Snippets

Erato* The date given for the photograph of the block-paving of Cornhill on last issue's front cover has been hotly debated. John Field, who should know, suggests that it's more likely to be 1986-7. The brass plaque commemorating the completion of the paving was laid by Mayor Bill Quinton on 15 November 1988. Also, the attribution of the street name for the photograph of the stagnating buildings on page 10 has been hotly etc. Many say that it's Crown Street, not St Mathews Street as printed. Some disagree…

[*Erato is, of course, the Ancient Greek Muse of lyric poetry. Not an error.]

St Benedict's School, Bury St Edmunds came to visit Ipswich in early February. The AS Level Geography class came for a trip all to do with the regeneration of towns. Their visit was part of a comparative study with their home town, Bury St Edmunds and, by analysing a variety of aspects of each town, Ipswich came across (in the eyes of the young students) very well. The negative comments that are all too familiar in the press and on local radio are perhaps overstatements of the actual situation.The Ipswich Society was contacted by a member of staff and asked to provide guides and advisers. Our Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Hon. Secretary were all involved in the tour of the town, a trip to the award-winning Quay Place and a visit to the Waterfront. We were asked if this was a regular occurrence because the value they placed on such contact was very high. Perhaps the profile of the Society might rise, with other young people if we were to promote this aspect of our work more prominently? There may be more work to do on this matter.

Coach company National Express said (Ipswich Star 14.2.17) that its advanced bookings revealed Ipswich to be the sixth most popular town in the country in terms of passenger arrivals for the February half-term week, with thousands of people set to visit. ‘Ipswich is a beautiful town and absolutely packed with things to see and do, so it is little wonder it's one of our most popular half-term visitor destinations.'

Many of you will know that Barnes Construction have been building the new Rosehill Centre for the last couple of months. The East of England Co-op has announced the retailers who will fill the expanded spaces. Greggs (today just a lunchtime snack retailer) will take the single shop unit close to Felixstowe Road.

A new gym, Fit4less will occupy the new large unit on the extreme left, Aldi will move into the second unit, a slightly larger shop than their existing unit, importantly with wider aisles to enable shelf restacking during busy periods. The Co-op will remain in its existing unit which is being changed internally and Poundstretcher will occupy the existing Aldi store.

You will be pleased to see that the car park has been extended, and the arrival of the gym will bring trade to the retailers at what have been quieter times. New homes are to be built behind the stores (fronting on to Derby Road adjacent to Rosehill School).

Buttermarket Centre sold

It might seem odd that a company which bought the Centre for £9.2m and has spent £25m on its radical changes should now agree to sell it to the National Grid Pension Fund - until it is pointed out that their profit is some £20m. The days of Grimwades, Ridleys and Edwards have long since gone.