Saturday 21 March 2009

Another busy Saturday

I should have really taken a picture in The Traverse this morning: I have never seen it so full. (I did not like to hold up Mrs F who was in a hurry, and it wasn't until we were returning to our bikes outside Haart's that I took the above.)

The whole market was busy and buzzing, although Central Walk was coping very well. It made a nice change to be able to walk to Waitrose through the new centre via Charter and Hanchet Squares. It all links up successfully.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought the view through Central Walk looked good. We cut through to Waitrose last week, it's nicer and easier this way when calling in on the way home. This was my first visit and I found The Arc better than I expected.
I felt quilty when I first found myself saying The Arc. Told myself it stood for 'A Reconstructed Cattle Market'' makes me feel better when using it! Will there be any reference to it anywhere.

Charlotte Howard said...

So refreshing to have your rational comments Rose. When you say 'on your way home' does that mean you live in town, perhaps Abbeygate ward?

Bury Boy said...

negitive comments can also be rationale paul. You just need to be a little more open minded.

How the fact remains that this is the "cattle market" and local people will continue to think and refer to to it as such, as Rose so rationally stated. can we not do some thing to instil this term into the local ecomomy. like naing the very over due, and over budget public building the xxxxxx at the cattle market.
Out of pure devilment have you not seen the old photos or the experience of the bury markets ( dead stock, live stock and fruit)in the 70s and 80s, todays numbers really do fall short. Some one recently told me its not the number of people that count its the spending power / cash at the end of the day.

Anonymous said...

Yes Paul I do live in Abbeygate. Just noticed I said quilty instead of guilty. But will there be a reference to our old market? I'm one of the natives who remember the cattle walking the streets. Happy days !

Charlotte Howard said...

Sorry Rose. You can find information about Centros' intentions in paper Z499. Go to the SEBC website home page. Click on council papers, cabinet & committee structure, Bury St Edmunds working party, scroll down to click the February 2009 meeting, click 'Way finding signs'and then click it again on the next page.

Sorry this is so complicated but it will give you an answer and its quicker than searching the site.

Charlotte Howard said...

Yes BB, I remember the late 70s in Bury St Edmunds. How different it all was then. I could park outside Sainsbury's, which was not much competition for the market. No Tesco, a fraction of the number of cars and houses (but mainly the same roads and car parks). No internet shopping, mobile phones or modern shopping centres in Cambridge or Norwich.

Halcyon days?

Picklesmum said...

....and you still got change from a farthing etc....!

Bury Boy said...

You were lucky to park outside sainsburys the taxi rank usally over ran there ( maybe the cattle market carpark ?, or the back of everards hotel ). There may not have been a Tesco, but there was competition an international stores, many smsll fruit and veg shops in both St johns street, and abbeygate street, woolies, ridleys, COOP, key markets, 6 or 7 butchers, a wet fish shop, one coffee shop, and a wimpy bar, etc etc. Each of the estates had a shopping center plus regular and cost effective bus links to the town, Regular ( as in one an hour minimum) Rail links to Cambridge, and Ipswich ( both of which had a pile them high tesco). I recall Colchester had a "new shopping centre, as did Ipswich (up near woolies and the coop), Norwich had one too, as did Cambridge. these areas are either no longer visited, or empty certainly no the main shopping area. If I recall correctly the only major expansion in housing is MH estate. During those times you did not need to travel outside the town because the small shops and the market covered every thing. now we have building soc, banks, cafe, shoe shops and clothing shops. If we continue at this rate we will lose all the town centre options for fruit, veg, meat and milk........stowmarket veg market is I am told now "better" for choice than Bury and growing fast.

Before we sing the praises of Debenhams, we must remember it was they who closed two stores in the market place and moverd out, only to return years later with simlar trading space expecting our custom. If we look closly we can see a link between increased council spending, rates, rents ( private and local auth) and the down turn in the small family business. What steps if any can we take to keep our market traders, and perserve our "Market Town idenity".

Charlotte Howard said...

Wow! Thanks for the history lesson BB. I take it that's a 'yes' then?

Picklesmum said...

**Feels guilty for buying 2 new tops in Debenhams now **

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info Paul. BB you have reminded me of so much. Pubs and grocers on every corner,I remember 3 wet fish shops. Butchers galore. It's a pity we lost the Everards dance floor the Co-op Hall and the Ballroom Suite at the Angel and what about Palmers and Dunns Restaurants. And did you ever go to the Suffolk where it would be packed at christmas with a blazing fire in the bar.
As for the Arc, I don't find the conveniences very convenient tucked away in the corner, it's a lonely spot and there's often boys hanging around that area.

Bury Boy said...

"Oh yes" Rose, I do recall a couple of visits to the suffolk at christmas time, thanks for the memory, we just dont seem to have such places now adays.

Picklesmum said...

Wondering about the BFP headline ordering...
1. Cemetery Full
2. Get out your old spades..

Nice!