Last updated 19 July 2021
Changes to Ipswich Borough Council services as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus restrictions remain in place across the country. Find out what you can and cannot do.
Bins, waste and recycling
Black, blue and brown bin collections continue to run as normal. It is likely that collections may take place earlier or later than usual so please ensure your bins are at the front of your property by 6am on your scheduled collection day.
Read more about how to manage your waste during this time.
Other waste services
Our bulky waste and commercial waste services remain unaffected.
Suffolk County Council’s Recycling Centres are open for pre-booked appointments only. Read more about how to book a time slot to visit your local Recycling Centre.
Contacting the council
Our Customer Service Centre at the Town Hall is open for pre-booked appointments only.
These appointments are only for when it is necessary to have a face-to-face meeting and your enquiry cannot be dealt with online or over the phone. Please call 01473 432000 to check if an appointment is required.
The centre is open 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday but our phone lines are open between 8:30am – 5pm.
Contact us:
- Online - www.ipswich.gov.uk/contactus
- Via Facebook - www.facebook.com/IpswichGov
- Via Twitter – www.twitter.com/IpswichGov
- By phone – 01473 432000
Save time, do it online! My Ipswich is the easiest and quickest way to make a request, report a problem or apply for a service...24 hours a day. Visit my.ipswich.gov.uk/MyServices
If you need urgent advice or support during the coronavirus pandemic, please ring the Home, But Not Alone service on 0800 876 6926, it’s open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Council buildings
Most of our public facilities are open, including our Swimming Pools, Sports Centres, Ipswich Museum, Christchurch Mansion, Town Hall Cafe, Regent Theatre and Corn Exchange.
Ipswich Theatres
The Regent Theatre and Corn Exchange have reopened.
We look forward to welcoming customers back for performances at our venues. Visit the Ipswich Theatres website to view our varied programme.
The health and wellbeing of customers and staff is our top priority and whilst we are re-opening with no restrictions on capacities we will be ensuring our customers have all the information they need on safety measures before visiting.
We will contact customers directly in advance of each performance.
We've created a webpage where you can see the latest information about postponed shows. Check here for details on when these shows will be coming back to Ipswich. This will be updated daily as new dates are confirmed.
Read more about the process for cancelled or postponed shows.
Ipswich Museums
Ipswich Museum and Christchurch Mansion are open. Ipswich Art Gallery will re-open on 31 July 2021 for the Moon exhibition, which runs until 10 October 2021.
From 19 July 2021, visitors will no longer need to book tickets to visit our museums.
All buildings will remain Covid-Secure with enhanced cleaning regimes, hand sanitiser and advisory one-way systems in place.
If you plan on visiting between now and 19 July, you will need to book a free ticket for a timed slot before you visit and are asked to arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before. Tickets are available to book via the Colchester + Ipswich Museums website.
Read more about what measures are in place and find out what to expect when you arrive.
All venues are open from 10am – 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and 11am – 5pm on Sunday.
The Power of Stories exhibition, which includes a display of sensational costumes from the hit film Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, opened at Christchurch Mansion on 26 June 2021. The exhibiton runs until 24 October 2021.
Check our social media pages for ways you can engage with us online:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/IpswichMuseums
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/IpswichMuseums
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ipswichmuseums
Although we are open again, you can still access tonnes of fun activities on our website to download and do at home. Have a go at building a zoetrope, make 19th century ice cream, do a wordsearch and much more. See all activities.
Sport and leisure centres
Our sport and leisure facilities are continuing with a phased reopening.
From Monday 19 July we will be increasing capacities on most of our activity sessions and removing the one way systems across our facilities. You will still need to pre-book and pre-pay for all activities online before you visit.
Our facilities will remain COVID-Secure with enhanced cleaning and hand sanitiser stations.
Check our social media pages for ways you can engage with us online:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/IBCIpswichFit
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/IpswichFit
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ipswichfit
Ipswich Market
Ipswich Market is open for business on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Some traders are still offering an online and delivery service. Find out which traders are offering delivery services.
Shopmobility
Our Shopmobility service is open and available between 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday.
Customers can benefit from an advanced booking service, ensuring that their equipment is ready for collection prior to their visit.
Read more about the booking system.
Public toilets
Most of our public toilets are open. View public toilet map and opening times.
Parks and open spaces
Our parks and facilities are open for use.
The Council’s Parks Patrol teams continue to monitor parks and open spaces.
Allotments
Our allotments are open for use.
Residents can still sign up to rent an allotment at one of our 16 sites. All allotment plots are let by the Field Secretaries on behalf of the Council. Please contact them by emailing allotments@ipswich.gov.uk. Our allotments are great value for money with a standard plot costing only 87.5p per week.
Read more about renting an allotment.
Crematorium and cemeteries
Our cemeteries remain open for use and burials and cremations can still go ahead as planned but the government has issued guidance to help keep people safe at funerals.
Council repairs service
Our repairs service for Council tenants is running as normal, in line with government guidance and COVID-secure protocols.
Read more about requesting a repair.
Support for homeless people and rough sleepers
We are continuing to support rough sleepers and are working with the Street Outreach service and other agencies to ensure that all rough sleepers in Ipswich have accommodation.
If you are concerned about someone who you believe is sleeping rough, please visit the Street Link Website and complete the referral form. Alternatively email roughsleeping.enquiries@ipswich.gov.uk.
Parking
Car parks
All our car parks remain open. View all car park locations.
Key worker parking
The scheme where crucial key workers in the NHS and social care can get free parking in all IBC car parks and on-street parking bays ends on 26 July 2021.
Residents’ Parking Zones
The scheme allowing for Residents’ Parking Zone permit-holders to park in some IBC car parks ends on 26 July 2021.
Parking enforcement
Our Civil Enforcement Officers are still on duty as it is important that parking restrictions are followed to ensure roads are kept clear for emergency vehicles and bin crews. It also helps ensure that spaces are being used by genuine permit-holders.
Planning and building control
We continue to operate our Town Planning and Building Control services, in line with Government advice.
For further information on how the planning application process has been affected, please refer to our frequently asked questions.
Read about the progress of the Ipswich Local Plan Review 2018 – 2036 on our examination pages.
Our Building Control team have introduced some changes to the way they interact with customers. Read the latest guidance on how we are delivering Building Control services.
Environmental Health
You can still report an environmental or private sector housing issue however we will not be carrying out visits where we need to enter a person’s home unless an issue is having a significant impact on the occupant, public health or environment. If a visit is deemed essential, appropriate screening questions will be asked, and risk assessments carried out before any visits take place.
Where an offence is identified, Officers can and are still serving appropriate enforcement notices, fixed penalty notices and/ or taking appropriate action. In addition, Officers will still be following up on any breaches to notices that have been served.
Dog Warden service
Our stray dog collection service has been reduced and will now operate between 9am - 8pm Monday to Friday. Read more about how to report a stray dog.
During this time and where possible, Officers will ask finders if they are able to take the dog directly to an appointed kennel or hold onto it until an officer is available, which may be the next working day.
