Ensors has ceased to exist as a brand, with Azets promising that clients will see continuity in staff and offices even as the name above the door changes. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Greens slam axed Ipswich e-bike hire scheme as 'backward' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/greens-slam-axed-ipswich-e-bike-hire-scheme-as-backward/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T07:21:02.000Z **Why it matters:** The scheme, part of the Active Suffolk agenda, could have let people hire e-bikes from Ipswich railway station and other locations – but has been dropped amid fears over battery fires, antisocial behaviour and inexperienced riders. **What they're saying:** Robert Lindsay, the Green group's spokesperson for transport and highways, said he was "shocked" by the decision, made by Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for highways, Christopher Hudson. "I was shocked to hear that Reform have decided to axe plans for an e-bike hire scheme in Ipswich," he said. Mr Lindsay disputed concerns that the bikes could be misused by criminals: "You'd have to be a pretty incompetent crook to think that you could outrun police on a hire bike that has its speed restricted to lower than 15.6mph." He also rejected fears over battery fires. "The idea that hire e-bikes will suddenly burst into flame is absurd. They are all properly manufactured by reputable companies, and there have never been any incidents of such hire bikes catching fire. It is only private bikes that have been illegally modified where the problems have been," he said. Mr Lindsay said the scheme "would have cost the council nothing, except the provision of sites," adding: "I don't know whether it is Reform's ignorance or its ideology against cycling that has driven Reform to this backward move. Either way it is shortsighted in the extreme when, as even Councillor Hudson admits, roughly one in five households in Ipswich have no access to a private vehicle, and Ipswich is crying out for more to be done to encourage people out of cars to ease congestion." **The other side:** Cllr Hudson said the scheme had merit, particularly for the roughly one in five people in Ipswich without access to transport, but that public safety had to come first. He pointed to concerns including fast, quiet bikes being difficult for pedestrians to hear, inexperienced riders, collisions, and the risk of bikes being stolen, abandoned or misused, alongside fears about battery fires. **For context:** Mr Lindsay said e-bike hire schemes are running successfully in "numberless towns and cities across the country including in Suffolk," pointing to schemes introduced by Mid Suffolk and Babergh District Councils in Sudbury, Needham and Stowmarket. He said Babergh's scheme, which began more than a year ago, had seen no safety or other problems. **The bottom line:** The Green group says scrapping the e-bike scheme is a missed opportunity for a low-cost transport option in a town where a significant proportion of households have no access to a car, while Suffolk County Council maintains that safety concerns outweigh the scheme's benefits. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Crash survivor who broke his spine takes on charity trek for the crew who saved him URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/crash-survivor-who-broke-his-spine-takes-on-charity-trek-for-the-crew-who-saved-him/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T07:00:21.000Z **Why it matters:** Mr Santos was involved in a serious collision in Hadleigh four years ago and was airlifted by an East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) crew to Addenbrooke's. "Without them I wouldn't be here," he said. **The details:** Mr Santos will take on the trek alongside his wife, Beata Grzella, and two friends, Alan Southerill and Izabella Gniadek, on behalf of EAAA. He is aiming to raise £1,000 or more and has so far raised £920. **What they're saying:** Mr Santos said: "I was nearly a year in hospital and it has been a tough journey. Looking back, I'm doing good, and thankfully things are a lot better." He added: "During my recovery, we met a man in a wheelchair in Ipswich who showed me how life can go on. My message to others is – I know it is hard – but don't back down. You have to fight, and you will see the light." Since the crash, Mr Santos has returned to driving, attends gigs and watches non-league football at Clapton CFC, where he has been advising the club on making its facilities more accessible for wheelchair users. He has since met the crew who saved him and has volunteered to work for EAAA. "I'm feeling positive about the trek, surrounded by people who will be carrying their own stories," he said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/09/3---Pedro-with-one-of-his-heroes-Guy-Martin.jpg) Pedro with Guy Martin (Photo: Suffolk New College) Beata Grzella, an inclusive and foundation learning lecturer at Suffolk New College's Suffolk Rural Campus, said the accident happened three weeks after the couple became engaged, having met during lockdown. "After the accident I was off work for a year – I was basically a nurse, and this has all made us stronger," she said. "Pedro is amazing. He is hungry for life. I'm so proud of him for keeping such a positive attitude." On taking part in the trek, she said: "A year after the accident we got a postcard from the EAAA, and it was such a lovely gesture. They do such an amazing job saving people's lives. It made it easy for us to take on this challenge and give something back." She also praised colleagues at Suffolk New College. "My team at Suffolk Rural has been super supportive; they were in touch with me all the time – checking on me and Pedro. My friend Gill Atacocugu, who is currently a lecturer in the ESOL department, arranged a care basket for Pedro and me. It melted my heart. Everyone has been so loving." Craig Shimmon, head of marketing at Suffolk New College, said: "Pedro's story is full of hope, inspiration and courage and we are backing him, Beata and the team all the way." **What's next:** Mr Santos has further challenges planned, including travelling from Ipswich to Stowmarket in his wheelchair and a coast-to-coast crossing of the UK for charity. He will also volunteer at the "Only the Brave" event at Thetford Forest at the end of September. Beata Grzella is fundraising separately for EAAA and has raised £200 so far. **The bottom line:** Four years on from a crash that nearly cost him his life, Pedro Santos is channelling his recovery into raising money – and awareness – for the air ambulance crew who saved him. To donate to Pedro's trek, visit East Anglian Air Ambulance's Trek 24 – Cambridgeshire 2026 page. To donate to Beata's fundraising, visit her page on the same event. [View the fundraiser](https://eastanglianairambulance.enthuse.com/pf/beata-grzella?fbclid=IwdGRzaAT448JjbGNrBPjju3Bkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEe0KxJNBLhzUGv9AMTlw8OhvU-iKtPEY7tpWc2IwziTA1Me1xCaqsrcWvIodM%5Faem%5Fry%5FWr3%5FKfeHJQLXkx9bd8A&utm%5Fid=97757%5Fv0%5Fs00%5Fe0%5Ftv2%5Fa1dennhbppnhfk&sfnsn=scwspmo&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Cowboy traders have been allowed to operate with impunity,' says Ipswich MP URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/cowboy-traders-have-been-allowed-to-operate-with-impunity-says-ipswich-mp/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T06:54:03.000Z **Why it matters:** The Ipswich MP says cowboy builders have taken advantage of local families for years, with the Government now introducing measures it says will close loopholes used by "unscrupulous operators." **The details:** From today, a new Government-supported scheme will introduce an Approved Code, allowing customers to identify trusted traders. Businesses signing up to the code will need to demonstrate higher standards of customer service, transparency and dispute resolution. From January, the scheme will add financial protections, linking payments to key project milestones so customers are less likely to lose money to unfinished or abandoned work. The Government says families lose £750 on average to dodgy traders. Separately, private bailiffs in England and Wales will be required to meet independent oversight standards, either through accreditation by the Enforcement Conduct Board or by working for an accredited firm, in order to obtain or renew their certificate to work. **What they're saying:** Abbott said: "For too long, cowboy traders have been allowed to operate with impunity, taking people's hard-earned cash and leaving half-finished, shoddy work in their wake, with heartbroken families forced to pick up the pieces, their homes and finances in tatters." He added: "This action is a really important step forward, giving local residents more confidence when hiring traders, secure in the knowledge that their money will be protected whilst building works are ongoing. "These measures will also support the many honest builders in Ipswich and Suffolk who work hard and do the right thing for their customers every day, preventing them from being undercut by those who refuse to play by the rules." Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Cowboy builders do not just rip people off. They leave families with months of stress, the disruption of unfinished work, and that horrible feeling of being taken advantage of. "So we're putting the cowboys out of business. These changes mean you'll now have the option to make sure your money is held safely and released bit by bit as the work gets done." Minister for consumer protection Kate Dearden said: "When you hand a builder thousands of pounds, you're not just trusting them with your money. You're trusting them with your home. Yet cowboy builders have left too many people with work half-finished, thousands of pounds down the drain and, in the worst cases, homes that are not safe to live in." Minister for Courts and Legal Services Sarah Sackman said bailiffs "have an important job to do, but with that responsibility must come high standards," adding: "When someone is already struggling with debt, the last thing they should face is intimidating behaviour, unfair treatment or being pushed into excessive repayment arrangements they cannot afford." **The bigger picture:** The measures form part of what the Prime Minister has described as a series of "everyday fixes" intended to ease the cost of living, following previous action on subscription traps and fake discounts. Ministers have also confirmed longer-term plans to review how organisations such as Citizens Advice and Trading Standards work with regulators, enforcement bodies and redress schemes, with the aim of making the system easier to access and quicker to respond to harm. **The bottom line:** The Government says the new rules will make it easier for families to identify trustworthy traders and protect their money during building work, while introducing tougher standards for bailiffs dealing with people in debt. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Royal letter marks 20 years for Suffolk equine centre URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/royal-letter-marks-20-years-for-suffolk-equine-centre/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T06:42:46.000Z **Why it matters:** The centre, based at Suffolk New College's Suffolk Rural campus in Otley, was officially opened by The Princess Royal in April 2006\. Two decades on, a letter from Buckingham Palace praised its continued support for "thousands of learners" and its links with businesses and the local community through equine events. **The details:** The centre has also welcomed two new horses, George and River, who will permanently reside on the yard alongside Quinn, purchased in 2024\. Over the summer, the college also invested in new field shelters to keep the horses cool in summer and dry in winter.The centre's investment in new horses and field shelters totals over £55,000. **What they're saying:** Alex Hammond, Head of Animal and Equine Studies at Suffolk Rural, said: "It's exciting to receive a letter from the palace and HRH. It helps us reflect nicely on what we have achieved as a team with the learners and is nice recognition from Princess Anne." She added: "We are delighted to welcome George and River to the college. They join Quinn, who we purchased in 2024, both have great temperaments and will be great additions to the equine yard. "Over the summer the college has also invested in field shelters as welfare is a key priority for us as a college and within the Equine department. We have a clear vision for development over the next five years, and are grateful for the support that the college has given to move this forward. "We are one of the few further education colleges in the region that offer equine courses and have a strong curriculum offer whilst also hosting a range of external events through the commercial hire of the facilities." Hammond said learners benefit from a "diverse range of industry guest speakers, trips and engagements," adding that the college was "really proud" of the high grades achieved by Level 2 and Level 3 learners this summer. Rude Morris, a former student who now works at the centre and continues to act as an ambassador for it, said: "It's a really positive place to learn, we recently hosted a 20th anniversary celebration event and former students came to see us from all over the UK. Some had even worked abroad. This place has a special place in my heart. It's positive to see the new investment and see the centre grow over the years. I loved it so much as a student, I came back as a member of staff – so I think that says a lot about how I (and others) feel about this place." **The bottom line:** Twenty years after opening, Suffolk Rural's equine centre is marking the milestone with royal recognition, new arrivals on the yard and fresh investment in its facilities, with enrolment now open for the next intake of students. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Man charged with manslaughter after Bromeswell death URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-charged-with-manslaughter-after-bromeswell-death/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T06:41:54.000Z **Why it matters:** An investigation that began in the early hours of Saturday has led to a charge, with the accused due before magistrates. **The details:** Suffolk police were called by the ambulance service at 00:52 on Saturday, 29 August, after a man in his thirties was found dead within a property in Summer Lane, Bromeswell. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder that afternoon and taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre. Umidbek Akhmedov, 31, of Summer Lane, Bromeswell, was subsequently charged with manslaughter. **What's next:** Akhmedov appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Monday, 31 August. A Home Office post-mortem examination took place on Sunday, 30 August. Further specialist examinations are required before the cause of death can be established. **The bottom line:** A man has been charged with manslaughter over the death of another man in Bromeswell, with further examinations needed to establish the cause of death. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Man arrested on suspicion of murder after Bromeswell death URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-arrested-on-suspicion-of-murder-after-bromeswell-death/ Last updated: 2026-08-30T07:08:56.000Z **Why it matters:** An investigation is underway in the village near Woodbridge after officers were alerted in the middle of the night. **The details:** Suffolk police were called by the ambulance service at 00:52 on Saturday, 29 August, after a man in his thirties was found dead within a property in Summer Lane, Bromeswell. A 31-year-old man was arrested later that afternoon on suspicion of murder and taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains. Police say the incident is being treated as isolated, and the two men are understood to have known each other. **What's next:** A Home Office post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place in due course. Enquiries remain at an early stage. **Help police with their enquiries:** Anyone with information is asked to contact Suffolk police, quoting crime reference 37/51176/26, via: - Website: [suffolk.police.uk/tell-us](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us?ref=ipswich.co.uk) - Phone: 101 Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their [online form](http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). In an emergency, always call 999. **The bottom line:** A murder investigation is under way in Bromeswell after a man in his 30s was found dead, with a 31-year-old man now in custody and police appealing for witnesses. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Man, 36, arrested after Ipswich police station doors smashed URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-36-arrested-after-ipswich-police-station-doors-smashed/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T12:08:42.000Z **Why it matters:** The town's main police station is currently unavailable to the public, with residents directed elsewhere for urgent services while repairs are carried out. **The details:** A 36-year-old man was arrested at approximately 02:05 today at Princes Street on suspicion of criminal damage. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains. The station will stay closed until the doors are repaired. **What's next:** In the meantime, residents can visit the Suffolk Constabulary website for information, advice, or to report an incident or crime, or use the Live Chat service, available between 08:00 and 21:30. For urgent administrative services, such as vehicle returns, people are being asked to attend Bury St Edmunds Police Station on Raingate Street, IP33 2AP. **The bottom line:** Ipswich Police Station remains closed following the overnight incident, with a man in custody and enquiries continuing. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Legal notice served over goods left at closed Falcon pub URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/legal-notice-served-over-goods-left-at-closed-falcon-pub/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T09:53:24.000Z **Why it matters:** The notice sets out a legal process for dealing with belongings left at the pub, and gives a clear deadline for anyone who believes the goods are theirs to collect them. **The details:** The notice, dated 27 August, is addressed to Suffolk Bar and Club Ltd and issued under Section 12 and Schedule 1 of the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2042.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2043.jpeg) Photos of the inside of the venue (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) It states that in the event any goods left at the premises belong to Suffolk Bar and Club Ltd, the company must collect them by 4pm on 10 September 2026 – the "Final Collection Date." If they are not collected by then, Star Pubs Trading Limited, which owns the freehold of the building, says it will sell or otherwise dispose of them. Photographs pinned to the door alongside the notice show items including furniture, boxes and leftover equipment. - Star Pubs Trading Limited is the registered proprietor of the freehold of the property, known as the Public House at Falcon (formerly Bowmans Bar and Lounge), 1 Falcon Street, Ipswich. - The notice was issued by solicitors Pinsent Masons LLP on behalf of Star Pubs Trading Limited. **What's next:** The Final Collection Date for the goods is 4pm on 10 September 2026. **The bottom line:** Following its closure, a legal notice is now on public display at The Falcon, giving those with belongings on site until 10 September to collect them. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council claim anti-social behaviour crackdown in town centre is working...but won't (or can't) prove it URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-claim-anti-social-behaviour-crackdown-in-town-centre-is-working-but-wont-or-cant-prove-it/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T09:51:05.000Z ℹ️ Ipswich.co.uk is campaigning to tackle Ipswich's biggest small problems — the litter, stains, illegal parking, anti-social behaviour and general neglect that blight our town centre every day. We're naming who's responsible and keeping the pressure on until the state of our streets changes for good, not just for a week. The council announced this week that a joint approach with police, using CCTV evidence, had delivered "positive results" tackling street drinking, anti-social behaviour and dangerous parking. Council CCTV operators and police officers have been working together to gather and review evidence, identifying repeat offenders and taking enforcement action, they said. Slightly suspicious of the claims given that – at least to the naked eye – there has been an observational *increase* in all of the aforementioned in recent weeks, we asked the council to substantiate that claim with figures. They couldn't. So we asked the police. And they wouldn't either. ## What the council announced According to their joint press release, the CCTV and police partnership has led to a number of outcomes: - Community Protection Notices (CPNs) have been issued to people involved in persistent street drinking and anti-social behaviour who had not engaged with offered support. - Evidence gathered through the partnership has also helped identify a business linked to the issue, allowing police and licensing teams to work with the premises on responsible alcohol sales. - Separately, the partnership has led to enforcement action against motorists for offences including obstructing footpaths, using a mobile phone while driving, failing to wear a seatbelt and parking on prohibited road markings. Councillor George Lankester, Ipswich Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: "This is a great example of how we work closely with the Police to tackle problems in the town. "Council CCTV footage has provided crucial evidence relating to persistent street drinking and traffic offences, which means the Police can take action." Inspector Jess Lawlor, of the Ipswich Central Community Policing Team, added: "The evidence provided through our partnership with the council has been invaluable in helping us identify repeat offenders and take proportionate action. Working together allows us to respond more effectively to concerns raised by the community and helps us create a safer and more welcoming town centre for everyone." ## What the council was asked to prove This publication put six questions to the council, seeking the data behind the claims of success. ### **Claimed: CPNs issued to persistent street drinkers** Asked how many, the council said this "would be an enquiry for the police." No figure has been provided. ### **Claimed: Repeat offenders identified through the CCTV partnership** Asked how many, the council gave the same response. No figure has been provided. ### **Claimed: Enforcement action against motorists for a range of offences** Asked how many offences had resulted in action, the council again referred the question to police, even though the council is responsible for enforcement of parking in prohibited spaces in the town centre, not the police. No figure has been provided. The gap extends beyond this publication's direct questions to the council. On the enforcement of prohibited parking in the town centre, Ipswich.co.uk submitted a Freedom of Information request to establish how many penalty notices had been issued, and how many had been paid – following a credible tip-off that many notices were going unpaid and little was being done about it. The council has a statutory period of 20 working days to respond to such requests. That deadline passed 16 days ago. Despite chasing the council on several occasions, this publication has received no indication of when a response will be provided. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/ticket-inspector-issuing-a-pcn-on-upper-brook-street-in-ipswich-3.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5785.jpg) An officer issuing a PCN on Upper Brook Street in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) and a car parked on the pavement (Photo: Allister Frost) ### **Claimed: The partnership is succeeding** Our offices are on Upper Brook Street, and we walk the town centre multiple times every day of the week. From our own observations, and those of others, street drinking and anti-social behaviour have gotten progressively worse in recent weeks and months. The council was asked for its response to this observation but did not directly address it. Asked what data or metrics underpin the council's definition of success, the council did not provide incident or complaint figures. Instead, a spokesperson described a change in method: "Success is determined by the effective utilisation of our CCTV system, supporting the Police in tackling issues reported by residents and finding ways to use legislation to enable evidence sharing. "The driver is to improve people's enjoyment of the town centre and challenge those making the town less appealing to others through their detrimental activity," they said. ### **Claimed: Enforcement follows a genuine offer of support** Asked how many people had engaged with support compared with how many had not and subsequently faced enforcement, the council did not provide that breakdown. It said its team works with approximately 40 individuals a month, helping them "progress into treatment, outreach to identify early intervention, accommodation or other services" – a general caseload figure, not one tied specifically to this initiative. The council maintains that enforcement is not the starting point. Councillor Lankester said: "We do recognise that some people involved in street drinking may be facing complex challenges, which is why support and rehabilitation is an important part of our approach. Enforcement action often occurs where an offer of help has not been taken but where it is in the public interest to protect the safety of town centre residents, visitors and businesses." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/image-12.png) A homeless man rough sleeping in Ipswich town centre (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) The council said it works alongside Ipswich Housing Action Group and NHS Health Outreach teams to carry out street welfare checks and housing assessments, connecting people to mental and physical health services, substance misuse support or financial guidance, often delivered by voluntary and community organisations in the town. In short: the process behind the partnership has been explained in some detail. The scale of what it has actually achieved – if anything at all – has not. ## The bottom line The council and police say their CCTV partnership is making Ipswich town centre safer and nicer. That may well be true – but for now, it is a claim resting on an account of a joint press release rather than any evidence. Neither the council nor the police have been able to provide the data to quantify the claims. Until that data arrives, readers are being asked to take their word for it. [The state of our streets: Ipswich’s biggest small problemsIllegally parked cars, litter, seed husks, bird mess, unexplainable stains, bins left out all day, street drinking – none of these alone is Ipswich’s biggest problem. Collectively, encountered every day – by every visitor on nearly every street in the town centre – they have become just that.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-fa6a4dfc-689b-4d98-9539-0f43e9887faa.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--59--d1271156-a9f6-4966-b2cf-60d53fcc4058.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-state-of-our-streets-ipswichs-biggest-small-problems/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£122 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council U-turns on hosepipe ban explanation for street clean-up delay URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-u-turns-on-hosepipe-ban-explanation-for-street-clean-up-delay/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T08:41:39.000Z **Why it matters:** The council has now given two different explanations, four days apart, for Upper Brook Street's stop-and-start deep clean – and confirmed no other streets are currently lined up for similar treatment while Anglian Water's Temporary Use Ban remains in force...despite also saying that the hosepipe ban wasn't behind the pause. **The details:** Two council workers were seen pressure washing Upper Brook Street on the morning of Tuesday, 25 August, transforming the pavement between Poundstretcher and Sainsbury's within a couple of hours. The work then stopped, leaving a clean strip opposite Poundstretcher and a clean patch opposite Sainsbury's, with the rest of the street untouched. The stretch was not completed until the morning on Thursday, 27 August. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2023-2.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5733-2.jpeg) The incomplete work was criticised by residents and members of the public (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk **What they said on 25 August:** After Ipswich.co.uk asked the council three times that day whether the hosepipe ban had halted the work, a spokesperson said: "During the Anglian Water Temporary Use Ban, the Council carefully considered the restrictions in place and reviewed its operations to ensure water is used responsibly. Usually, the Council uses grey water for cleaning purposes; however, given the lack of rainwater on this occasion metered water has been used to fill the tank in the van." The spokesperson added that "pavement cleaning during this restriction has only been undertaken when there is an environmental, public health or public safety need," citing "the accumulation of bird fouling, food waste, spillages and trip/slip hazards" on that stretch – though this conflicts with our observations of the street, which, while objectively grimy, didn't appear to pose any of the aforementioned hazards. The council said the cleaning "will be completed in due course." **What they said two days later:** Ipswich.co.uk put it to the council that the remaining stretch had since been completed while the ban was still in force, and asked why. A spokesperson replied that the ban "was not a deciding factor" in the pause, and that the work had instead been carried out "over two separate visits" for reasons that were "purely operational." The spokesperson said: "The Anglian Water Temporary Use Ban does not apply to local authority activity such as this. The Council is able to continue to undertake pavement cleaning during the period of the Anglian Water Temporary Use Ban. The Council has pressure washed a section of Upper Brook Street over two separate visits, the reason this wasn't completed in one visit was purely due to operational reasons and the Anglian Water Temporary Use Ban was not a deciding factor in the need to pull offsite and revisit." **For context:** On both occasions, the council maintained that the ban does not restrict local authority cleaning carried out for environmental, public-health or safety reasons – only cleaning "for reasons of appearance only," which it has said is on hold in the town centre while the ban remains in place. **What's next:** The council has confirmed there are no other locations currently scheduled for similar cleaning. Asked whether cleaning would resume or extend elsewhere in the town centre, a spokesperson said: "As a result \[of the ban\], there will be no scheduled pressure washing of the public highway for reasons of appearance only. Where areas are assessed as being of environmental or safety concern then these areas will be cleaned using the minimum amount of water and only the area that it is of immediate concern will be cleaned." The clean-up came as the council's new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team – six posts funded with £400,000 over two years and approved by the Executive on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 – began work, with its initial priority the main entry routes into town. It also came shortly after Ipswich.co.uk launched its "State of Our Streets" campaign. [The state of our streets: Ipswich’s biggest small problemsIllegally parked cars, litter, seed husks, bird mess, unexplainable stains, bins left out all day, street drinking – none of these alone is Ipswich’s biggest problem. Collectively, encountered every day – by every visitor on nearly every street in the town centre – they have become just that.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1bc04326-7bf3-400f-83ce-9c41cb14b11f.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--59--70ae6bd2-c2bf-445a-9a05-6fcdf1840448.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-state-of-our-streets-ipswichs-biggest-small-problems/) **The bottom line:** The stretch of Upper Brook Street between Poundstretcher and Sainsbury's is now fully cleaned. But the council has given two different accounts of why it took two visits to get there – first citing the hosepipe ban, then saying the ban "was not a deciding factor" – and has confirmed no other part of the town centre is currently in line for the same treatment. We shall keep pushing for that to change. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£107 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New Oak Furnitureland showroom opens in Ipswich this weekend URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-oak-furnitureland-showroom-opens-in-ipswich-this-weekend/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T10:32:35.000Z **Why it matters:** The opening brings Oak Furnitureland's "Whole Home" range of sofas, bedframes and dining furniture to Ipswich shoppers, while creating seven new roles across sales and showroom management. **The details:** The showroom, which takes Oak Furnitureland's estate to 70 stores nationwide, will feature fully styled room sets covering living, dining and bedroom spaces, including two new ranges launched earlier this month. - The Savannah and Corton collections include cabinetry such as TV units, coffee tables and bedframes for the living room, bedroom and dining spaces. - Customers will also be able to try the new Phoenix CineLuxe and Hadley sofas. The Hadley is a high-back recliner with a USB-C charging port, while the Phoenix features reclining seats and integrated speakers. The retailer's Lifetime Furniture Guarantee, launched last year, covers the structural framework of both cabinet and upholstery collections. Flexible interest-free credit options are also available. **What they're saying:** Lee Finch, Showroom Manager, said: "The team is really excited to open the doors to our new Ipswich showroom next week. We're looking forward to welcoming customers from the local area and beyond to our store, and our team will be on hand to help you choose the right pieces for your home." Alex Fisher, Chief Executive of Oak Furnitureland, said: "It's great to be opening a new showroom in Ipswich - it's an important step as we continue to invest in our network across the UK. We're really proud of our expanding range of high-quality, stylish furniture - offering great value at outstanding prices, and which is designed to grow with our customers' homes. We're looking forward to welcoming people from across Suffolk to the new store soon." **The bottom line:** Oak Furnitureland's new Ipswich showroom opens its doors this Saturday, bringing seven new jobs and an expanded furniture range to Euro Retail Park. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Police warn of drug-laced vapes after two men collapse in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-warn-of-drug-laced-vapes-after-two-men-collapse-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T13:08:40.000Z **Why it matters:** Unlike legally regulated vaping products, illegal vapes can contain unknown and harmful substances, and police say the health risks apply to users of any age, not just young people. **The details:** The warning follows two separate incidents in Ipswich earlier this month, in which the men became unwell and collapsed after using suspected illicit vaping products. A number of vapes were seized and sent for testing, which identified an extremely dangerous synthetic cannabinoid. **What they're saying:** Sergeant Alasdair Nicol said: "Unlike legally regulated vaping products, illegal vapes may contain unknown substances and harmful chemicals which may cause serious and unpredictable health complications, including breathing issues, loss of consciousness and hospitalisation. "Whilst these products are often sold at lower prices than legally regulated vapes, we are urging members of the public not to purchase vapes from unofficial sources. "It's important to stress that the dangers associated with illegal vapes are not limited to young people; unregulated products can pose a serious health issue to users of any age." **The other side:** Sgt Nicol added that anyone found possessing and supplying illicit products containing illegal drugs could also be committing criminal offences. **What's next:** Anyone with information about the supply or use of illegal vapes is asked to contact Suffolk police via its website or by calling 101\. Reports can also be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers, online or by calling 0800 555 111. **The bottom line:** With two Ipswich men left needing help after using vapes laced with a dangerous synthetic cannabinoid, police are urging residents to steer clear of unofficial sellers, whatever their age. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Local artist's ITFC mural unveiled on Princes Street URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/local-artists-itfc-mural-unveiled-on-princes-street/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T11:57:25.000Z **Why it matters:** The mural, now installed on Princes Street ahead of the club's first Premier League home game of the season, was created by a life-long Ipswich Town supporter and chosen by fellow supporters themselves. **What they're saying:** Lloyd, who runs Glory Days Artwork, said the mural drew on a quote from club captain Dara O'Shea: "'Us and our people' was a quote by captain Dara O'Shea that stuck in my head at the end of last season. I really wanted to show club legends, celebrate the diversity of the town, plus show iconic moments like Terry Butcher playing for England and Russell Osman in the Escape to Victory kit with this in mind." He added that one detail took longer than the rest to get right: "Wolsey's gate took a lot of time to get the bricks right, but needed to be on there. It was all drawn digitally and took a few months to get to the final design. It looks great and I'm really happy with it." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/PHOTO-2026-08-27-12-04-25-3-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-27-at-12.14.17-1.png) New mural unveiled at Portman Road (Photo: Ipswich Central) **The details:** The competition attracted 30 entries in total. - Eight designs were long-listed for Ipswich Town's Fan Advisory Board, which chose a final three to put to a public vote. - 4,500 fans and season ticket holders voted for their favourite, with 47.76% (2,149 votes) backing Lloyd's design. - The mural was installed by Hudson Signs on Friday, 21 August, in time for the club's first home match of the season on 22 August 2026. - Lloyd won £2,000 in prize money from Ipswich Central as part of the competition. **The bigger picture:** Steve Flory, chair of Ipswich Central, met Lloyd and his family at the mural shortly after installation. He said: "This new piece of public art is wonderful. Encapsulated by a local artist and life-long ITFC supporter, it's just what everyone involved wanted to see. Congratulations Brad, for creating the 'Us and our people' mural for the town." Andrew Wood, chief revenue officer at Ipswich Town FC and an Ipswich Central board member, said: "We are delighted that so many supporters are now able to see a piece of art which represents all that's good about Ipswich Town. It's a fantastic addition to matchdays at Portman Road and to the town in general. Congratulations to all involved." Ipswich Borough Council painted the hoardings blue ahead of the installation, while Hudson Signs printed and installed the final artwork. The original competition was announced by Ipswich Town in January 2026. **The bottom line:** A design rooted in club history, local pride and one supporter's own passion for Ipswich Town now stands on Princes Street, chosen by the very fans it was made to represent. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Third parking system in a month at Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/third-parking-system-in-a-month-at-tacket-street-and-tower-ramparts/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T10:51:08.000Z **Why it matters:** Drivers already unsettled by Tacket Street's back-and-forth handover between NCP and Q-Park are now faced with yet another set of instructions, with old and new signage standing side by side. **The details:** The two parking sites show a Britannia Parking and ParkBunny sign giving a location ID and instructions to pay via the ParkBunny app, alongside a second sign offering the same location ID for payment via WhatsApp. A separate sign from Q-Park reads "pay on arrival." Some drivers were unable to complete payment through the app last week despite entering their bank details, and resorted to phoning operators directly. The new WhatsApp payment signage was installed earlier in the week in response. **What they're saying:** One car park user previously told Ipswich.co.uk: "I feel confused and stressed. I've not known what app to use. I've not known how to pay. As a student, I don't have the money to be fined." **For context:** NCP was placed into administration on 16 March 2026, with PwC partners Zelf Hussain, Rachael Wilkinson and Toby Banfield appointed as joint administrators. Q-Park was originally due to take over Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts from 1 August, but both car parks reverted back to NCP on 4 August, with an NCP attendant describing the situation as "a serious mess" and saying Q-Park "are having some issues." Tacket Street switched back to Q-Park on 7 August, while Tower Ramparts remained on NCP's signage and app at that point. On 12 August, Q-Park confirmed it had signed a contract to take over 20 UK car parks, including Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts, from 8 August, and pledged "comprehensive refurbishment programmes" at both sites. Britannia Parking describes itself as part of the Q-Park Group, while ParkBunny is a separate app and WhatsApp payment platform used by parking operators. **What's next:** It is unclear whether this is the final system for the two car parks, or just the latest step in an ongoing changeover. **The bottom line:** Weeks after Q-Park's takeover first began, drivers at Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts are now navigating a third payment system, with confusing and, in places, contradictory signage still on display. [New operator to take over two of NCP’s Ipswich car parks following administrationQ-Park will take over NCP’s Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts car parks from 1 August, after the troubled parking giant confirmed it will cease operating both sites as part of its ongoing administration.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-0ec59d48-45e6-4813-a413-e24aec9d3d8c.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_5464-1-8573d58d-a3ca-4c6a-8406-9f4bc35567df.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-operator-to-take-over-two-of-ncps-ipswich-car-parks-following-administration/) [‘A serious mess’: Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts revert back to NCPBoth Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts car parks have reverted back to NCP, days after the sites changed hands to new operator Q-Park, with one NCP attendant describing the situation as “a serious mess”.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-09b77fe8-3b76-4ff2-a02c-88bf273e29d5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_5559-1-a735d0ef-2086-4ab4-9ffa-ae83b0c3a5d0.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a-serious-mess-tacket-street-and-tower-ramparts-revert-back-to-ncp/) [Tacket Street car park flips back to Q-Park – againTacket Street car park has switched back to Q-Park on Friday, 7 August, days after it briefly reverted to NCP, with the Q-Park app now back in use.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-9cea59f0-b698-40d3-9e2e-95bcb35ab7de.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_3522-1-004eda02-1561-43e2-b512-e2e6959a624f.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tacket-street-car-park-flips-back-to-q-park-again/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Hosepipe ban stops vandalised paddling pool being refilled URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hosepipe-ban-stops-vandalised-paddling-pool-being-refilled/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T09:44:28.000Z **Why it matters:** Broken beer bottles, including pieces of glass in the water itself, have made the popular paddling pool unsafe for children during the final days of the school summer holidays. **The details:** The council said the paddling pool needs a full inspection and clean-up before it can reopen. Holywells splash pad will remain open, weather permitting, but Bourne paddling pool will not be refilled due to current water restrictions. **What they're saying:** Cllr Stefan Long, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sport, said: "This is such a senseless act by those who have left dangerous glass where children play. I am really sad that under current water restrictions, this means we have to leave the paddling pool dry. I hope those responsible consider how this affects local young children who would have enjoyed the pool in the last days of their summer holidays." **For context:** The restrictions stem from Anglian Water's Temporary Use Ban, commonly known as a hosepipe ban, which has already affected other council operations. Ipswich.co.uk reported this week that a town centre pavement clean-up ground to a halt after less than two hours because of the same restrictions, with the council saying pavement cleaning is now only carried out where there is an environmental, public health or safety need. **The bottom line:** The council has apologised for the inconvenience and thanked residents for their understanding while it carries out the necessary safety measures – but with the pool set to stay dry for now, families looking to cool off will need to head to Holywells instead. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Nunez stuns Leicester with audacious late lob as Town beat Leicester 3-1 URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/nunez-stuns-leicester-with-audacious-late-lob-as-town-beat-leicester-3-1/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T08:25:43.000Z ## **Pre-match preamble** Leicester City, aka ‘The Foxes’, have had a very bumpy ride for the last few years, with breaches of PSR rules, a revolving door of managers, a tragically lost owner, Financial Fair Play disputes…to name but a few problems. Hence their descent to League 1, which must be tough for the players and the fans. But perhaps because of this, I think they will come here tonight with a fierce desire to win; there can be no complacency on our part. How people love a ‘giant killer’ too. ## **On the train** I met Bob and his son Geoff on the platform, and the former seemed surprised that I thought we would fare well with Gary O’Neal as our manager. I really think, at this level, he has the experience we need and, of course, the extra funding this year to put it into practice. So far, I’m impressed with the new additions to our team and how quickly they appear to have bonded. But of course one swallow does not a summer make. ## **More goodbyes** Many fans have said they are looking forward to tonight as a way to show their appreciation of all Conor Chaplin and Wes Burns have brought to Town over the years they played for us. It will be strange to see them wearing the Leicester strip, but we do wish them well. ## **The Game** The Foxes came out in determined fashion and initially had more of the ball, apart from a shot across goal by Akpom which I think was meant as a shot, full stop, not a pass. Walton saved a good effort from Watson early on - it was clear that Leicester meant business. Then a brace of Christians went head to head, with a decent attempt on goal by Christian McFarlane being fairly easily contained by Christian Walton. There was a lot of two-and-froing in the midfield with neither side threatening to score until Akpom had another decent chance saved and O’Shea had a header cleared harmlessly. Then we all held our breath as Chaplin stepped up and sent a curler with pace towards the corner of the Town goal. Nooooo! But Walton’s hands safely gathered it in. That would have made the headline for the match in all the media. **HT: Ipswich Town 0 – 0 Leicester City** They all came out determined to break the deadlock in the second half and Town thought they had done just that, when a strong header from O’Shea was netted from the rebound by McAteer – but the off side flag had been raised rather belatedly**,** denying Kasey a first goal of the match against his former club. Around the hour mark, a great pass down the left to Jack Clarke saw him play it into Walle Egeli, who swept it beautifully onwards into the bottom corner for Town’s opening goal. This goal seemingly triggered the opposition into life and with Town upping their game accordingly, it was gloves off for all (except the keepers, of course) - let the battle commence. And commence it did. Minutes later, Leif Davis flew down the left, centred to Akpom, but his path towards goal was then blocked by Stolarczyk. Straight back to the other end where a good save from Walton led to a corner from which the Foxes equalised. Aluko made sure to bury a good header from De Cordova-Reid with one of his own for the equaliser. Game on. A scrappy attack at Town’s goalmouth was cleared to the edge of the box, but picked up by Nunez. With a couple of steps and an eye to a space in the defenders, he unleashed a shot into the left-hand corner. This was without a doubt an inspired shot. BUT! If that was inspired, what came next was almost unbelievable. On the 91st minute, standing close to the centre-circle, Nunez spotted Stolarczyk mid-field off his line. With others anticipating a pass, he instead lifted the ball high towards the goal and somehow it looped down, hit the bar and ricocheted into the net, with the keeper’s desperate recovery efforts in vain. We were cheering and laughing all at the same time. Seeing out the last few minutes with ease, Town could be proud of an entertaining game and a hard-fought, decent win. **FT: Ipswich Town 3 – 1 Leicester City** ## **Men of the Match** There were cheers for Conor and Wes, but we might not have been so happy to see them if they had scored. Academy players Tudor Mendel and Charlie Compton made their professional debut in this game. So good to see them being brought into these senior games – a very useful part of their learning going forward; a confidence-boosting experience. Christian Walton made some good key saves… A good, confident performance from Egeli again tonight; so much happier centre-field, which included a well-taken goal from a pinpoint pass by JC. Maeda entered the fray late on to inject his usual energy into play, replacing Clarke. The man is a running machine. It wasn’t Akpom’s night, however – two or three times in just the right position, but the execution eluded him. A whisker and a slice of luck away from scoring a couple of goals on another night. He was closely marked. It was surely Marcelino’s night though! He was like a whirlwind in motion all over the midfield – tackling, blocking, pushing up, picking up, and shooting. He doesn’t always get it right, but when he does, it’s rather special. He was definitely in our heads tonight, “Nunez Nunez” – the MOTM for everyone. ## **Round up** All in all, a good solid team performance, especially when it picked up on the 60-minute mark. The players all worked hard to get this one over the line, as it’s the kind of game that shouts of banana skins. One thing that still bothers me is all the holding, pulling and shoving that goes on, and is often ignored. At one point in this game, when a corner was kicked, Walton was shoved onto his backside into the goal, which happily for us resulted in a free kick. I can’t remember when it started creeping into the game, but it hasn’t always been a thing - correct me if I’m wrong. I remember my young son, a tenacious, small defender, executing ferocious sliding tackles which would horrify refs now – but I don’t remember any ‘hands on’ grabbing in those games? I had always thought that was rugby territory. It was odd sitting in a different seat with a different view, much nearer the North Stand and lower down. Loved the noise from the latter though, especially the drum. With the dark ‘Burnley like’ colouring of the Foxes strip it did make it harder to distinguish from our blues at the other end. I thought it was just me – but others in my corner did mention it too, so a visit to SpecSavers now parked for the time being. Last but not least, a shout-out to the security guard who stood guarding the corner of the box at half-time, nearest the West Stand. He was seriously in the groove with some (understated) but funky moves to the music. He was clearly enjoying it, and he brought a smile to my face – I was tempted to go and join him! ## **On the train** I met Nigel from Braintree, and we mulled over the night. One for the history books, I think. Everyone was of course talking about the Nunez goal. Last year, Fatawu, who is now one of us, hit a long-range shot for Leicester over Walton’s head into the goal to win the game for them 3-1 at the King Power Stadium. In this game, Nunez returned the favour. You couldn’t make it up. ### How one fan turned Ipswich's promotion season into poetry URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-one-fan-turned-ipswichs-promotion-season-into-poetry/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T08:09:58.000Z ## A season written in real time The idea began simply enough: Jeyes, an Ipswich Town supporter and advertising copywriter, has written poetry since childhood, and believes almost any subject can be turned into verse. Football, he decided, would be the test. "The idea of doing football match reports as poems was simply trying to combine the things I love – Ipswich Town FC and writing irreverent (some might say irrelevant) poems," he explains. "So I set myself the challenge of writing a match report poem for every Ipswich league game for the 2025/26 season." That meant 46 poems for 46 league fixtures, published week by week on the blogs section of TWTD.co.uk, an independent Ipswich Town fan website, before Jeyes began performing them on YouTube, TikTok, X and Instagram. Crucially, each poem was written in real time, without any idea of how the season would end. "The poems (and their intros) are presented in order, as they and the matches happened," Jeyes says. "So with that, bear in mind I had no idea where the season was leading as I wrote them. They therefore create a sort-of-accurate story arc, where none of us knew what the ending would be." ## Capturing a season of highs That uncertainty is part of what makes the collection – now published as a book titled *Between The Lines: The Irreverent Poetry of Ipswich Town* – feel like lived experience rather than a tidy retrospective. It charts Town's promotion back to the Premier League and, as Jeyes puts it, the fact they "not only made it back to the Premier League, but also, some would say more importantly, did the double over Norwich. I very much enjoyed writing those ones." One of those Norwich fixtures produced a poem called "Rocks", written after Ipswich won 2-0 away at Norwich on 11 April 2026: *Days like this are heaven-sent.* *A feast for the eyeballs, against your rivals.* *Dealing with high balls.* *You don't need prayer mats, black cats or bibles.* *Just blocks.* *Rolled up sleeves,* *O'Shea and Greaves.* *Rocks.* It is a flavour of the style that runs through the book: short, punchy, and rooted firmly in the specifics of each match. ## The final whistle, and then some The book runs to 122 pages and features 52 poems in total. Of these, 48 cover Town's league campaign – accounting for a match at Blackburn that was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch, which Jeyes covered with a poem for both the original fixture and its replay, and another match that inspired two poems rather than one. The remaining four are bonus poems marking the FA Cup Final, the Championship Play-off Final, the Champions League Final, and the departure of manager Kieran McKenna. That final poem was not part of the original plan. "And then, of course, we had a plot twist right at the end. Well actually, past the end, when we thought the story was over," Jeyes says. "There's a poem for Kieran McKenna too. Get the tissues ready." ## The bottom line What began as a personal challenge to prove that any subject could be turned into a poem has become something more lasting: a week-by-week account of one of Ipswich Town's most memorable seasons, told through the eyes – and rhymes – of a fan who did not know how the story would end until he had written every last verse. [Between The Lines: The Irreverent Poetry of Ipswich Town](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Between-Lines-Irreverent-Ipswich-Promotion/dp/B0HFD7ZH1J/ref=tmm%5Fpap%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&dib%5Ftag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lpW7HgVcRVkUlZ7M0WUQhw.Ld1l39G3lBcHDSvXeloyuVHd5I2xJ8XrYSBRvjQRhiw&qid=1786956732&sr=8-1&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£40 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Community day to bring basketball and music to Chantry URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/community-day-to-bring-basketball-and-music-to-chantry/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T08:05:33.000Z **Why it matters:** The event, run by Aspire Basketball, offers free entertainment for local families over the bank holiday weekend, with organisers hoping it will bring the community together through a day of fun. **The details:** The Phoenix Community Fun Day runs from 10:00 to 15:00 at Chantry Academy on Mallard Way, Ipswich, IP2 9LR. Activities include: - Basketball - Music - Food and drink - Face painting - Stalls - Bouncy castle **What they're saying:** Ty Burnett, head coach at Aspire Basketball, said the club was founded on "the values of inclusivity, positivity and accessibility for all," adding: "Our Community Day echoes those sentiments. We want it to be a space for everyone to come together and shift the negative narrative around our community, seeing it through a positive lens. "We want to bridge gaps between generations and create opportunities for local businesses and people to connect and grow and most importantly, have fun." **The bottom line:** With free entry and something for all ages, the Phoenix Community Fun Day gives Ipswich families a chance to enjoy basketball, music and stalls together this bank holiday weekend. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Sir Lenny Henry and comedy stars to headline Ipswich hospice fundraiser URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/sir-lenny-henry-and-comedy-stars-to-headline-ipswich-hospice-fundraiser/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T08:04:14.000Z **Why it matters:** Tickets for the seventh edition of the festive fundraiser are now on sale, with the comedy and music show returning to The Ipswich Regent on Monday, 30 November 2026. **The details:** Sir Lenny and former Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland will be joined by stand-up comic Stephen Bailey, impressionist Lewis MacLeod, professional opera group Wild Arts, and Bury St Edmunds' VOCA Community Choir, with more acts expected to be confirmed soon. The show is sponsored by Johnston Quarter. As in previous years, families receiving support at The Treehouse, EACH's Ipswich hospice, will also perform. **What they're saying:** EACH Chief Executive Kevin Clements said: "We're thrilled and excited to be returning to the Regent for this year's Happy Christmas Ipswich spectacular. It's a highlight in our fundraising calendar, and we're delighted to be able to confirm our first acts." He added: "Sir Lenny has had an incredible career and is, of course, a fundraising champion, having co-founded Comic Relief with Richard Curtis in 1985\. He's bound to be a hit with our audience and the same goes for Chris, who is one of the country's best-loved comedians." Clements also praised Griff Rhys Jones, who organised the first Happy Christmas Ipswich show in 2019: "As ever, we're incredibly grateful to Griff for giving his time, energy and unwavering support to this magical and much-loved fundraiser. His enthusiasm, dedication and genuine passion have been instrumental in its success, inspiring audiences, performers and supporters alike." **For context:** Last year's sell-out show starred Tim Vine, Anneka Rice, Jan Ravens, Dee Allum, Sophie McCartney, Amy Matthews, Dianne Pilkington and John Pierce, and raised a record £151,500\. **The bottom line:** Now in its seventh year, Happy Christmas Ipswich has become a fixture of the town's festive calendar, with this year's star-studded line-up aiming to build on nearly a decade of fundraising for East Anglia's Children's Hospices. [Buy tickets here](https://www.each.org.uk/support-us/events/happy-christmas-ipswich-7/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### How should small firms decide whether to buy, build or bodge their software? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-should-small-firms-decide-whether-to-buy-build-or-bodge-their-software/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T08:26:12.000Z **Why it matters:** Small and medium-sized businesses regularly face a choice between buying off-the-shelf software, commissioning something bespoke, or making do with a quick fix – but, according to Maly, no one ever tells them how to approach that decision, leading to expensive mistakes. **The details:** "Buy, Build or Bodge: How business owners make software decisions that don't come back to bite them" publishes on 5 September, and will be available on Amazon in paperback (£9.99) and on Kindle. - It is the first book from Richard Maly, founder of Maly IT Solutions, an Ipswich-based IT consultancy providing bespoke software development and fractional CTO services to SMEs across Suffolk and Essex. - Maly has nearly 30 years of experience in the software industry. - The book gives small business owners a jargon-free guide to asking the right questions when deciding whether to buy, build or bodge their software. **What they're saying:** Maly said he wrote the book after watching businesses across Suffolk and Essex make the same expensive mistakes over the years. "I've been writing software for nearly 30 years, mostly alongside the people who actually use it, and in that time I've seen things," he said. "Business owners usually know something needs to change. The hard part is making decisions that are complicated and carry real financial weight, and time and again I see bodges happen instead. That's nobody's fault, because no one ever tells you how to do it. The book is a plain-English, jargon-free guide to asking the right questions, so you can make an informed choice about whether to buy, build or bodge." **For context:** The book arrives at a time when small firms are under pressure to adopt AI and new technology without clear guidance on what will actually help. **The bottom line:** Maly hopes his first book will give small business owners the confidence to make software decisions that do not come back to bite them, whether that means buying, building or bodging. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Mental health support bench installed in Christchurch Park URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/mental-health-support-bench-installed-in-christchurch-park/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T15:13:06.000Z **Why it matters:** The bench, installed on Tuesday, 25 August, is designed to offer comfort, encourage conversations around mental health and connect people with support when they need it most. **The details:** Located on the path near the Mansion Lawn, the bench was installed as part of a partnership between Ipswich Borough Council and the charity Legend on the Bench. Each bench features a QR code linking directly to organisations and services that can help people experiencing mental health challenges or suicidal thoughts. It was created with the support of a local family, in memory of their child. **What they're saying:** Councillor Stefan Long, portfolio holder for environment and sport, said: "It was a privilege to be there for the installation of this third support bench in Ipswich. This wouldn't have happened if a bereaved mum hadn't reached out to enable us to create a space that could make a difference to others. "We know that many people experience periods in their lives when they feel overwhelmed or alone, and these benches act as a visible reminder that support is available. "We hope this bench provides a place for reflection, remembrance and connection for many years to come." **The bigger picture:** The Christchurch Park bench is the third Legend on the Bench installed in Ipswich, following benches in Bourne Park and Chantry Park. It forms part of a nationwide initiative aiming to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide by providing accessible points of support in parks and open spaces across the country. **What's next:** Residents who would like to support the installation of future benches in Ipswich are encouraged to contact the council's parks and cemeteries team at [parks.services@ipswich.gov.uk](mailto:parks.services@ipswich.gov.uk). **The bottom line:** Christchurch Park's newest bench gives people somewhere to sit among the trees — and, for anyone struggling, a prompt way to find help. *If you are struggling, Samaritans is available free, 24 hours a day, on 116 123 or at* [*www.samaritans.org*](http://www.samaritans.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk)*.* --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Endometriosis campaigners to hold first fundraising event at Belstead Arms URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/endometriosis-campaigners-to-hold-first-fundraising-event-at-belstead-arms/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T05:44:30.000Z **Why it matters:** The event marks the first fundraiser held by Girls Anatomy, the women's health organisation set up by Faye Ramsey and Siana Lynch within the past couple of months. Both women live with endometriosis, and Ramsey has spent the past year campaigning locally and nationally on the issue, including collecting stories from more than 90 women and helping secure a Westminster Hall debate on specialist endometriosis care earlier this year. **The details:** The event runs from 13:00 to 17:00 and is split into two parts. - From 13:00, attendees can take part in a sunflower painting session led by Creation Station, with all materials provided and the finished painting to take home. This costs £25 and also includes access to the Q&A session and raffle later in the day. - From around 15:15, those not painting can join for £6, covering entry to the Q&A and raffle. Attendees will be welcomed by Ramsey, Lynch and Girls Anatomy director Cheryl Alcock, before a Q&A session with Ramsey, Lynch and guest speakers Jen Evans, a menopause advisor, and Zoe Wright, a women's health advocate. Topics will include endometriosis, adenomyosis, PMOS, PMDD, fibroids and menopause. - A charity raffle will follow at around 16:40, with tickets priced at £1 per strip. Prizes donated by local businesses include beauty and nail vouchers, an acupuncture session, tattoo vouchers, bakery vouchers, family day passes and a crazy golf pass. [Forty failed women and counting: Breaking the silence on endometriosis in SuffolkFor more than a decade, Faye Ramsey was told her pain was “just IBS” or “in her head”. Now the 31-year-old teaching assistant is making sure the 40 women who shared their stories with her won’t have to wait that long, demanding change to a healthcare system that has left them suffering in silence.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a2b4615d-6b08-47c2-a9f9-333b01a8f0b9.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1770066432-faye-ramsey-edited-401ced80-7f84-4d8f-a5ff-e971e33f8271.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/forty-failed-women-and-counting-breaking-the-silence-on-endometriosis-in-suffolk/) **What they're saying:** Faye Ramsey, co-founder of Girls Anatomy, said: "We are so excited to be holding our first event. Whether we have 10 people there or 60, having people show up really means the world to us. Never did we anticipate Girls Anatomy would be holding its first event within a couple of months of starting up." She added the organisation is "incredibly proud" to be splitting profits from the event with Endometriosis UK. "The other half will go directly to Girls Anatomy, to enable us to put on more events in the future." Co-founder Siana Lynch said: "Faye and I are so excited to be hosting our first women's health event. We never imagined when we spoke about creating 'Girls Anatomy' that it would truly take off the way it has. It means so much to us that we can bring a community together to allow them to feel seen, validated and also listened to." Cheryl Alcock, director of Girls Anatomy, described how she came to join the organisation after being diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis following years of suffering with IBS. "It was actually Faye who said, ' Have you considered it could be endometriosis?'," she said. "Then one day they asked me if I would like to become the director of Girls Anatomy and I couldn't be more honoured." [From patience to patients to parliament: The Ipswich women taking the endometriosis fight to WestminsterMonica Thomas waited 17 years for a diagnosis. Faye Ramsey made 76 unanswered phone calls in a single week. Today, both women sat in Parliament as their MP made the case that their experiences must never happen again.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-86c30d20-afca-4a2a-bbbf-7844abed69c0.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/endometriosis-debate-westminster-edited-0d4a62a0-4fbc-4fbd-8f10-3e2303c2843d.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/from-patience-to-patients-to-parliament-the-ipswich-women-taking-the-endometriosis-fight-to-westminster/) **The bigger picture:** Girls Anatomy says it has been supported by a number of local businesses that have donated raffle prizes, including Bonnie's Bakes, Jimmy's Farm, Go Bananas, Suffolk Seedlings, The Beauty Lounge, SB Nails, Emma's Florist, Beach Street Crazy Golf, Pleasurewood Hills and Angry Elf Tattoo Studio. Tickets can be bought in advance by emailing [girlsanatomy2@gmail.com](mailto:girlsanatomy2@gmail.com), through Eventbrite, or on the day. Raffle tickets can be purchased without attending the event. **The bottom line:** Less than two months after starting up, Girls Anatomy is bringing together guest speakers, local businesses and the community for its first event at Belstead Arms, with proceeds set to support both the organisation's future work and Endometriosis UK. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk heritage craftspeople urged to apply for £2,500 grants URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-heritage-craftspeople-urged-to-apply-for-2-500-grants/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T05:39:28.000Z **Why it matters:** Suffolk has more than 13,000 listed buildings, but the craft skills needed to sustain them – including pargetting, flintwork and brickmaking – are increasingly at risk, according to the Suffolk Preservation Society. **The details:** The Suffolk Preservation Society has launched its Endangered Crafts Fund for Suffolk, delivering grants of up to £2,500 to heritage craft practitioners across the county. - Grants are ringfenced to Suffolk and delivered in partnership with Heritage Crafts. - Funding could support new equipment, additional training, or technology to enable better business practice. - Applicants can find out how to apply on the society's website, or contact its office for an informal conversation. **The bigger picture:** The Red List of Endangered Crafts identifies 165 traditional crafts at risk of extinction, and three of Suffolk's key building skills – flint-knapping, pargetting and brickmaking – feature on it. The society says these crafts are not endangered because they are not needed, but because of an ageing workforce, a lack of training opportunities, and an uncertain economic climate. **What they're saying:** The Suffolk Preservation Society said: "We are addressing this urgent problem. Through partnering with Heritage Crafts, we are delivering grants of up to £2,500 to endangered crafts practitioners in Suffolk." "We are actively encouraging Suffolk-based craft practitioners to apply." **What's next:** Grant-funded projects typically last between six and twelve months. Alongside the funding, successful applicants will be supported by Suffolk Preservation Society staff to develop their ideas and identify targets, with the society and Heritage Crafts monitoring progress and offering ongoing support. **For context:** The Suffolk Preservation Society is an independent heritage charity founded in 1929, and is the only countywide amenity society dedicated to protecting Suffolk's historic and landscape qualities. It also represents CPRE, The Countryside Charity, in Suffolk. As an independent charity, it receives no statutory funding and relies on its members and donations. **The bottom line:** With Suffolk's ageing craft workforce putting the skills behind its historic buildings at risk, the Suffolk Preservation Society is hoping its new grants scheme will help practitioners build long-term financial sustainability – but time is limited, with applications closing on 16 October. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Award-winning IT firm ICS moves to bigger Ipswich office URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/award-winning-it-firm-ics-moves-to-bigger-ipswich-office/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T05:38:47.000Z **Why it matters:** The move gives the growing firm more room for staff and clients, as it continues expanding its IT support, cybersecurity, cloud services and telecoms work across the East of England. **The details:** ICS has moved into Suffolk House, Unit 2A, Broomvale Business Centre in Little Blakenham, near Ipswich. - The new office is 2,259 sq ft, up from the company's previous 1,500 sq ft premises – an increase of 759 sq ft. - It provides additional meeting space for current and prospective clients, more desk space for engineers, improved staff facilities and free parking. - The move follows ICS winning the Growth Business of the Year award at the 2026 East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards. **By the numbers:** ICS has welcomed four new members of staff over the past 12 months, including three engineers and one digital marketing executive, as demand for its managed IT and telecoms services continues to grow. **What they're saying:** Craig Starling, Director at ICS, said the additional space gives the firm "room to grow our team, provide a better space to meet with current and prospective clients, and continue delivering the level of service we're known for." "Winning the EADT Growth Business of the Year award made this feel like the right time to take the next step. It's a reflection of how far we've come, but we're not standing still. We've got plans for the future, and this move gives us the space to continue growing in the right way," he said. Starling added that the move was about preparing the business for the future rather than simply increasing office space. Tim Goulding, Director at ICS, said: "After 28 years in business, we felt the time was right to move into premises that better support the way we work today and, more importantly, allow us to maintain the high level of service our customers expect from us. "The additional space gives us more room for our growing team as well as a larger dedicated space for servicing and preparing machines. This in turn helps us work efficiently and respond quickly to customer needs. The location is also a real advantage because regular customer site visits are an essential part of our service. The new office location allows us to be well placed to serve all customers across Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk. "This move gives us the space and facilities to continue providing an excellent service to our customers, while also creating a better environment for our team as we look ahead to the next 30 years." **The bigger picture:** ICS supports businesses across Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and the wider East Anglia region, offering IT support, cybersecurity, cloud services, business telecoms and managed technology solutions. **The bottom line:** The relocation marks another milestone for the 28-year-old firm, which says the bigger headquarters will give it the facilities and flexibility to keep investing in its team and clients as it enters its next phase of growth. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich braces for storms following Met Office yellow warning URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-braces-for-storms-following-met-office-yellow-warning/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T18:11:10.000Z **Why it matters:** A band of heavy showers and thunderstorms is forecast to move northwards through Suffolk on Wednesday morning, with the potential for intense rainfall and localised flash flooding in some areas. **The details:** The Met Office warning covers a "small risk of flooding and disruption from thunderstorms" on Wednesday, with an impact rating of medium and a likelihood rated very low. - A drier, brighter interlude is expected to follow the morning band of showers, but further showers and thunderstorms may break out during the afternoon. - Many places will miss the more intense downpours, but where they do occur, 20-30mm of rain could fall in under an hour, with perhaps 40-50mm in two to three hours in a few spots. - Large hail and frequent lightning are also possible. - The showers and thunderstorms are expected to drift northwards and ease during the evening. **What they're saying:** A Suffolk County Council spokesperson said: "With a Yellow Weather Warning in place, our Highways teams have been preparing for the forecast rainfall and are continuing work across the county to help keep drainage systems operating as effectively as possible. "So far this year, our teams have cleared more than 71,000 gullies across Suffolk, almost 4,000 more than at the same point last year. This work takes place every day and forms an important part of our efforts to reduce the impact of heavy rainfall." **The other side:** The council acknowledged its drainage network cannot cope with every downpour. The spokesperson said: "It is important to recognise that during periods of very intense rain, particularly when large volumes of water fall in a short space of time, drainage systems can and will become overwhelmed. "After the recent hot and dry weather, much of the ground is very hard, meaning rain may not soak into the soil as easily. Instead, water can run off the surface more quickly, increasing the risk of surface water and localised flash flooding, even where drains are fully functioning." **What's next:** The council said its teams would monitor conditions closely and respond where issues are reported. The spokesperson said: "We would ask residents and motorists to take extra care, allow more time for journeys, and never attempt to drive through floodwater. "If people encounter blocked gullies or persistent flooding after the rainfall has eased, they should report it to Suffolk Highways so we can investigate and respond as quickly as possible." Residents can report blocked drains or flooding via the [Suffolk Highways reporting tool](https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/highway-maintenance/report-a-highways-issue?ref=ipswich.co.uk). For urgent issues presenting an immediate risk to public safety, Suffolk Highways can be contacted on 0345 606 6171\. In an emergency where there is immediate danger to life, always call 999. **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council says it cannot prevent every instance of flooding during extreme weather, but says it is continuing to invest in and maintain the county's drainage network as thunderstorms are forecast to move across Suffolk on Wednesday. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Hosepipe ban grinds Ipswich town centre clean-up to a halt after less than two hours URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hosepipe-ban-grinds-ipswich-town-centre-clean-up-to-a-halt-after-less-than-two-hours/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T15:50:16.000Z **Why it matters:** In less than a couple of hours after our cameras caught council workers transforming a grubby stretch of pavement on Upper Brook Street, the work stopped abruptly, leaving a small clean strip opposite Poundstretcher and a neat clean patch opposite Sainsbury's – which now makes the rest of the street look even dirtier. **The details:** The pressure washing team worked for less than a couple of hours before stopping and leaving the site. According to Ipswich Borough Council, the pause is linked to Anglian Water's Temporary Use Ban, commonly known as a hosepipe ban. The council said it usually uses grey water for pavement cleaning, but had to use metered water to fill the tank in its van on this occasion "given the lack of rainwater". [The state of our streets: Ipswich’s biggest small problemsIllegally parked cars, litter, seed husks, bird mess, unexplainable stains, bins left out all day, street drinking – none of these alone is Ipswich’s biggest problem. Collectively, encountered every day – by every visitor on nearly every street in the town centre – they have become just that.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-433eebf5-bbcb-44a8-b2ca-5886ef3edcfe.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--59--572279c6-a99f-4239-a01f-e3b458c687f8.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-state-of-our-streets-ipswichs-biggest-small-problems/) **What they're saying:** An Ipswich Borough Council spokesperson said: "During the Anglian Water Temporary Use Ban, the council carefully considered the restrictions in place and reviewed its operations to ensure water is used responsibly. "Pavement cleaning during this restriction has only been undertaken when there is an environmental, public health or public safety need. In this instance and location, the accumulation of bird fouling, food waste, spillages and trip/slip hazards has caused an environmental concern, resulting in the need for path cleansing." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/image-10.png) The cleaning on Upper Brook Street was short-lived (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **For context:** The council said the hosepipe ban does not apply to local authorities when responding to environmental concerns, and that pavement cleaning is undertaken where there is an identified operational, environmental, public-health or public-safety need. The spokesperson said: "In particular, the pavements can become contaminated by bird fouling and by food and drink spillages, including coffee, hot chocolate and other beverages or gum. When these substances accumulate, particularly in combination with dirt and other organic material, they can leave surfaces sticky, contaminated or slippery and can adversely affect the safe use and cleanliness of the public highway." The council said the work was carried out "to protect the local environment, maintain a safe and hygienic public space, and reduce risks to public health and safety", adding: "It is being carried out as a necessary environmental and public safety measure, rather than for cosmetic purposes." **What's next:** The council said the focused cleaning on Upper Brook Street "will be completed in due course", but confirmed, "no other locations have been identified for cleaning at this time". It said it "will continue to evaluate needs while Anglian Water restrictions remain in place." **The bottom line:** What was billed as the start of a clean-up has, for now, delivered one clean patch and a lot of questions. The council says this is about need, not intent – but with no other locations lined up and water restrictions still in place, it's unclear when – or if – the rest of Upper Brook Street, or indeed our town centre, will follow. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### John Lewis seeks to widen product range at struggling Ipswich store URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/john-lewis-seeks-to-widen-product-range-at-struggling-ipswich-store/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T12:55:42.000Z **Why it matters:** The John Lewis at Home store, in Futura Retail Park, Ipswich, is currently restricted in what it can sell under a planning condition dating back to 2011\. The retailer says widening that condition is a "vital step" in securing the store's future and safeguarding around 90 jobs. **The details:** When the store was approved in December 2011, alongside the neighbouring Waitrose unit, a condition limited the types of goods that could be sold there. John Lewis is now seeking to change that condition to widen its offer, as well as increase the amount of floorspace dedicated to health and beauty products by 92 square metres. No physical changes to the building or car park are being proposed. **What they're saying:** A planning statement submitted (26/00624/VC) on the retailer's behalf said the approach had been "integral" to addressing viability challenges at similarly located John Lewis at Home stores. The statement said click and collect data showed high demand for its wider offer in the Ipswich area, notably around beauty and fashion. **For context:** As part of the application, the retailer looked at alternative sites in Ipswich, as well as Woodbridge and Felixstowe, but concluded there were no available or suitable units to move into. It also assessed the impact on other shops in the town but concluded there would be limited trade diversion, as the change would serve customers already shopping online or collecting orders from the store. **What's next:** Ipswich Borough Council is considering the plans. Representations from residents are welcome until 22 September, with a decision expected by 16 October. **The bottom line:** John Lewis says expanding what it can sell at its Futura Retail Park store is essential to keeping it viable, with the council now weighing the application against residents' views ahead of an October decision. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### £18,000 bursary to support disadvantaged Suffolk students URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/18-000-bursary-to-support-disadvantaged-suffolk-students/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T09:51:45.000Z **Why it matters:** The bursaries, from the Jim Jackson Educational and Enabling Foundation, are aimed at students who might otherwise struggle to pursue higher education in business, covering all three years of the course. **The details:** Each of the three students will receive £2,000 a year for the duration of their BA (Hons) Business Management degree, starting this September. To be eligible, students must be aged 16-24 and meet two of the Foundation's four criteria: - Have a declared disability - Be estranged - Be care experienced - Come from an Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile 1 postcode – areas with the highest level of deprivation **For context:** The Foundation was established in memory of Jim Jackson, who grew up in disadvantage but became a successful businessman with the support of a teacher and subsequent mentors. He died in 2021. **What they're saying:** David James, head of Business and Law at the University of Suffolk, said: "We are tremendously grateful to the Jim Jackson Foundation for its generous donation supporting three of our Business Management students who are facing some of the toughest barriers to fulfilling their potential. "These bursaries will enable disadvantaged students who may otherwise have been unable to pursue higher education in business to fulfil their ambitions here in Suffolk. "As a civic university, we aim to support students of all backgrounds to succeed, promoting upward social mobility and preparing students with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to thrive beyond their studies – values which align with those of the Jim Jackson Foundation." Ben Woodley, trustee at the Jim Jackson Foundation, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with the University of Suffolk through this new donation, which reflects our commitment to creating opportunities for people to open doors in business and develop the skills, confidence and connections they need to succeed. "In honour of Jim Jackson, we want to invest in the next generation and help ensure that students have access to the opportunities that can make a lasting difference in their lives. We are proud to support the University of Suffolk and look forward to seeing this partnership create meaningful opportunities for its students and the wider community." **The bottom line:** The partnership between the University of Suffolk and the Jim Jackson Foundation aims to remove financial barriers for disadvantaged students, giving them the chance to build a career in business. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The pressure is on, and the pressure washers are out URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-pressure-is-on-and-the-pressure-washers-are-out/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T15:50:00.000Z ❗ This story has been updated. You can find the latest update [here](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hosepipe-ban-grinds-ipswich-town-centre-clean-up-to-a-halt-after-less-than-two-hours/). **Why it matters:** The clean-up follows last week's feature highlighting litter, stains and grime across Ipswich town centre, and comes as the council's new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team finds its feet. [The state of our streets: Ipswich’s biggest small problemsIllegally parked cars, litter, seed husks, bird mess, unexplainable stains, bins left out all day, street drinking – none of these alone is Ipswich’s biggest problem. Collectively, encountered every day – by every visitor on nearly every street in the town centre – they have become just that.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a6f0dc43-2991-4430-9dc1-3d0d86f03949.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--59--d4a42753-c860-4dcc-b2d9-690f8be07497.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-state-of-our-streets-ipswichs-biggest-small-problems/) **The details:** Two council workers were seen pressure washing pavements along Upper Brook Street on the morning on Tuesday, 25 August. The pavement outside Poundstretcher towards Sainsbury's had already been completely transformed at the time of publication. Workers said a faster cleaning machine is normally used for the job, but it is currently broken. **For context:** The clean-up comes as the council rolls out its new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team, approved by the Executive on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 and funded with £400,000 over two years. The team – two team leaders and four general operatives – will run until the end of March 2028, working zone by zone across Ipswich, with its initial priority the main entry routes into town ahead of the new Premier League season. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2018.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2019.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2025.jpeg) The clean in progress (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** Councillor Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said the investment was a response to residents: "Residents tell us that keeping Ipswich clean and tidy is important to them. We have heard this and are providing additional people to improve the appearance of our streets and public spaces." Aaron Skerritt, managing director of Honey+Harvey, told Ipswich.co.uk last week that action on the town's streets was overdue, and questioned why nothing had changed sooner: "If this was a real big business, people's heads would roll surely? Is it no one knows whose problem it is, maybe it will just go away? I cannot sit here and believe that anyone could think like this." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2021.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2022.jpeg) Before and after the street clean (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What's next:** Our campaign will continue tracking the state of Ipswich's streets, street by street, and naming who is responsible for tackling problem areas. The Neighbourhood Cleansing Team's focus on entry routes is due to be followed by wider priorities agreed with stakeholders, and Ipswich.co.uk will be watching to see whether that expansion reaches the parts of town centre worst affected by litter, stains and grime. Readers who spot ongoing problem areas are encouraged to get in touch, and can subscribe for updates as the campaign continues. **The bottom line:** One cleaner street is not proof that Ipswich's streets problem has been solved. Whether this marks the start of the sustained change residents and businesses have been calling for, or a one-off, remains to be seen – and it's exactly what our campaign will be watching for. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### How live facial recognition works, and why you're always told first URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-live-facial-recognition-works-and-why-youre-always-told-first/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T06:44:02.000Z Suffolk Constabulary confirmed this week that live facial recognition (LFR) will be deployed in Ipswich, alongside Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, using a van and equipment temporarily loaned from Surrey Police. It is not the town's first encounter with the technology. In February 2025, a six-hour trial on the Cornhill scanned more than 47,000 faces and led to five arrests. For many people, the technology remains something of a black box: a van appears, a poster goes up, and officers stand nearby. What follows is a look at how the system actually works, and why the police are legally required to announce it before they switch it on. ## What live facial recognition actually does LFR compares a live camera feed of people's faces against a predetermined list of individuals the police are trying to locate, known as a watchlist. According to Suffolk Constabulary, the technology is being used "to locate people wanted in connection with investigations into serious offences." The process happens in stages. A camera captures facial images from people passing within its field of view, known as the "zone of recognition." Software then detects individual faces and extracts their features, converting them into a numerical template rather than storing the image itself. That template is compared against the templates of people on the watchlist, generating a "similarity score." If the score passes a set threshold, described in Parliament's Office of Science and Technology (POST) rapid response as often 0.6 in police systems, the system generates an alert for a trained officer to review. According to Suffolk Constabulary, the scanning of an image "takes less than a second." Crucially, a match is not an automatic identification. Officers on the ground assess the alert and decide what action, if any, to take. If there is no match, the template is deleted immediately. ## The numbers, nationally and locally The POST briefing offers some sense of how the technology performs elsewhere. Using a 0.6 threshold, 2,067 of 2,077 potential match alerts by the Metropolitan Police's LFR system in 2024–25 were true alerts, leading to 962 arrests, with a false positive rate of 0.0003%. Ipswich has its own case study. During February's six-hour trial at the Cornhill, borrowed equipment from Essex Police scanned over 47,000 faces. Five arrests followed, for offences including failing to appear before court and shop theft, and around 400 members of the public engaged directly with officers about the technology. Assistant Chief Constable Eamonn Bridger described the trial as "a positive outcome" at the time, adding that he was "optimistic that we will be using this technology again in the future." ## Why the police have to tell you first The requirement to notify the public before deploying LFR is not a courtesy. It follows directly from a legal ruling. In August 2020, the Court of Appeal found in the Bridges case that covert use of automated facial recognition technology does not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. As a result, police forces must make the public aware when they are using live facial recognition and ensure their data policies align with Home Office procedures. The College of Policing's Authorised Professional Practice sets out what this means in practice. Deployments must be overt: signs publicising the technology must be prominently placed in advance, outside the zone of recognition, giving people "sufficient time to exercise their right not to walk into the zone of recognition." Forces are also expected to notify the public in advance using websites and other communication channels, including social media, "without undermining the objectives of the deployment" — which is why locations and dates, rather than exact positioning, tend to be announced ahead of time. Anyone engaged by officers following an alert should, in the normal course of events, be offered information about the technology, and anyone seeking more detail should be given contact information for the operation. The legal basis extends further than notification. Each deployment engages Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, both for people passing the system and for anyone placed on a watchlist, and chief officers must be satisfied that its use is necessary and proportionate for a legitimate policing purpose. A senior officer, usually of superintendent rank or above, must authorise each deployment in writing, and watchlists themselves must be reviewed before each use and are not meant to be excessive for the purpose of the operation. ## A wider debate Facial recognition's expansion has not been without scrutiny. The POST briefing notes that error rates for live facial recognition have been found to increase by up to 9.3% when used outside controlled testing conditions, and that some studies have identified higher false positive rates for particular demographic groups on certain algorithms. A National Physical Laboratory analysis in 2023 found "substantial improvement" in UK facial recognition accuracy compared with earlier years, reporting no difference in performance between population groups on the system it tested, though researchers continue to examine how different algorithms perform in practice. Public attitudes, according to Home Office research cited in the briefing, are broadly supportive: 64% of people backed the use of facial recognition in policing, against 11% opposed. Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, Tim Passmore, has consistently backed the technology's continued use in the county. "I really welcome the use of this live facial recognition technology and pleased to see plans for it to be used in locations across Suffolk," he said of the August deployments. "It has huge potential to bring criminals to justice and prevent crime, which I trust is welcomed by everyone." ## The bottom line Live facial recognition works by matching faces against a specific watchlist in real time, discarding everything else within moments. Its expansion to Ipswich this week follows the same legal requirement that has applied since 2020: use it openly, tell people first, and give them the chance to avoid it if they choose. Whether the technology is a proportionate tool or an intrusive one remains a live debate, but the notification itself is not optional. It is the law. If you would like to know more about the deployment or raise questions with officers, signage and further information will be available on the day at the locations in question. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich to walk again for Hope to Connect this September URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-to-walk-again-for-hope-to-connect-this-september/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T18:07:18.000Z **Why it matters:** The Global Cancer Hope Walk, taking place on Friday, 11 September, and Saturday, 12 September, is the first major Hope to Connect event since co-founder Emma Adams died on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. **The details:** Hope to Connect describes the walk as a global event, with people invited to take part from wherever they are in the world – a local park, beach, city street or favourite walking route. Organisers say the event is already attracting participants from across the UK and around the world, including Ohio, California, Sierra Leone, Brighton, Northampton and Felixstowe. - In Ipswich, participants are asked to meet at the Margaret Catchpole pub, Cliff Lane, at 10:00 for teas and coffees, before walking together to Holywells Park at 10:30. - The overall goal is to walk five kilometres, though organisers say there is no pressure to complete the full distance, with a variety of routes available to suit different walking abilities. - Registration costs £10 for adults, £5 for children, with infants going free. - Ten per cent of profits from the event will go to selected cancer charities, with the remainder supporting Hope to Connect's ongoing work and the development of its platform. - Special edition Global Cancer Hope Walk 2026 T-shirts, available in various cancer awareness colours, can be bought via the Hope to Connect online store. - Registered participants will receive a digital participation certificate for taking part in the first-ever Global Cancer Hope Walk. - The Ipswich walk is being supported by sponsor Fleximize, Tesco, and the Margaret Catchpole pub, which is hosting participants. **For businesses:** Friday, 11 September is being offered as a dedicated employee wellbeing day, with companies invited to register teams or encourage staff to walk from different locations. Organisers say it is a chance to "prioritise connection, compassion, mental wellbeing and hope" for colleagues living with cancer, caring for someone with the illness, or grieving a loved one. **What they're saying:** Hope to Connect was founded in March 2025 by Emma Adams and Mandeep Birdy, after Emma – who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 – experienced what she described as the loneliness of living with the disease. Speaking to this publication earlier this year, she said building the organisation had given her purpose. "Even though it's all about cancer, it's not about my cancer – it's about helping other people. And I feel like that's rewarded me," she said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/image-9.png) Emma and Mandeep (Photo: Hope to Concect) Paying tribute to Emma after her death, Mandeep said: "It has been such an honour to walk side by side with Emma this past year on a shared purpose. Even when she became too poorly to be as involved as she wanted to be during the final weeks of her life, it was still such a joy to see that sparkle in her eyes during our catch-ups and the pride she felt in what we were creating together." She added: "It has been a privilege to bring Hope to Connect to life with Em and to walk these first footsteps beside her. I will miss Em in every moment while continuing Hope to Connect." Speaking about the walk, Mandeep said: "Cancer can be incredibly lonely. Even when you're surrounded by people, it can feel as though no one truly understands what you're carrying, whether you're living with the diagnosis yourself or you're supporting a loved one. I co-founded Hope to Connect with my dear friend Emma Adams because we both understood that feeling. Emma had stage four breast cancer when we met, and I had experienced the heartbreak of losing people I loved to cancer." Mandeep's best friend died from cervical cancer in 2020\. "Our mission is simple," she said. "No one with cancer should ever have to feel alone again." **For context:** In April, Emma and Mandeep helped break a Guinness World Record at Trinity Park, with 891 people signing a cancer awareness ribbon in eight hours – a UK first. The event raised more than £2,500 for five cancer charities: the Harley James Reynolds Fund, Cancer Support Suffolk, Aoibheann's Pink Tie, Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, and The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Support Group. Guinness World Records adjudicator Joanne Brent, who verified the record on the day, said: "It was incredibly powerful to verify 891 individual names, each representing a person and their own story." **The bottom line:** For Hope to Connect, September's walk is both a continuation of the community Emma and Mandeep built together and a step towards the app the pair set out to create – a project Mandeep has vowed to see through in memory and celebration of all those touched by cancer. [Book your spot](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/hopetoconnect/2328089?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Inside the new Asian snack and drink store on Westgate Street URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/inside-the-new-asian-snack-and-drink-store-on-westgate-street/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T13:45:57.000Z **Why it matters:** AsianHub's arrival on Westgate Street brings a unit back into use, offering much-needed good news for the town centre after a week when two long-standing retailers announced their departure. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5716-3.jpeg) Asian Hub on Westgate Street in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **The details:** AsianHub opened its doors on Saturday, 22 August. Inside, the shop is stocked with imported drinks, crisps, instant noodles and sweet treats from across Asia. Shelves feature a (very) wide range of instant noodle brands, including Buldak and Mama, alongside dedicated sections for seaweed snacks, mochi and Japanese and Korean drinks. **For context:** The opening comes at the end of a difficult week for Ipswich's high street. Hotel Chocolat's Tavern Street store closed permanently on 20 August after around eight years trading in the town, a day after FatFace confirmed its Buttermarket shop – open since 2008 – will close on Saturday, 5 September. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5718.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5719.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5720.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5721.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5723.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5724.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5727.jpeg) Inside Asian Hub on Westgate Street in Ipswich (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **The bottom line:** AsianHub's opening brings new life to a unit that had stood empty on Westgate Street, offering shoppers a wide range of Asian food and drink products just as the town centre absorbs the loss of two of its longer-standing retailers. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Newsagent's doors kicked in as 'young men' steal alcohol in early morning theft URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/newsagents-doors-kicked-in-as-young-men-steal-alcohol-in-early-morning-theft/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T07:55:03.000Z **Why it matters:** The incident has left the shop's owner concerned about further incidents, after he claimed one of the men involved had previously been banned from the premises for theft. **The details:** Suffolk Police said officers were called at 5:44am to a report of a shoplifting incident at a newsagent's shop at Major's Corner. Two men were involved, and alcohol was stolen. A crime number has yet to be finalised, with a preliminary reference of CAD 33 issued. According to the shop owner, a group of "young men" stole two bottles of alcohol from the store. He said that when he locked the doors, one of the men kicked it, causing the window to smash. No arrests have been made. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2015-1.jpeg) Broken glass from an alleged theft at Majors Newsagents (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** A spokesperson for Suffolk Police, said: "We were called at 5.44am about a shoplifting incident at a newsagent's shop at Major's Corner and have begun an investigation. I understand two males were involved, some alcohol was stolen and a window was broken." **The bottom line:** Suffolk Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident, though no arrests have yet been made. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Reverend's 3,000-mile ‘virtual pilgrimage’ inspired by family's own sight struggles URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reverends-3-000-mile-virtual-pilgrimage-inspired-by-familys-own-sight-struggles/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T07:32:17.000Z **Why it matters:** Revd Simon Ramacci BEM, from the Benefice of Westerfield and Tuddenham St Martin with Witnesham, is taking on a "virtual pilgrimage" to raise funds for the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, which provides eye care for people in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. **The details:** Revd Simon plans to walk 3,000 miles – the distance from Ipswich to Jerusalem, minus the boat crossing – tracking his progress on a widget on his laptop and posting frequent updates so supporters can follow along. The Eye Hospital provides outpatient, specialist and 24-hour emergency eye care regardless of race, religion or ability to pay. It was formed in 1882 under Queen Victoria and has served the region ever since as part of the Venerable Order of St John. **What they're saying:** Revd Simon said his wife and toddler's own visual impairments gave the cause personal significance for his family. "There is also a deeply personal reason for supporting the Eye Hospital," he said. "My wife and toddler were both born with a visual impairment so this charity has an extra special place in our hearts. "We have had to make trips for tests and treatments to different hospitals ourselves, so can't imagine what people in the West Bank have to go through to get eye care. "We take it for granted here in the UK but over there it's a different story. It makes the work of the Eye Hospital all the more important." He said his involvement with another Order of St John charity over the past 12 years had also shaped his decision. "I have been involved with another charity run by the Order for about 12 years and that has had a really big impact on my ministry and personal life," he said. "One of the key phrases of the Order of St John is about serving 'our masters the sick and poor', which really resonates with my faith journey." **For context:** Revd Simon is hoping local residents will join him on the walk. "I am hoping to get some interest from people in the local benefice, as well as reaching out to churches of St John the Baptist – it would be nice to have some company as I walk," he said. **The bottom line:** Drawing on his own family's experience of visual impairment, Revd Simon hopes his 3,000-mile challenge will raise both funds and awareness for a charity providing eye care to some of the world's most vulnerable communities. To find out more or to donate, visit [justgiving.com/page/simon-pilgrimage](https://www.justgiving.com/page/simon-pilgrimage?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### The school run that started a business network URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-school-run-that-started-a-business-network/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T08:21:48.000Z It is a Thursday evening at the Arcade Tavern, and more than 20 people are packed into the room, pints in hand. One by one, they stand up and introduce themselves along with their favourite TV advert, which triggers some hot debate and some gentle piss-taking. Suffolk networking mainstay Chris Chenery is spotted among the crowd – if you know, you know. At the front of it all is Milo, sarcastically and wittingly taking the mick out of whoever has just sat down. It is, somewhat surprisingly, very good fun. This is PUBNetworking, and what looks like a straightforward pub night out is, in fact, the result of a very deliberate decision Milo made back in late 2018. ## A network built around the school run Before PUBNetworking existed, Milo was already running his own business. What he could not do, he explains, was network in the traditional sense. "I was already running my own business but couldn't network traditionally anymore because I did the school run," he says. There had once been an informal solution: a monthly pub meet-up for local Suffolk and Essex business people, low-key and enjoyed by everyone who came along. But, as these things do, it fell away, undone by a lack of advertising and the time pressures on whoever was left organising it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5654.jpeg) PUBNetworking at Arcade Tavern (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Rather than let the idea disappear altogether, Milo decided to bring it back – but this time with enough structure behind it to make it worthwhile. "I wanted an excuse to keep meeting other business owners and get up on my feet to practice public speaking," he says. "I decided to put a ticketed event in place to bring back that monthly pub night, but with enough structure to build useful business relationships." The timing of it all came down to one factor above all others: parenting. "Early breakfast meetings were completely off the table because of the morning school run," Milo explains. "Midday events were useless too, leaving at 11:30am and getting back at 2:30pm burned three hours out of the middle of the workday. Evenings were the only slot that fit around parenting without killing productive working hours." ## The night that proved it could work The first event had a name that, by Milo's own admission, was never going to win any marketing awards: Business Networking With Optional Alcohol. "Not exactly catchy," he laughs. He had no idea how the evening would go. In the end, 23 or 24 people turned up. For Milo, that was the moment the idea shifted from a personal itch to something with genuine demand behind it. "That crowd proved immediately that the demand was sitting there, and it needed to turn into an organised monthly event," he says. ## Built to feel like the pub, not a pitch What has developed since that first night is a format that deliberately avoids the rigidity of conventional business networking. There are open gaps in the evening for people to head to the bar and talk without any agenda, alongside structured elements and an educational talk designed to make sure people actually connect. "It gives you the value of a traditional network but feels like an evening at the local with friends," Milo says. Central to that atmosphere is a strict no-pitching rule. Speakers are told before they get up that their job is to add value, not sell. "Sitting in a pub at 8:50pm listening to a hard sell isn't something anyone wants to do," Milo says. "If someone starts pitching or loses the room, they will be asked to provide value or stop." That evening at the Arcade Tavern bears this out. Beyond the introductions and the advert-themed icebreaker, there is little sense of anyone working the room for business cards. The banter comes first. ## From one pub to a region What started as a single event in Ipswich has since grown into a wider network of regional clusters, with regulars in Ipswich known to travel to sister events in Colchester, Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds, and vice versa. There is no membership model – attendance is pay as you go, built on the idea that people will keep returning if they enjoy it. Growth has not been without its setbacks. Expansion plans were disrupted just as lockdown hit, though Milo says the shift online ended up working in the network's favour, allowing it to build a following in places like Brighton faster than it might otherwise have managed. The bigger challenge now, he says, is the wider economic climate, which has seen attendance drop across the networking sector as a whole and led some larger, more traditional networks to close chapters altogether. ## The bottom line What began as an attempt to solve one parent's networking problem has grown into a monthly fixture across Suffolk, Essex and beyond, built on a simple premise: that business relationships are easier to build over a pint than a pitch. As Milo puts it: "Networking is a long game. You show up to build trust, not to harvest fast cash." --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£122 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Youth campaign urges councils to fund free period products URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/youth-campaign-urges-councils-to-fund-free-period-products/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T11:39:49.000Z **Why it matters:** The youth-led campaign, from the latest cohort of Ipswich MP Jack Abbott's Summer School, says a 2021 Suffolk County Council survey found 43% of respondents had used sanitary products not fit for purpose, or for too long, because of cost. **The details:** The open letter calls on both councils to make free period products available in council-run public toilets, with provision clearly signposted and easily accessible to anyone who needs it. **The bigger picture:** The campaign has pointed to East Suffolk Council's Period Poverty project as a model Ipswich could follow. That scheme provides free period products through local hubs, businesses, organisations and schools. The letter has been signed by 15 local organisations and businesses, including: - Another Bowl - Ipswich JobCentre Plus - TK Maxx Ipswich - Cats Protection Ipswich - Uniform Research Ipswich - Charmed Cafe - New Look Ipswich - The Hidden Garden Cafe - Cub Cafe - PureGym Ipswich Buttermarket - I-Scream! - Emmaus Ipswich - Roots Community Café - Harvest Moon - Superbowl UK Ipswich **What they're saying:** Period Rights Ipswich said: "We believe this would be a simple but meaningful step towards improving accessibility and tackling period poverty across the town." **For context:** The letter follows a campaign push highlighting where people in Ipswich can already access free period products, including at Another Bowl, Cub Cafe and Harvest Moon. **What's next:** Period Rights Ipswich is encouraging both councils to respond to the open letter and commit to improving free period product provision in Ipswich. **The bottom line:** Having already mapped out where free period products are available across town, the youth campaign is now pushing councils to make provision a guarantee, with 15 organisations already on board. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Enciso's perfect return steals the show as Town edge Sunderland URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/encisos-perfect-return-steals-the-show-as-town-edge-sunderland/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T08:39:10.000Z ## Pre-match preamble So good to be back! Glad-handing all my seat neighbours and a big hug from Gary. Our opponents today were founded as Sunderland and District Teachers A.F.C. by schoolmaster James Allan in 1879, renamed Sunderland A.F.C., and opened to more than just schoolteachers the following year. During the late 19th century, they were declared the "Team of All Talents". Their nickname stems from history and legend: in 1805, a local gun battery at the mouth of the River Wear was reportedly named the "Black Cat Battery" after soldiers heard a mysterious wailing cat sound. Their motto is "Consectatio Excellentiae", which means "in pursuit of excellence". They performed so well in 2025-26 that they are playing in Europe this season, so we dismiss them too easily at our peril. I'm sure Gary will have the team well briefed. ## Goodbye to George We said goodbye to George Hirst this week. After three-and-a-half years as a Town player, George has joined Stoke City on a three-year deal. He scored 30 goals in 125 appearances for Town, some of them very memorable, and helped them win three promotions, two of them to the Premier League. I think many of us (including him) were frustrated with his play in the 2025-26 season, as he was much better and more confident when he wore the 27 shirt. Allegedly, he asked for the 9 shirt when Delap left. If that's the case, I think it was a mistake. I wish him well. He is joined at Stoke City by Ben Johnson, on loan. ## On the train Chatted to Liam and Richard on the way, about all the new players, summer friendly matches and the possible result today. We were all feeling upbeat and happy to be on our way to Portman Road. ## The game Both teams came out with intent written all over their game, and there was a heart-stopping moment early on when Leif Davis slid in to block a shot in front of goal by Brobbey. Brilliant defending. Brobbey was a threat from the start, but Leif was tenacious and linked well with Greaves and Maeda to keep him contained. End-to-end, the ball flew for the first 20 minutes or so, with marginal dominance by Sunderland, but there were not too many credible attempts on goal at either end. Then Roefs saved a decent header from Emersonn, who was always right there when needed. And there he was a few minutes later when Enciso's brilliant breakaway run and perfect pass in front of goal saw him score his first goal for Town on his debut. The Black Cats stepped up their game and pushed for an equaliser with several attempted shots, but with good defending from Davis, Diop and Scherpen, a header was blocked, and a corner was scrambled away. I like how Scherpen can kick a good long ball up the pitch – it keeps the game on its toes. Perhaps trying to repay the assist, Emersonn's nifty pass to Enciso, not quite caught right, sailed over the bar. Sunderland equalised in the 40th minute with a blitzing 25-yard free kick by Nilson Angulo, placed perfectly in the left-hand top corner of the net. An excellent goal. **Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland** Both sides came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half. A minute in, a cross from Fatawu was met by a clever side-boot flick from Enciso, with his back to goal, that went just wide of the post. Amazing effort and so close. Next up was a dogged, battling Nunez, determined to deny the Cats a winning goal. Fighting for possession in the Town goal, he got back to make an essential block. He was a tiger all over the pitch and definitely slowed the Cats down. Another nearly goal for us came when an Enciso cross found Emersonn at the far post, went back across goal just evading Maeda's head, before returning to Enciso, who could only loop the ball wide off the post. If that sounds like a muddle of near-misses, it was exactly that. Repeated at both ends, there were quite a few nervy moments as both teams struggled for the winning goal. Shots over, shots wide, and shots scrambled away. The pace slowed until tired legs were substituted, but it was clear we wanted it more. Clarke was brought on for Enciso, who appeared to be suffering from cramp. As the game moved into the 90th minute, Clarke picked up the ball and moved nimbly towards goal before unleashing a curling effort into the bottom-right-hand corner. I love how he drifts laconically and then pounces. The crowd went wild, and the game was ours. **Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland** ## The players I've introduced most of the new players in my previous write-ups over the summer, but the duo from Strasbourg has just arrived. One of them needs little introduction. ### **Julio Enciso (Number 10)** Several months ago, during a Town wavery spell, one of the fans on a forum asked who we would bring into the team if we could. Anyone. Answers varied from Mbappe, Messi, and Beckham, to George Best, Bobby Charlton and Erling Haaland! I said Julio Enciso, please, and lo and behold! You can thank me later – ha ha. So pleased he's back with us! At just 22 years old, Julio has made 182 senior club appearances, netted 40 goals and provided 26 assists. To cap all that (pun intended), he has made 37 senior appearances for Paraguay, including this year's World Cup, the 2026 Copa America and the 2024 Olympic Games in France. **Abdoul Ouattara (Number 42)** Abdoul, an Ivorian professional, comes to us from Strasbourg too, so is familiar with Gary, who has high praise for his capabilities. We had a small taste of this on Saturday, an "amuse-bouche", as he had a disrupted pre-season. He is said to be versatile, able to play in several positions and strong. At only 20, he is an exciting addition to the mix. A 5ft 11in midfielder who can play in other positions sounds like a real bonus. I have to keep reminding myself to pronounce his name properly – it sounds like "Wattara", so I remember it starts with an O, not the Q my brain keeps suggesting. Bienvenue, Abdoul. ## Man of the match Everyone played their part in this game, but Julio Enciso, our pocket rocket, with that little bit of magic in his game, is my choice, unsurprisingly. He was tricky yet precise, and he ran and ran. If he missed an interception the first time, he went back for more. Impressed, too, that when he could easily have taken a shot himself in front of goal, he laid it off to Emersonn, who was in a slightly better position. He is closely followed as runner-up by Leif Davis, whose game is now showing at a whole new level, both in defence and attack. MotM is going to become very difficult if they all keep playing as well as today, but a good problem to have! ## In other news I was surprised this week to see Town looking at another goalkeeper – how many do we need? But all became clear: Walton is only just over his ankle injury, and Palmer, recovering from a sore elbow, is also rumoured to be moving on, with West Brom (just for you, Mike) and several other clubs showing interest. It has been an interesting story for Alex and Christian, with the two of them seemingly taking it in turns to be injured, then playing the other out of a starting spot in the team. Both decent – but I feel Christian edges it. Also, Kayne Van Oevelen, recently acquired young goalie from the Netherlands, goes out today on loan to Valencia for a year, I suspect to build up his experience at a higher level. He played in the summer, and I thought he was excellent, especially with his clearing-kick placement – I thought he was definitely a "keeper" (sorry). But at only 23 and on a five-year contract with ITFC, he is definitely a bright one for our future. That leaves Scherpen and Button at the moment, so another GK will be needed. As for Exequiel Palacios, talks are ongoing but possibly closer to a resolution, with him expressing a desire to move and possibly willing to lower his financial demands? Watch this space. ## Post-match pondering Talk is often about the team "gelling" – there are several who have played together already: Ouattara and Enciso at Strasbourg, Ouattara and Kipre for Côte d'Ivoire, Diop and Lukic at Fulham – all this will help. They are experienced professionals who know how a good team works. To me they looked much as though they had been playing together forever. They look energised and happy, and I noticed one of the players, when talking about training during the week, said they "ran a lot, even when they didn't think they were going to – and they had fun". Nothing bonds better than fun. Another positive after our slightly "upheaved" start (sounds like the right word!) – several people have pointed out that players who know Gary and have experience of his management are happy to follow him to a new club. There surely can't be a better endorsement. ## On the train What a match – what a buzz – what a great start. Talking to three Sunderland fans on the way home: Kevin (Grandad) and Andy (Dad), with grandson Matthew – who was slightly despondent. Having helped assure him "it was only one game", they asked me for my overview. Fairly evenly matched was my assessment, but with mistakes being seized and capitalised on more quickly by Town. Andy said, "I would have been happy with a draw." At times, it felt like their team would have settled for that too. Matthew said what they all must have been saying: "It had to be Jack Clarke." Still my favourite player – Jack-in-the-box popped up, and Jack Clarke did what Jack Clarke does. ### The state of our streets: Ipswich's biggest small problems URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-state-of-our-streets-ipswichs-biggest-small-problems/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T09:01:38.000Z Half past eight on a bright and humid Tuesday morning, and the Cornhill smells fresh. The fountains are spotless. Water, it turns out, helps keep the floor clean. In the distance to my right, on Tavern Street, a gull works methodically at a burst bin bag outside a shop that has not yet opened, flinging bread and shredded packaging across the street with the unhurried confidence of something that owns the place. Nobody stops it. Nobody, I later find out, can. Still, when I try to photograph it, it scarpers. Walk from here in any direction, and the heart of the town centre only gets dirtier. Chewing gum has fused with the paving in grey-black blotches that no amount of rain can shift. Cigarette ends collect in doorways, drifts of them, most within touching distance of a bin that nobody has bothered to use. Copious amounts of bird crap is baked onto the paving stones outside Tesco – the work of the pigeons and gulls at war on our streets. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5394-2-1.jpeg) A familiar site to any town centre regulars (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Seed shells crunch underfoot outside the library; empty cans of cheap beer left sitting on the bench. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5345-2-1.jpeg) Seed husks and rubbish next to the County Library bench (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) A middle-aged, white English woman shakes her head in disgust as a member of the town's Roma community hocks a loogie onto the pavement...then lobs her cigarette butt onto the floor as she walks past not just one, but two bins – seemingly oblivious to her hypocrisy. Bin bags pile up on the pavement in front of shops from opening to close, day after day, waiting for a collection that never seems to arrive. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5541-1.jpeg) Bin bags piled high outside Admiral Casino for an entire day (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Building debris left on pavements by works underway elsewhere in town – a sign of investment and progress, but mess all the same, in the short term at least. And then there are the stains: dark ones, light ones, neon purple ones, dusty ones, sticky ones. Some explainable, most defying explanation, present on street after street, that nobody has seemingly been able to remove. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5381-2-1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5376-2-1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5417-1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5377-2-1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5414-1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5401-1.jpeg) Can you name the stains? (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Step off the pedestrianised streets and a different kind of small problem takes over. A blacked-out car noses into the bus stop as though the markings are decorative, engine idling while a driver runs into a shop that doesn't sell food with their insulated Deliveroo food bag. At the entrance of Tacket Street, vehicles illegally parked alongside the entrance and exit make it briefly impossible for other traffic to get in or out. One car that does escape the chaos then slips down the bus lane without indicating to shave thirty seconds off its journey. An elderly gentleman mumbles "wanker" as it speeds down the street. None of this, taken individually, would put anyone off visiting Ipswich. But collectively, it does. These small problems, combined, represent perhaps our town's biggest problem. If we want people to have pride in our town, our town must first take pride in itself – that starts with the council and ends with residents. Support our journalism ****Ipswich can't have pride in itself until it takes some.** We've stopped just describing the mess — we're campaigning to fix it, street by street. Help us hold the council to that standard by becoming a member for just £6 per month. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) ## The businesses caught in the mess Speaking to Ipswich.co.uk about the amount of rubbish in the street, Aaron Skerritt, managing director of Honey+Harvey, said the issue had been ongoing for some time but had "certainly become more noticeable over the past year." "It's now something we expect to see most mornings," he said. "It feels as though it's becoming the norm rather than the exception, which is really disappointing." Skerritt said the effect on the town centre's reputation was hard to quantify but real. "First impressions matter," he said. "Independent businesses work incredibly hard and invest significant amounts in making their shops welcoming, but that effort is undermined if the environment outside our doors looks neglected." He set out a series of practical steps he would like to see: more frequent emptying of public bins, seagull-resistant bin bags where appropriate, earlier morning street cleaning, continued investment in pavements and drains, and greater engagement with businesses who, he said, "see these issues every day and can help identify problem areas." Skerritt was direct about accountability. "If this was a real big business, people's heads would roll surely?" he said. "Is it no one knows whose problem it is, maybe it will just go away? I cannot sit here and believe that anyone could think like this." Nobody's head, so far, has rolled. He also pointed to a wider civic cost. Running clubs, he said, had changed their routes "because of the mess", while the comparison with the town's cultural high points – Ipswich Town's promotion push, Ed Sheeran, Fabio Wardley – left him uneasy. "The hardest thing to hear is how good it used to be," he said. "For a town that has had those highs, that's saying something, and it's very, very sad." ## Progress, but not enough Ipswich Borough Council's answer, approved by its Executive on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, is a new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team, funded by £400,000 over two years. The council said the investment follows "positive financial results" for 2025/26. The team comprises six newly created posts – two team leaders and four general operatives – running until the end of March 2028\. A council spokesperson confirmed the roles are new rather than reallocated from elsewhere, though existing staff will have the opportunity to apply for them. The team will work zone by zone across Ipswich on a cyclical basis, with its initial priority the main entry routes into town ahead of the new Premier League season, before wider priorities are agreed with stakeholders. A bespoke mapping and scheduling platform is being developed to support the work, alongside a budget for a vehicle and cleansing equipment. Success, the council said, will be judged in consultation with stakeholders rather than against a single town-wide measure, reflecting what it described as different priorities in different zones. Councillor Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "Residents tell us that keeping Ipswich clean and tidy is important to them. We have heard this and are providing additional people to improve the appearance of our streets and public spaces." Asked whether the timing – less than a year before the local elections in May 2027 – risked the investment being seen as a pre-election gesture rather than a durable solution, the council did not directly address the question, instead pointing to the improved financial position and resident feedback as the basis for the decision. Whatever the motivation, the investment is welcomed but doesn't go far enough. Years of grime have built up on our streets, and no amount of sweeping will remove it. Ipswich needs the deepest of deep cleans. It needs to redefine what 'acceptable' is, and it needs to maintain that – day in, day out. ## Enforcement, but not where it matters Since earlier this year, Suffolk Police and the council have run a joint littering campaign focused on Maple Park and Barrack Corner, part of the wider Clear Hold Build/Maple Together initiative tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in that area. The council said it chose the locations after officers observed seed deposits and general litter, including litter left by street drinkers, and after residents raised concerns directly. Under the scheme, officers witness offences and verify offenders' details at the roadside, passing them to the council, which holds the statutory power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices. The fine is £500, reduced to £350 if paid within seven days; unpaid notices can lead to prosecution and fines of up to £2,500\. Suffolk Police said CCTV is used on enforcement days but declined to disclose further detail for operational reasons. But the scheme is not currently focused on the town centre. The littering enforcement campaign is, by design, confined to the Maple Together area around Maple Park and Barrack Corner. That needs to change. We need continual enforcement – at scale – in our town centre. If people are continually slapped around the face with £500 fines, they may think twice about throwing that fag end on the pavement or leaving that can next to the bench. Enforcement is not difficult; we're just choosing not to do it. ## A shared responsibility Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said the town's Business Improvement District had seen "an uplift in businesses raising these concerns over the last three weeks, particularly around litter, weeds and bird fouling" – issues picked up through the BID's regular standards walks with the borough and county councils, and through day-to-day conversations with levy payers. Walker argued that street cleanliness sets the terms for everything else the town centre tries to do. "If we don't get the basics and the standards right, we lose the right to do the exciting, fun things that encourage people to visit," he said, citing the "broken windows theory" – the idea that visible neglect invites further decline. "Festivals, events and marketing campaigns are all important, but they have to be built on clean, safe and welcoming streets." While Ipswich Central has no enforcement powers of its own, Walker said the organisation would "work with whoever we need to in order to improve standards" – landlords, national retailers, independent businesses, managing agents or public sector partners alike. He welcomed the council's £400,000 investment but was careful to frame cleanliness as a shared burden rather than the council's alone. "It's important to remember that the council doesn't drop litter – in many ways they work harder than anyone to clear it up," he said. "Preventing the problem in the first place is a shared responsibility between businesses, visitors and residents." Where littering or anti-social behaviour was deliberate, he added, "robust enforcement should be used" – behaviour that, in his words, "costs every taxpayer financially and damages the reputation of our town." ## What's next Pride in a town is not declared. It is walked past, every day, on every street, and right now Ipswich fails that test on almost every one of them. So we are done just describing it. Ipswich.co.uk is launching a campaign to tackle Ipswich's biggest small problems, street by street, stain by stain, issue by issue. Ipswich does not need another report, another consultation, or another council press release announcing good intentions. It needs the gum gone, the bins emptied, the fines issued, and the streets held to that standard – not for a week, but permanently. That is what this campaign is for. Over the coming weeks, we will keep covering these issues, keep naming who is responsible, and keep the pressure on until the state of our streets actually changes. ## The bottom line Councillor MacDonald called the cleansing team investment a response to what residents are telling the council. Aaron Skerritt called it something simpler: a test of whether anyone in a position to fix this actually will. He is right, and the test has not yet been passed. A six-person team is a start, not an answer, for a town centre with this many small problems adding up to one large one. We agree with the diagnosis. We are no longer content to just report on it. Subscribe for updates. Support our journalism ****Ipswich can't have pride in itself until it takes some.** We've stopped just describing the mess — we're campaigning to fix it, street by street. Help us hold the council to that standard by becoming a member for just £6 per month. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£216 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'A council of idiots' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a-council-of-idiots/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T07:14:20.000Z Ipswich Borough Council employs 1,269 people – roughly 900 full-time equivalents – at a cost of £42.6m a year. Add to that the councillors elected to scrutinise those officers and make decisions on our behalf, and you might reasonably expect competence, prudence and a basic awareness of what residents actually want. You would, however, be often mistaken. And spectacularly so. There are good councillors and good officers, of course. Just not nearly enough of them. Ipswich Borough Council appears instead to have embraced a kind of Brechtian civic theatre: alienating the audience while insisting the performance is for their benefit. The question we should all be asking – far more often than we do – is simple: who holds these professionals to account for the nonsense they sign off? Take the proposed £38m aquatics centre. Nothing says responsible stewardship quite like committing tens of millions to a swimming pool while the council itself is about to be abolished under Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The organisation approving the project will cease to exist; the bill, the building and the consequences will be inherited by someone else – but paid for, inevitably and eternally, by us. It is the bureaucratic equivalent of booking a symphony orchestra for a backyard Proms, stuffing the oompah section into your shed next to the Flymo, then driving to Dundee barefoot while leaving the invoice pinned to your neighbour's door for the xylophone player to pay. And it is not just the swimming pool. The council's capital programme runs into the tens of millions at precisely the moment Suffolk's governance structure is being dismantled and rebuilt. Officers know this. Councillors know this. The Government knows this. Yet here we are, watching legacy projects being waved through as though the future were someone else's problem – which, conveniently, it will be. Consider the £560,000 investment in an empty town-centre building. Who is the tenant? "Not saying". What is the project? "No comment". Why spend over half a million of public money? "Commercially sensitive". Of course it is. Few things erode trust faster than secrecy wrapped in expenditure. "Can we have our £560,000 back?" "No." It is little wonder turnout in local elections is so anaemic. People do not vote because they do not think councils listen. Councils then make decisions with tiny mandates because people do not vote. Those decisions further discourage voting. And round we go, trapped in a democratic spin cycle on a boil wash. With new unitary elections approaching, one can only hope politicians, parties and voters find a way to engage with each other more successfully. Because Ipswich is currently cruising towards LGR in a clown car with inflatable wheels, the driver repeatedly pieing themselves in the face while honking the horn. And Ipswich is not alone. East Suffolk's Green "leadership" – the word is doing some heavy lifting here – has signed off yet more Community Infrastructure Levy money for a decades-old sports pitch project where not a single spade has touched the ground. Toilets? Changing rooms? No. But more money? Certainly. Then comes the pièce de résistance: a £500,000 estimate to move an enormous pile of rocks from a beach into storage. You did read that right: the cabinet voted for it – unanimously. They do not yet know where to store them – that is act two. Act three will involve spending up to another £500,000 moving them out of storage. Act four? Returning them to a spot only metres from where they began. Orton and Ayckbourn would be proud. Real people – officers and councillors – sat in real rooms and decided these were good ideas and good uses of public money. It beggars belief. So the next time you are at Ipswich's bus "station", observing a floor that resembles the ground at Latitude after the headline act has left the stage, remember: someone decided that was acceptable. And when your food-waste bins are not collected in Martlesham or Kesgrave – again – remember that people nobody voted for made all of these decisions, enabled by councillors whom only a few hundred hardy souls did vote for. Perhaps redemption is coming. Perhaps a political conversion awaits on the road to Damascus. But I would not hold your breath. The Second Coming may arrive first. As for me, that is enough for this week. Speaking of circuses, I have picked up some part-time work at the circus. Human cannonball. £500 a week, plus a bit of mileage. ### Young Ipswich artists invited to follow in Constable's footsteps URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/young-ipswich-artists-invited-to-follow-in-constables-footsteps/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T07:11:52.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich Central and Harvest Moon café on St Peter's Street have launched free Constable 250 activities to mark the town's link to Suffolk artist John Constable, whose work is on display at Christchurch Mansion until 4 October 2026. **The details:** The initiative, produced by Flynn Squirrell, owner and manager of Harvest Moon, has two parts: - **The Saints sticker hunt and art trail** – Families can collect a trail sheet from Harvest Moon and visit six businesses across St Peter's Street and St Nicholas' Street to find and collect stickers. The sheet also includes a wordsearch and two observation questions. Children who complete the trail receive a free Constable 250 badge, donated by the Ipswich Museums team at Christchurch Mansion. - **The Young Artist drawing competition** – Children can enter a Constable-inspired landscape drawing competition, with one entry allowed per child. Entry sheets are available from five participating venues: Harvest Moon (St Peter's Street), Ipswich County Library (Northgate Street), The Hold – Suffolk Archives (near Ipswich Waterfront), Bishops Café and Tea Rooms (inside Holywells Park), and Christchurch Mansion. **What's next:** Entries close on 4 October 2026, the day The Hay Wain leaves Ipswich and returns to London. There are three age categories – six and under, seven to 12, and 13 and over – with a goodie bag prize for a winner in each. All entries will be collected on 5 October 2026, ahead of judging by a panel of independent judges. The three winning "masterpieces" will go on public display inside Harvest Moon. Winners will be notified and presented with their prizes during half-term week at the end of October 2026. **What they're saying:** Melanie Willis, communications manager at Ipswich Central, said: "When Flynn at Harvest Moon came to us with the idea for a trail around local businesses for families with young children, inspired by Constable, we thought this was a lovely family activity to support in the town centre. "The young artist colouring competition alongside it uses The Hay Wain as inspiration for new landscape paintings by the next generation of local artists, ahead of the Contemporary Constable exhibition in Christchurch Mansion this autumn/winter." Flynn Squirrell, owner and manager of Harvest Moon, said: "It's been great working with Ipswich Central to bring The Saints sticker hunt and art trail idea to life as a free community activity for parents with young children. "As a small independent business in a historic part of the town, activities like this are a simple yet effective way of encouraging new visitors into town and for businesses to engage with potential new customers in a fun, family-friendly way. We look forward to seeing youngsters pop in for trail cards and paint their own landscapes inspired by Constable." **The bottom line:** While The Hay Wain remains in Ipswich, the free trail and competition offer families a new way to explore the town centre, and give young local artists a chance to be inspired by one of Britain's most famous landscape painters. Trail sheets and competition entry forms are available now from Harvest Moon in St Peter's Street. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Everyone sleeping rough in Ipswich to be offered route off streets this winter URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/everyone-sleeping-rough-in-ipswich-to-be-offered-route-off-streets-this-winter/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T23:27:49.000Z **Why it matters:** The funding forms part of a national drive by the Government to end rough sleeping, with ministers saying no one should be left sleeping on the streets over the coming months. **The details:** Ipswich will receive £344,140 in 2026-27, with further instalments over the following two years taking the total allocation to £1,253,145\. The money forms part of a wider £442 million package, which the Government says is fully funded from uncommitted Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) budgets. The full breakdown for Ipswich is: | Allocation | Amount | | ------------------------- | -------------- | | 2026-27 RDEL allocation | £344,140 | | 2027-28 CDEL allocation | £217,744 | | 2027-28 RDEL allocation | £236,961 | | 2028-29 CDEL allocation | £218,511 | | 2028-29 RDEL allocation | £235,789 | | **Total RDEL allocation** | **£816,890** | | **Total CDEL allocation** | **£436,255** | | **Total allocation** | **£1,253,145** | The Government says the programme will be led by Mayoral Strategic Authorities and local authorities, working with local partners, and will combine immediate provision to help people access accommodation and support before Christmas 2026 with settled homes and intensive wraparound support for people who have experienced the longest periods of rough sleeping. Nationally, the Government says the funding will help deliver more than 1,000 settled homes across England over the next three years, alongside continued support to help people keep them. **What they're saying:** Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, welcomed the investment, saying: "This £1.25 million investment is a major boost for Ipswich and will make a real difference to people facing homelessness in our town. It means practical support to help people get off the streets now, while also investing in settled accommodation and the wraparound support people need to rebuild their lives for good." He added: "I want Ipswich to be a town where everyone has the chance to build a secure future, and this investment is an important step towards making that a reality." Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "No-one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we've seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it. I won't accept it. That's why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping. And it's why today we're getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas." Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: "This funding will help thousands of people leave the streets behind, move into secure homes and get the support they need to rebuild their lives. Working alongside councils, mayors and charities, we're backing local areas to tackle rough sleeping at its roots, giving people the security, dignity and opportunity they deserve, and restoring hope to those who have been let down for far too long." **For context:** The Government says the guidance accompanying the funding will make clear the need for adequate and accessible provision for women experiencing rough sleeping, including consideration of single-sex accommodation with specialist, trauma-informed support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Separately, £8.4 million of the new funding is going to the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, taking total allocations for 100 projects nationally to £47 million over three years, according to the Government. Research by the charity Crisis, cited by the Government, suggests preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless for a year could save taxpayers around £370 million. **What's next:** The Prime Minister is to host a national summit on tackling rough sleeping in the autumn, bringing together leaders from business, finance, charities, health and faith communities to discuss what role each can play in ending rough sleeping. **The bottom line:** Ipswich is being promised practical support to get people off the streets in the coming months, backed by government money – though the scale of the town's rough sleeping problem, and how quickly the funding will translate into help on the ground, remains to be seen. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich dad, 54, matches son's GCSE grade after returning to college URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-dad-54-matches-sons-gcse-grade-after-returning-to-college/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T15:03:52.000Z **The details:** Simon returned to Suffolk New College to study for his GCSEs as an adult learner, having already gained a maths GCSE the previous year. His son Isaac, who attends Northgate, was sitting his own GCSEs at the same time. "I got a grade six in my GCSE English so that was great," Simon said. "My son, who went to Northgate and is called Isaac, was doing GCSEs at the same time as me, so I was wanting to press on the fact to him how important it was to get your grades. So I got my maths last year and my English this year to prove a point to me and to him." **What they're saying:** Simon said he enjoyed the experience of returning to education. "I loved going back to college, and it was a nice thing. We were both waiting for our GCSE results today, and we got the same mark." He praised the support he received at the college. "The support was phenomenal. My tutors were amazing, and I made some great friends, and the college wants you to succeed. Potentially I might go back and get more qualifications." [How Ipswich and Suffolk’s schools and colleges fared on GCSE results dayFrom record-breaking grades at the town’s independent schools to rising English and maths passes at Suffolk New College, results day 2026 brought good news across the town.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-74d48208-f0c2-466c-80c6-f822d229443a.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Ipswich-School-2026-GCSE-Results-03-1-fec9cb34-cc77-4e27-994a-d14931ce1a23.JPG)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-ipswich-and-suffolks-schools-and-colleges-fared-on-gcse-results-day/) **His message to others:** Simon encouraged other adults considering a return to study not to hold back. "My message to others is don't be frightened, it's never too late." **The bottom line:** For Simon Finbow, a return to the classroom in his fifties has ended with a personal milestone – matching his teenage son's GCSE grade on the same results day, and proof, he says, that it is never too late to learn. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### How Ipswich and Suffolk's schools and colleges fared on GCSE results day URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-ipswich-and-suffolks-schools-and-colleges-fared-on-gcse-results-day/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T13:41:23.000Z Students across the town collected their GCSE results today, with schools and colleges reporting strong outcomes across the board – including for pupils sitting exams for the first time, adult learners returning to study, and one young refugee whose story has captured attention well beyond the classroom. ## Ipswich School: a summer double A week after celebrating its best A-level results in two decades, Ipswich School added another landmark set of results to the tally. Of the 122 pupils who received their GCSE results, more than 60% of all grades were awarded at 7, 8 or 9 (the equivalent of the old A\*/A), with more than 40% awarded at grade 8 or 9. Thirteen pupils achieved a "clean sweep" of grades 7, 8 or 9 across all ten of their GCSE subjects, while 65 of the 122 pupils – more than half the Year 11 cohort – secured grades of 7, 8 or 9 in at least seven of their subjects. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Ipswich-School-2026-GCSE-Results-04-1.JPG) Year 11 students at Ipswich School with their results (Photo: Ipswich School) The school's grade 7+ proportion is well above the national average for independent schools, which stood at 47.1% this year, according to Department for Education data covering all subjects. Head Nick Gregory said: "I want to offer my congratulations to Ipswich School pupils and teachers alike for this outstanding set of GCSE results. What has most caught my eye today is the sheer breadth and consistency of high level achievement reflected here, with over half of the Year 11 cohort (65 of the 122 pupils in total) securing grades 7, 8 or 9 (previously A\*/A) in at least seven of their subjects." Andrew Bradshaw, Head of Middle School, added: "This cohort, many of whom have been together since the Prep School, has secured academic successes to accompany their exceptional contributions to the co-curricular side of school life, including Sport, Music, Drama and CCF." The results follow the school's best A-level performance in 20 years, announced on 13 August, when 84% of grades were awarded at A\*-B or their BTEC equivalent, and 53% were graded A\* or A. [Ipswich School caps summer double with GCSE successA week after enjoying its best A Level results in two decades, Ipswich School is celebrating another strong set of results, with well over 60% of GCSE grades awarded at 7, 8 or 9.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a3418e04-f306-4d69-a02f-21fe63f27915.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Ipswich-School-2026-GCSE-Results-01-1-62555abd-4857-455d-9b9b-397d59c86b2b.JPG)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-school-caps-summer-double-with-gcse-success/) ## Ipswich High School: a three-year upward trend At Ipswich High School in Woolverstone, this year's GCSE results continued what the school describes as a three-year upward trend in individual pupil Value Added, coming alongside strong A-level performances the previous week. The school reported particularly strong performances in Latin, Classics, French, Spanish, Art, Food Studies and History. Among the individual successes celebrated were Astrid, who achieved seven grade 9s and two grade 8s, and Myla, who achieved seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Aug26-IHSGCSE-06877-1.jpg) Ipswich High School students celebrating their results (Photo: Ipswich High School) "I'm really happy with my results," Astrid said. "I'm so pleased I got a 9 in History, as I doubted myself and thought I was going to get a 6! I'm so relieved that all the hard work has paid off. I'm now going to study Maths, Chemistry, Biology and History." Myla, who is moving into the school's Sixth Form, said: "Getting 9's in subjects is amazing, so improving from my mocks, I wasn't expecting it. I'm going to study History, Politics, Economic and Religious Studies." Also among the standout results were Ariella, who achieved seven grade 9s, three grade 8s and one grade 7, and Oliver, who achieved three grade 9s, one grade 8 and five grade 7s. "I think everyone lowers their expectations, then I opened the results and did so much better than expected," Oliver said. "I'm doing history A level as one of my subjects next year, and I got a 9 in History, so I am really happy." Head Dan Browning said: "Results Day is an important moment and there is so much for our Year 11 pupils to be proud of today. These grades represent years of work, perseverance and encouragement from their teachers, families and friends, but they are also only one part of each young person's story." Last week's A-level results at the school showed one in three grades awarded A\*-A, while the Extended Project Qualification saw 90% of pupils achieve A\*-A. The school also reported 100% success for its Oxbridge applicants, with 94% offered their first or second choice, and 100% success for pupils pursuing degree apprenticeships, including with EDF at Sizewell C and OCS. Founded in 1878, Ipswich High School is approaching its 150th anniversary. [Ipswich High School pupils celebrate strong GCSE resultsIpswich High School pupils achieved excellent GCSE outcomes across a broad range of subjects this year, with English a standout as 90% achieved grade 5 or above.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-00c01ad2-c114-427c-953a-61d033c5ce71.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Aug26-IHSGCSE-06941-1-345240c4-0995-49a4-9806-923629ce4e23.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-high-school-pupils-celebrate-strong-gcse-results/) ## St Joseph's College: ahead of the national average At St Joseph's College, 27% of GCSE entries were graded 9 to 7 – five percentage points above the national average of 22%, which the college says reflects both its academic ambition and its inclusive approach as a non-academically selective school. Student Max achieved grade 9s across nine different subjects, while the college reported particularly strong performances in Fine Art, Biology, Spanish and History. Younger pupils also had cause for celebration, with the college reporting that 100% of FPQ (Further Project Qualification) students achieved A\*-A, and 86% achieving A-C in the Higher Project Qualification (HPQ). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/St-Jo-s-Max-celebrates-stunning-GCSE-results-1.jpg) St Jo's Max celebrates his GCSE results (Photo: St Joseph's College) Principal Danielle Clarke said: "Results Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students and the hard work, determination and growth behind every result. What makes us particularly proud at St Jo's is that our students do not all begin from the same starting point or follow the same path." "We believe high academic ambition and an inclusive community belong together," she added. "Today's results are a powerful reflection of what our students can achieve when they are given the appropriate environment alongside expectations and support to meet them." Deputy principal Sacha Cinnamond said the FPQ and HPQ qualifications "enable students to study areas of personal interest that can be bespoke to their individual goals and destinations", helping to build research skills and independent learning. [St Joseph’s students celebrate GCSE resultsSt Joseph’s College students are celebrating their GCSE results today, with 27% of entries graded nine to seven – five percentage points above the national average of 22%.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-9aef65c7-b90f-410e-9a59-0c338ba9d28e.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/St-Jo-s-Max-celebrates-stunning-GCSE-results-9a56d2d8-ddfc-4397-bb04-07a8fdb38da3.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/st-josephs-students-celebrate-gcse-results/) ## Suffolk New College: passes rise across maths and English At Suffolk New College, 502 learners across its Ipswich, Otley, Halesworth and Leiston campuses achieved a grade 4 or above in maths or English this year. Of those, 228 gained a maths GCSE at grade 4 or above – a 13.7% increase on 2025 – while 274 achieved a grade 4 or above pass in English. The college said the majority of those involved were young people retaking the exams, alongside students on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programmes. Adult learners also featured strongly, with 20% more gaining a grade 4 or above pass in English compared with 2025. Marianne Flack, Deputy Principal of Suffolk New College, said: "The numbers are going up in terms of passes, we have had some fantastic individual achievements so a big congratulations to our students and staff for all of their hard work." The college's results are framed around English and maths passes among retake and adult learners, rather than a whole-cohort grade distribution, so they are not directly comparable to the all-subject national figures reported elsewhere in this piece. [Maths and English GCSE passes rise at Suffolk New CollegeA total of 502 Suffolk New College learners achieved a grade 4 or above in maths or English this year, with maths passes up 13.7% on 2025.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-b7ebdf4a-5f03-4bd2-81b7-ef03ec25811d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1---Marianne-Flack-is-the-Deputy-Principal-of-Suffolk-New-College-ed1c4718-cc67-4f8d-a727-fb676a8e3617.JPG)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/maths-and-english-gcse-passes-rise-at-suffolk-new-college/) Among Suffolk New College's individual successes was Nasser Hamid, 20, an ESOL student who fled war-torn Sudan in 2023 and settled in Ipswich. He gained grade 4 passes in both English and maths, supported by the college and Suffolk Refugee Support. Nasser had wanted to be a footballer before injury ended that ambition, so he channelled his energy into becoming a football referee instead, continuing to officiate Saturday and Sunday league football. This year he oversaw a charity match at Portman Road. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/2---Nasser-Hamid---20-from-Ipswich-got-a-grade-4-in-GCSE-maths---after-securing-a-GCSE-in-English-in-November---he-has-dreams-of-becoming-a-big-time-referee-2.JPG) Nasser Hamid with his results (Photo: Suffolk New College) "I started at grassroots level and recently had the pleasure of stepping out at Portman Road – one of the greatest stadiums in England," he said. "It was eye opening. I recently went to the Edinburgh International Cup. And I'd like to continue to progress – to the Championship – the Premier League – and with the World Cup – who knows." On receiving his results, Nasser said: "I feel proud – it is one of the proudest moments in my life – this is the result I was waiting for to step forward. Thanks to Suffolk New College, without their help I wouldn't be standing here." He had a message for students following the same path: "A special message to fellow students on ESOL courses – just believe in yourself – with discipline and hard work, you can achieve your goals." Nasser now plans to study engineering, starting with an access course. "I'm also pushing forward to be an engineer – I'm on track," he said. "Next, I'm going to do an access course and then, hopefully, go to university to study engineering." ## The bottom line Results day 2026 has given Ipswich's schools and colleges plenty to celebrate, from clean sweeps of top grades at the town's independent schools to rising pass rates among retake students and adult learners at Suffolk New College. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council halts 'horrendous' unauthorised work at listed Buttermarket property URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-halts-horrendous-unauthorised-work-at-listed-butter-market-property/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T15:07:44.000Z **Why it matters:** The council says it is aware of unauthorised works at 35 Buttermarket and has taken action, warning that carrying out works to a listed building without consent is a criminal offence. **The details:** The council confirmed it has not granted planning permission for a change of use at the property, and has not received a Listed Building Consent application for the works undertaken there recently. - 35 Buttermarket is a Grade II listed building. - The council said it became aware of the works on Tuesday, 18 August, and immediately issued a notice on site requiring all works to stop with immediate effect. - Council officers have since attended a site meeting to inspect the property and discuss the works carried out. - The council has instructed that works undertaken to the shopfront must be reversed. - The council expects to receive a retrospective application for Listed Building Consent for the works already carried out inside the building. **What they're saying:** Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: "The Council became aware of the works at 35 Buttermarket on Tuesday 18 August. "The Council immediately issued a notice onsite requiring all works to stop with immediate effect and has subsequently attended a meeting on site to inspect the property and discuss the works that have been undertaken. "Carrying out works to a listed building without the necessary consent is a criminal offence. Unauthorised alterations, modifications, or other works may constitute an offence under Section 9 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990\. In such circumstances, the owner(s), applicant, agent and/or contractor(s) involved may be liable to formal enforcement action and/or prosecution. "The Council has issued instructions that the works undertaken to the shopfront must be reversed and expects to receive a retrospective application for Listed Building Consent for the works already undertaken inside the building. This will enable the Council to formally assess the impact of the works on the building's special architectural and historic interest and determine whether they should be retained, amended or reversed." Cllr Jones added that the applicant will be expected to advise the council of their intended use of the property, which will be considered to ensure it is appropriate for the Grade II listed building in the town centre. **For context:** The most recent planning decision on record for 35 Buttermarket dates back to 14 March 2002, when the council granted permission (reference IP/02/00077/FUL) for a change of use from Class A1 (shops) to Class A2 (financial and professional services). **The bottom line:** With a stop notice in place and the council awaiting a retrospective Listed Building Consent application, the future of the shopfront – and the building's next use – now rests on an assessment of works that were carried out without the council's knowledge or approval. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Maths and English GCSE passes rise at Suffolk New College URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/maths-and-english-gcse-passes-rise-at-suffolk-new-college/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T13:14:46.000Z **Why it matters:** The rise means more students and adult learners across Suffolk New College's campuses in Ipswich, Otley, Halesworth and Leiston have hit the benchmark grade needed for progression into further study, training or employment. **The details:** Of the 502 learners, 228 gained a maths GCSE at grade 4 or above, a 13.7% increase on 2025\. A further 274 achieved a grade 4 or above pass in English. The college said the majority of those involved were young people retaking the exams and students on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programmes. Adult learners also featured strongly among this year's successes, with 20% more gaining a grade 4 or above pass in English compared with 2025. Among the individual successes was Nasser Hamid, 20, an ESOL student who fled war-torn Sudan in 2023 and settled in Ipswich. Supported by Suffolk New College and Suffolk Refugee Support, he has his sights set on becoming a professional football referee and recently officiated a charity match at Portman Road. He gained grade 4 passes in both English and maths. [Sudan refugee passes GCSEs and dreams of the World CupThree years after fleeing war-torn Sudan for Ipswich, Nasser Hamid has passed his GCSEs, officiated a charity match at Portman Road, and is now eyeing a future in engineering – and, one day, the World Cup.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-ab68cc3d-bb02-4444-a78b-4307c2b5f739.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/2---Nasser-Hamid---20-from-Ipswich-got-a-grade-4-in-GCSE-maths---after-securing-a-GCSE-in-English-in-November---he-has-dreams-of-becoming-a-big-time-referee-1-b12f0df7-1ce1-403f-b870-781688914aef.JPG)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/sudan-refugee-passes-gcses-and-dreams-of-the-world-cup/) **What they're saying:** Marianne Flack, Deputy Principal of Suffolk New College, said: "The numbers are going up in terms of passes, we have had some fantastic individual achievements so a big congratulations to our students and staff for all of their hard work." **What's next:** Suffolk New College is hosting two festival-style enrolment events at its Rope Walk campus in Ipswich today and tomorrow, between 08:00 and 20:00\. Further details are available at [www.suffolk.ac.uk](http://www.suffolk.ac.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or by calling 01473 382200. **The bottom line:** Suffolk New College is reporting rising GCSE pass rates in maths and English this year, with particular gains among adult learners and those retaking exams, as the college opens its doors for enrolment this week. [Learn more about Suffolk New College](https://www.suffolk.ac.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ransomes Wharf name returns to Ipswich Waterfront URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ransomes-wharf-name-returns-to-ipswich-waterfront/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T11:15:17.000Z **Why it matters:** The repainted buoy is the latest sign of Ipswich Waterfront's industrial heritage being woven back into its modern look, following a similar addition at Stoke Bridge. **The details:** The buoy was added at Orwell Quay during Waterfront improvements earlier this year and has recently been painted with the name Ransome's Wharf by traditional sign writer Wayne Tanswell. **The bigger picture:** Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies operated its Orwell Works on the site from 1849 onwards. An 1867 map of Ipswich shows Ransomes Wharf taking up much of the eastern quays, reflecting the dominance of shipping visiting the iron works at the height of the Industrial Revolution. The name Orwell Quay came into common use only as heavy industry cleared out of the area in the late 20th century, making way for a marina, the University of Suffolk and modern residential developments. **For context:** Last year, a refurbishment at Stoke Bridge saw an ex-Trinity House buoy painted with the name Stoke Bridge. New blue signs have also recently been installed on all quays and wharfs along the Waterfront, including one reading Orwell Quay – meaning both names now sit side by side at the site. **The bottom line:** More than 150 years after it first appeared on maps of Ipswich's industrial waterfront, the name Ransome's Wharf has found new life on a freshly painted buoy, offering a small but visible link to the area's past as the Waterfront continues to evolve. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Sudan refugee passes GCSEs and dreams of the World Cup URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/sudan-refugee-passes-gcses-and-dreams-of-the-world-cup/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T10:40:28.000Z **Why it matters:** Nasser, 20, who fled Sudan in 2023, picked up his GCSE maths results today, adding to an English GCSE gained earlier this year – both at grade 4\. He studies an IT course at Suffolk New College, having started out as an ESOL student. **The details:** Nasser had wanted to be a footballer before injury ended that ambition, so he channelled his energy into becoming a football referee instead. He continues to officiate Saturday and Sunday league football, and this year oversaw a charity game at Portman Road. "I started at grass roots level and recently had the pleasure of stepping out at Portman Road – one of the greatest stadiums in England," he said. "It was eye opening. I recently went to the Edinburgh International Cup. And I'd like to continue to progress – to the Championship – the Premier League – and with the World Cup – who knows." **What they're saying:** On receiving his GCSE results, Nasser said: "I feel proud – it is one of the proudest moments in my life – this is the result I was waiting for to step forward. Thanks to Suffolk New College, without their help I wouldn't be standing here." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/1---Nasser-Hamid-got-to-ref-a-match-at-Portman-Road-and-gained-two-GCSE-passes-at-Suffolk-New-College-today---photo-supplied-by-Nasser-Hamid---Suffolk-Refugee-Support-1.jpeg) Nasser at Portman Road (Photo: Suffolk New College) He had a message for students following the same path he took: "A special message to fellow students on ESOL courses – just believe in yourself – with discipline and hard work, you can achieve your goals." David Squire, head of maths at Suffolk New College and Nasser's teacher, said: "I've never been prouder of a learner in my life." **What's next:** Nasser is planning to study engineering at university. "I'm also pushing forward to be an engineer – I'm on track," he said. "Next, I'm going to do an access course and then, hopefully, go to university to study engineering." **The bottom line:** From arriving in Ipswich as a refugee to passing his GCSEs and refereeing at Portman Road, Nasser Hamid is now setting his sights on engineering – and continuing to progress through the refereeing ranks. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich School caps summer double with GCSE success URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-school-caps-summer-double-with-gcse-success/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T10:46:16.000Z **Why it matters:** More than 40% of all grades at the school were awarded at grade 8 or 9 (formerly A\*), while 13 pupils achieved a "clean sweep" of these top grades across every one of their ten GCSE subjects. **The details:** A total of 122 pupils received their GCSE results, marking the end of their GCSE years. - More than 60% of all grades were awarded at 7, 8 or 9 (previously A\*/A) - More than 40% of all grades were awarded at grade 8 or 9 (formerly A\*) - Thirteen pupils secured grades of 7, 8 or 9 across all ten of their GCSE subjects - More than half of the Year 11 cohort – 65 of the 122 pupils – secured grades of 7, 8 or 9 in at least seven of their subjects **What they're saying:** Head Nick Gregory said: "I want to offer my congratulations to Ipswich School pupils and teachers alike for this outstanding set of GCSE results. What has most caught my eye today is the sheer breadth and consistency of high level achievement reflected here, with over half of the Year 11 cohort (65 of the 122 pupils in total) securing grades 7, 8 or 9 (previously A\*/A) in at least seven of their subjects. I hope that we will have a great many very proud Ipswich School families today, excited about what their children might go on to achieve in the years ahead." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Ipswich-School-2026-GCSE-Results-02.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Ipswich-School-2026-GCSE-Results-03.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Ipswich-School-2026-GCSE-Results-04.JPG) Students celebrating their GCSE results (Photos: Ipswich School) Andrew Bradshaw, Head of Middle School, added: "I add my hugest congratulations to this year's Ipswich School Year 11\. This cohort, many of whom have been together since the Prep School, has secured academic successes to accompany their exceptional contributions to the co-curricular side of school life, including Sport, Music, Drama and CCF. Over five busy and fulfilling years in the Senior School, they have given back so much too by way of their positivity and optimism, their wonderful manners and courtesy, and their energy and enthusiasm." **For context:** The results follow the school's best A Level performance in 20 years, announced on 13 August, when 84% of grades were awarded at A\*–B or their BTEC equivalent, and 53% were graded A\* or A. **What's next:** The vast majority of the year group will now move into Ipswich School Sixth Form in September. **The bottom line:** For the second week running, Ipswich School has celebrated a landmark set of results, with staff highlighting both the breadth and consistency of achievement across the year group. [Learn more about Ipswich School](https://www.ipswich.school/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich High School pupils celebrate strong GCSE results URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-high-school-pupils-celebrate-strong-gcse-results/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T10:25:14.000Z **Why it matters:** The school, based in Woolverstone, says the results continue a three-year upward trend in individual pupil Value Added, with strong performances also recorded at A-level last week. **The details:** The school says particularly strong performances were seen in Latin, Classics, French, Spanish, Art, Food Studies and History. Among this year's individual successes were: - Astrid, who achieved seven grade 9s and two grade 8s, which the school says places her among the country's highest-achieving GCSE pupils. She said: "I'm really happy with my results. I'm so pleased I got a 9 in History, as I doubted myself and thought I was going to get a 6! I'm so relieved that all the hard work has paid off. I'm now going to study Maths, Chemistry, Biology and History." - Myla, who achieved seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7\. She said: "Getting 9's in subjects is amazing, so improving from my mocks, I wasn't expecting it. I'm going to study History, Politics, Economic and Religious Studies. I'm really looking forward to Sixth Form at Ipswich High School." - Ariella, who achieved seven grade 9s, three grade 8s and one grade 7 - Oliver, who achieved three grade 9s, one grade 8 and five grade 7s. He said: "I think everyone lowers their expectations, then I opened the results and did so much better than expected, and others have too. I'm doing history A level as one of my subjects next year, and I got a 9 in History, so I am really happy." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Aug26-IHSGCSE-06762.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Aug26-IHSGCSE-06779.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Aug26-IHSGCSE-06877.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Aug26-IHSGCSE-06884.jpg) Students celebrated their results with friends and family (Photos: Ipswich High School) **What they're saying:** Dan Browning, Head of Ipswich High School, said: "Results Day is an important moment and there is so much for our Year 11 pupils to be proud of today. These grades represent years of work, perseverance and encouragement from their teachers, families and friends, but they are also only one part of each young person's story." "What makes me particularly proud is seeing how much these pupils have grown – academically, personally and in confidence. They have challenged themselves, supported one another and developed interests and ambitions that will take them in all sorts of exciting directions." "We are delighted that so many will continue their journey with us in our growing Sixth Form, but whatever route each pupil chooses, we want them to leave Year 11 knowing that success does not look the same for everyone. Today is about being proud of how far they have come and excited about what comes next." **The bigger picture:** Many of this year's GCSE pupils will continue at the school's Sixth Form, which the school says is growing and broadening its offer. Alongside traditional A-levels, this includes the BGA programme, which the school says allows pupils to work towards a degree while balancing significant sporting, performing arts or other extracurricular commitments. Last week's A-level results showed one in three grades were awarded A\*-A, while the Extended Project Qualification saw 90% of pupils achieve A\*-A. The school also reported 100% success for its Oxbridge applicants, with 94% offered their first or second choice, and 100% success for pupils pursuing degree apprenticeships. A-level leavers are progressing to universities including Cambridge and other Russell Group institutions, as well as degree apprenticeships with employers including EDF at Sizewell C and OCS, the school says. Mr Browning added: "Our Sixth Form is flourishing because it increasingly reflects the different ambitions of the young people within it. For some, the destination will be Oxbridge or another leading university; for others it may be a degree apprenticeship, a degree pathway, or a more flexible BGA programme that enables them to combine their education with exceptional commitments outside the classroom. What matters is giving pupils the confidence, support and freedom to find the route on which they can flourish." **For context:** Founded in 1878, Ipswich High School is an independent day and boarding school for children aged three to 18, located on the banks of the River Orwell at Woolverstone. The school is recognised across the region for its academic ambition, pastoral care and extensive enrichment programme, and is approaching its 150th anniversary. **The bottom line:** Ipswich High School says this year's GCSE results, coming alongside strong A-level outcomes, reflect the hard work of pupils and the strength of the teaching and support around them, as the school approaches a significant milestone in its history. [Learn more about Ipswich High School](https://www.ipswichhighschool.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### St Joseph's students celebrate GCSE results URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/st-josephs-students-celebrate-gcse-results/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T10:23:01.000Z **Why it matters:** The results reinforce what the college describes as a combination of high academic ambition and an inclusive approach to education, at a school that is non-academically selective and takes students of a broad range of abilities. **The details:** Among the standout individual achievements, student Max achieved grade 9s across nine different subjects. Students also performed particularly strongly in Fine Art, Biology, Spanish and History. Students in Years 8 and 9 also had results to celebrate in the Further Project Qualification (FPQ) and Higher Project Qualification (HPQ), extension qualifications that sit outside the conventional curriculum. St Jo's says 100% of FPQ students achieved A\*-A, with 86% achieving A-C in HPQ. **What they're saying:** Mrs Danielle Clarke, principal of St Joseph's College, said: "Results Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students and the hard work, determination and growth behind every result. "What makes us particularly proud at St Jo's is that our students do not all begin from the same starting point or follow the same path. Our role is to know every young person, understand their strengths and aspirations, and provide them with the challenge, encouragement and opportunities they need to achieve their personal best. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Principal-Mrs-Clarke-with-student-Arthur.JPG) Principal Mrs Clarke with student Arthur (Photo: St Joseph's College) "We believe high academic ambition and an inclusive community belong together. Today's results are a powerful reflection of what our students can achieve when they are given the appropriate environment alongside expectations and support to meet them. "For many of our students, today's results represent more than the culmination of their GCSE studies. They represent another milestone in a journey that began in our Nursery or Prep and continues into Sixth Form." Deputy principal Mr Sacha Cinnamond said: "FPQ and HPQ projects enable students to study areas of personal interest that can be bespoke to their individual goals and destinations. This kind of qualification can also help to develop research skills and independent learning, with the opportunity to explore topics in greater depth and build confidence in presenting ideas." **The bigger picture:** For many of this year's Year 11 students, the college says their journey began long before they sat their first GCSE, having joined St Jo's in Nursery or Prep and progressed through the school alongside the same friends and teachers over many years. **The bottom line:** St Joseph's College says its results this year reflect what it can achieve when high expectations are combined with individual support for students, regardless of their starting point. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Hotel Chocolat shuts as second Ipswich closure in two days URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hotel-chocolat-shuts-as-second-ipswich-closure-in-two-days/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T08:51:13.000Z **Why it matters:** Two long-standing national retailers have announced closures in as many days, marking a difficult week for Ipswich's town centre and high street. **The details:** A notice in the window of Hotel Chocolat's Tavern Street shop reads: "Thank you, Ipswich. We will be closing our doors on August 20, but you can still get your chocolate happiness at hotelchocolat.com". ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_3819-1.jpeg) A sign in the window notified customers of the store's closure (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Hotel Chocolat has traded in Ipswich since 2018, making it a mainstay in the town centre for around eight years. **For context:** The upmarket chocolatier and cocoa grower, trading through more than 120 locations across the UK as well as international outlets including Denmark, Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York, faced a period of losses leading up to 2023 amid international expansion struggles and inflation. It was acquired by global food and drink conglomerate Mars in early 2024 and taken private to rebuild its profitability. **The bigger picture:** The closure comes a day after FatFace confirmed its Butter Market store will shut on Saturday, 5 September, after almost two decades trading in the town. A notice in that shop's window read: "Thank you for shopping in our Ipswich store. Our last day here is September 5, 2026." [FatFace to close Ipswich store next monthFatFace is set to shut its Ipswich town centre shop on Saturday, 5 September, after a notice in the window confirmed the closure date to customers.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-647a02ec-36c1-485f-99b1-1b30b1a57865.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/fatface-on-butter-market-1-e8498ec2-5b9f-417c-8482-73ff78f2838c.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fatface-to-close-ipswich-store-next-month/) **The bottom line:** Hotel Chocolat's exit from Tavern Street ends an eight-year presence in Ipswich, and lands just a day after FatFace's own closure announcement – two blows in quick succession that the town will need to quickly bounce back from. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk police rated 'good' on just one of nine measures by watchdog URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-police-rated-good-on-just-one-of-nine-measures-by-watchdog/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T08:40:30.000Z ## What the inspection found His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its PEEL 2025–27 assessment of Suffolk Constabulary, grading the force across nine areas of policing. Under the inspectorate's newer, continual assessment approach, forces are judged against a five-point scale running from outstanding to inadequate. Suffolk Constabulary was rated good in a single category: preventing and deterring crime and antisocial behaviour. Three categories were rated adequate: developing a diverse and inclusive workforce, responding to the public, and investigating crime. Three more require improvement: leadership and force management, police powers and public treatment, and managing fraud. Two were rated inadequate: safeguarding children and adults, and providing a safe custody environment. In a press release issued alongside the report, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore described the findings as "a good report", adding: "It is important to remember Suffolk is one of the lowest funded forces in the country and despite that we are one of the safest, with the second lowest level of recorded crime." Chief Constable Mark Webster said the report "reflects the hard work and commitment of our officers, staff and volunteers". HM Inspector of Constabulary Roy Wilsher, who signed the report, struck a slightly different tone. "The constabulary has made improvements in how it responds to the public and how it secures positive investigation outcomes for victims," he wrote. "But I have concerns about how the constabulary is keeping victims of domestic abuse safe, its strategic understanding and tolerance of risk, custody handovers and leadership behaviours." ## Safeguarding rated inadequate The most serious findings concern how the constabulary protects vulnerable people. Inspectors issued an accelerated cause of concern in May 2026 over the force's handling of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, often known as Clare's Law, after finding a backlog of more than 500 outstanding applications that the constabulary was not aware posed a risk. Support our journalism ****Suffolk's police watchdog found just one "good" rating out of nine. The PCC called it "a good report."** Inspectors flagged a backlog of over 500 unassessed Clare's Law applications and a custody handover process still putting detainees at risk. We're holding the constabulary to the inspectorate's findings — not its press release. Help us continue doing it by becoming a member for just £6 per month. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) The report states that the backlog had been logged on the constabulary's own risk register but classed as "tolerated", meaning it was "allowed to continue with insufficient scrutiny or mitigation, compounding the risk to victims". Inspectors also found that, in the year ending 31 January 2026, the constabulary recorded 616 cases of domestic abuse as high risk. Of these, 238 were later downgraded to medium risk and 20 to standard risk, a downgrade rate of 41.9 percent. The report notes the constabulary "hasn't scrutinised this data to understand if these downgrades are appropriate", and that some downgraded cases were passed to investigators without the accreditation to handle high-risk domestic abuse cases. HMICFRS gave the constabulary three months to introduce systems to assess and record risk of harm to victims, develop the governance and data needed to manage safeguarding referrals, ensure it has the capacity to support the process, and make sure its systems support the use of police-held information and intelligence to inform how investigations are allocated. Chief Constable Webster addressed the wider safeguarding concerns in the press release, saying: "We acted quickly to address the concerns identified around Clare's Law and safeguarding. Significant improvements have already been made and we are seeing stronger performance as a result. We look forward to demonstrating that progress when inspectors return." ## Custody environment also inadequate The constabulary was also rated inadequate for providing a safe and lawful custody environment, with inspectors issuing a cause of concern over the handover process between shifts. National guidance states that custody officers should carry out handovers in person. Inspectors found the constabulary's written handover process was "insufficient and increased the risk to detainees and personnel", and that a video-recorded handover introduced in response "still doesn't allow for in-person clarification and risk discussion to support detainee welfare and safety". The report says inspectors raised the concern with senior leaders during the inspection itself, and that "the immediate risk hasn't been sufficiently mitigated and still remains". The report also raises concerns about culture within custody suites. Personnel told inspectors that "the lack of strong leadership had led to some poor behaviours and cultures being allowed to persist", with arresting officers who were younger or female reporting poor experiences, and senior leaders unaware of the behaviour at the time of the inspection. Elsewhere, the report found the constabulary's custody suites were clean and well maintained, and that detainees were generally treated with dignity and respect, with strong healthcare provision overseen by an independent doctor. ## Where the force is required to improve Three further areas were rated as requiring improvement. On leadership and force management, inspectors found governance arrangements did not always provide "sufficient scrutiny or challenge" of under-performance, and that the constabulary had not resolved a previously identified gap in its review process for domestic abuse cases. The report also references a workforce survey in which officer and staff networks raised concerns about unequal treatment of female colleagues, including being given "mundane duties", with one case only considered resolved because the individual involved retired. On police powers and public treatment, the report finds the constabulary under-recorded its use of force, estimating it should have logged 10,693 incidents in the year to 31 March 2025 against the 4,784 actually recorded. People from a Black ethnic minority background were 5.0 times more likely than White people to be stopped and searched, and 4.9 times more likely than White people to have force used against them. Inspectors found this disproportionality had increased compared with the previous year. Stop and search itself was found to be used well, with 100 percent of a sample of records showing reasonable grounds, a statistically significant improvement on the previous inspection. On managing fraud, inspectors found only 21.9 percent of staff who identified fraud response as part of their role had received training, and that call handlers did not always give correct advice to victims. ## The stronger areas Inspectors rated the constabulary good at preventing and deterring crime and antisocial behaviour, recording one of the lowest rates of antisocial behaviour incidents in England and Wales and praising its neighbourhood policing teams, including the use of virtual-reality headsets in schools to educate children about knife crime. The report also highlights improvements since the previous inspection. A cause of concern over emergency call answering, issued in the previous PEEL inspection, has been closed after the constabulary raised the percentage of 999 calls answered within 10 seconds to 89.8 percent, and cut the proportion of abandoned non-emergency calls from 36.9 percent to 11.6 percent. Inspectors also praised the constabulary's financial management, noting its £193 million annual funding was being used transparently and that it held a sustainable medium-term financial plan. Inspectors identified the constabulary's in-house approach to artificial intelligence as promising practice, highlighting a collaboration with Norfolk Constabulary that has automated the analysis of vehicle telematics data to understand driver behaviour and fatigue. Separately, an AI tool used to help populate Domestic Violence Protection Notice applications was found to have cut the average completion time from three-and-a-half hours to two, though the report stresses this still requires "careful human monitoring for accuracy". ## The bottom line Suffolk's police and crime commissioner is entitled to point to genuine strengths in this report, from falling antisocial behaviour to faster 999 call answering. But the inspectorate's own grading tells a different story: a force rated good on one measure out of nine, and found wanting on two of the areas that matter most when someone is at risk of harm. Inspectors have given Suffolk Constabulary three months to show it can fix its approach to safeguarding. Whether that timeline is met will say more about the state of policing in Suffolk than any press release. Support our journalism ****Suffolk's police watchdog found just one "good" rating out of nine. The PCC called it "a good report."** Inspectors flagged a backlog of over 500 unassessed Clare's Law applications and a custody handover process still putting detainees at risk. We're holding the constabulary to the inspectorate's findings — not its press release. Help us continue doing it by becoming a member for just £6 per month. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£81 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Inside Ipswich's first stamp museum URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/inside-ipswichs-first-stamp-museum/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T08:55:10.000Z ## A gallery in miniature Tucked away on the first floor of 28 Fore Street, the Ipswich Stamp Museum opened its doors this May, offering visitors a close-up look at more than a century and a half of British postal history. Behind the project is general manager Michael Vincent Yap, who moved to Ipswich in 2021 after working for a pharmaceutical company in the Philippines. For Yap, the appeal of stamps goes well beyond their practical purpose. "They're like miniature pieces of art work," he says – a philosophy that shapes every corner of the museum. ## History in your pocket The museum's ambition is to display the full British stamp collection, which currently runs to around five thousand pieces. About 30% of the collection is currently up on the walls, spanning stamps dating back to 1840 – the year of the world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black – through to 2023\. Highlights include a run of Great Britain stamps from 1960 to 1964 and examples from the long-running Machin Definitive series. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2007-1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2008-3.jpeg) The Stamp Museum is located on 26-28 Fore Street and it is run by general manager, Michael Vincent Yap (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) ## Pinkie: a story in miniature Among Yap's favourites in the collection is the Pinkie stamp – a piece with a story stretching back more than two centuries. Pinkie is one of the most famous British portraits, painted in 1794 by Sir Thomas Lawrence. The stamp itself was issued in 1968 as part of Royal Mail's British Paintings commemorative series, which celebrated famous works of art held in British collections. The display was made possible by the museum's founding donor, Mr Robert Charles Bass, who has helped support the collection's expansion. ## Bridging old and new While the stamps themselves belong to an era which seems to be slowly floating away, the visitors experience is anything but traditional. Using QR codes placed alongside the displays, guests can scan and listen to the stories behind individual stamps and artworks while viewing them in person. "We wanted to bridge the physical and digital together," Yap explains – an approach designed to make a traditionally niche hobby more accessible to newcomers, without losing the tactile appeal of the objects themselves. ## Visiting the museum The museum's community stamp wall invites a different kind of engagement. Visitors can pin a stamp to the wall for free, adding their own small contribution to a display that's constantly evolving. The Ipswich Stamp Museum is located on the first floor at 28 Fore Street, Ipswich, IP4 1JL, in a Grade II listed building. As the space is only accessible by stairs, it is not currently wheelchair accessible. The museum is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00\. Tickets are available on arrival, priced at £12 for adults and £8 for children aged four to 17, seniors aged 65 and over, and students. ## The bottom line Three months in, the Ipswich Stamp Museum gives the town a new, if niche, addition to its cultural offering – with its founders hoping it will appeal well beyond the philately community. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### FatFace to close Ipswich store next month URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fatface-to-close-ipswich-store-next-month/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T06:09:53.000Z **Why it matters:** The closure of the long-serving national retailer is undoubtedly a blow for Ipswich town centre, with the brand having traded at the Butter Market store for close to two decades. **The details:** A poster displayed in the shop reads: "Thank you for shopping in our Ipswich store. Our last day here is September 5, 2026." The shop, at 17 Butter Market, first opened in spring 2008. **For context:** FatFace is a British clothing and lifestyle retailer selling casual wear for adults and children, both in stores and online. The company was established in 1988 and now operates more than 180 shops across the UK. The company is not known to be in financial difficulty, suggesting its exit from the town was a strategic or commercial decision. **What they're saying:** The closure has triggered a range of responses, from sadness to frustration to anger, with many seeing this as another damaging blow to the town centre. **What's next:** Shoppers have just over two weeks left to visit the store before it shuts its doors for the final time on 5 September. **The bottom line:** After 18 years on Butter Market, FatFace's Ipswich store is closing for good next month, with a notice in the window the only confirmation so far given to customers. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Women's self-defence to pickleball: Ipswich secures £1m to get residents active URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/womens-self-defence-to-pickleball-ipswich-secures-1m-to-get-residents-active/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T13:07:18.000Z **Why it matters:** The funding will allow the Ipswich Place Partnership to build on a first year of work aimed at helping residents in some of the town's most under-active communities lead healthier lives. **The details:** Ipswich was selected as one of Sport England's 53 Place Partnerships in 2025, with Whitton, Gainsborough, Belstead Hills and the surrounding areas identified as priority areas. Since then, six Community Connectors have spoken to more than 500 individuals, organisations and communities across Ipswich about their experience of physical activity and how living in the town affects this. That feedback has shaped a series of test-and-learn projects, including: - Women's self-defence sessions - Pickleball for Chantry Academy students - Football sessions for children with special educational needs - Community open events at local social and sports clubs The partnership has also supported local community groups through regular opportunities to connect, share learning and train together. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/image--4-.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Outlook-umxxt2aa.jpg) Ipswich Community Connectors, Sophie and Teresa with ActivLives ActivGardens team and Ipswich Community Connectors, Dan and Teresa at a Community Open Event (Photos: East Suffolk Council) **What they're saying:** Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England's executive director for partnerships and place, said: "Ipswich has shown what can happen when you listen to communities and turn what you hear into action with them. This next £1 million of investment gives the partnership a real opportunity to reach even more people facing barriers to being active. "By working with local people and partners, we can create lasting change and make it easier for more people across Ipswich to be active, connected and healthy." Tom Wright, Active Suffolk's development officer for place in Ipswich, said: "Working in Ipswich to understand what local residents need to be able to access and enjoy physical activity has been such an insightful experience so far, and I really want to thank both our community connectors and all of the extremely committed locally trusted partners that we've worked with so far to engage in those needed conversations with our communities." Councillor Stefan Long, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sport, said: "We already have so much positive work happening within our communities, and this Place Partnership will help us build on those foundations – supporting local people, organisations and networks to grow what's already working well, so that Ipswich continues to thrive as an active and connected town." **For context:** Sport England is a public body that invests up to £300m of National Lottery and government money each year in projects to help people get active. Tackling inequalities is central to its 10-year Uniting the Movement strategy, with a focus on people who are inactive and groups typically less active, including women, disabled people and those on lower incomes. Active Suffolk, the Active Partnership for Suffolk, currently runs place-based work in Babergh & Mid Suffolk, East Suffolk, West Suffolk and Ipswich. **The bottom line:** With community consultation shaping everything from self-defence classes to pickleball courts, Ipswich's Place Partnership says the fresh £1m will let it reach even more residents facing barriers to being active. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich’s public projects must move from delay to delivery URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswichs-public-projects-must-move-from-delay-to-delivery/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T06:17:32.000Z I was once on public transport passing Canary Wharf in London, back in 2023, when someone beside me said: "You can tell a place is getting investment by the number of cranes it has." Ipswich doesn't need any cranes just yet, but you can usually tell something is moving along in the town centre when you're deafened by digging in the ground. I walk past Arras Square, Monday to Friday, and have never known that part of our town centre to reach such a low frequency of noise. ## **Six years in the making** For context, Arras Square received planning approval six years ago. Since then, the project has consumed public money through planning, administration and design costs. It was put on hold in 2022 after Suffolk Police raised concerns about safety. [Work to begin on Arras Square after six years and £313k in costsConstruction work on long-awaited improvements to Arras Square is set to begin this month, with local firm Brooks & Wood Ltd appointed to deliver the scheme ahead of a Christmas 2026 completion target.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1f384fc4-4a0f-4151-b500-1c4398c60c39.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_1302-1-2b3686a7-09cf-4c8e-adb3-2a09e7984c05.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/work-to-begin-on-arras-square-after-six-years-and-313k-in-costs/) An FOI response obtained by Ipswich.co.uk put the cost of Arras Square at £313,689.08 spent since 2020, before a single paving slab had been relaid. Work on Arras Square was supposed to begin in earnest by the end of June this year, and by now, it was meant to be eagerly underway. There's a particular joy in walking past an active building site in summer — the buzz of workers, the pull to peer through the metal gates, the sense that something is about to become something else. We're now seven weeks into the building process and, at least to the naked eye, progress has been limited. Diggers are on site, the ground has been dug up, and a mess has been made. Virtually nothing has changed in the seven weeks since work began — except that it looks as if someone went underground and gave the whole area a good shake. There's a beauty in seeing something torn apart before it's rebuilt. But if this project took six years just to begin, you'd expect the planning behind it to be meticulous enough not to waste a single further day. If the timeline for a few benches, a stretch of new pavement, a disabled ramp and some replacement trees runs past six months, something isn't adding up. None of this is to say my own timekeeping — or lack of it — is an accurate measure of the work actually being carried out. However, I've yet to count more than two workers on site. This week, when walking past, both were occupied with their vices — rolling a cigarette, checking a phone. Not a problem, that's the art of the trade. But why only two? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_3390-1.jpeg) Arras Square (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Ipswich.co.uk asked Ipswich Borough Council for an update on timing. A spokesperson told us: "Nothing has changed since our last update. Works completed so far are in accordance with the agreed schedule, and we are on track for the completion date." It's a reassurance you could take at face value, but it doesn't fully answer the question: why the gruelling six years, for another gruelling six months, for a project that will deliver fewer than six benches? ## **Not an outlier** Public realm projects rarely move quickly, and there are legitimate reasons for that — procurement rules, planning conditions, funding cycles, and genuine safety concerns like the ones raised in 2022\. But in Ipswich we've seen a pattern emerge. [The greening project](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-oasis-what-happened-to-ipswichs-trailblazing-900k-green-corridor/) was promised as a magnificent oasis of greenery spreading across our town — every season was meant to bring new life to the planting. What's actually been delivered, not only took four to five year to complete, but it is also not what was originally promised. [Lloyds Avenue](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/lloyds-avenue-approved-funded-still-waiting/) was first proposed back in December 2020; an area with genuine potential, it has had funding sitting ready since 2021 — it was finally approved in April 2025, and more than a year on, still nobody can say when work will actually start. Is this the pattern we want for our town, and is this the pattern we're happy to keep lending our goodwill to? ## **What residents are actually losing** What's different about Arras Square is what's actually being lost. It isn't only public money, though let's remember that administrative costs — officer time, committee reports, repeated consultations — are paid for out of public funds regardless of whether a project is ever finished. It's also residents' time and goodwill. At what point does that patience run out? Broomhill Lido is a case in point. Its current planning permission is due to expire in December 2027\. If work hasn't started by then, the process of renewing conditions and permissions will have to begin again — a further cost in time and money that a faster process could avoid. [Will Ipswich sink or swim?Ipswich enters the summer of 2026 with an empty lido it cannot yet fund, an ageing main pool it plans to demolish, and a £38m replacement that its own council will not exist long enough to build. We ask: where will Ipswich swim?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-ca661d49-5527-49b9-8b9d-11a298daecab.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--34--6dffeea4-5ef2-411e-9048-c230e4a38183.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/will-ipswich-sink-or-swim/) Situations like these are always a case of what if. What if the council had pushed through planning applications on Broomhill quicker? What if work had started before Covid? What if one project hadn't been left to drag on while others were attended to promptly instead? What if, what if, what if. None of this is to say every delay is avoidable, or that officers and contractors aren't working hard within a genuinely complex system. But we cannot keep playing whack-a-mole with projects across the town centre — patching up one scheme while another stalls, and creating holes in the process. If planning permissions are expiring before spades go into the ground, if Section 106 conditions have to be reiterated because circumstances have moved on, and if contractors and funding windows keep slipping out of alignment, then questions need to be asked. Seasons change, yes, but this is our town. Time seems to stand still where it shouldn't, and fly by in the very places where we need it to wait for us to catch up. ## **The bottom line** The council says Arras Square will be finished by Christmas, and residents are supposed to trust this to be the case, with just two workers visible on site seven weeks after building work was meant to be eagerly underway. A project that takes six years to deliver a handful of benches, a pavement and a disabled ramp is not, on any reasonable reading, moving quickly enough. Faster delivery isn't just about tidier streets – it's about re-establishing credibility, and knowing that when the council makes a commitment, it can deliver. It is also about ending the sight of our town centre languishing in a permanent stasis of hoardings, pedestrian diversions and incomplete streetscape works. ### Ipswich police warn sellers after attempted car sabotage scam URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-police-warn-sellers-after-attempted-car-sabotage-scam/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T14:36:11.000Z **Why it matters:** Police say the tactic used against the seller could be targeting others advertising vehicles for sale, and want owners to be alert to similar attempts. **The details:** Two males arrived to view a vehicle that had been advertised for sale between 12:30 and 13:15\. One distracted the seller while the other put oil into the engine. - This caused the engine to smoke when the vehicle was taken for a test drive. - The suspects were persistent in their attempts to reduce the price of the vehicle. - No sale was made. **The bottom line:** Police are asking car owners selling vehicles privately to remain vigilant, following the suspected scam attempt in Henley Road. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Full environmental study ordered for 'extremely prominent and incongruous' 150m turbine URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/full-environmental-study-ordered-for-extremely-prominent-and-incongruous-150m-turbine/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T12:59:07.000Z **Why it matters:** The turbine, proposed by Associated British Ports (ABP) on land at the Port of Ipswich, would stand three and a half times the height of the Orwell Bridge and equal the tallest onshore wind turbine in England. **The details:** The screening opinion, issued on Wednesday, 19 August 2026 under application reference DC/26/03279, confirms that an Environmental Statement will be required before ABP can submit a full planning application. - The proposed turbine would have a tip height of approximately 150 metres, together with associated infrastructure, exceeding the 15-metre threshold that triggers mandatory screening under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. - The 1.57-hectare site lies within the operational Port of Ipswich, adjacent to the River Orwell estuary, and close to the Orwell Bridge, the A14 and high-voltage overhead power lines. - The case officer concluded the development was "likely to have significant effects" once its characteristics, location and potential impacts were assessed against Schedule 3 of the EIA Regulations. **The bigger picture:** The council's assessment flags several areas of concern: - The site lies within the Risk Zone of the Stour and Orwell Estuaries Ramsar Site, Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest, and close to Piper's Vale Local Nature Reserve and County Wildlife Site, raising the potential for "significant ecological impacts", including bird strike. - Noise, shadow flicker and strobing effects could have a cumulative impact on nearby homes, particularly to the west and north-east, "especially during sunrise and sunset". - Construction is expected to cause a "very significant level of disruption" to the highway network, particularly when transporting the turbine to the site. - The proposal would affect the setting of several listed buildings, including the Grade II listed Ostrich Inn and Bourne Hall in Wherstead, and could be visible from the Suffolk and Essex Coasts and Heaths National Landscape to the south-west. - The report also notes the turbine's "safe topple distance" would encompass high-voltage power lines, port developments, Anglian Water's sewerage works, Piper's Vale County Wildlife Site and the Orwell Estuary itself. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-19-at-13.08.34-1.png) Where the proposed turbine would be erected (Photo: Google Earth) **For context:** The site sits just outside the Ipswich Borough boundary, in an area of Babergh District Council's jurisdiction – meaning Ipswich Borough Council has no power to approve or refuse the scheme, despite its proximity to thousands of Ipswich homes. Here's how the proposed turbine compares to local landmarks: - The Orwell Bridge stands 43 metres above the water. - The Mill on Ipswich Waterfront is the tallest building in Suffolk at 71 metres – less than half the height of the proposed turbine. - Two turbines built next to the A12 at Kessingland in 2011 stand 125 metres tall. **What they're saying:** Cllr Martin Cook, leader of the Labour group at Suffolk County Council and councillor for the Gainsborough ward at Ipswich Borough Council, said: "Many people will be shocked by this news. “Babergh has rightly ruled that ABP must carry out a full Environmental Impact Assessment before applying to build its 150-metre turbine at Cliff Quay, near the Orwell Bridge. "My focus now is on making sure Gainsborough residents are heard in a process run by a council that they do not elect. We will be pressing ABP to present its plans openly to Ipswich residents, and pressing Babergh to consult properly across the borough boundary when the application comes around the turn of the year. "That is what I will be doing alongside my Gainsborough colleague Cllr James Whatling and our MP Jack Abbott.” **What's next:** No planning application has yet been submitted. ABP is expected to lodge its full application around the end of December or early January, triggering a formal public consultation. **The bottom line:** Babergh District Council has confirmed that a full Environmental Impact Assessment will be needed before any decision can be made on the 150-metre turbine proposed for Cliff Quay, with a formal planning application – and the public's first chance to comment – expected within months. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Free litter pickers offered as a push to tidy Ipswich streets URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/free-litter-pickers-offered-as-a-push-to-tidy-ipswich-streets/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T12:28:36.000Z **Why it matters:** Litter-ally Ipswich says 318 tonnes of litter were collected from the town's streets in 2022/23, and is urging more people to use existing council services designed to keep the streets clean. **The details:** The group, launched as part of Ipswich MP Jack Abbott's 2026 Summer School, is raising awareness of council schemes including the free hire of litter-picking equipment and online tools for reporting littering and flytipping. Ipswich Borough Council has separately approved £400,000 of investment over two years for a new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team, which will focus on hotspot areas across the borough. Litter-ally Ipswich has also been visiting independent businesses across the town, many of which have agreed to display posters celebrating their sustainable practices, with the aim of encouraging others to follow suit. **What they're saying:** Oliver Till, from the Litter-ally Ipswich team, said: "It is clear that many people in our town feel there is too much rubbish on our streets. We want to encourage the people and businesses of our community to help tidy our town. It is clear we need to rally people together as we Ip-switch up our habits." Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said: "Littering in the town centre is an issue that regularly comes up when talking to local residents. It is really encouraging to see this group inject some new energy into working with individuals, businesses, and the council, and raising awareness of what needs to be done to deal with this issue in the town." [Stefan Long](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/stefan-long/), Ipswich Borough Council's Environment and Sport Portfolio Holder, said the £400,000 investment in a new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team was "a major step forward in improving the appearance of streets and public spaces across Ipswich." He added: "This dedicated team will focus on hot spot areas, tackling litter, weeds, and recurring issues. This is to ensure we have cleaner, safer and more welcoming neighbourhoods for residents, businesses and visitors. "People consistently tell us that keeping Ipswich clean and tidy matters to them. We've listened, and this investment shows our commitment to delivering a town we can all be proud of." **The bottom line:** Litter-ally Ipswich hopes its work with residents, businesses and the council will leave a lasting impact on the town's streets, as the borough council rolls out new investment to tackle litter hotspots. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich campaign shines a light on period poverty URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-campaign-shines-a-light-on-period-poverty/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T12:18:45.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich Period Rights, a youth campaign running as part of Ipswich MP Jack Abbott's Summer School, says period poverty can exclude people from public life, with almost a quarter of those unable to afford products staying at home as a result. **The details:** This week, the group is carrying out social media and in-person outreach to highlight local businesses and community spaces already offering free period products, including Another Bowl, Cub Cafe and Harvest Moon. The campaign is encouraging more local businesses and venues to consider stocking period products in their toilets. **By the numbers:** - 11% of people who menstruate in the UK have struggled to afford period products in the last year, according to a recent ActionAid UK poll, being forced to prioritise food and energy instead. - 43% of respondents to a 2021 Suffolk County Council survey said they had used sanitary products not fit for purpose, or for too long, because of cost. - 22% of people unable to afford period products said they stayed at home as a result. **What they're saying:** Katy Robinson, named the UK's Most Influential Woman in Construction, explained why providing period products is essential: "I can guarantee not everybody uses the soap, but we still provide it," arguing the same principle should apply to period products. Deputy leader of Ipswich Borough Council, Cllr Bryony Rudkin, said: "It's not just period poverty, it's accessibility." Jack Abbott MP, who has campaigned extensively on women's health issues, said: "Period poverty is clearly a major issue in Ipswich. At the heart of the issue is the cost of living crisis, but also the stigma and systemic issues that affect women's health." Charlotte Legrand, a spokesperson for the campaign, said: "It has been great to see how many businesses around Ipswich offer free period products. While this is a topic that is often surrounded by stigma, it has been really positive to see the ways in which the community has supported our campaign. Food banks, churches, councillors and local charities are already doing important work, and we hope to raise greater awareness of the support that is available." **The bottom line:** Ipswich Period Rights wants to make existing free provision more visible and encourage more organisations across the town to offer period products, tackling both the practical and social barriers of period poverty. People can support the campaign by following @periodrightsipswich on Instagram. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£20 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Hot pink shopfront repainted after council steps in URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hot-pink-shopfront-repainted-after-council-steps-in/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T11:34:12.000Z **Why it matters:** 14 Dial Lane is a listed building, meaning any changes affecting its character, including its exterior colour, normally require formal consent before work goes ahead. **The details:** The unit, formerly home to Zeebra Chic, had stood empty for some time before work began on the property a couple of weeks ago. The shopfront was painted a bright pink, prompting comment locally about what business might be moving in. - Listed building consent had not been obtained before the work took place. The Council says it was made aware of the works on Tuesday, 11 August, and immediately contacted the tenant, who has since repainted the frontage burgundy. - The Council now expects a retrospective listed building consent application, used to formally assess unauthorised work after it has already happened. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_3700-1.jpeg) Former Zeebra Chic store on Dial Lane before the current repainting (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: "The Council was made aware of the works at 14 Dial Lane on Tuesday 11 August and immediately contacted the tenant. "The tenant has subsequently painted the shop frontage in a more appropriate colour. "The Council is maintaining a productive dialogue with the tenant about all the works being undertaken to the building. We expect to receive a retrospective application for Listed Building Consent to regularise the works already undertaken. This will enable the Council to formally assess the impact of the works on the building's special architectural and historic interest and determine whether they should be retained, amended or reversed. "We are pleased the tenant has been so keen to put things right once the Council contacted them." **The bottom line:** A quick lick of paint on a historic Dial Lane building has become a matter for the Council's planning process, pending a retrospective consent application. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Police appeal to find missing Ipswich man, Taius Roberts URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-appeal-to-find-missing-ipswich-man-taius-roberts/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T13:23:59.000Z ❗ ****Update, 19 August:** Taius Roberts has been found safe and well. Suffolk police have thanked members of the public and the media for their assistance with this appeal. Taius Roberts was last seen at 07:00 on Friday, 14 August, and was reported missing to police the following day, 15 August. He is described as black, around 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build, with shoulder-length black hair. He was last seen wearing a grey tracksuit. Officers say they are concerned for Taius' welfare and are asking anyone who has seen him, or who has any information on his whereabouts, to come forward. **How to help:** Anyone with information should contact Suffolk police, quoting missing report 517002, via: - Website: [report a sighting of a missing person](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/ro/report/mp/v3.1/add-something-reported-missing/report-a-sighting-of-a-missing-person/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) - Phone: 101 - Live Chat, via the icon on the [Suffolk Constabulary website](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) In an emergency, always call 999. **The bottom line:** Suffolk police are urging the public to come forward with any information that could help locate missing Ipswich man Taius Roberts as concerns grow for his safety. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Rebels, mavericks and misfits: New international film festival to launch in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-international-film-festival-to-launch-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T07:32:35.000Z **Why it matters:** The festival, themed "Misfits + Outsiders", will create what organisers describe as a new annual destination for film lovers in East Anglia, with a programme spanning contemporary international cinema, landmark restorations, cult classics, documentaries and live events. **The details:** The festival will run from 31 October to 14 November 2026 in Ipswich. Highlights announced so far include: - The UK premiere of *Moi-Même*, with director Mojo Lorwin attending for a post-screening discussion. The film began during the political upheaval of May 1968 in Paris, when theatre pioneer Lee Breuer and collaborators shot an unfinished satire about a young boy attempting to set up a film collective amid the protests. More than five decades later, Lorwin completed and reimagined the abandoned footage. - A new 4K restoration of John Huston's *The Misfits*, marking the centenary of Marilyn Monroe's birth. Written by Arthur Miller, the film features Monroe's final completed screen performance. - *Whispers in the Woods*, wildlife photographer Vincent Munier's documentary following a journey through the forests of France's Vosges Mountains with his father and son. - *The Education of Jane Cumming*, director Sophie Heldman's historical drama inspired by a nineteenth-century Scottish scandal that influenced *The Children's Hour*. It stars Flora Nicholson, Clare Dunne, Mia Tharia and Fiona Shaw as two schoolteachers accused of a romantic relationship by a pupil. Special guests and live events also feature prominently: - A rare 35mm screening of *Shadow of the Vampire*, introduced by producer Richard Johns, followed by a Q&A. - Director Howard Berry attending a screening of his documentary *Her Name Was Moviola*. - Filmmaker Sophie Fiennes discussing her work following a screening of *Acting*. - A 35mm screening of Quentin Tarantino's *Inglourious Basterds*, followed by a conversation and book signing with author Jay Glennie. - A celebration of Australian filmmaker Margot Nash, with screenings of *We Aim to Please* and *Shadow Panic*. - A "Double D Feature" of Russ Meyer's *Motorpsycho!* and *Vixen!*. - Screenings of *Multiple Maniacs*, *Female Trouble* and *Polyester* to mark John Waters' 90th birthday. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Mat Kirkby and director Sophie Fiennes have been named as the festival's inaugural patrons, with producer Richard Johns joining as executive producer. **What they're saying:** Festival artistic director Dan Champion said: "Ipswich International Film Festival has been created to celebrate cinema in all its forms – from major restorations, previews and premieres to cult classics, archive discoveries and conversations with the artists who make them. "Our inaugural year celebrates the outsiders, the pioneers, the mavericks and the rebels – those filmmakers who have challenged convention, expanded the language of film and redefined the way we see the world. We are delighted to welcome audiences to the first edition of the festival this autumn." **What's next:** The full festival programme will be announced on 8 September 2026, with organisers saying additional films, guests and events will be revealed over the coming months. **The bottom line:** Ipswich is set to gain a new annual fixture on the cultural calendar, with its first festival bringing together everything from rediscovered 1960s cinema to cult classics and Hollywood royalty. For more information, visit [iiff.org.uk](https://iiff.org.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Gym manager takes on 12 hour walk for Dunwich Heath URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/gym-manager-takes-on-12-hour-walk-for-dunwich-heath/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T10:16:34.000Z **Why it matters:** The fundraiser will take place at Snap Fitness, Martlesham Heath, to raise money for Dunwich Heath following the recent wildfire at the Suffolk nature reserve. **The details:** Asha encourages members and the wider community to get behind the fundraiser as she takes on the challenge, with all funds going towards supporting Dunwich Heath's recovery. Member Sophie Bell will also lead a bake sale at the gym on the same day, with all proceeds going to the Dunwich Heath Fire Appeal. **What they're saying:** "Dunwich Heath is such a special place and it's right on our doorstep, so seeing the impact of the wildfire really hit home for us," said Asha. "We wanted to do something that could bring our members and the wider community together while raising money to support the recovery efforts. Walking for 12 hours is definitely going to be a challenge, but knowing what we're doing it for will keep me going. "We'd love as many people as possible to support us, whether that's by donating, sharing the fundraiser or coming into the gym on the day to cheer me on." **For context:** A wildfire broke out on 29 July 2026 and spread onto Dunwich Heath, devastating the landscape and its wildlife. The National Trust, which manages the site, says the fire has left large areas of the heath "unrecognisable" and important habitats and nesting sites have been lost. **The bigger picture:** Asha's fundraiser has now raised over £500, from 31 supporters. The gym she manages has a track record of community fundraising. Last year, members donated more than 200 toys and books to Ipswich Hospital following an organised toy drive. Asha's fundraiser has now raised over £500, from 31 supporters. **The bottom line:** With the challenge taking place this Thursday, Snap Fitness Martlesham Heath is inviting the community to donate, share the fundraiser, or drop in to cheer Asha on. [Donate here](https://givewheel.com/fundraising/20129/snap-fitness-martlesham-heath-dunwich-heath-fire-a/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Zelly's summer send-off: Five Ipswich arts events not to miss URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/zellys-summer-send-off-five-ipswich-arts-events-not-to-miss/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T07:25:29.000Z There is always a point in August when summer starts to feel like it is slipping through your fingers. The evenings get a little shorter, someone mentions September far too casually, and suddenly there is an urge to squeeze every last bit out of the season. Luckily, Ipswich is giving us plenty to enjoy. From Dolly Parton-powered rebellion and theatre under the trees to sustainable fashion, classic rock in a medieval church and a disco night made for people who actually want to dance, these are five events that caught my eye. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/image-6.png) 9 to 5 The Musical at Ipswich Regent Theatre ## 9 to 5 The Musical at Ipswich Regent Theatre **Tuesday, 18 – Saturday, 22 August 2026** There are few things more satisfying than watching an awful boss get his comeuppance, especially when Dolly Parton provides the soundtrack. Based on the 1980 film, *9 to 5 The Musical* follows three women who have had quite enough of their sexist, egotistical boss and decide to do something about it. Cue revenge plots, friendship, office politics and some gloriously big musical numbers. The premise still feels surprisingly familiar. Anyone who has ever sat through a meeting thinking, "surely this cannot be real", will probably find something to relate to. And, of course, it has Dolly. **Where:** Ipswich Regent Theatre, St Helen's Street **Tickets:** From £20, plus £1.70 restoration levy per ticket [Book now](https://ipswichtheatres.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173665044/events?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/D3AAFB0C-9F85-4BE9-AE80-9151164205EF-5271-00001791DEC39343.JPG) Passion for Fashion X MEAT at MOTE (Photo: MOTE) ## Passion for Fashion X MEAT at MOTE, Museum of the Environment **Saturday, 22 August 2026, 18:45–22:00** This one immediately appealed to the multidisciplinary artist in me because it refuses to stay neatly in one box. Fashion becomes environmental activism. Clothing becomes art. Fine art shares space with live music. Hosted by sustainable fashion organisation Ketchup Clothes and Colchester-based artist Sue Gascoyne, *Passion for Fashion X MEAT* features a sustainable fashion show alongside performances from Diana Costa, Jayden Wells and two still-secret local musicians. Ketchup Clothes founder Dr Karen Dennis has spent decades transforming discarded garments into one-off pieces, while Gascoyne's *MEAT* installation adds another layer to the evening's conversation around consumption. I like events that allow art forms to mingle with each other. You might arrive for the fashion and leave talking about environmentalism, or come for the art and discover a musician you have never heard before. **Where:** MOTE, Arlingtons, 13 Museum Street **Tickets:** £15, including a drink on arrival [Book now](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/moteipswich/2285103?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/image-7.png) Packing Shed Theatre's **The Hay Wain* (Photo: Packing Shed Theatre) ## The Hay Wain at Christchurch Mansion Lawn **Wednesday, 19 – Saturday, 22 August 2026, 19:30** John Constable's *The Hay Wain* is one of those paintings so familiar that it can become almost invisible. Green fields. River. Cart. English countryside. We recognise it before we really look at it. Packing Shed Theatre's *The Hay Wain* asks us to look again. Performed outdoors on Christchurch Mansion Lawn, the play imagines the lives behind Constable's famous landscape, shifting attention away from the picture-postcard countryside towards people shaped by work, hardship, resilience and hope. With the painting itself back in Ipswich for the Constable 250 celebrations, you can encounter *The Hay Wain* inside the Mansion and then step outside to see another group of artists imagine the human stories beyond the frame. I am particularly drawn to theatre that responds to places, where the surroundings become part of the performance. **Where:** Christchurch Mansion Lawn, Christchurch Park **Tickets:** £20 / £18 concessions, plus booking fee. [Book now](https://castleparktheatre.co.uk/the-hay-wain-christchurch-mansion-lawn-ipswich/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_1943.jpeg) St Peter's by the Waterfront (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ## Led Free & Co. at St Peter's by the Waterfront **Saturday, 29 August 2026, 19:30** There is something wonderfully excessive about the idea of Led Zeppelin riffs bouncing around a medieval church. Which is precisely why this one made my list. Led Free & Co. celebrate the music of Led Zeppelin, Free and Bad Company, mixing crowd-pleasers with deeper cuts from the late 1960s and early 1970s. St Peter's gives the show something extra. A building that has stood for centuries filling up with electric guitars and classic rock feels like an enjoyable collision of worlds. I am a sucker for unusual arts spaces. Put something somewhere it technically "shouldn't" be and I am already interested. **Where:** St Peter's by the Waterfront, College Street **Tickets:** £19.35 including booking fee [Book now](https://www.stpetersbythewaterfront.com/whats-on/led-free-co?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ## Discoteca at The Smokehouse **Friday, 21 August 2026, 20:00–23:00** Sometimes culture asks you to contemplate the human condition. Sometimes it asks you to stop overthinking and get on the dance floor. I support both. *Discoteca* brings Andy Westbrook and Disco DJ Mac together at The Smokehouse for three hours of records, dancing and the kind of musical enthusiasm that comes from people who have spent years collecting sounds they genuinely love. The pair first met in Ipswich in the 1980s before following different paths through music. Now they are back behind the decks together in their hometown. Good records. Intimate room. People dancing. Sometimes you really do not need to complicate things. **Where:** The Smokehouse, 6 South Street **Tickets:** £7 plus booking fee, 18+ [Book now](https://www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/events/discoteca?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ## Five very different ways to end the summer What I like most about this collection is how difficult it is to reduce Ipswich's arts scene to one thing. Within a matter of days, you can watch musical theatre, see discarded clothing transformed into wearable art, experience Constable through theatre, hear classic rock inside a medieval church and dance to disco in one of the town's smallest music venues. And if summer really is determined to leave us, we may as well give it a decent send-off. ### How fifty years of Citizens Advice reveals a changing Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-fifty-years-of-citizens-advice-reveals-a-changing-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T07:10:15.000Z ## Five decades in one place Citizens Advice Ipswich has been offering free, confidential and impartial advice since 1974, on everything from debt and benefits to housing, employment and consumer disputes. For much of that history, the organisation operated from the same site, before moving to its current town centre building three years ago. "Don't move an organisation after 48 years — the stuff you find," reflected chief executive Nicky Willshere, on the scale of the relocation. That move has not marked the end of the charity's growth. Demand has continued to rise, and the organisation has since had to expand further, taking on additional space next door. Today it employs 34 staff, supported by around 30 to 40 volunteers — a considerable size for an organisation with roots stretching back five decades. Citizens Advice will not use that additional space alone. The charity plans to open part of the building to other charities and community organisations, many of which have lost a physical presence in Ipswich in recent years. Rising rents and business rates have forced several local organisations to move their services online or close altogether. By offering low-cost, flexible access to office and meeting space in the town centre, Citizens Advice hopes to help ease that strain and keep a recognised charitable presence within reach of the people who need it. ## From one problem to many Chief operating officer Margaret Vane, who oversees the charity's generalist, money, welfare benefits and social prescribing teams, said the nature of the help people need has changed noticeably over the years — particularly since the pandemic. "The services evolved hugely since, well, certainly since Covid," she said. "That's where you start to see this massive increase in cost of living, and people just, no matter what they do, multiple jobs, all the rest of it, they cannot make ends meet." What often begins as a single issue can quickly become several interlinked problems. That shift has changed the composition of a typical case. "We've seen the complexity of these issues increase so much," said Saffeen Yamulki, Impact Analyst at Citizens Advice Ipswich. "We're having to spend more time than perhaps we would have previously with these cases, because those issues become more complex. It's no longer just a debt issue. It's a debt issue, but it's also a benefits issue, and you move between the different specialist teams." To keep pace, the charity has built specialist, in-house teams over time – covering debt advice accredited by the Financial Conduct Authority, welfare benefits and tribunal support, and energy and income maximisation – alongside its original generalist advice service. Vane said the model is designed so clients only have to explain their situation once. "Most clients really value the fact that they can talk about their situation in general terms, and then we can distil down: okay, well, we can help with this, we can help with that, we can refer you to them. There aren't many places where you can get that type of time invested in you anymore." ## A generation shifting into need Perhaps the clearest sign of how Ipswich itself has changed is who now comes through the charity's doors, with the issues clients bring increasingly reflecting today's pressures. Willshere said the demographic of clients has shifted rapidly in recent years. "Our demographics have changed rapidly towards working age, and especially in the younger working age, with families, because they're the ones who are feeling it hardest." Contrary to common assumptions, she said, most people the charity supports are in work. "People aren't proud of the fact that they're in a situation where they can't make ends meet. It's not intentional. Most of the people that we support are working, and they're doing everything they can." Among the clearest current trends are a sharp increase in people applying for Personal Independence Payments, and rising rent arrears across both private and social housing. To reach people before problems escalate, the charity now runs outreach sessions at Ipswich's top-up shops — low-cost community food schemes — supported by funding from the Suffolk Community Foundation and Sizewell C. "We'll try and have a presence in the community where people are in most need, so that we can try and help and support, or at least give them some guidance," Willshere said. The charity's role has also grown beyond individual casework and into advocacy. Willshere described how a call from an Ipswich primary school revealed a wider problem after free school meal applications moved online. The school told her: "We've got a problem, because half the children that had free school meals the previous year weren't getting them." Families who had previously relied on teachers to help them complete paper forms were being excluded once the process moved to a digital-only portal. Willshere raised the issue directly with the county council, asking whether an equality impact assessment had been carried out. "Children not having a cooked dinner is not okay," she said. The result, she added, was that the forms were sent back to the schools. It is this kind of intervention that underpins the charity's relationship with statutory partners, including Suffolk County Council and the NHS — a relationship Willshere agreed could best be described as that of a "critical friend." ## What the numbers show today The scale of today's need is reflected in the charity's own figures for 2025–26\. Citizens Advice Ipswich supported 7,496 clients presenting with 33,453 individual issues over the year, including 1,126 clients with 2,329 separate housing issues. Of those, the charity says it helped prevent 96 people from becoming homeless. Through a combination of welfare benefit claims, charitable grant applications, reduced expenditure and income maximisation, the charity says it secured £1,637,315 for clients during the year — money it says flowed straight back into the local economy. ## The bottom line From decades spent in one home to a growing operation now spilling into neighbouring space, Citizens Advice Ipswich's own story mirrors the town it serves – one where need has grown steadily more complex, and where more working families than ever are finding it hard to cope. Fifty years on, the charity's front door remains one of the clearest windows onto how Ipswich is really doing. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£106 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### How to get a low-interest loan for solar panels or insulation in Suffolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-to-get-a-low-interest-loan-for-solar-panels-or-insulation-in-suffolk/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T07:08:21.000Z **Why it matters:** Suffolk County Council has partnered with Lendology to launch the Warm Homes Suffolk Loan scheme, giving eligible homeowners access to loans of between £2,000 and £15,000 to help pay for energy efficiency improvements. **How it works:** Loans are offered at a fixed interest rate of 2.2% APR, with repayment terms of up to seven years. Borrowers may also repay their loan early without penalty, subject to eligibility and loan terms. **What it covers:** The loan can be used for a range of energy efficiency measures, including: - Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems - Solar battery storage - Solar thermal systems - Ground source heat pumps - Air source heat pumps - Double and triple glazed windows and doors - Loft, wall and floor insulation - Ventilation systems when installed alongside insulation measures **By the numbers:** A representative example shows how the repayments work out. Borrowing £5,000 over 60 months, at a 2% fixed interest rate (2.2% APR), would mean monthly repayments of £87.64, with a total amount repayable of £5,278.40\. This includes a £20 fee for registering a Title Restriction against the property at the Land Registry, on which no interest is charged. A Title Restriction means the homeowner may not be able to sell their home without Lendology's permission unless the loan is fully repaid. This is not a mortgage, and missing payments could affect the borrower's credit rating. **What they're saying:** Councillor Morgan Brobyn, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Food, Waste and Rural Affairs, said: "We're keen to help Suffolk residents make their homes more energy efficient and save money on their bills. "We're pleased to be partnering with Lendology again, who have considerable experience working with councils across the country to deliver projects like this for residents. "With Lendology, Suffolk County Council is offering the lowest APR on this kind of loan amongst local authorities across the country." Emma Lower, Lendology CIC's chief executive, said: "We're delighted to be working with Suffolk County Council to open the Suffolk Warm Homes Loan scheme, creating another route for homeowners to access new funding for essential home improvements. "Strong local partnerships like this help more people improve their homes, while supporting the long-term resilience of communities across Suffolk." **For context:** Installing energy efficiency improvements can help homeowners reduce their energy bills and create warmer, more comfortable homes. A well-insulated and energy-efficient property can also have positive benefits for residents' health and wellbeing, particularly during colder winter months. Lendology CIC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 675263 for credit regulated activities. **The bottom line:** Suffolk homeowners looking to cut their energy bills now have a low-interest route to fund improvements such as solar panels, heat pumps or insulation, with further details and applications available via the Lendology website. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Trio scoops £22,000 at University of Suffolk bootcamp URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/trio-scoops-22-000-at-university-of-suffolk-bootcamp/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T07:07:54.000Z **Why it matters:** The funding gives emerging entrepreneurs from the university the financial backing to launch or grow their businesses, with this years ideas spanning carbon reporting, food and space technology. **The details:** The university's Careers, Enterprise and Employability team ran the six-week Summer Start-Up Bootcamp, supporting students and graduates to develop and pitch business ideas. 16 student and graduate entrepreneurs took part, with 11 progressing to the finale on Tuesday, 7 July. They pitched to a Dragon's Den-style panel in front of university representatives, business leaders and entrepreneurs. Data Science and Artificial Intelligence alumnus Darlington Nwosu was awarded £12,000 for Ceres-Carbon Reports, a carbon reporting platform. The funding will help put the platform into production, strengthen cyber security and convert pilot projects into paying customers. Hephzibah Gad, who has just completed her first year of Business Management, received £8,000 for Unity Eats, an African fusion pop-up eatery. Sports Performance Analysis student Alex Le Ray was given £2,000 to attend the Bremen Space Conference, where they will present the Fusion Propulsion business concept to an international audience. The £22,000 prize fund came from £21,000 from the Higher Education Innovation Fund and £1,000 from Connected Innovation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Summer-bootcamp-2-1.jpg) Hephzibah Gad pitching her business Unity Eats at the summer bootcamp finale (Photo: University of Suffolk) **What they're saying:** Darlington Nwosu said: "It feels great, it validates our idea and gives me great confidence to move forward and launch properly. Learning about marketing and branding was really insightful." Hephzibah Gad added: "It feels incredible and very humbling. Winning this funding is a great vote of confidence in the vision behind Unity Eats. It motivates me even more to build a business that celebrates culture, brings communities together through food and creates meaningful opportunities for others." Hannah Page, business engagement consultant and project lead for the bootcamp, said: "Every year we are inspired by the ambition, creativity and resilience by our students and graduates who take part in the bootcamps, and it was fantastic to see participants from such a wide range of courses applying entrepreneurial thinking to real-world challenges and bring their business ideas to life." **What's next:** Organisers are already planning next summer's bootcamp and are inviting local businesses to get involved through mentoring, judging, sponsorship or running workshops. **The bottom line:** Three Suffolk entrepreneurs have turned business ideas into funded ventures, with the university now looking to local businesses to help support next year's cohort. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Union warns Suffolk nursing cuts put vulnerable at risk as petition tops 1,600 URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/union-warns-suffolk-nursing-cuts-put-vulnerable-at-risk-as-petition-tops-1-600/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T14:44:09.000Z **Why it matters:** The union representing local government workers says the proposed shake-up puts support for some of Suffolk's most vulnerable people at risk, adding weight to concerns already raised by council staff, opposition councillors and hundreds of residents. **The details:** Suffolk County Council is consulting on changes to how it supports children, young people and families. - Among the proposals is scrapping the community staff nurse role, which currently supports children and families through home visits as part of the health visiting service. - As many as 49 roles could be facing the axe, although the council did not confirm any job losses. - As part of the changes, the council said it would increase the number of health visitors, but it is unclear how many new posts would be created. Through the service, families are entitled to at least five health reviews during and after pregnancy, designed to monitor a child's health and development, support parents, and identify concerns early. Staff nurses not only help carry out these mandatory reviews, but also provide extra ongoing support where needed, including to families with pre-term babies and those whose children have special educational needs. A petition calling on the council to keep its "lifeline" community staff nurses has now reached more than 1,600 signatures. [Health worker warns Suffolk nursing cuts would be ‘disastrous’A Suffolk County Council health visitor of more than a decade has warned that proposed cuts to nursing staff would be “absolutely disastrous” for vulnerable families. Up to 49 nursing roles could be axed as part of a wider overhaul of children’s health services.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-806f6b97-2877-4f97-9212-fb6dd1353ee8.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--42--a2eb111a-720b-4f6b-8b11-e29d4f3c8685.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/health-worker-warns-suffolk-nursing-cuts-would-be-disastrous/) **What they're saying:** Neil Bland, UNISON's Suffolk branch secretary, said: "These changes are designed to cut costs, not improve lives. "Suffolk County Council is proposing to do away with specialist support with no apparent plan for how the work will be absorbed across the rest of the service. "Prevention costs less than cure. By squeezing early intervention services, the council is just creating problems down the line." One health visitor, with more than a decade of experience, previously described nurses as "the backbone of the service" and said without them it "would all be compromised". **The other side:** A council spokesperson said the authority wanted to hear from a wide range of people before any final decisions were made. "Our proposals are designed to strengthen early intervention – we want specialist staff to have more time to help children and families at an early stage and to focus on prevention and safeguarding, rather than being stretched to fill gaps elsewhere in the system," they said. **The political reaction:** The plans have also drawn criticism from opposition groups on the council. Cllr Laura Smith, the Green spokesperson for public health, said the proposals risked "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" and described them as "short-sighted". "Cuts to early help for families generally lead to greater expense for the council in future for social care services because people who are struggling have not received the help they need, when they needed it," she said. Cllr Bobby Bennett, the Conservative spokesperson for children's services, stressed the impact on young people's mental health and parents aged 21 and under. "For some young people, being able to speak to a trusted professional face-to-face can be the thing that enables them to ask for help in the first place," he said. "At a time when 70 per cent of school nursing referrals relate to emotional wellbeing and mental health, reducing this early support needs careful consideration." **The bottom line:** With a union, opposition councillors and hundreds of residents now voicing concern, pressure is mounting on Suffolk County Council over its plans to cut community staff nurse roles – though the authority insists no final decision has been made. [Sign the petition](https://www.change.org/p/save-the-suffolk-county-council-community-staff-nurse-service?ref=ipswich.co.uk) [Join the consultation](https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/consultations-petitions-and-elections/consultations/healthy-child-services-consultations?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Man arrested after Carr Street rooftop incident URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-safely-rescued-after-carr-street-rooftop-incident-2/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T11:40:51.000Z **Why it matters:** The arrest brings a conclusion to an incident that saw a huge emergency services presence descend on the town centre in the early hours of Tuesday, 18 August, and Carr Street closed to the public for several hours. **The details:** The man is understood to have accessed the roof of the building after forcefully entering via the Magazin Românesc Maestro butchers on Carr Street at 02:20 on Tuesday, 18 August. Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and the ambulance service all attended, with a fire and rescue crew gaining access to the roof from the high street. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5635-2.jpeg) Paramedics waiting while the man was recovered from the building (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Carr Street was closed to the public while the incident was ongoing. The man came down from the roof just before 09:00 and was arrested by officers before being escorted to hospital for treatment. Police later confirmed the man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage. **The bottom line:** The Carr Street incident has been resolved, with the man safely brought down from the roof, arrested, and taken to hospital for treatment. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Young Ipswich residents help shape £40m community regeneration plans URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/young-ipswich-residents-help-shape-40m-community-regeneration-plans/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T09:30:27.000Z **Why it matters:** The two areas are each set to receive £20m of funding over the next decade through the government's Pride in Place programme, with residents deciding how the money is spent. Youth collaborators are being asked to share their views on what their areas need. **The details:** The session took place at CHIp Hub on Princes Street on Wednesday, 12 August, and was organised by Volunteering Matters as part of the #iWill movement. It focused on branding and content creation, with young people encouraged to discuss what already exists in their areas, where they spend their time, and what they would like to see change. **The big picture:** Much of the discussion centred on parks and green spaces. Young people said their areas had no shortage of parks, but recognised there were few venues for them to actually spend time in. Youth clubs also came up repeatedly, with the collaborators saying it was often the branding of youth clubs that put them off attending, rather than a lack of interest. **For context:** Young people said there were not many events in their areas, however pointed to a festival-style celebration for Jamaica's 63rd anniversary of independence, held at Bourne Vale Social Club in Bourne Park on Saturday, 8 August, as an example of the kind of event they enjoyed. The "Summer Colours" event gave them a chance to be around other young people, and they said they would like to see more like it. Collaborators also took part in a collaging activity, using magazines to create images of what they think Ipswich and their areas should look like. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_3698-1-1.jpeg) Collaborators took part in collaging activities (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** Suzanne Chung, town of social action engagement lead at Volunteering Matters, said the session was designed to give young people a role in shaping Pride in Place: "The session was about branding and content creation because we want the youth collaborators to be involved with shaping Pride in Place overall. The youth collaborators will be involved with community engagement and finding out where people want the £20 mil to go." She said the sessions had already revealed generational differences in how young people see their neighbourhoods: "It's been interesting to hear different perceptions of local areas; for example, if we take Whitehouse Park, there were differing opinions even amongst the youth collaborators. Adults feel like it's a safe place but younger people – especially teenagers – don't think this is the case." **What's next:** The youth collaborators will continue attending community events to gather residents' views on how the £40m should be spent across Whitehouse and Stoke Park and Chantry. **The bottom line:** With £40m of long-term investment heading to their neighbourhoods, young people in Whitehouse, Stoke Park and Chantry are being given a direct say in what changes – and they point to: better-branded youth clubs, more places to go, and more events that bring young people together. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£80 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Man safely rescued after Carr Street rooftop incident URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-safely-rescued-after-carr-street-rooftop-incident/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T11:25:12.000Z ❗ This story has been updated. You can find the latest update [here](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-safely-rescued-after-carr-street-rooftop-incident-2/). **The details:** The man is believed to have accessed the roof of the building after entering via the Magazin Românesc Maestro butchers on Carr Street at 02:20 on Tuesday, 18 August, triggering a huge emergency services response. - Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and the ambulance service attended, with a fire and rescue crew gaining access to the roof from the high street. - A witness told this publication that a man was understood to have entered the unit in the early hours of the morning before gaining access to the roof. - Carr Street was closed to the public while the incident was ongoing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5628.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5630.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5632.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5633.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5634.jpeg) Emergency services are in attendance (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** A Suffolk Police spokesperson said: "Carr Street update: The man has come down from the roof and is with police officers. Further details to follow shortly." Further details are expected from police. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5637.jpeg) A police cordon remains around the broken door where the man is understood to have entered the building (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **If you need support:** Samaritans can be contacted free, any time, from any phone, on 116 123\. Calls are confidential, and a trained volunteer will listen without judgement, whatever you're going through. [Get support](https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Carr Street closed as emergency services attend ongoing incident URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/carr-street-closed-as-emergency-services-attend-ongoing-incident/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T11:25:42.000Z ❗ This story has been updated. You can find the latest update [here](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-safely-rescued-after-carr-street-rooftop-incident-2/). **The details:** Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and the ambulance service are all in attendance following reports of a person on top of a building on Carr Street in Ipswich town centre. - Police were called at 02:20 on Tuesday, 18 August, to reports that a man was on the roof of a shop in Carr Street. - A witness reported to this publication that a middle-aged man is understood to have broken into the Maestro butchers, but police haven't yet confirmed this. - There remains a huge emergency services presence at the scene with at least five police cars, four ambulances and two fire engines. - The incident is ongoing, and a cordon around the store has been established. - Carr Street remains closed, and members of the public are being advised to avoid the immediate area. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5628.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5630.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5632.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5633.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5634.jpeg) Emergency services are in attendance (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **If you need support:** Samaritans can be contacted free, any time, from any phone, on 116 123\. Calls are confidential, and a trained volunteer will listen without judgement, whatever you're going through. [Get support](https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Teenage volunteer, 16, organises library's biggest birthday bash URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/teenage-volunteer-16-organises-librarys-biggest-birthday-bash/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T07:01:46.000Z **Why it matters:** Gainsborough Community Library, on Clapgate Lane, Ipswich, will celebrate 90 years of serving local residents on Saturday, 22 August, with a free day of entertainment organised almost entirely by one of its youngest volunteers. **The details:** Turner has been volunteering with Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library, the library's charity friends' group, for a few months. The free celebration will run from 14:00 to 22:00 and bring together local musicians, businesses and volunteers. Activities throughout the day will include: - A baking competition - Open mic performances - Face painting - A raffle - Children's activities in the Garden Room - Live music Food and refreshments will be available throughout, with JJ's Pizzeria serving freshly made pizza, Whip It Like Webber providing sweet treats, and the Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library café open as usual. Evening performances will feature Turner himself alongside Sophie Rose, Chloe Spinks, Cameron Patchett and Happy September. **What they're saying:** Turner said the milestone was an opportunity to give something back to a library that has given him plenty of opportunities of his own, from winning its IP3's Got Talent competition in 2023 to visiting Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. "This was always going to be a special milestone, but I wanted to help make it the highlight of the year for Gainsborough Community Library," he said. "As a musician myself, I knew that helping local singers get the attention they needed would be crucial for this event, which is why we've got such fabulous acts performing on the day. It's really nice to be part of such a community-led charity and help the local community. The work can be a lot, but I hope the outcome will be remarkable." **For context:** The original library was built in the 1930s, with a new building opening on the same site in 2008 as part of the Community Libraries Programme. That building went on to win the RIBA East Spirit of Ingenuity Award. The event is free to attend and open to all. Anyone with questions, or who would like to get involved, can contact Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library by emailing [voices4gainsboroughcl@gmail.com](mailto:voices4gainsboroughcl@gmail.com). **The bottom line:** Ninety years on, Gainsborough Community Library remains at the heart of its community – and this weekend, it's a 16-year-old volunteer ensuring that legacy is celebrated in style. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk's longest riverside walk is now fully open URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolks-longest-riverside-walk-is-now-fully-open/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T07:01:00.000Z **Why it matters:** Suffolk County Council has finished improvement works at Creeting St Peter and Sproughton, making the route safer, more accessible and more resilient to flooding, while reopening the full length of the path. **The details:** The route connects Stowmarket and Ipswich railway stations, passing Needham Market station along the way, and links into a wider network of walking routes across Suffolk. - At Creeting St Peter, wooden footbridges and boardwalks have been upgraded with new recycled plastic versions. - At Sproughton, work included riverbank repairs, path widening, accessible ramps and a new footbridge. - The improvements have also unlocked the Mills and Meadow walk, taking in Bramford and Sproughton. **For context:** The River Gipping has a long history of navigation. In 1793, the river was canalised with the construction of 15 locks, helping barges travel between Stowmarket and Ipswich and supporting the area's industrial development. The path follows the route of the old tow path to Ipswich. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/55428401659_d0cab7d699_k.jpg) Gipping Valley River Path between Stowmarket and Ipswich (Photo: Suffolk County Council) **What they're saying:** Councillor Morgan Brobyn, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for food, waste and rural affairs, said: "The improvements at Creeting St Peter and Sproughton will make a real difference for walkers and local communities, helping to protect the path from future flooding and erosion while improving access to some of Suffolk's most attractive riverside countryside." He added: "Not only has the work opened up the entirety of Gipping Valley River Path, it has also unlocked the Mills and Meadow walk which takes in Bramford and Sproughton. "Our Public Rights of Way team has worked hard to deliver these improvements, along with the support of landowners and The River Gipping Trust, whose volunteers help to restore and improve the path." **The bigger picture:** The project was delivered through a partnership involving local authorities, contractors, parish councils, landowners and volunteers. Works at Creeting St Peter were funded through Community Infrastructure Levy funding via Mid Suffolk District Council, and funding from Bluespaces, and delivered by Mortimer Contracts. Works at Sproughton were funded through Active Travel funding and delivered by Greenways Countryside Project, with support from Bramford Parish Council. **The bottom line:** Walkers and local communities can once again enjoy the full 17-mile Gipping Valley River Path, connecting communities, wildlife habitats and local heritage along the River Gipping. More information on the Gipping Valley River Path and other walks is available on the [Discover Suffolk website](https://www.discoversuffolk.org.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### TV chef's meal planning app now free for Suffolk residents URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tv-chefs-meal-planning-app-now-free-for-suffolk-residents/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T07:00:38.000Z **Why it matters:** Premium membership for FiveDinners usually costs £86 per year, but anyone living in the county can currently use the service for free, with organisers highlighting the summer holidays as a particularly useful time to sign up. **The details:** FiveDinners creates a personalised meal plan complete with a weekly shopping list and step-by-step instructions. The platform offers meal suggestions which are affordable, family-friendly and can take less than 20 minutes to cook, alongside a dedicated summer recipe category. - Residents set their own preferences, including the number of people they are feeding and any allergies, and receive a new personalised meal plan and shopping list every week - The service is designed to save time and money and reduce food waste - More than 2,000 people from Suffolk are already using the service - You do not have to be a parent to use it – it is open to anyone in Suffolk **Who's behind it:** FiveDinners was founded by Theo Michaels, a TV chef and presenter who appeared on MasterChef and was the regular chef on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch for over two years, with regular appearances on ITV and BBC. He is an award-winning author with nine published cookbooks. **What they're saying:** Theo Michaels said: "As a father of three and working full-time, I know how hard it can be for many families and individuals to figure out what to cook every night – it is a faff! By working with Feel Good Suffolk, we're making it easier for families to enjoy delicious, affordable, home-cooked meals together while helping them save money and cut food waste. And because the plans are personalised, residents set their preferences, \[including the\] number of people they are feeding, allergies, etc. and get a brand-new personalised meal plan with a complete shopping list every week." Georgina Howe, strategic manager for Feel Good Suffolk, added: "We've been delighted to partner with FiveDinners to provide this great resource to our communities. It's a practical, positive way to support healthier lifestyles, reduce the stress of meal planning, and help households manage costs during challenging times. Summer can be a particularly challenging time for families so we're reminding everyone ahead of the holidays. It's free and easy to get started so why not sign up today!" **For context:** Feel Good Suffolk is a partnership between Suffolk's county, district and borough councils and Abbeycroft Leisure, working closely with the NHS Suffolk and Norfolk Integrated Care Board. The service supports people to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing, focused on managing a healthy weight, giving up smoking and becoming more active. FiveDinners is trusted by over 40,000 users, councils, NHS Trusts and organisations nationwide, and offers tailored meal plans, including menopause-friendly, mums-to-be, gluten-free and calorie-controlled options. **What's next:** Residents can sign up for free at [FiveDinners.com/MyCommunity](https://fivedinners.com/MyCommunity?ref=ipswich.co.uk) by selecting their district council – Babergh, East Suffolk, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk or West Suffolk. **The bottom line:** With school meals off the table during the holidays, Suffolk families and individuals can now access a normally paid-for meal planning service at no cost, aimed at easing the pressure of feeding a household over summer. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ellisons appoints new dispute resolution partner URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ellisons-appoints-new-dispute-resolution-partner/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T07:00:17.000Z **Why it matters:** The appointment brings around 20 years' experience to the firm, with Tiffen advising businesses, company directors, shareholders and high-net-worth individuals on complex legal disputes. **The details:** Tiffen's work spans disagreements between business owners, supply chain contractual issues, professional negligence claims and "team move" injunctions. He also specialises in contentious probate and is a full member of ACTAPS, having acted in complex disputes involving high-net-worth individuals' estates, including issues of capacity, undue influence and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. - Tiffen has particular expertise in cases where business assets form part of an estate and the terms of a will or trust conflict with a company's governing documents. - He has also developed a specialist practice in franchise disputes, advising both franchisors and franchisees, including national and international brands – an area in which relatively few solicitors nationally specialise. **What they're saying:** [Lee Pearce](https://ellisons.com/team/lee-pearce/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), Head of Dispute Resolution at [Ellisons](https://ellisons.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), said: "When clients come to us, they're usually dealing with an issue that's distracting them from running their business or dealing with their personal affairs. They need clear advice, sound commercial judgement and someone who can help them decide the best way forward. That's exactly what Robert brings. Winning an argument isn't always the same as solving a problem, and he understands that. He has an excellent reputation across the region and his breadth of experience further strengthens what we can offer clients." Tiffen said: "No one expects to become involved in a dispute. Whether it's a disagreement between shareholders, a contract that hasn't worked out as planned or a claim against an estate, my role is to help clients understand their options and find the best way forward. Sometimes that's through negotiation, sometimes it's through litigation, but the focus is always on helping clients move forward with confidence. What attracted me to Ellisons was the commitment to building long-term relationships with clients, which has always been important to me. It's an exciting opportunity to join a growing team and help support individuals and businesses across the region." **For context:** Ellisons' Dispute Resolution team helps businesses, organisations and private individuals prevent, manage and resolve disputes across a broad range of contentious areas, including commercial and contractual disputes, shareholder and partnership disagreements, professional negligence claims, insolvency, construction, property litigation, and contentious probate disputes. **The bottom line:** Wherever possible, Tiffen works with clients to resolve issues at an early stage, but where litigation is unavoidable, he provides clear, strategic advice focused on achieving the right commercial outcome for those he represents. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Who kicked the dogs out...but let Waffles in? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/who-kicked-the-dogs-out-but-let-waffles-in/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T13:20:45.000Z On 3 July 2026, Suffolk County Council's Safety, Health and Wellbeing team completed a risk assessment titled, with admirable bluntness, "Councillor Michael Hadwen to bring his dog into the workplace". The dog in question, the council has since confirmed, was rescue dog Waffles, adopted from the Blue Cross in Suffolk. The document, prepared for the Leaders' Office, ran through the full canon of workplace canine hazards — supervision, insurance, toileting, allergies, phobias, fire evacuation — and set a review date of 3 January 2027\. Urgent by council standards. The same afternoon, Mike Leake, the council's Head of Health and Safety, emailed Cllr Hadwen directly. "I believe the control measures as outlined and agreed, are both proportionate and pragmatic," he wrote, before asking the Leader to provide evidence of his insurance cover, the details of a designated responsible person for his absence, and emergency contact information, to a named member of the health and safety team. Later that day, Mr Leake forwarded the risk assessment to four named colleagues elsewhere in the council: Andrew Cook, Nigel Inniss, Tim Jermyn and Matthew West. The assessment, he wrote, "has been shared with him and all control measures discussed and agreed," and "office signage has been produced and handed to him for display on the office door," informing the council's workforce at large that Waffles now resided there. ## Top dog in, every other dog out Five days later, on 8 July 2026, the council's Assistance Dogs in the Workplace guidance, document SHAW53G, was quietly updated to v1.2\. Its change history records the update with the sort of understatement normally reserved for minutes of a parish council meeting: "Update to include pets." The revised text, approved by Safety, Health and Wellbeing Advisor Martin Fisher and accountable to Mr Leake as Head of Health and Safety, states: "SCC does not allow emotional support animals or pets onto its premises." Until that point, the guidance had applied only to trained assistance dogs, which it takes some care to define as auxiliary aids under the Equality Act 2010 — expressly, repeatedly, not pets. Support our journalism ****This story cost us £189 to sniff out** One set of rules for council staff, another altogether for its leader. Someone has to keep track of the difference — for £4.75 a month, you can help us to keep sniffing out stories and keep the council's top dog in check. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) A further document, described in later correspondence as a Pets at Work Policy, is understood to have been issued on 9 July 2026 — six days after the risk assessment for Waffles was agreed, and one day after staff were told, in colours most often associated with border collies, that pets were banned. Whatever else can be said about the timing or the hypocrisy of it, nobody could accuse the council of dawdling. The council has since confirmed that neither document applies to elected members at all. Whatever the reason for the new rules, the rules themselves were never going to touch Waffles. ## The council responds The questions arose after a formal challenge to the council's initial handling of a freedom of information request – a response that, on 11 August, left several points unaddressed. Ipswich.co.uk put these points to Suffolk County Council directly, and the council has since provided detailed answers, together with a statement from Cllr Hadwen himself. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/1x1-full-image--28-.png) Waffles (Photo: Suffolk County Council) On authorisation, the council said Cllr Hadwen raised the matter after adopting Waffles, and that the risk assessment and its control measures were discussed and agreed with him by the council's Health and Safety team. On the timing of the guidance change, the council said it was "felt important to avoid any confusion for employees who, on seeing a dog in the office, might reasonably assume they could bring their own pet into the workplace." The Pets at Work Policy (PSCC039) was developed by Human Resources and approved by the Assistant Director for HR and Organisational Development; the amendment to SHAW53G was approved separately by the Head of Health and Safety. Neither, the council said, was introduced specifically for Cllr Hadwen — though many will struggle to agree with that interpretation given the sequence and timing of events. On equalities, the council said no formal Equality Impact Assessment was carried out for the SHAW53G amendment, on the basis that it amounted only to the addition of a definition rather than a material change. Trade unions queried whether an assessment was needed for the Pets at Work Policy; the council said it considered this but concluded it was unnecessary, since the policy "formalised the council's existing position" rather than introducing anything new for staff. Union representatives were present when the policy was approved at the Corporate Change Forum on 8 July 2026 and, the council said, raised no challenge. On insurance, the council confirmed that it sought confirmation of appropriate cover as part of the agreed arrangements, though it declined to comment further on the details of any personal policy. And on the question that started it all: Waffles, the council confirmed, is "a family pet" and not a registered assistance or support dog. ## A word from Waffles's leader Cllr Hadwen started his personal statement by declaring: "The UK is a nation of dog lovers, and I'm proud to be one too." "To be honest, I'm a little surprised that adopting a rescue dog has attracted media attention," he added, either missing or swerving the key point, which is that the media scrutiny was less about his adoption of Waffles, and more about what many will perceive to be one rule for officers, another for councillors. He followed: "However, if it helps shine a light on the many dogs in need of a forever home, then that's no bad thing." "So, I'll use this opportunity to say that if you're thinking about getting a dog, I'd encourage you to consider adopting or fostering through a rescue organisation. Dogs like Waffles have so much love to offer, and by giving them a home you can make a real difference to their lives. "Waffles is still settling into his new life and, on occasion, comes into the office with me. I'm grateful to council officers for helping to clarify the practical arrangements to ensure Waffles, staff, councillors and visitors are comfortable and safe. So far, he's proved to be a very friendly dog who enjoys meeting people, and he seems to have settled into life at Endeavour House remarkably well on the odd occasion he's here." ## The bottom line There are two ways to read this. One is a council leader who adopted a rescue dog and asked officers to help him do right by it. The other is a council that banned pets for every member of staff, under a policy that, as the council confirms, was never able to apply to him or any other elected member in the first place. The facts of both readings are now on the record. What anyone makes of them is, as it should be, up to them. Waffles was not available for comment. Support our journalism ****This story cost us £189 to sniff out** One set of rules for council staff, another altogether for its leader. Someone has to keep track of the difference — for £4.75 a month, you can help us to keep sniffing out stories and keep the council's top dog in check. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) 💬 ****Correction, 17 August 2026:** An earlier version of this article stated that Cllr Hadwen "signed off" the ban on staff pets. The relevant policies were approved by council officers, not by Cllr Hadwen, and this has been corrected. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£206 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Sceptic or not, Ipswich has no excuse not to adapt to a hotter future URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/sceptic-or-not-ipswich-has-no-excuse-not-to-adapt-to-a-hotter-future/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T07:19:36.000Z As a person of a certain age — i.e. old — I do nod off during the day at odd times. During these periods, I have dreams. Some are straightforward; others are of the Martin Luther King Jr. kind (Gen Z people, ask someone old if you do not know who he is). In the next few columns, I would like to share some of these dreams. I would not be a proper Green if I did not start with the subject of climate change. It is immaterial whether you believe in the science of fossil fuel-induced climate change or not. You can see and feel that our weather is changing dramatically, and we need to adjust our lifestyle accordingly — or have our lifestyle changed for us. We have an opportunity to change things for the better. What are you going to do? We no longer need wide open spaces. In parks, we need cool areas sheltered by trees. I walked through Christchurch Park the other day, and people were huddling under the shade of trees, not lying in the wide-open spaces to sunbathe. We need shady spots. Reintroduce the public water fountains that we used to have in parks and public places. Community centres and public buildings in Ipswich should have cool spaces for people who live in flats, etc, so that they can cool down during heatwaves. Remember, it was estimated that 2,700 people died of the heat during the May and June heatwaves this year. During heatwaves, turn Ipswich into a "Cool Town". Open shops later so that people can shop in comfort in the cooler evenings, helping to bring people into town to spend money in local businesses. We need homes built to new specifications that are more resilient. Heat pumps and solar panels should be mandatory on all new houses and buildings. Remember, heat pumps cool as well as heat homes. Together they slash energy bills. We need more sustainable energy production because it is cheaper. As a country, we could become energy self-sufficient. We are doing quite well so far, but still have to try harder. Develop more community energy schemes where we can share the advantages of sustainable energy. We need public and private vehicles to convert to electricity as soon as possible. Buses should be electric. This will cut noise and air pollution. Ipswich needs a proper traffic management system where cars, cycles and pedestrians are given equal status, to encourage people to use their cars less. More about this in weeks to come. We will also need to keep our roads and pathways cleaner so that, in the downpours that are now a regular occurrence, the rubbish and leaves do not clog the drainage system. We need water companies focused solely on producing clean water to sustain life and help our farmers produce staple foods. No longer should they concentrate on profit for shareholders. Support your local Ipswich foodbanks, as food prices will continue to rise and food scarcity will increase as harvests fail or yields decrease. This will disproportionately affect those with lower incomes. Appreciate the nature that you have. Climate change will affect the plants and animals we interact with. Some will disappear altogether from our area; some may be replaced by others. All these changes are about helping communities deal with climate change in a positive way. So far we have let climate change happen to us. Is it not time we took control, as it is our lives being affected? What are you going to do? Do not worry if you are a climate change denier or sceptic — you can still hold your belief. We will deal with the facts; however, you will still have to make changes to your lifestyle. You can leave the worrying and activism to the rest of us who do understand the science and know that unless we act fast, things will get worse before they can get better. I will end with another dreamer, John Lennon. (Gen Z people, surely you know who he is.) > You may say I'm a dreamer > But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us > And the world will be as one *(John Lennon — Imagine)* ### Popular Ipswich Chinese takeaway up for sale for £45,000 URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/popular-ipswich-chinese-takeaway-up-for-sale-for-45-000/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T07:09:11.000Z **The details:** Golden Egg currently operates as a takeaway only, with no indoor seating. The business is listed with an annual turnover of £286,000, equivalent to around £5,500 a week, according to the sale listing. - Net profit has not been disclosed. - The property is being sold on a leasehold basis. - On Google Reviews, the takeaway has an average rating of 3.9 stars based on 179 reviews. - The listing states the space could be adapted to add dine-in facilities, or converted to another type of cuisine. - Free parking is available to the rear of the property. **What's next:** The listing outlines several options a new owner could pursue, including extending opening hours to cover breakfast and lunch trade, adding a seating area, applying for an alcohol licence, and expanding the business's delivery radius and online presence. These are potential opportunities identified in the sale listing, rather than confirmed plans. The listing is registered under reference RX824653 and is being handled by Gilbert & Rose. **The bottom line:** Golden Egg Oriental is on the market with a strong turnover and a loyal customer base, according to Google Reviews, but the sale listing points to several unexplored options, from extended trading hours to an alcohol licence, that could offer a new owner room to grow the business further. [Learn more](https://uk.businessesforsale.com/uk/successful-chinese-takeaway-in-ipswich.aspx?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk Sister Solace: One year of belonging URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-sister-solace-one-year-of-belonging/ Last updated: 2026-08-14T14:05:12.000Z ## The name that came with a purpose Mahjabin has spent her career in education and Suffolk, she says, is home to diverse communities, but opportunities for those communities to meet others with shared lived experience are limited. "There were many amazing organisations doing incredible work, or just working for women in general," she explains. "But there was nothing specifically for Global Majority women." The term "Global Majority" was coined by the Black British educator and activist Rosemary Campbell-Stephens MBE. It recognises that people of African, Arab, Asian, Indigenous and Latin American descent, along with people of mixed heritage, collectively make up around 80–85% of the world's population. "I started Suffolk Sister Solace because I knew how powerful it could be to have a room full of women who understand your experiences," Mahjabin says. "Across many cultures, we refer to our friends and the women in our communities as 'sisters', I wanted to create a space where women could find that sense of sisterhood and seek solace." "It's quite a new term," Mahjabin says. "In the UK, we hear terms like 'minority ethnic' a lot, because here we're a small population. But on the Global Majority side of things, we make up most of the world." Suffolk Sister Solace initially described itself as being for "Black, Brown and underrepresented women", before Mahjabin settled on the language she felt fitted the group's identity more closely. ## The unrest that sparked a sisterhood The idea for Suffolk Sister Solace had sat with Mahjabin for years before she finally acted on it in August 2025\. She is clear about what finally pushed her to take the leap. "I think there was a lot of racial unrest in the summers of 2024 and 2025," she says. "I found it quite unsettling personally, and I thought there was no better time to start Suffolk Sister Solace than now, because I believe unity is really important." She points to Operation Raise the Colours and the riots that followed the Southport stabbings, in which three young girls tragically lost their lives, as a turning point. "As a result, there were a lot of racial attacks, not just there but in other places in the UK too. It made me personally feel a bit bothered, like I don't belong here." She was not alone in that feeling. "When I did start the organisation, quite a few people reached out to me and said they felt this was a great time to start something like this, especially with so much going on." ## Selling out, one event at a time Suffolk Sister Solace has since become a registered Community Interest Company, with Mahjabin running everything on her own and alongside her full-time job. She now runs events roughly every six weeks. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/20260704_203947--1--1.jpg) Paint, Pour, & Bear event taken at AMPP studio (Photo: Suffolk Sister Solace) "The first event had ten people, which was more than fifty per cent capacity," she says. "After that, every single event has sold out – within a week. It's got to the point now where women message asking if they can be put on a waiting list." Attendance has settled into a roughly even split between newcomers and returning faces, many of whom bring friends along. "The response I've received has been overwhelming, but in a positive way," Mahjabin says. "It's really touching seeing how many women resonate with Suffolk Sister Solace." One pattern has stood out to her in particular: how many women arrive on their own. "It's so nice seeing how nervous they are when they first attend, and then how confident and happy they are when they leave," she says. An ice-breaker at the start of every event is designed to ease that nervousness before it takes hold. "I believe this is a really exciting time for Suffolk Sister Solace CIC," Mahjabin says. "We're growing at a rapid rate. This is evident through almost all of our events selling out, and our regular attendees. I'm really looking forward to watching Suffolk Sister Solace CIC continue to flourish." ## Built around accessibility Suffolk Sister Solace runs two distinct types of event. Sister Socials are exclusively for Global Majority women; Community & Connect events are open to the wider community. Affordability and accessibility sit at the centre of how every event is run. Tickets are kept deliberately low, typically ranging from £3 to £12, with concession rates available for anyone unable to pay full price. "One of the biggest barriers to people attending events in general is price, especially somewhere like Ipswich, where socio-economic factors are really important," Mahjabin says. Every event is preceded by a questionnaire covering accessibility requirements, step-free access, anxiety and dietary needs, and followed by a feedback survey. "That helps me understand and identify if there's any accessibility needs," she says. For Mahjabin, this is about more than logistics. "Representation is more than just walking into a room and seeing yourself reflected," she says. "It's about having autonomy in what the room looks and feels like. That's why we use pre-event questionnaires and post-event surveys. Inclusivity is the driving force behind what we do, and it's vital that our sisters know their needs are being heard and accommodated." Until this year, every event had been entirely self-funded, with ticket sales covering costs. In May, Suffolk Sister Solace received its first ever grant: £3,000 from the Tudwick Foundation, a grant-giving trust founded in 2019 by members of the Bennett family that supports communities and charitable organisations across Essex and Suffolk. ## One year on This Saturday, Suffolk Sister Solace marks its first anniversary with a Pizza, Play & Party evening: a DJ, pizza, games and a raffle in which every prize comes from a Global Majority woman-owned business. "I really want to celebrate Global Majority women," Mahjabin says. "There'll be a DJ, there'll be pizza, and opportunities to win prizes throughout the night." Supporting other Global Majority-led businesses matters to her as she builds her own. "I also want to continue supporting local businesses, particularly those led by Global Majority women," she says. "When they win, we all win!" Looking beyond the anniversary, she wants Suffolk Sister Solace to grow into supporting age groups beyond the 30 to 50-year-olds who currently make up most attendees. Eventually, she hopes to build a small paid team. For now, though, the mission remains the same one she started with. "It's not easy being a woman in this world," she says. "If we can have a space where women can talk about their experiences – both positive and negative – then that's amazing." ## The bottom line What began as one woman's response to a difficult summer has, in 12 months, become a community that sells out its own events. Suffolk Sister Solace's growth – from ten attendees at its first gathering to waiting lists, a first grant and an anniversary party built around supporting other women's businesses – suggests this was a space Suffolk needed. As she puts it, the aim was always simple: a place where Global Majority women in Suffolk could find solace. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£67 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich.co.uk announces exciting new columnist lineup URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-co-uk-announces-exciting-new-columnist-lineup/ Last updated: 2026-08-14T08:23:51.000Z Since its launch, Ipswich.co.uk has focused on objective, nonpartisan reporting on the issues that matter most to local people. That work will continue unchanged. But a town's news is only a part of its story. The other part is what people think about that news, and why. More than two-thirds of this town read Ipswich.co.uk each month. That reach comes with responsibility. Part of meeting it, we believe, is not just telling readers what has happened, but giving space to the people who disagree about what it means. From Friday 14 August, Ipswich.co.uk will carry regular opinion and comment for the first time. The new Opinion section is separate from our own reporting, and it will be clearly labelled as such. ## The lineup For the first time in at least my memory, representatives from every political party shall be regularly contributing to a single publication: Ipswich's only Green councillor David Plowman; Martin Cook, Leader of the Labour group at Suffolk County Council; Oliver Holmes, Leader of the Liberal Democrats group; former Conservative councillor and county council cabinet member Nadia Cenci; and businessman and Reform UK member Stephen Britt. Alongside them will be an independent columnist writing under the pseudonym 'The Insider', leaning on their vast experience and contact book to offer a unique and witty perspective of Suffolk politics. We know not everyone will agree with the decision to publish anonymously – but we believe that the majority of our readers will enjoy the column for what it is and draw their own conclusions. Our political contributors shall be joined by independent, non-political voices writing about the subjects that really matter to this town. Barbara Norrey, AKA The West Stand Senior, will continue covering ITFC from her beloved West Stand; Lee Walker will share his insights on place, culture and the regeneration of Ipswich; Steve Brown will opine on the intersection of business and current affairs; and Zelly Lisanework will be covering Ipswich's thriving arts scene. More announcements expected soon. ## What this is, and what it is not An opinion column is an argument, not an update. Each columnist will be free to make their own case, in their own words, on the issues they consider important. What they write will be theirs alone. We publish these views. We do not hold them. Ipswich.co.uk remains nonpartisan and impartial in its own reporting, and that will not change. Giving a columnist space to write does not mean we agree with them, disagree with them, or endorse their conclusions. It means we believe our readers are capable of hearing an argument, weighing it, and making up their own minds. That principle applies equally to all five political columnists, regardless of party. We are not in the business of deciding whose views are acceptable to publish and whose are not, provided they are lawful, factually accurate, and a fair reflection of the subject at hand. Freedom of speech, democratic debate and the ability to listen to views we do not share are things we value, even when, and perhaps especially when, that discomforts us. ## The bottom line For many of our 67,000-117,000 monthly readers, Ipswich.co.uk has become the publication of record in this town. That is why we think opinion belongs here now: a publication with the reach we now have should be a place where the town's conversations happen, not just where its news is recorded. We are opening our pages, not our position. What you make of what our columnists say is, as it should be, up to you. If you have something worth saying about life in Ipswich, we want to hear from you. [Write for us](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/write-for-us/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council defends 'no-brainer' bus subsidy as costs questioned URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-defends-no-brainer-bus-subsidy-as-costs-questioned/ Last updated: 2026-08-14T08:19:18.000Z **Why it matters:** The routes provide vital links to employment, healthcare, shopping and social opportunities for residents who would otherwise struggle to travel independently, particularly older people and those living with disabilities. **The details:** The council currently funds 14 bus routes across the borough at a total annual cost of £203,000\. Executive councillors agreed at a meeting on Tuesday, 11 August, to continue the subsidy for a further three years as existing contracts near their January end date. - The routes are paid for entirely from the surplus generated by parking charges at Cromwell Square, in St Nicholas Street. - The decision means the routes are set to run at least until the end of March 2030. **The other side:** Opposition councillors raised concerns about the amount of money spent on some of the services, with the council having to spend between £1.67 and £7.69 per passenger, depending on the route. The number of passengers using the routes also fell, from 72,541 in 2024 to 68,313 last year. **What they're saying:** Cllr Jane Riley, the council's culture and customers lead, said the routes would not be commercially viable for private companies but provided significant social value. "These services provide important access to employment, healthcare, shopping and social opportunities for those people who might otherwise be unable to travel independently," she said. Cllr Carole Jones defended the spending, saying: "When we subsidise services it's because we're basing that subsidy on need, not for a desire to make profit – it's a no-brainer, of course we should do it." **The bottom line:** Despite falling passenger numbers and questions over value for money on some routes, the council has opted to prioritise access over profitability, securing subsidised bus services for Ipswich residents until at least 2030. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich schools and colleges celebrate a strong set of results URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-schools-and-colleges-celebrate-a-strong-set-of-results/ Last updated: 2026-08-13T18:10:39.000Z This week, 1.1 million level 3 qualification results were issued across England – covering AS and A-levels, applied general qualifications and tech levels. Of those, 835,950 were A-level results, with 28.3% graded A or above and 78.1% graded C or above nationally. The East of England recorded 27.9% of its 98,595 A-level results at grade A or above and 77.9% at grade C or above – both marginally below the England-wide average. London and the South East recorded the highest proportion of top grades of any English region, at 32.7% and 31.5% respectively. Ofqual also publishes results by centre type, with independent schools, sixth form colleges, grammar schools and further education colleges each recording very different national averages – a useful backdrop for looking at how individual Ipswich institutions performed this year. ## Ipswich School, leading the way Ipswich School reported that 84% of grades were awarded at A\*–B or their BTEC equivalents – a figure bettered only once at the school in the past 20 years – with 53% of A-levels and BTEC equivalents secured at A\* or A grade. Nationally, independent schools recorded 48.6% of A-level results at grade A and above, so Ipswich School's figure sits some way above the average for fee-paying schools. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/2-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/3-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/4-1.jpg) Ipswich School students celebrate their A-Level results (Photos: Ipswich School) Head Nick Gregory said: "There is a huge amount in this set of results of which to be exceptionally proud, right across the 120+ pupils in our Year 13 cohort." He pointed to a recent ISI inspection, which found that Ipswich School "teachers know the pupils well and develop positive relationships with them", that they "develop pupils' curiosity and encourage critical thinking", and that the school provides "an ambitious education with pastoral care that nurtures pupils' physical and emotional well being". "Moments like this make worthwhile for everyone here the day-in, day-out hard work, dedication and care that earned such comments in the first place," he added. Head of sixth form Ben Cliff said: "What is so special today for those of us in the Sixth Form Team at Ipswich School is knowing the individual stories behind some of the less obvious outcomes." He added that "more leavers than ever before are heading off to degree apprenticeships." ## One Sixth Form College This year, 670 students at One Sixth Form College received A-level results, with an overall A\* to E pass rate of 96%. The A\* to C pass rate rose to 68%, up from 67% in 2025, while the A\* to B pass rate climbed to 41.3%, up from 39% the previous year. Ancient History, mathematics and politics were among the college's top-performing subjects. Nationally, sixth form colleges recorded 78.1% of A-level results at grade C and above – the same measure as the college's A\* to C figure, which stood at 68% this year. Over 500 students also took vocational qualifications at the college, with a 99% pass rate, led by applied science, engineering, ICT and forensic and criminal investigation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/1---Leo-Christie-from-One-Sixth-Form-College-got-three-A-s-and-is-now-off-to-do-a-degree-apprenticeship-at-Sizewell-C-in-cyber-security.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/2---Jessamy-Lloyd-from-One-Sixth-Form-College-is-off-to-Corpus-Christi-in-Campbridge.JPG) Leo Christi and Jessamy Lloyd (Photos: One Sixth Form College) Jake Robson, group sixth form principal at One Sixth Form College, which is part of Eastern Education Group, said: "More students enrolled with us than ever before, we have achieved our highest-ever levels of retention, more students have succeeded in gaining qualifications, and more have improved the quality of their outcomes. These results are truly exceptional." Individual students had plenty to celebrate too. Leo Christie, 18, from Hadleigh, achieved three A grades and is starting a cyber security degree apprenticeship with Sizewell C. "I chose somewhere like Sizewell C because they are working towards net zero and that is something I really care about," he said. "I want to have a meaningful impact on society." Jessamy Lloyd, 18, from Ipswich, achieved three A\*s and a B and is heading to Corpus Christi in Cambridge to study English. "Getting these results helps me believe in myself," she said. ## Suffolk New College Suffolk New College reported an overall pass rate of 95% across 668 learners taking level 3 courses, including a 98.8% pass rate among 178 UAL students, an 89% pass rate among 103 T Level students, and a 93.5% pass rate among 182 BTEC students, with nearly half achieving a distinction. A further 41 students took technical qualifications, with a 94.4% pass rate, including a 100% pass rate for equine students. Among students nationally expected to complete their T Level this summer, 95.4% achieved a pass or above in the occupational specialism component, and 98.7% achieved a pass or above in the core component. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/1---Chloe-Cattermole-received-a-distinction-on-her-course.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/2---Elsa-Rae-Vanmegen-received--Suffolk-New-College-health-student-of-the-year.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/3---Eniola-Odelabu-got-a-distinction-on-her-course.jpg) Suffolk New College students celebrate their results (Photos: SNC) Suffolk New College's own reported pass rate of 89% for its 103 T Level students sits below both of those national component figures, though the college's results cover the T Level as a whole rather than either component in isolation, so the two are not measuring precisely the same thing. Ofqual does not publish comparable national pass-rate figures for UAL, BTEC or other technical qualifications. Deputy principal Marianne Flack said: "We are delighted with the results this year. The students have worked incredibly hard and we are really pleased in terms of the proportion of high grades that have been achieved on BTEC courses." Among individual students, Chloe Cattermole, 18, from Stowmarket, gained a distinction on her Early Years T Level – one of the top grades in the country on her course – and is heading to Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford to study teacher training. ## St Joseph's College St Joseph's College said its proportion of A\*–A grades was 23% higher than initial projections. The school did not publish an absolute percentage of A\*–A grades, so its results cannot be set directly against the national independent-school average of 48.6% at grade A and above. The school, which describes itself as non-selective, said 90% of CTEC students achieved the highest Distinction\* grade, while the average BTEC grade was a Distinction – equivalent to an A. Among Extended Project Qualification students, 85% achieved A\*–B. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Untitled-design--1---1-.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_4981.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Untitled-design--2-.png) St Jo's students celebrated with their families (Photos: St Joseph's College) Deputy principal Sacha Cinnamond said: "The significance of these results goes beyond headline numbers. St Jo's is deliberately non-academically selective, and yet our inclusive model and academic ambition are not competing ideals." S tudents are heading to universities including Kings College, Goldsmiths and Durham. Tommy achieved AAD*D* and will study Industrial Economics with a placement year at Nottingham University. Alicia achieved A*AA and will study Natural Sciences at University College London. Chloe, who also achieved AAD*D\*, will start a Level 4 Insurance Professional apprenticeship at Willis Towers Watson. ## The bottom line Four very different institutions, four very different results days – but a common thread of hard work paying off. For Ipswich's students, the numbers are only part of the story; what comes next, from Cambridge to Sizewell C, is just beginning. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£81 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich School enjoys best A Level results in two decades URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-school-enjoys-best-a-level-results-in-two-decades/ Last updated: 2026-08-13T14:43:43.000Z **Why it matters:** The figure has only been bettered once at the school in the past two decades, with more than half of all A Levels awarded at the very top grades. **The details:** Well over 40 boys and girls across the school's 120+ strong Year 13 cohort secured three A grades or higher, spanning both A Levels and the school's BTEC in Sport and Exercise Science. - 84% of grades were A\*–B or their BTEC equivalent - 53% of A Levels, and their BTEC equivalents, were graded A\* or A **What they're saying:** Head of Ipswich School Nick Gregory said: "There is a huge amount in this set of results of which to be exceptionally proud, right across the 120+ pupils in our Year 13 cohort. Especially eye-catching and praiseworthy is that no fewer than 53% of A Levels (and their equivalents in BTEC) were secured at A\* or A grade level." He pointed to a recent ISI inspection, which found that Ipswich School "teachers know the pupils well and develop positive relationships with them", that they "develop pupils' curiosity and encourage critical thinking", and that the school provides "an ambitious education with pastoral care that nurtures pupils' physical and emotional well being". "Moments like this make worthwhile for everyone here the day-in, day-out hard work, dedication and care that earned such comments in the first place," he added. Ben Cliff, Head of Sixth Form, said: "What is so special today for those of us in the Sixth Form Team at Ipswich School is knowing the individual stories behind some of the less obvious outcomes, and also truly appreciating the breadth of talent on show in this group." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/2.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/3.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/4.jpg) Ipswich School students with their A-Levels results (Photos: Ipswich School) He added that students had also been excelling in "elite music, sport and on stage, at national and international level", and said "more leavers than ever before are heading off to degree apprenticeships" as they look towards their next steps. **The bigger picture:** The school said this year's results continue a long record of strong academic performance, alongside a growing breadth of opportunities and pathways for pupils beyond the classroom. Ipswich School has been named Suffolk's top independent school in The Sunday Times Schools Guide for ten consecutive years. **The bottom line:** For Ipswich School, results day has delivered one of its best performances in 20 years – with staff pointing to strength both in the exam hall and beyond it. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Man jailed for stalking woman despite Suffolk ban URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-jailed-for-stalking-woman-despite-suffolk-ban/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T15:16:25.000Z **Why it matters:** John Sayers, of no fixed abode but previously from the Ipswich area, had been made subject of a domestic abuse protection order with conditions not to enter Suffolk or contact the victim. He breached those conditions on multiple occasions over four days. **The details:** Sayers appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Friday, 31 July, having previously pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress. Between 24 and 27 July, Sayers attended the victim's address several times: - On one occasion, he threw stones at her window in the early hours of the morning, shouting from outside to speak to her. - On another day, he left a large cuddly toy on her doorstep. - He later posted several letters through her letterbox, in which he intimated that he planned to harm himself. One visit was captured on the victim's doorbell camera, in which he can be heard asking neighbours to call an ambulance for him. Sayers was initially taken to hospital for treatment to self-inflicted injuries, before being arrested by police and taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. He was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment, handed a two-year restraining order and ordered to pay costs totalling £239. **What they're saying:** Detective Sergeant Wendy Pritchard, who was the officer in charge of the case, said: "Sayers demonstrated unwanted, obsessive and fixated behaviour whilst repeatedly ignoring court orders. He has shown a complete disregard for the impact his actions have had on the victim. "His behaviour was totally unacceptable, and his custodial sentence reflects that. "I would urge anyone who has been impacted by stalking behaviour or abuse to report it to us." **For context:** Anyone affected by stalking or abuse is encouraged to contact police, or the Suffolk Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 977 5690\. Advice and support on stalking and harassment is available via the [Suffolk Constabulary website](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/sh/stalking-harassment?ref=ipswich.co.uk), with a list of support organisations [available here](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/support-organisations/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). **The bottom line:** Sayers ignored a court order designed to protect his victim, escalating his behaviour over several days before his arrest. He is now subject to a further two-year restraining order. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### One simple ask: A cancer patient's fight to see her own medical notes URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/one-simple-ask-a-cancer-patients-fight-to-see-her-own-medical-notes/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T13:23:26.000Z Glenda Foster, 73, from Ipswich, underwent breast cancer surgery in October 2023\. Since the spring of this year, she has had one particular, persistent request of her NHS Trust: to see the audit trail behind two entries recorded by breast care nurses on the Somerset Cancer Register, the digital system used to log her care in the run-up to that surgery. "I have requested they provide audit trails that record who made a change, what was changed and when," Ms Foster wrote in her original request to East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), submitted on 27 April 2026. More than two years after her surgery, she was seeking what she believed was a straightforward account of her own data, something she says she is legally entitled to as a matter of course under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. ## Months of back and forth Under data protection law, organisations generally have one calendar month to respond to a subject access request. Ms Foster's case would run for nearly three months before reaching its disputed conclusion. The first response arrived on 26 May, a month after her request. It came not as the detailed record she had asked for, but as a screenshot of a summary audit log: seven logged actions against one entry, from 28 September 2023, and two against another, from 23 October 2023 — inserts and updates, timestamped to the minute, but without any detail of what had actually been written or changed. Ms Foster wrote back to the Trust's Information Governance team to say this had not answered her request. A lengthy exchange followed through June, during which, she says, a follow-up asking for the same information was treated as a new request rather than a continuation of her original one. She also approached the Trust's Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), which directed her to the general medical records portal — a system she says cannot be used to obtain the type of audit trail she needed. "PALS have been worse than useless," she says. By 18 June, having received no fuller response, she complained to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which opened a case, and separately requested an internal review from the Trust. On 25 June, ESNEFT sent a further response as part of that review: screenshots of the notes for both dates, and a statement that "these entries have not been amended or updated since creation." Ms Foster maintained this still fell short of what she had asked for. The Trust concluded its internal review on 17 July, considering her request now fully answered. ## What the audit trail shows – and what it doesn't At the heart of Ms Foster's frustration is a distinction that has run through the entire process: the difference between a log of *when* something was entered or updated on the system, and a record of *what* was actually written, or changed, each time. The audit log the Trust provided shows the former and nothing more. For the first date, it records six actions within the same minute — one initial entry and five updates — followed by a further entry logged 25 minutes later. For the second, one entry and one update, three minutes apart. What, if anything, those updates actually changed has not, on the evidence available, been disclosed to Ms Foster at any stage. Full paper printouts of the notes for both dates, considerably longer documents than the single-page screenshots the Trust had provided, were separately obtained by Ms Foster and shown to this publication. They confirm that the clinical record for each date runs to substantially more than what she was sent. Ms Foster believes the gap points to something more troubling. "It is illegal to alter notes with the intention of falsification," she says, and has said she believes her notes may have been "doctored" — a claim the Trust disputes, and which nothing in the material seen by this publication proves either way. What is clear is that the specific information she originally asked for, a record of what, if anything, was changed in each entry, does not appear to have been provided. ## The regulator's view The ICO investigated Ms Foster's complaint and, on 14 July, issued what it called an "educational outcome" to the Trust regarding its handling of the request, before declining to take further action. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/ipswich-hospital-zoomed-out-1-2.jpg) Ipswich Hospital (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) In a decision letter dated 3 August, the ICO was careful to define the limits of that outcome. It had "not examined the records held by the Trust", it told Ms Foster, "and are therefore not in a position to determine what information is held or what should be disclosed in response to your request." Nor, it said, did its decision "mean the ICO has concluded that the Trust has complied with data protection law in every respect" — only that no further regulatory action would be taken. For Ms Foster, the outcome amounted to little. "They will not reopen my case because they have written to the hospital and given them education on what they should do," she says. "What a joke!" Reflecting on the process as a whole. "So much for the law." ## Where things stand Ms Foster has since instructed solicitors, who have separately pressed the Trust for the same audit trail information on her behalf. "I do not need their reassurances regarding any notes," she said. "I just want the notes." ESNEFT's interim chief executive, Adrian Marr, said: "We are in contact with Ms Foster's solicitor to provide more context about the information we have already shared with her. The Trust has also asked for more details about Ms Foster's concerns so we can help her further and work towards a resolution." The Trust said it had reviewed its handling of the requests made on 27 April and 10 June, and was satisfied that it had provided information to Ms Foster within the statutory timescale on both occasions, treating the two dates as separate requests, each answered within a month. Ms Foster disputes that characterisation, viewing the 10 June exchange as a continuation of her original request rather than a new one. Asked what she wants to happen next, Ms Foster said: "It shouldn't happen, and if it has, those responsible should be taken to task" — and, she hopes, it will not happen to someone else. ## The bottom line Ms Foster's dispute over one audit trail may look, at first glance, like a narrow, technical matter. But it touches on a wider principle: patients who have questions about the care they received, whether for peace of mind or because they are weighing a formal complaint or litigation, are entitled to see their own records in full, within a reasonable time. Where that access is delayed, partial or contested, patients are left in limbo, regulators can offer little beyond words of guidance, and the only remaining route is often a legal one. More than three months after her original request, and just over a week after the ICO closed her case, Glenda Foster still does not have the answer she first asked for in April. "I just want the notes," she says. It is hard to argue that is an unreasonable place to start. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£351 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New parking operator to invest in Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts improvements URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-parking-operator-to-invest-in-tacket-street-and-tower-ramparts-improvements/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T07:47:08.000Z **Why it matters:** The pledge comes after a chaotic fortnight for drivers using the two car parks, with signage and payment apps switching between NCP and Q-Park more than once as the handover got underway. **The details:** Q-Park says it has signed a contract to take over 20 parking facilities across the UK, including Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts, from 8 August 2026\. The sites have been acquired on long-term leases, which the company says enables it to invest in them. That investment includes "comprehensive refurbishment programmes across both vehicle parking areas and pedestrian routes, improving the appearance, functionality and accessibility of each location," according to Q-Park. The company also plans to install modern parking management equipment and digital services, including online pre-booking and its app. Across its wider UK network, Q-Park says it will invest in electric vehicle charging infrastructure "where appropriate". **What they're saying:** Adam Bidder, managing director of Q-Park UK, said: "We are delighted to have completed this agreement, which marks a significant expansion of our portfolio of city centre parking facilities across the UK. It allows us to bring the Q-Park brand and service offering to a wider range of towns and cities, including locations where we have not previously operated. We remain committed to investing in our network and will continue to explore further acquisition opportunities as part of our long-term growth strategy." **The other side:** The refurbishment promise comes after a bumpy start to the handover. Both car parks briefly reverted to NCP on 4 August, days after Q-Park had originally been due to take over, with an NCP attendant describing the situation as "a serious mess" and saying Q-Park "are having some issues." Tacket Street then switched back to Q-Park on 7 August, though at that point Tower Ramparts remained on NCP's signage and app. One car park user told Ipswich.co.uk: "I feel confused and stressed. I've not known what app to use. I've not known how to pay. As a student, I don't have the money to be fined." **For context:** NCP was placed into administration on 16 March 2026, with PwC partners Zelf Hussain, Rachael Wilkinson and Toby Banfield appointed as joint administrators. NCP subsequently told customers it would cease operating a number of UK sites from 1 August 2026, including Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts, with Q-Park taking over. **What's next:** It remains to be seen how quickly the promised refurbishment work will get underway, and whether the operator confusion of recent weeks has been fully resolved. **The bottom line:** Despite a turbulent start to the takeover, Q-Park says it remains committed to overhauling Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts as part of its wider UK expansion. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Being offended is not the same as being harmed URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/being-offended-is-not-the-same-as-being-harmed/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T07:39:02.000Z I was flattered and excited to accept the invitation to serve as the regular Conservative voice for a media outlet I highly respect for its balanced, thorough, and thoughtful content. In my regular pieces, I intend to be outspoken and speak my truth, and that will come as no surprise to anyone! I will try to be fair. I will try to be thoughtful. I will listen to arguments with which I disagree. And more importantly, I have no intention of deliberately causing offence. But I am also not going to spend my time treading on eggshells in case someone finds an argument uncomfortable, because being authentic and honest is how we start solving the real issues. We have reached a point where our determination not to offend anyone is beginning to prevent us from having the honest conversations we desperately need. We seem to have moved from asking whether words are true, useful or malicious to simply whether somebody might be offended. A free society cannot make the avoidance of offence its highest priority. We live in an age of "hurty words", safe spaces and trigger warnings. We increasingly hear that certain conversations are harmful simply because they make people uncomfortable or offend. However, we have to give our permission in order to be offended. It is not the words we hear or the actions we see that hurt us, but the meaning we give them and our reactions to them. If we *choose* to be offended, we have to deal with it in a grown-up, useful way. Words that previous generations would have regarded as criticism, disagreement, or simply an opinion are sometimes treated as a form of injury. There is an important distinction here. Bullying is wrong. Abuse is wrong. Deliberate discrimination is wrong. Deliberately humiliating or intimidating another person is wrong. But being offended is not the same as being harmed. Someone disagreeing with you isn't necessarily an attack. And hearing something you don't like isn't necessarily something you need protecting from. Sometimes, you simply need to hear it, and sometimes the answer is just "I disagree". Thankfully, we are now seeing something of a sea change. The police are no longer going to be involved in "non-crime hate crime" squabbles, the most ridiculous of all phrases that I've ever heard within the justice system. Universities have been told that offensive speech is still free speech, and from 1 September, a new complaints system will allow individuals to complain about the suppression of free speech at universities, managed by the Office for Students in England. But more needs to be done, and I will not be holding back on the important issues of our time. I will undoubtedly have people who disagree. I will certainly annoy some people. And I hope I will occasionally make people think. But I won't be walking on eggshells. If we become so frightened of saying the wrong thing that we stop having honest conversations, we don't create a better society – we create a quieter one. ### Ipswich Town's commercial chief joins Ipswich Central board URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-towns-commercial-chief-joins-ipswich-central-board/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T07:38:38.000Z **Why it matters:** The appointment strengthens ties between the football club and the BID as Ipswich Central continues to drive investment and deliver its ambitious plans for Ipswich town centre. **The details:** Wood is a commercial executive with an extensive global track record across the sports industry. Before joining Ipswich Town, he held senior roles with City Football Group, Manchester City, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and global sports agency IMG. His appointment comes shortly after Ipswich Central secured a fresh five-year mandate, following a ballot in which businesses voted overwhelmingly to renew the Business Improvement District (BID) until 2032\. The ballot delivered 91% support by number and 94% by rateable value, comfortably exceeding the statutory thresholds required to pass. [Ipswich businesses back BID for another five yearsIpswich businesses have voted overwhelmingly to renew the Ipswich Central Business Improvement District (BID), securing a fresh five-year mandate to continue town centre investment until 2032.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-8dd25b08-eaaa-4264-930a-f7beb35eaad4.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-17-at-13.55.48-1-ab6b019f-a7dd-4d95-8f6c-4db07532409e.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-businesses-back-bid-for-another-five-years/) **What they're saying:** Wood said: "It's a privilege to join the Board of Ipswich Central and represent the hundreds of local businesses, educational institutions, and community organisations that contribute so much to the success and vitality of Ipswich. "I have made a long-term commitment to Ipswich Town Football Club and to the town itself, and I am passionate about supporting its continued growth and development. Through this role, I look forward to working collaboratively with fellow board members and stakeholders to raise the profile of Ipswich, attract new opportunities, and help drive sustainable economic and community growth." Lee Walker, Chief Executive of Ipswich Central, said: "We're absolutely delighted to welcome Andrew to the Board. He brings an exceptional commercial track record, an international perspective and a deep understanding of how successful organisations build partnerships, grow revenues and create lasting value. "Over the past year we've worked incredibly closely with Andrew and the team at Ipswich Town, and it's clear that he shares our belief that the football club and the town centre are strongest when they work together. His experience will be invaluable as we deliver our ambitions for the next five years and continue to strengthen the relationship between the club, businesses and the town." Steve Flory, Chair of Ipswich Central, added: "Andrew's appointment is another significant step in ensuring our Board reflects the breadth and ambition of Ipswich's business community. He has built an outstanding career at the highest level of international sport, delivering commercial growth through innovation, partnerships and strategic thinking. Those skills will be enormously valuable as Ipswich Central continues to invest in creating a stronger, safer and more vibrant town centre. We are thrilled to have someone of Andrew's calibre joining the Board." **The bottom line:** Ipswich Central has brought one of Ipswich Town's senior commercial figures onto its board, signalling a closer working relationship between the football club and the town centre as both look to drive growth over the next five years. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Historic Ipswich building returns to its roots as a museum URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/historic-ipswich-building-returns-to-its-roots-as-a-museum/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T10:05:51.000Z **Why it matters:** The Museum Street building has come full circle, reverting to its founding purpose more than 140 years after the original Ipswich Museum relocated. It will now be home to a new cultural venue focused on art, science and the environment. **The details:** MOTE held its first exhibition opening on Friday, 7 August 2026 welcoming visitors to see artist Jane Stewart's exhibition, Re-Form, which runs until 18 September. - Re-Form explores transformation, reuse and the relationship between people and the environment. - The launch also marked the start of two further exhibitions running until 7 February 2027: Beneath the Surface by Zasmina Nedelcevova and MEAT by Sue Gascoyne. - All three form part of MOTE's ongoing programme, The Shape of Change, curated by Alicia Doel. **What they're saying:** Alicia Doel, curator and exhibitions officer at MOTE, said: "I was absolutely thrilled with how the evening went. Seeing people coming into the space, engaging with the work and having conversations was incredibly rewarding. It felt like the perfect first step for MOTE and for what we hope to build here." One visitor said: "I didn't expect the displays to have such an impact on me, but it actually made me feel quite emotional." **The bigger picture:** Built in 1847, the building originally opened as the first Ipswich Museum, becoming a centre for science, natural history and education. It hosted lectures by the Reverend John Stevens Henslow, a botanist and educator who mentored Charles Darwin. The building later became the Arlingtons restaurant before reopening this year as MOTE. **The bottom line:** Nearly two centuries after it first opened as a museum, the historic Museum Street building is once again a place for Ipswich residents to learn, explore and connect – this time with a focus on the environment. MOTE is based at 13 Museum Street, Ipswich, IP1 1HE, and is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11:00-16:00, with free admission. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the new boss – 'remarkably like the old boss' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-new-boss-remarkably-like-the-old-boss/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T10:10:45.000Z What began as Reform UK's Suffolk summer of optimism is beginning to look suspiciously like a Grey October Day. There is an old rule in politics. Politicians rarely lose elections. They simply disappoint enough people that somebody else wins the next one. Reform UK's first 100 or so days running Suffolk County Council have not been a complete disaster. Nobody has accidentally privatised the A14\. Endeavour House remains upright. And 806 more solar farms have been granted planning permission – in the last week. But for a party elected on the promise that it would do politics differently, there is an increasingly awkward question hanging over Reform HQ. Different from what? Back in May, Michael Hadwen inherited something every politician dreams of. Expectation, and a socking great majority. Reform UK were not simply another administration. They were, according to countless national campaign speeches, the people who were going to sweep away the old ways of doing politics. More transparency. Less establishment. More openness. Less bureaucracy. Curiously, most of Suffolk's Reform UK candidates seemed rather less enthusiastic about discussing any of that with the local press – or, remarkably, the voters. Detailed policy was scarce. The campaign was largely left to Nigel Farage grandstanding before thousands at Portman Road while the county candidates kept their heads down. [‘We don’t need you’: Reform shuts door on local media hours after taking control of Suffolk County CouncilShayne Pooley, the chairman of Reform UK in Ipswich, has publicly stated that the party’s new councillors will not be speaking to the media, just hours after Reform won 10 of 16 seats on the borough council and took majority control of the county council.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-7613c8d6-528e-4199-9aee-ba402fce4492.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--9--62f183d2-08ca-4d96-b6aa-d3ff2f24b4a7.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/we-dont-need-you-reform-shuts-door-on-local-media-hours-after-taking-control-of-suffolk-county-council/) It was, though, an effective campaign. It just was not much of a local one. Three months later, that lack of detail is beginning to matter. Because campaigning is one thing. Governing is another. The biggest surprise is not what Reform UK have done. It is what they have not. Where are the Reform UK policies for Suffolk? What has actually changed? The answer, so far, appears to be... not very much. The council continues with the same propositions inherited from the previous administration. The committees still meet. The officers still write the reports. The agenda rolls on. Still, all the logos have changed, and fewer flags are flying. So there is that. The machinery of local government appears largely untouched. Apart from one, some will say, critical matter. Nothing illustrates that better than the constitutional flea-pit pantomime surrounding Suffolk's Local Government Reorganisation. For those fortunate enough not to spend their evenings reading statutory guidance, Suffolk is due to disappear, replaced by three new unitary councils. Councillor Hadwen does not like the proposal. Reform UK does not much like devolution either. He decided Suffolk should challenge the government in the courts. The awkward bit is how that decision appears to have been reached. Opposition leaders Cllrs Cook, Rout and Stringer have all tabled detailed questions, but are still waiting. The legal advice remains unpublished, the disquiet continues to rumble, and the answers have not come. Which feels remarkably like the sort of politics Reform UK spent years criticising. Then comes my favourite bit. The monitoring officer (the council's lawyer) – whose job is to make sure the council follows its own constitution – has concluded that the constitution may not have been followed. The arbiter of this decision was the council's lawyer. But this cannot now be discussed at Cabinet until October because... reasons. [Suffolk County Council watchdog marks own homework, then decides it can waitSuffolk County Council’s monitoring officer found two breaches of law in a process he was part of. He then decided for himself how serious they were, and that the consequences could wait. A leaked report confirms the breaches, but does nothing to explain the delay.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-e5b8c616-ba55-4bdd-b6ea-297d023eae39.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--51--ff7d9309-38bc-4862-9f1b-a5a9e441516b.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-county-council-watchdog-marks-own-homework-then-decides-it-can-wait/) It is a farce in the best British tradition of St Trinian's and Will Hay, who undoubtedly influenced the writers of The Thick of It via black-and-white reruns in the 1980s. Tellingly, those same scribes would be unlikely to accept this story because it is simply too implausible. Yet this is where the good folk of Suffolk find themselves today. This esteemed publication, along with others, is searching for answers. It is a bit like trying to find own-brand bottled water in the supermarket – a surprisingly tough ask. Then there is the legal challenge itself. Reports suggest taxpayers could ultimately be asked to fund it to the tune of £500,000. Let us imagine Reform UK wins the case and... A judge agrees the process was flawed. Prime Minister Andy Burnham corrects the procedural error, signs the paperwork again, and arrives at exactly the same destination. After all, is he not also promising to do politics differently? The cancellation of devolution under the new prevailing political doctrine of "Manchesterism" seems extremely unlikely. The only obvious difference? Time. And, perhaps entirely by coincidence, enough of it to push the 2027 county elections back to 2028. Politics is full of coincidences. The problem is, I just do not believe them. The irony writes itself. Reform UK came to office promising openness. Promising transparency. Promising straight answers. Yet here we are. Legal advice nobody can read. Questions nobody can get answered. It is beginning to feel less like a political revolution and more like continuity with a fresh coat of gloss. Endeavour House increasingly resembles the Titanic. No, not because it is sinking. Because Councillor Hadwen and the council's lawyer appear to be arguing about who authorised the lifeboats ("Land ahoy! Destination: Restore!") with themselves – and probably, occasionally, each other. Politics has been careering downhill ever since the morning after the Brexit referendum. This is not a comment on Brexit itself but, come on, who had ever heard the phrase "small boats" before June 2016? Public trust has steadily gurgled down the plughole ever since. Every new administration promises to change something. The trouble is... here we are. Again. Suffolk voters did not elect Reform UK to administer yesterday's agenda more efficiently. They elected Reform UK because they wanted tomorrow's agenda to look different. So far, tomorrow looks remarkably like yesterday. History offers one final lesson. When the great ocean liners were launched from Britain's shipyards, engineers famously underestimated the wash they would create. The ship floated perfectly well. It was the curious spectators watching the launch who got caught in the wash. Councillor Hadwen may be discovering the political equivalent. His administration has created quite a noisy, dramatic cascade of Suffolk's most precious commodity – water. The difficulty is that the water now appears to be flowing back towards his remote-controlled door, in his command deck. He may soon find himself needing a rather large umbrella. Let us hope he buys a transparent one. ### Burnham doubles down on Starmer's vape and betting shop crackdown URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/burnham-doubles-down-on-starmers-vape-and-betting-shop-crackdown/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T09:01:27.000Z **Why it matters:** Under current planning law, vape shops fall into the same category as cafes and banks, meaning they can open without seeking permission from the local council. Burnham's proposals – an extension of proposals originally tabled by his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer – would change that, giving communities the ability to object to new vape shops before they open. **The details:** The proposals, which will be subject to consultation, include: - Making vape shops their own category in planning law, so permission is always needed from the local council - Tightening the definition of a vape shop so businesses cannot avoid the rules by describing themselves as a general convenience store - Scrapping the Gambling Act's "aim to permit" rule, which currently restricts councils' ability to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops - Making adult gaming centres their own planning category, so they too need permission - Setting a clearer definition of how high street shops should look, to tackle "garish" neon signs and poor-quality shopfronts New powers will also allow closure orders for mini-marts and vape shops found to be selling illegal tobacco to be extended for up to 12 months in England and Wales – something also first proposed under former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. **For context:** The proposals build on the government's Pride in Place programme, announced in September 2025, which already gave councils in England powers to say no to new betting shops, vape stores and "fake" barbers as part of a wider £5 billion investment in "overlooked" communities. Burnham's plan goes further by changing planning law itself. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_1658.jpeg) Betting shops can currently open without planning permission (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams.Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** Burnham said: "For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline. "The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services and community spaces that people are crying out for. "That's not on. We're putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street. "Local councils will be given the powers they need to rein in unwanted shops and bring town centres back to life." **The other side:** Reform UK's Robert Jenrick said the plan would "only create even more empty shops on our high streets" and would make "life harder for small, legitimate businesses" unless the government also addressed business rates. The Liberal Democrats said the proposals did not go far enough. Home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson said the plan "could go up in a puff of smoke" unless ministers toughened up powers to "properly crack down on cowboy vape shops and dodgy operators," while also calling for the business rates system to be scrapped. **The bigger picture:** Downing Street has pointed to research by the Social Market Foundation showing gambling shops are disproportionately located in the poorest British neighbourhoods, and research by the Centre for Social Justice showing seven pubs have closed for every one new vape shop in the UK over the past decade. **Worth noting:** The changes would only apply to new shop openings, meaning existing vape shops would not be affected. As the proposals are subject to consultation before becoming law, any change would not take effect immediately. There is also concerns that announcements could trigger a 'rush' to open new stores before any new laws are passed. **The bottom line:** Burnham says the plan will help councils take back control of England's high streets from vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators – but the proposals stop short of restricting shops already open, and opposition parties are split on whether the measures go too far or not far enough. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### University donates 120 items to Ipswich schools URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/university-donates-120-items-to-ipswich-schools/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T08:33:43.000Z **Why it matters:** Dale Hall Primary School, Sidegate Lane Primary School and Claydon High School have all benefitted from the donation, which included sofas, tables and laboratory desks. **The details:** Building works at the university's Waterfront Building, James Hehir Building and Library Building left the furniture without a use, making it available for donation. Claydon High School received 16 laboratory desks, installed by university contractor Seamans Building. Dale Hall Primary School received a total of 89 items of furniture. **What they're saying:** Mark Ismay, headteacher of Claydon High School, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to extend our heartfelt thanks to the University of Suffolk for their incredibly generous donation of a brand-new, full classroom set of specialist science tables and stools. "Our science faculty has already put these to use, and they have instantly transformed the learning environment. "This donation is a perfect example of why collaboration between schools and higher education is so beneficial. Partnerships like this bridge the gap between school-level learning and the exciting world of university research and future careers." Leo, a pupil at Dale Hall Primary School, said: "It comes from the bottom of our hearts when we say that we're truly thankful for the furniture the university donated to us. "It makes us feel special because no other years in our school have something so luxurious. It has transformed our class and we are truly grateful." **The bigger picture:** Tim Clemons, sustainability manager at the University of Suffolk, said one of the university's core sustainability goals is to divert as much waste from landfill as possible. "Several major projects have generated significant volumes of surplus materials," he added. "Through engagement with local schools and charities, we have been able to donate suitable items for reuse, reducing waste, supporting the circular economy and delivering positive community benefits." **For context:** The university opened its new library in the Waterfront Building in March, and the first facilities for the new MPharm Pharmacy course in the Health and Wellbeing Building have recently been completed. **The bottom line:** The donation has turned surplus furniture from the university's building works into a welcome boost for three Ipswich schools. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Two men arrested in Ipswich town centre on drug charges URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/two-men-arrested-in-ipswich-town-centre-on-drug-charges/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T15:10:51.000Z **The details:** The arrests were part of a wider weekend police operation in Ipswich town centre. - One man was stopped while riding an illegal e-bike. Officers said his account "was full of holes," and a search found him carrying multiple phones and a large quantity of class A drugs. He was charged and remanded straight to court. - A second man was arrested by the force's CPT colleagues after intelligence suggested he was involved in drug supply. He tried to run from officers but fell before being detained. A strip search found him in possession of a large quantity of class A drugs. - Separately, officers attending a shop for a routine licensing visit found a large amount of illegal tobacco hidden under the counter. It was seized and destroyed, and the matter has been referred to Trading Standards. **What they're saying:** Ipswich Police's Town Centre Team said: "We will continue to patrol the town and tackle criminality," and asked residents to let officers know about any issues they think the team should be aware of. **The bottom line:** Officers say the weekend's arrests reflect their ongoing efforts to disrupt drug supply in Ipswich town centre. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Eight e-bikes and e-scooters seized in police crackdown URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/eight-e-bikes-and-e-scooters-seized-in-police-crackdown/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T14:24:33.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich's Town Centre Team say they are continuing to target non-compliant e-bikes and e-scooters as part of their regular patrols. **The details:** Officers have been conducting their usual stops of e-bikes and e-scooters in the town centre. - Private e-scooters cannot be ridden on public roads, cycle lanes or pavements. - E-bikes must have pedals, a motor no more than 250W, and motor assistance that cuts out at 15.5mph. - Riding a non-compliant e-bike or a private e-scooter in public could lead to enforcement action, including fines and seizure of the vehicle. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/773034408_1576652250474838_4848012510817941621_n-1.jpeg) Two of three e-scooters seized by Ipswich police (Photo: Suffolk Police) **What they're saying:** Ipswich Police's Town Centre Team said: "We will continue to patrol the town and tackle criminality," and asked residents to report any issues they think the team should be aware of. **The bottom line:** Officers say the seizures form part of their continued crackdown on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters in Ipswich town centre. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council's 'exciting' £875k creative hub stuck at square one three years on URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/councils-exciting-875k-creative-hub-stuck-at-square-one-three-years-on/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T08:39:12.000Z **Why it matters:** The plan, approved by councillors in January 2025, promised between 62 and 77 full-time jobs and a home for screen, media and gaming businesses in the town centre. Some 19 months on, the space remains empty and unused, nearly £900,000 of public funding sits unallocated, and neither council can say what happens next – or when. **The details:** By January 2025, when the Executive approved the grant, a committee report confirmed a tenant had been identified and heads of terms – the outline agreement setting out a lease's key terms before it is formally signed – had already been agreed. The council confirmed to this publication that it did not enter into a lease agreement with the intended operator – but they wouldn't share why. - Because no lease agreement was signed, the £750,000 fit-out grant has not been spent. - The identity of the proposed tenant has never been made public. The council says this was treated as confidential information as part of its executive decision-making in January 2025. - The council's own committee report states the grant was transferred from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) "on the proviso that all monitoring forms confirming the spend by September 2025 are submitted and approved." Looking through the unit's windows, there is no visible evidence that fit-out work has taken place inside. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_3405-1.jpeg) Former customer service unit on the side of the Town Hall (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) **For context:** The £750,000 formed part of an £875,000 grant awarded to the council in September 2023 by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (NALEP), specifically to deliver a creative hub in Ipswich. The Creative Hub concept was originally proposed for a Waterfront site, before that location proved not to be viable, and the former Customer Service Centre at the Town Hall was chosen instead. Since the New Anglia LEP's closure in March 2024, Suffolk County Council has taken over as the accountable body for the funding. The council's own committee report shows that the £875,000 had, by January 2025, already been transferred from SCC to IBC. As no agreement for lease was signed and the grant was never drawn down to a tenant, the money remains with Ipswich Borough Council, unspent, subject to SCC's monitoring conditions and its power to require the funding's return if those conditions are not met. A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council confirmed: - No portion of the £875,000 has been returned to Suffolk County Council to date. - Suffolk County Council agreed an extension to the project's delivery timeframe. - The two councils "are jointly considering options for the future use of the funding, including projects that could support economic growth and prosperity in Ipswich." No decisions have yet been made. **What's unclear:** It is not yet known whether the council has simply not secured a workable tenant, or whether the broader concept of a screen, media and gaming creative hub in Ipswich has been shelved altogether. The council wouldn't comment. Notably, the council's own committee report identified this exact risk before the grant was approved, warning that "the tenant fails to utilise the grant as agreed" was a possible outcome, and stating that the funding agreement would include clawback provisions to guard against it. **The bottom line:** Nearly £900,000 of public funding, set aside nearly three years ago to bring a landmark council building back into use, remains unspent and unallocated, with no timeline for when – or whether – a creative hub will open in Ipswich Town Hall. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£66 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich submits City of Culture 2029 bid URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-submits-city-of-culture-2029-bid/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T08:58:39.000Z **Why it matters:** The submission marks the culmination of a summer of consultation that saw more than 1,000 people across the town have their say on the bid, from library pop-ups to youth hackathons. It also caps a week in which more than 100 leaders from Ipswich's business and community groups stepped forward to publicly back the bid, after the campaign's call for support on 4 August. **The details:** Alongside the submission, Ipswich 2029 announced its next tranche of Ambassadors – names spanning sport, the arts, and broadcasting, all with a personal connection to Ipswich. They include: - **Fabio Wardley** – the Ipswich-born WBO heavyweight world champion - **Emma Freud OBE** – broadcaster, writer and creative director of Comic Relief, based in Suffolk - **Richard Curtis CBE** – screenwriter and Comic Relief co-founder, also based in Suffolk - **Colette Cavanagh** – Ipswich Town Women's midfielder - **Leif Davis** – Ipswich Town left-back - **Ruthie Henshall** – Olivier Award-winning West End star - **Juliet Gilkes Romero** – playwright and screenwriter, educated in Ipswich - **Karen Pickering MBE** – Britain's first swimming world champion, trained at Crown Pools - **Libby Purves OBE** – BBC broadcaster and author - **Zoe Newson** – Ipswich Paralympic powerlifter - **Nik Kershaw** – chart-topping singer-songwriter, grew up in Ipswich - **Digital (Steve Carr)** – drum and bass producer and Phantom Audio co-founder - **Laura Wright** – soprano, born near Ipswich - **Martha Loader** – Ipswich playwright and New Wolsey Theatre associate artist They join a first tranche announced on 22 July, which included Ed Sheeran MBE, Brian Eno, Nandi Bushell, Griff Rhys Jones OBE, Kerry Ellis, Jimmy and Michaela Doherty, Ashton Jones and Paul Greengrass CBE. **What they're saying:** Amy Vaughan, Bid Director for Ipswich 2029, said: "This bid has been written by the community and it carries the heart and soul of Ipswich within it. Officially submitting it to the government is a huge moment and it belongs to everyone who has helped build it – the thousand-plus people who sent in ideas and attended events and workshops, the businesses and community champions who stepped forward this week, and now this next group of Ambassadors who carry Ipswich with them in boxing rings, football pitches, on stage and through songs and music." Fabio Wardley said: "I've been proud to represent Ipswich all over the world throughout my boxing career, and no matter where I've fought, this town has always been home. People often talk about culture as just art or music, but for me it's about people, community and pride." Richard Curtis, who wrote *Notting Hill*, *Love Actually* and *Bridget Jones's Diary* in Suffolk, said: "Ipswich's cultural and arts scene is a jewel in its crown. This bid feels like Suffolk at its best – communal, inclusive, creative and full of people who want to make excellent things happen." **For context:** Ipswich was longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029 in March 2026, one of nine places nationally, and received a £60,000 DCMS grant to develop its bid. **On business backing:** The business support secured this week is significant for the bid, as DCMS treats evidence of private-sector backing as proof that a place can deliver at scale. However, as Ipswich.co.uk has previously reported, businesses are effectively being asked to back two things at once – the bid itself, and a separate ten-year council culture strategy that will need funding whether or not Ipswich wins the competition. It is unclear how much funding has been committed by those 100 businesses, with funding support packages ranging from £20.29 to £250,000+, and how that compares to competing bids. [Should businesses underwrite Ipswich’s culture strategy even if it loses City of Culture?Win or lose its bid to become the 2029 City of Culture, local businesses are being asked to fund a “city of culture” regardless. Can the council convince a cash-strapped private sector to look beyond its past performance and fund its ten-year culture strategy?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-0481f1ac-e95b-4277-94fb-3fc7a619f59f.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--47--d9e1d835-d060-4b8b-bd97-61c7ae857527.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/should-businesses-underwrite-ipswichs-culture-strategy-even-if-it-loses-city-of-culture/) **What's next:** A shortlist of four places will be announced in autumn 2026, with each shortlisted bid receiving £125,000 to develop further, ahead of a winner being named later in the year. **The bottom line:** With its bid now in DCMS's hands, Ipswich's fate rests on a shortlist announcement expected this autumn, as the town waits to see whether its case – bolstered by a fresh wave of high-profile Ambassadors – is enough to see off competition from rival bidding towns and cities. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council set to keep subsidised bus routes until 2030 URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-set-to-keep-subsidised-bus-routes-until-2030/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T08:56:32.000Z **Why it matters:** The routes provide vital links for people who need to get to work, healthcare appointments, shops, education and leisure facilities at times when commercial bus services would not otherwise run. **The details:** The council currently spends £203,246 a year subsidising the services. Officers are recommending that, with one exception, contracts are awarded directly for a further three years at current rates, rather than going out to competitive tender. - The subsidies would run from January 2027 to January 2030. - The cost is met entirely from the surplus generated by on-street parking charges at Cromwell Square, meaning there is no impact on the council's general fund or council tax. - Cheaper contracts, worth up to £29,999 a year, can be handed to an operator directly, skipping a full tendering process, under a legal exemption for lower-cost contracts. The exception is Service 14, which runs between Gippeswyk Park and the railway station on Monday to Saturday daytimes. As it costs more than £29,999 a year to run, the council cannot renew it directly and must instead invite bus companies to compete for the contract. **By the numbers:** Passenger data shows most services performing well, but Service 14 has seen costs rise sharply. - Passenger numbers on Service 14 fell from 12,271 in 2024 to 10,009 in 2025. - The subsidy per passenger on that route rose from £3.92 to £7.69 from 7 April 2025, after the previous operator chose not to extend its contract, forcing a costlier re-procurement. - Service 14 has the highest proportion of concessionary passengers – people who are elderly or disabled – of any of the subsidised routes, at 67.8% in 2025. - Subsidy per passenger on the other routes ranged from £1.43 to £5.15 in 2025, with some, such as the combined Sunday and bank holiday evening services, rising slightly, while others, including the Chantry (Robin Drive and Triangle estate) route, fell compared with 2024. Executive will consider the recommendations at its meeting on Tuesday, 11 August, at 18:00. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Jane Riley](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/jane-riley/), portfolio holder for culture and customers, said: "These bus services provide an important lifeline for many people across Ipswich, particularly during evenings, Sundays and Bank Holidays when alternative transport options can be limited. "They provide vital links to help residents access employment, healthcare, education, shopping and leisure opportunities, while also supporting sustainable travel and reducing reliance on the car." She added: "Having carefully considered the performance of the current subsidised services, I am pleased that the majority continue to demonstrate strong passenger usage and represent good value for money." **The bottom line:** Most of Ipswich's subsidised bus routes look set to carry on unchanged for three more years. Service 14, the one route that has become significantly more expensive to run, will instead be put out to tender as the council tries to secure a better deal for passengers. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Leif Davis and Colette Cavanagh named Ipswich Town Foundation trustees URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/leif-davis-and-colette-cavanagh-named-ipswich-town-foundation-trustees/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T08:13:50.000Z **Why it matters:** The pair will drive the Foundation's message in both dressing rooms, actively engage in Foundation activities and support their teammates in doing so, as part of a Board that works to ensure the Foundation operates responsibly and effectively in the community. **The details:** Davis joined the club from Leeds United in 2022 and has taken on the most community engagements of any men's first-team player during the 2025/26 season. Cavanagh has played an integral role behind the scenes with the Foundation since her move to Suffolk in January, regularly volunteering at the Beyond Labels: Adult PAN Football sessions and the EMPOWER Hub Hot Meal Group. Their appointments follow the departures of Conor Chaplin and Natasha Thomas this summer, who had held the trustee roles since 2022. **What they're saying:** Dan Palfrey, chief executive of Ipswich Town Foundation, said: "We're delighted to welcome Leif and Colette onto the Board of Trustees. Both have shown remarkable commitment to the Foundation, with Leif's growing year-on-year and Colette going above and beyond to know and understand our work. They have a clear understanding of what we do, why we do it, and where we're trying to go. "We lead the way as a club and a Foundation in player engagement, and it'll be down to Leif and Colette as trustees to lead by example and to ensure our key messages and values are represented in both dressing rooms." Davis said: "It is a real honour to be named a Trustee of the Ipswich Town Foundation. During my time at the club, it has been a privilege to have the opportunity to see first-hand just how big a role the Foundation plays in our community and the impact the work it does can have on the lives of so many people. "As football players, we have a duty to do everything we can to help, and I have been inspired by the work Conor Chaplin and Natasha Thomas have done over the last few years. I'm proud to now take that work on on behalf of the men's first-team, and I can't wait to get started." Cavanagh added: "It's a massive honour to be named a Trustee. I've seen first-hand the impact that the Foundation has on the community, and it's something that I'm absolutely delighted to be a part of. "The impact that we have on the community is massive, and to be a part of that within Ipswich is massive for me, so I'm relishing every moment and taking every opportunity." **For context:** Town Chairman Mark Ashton said: "When we first joined the Football Club we knew we needed to rebuild the Community Trust - now the Foundation - and as part of that we wanted to do something different and meaningful in appointing players to the Board of Trustees. "We need a bridge from the Foundation into our Men's and Women's teams to ensure the players fully understand the importance of their engagement with the community, and that responsibility now falls on Leif and Colette to continue the brilliant work done by Conor Chaplin and Natasha Thomas since their appointment in 2022. "Having spoken to Leif and Colette about their roles and responsibilities, I know they'll be brilliant, and I'm delighted to have them on board." **The bottom line:** With Davis and Cavanagh stepping into the trustee roles, Ipswich Town is renewing its commitment to linking its playing staff with the Foundation's community work, continuing the bridge-building approach between the dressing room and the Foundation started by Chaplin and Thomas in 2022. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Town's pre-season win over Rayo Vallecano has fans daring to dream URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/towns-pre-season-form-has-fans-daring-to-dream/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T08:13:15.000Z Rayo (Spanish for "thunderbolt" – I love it) are a professional football club based in the Puente de Vallecas district of Madrid, Spain. The club competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football. ## **The game in brief** It was noticeable how players were pushing up more, and playing three across the back allowed them to do just that. No faffing about at the back makes it so much better a game to watch; they looked sharp and hungry. It was a joy to watch Leif outstripping opponents, galloping down the wing – he definitely enjoys playing in a more forward position. So pleased he scored two cracking goals. We were all hoping for a third for him, and it very nearly happened. But instead, a fantastic cross from Diop met the head of Emersonn, who angled it into the back of the net. He had been lively all game, so this was a well-deserved reward. The second half was similar, with Town in the ascendant; Rayo did not play well, never seeming to get into the right gear. Was it just because our team were so much better? Could it be? I was expecting a tougher task, as Rayo were runners-up in the European final in May this year. ## **Men of the match** Hard to call, as they played very much as a team rather than as individuals. Notably strong I would name Diop, who stopped everything in his path; Emersonn, who did not stop running; Egeli, who was a force in the centre of the pitch; O'Shea, who was solid as ever; Mehmeti, who chased everything; and Van Oevelen, whose distribution was incredible. MotM: Why Leif Davis, of course. With his speed up the wing and a brace to his name, it's an easy choice. ## **Team news** Sad to see some of the familiar players going to other clubs, but a shake-up is necessary, or no lessons have been learned. Everyone was surprised and upset that Wes was leaving us for Leicester, one month after signing a new one-year contract, but although I felt the same, I'm happy for him – at nearly 32 years old, he now has a three-year contract and should certainly be guaranteed more minutes on the pitch, not on the bench. With a young family, he needs that stability – he reacted with his head, we reacted with our hearts. Very much a fans' favourite, he gave us so many memorable moments. "You go with our best wishes, Wes" – and linking up with Conor Chaplain again has led many fans to say they will keep one eye on Leicester next season, with a cheer at the ready. Two new players have come in since my last report. ### *Florentino Luis* Known as Florentino, he is a six-foot, 26-year-old, right-footed defender from Portugal who has played in a youth international capacity for his country. He comes to us from Burnley. He is said to be "a tenacious defensive midfielder who excels at breaking up play, intercepting passes, and shielding the defence." He certainly showed some of that solidity on Saturday. Of Angolan descent, he was born in Portugal. Random fact: I was interested to see the Angolan national team are called The Black Sable Antelopes. What charming imagery that conjures up. ### *Sasa Lukic* Saša (pronounced Sasha) is a 29-year-old, 6ft central defensive midfielder from Serbia who plays for the Serbian national team and who comes to us from Fulham. He arrived at Portman Road this weekend, so was not included in Saturday's game, but was able to watch and meet the team. He is looking forward to playing at the club he thinks "has the best atmosphere in the Premier League". Transfers out for Ali Alhamadi and Harry Clarke have reportedly fallen through at the medical stage. ## **Post-match pondering** I really like that Gary O'Neil has included several of Town's youngsters in these pre-season games – good for their development and heartening to see how well they play. Cam Humphrey has been the standout, but Tudor Mendell and Finley Barbrook gave a good account of themselves too, especially the former. Again, I like how involved Gary is during the game – he's like the conductor of an orchestra without the baton. The senior squad are all playing with more confidence and playing well together – you can begin to feel the rapport and team spirit growing with each game. In many instances, they appeared to pass the ball instinctively, knowing their teammate would either be there waiting or running in. An hour and a half flew by. I know the Premier League will be tougher, but hopefully this time it will be more enjoyable, not so nail-biting. I'd forgotten what it was like to sit through a game not holding my breath until the whistle blew! It was good to watch, with the well-balanced style of football showing they were in control of the game. And before you say it, I'm not getting ahead of myself or being unrealistic – I'm well aware of the tough task ahead, but I do think we are better equipped than we were two years ago, with experience from that time and the experience of the players and coaches who have joined us. We go into battle this time with eyes wide open and lungs at the ready. At this point, I'm ready to banish negativity and enjoy the ride. This feeling was palpable in the 8,800 who attended this match (not forgetting Lee, who I met in my GP surgery this week). I was very pleased yesterday to see a football blog which said: "Ipswich aren't just signing players... they're quietly building a team that can surprise everyone." I'm beginning to believe that's true… and what's more important, I think they can believe it too. ### Tacket Street car park flips back to Q-Park – again URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tacket-street-car-park-flips-back-to-q-park-again/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T13:04:10.000Z **Why it matters:** Drivers using the site have faced two changes of operator in less than a week, with signage and payment systems switching back and forth as the transfer between NCP and Q-Park continues to cause confusion. **The details:** Signage at the car park is being changed over again, with the same team that took down the previous signage a few days ago now putting up new Q-Park branding. Workers said the site's cameras are still "in transition", but that drivers who parked up earlier in the day should not worry too much. **The big picture:** Tower Ramparts car park has not seen the same changes. NCP signage remains in place there, no signs have changed, and the site is still listed on the NCP app. However, a Tower Ramparts parking spot has now also appeared on the Q-Park app. **What they're saying:** One car park user told Ipswich.co.uk: "I feel confused and stressed. I've not known what app to use. I've not known how to pay. As a student I don't have the money to be fined." **For context:** Q-Park had originally been due to take over Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts car parks from 1 August, after National Car Parks Limited (in administration) confirmed it would cease operating both sites. However, both car parks reverted back to NCP days later, with an NCP attendant describing the situation as "a serious mess". NCP was placed into administration on 16 March 2026, with PwC partners Zelf Hussain, Rachael Wilkinson and Toby Banfield appointed as joint administrators. **The bottom line:** Tacket Street's Q-Park app is back up and running, though signage and cameras are still catching up after a chaotic week for the car park. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich Hospital to get dedicated mental health crisis support URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-hospital-to-get-dedicated-mental-health-crisis-support/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T07:05:24.000Z **Why it matters:** People struggling with their mental health in Ipswich and across Suffolk will be able to get help earlier and closer to home, with the new provision meaning those in crisis no longer need to wait in A&E for a mental health professional to become available. **The details:** Woodlands Unit, based at Ipswich Hospital, already provides specialist mental health services. The announcement does not mean a new facility will be built there – instead, it brings new dedicated emergency mental health provision to the existing site. - The unit is one of 159 facilities being rolled out across England, backed by £343m of government investment. - The programme includes 100 new community mental health centres, offering walk-in support without a referral, and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments. - The first facilities are expected to open from autumn 2026, with further sites following from March 2027. - Woodlands falls under Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. **What they're saying:** Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said: "This is welcome news for people across Ipswich and Suffolk. Woodlands already plays an important role in providing specialist mental health services locally, and this is about bringing additional dedicated emergency provision to the site. "At the moment, someone experiencing a mental health crisis may have to go through A&E and wait for specialist mental health support to become available. That is not the experience we want for people at one of the most difficult points in their lives." He added: "This new provision should help people access the right specialist support in the right setting, closer to home, while reducing pressure on busy A&E departments." **By the numbers:** According to the government, around one in five people experience a common mental health condition each year. Nationally, there are currently six community-based mental health centres and 23 mental health emergency departments. £156m has been allocated to trusts for the initial 59 new emergency departments, with £187m allocated for the initial 100 community centres. **The bottom line:** The change means people in Ipswich experiencing a mental health crisis should be seen in a setting designed for them, rather than in a general A&E department, though it remains to be seen exactly when the new provision will be operational. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk County Council watchdog marks own homework, then decides it can wait URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-county-council-watchdog-marks-own-homework-then-decides-it-can-wait/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T16:40:37.000Z The report, leaked to Ipswich.co.uk, was written by Nigel Inniss, the council's Assistant Director – Governance, Legal & Assurance, who also holds the statutory role of monitoring officer. Dated 3 August 2026, it was produced in response to a series of challenges from councillors over how the council decided to launch judicial review proceedings against the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, over his decision to impose a three-unitary model on Suffolk. Councillor Martin Cook had raised five potential contraventions of law with the council's deputy monitoring officers, asking whether any required a report under Section 5A of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989\. Mr Inniss's report finds no breach in three of those five, but – crucially – identifies two separate matters in which he accepts a breach did occur. The first is a failure to publish the record of council leader Michael Hadwen's decision to file the judicial review claim "as soon as reasonably practicable", as required by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012\. The decision was taken on 18 June 2026; the notice was not published until 26 June. No explanation was given for the delay. The second is a breach Mr Inniss identifies himself, rather than one raised by Cllr Cook: a failure to provide him with the claim form and related documents within the statutory timescale, following his request as a member of the Scrutiny Committee. Mr Inniss's report states plainly that both breaches, taken together, mean a report to cabinet under Section 5A is required. ## A watchdog examining his own conduct The two confirmed breaches sit alongside decisions in which Mr Inniss himself played a direct part. His report records that he personally sent Mr Hadwen an email on the morning of 17 June 2026 summarising legal advice, which underpinned the leader's decision the following day to authorise the claim. It also records that, on 6 July, Mr Inniss personally agreed with the chairman of the council that the cabinet's decision to serve the claim had reasonably been treated as urgent, rejecting the challenge to that urgency raised by opposition councillors. Support our journalism ****The council marked its own homework — we made sure you could see it** This story only exists because Ipswich.co.uk chased a leaked report and pressed the council for answers it didn't want to give. Independent, accountable journalism like this survives on readers, not owners. Support more of it for just £4.75 pre month. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) Cllr Cook had suggested that, given this involvement, the matter should be handled by one of the council's deputy monitoring officers rather than by Mr Inniss himself. The report addresses this directly, citing Section 5A(10) of the 1989 Act, which states that the duty "shall be performed by him personally", with the only exception being where the monitoring officer is "unable to act owing to absence or illness". Mr Inniss's report concludes that the exception does not apply, and states that the involvement of independent counsel throughout the process was sufficient to address any concerns about his own conflict, adding that engaging further external lawyers would be "disproportionate". ## Minor, in his own words Having identified the two breaches, Mr Inniss goes on to characterise them himself. His report describes both as "relatively minor and inadvertent breaches", and states it will be "sufficient to place the matter on the agenda of an ordinary cabinet meeting in the autumn" – rather than a special or urgent meeting. That characterisation sits awkwardly alongside the mechanism itself. Section 5A is not a general-purpose reporting tool: it is reserved in law for cases where a monitoring officer concludes that a breach or act of maladministration stems from a council's executive, rather than the full council, and its effect is to freeze the decision concerned the moment it is issued. Cllr Rout has previously described the mere issuing of a Section 5 or 5A report as "serious and incredibly rare", telling Ipswich.co.uk he could not recall one ever being issued at Suffolk County Council. Mr Inniss's own report does not explain how breaches he grades as minor and inadvertent meet that threshold, only that they do. It is the 'nuclear option'. The report gives no separate reasoning for why an ordinary autumn cabinet slot, rather than a report issued at pace, meets the statutory requirement. It does not address the 21-day timetable that governs a cabinet's response once a Section 5A report is formally issued, nor explain why that timetable does not currently apply, because the report itself has not yet been submitted. The council refused to answer this question directly when challenged by this publication. ## The urgency that applies everywhere except here Urgency is a recurring theme throughout the rest of the report. It is cited to justify the leader taking his decision alone rather than waiting for cabinet, to justify publishing notice of the extraordinary cabinet meeting of 29 June only three days beforehand – bypassing both the normal 28-day notice period and the reduced five-day alternative, via a statutory urgency exception – and to justify serving the claim as quickly as possible once it had been issued by the court. In each case, Mr Inniss's report argues that the statutory test is whether urgency genuinely existed, not whether it ought to have existed, and concludes that it did. No equivalent urgency is applied to the reporting of the two breaches he has identified. It is a convenience for the council that is impossible to ignore. Councillor Richard Rout, leader of the Conservative group, has previously told Ipswich.co.uk that Section 5A reports "exist to have consequences, that's the point of them", and that "holding off on the issuing of such a report so that a decision can run its course, or become irrevocable, would not, in my opinion, be in the spirit of the law." He said he would expect any monitoring officer to act "at pace and not to suit the timetable of the council or any other political or legal objective", adding: "If that requires a special meeting to be convened, then that should be the case." Councillor Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green group, has said he wrote to the monitoring officer directly asking whether the 21-day timetable would be adhered to, "or if SCC is waiting for the autumn", and asked whether the delay amounted to "a deliberate planned breach of protocol". ## What the council says Suffolk County Council was approached for comment on the report's contents and on the timing of the Section 5A report. A spokesperson said: "Some council reports have to remain confidential for legitimate legal reasons, so it is extremely disappointing that someone has chosen to leak this one to the media. "Council officers and legal advisers must be able to give free and frank advice to councillors. Leaking confidential material undermines the proper functioning of a council's decision-making processes. "We can confirm that a Section 5A report will be submitted. We are not yet in a position to confirm a timetable for this, but we can reassure residents that it relates to minor procedural matters and will have no impact on the ongoing judicial review process." Ipswich.co.uk is publishing the contents of the report in the public interest, given the questions it raises over the timing of a statutory mechanism designed to hold a council's executive to account, and given the council's own confirmation that a report is coming without a stated timetable. The council's description of the breaches as "minor procedural matters" echoes Mr Inniss's own language in the report. But it is difficult to reconcile with the nature of the mechanism being used to address them. A Section 5A report is not issued for routine administrative slips; it exists, in law, for breaches serious enough to warrant freezing an executive decision until the cabinet has formally responded. Whether two breaches genuinely warranting that mechanism can, at the same time, be fairly described as minor is a question the council's statement does not resolve. On the substance of the council's position, the report itself sets out in detail why Mr Inniss rejected the other grounds for challenge raised by opposition councillors, including whether the decisions should have been treated as "key decisions", whether they were properly within budget, and whether cabinet members had adequate information before them. According to the council, these findings support its wider view that the decision-making process was sound. However, the point at issue is narrower than that. The council's own report confirms two breaches occurred. What it does not state, and what the council's statement does not address either, is why a mechanism designed to freeze a disputed decision the moment a breach is identified should instead wait until an ordinary autumn cabinet meeting to be formally issued. ## The bottom line Suffolk County Council's own leaked report confirms what has long been suspected: two breaches of law occurred in how it decided to seek judicial review against the Government, and a Section 5A report – one of the most serious mechanisms available under local government law – is coming as a result. What neither the report nor the council has explained is why. Not why the breaches happened, which the document addresses at length, but why the formal reckoning for them can wait for a routine autumn meeting rather than being issued at the pace the law, and Suffolk's own councillors, say it demands. Support our journalism ****The council marked its own homework — we made sure you could see it** This story only exists because Ipswich.co.uk chased a leaked report and pressed the council for answers it didn't want to give. Independent, accountable journalism like this survives on readers, not owners. Support more of it for just £4.75 pre month. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) [Is Suffolk County Council stalling its own watchdog to save its court fight over local government reorganisation?A Section 5A report is one of the most serious sanctions available in English local government – and one is heading Suffolk County Council’s way. Rather than being issued at pace, as convention demands, it appears set to wait until the council’s October cabinet meeting. We ask why.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a3c4facb-7cf0-4170-a2e1-9aa23f08c84d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--50--b5f018f7-3f4c-4cbf-ab82-a4e8fe90bc9a.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/is-suffolk-county-council-stalling-its-own-watchdog-to-save-its-court-fight-over-local-government-reorganisation/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£135 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council reveals 'exciting' £5m plan to revive 'proper landmark' Paul's Silo URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-reveals-exciting-5m-plan-to-revive-proper-landmark-pauls-silo/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T14:24:32.000Z **Why it matters:** The appointment moves the council forward with plans for new homes, shops and leisure space overlooking Ipswich's marina, on a site the authority has spent a decade trying to bring back into use. **The details:** Drees & Sommer has been appointed as multi-disciplinary consultant, and has in turn contracted Capital&Centric as developer. - Plans will retain and repurpose the 35-metre Paul's Silo and the former Burtons building, and redevelop the St Peter's Dock car park site. - New homes, workspace, hospitality and leisure uses are planned, alongside a communal green space at the heart of the site. - Capital&Centric has previously transformed historic buildings into mixed-use neighbourhoods in Manchester, Sheffield, Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent and Gateshead. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/Ipswich-sketch-PR-Waterfront-Capital-and-Centric-1.jpg) Ipswich sketch PR Waterfront Capital and Centric (Photo: Ipswich Borough Council) **For context:** A plan to turn Paul's Silo into a leisure attraction with a rooftop restaurant was marketed extensively before being deemed unviable in 2024 – a process that cost the council almost £1.4m. A separate 2020 plan for an arts and media hub at the Burtons building also fell through, owing to the pandemic and changes in viability. **The big picture:** The council has owned the three sites since between 2015 and 2018, but previous plans to develop them separately have collapsed. Any scheme that emerges will still need to secure planning consent before development can begin. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Neil MacDonald](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/neil-macdonald/), leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "This is a great moment for Ipswich's waterfront, and the whole area, as part of our ambition for a thriving town. I am really pleased that we will be in partnership with a team of experts who will carefully consider both the waterfront's rich heritage and the vision of its future, invigorating a part of the town that people will want to move to and enjoy, overlooking the water." Martin Crews, development director at Capital&Centric, said: "Paul's Silo is one of those buildings that stops you in your tracks. It's a proper landmark with huge potential, and we're excited to be working with Ipswich Borough Council and Drees and Sommer to bring it back to life." Mike Soffe, from Drees & Sommer, said: "We are excited to be working with Ipswich Borough Council and Capital&Centric to bring forward such an exciting regeneration project which will have a huge impact on the Ipswich waterfront." **By the numbers:** A £5m budget covers the scheme up to planning consent – £4.5m from the council, plus £500,000 from Suffolk Public Sector Leaders' business rate pooling funds. Any further costs to build the scheme will need a separate agreement. Councillor [Michael Hadwen](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/michael-hadwen/), leader of Suffolk County Council, said: "I'm delighted to be able to sign off the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders funding contribution to this exciting project, which will complete the regeneration of the western gateway to Ipswich waterfront and serve to facilitate improved visibility of the historic Wolsey's Gate." **The bottom line:** With a development partner now in place, the council is one step closer to regenerating three of the town's most prominent empty sites and reinventing the waterfront's western gateway. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Man who murdered friend in College Street attack jailed for at least 18 years URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-who-murdered-friend-in-college-street-attack-jailed-for-at-least-18-years/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T14:10:12.000Z **Why it matters:** Maliusis, 38, of Recorder Road, Norwich, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, 6 August, after a jury found him guilty on 21 July of murdering Akatjevas, 39, following an attack at the property last December. **The details:** Police were called at 11:37 on Tuesday, 23 December, to reports that a man had been found dead within a property in College Street. The ambulance service attended, but Akatjevas was declared deceased at the scene. A Home Office post-mortem examination indicated he died as a result of injuries to his head. Maliusis and a 41-year-old woman were arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. Maliusis, a Lithuanian national, was subsequently charged with murder. The woman, now aged 42, was told in February that she would face no further action. **What happened:** The court heard that Maliusis called police on 23 December to report that his friend was dead inside the property. He told attending officers that he had been attacked by Akatjevas the previous day and that he had hit him back twice, but said "there was no way my punches could have killed him". A witness who was inside the property when the altercation occurred told the court that after the group had been drinking vodka together, Akatjevas started to act erratically and wanted them to leave. She described how the two men had been play-fighting earlier in the evening, but things turned more aggressive, during which she herself was pushed over by Akatjevas. Following this, Maliusis became enraged and attacked Akatjevas, punching him to the ground and then repeatedly punching him in the face for around five minutes, the witness said. The pair left the scene before returning the next morning so that Maliusis could look for a mobile phone he had left behind. After finding Akatjevas unresponsive on the floor in the same position he had left him in, Maliusis called emergency services. **What they're saying:** Detective Superintendent Matt Adams said: "Today our thoughts are with the family and friends of Ilja Akatjevas. They have suffered the devastating loss of a loved one in the most tragic of circumstances, and we recognise the profound impact his death has had on all those who knew and loved him. "Ilja lost his life as the result of an exceptionally violent and sustained attack. The ferocity of that assault was shocking and ultimately proved fatal. "Following the murder, Maliusis attempted to distance himself from what had happened and provided a misleading account to our investigators. However, the determination of the investigation team, together with witness evidence, CCTV footage and forensic findings, enabled us to establish what occurred. This ensured the truth was placed before the court. "While no conviction or sentence can bring Ilja back, we welcome today's sentence and the fact that the person responsible for taking his life has been held accountable for his actions." Adams also thanked members of the public who came forward to assist the investigation, along with the officers and staff involved in securing the conviction. **The bottom line:** Ilja Akatjevas was found dead in a College Street property last December. His friend Arvydas Maliusis has now been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 18 years, for his murder. ### Is Suffolk County Council stalling its own watchdog to save its court fight over local government reorganisation? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/is-suffolk-county-council-stalling-its-own-watchdog-to-save-its-court-fight-over-local-government-reorganisation/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T12:27:18.000Z A Section 5A report, issued under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, is triggered when a monitoring officer concludes that a breach of the law, or an act of maladministration, stems from a council's executive – its cabinet or leader – rather than the full council. It is reserved for the most serious cases, and its issuance has real teeth: the moment it lands with the executive, all further action on the decision in question is suspended. The cabinet cannot take further steps, sign contracts, or enforce the disputed decision until it has formally met and responded. Councillor Richard Rout, leader of the Conservative group at Suffolk County Council, said such a report would be unprecedented locally. "Issuing a Section 5 or 5A report would be serious and incredibly rare – I cannot recall one ever being issued at Suffolk County Council," he said. ## How we got here The prospect of a Section 5A report stems directly from the process by which Suffolk County Council decided to take the Government to court over local government reorganisation (LGR). On 18 June 2026, council leader Michael Hadwen used his executive powers to authorise judicial review proceedings against the Secretary of State. Cabinet formalised that decision on 29 June, in a decision recorded as "urgent" – a classification that prevented it from being called in for scrutiny. Support our journalism ****Headline** Description [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) Between 27 June and 1 July, councillors from the Conservative, Green and Labour groups lodged four formal challenges, or "call-ins", questioning how those decisions were taken. The council's monitoring officer has since rejected all four challenges, in a 26-page response deemed confidential and withheld from the public. It is understood the same monitoring officer is now preparing to present a Section 5A report to cabinet. Asked directly, the council has declined to say whether the call-ins were rejected, whether a Section 5A report is due, or whether it has done anything wrong. ## Why the timing matters The purpose of a Section 5A report is to have consequences at the point of issue. Once it is served, the executive decision it concerns is immediately frozen pending a mandatory cabinet meeting, which must be held within 21 days, followed by a formal response within a further 14 days. For Suffolk County Council, that would mean the decision to continue the judicial review – the case the council has already spent public money pursuing – could be suspended overnight. Cllr Rout said any delay in issuing such a report, once a breach had been identified, would run against its purpose. "Reports of this kind exist to have consequences, that's the point of them," he said. "Holding off on the issuing of such a report so that a decision can run its course, or become irrevocable, would not, in my opinion, be in the spirit of the law." He added that speed was the whole point of the mechanism. "As soon as any breach of the law, or an act of maladministration, is identified, I would expect any monitoring officer to bring forward a Section 5 or 5A report at pace and not to suit the timetable of the council or any other political or legal objective," he said. "If that requires a special meeting to be convened, then that should be the case." [Fire sale fears as Suffolk County Council’s leader says he has ‘no interest in handing down anything to the new unitaries’Suffolk County Council’s Reform UK leader, Michael Hadwen, is exploring selling off the council’s wholly owned companies before power is handed to three new unitary authorities, a recording of a private meeting has revealed, sparking outrage from opposition leaders.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-060dd081-3f38-476b-9714-8b3a4c764391.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--49--85bcc220-7811-421a-9467-e0dc887b4dce.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fire-sale-fears-as-suffolk-county-councils-leader-says-he-has-no-interest-in-handing-down-anything-to-the-new-unitaries/) ## So, when will it be issued? Ipswich.co.uk understands that the Section 5A report will not be issued until the council's October cabinet meeting – several months after the decisions it concerns were taken. Councillor Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green group, confirmed he has written to the monitoring officer directly on this point. "I have written to the monitoring officer already asking if the 21-day publishing date for the Section 5A will be adhered to, or if SCC is waiting for the autumn," he said, adding that he had also asked whether this amounted to "a deliberate planned breach of protocol". Cllr Rout said that if a monitoring officer had identified the need for such a report, urgency should follow regardless of other timetables. "This would be, to my knowledge, unprecedented on the county council, and it would be irresponsible to dress it up as anything else," he said. "Our expectation, if such an event were to happen, would be for the monitoring officer and joint chief executives to move with absolute urgency." Suffolk County Council has previously said only that its monitoring officer had "already sent a detailed response on this matter" and that it did not plan to comment further. Ipswich.co.uk approached the council specifically about the timing of any Section 5A report, and about whether an October date had been chosen deliberately, but the council did not wish to comment further. ## The bottom line A Section 5A report is meant to be a fast-acting safeguard, freezing a disputed decision the moment a serious breach is identified. If Suffolk County Council's monitoring officer has indeed concluded that one is needed over the decision to launch judicial review proceedings against the Government, an autumn timetable would mean months passing between that conclusion and its formal consequences. Whether that gap is a coincidence or a manufactured convenience is not something the council will comment on. But what is now clear is that an incredibly serious and rare mechanism, designed to be used swiftly to safeguard the public, appears to be moving to a different clock altogether. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£135 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Fire sale fears as Suffolk County Council's leader says he has 'no interest in handing down anything to the new unitaries' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fire-sale-fears-as-suffolk-county-councils-leader-says-he-has-no-interest-in-handing-down-anything-to-the-new-unitaries/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T12:29:49.000Z [Local Government Chronicle (LGC)](https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/governance-and-structure/exclusive-reform-county-mulls-pre-lgr-company-divestment-04-08-2026/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) reported on Tuesday, 4 August, that it had obtained a recording of a closed Reform UK meeting held during last month's Local Government Association (LGA) conference, at which Suffolk County Council leader Cllr Michael Hadwen discussed how the county was preparing for local government reorganisation (LGR). According to LGC, Cllr Hadwen told the meeting he was "in the throes of looking at options now", and that "one thing we are looking at" was the divestment of council companies. "We have no interest in handing down anything to the new unitaries, other than what we statutorily have to give them," LGC reported him as saying. He went on: "We have some wholly owned companies that I'm looking to release into the market, basically to give off everything we can, because other than what we need to give the unitaries, I don't want to give them anything extra, because they're going to collapse financially immediately." No LGC journalist was present at the meeting. In a further comment provided to LGC, Cllr Hadwen said he had been recorded by "a journalist, hiding behind a curtain… to make a name for themselves," adding that he made "no apology" for the private conversation, and that council leaders "from all parties" would be having similar discussions. Support our journalism ****"They're going to collapse financially immediately"** That's Suffolk County Council's own leader, talking about the new unitary councils meant to serve you next. Reporting like this only happens when someone's in the room asking the hard questions — become a member for £4.75/month and help us keep it that way. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) ## What is actually at stake Under the government's LGR proposals, Suffolk's county and district councils will be replaced by three unitary authorities from April 2028\. Suffolk County Council's previous administration opposed this model, favouring a single unitary authority, and its new administration is separately pursuing a judicial review against the government over the decision. Suffolk County Council owns three companies through its wholly owned holding company, Suffolk Group Holdings Ltd: Vertas Group Ltd, which provides grounds maintenance, catering, caretaking, facilities management and print and design services; Concertus Design and Property Consultants Ltd, which provides architecture, estate management and project management services; and Opus People Solutions Ltd, a recruitment and staffing specialist. According to the council's latest published accounts, it spent more than £36 million with the three companies combined in 2024-25 – £22.2 million with Vertas, £7.5 million with Concertus and £6.4 million with Opus. Vertas is also one of Suffolk's largest employers, employing more than 5,000 people delivering services relied upon across the county. ## The legal bar for divestment Any decision to sell or wind down these companies would not be straightforward. Under section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999, councils are under a statutory duty to secure "best value" in the management of public funds, meaning any sale of commercial assets would need to be shown to maximise financial returns or deliver clear, justifiable benefits. Councils also owe a fiduciary duty to local taxpayers, and a divestment plan driven by political considerations rather than financial justification could leave a council open to legal challenge if it resulted in an unjustifiable loss of public funds. Major decisions of this kind are also typically classed as "reserved matters" in a company's articles of association or shareholder agreement, meaning they would usually require formal approval by the council's cabinet or full council, rather than being taken unilaterally. Cllr Richard Rout, leader of the Conservative group, told Ipswich.co.uk it was "a matter for the council's constitution whether these issues have to come before full council". He said: "My reading is that it would likely be a Cabinet decision. However, given the gravity of such a decision and the wide-ranging implications for local government reorganisation in Suffolk, a full council debate and vote would be the correct thing to do." There is a further complication. Many wholly owned council companies rely on the "Teckal exemption", which allows a council to award them contracts directly, without a competitive tender, because they are under its full control. Selling even a minority stake to a private buyer would break that exemption, forcing any future contracts with the company out to open market competition. ## 'Not fit to run this council' The Green group, the official opposition at Suffolk County Council, reacted with alarm to the reports. Speaking to Ipswich.co.uk, group leader Cllr Andrew Stringer said: "If these reports are true, we consider that Michael Hadwen and the Reform administration are not fit to run this council. This approach would be very immature and short-sighted." Cllr Stringer said the other councils involved in reorganisation were "putting resources into the process in good faith" because it was in residents' best interests for the new unitary councils to start on "as strong a footing as possible" in April 2028\. He said Reform UK was entitled to its opinion that the unitaries would struggle financially, but added: "It is very different to deliberately conspire to bring about the future downfall of the new councils financially in advance. This approach would actively harm Suffolk and the people who live here." He said the reports suggested Reform was "yet again considering how they can antagonise the government and frustrate their plans for council reorganisation, without giving much thought to the negative impact that would have on the people they have a duty to represent." ## 'Asset stripping Suffolk's future' Cllr Rout was equally scathing. "These companies were built over a decade with public money, employ thousands of people, clean our schools and feed school children," he told Ipswich.co.uk. "They don't belong to Councillor Hadwen, they belong to Suffolk taxpayers. Selling them off now could be seen as asset stripping Suffolk's future and a deliberate act to undermine the new unitary councils." He suggested Suffolk's district and borough councils might now seek government intervention. "If they haven't done so already, I'm sure, in the light of these rash comments, the district and borough councils will be writing to the Secretary of State and asking for Section 24 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to be invoked, which imposes financial controls on councils due to be abolished – particularly around the disposal of valuable assets," he said. "This provision was designed specifically to stop councils acting irresponsibly and seeking to undermine successor authorities." Cllr Rout also questioned the financial logic of a sale. "Disposal of the council's wholly owned companies, either through a management buyout or sale to the market, would provide an injection of cash – which Reform UK would no doubt dress up as a win," he said. "Elements of the businesses could be disposed of without adversely impacting the council's operations and finances. However, those are also the least marketable elements. Disposing of those that would draw interest would likely damage the long-term viability of local authorities in Suffolk." He pointed to Vertas as an example. "Companies like Vertas, for example, are often the supplier of last resort to the council and, in areas like providing school meals to some remote primary schools, do so on terms no other company would accept," he said. "No commercial provider would pick that contract up at the same value and the county council would be left picking up the tab. This is just one example, and the 'virtual dividend' of these companies, which doesn't appear on a balance sheet, shouldn't be underestimated." ## Hadwen's response Approached for comment, Cllr Hadwen said: "As Local Government Reorganisation comes under my portfolio, it would be madness for me not to consider every option to protect the best interests of Suffolk. "But let me be clear – no decisions have been made, and I have not instructed officers on this matter. However, I will be exploring options on a range of different approaches. "All of this work is to make sure we are best able to work with the other Suffolk councils should LGR go ahead." ## A pattern of resistance to scrutiny The reports come amid wider concerns from opposition councillors about how the Reform administration has handled decision-making on reorganisation. Suffolk County Council recently rejected four separate challenges from opposition groups over how it decided to pursue its judicial review against the government, and has declined to publish the reasoning behind that rejection or comment further. Cllr Rout has previously described the council's refusal to share that reasoning as "frankly disgraceful", while Cllr Martin Cook, leader of the Labour group, has questioned whether residents can have "any assurance that the decision was made completely lawfully" while the report remains hidden. Cllr Stringer has also raised concerns about the administration's approach to transparency more broadly. Cllr Rout said the wider financial backdrop to reorganisation made the timing of any divestment more difficult to justify. "The Government's decision to opt for three unitary councils for Suffolk, rather than just one, will put them in a precarious financial position from day one, particularly the new Greater Ipswich council," he said. "So, things will not be easy for local government in Suffolk. That being said, just because the Government has dealt Suffolk a bad hand, that doesn't mean Suffolk County Council should proactively seek to make it worse. We may not like the decision, but the right thing to do is to try to make a success of it, despite the financial backdrop." He added: "This is all seemingly part of a pattern of behaviour of decisions being made behind closed doors by one man. I don't believe everyone in his group would seek to proactively undermine Suffolk's future in this way, and I hope they can help him see sense. Leadership is something to be used responsibly." It was a sentiment shared by Labour leader Martin Cook, who said: “What Cllr Hadwen calls ‘releasing into the market’ looks like a fire sale of things Suffolk taxpayers built and own, explored in a closed party meeting, with not one word to opposition councillors. In private, it’s scorched earth: ‘no interest in handing down anything’ to Suffolk’s next councils. In public, he talks of working constructively with the other Suffolk councils. Both cannot be true. "The Leader can settle what this is really about in one sentence: publish what would be sold, and where every pound would go. Any disposal must come to Cabinet, in public, with a full business case, under the council’s constitution. This cannot be another individual executive decision that residents learn about after it’s done." He called on Cllr Hadwen to "reassure these companies’ staff today" and said that "if any step is taken towards a sale, Labour will refer it to Scrutiny immediately.” ## The bottom line Cllr Hadwen insists no decisions have been taken on divesting Suffolk County Council's wholly owned companies, and that he is simply exploring the council's options ahead of reorganisation. But the mere prospect, and his choice of language, have drawn sharp criticism from Suffolk's opposition groups, who argue that stripping the county of valuable, income-generating assets before the new unitary authorities take over would harm the very residents those councils are meant to serve. Any such move would also have to clear a demanding legal bar – best value, fiduciary duty to taxpayers, and formal governance approval among them – designed precisely to stop councils giving away public assets without proper justification. Whether Suffolk's Reform administration ultimately tests that bar remains to be seen. Support our journalism ****"They're going to collapse financially immediately"** That's Suffolk County Council's own leader, talking about the new unitary councils meant to serve you next. Reporting like this only happens when someone's in the room asking the hard questions — become a member for £4.75/month and help us keep it that way. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) 📝 ****Correction:** We previously said "Suffolk County Council opposed this model, favouring a single unitary authority, and is separately pursuing a judicial review against the government over the decision." We quickly edited this to read: "Suffolk County Council's previous administration opposed this model, favouring a single unitary authority, and its new administration is separately pursuing a judicial review against the government over the decision." --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£108 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 101 new homes proposed across two Ipswich sites URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/101-new-homes-proposed-across-two-ipswich-sites/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T08:20:35.000Z **Why it matters:** The report, due before Executive on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, seeks permission to submit planning applications for developments at the former Tooks Bakery site and a site between Gower Street and Vernon Street. This would take the council's housebuilding programme a step closer to delivery. **The details:** The former Tooks Bakery site would provide 45 homes: 39 one and two-bedroom flats across two three-storey blocks, and six three-bedroom terraced houses in two blocks. The Gower Street site, currently occupied by single-storey industrial units, would be redeveloped into a five-storey block of 56 one and two-bedroom flats, double-fronted onto Gower Street and Vernon Street. **The bigger picture:** The schemes form part of the council's ongoing housebuilding programme delivered through Handford Homes, its wholly owned housing company, which has already built 402 homes across Ipswich. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Alasdair Ross](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/alasdair-ross/), Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: "Providing more good-quality, affordable homes remains one of the Council's key priorities. These two proposed developments would deliver more than 100 new homes, helping to meet local housing need while making best use of available sites. "Handford Homes has a strong track record of delivering high-quality housing across Ipswich, and progressing these schemes to the planning stage is an important next step. "While we recognise concerns around issues such as parking, particularly in the Gower Street area, if approved, we are committed to working closely with ward councillors and residents as the detailed designs are developed and consulted upon." **What's next:** If approved by Executive, planning applications for both schemes will be submitted. Further public consultation will take place as part of the planning process, particularly around parking at Gower Street. The report also seeks approval to apply for funding through Homes England's Social and Affordable Housing Programme 2026–2036 to support delivery of future affordable housing in the town. **The bottom line:** If approved, the schemes would mark another step forward in the council's housebuilding programme, with residents' input still to shape the final designs. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### City of culture or not, culture is at the heart of our regeneration story URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/city-of-culture-or-not-culture-is-at-the-heart-of-our-regeneration-story/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T13:50:46.000Z Following Ipswich.co.uk's feature '[Should businesses underwrite Ipswich's culture strategy even if it loses City of Culture?](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/should-businesses-underwrite-ipswichs-culture-strategy-even-if-it-loses-city-of-culture/)', and as the person who originally suggested this model for Ipswich, here is why I think it matters. [Should businesses underwrite Ipswich’s culture strategy even if it loses City of Culture?Win or lose its bid to become the 2029 City of Culture, local businesses are being asked to fund a “city of culture” regardless. Can the council convince a cash-strapped private sector to look beyond its past performance and fund its ten-year culture strategy?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-2098a934-85e2-430f-92bf-c7ff3f82bf23.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--47--e04b4446-1922-4a85-8467-7a94708547ed.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/should-businesses-underwrite-ipswichs-culture-strategy-even-if-it-loses-city-of-culture/) Firstly, the vehicle doesn't have to be the council. In fact, I would argue that the very best cultural strategies are owned by places, not institutions. Councils change. Political administrations change. What shouldn't change is the long-term ambition for a town. The bigger question is this. Do we believe culture and creativity are worthy of investment in their own right? When people look for examples of places transformed through culture, we often look to UK case studies. I think that is too limiting. The most compelling examples are international. If you look at many of the world's most successful cities, whether capitals or otherwise, they have one thing in common. They invest in culture, creativity and experiences. Those investments do not simply create galleries or festivals. They create places where people want to live, businesses want to invest and talented people choose to stay. They improve productivity, increase wages, attract inward investment and enhance quality of life. Crucially, across much of the world, that investment is not driven primarily by government. It is underpinned by philanthropy, private investment and businesses that recognise culture as economic infrastructure rather than simply entertainment. Take Austin, Texas. SXSW did not become one of the world's most influential festivals because the city happened to host it. It became what it is because public and private investment combined to create an ecosystem that attracts entrepreneurs, global businesses, visitors and talent year after year. Look at East Berlin following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Culture was not the by-product of regeneration. It was one of its principal drivers. Artists, creative industries and cultural organisations transformed former industrial and neglected neighbourhoods into some of Europe's most desirable places to live, work and invest. Creativity changed the perception of an entire city and unlocked billions of pounds of economic activity. Or consider Philadelphia, where the internationally recognised Mural Arts programme demonstrated that public art could do far more than brighten walls. It tackled blight, strengthened communities, reduced vandalism, improved neighbourhood confidence and became an internationally recognised model for regeneration through creativity. These are not isolated success stories. They are evidence that some of the world's most successful cities have deliberately used culture and creativity as economic development tools. So why shouldn't Ipswich think with the same level of ambition? We have land. We have one of the youngest populations in the East of England. We have an enviable geographical position, close enough to London to benefit from its economy while retaining the space and opportunity to shape our own future. Those are extraordinary foundations. And perhaps more importantly, we already have the beginnings of that story. Where previous generations had a mill, we now have an internationally recognised dance house in DanceEast. Where previous generations had the Public Baths, we now have one of the country's most exciting live music venues. Where previous generations had Cardinal Wolsey, we now have Ed Sheeran, one of the world's biggest music artists, proudly flying the flag for Ipswich. These are not disconnected successes. They are evidence that creativity has always been part of our DNA. The challenge is not to invent a cultural identity for Ipswich. It is to recognise the one we already have, invest in it, connect it and allow it to become a driver of economic growth. That is exactly what the world's best cities have done, and there is absolutely no reason why Ipswich cannot do the same. The question is not whether the council should own a ten-year culture strategy. The question is whether Ipswich is prepared to believe that culture and creativity can become one of the engines of its future economy. For me, the answer is unequivocally yes. City of Culture 2029 is an opportunity. A significant one. But it should never have been the destination. Whether we win or lose, the ambition should remain exactly the same: to build a town that attracts talent, creates better jobs, raises living standards, improves quality of life and gives people every reason to build their future here. That will require leadership from councils, businesses, universities, cultural organisations, philanthropists and residents alike. Because if we genuinely believe culture creates economic value, then our ambition should not stop with a competition. It should be to make Ipswich one of the international examples that other towns and cities point to in twenty years' time. ### Council rejects challenges over decision to take Government to court over reorganisation URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-rejects-challenges-over-decision-to-take-government-to-court-over-reorganisation/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T10:56:52.000Z **Why it matters:** The council is pursuing a judicial review against the Government that is expected to cost up to £500,000\. Opposition councillors from across the political spectrum have questioned how the decision to launch and continue that legal action was taken – but say they have been barred from sharing the council's response to their concerns. **The details:** Between 27 June and 1 July, councillors from opposition groups lodged four formal challenges – known as 'call-ins' – under the council's constitution, questioning decisions taken on 18 and 29 June to issue and then continue judicial review proceedings. - Sources say the council's monitoring officer has rejected these challenges, with 26 pages of reasoning deemed confidential and withheld from the public. - It is also understood that the monitoring officer is set to present a Section 5A report to cabinet members. Such reports are reserved for cases where the monitoring officer believes a council proposal, decision or omission is, or is likely to be, illegal. - Asked directly, Suffolk County Council declined to say whether the call-ins had been rejected, whether a Section 5A report was due, or whether it had done anything wrong. [Suffolk is taking the Government to court over LGR, but can it win its £500k taxpayer-funded battle?Suffolk County Council has filed a judicial review claim against the Secretary of State over local government reorganisation. The legal arguments are now known, but the threshold is high, and even a successful outcome may not deliver what the council is seeking. We explain all.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a2b8f43a-fdab-473f-bebc-ca858437c19f.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--35--717f2ca5-97e6-4526-94fe-0bee3b322d21.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-is-taking-the-government-to-court-over-lgr-but-can-it-win-its-500k-taxpayer-funded-battle/) **What they're saying:** Cllr Richard Rout, leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group, which tabled some of the challenges, said the decision to keep the response confidential was "frankly disgraceful". He said: "We don't think that this decision was made properly and that's why we tabled our challenges, but the council have barred me from sharing what's in the report. It's just secrecy after secrecy – we're having to force and lever information out of this administration." Cllr Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green Group, said: "It's disappointing that \[the Reform administration\] does not seem to be welcoming of scrutiny; it is worrying that this stuff is getting locked down so tight. In local government, we are supposed to act as open and transparent as we possibly can, and I see no reason to keep it confidential." Cllr Martin Cook, leader of the Labour Group, said: "Nobody can have any assurance that the decision was made completely lawfully while this report remains hidden." Cllr Inga Lockington, leader of the Liberal Democrats, joined other opposition leaders in criticising how the administration had handled the issue. A council spokesperson said: "Our monitoring officer has already sent a detailed response on this matter, and we do not plan to comment further." **Timeline:** - **18 June:** Cllr Michael Hadwen, the council's Reform leader, authorised the start of legal proceedings against the Government. - **29 June:** The decision was made formal by cabinet, which agreed to continue with legal proceedings. The decision was recorded as "urgent" and therefore not subject to call-in. - **27 June – 1 July:** Opposition councillors lodged four formal challenges to how the 18 and 29 June decisions were taken. - **1 July:** The council acknowledged "a significant volume of correspondence from a number of elected members" and said a response would follow "during the course of next week". - **10 July:** No response had been received by this deadline. - **27 July:** The Conservative Group Leader sent a further letter, asking for a response, or at least a timetable, by the end of that week. - **3 August:** A detailed response from the monitoring officer was received, which the council has determined is confidential. **The other side:** Opposition groups have called on the council to publish the monitoring officer's response by the end of this week, with anything "genuinely privileged" removed. The council has not commented on this call, or on the criticism from opposition leaders. **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council has rejected opposition challenges to its decision to take the Government to court over reorganisation, but its reasoning remains confidential – a position opposition leaders across the political spectrum have criticised, and one the council has declined to explain further. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Should businesses underwrite Ipswich's culture strategy even if it loses City of Culture? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/should-businesses-underwrite-ipswichs-culture-strategy-even-if-it-loses-city-of-culture/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T11:23:56.000Z It is almost a year to the day since Ipswich MP Jack Abbott hosted the town's first City of Culture meeting. It was during that meeting, that one Ipswich Borough Council cabinet member labelled the council's then-new £30,000 culture strategy a "failure", and council leader Neil MacDonald famously admitted he hadn't read it because it was "too long". Fast forward twelve months, and just seven days before the City of Culture bid deadline, an email landed in business inboxes across the county. The email asks businesses to pledge their financial support to the bid, citing the £10 million prize on offer, a year in the national spotlight, and the headline-grabbing economic returns seen by previous winners. But the actual financial ask is broader and longer-term than the bid itself. Businesses are not just being invited to commit matched funding if Ipswich is crowned 2029 City of Culture, they are being asked to fund the council's ten-year culture strategy regardless of the outcome of that competition. It is, by any measure, a massive ask of a cash-strapped private sector that will need some convincing that this council – and the council that will replace it in less than two years' time – is capable of defining and executing a 10-year strategy that delivers the level of economic growth required to justify the millions it is seeking to raise – potentially without the City of Culture title and the associated prize money. ## Why it matters Matched funding is a crucial element of a City of Culture bid. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport places real weight on evidence that the private sector and local partners are prepared to back a bid financially, treating it as proof that a place can deliver at scale rather than simply talk about it. The government's £10 million prize funds the winning year itself; everything beyond that, is expected to come from elsewhere. That "elsewhere" is where businesses come in. The bid team describes visible business support as "a core factor" in winning the competition, and points to Ipswich's business community as one of the bid's strongest assets when set against rival towns. But the council wants that support for a second reason that has nothing to do with winning: a ten-year culture strategy that exists independently of the City of Culture competition, that needs financing whether or not Ipswich wins. It is a genuinely interesting model – the council doesn't have the funds to deliver a meaningful culture strategy, so is looking to leverage City of Culture as the vehicle in which it can convince the private sector to step up to the plate. However, that distinction changes what businesses are actually being asked to weigh up. This is not one ask with a single, binary outcome – pledge money, and if we win, reap the rewards of a £10 million programme of events and a year in the national spotlight – it is two separate asks bundled into one: back the bid, and if we lose, instead back a decade-long strategy that carries none of the guarantees that come with a £10m cash injection from central government. Support our journalism ****Asking the difficult questions others don't** This is the kind of nuanced reporting you won't find elsewhere in Suffolk. Become a member for £4.75 a month to back more of it. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) ## The ask The pitch asks businesses to invest "in the conditions your business trades in, alongside a contribution to achieving genuine social change" and sets out six routes for businesses to do so: - Individual pledges through the "2029 Club", starting at £20.29 and increasing to £2,029 over three years - Three tiers of sponsorship from £5,000 up to £250,000-plus - A long-term "Rolling Infrastructure Fund" investment vehicle offering "high" but undisclosed commercial and social returns - In-kind contributions such as use of vacant units, professional hours or staff volunteering Whichever route a business chooses, the money flows to the same place: the Ipswich Culture Company – a Company Limited by Guarantee that will act as the Delivery Body for the bid, and that will be responsible for planning, procuring, commissioning and delivering any City of Culture programme, win or lose. It has been funded initially by a £50,000 start-up grant from the council – a modest investment compared to the millions it is seeking to raise from the private sector – and in its start-up phase will receive its financial services from the council or from IPSERV, a company wholly owned by the council. The council will, at least at first, be the company's sole member. "It is proposed that initially the Council would be the sole member of the Company, but that as the project progresses, key partners will be invited to become members," states a council report. No timeline or criteria for when that might happen are set out. A charitable Company Limited by Guarantee is an established model that funders recognise. It allows for community benefit rather than private profit, and the council says it provides "appropriate separation between the Council and the Delivery Body," as trustees of the company will be required to act independently of the council once it is registered as a charity, even though the council is currently its only member and principal funder. ## A fascinating model, but not without risk While the model is zero-risk to the council, it is anything but for businesses. The first layer of risk is simply the odds of winning. Nine places made the longlist earlier this year; only four will make the shortlist, expected to be announced this summer, before a single winner is chosen by the end of the year. As Ipswich.co.uk has previously reported, getting onto the shortlist was widely seen as the floor, not the ceiling, but after a sluggish start since it took the reins, the bid team faces a tough task to make a very competitive shortlist, never mind beat current favourites Sheffield and Wrexham to the crown. If there were an equal chance of each entrant winning – which there isn't – then Ipswich has a 1-in-9 (11.1%) chance. The reality is that despite having genuine credentials to win outright, the true probability of winning is likely lower than that. The second layer is structure and governance. The council's own risk assessment rates the likelihood of the relationship between the Ipswich Culture Company and its members breaking down as "possible," with a "moderate" impact rating. It lists good governance and dispute-resolution mechanisms as the intended controls, but this cannot account for what is arguably the single largest unknown facing any decade-long commitment tied to Ipswich Borough Council: the council will not exist beyond 2028. In 2028, Ipswich Borough Council is due to be abolished and replaced by a new unitary authority for Ipswich and South Suffolk. The council acknowledges this in a single clause buried in its "Local Government Reorganisation Considerations" section of its committee report: "If the bid is successful, the new unitary council will be the Accountable Body for the City of Culture programme and will be a member of the Company which will be responsible for the delivery of the programme and attracting further investment for the town." That sentence covers what happens to the council's formal role if Ipswich wins the bid. It says nothing about what happens if Ipswich does not win — the scenario in which businesses' money is still committed to the ten-year Culture Strategy regardless. It says nothing about how a new unitary authority, with its own incoming leadership, executive and cabinet, might choose to treat a strategy and company it did not create. While the Ipswich Culture Company is a separate legal entity from Ipswich Borough Council — with its own board, its own charitable objectives, and, once registered, its own governance obligations independent of any single funder — its board, its members, and its founding relationship have all been built around a council that has a confirmed expiry date. Neither the council's committee report nor any of the bid's business-facing material sets out how the Culture Strategy and Culture Company's governance would be protected through the transition to a new unitary authority. None of this means the ask is unreasonable, or that the Culture Strategy is not worth backing. Ipswich's culture and visitor economy already supports 5,300 jobs — 7.2% of all jobs in the town — and £274 million in spending, according to the bid's own business case. The precedents cited by the bid team are significant: Hull saw a 28% increase in visitor spend and a 27% increase in tourism-related employment in the years around its 2017 title year, while Coventry saw visitor spending rise 51% and tourism jobs increase by 22% the year after it hosted. If Ipswich could replicate even a fraction of that, and the model was conditional on winning City of Culture, the case for business investment would arguably be straightforward. But this isn't straightforward. It is being asked of a business community facing real financial pressures of its own, at a time when confidence in the council's ability to define a vision and deliver it is not universally high. That does not disqualify the current strategy on its own merits, but it does mean the council is asking the private sector to extend a benefit of the doubt it has, for many, not yet earned. And a strategy, in the end, is only as good as the people and institutions that will deliver it — most of whom have not yet been chosen, appointed, or in the case of the incoming unitary authority, even elected. ## The bottom line Ipswich's bid for City of Culture is being sold to businesses as a chance to back the town's future, and it is a decision every business will make for itself. That means weighing the known economic benefits that will come our town's way if we win, against the unknown economic benefits if it doesn't. What is clear is that this is not simply a bet on a competition. It is a decade-long culture strategy, and businesses must now decide if they are willing to underwrite it – win or lose City of Culture. Support our journalism ****Asking the difficult questions others don't** This is the kind of nuanced reporting you won't find elsewhere in Suffolk. Become a member for £4.75 a month to back more of it. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£230 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Gazal's: From basement salon to Upper Brook Street URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/gazals-from-basement-salon-to-upper-brook-street/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T06:40:08.000Z Mrs Singh came to England in 2010, when her husband found her work as a beautician in Harlow. It was his idea to go further and start something of their own. "This idea came from my husband's mind," she recalls. "He said, oh let's open a business." The couple looked at several spots around London, and the last place they stumbled on was the Buttermarket. "We went everywhere," she says. "In the last place we came to the Buttermarket, and we spoke with Colin, the manager. He was so lovely, so nice." As Mrs Singh remembers it, he simply told them to make sure they kept things safe, and gave them the space downstairs. It was 2011, and Mrs Singh was heavily pregnant with her younger daughter. "I was so nervous," she says. "My husband held our hand. He said, 'Don't worry, you'll be fine.'" She gave birth not long after opening, and her other daughter grew up in the salon, watched over by the customers who would become the shop's extended family. ## **Growing up in the trade** Her elder daughter, Santghai, was already a teenager by the time the Buttermarket salon was getting off the ground. She was at her mother's side from the start, learning the trade from the ground up. "She held my hand all the time," Mrs Singh says. "She was so young. I told her, 'No, no, don't.' My friend said, 'No, she has to learn.' And she learned." Santghai describes it as simply part of growing up with immigrant parents. "When you don't have anything, if there's no inheritance or anything, you move here, it's a completely new life," she says. "You have to start a new life together. It just feels like it's your responsibility to help. And you want to do that." Being in the same spot for 15 years has built something that goes well beyond a customer list. "It's not even that difficult, only because they just feel like family," Santghai says. "It doesn't feel like we're doing anything out of not being ourselves. We care about you. We love you, and you're our family as well." Mrs Singh agrees. "We've been here for such a long time. If I break down, they help me. If they break down, we hug each other." Regulars have become friends, and friends have, in turn, become part of the salon's own story over the years. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_1605-1-1.jpeg) Gazal's on Upper Brook Street (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) ## **From the beauty chair to the pharmacy counter** While she was growing up behind the till, Santghai was also nursing a second passion. "I've always had a lot of love for science and beauty simultaneously," she says. That pulled her in two directions at once – one towards the salon she'd grown up in, the other towards the sciences. She chose to study pharmacy, giving her what she describes as "a good clinical base" in anatomy and patient care, before going on to train in aesthetics too. It is that combination – pharmacist and beautician, clinician and daughter – that has now opened the doors of Gazal's newest chapter. Santghai has folded her medical training into it, and the result is a second site on Upper Brook Street offering medical aesthetics alongside the beauty treatments the salon was built on. "We expanded because we can give additional treatments to our existing client base," she explains. "Integrating both the beauty and the love of science together into one place." The Buttermarket salon remains open exactly as it was, but the new clinic has given Mrs Singh a brighter space to work in for the first time in 15 years. "For her, she feels a lot happier being here, seeing the sun shine a lot more, rather than being in the basement," Santghai says. The team has grown too, with a few fully qualified staff now working alongside mother and daughter. "We've got a few people working with us, fully qualified," Santghai says, "but they're just like family." ## **What the new clinic is really for** For Santghai, the new site is as much about listening as it is about treatments. "I want to be a person that they can come to as a trusted medical professional if they've got any skin concerns," she says, citing conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis that can affect people's confidence as much as their skin. "I'm here to listen to your concerns, and here to create a treatment plan that works for you." That starts, she says, with a conversation rather than a prescription. "You might come and say, 'This is what I want. But I'm here to have that consultation with you, to get to the root cause.' Sometimes what a patient thinks is best for them might not actually be the best thing for them." It is, in many ways, the same philosophy her mother built the Buttermarket salon on 15 years ago – just with a clinical toolkit added. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_1602-1.jpeg) Gazal's on Upper Brook Street (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Crucially, Santghai is clear that the new clinic is not just for those seeking fillers or injectables. "Sometimes it's not even that you need fillers or anti-wrinkle injections," she says. "Sometimes it's just having hydrated skin, or a proper skincare routine." She wants the space to welcome anyone, whatever their concern and whatever their budget. "I want a lot of education when it comes to skincare, but also for patients who want a more affordable approach. I want to have both kinds of approaches for everyone." ## **The bottom line** Gazal's began 15 years ago with a nervous young mother and a small basement unit. It has grown into something far bigger than a beauty salon – a place where generations of the same family have worked side by side, and where customers have long since stopped feeling like customers. As Santghai and Mrs Singh open their doors on Upper Brook Street, the setting may be brighter, but the values driving it remain exactly the same: care, community, and a determination to make people feel a little more confident in their own skin. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£80 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 2.8m people in the East have registered as organ donors – have you? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/nearly-3m-people-in-the-east-have-registered-as-organ-donors-have-you/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T06:38:48.000Z **Why it matters:** Evidence shows families support organ donation going ahead in 90% of cases when their loved one had registered a decision – but this drops to below 50% when they had not. Family consent has fallen from 69% in 2020/21 to 57% in 2025/26 across the UK, a fall of almost a fifth in five years. **The details:** NHS Blood and Transplant has launched a campaign calling on people to be "One in a Million," with the aim of increasing the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register from 29 million to 30 million by the start of 2027. - 2.8 million people in the East of England have already registered their decision to donate. - Almost 29 million people across the UK have expressed a decision to donate via the register. - One donor can save or transform up to nine lives through organ donation, and many more through tissue donation. - In the East of England in 2025/26, 265 people donated organs, up from 216 the previous year. - 434 patients in the region received a transplant, up from 423 the previous year. - 653 patients in the East of England were waiting for a transplant, and 27 died while waiting last year. Across the UK, 8,296 patients – including 241 children – were on the active transplant waiting list as of 31 March 2026, the highest number on record. Last year, 434 patients nationally died waiting for a transplant, and a further 899 were removed from the list due to deteriorating health. **What they're saying:** Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Family support for organ donation has been in steady decline over the last few years, and we need to reverse that trend. We understand that when families are approached about organ donation, they may be expected to make difficult decisions at an already tragic time. That's why we are asking people in the East of England to be 'One in a Million' and drive up the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register to 30 million by the start of 2027." He added: "For many families though, even when their loved one has expressed a wish to donate, they still override that decision for whatever reason, meaning hundreds of potential organ transplant opportunities being lost each year. "I would urge people who haven't already done so to express your decision to donate via the Organ Donor Register and for families to remember that decision and honour it should the time come." **How to register:** People can register their decision by calling 0300 123 23 23 or visiting [www.organdonation.nhs.uk](http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Anyone can join the register, and age and medical conditions are not necessarily barriers to donation, particularly for tissue donation. **The bottom line:** With transplant waiting lists at a record high, NHS Blood and Transplant says registering a decision – and telling family members about it – makes it far more likely donation will go ahead when the time comes. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Fancy leading a walk? Suffolk scheme needs volunteers URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fancy-leading-a-walk-suffolk-scheme-needs-volunteers/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T06:38:08.000Z **Why it matters:** The health and wellbeing partnership runs around 90 regular walks across Suffolk with The Ramblers, including routes in and around Ipswich, and says it needs more volunteers to help set up and lead new sessions. **The details:** Walks vary in pace and length, from gentle strolls to brisker routes, and typically last between 45 and 90 minutes. - Most walks take place during the week - Some run every week, others every one or two months - Locations span the coast, countryside and town parks, from Haverhill to Lowestoft Volunteer walk leaders are expected to plan and set up new walks in their area, ensuring sessions are safe, inclusive and enjoyable. **What they're saying:** Sonny Baldry, Wellbeing Walks Coordinator with Feel Good Suffolk, said: "We'd love to hear from anyone keen to help us set up new walks which people across Suffolk can enjoy. "We're looking for friendly, reliable and confident volunteers who enjoy being outdoors and want to help others improve their health and wellbeing. Leading a walk is really rewarding and you can help to make a real difference to other people in your community." Phil, a volunteer for a walk in Shotley, said: "I volunteer to keep my fitness and mobility going. You get a chance to meet new people and make new friends. There is a lot of socialising as we go along." Gerald, a walk leader for a regular walk in Woolpit, said: "I volunteer because I enjoy walking and I wouldn't do this if it wasn't important. Socialising is definitely part of wellbeing and these are wellbeing walks which encourage that." **The bigger picture:** Feel Good Suffolk is a partnership between Suffolk County Council, West Suffolk Council, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council and Abbeycroft Leisure, working with NHS Suffolk and Norfolk Integrated Care Board. It supports people to manage a healthy weight, stop smoking and become more active. **The bottom line:** With demand for the walks continuing to grow, organisers say new volunteer leaders could help bring wellbeing walks to more communities across Suffolk, including in the Ipswich area. Anyone interested in volunteering can email [sonny.baldry@ipswich.gov.uk](mailto:sonny.baldry@ipswich.gov.uk). More information is available at feelgoodsuffolk.co.uk/wellbeing-walks --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### 'A serious mess': Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts revert back to NCP URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a-serious-mess-tacket-street-and-tower-ramparts-revert-back-to-ncp/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T12:11:27.000Z **Why it matters:** Motorists using Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts have been left confused, with signage switched from NCP to Q-Park and back again within days. **The details:** Q-Park had been due to take over both car parks from 1 August, after National Car Parks Limited (in administration) confirmed it would cease operating both sites. NCP will now continue to run them instead. - Both Q-Park and NCP were operating the two car parks over the weekend. - NCP signage that had previously been spray-painted to remove branding has had to be cleaned and reinstated at both sites. - An NCP car park attendant told Ipswich.co.uk the situation was "a serious mess", adding that Q-Park "are having some issues" – meaning NCP will now continue to operate both Tower Ramparts and Tacket Street car parks. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5464-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5468-1.jpg) Both Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts car parks have reverted back to NCP (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** A spokesperson for the joint administrators said: "The planned transfer of the Ipswich NCP sites to Q Park is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. NCP continues to operate both Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts in the meantime. Customers should continue to follow the signage currently in place at each site and make payment through the operator identified on site. We apologise for any confusion caused." **For context:** NCP was placed into administration on 16 March 2026, with PwC partners Zelf Hussain, Rachael Wilkinson and Toby Banfield appointed as joint administrators. NCP subsequently told customers it would stop operating a number of UK sites from 1 August 2026, including Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts in Ipswich, with Q-Park taking over. NCP said it had shared "limited elements of the data" it holds with Q-Park "to ensure service continuity where possible." **What's next:** It remains unclear when, or whether, Q-Park will take over the two car parks as originally planned. Ipswich.co.uk will update this story with any response from NCP or Q-Park. **The bottom line:** Days after Q-Park's takeover of Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts began, both car parks are back under NCP's control, with an NCP attendant describing the botched handover as "a serious mess". --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich law firm Ellisons names mental health charity partners URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-law-firm-ellisons-names-mental-health-charity-partners/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T12:22:37.000Z **Why it matters:** The firm says the partnership reflects its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of the communities it serves, building on longstanding relationships with both charities. **The details:** Colleagues from Ellisons' offices in Colchester, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, Frinton-on-Sea, Ipswich and Norwich will take part in fundraising, volunteering and awareness activities over the coming year. Alongside raising funds, the partnership aims to encourage more open conversations about mental health, challenge stigma and promote the support available to people across Suffolk and Essex. **What they're saying:** Ian Seeley, partner and chair of Ellisons' Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, said: "Everyone knows someone whose life has been affected by poor mental health. It affects families, friends, workplaces and communities, which is why we wanted to make mental wellbeing the focus of our charity partnerships this year. "We're proud to be strengthening our longstanding relationships with Suffolk Mind and Mid and North East Essex Mind. Together, we hope to raise vital funds, increase understanding of mental health and encourage more people to seek support when they need it, or simply start a conversation with someone who may be struggling." Jon Neal, chief executive officer of Suffolk Mind, said: "Ellisons has been a valued supporter of Suffolk Mind for many years, and we're pleased to be building on that relationship through this partnership. It's encouraging to see a business with such strong roots in the region place mental wellbeing at the heart of its community programme." Ginny Idehen, chief executive officer of Mid and North East Essex Mind, added: "Our longstanding relationship with Ellisons has always been built on a shared commitment to supporting local people, so it's wonderful to be taking that partnership a step further. As demand for mental health support continues to grow, collaborations like this help ensure more people can access the advice, services and support they need, when they need it most." **For context:** The announcement follows a successful year supporting the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation, during which Ellisons colleagues raised more than £10,000 through a series of fundraising initiatives. **The bottom line:** By working alongside Suffolk Mind and Mid and North East Essex Mind, Ellisons is hoping to make a lasting difference to mental health across the region. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk 'stands no chance' without devolution deal URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-stands-no-chance-without-devolution-deal/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T12:06:40.000Z New Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the changes would mark the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation, with mayors retaining a greater share of business rates from April 2027 and income tax from April 2028\. However, those confirmed dates apply to England's existing metro mayors, and no timetable has yet been set for Combined County Authorities such as Norfolk and Suffolk, whose own mayoral elections were pushed back to May 2028 following the government's decision to cancel its plan to fast-track devolution in the region. ## A 'catalytic' opportunity Paul Simon, head of public affairs and strategic communications at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said the region's economic strengths made the case for devolution particularly compelling. "Suffolk is a key part of one of the few regions that is a net contributor to the Treasury. Yet for decades upon decades, we have received back far less than anything approaching a fair share of central government spending," he said. "Because of our international strengths in renewables, ports and logistics, the land-based sector and advanced manufacturing, our success means national success – particularly in the North and the Midlands." Simon said the devolution of funding and powers from Whitehall departments would be "catalytic" in sustaining that contribution, giving the two counties' 71,000 businesses a "clearer and louder national voice". He was critical of what he described as an "at times, dinosaurian lack of responsiveness" from central government to Suffolk and Norfolk's particular challenges and opportunities. "That is why Suffolk Chamber one hundred per cent backs the principle of devolution and specifically the creation of a Strategic Mayoral Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk," he said. "This is only the first stage, and we are hopeful that with the right mayor in place, Suffolk and Norfolk will be subsequently given more funding and more powers." He argued that even a mayor with initially limited funding would have "enormous soft power" to unite businesses, communities and local councils behind a stronger regional voice, alongside a more joined-up approach to planning and infrastructure investment. ## Urging the deal over the line Suffolk and Norfolk chambers wrote to Prime Minister Andy Burnham as soon as he took office, according to Simon, urging him to press ahead with the mayoral authority on the current timetable. "In other words, we want a mayor in place by no later than May 2028, and respectfully urge the leaderships at both Suffolk and Norfolk county councils to approve the deals as soon as possible," he said. Simon acknowledged that Suffolk and Norfolk remain some way from the greater funding powers set out by the Burnham administration, but said the region had no chance of reaching that point without first agreeing the current deal. "Although we are some way off having a devolved authority that will have the greater funding powers as outlined last week by the Burnham administration, it is clear that we stand no chance whatsoever of getting to that point unless we give the green light immediately to the current deal on the table," he said. He pointed to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, in existence for nine years, which was recently awarded Established status – deepening its advantage over Norfolk and Suffolk. "Suffolk and Norfolk are already some way behind not only the big metropolitan areas, but also more rural ones," Simon said. "If we fail to put our foot on the lowest rung of the devolution escalator now, we risk being left far, far behind those already ahead of us, let alone those regions about to set off on their devolution journeys for the first time." Asked what businesses stood to lose from further delay, Simon pointed to funding, "political clout and influence", inward investment and business confidence. "Chambers of Commerce in areas with mayors know who to work with. They know who is really accountable," he said. "When government wants to talk to Suffolk at the moment – who do they call? Who speaks on behalf of us all? The lines of accountability are confusing and blurred, and make for poor decision-making and missed opportunities. We are easier to ignore by Whitehall than we should be." ## 'We need the details' Tim Passmore, the Conservative candidate for Norfolk and Suffolk mayor, welcomed the principle of the announcement but pressed the need for further detail. "Receiving a share of income tax and business rates seems to be an attractive proposal worthy of serious analysis and consideration. We need the details," he said. He asked whether the funding could be used to reduce local taxation, support joint infrastructure investment, or provide security for borrowing through the Public Works Loan Board or other sources. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/tim-passmore-pcc.jpg) PCC Tim Passmore (Photo: Tim Passmore) Passmore said the proposed mayoralty could significantly boost economic growth in the region, provided there was "sufficient autonomy to deliver change according to the area's needs", pointing to Suffolk and Norfolk's strengths in food, drink and agriculture, ICT, logistics, energy, tourism and advanced manufacturing. "The focus must be on 'place' and not about mayors running businesses," he said. "It is about how to make the area much more attractive for inward investment and growth – better infrastructure including road and rail links, public transport especially for young people, mobile and ICT connectivity, a highly trained labour pool providing what businesses need, enabling a property-owning democracy and long-term strategic planning." He renewed his criticism of the government's decision on the Ely and Haughley rail junctions upgrade, which he described as "appalling and very disappointing" given what he understood to be their strong return on investment, and said the new funding arrangement could support upgrades to the A14, A12 and A11, the Orwell Crossing, and connectivity to Norwich and Stansted airports. Passmore also linked the announcement to wider concerns, including water resource restrictions in East Anglia, which he called "a comprehensive failure of successive governments to plan ahead", and the stagnating housing market, which he suggested could be helped by scrapping stamp duty. "Suffolk needs to seize this opportunity, so we are not once again left behind," he said. "We need to remember Suffolk already has a low share of national resources compared with most areas – funding for infrastructure, health, education, housing and emergency services is some of the lowest per capita nationally, and yet we are net contributors to the national exchequer." ## 'Funding pots too restrictive' Green Party candidate Caroline Topping, whose leadership of East Suffolk Council is under intense scrutiny following its botched Better Recycling rollout, welcomed the principle of mayors gaining greater control over tax revenue, arguing that existing funding arrangements were too restrictive to deliver good value. "For devolution to be meaningful, local areas need the financial powers to invest in their own priorities," she said. "Too often, councils have to bid competitively to Westminster for short-term funding pots that come with tight restrictions on how the money can be spent and unrealistic delivery timescales. If those conditions cannot be met, the funding has to be returned." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/DSC00324.jpg) Cllr Caroline Topping, Leader of East Suffolk Council (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) She pointed to funding for warm homes and retrofitting in Suffolk as an example. "The eligibility criteria were so restrictive that many households who could have benefited were excluded," she said. "As a result, some funding had to be returned to government while residents continued to face higher energy bills, unnecessary heat loss and increased carbon emissions." Topping said an earlier devolution deal for Suffolk, shelved in 2016, meant the county had already missed opportunities to secure investment and greater control over its own future. "Rather than waiting for decisions to be made in Westminster, local leaders could have been shaping investment around Suffolk's priorities," she said, adding that such funding could have supported skills and training, rail freight capacity, more reliable bus services, and new business growth in the county. "Devolution is about more than funding," she said. "It's about giving local communities the ability to make decisions that reflect local needs and ambitions." ## 'Our part of the world has been overlooked for too long' Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said his support for devolution stemmed from long-standing frustration at how the region has been treated by Westminster. "I have long argued for greater powers and autonomy for Ipswich and Suffolk. Our part of the world has been overlooked for too long, and we must start thinking differently and embracing opportunities when they present themselves," he said. "It is why I support devolution and the creation of a mayor for East Anglia, and it is why I believe a Greater Ipswich Council, working alongside our partners in East and West Suffolk, is so essential for our future." He said the announcement could allow more of the taxes raised locally to be reinvested locally. "The government's drive to transfer power out of Westminster could mean we can keep more of the taxes raised in Ipswich and Suffolk in Ipswich and Suffolk, leading to a far greater ability to prioritise local investment," he said. Abbott took aim at Suffolk County Council's Reform administration, which he suggested was resistant to change. "I know some people and organisations – like Reform-led Suffolk County Council – are desperate to maintain the status quo, but that isn't working for anyone," he said. "I am ambitious for our town and county and will keep fighting for the powers and resources we need to fulfil our potential." ## The bottom line Whatever their politics, Suffolk's business and political voices agree on one thing: the county cannot afford to be an afterthought while devolution takes shape everywhere else first. The Labour, Liberal Democrat and Reform UK mayoral candidates were approached for comment. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£131 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Pressure mounts on East Suffolk Council leader to resign over 'neglectful' recycling 'fiasco' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/pressure-mounts-on-east-suffolk-council-leader-to-resign-over-neglectful-recycling-fiasco/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T07:12:40.000Z Ten weeks into the Better Recycling scheme, East Suffolk Council is facing its most direct challenge yet to its political leadership. Independent councillor Julia Ewart, who is also Suffolk County Council's Scrutiny Chair, has told Cllr Topping in writing that she has "completely lost confidence in the leadership of the Better Recycling rollout," and said that "those with overall responsibility for this failed rollout should now resign." It is the sharpest escalation yet in a campaign that began in earnest on 16 July, when Cllr Ewart first wrote to chief executive Chris Bally proposing a "Transitional Cross-Party Administration" to replace the GLi Group Cabinet, which she said was "running out of road." She had separately written to the council's Monitoring Officer, citing a statutory duty to assess governance risk around the rollout. Cllr Ewart's position has not softened since. Speaking to this publication, she said that she regarded the rollout as "without doubt one of the most neglectful, chaotic schemes I have ever experienced." She said sustained scrutiny from opposition councillors had forced the issue into the open and "brought this fiasco to a head." She described the administration's response to that scrutiny as marked by "such belligerence by those responsible failing to take ownership of the blame," adding that the result was that "residents' tolerance is so taken for granted." Cllr Ewart is not alone among independent councillors in calling for change. Cllr Amanda Folley, town councillor at Felixstowe and district councillor for West Felixstowe, said a reshuffle of the Cabinet was overdue, pointing to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) as her main concern: "It's ridiculous – if a cabinet can't cope with a bin rollout, how can they cope with LGR." She also described communication from the leader and Cabinet throughout the rollout as "poor." ## Disputed figures At the heart of the dispute is a disagreement over how the council is measuring its own performance and communicating it to Members and residents. A weekly update circulated to councillors on 17 July recorded 270,093 planned collections, 224,557 completed, and 45,536 missed for the previous week, giving an overall collection rate of 83.1%. A subsequent update, covering the following week, no longer showed those underlying figures. Instead, councillors were given percentage averages by waste stream, alongside a revised figure stating that the previous week's average had in fact been 81.9%, rather than the 83.1% originally reported. In a letter to Cllr Topping dated 27 July, seen by this publication, Cllr Ewart challenged the discrepancy: She said the change had "made meaningful comparison between weeks impossible" and created "an unfortunate perception that the Council is attempting to present the data in a more favourable light." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/1784791543974-zh7tk7p9b9-dsc00336-1.jpg) Cllr Julia Ewart (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Cllr Ewart has also questioned a run of reported 100.0% collection rates for individual waste streams on individual days, writing that "across a district the size and geography of East Suffolk, multiple 100% collection days appear, at face value, highly unusual." Sharing Cllr Ewart's views was Felixstowe Cllr Amanda Folley, who described the reporting as "a disgrace." Her central concern echoes Cllr Ewart's, but from a different angle: she said a number of properties are not included on round lists at all, meaning that any missed collections at those addresses would not register in the figures as a missed collection. She was clear, however, that she did not know how many properties this might affect. In response, Deputy Leader, Cllr Paul Ashton, said the weekly updates were never intended to be formal reports, bound by a determined methodology. "They are information packs which provide Councillors with insight about the things we are doing," he said, adding that "different information may be useful in future weeks, which we will provide for Councillors." He said the presumption was that councillors would raise any concerns about what was shared directly with the council, and that "this has worked well so far." He also confirmed the council intends to publish bin counts by waste type in future weekly updates, saying: "I want to share the counts of bins for each waste type in reports to Councillors because I think it will be more meaningful and helpful than daily totals." A further, more technical concern has emerged over what the reported figures actually capture. In a letter to Cllr Ashton, seen by this publication, Cllr Ewart set out a distinction she said had not previously been made clear to Members: the difference between an "incomplete round," where the council already knows a property has not been visited, and a "missed bin," which the council only becomes aware of once a resident reports it. She argued that this means a round can be recorded as fully complete while individual missed collections still exist within it, writing that "a '100% completed round' is not necessarily equivalent to '100% successful collections'." She has asked the council for clear definitions of its principal performance measures, including completed rounds, incomplete rounds, missed bins, recovered collections, and failed collections, and whether any process exists to check in-cab driver data against residents' actual experience. Cllr Ashton's response goes some way to confirming the distinction Cllr Ewart has raised. He said the percentages generated from the in-cab system are "round completion rates," where 100% means a crew completed its whole round, not that every individual bin on it was collected. "We know a 100% round completion rate doesn't guarantee every bin is collected, but we are using the data for week-on-week comparisons rather than as an absolute measure," he said. He added that, even with a highly diligent workforce, the sheer volume of collections makes some misses statistically inevitable: "We collect roughly 270,000 bins each week. Even if we complete every round and we are 99.9% accurate with our collection, that still leads to 270 missed bins per week." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/image-1.png) Cllr Paul Ashton, Deputy Leader of East Suffolk Council (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ## General waste mixed with recyclables 'very limited' On the question of where collected waste ends up, Cllr Ashton confirmed that bins from a small number of severely affected properties have, on occasion, been collected together and treated as general waste rather than sorted. "There have been some residents who have experienced repeated missed collections of many bins," he said. "In order to get these residents to a clean start, we have, by exception, just for them, collected all their bins at the same time and processed the contents as general waste. Thereafter, we have collected their waste in segregated streams." He stressed that the practice had been "very limited" – in the hundreds or tens of collections – and did not reflect council policy, which remains to collect waste in segregated streams, adding that the council's overall recycling rate "improved by almost ten percentage points in June compared to previous months." ## The leadership challenge At a Full Council meeting on 22 July, Deputy leader Cllr Ashton gave a lengthy and candid account of the operational problems behind the rollout, including vehicle faults, driver shortages and weight-calibration issues, and confirmed the appointment of an outside specialist to help recover the service. Cllr Topping followed with her own apology, albeit much shorter than that of her deputy, who has been left to deal with the fallout of the troubled rollout almost singlehandedly. Responding to this publication, Cllr Topping strongly rejected any suggestion that she should stand down. "I am committed to ensuring that we deliver further improvements to the waste collection service, and I am getting no indications from other political groups that they have any wish for me to stand down as Leader," she said. "Political grandstanding is of no interest to residents whose primary concern is receiving consistent services." Cllr Topping said councillors "from across the political spectrum" were right to challenge and scrutinise waste and recycling services, but added that "constructive dialogue is preferable to social media posturing." She said she looked forward to hearing from Cllr Ewart "about the rescheduling of our meeting, which she chose to cancel four weeks ago." Cllr Ashton was similarly dismissive of the specific route Cllr Ewart has taken. He said her original approach to the council's chief executive, rather than to fellow group leaders, was the equivalent, in national terms, of an independent MP asking the head of the civil service to remove the prime minister and cabinet, and assist that independent MP in putting in place an alternative prime minister and cabinet more to the liking of that MP. He said no discussion had taken place with the leaders of the Labour or Conservative groups before that approach was made, and that he could not see how changing the cabinet or leader is going to have the "remotest impact" on the operation of the waste collection service." Asked what should happen next, Cllr Ewart repeated her call for a change in the council's leadership: "Residents will rightly ask what's next? The answer should be a cross-party 'cabinet of unity' to ease East Suffolk's legacy through the Local Government Reorganisation process, I'm incredibly clear on that. This rollout is a critical failure by East Suffolk Council – I believe there are others." Cllr Folley's view was similarly unambiguous: whatever form it takes, she believes change at the top of the council is now overdue. She describes a Cabinet that is "imploding," with infighting between Greens and Lib Dems commonplace – though Ashton "refutes" that claim, saying: "The cabinet meets most weeks to discuss current issues and to focus on one or two upcoming changes that Cabinet members are working on. We actually met earlier this \[yesterday\] afternoon. The discussion was cordial and constructive. "In previous meetings, there have been occasional differences of opinion, but nothing I would characterise as arguing." ## The bottom line East Suffolk Council says performance on Better Recycling is improving, and has now set out, in detail, why its weekly figures work the way they do: informal updates rather than fixed reports, round completion rather than a guarantee every bin is collected, and a small, exceptional use of combined collections for the worst-affected properties. It says that all major issues have been ironed out and that consistency is key. Leader Cllr Topping insists she has no plans to stand down. Deputy Leader Cllr Ashton says that this is an operational issue, not a political one. But with a growing number of opposition councillors now publicly and privately pushing for change, pressure is mounting on the council's leadership to quickly resolve the remaining Better Recycling shortcomings and prove to both opposition councillors and residents that they are the right people to lead East Suffolk into Local Government Reorganisation. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£229 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Historic WWII boat's Ipswich cruise business for sale URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/historic-wwii-boats-ipswich-cruise-business-for-sale/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T07:12:29.000Z **Why it matters:** The vessel has operated dining and charter cruises on the River Orwell for 13 years, and its sale raises questions over the future of one of Ipswich's more distinctive hospitality businesses. **The details:** The asking price of £150,000 includes furniture and fixtures valued at £120,000\. Turnover and net profit figures are available on request. - The business is owner-operated and trades as part of River Cruise Restaurants. - The reason given for the sale is the owner downsizing ahead of retirement. - The listing states the business has been recently surveyed, and that "reasonable handover and training will be provided to support a successful transition of ownership." - The vessel is described as relocatable. **For context:** The Allen Gardiner was built in 1942 by the Miami Shipbuilding Corporation in Florida, one of twenty identical "Miami 63" launches operated by the South African Air Force during the Second World War as air-sea rescue boats, nicknamed "crash boats". Deployed in pairs around the South African coast, these vessels are credited with saving the lives of more than 600 survivors from 153 ships sunk by German U-boats and surface craft during the war. The boats were built for speed, with a lightweight double-planked hull and four 500-horsepower engines in tandem driving two propellers, giving a maximum speed of 42 knots – about 50 miles per hour. Some did not survive the war; the rest were sold into private hands, the last as late as the 1970s, going on to work as fishing charters, disco boats and harbour cruise vessels. The Allen Gardiner joined the Lady Florence cruise restaurant business in Durban, South Africa, in October 2002, when she was modified for fine dining with a commercially-equipped galley and deck-level toilets. She underwent a six-month rebuild in 2011, replacing all planking above the waterline, before relocating to Ipswich in 2013 due to the logistics of running two businesses 6,000 miles apart. **By the numbers:** The vessel carries up to 12 passengers and operates all year round, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, offering breakfast, lunch, supper and dinner cruises departing from Fox's Marina, passing under the Orwell Bridge towards Felixstowe and Harwich. **The bottom line:** After more than a decade cruising the River Orwell, the historic WWII vessel-turned-restaurant is looking for a new owner. [Learn more](https://uk.businessesforsale.com/uk/heritage-vessel-river-cruise-hospitality-business-for-sale.aspx?utm%5Fsource=business%5Femail%5Falerts&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=Jul%5F2026) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Five crews tackle fire at Warren Heath retail park URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/five-crews-tackle-fire-at-warren-heath-retail-park/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T18:37:31.000Z **Why it matters:** The fire broke out in an outside storage area near the B&M Home Store on Felixstowe Road, prompting a multi-crew response and a warning to nearby residents and businesses over smoke in the area. **The details:** Crews were called at 17:26 on Monday, 3 August, with appliances from Ipswich Princes Street, Ipswich East, Holbrook, Felixstowe and Hadleigh attending. - Firefighters used thermal imaging cameras, two hose reel jets and two 45m jets to tackle the fire. - The fire was contained to the yard and prevented from spreading to the building. - Police attended to assist with traffic management in the area. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5544.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5547.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5548.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5551.jpeg) Five fire crews stopped the blaze from spreading (Photos by Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) A stop was called at 19:10, with two crews remaining on scene to check for hotspots. **The bottom line:** The fire was brought under control without spreading to the B&M store, though residents were urged to keep doors and windows shut while smoke cleared from the area. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Five men released under investigation following alleged rape on Curriers Lane URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/five-men-released-under-investigation-following-alleged-rape-on-curriers-lane/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T17:11:18.000Z **Why it matters:** The update follows the arrest of five men in connection with an alleged rape at an address on Curriers Lane, next to Ipswich Magistrates' Court, in the early hours of Sunday, 2 August. **The details:** - The victim, a woman in her 30s, reported that she had been raped in the early hours of Sunday, 2 August, at an address on Curriers Lane. - She has been assisting police with their enquiries and continues to be supported by specialist trained officers. - The five men, aged 27, 31, 35, 44 and 49, were arrested the following day and taken into police custody for questioning. They have now been released under investigation pending further enquiries. - The police scene at the address has been lifted, having previously been in place while officers carried out their investigation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5538-1120x630.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5533-1120x630.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5534-1120x630.webp) Crime scene at property on Curriers Street in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What's next:** A police investigation remains ongoing, with officers continuing to conduct enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference 37/45328/26, via the [Suffolk Police website](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or by calling 101\. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their [online form](https://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). In an emergency, always call 999. **The bottom line:** The five men arrested over the alleged rape on Curriers Lane have been released under investigation, with the police scene now lifted and enquiries continuing to establish the full circumstances of the incident. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Bus driver hospitalised after being punched twice in road rage row URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bus-driver-hospitalised-after-being-punched-twice-in-road-rage-row/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T15:11:29.000Z **Why it matters:** Police are appealing for witnesses after the assault, which happened in broad daylight on Ravenswood Avenue on Saturday afternoon. **The details:** The incident took place at approximately 15:35 on Saturday, 1 August, between the driver of a bus and the driver of a grey BMW car. - As the bus turned onto the bus lane between Maryon Road and Ravenswood Avenue, a number of cars were initially travelling the wrong way down the lane before reversing back to allow the bus to pass. - As the bus approached a grey car, the driver – a man – called out, causing the bus driver to stop. - The driver of the car then got out of his vehicle, reportedly shouting and swearing at the bus driver before punching him to the face through the open window of the vehicle. - As the bus driver left his vehicle to take the car's registration details, the man punched him to the face again, causing him to fall, before leaving the scene in his car. - The bus driver was taken to hospital for treatment, having sustained a broken nose, facial lacerations that required stitches, and further grazes and bruising. **Who they're looking for:** The suspect is described as a man aged in his 40s to 50s, approximately 5ft 4ins tall, with grey curly hair and a grey beard trimmed short around his face. **The bottom line:** Officers are appealing for witnesses to the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact South CID at Suffolk police, quoting reference 37/45273/26. Anyone with information can report it via the [Suffolk police website](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or by calling 101\. In an emergency, always call 999. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Five men arrested after alleged serious sexual assault in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/five-men-arrested-after-alleged-serious-sexual-assault-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T17:11:51.000Z ❗ This story has been updated. You can find the latest update [here](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/five-men-released-under-investigation-following-alleged-rape-on-curriers-lane/). **Why it matters:** A police scene remains sealed off on the residential street, next to Ipswich Magistrates' Court, as officers continue their investigation. **The details:** The five men, aged 27, 31, 35, 44 and 49, were arrested on suspicion of rape and are currently in police custody for questioning. - The victim, a woman in her 30s, is being supported by specialist trained officers. - Curriers Lane sits between Princes Street and Elm Street. The address where the offence is alleged to have taken place is adjacent to the magistrates' court. - The entrance to the building remains sealed off with police tape, with building materials visible around the building and courtyard. Officers are standing guard as an increased police presence continues in the area. **What they're saying:** Detective Chief Inspector Craig Brett said: "I understand the concern this may cause the local community and would like to assure the public that our teams have been working tirelessly since the incident was reported to us. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5533-1120x630.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5534-1120x630.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5536-1120x630.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5538-1120x630.webp) Crime scene at property on Curriers Street in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) "A scene remains in place on Curriers Lane, and there is currently an increased police presence in the area as we conduct our enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident. "We encourage the public to speak with officers if they have any concerns or information." **What's next:** Anyone with information can contact police quoting reference 37/45328/26 via the Suffolk Police website, or by calling 101\. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their online form. In an emergency, always call 999. **The bottom line:** Investigations remain ongoing on Curriers Lane, with five men in custody and police continuing to appeal for information. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### One in six children abused as charity says few cases reach court URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/one-in-six-children-abused-as-charity-says-few-cases-reach-court/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T07:10:45.000Z For [Brave Futures](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/brave-futures/), a specialist charity supporting children and young people affected by sexual abuse across Suffolk and Norfolk, the figures reflect what its services are already witnessing. Some areas have seen referrals increase by more than 150% compared with the previous year, as more children and young people come forward to seek help. Hannah Walker, Engagement and Fundraising Manager at Brave Futures, says the rise reflects a combination of factors. "We know there has been a significant increase in online-facilitated sexual abuse, which means children are being exposed to risks that simply weren't there in the same way years ago," she explains. "At the same time, awareness has improved, professionals are becoming better at recognising the signs, and more children and young people are feeling able to speak out and ask for help." She adds that the new one in six figure "suggests that the problem has always been much bigger than many of us realised." ## What happens after a child comes forward When a young person is referred to Brave Futures, the charity aims to begin working with them within eight to 12 weeks. The first step is an assessment, looking at their individual needs and how their experiences are affecting them, including any trauma symptoms. From there, a bespoke support plan is built around the child's own views, needs and goals. "We always begin with stabilisation work, helping them develop the tools and coping strategies they need before moving into processing their trauma," Hannah says. "Once that work is complete, we focus on ending the support safely and positively." On average, Brave Futures works with children for around 25 sessions over the course of a year, though the charity says it isn't driven by strict time limits. Support continues "for as long as is appropriate", and children and young people can return to Brave Futures up to the age of 21\. This often encourages individuals to revisit their experiences from a different perspective as they get older, or to seek additional support following court proceedings or any changes that may occur in relation to their experiences. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-43-1120x630-1.webp) Brave Futures Dragon Boat Festival 2026 (Photo: Kev Bennett/Kev Bennett Imagery) Research by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has found that, on average, it takes a child seven years to disclose sexual abuse. Hannah says the charity's own experience reflects that too — which is part of why early recognition matters so much. Brave Futures trains schools, healthcare professionals, social care and police to recognise the signs of abuse and respond appropriately when a child is ready to speak. "Demand for training has grown significantly, which also reflects the increase we're seeing in referrals," Hannah says. "We're really proud that professionals increasingly see us as somewhere they can turn for advice, guidance and support." ## The gap between disclosure and justice But for the children who do come forward, and whose cases involve a perpetrator who could be prosecuted, the journey through the justice system tells a story that is much more sobering. "Over the past 14 years, only around 15% of the children we have supported have seen a prosecution," Hannah says. "Court delays can be incredibly long, and for some young people the criminal justice process can add to their trauma. Some have even told us that the court process felt more traumatising than the abuse itself." What looks like a systemic failure is rarely a story about any one individual. It is, instead, a story about a process — one that can involve several different systems, and can ask a child to tell and retell the same story, reliving the experience each time, before anything resembling justice is reached. There are challenges, Hannah says, but she is careful to stress that this is not a failure of individuals. "I'd probably say this is a much wider conversation," she says. "Many children do report positive experiences with individual professionals, and there are some fantastic people working across policing and the justice system." She adds: "I don't believe that's because professionals don't care. I think many are working incredibly hard within a system that still isn't consistently child-centred or trauma-informed. Improvements are being made, but there's still a long way to go." ## Young voices demanding change Brave Futures' Youth Board — a new initiative giving young people a direct say in shaping the charity's services — has already chosen the justice system as one of its first issues to tackle. "The Youth Board is a really exciting new initiative for us, and we're still finding our feet," Hannah says. "It was created because we believe young people should have a genuine voice in shaping the services they receive." Locally, the board tells the charity what's working and what isn't. "We also want the Youth Board to influence change nationally," Hannah explains. "We want young people to have opportunities to feed into victim and survivor panels, influence policy and shine a light on both the barriers they've faced and the things that have helped them. The agenda isn't set by us, it's set by the young people themselves, because these are their experiences and their voices that deserve to be heard." One of the first issues the board chose to raise was the justice system itself, to which Hannah says: "It shows just how important it is to the young people themselves." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/BraveFutures-45-1.jpg) The Bears (Photo: Brave Futures) ## What needs to change "Child sexual abuse is not something that one organisation can tackle alone. It takes everyone working together," says Hannah. Part of that, she argues, starts long before a child ever needs a service like Brave Futures. She points to around 90% of children who experience sexual abuse knowing the person responsible — a reminder, she says, that abuse is "far more likely to happen within families, friendship groups, trusted relationships or community settings than at the hands of a stranger." Everyday habits, she suggests, can help: giving children autonomy over their own bodies, using correct names for body parts, keeping communication open, and setting healthy boundaries around technology. But for children whose cases have moved slowly or painfully through the justice system, Hannah says the consideration must start with a foundation of a system that is consistently child-centred and trauma-informed, not just in principle but in practice. With referrals continuing to rise, Brave Futures is also asking the wider community to play its part. "Additional funding always enables us to reach more children, reduce waiting times and expand our services," Hannah says. "Without increased investment, there is a real risk that waiting times will continue to grow." She adds that support isn't only about donations: advocacy, partnerships, and simply raising awareness matter too. "Some of our biggest successes have come from people simply opening a door or making an introduction that we couldn't have made ourselves." ## The bottom line A new national statistic — one in six, not one in ten — has brought fresh attention to just how widespread child sexual abuse really is. But as Hannah Walker makes clear, coming forward is only the beginning: for the small fraction of children whose cases reach a courtroom, a process built to deliver justice can instead become another ordeal for them to endure. Brave Futures' Youth Board has made this one of its priorities, pushing for a justice system that is more consistently child-centred. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, Brave Futures can be contacted via [www.bravefutures.org](http://www.bravefutures.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£67 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### University of Suffolk celebrates 10 years of independence URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/university-of-suffolk-celebrates-10-years-of-independence/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T07:10:33.000Z **Why it matters:** The 10th anniversary marks a decade in which the university has overseen tens of thousands of degrees, supported key regional industries with workforce skills, and become an anchor institution for Ipswich and Suffolk. **The details:** The university was founded in 2007 as University Campus Suffolk, initially awarding degrees through the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex. It evolved from what had previously been Suffolk College at the same location. In August 2016, it was renamed the University of Suffolk to mark its new status as an independent university, and that autumn it awarded its first degrees under its own name. **What they're saying:** [Professor Jenny Higham](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/professor-jenny-higham/), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, said: "Marking 10 years as an independent university and recognising the impact we have had on our region is an incredibly proud moment for all of us here. We are excited to be hosting a range of engaging events across the county over the course of the next year to celebrate." She added: "As a civic university, we have made a meaningful pledge to be a force for good in our communities, such as developing our new MPharm Pharmacy degree to train future pharmacists in our region and giving our MA Creative and Critical Writing students a chance to be published for the first time with our brilliant anthology of Suffolk-inspired books." **By the numbers:** An economic impact study published in spring 2024 found the university supports more than 13,000 jobs and helps support more than £860m in economic activity a year. David James, head of Business and Law at the University of Suffolk, has been at the institution since its days as Suffolk College in the mid-1990s, witnessing its journey from college to University Campus Suffolk to a fully independent university. He said: "We work hard to embed good relationships with employers in our region into our courses, creating opportunities for students to access work placements, internships and student impact projects. We also invite professionals to guest lectures and to join our events programme, such as the Annual Law Lecture and Spotlight Suffolk panel discussion series. In addition, we have a growing portfolio of apprenticeships geared towards the skills needs of employers in the region. "These employer relationships are really important for our students, who can apply their learning to the workplace, and creates opportunities for them beyond their studies. We have excellent relationships with regional law firms and larger companies in the region, as well as small and medium-sized businesses. We often have the pleasure of meeting our graduates when we engage with local and regional firms and institutions. A number of our Law graduates, for example, now work for regional law firms. In short, there is a big increase in confidence and ambition that has developed since becoming a university." **What's next:** Over the coming year, an array of events will mark the anniversary: - Ipswich's first-ever TEDx event, themed "Building a better Suffolk", takes place at The Hold on Thursday, 1 October. Tickets have sold out, but the event will be livestreamed - The university's Open Lecture Series returns on Tuesday, 17 November, with former Chancellor Helen Pankhurst CBE and Lowestoft MP Jess Asato discussing equality and democracy - Two Ipswich Book Festival events take place on Friday, 2 October, featuring musicians Rusty Egan (Visage and The Rich Kids) and Derek Forbes (Simple Minds) - A Spotlight Suffolk event with a youth-focused panel is planned for early November, followed by a Christmas fayre on campus on Friday, 20 November **The bottom line:** As it marks 10 years of independence, the University of Suffolk points to its graduates as its greatest achievement, with a year of events now set to celebrate the milestone across the county. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Free dance holiday club for kids in Ipswich this August URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/free-dance-holiday-club-for-kids-in-ipswich-this-august/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T00:05:54.000Z **The details:** - **When:** Monday, 3 August 2026, 09:45–16:15, repeating weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until 6 August 2026 - **Where:** DanceEast (Jerwood DanceHouse), Foundry Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1DW - **Cost:** Free - **Audience:** Ages 4-7 **Why go:** This is a fun, energetic holiday club combining creative dance sessions with arts and crafts. It includes a nutritious lunch, snacks and a breakfast-club option, with support workers and quiet spaces available for accessibility. ### Aerosol can exploding on heat source likely cause of Princes Street blast, police say URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/aerosol-can-exploding-on-heat-source-likely-cause-of-princes-street-blast-police-say/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T13:24:19.000Z **Why it matters:** A man remains in custody as investigations continue, though the road and homes affected by Friday night's incident have now reopened to the public. **The details:** Police were called to Princes Street just before 20:45 on Friday, 31 July, following reports of a suspected explosion at a block of flats, which caused damage to several windows. - Suffolk Fire and Rescue and the East of England Ambulance Service also attended. - Residents of the property were evacuated as a precaution and Princes Street was closed for public safety. - A police scene remains in place, but the building and road have now reopened, with residents allowed to return. - No injuries have been reported. - At 21:05 on Friday, an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson/criminal damage with intent to endanger life. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains. Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances of the incident. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/image.png) The police cordon has now been removed (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** Police say that "at this early stage of the investigation, it is believed that an aerosol can had exploded after being placed on a heat source." **The bottom line:** With the likely cause now identified as an aerosol can exploding on a heat source, Princes Street has reopened and residents are back in their homes, though a man remains in custody as police continue their enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to contact Suffolk Police via [www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us](http://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or by calling 101, quoting 37/45092/26\. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via [www.crimestoppers-uk.org](http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). In an emergency, always call 999. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Glass strewn across street after explosion rips through Ipswich flat URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/glass-strewn-across-street-after-explosion-rips-through-ipswich-flats/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T15:48:18.000Z ❗ This story has been updated. You can find the latest update [here](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/aerosol-can-exploding-on-heat-source-likely-cause-of-princes-street-blast-police-say/). **Why it matters:** Residents were evacuated as a precaution and the street remains closed for public safety, with police continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident. **The details:** Police were called to Princes Street just before 20:45 on Friday, 31 July, following reports of a suspected explosion at a block of flats, which caused damage to several windows. - Suffolk Fire and Rescue and the East of England Ambulance Service also attended the scene. - Residents of the property were evacuated as a precaution. - No injuries have been reported. **What's next:** At approximately 21:05, an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson/criminal damage with intent to endanger life. He has been taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains. Enquiries continue to establish the circumstances of the incident. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5500.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5505.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5511.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5512.jpeg) Windows blown out, shattered glass covering the street on the morning after the explosion on Princes Street (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **The scene:** As of 10:15 on Saturday, three police cars remained on Princes Street as officers continued their investigation, with a cordon still in place. Glass was strewn across the street, and the windows of a second-floor flat could be seen blown out. **For context:** Princes Street is closed and a diversion is in place, with police advising it is expected to remain shut throughout the day. **The bottom line:** Investigations are ongoing into a suspected explosion at a block of flats on Princes Street, with an 18-year-old man in police custody and the road expected to stay closed overnight. Anyone with information is asked to contact Suffolk Police via [www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us](http://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or by calling 101, quoting CAD 416 of 31 July. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via [www.crimestoppers-uk.org](http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). In an emergency, always call 999. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Toothless in England: Dental campaign challenges new NHS board URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/toothless-in-england-dental-campaign-challenges-new-nhs-board/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T07:21:43.000Z **Why it matters:** Only 37.9% of Suffolk adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the two years to 2023/24, below the England average of 40.3%, according to Suffolk's own 2025 Oral Health Profile. Access is worst in Mid Suffolk (27.9%), Babergh (30.1%) and West Suffolk (35.1%), and more than 108,000 Suffolk residents cannot reach an NHS dental service within 30 minutes by public transport. **The big picture:** Campaign group Toothless in England issued the challenge to NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board (ICB), which was formed on 1 April 2026 through the merger of the former Suffolk and North East Essex ICB and Norfolk and Waveney ICB. [What the new NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB means for youA newly merged NHS body now oversees healthcare planning for around 1.7 million people across Norfolk and Suffolk – here is what changed today and why it matters.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-d9ac3c0d-10f4-4abe-80ac-f74f40c21e7a.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/female-doctor-female-patient-edited-1-07aec842-71ab-4dc4-a8ad-2acb4788503e.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/what-the-new-nhs-norfolk-and-suffolk-icb-means-for-you/) The campaign says the new board "inherits both the problems and the responsibility to fix them." **The details:** Toothless in England is calling on the ICB to: - Publish a formal response to the Suffolk 2025 Oral Health Profile and the available Norfolk oral health evidence - Provide full transparency on recent dental underspend and clawback across both former ICB areas - Set out a timed plan to increase routine NHS dental capacity in the lowest-access districts and rural and coastal communities - Explain what happened to unused mobile dental funding - Report publicly on how many additional patients have gained ongoing NHS dental care, not just urgent appointments **For context:** The same Oral Health Profile shows the picture in Ipswich itself is more mixed than the county-wide figures suggest. Adults in Ipswich actually have the best access to an NHS dentist anywhere in Suffolk, with 56.7% seen in the past 24 months, and the town has the highest concentration of NHS dental practices in the county, albeit against a low baseline. However, Ipswich's children fare far worse than their counterparts elsewhere in Suffolk. Between 2021 and 2024, 95 out of 200 Suffolk children under five admitted to hospital with tooth decay were from Ipswich alone — nearly half the county's total, despite Ipswich making up a much smaller share of Suffolk's population. **What they're saying:** Mark Jones, of Toothless in England, said: "The new Norfolk & Suffolk ICB has a clean slate and a clear choice. It can continue the pattern of large underspends, limited transparency, and heavy reliance on urgent care while waiting for national reform, or it can treat the oral health evidence seriously and put money into restoring proper NHS dentistry where people live." He added: "Patients in Mid Suffolk, Babergh, West Suffolk, rural Norfolk and coastal communities have waited long enough. The data is there. The money was there. What has been missing is the determination to turn both into actual appointments and ongoing care." **The other side:** The ICB was approached for comment but declined to respond to this publication's enquiry. The ICB has previously spoken publicly about dental access. In a statement issued on 14 July 2026, chief executive Dr Ed Garratt said dentistry "remains one of our highest priorities and we're investing in both immediate improvements and long-term solutions to ensure more people can access the care they need." The ICB says it holds a £112m ring-fenced dental budget and is progressing a procurement to increase NHS dental capacity across Suffolk, reinvesting funding released through dental contract changes in Norfolk, and supporting a new dental school at the University of East Anglia, due to open to its first students in September 2027. **What's next:** Toothless in England says it remains ready to discuss practical solutions with county councillors and the ICB and will continue pressing for measurable results for patients. **The bottom line:** Toothless in England wants the ICB to publish its underspend figures and a timed plan for dental access; the ICB says dentistry is a priority and has committed £112m to it, but declined to respond to the campaign's specific claims. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£53 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Councillors side with residents over petrol station plans URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/councillors-side-with-residents-over-petrol-station-plans/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T07:21:32.000Z **Why it matters:** The decision means EG On The Move's bid to modernise its Woodbridge Road East fuel station remains on hold, with councillors citing risks to road users – particularly schoolchildren – at what they described as an already busy junction. **The details:** The application, reference IP/26/00009/FUL, was considered by Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee and sought permission for a revised layout at the site, comprising: - Demolition of the existing sales kiosk and erection of a new kiosk building, including a coffee shop drive-through - Demolition of the existing fuel pumps and erection of a new petrol filling station facility with canopy, including bigger underground fuel tanks - Replacement of, and additional, high-power EV charging points, along with a substation and EV equipment - Provision of jet washes - Sheffield cycle stands - Alterations to landscaping, including the removal of trees and provision of additional landscaping The jet wash would operate between 08:00 and 18:00, Monday to Saturday, and up to 13:30 on Sundays. Matthew Gray, agent for the applicant, told members the redevelopment formed part of a national effort by the company to modernise dated facilities, adding that the current station did not "meet the expectations" of those using it. **The other side:** The council's report identified 12 objections raising concerns around noise and road safety. Further representations expand on those concerns, and include a more detailed 10-page objection submitted by a resident living adjacent to the site. A Cherry Lane Gardens resident said the layout was "car orientated" and questioned whether it met the council's own planning policies on pedestrian safety, warning the development would "present a danger to pedestrian safety, especially children attending the nearby secondary school," and adding that the junction already saw "huge queues" during the morning and evening school run. Noise from the proposed jet wash was another recurring concern. A Digby Road resident said the jet washes and associated compressors could reach "106 to 110 dBs" and would have "a detrimental effect" on the use of their garden, also raising concerns about the floodlighting that would be needed to operate them in winter and its impact on light pollution for nearby homes. The resident's letter referred to the jet wash operating between 08:00 and 23:00 – longer hours than those set out in the council's own report. Others objected to the scale of the scheme. One Colchester Road resident described the plans as effectively "an overdevelopment of the site to become a supermarket with adjacent filling station." A Mayfield Road resident said the drive-through coffee shop could take trade from other local independent businesses, adding that vehicles exiting the forecourt "block the pavement" when they cannot get back onto Woodbridge Road East, and raised concerns about the loss of an existing residential property from the borough's housing stock. A separate Digby Road resident said the removal of trees would leave the area "bleak and noisy" for houses backing onto the station. Helen Dewson, a neighbour, said although the site was ideal for this sort of development, some of the impacts had not been properly addressed. A more detailed, 10-page formal objection was also submitted by a resident living immediately adjacent to the site on Colchester Road, who said they had lived there for 18 years. They argued the loss of the existing detached house on the site – also earmarked for demolition – would remove "a key acoustic and visual buffer," directly exposing their home to increased noise, light spill and loss of privacy. The submission also questioned whether the site's noise assessment was flawed, as monitoring had been carried out from a position shielded by the house due to be knocked down, and called for the application to be refused or, failing that, for jet wash and drive-through hours to be strictly limited – suggesting 07:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 18:00 at weekends. **For context:** The application follows a previous bid to remove the site's automatic car wash and build a new Costa Drive Thru, which was turned down in late 2020 and later dismissed by a Government inspector on amenity grounds. The same Colchester Road resident who submitted the formal objection separately wrote to the council's development management and environmental health teams, raising concerns that a jet wash newly installed at the existing site was already operating around the clock, despite conditions restricting car wash use to protect neighbouring residents from noise. The resident asked the council to investigate whether this, along with a new illuminated sign and canopy lighting, breached planning control. **What they're saying:** Council officers said the concerns raised previously had been addressed by conditions attached to their recommendation for approval. Councillors were not convinced, however, saying they had "quite a lot of sympathy" for residents and arguing that increased traffic from the upgraded facilities would pose a risk to road users, particularly schoolchildren. **What's next:** Councillors agreed to defer the application until more information is provided on road safety, noise from the jet wash, and the hours of operation of the new coffee shop. A site visit will also be carried out before the plans are discussed again. **The bottom line:** Councillors have put the brakes on EG On The Move's modernisation plans for the Woodbridge Road East petrol station, siding with residents' safety concerns over officers' recommendation to approve. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New operator to take over two of NCP's Ipswich car parks following administration URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-operator-to-take-over-two-of-ncps-ipswich-car-parks-following-administration/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T07:21:07.000Z **Why it matters:** The move affects two of the five car parks NCP operates in Ipswich, following the company's collapse into administration earlier this year. NCP says it has shared "limited elements of the data" it holds with Q-Park "to ensure service continuity where possible." **The details:** National Car Parks Limited (in administration) has told customers it will stop operating a number of sites across the UK from 1 August 2026, including Ipswich Tacket Street and Ipswich Tower Ramparts. Other affected sites include car parks in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Colchester, Dundee, Gloucester, Hemel Hempstead, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Shrewsbury, Truro and Wolverhampton. Any customer queries about the transition are being directed to Q-Park at [sales@q-park.co.uk](mailto:sales@q-park.co.uk). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5468-1.jpeg) NCP Tower Ramparts will also be operated by Q-Park (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.c.uk) **For context:** NCP was placed into administration on 16 March 2026, with PwC partners Zelf Hussain, Rachael Wilkinson and Toby Banfield appointed as joint administrators. At the time, NCP operated five car parks in Ipswich – Tacket Street, Tower Ramparts, Portman Road, Ipswich Rail Station and Cox Lane – providing a combined 1,088 spaces. The administrators said NCP's difficulties stemmed from commuter habits that had not recovered since the pandemic, combined with "long-term, inflexible leases" that prevented the company from cutting costs or exiting loss-making sites in line with falling revenues. All sites remained open at the time, though administrators warned closures could not be ruled out. [Why NCP fell into administration, and what it means for Ipswich’s car parksChanging commuter habits, long-term inflexible leases and post-pandemic shifts in demand have pushed National Car Parks into administration – and five Ipswich sites are now caught up in the fallout.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-6a3c644b-db14-4d4e-b100-00a02d7a2d71.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1759150964-ncp-portman-road-car-park-1-3f814c7a-b17f-481f-88bf-abc6500cf6ac.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/why-ncp-fell-into-administration-and-what-it-means-for-ipswich/) **The bigger picture:** Q-Park operates more than 5,500 parking facilities across the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, the UK, Ireland and Denmark, comprising over 1.2 million spaces. The company says it has more than 15 million customers across the UK and Ireland. **What's next:** It is not yet clear what will happen to NCP's other Ipswich car parks – Portman Road, Ipswich Rail Station and Cox Lane – which are not included in the list of sites transferring to Q-Park. Ipswich.co.uk has approached Q-Park for comment on the transition and will update this story with any response. **The bottom line:** From 1 August, motorists using Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts car parks will be dealing with a new operator, as the fallout from NCP's administration continues to reshape parking provision in Ipswich. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet EV Sheeran – the car made to be shared by Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-ev-sheeran-the-car-made-to-be-shared-by-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T07:20:53.000Z At the top of Norfolk Road, two electric cars sit tucked into their own reserved bays: an MG4, named *MG Hammer*, and an MG ZS, better known these days as *EV Sheeran*. Across town at Ann Street, the pairing is *Sparky*, another MG4, and *Carmen Electra*, a second MG ZS. These are community shared vehicles. They are cars that belong to no single household. Rather than buying, insuring, and maintaining a car of their own, residents can book an electric car out by the minute, hour, or day, pay only for the time they use it, and return it to the same spot for the next person. The cars are parked permanently in public bays and available to anyone who signs up to the scheme. The whole project is managed by Suffolk County Council, funded collectively by Suffolk's local councils and public bodies through the Sustainable Suffolk partnership. Earlier this year, Sustainable Suffolk invited residents to get creative with naming its community electric vehicles. More than 250 suggestions were submitted and put to a public vote before a judging panel settled on the winners. Among them: EV Sheeran, a name already phonetically recognisable in Suffolk. "The creativity shown by residents across Suffolk has been a joy to see," said Councillor Gerald Kelly, chair of the Suffolk Councils' Environment Portfolio Holders' Group. "From clever puns to names that celebrate local identity, the winning entries have given the vehicles their own personality." Behind the naming competition sits a bigger piece of infrastructure planning - one inviting Suffolk residents to think seriously about community shared vehicles. ## **How it works** Joining has been made easy. By uploading a driving license, you can sign up online, where the approval typically takes around a day. From there, an app will show you which cars are free. Once approved, cars can be unlocked with a phone or a card: tap the windscreen sensor, disconnect the charging cable, and drive. A card kept in the glovebox covers charging costs, so topping up is free. Pricing runs from £6.95 an hour or £52.13 a day for the standard "Everyday" cars, rising slightly for the larger "Family" vehicles, plus 14p a mile. Suffolk residents get free membership, and insurance is included, with optional extra cover available. There's currently a sign-up offer running too: free membership and £25 driving credit for new members joining before 31 July 2026, with a further £25 for existing members who use the service and refer a friend. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_1574-1.jpeg) Car Club cars parked at Needham Market train station (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) During our time with Ev Sheeran, we drove out to Needham Market Station, one of Suffolk's other Car Club sites, where two more vehicles, Casper and Watt Wagon, sat parked and waiting in their bays. EV Sheeran, it turned out, is the larger of the two Norfolk Road cars. It felt it: spacious inside, with a dashboard screen showing GPS navigation and nearby charging points. The drive itself was smooth rather than silent — electric cars have the beauty of moving without the strain of a petrol engine working its way through traffic. We hit a fair stretch of stop-start traffic on the way, but the battery held its charge without any noticeable dip, and each vehicle is rated for more than 200 miles regardless. Members are not restricted to local trips either; the cars can be driven anywhere in the country. ## **A car for every household** Families without a car can use one for the weekly shop. Households with one car can book a second for occasional trips instead of buying another. Visitors arriving by train can pick one up for the day. Suffolk County Council manages the scheme and sets its strategic direction, while Co Wheels, a national car club operator, runs it day to day by handling bookings, vehicle maintenance and customer support on the ground. "With each Car Club vehicle taking up to 20 private cars off the road, Co Wheels is helping residents reduce congestion, cut emissions and enjoy more flexible, sustainable travel," said Richard Falconer, head of mobility at Co Wheels. National figures back this up. CoMoUK's 2023 annual report found each car club vehicle nationally replaced between 14 and 32 private cars, with members cutting their own car mileage by 153 miles a year on average. The Suffolk numbers are still emerging. The council confirmed 634 bookings across the scheme to the end of June, though vehicles were rolled out between June and October 2025, so only three sites have a full year of data. Ipswich's four cars average 10.25 hours per booking, varying by vehicle size. Sparky, the MG4 at Ann Street, has the highest mileage and the most bookings of the four. ## **The bigger picture** Car clubs are one small piece of a much larger puzzle: transport makes up 30% of Suffolk's carbon emissions, the county's Local Transport Plan shows. That challenge is sharper in rural areas: the same plan estimates 39% of Suffolk's population currently have no realistic alternative to a private car for some or all of their daily journeys, particularly in what it calls "transport deserts" — places where poor public transport and patchy digital connections leave car ownership as the only practical option. Nationally, sales of new petrol and diesel cars end in 2030, with all new cars and vans being zero-emission at the tailpipe by 2035. The council is backing the wider shift to electric vehicles with infrastructure. More than 6,000 on-street chargepoints are being installed, funded by £5.33m from central government, targeting the roughly 25% of Suffolk households without access to on-street charging. In conservation areas, some chargepoints will lie flat with the pavement and rise only when needed, to protect the look of historic streets. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_3292-1.jpeg) On-street electric charging points (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Nine locations across Suffolk now host car club vehicles, including Ann Street and Norfolk Road in Ipswich, each with two cars. The scheme runs as an 18-month trial per site, and there is no one fixed endpoint for the whole project. "These aren't just electric vehicles, they're part of everyday life in Suffolk now, shaped and named by the people using them," said Gemma Moran, account manager at Connected Kerb, which provides the charging infrastructure. ## **The bottom line** Suffolk's car clubs will not replace the family car for everyone; instead, they offer something else worth trying: a low-risk way to get behind the wheel of an electric car, work out whether it suits you, and see what everyday EV driving actually feels like. Sometimes the easiest way to get comfortable with the future of driving is to borrow it for an afternoon, one EV Sheeran at a time. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£107 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Six-bedroom Cecil Road HMO refused after safety fears URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/six-bedroom-cecil-road-hmo-refused-after-safety-fears/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T07:20:39.000Z **Why it matters:** The application (26/00386/FUL), brought before Ipswich Borough Council's Planning and Development Committee after an 82-signature petition and 60 written objections, tested how far the borough will go to accommodate new housing when it cannot demonstrate a five-year supply – against the quality of life offered to future occupiers. **The details:** Bethel Brooks Limited, acting through agent Mr Jack Wilkinson, applied to change 3 Cecil Road from a single dwellinghouse to a small HMO housing six unrelated people, each with their own ensuite bathroom and basic kitchen facilities. Planning permission was required because the property sits within Ipswich's Article 4 Direction area, which removes automatic permitted development rights for small HMOs in the borough. The scheme was refused for reasons including: - **A "dysfunctional" kitchen/dining space.** The combined kitchen/dining area – the property's only communal space – was described as effectively a corridor, just 1.2m wide wall-to-wall at its narrowest point next to one of two cooktops. It would also serve as the main access route to part of the garden and two of the four ground-floor bedrooms. - **Cramped seating.** Bar-style seating for five people was proposed along a wall measuring as narrow as 1.57m between facilities – a gap officers said would need to be reduced further once seats were pulled out, risking "significant inconvenience" at best and a "safety hazard" at worst, given the space would be used to prepare and eat hot food. - **Noise concerns for bedrooms two and three.** These rooms sit next to the confined kitchen space, with the bar seating running along 3m of the wall shared with bedroom three. Officers said they remained uncertain how much noise insulation improvements could realistically help, given the proximity to a space used daily by six unrelated occupants. - **Poor outdoor amenity.** The property's total garden area of around 67m² falls short of the 75m² standard for a three-or-more-bedroom home. The most accessible rear garden is just 23m², constrained by a shed and an irregular boundary fence, while the larger 44m² side garden is awkward to reach and hemmed in by driveway space and the highway on three sides. **By the numbers:** - 82 signatures were collected in a petition against the scheme, received by the council on 6 July 2026 - 60 separate written objections were submitted during consultation, which ran from 26 May to 23 June 2026 - 1.2m was the narrowest width of the proposed kitchen/dining corridor - 75m² is the minimum garden size required for a three-or-more-bedroom home; the property offered around 67m² **The other side:** The application had pointed to Ipswich's inability to currently demonstrate a five-year housing supply as justification for the extra bedrooms. Officers acknowledged the borough's recognised need for HMO accommodation, but said this could not come at the expense of a suitable living environment for future occupiers, and that the amenity concerns were the "foremost concern" in assessing the scheme. Not all consultees objected. Suffolk County Council's Highway Authority raised no objection, subject to conditions on parking, electric vehicle charging, cycle storage and refuse provision. The council's Private Sector Housing officers also raised no objections, though they noted the applicant would need a separate HMO licence, and that there are currently no other licensed HMOs on Cecil Road. Officers also concluded the proposal would not create an over-concentration of HMOs under council policy, with the nearest licensed HMO around 160m away. However, IBC Environmental Protection Officers said no information had been provided to show the rooms would meet Part E noise insulation requirements for residential use, which would require independent wall and ceiling linings, resilient floor treatments and acoustically sealed fire doors. **For context:** The proposal also included a small 7.5m² cycle storage enclosure, initially planned for the front of the property before being moved to the northern boundary at officers' request to protect the street scene. **The bottom line:** Despite no objection from the highway authority and an acknowledged need for more housing in Ipswich, the application was refused on the grounds that it would leave future occupiers with a severely constrained kitchen and poor-quality outdoor space – contrary to the council's DM7, DM19 and DM20 policies and the National Planning Policy Framework. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£41 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Singing, drumming and 'freedom to fly': Inside Ipswich hospice's magical festival day URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/singing-drumming-and-freedom-to-fly-inside-ipswich-hospices-magical-festival-day/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T07:49:13.000Z **Why it matters:** Nearly 140 people came together for the festival-style event at East Anglia's Children's Hospices' (EACH) Suffolk base, offering a day of music, dance and sensory play for those receiving care and support. **The details:** Highlights included: - Music from folk and sea shanty crew Rum Ole Boys - A performance from Ipswich School of Dance - A music and movement workshop run by DanceEast - The chance to stroke furry friends thanks to a visit from Allonsfield Care Farm - Face painting by Abbie Khangaroot - A visit from Suffolk-based circus school Circable, offering activities using balance, coordination and strength Families also learnt more about the ongoing expansion project at The Treehouse, with children able to sit in a real-life digger being used for the construction. One of the most memorable moments came when two children receiving care plucked up the courage to come forward and sing, accompanied by a sibling who expertly played the drums. Special guest Joe Thomson, Ipswich Talk Club Captain, was also on hand to spread the word about the Ipswich Town Foundation's speaking and listening club for men, held at Portman Road every other Tuesday evening. **What they're saying:** Kelly Evans, EACH's Groups and Events Co-ordinator at The Treehouse, said: "We couldn't be more thankful for the incredible engagement of our local community. "The energy everyone brings is amazing. There were so many wonderful interactions, and an event of this nature is a way of bringing lots of families together in one safe space. "The Treehouse is somewhere they're familiar with, and because of that, they're relaxed and comfortable and hopefully have a great time. "At this time of year, there are lots of public summer gatherings such as fetes and carnivals, but for some of the families we support these can be inaccessible and impossible to attend. "Instead, we create an environment appropriate for them, as well as being around other people who understand their situations. "There's something for everyone, and we try our hardest to make it the most memorable sensory experience, offering things that are colourful and visual alongside activities involving feeling, touching and hearing." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/_87A0147.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/_87A0397.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Rum-Ole-Boys.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Cindy-Downey-and-Rosa-Iddon-Cooper-from-Circable.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/_87A0319.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/_87A0082.jpg) Highlights included music from folk and sea shanty crew Rum Ole Boys and a performance from Ipswich School of Dance (Photos: EACH) Cindy Downey, from Circable, said: "It was an absolute honour to be asked, and the opportunity to take circus skills to those people we're trying to reach the most was an absolute pleasure. "It was amazing to see so many children accessing the equipment and having the freedom to fly." In total, 136 people representing 34 families attended, supported by 17 volunteers who gave up their time to help the EACH team. Kelly Evans added: "The volunteers are incredible. They come from all different areas of the organisation – from wellbeing to facilities and fundraising – and everyone chips in and does so much invaluable work behind the scenes. "Nothing's too big an ask, and an event of this nature, and of this scale, simply wouldn't be possible without them. "Together, we make things happen, and this is a place where magic happens." **For context:** More than 730 children, young people and family members are currently receiving care and support from EACH across the region, with nearly 200 – around 120 of them children and young people – supported through The Treehouse in Ipswich. **The bottom line:** For families who can find summer's usual fetes and carnivals inaccessible, TreeFEST offered a rare festival built around them – and, by all accounts, plenty of magic along the way. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Late Osasuna strike denies Town in Colchester friendly URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/late-osasuna-strike-denies-town-in-colchester-friendly/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T13:51:16.000Z ## Pre-match preamble The friendly match tonight is taking place at the JobServe Community Stadium, home ground to Colchester United FC. Strangely, for me, it feels harder to get to than Portman Road, although I live in the town. Squatting on the edge of Colchester, next to the A12, it is not near the station, nowhere near the Town centre and no direct bus goes that way for me. The car park at the stadium is quite small, so the next best thing is the 'Park and Ride' which I'm told is the other side of the ghastly A12\. I picture folk running across that road like lemmings – though I guess this can't be the case? But I digress… Tonight our opponents are Spanish professional football club CA Osasuna FC. Based in Pamplona, Navarre, they play in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football. I got there early as it was great to get back to our footballing world and I was looking forward to seeing old faces and new. ## The match There was a big cheer when they all assembled on the pitch and the game got under way. For the first twenty minutes of the game I would say Town had the upper hand, with most of the play in their opponent's half. But Osasuna struck first in that period, and swiftly, with a four-minute rebound goal to beat Alex Palmer. Town continued to pepper the Spanish goal with shots without success; several were lofted, and the goalkeeper was on good form. Nunez fired three powerful shots from distance but couldn't keep them down. The game gradually became more even, with the ball flowing (sometimes galloping) from end to end, and Osasuna had a few near-miss shots too, with Palmer also denying them on several occasions. The hydration break brought a chorus of boos. Both teams were running well up to half-time and it was not a game you could call. A bevy of changes was made for both sides on return from the break. On 54 minutes, Chuba Akpom scored the goal he had been threatening to net since entering the pitch, converting a deep cross from Wes Burns. Play carried on in much the same vein until the closing stages, when Osasuna's Raul Moro hit a stunning strike in off the bar to win the game for them with only eight minutes of the ninety left to play. Ipswich Town 1–2 Osasuna ## Players Twenty-three players were used across this game: here follows my comments on some of them. Please note this doesn't mean the ones I don't mention were playing badly… nobody played badly. I confess rather than watch the game blow by blow (and there was a couple of them from Osasuna), I was also trying to watch the individual new players carefully, which is quite difficult without missing all the rest of the action – trying to form an idea of what we might expect of their positioning, technique, ability to read the ball as well as score or save goals. I'd make a lame manager – but I'm guessing they watch many video reruns after the event for assessment purposes. Assessing one of them was easy, Abdul Fatawu was stand-out impressive in his stint on the pitch. Sam, sitting next to me, was also singing his praises and several overheard mutterings of the crowd at half-time confirmed it. He is a really exciting player, fast and tricky, my only gripe being that he kept putting himself in a perfect, unmarked position alone out right, but the team weren't taking advantage of it – instead sending the ball back to the left-hand side of the pitch which was more of a melee. Humphreys was noticeably playing his part too with some excellent blocking and passing – an under-rated player I think, certainly by me and perhaps by others. His loan clubs (Huddersfield and Wycombe Wanderers) have been full of praise. Getting game time and experience with them has, I'm sure, been a good career progression. One to keep an eye on this year. Nunez had several powerful shots at goal from wide range but they went too high or too wide. Full marks for the attempts, though. Emersonn – he showed well, fast and hard-working, but needed more feeding, I believe. Chuba Akpom finally showed flashes of the player he was considered to be when he joined us – due, I believe, to being played in his preferred, more central position. Watch this space. This is also true of Walle Egeli, who looked stronger, more positive and "happier" in the centre of the park, where he plays on international duty. Watch this space too. Dara played powerfully as always, but managed to pick up another yellow card – for dissent, I think. As captain, he is very protective of his squad, especially the younger ones, but will need to be careful when doing so when the season starts. A solid player we don't want to lose to the bench; "we are his people"! (When he said that, I doubt he thought it would go "club viral".) Other players who deserve a mention for playing with vigour, enthusiasm and intent: Mthunzi, Burns, McAteer and Greaves. I liked that Gary O'Neil was on the touchline for almost all of the game. His indicating, gesticulating and orchestrating of the play showed he was totally engaged throughout. ## Other news GO'N explained that "newest signings Issa Diop, Daizen Maeda and Kjell Scherpen (newly arrived Dutch goalkeeper) are on a programme to build up their fitness" after joining Town, with five more friendly fixtures to come. This includes one-day double away game fixtures against Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers coming up on Saturday afternoon (12:00 and 16:00). All three of these players were at the game, but I saw no evidence of Jaden Philogene. I have just heard a rumour that Julio Enciso may be asked to come back to Town, which pleases me. One of my favourites. He is currently playing for Strasbourg so has links already with our new manager. Ipswich Town trio Christian Walton, Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor are all out through injury. ## Final thoughts An enjoyable game, which could have gone either way. Really looking forward to getting back to Portman Road; felt a little displaced in this stadium, which was neither home nor away, so to speak. The Osasuna fans were obviously not a huge presence, but they celebrated mightily – good to see. There was one wry moment when the lady on my left leant across and asked me to ask Sam on my right who one of our players was… I could only think "plus ça change"… Hah. It is impossible to assess Town as a "team" yet with so many changes and players NOT yet included in the line-up for differing reasons. More new signings are also a distinct possibility before the transfer window closes. I do, however, feel upbeat looking forward, when it all hopefully comes together for the beginning of the season and beyond. It already feels like a stronger team than we had at our last attempt on the Premiership battlefield – no doubt helped by the parachute payments and experience gained. We must move forward psychologically – believing we can give a good account of ourselves. After all, in case you haven't noticed, we're 12th in the table already – ha! ### Man targeted by 'distraction' thieves on Cornhill URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-targeted-by-distraction-thieves-on-cornhill/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T13:21:20.000Z **Why it matters:** Suffolk police are appealing for information after the coordinated three-person theft, and are urging people to stay vigilant when withdrawing money from cash machines. **The details:** The incident happened at around 12:30, after the victim withdrew cash from an ATM on Tavern Street, placed it in his rucksack, and left on a bicycle. - While cycling, he felt his back was suddenly wet and stopped. - Two men approached and offered to wipe the liquid – believed to be a culinary sauce – from his shirt with tissues. - A third man, previously unseen by the victim, is said to have gone into his bag and removed the cash. **Suspect descriptions:** Both men who approached the victim are described as approximately 5ft 6ins tall, wearing dark tops, dark trousers and baseball caps. The third suspect is believed to have been dressed in black clothing and wearing a white baseball cap. **What's next:** Police are reviewing CCTV opportunities and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has information about the suspects' identities, to come forward. **The bottom line:** Suffolk police are urging vigilance when withdrawing cash, following a distraction theft in Cornhill that saw a man's cash taken while two accomplices played on his sympathy. Anyone with information should contact CID South at Suffolk police quoting reference 37/44312/26, via: - Website: suffolk.police.uk/tell-us - Phone: 101 - Crimestoppers (100% anonymous): 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich library to get first refurb in 40 years URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-library-to-get-first-refurb-in-40-years/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T13:01:29.000Z **Why it matters:** The library is one of Suffolk's busiest community and cultural spaces, and the refurbishment will include a completely refurbished children's library alongside improvements to make the building more modern, welcoming and accessible for people of all ages. **The details:** The plans have been shaped by feedback from library users. More information about the designs will be shared in the coming months, and some disruption to services is expected once work gets underway. The near-£900,000 project combines: - £500,000 from the Government's Libraries Improvement Fund - Further investment from The Clore Duffield Foundation and The Wolfson Foundation - Local developer contributions **For context:** Suffolk Community Libraries is one of just 28 library services across England to receive money from the Libraries Improvement Fund, which forms part of the Government's wider £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund. The fund is managed by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5452.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5453.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5455.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5456.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5457.jpeg) Photos of Ipswich County Library as it is now (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** Krystal Vittles, Head of Library Service at Suffolk Community Libraries, said: "I am delighted that our funding bid has been successful. Ipswich County Library is already one of our most popular libraries, this funding will allow us to make it even more accessible to existing users and enticing to those who haven't discovered the library yet. We're especially excited about the new children's library as we know that will be transformative for so many local families." Cllr June Mummery, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, said: "This is an exciting new chapter for one of Suffolk's biggest and best-known libraries. Every day, people of all ages use Ipswich County Library to read, learn, meet others and take part in activities. "I recently visited the library and saw the plans for myself. It's exciting to see the vision for the future. This refurbishment will breathe new life into the building and ensure it continues to serve the people of Ipswich for many years to come." Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said he was "delighted that this major refurbishment – underpinned by Government funding – will give new life to the iconic Ipswich County Library." "Libraries remain at the heart of our communities in Ipswich and Suffolk, and this redevelopment will allow Ipswich County Library to become a more modern, accessible and inclusive space that supports learning, opportunity and digital inclusion for everyone in our town," he added. He praised the Government's Libraries Improvement Fund, saying: "It will not only help protect this cherished building and its services, but it transforms it for the future too." **What's next:** Work is expected to begin towards the end of 2026, with further details on the disruption to services shared closer to the start of the project. **The bottom line:** After four decades without major investment, Ipswich County Library is set for a significant makeover – with a new children's library at its heart – funded through a mix of Government, charitable and local money. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Long overdue': Suffolk's builders back Burnham's vocational learning reforms URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/long-overdue-suffolks-builders-back-burnhams-vocational-learning-reforms/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T11:18:46.000Z **Why it matters:** New Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced fundamental changes to the education system on Tuesday, 28 July, giving 14-year-olds early access to technical education, skills training, work experience and employer connections. "From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap," he announced. Local construction firms have welcomed the move but say it must translate into hands-on experience, not just awareness events, if it is to ease a deepening skills shortage in our region. **The details:** From Year 10, students will be able to combine core academic subjects with technical education linked to jobs available in their area, spending time with local employers to gain real-world experience. Mayors, councils, schools, colleges and employers will shape the pathways locally, with the ambition to begin rolling them out from September 2028. **What they're saying:** [Joe Garnham](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/joe-garnham/), director of Ipswich contractor [GBS](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/gbs/), said the announcement was "a positive step" but pointed to a gap between engagement events and genuine industry exposure. "I sometimes think we've got too many organisations in construction that prefer organising a 'jolly up' rather than getting young people out onto real building sites," he said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/image-7.png) Joe Garnham, managing director of GBS Photo: Matt Stott (Ipswich.co.uk) "I can find someone a desk in an office, no problem. The real challenge is finding people who are willing to be on a cold, wet and windy building site at 7.30am on a Monday morning. That's the reality of our industry, and it's something prospective recruits need to experience early if they're going to make informed decisions about a career in construction." He said GBS already works with schools, colleges and training providers on work experience placements and careers events "to help students understand the wide range of roles available within construction." [Daniel Mackenzie](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/daniel-mackenzie/), associate divisional director at [Barnes Construction](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/barnes/), said the industry was "not that we lack work, more that we increasingly lack enough suitably skilled people to deliver it," pointing to major regional projects including Sizewell and new hospital builds. He said construction was "often disregarded as a career option," adding: "The truth is that the industry now offers so much diversity of roles with flexibility and opportunity for anyone starting their career. This announcement is long overdue." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Barnes-Sponsorship---HR-17-1.jpg) Daniel Mackenzie, associate divisional director at Barnes Construction (Photo: Barnes Construction) Barnes Construction runs a "World of Work" programme with Ipswich schools and partners with Suffolk New College on careers presentations and skills fairs. The firm also offers degree apprenticeships, and will welcome its 100th management trainee this year – a scheme it has run for at least two people annually "regardless of the prevailing economic conditions." He said early employer contact was "proven to be successful," noting several of the firm's management trainees joined after work experience in Year 10 or through regional careers fairs. However, he said the announcement needed to be backed by government support for businesses, "especially the SMEs that often underpin our supply chain," to fund apprenticeships and training. "The announcement is welcomed, but rhetoric is just the start," he said, citing figures from the Construction Industry Training Board showing the sector needs 41,200 additional workers every year between 2026 and 2030 to meet forecast demand. "This will ensure that we are able to produce the bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, electricians and plumbers that our region needs to successfully deliver the construction projects of the future." **The education view:** Rob Bamford, Chief Education and Learning Officer at Eastern Education Group – which includes One Sixth Form College in Ipswich – welcomed the plans. "The education reforms that have been put out today represent a real opportunity for 14-year-olds to specialise in a vocational option," he said. "They would be able to hopefully make choices in a career area of interest, something that they would like to really build the mastery in by the time that they leave full-time education, and pursue a career in. "This will really promote their interest in school and lead us into a sustainable workforce for the country. So I think it's a really excellent time for students, and one that I really look forward to with interest to see how this develops." **For context:** The changes follow a warning from Alan Milburn that Britain risks a "lost generation," with more than a million 16 to 24-year-olds currently not in education, employment or training. Suffolk New College has been approached for comment. **The bottom line:** Suffolk's construction industry has welcomed the Government's new technical pathways, but bosses say the real test will be whether young people get onto actual building sites – not just into presentations – and whether government support for apprenticeships follows the announcement. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Local artist unveils mural at Buttermarket's indoor beach URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/local-artist-unveils-mural-at-buttermarkets-indoor-beach/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T09:35:14.000Z **Why it matters:** The mural forms the backdrop to The Beach at Buttermarket, the centre's free indoor summer attraction. The shopping centre is giving Ipswich shoppers and families a new seaside-themed space to enjoy throughout the school holidays. **The details:** The 10x3-metre piece, painted freehand over the course of a week, features vibrant sea creatures and seagulls designed to bring the beach to life. Buttermarket says the mural doubles as a summer "selfie wall" for visitors. **For context:** Buttermarket put out a social media call-out for a local artist to work on the community project. Maddie Willis, whose background spans oil painting, embroidery, drawing and visual documentation, got in touch to take part. Following a site visit, Maddie sketched out her vision for the installation, which Buttermarket says met the brief "instantly". ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_9907-1.jpg) Suffolk artist, Maddie Willis (Photo: Buttermarket Centre) **What they're saying:** [Rebecca Bird](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/rebecca-bird/), centre manager at the Buttermarket, said: "Maddie has been absolutely fantastic to work with from start to finish. She immediately understood exactly what the space needed and transformed our vision into something truly special. We couldn't be happier with the result – it's bright, engaging, and brings so much life to our indoor beach." **The bottom line:** The Beach at Buttermarket is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 until Sunday, 30 August, with free admission. Families can enjoy the giant sandpit and take a selfie in front of the new mural. More of Maddie Willis's work can be found at [www.madsart.co.uk](https://www.madsart.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or on Instagram @maddiewillisart. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Don't leave charity donations outside, Suffolk residents told URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/dont-leave-charity-donations-outside-suffolk-residents-told/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T09:20:38.000Z **Why it matters:** Fraudsters are using the name of a genuine children's cancer charity to make bogus collection bags look legitimate, tricking residents into leaving donations outside – only for them to be stolen. **The details:** A large number of empty bags were discovered dumped in rural hedges across Suffolk. The bags claimed to be in support of Be Child Cancer Aware, but the charity has confirmed it does not raise money through clothing collections, and the bags are not genuine. The bags appear to have been delivered through letterboxes, encouraging residents to leave unwanted clothing and household items outside for collection. Suffolk Trading Standards is concerned that fraudsters may be using the bags to take advantage of people's generosity by collecting donations intended for charity. Residents are urged to check any door-to-door collection independently before donating items, and, if in doubt, contact the charity via the details on its website to check a collection is genuine. There are a number of other indicators of a legitimate collection: - Genuine charity collection bags will usually state when the collection is due to take place. - Collection vehicles should display the charity's branding. - Collectors should be able to provide photo identification and contact details when asked. **What they're saying:** Cllr June Mummery, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, said: "These crooks appear to be cashing in on people's kindness. They have used the name of a legitimate charity to make their collection bags look genuine and persuade residents to leave items outside – only for them to be stolen. "Nobody wants their donation to end up in the hands of criminals. If you're clearing out unwanted clothes or items, please use a charity shop, official collection point or trusted recycling service. It's the safest way to ensure your donation does some good rather than helping criminals profit." **For context:** Instead of leaving donations outside for collection, residents can donate unwanted items directly to charity shops, take them to official collection points or use authorised local recycling services. Textiles, including clothes, shoes, belts, bags, curtains and soft toys, can be reused, donated or recycled through a range of authorised services across Suffolk, with information available through [Suffolk Recycling](https://www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk/what-to-do-with-a-z/t/textiles-clothing-shoes-wellies-belts-bags-stuffed-toys-curtains-etc?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Anyone with information about suspicious collections can report it to Trading Standards on 0808 223 1133. **The bottom line:** Fraudsters are exploiting Suffolk residents' generosity by posing as a legitimate charity, and the council is urging people to donate through trusted channels rather than leaving items outside their homes. [Find a drop-off point](https://www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk/what-to-do-with-a-z/t/textiles-clothing-shoes-wellies-belts-bags-stuffed-toys-curtains-etc?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Gotta sell 'em all? Fake card claim disputed at new Pokémon card vending machine URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/gotta-sell-em-all-fake-cards-reported-at-new-pokemon-card-vending-machine/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T12:17:37.000Z **Why it matters:** The arrival of the machine reflects a wider surge in demand for Pokémon cards that has made them difficult – at times – to find on some high streets, but local retailers warn shoppers to be cautious about what they're buying. **The details:** The vending machine stocks only non-English-language cards, which are typically cheaper than their English equivalents. - Current stock includes Nihil Zero Korean packs (£5), Korean Blue (£6), Korean Battle (£4) and Korean Paradox (£4), alongside a penny sleeve for £1\. Chinese 151 packs, at £11 each, were among the more expensive items on offer. - Several products had already sold out, including Chinese Gem, Korean Surging, Korean Stellar, Chaos Rising, Abyss Eye JP and Glory of Team. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5441.jpeg) Current stock available in the machine (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams, Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** The owner of one high street retailer described the vending machine as "a bit of a kick in the teeth", explaining that many businesses were looking to capitalise on demand for Pokémon cards, which they said had peaked again last year. They said prices in the machine were higher than those charged by high street retailers, adding that operators were capitalising on the fact that high street stockists often struggle to buy in enough stock to keep up with demand, while driving impulse purchases. The owner also urged caution, citing one customer who discovered that "half the cards" they had bought from the vending machine were fake. This publication also received complaints from other customers stating they had purchased counterfeits from the machine. **The other side:** Collector Vends, which operates the vending machine, disputed the claim when approached for comment. A spokesperson said: "I can assure you that all of the Pokémon products we stock are 100% genuine. Every item is purchased from legitimate suppliers, and we hold invoices to verify the authenticity of all our stock." They added: "We have not received any verified complaints regarding counterfeit products. If anyone believes they have purchased a fake product, we'd be more than happy to investigate, but we would need evidence so we can look into the matter properly." The company said its machines stock "a variety of official Pokémon products from different regions, including English, Korean and Chinese releases", adding that customers unfamiliar with these versions "may mistakenly believe they are counterfeit because they differ from the English versions." Collector Vends invited Ipswich.co.uk to test products directly at the machine to "verify their authenticity firsthand." **For context:** The Pokémon Company recorded net sales of $3.34bn and a net profit of $754m for its 28th fiscal year, ending February 2026, driven by global demand for trading cards. Pokémon cards have become increasingly hard to find due to demand from scalpers, online influencers and investors, which continues to outpace record factory production. Key drivers include scalpers and bots buying up stock during restocks to resell at a mark-up, "rip and ship" pack-opening content on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, driving speculative buying, and some buyers treating sealed boxes and rare cards as investments rather than a hobby. **The bottom line:** The vending machine may be new, but Ipswich's many high street retailers still offer genuine Pokémon cards at lower prices than those on offer inside it. Sailmakers were approached for comment. 💬 ****Have you purchased cards from the vending machine?** We'd love to hear your experiences – editor@ipswich.co.uk --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£41 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ellenbrook Park to get new inclusive play area URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ellenbrook-park-to-get-new-inclusive-play-area/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T08:08:03.000Z **Why it matters:** The new playground will give children a fresh, accessible space to play, with the announcement timed to coincide with Love Parks Week (24 July – 2 August), a national campaign celebrating green spaces. **The details:** The nature-themed design encourages young people to explore, create stories and enjoy active outdoor play, letting children slide into the pond, spin with the bumblebees and catch the worm through a range of interactive and sensory play. Eight new pieces of play equipment will be installed, with a strong focus on accessibility and inclusive play, including a variety of swings, a wheelchair-accessible carousel, an inclusive seesaw and bongos. **The bigger picture:** The Ellenbrook Park upgrade forms part of the council's £3.5m Play Area Strategy, which is delivering improvements to play facilities across the borough. In June, the council opened a new play area at Murray Road Recreation Ground, featuring 29 new pieces of equipment. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Stefan Long](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/stefan-long/), Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sport, said: "We're delighted to be bringing another exciting new play area to Ipswich as part of our continued investment in high-quality play spaces for children and families. "The Ellenbrook Park design has been inspired by bugs, nature and imaginative play, creating a unique environment where children can explore, learn and have fun together. "It is particularly pleasing to see so many inclusive features incorporated throughout the design, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to play, socialise and enjoy the outdoors in a welcoming environment." **What's next:** The current play area will close for safety reasons while the new one is installed. The new play area is expected to open later this year. **The bottom line:** Ellenbrook Park is set for a nature-inspired makeover, with accessibility built into the design from the ground up, as the council continues rolling out its £3.5m strategy park by park. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New art trail opens on the road to safer school runs URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-art-trail-opens-on-the-road-to-safer-school-runs/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T08:06:55.000Z **Why it matters:** The colourful installation forms part of a wider scheme to encourage more pupils to walk, cycle or scoot to school, rather than travel by car, while helping them learn road safety skills along the way. **The details:** Ranelagh Primary School worked with public art specialists Art Streets and Suffolk County Council Highways to install artwork along three key routes to the school – Hadleigh Road, London Road and Ranelagh Road. Children are invited to hop, jump and bounce along colourful markings on their route to school, while road-safety graphics reading "Look", "Stop" and "Listen" have been painted at a junction to prompt safe road-crossing habits. The trail leads to a painted "red carpet" at the school's main entrance. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Christopher Hudson](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/christopher-hudson/), Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "This is a wonderfully creative way of encouraging youngsters to think about road safety and healthier ways of getting about. "Encouraging youngsters to walk or cycle to school is good for them and also supports better physical and mental health, helps reduce congestion and improves air quality, which is good news for all of us." Ranelagh Primary School headteacher Olga Hopper said the project had "encouraged conversations about active travel, road safety and caring for the spaces around us." **The bigger picture:** The artwork was designed using existing data on travel behaviour to and from the school, and the council will now monitor whether it succeeds in increasing walking, cycling and scooting rates. Findings could help shape similar projects elsewhere in the UK. **The bottom line:** The scheme forms part of a wider push by Suffolk County Council to reduce traffic and improve road safety around Ipswich schools. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Bug hunts and bee visits on offer at Ipswich nature day URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bug-hunts-and-bee-visits-on-offer-at-ipswich-nature-day/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T08:04:10.000Z **Why it matters:** The Family Nature Day gives local families a free, hands-on way to get outdoors and explore wildlife during the holidays, at a community garden built specifically for that purpose. **The details:** The event runs from 11:00 to 14:00 on Monday, 10 August, at the People's Community Garden, Maidenhall Allotments, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE. Activities include: - Exploring the community garden - A bug hunt and butterfly count - Nature crafts - A bee experience, with visits to the hives - Meeting other local families Refreshments will be available, and families are invited to bring and share their own picnic lunch. **Who can join:** The event is aimed at families with young children up to the age of 11, and all children must be supervised by an adult. **For context:** The day forms part of ActivLives' ActivGardens Wild About Nature project, which brings the community together to grow and garden sustainably, maintain wildlife areas and learn about beekeeping at the urban allotment site. Funded for two years by the National Lottery Community Fund, the project also runs weekly volunteering and beekeeping sessions alongside other nature-based activities in the garden and out in the community. **What's next:** The event is free, but families are asked to book a place in advance. To register, contact project officer Phoebe Hyett at [phoebe@activlives.org.uk](mailto:phoebe@activlives.org.uk) or on 07756 533424, or call ActivLives on 01473 345350\. More details on the wider project are available on the [ActivLives website](https://activlives.org.uk/activgardens/projects/wild-about-nature/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). **The bottom line:** A free day of bug hunts, bee visits and nature crafts awaits Ipswich families at Maidenhall Allotments on 10 August, part of a wider push to get the community growing, gardening and caring for local wildlife together. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Free skate jam heads to Stowmarket this August URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/free-skate-jam-heads-to-stowmarket-this-august/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T08:02:09.000Z **Why it matters:** The jam is designed to give young people a free, positive activity during the summer holidays, using skateboarding, scootering and BMX to build confidence, encourage active lifestyles and bring the community together. **The details:** The event runs from 12:00 to 16:00 at Stowmarket Skatepark, Finborough Road, Stowmarket, and is open to all abilities. Competitions will be held across three age categories: - Under 12s - Under 16s - 16 to 25 years There will also be a best trick competition for each age category. **The bigger picture:** The event will also raise awareness of Suffolk's Criminal Exploitation Hubs, which work with partners, voluntary groups, communities, children and families to help protect young people and communities from criminal exploitation. The hubs build on the work of the Suffolk Against Gangs and Exploitation Team, focusing on supporting, disrupting, protecting and empowering communities in areas where young people may be at risk. **What they're saying:** Sian Giles, criminal exploitation practitioner and event organiser, said: "This event is about giving young people the chance to come together, be active and show their skills in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. "Skateboarding, scootering and BMX are brilliant ways for young people to build confidence, make friends and feel part of their community. We want this to be a fun day, but also a chance to share important messages about support, safety and positive choices." **The bottom line:** A day of free skating, scooting and BMX in Stowmarket will double as a platform to promote support and safety for young people across Suffolk. [Register here](https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=7GqcEEZQlUqPPIT2O6GK9JDEVTh4RGlHhLQSYAwCnhtUNTJBVERSSTlRUzRWWEY5WTIwT0pUOEdaWC4u&origin=QRCode&route=shorturl&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Geek out: Geek Retreat to close, owners to launch new indie gaming venue URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/geek-out-geek-retreat-to-close-owners-to-launch-new-indie-gaming-venue/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T08:01:09.000Z **Why it matters:** The café has been one of Ipswich town centre's most distinctive independent businesses, running as the only alcohol-free venue open until 22:00 and building a loyal community around trading card games, tabletop nights and inclusive events. Its closure marks the end of the Geek Retreat franchise in Ipswich, though the team behind it is staying on under a new name. **The details:** Sharon and Rob Lockhart, who have run Geek Retreat Ipswich for more than five years, announced the closure on LinkedIn. A new independent venue, Mulligan Game Cafe, will open in its place on 3 August under a different business model. - Sharon said the business had "agreed a positive transition with Geek Retreat" and wished "all of the ongoing franchisees every success for the future." - She confirmed she remains the owner of Lockhart Leisure Ipswich, the company behind the new venue, with managers running the day-to-day business. - "The things our customers love most – gaming, events, community and friendships – aren't going anywhere," she said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_1585.jpeg) Geek Retreat on Upper Brook Street (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** In a farewell message to customers, Sharon reflected on the venue's impact since taking on the keys more than five years ago. "Geek Retreat was never just our shop – it belonged to everyone who walked through those doors. Thank you for making it the community it became," she said. She recalled watching "babies grow up," welcoming "the first Geek baby" and celebrating two weddings at the venue, adding: "I know this place has changed my life – not just because of the people I've met, but because of the way I see the world." Quoting a former member of staff, she said: "It's how the world should be on the outside." Sharon also paid tribute to current and former staff, naming early team members Gary, Shorts and the "Bens", and the current team – Kaori, Baz, Dean, Luke, Kay, Wolfie and Adv, who she said has "been with us since day one." She thanked Rob for his behind-the-scenes work keeping the business running. **For context:** Geek Retreat Ipswich opened on Upper Brook Street in October 2021 after Sharon and Rob saw a BBC article about the franchise and decided to bring it to Ipswich. The venue grew into a hub for trading card games including Pokémon, Magic the Gathering and One Piece, alongside a weekly crochet club, craft fairs and a full café menu. [Geek Retreat: The purple and yellow shop where nobody plays aloneGeek Retreat Ipswich is a trading card game shop and cafe that has diverse income streams, a committed community, and an inclusive approach that has created a very special atmosphere.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-362f5501-9e0b-40bd-b324-eb698024069d.png)Ipswich.co.ukAmy Wragg![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1744193334-geek-retreat-ipswich-collage-1-7a8155ab-a8e3-4523-b814-dd33f21fde3c.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/geek-retreat-the-purple-and-yellow-shop-where-nobody-plays-alone/) Earlier this year, the business achieved a Net Promoter Score of +97 in a national survey – its highest ever customer satisfaction rating – and was named a finalist in the 2025 Small Business Awards, with public voting open until 1 October. **What's next:** Mulligan Game Cafe, described by Sharon as "a bit of Canada in Ipswich," opens on Upper Brook Street on 3 August. **The bottom line:** After five years of building what customers describe as a "safe space" and an extended family, Geek Retreat Ipswich is closing its doors – but under new ownership rules and a new name, the team and community behind it plan to carry on just streets away. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the two local firms funding our reporting on Ipswich's good causes URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-two-local-firms-funding-our-reporting-on-ipswichs-good-causes/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T09:01:42.000Z [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) and [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) sit on opposite ends of the same industry. Barnes, headquartered at Ransomes Europark, has spent nearly five decades delivering innovative, collaborative and sustainable construction projects across the East of England. Axter, a flat roofing design and specification practice based at Fox's Marina, work across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland designing multifunctional roofs across all development sectors, with a reputation for turning rooftops into efficient, waterproof, biodiverse, energy-generating spaces. It is this complementary pairing – one company building communities from the ground up, the other from the roof down – that has brought them together as Ipswich.co.uk's first community impact partners, funding a year of coverage dedicated to the charities, nonprofits and community groups making the town better. "We are deeply rooted in Ipswich, with our head office situated on Ransomes Europark and many of our staff – including local management trainee apprentices – and supply chain are from the town," said Daniel Mackenzie, Associate Divisional Director at Barnes Construction. "We are a non-adversarial, forward-thinking business that regularly invests in the town through our support of small local charities and community groups." For Axter, the town (and county) is central to its identity, too. "We waterproof differently, are a certified BCorporation, and a Suffolk First business, meaning where we operate really matters. We didn't want to buy advertising space. We wanted to support journalism that tells the real stories of the charities and community groups doing brilliant work across Suffolk, often without recognition. That felt like a much more meaningful use of our support, because when Ipswich and Suffolk thrives, our business thrives with it," said Managing Director Phillip Wilcox-Moore. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/image-4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Barnes-Sponsorship---HR-17.jpg) Axter MD Phillip Wilcox-Moore and Daniel Mackenzie, Associate Divisional Director at Barnes Construction ## Roots that run deep Barnes Construction began life at New Cut West in 1978 – a year, Mackenzie notes, "poignant for those who follow the football club." Nearly fifty years on, the company delivers more than £100 million of construction projects annually across the East of England, and says more than 40 per cent of its current staff came through its management trainee scheme, with several board members among their number. "Ipswich is synonymous with our business," Mackenzie said. "Our staff work, socialise and contribute to the communities we build, and we are proud to support many Ipswich-based charities, often focusing on spreading our donations to cover smaller charities doing some hugely important work in our town." Axter's deep roots in Ipswich run alongside a rapidly growing sustainability, economic development, and people-first agenda. The company has consecutively retained a prestigious Gold Award at the Best Employers Eastern Region Awards, won the inaugural Sustainability Strategy Award at the 2025 East Anglia Clean & Green Awards, has been accredited as a Gold Carbon Literate Organisation, and was named Regional Partner of Ipswich Town FC in March this year. "We are proud to say that Ipswich is home. It’s been our home for nearly half a century. Yes, we are part of a global waterproofing and insulation systems manufacturer, but our team and our UK operations at Fox's Marina are firmly rooted here in Ipswich, Suffolk. We want to see the town thrive, and we think businesses like ours have a responsibility to help make that happen, not just talk about it," Phillip Wilcox-Moore said. ## More than construction and flat roofing Both companies point to a track record of community investment that extends beyond the buildings they build. Barnes counts St Elizabeth's Hospice among its most personal causes – the charity cared for the company's founder, David Barnes, in his later years, and the firm has since been selected to build the hospice's new site in Gorleston. Mackenzie also highlighted the company's work with FIND Ipswich, for whom it helped construct a food storage hub, staff volunteering days with Fareshare, and ongoing support for the Lighthouse Women's Aid, Suffolk Mind, Home-Start Suffolk, IHAG, and youth charity 4YP, where Barnes associate Tony Garnham serves as a trustee. "Charities and not-for-profit organisations face an uphill battle every year to sustain their activities," Mackenzie said. "As people and businesses struggle with the cost of living, smaller charities can often be marginalised further. We have seen first-hand the impact of amazing charities on young people in the town." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/image-5.png) Barnes team outside their office after donating an incredible £44,291 to charities across East Anglia in 2024 (Photo: Sky Revolutions) Axter's community commitments run through a similar mix of climate and community social value causes. The company partners with six charities – Rewilding Britain, Wild East (Wild Kingdom), the Green Light Trust and Suffolk Wildlife Trust on climate, and Suffolk Mind, Emmaus Suffolk, the Suffolk Community Foundation and the Ipswich Town Foundation on community work – and it donates tens of thousands of pounds to local causes every year. In the past year, a £16,500 donation to Suffolk Mind has enabled the charity to extend its outreach to four primary schools and one high school on the Shotley Peninsula – an area Suffolk Mind had identified as previously lacking support and training. In total, more than 1,000 children and young people have been supported alongside 92 staff. "As a certified B Corp with a Suffolk First policy, We care deeply about our local community and supporting those in need," Phillip Wilcox-Moore said at the time. "We've enjoyed a great relationship with Suffolk Mind for many years now – and as soon as we heard they had identified the peninsula as an area which had previously lacked support and training, we knew we had to do our bit to fix it." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/image-3.png) Louise Taylor-Harris delivering a session for children at Axter's offices (Photo: Axter) ## Partnerships with purpose over advertising Ipswich.co.uk does not sell advertising or operate behind a paywall. Our journalism is funded through reader memberships and partnerships with local businesses. Mackenzie said Barnes was drawn to the publication's tone as much as its reach. "We were drawn to the enthusiasm and positivity of its publications, and passion for the town, which is perhaps at odds with traditional journalism," he said. "Too often, stories are heard through the prism of criticism or negativity, or increasingly to shock rather than provide depth and context. We want to be part of something that supports and shines a positive light on our town." He added that Barnes already commits one per cent of its group profit to charity each year, and had previously run a Charity of the Year scheme before deciding that "sharing our fundraising efforts, donations and project-based social value was a much more impactful way of supporting more organisations." Under the partnership, neither company has any influence over editorial content. We tell the reader how much it costs us to produce each article, and each article carries an ad for Barnes, Axter, and one other randomly selected partner. Ipswich.co.uk's editorial team retains full independence over what is covered and how. ## What happens next From today, Ipswich.co.uk will write to every nonprofit leader in its contact book to explain the partnership and invite them to share stories we should be covering. The aim is straightforward: more space, and more depth, for the charities and community groups that often struggle to get heard. Ipswich.co.uk reaches more than 100,000 people across the town each month through its website, email newsletters and social channels. Last year, the site published more than 150 articles covering local charities and community groups, read by tens of thousands of people. The partnership is designed to sustain and build on that over the next 12 months. Looking ahead, Mackenzie said Barnes hoped the partnership would help the town punch above its weight nationally, pointing to Ipswich's City of Culture 2029 bid and the football club's continued rise. "We hope our business can leverage the great coverage of Ipswich.co.uk to deliver even more meaningful impact to the communities of Ipswich," he said. "For our business, as we move towards our 50th year of trading, we also hope to remain at the forefront of delivering more fantastic projects with our brilliant supply chain, as well as maximising the social value impact in and around the town as we go." "Ipswich is a town built on industry, and local businesses are its bedrock. We have a collective responsibility to champion our great town and its people, to support employment, growth and opportunity." ## The bottom line Barnes Construction and Axter approach Ipswich from different directions – one from the ground, one from the roof – but both have chosen to back the same thing: a year of coverage for the charities and community groups that make the town what it is. For two businesses already deeply invested in Suffolk's causes, it is a natural extension of work they were doing anyway, now given a wider audience. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£142 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk Police joins other forces using AI to catch drivers URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-police-joins-other-forces-using-ai-to-catch-drivers/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T07:25:53.000Z **Why it matters:** Unlawful mobile phone use and failing to wear a seatbelt are two of the "Fatal 4" main causes of serious or fatal collisions on Suffolk's roads, alongside drink or drug driving and speeding. Both have been identified as contributory factors in a number of collisions in the county in which people have been killed or seriously injured. **The details:** The cameras, which went live on Monday, 27 July, use high-definition sensors and infrared flash to capture clear images through windscreens, day or night, in all weather conditions. Two camera angles capture both steep and shallow views, with the units typically mounted on trailers positioned to look down into vehicles. - The technology is manufactured by Acusensus, whose Heads-Up system can also detect speeding and unregistered vehicles via automatic number plate recognition, though Suffolk's deployment is focused specifically on phone use and seatbelts. - Images are analysed in real time by AI software, which identifies potential offences before at least two trained human assessors – without access to personal data – review them. - If a potential offence is confirmed, the image is uploaded securely to Suffolk Constabulary via systems already used for other road safety camera offences, where a dedicated police team decides whether to proceed. - The vast majority of images are automatically deleted in real time and never seen by a person. Images selected for review are cropped and anonymised, with number plates removed. The system does not use facial recognition. **The bigger picture:** Suffolk is following forces including Sussex Police, which introduced the same technology in April this year. A 2024 National Highways trial in Sussex identified 458 offences over seven days – 330 for not wearing a seatbelt, 118 for mobile phone use and 10 for both – though no drivers were processed for offences during that trial. **What they're saying:** Chief Inspector Gary Miller, Head of Suffolk's Roads & Armed Policing Team, said: "Mobile phone use and failing to wear a seatbelt remain significant contributors to death and serious injury on our roads. "This project will help us better understand the scale of these behaviours in Suffolk while supporting our ongoing efforts to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured. "The vast majority of motorists travel responsibly and we know they share our concerns about the dangers posed by distraction and other avoidable risks behind the wheel." Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said: "I am a great believer in using technology to improve policing and these new AI cameras will more easily identify drivers who resist wearing seat belts and use their mobile devices whilst driving. "These cameras will help us to really appreciate the scale of this issue and hopefully, knowing these are in use will encourage the reckless drivers who flout the rules to buckle up and not use mobile devices. "Every irresponsible driver we can stop, is hopefully another safer and more considerate driver on our roads." **For context:** The cameras' launch coincides with the final week of Operation Spotlight, a month-long campaign focused on the Fatal 4 offences. Suffolk Constabulary has previously trialled the technology to gather data on the extent of seatbelt non-compliance and phone use in the county, and this project is intended to deepen that understanding. Data collected will be shared with other forces and road safety partners, and will feed into a national knowledge base. **What's next:** The cameras will remain in place for several weeks before being reviewed and evaluated. Suffolk Constabulary's Road Safety Team will publish the results and findings once the project concludes. Drivers caught by the cameras will typically be offered an educational course, similar to those used for speeding offences, though a fine or prosecution may follow in some cases. **The bottom line:** Suffolk becomes the latest force to embrace AI camera technology, with police hoping the anywhere-anytime approach will change driver behaviour on the county's roads before enforcement data is reviewed later this year. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich MP among PPSs staying on as roles get bigger remit URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-mp-among-ppss-staying-on-as-roles-get-bigger-remit/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T07:25:36.000Z **Why it matters:** The parliamentary private secretary (PPS) role is the first rung on the ladder to becoming a minister. Although unpaid, PPSs sit on the so-called government payroll, meaning they are expected to vote and argue in line with the government's position of the day. **The details:** Chief whip Anneliese Midgley has written to Labour MPs to confirm the appointments of PPSs across government departments, following consultations between the prime minister and every secretary of state. The reforms will give PPSs "greater opportunities to undertake media and parliamentary activity, including on national policy", subject to agreement from departmental media advisers, Number 10, and in line with government policy. The appointments include three PPSs for Andy Burnham, along with roles for MPs who had quit government in a bid to force Sir Keir Starmer out, including Rosie Wrighting, Gordon McKee and Luke Charters. **What they're saying:** Abbott said: "I'm really pleased to be staying on as Lisa Nandy's Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) in the expanded Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – you couldn't ask for a better boss. "I'm proud of what we've achieved so far, from the National Youth Strategy to the Arts Everywhere Fund, but I know we've got lots more to do." Midgley said the reforms were "part of the wider culture change we are determined to embed across the government", adding that the aim was to assemble "a diverse and talented group of PPSs, bringing together a broad range of experience, expertise and perspectives to support ministers and help deliver the prime minister's agenda". In return, she asked that "every colleague bring their ideas, energy and engagement as we work together to deliver for the British people". **For context:** Burnham confirmed days earlier that Nandy would remain as culture secretary, extending her time at the department beyond two years and making her the longest-serving culture secretary since Jeremy Hunt in 2010\. She had been widely tipped for a reshuffle, with BBC director general Matt Brittin telling staff he expected a change in the role. Nandy's in-tray includes a decision on whether to intervene in Paramount's $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, ongoing talks with the BBC over its new charter, and legislation that would compel YouTube and TikTok to promote public service content from British broadcasters. **The bottom line:** As the government reshapes the PPS role to give backbenchers more voice on national policy, and Ipswich prepares its 2029 City of Culture bid, Abbott is set to continue as Nandy's right-hand man. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### From war to wellness: Svitlana's journey URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/from-war-to-wellness-svitlanas-journey/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T07:20:20.000Z Svitlana and her daughter left Ukraine in the first weeks of the Russia-Ukraine war, travelling through Poland and Lithuania before settling in Ipswich under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. "It was a very difficult and uncertain time," she says of those early weeks. What followed, she says, was an abundance of support from her host family, neighbours and colleagues. "It's very big help and support from my host," she explains. "They took me to concerts and events, and also helped me to find a job in Ipswich." Integrating into a new community can bring a sense of uncertainty, however Svitlana makes it clear that the effort was never hers alone: "It's not just my host, it's neighbours, it's also my colleagues from my job. They all done a good job for integrating me and my daughter." The turning point, she says, came when her employer offered her an accountancy role. "When I understand I can be independent, I can be useful here in England, I can continue my current job. Because it's very important for me to give something from my heart, from my skills, from my knowledge." ## From unhealthy habits to a healthier life That instinct to give back eventually found its focus in food – but Prykladovska's own relationship with healthy eating began, by her own account, somewhere, much earlier and harder. Going through a divorce, she says, was the push that changed her life. "My story started with that too. I understood I would like to change my life – not just my body, maybe my mentality as well." She began running, gradually building onto the habit. "It doesn't just change my body – I lost weight, of course, my body was more fit – but it's also about mentality. It made me stronger, and gave me a sense to continue, to keep going." Her daughter noticed the shift too, Prykladovska says she simply modelled the change herself: "It's very difficult to push a teenager to start eating healthily. I just kept my healthy style, and she picked it up from me." It was a conversation with colleagues – who noticed how healthy her packed lunches were – that planted the seed for what would become WellEats. "They told me, we are not so organised, we don't have enough motivation, we don't know the advantages," she recalls. "I have a bit of an entrepreneur's brain – I like to be organised, I like to think about something creative." ## What happens at a WellEats workshop That interaction underpins the sessions Svitlana now runs under WellEats. Each session, she explains, follows a simple structure. It opens with a relaxed, jargon-free presentation – from there, attendees spend around fifteen to twenty minutes looking at ingredients and shopping habits with fresh eyes, before moving on to prepare a simple dish together – assembling rather than cooking from scratch. The final part of the session, she says, matters just as much as the food itself: eating together, away from screens, and talking. "It's another problem of healthy eating – when we eat in front of a screen and don't talk during dinner," she says. "Food can connect and collect people, and I guess that's extremely important." Her goals for the sessions, echo the projects' tagline: "Eat well, feel better, live better," she says. "If you eat well, you feel better – mentally and physically – and your quality of life will be much higher. Everything is connected." ## The bottom line Svitlana Prykladovska's story is, in many ways, two journeys folded into one: a personal path from disruption to stability, and a wider effort to hand that stability on to others through something as ordinary as a shared plate of food. As she puts it herself: it is about giving something back – from her heart, her skills, and her knowledge – to the community that gave her a home. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£87 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Missing Ipswich man Aaron Weibel found URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/missing-ipswich-man-aaron-weibel-found/ Last updated: 2026-07-27T13:52:23.000Z **Why it matters:** Aaron Weibel, 46, had last been seen in the town on Tuesday, 21 July, prompting a police appeal for information. **The details:** Aaron had last been seen in Carr Street, Ipswich, at around 16:00 on 21 July. He was described as approximately 5ft 11ins tall, of a stocky build, with dark hair and a beard, and had last been seen wearing a dark-grey hooded top, blue trousers and dark shoes. **What they're saying:** Police have thanked the public and media for their help with the appeal. **The bottom line:** Aaron Weibel has been found, bringing the police appeal to a close. [Police appeal to find missing Ipswich man, 46Suffolk Constabulary is appealing for help to trace Aaron Weibel, who was last seen in Carr Street on Tuesday afternoon.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-bb319464-7600-4dbd-a146-b641ee9a637d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Aaron-Weibel-1-ecc9d195-81f0-403a-a29d-8ca5ca77490b.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-appeal-to-find-missing-ipswich-man-46/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk serious road crashes rise despite fewer deaths URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-serious-road-crashes-rise-despite-fewer-deaths/ Last updated: 2026-07-27T09:31:09.000Z **Why it matters:** The figures, prepared for Suffolk Constabulary's Accountability and Performance Panel, paint a mixed picture of road safety in the county – fewer people are dying on Suffolk's roads, but more are being seriously hurt. **The details:** The report, covering the 12 months to April 2026, found: - Fatal collisions fell from 16 to 14. - Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) collisions rose from 328 to 341. - Pedestrian casualties increased from 52 to 71. - Drivers or riders aged 17 to 24 accounted for 14.3% of KSI casualties, despite making up just 6.4% of full driving licence holders. A roads make up only 10.71% of Suffolk's road network but accounted for 36.4% of KSI collisions in the past year. Ineffective observation – by a driver, rider or pedestrian – remained the most commonly recorded contributory factor, cited in 32% of KSI collisions. **What they're saying:** [Bernice Spurgeon](https://ellisons.com/team/bernice-spurgeon/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), Legal Director in the Injury Services Team at [Ellisons](https://ellisons.com/services/personal-injury/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), said the statistics represent real lives changed forever. "Any reduction in fatal collisions is welcome, but serious injuries can also change lives forever. Through my work, I meet people whose lives have been altered in an instant. Some recover well but others spend months or years rebuilding their lives, adapting to permanent injuries or learning to live with challenges they never expected. The phrase 'Killed and Seriously Injured' can sound quite clinical, but behind every statistic is a person, a family and a story that continues long after the emergency services have left the scene," she said. She said two findings in particular deserved careful reflection. "The report shows that more than a third of serious collisions happen on A roads, despite them representing only a small proportion of Suffolk's road network. Those roads connect communities, workplaces and families, but they also demand constant concentration, good observation and sound judgement. I was also struck by the increase in pedestrian casualties. It's a reminder that road safety isn't only about drivers. Whether we're walking, cycling, riding a motorcycle or travelling by car, we're all sharing the same road environment. Some road users are inevitably more vulnerable than others, making awareness and consideration even more important," she said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Bernice-Spurgeon-Ellisons.jpg) Bernice Spurgeon, Legal Director in the Injury Services Team at Ellisons (Photo: Ellisons) Spurgeon, who says she was herself involved in a serious road traffic collision while on holiday, hopes the report prompts people to think differently about everyday journeys. "Most journeys begin as completely ordinary journeys. People are driving to work, taking children to school, visiting friends, going on holiday or heading home. Nobody expects that journey to end in a serious collision. I can say that as I was involved in a serious road traffic accident myself whilst on holiday. Reports like this are not simply about understanding what happened last year. They're about helping all of us make safer decisions tomorrow. If reading these findings encourages someone to pay a little more attention, anticipate one more hazard or approach their next journey a little differently, then it has already achieved something worthwhile," she said. **For context:** The report, titled "Keeping our Roads Safe – 2025/26", was submitted by the Chief Constable to the Accountability and Performance Panel meeting on Friday, 10 July 2026, held at Police Headquarters in Martlesham Heath. The panel holds Suffolk Constabulary to account against its Police and Crime Plan commitments, which include keeping Suffolk's roads safe through enforcement and road safety campaigns targeting the "Fatal Four" offences – speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt and mobile phone use. **The bottom line:** Suffolk's roads are seeing fewer fatal crashes, but more people are being seriously hurt – and with observation failures and A roads at the centre of the problem, road safety advocates say every road user has a part to play in reversing the trend. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Kesgrave Chinwag marks five years of tackling loneliness URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/kesgrave-chinwag-marks-five-years-of-tackling-loneliness/ Last updated: 2026-07-27T07:03:28.000Z **Why it matters:** What started off as a small gathering under a marquee has grown into a monthly event that welcomes 150 to 160 attendees. It offers older residents a space to build friendships, reduce loneliness and rebuild confidence. **The details:** Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre (KWMCC) took over running the Chinwag from Age UK Suffolk. The first meeting held in the centre's garden was in 2021. Over the past five years, the event has become a monthly source of free entertainment, refreshments and companionship for attendees. The anniversary celebration included an afternoon of entertainment and refreshments, alongside recognition of the volunteers, community partners and organisations who have supported the initiative. Guests at the celebration included Kesgrave Town Council's chair and events and estate manager, the secretary and treasurer of SPARK, and East Suffolk Council's partnership manager, along with representatives from local schools, charities and businesses. **What they're saying:** Fiona Farrell, chinwag coordinator, said: "Seeing everyone come together to celebrate this milestone was fabulous! When we started, we had a vision of creating a space where people felt welcome to come and enjoy a sociable afternoon – catch up with 'old' friends and make new ones – but the reality has far exceeded our expectations. The success of our Chinwag isn't about any one person – it belongs to every volunteer who showed up, every partner who believed in us, and every person who walked through our doors looking for a bit of company." Stuart Lawson, general manager at KWMCC, said: "I am so proud of what has been achieved here over the last five years or so. To build something that is now an integral part of the monthly diary for Kesgrave residents, that helps combat isolation, builds friendships and gets people out and about in the community, is testament to all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make it happen." **What's next:** KWMCC says it remains committed to ensuring the Chinwag continues to give older residents a place to build friendships and be part of their local community for years to come. **The bottom line:** Five years on from a small marquee gathering, the Kesgrave Community Chinwag has become a monthly fixture for hundreds of older residents, highlighting the strength of its volunteers and community partners. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Charities offered discounted mental health training this summer URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/charities-offered-discounted-mental-health-training-this-summer/ Last updated: 2026-07-27T07:02:34.000Z **Why it matters:** Charities, CICs and voluntary organisations across Suffolk can now access significantly cheaper mental health training through The Mental Health Toolkit, Suffolk Mind's corporate training arm. **The details:** Charities and voluntary organisations can access discounts on selected courses, including "The Essentials" and tailored sessions for frontline services. Smaller organisations booking training together are eligible for further savings through a "buddy up" scheme. The offer applies to bookings made before 1 October. **What they're saying:** Wendy Sheppard, Head of Business Development at Suffolk Mind and The Mental Health Toolkit, said: "We know how tough it is for charities at the moment, at a time when the need for mental health training continues to grow. "We've seen a real desire and need from those in the third sector to upskill their staff, regardless of whether they work in support roles. "What we want to do is extend that support, increase mental health knowledge across the third sector and boost collaboration between organisations who want to be a force for good." She added: "Every organisation deserves access to high-quality mental health training – not just to support their customers or service users, but their staff too. "All our sessions are designed to be empowering, effective and powerful – promoting healthy environments for everyone." **For context:** Founded in 2010, The Mental Health Toolkit provides online and in-person CPD accredited mental health training, delivered by experienced psychotherapist trainers. It operates as part of Suffolk Mind, an independent mental health charity, with all profits from its training reinvested back into the mental health services Suffolk Mind offers. **The bottom line:** The offer gives charities, CICs and voluntary organisations access to up to 50% off training, helping more good causes upskill their staff. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the new Blues joining Portman Road this summer URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-new-blues-joining-portman-road-this-summer/ Last updated: 2026-07-27T07:01:43.000Z I started this list to use as reference when writing my column – I wanted to feel more familiar with all our newbies before the season starts in earnest. Then I decided I might as well share it, and get back into the flow of writing about my beloved team. Through the door so far we have: ## **Issa Diop** Issa has had significant experience at Premier League level playing for West Ham for four years, before a move to Fulham in 2022\. He played well and scored at the World Cup this summer, making five appearances. Not a prolific scorer, he is nevertheless a solid defender at centre-back with a good physical presence, something we have sometimes lacked in the past. With Kipre, O'Shea and Diop at the back, I think we will have a wonder wall that is tough to penetrate. He was made captain of his first home side, Toulouse, when he was only 20 years old, so he is noticeably a dependable character. Gary O'Neil has called him "an imposing defender with good quality and a will to win, making him an excellent addition to the group". We used to have Ladapo and Delap, now we have Diop. Very different players, but with a strangely similar recurring ring (or is that just me)? - Full family name: Issa Laye Lucas Jean Diop - Born: France - National team: Morocco - Transferred from: Fulham - Ipswich: Four-year contract - Position: Centre-back - Age: 29 years - Height: 6ft 4ins - Foot: Right ## **Emersonn** Emersonn so far is a cluster of "firsts". He was the first signing for the club this season, the first Brazilian to sign for the Tractor Boys, and this is his first time playing in England and therefore his first in the EFL Premier League. He is said to be a young, ambitious striker who has shown huge potential so far at his previous clubs. In interview he impressed me with his obvious happiness at being here, his professed desire to please by working hard, and his upbeat, bouncy character. This is a step up in his playing career, and if all goes well, I think he will be a fans' favourite. It will be great to watch him add to a fistful of "firsts"! - Full family name: Emersonn Correia da Silva - Born: Brazil - National team: Brazil youth at all levels - Transferred from: Toulouse - Ipswich: Five-year contract - Position: Striker – centre-forward - Age: 21 years - Height: 6ft 1ins - Foot: Right ## **Abdul Fatawu** A Leicester fan has described Abdul as a speedy, out-and-out attacking winger, best on the right-hand side of the pitch. He is not a player they are at all happy about losing. As a young player he has plenty of time to improve and probably learn more about game management and technique. I still remember the ridiculous (as in amazing) goal he scored against Town from his own half when we met Leicester at home in December 2025\. A 70-yarder, he spotted Walton a distance off his line and capitalised. I hasten to add I did not appreciate its amazingness at the time – I do hope Christian has forgiven him! Watching footage of his goals also shows he has the ability to score from outside the box, and that power can now be harnessed for Town. An exciting player, I believe. - Full family name: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku - Born: Ghana - National team: Ghana - Transferred from: Leicester City - Ipswich: Five-year contract - Position: Right wing - Age: 22 years - Height: 5ft 9ins - Foot: Left ## **Kayne Van Oevelen** Kayne is a young keeper who has played at senior level and who is keen to progress his career in England. His reputation is already growing, and he has been sought after by Ajax, Leeds and Valencia. He will strengthen Town's existing goalkeeping group and was very keen to come to the club when he heard of their interest – which is always a good sign. The press have called him "the former plasterer with Real Madrid dreams". Town are not quite Real Madrid, but they may be a step along the way. - Born: Holland - National team: Nome – yet - Transferred from: FC Volendam - Ipswich: Five-year contract - Position: Goalkeeper - Age: 22 years - Height: 6ft 6ins - Foot: Both (allegedly) ## **Daizen Maeda** It's official – Maeda has signed, in a reported £10m deal. He was part of Japan's squad at the 2026 World Cup, helping them reach the last 32 before they were knocked out by Brazil, and he leaves Celtic with 79 goals in 212 appearances, along with five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups. Quite the collection. "I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League and I am very happy I can realise that dream with this club," Maeda said. "My aim will always be to battle hard, score goals, and provide assists for my team – I will always run and give everything that I have." He is described as a player with pace, good defensive work and the ability to operate across the front line. This feels like a strong addition for us. I have so far found nothing but encouraging comments about him. - Born: Japan - National team: Japan - Transferred from: Celtic FC - Ipswich: Three-year contract - Position: Left wing - Age: 28 - Height: 5ft 8ins ## **Other news** Ipswich Town are closing in on a deal for Union Saint-Gilloise goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, having shown a willingness to match the Belgian side's demands. Hidemasa Morita, aged 31, originally a Town target, is in the process of signing for Hull. Possible leavers this season are rumoured to be Jaden Philogene and Harry Clarke, both of whom have had interest from other clubs. The World Cup had caused a bit of a hiatus, shielding us from the usual gallop into a summer full of predictions and transfer rumours (I am personally not sorry the World Cup is over), but now the deals and the rumours are flying. It has been claimed Derby are in "advanced talks" to re-sign Sammie Szmodics, who has been sanctioned to depart Portman Road in this window. He was on loan to the Rams last season, and I do not think it is a surprise to anyone that he will not be returning to play for Town. He can still be a tricky player, so he may fit well into Derby's line-up. The striker spent the second half of last season at Pride Park, bagging four goals in 13 Championship outings. ## **Pre-season games** ### *Home* To tickle our taste buds, there is a run of friendly matches in the UK, starting: **Wednesday, 29 July, 19:45 at the JobServe Colchester Community Stadium –** **Ipswich Town v CA Osasuna FC** Our opponents are a Spanish professional football club based in Pamplona, Navarre, home ground the El Sadar Stadium. Founded in 1920, they play in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football. **Tuesday, 4 August, 19:45 (BST) – Ipswich Town v Le Havre AC** Le Havre Athletic Club is a French professional association football club based in Le Havre, Normandy. They play in Ligue 1, the first tier of French football. **Saturday, 8 August, 15:00 (BST) – Ipswich Town v Rayo Vallecano** Rayo Vallecano is a Spanish professional football club based in the Puente de Vallecas district of Madrid. The club competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football. ### *Away* 1. Oxford v Ipswich Town 2. High Wycombe v Ipswich Town Two separate Town XIs will face the U's and the Chairboys on Saturday, 1 August, at 12:00 and 16:00 respectively. Tickets from the ITFC official website. ## **Finally** Roll on the start of the season. I think it is going to be exciting with our shiny new team. It is impossible to please all of the fans all of the time, and we all have our favourites, but so far I think we have every reason to feel optimistic about our latest additions. Proof of the pudding, of course, but bring it on – COYBs N.B. This is the status quo to the best of my knowledge as of Mon July. Things change so quickly at this stage! I may have more news of signings very soon. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### Local journalism is expensive to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Merchants Yard: Two years on, still no access to Princes Street bridge URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-footpath-ipswich-finished-but-never-opened/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T10:13:17.000Z Merchants Yard sits on Grafton Way, as a new waterside housing development compromising of 173 homes available to rent, alongside two commercial units. When outline planning permission was granted for Merchants Yard in May 2022 (reference IP/19/00148/OUT), Condition 28 set a clear public commitment: a new pedestrian and cycle link to Princes Street had to be built and open to the public before the 75th of the 173 approved homes was occupied. That commitment has now been amended twice. Understanding why, means following a paper trail that runs from a council planning objection in December 2023 to a closed, unsafe pavement the developer says is not its responsibility to fix. ## Built, but blocked In October 2023, GHL (Ipswich) Developments Ltd — a Galliard Homes subsidiary — applied to discharge Condition 28, effectively declaring the connection complete. Ipswich Borough Council disagreed. In a letter dated 14 December 2023, the council's development management team leader, Richard Collins, said the principle of the link was "acceptable" but that the condition was "not discharged," pending further details on signage, lighting, landscaping and security. A follow-up letter on 7 March 2024 was sharper. The council raised concerns that a proposed rolled-gravel area behind a hedge "is likely to be prone to rough sleeping, crime, anti-social behaviour and litter." It also noted that Suffolk Police had warned a planned privacy screen could create a "tunnel effect," which "could be particularly intimidating to lone people and vulnerable groups using the walkway." The council asked for a design that would allow better natural surveillance of the route. Revised designs followed, and on 8 July 2024, the council formally discharged Condition 28, approving the final drawings and specifying the ramp be painted green with grey handrails, maintained under the site's management plan. Discharging a condition in this way approves the design on paper — it does not confirm the physical works have been completed, connect properly, or are ready for public use. Five weeks later, on 16 August 2024, GHL wrote to the council again — this time asking to change the condition itself. The letter is direct about what had gone wrong: "The ramp is completed but the connection to the pavement on Princes Street Bridge is still proving to be really difficult to implement. The pavement is in a poor condition, to the extent that it has been closed by Suffolk Highways as it deemed to be unsafe." The company added: "Galliard are prepared to undertake the repair works on behalf of Network Rail and Suffolk Highways but that is still subject to technical approval on the design." ## Moving the deadline, twice To give residents time to move in while the pavement issue was resolved, GHL proposed extending the occupation trigger in Condition 28 from the 75th dwelling to the 150th. Ipswich Borough Council approved this as a non-material amendment (reference IP/25/00206/NMMA) on 8 April 2025. By July 2025, the pavement still had not been repaired. A second amendment (reference IP/25/00528/NMMA) was submitted, this time removing the fixed dwelling count altogether. The applicant's stated reason: "Due to on going work on the pavement and to allow occupation of some of the residential units." Ipswich Borough Council approved this on 7 August 2025\. Condition 28 now requires the connection to be open within 12 months of the first occupation of the final, 173rd dwelling — whichever date that turns out to be. A spokesperson for Ipswich Borough Council said: "As it stands, from our understanding, 168 of the 173 properties are occupied and so there is no breach of planning." ## Where things stand Merchants Yard's housing was completed and occupied last year and its final commercial units were finished in March 2026. Anyone passing by will observe a gap between the ramp and the bridge structure, sealed off with temporary fencing, where the two do not currently meet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_3065-2-1-1.jpeg) The gap between the ramp and the bridge structure (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council and Galliard Homes have each pointed to reasons the connection's completion does not sit with them, while Network Rail has not yet responded to enquiries about its role. Suffolk County Council said the connection is not currently recorded as public highway, and confirmed it will not adopt it. Ipswich Borough Council, as planning authority, does not own the site, the bridge or the highway. Cllr Carole Jones, the council's portfolio holder for planning and museums, said: "The newly installed pedestrian link to Merchants Yard from Princes Street needs to connect to a bridge which is the responsibility of Network Rail, under which the railway line used to run to serve the rail sidings at Stoke Bridge, over which is the busy Princes St public highway, which is the responsibility of Suffolk County Council, making this much more complex than it appears." She added that Galliard Homes is "not in breach of their planning permission and as everyone is actively working towards the main goal of getting the pedestrian link open, there is no need for enforcement." Galliard Homes said: "While these works are not Galliard Homes' responsibility, we have committed to funding and delivering them to improve connectivity for the local community." The company added it has been "working closely with Network Rail and Suffolk Highways, over the past 18 months, to find a solution" and that "an agreement in principle has now been reached." It said it is "now progressing the remaining approvals" and hopes to reopen the link "as soon as possible." ## The bottom line The ramp at the centre of this has been finished for close to two years. What has kept it closed is not a failure by Merchants Yard's builders, but an unsafe stretch of pavement on the other side of the connection that has taken far longer to repair than anyone appears to have anticipated. Twice, the council has agreed to relax a public commitment made when planning permission was granted, rather than see residents' occupation delayed further. What remains unanswered is when the repair itself will actually happen — and, with the clock only set to start once the final home is occupied, how much longer residents and visitors will wait to use it. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£216 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Bogus fire officer targets homes in Rushmere St Andrew URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bogus-fire-officer-targets-homes-in-rushmere-st-andrew/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T07:11:46.000Z **Why it matters:** The caller has no genuine authority, provided no identification or business name, and used a real local incident to lend false credibility to his claims. **The details:** The man told residents he was a "Level 2 Fire Officer" and claimed the solar panels on their homes were dirty and posed a fire risk. He referenced the recent fire at an Ipswich school, wrongly claiming it was linked to dirty solar panels. **What happened:** In one case, a resident did not believe the caller and asked him to leave. He then became verbally abusive. **The other side:** The caller had no ID and gave no business name when challenged. **Description:** Suffolk Trading Standards describes the man as white, approximately 50 years old, using a blue electric wheelchair. He was wearing a dark baseball cap, a pink shirt, a tie and shorts. **What to look out for:** Suffolk Trading Standards says all genuine Suffolk Fire personnel carry an official ID card at all times, even when not in uniform. Every card includes a verification number on the back that residents can call to confirm someone's identity. Anyone approached by the caller is asked to contact Suffolk Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133. **The bottom line:** A man posing as a fire officer has been using a real local tragedy to frighten Rushmere St Andrew residents into believing their solar panels are dangerous — genuine officials always carry verifiable ID, and Trading Standards wants to hear from anyone else who has been approached. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Police appeal to find missing Ipswich man, 46 URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-appeal-to-find-missing-ipswich-man-46/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T07:06:31.000Z **Why it matters:** Police say they are concerned for Aaron's welfare and are asking anyone who has seen him or knows of his whereabouts to come forward. **The details:** Aaron, 46, was last seen in Carr Street, Ipswich, at around 16:00 on Tuesday, 21 July. He is described as approximately 5ft 11ins tall, of a stocky build, with dark hair and a beard. He was last seen wearing a dark-grey hooded top, blue trousers and dark shoes. **What to look out for:** Anyone who has seen Aaron or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact Suffolk Constabulary via its website, by calling 101, or via the Live Chat service on the force's website. In an emergency, always call 999. **The bottom line:** Police are appealing to the public for information as concern grows for Aaron Weibel's welfare. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich librarian selected for Team GB baseball World Cup URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-librarian-selected-for-team-gb-baseball-world-cup/ Last updated: 2026-07-23T09:33:37.000Z **Why it matters:** Oona Ylinen, a Learning and Teaching Librarian at the University of Suffolk, will be part of the squad's first ever appearance at the World Cup qualifiers. **The details:** Over five days in August, the squad will face Venezuela, Japan, Cuba, the Philippines and Chinese Taipei. Oona, originally from Finland, has been part of the national squad since its beginnings five years ago. She plays for Essex Archers in Division Three at club level. Oona was officially confirmed for the summer squad following an invitational tournament at the start of June. The qualifiers feature two pools of six teams, with the top three from each pool progressing to the finals in 2027. **What they're saying:** Oona said: "Getting to represent the country, wear the flag, do something really cool and that none of us has ever done before – we have never sent a team to the world cup – so getting to do that is really scary and really exciting," "We have really no idea what to expect, considering the team started five years ago and we are now building to our first world cup is tremendous, but ultimately we want to play the best baseball that we can. "It's one of those things that you think it isn't going to happen. It's such an honour really." **For context:** The 30-year-old played a key role in the squad's gold medal win at last summer's European Championship, taking to the pitching mound in the final against the Czech side. "There is a real community spirit within the sport, and I think that is something I have really gravitated to and that's why I've ended up sticking around for nearly 11 years," Oona said. Her introduction to the sport was accidental. "I had a half-American housemate who was actually from Ipswich while I was at uni at UEA, and that's where I started playing," she said. "He wanted somebody to go with, so I went thinking I would only go for a couple of weeks. I turned up and had a really great time with it, and the rest is history." **The bottom line:** From a chance visit to a baseball club nearly 11 years ago to Team GB's first ever World Cup qualifiers, Oona's journey mirrors the historic step the whole squad is about to take together. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Explore the Ipswich Institute this August URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/explore-the-ipswich-institute-this-august/ Last updated: 2026-07-23T09:28:24.000Z **Why it matters:** August at the Institute is open to everyone, members and non-members, offering a rare taste of what goes on inside one of the town's most historic buildings. **The details:** Running throughout August, the programme features more than 40 talks, workshops and guided walks led by Institute tutors and guest speakers. Bookings can be made online or in person at the library. Highlights include a talk from professional chess player and coach Dagne Ciuksyte, who has represented Lithuania and England internationally; a look at the history of inheritance fraud with James Thelusson; and a session on artificial intelligence in healthcare with Ian Hawker. Other talks cover topics as varied as Rasputin, the Carnation Revolution, Amelia Earhart and the lost streets of Ipswich. Beyond talks, the programme includes art and craft workshops, along with language taster sessions in French, Italian and Latin, free financial awareness sessions run by Yorkshire Building Society, and a fitness and wellbeing strand covering yoga, meditation and dance fitness. **What they're saying:** Jo Rooks, general manager at the Ipswich Institute, said: "Introducing an August specific programme last year worked so well we knew we had to make it a regular feature in our already busy calendar. "We know that to many Ipswich residents and visitors we are a bit of a mystery, so it's lovely to be able to showcase what we do and share the welcoming atmosphere that makes the Institute so special." **The bigger picture:** The Ipswich Institute is a registered educational charity that provides library facilities and an extensive programme of leisure learning courses, talks and trips to more than 2,000 members. It also runs the Ipswich Tourist Guides Association. **What's next:** The Institute's autumn programme begins on Monday, 14 September, with enrolment opening at 9am on Thursday, 3 September. Day course brochures will be available from the library, or online, from mid to late August. **The bottom line:** Whether you're curious about membership or just after a different way to spend a summer's day in town, August at the Institute offers a rare chance to see what's on offer. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Deputy leader apologises, admits East Suffolk bin crisis needs outside help URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/deputy-leader-apologises-admits-east-suffolk-bin-crisis-needs-outside-help/ Last updated: 2026-07-23T08:45:31.000Z **Why it matters:** Residents across East Suffolk have faced missed collections, delayed bin deliveries and poor communication since the scheme launched. Cllr Ashton told councillors the issues were no longer "teething problems" and that outside help was needed to recover the service. **The details:** Opening the item, council leader Cllr Caroline Topping said: "To those residents who have been affected by ongoing collection issues, we all accept that it has not been good enough for everyone, and as leader of the council, I take responsibility." Cllr Ashton, who leads on the response, then set out a lengthy account of what has gone wrong and what the council is doing about it. He said the main issues were: - Incomplete rounds that the council has not always been able to catch up on - Some households, mainly but not exclusively in hard-to-reach areas, receiving virtually no collections at all - New vehicles experiencing mechanical issues unfamiliar to the council's mechanics - Crews still getting up to speed with new routes and equipment - Weight calibration problems on lorries, forcing more frequent and cautious trips to the tipping site - Ongoing driver recruitment and retention problems across Suffolk, which he said had been worsened locally by Sizewell C - A spike in sick leave among crews - Congestion at the shared tipping station used by multiple councils He also pointed to a run of bad luck in June, including the two hottest days of the year, a car fire on the A14 that held up collection vehicles, and a signal failure causing congestion on the A12\. "We've had everything thrown at us," he said. Cllr Ashton said a realistic trial of the new service had not been possible ahead of launch, as trial communications could only be sent by letter to avoid confusing residents outside the trial, and food waste collection required new "clusters" of streets that could not be tested without disrupting existing rounds. **What's being done:** The council has hired a specialist waste operations troubleshooter with what Cllr Ashton described as a 20-year track record of resolving similar issues at other councils. The troubleshooter is contracted for four months, starting in August. East Suffolk Services Ltd (ESSL), the council-owned company that delivers the waste contract, has also been issued with a formal contract notice alongside a joint improvement plan. Cllr Ashton said there had been "sharp words exchanged" with ESSL's management, but that staff were "trying very hard" to put things right. Other measures include: - Additional recovery crews working Saturdays and Mondays - Recruiting and training more drivers and customer service staff - Contract extensions for residents who pay for garden waste collections and have missed them - Ensuring the right size and type of vehicle reaches properties that are harder to access For the small number of households still affected by repeated missed collections, crews have temporarily been collecting all bins together on the same visit – a short-term sticking plaster rather than how the service is meant to operate. **By the numbers:** - 302 requests for new bins were still outstanding at the start of Wednesday, out of roughly 123,000 households across the district - The council is receiving around 60 bin requests a day, not all related to the rollout, and delivering about 100 new bins daily - More than 53,000 people have downloaded the council's app, with over 40,000 signed up for collection notifications - Recycling rates have risen by almost 10 percentage points since Better Recycling launched, according to Cllr Ashton - On the day before the meeting, residual, mixed recycling and paper/card collections reached 99% completion, garden waste 88%, and food waste 90%, however this has not been anywhere close to consistent **What they're saying:** Cllr Sally Noble, Cabinet member for the Environment, also apologised. "I will not portion the blame. I will not pass the buck, but I will, without fail, work with council colleagues and officers to ensure that Better Recycling East Suffolk is a success," she said, adding that she had personally responded to hundreds of resident emails. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/1784791550056-f9uaf878pio-dsc00331.jpg) Cllr Sally Noble, Environment cabinet member at East Suffolk Council (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) On a particularly bad day of collections, Cllr Ashton said newly added properties had not been correctly logged onto delivery rounds, resulting in repeated visits to the same streets. "It is what it is," he said, adding: "Work is clearly needed on garden waste." He also said: "The majority of people have received a good service with little to no disruption," and described the situation with outstanding bin deliveries as "not untypical" compared with other councils' experience of similar rollouts. **The other side:** Not all councillors were satisfied with the level of detail on offer. Cllr Peter Byatt asked for a full public report on what went wrong and the lessons learned. Cllr Ashton said it was too early to produce one, but committed to a post-implementation review, which he said he would be open to the council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee examining. Cllr Julia Ewart asked Cllr Vince Langdon-Morris, Cabinet member for Resources and Value for Money, why budgetary pressures linked to Better Recycling had not been more fully reported to Cabinet the previous week, and who had authorised the spending involved. Cllr Langdon-Morris said the scheme cost around 60p per household per week, funded partly through Extended Producer Responsibility payments and a central government grant, but did not confirm the total sums involved, saying he would respond in writing. Cllr Ewart said this had not answered her question, and the council's chair confirmed a written response would follow. **The bigger picture:** Wednesday's meeting followed a week of mounting pressure on the council's leadership. In two letters made public the week before, Independent Cllr Julia Ewart called for a cross-party "Cabinet of Unity" to replace the current administration, and separately wrote to the council's Monitoring Officer citing a statutory duty to assess governance risks around the Better Recycling rollout. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/1784791543974-zh7tk7p9b9-dsc00336-1.jpg) Cllr Julia Ewart (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) No proposal to change the composition of the Cabinet was raised at Wednesday's meeting, and Cllr Ashton's lengthy apology appeared to ease some of that pressure. However, with a formal post-implementation report, a full financial breakdown and a stable service all still pending, scrutiny of the council's leadership seems likely to resume if the rollout does not settle down quickly. **What's next:** Cllr Ashton said the immediate priority was consistency, particularly on food waste collections. Residents whose bins are missed alongside their neighbours' are asked not to report it, as the council already knows the round is incomplete and will catch up within days. Residents whose bins are missed while their neighbours' were collected are asked to report it directly. Residents are encouraged to download the app. **The bottom line:** Nearly two months into the Better Recycling rollout, East Suffolk Council has moved from defending the service to admitting it needs outside help to fix it – but with a formal report and full financial breakdown still to come, questions over cost and accountability remain unresolved. ### Previously This is a developing story. Here's our previous reporting for context: [Leaked report exposes depth of East Suffolk’s bin crisisAn internal report seen by this publication shows 45,936 bin collections were still missed last week, nearly two months into the troubled bin rollout in East Suffolk. Officers describe “marked improvement”, but the figures, and a growing row around them, tell a different story.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-ed53d5a6-0e87-4cea-b47e-ff863797bd9c.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4587-1-34bdb8b2-286d-4c74-a485-70c48c24c465.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/leaked-report-exposes-depth-of-east-suffolks-bin-crisis/) [Bin rollout woes fuel calls for East Suffolk council shake-upSeven weeks into a troubled recycling rollout, and with residents reportedly threatening legal action, a senior councillor says East Suffolk Council’s governance – not just its bins – is now in question.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-6c13bc2a-006d-4791-b68e-a1e5ca9fb5c2.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--43--98d9ed00-5e8b-46a1-8877-f09e01972fd1.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bin-rollout-woes-fuel-calls-for-east-suffolk-council-shake-up/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£162 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet Ipswich's new Member of Youth Parliament URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-ipswichs-new-member-of-youth-parliament/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T12:44:52.000Z The UK Youth Parliament was established in 1999 and is run by young people, for young people aged between 11 and 18\. It is independent of Westminster, though it holds an annual debate in the House of Commons Chamber and is now overseen by the National Youth Agency. In Suffolk, elections for Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) are held every two years, with a new intake taking up the role in 2026. Poppy was elected in May 2026 to represent Ipswich and Babergh. She explains the process of being elected, starting with a video explaining her manifesto which later goes on to be shown around youth groups in Ipswich, and it is the young people that get to vote for who represents them. Her role, she says, is straightforward in principle: "Our role, for our constituency, is to represent the voices of all the young people." "I think you can really make it your own," Poppy says. "You can have like a big time commitment or a little time commitment, but we like to meet up maybe like once a quarter of a year, and then we also do a call every two weeks, and then in the meantime, we do like our own bits and bobs." Conversations with young people, albeit important, require an equal amount of listening. "Because it can be hard, especially now, to get a hold of so many young people... I like to go visit youth groups, schools, et cetera, so that I can speak to them and hear their views," she says. "I basically go around, I talk to people. I hear the biggest issues and then I bring them back." One recent example was a meeting with [Sarah-Jane Smedmor](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/sarah-jane-smedmor/), Suffolk County Council's Executive Director of Children and Young People's Services. "It was really lovely." Poppy says. "We've decided to stay in close contact after that." ## Fixing the gaps in SEN support One of Poppy's three campaign priorities is special educational needs (SEN) support in schools, an issue shaped by her own experience of struggling through mainstream education. "I'm really passionate about SEN," she says. "I've always, as a kid, really struggled in school. I didn't have a normal education. I left school in year eight. I was homeschooled and I kind of like taught myself, and I just want to be able to help and make a difference to children like myself and show them like, you can do it. You can get through that point." She believes the gaps in support are about people, not just funding. "I feel like children don't have people that understand them. I feel like behaviour that could be a cry for help is seen as defiance and being naughty — and it's not that at all," she says. "The way that I personally think our government, local government, is approaching all of this is to just put more money into it, but I think it needs to take more. People need specialist training, people that are gonna know what to do. You can't just throw money into the pot and expect people to know what to do with that, because the change isn't the money, the change is the people." [Council approves £19m plan for new SEND school placesSuffolk County Council’s cabinet has approved spending almost £19 million of government funding to create hundreds of new school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c8b367a1-5723-483d-b3ba-0d14ae75d10c.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/dato-ekX4bAJuS6GwNNdFsuy1WQ-1775136133759-1-1-182f8a41-0150-4c96-929a-21e650171bfa.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-approves-19m-plan-for-new-send-school-places/) She also points to what she calls "this barrier in the middle" of the SEN system: "There's schools for SEN children, and then there's high schools, but what about the children that aren't, like, severely disabled and don't need a special provision? So they go to normal school, but it doesn't exactly meet their needs. And I feel those children have been failed by the system." ## Political education and the social media debate Poppy's second priority is political education for young people, an issue she links to the forthcoming change to the voting age. Poppy believes young people are being let down. "Children have no idea what's going on with politics. They don't get taught that. Like we have English, maths, people can do history, but they have no idea what's going on in the outside world. And all that they see is the media, and a lot of the media is manipulation," she says. She suggests political education could be built into PSHE lessons, or even something as simple as a daily news slot: "Even like I remember when I was younger, we used to watch Newsround, and I feel like that would be quite good because you just get to see news... I think it would be really good to implement maybe in form time or something." The subject feeds into her mixed feelings on the government's plans, announced in June 2026, to ban social media platforms for under-16s. "I have mixed emotions," she says. "I think social media can be incredibly toxic and not very nice, especially the usage of like Snapchat and young people, but also I don't think you can put a ban in place for a generation that's already had access to it, because they're used to it, that's part of their life. Now you can't just take that away. That's obviously gonna have consequences for young people. So personally, I think it would be better to start it from a new generation." ## Supporting survivors of abuse Poppy's third priority is support for victims of abuse and domestic violence, an area she connects to her work with Brave Futures, a charity supporting young survivors of sexual abuse. "It holds a really special place in my heart," she says. "I used to go there when I was younger. They were absolutely amazing. So since I've left, I've worked with them. I am now on their youth board... it's led by a lovely lady called Hannah. We'll just focus on small changes and hopefully some bigger ones." She recognises issues with the way cases involving young people are handled. "I feel like a lot of it is police handling with situations. I don't think it's handled with sensitivity in a lot of cases, especially when it's young children and under-18s," she says. "I personally believe that police officers should have special training... also, I think the criminal justice system is incredibly slow and unacceptable for victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults." ## Being a young woman in politics Poppy is candid about the barriers she has faced as a young woman in a role she sees as still "dominated by men." "As a young woman, that's what really intrigues me, because we haven't got enough voice," she says. "I feel like young women are... \[under-represented\] in society, and I will say what I think needs to be said, and I will represent minority voices." Despite this, and despite criticism she says previous Suffolk MYPs have faced for their appearance and views. "I think people like laugh at me for what I'm doing. I've seen a lot of hate on Youth Parliament and in the media, but I don't care, because that's what I want to do," she says. "I feel like people shouldn't let the media get to them or other people, because if you know you want something in your heart, you know you want it." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_1546-1.jpeg) Poppy Rayner, the new Member of Youth Parliament for Ipswich and Babergh (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) She hopes to build a long-term career in politics, but for now, her focus remains on the young people she represents. "Vulnerable people are kind of neglected by the system," she says of the outcome she is most determined to achieve. "Sensitivity, care, expert knowledge... look at everyone as a person, as their own individual person, and not just a group of people." Her message to other young people in Ipswich who want to get involved is simple: "Get involved, be in the community, look around at the projects, see what's going on in the youth groups, because there is so much going on, but I feel like the youth don't know about it... Reach out, do it. Don't let stigmas stop you from doing it." ## The bottom line At 17, Poppy Grace Rayner is already balancing A-levels with a role that has her meeting council directors, sitting on charity boards, and speaking up on some of the most sensitive issues facing young people in Suffolk. Whether or not every one of her ideas makes it into policy, her priorities – better SEN support, political education for young people, and stronger protection for abuse survivors – are a reminder that Ipswich's next generation is already thinking hard about the town's future. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£94 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ed Sheeran among first nine ambassadors to back Ipswich's City of Culture the bid URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ed-sheeran-among-first-nine-ambassadors-to-back-ipswichs-city-of-culture-the-bid/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T12:41:50.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich has announced its first tranche of Ambassadors, a group spanning music, theatre, film, writing, broadcasting, farming and conservation, all publicly championing the town ahead of its full bid submission next month. **The details:** The first Ambassadors to be announced – nine in total – are: - **Ed Sheeran MBE** – the global superstar, raised in Framlingham, is a shareholder in Ipswich Town Football Club and has long championed our town and county. - **Brian Eno** – the musician, producer and artist, credited by many as the man who invented ambient music, began his creative life at St Joseph's College and Ipswich Art School. - **Nandi Bushell** – the multi-instrumentalist from Ipswich, who cut her teeth in the town's pub jam sessions before becoming a viral sensation aged ten with her drum battle challenge to Dave Grohl. - **Griff Rhys Jones OBE** – the actor, writer and presenter has lived on the Shotley peninsula for 40 years. - **Kerry Ellis** – the West End star made her stage debut aged nine as a Munchkin at Ipswich's Wolsey Theatre. - **Jimmy and Michaela Doherty** – the founders of Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park at Wherstead. - **Ashton Jones** – the soul and funk singer grew up in Ipswich and went from a 15-person crowd at the Spread Eagle to the Royal Albert Hall. - **Paul Greengrass CBE** – the Oscar-nominated director best known for the Bourne trilogy, has made his home in Suffolk. **What they're saying:** Ed Sheeran said: "I've hoped to see Ipswich become City of Culture since I was a teenager. This town has shaped who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and it has an incredible community spirit. That's why Suffolk and Ipswich will always be where I call home. Arts and culture should be accessible to everyone, and I know this title would help create even more opportunities for people in the local area. Let's do all we can to make it happen." Nandi Bushell said: "I am backing Ipswich's bid to be City of Culture in 2029\. I've lived in Ipswich for nearly my whole life and I am proud to be from here. Without this town's support, I would not be the musician I am." Brian Eno said: "I've always believed more in the idea of 'scenius' – that scenes, ecologies made up of many people, are the soil out of which the most powerful art in the world emerges, rather than being the 'genius' output of any one individual. Ipswich Art School was one of the first such scenes that I was part of, where, thanks to those around me, I started my journey into the world of art. That's why I'm proud to back the bid to become City of Culture 2029." **For context:** Ipswich was longlisted by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) after submitting an Expression of Interest in February 2026, and received a £60,000 DCMS grant to develop its full bid. Amy Vaughan, who was announced as Bid Director by Ipswich Borough Council just seven weeks before the bid deadline, said: "What strikes you about this group is not just the range of talent, but the strength of support for this town and this bid. Ipswich has always produced and attracted remarkable people, and this is our chance to show the whole country that. Many of the Ambassadors' careers started here – a pub jam session, a school art room, a Munchkin costume at the Wolsey. The bid for City of Culture is about making sure the next generation of stories can also begin here for many years to come." **What's next:** The full bid will be submitted to DCMS on 10 August. A shortlist of four places will be announced in autumn 2026, with the winner named later in the year. Ipswich 2029 said further Ambassadors will be announced in the coming weeks. **The bottom line:** With household names from music, film and theatre now publicly backing the campaign, Ipswich 2029 hopes the Ambassadors' collective profile will strengthen the town's case as it heads towards its formal submission next month. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk business support scheme opens doors to founders URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-business-support-scheme-opens-doors-to-founders/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T13:20:23.000Z **Why it matters:** Innovation Labs Group says it is the most successful business and innovation support programme in Suffolk, and the new membership offer opens up its network of investment-readiness support and commercial introductions to more founders across the region. **The details:** According to the organisation, members of Innovation Labs and the Future Tech Programme have collectively: - Raised £5 million in investment - Secured £4 million in commercial contracts introduced through the Innovation Labs network - Received support for more than 1,000 businesses, 500 of them pro bono - Brought more than 100 digital innovations to life - Secured over 100 million impressions of PR coverage for early-stage businesses - Contributed an estimated £37,500 a year to Stowmarket's high street – an estimated £260,000 over the past seven years. Innovation Labs Group says these figures are cumulative across all its activity to date, including the Future Tech Programme. **What they're saying:** Peter Basford, co-founder of Innovation Labs Group, said: "We set out to prove that world-class innovation doesn't only happen in London or Cambridge – it can happen here in Stowmarket. Helping our members raise £5 million and supporting more than 1,000 businesses, half of them pro bono, shows what a genuine community of innovators can achieve. We could not be prouder of our members, and we're only getting started." Hermione Way, co-founder of Innovation Labs Group, added: "We've worked incredibly hard to put Stowmarket on the map as a focal point for innovation and entrepreneurship. From the coworking space to the investment-readiness support and the commercial introductions, everything we do is about giving founders here the same opportunities they'd find anywhere in the world. Stowmarket is gaining a reputation as the place where unicorns are born!" **For context:** Innovation Labs Group says its success is down to four things: a network of active innovators with practising industry experience, a comprehensive investment-readiness programme, commercial deal introductions, and deep roots in the region's tech ecosystem. Founders on the programme have fed back that it "played a key role in our investment readiness," that "guidance from experienced industry experts has been crucial," and that it "helped deliver the functionality necessary for commercialisation," according to the organisation. **The bigger picture:** The Group was founded in 2019 by Peter Brady, Hermione Way and Peter Basford, and says it has helped establish Stowmarket as a focal point for innovation and entrepreneurship in the East of England. It has thanked Suffolk County Council, Connected Innovation and Barclays Eagle Labs for their support of the Future Tech Programme. **The bottom line:** Innovation Labs Group is opening its doors to more Suffolk founders as it marks what it describes as a standout year, though the £5 million and £4 million figures cited are the organisation's own totals and have not been independently verified. For more information on the new free or discounted membership, contact [info@innovationlabsgroup.com](mailto:info@innovationlabsgroup.com). [Learn more](https://innovationlabsgroup.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£41 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council names chairs for £40m Pride in Place fund URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-names-chairs-for-40m-pride-in-place-fund/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T11:53:29.000Z **Why it matters:** Stoke Park and Whitehouse have received up to £20m through the government's Pride in Place programme. The two neighbourhood boards are now responsible for deciding how the money is spent locally over the next ten years. **The details:** The boards will bring together residents, community organisations, businesses and partners to ensure the investment delivers lasting benefits. The programme is designed to let communities develop their own shared vision for the funding. Lee Walker takes the chair in Stoke Park, while Jess March leads the board in Whitehouse. Each will now appoint the remaining board members, who will work with local stakeholders to identify priorities and support projects. Walker is chief executive of [Ipswich Central](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/ipswich-central/), the town's business improvement district, and grew up in the local area. He has previously led regeneration projects in the town centre and recently secured backing from businesses to continue Ipswich Central's work for a further five years. Jess March is a local resident and new parent who has been appointed to lead the Whitehouse board. **What they're saying:** Walker said: "Stoke Park isn't just the place where I live – it is home. Having grown up here and built my career helping places secure investment and deliver regeneration, I understand both the opportunities and the importance of ensuring local people are at the centre of decision making." March said: "I'm so honoured to be appointed Chair of the Whitehouse Neighbourhood Board. It's a community with some great green spaces, local amenities and people who care deeply about the area. As a local resident and new parent, I hope we can create a neighbourhood where people feel safe, connected and proud of where they live." Cllr [Neil MacDonald](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/neil-macdonald/), leader of Ipswich Borough Council, praised both appointments on how they "demonstrated a genuine commitment" to their communities, alongside "a clear vision for how local people can be at the heart of shaping the future of their neighbourhood." Cllr [George Lankester](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/george-lankester/), portfolio holder for communities, said the scheme was "designed to put power into the hands of local residents." He said both chairs brought valuable experience and "a passion for improving" the areas where they live. [Jack Abbott](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/jack-abbott/), MP for Ipswich, said Walker had "an outstanding track record of bringing people together, securing investment and delivering projects that make a real difference." [Patrick Spencer](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/patrick-spencer/), MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, called Whitehouse "a thriving and growing community with huge potential" and said he looked forward to working with March and the board. **For context:** Pride in Place is part of a national £5 billion scheme covering nearly 250 areas across the UK, with each selected neighbourhood receiving up to £20m over 10 years. The appointment of the chairs follows a recruitment drive earlier this year, when the council and Jack Abbott MP invited residents to apply for chair and board member roles, with no formal qualifications required. The first board meetings are due to begin on 13 August. **The bottom line:** With their chairs now in place, the two Pride in Place boards can begin recruiting the remaining members who will help decide how £40 million of government investment is spent across Stoke Park and Whitehouse over the next decade. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### NHS 'not fit for purpose' for men, says Ipswich charity boss URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/nhs-not-fit-for-purpose-for-men-says-ipswich-charity-boss/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T07:06:34.000Z **Why it matters:** Dan Somers, who founded MANUP? in 2019, says he receives hundreds of messages a month from men seeking support – and argues the system meant to help them is failing. "When it comes to mental health, \[the NHS\] is not fit for purpose for men – we need to overhaul everything," he said. **The details:** A council report published earlier this month found emergency hospital admissions for intentional self-harm among men rose by nearly 30% in Suffolk in the 2023/24 financial year. - The spike pushed Suffolk's admission rate significantly above the national average, having been lower than or on par with it since the 2010s. - The report said true numbers are likely even higher, as many men do not disclose self-harm due to stigma. **By the numbers:** Women are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital following self-harm, but men accounted for three out of every four registered suicide deaths. - Data from the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide, Homicide and Safety in Mental Health showed nearly half of all mental health patients had been in contact with services in the week before death. - The risks of self-harm and suicide are even higher for gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men. **What they're saying:** Somers said men were already reaching out for help in large numbers, despite public messaging suggesting otherwise. "Society wants men to talk, but I'm getting \[messages from\] hundreds of men every single month, showing that they're talking," he said. Somers said he had kept quiet about his own struggles after being "ghosted" by health services several years ago. "We always want men to talk, but if you really want a man to talk, you have to be prepared to listen to what he's saying," he said. Jon Neal, chief executive of Suffolk Mind, described the figures as "concerning" and said asking difficult questions directly could help save lives. "What is clear is that we are missing opportunities to ask people directly about suicide before tragedies occur," he said. "It may sound forward, but feeling able to ask someone 'are you having thoughts of suicide?' can be an incredibly important step should someone appear to feel trapped or alone with the problems they are facing." **The other side:** A Suffolk County Council spokesperson said the authority was working with partners to improve awareness, strengthen prevention and ensure support is accessible and responsive to men's needs. Eugene Staunton, a director at NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board (ICB), said the board would use the report to inform its plan. The ICB commissions several services, including Talking Therapy, which is open to self-referral, and is planning to expand its mental health schools teams to cover all Suffolk schools and colleges by April 2030. **The bottom line:** As self-harm admissions among men climb sharply in Suffolk, charity leaders say the real test is not whether men are willing to talk, but whether services are prepared to listen. If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, support is available via [Suffolk Mind's help directory](https://www.suffolkmind.org.uk/help-directory/?ref=ipswich.co.uk#emergency). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk business chiefs urge new PM: Back this county to grow UK URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-business-chiefs-urge-new-pm-back-this-county-to-grow-uk/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T07:06:12.000Z The Suffolk Business Board and its Norfolk counterpart wrote to Burnham on Monday, 20 July, congratulating him on his appointment and setting out what they describe as a "Joint Growth Proposition" for the two counties. The letter makes three specific requests of the new government. It calls for continued investment in nationally significant infrastructure, including the Bacton Energy Hub, the Port of Felixstowe and the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement scheme. It asks for stronger access to business finance, including through the British Business Bank's East of England Investment Fund. And it urges ministers to establish Norfolk and Suffolk as a national demonstrator region for innovation, building on assets such as Adastral Park and the Norwich Research Park. Lisa Perkins, chair of the Suffolk Business Board, said the government should "invest where Britain already has a competitive advantage". ℹ️ Established in May 2024, the ****Suffolk Business Board** succeeds the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and provides a unified voice for Suffolk's business community. It brings together leaders from key sectors, including agri-food, retail, technology, ports and logistics, and the visitor economy, with the aim of driving economic growth and innovation across the region. "Norfolk and Suffolk are home to world-class strengths in energy, food, digital technologies and global trade," she said. "With targeted government backing, our region can become a national demonstrator for innovation while helping to deliver the government's ambitions for growth while creating high-value jobs and attracting investment." The full letter has been published by the Suffolk Business Board and can be [read in full here](https://suffolkeconomy.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Letter-to-the-Prime-Minister-Suffolk-and-Norfolk-Business-Boards.pdf?ref=ipswich.co.uk). ## Suffolk's stake in the national picture The case rests heavily on the county's existing contribution to UK infrastructure. The Port of Felixstowe alone handles 44% of the UK's containerised freight, while Sizewell forms part of the region's nuclear generating capacity. Suffolk's ports and logistics sector, the letter notes, has employment 55% above the national average. Nick Steven-Jones, chair of the Norfolk Business Board, said the two boards were not asking government to start from nothing. "The prime minister has spoken about trusting places to shape their own future," he said. "Norfolk and Suffolk are ready for that challenge. We're not asking government to start from scratch, we're asking it to back strengths that already exist. With the right partnership, our region can make an even greater contribution to the UK's energy security, food resilience, innovation and long-term growth." The letter argues that few places in the UK combine energy infrastructure, research capability, digital connectivity and port access "within a single geography", and frames this convergence as the basis for a stronger partnership with Westminster. ## A test of "trusting places" Steven-Jones' language echoes a theme Burnham has returned to repeatedly since becoming Labour leader – that of devolving power and trust to regions rather than governing everything from Westminster. For Suffolk's business community, the letter is as much a test of that promise as it is a funding request. The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has gone further, calling on the new administration to press ahead with plans for a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering the county. In a statement issued alongside a joint letter with Norfolk Chambers, it warned that without one, Suffolk and Norfolk risk being "pushed to the back of the devolution queue", losing out on both funding and political voice. Whether Burnham's government follows through with the kind of local control his own rhetoric has championed remains to be seen. For now, Suffolk's business leaders are making clear they intend to hold him to it. ## A plea from the Chamber Not every voice was quite so unequivocal. The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce welcomed the change of government but struck a more measured tone, saying it would be "waiting eagerly" for Burnham's detailed economic policies to take shape. Its statement raised concerns that went beyond the Business Board's letter, warning that "the costs of living crisis is not separate from the costs of doing business one", and pointing to two years of quarterly surveys showing local companies, particularly smaller ones, struggling against high taxes, high energy prices and strained supply chains. [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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-d66b36be-290d-4569-92c8-6e1be15c57ad.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/dato-c7HhE-LtTGuvDmzP8y6QGg-1775140069363-7914b3af-03bf-441c-ac6c-f08ff6826fca.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-businesses-stuck-in-economic-holding-pattern/) The Chamber also pressed for faster investment in the Ely and Haughley rail junctions, continued funding for the A14 and its associated roads around Ipswich, and the A11 Five Ways junction. It called for reform, or wholesale replacement, of the business rates system, and urged the government to address the effects of reduced salary thresholds for employer National Insurance contributions introduced in the 2024 Budget. ## The bottom line Suffolk's business voices have moved quickly to shape the agenda of a government barely a day old, and their message is consistent even where their emphasis differs: the county already delivers for the UK, and it is now up to Westminster to decide whether it is willing to invest accordingly. With a prime minister who has built his career on the language of devolving power, Suffolk's business leaders will be watching closely to see whether that promise translates into policy – and funding – on the ground. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£95 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich Family Bank launches collection box drive for businesses URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-family-bank-launches-collection-box-drive-for-businesses/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T15:19:31.000Z **Why it matters:** Demand for food and household essentials has increased during the cost-of-living crisis, with the foodbank saying many everyday items have become unaffordable for the families it supports. **The details:** Ipswich Family Bank, founded in 2020, is a volunteer-led initiative supporting local people facing difficulties by providing food and other essential items throughout the year. It is now asking businesses across the town to host a small collection box in their office or staff room, with the boxes collected each month so businesses do not need to arrange drop-off themselves. Items requested include: pasta, long-life juice, nappies, toilet paper and shower gel. All food donations must be in-date and non-perishable. The tabletop boxes are designed to fit in most office and community spaces. **What they're saying:** Michelle Symonds, founder of Ipswich Family Bank, said: "We have been operating in Ipswich for six years and the people we support are at the heart of what we do. Now more than ever, with the cost of living becoming increasingly less sustainable, families are in need of simple items such as emergency food hampers, toiletries, cleaning products and other non-perishable goods. "We are so grateful for any donations to the foodbank. It immensely helps families and individuals who are struggling and any business who can take a collection box are supporting us in ways we can't describe." **For context:** Local communications agency PLMR East of England, which has been supporting the charity, will help organise the collection of the boxes each month. Tim Miller, managing director of PLMR East of England, said: "The Ipswich Family Bank has such a wonderful, hardworking and caring team who provide essential support to people in need. The cost of living crisis is putting increased pressure on families and individuals in the town and these donations are more important than ever. "We encourage every business in Ipswich, if they can, to take a collection box to donate food and essential items to Ipswich Family Bank. It will help more than you know." **The bottom line:** Hosting a box requires no more than a small space on a desk or in a staff room, with collections handled monthly, making it a simple way for Ipswich businesses to support families in need. [Find out more](https://ipswichfamilybank.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich staff help law firm smash £10k charity target URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-staff-help-law-firm-smash-10k-charity-target/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T07:04:03.000Z **Why it matters:** The money will support young people facing cancer and their families, helping fund research and care provided by the Colchester-based charity across the UK. **The details:** Colleagues across Ellisons' offices in Colchester, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, Frinton-on-Sea, Ipswich and Norwich took part in a year-long programme of fundraising activities for the firm's Charity of the Year campaign. Initiatives included: - A firm-wide 'Tea for Tom' event - Bake sales and dress-down days - Seasonal events including Easter activities, Christmas jumper days and Halloween dress-up - Pancake day and Valentine's sales - Wreath-making workshops and sound baths - Interactive office events, including fantasy football and a staff Christmas party game **What they're saying:** Ian Seeley, Partner and Chairman of Ellisons' Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, said: "This has shown what can be achieved when colleagues come together behind a shared cause. The level of engagement across the firm has been fantastic, and raising over £10,000 is a great result. We are proud to support the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation and the important work they do." Nikki Bowdidge, CEO of The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation, added: "We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Ellisons for their support. The funds raised, along with the awareness generated, will make a real difference to the young people and families we support across the UK. Support like this is vital in helping us continue funding research and providing essential care." **The bottom line:** A year of bake sales, dress-up days and wellness events has helped Ellisons raise vital funds and awareness for young people facing cancer, marking a successful close to the firm's Charity of the Year campaign. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Man guilty of murdering friend after vodka-fuelled attack URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-guilty-of-murdering-friend-after-vodka-fuelled-attack/ Last updated: 2026-07-21T15:54:06.000Z **Why it matters:** The verdict brings to a close a seven-month investigation into the death of Akatjevas, who was found dead at the College Street property on the morning of Tuesday, 23 December 2025. **The details:** Police were called at 11:37 on Tuesday, 23 December 2025, to reports that a man had been found dead within the property. The ambulance service attended, but Akatjevas was declared deceased at the scene. A Home Office post-mortem examination indicated he died as a result of injuries to his head. Maliusis, of Recorder Road, Norwich, was arrested at the scene alongside a 41-year-old woman, and both were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. Maliusis was subsequently charged with murder. The woman, now aged 42, was told in February that she would face no further action. **What happened:** The court heard that Maliusis called police on 23 December to report that his friend was dead inside the property. He told attending officers that he had been attacked by Akatjevas the previous day and that he had hit him back twice, but said "there was no way my punches could have killed him". ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/485757411_2683307871868404_5917859770936486217_n-1.jpg) Maliusis posing outside (Photo: Facebook) A witness who was inside the property when the altercation occurred told the court that after the group had been drinking vodka together, Akatjevas started to act erratically and wanted them to leave. She described how the two men had been play-fighting earlier in the evening, but things turned more aggressive, during which she herself was pushed over by Akatjevas. Following this, Maliusis became enraged and attacked Akatjevas, punching him to the ground and then repeatedly punching him in the face for around five minutes, the witness said. The pair left the scene before returning the next morning so that Maliusis could look for a mobile phone he had left behind. After finding Akatjevas unresponsive on the floor in the same position he had left him in, Maliusis called emergency services. **The bottom line:** Seven months after Ilja Akatjevas was found dead in a College Street property, a jury has found his friend Arvydas Maliusis guilty of his murder. Maliusis was remanded in custody by the court and will return on 6 August for sentencing. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'I felt victim-blamed': Bin man walks in on topless woman in her own home for second time URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/i-felt-victim-blamed-bin-man-walks-in-on-topless-woman-in-her-own-home-for-second-time/ Last updated: 2026-07-21T19:06:42.000Z **Why it matters:** Jasmine, who lives with a mental health disorder, said the incident has left her traumatised. She said she has experienced anxiety attacks following the incident, and has not felt safe in her own home since. **The details:** On Thursday, 9 July, a council employee entered her home without permission, saw her undressed, and left without a word – and that this is the second time it has happened at the same property. The incident happened at around 07:30\. Jasmine says a waste collection officer walked into her flat, took two or three steps inside, and looked straight at her before she screamed. He then left immediately, with no words exchanged and no apology given. At the time, Jasmine did not realise the man was a council employee – she says all she saw was a man in orange hi-vis, and it wasn't until the incident had settled that she remembered it was bin day. She only had it confirmed that he was a council employee when the council visited her afterwards. According to Jasmine, the officer told the council he could not get through the gates to the property and walked in because he thought it was an office. He reported the incident to the council immediately on his return to the depot. The council then sent two staff members to see Jasmine, who she says "spent the whole time saying how mortified the bin man was", but stopped short of what she felt was a sincere apology. She says she was told the property wasn't clearly marked as residential and that she should get a bigger door number – something she felt amounted to victim-blaming. **What they're saying:** "Since this incident, I've been left feeling dismissed by the council and their approach to what has happened twice now, at my home, by their employees," Jasmine said. She says she accepts the incident was a mistake with no malicious intent, but feels the council has not taken it seriously, characterising its attitude as "he's apologised so that's that". **The other side:** We contacted Ipswich Borough Council for comment on Thursday, 16 July, whose press office urged us not to publish the story. We explained Jasmine's position and suggested that the council use the next few days to issue an apology that reflected the seriousness of the incident and reassured her that it would not happen again, but the council did not take that opportunity. **For context:** Jasmine says this is the second time a council employee has walked into the property without permission. The first incident happened on 5 October 2023, when she says the same explanation was given. **The bottom line:** Jasmine says she accepts the incident was an honest mistake, but feels dismissed by a council that had the chance to reassure her with a genuine apology before this story ran – but chose not to. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Leaked report exposes depth of East Suffolk's bin crisis URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/leaked-report-exposes-depth-of-east-suffolks-bin-crisis/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T15:09:26.000Z The update, sent by Strategic Director Kerry Blair to councillors on 17 July 2026, sets out collection performance across the week of 14 to 17 July. ## What the leaked data shows Across all waste streams, 224,587 of 270,623 planned collections were completed that week — an overall rate of 83.0%, with 45,936 collections missed. Tuesday, 14 July, was the worst-performing day, accounting for 42.5% of all missed collections that week, with only 66.0% of scheduled collections completed. Food waste fared worst of all, averaging just 73.1% completion across the four days, dipping as low as 54.7% on Tuesday. Paper and card fared best, averaging 93.5%, while residual (general) waste averaged 81.8%. By Friday, 17 July, performance had climbed to 91.4% across all rounds — the improvement Mr Blair's update refers to. Even so, that would mean roughly one in twelve bins still went uncollected on what the council itself describes as its best day of the week. In his email, Mr Blair acknowledged the scale of the problem. "This isn't the improvement on last week that we wanted to see, and you'll see that Tuesday was a particularly bad day," he wrote, attributing it "in part" to "issues with routing and use of the in-cab system drivers use to follow rounds." He added: "While urban route performance has improved in a number of areas since the introduction of the new service, there remain unacceptable levels of missed collections and delays in some locations, particularly in rural areas and at properties where access is more challenging. We recognise the frustration this is causing residents and Members." ## Below the standard Analysis of the figures against published guidance suggests East Suffolk's performance sits well below both statutory expectations and comparable councils. Defra guidance calls for consistent weekly collection of residual waste and food waste, with missed collections rectified within two working days. Against that standard, East Suffolk completed only 83% of planned collections that week, with food waste averaging 73.1% and no published timeline for clearing the backlog. Industry benchmarks published by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management typically expect councils to achieve at least 98% collection completion, with fewer than 2% of collections missed in any given week. East Suffolk's 17% missed-collection rate for the week is roughly eight times higher than that benchmark. Neighbouring authorities, including Babergh, Mid Suffolk and Waveney, are understood to typically report weekly completion rates of between 97% and 99% — suggesting East Suffolk may be performing between 14 and 16 percentage points worse than comparable district councils, though the council has not been asked to confirm or dispute this figure directly. The council's own pre-launch messaging promised residents a "reliable, consistent service" with "minimal disruption" during the rollout. Nearly two months on, the leaked data shows persistent multi-week delays, with rural areas and hard-to-reach properties disproportionately affected. ℹ️ If you're wondering why Ipswich.co.uk is covering East Suffolk Council, it's because East Suffolk Council covers Kesgrave, Martlesham, Purdis Farm, Rushmere St Andrew and parts of Fynn Valley – all of which are within our patch. ## Recovery plans and rising costs Mr Blair's update outlines a series of measures intended to stabilise the service, including additional driver capacity, new arrangements with the council's agency staffing provider, continued recruitment, and extended vehicle lease arrangements to secure sufficient fleet capacity. Daily monitoring of performance and route completion rates has also been introduced "to identify issues more quickly and intervene earlier." To tackle the backlog, East Suffolk Services Ltd (ESSL), which delivers the service on the council's behalf, deployed four recovery crews on Saturday and eleven crews on Monday — a day not normally used for collections. Notably, a copy of the update seen by this publication carries handwritten annotations, questioning several of the council's claims. Beside the reference to Monday working, one note asks: "Why not before?" A similar question is repeated beside the announcement that rural collection routes are now under urgent review. Other annotations query the cost implications of the additional driver capacity and agency arrangements. Mr Blair's update states that a formal recovery plan is "currently being drafted" with ESSL, bringing together "the range of operational, workforce, route-planning and system improvement actions that are underway," with further announcements expected "next week." But speaking to this publication, Cllr Ewart said: "As each week goes by, this seems to get worse and worse. I'm dismayed by the number of residents throughout East Suffolk directly contacting me with their stories of failure." According to Cllr Ewart, concerns raised with her include drivers being asked to stand on the back of collection vehicles to gauge weight or capacity manually, and food waste and residual routing being managed using artificial intelligence software based in Germany — two of eight factors that this publication has been told are contributing to the botched rollout of the scheme. Cllr Ewart was also critical of the council's political leadership. "So far into this, I'm worn out with being expected to swallow the excuses," she said. "I've not heard a single word — that I've seen — from the leader, Caroline Topping. That one word that might have helped would have been, 'We're sorry for failing so many residents.' This is just one of the challenging services that this council provides. On this occasion, it impacts more residents than planning." ## A governance question, too The performance data has landed against the backdrop of a broader campaign by Cllr Julia Ewart — Suffolk County Council's Scrutiny Chair, County Councillor for Saxmundham & District and District Councillor for Kelsale & Yoxford — to force a change in East Suffolk Council's leadership. On 16 July, as reported by this publication, Cllr Ewart wrote to chief executive Chris Bally proposing a "Transitional Cross-Party Administration," arguing that the GLi Group Cabinet was "running out of road" and no longer commanded a secure working majority. [Bin rollout woes fuel calls for East Suffolk council shake-upSeven weeks into a troubled recycling rollout, and with residents reportedly threatening legal action, a senior councillor says East Suffolk Council’s governance – not just its bins – is now in question.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-86ccab92-48e7-4001-814c-d100ee69dfa6.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--43--93d48a0c-3fcf-4bd7-be0e-3974b8c19306.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bin-rollout-woes-fuel-calls-for-east-suffolk-council-shake-up/) A further letter, dated 17 July and seen by this publication, is addressed to the council's Monitoring Officer, Chris Bing, and takes the campaign in a new direction — from politics towards statutory governance oversight. In the letter, Cllr Ewart invokes section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which places a personal statutory duty on a council's Monitoring Officer to report where a proposal, decision or omission has given rise to, or is likely to give rise to, unlawfulness or maladministration. She notes that East Suffolk Council currently operates without an outright majority in any political group, with Full Council reliant on the Chairman's ordinary and, where necessary, casting vote. That arrangement, she writes, "does not, in itself, represent poor governance," but "increases the importance of rigorous professional advice, robust challenge from statutory officers and careful identification of operational and reputational risks before significant decisions are implemented." She cites the Better Recycling rollout as a "current example," writing that "the relevant governance question is whether these operational, reputational and public confidence risks were properly anticipated and escalated before implementation." The letter poses eight questions to the Monitoring Officer, including whether governance risks arising from the council's political arrangements have been formally assessed, what assurance reports have been received from ESSL regarding the rollout, and what governance lessons the scale of public concern might demand. Cllr Ewart concludes: "Public confidence depends not merely upon governance arrangements existing on paper, but upon those arrangements operating effectively, particularly during periods of political uncertainty or significant service change." ## The other side A spokesperson for East Suffolk Council said: "We are continuing to make every effort to resolve issues affecting waste collection following the roll-out of the Better Recycling scheme. "We understand the frustration of residents who have experienced missed bin collections, and we apologise for the inconvenience this has caused. We are also aware that these issues have, since the changes were implemented, had a recurring knock-on effect for some residents. "The disruption is the result of a combination of operational challenges, including mechanical and hydraulic adjustments to new food waste collection vehicles, adaptation to entirely new rounds and routes, and operative-staff sickness. In addition, the recent hot weather has impacted the completion of rounds. "While the majority of residents are receiving a good service, particularly for wheeled bin collections, our crews are working hard to recover missed bins, resolve issues on rounds, and return services to the usual consistent standard our residents expect. "Once again, we want to thank residents for their patience and understanding. The Council and East Suffolk Services Limited are working as hard as possible to resolve these initial issues, and every single member of staff is doing their very best on behalf of residents." Residents can check for updates in their area via the [council's mobile app](https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/your-council/east-suffolk-app?ref=ipswich.co.uk). The council did not directly address the governance letter to its Monitoring Officer, nor the specific claims relating to vehicle weight capacity or AI-managed routing, in its response. Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Ashton previously told this publication, in response to Cllr Ewart's earlier letter to Mr Bally, that the council had "a comprehensive action plan in place" and that "the outstanding issues surrounding Better Recycling are of an operational nature that will not be resolved by changes to the composition of the Cabinet." ## The bottom line Seven weeks into the Better Recycling rollout, East Suffolk Council's own data shows the service still falling well short of the standard residents were promised — and, on early indications, also well short of national benchmarks, too. However, this is no longer only a story about bins, but about how East Suffolk is governed, and by whom. We expect it to continue developing in the build-up to the next Full Council meeting at East Suffolk House this Wednesday. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£122 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Old hospital laptops given new purpose helping young pupils URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/old-hospital-laptops-given-new-purpose-helping-young-pupils/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T08:25:52.000Z **Why it matters:** Rather than being recycled, 78 retired laptops from East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) have been refurbished and donated to four local primary schools, giving pupils who might otherwise lack access to technology a boost. **The details:** Castle Hill Primary School, The Beeches Primary School, St Helens Primary School and Leiston Primary School have each received ten Grade A HP Certified Partner Refurbished laptops, supplied with a one-year warranty. - The scheme is a partnership between ESNEFT, HP HOPE – HP's global device donation programme – and Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity. - HP HOPE extends the useful life of technology through secure collection, certified data wiping, refurbishment and redeployment. - The idea came from Jane Mathias, IT Business Support Manager at ESNEFT, working with colleague Terry Ovenall. - This is the first time HP HOPE has partnered with an NHS trust and NHS charity to place laptops directly into schools. **What they're saying:** John Mcmillan, Associate Director of IT at ASSET Academy, which runs Castle Hill Primary School, said: "These laptops will make a genuine difference to our pupils. They will help our Year 4, 5 and 6 children build the digital confidence and skills they need before starting high school, while also ensuring more children have access to technology during the school day. "We are particularly excited about the opportunities they create for pupils with special educational needs, where assistive technologies such as speech-to-text software can remove barriers to learning and help every child reach their potential. We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved for making this possible." Jane Mathias, from ESNEFT's Digital Services team, said: "Technology plays a vital role in delivering healthcare, but many of our laptops reach the end of their service within the NHS as they no longer meet operational standards. Working with HP HOPE has enabled us to securely erase all data, professionally refurbish the devices and give them a new purpose. It's incredibly rewarding to know that equipment which has supported patient care will now help children develop the digital skills they'll need throughout their education and beyond." Terry Ovenall, also from ESNEFT's Digital Services team, said: "This partnership shows what's possible when organisations work together with a shared purpose. Every laptop has been securely processed and refurbished to the highest standards before being passed on to local schools. Supporting the HP HOPE programme means we're not only reducing electronic waste but also helping tackle digital exclusion by putting quality technology into the hands of young people who need it most." Mandy Jordan, Associate Director of Charity at Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, said: "This partnership is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when businesses, the NHS and charities come together to support local communities. Every one of these laptops has already played an important role in supporting patient care, and now they are beginning a new chapter helping children develop the digital skills they need for the future. By working with HP HOPE and our colleagues at ESNEFT, we're reducing waste, supporting sustainability and, most importantly, helping ensure more children have access to the technology they need to learn, grow and thrive. Together, we really are making a difference." **For context:** This is not the first phase of the scheme. Previously, 75 refurbished laptops were donated to YMCA digital inclusion hubs, supporting people who otherwise had limited access to technology. In total, 153 laptops have now been redeployed through the partnership. **The bottom line:** What began as surplus NHS equipment destined for recycling is now sitting on desks in Suffolk classrooms, cutting electronic waste while giving pupils – including those with special educational needs – a route to digital skills they might not otherwise have had. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Kingsfleet expansion to boost finance apprenticeships URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/kingsfleet-expansion-to-boost-finance-apprenticeships/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T10:17:40.000Z **Why it matters:** Kingsfleet has relocated to Deben House at Opus Park in Claydon, increasing its office space by 50% – from 1,200 sq ft to 1,800 sq ft – and is focusing on bringing new apprentices into the financial services sector as part of its growth strategy. **The details:** The new premises offer improved facilities for both clients and staff, including three meeting rooms, kitchen facilities and disabled access. The move follows the recent opening of Kingsfleet's office in Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, as the company continues to strengthen its presence across Suffolk. Alongside the expansion, Kingsfleet has placed a strong focus on supporting the next generation entering the financial services sector, with apprenticeship recruitment reflecting its wider commitment to education, learning and long-term growth. **What they're saying:** Colin Low, Managing Director, said: "Moving into a larger office is an important step for Kingsfleet and reflects the strong growth of the business over recent years. We wanted to create a space that works better for both our clients and our team, with room to continue developing in the future." He added: "Education and learning have always been central to what we do at Kingsfleet, both for our clients and our team, so naming the new office Deben House felt like a natural fit and a reminder of those values as we continue to grow." The name also carries personal significance for Low: "The name Deben House also has a personal connection for me. Deben High School played an important role in my own journey, while Kingsfleet was the name of my primary school and ultimately inspired the name of the business itself." **The bigger picture:** Kingsfleet holds a range of accreditations, including Chartered Financial Planner status with the Chartered Insurance Institute, SIFA Trusted Adviser status and a Gold Standard Award for Independent Financial Advice. The firm is also certified as a B Corp, is Cyber Essentials Certified, and has signed both the Menopause Workplace Pledge and the Gender Equality in Business Pledge from the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. **The bottom line:** As Kingsfleet grows its footprint across Suffolk, its investment in apprenticeships signals a firm looking to build the next generation of talent alongside its expanding client base. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk choir Pop Chorus wins national prize URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-choir-pop-chorus-wins-national-prize/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T07:12:18.000Z **Why it matters:** The win comes as Pop Chorus prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary, with the prize money set to fund a concert tour of Suffolk, a new podcast project spotlighting members, and an expansion of its singing sessions in care settings. **The details:** The competition, run by travel insurer Staysure as part of its Dream Big campaign, invited choirs to reimagine the 'tongue-in-cheek' soundtrack from the brand's advertising campaign, "Where the Sun Don't Shine". The campaign challenges stereotypes around ageing and celebrates the energy and ambition of older people. Pop Chorus was named one of six national finalists before the public vote decided the winner. Close Shave Chorus and The B&L Collective Choir were runners-up. **What they're saying:** Choir director Yula Andrews, from Framlingham, said: "We are stunned and over the moon to have won £20,000 in the Staysure #DreamBig choir competition, having gained over 3,000 votes from the public. "Our singers enthusiastically embraced the song's message, which challenges misconceptions about getting older. This really resonated with us – I think Pop Chorus members are all determined to grow old disgracefully! "Hundreds of singers took part in the nationwide competition, and the other finalists were fabulous. It just goes to show that community singing is thriving in the UK, and today's over 50s are living their best lives." A Staysure spokesperson said: "As a brand, we champion the idea that there should be no limitations placed on people as they age. We have been overwhelmed by the quality of entries from across the country. As well as the joy and camaraderie that being part of a choir brings, we also recognise the many wellbeing benefits that singing can offer." **The bigger picture:** Founded in Suffolk in 2012 with eight singers, Pop Chorus has grown to more than 400 members across eight groups. The choir regularly works with local charities and was recently highly commended in the BBC Make A Difference Awards. **The bottom line:** A national win caps a standout year for Pop Chorus, with the prize money set to fund celebrations, new projects and wider community outreach across Suffolk. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Local logistics firm buys Express Prep in latest deal URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-logistics-firm-buys-express-prep-in-latest-deal/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T07:15:12.000Z **Why it matters:** The deal marks another step in Raptor's shift from leasing warehouse space to growing through acquisitions, following its purchase of D&M Logistic Solutions last year. **The details:** Raptor completed the acquisition of Express Prep on 11 June, buying the company's assets and client base through an Asset Purchase Agreement. - Express Prep's stock has been transferred from its former site in Calne, near Swindon, to Raptor's sites in Ipswich and Stowmarket, and the Calne site has now closed. - Raptor also acquired Express Prep's digital assets as part of the deal. The brand and website will continue to operate, but as a sales funnel for the wider group rather than as an independent trading company. - Fred Benfield, co-founder of We Prep, described it as a "multiple six-figure deal" – smaller than the D&M acquisition, but completed within a week of Shane Gould, Express Prep's former owner, first making contact. - Most of the transferred clients are being handled by We Prep E-commerce Logistics & Fulfilment, though work is being split across the wider Raptor Logistics Group, which also includes We Ship Global Forwarding and D&M Logistic Solutions, depending on the services each client needs. - Raptor says the deal has brought a "multiple six-figure" increase in revenue, with all clients and stock already successfully onboarded. **What they're saying:** Fred Benfield said: "Delighted to get another acquisition under our belt for the Raptor Logistics Group. The best part for me is the excitement we get from our teams across the different companies. Everyone is very onboard with it and works super hard going above and beyond for our existing customer base and new customers are onboarded with minimal disruption." Shane Gould said: "I'm very pleased to be handing the reins over to the Raptor Logistics Group, Express Prep customers are now in safe hands and I'm sure will take them to the next level." Anne-Marie Kewley, We Prep's general manager, said she was excited to work with "innovative new brands" that have come with the deal, naming Brick Me, GF Yourself and Wild Source as "exactly the sort of brands we want to partner with and scale." She added: "These brands have bespoke requirements and our team are already smashing it." Brick Me, one of the new clients transferred from Express Prep, is based in Melbourne, Australia. It lets customers turn photos into brick mosaics through an app, ordering the design as a kit with parts and instructions. **For context:** Raptor Logistics Group, headquartered at Raptor House in Stowmarket, has grown rapidly since Fred Benfield founded We Prep from his dining room table in Trimley St Martin in 2019\. The group acquired 75,000 sq ft warehouse operator D&M Logistic Solutions in Ipswich last year, its first move from leasing space to buying competitors. [We Prep – it started with a single box, now it’s 100,000 sq ftFred Benfield admits he got a little carried away. What began as a “bit of fun” at his dining room table in Felixstowe six years ago has grown into a £5 million logistics operation spanning 100,000 square feet across three Suffolk sites.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-96558013-937b-4d26-abb7-17c237e04d14.png)Ipswich.co.ukMatt Stott![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1761221664-we-prep-fred-benfield-and-arthur-horrigan-jpeg-d9bf8f80-6e0b-4094-8684-8e5df1a7f58d.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/we-prep-it-started-with-a-single-box-now-its-100k-sq-ft/) **The bottom line:** Raptor's second acquisition in under a year adds new clients and revenue to its Ipswich and Stowmarket operations, with Express Prep's former Calne site now closed. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk marks 24 years of Junior Road Safety Officers URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-marks-24-years-of-junior-road-safety-officers/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T07:10:40.000Z **Why it matters:** The awards recognised the work of young road safety ambassadors who have spent the academic year promoting safer travel within their schools and communities. **The details:** Now in its 24th year, the JRSO scheme saw 80 primary schools take part this year. Pupils organised competitions, delivered assemblies, produced newsletters and created social media campaigns to spread road safety messages. **The big picture:** Schools also built partnerships with a range of organisations to make this year's projects "particularly innovative". JRSOs worked alongside Community Speed Watch groups, construction companies, the British Horse Society, local farmers, an Olympic cyclist and members of the deaf community to learn about different road users and promote safer behaviour. **For context:** JRSOs are pupils from year 4 and above who take on the role within their school, supported by a named adult contact. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Chris Hudson](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/christopher-hudson/), Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, attended the ceremony and congratulated pupils on their "hard work, creativity and dedication". "The work these pupils have done – from assemblies and newsletters to social media campaigns and community partnerships – shows just how much young people can achieve when they are given the opportunity to make a difference," he said. "Road safety matters to all of us, and it is incredibly encouraging to see the next generation taking it so seriously. I want to congratulate every JRSO, their teachers, and their schools on a fantastic year." Holly Jacobs, senior road safety officer and JRSO coordinator for Suffolk County Council, said: "I am incredibly proud that the Junior Road Safety Officer Scheme is still thriving after 24 years. "Its continued success is thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of the schools, staff and pupils who have embraced the programme and championed road safety in their communities. "A big thank you to everyone who has played a part in making this important initiative a success." **The bottom line:** The scheme, now in its 24th year, saw 80 primary schools take part this year, with pupils working alongside Community Speed Watch groups, construction companies and other local partners. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Your chance to pose questions to your MP – Ipswich meetings announced URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/your-chance-to-grill-your-mp-ipswich-meetings-announced/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T15:18:06.000Z **Why it matters:** The meetings offer residents a direct route to raise issues affecting them, their neighbours and their community with their local MP. **The details:** The drop-in sessions will be held across four areas of the town between July and August: - North East Ipswich – Thursday, 30 July, 17:30-19:00 - South West Ipswich – Friday, 31 July, 15:30-17:00 - Central Ipswich – Wednesday, 12 August, 17:30-19:00 - South East Ipswich – Wednesday, 19 August, 17:30-19:00 Local councillors and support agencies will also be on hand at each event. **What's next:** Residents wishing to attend their local meeting should email [jack.abbott.mp@parliament.uk](mailto:jack.abbott.mp@parliament.uk) to confirm a place, after which venue details will be shared. **The bottom line:** The meetings give Ipswich residents a direct opportunity to raise the issues that matter most to them with their MP over the coming weeks. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### MP Patrick Spencer cleared of sexual assault charges URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/mp-patrick-spencer-cleared-of-sexual-assault-charges/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T17:47:55.000Z **Why it matters:** Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, had faced allegations that could have cost him his seat had he been convicted. The jury's unanimous decision on both counts brings the case to a close. **The details:** The charges related to an incident at London's Groucho Club on 12 August 2023, where two women alleged Spencer had approached them from behind and touched their breasts without consent. Spencer denied both charges throughout the trial, telling the court he had not intentionally touched either woman and that there had been no sexual intent behind his actions. Jurors retired to consider their verdicts on 16 July and returned not guilty verdicts on both counts on 17 July, after the judge, Mr Justice Neil Garnham, offered them the option of a majority verdict. **Background:** Spencer, 38, was elected as the Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in July 2024\. He was charged by the Metropolitan Police in May 2025, at which point the Conservative Party withdrew the whip. He has since sat as an Independent MP. He entered a not guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 June 2025. During the trial, the BBC reported that Spencer told police the incident had been a "moment of complete stupidity" and that his behaviour had "looked terrible," while maintaining he had not acted with sexual intent. His wife, Anna, gave evidence describing him as "kind, gentle and compassionate." **What's next:** With the acquittal, Spencer retains his seat and no recall process will be triggered. It is not known if he will be handed back the whip from the Conservative party. **The bottom line:** After a four-day trial examining an alleged incident at a London club nearly three years ago, a jury has cleared Patrick Spencer of both counts of sexual assault. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Bus plan branded 'dystopian' as councillors clash on cost URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bus-plan-branded-dystopian-as-councillors-clash-on-cost/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T14:55:51.000Z **Why it matters:** Two in five Suffolk parishes have no bus service to their nearest town during commuter hours, according to the council's own data, and a plan to map out how to fix that has now been voted down. **The details:** The Green Party group, Suffolk County Council's official opposition, brought a motion calling for a goal of a minimum five-day-a-week bus service for every parish in the county. The motion was successfully amended by the Conservatives before going to a vote. As amended, it called for a cross-party policy development panel to be set up to produce, within six months: - An assessment of how much further funding would be needed to achieve a minimum universal bus service for Suffolk - A costed priority list of bus routes for investment, alongside a timeframe for spending money remaining from the council's most recent Government bus funding allocation The motion was turned down with 33 votes to 24. **By the numbers:** The Green Party said council data shows 189 of Suffolk's 479 parishes have no bus service to the nearest town during commuting hours. Census figures show one in six Suffolk households have no access to a car. **What they're saying:** Cllr Robert Lindsay, the Green group's spokesman for Transport and Highways, who tabled the original motion, pointed to a minibus route between Hadleigh and Stowmarket – secured after a two-year campaign and running since April – as evidence of what investment could achieve. He said the route had "changed the lives" of people between the two towns, including one elderly woman living alone who was now able to visit friends and take up swimming. Cllr Joe Mason said the plans were not "asking for a blank cheque", but a fully costed plan demonstrating the council's ambition. Several Green and Conservative councillors argued that a fully costed plan would strengthen the council's hand when lobbying the Government for further funding. **The other side:** Cllr Patti Mulcahy, Suffolk County Council's deputy lead for highways and community infrastructure, said the proposals were something out of a Harry Potter book or a "dystopian world where council funding is unlimited". She said: "In the real world, dreams and wishes do not address the current needs facing the residents of Suffolk." Cllr Simon Aalders said the motion would tie the council into "long-term costs of having empty buses chugging around the countryside". The Reform administration, which holds the majority of votes in the council chamber, argued suitable structures were already in place to address bus-related issues. **For context:** The Government has set aside funding and created new powers allowing local transport authorities such as Suffolk to franchise their own buses, setting fares and timetables themselves rather than subsidising existing operators. The motion's text noted this comes on top of a recent £27 million grant from the Department for Transport. [Suffolk gets £26.8m bus boost but details remain unclearSuffolk has secured a significant funding increase for its bus network – more than doubling from £11.6 million over the past three years to £26.8 million over the next three. But the county council cannot yet guarantee service continuations or confirm fare reductions.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-64dc8531-9838-4021-b2fe-94a1672aa72d.png)Ipswich.co.ukMatt Stott![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1761734254-ipswich-buses-bus-on-valley-road-4efbfe0e-d39e-43d3-bfc3-8cf01126d2e4.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-gets-bus-funding-boost-but-details-unclear/) **The bottom line:** Despite opposition councillors stressing the motion committed no actual spending, Suffolk's Reform administration has rejected calls to assess the cost of a minimum bus service for every parish, leaving the future of transport links to underserved villages undecided. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich businesses back BID for another five years URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-businesses-back-bid-for-another-five-years/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T13:07:14.000Z **Why it matters:** The result guarantees continued funding for town centre safety patrols, events, marketing and business support – work that would otherwise have ceased entirely had the ballot failed. **The details:** The ballot, which closed with a turnout of 63%, delivered decisive backing for Ipswich Central. - 91% of businesses voted in favour by number - 94% voted in favour by rateable value - Both figures comfortably exceeded the statutory thresholds required to pass, securing an absolute majority across both measures The new term will run from 1 April 2027 until 31 March 2032, following on from the current five-year term, which ends 31 March 2027. **What they're saying:** Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said: "This result means an enormous amount to all of us. We know this is one of the most challenging trading environments many businesses have ever experienced. Costs continue to rise and every pound matters." He added: "I'd like to thank every business that took the time to vote, whether they voted for us or against us. Every vote and every business matters. We will continue to represent the interests of the whole town centre and to listen carefully to feedback as we shape the next five years together." Steve Flory, chair of Ipswich Central, said: "Achieving an absolute majority by both number and rateable value demonstrates clear, broad-based support from across our business community, from independent traders to larger organisations." **The bigger picture:** Ipswich Central has operated as the town's BID for nearly 20 years, funding initiatives including additional town centre patrols tackling anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, business safety schemes, high-profile events and marketing campaigns. While the BID has had its critics in the past, much of that criticism has vanished following Walker's appointment as CEO around two years ago. As Ipswich.co.uk reported ahead of the ballot, a third of the BID's entire budget goes on safety and security, including its My Local Bobby team, while the organisation has also backed civic projects such as the Stoke Bridge restoration and events including Brighten the Corners and the Welcome Home Ed campaign during Ed Sheeran's homecoming concerts. [The ballot that will shape Ipswich for the next five years and beyondIn the coming weeks, hundreds of Ipswich businesses will decide whether Ipswich’s Business Improvement District (BID) lives or dies. What hangs on that decision is far bigger than many people realise.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-6fedb651-40ce-46c8-beb0-26fd1cd43c3d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2026-05-31-at-22.15.43-1-c7cceab6-2c47-4884-8be4-49ff6c9d724e.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-ballot-that-will-shape-ipswich-for-next-five-years-and-beyond/) **What's next:** Over the new five-year term, Ipswich Central says it will invest in enhanced town centre safety measures, including additional patrols and partnership working with police and local authorities, expanded marketing and events programmes, direct business support, and projects aimed at strengthening Ipswich's reputation as Suffolk's county town. Melanie Willis, communications manager at Ipswich Central, said: "This result allows us the opportunity to continue telling the story of Ipswich in a positive, authentic and ambitious way." **The bottom line:** With statutory thresholds comfortably exceeded on both counts, Ipswich Central has secured the mandate – and the funding – to continue its town centre work until 2032. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk survivor's campaign to reform abuse order law URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-survivors-campaign-to-reform-abuse-order-law/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T08:47:45.000Z Charlotte Holtum's ex-partner has convictions for stalking her, breaching a non-molestation order, and forcing entry by battery, as well as a historical conviction for abuse, and is currently subject to a suspended sentence. Yet when the protective order keeping her safe was due to expire, Charlotte still had to prove, all over again, that she needed it. ## A protection that had to be fought for twice A non-molestation order was first granted to Charlotte in May 2025, without notice, due to the severity of the abuse and the risk to her safety. In June 2025, the court granted a further sealed order lasting 12 months from when the original order was made, as the respondent had the legal right to contest the original order. Despite the existing convictions, Charlotte remained responsible for proving to the court that the order should continue when it came up for extension. A restraining order had also been imposed following the abuser's convictions, but it did not cover all of the behaviours the abuser had shown, and it too will need to be extended when its 18 months expires. "There should be a simpler, victim-centred process," Charlotte said. "Where an offender has been convicted of breaching a non-molestation order or related offences, an application to extend the order should, as a general rule, proceed automatically. Victims should not be forced to repeatedly relive their trauma in court simply to maintain protections that have already been proven necessary." In May 2026, Charlotte had to reapply for the extension, submit fresh evidence, and attend another hearing. The abuser did not attend court, but an email setting out their reasons for opposing the extension was read aloud and accepted. The court ultimately granted the extension, though some provisions were removed where they overlapped with the restraining order. Charlotte now has both orders in place, providing what she describes as complementary protection. ## Reliving the trauma in court For Charlotte, the process itself was as challenging as the outcome was necessary. "Applying to extend a non-molestation order is not a simple process," she said. "I had to complete a detailed application form, submit it to the court, provide supporting evidence, and then anxiously wait for a hearing." "The hearing itself was traumatic. I had to listen as the judge read aloud \[the abuser's\] statement, despite \[them\] not attending court. Hearing \[their\] words triggered my PTSD and heightened my anxiety. Every court hearing takes me back to one of the darkest periods of my life. I find the process overwhelming, and it often leads to panic attacks. Having to openly recount the abuse I suffered and explain why I still needed protection was incredibly distressing." Charlotte said the judge was initially reluctant to extend the order, and that it was only after she described an incident in which police were unable to act because the behaviour was not specifically covered by the existing order that its necessity became clear. "The court ultimately granted the extension for a further year, but I had to fight for that protection every step of the way," she said. "No victim should feel as though they are the one on trial simply for asking to remain safe." ## What the law says Non-molestation orders are civil injunctions designed to protect a person and any children from an abusive or harassing partner, ex-partner, or family member. They can prohibit violence, threats, intimidation and contact, and can also require an abuser to stay away from a person's home, workplace or their children's school. Applicants must complete a witness statement and the relevant court form, and orders are typically granted for six to 12 months, though they can be extended if the risk continues. In urgent cases, a court can grant an order "without notice" to the respondent, with a later "return hearing" so they can present their case. Breaching a non-molestation order is a criminal offence, carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison. It is this gap – between an abuser already being convicted of breaching an order, and a survivor still being required to justify why it should continue – that Charlotte's campaign is aimed at closing. ## A campaign gaining momentum Charlotte launched her petition, [Automatic extension for Non-Molestation order when it is breached](https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/770114?ref=ed%5Fdirect), calling on the Government to make extensions automatic where a breach or related conviction has already been proven. At the time of publishing, it had reached 3,591 signatures. Her ambition goes well beyond the numbers required to trigger a government response or a parliamentary debate. "I believe the law has to change," she said. "My goal is to reach 100,000 signatures and change the law. I will campaign as much as I can." Charlotte said she has also spoken to various charities who have been supportive of her campaign. Leeway, an independent charity established in 1974 that supports adults, young people and children experiencing domestic abuse across Norfolk and Suffolk, helping more than 14,000 people a year, offered its perspective on the issue. "Stories like this are sadly all too common and are reflective of a system that does not fully understand the dynamics of domestic abuse," said Leeway chief executive Jools Ramsey-Palmer. "It should not be down to a survivor to provide evidence when these measures are breached, nor should they feel like they have to justify their need to stay safe." Ramsey-Palmer said the reform Charlotte is campaigning for would prioritise survivors' safety. "I'm obviously supportive of this proposed reform as it removes the emphasis on survivors having to prove that they need these protections," Ramsey-Palmer said. "It prioritises the safety of survivors, which should be the number one concern in these cases." Ramsey-Palmer also pointed to wider delays across the family courts as an area in need of reform. "One of the biggest issues remains the delays in cases being heard," Ramsey-Palmer said. "This must change because, the longer that cases go on for, the greater the impact it has on a family's ability to be safe, and move on. Ramsey-Palmer also welcomed recent changes to the family courts. "There have been a few encouraging developments relating to the family courts in recent months though, particularly with the announcement that there will no longer be an automatic assumption of child contact for both parents. This will ensure that the voice of children is heard, taking into account their thoughts, feelings, and safety." ## The bottom line Charlotte Holtum simply wanted the protection she had already been granted, and had already proven was necessary, to continue without having to relive her trauma to keep it. Her petition is the first step in a campaign she intends to fight all the way to Westminster. "No victim should be placed in a position where pursuing their own protection feels overwhelming or unattainable," she said. [Sign the petition](https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/770114?ref=ed%5Fdirect) --- *If you have been affected by domestic abuse, support is available. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline can be reached free and in confidence, 24 hours a day, on 0808 2000 247\. Locally, Leeway offers support to survivors of domestic abuse.* --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£108 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Fraud crackdown 'more important than ever', says council URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fraud-crackdown-more-important-than-ever-says-council/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T08:44:01.000Z **Why it matters:** The Corporate Fraud Service supports the council's zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption, helping safeguard public resources and strengthen the council's financial resilience at a time when local government finances are under pressure. **The details:** The council's annual Corporate Fraud report, presented to the Audit and Governance Committee this month, found officers identified £5,180,208 of irregularity during 2025/26. - The largest contribution came from the council's Right to Buy due diligence work, which led to 26 applications being cancelled – preventing losses of £5,018,208 and keeping the properties in the council's housing stock. - Cancelling Right to Buy applications through due diligence checks not only prevents financial loss but ensures homes remain available to meet local social housing need, while properties recovered from tenancy fraud can be reallocated to families with a genuine housing need. - Tenancy fraud investigations led to the recovery of four social housing properties, saving a further £162,000. **What they're saying:** Councillor Martin Cook, Ipswich Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Resources, said: "These are excellent results once again from our Corporate Fraud Service. The prevention of fraudulent activity helps us to protect taxpayers' money and ensure that public resources are used for the benefit of our communities. "With increasing pressure on local government finances and reduced funding from central government, it has never been more important for our Corporate Fraud Service to tackle fraud and protect services and support for those who genuinely need our help." **What's next:** Residents who suspect fraud can report it to Ipswich Borough Council by calling 01473 433999, emailing [fraud@ipswich.gov.uk](mailto:fraud@ipswich.gov.uk) or via [www.ipswich.gov.uk/corporatefraud](http://www.ipswich.gov.uk/corporatefraud?ref=ipswich.co.uk). **The bottom line:** Ipswich Borough Council says its Corporate Fraud Service protected more than £5.1 million in public resources last year, with the bulk of the savings coming from stopping fraudulent Right to Buy applications – a result the council frames as increasingly vital given wider financial pressures on local authorities. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich school community raises £5,262 for local charities at summer ball URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-school-raises-5-262-for-local-charities-at-summer-ball/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T07:40:27.000Z **Why it matters:** The biennial event, organised by the Friends of Ipswich School (FOIS), split its proceeds equally between [Dora Brown](https://www.dorabrown.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) and [Brave Futures](https://bravefutures.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) – two charities chosen this year to keep the money's impact close to home. **The details:** Held in a marquee at the school, the evening featured a three-course dinner by JLS Catering, casino tables, a 360° photo booth, a grand prize draw, an auction and live music from the Serious Hat Band. A signed Ipswich Town FC shirt from the club's latest season proved one of the highlights of the night, raising £1,300 alone in the auction. FOIS – a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation made up of parents, pupils, staff and members of the wider school community – selected this year's charity partners under the leadership of co-organisers Farida Rouane-Williams and Caroline Pennington. **What they're saying:** Farida Rouane-Williams said: "It was really important to us that the money raised stayed local and made a difference to children and young people in our own community. Dora Brown and Brave Futures both do extraordinary work supporting Suffolk families and young people at the times they need it most, and we're proud that our school community has been able to get behind them." Caroline Pennington added: "We are incredibly grateful to the many local businesses that supported the evening by donating prizes or supplying the event, and to everyone who bought tickets, entered the prize draw and took part in the fundraising. The generosity shown throughout the evening was amazing, and we are delighted to be able to donate £5,262 between these two fantastic charities." **Where the money's going:** The donation to Dora Brown will provide practical help for families experiencing financial hardship and crisis across Suffolk. Jo Revett, Director of Dora Brown, said: "Everyone at Dora Brown would like to send huge thanks to the organisers and attendees for your incredible generosity at the FOIS Summer Ball this year. Your donation will go directly towards transforming homes for vulnerable local families in crisis. "Events like your Summer Ball do more than just raise vital funds; they bring people together and shine a light on important causes like Dora Brown, raising awareness and acting as a catalyst for future support to make a real lasting difference." For Brave Futures, the donation will help fund specialist support for children and young people recovering from trauma. Hannah Walker, Engagement and Fundraising Manager at Brave Futures, said: "The success of the Summer Ball is a wonderful reflection of the generosity and community spirit of everyone involved. "Every ticket purchased and raffle prize donated has helped make a real difference. This generous donation will fund life-changing specialist support sessions for children and young people, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who made this possible." **The bigger picture:** For decades, Ipswich School has been raising money for local causes. The school also recently presented St Elizabeth Hospice with a cheque for £3,058.70, raised through a series of smaller initiatives including chapel collections, the Lower School Service, a Holden House fundraising event, the Library's World Book Day activities, a Chapel Craft Event, private donations and a Senior School Dress Down Day – which alone brought in £1,526. During the presentation, hospice representative Chloe also met members of the school's Crafternoon group, who are preparing handmade crafts for a stall at Suffolk Dog Day in September. **The bottom line:** Between the Summer Ball and the hospice cheque alone, Ipswich School's community has raised more than £8,300 for good causes this year – support that four Suffolk charities and the families they help will feel the benefit of. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Bin rollout woes fuel calls for East Suffolk council shake-up URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bin-rollout-woes-fuel-calls-for-east-suffolk-council-shake-up/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T18:33:45.000Z **Why it matters:** Independent county and district councillor Julia Ewart has written to East Suffolk Council's chief executive, Chris Bally, requesting an urgent meeting on the authority's governance, citing ongoing failures in its Better Recycling waste rollout as one of the reasons she believes the current Cabinet should be replaced by a cross-party administration. **The details:** In a letter dated 16 July 2026, Cllr Ewart, who is Suffolk County Council's Scrutiny Chair, County Councillor for Saxmundham & District and District Councillor for Kelsale & Yoxford, said it was "becoming increasingly clear that the GLi Group, as the Cabinet, is running out of road." 💡 The GLI Group is a cooperative political alliance formed by ****Green**, ****Liberal Democrat**, and ****Independent** councillors. She addressed the letter to Mr Bally rather than the council's political leadership because, she said, Leader of the Council Cllr Caroline Topping was currently absent. Cllr Ewart said the Better Recycling rollout, now in its seventh week, "has generated widespread dissatisfaction amongst residents," adding that "significant failures in service delivery continue." She also referred to comments made by local MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, who she said had raised the rollout in the House of Commons and described it as a failure, reporting hundreds of constituent complaints over missed collections, delayed deliveries and poor communication. "My inbox tells me that residents are threatening to 'dump their rubbish outside Council offices', asking how they can obtain refunds on their council tax, and enquiring how they can take legal action against the Council," she wrote. Cllr Ewart said she believed the administration's working majority had narrowed since her own departure from the GLi Group, saying: "It is our assessment that the administration no longer enjoys the secure working majority that previously underpinned its programme." **What she's proposing:** In her letter, Cllr Ewart calls for a "Transitional Cross-Party Administration" – in an earlier public statement, she used the terms "Unity Administration" and "Cabinet of Unity" to describe a similar proposal – which she says would draw together councillors from across political groups and independent members "around a limited programme of governance, service delivery and an orderly transition towards Local Government Reorganisation." She said: "It is time for immediate change. The current Cabinet has lost the confidence of many residents and the Council now needs fresh leadership capable of restoring public trust. This is no longer about party politics. It is about delivering the public services that residents rightly expect." "A cross-party Cabinet of Unity will deliver the urgent improvements residents need, while providing stable leadership during the Council's remaining life. I will happily assist and support any new administration that puts East Suffolk and its residents ahead of party politics. That is where our focus should now be." **For context:** The letter follows resident reports received by Ipswich.co.uk of missed bin collections in the Bixley and Brook Hill areas, served by East Suffolk Council. One resident said food waste caddies had not been emptied on at least two occasions with no follow-up collection arranged, and that both the paper and cardboard collection and the food caddy collection were missed in the same areas, with the paper and cardboard bins not due to be collected again for a further three weeks. Asked about the missed collections, an East Suffolk Council spokesperson said on 3 July: "Due to last week's extreme heat, it was necessary in some areas to prioritise the collection of general and food waste bins over the green-lidded paper and card recycling bins. We're sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Residents in these locations whose green-lidded bins were not collected as scheduled are asked to bring their bins back from the kerbside and put them out again on their next paper and card collection day." **What's next:** Responding to questions from Ipswich.co.uk, Cllr Ewart said she had not yet received a response from Mr Bally or the council, as the letter was sent only on 16 July. She said a number of councillors had indicated support for her proposal "publicly and privately." Asked what she envisaged as the next steps, she said this would be "the resignation of the current administration which has no majority anyway." Asked about a timeframe, she said: "The sooner the better, to enable the dramatic improvement in service required, especially regarding waste services." Cllr Ewart's letter states that the correspondence will be published following its delivery, and that she intends to release a public video setting out her reasoning. **The other side:** Cllr Paul Ashton, Deputy Leader of East Suffolk Council, said: "We understand the frustration of residents, and we are sorry to anyone affected by waste collection issues following the roll-out of the Better Recycling scheme. "We have a comprehensive action plan in place between the Council and East Suffolk Services Ltd, and officers and staff in both organisations are working hard to resolve issues. Cabinet members are close to this work and are involved in daily service performance reviews and progress checkpoints." Cllr Ashton disputed the manner in which Cllr Ewart had raised her concerns, saying: "Cllr Ewart was invited to attend a meeting on Monday to be fully informed of the recovery plan but cancelled her attendance late on. We are therefore surprised by her decision to instead issue a press release declaring these assertions. "The outstanding issues surrounding Better Recycling are of an operational nature that will not be resolved by changes to the composition of the Cabinet. "We are happy to rearrange meeting with Cllr Ewart at her convenience. In the meantime, our staff will continue working extremely hard to get these issues resolved." Separately, an East Suffolk Council spokesperson said: "The Chief Executive has today received and will be responding to Cllr Ewart's letter. However, it would be inappropriate to comment further on communication between an officer and elected council member." **The bottom line:** A senior Suffolk councillor has used problems with the council's recycling rollout to make a broader case for cross-party leadership at East Suffolk Council, but the council's deputy leader has pushed back firmly, disputing both her account of a cancelled meeting and her view that changing the Cabinet's composition would fix an operational problem. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£94 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk County Council axes climate emergency status after fiery debate URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-county-council-axes-climate-emergency-status-after-fiery-debate/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T16:20:36.000Z **Why it matters:** The vote marks one of the new Reform UK administration's first major policy decisions since taking control of the council in May, scrapping a declaration first made in 2019 and reaffirmed in 2023\. Campaigners and opposition councillors branded it a backwards step, coming as fire crews report a rising number of wildfires across the country. **The details:** The motion was put forward by Councillor Morgan Brobyn, the council's Cabinet Member for Food, Waste and Rural Affairs. It commits the council to: - Rescind the Climate Emergency declaration adopted in March 2019 - Remove references to a Climate Emergency from council policies, strategies and communications where appropriate - Undertake a comprehensive review of climate, net zero and environmental programmes, projects, partnerships and expenditure across the council - Report the findings of that review to Cabinet, including recommendations for the continuation, modification or cessation of individual schemes The motion passed with last-minute changes suggested by the Conservative group. **What they're saying:** Morgan said the council's responsibility was "not to maintain declarations for their own sake." "Our responsibility is to deliver practical outcomes that protect Suffolk's environment and support our communities," he said. "Whether that's improving flood resilience, enhancing biodiversity, reducing waste or making sure taxpayers' money is spent effectively, those are the things that will make the biggest difference on the ground." He added: "I was pleased that some members from across the chamber were able to find common ground on the importance of practical environmental stewardship, and I was happy to support the Conservative group's amendment which further reinforced that principle within the motion. "The choice at today's council meeting was not between caring about the environment and not caring about the environment. It was about ensuring that environmental stewardship is practical, effective and focused on outcomes." Councillor Tony Gould told the meeting "there is no emergency," claiming climate change was down to "greedy industrialists pulling the strings of political puppets to create a new lucrative industry." **The other side:** Green Group leader Andrew Stringer said he would not stop pushing for change. "It will redouble my efforts to make sure we do the right thing for my children, my grandchildren and our planet," he said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Cllr-Andrew-Stringer.jpeg) Stringer speaking to protestors outside Endeavour House (Photo: Joao Santos) Peter Aiano, the Green Group's spokesperson for environment and biodiversity, called the decision "devastating." "The Climate Emergency Declaration had excellent cross-party support when it was first proposed by the Greens in 2019, and then brought back to the chamber by us for reaffirmation in 2023," Peter said. "The council has a responsibility to use its influence and platform in Suffolk to show residents and businesses how they can make practical changes to safeguard the environment." Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley, who joined the protest outside Endeavour House, called the decision "deeply irresponsible." "It's deeply irresponsible of Reform-led councils, like the one here in Suffolk, to be taking backward steps when we should be taking forward ones," Adrian said. "I'm calling on the Government to urgently step up action on preparedness for extreme heat, on nature security, and on cutting emissions, and I'm calling on this council to reverse course." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Adrian-Ramsay.jpeg) Adrian Ramsay speaking to protestors outside Endeavour House (Photo: Joao Santos) Ramsey had earlier written to council leader Cllr Hadwen, warning that undeclaring a climate emergency would not remove the threats of flooding or extreme heat that Suffolk residents face, and would not save the council money. Richard Beeby, secretary of Suffolk's Fire Brigades Union, told protesters the declaration was not just "a piece of paper" but represented the "stark reality" for firefighters. "The clothing we wear is completely inadequate for the wildfires and field fires we spend our time fighting," he said. "We're going around fields putting flames out in thick wool tunics and wool leggings." Siobhan Harris, a protester from Sudbury, said: "I think that they're being hypocrites and that they're putting the lives of Suffolk residents at risk." **By the numbers:** According to the council, £14.7m has been invested in around 150 decarbonisation programmes since the 2019 declaration, the vast majority from Government grants and interest-free loans, with £3.8m from the authority's cash reserves. Council data shows that if energy prices had stayed constant since 2019, bills would now be £4.8m higher without the projects, with the council cutting nearly 8,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Solar panels installed across the authority's buildings and car parks are estimated to save about £600,000 a year in energy costs. **What's next:** The council says further details of the environmental review, including timescales and reporting arrangements, will be announced in due course. Findings and recommendations will be reported to Cabinet. **The bottom line:** Suffolk's Reform UK administration has scrapped the county's Climate Emergency status in favour of a review of all its environmental spending, arguing the move prioritises practical outcomes over symbolism – a decision that has drawn fierce criticism from Green councillors, an MP and fire service representatives, who warn it comes at exactly the wrong moment. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£68 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich market stalls to move sides of Cornhill URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-market-stalls-to-move-sides-of-cornhill/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T16:30:16.000Z Ipswich Borough Council has proposed shifting the market stalls to the northern side of the Cornhill, with traders facing onto Westgate Street. The council says the new arrangement would give delivery vehicles sufficient space to access the area before 10:30 on market days, while also creating room to increase the number of stalls in future. ## Why the move is happening According to the council, the relocation would also clear the way for the next phase of public realm improvements in Lloyds Avenue. The scheme, which despite the council securing funding for over five years ago, has no start date, is set to deliver wider footways, new planting and landscaping, and improvements beneath Lloyds Arch, which the council says will create a more attractive and accessible environment in the town centre. [Lloyds Avenue: Approved, funded...still waitingIpswich 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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1061b0e3-270a-4f24-b413-4a383bcea954.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--39--840a807b-19b8-42d9-a8a5-80f3a8cbbac9.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/lloyds-avenue-approved-funded-still-waiting/) The council says options for relocation within the designated market area are limited, due to fixed features on the Cornhill including seating, water fountains, the portal and binoculars, as well as the need to preserve outdoor seating for surrounding businesses and to maintain the Cornhill's role as an events space. Hot food vendors based at Giles Circus will not be affected by the proposals and will remain in their current location. ## A market seven centuries in the making Ipswich was first granted the right to hold a market under a Royal Charter from King Edward II in 1317\. More than 700 years later, the market continues to operate four days a week under the provisions of the Ipswich Market Act 2004, supporting independent businesses, local employment and new start-ups, as well as giving residents access to affordable fresh produce and a wide range of goods. The council says it is committed to keeping the market at the centre of town, where visitor footfall is highest. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5362.jpeg) Youngs Fish (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams, Ipswich.co.uk) ## Budget and timeline Earlier this year, the council approved a £25,000 budget to replace the market's current gazebos, which will also cover ancillary costs associated with the relocation. Following consideration of a range of design options, a traditional blue and white colour scheme is expected to be adopted, reflecting colours strongly associated with Ipswich. A date for the move has not yet been finalised. The council says it intends to progress the relocation as soon as possible following completion of the consultation process with traders, which is ongoing. Initial feedback from traders is reported by the council to be overwhelmingly positive. ## Part of a wider strategy The council says the proposal supports commitments within its Corporate Strategy and Cornhill Strategy, including revitalising the town centre, delivering the £25 million Towns Fund programme, improving the public realm, and creating a market environment that complements the surrounding retail and leisure offer. Councillor Jane Riley, portfolio holder for culture and customers, said the market had been "at the heart of our town for more than 700 years and remains one of our greatest assets." "These proposals will allow us to continue supporting our valued market traders while enabling important improvements to Lloyds Avenue that will enhance the town centre for residents, businesses and visitors alike," she said. "The move to the northern side of the Cornhill will provide a better long-term trading environment, create opportunities for growth, and help us attract new traders to join the thriving and diverse market offer that local people know and love. The positive feedback we have received from traders so far is very encouraging, and we look forward to continuing those conversations as the plans progress." ## The bottom line It is not a dramatic relocation – traders are moving a matter of yards, not streets – but the council is hoping this small shift on the Cornhill pays a much bigger dividend, unlocking the Lloyds Avenue works and, it hopes, a stronger market for years to come. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### County council hears Abbott's bypass petition, but stalemate continues URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/county-council-hears-abbotts-bypass-petition-as-stalemate-continues/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T15:38:33.000Z **Why it matters:** Every closure of the Orwell Bridge is estimated by the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to cost the local economy around £1 million, with roughly 60,000 vehicles a day forced onto alternative routes. The petition is the latest attempt to push Suffolk County Council's Reform UK administration towards committing to a specific solution ahead of a cabinet report due in September. **The details:** The petition was presented under the council's constitution, having passed the threshold of 3,931 signatures needed to bring it before councillors. Abbott, the lead petitioner, addressed the chamber for around five minutes, followed by responses from the leaders of the council's four opposition groups, before Cllr Christopher Hudson, Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, replied on behalf of the administration. [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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-d2b2f7e3-0ec5-4654-8bfa-7c26bcaaa232.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-03-at-15.42.16--1---1--1-cce09499-9ed4-4d4f-8f03-ae978cf79cf5.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-mps-bypass-petition-handed-in-but-will-it-change-anything/) **What they're saying:** Abbott told councillors the petition had been signed by more than 4,000 residents as well as "major businesses and organisations across the county." He argued the council's May decision to examine "all options" could not replace the detailed technical work already carried out in a previous strategic business case, and said alternatives such as improvements to the Ely and Haughley rail junctions – while valuable – would not resolve the Orwell Bridge's "single point of failure." "It's time to get serious," he said, urging the council to move on from what he described as a "do nothing" approach. He said he'd had "a very constructive meeting" with council leader Michael Hadwen and pledged to help lobby government for funding if the September report produced "credible, deliverable, affordable options." Green Group leader Cllr Andrew Stringer said his group did not believe a bypass should be the only option pursued, and questioned why previously promised rail improvements had not yet been delivered. He raised concerns about the scale of housebuilding a bypass could require, and called for progress on reducing HGV traffic before further commitments were made. Conservative leader Cllr Richard Rout backed the principle that "a solution must be found" for days when the bridge shuts, and said a northern route was "clearly one of those solutions" – but said every alternative should be examined before a costly business case is commissioned. He said the administration was "moving with pace" following the Conservative-backed amendment in May, but flagged that the September report had not yet appeared on the council's forward plan, and asked Abbott to attend future strategic transport meetings, following his absence from the past two. Labour leader Cllr Martin Cook said Ipswich's road network was "completely full, not just on bad days, but every day," blaming two decades of inaction under Conservative administrations. He pointed to recent county council funding for the A140 and A12 as evidence that the authority could act on road schemes when it chose to, and asked: "Will you break with 20 years of failure, or will you continue with it?" Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Inger Lockington raised concerns about how a bypass would be funded, questioning whether it would depend on significant new housebuilding to make the scheme viable, and referred to specific concerns in her own division. **The administration's response:** Responding for the administration, Cllr Hudson acknowledged "the problem is patent" but said the solutions were "more complex," citing an estimated cost of "hundreds of millions, if not half a billion pounds." He said the council would need updated transport, environmental and financial evidence before it could make an informed choice, and warned that any scheme requiring significant new housebuilding would need to be weighed carefully. He said the council would compare all alternatives – including bridges, tunnels and improvements to the existing road network – before consulting residents and stakeholders and publishing a "transparent business case." He gave no fresh commitment to a bypass specifically, saying any final decision would rest on whether a scheme "can be justified financially" and balances transport, environmental, affordability and local needs. [Reform to explore tunnel and estuarial crossing as northern bypass alternativesSuffolk County Council will explore building a tunnel or estuarial crossing as an alternative to an Ipswich northern bypass, with a report to go to cabinet by the end of September.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-facd2030-5901-41b0-9dff-a1a5520a4077.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/dato-DcDxrhfLRAWKq71UYaER0Q-1775138618139-2-1-2ca29db6-eec8-4053-a1dc-55b9d013b2d3.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-blocks-northern-bypass-motion-at-first-council-meeting/) **What's next:** Suffolk County Council's cabinet is still expected to receive a report on transport options in September. **The bottom line:** More than 4,000 signatures and speeches from all sides gave the bypass campaign a fresh airing at Endeavour House, but the administration's response – as expected – stopped short of committing to a specific route. September's cabinet report remains the point at which Suffolk County Council is expected to show its hand. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Abbott backs crackdown on vapes marketed at children URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/abbott-backs-crackdown-on-vapes-marketed-at-children/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T13:12:12.000Z **Why it matters:** More than one million 11 to 17-year-olds across Great Britain reported trying vaping in 2025, according to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). **The details:** The 12-week consultation, launched by the Department of Health and Social Care, proposes: - Plain white packaging for vapes and nicotine products, with strict limits on branding, colours, logos and imagery - Flavour names restricted to simple descriptions such as "Apple", with names inspired by confectionery, desserts, sweets, soft drinks or alcohol banned - Vape devices limited to white, black or grey, with no decorative imagery, cosmetic lighting or screens showing anything beyond safety and status information - Vapes and nicotine products kept out of sight in shops, in line with existing tobacco display rules - Plain packaging extended to all tobacco products, including cigars, pipe tobacco, shisha and heated tobacco devices - Quit-support messages inside tobacco packs, and an end to the display exemption for duty-free shops and airports Nicotine pouches are also covered by the proposals. The consultation stems from the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, and closes at 23:59 on Friday, 2 October 2026. **What they're saying:** Jack Abbott MP said: "The fact that more than one million 11 to 17-year-olds across Great Britain said they'd tried last year should be a wake-up call. We cannot stand by while more children are exposed to addictive nicotine products. "Vapes can play an important role in helping adults quit smoking, but they should never be packaged or promoted in ways that appeal to children, especially those who have never smoked. "When products are brightly coloured, given names that sound like sweets or desserts and displayed prominently in shops, it's easy to see why parents are worried. As a Government we have a responsibility to make sure these products are aimed at adults trying to quit smoking, not at young people. "That's why I strongly welcome these proposals. They strike the right balance by protecting children from nicotine addiction while ensuring adults who want to stop smoking can still access vaping as an effective quitting aid. "It's another important step towards creating the first smoke-free generation and giving every child the healthiest possible start in life." Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, James Murray, said: "The evidence is clear: there are too many young people experimenting with vapes, attracted by the array of flavours, bright colours and marketing displays. "We want a healthier future for the next generation, so we must act now to reduce the appeal of addictive vapes to our children. "Vapes are less harmful than cigarettes and can play an important role in helping adult smokers to quit, but they should never be designed or marketed in ways that tempt children. These proposals are about striking the right balance and I urge everyone to have their say." **The bigger picture:** The consultation builds on a ban on single-use vapes introduced in June 2025\. It comes ahead of a Vaping Products Duty from October 2026, a ban on vape sales through vending machines and free distribution from 29 October 2026, and an end to vape advertising and sponsorship from June 2027. **What's next:** Businesses, health organisations and members of the public have until 2 October 2026 to respond to [the consultation](https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/tobacco-and-vapes-packaging-appearance-and-display?ref=ipswich.co.uk) before final regulations are drawn up. **The bottom line:** Ministers say the proposals aim to strike a balance between protecting children from nicotine addiction and ensuring adult smokers can still use vaping as a quitting tool – with Ipswich's MP among those urging residents to have their say. [Have your say](https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/tobacco-and-vapes-packaging-appearance-and-display?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Health worker warns Suffolk nursing cuts would be 'disastrous' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/health-worker-warns-suffolk-nursing-cuts-would-be-disastrous/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T07:37:15.000Z The council is consulting on changes to the way it supports children, young people and families, saying that rising demand and costs that have outpaced available funding. Among the proposals is the removal of the community staff nurse role, which currently supports children and families through home visits as part of the health visiting service. ## 'The backbone of the service' The health visitor, who has worked in the role for more than ten years, said staff nurses were indispensable to the service's day-to-day running. "If we didn't have the staff nurses, I don't know how we would be able to cope – they're invaluable to the service," they said. "\[If changes go ahead\] families will not get the best care, it will all be compromised, and I think safeguarding will shoot up." Through the health visiting service, families are entitled to at least five health reviews during and after pregnancy, designed to monitor a child's health and development, support parents, and identify concerns early. Staff nurses not only help carry out these mandatory reviews, but also provide extra ongoing support where needed, including to families with pre-term babies, and those whose children have special educational needs. The health visitor said staff had been left in "absolute disbelief" and feeling undervalued as "surplus to requirements". ## What's changing – and what isn't The proposals for health visiting would see an increase in the number of health visitors, though it remains unclear how many new posts would be created. Suffolk County Council said this was intended to strengthen clinical leadership, oversight and continuity of care, with the five mandated reviews remaining under health visitor accountability. However, the community staff nurse role would be removed entirely, with delivery instead carried out through a revised skill mix of health visitors and Healthy Child Practitioners. The council said children and families should experience stronger health visitor oversight as a result, with antenatal, new birth and six-to-eight-week reviews led by a named health visitor wherever possible. The changes to health visiting form only part of a much larger redesign of Suffolk's Healthy Child Service, which also covers school nursing and support for young parents. Under the proposals, school nursing – a service for five to nineteen-year-olds, around 70% of whose referrals relate to emotional wellbeing and mental health – would shift from an open-access, referral-based model to a more targeted, digital-first offer. This would include moving to term-time-only delivery and replacing much routine one-to-one support with structured triage and signposting. Separately, the council wants to end the Family Nurse Partnership and the Young Parent's Pathway as standalone programmes. Both currently offer intensive home-visiting support to vulnerable young parents under the age of 21, and both are described in council documents as "regularly oversubscribed with a waiting list". Support for these families would instead transfer into mainstream health visiting, backed by an enhanced Early Help offer, Best Start Family Hubs, and wider partner pathways, alongside an additional £2 million investment in Early Help. ## 'No final decision' In an email to staff, the council acknowledged the changes "may feel difficult, uncertain or frustrating", but stressed no decision had been made. When asked about potential job losses, the authority repeated that no final decision had been taken, with any workforce implications subject to formal consultation with affected staff. Cllr Paul Sutton, the council's deputy lead for public health, said the authority needed to make the best use of the resources available to it. "That means helping children and families earlier, and making sure support is there for those who need it most," he said. ## Have your say The Healthy Child Service consultation covers health visiting, school nursing, and support to young parents under 21, including the Family Nurse Partnership and Young Parent's Pathway. The consultation opened on 8 July and runs until 18 September. Final proposals are expected in the autumn, once feedback has been analysed and considered by the council's Public Health, Communities and Public Safety Directorate. Residents, families, partners and stakeholders can share their views via the consultation page on the Suffolk County Council website. [Have your say](https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/consultations-petitions-and-elections/consultations/healthy-child-services-consultations?ref=ipswich.co.uk) ## The bottom line Suffolk County Council says its Healthy Child Service can no longer be delivered in its current form within the funding available, and insists that statutory duties and safeguarding responsibilities will be protected under its proposals. But for at least one health visitor working within the service, the removal of community staff nurses is not a matter of efficiency – it is a risk to the families who depend on it most. With the consultation open until 18 September, it is Suffolk residents – and the families who use these services – who now have the chance to have their say before any final decision is made. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Speeding offences surge past 79,000 on Suffolk roads URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/speeding-offences-surge-past-79-000-on-suffolk-roads/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T07:30:39.000Z **Why it matters:** Road safety data revealed at a Police and Crime Commissioner meeting last week showed 16,610 average speed camera offences on the A12 in the 2025/26 financial year – more than 10,000 up on the previous year. **The details:** Suffolk Constabulary said the rise was down to two new average speed camera systems installed last summer to handle extra traffic caused by Sizewell C works. - The systems were installed along the A12 between Yoxford and Theberton, and in Westleton. - Across the county, there were 79,298 total speeding offences last year – 30% up on the year before – with increases recorded for fixed cameras, mobile vans and community enforcement officers. - This follows a 41% increase the year before, driven by two fixed cameras at the A12 junction at the Brightwell Lakes development. **What they're saying:** Tim Passmore, Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, said the force was considering a 50mph restriction either side of the Orwell Bridge to deal with congestion, but stressed a long-term solution was needed to address ongoing issues. **For context:** Despite the extra enforcement, the force reported 341 accidents where people were killed or seriously injured – 13 more than the previous year. There were two fewer fatalities, down from 16 to 14, on Suffolk roads over the same period. Accident hotspots include: - The A1022 Bridge Street junction with College Street, in Ipswich - The A12 Pier Terrace junction with Belvedere Road, in Lowestoft - The A1065 Brandon Road junction with the B1112, in Eriswell **The bottom line:** Speed camera enforcement across Suffolk has ramped up sharply, particularly on the A12, but serious and fatal collisions have shown little sign of falling in step. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council approves £19m plan for new SEND school places URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-approves-19m-plan-for-new-send-school-places/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T07:18:47.000Z **Why it matters:** The number of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in Suffolk has risen 17% in a year, from 10,292 in April 2025 to 12,018 in April 2026\. The investment is intended to help more children access support closer to home while easing pressure on the wider SEND system. **The details:** Cabinet agreed on Tuesday, 14 July, to allocate £18.889m of government High Needs Capital Funding to expand specialist provision between 2026 and 2030\. The money will fund: - £9.8m on 168 specialist places at secondary schools - £4m on 80 places at satellite sites linked to special schools - £2m to support inclusion at mainstream schools - £2m on adaptations to mainstream schools - £1m on post-16 specialist provision The funding will come entirely from the High Needs Block – the portion of government education funding used on SEND services – rather than the council's own reserves. Additional places are expected to be available for the September 2027 pupil intake. **By the numbers:** The scale of the pressure on Suffolk's SEND system is stark. - The number of pupils in independent school placements has more than doubled since the 2022/23 financial year, from 349 to 830 - These placements cost the council an average of £67,000 per pupil, nearly three times higher than those in local special schools - The council is estimated to spend £206m from its high needs block this financial year – £105m more than it was allocated - The number of children whose needs will be unmet at special schools and specialist units is expected to rise to more than 2,700 [Suffolk praised for SEND progress but warned too many families ‘yet to feel the benefit’The partnership responsible for SEND services in Suffolk has been acknowledged for making important improvements by the Department for Education, but warned it must translate activity into measurable impact for families who still experience frustration with statutory processes and communication.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-3bb0ace1-a462-4b94-8e08-f5aa96ba33e1.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1767870145-ed-garratt-send-cover-c3c028b8-acd9-42a1-8c32-b3bb36bb7e4a.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-praised-for-send-progress-but-warned-families-yet-to-feel-the-benefit/) **What they're saying:** Cllr Tony Gould, the council's cabinet member for education and SEND, said: "We were elected on a promise to focus on the issues that matter to most of Suffolk's families. Supporting children and young people with SEND is one of those priorities. "It's about giving more children the opportunity to succeed in a setting that understands and supports their needs." He added: "Behind those figures are children, families and schools relying on us to provide suitable support and provision." **The bigger picture:** The investment follows two other recent funding announcements for SEND provision in Suffolk. In March, the county received more than £9.4m in high needs capital funding, and in April it was allocated a further £5.1m to establish an "Experts at Hand" service giving children faster access to specialist professionals. **What's next:** The programme will be delivered in phases between 2026 and 2030, with early projects focused on expanding existing provision and improving accessibility in mainstream schools. **The bottom line:** With demand for SEND support continuing to rise sharply, Suffolk County Council says the £18.9 million investment is intended to build a more sustainable system that gets children the right help, without long journeys or long waits. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council approves extra £4m for A12 road scheme URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-approves-extra-4m-for-a12-road-scheme/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T07:18:36.000Z **Why it matters:** The Major Road Network (MRN) scheme is designed to tackle congestion along the A12, provide space for future growth and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Councillor Christopher Hudson, the council's lead for transport and highways, said improving the road was an "absolute primacy". "Building resilience into our highway structure is an absolute primacy – we want people to be able to travel properly and, more importantly, safely," he said. "It's their lives indirectly and directly in our hands, and therefore it could not be more important." **The details:** Construction costs have pushed the project's price tag to £63.6 million, up from the £57.4 million estimated when it received the authority's approval in 2021. The Department for Transport has confirmed it would pick up just over £54 million of the bill, subject to a sound business case, with the council paying another £3.5 million. A further £6 million would come from third-party contributions. Roughly half of the £4 million agreed on Tuesday, 14 July, will be paid from ring-fenced funding, with the rest coming from a Government grant designed for transport enhancement and maintenance. [A12 scheme budget could increase to £63.6mA 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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-547a12c4-6b4d-4f94-ab84-ef592ec37b40.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/dato-TpWnBUH0ThavNA3g_ttExg-1775135248372-1-9212ec9d-405b-4f98-8cfe-12ec614d7e95.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a12-scheme-budget-could-increase-by-4m/) **Acquiring the land:** Cabinet members have also agreed to authorise compulsory purchase orders – legal powers allowing the council to buy land without the owner's consent. Cllr Hudson did not reveal how many landowners could be impacted by the orders, but said they would be used as a "last resort". **What's included:** The scheme covers improvements to several junctions, including at Seven Hills, Barrack Square and Anson Road, as well as a new dual carriageway section between Seckford Hall Road and Grundisburgh roundabout. A new footbridge over the A12 at Martlesham is also proposed, replacing the existing structure built in the 1970s, which no longer meets modern standards. **What's next:** With the extra funding secured, the council will now complete a business case through the summer, ahead of submission to the Government by September. **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council has committed the extra £4 million needed to finalise its case for a £63.6 million A12 upgrade – but the use of compulsory purchase powers means some landowners could yet be forced to give up their land for the scheme. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### £18m Stowmarket innovation centre officially opens URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/16-7m-stowmarket-innovation-centre-officially-opens/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T09:34:22.000Z **Why it matters:** Mid Suffolk District Council's Stowmarket Innovation Gateway, backed by £16.66 million of Freeport East funding, officially opened on Tuesday, 14 July, with more than 100 local businesses, organisations and dignitaries attending – creating what organisers describe as a new gateway to growth for businesses across Suffolk and the wider region. **The details:** The centre offers office spaces for high-growth start-ups, collaboration and innovation areas, meeting rooms, a café and high-quality training spaces. It forms part of Freeport East's ambition to ensure the benefits of investment extend beyond its principal port and development sites, by connecting local firms, education providers and innovation specialists. The aim is to help businesses across the region take advantage of opportunities in clean growth, digital technology and artificial intelligence. A rolling programme of professional development courses – spanning AI, digital, leadership and creative disciplines – will be delivered on-site by West Suffolk College, Suffolk New College and the University of Suffolk, aiming to address the region's skills gap. The workshops and courses are open to all adults, with local employers gaining direct access to higher-level training that previously meant travelling outside the district. **What they're saying:** Cllr Richard Winch, cabinet member for housing and property at Mid Suffolk District Council, said: "I am thrilled to see the doors of this exceptional centre officially open. "The Stowmarket Innovation Gateway was designed with growing sectors such as the green economy and digital/AI technology at the heart. "Its mission is to help ensure that businesses and individuals in the area are not left behind by the next wave of economic change but are instead equipped to shape and build it." Attendees at the opening event took part in a series of demonstrations, including robotic strawberry picking from Versatile RobotX, AV headsets with Space East, West Suffolk College's SimVan, and a responsive AI avatar from 1956 Individuals. Mark Lemmon, chair at Freeport East, said: "The Stowmarket Innovation Gateway is another asset at Gateway 14 to attract world-class ambitious businesses to the region. A fantastic new facility designed to house, support and enable innovative business activity which will also support local communities to develop the skills they need to thrive in modern jobs. "It will be a focal point for the region in terms of an inspiring place to build new initiatives and partnerships in tech, agriculture, sustainable construction and much more." **The bigger picture:** The Gateway will be operated by Hethel Innovation, which provides innovation growth support to hundreds of businesses across East Anglia and already manages three innovation hubs in Norfolk. The building, delivered by Wilten Construction and Jaynic in partnership with Gateway 14, is BREEAM excellent rated and includes a green roof, solar panels and a 10 gigabits per second fibre connection – the fastest available anywhere in the region. The wider Gateway 14 development is already home to The Range's 1.17 million sq ft logistics and distribution centre, Ipswich-based Bauder and eco-friendly construction materials manufacturer Assan Panel. **For context:** Freeport East is one of 12 new Freeports across the UK, which received final government approval on 10 January 2023\. As part of the government's Industrial Strategy Zones programme, it serves as a hub for global trade and national regeneration, with particular strengths in advanced manufacturing, digital and technologies, clean energy industries, defence, and ports and logistics. The Freeport East area covers approximately 45km across parts of Suffolk and Essex, extending from the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich in the east, through Woodbridge, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Sudbury in the west, to Colchester, Jaywick and Clacton in the south. It is projected to create 13,500 new jobs and generate £5.5bn in gross value added over 10 years. **The bottom line:** The Stowmarket Innovation Gateway gives Suffolk businesses a new base for growth, innovation and skills training – and marks a significant step in Freeport East's plan to spread its economic benefits well beyond the region's ports. For more information about Freeport East's investment programme, visit [www.freeporteast.com](https://www.freeporteast.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich man ordered to repay £18,767 in fraud case URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-man-ordered-to-repay-18-767-in-fraud-case/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T09:51:19.000Z **Why it matters:** Mahmut Dagdelen, of Braziers Wood Road, Ipswich, was convicted of five fraud offences last year relating to false applications for social housing and the Right to Buy scheme, offences that took place over more than six years. **The details:** Dagdelen was sentenced in July 2025 under the Fraud Act 2006\. At a Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 hearing on 25 June 2026, the court made a confiscation order against him of £18,767.82, having determined he had benefited from his criminal conduct by that amount. He has three months to pay. The court also ordered Dagdelen to pay £8,955.50 in costs to Ipswich Borough Council within six months, along with a £140 victim surcharge. He has already repaid £139,332.18 in compensation to the council for losses arising from his offending. **For context:** The confiscation proceedings follow a lengthy investigation by Ipswich Borough Council's Corporate Fraud Team. **What they're saying:** Councillor Martin Cook, portfolio holder for resources, said: "This outcome demonstrates our commitment to pursuing those who seek to abuse the social housing system and ensuring that public money is protected. "Social housing is a valuable resource that must be available to those who genuinely need it. Fraud of this nature undermines fairness and can deny housing opportunities to residents and families who are entitled to support." He added: "I would like to thank our Corporate Fraud Team for their persistence and professionalism throughout this complex investigation and the subsequent court proceedings. We will continue to investigate allegations of housing fraud and take appropriate action wherever wrongdoing is identified." **The bottom line:** Dagdelen must now repay a further £18,767.82 on top of the £139,332.18 already returned to the council, closing out a six-year fraud case that has cost the public purse dearly. Suspected fraud can be reported to Ipswich Borough Council on 01473 433999, by emailing [fraud@ipswich.gov.uk](mailto:fraud@ipswich.gov.uk) or online at ipswich.gov.uk/corporatefraud. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Free breakfast clubs coming to ten Ipswich schools URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/free-breakfast-clubs-coming-to-ten-ipswich-schools/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T09:42:58.000Z **Why it matters:** Families using a free breakfast club every school day can save up to £450 a year and around 95 hours of childcare. **The details:** The following schools in Ipswich will join the programme from September: - Springfield Junior School - Hillside Primary School - Ranelagh Primary School - St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School - St Helen's Primary School - St Pancras Catholic Primary School - Castle Hill Infant School - Castle Hill Junior School They join Stone Lodge Academy and The Beeches Community Primary School, which were among the first schools nationally to offer the scheme when it launched last year. From September, schools must also stick to new legal limits on the number of branded uniform items they can require, meaning parents can buy more everyday items such as trousers and shirts from supermarkets and high street shops rather than specialist suppliers. **By the numbers:** Nationwide, 1,400 more schools will join the scheme from September, taking the total to more than 2,700\. More than 680,000 children are expected to attend a free breakfast club after the summer. The government says the scheme has already delivered almost £25m in cumulative savings to families, serving more than 10 million free breakfasts. **What they're saying:** [Jack Abbott](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/jack-abbott/), MP for Ipswich, said: "I'm delighted that eight more Ipswich schools will be joining Labour's free breakfast club programme this September, building on the success already delivered at Stone Lodge Academy and The Beeches Community Primary School. "This is fantastic news for children and families across our town. Free breakfast clubs mean more children can start the school day with a nutritious meal, feeling settled and ready to learn, while helping parents with the pressures of the morning routine and the cost of living." **The bottom line:** Ipswich now has ten schools which will offer free breakfast clubs from September, part of a nationwide scheme that aims to bring savings to families across the country. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Barnes Construction lays foundation for college apprentices with materials donation URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/barnes-construction-lays-foundation-for-college-apprentices-with-materials-donation/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T09:52:57.000Z **Why it matters:** The donation means learners on the college's brickwork courses can now train with the same quality of materials used on live building sites, rather than relying on lower-grade practice supplies. **The details:** Representatives from Barnes Construction visited the Brick Workshop at the Otley campus, where they met tutors and apprentices and saw their branding now displayed across the bricklaying area, which the firm has officially sponsored. **What they're saying:** Mark Crisp, head of construction at Suffolk New College, said: "A massive thank you to Barnes Construction, one of our main industry partners, and their donation of £1,000 worth of materials in terms of blocks and timber. They have been very generous in giving our learners the best opportunity to use new products and it's as if they are actually working on site." Liam Holding, 20, from Eye, who is completing a Level 3 brickwork apprenticeship, said: "You need good materials to make good work, so a big thanks to Barnes Construction." Dan Mackenzie, associate divisional director at Barnes Construction, said: "It's good to get the opportunity to meet the tutors and learners and talk to them about careers in construction. As one of the biggest regional construction contractors, we want to create effective pathways for young people to take their first steps in their career. We also want to work with our supply chain to encourage them to take on more apprentices." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/4-Dan-Mackenzie-from-Barnes-Construction-at-the-launch-of-the-sponsorship-of-the-Suffolk-New-College-bricklaying-zone.jpg) Dan Mackenzie from Barnes Construction at the launch of the sponsorship of the Suffolk New College bricklaying zone (Photo: Suffolk New College) **The bigger picture:** The gift forms part of Suffolk New College's Industry Partnership Scheme, launched three years ago to connect learners with employers across East Anglia. More than 210 companies have signed up, including Ipswich.co.uk, each pledging to deliver at least three activities a year – from work experience and guest lectures to material donations. Dr Emma Harvey, director of engineering, construction and building technology at Suffolk New College, said: "This is a wonderful example of the generosity of our industry partners who provide vital support to the college. These partnerships with local employers serve to bridge education and employment. Employers benefit from opportunities to shape the curriculum and ensure those entering the workforce have used industry standards resources, tools and equipment. Our learners get to spend time with future employers." **The bottom line:** The donation gives Suffolk New College apprentices real-world materials to learn with, while strengthening a partnership scheme that now spans hundreds of employers across the region. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Brave Futures receives £17,000 charity donation URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/brave-futures-receives-17-000-charity-donation/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T09:10:11.000Z **Why it matters:** The money will fund a year of specialist trauma support for nine children and young people across the town. **The details:** Through the Metal Recycling Scheme, with prior agreement from families, metal recovered from cremation ashes is collected and recycled, with proceeds handed to a local charity linked to bereavement. The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) has run scheme for many years, raising over £24m for charities across the UK since it began. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Stefan Long](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/stefan-long/), Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sport, said: "Brave Futures is such a worthy charity doing some amazing work and I know its incredible team of staff and volunteers has helped so many children and young people in Ipswich and beyond. "£17,000 is a considerable amount for a very deserving local cause. It's wonderful to be able to give something back to Brave Futures and their specialist support services." He added: "As my council portfolio covers responsibility for parks and cemeteries, special thanks go to the bereaved families that give their consent to assist this scheme, allowing local charities to benefit from their loss. Just like being an organ donor, this really is about giving back to others in need as a legacy." Hannah Walker, engagement and fundraising manager at Brave Futures, said: "We are incredibly grateful to have been nominated to receive this extraordinary donation through the ICCM Metal Recycling Scheme. This is one of the largest voluntary donations Brave Futures has ever received, and it will make a life-changing difference to the children and young people we support. "This generous gift is enough to fully fund a year of specialist support for nine children, helping them to process trauma, rebuild confidence and move forward with hope. We are honoured to receive this funding through a scheme that creates such a meaningful legacy and will have a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people across our community." **The bottom line:** A scheme rooted in loss is delivering lasting support for children in Ipswich, with Brave Futures set to help nine young people rebuild confidence over the coming year. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich's heritage parks now all hold Green Flag status URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswichs-heritage-parks-now-all-hold-green-flag-status/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T07:18:41.000Z **Why it matters:** The Green Flag Award is an international quality mark for parks and green spaces, and this year's announcement means all of Ipswich's heritage parks now carry the accolade. **The details:** Bourne Park, Christchurch Park and Holywells Park have retained their Green Flag status, while Chantry Park has been awarded the accolade for the first time. The four parks are among a record 2,391 sites across the UK to achieve the award this year. **For context:** The announcement comes as the Green Flag Award marks its 30th anniversary. The scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, and sets the benchmark standard for managing green spaces in the UK and around the world. **What they're saying:** Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: "Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don't feel safe or welcoming. "With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it's a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people's quality of life. "Ipswich Borough Council have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. "Congratulations to everyone involved." Councillor Stefan Long, Ipswich Borough Council portfolio holder for environment and sport, said: "We are incredibly proud of these four parks achieving Green Flag status. This prestigious accreditation reflects the dedication and hard work of our parks teams, volunteers and community groups who help care for these valued green spaces throughout the year. "Our parks are at the heart of communities across Ipswich, providing places for recreation, exercise, wildlife and relaxation. Receiving this recognition demonstrates our ongoing commitment to maintaining high-quality, welcoming and sustainable green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy now and in the future. "I would like to thank everyone involved in helping our parks reach and maintain these exceptional standards." **The bottom line:** With Chantry Park's first-ever award completing the set, all of Ipswich's heritage parks now carry Green Flag status – recognition the council says reflects years of work by its parks teams, volunteers and community groups. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Community fund gives £125,000 boost to 56 Ipswich groups URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/community-fund-gives-125-000-boost-to-56-ipswich-groups/ Last updated: 2026-07-14T10:57:47.000Z **Why it matters:** The council redesigned the fund so that its larger grant pot – the Community Chest and micro-grants – could be targeted at areas of greatest need, rather than shared out equally. Ward funding, a fixed £1,000 per ward, remains unchanged. The annual report shows how the new model has performed in its first partial year, and sets out the themes being developed for the year ahead. **The details:** A total of £75,000 has been allocated to the scheme, split between: - Ward funding: £1,000 per ward, to support councillors in funding projects locally - Community Chest grants: up to £5,000 per award - Micro-grants: up to £100 per award, aimed at grassroots activity 13 local projects received ward funding in 2025/26, with £6,830 awarded in total. Further funding has been earmarked to tackle social isolation in the north-west and north-east of Ipswich. **By the numbers:** - 56 organisations supported - £125,000 in grant funding awarded across all funds administered by the council's Community Participation Team - 13 ward funding projects completed, worth £6,830 - £5,000 – the first full Community Chest grant, awarded to the Royal Bengal Sports Club & Association **What they're saying:** Councillor [George Lankester](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/george-lankester/), Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: "It's great to see how Ipswich Borough Council is making a real difference across Ipswich, supporting the charities and community groups at the heart of our town. "We're empowering more local organisations and residents to deliver projects that matter to them, while giving councillors the flexibility to respond to emerging needs in their wards. "We're proud to be working alongside so many organisations to build and maintain pride in Ipswich." **For context:** Funding has supported a wide range of projects, including efforts to reduce isolation among older residents, community events, youth-focused initiatives and environmental improvements such as alleyway clean-ups. **What's next:** Future funding rounds will focus on three key themes identified by councillors and communities: - Preventing fly-tipping - Supporting young people into employment - Tackling anti-social behaviour **The bottom line:** In its first partial year, Ipswich's redesigned Community Chest fund has already reached dozens of local groups and projects across the town, with the council now turning its attention to a fresh set of neighbourhood priorities for the year ahead. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council moves to fill town centre's empty shops URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-moves-to-fill-town-centres-empty-shops/ Last updated: 2026-07-14T10:25:33.000Z **Why it matters:** The council's Executive meets on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, to consider designating an area of the town centre for High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs). This would force landlords of persistently vacant units to hand over leases to new tenants. A 2025 survey found 19% of units in Ipswich's Central Shopping Area are not in use, which the council says broadly reflects the national picture. **The details:** HSRAs were introduced under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 and came into force in December 2024\. They let councils auction short-term leases – of between one and five years – on qualifying empty commercial premises that have sat vacant for a year, or for 366 days across a two-year period. The process runs in two stages, taking around 22 to 23 weeks in total: - Notice period: The council serves notice on the landlord, who then has eight weeks to find their own tenant. - Auction period: If the landlord fails to do so, the council can move to a 12-week auction period, marketing the lease and inviting bids before a new tenant is chosen. If Executive agrees on 14 July, the council will run a public consultation, lasting at least 28 days, on which streets should be included. Officers have proposed a bespoke area rather than the existing Ipswich Central Business Improvement District zone or Central Shopping Area boundary, so that streets including St Helens Street and Upper Orwell Street can be brought in. **By the numbers:** The council has set out the likely costs and funding for the scheme: - Estimated cost per auction: £9,450 - Potentially recoverable from the incoming tenant: around £5,000 - Government "new burdens" funding per auction: £5,223 - Further national funding announced for the scheme on 2 June 2026: £10m - Projected net cost to the council over five years (assuming five auctions a year, with no costs recovered): £118,670, rising from £21,130 in 2026/27 to £26,420 by 2030/31 **What they're saying:** Councillor [Neil MacDonald](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/neil-macdonald/), leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "The Council is determined to tackle vacant town centre units, which reduce footfall, harm businesses and damage Ipswich's overall vitality. Through HSRAs, we can step in where landlords leave properties empty so that we can bring them back into use with short-term leases to new tenants – such as local businesses or community groups. This will help to revitalise the town centre and stimulate economic activity. "The aim is to break the cycle of long-term vacancy, unrealistic rents, inactive landlords, and long-empty units. Using HSRAs is expected to boost activity, support local entrepreneurs, increase footfall, and strengthen the local economy, without requiring major public investment." **For context:** Twelve councils have so far worked as early adopters of HSRAs nationally, bringing 66 long-term vacant units back into use. In Harworth and Bircotes, Nottinghamshire, the vacancy rate fell from 11% to 3% in the scheme's first year. Closer to home, Broxtowe Borough Council became the first authority in England to formally serve an HSRA notice, in September 2025, on a shop in Stapleford – prompting the landlord to refurbish the property and find a tenant before it reached auction. Two of Ipswich town centre's most prominent vacant buildings, Ancient House and the former Little Waitrose, are owned by Ipswich Borough Council itself. HSRAs are designed to compel private landlords to act, and it remains unclear whether, or how, the powers could apply to council-owned vacant buildings. **What's next:** If Executive approves the consultation on 14 July, it will run for at least 28 days, after which the council will consider the responses and decide whether to proceed with formally designating the area. **The bottom line:** Nearly two years after HSRAs became law, Ipswich looks willing to start using them. If approved, the scheme could bring new life to the town centre, with hopes it might eventually help bring long-vacant landmarks – such as Ancient House, and the former Little Waitrose – back into use. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk Tories challenge county council leader over £15k+ private office refit URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-tories-challenge-county-council-leader-over-15k-private-office-refit/ Last updated: 2026-07-13T07:10:33.000Z **Why it matters:** The spending was approved by an officer over Microsoft Teams, with no committee report, published decision record or member-level vote, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. **The details:** The project, which converts an existing meeting room into an office for the Reform UK leader, is costed at £18,484.31 excluding VAT. That figure does not include video-conferencing equipment, which was still being priced separately. More than 83% of the total – £15,417.15 – is itemised against the Leader's office: - £12,816.19 on power, data and access control works, including a card reader, a push-to-exit system and a desk-side door release button - £1,232.13 for frosted glazing to the office's glass partition - £844.83 for IT equipment - £424 for a specialist desk chair - £100 for decals Separately, the Cabinet Members' room received new monitors, keyboards and mice, and a £300 lock was fitted to separate the Cabinet office from the rest of the floor. The Leader's chair was the only new chair purchased during the project. **The paper trail:** Emails and Teams messages show the request originated with Hadwen and was passed to officers by Joint Chief Executive Andrew Cook. On Friday, 29 May, Cook told Assistant Director Matthew West that Hadwen wanted to use the "Catchpole" room as his office and the "Reform Group" room as an informal Cabinet meeting space, adding that Hadwen "has already chased" the office moves and "will be expecting some solutions sooner rather than later". Officers met Hadwen on site on Friday, 5 June, to discuss the specification. By Wednesday, 10 June, West told Cook over Teams that the changes would cost "approx. 18K", asking whether a budget existed or whether the cost should be "absorbed" within Corporate Services. Cook approved proceeding on Thursday, 11 June, replying: "Happy that we proceed. Assume at present it's to be absorbed within CS but we can always discuss later in the year if that presents a problem." Hadwen emailed West the following day, Friday, 12 June: "Looks great. Please can we get this underway as soon as possible." The IT ticket authorising the works specifies two exit buttons for the Leader's new office – one by the door and one allowing Hadwen to release the door from his desk – with access restricted to Hadwen and one other person, still to be confirmed. **What they're saying:** Cllr Richard Rout, Leader of the Conservative Group, said: "Reform came in promising to save money but one of their first acts looks to be splashing out around £15,000 on a new office for their leader, including thousands of pounds on kit and wiring for a special button so he doesn't have to get up from his desk to open his door. "Endeavour House already provides office accommodation and workspace for councillors to carry out their duties. Taxpayers will rightly question why thousands of pounds are being spent on changes that appear to have more to do with personal aggrandisement than the delivery of frontline services." Cllr Matthew Hicks, the previous Leader of Suffolk County Council, said: "The previous office served me perfectly well for eight years, and a similar room has been perfectly adequate for leaders over the last twenty years. Why does Cllr Hadwen think he needs a £15,000-plus leader's suite? The fact that public money is being spent so he doesn't have to get up and open his own door, like everyone else in that building does, beggars' belief." **The other side:** In May, shortly after being elected as the council's new leader, he instructed officers to look at options to refurbish the office space. At the time, he told the BBC's Local Democracy Reporter Service that the changes would serve as a "mentality change" and ensure more of his Cabinet members worked on-site. Correspondence shows officers repeatedly sought savings during the project. They agreed to reuse existing furniture where possible, "pinch" chairs and sofas from another meeting room rather than buy new ones, and swap a large screen intended for Hadwen's office for a smaller one – freeing up the larger screen for use in the Conservative Group's own room. Hadwen was approached for comment. **What's next:** The Conservative Group is calling on the Reform administration to publish the final cost of the project, including all IT and video-conferencing equipment, identify the budget it is being funded from, explain the authority under which it was approved without a member-level decision, and demonstrate how it represents value for money for Suffolk taxpayers. **The bottom line:** An £18,484 office revamp for Suffolk's new council leader has become a political flashpoint, with the Conservative opposition calling it self-indulgent and Hadwen framing the changes as a practical shift in how his administration operates. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### After 15 years of delays, The Mill takes a decisive step forward URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/after-15-years-of-delays-the-mill-takes-a-decisive-step-forward/ Last updated: 2026-07-13T07:10:07.000Z **Why it matters:** Gateway, the government body that checks fire and safety calculations for the recladding of high-rise blocks across the UK, has approved plans to reclad all 215 occupied flats at The Mill – a decision developers say will come as a huge relief to residents who have lived with dangerous cladding for years. **The details:** The approval also covers the building's vacant tower, paving the way for the completion of 85 flats within it. John Howard, speaking on behalf of The Mill Ipswich Limited, the development company set up to lead the redevelopment, said: "It's taken exactly two years of very hard work from my construction partner Paul Hardy and his team to get to this point. We now hope to be on site before November this year." He added: "A lot of thanks needs to go to Homes England and the Levelling Up Fund that make the grant funding available in order for these blocks across the UK to be reclad. Everybody involved has worked incredibly hard to get to this point." **For context:** The Mill has been at the centre of a 15-year saga since part of its structure was deemed unsafe in 2013, when gale-force winds tore cladding from the building, exposing fire hazards. Fire experts warned in 2014 that the polystyrene cladding was so unsafe that residents should be moved out. The building's freeholder went into administration in 2010, and multiple attempts to resolve the situation failed over the following years. In 2023, residents protested outside the offices of the building's former administrators, saying they felt like "prisoners in their own homes" as their properties became worthless. Property developer John Howard purchased the freehold for £1 in July 2024 and, alongside construction director Paul Hardy, has been working towards Gateway approval since. In December 2025, Howard said he hoped to be in a position to start work "in May next year", pending sign-off from Gateway, so while it has taken a little longer than hoped – as if often the case with these complex projects – everyone will be pleased that the end is in sight. **The bottom line:** After years of false starts and residents trapped in unsellable properties, The Mill has finally cleared one of its biggest remaining hurdles. With approval now granted, Howard says he hopes to be on site before November this year. The project is expected to take 18 months to complete once under way, tackling dangerous cladding on the 215 occupied flats and finishing the 85 apartments in the tower. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk businesses stuck in economic 'holding pattern' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-businesses-stuck-in-economic-holding-pattern/ Last updated: 2026-07-13T07:05:25.000Z **Why it matters:** The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce's Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for April to June 2026 shows trading conditions at their harshest for some time, with the impact of the Iran War clearly visible in rising concerns over price hikes and supply chains. **The big picture:** Any quarter-on-quarter gains for some service firms were offset by similar declines among manufacturers – a reversal of the trend seen in the previous three months. Most of the measures tracked by the survey remain in negative territory, meaning more businesses reported worsening conditions than improving ones. **By the numbers:** Manufacturers reported declines across most measures: - Domestic sales down 24 percentage points to -20% - Domestic orders down 21 percentage points to -29% - Export sales down 44 percentage points to -50% - Export orders down 44 percentage points to -56% Confidence in improving profitability fell 36 percentage points to -39%, while turnover confidence fell 32 percentage points to -14%. Investment in plant and machinery fell 14 percentage points. There were upticks in training investment (up 15 percentage points to +4%) and cash flow – up 12 percentage points, though still at -18%. Service companies fared somewhat better, with quarter-on-quarter improvements in domestic orders (up six percentage points), cash flow (up nine percentage points), investment in plant and machinery (up 12 percentage points), training investment (up 13 percentage points), and confidence in profitability (up 13 percentage points) and turnover (up nine percentage points). However, with the exception of turnover, all these measures remain in negative territory. Inflation is a growing worry, cited by 43% of respondents, with 64% of manufacturers and 49% of service companies reporting pressure to raise their own prices. Taxation remains the single biggest concern, mentioned by nearly 70% of respondents. **What they're saying:** Businesses shared how the challenges are playing out day to day. A van rental company said: "We are taking risks this year to grow. But these are mainly linked to Europe, as there is more confidence. We have considered moving the operation to Europe." A software development company said a "200% increase in a key supplier's prices a year ago is still making life very difficult for us, severely limiting plans for new investment in the business." A consultant said: "Due to the conflict in the Middle East and the requirement to travel on business the availability of fuel is a concern." A caterer added: "Food inflation and wages have outpriced what we can viably increase prices by." A machinery manufacturer warned: "The effect on future fertiliser availability due to the war in Iran could be incredibly significant for the agriculture industry." Paul Simon, Suffolk Chamber's head of public affairs, said: "Suffolk is full of innovative and hard-working business owners and managers. There is much that is positive happening in the county, but we should not ignore the entrenched challenges that do exist. "Whilst international events are largely outside the influence of British state institutions, there is more that Government and councils can do to boost business confidence." He called for the corporate tax increases in the 2024 Budget to be rolled back, and for more public sector contracts in Suffolk to be awarded to local small and medium-sized enterprises. **For context:** The previous QES, covering January to March 2026, was gathered before the full effects of recent Government tax changes had begun to filter through, and warned the picture for Suffolk businesses could get worse before it got better. That survey found businesses in a similarly difficult position, with Doug Field, chair of Suffolk Chamber's Economy Group, saying at the time: "There's real resilience among Suffolk's businesses, but that doesn't mean the situation isn't serious. Too many firms are treading water rather than moving forward." **The bottom line:** Three months on from warnings that tax changes could hit Suffolk businesses hard, the latest survey suggests the county's economy remains stuck in a holding pattern – with the added pressure of global events now weighing on price and supply chain concerns. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk voters splinter as Reform's lead narrows in region, new polling data predicts URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-voters-splinter-as-reforms-lead-narrows-in-region-new-polling-data-predicts/ Last updated: 2026-07-13T07:02:16.000Z The findings come from a large-scale MRP poll conducted by Ipswich-based communications agency PLMR Genesis in partnership with Electoral Calculus, offering one of the most detailed pictures of how Suffolk's political mood is shifting. ## A narrowing lead Reform was polling at 32% in the East of England in April this year. By June, that figure had fallen to 26%. Over the same period, support for Labour rose from 14% to 21%, while the Conservatives climbed from 11% to 20%. For the first time, the polling also tracked support for Restore Britain, a party now polling at 6% in the region. The scale of that figure, set against Reform's decline, suggests the new party is drawing votes away from Nigel Farage's party. Tim Miller, managing director of PLMR Genesis, said the picture in the East of England reflected a wider national trend. "Interestingly in the East of England we're seeing support for Reform fall, with Labour and the Conservatives recovering ground," he said. "The emergence of Restore Britain appears to be squeezing Reform's vote share. However, no party is yet close to securing enough support to govern alone. This leaves the political outlook as open and unpredictable as it has been since the last election." ## Suffolk's seat-by-seat picture Translated into seats, the poll suggests that if an election were held tomorrow, Reform would lead in Suffolk with four seats, ahead of the Conservatives on three and Labour on one. That would represent a significant reshaping of the county's political map, and underlines how fragmented the vote in Suffolk has become. Martin Baxter, founder of Electoral Calculus, pointed to the national picture behind these local shifts. "For the first time, Restore Britain has been included in our polling, and they are cutting directly into Reform's vote share," he said. "That leaves Nigel Farage fighting on two fronts, with the Conservatives also recovering ground." ## Fatigue with Westminster The polling also points to widespread frustration with political instability more broadly. Over half (59%) of voters in the East of England said they thought it was a bad idea to keep changing prime minister so frequently, with just 7% saying it was a good thing. The findings landed as Labour's leadership contest reached its final stages. Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, secured the backing of 322 of Labour's 403 MPs, putting him on course to become party leader unopposed and to take office as prime minister on 20 July, following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation. Whether Burnham's arrival in Downing Street will ease that frustration remains to be seen. Miller said the message from voters was clear regardless of who held the top job. "One of the clearest messages from this polling is that voters in the region are tired of the political instability in Westminster," he said. "Whatever their political views, most people do not think regularly changing the person at the top is good for the country. They want the government to focus on delivering, rather than constantly resetting." ## A country going nowhere fast Nationally, the poll suggests no party is on course for a majority. Labour and Reform are tied on 22%, with the Conservatives close behind on 20%. In seats, that translates to Labour on 217, the Conservatives on 151 and Reform on 127 – all well short of the 326 needed to govern alone. Even a coalition between Labour, the Liberal Democrats (on 72 seats) and the Greens (on 30 seats) would not be enough to reach a majority, according to the projection. Baxter said the findings pointed towards continued deadlock at Westminster, whoever ends up leading the country. "Our figures show that if a general election were held now, it would result in a hung parliament where even a three-way coalition of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens would fall short of a majority," he said. "Burnham's return to Westminster has given Labour a boost, but only time will tell if he can persuade a pessimistic public that another spin of No 10's revolving door will deliver progress, or if it will just leave the country going in circles." ## Understanding the numbers The poll was conducted using a technique known as multi-level regression and post-stratification, or MRP. This method combines a large-scale survey with other data sources, such as census figures, to estimate how different groups of voters are likely to behave in specific local areas, including individual constituencies. MRP has become a valuable tool in British politics because a general election is, in effect, hundreds of separate local contests happening at once. However, the method relies on a number of assumptions and estimates, and different models can produce different results even when using the same underlying data. As with all polling, the figures reflect a snapshot of opinion at the time it was collected. Voters can, and often do, change their minds as events unfold. Fieldwork for this poll was carried out between 23 and 30 June 2026, with a sample size of more than 5,545 adults. The data is credited to Electoral Calculus & PLMR July 2026 MRP Poll. ## The bottom line Reform may still be ahead on paper in Suffolk, but the ground beneath it is shifting. When Burnham moves into Downing Street, he inherits not only a fractured national picture, but a Suffolk electorate that is still making up its mind. He must now convince our county that Labour can deliver before the next general election comes around. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£68 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Thrasher pub reopens on Nacton Road after refurbishment URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/thrasher-pub-reopens-on-nacton-road-after-refurbishment/ Last updated: 2026-07-13T07:00:08.000Z **Why it matters:** The pub, owned by Greene King, has been closed for refurbishment and reopened to guests on Thursday, 10 July. **The details:** The pub's interior has been refitted with new décor, lighting and furniture. The toilets have also been refurbished. The food and drink offering has been extended to include a breakfast menu, available from 09:00 seven days a week, alongside a new self-serve coffee machine. The pub has also installed new TV screens and sound systems to show live sport, including Sky Sports and TNT Sports fixtures. Outside, the beer garden has been refreshed with new furniture, signage and lighting, and the children's play area has been updated. **What they're saying:** Terry Reilly, general manager at the Thrasher, said: "We know just how much this pub means to the local community, and we're delighted to be showcasing the pub's brand-new look and feel this summer. "With changes ranging from a delicious new breakfast offering to sparkling upgrades both inside and out, there's something for everyone here at the Thrasher. We have also been busy planning a host of entertainment for guests of all ages to enjoy. Come in and see us to find out more!" **What's next:** The pub will host a weekly entertainment schedule, including Open Mic Mondays, a general knowledge quiz night, family karaoke on Sundays and regular live music. **The bottom line:** The Thrasher has reopened following a refurbishment of its interior, food offering and outdoor space, with new entertainment planned for the coming weeks. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Harmonious Cafe: Coffee, community and wellness URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/coffee-community-and-wellness-new-cafe-opens-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-07-11T10:45:21.000Z **Why it matters:** The cafe brings together two familiar names in Ipswich's food and wellness scene. It aims to give the town centre a daytime hub for brunch, coffee and community activities as part of a wider trend towards health-conscious hospitality venues. **The details:** Harmonious Cafe properly launched on Wednesday, 1 July. It operates during the day out of Curve Bar. The venture is a partnership between Harmonious Society and The Good Supper. - Harmonious Society is a lifestyle and wellness brand founded by former Ipswich Town FC players Luke Chambers and Emyr Huws. - The Good Supper is run by chef Surrey Rogers, previously of the Good Inside cafe, and partner and chef Ben Taylor. - The Good Supper is running the kitchen. The menu includes brunch dishes such as babaganoush with poached eggs, pickled peppers and herb salad. Greek and Caesar salads are also on offer. There is a range of freshly baked focaccia sandwiches, including chicken Caesar with streaky bacon and whipped feta with smacked cucumber. - Harmonious Society is managing the speciality coffee programme. **What's next:** The cafe plans to launch a click & collect service via its upcoming website, aimed at commuters and town centre workers, along with an office delivery service offering lunches, sandwiches and buffets to local businesses. **The bigger picture:** Beyond food and drink, Harmonious Cafe is positioning itself as a wellness hub. It is incorporating Harmonious Society's existing run club and wellness initiatives into the venue. A private hire service is also being launched with in-house events catered by The Good Supper. The company separately offers external catering for weddings and other venues across the region. On Ipswich Town home match days, the partnership will run a street food pop-up for fans. **What they're saying:** Bradley Tai, owner of Curve Bar, said the daytime transformation of the venue made the most of the space for the local neighbourhood. "I love supporting local independent businesses, and bringing this blend of wellness, exceptional food, and great coffee into Curve Bar during the day is exactly what the area needs," he said. **The bottom line:** Behind Harmonious Cafe are well-known names from Ipswich Town FC and the local food scene. Brunch, speciality coffee and wellness activities are the ingredients they hope will make Curve Bar a community fixture. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Lloyds Avenue: Approved, funded...still waiting URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/lloyds-avenue-approved-funded-still-waiting/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T20:54:58.000Z Walk under Lloyd's Arch today, and little has changed since the council first revealed its plans to improve it. In fact, the only thing that has changed is the goalposts. It is a familiar occurrence in Ipswich, where regeneration promises have repeatedly taken longer, and delivered less, than residents were told to expect. ## Six years, no spades in the ground The story of the Lloyds Avenue redevelopment did not begin in 2024 when designs were revealed. It was named alongside Arras Square and Majors Corner in the Ipswich Investment Plan submitted to government by the Ipswich Town Deal Board in December 2020\. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/dato-bWZxSUzcQIiqhV2zUe9hJg-1775138290630-2-1.jpg) Lloyd's Avenue arch in Ipswich town centre (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) That bid, seeking nearly £29m across 12 projects, included a shared £3m public realm improvements project covering all three sites, with £1.5m requested from the Towns Fund and a further £1.5m committed by the council itself, conditional on that Towns Fund money being secured. Ipswich was awarded its Towns Fund allocation in 2021. The council did not unveil concept designs specifically for the Lloyds Avenue scheme until July 2024\. They ran a public consultation between Thursday, 5 September and Sunday, 29 September 2024\. The scheme – now costed at £1.4m, and covering wider footways, new planters and landscaping, alongside a refurbished Lloyds Arch with digital screens and improved lighting – was approved by the Planning and Development Committee on Wednesday, 2 April 2025. The scheme did not pass without opposition – a small group of taxi drivers and disability campaigners warned that halving the rank from 21 to 11 spaces would leave elderly and disabled passengers struggling – but pass it did. Construction was expected to begin late 2025, then at the beginning of 2026, but was delayed after issues were found with the substrate beneath the footpaths. ## So when will work *actually* start? The council says Suffolk Highways has now approved the scheme, allowing a contractor to fix its design and price and book road space to confirm start and finish dates. Once a start date is confirmed, works are expected to take around eight months. The council also says the Traffic Regulation Order needed to formally implement the taxi rank changes will not be finalised until after the works are complete, meaning the argument that dominated 2025 will still not be settled when building work eventually begins. The council has now had the funding to deliver this scheme for more than five years, yet it still cannot say when work will begin. ## A pattern of underachievement Lloyds Avenue has waited longer than most other stalled regeneration projects in Ipswich, but it is not an isolated case. The council's Town Centre Greening project – originally the Ipswich Oasis scheme, first put forward in the December 2020 Towns Fund bid and promised as a "trailblazing" 5km green corridor with living walls and an "active mile" of exercise equipment – had, by August 2025, delivered little more than hanging baskets and some temporary planters near the Cardinal Wolsey statue. Underground utility problems on Princes Street and St Nicholas Street forced repeated design changes. Work on a scaled-back version finally began in February 2026, and while the planters we see today are a welcome improvement, they stop way short of what was originally envisioned. The redevelopment of Arras Square, another project included in the Towns Fund vision, was first proposed in 2020, when the council appointed Erect Architecture to design the revamp. Following a delay and a public vote, the planning application for the redevelopment was submitted in May 2023\. After several setbacks and costly design adjustments, work finally began in June 2026. Ipswich Museum, meanwhile, has been closed since October 2022\. Its reopening has slipped from 2025 to the end of 2026, and now to the first quarter of 2027, with costs rising from an original £8.7m to almost £12.4m after "unexpected challenges". [Ipswich Museum: Behind schedule, over budget, and...worth it?We were invited inside Ipswich Museum on Wednesday, 18 March – six days before councillors are due to vote on whether to commit a further £492,625 to complete the project that has fallen way behind schedule.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-fd2624b2-8146-48e8-9605-2048458fb029.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1773832725-the-entrance-to-ipswich-museum-in-march-2026-jpeg-9314637e-81ce-49d5-997a-6444940a2f35.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-museum-behind-schedule-over-budget-and-worth-it/) The museum absorbed its setbacks through extra funding, spending its way to a finish line that keeps moving. Ipswich Oasis quietly shrank from a five-kilometre green corridor to a handful of planters and benches. Arras Square wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds going through multiple design and planning cycles before work finally began. Lloyds Avenue, with funding secured over five years ago, is simply waiting. Whether that reflects ambition that outran planning, or planning that never quite caught up with ambition, the council is still unable to answer one simple question: when will work begin? ## The bottom line Lloyds Avenue has been funded since 2021 and approved since April 2025\. Despite that, the council can't say when work will actually start. Other regeneration promises across town have faced similar delays, but none have waited quite this long with so little to show for it. Ipswich Borough Council is to be abolished in 2028, and the redevelopment of Lloyds Avenue – funded and approved – faces the real possibility of outlasting the council that promised it some five years ago. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£147 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council plans £400,000 cash boost for cleaner streets URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-plans-400-000-cash-boost-for-cleaner-streets/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T12:01:01.000Z **Why it matters:** The council says the investment would help create cleaner, safer and more welcoming streets for residents, businesses and visitors. **The details:** The new team would focus on priority areas including: - The town centre - Busy pedestrian routes and main roads - Key gateways into Ipswich - Residential areas with recurring cleanliness issues - Local shopping areas, neighbourhood centres and public spaces - Locations affected by weed growth, litter and debris - Environmental hotspots needing additional attention beyond routine cleansing **For context:** The proposal follows positive financial results for 2025/26, which the council says has enabled it to consider additional investment in frontline services. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Neil MacDonald](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/neil-macdonald/), leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "We're pleased that our prudent approach to finance allows us to invest £400,000 in a new Neighbourhood Cleansing Team. "Residents tell us that keeping Ipswich clean and tidy is important to them. We have heard this and are providing additional people to improve the appearance of our streets and public spaces. "This dedicated team will work across the borough on a planned basis, helping to tackle environmental issues and support cleaner, greener neighbourhoods for everyone." **What's next:** The proposal will be considered by the council's Executive as part of the 2025/26 financial outturn report on Tuesday, 14 July. **The bottom line:** If approved, the new team would give Ipswich a dedicated, planned approach to tackling litter, weeds and grime across the whole town. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Halo Festival brought a sold-out day to Trinity Park URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/halo-festival-brought-a-sold-out-day-to-trinity-park/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T10:57:29.000Z ## A festival built from scratch The festival was the creation of Suffolk tech firm [Halo](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/halo/), which set its sights on staging an event of its own nine months earlier. With no previous experience of running festivals, the company built the whole thing from the ground up, driven by a simple ambition: to give something back to the town it calls home. Halo confirmed the night before the event that tickets were sold out, and what began as an unpredictable venture had, in the space of a single sunny day, become one of the summer's biggest talking points in Ipswich. ## Three stages, one big night Trinity Park was transformed for the occasion, with a Main Stage, the Aspall Suffolk Stage and a DJ tent all running throughout the day. Gates opened at 11:00, with music continuing until 23:00. The Main Stage carried the day's biggest names, including Natasha Bedingfield, The Vaccines and Scouting for Girls, before Two Door Cinema Club closed out the night. As the sun dipped below the treeline, for a moment it seemed like the crowd, packed shoulder to shoulder across the field, engrossed in the moment, seemed to forget they were still in Ipswich at all. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_2725-1.jpeg) Halo Festival, Ipswich (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Away from the Main Stage, the DJ tent took on a different character. Filled with coloured lights, it housed acts including Girls Don't Sync and Conducta, and felt closer in feel to a late-night rave. While the headline acts drew the biggest crowds, it was the Aspall Suffolk Stage that gave the festival its local heart. Ipswich band Afterdrive, who have already completed their own debut tour, supported Ed Sheeran at Portman Road and played at Latitude, returned to their home turf to perform at the first festival of this calibre in Ipswich. Woodbridge artist Harriet Cree, chosen by public vote, opened proceedings on the stage earlier in the day. The decision to hand a stage over to Suffolk's own talent gave the day a distinctly local flavour, - accompanied by the Aspall stand offering a range of local ciders - and served as a reminder of just how much homegrown music is coming out of Ipswich. ## More than a music festival Beyond the stages, Trinity Park was home to a village of stalls, stands and community groups, keeping festival-goers busy between sets. Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park set up on site, while a Bear Beer bar tied its custom directly to the cause, running a "Crafted Conservation" promotion in which every round bought was matched by Halo to double its impact on conservation work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_2686-1.jpeg) Halo Festival, Ipswich (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Elsewhere around the site, mental health charity Suffolk Mind, local roastery Combat2Coffee, live music organisation Brighten the Corners and the Ipswich Town Football Club Foundation all had a presence, alongside a separate Ipswich Town merchandise stand for fans wanting to show their colours between acts. ## A day built for everyone Food stalls offered everything from chicken and German sausage stands to sweet treats, catering to a crowd that ranged from young families to groups of friends settling into camping chairs for the afternoon. What stood out most, though, was the atmosphere. Strangers struck up conversations in the queue for food, laughter carried across the field between sets, and there was a lightness to the day that felt distinct from the usual festival grind of queues and crowd crushes. It was less about the acts on stage, at times, and more about the shared sense that Ipswich finally had a festival of its own. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_2752-1-1.jpg) Halo Festival, Ipswich (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) ## The bottom line For a debut, Halo Festival delivered. A headline-worthy line-up, a stage given over entirely to local talent, and a scattering of Suffolk charities and businesses across the site all combined to produce something that felt both ambitious and thoroughly rooted in its home town. Nobody had to leave Ipswich to find a big day out, and for one Saturday in July, the town gave itself plenty to be proud of. If this was Halo's warm-up act, Ipswich should probably start clearing its diary for next year. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£186 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Recovery-focused music night to hold summer event URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/recovery-focused-music-night-to-hold-summer-event/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T09:26:12.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich Sober Mic gives people in recovery, their families and the wider community a safe, alcohol-free space to connect through music, creativity and shared experiences. Funds raised at the event will cover venue hire and facilitator costs, helping keep the sessions accessible. **The details:** The Summer Celebration, open to everyone, takes place from 12:00 to 16:00 at The Royal Oak Café, Emmaus Suffolk, on Felixstowe Road, and will include live music, an open mic session and a barbecue. **The big picture:** Ipswich Sober Mic was set up by Music Prescription CIC, with support from Turning Point, in response to a lack of sober social spaces in the town. Since launching in November 2024, the monthly sessions have grown steadily and now attract around 30 people, with attendance continuing to rise. **What they're saying:** The sessions are facilitated by professional musicians Tim Ainslie and Andi Hopgood, who accompany and support performers. Tim Ainslie said: "We've seen people who never imagined standing up in front of an audience find the confidence to perform for the very first time. Music has a unique way of bringing people together, and Ipswich Sober Mic has become a place where people can support one another and express themselves in a safe environment." **The bottom line:** Organisers hope the Summer Celebration will introduce new people to the project and raise awareness of the benefits of sober community spaces in Ipswich. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich set to get new town council to keep civic identity URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-set-to-get-new-town-council-to-keep-civic-identity/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T09:23:42.000Z **Why it matters:** Amid local government reorganisation, the move would secure Ipswich's civic status, giving it the same level of very local representation as towns such as Felixstowe and Hadleigh. **The details:** The new council would hold elections for 17 councillors in May 2027\. The mayoralty and civic regalia would then transfer to the new body on 1 April 2028, to coincide with the start of the Ipswich and south Suffolk unitary council. The regalia includes: - The mayor's chain of office, dating from 1871 - The town's maces, gifted to Ipswich in 1665 by King Charles II - The borough's ancient seals - The water bailiff's ceremonial oar - A ceremonial sword commissioned for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee in 1887 **The big picture:** Ipswich is England's longest continuously settled Anglo-Saxon town, with a charter dating back to 1200\. The new council and the Ipswich and south Suffolk council may in time agree that the town council should operate some services in the town. **For context:** The Government announced on 25 March 2026 that Suffolk's existing county, district and borough councils would be replaced by three new unitary authorities: Western Suffolk Council, Central and Eastern Suffolk Council, and Ipswich and South Suffolk Council. Suffolk County Council has since filed a judicial review claim challenging the lawfulness of that decision, though elections for the new unitary authorities remain planned for May 2027. [Suffolk is taking the Government to court over LGR, but can it win its £500k taxpayer-funded battle?Suffolk County Council has filed a judicial review claim against the Secretary of State over local government reorganisation. The legal arguments are now known, but the threshold is high, and even a successful outcome may not deliver what the council is seeking. We explain all.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-d2f803e2-6f2e-4f5c-9ab3-e8d3077046c0.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--35--4761d813-a9fa-4405-b564-42d7ea325427.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-is-taking-the-government-to-court-over-lgr-but-can-it-win-its-500k-taxpayer-funded-battle/) **The bottom line:** The vote on 15 July marks a key step in preserving Ipswich's mayor and civic traditions as the town prepares for a new unitary authority. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Dance workshop helps Ipswich family cherish son's memory URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/dance-workshop-helps-ipswich-family-cherish-sons-memory/ Last updated: 2026-07-08T11:49:18.000Z **Why it matters:** DanceEast and KDE Dance in collaboration with East Anglia's Children's Hospice (EACH), hosted a bereavement day. It gave a family a unique way to process grief together through creativity. **The details:** The morning began with a 20-minute performance in which dancers used movement, music and motion capture suits to create a visually striking experience, with their choreography projected onto a large screen behind them. The family then took part in interactive movement games, including mirror exercises and learning short choreographed sequences, before trying on the motion capture suits themselves. **What they're saying:** Laura said: "It was such a special and beautiful experience – something we all loved and were able to enjoy together. "I always grab any opportunity to do things like this, because it's a chance to take some time and indulge in our memories of Elliot. As strange as it may sound, it makes me feel closer to him, as though we've spent the day together. "Everyone was so accommodating, and we were very grateful to KDE Dance, DanceEast and EACH." Katie Dale-Everett, Artistic Director of KDE Dance, said: "Working with this family and the EACH team was a very special experience. We loved getting to know the participants and witnessing them share moments of joy together, while also being able to offer the group new creative and technical skills." EACH Play Specialist Hailey Allen added: "The day was designed not only as a performance experience but as an opportunity for shared creativity, play and connection. The technology was incredibly effective, and I know the family enjoyed doing something special and unique together." **The bigger picture:** The workshop was KDE Dance's first bereavement day offering. Following its success, Dale-Everett said she hopes to offer similar sessions to more bereavement support services in the future. **The bottom line:** For one Ipswich family, an afternoon of dance and technology became a chance to grieve together through joy, connection and shared memory. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£24 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### A12 scheme budget could increase to £63.6m URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a12-scheme-budget-could-increase-by-4m/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T09:15:43.000Z **Why it matters:** The council could approve an extra £4m to complete the full business plan ahead of submission to the Government, with county councillors expected to make the commitment during next week's cabinet meeting. **The details:** Roughly half of the £4m investment would be paid from ring-fenced funding, with the rest coming from a Government grant designed for transport enhancement and maintenance. It is hoped the A12 Major Road Network (MRN) scheme will help with congestion, provide space for future growth and improve conditions for road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. It will include: - Improvements to several junctions, including at Seven Hills, Barrack Square and Anson Road - A new dual carriageway section between Seckford Hall Road and Grundisburgh roundabout - A new footbridge over the A12 at Martlesham, to replace the existing structure built in the 1970s, which no longer meets modern standards **What's next:** If the extra funding is approved, a full business case is expected to be completed this summer and submitted to the Government by September. **The other side:** Delaying the investment, council papers say, would risk postponing the delivery of the scheme's "transport, economic and growth benefits" while increasing potential conflicts with other major projects, such as Sizewell C. **For context:** The Department for Transport has already confirmed it would contribute just over £54m to the project subject to a sound business case. The county council itself is expected to pay about £3.5m of the total bill – £1.5m of which would be borrowed – with a further £6m coming from third-party contributions. **The bottom line:** Council papers say delaying the investment would risk postponing the scheme's benefits, as councillors weigh up whether to commit the extra £4m needed to complete the business case ahead of submission to the Government. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk Preservation Society names new president URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-preservation-society-names-new-president/ Last updated: 2026-07-08T08:22:53.000Z **Why it matters:** The Suffolk Preservation Society has championed the conservation of the county's historic buildings and landscapes since 1929\. Hunt takes on the role as the charity prepares for its 100th anniversary in 2029 and launches its first small grants scheme for craftspeople working in endangered heritage trades. **The details:** Hunt has been a trustee of the society since 2016\. She has overseen the ongoing restoration and conservation of the Heveningham Hall estate and mansion, near Halesworth, since her family bought the property. **What they're saying:** Hunt said: "It is with great delight, and no small sense of surprise, that I take on the role of President of the Suffolk Preservation Society. It is a privilege I do not take lightly. At the same time, I am determined that we should look forward with energy and ambition." She added: "Suffolk is a county of extraordinary richness – its landscapes, its architecture, its history and its people are a constant source of inspiration – and the Society's role in celebrating and safeguarding that heritage has never been more important." Robert Townshend, chair of trustees, said: "Lois is such a dedicated supporter of the Suffolk Preservation Society. Her passion for and knowledge of historic building conservation is so evident in the sensitive and exemplary restoration of her family home, Heveningham Hall, and the surrounding estate. We are thrilled to have Lois as our President." **The bigger picture:** The Suffolk Preservation Society focuses its work on three areas: identifying and campaigning for buildings and landscapes at risk, education and training in heritage crafts, and helping communities engage with neighbourhood planning across the county. Hunt has said traditional building crafts are under threat, warning that skills in lime, flint, oak, brick and thatch are "in real danger of being lost". She said she wants the society to support apprenticeships in traditional building trades to help train the next generation of craftspeople. **The bottom line:** As the Suffolk Preservation Society looks towards its 100th year, Hunt's appointment reflects a push to pass traditional building skills on to the next generation. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Free HIV and syphilis testing kits available in Suffolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/free-hiv-and-syphilis-testing-kits-available-in-suffolk/ Last updated: 2026-07-08T08:03:45.000Z **Why it matters:** The campaign aims to encourage regular testing, support early diagnosis and make sexual health services easier to access. **The details:** The kits are available through freetesting.hiv, an NHS-commissioned service. Residents can order online, and the kit arrives in plain, unbranded packaging. The test involves a small finger-prick blood sample taken at home, which is then returned by post. The same sample tests for both HIV and syphilis, with results usually available within three working days of the sample reaching the laboratory. The service is free and does not require a GP appointment or clinic visit. **What they're saying:** Cllr June Mummery, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, said: "Making it as easy as possible for people to access health services is important. At-home testing provides a simple, confidential and convenient way for people to check their sexual health in a setting that suits them." **The bottom line:** With no appointment or clinic visit needed, the scheme offers Suffolk residents a discreet way to check their sexual health from home. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### £18.9m plan to expand SEND support in Suffolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/18-9m-plan-to-expand-send-support-in-suffolk/ Last updated: 2026-07-07T10:13:02.000Z **Why it matters:** The number of children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in Suffolk has risen 17% in a year, from 10,292 in April 2025 to 12,018 in April 2026\. The new investment aims to help more children access support closer to home while easing pressure on the wider SEND system. **The details:** A report recommends allocating £18.889m of government High Needs Capital Funding to expand specialist provision between 2026 and 2030\. The new places would be spread across west, north and south Suffolk. The money would fund: - 168 new specialist places in secondary schools, through specialist bases linked to mainstream schools - 80 additional places through satellite provision connected to existing special schools - £2m to support inclusion in mainstream schools - £2m for adaptations and improvements to mainstream schools - £1m to develop specialist post-16 provision across Suffolk The council plans to use existing school buildings where possible, which it says will allow new provision to be delivered more quickly and cost-effectively than building new schools. Work will focus on areas of highest demand, particularly for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs and Communication and Interaction needs, including autism. **What they're saying:** Cllr Tony Gould, the council's Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, said: "We were elected on a promise to focus on the issues that matter most to Suffolk families, and supporting children and young people with SEND is one of those priorities. "This £18.9 million investment will help create hundreds of new specialist places, reduce the need for long journeys and give more families access to support closer to home. "Every child deserves the chance to thrive in the right educational setting, close to their family and community. This investment is about making that happen for more children and young people across Suffolk. "We are determined to build a SEND system that is more inclusive, more responsive and more sustainable for the future." **The bigger picture:** The investment would follow two other recent funding announcements for SEND provision in Suffolk. In March, the county received more than £9.4m in high needs capital funding, and in April it was allocated a further £5.1m to establish an "Experts at Hand" service giving children faster access to specialist professionals. **What's next:** If approved by Cabinet, the programme would be delivered in phases between 2026 and 2030, with early projects focused on expanding existing provision and improving accessibility in mainstream schools. **The bottom line:** With demand for SEND support continuing to rise, Suffolk County Council says the £18.9m investment is intended to build a more sustainable system that gets children the right help, without long journeys or long waits. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New tests could mean faster endometriosis diagnosis URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-tests-could-mean-faster-endometriosis-diagnosis/ Last updated: 2026-07-07T09:44:54.000Z **Why it matters:** Endometriosis affects around one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, yet the average time to diagnosis is more than nine years. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance recommending two technologies, EndoSure and EndoTest, to be used in the NHS while more evidence is gathered on how well they work. **The details:** NICE's draft guidance allows the two tests to be used in the NHS for a three-year period, during which further evidence will be gathered on how well they work. A third technology, DotEndo, needs more research before NICE can recommend NHS funding for it. EndoTest analyses a saliva sample for tiny biological markers called microRNAs, which can indicate whether endometriosis is likely present. EndoSure detects the condition by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads on the abdomen, after the patient fasts for six to eight hours and drinks water during the 45-minute test. Both tests are intended to be used alongside standard clinical practice, rather than as standalone diagnoses. **What they're saying:** Monica Thomas, founder of Ipswich-based charity Women's Health Hope, lived with symptoms of endometriosis for 17 years before she was diagnosed. "I completely welcome it. It's incredible news," she said. "We could really change the future of those with endometriosis, or suspected endometriosis. For myself, if I'd had this years ago, I feel like it could have prevented so much hardship – emotional pain, self-doubt – that it's caused me throughout the years." Ms Thomas raised concerns about whether NHS services are ready for the impact of faster diagnosis. "Of course there are concerns, because we're probably going to see an influx of women being diagnosed, and we know waiting lists are already overwhelmed," she said. "We need to ensure what's being put in place to manage that. Women are still going to require referral for surgery, because this isn't a standalone diagnosis." She said Suffolk's lack of a dedicated endometriosis specialist made the tests especially significant locally. "In Suffolk, we don't have an endometriosis specialist, so being able to receive that diagnosis is going to be key for women – to validate their feelings and their symptoms. But it needs to come with education and awareness in our local hospitals." **What's next:** Ms Thomas said better training for healthcare professionals must accompany the rollout of the new tests. "What I'd like to see over the next year, locally, for the women of Suffolk, is more education and awareness with our doctors – stamping out misinformation, like the idea that pregnancy cures endometriosis, or that heavy periods are normal." **For context:** The announcement comes as [Women's Health Hope](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/womens-health-hope/) prepares to open [Suffolk's first dedicated Women's Health Support Hub in Ipswich](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolks-first-womens-health-support-hub-to-open-in-ipswich/), at the Unity Centre and Whitton Centre on Meredith Road, with a community opening planned for Saturday, 1 August 2026\. The hub will not offer clinical services such as scans or specialist appointments, but will provide peer support, education and signposting for women and girls across the county. NICE is inviting comments on its draft guidance, with the consultation closing on 27 July 2026 and a second committee meeting scheduled for 12 August 2026\. The recommendations may change following consultation. **The bottom line:** For women who have waited years to be believed, faster and less invasive diagnosis marks a genuine step forward, and one that lands in Ipswich just as local support is continuing to grow around it. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£40 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The Tuesday club quietly shaping Ipswich's girls URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-tuesday-club-quietly-shaping-ipswichs-girls/ Last updated: 2026-07-07T08:03:03.000Z Girls, Where You At? (GWYA), is a programme run by the Ipswich based charity [Future Female Society ](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/future-female-society/)(FFS) for girls aged 12 to 19\. Over a 10-week course the girls learn skills in radio, music and video production, performance, poetry and animation. The sessions run from 17:00 to 19:00, term time only, in a room upstairs at Tower Street. On this particular evening the town's floods had left the girls waiting for their facilitators, the rain had been hitting the windows and the inside was now a soundproof safe chamber. One of them exclaimed with a line that says a lot about the place: "This is like a bonding experience now." ## 'There's always something new' "Like there's always something new," says Betty, a member with Ethiopian and Eritrean heritage. "One week we could be doing dance and then the next we could be doing like drawing and arts and crafts or we could just be talking about literally anything, and it is just nice." "Everyone's really sweet and everyone cares for each other," she says. "Even though we all have different interests and different lives outside the club, we all come into one." Although the programme, on paper, focuses on media skills - the heart of it lies within the relationships the girls build. The opportunities the girls get involved in vary in range and can be quite unexpected. Through GWYA, Betty met a musician her mother admires, and came away with an autograph. "It was a really cool opportunity that I don't think I would have gotten in any other clubs," she says. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/DSC00073.JPG) GWYA! is a programme for 12-19 year old girls, using media to build confidence and aspiration (Photo: GWYA/Ipswich.co.uk) ## The women who have watched them grow Angelle Joseph, has been involved with the club from the very beginning. "I have been at Girls, Where You At? since the very first session," she says. "In fact, the session before it was even a real session, I was there." Over the years, Angelle has watched the club transform itself around whoever walks through that door, regardless of circumstances and regardless of weather conditions. "When we first started we were based in another place that had a radio station, so it was very radio focused," she recalls. "We then had a group that were a lot of them singers, so we did a lot of music-based activities… then we had a lot of people that are arty and acting. So we have definitely gone through doing lots of different things, but it always just comes back to hanging out, having fun, and using media to empower each other and learn new skills." Suzanne Chung, joined in 2025 with a background in media. When asked what kept her at Girls Where Ya At?: "I've stayed because of you girls" she says, "Seeing girls who came here when I started and confidence levels growing and really getting involved in more leadership, and seeing you create a safe space for each other — it's been really nice." ## More than a youth club GWYA is one strand of Future Female Society, the charity founded in 2016 by Kim Trotter after her own experience of isolation as a young single mother. The organisation works with women and girls across Suffolk, building confidence and combating loneliness. GWYA carries that mission to the next generation, mentoring girls through creative careers with the guiding mantra: "If you can see it, you can be it." For many members, the appeal starts as something social. Maria, who joined in September 2024, puts it plainly: "I wanted more friends and now I have more friends." Sky came along because of her older sister and stayed for the friendships. The longest-standing members, Amanda and Alfreda, have been coming since 2022 — self proclaimed "seniors," — and are clear with their appreciation towards the facilitators who "help and uplift and support the girls here." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/DSC00060.JPG) GWYA! is a programme for 12-19 year old girls, using media to build confidence and aspiration (Photo: GWYA/Ipswich.co.uk) For Angelle, the work has a wider purpose. Media and music industries, she says, have "a massive disparity when it comes to gender," and GWYA's answer is to put girls behind the cameras, on the sound desks, hosting and performing. Through the programmes, the girls have found aspects of media that stick, from Amanda, who found a love of presenting after hosting a game show at Suffolk New College, to Maria, the group's "resident DJ." The club has tackled serious subjects too, with workshops from police officers and conversations about street harassment, though Angelle is keen the heavier work never crowds out the joy. She sees the group not fitting into the natural stereotype of the contemporary teenager, and she does not underestimate what it means locally. "It's really nice to actually have power in making a little dent, even if it's small, in our community where we live," she says. ## A fundraiser, and a future Keeping those Tuesday sessions running, however, takes money. The girls are staging a fundraiser of their own at the Hidden Garden Café on 11 July 2026 - with the bunting from that rainy evening bound for its walls. Part party, part talent show, the day promises live music, dancing, games, face painting and, as one member put it, "lots of food." Entry works on a pay-what-you-can basis. The goal, in their own words, is simply "to raise money for the group." ## The bottom line The work happens quietly, every Tuesday in glitter, conversation and shared pizza as Girls, Where You At? provides a space for shared confidence. In a town where, as its facilitators argue, young women too often go unseen and unsupported, that steady work adds up to something - and on 11 July, they are inviting the rest of the town to see it for themselves. [Find out more](https://www.futurefemalesociety.org/girls-where-you-at?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£106 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### How to get tickets for Ipswich Book Festival 2026 URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-to-get-tickets-for-ipswich-book-festival-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-07T07:47:36.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich Book Festival returns for its second year over the weekend of 2–4 October, with more than 50 events across ten venues in the town centre. The festival's theme this year, "More Than Words", explores how stories and ideas shape our understanding of power, identity, history and community. **What's on:** The programme spans fiction, history, music, art, memoir and children's books, with sessions exploring dyslexia, dementia, identity, belonging, queer history and the environment. This year's headline guests include: - Broadcaster Stewart White - Actress and author Caroline Quentin - Journalist and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter - Musician Rusty Egan - Comedian, broadcaster and author Robin Ince They're joined by Ipswich Book Festival patrons Thomas Taylor, Eva Verde, Frances Quinn, Matson Taylor and Ashley Hickson-Lovence, alongside children's author Brogen Murphy and a wider line-up of writers, historians, artists, campaigners and performers. **What they're saying:** Tony Felgate, director of Ipswich Book Festival, said: "Last year exceeded all our expectations. It was wonderful to see people travelling from across the country to discover Ipswich through books, ideas and conversation. We cannot wait to welcome audiences back this October and we are so grateful to our sponsors and partners, particularly Larking Gowen Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors who are this year's Principal Sponsor." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/image.png) Ipswich Book Festival founding team (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **For context:** The inaugural festival in 2025 saw one in three visitors travel from outside Ipswich, with headline guest Larry Lamb topping last year's bill. **New this year:** Ipswich Book Festival Schools Week runs from 28 September to 2 October. Developed with Dial Lane Books and supported by Sizewell C, it aims to give every school in Ipswich the chance to meet a children's author, reaching more than 4,000 children across the town. Andrew Marsh, director of Ipswich Book Festival and owner of Dial Lane Books, said: "Schools Week is about giving every child the opportunity to discover the joy of reading. Meeting an author can inspire confidence, curiosity and creativity in ways that stay with young people long after the visit has ended. We want every child in Ipswich to know that books are for them." **The bottom line:** Tickets for Ipswich Book Festival's second year are now on sale, with a bigger line-up, a new Schools Week and a theme aimed at showing books can be more than just words on a page. [Book your tickets](https://www.ipswichbookfestival.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk awarded £564,000 for bus franchising study URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-awarded-564-000-for-bus-franchising-study/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T14:12:25.000Z **Why it matters:** The Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded Suffolk £564,000 to carry out a full feasibility study into bus franchising. This could potentially give the council direct control over routes, fares and service levels. It comes as opposition councillors reveal 189 of Suffolk's 479 parishes have no bus service to their nearest town during commuter hours. **The details:** Suffolk is one of the first rural authorities to explore franchising, following the roll-out of franchised services in Greater Manchester and pilot studies in six other authorities. The study will examine five possible scenarios: - A single countywide franchise covering all of Suffolk - A joint Suffolk–Norfolk franchise, exploring cross-border connectivity - Three franchises aligned to Local Government Reorganisation - Smaller, targeted franchises focused on key towns, corridors or demand hotspots - Alternative hybrid approaches The funding means the research will be carried out at no cost to local taxpayers. The study will include consultation with residents, bus companies, district and borough councils and businesses, though details of when this will take place have not yet been confirmed. **What they're saying:** Councillor Patti Mulcahy, Suffolk County Council's deputy cabinet member for highways and community infrastructure, said: "This funding is a real vote of confidence in Suffolk and in the work we are doing to improve public transport for our residents. "Franchising has shown promising results elsewhere in the country, and it is only right that we explore whether it could help us deliver better bus services here in Suffolk." **The bigger picture:** The council's Green opposition group is proposing a motion for Suffolk to adopt a goal of a minimum five-day-a-week bus service for every parish in the county. Robert Lindsay, opposition spokesman for transport and highways, said: "It's quite shocking the number of public transport black holes in our county that have opened up as public funding has been cut over the years. "The council's own data shows that 189 parishes of the 479 in Suffolk do not have a bus service to the nearest town during commuter hours. Yet at the same time, the census shows that one in six Suffolk households do not have access to a car." The motion, to be debated at the council's meeting on 16 July 2026, calls for a costed list of new routes to serve villages that currently have no bus service. It notes that young people, who must remain in education or training until the age of 18, the elderly, and those who cannot afford a car are particularly affected by the lack of provision. **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council is exploring bus franchising, while opposition councillors will put forward a motion for a minimum universal bus service at the council meeting on 16 July 2026. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'I had no motivation' – how one scheme changed two teens' lives URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/i-had-no-motivation-how-one-scheme-changed-two-teens-lives/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T09:47:27.000Z **Why it matters:** The pair are among 25 young people from underrepresented communities who have completed the programme, which launched in October as a two-year pilot backed by Sizewell C. **What they're saying:** Chelsy, from Ipswich, secured an internship at Sizewell C. "I feel like I've grown so much and I'm much more confident about my abilities," she said. "I'm excited to be starting my internship and learning from those around me. When I look back, I've come so far, and I'm very proud of what I've achieved." Jay, also from Ipswich, said the programme turned his life around. "Before the Beyond Boundaries programme, I had no motivation. I was bored every day, and I didn't know what direction to take," he said. "Since taking part in the programme, I've secured a full-time role as a games designer. I'm now full of motivation and living a great life." **The details:** Beyond Boundaries is delivered by Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality (ISCRE), Sizewell C's social partner, at its hub in Ipswich. It helps 15 to 21-year-olds build the skills, confidence and connections needed for sustainable, well-paid careers through coaching, mentoring and tailored skills development. The first cohort's results include: - Two full-time roles, including one with Sizewell C as a recruitment administrator - One paid summer internship with Sizewell C's regional external affairs department - One apprenticeship with a local company - Two university places - Several further applications awaiting decisions Participants also reported improved personal and social skills, greater confidence and a clearer sense of their long-term goals. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Beyond-Boundaries-2025_6-Celebration-Event---HD--1-.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Beyond-Boundaries-2025_6-Celebration-Event---HD.jpg) Jay and Chelsea from Ipswich (Photo: Sizewell C) **By the numbers:** The programme delivered 64 hours of mentoring and 128 one-to-one sessions, with 21 guest speakers and visitors contributing, including representatives from Sizewell C's supply chain partners. Participants also took part in seven educational and career-focused visits, including a trip to Sizewell C's London office. **The bigger picture:** A graduation event at Venue 16 in Ipswich marked the end of the first cohort. Aleksandra Kasinska, ISCRE's project lead for Beyond Boundaries, said: "The celebration event left audiences inspired as young people shared powerful stories of personal growth, increased confidence, and their achievements throughout the programme. "Recognising a gap in accessible support, ISCRE created the programme to help remove barriers, build resilience, and open new opportunities. The success of the first cohort demonstrates the positive impact of empowering young people to achieve their goals and reach their full potential." Chris Young, head of Sizewell C's employment affairs unit, said: "This type of collaboration is incredibly important, particularly in light of the Milburn Report and the growing NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) challenge facing the UK. Strong partnerships are what make this kind of success possible. "At Sizewell C, we are absolutely committed to working collaboratively to create as many pathways as possible into our project, while also helping to open up wider employment opportunities within the local community, of which we are very much a part." **What's next:** A second cohort of Beyond Boundaries participants is due to begin the programme later this year. **The bottom line:** For Chelsy and Jay, the scheme has helped them move into work they're enthusiastic about – and a second group of young people in Ipswich will get the chance to take part later this year. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich print firm expands again amid growth run URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-print-firm-expands-again-amid-growth-run/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T13:27:21.000Z **The details:** The Suffolk-based managed print specialist has grown from 2,250 sq ft to 3,350 sq ft, giving it room to hold more stock and expand its team – the latest step in a growth run that has included a Norfolk acquisition and a doubled headcount over the past year. The additional premises will allow the company to hold significantly more stock of printers, consumables and spare parts, improving availability for customers, while also creating extra office space for its expanding team. The move follows Evolve's relocation to a larger headquarters in 2024. **What they're saying:** Ross Cracknell, Managing Director of Evolve Business Solutions, said: "Many people think printing is disappearing, but that's simply not what we're seeing. Businesses are printing differently, and they need solutions that are secure, efficient and flexible enough to support today's way of working. "Whether staff are working from the office, at home or across multiple sites, organisations still need reliable document management. They also need software that keeps devices secure, protects sensitive information and helps reduce operating costs. "Our role has evolved far beyond supplying printers. We're helping businesses improve productivity, strengthen security and make smarter long-term technology decisions." He added: "We've always reinvested back into the business. Every decision we've made has been about improving the service we deliver to customers and ensuring we're ready for the next stage of growth. "Taking on the neighbouring premises gives us the space we need today, while creating capacity for tomorrow. It's another investment in our customers, our team and the future of the business." **For context:** Evolve says that while printing is often seen as a declining industry, businesses' requirements have simply evolved. Modern organisations now need secure print management for hybrid working, cloud-connected devices, automated software updates, document security, managed workflows and energy-efficient technology to help reduce costs and environmental impact. Unlike many national providers, Evolve delivers its entire service in-house using its own manufacturer-trained engineers, with an average response time of around three hours. **The bigger picture:** The expansion is the latest milestone in a sustained period of growth for the company. In September 2025, Evolve acquired Protocopy, the managed print division of Norfolk firm Rightprint Ltd, extending its reach beyond Suffolk. Since launching in 2020, the business has achieved average year-on-year growth of 48% over the past three years and has doubled its headcount in the last year alone. [Suffolk business Evolve acquires Norfolk firm to accelerate growthLocal printing equipment firm Evolve Business Solutions has announced the acquisition of Protocopy, the managed print division of Rightprint Ltd, expanding its reach into Norfolk as part of ambitious growth plans.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c7d683a2-46ed-4897-9b3a-229356a0f823.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1757506430-evolve-protocopy-acquisition-jpeg-450c091c-e9bc-4483-bd1d-cde5e7ff02cf.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-business-evolve-acquires-norfolk-firm-to-accelerate-growth/) **The bottom line:** A couple of years after moving into larger headquarters, Evolve Business Solutions is expanding again – another step in a growth strategy the firm says has been built on reinvestment and adapting to how businesses actually use print technology today. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Most injury victims still in pain years later, local law firm finds URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/most-injury-victims-still-in-pain-years-later-local-law-firm-finds/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T07:08:43.000Z **Why it matters:** For many people, an injury does not end when the wound heals. The research, commissioned by law firm Ellisons, indicates that pain, lost mobility, and mental health effects can persist for months or years, shaping people's independence, family life and ability to work. **By the numbers:** Among the 102 respondents who said they had suffered an injury caused wholly or partly by someone else within the past five years: - 62% reported ongoing pain or discomfort - 60% reported reduced mobility or difficulty carrying out day-to-day activities - 52% said their mental wellbeing had been affected - 73% required medical treatment - 48% had taken time off work - 31% reported a loss of earnings **What they're saying:** Steve Stratton, partner and head of Ellisons' injury services team, said: "Many people think about an injury in terms of the accident itself. What these findings highlight is what happens afterwards. Ongoing pain, reduced mobility and impacts on mental wellbeing can continue for months or years and affect almost every aspect of daily life. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Ellisons_Stevan_Stratton.jpg) Steve Stratton, partner and head of Ellisons' injury services team (Photo: Ellisons) "We regularly see the effect serious and life-changing injuries have on individuals and families. Recovery is rarely just about physical healing. It may affect confidence, independence, family life, employment and overall quality of life. These findings are a reminder that the consequences of an injury are often far wider and longer-lasting than people initially expect." **The other side:** Despite the reported impacts, many people did not pursue legal advice. Of those surveyed who had experienced an injury, 39% said they had sought legal advice or pursued a claim, while 35% said they had not, and a further 21% said they had considered it but decided not to proceed. Stratton said there could be many reasons for this: "Not everybody who suffers an injury will seek legal advice, and there can be many reasons for that. In some situations, legal advice may not be necessary. In others, people may be unsure what their options are, while some are understandably focused on their recovery and returning to normal life. What is important is that people understand the options available to them and are able to access the information, support and guidance they need to make informed decisions based on their own circumstances." **For context:** The findings are based on an independently administered survey of 4,711 adults across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, conducted between 8 and 14 June 2026\. The figures relate specifically to the 102 respondents, or 2.17% of the total sample, who said they had experienced an injury in the past five years caused wholly or partly by somebody else. **The bottom line:** The survey suggests that for a significant proportion of people injured through no fault of their own, the physical, financial and emotional effects can linger long after the initial incident — yet many never seek advice on the options available to them. [Speak to a personal injury solicitor](https://ellisons.com/services/personal-injury/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich MP's bypass petition handed in – but will it change anything? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-mps-bypass-petition-handed-in-but-will-it-change-anything/ Last updated: 2026-07-04T13:29:06.000Z **Why it matters:** Every time the Orwell Bridge closes, an estimated 60,000 vehicles a day are forced onto alternative routes, grinding parts of Ipswich to a halt. Research from the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce estimates each closure costs the local economy more than £1 million a day, and the bridge is already operating at around 85% of capacity. **The details:** Abbott delivered the petition, signed by 4,069 residents, to Cllr Hadwen at Endeavour House on Friday, 3 July. It calls on the Reform UK-led council to make an Ipswich Northern Bypass a strategic priority, develop a deliverable route and submit a Strategic Outline Business Case to Government. **What they're saying:** Abbott said the petition showed "people across Ipswich and Suffolk have had enough of years of delay." "Every time the Orwell Bridge closes, our town and the surrounding area grinds to a halt," he said. "But this is about much more than traffic congestion. It is about the long-term future of our local economy. The Port of Felixstowe is one of our greatest economic assets, yet it continues to be served by infrastructure that simply is not fit for the demands of the twenty-first century." He added that the Government had "made clear that if Suffolk County Council develops robust plans and submits a Strategic Outline Business Case, it will engage with the project," and pledged to "work constructively" with the council if it produces proposals. Responding, Hadwen described a "very constructive meeting" with Abbott after the petition was handed in. "He's aware that I have already instructed council officers to look at a wide range of potential options and will be reporting back in the next few months," Hadwen said. "Jack is very welcome to join me in using that information to lobby the government for funding and support with the necessary feasibility studies. His petition will be considered in line with our constitution, and I thank him for it." **The other side:** Hadwen's reference to a "wide range of potential options" reflects a position the Reform UK administration set out in May, when it replaced a Labour motion committing to a northern bypass, route protection and a business case deadline with a broader instruction to consider all options – including a tunnel and an as-yet-undefined estuary route. At the time, Abbott said the amendment had made delivery of the bypass "impossible," while Labour group leader Councillor Martin Cook accused Reform UK of bringing back "fantasy tunnel schemes." Labour has pointed to the council's own 2020 study of 32 options for tackling Ipswich's transport problems, in which the top five were all variants of a northern route. A tunnel under the Orwell, estimated to cost around three times as much as a bypass, ranked second-to-last. **For context:** A council cabinet report setting out the full range of options, costs and implications is due in September – the same report discussed at a Suffolk Chamber of Commerce transport summit in June, at which Copdock Interchange's inclusion in a national roads investment pipeline was described as the most concrete outcome. Suffolk Chamber has consistently declined to back a single solution, with head of public affairs Paul Simon warning that the "binary debate between bypass and no bypass" was unhelpful. [A14 summit: The outcomes, the gaps and what happens nextThe Suffolk Chamber of Commerce brought together MPs, council leaders and transport experts in Ipswich last week for the second summit on the A14 and Orwell Bridge. Here is what was agreed, what remains unresolved, and why the stakes have rarely been higher.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-51d8cf47-5ca1-4059-a610-b25cf5877111.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1781876066881-1-eb76addf-b63e-4e44-82ba-b34cc38bb088.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a14-summit-the-outcomes-the-gaps-and-what-happens-next/) **The bottom line:** Abbott's petition provides a fresh show of support, but Hadwen's response was always going to stop short of endorsing a bypass specifically, restating the council's existing commitment to weighing "a wide range" of options. The September cabinet report remains the point at which Suffolk County Council is expected to show its hand. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Why ITFC skipped a big marketing splash for this year's kit launch URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/why-itfc-skipped-a-big-marketing-splash-for-this-years-kit-launch/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T14:05:01.000Z **Why it matters:** Kit launches are notoriously expensive. Instead of following the normal kit launch playbook, Town chose to redirect that budget to grassroots football in the county. **The details:** The club has been working with Suffolk FA since October on the plan, which offers all 115 registered grassroots youth football clubs in Suffolk the chance to apply for a grant covering the cost of a full kit for one of their teams for the 2026/27 season. More than 70 clubs have accepted the offer so far, and the application process remains open. Both the new home and away kits are out now, available to buy online and from the club's Planet Blue store at Portman Road. **What they're saying:** Town Chairman Mark Ashton said: "Launching and marketing new kits in the modern era can often see clubs invest significant sums but, throughout the design process of the new shirts, we were clear we wanted to use the opportunity to use this resource positively and make a difference across the county." He added: "We are incredibly proud to be supporting grassroots football in Suffolk as part of our kit launch this season." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/mdi_Ipswich_2026_27_Home_Kit_081.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/mdi_Ipswich_2026_27_Home_Kit_068.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/mdi_2026-27_Kit_Detail_0069.jpg) Shots of the new kits (Photos: ITFC) Robert Peace, Suffolk FA Interim Chair, welcomed the move: "The grant offered by Ipswich Town is a significant and welcome one, which will benefit so many clubs across Suffolk. "For the county's only professional football club to make a gesture like this highlights the strength of community across Suffolk, and the importance of the grassroots game to so many people." **The bigger picture:** Around 40 young footballers from clubs taking part in the scheme visited Portman Road last night, joining men's first-team players Leif Davis and Christian Walton and Ipswich Town Women striker Princess Ademiluyi to help reveal the new kits. The gesture ties into the club's "Us And Our People" mantra, which it says reflects the connection between players and the wider Ipswich and Suffolk community. **The bottom line:** Instead of a conventional marketing campaign, Town has chosen to put its kit launch budget directly into grassroots football – with more than 70 Suffolk clubs already benefiting and more to follow. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Five centuries of history, one new reality: Inside the VR arena coming to the Great White Horse URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/five-centuries-of-history-one-new-reality-inside-the-vr-arena-coming-to-the-great-white-horse/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T09:05:27.000Z Another World VR Arena, developed by Ciobanu Holdings Ltd, will occupy the hotel's former ballroom on the upper floor, alongside a party suite and a large ground-floor event space. The Grade II\* listed building on Tavern Street, parts of which date back to 1518, has stood largely vacant since closing as a hotel in 2008. ## A landmark in need of a new chapter The Great White Horse has long been one of Ipswich's most recognisable buildings. It achieved literary fame through Charles Dickens, who stayed there and featured it prominently in The Pickwick Papers, and its reputation once travelled as far as Chicago, where a full-size replica was built for the 1893 World's Fair. That fame has not translated into recent fortune. The hotel has spent years on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register, and its previous owners went into liquidation in December 2024\. Developer John Howard and his business partner bought the building in May 2025, and in June 2026, Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee unanimously approved plans to convert its upper floors into 21 flats, while retaining ground-floor commercial units and the former ballroom on the first floor for other uses. It is within those retained commercial units that the Another World VR Arena will become the building's anchor tenant. "We are thrilled to be the anchor tenant at the Great White Horse Hotel," said Jeff Ciobanu, Managing Director of Ciobanu Holdings. "This is a landmark building with tremendous history, and we're excited to play a part in its next chapter by creating an attraction that combines innovative technology, entertainment and community." ## A personal connection to Suffolk For Ciobanu, the project is not simply a business decision. His connection to the county runs back to childhood. "My father was in the U.S. military, and I was born in Bury St Edmunds," he explained. "We were later transferred to RAF Bentwaters, and I lived in Woodbridge during my elementary school years until I was about ten. So, although I spent many years in the United States, Suffolk has always felt like part of my story." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_1527-1.jpeg) Ciobanu Holdings Managing Director Jeff Ciobanu (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) He returned to the UK in 2021 and was drawn to Ipswich as somewhere new to him, yet close to the places he remembered. "When I first visited Ipswich properly after moving back, just as things were beginning to reopen after Covid, I saw a town with huge potential," he said. "It had beautiful parks, the waterfront, leisure facilities, Ipswich Town Football Club, and a real sense that it could reinvent itself." The Great White Horse itself came later, after more than a year spent searching for the right site for a VR arena. "Nothing quite fitted until I met John Howard, the developer behind the property," Ciobanu said. "The hotel is in a perfect location, right in the heart of town, and it has an incredible history." The two found their ambitions aligned. "John shared his vision for bringing the building back to life, and I explained what I wanted to create with Another World VR Arena," he said. "It turned out we were thinking along very similar lines — he had always imagined some kind of leisure or entertainment use there." ## Old walls, new technology Fitting a modern VR arena into a Grade II\* listed building dating back five centuries was never going to be straightforward, and Ciobanu said the challenges were considered carefully from the outset. "When I first viewed the building and understood its Grade II\* listed status, the key question was whether we could create a modern VR arena without compromising the historic character of the property," he said. "Looking at the space and how it had already been used commercially in the past, it became clear that we could design the arena in a way that respects the building." He credited Howard's team for giving the project a solid footing. "We are working with John Howard, who is an experienced property developer, along with his team of architects, so we know we are in safe hands," he said. "There is a proper understanding of the building, its importance, and the care that needs to be taken." Ciobanu argued that active use could ultimately help protect the building rather than threaten it. "Proper heating, air conditioning, maintenance, safety systems, and regular use all contribute to preserving it for the future," he said. "Anything that needs to be repaired or brought up to standard will be addressed before we open." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_1284.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Arena-Play-Area-1.jpg) The former ballroom will be converted into a VR arena, with faux walls protecting the building's heritage ## Inside the arena Free-roam VR differs significantly from earlier, more static forms of virtual reality. "In our arena, players will be able to move freely around the play area and interact with the virtual world together as a group," Ciobanu said. "People are not just watching something — they are inside the game, walking around, working together, competing, solving challenges, or taking part in adventures." The venue will offer a mix of experiences for different ages and interests, from family-friendly games to more action-based, adventure- and escape-room-style titles. Ciobanu said the arena is expected to accommodate 20 to 30 players at a time, using advanced headset technology, including Meta Quest/Oculus-style systems. "Because we are part of a franchise model, new games and experiences are being developed and released all the time," he added. "That means visitors will not just come once and see everything — the attraction can keep evolving." ## More than an arena Alongside the VR experience, the venue will include a dedicated party suite and a larger ground-floor event space, though final capacities will not be confirmed until construction and fire safety assessments are complete. "As a working estimate, the party suite is likely to accommodate around 20 to 30 people, making it ideal for birthday parties, family celebrations, youth groups, and smaller private bookings connected to the VR arena," Ciobanu said. The ground-floor event space is expected to be considerably larger, with Ciobanu suggesting it "could potentially accommodate around 100 to 200 people", depending on layout. He said the space is intended for wedding receptions, company functions, team-building events, community gatherings and private celebrations. "The idea is that the building will not just be a VR arena, but a wider leisure and events destination for Ipswich," he said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_1272.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Event-Space.png) The events space on the ground floor will stay true to its heritage, with its historic features restored and preserved Once open, Another World VR Arena will operate from 10:00 until 22:00, seven days a week, with the development expected to create between 10 and 15 new local jobs across customer service, technical operations, events and venue management. ## Betting on the town centre Ciobanu was clear that his ambitions extend beyond a single venue. "Another World VR Arena is about more than just opening one business," he said. "For me, it fits into a wider ambition to help bring more life, confidence, and investment back into Ipswich town centre." He hopes the venue will draw people into the town in the evenings as well as during the day, with knock-on benefits for nearby businesses. "That has a knock-on effect for other businesses nearby, whether that is restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, taxis, or other local services," he said. He also hopes the project will encourage further investment. "Sometimes people wait for regeneration to happen before they invest, but if everyone waits, nothing changes," he said. "Somebody has to take that first step and show confidence in the town." Asked what he would say to those sceptical of investing in an Ipswich town centre that has faced its share of challenges, Ciobanu pointed to the changes he has witnessed since 2021\. "For a long time, there has been a lot of negativity around town centres in general," he said. "But successful investment often comes from seeing potential before everyone else sees it." "Business is always a risk, but the people who make things happen are usually the ones willing to take a chance and act on a vision," he added. "I believe in Ipswich, I believe in the town centre, and that is why I am proud to invest here." For Ciobanu, choosing the Great White Horse carries a meaning beyond commercial logic. "This is not just about opening a VR arena," he said. "It is also about helping to preserve one of Ipswich's most historic buildings and giving it a new purpose." "I saw a diamond in the rough," he reflected. "Being able to bring something modern and exciting into such a historic building feels like a privilege, and I'm proud that Another World VR Arena can be part of its next chapter." ## The bottom line More than five hundred years after it first opened its doors, the Great White Horse is about to welcome a very different kind of visitor. If Ciobanu's ambitions play out, this landmark building will not just be preserved for its past, but valued for what it can offer Ipswich's future. Another World VR Arena is expected to open in autumn 2026\. We'll be there to cover its transformation and grand opening. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£122 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich bus fares to rise from 19 July URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-bus-fares-to-rise-from-19-july/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T13:51:38.000Z **Why it matters:** The changes will affect thousands of regular bus users across the town, with rising fuel and operating costs cited as the reason behind the increase. **The details:** From 19 July, the following changes apply: - Adult Town Single: up 10p, from £2.30 to £2.40 - Adult Town Day: up 20p, from £4.40 to £4.60 - U20 Town Single: up 10p - U20 Town Day: up 20p - Town Family Ticket: no change to the on-bus price; the app price rises by £1, from £9 to £10, to bring it in line - Adult Network Single, Adult Network Day, U20 Network Day and the Network Family Ticket: no change Ipswich Buses said prices for travel passes are being aligned across its mobile app and smartcard platform, where the same tickets apply, to create "greater consistency and simplicity for customers." **What they're saying:** Dan Bassett, managing director of Ipswich Buses, said: "We are committed to keeping our fares as affordable and straightforward as possible while ensuring we can continue providing the reliable bus services that our communities depend on. "This is a targeted review rather than a major overhaul of our fare structure. We've focused on keeping increases to commonly used tickets as low as possible and continue to provide great value through our day tickets, multi-journey bundles and travel passes. "These changes help support the long-term sustainability of local bus services." **The bottom line:** Most Ipswich Buses fares are staying the same, but anyone paying for a single or day ticket will notice a small increase from 19 July. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk students' union unveils new three-year strategy URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-students-union-unveils-new-three-year-strategy/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T09:27:04.000Z **Why it matters:** The strategy sets out how the Students' Union (SU) plans to support the university's students to feel connected to Ipswich and the wider community, with a vision that current and future students leave university feeling "confident, connected and ready to make lasting impact in their lives, their communities, and the wider world." It draws on the importance of ensuring students' voices are heard. By tackling ways in which students become part of not just the university, but Ipswich as a whole, it encourages integration into local communities. **The details:** The strategy was developed over 12 months, drawing on feedback from current and prospective students, including people approached at open days. The consultations involved SU staff, student leaders, the SU's board of trustees, university teams, and partner organisations, as well as businesses and community groups across Ipswich and Suffolk. SU chief executive Dionne Walton said the process, while lengthy, had produced "a really achievable strategy to deliver." She added: "I think if we do it right, students will have a really fantastic experience with the university and with the students' union." **What they're saying:** Ms Walton said three themes emerged consistently from the consultation: that community matters to students, that opportunities build confidence, and that a sense of belonging "can't be left to chance." "Essentially, students are looking to feel a part of something," she said. "They want to feel like they're connected to other people...they want their voice to matter." **By the numbers:** The SU's first impact report, covering the last two years, points to increased engagement across its services. It highlights growth in student leadership roles such as part-time officers and course reps, and more students accessing support, which Ms Walton put down to the SU's greater visibility on campus. **For context:** The SU has also become the first students' union in the country to sign the Power of Youth Charter, a national charter championing youth voice, with Ipswich named a "town of youth social action" as part of the network. Alongside this, the SU is also placing importance on supporting student-run businesses. The launch event included the Suffolk Cheesecake Company, run by student Robyn, and Z3rra, a healthy drinks bar run by student Vaddim at the SU's London campus. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/Image_20260703_093529_146.jpeg) Student-run business Z3rra - a healthy drink bar pop up. (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) **Student voice:** New SU presidents Grace Pearson and Zoe Saunders spoke about the strategy alongside students Devanshi Kashyap and Atharv Naphde at the launch event. Ms Pearson, President of Education, said: "Students shouldn't just be listened to, in my opinion. They need and deserve to see their feedback lead to real action." Ms Kashyap, a third-year graphic design student and course representative, said seeing student concerns acted on kept her motivated: "As a course rep, I've had many opportunities to hear my peers, and through the SU and university we've managed to move ahead and solve issues." Mr Naphde, a second-year computing student, described raising concerns with the SU after a shuttle bus service to a learning facility near BT was cancelled. "Knowing that people are working on a problem that you have makes you feel so much better about it," he said. **What's next:** The SU is launching Suffolk SU Connect, a scheme to link students with local organisations and businesses for volunteering and work opportunities. It hopes that through partnership, culture, learning and sustainability, the SU will be able to provide opportunity and growth, voice and power, and connection and community to the students at the University of Suffolk. **The bottom line:** After two years rebuilding its foundations, the students' union says its new strategy is designed to help students feel part of Ipswich's wider community while giving them a stronger voice in decisions that affect them. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£79 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Two festivals and a gig: Ipswich's biggest weekend of music yet URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/two-festivals-and-a-gig-ipswichs-biggest-weekend-of-music-yet/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T07:37:08.000Z This weekend, the town will host two festivals and a night of rising alternative talent, offering something for almost every taste and budget. ## A new festival lands at Trinity Park Halo Festival arrives in Ipswich for the first time on Saturday 4 July 2026, taking over Trinity Park (IP3 8UH) for a day of headline acts, major DJs and rising talent. The inaugural festival from Suffolk tech giant, Halo, the main sponsors of Ipswich Town Football Club, describes it as "a region-defining event" built on "transparency, fairness, and community" and says it has been "made to grow every year." Gates open at 11:00, with last entry at 19:00 and the festival finishing at 23:00\. The Main Stage line-up runs from Jerub at 12:00 through to headliners Two Door Cinema Club, who close the night from 21:05 to 22:25\. Also on the bill across the day are The Vaccines, Natasha Bedingfield, Scouting for Girls, The Mercians, Gretel and Henri Gaston. The Aspall Suffolk Stage features acts including Afterdrive, Esme Emerson, Connor Adams, Jaded Teeth, Gabby Rivers, Ellena Russell and Harriet Cree, whilst a dedicated DJ tent hosts sets from Girls Don't Sync, Conducta, Y U QT, Paige Tomlinson, Karen Harding, Sweet Female Attitude, Aaron Gurung, Levi Knight and JP & DM. Final release general admission tickets cost £75.05, including the booking fee, with organisers warning that only a few remain. Concessions include a student rate of £53.60, an under-18s rate of £42.05 (accompanied by a ticket-holding adult aged 21 or over, maximum three per adult), and £27.75 for ages five to 12 (accompanied by an adult). Under-fives go free. The festival also features an unusual guarantee for ticket holders. Under what organisers call "the rain clause," everyone who attends receives money off next year's festival if it rains on the day, with discounts tracked by a live "rain metre" and confirmed after the event. Attendees would receive 10% off for over one millimetre of rain, 20% off for over 2.5 millimetres, and 50% off for over five millimetres. [Get your tickets](https://halofestival.com/tickets/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) ## Rising talent takes the Smokehouse stage The same evening, a very different atmosphere will fill The Smokehouse on South Street, Ipswich, as A10 Promotions presents a night of rising alternative talent from 20:00 to 23:00. Opening the bill is Exit, described as bringing "explosive Ipswich grunge sound" with melodic bass lines and hard-hitting drums. They are followed by Perspective Error, an Ipswich pop-punk band formed in 2026 who take inspiration from Fall Out Boy, South Arcade and My Chemical Romance, and who will be playing their first ever show. Headlining the night are Passive Fix, a three-piece rock band from Birmingham fronted by songwriter, vocalist and saxophonist Alex McCarthy, alongside David Kirkham on drums and Sam Stringer on guitar and backing vocals. Formed in 2022 at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and restructured into a three-piece in late 2023, the band have built a following of more than 25,000 combined followers across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and have racked up more than 180,000 streams and 23,000 listeners on Spotify over the past year. They completed a UK headline tour in 2024, supported acts including Sick Joy, The Futureheads and Battlesnake, and released their debut EP in April 2025. [Get your tickets](https://www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/events/passive-fix?ref=ipswich.co.uk) ## Christchurch Park's free festival returns On Sunday, Ipswich Music Day returns to Christchurch Park from 12:00 to 20:00\. Organisers Ipswich Entertains describe it as the UK's largest free one-day festival, with more than 60 artists performing across six stages throughout the day. The Bowl Stage, sponsored by BBC Suffolk and situated near the Henley Road entrance, features BBC Introducing artists. The Crossroad Stage, sponsored by Costa Coffee near the Westerfield entrance, showcases rock and indie music, whilst the Rise Stage, sponsored by Suffolk Sound and located next to the playground, focuses on pop. The Pond Stage, in the heart of the park, presents indie, rap, R&B and DJs, and will host the winner of Suffolk One's Battle of the Bands competition. The Mansion Stage, sponsored by Grapevine and positioned next to the marketplace, features acoustic and jazz artists alongside soul singing groups. New for this year, the Indian Summer Mela will form part of Ipswich Music Day, bringing a celebration of Indian culture that includes a fully programmed Mela Stage, workshops, demonstrations and authentic Indian street food. Beyond the park itself, the Ipswich Arts Association is running IAA Stages across four indoor venues nearby: the Ipswich Masonic Hall, St Margaret's Church, Bethesda Baptist Church and the Lower Tudor Room at Christchurch Mansion. These stages showcase a wide range of genres, from classical, choral and brass band music to jazz, folk, pop, rock, musical theatre, acoustic performances and poetry readings. ## Getting there and staying safe With two large events on consecutive days, organisers are encouraging festival-goers to plan ahead. For Halo Festival, visitors can travel by car via Entrance 2, with pre-booked parking advised at £6 on the day due to limited allocation, or take the return shuttle running between Ipswich station and the site all day, priced at £3.50 each way if booked in person Bus routes 75 and 77 also stop on Murrills Road, though evening services are limited. The festival operates a bag policy limiting attendees to small day bags no larger than 30 by 20 by 10 centimetres, with all bags searched on entry, and enforces a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, drugs and nitrous oxide. For Ipswich Music Day, organisers are encouraging people to walk, or travel by bus or train given the busy nature of the event. Only Blue Badge holders' vehicles will be permitted on site, parking free from 12:00 to 20:00 via the Park Road entrance, whilst other visitors are directed towards Ipswich Borough Council car parks around town. With hot, sunny weather forecast to reach 29°C in Ipswich on the Sunday, festivalgoers attending Ipswich Music Day are being advised to follow UK government guidance on staying safe in the heat. This includes seeking shade between 11:00 and 15:00, when UV levels are highest, wearing loose, light-coloured clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, applying sunscreen liberally and re-applying frequently, and increasing water intake to stay hydrated. ## The bottom line Whether it is a first-year festival with headline acts, a night of grassroots and touring bands at a town-centre venue, or a long-running free festival that fills the whole of Christchurch Park, this weekend offers Ipswich residents an exceptional breadth of live music within the space of two days. From five-year-olds to festival veterans, there is a way in for almost everyone – the only real decision is which stage to stand in front of first. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### How Ipswich businesses can claim £3,000 towards hiring young staff URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-ipswich-businesses-can-claim-3-000-towards-hiring-young-staff/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T07:36:59.000Z **Why it matters:** The Youth Jobs Grant is designed to help cover the upfront cost of recruiting and training young staff, at a time when Abbott says too many young people are held back simply because the right support isn't there. **The details:** From Tuesday, 30 June, employers have been able to claim £3,000 for every 18 to 24-year-old they hire who has been on Universal Credit for six months and is looking for work. - The role must be for at least 25 hours a week and expected to last a minimum of four months. - Payment is made in two instalments: £1,800 in month two of employment and £1,200 in month five. - Employers apply through the Government's online application process, with payments made once employment and earnings have been verified by the Department for Work and Pensions. The grant forms part of the wider Youth Guarantee, a £2.5 billion scheme over three years, backed by a further £1 billion investment in employment and skills announced in March 2026\. It commits to ensuring every 16 to 24-year-old can access support to earn or learn, and also includes 150,000 work experience placements, 145,000 training placements with a guaranteed job interview, and a guaranteed job for up to 90,000 young people who have been unemployed for more than 18 months and on Universal Credit. **What's new for Ipswich:** The town is set to get one of the Government's new Youth Hubs, part of a rollout of 80 hubs across Great Britain as part of a wider commitment to 360 nationally. The hub is expected to bring Jobcentre Plus services, council support, employers and training providers together under one roof, offering 16 to 24-year-olds access to employment support, careers advice, apprenticeships and wraparound services including mental health and housing support. It has been indicated that the existing Jobcentre Plus in Ipswich town centre could be repurposed to host the hub, though final details have not been confirmed. The aim, according to the announcement, is to give young people in Ipswich a single point of access to local employers and major opportunities in the area, including projects such as Sizewell C. **What they're saying:** Jack Abbott MP said: "For businesses in Ipswich, this means new financial support to recruit young people through the £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant. For young people, it means more personalised support from Jobcentres, more apprenticeships and training opportunities, and for those who need it most, a guaranteed route into paid employment." He added: "I would encourage employers across Ipswich to make the most of the Youth Jobs Grant and help give a young person that route into meaningful, secure, and fulfilling employment." **What's next:** Expanded Jobcentre support is also now available from day one of a Universal Credit claim, with work coaches offering tailored guidance. After 13 weeks, a new Youth Guarantee Gateway will offer intensive one-to-one support and access to guaranteed opportunities, including jobs, apprenticeships and training. **The bottom line:** With the grant now live, and a dedicated hub on the way, Ipswich employers and young jobseekers have new routes into work available to them — though details of exactly where the town's Youth Hub will be based are still to be confirmed. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk parent carer forum to close after 'damaging allegations' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-parent-carer-forum-to-close-after-damaging-allegations/ Last updated: 2026-07-02T17:02:41.000Z **Why it matters:** The forum was the official, statutory co-production partner of Suffolk County Council and the Integrated Care Board (NHS), giving parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) a formal voice in shaping local services. **The details:** In a statement from its Board of Trustees, the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum (SPCF) said it was closing "due to circumstances beyond the Trustees control," including being unable to continue receiving the funding that enabled it to operate as the DfE-funded forum. - The charity is now entering a formal winding-up process, with the Charity Commission "fully informed throughout." - Redundancy notices have been issued to staff, and any remaining funding will be returned to funders upon closure. - The closure follows reports from parents of months of silence and cancelled events. SPCF apologised for not making a public statement sooner, saying this was "due to procedures, some of which are confidential, that needed to be followed." The trustees also used the statement to clarify their position: "We feel it is important to clarify that the Trustees have always served on a voluntary basis and have never received payment for their time, work or commitment to the charity." They said it was "particularly disappointing that inaccurate and damaging allegations have been circulated," causing significant distress to those who "dedicated their time freely in support of parent carers and their families." **What they're saying:** SPCF said: "We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved together and grateful to everyone who has supported us throughout our journey. While much progress has been made, we recognise that there is still a long way to go to ensure that all children and young people with SEND, and their families, receive the services and support to which they are legally entitled. "We remain committed to the principle that parent carers' voices should be heard, respected and valued." Contact, the charity which administers the Government funding, said the decision did not "reflect a lack of commitment, effort, or good faith" from those running the group. A spokesperson added: "We have heard and understand that parents are feeling concerned, and we appreciate that clarity on next steps is important. This is a priority for us, and we will share more information as soon as we are able." The Suffolk Local Area SEND Partnership, which includes the county council and health services, thanked the forum for its work. A spokesperson said: "The forum has played a vital role not only in representing the voice of parents and carers, but also in providing support and constructive challenge to the local area partnership. That challenge has been an important part of driving our shared ambition to improve services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND." **For context:** SPCF was set up by parents, carers and family members of children and young people with SEND to consult families and gather their views and experiences of SEND services. It worked with the local authority, education and health services, and the voluntary sector to challenge service providers and improve service quality, while also signposting families to relevant support and hosting SEND events across Suffolk. **What's next:** Work is already under way to set up a new forum in SPCF's place. SPCF said it "wished those involved every success in continuing this important work" and would share details of the new forum "as soon as we are able." In the meantime, it directed parents with questions to contact Contact, the charity which administers the DfE funding. **The bottom line:** After months of parent concern over silence and cancelled events, Suffolk's official parent carer voice is closing down, with a replacement already in the works but yet to be confirmed. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### A son of Ipswich: Remembering Private Reginald Henry Makeham URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a-son-of-ipswich-remembering-private-reginald-henry-makeham/ Last updated: 2026-07-02T07:27:45.000Z Born on 28 July 1914 in Ipswich, Reginald Henry Makeham was the youngest son of Reginald Linnel Makeham and Mary Makeham. In 1921, the family resided at 25 Spring Road, Ipswich, where Reginald grew up alongside his sister Katherine and brother Derrick. He attended local Ipswich schools and enjoyed a happy childhood, sharing many cherished moments with his parents, siblings, and maternal grandmother. Reginald's father worked as a Commercial Traveller for Debenham & Co. and was a veteran of the First World War, having served as a Sergeant in the Irish Guards. Through his father's example, Reginald was instilled with strong values of integrity, responsibility, and duty that remained with him throughout his life. Sadly, his father passed away in 1936, leaving behind a loss that was deeply felt by his family. By 1939, Reginald was working as an under manager at a grocer's shop and was lodging with his employer in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Away from his Suffolk roots, he was building a life and career for himself during a period of growing uncertainty across Europe. He then married the love of his life, Rebecca Downie, and together they looked towards a future that the war would ultimately deny them. As conflict engulfed Europe, Reginald made the life-altering decision to join the British Army. He became a proud member of the Gordon Highlanders, where his courage, discipline, and determination soon distinguished him from his peers. These qualities led to his selection for No. 2 Commando, one of Britain's elite special forces units, whose members undertook some of the most dangerous operations of the war. In September 1942, Reginald took part in Operation Musketoon, a daring commando raid against an electricity-generating station at Glomfjord in German-occupied Norway. The raiding party crossed the North Sea and landed in a remote Norwegian fjord before undertaking a gruelling trek across mountainous terrain. After days of hardship and close encounters with German patrols, they reached their objective and launched a carefully planned attack on the night of 20 September. Norwegian workers were helped to escape before explosives were planted throughout the facility. The commandos inflicted such severe damage that the plant remained out of action for the remainder of the war. It was a remarkable feat of endurance and military precision deep within enemy territory. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Sachsenhausen-British-and-Commonwealth-Memorial.jpeg) Sachsenhausen British and Commonwealth Memorial (Photo: Woose) Following the successful raid, German forces launched an intensive search for those responsible. The commandos split into two groups in an attempt to evade capture. Whilst one group succeeded in reaching neutral Sweden, Reginald and six of his comrades were eventually discovered and captured by German forces. At this stage of the war, German High Command had issued Adolf Hitler's infamous Commando Order, which declared that all captured Allied Commandos were to be executed immediately. After being held at Colditz Castle and later transferred to SS Headquarters in Berlin, Reginald and his fellow commandos were sent to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp near Oranienburg. On the morning of 23 October 1942, they were taken outside for execution. There were no cries, no pleas—only silence and dignity. One by one, they were shot with a single bullet to the back of the neck. Reginald was 28 years old. Their bodies were subsequently taken to the camp crematorium. Today, Reginald and his fallen comrades are commemorated on the Brookwood 1939–1945 Memorial in Surrey. His name is also honoured in Ipswich, Sidlesham, and Keswick, as well as on the Scottish National Roll of Honour housed within Edinburgh Castle and on a memorial at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in Germany. Private Reginald Henry Makeham’s story is one of sacrifice and service, shaped by a generation defined by courage and duty. It echoes that of countless fallen heroes who gave their lives for peace and liberty. Ipswich must preserve the legacy of one of its bravest sons, whose story remains part of the town’s memory. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### Local journalism is expensive to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The Hay Wain painting is coming home for the summer URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-hay-wain-painting-is-coming-home-for-the-summer/ Last updated: 2026-07-02T07:24:12.000Z **Why it matters:** The Hay Wain has never before visited Suffolk, the county it depicts. On loan from the National Gallery, it will take centre stage at Christchurch Mansion as part of Ipswich Borough Council's year-long Constable 250 celebrations. **The big picture:** The exhibition, 'The Hay Wain: Walking Constable's Landscape', runs from 11 July to 4 October 2026\. It brings together an unprecedented collection of loans from the Tate, Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland and private collections, many appearing in Suffolk for the first time. The first of three Constable 250 exhibitions at Christchurch Mansion, 'Constable: A Cast of Characters', runs until 14 June 2026\. It brings together more than 100 works and personal objects to tell the story of the people who helped shape the artist's life and career. **The details:** Alongside The Hay Wain, highlights include Dedham Vale (1828, National Galleries of Scotland) and two of the most personal paintings Constable ever made — Golding Constable's Flower Garden and Golding Constable's Kitchen Garden (both 1815), from Ipswich Museums' own collection. **For context:** When it was first exhibited in 1821, Constable called it Landscape: Noon — it was his friend Archdeacon Fisher who nicknamed it The Hay Wain. The painting caused a sensation when it was shown in Paris in 1824, and seen as a breakthrough in landscape painting. Over time it became an iconic representation of the traditional English rural landscape, despite having started life as a picture that challenged the conventions of classical landscape painting. **What they're saying:** Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for planning and museums, said: "Welcoming The Hay Wain to Christchurch Mansion for the first time is an extraordinary moment for us, bringing this iconic painting back to the county which shaped it. "This will be a landmark moment and highlight of the council's wider, year-long programme, giving residents and visitors alike even more reason to see, connect with and explore many facets of Constable's life, work and enduring appeal for art lovers worldwide." **Modern responses:** The exhibition also features new work from two contemporary artists responding to the themes of walking and landscape. Stuart Bowditch has spent months recording the sounds of today's Constable Country in the locations of his most famous artworks, while painter and curatorial adviser Peter Harrap has created drawings and paintings that reflect Constable's own method of walking and observing outdoors. **The bottom line:** Christchurch Mansion is spending the year welcoming Constable home. Tickets for The Hay Wain: Walking Constable's Landscape are £10 for adults, £8 at the reduced rate, and free for children under 16. [Book tickets](https://ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/constable250/?ref=ipswich.co.uk#landscape) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk student's photography business earns national recognition URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-students-photography-business-earns-national-recognition/ Last updated: 2026-07-02T07:23:45.000Z **Why it matters:** Chloe, a first-year BA (Hons) Photography and Visual Media student at the University of Suffolk, has been shortlisted for the Entrepreneur of the Year prize at the UK Small Business Awards 2026. **The details:** Chloe, from Colchester, set up Chloe's Photography in 2022\. She now specialises in photographing weddings and festivals. "Being shortlisted for Young Entrepreneur of the Year is an incredible honour and something I'm immensely proud of," she said. "When I started my business, I never imagined that I would one day be recognised in this way. It's a proud milestone that reflects years of hard work, support from those around me and my passion for photography." **What they're saying:** Chloe credited her lecturers with helping her grow both personally and professionally since starting her degree. "From the very beginning, I felt immediately welcomed at the University of Suffolk, and the lecturers have continued to be incredibly encouraging throughout my studies," she said. "They have offered constructive feedback and helped me develop confidence in my abilities. "Their own experience within the creative industry really shows and has had a positive influence on my development, making their guidance both relevant and inspiring." Noel Bowler, course leader for BA (Hons) Photography and Visual Media at the University of Suffolk, said: "Chloe thoroughly deserves being a finalist in these awards. She was a standout from the moment she arrived; driven, professionally minded and already building something impressive. "Chloe is a great example of what's possible when professional ambition and independent creative practice come together, and exactly the kind of student our BA (Hons) Photography and Visual Media course is designed for." **What's next:** Chloe hopes to complete her degree, develop a studio space and potentially move into teaching photography in future. The winners of the UK Small Business Awards 2026 will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on 19 December. **The bottom line:** From launching a business as a teenager to competing for national recognition, Chloe's story shows what's possible when a passion project gets the chance to grow. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk teen sentenced after crimes triggered emergency police response in US URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-teen-sentenced-after-crimes-triggered-emergency-police-response-in-us/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T13:37:09.000Z **Why it matters:** The case, described by police as the first of its kind in Suffolk, has laid bare how UK teenagers can become embedded in extremist online networks capable of inflicting real-world harm on victims thousands of miles away. **The details:** The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Ipswich Youth Court on Monday, 29 June, where he was sentenced to a 16-month detention and training order and made subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He had previously pleaded guilty to eight offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Online Safety Act 2023: - Two counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child - Two counts of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm - Four counts of sending threatening communications The offences were committed primarily in 2025, and the investigation required cooperation between Suffolk Police, international law enforcement partners and safeguarding agencies, reflecting what police describe as the complexity and international reach of the case. **The bigger picture:** Suffolk Police's Safeguarding Unit and Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team found the boy was involved in extremist online groups, including "764" and "1414", whose activity includes coercion, blackmail, "swatting" and "doxxing". Evidence showed he used online platforms to target vulnerable young people, pressuring them into harmful and exploitative actions, and issued repeated death threats to individuals in the UK and abroad. Several threats were made while impersonating victims, resulting in real-world emergency deployments by police agencies in the USA. Digital examination of his devices identified doxxing files, swatting scripts, searches for victims' home addresses in the USA, and contact details for police departments abroad. **What they're saying:** Detective Constable Alfie Bailey, of the Safeguarding Investigation Unit, said: "This investigation uncovered a sustained and deeply concerning pattern of organised and covert online offending. "The young suspect engaged in multiple forms of serious criminal behaviour, including the sexual exploitation of children, the deliberate encouragement of self-harm, and repeated threats of violence and death. The evidence demonstrated persistent targeting of vulnerable victims and the use of multiple online identities to conceal his actions. "His behaviour placed children, families and the wider public at immediate and substantial risk and wasted a significant amount of hours of police time and resources." **For context:** "Swatting" involves placing hoax calls to emergency services to provoke a heavy police response, often resulting in the dispatch of armed units – known in the USA as SWAT teams. "Doxxing" involves publishing sensitive or secret information about a person with the intent to harass, expose, or otherwise harm them. **The bottom line:** Suffolk Police say the case demonstrates the seriousness and planning involved in online extremist offending among young people, and the significant risk it can pose to victims and communities both in the UK and overseas. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£33 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Could the defence budget raid derail Copdock Interchange improvements? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/could-the-defence-budget-raid-derail-copdock-interchange-improvements/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T14:21:20.000Z The Copdock Interchange has waited years for a firm commitment. Now, a new question hangs over it: does the government's Defence Investment Plan (DIP), published this week, put that wait at risk of stretching further still? ## Where the defence money is coming from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed a £15bn increase in defence spending over the next four years, part of a wider plan to raise military funding to £80bn a year by 2029\. The government has ruled out further borrowing to pay for it. Instead, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has found the money by cutting departments' long-term investment budgets by one per cent across the board, alongside a series of other measures. Among them: £700m in savings from road projects, identified by the Department for Transport, that is expected to come specifically from scrapping the A38 Derby junctions and A46 Newark Bypass schemes. Ipswich MP Jack Abbott sees no cause for concern at this moment in time. He points out that the £700m relates to two RIS3 schemes with no connection to Suffolk, and that the government's overall road investment settlement remains, in his view, one of the largest in years. Abbott also notes that Copdock's move from RIS3 to RIS4 was a decision taken under the previous government, and that this year's announcement on the scheme's progress gives him confidence it remains on track; nothing in his ongoing conversations with the department suggests otherwise, and he cautions against reading too much into two unrelated road schemes being cut to fund the DIP. However, the Treasury has so far confirmed only £10.3bn of the full £15bn in savings, with the remaining £4.7bn to be set out at the autumn Budget – a Budget that, following Starmer's departure, will not be delivered by the ministers who announced the DIP in the first place. ## 'We've been here before' Copdock's journey has already been a slow one. Under the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), which runs from April 2026 to March 2031, the interchange was earmarked for continued development but not delivery, with no guaranteed funding. That work is now due to feed into the fourth Road Investment Strategy (RIS4), where Copdock is one of only five schemes nationally – a stronger position than it has held for years, but still short of a funding commitment. Paul Simon, the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce's head of public affairs and strategic communications, believes the DIP's funding arrangements represent a genuine threat to Copdock and to another Suffolk scheme, the A11 Fiveways roundabout near Mildenhall – both of which are earmarked for feasibility work over the next five years, but neither of which has committed funding. Issuing a statement in response to the DIP, Simon said: "We've been here before: but it doesn't make the threat any less of a concern. The last decade has been defined by key road and rail infrastructure investments in Suffolk being pulled and the interests of local, regional and indeed national economic growth being sacrificed to other priorities. "Even before the £5bn of unfunded projects was revealed, the Prime Minister's announcement that elements of the Defence Investment Plan would be financed through scrapping transport and energy projects that are not 'immediately vital' has generated uncertainty as to whether long-delayed road and rail infrastructure projects in Suffolk and the east of England will once again be delayed and spiked. "Suffolk Chamber of Commerce is especially concerned that two key roads projects in the county – the Copdock Interchange and the A11 Fiveways roundabout – whose feasibility studies were earmarked for being worked up over the next five years may well be dropped, unless our MPs, council leaders and business community come together and advocate for their retention with conviction. "That is why we have written to them to help us ringfence these projects for further investigations at least to an outline business case stage. We need our political leaders to come together and ensure that the Treasury and the Department for Transport don't back track on either of these projects. After all, ensuring the economic security of the nation should form a key part of the government's wider strategy, and both those projects, but especially that earmarked for Copdock Interchange, will ensure that Britain's premier international trade route is able to function efficiently and effectively over the decades to come." ## A question worth continuing to ask The picture, then, is a mixed one. On one hand, the £700m identified in road savings so far can be traced to two named schemes with no connection to Suffolk. On the other, the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce says the wider pattern of infrastructure funding being redirected elsewhere is cause for real concern, and has gone as far as writing to the county's political leaders asking them to fight for the scheme's retention. Compounding that uncertainty, £4.7bn of the DIP's £15bn increase remains unfunded, to be confirmed at a Budget that a new prime minister and chancellor will have to deliver. The Ministry of Defence's own plan also assumes £10.7bn in "efficiencies" by 2030, with limited detail on how those will be found, and an assumption that defence will be a priority at the next spending review – potentially at other departments' expense. Suffolk County Council's cabinet is due to receive a broader options report on A14 and Orwell Bridge capacity in September, though that work concerns the wider road network rather than Copdock specifically. A council spokesperson said "it is awaiting further clarification on whether the status of Copdock may be affected in any way." [A14 summit: The outcomes, the gaps and what happens nextThe Suffolk Chamber of Commerce brought together MPs, council leaders and transport experts in Ipswich last week for the second summit on the A14 and Orwell Bridge. Here is what was agreed, what remains unresolved, and why the stakes have rarely been higher.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-6996e555-aa70-4716-9ea1-4035d6d2c270.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1781876066881-1-4bc91555-6f22-43f8-b2a6-f6a52dc79407.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a14-summit-the-outcomes-the-gaps-and-what-happens-next/) ## The bottom line There is, for now, no direct evidence that the £700m identified in the DIP's road savings touches Copdock, but Suffolk has watched as infrastructure investment has been pulled before. With the DIP's finances still incomplete and defence now the government's declared top priority, the pressure on schemes like Copdock is unlikely to ease. Whether Suffolk's political and business leaders can secure it a firmer footing is the question that matters now. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£71 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Protest planned in Ipswich against NHS's Palantir contract URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/protest-planned-in-ipswich-against-nhss-palantir-contract/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T11:05:01.000Z **Why it matters:** The protest, organised by campaign group Suffolk Norfolk Against Palantir (SNAP), forms part of a wider, escalating national row over the company's growing role in the NHS and its access to patient data. **The details:** The demonstration will run from 11:00 to 13:00 on the Cornhill. It has been organised by Suffolk Unite Community, on behalf of SNAP. Organisers say speakers from the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Unison and the local Palestine Solidarity Campaign group are expected to address the protest. **What they're saying:** Anthony Dooley, a member of Suffolk Unite Community and an organiser with SNAP, said: "The protest will be addressed by activists from the BMA, the RCN, Unison, the local PSC group and others. I encourage everyone to attend to learn about the threat posed by this US spy tech company having access to our health data." **The bigger picture:** Palantir's NHS contract – for its Foundry "federated data platform", designed to link up hospital, GP and clinic records that currently sit on incompatible systems – was awarded at the end of 2023 and is worth up to £330m. The firm's role in the NHS has drawn criticism from politicians across the political spectrum. Labour MP Emily Darlington has said having a "foreign tech company" involved with patient data is "a major security risk", while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Palantir to be barred from government contracts altogether. Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Conservative MP Wendy Morton have also called for greater scrutiny of the firm. Opponents of the firm have also raised concerns about its wider business ties, including work carried out for the Israeli military, its financial backing from the CIA in its early years, and the political activities of its co-founder, Peter Thiel, a prominent backer of Donald Trump. Speaking with the [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c393w38lv3mo?ref=ipswich.co.uk), Palantir UK executive vice-chair Louis Mosley has said he welcomes the scrutiny and believes the firm is "delivering for patients", arguing its software solves the problem of fragmented NHS IT systems. He has said Palantir has "no interest in patient data" and does not access it, comparing its role to that of Microsoft Excel or Word. The Department of Health and Social Care has said the platform is helping to join up patient care, speed up cancer diagnosis and treat more patients each month, with "strict requirements in place about data security and confidentiality". **For context:** The controversy has also played out in London, where Palantir is pursuing legal action against the mayor's office after it blocked a separate contract with the Metropolitan Police over concerns about value for money. The Met has since been ordered to run a new procurement process, while a 12-month extension to its existing Palantir pilot has been approved. **What's next:** SNAP is urging residents to attend Saturday's protest, ahead of the NHS contract's renewal being considered in February 2027. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich family's mission to save young lives after losing George, 22 URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-familys-mission-to-save-young-lives-after-losing-george-22/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T09:12:25.000Z George, from Ipswich, died suddenly and unexpectedly in May 2023 at the age of 22\. He had no known medical conditions, no symptoms, and lived a normal, healthy life. He had recently begun his career on the IT service desk at Ipswich Borough Council and was looking forward to the future. His death devastated his family and friends. In the years since, they have dedicated themselves to supporting the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and raising awareness of the importance of heart screening for young people. ## A hidden danger Every week in the UK, at least twelve apparently fit and healthy young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions. In around 80% of these cases, there are no warning signs or symptoms before tragedy strikes. George's case reflects this pattern. There was nothing to suggest anything was wrong, and no chance for his family to intervene before it was too late. CRY believes that everyone aged between 14 and 35 should have the opportunity to be screened. Around one in every 300 young people screened is found to have a potentially life-threatening heart condition. The charity's screening programme is heavily subsidised, with public screening events funded by families who have lost loved ones to sudden cardiac death, meaning screenings are free for those who attend. ## Walking in George's memory On Sunday, 28 June, for the third consecutive year, George's family and friends joined more than 1,000 supporters taking part in the CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk. The 6.5-mile route through London crosses iconic bridges including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge, passing landmarks such as the Shard, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. The annual event raises awareness of young sudden cardiac death, supports bereaved families and funds future heart screening programmes. For those who have experienced loss, the walk offers a chance to connect with others in similar situations, many wearing personalised T-shirts, banners or back-signs in remembrance of loved ones. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_0734.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/07/IMG_3125.JPG) CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk (Photos: CRY) ## Bringing screening to Ipswich The group is also working to bring a free CRY screening event to Ipswich, giving local young people aged 14 to 35 the opportunity to be tested for potentially life-threatening heart conditions. They have already raised £4,800 towards the cost and are aiming to raise a further £2,400 to fund a free screening event in Ipswich for up to 100 young people. Donations towards George's memorial fund can be made at [c-r-y.org.uk/george-lavery](https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/george-lavery/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). ## In George's words, through his family George's family said: "Nothing can bring George back, but if sharing his story encourages even one young person to be screened, or helps prevent another family experiencing the heartbreak we have endured, then his legacy will continue to save lives. We want every young person to know that these conditions often have no symptoms, and that screening could make all the difference." The family hopes George's story will encourage more people to learn about cardiac screening, support CRY's work, and help reduce the number of young lives lost to undiagnosed heart conditions each year. ## The bottom line George Lavery lived an ordinary, healthy life right up until the moment he did not. His family cannot change that, but they are determined that his story might change the odds for someone else. For more information about cardiac screening for young people, visit [www.testmyheart.org.uk](https://www.testmyheart.org.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk's adult social care rated 'Good' again, but watchdog flags waiting lists URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolks-adult-social-care-rated-good-again-but-watchdog-flags-waiting-lists/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T07:42:56.000Z The assessment, published on Wednesday, 1 July, marks the second time Suffolk's adult social care has been rated "Good" by the regulator, following an earlier pilot assessment in November 2023\. The council said there were "no surprises" in the findings, having submitted its own self-assessment to the CQC in September last year. ## What inspectors found The CQC assesses how councils meet their duties under the Care Act (2014), looking at how local authorities work with people, provide support, ensure safety, and demonstrate leadership. Suffolk's report scored the local authority "Good" overall, with quality statements rated either two ("evidence shows some shortfalls") or three ("evidence shows a good standard") out of four. Inspectors praised "committed and compassionate staff", strength-based and personalised assessments, and the council's "signs of safety" approach, which is fully embedded in day-to-day practice and was highlighted as relatively unique among local authorities. The report also noted close working between adult social care and public health, and "good multi-agency working to keep people safe", referring to Suffolk's safeguarding arrangements, including its multi-agency safeguarding hub. The council said the report recognised "commitment and just how compassionate our staff are", adding that strength-based and personalised practice "was highlighted as a real strength for us in Suffolk". The council also pointed to its integrated neighbourhood teams, described in the report as a "national exemplar", as a particular area of strength, along with the council's safeguarding hub, which they said was "one of the first nationally to have an adult MASH". A MASH is a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, which is the central point of contact in adult social care where professionals from various organisations—such as social services, the NHS, police, and housing—work together to protect vulnerable adults at risk of abuse, neglect, or harm. Cllr Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Care, said: "I am really pleased that Suffolk has again been rated as Good. This reflects the strength of our adult social care service and the ongoing dedication and professionalism of the fantastic staff we have; I want to thank them all for their hard work." ## Where the report identifies shortfalls Despite the overall rating, the CQC scored two of the four themes covered by the assessment as showing "some shortfalls": how the local authority works with people, and equity in experience and outcomes. Both areas had also been scored at the lower end during the 2023 pilot assessment, suggesting there remains room for improvement. The report sets out detailed waiting times across several services. - At the time of the assessment, 113 people were waiting for a Care Act assessment, with a median wait of 12 days and a maximum of 64 days, against an internal target of 28 days. - For care reviews, the picture was more strained: 2,290 people were waiting for a review, around 30% of those in receipt of long-term support for more than 12 months, with a median wait of 104 days and a longest wait of 399 days. - The council said 70% of people received an annual review in 2025, against a local target of 80%, though it noted the median wait time was continuing to fall. - Occupational therapy assessments also showed waits, with 454 people waiting as of 2 December 2025, a median of 34 days and a maximum of 140 days. The report linked this in part to staffing vacancies and absence among occupational therapists, which it said had affected timeliness. Asked about this at a media briefing on the report, council officers said this reflected a sector-wide recruitment challenge affecting occupational therapy services more broadly, rather than a problem unique to Suffolk. Officers said Suffolk benchmarked well against neighbouring authorities, where waits for similar assessments could run into a year or more. Officers also pointed to a separate, structural issue behind some of the OT-related delays: in Suffolk's two-tier system, the council carries out occupational therapy assessments for home adaptations, but the relevant district or borough council must then complete its own financial assessment before a Disabled Facilities Grant can be approved. "We do the assessments...and then we have to ask the district or the council to do the financial assessment," they explained, adding that having all of this under one roof "would be more efficient", though the council said it was working with district and borough partners to improve the pathway within the current system. Applications for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which authorise the lawful restriction of a person's liberty when they lack the mental capacity to consent to their care arrangements, saw a far longer median wait of 302 days, down from 351 days in October 2025, though the maximum wait stood at 2,302 days. The council said it was working with an external agency to address the backlog, with up to 100 cases allocated externally each month, while a recent legal ruling was expected to reduce the volume of new applications over time as the eligibility threshold changes. ## Unpaid carers and digital inclusion The report also examined support for Suffolk's unpaid carers, of whom the council estimates there are more than 65,000 across the county. National data cited in the assessment showed 53.19% of carers experienced financial difficulties because of caring, worse than the England average of 46.55%, while only 23.82% felt they had encouragement and support, also below the national figure of 32.44%. A council spokesperson described unpaid caring as "often an invisible role" but "a vital role", pointing to the council's partnership with Suffolk Family Carers and a self-assessment model introduced in November 2023 that has been used by around 70% of unpaid carers since launch. The spokesperson said there was "always more to do" to reduce the burden on carers, including further digital support. Digital inclusion featured prominently in the report and the briefing that followed it. More than 6,000 people in Suffolk now have access to "Cassius", an assistive technology, ranging from fall detection to remote monitoring, which the council said had, in many cases, helped people avoid moving into residential care. The council confirmed it is also trialling artificial intelligence in the form of ambient-listening technology, which records and transcribes conversations during assessments to help structure reports, freeing up practitioner time. The council stressed that decisions and analysis remain with qualified social workers and occupational therapists. The CQC report, however, flagged digital exclusion as an ongoing risk, particularly for older people and those who do not speak English as a first language. The council said it was addressing this through free SIM card schemes, library-based digital support, and a "rural coffee caravan" offering face-to-face contact in areas with poor digital access. ## The LGR backdrop The CQC assessment lands amid wider upheaval for Suffolk County Council, which has launched a judicial review against the government's plans for local government reorganisation (LGR) in the county. Cllr Faircloth-Mutton warned against "breaking up established, high-performing services into new and unproven council structures", arguing that maintaining stability was "key to continuing to deliver good outcomes for the people of Suffolk", but this seemed to be contradicted by officers who raised the existing two-tier structure as a challenge. Asked directly whether adult social care could move from "Good" to "Outstanding" under a single unitary authority, as opposed to the existing two-tier structure and the government's chosen three-council one-tier structure, Cllr Faircloth-Mutton said he had researched the question nationally but would be guided by his officers and cabinet colleagues "if a one unitary solution is ever offered", adding: "At this point in time, it certainly isn't." "If you disaggregate it into having three authorities... you will jeopardise what we do" in adult social care, he said, adding that the judicial review challenged the government's process for arriving at its decision, not the underlying choice between one, two or three authorities. Suffolk County Council leader Michael Hadwen has been clear that the council's objection is to local government reorganisation itself, not to the specific choice between one or three new authorities. "There is no offer from His Majesty's government to have one unitary on the table," Cllr Faircloth-Mutton said, adding that the council was "operating in the realms of what we know the possibilities to be" under the existing two-tier system. We pushed back on this framing, pointing out that many of the specific challenges raised in the CQC report, such as the disjointed handover between the council and district and borough councils on home adaptation funding, appeared to support the case for a single unitary authority rather than the status quo. Cllr Faircloth-Mutton maintained that adult social care was already performing well under the current arrangement and that fragmenting it into three new authorities risked undermining that progress. The council said it was continuing to prepare for the possibility of a three-way split going ahead, while pursuing the judicial review. ## The bottom line Suffolk's adult social care service remains "Good" for the second consecutive assessment, with inspectors again praising the compassion and skill of its workforce. With a battle over local government reorganisation now expected to work its way through the courts, the council's new Reform UK administration must retain the rating it has inherited from the previous Conservative administration, while finding the money and the workforce to push for further improvements. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£149 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Head shave raises almost £3,000 for cancer ward URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/head-shave-raises-almost-3-000-for-cancer-ward/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T07:30:34.000Z **Why it matters:** Money raised goes towards extra comforts and amenities for the Somersham Ward and its clinics, which care for cancer patients and their families at Ipswich Hospital. **The details:** The head shave took place at the California social club on Foxhall Road on Sunday, 24 May. Jilly, a club member, took to the clippers after a friend was recently helped by the ward. "A friend of mine has recently been helped by Somersham Ward. So I am having my head shaved to raise some money for the ward," she said. **The big picture:** The money supports the Somersham Ward Support Group, which has raised more than £1.7m for the oncology unit at Ipswich Hospital since it was founded in 1986\. The group's officials and members all work on a voluntary basis. In a letter thanking Jilly, the group said donations were used "towards providing extra comforts and amenities for the ward and in clinics". It said it had recently bought chairs for the Woolverstone waiting area. **What they're saying:** Jilly's effort drew warm praise from others from the local community. "Honestly, what an absolute inspiration — we need more people like you in this world, Jill," wrote one supporter. The thanks also came from the ward itself. "I work in Somersham Ward — thank you very much for doing this for our ward," said one member of staff. **The bottom line:** A single afternoon on Foxhall Road has added close to £3,000 to a fund that has supported Ipswich cancer patients for nearly four decades — and shown, in the words of one supporter, "the power of the support and generosity people can give to one another." --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich-born director behind Grace Jones film returns home for Q&A URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-born-director-behind-grace-jones-film-returns-home-for-q-a/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T07:29:57.000Z **Why it matters:** Fiennes, who has collaborated with subjects ranging from philosopher Slavoj Žižek to her own brother, actor Ralph Fiennes, will discuss her career and the making of her latest documentary, ACTING, giving Suffolk audiences a rare chance to hear directly from one of Britain's most distinctive directors. **The details:** The screening of ACTING begins at 18:30, with no adverts or trailers beforehand. The film has a running time of 145 minutes and will be followed by a 30-minute audience Q&A with Fiennes. Latecomers cannot be admitted. Tickets are available from kingstreetcinema.co.uk. ACTING takes audiences inside the rehearsal room with theatre-makers Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod of Cheek By Jowl, following eight actors over eleven days as they explore scenes from Shakespeare's Macbeth. Fiennes filmed from within the ensemble herself. The film premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2024. **The bigger picture:** Fiennes was born in Ipswich, the daughter of photographer Mark Fiennes and novelist and painter Jennifer "Jini" Fiennes, and is the sister of actors Ralph, Joseph and Magnus Fiennes, Martha Fiennes and Jacob Fiennes. Her films include Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (2017), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow (2010), which followed German artist Anselm Kiefer and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. She is also known for her collaborations with philosopher Slavoj Žižek, including The Pervert's Guide to Cinema (2006) and The Pervert's Guide to Ideology (2013), and for Four Quartets (2022), a film of her brother Ralph Fiennes' stage performance of T.S. Eliot's poem. Her work has screened at festivals including Cannes, Toronto, Rotterdam, IDFA and Sundance, and has been shown in museums including MoMA in New York and the Reina Sofía in Madrid. **What they're saying:** "There is something life-affirming about seeing the creative process unfold in real time," said Dan Champion, King Street Cinema programmer. "We're thrilled to welcome Sophie back to Suffolk and to give audiences the chance to hear first-hand about the making of this remarkable film." **The bottom line:** Decades after leaving Suffolk to forge an international filmmaking career, Sophie Fiennes returns to Ipswich this month to share insights into her craft with the audience that first watched her grow up. [Get your tickets](https://kingstreetcinema.co.uk/programmes/acting-in-person-q-a-with-sophie-fiennes/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### N°8 Beautique: From the basketball court to the treatment table URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ndeg8-beautique-from-the-basketball-court-to-the-treatment-table/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T13:17:41.000Z N°8 Beautique opened its doors at 8 High Street on Tuesday, 8 April, this year – the culmination of a career path that has taken Ilona from the basketball court, through 13 years of mobile massage work across London, to her own studio in Ipswich town centre. "Looking back, I think life was always guiding me towards massage therapy — it just took me a few years to recognise the signs properly," she says. ## An early introduction Ilona's first experience of massage came long before any formal training. As a young child, she found herself acting as an informal therapist for a relative under significant pressure at work. "When I was very young, my aunt worked as a director at one of the national banks, which was an incredibly stressful and demanding role," she explains. "I remember being only five years old and regularly giving her face massages because it helped her relax and release stress." But her ambitions at that age lay elsewhere. Sport, and basketball in particular, dominated her early years. "My childhood dream was actually to become a PE teacher specialising in basketball. Sport has always been a huge part of my life." ## A sporting foundation That sporting grounding has remained central to Ilona's professional identity. Alongside her qualifications as a massage therapist, she holds diplomas in sports coaching and performance, as well as a Level 2 qualification in personal training. "My background in sport has strongly influenced my approach," she says. "As a former basketball player, I developed a deep understanding of physical performance and recovery." That understanding informs the treatments she now offers, which include sports massage, deep tissue massage, lymphatic drainage and a range of more specialist options — from Japanese Kobido and Korean Korugi facial techniques to treatments designed to relieve tension associated with TMJ disorders. ## From London to Ipswich Before opening N°8 Beautique, Ilona spent 13 years building her practice in London, working primarily as a mobile massage therapist. "For many years, I worked as a mobile massage therapist across London, treating a very wide range of clients from all backgrounds," she says. "Over the years, I also worked with a number of celebrity clients, including people connected to the entertainment and fashion industries, such as Rita Ora, Cara Delevingne's stylist, and David Beckham's stylist, among others." The move to Ipswich, she explains, was both personal and practical. "I moved to Ipswich after meeting my partner, who is originally from here. At the same time, I was looking for a change from London life. After many years in the city, I wanted a quieter and more peaceful lifestyle, and Ipswich felt like the perfect place for a fresh start and to build my own business." ## Building the studio from scratch Setting up an independent business in Ipswich town centre has not been without its challenges. When Ilona took on the unit at 8 High Street, the space was not ready for clients. "There were no treatment rooms when we first took over the property, so we created everything ourselves step by step," she says. "It was a lot of hard work, but also very rewarding to bring our vision to life." It's a feeling I'm very familiar with, having undergone an extensive renovation project of our own with our newsroom on Upper Brook Street. She works alongside an experienced beautician, broadening the range of treatments and services available under the N°8 Beautique name. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1476.jpeg) Ilona outside N°8 Beautique in Ipswich ## Treating modern aches The treatments Ilona offers are often shaped by the demands of contemporary working life. "Clients come to us with many different issues, but the most common problems are related to modern lifestyles and desk-based work — especially neck, shoulder, and back tension," she says. The studio also caters to more specialist needs. "We also help clients recovering from cosmetic procedures, including post-operative lymphatic drainage massage following liposuction surgery." A first visit, Ilona explains, begins with a conversation rather than a treatment. "A first visit usually begins with a consultation, where we talk about the client's needs, lifestyle, and any pain or tension they may be experiencing. From there, we tailor the treatment to suit the individual client." The studio is open from 10:00 to 19:00, with bookings taken through its website or via WhatsApp. ## Early signs In the weeks since opening, the response from Ipswich, she says, has been encouraging. "The response so far has been very positive and promising. We are proud to consistently receive five-star feedback from clients, and it has been wonderful to see local people supporting the business." Her ambitions for the studio over the next year or two are framed more around atmosphere than expansion. "Our goal is to create a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment where people can truly relax and enjoy our services both mentally and physically. We want N°8 Beautique to be a place where clients can switch off from everyday stress, take time for themselves, and leave feeling refreshed, healthier, and happier." ## The bottom line Thirteen years after taking up massage therapy in London, Ilona has chosen Ipswich as the place to put down roots — and the town's high street has gained an independent studio whose owner is, by her own admission, finally doing exactly what she was meant to do. "I have now worked as a massage therapist for 13 years, and I genuinely love what I do," she says. "It is a career that combines helping people physically and mentally, and I cannot imagine doing anything else." [Learn more about N°8 Beautique](https://n8beautique.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£95 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Four-acre woodland playground opens near Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/four-acre-woodland-playground-opens-near-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T11:16:52.000Z **Why it matters:** Guildenacre is a permanent new family attraction for the Ipswich area, with four themed play areas, a zip line and a stay-as-long-as-you-like format giving parents a new option for days out over the summer. **The details:** The playground officially opened on Saturday, 27 June. It was designed and created by CAP.CO (Creating Adventurous Places), specialists in hand-crafted adventure playgrounds, and built using estate materials as much as possible. Its four zones are themed around an animal from the surrounding area. The playground includes tunnels, den buildings, a covered slide, rope ladders, a giant telescope, climbing walls and twin slides, among other structures. Families reserve an arrival time but can stay as long as they like. Bark pathways link the four areas, and amenities include a refreshment kiosk, seating and toilets. **What they're saying:** "Families can spend as long as they like at Guildenacre and are not restricted by time slots, you just need to reserve your arrival time," said Edward Tollemache, custodian of Helmingham and co-founder of Guildenacre with his wife Sophie. "We want families to enjoy discovering the four themed play areas at their leisure, especially as each section offers a multitude of different play experiences and opportunities for children to create adventures and memories of their own." He added: "We've chosen a wood-themed design to immerse and reconnect visitors with nature and have worked closely with CAP.CO to ensure Guildenacre has been sustainably built, using estate materials as much as possible." **The big picture:** Guests can also use the updated Grade II listed Wades Barn, where a kitchen run by Suffolk deli group The Black Dog Deli serves refreshments alongside a retail space. A new car park is free for Guildenacre visitors and walkers. Visitors also receive a 25% discount on Helmingham Hall Gardens, a 10-minute walk or two-minute drive away. **The bottom line:** Guildenacre is open at weekends, then daily for the summer holidays from Saturday, 18 July until Monday, 31 August, before returning to weekend opening. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Soon there will be rats running the building': Pipers Court two months on URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/soon-there-will-be-rats-running-the-building-pipers-court-two-months-on/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T13:14:14.000Z Our April investigation into conditions and service charges at Pipers Court, the 103-home apartment block on Old Foundry Road, prompted a swift response from residents. Within days of publication, emails began arriving in our inbox. One resident who had lived there for over a decade described a building in a state of ongoing neglect — dirty communal areas, a housing officer frequently unreachable, and a string of maintenance promises that had gone unfulfilled. Two other residents came forward in person but declined to go on record, citing fears of retaliation from Oak Housing, the block's operator. On Tuesday, 23 June, the resident who had been corresponding with us since April contacted us again to say that little had improved and the bins were overflowing. We went back to look. [Black mould, blood stains and £200,000: Inside the Ipswich block questioning its service chargesWhen a resident raised concerns about service charges at Pipers Court, a 103-home apartment block on Old Foundry Road, we went to take a look. From the outside, it is not without a certain charm, but what lies beyond the entrance tells a very different story.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-8f1b144f-06b1-4881-9d80-b5a6058a4606.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_0787-1ecbb15a-2d38-445b-8777-7231300446d4.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/black-mould-blood-stains-and-200-000-inside-the-ipswich-block-questioning-its-service-charges/) ## 'Every bin chute is stacked up' The bin chutes at Pipers Court run along the inside of each end of every floor. On our return visit, every one of them was stacked with rubbish. In outside temperatures of around 30°C, the stench was significant, and flies were present throughout. It was not a new problem – two weeks, according to residents. A resident, who has lived at the block for more than a decade and asked to remain anonymous due to fears about retaliation from management, told us they had raised the bin situation directly with Oak Housing's head office. They said they had received no response. They explained that Oak Housing had recently introduced a recycling system requiring residents to take rubbish to a garage area — but that not all residents had the key fob needed to access it. The result, they said, was rubbish building up in the chutes. They added that she had heard the garage was only being cleared once a week, and when we arrived, one chute appeared to be blocked. "In this heat, it's bad," they said. And it was. The smell in some rooms was enough to make even the strongest of stomachs wretch. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4735-2.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4732.jpeg) Rubbish filled rooms at each end of every floor (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ## Maintenance issues In April, we reported that communal cleaning — the largest single line item on the service charge bill at £21,370.44 per year across the building — appeared to bear little relation to the state of the communal areas. On our return visit, the hallways appeared somewhat cleaner than in April, which a resident attributed to a cleaning company brought in approximately four weeks before our visit. But one resident was clear that underlying problems remained. "They think one person can do all the roles — it's not the case," they said, referring to the building's caretaker. They said they had been told that the maintenance worker was only permitted to carry out repairs when specifically authorised to do so, and that each job was allocated approximately two hours, regardless of the work required. The maintenance worker, they said, had apparently had enough and was understood to be leaving. "There will be no one here," they said, "and the building will be worse." No window cleaning had taken place, they added. In April, we noted that external window cleaning accounts for £10,176.40 of the annual service charge. The windows remained visibly dirty on our return. If they had been cleaned, it was hard to tell, with black mould still present throughout. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4734.jpeg) The same maintenance in progress sign we saw two months ago illegally props open a door in the shabby halls where clearly no maintenance has taken place (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams) ## 'Promise after promise' The resident described a pattern of commitments made and not kept stretching back to when Oak Housing took over the block in October 2018\. They said the company had held a meeting with residents at the time, promising new kitchens, bathrooms and a refurbishment of the communal corridors. None of it, they said, had materialised. "Promise after promise — they don't come down for meetings, and people won't listen anymore as they're frustrated with the building falling apart," they said. One resident claimed they had been promised a new bathroom four years ago — and that the replacement bath had been sitting in the building's office ever since. When we followed up, they told us that they had raised it at a recent inspection meeting. The response, they said, was that the bath was no longer being stored in the office and its whereabouts were unknown. They said they had been told there was nothing wrong with her current bathroom. They added that Oak Housing had told residents the building was significantly behind on rent payments and had outstanding arrears. They acknowledged this but argued it did not absolve the company of its maintenance obligations. "They still need to put the work in," they said. They also described a practical barrier that they believed was contributing to the rent arrears problem. As a full-time worker, they said they were unable to speak to anyone from the housing office in the evenings, and that the rent department was effectively unreachable by phone. "That's why people fall into debt," they said. The rubbish, they told us, had now been building up for two weeks. Oak Housing had been informed and had not acted. "Soon there will be rats running the building and maggots up the walls," they said. "The council need to take the building on and have a maintenance team on-site," they said. "Maybe then we shall see changes." ## Fear and silence The atmosphere among residents since April has been one of anxiety as much as frustration. Two residents who approached us at the time of our original visit declined to go on the record, saying they had heard that Oak Housing was angry about our first article and was attempting to identify who had spoken to us. The resident who has continued to correspond with us asked to remain anonymous for the same reason. They work and pay their full rent and service charge each week. They said they felt those who paid in full received no additional consideration or support from the operator. ## Oak Housing breaks its silence Oak Housing Limited is a For Profit Registered Provider of social housing, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. Its most recent accounts record a customer satisfaction rate of 63%. The company says homes under its care "are safe, well managed and exceed the expectations of our customers." Pipers Court is held under a sale and leaseback arrangement entered into with CBRE Global Investment Fund in December 2019, under which the block is held on a 250-year headlease and subleased back to Oak Housing. Oak Housing did not respond to our original request for comment ahead of our April investigation. Following a second approach ahead of this article, the company's Senior Housing Officer, Rebecca Greenhalgh, replied. The response did not address any of the six specific questions put to the company. In her reply, Greenhalgh said Oak Housing "takes all concerns raised by customers seriously" and that the company was "actively reviewing estate management, cleaning, waste management and communal repair issues at the scheme." She added: "Where issues are identified, we will ensure that appropriate action is taken with our contractors and local management arrangements." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1775571055358-rt8y5pqudnm-img_0789.jpeg) Inside Pipers Court in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) On the specific concerns raised, Greenhalgh said some matters "appear to relate to individual customers and specific repair histories," and that the company would "need to be careful not to disclose personal information or comment on individual cases without the appropriate consent." She asked for "specific dates, photographs, flat references or further details that residents have authorised us to share" to allow Oak Housing to "investigate the matters fully and respond accurately." The company added that it "does not accept any suggestion that customer concerns are ignored." ## How to raise a complaint Residents at Pipers Court and similar blocks have several routes available to them, depending on their tenancy type. The first step is always to raise concerns in writing directly with Oak Housing, keeping a record of all correspondence. If the issue is not resolved, residents can escalate to the Housing Ombudsman Service, which handles complaints against registered social landlords. The Ombudsman can be contacted at housing-ombudsman.org.uk or by calling 0300 111 3000\. There is no charge for using the service. Residents who believe their service charges do not reflect services actually delivered may also wish to seek advice from Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) or Shelter (shelter.org.uk), both of which offer free guidance on housing rights. The Regulator of Social Housing, which oversees providers including Oak Housing, can be contacted at gov.uk/government/organisations/regulator-of-social-housing if residents have concerns about a landlord's conduct more broadly. ## The bottom line Two months on from our original investigation, the fundamental picture at Pipers Court has not changed. A cleaning company has been brought in, but the bins have been overflowing for two weeks in summer heat, the windows have not been cleaned, the maintenance worker is understood to be leaving, repairs that were needed two months ago remain untouched, and at least one resident is still waiting for work promised when Oak Housing took over the block in 2018. Oak Housing says it is actively reviewing the situation. The residents of Pipers Court have heard that before. 💬 ****Are you a resident at Pipers Court or a similar block in Ipswich?** If you have a story to share, we want to hear from you. Get in touch confidentially at [editor@ipswich.co.uk](mailto:editor@ipswich.co.uk). Your identity will be protected. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£152 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Felixstowe is terrified of being lumped in with Ipswich' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/felixstowe-is-terrified-of-being-lumped-in-with-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T15:01:25.000Z Monday's extraordinary cabinet meeting, convened at short notice on 29 June, had one item on the agenda: whether to instruct officers to continue with the judicial review claim against the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The claim had already been filed on Tuesday, 24 June — five days before the meeting — using executive powers held by council leader Councillor Michael Hadwen. Cabinet members were not being asked to make the decision to launch the challenge; they were being asked to agree that legal proceedings should continue. All cabinet members voted in favour. The challenge contests the Secretary of State's decision, announced on 25 March 2026, to replace Suffolk's existing county, district and borough councils with three new unitary authorities: Western Suffolk Council, Central and Eastern Suffolk Council, and Ipswich and South Suffolk Council. For a fuller explanation of the two legal grounds being pursued and what the courts can and cannot deliver, see our earlier analysis: [Suffolk is taking the Government to court over LGR, but can it win its £500k taxpayer-funded battle?Suffolk County Council has filed a judicial review claim against the Secretary of State over local government reorganisation. The legal arguments are now known, but the threshold is high, and even a successful outcome may not deliver what the council is seeking. We explain all.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-b56685a3-baf7-42cb-8a66-d4c036d6c45c.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--35--a3de0b3a-8386-45c4-b2cf-5552fc8a4054.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-is-taking-the-government-to-court-over-lgr-but-can-it-win-its-500k-taxpayer-funded-battle/) ## 'Services would collapse' The atmosphere in the chamber was charged from the outset. Councillor Hadwen opened proceedings by setting out why, in his view, the legal challenge was both necessary and proportionate — arguing that the government had refused to disclose the reasoning and evidence behind a decision that he said would cost Suffolk an estimated £40 million to deliver and reshape public services, negatively, for generations. He told cabinet members that the government's response to the council's pre-action letter had revealed that civil servants had recommended the single-unitary option for Suffolk as the strongest proposal against the published criteria, and that the Secretary of State had chosen the three-unitary model anyway. "The Secretary of State rejected professional advice," Hadwen said, "and potentially overstepped his powers when he decided to implement his chosen council model for Suffolk." Each cabinet member then set out the case from the perspective of their own portfolio. Councillor Christopher Hudson, cabinet member for transport and highways, warned that splitting Suffolk's 4,000-mile road network across three separate authorities would be damaging and costly. He said analysis showed the three-unitary model could require up to 158 additional posts, costing £6.1 million a year — money he argued would be diverted away from frontline maintenance. He also raised concerns about Suffolk Highways' existing contracts, warning that fragmenting them could introduce legal risk and reduce the pool of contractors willing to bid. Councillor Tony Gould, cabinet member for education and SEND, focused on the county's 12,000 children and young people with education, health and care plans — legal documents requiring input from specialist advisors and carrying statutory obligations. He said Suffolk was in the middle of a major improvement programme following an area SEND inspection, and warned that splitting delivery across three authorities would threaten that progress and make it harder to recruit and retain the specialist staff needed. Councillor Simon Aalders, cabinet member for children and young people, raised safeguarding concerns. He warned that the trusted relationships and shared governance structures underpinning Suffolk's child protection arrangements had been built across a single county footprint, and that redesigning them across three separate authorities would create gaps — with consequences, he said, that were well-documented from similar reorganisations elsewhere in the country. Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, deputy leader and cabinet member for adult social care, said the county's social care system — which costs around £400 million a year — derived its value from commissioning at scale across the whole county. Fragmenting that into three smaller commissioning authorities, he argued, would reduce purchasing power, create complexity for providers, and introduce risk to safeguarding arrangements where, he said, accountability needed to sit clearly in one place. Councillor June Mummery, cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, pointed to services that operated as single county-wide teams — libraries, archives, public health — and warned that splitting them would create duplication and additional management costs at a time when every pound needed to reach the front line. She said she believed the Secretary of State had "ignored the advice of his own civil service and pushed ahead anyway." She honed in on Suffolk Libraries, which many argue is only successful because it was taken out of council control, only for Suffolk County Council to bring it back in-house last year in a contentious move led by Faircloth-Mutton before he defected to Reform. Councillor Morgan Brobyn, cabinet member for food, waste and rural affairs, highlighted the county-wide nature of flood management, waste disposal and rural services, arguing that these did not respect council boundaries and required strategic thinking at county level. Councillor Tristan Gale, cabinet member for planning, devolution and the fire service, warned that the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was being forced to plan its separation from the county council without adequate government funding or clear timelines — creating what he described as a "yo-yo effect" for an emergency service that could not afford instability. Councillor Vicky Armstrong, cabinet member for finance, economic development and efficiency, stressed that the legal challenge carried financial risk, but argued the costs of reorganisation itself — which she said analysis suggested could run to £145.3 million over five years — needed to be weighed against the cost of the challenge. She disputed the government's claimed savings, arguing that the history of reorganisation showed transition costs consistently exceeded projections while benefits took far longer to materialise. ## Behind closed doors — briefly Shortly after Councillor Hadwen concluded his opening remarks — in which he criticised the government for conducting a process he described as lacking transparency — the press and public were asked to leave the chamber. A decision that was briefly contested – to no avail – by Greens leader Andrew Stringer. The exclusion lasted approximately 15 minutes, during which cabinet members received legal advice in private session. Both the media and public were then invited back in for cabinet members' remarks and the councillor question session that followed. ## Opposition pushes back The challenge was, unexpectedly, not without its critics. The three opposition group leaders each raised concerns, though their lines of attack differed. Councillor Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green group and the official opposition, drew a parallel with planning committees, noting that councillors regularly depart from the advice of professional planning officers — and that a Secretary of State doing the same with civil service advice was not, in itself, unlawful. His argument was that the strength of this ground of challenge should not be overstated. