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Better late.....!

2012-01-25T15:24:00.002Z

~~Two~~ (actually it was three!) years ago this build-out was constructed on the corner of St Mary's Square and Southgate Street. The trouble was that the original yellow lines got covered as a result. You might think that no sane person would park there, and be right. But the lines were still needed to emphasise the contour of the road and help slow traffic by keeping it on the road and off the build-out.

This week the lining throughout the Southgate Corridor was refreshed, and I and residents are delighted with the result. I could say a lot more, but I will just refer you to the title of this post and be thankful!

29-31 Southgate Street

2012-01-25T15:16:00.000Z

Following the piling earler this month the ground works look set (excuse the pun) for the lorryloads of concrete which will surely soon be poured over. I wonder when the rear wall of the old building will be knocked down.

"Green lung" threatened

2012-01-18T15:11:00.002Z

Scroll down a short distance to see my post about the plan to turn a garden path area into car parking. In support of residents living opposite who have objected, I have called this in for determination by the Development Control committee.

For more details click here...

Maynewater Lane flats

2012-01-12T14:44:00.001Z

Following a presentation from local residents I am recommending the following:

1. All trees recommended for removal should be replaced with appropriate species, to create high quality screens between the development and existing properties, especially those in Harrington Close/Sextons Meadows.

2. There should be no balcony at number five, nor elsewhere if neighbouring properties would be overlooked.

3. All green/amenity spaces should be protected from antisocial parking, e.g. by bollards.

4. More dedicated parking spaces should be created, including designated visitor parking.

If this application gets as far as the Development Control committee, then I am advised it will not be until their March meeting at the earliest.

New year, new planning applications...

2011-12-30T14:31:00.005Z

Here is the first of two interesting applications in Abbeygate to be decided in the new year. It is part of a proposal to convert the upper floors of 6 Angel Hill into two residential apartments, and is described as "alteration to parking area". This seems odd, since there is currently no vehicular access from Lower Baxter Street let alone a "parking area". In fact the location consists of a pedestrian access in the centre and a shrubbery of mainly Laurel where the parking is planned.

Is this a handy way to keep a couple of future residential occupants' cars off the road or the destruction of a small green lung in the heart of the town alongside a very tricky entrance for a car to negotiate? One of my electors certainly thinks the latter. What do you think?

The second application is for 14 2/3 storey flats on the area known as the former Linnet service station at the bottom of Maynewater Lane, shown below. Some residents of Harrington Close may be concerned at any loss of light or view, but others may be delighted at the prospect of the area's regeneration.

Find out more about both applications by clicking the website address below and inputting each of the the respective planning application references: SE/11/1432 and SE/11/1475. Then click "search" and the same number where it appears on the second page to show all the documents currently available.

http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display

2011-12-23T16:18:00.003Z

A Happy Christmas to you and a Happy New Year.

I suppose I should soon add 2012 to the copyright notice which has been at the bottom of every page since this website was started.

Free parking in Bury?

2011-12-15T12:20:00.004Z

One of the recommendations of Mary Portas' report is that councils should consider making their parking offer more attractive, even considering free parking. Would this work for Bury?

My personal view is that since car parking numbers continue to increase, and space is limited, the council have probably got the charges about right. There has also been due consideration given to creating short stay parking to encourage a turnover of spaces.

The council clearly gain a considerable income from car parking, and having invested £4m into the underground car park that would seem reasonable. More importantly, the report begs the question: should all council tax payers subsidise parking for those who visit from elsewhere?

But this is only one of 28 recommendations, many of which are for government to consider.

See the full report by clicking here

J.D.Wetherspoon

2011-12-08T11:22:00.002Z

The conversion of the Corn Exchange to a Wetherspoon's pub took a step further this week with the granting of an additional hour to its existing licence. Thanks to the Churchgate Area Association's intervention some key conditions were negotiated relating to not drinking outside, restricting delivery times and establishing meetings with local residents.

Some people still think the company is waiting to take over the Barclays Bank building (and that it would be a better one) but only time will tell.

2011-12-08T11:15:00.002Z

One of the important functions that only the Town Council performs is the installation of grit bins. With the recent severe winters these have been in greater demand, and I am delighted that it has been possible to site several new ones in Abbeygate, including here at Alicia Court.

Queen's Head apply for 2am closure

2011-11-23T15:26:00.002Z

Full details of the Queen's Head's current application can be found at:

http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/live/pdf/licensing/public%20register/LP005388%20-%20queens%20head%20variation.pdf

Those wishing to comment to the Licensing Authority can find out how to do so via:

http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/live/pdf/licensing/Rel%20Representation.pdf

Is this the shortest lamp post in Bury?

