AngleMARCH 2019

BRINGING YOU ALLTHE LATEST NEWSABOUT YOURCOUNCIL

WWW.IPSWICH.GOV.UK

IT’S ALL SMILES AT THE SWITCH-ONIt’s party time! SEE PAGE 6

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dirtydancingontour.com

BACK DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND

‘THE BIGGEST LIVE THEATRE

SENSATION OF ALL TIME’

‘THE BIGGEST LIVE THEATRE

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THE OBSERVER

‘SURPASSES ALL PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS’

‘SURPASSES ALL PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS’

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MON 8 - SAT 13 APR 01473 433100 • ipswichregent.com

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And there are more great shows on the way at theRegent Theatre and Corn Exchange - see P4

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CONTACTS

The Angle is published by Ipswich Borough Council and delivered to households in Ipswich.It is also published in the Ipswich Star and is available online at www.ipswich.gov.uk

Contact Angle: press.office@ipswich.gov.uk 01473 432031

Want to get in touch with a Councillor?Find out their details at www.ipswich.gov.uk/councillorsEmail them directly, for example: firstname.surname@councillors.ipswich.gov.uk

SIGN UP for Ipswich Borough Council job alerts at www.ipswich.gov.uk/jobsSIGN UP for Ipswich Borough Council job alerts at www.ipswich.gov.uk/jobs

CONTENTS

Council’s budget plans13

Fore Street Pool anniversary4

Area Committees update7

MURPHY’S LAW

11

Your chance to play Music Day9

HLF boost for Museum12

Have fun with an allotment14

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Best shows inthe regionWelcome to the RegentTheatre and Ipswich CornExchange.

There is something foreveryone coming up,including the spectacularDirty Dancing, with fantasticsongs, story and cast. Thisclassic stage sensation isback at the Regent fromMonday 8th to 13th April.You will most definitely havethe time of your life.

Dani Harmer and BobbyDavro take to the stage inthe Easter panto, Peter Pan,full of oohs and aahs, flyingand villains. Book yourtickets – the croc is ticking!Tuesday 16th andWednesday 17th April.

Hot on their heels is AvenueQ, half felt, half flesh and allheart. This charming tale oflife in a New York street willdelight and amuse. RegentTheatre Tuesday 30th Aprilto Saturday 4th May.

Over at the Corn Exchange,we offer Girl Power – theSpice Girls Experience, TheStory of Guitar Heroes,Steeleye Span (50thanniversary tour) and thesensational Sleaford Mods.

If classical music is yourthing, don’t miss Trianon’sJubilant Sounds concert onSaturday 27th April, withmusic from Rutter, Sibelius,Prokofiev to name just three.

There is much more to see.Go towww.ipswichregent.com formore details and to bookyour tickets.

Help pool celebrate a special anniversaryFore Street Pool is celebratingits 125th birthday this yearand we want you to helpmake it a splashing birthday.

The pool was opened inMarch 1894 by the Mayor ofIpswich, Samuel RichardAnness, and Felix Cobbold,former Vice­President of theSwimming Club, who offeredto donate land he owned inFore Street for the facility.

Fore Street Pool will have aspecial opening weekend onSaturday 23rd & Sunday 24thMarch to celebrate. Theweekend will include a SubAqua session, Life­savingChampionships and freepublic swimming sessionswith a donation to theMayor’s chosen charity, theSuffolk Law Centre.

Heritage displays will beavailable for public to viewover the weekend containingmemories from Fore Street,Crown Pools, Broomhill and StMatthew’s Baths.

125 Swim Challenge will runthroughout March forswimmers to challengethemselves to swim 125lengths of the pool in honourof the anniversary.

Have you got any memoriesthat you would like to share?Did you learn to swim there?If so, post them on ourIpswich Fit Facebook page.

www.ipswichfit.co.uk/forestreet125years

Did you know?* Originally 72 feet long, the

pool is now 75 feet in lengthto allow racing galas to beheld;

* At the end of the first year,Fore Street saw more than28,000 people attend;

* The first attendants werepaid 30 shillings a week;

Long­serving members ofstaff, Rob Bridgeman andTerry Cloud, have chlorinerunning through their veins ­between them they haveclocked up 75 years at thepool.

In fact, he loves it so much that he and bigsister Amelia, seven, held a sweet sale outsidetheir school and raised £50 to help with theannual spring­clean of High Street’s favouriteresident.

James Steward, Manager of Ipswich Museum,said he was very touched by the generousgesture.

“Museums are all about people and the factthat a new generation loves our mammothand our High Street museum is reallyimportant. We shall be using the £50 raised tohelp with the mammoth’s annual spring clean,which will ensure he looks spick and span forall our visitors.” James and Amelia went alongfor a special guided tour of the Museum.

