Ban on vehicles backed by town traders

CALLS to pedestrianise a busy Ipswich shopping street were today welcomed by traders who said it would be “an awful lot safer”.

The Evening Star revealed how Paul Clement, handling the creation of the town's business improvement district, has called for vehicles to be banned from Upper Brook Street.

Shoppers and businesses have voiced both concerns and praise for the proposals, but, when the Star went and asked traders on the street, everyone we spoke to was for the plans.

Manager of Ipswich's Bakers Oven, Lisa Sargent, 38, said: “I think it will only affect us when they do the work on the roads, the work involved to make it pedestrian only. But, I think it will be better not having the buses around.”

Charlie Pearson, 47, owner of Tasty Toasties sandwich bar, said he had counted over 90 buses go past his shop in one hour. He said: “If the road was pedestrianised it would make it an awful lot safer.”

The assistant manager of the Salvation Army, Rebecca Mutimer, is also looking forward to a future without the buses going past.

She said: “It would be better if the road was pedestrianised. The buses come down the road and in the winter anyone walking past gets completely drenched.”

Beverley Gee, 39, manager of the discount store Thing-Me-Bobs, said: “As long as we can have deliveries still it will be much better.

“It's a dangerous road here and we get a lot of dust and dirt because of the traffic going up the road.”

Alison Dunham, 34, manager of Ipswich's Joywheel Amusements, said: “I think it could be quite good but we might lose a couple of the disabled customers who come in here because some park at the front”.

Mr Clement said the street would be transformed if it was pedestrianised.

Ipswich Borough Council was unavailable for comment.

N Do you think Upper Brook Street should be pedestrianised? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk