| Ipswich Town Centre 09:45 - Jul 4 with 8640 views | 3_5_2 |
I avoid shopping like the plague but yesterday I found myself in Ipswich ton centre.
What has happened to it?
It looks cheap and nasty and full of very dodgy looking people |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 09:48 - Jul 4 with 5198 views | footers |
*Starts stopwatch* |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 10:00 - Jul 4 with 5137 views | BlueBlueBluex2 |
Where have you been?
It’s been a toilet for 10yrs+ |  | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 10:01 - Jul 4 with 5138 views | GloryHunter |
It's always been like that. | | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 10:04 - Jul 4 with 5118 views | WickhamsLeftBoot |
The town centre hasn't been pleasant for years, the rise of online retail in recent years and even more so lately because of the pandemic, and increases in rent have made it difficult to continue trading. Debenhams has been on the downward spiral for years and the pandemic was the final nail in the coffin so to speak.
I do try to avoid the town centre though. |  | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 10:11 - Jul 4 with 5068 views | Guthrum |
Most town and city centres look like that nowadays. Fast food, charity shops and betting outlets, when the units aren't actually empty.
High rents, expensive parking, online shopping and town-edge stores were killing the High Street, even before Covid came along. Altho some local shopping streets away from town centres are thriving as more community hubs. |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 10:31 - Jul 4 with 4953 views | pointofblue |
The loss of the Co-op in Carr Street started it, then obviously losing Woolworths just exacerbated the situation. For me, the council should have done everything to encourage John Lewis to move into either the old Co-op building or the Buttermarket, rather than building a store out of town. | |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 12:05 - Jul 4 with 4705 views | DebsyAngel |
Used to love going into town every Saturday when I was younger - huge choice of shoe shops (perhaps too many for some!), clothes shops, affordable jewellery places (like Diamonds and Pearls), record shops ...
Getting rid of the lovely department stores, like Coop, Woolworths, Debenhams, Allders and BHS was a mistake. Yes it may be "old fashioned" but it was great to get so many things under one roof.
Now there are too many barbers/hairdressers, phone shops, empty buildings and general stores. I really miss the old days. I do like charity shops and am raring to get back to going again, if only for some new (old) clothes and vinyl searching. |  | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 12:09 - Jul 4 with 4691 views | solomon |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 10:11 - Jul 4 by Guthrum |
Most town and city centres look like that nowadays. Fast food, charity shops and betting outlets, when the units aren't actually empty.
High rents, expensive parking, online shopping and town-edge stores were killing the High Street, even before Covid came along. Altho some local shopping streets away from town centres are thriving as more community hubs. |
Unfortunately a good proportion of our town’s population (I suspect) have lower incomes than say Bury st Edmunds for example. Mind you it’s no excuse for the total abandonment it’s suffered in recent years, there’s just no sense of pride or community, we are too quick to let others talk us down and look down their noses at us. |  | | |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 12:53 - Jul 4 with 4559 views | The_Major |
As looking back to 1996 is in vogue at the moment, at that point the the town centre would have had the Co op, Woolworths, BHS, C & A, Debenhams, Littlewoods and M & S. All, apart from the last one have gone.
There's been an idea for some time to basically switch the axis of the main shopping area to north-south from east-west, to link in with the waterfront, but last time I looked, House of Fraser wasn't building a new store in Lower Brook Street.
However Carr Street seems to have been left to fester, and the Woolworths building is probably the biggest eyesore in town. Certainly once you get past where those older heads may recall the entrance to the Carr Precinct, it does have a sort of abandoned feel.
Also, it doesn't help we lost the independent department stores. Those same older heads will recall Corders and Footmans, both bought out by Debenhams, and going further back there was Frasers on the corner of Princes and Museum Streets.
Ipswich isn't alone in that - Colchester had Keddies, Lowestoft and Yarmouth had Palmers, Norwich had Bonds (although they still have Jarrolds). Not sure what the answer is, but considering it's the county town and the biggest centre of population between Norwich and London, there's a lot of potential that needs to be tapped. [Post edited 4 Jul 2021 13:37]
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 12:55 - Jul 4 with 4556 views | Reuser_is_God |
I think the issue here is you rather than Ipswich town centre.
People who still expect a good shopping experience in town centres need to change their shopping habits, unfortunately. |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 13:03 - Jul 4 with 4515 views | Vic |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 10:11 - Jul 4 by Guthrum |
Most town and city centres look like that nowadays. Fast food, charity shops and betting outlets, when the units aren't actually empty.
High rents, expensive parking, online shopping and town-edge stores were killing the High Street, even before Covid came along. Altho some local shopping streets away from town centres are thriving as more community hubs. |
I hate to say it, but Norwich isn’t like that! |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 13:28 - Jul 4 with 4444 views | lazyblue |
Ipswich is far far behind Norwich, Colchester and Bury as a place to go. | | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 14:31 - Jul 4 with 4295 views | kesblue |
Foreigners innit |  | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 14:59 - Jul 4 with 4185 views | Timefliesbyintheblue |
It has been a Labour run council for the last ten years , is that relevant or not? | | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 15:30 - Jul 4 with 4095 views | BlueBoots |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 14:59 - Jul 4 by Timefliesbyintheblue |
It has been a Labour run council for the last ten years , is that relevant or not? |
Not...
...and possibly the award for the most far-fetched "Yeah, but Labour" post I've ever read on the forum. |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 15:46 - Jul 4 with 4020 views | BlueySwede |
I have always loved my visits to Ipswich, and while I probably like the Waterfront better than the town centre, I think it´s fine (of course there is room for improvement). I don´t understand some of the negative comments about Ipswich, not from everybody, but some. Pretty often I have heard comments like "it´s a dump" etc. While there are prettier towns around the world, there are far many more worse places.
Be proud of your town. | | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 15:51 - Jul 4 with 3998 views | footers |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 15:46 - Jul 4 by BlueySwede |
I have always loved my visits to Ipswich, and while I probably like the Waterfront better than the town centre, I think it´s fine (of course there is room for improvement). I don´t understand some of the negative comments about Ipswich, not from everybody, but some. Pretty often I have heard comments like "it´s a dump" etc. While there are prettier towns around the world, there are far many more worse places.
Be proud of your town. |
From a Lowestoftian perspective Ipswich is a cultural Mecca.
On a more serious note it is a concerning trend up and down the country but what are the solutions? We're all part of the problem in that we all order online more for convenience but what are councils doing to revive our high streets? As mentioned above, parking seems to be a big issue as well as rents for retailers...
You'd hope some independents could fill the gap but they need our support when they do pop up as well as a helping hand from the council/government to reinvigorate town centres. | |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 16:02 - Jul 4 with 3939 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
On the plus side, the zombie apocalypse shopping 'experience' is obviously very convincing. |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 16:15 - Jul 4 with 3913 views | hype313 |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 12:05 - Jul 4 by DebsyAngel |
Used to love going into town every Saturday when I was younger - huge choice of shoe shops (perhaps too many for some!), clothes shops, affordable jewellery places (like Diamonds and Pearls), record shops ...
Getting rid of the lovely department stores, like Coop, Woolworths, Debenhams, Allders and BHS was a mistake. Yes it may be "old fashioned" but it was great to get so many things under one roof.
Now there are too many barbers/hairdressers, phone shops, empty buildings and general stores. I really miss the old days. I do like charity shops and am raring to get back to going again, if only for some new (old) clothes and vinyl searching. |
I dont think anyone intentionality got rid of Woolworths, Debenhams Allders, they have gone from every high street in the land, it wasnt IBC that finished them, its economics and changing habits. |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 16:21 - Jul 4 with 3887 views | Dubtractor |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 15:51 - Jul 4 by footers |
From a Lowestoftian perspective Ipswich is a cultural Mecca.
On a more serious note it is a concerning trend up and down the country but what are the solutions? We're all part of the problem in that we all order online more for convenience but what are councils doing to revive our high streets? As mentioned above, parking seems to be a big issue as well as rents for retailers...
You'd hope some independents could fill the gap but they need our support when they do pop up as well as a helping hand from the council/government to reinvigorate town centres. |
The out of town retail park has played almost as much 8f a role as online shopping.
And fwiw, ipswich is fine, its not the best but its a long way from the worst. |  |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 16:26 - Jul 4 with 3874 views | Vic |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 15:46 - Jul 4 by BlueySwede |
I have always loved my visits to Ipswich, and while I probably like the Waterfront better than the town centre, I think it´s fine (of course there is room for improvement). I don´t understand some of the negative comments about Ipswich, not from everybody, but some. Pretty often I have heard comments like "it´s a dump" etc. While there are prettier towns around the world, there are far many more worse places.
Be proud of your town. |
The negative comments are because it really isn’t very good overall. I’m a proud Ipswich person, it’s out county town, but it doesn’t stop it from being a poor town Centre. There are some now areas, St Peter’s Street, St Nicholas Street and the Water Front come to mind, but the town Centre is just devoid of anything to draw people in - and sadly it’s only being getting worse for years.
Councils of all shapes and colors have come up with plans and schemes but nothing seems to be reversing the trend. Not sure what will change it.
All that said, it may be a dump, but it’s our dump and I still love it! | |
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 16:38 - Jul 4 with 3835 views | wrightsrightglove |
It’s the same everywhere to a greater or lesser extent. Traditional town centres are never coming back.
To my mind the town should focus on specific areas to create hubs of independent shops like St. Peter’s street and these should be given all the backing they need to be successful. The waterfront should be used for residential and restaurants / bars as a social hub. Every other area of the town centre should have its empty buildings purchased by the council and converted into housing / office space with cafes and restaurants interspersed such as honey and Harvey and the botanist. Looking above some of the shopfronts, I’d say 75% of the building in the town centre are stunning and could be converted into different uses.
Currently there’s very little to draw people into the town centre, particularly from outside of the town, so it’s only going to get worse without some open minded and decisive action. [Post edited 4 Jul 2021 16:39]
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| Ipswich Town Centre on 16:42 - Jul 4 with 3808 views | solomon |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 16:15 - Jul 4 by hype313 |
I dont think anyone intentionality got rid of Woolworths, Debenhams Allders, they have gone from every high street in the land, it wasnt IBC that finished them, its economics and changing habits. |
Plus their reluctance to adapt and invest, I certainly shed no tears for Debenhams, it was an affront to retailing. | | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 17:01 - Jul 4 with 3755 views | allezlesbleus |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 16:38 - Jul 4 by wrightsrightglove |
It’s the same everywhere to a greater or lesser extent. Traditional town centres are never coming back.
To my mind the town should focus on specific areas to create hubs of independent shops like St. Peter’s street and these should be given all the backing they need to be successful. The waterfront should be used for residential and restaurants / bars as a social hub. Every other area of the town centre should have its empty buildings purchased by the council and converted into housing / office space with cafes and restaurants interspersed such as honey and Harvey and the botanist. Looking above some of the shopfronts, I’d say 75% of the building in the town centre are stunning and could be converted into different uses.
Currently there’s very little to draw people into the town centre, particularly from outside of the town, so it’s only going to get worse without some open minded and decisive action. [Post edited 4 Jul 2021 16:39]
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An influx of residents into the town centres would have a massive impact on the finances of town centre shops. Whilst the larger retailers may prefer to rely on internet business, I am sure that numerous small independent outlets could thrive in Ipswich town centre if there were more residents living locally and the council / landlords tried to encourage smaller businesses to open up / remain trading.
With the Waterfront, ITFC and Christchurch Park, there are enough attractions in the town to entice tourists for short breaks and if the town had an interesting, diverse mix of independents, this would add to the appeal.
The council seem to have wasted vast amounts of money recently on the ineffective road scheme (£25m???) and the Cornhill revamp. |  | | |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 17:15 - Jul 4 with 3704 views | wrightsrightglove |
| Ipswich Town Centre on 17:01 - Jul 4 by allezlesbleus |
An influx of residents into the town centres would have a massive impact on the finances of town centre shops. Whilst the larger retailers may prefer to rely on internet business, I am sure that numerous small independent outlets could thrive in Ipswich town centre if there were more residents living locally and the council / landlords tried to encourage smaller businesses to open up / remain trading.
With the Waterfront, ITFC and Christchurch Park, there are enough attractions in the town to entice tourists for short breaks and if the town had an interesting, diverse mix of independents, this would add to the appeal.
The council seem to have wasted vast amounts of money recently on the ineffective road scheme (£25m???) and the Cornhill revamp. |
Yeah absolutely, a large majority of the large retailers are either going to be moving fully online or out of the town centres and so smaller independent shops need to be encouraged and that should be done in a location specific way so that they’re grouped together.
Converting empty units into accommodation would need to be done very carefully to encourage a diverse range of people into them rather than just a whole load of one / two bedroom flats but if done well it could transform the town centre and, as you said, transform the businesses that remain.
Unfortunately it seems like a pipe dream and I doubt there’s anyone within the council with the vision to carry it out but you never know! | | | |
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