Hundreds call to clean up underpass
MORE than 700 people have signed a petition calling for improvements to a dark and dingy underpass in Ipswich.
MORE than 700 people have signed a petition calling for improvements to a dark and dingy underpass in Ipswich.
Teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 from St Matthew's Church's You're Only Young Once formed the petition to present to Ipswich Borough Council as they feel the underpass by St Matthew's roundabout is unsafe and dirty.
The youngsters took their petition around the local community and it proved to be a topic many felt strongly about, with members of the police and fire service also putting their names to it.
The petition has called for funding to be approved by the council's Executive for the underpass so that proper renovation work can be carried out.
Barrister Cherie Parnell, who co-runs the club, said: “It was a fantastic response. Everyone has said how disgusted they were with the underpass. It urgently needs updating.
“At one point someone said to one of the youths who was conducting the petition in the underpass that they shouldn't be down there because it was not safe. That says it all.”
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Among some of the comments left on the petition are that the underpass is “daunting”, “dirty” and “smelly”. Many stated that they avoided going under there and that their children were frightened of it.
The youngsters from the club have come up with ideas of reforming the underpass by having artwork displayed, colour coded exits, regular cleaning and new lighting.
The petition will now be passed onto the council.
If you can help in any way, call the youth club on 01473 251630 and leave a message.
What's your view on the underpass? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.
