The closure of a key road into Ipswich town centre is expected to remain in force for several more weeks while the partial demolition of a “structurally unsafe” building is carried out.

Ipswich Star: The top of Bramford Road is to be closed for the foreseeable future after scaffolding was erected to shore up the former Rose and Crown pub. Picture: PAUL GEATERThe top of Bramford Road is to be closed for the foreseeable future after scaffolding was erected to shore up the former Rose and Crown pub. Picture: PAUL GEATER (Image: Archant)

The top of Bramford Road, at its junction with Norwich Road, was closed last month after the Ipswich Kurdish Islamic Cultural Centre was deemed structurally unsafe by health and safety bosses.

Ipswich Borough Council confirmed that part of the building, the former Rose and Crown pub, would have to be pulled down, and that the road could not be reopened until that had happened.

A spokesman for the council said: “We are continuing to work with the owner’s contractors and are making progress with the work to make the building safe.

“Scaffolding has shored up the side of the building and concrete poured into the basement area.

“Experts are now planning partial demolition to the rear of the building and until all measures are complete we cannot re-open Bramford Road to traffic, although pedestrian access has been established.

“We apologise for the inconvenience but safety remains our top priority.”

Noore Builders, who were carrying out extension work at the centre, have previously refused that the building was at risk of collapse and denied claims that load bearing walls had been removed.

Speaking last month, Aran Ismail, of Noore Builders, said: “There’s some damage to the property, it’s too old and we are trying to make it the safest property in Ipswich, and we will do that.”

Councillor Carole Jones, who represents the Westgate ward, said: “The council’s priority has to be public safety.

“I am disappointed that this has happened, but now at this stage we have to listen to the Health and Safety Executive and the people that have inspected the building and deemed it unsafe.

“We always have to act in the interests of keeping people safe.”

Ipswich Borough Council could not confirm when the road would reopen but said it would be after the demolition, expected to be in ‘a few weeks’.

Both the Ipswich Kurdish Islamic Cultural Centre and Noore Builders were unavailable for comment on the demolition when this newspaper went to press last night.