More Ipswich projects underway as public safety, environment and education boosted

Bringing the total number of projects underway to 13, the £2 million Ipswich Investment Fund awards Ipswich businesses, organisations, and community groups funding to deliver projects which deliver a multitude of benefits, including employment opportunities for young people, working with partners to develop the town’s arts, culture and leisure offer and enhancing sustainable travel options.

The fund was established following cabinet approving recommendations from the Ipswich Policy Development Panel (PDP) back in March 2023. It was set aside to support the delivery of projects across the town, following engagement with a wide range of local partners and stakeholders.

Totalling nearly £600,000 in awarded funds, some of the projects within the third tranche, are as follows:

• Belstead Brook Park Access Improvement (£145,000 – IBC Greenways Countryside Project)

This will create a new improved access path from Bourne Park and Stoke Park Drive to Bobbits Lane and the wider Belstead Brook Park, and links to Jimmy's Farm, Suffolk Food Hall, the Shotley Peninsula, Alton Water and the wider countryside. The work will include timber boardwalks, levelling, surfacing, fencing, bollards to reduce antisocial behaviour.

Whilst also boosting biodiversity, with new ponds, scrapes, and ditches in Bourne Park Reedbeds Nature Reserve, along with new information boards.

• Gipping River Path Environmental Enhancements (£45,000 – IBC Greenways Countryside Project)

The enhancements here look set to refresh the pocket park and river path/cycleway, opposite the railway station. This will include vegetation management, new information boards, repairs to infrastructure, cleaning off graffiti, re-painting and other works to improve safety whilst maintaining biodiversity.

There will also be installation of a CCTV camera to deter anti-social behaviour.

• Ipswich Waterfront streetlighting upgrades – further extension towards Dance East (£40,860)

Continuation of the original project set up where Suffolk Streetlighting upgraded lighting at Albion Wharf, extending to Neptune Marina Apartments and Anchor Street Apartments. This upgrade will extend towards Dance East and include new street lighting columns with contemporary low energy LED lanterns, all finished in black.

• Let’s Talk Reading (£145,024)

The project aims to drive up literacy levels across Ipswich by organsing events across a range of settings including parents and babies groups, early years, primary and secondary schools and adult literacy and coaching.

• Wolsey 550 Education programme (£193,000)

This is an 18-month public engagement programme and 12-month careers education project and uses resources to deliver creative arts careers workshops with project partners.

Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said:

“It is fantastic to see the progress already being made with these projects as a result of funding committed by Suffolk County Council. There are now 13 projects underway with some fantastic organisations, all working collaboratively for the benefit of Ipswich residents.

“The later projects focus on public safety, the environment and education giving all areas a real and welcome boost.

“Our driving force behind this fund has focussed on the council’s key objectives to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents and to strengthen our local economy – we will continue to keep residents updated with dates and progress related to these projects.”