IPSWICH waterfront's west bank is to see its transformation from run-down industrial area to booming new technology centre completed with new paved areas over the next few months.

IPSWICH waterfront's west bank is to see its transformation from run-down industrial area to booming new technology centre completed with new paved areas over the next few months.

The borough council is to spend £400,000 giving the area between Mather Street and Bath Street a complete new look.

This will complete the link between the Felaw Maltings and the new IP-City business centre which was recently opened off Wherstead Road.

At present this section of the New Cut West is unlit and has been a magnet for fly-tippers.

The final approval for the work was given by the council's new executive this week.

Environment spokesman Richard Atkins said: "The council and its partners recognise that this area does not meet our standards for safety or cleanliness and is a blot on an area which has seen much regeneration over the past few years.

"We have new marinas, new homes and offices, restaurants and a hotel and the northern quays and most of New Cut West provide an attractive walkway between them."

Mr Atkins said the road would be block-paved with traffic-calming measures introduced to ensure it could be used safely by cyclists and pedestrians as well as motorists.

The improvement was welcomed by Val Bint, landlady of the Steamboat Tavern on the New Cut West.

"It is good that the area will be finished - it should stop everyone coming here to clean out their cars and dump rubbish.

"We used to have that happen just outside the pub, but it all stopped when this area had block-paving installed so hopefully the same thing will happen along there," she said.

Mrs Bint felt the development of the IP-City centre had proved the catalyst which allowed the work to go ahead.

"I think companies would have thought twice about moving there if they had that eyesore at the back of the building - this will improve the look of the whole area," she said.

What do you think of the moves to improve the Waterfront area? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk