I was out in the town centre this week with my councillor colleague Kelvin Cracknell and former Mayor Glen Chisolm. It was great to meet them both, Kelvin in his wheelchair and Glen with his walker. We did have a look around the town centre for problematic areas for people with mobility needs. Kelvin reckons that the main paving in the town centre is pretty good for his motorised wheelchair. However, he showed me a few places where he finds problems. For example, there are some dropped kerbs on narrow streets, where there isn’t really enough space for a dropped kerb, so he can’t move down the pavement as he is pushed onto the road by the slope. Another spot has two different slopes on a pavement as it goes round a corner, again dropping the wheelchair onto the road.

The area around St Lawrence church has a few trips hazards and missing drain covers. They need to be looked at. That area could be really attractive with some tender loving care.
Another problem, which is seen everywhere, is where tarmac has filled a hole in broken or missing paving and has now settled. The contractor is allowed some time to go back and “make good” the settlement but it looks like contractors have not been chased up. This does not look attractive and the uneven paving is difficult for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
We finished up with a coffee, outside in the sun, and put the world to rights!

I caught up with Glen again on Thursday, at the Windrush celebration on the Cornhill. The place was rocking! I did nip inside the Town Hall to see the exhibition and meet the organisers.

The Windrush Festival is a one-day celebration of the Empire Windrush ship docking in Tilbury, Essex in 1948. It’s fascinating to read the local story of Windrush and I look forward to the longer version: Windrush 75 Years On, an exhibition which is at The Hold from 18th September to 15th October.

I am always impressed by the first Black Mayors, Albert Grant and Hamil Clarke. My struggles with Compulsory Purchase Orders pale into insignificance compared with the struggle they had to tackle the real injustices faced by their community. Another councillor, Ruman Muhith, talked on stage of the “Dreams and Determination” of the Windrush generation. Hopefully, those dreams have come true.

The Windrush Celebration on Thursday kicked off a long weekend of vibrant events in Ipswich, including a Windrush parade down Nacton Road on Saturday.
Stephen Foster’s Saturday music mix brought the Cornhill alive again to the sound of no fewer than six great acts.

If you think that was Vibrant Ipswich, wait until next weekend. The Summer Ipswich Weekender line-up offers a variety of music to be enjoyed around the town by family, friends, and visitors. Friday evening sees a large Pride celebration for the LGBTQ+ community supporters on the Cornhill plus live music at The Plough.

The Indian Summer Mela is in Christchurch Park on Saturday 1 July. Saturday evening offers more live music in the Town Centre at The Spread Eagle and Three Wise Monkeys where there is also a live music soundscape in their cellar bar. There’ll also be an all-female DJ event at The Hive in Norwich Road.

This is ahead of the huge celebration of local talent that is Ipswich Music Day in Christchurch Park on Sunday 2 July.

This really is a huge weekend of music and celebration, which is pulled together by Ipswich Borough Council, for the enjoyment of all.

Check out the www.ipswichentertains.co.uk website for details.
There is just so much going on in Vibrant Ipswich.