Today the new Reform UK administration at Suffolk County Council teamed up with independent councillors to kill off Labour’s attempt to progress the Ipswich Northern Bypass after years of delays.
The Labour Group on Suffolk County Council took a motion to the first meeting of the new council demanding the immediate restart on work to determine a preferred route, and to submit a Strategic Outline Business Case to Government by the end of September 2026, something the previous Conservative administration never did.
However, Reform UK teamed up with Saxmundham’s former Liberal Democrat now independent councillor to remove protection for northern bypass route options, make no commitment to timescales, and revive and revisit ‘pie in the sky options’ like a tunnel which was rejected in previous options assessments.
Last summer, Labour councillors were successful in committing Suffolk County Council to reviving the project, but the ruling Conservative Party continued their ‘do nothing’ approach and failed to make any progress.
The then leader of Reform UK voted against the proposals.
The previous Conservatives administration cancelled plans for a Northern Bypass in 2020 and have since adopted a ‘do nothing’ approach.
In contrast, Ipswich’s Labour MP, Jack Abbott kickstarted the Northern Bypass campaign, and has relentlessly campaigned at a local and national level for its revival.
However, the alliance between ‘independent’ rural county councillors and Reform UK has resulted in the project being essentially killed off for as long as Reform UK are in power at Suffolk County Council.
Jack Abbott MP, Member of Parliament, for Ipswich, said:
“Labour’s proposals to finally get the Ipswich Northern Bypass project moving had clear objectives and timelines, but Reform UK have done a deal with independent councillors to try and make the delivery of this vital infrastructure impossible.
Residents deserve better than policy being drawn up on the back of a fag packet. Running a council is a serious business, but Reform UK’s first act has shown how out of their depth they are.
It would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. We could laugh at their ridiculous proposals, but ultimately they have put jobs, investment and our economy at risk by essentially killing off this crucial project.”
Councillor Martin Cook, Leader of the Labour Group on Suffolk County Council said:
“It beggars belief that the first act of Reform UK on Suffolk County Council is to sabotage progress on the Ipswich Northern Bypass.
They have hollowed out a Labour motion in support of the Bypass to strip out protections for route options, remove delivery timelines, and bring back fantasy tunnel schemes. Meanwhile congestion in Ipswich and Felixstowe keeps making life more difficult for residents and business.
Reform isn’t offering a new direction. They are putting the Conservative’s “do nothing” approach on steroids and condemning Ipswich, Felixstowe and the surrounding area to years of traffic misery.”
To back the bypass add your name to the petition here.