Mark Murphy opinion: Ipswich deserves to be a city

If it was possible to put the town in some stocks and throw rotten vegetables at it, I think lots of people would be queueing up to do it, but why? 

Why do people sneer about Ipswich so much? It’s far from perfect but I tell you what it’s a lot better than many other comparable towns in the country. I know there are fears about crime and yes, we should be doing all we can to stamp it out but is it any worse than any other similar towns?  

People moan about a lack of shops and yes there are loads of empty units but it’s happening all over and not just in Ipswich.  

Most town centres are struggling, I do find it very sad when I walk through Ipswich, it’s not a patch on what it used to be but as I say it’s not alone.  

Mark Murphy loves his home town of Ipswich (Image: Archant)

The reason is quite simple: our shopping habits have changed, with so much available online at our fingertips and in many cases with free delivery, is it any wonder our high streets are dying? We must accept we’re never going to see the towns as they used to be, times have changed.  

Anyway it shouldn’t all be about shopping. For a town to thrive it needs much more than shops, it needs people living and working in the town centre. Those who live in the town will need restaurants, food stores, schools, doctors’ surgeries etc; that’s what will breathe new life into it.  

It seems fashionable these days to trash the town's reputation without stepping back and looking at the many positives it has.  

Look at the football club, it’s bringing the feelgood factor back to Ipswich, it’s now attracting over 25,000 to nearly every home game, with those fans bringing money into the town.  

The Regent theatre has some of the biggest names in the country appearing there, the New Wolsey theatre is a fabulous venue and Dance East on the Waterfront gives us world class dance right on our doorstep.  

It has a huge number of restaurants with cuisine from all over the world to sample. It’s home to the University of Suffolk which is now really starting to find its feet.  

Ipswich has some amazing parks, especially Christchurch Park which hosts events like the wonderful free music festival that is Ipswich Music Day.  

What we need are events held in the town that will bring people in and hopefully let them see it’s not all bad.            

The 'should it or shouldn’t it be a city' debate has raised its head again this week with a new campaign by Ipswich Central, saying “It’s time for an upgrade”.  

The town has tried to gain city status several times before but last year pulled out of the race after the town's MP Tom Hunt wouldn’t back it. He’s since softened that stance a bit saying he needs to see evidence that people actually want it.  

As part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Colchester went in for the accolade and received it. Essex has had three recent cities created and Suffolk still has none. Is Colchester any better than Ipswich? 

Suffolk is a wonderful place and so is Ipswich; it’ll be interesting to see how the campaign goes.  

Whatever happens with it, the town is not going to get better if all we do is talk it down. When people ask where I’m from I say, “I’m proud to be an Ipswich boy”. I live just down the road in Felixstowe these days, but Ipswich is where I work and spend a massive amount of my leisure time. It’ll always be my home town.   

No new city status competitions have been announced by the government as yet, but I can’t help wondering if the new king might just fancy creating another one.  

So, if nothing else, let’s try and be a bit more positive about our county town and all work together, whatever our political persuasion, to do what’s right for Ipswich and its amazing residents.