Last updated 10 December 2021
Changes to Ipswich Borough Council services as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 remains a serious health risk. You should stay cautious to help protect yourself and others. Find out how to stay safe and help prevent the spread.
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.
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.
Our phone lines are open between 8:30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) - you can call us on 01473 432000
Face-to-face visits will only be arranged where necessary and must be pre-booked in advance over the phone. Before an appointment is booked, we will check to see if we can deal with your enquiry over the phone first.
If you are attending a pre-booked appointment at the Customer Service Centre, please note we will be using the NHS Test and Trace system and you will need to wear a face covering unless you are exempt. Do not visit if you, or anyone you have been in contact with, have COVID-19 symptoms.
Contact us:
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.
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.
When visiting you will need to wear a face covering unless you are exempt.
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.
Face coverings will be mandatory in our venues for all customers over the age of 11, unless medically exempt. These must be worn at all times, including when in the auditorium, except when eating or drinking.
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 Museum, Christchurch Mansion and Ipswich Art Gallery are open.
All buildings remain Covid-Secure with enhanced cleaning and safety measures in place including hand sanitiser stations. When visiting, you will need to wear a face covering unless you are exempt.
Check our social media pages for ways you can engage with us online:
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.
Our sport and leisure facilities are continuing with a phased reopening.
You need to pre-book and pre-pay for all activities online before you visit, and you are required to wear a face covering when entering and moving around the buildings, unless you are exempt. This includes at reception, when arriving for and leaving your scheduled activity and inside changing rooms. You are not expected to wear a face covering when exercising or taking part in an activity.
Our facilities remain COVID-Secure with enhanced cleaning and safety measures in place including hand sanitiser stations, screens between gym equipment and reduced fitness class sizes.
Check our social media pages for ways you can engage with us online:
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.
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.
All our public toilets are open. View public toilet map and opening times.
Our parks and facilities are open for use.
The Council’s Parks Patrol teams continue to monitor parks and open spaces.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All our car parks remain open. View all car park locations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ipswich Borough Council,
Grafton House,
15-17 Russell Road,
Ipswich,
IP1 2DE
01473 432000
