I am becoming increasingly bemused by the number of committees, boards, or groups (of leaders) whose remit is to advise and steer Ipswich into the future. Which way to go, where to make investments that will create growth, where to spend the money that the Government is promising for town centre improvements. Not only financial support for the ‘town centre’ but also, for example, local shopping parades, skills training, and leisure facilities. 

There is no definitive list of either the groups of advisers or the funding available, but I have heard of (but do not necessarily understand) the following:

Ipswich Vision,  Ipswich Policy Development Panel,  Ipswich Town Deal Board,  Ipswich’s City Bid.  Cross Party Working Group,  All About Ipswich (their online prospectus),  Greater Ipswich City Deal.  

I also know that these groups have various amounts of money to spend, and it is interesting to note that some of the projects are underway. The £3 million allocated to a single town centre ‘improvement’ was earmarked for Arras Square (following public consultation) some four years ago and only now coming to fruition.

It is possible that what we need is a Victorian Vision, and entrepreneur with foresight, a group that can see that things are not working and can spot the opportunity for change. Such a committee met in 1803 and by 1805 had obtained a Parliamentary Act to become the River Commissioners, purchase a steam dredger and straighten the navigational course. Wonderful names given to the short stretches of open water at right angles to the banks such as ‘Back Again Reach’ were lost as the river became easier for laden sailing vessels.  

The vision of the River Commissioners worked, by 1830 loans had been repaid and £25,000 accumulated, discussion turned to creating a floating harbour, a wet dock where vessels could berth alongside and remain afloat, level with the quay. William Lane, Collector of Customs suggested, at a meeting of interested parties in the Moot Hall, that a freshwater bypass channel should be dug, from Stoke Bridge to Cliff Quay (The New Cut) enabling the wide basin on the St Clement’s side to be enclosed. When the new lock into the Wet Dock opened in1842 the Mayor called for ‘three times three’ cheers for William Lane Esq.

JN

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