The town currently has a 'healthy' five per cent rate of empty shops, but half of the 18 stores signed up to the redevelopment are existing town retailers looking to relocate, so that vacancy rate is expected to rise.

A meeting of the Bury St Edmunds Area Working Party heard yesterday that 'proactive' steps are going to be taken to combat the rise in vacant shops.

Among those steps, St Edmundsbury Borough Council will approach retailers that do not already have a shop in the town to see if they are interested in coming to Bury.

It is hoped some of the shops that are unsuccessful in getting a unit on the Cattle Market scheme could opt for the existing town centre instead.

Shopping trends in the town are also being monitored ahead of the scheme, which will be called arc, opening.

"So far, the picture in Bury appears relatively healthy, despite the current difficult economic circumstances for retailers," said a report by economic development officer Dr Carol Rowntree to yesterday's meeting.

The move forms part of a new impact management strategy to prepare for the opening of the Cattle Market redevelopment.

Rick Wildridge, chairman of the town's chamber of commerce, which forms part of an impact management group, said he was not concerned by the prospect of empty shops.

"Compared to things nationally, we live in prosperity in Bury. It is not as if it is a town where everything is closing down – as one door closes, another opens.

"There is going to be a state of flux but this strategy is going to minimise the impact of that and maximise any opportunities that come up."

Town organisations, including town centre management and the Chamber of Commerce, are to approach the council for money to help fund a marketing campaign for the existing town centre, which would run alongside one by marketing firm Redwood on behalf of the new shopping scheme.

n Bury St Edmunds Area Working Party anticipates a large number of shoppers will want to visit arc and is planning to run a park and ride scheme for the first two weekends after it opens.

There are also plans to remodel the Cattle Market car park this autumn, install more cycle racks in the town and improve road junctions at St Andrew's Street South, Risbygate Street, and Brentgovel Street.

A new bus shelter will be installed next to the scheme in St Andrew's Street South while the bus shelter behind Boots will be revamped.

The report to yesterday's meeting said Central Walk would undergo improvement work early next year, ahead of arc opening.

A consultation exercise over the changes to Central Walk will be carried out first.

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