News

Forty Years On
Vision 2031
The Guildhall Project
Wetherspoons and the Corn Exchange
Magna Carta 800

This year marks a milestone in the life of The Bury Society. It was in 1971 that a group of local residents assembled and made the decision to form a civic society; we celebrate their vision and their care for Bury St Edmunds over the past 40 years.

What is Vision 2031? It is a consultative process that the St Edmundsbury Borough Council has embarked upon to create a vision for the town’s development over the next 20 years. When the process is complete Vision 2031 will provide a plan for addressing the key issues that face the town.

The medieval Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds is fast being recognised as England's oldest complete Civic Building and the Bury Society considers the Guildhall Project to be one of the most important and significant enterprises for our town for very many years.

Subject to obtaining a sale of alcohol licence, Wetherspoons look set to occupy the Corn Exchange following planning approval and agreement to a 30 year lease by the Borough Council. The Company will lease the first floor of the grade II listed building for £80,000 a year from the council.

Magna Carta 800 is a sub-committee of the Bury Society. It was formed at the beginning of 2011, in equal partnership with St Edmundsbury Borough Council, in order to celebrate the event at Bury Abbey in the year before Magna Carta was sealed by King John in 1215.

Wetherspoons and the Corn Exchange

It has said that it plans to invest about £1.4 million in restoring the inside of the building, and will create around 35 new jobs.

newswetherspoonextpic The Society’s approach is to work with Wetherspoons regarding the occupation of this important building, and the impact of their business on the centre of the town

The Society made ‘observations’ rather than ‘objections’ to the planning application based on a very thorough discussion with full examination of the details in Wetherspoons' application. A year on, we take a very realistic view of the current situation as we consider that it is vital that this important listed building is suitably maintained and preserved.

It is acknowledged that in these difficult economic times, no other realistic offers have come forward which will secure the long term care that this heritage building deserves.

newswetherspoonintpic However we have made very clear in our submitted statement to the Borough that we still have serious concerns with regard to the impact of increasing late night drinking activity seven days a week on the town centre, its businesses and nearby residents.

We have strongly proposed strict monitoring and adherence to Wetherspoons' policies of responsible management as well as reduced late night licensing hours.

Further, we have suggested to the Borough that they consider seeking ‘Purple Flag’ status, a national scheme which aims to provide a careful and balanced approach to creating a successful ‘evening economy’ to benefit the whole community.

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