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Kiss & Tell your friends

Four year­old Suffolk boy Jack Smith loves Ipswich Museum, particularly itsbest­known resident, Wool­I­am the mammoth.

One of the mostsignificant artexhibitions ever to visitSuffolk continues toattract thousands ofpeople to ChristchurchMansion.

Auguste Rodin’s iconiclife­size marble sculpture,The Kiss, is on display until28th April and visitornumbers to the Mansion areup by almost two thirds onthis time last year. The Kiss ison loan from the TateCollection and is thecentre­piece of the Kiss andTell: Rodin and SuffolkSculpture exhibition.Visitors can discover thestory of The Kiss and look atother images of love anddevotion found in IpswichMuseums’ own collections. The Mansion is open fromTuesdays to Sundays.

What a sweet surprise for Wool-I-am!

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Be the Link in

YOUR Community

Age UK Su昀olk is recrui琀ng volunteers for its exci琀ng new Community Links project.

As a Community Link volunteer you will: • Deliver informa琀on to older people’s clubs • Share informa琀on on services available • A琀end local events to promote & fundraise • Find out the issues facing older people

This role would suit you if you are con昀dent talking to a wide range of people, are a good listener and have a few hours to spare each week. Full training and support provided. If you are interested in this role, contact Lucy Evans on 07525 817984 or email community. links@ageuksu昀olk.org Registered charity: 1085900 12/18

Book yourXtreme partynow

EACH needs your helpEast Anglia’s Children’sHospices (EACH) are lookingfor volunteers to spend acouple of hours a week, oreven an hour a month,helping a family with a childwho accesses its hospice intheir own home.

Caring for a seriously ill childor youngster can put a lot ofextra demand on a family. Theaim of the Help at Homeservice is to put a caringindividual into a family’shome to provide everydaypractical support such acooking, sibling support,cleaning and gardening.

If you would like any moreinformation or to apply thenplease emailhugh.fenton­anwyll@each.org.uk or call Hugh on 01473271334.

We have some good news ifyou enjoyed – or wish youhad – the Xtreme activitieshosted by the BoroughCouncil during the summerholiday. The three Xtremeevents – Bubble Football(pictured), BattlezoneArchery and Bazooka Ball ­are now on offer as one­hourparties at Northgate SportsCentre. With coaches onhand, this is for up to 18people (minimum age 12).The parties are available atweekends and cost £110 foroutdoors and £130 indoors.www.ipswichfit.co.uk

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Ipswich Borough Council’s five AreaCommittees bring decision­making closer tohome.

Here are some examples of how local groupshave benefitted in the past 12 months ...

Three new educational workshops for schoolsvisiting Ipswich Museum have been madepossible by a grant of £4,500 from the CentralArea Committee.

The South East Area Committee gave £960 tothe Baby Bereavement Tree of Remembranceproject in Holywells Park to provide clearersigns.

Handford Cut parking barrier gates have beeninstalled thanks to £975 from the South EastArea Committee. This was done afterresidents complained about drug dealingfrom cars.

The Ipswich Jazz Festival will be able toexpand its offer, introduce a free Brazilian jazzshow, and offer concessionary tickets thanksto a grant of £3,100 made by all the AreaCommittees.

Befriending schemes for the over 50s, helpfor vulnerable residents, tenant participationand support for the Pita Festival and 1 BigMulticultural Festival – all made possible by£7,500 grants to the Bangladeshi SupportCentre from all the Area Committees.

Craft events, exhibitions and Equali Teas andreconstructions all contributed to Women’sVoices – Ipswich Women’s Festival Groupcelebrations of some women getting the votein 1918. £4,700 in total was given by the fiveArea Committees.

Another group to benefit from financialsupport (a total of £2,300) across all the AreaCommittees was Oyster Press for the WhoCares project for clients of Suffolk FamilyCarers. Printmaking workshops led to anexhibition at DanceEast.

The Out Loud Music team at South StreetStudios off Norwich Road benefitted from a£4,500 grant from Central Area Committee.

Summer social activities under the Holiday atHome scheme was awarded £440 by theCentral Area Committee to Christ Church tohelp local people.

The North East Area Committee gave £2,250to support sports activities over the summerholiday last year.

The Creative Computing Club was given£9,400 by the South East Area Committeetowards the cost of after­school computerand technology sessions at Ipswich Academy.South East also supported school scienceworkshops at Holywells Park (£1,230) andcommunity projects in the Nacton Road area(£5,000).

