Why out of town developments matter to Bury

The first of our next set of articles for the Bury Free Press was published in December. It is about how town centre redevelopment on a large scale is now matched by all the new housing developments on the edges of our town. The Bury Society can lobby for a careful balance.

In 1971, the Bury Society was founded in the face of the threatened redevelopment of St John’s Street and the widescale demolition of Victorian Bury St Edmunds. If that had succeeded, it would have devastated what is now seen as a great asset to the town. The announcement by Greene King of their relocating from a central position within the medieval conservation area will inevitability result in a void being left in the heart of our town, at least for a while. The Bury Society is now arguably facing its greatest challenge for over fifty years.

We look forward to making a valuable contribution to Greene King’s outline proposals for the current site. Whatever happens will shape the future of our changing town. The Bury Society also believes that the many proposed developments on the edge of town and immediate villages are of equal importance in shaping the future. These new areas bring with them both opportunities and challenges which do not appear to have received the degree of attention required by the various developers and local government.
Mark Cordell as CEO of the BID recognises the positive aspects of an increasing local population in terms of increased footfall in the town centre, and to quote Mark, ‘A likely consequence is Bury moving up the table of desirable and profitable town centres.’ He also points out ‘that increasing visitor numbers may flow from this as a ‘must visit’ destination.’ Mark also fully accepts that a number of negative aspects could be a consequence of an expanding population, many of these having already been identified by the Bury Society. The charity has always recognised that Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding area could not be preserved in aspic – indeed we have constantly strived to maintain a positive and balanced approach when invited to comment on specific plans. However, it is now clear that the acceleration in completing existing developments, and the proposal for new sites, could place an intolerable strain on the town’s infrastructure and public services.

When looking at any proposal, current examples being the never ending expansion of Thurston and the current plans for Rougham, Westley and Gt Barton, there is always mention of green spaces, perhaps a school or a local shop, but important matters such as the increasing pressure on the existing road network and choke points into town receive scant attention. More importantly, any comments regarding provision of healthcare often do not tackle the core need for adequate GP or dental provision which is essential to match any explosion in population. Most times, the developer mentioning the building of a care home seems to be the way to tick the box and deflect attention away from these vital considerations. Examples of other questions to be asked include; when planning the new hospital, was the current growth in population adequately considered? Was the subject of providing extra Policing resources a consideration? Sadly, graphs show a proportionate increase in criminality with a rising population.

The Bury Society is only too aware that the preservation of the town’s identity and attractiveness means that we will also need to play close attention to those developments on the edges of the old borough boundaries. We can never guarantee our lobbying will be successful, even though we always try to make it carefully balanced. A continuing strong, vibrant membership will add weight to the representations we make. If you are concerned with the future physical and social landscape of the area, we urge you to join us. Our collective voice will resonate with those tasked with improving the services and amenities within our community. For more details on membership and all the activities of our charity (which includes Bury in Bloom), please visit our website www.bury society.com