2011-11-17T11:26:00.004Z

Probably not, but it is a lot shorter than the first version, which towered above the adjacent rear gardens of Churchgate Street properties. The reason for the installation was the removal of the original wall-mounted lamp on the Athenaeum Lane house next door. Thanks to the co-operation and speedy efforts of Suffolk County Council's lighting technician and manager, residents initial fears of floodlit gardens were quickly allayed. It did involve a few phone calls/emails, but the result was well worth the small effort spent.

Half way there

2011-11-04T15:01:00.004Z

This is what is left of the much disliked building most recently used as a sofa warehouse, but in fact empty for some years. Planning permission exists for a row of three houses, which should look very much better. As ever, watch this space...

Car park moves

2011-11-04T14:55:00.003Z

Following on from my last post, here is the new car park that will replace the existing record office one. In case you cannot place it, the site is just behind the northern edge of the police station. Although not in use yet (despite the cars shown) it is expected that the ticket machine and signs will be installed there some time in the new year.

Bath comes to Bury?

2011-10-29T17:34:00.003+01:00

The consultation session this morning for the record office/manor house car park development (see previous post) revealed an imposing crescent of 3 1/2 storey town houses and a similar line of six behind Shire Hall.

No one seemed very worried about the latter, but what I have described as "imposing" was simply far too tall for some neighbours. I did not have the cheek to ask if I could take a photo to display here, but I will certainly do so if it is reproduced in the final planning application. Expect this by Christmas and watch this space.

Consultation

2011-10-23T07:21:00.002+01:00

Following informal advice from SEBC planners, a pre-application consultation is being conducted by Strutt & Parker on behalf of EA Property Developments Ltd, based on a new scheme for 15 properties on the record office site. Neigbours and I have been invited to a drop-in session in order to give them a chance to comment on the plan, and a plannning application is expected to follow the consultation.

(The previous plan was for 17 units, and is described in my previous post on the subject. Type "record" in the search box to access this.)

Thank you

2011-10-22T17:44:00.003+01:00

Thank you for helping me to raise £155.2 in just two hours this morning for St Nicholas Hospice Care.

Apex update...

2011-10-17T15:44:00.003+01:00

Here are some more of the numbers I shall be playing this Saturday morning in the upstairs bar of The Apex (10.30-12.30):

Total eclipse of the heart (Bonnie Tyler); Ferry 'cross the Mersey (Gerry & The Pacemakers); House of the rising sun (Animals); Apache (Shadows); Dream a little dream (Mama Cass); Homeward bound (Paul Simon)...and more...

See last post for more info...

Paul is at The Apex...

2011-10-13T11:29:00.002+01:00

On Saturday 22nd October, between 10.30-12.30 I shall be playing the piano in the upstairs bar of The Apex, in aid of St Nicholas' Hospice. I hope as many people as possible will interrupt their shopping for a few minutes to come and listen, and better still to leave some coins (or notes) in the St Nicholas' donation bucket.

I am currently learning some new numbers which I shall be performing for the first time, including:

That's no way to say goodbye (Cohen); Vincent (McLean); Sorry (Elton); Jennifer juniper (Donovan); I close my eyes/I only want to be with you/Just don't know what to do (Springfield); Waterloo sunset (Kinks); To sir with love (Lulu).

What...a performance?

2011-10-11T15:51:00.002+01:00

Paul is learning some new numbers for a forthcoming performance in aid of St Nicholas' Hospice.

If the names: Dusty, Donovan, Elton, Kinks, McLean, Seeger, Denver, Cohen and Cass ring any bells, then this is something you can't miss.

Watch this space for further details...

The Butts get a clean-up:

2011-09-29T12:27:00.003+01:00

I have recently been working with Sylvana Marley of the Saxon Gate Community Association to try to clear a stubborn area of The Butts. For years this has been a dumping ground for anything from beer cans to bicycles. Today we met with SEBC staff Chris Silverwood and Tim Row, shown here at York Bridge inspecting the work done recently to clear the area.

Thanks to Chris, Tim and all those responsible for helping with this important project.

Expenses update

2011-09-15T11:27:00.005+01:00

Paul's latest travelling expenses have been published today in St Edmundsbury's annual accounts, although they have yet to be approved by the council. For further information click here.

Have your say...

