UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk (UCS) bosses will be meeting the people of Ipswich this week.

By JAMES MARSTON education reporter james.marston@eveningstar.co.uk>

UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk (UCS) bosses will be meeting the people of Ipswich this week.

Residents have been invited to a public meeting to discuss the impact of UCS on the town.

Held at Suffolk County Council's HQ Endeavour House in Russell Road at 7pm on Thursday, the public meeting is the climax of the UCS roadshow to “get the message across” to the community.

UCS project leader Carol Macaskill said: “The hub of the new university will be in Ipswich and it is vital we engage with and get the full support of people here.

“We want to find out what people hope to gain from UCS and we are urging people to come along, express their views and find out more about the project.”

Expected to bring in millions of pounds to the Ipswich economy and backed by the Evening Star, UCS will be built in a new 'education quarter' stretching from the Waterfront to Rope Walk.

Mrs Macaskill said: “People have heard about the project and want to know what the money will be spent on and how it will affect the town and we are looking forward to telling them.”

About 50 business leaders are expected at a UCS breakfast meeting, which will start Thursday's roadshow.

Councillor Jeremy Pembroke, Suffolk County Council leader, said: “University Campus Suffolk is very good news for the county and will bring a host of social, cultural and educational benefits, as well as a £50million boost to Suffolk's economy each year.

“We are looking forward to hosting these events at Endeavour House, and hope many people will come along to see what University Campus Suffolk can offer them.

“The roadshows held so far have been very successful, and I think it's good that we are involving communities all over Suffolk in the plans.”

The public meeting will run from 7pm to 8.30pm.

N UCS is expected to be worth £1 million a week to the Suffolk economy.

UCS will include the Ipswich campus and a number of linked centres in other Suffolk towns. This county-wide campus will be known as the Suffolk Learning Centres.

The total cost of the scheme is expected to be £150million over ten years. Phase one is expected to cost £75m.

In November 2004 Suffolk County Council pledged £13m towards buying land for the project.

The plans include halls of residence for students and car parking.