Ipswich: new waterfront taxi rank to promote safe nights out

The initiative will launch on Thursday December 22 and will see the rank operate from Duke Street car park at Neptune Quay between 8pm and 4am daily until March 2023.

The site of the new taxi rank on Ipswich waterfront (Image: Ipswich Borough Council)

Dedicated safety and taxi marshals will also be present on Friday and Saturday evenings from 10pm to 2am over the weekends of December 16-18, 22-24, on the evening of December 30-31 and, from January, on Saturdays only, starting on the 7th until March 31.

The scheme is a key part of the Council's Safer Streets 4 project - an initiative to help combat and prevent crime across Ipswich. 

Cllr Alasdair Ross, Ipswich Borough Council portfolio holder for community safety, said: "Safer Streets funding has allowed us to introduce this taxi rank trial at Ipswich Waterfront and work with businesses to ensure that Ipswich residents and visitors feel safe in our town.

Cllr Alasdair Ross of Ipswich Borough Council (Image: Newsquest)

"We have introduced many improvements to make Ipswich safer working with partners and must thanks to the University of Suffolk for allowing this trial to take place on land under their ownership.

"We look forward to hearing feedback from taxi marshals and residents once the trial concludes in March 2023."

Chris Barnard, head of place at Ipswich Central, added: "It’s great working in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council to raise awareness and mobilise the Safer Streets funding from Government.

The pilot scheme will run until March 2023 (Image: Nick Ansell/PA Wire)

"We are already receiving positive feedback, and this is just the start of what can be achieved. 

"It is important that people feel safe on a night out in Ipswich, and, are aware of all the initiatives in place to keep them safe.

"Equally, businesses must be aware of what is available to keep them, their staff and customers safe, to help further promote and maintain safe nights out in Ipswich."