It has been incredible - and in a way inspiring - to witness almost 10,000 people collectively voice their disapproval to the transfer of Ipswich Hospital Elective Orthopaedics to Colchester.
It is appalling that ESNEFT has continued regardless; ignoring YOU, some of their own surgeons, their own public consultation, plus Ipswich's elected MP and elected Borough Leader.
We hope that the sheer scale of support for this petition will make ESNEFT (an unelected quango) think again before further stripping Ipswich Hospital assets.
In closing the petition, we also wanted to let you know that www.orwellahead.co.uk has campaigned for many years to champion greater and fairer representation for Ipswich and Orwell area and its citizens.
We are the only campaign that has offered solutions for local government reform; proposals to create greater efficiency, reduce local community charges and, critically, to make local government more LOCAL: www.orwellahead.co.uk/reform-suffolk
We were the only campaign to make a comprehensive case in favour of the Ipswich Northern Bypass, highlighting the huge socioeconomic benefits it will deliver. www.orwellahead.co.uk/ipswich-northern-bypass
We are the only campaign actively lobbying for city status for Ipswich. www.orwellahead.co.uk/ipswich-city-status
We identified a shocking disparity in lottery funding for Ipswich & Suffolk (versus Norwich & Norfolk) and have offered solutions on how to bridge the gap. www.orwellahead.co.uk/blog/2020/6/1/suffolks-funding-failure-costs-ipswich-most
When SCC were seeking to close three quarters of its libraries, we were the only people to present a fully costed business plan for our library, demonstrating that we could run it as a CIC for 30% less outside SCC. The acclaimed model implemented by SCC - as a full IPS under (Suffolk Libraries) - bears a striking resemblance to it.
We lobbied for and have seen improved representation and coverage for Ipswich & Suffolk on BBC Look East.
We identified a shocking disparity of representation for Ipswich and Felixstowe (versus Norwich) on the New Anglia LEP and lobbied for significant improvements.
We have continuously flagged up the massive disparity of representation for Ipswich in local government. How Ipswich as a former County-Borough - and a third stakeholder in the formation of Suffolk County Council- often has NO representation, voice or authority at all on the all-powerful County Council cabinets. Highlighting how this shocking loss of local government authority is having a detrimental effect to our town and its wider area. www.orwellahead.co.uk/why-ipswich-fails
We fully understand that some of you will not agree with everything that we campaign for in the Ipswich area. But you know what, we totally respect that. Whatever the majority of people in Ipswich area want is fine by us just as long as YOURS and Ipswich area's voice is fairly represented and fully heard in Suffolk and on a regional & national stage.
For this PLACE to regain its voice, direction and ambition we KNOW that it can only happen when the former COUNTY-BOROUGH OF IPSWICH finally and fully WINS BACK its stolen AUTHORITY.
Thank you and please keep in touch with www.orwellahead.co.uk
