Trouble parking and the view its high street looks run down are two of the things preventing people visiting Ipswich’s high street, a new survey has said.

Ipswich Star:

But it also found 65% of people prefer shopping on the high street to going online.

The research carried out by cashback provider Quidco concluded the biggest gripes of people visiting Ipswich to shop were expensive parking, a dislike of the hustle and bustle and feeling the high street looks a bit drab.

However countering those negatives are the ability to try on clothes before buying and thus avoid the returns queue, and the satisfying feeling of taking something home there and then – things people believe still give the high street an edge over online shops.

Victoria Leyton, head of PR and social at Quidco said: “Despite news in the past week that major high street staples like BHS and Austin Reed are closing their doors, our research evidences there’s a real desire to shop on Ipswich high streets, but as a retail destination, it has clear image issues.

“People’s perception of the high street shopping experience seems to be stressful with complaints about waiting in busy queues in messy stores, and protests that online is easier.

“But, on average, Ipswich people spend around 19 minutes returning items in-store, and 17 minutes online. It isn’t a big difference, but it has the perception of being harder work.

“Having said this, when we pressed shoppers, their perception softened a little.”

The figures were released as part of the High Street Happy report, which also discovered people flock to the high street in times of national celebration.

The feel-good effect contributed to footfall increases of as much as 10.6% in Ipswich during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee week (on the previous four week period) and 11.6% during the week Andy Murray won the men’s Wimbledon final in July 2013 (compared with the week following).

With the survey also finding treats, bargains and free samples contributed to a positive shopping experience on the high street Quidco handed out gifts to shoppers in Tavern Street and Westgate street today.

Handbangs and vouchers for high street shops and restaurants were given away to people as part of the company’s High Street Happy project.

Quidco High Street provides up to 10 per cent cashback on in-store shopping with a Quidco-registered card, allowing shoppers to get better deals on their high street shopping.

Cashback is available at over 40 retailers in over 5,300 locations nationwide, and in stores across Ipswich.

Cashback is available on fashion, meals out, morning coffees and everything in-between by registering a card on the Quidco website.

Claim your £10 bonus by registering your card with Quidco here: http://www.quidco.com/high-street/