One of Ipswich's most popular parks has been closed to the public without warning or explanation. Ipswich Borough Council announced the closure of Holywells Park on Thursday morning.
Why it matters: The sudden closure of this public space affects local residents who use the park for recreation, exercise, and as a route through the area.
Holywells Park in Ipswich is closed until further noticeAlamy
The big picture: The council has given no timeline for when the park might reopen, saying only it will remain closed "until further notice."
No explanation has been provided for the unexpected closure.
The park is a key green space in Ipswich, popular with families and dog walkers.
What's next: Ipswich Borough Council has been approached for comment about the reasons behind the closure. Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
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Brighten the Corners
Brighten the Corners runs a diverse live music programme, training and education opportunities across three venues, and an annual multi-venue festival in Ipswich, Suffolk.
Suffolk County Council has partnered with operator Believ to deliver around 6,000 new public electric vehicle chargepoints across the county, starting next summer.
Why it matters: 25% of Suffolk households don't have a driveway and park on their street, creating a significant barrier for residents considering electric vehicle ownership.
The big picture: The rollout aims to provide residents without driveways access to a public chargepoint within a 5-10 minute walk.
Matthew Ling and Amy Rushton of Suffolk County Council, Charlie Allen and Steve Beer of BelievBeliev
By the numbers:
£5.3 million secured from the government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund
An additional £16 million provided by operator Believ
Nearly 140,000 tons of emissions forecast to be removed by late 2026
The details: The majority of new units will be bollard-style chargers at the kerbside, suitable for long-stay or overnight charging. Drivers will benefit from an overnight off-peak tariff and a dedicated resident's tariff with discounted charging at all times.
Public car parks will also see rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoint installations for quicker charging options.
What they're saying: "We are providing a solution by installing chargepoints on their street, or very nearby. Our ambition is to provide them with a public chargepoint within a 5-10 minute walk or wheel," said Councillor Philip Fairclough-Mutton, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality.
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, said: "We're delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to rollout such a significant number of chargepoints across Suffolk. It will make a real difference to local EV drivers and give others the confidence to go electric, helping to support our mission to deliver cleaner air for all."
What's next: In advance of all on-street chargepoint installations, local residents will receive letters with details of the work due to take place, including information on timescales.
The bottom line: Suffolk County Council is the first local authority in England to both award their LEVI main funding tender and subsequently sign a contract with an operator, allowing installations to begin at pace to help meet the county's target of 5,400 public chargepoints by 2030.
