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When I last wrote Street Scene I did not think there would be much to report this time what with the ‘Cost of living crisis’, world shortages due to wars and the pandemic etc., but as ever, our town continually changes and throws up surprises. With the very successful ‘Big Hoot’ Art Trail filling the town with colourful Owls the town has been awash with children from Ipswich and further afield dragging their parents and grandparents all round the town for selfies with all the owls whilst using many of the town's facilities as they go – and greatly adding to the town centre footfall. This is the third Art Trail held in Ipswich and each time they seem to get busier.
Town centres are contracting and the stronger businesses tend to be moving more centrally as space becomes available. It was not long ago Superdrug closed both its shops on the edge of town and opened a new one right in the centre on Tavern Street. Ann Summers has moved from the far end of Westgate Street, filling the old Paperchase unit in Tavern Street. Time 2 Vape has just moved from Butter Market into the old Thorntons unit in Tavern Street. Sports Direct and Game with other Fraser Group brands are expected to move in the near future from Carr Street into the more central former BHS building in Butter Market, which it now owns.
Time2Vape, Tavern Street
The Sailmakers Shopping Centre (formerly Tower Ramparts) has recently changed hands and the new owners, ALB Group, seem determined to get it up and running again. All the empty units have been cleaned up and refurbished since they took over. Bex Bait & Tackle and The Military Unit have moved into the refurbished former Post Office site on the first floor. Blue Inc were to close but are now reported to be staying open whilst Harry’s handcrafted Doughnuts are shortly to open in the former Bags 4 U unit. Media suggests there are other interested parties looking at the complex.
The Grape Escape wine shop is to open soon in the long-empty former Alexandria Hair Artistry building in St Margaret's Plain which has just been refurbished. The Great Escape rooms (a sort of Crystal Maze-style set of puzzles) has just opened on Fore Street.
Lush in Tavern Street has recently been closed and has now reopened after a complete freshen up. The former Burger King unit in Westgate Street, where building work is in progress, will soon be opening as a Thai/Chinese Restaurant. Instead of closing, Next has made their London Road store in Suffolk Retail Park into an Outlet Store selling off end of line stock as well as a Click-&-Collect hub.
After closing during the pandemic Arlingtons restaurant is open again on Museum Street with a new owner.
The Oasis Lounge bar and café has opened on Albion Wharf next to the Winerack and work has started to refurbish the former La Tour Cycle Café unit for the BrewDog pub chain (also on Albion Wharf, at the head of the Wet Dock). The Gandhi Indian Restaurant in St Peter's Street which has been managed by Mohammed Miah since 1990, has been leased to Caprinos Pizza and is being converted into a Pizza restaurant, whilst the former Carphone Warehouse unit in the Anglia Retail Park is to become a Taco Bell restaurant.
After months of work, 4 College Street, the Grade II listed merchant’s house by the docks which has been derelict for many years has completed a major refurbishment and restoration by Ipswich Borough Council and now looks smart and loved once more. This is the first phase of IBC's plans to restore the remaining buildings by the Waterfront gateway off Bridge Street which includes landscaping plans for the current temporary car park on the former Paul’s maltings site.
Construction continues with work progressing fast on the new McCarthy Stone ‘assisted living complex’ in Lower Brook Street on the former Archant newspapers site, while work is surging ahead on the new 100-bedroom Travelodge next to Endeavour House (SCC HQ) on Russell Road. Ipswich Museum is soon to close for two to three years whilst it undergoes a major refurbishment and upgrade assisted by the Lottery Heritage Fund. Plans are in place to build a state-of-the-art Aqua Park swimming pool on the Portman Road car park, replacing Crown Pools – which are considered to be substandard for today's expectations. A multi-storey car park is also planned to serve the Aqua Park, the football stadium and the evolving office and business corridor in Princes Street.
The new Handford Road flats for the disabled have recently been completed and look good. The Duke Street residential development construction continues (slowly) with indications that the flats are not selling as quickly as the developer would like.
The Blue Light Hub – combined Police Station/Fire Station/Ambulance Station – on Princes Street has been completed and is looking much smarter than the dated and tired Fire Station building it has replaced. St Clement's Church Arts Centre has completed Phase 1 of its conversion into an Arts Centre with its brand new oak wall-to-wall floor. Fund-raising continues for Phase 2, to include toilets and a kitchen.
As part of the ‘Greener Ipswich Project’, new bespoke seating has been installed on the paved area by St Peter's Church tower with plans to add to the landscaping in the area.
With some of the hoardings removed the Tidal Barrier viewing area at the end of Bath Street has become more visible but discussion is still taking place to try and overcome the Health and Safety issues and get the whole block-paved and landscaped area fully accessible to the public.
Tim Leggett