Businesses in Ipswich town centre are hoping to put together a programme of events on the rebuilt Cornhill once it opens at the end of next month.
They have come up with a series of festivities for the new square in the heart of the town which they hope will launch it as a new venue for the arts and business.
Companies have been talking about putting money into a programme over the year – and it is possible that the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership could also provide some financial backing.
The Cornhill is managed by Ipswich council, which is also involved in the talks – and is looking to play an active role in bringing together a series of events.
Ipswich Central chairman Terry Baxter said: “It is good to see the work on the Cornhill progressing so we and we look forward to it all being completed and reopened.
“I think everyone recognises that it is very important that this is the heart of the town and I’m sure businesses will do what they can to support good events.”
A spokesman for the LEP said it would be able to consider financial support for events at the Cornhill – but they would have to be seen to have wide appeal.
He said: “We would look to support events that will bring people in from a wide area into the centre of Ipswich – not just those aimed primarily at those people in the town who would use the Cornhill anyway.
“This is a very important development for the town and we want to see it really bringing benefits to Ipswich.”
A full schedule of events for the Cornhill has not yet been drawn up, but it is understood that the town’s Christmas Market in late November is likely to be the first major booking.
A council spokesman said it was determined to ensure that the Cornhill played host to a variety of events throughout the year that would attract a wide range of visitors.
Work on the Cornhill is due to be completed by the end of next month allowing the site to be the focus of the town centre’s festive celebrations starting with the switch-on of the Christmas lights.
And a programme of events for 2019 is expected to be published early in the new year – with the aim of attracting more shoppers from a wide area to the town centre.
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