What is the council thinking of? Bury is an old market town – shouldn't it be encouraging small traders with stalls of various types, bring the rents down so as to encourage small, arty-crafty stalls and shops that we have down our backstreets, to complement what is already a beautiful town? Think of Norwich or The Lanes, in Brighton.
I know we need to encourage change, ie, the new development on the Cattle Market, but this can work hand-in-hand with developing and building on what is already there – a medieval town.
People use the market and many rely on it – traders and citizens alike. It is their business and their lives, they have been doing it for many years. Why kill off the heart of a town?
I hope the image of Bury does not change too much, else we are in danger becoming just another copy of many other British towns.
We do need to encourage business and economic growth, that is part of life, but it would be good if we could build on what we have – a town of diversity and colour.
Please, do not ruin what we have already got.
Miss R Wood,
via email.

The fact that 86 per cent of readers who took part in an online vote oppose the 3.75 per cent hike imposed by Suffolk County Council shows the strength of feeling against inflation-beating Council Tax rises.
Every year we are forced to pay more in local taxes than our pay rises at work. You don't need to be a financial genius to know that we can't go on like this. At some point, local politicians will have to link increases in Council Tax to our pay packets, rather than the RPI or some other obscure statistics.
Later this month, St Edmundsbury Borough Council will set its share of the Council Tax for 2008/2009. Last year, this meant a rise of 2.9 per cent, but there were elections looming and this always helps to concentrate minds on the wishes of the electors. Expect a similar hike to the one ordered by Suffolk County Council this time.
Yet this doesn't need to happen. The borough keeps substantial revenue reserves in various jam jars, which, if marginally reduced, could help to continue to drive down Council Tax rises. Even a 2.8 per cent increase would be a step in the right direction. Councillors may even become popular – just imagine that!
The truth is that most of the people who take the decisions are wealthier than those on average and low incomes, who are the hardest hit by inflation-beating tax rises. It doesn't hurt them – so why worry?
David Nettleton,
Cannon Street,
Bury St Edmunds.

I have read in the Bury Free Press that the council is trying to put Council Tax up yet again. If this happens, there is one issue I would like to bring up – refuse collection.
I would like the council to reconsider its collections, as my black bin is normally full before the fortnightly collection is due and is most unsightly.
I cannot see why they can't come every week for those.
Also, I think it's a disgrace that some of the services we pay our Council Tax for I, myself, don't use, for example schools.
I wonder if others think as I do.
Mrs K Flack,
Bury St Edmunds.


A previous town centre manager once told me it was like getting 'blood from a stone' for financial support for Christmas lights from some of the town's businesses.
Bury in Bloom is one of the better things to have happened to Bury St Edmunds in recent years. I know of special coach trips to this area just to view our floral efforts. These people buy goods in our shops and pubs etc, with the local shopkeepers and landlords being the only financial gainers.
It may be that our proprietors would be more interested in providing, fixing, fuelling and storing their own exterior displays, rather than putting cash into a pot?
The main group to gain financially would again be the business fraternity, as it would help to bring in viewers and buyers, plus give our population that feel-good factor which is so helpful at this time of year.
Assuming that all took part, there would be no need for council finance or name-and-shame.
One must also remember that, very shortly, the large extra area of the new Cattle Market site will need to be decorated at Christmas. Surely, we can afford six hours each evening, for four-five weeks.
The time to act is now.
Roy Day,
Park Road,
Bury St Edmunds.

In reply to Cllr Paul Farmer's letter (Bury Free Press, January 25), he points out that last year councillors received a rise of just under 2.5 per cent on their allowance while pensioners received an increase of 3.6 per cent.
Is he aware that the Government took 22 per cent of that in tax, despite pensioners already having paid tax on contributions during their working lives?
Deduct also from that the increase in Council Tax (notwithstanding other increases during the year – fuel, energy etc.) and I think he will find the gap narrows considerably.
As a matter of interest, do councillors pay tax on their allowance?
What was it a great man once said? 'There are lies, damned lies, then statistics'.
But, as a pensioner, who am I to complain?
Vic Edmunds,
Fornham All Saints.

On January 14, I experienced a painful connection with a pavement in the middle of Bury St Edmunds, leaving me with spectacular facial bruising.
A tall, dark young man came immediately to my assistance. He diagnosed that I was going to need stitches, so called an ambulance.
He was joined by Samantha, from Croasdales the Chemist, who gave me effective first aid until a paramedic arrived.
Alex told me he had done first aid courses while serving in the forces. I am hoping either he or one of his friends sees this letter so he can know of my gratitude for his prompt and timely help.
The age of chivalry is far from over.
Mrs A Unwin,
King's Lynn.

