We certainly did lots of clearing up around our estate, off Cullum Road, during that day.
However, many of our residents are still concerned about how many old cigarette ends can be found lying in the centre of Bury St Edmunds. They are pleased we do not have any in our area, but on Monday, when I walked back from town via St John's Street, I viewed nearly 190 cigarette ends lying on the ground on my way back to home.
Outside one business (not a pub and not to be named) I counted 31 cigarette ends lying on the floor.
Can the borough get this sorted out? We hope so.
Brian Cash,
Chairman, Cathedral Meadows Residents' Association.

Dispelling VAT myth

I always try to read your letters' pages, but am sometimes concerned by myths that abound – and last week was no exception.
St Edmundsbury has not received a £200,000 vat bill. We are simply discussing with Customs and Excise whether vat might be payable on certain elements of the Cattle Market development and, as an accounting contingency, have put aside this sum just in case. If we did not, your readers could rightly criticise us.
That is the kind of thing that reserves are for and I am proud that, during easier economic times, St Edmundsbury has made savings while improving our services and built reserves up on behalf of our tax-payers. This has not only enabled us to get – and pledge to keep – Council Tax rises below inflation, but means we are in a position to assist our residents and partners in these very challenging economic conditions. I just wish our national government had done the same.
Turning to the Cattle Market, yes – like everywhere – costs have risen, but we have, and are attracting more than £4 (from the developer and other investors) for every £1 invested into Bury and St Edmundsbury's future prosperity while helping to create hundreds of new jobs, provide new facilities and keep spending local.
As for the Public Service Village, this was conceived, designed, gained planning permission and started construction before the Government decided to make us all go through the local government review in Suffolk. It will be shared by St Edmundsbury and Suffolk County Council (saving tax payers approximately £700,000 per annum) and will then become part of whatever new authority is set up – in fact we hope it will be the headquarters of a new West Suffolk council rather than part of some enormous, bureaucratic and less accountable unitary authority.
Nobody has all the answers. Making tough decisions is always controversial and both councillors and staff at St Edmundsbury welcome constructive criticism and advice – if not incorrect assertions and misleading accusations. However, and even with the benefit of hindsight, we do appear to have got most things right for the people we serve here, which is probably why we were independently rated the best district council in the country.
More importantly, we all now face exceptionally turbulent and difficult challenges and this is surely the time for everyone to pull together for the benefit of current and future residents in this lovely part of the world that is West Suffolk.
John Griffiths,
Leader, St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

Weekend cottage?

I have a great deal of sympathy with the case of the 'Fraudster on the run' (Bury Free Press, September 19).
After initially having 173 offences for fraud and appearing in court 26 times, this man was sentenced in 2006 to a prison term. In March 2008 he was given a further two-year term of imprisonment after committing another fraud while being allowed out to work in Ipswich.
Only seven months into this latest sentence, he was granted home leave, from which he failed to return.
I think that he, perhaps understandably, didn't realise that attendance at prison involved a degree of compulsion on his part. He probably thinks it is the Government's equivalent of a weekend cottage from which you can come and go as you please.
As my mum used to say when I went out to play: "Don't worry, he'll come home when he's hungry."
Chris Sutton,
Risby.

Group is too successful

It is with great sadness we have to announce that the highly successful parent and toddler group which is run by Christ Church Moreton Hall will have to place restrictions on those who use this facility.
For more than 10 years, we operated a 'first come first served' policy and welcomed people who included those who do not live on the Moreton Hall estate.
We now have such a long waiting list and numbers are so high we are in danger of infringing health and safety regulations. After careful review we will have to bring the new regulations in from October 29.
Our aim is to fulfil two priorities. Our first is to help those who live on the Moreton Hall estate and our second is to assist 'stay at home mothers'.
The only way we can avoid this situation is by extending the building and providing more facilities. If we were able to obtain significant resources from charities and the local community this might be possible, but it would not solve our immediate problem.
We are sad to find ourselves in this position but it is caused by three factors: Closure of other groups in the countryside, the high number of young families on the Moreton Hall estate and the enduring success of the service that we offer to the community. This is a significant achievement by a group of people who are entirely unpaid volunteers, and if this excellent work is to continue no child or helper must be put at risk by overcrowding.
We will be contacting every member personally by letter and we hope the community will understand our position.
The Rev Jonathan Ford,
Minister, Christ Church, Moreton Hall.