The North West Area Committee gave £3,000to support free sports activities foryoungsters last summer in a schemepartnered by the Borough Council and SuffolkPositive Futures.

The South West Area Committee supportedan EARLY Minds wellbeing project for primaryschool children (£2,550), repairs to thecommunity hall of St Francis Church (£7,000) ,drop­in advice service at Hawthorn Drive GPsurgery ((£4,550) and a Big Garden Partycommunity fun day (£960).

Area Committee updates

Your Area CommitteesThe next meetings are:South East: Wed 13th March 7pm Murrayfield Primary School, Nacton Road IP3 9JLNorth West: Thurs 14th March 7pm The Deaf Association, Suffolk House, 2 WharfedaleRoad IP1 4JPNorth East: Thurs 21st March 7.30pm Ransomes Sports Pavilion, Sidegate Avenue IP4 4JJwww.ipswich.gov.uk/areacommittees

Making a real difference to your community

More new homesPreliminary work has gotunder way at the formerTooks site in Norwich Road.

Sixy affordable homes arebeing built by IpswichBorough Council’s HandfordHomes developmentcompany, which hasappointed a local contractor,Gipping Construction, toundertake the work.

We will bring you moredetails in the next issue ofAngle.

Meanwhile, work isprogressing on 17 newhomes at a disused site inCauldwell Hall Road, whichwill be completed byChristmas.

Brighter park centreGo along to the Reg DriverVisitor Centre inChristchurch Park and youwill notice things look a lotbrighter.

For parks staff donned theiroveralls and picked up paintbrushes and pots totransform the recpetion areainto a daffodil shade ofwhite.

“Getting together andsprucing up the centre hasput a spring in their step,”said Parks OperationsManager Lisa Stannard.

Brew not BlueIpswich Mayor Jane Rileyjoined Samaritans volunteersto hand out tea bags,listening advice and leafletsat Ipswich railway station ona chilly winter day. The ideawas to turn Blue Mondayinto Brew Monday.

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If you see a rodentin the town centre -report it!Ipswich Borough Council has issued guidance topeople if they see a rat or a mouse in the towncentre.

Public sightings are quite rare but if you do see a rat or amouse in a public place you can report them to the Council’s01473 433115 customer services number or complete anonline form at www.ipswich.gov.uk The Council can then takeaction.

We will send our contractor, Millennium Pest Control, toinvestigate and advise on what needs to be done. If the issueis on Council­owned public land then Millennium will beauthorised to deal with it. If it is on private land then theCouncil will find out who the landowner is and work withthem to resolve it.

Here are some questions we get asked about rodents:

Will the Council send a pest control officer to my home?No. The Council does not currently offer this service. Weadvise residents to contact a local pest control firm for helpwith dealing with rodents in their home or garden.

Does the Council use bait?The Council’s contractors follow national guidelines and usebait only as a last resort and usually after any necessaryenvironmental improvements, such as cutting back bushes,has been undertaken.

Who is responsible for paying for rodent control?Ipswich Borough Council will pay for the control of rodentswhere it owns the land. If the problem is on private land theCouncil will encourage the landowner to deal with the issuebut will not pay for it. Residents are responsible for paying forrodent control at their home.

What does the Council do if a private landowner does notdeal with rodents properly?The Council can serve an enforcement notice on the owner orthe occupier of the land requiring them to carryout work todeal with the problem. This can include treatment of theproblem and/or structural works to buildings or drainage. Therecipient of the enforcement notice is given a period of timeto complete the works and the Council will check to see if theyhave been done.

Why not play atMusic Day?Aspiring musicians still have an opportunity tobook their place at Ipswich Music Day andhave a chance of playing in front of thousandsof people.

Christchurch Park will be packed with musicfans of all ages and tastes on Sunday 7th July –all we need is a great line­up.

Whatever you play, whatever you sing, ifyou’re good enough we want to hear you.Please fill in an application form and attach alink to your music, a description of yourself oryour group and an image for the programme.

Applications close at 3pm on Monday 25thMarch. A selection committee will review allapplications and let the successful ones knowon Tuesday 23rd April.

Ipswich Music Day is the UK’s biggest freeone­day music festival – there are no fees orexpenses for performers but you do get to seewhat it’s like to play in front of a crowd of35,000.

Ipswich Music Day will be 29 years old thissummer and is brought to you again by the

Borough Council and its sponsors. There aresix stages of live entertainment and musicfrom local upcoming artists. The sun alwaysshines, so, whatever your genre, forget aboutColdplay and think of becoming a Red HotChilli Pepper.

