The road network that could be replaced.

Ipswich: Road revamp in store to pave way for new Tesco

By Paul Geater Thursday, December 13, 2012
1:09 PM

A radical overhaul of one of the busiest road junctions in the town is on the cards as part of the proposed new Tesco supermarket at Grafton Way.

The retail giant has submitted a new application for the supermarket, which includes road access to the site.

And part of the plans propose replacing the Novotel and Grafton Way roundabouts between the town centre and Stoke Bridge with a single oval-shaped one-way system for traffic.

This would have more lanes – and vehicles would be controlled by several sets of traffic lights.

The application for the new supermarket has been formally accepted by the borough and is expected to be considered by planners in January or February next year.

The site for the development – which also includes two hotels, 17 town houses, and smaller shops – is already being cleared ready for work to start.

The former B& Q warehouse on the site is being demolished, and Tesco hopes to start developing during the early part of the year if it is granted planning permission.

An earlier application for an even larger development on the site was approved by Ipswich planners in March 2010, before control of the borough changed.

The new proposal has been seen as less potentially damaging for the town centre than the original plan.

If the application is approved, work on the road network would be expected to start soon afterwards and would be likely to take several months to complete – the work would be taking place at the same time as the Travel Ipswich project is being undertaken on roads around the town.

A spokesman for Tesco has said the company hopes that work could start soon after planning permission is given.

The company would like to get the new store open in time for next Christmas – but is not prepared to give a commitment to a timescale for such a major project.

n Would the new road be good for the town? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk

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10 comments

More traffic lights mean more cost, In 2010-2011 the cost to maintain these lights cost the taxpayer of Suffolk more than half a million pounds, this will increase sharply during 2012-2013 plus there is the cost of electricity to run all of the sets of lights. Traffic lights are not environmentally, they cause traffic holdups, bring back the roundabouts. Perhaps the county councillor responsible for planning the congestion in Ipswich should live in Ipswich for awhile and see first hand the problems he is causing!!!

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George Ipswich

Thursday, December 13, 2012
Traffic moved okay when B&q was there, I dont care nomore as Colchester gets my money because Ipswich has pushed me to shop there. Well done

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an idea

Thursday, December 13, 2012
Is that all this council can think of ,( traffic lights ) ,it hasn't made any difference to the old duke st round-about ,,traffic still Q back up to the top of bishops hill ,, and by the way is tesco paying for all this ??

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MIGUEL100

Thursday, December 13, 2012
the only problem with these roundabouts is the traffic that backs from the traffic lights that replaced the roundabout at loch fyne. and do we really need another tesco

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returning fan

Thursday, December 13, 2012
What does Ipswich most need? Even more traffic on an already over-congested stretch of road, apparently.

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beerlover

Thursday, December 13, 2012
IBC really have no idea do they,i mean how many traffic lights can they fit into that part of town and dont get me started on how many pedestrian crossings they have on stoke brdge that part of town is already a nightmare why would they make it even worse

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maria stu

Thursday, December 13, 2012
IBC really seems intention causing gridlock in the town centre. The last thing we need are more traffic lights. If this goes ahead we will have lights at the Novotel, Wolsey Street, pedestrian crossing at Willis and then the new lights at Princes Street. Four sets of lights in a space of a few hundred yards!!! Is it any wonder the town is dying.

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Law Abiding Taxpayer

Thursday, December 13, 2012
"The new proposal has been seen as less potentially damaging for the town centre than the original plan." So it will still damage the town centre just not as much as it could have done, brilliant. The out of town John Lewis is already harming the town centre now a massive Tesco will help finish it off.

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Chris Plowman

Thursday, December 13, 2012
More Traffic Lights ! Fantstic Idea IBC , see how well its work elsewhere ? You really have no idea .

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Poppys Dad

Thursday, December 13, 2012
Could we please have less traffic lights in the town centre, traffic already moves at a snails pace in peak hours.

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Groovalax

Thursday, December 13, 2012

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