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Council agrees emergency £35,000 street sign contract

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Ipswich Borough Council has approved an emergency contract worth £35,000 for new street name plates after its previous supplier went into administration. The first signs are expected to be installed by the end of November.

Why it matters: The council has a statutory duty to maintain readable street signs across the town and must replace street name plates when they become illegible. This emergency contract helps ensure the council can continue meeting its legal obligations.

The big picture: The contract was awarded to G&G Signs Ltd without the usual competitive bidding process after the council's previous contractor ceased trading. Officials say there wasn't enough time to run a full procurement exercise while maintaining their statutory obligations.

St Nicholas Street sign in Ipswich
The council has a statutory duty to maintain readable street signs across the town and must replace street name plates when they become illegibleOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

By the numbers:

  • £35,000: The maximum value of the emergency contract

  • 12: The number of Ipswich wards that will receive new signs

  • 5 months: The duration of the contract, covering the remainder of the 2024/2025 financial year

What's next: The council plans to:

  • Receive the first batch of street name plates by late November

  • Begin installations immediately after delivery

  • Run a fully competitive procurement process for a long-term supplier

Between the lines: While the council has bypassed its usual Contract Standing Orders, officials stress that proper consultations were undertaken and the necessary endorsements received from senior officers.

The bottom line: This emergency contract ensures Ipswich's street signs will continue to be maintained despite the unexpected loss of the previous supplier. While the council has fast-tracked the process, the £35,000 contract is within existing budgets and follows necessary governance procedures.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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Mountain bike stolen from outside Anglia Retail Park restaurant

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Police are appealing for witnesses after a blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen from outside Tim Hortons in Ipswich.

The bicycle was taken between 10.20 and 10.30 on Thursday 6 March from outside the restaurant at Anglia Retail Park.

The blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen
Police are appealing for witnesses after a blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen from outside Tim Hortons in IpswichSuffolk Constabulary

Ipswich Police shared the appeal on social media, asking anyone with information to come forward.

Officers have assigned the crime reference number 37/12273/25 to the case.

Anyone who witnessed the theft or has information about the stolen blue Boardman mountain bike is asked to contact police via their online reporting system at https://orlo.uk/2zoxs or by calling 101, quoting the crime reference number.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

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