Will new travel strategy end traffic issues in Ipswich?

But the initial document drawn up by a group headed by three Conservative politicians has drawn scorn from the opposition which says it has no new ideas.

The idea of developing a new transport strategy for Ipswich was born in early 2020 after the collapse of proposals for a new northern bypass for the town.

Ipswich's two MPs, Tom Hunt and Dr Dan Poulter came together with Suffolk County Council to look at ways of improving travel in the area.

However progress on drawing up the strategy was delayed by the covid pandemic and lockdowns which prevented meetings on the subject from being called.

The strategy at this stage is light on concrete proposals to improve travel around Ipswich - it identifies some of the major issues, but is asking for public response before coming up with specific solutions.

They are now looking for a public response to their findings which are contained in a 40-page document. People have 12 weeks to respond.

Among the statistics it has produced, the strategy points out that 62.4% of people working in Ipswich drive to their workplace with only 6% of people arriving as a passenger - that suggests at least 56% of workers travel to their workplace alone in a car.

Most people travelling to work in Ipswich drive in - on their own. Picture: Gregg Brown (Image: Gregg Brown)

The strategy also shows that 62% of workers travel three miles or less to work and 28% travel less than 2km (just over a mile) - but only 20% walk or cycle to work.

While it suggests there should be more encouragement for people to find alternatives to car use, there are few specific suggestions in the report.

There is, however a list of potential improvements to the area's transport network that were included at the suggestion of Ipswich Council.

These include the reopening of the Bury Road park and ride site - which the county closed in 2011 even though it was the most popular centre in the town.

There are also proposals to develop better cycle routes, introduce some bus priority routes and another look at the central Ipswich gyratory system near the Waterfront.

Dr Dan Poulter MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich said: “I am glad to be able to share with residents our Transport Strategy for Ipswich. 

"The strategy sets out an overarching transport vision which will support us in overcoming these challenges in future and help frame the sort of place we want Ipswich to be.”

Tom Hunt helped launch the strategy in 2020. (Image: Paul Geater)

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt added: “How we travel in and around Ipswich plays very important part in our day to day lives. We all experience the difficulties in getting about.

“With all the development going on around the town there is no perfect solution but I believe that the Strategy provides the County Council with a framework to improve transport in the town.”

However Ipswich Labour candidate Jack Abbott was not so impressed: “It is bitterly disappointing. You’d have thought that after nearly three years and months of delays, this report would have been a real game changer for Ipswich, yet it is anything but.

“We were promised ‘action and delivery’ by the Conservative MPs chairing this taskforce, but after three wasted years they’ve failed to move the dial.

“People will just look at this report and think: ‘Is that it?’.”

Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Ipswich, said: “We have been able to develop a strategy which considers all aspects of transportation and its impact on the town."