IPSWICH is today fighting back!

IPSWICH is today fighting back!

That was the message to business people and property developers, who attended a presentation by Jim Hehir, chief executive of Ipswich Borough Council, about the success stories in the town despite the economic climate.

Using The Evening Star's Fightback logo in his slides, Mr Hehir tried to instil confidence in the delegates at Prettys business seminar at IP-City yesterday during his talk on the Fightback, ensuring them that there is good news in Ipswich's economy.

Mr Hehir said: “We have suffered less than other places. We have fought harder and have really got some success stories in the area.

“It is very important for people to keep up their confidence levels. We have not lost any major businesses like other towns.”

During the seminar, he mentioned the huge changes occurring across the education sector in town, like the development of the University Campus Suffolk, Suffolk New College and the new Suffolk One, as well as a new magistrates' court and the �50 million flood barriers in Ipswich.

He also mentioned positive developments achieved in the private sector, including the new Ramada Encore hotel in Ranelagh Road, and The East of England Co-op's new headquarters in Wherstead.

He added: “It is important we talk things up.”

Christopher Green, director of land and new homes at Prettys, said: “We will do anything we can for the cause to get some confidence back into the community.”

How do you think Ipswich can fight back against the recession? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

THE Evening Star launched the Fightback campaign to turn the spotlight on all that is good in Suffolk and the county town of Ipswich.

We want to play our part with good news stories from the region and have run many since its launch, highlighting new businesses and those that have come up with new ideas to survive.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has backed the campaign, calling it inspirational and said he was looking at it on a daily basis.