Ipswich Council 'bitterly disappointed' after town misses out on Levelling Up cash

The council has failed in its bid to get £18m to help renovate Broomhill Lido and build a new sports centre

Artists' impression of the new sports centre at Gainsborough - which would have been funded by Levelling Up cash
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 19th Jan 2023

Ipswich Council says its 'bitterly disappointed' after the town missed out on a bid for £18m in Levelling Up funding.

Nationally the government has committed £2bn to be split between more than 100 different projects.

The cash is meant to help boost growth and improve the prospects of people across the country.

Colchester, Tendring and Great Yarmouth are among areas to be successful in their bids for cash. No projects in Suffolk are to receive funding.

Councillor David Ellesmere, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said:

“The Council is bitterly disappointed that the Government has turned down our Levelling Up bid. The bid would have enabled Broomhill Lido to have been brought back to life and a new Sports, Athletics and Gymnastics Centre to have been developed at Gainsborough.

We and our partners will now need to review the viability of both these projects. While we won’t rush into any decisions, there is no disguising that this is a significant setback.

It is doubly disappointing that Suffolk County Council’s Ipswich-focused Levelling Up Bid has also been refused by the Government.”

The council has previously outlined ambitious plans to revamp local sports facilities, including a new Aquatics Centre, a Sports and Athletics Centre at Gainsborough and support for renovations at Broomhill Lido.

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