Ipswich growing with Lib Dems (Ipswich Liberal Democrats)

Ipswich Liberal Democrats <info@ipswichlibdems.org.uk>

Ipswich growing with Lib Dems

July 1, 2006 6:00 AM

Richard Atkins "Ipswich is growing with the Lib Dems, sustainably".

Ipswich saw 800 homes built last year and this level of development is going to continue for many years to come.

Commenting in the East Anglian Daily Times Lib Dem Richard Atkins, portfolio holder for economic development, said Ipswich was growing by the size of the village of Bramford every year.

And he forecast that the population of Greater Ipswich, those areas within a 20 mile radius, will have grown to 350,000 by 2021.

"We are seeing the benefits of the council's strategy of becoming a growth area. Developers are being attracted, not just for house building but also to provide shops and other retail outlets," said Mr Atkins.

"This new growth has to be planned. Alongside the housing must come new employment opportunities and schools, health centres, and neighbourhood shops. We need effective sustainable communities, and not just housing estates.

"Opponents of housing development on the green fields around Westerfield point to the 70 brown field sites in the borough and say: `build there first.' But it is not as simple as that.

"Some of those sites will have to be earmarked for new industry. We cannot expand the population without putting in the servicing that goes with it."

Ipswich's population has now been assessed at 134,000 and this is likely to climb to 250,000 in the next 19 years, with 350,000 people living in Greater Ipswich, which includes Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Hadleigh and Stowmarket.

Mr Atkins said: "We welcome this new housing. It is the council's strategy to encourage growth here and we believe the county town will see a huge benefit from its expansion."

"This is the fastest growing region in England and Ipswich is the fastest growing town in the region," Mr Atkins added.

Ipswich Lib Dems are making sure that this growth is recognised by Government in order that Ipswich gets the infrastructure required to grow sustainably.