Lobbyists mark awaited return of Longship Screens to Ipswich’s Old Cattle Market bus station
Caroline Markham (Ipswich Society), Ruth Stokes (IBC Conservation and Design Panel), John Norman (Chair of the Ipswich Society), David Ellesmere (Leader of IBCl), Cllr. Mandy Gaylard (SCC Councillor), Mervyn Russen (Ipswich Society), John Mowles (former Borough Councillor), Tim Leggett (Ipswich Society), Celia Waters (Ipswich Society), David Howlett. - Credit: Mandy Gaylard
Campaigners are today celebrating the return of a series of sculptures to an Ipswich bus station after three years of lobbying.
Suffolk county councillor Mandy Gaylard has called for the Longship Screens to be reinstated at the Old Cattle Market since October 2013.
They were put into storage in May that year for refurbishment work to the bus station.
Ms Gaylard said the work to return the screens was given to Suffolk Council County’s (SCC) highways contractors Kier at the beginning of 2016 and, despite assurances it would be carried out in September, was delayed until this month.
“These screens are original pieces of art that highlight Suffolk’s unique and colourful history,” she added.
“They are a beautiful and recognisable feature for that part of the town centre, which have been noted by their absence.
“While it has been incredibly frustrating three years for everyone involved I’m delighted that this long awaited work has finally taken place and the screens have been restored.”
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Members of the Ipswich Society, Ipswich Borough Council and concerned residents joined Ms Gaylard last week to welcome the screens home.
A spokeswoman for SCC said the authority encountered a delay with the supplier producing the posts needed to re-install the sculptures.