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1503.jpeg) Cllr Andrew Stringer, leader of the official opposition at Suffolk County Council (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Councillor Martin Cook, leader of the Labour group, focused on the process and the timeline. He noted that the decision to file the claim had been taken by Hadwen alone on 18 June, the claim filed on 24 June, and cabinet informed only on 26 June — two days after it had already been submitted. He questioned how a decision committing up to £500,000 of public money had not been classified as a key decision under the council's own constitution, which would have required wider scrutiny. Councillor Richard Rout, leader of the Conservative group, challenged the decision-making process directly. He noted — as he had previously — the irony of a leader who had come to office pledging transparency taking a decision of this magnitude alone, before his own cabinet had been consulted. Hadwen defended the constitutional basis for his actions, arguing that rule 14.6 of the constitution permitted urgent decisions of this kind where delay would seriously prejudice the council's interests — in this case, the filing deadline of 1 July. He said bringing the decision to cabinet was a choice he had made in the interests of transparency, not a legal requirement. He was also asked directly what outcome the administration was actually seeking. His answer was notable. The judicial review, he reaffirmed, was not about securing a single unitary council for Suffolk. Its aim was to halt the reorganisation process entirely — and if successful, to force the government to either begin again or abandon the process. His own preferred outcome, he said, was "true devolution": meaningful powers devolved to the existing district and borough councils, giving them genuine teeth rather than restructuring the architecture around them. Several councillors pressed further on the financial risk. One asked whether the section 151 officer — the council's statutory finance officer — had formally assessed the affordability of committing up to £500,000 from unallocated reserves to a legal challenge not provided for in the budget. Hadwen said all proper procedures had been followed and that officers, including the section 151 officer, had been consulted throughout. Another councillor raised the risk of delay to reorganisation preparations. Whatever the outcome of the legal challenge, she argued, there was a real danger that officers and councillors would be so absorbed by the proceedings that the county would be less prepared for the three-unitary structure if the challenge ultimately failed. Hadwen said he had instructed officers to continue their work on reorganisation in parallel, on the basis of good governance, acknowledging that preparing for all eventualities was the responsible course. ## 'Felixstowe is terrified of being lumped in with Ipswich' Hadwen also offered a brief glimpse of how he sees our town. Asked about his conversations with district council leaders, he said: "Felixstowe is terrified of being lumped in with Ipswich." For a leader seeking to convince the whole of Suffolk that his administration acts in the county's collective interests, it was a bold and perhaps telling choice of words — particularly given the view of many Ipswich residents that the county has long worked against the town. If this administration is to convince Ipswich residents that Suffolk County Council is fighting for them as much as it is for the rest of the county, it may need to choose its words more carefully. ## What happens next The council has until Wednesday, 1 July 2026, to formally serve the claim. If the court grants permission for the judicial review to proceed, a substantive hearing will follow. The council can withdraw at any stage, and its papers note that the merits of the challenge should be kept under review as the government discloses further documentation. The financial exposure is asymmetric. If the challenge fails, the council will ordinarily be required to pay its own costs and approximately 70% of the government's — a figure that has not been publicly quantified, and which it is not clear the £500,000 budget covers. Separately, the government must still pass primary legislation through Parliament to formally abolish the existing councils and create the new unitary authorities — a process that presents its own potential checkpoint, regardless of the judicial review's outcome. ## The bottom line Suffolk County Council's cabinet voted unanimously to press ahead with its legal challenge — but unanimity in a controlling majority Reform UK administration is not the same as widespread public consensus. Despite messaging to the contrary, many in our county are in favour of LGR. The questions raised on Monday about process, mandate, financial risk, and legal merit were serious ones, and they did not receive answers that will satisfy everyone. The future of local government in Suffolk — and with it the shape of public services for people across Ipswich and the county — will now be decided, at least in part, in the courts. The bill, win or lose, will be paid by taxpayers. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£135 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Nearly £8m to bring faster obesity care to Suffolk and Norfolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/nearly-8m-to-bring-faster-obesity-care-to-suffolk-and-norfolk/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T08:17:55.000Z **Why it matters:** The Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board has been awarded funding through the government's Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP), which the government says will support around 31,000 additional patients every year across the region. For people in Ipswich, it promises a simpler, faster route into support — whether that is dietary advice, lifestyle help, or specialist treatment. **The details:** The new pathway will use AI-assisted triage to match patients to the appropriate level of care. People concerned about their weight will be able to complete a short online health assessment from home, rather than waiting for a GP referral, before being directed to one of five options: - Digital education and self-management support - Dietetic advice - Behavioural and lifestyle interventions - Specialist NHS weight management services - Clinically appropriate obesity treatments For the first time, the government says, patients will have a single point of entry into local NHS weight management services, with the aim of reducing delays and making access easier. New Neighbourhood Access Accelerator Hubs will also be established, working alongside community pharmacies and digital providers to bring support closer to patients with the greatest clinical need. **The bigger picture:** Obesity affects almost one in three adults in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and one in four adults in Wales. It is estimated to cost the UK up to £107 billion every year, including more than £9 billion annually for the NHS. OPIP is backed by up to £85 million in total — up to £50 million from the government and up to £35 million from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company. Twelve projects across the UK have been selected through an open and competitive application process. Eli Lilly and Company was not involved in the assessment or selection of successful applicants. The projects are designed to run until March 2029 and will generate evidence on how new technologies and innovative care models can improve outcomes, with lessons intended to inform future obesity care nationally. **What they're saying:** Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said the investment would "make a real difference by giving more people faster access to the right support, closer to home, while making better use of new technology to improve patient care." Science Secretary Liz Kendall said the projects would "meet people where they are — whether that is through a pharmacy round the corner, an app on their phone, or support in their own language." Secretary of State for Health James Murray described obesity as "an epidemic" and said the programme would "test new ways of delivering obesity care that uses the latest technology and is closer to people's homes." **For context:** Today's announcement is part of a broader package of government measures to address obesity, including restrictions on junk food advertising on television before 21:00 and online, new powers for local authorities to limit fast-food outlets near schools, a consultation on banning high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s, extended free school meals for households on Universal Credit, and a planned expansion of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy from January 2028. **What's next:** Eligible patients are expected to be able to access support through the new programme imminently, with the projects running until March 2029. **The bottom line:** Norfolk and Suffolk are among twelve areas selected to trial new approaches to obesity care under a programme backed by up to £85 million. The government says the investment will give tens of thousands of local patients a faster, simpler route into NHS weight management services — though how much of a difference it makes in practice will only become clear as the programme gets underway. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Could you help decide how £40m is spent in your neighbourhood? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/could-you-help-decide-how-40m-is-spent-in-your-neighbourhood/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T07:34:08.000Z **Why it matters:** Two Ipswich communities — Stoke Park and Chantry, and Whitehouse — have each secured up to £20 million through the government's Pride in Place programme. The money will be spent over the next ten years, and the Neighbourhood Boards will decide how it is used. **The details:** Applications are open for both Board Members and Chair roles for each area. The boards will bring together local residents, community groups, businesses and partners to set priorities, decide how funding is spent, and oversee projects in their neighbourhood. Each board will be made up of a Chair, Jack Abbott MP, at least one local ward councillor, and seven or more local residents. The Chair role carries additional responsibilities, including facilitating meetings, bringing together different views and keeping the board focused on delivering its long-term vision. Board Members attend regular meetings — usually every few months — contribute local knowledge and take part in decisions on how Pride in Place funding is spent. The roles are voluntary, but reasonable expenses can be covered. **What they're saying:** Jack Abbott MP said: "This is a unique opportunity for local people to help determine the future of their neighbourhood by helping decide how this significant investment into our town is spent. I would encourage anyone who is passionate about their community to consider applying. "You don't need formal qualifications to apply – just a passion for your local area and a commitment to making it even better. I hope people from all backgrounds and all walks of life will put themselves forward so these Boards truly reflect the communities they serve." **What's involved:** Successful applicants will receive an induction, training and ongoing support. They will then help shape a ten-year vision for their neighbourhood and oversee the delivery of a four-year investment plan. Applications are particularly encouraged from younger residents and people from under-represented backgrounds. **Key dates:** - 15 June – Chair applications close - Around 29 June – Chair interviews - 9 July – Board Member applications close - Around 20 July – Board Member interviews - 13 August – First board meetings expected to begin **The bottom line:** If you live or work in Stoke Park and Chantry, or Whitehouse, and want a genuine say in how your neighbourhood changes over the next decade, this is a rare chance to make your voice count — no experience required. To find out more or apply, visit [ipswich.gov.uk](https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/communities-and-health/join-pride-place-neighbourhood-board?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The Thomas Wolsey to host free charity music festival in August URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-thomas-wolsey-to-host-free-charity-music-festival-in-august/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T07:32:40.000Z **Why it matters:** Now in its third year, the Ipswich Summer Festival has raised around £3,000 to date, and this year's free event lets residents enjoy a full day of music while helping to raise money for charity. **The details:** Presented by Violet Events, the festival runs from 12:00 until late on Saturday, 1 August, and is free to attend. There will be food, drinks and stalls throughout the day, with 12 local musicians each donating their time to perform. **The line-up:** The day opens with Morgan Rusher at 12:30, followed by Sophie Rose, Jake Turner, Abbie McCormack, Beth Hurry, Will Clayton, Amy Reeve, Yasmin Chenery and Sabrina Summer through the afternoon. The Blueberry Buskers take to the stage at 17:00, with Ad Sheeran from 18:00 and Lauren Jennifer closing the line-up at 19:20. **What they are raising for:** The money raised will be split evenly between three organisations. The Bus Shelter Ipswich provides food and shelter for the town's homeless community and people on the breadline requiring extra support. It runs a converted double-decker bus housing up to six residents, with 24/7 support, and holds a soup kitchen on Lloyds Avenue on Wednesday evenings, offering hot food and clothing. Endometriosis UK funds research into a condition that takes on average seven to 10 years to diagnose and has recently been raised in Parliament, with Ipswich MP Jack Abbott helping to raise awareness. The third cause is FOP Friends. FOP, or fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, is an ultra-rare genetic disorder in which muscles, tendons and ligaments turn to bone. **By the numbers:** A raffle on the day will feature an Ed Sheeran Ipswich Town shirt donated by The Thomas Wolsey, alongside prizes given by Bar Twenty One and Foot Kandi. The pub is also donating a share of its bar takings. **The bottom line:** The event is free to attend, with money raised through donations, the raffle and bar sales going towards three causes – homelessness, endometriosis research and an ultra-rare bone disorder. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Golf day raises £11,000 for children's hospice charity URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/golf-day-raises-11-000-for-childrens-hospice-charity/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T07:29:26.000Z **Why it matters:** The charity cares for more than 700 children, young people and family members across the region, including around 190 at The Treehouse in Ipswich, where Gipping Construction is currently overseeing major expansion work. **The details:** After hearing from EACH chief executive Kevin Clements, 20 teams of four took part in games of golf, while guests also took part in a raffle and charity auction. Prizes included an Ipswich Town ball signed by the squad on the day they secured promotion, an Arsenal shirt signed by Thierry Henry, four-ball golf days, a helicopter flight with champagne, a rare vintage single malt whisky and afternoon tea at Milsoms. During the auction, the Arsenal shirt sold for £700 to Calvin Beales, from CJB Scaffolding, who then resold it for £500 and donated the proceeds back to EACH. **What they're saying:** "We're delighted to have raised £11,000 through hosting our first golf day at Fynn Valley," said Joe Butler, commercial director at Gipping Construction. "It was a fantastic day, with the weather on our side, and we were incredibly grateful for the support from clients, consultants and subcontractors, all of whom contributed so generously. "EACH is an outstanding charity, and over the past four months, we've developed a much deeper understanding of the vital work they do to support children and families across our region. We're proud to be able to support them." Andy Laflin, managing director at Gipping Construction, added: "We're thrilled our first golf day was such a big success. Thank you to everyone who supported the event and made it so enjoyable - too many to list, but we couldn't do it without you." Billie Nugent, EACH's senior corporate fundraiser for Suffolk, said she was "incredibly grateful" for Gipping Construction's support. "To raise £11,000 through their first golf day is an amazing achievement, and it will make a real difference to children, young people and families supported by EACH," she said. **The bottom line:** Gipping Construction's first golf day raised £11,000 for EACH, with the firm and the charity already working together on the expansion of The Treehouse in Ipswich. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Woman given suspended sentence for drink-drive crash on A14 URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/woman-given-suspended-sentence-for-drink-drive-crash-on-a14/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T12:03:23.000Z **The details:** Allison Lefebvre, of Hawksmead in Bicester, Oxfordshire, was driving eastbound on the westbound carriageway of the A14 between Sproughton and Whitehouse when her white Mini One struck a Peugeot 208 at just after 20:30 on Wednesday, 17 December. An HGV was also damaged in the incident. - Lefebvre appeared before Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 23 June, where she was sentenced after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing on Monday, 1 June, to two offences: dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. - At the scene, she failed a roadside breath test with a reading of 96 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – almost three times the legal limit of 35mg per 100ml. - She was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving but was taken to hospital, where she refused to provide a blood specimen for analysis. - In addition to the suspended sentence, Lefebvre was disqualified from driving for 28 months and must take an extended retest. She was also given a 10-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered to pay £400 in compensation to the victim, £187 victim surcharge and £85 in costs. **The impact:** The teenage driver of the Peugeot was also taken to hospital following the collision. In her witness statement, she said she has suffered with chronic back pain since the incident, as well as anxiety, trouble sleeping, and a fear of driving on dual carriageways. The collision caused her to be off work for two months. **What they're saying:** PC Regan Bradshaw, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: "This was an incredibly dangerous incident that could have had a very different outcome and it is extremely fortunate that no one was killed or seriously injured. "Allison Lefebvre made decisions that day that put her life and the lives of others at risk. I can only imagine the horror of the drivers of the other vehicles involved in the collision as they saw a car coming towards them on their side of the dual carriageway. "The driver of the Peugeot continues to feel the physical and psychological impact of the collision. It caused her to be off work for two months and has severely affected how she goes about her day-to-day life. "Roads policing officers have seen all too often the devastating impact caused by reckless actions such as drink-driving and dangerous driving. We will continue to raise awareness of these offences – and others that cause the most harm – and not relent in our work to make our roads safer for everyone." **The bottom line:** Lefebvre's decisions on the evening of 17 December left a young woman with injuries and anxieties she continues to live with today. The suspended sentence means she will avoid prison only if she meets the conditions set by the court over the next two years. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Big dreams can start in small places': Offiah returns to Woolverstone Hall URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/big-dreams-can-start-in-small-places-offiah-returns-to-woolverstone-hall/ Last updated: 2026-09-10T10:54:00.000Z **Why it matters:** The pavilion at Woolverstone Hall, home to Ipswich High School, is believed to be England's oldest thatched cricket pavilion. Its restoration comes as the school prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary. **The details:** Offiah, MBE, cut the ribbon on the newly refurbished pavilion at 1pm on Thursday, 25 June, ahead of the school's Senior Sports Day. The rugby league and rugby union star, who scored more than 500 career tries and represented Great Britain and England, is a Woolverstone Hall alumnus. He played for major clubs including Widnes and Wigan Warriors and was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame. **What they're saying:** "It's a real honour to be back at Woolverstone Hall and Ipswich High School to open this historic pavilion," Offiah said. "Sport has been one of the biggest influences in my life, shaping who I am both on and off the field. Seeing this iconic building restored brings back so many great memories." "Woolverstone Hall is where my sporting ambitions were born," he added. "As a young boy playing for the 1st XI and having tea in this very pavilion, I could never have imagined that one day I would have a statue outside Wembley Stadium. This pavilion is a reminder that big dreams can start in small places. I hope it continues to inspire future generations to create their own memories, friendships and legacy through sport." Headmaster Dan Browning said: "We are absolutely delighted to see this beautiful and historic pavilion restored and ready for a new generation of pupils, families and visiting teams to enjoy. It is a building with a remarkable story and an integral part of the sporting and social history of Woolverstone Hall. As the school prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary, it feels especially fitting to have the pavilion restored and ready for the future." He added: "We are hugely grateful to everyone whose generosity, skill and hard work has made this refurbishment possible. To have Martin Offiah, one of our own alumni and one of the greatest names in rugby league, return to open the pavilion on Senior Sports Day will make the occasion even more special." **For context:** The pavilion was built in 1894 by estate workers for John Berners, under the direction of Charles Tebbit. The first recorded cricket match, between Woolverstone Park and Colchester Garrison, took place that same year, beginning a tradition that continued for decades through the Berners family's Cricket Week. Visiting players during Cricket Week included national and county cricketers, England cricket players, Old Etonian "Ramblers" and divisions of the British Army, with the England cricket team understood to have played an annual game at Woolverstone Hall as part of the tradition. In June 1895, the East Anglian Daily Times described the pavilion as "a permanent pavilion of picturesque design", with rustic oak walls, rough-cast gable ends, a thatched roof and a verandah commanding "a splendid view of the field". Woolverstone Hall itself is Grade I listed, though the pavilion is not part of that listing. **The bigger picture:** Now approaching 130 years since it first opened, the pavilion has hosted hundreds of visiting sports teams and post-match teas – first for the Berners' Cricket Week, later for Woolverstone Hall School, and now for Ipswich High School. The restoration was supported by Orwells Furniture, which completed the kitchen fit-out, Belmont Electrical, the Woolverstone Hall Old Boys' Association, the Ipswich High School Association (the school's PTA), Adam Peaty Race Clinics, donations from parents and alumni through a GoFundMe campaign, and the school's estates team. A permanent board will recognise donors who gave more than £200 towards the restoration fund. **The bottom line:** More than a century after estate workers built it for the Berners family's Cricket Week, Woolverstone Hall's historic pavilion has been given a new lease of life – reopened by one of its own former pupils just as Ipswich High School prepares to mark 150 years. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk is taking the Government to court over LGR, but can it win its £500k taxpayer-funded battle? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-is-taking-the-government-to-court-over-lgr-but-can-it-win-its-500k-taxpayer-funded-battle/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T08:44:29.000Z The claim was filed on Tuesday, 24 June — five days before the extraordinary cabinet meeting at which councillors are being asked to formally approve it. The decision to file was taken by Councillor Michael Hadwen, leader of Suffolk County Council, using his executive powers under the council's constitution. Cabinet members are not being asked to make the decision; they are being asked to note it and agree that legal proceedings should continue. The claim challenges the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government's decision, announced on 25 March 2026, to replace Suffolk's existing county, district and borough councils with three new unitary authorities: Western Suffolk Council, Central and Eastern Suffolk Council, and Ipswich and South Suffolk Council. Councillor Hadwen said: "Having reviewed that information, our concerns have been confirmed — the current proposal is not in Suffolk's best interests and is unfit for our county." The council has been clear that the challenge is not an attempt to secure a single unitary council for Suffolk. Its aim is to overturn the Government's decision entirely and halt the reorganisation process. ## The two legal arguments Suffolk County Council is pursuing two grounds of challenge. The first is that the Secretary of State acted beyond his legal powers. The council's pre-action letter argues that the decision to create three new unitary authorities with redrawn boundaries — splitting existing districts between them — is not permitted under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (LGPIHA). Under that legislation, proposals for reorganisation must use existing council areas as building blocks. The council argues that the districts' proposal did just that in its unmodified form, but then asked the Secretary of State to immediately modify the boundaries — something the council argues he cannot lawfully do in this way. The council contends that boundary changes of this kind require involvement of the Local Government Boundary Commission, which has a specific statutory role in such matters. SCC's pre-action letter states that the approach adopted was "a device to pave the way for a different outcome which the LGPIHA did not in fact allow." The Government Legal Department (GLD) disputes this robustly. In its response of 12 June 2026, it argues that section 7(1)(a) of the LGPIHA explicitly empowers the Secretary of State to implement a proposal "with modification", and that section 11(6) makes clear this can include boundary changes. It points to case law, including *R v Secretary of State for the Environment ex p Lancashire CC* \[1994\], in which a court held that modification of a boundary was permissible provided the resulting scheme was not "a different animal" from the original proposal. The Government maintains it was not. The second ground is that the Secretary of State departed from his own published criteria without rational justification. A key criterion was that new councils should "aim for a population of 500,000 or more." Each of the three proposed Suffolk authorities would have a population of roughly half that level. The council argues the Secretary of State failed to provide adequate reasoning for departing so significantly from his own guideline. The GLD's response counters that the 500,000 figure was "a guiding principle, not a target", a position it says was made clear to all councils from the outset. The Secretary of State's letter of 25 March 2026 states: "The 500,000 population figure has always been a guiding principle, not a fixed threshold. Whilst all three new councils are below the 500,000 level, I am satisfied that it is appropriate on the basis that it produces a more coherent and effective outcome for Suffolk." ## The civil service recommendation What has sharpened the legal challenge — and given it renewed political charge — is the contents of the GLD's response to the pre-action letter. That response confirmed that civil service officials recommended against the three-unitary proposal. The advice given to the Secretary of State stated: "We consider the 1 unitary to be the strongest proposal for Suffolk against the criteria. The single unitary proposal meets all the criteria, and does so more strongly than the 3 unitary proposal in relation to its geography, financial resilience, and service delivery." In other words, the Secretary of State chose the three-unitary proposal, despite being advised by officials that the single-unitary option was stronger. This is not in itself unlawful — ministers are entitled to depart from civil service advice — but the council argues that in doing so without adequate published reasoning, the decision cannot withstand legal scrutiny. The council's follow-up letter of 16 June 2026 stated that the GLD's own response had "strongly reinforced the need for the production of documents", since it had now become apparent that the Secretary of State had "reversed the specific advice and recommendations of his civil servants." The Government declined to disclose the underlying advice and meeting records, arguing that its explanation of the decision-making process was sufficient. ## What a judicial review can and cannot do It is important to understand what judicial review is, and what it is not. A court conducting a judicial review does not decide whether the Government made the right decision. It decides only whether the decision was made lawfully — that is, whether it was illegal, irrational, or procedurally unfair. Even a successful challenge would not necessarily stop local government reorganisation in Suffolk. If the court found a procedural flaw, the Secretary of State could, depending on the grounds, potentially remake the decision through a corrected process — and arrive at the same outcome. The council's own papers state that, if the ultra vires ground succeeded, a successful outcome would leave the Secretary of State "effectively with a choice between adopting the single unitary proposal and leaving a two-tier system in place (or inviting fresh proposals)." The claim must first clear a permission stage, usually decided on paper without a hearing. If permission is refused, the council can seek a renewal hearing. Only if permission is granted does the case proceed to a substantive hearing with a judgment. ## The cost, and who pays if it fails The council's own papers state that total costs are "relatively unlikely" to exceed £500,000\. Councillor Hadwen has defended the outlay by arguing that the cost of a judicial review is "nothing compared to the cost of LGR," though both the one- and three-unitary proposals forecast significant savings. Those costs will be met by repurposing earmarked reserves. The financial risk is asymmetric. If the council's claim fails, it will ordinarily be required to pay its own legal costs and approximately 70% of the Government's. That exposure has not been publicly quantified. If the claim is withdrawn early, there may be scope to negotiate a settlement with no costs awarded. Councillor Hadwen's predecessor Matthew Hicks put the concern plainly: "By the administration's own admission, if this challenge fails the council will have to pay not only its own legal costs but most of the Government's too — and it is being funded by raiding the council's reserves." It's unclear if the circa £500,000 budget allows for this. ## The process question The legal challenge has not only raised questions about the Government's conduct — it has also raised questions about the council's own. Opposition groups across all three parties have criticised the decision-making process. Councillor Richard Rout, leader of the Conservative group, said: "There is a glaring irony at the heart of this. The Reform administration is taking the Government to court for, in their words, failing to follow a proper and transparent process. Yet they have taken this decision in exactly the way they accuse the Government of behaving — behind closed doors, by one man, before anyone else had a say." Councillor Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green group, the official opposition, said: "We responded straight away when we were asked who we would want on \[the\] Constitution Working Party. The constitution is the foundation of how the council makes its decisions, and it’s important that all the political groups at the council have input into any proposed changes. We have no idea what changes Reform UK were planning to make to the constitution, which apparently they have now abandoned. "They have also convened an Extraordinary Cabinet meeting for Monday, 29 June, which we are yet to receive any supporting information about, even though it’s only a few days away. We know it will be related to their legal challenge to the government about stopping Local Government Reorganisation. "They said the report would be provided for councillors yesterday, but we heard nothing. "It’s hard to see whether it’s a deliberate measure by the Reform administration to keep councillors from other political groups in the dark, or whether they’re just really disorganised and not sure what they are doing. "The role of opposition groups at the council is to challenge the administration and hold them to account, which is hard to do in such a chaotic environment.” Councillor Martin Cook, leader of the Labour group, questioned the priorities behind the decision: "How can a legal challenge that a cash-strapped council admits could cost more than £500,000 possibly be a priority for Suffolk?" The administration is also seeking to have the decision classified as "urgent" under rule 14.6 of the council's constitution, which would prevent it from being called in for formal scrutiny. Councillor Hadwen has not directly addressed the process criticism, but has defended the substance of the challenge, arguing that the Government's decision was reached without transparency and that legal action was the only means of compelling disclosure. ## What comes next The council has until Wednesday, 1 July 2026, to formally serve the claim. Cabinet members will be asked at Monday's extraordinary meeting to agree to instruct officers to continue with legal proceedings. And that's exactly what it is expected to do. If permission is granted, the claim will proceed to a substantive hearing. The council can withdraw at any stage, and the papers note it should keep the merits of its claim under review as the Government discloses further documentation. Separately, ministers must still pass primary legislation in Parliament to formally abolish the existing councils and create the new unitary authorities. That process presents a further potential checkpoint, regardless of the outcome of the judicial review. Basically, this has all the earmarks of a long, drawn-out, politically charged and expensive process. ## The bottom line Suffolk County Council's leader has taken the decision to commit public money to a legal challenge that was filed before it was formally approved, on grounds the Government contests robustly, in pursuit of an outcome — halting reorganisation entirely — that the courts may not be able to deliver even if it wins. The detail that the Secretary of State overruled his own civil servants perhaps adds some weight to the challenge, but the questions raised about process cut both ways. Councillor Hadwen came to office pledging transparency and a commitment to protecting the public purse. On his first day as leader, he promised residents that his administration would be open and accountable. Whether filing a legal claim before his own cabinet had a chance to consider it — and seeking to block that decision from being called in for scrutiny — sits comfortably with those commitments is a question only residents can answer. What is clear is that the future of local government in Suffolk — and with it the shape of public services for people in Ipswich and across the county — will now be decided, at least in part, in the courts. The question remains: at what cost to taxpayers? --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£122 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich brothers raise more than £4,000 in padel challenge URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-brothers-raise-more-than-4-000-in-padel-challenge/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T07:41:46.000Z **Why it matters:** Charlie and Tommy Hughes, 24 and 25, took on the "gruelling" marathon at The Warehouse in Ipswich, raising £4,127 for The Akwaaba Foundation. The charity provides school funding, daily sports, healthcare and opportunities to thrive for more than 250 children a day. **The big picture:** Charlie lives in Accra in Ghana himself, supporting the charity full-time following a previous career in finance. He described the charity's work as "Inspiring, rewarding and impactful". "The size of the organisation is small, with no management and directors, but the size of its impact is vast – helping more than 250 children everyday," he said. "People don't realise the impact of their donation – as little as £1 will make such a difference because the money goes to the correct places. "From seeing the work Akwaaba does everyday, I wanted to give back and be part of their ten year anniversary." **What they're saying:** Tommy, a former Ipswich Town football player who now plays for Bury Town, said: "I went out to Ghana in May for three weeks to visit my brother and see the work he has been doing. "From supporting children to be able to afford to attend school and sports, to building a family a new home after theirs was washed away in the torrential rain, the money raised will help change so many families' lives for the better." Tommy said he started playing padel three years ago, instantly "catching the bug" "We're now a few days after the challenge. I'm still in pain and walking like a 70-year-old, but to be able to raise money for such an incredible charity has been worth every bit of effort and pain." he said. **The bottom line:** Eighteen hours of padel later, two Ipswich brothers have turned a physical challenge into thousands of pounds for children in Ghana. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Council switches off solar panels at 80 schools after Ipswich fire URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-switches-off-solar-panels-at-80-schools-after-ipswich-fire/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T16:17:36.000Z **Why it matters:** Solar panels at the affected schools were installed by the council between 2011 and 2016 as part of a wider programme. With two other school fires also potentially linked to solar panels, the council has acted precautionarily to eliminate any possible risk to pupils and staff. **The details:** The fire at Sidegate Primary School occurred on 24 June. Initial discussions with Suffolk Fire and Rescue indicate the fire may be linked to solar panels installed on the roof of one of the school buildings. The council said there is currently no firm evidence that the three school fires were caused by the same issue, and no conclusive evidence linking them. However, the involvement of solar panels in each case prompted the precautionary action. The decision has been taken in partnership with Suffolk Fire and Rescue, Concertus, DPL and Suffolk County Council while further investigation work continues. Engineers will visit all 80 schools within the next two weeks to isolate the solar panel systems. The work is expected to be completed without disruption to day-to-day school operations. **What they're saying:** Sarah-Jane Smedmor, Executive Director of Children and Young People at Suffolk County Council, said: "This move is about ensuring that our children and young people and staff across schools remain safe. "We do not specifically know what caused the fires. However, we cannot take the risk that those incidents were unrelated or coincidental – we must act with precaution to eliminate any potential fire risks." **The bottom line:** With the cause of three school fires yet to be confirmed, Suffolk County Council is not waiting for answers — switching off solar panels at 80 schools as a precaution while engineers carry out site visits over the coming fortnight. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Will Ipswich sink or swim? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/will-ipswich-sink-or-swim/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T06:12:10.000Z Two projects sit at the centre of the town's swimming future: the restoration of the Grade II listed Broomhill Lido on the northern edge of town, and a new £38m aquatics centre planned for the car park at Portman Road. The first has stalled after the intended operator collapsed; the second has planning permission but an uncertain timetable. Together, they will determine whether, after 24 years of plans, surveys and false starts, Ipswich's swimming provision is something worth making a splash about. ## **A town that needs swimming** Whatever else is disputed, the need is not. Ipswich Borough Council's own planning report for the new aquatics centre states: "Ipswich is the least active place in the East of England, and this proposal aims to change that." The same report links the town's poor health outcomes to "relatively high levels of deprivation", and the council's Sports Facilities Strategy identifies a gap in public swimming water equivalent to a full-sized 25m pool. Swimming, the council notes, is not a luxury here. Unlike gyms, affordable pools are rarely provided by the private market, which makes the council's pools, in the strategy's words, "hugely important" for both exercise and teaching a "vital life skill". For a town where too few people are active, where children learn to swim, and clubs train their next generation, the water matters more than the politics that surround it. Which is what makes the present moment so uncomfortable. The council's town-centre swimming rests on three pools: Crown Pools, the Victorian Fore Street Baths, and the closed Broomhill Lido. The council is trying to replace the first and revive the third, while the second carries on as it has for more than a century — and neither the replacement nor the revival is yet certain. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/dato-A8bF9yQ2Rnq8DE8js6_hBA-1775140021962-1.jpg) The entrance to Broomhill Lido (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ## **The warnings raised from a lifelong swimmer** Of the town's two swimming projects, Broomhill came first. The 1938 Art Deco lido on the northern edge of town has been closed since 2002, and a campaign to reopen it began the following year, when the Broomhill Pool Trust was formed. Reviving a listed lido on this scale needed a professional operator behind it, and from 2011, the council's partner on the project was Fusion Lifestyle — a charity that specialised in restoring and running historic pools and lidos. It was Fusion that applied to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, winning the grant in 2018\. The council came in as funding partner and freeholder, and the scheme was approved in 2019. For years, one resident saw the danger in that arrangement. A lifelong Ipswich swimmer who competed and held club office in the town for more than 60 years — and who has asked not to be named — began writing to councillors, the local press and two MPs in the summer of 2022\. His warning was specific and, as it turned out, prescient: Fusion, he argued, was not financially sound enough to deliver the restoration it had been entrusted with. "How stakeholders in the restoration of Broomhill Pool did not have serious concerns about the financial status of Fusion Lifestyle, post covid, remains a mystery," he says. "I have consistently raised questions about the financial health of Fusion Lifestyle since 2022 with Ipswich councillors and MPs, but these were either never answered specifically or just ignored." His concerns were well-founded. Fusion's accounts for 2021 showed it was around £4m in the red. It was also carrying a £13m government-backed coronavirus loan, due to be repaid in November 2023, and its own auditors had flagged "material uncertainty" over whether the charity could survive as a going concern. The swimmer says the deficit then deepened to almost £11m the following year, after which Fusion stopped filing its accounts on time. ## **The operator the council backed** How the lido restoration took a back seat is a question with more than one honest answer. The [Broomhill Pool Trust](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/broomhill-pool-trust/), which has campaigned to reopen the 1938 lido since 2003, is generous towards the company that ultimately failed it. Trust chairman Mark Ling, says Fusion was "an outstanding operator" when appointed — a pioneer in restoring heritage pools, and a genuine partner. It was Covid, he argues, that broke a once-healthy business. "The Fusion that we recognise pre-COVID and post-COVID were not the same outfit," he says. The council's documents tell a more cautious story. A December 2021 report to its executive recorded that the council had taken independent advice on Fusion's creditworthiness, noted that the company could now contribute only £200,000 to the project instead of the £2m originally promised, and explicitly identified the risk that Fusion might enter administration. That report recommended lending Fusion £1.8m to keep the scheme alive. Crucially, the council says that the loan was never made. "The Council did not subsequently enter into a loan agreement with Fusion Lifestyle," it confirmed in response to questions from Ipswich.co.uk. Nor did any of the council's own £3.3m contribution reach the company: that money, it says, "would only be drawn down on the evidence of completed works", and because the restoration never restarted, there was no completed work to pay for. Whatever else went wrong, no public money was lost to Fusion's collapse. The funding, by then, was almost entirely in place. After costs rose to £10.25m, the council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund between them guaranteed around 98% of the scheme — the lottery contributing close to £6.8m, the council £3.3m. The problem was never the grant. It was that Fusion could not bankroll the work and wait to be repaid, because heritage funding is paid out only once work is completed — and the company no longer had the financial strength to carry that gap. By 2025 it could not provide audited accounts, and in July the lottery withdrew its grant. "We are disappointed that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has made this difficult decision," the council said at the time, noting that Fusion "had been unable to provide assurances about their financial position". On 1 April 2026, Fusion Lifestyle entered administration. What is not in dispute is the outcome. The risk that Fusion might fail was set out in the council's own 2021 report; the same year, the company's accounts showed both a juxtaposing image of a deficit and a business that had survived the pandemic and was forecasting recovery. One resident warned, from 2022, that the finances did not stack up. The council says it monitored the position and protected its money. The lido did not fail for lack of grant funding — 98% was in place — but because the operator could not carry out the work. Support our journalism ****Stories like this take time. Your membership makes it possible.** Diving deep into Ipswich's swimming future takes hours of research, scouring council documents, and interviewing sources. Members keep that kind of journalism funded and free to read. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) ## **Too precious to lose, too costly to keep** Broomhill now sits in limbo. The lido — 55 yards long, Grade II listed, and, in the trust's words, "one of the finest in the United Kingdom" — has been closed since 2002\. Its planning permission expires in December 2027, with roughly £250,000 already spent, and no new operator yet secured. The trust argues that doing nothing carries its own cost. The lido sits in protected parkland with, as Ling puts it, "no commercial value"; the council, as freeholder, retains a duty of care for a listed building, and the trust estimates demolition and return to parkland would itself cost around £1.5m. "We are not lido fundamentalists," Ling says. "After 23 years of campaigning, it is incredibly frustrating what has occurred, but we remain committed to the task and we think IBC is too." The council says its £3.3m contribution remains ringfenced for the restoration — protected within its budget, and removable only by a formal decision by the full council. But the path forward is slightly more foggy. Because the lottery grant cannot be transferred from Fusion to a new applicant, the council would have to prepare a fresh bid; and it must first regain possession of the site from the administrators. Until that is resolved, the council says, "it is not possible to set a realistic timetable for the project", though it remains "fully committed to restoring the much-treasured Broomhill Lido". ## **A new pool to replace the one we have** While the lido stalled, the council pressed ahead with its other swimming ambition: a £38m aquatics centre on the surface car park behind Portman Road's Cobbold Stand, brought forward by the council through its development company. The first thing to understand about the new centre is that it is a replacement, not an addition. It is intended to take over from Crown Pools, the town-centre complex opened in 1984, which the planning report describes as "coming to the end of its lifecycle" and "proving costly to maintain". The council says it considered simply refurbishing Crown Pools and rejected the idea, partly because doing so would have closed the town's main pool for almost two years. Importantly, it says Crown Pools "will remain in use until a new Aquatics Centre is complete and open" — so on the council's account, there should be no period in which Ipswich has no main pool. The questions raised by critics — and by at least one objector in the council's own planning file, who "questions the need of another pool, that does not go beyond the provision at Crown Pools" — is what, exactly, the town gains for £38m if it is replacing a 25m pool with another 25m pool. The consented plans describe a 25m main pool, a 17m learner pool and a leisure and splash area aimed at families with young children, alongside a café, fitness suite and soft play across two floors. Despite some reporting to the contrary, there will be no water flumes and no diving facilities; the planning report records that flumes "would be cost prohibitive in relation to ongoing operational costs", as would providing the depth needed for diving. There will be no 50m pool: the report concludes there is "insufficient space" for both a learner pool and a 50m pool, and that splitting a longer pool would push up running costs. That last decision is at the heart of our source's second objection. The nearest 50m pool to Ipswich, he points out, is around 50 miles away, and he believes the town should have built one as part of a wider sports complex. As things stand, he judges the Portman Road plans harshly: "The plans as shown in the planning document do not provide aquatic facilities as good as currently available at Crown Pools." The council's documents do not entirely bear that out. On some measures the new centre improves on Crown Pools: gala seating rises from 600 to around 663, and a studio pool will double as a warm-down facility, which Crown Pools lacks. On others — no flumes, no diving, no deep water, no competition-length pool — the offer is narrower than some had hoped. The truth is a trade-off, and revealingly, both sides of it sit in the same council report: the case for a modern centre to revive the least active town in the region, and the case that what is being built does not go far beyond what the town already has. The aquatic centre is not a competition pool, but neither is it a proper leisure destination. Can a facility that is neither nor justify it's £38m price tag? ## **Swimming next to the football** There is also the matter of where the new pool will sit. The site is wedged between Ipswich Town's stadium and a flood-prone corner of the town centre, and both facts have drawn attention in the planning process. Suffolk Constabulary, responding to the application, asked for a management plan precisely because of the stadium next door, recommending monthly meetings between the centre, the football club and the police "to ensure events at the Aquatic Centre do not clash with events (including matches) at ITFC in order to reduce the risk of congestion and conflict", along with private security on event days. It is a concern the swimmer raised as far back as 2022, when he questioned how a family pool would function on a match day. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/dato-Ipcm8muaQiyUMz0iVnXtyg-1775135511057-1.jpg) Car park at Portman Road (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Then there is the question of the journey to the outcome. The aquatics centre cannot be built until a new multi-storey car park is completed — and even the timetable for that has slipped. When the council announced the car-park plans in March 2026, it expected construction to run from late summer 2026 to the end of 2027\. By June, in response to questions from Ipswich.co.uk, it set out a later sequence: construction starting in early 2027, the car park opening in the summer of 2028, and that being "the earliest time that further development work i.e. the aquatics centre could start". On the council's own most recent account, work on the pool itself could not begin until after the council that approved it has ceased to exist. The car park, at a cost of £19.7m, will provide 718 spaces where 810 stand today, a net loss of 92. ## **Building for a council that will not exist** For all the detail, the largest uncertainty is the simplest. The council approved the £38m for the aquatics centre, within a wider £70m capital programme, in February 2026\. It expects the centre to open in 2030 — and, on its latest timetable, work on it could not even begin until after the summer of 2028\. Ipswich Borough Council is due to be abolished in 2028, when it is replaced — along with Suffolk's other district, borough and county councils — by new unitary authorities. The body that approved the pool will not be the body that builds or pays for it. Borrowing the full £38m over 25 years would cost around £2.86m a year, some £71.5m in total, and the council has said it would seek external funding from government or Sport England to reduce that, though how much it could secure is unclear. That the reorganisation itself is now the subject of a legal challenge only deepens the uncertainty about who, in a few years' time, will be answerable for any of this. And for the swimmer, that is the heart of it: the town is being asked to trust that a pool it will not start building until after its own council has gone will arrive, on time, from a body that does not yet exist. ## **The bottom line** Twenty-four years after Broomhill Lido closed, Ipswich is no closer to a settled answer to a simple question: where will the town swim? It has a lido it cannot yet fund, a main pool it wants to knock down, and a £38m replacement that, on the council's own timetable, will not be finished until two years after the council itself has gone. The decisions have been made in good faith, and the need is real — this is the least active town in the East of England, and good swimming could play a part in change. But the town has been here before: years of ambition it could not deliver, and a plan that outlives the people who made it. For one lifelong swimmer, who watched the lido stall and fears the new pool repeats the pattern: if both schemes proceed as planned, "Ipswich will be repeating past mistakes." For Mark Ling, the Broomhill Pool Trust chairman who has championed the lido's restoration for more than two decades, the setbacks have not changed his mind: "It is incredibly frustrating what has occurred, but we remain committed to the task, and we think IBC is too." Support our journalism ****Stories like this take time. Your membership makes it possible.** Diving deep into Ipswich's swimming future takes hours of research, scouring council documents, and interviewing sources. Members keep that kind of journalism funded and free to read. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£187 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### A14 summit: The outcomes, the gaps and what happens next URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a14-summit-the-outcomes-the-gaps-and-what-happens-next/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T13:56:14.000Z Every time the Orwell Bridge closes — whether for maintenance, an accident or high winds — around 60,000 vehicles a day are forced onto alternative routes, bringing Ipswich's road network to a standstill. Businesses lose money, workers are stranded, and residents miss medical appointments. It is estimated that each closure day costs the local economy around £1 million. The bridge is already operating at around 85% of capacity. Planned housing development in the Ipswich area is expected to add a further 15% to traffic volumes. The pressure, in other words, is only going one way. The 19 June summit was by invitation, bringing together local MPs, Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, senior councillors, including the new Suffolk County Council leader Michael Hadwen, and political and management representatives from Babergh, East Suffolk, Ipswich and Mid Suffolk Councils. Updates were received from Freeport East, National Highways, Suffolk County Council and Transport East. Notable absentees were Ipswich MP Jack Abbott and North Ipswich & Central Suffolk MP Patrick Spencer. The meetings operate under Chatham House rules, which is why the media are not present. Paul Simon, Suffolk Chamber's head of public affairs, explained: "The summits are deliberately by invitation and under Chatham House to allow participants a guaranteed safe space to build trust with each other and freely discuss the various part-solutions." All very well – but it does make reporting on these presumably important meetings somewhat tricky. ## The Copdock Interchange The most significant development to emerge from the summit concerns the A12/A14 Copdock Interchange — one of Suffolk's most congested junctions and a critical gateway for freight traffic to and from the Port of Felixstowe. The process to update investigations into the interchange as part of the fourth Roads Investment Strategy (RIS4) pipeline begins later this year. Crucially, Copdock is now one of only five schemes in that pipeline nationally — a position that gives it a substantially stronger prospect of securing funding in the next investment cycle than it has had for years. The brief is clear: to deliver "improvements to increase capacity and to improve performance of a key junction serving freight traffic to and from the Port of Felixstowe." Inclusion in the pipeline does not guarantee delivery, but it does mean design work, assessments and statutory processes can advance, giving the scheme a far better chance of being included in the confirmed RIS4 programme after 2031. Paul Simon of the Suffolk Chamber welcomed the development, while acknowledging that "it won't be until 2031 and beyond at the earliest before any funding is finally confirmed." ## What else was agreed National Highways is to commission a specific piece of evidencing into the impacts of congestion and delays around the Felixstowe and Ipswich road network, encompassing both the Orwell Crossing and Copdock. A separate collaborative assessment programme — designed to quantify the wider economic impacts of A14 closures — has been finalised in scope. That work involves Suffolk Chamber, Freeport East, National Highways, Transport East and Suffolk County Council, and the group is now seeking funding to commission consultants. Suffolk Chamber has written to the Secretary of State for Transport backing two short-term measures: extending the 60mph speed limit from the A14/A140 junction to the Seven Hills junction to reduce accidents, and deploying National Highways staff alongside Suffolk Constabulary to improve incident clearance times. On rail freight, the campaign for improvements to the Ely and Haughley rail junctions — which would remove nearly 100,000 freight journeys per year from Suffolk's roads — is being reformatted ahead of the next Spending Review, repositioned as an enabler for the Cambridge growth strategy. Suffolk County Council's cabinet is due to receive a broad options report in September covering the full range of potential solutions to the capacity problems on the roads network. The summit hoped it would be "as broad-based as possible," though no shared view on prioritising any specific solution was reached. ## The northern bypass question The September cabinet report will be the next meaningful test of where Suffolk County Council's new Reform UK administration intends to take the northern bypass issue specifically. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1781876063762-1.jpeg) Suffolk County Council leader Michael Hadwen (Photo: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce) In May, the council's new administration backed an amendment replacing a Labour motion — which had set out specific bypass commitments, route protections and a business case deadline — with a broader instruction to consider all possible options. These included a northern bypass, tunnel and an estuary route which has yet to be publicly defined. Labour leader Councillor Martin Cook accused Reform UK of having "hollowed out" the motion and bringing back "fantasy tunnel schemes." Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said the amendment had made delivery of the bypass "impossible." Reform UK's Councillor Tony Love, who seconded the amendment, said it "does not preclude nor favour any solution" and called for a "forensic examination of local, national and environmental concerns." Labour points to the council's own 2020 study, which assessed 32 options for addressing Ipswich's transport problems. The top five were all variants of a northern route. A tunnel under the River Orwell — estimated to cost around three times as much as a bypass — ranked second-to-last. Doing nothing ranked last. Mark Ling, a long-time bypass campaigner, has been characteristically direct about what he sees as the consequences of inaction. Writing on LinkedIn following the summit, he pointed to London Gateway's 52% growth in 2025 — now at 3 million TEUs per year — and warned that without infrastructure investment, Felixstowe risks losing its status as Britain's largest container port within two years. "Once the crown is lost," he wrote, "so too critical mass, prestige, jobs and profits." ## The chamber's position, and its limits Suffolk Chamber has consistently declined to back any single solution, and the summit reinforced that stance. Simon said the binary debate between bypass and no bypass was "unhelpful and undermines our convening role in bringing coalitions together to back all potential part-solutions." The Chamber's ask is for all options to be brought forward to at least an outline business case stage as quickly as possible, with no participant vetoing evidence-building. A third summit is expected towards the end of 2026 or in early 2027. ## The bottom line Copdock's elevation to one of five schemes in the national RIS4 pipeline is progress, and the most concrete outcome to emerge from last week's summit. But it will not be felt on the ground for years. The Orwell Bridge is running out of capacity now. The northern bypass feels like an option unlikely to be backed by the new county council administration. And with local government reorganisation looming as a deadline, the window for decisive action is narrowing. We wait for September's cabinet report. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£108 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk's first women's health support hub to open in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolks-first-womens-health-support-hub-to-open-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-06-24T09:08:45.000Z The hub will open at the Unity Centre and Whitton Centre on Meredith Road, Ipswich, with a community opening on Saturday, 1 August, welcoming women and girls from across the county to explore the new space and meet the team. For years, campaigners have warned that Suffolk was being left behind as women's health hubs opened elsewhere in England, never quite reaching our county. Rather than wait for the system to catch up, Monica built one herself. ## **A gap ought to be closed** The Department of Health and Social Care's renewed Women's Health Strategy for England, published in April 2026, set out plans to bring women's health care closer to communities across the country. The strategy says that where high-quality women's health hubs already exist, they will continue to lead local services — while in other areas, women's health care will be folded into broader "neighbourhood health centres" rather than standalone hubs. Suffolk, meanwhile, has had neither a dedicated hub nor an endometriosis specialist, with complex cases referred out of the county to Colchester. For Monica, this is a gap that holds importance, and one she feels passionately. "For some time, we have been campaigning to ensure women in Suffolk are not left behind," she said. "While progress is being made in some areas nationally, women and girls in Suffolk do not have access to a dedicated women's health hub." She is careful about what the new hub is — and what it is not. "The Women's Health Support Hub is not a clinical service, but a community-based initiative focused on support, education, awareness, wellbeing and signposting," she said. There will be no scans or specialists on site. Instead, help will be provided through peer support, educational sessions, signposting, wellbeing activities and, above all, company. "For many women, the hub may be the first time they have met others who truly understand what they are going through," Monica said. "No woman should have to navigate her health journey alone." ## **From one support group to a county-first** The hub is the latest step in a journey that began with a single support group. She had gone to her local hospital with a simple proposition. "We don't really have much for women in Suffolk," she recalled telling staff. "I would like to start a support group." They agreed, and after a few meetings she launched it. It was because of the proposition that everything else grew. "Through that support group, I met the team I now have," she said, and turning it into a charity had always been the plan. The pace was brisk. Women's Health Hope launched in July 2024 and secured charity status that December. "We actually did it quite quick, to be honest," Monica said. "We worked really, really hard on that, and just ensuring that everything was done in the right way, because it's really important. You are working for the beneficiaries, the ladies that you're supporting." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1350-1.jpeg) Monica Thomas, founder of Women's Health Hope (Photo: Women's Health Hope) The charity has since grown well beyond those early meetings. Alongside support groups, it now runs educational programmes in colleges and universities, work placements in businesses, and lived-experience training in medical settings — all delivered by a team of volunteers. That growth has not come without its own challenges, and Monica is candid that the hardest one was internal. "Confidence in myself is a massive thing," she said. "For me, it was just believing that I was going to be good enough for it." The members helped change that. "Many of our members have been our members from day one still to now. I think that goes to show how good it is." ## **The company matters** Ask Monica what peer support actually does for a woman, and the answer comes quickly. "First and foremost, it's the mental health," she said. "So many women that we've connected with feel incredibly isolated with this. Building friendships and community is such a vital part of anyone's life. As adults, it's really hard to make friends, and to make friends who you have some form of connection with is really difficult." The groups, she said, give women the confidence to go back and keep pushing for answers. "Some of the women who are under us, the feedback we've had is they wouldn't even have a diagnosis if it wasn't for the support groups," she said. "We encourage it. We go for a second opinion, a third opinion. We'll tell them, keep going back — and they do." ## **"Believe women the first time"** Underpinning all of it is a question Monica returns to again and again: why are women so often not believed? "We can go right back in history," she said. "Women are always seen as hysterical and dramatic, and it is still in our society now. If a woman gets upset, she's often labelled as dramatic or emotional. And it's very much still in our medical field." She speaks from experience. Over years of seeking answers, she was told her symptoms were anxiety, stress, even imaginary. "That's actually what I was told for a long, long time," she said. "One doctor even wrote on my medical records that I was mentally disturbed because I'd had a difficult childhood, and that was then blamed for my physical symptoms." It is this, she argues, that does the lasting damage — not only delaying diagnoses but contributing to wrong ones. "What really contributes to it is not believing women and not listening to them the first time," she said. "It not only delays diagnosis, but it contributes to misdiagnosis." The remedy, she believes, starts early. "School," she said, when asked where change begins. "Normalising talking about periods — and that's boys and girls." She is emphatic that the message must reach everyone. "Boys, they've got mums. They might have sisters. They might go on to have a wife, they might have daughters." She has carried that same message into workplaces, including male-dominated ones, where she has learned not to expect resistance. "You get a lot of comments, you get a lot of laughs at the beginning. And then normally, 20 minutes in, you've captured them, and they're like, oh, this is serious." ## **The journey behind the hope** The charity's name is no accident. "My middle name is Hope," Monica explained. "My official name is Monica Hope Thomas. When I was setting this up, I wanted to give back some form of hope — that things will get better." She is open that the charity grew out of the hardest period of her own life. "We wouldn't have the charity if it wasn't for my darkest days," she said. By her own account she had reached a very low point, and the work became part of what carried her forward. "The charity actually gave me hope to be able to stick around," she said. "I was like, I've got to do something with this really rubbish experience. I have to make good of it in some way." That sense of purpose has since taken her further than she ever imagined. "Way back when I started, I never thought that I would then end up on Good Morning Britain and in Westminster doing the things I am now," she said. In March, she travelled to Parliament alongside fellow Ipswich campaigners as MPs debated the case for specialist endometriosis services locally — part of a campaign in which Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has been a consistent ally to the charity. Abbott welcomed the new hub, while acknowledging the work still to do locally. "I'm delighted by the launch of Suffolk's first Women's Health Support Hub, a welcome step forward in improving women-centred, joined-up healthcare," he said. "I want to pay tribute to Monica Thomas, who has been the driving force behind this initiative." "Too many women in Suffolk continue to face long waits for diagnosis and treatment, particularly for conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids and other gynaecological conditions," he continued. "I have supported action on endometriosis, including leading a debate on the issue in Parliament, calling for faster diagnosis, reduced referral delays, better training for clinicians, and stronger specialist women's health services so symptoms are taken seriously earlier." He added: "Our Government is determined to turn ambition into delivery through the Women's Health Strategy, but I know we have much to do locally. No woman should be left in pain or dismissed while waiting for treatment, and I will keep working with NHS leaders, campaigners and colleagues to deliver better care for women across Ipswich and Suffolk." ## **The bottom line** Suffolk still has no NHS women's health hub and no endometriosis specialist, and a community-led space — however welcome — does not change those facts on its own. What it does change is that, from this summer, women in Ipswich who feel unheard, isolated or dismissed will have somewhere to go and someone to talk to. Monica Thomas spent years waiting for a system to listen. Rather than keep waiting, she built the room herself — and put the word "hope" above the door. The community opening takes place on Saturday, 1 August, from 10:30–12:30 at the Unity Centre and Whitton Centre, Meredith Road, Ipswich, IP1 6ED. To find out more about Women's Health Hope, visit [womenshealthhope.com](https://womenshealthhope.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). If anything in this article resonates with you and you are struggling, you do not have to face it alone. You can call Samaritans free, at any time, on 116 123. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£87 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Town centre street market returns bigger this Sunday URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/town-centre-street-market-returns-bigger-this-sunday/ Last updated: 2026-06-24T08:48:03.000Z **Why it matters:** New businesses from across three counties are bringing their products to the Walk's street market, while organisers say the market is growing to help drive footfall and bring people back into the town centre. **The details:** The market is run by organisers from [Threads for all](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/threads-for-all/), [Hanks Vegan](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/404/) and [The Military Unit](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/the-military-unit/), with support from [Ipswich Central](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/ipswich-central/). They have also gained the support and advice of Ipswich Borough Council's markets team to help the event spread into the high street. As usual, the market will meander down The Walk amongst the independent shops and cafes, but it will now extend into the Buttermarket and through to the Giles statue. **What's new:** A number of new businesses are joining the market, including many vintage fashion stalls. - Bulldog Vintage, which makes bespoke lamps, is setting up around the Giles statue alongside fashion and art stalls. - Pinkie & Quirky Vintage Frippery is setting up by the new planters on Princes Street. **What they're saying:** "Following the success of past Markets, we've had an increased interest from stall holders," said Becky Eaks. "New businesses from Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex are booking pitches." She added: "Now we have room for gazebos, we still have the smaller pitches down The Walk available, so we can offer opportunities to a wider range of stall holders so visitors can enjoy a wider variety of products." **What to look out for:** To complement the independent businesses, there will be live music from local artists throughout the day within the market area, with buskers playing nearby. **The bottom line:** As The Walk's street market continues to grow, this Sunday's expanded event offers shoppers a wider spread of independent and vintage traders to explore across the town centre. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Fashion show raises £5,500 for Cancer Support Suffolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fashion-show-raises-5-500-for-cancer-support-suffolk/ Last updated: 2026-06-24T07:58:28.000Z **Why it matters:** Cancer Support Suffolk helps hundreds of people across the county every year, and the fashion show — held at [Suffolk New College](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/suffolk-new-college/) — was staged to raise funds so it can continue its work. **The details:** Every model at the event had either faced a cancer diagnosis themselves or had a close connection to the disease. More than 200 guests attended. Burley, who managed Ipswich Town back to the big time in 2000, was the last model to take to the stage, appearing in a kilt. "It was a bit draughty," he said of his outfit. **What they're saying:** Mark Murphy, chief executive of [Cancer Support Suffolk](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/cancer-support-suffolk/), said: "The models were amazing, the atmosphere was electric, and the evening was incredibly uplifting. Thanks to everyone who came along to support us." Burley, a patron of the charity, used the evening to urge others not to ignore their health. "The charity are part of the community, they helped me a great deal and they also help so many others," he said. "My message to everyone is don't hide away from it, go to your doctor if you are worried and stay optimistic." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/12---Thanks-and-good-night-at-the-first-ever-Cancer-Support-Suffolk-fashion-show-held-at-Suffolk-New-College--1--1.JPG) Cancer Support Suffolk event at Suffolk New College (Photo: Cancer Support Suffolk) **The big picture:** Among the models was Kerry King, 49, from Dedham, who turned to the charity during chemotherapy. "Cancer Support supported me when I was in the midst of chemotherapy. My confidence was knocked," she said. "They see you and hear you and they resonated with me. I have just finished treatment and got the all clear." She added: "It was my first time as a model. I felt proud — and to see my family sitting round one table was emotional, as it's been a massive journey for them as well." Chris Myhill, 61, from Levington, who works as a counsellor for the charity two mornings a week, said it offered something different. "The way the charity has been set up means it gives huge support to people. Instead of having to wait for a referral, they can come straight to us for counselling," he said. **For context:** The college hosted the show at its Rope Walk campus on Friday, 12 June. Around 15 staff gave up their time, while beauty students helped with hair and make-up, catering learners prepared food and carpentry students built a wooden donation box. Principal and chief executive [Alan Pease](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/alan-pease/) has a personal connection to the cause after the charity supported his wife, Angela, following her diagnosis. "I know firsthand of the work that Cancer Support Suffolk does thanks to the incredibly brilliant help they gave to my wife Angela," he said. "It was our absolute privilege to support this amazing charity and host this inspirational event." **The bottom line:** Organisers are already planning to do it again next year after the show raised £5,500 for Cancer Support Suffolk and proved, in Burley's words, that you should "stay optimistic." --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Police appeal after vandals trash Ipswich Park & Ride URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-appeal-after-vandals-trash-ipswich-park-ride/ Last updated: 2026-06-23T15:14:44.000Z **Why it matters:** The damage is described by police as significant, with public toilet facilities among the areas affected, impacting local residents and others who rely on the site. **The details:** The interior of the terminal was littered with leaflets and brochures strewn across the floor, while the public toilets were left in a severe state of disrepair, with fittings smashed and a fire extinguisher discharged across the floor. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4728.JPG) Wet toilet paper was thrown over the and a fire extinguisher was discharged all over the room (Photo: Suffolk Police) **What they're saying:** Ipswich Police said they are "keen to hear" from anyone who saw suspicious behaviour at the Park & Ride, noticed groups on e-scooters in the area, or has CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage from the weekend. **What's next:** Police are asking anyone with information to quote crime number 37/35816/26 when contacting them via 101 or online. Reports can also be made anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. **The bottom line:** The damage has left a shared public facility in a sorry state. If you were in the area over the weekend of 20th June and saw anything suspicious, police are urging you to get in touch. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Why we're reluctantly withdrawing our support for Ipswich's City of Culture bid URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/why-were-reluctantly-withdrawing-our-support-for-ipswichs-city-of-culture-bid/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T13:51:28.000Z Firstly, this is not a decision we have taken lightly. We were the first media outlet to champion this bid. We reported on its original ambition, amplified its early momentum, and stayed with it through every significant stage of its development. We have spent countless hours challenging negativity and misinformation on social media, encouraging everyone to get behind it, and chatting to anyone who walks through our doors to talk about it. We wanted this to work. We still desperately want Ipswich to win. However, as a small, independent, two-person newsroom, we simply cannot justify continuing to dedicate our very limited resources to backing a bid that has opted to make a national media company with titles in two competing cities its exclusive official media partner – a decision by the council's CEO Helen Pluck that has created unnecessary and unfair hierarchy among media partners at exactly the moment the bid needed all of us pulling in the same direction. ## How we got here When we first became aware of the council's decision to make Newsquest, the US-owned media company that owns the Ipswich Star and East Anglian Daily Times, the exclusive official media partner of the bid, we did not go straight to publication. We contacted the council directly to request clarification on the terms of the agreement and politely asked that they extend the designation to all media partners backing the bid. The response we received was not an official council statement — it was a note from a member of the project team, clarifying that there was no contract, no financial commitment, and no exclusivity attached to Newsquest's designation. On that basis, we followed up by asking whether the council would be prepared to then offer Ipswich.co.uk (and all other media outlets) the same designation, on the same terms as those offered to Newsquest. We simply wanted a level playing field on which all media partners that were backing the bid were treated equally. They refused, so we wrote an open letter to Helen Pluck, the council's chief executive, setting out our position clearly and publicly. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Letter-2.png) Our open letter to Helen Pluck The public response was massive – tens of thousands of people read our coverage, hundreds emailed us in solidarity, and dozens emailed Pluck directly, urging her to reconsider. Pluck, who has refused to have a single conversation with us about this, eventually responded in the form of an official council statement via the council's press office. She described Ipswich.co.uk as "one of the most valuable media voices in our town" and said the council wanted to work with us as a "valued media partner." However, she was only willing to offer us an alternative designation: "Independent and Youth Media Partner" — a frankly insulting title that would place us in a different, and by any reasonable reading, lesser category than Newsquest's titles. We declined. Our position had not changed: a level playing field, or no playing field at all. We set a deadline to reconsider. Yesterday, that deadline passed without resolution. ## The council's justification Pluck's justification for the exclusive Newsquest media partnership rested on one claim: national reach. She stated that the partnership was set up to extend the bid's reach beyond Suffolk and connect it to national media through Newsquest's wider network. Just two problems. Firstly, Newsquest operates titles in Swindon and Wrexham — both on the City of Culture 2029 longlist, both competing directly against Ipswich for the same shortlist places. The council has asked a commercial media group with a presence in two rival cities to prioritise Ipswich's interests above those of two other cities. No one at the council has yet explained how that is supposed to work in practice. And then there is the paywall. Newsquest operates paywalls across its titles. Anyone outside Suffolk who finds a piece about the City of Culture bid in a Newsquest title will, in most cases, be unable to read it. The national audience the council says it is trying to reach will hit a payment screen. A media strategy built on national cut-through, delivered through paywalled local titles, is not a strategy, and certainly isn't a feasible justification to prioritise one local media outlet over another. ## Exclusively 'non-exclusive' The council has been consistent on one point: the partnership with Newsquest is non-contractual and non-exclusive. Yet only one media group has been publicly designated as the official media partner of the bid. And the council is refusing to extend the same title to other media. That is not a non-exclusive arrangement. That is, by definition, an exclusive arrangement. We're awaiting a response to a Freedom of Information request to better understand the terms of the exclusive arrangement with Newsquest. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_2956-2-2-1.jpeg) Helen Pluck talking about the City of Culture at the campaign launch event in which no Newsquest reporters were present (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ## A bid under huge pressure Before the council took control, confidence among those close to the campaign was sky-high and well-founded. The Expression of Interest that earned Ipswich a place on the longlist — beating 16 other applicants — was not a council document. It was the product of a cross-party coalition of local leaders with real momentum behind them. That coalition has since been largely dismantled, and the council has been dragging its heels since. The council only formally announced its bid director, Amy Vaughan, this month. Vaughan is highly regarded and has a strong track record, but at the first vision workshop at The Regent Theatre on Wednesday, 18 June, she was unable to introduce her team because there were no contracts in place. With just seven weeks remaining until the submission deadline of 10 August, the people who will write and deliver the most consequential document this town has produced in years had not yet been formally appointed. The government's judging panel has been explicit: it wants to see delivery and governance arrangements that inspire confidence. A bid team that cannot confirm its own composition seven weeks before submission is not projecting it. In just a few short weeks, what was an unrivalled optimism has curdled into an all-too-familiar sense of pessimism. The council must now prove its doubters wrong. ## The bottom line This was a reluctant decision, but a necessary one. We gave the council every opportunity to resolve a simple and fair ask for a level playing field. We raised it privately before we raised it publicly. We set multiple clear deadlines. The council's CEO would not budge. In declining to act, she has not only lost the active backing of the outlet that championed this bid from the beginning — she has compounded a growing sense, among people who know this campaign well, that the opportunity Ipswich worked so hard to create is at risk of being squandered by a council that has become synonymous under Pluck's executiveship with an inability to execute. The council took the reins. It must now show it can deliver. If it doesn't, there will be no ambiguity on why Ipswich's City of Culture bid failed, and where responsibility lies. As for our withdrawal of support, it is not irreversible. The council knows exactly what it needs to do: announce Ipswich.co.uk as an official media partner of the bid, on the same terms as every other local media outlet. That is all we have ever asked for. The door remains open. ### What Ofsted found at Ipswich's First Base Academy URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/what-ofsted-found-at-ipswichs-first-base-academy/ Last updated: 2026-06-23T06:58:54.000Z **Why it matters:** First Base Ipswich Academy, on Raeburn Road, is a small specialist school with a capacity of 12 pupils, providing full- and part-time placements for children with social, emotional and mental health needs. It is part of Raedwald Trust. For many of the pupils it serves — some of whom have missed significant periods of education or are at risk of permanent exclusion — the school plays a critical role in helping them return to mainstream education. **The details:** Ofsted inspected the school on 12 May 2026\. Under the new inspection framework, schools are rated across six areas on a five-point scale: exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, and urgent improvement. First Base Ipswich received strong standard ratings in two areas and expected standard ratings in four. Safeguarding standards were met. **Attendance and behaviour — strong:** Inspectors found that leaders provide "highly effective strategic oversight of attendance and behaviour." Staff were described as identifying barriers to pupils' attendance — including those related to disadvantage and vulnerabilities — and working closely with families and external professionals to secure support. The report noted that pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning improve within the school's "calm, nurturing and inclusive environment." **Inclusion — strong:** The report found that leaders and staff are "highly ambitious for pupils" and "work relentlessly to identify and reduce barriers to learning and wellbeing." Inspectors noted that leaders carefully review pupils' needs as they change over time, and that parents and carers value the "highly relational support they receive." The school was also recognised for advocating on behalf of pupils and families to secure external services and specialist expertise. **Achievement — expected:** Inspectors found that pupils build knowledge and skills over time and achieve well from their varied starting points, with most reintegrating successfully into mainstream education. However, the report noted that staff do not consistently support pupils to sustain and apply their learning throughout the school day and across wider learning opportunities, particularly within a newer curriculum pathway. **Curriculum and teaching — expected:** The report recognised that leaders have sustained a "long established, high-quality curriculum" and strengthened assessment systems. However, inspectors found that temporary staffing instability has affected the consistency of provision for a small number of pupils within a newer, developing curriculum pathway. As a result, some pupils "rebuild confidence in learning and strengthen their knowledge, but are not consistently supported to sustain and apply this learning across the wider curriculum." **Leadership and governance — expected:** Leaders and trustees were described as having "an unwavering ambition for pupils." However, inspectors found that trustees "do not have a precise collective understanding of the timeframes and success criteria needed to evaluate the implementation and impact of the new curriculum." The report also noted that dual commissioning arrangements with the local authority and partner schools do not always secure clear accountability for the newer curriculum pathway. **Personal development and wellbeing — expected:** Pastoral support was described as "highly effective," with staff knowing pupils and their families "extremely well." The report found that pupils develop confidence, resilience and increasingly positive relationships. However, inspectors noted that leaders do not monitor and evaluate the impact of the curriculum and wider opportunities "sharply enough" for some pupils, particularly those accessing the newer curriculum provision. **What's next:** Inspectors set out two areas for development. Leaders should ensure that teaching uses assessment information more precisely for pupils in the newer curriculum pathway, so that pupils build securely on prior learning and consistently apply their knowledge across the wider curriculum. Trustees and leaders, working with partner schools and the local authority, should also ensure there are clear, shared and accountable success measures for reviewing the effectiveness of the newer curriculum pathway. **What they're saying:** Raedwald Trust chief executive Angela Ransby said: "We are delighted to see our dedication to improving attendance and behaviour at First Base Ipswich receive a strong standard. We welcome all the feedback from Ofsted's most recent visit and share their view of the positive and inspiring environment around the academy." Headteacher Stacey Laws said: "We were delighted to welcome Ofsted to our school and to have the opportunity to showcase the hard work, dedication and achievements of our pupils and staff. The inspection provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on our strengths and our ongoing commitment to delivering the best care for every child to thrive. We are proud of the inclusive and ambitious culture that exists throughout our school community and look forward to building on our successes." **The bottom line:** First Base Ipswich Academy's first Ofsted inspection under the new framework reflects a school doing strong work in inclusion and attendance, while identifying clear areas for development — particularly around the consistency of a newer curriculum pathway and the robustness of trustee oversight — that will enable it go from expected to strong across the board. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk starts Armed Forces Week with county council pledge URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-starts-armed-forces-week-with-county-council-pledge/ Last updated: 2026-06-24T15:26:37.000Z **Why it matters:** Armed Forces Week, which runs from Monday, 22 June, to Sunday, 28 June, is a national moment to recognise the service and sacrifice of military personnel — past and present — and their families. Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service are both signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge to support those who serve or have served. **The details:** His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Mr Mark Pendlington, joined Council leader Councillor Michael Hadwen, Suffolk Armed Forces Commissioner Andrew Smith, fellow councillors and staff at a gathering to mark the start of the week. Representatives from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and soldiers from Ipswich-based 202 Squadron, 158 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps also attended. **What they're saying:** Mr Pendlington said: "Armed Forces Week is an important time of the year. It is where we celebrate and support the incredible sacrifice and hard work of the Armed Forces network and I am honoured and delighted to lend my support." Councillor Hadwen added: "I am very proud to be here to mark the start of Armed Forces Week. It is a week where we renew our commitment to supporting and working with serving and past personnel, and where Suffolk County Council comes together to uphold its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant." Councillor Tristan Gale, Suffolk County Council's Armed Forces Champion, said: "Armed Forces Week is our chance as a council and a community to express our support for the services and the Covenant. It is also to raise awareness of the role of the military and bring communities together to support service members and their families." **For context:** The Armed Forces Covenant is a national scheme under which organisations pledge to recognise the unique obligations and sacrifices of the UK Armed Forces, work to remove disadvantages faced by service people, and acknowledge that special provision for service people may be justified by the effects of their service. **What's next:** Armed Forces Week culminates with Armed Forces Day on Saturday, 27 June. This year's Suffolk event is hosted by Mid Suffolk District Council and takes place at Stowmarket Recreation Ground, off Finborough Road, from 11:00 to 15:00\. Entry is free and the event is family-friendly, featuring military displays, live entertainment — including performances from the RAF Honington Band, Armed Forces Wives Choir and The Vibettes — plus a range of stalls and activities. **The bottom line:** Suffolk's civic and military leaders have come together to mark the start of Armed Forces Week, reaffirming the county's commitment to those who serve — with a free family event in Stowmarket this Saturday offering the public a chance to show their support too. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### An introduction to new Town manager Gary O’Neil URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/an-introduction-to-new-town-manager-gary-oneil/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T13:51:38.000Z After all the rumours and clickbait of the past few weeks, it’s a relief to have a ‘name’ at last. Would it be Knutson, Solskjaer, Frank, Rosenior, Barry-Murphy…? Apparently not. O’Neil popped up in the inside lane. He reportedly has a longstanding relationship with Town’s chief executive, Mark Ashton, who was involved in his signing at Bristol City, the penultimate club of his playing career. Put simply, Gary is an English football manager and former player, who is joining us from his role as manager of Franco/German club Strasbourg, both part of the Chelsea owner’s BlueCo Consortium. Last season, he led them to eighth in Ligue 1, and they reached the semi-finals of the Conference League. In his playing career, he was a midfielder who made 214 Premier League appearances between 2003 and 2016, representing Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, West Ham United and Norwich City. His previous managerial career consists of spells at AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers. West Ham United et al from 2022 onwards. I wouldn’t say his curriculum vitae is long and shiny, but he is only 43 yrs old – relatively young for a manager at the top level, only three years older than Kieran McKenna. ## **What ‘they’ say** His crisis management skills are well-honed, having twice taken over Premier League clubs in very difficult situations. He is also highly regarded for his adaptable coaching and tactical flexibility, which will hopefully silence all those who criticised the last few years for the lack of a Plan B! His player development skills are also well recognised; he has been praised for man-management and the maximisation of talent within his squads. Conversely, there have been inconsistent results and dips in form, leading to criticism around tactical adjustments, which were considered ineffective. His somewhat pragmatic approach and attitude have occasionally led to friction with the media. For these reasons, supporters have queried his ability to handle long-term structural rebuilds, a category I'm pretty sure we don't fit, though there will necessarily be team adjustments and an overhaul this season. ## **What I say** To be positive, as anything else is counter-productive at this stage, show me the manager who doesn’t get criticised regularly by somebody. Thousands of fans and media who, of course, all know so much better. We all do it, yes, I hold my hand up – but what do I know? I’m just someone who loves the game and my team. We don’t see what goes on in training or truly know the situation behind the scenes of the huge organisation that is our football club. I’d so love to be a fly on the wall at Portman Road, though - ‘ahem’ - not in the dressing room of course! ## **What ‘we’ say** Some supporters appear to be bothered by the Norwich connection…I say phooey to that. Although he isn’t the first Norwich player to cross the barbed wire fence into Ipswich management, successfully or otherwise, the available sea of managers with Premiership experience is not an ocean! Oh, and of course, I nearly forgot - we will not be facing them this season in any of our league games. I remember feeling slightly responsible when Gary was let go by Wolves in December 2024, as it followed a 2–1 home defeat to Town. I’m sure I was probably very much in the minority of one. Do we like the cut of his jib? Only time will tell. Looking at football forums and social media for opinions leads you nowhere. Over half the comments will have positive things to say – the rest won’t. But as that’s par for the course online for any topic, and as the writers' affinity is often an unknown quantity, I think speculation about what the season will bring is a little premature. There are so many variables, but Gary O’Neil does have Premiership football experience, both as a player and a manager. ## **To sum up** Becoming the manager of a large club like Town must be a daunting task at the best of times, but especially under the current circumstances. He comes in rather left of field to replace, no wrong word, to take over from a much-loved forerunner, one whose exit is still being mourned by many slightly shell-shocked supporters. On top of that, they are going back into the Premier League with a team that needs strengthening – but pinned with the hope of thousands to remain UP this time. There will be criticism, some undeserved, no doubt, because that’s the nature of the beast, but hopefully the fans will also be fair and give him a chance before micro-examination of everything he does. It has been said by the Guardian that “Gary O'Neil is widely regarded as a promising but polarising young manager. While he has proven his tactical adaptability and ability to steady struggling clubs, his tenures often end with steep declines and squad inconsistencies, leading to divided opinions among fans and pundits”. To echo that, “Leading to divided opinions among fans and pundits” could be applied to any Manager of any club. Whatever the choice that has always been, and will always be the case – even for ‘The Chosen One’ – hah! We need to get behind Gary and the team and let it roll. It may be very exciting. At this stage, we have no way of knowing how we will fare, making my only wish currently to see a few more smiles from the man in question, and at least a mid- table finish! The latter would probably help provide the former, so fingers crossed that we can achieve it. Let’s give Gary O’Neil a big Portman Road welcome and let the singing begin. COYBs. We want to be smiling again too… ### Ipswich MP 'deeply disappointed' as Starmer quits URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-mp-deeply-disappointed-as-starmer-quits/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T13:22:11.000Z **Why it matters:** Sir Keir announced his resignation on Monday, 22 June, saying he had "heard the answer" of his parliamentary party on whether he was best placed to lead Labour into the next general election — and accepted it "with good grace." Abbott, who represents Ipswich in Westminster, said the Prime Minister "should have had the chance to complete the job." **What they're saying:** Abbott said he was "deeply disappointed" by the resignation, calling it "a gross understatement" to describe his feelings. "The Prime Minister set us on a different path, stabilising the economy despite the international headwinds, cutting NHS waiting lists and investing in crucial infrastructure once again," Abbott said. He argued that for places like Ipswich and Suffolk, Starmer had "laid the foundations" for local investment, citing Sizewell C jobs, Pride in Place funding, a new Community Diagnostic Centre, improved bus services and falling crime rates. "That doesn't mean to say that our work is finished, far from it, but the Prime Minister should have had the chance to complete the job," he added. Abbott also paid tribute to Starmer on a personal level, saying he "cannot begin to imagine the sacrifices that Sir Keir and his family have made" and that the outgoing leader "leaves a legacy for our Party and our country that will be felt for years to come." **The bigger picture:** Starmer used his resignation speech to set out what he said the government had achieved in two years in office, including wages rising faster than inflation, the fastest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years, and half a million children lifted out of poverty. He said he would remain in post as Prime Minister until a new leader is chosen, with nominations opening on 9 July and a new leader in place before Parliament returns in September. **The other side:** Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for a general election at the "soonest possible date," describing Starmer as "the most incompetent prime minister" the UK has had. Green Party leader Zack Polanski said Starmer had "lost the confidence of the country" after failing to challenge the establishment's "power and wealth." Patrick Spencer, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said he did not agree with Starmer "on a single issue facing the country," citing disagreements on the economy, education, Brexit, net zero, farming, defence spending, the Chagos Islands, welfare reform, Lords reform, judicial reform, puberty blockers and ID cards. He added, however: "While I do not think he has been a good Prime Minister, I believe he deserves our respect and thanks for serving this country. Politics can be brutal, and the sacrifice paid not just by those in the arena, but by their families and loved ones is huge." **What's next:** Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has confirmed he will put himself forward in the leadership contest. Polanski warned that Burnham "must be bold or he will be bust," suggesting his early indications pointed to "more of the same with better communication skills." **The bottom line:** Ipswich's MP has backed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour prepares for a leadership contest it hopes will be resolved before Parliament returns in September. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Unanswered questions surround Suffolk's LGR legal challenge ahead of extraordinary cabinet meeting URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/unanswered-questions-surround-suffolks-lgr-legal-challenge-ahead-of-extraordinary-cabinet-meeting/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T10:05:04.000Z Ipswich.co.uk examines what we know, what we do not, and why that distinction matters. ## What we know In late May, Suffolk County Council sent a pre-action protocol letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, setting out its intention to seek a judicial review of the Government's decision to reorganise local councils in Suffolk. The decision, announced in March 2026, will replace the county's existing two-tier structure — Suffolk County Council alongside district and borough councils — with three new unitary authorities. The council gave the Secretary of State until 12 June to respond. That deadline has passed. Beyond that, very little has been confirmed publicly. Councillor Michael Hadwen, leader of Suffolk County Council, said: "My administration has expressed serious reservations about local government reorganisation, so it's right that we have the opportunity to debate it, in public, and decide on the best next steps for Suffolk." An extraordinary cabinet meeting has been scheduled for Monday, 29 June, at which the council says it will consider its options. A report — including the council's correspondence with the Government — will be published on Wednesday, 24 June. ## A timeline that's drawn criticism That sequence has attracted immediate criticism. A judicial review must ordinarily be brought within three months of the decision being challenged. The Secretary of State's determination on Suffolk was made on 25 March 2026, which places the ordinary deadline for issuing proceedings at around 25 June — four days before the cabinet meeting at which the council says it will "decide on the best next steps." In other words, any decision to formally issue a claim would need to have been made before the cabinet sits to discuss it. Councillor Martin Cook, leader of the Labour group on Suffolk County Council, said: "You cannot decide on the 29th what had to be done by the 25th. So: has the claim already been lodged, and if so, what will it cost us?" The council has not answered that question publicly. ## Scrutiny locked out The concerns go beyond timing. Throughout the reorganisation process, the council's previous Conservative administration's formal positions — including its preferred One Suffolk model and its responses to Government — were each brought before full council or cabinet, with votes taken and decisions recorded. The decision to pursue a legal challenge by its new Reform UK administration has not followed that pattern. Councillor Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green group and official opposition at the council, said: "Reform have taken the decision to commit public money to challenging the government without any democratic scrutiny. This item should have been discussed by the full council. Taking legal action against a government should have collective responsibility — not just the whim of a leader." He added that recent changes limiting councillors to a single question would make it harder to hold the administration to account at the 29 June meeting. Councillor Richard Rout, leader of the Conservative group, echoed those concerns. "Make no mistake, taking the government to court is a key decision, and one that affects every single division in Suffolk. Yet residents and councillors still haven't seen a shred of the case for it." Cllr Rout also noted the contrast with Essex, where the Reform-led county council published its pre-action letter in full — 22 pages setting out six legal grounds and the case law it relies upon. "If Suffolk had a comparable case, there would be no reason not to do the same," he said. However, in conversations we've had with county council leader, Michael Hadwen, he has pushed back on the notion that Suffolk's case is weaker than Essex's and Norfolk's, with Suffolk's case understood to be resting on two "strong" arguments compared to six in Essex. ## What could it cost? The financial stakes are also unclear. Labour leaders had previously estimated costs "in the region of £100,000," but Councillor Cook has since pointed to comparable challenges elsewhere that suggest the figure could be significantly higher. "Hampshire has now put the same kind of challenge at up to £500,000," he said. Crucially, if a judicial review fails, the standard legal principle is that costs follow the event — meaning the unsuccessful party is ordinarily ordered to meet the winning party's reasonable legal costs as well as their own. That risk has not been quantified publicly by the council. Councillor Cook said: "Far from protecting taxpayers' money, they are about to embark on a complex legal process and want to lock us into an antiquated system of local government that costs more and often fails Ipswich." Councillor Hadwen has defended the challenge on cost grounds, arguing that the expense of a judicial review is modest compared with the cost of reorganisation itself. "The cost of a JR is nothing compared to the cost of LGR," he said in May. However, both business cases – for one and three unitary authorities – forecast significant cost savings. ## What a judicial review can and cannot do A judicial review does not allow a court to decide whether the Government made the right decision. It asks only whether the decision was made lawfully — that is, whether it was illegal, irrational, or procedurally flawed. Even a successful challenge would not necessarily block reorganisation. If a procedural error were found, the Secretary of State could potentially remake the same decision through the correct process. Critics of the challenge, including Cllr Rout, have noted that the irrationality threshold is "ludicrously high" and that council officers previously advised there were likely no grounds for a legal challenge. That uncertainty adds further weight to the questions being raised about the value of a costly legal challenge. Separately, even without a successful judicial review, there remains a possibility that reorganisation could face delays regardless. If councils are not sufficiently prepared, elections for the new unitary authorities — currently planned for May 2027 — could be postponed. ## What comes next Suffolk is not alone in this position. Reform UK-led Essex and Norfolk have also sent a pre-action letter against the Government's reorganisation proposals. Whether these represent a coordinated national strategy or parallel local decisions remains unproven. Critics will argue that this is local leaders puppeteering a national Reform strategy, and local leaders will strongly rebuke that notion. Regadless, ministers will need to pass primary legislation in Parliament later this year to formally abolish and replace the existing councils. That parliamentary process represents a further stage at which the proposals could face challenge or amendment. The council's report will be published on Wednesday, 24 June. Ipswich.co.uk will report on its contents when it is released, and again following the cabinet meeting on 29 June. ## The bottom line By the time it meets, Suffolk County Council may already have filed a legal claim against the Government — using public money, on undisclosed grounds, without a vote. The cabinet meeting on 29 June may settle some of those questions. But if the judicial review deadline has already passed, residents will be asked to scrutinise a decision that has already been made. Papers published on 24 June, one day before that deadline, do not leave much room for the transparency Councillor Hadwen pledged on his first day as leader. Support our journalism ****Suffolk may already be heading to court — and residents still don't know** Unanswered questions. Public money. No vote. Stories like this take time to dig out — your membership makes that possible. Support our journalism today for just £4.75 per month. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£196 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich man charged with attempted murder after Fircroft Road attack in court today URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-man-charged-with-attempted-murder-after-fircroft-road-attack-in-court-today/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T09:28:36.000Z **Why it matters:** Brandon Mann, of Goldsmith Road, Ipswich, has been charged with attempted murder and dangerous driving in connection with the incident on Friday, 19 June. He is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates' Court today, Monday, 22 June. **The details:** Emergency services were called at just before 22:00 on Friday, 19 June to reports of a serious collision outside the Co-Op on Fircroft Road. Following an earlier altercation, it is reported that the driver of a white Volkswagen Polo drove at the victim, trapping him against a wall, before the driver and passenger fled the scene on foot. It is believed the parties are known to each other. The victim, a 20-year-old man, sustained open leg fractures described as life-changing. He was taken to hospital by ambulance and remains in a stable condition. **What's next:** A second 20-year-old man, also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, has been bailed to return to police on 25 August. Two further men arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs have been bailed to return to police on 20 and 21 August respectively. **Appeal:** Suffolk Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses and anyone with relevant CCTV, doorbell camera or dashcam footage to come forward. Contact Ipswich CID quoting reference 37/35271/26 via the Suffolk Police website, by calling 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org. **The bottom line:** Brandon Mann, 20, is due in court today as police continue to investigate the incident, with three other men released on bail pending further enquiries. ## This story so far [Two men held on attempted murder charge after Ipswich car attackTwo men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 20-year-old was left with life-changing leg injuries when a driver allegedly deliberately drove a car at him outside a Co-Op in Ipswich.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-f031fb35-d6e2-4503-aaba-94933dd08426.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4701-1-6b5be5b7-6687-4fa2-9f50-20d3faaf960c.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/two-men-held-on-attempted-murder-charge-after-ipswich-car-attack/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Major road closures hit four Ipswich streets today URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/road-closures-thit-four-ipswich-streets-from-22-june/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T07:59:03.000Z **Why it matters:** Four streets around the junction of Cauldwell Hall Road, St John's Road, Freehold Road and Marlborough Road will close from Monday, 22 June until Tuesday, 18 August. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout, and access for residents and businesses will be kept open – though there may be short delays while the works area is made safe. **The details:** Two separate programmes of work are being delivered simultaneously: 1. Suffolk Highways will upgrade the junction to improve safety and accessibility for all road users. 2. Cadent will replace ageing metal gas mains with modern plastic pipes to ensure a reliable gas supply to local homes and businesses. The following closures will be in place from 22 June to 18 August: - Cauldwell Hall Road - St John's Road (between Tolworth Road and Cauldwell Hall Road) - Freehold Road (between Cauldwell Hall Road and Kemball Street) - Marlborough Road (between Tolworth Road and Cauldwell Hall Road) Cadent will also close Ringham Road and Upland Road between Monday, 29 June and Friday, 31 July. **Why not use traffic lights?** Suffolk Highways says that managing the works under temporary traffic lights would have extended the programme to as long as 30 weeks. By co-ordinating the two programmes and closing the roads instead, that has been cut to eight weeks. **What they're saying:** Councillor Christopher Hudson, Suffolk County Council cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "By working closely with Cadent to co-ordinate these works we are reducing the overall duration of disruption and avoiding the need for multiple closures in the future. We are grateful to residents and road users for their patience and support as we deliver these long-term improvements." Eleanor Buxton, head of work management at Cadent, said: "The metallic pipes that are in place in this section of the network have been very well used over the years but it's time for them to be replaced so that we can continue to deliver gas to peoples' homes 24/7, 365 days a year. "Combining two major upgrades into one set of roadworks is a big step forward for how we plan our essential gas mains upgrades. We absolutely want to do more of this whenever possible as it means less digging, fewer teams on site, shorter disruption for residents and a lower overall carbon impact." **For context:** The works are funded by Active Travel England and form part of a wider package of schemes between Ipswich Hospital and The Waterfront aimed at improving safety and accessibility and encouraging more people to walk, cycle and wheel. A public consultation held in summer 2024 informed the final design. **Diversion routes:** Motorists are encouraged to follow the official diversion routes and avoid using unsuitable alternative roads: - Cauldwell Hall Road: via Woodbridge Road, Woodbridge Road East, Heath Road and Foxhall Road (and vice versa) - Freehold Road: via Kemball Street and Foxhall Road (and vice versa) - Marlborough Road: via Tolworth Road, St John's Road and Spring Road (and vice versa) - St John's Road: via Spring Road (and vice versa) **What's next:** Suffolk Highways and Cadent are holding a public engagement event at St John's Church Hall, 74 Cauldwell Hall Road, IP4 4QE, on Monday, 8 June from 10:30–12:30, where residents can find out more about the works. Further information is also available at [one.network](https://one.network/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). **The bottom line:** Eight weeks of closures is a significant disruption, but planners say joining up the two programmes has avoided what could have been more than seven months of works across the same streets. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich man fined £5,600 for running unlicensed pub on Wherstead Road URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-man-fined-5-600-for-running-unlicensed-pub-on-wherstead-road/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T07:58:49.000Z **Why it matters:** Premises licences exist to protect customers and the community by ensuring businesses operate safely and responsibly. Running a licensed premises without one is a criminal offence under the Licensing Act 2003. **The details:** Edward Roberts opened The Quays, at 55–57 Wherstead Road, as a pub between September 2023 and February 2024 without a premises licence in place. The case was heard at court on Wednesday, 17 June. Roberts did not attend the hearing but was found guilty of offences under Sections 136 and 137 of the Licensing Act 2003\. He was ordered to pay a total of over £5,600 in fines, costs and a victim surcharge. **What they're saying:** Councillor George Lankester, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for communities, said: "Premises licences are in place to protect customers and the community. They help ensure businesses operate safely and responsibly. Operating without a licence is a serious offence, and this case demonstrates that we will take robust action where the law is breached." He added: "We will continue to work hard to uphold licensing standards across Ipswich." **The bottom line:** The conviction sends a clear message that Ipswich Borough Council will pursue those who operate licensed premises without the required permissions. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Road works start on key roads near Waterfront URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/road-works-start-on-key-roads-near-waterfront/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T07:58:33.000Z **Why it matters:** The works will affect four roads – Holywell's Road, Toller Road, Cliff Road and Ship Launch Road – with overnight closures running between Sunday, 21 June, and Monday, 21 September. A one-way system will also be in place on Toller Road and Cliff Road for the duration of the works. **The details:** The improvements include pavement widening, new drainage, upgraded street lighting and resurfacing. Overnight closures (weeknights only, 20:00–06:00) are scheduled as follows: - Holywell's Road and Toller Road: 22–29 June and 1–5 September - Cliff Road and Ship Launch Road: 29 June – 4 July and 7–12 September Temporary traffic lights and signed diversion routes will be introduced at different stages of the works. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained wherever possible, though short delays may occur while work areas are made safe. **What they're saying:** Councillor Christopher Hudson, Suffolk County Council cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "These improvements are an important part of getting Ipswich ready for the Prince Philip Lock Bridge, which will transform connections across the town. "We do appreciate roadworks can be disruptive, but by carrying out much of this work overnight and carefully phasing closures, we are working to keep that disruption to a minimum. "Once complete, these upgrades will deliver safer roads, better journeys, and support future growth for Ipswich." **The bottom line:** The works form part of the wider Prince Philip Lock Bridge project, which will provide a new crossing over the River Orwell and strengthen links between the town centre and the waterfront. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, follow diversion signage and allow extra time for journeys. Further information is available at [suffolk.gov.uk](https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/highway-maintenance/ongoing-improvement-schemes?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or via [one.network](https://one.network/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£31 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Four Suffolk champions receive the county's highest honour URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/four-suffolk-champions-receive-the-countys-highest-honour/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T07:58:12.000Z The medals, described as the highest honour the county can bestow, were presented during the Suffolk Day celebrations in Bury St Edmunds on Sunday, 21 June. This year's recipients represented an unusually broad range of contributions — from civic leadership and poetry to broadcasting and community cohesion. ## Liz Harsant: two decades of service to Ipswich For many of our readers, the most familiar name on the list will be Liz Harsant, who served as a councillor on Ipswich Borough Council for more than two decades, including six and a half years as its leader. Harsant, who moved to Suffolk at the age of 15 and has lived in the county ever since, came to elected office after a career in legal practice as a residential and commercial conveyancer. She has described her time working with clients through moments of uncertainty and anxiety as formative — an experience that grounded her approach to public life in empathy and practical support. Her tenure as IBC leader coincided with one of the most distressing periods in the town's recent history: the murders of five young women in Ipswich in 2006\. Harsant became a reassuring public figure during those difficult weeks, helping the community to navigate shock and grief. In the aftermath, she helped establish the Somebody's Daughter Memorial Fund to support women affected by exploitation and addiction, and became one of the first trustees of Talitha Koum, the Ipswich-based charity providing supported housing and long-term recovery for women facing addiction and complex challenges. Those experiences, she notes, profoundly reshaped her understanding of sex work and exploitation, leading her to see the women involved "not as stereotypes but as vulnerable individuals deserving compassion, dignity and support." Harsant went on to serve as Chair of Suffolk County Council from 2024 to 2025, a role she has described as one of the greatest privileges of her years in public service. She continues to serve as a Director of Greener Ipswich CIC and coordinates a small charity assisting those in need. ## Michael Laskey: a poet who built a festival Michael Laskey is one of Suffolk's most celebrated poets, and the medal recognises both his own work and his role in nurturing the county's wider literary culture. Laskey helped to establish long-running poetry workshops and writing groups before playing a central part in founding the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, where he served as director for a decade. He has continued to champion local poets while pursuing his own writing career, and in 2025 was awarded the King's Gold Medal for Poetry. ## Libby Purves OBE: a voice for Suffolk on the national stage Broadcaster, journalist, theatre critic and columnist Libby Purves OBE has championed Suffolk's people, culture and heritage throughout a distinguished national career. Purves has played an important role in supporting East Anglian theatre, including the work of Ipswich companies such as the Red Rose Chain and the New Wolsey. Her advocacy has helped bring national attention to cultural institutions that might otherwise have struggled for visibility beyond the region. ## Dr Soni Sushil: building bridges in Ipswich Dr Soni Sushil has drawn on his professional expertise and personal conviction to strengthen community cohesion across Ipswich and Suffolk. He helped to found the Ipswich and Suffolk Indian Association, SIFRE, and the Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality — organisations that have supported minority communities, fostered cultural pride and encouraged dialogue between different groups. ## The ceremony The medals were presented by the Lord Lieutenant, Mark Pendlington, during a ceremony at The Athenaeum on Angel Hill on Sunday, 21 June. The event formed part of a full day of Suffolk Day activities in Bury St Edmunds, including a farmers and craft market in the Abbey Gardens and a celebration concert at St Edmundsbury Cathedral featuring headline acts including Rick Wakeman and DanceEast. Hannah Bloom, chief executive of Suffolk Community Foundation, which coordinates the Suffolk Medal, said: "We are proud to once again play a leading role in the Suffolk Day celebrations by arranging the Suffolk Medal ceremony. It is especially pleasing to see such a wide and diverse range of individuals receive the medal in recognition of the positive difference they have made to our county. "The purpose of the Suffolk Medal is to recognise, reward and champion the exceptional contributions of individuals who have made a fundamental and lasting difference to the county of Suffolk and its people. It is the highest honour the county can make to an individual." Nominations for next year's medal are open. For more information, visit [thesuffolkmedal.org](http://www.thesuffolkmedal.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). ## The bottom line From guiding Ipswich through its darkest days to building a poetry festival that put Suffolk on the national cultural map, this year's four recipients reflect the quiet, determined work that holds communities together. The Suffolk Medal exists to ensure that work does not go unrecognised — and on Sunday, it did not. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich Regent Theatre wins Muddy Stilettos award for third year running URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-regent-theatre-wins-muddy-stilettos-award-for-third-year-running/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T07:58:00.000Z **Why it matters:** The award is entirely customer-driven, meaning the hat-trick reflects sustained public appreciation for the venue rather than industry recognition alone. **The details:** The Muddy Stilettos Awards, now in their 13th year, celebrate the best independent lifestyle businesses across England, Wales and Scotland. The Ipswich Regent hosts everything from major touring productions and comedy to live music and community events, and underwent a £3.45m renovation last year. **What they're saying:** Councillor Jane Riley, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Culture and Customers, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award for the third year running. To be recognised by our audiences in this way means so much to us. "This achievement is a testament to the passion, dedication and hard work of our staff and everyone behind the scenes who help create unforgettable experiences for our visitors." **The bottom line:** Three years, three awards — Ipswich Regent Theatre's Muddy Stilettos hat-trick cements its reputation as one the region's best entertainment venues. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Fox's Yacht Sales acquired by Morgans Group URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/foxs-yacht-sales-acquired-by-morgans-group/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T07:57:45.000Z **Why it matters:** The deal adds Fox's Yacht Sales to a group that already includes Fox's Marina & Boatyard and Fox's Chandlery. **The details:** Fox's Yacht Sales offers new yacht and motorboat sales, used boat brokerage, and authorised parts supply. Operating from two bases – Fox's Marina in Ipswich and Woolverstone Marina – the business has built a reputation as one of the most respected names in yacht brokerage on the East Coast. The acquisition was advised by Ipswich law firm Ellisons, whose corporate and commercial team was led by partner Petra Sharp, supported by associate solicitor Adam Kanharn. A new sales director has also been appointed: Charles Vinten, who brings a decade of experience in the local yacht brokerage industry, joins Fox's Yacht Sales having grown up sailing on the region's rivers. **What they're saying:** Graham Miller, chief executive of Morgans Group, said: "This acquisition represents an important milestone for Morgans Group and supports our long-term vision for growth across our marine businesses. Fox's Yacht Sales has an outstanding reputation, a loyal customer base, and deep industry expertise, making it a natural fit within the group." Petra Sharp of Ellisons added: "The transaction represents an exciting opportunity for the group to further strengthen its presence within the marine sector and build upon the strong reputation that Fox's Yacht Sales has established over many years." **For context:** Fox's Yacht Sales continues to represent Beneteau sailboats and has added Wellcraft to its range of new boat brands. It remains an authorised Beneteau spare parts supplier through the manufacturer's official network. The business has also recently launched a new website. **The bottom line:** The acquisition consolidates three well-known marine brands under the Morgans Group umbrella, strengthening the group's position in the leisure marine sector along the Suffolk and Essex coastline. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Two men held on attempted murder charge after Ipswich car attack URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/two-men-held-on-attempted-murder-charge-after-ipswich-car-attack/ Last updated: 2026-06-20T15:32:44.000Z **Why it matters:** The incident, which took place at around 22:00 on Friday, 19 June on Fircroft Road, left the victim with open leg fractures described as life-changing. Two further men were arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences at the same time. **The details:** Emergency services were called to reports of a serious collision outside the Co-Op on Fircroft Road at just before 22:00\. Police say the incident followed an earlier altercation between the victim and the occupants of a white Volkswagen Polo. It is reported that the driver deliberately drove at the man, trapping him against a wall, before the driver and passenger abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. It is believed the parties are known to each other. The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance, where he remains in a stable condition. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4699.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4700.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4702.jpeg) The attack was alleged to have occurred behind the Fircroft Co-operative (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What's next:** A short time after the incident, officers arrested two 20-year-old men nearby on suspicion of attempted murder. Two further men, both aged 20, were also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs. All four have been taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre to be questioned by detectives. Fircroft Road has since reopened. **Appeal:** Suffolk Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with relevant CCTV, doorbell camera or dashcam footage from the area at the time to come forward. Contact Ipswich CID quoting reference 37/35271/26 via the Suffolk Police website, by calling 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org. **The bottom line:** A man is in hospital with life-changing injuries following what police describe as a deliberate act, with four men now in custody as detectives investigate both the alleged attack and suspected drug offences. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The council has made a national publisher with titles in two rival cities exclusive media partners of Ipswich's City of Culture bid – we ask why URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-council-has-made-a-national-publisher-with-titles-in-two-rival-cities-exclusive-media-partners-of-ipswichs-city-of-culture-bid-we-ask-why/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T13:51:46.000Z Helen Pluck, the council's chief executive, said that Ipswich.co.uk is "one of the most valuable media voices in our town." She acknowledged that we were among the first to champion the bid. She said the council wants to work with us as a "valued media partner" and that everyone should feel "included and able to play their distinct role." What she did not offer us, though, is equal status or equal value. That gap — between warm words and a level playing field — is precisely the problem. And the response, intended to resolve the issue after a standoff that has lasted three days now, has only sharpened it. ## The national reach argument does not hold The council's case for designating Newsquest's titles — the Ipswich Star and the East Anglian Daily Times — as the bid's official media partner rests on one claim: national reach. Helen Pluck's response states that the partnership was "set up to extend the bid's reach beyond Suffolk and connect it to national media through Newsquest's wider network." It is a reasonable argument on the surface, but it just does not survive contact with the facts. Newsquest is a large, US-owned media group with titles across the United Kingdom — including in Swindon and Wrexham. Both cities are on the City of Culture 2029 longlist. Both are competing directly against Ipswich for the same shortlist places. One of them is regarded as the hot favourite. The council has designated a media company operating in two rival towns as its official partner, and is apparently content to trust that Newsquest will prioritise Ipswich's interests above Wrexham's and Swindon's. No one at the council has addressed that conflict. No one has explained how a commercial media group is expected to advocate loudly for one entrant while its titles in two others are pursuing the same prize. ## Mo paywalls, mo problems There is another dimension to the national reach argument that the council has not addressed, and which makes its position significantly more difficult to defend. Newsquest operates paywalls across its titles. Anyone outside Ipswich who encounters a piece about the City of Culture bid in the Ipswich Star or the East Anglian Daily Times or any of Newsquests's titles will, in most cases, be unable to read it. The national audience the council says it is trying to reach will hit a payment screen. No one in Southampton is going to subscribe to read about Ipswich's City of Culture bid. A media partnership built on national cut-through, delivered via paywalled local titles, is not a strategy. It is an embarrassment. ## Exclusively 'non-exclusive' The council has been consistent on one point: the media partnership carries no contract, no financial commitment, and no exclusivity. Helen Pluck's response repeats it — she calls it a "non-exclusive media partnership." But there is an obvious problem with that description. One media group has been publicly designated as the official media partner of the bid. No other outlet has. Despite public outcry at the decision, it is refusing to budge. That is not a non-exclusive arrangement. That is an exclusive arrangement presented in language designed to make it sound like something else. If the designation truly carries no formal weight, the cost of extending it to every local outlet prepared to back the bid is zero. The council has chosen not to do that. Which suggests it understands — even if it will not say so — that the title means something and that an agreement is in place with Newsquest. We have issued a Freedom of Information request to understand the terms of that agreement, meaning the council now has 20 working days to provide it. We will publish it in full, along with the amount of money the council already spends with the Ipswich Star and East Anglian Daily Times – a sum that is thought to be considerable. ## What we have given, and what we have received Ipswich.co.uk is a two-person operation. We do not have the resources of a national media group. What we do have, however, is genuine reach and real influence in this town — the kind that changes how residents, businesses and visitors see Ipswich, rather than simply counting the number of people who have attempted to read a story. We were the first media outlet in the town to champion this bid. We have been present at every significant stage of its development. We have amplified the bid's ambitions, scrutinised its decisions, and asked difficult questions — because a bid that cannot withstand fair coverage is not a bid that is ready for a national panel of judges. The Ipswich Star and the East Anglian Daily Times have covered the bid. But coverage and championship are not the same thing. The editorial voice that once made those titles indispensable to this town — the kind of engaged, senior leadership that drove Ipswich's story in the days of editors like Terry Hunt, who understood what the town needed — has not been part of this bid's story. Newsquest's titles reach large audiences, and any bid of this scale needs distribution. This is not an argument against working with the Star or the EADT. It is an argument against handing one outlet a designation — without process, without contract, and without justification — that places it above every other media organisation in the town. ## What happens next We have given this more than the benefit of the doubt. We raised the issue directly and publicly. We have the support of the public and the people that this bid relies on. The council has responded. Its response does not resolve the matter. We are giving Ipswich Borough Council until Friday, 26 June, to announce that the official media partner designation will be extended to all local media outlets prepared to back the bid — including Ipswich.co.uk. The ask has not changed. It requires no budget, no procurement process, and no formal agreement. It requires only the political will to treat local media fairly. If the council does not act by that date, we will withdraw our active support for the City of Culture 2029 bid and focus our efforts on fair scrutiny of the project and process. We do not say that lightly. This bid matters to us. It matters to this town. But we are not in a position to commit even more time, resource and editorial energy to a campaign that has, as one of its first significant decisions, handed our biggest competitor a designation we have not been offered — and then asked us to feel grateful for being called valuable. ## The council needs to hear from you If you believe that Ipswich's City of Culture bid deserves the support of every local voice — on a fair and equal basis — please take a moment to contact Helen Pluck, Ipswich Borough Council's chief executive, at [helen.pluck@ipswich.gov.uk](mailto:helen.pluck@ipswich.gov.uk). You are welcome to copy and paste the message below: --- Dear Helen, I am writing as a resident of Ipswich to ask that Ipswich Borough Council reconsider its decision to designate a single media group as the official media partner for the City of Culture 2029 bid. With the full bid due on 10 August, the council needs as many local voices as possible pulling in the same direction. I would ask that the council extend the official media partner designation to all local outlets prepared to support the bid, including Ipswich.co.uk. This bid belongs to all of Ipswich. Please make sure its media strategy reflects that. Yours sincerely, **\[Your name\]** --- ## The bottom line The council's response was warm. It was also inadequate. Acknowledging our value while denying us equal status is not inclusion — it is a managed brush-off. We are asking for fairness, not favours. The deadline for the council to reconsider is Friday, 26 June. ## Previous posts [We’ve written to council chief exec Helen Pluck – here’s whyIpswich has seven weeks to submit the most consequential piece of work this town has produced in years. We think the council has made an unnecessary decision that risks undermining one of its most important assets, so we have said so directly to its CEO, Helen Pluck, in an open letter.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-f4674559-dc1e-4cb4-9cf6-a0ae3506e14c.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--29--e753d934-0e3f-44e5-85c7-2b3f33802136.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/weve-written-to-council-chief-exec-helen-pluck-heres-why/) [Inside Ipswich council chief’s seven-week push for City of CultureSeven weeks. Four shortlist places. One shot. Here is the inside scoop on Ipswich’s City of Culture 2029 bid, and the people and decisions that will define it.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1943eca1-1be6-4d77-b6fa-7886f0f502fc.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--28--7db0be97-5187-46f1-a85e-d5a3032ab147.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/inside-ipswich-council-chiefs-seven-week-push-for-city-of-culture/) ### 'Bold, brave and fun': Ipswich Book Festival is back URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bold-brave-and-fun-ipswich-book-festival-is-back/ Last updated: 2026-06-19T06:09:37.000Z **Why it matters:** In just its first year, the festival drew more than 1,000 ticket sales across 14 venues over three days, with more than a third of attendees travelling in from outside Ipswich. The team says it is now pushing further – in scale, ambition and community reach. **The details:** Speaking at a launch event at The Church on Thursday, 18 June, the team behind the festival revealed plans for this year's event, which will take place in October across 10 venues. - The event count has grown from 46 to 54, and organisers say they have already stopped accepting additions. - New venues this year include the Custom House and the Town Hall, with the team also promising "something on the Cornhill" – though details are being kept under wraps until the festival weekend itself. - Five creative writing workshops will be delivered in partnership with the University of Suffolk, continuing what the team described as a founding commitment to make the festival "as much for writers as it is for readers." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4688.jpeg) Guests filled The Church to hear more about this year's festival (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **By the numbers:** The 2026 festival will feature 54 events across 10 venues over three days. Last year's edition sold more than 1,000 tickets, with nine events selling out. More than a third of ticket-holders came from outside Ipswich. **IBF Schools Week:** In the run-up to the festival weekend, organisers plan to send authors into schools across Ipswich to speak about their books, their publishing journeys, and the importance of reading. The initiative is expected to reach approximately 5,000 children – a move the team described as especially significant in the National Year of Reading. **The 2026 theme:** This year's theme is 'More Than Words' – described by the organisers as a celebration of "books that move us, connect us and transform us." The festival says it will explore how stories and ideas reach beyond the page, acting as "catalysts for change, connection and challenging the status quo." "This is not a quiet literary weekend," they said. "This is Ipswich Book Festival: confident, curious and independent." **The bigger picture:** The festival was founded on the belief that books change people and places, with a stated aim of lowering barriers to culture and strengthening Ipswich's cultural identity. Organisers said the locally funded model – built entirely on local sponsorship – was central to that mission. Principal sponsor Larking Gowen returns for a second year, with Sizewell C joining as education sponsor and All About Ipswich also providing support. **What's next:** Tickets for Ipswich Book Festival 2026 go on sale in early July. Further details about the full programme are expected to follow. [Learn more](https://www.ipswichbookfestival.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council acquires 69 homes for older Ipswich residents URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-acquires-69-homes-for-older-ipswich-residents/ Last updated: 2026-06-19T06:09:24.000Z **Why it matters:** The acquisition is intended to address a growing need for housing tailored to older people in the borough, with the council saying it will also help reduce pressure on existing housing stock and support residents to live independently for longer. **The details:** Giles Place will provide 69 one-bedroom and studio apartments for older residents. The council says the homes will offer modern, energy-efficient living spaces with features designed to support comfort and independence. The development is located in an established part of Ipswich, with access to GP surgeries, pharmacies, shops, community facilities, green spaces, and public transport links to the town centre and wider area. The council has not disclosed the location or the acquisition cost. Homes will be offered at affordable rents. **What they're saying:** Cllr Alasdair Ross, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: "The acquisition of Giles Place is a major step forward in our ambition to provide high-quality homes that meet the needs of our older residents. "This development will not only deliver modern, accessible accommodation but will also ensure residents can remain close to the services, communities, and transport links that matter most to them." **The bottom line:** The council says the acquisition will deliver much-needed affordable housing for older residents in Ipswich, helping people to live independently while staying connected to local services and communities. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Siblings scoop awards at Suffolk New College ceremony URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/siblings-scoop-awards-at-suffolk-new-college-ceremony/ Last updated: 2026-06-19T06:09:16.000Z **Why it matters:** The ceremony recognised outstanding achievement across the college's Ipswich and Suffolk Rural campuses, with every award sponsored by a local or national company. **The details:** Trevor Ronoh, 17, and his sister Precious, 19, both originally from Kenya, came to study on a foundation course at the college last year. The Ipswich-based siblings were among the biggest winners on the night. "I was surprised to win. I'm now going onto a motor vehicle course. We are very happy to share this moment. We have felt a lot of love from the college and the UK," said Trevor. Precious, who plans to go on to study health and social care with the ambition of becoming a dentist, added: "I was very honoured. We are very grateful to all of the teachers and the college itself. All the hard work has paid off. The college is a place for opportunities that gives us encouragement both inside and outside of college life." Their mother, Raelgachanja Ronoh, said: "I'm very proud of my son and my daughter." **Also on the night:** Dana Godbold, 36, from Ipswich, won science learner of the year after returning to education for the first time in nearly 20 years. She has now passed an access course and will begin university in September — the first in her family to do so. "I was petrified thinking that I was going to be the oldest person there, but I feel as it went on, I really enjoyed it, and I'm sad it has finished. My time here has been amazing – I'd advise anyone to do it – take the jump – as it's so worth it. Long term I want to work with gangs and youth sub-culture and make a real difference. You can't change everything – but making a change for even one person is important," she said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/2---Dana-Godbold-won-science-leaerner-of-the-year-and-is-now-off-to-university-to-study-social-work---she-hopes-to-help-young-people-in-the-future.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/3---Anne-and-David-Baalham---have-sponsored-a-student-award-for-40-years.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/4---Mark-Murphy---broadcasting-legend-with-the-Mayor-of-Ipswich--Pat-Bruce-Browne--and-Principal-and-CEO-of-Suffolk-New-College--Alan-Pease.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/7---Edward-Wagland-enjoys-his-moment-in-the-spotlight-at-Suffolk-New-College.JPG) Photos from the event (Photos: Suffolk New College) **What they're saying:** Principal and CEO Alan Pease said: "This event is an opportunity to come together as a college community to celebrate the achievements, talents, and successes of our learners. The year has given me a real sense of pride as we reflect on the outstanding accomplishments of our students. Their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to their studies have been truly remarkable." Mark Murphy — CEO of Cancer Support Suffolk, host of TV show Life's a Pitch, and a former student of the college himself — said it was "an honour to oversee this heartwarming celebration." **For context:** A separate awards event is held for learners at the college's On The Coast campuses in Halesworth and Leiston. Food was provided by students on courses at the Suffolk Centre for Culinary Arts, and performing arts learners sang numbers from their recent production of Heathers The Musical. One of the event's long-standing sponsors, Anne and David Baalham, have backed an award in memory of their son Mark — a former student — for 40 years. **The bottom line:** From a Kenyan brother and sister finding their feet in the UK, to a mature student heading to university for the first time in her family, this year's Suffolk New College awards highlighted the breadth of life-changing achievements taking place on its campuses. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### We've written to council chief exec Helen Pluck – here's why URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/weve-written-to-council-chief-exec-helen-pluck-heres-why/ Last updated: 2026-06-18T15:08:56.000Z When Ipswich Borough Council took control of the City of Culture 2029 bid, one of its first significant decisions was to designate Newsquest's local titles — the Ipswich Star and the East Anglian Daily Times — as the bid's "official media partner." The bid team has confirmed that the designation carries no contract, no financial commitment, and no exclusivity. There was no tender. There was no procurement process. If the title means so little in formal terms, the question is not why Newsquest received it — it is why no other outlet has. [Inside Ipswich council chief’s seven-week push for City of CultureSeven weeks. Four shortlist places. One shot. Here is the inside scoop on Ipswich’s City of Culture 2029 bid, and the people and decisions that will define it.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-fc81d2c4-9f05-43d1-948d-f2915c75358e.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--28--a63d751a-d2be-4471-8c7a-8341f385b4cb.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/inside-ipswich-council-chiefs-seven-week-push-for-city-of-culture/) ## Why it matters Ipswich.co.uk was the first media outlet in the country to champion the City of Culture bid. We reported on the original ambition, the Expression of Interest, and have been present at every significant stage of the campaign's development — most recently contributing to this week's Vision Workshop at The Regent Theatre, which marked the moment the bid team brought key partners together for the first time to shape its narrative. We are proud of that record, and we intend to continue it. But scrutiny and support are not in conflict. A bid that cannot withstand fair, independent coverage is not a bid that is ready for a national panel of judges. The government's own feedback to the bid team — shared with partners at Wednesday's workshop — identified momentum as a strength. Fragmenting the local media landscape does not build momentum. It dissipates it. If the "official media partner" designation carries no contract, no money, and no exclusivity, there is no meaningful obstacle to extending it to every local media outlet prepared to champion the bid. And yet the council has not done so. We have asked. We have not received a response. ## Our open letter We are publishing our letter to council chief executive Helen Pluck in full. It reads as follows: --- Dear Helen, Ipswich is seven weeks from submitting the most consequential piece of work this town has produced in years. The City of Culture 2029 bid is a rare and genuine opportunity — one that could reshape Ipswich's reputation, attract investment, and create real cultural infrastructure for years to come. It deserves every possible advantage. That is precisely why I am writing to you directly about a decision that risks undermining one of the bid's most critical assets: the support of local media. Newsquest's titles — the Ipswich Star and the East Anglian Daily Times — have been designated the bid's "official local media partner." As stated by the bid team, this designation carries no contract, no financial commitment, and no exclusivity. If that is the case, there is no meaningful obstacle to extending the same designation to every local media outlet prepared to champion the bid. And yet, to date, the council has not done so. Ipswich.co.uk was the first media outlet to champion the bid. We have covered every stage of its development, amplified its ambitions, and contributed significantly. Scrutiny and support are not in conflict. A bid that cannot withstand fair coverage is not a bid that is ready for a national panel of judges. I am not writing to complain about Newsquest. I am writing because the approach taken has created an unnecessary hierarchy among local media at exactly the moment the bid needs all of us pulling in the same direction. The government's own feedback to your team identified reach and momentum as strengths. Fragmenting the local media landscape does not build momentum — it dissipates it. The ask is simple. In the same way that the council expects media coverage to be fair, balanced, and impartial, we expect the council to apply the same principle to how it engages with local media. That means a level playing field: no outlet elevated above others without a fair process, and no outlet excluded from an opportunity to officially back a bid that belongs to all of Ipswich. We are asking the council to announce that all local media outlets — including Ipswich.co.uk — are official media partners of the City of Culture 2029 bid, and that no special treatment be given to any one media outlet. All we are asking for is consistency, fairness, and the kind of collaborative approach that gives this bid its best possible chance. The clock is running. Let's not waste another day on something this straightforward. Yours, **Oliver Rouane-Williams** Editor, Ipswich.co.uk --- ## Add your voice This bid belongs to Ipswich. If you agree that it deserves the support of every local media outlet — on a fair and equal basis — please take a moment to send a polite email to Helen Pluck, Ipswich Borough Council's chief executive, at [helen.pluck@ipswich.gov.uk](mailto:helen.pluck@ipswich.gov.uk). You are welcome to copy and paste the message below: --- Dear Helen, I am writing as a resident of Ipswich to ask that Ipswich Borough Council reconsider its decision to designate a single media group as the official media partner for the City of Culture 2029 bid. With the full bid due on 10 August, the council needs as many local voices as possible pulling in the same direction. I would ask that the council extend the official media partner designation to all local outlets prepared to support the bid, including Ipswich.co.uk. This bid belongs to all of Ipswich. Please make sure its media strategy reflects that. Yours sincerely, **\[Your name\]** --- ## The bottom line The ask could not be simpler: extend the official media partner status to every outlet prepared to back this bid. The council took the reins on City of Culture. It now has seven weeks to make the case of a lifetime for this town. That case will be stronger with every local voice behind it. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£81 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Inside Ipswich council chief's seven-week push for City of Culture URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/inside-ipswich-council-chiefs-seven-week-push-for-city-of-culture/ Last updated: 2026-06-18T07:45:27.000Z On Wednesday morning, Ipswich Borough Council gathered partners at The Regent Theatre for the first time to begin shaping its City of Culture bid in earnest. What emerged was a clearer picture of who is accountable for its success, how the narrative is taking shape, and a controversial decision to hand a media group with titles in two rival towns the role of "official media partner" without a contract, fair process, or clear answer as to what the title is actually worth. ## The woman behind the bid When Ipswich Borough Council voted on Tuesday, 16 June, to formally establish the Ipswich Culture Company and take on the role of Accountable Body for the City of Culture 2029 bid, it formalised what those close to the campaign already knew: that council chief executive Helen Pluck was the driving force behind the decision for the council to lead it. It is a bold statement from the council chief. Getting onto the shortlist is widely seen as the floor, not the ceiling. Not making it would raise immediate and uncomfortable questions about the council's decision to take the reins, so her ownership comes with scrutiny and accountability. The ambition that got Ipswich onto the longlist was not the council's — it was built by a coalition of political, business, cultural and civic leaders who are no longer at the table. The bid team now consists of council officers and external consultants. Appointed as bid director to lead day-to-day operations is consultant Amy Vaughan, who brings 25 years of experience in the cultural sector to the role. Vaughan has served as executive director and deputy chief executive at Battersea Arts Centre, spent nearly a decade at Arts Council England in senior roles, and was general manager at Cambridge Junction. She currently runs Fringe Consulting, a cultural sector consultancy. She comes highly recommended, and her credentials are considerable. The task is, too. ## Inside the Regent Wednesday's Vision Workshop, held at The Regent Theatre, was the first occasion on which the bid team brought together key partners from across the Ipswich area to shape the campaign's narrative. It was, by the bid team's own description, a high-energy and ambitious session — an attempt to build collective momentum around the story Ipswich will tell a national panel of judges. That story is built around three emerging themes, presented to partners at the workshop. The first draws on Ipswich's identity as a historic maritime gateway — its centuries of trade, migration and connection to the wider world. The second celebrates the culture found in the town's everyday communities through its people and their untold stories. The third looks forward, focusing on young people, skills and creative career pathways as the engine of the town's future. Those three pillars represent a subtle but meaningful evolution from the bid's original Expression of Interest, which placed young people front and centre as its defining theme. The emerging bid is broader in scope. Whether that breadth strengthens the narrative or dilutes it is a question the team will need to answer convincingly. The government's judging panel has already given the bid team a steer. Feedback from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, shown to partners at Wednesday's session, identified Ipswich's strengths as clear themes, strong sectoral engagement and support, private sector buy-in, and energy and momentum. The areas identified for development are more demanding: ambition, scale, impact beyond Ipswich, clarity on what the focus on youth actually means in practice, and delivery and governance arrangements. That last point — governance — is now partly addressed by the approval of the Ipswich Culture Company, a Company Limited by Guarantee that the council voted to establish on Tuesday, 16 June. The company, which will seek charitable status, has not yet been formally created but is expected to be constituted imminently. It will be funded initially by a £50,000 start-up grant from the council and will have the power to fundraise, accept donations and enter into sponsorship agreements. ## What the bid must contain, and what it must raise The full bid document, due on 10 August, is a substantial undertaking. It must set out six aims for the overall City of Culture programme, 20 criteria underpinning those aims, and 17 mandatory sections. It must be accompanied by economic and social datasheets and appendices covering the work programme, budget and theory of change. Beyond the technical requirements, the judging panel has been explicit: the bid must tell a compelling and convincing story that is unique to Ipswich. That is the bar. And with nine longlisted places competing for a shortlist of up to four, every place on that list will be telling a version of that same story about itself. The emerging programme ambitions are significant. The bid team is planning a high-profile 12-month programme of showstopper events and local projects, aiming to create and attract an audience of more than three million to Ipswich and Suffolk. It envisages new world-class projects, programmes and platforms, jobs and skills opportunities, and new infrastructure. The government's £10m prize funds the winning year of culture — but the judges will want to see evidence that the private sector and local partners are prepared to back it financially, too. That means the council must now persuade businesses across Ipswich and Suffolk to commit real money to the bid at a time when many are facing significant financial pressures, and confidence in the council's ability to define a vision and deliver it is not exactly sky-high. The DCMS places weight on match funding as a signal that a place can deliver at scale. Whether Ipswich Borough Council can make that case convincingly — and quickly — is one of the most important questions the bid must answer before 10 August. ## A controversial media partnership Among the decisions taken in the early stages of the bid's development is one that raises questions the council has not been willing to answer. To the surprise of many, the Ipswich Star and East Anglian Daily Times were named as the "official media partner" for the City of Culture 2029 bid. An official response from Ipswich Borough Council was sought; none was provided by the time of publication. A member of the project team, a senior council officer responding on behalf of the bid, confirmed that there is no contract, financial arrangement or exclusivity attached to the designation. The titles were appointed, they said, primarily to support overall reach and to draw on the experience of their Norwich-based Commercial Director, who previously sat on the board of Southampton's unsuccessful City of Culture bid. The appointment was made without a tender or procurement process. The absence of any financial commitment or formal agreement raises the immediate questions: what, precisely, does "official media partner" mean in practice, and why Newsquest? Newsquest is a large US-owned media group with local titles across the UK — including in Swindon and Wrexham, both of which are on the City of Culture 2029 longlist and competing directly against Ipswich for the same shortlist places. The council's decision to designate Newsquest's local titles as official media partner means it is asking a company with a presence in rival towns to prioritise Ipswich's interests above its own. Whether Newsquest is willing and able to do that has not been addressed. The project team has indicated that it sees the media landscape as "a collaborative space" and anticipates working with a range of partners, including the BBC, ITV and other outlets. But a bid that depends on all local media pulling in the same direction has, as one of its first significant decisions, elevated one outlet above the rest — without a process, without a contract, and without a clear answer as to what the designation is actually worth. Ipswich.co.uk – which was the first to champion the bid and has been ever-present throughout the process – has requested that it, too, be announced as an official media partner, along with all other media outlets that will be essential if the council is to succeed in its push for City of Culture. The council hasn't responded at the time of publication. ## Seven weeks The shortlist will be announced in summer 2026\. Panel visits to shortlisted places will follow in September. The winner will be announced by the end of the year. Between now and 10 August, the bid team must take three compelling themes, a set of ambitious programme ambitions, and the feedback of a government judging panel, and turn them into the most persuasive case this town has ever made for itself on a national stage. They must do it in seven weeks. Wednesday's workshop was the moment the campaign began to move from ambition to action. It was also, in another sense, a reminder of how much still needs to be done. There's no getting away from the fact that Ipswich was the first place in the country to announce its intent to run for City of Culture 2029 – and it is now in a race against time to pull together its bid under immense public scrutiny. ## The bottom line Ipswich earned its place on the longlist by beating 16 other applicants, and the judges' own feedback identifies real strengths in what has been built so far. What is needed now is a bid that matches the town's ambition, delivered on time. The council took the reins. The consultants are in place. The clock is running. If it falls short, there will be no ambiguity about where the responsibility lies. Support our journalism ****The Star has been gifted the title of official media partner for City of Culture, but it is us that has been truly championing the bid from day one** Becoming a member empowers us to continue that work – publicly and behind closed doors – while ensuring fair scrutiny of those now responsible for delivering it. It costs just £4.75 per month, with every penny invested in creating value for this town, not a US media conglomerate and its shareholders. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£189 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Why Ipswich needs independent news, and why it needs you URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/why-ipswich-needs-independent-news-and-why-it-needs-you/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T07:10:23.000Z This week is Indie News Week — a national campaign, now in its third year, celebrating the independent news outlets that are strengthening democracy, holding power to account and connecting communities across the UK. The campaign's theme this year is "No News is Bad News." It is a phrase that feels almost too apt. More than 4 million people in the UK live in areas with little or no reliable local reporting. Without trusted information, communities struggle to engage meaningfully in local life, challenge decisions that affect them, or simply understand what is happening on their own doorstep. Ipswich is not one of those places — yet. But that is not an accident. It is a choice, made every day by readers and businesses who choose to fund Ipswich.co.uk's work. ## What is happening to local news The Reuters Institute's Digital News Report 2026, one of the most comprehensive studies of news consumption in the world, makes uncomfortable reading for anyone who cares about journalism. Trust in news has fallen to its lowest level since the Reuters Institute began tracking it. Interest in news has fallen by 13 percentage points since 2021\. Concerns about misinformation are at a record high. At the same time, the platforms and corporations that have consumed the advertising revenue that once sustained local journalism are more powerful than ever. Big Tech has hollowed out the economic model that kept local reporters in courtrooms, council chambers and community meetings. The outlets that remain are, in many cases, doing less and less of the work that actually matters. This is the journalism desert — and it is not always obvious that you are in one. A town can have a local news website that publishes dozens of stories a day and still have almost no one doing the journalism that actually makes a difference. Content is not the same as journalism. Volume is not the same as value. Sites can be littered with banner ads, most of their articles locked behind a paywall, the rest a rewrite of a press release — and still carry the word "news" in their name. Ipswich deserves better. We think Ipswich.co.uk is it. ## What we do and why it matters Twenty-one months ago, Ipswich.co.uk did not exist. Today, we are the most influential publication in the town, reaching, engaging, informing and influencing more than 100,000 people every month. In that time, we have published more than 3,100 stories. We have covered Suffolk County Council's takeover by Reform UK and reported on what it means for the town — including the moment Reform's Ipswich chairman told us, hours after winning a majority, that voters "do not need" local media. We have investigated how Suffolk's SEND services failed thousands of children and families, and tracked the progress — real but incomplete — that has followed. We have championed thousands of women in Suffolk who have been medically gaslit by their doctors and denied access to specialist women's healthcare provision in their county. We have interrogated Ipswich's crime figures, reported on the organised criminality that remains a visible presence on our high street, and asked why the government's national crackdown has repeatedly overlooked our town. We have given a voice to our town's young people, to families fighting for justice for their children, to communities navigating change. We have done all of this without banner ads interrupting our articles. Without hiding our journalism behind a paywall. Without a corporate owner telling us which stories to chase and which to leave alone. Without writing lazy content that damages this town for cheap clicks. We are based on Upper Brook Street, in the heart of Ipswich. Our journalists attend council meetings, walk the high street and knock on doors. We are part of this community — not a content farm operating from the outskirts. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/ipswich-newsroom.jpg) Ipswich.co.uk's newsroom on Upper Brook Street (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Jonathan Heawood, executive director of the Public Interest News Foundation, which runs Indie News Week, puts it plainly: "Independent journalism is a powerful tool for communities to make sense of local stories and hold power to account, but too many outlets are still fighting to survive." We are one of them. We're a team of two people going toe-to-toe with media outlets that receive license fees, government subsidies, payouts from tech companies, and large sums of advertising revenue from international advertisers. We work around the clock, seven days a week, for a fraction of minimum wage. ## What your membership makes possible We currently have 9,200 readers subscribed to Ipswich.co.uk. Only 140 of them are paying subscribers. We want 200 by the time everyone has read this email. Membership costs £4.75 a month — less than a cup of coffee or pint of half-decent beer — or £57 a year. Here is what we are committing to do with that support: **Keep our journalism free for everyone.** Our articles will never sit behind a paywall. No reader in Ipswich should have to pay to understand what is happening in their town. Public interest journalism is no use to anyone if the public can't access it. **Keep our site banner ad-free.** No disruptive advertisements. No pop-ups. No invasive tracking. Just a beautifully designed website that respects your time, attention and privacy. **Go deeper on the stories that matter.** The planning applications that will shape your street. The local government decisions that will shape our town. The complex issues that will shape you and your family's lives. We will keep going further than anyone else with in-depth, nuanced reporting that makes it easy to understand what's happening, why it matters and what you can do about it. **Hold our elected leaders to account — impartially.** Whoever is in power, our reporting will be the same: fair, thorough, and free from political influence. We are nonpartisan. That is not a marketing line — it is an editorial commitment that we believe we demonstrate every day. Today alone we published six articles that were only possible because we were sat in the council chamber from 18:00 yesterday evening. Not one of the Star's 10+ reporters were present at the meeting, however, filed under "Local Government" was "Horrible stains and lack of loo roll - we visited Ipswich's worst public toilet". [Planning Ipswich’s future in the shadow of local government reorganisationIpswich Borough Council is legally required to begin writing a new blueprint for the town’s future development, but the authority doing the writing may not exist by the time it’s finished. It’s one of the more peculiar and consequential paradoxes thrown up by local government reorganisation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-570e6863-4e81-4e95-a898-93ae1150e75d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--27--1-44b690cc-cbae-4088-81f5-4bca7bd01215.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/planning-ipswichs-future-in-the-shadow-of-local-government-reorganisation/) [‘Commercially sensitive’ regeneration grants approved but opposition councillors expected to challenge decisionIpswich Borough Council approved £1.284m in regeneration grants yesterday, but the decision for one application, believed to be for around £750k, faces an imminent challenge, with opposition councillors expected to call it in over concerns about the use of public funds.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-64ce8cd2-5b32-43d1-b108-ef34ed9392c5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4669-1-1-225d3c6a-4846-48fa-8ae4-cb361cbd7f35.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/commercially-sensitive-regeneration-grants-approved-but-opposition-councillors-expected-to-challenge-decision/) [Council parking charges to rise from 20 JulyIpswich Borough Council has approved increases to parking charges at its off-street car parks and on-street bays, with new tariffs taking effect from 20 July 2026.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a0deb05f-1fb2-4d73-896d-85da70e61db5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4668-1-8e489729-4d2e-4e39-9f63-bff41f5d4196.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-parking-charges-to-rise-from-20-july/) [Council votes to back Ipswich Central in BID ballotIpswich Borough Council has voted to support the renewal of the town centre Business Improvement District, backing a fifth consecutive five-year term that would see Ipswich Central manage a £4.6m programme of town centre investment between 2027 and 2032.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-60c6141c-6bc3-4fc7-a3ed-a568ebd3eb0b.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4659-1-978a17b2-4b8c-4d75-a71e-7543e688ef50.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-votes-to-back-ipswich-central-in-bid-ballot/) [Ipswich names new City of Culture bid director as council takes leadIpswich has appointed Amy Vaughan as Bid Director and voted to create a new company to lead its UK City of Culture 2029 campaign, with a detailed bid due to be submitted in August.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1630639d-38d7-4bd7-b5b1-9f79e20b92a7.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2956-2-1-d1d044bc-8180-4d69-8932-c9225e5a37b7.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-names-new-city-of-culture-bid-director-as-council-takes-lead/) [Ipswich alcohol order consultation to launch next weekIpswich Borough Council has agreed to launch a public consultation on extending the borough-wide order that gives officers the power to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in public spaces, with views being sought from 23 June.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c7742787-94fd-4179-997b-7dbba3be446d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1739194060842-4463e8a9eb97-34af1da4-bb23-43b8-b14f-153b08216bf8.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-alcohol-order-consultation-to-launch-next-week/) **Maintain a high street presence.** We are not going anywhere. While everyone else moves out the town centre, our newsroom on Upper Brook Street keeps our journalism in the community, and our community in our journalism. **Give young people a voice, a platform and a future.** We were the first media company in the country to sign the Power of Youth Charter. Our youth culture publication, 1473, gives young people in Ipswich the chance to tell their own stories, develop real skills and see themselves reflected in the media. We partner with local organisations to run youth-focused journalism projects that give underserved communities a voice. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/youth-voice-matters-week-1-1.jpg) Our first cohort of Youth Voice Matters, run in partnership with ICM **Invest in media education.** Workshops, work experience, contributing opportunities — we are opening the door to journalism for young people who might never have imagined it was for them. We provide work more local work experience placements than companies 400x our size. **Independent — by Ipswich, for Ipswich.** No political parties. No corporate owners. Reader and local business support is what protects that independence — and it is the only thing that can. We're creating an entire ecosystem that is unashamedly for this town, but it needs your support. ## What members get In return for your support, you will receive early access to our best content, delivered straight to your inbox. You will be invited to join our open newsroom sessions — a chance to meet the team, see how decisions are made, and tell us what stories matter to you. You will have a direct line to our journalists and the ability to comment on articles. But most importantly, you will have done something that very few readers of any publication in the country can say: you will have directly funded the journalism your community depends on. And that *really* matters. ## The bottom line In its 2025 survey, Indie News Week found that 23% of participants had not known it was even possible to pay a subscription or make a donation to their local independent news provider. If you are one of them, now you know. Ipswich.co.uk exists because readers believe that their town deserves real journalism — not content, not press release rewrites, not articles interrupted by ads and locked behind paywalls. We have built something worth protecting. But we cannot protect it alone. Become a member today for £4.75 a month or £57 a year. If you are already a member, thank you, and please share this with someone who is not. [Become a member today](#/portal/signup) ### Planning Ipswich's future in the shadow of local government reorganisation URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/planning-ipswichs-future-in-the-shadow-of-local-government-reorganisation/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T07:13:50.000Z A Local Plan is not a document most people read. But its effects are felt everywhere: in the new housing estate approved on the edge of town, in the green space that was protected from developers, in the retail unit granted permission on a busy high street. Prepared by a local council in consultation with its community, a Local Plan sets out a vision and legal framework for the development of an area over a 15-to-20-year period. It determines which land can be built upon, which areas must be protected, and how infrastructure — schools, roads, GP surgeries — must keep pace with growth. Once adopted, it becomes the starting point for every planning decision the council makes. Ipswich Borough Council's current Local Plan was adopted in March 2022\. Under national policy, it will become out of date in March 2027 — five years on from adoption — at which point the council loses much of its ability to resist unwanted development. As the council's own report puts it, where there is no up-to-date Local Plan, "sustainable development is favoured, meaning that land not already allocated in the Local Plan should be seen as 'sustainable development' and the local planning authority should look to grant permission." For a town with limited undeveloped land within its boundaries, the stakes are high. ## The clock is ticking Ipswich Borough Council's Executive considered a report on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 seeking approval to formally commence preparation of a new Local Plan under the government's new plan-making system — a more structured and time-bound process than its predecessor, requiring councils to pass through a series of mandatory "gateway" assessments before a plan can proceed to examination. The new system gives councils until 31 December 2026 to publish a notice of intention to commence plan preparation. But the council has chosen to move faster. By publishing that notice before 30 June 2026 and completing an initial "Gateway 1" self-assessment by 31 October 2026, IBC stands to secure £108,474 in Local Plan Implementation funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Miss those earlier deadlines, and the money is gone. Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for planning and museums, said the urgency was justified. "Our current Ipswich Local Plan will come to an end in March 2027 and ensuring this is updated and maintained is essential to ensuring Ipswich continues to grow in a sustainable way," she said. "By beginning work now, we can provide clarity and confidence for residents and businesses, while supporting our priorities for regeneration, housing and economic growth." ## The reorganisation paradox Here is where it gets complicated. On 25 March 2026, the government announced that all six local authorities in Suffolk — including Ipswich Borough Council — will be abolished on 1 April 2028 and replaced with three new unitary authorities. One of those authorities will cover Ipswich and South Suffolk. Under even the most optimistic projections in IBC's own timetable, the new Local Plan will not be adopted until late 2029 at the earliest — more than a year after IBC ceases to exist. The council is being asked to spend the next three years, and significant public resource, producing a statutory document it will almost certainly never adopt. The council's report is candid about this. It notes that "it is not possible for a new Local Plan to be adopted prior to the new Unitary Authorities being in place" and acknowledges that the decision on the plan — currently scheduled for around April 2029 — "will not be the Executive of Ipswich Borough Council and will, under any scenario, be the decision of a Unitary Authority." When asked how confident the council was that its work would be carried forward by the new unitary authority — particularly in the event of a change of political leadership — the planning team pointed to the evidence-led nature of the process as the key safeguard. "Local Plan making must be based upon up-to-date evidence," the council said. "It is envisaged that any work undertaken by Ipswich Borough Council will be taken forward meaningfully as the work is to be evidence-led and subject to public consultation." That's great in principle, but it's hard to discount the politics of a change in council administration. ## A question of geography A further complication concerns the geography of the plan itself. The new unitary authority for Ipswich and South Suffolk will cover an area currently served by three separate Local Plans — Ipswich's, Babergh's, and Mid Suffolk's. Legislation states that only one Local Plan may be in effect for any local planning authority area at any one time, raising a question that, as yet, has no clear legal answer: can a new unitary authority inherit and operate multiple Local Plans simultaneously? The existing Suffolk authorities wrote to MHCLG in April 2026 raising this issue. The government's response, received on 1 May 2026, was firm but not entirely helpful: local government reorganisation is not a reason to delay plan-making, MHCLG said, and early work can either be carried forward by new unitary authorities or used to inform the new local plan for the unitary area. The council's report acknowledges that "the position remains ambiguous" and confirms that Counsel advice is being sought on whether new unitary authorities can legally adopt multiple Local Plans. In the meantime, IBC is proceeding on the basis of its existing boundaries, while retaining the flexibility to shift to the wider Ipswich and South Suffolk geography if legal advice requires it. ## An added layer: the mayoral strategy Devolution adds yet another layer of complexity. A new combined Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) for Norfolk and Suffolk is proposed, with the first mayoral elections expected in May 2028\. The MSA will be responsible for producing a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) — a higher-tier planning document setting strategic priorities for growth and development across the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk, including housing requirements. Local Plans will be required to conform with the SDS. Since Ipswich's Local Plan is expected to be progressed ahead of the SDS, there is a risk that elements of the plan — particularly housing numbers — may need to be revisited once the SDS emerges. The council's report warns that "an immediate Local Plan review may be required" if the housing requirements in the adopted Local Plan are significantly out of alignment with the SDS when it arrives. The current housing requirement for Ipswich, set by national government, stands at just over 700 dwellings per annum. Whether the SDS will revise that figure upwards or downwards remains to be seen. ## What happens next, and how to get involved Despite the complexity, IBC is pressing ahead. Scoping consultation — the first formal stage of public engagement, inviting residents and stakeholders to feed into what the plan should contain and how consultation should be carried out — is due to begin in July 2026. Councillor Jones said the council's approach would remain "flexible as wider Local Government Reorganisation proposals develop, ensuring we are well placed to respond to future changes while securing vital government funding to support this work." Residents wishing to follow the process or take part in consultation can do so via the council's dedicated Local Plan page at ipswich.gov.uk, which will be updated ahead of the July scoping consultation. ## The bottom line What Ipswich Borough Council is being asked to do is tough: produce a legally binding plan for the town's future knowing that another authority will decide whether to adopt it, and that a mayoral strategy not yet written may require it to be revised almost immediately. It is a product of overlapping reforms — to planning law, to local government, and to regional governance — arriving simultaneously and without a clear playbook. The work is necessary, the evidence base will be valuable, and residents should engage with the scoping consultation in July. But the question of who ultimately shapes Ipswich's future — the council elected to do it, or the authorities created to replace it — will remain, for now, unanswered. ## More from the chamber It was a busy day in yesterday's Executive meeting. Here's everything you need to know: [‘Commercially sensitive’ regeneration grants approved but opposition councillors expected to challenge decisionIpswich Borough Council approved £1.284m in regeneration grants yesterday, but the decision for one application, believed to be for around £750k, faces an imminent challenge, with opposition councillors expected to call it in over concerns about the use of public funds.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-64ce8cd2-5b32-43d1-b108-ef34ed9392c5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4669-1-1-225d3c6a-4846-48fa-8ae4-cb361cbd7f35.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/commercially-sensitive-regeneration-grants-approved-but-opposition-councillors-expected-to-challenge-decision/) [Council parking charges to rise from 20 JulyIpswich Borough Council has approved increases to parking charges at its off-street car parks and on-street bays, with new tariffs taking effect from 20 July 2026.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a0deb05f-1fb2-4d73-896d-85da70e61db5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4668-1-8e489729-4d2e-4e39-9f63-bff41f5d4196.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-parking-charges-to-rise-from-20-july/) [Council votes to back Ipswich Central in BID ballotIpswich Borough Council has voted to support the renewal of the town centre Business Improvement District, backing a fifth consecutive five-year term that would see Ipswich Central manage a £4.6m programme of town centre investment between 2027 and 2032.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-60c6141c-6bc3-4fc7-a3ed-a568ebd3eb0b.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4659-1-978a17b2-4b8c-4d75-a71e-7543e688ef50.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-votes-to-back-ipswich-central-in-bid-ballot/) [Ipswich names new City of Culture bid director as council takes leadIpswich has appointed Amy Vaughan as Bid Director and voted to create a new company to lead its UK City of Culture 2029 campaign, with a detailed bid due to be submitted in August.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1630639d-38d7-4bd7-b5b1-9f79e20b92a7.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2956-2-1-d1d044bc-8180-4d69-8932-c9225e5a37b7.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-names-new-city-of-culture-bid-director-as-council-takes-lead/) [Ipswich alcohol order consultation to launch next weekIpswich Borough Council has agreed to launch a public consultation on extending the borough-wide order that gives officers the power to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in public spaces, with views being sought from 23 June.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c7742787-94fd-4179-997b-7dbba3be446d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1739194060842-4463e8a9eb97-34af1da4-bb23-43b8-b14f-153b08216bf8.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-alcohol-order-consultation-to-launch-next-week/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£216 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Commercially sensitive' regeneration grants approved but opposition councillors expected to challenge decision URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/commercially-sensitive-regeneration-grants-approved-but-opposition-councillors-expected-to-challenge-decision/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T07:18:18.000Z **Why it matters:** A successful call-in would freeze the grant decision — preventing any action on the approved funding while the Strategic Overview & Scrutiny Committee convenes to review it. **The details:** The challenge is understood to have the backing of at least four other councillors, meaning the five signatures required to trigger a formal call-in are in place. - A request is expected to be submitted to the council's Monitoring Officer imminently. - The basis of the challenge is that public funds should not be used to give one privately owned business an unfair advantage over similar businesses already operating in the same market. - The two approved grants total £1.284m and remain commercially sensitive. Ipswich.co.uk is not publishing details of the applications at this stage but will do so ahead of any scrutiny committee meeting. **What's been funded so far:** Five projects had already received a combined total of around £7.2m from the fund before yesterday's meeting, with four currently under way and a fifth expected to start soon. Those projects include: - The 4YP youth hub on Regatta Quay on the Waterfront, with the grant covering acquisition, refurbishment and fit-out costs - A Creative Digital Skills Lab at The Baths, operated by Brighten The Corners, including video production, live recording, podcast and Extended Reality studio facilities, alongside upgrades to the existing ground-floor music venue - CLAY 1A, a new visitor attraction on the Waterfront, supported by significant philanthropic backing alongside the grant - The former Grimwades building, acquired by the council in April 2025 and now home to Jamaica Blue coffee shop, fashion retailer Lovisa, and a Suffolk New College education suite due to open at the start of the next academic year ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/dato-Jh31aDNLRcWr4as2VdRFqw-1775136667749-1.jpg) John Howard outside the Great White Horse (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What hasn't been funded:** The Grade II\* listed Great White Horse Hotel on Tavern Street was not among the projects selected for funding. The building's owners, John Howard and David Carr, had submitted an application understood to be over £1 million to restore the long-vacant landmark — either as a four-star boutique hotel or, subject to a planning approval granted earlier this month, as 21 residential flats. Both options are understood to require grant funding to be commercially viable. The owners remain in conversation with the council, though it is unclear how much of the remaining £1.97m could be available to them. **What's next:** If a valid call-in notice is submitted, a public scrutiny committee meeting must be convened within seven working days. Ipswich.co.uk will publish details of the two approved applications ahead of that meeting. **How the call-in process works:** A call-in can be triggered by the Chair of the Strategic Overview & Scrutiny Committee acting alone, or by any five elected councillors signing a notice together. - Once a valid notice is submitted to the Monitoring Officer, the decision is frozen and cannot be acted upon. - The Monitoring Officer must convene a scrutiny committee meeting within seven working days. - The committee meets in public to formally consider the called-in decision. - If concerns remain after review, the matter is referred back to the Executive for reconsideration. - The signed notice must be submitted within five working days of the Executive decision being published. Separately, the council expects greater budget certainty on a number of other Local Regeneration Fund projects — including town centre greening, Lloyds Avenue improvements, St Matthews Street improvements and Hawthorn Drive Shopping Centre improvements — within the next two months, after which further funding awards may be considered. **The bottom line:** The grants may be approved, but they are far from secure — with a public challenge imminent and the clock ticking on a five working day window to force an Executive rethink. ## More from the chamber It was a busy day in yesterday's Executive meeting. Here's everything you need to know: [Planning Ipswich’s future in the shadow of local government reorganisationIpswich Borough Council is legally required to begin writing a new blueprint for the town’s future development, but the authority doing the writing may not exist by the time it’s finished. It’s one of the more peculiar and consequential paradoxes thrown up by local government reorganisation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-570e6863-4e81-4e95-a898-93ae1150e75d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--27--1-44b690cc-cbae-4088-81f5-4bca7bd01215.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/planning-ipswichs-future-in-the-shadow-of-local-government-reorganisation/) [Council parking charges to rise from 20 JulyIpswich Borough Council has approved increases to parking charges at its off-street car parks and on-street bays, with new tariffs taking effect from 20 July 2026.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a0deb05f-1fb2-4d73-896d-85da70e61db5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4668-1-8e489729-4d2e-4e39-9f63-bff41f5d4196.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-parking-charges-to-rise-from-20-july/) [Council votes to back Ipswich Central in BID ballotIpswich Borough Council has voted to support the renewal of the town centre Business Improvement District, backing a fifth consecutive five-year term that would see Ipswich Central manage a £4.6m programme of town centre investment between 2027 and 2032.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-60c6141c-6bc3-4fc7-a3ed-a568ebd3eb0b.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4659-1-978a17b2-4b8c-4d75-a71e-7543e688ef50.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-votes-to-back-ipswich-central-in-bid-ballot/) [Ipswich names new City of Culture bid director as council takes leadIpswich has appointed Amy Vaughan as Bid Director and voted to create a new company to lead its UK City of Culture 2029 campaign, with a detailed bid due to be submitted in August.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1630639d-38d7-4bd7-b5b1-9f79e20b92a7.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2956-2-1-d1d044bc-8180-4d69-8932-c9225e5a37b7.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-names-new-city-of-culture-bid-director-as-council-takes-lead/) [Ipswich alcohol order consultation to launch next weekIpswich Borough Council has agreed to launch a public consultation on extending the borough-wide order that gives officers the power to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in public spaces, with views being sought from 23 June.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c7742787-94fd-4179-997b-7dbba3be446d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1739194060842-4463e8a9eb97-34af1da4-bb23-43b8-b14f-153b08216bf8.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-alcohol-order-consultation-to-launch-next-week/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£81 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council parking charges to rise from 20 July URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-parking-charges-to-rise-from-20-july/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T10:53:47.000Z **Why it matters:** Most drivers using council-operated car parks will pay 10p more per hour, while the popular afternoon deal – parking for the rest of the day from 14:00 – will rise from £2.70 to £2.80\. Season ticket holders face annual increases of up to £99. **The details:** Short-stay car parks, which include Bond Street, Crown, Elm Street, Regent, St Peter's Dock, Upper Orwell Street and William Street, will increase from £1.60 to £1.70 per hour. Long-stay car parks – including Portman Road, Princes Street and West End Road – will rise from £1.40 to £1.50 per hour, with the all-day charge increasing from £7.50 to £8.00. On-street paid parking will also increase by 10p per hour across locations including Cromwell Square, Museum Street, Russell Road and Sir Alf Ramsey Way. Annual season tickets for long-stay car parks will increase from £1,403 to £1,496 for Monday-to-Friday permits and from £1,485 to £1,584 for all-week permits. Resident season tickets at Cobbold Street and Richmond Road will rise from £371 to £396. [Ipswich cannot regenerate its town centre while treating its car parks as a cash machineIpswich Borough Council’s strategy promises to make the town centre “vibrant, inclusive, and a great place to live, work, and visit.” Its parking strategy is to charge a little more every year. At some point, it needs to address the obvious contradiction.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-bc1400a1-c881-4437-a239-1ec9e055abcc.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4608-1-43dcd25f-491d-4f06-9ee7-e477fa77450e.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-cannot-regenerate-its-town-centre-while-treating-its-car-parks-as-a-cash-machine/) **What they're saying:** Portfolio holder Councillor Jane Riley described the increases as "modest" but acknowledged it was "difficult sometimes to justify increases," adding that "statutory services have to be funded some way." Councillor Martin Cook noted that when the current administration took control of the council, the short-stay rate for Crown car park was £1.70 per hour – the same price it was in 2011\. He said that if charges had risen with inflation, the current rate would be £2.58. **The bigger picture:** The council estimates the off-street changes will generate an additional £176,000 per year, while on-street changes will bring in a further £18,000\. The changes, the council says, are designed to address inflationary cost pressures in running parking services and help eliminate a cumulative deficit of £95,853 in the on-street parking fund. Lib Dem councillor Oliver Holmes raised questions about whether the primary aim of short-stay parking should be increasing occupancy to benefit the town centre economy, rather than maintaining income. Councillor Riley said the primary purpose of short-stay parking was to "support access to the town centre," with higher occupancy supporting footfall and the wider economy, but that this had to be balanced with the cost of funding other services. Holmes also asked whether the council could work with Ipswich Central and other event organisers to introduce free or discounted parking during promotions through dynamic pricing. Riley confirmed the council had already used dynamic pricing – citing the Illuminate event at Christchurch Park and the dynamic pricing at the Crown multi-storey car park as an example – and said it would continue to work with Ipswich Central where applicable. **For context:** Cambridge City Council charges between £2.60 and £3.70 per hour for short-stay parking, rising to £33.50 for an all-day stay at some car parks. Norwich City Council charges between £2.20 and £2.50 per hour, with all-day rates of up to £22.40, but Cllr Holmes questioned the value of comparing Ipswich with Cambridge, Norwich and Bury St Edmunds, given that those towns offered "far more opportunities to shoppers." Councillor Riley acknowledged the towns differ significantly, adding that "Ipswich is about far more than retail" and that the town "punches way above its weight for arts and culture." **What's next:** The council will also decide whether to make permanent a trial weekend extension of the afternoon deal at Crown car park, which allows parking from 14:00 on Saturdays and Sundays for £2.80\. The trial ends on 28 June 2026, and the decision has been delegated to officers in consultation with the portfolio holder. A new multi-storey car park at Portman Road is due to open in 2028, subject to planning consent, and will be incorporated into the council's parking order on the same tariff as other long-stay car parks. **The bottom line:** Parking in Ipswich will cost a little more from 20 July, as the council looks to keep pace with rising operating costs. The increases are modest, but season ticket holders will notice the difference most – and a decision on whether cheaper weekend afternoon parking at Crown car park becomes a permanent fixture is expected shortly. ## More from the chamber It was a busy day in yesterday's Executive meeting. Here's everything you need to know: [Planning Ipswich’s future in the shadow of local government reorganisationIpswich Borough Council is legally required to begin writing a new blueprint for the town’s future development, but the authority doing the writing may not exist by the time it’s finished. It’s one of the more peculiar and consequential paradoxes thrown up by local government reorganisation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-570e6863-4e81-4e95-a898-93ae1150e75d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--27--1-44b690cc-cbae-4088-81f5-4bca7bd01215.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/planning-ipswichs-future-in-the-shadow-of-local-government-reorganisation/) [‘Commercially sensitive’ regeneration grants approved but opposition councillors expected to challenge decisionIpswich Borough Council approved £1.284m in regeneration grants yesterday, but the decision for one application, believed to be for around £750k, faces an imminent challenge, with opposition councillors expected to call it in over concerns about the use of public funds.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-64ce8cd2-5b32-43d1-b108-ef34ed9392c5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4669-1-1-225d3c6a-4846-48fa-8ae4-cb361cbd7f35.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/commercially-sensitive-regeneration-grants-approved-but-opposition-councillors-expected-to-challenge-decision/) [Council votes to back Ipswich Central in BID ballotIpswich Borough Council has voted to support the renewal of the town centre Business Improvement District, backing a fifth consecutive five-year term that would see Ipswich Central manage a £4.6m programme of town centre investment between 2027 and 2032.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-60c6141c-6bc3-4fc7-a3ed-a568ebd3eb0b.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4659-1-978a17b2-4b8c-4d75-a71e-7543e688ef50.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-votes-to-back-ipswich-central-in-bid-ballot/) [Ipswich names new City of Culture bid director as council takes leadIpswich has appointed Amy Vaughan as Bid Director and voted to create a new company to lead its UK City of Culture 2029 campaign, with a detailed bid due to be submitted in August.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1630639d-38d7-4bd7-b5b1-9f79e20b92a7.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2956-2-1-d1d044bc-8180-4d69-8932-c9225e5a37b7.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-names-new-city-of-culture-bid-director-as-council-takes-lead/) [Ipswich alcohol order consultation to launch next weekIpswich Borough Council has agreed to launch a public consultation on extending the borough-wide order that gives officers the power to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in public spaces, with views being sought from 23 June.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c7742787-94fd-4179-997b-7dbba3be446d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1739194060842-4463e8a9eb97-34af1da4-bb23-43b8-b14f-153b08216bf8.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-alcohol-order-consultation-to-launch-next-week/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council votes to back Ipswich Central in BID ballot URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-votes-to-back-ipswich-central-in-bid-ballot/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T07:27:45.000Z **Why it matters:** The council's decision means it will cast a "yes" vote in the forthcoming ballot on behalf of its 29 qualifying properties within the BID area — making it one of the largest single blocs of votes in the ballot, which opens on 19 June and closes on 16 July 2026. **The details:** The council's Executive, meeting on Tuesday, 16 June, approved the recommendation to vote in favour of the BID, and authorised the Head of Shared Revenues Partnership to cast the vote on its behalf. If the ballot is successful, the new BID term will run from April 2027 to March 2032, with Ipswich Central — operated by nonprofit Locus Management Solutions Ltd — delivering a programme covering safer streets, greening, festivals, campaigns and business data. [The ballot that will shape Ipswich for the next five years and beyondIn the coming weeks, hundreds of Ipswich businesses will decide whether Ipswich’s Business Improvement District (BID) lives or dies. What hangs on that decision is far bigger than many people realise.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-f4f13102-077b-46c3-821f-d3448024b73d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2026-05-31-at-22.15.43-1-6070f115-cbad-4b62-92b7-088e19d2b04c.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-ballot-that-will-shape-ipswich-for-next-five-years-and-beyond/) The levy rate for the new BID term is set at 2% of rateable value, rising by 3% per annum — up from 1.89% at the end of the current BID term. The council's own liability across its 28 qualifying properties is estimated at £53,781.40 in year one, rising to £60,531.44 by 2031/32. **What they're saying:** Council leader Cllr Neil MacDonald was supportive, describing Ipswich Central chief executive Lee Walker as "a breath of fresh air" who had "moved a lot in the town centre." He highlighted the My Local Bobby officers as "important to the safety and perception of safety in the town centre," adding: "If the BID wasn't doing these things, someone else would have to do it. This would be the council in most cases." Conservative group leader Cllr Ian Fisher acknowledged improvements under Walker's leadership but raised concerns about the expansion of the BID area, saying it would be "totally unproductive to send street rangers that far out of the town centre." He asked whether the Executive could seek an explanation from Ipswich Central on the rationale for the expansion. MacDonald responded that businesses newly included in the expanded area had been consulted and were supportive. Fisher also asked whether the council would consider inviting a competitive BID proposal from a council arms-length company to avoid potential conflicts of interest. This was quickly rebuffed by Cllr MacDonald with Cllr Carole Jones emphasiing that businesses retained the right to vote against the BID but had not historically done so, saying she saw clear value in what Ipswich Central had delivered. She noted it could be something a new town council might consider following local government reorganisation, but said she was content that the BID was "a good thing" — and that if Ipswich Central were not delivering its services, the onus would fall on the council to do so. **The bigger picture:** The BID area has been expanded westward for the new term to include Suffolk Retail Park and the riverside of Ranelagh Road, bringing the total number of qualifying hereditaments to approximately 464 — a 7% increase. The council's properties represent around 6% of that total. The BID business plan commits to a minimum of four My Local Bobby officers operating in the town centre day and night, a civil banning scheme targeting prolific offenders, a Britain in Bloom accreditation bid by 2030, and a programme of festivals including an arts and culture week, a book festival, a craft beer festival and a street art festival. **For context:** Ipswich Central has operated as the town's BID since 2007, with the council voting "yes" in each of the four previous ballots. The council's report notes the BID "appears to remain popular with its private sector members" and that a yes vote brings "substantial additional investment into the town centre." The council will collect the BID levy on behalf of Ipswich Central at no administrative charge, saving the BID an estimated £20,000 over the five-year term. **What's next:** Ballot papers are due to be sent to qualifying businesses on or before 18 June 2026\. To pass, the proposal must secure a majority both by number of votes cast and by the aggregate rateable value of those voting in favour. If the ballot fails, no further BID term will begin, and Ipswich Central will enter a wind-down period. **The bottom line:** The council's backing gives the BID ballot an early boost, but the result ultimately rests with the town's businesses, who have until 16 July to decide whether to fund a further five years of investment in our town centre and waterfront. ## More from the chamber It was a busy day in yesterday's Executive meeting. Here's everything you need to know: [Planning Ipswich’s future in the shadow of local government reorganisationIpswich Borough Council is legally required to begin writing a new blueprint for the town’s future development, but the authority doing the writing may not exist by the time it’s finished. It’s one of the more peculiar and consequential paradoxes thrown up by local government reorganisation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-570e6863-4e81-4e95-a898-93ae1150e75d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--27--1-44b690cc-cbae-4088-81f5-4bca7bd01215.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/planning-ipswichs-future-in-the-shadow-of-local-government-reorganisation/) [‘Commercially sensitive’ regeneration grants approved but opposition councillors expected to challenge decisionIpswich Borough Council approved £1.284m in regeneration grants yesterday, but the decision for one application, believed to be for around £750k, faces an imminent challenge, with opposition councillors expected to call it in over concerns about the use of public funds.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-64ce8cd2-5b32-43d1-b108-ef34ed9392c5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4669-1-1-225d3c6a-4846-48fa-8ae4-cb361cbd7f35.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/commercially-sensitive-regeneration-grants-approved-but-opposition-councillors-expected-to-challenge-decision/) [Council parking charges to rise from 20 JulyIpswich Borough Council has approved increases to parking charges at its off-street car parks and on-street bays, with new tariffs taking effect from 20 July 2026.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a0deb05f-1fb2-4d73-896d-85da70e61db5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4668-1-8e489729-4d2e-4e39-9f63-bff41f5d4196.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-parking-charges-to-rise-from-20-july/) [Ipswich names new City of Culture bid director as council takes leadIpswich has appointed Amy Vaughan as Bid Director and voted to create a new company to lead its UK City of Culture 2029 campaign, with a detailed bid due to be submitted in August.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1630639d-38d7-4bd7-b5b1-9f79e20b92a7.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2956-2-1-d1d044bc-8180-4d69-8932-c9225e5a37b7.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-names-new-city-of-culture-bid-director-as-council-takes-lead/) [Ipswich alcohol order consultation to launch next weekIpswich Borough Council has agreed to launch a public consultation on extending the borough-wide order that gives officers the power to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in public spaces, with views being sought from 23 June.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c7742787-94fd-4179-997b-7dbba3be446d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1739194060842-4463e8a9eb97-34af1da4-bb23-43b8-b14f-153b08216bf8.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-alcohol-order-consultation-to-launch-next-week/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich names new City of Culture bid director as council takes lead URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-names-new-city-of-culture-bid-director-as-council-takes-lead/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T07:15:38.000Z **Why it matters:** Winning the UK City of Culture title would bring £10m in government funding to Ipswich — and, the council says, act as a catalyst for regeneration, job creation and cultural investment across the town and beyond. **The details:** Ipswich Borough Council voted yesterday, Tuesday, 16 June, to establish a Company Limited by Guarantee — to be known as the "Ipswich Culture Company" — which will act as the Delivery Body for the City of Culture programme. The council will serve as the Accountable Body, overseeing finances, legal requirements and reporting to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The company will seek charitable status and will be initially funded by a £50,000 start-up grant from the council. It will have the power to fundraise, accept donations and enter into sponsorship agreements in its own right. **For context:** Ipswich is one of only nine places to have been longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029, following an Expression of Interest process earlier in 2026\. Each longlisted place has received a £60,000 bid development grant. The next stage requires a full bid to be submitted by 12 August 2026, after which an independent panel will shortlist up to four places for ministers to make the final decision. The winner is expected to be announced in late 2026. **Behind the scenes:** The council says that while the bid has been progressing quietly in recent weeks, significant groundwork has been laid. As well as Vaughan's appointment as Bid Director, the council says a full expert team has now been assembled. A Vision Workshop bringing together key partners from across the Ipswich area is taking place this morning at The Regent Theatre, from 10:00 to 13:00. **Who is Amy Vaughan?** Vaughan brings 25 years of experience in the cultural sector to the role. She has previously served as executive director and deputy CEO at Battersea Arts Centre, spent nearly a decade at Arts Council England in roles including director of touring and director of change programmes, and was general manager at Cambridge Junction. She currently runs Fringe Consulting, a cultural sector consultancy focused on transformation and strategic development. She has also held governance roles including chair of the London Theatre Consortium and chair of English Touring Theatre. **What's next:** Should Ipswich win, the £10m prize would fund a full year of cultural programming. Runners-up would each receive a £125,000 resource grant. The council's report also notes that, in the event of a successful bid, the new unitary authority — due to come into being as part of local government reorganisation — would take over as Accountable Body. **The bottom line:** With a bid director in post, a formal delivery company approved and a full bid deadline of 12 August approaching, Ipswich's City of Culture 2029 campaign is moving decisively from ambition to action. ## More from the chamber It was a busy day in yesterday's Executive meeting. Here's everything you need to know: [Planning Ipswich’s future in the shadow of local government reorganisationIpswich Borough Council is legally required to begin writing a new blueprint for the town’s future development, but the authority doing the writing may not exist by the time it’s finished. It’s one of the more peculiar and consequential paradoxes thrown up by local government reorganisation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-570e6863-4e81-4e95-a898-93ae1150e75d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--27--1-44b690cc-cbae-4088-81f5-4bca7bd01215.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/planning-ipswichs-future-in-the-shadow-of-local-government-reorganisation/) [‘Commercially sensitive’ regeneration grants approved but opposition councillors expected to challenge decisionIpswich Borough Council approved £1.284m in regeneration grants yesterday, but the decision for one application, believed to be for around £750k, faces an imminent challenge, with opposition councillors expected to call it in over concerns about the use of public funds.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-64ce8cd2-5b32-43d1-b108-ef34ed9392c5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4669-1-1-225d3c6a-4846-48fa-8ae4-cb361cbd7f35.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/commercially-sensitive-regeneration-grants-approved-but-opposition-councillors-expected-to-challenge-decision/) [Council parking charges to rise from 20 JulyIpswich Borough Council has approved increases to parking charges at its off-street car parks and on-street bays, with new tariffs taking effect from 20 July 2026.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a0deb05f-1fb2-4d73-896d-85da70e61db5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4668-1-8e489729-4d2e-4e39-9f63-bff41f5d4196.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-parking-charges-to-rise-from-20-july/) [Council votes to back Ipswich Central in BID ballotIpswich Borough Council has voted to support the renewal of the town centre Business Improvement District, backing a fifth consecutive five-year term that would see Ipswich Central manage a £4.6m programme of town centre investment between 2027 and 2032.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-60c6141c-6bc3-4fc7-a3ed-a568ebd3eb0b.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4659-1-978a17b2-4b8c-4d75-a71e-7543e688ef50.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-votes-to-back-ipswich-central-in-bid-ballot/) [Ipswich alcohol order consultation to launch next weekIpswich Borough Council has agreed to launch a public consultation on extending the borough-wide order that gives officers the power to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in public spaces, with views being sought from 23 June.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c7742787-94fd-4179-997b-7dbba3be446d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1739194060842-4463e8a9eb97-34af1da4-bb23-43b8-b14f-153b08216bf8.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-alcohol-order-consultation-to-launch-next-week/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£53 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich alcohol order consultation to launch next week URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-alcohol-order-consultation-to-launch-next-week/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T07:14:43.000Z **Why it matters:** The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) — which covers all public spaces across the borough — is due to expire on 16 November 2026\. Without an extension, officers would lose the power to confiscate alcohol and issue fines to those drinking anti-socially in public places. **The details:** The council's Executive agreed on Tuesday, 16 June, to consult on whether the order should be extended for a further three years. The eight-week consultation will run from 23 June to 11 August 2026 and will seek views from residents, businesses, community groups and partner agencies. - The order does not ban drinking in public outright. Under its terms, authorised officers — including police officers, police community support officers, council officers, My Local Bobby and council contractors — can require a person to stop consuming alcohol in a public space if their behaviour is causing, or is likely to cause, a nuisance. - Those who refuse can face a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £100, or prosecution resulting in a fine. - The order does not apply to licensed premises, beer gardens or pavement seating areas covered by a licence. **For context:** The order has been in place in some form since 1 December 2007, when the original Ipswich Designated Public Places Order came into effect. It was most recently extended in 2023 and converted to a PSPO under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. **Who will be consulted:** The council proposes to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including Suffolk Constabulary, the Police and Crime Commissioner, ward councillors, Suffolk County Council, town centre businesses, licensed premises, homelessness and substance misuse organisations, including the Salvation Army and Turning Point, residents and community groups. **What's next:** Following the consultation, the results — alongside an evidence report on the extent of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Ipswich — will return to the Executive and full council for a final decision on whether to extend the order. The consultation will be promoted via social media campaigns, an online survey, press releases and direct engagement with interested parties. A paper survey option will also be available. **The bottom line:** Residents and businesses now have eight weeks to have their say on whether the borough's public drinking powers should continue, with the council saying the order is key to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment across Ipswich. ## More from the chamber It was a busy day in yesterday's Executive meeting. Here's everything you need to know: [Planning Ipswich’s future in the shadow of local government reorganisationIpswich Borough Council is legally required to begin writing a new blueprint for the town’s future development, but the authority doing the writing may not exist by the time it’s finished. It’s one of the more peculiar and consequential paradoxes thrown up by local government reorganisation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-570e6863-4e81-4e95-a898-93ae1150e75d.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--27--1-44b690cc-cbae-4088-81f5-4bca7bd01215.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/planning-ipswichs-future-in-the-shadow-of-local-government-reorganisation/) [‘Commercially sensitive’ regeneration grants approved but opposition councillors expected to challenge decisionIpswich Borough Council approved £1.284m in regeneration grants yesterday, but the decision for one application, believed to be for around £750k, faces an imminent challenge, with opposition councillors expected to call it in over concerns about the use of public funds.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-64ce8cd2-5b32-43d1-b108-ef34ed9392c5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4669-1-1-225d3c6a-4846-48fa-8ae4-cb361cbd7f35.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/commercially-sensitive-regeneration-grants-approved-but-opposition-councillors-expected-to-challenge-decision/) [Council parking charges to rise from 20 JulyIpswich Borough Council has approved increases to parking charges at its off-street car parks and on-street bays, with new tariffs taking effect from 20 July 2026.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-a0deb05f-1fb2-4d73-896d-85da70e61db5.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4668-1-8e489729-4d2e-4e39-9f63-bff41f5d4196.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-parking-charges-to-rise-from-20-july/) [Council votes to back Ipswich Central in BID ballotIpswich Borough Council has voted to support the renewal of the town centre Business Improvement District, backing a fifth consecutive five-year term that would see Ipswich Central manage a £4.6m programme of town centre investment between 2027 and 2032.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-60c6141c-6bc3-4fc7-a3ed-a568ebd3eb0b.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4659-1-978a17b2-4b8c-4d75-a71e-7543e688ef50.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-votes-to-back-ipswich-central-in-bid-ballot/) [Ipswich names new City of Culture bid director as council takes leadIpswich has appointed Amy Vaughan as Bid Director and voted to create a new company to lead its UK City of Culture 2029 campaign, with a detailed bid due to be submitted in August.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-1630639d-38d7-4bd7-b5b1-9f79e20b92a7.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2956-2-1-d1d044bc-8180-4d69-8932-c9225e5a37b7.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-names-new-city-of-culture-bid-director-as-council-takes-lead/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk invests £3.6m in 11 new fire engines URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-invests-in-11-new-fire-engines/ Last updated: 2026-06-16T16:38:43.000Z **Why it matters:** The new appliances are designed to respond to a wide range of emergencies, ensuring crews across Suffolk have reliable, up-to-date vehicles when communities need them most. **The details:** The 11 new standard B Type frontline appliances complement the existing fleet and have been procured as part of an ongoing renewal programme to keep vehicles reliable and current. The vehicles are currently in production and undergoing specialist fitting and testing before being delivered. They are expected to enter service at fire stations across Suffolk between November and December. **What they're saying:** Chief Fire Officer Jon Lacey said: "The new appliances are a vital investment. Designed around our crews' needs, they provide the tools and technology required for a range of incidents and will ensure we are able to continue to respond quickly and effectively when our communities need us." Councillor Tristan Gale, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for planning, devolution and the fire service, added: "We are proud to support Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and recognise that ongoing investment plays a vital role in maintaining a safe, efficient and dependable emergency response across the county." **The bottom line:** Suffolk's £3.6 million investment in 11 new fire engines ensures the county's emergency responders have the modern, reliable vehicles they need, with the new fleet expected to be operational across Suffolk's fire stations before the end of the year. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### £1.35m approved for A140 Earl Stonham plan amid cost and environment fears URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/1-35m-approved-for-a140-earl-stonham-plan-amid-cost-and-environment-fears/ Last updated: 2026-06-16T16:13:57.000Z **Why it matters:** The A140/A1120 junction at Earl Stonham is a staggered crossroads with a long-standing reputation for congestion, road safety issues and poor provision for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. The approval — made at cabinet on Tuesday, 16 June — is one of the first infrastructure decisions of Reform's new Suffolk County Council administration since being elected last month. **The details:** The £1.35m will fund development of an Outline Business Case to be submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT), with the aim of securing funding for a full scheme estimated to cost £6.46m in total. - Up to 85% of the total cost would be funded by the DfT, with the remaining 15% — around £969,615 — met through the Local Transport Grant. - The outline scheme would route A1120 traffic through a new link road, leaving a short section of redundant road to be enhanced for buses, walking and cycling. - The scheme will also include enhanced crossing points on both the A140 and A1120. - Because the scheme requires additional land, the cabinet has also approved the potential use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers if voluntary agreements with landowners cannot be reached. **For context:** The A140 is one of Suffolk's most important transport corridors, forming the primary link between the A14, Norwich and North Norfolk. It is part of the national Major Road Network (MRN), which makes it eligible for additional DfT funding. The council began developing its scheme in 2021, submitting a Strategic Outline Business Case to the DfT in February 2025\. In February this year, the DfT confirmed the scheme could progress to the Outline Business Case stage. **What they're saying:** Councillor Christopher Hudson, Suffolk County Council cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "This decision is very good news for Suffolk. The A140 is a key route in this county and by investing in it we improve connectivity for traffic and also support the local community with better provision for local accessibility." **The other side:** The Green group — the official opposition at Suffolk County Council — has raised serious concerns. Robert Lindsay, Green group spokesperson for transport and highways, said: "There is both a financial and an environmental risk. The county is spending £1.35m up front, partly to buy private land for a new link road, with no guarantee that the project will proceed. They are hoping that the Department for Transport will eventually reimburse two thirds of that with a grant. But that's not a done deal." Lindsay also warned of environmental concerns: "There is a very ecologically sensitive parcel of land likely to be close to where they want to build this that contains rare orchids." He added that the new road "runs the risk of increasing traffic on the A1120 through Stowupland and other villages, while it only bypasses a dozen or so dwellings," and that "any travel time saved \[is\] likely to be counted in seconds." He also cautioned that if the DfT approves the full business case, "the Government contribution will be firmly capped while any cost overrun will have to be met by Suffolk County Council or the new unitary authority that takes over from it in May 2028," adding that "cost overruns beyond the business case projections are a frequent occurrence in Suffolk." Conservative councillors also questioned whether the scheme represented the right long-term solution. Councillor Matthew Hicks, county councillor for Thredling Division, said: "This junction has been a problem for many years and has been on Suffolk County Council's radar for a long time. Local residents deserve clarity on the proposed timetable, the options that were considered, and what compensation and support will be available to those directly affected." Councillor Joe Mason, Conservative spokesman for highways, transport strategy and property, said: "I'm not convinced this scheme alone will deliver the improvements that residents and road users want to see. If it does proceed, we must also take the opportunity to address longstanding speeding concerns, including through improved road markings and the reinstatement of a speed camera." **What's next:** The next stage of work will include assessing how much additional land is required for construction. The full business case will then need to be submitted to and approved by the DfT before any works can proceed. **The bottom line:** Reform UK's new Suffolk administration has backed £1.35m to progress the long-running road improvement scheme, albeit with questions from opposition parties over environmental risks, community impact and the prospect of uncapped cost overruns. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Have you seen missing Ipswich man Jonathan Clarke? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/have-you-seen-missing-ipswich-man-jonathan-clarke/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T12:20:15.000Z ❗ We're pleased to say that Jonathan has been found. Police have thanked the public and media for their support. Jonathan was last seen on the evening of Monday, 15 June. He is 5ft 8in tall and was last seen wearing blue jeans, a grey top and a yellow gilet. Anyone who has seen Jonathan or knows his whereabouts should contact Suffolk Police on 101. ### 'They could have killed him, and the police didn't care': Mum of epileptic teen beaten and repeatedly kicked in the head by gang of students speaks out URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/they-could-have-killed-him-and-the-police-didnt-care-mum-of-epileptic-teen-beaten-and-repeatedly-kicked-in-the-head-by-gang-of-students-speaks-out/ Last updated: 2026-06-16T11:50:37.000Z On 2 October 2025, Jake — not his real name — made his way to Stonelodge Park, where, according to his mother, he was surrounded by a group of between 18 and 23 boys and beaten. He was kicked repeatedly in the head and body, suffering injuries to his jaw and face. His phone was stolen, though it was later returned. Jake was taken to A&E, where his family waited for hours before leaving when he fell asleep in the hospital corridor. "They could have killed him that day," his mother told Ipswich.co.uk. "The amount of kicks to the head he took — and he's epileptic." Suffolk Constabulary were called that evening. Seven months later, a decision of No Further Action — meaning the case would be closed without charge — was reached. No one was prosecuted. ## Three months before anyone visited the school The group of boys were all reportedly students at the same local school, a school Jake does not attend due to his epilepsy being so severe. Jake's mother says that in the weeks following the attack, contact from the investigating officer was infrequent and came at unreasonable hours. She says she had already gathered the names of the boys she believed were involved and had approached the school herself before the police did. The school, she says, was ready and waiting. "I had all the evidence before they had," she said. "I told them: if you just go to the school, you'll get all the names. The school was waiting for them." Support our journalism ****Jake was beaten and repeatedly kicked in the head. No one was charged. Someone has to ask why.** Journalism like this — holding institutions to account when families have nowhere else to turn — takes time, resources, and independence. For £4.75 a month, you can help make sure we keep doing it. [Support this journalism ](#/portal/signup) According to Jake's mother, the officer did not visit the school until January 2026 — approximately three months after the attack, when students returned from the Christmas holidays. She says the officer called her afterwards. "He went, 'Good news, I went to the school, and you were right — they all go to that school.' And I was like, what do you mean, good news? It's taken you three months." When Ipswich.co.uk first approached Suffolk Constabulary for comment in March 2026, the force indicated it was unable to answer most of our questions while a formal complaint remained under investigation. A second set of questions was submitted in May 2026, following the conclusion of that process, and the force responded substantively at that stage. The timing of the school visit was not among the questions the force addressed. ## A statement never completed In November 2025, an officer attended the family home to begin taking a formal statement from Jake. Jake's mother says he had been there for approximately five minutes when he was called away to another incident and left. He did not return. To her knowledge, no formal statement was ever completed. "He said, 'I'm sorry, there's something big going on, I have to leave,'" she recalled. "And we never saw him again after that." ## 'Common assault' Witnesses were present at the scene. Students at the school were reportedly willing to give statements. Jake's mother says she was told that one boy had admitted involvement — though Suffolk Constabulary told Ipswich.co.uk only that one youth had been interviewed on the basis of Jake's account, and that "others were spoken to but not willing to provide an account to police." The case was closed without charge. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1830-2.jpeg) Stonelodge Park, Chantry, where the assault was alleged to have taken place (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) The attack was classified as a "common assault" — the least serious tier of assault in English law. It is the basis on which the force justifies several of its decisions, and ultimately why, when the statutory six-month time limit for prosecuting common assault offences expired, the case could not progress. Jake's mother disputes that framing. "He was kicked repeatedly in the head," she said. "He's an epileptic. They could have killed him." ## The decision delivered after dark On Wednesday, 29 April 2026, officers attended Jake's family home after 21:00 to inform them that the case would be closed with No Further Action. The statutory six-month time limit for prosecuting common assault offences had expired. Jake's mother says she was given no written explanation. The decision, she says, was delivered at the door, late at night. She alleges that when Jake reacted with frustration during the visit, officers raised their voices at him. "I had to remind them that he was the victim," she said, "and that I had a two-week-old baby in the house." Suffolk Constabulary told Ipswich.co.uk that the timing was "not unreasonable," explaining that the officer concerned was moving onto a night shift and that delivering the decision that evening meant Jake's mother would not have to wait a further six days. The force said that "there was still not enough evidence to approach the youth offending team" — the statutory body responsible for managing offending by under-18s — regardless of the time limit. ## A mother arrested In the months between the attack and the No Further Action decision, Jake's mother says she did everything she could to pursue the case herself — visiting the school, gathering names, and making repeated calls to police. "I tried to do everything by the book," she said. "Because there's nothing worse than someone touching your own child." Then, on 29 March 2026, she was arrested. She alleges that the mother of one of the boys involved made a complaint to police claiming she had been harassing her. Jake's mother categorically denies this. "I've got cameras, she's got cameras, I never did this," she said. She was held for approximately 10 hours, placed on bail for two weeks, and had her phone seized. Upon returning to bail, she says she was told there was no evidence to support the allegation. When discussing the matter with police, the force told Ipswich.co.uk that a community resolution was issued in connection with the incident — in relation to, they said, verbal harassment. Community resolutions are a form of out-of-court disposal used for lower-level offences that can only be issued with the agreement of all parties; in accepting one, the individual accepts responsibility for the behaviour in question. Jake's mother told Ipswich.co.uk she did not understand this to be the case. ## 'No welfare officer, no welfare check, nothing' Throughout the investigation, Jake's mother says no family liaison officer was assigned, no welfare check was made on Jake, and no one from the police ever visited him to acknowledge what he had been through. "They never came out to see him," she said. "To put him right. To make him feel safe in the community again. Nothing like that." The attack has, she says, significantly worsened Jake's epilepsy. In her formal complaint letter to Suffolk Constabulary, she wrote that the incident had "exacerbated his epilepsy attacks and the severity of them," resulting in PTSD-related seizures and a shortened threshold. She said the psychological impact on Jake has been severe and that she sought counselling for him independently, eventually securing three sessions through a local service. "That's everything I've done off my own back," she said. Suffolk Constabulary's responses to Ipswich.co.uk did not address whether Jake's vulnerability was taken into account during the investigation. "Nobody came to my son and said, 'What happened to you was really horrible, and we're going to make sure it doesn't happen again,'" his mother said. "Not once." ## The complaint, and a window that may have closed Jake's mother submitted a formal complaint to Suffolk Constabulary in January 2026, alongside a request for review under the Victim's Right to Review scheme — a formal process that allows victims to challenge a decision not to charge a suspect. She also wrote to Jack Abbott, the MP for Ipswich, who she says expressed sympathy but advised her to raise the matter with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) if she did not receive a satisfactory outcome. The complaint outcome, sent at the end of April 2026, concluded that the service provided had been acceptable in respect of the two allegations made, but noted that some learning was recommended and that the investigation was to be reopened in respect of two lines of enquiry. Alongside the outcome, Jake's mother had 29 days to request a further review with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner — a deadline Suffolk Constabulary confirmed expired on 26 May 2026\. Jake's mother told Ipswich.co.uk that she was never made aware of this right. "They never told me about anything like that," she said. "Nobody mentioned I had a window to take it further." Suffolk Constabulary did not confirm to Ipswich.co.uk whether Jake's mother had been informed of this right. Whether the two reopened lines of enquiry have since been progressed also remains unclear. ## 'They believe they're untouchable' For Jake's mother, the absence of any consequence is not just a personal failure — it is a community one. "These kids are still out there laughing," she said. "They told us: we can do what we want and get away with it. And the police have proved them right." A support worker with a background in youth justice, who was present during one of our conversations, echoed their concerns about the lack of early intervention. "You always look at prevention," they said. "You always speak with the school, work in collaboration, build up that rapport. So that if incidents like this happen, you can put a stamp on it straight away. The fact that these young people still feel untouchable — that's what I really struggle with." "I don't want anyone else to go through this," Jake's mother said. "I can't be the only family in this situation. And until something changes, these kids will keep doing this, because they know nothing will happen to them." ## The bottom line Jake's case raises questions that go beyond one family's experience. A vulnerable teenager was alleged to have been beaten in a public park and — according to his mother — left without a welfare visit, family liaison officer or justice. Suffolk Constabulary says the evidence was not there to progress the case. Jake's mother says the evidence was never properly sought. What is not in dispute is that no one has been held to account. For Jake and his family, that is what matters. Support our journalism ****Jake was beaten and repeatedly kicked in the head. No one was charged. Someone has to ask why.