Liberal Democrats Proposals are selected for the Future of Suffolk

4.49.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Jul 2008

Suffolk Liberal Democrats are celebrating today after the Boundary Committee accepted, in principal, their proposals for a "North Haven" concept including Ipswich, its surrounding areas, and Felixstowe.

The draft, which will now go through a period of public consultation until 26th September, sees the creation of an Ipswich and Felixstowe Unitary Authority, and a rural Suffolk County Council.

Deputy Group Leader Andrew Cann, said 'I am delighted with today's outcome, with the Liberal Democrat proposals forming the heart of the future plans for Suffolk.

The "North Haven" concept, which includes Ipswich, Felixstowe and the surrounding rural villages, has the potential to become an economic powerhouse with a focus on ports, IT and tourism. It will be a City-Region big enough to wield real clout on behalf of local people and small enough to ensure it always represents local people. Ipswich, Felixstowe and the surrounding villages will go from strength-to-strength together as the community we in effect already are.

The new unitary council will be able to better deal with our strategic and local transport issues. By controlling the travel to work areas of Felixstowe and Ipswich and being a strong advocate of the ports sector the "North Haven" area will be able to deal with our public transport challenges and give a real lead in ensuring that the huge economic potential in our local ports is realised through advocating better highways and rail links.

An added benefit will be that council tax bills will fall. There will be less council employees and councillors to pay to offer a better, more local service.

The Local Government Review will have a massive impact on the future of Suffolk. We must, therefore, encourage the public to participate in this consultation to ensure that all views are heard and considered before the final report is made to Parliament.'

Group Leader Kathy Pollard said, 'I very much welcome the proposal for a North Haven concept. However I remain very concerned about the effective transfer of Lowestoft to Norfolk County. It is now for the people of Lowestoft to decide whether they want to be part of a single Norfolk authority, to be partnered with Norwich and Great Yarmouth or to argue the case to remain in Suffolk. It is very important that they make their views known.

We also remain opposed to a single authority for Suffolk. It will be too remote and I'm sure there will be major concerns in places like Newmarket, Haverhill and Brandon, who will not want to have all their services run from Ipswich.'