THEY say that opposites attract but in one Ipswich street this seems to be far from the case.In Lower Brook Street one half of a house is a neat, tidy and important historical building but it's next door neighbour is anything but.

By Nick Richards

THEY say that opposites attract but in one Ipswich street this seems to be far from the case.

In Lower Brook Street one half of a house is a neat, tidy and important historical building but it's next door neighbour is anything but.

Take a walk down the street and you'll see the National Farmers Union looking resplendent complete with a blue plaque issued by the Ipswich

Society.

However, its neighbour is a little on the untidy side with overgrown plants and bushes blocking the pathway to the front door and even poking out over the wall onto the street.

This has been the case for some time, but despite the unsightly appearance, John Whayman of the NFU said he wasn't going to complain about it.

He said: "I don't have an issue with it, except from the point of view of a building in Ipswich town centre falling into rack and ruin.

"We moved from Foundation Street to Lower Brook Street ten years ago and when we came here an old lady lived next door. But now the property is empty and all the utilities have been cut off. There's no-one to maintain it and the back is completely overgrown. You can't even get access to the back."

The NFU occupies the site of Masters House on the left of the picture.

This was the birth place of William King, son of the Rev John King, Master of Ipswich Grammar School.

Bob Kindred, Conservation Officer at Ipswich Borough Council said: "The house is one of a number we are observing in the town. We are monitoring the situation because there is an absent owner who we believe no longer lives in the area."

Anyone who knows the owner of the property can contact the planning department of the council on 01473 432934.