You can find the application online atwww.ipswichentertains.co.uk/musicday2019

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SIGN UP

• Paperless billing (eBilling)• View bills, reminders & notices• Apply for discounts• Change your address or tell us

you’re moving• Tell us about a change in

circumstances• Update your personal details• 24/7 access to your account

Ipswich.gov.uk/myaccount

#MyAccountMatters

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If you see this sign on your

debit or credit card it means you can pay contactless.

No need to register online

No need to fumble for change

Pay the quick and easy way with contactless payment

You can now buy your Single, Return, Transfer, Day Rover and Family ticket using your bankcard,

phone or your apple watch.

All major credit/ debit cards accepted.

(American Express not accepted)

Contactless payment now accepted onboard!!

For more information visit www.ipswichbuses.co.uk

Have you wonderedwhy BBC Radio Suffolkpresenter Mark Murphyis plastered all over ourbin lorries?

Well, Mark is the public faceof our new Love Your Streetcampaign, which encouragesresidents to help keep ourtown clean by using litter binsand taking pride in their localarea.

Mark joined up with BoroughCouncil staff to launch LoveYour Street – assisted by theCouncil’s DiGBY mascot – theblue octopus uses his eighttentacles to pick up lots oflitter. DiGBY became famousafter appearing as a mural onthe side of a silo on IpswichWaterfront.

It’s not just about using litterbins, though, you can also getinvolved in other ways. Showhow much you love yourstreet by getting togetherwith your neighbours, family

or friends and organising acommunity litter­pick. Be partof the Great British SpringClean 22 March – 23 April.Check our website for detailsof our DiGBY litter walk. TheCouncil will supply you withlitter picking sticks, refusesacks and hi­vis vests –staffwill even collect the sackswhen you have finished(Monday – Friday between9am – 5pm). Contact GlynisWood on 01473 432994 oremailglynis.wood@ipswich.gov.ukipswichloveyourstreet.co.uk

Recycling is not rubbish!Another important way tomake Ipswich a greener placeis to sort out what goes intoyour bins!

In Suffolk, more than half ofour household waste isrecycled, but contaminationlevels are still a problem assome residents put unsuitableitems such as food, glass,electrical items and even usednappies in their blue bins.

This can have a negativeimpact on the environmentand costs more to clean up.

Remember, your blue bins arefor plastic bottles, pots andand tubs, cartons such asTetra­pak), empty aerosols,aluminium and steel cans,pots and pans, aluminium foil,cardboard, books and paper.

A good tip In addition, you can takeunwanted items such as oldtoasters or kettles to yournearest household wasterecycling centre (PortmanWalk or Foxhall). Go towww.ipswich.gov.uk/content/hwrcs to find out the openingtimes of your nearestrecycling centre.

Bigger items such as fridgesand washing machines can bepicked up for FREE by theIpswich Furniture Project andit doesn’t matter if they don’twork. Call 01473 404004 oremail service@ipswichfp.org

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Mark our words: keepyour streets clean!

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Ipswich Borough Council has received initialNational Lottery support of almost half a millionpounds for Ipswich Museum to inspire a newgeneration of visitors.

The ambitious project aims to refurbish the Victorian building,stripping it back to how it would have been in 1881.

New displays and activity programmes will take the Museumback to its roots, celebrating the Victorians’ innovation andimagination, while challenging their world­view andencouraging new conversations with today’s audiences.

Thanks to National Lottery players, development funding of£461,600 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)to help the Council to prepare detailed plans to apply for a fullNational Lottery grant at a later date.

This £8 million project aims to carry out essential conservationwork to the building in High Street, stripping the interior backto the 19th Century original, creating additional gallery space todisplay more of Ipswich’s collections, refurbishing existinggalleries, creating a new educational space and providing a newcafé, shop area and toilets to enhance the visitor experience.

The Museum will work with Ipswich communities and visitorsto reinterpret the collections, gather new stories and createfresh conversations so people gain a sense of pride in theirtown – to understand that not only does Ipswich have a richhistory but that it is also forward thinking and interested in adynamic future.

HLF boost for Council’sMuseum transformation

Action on air qualityA new Air Quality Action Plan(AQAP) has been adopted byIpswich Borough Council in abid to make Ipswich cleanerand greener.

The plan outlines actionsneeded to improve airquality, includingencouraging better driverbehaviour and less engineidling; greener vehicles andbus fleets; reviewing trafficmanagement arrangementsand cycling and pedestrianroutes; and promoting publictransport instead of relianceon private cars.

In addition, air quality issueswill be embedded in majorplanning decision­making.Air pollution is recognised asa contributing factor in theonset of heart disease andcancer, and affects the mostvulnerable in society ­children and older people, aswell as those with heart andlung conditions.

