People to have their say over development of riverside park

The company investing in a logistics park at Great Blakenham is calling on residents to express what kind of features and experiences they would like the site to offer.

As it stands, Great Blakenham Riverside Park (pictured above) is a conveniently located but somewhat uninvested piece of land located next to the River Gipping, close to Mill Lane and Great Blakenham Village Hall.

The land has recently been purchased by Port One who now want to add to their investment in the area by rejuvenating it into one of the best and most attractive, natural public parks in the region.

To this end, the call has now been made for residents and anyone with a stake in the future of the park to express exactly what they would like to see included in the upgrade, subject to the consent of the local council.

Maybe it’s a children’s play area, a dedicated place for dogs to scamp around, goal posts, table tennis, a wildflower patch, or bird feeders. Whatever it is, Port One wants to hear people’s thoughts.

They are invited to join the dedicated private Facebook group, Great Blakenham Riverside Park, where they can make their suggestions and discuss the future of the park with fellow members of the community.

Any residents who do not use Facebook can also log their ideas via email at greatblakenhamriversidepark@gmail.com

Port One has pledged to fund the full regeneration of the park and then continue to fund its maintenance and upkeep for the rest of time as a genuine, no strings attached, investment in the local community of which Port One’s senior figures have called home for much of their lives.

Ward councillor John Field said: “I’m delighted to see progress being made with this important area of green space being improved, protected and funded in perpetuity by Port One. They are acting as an enlightened investor in our community that seems willing to put its money forward to help Blakenham improve and take note of local wishes. I look forward to seeing how the new Great Blakenham Riverside Park will even better support ecology, our natural environment and the health and well-being of local people.”

And Benjamin Shove, development director at Port One Logistics Park, added: “Creating the necessary infrastructure in and around Port One, in co-ordination with the government’s wish to promote and expand the Freeport project, comes with certain responsibilities to those local communities in which said infrastructure is based. We acknowledge that we carry this responsibility to the local community in Ipswich and Great Blakenham and we want to deliver substantial investment for the area and its people including by preserving and improving this vital open, green space for local people. It’s a people’s park after all.

“We’re delighted to undertake and to fund this project, not least because it aligns with one of core values – sustainability – and we look forward to hearing what local residents want to see included in this rejuvenation.”