** Journalism like this — holding institutions to account when families have nowhere else to turn — takes time, resources, and independence. For £4.75 a month, you can help make sure we keep doing it. [Support this journalism ](#/portal/signup) --- *If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article, the Samaritans can be reached any time on 116 123\. Young Minds provides mental health support for young people at youngminds.org.uk.* --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£378 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich racing driver backs local children's hospice URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-racing-driver-backs-local-childrens-hospice/ Last updated: 2026-06-16T07:21:58.000Z **Why it matters:** The Treehouse, on the doorstep of Lydia Walmsley's home, currently supports around 190 children, young people and family members across the Ipswich area. EACH relies on voluntary donations for the vast majority of its income and needs to raise £8m from donations and fundraising this year – making community backing like Lydia's all the more vital. **The details:** Lydia, who races for Clean Racing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge RS category, is carrying the EACH logo on her car and has a series of fundraising activities planned, including a skydive. Her 2026 car features a light blue and purple livery with orange accents – colours that closely mirror those associated with the charity. "I drive past The Treehouse every day, so when it came to choosing a charity to support, my first thought was EACH," she said. "When I think about the work it does, it puts everything in perspective, and I can't think of a better cause to support than a children's hospice. Anything I can do to raise funds and awareness and support its extraordinary work will be a pleasure." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Lydia-Walmsley-is-supporting-EACH-2.jpg) Lydia's 500bhp Porsche GT4 RS (Photo: EACH) **On the track:** Competing in the RS category for the first time, Lydia is racing a 500-horsepower Porsche GT4 RS and has already impressed, securing three top-ten finishes at Oulton Park in Cheshire during the second race weekend of the season. Her motorsport journey began at the age of seven, progressing through karting before establishing herself as a highly talented driver. "The speeds we reach are crazy, and I love the fact I've always represented a smaller team with a limited budget," she said. "It makes all our achievements feel more rewarding, and that sense of motivation spurs me on and drives my passion. I like proving people wrong." **What's next:** Lydia is looking ahead to rounds seven, eight and nine of the Porsche Sprint Challenge, scheduled for 8 and 9 August at Knockhill in Fife, Scotland. "I'd like top-five or top-six finishes, but, considering it's a new car, it's been a solid start and a good platform to build on," she said. "It's been a fantastic experience already, and I consider myself so lucky to do this – especially if I can use my racing to help shine a light on EACH. That would be a real honour and privilege." **For context:** EACH has three hospices – The Treehouse in Ipswich, Milton in Cambridge and The Nook in Norwich. Over 700 children, young people and family members are currently receiving care and support from the charity across the region. EACH receives only 15% of its income from the government. **The bottom line:** Lydia Walmsley is using her platform in motorsport to shine a spotlight on a charity at the heart of her community – and with a skydive, a growing social media following, and a season of racing still to come, her campaign for EACH is only just getting started. To find out more about EACH or to support their work, visit [each.org.uk](https://www.each.org.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or call 01223 800800. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Horses for courses: Suffolk equine centre marks 20 years URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/horses-for-courses-suffolk-equine-centre-marks-20-years/ Last updated: 2026-06-16T07:21:38.000Z **Why it matters:** Suffolk New College's equine centre, based at its Suffolk Rural campus near Otley, has become a springboard for equestrian careers across the globe since opening in April 2006\. The £500,000 facility was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal, and has hosted hundreds of community events in the two decades since. **The details:** Around 70 guests – including industry partners and current and former students – gathered to mark the milestone, sharing memories and looking ahead to the next 20 years. The centre currently teaches around 60 students a year and has its own horse, called Quinn. **What they're saying:** Karen King, an equine lecturer at the college who was present at the original opening, said: "Princess Anne asked lots of questions and seemed interested in what we were doing. She had a good look around. It was a pleasure to host her." She added: "We've had lots of success stories with people working in Newmarket, Australia and someone came back to our celebrations who had just got back from Argentina. My message to everyone in the community is thanks so much for the support – and if you haven't been here – then come along to see us and get involved." **The bigger picture:** For many former students, the centre proved transformative. Justin Hollis, who studied there 20 years ago, said the experience had set the course for his career: "I remember the teachers who helped me to get to where I am now, which is competing professionally in eventing. The experience has driven me to be where I am today." Lottie Foster, who completed a level two equine management course around 2018, said the centre had "propelled" her forward: "I had lots of fun and grew up a lot. It helped propel me forward to a career where I'm now working at a stud in Newmarket." Claire Loud, who was also present at the royal opening, recalled riding in front of Princess Anne: "I remember riding a horse called Cuckoo in front of Princess Anne. We did a drill ride and she then walked down the line and said hello to us and the horses – it was a really good day. Looking back, it set me up for a career in industry – these were the best days of my life." **The bottom line:** Two decades on, Suffolk New College's equine centre has established itself as a genuine launchpad for careers in the horse industry – from Suffolk studs to the southern hemisphere – with its alumni reunion a testament to the lasting impact of the facility and its staff. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The Ipswich entrepreneur who wants to end the comment war URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-ipswich-entrepreneur-who-wants-to-end-the-comment-war/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T08:08:34.000Z ReAktu, a new social media platform that launched in March 2026, is the product of a restless mind and a father's instinct. Ajadi, who is based in Ipswich and studied fashion design at the London College of Fashion before spending 28 years across sales and entrepreneurship, did not set out to take on Facebook, TikTok or X. The idea, he says, came to him in a dream. "Maybe subconsciously I'd been thinking about it," he reflects, "cause I do have young sons and it is scary that a tool that should be used to learn, develop and collaborate, is in so many cases being used for everything but." Development began in July 2025, when Ajadi returned home from his father's funeral in Nigeria. Within eight months, the app was live on iOS and Android — built by a team that, he is keen to note, bought into the idea from the start. "The team are amazing, and the great thing is they bought into the idea and are driven for its success," he says. ## What makes it different The central insight behind ReAktu is that most social media platforms are built around engagement at any cost — and the quickest route to engagement, as billions of users have discovered, is conflict. ReAktu has tried to make conflict structurally harder. Direct replies to other users' comments are disabled. Each user gets one response per topic. Nobody can pile on. The algorithm does not reward outrage. Instead, users engage through reactions, topic participation and an engagement points system designed to reward contribution rather than confrontation. Topics — drawn from current affairs, entertainment, sport, technology and lifestyle, and generated by a mix of AI and user submissions — run for 72 hours before resetting, though topic creators can extend their own discussions. Users control what they see and from whom, with the ability to block accounts and filter content to their stated interests. "We created ReAktu because millions of people have stopped sharing what they really think online," Ajadi says. "Not because they have nothing to say, but because the cost of having an opinion has become too high." ## Innovation over prohibition ReAktu arrives at a moment when governments around the world are reaching for the bluntest available tool: age bans. Australia moved to restrict social media access for under-16s in 2024, and similar proposals have circulated in the UK and United States. Ajadi sees the logic as protective — remove young people from a harmful environment. But he is not convinced that prohibition is the right answer. "I personally don't think a blanket ban is necessary," he says. "There is so much good that could be gained from social media if it is used in the right way. The majority of the issues and responsibilities lie with the various social media platforms. They need to show they care and actually should do more, not to reward negativity, chaos, division and hate, but instead, remove and ban them." He points out that some young people are already using these platforms constructively. "There are 16s and under that are using these platforms in the right way and are actually making a living or a difference to society." Social media, as a concept, turned 25 this year. It is, in many respects, still a teenager itself — powerful, influential, and not yet sure what it wants to be. Ajadi's argument is that the platforms, not the users, bear the greater responsibility for what it has become. ## The ambition behind the app Ajadi is not thinking small. His short-term target is 50,000 registered users by the end of September 2026\. The longer-term vision is to compete with the major platforms, reach more than 50 million users, and become, as he puts it, "the UK's answer to the likes of Facebook and TikTok." "We are agile, fluid, we are ready to listen to our users, and we are willing and able to work with all aspects of society," he says. Whether a self-funded startup built in Ipswich can genuinely challenge platforms with hundreds of millions — or billions — of users remains to be seen. But the frustration that Ajadi is tapping into is real. Research consistently shows that heavy social media use is associated with increased anxiety, particularly among young people, and that platform design plays a significant role in driving harmful behaviour. The idea that the problem might be fixable through better design, rather than bannable through legislation, is gaining traction in academic and policy circles. ## The bottom line Social media has had years to sort itself out. For many users — and for one Ipswich entrepreneur — it has not come close. By removing the mechanics that make online arguments so addictive and damaging, ReAktu is hoping to bring people together rather than push them apart. ReAktu is available to download on iOS and Android. Find out more at [reaktu.com](https://www.reaktu.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£108 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich teen to drum alongside global artists URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-teen-to-drum-alongside-global-artists/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T08:06:33.000Z **Why it matters:** The bursary means Darell, who is originally from Zimbabwe, will play drums alongside internationally touring artists and other students at the two-day event on 29 and 30 August 2026. **The details:** Darell is studying for an A Level in Sound Engineering at Kesgrave High School. His bursary is delivered through Rhythm with Roots CIC, the sister organisation of Wooden Roots. The organisation first met him at an end-of-year student event at Ipswich Academy in summer 2025. **What they are saying:** Wooden Roots Experience founder Marcus Brown said: "From the moment we met Darell during an end of year student event at Ipswich Academy in summer 2025, we noticed his natural musicality and curiosity about West African traditions were unmistakable. "Since then Darell has shown himself to be engaged, community-minded, and eager to learn – embodying everything the Rhythm with Roots bursary stands for. We're delighted to award him a place at the Wooden Roots Experience, and believe his skills and leadership will ripple outwards to inspire many more young people." Darell added: "I'm thrilled to be part of the Wooden Roots Experience as a bursary student. I can't wait to learn more about the drums, the rhythms and culture during the weekend! It means a lot to be awarded the bursary as it'll help me improve my practice, meet people like me and to have a great time!" **The bigger picture:** The weekend brings together students who already work with Rhythm with Roots CIC, including teachers, school children and young people from Ipswich and East Suffolk. A number of bursary places are offered to support those who might not otherwise be able to attend. **The big picture:** The event offers traditional West African djembe drumming and dance classes supported by live drumming. It is supported by Arts Council England and Britten Pears Arts. **The bottom line:** A bursary has earned one Ipswich teenager a place at an international drum and dance weekend in Suffolk, playing alongside musicians who tour the world. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### How Jimmy's Farm is giving Ipswich students a start in media URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-jimmys-farm-is-giving-ipswich-students-a-media-start/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T08:05:06.000Z **Why it matters:** The partnership is giving Suffolk New College students hands-on experience in TV and media – work that students say is reshaping how they think about their futures. **The details:** Jimmy Doherty and his team became an industry partner of Suffolk New College last year, committing to work on a minimum of three student-led projects annually. One of those programmes has seen three media students take up placements with Doherty and his team since February, working in the marketing department and creating social media content. Two of them worked on the ITV show "Jimmy and Shivi's Farmhouse Breakfast", produced by Rock Oyster Media, and the students also starred in a TikTok video with TV chef Ainsley Harriott. **What they're saying:** Chloe Smith, 17, said the placement had changed her career plans. "Since doing this I have realised that I want to get into marketing – rather than going into TV," she said. Niamh Doyle, 17, worked on social media content featuring the farm's animals. "We have been doing lots of social media with the animals – working with the Jimmy's Farm marketing team," she said. "It has given me more opportunity to explore different areas." Ruby Gooden, 18, worked on the TV show and appeared in the TikTok video with Ainsley Harriott, and said the placement could lead to further work. "I guess potentially this might lead to a job (with Jimmy's Farm) – it's all about who you know in this industry," she said, adding: "It made me way more confident." **From the farm:** Lauren Dodman, head of visitor experience at Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park, said: "It's been great to work with the students, they have been a real help with our socials and they have integrated well into the team," she said. Jimmy Doherty added: "The students have been fantastic and it's a real pleasure to work and support Suffolk New College and their students." **The bottom line:** Through partnership, Jimmy's Farm is giving Suffolk New College students a working foothold in TV and media – experience that is already helping them decide where their careers might go next. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The 18-year-old turning community spirit into action URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-18-year-old-turning-community-spirit-into-action/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T08:11:13.000Z **Why it matters:** Logan's event, taking place on Saturday, 29 August, at Inspire Suffolk on Lindbergh Road, Ipswich, will raise money for a local charity that helps young people across Suffolk build confidence, skills and brighter futures. Kick-off is at 14:30. **The details:** The event is family-friendly and open to the whole community. Tickets must be booked in advance — you cannot simply turn up on the day. - Under-18s: £5 - Adults: £10 - Family ticket (two adults and two children): £22 Booking fees apply. Local businesses are also invited to support the event through sponsorship of players' kits. **What they're saying:** His mum, Clare Lucas, said: "As a parent, you spend years trying to teach your children confidence, initiative and resilience. Watching him turn an idea into reality has been incredibly special. I'm just helping him join the dots. He is the one making it happen. "Looking back to that bike ride and seeing the young man he has become, I'm incredibly proud. His desire to help other people has never changed." **For context:** Logan first made local headlines at 13 after completing a London to Brighton cycle ride in tribute to family friend Billy Hookway, who died from liver cancer at 36, leaving behind his wife and four young daughters. Due to a longstanding liver condition, Billy had been unable to obtain life insurance before his diagnosis. Logan took on the challenge alongside Billy's friends and family, and the fundraising effort ultimately helped raise £100,000 to support Billy's wife and children. Now 18, Logan approached Inspire Suffolk himself and has taken ownership of organising the event from the ground up. **The bottom line:** Tickets are on sale now at Inspire Suffolk's website. Whether you are coming to watch or just want to support a young man putting his community first, this is one afternoon well worth your time. [Book your tickets](https://www.ticketsource.com/inspire-suffolk/ipswich-charity-football-match/e-jpmbrr?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### When will The Thrasher reopen, and what's changing? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/when-will-the-thrasher-reopen-and-whats-changing/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T08:28:44.000Z **Why it matters:** The Hungry Horse pub will be shut for several weeks while renovation works take place. It is expected to reopen in July. **The details:** The works will include an interior refresh with new furniture and décor, upgraded TV screens and sound systems showing Sky Sports and TNT Sports, and the installation of a self-serve coffee machine. Outside, the pub's garden will receive new furniture and additional seating, updated signage, festoon lighting and a refreshed children's play area. **What's new:** When the pub reopens, it will open from 09:00 each day and introduce a breakfast menu. Greene King says it also plans to introduce a programme of events including live music, open mic nights, karaoke and quiz nights. **The bottom line:** The Thrasher will be closed for the remainder of June while works take place, with a reopening expected in July. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'A culture of inclusion pervades the school': Alderwood Academy earns strong Ofsted ratings URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a-culture-of-inclusion-pervades-the-school-alderwood-academy-earns-strong-ofsted-ratings/ Last updated: 2026-06-11T14:23:28.000Z **Why it matters:** The inspection, carried out on 28 April 2026, was Alderwood's first under the renewed Ofsted framework. The academy, which is part of the Raedwald Trust, supports pupils who have a range of vulnerabilities and are all identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities — many of whom have missed significant periods of education or previously faced the risk of permanent exclusion. **The details:** Alderwood Academy, on Raeburn Road, received strong standard ratings — the second-highest grade available under Ofsted's new inspection framework — in three of six areas assessed: attendance and behaviour, inclusion, and leadership and governance. The remaining three areas — achievement, curriculum and teaching, and personal development and wellbeing — were rated at the expected standard. Safeguarding standards were also met. Ofsted inspectors praised the school's "vigilant culture" around attendance, noting that systems for recording, analysing and reviewing attendance are precise, and that swift action is taken when barriers to attendance are identified. The report states this "has resulted in a notable improvement in attendance and engagement of nearly all pupils." On inclusion, the report found that leaders have put in place "highly effective systems to identify pupils' needs even before they start with the school," producing detailed plans and drawing on checks at the trust's assessment centre, home visits and discussions with professionals. **What they're saying:** Headteacher Tom Baker said: "The recent Ofsted inspection at Alderwood was both positive and supportive. It was recognised that we support some of the most vulnerable young people within our community. "Something all staff should be extremely proud of is that Ofsted recognised that our culture of inclusion pervades the school." The Ofsted report was equally complimentary about the leadership team, stating: "Leaders at all levels show a clear moral purpose to secure the best possible outcomes for pupils. This ambition is evident in the consistent and skilful leadership practice seen through the school. Leaders know the school and each pupil very well. They use detailed monitoring and accurate analysis to identify what they are doing well, and what needs development." Angela Ransby, chief executive officer of the Raedwald Trust, added: "We are extremely proud of the staff and students at Alderwood Academy, and the recent Ofsted report reflects much of what we already know and appreciate about Tom and his team. "With this vindication and a subsequent spring in our step, staff will work to ensure that Alderwood continues to be a hub for young people to thrive in ways they may never had previously thought possible." **What's next:** Ofsted's one area for development asks leaders to ensure that the curriculum for pupils on each pathway is consistently well matched to their needs, so that they develop secure knowledge and are well prepared for their next stage. **The bottom line:** Alderwood Academy's first inspection under the new Ofsted framework reflects a school with a strong sense of purpose — one quietly doing important work for some of Ipswich's most vulnerable young people, and doing it well. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Popular Portman Road cake stall granted trading licence URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/popular-portman-road-cake-stall-granted-trading-licence/ Last updated: 2026-06-11T12:10:30.000Z **The details:** Ipswich Borough Council's licensing committee voted unanimously to approve the application. Daniel Fuller, of The Travelling Teapot, will be able to trade just outside the Cobbold Stand for two hours before and after each home fixture, selling cakes, bakes and pastries. Fuller has been a regular feature at home games since last December, when he began trading on a temporary licence. Officers told members the stall had been successful since it was set up, with no issues reported. **What they're saying:** Cllr Inga Lockington said it would be a "nice alternative" to what was already provided on matchdays. **The bottom line:** The Travelling Teapot is now a permanent fixture of the Portman Road matchday experience. While next season will be anything but a slice of cake for Town, at least supporters can enjoy one before and after the game. 📝 ****Note from the editor:** They do a very good chocolate brownie. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The Suffolk factory making the 'shells' that house the UK's warehouses and data centres URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-suffolk-factory-making-the-shells-that-house-the-uks-warehouses-and-data-centres/ Last updated: 2026-06-11T11:52:03.000Z **Why it matters:** Assan Panel, part of Turkish industrial group Kibar Holding, officially opened its first UK manufacturing facility at Gateway 14 near Stowmarket on Wednesday, 11 June, marking a £45 million investment that will create 105 skilled jobs in Suffolk. **What they make:** Insulated sandwich panels are, in simple terms, a high-performance protective shell for buildings. They form the walls and roofs of warehouses, logistics centres, food production sites, cold storage facilities, data centres and hospitals — the kind of structures that underpin everyday life, from next-day deliveries to the servers that power the internet. The panels improve energy efficiency, reduce heating and cooling requirements and support faster construction. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, buildings and construction account for around one third of global energy demand and more than one third of energy-related carbon emissions. **By the numbers:** The Gateway 14 facility has the capacity to produce up to 4.5 million square metres of insulated panels each year — enough to supply around 450 large warehouses, factories or distribution centres annually, or cover more than 630 football pitches. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Assan-Panel-Factory-5.jpg) Assan Panel factory at Gateway 14 (Photo: Assan Panel) **Why Suffolk?** Gateway 14, located within Freeport East, offers strong transport links and proximity to the Port of Felixstowe — the UK's busiest container port — providing direct access to domestic and international markets. The site also gives Assan Panel access to skilled local talent and key supply routes. Ihsan Tolga Akar, managing director of Assan Panel UK, said: "The opening of our first UK manufacturing facility is a major step for Assan Panel and Kibar Holding. The UK is an important strategic market for our business, and this investment allows us to manufacture closer to our customers, strengthen supply chains and support customers as they invest in the next generation of industrial and commercial buildings. "We are proud to be creating skilled jobs in Suffolk and contributing to the next generation of industrial and commercial buildings that will support economic growth across the UK." **What they're saying:** Daniel Zeichner MP, UK trade envoy to Türkiye, said the investment was "exactly the kind of high-quality, forward-looking investment we want to see, supporting advanced manufacturing, strengthening supply chains, and contributing to a more sustainable built environment." Steve Beel, chief executive of Freeport East, said the opening was "a major vote of confidence in Suffolk and in Freeport East," adding that projects like this were helping establish the area as "a growing centre for advanced manufacturing, innovation and international trade." **The bigger picture:** Assan Panel exports to more than 85 countries and has a global production capacity of 22 million square metres a year across facilities in Türkiye, Jordan and Azerbaijan. The Suffolk plant is the company's fourth manufacturing site and its first outside its existing markets. Haluk Kayabaşı, group chief executive of Kibar Holding, said: "With an investment of £45 million, Assan Panel is now positioned to serve the United Kingdom and neighbouring markets with direct access and significant logistical advantages." **What's next:** Assan Panel says it plans to develop partnerships with local suppliers, colleges, universities and training providers as part of its long-term ambitions for the UK business. **The bottom line:** A product most people have never heard of is now being manufactured on Suffolk's doorstep, and the buildings it creates are the backbone of modern industry. For Suffolk, the factory represents 105 new skilled jobs and a significant vote of confidence in the county as a destination for international manufacturing investment. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Why football players cut their socks and the local medical innovation it inspired URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/why-football-players-cut-their-socks-and-the-local-medical-innovation-it-inspired/ Last updated: 2026-06-11T10:25:26.000Z Carl Brown has spent the better part of 40 years designing products. He has also spent the better part of 40 years managing type 1 diabetes. It took an observation during an England football match to bring those two threads together, and set him on a decade-long journey that has ended with a certified medical device, a growing roster of professional athletes, and ambitions to take a locally born brand worldwide. ## The moment it clicked "I saw the players had cut slots into the back of their socks," Brown recalls. "I thought it looked a bit scruffy, then after I did a bit of research, I found out they do this for airflow and to increase the performance." Brown, who is from Ipswich but now based in Needham Market, and has worn hospital compression socks throughout his adult life, began to wonder whether the same principle could be built into a sock from the outset — not as a bodge, but as a design feature. "I realised that if I developed a product that performed the same function as these player-modified socks but added airflow into the design, it could be a really useful product." That product is now Air-Tec Wear. ## Forty years of uncomfortable socks To understand why Brown pursued this idea with such determination, it helps to understand what traditional compression socks actually feel like for the people who need them most. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/ipswich-co-uk-air-tec--1.jpg) Carl Brown of Air-Tec Wear (Photo: Air-Tec Wear) "I've been a diabetic for around 40 years now and have had to wear hospital compression socks many times," he says. "They can be extremely uncomfortable and leave red marks on the wearer's legs. If I see red marks on the legs, I think that can't be helping blood flow." Hospital-supplied compression socks typically come in one size and offer little flexibility. For diabetics, whose circulation is already compromised, that aggressive squeezing can move from uncomfortable to genuinely painful — and potentially counterproductive. As you'd expect from any self-respecting designer, Brown's response was not to complain, but to design his way out of the problem. ## Building a better sock The result is a bamboo-and-Coolmax blend sock featuring a patented V-shaped breathing mechanism with integrated holes that allow 360-degree airflow. Unlike the rigid tubes that pass for compression socks in most hospital wards, Air-Tec Wear socks can stretch to 21 inches in diameter, delivering what Brown describes as natural compression alongside continual airflow — keeping muscles soft and blood flowing freely. The V-shape of the breathing holes is not just an aesthetic choice. "Even if sportsmen are wearing the socks and fold them halfway down, all the breathing holes will still line up," Brown explains. "This is a huge advantage over other socks. Traditional compression socks do not aid airflow and can theoretically slow down recovery." In practice, the same features that make the socks bearable for a diabetic patient make them attractive to a professional athlete. The overlap between medical need and sporting performance turns out to be larger than you might expect. ## From design to device Getting from idea to certified product took close to a decade. The process of registering Air-Tec Wear as a class 1 medical device under European Medical Device Regulations (EU 2017/745) — giving it the right to carry the CE mark — took around five months alone, and came at a significant cost. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/ipswich-co-uk-air-tec-293.jpg) Air-Tec Socks are now registered as a medical device (Photo: Air-Tec Wear) "One of the biggest hurdles was the financial cost of registering Air-Tec Socks as a medical device," Brown says. "That in itself was a very big challenge, but the process was also incredibly time-consuming. It feels like a real moment of celebration that they are now officially registered." The certification matters because it is not simply a label. It represents a formal determination that the product meets the safety and performance standards required of a medical device — a bar that many consumer wellness products never attempt to clear. Before that milestone, Brown put the socks through trials at both Ipswich and Colchester NHS hospitals, where several hundred patients wore them. More than 100 feedback questionnaires have been returned so far, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive. Some clinical staff, Brown notes, have started wearing the socks themselves. ## The athletes The socks have also found a following among professional athletes in Ipswich's well-established boxing scene. Fabio Wardley, Issiah Hamilton-Allen, Paul Gordon, and Rio Gordon are all wearing Air-Tec Wear. Former Town player Luke Woolfenden told Brown the socks "keep his legs refreshed and greatly aid recovery." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-30-at-08.43.46-1.jpeg) Woolfy in his Air-Tecs (Photo: Luke Woolfenden) Brown makes no secret of his pride in the local connections. He describes himself as "Ipswich Town born and bred," having had his own box at Portman Road for several years, and has released a limited-edition run of 'Ipswich Blue' sports socks to mark the club's recent promotion to the Premier League. All orders are posted from central Ipswich. "I have many connections in the local boxing scene and am keen to support the fantastic athletes that Ipswich has a proud tradition of helping develop," he says. ## What comes next Brown's ambitions for Air-Tec Wear are not modest. "Air-Tec Socks are going to be worldwide," he says, "and diabetics and other people suffering from thrombosis and other leg pain conditions will be able to lead much more comfortable lives. Athletes at all levels will be able to enhance their performance by wearing Air-Tec Wear socks." For a man who spent decades noticing a problem that affected him directly, and then quietly set about fixing it, that confidence feels well-founded. ## The bottom line Carl Brown watched an England match, spotted something, and then spent nearly ten years turning that observation into a certified medical device. It is the kind of story that is easy to underestimate — a sock, after all, is hardly the stuff of headlines. But for the hundreds of NHS patients and professional athletes already wearing them, and for the many more diabetics Brown hopes to reach, the difference between a sock that works and one that does not is anything but trivial. The full Air-Tec Wear range is available at [air-tecwear.co.uk](https://air-tecwear.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£68 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Could this little-known law be the key to unlocking the regeneration of Ipswich's town centre? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/could-this-little-known-law-be-the-key-to-unlocking-the-regeneration-of-ipswichs-town-centre/ Last updated: 2026-06-10T08:25:55.000Z Walk through Ipswich town centre on any given day, and the empty units are impossible to miss. Shuttered shopfronts, faded letting boards, windows papered over or left bare. Nationally, one in every seven high street shops now stands empty — a vacancy rate of 13.5% across England, according to government data. In some parts of the country, it is closer to one in five. Ipswich is far from immune. The former Debenhams building on Westgate Street — one of the most prominent retail sites in the town centre — has sat vacant since the department store closed in 2021\. The Ancient House on the Buttermarket, one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Suffolk, has been empty for years. The Buttermarket is littered with empty units. These are not obscure backstreet units. They are the kind of properties whose vacancy shapes the entire perception of a town. "For too long, towns like Ipswich have had to put up with boarded-up shops and empty units dragging down our high streets and holding back local growth," said Jack Abbott, the MP for Ipswich. "High streets are at the heart of life in Ipswich — they should be places where people work, shop, socialise and build local pride." ## A law most people have never heard of In 2023, the government quietly introduced a new power that could change the equation for towns like ours. High Street Rental Auctions — HSRAs — were brought in under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act and give councils in England the ability to auction the lease of commercial properties that have been vacant for more than a year, opening them up to new businesses, community groups and organisations at market rents. But three years on, those powers have yet to be used by the council. The process is more nuanced than it might sound. Before a council can act, a property must have been unoccupied for at least 12 continuous months, or for at least 366 days within a two-year period. The council must also be satisfied that bringing the property back into use would benefit the local economy, society or environment — a condition that, in a town centre context, is rarely difficult to meet. Once those conditions are satisfied, the council serves notice on the landlord, who then has eight weeks to find their own tenant. If they fail to do so, the auction process begins. The whole process, from first notice to a new tenant signing a lease, takes between 22 and 24 weeks. Support our journalism ****Someone has to ask why these shops are still empty** This is the kind of local accountability journalism that rarely gets done in Ipswich, digging into the laws, the council decisions, and the political choices that shape life in Ipswich. It takes time and money (lots of it!) to produce. Your membership – at just £4.75 per month – keeps it free for everyone. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) Crucially, the landlord retains significant rights throughout. They can make representations on the terms of the tenancy, choose between valid bids, and appeal against the process on several grounds, including if they have genuine plans to redevelop or occupy the property themselves. The scheme is designed to be a lever of last resort, not a blunt instrument. "Our high streets are ecosystems — and vacant shops are bad for business," said Communities Secretary Steve Reed. "Through High Street Rental Auctions, we are reducing vacancies by helping councils to force landlords to rent out empty shops — stamping out boarded-up shops and getting businesses back in." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4590.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4591.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4592.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4594.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4596.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4604.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4605.jpeg) How many of these units could be subject to HSRAs in the future? (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ## Does it actually work? The honest answer, for now, is: sometimes, and modestly. The government has been working directly with 12 early adopter councils, and a total of 66 long-term vacant units have been brought back into use nationally — a figure that reflects the early stage of the scheme rather than its ultimate potential. But there is at least one compelling proof of concept. In Harworth and Bircotes, a small town in Nottinghamshire that was among the first to implement the powers, the vacancy rate fell from 11% to 3% in the first year of enforcement. That is a remarkable turnaround, and one that the government is keen to replicate. "Just imagine if we could replicate that on every high street," said Reed. The scheme is not without its limits. Large former department stores subject to complex redevelopment plans may be unsuitable. Properties with serious structural issues — dangerous structures notices, combustible cladding, significant damp — are likely to be outside its scope. And the process only works where there is genuine demand from prospective tenants; a council cannot conjure interest where none exists. ## What it could mean for Ipswich On Monday, 9 June, the government announced a £10m expansion to the HSRA programme, providing councils with additional refurbishment grants and support to widen their use of the powers. It was an announcement that Jack Abbott welcomed warmly — and that appeared to land at a significant moment for Ipswich. Ipswich Borough Council confirmed to Ipswich.co.uk that it has been monitoring the early adopter programme closely and that proposals for the use of HSRAs in Ipswich will be presented to the council's Executive shortly. Those proposals will include recommendations for designating a relevant area and a plan for community engagement. The council says it is already monitoring vacant units in the town centre and holds data sufficient to satisfy the vacancy and local benefit conditions required before any auction can proceed. It is understood that the council is actively exploring the use of the powers in relation to at least one specific vacant unit, though they won't confirm which unit that is. Councillor Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "I welcome the Government announcement to provide additional funding for local authorities to bring properties back into use through the use of High Street Rental Auctions. I'm looking forward to presenting proposals to the Council's Executive for the use of High Street Rental Auctions in Ipswich that will remove the blight of long-term empty town centre property and open up opportunities for these spaces to be used by new tenants at an affordable cost." The council, it says, has also been working with property owners to secure improvements to the exterior of vacant buildings where their condition is affecting the wider street scene. Though again, how and where is unclear. ## The question of council-owned properties There is an intriguing complication in all this. The Ancient House on Buttermarket — one of the town's most prominent vacant properties — is owned by Ipswich Borough Council itself. As is the former Little Waitrose building. High Street Rental Auctions are designed to give councils powers over private landlords who are failing to fill their properties. Whether those same powers can, or should, be applied to a council-owned building is a question the legislation does not answer. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4593.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4595.jpeg) The Ancient House and former Little Waitrose building are both owned by Ipswich Borough Council (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) It is a point worth watching as the council's proposals take shape. If the council process results in HSRAs being used only for privately owned units while council-owned vacancies remain unaddressed through separate mechanisms, the town will reasonably want to understand what those mechanisms are — and when they will deliver results. ## What they will not change HSRAs are not a silver bullet. They sit alongside a broader set of regeneration tools, and the government has been clear that engagement with landlords should always come first. Many landlords, the guidance notes, are proactive and want to fill their properties; the auction process is intended for those cases where cooperation has broken down or simply never materialised. Should the purchase of the former Grimwades building have fallen through, this, perhaps, would've been one such instance. It would be a mistake, however, to treat High Street Rental Auctions as a cure for all that ails Ipswich town centre. The powers address one specific problem — landlords who are not letting their properties — but they cannot touch the deeper structural forces that have made trading on any British high street so difficult in recent years. Those forces are considerable. The cost of living crisis has squeezed consumer spending, with households across Suffolk cutting back on discretionary purchases in ways that have hit independent retailers and hospitality businesses particularly hard. At the same time, the cost of running a business has risen sharply. The National Living Wage increased by 4.1 per cent in April 2026 to £12.71, a rise that — however justified — has added significantly to the wage bills of the small businesses that high streets depend upon. Employer National Insurance contributions rose in the same month, adding further pressure. Energy costs remain substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels, look set to rise again courtesy of Donald Trump's conflict with Iran, and continue to weigh on margins for shops, cafes and restaurants alike. The result is that even businesses with access to affordable space may struggle to make the numbers work. An empty unit brought back into use through an HSRA is only a success story if the business that moves in is able to survive — and right now, survival is not guaranteed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Town-centre.jpeg) Jack Abbott on Tavern Street in Ipswich (Photo: Office of Jack Abbott) "This is part of a wider plan to restore pride in Ipswich and make sure people can see real change in their local area," Abbott said. "Our town has huge potential, strong communities and a generation of young people who deserve opportunity, investment and ambition for the future." But Abbott must do more – a lot more – to make clear to his government the impact its policies are having on our private sector and local economy. ## The bottom line HSRAs can open doors. They cannot guarantee that what lies behind them will thrive. But the powers exist. The funding is there. The council appears, for the first time, to be ready to act. What Ipswich needs now is not another announcement, but action — new businesses opening in units that have been empty for years, and a town centre that starts to feel like somewhere people want to be again. HSRAs will not fix everything, and they will certainly not fix it quickly. But in a town that has been waiting a long time for its high street to turn a corner, even one auction, one reopened shopfront, one new business where there was previously a boarded-up window, would be a start worth celebrating. Support our journalism ****Someone has to ask why these shops are still empty** This is the kind of local accountability journalism that rarely gets done in Ipswich, digging into the laws, the council decisions, and the political choices that shape life in Ipswich. It takes time and money (lots of it!) to produce. Your membership – at just £4.75 per month – keeps it free for everyone. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£162 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich cannot regenerate its town centre while treating its car parks as a cash machine URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-cannot-regenerate-its-town-centre-while-treating-its-car-parks-as-a-cash-machine/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T13:51:56.000Z Next week, the council's Executive will consider proposals to raise parking charges across its off-street car parks and on-street bays – again. Short-stay rates would rise from £1.60 to £1.70 per hour. All-day parking would go from £7.50 to £8.00\. The justification, as ever, is meeting "inflationary cost pressures." The proposals are forecast to generate an additional £194,000 per year for the council – but at what cost to our local economy? The council needs the money. Everyone understands that. But understanding a decision is not the same as accepting that it reflects the right way of thinking about parking — and few think it does. ## **The question the council is not asking** Every year, the parking review asks the same question: how much should we charge? What it never asks is: what is our parking actually for? The Association of Town & City Management, a not-for-profit membership body that supports those who manage high streets, town centres and city centres, and the British Parking Association, a not-for-profit association providing a leading membership community to support *parking* and traffic management professionals across the *UK*, are explicit on the point. Their guidance states that parking policy "cannot be viewed one-dimensionally as a simple revenue source for local authorities" and that "revenue generation should not be the exclusive objective of parking provision in the town centre." If charges damage the viability of the town centre, they warn, the knock-on effect on the council's own resources will follow. And here lies the frustration. Parking should be viewed strategically through the lens of economic growth, not fiscally through the lens of how much money we can make. Ipswich Borough Council's parking reviews contain no assessment of what its charges mean for town centre footfall, dwell time, or consumer spend. It compares Ipswich with Cambridge and Norwich — cities with objectively stronger retail and leisure offers, better public transport, and a fundamentally different relationship with their visitors — and concludes that Ipswich is not the most expensive, so the increase is defensible. It isn't. It is the wrong comparison entirely. Ipswich's town centre does not compete with Cambridge or Norwich. It competes with Copdock, Ransomes and Martlesham, which offer free parking that is easily accessible as standard. ## **What the evidence actually says** I'll be careful here, because the evidence on parking and town centre health is more complicated than people give it credit for, and the instinctive response from traders, that cheaper parking equals more customers, is not as well-supported as many assume. Research by Mingardo and van Meerkerk, analysing data from 80 Dutch urban centres, found a positive correlation between higher parking fees and retail turnover per square metre — not a negative one. Studies in Edinburgh, Bristol, and London town centres consistently show that retailers overestimate both the proportion of their customers who arrive by car and the weight those customers place on parking costs when deciding where to shop. Yes, it's old, but a 1995 Edinburgh study found that while 51% of retailers cited parking as their top concern, shoppers ranked it well below the quality of the retail offer, pavement width, and pedestrian priority. Free parking trials in Aberdeen, Herford in Germany, and Oslo showed little or no increase in footfall and in some cases reduced space turnover, with workers rather than shoppers claiming the freed-up spaces. The dogma that "no parking, no business," as one major study put it bluntly, "is not correct." None of this is an argument for unlimited price rises. The same body of research is also clear that mid-range and smaller town centres — the category Ipswich sits in — that charge above the national average relative to their retail offer have recorded above-average footfall decline. The evidence does not say charge as much as you like. It says charge strategically, relative to the offering people are parking for, with a clear sense of what you are trying to achieve. That is precisely what Ipswich is not doing. ## **The council already knows how to do this** The £2.70 after-2pm offer — soon to become £2.80 — principle is sound: use pricing to incentivise behaviour, in this case drawing visitors into the town centre during the afternoon and evening when footfall would otherwise be lower. The proposed trial extension to Saturdays and Sundays at Crown car park applies the same logic to weekends. Whether it works is not something the council has published data on, and, as is so often the case, the council does virtually no marketing of it, but the thinking behind it is right. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/dato-fg_mIYW6TNWu7t75s0JTsw-1775138960753-2.jpg) Crown car park in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Which makes the gap between that initiative and the rest of the council's parking strategy all the more puzzling. If differential pricing can be used to shape behaviour on weekday afternoons at one car park, why is that logic not applied more broadly? Why is the default position still "a little more, across the board, every year"? ## The bottom line The British Parking Association sums it up: "The only universal answer is that local authorities and other operators must develop a plan for parking provision that faces up to the question, 'What and who is our parking for?' and complements a wider strategy for accessibility." Ipswich does not have that plan. It has an annual tariff review and a hole in its budget to fill. The council should scrap its price increase next week. It should also commit to developing a proper parking and accessibility strategy — one that starts from the town centre's economic needs, not its budget requirements. Until parking is treated as a lever for growth rather than a source of revenue, we will be having this same conversation again next June, and the June after that, and the June after that. ℹ️ Opinion pieces represent the views of the author and not those of Ipswich.co.uk. They are intended to contribute to public debate by presenting a clear point of view, supported by evidence, on issues that matter to our community. We welcome responses and alternative perspectives — if you would like to write for us, get in touch via editor@ipswich.co.uk. ### Ipswich breakfast clubs invited to enter £1,000 awards URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-breakfast-clubs-invited-to-enter-1-000-awards/ Last updated: 2026-06-10T07:26:06.000Z **Why it matters:** A win brings a £1,000 cash grant for the breakfast club plus the chance to be celebrated at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament — recognition for the staff and volunteers behind it. **The details:** Applications close at midnight on Friday, 29 June 2026\. Schools across the East of England are invited to showcase their breakfast club and the staff, volunteers and pupils behind it. Kellogg's will recognise winners across eight categories this year, including six regional awards for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, South England, Central England and North England. **What's new:** For the first time, a Breakfast Club Star Award will celebrate a pupil who consistently shows enthusiasm, kindness and commitment at their club. Schools are asked to put forward a pupil they feel deserves the title, with the winner named at the ceremony and invited to share what breakfast clubs mean to them. **What they're saying:** Andrew Ridge, social impact manager at Kellogg's, said: "We've been supporting breakfast clubs for nearly 30 years, so we understand the important role they play for children and families across the UK. "Every morning, schools are creating safe, welcoming spaces where children can enjoy breakfast, build friendships and start the day ready to learn. The positive impact these clubs have is made possible by the passion and commitment of the teachers, support staff and volunteers behind them. "We are looking forward to hearing from schools again this year and recognising the people and pupils who help make these clubs so special." **What's next:** Winners will be revealed at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, where schools will have the chance to share their stories in front of MPs and leading industry figures. Previous winners include Southbury Primary School in Enfield, named Kellogg's Breakfast Club of the Year 2025, and Stranraer Academy in Scotland. **The bottom line:** This is a chance for Ipswich schools to champion their breakfast club and the people behind it — and to put a standout pupil in the running for £1,000 and recognition at the Houses of Parliament. [Enter competition here](https://kelloggconsumeraffairs.my.site.com/survey/survey/runtimeApp.app?invitationId=0KiVt00000GerM9&surveyName=uk%5Fbreakfast%5Fclub%5Fawards%5F2026&UUID=b7f78ffb-8b96-4d43-99e0-731c214f9b54&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich Town chairman surprises 550 pupils at Gusford Primary URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-town-chairman-surprises-550-pupils-at-gusford-primary/ Last updated: 2026-06-09T15:32:05.000Z **The details:** Ashton was joined by club mascots Bluey and Crazee as he delivered an assembly to the school's 550 pupils as part of Blue Day Monday, a fundraising event in support of Ipswich Town and the local community. The school used the occasion to raise money for local charities, including the Lentonbrook Foundation, which was founded by Ashton. **What they're saying:** "I was delighted to visit Gusford Primary School to surprise the kids as part of their Blue Day Monday celebration," Ashton said. "I am so grateful to the kids for supporting not only Ipswich Town and the local community but also my Lentonbrook Foundation." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/EDE6AAF9-07C2-4686-BACF-47698F2846D4.JPG) Mark Ashton with the trophy (Photo: ITFC) Ashton also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the school's outgoing headteacher. "I also want to congratulate Mr Tapley on his time at Gusford Primary as headteacher," he said. "He goes above and beyond for the children and the local community, and I wish him all the best for the future." **The bottom line:** A day to remember for Gusford Primary's pupils, raising money for local charities while getting a surprise glimpse of the trophy that capped Ipswich Town's remarkable return to the Premier League. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Over 1,000 Suffolk families missing out on £1m in Healthy Start payments URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/over-1000-suffolk-families-missing-out-on-1m-in-healthy-start-payments/ Last updated: 2026-06-09T15:15:34.000Z **Why it matters:** The Healthy Start Scheme provides prepaid support for essentials including milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula during pregnancy and a child's first four years. **The details:** Each eligible family can receive around £1,000 over that period, with families with more than one young child potentially receiving several thousand pounds. Suffolk has made significant progress on uptake, with the proportion of eligible families claiming the support rising from 50% in 2022 to 77% in 2024\. But with more than 1,000 families still not claiming, an estimated £1 million over four years remains unclaimed across the county. From April 2026, weekly payment rates have increased to: - £4.65 per week for those who are more than 10 weeks pregnant - £9.30 per week for children under one year old - £4.65 per week for children aged one to four years Payments are added to a prepaid Healthy Start card every four weeks and can be spent at supermarkets, convenience stores and market stalls. **What they're saying:** Councillor June Mummery, cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, said: "I am pleased to see payments for the Healthy Start Scheme increase, giving families even more support during those crucial early years. However, we know there are still many eligible families in Suffolk who are missing out. We would strongly encourage anyone who thinks they might qualify to check and apply — this support can make a real difference to both family budgets and children's health." **Who qualifies:** The scheme is open to those who are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, and who are receiving certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Pregnant under-18s may also qualify regardless of benefit status. Eligible families can also collect free Healthy Start vitamins from Suffolk Family Hubs. **What's next:** Suffolk County Council is working with district and borough councils across the county to raise awareness of the scheme. Some eligible residents may be contacted directly by their local council. To check eligibility and apply, visit [www.healthystart.nhs.uk](https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or call the Healthy Start helpline on 0345 607 6823, where translation services are also available. [Learn more](https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### College students win top two in national massage competition URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/college-students-win-top-two-in-national-massage-competition/ Last updated: 2026-06-09T15:15:16.000Z **Why it matters:** Nina Van-Staden, 19, from Hadleigh, and Amy Hunt, 17, from Harwich, beat 15 students from colleges across the UK to claim first and second place at the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) annual skills contest. **The details:** The pair travelled to Blackpool at the end of May, where they had 30 minutes to complete a back massage with a pre-cleanse and exfoliation. Their work was then judged by industry experts. Nina placed first, with Amy coming in second. **What they're saying:** "Once we were all set up it was quite calm. I think we did well. I'm really happy," said Nina. Amy added: "It has given me confidence. It's very exciting. I guess technically we are one of the top two masseuses in the country. It's been a big opportunity for us." Hayley McGlone, curriculum co-ordinator for hair and beauty therapy at Suffolk New College, supported the students before and during the competition. "To place top two in this national competition makes me very proud. They worked really hard and it's nice to see them rewarded," she said. **What's next:** Nina and Amy will next compete in WorldSkills, an international competition that organises national and world vocational contests culminating in a "Skills Olympics"- style event held around the globe every two years. The competition will take place at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College at the end of June. McGlone added: "We now have high expectations ahead of WorldSkills. Fingers crossed they can get to the national finals." **The bottom line:** Two students from Suffolk New College have been recognised as the country's top massage practitioners, and with WorldSkills at the end of June, Nina and Amy now have the chance to make it onto the world stage. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Council set to increase town centre parking charges again URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-set-to-increase-town-centre-parking-charges-again/ Last updated: 2026-06-09T12:23:47.000Z **Why it matters:** If approved, the changes would affect drivers using council-run car parks across the town centre, including Bond Street, the Crown multi-story, Elm Street, Regent, and Upper Orwell Street, as well as on-street bays on roads including Museum Street, Russell Road and Sir Alf Ramsey Way. It will also likely be met with much criticism from businesses that already feel parking charges in the town centre are too high. **The details:** The council's Executive is due to consider the proposals on 16 June, with the new tariffs proposed to come into force on 20 July 2026. - Short-stay car park charges would rise from £1.60 to £1.70 per hour, with a five-hour stay increasing from £8.00 to £8.50. - Long-stay car park rates would also go up by 10p per hour, with all-day parking rising from £7.50 to £8.00 – an increase of £130 per year for those who park and work in the town centre five days per week. - On-street parking bays would see equivalent increases, with the first hour rising from £2.50 to £2.60 and a three-hour stay going from £5.90 to £6.20. - Season ticket holders would also be affected, with annual Monday-to-Friday permits rising from £1,403 to £1,496, and all-week permits increasing from £1,485 to £1,584. - Resident season tickets at Cobbold Street and Richmond Road car parks would rise from £371 to £396 per year. **The after-2pm offer:** The council's £2.70 after-2pm weekday offer — which allows drivers to park for the rest of the day for a flat fee — would be rebranded as the "£2.80 after 2pm" offer. The council says it intends to retain the offer to "support" town centre retail and the leisure sector, including visits to theatres, cinemas, restaurants and swimming pools. A trial extension of the after-2pm offer to Saturdays and Sundays at Crown car park is currently underway. The council's Executive is being asked to delegate the decision on whether to make the weekend trial permanent, following the end of the trial period on 28 June 2026. **Parking at Portman Road:** The council is also asking the Executive to authorise the inclusion of a new multi-storey car park at Portman Road in its Off-Street Parking Places Order when it opens. The Portman Road multi-storey is due to be constructed and open for use in 2028, subject to planning consent, and would be set at the same tariff as other long-stay car parks. **For context:** The council says the increases are necessary to meet rising costs associated with managing parking services. The changes to off-street charges are expected to generate an additional £176,000 per year, while on-street increases would bring in a further £18,000 annually. A report going before the Executive notes that, despite the proposed rises, Ipswich's short-stay rates remain cheaper than those in Cambridge, Norwich and Colchester, though comparing parking with Norwich and Cambridge will be viewed by many as an apples-and-oranges comparison. Some privately operated car parks in the town — including Blackfriars on Foundation Street and St Matthews off Bedford Street — currently charge less than the council's proposed rates. Blue badge holders would be unaffected by the proposed changes: they are entitled to three hours' free parking in the council's short-stay car parks (except Crown) and are exempt from charges and time limits in on-street bays as a legal requirement. **The bottom line:** Ipswich drivers face another hike to town centre parking costs from late July if the council approves the proposals, with most charges rising by 10p per hour, with the decision likely to be met with criticism from town centre traders. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Fundraisers aged 12 to 82 brave the drop for Ipswich Hospital URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fundraisers-aged-12-to-82-brave-the-drop-for-ipswich-hospital/ Last updated: 2026-06-09T15:44:37.000Z **Why it matters:** The annual Extreme Abseil, sponsored by Eastern Lift Services, saw more than 160 participants take on the 135ft descent down the hospital's iconic tower over two days in support of Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, with many raising funds specifically for the Time Garden Appeal. **The details:** The Time Garden Appeal aims to transform an unused courtyard at Ipswich Hospital into a peaceful and accessible space for patients receiving end-of-life care and their loved ones. Among those taking part were members of the Seeds of Hope group, who completed the challenge in memory of their friend Dave Eaton from Debenham. [The abseil Em turned down — and the one they will notLast year, Em Nicholls had the chance to abseil down Ipswich Hospital alongside their dad. They turned it down. Months after Matt completed the challenge, he died suddenly — and now Em is preparing to step over the edge in his memory.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-c959d7c4-d7ad-4415-a763-ff422d04d8bd.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Em-with-mum-Vicki-who-in-June-will-do-the-Extreme-Abseil-in-memory-of-their-dad--Matt-Nicholls.-1-1e72ec97-98fe-4ca8-ae77-bb781f14c48a.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-abseil-em-turned-down-and-the-one-they-will-not/) [‘He’d be so proud’: Local student to abseil Ipswich HospitalA student from Martlesham will abseil down Ipswich Hospital to honour the grandad she lost two years ago, using her experience to help other families this Dying Matters Awareness Week.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-7fa63ddc-42e4-46b9-9245-1da8044af671.png)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1x1-full-image--44--3-d5359f10-ec12-420b-beec-35423f3b4832.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hed-be-so-proud-local-student-to-abseil-ipswich-hospital/) **What they're saying:** Sarah Corner from the Seeds of Hope support group said: "We wanted to support the Time Garden Appeal in memory of Dave, who sadly passed away. Dave was a much-loved member of our community, and taking part in the Extreme Abseil felt like a fitting way to honour him while raising money for a cause that means so much. "This is just the start for us. We have lots more fundraising planned throughout the year, and we're proud to be supporting a project that will leave a lasting legacy for patients and their loved ones." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Adele-Hart-Seeds-of-Hope.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Ashwin-Bhatt---Rainbow-Paharmacy-Ipswich.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/ESNEFT-Midwife-Annie-Atkinson---Steward.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Freya-Walton-Phillips-18-abseiling-after-completing-her-a-levels.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Izaak-Farrington---Seeds-of-Hope.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Kevin-Flory-ESNEFT-Sterilizer-Engineer.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Terry-Ovenall---ESNEFT-Directorate-Adminstrator.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Eastern-Lift-Services-Team-that-took-on-the-tower.jpeg) Those who braved the drop (Photos: Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity) Gavin Lamb, corporate and events fundraising manager at Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, said: "What an incredible weekend. Every person who stepped over the edge of the tower showed tremendous courage and determination, and the amount raised is simply phenomenal. "The money raised will make a real difference to patients and families across our hospitals. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part, donated, volunteered or supported the event in any way." **The bottom line:** With participants ranging from 12 to 82 braving the height and the elements, this year's Extreme Abseil was a testament to the community spirit that makes events like this so powerful — and the funds raised will help create a lasting legacy for patients and families at Ipswich Hospital. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### A travel writer from The Independent just fell for Ipswich – it's time more of us did the same URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/a-travel-writer-from-the-independent-just-fell-for-ipswich-its-time-more-of-us-did-the-same/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T13:52:05.000Z Boobbyer spent her time in Ipswich doing what anyone can do. She took a boat trip on the Orwell. She ate well at the Bistro on the Quay, the Greyhound and Crafty Fox. She wandered through the Saints, browsing independent shops, got close to Constable at Christchurch Mansion, and found herself in The Church with a beer in hand, toasting England's oldest town's ability to surprise her. None of this is secret. None of it is new. It has been here all along. The waterfront that Boobbyer describes as feeling "like being on the Mediterranean" in summer is the same waterfront many residents write off as half-finished. The music scene that draws a journalist from a national newspaper is the same one that locals sometimes talk about as if it barely exists. The architecture — 600 listed buildings, Tudor gates, pargeted façades, a six-storey folly on the Orwell — is the same backdrop against which some choose to see only what is missing. Sure, Ipswich has its challenges. No one who lives here is blind to them. The high street has its struggles, and not every corner of the town reflects the best of what it has to offer. But there is a difference between honest acknowledgement and the habitual self-deprecation that some Ipswich residents have made a kind of identity. But while they have been busy shrugging their shoulders, shaking their heads and furiously typing away on Facebook, a travel writer from The Independent has been on the Orwell, soaked up the sun on the waterfront, enjoyed some of our brilliant pubs and restaurants, and can't wait to come back. She saw what this town is. It is time more of us chose to see it too. ### County Council demands 'cast-iron' policing assurances in response to Henry Nowak murder URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/county-council-demands-cast-iron-policing-assurances-in-response-to-henry-nowak-murder/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T10:25:03.000Z **Why it matters:** The letter, signed by council leader Cllr Michael Hadwen and all eight cabinet members, asks Chief Constable Rachel Kearton for "clear and unequivocal assurance" that nothing resembling the failures now under investigation in Hampshire could happen in Suffolk. It raises serious questions about police training — including guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) — and demands that preserving life remain the overriding priority for officers in all circumstances. **The details:** The letter, dated 5 June 2026, was sent in response to the release of body-worn camera footage by Hampshire Police in connection with the Henry Nowak case. The cabinet describes the footage as "deeply distressing" and says it raises "the most serious questions about the judgement, priorities and the response given by the police to a person clearly in need of help." Hadwen writes: "The fact that any police officer could place a higher priority on responding to an allegation of racism than on providing immediate, life-saving medical assistance is utterly abhorrent to me, to my Cabinet colleagues and to many people across our county." **What they're asking:** The cabinet is seeking assurances on several specific points, asking Kearton to confirm that: - All training within Suffolk Constabulary — including equality, diversity and race awareness training — is "subordinate to and fully consistent with the overriding duty of officers to protect life" - Training consistently reinforces threat-to-life assessment, victim safeguarding, domestic abuse risk assessment, intelligence handling and supervisory decision-making - Every individual receives "the same standard of service and protection, regardless of the colour of their skin or the religion they follow" **What they're saying:** "Our residents must be able to trust that, in Suffolk, when somebody is in clear medical need or at immediate risk, the response of public authorities, including the police, will be guided first and foremost by the preservation of life, the protection of wellbeing and the exercise of sound professional judgement," the letter states. The cabinet adds: "No officer should feel inhibited from acting to protect life because of concern about how that action may later be interpreted through a political or ideological lens." **For context:** The Nowak case has become one of the most politically charged events in British public life in recent years. Henry Nowak, 18, was murdered in Southampton in December 2025. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years. Body-worn camera footage released by Hampshire Police showed officers arresting and handcuffing Nowak as he lay bleeding, and failing to provide immediate medical assistance — prompting national outrage and a fierce political debate about police decision-making and the role of race in policing. The case has been seized upon by politicians across the spectrum, with Nigel Farage and Reform UK using it to advance claims of "two-tier policing," while others have warned against using the family's tragedy to inflame tensions. Nowak's family have called for calm reflection and has said they want answers and accountability — not a divisive debate about race. **The NPCC guidance question:** The letter also raises concerns about guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs' Council following the murder of George Floyd in the United States, which the cabinet says promoted the view that racial equality "does not mean treating everyone the same" or being "colour blind." The cabinet asks Kearton to confirm that this concept "has been fully rejected within Suffolk Constabulary, and that it has been clearly and formally withdrawn from operational interpretation." **What's next:** The cabinet says it would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter further with Kearton, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Police and Crime Panel "at the earliest opportunity." **The bottom line:** Suffolk's Reform UK administration has sent a direct and formal challenge to the county's chief constable, demanding cast-iron assurances on police training and the prioritisation of life-saving duties — and asking pointed questions about national policing guidance it believes may have complicated officers' decision-making in critical situations. The failures that prompted the letter took place in Hampshire and have no direct connection to Suffolk Constabulary. Suffolk Constabulary has been approached for comment. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£41 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Local businesses raise £20,000 for EACH and Ipswich Town Foundation URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/local-businesses-raise-20-000-for-each-and-ipswich-town-foundation/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T09:51:58.000Z **Why it matters:** The money will support two organisations with deep roots in the local community — EACH, which provides lifelong care for bereaved and non-bereaved families, and Ipswich Town Foundation, the charitable arm of Ipswich Town Football Club, which works to improve health, skills and opportunities for people across Suffolk. **The details:** The tournament, held on Tuesday, 3 June, at Portman Road, brought together 12 teams from across the business community, including Associated British Ports, Barnes Construction, BUUK United, Denbury Groundbreakers, EACH, Killik, OCS, One Group Construction, Untypical Anglia/Hopkins Homes and Ipswich Town Foundation. One Group Construction took home the winner's trophy, while Jack Wass from Killik & Co was crowned player of the tournament after finishing as top goal scorer. **What they're saying:** Oliver Crichton, partner in Birketts' commercial real estate team, said: "We were delighted to host our annual charity football tournament at Ipswich Town and raise more than £20,000 for the Ipswich Town Foundation and EACH – both local charities doing incredible work in our community. It was a real treat to sample the Premier League facilities, including the immaculate Portman Road playing surface." Barnes Construction Associate Director, Damien Kerry, who played in the tournament, said the firm was "delighted" to be involved. "The afternoon was really well organised by our hosts, and whilst we didn’t manage to bring home any silverware, it gave some of our staff the great thrill of being on the hallowed turf at Portman Road," he said. He added that the firm supports the tournament "due to the tremendous charitable contribution it generated for charities close to home and our hearts". One of those charities is EACH. Anna Bruce, EACH's senior corporate fundraiser for Suffolk and East Essex, said: "We're incredibly grateful to Birketts for organising this fantastic tournament at Portman Road. The generosity, enthusiasm and community spirit shown by everyone involved was inspiring, and every pound raised will help us continue delivering vital care and support to children, young people and families across East Anglia." Noah Britnell, fundraising and partnerships officer at Ipswich Town Foundation, added: "We were delighted to be selected as one of the chosen charities of this fantastic event, which raised vital funds to be reinvested into the local community." **The bottom line:** A competitive but good-spirited afternoon at Portman Road has translated into £20,250 for two charities doing vital work across Suffolk and East Anglia. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### HMO plans for fire-hit St Helens Street buildings refused URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hmo-plans-for-fire-hit-st-helens-street-buildings-refused/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T09:40:05.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee voted 10 to one on Wednesday to refuse the application for the St Helens Street buildings, overturning a recommendation for approval from planning officers. **The details:** Hamilton Chase Investments Ltd sought permission to convert the buildings into a 16-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), with the demolition and replacement of several extensions also forming part of the scheme. Planning officers said that although there was already an over-concentration of shared homes in the area, bringing a vacant, fire-damaged building back into viable use tipped the scales in favour of the development. **What they're saying:** Helen Taylor, speaking on behalf of the applicant, told the committee the conversion was the only viable option and described it as an ideal opportunity to provide accommodation for young people who could not afford their own home. Cllr Adam Rae said the council's restrictions existed for a reason and called the plans "just nonsense." Cllr Colin Kreidewolf said that while renovating the buildings would be positive for the area, it would not improve the lives of residents. **For context:** In 2024, Ipswich Borough Council approved extra restrictions on converting homes into HMOs in order to control their number across the town. **The bottom line:** The fire-hit buildings on St Helens Street remain vacant and without a clear path back into use after councillors rejected the only scheme put forward. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Charity funding round opens for youth employability projects URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/charity-funding-round-opens-for-youth-employability-projects/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T08:06:21.000Z **Why it matters:** The Persimmon Charitable Foundation is offering a total of £150,000 — split across three grants of £50,000 each — to registered charities working with young people aged 14–25 in areas of economic and social deprivation. **The details:** Applications opened on Monday, 1 June, with a deadline of 23:59 on Sunday, 21 June. Successful applicants will be announced in September. To be eligible, projects must focus on employability and support children and young people aged 14–25 in areas of economic and social deprivation. **For context:** The foundation was set up in 2015 to support communities in which Persimmon Homes operates. It launched its open application programme in 2025 to allow more charitable organisations to access its funding. This year, a total of £300,000 is available across two rounds — six grants of £50,000 each. In May, Hamara Healthy Living Centre in Leeds, Newcastle United Foundation and The Benjamin Foundation in Norfolk each received £50,000 after applying to the first round. **What they're saying:** Anthony Vigor, chair of the foundation, said: "We want to improve outcomes for young people, and particularly those not in education, training or employment. If your charity is focused on supporting employability, we encourage you to apply." **The bottom line:** Suffolk-based charities working to help young people into employment have until 21 June to apply. Visit the Persimmon Charitable Foundation website for more information or to apply. [Apply here](https://www.persimmonhomes.com/corporate/foundation/open-application-programme/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Dragon boat festival raises record £60,000 for Brave Futures URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/dragon-boat-festival-raises-record-60-000-for-brave-futures/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T07:41:52.000Z **Why it matters:** The total raised at Brave Futures' 7th Annual Dragon Boat Festival is enough to fund specialist support for 30 children and young people over the course of a year — the charity's biggest single-day fundraising haul to date. **The details:** Teams battled changeable conditions throughout the day, with the weather swinging from rain and strong winds to bursts of sunshine. Two boats capsized during the racing, though all involved were quickly recovered safe and well. The thrilling final came down to three teams — Ipswich Buses, Harwich Haven Authority and Rose Builders — with Harwich Haven Authority claiming the Dragon Boat Champion title. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-49.jpg) Harwich Haven Authority were crowned winners (Photo: Kev Bennett/Kev Bennett Imagery) **What they're saying:** Sandra Lucas, engagement and fundraising officer at Brave Futures, said: "To raise £60,000 in a single day is simply incredible. Every team, sponsor, volunteer and supporter played a part in making this happen. That funding can help 30 children and young people access the specialist support they need to feel safe, heard and empowered. Behind every pound raised is the opportunity to transform a young person's future." **The bigger picture:** The event was sponsored by Cory Brothers, with spectators also treated to performances from Lion Dancers, Samboomba Samba, Ipswich Town Football Club and Suffolk Police, creating a festival atmosphere on the waterfront. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-3.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-9.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-10.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-13.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-14.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-16.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/Dragon-Boat-Festival---HR-25.jpg) Shots from the day (Photos: Kev Bennett/Kev Bennett Imagery) **What's next:** Planning is already underway for next year's festival, with the charity hoping to make an even bigger splash in 2027. **The bottom line:** Despite the unpredictable weather, Brave Futures' dragon boat festival has delivered its most successful fundraising day ever, with every penny going towards specialist support for some of the most vulnerable young people in the region. *To find out more about Brave Futures and its work, visit* [*bravefutures.org*](https://bravefutures.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk)*.* --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk businesses lobby Tory leader on A14 and jobs costs URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-businesses-lobby-tory-leader-on-a14-and-jobs-costs/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T07:54:55.000Z **Why it matters:** The A14 and Orwell Bridge were among the key issues raised at the meeting, held at the House of Commons on Monday, 1 June, as pressure continues to grow on politicians of all parties to address Suffolk's chronic road network problems. **The details:** The lunchtime meeting, sponsored by Nick Timothy, MP for West Suffolk, brought together representatives from more than a dozen organisations, including Associated British Ports (ABP), the University of Suffolk, Anglian Water, Greene King, Network Rail, BT Adastral Park, Sizewell C, Turners, Tattersalls and Ukrspecsystems. Topics discussed included the Employment Rights Act (ERA), the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), Agricultural Property Relief (APR), Business Tax Relief (BTR) and the wider cost burden on businesses. **What they're saying:** John Dugmore, Suffolk Chamber's chief executive, said: "Suffolk Chamber is very grateful to Nick Timothy for facilitating this important opportunity and to Kemi Badenoch for both giving us so much of her time and her clear, keen interest in and support for the businesses." Nick Timothy MP said: "Kemi and I were delighted to meet and listen to such an impressive range of Suffolk businesses. Companies like these are the backbone of the British economy – creating jobs, driving growth and investing in their communities." Paul Simon, head of public affairs at Suffolk Chamber, described it as "one of the most high-powered business delegations that Suffolk Chamber has had the privilege of convening in recent years," adding: "Every single businessperson achieved a lobbying bullseye in raising an issue of maximum importance to Suffolk's business community." **The key asks:** Suffolk Chamber has since followed up the meeting with a list of policy recommendations for the Conservative Party's ongoing review. These include: - A cross-party national infrastructure plan spanning multiple electoral cycles, covering road, rail, connectivity and utilities, with the A14, Orwell Bridge and the Ely and Haughley rail junctions specifically highlighted. - Continued opposition to changes to APR and BTR, which the Chamber said are causing "considerable concerns and damage". - A reversal of the planned extension of the UK ETS to the maritime sector from July 2026, which would bring ports and domestic shipping into scope. - A programme to systematically reduce the tax burden on businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), ahead of the next general election. - Continued engagement with businesses on the unintended consequences of the ERA, particularly around guaranteed hours in the hospitality sector. **The bottom line:** Suffolk's business community used a rare direct audience with the Leader of the Opposition to press its case on the issues that matter most locally — from the A14 to farm taxes — and says it will continue lobbying for pro-business policies across all political parties. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### University of Suffolk launches three new Master's courses this autumn URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/university-of-suffolk-launches-three-new-masters-courses-this-autumn/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T07:22:19.000Z **Why it matters:** The courses aim to address skills shortages in key sectors, offering a route to careers within social care, digital marketing, and mental health therapy. **The details:** From September, postgraduate students will be able to enrol on the MA Social Work, MSc Digital Marketing and Data Analytics, and MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) courses. The two-year, full-time MA Social Work combines academic study with professional placements. It is open to those with an undergraduate social work background, those already working in health and social care, and career changers. Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with Social Work England. Dr Kwabena Frimpong-Manso, course leader for MA Social Work, said: "We know there continues to be a need for social workers in the sector, and consistent with other healthcare professions where we have been developing the future workforce, our Social Work programmes will help meet this industry need." The one-year, full-time MSc Digital Marketing and Data Analytics is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Data and Marketing Association. Modules are delivered over one weekday evening per week plus two weekend days, helping students balance study with existing commitments. Claire Maddy, course leader for MSc Digital Marketing and Data Analytics, said: "Employers are increasingly seeking graduates who can work confidently with analytics, AI and modelling, so our course has been designed to ensure our students have the technical understanding and practical skills to fulfil these needs." The part-time, two-year MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy — an evolution of the existing MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Counselling programme — covers the key principles of CBT practice, therapeutic skills and identifying treatment goals. Cindy Cassidy, deputy course leader for MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, said: "The demand in the UK for cognitive behavioural therapy remains consistently high, and is an important tool in both private and NHS talking therapies." **Also launching:** In addition to the three Master's courses, the university is also introducing a new four-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree from September, which features an integrated Master's. Facilities for the course — including a mock dispensary, clinical skills suite, and new labs — are currently under development. **The bottom line:** The University of Suffolk is expanding its postgraduate offering to help fill skills gaps in social care, digital marketing, and mental health — with courses designed to be accessible to those already in work. Applications are open now, though all three courses are subject to validation. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New Murray Road play area opens with horse racing theme URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-murray-road-play-area-opens-with-horse-racing-theme/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T07:21:44.000Z **Why it matters:** The new facility, part of Ipswich Borough Council's £3.5 million play area strategy, provides an inclusive and accessible space for children aged one to 14. **The details:** The play area has a horse racing theme, with equipment including a one-of-a-kind Suffolk Punch horse, a starting block with binoculars, a show jumping trail, a winner's podium and a racetrack. - Inclusive features include a wheelchair-accessible carousel, braille alphabet and number panels, and sign language learning features. - A dedicated communication panel has also been installed to support children who may find verbal communication challenging, allowing them to express themselves by pointing to symbols. **What they're saying:** Councillor Stefan Long, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sport, said: "I'm delighted to see the new play area at Murray Road Recreation Ground now open for families to enjoy. This fantastic new space gives children more opportunities to get outside, be active and use their imagination. "The horse-themed equipment is a wonderful way to celebrate the history of this site, helping children connect with the past while having fun. It's also important that this play area has been designed to be inclusive, so children can play happily together." **The bottom line:** Local children now have a new place to run, climb and play — designed for all abilities and rooted in the story of the ground it stands on. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Fans flock to Ipswich's Waterfront for Ed Sheeran performance URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/fans-flock-to-ipswichs-waterfront-for-ed-sheeran-performance/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T09:58:46.000Z **Why it matters:** Sheeran announced the appearance on his Instagram story the day prior, and drew crowds to the area outside of the University of Suffolk and The Mix Cafe. **The details:** Fans packed the Waterfront, some arriving as early as 07:00, to watch Sheeran perform his biggest hits, with crowds pressing against barriers as police escorts and security kept order. Residents looked on from their balconies, and university students hung out of windows to catch a glimpse of the performance. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1357.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1377-2.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1393.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1402.jpeg) **The big picture:** Some fans had travelled significant distances to be there. "I woke up at literally 4am coming from west London, took the train, went to Liverpool Street just to be here," said one fan. **What they're saying:** The reaction from those who attended was overwhelmingly positive. "Seeing him give back to the community, in a way which is completely free, for everyone to see, is really spectacular," said one attendee. Another simply described the experience as "thrilling". **For context:** The performance was linked to Orange Amps as part of their "Play It Home" campaign. **The bottom line:** For one day, one of the world's most famous musicians came home — and Ipswich turned out in force to welcome him back. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the volunteers keeping Ipswich's high street alive URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-volunteers-keeping-ipswichs-high-street-alive/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T10:30:34.000Z Volunteers' Week is an annual UK campaign that takes place during the first week of June. Now in its 42nd year, it exists to recognise the contribution volunteers make to charities, organisations and communities across the country – and to encourage more people to get involved. In Ipswich, that contribution is visible on almost every high street. Walk down the town centre on any given day, and you will pass a string of charity shops, each one run by people who turn up, roll up their sleeves, and work a full shift without taking home a penny. ## 'They mean everything to us' At the British Heart Foundation on the high street, assistant manager Grace is clear about what volunteers mean to the organisation. "They mean everything," she says. "We couldn't do the job without them." The tasks volunteers carry out are as varied as the people doing them. Sorting donations, tagging clothes, staffing the till, keeping the shop floor tidy – it all falls to a team that gives its time freely. Grace is keen to reassure anyone thinking about getting involved that there is no need to feel daunted. "Everyone fits right in," she says, "because we're one big family." For volunteer Christina, the feeling is mutual. After retiring, she wanted a reason to get out of the house and stay connected to people. She found it behind the till at the British Heart Foundation. "You get the same customers coming back all the time," she says, "so it's quite nice." Christina is one of a remarkably broad volunteer base. She says ages range from young people to those well into their 80s – a reminder that this kind of community contribution has no age limit. ## Six years and counting A few streets away at Oxfam, Amy has been volunteering for six years. She started out looking for work experience and a way back into employment. What she found was considerably more. "It gives you a purpose in life when you've not got anything to do," she says. "You meet new people." Over six years, Amy's role has grown substantially. She now handles stock management, locking up and cashing up – responsibilities that go well beyond what many might expect from an unpaid position. "It's big duties," she acknowledges, "and it's unpaid." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1x1-full-image--44--copy.png) Amy and her partner whom she met while volunteering (Photo: Layla Al Bukhari) The skills she has built up are just as impressive. "People skills, retail skills, even admin skills," she says. "A lot of experience, really." She has also taken on the responsibility of training new volunteers, and her advice to anyone starting out is straightforward: "Don't be afraid to ask for help – and enjoy it." Amy is clear about what volunteering has given her that she could not have found elsewhere. "I've gotten loads of new experience I wouldn't have got anywhere else." ## The view from the other side of the till Not everyone in Ipswich's charity shops is there to volunteer. Some are loyal, enthusiastic customers – and they have their own perspective on why these shops matter. Trudy and Gavin are regulars. The husband and wife have built up what Trudy describes as genuine connections with the volunteers they see week in, week out – the kind that lead to running jokes, familiar faces, and the quiet comfort of being known. "It becomes a social dynamic," says Trudy. "You get to know people." Both are firm believers in the value of volunteering, even if they have not yet taken the plunge themselves. Trudy thinks the benefits run in both directions. "It's something that's equally important to the volunteers themselves," she says. "It makes them feel useful, and they know that they're giving back to society." Gavin is particularly enthusiastic about the impact volunteering can have on younger people. "Rather than sitting at home doing nothing, or playing video games all day, they're out, learning skills, making a difference." ## Beyond the shop floor The scale of volunteering in Ipswich and the surrounding area extends well beyond the high street. [East Anglia's Children's Hospices](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/east-anglia-s-children-s-hospices-each/) (EACH) has been among the organisations marking Volunteers' Week by paying tribute to those who give their time across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. Volunteers support the charity in its shops, at its retail distribution centre in Thetford, at fundraising events, in families' homes and at its hospices. "The contribution they make is truly invaluable, and we wouldn't be able to do what we do without them," said EACH chief executive Kevin Clements. "It's impossible to overstate the mammoth role they play within our organisation, and we're deeply thankful for everything they do." Suffolk Constabulary has also highlighted the role its volunteers play in keeping local communities safe. Last year, almost 352 volunteers contributed 43,000 hours of support across roles, including Special Constables, Police Cadets and Police Staff Volunteers. "Our volunteers bring energy, insight, and compassion to everything they do," said Inspector Justin Siggins, the force's citizens in policing lead, "and we are incredibly grateful for all they do to keep Suffolk safe." ## Ipswich leads the way Volunteering in Ipswich extends beyond charity shops and community organisations. The town holds a distinction few others can claim – it is the UK's first Town of Social Action, and at the heart of that is the [#iwill Movement](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/iwill-movement/), a national campaign championing youth social action. Suzanne Chung, Ipswich's Town of Social Action Engagement Lead, works with young ambassadors aged between 12 and 21, meeting them where they are and helping them build confidence, co-produce youth-led events, and access opportunities both locally and nationally. The results, she says, speak for themselves. [‘Ipswich is now my super power’ – young people take their town to WestminsterFour young iWill ambassadors from Ipswich travelled to Westminster on Tuesday to meet a government minister and share how youth social action is changing their town, with one telling Youth and Civil Society Minister Stephanie Peacock that being from Ipswich is now her “super power.”![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-567b3cc0-e088-4bc0-a0fb-708b2006427a.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/1780431971375-1-2109e873-bbc4-4d39-82c0-9ebf342cd622.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-is-now-my-super-power-young-people-take-their-town-to-westminster/) "We've seen young people who are typically very shy stand in front of a group of 60 students and publicly speak," she says. One ambassador has gone on to facilitate a hackathon with nearly 200 adult community and cultural leaders, and has since started their own mental health charity. Another has launched a consultancy business. For Suzanne, the key is ensuring that young people are genuinely at the centre of the work – not treated as an afterthought. "We're hearing the term 'youth-led' a lot more now," she says, "but we have to ensure that this is real instead of sticking a buzz word on it." ## The bottom line Ipswich's volunteers do not do it for the money – they do it for the community, for the connections, for the purpose it gives them, and sometimes simply because they walked in one day and never quite left. As Amy puts it, six years and counting: "It gives you a purpose in life." If you have ever thought about volunteering, this week is as good a time as any to find your local cause and introduce yourself. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£120 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich songwriter releases love letter to his hometown URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-songwriter-releases-love-letter-to-his-hometown/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T13:25:13.000Z Phil Jackson, described by Plunger Music as a "mercurial muso," has released his new song *Ipswich Town* on all major streaming platforms and via his Bandcamp shop. To celebrate the release, Jackson has organised a free event — dubbed "Celebrate Ipswich Town" day — at the Crafty Fox Cafe & Bar on The Walk, starting at 18:00 on Friday, 5 June. **The details:** The evening will feature local DJs The Pooter Boys, local singer-songwriter Charlie Law, and Ipswich storytellers Bards Aloud, alongside Jackson and friends performing live. The night will also include a charity auction, with proceeds going to local community charity Dora Brown, featuring items connected to Ipswich Town FC. **What they're saying:** Jackson said the song is "a love letter" to his hometown, adding: "We are christening the day 'Celebrate Ipswich Town' day — an event to spread the Ipswich love." **The bigger picture:** *Ipswich Town* is not the only recent musical tribute to the town. Local singer-songwriter Neil Hawes recently released *Chantry Boy*, described as a nostalgic, hyper-local indie folk track celebrating life on the Chantry estate, referencing local landmarks including Hawthorne Drive, Bellstead Arms, top shops and bottom shops. **The bottom line:** Whether you're a lifelong local or a recent arrival, tonight's free event at the Crafty Fox offers an evening of live music, storytelling and community spirit — all in honour of Ipswich itself. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich MP urges drainage review after Ipswich floods URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-mp-urges-drainage-review-after-ipswich-floods/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T07:26:03.000Z **Why it matters:** Abbott says there are significant numbers of blocked drains across Ipswich for which Suffolk County Council is responsible. He warns that heavy downpours are predicted to become more frequent due to climate change — making urgent action on drainage infrastructure essential. **The details:** Flooding was reported on Tuesday, 2 June, on Alnesbourne Crescent, Fore Street, Holywells Road, Maidenhall Approach, Nacton Road, Ransomes Way, Rope Walk, Spring Road and Wherstead Road. Motorists were left stranded, buses and emergency vehicles were diverted, and the road network faced significant delays. Abbott has written separately to Suffolk County Council leader Cllr Michael Hadwen and Anglian Water's Mark Thurston. In his letter to Hadwen, Abbott pushed back against the council's characterisation of the flooding as "localised", saying the widespread impact across the town demonstrated otherwise. **What they're saying:** "It is crucial that Ipswich's drainage infrastructure is working at full capacity to mitigate the risk of such flooding in future," Abbott wrote. "Unfortunately, this is not currently the case with significant numbers of drains that Suffolk County Council has responsibility for blocked across the town." He is requesting that the council commit to an immediate inspection of all surface drainage infrastructure in Ipswich and fix any defects identified as a matter of urgency. In his letter to Anglian Water, Abbott asked the company to identify all areas affected by Tuesday's flooding, review whether drainage infrastructure in those areas was working as designed, fix any defects as a matter of urgency, and design new schemes to increase capacity where systems were overwhelmed. **The bigger picture:** Abbott drew a pointed connection between the flooding and the new Reform-led administration at Suffolk County Council, which he said announced on the same day that it would repeal measures designed to combat such incidents. He said: "It is not lost on me and others that this flooding came on a day where your administration announced it was to repeal measures designed to combat these sorts of incidents." **What they're saying:** Cllr Hadwen said the council had already been taking action, pointing to "a significantly increased programme of drainage clearance compared with previous years." He welcomed Abbott's willingness to meet but added it "would have been more productive had he responded to my earlier requests to do so," and said he looked forward to understanding "what support and funding his government is prepared to provide to help address these issues in Ipswich." He added: "We will respond formally shortly, making clear the work already underway and our position. In the meantime, we remain committed to working with partners, including Anglian Water, to ensure our drainage systems are effective and resilient, particularly in the face of any extreme weather events." Anglian Water said it was continuing to monitor reports of flooding in the Rope Walk area and that there were "no issues reported on our sewer network." A spokesperson said: "Current indications suggest this is related to surface water drainage, and we'll continue to monitor the situation and liaise with relevant partners." The company did not respond to Abbott's broader requests regarding a town-wide review or capacity improvements. **The bottom line:** Abbott has asked both organisations to confirm their agreement and provide a timetable for completing inspections and any required works. Cllr Michael Hadwen said a formal response would follow shortly. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Man left bleeding in Ipswich town centre as 999 caller says help never came URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-left-bleeding-in-ipswich-town-centre-as-999-caller-says-help-never-came/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T07:14:22.000Z The East of England Ambulance Service says its clinician liaised with police but that without sufficient location detail, it was not always possible to safely dispatch a response. Police have no record of the incident. **Why it matters:** The incident raises questions about how emergency services respond when an injured person is mobile and has no fixed address — and what happens when neither service believes the situation falls within their remit. **What happened:** The caller says he first spotted the man at around 16:05 on Tuesday, 3 June, being soaked by the water fountains outside the Corn Exchange. He followed the man's footprints and found him entering businesses on St Nicholas Street and Queen Street. He made his first 999 call at 16:12, requesting both police and an ambulance. He says he was told on the call that, as the man had injuries, he should contact an ambulance — because police are not medically trained. He called 999 again shortly after to request an ambulance, but says he was repeatedly asked for a postcode before a crew could be dispatched. He looked up the postcode himself and gave IP1 1SW to the call handler. By his third call, at 16:26, the man had moved through several businesses — including Bella Napoli and a premises called Zest — and was last seen entering Sainsbury's before crossing to Tacket Street car park. "He's wandering around now bleeding and soaking wet and none of the services I called cared," the caller said. The caller says that at one point, while trying to keep the man in a fixed location inside Zest, he was escorted out of the premises by another customer. The man subsequently left and moved towards the Butter Market, before heading through St Stephen's Lane and into Sainsbury's. The caller says he relayed the man's changing location to both police and ambulance call handlers throughout, and that the final 999 call handler appeared "frustrated at the gap in care." **What they're saying:** An East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) spokesperson said: "Our priority is to get help to patients as quickly as possible, and call handlers are trained to gather the key information needed to do this safely. "We use a range of methods to identify location, including landmarks, mobile data and tools such as what3words. A postcode is helpful but not essential, and we will work with the best information available, including when someone is moving." The spokesperson added: "The ambulance service does not carry out area searches, as this is a police responsibility, though crews can be directed to a defined area if appropriate. In this case, police had already been contacted and our clinician liaised directly with them, in line with standard practice. Without sufficient location detail, it is not always possible to safely dispatch a response while ensuring the most urgent patients are prioritised." A spokesperson for Suffolk Constabulary said: "We can only see calls that are turned into CADs (where a police response is required). If there appeared no immediate threat to life or evidence of criminality, then the ambulance would likely have been deemed the service best suited to respond." But it didn't. **The bottom line:** A concerned member of the public spent more than 20 minutes tracking an injured, bleeding man through Ipswich town centre and made three 999 calls — but says no help arrived. Suffolk Constabulary said it was likely deemed a matter for the ambulance service, which didn't respond. It is not known how or when the man received the care he needed. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Life in Maple Park: Young voices and the missing mural URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/life-in-maple-park-young-voices-and-the-missing-mural/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T10:42:18.000Z Earlier this year, fifteen students aged between 11 and 12, from the Maple Park and Westbourne area, gathered as part of a workshop run by [Youth Voices Matter](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/youth-voices-matter/) — a youth-led community journalism project delivered in partnership by ICM and Ipswich.co.uk. They were being asked to do something that sounds simple, but rarely happens: to look at the place they come from and say, honestly, what they see. The students did not hold back. The whiteboard at the front of the classroom read: "Maple Park in one word." "Unsafe." "Boring." "Dirty." "Nothing to do." Among the responses, one stood out: a student describing Maple Park as a place defined by homelessness and visible drug addiction. Pointed out as a simple statement of fact — which is perhaps the most telling thing about it. These are children as young as 12 for whom the sight of people in the grip of addiction is normal enough to be the first thing that comes to mind when asked to describe where they live. However, from the same group, describing the same place: "Enjoyable." "Fun to play with friends." That contradiction — between the area some of them find unsafe and the one others find genuinely enjoyable — is not a confusion. It is what growing up in Maple Park actually looks like. ## What they see every day When the students were asked to think about stories worth telling from their area, one group went straight to drug use. Their focus, they said, should span the full range: "from alcohol to cocaine to crack and heroin." They wanted to help "prevent other people getting into this cycle" and to "warn people who don't know the area to be aware." One student brought up a story from home: a parent who had encountered a homeless person near the park and offered to buy them a drink, only to be told they did not want a drink. They wanted cash, for drugs. Another described being chased by "a crackhead". They are the kind of stories that do not appear in police reports or local authority project updates. It is the kind passed between families on the school run and quietly absorbed by children who are paying more attention than adults sometimes appreciate. ## What they want When the conversation shifted to what the students would like to see in Maple Park and the surrounding area, the responses were revealing in their range. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_0717--1--3-1.jpeg) Students from Westbourne Academy (Photo: Ipswich.co.uk) Some were ambitious. An escape room. An abandoned factory to explore. A portal, similar to the one in our town centre, connecting them to communities on the other side of the world — Japan, France, Greece, South America, China. Job trials. Some were modest to the point of being quietly sad. More swings. Somewhere to fish. A full-size football goal. Somewhere to chill. One request which generated much conversation was the concept of a "kids pub." It sounds unusual until you understand what the students meant — not alcohol, but a social space. Somewhere welcoming, somewhere with a table, somewhere that functions as a gathering place for young people who currently have nowhere particular to go. The feeling in the room wsa that there were things for young kids, things for over-18s, but nothing for those inbetween. The pub as a concept — a warm room, a community hub — is not a strange thing to reach for in a neighbourhood that once had one and no longer does. One student, asked what single thing they would change, wrote "more recreation areas." Another, answering the same question, wrote: "Monarchy" – which sent the group down a rabbit hole that included Donald Trump, Elon Musk and geopolitics. These students are not passive consumers of their environment. They are thinking about why things are the way they are. ## The missing mural Among the stories the students identified as worth telling, one group kept returning to the park's mural — or rather, to what has happened to it. In October 2022, a 100-metre mural was unveiled at Maple Park. Painted by Czech artist Jitka Schejbalova, it celebrated landmarks from 12 cities around the world. It was not an abstract artwork dropped on the community from outside — it had been inspired by original drawings created by students from Handford Hall Primary School in Maple Park. It was, in other words, a piece of public art that belonged to the people who lived here. Google Street View captured it in September 2023: vivid, colourful, wrapping around the wall behind the playground equipment at Stopford Court, bright against the grey of the surrounding streets. By the time the Youth Voices Matter project begun, it was gone. The hoarding it was painted on, installed in 2019, had reached the end of its life and was removed and replaced with an anti-climb green fence. The students in the workshop knew this history, in the way that young people who grow up somewhere always absorb its history. They knew the mural had been disappeared. They did not know why it had been removed rather than restored. Nobody, it seems, has told them — or anyone else. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1x1-full-image--44--2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/DSC00007.JPG) Maple Park 2023 vs Maple Park 2026 (Photo: Google Street View / Ipswich.co.uk) "They need colour in parks," the group said. "The lack of colour in the park makes the area dull, when it used to be lively." The students had clear ideas about what should happen next. Speak to Suffolk County Council. Speak to artists. Ask local people — children and teenagers — what they want on the wall. "Talk to people like artists," they said, "to see if they would like to get involved in putting a new mural up." It is worth asking why the mural was removed. It is worth asking who made that decision, and whether the community was consulted. And if the answer is that it was damaged beyond repair, the obvious next question is: what is stopping anyone from commissioning another one? ## The bottom line The young people of Westbourne Academy were not asked about Maple Park so that their answers could be filed away. They were asked because they live here, because they see it clearly, and because they know – more than anyone – what needs to change. Some of what they want will take time, money, and will: better facilities, more recreational space, somewhere for teenagers to belong. Some of it is ambitious enough to make you smile: a portal to Japan, a fishing lake of their own and an adbandoned factory for urban exploring. But the mural is neither of those things. It is a wall. It has held something beautiful before, built from the drawings of local children, and it could do so again. If there are artists, community organisations, or commissioners in Ipswich looking for a meaningful project, Westbourne Academy has fifteen young people with very clear views about what should go there. All anyone has to do is ask — and perhaps, first, explain why it was taken down in the first place. --- This feature is part of a series exploring life in Maple Park. It has been produced as part of Youth Voices Matter, a youth-led community journalism project delivered in partnership by Ipswich.co.uk and ICM, and part-funded by Ipswich Borough Council. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£147 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Sizewell C partners with Ipswich Town Foundation on youth programmes URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/sizewell-c-partners-with-ipswich-town-foundation-on-youth-programmes/ Last updated: 2026-06-04T07:28:46.000Z **Why it matters:** The partnership will deliver new education, mental health and personal development opportunities to young people and adults across the region, with at least two Ipswich Town first-team players set to make annual visits to Leiston as part of community initiatives. **The details:** The agreement will see Ipswich Town Foundation – the charitable arm of Ipswich Town Football Club – introduce its Premier League Primary Stars and Premier League Inspires programmes to Leiston schools, while extending both schemes to more schools in Ipswich. The three-year deal also includes: - Five free-to-access soccer schools per year in Leiston - Turn Up and Play football sessions for adults experiencing mental health-related challenges in Leiston and Ipswich - Health and wellbeing sessions for the Sizewell C workforce - Expansion of the Foundation's DIVERT outreach programme to another primary school in Ipswich **The bigger picture:** Since relaunching in 2019, Ipswich Town Foundation has been delivering programmes across Suffolk and its borders, reaching over 9,000 young people and vulnerable adults across 29 programmes each week. Its Premier League Primary Stars programme has already reached nearly 2,000 children in primary schools across Suffolk. Earlier this year, Sizewell C announced construction is underway on a new sports development at Alde Valley Academy in Leiston – including a FIFA-approved 3G artificial grass pitch and a multi-use games area for tennis, netball and basketball – which is expected to serve as a focal point for the new partnership. **What they're saying:** Nigel Cann, chief executive of Sizewell C, said: "Football is such a powerful way of reaching people and delivering life-changing opportunities. The Ipswich Town Foundation has been doing an incredible job improving lives and aspirations in this county for several years – and I'm delighted that we can support them to do even more. "By delivering educational programmes in our host town of Leiston, as well as extending their work in Ipswich, the Foundation could be transformational for lots of people here. It's going to be a really important partnership, and I can't wait to see the impact it's going to have in our region." Dan Palfrey, director of Ipswich Town Foundation, said: "Their investment in, and belief in, our work will have a hugely positive impact on young people and adults in Leiston and Ipswich over the next three years. We know how powerful football can be as a tool for engagement, allowing us to reach participants in a unique way and create meaningful outcomes through the power of Ipswich Town Football Club." **The bottom line:** The partnership brings together one of Suffolk's biggest infrastructure projects and the football club in a bid to expand education and wellbeing provision for young people in both Leiston and Ipswich over the next three years. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Free Ipswich Windrush festival reveals June line-up URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/free-ipswich-windrush-festival-reveals-june-line-up/ Last updated: 2026-06-04T07:27:37.000Z **Why it matters:** Caribbean people have been part of Ipswich's story since the Windrush era in 1948, and the annual festival — now in its fourth year — celebrates that heritage through music, food and community. **The details:** The day begins at 11:00 with a parade from the Clapgate Lane entrance, travelling via Landseer Road, Rands Way, Queens Way and Nacton Road, featuring steel drums and performances from local dance group MRD Dance. A full programme of live entertainment runs from 12:00 to 17:00, with an after party at The Golden Hind from 17:30. **The line-up:** This year's programme includes community gospel group IPCity Choir and reggae and soul vocalist Claire Angel, alongside DJs Immortal and Gemini Don and vocalists Olu and Carole Yvonne. **What they're saying:** Max Thomas, founder of the [Ipswich Windrush Society](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/ipswich-windrush-society/), said: "This event is about celebration, heritage, community and togetherness. Every year we see people from all backgrounds coming together through music, food and culture, and this year's line-up really reflects that energy. We want as many people as possible to come down, support the event and be part of something really special for Ipswich." **The bigger picture:** Organisers have expressed frustration after promotional banners placed around the town by volunteers were removed ahead of the event — the second year in a row this has happened. Thomas said: "It's incredibly frustrating for our volunteers, who give up their own time to help promote the festival and make it a success. Although we're trying to see the funny side and say they've become collectors' items, every missing banner impacts our ability to spread the word about this free community event." **For context:** Two days after the Landseer Park event, a further free celebration takes place on the Cornhill on Monday, 22 June from 12:00 to 16:30, delivered in partnership with the Suffolk Windrush Select Committee, featuring a live steel band, DJ sets and a marketplace of Caribbean food and local stallholders. **The bottom line:** Free to attend and open to all, Ipswich's Windrush 78 celebrations are taking place on Saturday, 20 June and Monday, 22 June, and promise good music, food and community spirit. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich community rallies around teen with rare life-limiting condition URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-community-rallies-around-teen-with-rare-life-limiting-condition/ Last updated: 2026-06-04T07:24:46.000Z **Why it matters:** Fourteen-year-old William Saul has MPS III A Sanfilippo — a life-limiting condition so rare that only 83 babies were born with it in the UK between 2010 and 2020\. As his condition progresses, he will lose his mobility and require a wheelchair. His parents, Sarah and Gareth, are determined he should remain at home with his family, but need to adapt their house to make that possible. **The details:** William, who was born in 2011, was diagnosed with autism just before his fourth birthday. Over time, his speech began to disappear and his behaviour became increasingly difficult to manage. In January 2022, his paediatrician recommended genome sequencing to test for any underlying conditions. The results came back on 4 August 2024, when the genetics team at Addenbrooke's Hospital confirmed he had MPS IIIA Sanfilippo — a metabolic disease affecting the brain and spinal cord, caused by a lack of an enzyme that breaks down heparan sulphate. There is no cure or treatment, only symptom management. William has since lost his speech and is living with childhood dementia, which will continue to decline alongside his physical mobility. To keep William at home, the family needs to install a through-floor lift, widen doors for a wheelchair, fit tracking for hoists, build a ramp and porch, and add a downstairs wet room. While the family is eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant of £30,000, this falls well short of what is needed. They launched a crowdfunding page on JustGiving to bridge the gap. "This is so that William can actually stay with us for the entirety of his life, which is what we want," Sarah said. "We don't want him going anywhere else." **Support from the community:** On Saturday, 23 May, The Flying Horse Café & Public House on Waterford Road in Whitehouse held a fun day in aid of William's fundraiser, raising £2,073.38. Sarah said the response had been "completely overwhelming." "Everyone was there to support our amazing son William, and seeing so many happy faces was just pure joy," she said. "We are so grateful to everyone who volunteered or helped to make the day so memorable. We would like to give special thanks to Sarah Williams and Sarah Battistetti for making this event happen." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1000236221.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1754521806-flying-horse-3.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1000236570.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1000236573.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/1000236223.jpg) Fun at the Flying Horse (Photos: The Flying Horse Café & Public House) **The Flying Horse:** The fun day was hosted by The Flying Horse Café & Public House — a community venue that has undergone a remarkable transformation since Sarah and Giulio Battistetti took over the lease in February 2024. The couple, who initially rented the upstairs to run an afterschool club, relaunched the pub after 18 weeks of refurbishment, turning what had been described as one of Ipswich's most troubled venues into a thriving family hub serving the Whitehouse and Whitton estates. The day featured archery, a bouncy castle, a disco, face painting and visits from Spiderman, Stitch and Bingo. **The bottom line:** With more than £18,800 now raised, the Saul family still has a long way to go to reach their £60,000 target — but the outpouring of support from the Ipswich community has given them hope. You can support William's fundraiser via the family's fundraising page below. [Make a donation](https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/the-sauls1?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Why the Great White Horse Hotel still faces an uncertain future despite planning approval URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/why-the-great-white-horse-hotel-still-faces-an-uncertain-future-despite-planning-approval/ Last updated: 2026-06-03T14:47:26.000Z **Why it matters:** The Grade II\* listed Great White Horse Hotel on Tavern Street has been on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register since falling into decline following its closure as a hotel in 2008\. Wednesday's unanimous decision by Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee is the first significant step towards bringing it back into use after nearly two decades of vacancy. **The details:** The committee approved plans submitted by White Horse Ipswich Ltd — the investment vehicle of developer John Howard and his business partner David Carr — to convert the upper floors into 21 residential flats, a mix of one and two-bedroom units, while retaining three existing ground-floor retail units. - Community spaces would be created on the ground floor - The planning officer who presented the proposals described the site as "extremely important to Ipswich", with buildings on it dating back to 1518. - Cllr Carole Jones, the authority's lead for planning, welcomed the plans for "a really precious building that is in dire need" of redevelopment. - With no objections from either residents or consultees, councillors were quick to agree with the planning officer's recommendation of approval. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/dato-Jh31aDNLRcWr4as2VdRFqw-1775136667749.jpg) John Howard outside the Great White Horse Hotel in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **For context:** The hotel has its origins in the 16th and 17th centuries and is closely associated with Charles Dickens, who stayed there and based an inn in his novel The Pickwick Papers on the building. It once served as accommodation for the likes of Admiral Nelson and, later, the Beatles. An independent assessor commissioned by the council found the scheme is projected to make a loss of more than £2.6m. As a result, the council has not sought the legal financial contributions — known as Section 106 obligations — that would normally be required from a development of this size, covering costs such as education, public open space and infrastructure. **The viability question:** Despite the planning approval, Howard was keen to stress that this is "the beginning of the beginning", not "the beginning of the end". The development cannot proceed without grant funding, and it is currently unclear where that will come from. Howard previously submitted an application for a Towns Fund grant to transform the building into a four-star boutique hotel, and had an operator waiting in the wings, but it is unclear whether that will be granted, or whether it could be applied to the residential conversion. **What they're saying:** Howard said the development "had the support of the town, and now the planning committee," but stressed it was now crucial that it received support from "all stakeholders" to provide the grant funding required to make the development feasible. **The bottom line:** Wednesday's unanimous approval is a genuine milestone for one of Ipswich's most cherished and at-risk buildings — but planning permission alone will not save it. The hard work of securing the funding needed to make the scheme financially viable is still to come. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Net zero out, 'common sense' in — but is it still just gesture politics? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/net-zero-out-common-sense-in-but-is-it-still-just-gesture-politics/ Last updated: 2026-06-03T11:16:43.000Z Just weeks into its administration, Suffolk County Council's new Reform leadership has moved to formally reverse the climate emergency declaration made by the council in 2019 and renewed in 2023\. The declaration is expected to be formally rescinded at the next full council meeting on 16 July 2026. Alongside this, the council has launched an audit of all environmental projects. Schemes will be required to demonstrate "clear benefits, practical outcomes, or real savings" in order to continue. Any that cannot will face being stopped, with funding redirected elsewhere. The administration has also announced what it describes as an early saving of up to £175,000 a year by switching the council's electricity tariff away from a "100% renewable" premium option to a cheaper alternative. Councillor Michael Hadwen, leader of Suffolk County Council, set out the rationale: "Our job is simple — spend Suffolk taxpayers' money wisely and deliver real results for our residents. What we've inherited is a catalogue of expensive, headline-grabbing environmental schemes that need to stand up to proper and rigorous scrutiny if they're going to continue." He added: "We are simply taking a common-sense approach — backing practical measures that work, while cutting waste, unnecessary costs and superficial gesture schemes." ## Is the £175,000 saving real? The administration's headline financial claim has drawn immediate challenge from across the political spectrum. The Greens, which form the official opposition at Suffolk County Council, points out that the council is tied into its current electricity tariff until April 2027, meaning the saving cannot be realised immediately. Councillor Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green group, said: "It's very disingenuous to pretend they are able to save that money already, via 'early action'." Hadwen has responded with a clarification that somewhat complicates his own framing. The current electricity contract, he confirmed, runs until March 2027\. However, a final decision on which tariff to procure next must be made by the end of July 2026\. The "early action" being taken is therefore a procurement decision — locking in the direction of travel — rather than an immediate financial saving. The Conservative group has made a similar observation, noting that the tariff decision would have arrived regardless of the local election outcome, since fixed-term contracts always come up for renewal. Councillor Richard Rout, leader of the Suffolk Conservative group, said the administration had "found a routine review point that was arriving anyway and dressed it up as decisive action." Hadwen responded by saying: "Yes, a decision would have needed to be made by the end of July 2026\. But crucially, what that decision would be would depend on the elected administration. The previous administration's policy was to choose a 'green tariff' and pay a premium for this. We will move onto the best value tariff which will save up to £175,000 each year." ## What about the existing savings programme? The more substantial financial question surrounds the council's existing carbon reduction programme — and whether the audit could put it at risk. Both the Green group and the Conservative group cite the same figure: the programme has already delivered annual energy savings of more than £4m. The Conservatives put the figure at £4.8m. Specific examples include a 42% reduction in gas consumption at the council's Endeavour House headquarters, achieved through changes to heating controls, and a solar car park at Beacon House projected to save more than £50,000 a year. Support our journalism ****Suffolk's politics deserves scrutiny, not spin — help us keep holding power to account.** This kind of detailed, independent reporting takes time and resources. For just £4.75 a month, your membership directly funds journalism that goes beyond the press release and asks the questions that matter. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) Stringer argued the scale of those savings puts the administration's headline figure in perspective: "Suffolk County Council actually saved over £4m a year because it had begun to take the path towards net zero. This potential future saving of £175,000 is tiny compared to the very real savings the council has made with carbon reduction initiatives." Hadwen has accepted the underlying figure. He confirmed that if energy use had remained constant since 2019, estimated costs would now be over £4.5m higher each year. However, he maintained that this does not grant the programme automatic protection: "Schemes will be expected to demonstrate clear benefits, practical outcomes, or real savings in order to continue." The logical tension in that position has not gone unnoticed. As Rout put it: "By their own test, that a scheme must show clear benefits or real savings, the council's energy efficiency programme passes comfortably. So what, precisely, are they cutting? The answer appears to be nothing." ## Is scrapping the declaration meaningful? There is a strand of argument — advanced, notably, by the Conservatives — that the declaration itself was always largely symbolic, and that reversing it is equally so. Rout was candid about his own role in the original decision: "I seconded the 2019 declaration, and with hindsight, the fashion for declaring 'emergencies' was overdone. But if declaring it changed little, un-declaring it changes even less. This is reverse virtue-signalling, a symbolic act dressed up as decisive leadership, achieving precisely nothing." Hadwen's own language has characterised the declaration as "another political gesture that does not fit the aims of this administration." His position is that practical environmental outcomes — what he describes as looking after Suffolk's "fantastic landscapes, strong farming roots and outstanding local food" — matter more than formal declarations. The Green group disagrees sharply with the premise. Stringer said: "The council was making progress towards carbon neutrality and saving money doing it. This is a massive step backwards." Labour group leader Councillor Martin Cook framed the decision in terms of its potential environmental impact, saying the move to return to standard fossil fuel-sourced electricity could result in up to 12,000 additional tonnes of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere each year. Hadwen declined to engage with the specific figure, saying only that he had not seen Cook's numbers and that the administration's focus remained on "common sense and value for money." ## What climate change means for Suffolk's farmers Hadwen's appeal to Suffolk's farming identity raises an interesting contradiction. The very sector he invokes as central to the county's character is among those most exposed to the consequences of a changing climate. The National Farmers' Union's most recent decadal weather survey, completed in 2025 by 528 members across England and Wales, found that 78% had seen an increase in the frequency of severe weather events over the past ten years. Seven in ten reported an increase in heatwaves and heat stress; 68% had seen an increase in drought; and 56% reported an increase in flooding. Affected businesses reported average financial losses of approximately £40,000 over the decade as a result. The East of England region, which includes Suffolk, recorded average losses of around £43,500 per affected farm — above the national average. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board's Climate Change Adaptation report, published in February 2025, identified farm productivity and farm assets as the areas most immediately at risk. Extreme weather events — including heatwaves, drought and flooding — are already impacting both crops and livestock, with the report warning that unchecked temperature rises could have a chronic impact on domestic food production. Rout referenced these pressures directly in his response to the administration's announcement: "We are one of the driest counties in the country, where our farmers, the breadbasket of England, are already rationing irrigation water and watching their crops hang in the balance." Neither the administration nor its critics disputes that Suffolk's farmers face real and growing pressures from a changing climate. The disagreement is about whether a county council's formal declaration of emergency — and the programme of activity built around it — represents a meaningful part of the response, or a political framing that can safely be discarded while practical work continues. ## The national context Suffolk is not the only council following this path. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, also now led by Reform UK, axed its Net Zero Newcastle 2030 action plan and moved to rescind its own climate emergency declaration. That council's leader, Jonathan Gullis, described net zero policies as "political virtue signalling" and "the worst kind of groupthink." The parallel decisions suggest a coordinated national Reform UK position on climate-related policy, rather than a decision taken solely on the basis of Suffolk's local circumstances and needs. ## What happens next? The formal vote to rescind the climate emergency declaration is scheduled for 16 July 2026\. It will inevitably pass, though not without some heated debate. The audit of environmental projects will run alongside that process, with schemes assessed against the administration's stated criteria. The stakes of that audit are significant. If the council's existing energy efficiency programme — the one all parties agree has already saved millions of pounds — is deemed to meet the bar, little of substance may change beyond the removal of the declaration itself. The administration has committed to publishing more details on the audit's scope and findings in due course. ## The bottom line Whether Suffolk's climate emergency declaration was ever more than words is a question reasonable people can disagree on. What is harder to dispute is that the council's underlying energy efficiency programme has delivered real, measurable savings — figures the administration itself accepts. The audit will determine whether those schemes survive contact with the new political reality. Until it does, the true significance of this week's announcement remains uncertain. Support our journalism ****Suffolk's politics deserves scrutiny, not spin — help us keep holding power to account.** This kind of detailed, independent reporting takes time and resources. For just £4.75 a month, your membership directly funds journalism that goes beyond the press release and asks the questions that matter. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£108 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Work to begin on Arras Square after six years and £313k in costs URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/work-to-begin-on-arras-square-after-six-years-and-313k-in-costs/ Last updated: 2026-06-04T08:14:51.000Z **Why it matters:** Arras Square sits at the heart of Ipswich town centre, and its long-promised transformation has been years in the making. Residents who waited to see the benefits of a project that has consumed significant public funds through planning, design and administrative costs — all before any construction work has begun — can finally expect to see the project begin. **The details:** Local company Brooks & Wood Ltd has been appointed as the main contractor, with works due to start on Monday, 22 June 2026, and expected to be completed by Christmas 2026. - The project will be delivered in four planned phases to ensure pedestrian access through the Square is maintained throughout. - The improvements will include new and relayed paving, a disabled access ramp, additional bins, new CCTV and lighting, seating and benches, and replacement trees. - The scheme will also introduce demountable bollards in St Stephen's Lane to support pedestrianisation, alongside a new information board featuring a French post box and a mural celebrating Ipswich's historic links with Arras. **The big picture:** The council first drew up plans for Arras Square around 2020, appointing architect Erect Architecture for £69,990 to deliver an original scheme. That scheme was put on hold in 2022 after Suffolk Police raised concerns, having recorded nearly 300 reports of antisocial behaviour and criminal activity in the area since 2018\. Police requested modifications, including full-site CCTV, additional lighting and railings to protect the historic tombstones. By the time the original scheme was paused, Erect Architecture's fees had grown to £100,583\. The council renegotiated a fresh contract with the same firm — at £88,905 — to lead design work on a revised, reduced-scope scheme. **By the numbers:** A Freedom of Information request obtained by Ipswich.co.uk, revealed that the council has spent £313,689.08 on the Arras Square project since 2000: - Planning and design costs: £105,583.30 - Consultation fees: £15,242.28 - Administrative costs (including officer time): £192,863.50 On top of that, the council has allocated £906,930 for the 2025/26 financial year, with no additional approved spending beyond that figure. It is not clear whether the proposed work can be delivered within that budget. **What they're saying:** Councillor [Neil MacDonald](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/neil-macdonald/), Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "This is an exciting step forward for Arras Square and the wider town centre. These improvements will create a more attractive, safer and accessible space for residents, businesses and visitors to enjoy. "We know how important it is to support local businesses during this time, which is why the works have been carefully phased to maintain access and minimise disruption as much as possible. Once complete, the scheme will help transform the area into a more welcoming and pedestrian-friendly space, while celebrating Ipswich's unique heritage and connections with Arras." **What's next:** Local businesses and the Ipswich Arras Association have been consulted on the plans and will continue to be kept informed throughout the project. Updates will be shared via letter drops ahead of each phase, including detailed information such as site layouts and traffic management arrangements. **The bottom line:** With a contractor now appointed and construction due to start this month, Arras Square is set to be transformed by Christmas 2026 — bringing a long-awaited improvement to one of Ipswich town centre's most prominent public spaces. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Two identified, one arrested in town centre graffiti spree URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/two-identified-one-arrested-in-town-centre-graffiti-spree/ Last updated: 2026-06-03T09:44:30.000Z **The details:** Suffolk Constabulary has confirmed that a man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. He was taken to Martlesham police investigation centre for questioning and subsequently bailed to return to police on 28 June. A second person has been named as a suspect. Investigations into the incidents, who was responsible, and links between the different cases are continuing. **The bigger picture:** The vandalism was more widespread than initially reported. Graffiti was sprayed on a number of prominent town centre locations over the bank holiday weekend of 24–26 May, including: - The newly installed planters on Princes Street, part of the council's £1.2 million Town Centre Greening project - Barclays Bank on Princes Street - The Great White Horse Hotel on Tavern Street - The Ancient House on Buttermarket - The Corn Exchange and Town Hall - The two new commercial units near Stoke Bridge skatepark ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1266.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_1270.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4471.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4472.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4473.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4505.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4482.jpeg) Multiple buildings around town were vandalised (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Police say they are investigating all of the incidents. CCTV footage from Ipswich Borough Council showed two suspects and was shared with police. **For context:** The Princes Street planters — custom-built in-ground tree pits installed between the Cornhill and Giles Circus — were vandalised before workers had even finished planting them. The council previously confirmed its CCTV had captured "clear images" of those involved and said it was working with police to identify them. **What's next:** Anyone with information is asked to contact Suffolk Police, quoting crime reference 37/30198/26. **The bottom line:** Police are confident enough in their leads that a public appeal has so far been ruled out, but if the second suspect cannot be identified and found, that could change. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Ipswich is now my super power' – young people take their town to Westminster URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-is-now-my-super-power-young-people-take-their-town-to-westminster/ Last updated: 2026-06-03T09:05:59.000Z **Why it matters:** The visit came as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) became the first central government department to sign the Power of Youth Charter — a commitment, developed by the #iWill movement and backed by more than 400 organisations, including Ipswich.co.uk, to give young people a meaningful say in decisions that shape their lives. **The details:** Ipswich ambassadors Alex, Jess, Tabbie and Abi attended the signing on Tuesday, 3 June — Power of Youth Day, held annually during Volunteers' Week — where they shared their social action journeys with Minister Peacock and spoke about their work building Ipswich as a Town of Youth Social Action. Abi told the minister: "This work has meant I am no longer accepting words like being from Ipswich means we have no aspiration. We are on the national stage now, and coming into this room as a young person from Ipswich is now my super power." **What they're saying:** Minister Peacock said: "The Power of Youth Charter demonstrates our commitment to making sure the voices of young people are heard at every stage of the decisions that shape their lives. "Since we began developing the National Youth Strategy, young people have told us clearly what they need: real opportunities, spaces to connect with each other and trusted adults, and their voices heard in government. This charter gives young people that voice." Stephen Skeet, director of business development and partnerships at Volunteering Matters — the Ipswich-based organisation that co-ordinates the #iWill movement alongside UK Youth — described the youth strategy as "groundbreaking – for young people, by young people." Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said: "I'm always proud to be part of Team Ipswich, but I especially was today. I am delighted our department — the Department for Culture, Media and Sport — is the first in government to do so. They are not just leaders of tomorrow, but leaders right now, today." **What DCMS has committed to:** As part of signing the charter, DCMS will: - Provide shadowing opportunities for young people within DCMS policy teams - Give young people opportunities to hold the government to account on the National Youth Strategy through an Annual Hearing - Involve young people in grant-making and recruitment panels relating to the strategy - Invite young people to speak at DCMS events so they can share their experiences directly with ministers, staff and partners **For context:** The Power of Youth Charter was developed by the #iWill movement and is backed by more than 400 organisations, including NHS England and the Premier League. The charter signing builds on the government's £500m National Youth Strategy — "Youth Matters" — published in December 2025, the first cross-government youth strategy for England in 15 years. The strategy was shaped by engagement with more than 14,000 young people across England, including young people in Ipswich. Ipswich became the UK's first Town of Youth Social Action in 2023\. Abbott signed the charter himself two years ago, and Ipswich.co.uk was the first media company to become a Power of Youth Charter member. **The bottom line:** Four young people from Ipswich stood in a government minister's office on Monday and helped hold Westminster to account. It's further proof that the town's reputation as a national leader in youth social action is no longer just a badge, but a genuine platform – one that this town's young people will continue to make the most of. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk County Council to scrap climate emergency declaration and net zero targets URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-county-council-to-scrap-climate-emergency-declaration-and-net-zero-targets/ Last updated: 2026-06-02T13:07:18.000Z **Why it matters:** The decision will affect a range of council-funded schemes currently operating under the net zero banner, with the authority pledging to audit all such projects and redirect funding from those it deems "purely ideological" towards other priorities. **The details:** Hadwen confirmed the council was "looking to undeclare the Council's climate emergency," describing the declaration as "another political gesture that does not fit the aims of this administration." All net zero targets are to be removed, and an audit of related projects will follow. He said schemes that "deliver growth, jobs and prosperity will be kept," while those considered purely ideological "will be removed and the funds re-profiled into other projects." The declaration is set to be formally reversed at the next full council meeting on 16 July. The council says early action has already identified an annual saving of up to £175,000 by switching its electricity tariff away from a more expensive "100% renewable" premium. **For context:** The move mirrors a decision this week by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, also now led by Reform UK, which axed its Net Zero Newcastle 2030 action plan and proposed to rescind its climate emergency declaration. That council's leader, Jonathan Gullis, described the policies as "political virtue signalling" and "the worst kind of groupthink," saying the authority should focus instead on "clean streets, safer communities, better services and value for money." **What they're saying:** Hadwen said: "We are an environmentalist party, and the wellbeing of our coast, countryside and residents is of upmost importance. Any scheme or project that delivers growth, jobs and prosperity will be kept, whereas any that are purely ideological will be removed and the funds re-profiled into other projects." He added: "There are always efficiencies to be found, and money that could be better spent on other projects that benefit the environment or our communities. We have a clear mandate from the public to deliver a council that is economical and providing good services." When asked if saving taxpayers' money was a factor for the decision, or if the decision was being made solely because the climate emergency was seen as political gesture, Hadwen responded: "Obviously it is our main aim to deliver savings for the taxpayer and run more efficient services, but the Climate Emergency is a political stunt that we have no interest in the council being a part of." **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council's Reform administration is preparing to formally dismantle the county's climate emergency commitments, with a full audit of net zero projects set to determine which schemes survive and which are scrapped. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£34 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk County Council won't publish its LGR pre-action letter – here's what we can take from Essex's URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-county-council-wont-publish-its-lgr-pre-action-letter-heres-what-we-can-take-from-essexs/ Last updated: 2026-06-02T12:45:15.000Z When Essex County Council threatened legal action against the government's plans to reorganise local government in the county, it published its [pre-action protocol letter](https://www.essex.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-05/Pre-Action%20Protocol%20Letter%2018%20May.pdf?ref=ipswich.co.uk) in full. The document — 22 pages, six detailed legal grounds, case law, specific failures alleged against the Secretary of State — is publicly available for any resident, journalist or elected member to read and scrutinise. Suffolk County Council has taken a different approach. Having sent its own pre-action letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government this week, the council announced that the letter would not be published. Its initial explanation — that the document was legally privileged — was corrected after this publication challenged the argument. The council clarified that it is, in fact, a confidential legal letter that it is choosing to withhold. That distinction matters. The council is legally entitled to choose not to publish the letter. But entitlement and wisdom are not the same thing. As Councillor Richard Rout, leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group, put it: "Hiding behind legal privilege is weak. Pre-action protocol letters are not privileged in the way that claim implies. They're a formal, procedural step in contemplated litigation, not protected legal advice." Suffolk County Council's opposition to the government's reorganisation plans did not emerge from nowhere. Under its previous Conservative administration, the council had backed a rival proposal — One Suffolk — which would have replaced the county's existing six councils with a single unitary authority, projecting savings of £78.2m in the first five years and £39.4m annually thereafter. The government rejected that model in favour of three new unitaries. Reform UK's administration, which took control of Suffolk County Council following the May 2026 elections, has gone further still — not by reviving the case for one council, but by seeking to block reorganisation altogether, effectively arguing for the retention of the existing two-tier system of six councils that both the previous administration and the district and borough councils agreed needed to change. It is that position — and the legal challenge mounted to defend it — that opposition leaders have described as costly, legally weak, and difficult to reconcile with the new administration's own stated commitment to reform. Support our journalism ****Suffolk deserves transparency and accountability from its local authorities — help us keep asking the questions** Independent journalism like this holds local leaders to account. For £4.75 a month, you'll support that work and get exclusive access to our journalists, newsroom events, and our best stories delivered straight to your inbox. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) ## What Essex's letter reveals Essex County Council's pre-action letter, sent on Monday, 18 May, on behalf of the council by its legal team, sets out six grounds on which it argues the Secretary of State's decision to proceed with five new unitary authorities in Greater Essex was unlawful. It is not guaranteed that Suffolk's letter lays out the same case, however, given that this appears to be a mandate from Reform UK at a national level, it is fair to infer that there will be many similairites between the two. **The first is inadequate reasons.** The letter argues that the Secretary of State's decision letter failed to explain why the chosen proposal met the relevant criteria better than the alternatives. It notes that the Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk decision letters contain extensive duplication, with materially identical passages across all four, and that none provides developed reasoning for the specific choice made. **The second is procedural unfairness.** Essex alleges that financial modelling carried out by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government tended to undermine the financial case for the five unitary model, but that this analysis was never shared with those making representations — meaning consultees could not respond to information that was adverse to their interests. **The third ground is inadequate consultation, arising from the same financial modelling concern.** Essex argues that if the Secretary of State knew of weaknesses in the five unitary model's financial sustainability before the consultation closed, he was required to share that information with consultees to enable properly informed responses. **The fourth ground is misapplication of the Secretary of State's own criteria.** Essex argues that concluding all four very different proposals met the published criteria was itself an indication that the criteria had not been properly applied, and identifies specific ways in which the chosen proposal failed to satisfy individual criteria. **The fifth is irrationality.** The letter argues that the Secretary of State failed to consider obviously relevant factors, including the combined debt levels inherited by the proposed South West Essex Council, the absence of a genuine shared urban centre between Basildon and Thurrock, and the disproportionate social care burden that would fall on North East Essex. It also points to inconsistency with the Secretary of State's earlier decision in Surrey, where financial concerns led him to select a proposal supported by fewer councils over one backed by a majority. **The sixth ground is breach of the public sector equality duty.** Essex argues there is no evidence the Secretary of State had due regard to the equality implications of his decision, particularly given the concentration of ethnic minority communities in the proposed South West Essex council area and the financial pressures that the council would face. ## How close is Suffolk's challenge? Suffolk County Council has said its letter argues that the government's decision goes beyond the Secretary of State's legal powers, does not follow the statutory process set out in legislation, and departs from the government's own published criteria without clear justification. Those grounds are broadly consistent with elements of Essex's challenge — in particular, the misapplication of criteria and inadequate reasons arguments. But without the letter, it is impossible to know whether Suffolk's legal team has identified grounds of comparable specificity and depth. On the decision to not publish the letter, Cllr Hadwen said: “I have received advice regarding the publication of the letter, and I am following that advice.” The council's position is that discussing the strength of the legal case or the likely costs is premature: "At this stage, SCC is challenging the government to justify its decision, respond to points and provide evidence — before deciding on next steps". ## The cost question Councillor Martin Cook, leader of the Labour group on Suffolk County Council, has estimated the cost of the legal process at around £100,000, adding that the county council "want to lock us into an antiquated system of local government that costs more and often fails Ipswich." The council has declined to confirm or challenge that figure, saying it is too early to discuss costs. What is not in dispute is that this is public money. The general consensus among legal experts cited in our earlier coverage is that a judicial review of this kind is unlikely to succeed. However, even an unsuccessful challenge could, according to legal analysis of similar cases, have a "freezing" effect on local government reorganisation progress — potentially delaying elections to the new unitary authorities that are currently scheduled for 2027\. This may be viewed as a positive outcome by Suffolk's Reform administration. Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green group and official opposition at Suffolk County Council, raised the same concern: "I feel sure the people of Suffolk are very concerned that an unknown quantity of public money is being used to challenge government legislation. This potentially costly move has been made with no vote or discussion at the council." ## A pledge worth revisiting When Michael Hadwen was elected leader of Suffolk County Council on Thursday, 21 May, he made six commitments to the chamber: to be transparent with residents, to deliver value for taxpayers, to protect frontline services, to support sustainable growth, to reform how the council operates, and to focus relentlessly on delivery. "We will work hard," he told councillors. "We will be honest with residents. We will respect taxpayers' money. And we will give ourselves fully to the responsibility the people of Suffolk have entrusted to us." Transparency and fiscal responsibility were two commitments he named explicitly. The decision to withhold the pre-action letter tests one, and the decision to launch costly legal proceedings that, according to experts, have a low chance of succeeding, tests the other. ## The bottom line Essex's openness demonstrates that publication is possible and that a detailed public document does not necessarily weaken a legal position. If anything, it strengthens public understanding of why the challenge is being made and on what basis residents' money is being spent. Suffolk has provided neither, and in the absence of the letter, residents are left to take the strength of the case entirely on trust. That may yet prove to be a reasonable ask. But trust, like transparency, has to be earned, and this administration must earn it quickly. Support our journalism ****Suffolk deserves transparency and accountability from its local authorities — help us keep asking the questions** Independent journalism like this holds local leaders to account. For £4.75 a month, you'll support that work and get exclusive access to our journalists, newsroom events, and our best stories delivered straight to your inbox. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£81 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Thirty-plus acts set to take over Christchurch Park at Ipswich Music Day URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/thirty-plus-acts-set-to-take-over-christchurch-park-at-ipswich-music-day/ Last updated: 2026-06-02T08:44:55.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich Music Day is billed as the largest free, one-day music festival in the UK. Organised by Ipswich Borough Council, the family-friendly event is free to attend and offers local and regional artists the chance to perform live in front of thousands of people. **The details:** This year's event will feature six stages spread across Christchurch Park, covering a wide range of musical genres — from rock, indie and rap to jazz, acoustic and soul. - The **BBC Radio Suffolk Bowl Stage**, hosted by Wayne Bavin near the Henley Road entrance, will feature BBC Introducing artists. - The **Crossroads Costa Stage**, close to the Westerfield entrance, will run from 12:00 to 19:30. - The **Rise Suffolk Sound Stage**, next to the playground, is dedicated to rock and indie music. - The **Pond Stage**, in the heart of the park, will present indie, rap, R&B and DJs, and will host the winner of Suffolk One's Battle of the Bands competition. - The **Mansion Grapevine Stage**, next to the marketplace, will feature acoustic and jazz artists and soul groups. **What they're saying:** Council Leader Councillor Neil MacDonald said: "Ipswich Music Day is a brilliant celebration of music, culture and local talent. We received so many outstanding entries to perform at this year's event, and we'd like to thank everybody who applied. "This year's event promises to be more diverse than ever, so we're looking forward to showcasing some really exciting and talented artists and bands. Once again, audiences can prepare for a great day out as Christchurch Park comes alive with the sound of music, fun, and entertainment." **The full line-up:** More than 30 acts were selected from over 200 applications to perform at this year's event: **BBC Radio Suffolk Bowl Stage (finishes 20:00)** - 12:00 – BBC Introducing Act - 12:20 – Lucy Roper - 13:00 – Lost Moves - 13:50 – Ad Sheeran - 14:30 – BBC Introducing Act - 15:15 – Comfortably Floyd - 16:15 – Epix With Louise - 17:15 – Downsetters - 18:10 – BBC Introducing Act - 19:00 – Hurricane Alley **Crossroads Costa Stage (finishes 19:30)** - 12:00 – Modern Haze - 12:45 – George Bone - 13:30 – Lara Price - 14:15 – The Portland - 15:00 – Hedra - 15:45 – Crowned Hyenas - 16:30 – Basharan - 17:15 – Ghost Week - 18:00 – Like Optimists - 18:45 – Afterlife Rock Covers Band UK **Rise Suffolk Sound Stage (finishes 19:30)** - 12:00 – Ryan Harvey - 12:30 – Andy Griffin - 13:00 – Tempus Frayed - 13:45 – Harriet Cree - 14:15 – Lightbody - 15:00 – Ross Stewart - 15:45 – Rude & Reckless - 16:30 – Pulse - 17:15 – Vix & The Bleeding Hearts - 18:00 – GETNOTGOT - 18:45 – Soul Riot **Mansion Grapevine Stage (finishes 19:00)** - 11:45 – Brawlers - 12:15 – Moirasomeone - 12:45 – Jennifer Ness - 13:15 – The Woolverstones - 13:45 – Wilswood Buoys - 14:30 – Lincoln Skins - 15:15 – The Ragged Hearts - 16:00 – Under the Bridge - 16:45 – Shenanigan's GOAT - 17:30 – Lee Matthew Platt - 18:00 – The Mute Swans - 18:30 – Kyson Point **Pond Stage (finishes 19:15)** - 12:00 – Aviation - 12:30 – S4MUEL - 13:00 – Eliza Delf & The Wilderness - 13:45 – KinoZolte - 14:15 – Kinlis - 14:45 – The Jamshedders - 15:30 – Kayleigh Walker - 16:15 – Sam Milne & The Tyrants - 16:45 – Running Club - 17:15 – Kelci - 17:45 – Jetskii Dave - 18:15 – 333 - 18:45 – Krønix **Getting there:** Blue badge parking will be available on-site via the Park Road entrance at the top of Christchurch Park. All other visitors travelling by car are advised to use Ipswich Borough Council car parks around town. **The bottom line:** Ipswich Music Day returns on Sunday, 5 July, with free entry, six stages and more than 30 acts drawn from across Ipswich, Suffolk and the East Anglian region — a free day out for music fans of all tastes. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### University of Suffolk breaks into UK top 50 in national rankings for first time URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/university-of-suffolk-breaks-into-uk-top-50-in-national-rankings/ Last updated: 2026-06-02T08:37:50.000Z **Why it matters:** The ranking places the Ipswich-based university among the top 50 in the UK for the first time, a milestone the university says reflects sustained investment in facilities, teaching quality, and student experience. **The details:** The 2027 Complete University Guide, published on Tuesday, 2 June, ranks universities across 10 measures, including entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, academic services spend, facilities spend, and graduate prospects. - The University of Suffolk is ranked top nationally for facilities spend and seventh for academic services spend. - Its Childhood and Youth Studies courses are ranked first in the East of England. - The university is second for student satisfaction in both Education and Psychology courses. - It is third for graduate prospects – on track – for Education Studies, and joint third for Childhood and Youth Studies. - It is also joint third for student satisfaction in Sociology. **The bigger picture:** The latest result follows the university's success at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards last month, where it was shortlisted in seven categories – including University of the Year – and won top prizes for Lecturers and Teaching Quality, International, and Postgraduate. [University of Suffolk wins triple at national student awardsThe University of Suffolk has won three prizes at the UK’s most student-driven higher education awards, scooping top honours for teaching quality, postgraduate and international student experiences.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/WUSCAs-awards-2026-1-1-355869908360012ba6b884d46e8b07432e3555863e125df7a8668a1e17fe56c4.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/university-of-suffolk-wins-triple-at-national-student-awards/) **What they're saying:** Professor Jenny Higham, vice-chancellor of the University of Suffolk, said: "It is wonderful to see the University of Suffolk recognised as a top-50 university in the UK as we enter our tenth anniversary year, and is a testament to the tremendous work of all colleagues to ensure we provide an exceptional experience for our students. "We work hard to ensure our courses prepare students well for their chosen careers, and our positive National Student Survey scores underline how satisfied our students find their time at Suffolk. "We are also undergoing a significant development programme across campus, which has seen us open brand new Library and Esports facilities in the past 12 months, with a new student hub, quiet study areas, and Pharmacy facilities set to be ready for our students joining in September." **What's next:** Clearing opens in early July for prospective students wishing to apply directly to the University of Suffolk for September 2026 entry. Full course listings are available at the university's website. **The bottom line:** The University of Suffolk's rise to 44th in the national rankings marks its strongest-ever showing in the Complete University Guide, with the Ipswich institution now firmly established among the UK's top 50 universities – a win not just for the university, but for the town and county, too. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk council formally threatens legal action over reorganisation plans URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-council-formally-threatens-legal-action-over-reorganisation-plans/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T14:50:48.000Z **Why it matters:** A judicial review could delay or disrupt Suffolk's transition to a new unitary structure, but opposition leaders argue the challenge is costly, legally weak, and politically motivated. **The details:** The council's pre-action letter sent to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, sets out concerns that the Government's local government reorganisation (LGR) decision is unlawful and should be withdrawn. The council argues that the proposal goes beyond the Secretary of State's legal powers, does not follow the statutory process set out in legislation, and departs from the Government's own published criteria without clear justification. The Secretary of State has until 12 June to respond. If a satisfactory reply is not received, the council says it will consider initiating formal judicial review proceedings. The council says that the pre-action letter is legally privileged and will not be published – a claim that has been met with much criticism. **What they're saying:** Councillor Michael Hadwen, leader of Suffolk County Council, said: "Suffolk cannot be forced into a costly and chaotic reorganisation on the basis of a flawed process. "The decision to take this action is about protecting Suffolk from expensive and unnecessary upheaval. "Residents elected us less than a month ago to reform local government in Suffolk. We were clear before the election that we do not support reckless local government reorganisation by the Government, and that we would take all possible steps to protect residents and taxpayers' money. That's what we're doing." He added: "We are therefore calling on the Government to listen, reconsider its approach, and abandon its plans. Any decision about the future of Suffolk must be made properly and transparently. We believe this proposal fails on these key tests." **The other side:** The Green group, who form the official opposition at Suffolk County Council, criticised the decision. Andrew Stringer, Leader of the Greens and their spokesperson for Local Government and Devolution, said: "Our group is deeply concerned that the Reform UK administration have taken this decision without a vote or discussion. "In the previous administrative term, we had several opportunities to put residents' views across. I feel sure the people of Suffolk are very concerned that an unknown quantity of public money is being used to challenge government legislation. We are now less than 10 months away from the elections to the new unitary authorities, and Reform UK are using an undisclosed amount of public money to potentially frustrate this election. "I find it ironic that Reform made a great deal during their election campaign about giving the public a chance to vote, yet as soon as they gain power, they try to shut down future elections, where they can be challenged. This potentially costly move has been made with no vote or discussion at the council." Cllr Richard Rout, leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group, said: “This judicial review seems spurious at best, and hiding behind legal privilege is weak. Pre-action protocol letters are not privileged in the way that claim implies. They’re a formal, procedural step in contemplated litigation, not protected legal advice. The proof is next door in Essex, where the County Council published its pre-action letter in full, setting out six detailed legal grounds, the case law it relies on, and the specific failures it alleges. “If Suffolk had a comparable case, there would be no reason not to do the same. Instead, residents are being asked to take it on trust that strong grounds exist, while the actual document, and any genuine scrutiny of whether the challenge has merit, is kept hidden behind a privilege claim that does not stand up. The natural inference is that there is little in the letter that would survive being read in daylight. “We remain clear that the government made the wrong choice splitting Suffolk into three but throwing good money after bad, particularly when the public consultation seemed to favour three councils, is not the answer. Council staff warned us that there were likely no grounds for challenge prior to the election, and this bland statement seems to confirm that.” Cllr Martin Cook, leader of the Labour Group on Suffolk County Council said: "While calling for transparency, Reform UK are unwilling to share the contents of their letter. Far from protecting taxpayers’ money they are about to embark on a complex legal process with costs in the region of £100k and want to lock us into an antiquated system of local government that costs more and often fails Ipswich. "Public consultation showed that the Government's plan to create three new all-purpose councils for Suffolk is popular with residents because it keeps decision making local and makes investment in vital projects like the Ipswich Northern Bypass, which Suffolk County Council have consistently blocked, more likely.” **For context:** The Government announced in March 2026 that it was proceeding with LGR in Suffolk, a decision that will see the county's existing two-tier structure replaced with new unitary authorities. Both the One Suffolk and Power of Three proposals for local government reform projected significant savings from the changes. A judicial review is a legal process in which a judge examines the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body. It focuses strictly on how a decision was made — not whether it was the right decision. To succeed, a challenge must demonstrate that the decision was illegal, irrational, or procedurally flawed. **The bigger picture:** Suffolk County Council is not the first to threaten legal action over LGR. In Essex, the incoming Reform UK leader of the county council, Peter Harris, wrote to Communities Secretary Steve Reed on Wednesday, 14 May, describing the Government's proposals as "ill-thought, expensive and purely ideological in nature," and said he had instructed lawyers to prepare a pre-action protocol letter. In March, the Government backed a model of five all-purpose councils in Essex to replace the current structure of 15 councils. **What's next:** Ministers will need to pass legislation in Parliament later this year to abolish and replace the existing councils. The Secretary of State has until 12 June to respond to Suffolk County Council's pre-action letter. If the council proceeds with a formal claim, even an ultimately unsuccessful judicial review could — according to legal analysis of similar cases — have a "freezing" effect on LGR progress, seriously threatening delivery on the current timetable. **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council has moved from rhetoric to action, giving the Government until 12 June to back down or face a judicial review. With opposition leaders across parties united in scepticism about the legal merits of the challenge, the coming weeks will test whether this is a credible constitutional challenge or, as critics suggest, a political manoeuvre aimed at slowing the clock on reorganisation. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Police hunt witnesses following 'absolutely shocking' scenes following Arsenal's Champions League defeat on waterfront URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-hunt-witnesses-following-absolutely-shocking-scenes-following-arsenals-champions-league-defeat-on-waterfront/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T11:04:46.000Z A fight broke out outside Isaacs on Wherry Quay on the evening of Saturday, 31 May, following the televised Champions League final. Officers were called to the scene just after 20:00 and dispersed a large group of people. At least one person was injured. Two males were arrested, both on suspicion of affray, with one also arrested for possession of a class B drug. An 18-year-old has been released on police bail until 9 July, and a 17-year-old has been released on police bail until 15 July. Both were questioned at Martlesham police investigation centre. One witness said the scenes were "embarrassing" and "absolutely shocking," describing "fights breaking out everywhere, young kids provoking Arsenal fans after the defeat, people getting glassed and thrown out". "It put me off watching England games during the World Cup anywhere other than at home," they said. Officers are aware that many onlookers recorded video footage and took photographs on their phones, and are urging anyone with material that could assist the investigation to come forward. Anyone with information can contact Suffolk police via [www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or by calling 101, quoting crime reference 37/30971/26\. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via [www.crimestoppers-uk.org](https://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### What Ipswich's crime figures show, and what they leave in the dark URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/what-ipswichs-crime-figures-show-and-what-they-leave-in-the-dark/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T10:11:46.000Z On Wednesday, 27 May 2026, Suffolk Constabulary announced that crime in Ipswich in 2025 was 11% lower than the long-term average for the town, with a 2% reduction between 2024 and 2025\. The figures, broken down across 12 offence categories, show significant falls in violence, public order offences, theft from the person, burglary, and stalking and harassment, alongside smaller drops in drug offences and sexual offences. Superintendent Tom Pearse, Suffolk Constabulary's Southern Area Commander, described the results as a reflection of years of focused work. "We have worked incredibly hard over the past few years to tackle many of the key issues being seen by our officers on the streets, being reflected in the crime figures, but most importantly, by our residents who are most affected by this criminality," he said. "I believe this is incredibly positive news for Ipswich and our communities and shows that despite some of the negativity we have seen and read, Ipswich is a fantastic place to live in, to work and to visit." There is a great deal in the figures that supports his framing. But before reading too much into any single number, in either direction, it is worth pausing on what crime statistics actually are. ## What the data captures The figures published by Suffolk Constabulary measure the volume of crime recorded by the force. The constabulary has confirmed that, while most of that volume will come from crime reported by the public, some will reflect incidents officers attended, came across, or were alerted to without a formal report being made. That is a meaningful distinction. Recorded crime is not the same as crime that has occurred. The gap between the two has been the subject of criminological study for decades, often referred to as the "dark figure of crime" – the body of offences that take place but never reach official statistics. Help fund more journalism like this Going deep on topics like local crime data, it's impact on our town and challenging those who can change it, requires time, resources and effort. If you want to us do more of it, please consider supporting our journalism by becoming a member for just £4.75 per month – roughly the same as two thirds of a pint. [Support our journalism ](#/portal/signup) As Ziggy MacDonald set out in a 2002 paper in *The Economic Journal*, there are two principal reasons crime falls into that dark figure. The first is what might be called the reporting gap: victims and witnesses who, for any number of reasons, do not contact the police. The second is the recording gap: incidents that are reported but, for procedural or threshold reasons, do not end up logged as a crime. MacDonald's research, drawing on the British Crime Survey, found that reporting behaviour is shaped by a wide range of factors, including age, gender, employment status, attitudes towards the police, and the specific circumstances of the incident. Victims who consider the police ineffective, or who feel some sense of culpability, are less likely to report. Victims of repeated incidents are less likely to report each one. Those whose losses are insured are more likely to report than those whose are not. The headline figures from Suffolk Constabulary tell us, accurately, how much crime was recorded in Ipswich last year. They do not, and cannot, tell us how much crime actually occurred. ## What a falling number can mean This matters because the same figure can support more than one interpretation, and the honest answer is often that we do not have enough information to choose between them. Take violence against the person, down 12% on the long-term average. The most encouraging reading is that less violence is taking place in Ipswich. That reading is consistent with the operational work Supt Pearse describes, with reductions in associated criminality such as public order offences, and with the constabulary's emphasis on tackling serious violence since 2022\. It is a plausible and probably partially correct interpretation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_3950.jpg) Armed police on Upper Brook Street (Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) But other readings are also possible. Falling recorded violence could, in part, reflect changes in victims' willingness to come forward. It could reflect changes in how incidents are classified. It could reflect demographic or seasonal shifts. The available data does not let us distinguish cleanly between these possibilities, and the constabulary itself acknowledges that "crime figures and patterns of crime fluctuate and are often heavily affected by national issues". A 12% fall is still a 12% fall, and it remains the best available indicator of what is happening on the streets. But it is an indicator, not a measurement of total violence in the town. ## What a rising number can mean The same caution applies, with as much force, in the other direction. Shoplifting in Ipswich is up 28% on the long-term average and up 38% year-on-year – by some distance the most pronounced movement in the dataset. It is tempting to read that figure as straightforwardly bad news. And it might be. Cost-of-living pressures, organised retail crime, and a national rise in shoplifting since the pandemic are all well-documented factors that could be contributing to the trend. But a rise in recorded shoplifting can also reflect things that are not, in themselves, negative. More retailers reporting offences. Better detection by town centre officers. More cases being pursued rather than written off. A shift in how the constabulary classifies and records the offence. Each of those is a plausible factor, and at least some of them would, on any reasonable reading, count as progress rather than deterioration. Supt Pearse acknowledged shoplifting as an area requiring continued work. "While overwhelmingly positive, the figures still show areas that require improvement, for example shoplifting, which has been widely-publicised as being an issue across the country," he said. "We will continue to work extremely hard to prevent these high standards slipping, looking to prevent crime, pursue those that persist in these activities and build strong cases to help bring positive resolutions and where appropriate prosecutions." The point is not that the figure means nothing. It is that a single number, in either direction, rarely means just one thing. ## What sits outside the data altogether There is a further layer to consider: the categories the data does not cover. Anti-social behaviour is recorded separately from notifiable crime and does not appear in the offence categories published in this release. Yet for many residents, ASB is the form of disorder that most shapes how safe the town feels – homeless people drinking in doorways, intimidation around cash machines, drug paraphernalia in side streets, behaviour that is visible, persistent, and frequently goes unrecorded as crime at all. This is a recurring theme in conversations about Ipswich on social media and among residents we speak to. The perception that the town centre does not feel as safe as the figures suggest is real, even where it is unevidenced by the data, and is itself a fact worth taking seriously. It is also where the limits of recorded crime as a measure become most apparent. A reduction in violent offences is a meaningful and welcome thing. It is not the same thing as a reduction in the experiences that make people feel uneasy walking through town on a quiet weekday evening. Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, framed the figures in terms of confidence as well as crime. "We're really fortunate to live in one of the safest counties in the country, and it's great to hear that crime figures in our county town continue to fall," he said. "The relatively new policing model has seen more visible policing in the town which is having a very positive impact; this is great news for Ipswich and Suffolk as a whole." That observation about visible policing matches our own. Despite a vocal social media narrative that there is little to no police presence in the town centre, this publication, which is based on the high street, sees officers in the town on a daily basis. To the naked eye, there appears to be a greater police presence than two years ago and response times, in our experience, appear to be swift. Whether that translates into how the town feels to those who do not work on it every day is a separate, and harder, question. ## Organised crime and the need for visible change There is a further dimension to all of this that sits uneasily alongside the falling figures: the organised criminality the government itself has identified as a national problem on Britain's high streets, and which remains a visible presence on Ipswich's. This crime is largely untouched by crime data. Earlier this month, we reported on the government's £30m "national crackdown" on organised crime on the high street – a programme that funds dedicated police resource in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, and a joint Kent and Essex unit, but not in Suffolk. [When will the government’s ‘national crackdown’ on high street crime reach Ipswich?The government has accepted that organised crime is gutting Britain’s high streets and has put £30m behind a “national crackdown” to fight it, but the funded officers are going to Manchester, the West Midlands, Kent and Essex. Ipswich has again been overlooked – and no one seems to be asking why.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/size/w1200/2026/05/dato-ePWjxymTQCyTBWFPu0aBIA-1775137988165-1-1.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/when-will-the-governments-national-crackdown-on-high-street-crime-reach-ipswich/) Operation Machinize, the National Crime Agency-led initiative running across England and Wales, is often spoken about as evidence that something is being done. The work done under Op Machinize, particularly around modern slavery and welfare, has clear value, and the officers and partner agencies involved deserve recognition for it. But the question of whether it goes far enough to meaningfully alter the situation on Ipswich's high street is a different one – and the answer, on the available evidence, is that it does not. Sporadic raids producing seizures of illicit cigarettes and vapes, accompanied by occasional immigration-related arrests, are not the level of intervention the scale of the problem warrants. They are a starting point, not a resolution. The NCA's own Senior Lead for Machinize, Sal Melki, acknowledged that "the problem won't be solved overnight or through disruptive action alone" and that the operation was designed to inform longer-term solutions. What residents and legitimate businesses need to see in Ipswich is harder, more permanent change. Permanent closure orders on premises repeatedly linked to criminality. Arrests, charges and sentences brought against those running the operations, not just those working in them. Unexplained wealth orders pursued against those who appear to operate high street businesses with no, or at least a very limited, plausible commercial basis. The kind of action that does not simply move the problem from one shopfront to another under a different name. To date, we are not aware of any publicised arrests, charges or sentences in Ipswich of those running organised crime operations on the town's high street. That is not the same as saying no work is happening – it may simply not yet have produced publicised outcomes. But until it does, the gap between the rhetoric of national crackdowns and the lived experience of walking through town remains a real one, and one that the headline crime figures do not address. ## The bottom line The reductions Suffolk Constabulary has reported are real, and the officers and partners behind them deserve fair credit. Violence down 12%, public order offences down 32%, theft from the person down 37% on the long-term average – these are not trivial numbers, and they reflect work that has visibly been put in. But the data is one part of the picture, not the whole of it. A falling figure is not always a falling reality, a rising figure is not always a rising problem, and the disorder that shapes how the town feels most often sits in the categories the figures do not capture at all. Crime, as recorded, is down in Ipswich. That is worth acknowledging and applauding. Whether the town is safer, and whether it feels safer, are related questions – but they are not the same one, and no single number can answer them on its own. Help fund more journalism like this Going deep on topics like local crime data, it's impact on our town and challenging those who can change it, requires time, resources and effort. If you want to us do more of it, please consider supporting our journalism by becoming a member for just £4.75 per month – roughly the same as two thirds of a pint. [Support our journalism ](#/portal/signup) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£149 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The ballot that will shape Ipswich for the next five years and beyond URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-ballot-that-will-shape-ipswich-for-next-five-years-and-beyond/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T11:34:25.000Z Most people in Ipswich have never heard of a Business Improvement District (BID). Fewer still could tell you what one does. But if you have ever walked past a red and black uniformed officer on Tavern Street, drunk at a pub during SIPswich, eaten at a restaurant during Forknight, taken your kids to see the Christmas tree on the Cornhill, or walked past hanging baskets in the town centre, you have seen one at work. A BID is, at its most basic, a funding mechanism. Businesses within a defined area — in Ipswich's case, roughly everything between the train station, Christchurch Park, the university and the football club — collectively pay a levy based on the rateable value of their premises. That money is pooled and spent on services and initiatives that improve the area for everyone trading within it and their customers. Ipswich Central has operated as the town's BID for nearly 20 years, coming to the end of its fourth consecutive five-year term in 2027\. Under the leadership of chief executive Lee Walker, who took the role two years ago after leading the BID in Nottingham during a period of rapid and sustained regeneration, it currently manages a budget of around £700,000 a year, drawn from just over 400 levy-paying businesses. Now it is asking those businesses to back a fifth term, with an expanded budget of £900,000 a year for the new term, funded by a small rate increase from 1.89% to 2%, and an ambitious plan for the town centre and waterfront. The ballot opens on 19 June and closes on 16 July. ## How the vote works The BID ballot is not a public vote. Only businesses within the BID area that meet the levy threshold are eligible. In Ipswich Central's case, that means premises with a rateable value of £25,000 or above — a deliberate decision, Walker says, to protect smaller and independent businesses from a financial burden they may not be able to absorb. "We don't charge what I would consider incubator or small spaces," Walker explains. "I think it's a really important principle." For those that do qualify, the ballot operates on what is known as a dual-key system. To pass, the proposal must secure a majority both by number of votes cast and by the aggregate rateable value of those voting in favour. The logic is straightforward: a handful of large businesses cannot force a BID on small ones, and small businesses cannot collectively outvote the major commercial landlords and retailers that contribute the bulk of the levy income. If the ballot passes, the new term begins in April 2027, running for five years. If it fails, Ipswich Central enters a 12-month wind-down period — and then ceases to exist entirely. The work it currently does goes with it. ## How Ipswich Central has invested funds Walker is direct when asked about his confidence levels ahead of the ballot. "I never go into these things confident," he says. "I think that would be disrespectful to those businesses." What he will defend is the record. Since 2024, Ipswich Central's My Local Bobby team — four police-accredited uniformed officers working in the town centre — has assisted with 240 arrests, returned £30,000 worth of stock to retailers and, by the organisation's own calculation, deterred an estimated £360,000 worth of shoplifting. A third of the BID's entire budget goes on safety and security. "They are individuals that run towards the fire," Walker says of the team. "Their results are the thing I will defend until the day I die." Beyond safety, the BID has also invested in civic improvement — most visibly the Stoke Bridge project, which saw the bridge repainted, its railings restored, a new lighting column installed and a long-neglected phone box removed. It has filled vacant units with art, installed hanging baskets across the town centre and used empty retail space — including the former Superdry unit — as community venues. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-FONDZiRPTsSyP0BDr4ptyQ-1775136165910.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-LSu5uVRXSZ6InQIW2b3NaQ-1775138587949-2.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-KA52FXEIT9CnSMJag9o5zg-1775136191205.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-Wg-cD9daTLyn4GKaPohG7Q-1775136226376.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/1777289535891-xq9zu9nesb-img_4099.jpeg) On the events side, the BID was the seed funder behind the Brighten the Corners festivals and played a central role in the Welcome Home Ed campaign during Ed Sheeran's homecoming concerts, which Walker says brought 200,000 additional visitors to Ipswich. The BIPs Which pub crawl campaign, he says, generated £60,000 in spend for participating bars. The Fortnight food and drink campaign this year involved 41 venues and 62 different offers. "Do I know that fork generates 5,000 additional meals and £100,000 of spend? Yes," Walker says. "But it's not for me to decide whether I should be confident about that or not. That's for businesses to decide if that's value." ## The case for scepticism Not everyone is convinced by the BID model — and Walker is careful not to dismiss those concerns. BIDs have a complicated reputation nationally. Some have been accused of poor governance, weak delivery and levy spending that bears little relation to what businesses actually need. Walker doesn't shy away from the problem. "There are bad examples of bids across the UK," he says. "There will always be bad actor bids across the country. I think it's smaller than the people that are really against it would suggest, but like any industry, there are those that I don't think deliver the value. I would encourage their businesses to vote against it. Equally, if people don't think we deliver value here, I'd also encourage them to vote against it." There is also some confusion amongst residents. Some residents conflate Ipswich Central with the council, attributing its work to the local authority or, conversely, blaming it for things that are the council's responsibility. There is also, within some circles, an incorrect view that the BID is spending taxpayers' money and that they should therefore be accountable to the same kind of public scrutiny of a local authority. Walker takes a pragmatic view. "If that individual thinks it's done by the council, then why do I care?" he says of the Stoke Bridge project – a project that many assume was delivered by the council. "I just want the place to be better." ## What the new plan proposes The business plan being put to levy payers this month is built around four strands: standards, festivals, campaigns and data. Walker describes the overarching philosophy simply: "There is no magic wand, there's just hard work and delivery." On standards, the plan commits to maintaining at least four My Local Bobby officers and expanding the Public Space Protection Order so that officers can confiscate alcohol from individuals before anti-social behaviour occurs, rather than after. A civil banning scheme — a "banned from one, banned from all" approach to prolific shoplifters — is also proposed. Walker says around 80% of shoplifting in the town centre is carried out by 20% of offenders, and that targeting that group directly would free up police to tackle more serious organised retail crime. On greening, the plan sets a specific and audacious target: Britain in Bloom accreditation for the town centre by 2030\. The BID already funds hanging baskets in partnership with the council and wants to expand that commitment substantially. On festivals, the new plan commits £100,000 per year to an arts and culture week, with a pledge to approach Arts Council England for matched funding — potentially creating a £200,000 annual cultural festival for Ipswich. It also commits to making the Ipswich Book Festival the biggest in the region, creating what Walker describes as the UK's biggest craft beer festival, and growing the street art festival to rival Southend's, which currently attracts between 100,000 and 200,000 visitors. "We need to be less Suffolk about being the county town of Suffolk," Walker says. "We need to be bolder and braver and more ambitious." On data, the plan proposes a public portal publishing footfall, spend and crime data for the town centre — giving individual businesses the ability to benchmark their own performance against the wider picture and giving levy payers a transparent means of measuring the BID against its own promises. The plan also proposes a new annual pride-in-place campaign starting each February, championing independent businesses across the town, and a push to make Ipswich's Christmas offering — including new Christmas lights and student-built chalets for a proper Christmas market filled with Suffolk produce — a genuine regional destination. "If we're going to be the county town, we have to shout about it," Walker says. ## A board built for Ipswich One criticism levelled at BIDs nationally is that they become talking shops for the same familiar faces — institutional representatives cycling between boards and committees without meaningful accountability to the businesses they serve. Walker is aware of the perception. The board he and chair Steve Flory have assembled includes senior executives from nearly every sector. There are no council representatives on the board, a deliberate decision. "It's business-led, business-funded, by business, for business, for Ipswich," Walker says. ## Why this vote is different Ipswich Central is approaching this ballot at a moment when the town's ambitions are unusually aligned. Ipswich Town's promotion to the Premier League, the City of Culture 2029 longlisting, the waterfront development, Halo's upcoming move to the Willis building, are all pulling in the same direction — a town that is, tentatively, beginning to believe in itself. Walker, who grew up in Ipswich, attended Stoke High School and Northgate sixth form, and spent 15 years transforming Nottingham's city centre before returning home, is candid about what that means. "When it's bad, it's bad. But when it's good, it's actually really great." For levy payers, the question is not whether they like Lee Walker or approve of BIDs in the abstract. It is whether they buy into a vision for this town that he, his board and the organisations they represent, are working towards, and their ability to deliver it. The alternative, if the ballot fails, is not that someone else picks up the work. It is that no one does. ## The bottom line Ipswich is not short of people who will tell you what is wrong with the town. It is considerably shorter of individuals and organisations with the mandate and skill set to do something about it. Whatever your view of BIDs or how Ipswich Central has performed over the past 20 years, the question on the ballot paper this summer is a simple one: is a funded, business-led body – under this current leadership – fighting for Ipswich town centre better than no body at all? Levy payers have until 16 July to decide. It is they who make the decision, but it is the entire town, and anyone who visits it, that will feel the impact of that decision, whatever the outcome, for years to come. 💬 ****Got something you'd like to say about the BID and ballot?** Email them to editor@ipswich.co.uk. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£189 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Plans to turn Great White Horse Hotel into flats to go before planners URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/plans-to-turn-great-white-horse-hotel-into-flats-to-go-before-planners/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T12:39:21.000Z **Why it matters:** The Great White Horse Hotel on Tavern Street is one of Ipswich's most prominent historic buildings. Grade II\* listed and with origins dating to the 16th century, it has been on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register after falling into a long period of decline following its closure as a hotel in 2008\. The proposals would bring it back into active use for the first time in nearly two decades. **The details:** The application, submitted by White Horse Ipswich Ltd – the investment vehicle of developer John Howard and his business partner David Carr – proposes converting the upper floors into 21 residential flats, a mix of one and two-bedroom units, while retaining three existing ground-floor retail units. Community spaces would be created on the ground floor and in two of the hotel's most historically significant rooms: the Dickens Bar and the Trafalgar Room on the first floor. Extensive repair and refurbishment works would be required across the building, including to the roof, windows and wider building fabric, before it could be made habitable. **For context:** The hotel has its origins in the 16th and 17th centuries and is closely associated with the writer Charles Dickens, who stayed there and based an inn in his novel *The Pickwick Papers* on the building. Previous attempts to revive the hotel use have not proved viable. Howard and Carr have also explored the possibility of restoring the building as a 48-room boutique hotel with the support of a Towns Fund grant, but with a grant looking unlikely at this stage, residential conversion is looking most likely. **What they're saying:** Speaking to Ipswich.co.uk, Howard said: "Quality residential town centre developments are the lifeblood of town centres, and the Great White Horse is a great example of what can potentially be achieved to save a very important historic building." Planning officers said the hotel had seen "a long process of decline", particularly in the hotel and hospitality parts of the building, and concluded that the proposals would bring it back into use while causing "less than substantial harm" to its heritage significance – harm they said would be "comprehensively outweighed" by the benefits of the scheme. Historic England raised no objection to the conversion on heritage grounds. **The viability question:** An independent assessor commissioned by the council found the scheme is projected to make a loss of more than £2.6m. As a result, the council has not sought the legal financial contributions – known as Section 106 obligations – that would normally be required from a development of this size, covering costs such as education, public open space and infrastructure. Officers said the viability issues, combined with the importance of bringing the listed building back into use and the council's need to boost housing supply, weighed in favour of supporting the application despite the absence of those contributions. No objections to the plans have been received from residents or consultees. **The bottom line:** Planners are being asked to approve a scheme that would rescue one of Ipswich's most significant historic buildings from further decline – but the projected £2.6m loss means the council will forgo the infrastructure contributions it would normally expect from a development of this scale. While some may take issue with that, most residents we've spoken to would rather see the building restored and bought back into use than remain a blight on the town centre. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk's SEND progress is real – but many families are still waiting URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolks-send-progress-is-real-but-many-families-are-still-waiting/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T07:49:44.000Z ## 'A system that has not worked well for a long time' The starting point matters. In November 2023, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) delivered a damning verdict on Suffolk's special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services: "widespread and/or systemic failings" that left children and young people experiencing delays, crisis-only support, and plans that too often failed to capture their needs accurately. Children with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans in Suffolk were achieving less well than similar pupils nationally, and were more likely to be excluded from school or to find themselves not in education, employment or training. Phone calls and emails went unanswered. Families resorted to complaints — and often legal action — just to access the support their children were entitled to. Two and a half years on, things have changed. The question is whether they have changed enough, and for whom? ## The numbers tell a story A monitoring inspection carried out across three days in March 2026 found a picture that is encouraging, albeit complicated. In March 2026, 80% of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) were completed within the statutory 20-week timeframe — up from just 5% a year earlier, and well above the national average of 46.4%. The average time to complete a new plan has fallen from 46 weeks in May 2025 to 19 weeks and two days. The initial decision on whether to assess a child — which the government expects to be made within six weeks — is now being reached in an average of four weeks in Suffolk, down from five weeks a year earlier. Suffolk County Council has invested £9.1 million into SEND services over three years. A SEND Improvement Board with an independent chair was established. Dozens of new posts were recruited across two phases. A focused 20-week improvement sprint, launched in June 2025, helped clear a backlog that had swelled to nearly 2,000 children. Sharon Muldoon, service director for Education, Inclusion and SEND at Suffolk County Council, explained how the improvement came about. "Every month we will get new requests for assessments, and the clock starts ticking as soon as that request is received," she said. "Because we hadn't always serviced those within 20 weeks, your 20-week delivery is every month worsening because you have got children that might wait 32 weeks, 40 weeks, 50 weeks, 60 weeks, and until you clear those children in the system, your 20-week performance is pulled down." The backlog has now been cleared. "What you have got now in our performance indicators is a live assessment of plans in the system," Ms Muldoon said, "and the majority of those are now in time." Ofsted and the CQC recognised the improvement, concluding that "effective action" had been taken on EHCP timeliness and quality. However, on the second priority area from the 2023 inspection — strategic planning, governance and joined-up working across health, education and the council — the verdict was "ineffective action." ## Two very different experiences There are currently 11,939 children in Suffolk with an EHCP. For some of them, and their families, the system is already working markedly better. For others, the distance still to travel remains significant. Sarah-Jane Smedmor, executive director for children and young people's services at Suffolk County Council, acknowledged the disparity. "Families who are coming into us, new into this process — we are getting really good feedback from many, many families who are saying that they are feeling they are co-producing their child's EHCP through that process," she said. For families who have spent years navigating the system — including through the years of systemic failure the 2023 inspection documented — the picture is more complex. "Of course, our families who came in new to this process are experiencing a different experience, because we did not get this right previously, and we are now," Ms Smedmor said. "For some families, we are able to redress that balance, but not for all, and we are very aware of that." The Ofsted and CQC letter, published this month, confirmed the broader pattern. Parents and carers reported mixed experiences — with some expressing "cautious optimism" while others remained concerned about the pace and consistency of change. Many described ongoing delays, poor communication and plans that lacked the specificity or precision their children needed. Dr Kelly-Marie Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Education at the University of Suffolk, said the timeliness improvements were genuinely welcome but cautioned against reading them as the full picture. "Many families still find themselves having to fight to secure their child's rights, including having needs formally recognised and recorded," she said. "For some, the process remains adversarial and exhausting, particularly for those who experienced the system at its most difficult in recent years." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/image-6-1.png) Kelly-Marie Taylor (Photo: University of Suffolk) Even where an EHCP is secured, she warned, that is not the end of the challenge. "It does not guarantee that the support set out in the plan will be delivered in practice. Too often, children are named for placements that are unable to meet their needs due to wider systemic pressures. In some cases, this means children cannot consistently attend school or are unable to thrive in the environments specified in their plans." One concrete measure of improvement: complaints to the council have reduced, though officials did not provide a specific figure. What they were clear on is that the approach has shifted — problems are being resolved through direct conversation rather than being pushed into formal processes. ## When the plan exists but the place does not Dr Taylor identified a specific and largely hidden pressure point: a chronic shortage of specialist provision, particularly at Key Stage 1\. "It is not uncommon for children to have a specialist placement named in their EHCP that simply does not exist in available capacity," she said. "As a result, families and schools are left managing the gaps between what is written in an EHCP and what can realistically be provided on the ground." The 2023 Ofsted inspection noted that most disabled children and young people requiring residential special school provision were being placed out of county. While capital investment since then has helped more children remain locally, inspectors in March 2026 found that access to and availability of specialist provision remains uneven across Suffolk. Help fund more journalism like this ****Stories like this take time, expertise and resource to produce** If you value independent local journalism that holds institutions to account and gives Suffolk's families a voice, please consider supporting us with a membership for £4.75 a month. [Support our journalism ](#/portal/signup) ## Communication: the persistent challenge If there is one issue that runs through almost every account of what still needs to improve, it is communication. Families have struggled to reach caseworkers. Settings have received information late. Co-ordination between Health, Education and Social Care services has been uneven. "We completely recognise that communication is not sorted," Ms Smedmor said. "It is inconsistent, and that was recognised by Ofsted and the CQC as well. That consistency is the most important bit — that is the bit that we are looking to achieve, so that families feel that is what they are receiving." Part of the answer is structural. The SEND team is being reorganised over the summer, ready for the start of the autumn term. At present, caseworkers carry caseloads spanning children aged two to 24 — a range that Ms Muldoon described as an obstacle to quality. "It is very difficult to have that level of complexity and be able to always write and deliver good plans and a good level of service," she said, "because a two-year-old's needs and plans will be very different from a 24-year-old's." The new model will organise caseworkers into phase-based pods — early years and primary, secondary, and post-16 — with staff developing specialisms and building more sustained relationships with a smaller number of schools. "It will take time for that to embed and to improve to the standard we would really want for our children, families and schools," Ms Muldoon said, "but I am confident that that will be the step change that the system needs." A pre-booking app is also being introduced, allowing families to reserve a 15-minute consultation slot with their caseworker — a direct response to the feedback that making contact has too often been difficult or impossible. Dr Taylor noted that the pressure extends well beyond the council's SEND team into schools themselves. SENDCos and wider school staff, she said, carry a significant burden that goes largely unacknowledged. "Beyond supporting children directly, they are managing complex administrative processes associated with SEND provision. This work extends far beyond pupils with EHCPs to include all children requiring additional support. Despite these pressures, most school staff continue to work tirelessly for the children in their care, often absorbing systemic shortcomings into their day-to-day practice." Asked when a child entering the SEND system in Suffolk could reasonably expect to receive the level of service they deserve, Ms Muldoon responded: "The plans we are working to is that in September we will be moving towards those pods," she said. "We would hope that our practice throughout the next academic year will improve as those pods stabilise." In other words: a meaningful step change within 12 months — but not a quick fix. ## The girls who are harder to identify One of the more troubling details to emerge from the data concerns the significant gender imbalance among children with EHCPs in Suffolk: approximately 70% are boys. Officials at the media briefing this week did not suggest this reflects a genuine difference in prevalence of need. They recognised that the most likely explanation is that girls are more adept at masking their neurodiverse traits, in school and/or home. Consequently, formal recognition, diagnosis, and support is harder to identify and often later. Health professionals noted that this pattern reflects a national failure rooted in decades of medical research conducted predominantly on boys, with diagnostic frameworks that were calibrated accordingly. There is, they suggested, a substantial population of girls in Suffolk — and across the country — with unmet or unidentified needs. The shift towards earlier intervention, a central ambition of the Suffolk partnership's current reform work, is expected to help address this. The challenge is identifying need before it becomes crisis — and doing so in children who may not present in ways the current system is best equipped to recognise. ## The national context Local leaders are candid that there is a limit to how much Suffolk's partnership can achieve on its own. The government's SEND reform programme — which will introduce new Individual Support Plans for all children with SEND needs in schools, and eventually restrict EHCPs to the most complex cases — is seen as the essential next step. "Even if we get to the point where we are completely on top of all of the EHCPs and we are doing everything we need to do, what we know is the system still does not work for children," Ms Smedmor said. "That is the national system. The hope is the SEND reforms." The reforms will be phased in from 2029, with EHCPs reserved for the most complex cases from 2035\. Officials described this as a ten-year change programme — one with no quick wins for the families already in the system. Dr Taylor said the prospect of reform, while widely acknowledged as necessary, carries its own uncertainties. "There is understandable concern among families and professionals about whether the proposed alternatives will offer the same level of protection and guarantee of provision," she said. "At present, this remains uncertain." She also pointed to the planned reorganisation of Suffolk's local government into unitary authorities as an additional risk factor. "These structural changes will inevitably affect how SEND services are delivered. There is hope that progress made so far will not be disrupted, but the risk of instability during transition cannot be ignored." On the question of funding, Dr Taylor cut straight to the point: "The current SEND funding formula does not provide schools with sufficient resources to deliver all elements specified within EHCPs. Schools are therefore required to bridge the gap from already stretched budgets, creating difficult decisions about how best to allocate their limited resources." For now, the partnership has submitted its first draft implementation plan to government. Officials said they are confident they have the funding and staffing needed for the immediate next steps, but were clear that additional resource will be needed as national reform takes shape. Suffolk's new political leadership — Reform UK took control of the county council following May's local elections — has been briefed and, according to Ms Smedmor, council leader Michael Hadwen has been supportive. "It is early days, but he is comfortable with where we are at, and he is very supportive of the work that we are doing," she said. Ed Garratt OBE, chief executive of the NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, said the health partnership remained committed to delivering its part. "We recognise that greater consistency and stronger partnership working are still needed," he said. "We are committed to continuing to work closely across health, education and care to deliver joined-up, easier-to-navigate and high-quality support." ## The opposition view Simon Dowling, the Greens' deputy spokesperson for Children, Young People Education and SEND, said: "It's great to hear that the council is getting a grip on EHCPs and Annual Reviews. This is a significant milestone, and we know that employees in the SEND service are working incredibly hard to keep on top of these given that the need for EHCPs is growing and growing. "The letter is very clear that the Suffolk SEND partnership – which includes the council and health partners – still has much to do, and that action on some of the leadership and governance recommendations has been 'ineffective', which is very worrying considering how long parents have already been waiting for SEND improvement in Suffolk. "It is clearly still a service under enormous pressure," he said, calling on the Reform administration to make improvements "an absolute priority" to ensure that "the improvement continues". ## The bottom line Suffolk's EHCP services are measurably better than they were in November 2023 and positive steps are being taken to address SEND service provision across Suffolk. The people responsible for running them are not hiding from the gaps that remain. The backlog has been cleared. Plans are being completed faster and, in many cases, more accurately. New families entering the system are, for the first time in years, reporting positive experiences. But the inspection verdict is a split one, and the honest assessment — from the officials themselves as much as from the inspectors — is that the families who have waited longest are not yet consistently receiving the service they need. The pod restructuring, the new app and the national SEND reforms may deliver the step change that is promised. For the 11,939 children in Suffolk with an EHCP, and the thousands more who may yet need one, the next 12 months will be telling. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£189 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Five weeks of Pride: Suffolk's fringe festival returns URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/five-weeks-of-pride-suffolks-fringe-festival-returns/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T07:48:18.000Z From a Cornhill kick-off to a sold-out comedy night on the Aldeburgh coast, this year's programme stretches the boundaries of what a Pride festival can look like. The fringe model — built around dozens of smaller events rather than one big day — has become Suffolk Pride's distinctive contribution to the county's LGBTQ+ calendar. ## What makes a fringe Suffolk Pride Fringe Festival is described by organisers as "an alternate version of the large-scale Pride Day, encompassing the pride elements of Protest, Education, Wellbeing, and Celebration." The format, organisers say, "allows neurodivergent and disabled members of our community to better take part versus the one big day". That accessibility-first approach extends beyond pacing. Event spaces are accessible, the majority of events are free or affordably priced, and the programme includes both family-friendly and 18+ options. The 2026 theme is rebirth, represented through the sun — a motif that runs through the festival's branding and programme structure, which divides the five weeks into themed "sun" weeks. ## Beyond Ipswich Although the majority of events take place in Ipswich, this year's programme reaches across the county. Events are scheduled in Felixstowe, Aldeburgh, Woodbridge, Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and Needham Market alongside the county town. That geographic spread is enabled by collaboration. "Being a fringe festival means not all the events are organised by us," organisers explain. "We have collaborated with allies and members of the community, who also wish to highlight where you can find inclusive, queer-friendly events, venues, and safe spaces in Suffolk. This has allowed for most of the events to be free, if not affordably priced." ## Highlights across the five weeks The festival opens on Sunday, 31 May with Pride Blooms at the Cornhill in Ipswich from 16:00— a community gathering at the heart of the town. Week two brings a Presentation Party at CHIp Studios on Monday, 1 June, followed by The Christophers at King Street Theatre on Friday, 5 June, and a Queer Walking Group picnic at the Duck and Teapot in Needham Market on Sunday, 7 June. The Get On The Soapbox spoken word night Words and Verses lands at the New Wolsey Theatre on Monday, 8 June. Hosted by Ipswich poet Amy Wragg, the long-running open mic — now in its 14th year — is described as "a friendly, authentic and welcoming event for writers and performers to share their work, often for the first time." Cinema features prominently too. Blue Jean screens at the Regal in Stowmarket on Tuesday, 9 June. The film follows a closeted gym teacher in 1988 forced to live a double life under a new law stigmatising gay and lesbian people. Layla — the feature debut from drag performer Amrou Al-Kadhi — follows at the Riverside Cinema in Woodbridge on Tuesday, 16 June. Theatre lovers can catch The Importance of Being Oscar at the New Wolsey on Friday, 12 June. The production reimagines Oscar Wilde's life through his own words and those of Irish writer Micheál Mac Liammóir, and is directed by Michael Fentiman. Saturday, 13 June brings Suffolk Roller Derby's Pride Roller Disco at Suffolk New College Sports Centre — one of several events leaning firmly into the festival's celebration pillar. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_7780.jpg) SRD Pride Roller Derby (Photo: Ruben Hackett) The closing week is anchored by Clare Summerskill's comedy show Why God Created Lesbians at The Pumphouse in Aldeburgh on Saturday, 27 June, which is already sold out. The festival closes with a Wellbeing Walk at La Vida in Felixstowe on Sunday, 29 June. Other events on the calendar include Queer Noise at the Black Horse Inn, the Liminal Gaze Collective's Queer Life Drawing at Ipswich County Library, GSM at the Thomas Wolsey, B\*tch and Stitch X Luna Haven at Geek Retreat, and Foxyard Pride at Fred's Bar and Vinyl in Stowmarket. ## What's missing Not everything organisers wanted to deliver has made it into the 2026 programme. "Unfortunately, due to limited funding, we have had to cancel our youth event this year," they say. Two further events are still awaiting funding. Organisers have flagged that the festival remains open to local businesses or sponsors looking to support it. ## How to support Suffolk Pride lists three direct ways to back the festival: donations, sharing posts and information, and taking posters and flyers to distribute. Beyond that, attending events — whether free or ticketed — is itself a form of support, particularly for the collaborating venues and artists. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_8754.jpg) Wellbeing Walk (Photo: Ruben Hackett) The organisation describes itself as "a community organisation that organises LGBTQ+ events in Suffolk," led by Chair Becki and supported by a wider team of volunteers, press, event organisers and finance roles. Its constitution commits it to promoting equality and working "to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity within Suffolk." ## The bottom line Suffolk Pride Fringe Festival 2026 is a five-week, county-wide programme built around the idea that Pride can — and should — be something more than a single day. With most events free or low-cost, accessibility at its core, and a programme stretching from the Cornhill to the Aldeburgh coast, there is plenty for the curious, the committed and the community to discover. [Find out more](https://suffolkpride.org.uk/pride-2026/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£81 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich man jailed for 12 years for raping his neighbour URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-man-jailed-for-12-years-for-raping-his-neighbour/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T10:25:43.000Z **The details:** Keith McKenzie, of Bond Street, Ipswich, was found guilty of two counts of rape by a jury on 23 February 2026 following a five-day trial. He was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, 28 May. The court heard that McKenzie and the victim – a woman aged in her 20s – were neighbours at a block of flats but were not otherwise known to each other. In the early hours of the morning, the victim was awoken by knocking at her front door and called a friend who lived in the same block to assist. When she answered the door, McKenzie asked for a cigarette, which her friend gave him before returning to their own flat. McKenzie then entered the premises despite the victim's objections and raped her, before leaving and threatening her against telling anyone. He was arrested the same morning. **The sentence:** The 12-year term will run consecutively to a sentence imposed last year for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. McKenzie has also been made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register. **What they're saying:** In a Victim Personal Statement read aloud in court, the victim described the lasting impact of the attack. "Emotionally, I feel violated, ashamed, and overwhelmed…I have struggled with guilt, even though deep down I know none of this is my fault," she said. "I wake up each day carrying the weight of something I never asked for and never deserved." DC Victoria McNamara, from the Safeguarding and Investigations Unit and the officer in charge of the case, said: "This was a profoundly distressing incident for the victim, who has shown immense courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation. "What should have been the safest place for her and her child was violated and the impact of that cannot be overstated. Since the incident, the victim has lived in constant fear, struggling with anxiety, sleep disturbance, and a loss of trust." She added: "Offences of this kind will be taken extremely seriously. If you come forward, you will be listened to and supported." **The bottom line:** McKenzie will serve at least 12 years behind bars for the attack, on top of his existing sentence, after a jury found him guilty of two counts of rape. --- If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape or sexual assault, the Suffolk Survivor Pathway offers a single access point to multi-agency support, including six specialist services. Visit [suffolksurvivorpathway.co.uk](https://suffolksurvivorpathway.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) for more information. Always call 999 in an emergency. [Get support](https://suffolksurvivorpathway.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Ashton is a w*nker': Labour council executive's email account 'hacked' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ashton-is-a-w-nker-labour-council-executives-email-account-hacked/ Last updated: 2026-05-28T14:04:49.000Z The email arrived in my inbox at 09:35 on Wednesday, 27 May. It was sent from the official council address of Cllr Alasdair Ross, the council's Portfolio Holder for Housing and the Labour councillor for Rushmere, where Ipswich Town Football Club has recently invested more than £40 million in their training ground. The subject line read "Mark Ashton". The body read: "Ashton is a w\* *nker, Ashton is a w\**nker, la laar, la laar, la laar, la laar, la laar, la laar." Not your typical councillor email, it has to be said. The email arrived on the same day that it was reported that the Football Association was continuing its investigation into Ashton, the chief executive of Ipswich Town Football Club, over chants using derogatory language about former Norwich City majority shareholder Delia Smith during a post-match gathering at Isaacs on the Quay following the club's promotion-clinching win over QPR. ## Cllr Ross's account When approached for comment, Cllr Ross, who has served on the borough council since 2008, replied: "Think you will find that is a hacked email as been in hospital for last month." In a follow-up exchange on Thursday morning, he said he had reported the matter to the council's ICT team and was not aware of any other emails having been sent from his account. "Cyber security is taken very seriously by IBC with a number of logins needed," he added. "I am sure the ICT team will investigate and thank you for making me aware of the issue." Cllr Ross added that, as he had never previously emailed Ipswich.co.uk, "it seems obvious the email is not from me" and questioned whether there was any story to be told here. Help fund more journalism like this Accountability journalism does not happen by accident. It takes time, source work and the willingness to keep asking after the official line has closed the conversation. Ipswich.co.uk is funded by the community. If you want more reporting like this, please consider becoming a member for just £4.75 per month – about two thirds of your average pint. [Support our journalism ](#/portal/signup) ## The council's response We approached Ipswich Borough Council for comment on Wednesday evening, asking whether Cllr Ross's account had been compromised, whether any wider security incident was under investigation, whether the matter had been referred to Suffolk Police or the Information Commissioner's Office, and what steps were being taken in response. A council spokesperson confirmed on Thursday morning that the council had investigated and was satisfied that the email did not come from Cllr Ross. The spokesperson said that the incident appeared to be a one-off, and that no other council accounts had been affected. They confirmed the council uses Microsoft two-factor authentication (2FA) across its accounts. Most significantly, however, was that they wouldn't confirm that the breach would be referred to the Information Commissioner's Office. Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, organisations are required to notify the ICO of personal data breaches "without undue delay" and, where feasible, within 72 hours. Councillors routinely receive correspondence from residents containing personally identifiable and, in many cases, sensitive information. If the email account of a councillor of nearly two decades were compromised, correspondence with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of residents would form part of the data potentially exposed. This particular councillor, as a serving member of the council's executive committee and the Property portfolio holder, will also be privy to a large volume of commercially sensitive information. The council declined to comment further, citing security, saying: "We cannot comment further due to security reasons but can confirm the council has taken the appropriate steps." It is not thought that those appropriate steps include referring the case to the ICO. ## How email accounts get compromised To understand how a council email account protected by two-factor authentication could be used to send an unauthorised message, Ipswich.co.uk approached Craig Starling, Director of local IT and cyber security firm [ICS](https://icshelp.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), for some context. Starling said email accounts were "most often compromised through phishing, weak or reused passwords, malware, with phishing being by far the most common method in business environments". Once an attacker has gained access to an account, Mr Starling explained, they "can immediately use the account like a normal user, reading emails and sending messages, often replies in existing threads, to carry out fraud, impersonation, or internal phishing". On the question of multi-factor authentication, Mr Starling was clear that it is not a guarantee. "MFA can be bypassed through techniques by phishing or exploiting legacy login methods, meaning it reduces risk but doesn't eliminate it," he said. He said the common signs of a compromise included "unusual logins, emails sent without your knowledge, new inbox rules, or reports from others", and that users should "quickly reset passwords, revoke sessions, and notify IT". IT teams investigating a suspected compromise, he added, can usually confirm one "by reviewing login logs, email activity, and security events, using indicators such as unusual locations, suspicious sending patterns, or unauthorised configuration changes". ## What happens next For Ipswich Borough Council, the matter is, in its own view, resolved. The ICT team has investigated, the account is reportedly secure, and no other accounts have been affected. Whether that proves to be the end of the story is another matter. Hacking claims have featured prominently in local politics in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Reform UK's Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket branch said its X and Facebook accounts had been "hijacked by agitators" after a series of posts attacking opposition figures attracted significant backlash. The branch chairman, Cllr Simon Aalders, said that the branch had "been hacked", adding: "We don't know who has access to it, but we do realise this seems to be a lot more systematic." The claim was met with public scepticism from opposition representatives. Andrew Stringer, the county's Green leader, said it was "deeply concerning that Reform UK are now responsible for running education, adult social care, and our highways for the whole of Suffolk, but seems powerless to responsibly administer a simple Facebook page". Richard Rout, the county's Conservative leader, said it "should never have taken widespread community pressure" for the party to act. This is arguably a far more serious issue. Reform UK's branch accounts were on commercial social media platforms; Cllr Ross's account is a council-issued email protected by enterprise-grade authentication. The material at risk is also vastly different: in Reform's case, social media posts containing no sensitive information; in Cllr Ross's case, thousands of emails containing potentially sensitive information. The political pattern is a familiar one, and the public's appetite for taking such explanations at face value appears, on recent evidence, to be limited. Many will now ask if Labour will come under the same scrutiny that their Reform UK counterparts have come to expect. ## The bottom line Ipswich Borough Council says the email did not come from Cllr Ross. The council's ICT team is, by its own account, satisfied. And yet, for an incident the authority has characterised as a compromise of a Microsoft 2FA-protected account held by a sitting executive member, the public is being asked to take a great deal on trust. The council has appeared not to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office, has not said what evidence informed its conclusion, and has declined to comment further. That is likely to raise serious questions from both the public and opposition leaders in the coming days. Ipswich Town FC was approached for comment. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£135 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Pat Bruce-Browne elected as Ipswich's first Black gay female mayor URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/pat-bruce-browne-elected-as-ipswichs-first-black-gay-female-mayor/ Last updated: 2026-05-28T09:47:12.000Z **Why it matters:** Bruce-Browne, who represents the Whitton ward and previously served as deputy mayor, described the moment as "making history" and said her parents – who came to Britain from Barbados and Antigua during the Windrush era – "would have been brimming with pride." Councillor Cathy Frost, the ward member for Hollywells, has been appointed as deputy mayor. **The details:** Bruce-Browne, who was born and raised in London, moved to Ipswich in 2014\. Before entering politics, she set up a club for LGBT people of colour in London and has since become a well-known community figure in the town, founding the Ipswich Reggae Choir and volunteering across a number of local projects. She is also a DJ on Ipswich Community Radio (ICR). During her mayoral year, she will raise money for ActivLives and BME Suffolk Support Group. **What they're saying:** Speaking after her election, Bruce-Browne said: "I will work hard to encourage tolerance, acceptance and inclusion for all, and to make everyone who calls Ipswich their home proud to do so." She paid tribute to her parents, saying: "They came to make a better life for themselves and to help sustain the British economy after the Second World War. My parents would have been brimming with pride and a sense of achievement to see me now being elected as mayor of a town as fantastic as Ipswich." Outgoing mayor Stefan Long, and one of the youngest people to hold the role in 200 years, congratulated his successor, saying: "I'm not sure exactly how many events you have attended, but it's certainly far more than most deputy mayors would have attended." He added: "Ipswich is a town that cares — it's a town that shows up for one another." **The bottom line:** With her election, Pat Bruce-Browne makes history as Ipswich's first Black gay female mayor, with a promise to champion tolerance, acceptance and inclusion for all. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£80 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk New College wins gold at Suffolk Show URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-new-college-wins-gold-at-suffolk-show/ Last updated: 2026-05-28T09:34:27.000Z **Why it matters:** The Suffolk Show attracts around 90,000 visitors every year, granting places like Suffolk New College the opportunity to demonstrate their strengths and value to the rest of the community, while being recognised for their talents. The gold represented a big win for the inclusive learning department, showcasing their work to the wider community. **The details:** The sustainable garden display, made from an upcycled skip, was made by inclusive learning lecturer Sarah Brunning, with the support of staff and students from the department, won gold at the show in Trinity Park. Staff and students also won awards in other events such as livestock classes and floristry designs. **What they're saying:** Director of Animal & Equine and Suffolk Centre for Culinary Arts, Lynsey Wilson, described the day as an “incredible opportunity” to “showcase all of our fantastic courses.” Sarah Brunning said: “Judges told us that we had won the gold award and I’m over the moon. I guess next up could be Chelsea – that would be cool. And we would love to come back to Trinity Park next year and try again.” Learning support practitioner Mark James, who helped with woodwork on the project, said “I’m retiring next week so what a way to go out”. **The bottom line:** With crowds turning up in their thousands, the Suffolk Show presented the perfect opportunity for Suffolk New College to showcase their talent, with Director of Animal & Equine and Suffolk Centre for Culinary Arts, Lynsey Wilson, saying the college "can’t wait to come back next year”. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### George Burley to walk catwalk for charity URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/george-burley-to-walk-catwalk-for-charity/ Last updated: 2026-05-28T07:22:26.000Z **Why it matters:** Cancer Support Suffolk provides vital support to people across the county living with cancer, and the event aims to raise funds to help the charity continue its work. **The details:** The show will take place at the college's Rope Walk campus in Ipswich. All models have either had a cancer diagnosis or work closely with the charity. Hair and beauty students from the college will be helping to prepare the models, while music students will provide entertainment on the night. Local independent pop-up shops will also be in attendance, and guests will be greeted with arrival drinks and nibbles. **What they're saying:** Mark Murphy, chief executive of [Cancer Support Suffolk](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/cancer-support-suffolk/), said: "I am so thrilled that our patron George Burley is going to be modelling for us. The staff and students at Suffolk New College have really embraced the show and will be providing lots of help and support on the night, it's going to be a very emotional evening." [Alan Pease](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/alan-pease/), principal and chief executive of [Suffolk New College](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/suffolk-new-college/), said he has a personal connection to the cause after Cancer Support Suffolk supported his wife Angela following her cancer diagnosis last year. "I know firsthand of the work that Cancer Support Suffolk does thanks to the incredibly brilliant help they gave to my wife Angela," he said. "It is our absolute privilege to support this amazing charity." **The bottom line:** The fashion show brings together the college community and local cancer charity for what organisers describe as "a very emotional evening". --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### CCTV captures suspects behind Princes Street planter vandalism URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/cctv-captures-suspects-behind-princes-street-planter-vandalism/ Last updated: 2026-05-27T14:31:55.000Z **Why it matters:** The planters form part of the council's £1.2 million Town Centre Greening project and were vandalised over the bank holiday weekend, before the council had even completed planting. **The details:** The custom planters and in-ground tree pits, installed between the Cornhill and Giles Circus, were sprayed with graffiti over the bank holiday weekend – before workers had finished planting them. - The Barclays building on Princes Street was also sprayed with graffiti over the weekend, as was the Great White Horse Hotel. - The council has since cleaned the graffiti from the planters, though some can still be faintly seen. - Planting is now complete. **What they're saying:** An Ipswich Borough Council spokesperson said: "Our Town Centre CCTV has picked up clear images of the incident, and we are working with the police to identify those involved." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1455.jpeg) The finished planter with the graffiti removed (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: “The Greener Ipswich project is already enhancing the town centre, improving its attractiveness while delivering environmental, social and economic benefits. “Increasing planting and habitats supports wildlife, improves wellbeing, and encourages people to spend more time in Ipswich. We are seeing real progress in Ipswich, and this greening project is another welcome step in restoring pride in our town.” **The bigger picture:** The Town Centre Greening project, funded by the Towns Fund, covers Princes Street, Queen Street, St Nicholas Street and Wolsey Square. The council says each area has its own character, but a continuity of design will link the spaces together to form a green route through the town centre towards the waterfront. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4473-1.jpeg) Graffiti remains on the Barclays building (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) The scheme includes native tree species, drought-resistant plants, perennial planting, mosses and pollinators and builds on the Council’s new 10-year Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to protect and enhance habitats across Ipswich. **For context:** When the project was announced in February, Cllr Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said the scheme would deliver "environmental, social, health and economic advantages" by "introducing habitats that support birds, insects and other wildlife" and "providing opportunities to improve wellbeing, physical and mental health". Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, said at the time: "Investing in greener, healthier streets will help how our town looks and feels, but it will improve wellbeing, support local businesses, and create public spaces where people want to spend time." **What's next:** The third phase of the project, in St Nicholas Street, is now underway, with work on the final phase at Wolsey Square due to begin in early June. **The bottom line:** The first visible piece of Ipswich's £1.2 million greening scheme is in place – and the council says it has clear CCTV images of those who defaced it within days. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Exclusions for racist, homophobic and disablist abuse on the rise in Suffolk's schools URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/exclusions-for-racist-homophobic-and-disablist-abuse-on-the-rise-in-suffolks-schools/ Last updated: 2026-05-27T07:42:50.000Z Between Autumn term 2020-21 and Spring term 2024-25, Suffolk's state-funded primary, secondary and special schools recorded 908 mentions of abuse linked to race, disability, sexuality or gender identity among the reasons for permanent exclusions and temporary suspensions. The figures, drawn from Department for Education data and analysed by the BBC Shared Data Unit, set the local picture against a national one in which mentions of this kind of abuse rose by 68% across England between Spring term 2021-22 and Spring term 2024-25. Schools can record up to three reasons for each exclusion or suspension, so the figures do not represent individual incidents or individual children. But they offer one of the few available windows on how often prejudicial abuse is being formally logged inside the school gates. A government spokesperson described the national figures as "shocking" and said discrimination had "absolutely no place in our schools". ## What the Suffolk figures show The 908 mentions in Suffolk break down as follows: - 718 linked to racist abuse - 163 to abuse over sexuality or gender identity - 27 to abuse over disability The overwhelming majority were tied to temporary suspensions rather than permanent exclusions: - 714 of the racism-linked mentions - 161 of those linked to sexuality or gender identity - All 27 of the disablist mentions were suspensions A small number of racism-linked cases and a small number of sexuality or gender identity-linked cases — between one and four of each, suppressed in the data to avoid identifying individual children — led to permanent exclusion. None of the disablist mentions did. The figures sit within a wider total of 65,025 suspensions and permanent exclusions recorded in Suffolk schools over the five-year period – a total of 4,570 suspensions per term. If you were to exclude the three pandemic-affected 2020-21 terms, when there were less suspensions due to lower attendance figures, then the average would 5,816 suspensions per term. Not a small number. 💬 If you or your children have experienced prejudicial abuse at school or you work in the education sector, we'd like to talk to you. ****Please email editor@ipswich.co.uk.** By school type, 76% of the prejudice-linked mentions in Suffolk were recorded in secondary schools (687), 21% in primary schools (188) and 3.6% in special schools (33). The primary-school share is meaningfully higher than the national figure of 11%. The data covers Suffolk County Council's area as a whole. The Department for Education does not publish a breakdown for Ipswich separately from the rest of the county. ## "The tip of the iceberg" Charities working in this area caution that exclusion figures, while significant, only capture a fraction of the picture. Martha Boateng, director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said the data made clear that "identity-based bullying" was affecting large numbers of children. "When bullying targets someone's identity, it really gets to the core of who they are," she said. "That can have a massive impact on self-esteem, mental health and overall well-being well into adulthood." Laura Mackay, a former headteacher and chief executive of LGBT+ charity Just Like Us, was more blunt. "The exclusion data is the tip of the iceberg," she said. "That's just where it's become so serious that it's led to an exclusion." "In the playgrounds, in the corridors, in the classrooms at schools you would often hear young people using 'that's gay' as a derogatory term," Mackay said. "Quite often they will pick up on language and use it and not mean it to be homophobic, but — as I know personally from when I was at school — it really hurts when something like that is used to describe something negative." She said the current climate for LGBT+ young people, "specifically trans people, is very, very challenging". "The community feels like it's being used like a political football and the anti-LGBT rhetoric, through the adults around them or social media, that filters down to children." ## What the figures cannot tell us A central problem, according to those interviewed, is that schools in England are not legally required to record incidents of bullying at all — leaving the picture incomplete by design. A spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "There's currently no legal obligation on schools to record pupil-to-pupil bullying but bullying because of a protected characteristic should be dealt with very seriously and schools are required to ensure they do not discriminate in the way they deal with it." The commission has previously recommended improvements to the data on bullying in schools. "More regular collection and monitoring of this data — broken down by protected characteristics — would help schools ensure that every pupil is safe, supported and protected from discriminatory bullying," the spokesperson said. Support more journalism like this Asking the questions that matter, scrutinising data and digging beneath the headlines takes time and resources. Independent local journalism can only exist if readers choose to support it. If you value what we do, please become a member for just £4.75 a month. [Become a member ](#/portal/signup) The European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance has also said that the failure to collect robust data centrally was making it "difficult to develop policies to tackle bullying in a concerted manner". Boateng said the absence of a recording duty meant some schools simply did not know what they were dealing with. "It might be that some children are experiencing bullying more than others — disabled children, children from ethnic minorities, particular sexes — if schools don't have a requirement to capture that data, they won't have a good handle on how they can tackle that bullying." The Anti-Bullying Alliance is among those calling on the government to introduce a duty for schools to record levels of bullying, to incorporate mandatory bullying awareness in teacher training, and to appoint bullying leads in schools. ## Funding cuts and lost contracts Several charities and education specialists pointed to a decade of cuts to anti-bullying and anti-discrimination work as a contributing factor to the national rise. James Kingett, of Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), said the charity had lost local authority contracts as councils repurposed funding under austerity. "A decade ago, it was not uncommon for SRTRC to have service-level agreements with the majority of local authorities in the areas we serve, enabling schools to engage with services free at the point of access," he said. "While some local authorities have remained steadfast in their commitment to ensuring the continuation of this kind of provision, many have been forced to repurpose funding to other areas, as a result of austerity." The charity has not been able to secure central government funding since 2019. Dr Greg Stride, principal researcher at the Local Government Information Unit, set out the wider council finance picture. "Council funding is around 18% lower per person than it was in 2010, meaning much more of the money councils have remaining is going on the services they legally have to provide, such as adult social care, homelessness and SEND," he said. "This leaves less resource for valuable work that isn't legally required, such as outreach or prevention programmes either provided directly by the councils or working in partnership with local community sector organisations. Councils' hands are tied." The Anti-Bullying Alliance itself has been affected. The organisation once reached tens of thousands of teachers a year with its training resources, but now reaches a fraction of that after introducing charges to meet costs. "Schools simply don't have the funding to be able to pay for the training themselves," Boateng said. A Local Government Association spokesperson said: "The partnership between councils and the voluntary and community sector is vital in delivering essential services, strengthening our communities and supporting the most vulnerable families. As part of this partnership, councils support the VCFSE sector with more than £7bn of funding per year. Local government continues to face funding pressures with difficult decisions on a range of spending, including grants, having to be made." The local context in Suffolk is one of significant political and structural change. Reform recently took control of Suffolk County Council in the May 2026 elections, and the county is also moving towards a reorganisation into three unitary authorities by 2028\. It is unclear how – if at all – this may impact funding and strategic focus to address the rise in prejudicial exclusions across the county. ## A wider problem in the playground Beyond funding, those interviewed pointed to a society-wide drift in tone that they said was finding its way into classrooms. Pepe Di'lasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said schools only exclude or suspend pupils as a "last resort" but would not tolerate discriminatory behaviour. He highlighted "inflammatory" social media content and "divisive rhetoric from some politicians and commentators" as factors. "The problems we are seeing are huge societal issues which cannot be solved solely in the classroom. It feels as though we are living in an increasingly abrasive era." Boateng made a similar point about adult behaviour online. "We know children are exposed and see the behaviour adults post online — if we're posting things that are racist, sexist, homophobic, children are going to be watching and seeing that, whether we like it or not." "Children are seeing this rhetoric and therefore it's likely that it will trickle down into school life." Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner, said schools "should be environments free from prejudice, but they do not exist in isolation". "Children need high quality, age appropriate RSHE that starts early and evolves as they mature, so they understand how to treat each other and set clear boundaries both online and offline," she said. Kingett noted that Show Racism the Red Card was now receiving more requests from primary schools where children were using racist language with increasing frequency. He said this often came from a "lack of understanding and without intention to offend" but reflected the "normalisation of the use of such language within some households and local communities". The figures, he added, could be read in more than one way: they showed both that prejudicial abuse was on the rise and that schools were taking it seriously enough to act. ## The government's response A Department for Education spokesperson said: "These figures are shocking. Racism and discrimination have absolutely no place in our schools. Every child deserves to learn in a safe and calm classroom, and we are providing new, expert support to turn things around in hundreds of schools with the biggest behaviour challenges." The spokesperson said the government was taking steps including free breakfast clubs, improved teacher training and "clearer guidance on the use of suspensions" to make sure all teachers had "the clarity and confidence to act swiftly when they need to". The Department for Education has also launched a procurement for an "expert and evidence-led review into best practice on managing pupil behaviour, reducing preventable exclusions and tackling and preventing bullying", and has set out a programme of behaviour support in its recent Schools White Paper. ## The bottom line The Suffolk figures, like those across England, are not a complete picture. Schools record up to three reasons per exclusion, the numbers count incidents rather than children, and — as the country's own equality regulator concedes — there is no legal duty to record bullying in the first place. What the figures do offer is a partial map of what is being formally logged in Suffolk's classrooms, corridors and playgrounds, and the map is not flattering. With anti-bullying charities reaching fewer schools, council budgets squeezed, and a wider public conversation that those working with young people describe as increasingly abrasive, the question for Suffolk's new council administration, its MPs and its school leaders is what they intend to do about it – a question we hope to answer in a follow-up piece. 💬 If you or your children have experienced prejudicial abuse at school or you work in the education sector, we'd like to talk to you. ****Please email editor@ipswich.co.uk.** --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£135 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### £6.2m laser communications lab opens at Adastral Park URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/6-2m-laser-communications-lab-opens-at-adastral-park/ Last updated: 2026-05-27T07:30:53.000Z **Why it matters:** The Quantum Optics Discovery (QOD) Lab is the first facility of its kind in the East of England, with the University of Suffolk set to offer PhD and postdoctoral research opportunities on site. **The details:** At the heart of the lab is a simulator that can recreate weather conditions – including rain, fog and winds up to hurricane force – to test how laser signals perform in real-world scenarios. The facility also includes an optical ground station that project leaders say can connect directly to two satellites currently in orbit, with data relayed back to Adastral Park and to a partner facility at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. **For context:** The project was funded by the UK Space Agency alongside a group of commercial and academic partners, and forms part of the Space East cluster – a regional network bringing together industry, academia and government to develop space and communications technology across the East of England. **What they're saying:** Professor Darryl Newport, project lead and director of the Suffolk Sustainability Institute at the University of Suffolk, said: "The QOD Lab represents a significant opportunity for Suffolk and the East of England to play a vital role in the future testing, research and development of optical communications – technology which will play an increasingly important role in the secure transfer of data and information." Dr Peter Bell, managing director of Adastral Park at BT, said: "Having already delivered the UK's first metro-scale quantum-secure network, this marks an exciting next step. We can now begin developing and testing secure satellite-based quantum communications, including space-to-ground Quantum Key Distribution, a technology designed to keep communications safe from future cyber threats." **What's next:** As well as academic research, the lab will be open to businesses under commercial agreements, offering firms the opportunity to test their own laser communications technology on site. **The bottom line:** The QOD Lab, which officially opened on Thursday, 21 May 2026, gives Adastral Park and the wider region a foothold in an emerging and fast-growing field, bringing potential jobs, investment and research opportunities to Suffolk. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'It saved my life': Ipswich prostate cancer screening event open for bookings URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/it-saved-my-life-ipswich-prostate-cancer-screening-event-open-for-bookings/ Last updated: 2026-05-27T07:30:20.000Z **Why it matters:** Prostate cancer testing is not routinely offered on the NHS to men under 65, but the charity behind the screening event says earlier detection through a simple blood test can save lives – even in men with no symptoms or family history. **The details:** The CHAPS blood screening event will take place at St Augustine's Community Hub Hall, Bucklesham Road, on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 from 17:30 to 20:30. - The event is open to men aged 40 and over - It costs £35 per person, with the money going towards the cost of blood testing - Organisers say each man will be "in and out within 15 minutes" - Bookings can be made via the CHAPS website at chaps.uk.com/events The event is being hosted by Emma Atkinson in support of CHAPS – The Men's Health Charity – and the East Suffolk Prostate Cancer Support Group. **The personal story:** Emma's brother, Chris Spall, was 47 when he attended a CHAPS blood screening event. His results came back abnormal, prompting him to seek further tests from his doctor. Scans and additional blood tests confirmed he had prostate cancer, making him one of the youngest men to be detected with the disease through the CHAPS screening process. He had no family history and no symptoms. Chris chose to have his prostate removed, requiring no further treatment and is now living a "normal" life. **What he's saying:** "It's great that there are these events, so men can get tested – even if they don't have any symptoms or family history," Chris said. "It gives them peace of mind – it simply saved my life." **The bigger picture:** The charity is working with the NHS to gather more information about the disease, with the eventual aim of having testing offered to a wider age range of men. At present, NHS prostate cancer testing is routinely available to men aged 65 and over, though the organisers say some men are still being refused a test. Even where prostate cancer is detected, the charity says it can be treated and monitored through regular blood tests. **The bottom line:** A simple 15-minute blood test in Ipswich next month could give local men the same early warning that, in Chris Spall's case, made all the difference. [Find out more](https://chaps.uk.com/events?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### St George's Cross replaces Ukraine flag at Endeavour House URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/st-georges-cross-replaces-ukraine-flag-at-endeavour-house/ Last updated: 2026-05-26T15:14:09.000Z **Why it matters:** The Ukraine flag had flown at Endeavour House for four years. Suffolk County Council administers the Homes for Ukraine programme, under which 1,100 Ukrainians remain in the county. **What they're saying:** Council leader Cllr [Michael Hadwen](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/michael-hadwen/) said: "We are proud to fly the flag of England and celebrate our national identity, heritage, and the communities we serve. The St George's Cross is an important symbol of our country." Explaining the decision to remove the Ukraine flag, Cllr Hadwen said: "When the Ukraine flag was first raised, it reflected a moment of solidarity during an extraordinary international crisis. That support for the Ukrainian people continues, as does our support for Ukrainians living in Suffolk. After four years, however, we believe it is right that the council's flagpoles should once again focus on flags representing our nation and our county." He added: "Our decision to fly the St George's Cross is not a statement against the people of Ukraine, nor does it diminish the solidarity and support Ukrainians in Suffolk have received from this council and local residents in recent years." Speaking to passersby outside Endeavour House, one woman said: "I'm not sure if it is the position of any building that belongs to the government to put a sign on who they are supporting or not. Any flag, unless it's a UK flag, don't think it's appropriate". Another called it "disgusting," saying, "We aren't going in the right direction, are we? We should be supporting the Ukrainians, definitely. And at the end of the day, we fly a flag of support". **What the opposition says:** Green group leader Cllr [Andrew Stringer](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/andrew-stringer/), who leads the official opposition on Suffolk County Council, said the decision was made without discussion. "It is deeply concerning that so soon after taking power at Suffolk County Council, Reform UK have unilaterally removed the Ukrainian flag from outside Endeavour House, the council's headquarters without discussion," he said. "The UK has really got behind the Ukrainians in their struggle against illegal Russian occupation in the last few years, and Suffolk residents have welcomed them, into our community and literally into their homes. Anyone with any imagination can empathise with how it might feel to have to flee your home when it becomes a war zone, and you and your family are no longer safe. I'm proud of the generosity Suffolk has shown." Cllr James Patchett, a newly elected Green councillor and Armed Forces Champion at Mid Suffolk Council, said: "Flags of all colours, including our own, remain a contentious issue in modern Britain. So, whilst I am not surprised to see the flag of another nation removed from local authority buildings, I am disappointed. "Suffolk has stood in solidarity with Ukraine since the start of the invasion by Russia. This has been seen in our towns and villages across the county, accepting over 1,700 refugees, of which 1,100 still remain under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. I would ask the administration in SCC to spare a thought for those Ukrainians in our county who may now feel unsupported. With the war in Ukraine intensifying, support from our local leaders is required more now than ever." The Leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group, Cllr Richard Rout, said: “It’s hugely disappointing and divisive that one of Reform UK’s first acts controlling the County Council is to take down the Ukrainian flag, which has flown here since Russia’s illegal invasion. It would have been quite possible to install an additional flagpole to fly the St George’s Cross, had they wished to do so. “Reform’s leader in Suffolk famously said, ‘Russia is not my enemy’ - it hasn’t taken long for him to prove this. Clearly, he doesn’t stand with Ukraine and is no friend of the displaced Ukrainian families that now call Suffolk home. "Russian groups continue to target the UK and our interests, including through direct attacks on UK council websites, and we now have a council leader who seemingly wants to turn a blind eye to it. “In Essex, Reform UK at least had the courtesy to try to find a new home for the Ukrainian flag and attempted to liaise with the Ukrainian community. In Suffolk, no such steps have been taken, and we’re simply told the flag is being stored by the council’s facilities management team.” **The bigger picture:** Suffolk is not the only council where this has happened. Earlier this month, Essex County Council also removed the Ukraine flag from outside County Hall in Chelmsford, replacing it with a second Union Flag. Essex council leader Peter Harris said the move did not "diminish the support and generosity that Essex residents have shown the people of Ukraine since 2022." However, the decision drew criticism from the Conservative opposition, whose leader Lee Scott said it sent "the wrong message" and risked "importing the language and instincts of pro-Kremlin politics" into the county. **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council says the change reflects a return to flying flags representing national and county identity, but opposition councillors say the decision was made unilaterally and risks sending the wrong message to the 1,100 Ukrainians still living in Suffolk under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New town centre planters vandalised over bank holiday URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-town-centre-planters-vandalised-over-bank-holiday/ Last updated: 2026-05-26T12:41:34.000Z **Why it matters:** The planters form part of Ipswich Borough Council's £1.2 million Town Centre Greening project – a stripped-back version of the Ipswich Oasis project that aimed to create a green corridor connecting the town centre and waterfront. **The details:** The first wave of custom planters has been installed between the Cornhill and Giles Circus – just off Princes Street – and Queen Street, bringing new trees, drought-resistant greenery and seating to the area. - The planters were vandalised before workers could complete the planting, which is being finished today. - The Barclays building on Princes Street was also sprayed with graffiti over the weekend. Tags indicate it was the same person or people. **The bigger picture:** The Town Centre Greening project, funded by the Towns Fund, covers Princes Street, Queen Street, St Nicholas Street and Wolsey Square. The council says each area has its own character, but a continuity of design links the spaces together to form a green route through the town centre towards the waterfront. The scheme includes native tree species, drought-resistant plants, perennial planting, mosses and pollinators. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4470.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4472.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4473.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4474.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4475.jpeg) The Barclays building was also sprayed (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** A spokesperson at Ipswich Borough Council, said: “We are disappointed that the planters have been graffitied and are taking steps to address this as quickly as possible. We are currently liaising with our suppliers to confirm which cleaning products are appropriate, ensuring that any treatment will not damage the planter finish. “Despite this, we are very pleased with the positive feedback our teams are receiving about Greener Ipswich, particularly in how the planters are starting to look.” **What's next:** Planting work on Princes Street is being completed today. The council will look to remove the graffiti at the earliest opportunity. Suffolk Police have been approached for comment. **The bottom line:** Designed to make the town centre greener and more inviting, the new planters were instead given an unwelcome welcome – tagged with graffiti before the last plant was even in the ground. If anyone has any information about who was responsible for the vandalism, please contact us. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### One Big Multicultural Festival returns to Alexandra Park URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/one-big-multicultural-festival-returns-to-alexandra-park/ Last updated: 2026-05-26T07:56:09.000Z **Why it matters:** The festival has become one of Ipswich's most popular annual events, drawing more than 5,000 visitors each year and bringing together communities from across the town and beyond. **The details:** The free festival is organised by award-winning charity BSC Multicultural Services in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council. Organisers say this year's event will be the biggest yet, with an expanded programme featuring local, national and internationally recognised artists. Visitors can expect: - A stage line-up of live music and dance - International food from around the world - A children's funfair and family activities - Traditional sports including Kabaddi - Face painting, henna art and community stalls ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/3-3-1.png) Food from around the world will be available (Photo: Ipswich Entertains) **What they're saying:** Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "We're delighted to once again support this year's One Big Multicultural Festival, which has become a firm favourite in Ipswich's events calendar with something for all ages – residents and visitors alike." He added: "Our town's rich diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and this festival is a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate everything that makes Ipswich such a vibrant and inclusive place." **For context:** BSC Multicultural Services says it supports people from more than 50 nationalities in Ipswich each year. **What's next:** Details of performing acts will be released on the festival website in due course at [www.ipswichentertains.co.uk/multicultural-festival](http://www.ipswichentertains.co.uk/multicultural-festival?ref=ipswich.co.uk). **The bottom line:** With an expanded programme and growing audience, the One Big Multicultural Festival is shaping up to be a key date in Ipswich's summer calendar. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### University of Suffolk wins triple at national student awards URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/university-of-suffolk-wins-triple-at-national-student-awards/ Last updated: 2026-05-26T07:55:29.000Z **Why it matters:** The Whatuni Student Choice Awards are judged entirely on the views of current students. More than 42,000 student reviews informed this year's winners. **The details:** The University of Suffolk took gold in three categories at the ceremony in London, including Lecturers and Teaching Quality, Postgraduate students' experiences and International students' experiences. It is the second year running the University has won the Lecturers and Teaching Quality award. Last year, it also took home University of the Year and Student Support prizes. **What they're saying:** [Professor Jenny Higham](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/professor-jenny-higham/), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, said: "To come away with three awards from this year's Whatuni Student Choice Awards is a tremendous achievement. We would like to extend our thanks to all of our students whose reviews contributed to us winning these awards. "We strive to provide an exceptional student experience for all of our learners at Suffolk, and these awards demonstrate the satisfaction our students have with their experience." Simon Emmett, UK chief executive of IDP Education, which operates the Whatuni platform, said: "Student feedback shows that the University of Suffolk shines for outstanding levels of teaching and for across-the-board student support." **The bigger picture:** The University's postgraduate offering has grown in recent years, with the launch of the MSc Financial Technology course last autumn and further new postgraduate courses launching this September. Its international recruitment has also expanded significantly, growing from a focus on three target countries to a worldwide approach spanning 17 key countries alongside broader global demand. **The bottom line:** Back-to-back triple gold wins at the UK's most student-driven awards place the University of Suffolk among the country's most highly rated institutions for student experience. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### What we learnt from Reform's Suffolk County Council debut URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/what-we-learnt-from-reforms-suffolk-county-council-debut/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T16:42:15.000Z The mood inside the King Edmund Chamber on Thursday, 21 May, was unlike that of any recent council meeting at Endeavour House. It was, by any measure, a chaotic start to life in the chamber for the new administration – full of bravado, drama and debate. And for many, it will do nothing to ease fears that, over the next two years, Suffolk will become an increasingly divided county and political plaything. It started with the appointment of a new chairman and vice chairman. Councillor Louis Busuttil, who represents Reform in the Mildenhall division and previously served as Deputy Chair of Suffolk County Council before retiring in 2021, was elected Chairman. Councillor Kerrie Turner, the new member for Cornard & Sudbury East, was elected Vice-Chairman. Councillor Busuttil named the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service as his chosen charity, describing them as "an extraordinary group of volunteers." If yesterday was anything to go by, they will have their work cut out for them. ## A new leader Michael Hadwen, the newly elected councillor for Felixstowe Clifflands, was formally elected as Leader of Suffolk County Council by 38 votes to 27, with two abstentions. Worth noting Reform has 41 seats. At 28, he becomes the youngest leader in the authority's history and the first from Felixstowe – a point he was keen to land. In his maiden speech, the self-described "Felixstowe boy" set out six guiding principles for the administration: being transparent with residents, delivering value for taxpayers, protecting frontline services, supporting sustainable growth, reforming how the council operates, and focusing relentlessly on delivery. "There will be difficult decisions ahead," Councillor Hadwen told the chamber. "There will be moments when we are tested, and moments when we will undoubtedly face criticism. But I give this chamber and the people of Suffolk this commitment today: This administration will always put Suffolk first." It was a confident speech, and if there were any nerves, they didn't show. He paid tribute to his predecessor, Councillor Matthew Hicks, acknowledging that he had "led this council during an extraordinarily difficult and uncertain period for local government". ## An unpopular appointment While Busuttil's appointment as chair seemed to go down well in the chamber, Hadwen's was universally condemned by opposition leaders. A point of order raised by the leader of the opposition forced the Chairman to open a debate on Councillor Hadwen's past social media posts, with challenges coming from across the chamber. The posts, first reported by Ipswich.co.uk, date from 2016 and 2018\. In April 2018, around a month after the Salisbury poisonings, he wrote that "Russia is not my enemy" and that "we should be working with them". In the same month, he stated that "Enoch \[Powell\] was right, just behind the times" — a reference to the late Conservative MP whose 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech caused major controversy. In 2016, he said that if elected as an MP, he would hire Milo Yiannopoulos, who resigned from Breitbart in 2017 after video clips circulated in which he stated that sexual relationships between 13-year-old boys and adults could be "perfectly consensual", as his PR Manager. Opposition councillors called on Councillor Hadwen to distance himself from the remarks. He did not. Councillor Richard Rout, the new leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group, said afterwards that the silence was "a huge shame". "This wasn't just a single comment; it is a pattern of behaviour that scares and alienates people across Suffolk," he said. "Not least the Ukrainian residents who now call our county home due to Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine." "Given these comments were made some time ago, we thought it only fair, in the light of the huge public and staff outcry at these remarks, to give the new leader the opportunity to publicly address his past comments and distance himself from them. That he chose not to do so, and remained silent, is a huge shame as it was a real opportunity for a fresh start with our communities and council staff." ## A new-look cabinet There was much anticipation across the county about who Hadwen would give cabinet positions to. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/cabinet-2.JPG) Leader Michael Hadwen and the new County Council cabinet (Photo: Suffolk County Council) Former Conservative Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton was named Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care. He was keen to publicly state his support for Hadwen, contesting our reporting of his failed bid to become council leader in his maiden speech as Deputy, and making it clear he fully supports Hadwen's appointment. - Vicky Armstrong takes on Finance, Economic Development and Efficiency. - Simon Aalders will lead Children's Services. - Tony Gould will oversee Education and SEND. - Christopher Hudson, the 14-year council veteran who was passed over for the leadership earlier this month, was given Transport and Highways – a notable and potentially significant appointment given his staunch opposition to a northern bypass. - Tristan Gale takes on Planning, Devolution and the Fire Service. - June Mummery, the former MEP who joined the council in March, leads on Coastal Affairs, Communities and Public Health. - And Morgan Brobyn, who works in the poultry industry, takes Food, Waste and Rural Affairs. ## Translation services If the debate over Hadwen's suitability for the leader role set the tone, the Green's translation services motion crystallised it. Councillor Andrew Stringer, leading the 13-strong Green Group as the new official opposition, used his party's first motion to contest claims by Reform that Suffolk County Council was spending too much on translation services, and that those translation services were for those who "refuse to integrate". The motion, in full, read: "This council values the translation service work carried out on behalf of Suffolk County Council." It was defeated, with Hadwen stating that he would not tolerate "political stunts" under his leadership. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/andrew-stringer.jpeg) Councillor Andrew Stringer (Photo: Joao Santos/LDRS) "It is deeply concerning that at the first opportunity, the Reform-led county council votes against valuing the translation services that help unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, Homes for Ukraine guests as well as providing sign language for residents with hearing impairment," Councillor Stringer said. "We were accused of pulling a political stunt for merely trying to hold Reform to account for the divisive language in their election literature. We asked them to stand by their claim that those in receipt of these services are 'refusing to integrate'." The Green Group has pointed out that the funding largely supports social care services for children and vulnerable adults, those seeking sanctuary from Ukraine, and deaf residents needing British Sign Language support. The decision to vote down the motion produced a united uproar from the opposition benches. "The statement about the spend on translation services was one of the few items on Reform UK election literature that actually related to services provided by Suffolk County Council," Councillor Stringer added. "It's therefore a fair thing to ask them about." ## The Northern Bypass The day's other flashpoint was Labour's motion on the Ipswich Northern Bypass — and it produced one of the most consequential moments of the meeting. The motion, proposed by Labour group leader Councillor Martin Cook and seconded by Councillor Colin Kreidewolf, committed the council to reaffirming support for a Northern Bypass, working with district authorities to protect potential route alignments, immediately restarting work on a preferred route, and setting a timetable for submitting a Strategic Outline Business Case to Government by 30 September 2026. It was substantially amended by Councillor Julia Ewart, the independent for Saxmundham & District, seconded by Reform UK's Councillor Tony Love for Felixstowe Maritime, and further amended by Councillor Mason of the Conservative party, stripping out the route protection commitment, removing the September timetable, and broadening the scope of the review to include a southern or estuarial crossing and a tunnelled Orwell crossing. The amendment also added requirements that any future assessment consider environmental impact, agricultural land loss, biodiversity, carbon impact, and future electricity transmission demand associated with the Port of Felixstowe. The brief is now held by Councillor Christopher Hudson, who lives in Framlingham and voted against reviving the Northern Bypass project when the previous Labour-led motion came to the council last summer. Ipswich MP, Jack Abbott, who has campaigned for the project's revival at local and national level, was scathing, saying: "Labour's proposals to finally get the Ipswich Northern Bypass project moving had clear objectives and timelines, but Reform UK have done a deal with independent councillors to try and make the delivery of this vital infrastructure impossible," he said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-NiIAp0ULTx-0TzbUntY0-A-1775136261602.jpg) Ipswich MP Jack Abbott (Photo: Office of Jack Abbott) "Residents deserve better than policy being drawn up on the back of a fag packet. Running a council is a serious business, but Reform UK's first act has shown how out of their depth they are." Councillor Cook said it "beggar's belief that the first act of Reform UK on Suffolk County Council is to sabotage progress on the Ipswich Northern Bypass." "They have hollowed out a Labour motion in support of the Bypass to strip out protections for route options, remove delivery timelines, and bring back fantasy tunnel schemes. Meanwhile, congestion in Ipswich and Felixstowe keeps making life more difficult for residents and businesses." The decision all but kills any hope of plans for a northern bypass progressing under this administration in the next two years. ## Local government reorganisation The final other piece of substantive business was the administration's stated intention to challenge the Government's Local Government Reorganisation decision, which will see Suffolk's existing two-tier structure replaced with three unitary authorities from 1 April 2028. "The proposal to divide Suffolk into three unitary councils risks weakening services, increasing costs and undermining the historic identity of our county," Councillor Hadwen told the chamber. "Most importantly, we believe it poses serious risks to some of the most vital services we provide, particularly children's services, adult care and SEND provision." "Residents did not ask for this upheaval, and it is our duty to examine every option available to fight for and protect the county we serve." He, again, claimed that residents do not want LGR, but all conversations we've had on the topic indicate that isn't the case, and that while there is plenty of debate over one versus three unitary councils, there is widespread support for change. The administration is expected to set out the formal basis of its legal challenge in the coming days. Opposition leaders have already raised concerns about the cost and legal merit of such an action, with Councillor Rout warning that "not liking a decision is not grounds for judicial review" and Councillor Neil MacDonald, Labour Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, describing the proposed challenge as a "waste" of taxpayers' money. Sources close to the matter have said that the challenge is "very unlikely" to succeed, putting the challenge at odds with Hadwen's commitment to putting Suffolk first, reducing council waste and protecting taxpayers' money. ## Hudson's backtrack on councillor training Among the many moments that drew strong reaction from the chamber was Councillor Hudson's backtrack on remarks he made to the BBC during the leadership contest, when he said councillors would need six months to learn how to do the job. He played those comments down in the chamber, much to the dismay of opposition councillors who pointed to the remarks as evidence of the administration's inexperience and accountability. ## The bottom line It would be premature to draw any conclusions about Reform's leadership and administration from yesterday's AGM. Opposition leaders are right to demand visibility on local strategy, but the Reform administration must be given the time to communicate it. The years ahead will be shaped not by the noise of a first meeting, but by what the administration delivers for the residents who voted them in. For now, both sides know where the battle lines sit. The question is whether the chamber can rise above the politics to deliver the progress Suffolk needs. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£324 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Refuse to integrate' row: Reform rejects translation services motion URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/refuse-to-integrate-row-reform-rejects-translation-services-motion/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T11:23:23.000Z **Why it matters:** The £283,000 translation budget is primarily spent on statutory services the council is legally required to provide. These include written translations and spoken interpreting, British Sign Language support for deaf residents, assistance for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and support for Ukrainian families accepted into the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Refusing to fund them would not be a legal option. **The details:** The leaflet, which was sent to thousands of homes, reads: "The finances of Tory-run Suffolk Council are a mess. The CEO is paid £192,000 per year, £20,000 more than the Prime Minister. £537,000 spent on debt interest payments every single week. £283,000 spent on translation services for those who refuse to integrate." **The motion:** The Greens, now the official opposition at Suffolk County Council with 13 councillors, tabled a motion at yesterday's full council meeting asking councillors to state their support for the authority's translation services. The motion fell by 38 votes to 30, with Reform voting against the motion. **What they're saying:** New Reform county council leader Michael Hadwen called it a "political stunt" and stressed to the chamber that political stunts wouldn't be tolerated under his leadership. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/andrew-stringer-2.jpeg) Green opposition leader Andrew Stringer (Photo: Joao Santos/LDRS) Councillor Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green Group, said Reform UK had used a "cheap, dog whistle tactic" to "marginalise a whole group of people," adding that the motion was a straightforward attempt to hold the new administration to account. "It is deeply concerning that at the first opportunity, the Reform-led county council votes against valuing the translation services that help unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, Homes for Ukraine guests, as well as providing sign language for residents with hearing impairment," he said. "We were accused of pulling a political stunt for merely trying to hold Reform to account for the divisive language in their election literature. We asked them to stand by their claim that those in receipt of these services are 'refusing to integrate'." Councillor Beccy Hopfensperger, a former cabinet member for adult social care, said Reform's election leaflets made for "eye-catching slogans" but were "far from reality." She added: "Translation services are not about encouraging separation — they are about fairness, safeguarding, dignity and ensuring people can access the support they need." **The other side:** Reform councillors said the motion was "playing political games" and refused to address why the claim in their election literature had been made or distance themselves from it. Councillor Simon Aalders, the newly appointed cabinet member for children's services, said his party would not engage with the "stunt" and would vote the motion down — drawing audible gasps from the chamber. "We're focused on delivering efficient, high-quality services for the residents of Suffolk and not on wasting time on this sort of posturing," he said. **The bottom line:** Reform UK voted against the motion, vowing to reduce council waste. The council remains legally required to provide translation services. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£53 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Continued disregard' for road law lands driver in jail URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/continued-disregard-for-road-law-lands-driver-in-jail/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:54:19.000Z **Why it matters:** Driving while disqualified and without insurance remains a persistent problem on Suffolk's roads, and police say custodial sentences reflect the seriousness of these offences. **The details:** Thomas Gillingham, 21, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 20 May, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment for driving while disqualified and driving without motor insurance. - Roads policing officers spotted Gillingham driving a Ford Ranger at The Beeches, Little Blakenham, at approximately 18:15 on Tuesday, 19 May. - He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving while disqualified. - He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning before being charged with both offences. **What they're saying:** PC Alexander Fletcher from the Roads Armed Policing Team said: "Gillingham's continued disregard for road traffic law has resulted in a custodial sentence, reflecting the seriousness of these offences. "Driving whilst disqualified and without insurance puts other road users at risk. We will continue to work to keep our roads safe and take action against those who choose to ignore the law." **The bottom line:** Suffolk Police say the sentence sends a clear message that those who repeatedly ignore road traffic laws can expect to face the full consequences in court. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Concern grows for missing 21-year-old last seen in Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/concern-grows-for-missing-21-year-old-last-seen-in-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T14:14:25.000Z **The details:** Suffolk Police are appealing for help to find the 21-year-old, who is missing from Ipswich. - Joe is described as 5 feet 9 inches (1.75m) tall with short brown hair and facial stubble. - Police say they are concerned for Joe's welfare and are asking anyone who has seen him or knows where he is to get in touch. **How to help:** Anyone with information can contact Suffolk Police by: - Reporting a sighting via the [Suffolk Police website](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/ro/report/mp/v3.1/add-something-reported-missing/report-a-sighting-of-a-missing-person/report-sighting-of-missing-person-form/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) - Calling 101 - Using the Live Chat service on the Suffolk Constabulary website **The bottom line:** In an emergency, always call 999. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Police hunt absconded prisoner with Suffolk links URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-hunt-absconded-prisoner-with-suffolk-links/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T12:54:22.000Z Loveridge is serving an 11-year and eight-month sentence for causing death by dangerous driving and attempted robbery, and police have warned members of the public not to approach him. - Police say Loveridge has connections to Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. - He is described as white, of medium build and approximately 5ft 9ins (175cm) in height. Members of the public are advised not to approach him and should call police on 999 immediately if they see him, quoting crime reference 37/28856/26. Anyone with information about Loveridge's whereabouts is asked to contact Suffolk police on 101. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Reform to explore tunnel and estuarial crossing as northern bypass alternatives URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-blocks-northern-bypass-motion-at-first-council-meeting/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T17:24:15.000Z **Why it matters:** Every time the Orwell Bridge closes — whether for maintenance or due to high winds — around 60,000 vehicles a day are forced onto alternative routes. This brings parts of the road network to a standstill. Businesses suffer, workers are stranded, and residents miss medical appointments. **What was debated:** Labour's Councillor [Martin Cook](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/martin-cook/) brought a motion calling on the council to commit to four specific actions: - Reaffirm that a northern bypass should be built - Work with Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and East Suffolk District Council to protect potential route alignments through the planning process - Immediately restart stalled work on determining a preferred route - Submit a Strategic Outline Business Case to government by 30 September 2026 An amendment — backed by the new Reform UK administration and supported by independent councillor Julia Ewart for Saxmundham and District — replaced those specific commitments with a broader instruction to consider all possible options, with a report to go to cabinet by September. The amendment was passed. **For context:** According to Labour, the previous Conservative administration adopted a "do nothing" approach to the northern bypass. Last summer, Labour councillors secured a commitment from the then-Conservative-led council to revive the project, but say no progress was made. Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has campaigned for the bypass at both a local and national level. Mark Ling, a long-time campaigner for a northern bypass, said: "For 50 years, we've watched this backward, largely rural-led county council both take for granted and fail to protect these hard-won assets." He pointed to Norfolk as a comparison: "Up the road, Norfolk backs its regional centre of Norwich and has secured a near-full orbital — this for a city identically sized to Ipswich, but without the responsibility or burden for Britain's most important port." **The 2020 study:** Councillor Cook told the chamber that the council completed a detailed assessment of 32 options for addressing Ipswich's transport problems in 2020\. The study ranked these, and the top five were all variants of a northern route, including doing nothing at all, which ranked last. A tunnel under the River Orwell, which is estimated to cost around three times as much as a bypass, ranked second-to-last, and a new bridge, third-to-last. Labour leaders argue that the 2020 study had already done the work, and that the evidence pointed clearly towards a northern route. Councillor Cook made three specific arguments against the amendment: - **Time is running out.** The council has roughly 12 months before local government reorganisation begins to erode its decision-making powers. He argued the amendment squandered that window. - **No business case means no funding.** Without a business case submitted by September, there is no prospect of securing government funding for any bypass scheme. - **Route protection is at risk.** The 2020 study identified specific corridors where a northern route could run. Without the council formally committing to protect those corridors, district councils could approve developments along them in the meantime — effectively closing off those options for good. **The other side:** Conservative Councillor Elaine Bryce argued that: "The northern bypass is a concept. It is not a solution. There is no route, there is no credible funding plan, there is no business case." Three specific objections were raised: - **It is not funded and cannot be.** There is no agreed route, no credible funding plan and no business case that has withstood scrutiny. - **It requires tens of thousands of new homes.** The previous business case required around 15,000 new homes on top of existing local plan allocations to make the numbers work. Some councillors suggested that figure could now be as high as 45,000 — homes that would need to be built on countryside to the north of Ipswich, in areas that have previously resisted such development. - **Public support is weaker than it appears.** One councillor noted that a 2019 petition against a northern bypass attracted 4,500 signatures — more than the roughly 3,000 signatures on the current petition in favour. Green and some Liberal Democrat councillors argued that the answer to Ipswich's congestion problems lies not in new roads but in investing in public transport. They called for investment in rail freight — arguing that getting more lorries off the road should come before building new roads for them to drive on — alongside improvements to rail links and walking and cycling infrastructure. Some councillors raised health concerns about vehicle emissions in communities along the A14 corridor, arguing that a bypass could increase traffic on other parts of the national network rather than reduce overall congestion. The Upper Orwell Crossings — a government-backed scheme designed to add capacity within the existing network — was raised by several speakers as a credible alternative that has already been developed but has so far failed to secure government funding. **What they're saying:** Jack Abbott MP said: "Labour's proposals to finally get the Ipswich Northern Bypass project moving had clear objectives and timelines, but Reform UK have done a deal with independent councillors to try and make the delivery of this vital infrastructure impossible. "Residents deserve better than policy being drawn up on the back of a fag packet. Running a council is a serious business, but Reform UK's first act has shown how out of their depth they are." Councillor Martin Cook, leader of the Labour Group, said: "It beggars belief that the first act of Reform UK on Suffolk County Council is to sabotage progress on the Ipswich Northern Bypass. "They have hollowed out a Labour motion in support of the bypass to strip out protections for route options, remove delivery timelines, and bring back fantasy tunnel schemes. Meanwhile congestion in Ipswich and Felixstowe keeps making life more difficult for residents and businesses." Councillor Julia Ewart, the independent councillor for Saxmundham and District who backed the Reform UK amendment, said she saw it as a way to "enhance the motion" rather than replace it, adding: "I would have done this regardless of any party." She described the issue as one of "local and national significance." Councillor Tony Love, who seconded the amendment, said the amendment "does not preclude nor favour any solution" and warned that putting Felixstowe's commercial viability at risk would "damage the town irretrievably." He called for a "forensic examination of local, national and environmental concerns," arguing that Ipswich and Felixstowe "must be a reliable and accessible destination" and criticised previous administrations for failing to act, calling it "negligent." **What's next:** The matter now goes to cabinet, with an officer report expected by the end of September. That report will set out the full range of options, their costs, planning implications, financial exposure and community impacts, before the council is asked to take a firm position. **The bottom line:** Suffolk County Council has kicked the decision on Ipswich's transport future to cabinet. With a report expected after summer, the northern bypass remains in limbo. 📝 ****Correction:** At the time of publishing, we incorrectly attributed the following to Cllr Julia Ewart: "**She said the amendment "does not preclude nor favour any solution" and warned that putting Felixstowe's commercial viability at risk would "damage the town irretrievably"* and *"criticised previous administrations for failing to act, calling it 'negligent.'"* This should have been attributed to Tony Love, and it has now been changed accordingly. We also amended the headline to more accurately reflect the story. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£53 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Reform's Michael Hadwen elected as Suffolk County Council leader URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reforms-michael-hadwen-elected-as-suffolk-county-council-leader/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T09:38:14.000Z **Why it matters:** The vote marks the first change of administration at Suffolk County Council in years and puts Reform in control of the authority following the May elections, with the new leader pledging to put "Suffolk first" and reform how the council operates. **The details:** Cllr Hadwen was appointed leader at the council's annual general meeting on Thursday, 21 May, and elected with 38 votes in favour (despite Reform having 41 seats on the council), 27 against and two abstentions. - He won what was understood to be a three-way leadership contest with former Conservatives Christopher Hudson and Philip Faircloth-Mutton. - In nominating Cllr Hadwen, Cllr Faircloth-Mutton referenced Ipswich.co.uk's earlier reporting on his own interest in the leadership, saying he had instead been working in partnership with Cllr Hadwen. - Cllr Louis Busuttil, Reform UK councillor for the Mildenhall division, was elected chairman of the council for the coming year, with Cllr Kerrie Turner elected as vice-chairman. **What they're saying:** In his first speech as leader, Cllr Hadwen said the new administration would focus on "services that work better, councils that live within their means, less bureaucracy, more accountability, and leadership that prioritises the people of Suffolk." He added: "There will be difficult decisions ahead. There will be moments when we are tested, and moments when we will undoubtedly face criticism. But I give this chamber and the people of Suffolk this commitment today: This administration will always put Suffolk first. "We will work hard. We will be honest with residents. We will respect taxpayers' money. And we will give ourselves fully to the responsibility the people of Suffolk have entrusted to us – because Suffolk deserves nothing less." The new leader pledged that the administration would: - Be transparent with residents - Deliver value for taxpayers - Protect frontline services - Support sustainable growth - Reform how the council operates - Focus relentlessly on delivery **The other side:** Opposition councillors raised concerns about Hadwen's appointment. Cllr Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent Group, questioned Cllr Hadwen's lack of experience as a councillor and raised concerns about previous social media activity associated with the new leader, as first reported by this publication. [Reform picks Hadwen to lead Suffolk in choice that signals ideology over experienceReform UK has selected Michael Hadwen as its candidate for Leader of Suffolk County Council, choosing a former party staffer with no elected experience over 14-year council veteran, Christopher Hudson.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--12--0958ca8ace3e0c496a6bf0aaa16bb72df93c636e203f4af8ef287d0b1b096f11.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-picks-hadwen-to-lead-suffolk-in-choice-that-signals-ideology-over-experience/) His concerns were echoed by all other opposition leaders. Cllr Hadwen chose not to respond. **The cabinet:** The cabinet was also confirmed: - Cllr Philip Faircloth-Mutton – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care - Cllr Vicky Armstrong – Cabinet Member for Finance, Economic Development and Efficiency - Cllr Simon Aalders – Cabinet Member for Children's Services - Cllr Tony Gould – Cabinet Member for Education and SEND - Cllr Christopher Hudson – Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways - Cllr Tristan Gale – Cabinet Member for Planning, Devolution and Fire Service - Cllr June Mummery – Cabinet Member for Coastal Affairs, Communities and Public Health - Cllr Morgan Brobyn – Cabinet Member for Food, Waste and Rural Affairs **What's next:** The next scheduled meeting of the full county council is on Thursday, 16 July 2026. **The bottom line:** After years of Conservative leadership, Suffolk County Council enters a new era under Reform. Cllr Hadwen takes the reins with a promise to put Suffolk first – now he must deliver on that promise. More on yesterday's AGM to follow. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£53 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Man arrested after ATM 'damaged' in Ipswich town centre URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/man-arrested-after-atm-damaged-in-ipswich-town-centre/ Last updated: 2026-05-21T10:57:30.000Z **The details:** Suffolk Constabulary said officers were called to Upper Brook Street just after 08:45 today following reports a man was damaging a cash machine. - A 43-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. - He has been taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains. **What happened:** Two police cars and a police van attended the scene, along with a video surveillance unit, opposite Sports Direct on Tavern Street. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_6902.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_6909.jpeg) Police at the scene on Tavern Street (Photos: Contributed) Onlookers watched as three officers wrestled the suspect to the ground and arrested him. **The bottom line:** A man remains in police custody as enquiries into the reported ATM damage continue. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### When will the government's 'national crackdown' on high street crime reach Ipswich? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/when-will-the-governments-national-crackdown-on-high-street-crime-reach-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-05-21T06:57:53.000Z On Tuesday, 19 May 2026, the Home Office announced what it described as a major nationwide offensive against the criminal gangs operating behind shopfronts on Britain's high streets. Rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops linked to organised crime, the announcement said, would face raids, closures and cash seizures over the next three years. Posting on X, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "For too long, organised criminals have exploited our high streets to launder their dirty money. Not anymore. We will shut these shop fronts down and drive crime off our high streets to protect communities and legitimate businesses." His strong words were echoed by Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood: "Criminal gangs have exploited our high streets to launder their dirty money and undercut honest businesses. We are hitting back with a nationwide crackdown to shut these fronts down, seize dirty cash and drive organised crime off our high streets and put bosses behind bars." A "nationwide crackdown". The funding totals £30m over three years. Within that, £20m goes towards an enhanced law enforcement response, including a new multi-agency co-ordination cell based at the National Crime Agency (NCA). A new High Street Organised Crime Unit will bring together government departments, policing partners and Trading Standards. And 75 new police officers will be recruited. Those officers will not be recruited in Suffolk. They won't be spearheading the nationwide crackdown on Ipswich's high street. Support more reporting like this Independent local journalism like this takes time, care, and...well...money. If you value what we do, become a member for just £4.75 a month and help us keep asking the questions that need asking in Ipswich. [Support our journalism ](#/portal/signup) ## What they're saying According to the written statement made to the House of Commons by the Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, on the same day, the operational funding will pay for an uplift in NCA officers, "dedicated operational activity by Greater Manchester police, West Midlands police, and by a joint Kent police and Essex police unit", an HMRC-led surge against tax evasion, and an annual national multi-agency crackdown. The £6m for Trading Standards is, in the Home Office's words, directed to "at-risk local authorities". Suffolk doesn't appear to be one of them. What is clear is that the police uplift is geographically targeted. Four named force areas will receive funded officers. A Suffolk Constabulary spokesperson said: "Suffolk Constabulary is aware of the Government's recent announcement regarding additional investment to tackle organised crime on the high street. We are currently awaiting further detail on how this funding and support will be allocated and what it will mean for forces locally." The constabulary added that "tackling retail crime and the organised criminality that underpins it remains a clear priority", noting the recent launch of dedicated town centre teams across the county and an established programme of partnership work with local authorities, businesses and Trading Standards. However, no additional officers from this round of funding are coming to Ipswich, and the town has not been named as a priority area for the new operational response. The government has presented the crackdown as a national one, but on the ground in Ipswich, very little appears set to change. Jack Abbott, the Labour MP for Ipswich, welcomed the announcement. "People in Ipswich want safer streets, less crime and stronger communities," he said. "For too long, criminal gangs have used rogue businesses to launder money, exploit workers and bring crime into our communities. That is why our Government is investing £30 million to take back our high streets, including a new High Street Organised Crime Unit targeting dodgy businesses linked to organised crime." Mr Abbott pointed to local successes, citing seizures of "thousands of illegal cigarettes, vapes and tobacco products" by Suffolk Police, lethal weapons taken off the streets, and significant arrests. He added that "illegal working raids and arrests have both more than doubled since 2023". He did not address the absence of Suffolk from the funded police uplift. Ipswich Central, the Business Improvement District (BID) for the town, works with town centre businesses every day and sits in the rooms where police, council and partner agencies coordinate their response. Its chief executive, Lee Walker, said the local working relationship was strong, but that the scale of the issue had outgrown the resources available. "We have a strong working relationship locally with Suffolk Constabulary, Ipswich Borough Council and partner agencies, and there are a lot of dedicated people working extremely hard in difficult circumstances," he said. "But I think it is fair to say the scale and complexity of the issues facing town centres nationally has grown significantly over recent years, while resources remain under considerable pressure." "The reality is that enforcement is resource-intensive. Whether it is trading standards, immigration enforcement, environmental health, police, licensing or HMRC activity, these issues often cut across multiple agencies and require sustained intervention rather than isolated action. So yes, I do think additional national resources and coordinated enforcement support would help, particularly where there are concerns around organised or repeat offending." ## A pattern of being overlooked This is not the first time Ipswich.co.uk has raised the question of whether Ipswich is being left out of national enforcement against high street organised crime. In April 2025, we reported on Operation Machinize, the NCA-led operation that had coordinated 265 raids on suspected criminal front businesses across England and Wales. The piece noted the striking similarity between Ipswich and Shrewsbury, where officers had seized cash and illicit vapes and detained suspected asylum seekers during raids on barber shops, and asked whether Ipswich would be next. Despite police rhetoric and the occasional headline, there has been virtually no visible sign of any operation making a meaningful impact on the town's high street in years. Shops in the categories the NCA has linked to money laundering continue to open, close, and reopen. The only difference to Ipswich's streetscape each year is the addition of more businesses that appear to fit the government's description of "dodgy". The evidence that Ipswich has a problem is not in doubt. The question is why Ipswich remains an afterthought. ## The maths on the high street For the purpose of this feature, our definition of the town centre comprises Tavern Street, Carr Street, Westgate Street, Upper Brook Street, Dogs Head Street, Buttermarket, Lloyd's Avenue, Tacket Street, Queen Street, St Peter's Street and St Nicholas Street. On these streets, there are 13 vape outlets, 15 mobile repair stores, 4 American candy stores, 12 Turkish-style barbers, and 16 off-licences and convenience stores. To be absolutely clear: we are not suggesting all or any of those businesses are engaged in illegal activity. The presence of a shop is not evidence of wrongdoing. Many will be entirely legitimate, paying their taxes, employing people lawfully, and serving real customers. But the volume of businesses in these categories, sitting within a few hundred metres of each other, often with virtually no visible footfall, invites questions about the size of the market they are operating in. Take mobile phone repair stores. According to IBISWorld, the UK mobile phone repair industry has been in steady decline as smartphone build quality has improved. Revenue is expected to fall at a compound annual rate of 4.6% over the five years through 2025-26, to £689.1m. The sector is forecast to contract a further 3.6% in 2025-26 alone. If Ipswich's share of that national market were proportional to its share of the UK adult population, the entire town's mobile repair market, including stores outside the town centre, would be worth around £1.38m a year. Even if every single repair in Ipswich were carried out in the town centre (which they will not), the maximum average turnover per store would be approximately £91,880 – unlikely to be enough to cover rent, rates, staff and operating expenses. The vape market is larger but more diffuse. The UK vaping industry is worth around £2.5bn and serves roughly 5.5m adult vapers. Applied proportionally, that suggests roughly 13,944 adult vapers in Ipswich spending an estimated £5m a year – an average of £359 per year per customer. But much of that spend happens online, in supermarkets, and outside the town centre. It's impossible to predict the town centre market share, but it certainly isn't impossible to see that the majority of these stores lack the customer footfall required to make the numbers stack up. The numbers are not in themselves proof of anything. But to the lay person, it is nearly impossible to conceive that many of these businesses are even remotely viable – and the government seems to agree. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-ez04eTEvT0aAeQZqNvKn7A-1775135531928.jpg) Vapes lining the window of one of Ipswich's many high street vape stores (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ## The scale of what is being accepted The numbers cited by the government are not small. The NCA estimates that at least £12bn of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year, with £1bn laundered through high street businesses such as mini-marts, barber shops, vape stores and sweet shops. The latest round of Operation Machinize, in November 2025, saw 2,734 premises raided, 924 individuals arrested, more than £13m of suspected criminal proceeds seized or restrained, and more than £2.7m worth of illicit commodities destroyed. The Home Secretary's framing was that criminal gangs "have exploited our high streets to launder their dirty money and undercut honest businesses". The Prime Minister said: "We will shut these shop fronts down." There is no parallel reading of these statements in which Ipswich is not part of the problem they describe. There have been some seizures locally, but not many, and seizures are not enough. A few quid's worth of illegal vapes pulled out from behind a shop counter is not a deterrent to organised crime. Arrests are. Deportations are. Full permanent closures are. Unexplained wealth orders are. Rhetoric is not. ## Ipswich cannot afford to be continually forgotten Ipswich is not the only town in this position. Plenty of communities across England and Wales will look at the four named force areas and feel a similar sting and sense of frustration. That should be acknowledged. But this publication exists to fight for Ipswich. And the case for Ipswich being on the next list, in whatever form further funding might take, is undeniably strong. There is a structural problem with how Ipswich tends to be seen from outside. The town is routinely placed in the same bucket as Suffolk, a predominantly rural county with consistently low headline crime levels. The risk is that, at a county level, those challenges get averaged out and deprioritised. As Walker puts it: "Ipswich is unique within Suffolk in terms of density, footfall, night-time economy activity and concentration of businesses. The pressures facing a major town centre are very different to those facing rural communities, even though both are important. "Sometimes that can create a situation where Ipswich experiences challenges more commonly associated with larger urban areas, but within funding and policing structures designed around a predominantly rural county. That is not a criticism of partners locally, because everyone is trying to balance competing demands, but I do think there is a strong argument that Ipswich requires recognition as a place with distinct town centre pressures and opportunities." Asked what he would ask of central government, the police and the council, Walker was clear on the need for sustained commitment rather than one-off announcements. "The biggest ask is coordination, consistency and long-term commitment," he said. "Town centres cannot be turned around through isolated interventions or short-term announcements. Businesses and investors need confidence that there is a long-term plan around enforcement, standards, safety, cleanliness, public realm and investment." "From government, we would like to see recognition that towns like Ipswich need targeted support and sustained funding, not just one-off initiatives focused solely on the very largest cities. From enforcement agencies, businesses want visible, proactive and joined-up action where there is evidence of persistent criminality or non-compliance." "And from all partners collectively, we need continued focus on making the town centre somewhere people want to spend time — because ultimately successful town centres are not built purely through enforcement, they are built through confidence, activity, culture, safety and pride in place working together." The risk of waiting is that the problem deepens. Organised criminal networks do not stand still while announcements are made about other regions. Legitimate businesses, the ones the Prime Minister says he is protecting, continue to compete against operations that do not play by the rules. And the public, watching the same shopfronts open and close and reopen under different names, draws its own conclusions about how seriously this issue is being taken locally. ## The bottom line The government has decided that organised crime on the high street is a problem worth £30m of public money. It has decided that the problem is serious enough to warrant a new dedicated unit, 75 additional officers, a multi-agency co-ordination cell, and a Prime Ministerial post on X. It has also decided that those officers will go to Manchester, the West Midlands, Kent and Essex. Not here. Ipswich is not asking for special treatment. It is asking to be taken as seriously as the towns and cities the government has already named. The funded enforcement that is going to happen elsewhere is going to happen because the case for it was made. The question for Ipswich, for its MP, for its council, and for Suffolk Constabulary, is who is making that case here, and how loudly. Because if the answer is no one, the next announcement will look much like this one. And Ipswich will still not be on the list. 💬 We'd love to hear your views on this. Please send thoughts to editor@ipswich.co.uk or, if you're a member, add your comments below the article. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£162 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. Please also consider directly funding our journalism by [becoming a member](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/#/portal/signup) for just £4.75 per month. ### Watch: Unpacking the local elections on our first video podcast URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/watch-unpacking-the-local-elections-on-our-first-video-podcast/ Last updated: 2026-05-21T06:52:02.000Z **Why it matters:** Reform UK won 41 of 70 seats on Suffolk County Council and 10 of 16 contested seats on Ipswich Borough Council, despite not standing any councillors in the last elections in 2021 – a result that sets the scene for next May's unitary authority elections. **A note from the editor:** This is a bit of a test-run for us. We recorded the conversation the day after the results were declared, but a busy week meant we struggled to find the time to edit and get it out until now. We'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback. **One thing to flag:** One of the councillor images used in the video is incorrect. Apologies for the error, but we couldn't face deleting and re-uploading the video – again. **The details:** Across roughly 23 minutes, the conversation covers: - Why Reform's win was less surprising than the scale of it - How turnout held up - The Greens emerging as the outright opposition with 13 seats, and the role the northern bypass debate may have played - Labour's resilience in central Ipswich, with Neil MacDonald and Colin Kreidewolf retaining their seats - The Conservatives' collapse from 44 seats to nine on the county council - What Reform's inexperienced councillors face as they take office - The process from here, including today's AGM at Endeavour House - What local issues – from parking to potholes to support for businesses – the new administration needs to tackle **The bottom line:** Our first video podcast is now live. It's a test-run, and we know it's a little late, but we hope it offers a useful conversation about what this month's results mean for Ipswich and Suffolk. Let us know what you think. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£189 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Local law firm scoops national award for digital innovation URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/local-law-firm-scoops-national-award-for-digital-innovation/ Last updated: 2026-05-21T06:51:41.000Z **Why it matters:** Smith & Co says its investment in digital tools has cut administration time, improved transparency and accelerated transactions for clients buying and selling homes – a process often seen as one of the most stressful in life. **The details:** The firm, which also has offices in Ipswich, Sudbury, Felixstowe and Haverhill, was recognised for its digital innovation and use of technology to improve efficiency, streamline processes and enhance client experiences within residential property transactions. According to the firm, its technology-driven approach includes: - Integrated case management systems - Digital onboarding - Online identity verification - Secure client portals - Automated workflows - Legal AI tools to support document review and streamline repetitive tasks The firm says these systems allow its conveyancing team to reduce administration time, improve transparency for clients and accelerate transaction times, while maintaining standards of compliance and client care. **What they're saying:** Smith & Co says it has invested substantially in its website performance, functionality, security and user experience, resulting in a 137% increase in referrals. Managing partner Vicky Hosking said: "Winning this award is a huge achievement for the team and reflects the significant investment we have made in technology across the business. "Conveyancing can often be seen as a stressful process for clients, so we are constantly looking at ways to make the experience smoother, faster and more transparent. "Our technology allows us to improve efficiency while still maintaining the personal service and direct communication that our clients value. We are incredibly proud that our approach has been recognised on a national stage." **The bottom line:** Smith & Co's award win marks national recognition for a Suffolk firm betting on technology to take the stress out of moving home. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### How would you spend £20m in Chantry, Stoke Park and Whitehouse? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-would-you-spend-20m-in-chantry-stoke-park-and-whitehouse/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T14:10:48.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich Borough Council has opened applications to join two new Pride in Place Neighbourhood Boards — one for Stoke Park and Chantry, and one for Whitehouse. Each board will decide how £20 million in government funding is spent in its area over the next 10 years. **The details:** Board members will listen to what matters most to local people, set priorities for their neighbourhood, decide how funding is allocated, and oversee projects to ensure they deliver real benefits. The roles are voluntary, but the council will provide training, guidance and ongoing support, and reasonable expenses — including travel and childcare — that will be covered. **What they're saying:** Cllr [Neil MacDonald](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/neil-macdonald/), Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "Pride in Place is a huge opportunity for our communities. This is about putting real decision-making power into the hands of local people, so they can shape the future of their neighbourhoods for years to come. He added: "We want to hear from people of all backgrounds and experiences who care about their area and want to make a positive difference." Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said he was "proud to secure £20 million for Stoke Park and Chantry" through the Pride in Place programme, describing it as a "transformative level of investment, that has the potential to make a real long-term difference to our community." He said: “Pride in Place is all about putting power back into the hands of local people, giving residents a genuine say over how this funding is used and what priorities it should support over the next decade. “This is a real opportunity for people who care about their local area to help shape meaningful change in their community, and I’d encourage residents from all backgrounds and experiences to come forward and get involved.” **Who can apply:** No formal qualifications are required, and the council is particularly encouraging applications from younger residents and those from under-represented groups. Board members will attend regular meetings, contribute to discussions and help shape a 10-year vision and four-year investment plan for their area. **For context:** Pride in Place is a major government-backed programme designed to give communities the power to influence how funding is spent locally. It is part of a national £5 billion scheme covering nearly 250 areas across the UK, with each selected neighbourhood receiving up to £20 million over 10 years to make long-term improvements that residents want. **What's next:** Chair applications close at 09:00 on Monday, 15 June 2026, with board member applications closing at 09:00 on Thursday, 9 July 2026\. The council expects the first board meetings to begin in August 2026. **The bottom line:** Ipswich residents have a once-in-a-generation chance to sit at the table and decide how millions of pounds are invested in their area — no qualifications, just a passion for where you live. [Find out more and submit an application](https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/communities-and-health/join-pride-place-neighbourhood-board?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich Town retain Gold status in EFL family scheme URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-town-retain-gold-status-in-efl-family-scheme/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T12:53:41.000Z **Why it matters:** The award recognises the club's efforts to create a welcoming matchday experience for families visiting Portman Road, with Town achieving the fifth-best average score in the Championship. **The details:** Throughout the season, clubs receive two visits from family assessors who evaluate every stage of the matchday journey, from purchasing tickets to how supporters feel when they leave the stadium. Assessors consider a range of factors, including: - Matchday activations - Stadium accessibility and facilities - How effectively clubs engage and communicate with families **By the numbers:** Town's two assessor visits produced an average score of 9.0, with the Fanzone receiving special praise as "an excellent space for fans to gather in before the match." **What they're saying:** Assessors highlighted "an abundance of outstanding experiences for families attending their first games at Portman Road." EFL Chief Executive Officer Trevor Birch said: "We are incredibly proud to see clubs excelling in the EFL's Family Excellence Scheme this season. Their success reflects their dedication to creating welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable matchday experiences for families across the country. "The scheme is designed to support clubs as they grow their family offer, enabling them to inspire lifelong connections with supporters and engage the next generation of fans." **For context:** Town previously achieved Gold status following the 2023/24 season and has retained the recognition following its return to the EFL. **The bottom line:** Ipswich Town's Gold status confirms Portman Road's standing as one of the Championship's most family-friendly grounds, with the club maintaining the high standards set during its previous EFL campaign. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich's first wood-fired Turkish kitchen opens on Tacket Street URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswichs-first-wood-fired-turkish-kitchen-opens-on-tacket-street/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T12:44:32.000Z **Why it matters:** Ipswich has a new family-run restaurant at 16 Tacket Street, with manager Berhat Durmaz, 26, saying the town needed more sit-down places to eat. The restaurant's specialities are Turkish soups and Turkish pide, a traditional boat-shaped flatbread often referred to as Turkish pizza, cooked in a large wood-fired oven. **The details:** Elfida is a restaurant with a small team and one key point of difference: everything is cooked in a large wood-fired oven. Durmaz manages the restaurant alongside a business partner who brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1340-1-1.jpeg) Elfida Restaurant (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) **The big picture:** The building on Tacket Street was formerly a three-floor nightclub. After being purchased in 2021 and renovated from January this year, it has been transformed into a spacious dining room with a black-and-gold finish. Diners can catch a glimpse of the kitchen and its large oven from their seats. **What they're saying:** Elfida is not a suit and ties restaurant, says Durmaz — the food is homemade, and the atmosphere is relaxed. **The bottom line:** Whether you are after a wood-fired pizza or a bowl of Turkish soup, Elfida is open daily from 08:00–23:00, from today. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'He'd be so proud': Local student to abseil Ipswich Hospital URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hed-be-so-proud-local-student-to-abseil-ipswich-hospital/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T11:56:11.000Z **Why it matters:** Leah Phelan is taking on Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity's Extreme Abseil next month to raise money for the Time Garden Appeal, which aims to create a calm, peaceful space for patients and their loved ones at the hospital. **The details:** Leah was inspired by her grandad, Stephen Wilding from Ipswich, who was cared for at the hospital before his death in 2023\. She will be joined by her friend Emily Noye, and has already raised more than £400 with support from family and friends across the UK and abroad. **What she's saying:** "The last moments I had with my grandad were spent on a ward and are very special to me, but it can be busy. Having a space away from that, like the Time Garden, would make such a difference for families. It would give people that comfort and somewhere peaceful to be together in those really important moments." On taking on the challenge so soon after her exams, Leah said: "It felt like the perfect time to try something new and do something meaningful." As for what her grandad would make of it all: "I think my grandad would be very proud of me. He'd probably just say, 'Oh wow, that's absolutely amazing'." **The bottom line:** During Dying Matters Awareness Week, Leah's story is a reminder of how much a quiet, compassionate space can mean to families in their most difficult moments. [Support Leah today](http://justgiving.com/page/leah-phelan-1773259833484?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Young entrepreneur shortlisted for Next Generation Award URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/young-entrepreneur-shortlisted-for-next-generation-award/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T11:44:00.000Z **Why it matters:** Evie Capon, 23, who runs Little Voices Suffolk, has been shortlisted for the Next Generation Award, which celebrates franchisees under 30 making a significant impact in their industry. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Manchester next month. **The details:** Evie launched Little Voices Suffolk at the age of 21, growing the business across two Suffolk locations. The organisation now teaches more than 100 students each week through performing arts classes, after-school clubs and holiday programmes. Little Voices uses a small-group model, with classes capped at eight students to ensure every child is seen, heard and supported in a safe and inclusive environment. **What they're saying:** "Launching a business at just 21 has been challenging and rewarding in equal measure," said Evie. "Choosing the franchise route gave me incredible support in building and growing Little Voices Suffolk, and I'm proud to be recognised alongside so many inspiring business owners. "I wanted to be part of an organisation that shared my values around opportunity, inclusion and confidence-building for young people. Performing arts can have such a positive impact on children's self-esteem and communication skills, and it's incredibly rewarding to see that every week in our classes." **For context:** The Disruptive Franchise Awards celebrate businesses and franchisees from across the UK who are challenging traditional business models and creating a positive impact in their communities. **The bottom line:** Evie's nomination highlights the growing strength of Ipswich's young business community, and the role franchising can play in helping ambitious entrepreneurs get started. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'It is not about my cancer': Remembering Emma Adams URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/it-is-not-about-my-cancer-remembering-emma-adams/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T12:12:21.000Z She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023\. Three years later, on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, Emma Adams died — but not before co-founding Hope to Connect, helping break a Guinness World Record at Trinity Park, and raising thousands of pounds for cancer charities. The tributes that have followed reflect the scale of what she gave, and to how many. This is not a feature about how Hope to Connect began. We told that story in March, when Emma was still here to tell it herself. This is a piece about what she left behind. [Hope to Connect: Two friends, one world record, 8,265 people touched by cancerEmma Adams was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023\. Since meeting Mandeep Birdy in 2025, the two have been working to solve a problem that nearly broke her: the loneliness of having cancer in a world that does not know what to do with it.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-50d6b650be52a1255b86380c8db0b9bb6b207c6cff7223d5c9578c4aa75ba3c4.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/emma-adams-and-mandeep-birdy-d24a4517e2008014b26a6aa4759bcac13eaaea193c6241fc18413a47ab63fddb.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/hope-to-connect-two-friends-one-world-record-8-265-people-touched-by-cancer/) ## The thing that kept her going Speaking to [Ipswich.co.uk](http://ipswich.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) earlier this year, Emma was asked what building Hope to Connect had given her. "It's given me purpose," she said. "Even though it's all about cancer, it's not about *my* cancer — it's about helping other people. And I feel like that's rewarded me." That sentence — that it was not about *her* cancer — captures something essential about how Emma chose to spend her final year. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023\. By the time we met her, she was on what she described as the last line of treatment available to her. She did not soften it. She called it "Russian roulette". And yet, when she spoke about Hope to Connect, the focus was almost never on what she stood to lose, but on what others could gain. It was on the 3am phone calls she wanted other people to be able to make. On the men who would not attend support groups. "I would like to talk to somebody right now who's got triple negative breast cancer in Ipswich, perhaps with brain metastases," she told us. "I don't know anyone who has that." That was the gap Hope to Connect was built to close. That was the work that gave her purpose. ## Two goals, both met When we last spoke with Emma, she set out the goals she had for the months ahead. "I don't have massive goals other than the world record event and Issy's birthday and the party," she said. "And then we'll deal with whatever comes." She achieved both of them. At Trinity Park on Saturday, 11 April, 891 people signed an awareness ribbon in eight hours — a UK first, and the new Guinness World Record. The crowd had travelled from across the country, including Birmingham, Northampton, London, Brighton, and from Ireland. The event raised more than £2,500 for five cancer charities: the Harley James Reynolds Fund, Cancer Support Suffolk, Aoibheann's Pink Tie, Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, and The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Support Group. Joanne Brent, the Guinness World Records adjudicator, said: "It was incredibly powerful to verify 891 individual names, each representing a person and their own story." A second attempt that day, for the largest human awareness ribbon, fell short of the numbers required. The crowd stood in formation anyway. "It was incredibly powerful to witness that moment," Brent said, "as it spoke volumes about the true purpose of the event." Eight days later, on Saturday, 19 April, Emma's daughter Issy turned 18\. Emma had spoken about that day to us as a non-negotiable. "Her whole last few years have been all about cancer," she had said. "She needs that." She made it to the birthday. Ten days after that, she passed away surrounded by those who loved her. ## A co-founder's tribute Emma's friend, Mandeep Birdy, who co-founded Hope to Connect with Emma in March 2025, paid tribute in a statement. "People swan in and out of our lives, but when one sticks, when they leave a lasting impression on your life, it's so special," she said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/1x1-full-image--16-.png) Emma and Mandeep (Photo: Hope to Concect) "It has been such an honour to walk side by side with Emma this past year on a shared purpose. Even when she became too poorly to be as involved as she wanted to be during the final weeks of her life, it was still such a joy to see that sparkle in her eyes during our catch-ups and the pride she felt in what we were creating together." "As anyone who has supported or lost someone to cancer will understand, it became heartbreaking to watch Em begin to slip away. There are no words for it. Em and I always knew this day would come, but nothing can prepare you for losing someone you love." "It has been a privilege to bring Hope to Connect to life with Em and to walk these first footsteps beside her. I will miss Em in every moment while continuing Hope to Connect. But building the app so it becomes the resource we both dreamed it could be, will be a great honour." ## A legacy carried forward Hope to Connect does not yet exist as an app. The wireframe and design phase are complete, but the build is not yet fully funded. Mandeep is now pursuing investment and exploring multiple avenues to secure the capital required, and has said she intends to see it through. Emma's daughter Issy will play a role in carrying her mother's legacy forward. What already exists, however, is the community that gathered at Trinity Park, the £2,500 raised for cancer charities, the world record verified in eight hours, and the readers — locally and beyond — who first heard of Hope to Connect through Emma's own words. Those who knew her have described her resilience, her tenacity, her warmth, her humour, her honesty, and her extraordinary spirit. She offered comfort and hope, in the words of those who paid tribute, with remarkable grace and authenticity — even throughout her own cancer journey. ## The bottom line When she last spoke to us, Emma already knew what she wanted her legacy to be. Not a user metric. Not a pitch deck. A daughter who had a proper 18th birthday, and a community of people who no longer have to feel alone at three in the morning. She secured the first. The second is the work that Mandeep will continue. [Visit Hope to Connect](https://hopetoconnect.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£81 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### What is Jack Abbott's summer school – and how do you apply? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/what-is-jack-abbotts-summer-school-and-how-do-you-apply/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T08:37:49.000Z **Why it matters:** The programme is pitched as a hands-on route into politics, campaigning and public service for young people from Ipswich and Suffolk – a group often underrepresented in politics. **The details:** The free two-week programme will run from Monday, 10 August to Friday, 21 August 2026 and is open to people aged 18 to 24 with an interest in politics, campaigning, communications and community work. - The programme is free to attend. - Abbott says he is working to provide travel and expenses bursaries for participants who may otherwise be unable to take part. - Applications from people from groups historically underrepresented in politics are "especially encouraged". **How it works:** Last year's inaugural summer school brought together 17 young people for an intensive fortnight that combined training with practical campaigning. - Participants heard from guest speakers working in journalism, local government, trade unions and public service. - They took part in sessions on campaigning and communications, and visited both Parliament and Downing Street. - In the second week, attendees split into teams to lead two campaigns focused on local issues. **What the campaigns achieved:** According to Abbott's office, one group worked with Suffolk Sight and the Suffolk Guide Dog & Visually Impaired Forum on assistance dog accessibility, signing up more than 80 Ipswich businesses to an assistance dog-friendly pledge. A second group worked with Suffolk Family Carers and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) to raise awareness of support available for unpaid young family carers, with the campaign reaching around 10,000 people online. **What they're saying:** Mr Abbott said: "When I launched the programme last year, I wanted it to be practical, hands-on and rooted in our community, and the young people involved completely exceeded expectations. "They went out into Ipswich, worked alongside local organisations, spoke on local media, organised campaigns and delivered real results for causes that matter deeply to people in our town." He added: "A summer school was my break in politics, it changed the course of my life, and I'm so delighted to give \[the\] same opportunity to young people in Ipswich and Suffolk." **The participants' view:** Saffeen Yamulki, who took part last year and went on to run as a candidate in May's local elections, said: "The great thing about the summer school was that we weren't just talking about politics, we were getting first-hand, practical experience of it too. From featuring on BBC radio to visiting Downing Street, I had experiences over those two weeks that you simply can't get from a textbook." Erin McCormick, who worked on the assistance dogs campaign and now interns in Mr Abbott's Westminster office, said: "The summer school gave me the confidence to get involved in politics and public service, and it played a big role in helping me feel able to apply for an internship in Jack's Westminster office. It showed me that young people really can make a difference locally when they are given the opportunity to step forward." **The bottom line:** The 2026 summer school offers young people in Ipswich and Suffolk a free two-week route into politics and campaigning, building on a first year whose alumni include active campaigners, a council candidate and a Westminster intern. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich's superhero walkers smash last year's hospice fundraising total URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswichs-superhero-walkers-smash-last-years-hospice-fundraising-total/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T08:21:11.000Z **Why it matters:** All proceeds go to St Elizabeth Hospice, which provides support to more than 4,000 patients and families a year living with life-limiting illnesses across East and Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney. **By the numbers:** - **£100,000+** raised on the night, with donations still arriving - **£72,000+** raised at last year's event - **1,000+** walkers taking part - **6 or 9** miles – the two route distances on offer - **4,000+** patients and families supported by the hospice each year **The details:** Held on Saturday, 16 May, and sponsored by Knights Lowe, this year's event saw supporters don superhero-themed costumes for sponsored walks of either six or nine miles. The route started at Christchurch Park before taking walkers to the hospice grounds, where they were invited to write messages in memory of loved ones on a Memory Wall. The walk then continued past landmarks including Ipswich Town Hall, The Regent Theatre and Christchurch Park. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/A-range-of-superhero-costumes-could-be-seen.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/All-ages-took-part.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Families-took-part-in-the-walk.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Hospice-clinical-team-took-part-in-the-fun.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Hospice-heroes.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Hospice-team-take-on-their-Midnight-Walk-challenge.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Mario-and-Luigi.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Striking-a-pose.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Wonder-Woman-strikes-a-pose.jpg) Participants at the Midnight Walk (Photos: St Elizabeth Hospice) **What they're saying:** James Fox-Golding, events and challenges manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: "With donations still coming, we are absolutely thrilled with the fantastic amount raised this evening! "A massive well done to all our 'hospice heroes' who took part and completed their walks. Thank you to all the amazing supporters who cheered the walkers on and to our fantastic volunteers who helped make the Midnight Walk possible. A special well done to members of our clinical team who took part in the walk too. You are all 'hospice heroes' too! "The Midnight Walk is a great community event and every penny raised makes such a difference to our hospice services, which provide support to patients and their families when compassionate care matters most." **A personal tribute:** Among the walkers was Gemma Holland, who took part as part of "Team Terry" in memory of her father Terry Holland, who died last December while under the care of the hospice. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Gemma-Holland-Team-Terry-ahead-of-their-walk.jpg) Gemma Holland, who took part as part of "Team Terry" in memory of her father Terry Holland (Photo: St Elizabeth Hospice) "Wow what a night. This year's Midnight Walk was like no other for me. Doing this in memory of Dad made it so much more meaningful and emotional," she said. "The atmosphere really was electric, as everyone came together to support one another and to show their love for the hospice. All the volunteers were amazing and the range of costumes were great to see too. Even a little bit of rain didn't dampen spirits! "Team Terry were so proud to take part in the Midnight Walk and to help raise vital funds for St Elizabeth Hospice's fantastic, compassionate care." **The bottom line:** With more than £100,000 raised and donations still coming in, the 2026 Midnight Walk has comfortably outstripped last year's £72,000 total – delivering a significant boost to the independent Suffolk charity's services. To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice, call 01473 727776 or visit [www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk](http://www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Sizewell C signs final education partnership at Ipswich college URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/sizewell-c-signs-final-education-partnership-at-ipswich-college/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T08:20:29.000Z **Why it matters:** The deal completes a coordinated regional approach to training the workforce needed for the nuclear project, which Sizewell C says will employ almost 8,000 people at peak construction and create at least 1,500 apprenticeships – around a third of which are reserved for local people in Suffolk. **The details:** The refreshed MoU with Eastern Education Group (EEG) follows earlier agreements signed this year with East Coast College and Suffolk New College. According to Sizewell C, the partnership will deliver: - Support for construction training in disciplines including civils, groundworks, steel fixing and formwork - Endorsement of the West Suffolk College CTEC designation - Potential funding of projects - Use of EEG's XR laboratory - Development of real-world training - Financial support for STEM-related initiatives and apprenticeships EEG currently supports over 15,000 students across three colleges, a university centre and four learning centres in Suffolk, alongside developments in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, plus SEND and primary schools across East Anglia. **What they're saying:** Phil Stittle, Executive Director for Business and Growth at Eastern Education Group, said: "Today is really important to re-align our partnership with Sizewell C, look at what we have done in the past few years, and what our priorities need to be moving forward so that both organisations can benefit." Chris Young, Head of Employment Affairs at Sizewell C, said: "Our refreshed MOU reinforces the importance of further education in the skills system for us as an organisation. "We want to continue to work with EEG to make sure the learners they support have the skills that they need to access careers with us and other employers and projects. And with EEG being the CTEC of the East it puts them in a prominent position to impact the delivery of construction and infrastructure skills across the region – so, we are delighted to be connected with them, and our other local education partners, not just now, but for generations to come." **For context:** Previous work between Sizewell C and EEG includes an immersive virtual experience exploring the journey of an atom, which is now featured at the Sizewell C visitor centre and Sizewell B power station. West Suffolk College was awarded CTEC status through a £100m government initiative, which Sizewell C says places it at the forefront of UK construction training. **The bigger picture:** Sizewell C's partnership with Suffolk New College includes supporting the establishment of a new permanent post-16 College on the Coast on the edge of Leiston, alongside plans for a new Civil Engineering Campus, a Construction Centre of Excellence and a Driver Academy. Alan Pease, Principal and CEO of Suffolk New College, said: "The MOU will help connect our college (and education more generally) to a national infrastructure project. It will also help to create well-paid jobs for people of all ages, and this in turn will have a positive impact on the local and national economy." **What students say:** Students at the signing event in Ipswich welcomed the initiative. Sebastian, 18, from Ipswich, said: "I think the MOU signing is great news for young people. It will create so many jobs and help keep young people in the area. It's great for Suffolk and East Anglia in general." Lydia, 18, from Flowton, added: "It's incredible – particularly for students who have a STEM focus for a career. It gives opportunities here – and will bring people to Suffolk." **What's next:** Sizewell C is also expected to sign an MoU with its higher education partner, the University of Suffolk. **The bottom line:** With the EEG agreement now signed, Sizewell C has established a regional education framework spanning further education providers across Suffolk, intended to equip local people with the skills needed for the project and the wider energy and infrastructure sectors. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Bunkers, bad etiquette and big fines: Meet the construction team playing 72 holes in one day for charity URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/bunkers-bad-etiquette-and-big-fines-meet-the-construction-team-playing-72-holes-in-one-day-for-charity/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T08:20:16.000Z **Why it matters:** Matthew Ramplin, Daniel Sheldrake and Harley Ramplin from [Barnes Construction](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/barnes/), alongside Rob Bishop from Abode Construction EA, all know someone close to them – either at work or in their family – who is currently battling a life-changing illness. **The details:** The 72-hole challenge takes place at Stowmarket Golf Club on Thursday, 18 June, with the team raising funds for My WiSH Charity, St Elizabeth Hospice, and Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK. Each golfer will play four full rounds in a single day, covering more than 20 miles on foot and taking hundreds of swings. **The twist:** To boost the fundraising total, the golfers have imposed financial penalties on themselves for on-course mishaps. Time spent in bunkers and lost balls will trigger fines, visits to water hazards will attract bigger penalties, and poor golf etiquette will be strictly punished. **What they're saying:** "We all know that the day will be tough, but we are confident that every donation, large or small, will help carry us through tiring fairways, aching limbs and mounting penalty charges," Daniel Sheldrake said. **How to get involved:** Local businesses are being encouraged to back the challenge through corporate sponsorship opportunities, including T-shirt sponsorship across the four rounds and sponsorship of the 1st and 18th holes. Supporters are also being encouraged to share the fundraising page and come along on the day to cheer the team on, especially during the final round. **The bottom line:** Four men from the local construction industry are putting their bodies, and their wallets, on the line to raise money for three charities supporting people facing life-changing illness. The team have raised 80% of their £2,000 funding goal so far. You can help nudge them over the line below. [Support the cause](https://sponsorme.charitiestrust.org/event/1d4b3d31-f0e9-4de5-90f4-5bd02441ae2e?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk-raised creative leader returns to head landmark Ipswich arts programme URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-raised-creative-leader-returns-to-head-landmark-ipswich-arts-programme/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T08:18:44.000Z **Why it matters:** IP-Switched is one of the most significant cultural investments coming to Ipswich in recent years, and Matthews will lead how the money is spent across the town's neighbourhoods between 2026 and 2029. **The details:** IP-Switched is Ipswich's major Creative People and Places (CPP) programme, funded by Arts Council England and announced in October 2025. - The £750,000 Arts Council England investment is backed by support from Ipswich Borough Council, Ipswich Central and Suffolk County Council. - The programme is described by the consortium as a "bold, community driven initiative" designed to bring cultural activity directly into the town's neighbourhoods. - Matthews will oversee strategic delivery, working with consortium partners to embed grassroots decision-making and support local changemakers. **Her background:** Matthews most recently led the artistic direction of Suffolk Libraries' National Portfolio Organisation investment. - They have led placemaking initiatives in Stowmarket and Lowestoft. - They spearheaded Ipswich County Library's major capital development project, which will see the creation of new community art studios, a gallery, a Library of Things, a refreshed digital learning hub and an enhanced children's space. - Earlier work spans schools, Aldeburgh Young Musicians, and the Learning & Inclusion team at Britten Pears Arts. - They spent time living in Vancouver working with Holocaust survivors, an experience that later informed Suffolk Community Libraries' Storyteller in Residence programme. **What they're saying:** Melissa Matthews said: "We have some incredible community changemakers and organisations on our doorstep in Ipswich, additionally there are so many exciting developments happening in the town over the coming years. Throughout my career, I have seen first-hand the power creativity has to galvanise communities, build confidence and drive impact – I am delighted to be appointed as the new Programme Director for IP-Switched." Douglas Rintoul, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre, said: "Melissa brings a remarkable blend of creativity, insight and deep community experience to IP-Switched. Their track record across Suffolk shows a clear commitment to empowering local people and reimagining how culture is woven into everyday life. We are thrilled to welcome Melissa to lead this next exciting chapter for the programme and for Ipswich." **For context:** The IP-Switched partnership is led by the New Wolsey Theatre and brings together Jobcentre Plus Ipswich, Ipswich Borough Council (Vibrant Towns & Communities), Ipswich Central, the NHS Ipswich & East Suffolk Alliance, and Volunteering Matters Ipswich. The funding is made possible thanks to National Lottery players. **The bottom line:** With a Suffolk-raised creative leader now at the helm, IP-Switched moves from announcement to delivery, with three years to put cultural decision-making into the hands of Ipswich communities. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### How support workers stopped 'incredibly dangerous' arson attempt at Ipswich centre URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-support-workers-stopped-incredibly-dangerous-arson-attempt-at-ipswich-centre/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T15:29:46.000Z **Why it matters:** Suffolk Police say the intervention of workers at the premises "undoubtedly helped prevent" Kerri Keen-Watts, 22, from igniting flammable liquid inside a building occupied by staff and others. **The details:** Keen-Watts, of Carr Road, Felixstowe, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, 8 May, after previously pleading guilty to attempted arson with intent to endanger life and sending a communication threatening death or serious harm. The incidents took place on Thursday, 30 October last year. - At around 11:20, Keen-Watts entered a premises in Museum Street by claiming to have an appointment and masking her identity. - She had previously been banned from the building following an earlier incident, and was recognised and asked to leave. - She produced a bottle of clear liquid – later found to be ethanol – and began spreading it across the floor while threatening to "light them all up". - She made multiple unsuccessful attempts to ignite matches before a support worker disarmed her of the matchbox. - Keen-Watts continued to pour liquid and tried to light a second box of matches before leaving the building. **What happened next:** Shortly after leaving Museum Street, Keen-Watts sent text messages to a youth worker based at another location, including: "YOU'RE NEXT", "AND THIS TIME IT'LL WORK", and "COULDN'T LIGHT MATCH AT (other location), THEY PRESSED PANIC ALARM." Police say she had previously expressed a desire to burn down the building where that person worked, with herself and others inside. Officers located and arrested Keen-Watts around an hour after the Museum Street incident. She was charged the following day and made her first court appearance on Saturday, 1 November. **What they're saying:** Detective Inspector Tristram Singh, of South CID, said: "Kerri Keen-Watts' actions on that day were incredibly dangerous and had she been successful in igniting any of the matches, the consequences could have been very serious. "The swift actions of the workers at the premises should be commended, as they undoubtedly helped prevent her from completing her attempts to start a fire. "The fact Keen-Watts then left that location and immediately sent threatening messages to another person at a different building, demonstrates her clear intent to cause harm and distress to multiple people." **What's next:** In addition to the prison sentence, Keen-Watts was handed a five-year restraining order. It prohibits her from: - Entering the road where the centre is located - Attempting to contact any of the workers affected - Attending any other buildings used by the support provider without prior agreement - Possessing any item in a public place capable of starting a fire or producing a naked flame **The bottom line:** Without the swift response of support workers who disarmed Keen-Watts and raised the alarm, what police describe as an "incredibly dangerous" attempt to set a building alight with people inside could have ended very differently. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Paedophile with 'no remorse' jailed for seven years over historic child sex abuse URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/paedophile-with-no-remorse-jailed-for-seven-years-over-historic-child-sex-abuse/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T12:39:53.000Z **Why it matters:** Gary Grant's conviction concludes a case that began when his victim spotted him as a suggested friend on social media in 2021, triggering flashbacks of the abuse and prompting her to report him to police. **The details:** Grant, formerly of Languard Road in Felixstowe and more recently of Quinton Road in Needham Market, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, 14 May. A jury had previously found him guilty on 16 January, following a five-day trial, of: - Four counts of buggery with a girl under 16 years - Three counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years The court heard that the victim was 13 years old and Grant was in his mid-20s when the abuse started. In addition to the prison sentence, Grant was handed a restraining order which lasts until further notice. **What they're saying:** DC Ellie Evans-Eastman, the officer in charge of the case, said: "The offences were reported to police in 2021 after the victim's social media showed Grant as a suggested friend, and brought back flashbacks of what happened to her. "Grant manipulated and groomed a young girl and has shown no remorse throughout the trial, whilst his behaviour and actions have had a lasting emotional and physical impact upon the victim. "In her victim personal statement, which was read out in court, she described that she still has nightmares and will scream and lash out in her sleep. I commend her for taking the incredibly brave step of reporting Grant's crimes to police, and for her strength throughout the trial. "I hope that the fact he has finally been brought to justice will bring her some peace." **The bottom line:** Grant will spend the next seven years in prison for crimes committed decades ago, brought to light only because his victim found the courage to come forward after recognising him online. --- If you or someone you know has been affected by rape or sexual assault, support is available through the [Suffolk Survivor Pathway](https://suffolksurvivorpathway.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), a single access point for multi-agency support for victims of sexual violence. In an emergency, always call 999. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Forknight returns: Over 50 offers to tempt you out URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/forknight-returns-over-50-offers-to-tempt-you-out/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T10:36:16.000Z Coordinated by Ipswich Central, the town's Business Improvement District, Forknight has grown again this year — with more participating venues and more offers than the 2025 edition. The promotion runs across the full second half of May and is pitched as an invitation for residents and visitors alike to try somewhere new, or rediscover somewhere familiar, at a price designed to take the edge off the decision. The pitch is simple enough. For a fortnight, the town's eateries put their best dishes front and centre at reduced prices, and diners are nudged out of their usual habits — towards a cuisine they have never tried, a venue they have always walked past, or a midweek lunch they would otherwise have eaten at their desk. ### A fortnight at a glance The headline numbers are straightforward. More than 50 offers. Just over two weeks. One town centre. The vast majority of deals run for the full Forknight window from 15 to 31 May, with a small number of date-specific specials — notably a one-day promotion at Chefs' Whites on Friday 22 May, offering three courses for £15 or two courses for £12.50. Beyond that, Forknight 2026 spans almost every meal occasion and price point a diner might be looking for: a £6 cake and drink at Harvest Moon at one end, two-person sharing menus pushing past £50 at the other, and dozens of mid-range options sitting comfortably in between. ### Eating around the world without leaving town One of the festival's defining features is the spread of cuisines on offer. An Indian at Malabar Delights, where a starter, curry, rice and drink come in at £15; Greek at The Greek Stomach, with a free drink alongside gyros and chips for £7.50; Turkish at Kervan Kitchen, which is running 20 per cent off Adana kofte, chicken beyti and chicken wings; and Caribbean at Hardball Smokehouse, where oxtail, rice and peas is £10. Spanish small plates feature twice on the list. The Moloko is offering two tapas dishes for £12 or three for £18, while Marinero Lounge is running three tapas dishes with a drink for £13.95, plus a free drink or pudding on Mondays. The Forge Kitchen has two tacos for £3.60 — one of the cheapest deals of the fortnight — and Bon Bon is serving Tex Mex filled tortillas or nachos for £10 each. Italian is well represented too, with Pizza Express running bottomless beer or prosecco at £20 per person, Moto Pizza offering all-you-can-eat lunch for £10 and an evening version with a drink for £20, and Mylo's pizzas at The Thomas Wolsey coming with free tater tots. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_8813.jpeg) The Forge Kitchen in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Asian cuisine is covered by Mu Lan Kitchen, which has a main, side and drink combination for £8.95, and Wagamama, with lunch and a drink for £14. ### Deals for every budget For diners eating on a tighter budget, the Forge Kitchen's £3.60 tacos and £4.50 wings Wednesday lead the way. Harvest Moon's £6 cake and drink, and The Hold's £6.50 panini, drink and crisps follow close behind, while The Greek Stomach's £7.50 gyros and chips and Mu Lan Kitchen's £8.95 combo round out the under-£10 category. The £10 mark is where the fortnight is busiest. Pickwicks has a breakfast special at that price, Love Thy Burger has burger and chips, Hardball Smokehouse has its oxtail offer, Honey + Harvey has smashed avocado on toast, Bon Bon has both its Tex Mex tortilla and nachos, Hanks Vegan Restaurant has tofish and chips as well as a sandwich, fries and hot drink combo, Harvest Moon has a breakfast burrito and drink, The Hidden Garden has cake and a cuppa for two, the New Wolsey Theatre has a ploughman's platter, and The Greyhound is running a £10 Forknight special lunch. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-DOF5iYQTReCHifz8HbF4hA-1775135773109-1.jpg) The Greyhound in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) At the other end of the scale, sharing menus and date-night options anchor the higher price points. The Last Anchor is running steak, chips and wine for two at £45, while Three Wise Monkeys has a "Mega Monkey" combo for two at £55\. The Lord Nelson has two roast dinners for £32, Bistro on the Quay is serving a seafood skewer for £24, and The Greyhound has tiered meal specials at £15, £20 or £25, letting diners pick their own price point. ### Breakfast, brunch and family-friendly options Forknight is not just an evening affair. Several venues are leaning into breakfast and brunch, with The Woolpack offering both a full English at £12 and a vegetarian version at £11, Pickwicks running its £10 breakfast special, Honey + Harvey on smashed avocado on toast at £10, and Harvest Moon doing a breakfast burrito and drink for the same price. Families are catered for, too. The Last Anchor's "Little Anchors Eat Free" deal, Five Guys' £7.50 kids' meal and The Plough's £15 Sunday roast with unlimited sides all provide great options for the school holidays. ### Vegan, vegetarian and lighter bites Plant-based diners have more to choose from than in years past. Hanks Vegan Restaurant has two dedicated offers — tofish and chips for £10, and a sandwich, fries and hot drink combo at the same price. Harvest Moon's breakfast burrito and cake-and-drink offers are both vegan-friendly, and The Woolpack's vegetarian breakfast at £11 gives meat-free diners a town centre pub option. For those after something lighter, The Arbor House has a sandwich and selected drinks for £14, The Crafty Fox Cafe Bar has a toasted sandwich and drink for £15, and Bread Bowl has a bread bowl and soft drink combination at £14.50. ### A mix of independents and chains The participating venues span the full spectrum of Ipswich's hospitality scene. Long-standing independents such as The Lord Nelson, The Greyhound and Salthouse Harbour Hotel sit alongside national brands including Pizza Express, Wagamama and Five Guys. Ipswich's food scene has quietly become one of the most varied in the region, and Forknight is the moment it pulls together to show what it can do. From family-run kitchens turning out food from half a dozen continents, to long-loved pubs, restaurants and cafés — it is all on the menu, and all within walking distance. ### The bottom line This is a fortnight to put your phone down, pull a chair out and eat. Take a colleague to lunch. Drag a friend to that restaurant you have been meaning to try for months. Book the family somewhere new, or settle into an old favourite and order the thing you would not normally pick. Ipswich's eateries have laid on more than 50 reasons to come and find them — and for two weeks, the only thing left to do is turn up hungry. [View all offers](Coordinated by Ipswich Central, the town's Business Improvement District, Forknight has grown again this year — with more participating venues and more offers than the 2025 edition. The promotion runs across the full second half of May and is pitched as an invitation for residents and visitors alike to try somewhere new, or rediscover somewhere familiar, at a price designed to take the edge off the decision. In the organiser's own words, the fortnight is a chance to "celebrate the wonderful array of food and drink that is available to enjoy around Ipswich town centre", with eateries highlighting menu items "that celebrate the very best cuisine" and encouraging food-lovers to "try something new, whether that be a different international cuisine or a place you haven't visited before for a meal out with family or friends." A fortnight at a glance The headline numbers are straightforward. More than 50 offers. Just over two weeks. One town centre. The vast majority of deals run for the full Forknight window from 15 to 31 May, with a small number of date-specific specials — notably a one-day promotion at Chefs' Whites on Friday 22 May, offering three courses for £15 or two courses for £12.50. Beyond that, the appeal is in the breadth. Forknight 2026 spans almost every meal occasion and price point a diner might be looking for: a £6 cake and drink at Harvest Moon at one end, two-person sharing menus pushing past £50 at the other, and dozens of mid-range options sitting comfortably in between. Eating around the world without leaving town One of the festival's defining features is the spread of cuisines on offer in a relatively compact town centre footprint. Diners looking to travel without leaving Ipswich can pick from Indian at Malabar Delights, where a starter, curry, rice and drink come in at £15; Greek at The Greek Stomach, with a free drink alongside gyros and chips for £7.50; Turkish at Kervan Kitchen, which is running 20 per cent off Adana kofte, chicken beyti and chicken wings; and Caribbean at Hardball Smokehouse, where oxtail, rice and peas is £10. Spanish small plates feature twice on the list. The Moloko is offering two tapas dishes for £12 or three for £18, while Marinero Lounge is running three tapas dishes with a drink for £13.95, plus a free drink or pudding on Mondays. Mexican-leaning offers sit alongside them. The Forge Kitchen has two tacos for £3.60 — one of the cheapest deals of the fortnight — and Bon Bon is serving Tex Mex filled tortillas or nachos for £10 each. Italian is well represented too, with Pizza Express running bottomless beer or prosecco at £20 per person, Moto Pizza offering all-you-can-eat lunch for £10 and an evening version with a drink for £20, and Mylo's pizzas at The Thomas Wolsey coming with free tater tots. Asian cuisine is covered by Mu Lan Kitchen, which has a main, side and drink combination for £8.95, and Wagamama, with lunch and a drink for £14. Deals for every budget For diners eating on a tighter budget, the fortnight has clear entry points. The Forge Kitchen's £3.60 tacos and £4.50 wings Wednesday lead the value end. Harvest Moon's £6 cake and drink and The Hold's £6.50 panini, drink and crisps follow close behind, while The Greek Stomach's £7.50 gyros and chips and Mu Lan Kitchen's £8.95 combo round out the under-£10 category. The £10 mark is where the fortnight is busiest. Pickwicks has a breakfast special at that price, Love Thy Burger has burger and chips, Hardball Smokehouse has its oxtail offer, Honey + Harvey has smashed avocado on toast, Bon Bon has both its Tex Mex tortilla and nachos, Hanks Vegan Restaurant has tofish and chips as well as a sandwich, fries and hot drink combo, Harvest Moon has a breakfast burrito and drink, The Hidden Garden has cake and a cuppa for two, and the New Wolsey Theatre has a ploughman's platter. At the other end of the scale, sharing menus and date-night options anchor the higher price points. The Last Anchor is running steak, chips and wine for two at £45, while Three Wise Monkeys has a "Mega Monkey" combo for two at £55. The Lord Nelson has two roast dinners for £32, and Bistro on the Quay is serving a seafood skewer for £24. Breakfast, brunch and family-friendly options Forknight is not just an evening affair. Several venues are leaning into breakfast and brunch, with The Woolpack offering both a full English at £12 and a vegetarian version at £11, Pickwicks running its £10 breakfast special, Honey + Harvey on smashed avocado on toast at £10, and Harvest Moon doing a breakfast burrito and drink for the same price. Families are catered for too. The Last Anchor's "Little Anchors Eat Free" deal, Five Guys' £7.50 kids' meal and The Plough's £15 Sunday roast with unlimited sides all read as offers built with the school-holidays end of May in mind. Vegan, vegetarian and lighter bites Plant-based diners have more to choose from than in many years past. Hanks Vegan Restaurant has two dedicated offers — tofish and chips for £10, and a sandwich, fries and hot drink combo at the same price. Harvest Moon's breakfast burrito and cake-and-drink offers are both vegan-friendly, and The Woolpack's vegetarian breakfast at £11 gives meat-free diners a town centre pub option. For those after something lighter, The Arbor House has a sandwich and selected drinks for £14, The Crafty Fox Cafe Bar has a toasted sandwich and drink for £15, and Bread Bowl has a bread bowl and soft drink combination at £14.50. A mix of independents and chains The participating venues span the full spectrum of Ipswich's hospitality scene. Long-standing independents such as The Lord Nelson, The Greyhound and Salthouse Harbour Hotel sit alongside national brands including Pizza Express, Wagamama and Five Guys. Cultural venues are represented too — both the New Wolsey Theatre and The Hold are taking part, blurring the line between food destination and day-out venue. That breadth is arguably the point. Town centre footfall, particularly outside peak hours, remains one of the central challenges for Ipswich's hospitality sector. A coordinated fortnight that gives diners a clear, time-limited reason to step inside dozens of venues at once is the kind of intervention a BID is set up to deliver. The bottom line Forknight will not, on its own, solve the structural pressures facing town centre hospitality. But for two weeks in May, it gives Ipswich diners more than 50 reasons to eat out, drink in and look again at what is on their doorstep — and gives the town's eateries a coordinated shot at winning new regulars. The full list of offers and participating venues is available via Ipswich Central's Forknight landing page. The fortnight runs from Friday 15 May to Sunday 31 May 2026.) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£60 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Shoplift at Ancient House this week URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/shoplift-at-ancient-house-this-week/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T10:13:20.000Z **Why it matters:** Transactionland is a free, four-day pop-up that uses humour and play to tackle big economic questions – from the cost of living to the housing crisis – that organisers say are too often left to experts, academics and politicians. **The details:** The project runs at The Ancient House from Thursday, 21 May to Sunday, 24 May, hosted by Ipswich-based arts charity SPILL and led by Bristol-based artist Rachael Clerke. It is described as a hybrid of a shop, a community space and a venue for exploring ideas about the economy, labour and value. Actors play the role of shopkeepers in 1980s Woolworths-inspired red uniforms, and accepted currencies include cash, card, stock cubes, time and anecdotes. **The activities:** Alongside Shoplift-o-clock, the daily schedule includes: - **The Stock Exchange** – visitors swap something they have on their person for a stock cube, and can return another day to trade the cube for something else on the table. - **Doughnut Hour** – a group conversation about doughnut economics, with doughnuts. **What they're saying:** Caught shoplifters must "have a conversation about the ethics of theft and its impact on the local and national economy," organisers say, before having their portrait added to the Thieves Gallery. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Transactionland_Rachael-Clerke_02.02.26-1-2.jpg) Transactionland is the creation of Bristol-based artist Rachael Clerke (Photo: Ruby Turner) Clerke's work "sits somewhere on the edge of live art and community infrastructure," according to SPILL, with the idea behind Transactionland emerging from "the housing crisis, low economic literacy, and a desire to look at the inside of the workings of the economy, perhaps even to remake it." **The bigger picture:** SPILL says the project "challenges the idea that the economy is too complex a subject for everyone to understand" and is designed to welcome "people from all walks of life, encouraging involvement in economic discussions that are usually dominated by experts, academics and politicians." **For context:** SPILL is an Ipswich arts charity based at Think Tank, next door to Ipswich Museum. It was founded by artist Robert Pacitti in 1999, with the first SPILL Festival taking place in 2007. **The bottom line:** Free to access and suitable for adults and families with children, Transactionland offers Ipswich residents a chance to engage with serious economic questions through a playful pop-up shop where the rules of retail – and theft – have been rewritten. Transactionland is free to attend at The Ancient House from Thursday, 21 May to Sunday, 24 May. [Learn more](https://www.spillfestival.com/transactionland?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£37 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Creativity and Wellbeing Week returns to Suffolk with 'Critical Hope' theme URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/creativity-and-wellbeing-week-returns-to-suffolk-with-critical-hope-theme/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T19:39:29.000Z **Why it matters:** Organisers say new national research shows that people in the UK are now living fewer years in good health than a decade ago, with many experiencing illness well before retirement age – and in the most disadvantaged communities, people can face up to 20 fewer years of good health than those in the wealthiest areas. **The theme:** This year's Creativity and Wellbeing Week is built around the concept of "Critical Hope", which organisers say reflects the importance of finding practical solutions to difficult challenges. Local leaders argue that creativity is one of those solutions. **What they're saying:** Natalie Jode, Executive Director of Creative Arts East, said: "We know that creativity changes lives. It brings people together, reduces loneliness and helps people feel more confident and connected. "At a time when many people are facing declining health, creativity offers something incredibly powerful – a way to start well, stay well, and age well. That's what Critical Hope looks like in action." **The details:** The week is being supported regionally by the Norfolk & Suffolk: Region of Creative Health programme, which brings together organisations from health, local government and the arts. According to organisers, its aims are to: - Help people stay well for longer - Support those living with long-term conditions - Reduce loneliness and isolation - Make creative opportunities available to more people **By the numbers:** Organisers say arts workshops with older people in Norfolk over the last decade – including those living with dementia, long-term conditions or loneliness – have shown evidenced benefits including improved wellbeing, stronger social connections and reduced isolation. New research from University College London, published on 11 May, found that taking part in arts and cultural activities, such as making music or visiting galleries, can slow the pace of ageing, with benefits the researchers say are similar to regular exercise. **The bigger picture:** The week sits within a wider £1 million project led from the Ipswich waterfront by DanceEast and the Norfolk & Suffolk Culture Board, which is testing whether embedding creative activity into NHS and social care services can help prevent and manage long-term conditions across the region. [Could the arts ease pressure on Suffolk’s NHS? £1m project aims to find outA £1 million project led from the Ipswich waterfront will test whether embedding creative activity into NHS and social care services can help prevent and manage long-term conditions across Norfolk and Suffolk.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-18.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/dato-P1n1X7HUSIeLsidKNHtlag-1775136783844-1.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/could-the-arts-ease-pressure-on-suffolks-nhs-1m-project-aims-to-find-out/) In April, Arts Council England awarded £350,000 to the two-year Norfolk and Suffolk: Region of Creative Health project, which organisers say is the first of its kind in the UK. It forms part of a 10-year vision to establish creativity and cultural participation as core health behaviours for people in Norfolk and Suffolk. Other partners delivering the wider programme include Britten Pears Arts, Creative Arts East, Suffolk Artlink, Suffolk Community Libraries, Suffolk County Council, the University of Suffolk and the Suffolk and Northeast Essex Integrated Care Board. **The bottom line:** Creativity and Wellbeing Week runs from 18–24 May, with organisers across Suffolk using the "Critical Hope" theme to push the message that the arts are not just enjoyable, but essential to health and wellbeing. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Onlookers watch as Mariners boat leaves Ipswich Waterfront URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/crowds-watch-as-mariners-boat-leaves-ipswich-waterfront-after-months-closed/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T09:54:48.000Z **Why it matters:** The Mariners boat has been a fixture of the Ipswich Waterfront for years, and its departure leaves an eerily visible gap in the marina at one of the town's most prominent destinations. **The details:** The boat left Ipswich docks at 09:30 on Monday, 18 May, bound for Pin Mill, where it will undergo maintenance. No timeframe has been given for how long the boat will be away. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4407.jpeg) The Waterfront with no Mariners (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **For context:** Mariners has been closed since after the festive period. In February, its operators said they had "chosen to take a break" to regroup and plan next steps, with staff and many of the restaurant's classic dishes moved to its sister site, Bistro on the Quay, opposite where Mariners is moored on Neptune's Quay. No date has been confirmed for the restaurant to reopen. **The bigger picture:** Mr Jourdain bought the boat in 2018\. Before its 2009 rebrand as Mariners, it traded as Il Punto. The vessel itself has a long history beyond Ipswich: originally a Belgian navy ship, it was interned in the Netherlands during the First World War and spent time in Hamburg during the Second World War, where it was refitted as a Red Cross hospital ship. **The bottom line:** With Mariners now gone for maintenance and no return date set, a familiar feature of the Ipswich Waterfront is absent from the marina for the foreseeable future. We hope to welcome it back soon. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk distillery's spiced rum (that's not a spiced rum) named best in the world URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-distillerys-spiced-rum-thats-not-a-spiced-rum-named-best-in-the-world/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T08:05:14.000Z **Why it matters:** Alkemy Spiced Gold, produced by the Bradfield-based distillery founded by brothers Rob and Will Tapster, has achieved the highest score for a spiced rum in the competition's nine-year history. **The details:** Now in its ninth year, the London Spirits Competition judges entries across three weighted criteria – quality, value and packaging – with quality given double weight in the final score calculation. - Alkemy Spiced Gold scored 94 for quality, 93 for packaging and 92 for value. - Entries are first blind-tasted by a panel of trade professionals, including spirits buyers, bar managers and mixologists, before price and packaging are factored in. - The competition drew entries from more than 30 countries, with a particularly strong Caribbean presence in the rum category. Judges described the spirit as "a complex rum with a woody, vanilla nose, balanced sweetness, cinnamon spice, tannic structure, and a long, refined finish." **The twist:** Under European regulations, to be called rum, a spirit must be made from sugar cane, be over 37.5% ABV, and not be flavoured or have more than 20g of sugar per litre added. Alkemy is made from sugar beet molasses sourced from East Anglian farms, meaning it cannot legally be classified as a rum and is not labelled as one. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/London-Competitions-2026---8.jpg) It's a hard job, but someone has to do it (Photo: London Spirits Competition) **What they're saying:** Co-founder Will Tapster said: "I think it's a good indication that people are taking spiced rum more seriously. Historically, spiced rums have performed a lot worse than other rums in these awards, but that's changed now. People are starting to see that amongst the traditionally overly sweet spiced rums, there are others that are as complex and enjoyable as any spirit." Co-founder Rob Tapster added: "We have to admit that we were quite surprised, not because we don't have faith in the spirit, but because we have had mixed responses to our spirit in these competitions. So far, we either score very well or get disqualified for not being a 'true rum'. We see both as valid responses, but we would be lying if we said that we weren't very pleased with this outcome." He continued: "The categorisation debate will continue, I'm sure, but when it comes to blind tasting, it's nice to see that even the most discerning of industry professionals enjoy it as much as they do. Results like this show how close we are to the rum category, but it does represent an interesting idea…maybe the best spiced rum isn't a spiced rum at all." **The bottom line:** Alkemy is available in farm shops, bars and restaurants across Suffolk, as well as on the Alkemy website and via Amazon. [Buy online](https://alkemydistillery.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk traders invited to join Buttermarket's Suffolk Day Fayre URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-traders-invited-to-join-buttermarkets-suffolk-day-fayre/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T08:04:02.000Z **Why it matters:** The free event offers Suffolk traders a platform to connect directly with Ipswich town centre visitors during one of the county's biggest annual celebrations of local pride. **The details:** The Buttermarket is inviting a diverse mix of businesses to take part, from handmade crafts and unique gifts to locally sourced food and drink. - Organisers say they are seeking variety across the stalls to showcase the breadth of Suffolk products and creativity. - Both established independent businesses and growing local brands are encouraged to apply. - Spaces are limited, with organisers keen to ensure a varied mix. **What they're saying:** Rebecca Bird, Centre Manager at Buttermarket Ipswich, said: "Suffolk Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the people, businesses and community spirit that make our county so special. "We're excited to bring local traders together at The Buttermarket and create a vibrant event that champions Suffolk talent right in the heart of Ipswich." **What's next:** Applications close on 1 June. Businesses interested in taking part can register online via The Buttermarket Pop-Up Enquiries Portal at [buttermarketipswich.com/pop-up-enquiries](https://www.buttermarketipswich.com/pop-up-enquiries/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). **The bottom line:** With just weeks to apply, the Suffolk Day Fayre offers local traders a high-footfall opportunity to reach Ipswich shoppers as part of the county-wide Suffolk Day celebrations. [Learn more](https://www.buttermarketipswich.com/pop-up-enquiries/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Reform faces cross-party backlash over Suffolk LGR judicial review plan URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-faces-cross-party-backlash-over-suffolk-lgr-judicial-review-plan/ Last updated: 2026-05-15T15:01:32.000Z **Why it matters:** A judicial review could potentially delay or disrupt Suffolk's transition to a new unitary structure, but opposition leaders argue such a challenge would be costly, legally weak, and politically motivated. **The details:** Cllr Richard Rout, Leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group, said the Reform UK group on Suffolk County Council had not yet set out clear legal grounds for the proposed challenge. "It's well known that we believe the government reached the wrong decision on LGR," Cllr Rout said. "In fact, their proposals contain nonsensical boundaries and will doubtless cost more than the current system. However, not liking a decision is not grounds for judicial review." He added: "What has been described by Reform thus far sounds like a spurious scatter-gun approach – they don't even seem to know on what grounds they are challenging." **What they're saying:** Cllr Rout argued that the legal threshold for a successful judicial review was high and that council officers had previously advised Reform's case would not meet it. "To succeed, a judicial review needs to show the decision was illegal, irrational, or procedurally flawed. A few short weeks ago, council staff were advising us none of those tests are met here," he said. "The irrationality bar is ludicrously high and even if a procedural flaw were found, the Secretary of State could simply make the same decision again." He also questioned the motivation behind the challenge: "A judicial review that costs a fortune, goes nowhere but drags on for months could be seen as a desperate bid to derail next year's unitary elections and cling to power." The Green view: Cllr Andrew Stringer, the main opposition leader at the county council, said this was a "poor start" for the new administration. “We think a unitary government gives us the best chance of bringing services together while having accountability,” he added, “we need to be busy delivering this new democratic model.” **Labour reaction:** Cllr Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, also criticised the proposed legal action, framing it as a misuse of public money at the expense of Ipswich priorities. "Unbelievable to see that the first action of Reform at SCC is to waste £100k launching a legal challenge on Local Government Reorganisation, rather than moving forward on an Ipswich bypass or fixing our crumbling roads," he said. "Clearly, they don't care any more about Ipswich than the previous Tory administration did. Reform are starting off by wasting taxpayers money, despite widespread support for a new council centred on Ipswich." **Reform responds:** Mr Hadwen defended the proposed challenge, arguing that the cost of legal action would be outweighed by the cost of LGR itself. "The LGR decision is one that will break up Suffolk, will cost the taxpayer's more, for likely weakened services and is not popular with the electorate," he said. "We will be looking at all options available to us, and our reasoning will be set out with our announcement. It is unfortunate that there are those who would rather sit back and watch our great county be destroyed then fight, but Reform in Suffolk won't rest and along with Essex and Norfolk we will hold this terrible decision to account." He added: "The cost of a JR is nothing compared to the cost of LGR." Mr Hadwen said he would not be commenting on the specifics of the case until Reform UK had formally set out its position. Both the One Suffolk and Power of Three proposals for local government reform projected significant savings from the changes. **For context:** The Government announced in March that it was proceeding with Local Government Reorganisation in Suffolk, a decision that will see the county's existing two-tier structure replaced with new unitary authorities. Reform UK is set to take control of Suffolk County Council, with Michael Hadwen due to be formally confirmed as leader at the authority's annual general meeting on Thursday, 21 May 2026. **The bigger picture:** Suffolk's Reform group is not the first to threaten legal action over LGR. In Essex, the incoming Reform UK leader of the county council, Peter Harris, wrote to Communities Secretary Steve Reed on Wednesday, 14 May, describing the Government's proposals as "ill-thought, expensive and purely ideological in nature." - Mr Harris said he had instructed lawyers to prepare a pre-action protocol letter, which he intended to send "subject to my group's approval." - "We will utilise all resources at our disposal to challenge and resist LGR," he said. - In March, the Government backed a model of five all-purpose councils in Essex to replace the current structure of 15 councils. **What's next:** Ministers will need to pass legislation in Parliament later this year to abolish and replace the existing councils. Michael Hadwen is expected to be confirmed as Leader of Suffolk County Council on Thursday, 21 May, at which point the Reform UK administration is expected to set out the formal basis of its legal challenge. **The bottom line:** With Reform UK poised to take formal control of Suffolk County Council next week, opposition leaders have set out an early line of attack on what it sees as a legally weak and politically motivated challenge to LGR – a position that mirrors the cost concerns being raised in Essex as that authority's own legal challenge takes shape. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£57 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Be proud of where you are from': Students lead culture celebration URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/be-proud-of-where-you-are-from-students-lead-culture-celebration/ Last updated: 2026-05-15T07:29:17.000Z **Why it matters:** The college says the event was created in response to student requests for a day that "champions harmony not division" – with organisers hoping to make it an annual fixture. **The details:** Cultural Day began with the launch of the Global Food and Pita Festival, an annual food-themed showcase the college describes as bringing communities together to promote respect for different cultures. A series of happenings then took place in the main atrium of the Ipswich campus, including: - Stands run by students promoting different countries - A fashion show featuring traditional clothing from learners' countries of birth - Kurdish and Flamenco dance routines - Music from around the world played throughout **What they're saying:** Alan Pease, principal and chief executive of Suffolk New College, spoke at the launch of the festival. "Our wonderful college is a microcosm of Ipswich. We are a wonderfully diverse community, both as a college and a county and we are delighted to be once again supporting this event," he said. Christina Jordan, an ESOL progress tutor at the college, said: "Students from across college have come together to see their cultures represented. It's important that every student feels a sense of belonging. I'm very proud of what they have created." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/5---One-of-the-staff-organisers-of-the-culture-day---Christina-Jordan---the-event-was-held-inside-the-atrium-of-Suffolk-New-College.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/6---Mahmoud-Bassen-from-Ipswich-at-the-Suffolk-New-College-culture-day.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/7---Naureen-Mahmud-a-teaching-assistant-student-helped-organise-the-culture-day-at-Suffolk-New-College.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/1---Gloria-Gonzales-showing-off-her-flamenco-skills-at-the-Suffolk-New-College-culture-day.JPG) Shots from the culture day held at Suffolk New College (Photo: Suffolk New College) Naureen Mahmud, 17, from Ipswich, who is studying a level 3 teaching assistant course, was one of the organisers. "We made a plan to go ahead with Cultural Day, and everyone got involved. The college supported and backed us. It was all about being proud about where you are from. We hope to make this an annual event," she said. Mahamoud Bassel, 19, from Ipswich, who is studying English and maths, said the day had value beyond entertainment. The Syrian-born teenager, who hopes to study a health and social care course next year, said: "It's a good thing to know about other countries, cultures and religions." **The bottom line:** Suffolk New College's first Cultural Day brought together students from across the world to share their heritage with classmates, with organisers now hoping the event will return next year. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### How to take part in Saturday's Midnight Walk at Christchurch Park URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-to-take-part-in-saturdays-midnight-walk-at-christchurch-park/ Last updated: 2026-05-15T07:29:00.000Z **Why it matters:** The hospice's flagship fundraiser is the charity's biggest fundraising night of the year, with sponsorship money helping to fund care for people of all ages living with life-limiting illness across the region. **The details:** This year's event has a superhero theme, with the hospice encouraging participants to don their favourite costumes for the sponsored walk. - Walkers can choose between a 6-mile or 9-mile route, both starting and finishing at Christchurch Park. - The route will take walkers up to the hospice grounds, where they will be invited to write messages in memory of loved ones on a Memory Wall. - From there, the route continues through Ipswich, passing landmarks including Ipswich Town Hall and the Regent Theatre. - The walk starts at 21:00, with entertainment from sponsor Knights Lowe from 19:00. **By the numbers:** On-the-day tickets are priced at £35 for adults (18 and above) and £15 for children aged 10 to 17. - Ticket cost covers the running of the event, with sponsorship money going directly to the charity. - £85 in sponsorship could fund a one-to-one bereavement support session for a child or adult who has lost someone they love, the hospice says. **For context:** St Elizabeth Hospice provides care for people of all ages living with life-limiting illness across East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, with more than 70% of its care delivered in people's own homes. In the last year, 555 people aged 45 and under were supported by the hospice, a number the charity says continues to grow. **What to look out for:** The routes use public roads and footpaths, with no road closures in place. The hospice says it is the participant's responsibility to follow the Highway Code and any instructions given by staff, volunteers and marshals. **The bottom line:** Anyone wanting to take part in this year's Midnight Walk can sign up on the day at Christchurch Park. [Find out more](https://www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/get-involved/events/all-events-challenges/midnightwalk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). ### Free family open day at Ipswich community farm this Sunday URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/free-family-open-day-at-ipswich-community-farm-this-sunday/ Last updated: 2026-05-15T07:28:39.000Z **Why it matters:** The event offers Ipswich residents a chance to explore Suffolk's longest-standing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme, which has grown from an empty arable field in 2010 into a working farm supplying around 100 local households with weekly veg boxes. **The details:** No booking is required for the open day on Playford Lane. - Entry is free, though a £5 donation per car is suggested. Cash only. - The event is family and child-friendly. Guide dogs only. - Activities include farm tours, pond dipping, crafts and refreshments. **How the farm works:** The Oak Tree is a Community Supported Agriculture scheme, a model that directly connects farmers and members through a subscription-based partnership. - Full members pay a subscription fee and commit to working an average of four hours per month in return for a weekly veg box. - Work can include labour on the farm at Saturday work parties, harvesting vegetables, or contributing other skills. Members with carpentry skills built the farm's compostable toilet. - The farm does not use chemical fertilisers or pesticides. **For context:** Founded in 2010 by Joanne Mudhar on a conventional arable field with poor soil and low biodiversity, the project evolved into Suffolk's first Community Supported Agriculture scheme and was established as a Community Interest Company in 2012. When Mudhar moved on, the community took on the farm, leasing the land from landowners Kiln Farm. Head grower Ryan joined in 2016 after working on a similar project in Canada, and now leads production of nearly 100 weekly veg boxes. **The bigger picture:** Membership has reached a record high over the last year, with more younger couples and families joining as interest grows in eating locally, eating sustainably, and cutting food costs. A fifth polytunnel has just been built to further increase production. **The bottom line:** Sunday's open day is a chance for Ipswich families to see how Suffolk's longest-standing community farm operates – and to find out how to get involved. [Get more information](http://www.the-oak-tree.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Police appeal to trace wanted Ipswich man URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-appeal-to-trace-wanted-ipswich-man-2/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T13:43:39.000Z **Why it matters:** Officers are asking the public to come forward with any information that could help them trace Jarrett, who is from Ipswich and has links to Lowestoft and Oulton Broad. **The details:** Police have issued the following description: - White - Approximately 5ft 7ins (170cm) tall - Slim build **What's next:** Anyone who has seen Jarrett or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact Suffolk Police, quoting reference 37/10853/26. Information can be passed to officers via the Suffolk Constabulary website at suffolk.police.uk/tell-us, by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat service on the force's website. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org. **The bottom line:** In the event of an emergency, members of the public should always call 999. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Call for wider NHS App training after Suffolk pilot success URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/call-for-wider-nhs-app-training-after-suffolk-pilot-success/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T12:07:00.000Z **Why it matters:** The University of Suffolk study found that community pharmacies can serve as trusted spaces to reach digitally excluded groups, particularly older patients, helping them access health services through their phones, tablets or computers. **The details:** The Health Education England-funded pilot ran across the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System area – now under the NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board – and aimed to boost both take-up of the NHS App and the use of its expanding functions. The study, published by the University of Suffolk's Institute of Health and Wellbeing on behalf of the Integrated Care Academy partnership, looked at two strands of work. - 49 pharmacies enrolled in NHS App training in the first strand. - Around 98 community pharmacy team members and 34 members of patient participation or community groups were trained. - Just 12% had used the NHS App before the project, with 78% reporting increased usage after training. - 28 pharmacies took part in a nine-week pilot in the autumn to support patients. - 4,012 initial conversations about the app were recorded, with 2,041 patients supported to download and use it – a 51% conversion rate. - The four pharmacies with the highest number of interventions all had conversion rates above 90%. **For context:** Grants were also given to 21 patient participation groups and three community organisations – Suffolk Libraries, Suffolk Family Carers and the North Essex Digital Access Support Team – to enable locally-tailored NHS App engagement. The study identified a "download gap", with 50% of patients having downloaded the app previously but not using it before the intervention. **The challenges:** Researchers flagged several barriers that hampered some users from completing their set-up, including poor Wi-Fi and limited time for pharmacists to support patients one-to-one. The pilot also had limited reach to some communities, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups, people with disabilities and black, Asian and minority ethnic populations. A higher proportion of older patients did not wish to use digital health tools. **What's being recommended:** The Institute of Health and Wellbeing has recommended that a standardised, yet locally flexible training programme should be accessible across libraries, community groups, patient participation groups and pharmacies to boost take-up further. It also said time and resources should be provided for follow-up support to help sustain delivery, rather than short pilots. **What they're saying:** Professor Valerie Gladwell, Director of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Suffolk, said: "The NHS' 10-year Fit for the Future plan places an emphasis on boosting digital delivery, prevention and community-based care, so ensuring people have access to digital health tools is an essential element in ensuring their healthcare needs are met. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Lee-Doherty---photo-credit-Norfolk-and-Suffolk-ICB.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Prof-Valerie-Gladwell---photo-credit-University-of-Suffolk.jpg) Lee Doherty and Professor Valerie Gladwell (Photos: University of Suffolk) "We know that community pharmacies are trusted spaces for individuals to access health and care advice – particularly among underrepresented communities – and by developing staff at these vital providers to support patients with the app, the system can help support meaningful engagement for patients that will promote ongoing and future usage of the app." Lee Doherty, Senior Pharmacist who led on the project for what is now NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, said: "The NHS app will continue to evolve rapidly and its functionality expand significantly over the next few years, to position itself as the digital front door of the NHS. "Co-ordinated and collaborative interventions to increase the digital skill of patients and the workforce supporting them, will be essential to help tackle inequalities." **The bottom line:** The Suffolk pilot has demonstrated that community pharmacies can play a key role in helping patients access digital health tools, with researchers now calling for a wider, sustained programme to build on the results. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### From finance to interiors: The designer who traded spreadsheets for swatches URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/from-finance-to-interiors-the-designer-who-traded-spreadsheets-for-swatches/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T10:41:25.000Z For two decades, Jenny thrived in the financial industry. She spent just over 20 years working primarily in project management and business analysis roles, building a successful career grounded in structure, precision and problem-solving. But beneath the spreadsheets and stakeholder meetings, something else was quietly growing: a passion for interiors that refused to go away. "I'd always had a passion for interiors, but it was after the birth of my second child in 2022 that I seriously began considering retraining," Jenny explains. What followed was not a dramatic leap but a careful, deliberate pivot – one that would eventually lead to the official launch of JC Interior Design in 2025. ## The renovation veterans The signs had been there for years. Jenny and her husband Terry had renovated every property they had lived in, throwing themselves into each project. From painting 10-foot ceilings to laying parquet flooring and fitting fireplaces, their hands-on approach turned houses into homes and caught the attention of everyone who visited. "People who visited our home would often tell me I should be doing this for a living," Jenny recalls. "One friend in particular used to joke that I'd 'missed my vocation in life,' and it became harder to ignore." Friends and family kept returning to Jenny for help with their own homes. She found herself investing the same level of care, detail and documentation that she would in her corporate projects. "I felt most energised, creative, and fulfilled when I was designing, and that was the nudge I needed to make the leap," she says. ## A structured transition Unlike many career-changers who attempt to juggle both worlds, Jenny made a bold decision: she would step back from her current role completely to focus on retraining. "Unlike many career-changes, I didn't study while working—I made the decision to step back, focus fully on retraining, and immerse myself in the learning process," she says. She studied with the National Design Academy, completing an interior design diploma covering spatial planning, technical drawing, materials, lighting and design theory. She also undertook an interior design software course, enabling her to produce computer-drawn floor plans and elevations and transform two-dimensional drawings into fully modelled three-dimensional visuals. "I started business planning alongside my day job and gradually took on small projects for friends in my spare time, which helped me build confidence and a base for the transition," Jenny explains. Those small real-world projects became crucial—allowing her to apply theory, test her skills and develop a portfolio that would eventually become the foundation for launching her business. As her portfolio grew and demand for her work increased, Jenny made the decision to formalise it. JC Interior Design was officially launched in 2025. ## Realising Ipswich.co.uk's high street newsroom One of Jenny's first major projects was the transformation of Ipswich.co.uk's Upper Brook Street newsroom. The building – a run-down former Chinese medical centre – was stripped back to shell state before Jenny's vision shaped it into a modern, functional workspace that we're proud to call home. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-10.40.33.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-10.40.10.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-10.39.52.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-10.39.38.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/image-683x911--2-.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/image-683x911-1.jpg) Inside Ipswich.co.uk's Upper Brook Street newsroom The project showcased exactly why Jenny's corporate background has become her greatest asset. Creating a functional newsroom requires more than aesthetic sensibility; it demands coordination, communication and structured thinking. It also requires an innate understanding of how workspaces and workforces function. ## Corporate skills, creative application Jenny's project management and business analyst background has proven invaluable in ways that might surprise those outside the industry. "Interior design isn't just about creativity – it's about coordination, communication, and problem-solving," she explains. The skills that have transferred most naturally include structured project planning to keep contractors, suppliers and clients aligned, clear documentation to produce contractor-ready drawings and specifications, and budget management to ensure designs are both beautiful and financially realistic. "Stakeholder communication, adapting my language for clients, trades, and suppliers", has also been crucial, alongside "risk management, anticipating issues before they become problems." "Those corporate experiences allow me to run projects smoothly and give clients a sense of confidence and clarity," Jenny says. ## Building with intention As the business grows steadily, Jenny is focusing on building strong foundations rather than chasing rapid expansion. "I've been using this early phase to take on a variety of projects, strengthen my technical skills, and create a clear, consistent design identity," she says. One of the biggest challenges so far has been navigating the reality of running a business single-handedly – switching between designer, project manager, marketer and administrator. But that variety has also been rewarding. "I love the problem-solving side of design: taking a tricky layout or a tired room and transforming it into something that feels intentional, calm, and uplifting." What motivates her most is witnessing the impact of thoughtful design. "Seeing how design can genuinely change the way someone feels in their home is what motivates me," she reflects. ## Designing for real life At the heart of Jenny's approach is a philosophy that sets her apart in an industry often dominated by trends and Instagram aesthetics. "I like to design spaces that can be truly lived in and enjoyed – spaces that suit the individual, feel personal and considered, and are created with sustainability and longevity in mind," she explains. "I'm less focused on trends and more interested in creating spaces that feel timeless, personal, and genuinely supportive of everyday life." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/jc-interiors-1-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/jc-interiors-2-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/jc-interiors-3-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/jc-interiors-4-1.png) Examples of JC Interiors' work (Photos: JC Interior Design) Sustainability is not an add-on but a core principle. "I believe every piece has a story and I delight in giving old items a fresh purpose and new life," Jenny says. Whether it is upcycling furniture, selecting eco-conscious finishes or designing for long-term comfort, her aim is to craft interiors that feel personal and purposeful without compromising the planet. Her service offerings reflect this commitment to accessibility. Packages range from a £350 virtual design service – making professional design available to clients beyond Suffolk and Essex – through to full room redesigns at £850 and comprehensive multi-room transformations. She also offers commercial design services, with the Ipswich.co.uk newsroom serving as testament to her capabilities in that arena. ## What does the future hold? Looking ahead, her focus remains on organic growth – expanding her full-service design offering, building a trusted network of trades and collaborators, and continuing to refine the client experience. "I already offer a virtual design service, and I plan to keep developing that alongside my in-person work to give clients flexible, accessible options that suit different budgets and locations." She's expanded the business with the launch of [JC Property Staging](https://www.jcpropertystaging.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), a new sister company that works with landlords to style empty properties, serviced accommodation and Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) to drive interest, increase bookings and support long-term financial performance. ## The bottom line Jenny's journey from financial project management to interior design shows that the most successful career changes do not happen overnight – they are built deliberately, with patience and purpose. By stepping back completely to retrain, applying corporate discipline to creative work, and staying true to a philosophy that prioritises sustainability and real-life functionality over fleeting trends, she has created a practice that truly serves her clients. As her work becomes increasingly visible across Ipswich – from private homes to high street newsrooms – it is clear that sometimes missing your vocation in life simply means you are building towards it all along. [Learn more about JC Interior Design](https://www.jcinteriordesign.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) ### This article cost us \~£71 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. Alternatively, you can directly fund more journalism like this by [becoming a member](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/#/portal/signup) for just £4.75 per month. You'll get our best content delivered straight to your inbox before anyone else, and the option to discuss our reporting with our journalists. ### St Jo's students crowned national debating champions URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/st-jos-students-crowned-national-debating-champions/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T09:26:16.000Z **Why it matters:** St Joseph's College students Ademide, Alex, Josh and reserve speaker Ben, beat 375 schools to be crowned champions of the English-Speaking Union's Schools' Mace Debating Competition in Mayfair. **The details:** The grand final motion was "This House would ban athletes from competing under a neutral flag at the Olympic Games if their country is subject to international sanctions." The competition, founded in 1957 and held at the Dartmouth House, has previously attracted notable participants, including Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy and broadcaster and author Edward Stourton. **What they're saying:** Dr Rice, head of humanities at St Joseph's College, said: "To emerge as champions is a truly remarkable accomplishment and firmly establishes our senior debate team among the finest in the country. This is an extraordinary achievement and a proud moment in our school's history." She added: "Standing in the Churchill Room beneath the portrait of Winston Churchill and watching the boys perform with such confidence and intelligence was a moment I will never forget." Deputy principal Sacha Cinnamond said: "Debating has become part of the identity of St Joseph's College, and that culture has been built through years of hard work from these students who have embraced challenge, curiosity, and ambition." **The bigger picture:** Dr Rice has been central to coaching the team to a national standard. She has also been shortlisted for the Historic Royal Palaces Inspiring Teacher Awards 2026. **The bottom line:** St Joseph's College's national debating title is a landmark achievement for the school and for Ipswich, and a testament to years of hard work, inspired teaching, and a culture that turns ambition into results. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Wanted man with Ipswich links arrested in North Wales URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/wanted-man-with-ipswich-links-arrested-in-north-wales/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T07:33:37.000Z **The details:** Suffolk Constabulary said Daryl Taylor was arrested on the morning of Thursday, 14 May. **For context:** Police had earlier issued a public appeal to trace Taylor, who was described as white, approximately 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build, with tattoos on his face, neck, arms and hands. **What they're saying:** "Police would like to thank members of the public and media for their assistance with this appeal," the force said in a statement. **The bottom line:** Taylor's arrest brings an end to the appeal, after Suffolk Constabulary called on the public to help locate him earlier this week. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£7 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Reform picks Hadwen to lead Suffolk in choice that signals ideology over experience URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-picks-hadwen-to-lead-suffolk-in-choice-that-signals-ideology-over-experience/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T19:56:44.000Z Hadwen, the newly elected Councillor for the Felixstowe Clifflands division, was confirmed by the Reform group on Wednesday, 13 May. He will be formally inducted as Leader of Suffolk County Council at the authority's annual general meeting at Endeavour House on Thursday, 21 May 2026, where all councillors will be asked to vote. With Reform UK holding 41 seats — the largest group on the council — the wider vote is a formality. In a statement to the BBC, Hadwen said: "I am particularly proud that our group moves forward united and focused on delivering the change residents voted for." He added: "Our priority now is to provide strong leadership, stand up for local communities and ensure Suffolk gets the fresh thinking and representation it deserves." ## A two-horse race decided What began as a three-way contest between Hadwen, long-serving councillor Chris Hudson and former Conservative cabinet member Philip Faircloth-Mutton narrowed as it became clear that Reform saw Hadwen as it's preferred choice. Hudson, the Councillor for the Brook division, had been widely seen as the frontrunner. He has served on Suffolk County Council since 2012, including a year as Chairman in 2014/15 and a year as Deputy Leader the following year. He defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK in September 2024. Hadwen, by contrast, had never held elected office until last week. He was selected, Ipswich.co.uk understands, as the candidate the group felt better reflected Reform UK's national ideology – a political choice. ## A career in party machinery Hadwen's route to the leadership runs almost entirely through party operations rather than public office. He served as Reform UK's Head of Candidates and Director of Campaigns and Training, a role in which he says he "rebuilt the candidate operation from the ground up" and played "a key role in the party's historic breakthrough in the May 2025 local elections, securing 677 council seats, control of 10 councils, two directly elected mayors, and our first parliamentary by-election victory". His most recent role, from December 2025 to April 2026, was as Political Advisor to Linden Kemkaran, the Reform Leader of Kent County Council. Kent is the largest local authority in England and has been viewed as a test case of the party's ability to govern. Its early months have been turbulent, with a proposed council tax rise of 3.99 per cent drawing criticism from opposition councillors who said it was not high enough to protect services and reserves, and upsetting Reform voters after breaking the party's pre-election promise not to raise taxes at all. Before joining Reform UK, Hadwen worked as Constituency Assistant to the former Conservative MP Dr Thérèse Coffey in Suffolk Coastal, and as a Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party in Wales, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk Coastal between 2022 and 2024. It is a CV built almost exclusively inside politics, with virtually no experience in the private sector outside political roles, and his only public-sector experience is the four-month advisory position in Kent. He will now lead an authority responsible for a budget of around £1bn, statutory services touching every household in the county, and Suffolk's transition to a new unitary system in April 2028. ## The statements that follow him in Hadwen has, on several occasions, attracted attention for public statements made in earlier years. In April 2018, following a joint US-UK statement on malicious cyber activity attributed to the Russian government and shortly after the Salisbury poisonings, he said: "Russia is not my enemy" and that "we should be working with them". In the same month, he said that "Enoch \[Powell\] was right, just behind the times". The reference was to the late Conservative MP whose 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech strongly criticised Commonwealth immigration and proposed anti-discrimination legislation, warning of severe social, cultural and violent consequences. The speech caused major controversy at the time and led to Powell's dismissal from the Shadow Cabinet. In February 2016, Hadwen said that if elected as an MP, he would hire Milo Yiannopoulos as his PR Manager. Yiannopoulos, then an editor at the American far-right news website Breitbart News, was banned from Twitter in July 2016 for the online harassment of actress Leslie Jones, and permanently banned from Facebook in 2019\. He resigned from Breitbart in 2017 after video clips circulated in which he stated that sexual relationships between 13-year-old boys and adults could be "perfectly consensual" — comments that also led to his invitation to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference being rescinded and a book deal with Simon and Schuster being cancelled. ## The opposition warming up Whoever emerged as Leader was always going to face an opposition unlikely to share their political views. Councillor Richard Rout, the new Leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group, said: "I'm grateful for the faith my colleagues have placed in me, and it is now our job, in opposition, to hold the Reform UK administration at Suffolk County Council to account." He added: "While they made little mention of their plans for our county during the election, instead relying on a national campaign message, Reform have made some sweeping assertions about the state of Suffolk County Council's finances and their ability to find large savings, make staff redundancies and reduce some services." Outgoing Conservative Leader Matthew Hicks, responding to earlier Freedom of Information figures on parish meeting attendance, had previously accused Reform UK of caring little about local communities "unless it's a rally attended by their leader". Hadwen's appointment is unlikely to soften that line. ## The political appointment The decision to pass over Hudson — the candidate with the deepest council experience — in favour of Hadwen will be read by many as a statement of intent. The group has chosen a leader closer to Reform UK's national operation, and further from the conventions of local government, than any of the alternatives on offer. His limited experience of elected office and the resurfacing of his past statements are likely to provide the opposition with ready material from day one and distractions when the council needs it least. ## The bottom line On 21 May, Michael Hadwen, who just five years ago was a bed salesman, will be formally confirmed as Leader of Suffolk County Council during a crucial time for the county as it transitions to three unitary authorities. Reform UK has chosen the candidate it believes best reflects its values and is likely to maximise its chances in the next elections, and Suffolk will now find out what that choice means in practice. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£70 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the three Reform councillors battling it out to lead Suffolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-three-reform-councillors-battling-it-out-to-lead-suffolk/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T18:16:20.000Z ❗ This article is out of date. The latest article announcing the new leader can be read [here](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-picks-hadwen-to-lead-suffolk-in-choice-that-signals-ideology-over-experience/). When Reform UK's 41 newly elected county councillors gather at Endeavour House on Thursday, 21 May 2026, one of their first acts will be to elect a new Leader of Suffolk County Council. As is normal, the contest is being conducted out of public view, but Ipswich.co.uk understands that three names are in the frame: Chris Hudson, Philip Faircloth-Mutton and Michael Hadwen. Each represents a different route into the role. One is a long-serving county councillor who defected from the Conservatives 20 months ago. Another is a former Conservative cabinet member who crossed the floor only eight months ago. The third is a controversial career politician who, until last Thursday, had never held elected office. The decision they make will set the tone for an administration responsible for a budget of around £1 billion, statutory services touching every household in the county, and overseeing Suffolk's transition to a new unitary system in April 2028. Support more journalism like this Found our election coverage valuable? Please consider subscribing for just £4.75 per month so we can continue doing it. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) ### Christopher Hudson: The county veteran The Councillor for the Brook division is widely considered the frontrunner. He has the longest record of the three in local government, having served on Suffolk County Council since 2012, including a year as Chairman in 2014/15 and a year as Deputy Leader in the year that followed. He previously represented the Kesgrave and Rushmere division before switching to Brook. Hudson defected from the Conservatives to Reform in September 2024\. In a statement at the time, he said: "Unfortunately, the broken manifesto promises over stopping the boats, safeguarding our borders, keeping taxes low and reducing them have all been betrayed." He added that he would "work hard for a Greater Britain that is free, strong, secure and optimistic" and that Reform "is the best and only way to secure these aims". Hudson lives in Framlingham and works, by his own description, as an "Independent Public Relations and Communications Professional". He was educated at St Gregory's College in the London Borough of Brent and holds a BA and MA in Classics, along with a PGCE. In March 2026, figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that he had attended just one of the 115 parish council meetings held in his Brook division between the end of 2023 and the time of the request — meetings that took place across the parishes of Belstead, Burstall, Chattisham, Copdock and Washbrook, Hintlesham, Pinewood, and Sproughton. The figures suggested he had not attended any meetings at all in Belstead or Sproughton. At the time, Hudson told Ipswich.co.uk: "I work evenings from home as a public affairs consultant, which has precluded my attendance at these important but voluntary meetings. Of course, I make myself available online and by mobile through my details, available publicly, since data travels better, economically and environmentally than other means in an online, digital setting." The outgoing Conservative Leader of the Council, Councillor Matthew Hicks, described the figures as "truly shocking" and accused Reform UK of caring little about local communities "unless it's a rally attended by their leader". On policy, Hudson has long been a vocal opponent of the proposed Ipswich Northern Bypass — although in recent comments to Ipswich.co.uk he indicated his position may be softening, saying "all options now remain open on the table". ### Philip Faircloth-Mutton: The young challenger The Councillor for the Stour Valley division has, like Hudson, made the journey from the Conservative benches — but far more recently. Faircloth-Mutton defected to Reform UK in September 2025, after 20 years as a Conservative. He was the third Reform UK councillor on Suffolk County Council at the time, joining Hudson and Councillor Martin Robinson. Explaining his decision, Faircloth-Mutton said: "On every big national issue – immigration, raising productivity and reforming our broken tax system – the Conservatives have let the country down." As a Conservative councillor, he served as cabinet member for environment, community and equality, a role to which he was appointed in 2024\. During that time, he oversaw the council's takeover of Suffolk Community Libraries, a decision that drew significant public criticism. In an opinion piece written shortly after his appointment to cabinet, Faircloth-Mutton described his "Suffolk belief that no one should be stopped from getting on in life based on their identity", citing protected characteristics including age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion, pregnancy and parenthood, and sexual orientation. He wrote of championing "the cherished British and Suffolk value of fair play with empathy". Hicks, on Faircloth-Mutton's defection, described him as "one of the staunchest advocates of the net zero agenda" who had "led on the council's work on equality, diversity and inclusion with passion" — a characterisation that sits somewhat uneasily with Reform UK's national positioning on both subjects. Outside the council chamber, Faircloth-Mutton works in London as Vice President for Broking Specialities Retrocession at Guy Carpenter, a global risk and reinsurance specialist based in New York with more than 60 offices worldwide. He previously held roles at Howden Re, Aon and Willis Re, drafting reinsurance contracts for international markets. He holds an LLB from Queen Mary University of London and an LLM in American law from William and Mary Law School in Virginia. Faircloth-Mutton's parish meeting attendance was also picked up in the March 2026 FOI figures, with his attendance recorded as having fallen to 38 per cent in 2025. ℹ️ ****Update:** We've since been contacted by Cllr Faircloth-Mutton who has informed us that he is "not seeking the leadership," leaving what we believe to now be a two-horse race. ### Michael Hadwen: The controversial career politician The Councillor for the Felixstowe Clifflands division is the contender with the deepest roots inside Reform UK — and the only one with no prior experience as an elected councillor. Hadwen served as Reform UK's Head of Candidates and Director of Campaigns and Training, playing what he describes as "a key role in the party's historic breakthrough in the May 2025 local elections, securing 677 council seats, control of 10 councils, two directly elected mayors, and our first parliamentary by-election victory". He has described his work as having "rebuilt the candidate operation from the ground up". His most recent role, from December 2025 to April 2026, was as Political Advisor to the Leader of Kent County Council — a role he held under Linden Kemkaran, the Reform Leader who took control of Kent in May 2025\. Kent is the largest local authority in England and is widely viewed as a test case of Reform's ability to govern. Its early months in office have been turbulent: a proposed council tax rise of 3.99 per cent drew criticism from opposition councillors who said it was not high enough to protect services and reserves, and upset Reform voters after breaking the party's pre-election promise not to raise taxes at all. Before joining Reform, Hadwen worked as Constituency Assistant to the former Conservative MP Dr Thérèse Coffey in Suffolk Coastal, and as a Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party in Wales, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk Coastal between 2022 and 2024. Hadwen has, on several occasions, attracted attention for his public statements. In April 2018, following a joint US-UK statement on malicious cyber activity attributed to the Russian government and shortly after the Salisbury poisonings, he said: "Russia is not my enemy" and that "we should be working with them". In the same month, he said that "Enoch \[Powell\] was right, just behind the times". The reference was to the late Conservative MP whose 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech strongly criticised Commonwealth immigration and proposed anti-discrimination legislation, warning of severe social, cultural and violent consequences. Powell argued that while "many thousands" of immigrants wanted to integrate, the majority did not, and that some had vested interests in fostering racial and religious differences "with a view to the exercise of actual domination, first over fellow-immigrants and then over the rest of the population". The speech caused major controversy at the time and led to Powell's dismissal from the Shadow Cabinet. In February 2016, Hadwen said that if elected as an MP, he would hire Milo Yiannopoulos as his PR Manager. Yiannopoulos, then an editor at the American far-right news website Breitbart News, was banned from Twitter in July 2016 for the online harassment of actress Leslie Jones, and permanently banned from Facebook in 2019\. He resigned from Breitbart in 2017 after video clips circulated in which he stated that sexual relationships between 13-year-old boys and adults could be "perfectly consensual" — comments that also led to his invitation to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference being rescinded and a book deal with Simon and Schuster being cancelled. ### How they stack up The three candidacies map onto three quite different propositions. Hudson offers experience and perhaps a level of continuity — 14 years on the council, including time in senior roles. Faircloth-Mutton offers cabinet experience, but his handling of the Suffolk Community Libraries takeover will likely raise question marks over his credentials to lead a council during a period of intense scrutiny, and his staunch support for net zero and equality may be less easily reconciled with the views of his fellow councillors and party members. Hadwen offers none of the council experience of the other two, but brings an understanding of Reform's national operation and, in his recent Kent role, a close-up view of what the early days of a Reform administration actually look like. However, his past comments and views are likely to become an unwelcome distraction and easy target for opposition councillors if he were to become the council's leader. ### The scrutiny to come Whoever emerges as Leader on 21 May will face a Green opposition that is likely to share few of their political views. Councillor Richard Rout, elected as the new Leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group after outgoing leader Matthew Hicks stepped down, said: "I'm grateful for the faith my colleagues have placed in me, and it is now our job, in opposition, to hold the Reform UK administration at Suffolk County Council to account." He added: "While they made little mention of their plans for our county during the election, instead relying on a national campaign message, Reform have made some sweeping assertions about the state of Suffolk County Council's finances and their ability to find large savings, make staff redundancies and reduce some services." It is a line of attack the new Leader, whoever they are, will need to be ready to answer from day one. ### The bottom line The mechanics of choosing a new Leader of Suffolk County Council are simple enough: the Reform group will pick one of its own, and on 21 May that name will be read out in the chamber. The harder question is what kind of leader the group wants — a long-serving, experienced hand, a young challenger with no prior public-sector leadership experience, or a controversial career politician whose past statements are likely to provide an unwelcome distraction from the outset. Ipswich.co.uk will be at Endeavour House on 21 May to report on the outcome. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£152 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk brewery applies to open Ipswich taproom URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-brewery-applies-to-open-ipswich-taproom/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T10:16:48.000Z **Why it matters:** The applications, if approved, would see both of the development's designated commercial units come into use, adding a craft brewery taproom and a convenience store to a site that is part of a wider push to regenerate Ipswich's waterfront. **The details:** Award-winning Suffolk brewer Nethergate Brewery and Distillery has submitted a full planning application (26/00291/FUL) to Ipswich Borough Council to use the vacant unit as a bar and taproom with an associated retail area, including an outdoor seating area on land adjacent to the building. Meanwhile, Kogo Fresh Ltd has applied for a premises licence to operate a Nisa Local convenience store at retail unit 2, with proposed licensable activities including the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises and the playing of recorded background music within the shop. **The bigger picture:** Merchants Yard is a new riverside housing and retail development built on the former Great Eastern Railway Goods Station site on Grafton Way. The scheme — which offers two, three and four-bedroom homes to rent alongside designated retail space — lies a short walk from the town centre. The surrounding area is set to benefit from an £11m-plus investment programme from Suffolk County Council, aimed at improving connectivity and boosting arts, culture and leisure. **What's next:** Nethergate's planning application was validated on 12 May 2026 and is pending consideration, with a decision expected by 7 July 2026\. The Nisa Local licensing consultation closes on 7 June 2026\. Residents wishing to comment on either application can do so in writing to Ipswich Borough Council. **The bottom line:** After sitting empty since the development opened, both of Merchants Yard's retail units are now the subject of applications — a promising sign for a waterfront development poised to benefit from significant investment in the months ahead. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Freeport East targets £500m with new 'investment concierge' service URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/freeport-east-targets-500m-with-new-investment-concierge-service/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T07:25:32.000Z **Why it matters:** Based around the Ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich, Freeport East says the free service is designed to help international and UK businesses establish and grow in Suffolk and the surrounding region, bringing jobs and investment to the local economy. **The details:** The service was announced on Tuesday, 12 May, at the annual Sustainability Investment Forum in London, run by the Greencrowd Impact Fund, emerging markets specialist DMA Invest and King Stage Business School. Freeport East says it provides end-to-end support for companies entering or expanding in the UK, including: - Location sourcing - Freeport tax reliefs - Investment opportunities - Company registration - Banking, planning and regulatory guidance - University and skills connections - Supply chain and network development Freeport East is a not-for-profit public-private partnership backed by the UK Government and does not charge fees for its support. The service is particularly aimed at international investors new to the UK, but also supports UK businesses looking to grow in the region. **By the numbers:** Freeport East says it has supported the delivery of £250 million of investment on Freeport sites and a further £200 million on other sites across the East of England, a combined total of £450 million. **What they're saying:** Steve Beel, CEO at Freeport East, said: "We've already helped to bring £450m of new private sector investment into the East of England, and along the way we've built up real knowledge of what makes businesses thrive here and the support they need. "The Investment Concierge Service is how we put our networks, our relationships, our experience as well as our financial support to work to help more international and UK businesses grow their footprint in the region. We want to attract another £500m to the region, and with it, good jobs and sustainable growth." **For context:** Freeport East says the service has already delivered results for several international companies. Ukrspecsystems, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer, worked with Freeport East to identify a location for a £200 million investment in the East of England, and within 12 months had established a new facility in Suffolk alongside a dedicated testing site. Assan Panel, part of one of Turkey's leading industrial groups, was supported to identify a location for a £45 million manufacturing investment and secure investment incentives. Australian hydrogen storage innovator Rux Energy was supported to set up its first overseas subsidiary in Harwich, while Cambridge-based data and analytics company Entopy has been supported since 2024 to secure funding and build commercial partnerships. Assan Panel Managing Director Ihsan Tolga Akar said: "Freeport East is the perfect place for us to expand our market into the UK. With the new manufacturing hub, I am confident that Assan Panel will create local job opportunities and accelerate skills and innovation development in the green manufacturing industry in the East of England and beyond." **The bigger picture:** Freeport East is one of twelve Freeports across the UK and forms part of the UK Government's Industrial Strategy Zones programme. The Freeport East area covers approximately 45 kilometres across parts of Suffolk and Essex, extending from the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich in the east, from Woodbridge in the north through Ipswich to Stowmarket and Sudbury in the west, and to Colchester, Jaywick and Clacton in the south. The organisation says the region offers opportunities across clean energy, digital technologies, defence, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics. **The bottom line:** Freeport East says it is aiming to attract a further £500 million of private sector investment to the East of England through its new free Investment Concierge Service, building on the £450 million it says it has already helped secure across the region. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich engineer wins national Apprentice of the Year URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-engineer-wins-national-apprentice-of-the-year/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T07:16:34.000Z **Why it matters:** Xenia is a Subsea Network Engineering Professional at BT, where her work helps maintain the underwater cable estate that connects the UK mainland with its smaller islands, as well as with Europe and beyond. She helps keep Britain connected to the world. **The bigger picture:** She completed the Level 6 BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions (Software Engineering) degree apprenticeship at the University of Suffolk last year, graduating with first class honours at the October ceremonies on Ipswich Waterfront — despite starting the programme with no prior coding experience. **The details:** The apprentice of the year award recognised a string of exceptional achievements throughout her apprenticeship. Ward judges were also impressed by her focus on sustainability and cost-saving initiatives, her technical knowledge-sharing sessions, leadership roles within project teams, and her work as an engagement representative strengthening communication between staff and management. The win follows her Professional Development Award at the IT and Digital Apprenticeships Awards in 2024. **What they're saying:** "I feel very happy and honoured to win the Apprentice of the Year award," said Xenia. "I didn't have a technical background before starting the apprenticeship and felt like I had a lot of catching-up when I first started. Now that I have completed my apprenticeship, it is rewarding to have my hard work recognised with this award." Yvonne Malpass, director of apprenticeships at the University of Suffolk, said: "Winning Apprentice of the Year is a tremendous achievement for Xenia, and we are thrilled her hard work and dedication has been rewarded with this award. Throughout her time on the apprenticeship, Xenia has demonstrated exceptional standards of work, and it has been wonderful to see her continue to thrive with BT beyond her studies." Jane Atkinson, senior manager of BT's Subsea Team, said: "Xenia's recognition as Apprentice of the Year is richly deserved. It reflects the mindset she brings every day: a willingness to learn, to challenge, and to go beyond expectations. Xenia is a brilliant example of what can be achieved through apprenticeships, demonstrating that they are a high-performance pathway to shaping the future." **The bottom line:** Xenia started with no technical background, no coding experience, and a degree in literature. She leaves her apprenticeship as a national award winner protecting some of the most critical infrastructure in the country. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The six-figure job at the heart of Suffolk's biggest council shake-up in 50 years URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-six-figure-job-at-the-heart-of-suffolks-biggest-council-shake-up-in-50-years/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T07:16:01.000Z The permanent, full-time role, based at Endeavour House in Ipswich, carries a salary of £110,100 to £121,785 per year. Applications close at 23:59 on 31 May 2026, with interviews scheduled for 25 June. **Why it matters:** Whoever takes the post will be responsible for steering Suffolk's transition from its current two-tier system – in place since 1974 – to three new unitary councils anchored in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft, due to formally take over in 2028. **The details:** Suffolk County Council is hosting the recruitment on behalf of all Suffolk councils, describing the post as "one of the most significant public sector change programmes the county has undertaken." The Programme Director will: - Lead the end-to-end Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme, reporting to the Senior Responsible Officer - Establish and lead a single system-wide Programme Management Office spanning all councils - Translate government decisions and local proposals into "integrated, assured programme plans" - Oversee risks, interdependencies and readiness across "accelerated timescales" - Lead preparations for governance, finance, workforce, digital and service transition - Act as the principal operational interface with central government, members and senior officers The role is described as "highly autonomous", operating across "multiple sovereign councils within agreed statutory, political and governance frameworks." The successful candidate is expected to be "a senior system leader who is calm under pressure, politically astute and able to deliver at pace in highly complex environments" with experience of delivering "large-scale transformation or reorganisation programmes" across multiple organisations. **The bigger picture:** The recruitment comes at a politically charged moment for Suffolk County Council. Just days ago, on Friday, 8 May, Reform UK won 41 of the 70 seats on the council, ending nearly two decades of Conservative control. The new administration formally takes over at the council's Annual Meeting on Thursday, 21 May. The government confirmed on Wednesday, 25 March, that Suffolk's six councils would be replaced by three new unitary authorities, following months of competing business cases between the county council, which had backed a single "One Suffolk" authority, and the district and borough councils, which proposed the three-council "Power of 3" model that was ultimately adopted. **For context:** Suffolk Councils published the role through recruitment partners Tile Hill. Although hosted by Suffolk County Council, it is described as "a genuinely system-wide role working across the full LGR system, bringing together multiple councils, disciplines and partners behind a single shared objective." The successful candidate will be "accountable to a joint group of Chief Executives and elected members" and will report to the Implementation Board, the Joint Committees and the shadow unitary councils. **What's next:** Unitary council elections are due in May 2027, with the three new unitary authorities formally taking over the following year. The Programme Director will be central to ensuring services continue uninterrupted through that transition. **The bottom line:** Suffolk is recruiting one of the most consequential local government posts in the county's recent history – a role tasked with dismantling six councils and standing up three new ones, against a backdrop of political upheaval at Endeavour House and a tight timeline. [Apply here](https://www.tile-hill.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Search your conscience': Police renew Luke Durbin appeal 20 years on URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/search-your-conscience-police-renew-luke-durbin-appeal-20-years-on/ Last updated: 2026-05-12T06:45:00.000Z Luke Durbin was last seen on CCTV crossing Dogs Head Street in the direction of the Old Cattle Market bus station at around 04:00 on Friday 12 May 2006\. The footage has become one of the most recognisable images in Suffolk's missing persons history. Two decades later, his case remains open, and the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Crime Review and Unsolved Case Team is using the anniversary to renew its appeal. ## A night out that did not end Luke had spent the evening of Thursday, 11 May, with friends. He had ridden his motorbike to a friend's house in Woodbridge, where he left his bike, wallet, keys, phone and a change of clothes before heading into Ipswich for the night. The group went to Zest nightclub on Princes Street, the venue now redeveloped as The Maltings office complex. At some point during the evening, Luke became separated from his friends. He made his way to Ipswich railway station, a five-minute walk from Zest, where he was told there were no trains running. CCTV then captured him at around 03:45 heading to Hawk Express Cabs on Old Foundry Road, where, having left his wallet behind in Woodbridge, the receptionist suggested he call his mother for her bank card details. He refused, saying he did not want to wake her. Shortly afterwards, he was filmed crossing Dogs Head Street, heading in the direction of the bus station. It was the last confirmed sighting of him. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/1x1-centered-portait--1-.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/1x1-centered-portait--2-.png) Last sightings of Luke Durbin in Ipswich (Photos: Suffolk Police) ## The Volvo and the County Lines theory About 10 minutes after that final piece of CCTV, a Volvo, possibly a 440, was captured driving through the same area. Suffolk Police have said for years that the vehicle is of significant interest. It was later established that the plates it was carrying were false. Detectives now believe Luke had become involved with drug suppliers linked to Brixton in south London — people the force has said would today be described as County Lines dealers. The leading working hypothesis is that if Luke owed money to those suppliers, he would have been vulnerable to harm, and that he may have been abducted. The presence of the Volvo in the area of his final sighting, investigators have said, adds weight to that theory. A Channel 5 documentary broadcast in April 2020 also examined Luke's links to drug dealing and to gangs in Brixton, speculating that he owed money to dealers within that network. In 2012, police arrested two men — one on suspicion of murder, the other on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of Luke Durbin. Both were released without charge. ## A mother's two-decade campaign Luke's mother, Nicki Durbin, has spent the past 20 years working to keep her son's name in the public eye. In March 2008, alongside Valerie Nettles, the mother of missing teenager Damien Nettles, she helped organise a March for the Missing to raise awareness of the scale of disappearances in the United Kingdom and to press the government to support the Missing People charity. Nicki has also been openly critical of the early stages of the investigation, saying it was not taken seriously enough in the first hours and days, and that "grave mistakes" were made in the window before it was treated as a possible murder. Following a review in 2010, Suffolk Police relaunched the case as a murder inquiry under their Major Investigations Team. In December 2012, the LotToDo Theatre Company staged a production called "The Missing" at The Etcetera Theatre in Camden, based on interviews with Luke's family and friends. In March 2019, artist Ru Knox painted a portrait of Luke as part of the Unmissable exhibition curated by Ben Moore at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, marking the 25th anniversary of the Missing People charity. ## The appeal Andy Guy, the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Major Crime Review & Unsolved Case Team Manager, said the investigation remained active and that the force believed answers were still within reach in the local community. "While we retain an open mind as to what may have happened to Luke, the nature of his disappearance and his links to drugs activities lead us to believe that it is possible organised criminals were involved and his disappearance was retribution of some kind," he said. "Luke's family have endured 20 years of uncertainty, living every day with the pain of not knowing what happened to him." Mr Guy said he was convinced that people locally knew what had happened, and that some of those previously spoken to by officers had not fully disclosed all they knew. "Luke's mum Nicki has been relentless in her pursuit of the truth and has kept his name and this case firmly in the public eye over the past 20 years," he said. "This, along with efforts by the police, have generated a steady stream of information relating to Luke which have been and will continue to be acted upon." He added: "I hope on this significant anniversary of the last sighting of Luke, those individuals who hold that vital information will now search their conscience and do the right thing and call us. We know that over time allegiances can change and people who may have previously felt unable or afraid to come forward may now feel differently. It is never too late to speak up and anything you tell us will be dealt with in strictest confidence." ## What Luke was wearing At the time of his disappearance, Luke was described as white, 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall, of slim build, with short dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a black and grey long-sleeved collared shirt under a purple and grey White Stuff sweatshirt, faded denim jeans with a motif on the side of the thigh, and brown suede moccasin-style shoes. ## How to contact the investigation Anyone who believes they have information about Luke Durbin's disappearance is asked to contact the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Crime Review and Unsolved Case Team on 01953 423819 or by email at [unsolvedcasereviews@norfolk.pnn.police.uk](mailto:unsolvedcasereviews@norfolk.pnn.police.uk). Information can also be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the online form at [www.crimestoppers-uk.org](http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). ## The bottom line Twenty years on, Suffolk Police have not closed the file on Luke Durbin, and they are clear about why: they believe the answers are out there, in this community, held by people who have so far chosen not to speak. The anniversary is not a memorial. It is a renewed request, directed at those people, to pick up the phone. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Police appeal to trace wanted Ipswich man URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-appeal-to-trace-wanted-ipswich-man/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T14:25:57.000Z **The details:** Taylor is described as white, approximately 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build, with tattoos on his face, neck, arms and hands. **What's next:** Anyone who has seen Taylor or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact Suffolk police, quoting reference 37/18712/26. Information can be passed on via the force's website at suffolk.police.uk/tell-us, by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat service on the Suffolk Constabulary website. Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org. **The bottom line:** Police are asking the public to come forward with any information that could help locate Taylor, who has links to both Ipswich and Felixstowe. In an emergency, always call 999. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich man given suspended sentence for sexual assault on woman with Alzheimer's URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-man-given-suspended-sentence-for-sexual-assault-on-woman-with-alzheimers/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T14:08:41.000Z **Why it matters:** Adrian Long, of Bruff Road, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, 24 April, after pleading guilty to sexual activity with a vulnerable woman, with police saying the victim has suffered a "rapid deterioration" in health since the incident. **The details:** Long's eight-month prison sentence was suspended for 20 months. He must also: - Comply with a 40-day rehabilitation programme - Carry out 100 days of unpaid work - Sign the sex offenders register for 10 years **What happened:** Police were called on 27 March 2025 after a family member saw Long entering the victim's address via personal video footage. Officers established that Long had met the victim earlier that day after she waved him down outside a shop and asked for a lift home. She was unable to recall her address, so Long looked through her cards and drove her home, where he then sexually assaulted her. **What they're saying:** DC Charlotte Bourne, from the Safeguarding and Investigations Unit at Suffolk Constabulary, said: "Long took advantage of a vulnerable woman for his own sexual gratification. "Despite her being unable to recall her address, he claimed he was unaware that she was lacking capacity to consent. "The impact of his actions has been profound on the victim, who has Alzheimer's and who has suffered rapid deterioration in health since the incident. It has also had a significant effect on her family." **The bottom line:** Long will not serve time in prison provided he complies with the conditions of his suspended sentence, but will remain on the sex offenders register for the next decade. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a sexual offence, call Suffolk police on 999 in an emergency, or report online via the Suffolk Constabulary website. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Reform won – what happens next at Endeavour House? URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-won-what-happens-next-at-endeavour-house/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T13:56:08.000Z By any measure, last Thursday's result was extraordinary. A party that did not field a single candidate at the 2021 county council elections has won 41 of 70 seats — five more than it needed for a majority — and ended nearly two decades of near-continuous Conservative rule at Endeavour House. With that majority comes responsibility for adult social care, children's services, highways, schools, libraries, the fire and rescue service, and the county's role in the transition to a new unitary system in 2028. What it does not bring is an instant transfer of power. The mechanics of taking over a council are quicker than people often think, but the practical changes unfold over months — and many of the most consequential decisions of the year ahead have already been taken. ## The handover of power The formal transition of power will take place on Thursday, 21 May at 14:00 at Endeavour House, when Suffolk County Council holds its Annual Meeting. It is at this meeting that the new majority group will elect one of its own as Leader of the Council, and the council will appoint a Chair (a largely ceremonial civic role). Committee places will then be reallocated under the rules of "political proportionality" set out in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, with the new majority taking the chair of most committees and the bulk of seats on them. Because Suffolk County Council operates a leader-and-cabinet model — as most English principal authorities do — the new Leader will then appoint a Cabinet, with portfolios covering areas such as finance, children's services, adult care and highways. It is thought that Chris Hudson, the recently re-elected county councillor for the Brook division, is a frontrunner for the Leader position. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-H0KE3E0GTEOEisEivAtOGg-1775133984240.png) Christopher Hudson, leader of Reform UK at Suffolk County Council (Photo: Suffolk County Council) ## What does not change What does not change with a change of administration is the officer corps. The Chief Executive, the Monitoring Officer and the Section 151 (statutory finance) officer all remain in post. They are politically neutral, serve whichever administration is elected, and cannot be removed for political reasons. At Suffolk County Council, that means Mark Ash and Andrew Cook, who took over as joint chief executives on 1 April 2026 from Nicola Beach after her eight years in the role, continue to lead the officer side of the council. Ash focuses on local government reorganisation and devolution; Cook leads on operational efficiency and serves as the council's head of paid service. Both will be central to whatever transition follows. Day-to-day services keep running because they are delivered by officers and their teams, not by councillors. Bin lorries do not stop. Social workers do not down tools. Roads are still repaired. The visible business of the council carries on largely uninterrupted, regardless of who has won the election. ## Where the new administration can move quickly Where the incoming administration can act swiftly is in policy direction and tone: setting new corporate priorities, issuing fresh strategy statements, pausing or reviewing schemes that are not yet contractually committed, and reshaping scrutiny arrangements. A new Leader can stand up in the chamber on 21 May and announce a different set of priorities for the council, and those priorities can start working their way through the council machine within weeks. The Local Government Association, which provides support and guidance to councils across England, sets out a familiar checklist for newly elected administrations. It advises new leaders to spend time with their chief executive understanding "timelines and expectations" around the Annual Meeting and governance requirements, to think carefully about "the key positions: the cabinet places or committee chairs and the chairs of other committees such as overview and scrutiny", to listen to other parties' requests on committee distribution, and to keep their own councillors briefed because "their opinions will be important in the final decision". The LGA also offers peer support through its political group offices, connecting new leaders with councillors who have been in similar situations elsewhere. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes induction that does not make headlines but determines how quickly an administration finds its feet – important given that Reform in Suffolk has only a handful of former Conservative county councillors with experience at its disposal. ## Where it cannot Where the new administration cannot move as fast is on the money. Suffolk County Council's budget for the current financial year was set in February by the outgoing Conservative administration, before any of the new councillors were elected. The new majority will generally have to live within it until the next budget round, which is normally finalised in February for the financial year that begins in April. That means the first opportunity for Reform to set its own budget at Suffolk County Council will be in February 2027 — by which time the council itself will be within months of another local election. Existing contracts must also be honoured. Statutory duties — adult social care, children's services, education and the rest — continue regardless of who is in charge. Planning decisions must still be made on material planning grounds rather than political preference. The room for radical change in year one is therefore narrower than the size of Reform's majority might suggest. The room for change in tone, priorities and scrutiny is considerably wider. ## A foreshortened mandate The councillors elected on Thursday will serve a foreshortened term. Suffolk's two-tier system is being abolished, with Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council to be succeeded by three new unitary authorities from April 2028\. Elections for that body are due in May 2027, with the new council running as a shadow authority for a year before formally taking on power. In practical terms, the Reform group will have something in the order of 12 months of normal operation at Endeavour House before the focus shifts to the unitary transition and the shadow elections that will define what comes after. Whether the party can convert a standing-start victory into a durable local presence by then is one of the open questions of the next 12 months. ## The pressure on a new group of councillors Forty-one councillors will take their seats for Reform when the Annual Meeting opens on 21 May. Many will have no prior experience of public office. Some have never been inside Endeavour House. They will be asked, between now and 2027, to make decisions on a budget of more than £850 million pounds covering services that touch every household in Suffolk. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/image-2.png) Reform candidates outside the Town Hall in Ipswich (Photo: Shayne Pooley) The LGA's induction materials exist for precisely this reason. So do the council's permanent officers. But there is no substitute, in practical terms, for time spent learning the brief — and the unitary clock means time is the one thing this new administration does not have in abundance. ## The accountability question There is one further question hanging over the new administration that does not appear on any LGA checklist. It is whether, and how, Reform's incoming councillors intend to communicate with the people who elected them. In the run-up to the election, every Reform candidate in Ipswich was instructed by Shayne Pooley, the famously pro-Russia, former Conservative chairman of Ipswich Reform, not to engage with local media. On election day itself, only one Reform candidate spoke briefly to the BBC. After the results were declared, Pooley said that "voters can contact their councillors directly," adding that there was "no need to offer you \[the media\] a sound bite, we are not a paycheck for you." He concluded: "Neither we or the voters need you." Pooley's position is not formally the position of the incoming Suffolk County Council administration. In fact, Pooley isn't actually a serving councillor, and it's unclear what, if any, role he will play in local government beyond his role as Chairman of Reform in Ipswich. The new Leader, once elected on 21 May, will be free to set their own approach. It is a decision that will define, more than almost any other in the first few weeks, how visible and accountable this administration chooses to be. Ipswich.co.uk has invited Hudson and Pooley to discuss this in person. Pooley has declined, though responded to a separate invitation on Facebook with "we'll see 😉," while Hudson has yet to respond. A council that runs schools, social care and the fire service is not a private organisation. Its decisions are made in public, its meetings are open to the press and public by law, and its councillors answer — in the end — to the people who put them there. How the new majority chooses to engage with the residents who handed it that mandate is a question only it can answer. ## The bottom line Reform UK has the seats. From 21 May it will have the Leader, the Cabinet and the committee chairs. What it will not have, for at least a year, is its own budget — and what it cannot avoid, for the duration of its term, is the basic obligation to be transparent and accountable. The mechanics of taking power are well understood. The question of how this administration intends to use it, and to talk about it, is one the new Leader will need to answer in the chamber on 21 May. We will be there to report what they say. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£81 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### More than 5,000 attend Suffolk Rural's annual Big Day Out URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/more-than-5-000-attend-suffolk-rurals-annual-big-day-out/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T09:10:30.000Z **The details:** The free event ran across the Otley campus, with activities including face painting, football, archery, equine displays and tree climbing. Elsewhere on site, guests took in food demonstrations, an agricultural showcase, interactive construction games and tours of a newly revamped animal centre. Hundreds of students also took part, supporting the public as they explored the campus, which was first established in 1970. **What they're saying:** Charlotte Rossiter, events supervisor for Suffolk New College, said: "We had perfect weather – and it was a beautiful atmosphere filled with smiles and happiness. I'd say it was my favourite Big Day Out so far." "A massive thanks to the community for coming along, our staff for supporting me and a big thanks also to all of the local businesses who took the opportunity to showcase what they do in front of thousands of people." **The visitor view:** Hollie Sutherland, from Woodbridge, attended with her two daughters. She said: "It was brilliant – there was so much to do with the children. It's been awesome." Fiona Garner, who came along with her family, said: "It's been well organised. It shows some of the older kids what careers are out there." Her husband, Daniel Garner, added: "Every year I come here, and I walk away and think about another life in which I came to study here. It's inspirational family friendly fun." **The bigger picture:** Numerous food and drink stallholders, local businesses and charities attended the event. Tevin Clarke, owner of Stowmarket-based Savannah Smoke, said: "It brings out culture – it helps connect people in the area. I think the college is doing a very good job." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/2---The-Fung-family-from-a-Sushi-business-called-Kokorozashi-enjoy-their-first-Big-Day-Out.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/5---Tevin-Clarke-is-the-owner-of-Savannah-Smoke-loved-attending-the-Big-Day-Out.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/6---The-Brumhead-family-at-the-Big-Day-Out-event.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/7---Hollie-Sutherland-and-her-daughter-at-the-Big-Day-Out---said-the-event-was--brilliant---there-is-so-much-to-do-for-the-children-.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/9---Leo-Jeffery-is-a-music-student-at-Suffolk-New-College-and-thought-it-was--scary--performing-in-front-of-5000-people.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/10---Amber-Hanys-and-Amy-Holdstock-from-The-Suffolk-Owl-Sanctuary-at-the-Big-Day-Out-held-in-the-village-of-Otley.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/13---Penny-Rudland-and-Sam-Mason-at-the-Big-Day-Out---the-colleagues-enjoy-having-their-photo-taken-every-year-during-this-free-family-day-out.JPG) Photos from Suffolk Rural's annual Big Day Out (Photos: Suffolk New College) Sam Hodgkins, from beer company Jack Rabbit, which attended for the second year in a row, said: "It's a good classic country show." Frances Fung, from Kokorozashi, said: "It's a great day for families." Amy Holdstock, education co-ordinator for The Owl Sanctuary, said: "It \[the Big Day Out\] is so much more affordable than other local shows." **A student's perspective:** Harriet Bloomfield, 18, from Darsham, is on a level three equine management course at Suffolk Rural. She said the experience had "given me new personal skills," adding: "It's been glorious and sunny." **The bottom line:** Now in its 21st year, the Big Day Out continues to draw thousands to Suffolk Rural's Otley campus, showcasing the college's courses while bringing families, businesses and local charities together for a day in the countryside. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich pupils star in film celebrating reading URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-pupils-star-in-film-celebrating-reading/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T09:10:16.000Z **Why it matters:** The film, produced in collaboration with Suffolk Community Libraries, captures real student voices and shines a light on Stoke High's Peer Readers programme, which pairs younger and older pupils for regular reading sessions in the library. **The details:** The students worked with filmmaker Andy Delaney of New Art Films, getting a rare behind-the-scenes look at what goes into producing a professional film. To mark its release, library and school staff hosted a premiere at Stoke Library where pupils, parents and teachers gathered to watch the finished product, with the students even getting to walk a red carpet on arrival. **What they're saying:** Delaney said: "Being able to capture these young people's genuine enthusiasm for reading was inspiring, and I hope it gently reminds people of the deep value and joy that reading provides." Karen Baldwin, principal at Stoke High School, said: "This has been an incredible experience for our students. They have not just taken part in a film – they have shared their voices, stories and passion for reading. Our Peer Readers programme is transforming attitudes to reading, and it is brilliant to see that recognised in such a creative and meaningful way." **For context:** The National Year of Reading is a campaign led by the National Literacy Trust to encourage more people to read in 2026\. Research shows that whether or not a child reads for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of their future success – more so than family circumstances, their parents' educational background, or income. **The bottom line:** The film is a reminder of what is possible when schools, libraries and young people come together, and in Ipswich, a love of books is something worth rolling out the red carpet for. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'We don't need you': Reform shuts door on local media hours after taking control of Suffolk County Council URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/we-dont-need-you-reform-shuts-door-on-local-media-hours-after-taking-control-of-suffolk-county-council/ Last updated: 2026-05-10T19:50:41.000Z By any measure, Reform UK had a remarkable election. The party took outright control of Suffolk County Council, winning 41 of 70 seats, and gained 10 of the 16 seats contested in Ipswich. For a party that did not field a single candidate at the last county elections in 2021, it was an extraordinary advance. It also brought, overnight, a substantial set of responsibilities. What it has not brought, it appears, is a willingness to engage with local democracy. ## An open invitation, repeatedly extended This publication's attempts to engage with Ipswich Reform began long before polling day. On Monday, 20 April, we wrote to Ipswich Reform chair Shayne Pooley and Tony Gould, who would later be reelected as the Reform councillor for Whitton, inviting every Reform candidate to answer the same five questions we had put to candidates from every other party. Labour, Conservative, Green and Liberal Democrat candidates had been contacted on the same terms. The questions were straightforward — about candidates' backgrounds, the issues facing their wards, local government reorganisation, their personal achievements, and how they would make themselves accessible to residents if elected. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-09-at-12.59.53.png) The email was ignored "We'll publish all responses in full, without editing, alongside those of your fellow candidates," the email said. "As an apolitical publication, no candidate will receive more or less prominence than any other." The email also offered Reform candidates the chance to visit our newsroom on Upper Brook Street and meet the team — an invitation extended on identical terms to every other party. Where Reform candidates had no public contact details — which was the case for nearly all of them — we approached the party's local leadership directly and through mutual contacts well known within Reform. The invitation was repeated. It was rebuffed repeatedly. In the end, only one Reform candidate engaged at all. Tony Gould answered the five questions, but indirectly through a Reform PR representative rather than in his own voice. ## A party-wide instruction The reason became clear during the campaign. Reform candidates and councillors had been instructed by Ipswich Reform's chairman, Shayne Pooley, not to speak to Ipswich.co.uk, or any other media for that matter. The instruction held throughout the campaign. On election day itself, only one Reform candidate, Stuart Allen, spoke briefly to the BBC. The party's other candidates, including newly elected councillors, declined to be interviewed or photographed on Pooley's orders. When approached by us on results day, a newly elected Reform councillor told us they wanted to engage with this publication but had been told they could not, and that they were only permitted to speak to GB News. ## A public statement from Reform's local chairman After the results were declared, I wrote privately to Shayne Pooley, Tony Gould and potential new county council leader Chris Hudson, congratulating them on the result and reiterating the offer of a meeting and a desire to engage constructively. