Neil Macdonald

Widnes

Customer Loyalty Editor at NationalWorld

Writer at Freelance

Husband, dad, runner, science fiction geek. Here to make friends. DMs open

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Articles

OPINION: The white heat of new technology burns brighter than ever

1 week ago | eadt.co.uk | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

Sizewell is central to Labour’s clean power mission. Powering the equivalent of six million homes, this investment will provide long term energy security, create thousands of good jobs, and drive growth in every corner of our country. I briefly met Sir Keir last Wednesday at Suffolk New College. I didn’t get much of a word in though, as he was in full flow about the opportunity for local students to have a life-long well-paying job in the clean power industry.
OPINION: We recognise fear about crime in town centre - this is how we're tackling it

2 weeks ago | ipswichstar.co.uk | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

Statistically, crimes recorded in Alexandra ward, which includes the town centre, are down 32% on last year. However, we recognise there is still a fear of crime and a perception of safety in the town. The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is a group of public sector bodies which includes Ipswich Borough Council (IBC), Suffolk Police, Suffolk County Council (SCC), Health, Youth Offending Services, Probation and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Services.
OPINION: These are exciting times for music and culture in Ipswich

3 weeks ago | ipswichstar.co.uk | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

I’m pleased to see two exciting projects granted planning permission this week: Digital Ipswich Portal – a UK exclusive - and the forthcoming conversion of Waterfront House into “At Home with Clay”, a cultural venue for a ‘hands on’ experience with clay. It might become difficult to escape from Sheeran-mania for a while! Ipswich Central and Ipswich Borough Council have come together to turn Ipswich town centre pink with bunting for his ‘Play’ tour.
Thames Water fined £123 million for breaking sewage rules

1 month ago | channel4.com | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

Thames Water has been hit with a record fine by its regulator, Ofwat. It will pay nearly £123 million for a string of failures in how it dealt with waste water and breaching rules on payments to shareholders. The government said it was part of the toughest crackdown on water companies in history.
IMF tells government ‘stay on course’ to reduce deficit

1 month ago | channel4.com | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

The IMF has told the government it must “stay the course” on its plans to bring down the deficit – despite growing speculation that Labour may scale back some of its controversial welfare reforms.
We want to deliver on potential of Ipswich - council chief

1 month ago | eadt.co.uk | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

2 1/1 Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) is ambitious for our town. Last week a council delegation visited a large UK conference called UKREIIF (UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum), with a focus on the Investment part of the title. The key part of the conference for me was the launch of an investment prospectus. This was led by the Inward Investment Working Group for the East of England, which is chaired by Jack Abbott MP.
Neil Macdonald on shaping the future of Suffolk together

1 month ago | eadt.co.uk | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

I’m sure that you would agree that 'local' is the key part of local government. This is the most dramatic change to local authorities for 50 years. What we need for the future are councils which are big enough to deliver, and local enough to care. Councils that will be efficient, financially sustainable and deliver genuine value for money. Not a faceless mega-council, covering a vast geographical area and would be out of touch with communities and residents.
Neil MacDonald: Ipswich's culture has so much to offer

1 month ago | ipswichstar.co.uk | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

Neil MacDonald with the WNL Southern Premier Division trophy (Image: Lucy Taylor) Ipswich has a great culture scene. It’s not just about Ed Sheeran, though he stole the limelight last week with the announcement of three big concerts at Portman Road and he took over the Thomas Wolsey pub to convert it to 'the Old Phone' for two weeks. He also made a surprise appearance at a music industry careers event for schoolchildren last autumn. He has been very good for the town.
OPINION: There are two towns and a bridge that would benefit from a northern bypass

1 month ago | ipswichstar.co.uk | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

It was cracking weather, which made a pleasant change from the freezing day last year and being soaked through the year before! The Scouts walk along the promenade to the Spa Pavilion. With the scouts inside, we had hoped to have a decent walk along the Promenade. However, we kept meeting people we knew from Ipswich! We met the couple who live across the road, soaking up the sun.
Opinion: Acquisition of former Grimwades store demonstrates vision for Ipswich

2 months ago | eadt.co.uk | Neil McDonald |Neil Macdonald

2 1/1 Making the Cornhill an inviting place to spend time is part of our vision for the heart of the town. The exciting news last week was that Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) had purchased the former Grimwades building on the Cornhill. I'm delighted that we have been able to acquire this empty building which has been blighting our town centre for some years.