Sky Ride returns to Ipswich on Sunday, August 14 with Holywells Park added to route

The popular family-friendly event, which takes in Ipswich town centre and the Waterfront, will take place on Sunday, August 14, with council bosses keen to include the revamped park as part of the route.

The proposed route was announced at the Ipswich Borough Council south east area committee last week, with Suffolk County Council’s highways teams expected to sign off the proposed route on Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Speaking at last week’s meeting, event programme manager Mark Whiting said: “It’s the first use of a public park for this event.

“It’s the last year Sky will be involved and they are looking to make the event bigger, and it’s an opportunity to show off the work done in Holywells Park.”

As part of the revised route, the cycle would begin and end at the Waterfront, taking in Ipswich Town Football Club, through the town centre and Star Lane, onto Duke Street and joining up with the park.

The route will then continue through the park and rejoin the roads in Cliff Lane, before rejoining the Waterfront.

An Ipswich Borough Council spokesman added: “Sky Ride is back this summer as part of the great Ipswich Cycling Weekend.

“We are hoping to extend the route to the rest of the Waterfront and Holywells Park to give people the opportunity to enjoy the green open space and to see all the improvements made during the recent HLF and Big Lottery refurbishment.

“The exact route is still a proposal and we have applied to the highways authority for a formal go-ahead but we wanted to let local residents of our plans at the earliest opportunity.”

Plans have been put in place to ensure disruption is at a minimum, with car parking and signage having already been planned.

Last year’s event attracted thousands, with some participants donning fancy dress outfits and others raising money for charity.

For those interest in volunteering as part of the event team for the Sky Ride, visit www.ipswich.gov.uk/eventmaker.