I feel I must jump on the bandwagon of praise for West Suffolk Hospital.
I have been there on two occasions recently and have found the treatment has been excellent. If they can perform in this manner, under the limitations they are under, they would be at the top of the pile were they allowed to act as they would like to.
Thank you to A&E, assessment and F7.
Mike Radley,
Via email.

The Bury Free Press does a grand job every week putting increasingly astonishing stories
about our town and the way it is going before us.
But even I was amazed to learn that just a year before the opening of the much anticipated/dreaded Cattle Market development, one of the leading companies involved has sold up its interests and moved on (Bury Free Press, January 25). Presumably the Miller Group is moving on to pastures or Cattle Markets new (sorry, I can't for the life of me remember that other name the scheme has been given).
So where does this leave our town, its citizens and our impending New Jerusalem? Sold on like a job lot, apparently without any democratic input regarding a site which was, until fairly recently, in public ownership.
What do our civic leaders say on the matter? Were they returning calls, or do they prefer now to leave any comments to new owners – "We are delighted," said Jamie Ritblat, for Delancey, and "We couldn't be better placed for 2008 and beyond," according to Richard Wise, for Centros?
Well it's certainly nice to know they are well chuffed about it. But what about the people who actually live in this town? Was there any consultation with St Edmundsbury Borough Council?
Frankly, I now know how citizens of Third World nations feel when they have their assets seized by corporations or imperialist powers and then sold on again.
At best, with rumours of the sell-off of the Angel Hill Borough Office, I now eagerly await the arrival of the mahogany tanned David Dickinson in town for a brand new game entitled Bury St Edmunds Bargain Hunt.
Andrew Snowdon,
Pemberton Walk,
Bury St Edmunds.

I would like to reply to Mr Bishop's letter (Bury Free Press, January 18) on the price of beer.
I ran four pub/restaurants in this area during the period 1990 to 2002. Two of these were leasehold properties owned by Greene King and two were freehold properties owned by me.
The leasehold properties were tied to buying both alcoholic and soft drinks from the brewery. I was at liberty to buy what I wanted for my freehold pubs.
Although Greene King always denied there was a price difference, I could buy Greene King IPA for £30 a firkin (small barrel) cheaper at my freehold pubs than I could my leasehold pubs.
When I took a lease in 1990, my rent per annum was £9,000 – 10 years later, the rent on the same pub was £32,000 per annum and set to rise again on the renewal of a new lease in 2002. I did not renew.
I suspect The Macebearer, where Mr Bishop paid £2.30 per pint, is either a leasehold or managed pub (both tied to higher prices), whereas the £1.65 per pint he paid in a Leicester city pub will be freehold.
Name and address supplied.

I am pleased Cllr Paul Farmer is concerned about Council Tax (Bury Free Press, January 25) when commenting on my previous week's letter. Perhaps he will tell us what the financial burden of the proposed new but but un-needed public building will be.
Cllr Farmer claims the Market Cross could not accommodate the service I suggest. If he cares to bring his tape measure, I will gladly demonstrate how it easily could, so revitalising this immensely important Grade I listed building. Unless, of course, Cllr Farmer regards the building as he did the Manor House and does the Corn Exchange, ie that they should be disposed of as soon as possible.
Simon Harding,
Church Walks,
Bury St Edmunds.

I was quite pleased to learn that a seven-day ticket for adults to travel by bus any time in Bury St Edmunds costs £8.
Surely this must compare very favourably with the cost of long-stay parking five days a week in most of the town's public car parks.
Perhaps any surplus revenue from car parking charges could go towards the provision of a couple more buses on each of the routes during peak times, which would provide a bus every 10 minutes – a much better service than one every half hour.
Surely this would persuade a good many car owners in Bury to travel by bus to work, thus easing traffic congestion and freeing up precious car parking space for people from outside.
Neville Lewis,
St Martin's Street,
Bury St Edmunds.

I write with thanks for the support of Cornhill Walk Shopping Centre and the people of Bury St Edmunds in giving £228.32 through the wishing well placed in the foyer of the shopping centre.
This is just one example of how generous and supporting the people of our town can be.
Anyone who would like to find out more about what this money will help us to achieve can come to our Oasis and Links day clubs open day on February 29. Please call in advance on 01284 757740.
I would also like to thank Cornhill Walk and Moreton Hall Community Association for choosing Age Concern Suffolk as their charity of the year. This, in all, raised £2,000 towards our work in West Suffolk.
Age Concern Suffolk provides two day care facilities for older people, serving more than 100 elderly and frail people and 30 people with dementia every week.
Matthew Archer,
Saxon House Centre Manager.