Cavendish Street in Ipswich to permanently close for traffic

Cavendish Street was closed to through traffic at the junction with White Elm Street in November 2022. 

It came after homeowners in Gladstone Road and Devonshire Road called for the street to be shut to stop drivers coming from the direction of Foxhall Road to cut through to Ipswich Waterfront in May of that year.

Growing numbers of cars were parked on both sides of the narrow road which meant those living in the area were unable to park near their homes.

The barrier preventing cars from driving down Cavendish Street to the Waterfront (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Residents rejected plans for a protected parking scheme that would cost them £60 per year.

Speaking at the time, Councillor Philippa Gordon-Gould said: "We fleshed out some really important issues and enabled residents to get their views across to the council.

"The main issue was the cost just to be guaranteed a space."

In March last year the barrier which is in place to stop drivers was vandalised and just a few weeks later it was knocked over again. 

The barrier was vandalised in April 2023 (Image: Al Todd)

In September 2023, a resident survey demonstrated a "strong" consensus to make the restrictions in place permanent, Suffolk County Council said.

Councillor Richard Smith MVO said: "This outcome is a great example of community engagement making a real impact on policy. 

"Residents expressed strong support for these traffic restrictions being made permanent on their street with only some limited objections more widely.

"It is also a positive step towards making our streets safe and more accommodating to multiple styles of travel, which is in line with Suffolk County Council's ambitions to look after the health and wellbeing of our residents and to protect and enhance our environment."

A permanent scheme for the restrictions will be designed later this year.