Focus falls on the past

On Thursday, October 23, Bury St Edmunds Photographic Society will hold a special meeting to celebrate 50 years of the society and its predecessor, St Margaret's Camera Club.
The society is very keen to have past members join them to mark this occasion. Unfortunately, membership records are not complete and it has been impossible to write to them all individually.
We therefore invite any past members, of either club, to join us at the Newbury Community Centre, St Olaves Road, Bury, at 7.30pm, on that date.
If they would like to bring along one photo that has been exhibited at either club in the past 50 years, we would be delighted to see it.
To assist in the provision of light refreshments, please telephone 01284 754454 to advise us of their intentions.
John Gateshill,
Bury St Edmunds Photographic Society.

Many just walked past

Last week, I came across a young girl, passed out on a pathway on the Howard estate. She was injured and looked intoxicated – everyone else was just walking past her.
I called the ambulance and the young paramedic arrived very quickly. I was impressed by his professionalism and extreme patience with a rather belligerent young woman, who was being sick and slipping in and out of reality.
It took the paramedic 45 minutes of kindness and talking to explain to the young person why she had to go to hospital.
I managed to find out she was in care and called the care home. It transpired she was listed as missing, so not only was an ambulance called, but the police were informed. Throughout this whole process, only a young lad asked did I, or the paramedic, need any help.
I congratulate all those involved. I was impressed by the level of professionalism and kindness.
What did this cost me? Well, I was an hour late for a lunch and used some minutes on my mobile, nothing really. Why did so many people walked past this young lady and do nothing? This saddened me. Is it a sign of the times or a fear of getting involved?
Name and address supplied.

We're lucky Ned's back

How very fortunate for Suffolk, and especially the shoppers in Bury St Edmunds, that Ned Pamphilon has returned from Istanbul to bring his talents back to Suffolk.
This artist has huge talent, together with a great sense of fun, which is badly lacking at this time in the UK.
Keep inspiring us Ned.
Maxine Kasicki,
via email


Can you help?

I am researching the history of de Havilland missiles (c1950-60) and am anxious to learn something of a technician, Harry Rawlinson, who was born around 1910 in or around Bury St Edwards. He worked in Hartfield, but retired to the area and died there c1980.
It may be some of his relatives still live in the area and I would be pleased if any of them who have memories of him could contact me.
Colin Hempstead,
colin.hempstead1@ntlworld.com

Could I please ask if anyone knew of my father, John (Jack) Brinded?
As a young man he lived at Great Barton, where I was born, at Conyers Green. Dad joined the Army in Bury and went to the Far East where he was a prisoner-of-war.
Any details of people who knew him or even photos, would be lovely.
My dad died aged 81, he would be 87 now.
I have no photos of his past whatsoever, so photos would be a bonus.
Sandra Rice,
Willbye Avenue,
Diss.

I am asking for the help of your readers in unearthing information about the rectors of Hartest-cum-Boxted and their connection with Pettits, of Bury St Edmunds, the carriage builders.
A couple of years ago I was helping my father-in-law to find his ancestors on the internet and typed in the name of some of my own forebears. I was surprised to turn up an advert selling a ralli car built by my great-great grandfather, James Pettit, of Mustow Street, Bury, or possibly by my great-grandfather, Clement. A ralli car is a horse-drawn open two-wheeled vehicle.
I went to look at the vehicle, which was apparently built for a rector of Hartest-cum-Boxted, and it was in remarkably good condition.
My grandmother, Dorothy Herrington, of Risbygate Street used to tell how as a girl, she would visit the Mustow Street workshop and watch the application of the 13 coats of paint that went on to each carriage.
We would like some help in proving the vehicle's history. J Pettit and co went into bankruptcy shortly after World War One and the firm's records have not survived.
We would appreciate any help that anyone can offer in proving the provenance of the car.
We would like to hear from anyone who might know about the rectors of Hartest-cum-Boxted prior to World War One and who might have any information about when the car was ordered and built, and for which particular rector.
Andy Morley,
andy@dimension.entadsl.com