District stretches 50 kms from Essex Border in the south to Norfolk in the North
Two main population centres- historic cathedral town of Bury St Edmunds and the old cloth town of Haverhill- expanded in the 20c. beyond recognition
Clare is the largest and probably most attractive of the many small villages
The county varies from the Stour Valley water meadows to the south, the pretty valleys around Hawkedon, the prairie like farms north of Bury to the edge of the Brecks around Euston
The former affluence is reflected by the number of estates and parks - Ickworth, Culford, Euston, Coldham and Nowton
Cattle market redevelopment and its retail consequences
The expansion of supermarket shopping
Plans for the large brown field site around Station Hill and the old Gasworks
The effect of the A14 on traffic in the town and the chronic parking problems
The lack of affordable housing, its unadventurous design and its ghetto-like distribution
But mostly to ensure that proposed changes do not alter the town beyond recognition
The society has close relations with the Bury Society [affiliated to the Civic Trust], the Clare Society and the Haverhill Historic Society and has influenced the following decisions:
Rejection of plans to demolish the Corn Exchange and Old Library in the Cornhill
Prevention of the proposal to replace St John’s Street with a shopping mall
Restoration of the West Front of the Abbey Ruins after years of council neglect
Adoption of the concept of underground car parking
The use of the Manor House as a museum - now sadly closed
Opposition to the building at West Stow [in an area designated as countryside] of a store for museum artefacts
All planning applications in the district are screened and are referred if contentious to local “watchdogs” in the villages for their local knowledge, before discussion at the monthly planning meeting to which all members are welcome. These are normally held in Bury on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5pm
For local problems, suggestions, details of meetings or any other activities, please contact the Branch Chairman:
David Rees, 44 College Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1NL
Telephone: 01284 754618 Email: david.rees@talktalk.net
St Edmundsbury Borough Council - www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk
