The Waterfront car park next to Stoke Bridge is to re-open next week in time for the Maritime Festival the following weekend.

The car park closed after the site was bought by Ipswich council – and the dig earlier this year looked at what is thought to be one of the oldest parts of Ipswich.

From next Wednesday – August 16 – it will provide spaces for nearly 100 vehicles. Additional motorbike parking will be available from September.

When the car park opens it will mean the Council is operating three car parks on or close to the Waterfront – St Peter’s, Fore Street and Athena Hall (off Duke Street).

Council Leader David Ellesmere said: “This car park will increase capacity in this part of the town while we prepare our plans for re-development of the area.

“The Council is committed to offering good value to motorists across the town to help visitors and businesses so our advice is to shop around and not pay more.”