COMMUNITY leaders today admitted improvements will need to be made to the Cornhill if shoppers are going to return to the town.

Opinions have been split after Sir Stuart Rose’s address at the Beacon Town conference earlier this month suggested Ipswich Market should be relocated, possibly to Lloyds Avenue, to make way for an open piazza.

Since Sir Stuart’s comments were made, two different visions for the future of the town have emerged.

One vision would see the market stay where it is while the other would see the Cornhill cleared to allow for cafes and bars and to use the space for events.

Following an Ipswich Star poll, we can today reveal that our readers would like to see an overhaul of the Cornhill to make way for cafes and bars.

Out of 676 people who took part in our poll, 444 people, just over 65 per cent, voted in favour of moving the market and transforming the area.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer, agreed that major changes need to be made at the Cornhill if shoppers are going to be attracted back to Ipswich but hoped a compromise could be reached.

He added: “ The Borough, Ipswich Central and I are keen to see the market retained. It [the poll] tells you what the people of Ipswich want, which is an improved town centre.

“You can’t sit back and hope something will come along because it won’t, you have to make it happen. By doing nothing, it will just get worse and worse.”

Paul Clement, executive director of Ipswich Central, believes the debate should not focus on the market but the future of the Cornhill and what it could offer the town.

He added: “What I’m saying is there is an unlocked opportunity here and it would be foolish not to look at it.”

The Ipswich Star attempted to contact the manager of the market, but he was not available for comment.

Do you think the Cornhill needs to be improved? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail starletters @archant.co.uk