FOREIGN Secretary David Miliband is joining the Ipswich Fightback campaign today as he sees for himself the impressive progress being made in the rejuvenation of the borough.

FOREIGN Secretary David Miliband is joining the Ipswich Fightback campaign today as he sees for himself the impressive progress being made in the rejuvenation of the borough.

In his first visit to the town for more than three years, Mr Miliband - one of the Cabinet's leading champions of giving England's towns greater decision-making powers - will be taken to the university and housing developments which are at the heart of the regeneration of the waterfront.

Council leader Liz Harsant said: “It will be good to see Mr Miliband again on his return to Ipswich.

“He will be able to track the progress of the university, the Dance East headquarters, and the homes and flats on the waterfront which are helping Ipswich fight back from the recession.”

The Foreign Secretary has a busy programme in the borough, starting with a visit to BT's Adastral Park development at Martlesham Heath where he will meet chief executives of IT companies based at the site.

He'll then head to Northgate sports centre to meet former Olympics swimmer Karen Pickering and Stephen Castle, the leading Essex county councillor who is spearheading the East of England's involvement in the 2012 games in London.

He will witness as athletic training session and take part in a questions and answers session before travelling to Ipswich waterfront where he will meet Mrs Harsant, the borough's chief executive James Hehir, and county council leader Jeremy Pembroke.

Finally, he'll highlight the objectives of the Prime Minister's “Building Britain's Future” initiative and will signify his support for the campaign to help the East of England emerge from the current downturn.

The invited audience from the voluntary, business and public sector will then give their ideas on what the Government and the region should be doing.

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