Step forward in Suffolk County Council funding for two Ipswich waterfront bridges taken

A step forward in funding for two Ipswich waterfront bridges has been taken.

Suffolk County Council’s cabinet confirmed yesterday that £6 million of its own capital will be spent on the Prince Philip Lock Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists at Ipswich Wet Dock.

This would be added to £1.3 million from the government’s Towns Fund for Ipswich Borough Council to build the bridge – funding that is not yet confirmed but is nearing that point.

It is expected this will provide the bridge project with sufficient funds to progress. The second bridge planned for the waterfront, New Cut bridge, will gain £4.8 million from the county council but won’t move further forward until additional funding is secured.

Cllr Paul West, cabinet member for Ipswich, said: ‘I think we can all agree this is good for Ipswich, and is another example of the council supporting the town with hard cash.”

The Prince Philip bridge will create a circular route around Ipswich Wet Dock, and provide public access onto the Ipswich Island site.

Every cabinet member at yesterday’s meeting voted for approving investment into the bridges.

An update on the Prince Philip bridge project will be put to cabinet later this year, which should include confirmed costings and a delivery programme.