So much change has taken place in Holywells Ward. When I was first elected in 2002 the University was only then being talked about and now we have not only the University but also the magnificent James Hehir Building on the Orwell Quay and the complete rebuild of Suffolk New College.
It also occurred to me that Ipswich Town Football Club was still in the Premier League and indeed I was there at Wembley on that memorable day – so yes it is a long time ago!
I have watched over the last two years with interest to see how the Duke Street Roundabout major scheme would actually end up. There has been an awful lot of controversy in Holywells and Alexandra Wards but now it is nearly completed I feel it is working well, and I am extremely pleased that the traffic calming schemes in the Rosehill Area are now finished and Myrtle Road is well on it’s way. Residents in Cavendish Street presented a petition to the Council so we are awaiting a revised scheme for this road and then hopefully that will be that!
In 1935 Holywells Park was presented to the people of Ipswich by Lord Woodbridge and opened to the public in 1936. To celebrate this 75th Anniversary the Friends of Holywells Park and Ipswich Borough Council held a Tea Party Celebration. Approximately 400 to 500 visitors were entertained by the Rivers String Quartet whilst the Friends provided tea and delicious cakes all home made! Anthony Cobbold unveiled two interpretation boards on the link between the Cobbold family and Holywells Park and the Mayor, Cllr John le Grys and Mr Cobbold both cut a cake to mark the occasion.
The celebrations continued and on the weekend of 10th and 12th of June the Park hosted a family camping weekend. This was a huge success with over 20 tents pitched in the park. Events included singing round a camp fire led by the Friends, and nature walks and of course some great food.
I attended a wonderful event last Wednesday the unveiling of the Wolsey Statue – it was one of the happiest events I have ever attended and my congratulations go to Dr John Blatchly who put in so much time and effort and of course to the sculptor David Annand. I just had a thought when we were all standing around the new statue of Thomas Wolsey how pleased James Hehir would have been it was just a dream when he sadly passed away and when I looked across I could see his widow Sally and this touched me greatly.
There is a piece of land in Holywells on the corner of Toller Road which is owned by a local developer, Jeremy Goddard. Jeremy decided to ask Sidegate Lane Primary School to take part in a competition to see what the best use of the land could be put to. We met 80 of the children on site and last Tuesday we went to the school to judge the children’s’ work. Wow what fantastic ideas they had.
The winners chose a leisure complex with a sitting out area and wonderful views of the river. It was a very hard decision as all of the entries were fantastic and all wanted some kind of leisure facility on this site – what do you think?
I attended a conference last week held for the Voluntary sector at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds. The Minister Nick Hurd and the Suffolk MPs were in attendance. A very interesting and sometimes quite heated debate took place on the “Big Society”. Mr Hurd said his priorities included clearing away red tape for community organisations something I am sure all of us would like to see that are involved with local charities. He also said he hoped to make it easier for charities to access sources of funding, including the setting up of a Big Society Bank and getting businesses involved in supporting community organisations.
Last Thursday evening we held a Residents’ Meeting at Coffee Link on the Waterfront and lots of interesting ideas came forward and we have decided to hold a Jubliee Tea Party on the 4th June next year. More details will follow – it should be fun.
Finally on Friday I attended one of Ben Gummer’s surgeries. Can I say we are extremely lucky to have such a hardworking Member of Parliament, he dealt with so many complicated and diverse issues but put everyone so at ease with his friendly and sympathetic approach. I am impressed!