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-09-at-12.42.57-1.png) The email was sent shortly after the election results Nothing in response. Instead, Pooley's response came not by email, but in the comments section of a Facebook post in which we publicly congratulated Reform and asked them to engage with us. "Voters can contact their councillors directly, no need to offer you a sound bite, we are not a paycheck for you, neither we or the voters need you," was his response. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-09-at-12.54.58.png) ## "Neither we or the voters need you" While it is astonishing that so soon after elections, the chairman of Ipswich Reform has publicly stated that the voters of Ipswich do not need a local news outlet that, in the last 30 days alone, was visited by more than 82,000 people, his statement is not really about Ipswich.co.uk at all. It is about whether scrutiny of elected leaders should be welcomed, tolerated, or refused. Reform, within hours of being elected, has refused it. Shortly after Pooley shunned local democracy, he wrote on his own Facebook page: "VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY !! Thank you to all that voted, your Councillors look forward to serving their Constituents, and working towards making Ipswich a town you can all be proud of." ## A common pattern This isn't an isolated issue. In August 2025, Mick Barton, the Reform leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live from speaking to him or any of his councillors. The ban was understood to follow a disagreement over a story on local government reorganisation. In a statement at the time, Barton said the move was "not about silencing journalism" but "about upholding the principle that freedom of speech must be paired with responsibility and honesty". He added that Reform "will not be engaging with Nottinghamshire Live or with any other media outlet we consider to be consistently misrepresenting our policies, actions or intentions". The Nottinghamshire Live editor, Natalie Fahy, called the ban "unprecedented" and "a direct attack on the free press and our ability to hold elected members to account". The Liberal Democrats wrote to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage asking him to intervene. Conservative party chairman Kevin Hollinrake called it a "disgrace". Labour MP for Mansfield Steve Yemm said: "Shutting the door on local journalists doesn't just block criticism, it cuts off residents from the facts." Similar tensions have emerged between Reform and local media in Leicester and Kent. The pattern matters because Suffolk's two-tier system is on borrowed time. Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council will be replaced by a new unitary authority for Ipswich and South Suffolk from April 2028, with shadow elections due in May 2027\. The councillors elected on Friday will serve a foreshortened term — and Reform, on current form, is well placed to contest those unitary elections too. If the relationship between the largest party in Suffolk and the town's local media is to be defined by silence, it will be defined now. ## The case for keeping the door open Local journalism is not, and has never been, the opposition. Its role is to report what councils and councillors do, to ask questions on behalf of residents who do not have the time to attend every committee meeting, and to give every party — including the one in charge — the opportunity to put its case directly to readers. That offer remains open to Reform. Every Reform councillor in Ipswich and on Suffolk County Council is welcome to contact this publication, on or off the record, at any time. Every Reform spokesperson is welcome to put a statement to our readers, in full and without editing, on the same terms offered to every other party. The newsroom door on Upper Brook Street is firmly open. It is also open to Shayne Pooley. ## The bottom line Reform says they do not need Ipswich.co.uk. We disagree — respectfully, and on the evidence of our own readership. Scrutiny is not opposition, and engagement is not endorsement. The invitation stands. We hope, in the interests of the town and the people who voted for them, that Reform will accept it. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£72 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Our political map redrawn: How Reform swept Suffolk in a single day URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/our-political-map-redrawn-how-reform-swept-suffolk-in-a-single-day/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T20:50:36.000Z By the time the count at the Town Hall wound down on Friday evening, the picture across Suffolk had changed almost beyond recognition. Reform UK had won 41 of the 70 seats on Suffolk County Council — five more than the 36 needed for a majority — and 10 of the 16 seats up for grabs on Ipswich Borough Council. The Conservatives, who held 44 county seats going into the election and have run the authority continuously since 2017, were reduced to nine. Labour, who entered the borough vote defending 13 of 16 seats, emerged with four. It was, on any reading, a historic day. And it happened in a county where, until very recently, Reform UK was not a meaningful electoral force at all. This changes everything. Support our journalism Our coverage of this year's local elections cost more than £1,000 to produce — from the live blog at the Town Hall to the candidate interviews, ward-by-ward analysis and weeks of background reporting. Independent local journalism like this only exists if readers fund it. If you value what we do, please consider [subscribing](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/subscribe) — it is the single biggest thing you can do to keep this kind of reporting going in Ipswich. [Become a member ](#/portal/signup) ## From standing start to majority control The scale of Reform's advance is difficult to overstate. The party did not stand a single candidate at the last Suffolk County Council elections in 2021, when the Conservatives swept the board. It gained a foothold during the previous term through defections and by-elections — six county seats in total — but Thursday was the first time it had fielded a full slate, and the first time voters across every ward and division in Ipswich had been able to choose a Reform candidate. The result was a swing on a scale rarely seen in local government. The Conservatives lost 35 seats. The Greens remained the second-largest group on the county council, winning 13 seats – but second to Reform now, not the Conservatives. Labour took three. Two went to independents, and the Liberal Democrats secured two. In the borough elections, Labour took a battering – saved by the fact that only one third of seats were up for grabs. Reform gained Bixley, Castle Hill, Bridge, Gainsborough, Gipping, Priory Heath, Sprites, Stoke Park, Whitehouse and Whitton. The Liberal Democrats retained St Margaret's, where Inga Lockington took 1,633 votes — more than three times the total of her nearest challenger. The Greens gained Alexandra, with David Plowman edging Labour's John Cook by just 41 votes. The Conservatives failed to win a single seat across the borough. Council leader Neil MacDonald narrowly held St Johns by 117 votes over Reform's Joshua Owens. The Mayor of Ipswich, Stefan Long, retained Rushmere by 241\. Labour also held Holywells and Westgate. Eleven of its colleagues were not so fortunate. ## A Conservative collapse, two decades in the unmaking For Suffolk's Conservatives, the day brought to a close one of the longest periods of single-party rule in the council's modern history. The party has run Suffolk County Council since 2017 and held it for most of the previous decade as well. On Thursday, it was reduced to a rural rump. The party held on in Carlford, where Elaine Joseland — known on the ballot as Elaine Bryce — won with 1,909 votes; in Hardwick, where Richard Rout took 1,701; in Blackbourn, Clare, Constable, Barrow and Thingoe, and Haverhill North West and Withersfield. Council leader Matthew Hicks held Thredling against the trend, beating the Greens' Teresa Davis by 247 votes in a three-way scrap that saw three candidates poll above 1,300. But across most of the county, the Conservative vote simply gave way. In wards where the party had once been dominant, Reform candidates won by hundreds. In some, the Tories were pushed into third or fourth place. The pattern was not uniform — the party performed strongly in parts of West Suffolk and held its ground in some Babergh divisions — but the overall direction was unmistakable. A pre-election projection by national elections analyst PollCheck had suggested Reform could win as many as 59 of the 70 seats, with the Conservatives projected to lose all 55 they secured in 2021\. The modellers themselves had cautioned that 2026 was "uncharted territory". In the event, the Conservatives held more than the model expected — but only just. [Reform projected to take Suffolk – but modellers urge cautionAs polling stations open across Ipswich and Suffolk, a detailed pre-election projection points to a dramatic political shift at Endeavour House — but the modellers behind the numbers are the first to flag the limits of what they can tell us.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/Hero-Image--8-.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-projected-to-take-suffolk-but-modellers-urge-caution/) ## The Labour squeeze in Ipswich For Labour, the borough result was a study in narrow escapes. Council leader Neil MacDonald's 117-vote margin in St Johns made him one of four Labour councillors to survive. Where the party held — St Johns, Rushmere, Holywells, Westgate — it did so by margins of between 117 and 314 votes. Where it lost, the margins were often even tighter. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1051-1.jpeg) Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams (Ipswich.co.uk) Reform's Leslie Foster took Gipping by 63 votes over Labour's Simona Lazar. In Bridge, Rupert Tonkin-Galvin beat Polly Ford by 94\. In Priory Heath, Tim Buttle took the seat from Owen Bartholomew by 115\. In some traditionally Labour wards, the Conservative and Liberal Democrat vote effectively collapsed, leaving a straight Reform-Labour fight that Labour lost. Other Reform wins in Ipswich were more decisive. Tony Gould — the only Reform candidate to engage with Ipswich.co.uk during the campaign — took Whitton by 395 votes in a three-way contest with no Conservative or Liberal Democrat standing. Stuart Allen won Sprites by 470\. Ryan Procter took Gainsborough by 422. Labour retains overall control of Ipswich Borough Council — only a third of seats were contested this year — but the loss of 11 of the 15 it was defending is a significant shift. It also leaves the party facing a substantial Reform foothold going into the 2027 elections for the new unitary authority. ## The Greens become the official opposition, outright While Reform took the headlines, the Greens quietly amassed 13 county seats, outnumbering the Conservatives' nine, making them the second-largest group on Suffolk County Council and the official opposition to Reform. The party's strongest performances came in Mid Suffolk and Babergh. Andrew Stringer took Upper Gipping with 2,312 votes, beating Reform's Charles Tilbury by 759\. Sally Mittuch took Hoxne and Eye in a tight three-way contest. Robert Lindsay won Cosford. Matt Bentley took Thedwastre South by 27 votes from Reform's David Flowerday. Peter Aiano won Bungay by more than 500\. James Patchett took Thedwastre North, and Annette Dunning won Halesworth comfortably. In Beccles and Kessingland — a two-seat division — the Greens and Reform shared the spoils, with just 10 votes separating Green Ash Lever from Reform's Chris Cox at the top of the poll. In Ipswich, the Greens gained a single seat — Alexandra — but their vote share rose noticeably across the borough, with Green candidates pushing into second or third place in a number of wards where the party has not historically been competitive. ## Tight margins and a fragmented vote A feature of the day was how many results turned on a handful of votes. In Bridge — the county division, not the borough ward of the same name — Reform's Rupert Tonkin-Galvin beat Labour's Sachin Karale by 11 votes. In Melford, independent John Nunn beat Reform's Michael Holt by 16\. In Thedwastre South, the Green-Reform margin was 27\. In Haverhill East and Rural, Reform's Luke O'Brien beat the Conservatives' Nick Clarke by 28. Several Ipswich results were similarly knife-edge. Reform's David Hill took Bixley by 35 votes over the Conservatives' Edward Phillips. The Greens took Alexandra by 41\. Reform took Gipping by 63\. In ward after ward, the splintering of the vote across five or even six parties produced winners on relatively modest totals — and runners-up only just behind them. Turnout ranged across county divisions from around 25 per cent in Harbour to 57 per cent in Felixstowe Clifflands, with most divisions falling somewhere between 35 and 50 per cent. ## A new force, and a frustrating stance on media engagement For a party that has just won outright control of a major English county council, Reform UK said remarkably little on Thursday. Only one of its candidates, Stuart Allen, spoke briefly to the BBC on the day. All others — including newly elected councillors — declined to be interviewed or photographed, following an instruction from the chairman of Ipswich Reform that candidates should not engage with the media, telling them to speak only to GB News. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1064-1.jpeg) Reform refused to speak with the media (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams Ipswich.co.uk) That posture leaves voters in the unusual position of having handed a clear mandate to a party whose local representatives have not, for the most part, set out their stall in public. What Reform intends to do with its majority on the county council — across adult social care, children's services, highways, schools, libraries and the fire and rescue service — remains, at the time of writing, largely unstated. We shall continue to do all we can to engage with Reform, but so far, its leadership has refused to talk with us. ## A council on borrowed time Whatever the new administration does, it will not have long to do it. Suffolk's two-tier system is being abolished. Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council are to be succeeded by a new unitary authority covering Ipswich and South Suffolk from April 2028\. Elections for that body are due in May 2027, with the new council running as a shadow authority for a year before formally taking on power. The councillors elected on Thursday will therefore serve a foreshortened mandate. For Reform, the question is whether it can convert a standing-start victory into a durable local presence by the time the unitary elections come round. For Labour, the Conservatives, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats, it is whether they can rebuild — or, in the Greens' case, consolidate — quickly enough to compete. ## The bottom line A party that did not exist locally five years ago now controls Suffolk County Council and holds the largest share of seats contested in Ipswich. The Conservatives have lost a county they had run for most of the past two decades. Labour has held its borough majority but lost most of the seats it was defending. The Greens have become the official opposition at Endeavour House in their own right. The political map of Suffolk has been redrawn — and in just over a year, voters will be asked to draw it again. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£498 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### MacDonald survives Reform surge as Labour lose nine Ipswich seats URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/macdonald-survives-reform-surge-as-labour-lose-11-ipswich-seats/ Last updated: 2026-05-10T19:54:24.000Z **Why it matters:** Reform UK did not stand a single candidate at the last Ipswich Borough Council elections. The party has now become the largest single bloc among the seats contested on Thursday, 7 May, taking wards from Labour across the borough. **The details:** Sixteen of the council's 48 seats were up for election. The results across those wards were: - Reform UK – 10 - Labour – 4 - Liberal Democrats – 1 - Greens – 1 - Conservatives – 0 **The big picture:** Labour entered the election defending 13 of 16 seats and emerged with four. Reform UK gained Bixley, Castle Hill, Bridge, Gainsborough, Gipping, Priory Heath, Sprites, Stoke Park, Whitehouse and Whitton. The Liberal Democrats retained St Margaret's and the Greens gained Alexandra. Council leader Neil MacDonald held St Johns by 117 votes over Reform UK's Joshua Owens, while Mayor of Ipswich Stefan Long retained Rushmere by 241 votes over Reform UK's Vicky Hill. Labour also held Holywells and Westgate. **By the numbers:** Several contests were decided by narrow margins. - Bixley: Reform's David Hill beat the Conservatives' Edward Phillips by 35 votes - Alexandra: Green candidate David Plowman beat Labour's John Cook by 41 votes - Gipping: Reform's Leslie Foster beat Labour's Simona Lazar by 63 votes - Bridge: Reform's Rupert Tonkin-Galvin beat Labour's Polly Ford by 94 votes - Priory Heath: Reform's Tim Buttle beat Labour's Owen Bartholomew by 115 votes Other Reform wins were more decisive. Tony Gould took Whitton by 395 votes in a three-way contest with no Conservative or Liberal Democrat candidates standing, while Stuart Allen won Sprites by 470 votes and Ryan Procter took Gainsborough by 422. In St Margaret's, Liberal Democrat Inga Lockington won with 1,633 votes, more than three times the total of her nearest challenger, Reform's Graham Knight, on 546. **For context:** The borough result mirrors the picture across Suffolk, where Reform UK took majority control of Suffolk County Council on the same day, ending nearly two decades of near-continuous Conservative rule. Reform did not stand a single candidate at the last county elections in 2021. **The bigger picture:** The councillors elected this week will serve under a council that is itself due to be replaced. Suffolk's two-tier system is being abolished, with Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council to be succeeded by a new unitary authority covering Ipswich and South Suffolk – known to many as Greater Ipswich – from April 2028\. Elections for the new authority are due in May 2027. **The bottom line:** Labour retains overall control of Ipswich Borough Council, with only a third of seats contested this year, but the loss of 9 of the 13 seats it was defending represents a significant shift in the borough's political make-up – and a substantial foothold for a party that did not exist locally at the last full set of elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£128 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Reform takes majority control of Suffolk County Council, instructed to only speak to GB News URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-takes-majority-control-of-suffolk-county-council/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T15:02:22.000Z **Why it matters:** Reform did not stand a single candidate at the last Suffolk County Council elections in 2021\. Five years on, the party has been handed outright control of an authority responsible for adult social care, children's services, highways, schools, libraries and the fire and rescue service — and which will play a central role in the transition to three new unitary authorities in 2028. **The details:** The Conservatives, who held 44 of the council's 70 seats going into the election and have run the authority continuously since 2017, have lost their majority. The party previously held power between 2005 and 2013. All 70 county council seats were up for election on Thursday, 7 May, the first time in five years that voters had been asked to fill every seat after last year's elections were postponed. The number of seats was reduced from 75 to 70 since the previous election in 2021. - Reform won 41 seats – 5 more than the 36 they needed for a majority - Greens won 13 - Conservatives retained just 9 seats – a swing of 35 seats - Labour won 3 seats - Two seats went to independents **For context:** A pre-election projection by national elections analyst PollCheck had suggested Reform could win as many as 59 of the 70 seats, with the Conservatives projected to lose all 55 of the seats they secured in 2021\. The modellers themselves cautioned that 2026 was "uncharted territory" and that county council projections were "where it's most likely to be wrong." **The bigger picture:** Reform's ascent in Suffolk has been rapid. The party gained six seats on the county council through defections and by-elections during the previous term, and for the first time fielded candidates in every ward and division across Ipswich at this election. **What they're saying:** The party refused to engage with the media at today's elections, having been instructed to only speak with GB News. They also declined interview requests throughout the campaign, with the chairman of Ipswich Reform instructing all of the party's candidates not to take part in our Meet the Candidate interviews. Only Tony Gould, who stood in Whitton, responded. [View our live blog here](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/live-2026-local-elections/) The councillors elected this week will serve a foreshortened mandate. Suffolk's two-tier system is being replaced with three new unitary authorities, including the new Ipswich and South Suffolk council — known to many as Greater Ipswich. Elections for those bodies are due in May 2027, with the new councils running as shadow bodies for a year before formally taking on power in April 2028. **The bottom line:** A party that did not exist locally five years ago now controls Suffolk County Council. How it intends to use that majority remains to be seen. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Elections Live: Reform wins Suffolk County Council and wins 10 of 16 seats in Borough election URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/live-2026-local-elections/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T16:18:30.000Z ### 16:57 **A historic day for Reform UK across Suffolk** Reform UK have swept both the Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council elections, cementing their position as the dominant political force in the county. At the Cornhill, Reform won 41 seats — enough to seize control of Suffolk County Council outright. The Greens finished second on 13 seats, the Conservatives were reduced to 9, Labour took 3, the Liberal Democrats 2 and others 2. In Ipswich, Reform took 10 of the seats up for grabs today, with Labour holding 4, the Greens and Liberal Democrats winning one apiece and the Conservatives failing to win a single seat across the borough. For Reform, it is a day that has reshaped the political map of Suffolk. [MacDonald survives Reform surge as Labour lose 11 Ipswich seatsCouncil leader Neil MacDonald has held his St Johns seat, but Labour has lost 11 of the 15 seats it was defending on Ipswich Borough Council, with Reform UK taking 10 in a result that reshapes the political map of the town.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_4384.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/macdonald-survives-reform-surge-as-labour-lose-11-ipswich-seats/) [Reform takes majority control of Suffolk County Council, instructed to only speak to GB NewsReform UK has taken control of the authority for the first time, ending nearly two decades of near-continuous Conservative rule.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/size/w1200/2026/05/IMG_1061-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-takes-majority-control-of-suffolk-county-council/) ### 16:53 **Reform win Bridge** Rupert Tonkin-Galvin has won Bridge for Reform UK with 780 votes. Labour's Polly Ford finished second on 686 — 94 votes behind. Jamie Allenden took third for the Greens on 437, Katherine West fourth for the Conservatives on 291, and Henry Williams fifth for the Liberal Democrats on 133. Tonkin-Galvin's winning margin over Ford was 94. ### 16:50 **Reform gain Bixley in tight contest** David Hill has won Bixley for Reform UK with 934 votes — but the Conservatives pushed them close, with Edward Phillips finishing just 35 votes behind on 899. Labour's Paul Anderson took third on 612, Stephanie Cullen fourth for the Greens on 398, and Liberal Democrat Lisa Weichert fifth on 161. Hill's winning margin over Phillips was 35. ### 16:47 **Reform win Gainsborough** Ryan Procter has won Gainsborough for Reform UK with 952 votes. Saffeen Yamulki finished second for Labour on 530, with Conservative Liz Harsant third on 402 and Green candidate Juliet Garside fourth on 373. Procter's winning margin over Yamulki was 422. ### 16:44 **Reform take Whitton in three-way contest** Tony Gould has won Whitton for Reform UK with 1,113 votes in a straight three-way fight, with no Conservative or Liberal Democrat candidates standing. Stephen Connelly finished second for Labour on 718, with Groovy Scott third for the Greens on 400. Gould's winning margin over Connelly was 395. ### 16:42 **Reform gain Castle Hill** William Patrick has won Castle Hill for Reform UK with 948 votes. Stephen Ion finished second for the Local Conservatives on 581, with Labour's Dawn Allum third on 446, Green candidate Jennifer McCarthy fourth on 423, and Liberal Democrat Martin Pakes fifth on 261. Patrick's winning margin over Ion was 367. ### 16:38 **Reform win Gipping** Leslie Foster has won Gipping for Reform UK with 755 votes. Simona Lazar finished second for Labour on 692 — just 63 votes behind. Dalian Haynes took third for the Greens on 411, Bbosa Kiyingi fourth for the Conservatives on 234, and Daniel Davey fifth for the Liberal Democrats on 136. Foster's winning margin over Lazar was 63. ### 16:36 **Reform gain Stoke Park** Morgan Brobyn has won Stoke Park for Reform UK with 842 votes. Sian Gubb finished second for the Conservatives on 443, with Labour's Mika Berculean third on 418 and Barry Broom fourth for the Greens on 330. Brobyn's winning margin over Gubb was 399. ### 16:31 **Lib Dem gain St Margaret's** Inga Lockington has won St Margaret's for the Liberal Democrats with 1,633 votes. Graham Knight finished second for Reform UK on 546, Kirsty Wilmot third for the Greens on 410, Conservative Laura Allenby fourth on 379, and Labour's Steven Reynolds fifth on 353. Lockington's winning margin over Knight was 1,087. ### 15:55 **Halfway through the count** Eight wards down, eight to go at the Cornhill — and it's been a solid day so far for Labour, who have retained four of the eight declared. Reform UK have taken three seats, with the Greens claiming one. Council leader Neil MacDonald was among the Labour holds, retaining his St Johns seat. ### 15:51 **Labour takes Holywells** George Lankester has won Holywells for Labour with 990 votes. Reform UK's Robin Wilkinson was second on 676, the Greens' Rory Richardson-Todd third on 547, and Conservative Angelina Klein fourth on 470. Lankester's winning margin over Wilkinson was 314. ### 15:47 **Reform gain Whitehouse** David Hurlbut has won Whitehouse for Reform UK with 880 votes. Julie Shooter finished second for the Greens on 580, with Labour's Colin Wright third on 485\. Local Conservatives candidate Mark Phillips took 189 and Liberal Democrat Trevor Powell 85. Hurlbut's winning margin over Shooter was 300. ### 15:45 **Labour hold Rushmere, as Mayor Stefan Long retains his seat** Stefan Long, the Mayor of Ipswich, has held Rushmere for Labour with 1,031 votes. Vicky Hill finished second for Reform UK on 790, Susan Hagley third for the Greens on 536, Chijioke Philip fourth for the Conservatives on 433, and Lucy Drake fifth for the Liberal Democrats on 248. Long's winning margin over Hill was 241. ### 15:42 **Green gain in Alexandra** David Plowman has won Alexandra for the Greens with 1,047 votes, edging out Labour's John Cook in a very close contest — Cook finished just 41 votes behind on 1,006. Jeffrey Ciobanu took 589 for Reform UK, John Downie 250 for the Conservatives, and Giles Turner 150 for the Liberal Democrats. Plowman's winning margin over Cook was 41. ### 15:40 **Reform takes Priory Heath** Tim Buttle wins the first for Reform UK with 876 votes, while Owen Bartholomew holds the second for Labour on 761. Paul Daley finished third for the Greens on 442, Albert Demaj fourth for the Conservatives on 315, and Nigel Fox fifth for the Liberal Democrats on 148. Buttle's margin over Bartholomew was 115 ### 15:35 **Reform wins Sprites** Stuart Allen wins the first seat for Reform UK with 894 votes, while Colin Smart holds the second for Labour on 424. Michael Scanes finished third for the Conservatives on 359, Martin Hynes fourth for the Greens on 191, and Robin Whitmore fifth for the Liberal Democrats on 96. Allen's margin over Smart was 470. ### 15:28 **Labour hold Westgate** Colin Kreidewolf has held Westgate for Labour with 805 votes. John Mann finished second for the Greens on 519, with James Hollins third for Reform UK on 508 — just 11 votes separating second and third. Stephen Kirby took 253 for the Conservatives and Martin Hore 137 for the Liberal Democrats. Kreidewolf's winning margin over Mann was 286. ### 15:25 **Labour holds St Johns** Neil MacDonald has held St Johns for Labour with 983 votes, fending off a strong Reform UK challenge. Joshua Owens finished second for Reform UK on 866 — just 117 votes behind. Leon Paternoster took third for the Greens on 728, with Conservative Oliver Lee-Pearson on 348 and Liberal Democrat Kelly Turner on 182. MacDonald's winning margin over Owens was 117\. ### 14:59 **We're back!** Count is underway, we shall be bringing you the results live as they come through. Of note, Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, is looking to retain his seat on St Johns Ward. ### 14:08 **Here are the results we missed earlier** I rather optimistically tried to live blog 70 divisions today, so I am quite impressed I only missed four sets of results. Westbourne was won by David Hulbert of Reform UK. We're still waiting on the other three to land in our WhatsApp group. ### 13:58 **We're all done for Suffolk County Council!** We're missing four results from other count centres, but the Corn Exchange has emptied out following a huge day for Reform UK. More to follow on that. Here's the results we have: A short break and we'll be back with Ipswich Borough Council results shortly. ### 13:58 **Reform takes Bridge in tight contest with Labour** Rupert Tonkin-Galvin has won the Bridge division for Reform UK with 898 votes. Labour's Sachin Karale finished a close second on 887, just 11 votes behind. Green candidate Jamie Allenden took 625, the Conservatives' Sian Gubb 380 and Liberal Democrat Henry Williams 181. Tonkin-Galvin's winning margin over Karale was 11\. Turnout was 35.33%, with 2,973 of 8,416 ballot papers issued. ### 13:57 **Lib Dems take Woodbridge with massive vote** Ruth Leach has won the Woodbridge division for the Liberal Democrats with 1,926 votes — the Lib Dems' second Suffolk County Council seat of the day, and an emphatic one. Reform UK's John Grumbridge finished a distant second on 815, with the Conservatives' Geoff Holdcroft on 696, Green candidate Andrew Eastaugh on 459 and Labour's Jonathan Mason-Gordon on 336. Leach's winning margin over Grumbridge was 1,111 — the largest winning margin recorded by any candidate today. Turnout was 53%, with 4,240 of 8,075 ballot papers issued. ### 13:53 **Reform takes Oulton and takes majority control of Suffolk County Council** Paul Sutton has won the Oulton division for Reform UK with 1,565 votes. The Conservatives' Keith Robinson finished second on 721, with Green candidate Patricia Teixeira on 513, Labour's Graham Macintosh on 343 and Liberal Democrat Fiona Shreeve on 163. Sutton's winning margin over Robinson was 844\. Turnout was 39%, with 3,315 of 8,402 ballot papers issued. [Reform takes majority control of Suffolk County CouncilResults are still coming in, but Reform UK has just won its 36th seat at Suffolk County Council, securing majority control of the authority for the first time and ending nearly two decades of near-continuous Conservative rule.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_1061-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-takes-majority-control-of-suffolk-county-council/) ### 13:52 **Reform takes Westbourne** David Hurlbut has won the Westbourne division for Reform UK with 1,183 votes. One more needed by Reform. Green candidate Alison Seddon finished second on 716, with Labour and Co-operative's Elizabeth Hughes on 586, the Conservatives' Steven Wells on 320 and Liberal Democrat Martin Pakes on 158. Hurlbut's winning margin over Hughes was 467 — though strictly speaking Seddon was the runner-up; Hughes was third. Turnout was 37.24%, with 2,980 of 8,002 ballot papers issued. ### 13:43 **Reform takes Kirkley & Pakefield** Paul Reeder has won the Kirkley & Pakefield division for Reform UK with 1,322 votes. Reform need just two more seats to take the council. Green candidate Dom Taylor finished second on 1,005, with Labour's Peter Byatt on 544, the Conservatives' Linda Bee on 273 and Liberal Democrat Catharine Earl on 103. Reeder's winning margin over Taylor was 317\. Turnout was 37%, with 3,257 of 8,845 ballot papers issued. ### 13:31 **Reform takes Haverhill East and Rural in tight contest** Luke O'Brien has won the Haverhill East and Rural division for Reform UK with 1,268 votes — Reform's 33rd Suffolk County Council seat of the day, and just three short now of taking control of the council. The Conservatives' Nick Clarke finished a close second on 1,240, just 28 votes behind. Green candidate Luke Stannett took 496, Labour's Quinn Cox 371 and Liberal Democrat Chris Connor 237. O'Brien's winning margin over Clarke was 28\. Turnout was 41.41%. ### 13:25 **Reform takes Martlesham** Patti Mulcahy has won the Martlesham division for Reform UK with 1,286 votes. The Conservatives' James Harding finished second on 1,019, with Liberal Democrat Mark Packard on 675, Green candidate Eamonn O'Nolan on 612 and Labour's Simon Whitney on 322. Mulcahy's winning margin over Harding was 267\. Turnout was 52%, with 3,921 of 7,561 ballot papers issued. ### 13:31 **Reform takes Oulton Broad & Normanston** Trevor Lailey has won the Oulton Broad & Normanston division for Reform UK with 1,424 votes, as they edge ever closer to taking control of the county council. The Conservatives' Edward Back finished second on 771, with Green candidate Moira Dealey on 441, Labour's Christian Newsome on 378 and Liberal Democrat Richard Fowler on 163. Lailey's winning margin over Back was 653\. Turnout was 39%, with 3,188 of 8,252 ballot papers issued. ### 13:29 **Greens take Thedwastre South in tight contest with Reform** Matt Bentley has won the Thedwastre South division for the Green Party with 1,518 votes — the Greens' thirteenth Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Reform UK's David Flowerday finished a close second on 1,491, just 27 votes behind. The Conservatives' James Spencer took 959, Liberal Democrat Nicky Willshere 712 and Labour's Alan Conochie 195. Bentley's winning margin over Flowerday was 27\. Turnout was 49.62%, with 4,881 of 9,834 ballot papers issued. ### 13:28 **Conservatives win Barrow and Thingoe** Beccy Hopfensperger has won the Barrow and Thingoe division for the Conservatives with 1,895 votes. Reform UK's Ian Houlder finished second on 1,272, with Green candidate Nicholas Jeffreys on 595, Labour's Will Howman on 394 and Liberal Democrat Helen Korfanty on 371. Hopfensperger's winning margin over Houlder was 623\. Turnout was 51.62%. ### 13:26 **Greens take Upper Gipping with biggest vote of the day** Andrew Stringer has won the Upper Gipping division for the Green Party with 2,312 votes — the largest individual vote tally of any winning candidate so far. Reform UK's Charles Tilbury finished second on 1,553, with the Conservatives' Nicholas Gowrley on 694 and Labour's Ann Cooke on 127. Stringer's winning margin over Tilbury was 759\. Turnout was 49.52%, with 4,703 of 9,497 ballot papers issued. ### 13:25 **Independent takes Melford in extremely tight contest with Reform** John Nunn has won the Melford division as an Independent with 1,321 votes — the second Independent win of the day, after Saxmundham & District earlier. Reform UK's Michael Holt finished a close second on 1,305, just 16 votes behind. Green candidate Robert Parkes took 753, the Conservatives' Bill Davies 491, Labour's Matthew Marshall 154 and Liberal Democrat Alan Scott 130. Nunn's winning margin over Holt was 16\. Turnout was 50.43%, with 4,159 of 8,247 ballot papers issued. ### 13:24 **Conservative council leader holds Thredling in three-way scrap** Suffolk County Council leader Matthew Hicks has held the Thredling division for the Conservatives with 1,715 votes. Green candidate Teresa Davis finished second on 1,468, with Reform UK's Chris Parrett close behind on 1,329 — three candidates over 1,300 votes. Labour's Martin Ince polled 179. Hicks' winning margin over Davis was 247\. Turnout was 56.24%, with 4,705 of 8,366 ballot papers issued. ### 13:22 **Greens take Sudbury West** Laura Smith has won the Sudbury West division for the Green Party with 1,374 votes. Reform UK's Robert Wade finished second on 1,027, with Liberal Democrat Nigel Bennett on 480, the Conservatives' Michael Heyland on 441 and Labour's Adrian Stohr on 173. Smith's winning margin over Wade was 347\. Turnout was 44.50%, with 3,504 of 7,874 ballot papers issued. ### 13:20 **Reform unwilling to speak to the media** So far, just one Reform candidate, Stuart Allen, has spoken with the media. All other candidates and newly elected councillors have refused to speak to anyone in the press or have their photos taken. This follows the Ipswich Reform Chairman's instruction to all candidates not to speak with Ipswich.co.uk or any media during the election campaign. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1064.jpeg) Reform candidates have refused to speak with the media ### 13:15 **Conservatives win Haverhill North West and Withersfield comfortably** Joe Mason has won the Haverhill North West and Withersfield division for the Conservatives with 1,523 votes — the party's sixth Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Reform UK's Heike Sowa finished second on 781, with Labour's Indy Wijenayaka on 320, Green candidate Lizzie Eyre on 319 and Liberal Democrat Jessica Tovey on 113. Mason's winning margin over Sowa was 742\. Turnout was 39.05%. ### 13:09 **Reform takes Whitton comfortably** Colin Gould has won the Whitton division for Reform UK with 1,374 votes — Reform's thirtieth Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Labour and Co-operative's Stephen Connelly finished second on 758, with Green candidate Jane Scott on 430 and Liberal Democrat Nicholas Jacob on 338\. The Conservatives did not field a candidate. Gould's winning margin over Connelly was 616\. Turnout was 37.17%, with 2,943 of 7,917 ballot papers issued. ### 13:07 **Reform takes Priory Heath** Timothy Buttle has won the Priory Heath division for Reform UK with 1,140 votes. Labour's Jaya Jose finished second on 912, with Green candidate Paul Daley on 568, the Conservatives' Albert Demaj on 412 and Liberal Democrat Nigel Fox on 188. Buttle's winning margin over Jose was 228\. Turnout was 38.57%, with 3,233 of 8,382 ballot papers issued. ### 13:06 **Greens take Abbeygate and Minden** Dylan Roques has won the Abbeygate and Minden division for the Green Party — the Greens' tenth Suffolk County Council seat of the day, taking them into double figures. Reform UK's Catherine Mustoe finished second on 903, with the Conservatives' Mark Winter on 607, Labour's Donna Higgins on 580, Independent Paul Hopfensperger on 442, Liberal Democrat Aiden Roe on 132 and Communist Party of Britain's Darren Turner on 17. Turnout was 49.63%. ### 13:04 **Reform takes Felixstowe Clifflands, pushed hard by Lib Dems** Michael Hadwen has won the Felixstowe Clifflands division for Reform UK with 1,508 votes. Liberal Democrat Seamus Bennett finished a close second on 1,349, just 159 votes behind. The Conservatives' Kevin Sullivan took 788, Green candidate Angus Thody 579 and Labour's Skye Vincent 366. Hadwen's winning margin over Bennett was 159\. Turnout was 57%, with 4,595 of 8,005 ballot papers issued. ### 13:04 **Reform takes Eastgate and Moreton Hall in tight four-way contest** Simon Aalders has won the Eastgate and Moreton Hall division for Reform UK with 1,070 votes — Reform's 27th Suffolk County Council seat of the day, as they edge towards majority control of the council. Liberal Democrat Andy McGowan finished second on 856 — the Lib Dems' third strong showing of the day. The Conservatives' Birgitte Mager took 794, Labour's Cliff Waterman 537 and Green candidate Yarrow Jeffery 531 — four candidates within 325 votes of each other behind the winner. Aalders' winning margin over McGowan was 214\. Turnout was 43.41%. ### 13:01 **Ipswich.co.uk's first election** We've been here, tapping away for more than 3 hours now, living off a diet of biscuits and coffee. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1070-1.jpeg) Oliver and Nicola clinging onto sanity at the Town Hall as they attempt to cover 70 divisions between them ### 12:58 **Back to Ipswich and Reform takes Rushmere St Andrew** Alistair Jeffreys has won the Rushmere St Andrew division for Reform UK with 1,400 votes — Reform's twenty-sixth Suffolk County Council seat of the day. The Conservatives' Robert Cawley finished second on 1,091, with Green candidate Julian Cusack on 533, Labour and Co-operative's Paul Richards on 436 and Liberal Democrat Ed Thompson on 328. Jeffreys' winning margin over Cawley was 309\. Turnout was 48%, with 3,798 of 7,851 ballot papers issued. ### 12:57 **Independent Julia Ewart has won Saxmundham & District** Julia Ewart has won the Saxmundham & District division as an Independent with 1,108 votes — the first Independent win of the day. Reform UK's Alex Savva finished second on 906, just three votes ahead of Green candidate Marianne Fellowes on 903\. The Conservatives' Dominic Keen took 588, Labour's Philip O'Hear 230 and Liberal Democrat James Sandbach 193. Ewart's winning margin over Savva was 202\. Turnout was 51%, with 3,937 of 7,729 ballot papers issued. ### 12:55 **Labour holds Westgate for third Ipswich win** Much to the relief of the council, Colin Kreidewolf has won the Westgate division for Labour with 939 votes — Labour's third Suffolk County Council seat of the day, all three of them in Ipswich. Reform UK's Joshua Owens finished second on 803, with Green candidate Jennifer McCarthy on 718, the Conservatives' Stephen Ion on 462 and Liberal Democrat Martin Hore on 297. Kreidewolf's winning margin over Owens was 136\. Turnout was 38.93%, with 3,246 of 8,338 ballot papers issued. ### 12:54 **Reform takes Stour Valley in first Babergh result** Former Tory Philip Faircloth-Mutton has won the Stour Valley division for Reform UK with 1,646 votes — Reform's twenty-fifth Suffolk County Council seat of the day, and the first to declare from the Babergh count. The Conservatives' Isabelle Reece finished second on 957, with Green candidate Siobhan Harris on 606, Liberal Democrat Bryn Hurren on 575, and Labour's Chris Mills on 229. Faircloth-Mutton's winning margin over Reece was 689\. Turnout figures were not recorded on the count form. ### 12:51 **Greens and Reform share Beccles & Kessingland in two-seat division** Beccles & Kessingland — a two-seat division — has split between the Greens and Reform UK in an extraordinarily tight contest at the top. Green candidate Ash Lever topped the poll with 2,686 votes, with Reform UK's Chris Cox just 10 votes behind on 2,676 to take the second seat. The other Green candidate Christine Wheeler polled 2,665, and Reform's Mel Calaby 2,474 — four candidates within 221 votes of each other. The Conservatives' Mark Bee took 1,248 and Ryan Harvey 968\. Labour's Alan Green polled 525 and Sam Hunt 427\. Liberal Democrats Susan Groome and Tom Jordan took 256 and 202. Turnout was 44%, with 7,226 of 16,517 ballot papers issued. Twenty-eight were rejected. ### 12:47 **Conservatives win Clare in tight contest with Reform** Bobby Bennett has won the Clare division for the Conservatives with 1,516 votes — the party's fifth Suffolk County Council seat of the day, and their second in succession. Not something we've said much – or at all, possibly. Reform UK's Warren Rodwell pushed Bennett close, polling 1,461 — just 55 votes behind. Green candidate Jessica Sibley took 541, Liberal Democrat Hugo Bovill 379 and Labour's Adam Chadwick 274. Bennett's winning margin over Rodwell was 55\. Turnout was 51.86%. ### 12:45 **A quick look at the table** Here's where we are so far: - 25 Reform - 4 Conservative - 4 Labour - 8 Greens - 1 Lib Dem ### 12:41 **Conservatives win in Hardwick comfortably** Richard Rout has won the Hardwick division for the Conservatives with 1,701 votes — the party's fourth Suffolk County Council seat of the day, and one of its most decisive wins. Reform UK's Sheila Burke finished second on 747, with Green candidate Grahame Starling on 544, Labour and Co-operative's Judith Moore on 353 and Liberal Democrat James Porter on 214. Rout's winning margin over Burke was 954 — a notably large gap given the day's pattern of tight contests. Turnout was 51.44%. ### 12:39 **Greens take Framlingham & Wickham Market** Stephen Molyneux has won the Framlingham & Wickham Market division for the Green Party with 1,491 votes — the Greens' eighth Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Reform UK's David Bowen finished second on 1,239, with the Conservatives' Stephen Burroughes on 1,076 — three candidates over 1,000 votes. Liberal Democrat Edward Robinson polled 309 and Labour's Luke Halpin 219. Molyneux's winning margin over Bowen was 252\. Turnout was 49%, with 4,351 of 8,934 ballot papers issued. ### 12:39 **Reform takes Row Heath** Don Waldron has won the Row Heath division for Reform UK with 1,469 votes — Reform's twenty-third Suffolk County Council seat of the day. The Conservatives' Susan Glossop finished second on 860, with Green candidate Tom Moore on 452, Independent David Taylor on 406 and Labour's Joyce Adenekan on 181. Waldron's winning margin over Glossop was 609\. Turnout was 39.61%. ### 12:37 **Reform takes Hartismere as Greens push hard for second** Paul Bains has won the Hartismere division for Reform UK with 1,674 votes — Reform's twenty-second Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Green candidate Rowland Warboys finished a close second on 1,619, just 55 votes behind. The Conservatives' Colin Noble took 1,091 — three candidates over 1,000 votes — with Liberal Democrat Hettie Glenton on 215 and Labour's Paul Theaker on 153. Bains' winning margin over Warboys was 55\. Turnout was 53.44%, with 4,762 of 8,911 ballot papers issued. ### 12:36 **Labour take Rushmere for second seat of the day** Martin Cook has won the Rushmere division for Labour with 1,311 votes — Labour's second Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Reform UK's Vicky Hill finished second on 1,023, with Green candidate Susan Hagley on 762, the Conservatives' Chijioke Philip on 592 and Liberal Democrat Lucy Drake on 308. Cook's winning margin over Hill was 288\. Turnout was 48.86%, with 4,008 of 8,203 ballot papers issued. ### 12:35 **Lib Dems win their first seat of the day in Ipswich** As expected, Inga Lockington has won the St Margaret's division for the Liberal Democrats with 1,660 votes — the Lib Dems' first Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Reform UK's Graham Knight finished second on 795, with Green candidate Kirsty Wilmot on 706, Labour's Adam Rae on 622 and the Conservatives' Laura Allenby pushed into fifth on 555. Lockington's winning margin over Knight was 865\. Turnout was 50.81%, with 4,354 of 8,569 ballot papers issued. ### 12:33 **Reform takes Brandon comfortably** Tim Kent has won the Brandon division for Reform UK with 1,427 votes. The Conservatives' David Palmer finished second on 564, with Independent Victor Lukaniuk on 492, Green candidate Gemma Raymond on 387, Independent Wayne Bland on 212, Labour's Tony Blacker on 150 and Liberal Democrat Adam Robertson on 103. Kent's winning margin over Palmer was 863 — Reform's largest of the day so far. Turnout was 38.23%. ### 12:32 **Huge cheers as Labour win their first seat of the day in St Clement's** Adele Cook has won the St Clement's division for Labour and Co-operative — Labour's first Suffolk County Council seat of the day, after a long, painful wait. Cook polled 1,223 votes. Green candidate David Plowman finished a close second on 1,115, with Reform UK's Jeffrey Ciobanu pushed into third on 884 — the first time today Reform haven't either won or finished second. The Conservatives' Angelina Klein took 322 and Liberal Democrat Timothy Lockington 199. Cook's winning margin over Plowman was 108\. Turnout was 44.00%, with 3,753 of 8,529 ballot papers issued. ### 12:30 **Reform wins in Gunton** Chris Smith has won the Gunton division for Reform UK with 1,297 votes. The Conservatives' James Reeder finished second on 587, with Labour's Graham Parker close behind on 561, Green candidate Joe Hynes on 298 and Liberal Democrat Michelle Lavill on 110. Smith's winning margin over Reeder was 710\. Turnout was 38%, with 2,856 of 7,550 ballot papers issued. ### 12:29 **Reform takes Peninsula** Vicky Armstrong has won the Peninsula division for Reform UK with 1,389 votes. Green candidate Joshua Overton finished second on 1,239, with the Conservatives' Josie Ruffles on 997 — three candidates over 990 votes. Liberal Democrat Paul Woodcraft polled 305, Labour's Emma Bishton 327, and Independent Tim Amass 118. Armstrong's winning margin over Overton was 150\. Turnout was 49.57%, with 4,388 of 8,851 ballot papers issued. ### 12:29 **Greens take Hadleigh in close contest with Reform** Simon Dowling has won the Hadleigh division for the Green Party with 1,325 votes — the Greens' seventh Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Reform UK's Matthew Pescott Frost finished second on 1,287, just 38 votes behind. The Conservatives' Ian McIntyre took 770, Liberal Democrat Rain Welham-Cobb 220 and Labour's Jane Wakeman 178. Dowling's winning margin over Pescott Frost was 38\. Turnout was 45.30%, with 3,787 of 8,360 ballot papers issued. ### 12:28 **Greens take Thedwastre North** James Patchett has won the Thedwastre North division for the Green Party with 1,476 votes — the Greens' sixth Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Reform UK's David Wren finished second on 1,238, with the Conservatives' Jane Storey on 1,061. Liberal Democrat Steve Card polled 199 and Labour's Calum Edwards 166. Patchett's winning margin over Wren was 238\. Turnout was 46.41%, with 4,154 of 8,950 ballot papers issued. ### 12:26 **Conservatives win Constable in tight four-way contest** Darius Laws has won the Constable division for the Conservatives with 1,459 votes — only the party's third Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Reform UK's Marc Rowland finished second on 1,346, with Liberal Democrat John Whyman on 1,059 and Green candidate Zunaid Saiyed on 743 — four candidates over 700 votes. Labour's Lindsay Francis polled 235. Laws' winning margin over Rowland was 113\. Turnout was 53.75%, with 4,841 of 9,007 ballot papers issued. ### 12:25 **Reform takes Mildenhall** Louis Busuttil has won the Mildenhall division for Reform UK with 1,189 votes. Independent Ian Shipp polled 1,043, just 146 votes behind the winner and well clear of the rest of the field. The Conservatives' Lance Stanbury was pushed into third on 613. Green candidate Claire Steed polled 294, Labour's Roxanne Downes 147, Liberal Democrat Zigurds Kronbergs 74, and Independent Chaz Chandler 32. Busuttil's winning margin over Shipp was 146\. Turnout was 39.37%. ### 12:23 **Reform takes Gipping in Ipswich as Labour rout continues** Stuart Allen has won the Gipping division for Reform UK with 1,104 votes — Reform's seventeenth Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Labour's David Ellesmere finished second on 850, with Green candidate Dalian Haynes on 494, the Conservatives' Bbosa Kiyingi on 346 and Liberal Democrat Daniel Davey on 172. Allen's winning margin over Ellesmere was 254\. Turnout was 34.95%, with 2,982 of 8,533 ballot papers issued. ### 12:22 **Reform takes Gainsborough as it eyes a clean sweep in Ipswich** Ryan Procter has won the Gainsborough division for Reform UK with 1,043 votes. Labour and Co-operative candidate Kelvin Cracknell finished second on 744, with the Conservatives' Liz Harsant on 725, Green candidate Juliet Garside on 480, and Liberal Democrat Trevor Powell on 114. Procter's winning margin over Cracknell was 299\. Turnout was 39.30%, with 3,133 of 7,971 ballot papers issued. ### 12:20 **Reform takes Bixley as Labour finishes third** David Hill has won the Bixley division for Reform UK with 1,283 votes — Reform's fifteenth Suffolk County Council seat of the day and second of the day in Ipswich. The Conservatives' Paul West finished second on 1,027, with Labour's Laurence Bradley pushed into third on 911 — the second Ipswich division running in which Labour has finished outside the top two. Green candidate Stephanie Cullen polled 694 and Liberal Democrat Lisa Weichert 249. Hill's winning margin over West was 256\. Turnout was 49.15%, with 4,173 of 8,490 ballot papers issued. ### 12:17 **Reform takes Belstead Hills in the first Ipswich result of the day – more incoming** Morgan Brobyn has won the Belstead Hills division for Reform UK with 1,309 votes — Reform's fourteenth Suffolk County Council seat of the day, and the first to declare from the Ipswich count. The Conservatives' Nadia Cenci finished second on 809, with Labour's Viorica-Mihaela Berculean on 615, Green candidate David Revett on 359 and Liberal Democrat Robin Whitmore on 168. Brobyn's winning margin over Cenci was 500\. Turnout was 40.27%, with 3,274 of 8,131 ballot papers issued. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1061.jpeg) Reform candidates cheered as the first results were announced (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ### 12:16 **Reform takes Felixstowe Maritime comfortably** Tony Love has won the Felixstowe Maritime division for Reform UK with 1,418 votes. Green candidate Stephen Wyatt finished second on 696, with the Conservatives' Georgina Allan on 456, Labour's Rosie Smithson on 393 and Liberal Democrat Jan Candy on 301. Love's winning margin over Wyatt was 722 — Reform's largest of the day so far. Turnout was 39%, with 3,271 of 8,475 ballot papers issued. ### 12:14 **Reform takes Exning and Newmarket** Andrew Burton has won the Exning and Newmarket division for Reform UK with 1,101 votes. The Conservatives' Ben Greening finished second on 955, with Liberal Democrat Jon London on 825 — the Lib Dems' second strong showing of the day, after Stowmarket East. Green candidate Debbie Clarke polled 479 and Labour's Shelagh Kavanagh 272. Burton's winning margin over Greening was 146\. Turnout was 38.66%. ### 12:13 **Conservatives hold Blackbourn – just** Harry Richardson has won the Blackbourn division for the Conservatives with 1,632 votes — only the party's second seat of the day. Reform UK's Paul Brown finished second on 1,515, with Green candidate Clare Higson on 733 and Labour's Rowena Lindberg on 408. Richardson's winning margin over Brown was 117\. Turnout was 49%. ### 12:12 A flurry of results incoming for Ipswich divisions – stand by. ### 12:03 **Greens take Hoxne & Eye in tight three-way contest** Sally Mittuch has won the Hoxne & Eye division for the Green Party with 1,526 votes. Reform UK's Holly Drafahl finished second on 1,366, with the Conservatives' Henry Lloyd close behind on 1,185 — three candidates over 1,100 in another bunched contest. Liberal Democrat Timothy Glenton polled 243 and Labour's Stephen Nixon 120. Mittuch's winning margin over Drafahl was 160\. Turnout was 52.48%, with 4,457 of 8,492 ballot papers issued. ### 12:01 **Reform takes Cornard & Sudbury East** Kerrie Turner has won the Cornard & Sudbury East division for Reform UK with 1,316 votes. Green candidate Sara Merritt finished second on 861, with the Conservatives' Harry Cansdale on 461, Labour's Alison Owen on 323 and Liberal Democrat Marjorie Bark on 228. Turner's winning margin over Merritt was 455\. Turnout was 40.93%, with 3,202 of 7,824 ballot papers issued. ### 11:59 **Greens take Cosford in three-way scrap** Robert Lindsay has won the Cosford division for the Green Party with 1,658 votes. Reform UK's Patrick Wegener finished second on 1,488, with the Conservatives' Ellena Cook on 1,143 — three candidates over the 1,100 mark in a single division. Liberal Democrat David Butcher polled 238 and Labour's Rupert Perry 123. Lindsay's winning margin over Wegener was 170\. Turnout was 55.42%, with 4,656 of 8,401 ballot papers issued. ### 11:57 **Reform takes Bosmere** Gary Keogh has won the Bosmere division for Reform UK with 1,241 votes. Green candidate Adria Pittock finished second on 1,090, with the Conservatives' Kay Oakes on 720, Liberal Democrat Attila Borzak on 485 and Labour's Tina Cooke on 174. Keogh's winning margin over Pittock was 151\. Turnout was 44.65%, with 3,721 of 8,334 ballot papers issued. ### 11:56 **Reform takes St Olaves and Tollgate by just 64 votes** Martin Robinson has won the St Olaves and Tollgate division for Reform UK with 986 votes, and their tightest win yet. Green candidate Susie Dowling pushed Robinson all the way, polling 922 — just 64 votes behind. Labour's Diane Hind took 455, Conservative Thomas Murray 379, and Independent David Nettleton 310. Robinson's winning margin over Dowling was 64\. Turnout was 34.19%. ### 11:50 **Reform takes Newmarket and Red Lodge** A quick wee break and we're back to announce that Adrian Whittle has won the Newmarket and Red Lodge division for Reform UK with 1,272 votes. The Conservatives' Andy Drummond finished second on 963, with Green candidate Doug Taylor on 564, Labour's Keith Holland on 421 and Liberal Democrat Katarina Keep on 265. Whittle's winning margin over Drummond was 309\. Turnout was 35.21%. ### 11:35 **The tally so far** We've had 13 results so far, and it's all the light blue of Reform: - 9 Reform UK - 3 Green - 1 Conservative ### 11:34 **Greens take Halesworth comfortably** Annette Dunning has won the Halesworth division for the Green Party with 1,761 votes — the Greens' third seat of the day. Reform UK's Garry Debenham finished second on 1,064, with the Conservatives' Lawrence Champion on 650, Liberal Democrat Sally East on 224 and Labour's Ian Luff on 158. Dunning's winning margin over Debenham was 697\. Turnout was 50%, with 3,873 of 7,770 ballot papers issued. ### 11:33 **Reform takes Haverhill South in West Suffolk** Paul Littman has won the Haverhill South division for Reform UK with 990 votes. The Conservatives' Graham Cone finished second on 657, with Green candidate Mark Ereira on 543 and Labour's David Smith on 353. Littman's winning margin over Cone was 333\. Turnout was 32.95%. ### 11:28 **Greens take Stowmarket West** Keith Welham has won the Stowmarket West division for the Green Party with 1,456 votes — the Greens' second seat of the morning. Reform UK's Shaun Payne finished second on 1,148, with the Conservatives' Paul Ekpenyong well back on 518 and Labour's Michael Smith on 179. Welham's winning margin over Payne was 308\. Turnout was 40.78%, with 3,314 of 8,128 ballot papers issued. ### 11:26 **Reform takes Stowmarket East as Lib Dems push hard for second** Mark Barber has won the Stowmarket East division for Reform UK with 1,255 votes. But the standout figure here is the Liberal Democrats: Keith Scarff polled 1,163, just 92 votes behind Barber and well clear of the rest of the field. That's by some distance the strongest Lib Dem showing of any division declared so far today. The Conservatives' Steve Runciman was pushed into third on 534, with Labour's Peter Armitage on 368. Barber's winning margin over Scarff was 92\. Turnout was 39.78%, with 3,346 of 8,411 ballot papers issued. ### 11:24 **Reform takes Gipping Valley as Tories finish second again** Asa Downing has won the Gipping Valley division for Reform UK with 1,308 votes — Reform's fifth Suffolk County Council seat of the day, in what is potentially shaping up to be a huge day for the party. The Conservatives' Chris Chambers finished second on 1,063, with Green candidate Chris Goodchild third on 742\. Liberal Democrat Mark Pearson polled 351 and Labour's Hazel Stonya 178. Downing's winning margin over Chambers was 245\. Turnout was 42.63%, with 3,649 of 8,560 ballot papers issued. ### 11:22 **Reform takes Brook in the first Mid Suffolk result of the day** Christopher Hudson has won the Brook division for Reform UK with 1,342 votes. The Conservatives' Debbie Richards finished second on 658, with the Greens' Leigh Jamieson five votes behind on 653 and Liberal Democrat Helen-Victoria Davies a further 24 back on 629 — three parties bunched within 29 votes of each other. Labour's Graham Manuel polled 183. Hudson's winning margin over Richards was 684 — Reform's largest of the day so far. Turnout was 44.93%, with 3,477 of 7,738 ballot papers issued. Seven were rejected. ### 11:21 **Reform takes Harbour** Rob Ayling has won the Harbour division for Reform UK with 904 votes. Green James Marjoram took second on 471, with Labour's Tess Gandy a close third on 431\. The Conservatives' May Reader managed only 180, and Liberal Democrat John Shreeve polled 109. Ayling's winning margin over Marjoram was 433\. Turnout was 25%. ### 11:14 **Conservatives win Carlford as Tories open their account** Elaine Joseland — known on the ballot as Elaine Bryce — has won the Carlford division for the Conservatives with 1,909 votes, the party's first Suffolk County Council win of the day. Reform UK's Georgia Howell pushed hard into second on 1,196, with the Greens' Stephen Munson only 53 votes behind her on 1,143\. Liberal Democrat Hugo Mason polled 257 and Labour's Belinda Randall 253 — separated by just four votes at the foot of the table. Joseland's winning margin over Howell was 713\. Turnout was 56% — the highest of the day so far. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1051.jpeg) The wait for a Labour win continues (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) ### 10:58 **Reform takes Blyth Estuary in tight four-way contest** John Matthews has won the Blyth Estuary division for Reform UK with 1,108 votes — Reform's third Suffolk County Council seat of the day. Conservative John Cooper on 877, Liberal Democrat Andrew Turner just 11 votes further back on 866, and Green Rachel Kellett on 778\. Just 99 votes separated second from fourth. Labour's Michael Rowan-Robinson polled 484. Matthews' winning margin over Cooper was 231\. Turnout was 51%. Here's how we look so far: ### 10:50 **Greens win their first seat of the day in Bungay** Peter Aiano has taken the Bungay division for the Green Party, polling 1,681 votes to win the Suffolk County Council seat comfortably. Reform UK's Herbie Crossman finished second on 1,180, with the Conservatives' Victoria Drew-Batty pushed into third on 629. Liberal Democrat John Awty took 207, Labour's Tim Mobbs 140, and the Official Monster Raving Loony Party's Eddie Marmite Salmagundy Henderson rounded out the ballot on 25. Aiano's winning margin over Crossman was 501\. Turnout was 51%. ### 10:45 **Reform UK take Aldeburgh & Leiston** Rachael Tecklenberg has won the Aldeburgh & Leiston division for Reform UK, taking the Suffolk County Council seat with 1,156 votes. Conservative Tom Faulkner finished second on 943, with Green candidate Sarah Whitelock just 12 votes further back on 931. Labour's Eva Turner polled 322 and Liberal Democrat Bradley Clements 203. Tecklenberg's winning margin over Faulkner was 213\. Turnout came in at 43%, with 3,567 of 8,216 ballot papers issued. Twelve papers were rejected. It means Reform UK are three from three in Suffolk, so far. ### 10:36 In case you missed it, here's our article from yesterday, analysing projections that Reform would take majority control of the county council: [Reform projected to take Suffolk – but modellers urge cautionAs polling stations open across Ipswich and Suffolk, a detailed pre-election projection points to a dramatic political shift at Endeavour House — but the modellers behind the numbers are the first to flag the limits of what they can tell us.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/Hero-Image--8-.png)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-projected-to-take-suffolk-but-modellers-urge-caution/) ### 10:31 Carlton & Whitton has been won by Richard Read of Reform, following June Mummery winning in Carlton Colville, making it two from two for Reform so far in the county council elections. We're still waiting for our first Ipswich division result. **Carlton Colville** - June Mummery (Reform): 1,346 (winner) - Letitia Smith (Con): 447 - Alan Barnes (Green): 411 - Chris Thomas (Lib Dem): 220 - Marilyn Sayer (Labour): 211 ### 09:45 Helen Pluck has briefed everyone in attendance, and the count is underway. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£486 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich paedophile jailed for 40 months over sexual communication with 14-year-old decoy URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-paedophile-jailed-for-40-months-over-sexual-communication-with-14-year-old-decoy/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T08:28:54.000Z **Why it matters:** Police say Damian Sadowski's conduct was "predatory" and demonstrates a "real threat to children", with officers warning that he could have caused serious harm had he been communicating with an actual child. **The details:** Sadowski, of Yeoman Close in Ipswich, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, 1 May, where he was sentenced to a total of 40 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to: - Attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity - Attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming - Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child **What happened:** On 2 March 2025, Sadowski directly messaged a Facebook account belonging to a girl he did not know. The account was a decoy and the girl did not exist. - Within the first four messages, the "girl" told Sadowski she was 14 years old. He responded that he was "much older" at 37. - Sadowski provided his phone number and moved the conversation to WhatsApp, where the exchange quickly became sexual, and he sent an explicit image. - He also offered to pay for the "girl's" train ticket to meet the following day but told her not to tell anyone. The conversation was reported to police. Sadowski was arrested on 10 April and later charged on 29 December 2025. **What's next:** In addition to his prison sentence, the court ordered the destruction of Sadowski's mobile phone and made him subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. **What they're saying:** PC Ameerah Ibrahim, the officer in charge of the case, said: "Although there was no direct victim, Sadowski's attempts to engage in sexual activity with a child online was predatory and for his own sexual gratification. "He has shown that he poses a real threat to children, and it is very fortunate that this wasn't a real child involved in conversation. "We are committed to bringing to justice those who engage in these crimes." **The bottom line:** A decoy account stopped Sadowski from reaching a real child, and his guilty plea has secured a 40-month prison term and lifelong restrictions on his future conduct. For advice on staying safe online, visit the Suffolk Constabulary website. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Police issue new closure notice to Romanian Buttermarket shop URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-issue-new-closure-notice-to-romanian-buttermarket-shop/ Last updated: 2026-05-07T13:09:11.000Z **Why it matters:** The notice, issued by Suffolk Police on 6 May 2026 under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, prohibits access to the premises at 51 Buttermarket for up to 48 hours. It expires at 12:30 on Friday, 8 May 2026, at which point a magistrates' court hearing must take place if police wish to seek a full closure order. **The background:** The shop has been at the centre of prolonged anti-social behaviour complaints for around two years. Police believe alcohol was being sold illegally to groups gathering outside the shop, contributing to disorder in the surrounding area. **For context:** This is not the first time police have taken action against the premises. Suffolk Constabulary, working in partnership with Trading Standards, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and Ipswich Borough Council Licensing, spent several months gathering evidence against the shop, including witness statements and material obtained through search warrants. A warrant executed on 10 November 2025 led to the seizure of illicit alcohol, tobacco and prescription-only medication from the premises. It follows a failed attempt earlier this year to shut the premises. Magistrates declined to grant a full closure order at a hearing on 23 March 2026 — a decision that left officers "incredibly frustrated," with sources telling Ipswich.co.uk they could "not understand the decision." **What's next:** For a full closure order to be granted, a magistrates' court hearing must take place within the 48-hour window of the closure notice. Should a full order be granted, it would prohibit anyone — including the owner — from entering the premises for up to three months, with breach of the order carrying a penalty of up to 51 weeks in prison or an unlimited fine. A full closure order would also automatically trigger a review of the premises licence by Ipswich Borough Council Licensing, which has the power to revoke it entirely. **The bottom line:** The notice is the latest step in a prolonged effort by police and partner agencies to address anti-social behaviour linked to the premises. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Reform projected to take Suffolk – but modellers urge caution URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/reform-projected-to-take-suffolk-but-modellers-urge-caution/ Last updated: 2026-05-07T09:43:04.000Z The projection, published by national elections analyst [PollCheck](https://www.pollcheck.co.uk/locals-2026?ref=ipswich.co.uk#/suffolk), suggests Reform UK could win 59 of the 70 seats up for election at Suffolk County Council today, taking majority control from the Conservatives. The same model projects the Conservatives — who have run the council continuously since 2017 — to lose all 55 of the seats they secured at the last county election in 2021. If borne out, it would be one of the most dramatic political realignments in the county's modern history. But "if" is doing a lot of work in that sentence, and the modellers themselves are clear that county council projections in 2026 are "where it's most likely to be wrong." ## What the projection says PollCheck's headline figures for Suffolk make for interesting reading. Reform UK is projected to win 59 seats, the Greens 6, Labour 4, and the Liberal Democrats 1\. The Conservatives, who took 55 seats in 2021 on a 48% vote share, are projected at zero. The model gives a range for each party rather than a single number — Reform on 45 to 60 seats, the Greens on 5 to 13, Labour on 1 to 7, the Lib Dems on 0 to 3, and the Conservatives on 0 to 7\. Those ranges represent an 80% confidence interval, meaning the actual result is expected to fall within them roughly four times in five. At Ipswich Borough Council, where only 16 of the 48 seats are up for election, the picture is rather different. Whatever happens over the next two days, Labour will retain overall control with 27 seats, but is projected to lose 11 of the 16 wards it is defending. Reform is projected to gain 11 seats from a standing start. The Conservatives are projected on 6, the Lib Dems on 3, and the Greens on 1. Within Ipswich, the model has Reform winning seats, including Whitton on a 26.6 percentage-point margin, Castle Hill, Bridge, Stoke Park and Sprites. Labour is projected to hold Whitehouse, Rushmere, St Clement's and Priory Heath. Alexandra is projected as a Green gain, and St Margaret's as a Lib Dem hold. ## How the model works PollCheck's methodology is more sophisticated than the uniform national swing approach used by most published forecasters. Rather than applying a single national figure to every council, the model projects each of the roughly 7,000 wards being contested individually. The starting point in each ward is the last result. National polling tells the model how each party's vote share has shifted since that election, and a swing is applied — adjusted for local demographics, incumbency and the freshness of the underlying data. The model then runs 1,000 times, with random variation each time, to produce a range of possible outcomes. Where wards have not been contested recently, or where parties such as Reform did not stand at the last election, the model uses a four-tier system that draws on by-election results, the 2024 general election, census demographics and a national entry model. For Suffolk, the model has been calibrated against more than 50 county council by-elections from 2025 and 2026. The projection has also been adjusted to reflect the official candidate lists published on 8 April. Where a party is not standing in a ward, its vote share has been redistributed to those that are. ## Why caution is essential PollCheck's own methodology document is candid about the limits of what its model can do. The 2026 elections, the modellers note, are "the first" live test of the system. The backtests covering 2022 to 2025 look reasonable — control of the right party projected in 72% of councils on average — but the six-party fragmentation in 2026 is, in their words, "beyond anything in the training data." County councils are flagged specifically as the area where the model is most likely to be wrong. Suffolk's county wards were last contested in 2021, when Reform had no local presence at all. The model is having to project a party from near-zero to the largest force in the county — a leap it has never had to make before in this combination of councils. The methodology also lists a series of known biases. The Liberal Democrats were over-projected by 460 seats nationally in the 2025 backtest. Independents and local groups have been undercounted by more than 200 seats every year tested. The Conservatives have been consistently under-projected, partly because incumbent councillors in shire and suburban wards tend to outperform their national party. PollCheck does not conduct its own polling. Its projections are built from national polling data, local election history and demographic modelling — not from ward-level surveys of Suffolk voters. Individual ward results, the modellers stress, will vary from these estimates. Projects do not factor in any local knowledge or insight. ## Where the projection could miss Beyond the modellers' own caveats, conversations with voters and candidates across Ipswich in recent weeks suggest at least one party may be set to outperform the headline figures: the Greens. The party has grown in recent times, holding nine seats on the current county council and taking control of Mid Suffolk District Council in 2023\. Green candidates have been running active ground campaigns across Ipswich, and have framed themselves explicitly as the most effective vote against Reform — citing canvassing data from a recent Suffolk County Council by-election in the Tower division that put them within striking distance of Reform. They are also buoyed by by-election results in Gorton and Denton and hope to steal young, left-leaning voters away from Labour. PollCheck's projection has the Greens on six county seats, but a range that runs as high as 13\. Local conversations suggest they could potentially significantly outperform the upper end of that range. The model itself flags Green projections as one of the areas where late candidacy data and local organisation can shift outcomes meaningfully. The Conservatives, too, will surely fare better than the zero seats the model has projected. The model's range allows for up to seven Conservative seats in Suffolk. An historical complete wipe-out, while projected as the central estimate, sits at the lower end of the modelled range and is unlikely. And in tightly fought wards, where Labour and Reform sit just low percentage points apart, small shifts in turnout or local factors could swing the result either way. ## What is actually at stake It is worth restating what today's votes will and will not decide. At Ipswich Borough Council, the political balance cannot change. Only a third of the seats are up for election, and Labour's overall majority is secure for the next two years regardless of today's results. What is at stake is the size of that majority, the shape of the opposition and the political trajectory heading into next year's unitary elections. At Suffolk County Council, every one of the 70 seats is being contested. To win majority control outright, a party needs 36\. The Conservatives need to hold 36 to retain power; Labour, the Greens and Reform would each need to win at least 36\. A no overall control administration, a minority arrangement or a formal coalition all remain possibilities. Whichever way the results fall, the councillors elected today will serve a foreshortened mandate. The current two-tier system is being replaced with three new unitary authorities, including the new Ipswich and South Suffolk council — known to many as Greater Ipswich. Today's councillors will help shape that transition. ## The bottom line Projections are not predictions. PollCheck's model points to a Reform sweep at county level and a bruising day for Labour in the borough, but the modellers themselves are clear that 2026 is uncharted territory — and that county council projections, in particular, carry the widest margins of error. The headline numbers are eye-catching. They are also, by the modellers' own admission, built on a model that has never been tested in a live election with this much volatility, in a county where one of the leading parties did not exist locally five years ago. The actual results will be counted at the Corn Exchange tomorrow, with Suffolk County Council votes counted from 09:45 to 12:30 and Ipswich Borough Council from 13:00 to 15:00\. Full results are expected by 16:00\. We will be there throughout the day to bring you the numbers, the reaction and what it all means for Ipswich and Suffolk. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Polls open as Ipswich votes in two elections today URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/polls-open-as-ipswich-votes-in-two-elections-today/ Last updated: 2026-05-07T08:17:02.000Z **Why it matters:** Today's vote is the last under the current two-tier system, with both councils due to be replaced by three new unitary authorities in Suffolk. The councillors elected today will help bridge the transition. **The details:** All 70 seats at Suffolk County Council are up for election, including the 12 divisions that cover Ipswich. At the same time, 16 of the 48 seats on Ipswich Borough Council are being contested, as the borough elects in thirds. - Polling stations are open from 07:00 until 22:00. - Voters must bring photo identification to take part. Acceptable forms include a photo card driving licence, passport or blue badge. - A list of polling stations and candidates can be found on your local council website. **What's next:** The counts will take place at the Corn Exchange on Friday, 8 May. - Suffolk County Council votes will be counted from 09:45–12:30. - Ipswich Borough Council votes will be counted from 13:00–15:00. - Full results are expected by 16:00. **The bigger picture:** Both councils will only be operational for two years before being replaced by three new unitary authorities in Suffolk. In May 2027, residents will vote again to elect the first councillors of those new authorities — including the new Ipswich and South Suffolk council — which will run as shadow bodies for a year before formally taking on power in April 2028. **The bottom line:** Whatever decides your vote today, the choices on the ballot paper are consequential. Polls close at 22:00. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### New illuminated sign going up at University of Suffolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/new-illuminated-sign-going-up-at-university-of-suffolk/ Last updated: 2026-05-07T13:18:08.000Z **Why it matters:** The sign, which will increase the university's visibility on the waterfront and to people travelling in and out of town via Stoke Bridge, forms part of the institution's wider ambition to enhance its presence in Ipswich. **The details:** Scaffolding and a cherry picker will be positioned outside The Mix café between Tuesday, 5 May, and Thursday, 28 May, to reach the external wall above the sixth floor of the Waterfront Building. During the works, customers will be unable to enter The Mix from the water side doors and will instead need to access it via the University of Suffolk foyer. The café will remain open as usual for staff, students and members of the public. **What to look out for:** A road closure will be in place from the corner of Coprolite Street up to the Salthouse Harbour Hotel for the duration of the works. Pedestrian access will also be restricted between the corner of Coprolite Street and the corner of the plaza and the Waterfront Building, with people directed around the front of the building via Coprolite Street and the plaza. **What they're saying:** Nigel Lucker, chief estates officer at the University of Suffolk, said: "The installation of the new illuminated sign is part of our wider campus improvement plan, based on reimagining existing buildings to meet student and university needs, rather than new build. "The sign expresses our pride in being the University of Suffolk, our connection to the town and forms part of our wider ambition to enhance our visibility locally. We apologise for any disruption caused while this work is underway." **The bottom line:** The illuminated sign is a small but symbolic part of a bigger story: a university investing in its campus, its students and its place in the town, with a new library, student hub and pharmacy course. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### East of England Co-op posts £2m profit in third year of growth URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/east-of-england-co-op-posts-2m-profit-in-third-year-of-growth/ Last updated: 2026-05-06T09:24:31.000Z **Why it matters:** The Ipswich-headquartered society is one of Suffolk's largest privately owned companies and the largest independent retailer in the East of England, employing more than 3,000 people across over 220 sites in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. **The details:** Turnover for the 52 weeks to 24 January 2026 fell by 4.6% to £367.8m, down £17.9m on the prior year. The society says this reflects active decisions to rationalise its trading estate and focus on its convenience offering. - Profit before taxation was £2.6m, down £1.2m from last year - Members' funds rose by £1.1m to £230.7m - Investment property income increased by £1.2m to £9.2m - Net debt rose by £7.7m to £20.8m, with the society continuing to invest in new stores, refurbishments, a housing development in Witham and technology **What they're saying:** Chief Executive Officer Andy Rigby said: "Over the 45 years I've been in the retail business, last year was one of the most challenging I've experienced in the food retail space. But, against the odds, we've delivered an underlying trading profit of £2m." He added: "We're a proudly independent local retailer, deeply committed to serving communities in the place we call home, the East of England." Chief Finance Officer James Norman said: "We're operating in a difficult retail trading environment. This is a nationwide challenge driven by rising operating costs in areas such as business rates, employment costs and energy prices, as well as global economic uncertainty." **Ipswich highlights:** The society opened five new Food stores during the year, including its first fully cashless store at Ipswich Train Station. The store has been recognised by the Institute of Grocery Distribution as one of just 25 "Stores of the Future" worldwide. The relocated Woodbridge Road Food store in Ipswich is fitted with solar panels and home to the society's first solar carport. Construction also began in December on a new 3,000 sq ft Food store in Kesgrave. **The bigger picture:** The society reported a 25% reduction in carbon emissions across Scopes 1 and 2, driven by cuts in grid electricity (24%), natural gas (26%) and fugitive refrigerants (31%). Around 40% of its electricity now comes from renewable sources, supported by a 10-year corporate power purchase agreement signed with German energy company RWE. Through its four core community programmes, the society supported 775 community groups and local charities on 1,199 occasions, donating more than £128,000 to over 200 local causes through its colleague-led Local Giving initiative. It was named Community Retailer of the Year – Multiple at the Retail Industry Awards in October. **What's next:** Rigby said the society would continue to focus investment "where we see the greatest long-term impact," including new store openings, refurbishments and "new innovative business ventures." He added: "A key priority for us next year will be expanding and evolving our membership proposition, focusing on delivering a more personalised offer that truly benefits our current members as well as attracting new ones." **The bottom line:** After a year shaped by national economic pressures and a cyber incident affecting deliveries from Co-op Group, the East of England Co-op says it has shifted from "a business in transformation to a business in growth" – with Ipswich at the heart of its plans for the year ahead. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Paul Anderson URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-paul-anderson/ Last updated: 2026-05-06T09:24:04.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Paul Anderson is standing for Labour in Bixley ward, contesting one of 16 borough council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Paul told us. ## Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become/remain a councillor? I'm 66 and a retired journalist and academic. I worked for the Labour magazine Tribune for many years, first as reviews editor (1986-91), then as editor (1991-93), then as a columnist (1997-2015), with a gap when I was deputy editor of the New Statesman (1993-96). I was also a subeditor on the Guardian for 20 years (2000-20), and throughout that time taught journalism, history and politics, at City University (2000-12), then Brunel University (2012-14) and then the University of Essex (2014-24). My connection with Bixley goes back to the 1960s: my family moved into Dorchester Road on Broke Hall estate in 1965, which I thought of as home until long after I went to university in the late 1970s. I went to Britannia Road primary school – and, apart from a brief sojourn in Felixstowe, my mum lived in the ward, latterly in Sunningdale Avenue, until she had to go into a care home a few years ago (she is now 95). I've lived in Woodbridge Road in Ipswich for 24 years and have been a Labour candidate for Bixley nearly every year since 2014. ## What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected? 1. Maintaining decent bus services – so no more cuts, particularly in the evenings 2. Protecting the heathlands from insensitive and intrusive development – which means a more transparent planning system 3. Social care – we need to work with central government to improve what's on offer, particularly for old people. ## Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing? I'm a strong supporter of the plans for three unitary councils for Suffolk. And I don't think the Tories, the Greens or Reform have credible solutions for what's wrong in the county – its shockingly poor public transport, its failure to build houses, its rotten and incompetent Tory political culture. And potholes, which are the responsibility of Suffolk County Council not Ipswich Borough Council. ## What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role? Writing and editing books well reviewed in the national press. ## If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win? Online, by phone and in person – but the ward has no obvious places to run surgeries to meet voters face-to-face. --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Bixley ward — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'It gave us time to just be together': Family's plea for Ipswich garden URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/it-gave-us-time-to-just-be-together-familys-plea-for-ipswich-garden/ Last updated: 2026-05-06T07:10:07.000Z **Why it matters:** Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity says end-of-life care is about more than medicine, and is fundraising to create a Time Garden at Ipswich Hospital so patients and families can share meaningful time together away from clinical surroundings. **The details:** A Time Garden already exists at Colchester Hospital – a private outdoor space, away from clinical environments, where patients and loved ones can spend precious time together. The charity has launched its appeal to mark Dying Matters Week, with the aim of creating a similar space at Ipswich Hospital. **What they're saying:** For Helen, the Time Garden at Colchester Hospital became deeply personal when a lifelong family friend, Mike, became a patient there. "I always remember Mike in his garden – happy, at ease and pottering around with his plants and veg patch," she said. "As a patient, when he got to spend time in the Time Garden with his beloved wife, children and grandchildren, he was so much more relaxed. It gave us the time and space to sit with him, share memories and just be together. "The Time Garden gave Mike and his family a bit of normality and the comfort and compassion you simply can't get in a hospital room." Helen added: "That experience showed me just how powerful the Time Garden can be and how much one is needed at Ipswich Hospital. For me, it's a reminder end-of-life care is about so much more than medicine – it's about honouring the person and giving them moments that really matter." **The bigger picture:** Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity supports East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, providing what it describes as the "extras that go above and beyond what the NHS can provide." **What's next:** The charity is encouraging the community to back the Time Garden Appeal to help make the Ipswich vision a reality. **The bottom line:** Inspired by stories like Mike's, the charity hopes the new Ipswich garden will give more families a calm, comforting space to share their final moments together. [Find out more and make a donation](https://www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/Pages/News/Category/time-garden-appeal-news/Tag/time-garden-appeal-news?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Five parties, two ballots: The fight for Ipswich URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/five-parties-two-ballots-the-fight-for-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T13:37:53.000Z On Thursday, 7 May 2026, residents of Ipswich will head to the polls in two elections at once. All 70 seats on Suffolk County Council are up for grabs, including the 12 divisions that cover the town. At the same time, 16 wards on Ipswich Borough Council — a third of the total — will each elect one councillor. It is the first time in five years that voters have been asked to fill all of the county's seats, after last year's elections were postponed. The number of seats on Suffolk County Council has been reduced from 75 to 70 since the previous election in 2021\. And it will be the last set of elections under the current two-tier system. In May 2027, residents will vote again to elect the first councillors of three new unitary authorities — including the new Ipswich and South Suffolk council, dubbed by many as 'Greater Ipswich' — which will run as shadow bodies for a year before formally taking on power in April 2028. That makes Thursday's vote, in effect, a two-year mandate. The councillors elected this week will help bridge the transition to the biggest shake-up of local government in Suffolk in half a century. With that backdrop in mind, here is what each of the five major parties is asking residents to vote for. ## What councillors actually do Before turning to the parties, it is worth restating what local councillors are elected to do — and what they are not. Councillors are elected to represent everyone in the ward or division they win, not only those who voted for them. They work with local people, community groups, businesses, charities and other partners to agree local priorities and shape decisions. Those decisions are then delivered by permanent council staff, known as council officers, who run services day to day. In practice, the role involves talking to constituents by phone, email, social media, home visit, surgery and at community events; responding to casework and helping resolve local issues; keeping residents informed; reading agendas and reports; attending council meetings; and working collaboratively with local partners — from the police to the NHS to voluntary organisations. Some councillors take on additional responsibilities such as cabinet portfolios, committee chairs or regulatory roles. What councillors do not decide is national policy. Immigration, VAT rates, foreign affairs, the state pension and the Renters' Rights Act are matters for Parliament and Whitehall, not for Suffolk County Council or Ipswich Borough Council. While these issues sometimes feature in local election campaigns — particularly when parties seek to send a national message — they fall outside the powers a local councillor is elected to exercise. What does fall within local councillors' remit is substantial. Suffolk County Council is responsible for adult social care, children's services, highways and roads, rights of way, waste disposal, the fire and rescue service, schools and libraries. Ipswich Borough Council is responsible for housing, waste collection, planning, environmental health, council tax collection, leisure facilities and local licensing. Most of the issues people raise on the doorstep — potholes, GP planning, parks, council homes, parking, Broomhill Pool, the future of the town centre — fall within one or other of those two lists. With that scope in mind, here is what each of the five major parties is putting before voters. ## Labour: A Northern Bypass and continuity – for good or bad Labour controls Ipswich Borough Council with 38 of 48 seats. At Suffolk County Council, the party has held just five seats and has been in slow decline since the early 2000s. This election, Labour's pitch in Ipswich has been dominated by a single issue: the Northern Bypass. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-DcDxrhfLRAWKq71UYaER0Q-1775138618139-1.jpg) The Orwell Bridge in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Jack Abbott, Ipswich's Labour MP, has framed the town's road network as "not fit for purpose," writing in correspondence to voters: "Every time the Orwell Bridge shuts, there is chaos, with our town and the surrounding area brought to a standstill. Shipping companies are leaving Felixstowe because of unreliable transport connections, putting thousands of jobs and millions of pounds of investment at risk." Labour's #BackTheBypass campaign has, the party says, been signed by more than 3,000 people. Abbott has stated that "only Labour backs the project 100%," and that "only Labour councillors will push the Northern Bypass forward." Beyond the bypass, Labour is leaning on its borough council record. The party says it has built more than 567 new council homes since taking control of Ipswich Borough Council, and points to the £70m allocated to regenerate the town centre and the £219m given to Suffolk County Council for road repairs. The party also points to two £20m awards under the Pride in Place scheme — one for Chantry and Stoke Park, the other for Whitehouse — to be delivered over ten years, with residents themselves deciding how the funding is spent. Critics will note that the timing of these announcements has come in the build-up to the local elections, and voters will have vastly contrasting views of the council's track record. It is widely expected that these elections will be tough going for Labour, with candidates facing strong headwinds driven by Westminster. ## Conservatives: Backing the bypass locally after two decades of not backing it at the county level The Conservatives have run Suffolk County Council for most of the past two decades — holding power continuously since 2017, and previously between 2005 and 2013\. They currently hold 44 of its 70 seats. At Ipswich Borough Council, the party holds only seven. Matthew Hicks, the Conservative leader of Suffolk County Council, has thus far avoided addressing the Northern Bypass directly, but, interestingly, it features prominently in the Ipswich Conservative campaign this election, with the party explicitly committing to "fight for a Northern bypass." This position is clearly specifically designed to steal votes from Reform UK, but it sits awkwardly alongside the record of Suffolk County Council under Conservative control. No plan for a bypass has been submitted to government during the Conservative tenure. The Ipswich Conservative position represents a marked shift from the historical stance of the SCC Conservative group, which has taken what Labour describes as a "do nothing" approach and which Labour says cancelled bypass plans in 2020. Beyond the bypass, the Conservative offer in Ipswich emphasises GP services and continuity of service delivery — alongside a strongly held position on local government reorganisation. The party favoured a single Suffolk model over the three-unitary structure adopted by government, but candidates must now move on and persuade voters that they will do all they can to oversee a smooth transition to a three-council structure. ## Liberal Democrats: 'Asking, listening, learning, acting' The Liberal Democrats hold five seats at Suffolk County Council and three on Ipswich Borough Council. Inga Lockington, the party's group leader at Suffolk County Council, has served continuously as a borough councillor since 1999 and as a county councillor since 2001. The party's stated priorities include preparing "for 'unitary' by solving County and Borough problems together," tackling "homelessness and care services, school and youth services, pot-holes and pavement litter, blocked drains and floods, utility works and road closure life," and ensuring "the ideas and wishes of all Ipswich people are central to plans for changes to our Town Centre, Waterfront and Business Life." Long-running campaigns for the restoration of Broomhill Pool, the reopening of the Fonnereau Way bridge to the Country Park, and a "GP Guarantee" plan that would tie new housing developments to expanded surgery capacity from day one all feature in the party's campaign pledge. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/dato-A8bF9yQ2Rnq8DE8js6_hBA-1775140021962.jpg) The entrance to Broomhill Lido (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) On the cost of living, Lockington took a distinctive line, calling for a fundamental rethink of how local services are funded. "We need to change the tax system so that you are taxed on your income and not the house, or property you live in," she told BBC Suffolk. "That is such an unfair tax because some people maybe have a good income but choose to live in a smaller house." The Lib Dems have not taken a public position on the Northern Bypass, but Labour points out that "every Liberal Democrat councillor voted against or abstained" on a Labour motion backing the project at Suffolk County Council. The Lib Dems have not directly contested that characterisation, but they are expected to be very much anti-bypass. ## Green Party: A tactical pitch and an environmental case The Greens have grown rapidly in Suffolk, holding nine seats at Suffolk County Council — making them the largest single component of the official opposition group, alongside the Liberal Democrats and Independents. They took control of Mid Suffolk District Council in 2023 and elected the county's first Green MP in 2024\. They hold no seats on Ipswich Borough Council. A key strand of the Greens' Ipswich pitch this election is a tactical one: that they are best placed to stop Reform UK winning seats in the town. The party has cited canvassing data from a recent Suffolk County Council by-election in the Tower division showing the Greens on 25%, with Reform on 28.8% and the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats all behind. The party argues this makes a Green vote the most effective way to keep Reform out. The Greens do not support the Northern Bypass, and the party's national position has been to prioritise the upkeep of existing roads over the building of major new ones. That is a clear point of divergence with both Labour and the Ipswich Conservatives. Buoyed by the recent by-election in Gorton and Denton in Manchester, and a surge in popularity nationally, the Greens are bullish on their chances in Suffolk. ## Reform UK: A national pitch in every ward and division For the first time, Reform UK is fielding candidates in every ward and division in Ipswich. The party did not stand in the last Suffolk County Council elections in 2021, but has since gained six seats through defections and by-elections. Reform's national campaign is built around five pledges: cutting bills (including ending VAT on domestic heating), securing borders and deporting illegal migrants, restoring law and order, ending council waste, and putting "the British people first." Several of these pledges, including the headline commitments on VAT and immigration, fall outside the powers of a local council. In a "personal letter" to voters, Nigel Farage MP wrote: "Britain is broken. Nothing works as it should anymore. Fourteen years of Conservative Government broke Britain. They left us with higher taxes, uncontrolled immigration, high council tax, rising crime and a cost-of-living crisis that is hitting families hard. Now Keir Starmer's Labour government is making things worse." The party's case on local government performance, which Reform attributes to a Telegraph article from March 2026, claims that Reform-controlled councils have delivered an average council tax rise of 3.94% — lower, the party says, than Labour (4.77%), the Conservatives (4.90%) and the Liberal Democrats (5.49%). Reform describes this as savings of over £45m a year for taxpayers across nine majority-controlled councils. Reform's most distinctive local position concerns the Northern Bypass. Suffolk Reform UK leader Christopher Hudson — a county councillor who lives in Framlingham — told a Suffolk County Council meeting on 10 July 2025 that "a Northern bypass isn't the solution, it would be a 'Massive blow to local communities,'" arguing that "Ipswich doesn't need a bypass, it needs better public transport." That position has been seized upon by the Conservatives as a reason to vote tactically against Reform in Ipswich, as it looks to steal votes on the right. Ipswich.co.uk approached Reform's local leadership to invite all of its Ipswich candidates to take part in our meet-the-candidate interviews. Only Tony Gould, standing in Whitton, responded. The party has fielded many paper candidates as it looks to steal the popular vote by capitalising on national issues and discontent with the Labour Party's leadership. [Your guide to May’s local elections in IpswichCandidates have now been confirmed for Ipswich’s local elections on Thursday, 7 May — and with polling day less than four weeks away, here is everything you need to know before you cast your vote, including a full breakdown of the candidates.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/size/w1200/2026/04/dato-DoxOY1kvRciNMtlOqU9pHQ-1775134766010.jpg)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/your-guide-to-mays-local-elections-in-ipswich/) You can find all our Meet the Candidate interviews in this guide ## Where the parties agree Despite their differences, several themes recur across all five parties. Potholes and the state of Suffolk's roads are the single most consistently cited issue. The county received a red rating from the Department for Transport's local road maintenance ratings system earlier this year, though the council's leadership fiercely contested it. Labour, Lib Dem, Green and Reform candidates have all raised the issue. Where they differ is on cause and remedy: Labour blames Conservative county management of the highways contract; the Lib Dems are waiting for unitary delivery; the Greens want to bring repairs under tighter scrutiny and prioritise existing roads over new ones; and Reform argues the wider waste issue is the deeper problem. The cost of living also features prominently, though through very different lenses — from Lib Dem proposals to reform property-based taxation to Reform's pledges on domestic heating VAT to Labour's emphasis on the Renters' Rights Act. The looming local government reorganisation casts a shadow over every party's pitch. All five say they want experienced or principled local councillors steering the transition, but there are serious question marks over whether or not all parties have enough candidates who fit that description. ## What is at stake With only a third of borough seats up for election, the political balance at Ipswich Borough Council cannot change this Thursday. Labour's majority is secure for the next two years, though they are expected to be in for a tough day at the polls. The bigger prize is Suffolk County Council, where all 70 seats are in play — though for any party to take majority control would require gaining 36 seats. The Conservatives need to retain 36 to keep their majority; Labour, the Greens and Reform would each need to gain 29 seats and hold the ones they have to win outright. We could see Conservatives retain control. Equally, we could see Reform UK or the Greens win a majority and force a change of control. But perhaps more likely is a no overall control administration, a minority administration or a formal coalition. All are possibilities, which is what makes this election so intriguing. The deeper story of these elections lies in the transition itself. The councillors elected on Thursday will serve for one year of full-blown decision-making and another year with a shadow council, as the two-tier system winds down towards the launch of the new unitary authorities in April 2028\. They will help shape how services are disaggregated, where decision-making sits in the new councils, and what the new Greater Ipswich authority looks like in practice. That is a substantial responsibility for a vote that polls suggest could be defined as much by national mood as by local performance and competence. ## The bottom line The two-year mandate may be short, but whatever decides your vote on Thursday, the choices on the ballot paper this week remain consequential. Perhaps less so for the borough, but at the county level, where all seats are up for grabs, these elections provide a fascinating test run ahead of the hugely significant elections for the new unitary authorities next May. Polls open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May 2026\. Results will be announced on Friday, 8 May. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£131 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### How Ipswich changed the conversation on endometriosis URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/how-ipswich-changed-the-conversation-on-endometriosis/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T13:36:34.000Z ## **The need to be heard** In November last year, Faye Ramsey could not sleep. She was in pain, too ill to stand, and had spent the previous week making 76 unanswered phone calls to her consultant's secretary. On one of those nights, she picked up her phone and posted on TikTok and Instagram, asking other women to share their endometriosis stories. She was not expecting much, yet what she received were stories of women, from not only across Suffolk but the whole country – many were strangers, trusting her with some of their most painful and personal experiences. "It was heartbreaking to read the stories," she said at the time. "Most of the women who had messaged me had stated it's something they wanted to do but didn't know how to go about it. They just wanted to be heard." These stories were the beginning of something Faye could not have predicted. ## **Third time’s the charm** On 1 January this year, Faye sent all the stories to Ipswich MP Jack Abbott. She had first reached out to him in November, copying him into her formal complaint to East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, and he had previously helped her secure surgery in March 2025\. This time, she wanted noise. Abbott began applying for a Westminster Hall debate. He was rejected three times before his application was finally accepted. When he emailed Faye a week before the debate to tell her it had been secured, it’s safe to say that the noise had found its outlet. "I was completely overwhelmed," she says. "I was thinking, this literally started off as one night taking to social media, and it snowballed into this thing, and I've now got 91 women's stories across the country, and now I'm going to be sitting in Parliament watching a debate on something that I feel so very passionate about and something that's kind of ruled my life for nearly 11 years." ## **Attending parliament collectively** On 24 March, during Endometriosis Awareness Month, Faye travelled to Westminster alongside Monica Thomas, Siana Lynch, and Evie Lapworth – the Ipswich women who have begun changing the stigma around women's health. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-270b4c8f-1f23-44f3-951c-8dfce077ac8c.jpeg) Ipswich residents living with endometriosis with Health Minister Sharon Hodgson MP, Jack Abbott MP, Abena Oppong-Asare MP, and Tulip Siddiq MP (Photo: Office of Jack Abbott) Faye carried all the stories that she had collected from women, along with black and white photographs sent by those who could not be there in person. In the physical presence of one, there were 91 women who were finally being heard. "I've had two children," Faye says, "but I can honestly say that day was up there with one of the proudest days of my life." Support our journalism and campaigning Eighteen months ago, no one was listening. Today, the conversation has shifted — because women in Ipswich refused to let it stay where it was, and because independent local journalism was here to report it and help campaign for change. We intend to keep reporting: on the campaign for a specialist clinic at Ipswich Hospital, on the waiting times, on the workplaces signing up, and on whatever comes next. That work is funded by local people like you. If you value our coverage of women's health, please become a member of Ipswich.co.uk for £4.75 a month, so we can continue fighting alongside the incredible women in our town pushing for change. [Become a member today ](#/portal/signup) More than 20 MPs were present throughout the debate, representing constituents from across the country. Abbott called for a specialist endometriosis clinic to be established at Ipswich Hospital, improved diagnosis times, and greater national awareness of the condition. For Faye, one moment defined the day. An MP from Cornwall stood up and began describing one of her constituents' experiences. As she spoke, Faye recognised the story. "That story is sitting on my lap," she told Siana. It was one of the 91 she had carried into the chamber. That evening, she was able to message the woman and tell her that her story had been shared in Parliament. "She wasn't aware of it," Faye says. "That was such a nice moment. It made me sit there and think, actually, everything that we're doing is vital" ## **The failures that made this necessary** To understand why this campaign exists, it is necessary to understand what these women have been living with. - The average wait for a diagnosis, according to Endometriosis UK, is nine years and four months. - Suffolk has no endometriosis specialists, with complex cases referred to Colchester Hospital. - East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust says current waiting times average 44 weeks for general gynaecology appointments and 49 weeks for specialist endometriosis referrals. - Endometriosis affects one in ten women in the UK, though that figure is based on a 2009 study and is widely considered to be an underestimate. The stories Faye collected reveal a consistent pattern: women told their pain was "just a bad period" or "in their heads"; women bounced between GPs and consultants for years without answers; women paying privately for diagnoses the NHS failed to provide. Faye herself waited more than a decade before surgery. But the failures do not stop at diagnosis. Even now, with the campaign in full swing, Faye has encountered the system's oldest habit – withholding information from female patients. Following a recent hospital admission, she discovered that medical information had been kept from her. When she challenged this, she was told by a consultant that it was standard practice, that patients were not informed of certain findings in order to avoid causing panic. "Nobody should be withholding that information," Faye says. "I'm a mentally strong person. However, if this fell into the hands of somebody who is going through mental health problems, you're literally playing with someone's life at this point." She has urged the hospital to review its approach to patient disclosure. It is, she argues, the same fundamental issue that runs through every story she has collected: an assumption, embedded within the system, that women cannot be trusted with the truth about their own bodies. Additionally, there is the workplace. Siana, Faye's co-campaigner, was dismissed from her job while still on probation; her absences due to her conditions have left her with no legal protection. She is now out of work. Her case is not unique. There is currently no legislation specifically protecting employees with endometriosis or other women's health conditions during probationary periods. ## **The steps being taken** The response to all of this is not just parliamentary. It is practical, local, and already underway. Faye and Siana are in the process of setting up a charity called Girls Anatomy. It is not intended to be an endometriosis-specific organisation. Its scope is women's health in the broadest sense: bringing talks into workplaces and schools, advocating for legislative change, and building a platform that keeps the conversation going beyond awareness months. "Our main goal is the fact that we want endometriosis and women's health as a whole consistently spoken about — not just in the awareness months," Faye says. "Really build that momentum. So people actually get a little bit sick of us." Alongside Girls Anatomy, Faye is actively piloting the Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme, run by Endometriosis UK, with several local workplaces. On education, the government has announced that women's health will be included in sex education from September 2026\. Faye and Siana welcome it, but have concerns. Research they have conducted suggests delivery will be left largely to teachers' discretion, without regulated training. They are already in conversations with several headteachers, working to review curricula and deliver talks themselves. Those talks, they insist, must reach boys as well as girls. "Every boy, regardless, is going to have someone within their lives at some point who has endometriosis, or adenomyosis, or PCOS, or PMDD," Faye says. "It's very important that they understand how to be a good partner, a good brother, a good son." On waiting times, the government is reported to be targeting a reduction in the average diagnosis time to one year by 2030, though Faye says she is still seeking confirmation of the precise details. Faye believes that the target is worth fighting for, as long as people keep pushing. "Four years waiting for that to be reduced down to a year is worth the wait," she says. "But it's not going to happen if people don't keep fighting for it." Meanwhile, Monica Thomas, who is the founder of [Women's Health Hope](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/womens-health-hope/), met with Abbott this week, describing their conversation as producing "a really clear plan for what comes next." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/IMG_6635-1.jpeg) Monica Thomas, founder of Women's Health Hope, and Ipswich MP, Jack Abbott (Photo: Women's Health Hope) Women's Health Hope is an Ipswich-based charity supporting women with diagnosed and undiagnosed menstrual health conditions, who continue to press for change at a national level, working alongside Abbott as the parliamentary momentum continues to build. "I'll keep showing up, keep pushing, and keep being a voice — not just locally, but for women across the country who deserve better," Thomas wrote following the meeting. ## **The bottom line** Eighteen months ago, one woman posted on social media from her sofa, looking for people who understood. Today, 91 women have been to Parliament, a charity is being built, employers are signing pledges, and an MP who was rejected three times kept going until the country had to listen. The system has not been fixed. The waiting times are still too long. The specialists are still too few. The information is still, too often, being withheld. But in Ipswich, something has shifted - and the women driving that shift have made one thing very clear: they are not going anywhere. If you have an endometriosis story to share, you can contact Faye via TikTok or Instagram at[ @girlsanatomy2](https://www.instagram.com/girlsanatomy2/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) To find out more about Women's Health Hope, visit their social media channels @[womenshealthhope](https://www.instagram.com/womenshealthhope/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). To find out more about the Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme or to sign your organisation up, visit[ endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-friendly-employer-scheme](https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-friendly-employer-scheme?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£120 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Exhibition showcases 130 years of women's football in Suffolk URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/exhibition-showcases-130-years-of-womens-football-in-suffolk/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T08:25:50.000Z **Why it matters:** 'Suitable for Females' is an exhibition telling the story that has largely gone untold, spanning more than 130 years of women's football in Suffolk. In 1921, the FA (Football Association) declared that football was "quite unsuitable for females and should not be encouraged" - the exhibition is a defiant nod towards that. **What to expect:** Created by the Ipswich Town Heritage Society, the exhibition charts the full sweep of women's football in the county, from what is believed to be Suffolk's first women's football match at Portman Road in 1895, through to the founding of Ipswich Town FC Women in 1985\. The displays feature information on the FA's 50-year ban on women playing at Football League grounds, alongside interviews with players from across the history of the town's club. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_1871--1-.JPG) Event poster (Photo: Ipswich Town Heritage Society) **What to look out for:** The society has also announced a series of special events at the museum, including meet-and-greet sessions with current and former players, and more yet to be announced. **The details:** 'Suitable for Females' is free to visit and runs throughout the summer until October 2026\. The museum is open Thursday to Sunday, 11:00–17:00, and on bank holiday Mondays. Visitors are also encouraged to explore the main museum, which has a small admission charge. **The bottom line:** At a time when women's football continues to make headlines, this exhibition is a reminder that women have been playing - and fighting for the right to play - in Suffolk for well over a century. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Suffolk's first-ever Festival of Nature URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolks-first-ever-festival-of-nature/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T08:21:01.000Z **Why it matters:** The three-week celebration, developed in partnership with local businesses and organisations, aims to bring communities together and encourage people to engage with the wildlife and natural environment on their doorsteps. **The details:** The festival will launch at Seckford Theatre with celebrated illustrator Angela Harding, whose work has been inspired by Suffolk's landscape and wildlife. "Suffolk's rich wildlife has long been a source of inspiration for my work; from wading birds along the River Deben to swifts soaring through summer skies," said Harding. "It's a pleasure to see how Suffolk Wildlife Trust are bringing together art, community and nature in a three-week celebration through the Festival of Nature and I'm delighted to be speaking at the festival's launch event on Sunday 20 September." **What to expect:** Jesse Jacobs, senior marketing and brand officer at Suffolk Wildlife Trust, said the festival would offer something for everyone. "Join local artists for creative workshops, delve into the microscopic natural world with mesmerising projections, discover how nature influences writers, and play nature-themed video games," he said. "Other events planned include immersive sound baths, sound installations, drop-in creative and discovery sessions, and even an evening of dance." **The bigger picture:** The festival forms part of Suffolk Wildlife Trust's mission to encourage one in four people in the county to take meaningful action for nature. All events will be open to the public and Suffolk Wildlife Trust members, with many being free or low cost. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich chippy goes fishing for a new owner URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-chippy-goes-fishing-for-a-new-owner/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T08:20:07.000Z **The details:** The chippy is being marketed as a "well-established" fish and chip shop with a 5-star hygiene rating and "a solid local reputation," generating net profits of £11,500 with assets totalling £25,000. **The bigger picture:** The broker says the current owner has been running the business part-time due to semi-retirement, leaving "significant scope" for a new owner to grow turnover through longer opening hours and online delivery platforms. The business is pitched at "a hands-on owner or partnership team looking to grow an already reputable business." **What's missing:** The public listing does not disclose trading hours, staff numbers or detailed premises information, with prospective buyers directed to contact the broker for more. **The bottom line:** Ocean Fish & Chips is on the market for under £20,000 and room, according to its broker, for a new owner to expand. [View listing](https://uk.businessesforsale.com/uk/charming-ipswich-chippy-leasehold-opportunity-for-sale-1.aspx?utm%5Fsource=business%5Femail%5Falerts&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=Apr%5F2026) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Thousands line streets to celebrate Town promotion URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/thousands-line-streets-to-celebrate-town-promotion/ Last updated: 2026-05-04T11:59:30.000Z **Why it matters:** The bank holiday parade marked the end of an extraordinary four-year run that has seen Town win three promotions, and the first time in the club's history it has bounced straight back to the top flight after relegation. **The details:** Two open-top buses carrying the squad, manager and coaching staff departed Portman Road at 11:30, travelling through the town centre before finishing at Christchurch Park, where big screens had been installed for fans to watch the parade live ahead of the players' arrival. - Crowds gathered at Portman Road from well before the bus set off, with flags flying and songs being sung as families waited for a glimpse of the squad. - Among those at the heart of the day's celebrations was Andrew, a 19-year-old participant in the Ipswich Town Foundation's Adult PAN Disability sessions, who presented O'Shea with the promotion trophy at Portman Road before joining the squad on the bus. - A roar went up as the buses turned the corner onto Portman Road, met by a sea of clapping, cheering and singing. - Fans then raced between vantage points along the route to catch the parade more than once. - The official celebrations concluded at around 12:45 but will likely continue into the night. **What they're saying:** Captain Dara O'Shea told the crowd in Christchurch Park: "Unbelievable. This is what we wanted at the start of the season, and we've got it. It's so special. I can't really put it into words." Reflecting on the squad, he added: "It's been everybody. When we're all together as a group, we can do special things," highlighting the importance of squad depth across the campaign. Manager Kieran McKenna said: "It was just different. You can't ever take for granted how difficult it is to get to the Premier League. A different group, a different challenge. All stepped up, all contributed, all deserve a slice of this history." Describing it as "another historic season," McKenna heaped praise on the club's support staff before telling supporters: "We can't wait to see you all next year." Chairman and chief executive Mark Ashton said he was "very humbled" by the reception, and said the club's American owners had been "ecstatic" and had "backed us since they got here." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4238.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4288.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4295.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4300.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4314.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4317.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4349.jpeg) Thousands celebrated as the players and staff made their way from Portman Road to Christchurch Park (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) **For context:** Wes Burns, one of three players remaining from the side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2024, came onto the bus to chants from the crowd. Reflecting on three promotions in four years, he said it had been "an incredible time since I've been here" and thanked fans for their unwavering support. Burns was given a standing ovation at Portman Road on Saturday and was clapped off the pitch by players and staff, prompting speculation that the QPR match may have been his last for the club. **The bigger picture:** Ipswich Borough Council, which hosted the event, said the celebration was expected to bring real benefits to the local economy, attracting visitors into the town centre and supporting local businesses. A council spokesperson said before the parade: "We're incredibly proud that Ipswich Town is back in the Premier League – it's fantastic news for our town." **The bottom line:** Two days after sealing automatic promotion, Ipswich Town's open-top bus parade brought the town to a standstill – capping a season that returned the club to the Premier League at the first attempt. COYB. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£54 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Town promoted to Premier League with 3-0 win over QPR URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/town-promoted-to-premier-league-with-3-0-win-over-qpr/ Last updated: 2026-05-04T12:15:47.000Z ## Pre-match preamble Let the madness begin. Today we are facing QPR, also known as the 'Rs' or the 'Hoops', a club founded in 1882 as Christchurch Rangers. Shouting "Come on you Rs" would seem hazardous to me (try it). Out of context, on the tube for example, it could easily be misconstrued — unless you were at White City or Shepherd's Bush stations of course! I have always liked their hooped strip though; it is redolent of the old-style cotton shirts with a collar, smart, but I am thinking a nightmare to wash and dry. I can remember visiting Loftus Road when Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles and Mark Lazarus were on the pitch, and Mick Mills, Mick McNeil, Colin Viljoen and Ron Wigg et al were playing for Ipswich. It was a long time ago! In the reverse fixture at Loftus Road back in November, Town beat them four goals to one. They are at the moment 14th in the table, so in no danger of going down, and many have said that "they have nothing to play for". I think it doubtful that any professional football team would think they have nothing to play for… Lots of talk about team choices today, at the station and on the forums. On paper, we should win without too much trouble, but we all know that in this league, that rarely runs to form. Fans were all sounding optimistic and making the right noises, whilst perhaps hiding any trepidation about this looming match. Are we all travelling in well-disguised hope, or in certainty? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4208.jpeg) Fans gathered to cheer the team bus into Portman Road before kickoff (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Scary but very exciting sums it up for me, after Tuesday's draw with Southampton did not deliver the necessary three points. That day found me passing a wood near Tiptree where I spotted swathes of bluebells; I parked up and dived in. A cute pair of dachshunds came trotting towards me and wanted to make friends. I exchanged a few words with their owner and was about to move on when he said: "Have a good evening." "I will if my team win," I said. "Ipswich?" he said. Half an hour or so later, we went our separate ways — having discussed everything Town in some detail, past, present and future. It was good to meet you, Lawrence. Keep in touch. My fingers are still well and truly crossed for today. I love how you can connect through football even in the least expected places. ## On the train The train was stuffed full, but I managed to find a seat opposite an interesting young man called Henry, who confided that he was keen to eventually be a sports journalist. Fifteen years old, polite, well-spoken and bright — he reminded me of my grandson Harry (aka Bean). Here's wishing you a bright future, Henry; being aspirational and working hard can achieve amazing things. ## The game (Forgive me, but I do not think anyone wants to read a blow-by-blow account of this match, so here is a précis of the action.) Town started very strongly, and Hirst easily potted their first goal from close up, in the 3rd minute, from a cross by Davis. Six minutes later, Hirst obliged with a pass to Philogene, to slot into the net past Walsh. For a while, at around the 30-minute mark, Town slowed down the pace, whilst still having the game pretty much under control. The fans were geeing them on; they wanted more goals — but to be fair, it might have been a big ask to expect them to keep up that tempo for the entire game, especially on such a relatively warm day. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/05/IMG_4218.jpeg) Just before kickoff (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Davis, Taylor and Furlong all came close to scoring. I think three goals is the key number for relaxing. From experience this year, 2-0 is just one goal and a mistake, a clever corner, a penalty, away from a draw. A draw will not do. So I was hoping for that magic third cushion. However, they kept their nerve and their control, with only a couple of attempts on goal by Smyth for QPR easily contained by Walton. **Half time: Town 2 – 0 QPR** In the second half, QPR raised their game and had some chances, but they never really looked like troubling Walton. With subs on for us, Town had renewed energy too, with efforts from Clarke and O'Shea coming close. The visitors also had attempts on goal, with Smyth and Bennie stepping up, but Walton was equal to the task of keeping yet another clean sheet. The final breakthrough came in the 85th minute, with Mehmeti and Azon both aiming to stop the ball being cleared by Walsh. The ball came free, and McAteer pounced to side-foot it into the back of the net. There was an explosion of noise and realisation… that we truly were going up, up, up. Flag waving, jumping, and singing ensued. I have little recall of what happened in the last few minutes of the match, but when the whistle sounded, the crowd flooded the pitch with happy, smiling people — crazy but wonderful shared jubilation. **Full time: Town 3 – 0 QPR** It took a little while to clear the happy fans for the presentation of the cup. Asking a crowd to clear a pitch is a little like Canute trying to turn back the tide — but they eventually succeeded where he failed. ## The team Men of the match for Town: Every single one of them. At times, this match was a masterclass. Paul Smyth and Joe Walsh impressed for QPR. ## My men of the season There are two: Dara O'Shea, who has played every second of every game, and Jack Clarke, who has not. Jack is a tricky player, fast, skilful and accurate with the ball. As our top goal scorer, 16 goals is excellent for the season, especially as he is understandably well-marked, and is often brought on as an "impact sub" on 62 or 72 minutes (ish). It works. But far from being frustrated at this situation, Jack talks practically about his role and shows maturity and sense about his input to the team. Stats say that this season he played 2,379 minutes in total, which I think equates to 19 full games, give or take — making his total even more impressive. I confess he is my favourite player; he has flair. Maybe more minutes (more goals) might be considered? He is popular with all the fans. Dara has been a rock on the pitch and has made a worthy captain. Following in the commanding and well-loved shoes of Sam Morsy was quite an ask — but he has made the role his own. (I enjoyed the fact that all the staff after the match were wearing shirts with "Promoted" and Dara's number "26" on them.) Unlike Sam, he got through the whole season without a single yellow card, which is an achievement in itself. ## A note of thanks Huge thanks to ALL the players for getting us over the line, and to Kieran, Mark and Game Changer, as well as all those involved in the community work and behind the scenes at the stadium. A shout out too to Louise Cobbold for the amazing portraits of the players she has produced, which have graced the programme this year and the town centre this week. Mustn't forget the fans either, who do us proud — especially the well-travelled away match supporters who made the journey en masse to Blackburn twice and Portsmouth three times to finally see those two games played this season. ## What's next? The inevitable conundrum is already a talking point: "Who stays, who goes?" And who comes in? Sadly, we noticed that Wes was hugged by all the players as he was subbed off the pitch — was this his last game for the Town, as his contract ends this summer? All the fans want him to stay, but Kieran has said that, after all he has contributed to the club, he deserves to be able to choose his own path at this stage in his career. But for me, this is not the time for speculation, but for elation; next season's plans will follow in due course. ## Post-match pondering What a season! What a result! I was surprised at how buoyant and infectious the mood was coming into this defining day — nobody really wants the play-offs. Greeting the players' coach arrival amidst unbelievable amounts of blue smoke and drum banging inspired us all to get fired up and ready to sing. Good call. The vibe was not IF we win; it was when we win and by how many. Great to see all the youngsters enjoying the day, one for their memory banks. Someone said they were glad we had not won on Tuesday night at St Mary's, as it made today more exciting. That sagacity only works in retrospect for me. I would have happily accepted a win on Tuesday and not have had to feel nervous for the rest of the week. And I am sure they would still have sought to close the season with a bang, not fizzle up to the Premier League… The party on the pitch was joined by Ed, rocking his new summer hairstyle. I wondered in my last column if he would surprise us today — so good to see him. Imagine the "after party" with the players and our Ed; love to be a fly on THAT wall — haha. Finally, a big hug from Gary (my seat neighbour) as he headed off with his sons and the usual "See you next time." Everyone will have special memories of today and the season as a whole, and though remembering is a subjective process, brought together, they make up a whole story. And what a story it has been for the last few years. This season alone brings to mind for me — wrapping up the double against Coventry and Norwich; Azor's "worldie" against Hull City and Darnell's first brilliant goal against Charlton; ex-players inadvertently helping us with own goals; Jack's decisive penalties and much more, including such things as Nacho's effervescent personality and Azon's quiet smile. Of course, there were also waterlogged pitches, injuries, bookings, the FA Cup, contentious decisions both for and against, and the "Portsmouths" — to make up the whole picture. Putting all those good moments together, with the wobbly ones, I think we truly "ran towards adversity" as our motto dictates: and proved that it works. The Premier League. Again. I can hardly believe I am saying it; it has been such a roller-coaster year. Match of the day, Town's on the way! --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### Local journalism is expensive to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich paedophile jailed after 15,000 child abuse messages found URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-paedophile-jailed-after-15-000-child-abuse-messages-found/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T11:33:41.000Z **Why it matters:** David Landin was already subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) when he breached its terms, with police saying the case demonstrates how court orders are used to monitor offenders and protect the public. **The details:** Landin, of Foxhall Road, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday, 29 April, charged with two counts of breaching his SHPO and three counts of possessing indecent images of children. - He was arrested on 1 April 2026 after police discovered he had a social media account that he had not disclosed to officers, breaching the terms of his order. - Officers attended his address and seized his phone. Examination identified over 15,000 messages relating to child sexual abuse, alongside evidence of deleted messages and search history related to indecent images of children. - Printed copies of indecent images were also found hidden in his bedside drawers, comprising three Category A images, four Category B images and 12 Category C images. - He was subsequently charged on 2 April 2026. **For context:** Landin was convicted in 2023 for attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, receiving a suspended sentence and a 10-year SHPO. He had been managed by Suffolk Constabulary's Public Protection Unit since. **What's next:** In addition to his two-year sentence, the court ordered the destruction of his mobile phone and handed him a revised Indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. **What they're saying:** Public Protection Unit Officer Alice Barham said: "Landin is a disturbing individual with a clear interest in the sexual abuse of children. "Court orders such as Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are there to protect the public. Our Public Protection Unit at Suffolk Constabulary ensures offenders on a SHPOs are closely monitored and adhere to the conditions imposed on them. "Accessing or downloading indecent images of children is not a victimless crime. Each image represents a child that has been abused. We will continue to bring those who possess and share such content to justice." **The bottom line:** Landin's two-year sentence and revised indefinite order mark the latest enforcement action by Suffolk's Public Protection Unit, which says it will continue to monitor registered offenders and pursue those who breach the terms set to protect the public. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich's rental market braces for the biggest shake-up in a generation URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswichs-rental-market-braces-for-the-biggest-shake-up-in-a-generation/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T07:17:02.000Z The Renters' Rights Act comes into force on Friday, 1 May 2026, ending the use of so-called "no-fault" evictions and rewriting the rules for the roughly 11 million people privately renting a home in England. For tenants, it has been described as the most significant change to renters' rights in a generation. For landlords, it represents the latest in a long line of regulatory and tax changes that some say is making the sums no longer add up. In Ipswich, where private renting is a significant part of the housing market, the picture is mixed. Local solicitors expect it to make a meaningful difference for tenants stuck in poor conditions. The borough council says it is ready to use new powers to tackle rogue landlords. One of the town's most prominent property investors says the legislation will drive landlords out of the market altogether. Ipswich MP Jack Abbott welcomed the changes, calling it "a historic day for renters in Ipswich as our government's Renters' Rights Act delivers long-overdue reform that will transform the lives \[of\] many people across our town." "For too long, renters in Ipswich have faced insecurity and exploitation, with threat of unfair evictions, unpredictable rent rises, and poor housing standards," he said. "The end of section 21 'no-fault' evictions is a landmark change, meaning tenants can only be asked to leave for a clear, lawful reason." ## What is changing on 1 May The headline change is the abolition of section 21, which until now has allowed landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason, on as little as eight weeks' notice. Citizens Advice has described section 21 as a leading driver of homelessness, while research by Shelter has found that someone approaches a local authority as homeless every 21 minutes due to a section 21 notice. In its place, all assured tenancies in the private rented sector will become periodic, rolling on a month-to-month or week-to-week basis with no fixed end date. Tenants will be able to end a tenancy with two months' notice. Landlords will only be able to recover possession on specific statutory grounds, including a genuine intention to sell or move in, persistent rent arrears, or anti-social behaviour. Notice periods for these grounds are doubling from two months to four. The Act also brings in a string of other changes. Rent increases will be limited to once every 12 months and must be made formally through a section 13 notice with at least two months' warning. Tenants who believe an increase is above market rate will be able to challenge it at a first-tier tribunal. Bidding wars are banned, with landlords and agents prohibited from accepting offers above the advertised rent. Landlords will not be able to ask for more than one month's rent up front. Discrimination against tenants who receive benefits or have children will become illegal. Tenants will gain the right to request a pet, which landlords cannot unreasonably refuse. ## What it means for tenants For Molly Harris, senior associate in the dispute resolution department at Ellisons, the abolition of section 21 is the change that matters most. "We are seeing situations where tenants are living with poor conditions, or what they believe are poor conditions, but feel unable to raise repair issues because they are worried about eviction," she said. "That is one of the main issues the Renters' Rights Act is aimed at. The abolition of section 21 is the key change. It should reduce the risk of retaliatory eviction, because landlords will no longer be able to recover possession simply because they want to." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/Molly-harris.jpg) Molly Harris (Photo: Ellisons Solicitors) Under the new rules, Harris said, "they will need to rely on a valid statutory ground, such as rent arrears or an intention to sell. For tenants in Ipswich, that should mean they feel more able to report problems with their home, provided they are otherwise complying with their tenancy obligations." Other changes should also help renters living in poor-quality homes. The Act extends the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector and applies Awaab's Law, setting clear timeframes within which landlords must act on serious hazards. Both measures are intended to drive up standards, although the full Decent Homes Standard will not be fully implemented until 2035. The pressure on the rental sector to improve is significant. Analysis by Inventory Base of government data suggests that around 1.1 million private rented homes in England fall below the Decent Homes Standard each year. Even a 20 per cent reduction in non-decent homes over the next decade, the firm estimates, would cost the sector £1.43bn. Harris said the new rent rules should also offer tenants more stability. "In practice, they are intended to give tenants more predictability and reduce the scope for sudden or repeated rent rises, which can cause real uncertainty," she said. Abbott said the broader package of changes would also make a meaningful difference. "All tenancies will become open-ended, giving renters greater stability and a permanent home rather than a cycle of uncertainty," he said. "Rent increases will be limited to once a year, with stronger rights to challenge excessive rises at tribunal, helping keep housing fair and affordable." He added: "Discriminatory practices, including blanket bans on tenants with children, will be outlawed. Crucially, the introduction of a Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector will raise conditions, ensuring safer, higher-quality homes." ## What it means for landlords For landlords, the picture is more divisive. Industry surveys have suggested significant concern about the changes, with some lobby groups warning of an exodus from the sector. Others argue that landlords have had years to prepare and that responsible operators have little to fear. John Howard, one of Ipswich's most prominent property investors, takes the more pessimistic view. Howard, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK in July 2025 citing the legislation as one of his reasons, said he believes the Act will reshape the market for the worse. "In terms of preparing for the new Renters Act that's coming into effect shortly, I know a lot of landlords have decided to get vacant possession prior to the act coming in, in order to sell their properties, in my view," he said. "The whole act will have a negative impact on the rental market, with many landlords giving up completely." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/1747599309-john-howard-outside-great-white-horse-hotel-2.jpg) John Howard outside the Great White Horse Hotel in Ipswich (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) Howard, however, said he saw the upheaval as an opportunity. "As a landlord with a portfolio across the UK, I'm running towards the fire rather than away from it because I believe there are opportunities for people selling to buy more residential investment portfolios," he said. He was sharply critical of the political process behind the legislation. "Unfortunately, this new act, drafted by the Conservative Party and made law by the Labour Party, throws 2.4 million landlords under the bus, ultimately affecting tenants as much as landlords, and is ill-advised and ill-conceived," he said. "The Reform Party is the only political party that says they're going to repeal the act." Some industry figures have raised concerns that the changes could have unintended consequences for the very tenants the Act is designed to protect. Without the safeguard of section 21, the warning goes, landlords are likely to tighten affordability checks, demand stronger guarantors and lean more heavily on referencing, potentially squeezing out renters on benefits, those with irregular incomes or those with impaired credit histories. Abbott was unapologetic about the impact on landlords. "Good landlords have nothing to fear, but rogue landlords will have to clean up their act and provide decent homes for people to live in," he said. There is also the question of the courts. With section 21 gone, landlords seeking possession will need to use section 8, which is more evidence-heavy and, if contested, requires a court hearing. Government figures show private landlords currently wait a median of 26 weeks between bringing a possession claim and being able to recover the property, up from around 16 weeks a decade ago. "The biggest concern is that section 21 is being abolished without court reform being required first," Harris said. "The section 8 process is more evidence-heavy and will require greater scrutiny from the courts. That means more judicial time, more preparation and, in many cases, more room for dispute. At the moment, the court system is not well placed to take on that extra volume and complexity without delays." The government has said it is investing up to £50m to modernise civil courts and is recruiting up to 1,000 additional judges and tribunal members across all courts and tribunals this year. An additional £5m a year is being added to fee uplifts in the housing legal aid sector. Harris said the practical implications cut both ways. "That is a practical problem for both renters and landlords," she said. "Tenants need issues resolved quickly, particularly where housing conditions are poor. Landlords also need a workable route to possession where there is a legitimate ground. The concern is that the legal framework is changing, but the court system may not yet be equipped to deal with the added pressure." ## The role of Ipswich Borough Council Local authorities are central to how the new rules will work in practice. Ipswich Borough Council is among 317 councils in England sharing £60m in government funding to take on new enforcement duties. That includes a duty to investigate suspected breaches and the power to issue civil penalties of up to £40,000 for serious or repeated non-compliance. A spokesperson for Ipswich Borough Council said it had been preparing for some time. "When the new powers come into force on 1 May, the council will be prepared to receive any requests related to the new duties, and our website has been updated to reflect these changes," they said. "Services have been set up to enable the council to investigate, mediate and enforce the new rules where needed." For tenants worried about how the changes will affect them, the council pointed to a mandatory information sheet that landlords must provide to all sitting tenants by 31 May, and to all new tenants when they sign a lease from 1 May. "If they believe that their landlord is not meeting these new rules, they should contact Housing Options," the spokesperson said. "The council's specialist service will be able to provide further information on their rights, and investigate cases and, where this fails, the council's teams are able to use the new powers to enforce against any breaches within our powers, issuing civil penalties where appropriate." The council was also keen to reassure tenants concerned about whether their existing tenancy agreement would be affected. "Many of these changes are automatic — you won't need a new lease as these new rules will apply to your current lease even if the wording is different," the spokesperson said. "Tenants should not be concerned if they have not received a new lease, they remain protected and only new leases after 1 May need to reflect these new rules." The council was clear that it expected most landlord-tenant relationships to continue without intervention. "We know most rental arrangements work well, with landlords treating tenants respectfully and tenants taking care of their homes," the spokesperson said. "These changes are designed to strengthen protection for tenants and maintain a fair private rented sector for all, so we hope these duties will only be needed in exceptional circumstances. But if you believe you are being treated unfairly, please get in touch." ## Practical advice from today For tenants, the change does not require any immediate action. Existing tenancies will automatically convert to the new periodic structure, and landlords are required to provide written information about the new rules. For landlords, the to-do list is longer. Existing tenants must receive the government's information sheet by 31 May. New tenancies starting on or after 1 May require a written record of key terms, including rent amount and due date, deposit details and repair responsibilities. Verbal tenancy agreements must be formalised in writing. Adverts must include a fixed asking rent, with no wording inviting offers above that figure. Rent increases must follow the once-a-year, two-months'-notice, section 13 route. Harris said the new framework places a premium on good record-keeping on both sides. "For landlords and agents, the message is to be proactive," she said. "Properties should be inspected regularly, and repair issues should be dealt with before they become formal disputes. It is much better to identify problems early than to wait until a disrepair complaint has been made." She added that landlords should also be prepared to evidence rent rises. "In practice, that means gathering suitable market comparables before serving a section 13 notice, so that any increase can be properly explained if challenged." For tenants, her advice was similar. "Raise repair issues clearly and in writing, keep records, and seek advice early if they are unsure where they stand," she said. "The new framework is intended to give tenants more protection, but good communication and good evidence will still matter." ## The bottom line The Renters' Rights Act is one of the most significant changes to housing law in a generation, and from today it reshapes the relationship between landlords and tenants in Ipswich just as it does across England. Whether it delivers the rebalancing of power its supporters promise, or the unintended consequences its critics fear, will depend on how it works in practice — and on whether the courts, the council and the wider system can keep up with what the new law demands of them. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£122 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### SEND school seeks retrospective permission after six years on Nacton Road site URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/send-school-seeks-retrospective-permission-after-six-years-on-nacton-road-site/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T07:14:36.000Z **Why it matters:** The school caters to pupils aged 11 to 19 who have struggled to access mainstream education, but has been operating for six years without formal planning permission for the change of use. **The details:** New Skill Centre is seeking retrospective permission from Ipswich Borough Council to transform the industrial building at The Drift, in Nacton Road, into a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). - The school has welcomed SEND pupils aged 11 to 19 since 2019, supporting young people who have difficulty accessing mainstream settings and other large educational institutions. - It employs 28 members of staff. - A separate unit on the site, recently used as a woodworking training facility, would also form part of the conversion. **What they're saying:** Mark Winston, the headteacher, said the school aims to "improve life chances of every young person." "We are a dedicated and passionate team, ready to support young people to develop their knowledge and skills to help prepare them for the next stages in their lives," he said. **For context:** Despite the retrospective nature of the application, planning documents state the building has been used as an education or community facility for the last 20 years. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, rated it as good and concluded pupils received excellent support. **The works:** Building control officers at the council have already approved works on the site, which include: - A new foyer - 22 teaching spaces - A dining area - Toilets **What's next:** Council officers are now reviewing the application, with a decision expected by Wednesday, 17 June 2026. **The bottom line:** A school that has supported SEND pupils for six years is now formally seeking the planning permission needed to continue operating from its Nacton Road home. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Don't panic, but act promptly' – legal expert on Ross Coates closure URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/dont-panic-but-act-promptly-legal-expert-on-ross-coates-closure/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T07:14:16.000Z **Why it matters:** The closure of Ross Coates Solicitors on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, has left clients with live legal matters – which could include transactions, court dates, probate matters and family issues – needing to find a new firm and recover their files. **What they're saying:** Nicola Weldon, Partner and Head of Private Client at Ellisons, said the most important thing for affected clients was "not to panic, but to act promptly." "When a local solicitor's firm closes, it can be incredibly unsettling for clients and their families, particularly where important documents are held by that firm, or a legal matter is still ongoing," she said. "Clients should contact the appointed intervention agent about their file, papers or any money held by the firm, and gather any correspondence, reference numbers and key dates." **The details:** Weldon advised that anyone with a live legal matter and an approaching deadline should seek advice as soon as possible. "If there is a live transaction, court date, probate matter, family issue or other deadline, they should seek advice as soon as possible, so the next steps are clear," she said. ![Nicola Weldon, Partner and Head of Private Client at Ellisons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/nicola-weldon.jpg) Nicola Weldon, Partner and Head of Private Client at Ellisons (Photo: Ellisons) **The bigger picture:** Weldon framed the Ross Coates closure as part of a wider shift in the local legal sector. "This also comes at a time of continued change in the local legal market," she said. "Clients are understandably looking for reassurance, continuity and stability from their professional advisers. Our priority is to help people understand their options calmly and sensitively, so they can take the right next step." **For context:** The SRA closed Ross Coates Solicitors on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, following a string of regulatory sanctions stretching back to 2023, including a £13,690 fine last year for anti-money laundering failings and a written rebuke for accounts breaches. Intervention is the most serious regulatory action the SRA can take against a law firm. The regulator has seized all monies held by the firm, including clients' money, alongside documents. **The bottom line:** Former clients of Ross Coates Solicitors who need access to their files or money should contact Chris Evans of Lester Aldridge LLP, the intervening agents appointed by the SRA, on 01202 786 341 or by emailing [interventions@la-law.com](mailto:interventions@la-law.com). Ellisons have also published a [guide on what to do if your solicitor has closed](https://ellisons.com/news/what-to-do-if-your-solicitors-firm-has-closed/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). [Read the guide](https://ellisons.com/news/what-to-do-if-your-solicitors-firm-has-closed/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Kelvin Cracknell URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-kelvin-cracknell/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T07:13:17.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Kelvin Cracknell is standing for Labour & Co-operative in the Gainsborough Division, contesting one of 12 county council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Kelvin told us. ### Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become/remain a councillor? I'm Kelvin Cracknell. And I'm standing as the Labour & Co-Operative candidate in Gainsborough division in the Suffolk County Council elections. I have lived in Ipswich all my adult life, moving from Wickham Market 30 years ago. I was born with cerebral palsy, and I have been confined to a wheelchair since birth. I have a degree in software engineering and a passion for all things tech, movies, and music. I have been involved in the Ipswich community since moving here I have a strong background in voluntary work in Ipswich working with disability charities for almost 25 years. This has always involved working for and supporting the residents of Ipswich and the surrounding communities. In 2014, I was invited to join the Ipswich Borough Council tenant participation team as a tenant representative relating to the housing offer provided by Ipswich Borough Council. This was the start of my journey into local politics and my understanding of what services each council provides. I am fortunate to have been elected as an Ipswich Borough councillor since 2019, through the casework, committee and subcommittee work I have done in the last 7 years working with and alongside my fellow councillors. I would hope to be considered a consistent and committed councillor who has shown a willingness to learn and work hard for the residents I represent and Ipswich as a whole. I plan on showing the same dedication to the work needed at Suffolk County Council. If elected, I would be able to bring the matters we all care about to the fore. ### What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected? One of the major points raised by residents not just in Gainsborough but across the town is potholes, road maintenance and general traffic concerns. I can tell you from experience that potholes are an issue on some pavements as well. As a wheelchair user, I think I must have found them all. Seriously, though, some of our roads and pavements are in need of serious repair. With the extra money given to Suffolk County Council to fix these issues. The fact that this is an issue that is so concerning for residents only goes to show the neglect that has been allowed to develop over recent years. We need to fix our roads. We need to improve how traffic moves through and around our town. We need a Northern Bypass for Ipswich so traffic along Roads like Nacton and Landseer don't come to a complete standstill when there are problems on the Orwell Bridge. Good quality housing is essential across all types of tenure and all income levels. People have the right to live in well-built, affordable homes that allow them to feel safe and secure. I am delighted with the new renters' rights bill and the security it offers tenants when trying to create a home. ### Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing? The plans for local government reorganisation and the formation of a new unitary council offer both great opportunities and increased responsibilities. A simpler single tier of local government for residents to contact when needing services. As a councillor at the Borough and as a prospective councillor at the County Council. I want to help ensure that the transition to a unitary council runs smoothly whilst protecting, enhancing and extending the services that the new council has to provide. The formation of a new town council offers an opportunity to preserve and develop the local culture and history of Ipswich at a very local level. Whilst the unitary council itself provides a unified standard of public services not only to the town of Ipswich but also to its immediate neighbours. ### What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role? This is probably the hardest question to answer, and I guess I'm going down the personal route. For me, it is my involvement with Ipswich Borough Council. It is not something I ever intended to or even thought of doing before joining tenant participation. As someone with a physical disability, paid employment has sometimes been hard to find. During these times, I have always found voluntary work to help fill the void. Most times, this work used not only my technical skills but also involved working with members of the public with complex support needs. Joining tenant participation introduced me to the workings of a local authority. During this time, I had the chance to meet people who had needs that I had not encountered in my other support roles. No less complex or important, just different. I found myself achieving two qualifications in housing through the Chartered Institute of Housing. It is also where I first got to see and interact with Councillors and council officers. Questioning and scrutinising council services from a user perspective. Before too long, I had joined the Labour Party, my local union branch and The Co-Operative Party. All these organisations have given me the chance to develop skills and knowledge that have assisted me in my role as a councillor today. I love being a councillor, the work is challenging, the hours are strange and can lead to some very long days, and much of the work I have found we do is collaborative, so there is not much I can point to and say, "I did this." With maybe the odd piece of individual resident casework as the exception. But I can say "I was a part of this." I enjoy the work, and I work hard, and I get a lot out of what I do. ### If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win? Mostly working from home. Outside of any council committee commitments, I can be contacted personally at any time via phone, email, or post at quite short notice. Details are published on the Labour Party website or the Ipswich Borough website under my name. --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Gainsborough Division — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Grimwades adult education centre gets planning green light URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/grimwades-adult-education-centre-gets-planning-green-light/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T09:26:22.000Z **Why it matters:** The decision brings the long-vacant upper floor of the landmark Westgate Street building back into use, nearly completing the regeneration of a site that stood empty for more than a decade. **The details:** Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee unanimously supported proposals from Handford Homes – the council's housebuilding company – at a meeting on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 to convert the first floor and part of the ground floor from retail into educational use. The hub is being delivered in partnership with Suffolk New College to support adults in upskilling and finding new jobs. The plans will create new teaching areas and meeting rooms on the first floor to host at least 150 students, with the centre expected to operate between 09:00 and 20:00. **By the numbers:** Courses on offer will include: - English and Maths GCSEs and functional skills - Essential digital skills - Employment skills and management training - Skills for small businesses or sole traders - English for speakers of other languages - Leisure learning through the college's "Thrive" programme **What they're saying:** Stephan Vargas-Pritchard, a town planning consultant, told councillors the college was in "urgent need" to find a new location for its courses due to increased demand. He said setting up the centre at the "prestigious" building would bring both social and economic benefits to the town. Councillor Carole Jones, the authority's lead for planning, said the plans were excellent and would bring a host of people to the town centre for an extensive period. **For context:** The Grimwades building was occupied by Grimwades until 1996 and Clinton Cards until 2011, after which it stood empty for more than a decade until the council bought it last year. Both Jamaica Blue and Lovisa have since moved into the ground floor. At a meeting of executive members in February, councillors agreed to spend £560,000 to repurpose the rest of the building – a decision criticised at the time by Conservative opposition leader Councillor Ian Fisher as a "deal done behind closed doors" that prevented other potential uses from being considered. **The bottom line:** With planning permission now secured, the hub is expected to be up and running by September this year, bringing the final vacant floor of the Grimwades building back into use more than a decade after it was last occupied. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Family of A14 crash victim thank emergency services and public URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/family-of-a14-crash-victim-thank-emergency-services-and-public/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T15:18:27.000Z **Why it matters:** Tony Warner, of Ilketshall St Lawrence, has been named by Suffolk Police as the man who lost his life in the two-vehicle collision that closed a key stretch of the A14 around the Orwell Bridge for much of the day. **What they're saying:** In a statement issued to police, Mr Warner's family asked officers "to pass on their thanks and gratitude to all the emergency services personnel who attended the incident and also the members of the public who assisted at the scene." The naming is subject to confirmation at formal inquest proceedings. **The details:** Officers were called at just after 09:00 on Monday, 27 April, to reports of a collision involving a lorry and a silver Ford S-Max on the westbound carriageway. - Ambulance and Suffolk Fire and Rescue crews also attended, but the driver of the car was pronounced deceased at the scene. - Two passengers in the car were taken to hospital for treatment but did not sustain any serious injuries. - A 50-year-old man from Newmarket was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. He has since been released on bail until Monday, 13 July, pending further enquiries. **For context:** The A14 was closed westbound between Junction 58 at Seven Hills and Junction 56 at Wherstead, reopening at around 02:00 the following morning. The eastbound carriageway was closed between the off-slip and on-slip at Junction 57 for Ransomes Europark, reopening at around 19:00 on Monday evening. The closures gridlocked roads across Ipswich and coincided with separate rail disruption between Ipswich and London Liverpool Street. **What's next:** Officers are appealing for witnesses, and are asking any motorists driving in the area at the time of the incident with a dashcam fitted in their vehicle to review their footage for any material that may assist the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or via [www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us](https://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us?ref=ipswich.co.uk), quoting reference 37/23817/26\. Information can also be sent by email to [SCIU@norfolk.police.uk](mailto:SCIU@norfolk.police.uk). **The bottom line:** As the investigation into Monday's fatal collision continues, Mr Warner's family have used their first public statement to recognise those who came to his aid – from emergency crews to passing members of the public who stopped to help. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Councillors narrowly reject 27-metre 5G mast near Ipswich homes URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/councillors-narrowly-reject-27-metre-5g-mast-near-ipswich-homes/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T14:01:06.000Z **Why it matters:** The decision marks a narrow win for residents who argued the upgraded mast would be visible for miles and out of keeping with the area, despite the mobile industry warning that existing infrastructure cannot keep up with demand from new homes. **The details:** The proposals were brought forward by mobile and digital infrastructure provider Cornerstone and discussed at Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee meeting on Wednesday, 29 April. - The 27-metre mast would have replaced existing telecommunications infrastructure in Kiln Close. - It was proposed alongside nine antennas and one transmission dish. - Councillors voted five to four to reject the plans, in line with the officer's recommendation of refusal. **What they're saying:** Michal Laskowski, the agent, told councillors that demand for services created by new homes was putting extra pressure on existing infrastructure. He said the new mast would improve signal strength, capacity and reliability while maintaining coverage in the area now and into the future. His comments were echoed by the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, which said more than half of the businesses it surveyed had trouble with unreliable mobile signal in what it called 4G "not spots". **The other side:** Council planners said although the mast would extend 5G coverage, it would be both "visually intrusive" and an "alien feature" in the area. This mirrored concerns raised by nearby residents, with 55 separate objections submitted since last month following a local leaflet campaign urging neighbours to oppose the application before the 14 April deadline. The flyer, headed "Your neighbourhood needs you", told residents the existing 15-metre mast would be replaced with a 27-metre tower on elevated ground, taking it to 35 metres above street level – which campaigners said was taller than a 10-storey building. It also disputed the application's classification of the site, arguing it should be treated as residential rather than industrial. John Bushell, one of the objectors, told councillors that residents had already had to deal with several upgrades in the past. "This site cannot accommodate a mast taller than the one that is already there," he said. "What is proposed is not the same kind of change – this is transformation, not evolution." Councillor Inga Lockington, the ward member, echoed his concerns and warned the new mast would be visible for miles around it. One resident speaking to Ipswich.co.uk called it an "appalling eyesore". **The bigger picture:** The plans split councillors, with some arguing the upgrades were needed while others believed the harm they would cause outweighed the potential benefits. **The bottom line:** Residents have narrowly succeeded in halting the latest proposed upgrade to mobile infrastructure in their neighbourhood, but the underlying tension between expanding 5G coverage and protecting the look and feel of residential streets is unlikely to disappear. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Independent coffee shop to open in former Monsoon store URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/independent-coffee-shop-to-open-in-former-monsoon-store/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T13:32:25.000Z **Why it matters:** The letting brings an independent operator to a prominent vacant unit on Ipswich's main retail pitch, and adds to the growing café offer at the Cornhill end of Westgate Street. **The details:** Crema Coffee Shop has signed a 10-year lease on the property, which has a total area of around 538.40 sq m (5,795 sq ft), through commercial property agents Penn Commercial. - The business has been based in Long Wyre Street in Colchester city centre for the past seven years. - It is run by two brothers from Colchester, Adrian and Aaron, who lead the brand and day-to-day vision. - Work will start shortly on a bespoke fit-out of the property, which features a curved historic frontage and a Listed decorative ceiling on the ground floor. **What they're saying:** "Ipswich is a growing town with a strong community feel, and we felt there was a real opportunity to introduce a true speciality coffee offering here," said Adrian. "This is not just about serving coffee, it's about creating a space where people can rely on quality, consistency, and a great overall experience every time they visit." Aaron said the shop would use "advanced systems, such as Reverse Osmosis, to control water quality" and "precision milk technology to ensure perfect texture and consistency in every drink." He added that the shop would also offer "a range of freshly-prepared food, made in-house every morning," and would be fully dog-friendly. Rachael Jackson of Penn Commercial said: "We are thrilled to be welcoming Crema Coffee Shop to Ipswich, who we know will make an extremely positive impact on our town centre, and will help to rejuvenate the far end of Westgate Street. "We can't wait to see the results of their extensive fit-out in due course and look forward to sampling their delicious fayre and excellent hospitality when they open their doors for business." **For context:** The unit sits on the crossroads of Westgate Street and Museum Street, close to several public car parks and a bus stop. Other occupiers on Westgate Street include Primark, Marks & Spencer, Clarks, JD Sports and Lovisa, while the wider area is home to Starbucks, Caffè Nero and Jamaica Blue on the Cornhill. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/image.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/IMG_4150.jpeg) Romanian butcher Magazin Romanesc Maestro on Carr Street and gift store Ivory Pearl on Buttermarket (Photos: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) The news comes in the same week that the town has welcomed two new businesses to the high street: Romanian butcher Magazin Romanesc Maestro on Carr Street, and gift store Ivory Pearl on Buttermarket. **What's next:** Crema Coffee Shop is expected to open at 33 Westgate Street soon, though no opening date has been confirmed. **The bottom line:** The arrival of Crema Coffee Shop fills one of Westgate Street's larger vacant units with an independent operator, and marks the Essex business's first move into Suffolk. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### The abseil Em turned down — and the one they will not URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/the-abseil-em-turned-down-and-the-one-they-will-not/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T09:23:49.000Z On Saturday, 6 June, Em — who will be 16 at the time of the challenge — will descend 135 feet down the side of Ipswich Hospital's tower as part of Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity's Extreme Abseil. It is a challenge their father, Matt Nicholls, completed in 2025, and one Em was invited to take on alongside him. They turned it down. Just months later, in July, Matt died suddenly from a deep vein thrombosis that led to blood clots in his lungs. Now Em is determined to follow in his fundraising footsteps. ## A challenge they once said no to The 2025 abseil was, for Matt, a personal fundraiser with deep roots. Six years earlier, the paediatric play team at Ipswich Hospital had supported Em through cancer treatment, and Matt chose to raise money for the team that had helped his child. Em had the opportunity to abseil with him. They declined. What followed gave that decision a weight no one could have anticipated. Matt's death came without warning, and the chance to take on the challenge alongside him was gone. This year, Em is taking it on alone — or rather, with a different kind of company. Friends will be at the hospital cheering them on as they step over the edge. "It is terrifying…but I have signed up now, so I have to do it," Em said. "I think Dad would be proud." ## A different cause, a deliberate choice Where Matt fundraised for the paediatric play team that had supported his family, Em and their mum, Vicki, have chosen a different beneficiary this year: the Time Garden Appeal. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/Matt-Nicholls-taking-part-in-the-Ipswich-Hospital-Extreme-Abseil-in-2025--This-year--Em-will-follow-in-his-footsteps-1.jpg) Matt Nicholls taking part in the Ipswich Hospital Extreme Abseil in 2025 (Photo: Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity) The appeal will transform a disused courtyard at Ipswich Hospital into a peaceful space for end-of-life patients to spend precious time with loved ones. The garden is designed as a private and calm environment away from the busy wards, giving families the chance to make lasting memories together — including time outdoors and visits from beloved pets. It is something the Nicholls family did not have. "We wanted to do something meaningful and continue fundraising, but support somewhere different this time," Vicki said. "The Time Garden felt like the right choice." The decision threads Em's abseil into a wider story than one family's grief. The Time Garden Appeal is the charity's headline cause for the 2026 event, and participants are being asked to consider supporting it alongside other ESNEFT wards and departments. ## The face of a wider appeal The Extreme Abseil, sponsored by Eastern Lift Services and run by Dave Talbot Ltd, returns to Ipswich Hospital on 6 and 7 June. Slots are split into 30-minute windows from 9:00, with two ropes running down the tower at a time. The drop is 135 feet — 41 metres — and the event is open to anyone aged 12 and over, with under-18s required to be accompanied by an adult throughout. The entry fee is £40, and the suggested fundraising target for participants is £150. For the charity, Em's story is doing a job that flyers and registration links cannot. Grace Wilson, the charity's assistant fundraising and events manager, said the teenager's reasons for signing up speak to the heart of what the event is for. "This is about more than just the challenge, it is about making a real difference and a lasting impact for patients and families," Wilson said. "Em's story is incredibly moving, and we would love more people to get involved and help us be there for families long into the future." She also acknowledged the role of the event's sponsor: "We would also like to express our thanks to Eastern Lift Services, who have proudly sponsored this year's Abseil." ## Already over target Em's fundraising page on JustGiving had passed its £450 target before they had so much as put on a harness. At the time of writing, 25 supporters had raised £525 — 116 per cent of the original goal — with messages of encouragement still arriving. The page itself carries a short, unvarnished note from Em explaining the decision to sign up: "I'm doing the Extreme Abseil in memory of my dad. He did the abseil just a few months before he passed away suddenly last year, and I wish I had done it with him. So instead, I'm doing it in his memory." ## The bottom line There is no version of this story in which Em gets to redo last year. The abseil they turned down with their father is not the abseil they will take on in June. But by stepping over the edge of Ipswich Hospital in his memory — and by raising money for a garden the family themselves never got to use — Em is turning a decision they cannot change into something other families will benefit from for years to come. To support Em's fundraising, visit [justgiving.com/page/emnicholls](http://www.justgiving.com/page/emnicholls?ref=ipswich.co.uk). To sign up for this year's Extreme Abseil, visit [colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/Event/extreme-abseil-2026](https://colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/Event/extreme-abseil-2026?ref=ipswich.co.uk). --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£30 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### Vintage market returns to Ipswich this Sunday URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/vintage-market-returns-to-ipswich-this-sunday/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T09:23:37.000Z **Why it matters:** The monthly market is organised by Threads for All, The Military Unit and Hanks Vegan Restaurant, with support from [Ipswich Central](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/ipswich-central/), and is designed to drive footfall into the town centre and celebrate independent businesses in Suffolk. **The big picture:** This month's event is expanding beyond its usual home in The Walk's alleys, spilling onto Buttermarket and into the Ancient House – a Grade I-listed building dating from the 15th century. **The details:** Shoppers can browse vintage and retro finds from across Suffolk, including unique fashion, jewellery, art, homewares and vinyl. Stalls will be spread across multiple rooms and the courtyard of the Ancient House, as well as the surrounding streets. **Who's there:** Many stalls are travelling from across the region, including popular vinyl specialists Vinyl Chief, Pinkie & Quirky Vintage Frippery, Anrik Sermika and Repurpose & Revival, who offer antiques and furniture restoration. Stalls will feature returning favourites including Darling Vintage Clothing, Wren Wild, Mc Musk and Time & Time Again. And new additions include JL Retro, Smokin Roses and Angel 13, which sells handmade and up-cycled clothing. **The bottom line:** Whether you are a seasoned collector or simply enjoy a rummage through unique finds, this is a chance to visit independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and explore some of Ipswich's most striking historic buildings while browsing vintage and retro treasures from across the region - making it an ideal day out in the town centre. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich businesses make Muddy Stilettos Awards 2026 finals URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-businesses-make-muddy-stilettos-awards-2026-finals/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T09:20:59.000Z **Why it matters:** The annual awards, decided entirely by public vote, shine a spotlight on independent businesses across the region, with category winners going on to represent Suffolk & Cambridgeshire at the national level. **The details:** Ipswich is represented across 10 categories in this year's regional finals, with 10 finalists in each category competing for the public vote. The Ipswich finalists are: - **Ipswich Regent Theatre** – Best Arts, Culture & Theatre - **The Gallery** – Best Bar - **Look Wright Aesthetics** – Best Beauty Salon / Clinic - **Cub** – Best Children's Business - **Alder Carr Farm** – Best Farm Shop / Deli - **Suffolk Food Hall** – Best Farm Shop / Deli - **Puzzle Boutique** – Best Fashion & Interiors - **Renaissance Hair** – Best Hair Salon - **The Alchemist** – Best Hair Salon - **Nina Parnham** – Best Wellbeing Specialist - **Sharon Buckley** – Best Wellbeing Specialist **What they're saying:** Karen Stewart, owner of Puzzle Boutique, said: "I'm genuinely so grateful to everyone who has taken the time to vote and support Puzzle Boutique. To be nominated and now announced as a finalist is such a special moment. It means the world to me to be recognised in this way, especially alongside so many brilliant local businesses. Independent retail is all about community and I feel incredibly lucky to have such loyal customers behind me." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/dato-BUU2QU4gTXGy_WSNBP0f3g-1775134930119.jpg) The Regent Theatre in Ipswich has also made it to the finals (Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams/Ipswich.co.uk) She added that the boutique has expanded its offering with The Hidden Garden Café situated behind the shop, "where people can shop, meet friends and enjoy a green space in the town centre, making Puzzle even more of a local destination." **The bigger picture:** The Muddy Stilettos Awards, organised by the lifestyle magazine of the same name, are free to enter and recognise independent businesses across categories spanning boutiques, cafés, salons, interiors and lifestyle brands. The number of finalists per category has doubled this year compared to previous editions. **What's next:** Voting in the regional finals closes at 13:00 on 26 May 2026\. Members of the public can cast their votes via the [Muddy Stilettos website](https://suffolkcambs.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/finalists/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). **The bottom line:** With 11 finalists across 10 categories, Ipswich's independent businesses are well represented in this year's awards – and the outcome is now in the hands of the voting public. [Vote for Ipswich businesses](https://suffolkcambs.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/finalists/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Mika Berculean URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-mika-berculean/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T09:19:59.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Mika Berculean is standing for Labour in both contests: in Stoke Park, contesting one of 16 borough council seats up for election across Ipswich, and in Belstead Hills, contesting one of 12 county council divisions in the town. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Mika told us. ### Tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Mika Berculean, and I am standing in Stoke Park and Belstead Hills. I come from a hardworking background, and as a single mum, life has not always been easy. That means I understand the pressures many people and families are under, and how important it is to feel supported and taken seriously. I'm standing because I want to be a practical, approachable representative for local people; someone who is visible, listens properly, and works hard on the issues that affect everyday life. ### What are the three biggest issues facing your ward, and what would you do about them? For me, it comes back to the basics. First, the look and feel of the area. Residents have told me on the doorstep that they want the basics done right and done well; clean streets, bins collected on time, and neighbourhoods they can feel proud of. Litter and the general condition of an area really matter, and I would make sure those concerns are raised and followed through properly. Second, tackling anti-social behaviour and improving community safety. People want to feel safe where they live. I would work with the right services and agencies to make sure concerns are taken seriously and that residents are not left feeling ignored. Third, supporting residents with the cost of living and everyday pressures. Many households are under real strain, and I understand that personally. I would make sure residents know where to turn for support and push for practical help where it is needed. These issues shape everyday life. ### What are your views on the changes happening in Suffolk, including local government reorganisation? There are big changes happening in Suffolk, and they need to be handled responsibly. For me, the most important thing is making sure local residents are properly involved in the process. Changes should be shaped with communities, not imposed on them. The £20m Pride in Place funding announced for Stoke Park is a real opportunity, and we now need to make sure it delivers real benefits for residents. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring meaningful change to the area. A councillor's job is to make sure local voices are heard and that decisions reflect what residents actually need and want, not just what looks good on paper. ### What is your most significant achievement? My biggest achievement is the way I have built my life while supporting others. I am a single mum, raising my children while continuing to work, study, and give back to the community. Alongside this, I completed a business degree and continue to study leadership, which reflects my commitment to improving myself and what I can offer others. I have volunteered for several years with a women's refuge, supporting children and helping to make sure they feel safe, cared for, and protected. I also serve as an Army Cadet Force sergeant instructor in Ipswich, helping young people build confidence and discipline. Through my work in security, education, and volunteering, I have worked closely with people from all backgrounds, including those facing difficult situations. That has given me a strong understanding of responsibility, safeguarding, and how to support people properly. ### How will you be accessible to residents if elected? I want residents in Stoke Park and Belstead Hills to feel comfortable approaching me and to know they will be taken seriously. If elected, I will stay visible in the community, attend local events, and make sure people know how to contact me. I want to be approachable, present, and focused on the everyday issues that matter most to local people. Being a councillor is about showing up, working hard, and helping make the area a place people can feel proud of. --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Stoke Park and Belstead Hills — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Jamie Allenden URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-jamie-allenden/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T09:19:46.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Jamie Allenden is standing for the Green Party in Bridge, contesting one of 16 borough council seats and one of 12 county council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Jamie told us. ### Tell us a bit about yourself and why you are standing in this election. I've lived in Suffolk most of my life, I grew up in Bury, moved to Ipswich when I was 15, and have lived in Bridge Ward since I was 19\. I'm 23 now, which people may think makes me too young, but I think it's important to uplift the voices of young people, which is why I took over as Ipswich's Young Greens officer last October. I am also both neurodivergent and queer, so it matters to me to empower minority voices as well, and improve SEND and gender services. ### What do you think are the biggest issues facing residents in your ward/division, and how would you address them if elected? The biggest issue round here, as the town centre is part of the division I'm standing in, is the fact that so many businesses have been priced out by their landlords, which means that either they struggle to cope and have to close, or they make everything expensive, which means that people can't afford to go out. That brings me onto the second point, that people's expenses are just too high! To remedy this, I am going to take on landlords to try and get working class people, and small businesses, a fairer deal, with lower council tax as well. Lastly, the River Orwell: what is the point in refurbing the viewing point on Stoke Bridge, if the river is just full of sewage?! That's why I will push the council to clean it up! ### What are your views on the proposed local government reorganisation, which could see Ipswich Borough Council merged with neighbouring authorities? I was initially sceptical of the idea of grouping Ipswich in with rural areas, as I thought that would create a conflict of interest. However, there is no greater conflict of interest than this town being represented by the entire rest of Suffolk. Also, it gives us the opportunity to combine powers and streamline decisions, rather than the complication of who runs what, that most people don't understand. ### What is one thing you have done — in politics, work, or your community — that you are particularly proud of? I'm proud of the fact that I've created an online space on Instagram (@ipswich\_yg) where young people can go and see the great work that the Green Party is doing in Ipswich, and that has amassed a following of over 600 since late November. ### How can residents get in touch with you, and what can they expect if you are elected? People can already message me on the account mentioned above. However, a win in Bridge, or a second place finish, will allow the Greens to target the area in future, and ask residents what their problems are, where they live, and that work will start to be carried out as soon as possible, and will be continued year-round. Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Bridge — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Elizabeth Hughes URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-elizabeth-hughes/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T09:19:36.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Elizabeth Hughes is standing for Labour and Co-operative in the Westbourne Division, contesting one of 12 county council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Elizabeth told us. ### Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become a councillor? I have lived in central Ipswich since moving to Suffolk in 2017 and I absolutely love this town. It's my home. I was bought up on Hounslow, and I was first elected and served as a Labour Councillor there for fourteen years. When I moved to Ipswich, I stood for and was elected to represent Gipping Ward, where I live, on Ipswich Borough Council, and have done so since 2018\. I'm a foster parent of a teenager who attends a local college and I work for the Benjamin Foundation at Foxhall Recycling Centre. I have always been a practical, present and 'hands on' community councillor. I volunteer at my local food top-up shop, St Matthews Church, and have always worked with and supported local faith and community organisations in Gipping. I am also an enthusiastic litter picker. I served as Ipswich's Mayor as we came out of covid restrictions in 2021 and, in that role, I met so many people and groups active all over Ipswich, including the Polish Community in Castle Hill, community groups in Whitton and Whitehouse and the wider public at Mayoral and community events. I have enjoyed my eight years as a borough councillor and am now seeking election to serve the residents of Westbourne on Suffolk County Council, bringing with me an Ipswich centred point of view and experience. ### What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected? Ipswich Borough Council has been awarded £20 million by the Labour Government to enable real and lasting change, directed by the needs and aspirations of local people living in Westbourne Division. If elected I would hope to be part of the process which oversees funding allocation at this exciting time. IBC has already made great strides in improving local parks and open spaces in the Division. I would like to see more opportunities taken to improve the general environment for local people - from road quality and repair, tree planting, pothole repairs and community led environmental works in schools and using our existing facilities, such as private gardens, open spaces and allotments, to boost biodiversity and support wildlife. The cost of living is a significant issue for all of us and at the forefront of many residents' minds in this election. I would seek to support initiatives that really support families who are struggling with child care and schooling; tackling isolation in the older population and improving the general health and wellbeing of our communities. ### Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing? The creation of a central administration hub serving the major urban population of Suffolk will, I believe, bring much needed change and focus of resources on what we really need locally here in Ipswich. I have always supported the principle of council/community owned, not for profit, social housing. Ipswich Borough Council has proven its commitment to this principle by building in excess of 500 new homes for local people in the past four years. It is imperative that any new Ipswich administration has a cohesive home building programme, with strong, long term targets, to build affordable homes that serve the people who live here in our town. We also have a concentration of need ion Ipswich and focussing resources should give councillors a better control of how services are delivered and maintained for local people. For local councillors in Ipswich, the focus must be on securing the right resources, at the right time and in the right place. This will be especially important for SEND provision, services for vulnerable adults and tackling the real issues of isolation and deprivation our residents are experiencing. Making sure that those services are easily accessible and tailored to our needs will be challenging but is achievable with the right political drive behind the changes that are coming. A local Councillor should be a voice and advocate for the communities that have elected them. That is the primary role of Councillor, who should work with officer, and within the political administration, to deliver equitable and meaningful opportunities and improvements for everyone. ### What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role? In Ipswich, my most enjoyable and rewarding work has been working with the top up shops serving our communities. The case work that has come through meeting so many people has included the housing elderly, homeless, vulnerable people; working with young people in need of advocacy, advice and support; finding funding to provide food; working with people with mental disabilities, drug and drink addictions, accessing services and encouraging them keep going when things aren't easy to resolve and, finally, working with the committed and kind volunteers from all over our town, who are together making Ipswich a better place to live in. ### If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win? Currently, I can be contacted centrally at [contact@ipswich-labour.org.uk](mailto:contact@ipswich-labour.org.uk) Telephone 01473 255131 If elected, I intend to make use of some of our community spaces to run regular, accessible surgeries. I would also have an official email so I can be directly contacted. --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Westbourne Division — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### 'Ipswich is at its best when it gets behind something together' URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-is-at-its-best-when-it-gets-behind-something-together/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T19:40:37.000Z **Why it matters:** The Town Behind The Team campaign aims to bring shopfronts, venues and businesses together in a visible show of support for Ipswich Town in the build-up to Saturday, 2 May, with organisers describing it as a "moment for Ipswich to be proud, visible and united." **The details:** From Friday, a series of player portraits by artist Louise Cobbold will begin appearing in shop windows, businesses and venues across the town. - Cobbold created the matchday programme artwork for the 2025/26 Championship season and has played a key role in making the project possible, alongside the support of Chris Cobbold. - Large banners featuring player portraits and a rallying cry to the team will be displayed from the Town Hall. - New blue banners will be installed along the Debenhams fence hoardings. **How to get involved:** Businesses are being encouraged to take part by displaying player posters, dressing their shopfronts in blue and white, installing bunting or flags, sharing campaign graphics on social media, and encouraging staff to wear blue and white on Saturday, 2 May. Participating businesses will receive A2 player portrait posters featuring Cobbold's artwork, donated by ITFC, alongside printable A3 and A4 support posters and social media graphics to share online. **What they're saying:** Lee Walker, Chief Executive of Ipswich Central, said: "This is about showing the strength of feeling across Ipswich and making sure the team can see, feel and hear the town behind them. Football has an incredible power to bring people together, and Ipswich Town's success is something that reaches well beyond Portman Road." He added: "We want businesses across the town centre to get involved, whether that is by putting a poster in the window, dressing their shopfront in blue and white, or sharing the campaign online. This is a moment for Ipswich to be proud, visible and united." Mark Ashton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ipswich Town Football Club, said: "The connection between the club and the town is incredibly special, and campaigns like this show exactly what Ipswich Town means to the wider community." He added: "We are hugely grateful to Ipswich Central, Louise and Chris Cobbold, and all the businesses taking part. Seeing the town come together in blue and white will mean a great deal to the players, staff and everyone connected with the club." **The bigger picture:** Walker said the campaign reflected something deeper about the town's identity. "Ipswich has always been at its best when it gets behind something together. This is a simple but powerful way for the whole town to show its support and remind everyone that Ipswich Town is not just a football club — it is part of the identity and energy of the place," he said. **What's next:** The campaign will begin appearing across the town from Friday. Businesses and supporters are encouraged to use the hashtags #COYB, #TownBehindTheTeam and #ComeOnYouBlues, and to tag Ipswich Town Football Club and All About Ipswich across social media. **The bottom line:** With Saturday, 2 May approaching, Ipswich Central and Ipswich Town are inviting the town to wear its colours on its sleeve — and on its shopfronts, windows and walls. [Download creative assets for your business](https://we.tl/t-rFFEAf09RNVCTi6f?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### At 100, Phyllis is closing in on her final fundraising goal URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/at-100-phyllis-is-closing-in-on-her-final-fundraising-goal/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T10:28:11.000Z Phyllis, who celebrated her 100th birthday in March, has just a few hundred pounds to go. The finish line is close enough to touch, but she is not waiting around. In her own words, she is "determined to get there before I pop off" — a line delivered with the kind of humour that has carried her through four decades of quiet, persistent fundraising. ## A friendship that started it all Phyllis began fundraising in the early 1990s, after losing her husband and, shortly afterwards, watching a close friend and neighbour receive a cancer diagnosis. She visited her friend regularly at St Elizabeth Hospice during those final weeks, and what she saw there stayed with her. Her friend died two months after the diagnosis. The kindness of the hospice staff, however, gave Phyllis a sense of purpose. She decided to give something back. ## Tea, cake and two piggy banks What started as small afternoon tea gatherings — friends and neighbours dropping by for tea and cake in exchange for a small donation — has grown into something rather more ambitious. Friends, family and members of her local church now donate unwanted gifts for Phyllis to sell from her spare living room. Puzzles, books, toiletries, handcrafted items including crocheted gifts made by a close friend — almost anything ends up on the table, alongside two well-used piggy banks that have become quiet workhorses of the operation. It is a model built on small sums, repeat visitors and word of mouth. There are no big sponsors, no marathons, no fanfare. Just a living room, a kettle and a steady stream of generosity. ## From £5,000 to £9,614 A few years ago, Phyllis hit £5,000 — a milestone that earned her press recognition at the time. She did not stop there. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/20260421_113544-1.jpg) A few years ago, Phyllis hit £5,000 (Photo: St Elizabeth Hospice) For her 100th birthday this March, Phyllis made a heartfelt request. Instead of presents, she asked for donations to the hospice. The response brought in a further £700, taking her running total to £9,614. That leaves her £386 short of £10,000. ## How you can help The appeal now is for unwanted, unopened gifts — anything that can be added to the table in her living room and turned into a donation. Items can be dropped off at the Home Instead office at Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, IP3 8RL, where they will be passed on to Phyllis. Every contribution, however modest, counts towards the final stretch. St Elizabeth Hospice, which has been part of the fabric of Ipswich and East Suffolk for decades, relies heavily on community fundraising to deliver its care. Phyllis's £10,000 will join thousands of other small acts of generosity that keep the hospice running. ## The bottom line There is something quietly remarkable about a 100-year-old woman running a one-room charity shop out of her own home for more than 30 years. No marketing budget. No grand campaign. Just a kettle, two piggy banks, and the memory of a friend. Phyllis has £386 to go. Ipswich, over to you. *Donations of unwanted, unopened gifts can be dropped off at the Home Instead office, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, IP3 8RL.* --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£30 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them. ### 'We had nothing to lose': Ipswich family welcomes baby after new fertility procedure URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/we-had-nothing-to-lose-ipswich-family-welcomes-baby-after-new-fertility-procedure/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:43:20.000Z **Why it matters:** Jessica was one of the first patients to undergo the procedure at Ipswich Hospital, which targets a complication from caesarean sections that consultants say is an increasingly recognised cause of secondary infertility. **The details:** Jessica and her partner Ewan, who are already parents to seven-year-old Grace, had been unable to conceive despite three IVF transfers. Scans eventually revealed she had a caesarean niche – a tiny pocket in the womb lining left over from a previous emergency caesarean section. - Jessica had the procedure in April 2025 - She discovered she was pregnant in June - Baby Edward was born at Ipswich Hospital on Valentine's Day **What they're saying:** "On paper there was no reason why we shouldn't be able to get pregnant, but it just wasn't happening for us," Jessica said. "After IVF not being successful, we went back to our consultant at Ipswich Hospital to see if there was anything else that could be done." She added: "We'd been trying for so long and even with IVF we'd never had a positive pregnancy test, so I was anxious if this would work, but we had nothing to lose." Mr Djavid Alleemudder, Jessica's reproductive medicine consultant at Ipswich Hospital, said: "Over the last few years, we have come to understand how a niche can be a cause of secondary infertility. "When repairing the incision following a caesarean section, the healing can cause a small pocket where fluid can build up and prevent sperm from reaching the egg, which could stop implantation." **The bigger picture:** Mr Alleemudder said the rise in caesarean sections meant secondary infertility caused by niches was becoming more common, and earlier identification could spare patients unnecessary IVF treatment. "Increasing awareness of how niches can impact conception after caesarean birth enables earlier identification during investigations, helping spare patients the emotional strain of unnecessary IVF and reducing associated costs for the NHS," he said. "By introducing this information when birth plans are being explored, we help patients understand all their options so they can make the decisions that feel right for them." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/Mr-Alleemudder-and-team-with-Jessica-and-Edward.jpg) Mr Alleemudder and team with Jessica and Edward (Photo: ESNEFT) **The moment it worked:** "When trying for a baby, you know your cycles inside out, so when I was one day late in June, I didn't want to get my hopes up," Jessica said. "I kept pushing it to the back of my mind, but a few days later, I woke Ewan up, and we did a test. It was positive." Jessica said the team at Ipswich Hospital understood the fertility issues she and Ewan had been experiencing, and never dismissed her concerns. **The bottom line:** "Grace has wanted to be a big sister for so long and is the best big sister Edward could ask for," Jessica said. "This procedure has allowed us to grow our family." --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Attwells doubles down on Ipswich with opening of new HQ URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/why-attwells-solicitors-is-doubling-down-on-ipswich/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:41:26.000Z **Why it matters:** The move sees one of Ipswich's best-known law firms invest in a purpose-designed head office and double down on its commitment to the town, with capacity for further growth. **The details:** Attwells Solicitors officially opened its new head office at St Vincent House on Friday, 24 April, with the ribbon cut by Ipswich Mayor Cllr Stefan Long. Local MP Jack Abbott also attended the celebration and toured the new premises. - The new office has been designed as an open, collaborative workspace with no individual offices, in what the firm describes as a "one team" approach. - The premises also provide capacity for future expansion and an opportunity to attract talent aligned with the firm's core HEART values. - The opening event also raised £500 for Suffolk Cancer Support, a local charity dedicated to helping those affected by cancer. Guests took part in fundraising activities, including a raffle featuring prizes donated by local businesses. - The firm thanked Lisa Lewis and the team at Source One for project management and fit-out, Eddie Beckett of Plan IT, and Attwells team members Emma Matthews and Dawn Lambert for their leadership throughout the process. **What they're saying:** "This moment reflects a more mature Attwells, one that knows who we are and isn't afraid to do things differently," said founder Nick Attwell. "Our new space is designed to prioritise collaboration, openness, and the wellbeing of our team. It's not about traditional offices; it's about creating an environment where people can thrive and deliver the best for our clients." ![St Vincent House in Ipswich](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/1777450858164-jq2m8ywpl3-img_9387.jpeg) St Vincent House in Ipswich (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) On the firm's commitment to the town, the speaker added: "Ipswich has a rich history, but it's equally important to focus on its future. We're proud to play our part in supporting the town's momentum and ambition." He described Ipswich as a place with "a rich history," but where "it's equally important to focus on its future". **For context:** Attwells Solicitors is a full-service law firm serving individuals and businesses across Suffolk, Essex and London. The firm currently employs 45 people in Ipswich, with a further 45 colleagues spread across its Woodbridge, Colchester and London offices. **The bottom line:** With a new head office, room to grow and a public commitment to its hometown, Attwells Solicitors has used the opening of St Vincent House to position itself firmly behind Ipswich's future. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich plumbing apprentice named one of top female plumbers in the country URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-plumbing-apprentice-named-one-of-top-female-plumbers-in-the-country/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:08:42.000Z **Why it matters:** Danni Lee, 30, who is studying a level three plumbing, heating and gas course at Suffolk New College, came second in the HIP female skills competition national finals. **The details:** The competition, organised by HIP, showcases what organisers describe as "the outstanding skills, dedication and motivation of the next generation of female plumbers" Lee, who works for CJ Plumbing and Heating, came second in the regional heats in February before progressing to the finals at Stephenson College, part of the Loughborough College Group, where she faced five other finalists. **What they're saying:** "It's been a great experience, testing my skills against others and I'm shocked to become the second best female apprentice plumber in the country," said Lee. Owen Breadman, a lecturer at Suffolk Rural College, added: "It's brilliant. Danni smashed it. We are all very proud of her." **The bottom line:** Lee's achievement is a testament to her determination and skill, and a sign that women are making their mark in traditionally male-dominated trades. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£14 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### From Portman Road to the World Cup: Tommy Smith returns to where it all began URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/from-portman-road-to-the-world-cup-tommy-smith-returns-to-where-it-all-began/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:07:58.000Z **Why it matters:** Smith, who made more than 200 appearances for Ipswich Town and has over 50 international caps for New Zealand, visited Suffolk New College – where he once studied as part of the ITFC academy – to share the lessons of a career that has taken him around the world. **The details:** The 36-year-old, who also had spells at Brentford and Colchester United as well as clubs in America, Australia and New Zealand, sat down with college principal and CEO Alan Pease for a two-hour Q&A session in front of around 100 staff and students. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/04/1---Former-ITFC-hero-Tommy-Smith-with-Alan-Pease---principal-and-CEO-of-Suffolk-New-College.JPG) Alan Pease, principal and CEO of Suffolk New College with former ITFC player, Tommy Smith. (Photo: Suffolk New College) Smith discussed his injury issues, the managers who shaped him – including Roy Keane and Peter Taylor – and reflected on some of his toughest opponents – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar and Ronaldo – and favourite teammates – Aaron Cresswell and Chris Wood, who had a brief spell at Ipswich and currently plays for Nottingham Forest. **What they're saying:** Smith said it was "a really enjoyable experience" to return to Suffolk New College. "It's a magnificent building and it's great to come back and see the college thriving and going from strength to strength," he said. For students, the visit left a lasting impression. Jackson Pickering, 18, from Ipswich, who is studying personal training, said: "It was interesting hearing about how much they dedicate their lives to football and how you deal with setbacks." Jason Ogbonna, 18, from Colchester, who is on a Level 3 Sports Coaching programme, added: "Tommy helped promote the idea that you need to give it your all, try to improve every day, and make the most of opportunities. He has inspired me to do more." **What's next:** Smith is hoping to add to his tally of more than 50 New Zealand appearances by featuring at the 2026 World Cup Finals, and expects to know next month whether he has made the squad. "Fingers crossed. I'm waiting for the call and hopefully it will be positive news," he said. "It would be an amazing way to finish my career." Smith previously represented New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. **The bottom line:** A former ITFC player returned to his educational roots to inspire the next generation, and with a potential World Cup appearance still to come, Tommy Smith's story may not be over just yet. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich window repair firm raises money for EACH URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-window-repair-firm-raises-money-for-each/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:04:31.000Z **Why it matters:** East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) receives around 15% of its funding from government sources, meaning it relies heavily on community support to provide care for children and their families. **The details:** Mr Misty, a family-run business serving homeowners across Ipswich and the surrounding areas of Suffolk and Essex, launched its "Repair with a Purpose" scheme at the start of this year. The campaign pledged to donate £2 from every job booked during the first quarter of 2026\. After raising more than £1,200, the company has extended the scheme until the end of June. Customers who book during the extended period will contribute automatically, at no extra cost. **What they're saying:** "Our customers like the idea that something as simple as booking a repair can also make a meaningful difference," said Mr Misty owner, Joshua Sheppard. "Every repair job we complete not only helps keep homes safe and secure but also supports families facing incredibly difficult circumstances. Extending the campaign felt like the natural next step." EACH's senior corporate fundraiser for Suffolk and Essex, Anna Bruce, said the partnership went beyond financial support. "Partnerships like this don't just help us financially – they also help raise awareness of the services we provide and the families we support. Every pound raised helps ensure children and their families can access the care and support they need, when they need it most." **The bottom line:** An act of community spirit has turned routine home repairs into a meaningful source of support for children and families across the region. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Paul Daley URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-paul-daley/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:03:11.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Paul Daley is standing for the Green Party in the Priory Heath ward, contesting one of 16 borough council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Paul told us. ## Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become/remain a councillor? I was born in Ipswich and have lived in East Ipswich all my life, so some 56 years so far. I worked for a long time in Insurance and then spent around 7 years as a Volunteering Coordinator for a local Charity TWAM (Tools with a Mission). I have got involved in a range of volunteering over the years as well, and I am currently a churchwarden at the church I attend. Having lived in East Ipswich all that time I have a good understanding and empathy with the Priory Heath area and its needs. It is an area of the town which has sometimes felt neglected, but which offers significant potential. I would therefore love to be given the opportunity by the residents of the area to help bring about that potential. I am always an advocate in anything, in trying to do much more than just sustaining the status quo and if elected I would be trying to do that for the residents of Priory Heath. ## What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected? Priory Heath is amongst the areas of Ipswich with most poverty and is within the top 20% for deprivation nationally. It also has higher crime levels than many other parts of Ipswich and thirdly many residents have raised concerns about poor environmental maintenance including overgrown weeds, pavements, and general street maintenance. If elected, I would look to champion and work with groups who support people in poverty, looking also to try and bring in additional funding which could help these groups do more. I would look to strengthen the community bringing in a Good Neighbours scheme and regular community meetings across the area. A strong cohesive community empowered to bring about change, will be motivated, and own the change, bringing improvement from within, using people's skills and knowledge. This is essential in an environment where funding is more difficult to obtain. I would encourage these community meetings to bring about more social activity as, if people are integrated and involved in activity, they will be less likely to turn to crime. I would also look to improve the limited green spaces within this area and try to work with local people and other groups to introduce new spaces. ## Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport, and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing? Change needs to involve the people so that their voices are not ignored and that change works for them. If money and effort is going to be spent in changing the way local Government is managed, people want to see that they will make a difference, and will improve things for them, and make it easier to get things done rather than the opposite. As a councillor you have a duty to make sure their voices are heard and that services change for the better rather than being cut back. As a Green party candidate and potential candidate I believe that there is an opportunity to strengthen communities and to bring about improvements to the environment, underwritten by the need for these changes to be done in a long term and sustainable way, rather than simply being a sticking plaster to what is there. ## What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role? This came during the Covid pandemic. On furlough from work, I was motivated to do something to help so I led the creation of a Good Neighbour Scheme covering the IP3 area including Priory Heath. We engaged volunteers, obtained funding and supported residents in need of shopping, or prescriptions to collect, or just someone to talk to. I was successful in obtaining substantial funding to make things sustainable and this developed into a Charity. We were able to engage with the local authority and other voluntary groups and were awarded a High Sherrif's award. As we came out of Covid I led the organisation of a fun day in Murray Road Park which gave other groups the chance to have a voice and engage with locals. This shows that I am a person who if elected would look to get things done. I will always try to bring about what is needed and believe I have the motivation and the skills to do this well for the good of the residents. ## If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win? It is imperative that residents can easily contact their councillor and they would be able to do so by email [pauldaley13@gmail.com](mailto:pauldaley13@gmail.com) or through my social media, particularly Facebook Paul Daley Politics. I would look to hold regular community meetings and surgeries for people to speak to me about issues on a one-to-one basis. I would also try to attend local events so people could see that I am active in the community and am easy to contact and approach. --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Priory Heath — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Stephen Connelly URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-stephen-connelly/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:03:00.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Stephen Connelly is standing in both, contesting one of 16 borough seats and one of 12 county seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Stephen told us. ### Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become/remain a councillor? I've lived in Suffolk since 1979, when I started work as a Physics Teacher at a local High School. I was a keen Squash Player/Coach until age caught up with me, and I was forced to hang up my racket. I'm proud to be Chair of the Governing Body at The Beeches Community Primary School, where the staff work tirelessly to offer our children a first-rate education and every opportunity to shine. I was a Whitton Borough Councillor between 2011 and 2015 and live near the Ward. ### What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected? 1. Whitton has the benefit of some fabulous Green Spaces and plenty of high quality Social Housing but the provision of adequate new affordable housing remains a challenge although the new development on the Tooks Bakery Site is a fantastic start. 2. The supply of adequate SEND provision is an area where young people are currently being let down. We need better provision in or near our current schools. You should not have to cross the County in a Taxi to get the education you need. I welcome the work currently being done by the Labour Government in this area. 3. Adult Social Care is a major issue for a population that is ageing. A lack of provision of high-quality care homes near the communities creating the demand remains a barrier that we simply must break down. ### Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing? We are moving into an exciting period of transformation away from the existing failed two-tier model of Local Government. The new Unitary Authority based around the Greater Ipswich Area will offer challenges but also present benefits to the community it will serve. We might finally see due emphasis given to the busiest, most used roads in our County Town. The Combined Mayoral Authority will offer a strategic transport role, which might finally see the delivery of a Northern Route, which the residents in Whitton Ward have been demanding for two decades. ### What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role? I was proud to work with IBC and the NW Big Local Trust to help deliver the Skatepark on White House Recreation Ground. I take great pride in seeing this in constant daily use as I pass by. I'm also greatly encouraged to see the work of the Whitton Youth Partnership continuing to support young people, and that the NW Area Committee, which I chaired, helped to fund in earlier years. As Chair of IBC's Licensing & Regulatory Committee, I've worked with local disability campaigners to ensure that the Taxi Service remains accessible for all members of our community. ### If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win? As a retired teacher, I am responsive and accessible. My phone and email address are constantly monitored and available in the public domain. I love to attend all the local events that community groups run. If I'm invited, I'll be there! --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Whitton — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Jennifer McCarthy URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-jennifer-mccarthy/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:02:46.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Jennifer McCarthy is standing for the Green Party in the Castle Hill ward and the Westgate division, contesting one of 16 borough council seats and one of 12 county council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Jennifer told us. ## Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become/remain a councillor? I moved to Ipswich in 2001 aged 11, and have lived in the Castle Hill and Westgate area for the majority of that time, moving back to my childhood home in 2020\. That long-term connection means I understand both the strengths of the area and the challenges residents face. Alongside this, I've been involved in a range of voluntary work across Ipswich, including conservation work on local heathland, helping to set up the Ipswich Umbrella Climate Hub, and running a creative mental health workshop for children at a local library. While this hasn't taken place directly within my ward, it has given me insight into issues that affect residents here too, particularly around the environment, wellbeing, and community resilience. I'm standing because I want to help ensure local services and decisions reflect residents' needs and support a more sustainable, connected community. ## What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected? Through listening to local residents, I think that three of the biggest concerns locally are access to GP services, antisocial behaviour and the need for better community facilities. Many residents are struggling to access timely GP appointments. There are plans to increase capacity locally, which is very welcome, but if elected I would focus on making sure those plans are delivered, and that they properly meet the needs of local people. That means working with NHS partners, but most importantly continuing to listen to residents about their experiences. Antisocial behaviour, from littering through to more serious crime, affects people's sense of safety and pride in the area. I would push for a joined-up approach between the council, police, and community groups, alongside early intervention and youth engagement, because prevention is just as important as enforcement. Finally, community assets matter. The future of Broomhill Lido has faced setbacks, but it remains something many local people care deeply about. I would support efforts to bring it back into use in a way that is financially sustainable and community-led, because investing in positive shared spaces can improve wellbeing and help address issues like isolation and antisocial behaviour. ## Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing? Suffolk is going through significant change, and it's vital this is done with communities, not to them. Moving to unitary authorities could improve coordination, but we need to ensure that decisions don't become more centralised and remote. For me, the priority is making sure power, funding, and accountability stay as local as possible. At the same time, pressures on housing, transport and public services must be addressed in a joined-up way - new housing, for example, needs to come with GP access and reliable public transport. As a councillor, my role would be to represent residents' voices, scrutinise decisions, and push for transparency, making sure these changes actually lead to better services and outcomes for local people. ## What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role? My most significant achievement is completing a first-class degree in radiography while managing worsening disability. It required sustained commitment, resilience, and careful balancing of academic work, placements, and personal wellbeing over several years. My clinical placements also involved working with a wide range of patients, which strengthened my communication skills, professionalism, and ability to remain calm and focused in challenging situations. I think this experience demonstrates how I approach responsibility: with dedication, but also with practicality and empathy. If elected, I would bring that same approach to decision-making, listening carefully, considering the impact on different groups, and working consistently to deliver the best outcomes for residents. ## If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win? Being accessible and accountable to residents would be a key priority for me. People would be able to contact me easily by email or letter, and I would aim to respond promptly and transparently. I would also hold regular in-person meetings, giving residents the opportunity to raise concerns, ask questions, and discuss local issues directly. Just as importantly, these meetings would help me understand how residents feel about upcoming decisions, so I can represent their views effectively. For me, being a councillor is about listening and working with the community - I'm there to represent residents and their priorities, not to speak over them. --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Castle Hill and Westgate — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Steven Reynolds URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-steven-reynolds/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:02:22.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Steven Reynolds is standing for Labour in the St Margaret's Ward, contesting one of 16 borough council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Steven told us. ### Tell us a bit about yourself I have lived in St Margaret's ward for 50 years and know the area very well. I brought my children up here, and both attended Northgate High School. I have seen the impact that an active council can make; being a councillor would give me an opportunity to influence the services that are important to me. I am a member of the Friends of Christchurch Park and the Ipswich Society. After retiring, I joined the University of the Third Age and attend a wide range of groups. I am also a season ticket holder at ITFC. I am a keen runner, having completed marathons and half marathons in Suffolk and beyond. I enjoy running in our beautiful parks and would love to see them host more community events. ### What are the three biggest issues facing your ward, and how would you tackle them if elected? One of the issues facing St Margarets is the increased traffic and pressure on services since the development of the Ipswich Garden Suburb. Lack of affordable housing – to rent or to buy – is an issue across Ipswich, along with roads which are more pothole than tarmac. I would campaign for more council housing, effective implementation of the Renter's Rights Act 2026 and vastly increased investment in our roads. ### Suffolk is in the middle of significant change, with local government reorganisation and devolution on the horizon. What does this mean for Ipswich, and what would you push for? The new council structure will make it much easier for people to understand who provides their services. It's crucial that the transition is managed very carefully to minimise disruption to services, particularly to elderly and vulnerable people. Ipswich Borough Council have a sound record of delivering new council housing in recent years (570 properties). Securing funding for more homes would be a top priority for me. Longer term, a Northern Bypass would relieve traffic congestion, especially in the Valley Road area. ### What do you consider your most significant achievement, and how does it prepare you for this role? In my younger years, I was very active in the scouting movement and led trips in the UK and abroad. Scouting requires a strong commitment, teamwork and a willingness to "muck in" when required. I worked in the construction sector as a site manager - planning projects and working with clients and contractors – making it all "come together". I think these experiences would provide a good foundation for becoming a councillor. ### If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents? I would attend community events, offer surgeries, and make my contact details widely known. I would work with other councillors in the ward on areas of joint interest. --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in St Margaret's Ward — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person, you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Adele Cook URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-adele-cook/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:01:58.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Adele Cook is standing for the Labour and Co-operative Party in the St Clement's division, contesting one of 12 county council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Adele told us. ### Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become a councillor? I have lived in St Clement's division for 26 years. My daughter attended Clifford Road Primary School and Copleston High School, where both of my granddaughters are now pupils. I have always felt part of the community here, from casual meetings while walking the dog to the amazing events held in Alexandra Park. I met so many people from different walks of life while my husband, John, was Mayor of Ipswich. I have worked in the public sector for most of my working life, serving my community as a prosecutor. Being a councillor is an opportunity to give back to the community, using my skills and experience to help and represent people, often in difficult situations. ### What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected? Roads are a massive issue. Keeping traffic moving, with a new Northern Bypass, is vital for our Town's future. The pothole epidemic on our roads is an absolute menace, with short-sighted agreements making money for contractors while millimetres are denied reparation. This has to be challenged, and a better deal secured for our Town. Adult social care needs to work better. Management of minor admin issues makes life, at a difficult time, so much harder. This can and must change. Education opens doors for our children, and every child must have the opportunities and support to encourage learning and build confidence. Too many children are failing due to the constraints of the system. Special Educational Needs have increased post-pandemic. Our children and families need help and support now. Creating the best future for our children is something I am committed to. ### Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing? LGR is a challenge, but a massive opportunity. Done well, Local Government Reorganisation will simplify life for Suffolk residents. It will provide a "One Stop Shop" for all our Local Authority needs, without trying to work out who deals with what and what number to call. With services under one roof, the new authority, with spending decisions made closer to the people affected by them, will enable fairer distribution of resources. A strong council needs councillors who will represent residents, ask challenging questions and read the small print. This is the biggest change to the way our Town and County are run in over 40 years. We need to get this right now, for all our futures. ### What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role? In 1999, with no A-levels, I qualified as a barrister. Talking my way into university, I graduated top of the 3-year law degree course. This changed my life and opened the door to a career spanning 27 years of public service. Working primarily in Ipswich, I dealt with domestic abuse, drug offences, knife crime, organised crime and serious sexual offences. I have worked to get justice for individuals, their families and the community. Becoming a barrister was a tough professional goal. I made it with the support and encouragement of good people. In return, I have supported many people to help them achieve their goals. Elected at a by-election in April 2025, my biggest achievement was supporting a family to secure a place in a Special Unit for a child with special educational needs. I never give up, in my personal or professional life, and this is what I will bring to the role of a councillor if elected. ### If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win? I am available via email and phone. I will meet with residents and community groups. I would like to know what works best for those I represent. I will provide updates on what I am doing and seek residents' views on the issues that impact them. I can be contacted through my County Council email at [adele.cook@suffolk.gov.uk](mailto:adele.cook@suffolk.gov.uk). --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in St Clement's — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person, you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Meet the candidate: Sachin Karale URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/meet-the-candidate-sachin-karale/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T08:01:26.000Z On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Sachin Karale is standing for the , Party in the Bridge division, contesting one of 12 county council seats up for election across Ipswich. As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Sachin told us. ### Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become a councillor? My name is Sachin Karale. I moved to Ipswich 22 years ago to work as a Research Scientist in Artificial Intelligence at British Telecom. I am a local business owner in Ipswich town centre. I am standing to represent one of the county divisions in Suffolk—Bridge, which covers an extensive portion of the Ipswich town centre. As a local business owner, I can represent the voice of local businesses and bring forward ideas to help create a thriving town centre. At the same time, as I live in the town centre, I understand the needs of local people and can address them in a practical way. ### What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected? Most needed for our town, I want to propose and deliver achievable, affordable, easy to implement, and logical solutions—ideas that would benefit the local residents. These can help reduce pollution, improve journey times, lower road accidents, and ease congestion. This can be done through better traffic management, improved coordination of roadworks, clearer road signage, and smarter rules around goods deliveries and food collections. I am also backing the northern bypass and am open to considering suggestions. Secondly, with a background as a research scientist, I aim to support improvements in education that help the younger generation develop modern skills and open up new employment opportunities. Thirdly, I would like to contribute to public health and safeguarding by supporting vulnerable adults and children, working closely with the police and the NHS to ensure effective coordination and care. ### Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing? Often, residents are confused about which borough council ward or county division they live in, especially where borough and county boundaries do not align. In addition, it is not always clear to residents whether specific issues fall under the borough council or the county council. This will become clearer through the formation of a unitary council, although achieving this would be an intensive task to deliver within a short timeframe. I will consider public consultation and engagement as a very important factor. Listening to residents is always the main priority, so their voices can be heard. ### What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role? I am actively involved with number of communities, charities and networking group across the town and county, which keeps me closely connected to both businesses and residents. I have already contributed to the Old County Hall vision, bringing new businesses into the town and helping to put empty properties back into use. This can be expanded further by engaging more businesses and residents and providing the right platform for growth. If elected, my approach to attracting investment into Ipswich and Suffolk can help take this even further. ### If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win? I am actively posting on my social media, where constituents can follow my work and get in touch via those channels or by email at [sachinkaraleipswich@yahoo.com](mailto:sachinkaraleipswich@yahoo.com). I will do my best to respond in a timely manner. I occasionally engage and speak at various events to a wider audience. - Facebook: Dr Sachin Karale Ipswich - LinkedIn: Dr Sachin Karale - Twitter / X: ipswichKarale - Instagram: sachinkaraleipswich --- Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Bridge — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full. Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person, you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections. [View all our 2026 local election coverage](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/2026-local-elections-in-ipswich/) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£27 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. ### Ipswich solicitors closed after years of regulatory warnings URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ipswich-solicitors-closed-after-years-of-regulatory-warnings/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T09:32:27.000Z **Why it matters:** Intervention is the most serious regulatory action the SRA can take against a law firm, used to protect clients when the regulator concludes the firm has failed to comply with its rules. The Ipswich firm, which operated from offices in Whitehouse, can no longer act on behalf of its clients. **The details:** The SRA has seized all monies held by the firm, including clients' money, alongside documents. - The regulator has appointed Chris Evans of Lester Aldridge LLP, based in Bournemouth, as the intervening agent. - Clients can contact the intervening agents on 01202 786 341 or by emailing [interventions@la-law.com](mailto:interventions@la-law.com). **The bigger picture:** Tuesday's intervention is the third public regulatory action against the firm in less than three years. - In June 2023, the firm was rebuked and ordered to pay £600 in costs after an SRA investigation found "successive" qualified accountant's reports had flagged a suspense ledger holding unallocated client money. - The 2023 investigation found that residual client balances had grown to 360 matters totalling £40,176.05 by the end of 2021, despite a previous SRA inspection identifying the same issue. - In August 2025, the firm agreed to pay a £13,690 financial penalty plus £600 in costs after the SRA found it had failed to comply with anti-money laundering regulations between October 2011 and February 2025. **The reasons given:** The SRA says Mr Ross Coates, as a manager of the firm, and the firm itself failed to comply with rules applicable to them under the Administration of Justice Act 1985. The regulator says it was "necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients or former clients, the interests of beneficiaries of any trust of which the firm is or was a trustee, or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which a person who is or was a manager or employee of the firm is or was a trustee." **For context:** The 2025 financial penalty followed a desk-based review by the SRA's anti-money laundering proactive supervision team, which identified that the firm had failed to establish and maintain adequate policies, controls and procedures to manage the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing. The SRA found that of five live files reviewed, four contained no client and matter risk assessment. The firm was placed on a compliance plan and was deemed compliant by May 2025. In the regulatory settlement, the SRA noted there was "no evidence of harm to consumers or third parties" from the AML breaches and that the firm had "cooperated with the investigation" and "shown remorse for its actions." **The bottom line:** Former clients of Ross Coates Solicitors who need access to their files or money should contact Lester Aldridge LLP, the intervening agents appointed by the SRA. Ross Coates Solicitors was approached for comment. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. _Includes the latest 500 public posts. Use `/sitemap.xml` for the complete archive of public content._