Seafront pedestrianisation trial put on hold in Felixstowe
Other projects will go ahead though
A council has agreed to move forward with several seafront projects with approval for wider vision for a town.
Cllr Tim Wilson, East Suffolks’ lead for economic development, received unanimous support from cabinet members for a development strategy for Felixstowe’s seafront yesterday evening.
The plans included a range of short-term projects to ‘create a beautiful, welcoming environment’ in Felixstowe.
“It provides overall direction and help guide future investment,” he said.
These were for lighting enhancements along the promenade and in the four historic seafront shelters, new signage to help visitors navigate the area, and improvements to the route between the promenade and Manor Terrace.
Yesterday’s approval means the projects can now advance to the next design stage, costing around £60,000, before delivery by the end of the 2027/28 financial year.
Further longer-term plans are also included, such as a pedestrianisation trial in Sea Road, with the aim of making it permanent either fully or partially in the future, as well as a resident parking scheme for the seafront.
Cllr Wilson said this, however, would be down to a new unitary authority to implement.
He said: “We considered the possibility of a short-term road closure trial to test it out but the costs are significant and we wouldn’t be able to follow it up with anything meaningful.”
Cllr Jan Candy, ward member for Felixstowe, said she was supportive of the overall vision, but warned residents were concerned about its impact.
She said: “Any type of increased activity in Sea Road needs to be hand-in-hand with a residents’ priority parking scheme.
“They are writing en-masse to me saying ‘we already can’t park in the summer, how are we going to do it if we get even more popular down here’.
“Any kind of event down there just strikes fear in the hearts of my residents.”
Addressing the concerns, Cllr Wilson said any proposals for Felixstower had parking ‘at the top of the conversation’.
Other longer projects include creating a heritage attraction at the Martello Tower P, new uses for the Edwardian gardens and enhancements to Martello Park.