All change in Ipswich town centre as campaign to reclaim town centre for pedestrians continues

It’s been all change on the bus routes around Ipswich since Sunday 27 October as Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council attempt to reclaim the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists.

The two authorities have been working on a traffic strategy in partnership with bus companies Ipswich Buses and First since the early 1990s and this is the latest phase of the plan.

Since 27 October buses have been travelling in an anti-clockwise direction around the town to enable passengers to get off closer to the centre of town.

A campaign launched earlier in the month - Better Way Day - tells bus users, pedestrians, cyclists, drivers with disabilities, shopkeepers and anyone else who regularly visits the town centre, of these changes.

"The changes will improve access and safety for bus passengers and will lead to more attractive and better furnished streets in the town," said Joan Girling, a member of Suffolk County Council’s executive committee. "It is one of the county council’s priorities to encourage more people to use public transport and this project should make it even easier for people to get to Ipswich town centre."

Penny Breakwell, a member of Ipswich Borough Council executive, added: "The aim of the bus gyratory is to prevent rat running at speed and to reclaim the town centre for pedestrians, cyclists and blue badge holders."

Cyclists can continue using the new one-way streets in both directions and cycle lanes will be contraflow - but they will need to be aware of oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.

If the changes to the town centre are working smoothly they will be made permanent in spring 2004, and work to carry out environmental improvements to the streets and pavements will commence then.

Further information about these changes can be obtained from: www.ipswich.gov.uk/getaroundtown