Bury Free Press BID Column April 2026
With the transition into British Summertime and the improvement in the weather, there is much to be optimistic about as our town centre continues to thrive, whilst so many others are struggling.
That being said, we should never be complacent or presume that national government decisions or international affairs won’t have a detrimental impact upon our local economy.
Outside of these external pressures I was very disappointed to hear that Suffolk County Council staff swooped into the town centre this week, telling Independent businesses that they needed to remove their A boards. Our members, who are located off of the main areas of the town, feel these are so important in raising awareness of their existence to potential new customers.
This approach is so heavy handed and shows a complete lack of appreciation of the challenges our businesses are currently facing. Surely contacting them and/or the BID seeking a compromise, would have been a much more supportive and sensible approach.
There was considerable interest in the recent Artemis mission to beyond the moon and this was the reason we decided this years early summer trail would be Astronomy focussed. Just visit our website or visit the Cathedral Shop Tourism point to find out more about the trail and the items that need to be found.
The Bury St Edmunds Astronomy Association have been very supportive in the creation of this trail and will have a stall at our free entry Spring Fayre that is taking place over the late May Bank Holiday weekend. The urban beach is returning, as is the Craft Market on Angel Hill, the Vintage market and plant stalls in the Buttermarket and family entertainment in the arc.
I was delighted to see our community come together in supporting our entry into the Government’s Town of Culture competition. I understand that there have been over 200 entries from across the country, so quite a lot of competition!
The long awaited mural in Market Thoroughfare has been created this week and the plan is for it to be completed by this weekend.
Street art is yet another way of raising the profile of a location and this is something our town centre has been lacking and I am hoping that this first piece might kick start the concept here.
Many thanks to the help and support from the County Council, West Suffolk Council, the Town Council, Rowlinsons Commercial but particularly Chris Wiley from Bury in Bloom and Ian Dance from the Subversiv Collective, who have been a joy to work with and have been absolutely key to delivering this exciting project.
Since 2009 the arc shopping centre has been an integral part of our town centre offering and during my tenure I have worked with a number of their managers. I was delighted to recently meet Kirsty Pollard, the newest incumbent, who has moved from Sussex to take up this position.
I am looking forward to working with her as we will continue to raise the profile of Bury as a visitor destination and consequently attract new businesses into our town centre.
