
I would like to nominate Ipswich Borough Council (and all councils that waste local taxpayers’ money)
I feel almost duty bound to post a local story which has left me feeling stunned and angered for many months for a decision made by our local council.
Despite being approximately £8m in deficit and closing many necessary local services our local council has in its infinite wisdom decided to prioritise and spend £3.6 million pounds ripping up and replacing Ipswich’s Cornhill.
It was an extremely lengthy process, due to the fact that some of the stones laid were the wrong sort of stones (unsuitable for wheelchair users) which then had to be lifted and the correct stones ordered and relaid.
Whilst the work was undertaken the local market traders were moved to a different location and they along with several businesses complained bitterly as to the effects this had on footfall. Also businesses from outside the area were given permission to trade in addition to existing market traders.
Now that the development has been completed I went to take a look. To be honest it looks cheap, uninspiring and totally impractical. Some of the structures have already been vandalised with graffiti. Cannot see how the constructors can justify the cost and in my opinion a complete fucking misuse and waste of local taxpayers’ money.
In addition, due to the many different slopes and steps there have already been seven serious accidents and last week a death of an 83 year old man who slipped on the steps. The story from our local rag has been included below.
A man has died after falling down steps in a town square just weeks after new groundwork was laid in a major revamp.
“John Stow, 83, slipped in the Cornhill in Ipswich while shopping on Saturday, and died from his injuries on Sunday.
His sister Vivien Pryke said the family would be looking for answers from the town’s borough council.
New paving and steps were unveiled in November. The council said it was “deeply saddened” and was investigating.
Since a 10-month programme costing £3.6m was completed at the Cornhill, seven incidents have been reported to the council.
In addition to the pointless spending of £3.6m on a pointless new town square, I suspect there will need to be very expensive amendments made to the existing layout, followed by several compensation claims paid out.
Total cost almost certainly in excess of £5m, and for what? Something that looks worse than it did before, several people seriously injured and the death of a pensioner.
Well done Ipswich Borough Council.
Nominated by Willie Stroker



