Suffolk businessman says Ipswich should look across border

Mark Ling, the director of I.C.E Transport also described that the issues with the Orwell Bridge are a "symptom not a cause".

MPs and Suffolk leaders met earlier this month after further chaos was caused in September by a closure on the Orwell Bridge.

Mark Ling, director of I.C.E. Transport has called for Suffolk leaders to look across the border and take inspiration from Norwich if it hopes to solve infrastructure problems (Image: Mark Ling) Mr Ling had previously called on "a collective voice" to come together is pleased that this has happened.

Read more: Opinion: Council bureaucracy blights civic life in Suffolk

He said: "It's good that organisations are coming forward to discuss the Orwell Bridge, but the problem is that you haven't got a shared responsibility here.

"I would encourage people to look at the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) and see how a plan like this is properly developed.

It is estimated that closures to the Orwell Bridge cost Ipswich up to £1 million a day (Image: Sonya Duncan) "The Orwell Bridge is a symptom not a cause, the root cause is that we don't have joined up planning, joined up strategy or joined up authority and responsibility.

"If you want to look at how it is done properly, you should look across the border."

The GNLP is a multi-authority plan that sees the different councils working together on infrastructure and planning, with a focus on communication. 

Ipswich and Felixstowe MP's Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Patrick Spencer, James Cartlidge and Jack Abbott took part in a meeting to discuss how to solve issues with the Orwell Bridge (Image: James Cartlidge MP) Inspired by this Mr Ling urges the greater Ipswich area such as Felixstowe, Kesgrave, Bramford and Sproughton to unite and think strategically.

He said: "The whole area needs to work together to make sure we are equipped, we are never going to get anywhere unless we do it with one vision.

"We share all of the same infrastructure and yet we won't work together to get a collective result, it's crazy.

"This is an example of what I call the 'Kesgrave mentality' where it seems that areas on the outskirts are taught to turn their back on Ipswich even though used the same assets and infrastructure."

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has also called to restart the Ipswich Transport Task Force, but no steps have taken with the group at this time.