October 3
Speed checks: Vital for safety or revenue? Re: the two articles relating to policing (Bury Free Press, September 26), I find it interesting that it takes eight hours for police to respond to a shoplifting call in the town centre but there seems no shortage of officers to trap speeding motorists.
Maybe there is a conflict of interest in regard to the revenue collected for speeding and that of catching a thief. We all know which is the most profitable as far as the Government is concerned, but should we be accepting of this and allow the decent, hard-working people to suffer while filling the Government purses?
B Birrell,
via email.
I live in School Road, Thurston, which is a small road with a primary school along it and Thurston Community Collage not far away.
If the police sat in an unmarked car to see what goes on in this road they would be very surprised. Not all drivers go down this road as fast as they can, but most do try to get from one end to the other in record time. I have tried to guess some of the speeds and I am sure most are in excess of 40mph.
The police should keep their checks up and spread to the villages – that would shock them even more.
Steve Palmer,
via email.
arc is costing us even more
It is some time since I last scribed a letter to the newspaper, but according to a report (Bury Free Press, September 26) it appears that the council's folly – the arc, or Cattle Market – could cost it an extra 200,000 in VAT, that plus the 6 million over budget for the public venue can only add to its embarrassment. But the truth is it is not going to cost the council a penny, because it is our money it is frittering away and it is not even embarrassed!
The growing concern is not only this additional cost, but also the effect the current financial market will have on efforts to attract retail businesses in to the vacant shops in the historic core, created by the migration of shops to the new complex. This, and the impact of the construction work on the remaining small traders, does not bode well for the town's future.
There never was a need for the creation of this expensive, ugly, out of character, clone complex in this unique Suffolk market town.
Is it just me, but it seems that as more small shops disappear, change of use applications – from offices and shops to living accommodation, with on-street parking – become more prevalent.
One can hardly wait for the completion of the Public Service Village, built to house two authorities but with the prospect of housing only one – yet another potential example of waste for the sake of vanity. Was there really a need for it, as the future for local authorities has not yet (supposedly) been determined? I wonder what the overspend will be on this project?
If the council is this affluent, then it can afford to reduce our Council Tax rather than waste our money on yet more pointless developments at the expense of our heritage.
Peter Royce,
Great Whelnetham.
We're paying for mistakes
Re: Vatman chases council for 200,000 (Bury Free Press, September 26).
The paragraph that interests me, is the last one: 'funded out of council reserves'.
My opinion (and others') of council reserves is that they are set up to pay for costly mistakes made by councillors, using the tax-paying public as suppliers of funds.
My questions are: How are council reserves constructed? What is the total of St Edmundsbury Borough Council's reserves? Whose cash is it anyway? What happens to the reserve if or when this council is enlarged?
The arc development was originally to cost 75,000,000, now a figure of 100,000,000 is regularly mentioned – who pays for the overspend?
Roy Day,
Park Road, Bury St Edmunds.
Void could stay empty
My opinion of the town centre changes is that the Cattle Market development is ruining lovely, historic Bury St Edmunds.
When all the proposed shops move from the town, leaving quite a void, who is going to fill them when there are already many closures?
As Debenhams usually has well-known retailers in its store, such as Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins, does that mean there will be two of these in Bury?
A friend of mine who used to live in Bury was visiting recently and wanted to know why it was being called the arc – no connection to Bury in her opinion.
Mrs P Boneham,
Newmarket.
Please be considerate
I, along with other liveries at Great Horringer Hall Farm, pay to use the facilities, which include excellent off-road, safe riding.
The farm is private property and clearly states so, but the number of people using the farm tracks to walk dogs and the frequent flow of joggers is increasing every day.
While most people are polite and considerate to the horse and rider, many are not. Dogs are left to run free and run out on our horses while we are riding on tracks that are meant for the use of the livery yard. Who would be at blame should one of our horses knock somebody over? Or if a rider is thrown from a horse?
One owner let their dogs run through our paddocks, which had horses grazing in them, causing the horses great distress while the dogs quite happily chased rabbits and the owner carried on strolling the tracks.
Remember, this is private property – has anyone thought to ask permission to walk the farm?
Off-road riding is becoming more scarce as bridlepaths are taken away and roads becoming too busy to ride on.
Would the joggers and dog walkers like to pay the landlord, for access to the tracks as we do to have safe riding?
