Sir Stuart Rose
Ipswich: Strong medicine from legendary retailer at Beacon Conference
By Paul Geater
Friday, September 14, 2012
5:50 PM
LEGENDARY retailer Sir Stuart Rose pulled no punches about the problems in the town at the second Beacon Conference . . . but come to an optimistic conclusion that there was much that the people of Ipswich could do to improve it.
Sir Stuart’s keynote speech outlined what he saw as major problems the town had with its image.
He knows the town well – he has a home in rural Suffolk – and visits Ipswich every 10 days or so.
Sir Stuart said: “The railway station would not be out of place in Siberia! It is a depressing station that you want to get out of – and there is nothing to say ‘Welcome to Ipswich.’
“There is not even a sign to the town centre and when you get out you straight away have to dodge the traffic.”
And his harshest comments were reserved for the centre of the town, around the Cornhill.
Sir Stuart said: “It is the most depressing place I have ever seen! Standing in the town centre with the empty shops it is a barren wasteland.
“Give me about £200,000 and I could transform it – move the market to Lloyds Avenue and turn it into a wonderful piazza in the heart of the town, maybe with a small fountain as a focal point and space for outdoor cafes and events.”
His challenge was taken up by Ipswich council leader David Ellesmere who immediately offered him the chance to work with the borough to improve the town centre.
But while Sir Stuart had harsh words about the town centre and railway station, his message was not all doom and gloom.
Nationally he did not believe things were as bad as they were sometimes painted – and felt Britain was well placed to weather the economic storm.
Sir Stuart said the town’s Waterfront was a major asset for the town – but development of that should not be at the expense of the other parts of Ipswich.
He said: “The Waterfront is fantastic but there is a problem with linking it to the town centre, you need to link up the different parts of the town.”
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8 comments
I wonder if Sir Stuart ambled from Chev St lights to St Mathews taking in the ambience? Thought not. Locals have watched this area plummet in terms of having a friendly, county town atmosphere. Whenever I have the misfortune to walk through it two words come into my mind....scrubbing brush!
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Supernova6
Saturday, September 15, 2012
The most depressing place? Sir Stuart can't be very well travelled in the UK then. Ipswich town centre isn't the best but boy, it's far nicer than a lot of towns. Has he ever been to Rochdale?
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Ipswich Boy up North
Saturday, September 15, 2012
At last!! Someone who knows what they are talking about confirms what the people of this town have been saying for ages. Maybe now the council and Ipswich Centra Paul Clement in particular, will get their heads out of the sand and start taking some positive action instead of looking at things through rose tinted glasses and trying to convince themselves that Ipswich is no worse than anywhere else. Anyone who has been to Norwich ,Bury St Edmunds or Cambridge recently will know that Ipswich is a total embarrasment!! I also wonder why you never mentioned in your report that Sir Stuart also said that the car parks were totally overpriced which is a large factor in number of people visiting the town centre dropping considerably (Something else the people who have the misfortune to live here have been saying for ages!) and he also stated that the town is living in the past and clearly needs to wake up to that fact before it's too late, so why wasn't this reported as well? Maybe you don't want to upset your friends in the council too much!
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planeman
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Absolutely agree. Give the man the money he needs and get in with it. Though I can't believe the council needed to be told this - it's so stunningly obvious to everyone!
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Scott Brock
Saturday, September 15, 2012
the most depressing place i have ever seen, SIR Stuart Rose, us locals have been telling IBC, and Ipswich central for years, perhaps you may take note now, empty shopping malls, emptyy shops, charity shops, cheap shops. Why do IBC now still want to put more parking meters, people do not want to come to our town centre. Norwich is cheaper to park , less traffic meters and take a look at that city it is brilliant, IBC listen for once.
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richard procter
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Did it really need Stuart Rose to convey this message to David Ellesmere? Surely, it's time the Council took a long hard look at the credentials, and lack of effectiveness, of those currently responsible (supposedly) for Economic development, not just in the Town Centre but in the outskirts too. Will anything substantial happen now? I very much doubt it... and that is what's really at the heart of the problem with Ipswich Town Centre Management! Lack of real ownership, vision and enterprise!
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jeremy charles
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Well, he's right about the station and the state of the town centre, but seriously - a fountain in Lloyds Avenue? Has he ANY idea what would happen to it every Friday night?
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PC Plod
Friday, September 14, 2012
Sir Stuart said the town’s Waterfront was a major asset for the town – but development of that should not be at the expense of the other parts of Ipswich. FINALLY... someone else said what I've been saying all along. Now stop this Waterfront navel gazing and start looking at the town as a whole!
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Fat Lady Sings
Friday, September 14, 2012