There are five Air QualityManagement Areas inIpswich – at and aroundNorwich Road / ChevallierStreet, Valley Road junctions;parts of Crown Street; StarLane / Key Street / CollegeStreet and nearby areas;Bramford Road / YarmouthRoad junction and part ofChevallier Street; and land inand around St Matthews’Street roundabout.

The Council accepts thatthere are many air qualityfactors outside its controlbut wants to work withpartners to take a lead onthe issue.

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Ipswich Borough Council services willcost an extra 16p per week for mosthouseholds if proposals are given thegreen light at full Council.

The Borough’s share of people’s bills is just20% ­ the rest comes from Suffolk CountyCouncil and the Police & Crime Commissioner.

Borough Leader David Ellesmere said hisadministration would continue to provide “awide range of quality services to the people ofIpswich despite major cuts in governmentfunding”.

He added: “Under our budget proposals, ourinnovative approach to meeting our financialchallenges will protect frontline services from

cuts while making savings in the running of thecouncil. We have significantly increased ourincome by investing in commercial propertiesacross Ipswich.”

Councillor Ellesmere pledged to keep brownbins free of charge, to build new councilhomes at the old Tooks site in Norwich Roadand at Cauldwell Hall Road, to open a new unitfor homeless families and to invest in arts,culture and entertainment. “We will also makea free summer iCard for young peoplepermanent.”

The majority of households in Ipswich areBand A or B.

A meeting of full Council was debating thebudget proposals as Angle went to press.

Council tax plans: 16p a week more forBorough services

Home Emergency Alarm Response Service

Peace of mind for you and yourfamily - 24 hours a day

Our 24-hour monitoring andresponding service, covering Ipswichand surrounding towns and villages,helps you feel safe, reassured andindependent in your own home.

01473 433236www.hearsalarm.co.uk

If you haven’t already got one – now is a goodtime to consider renting one and combininggetting fit and eating more healthily.

More than 2,000 green­fingeredallotment­holders in Ipswich are alreadybenefitting from enjoying delicious vegetablesand fruit they have grown themselves.

There are 16 allotment fields in Ipswich andalthough some are full the Borough Councilcurrently has plenty of vacancies.

Richard Sharp looks after allotments at theBorough and is keen to get the messageacross. He told Angle: “In the six months I havebeen in the job I have learnt what an amazingcommunity, young, old and culturally is foundon allotment fields. It has been greatdiscovering Ipswich’s allotment fields, somewith amazing views across the town, offering agreen hub for growing fruit and vegetables andtheir wildlife. In fact, the allotment communityhas prompted me to get my greenish fingers

out and rent a plot. The whole family arehaving great fun being outside digging andplanting, getting great exercise, with thereward of eating our own grown deliciousproduce.”

If you are interested in taking up an allotmentplot visit www.ipswich.gov.uk/parks andcontact a Field Secretary on a field near you.

It costs around 90p a week to rent a full­sizeplot on an allotment (even less for olderpeople and concessionary groups and forthose who prefer a smaller plot) and you cansave a lot more by growing your own – andgetting fit into the bargain.

There are currently vacant plots at thefollowing fields: Aster Road, Bramford Lane, London Road,Maidenhall, Whitton Church Lane, BackHamlet, Holywells, Sidegate Lane, Northgate &Colchester Road, Felixstowe Road, Castle Hill,Belstead.

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Have fun withan allotmentSpring is in the air ­ almost ­ and it is a great time to get out on toyour allotment.

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Many people feel unsure after a loved one passes away.

We offer sensitive and professional support to help you plan a perfect service.

To find out more about Ipswich Crematorium and Cemeteries call in to see us in Cemetery Lane IP4 2TQ

or visit www.ipswichcemetery.co.uk or telephone 01473 433580

Ipswich Crematorium

We have been serving the people of Ipswichand Suffolk for generations

MonuMart builds new future with Council help

Logistics and internet retail company MonuMart is trading from the former Billingtons site at EuropaHouse after leasing the site from Ipswich Borough Assets (IBA), the Council’s property investmentcompany. MonuMart Director Colin Louch said the company wanted to stay in the town and expand.

Cashless parking is now available in allour pay & display car parks usingMiPermit.

Extend your stay in the car park withouthaving to return to your vehicle.

You can pay by:

• Smartphone app• Text message• Website• Telephone

Full instructions can be found on thePrice to Park boards in the car parks.

www.mipermit.com

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C A R P A R K

I P S W I C H B O R O U G H C O U N C I L

LONG STAY & SHORT STAY

PARKING JUSTGOT EASIER

No need to find changefor the ticket machine ...download the app today!

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