A RENOVATION project to clean up a popular entrance into Ipswich town centre started today.Ipswich Partnership is spending tens of thousands of pounds to carry out the scheme, which will include laying patterned paving near to the arched square in Lloyds Avenue.

A RENOVATION project to clean up a popular entrance into Ipswich town centre started today.

Ipswich Partnership is spending tens of thousands of pounds to carry out the scheme, which will include laying patterned paving near to the arched square in Lloyds Avenue.

There will also be benches, new bike stands and plants and flowers installed in the street.

The existing pavement will be re-laid and the archways cleaned up.

Work started today and is due to be completed by the end of June.

The side entrance of Debenhams will be re-opened and displays put in the windows after the clean-up is complete.

Paul Clement, head of Ipswich Partnership, said: "The Partnership recognises that Lloyds Avenue is a key gateway into the town centre and is deserving of the investment that we are making in it.

"We are fully committed to further improving the environment of Ipswich town centre wherever possible.

"The news that Debenhams have decided to open the Lloyds Avenue entrance as a result of our endeavours is the icing on the cake."

Neil Roberts, manager of Debenhams, said the move was a direct result of the partnership's investment in the street.

"The entrance will open up into a new hair salon coming to the store and we are hoping it will be fully operational by the end of the year," he said.

"Lloyds Avenue is going to become a much more attractive part of the town thanks to this project."

What other parts of Ipswich need cleaning up? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk