Blockbuster, Ipswich

Ipswich: Could Morrisons come to the town centre?

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
9:00 AM

Supermarket giant Morrisons could open in the town centre in one of two possible locations.

The company has not ruled out the possibility of a small branch of the supermarket opening in the Blockbuster store on the junction of St Matthew’s Street and Berners Street.

And it remains keen to open a large superstore on the Westgate site, formerly the home of the Civic Centre, if Tesco fails in its new bid to get planning permission for a store on Grafton Way next month.

Morrisons announced at the weekend that it was hoping to buy 49 former Blockbuster sites – mainly in southern England – to establish more town centre convenience shops.

A spokeswoman for the company said it had not announced which stores it would be buying – but an announcement would be made shortly.

Paul Clement from Ipswich Central was doubtful about whether the Ipswich Blockbuster store would be on Morrison’s shopping list – it was opposite Tesco and Iceland stores.

However the company is still working with developer Turnstone which is hoping to build a new shopping centre on the site of the former Civic Centre.

A spokesman for the company said: “Morrisons would be the anchor store, but they have made it clear they would not be interested in moving here if there is a new Tesco at Grafton Way.

“We have made that position clear to the borough whose planners will be considering Tesco’s planning application next month.”

Does Ipswich need new food stores? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk

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13 comments

What people seem to be forgetting is that the blockbusters store along with all its neighbours in that location was meant to be demolished to enable yet another totally unwanted hotel to be built. What happened to that plan or has it been swept under the carpet with all the other pie in the sky schemes the planners repeatedly gome up with for this embarrassment of a town!

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planeman

Thursday, February 21, 2013
I also think that Ipswich is overrun with supermarkets - we certainly don't need another large one on the Crane site. All supermarkets in Ipswich are within a 15 minute drive from each other so the other Morrisons is easily accessible. As for the silly comment about the existing store being in a rough area - it's hardly the East End of London is it?

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alittlebitwoolly

Thursday, February 21, 2013
I agree with the last few comments opinion man - you comment with a tedious regularity of what an appalling place Ipswich is to live. Perhaps it's time you moved away to a much nicer town or city where you could write into the local newspaper on a daily basis claiming how much your quality of life has improved since departing Ipswich.

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alittlebitwoolly

Thursday, February 21, 2013
The Opinion Man - Change the record. Think your abit obsessed with the word "cesspit" lol

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angel97uk

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Calm down guys - it's hardly going to be a supermarket, look at the space they are talking of using. Mr ' the opinion man ' - get a life, if Ipswich is such a cesspit why don't you move on?

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miss piggy

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Calm down guys - it's hardly going to be a supermarket, look at the space they are talking of using. Mr ' the opinion man ' - get a life, if Ipswich is such a cesspit why don't you move on?

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miss piggy

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
I like Morrisons, it's just a shame the one in Ipswich is in a rough area.

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RC

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
"The opinion man" is talking rubbish. Whilst we do not use Morrisons in Ipswich as it is the wrong end of town for us, we have just returned from seeing our grandchildren in Yorkshire and I can tell him that the Morrisons in Horsforth caters for all tastes and is excellent.

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MotorBotor

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Just what this town does not need another supermarket ! then people wonder why the town is so bad for shopping it is full of supermarkets, coffee and charity shops ! can the town plannersdevelopers not have a bit of imagination and come up something without a supermarket involved !!!!

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penfold the mole

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Lets hope not. Waitrose gave some much needed class to "cesspit" Ipswich. Morrisions attracts the lower classes of shoppers.

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the opinion man

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Would not mind one near Martlesham Tescos are getting to expensive. A bit of competition will do Tescos good.

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janet essex

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
It would be nice if Morrisons or even Asda were to put a supermarket up on Futura Park on the old Cranes site. Waitrose is already there another one or two would give people in this area more choice.

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pukkatrukka

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
It would be nice if Morrisons or even Asda were to put a supermarket up on Futura Park on the old Cranes site. Waitrose is already there another one or two would give people in this area more choice.

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pukkatrukka

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

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