New Hotels in Ipswich

A Travelodge is being built by Barnes Construction in Duke Street on the former Kennings Car Hire site. With an exciting and colourful external appearance this 87 bedroom hotel will provide accommodation for parents visiting students in the adjacent university, visitors to the Marina and an affordable stay for the increasing weekenders choosing Ipswich as a base.

On the site of Cranfield's lorry wash (the triangular plot between Star Lane, Slade Street and Key Street) Premier Inn are promising a 81 bed hotel. This site, immediately to the rear of the Custom House, enjoys a location closer to the town centre whilst still being within a stone's throw of the water. Car parking will be on the adjacent triangular site, the former Cranfield's garage next to St Mary Quay. Both sites are owned by Investec Bank plc, receivers of the assets of the two previous developers now in administration. In the case of Cranfield's, the hotel was originally granted planning permission in 2004 alongside the 23 storey Mill but was never started, with subsequent planning applications for residential and then student accommodation floundering in the recession.

John Norman

Shipping in the Haven Ports

6,800 ships sailed into Harwich Haven in 2011- that's 500 each month or an average of 18 every day. They were heading for Felixstowe, Harwich (Parkeston) and Ipswich.

Firearms in Suffolk

Suffolk, population 668,000. Firearms held under licence: 41,600 shot guns, 12,500 firearms = 54,100 guns held by 21,500 people.