2011-09-12T15:07:00.001+01:00

Questionnaires will be dropping on to the doormats of 2000 residents throughout St Edmundsbury this week asking people to help the borough council save £3.5 million through changing services or raising more income. And all residents in the borough can take part through the online consultation at: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk

Cllr John Griffiths, St Edmundsbury Borough Council Leader, said: “We will have £3.5 million less to spend over the next couple of years so there are some very tough decisions to be made. We are consulting on a number of ideas before – not after – any decisions are made and and I stress that these are only ideas for possible consideration in the future. This is your money we are talking about, whether it comes from taxes paid to Government or through Council Tax, so I encourage anyone who lives in the borough to let us know your views, and your own ideas, through the online consultation. You will be helping councillors to decide how we can deal with our £3.5 million budget gap.”

The consultation asks some very specific questions, usually with indications of the potential money saved, or new income generated (such as raising £20,000 through charging to use the Abbey Gardens toilets, for example, or saving £50,000 by moving the Tourist Information Centre to Moyse’s Hall Museum). It doesn’t cover every council service, because savings may already have been made, or because the timing is wrong. The apex is an example – it was scheduled to be looked at two years after it opened, so will be reviewed in late 2012. The consultation closing date is 4 October and the council will take consultation responses into account during the autumn budget-setting process, with the final budget set in February 2012.

If people do not have internet access at home they can complete the online consultation at libraries, the Lower Downs Slade council offices in Haverhill, or at West Suffolk House or Tourist Information centre in Bury St Edmunds. Replies can be anonymous, but if people give their contact details they will be entered in a draw with three prizes of £50.

Wetherspoon's - more good news???

2011-09-01T12:25:00.002+01:00

I spoke at this morning's Development Control meeting, and suggested a compromise between what hours were originally granted and what were now being asked for, i.e. midnight closure seven days a week.

The committee thought about allowing the requested longer hours for an 18 month trial (defeated by nine votes to seven), but finally approved the request permanently by 11 to 3 votes. They didn't discuss my compromise!

Only time will tell...

Good street lamp news!

2011-08-30T15:43:00.005+01:00

I am delighted to report that there may have been a bit of a reprieve on the street lighting front. Following the representations of Richard Rout and me, and a reconsideration of the town centre boundaries, I am told the following streets should remain lit until further notice:

High Baxter Street, Hospital Rd, Mill Rd, Castle Rd, Chalk Rd, Honey Hill, Sparhawk St, Guildhall St, College St & Whiting St

There may be others, but all will be confirmed when the SCC website is updated. Click here to see it.

Mysterious leak

2011-08-15T12:46:00.003+01:00

Here is rather poor picture of a leak into the river Linnet by Stamford Bridge on the very western boundary of Abbeygate. It was taken this morning when there was no surface water draining off and indeed the only liquid in the river at that point appears to be from here.

If you can't see it, the grey patch to the right of the big pipe is a concrete slope, and the wet trail of the leak is just by the pipe. You can't see the opening from which the leak is flowing, as it is hidden by vegetation. Here is a close-up:

I am told that a foul smell sometimes accompanies this area, which makes some think it is an unauthorised sewage pipe. As an anosmic I do not have the means to verify this.

There have been various attempts to discover the source of this leak. SEBC is currently finding out the latest information from the Environment Agency.

Does it matter?

2011-08-13T18:20:00.002+01:00

This latest manifestation of a restaurant chain has again caused problems for the conservationists. The company have now appealed against a refusal to grant retrospective permission for the shop front. I have reproduced below the planning officer's original reasons for this refusal, for information, and wonder what do YOU think about it?

A. Application SE/10/1591

Listed building consent be Refused subject to the following reasons:

35 Abbeygate Street is a Grade II* listed building located within the Bury St Edmunds (Town Centre) Conservation Area where the Local Planning is seeking to maintain control over the display of advertisements in the interests of amenity, to preserve the character and appearance of the locality and to protect the special qualities of the building by preventing inappropriate additions and alterations. The Local Planning Authority is of the opinion that the proposed signage included in the application are contrary to those objectives in that:
i) the use of illumination accentuates the prominence of the fascia sign which is located above the ground floor commercial frontage and which historically has adequately identified the use and occupation of the building in non-illuminated form. Illuminated signs are not a feature of the street and there absence contributes to the distinctiveness of the locality where signage is restrained in both its form and impact. The Local Planning Authority is seeking to retain this local distinctiveness by resisting the encroachment of illuminated signs into the historic core. Approval of the illumination would be contrary to this aim and would detract from both the appearance of the street scene and the historic character and appearance of this important listed building,
ii) the signage includes the use of aluminium and stainless steel. Both of these are not traditional materials and their use does not have regard to the need for the use of materials that are sensitive and respectful to the special architectural and historic qualities of the listed building,
iii) the illuminated menu box located on the flank wall of the building is inappropriately placed and fails to relate in an appropriate manner to the commercial frontage of the architecture of the building. The incongruous nature of the menu box is accentuated by the external cabling that has been affixed to the building to provide the illumination and again this element of the scheme is not sensitive to or respectful of the special architectural and historic qualities of the listed building.
The display of the signage is considered to be harmful to amenity as a result of being intrusive and being detrimental to the special architectural or historic interest of the building. In the circumstances, the sign does not accord with the provisions of Policies TCR3, HC1 and HC6 of the Replacement St Edmundsbury Borough Local Plan 2016, Policy CS3 of the St Edmundsbury Borough Core Strategy December 2010 and Policies HE7 and HE9 of PPS5 ‘Planning for the Historic Environment’.