I just hope this is not an accident waiting to happen.
Penny Hume,
via email.
Town used as a racetrack
I read with interest that the council has decided to close Ram Meadow car park at night after problems with 'boy racers' and anti-social behaviour (Bury Free Press, September 26).
While having sympathy for those affected near the car park, this is now going to increase the never-ending flow of cars that use our town centre as a racetrack every night.
It never ceases to amaze me that our CCTV systems are good enough to catch shoplifters and drunks but ignore the cars that park illegally across the road, that speed around Cornhill and adjacent roads and dump their fast food litter on the road every night. It is a hazard to pedestrians, highly polluting, both in noise and emissions, and easily preventable if we could just have some old fashioned police presence at night.
Name and address supplied.
Councillors must listen
According to various councillors, we need to debate how to deliver excellent services, get local representation and bear in mind that we won't benefit from larger councils.
These councillors would have a much stronger position if they had actually listened to anyone recently.
Good examples are the millions being spent on re-organising schools (when they are already good, when recent experience in Norfolk shows re-organisation lowers standards and the local people don't want it). Or the millions spent on car parking charges in Newmarket against the wishes of 95 per cent of the population.
Frankly, we don't get excellent services, we get ignored, and we get massive hikes in tax every year.
When councillors ignore the people who live in the area then the councillors are no better than aliens from Mars and, as such, I don't care if they are all scrapped!
Dave Hitchman,
Mildenhall.
New home for clocks?
The suggestion by your correspondent Dan Lacy Scott (Letters, September 26) that the clock collection belonging to the people of Bury St Edmunds should be exhibited in Alwyne House – slap in the middle of the historic centre of Bury – is excellent, especially with its proximity to convenient car parking facilities. I suggest there is also room to accommodate a resident caretaker as well.
With a caring and listening group of councillors such a proposition would be considered, but I fear such a good idea being given any consideration at all is remote.
J M E Bartlett,
Bury St Edmunds.
I am beginning to lose faith in our local council and the way it is not caring for our town.
I now see the taxpayer could be paying the VAT on the Cattle Market – up to 200,000 – on a site very few people want.
I agree with the recent letter from Andrew Snowdon concerning the loss of much of our heritage – the Manor House, Alwyne House and the council offices, which I have said before would make an ideal museum for the Cullum Library, other works of art and the clock collection (which I read could be moved to any other part of Suffolk if we become a unitary authority).
These bequests were made to the town and its people. I just wonder how much more of the family silver we can sell off?
Edna Coote,
Out Westgate,
Bury St Edmunds.
No excuses - use the path
I feel I must add to the comments in a letter from Neville Lewis on last week's letters page.
I use the cycle path between Bury St Edmunds and Thurston a lot, sometimes cycling on my own, sometimes running and sometimes cycling with the family. I always think it is not used anywhere near as much as it could be.
There are hundreds of people in Great Barton and Thurston and probably other places, too, who live within easy reach of this path. Maybe they don't live next to the path but most roads that can give access to it are very quiet or only residential. Therefore, there is no reason these people, whether for work or pleasure, could not leave the car at home and get on their bikes.
I am sure all of these people could come up with some reason why they would not do this, but in reality these are probably not reasons but excuses. It's too wet – get a coat. Too cold – wrap up. Too dark – get lights. It's too dangerous – it's not.
I imagine a lot of these people who could use their bikes are also people who recycle and try to lower their green footprint – well here is one way to do that. I also would imagine that some of these people are always on about their weight and have tried every diet – well here is some regular exercise to help.
So why, if you live within a short distance of this path, don't you use it? Maybe not every day perhaps, but often.
There is little excuse as it is safe, healthy, free, green and saves being stuck in rush-hour traffic.
A half decent bike is not that expensive if you don't have one and, with fuel at current prices, would pay for itself in no time. So, stop the excuses and use the path.
Ashley Page,
Sutton Close,
Bury St Edmunds.
Air cadets paraded, too
Re: Battle of Britain parade.
I have just read the Bury Free Press article and looked at the pictures on the website and was disappointed no mention was made of the 80 or so young people of the Air Training Corps who took part in the parade.
The combined squadrons of 863 (Thurston) and 301 (Bury St Edmunds) were by far the biggest contingents on parade and were extremely well received by the public and the dignitaries present.
The very fact that these young people chose to give up their time and pay respects to our servicemen and women says a lot about them and the wonderful organisation that is the Air Training Corps.
Sgt Peter Brinkley,
863 (Thurston) Sqdn Air Training Corps.
Make no assumptions
Simon Lay, in last week's letters, thinks I have got the wrong end of the stick about the proposed new homes in Out Westgate.
The dictionary definition of ghetto is as follows: "A quarter where members of a minority reside as a result of social or economic pressure."
While I have no problem with any criticism of the design or density of the proposed Havebury project, it was the use of word 'ghetto', as if anyone living in this new development would somehow be unworthy, that offended me.
Havebury Housing Partnership has a remit from the Government to build new homes. The designs are governed by strict rules and regulations, including minimum size of rooms etc – strictures that do not cover independent developments. The council members on the Havebury board of directors are not allowed to speak, let alone vote, for any Havebury projects that come before the council or planning group.
All Havebury tenants sign a tenancy agreement – homeowners sign nothing.
I was offended by the assumption that the design of the homes, good or bad, would automatically mean the seeds were being planted to turn these new homes of the future into a 'ghetto'.
There are avenues of appeal open to the residents of this area. I am sure the chief executive of Havebury, Steve Cook, and the chairman of the board, Jonathan Free, would be willing to meet any groups to allay fears for the future of this development. Perhaps the Havebury tenants' forum could also help to allay doubts that folks needing a new home and a brighter future will not turn it into a 'ghetto'.
Tom Murray,
Howard estate,
Bury St Edmunds.
Group needs new storage
As we approach our 50th birthday, it seems an appropriate time to thank everyone in Bury St Edmunds for their long-standing support of the Irving Stage Company (formerly the Irving Club).
We have a number of events planned for 2009, our Jubilee year, starting with Chess, the musical, at the Theatre Royal in March, and we look forward to many great years in Bury to come.
However, one problem becomes increasingly pressing. Our storage and set-building facility has become too expensive and we now seek a new home for our materials. If any reader has a barn or similar going spare we would be eternally grateful for a helping hand. If anyone able to help could contact our secretary, Mark Jefferson, on 01638 510 460, that would be fantastic.
Jackie Deane,
Chairman,
Irving Stage Company.
Furniture shop is busy
I work as a volunteer, on a Wednesday, in the St Nicholas' Hospice furniture shop, in Mildenhall.
It is amazing what people give us. For example, we had a double sofabed in last week. It was like new and sold straight away.
We are usually busy in the shop and need more volunteers, so if you have a few hours to spare please come in to see us or telephone 01638 712639.
Mary Hasty,
Raven Close,
Mildenhall.
Meeting house opens
Building work has finished at the newly-restored and developed Quaker Meeting House, in St John's Street. It has taken just four years to raise the money – more than 500,000, with no recourse to Lottery funding – and complete the work.
We would like to thank the people of Bury St Edmunds and the many organisations which supported and encouraged us.
The development of the 18th century meeting house was not an end in itself, it is not only a place of worship, but a community resource for all.
Tomorrow, the Mayor of St Edmundsbury will be welcomed to the official opening, which coincides with the beginning of National Quaker Week.
Afterwards, the meeting house will be open to the public from 2-4pm. There will be displays by groups who use the building and Quakers.
All are welcome to view the new building and enjoy the gently swinging jazz from the Jerry Sheppard Quartet.
In November, Bury Quakers will be running Quaker Quest, four sessions where we share how we worship, what we believe and how we seek to put it into practice. These sessions are open to anyone curious to know more about Quakers. All welcome.
We look forward to welcoming readers to this much-enhanced community resource.
Helen Roberts,
On behalf of Bury Quakers.
Friends say thank you
All of Little Dave's friends at Westbury Social Club would like to express their appreciation of the exemplary care and affection given to him during his illness, by all the staff in the Macmillan Unit and Ward G1. And, particularly, the kindness extended to Dave and his visitors during his last few weeks. Our heartfelt thanks.
W E Baker,
On behalf of Westbury Social Club.
Angel Hill home appeal
I was born on May 2, 1939, in a nursing home on Angel Hill. I would like to identify which building it was and wonder if any readers can help me?
Rupert B Crisp,
Violet Bank, Lingwood Road, Blofield, Norwich.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
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