Snippets 1

Holywells Park

The Heritage Lottery Fund's £2.8m grant towards the restoration of buildings and the creation of new facilities in the park is very welcome news indeed. The appeal for volunteers to help in some of the new work is sensible. It underlines the fact that Ipswich's parks are a community asset - probably our greatest asset vis à vis other British towns. (Christchurch and Holywells have both been re-awarded Green Flag status, national recognition of first-class maintenance and appeal.)

Screens still to come?

Vue Cinemas intended to convert the former department store spaces in the Buttermarket Shopping Centre to house nine screens. But the company has now been bought by a Canadian private equity group, the sort of owners often looking for a fast buck. It would be a sad waste of space in the town centre if this admittedly expensive and complicated conversion didn't happen.

Too long for Ipswich?

Boris's banned bendy buses might have found a new home here as Ipswich Buses have won back the Park & Ride contract, starting beginning of November, with reduced frequency: every 12 minutes rather than every 10). One was spotted in St Matthew's Street in late May like a rare visiting bird, but not seen since then. These snakey buses have greater capacity (standing room for passengers and extra luggage space). Extra capacity is required on a Saturday, particularly on the Copdock route.

No big Tesco

Tesco's decision not to build their mega-store on Grafton Way, just across the river from the railway station, brings sighs of relief from retailers in the town centre. But one wonders what will happen on this important and very visible site. Tesco reportedly expect £10-12m for the site, a price which would rule out residential development, a better use for this location.

Stoke Quay

Since the pre-recession building boom the only large-scale new housing scheme ongoing is at Stoke Quay where Genesis Housing Association will provide 388 affordable and ‘extra care' homes although including (only) 25 town houses. The new £38m flood barrier (like a smaller version of the Thames Barrier) is being built nearby with funding from the Environment Agency and the New Anglian Local Enterprise Partnership.

Recalling flight

Ravenswood was the site of Ipswich airport. Hence the choice of a flying horse, Pegasus, for a new public sculpture there. It is the creation of Paul and Catherine Richardson. Paul's work is well-known in the town -the Foxgrove bandsmen gates in Foxhall Road, the ball room dancers at Ipswich Hospital and the fly-swatting Major at Major's Corner.

Easier on the eye

The new direction signposts for visitors in the town centre are more user-welcoming with clean neat lettering generously spaced on a very pale green background. They also include times likely to be taken walking to a destination - figures which will help, or be debatable!