Portal to another country will be built in town

Plans to install a portal with a real-time visual link to another destination in the world have been approved.

Ipswich Borough Council applied to build a structure outside its town hall, which would have a two-way, live video feed with another location.

The project mimicked those already in place in Dublin and New York.

Planning committee councillors backed the proposal, on the condition that it would be in place for five years, rather than being a permanent fixture.

Hannah Wright, project manager for the council, told councillors the portal would showcase one of the most magnificent buildings in Ipswich - the town hall.

She said: "It puts Ipswich on the map, both UK and globally, it will showcase its heritage, its culture and, hopefully, its innovation."

Ms Wright said the Dublin building had been visited by as many as one million people in just six months, alongside significant social media coverage, and had regenerated an area which wasn't particularly popular.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported the portal was set to operate between 06:00- 23:00, with measures in place, such as camera blurring, should anyone get too close.

The portal will link to those already operating in Dublin, Philadelphia in the United States and Lublin in Poland.

Future locations for similar portals were also planned for Barre Grane in Brazil, Manila in the Philippines, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

The Ipswich Conservation and Design Panel had objected to the proposals due to concerns the portal would block the view into the Cornhill from Lloyds Avenue, which was subject to existing planning consent for a major £1.4 million revamp.

The council said, however, the location was chosen "to maximise visibility and interaction, and to capture a field of view framing the town hall and former Post Office building".

After the planning meeting, Neil MacDonald, leader of the council, said the portal would showcase Ipswich as a "pioneering digital town".

"It signifies a bold step in our town's strategy to rejuvenate the town centre, attract new visitors, support local businesses, and promote Ipswich as a place of culture, connectivity, and global relevance," he added.

The council said the installation of the portal would be scheduled to start in September and launched in October.

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