B. Application SE/10/1592

Advertisement consent be Refused subject to the following reasons:

35 Abbeygate Street is a Grade II* listed building located within the Bury St Edmunds (Town Centre) Conservation Area where the Local Planning is seeking to maintain control over the display of advertisements in the interests of amenity, to preserve the character and appearance of the locality and to protect the special qualities of the building by preventing inappropriate additions and alterations. The Local Planning Authority is of the opinion that the proposed signage included in the application are contrary to those objectives in that:
i) the use of illumination accentuates the prominence of the fascia sign which is located above the ground floor commercial frontage and which historically has adequately identified the use and occupation of the building in non-illuminated form. Illuminated signs are not a feature of the street and this contributes to the distinctiveness of the locality where signage is restrained in both its form and impact. The Local Planning Authority is seeking to retain this local distinctiveness by resisting the encroachment of illuminated signs into the historic core. Approval of the illumination would be contrary to this aim and would detract from both the appearance of the street scene and the historic character and appearance of this important listed building,
ii) the signage includes the use of aluminium and stainless steel. Both of these are not traditional materials and their use does not have regard to the need for the use of materials that are sensitive and respectful to the special architectural and historic qualities of the listed building
iii) the illuminated menu box located on the flank wall of the building is inappropriately placed and fails to relate in an appropriate manner to the commercial frontage of the architecture of the building. The incongruous nature of the menu box is accentuated by the external cabling that has been affixed to the building to provide the illumination and again this element of the scheme is not sensitive to or respectful of the special architectural and historic qualities of the listed building.
The display of the signage is considered to be harmful to amenity as a result of being intrusive and being detrimental to the special architectural or historic interest of the building. In the circumstances, the sign does not accord with the provisions of Policies TCR3, HC1 and HC6 of the Replacement St Edmundsbury Borough Local Plan 2016, Policy CS3 of the St Edmundsbury Borough Core Strategy December 2010 and Policies HE7 and HE9 of PPS5 ‘Planning for the Historic Environment’.

Hunter Club result

2011-08-03T12:56:00.004+01:00

Yesterday's hearing resulted in the following:

* The front door may only be used up until 9.00 pm. Thereafter the rear entrance must be used by the public for all access and egress, regardless of whether licensable activities are being pursued/happening on or not.

* The bar area may be extended as requested.

* CCTV must be installed, in order to combat misuse of the front door.

This has been achieved following a willingness of several Guildhall Street residents to meet the club's proprietors half way. I hope very much that these measures will ensure the club prospers without causing any further disturbance to local people.

A little relief from local matters...

2011-07-28T11:38:00.003+01:00

On a recent visit to Maidstone in Kent, I was very surprised to see such generous spaces throughout their multi-storey car park. As a car driver this is good news, because it makes it easier to park, but as a local tax payer I might wonder how many extra spaces could have been fitted in.

I couldn't resist taking the following picture outside a small church in more rural Kent...

J.D.Wetherspoon versus Hunter Club?

2011-07-23T12:41:00.003+01:00

I see architect Tom Stebbing has been writing to the Bury Free Press again. This time he's against (quite rightly) the attempt by J.D.Wetheerspoon to extend the hours of opening by one hour. He cites the need to "ensure the appropriate use of the site and to protect the amenities of occupiers of properties in the locality".

Does he not consider that neighbours of the Hunter Club, already permitted the hours J.D.Wetherspoon seeks, have such needs? His previous letter to the BFP does make one wonder...

Churchgate showcase

2011-07-23T12:26:00.002+01:00

This was the scene at 11 am this morning in Hatter Street, the main focus of the first ever Churchgate showcase. It comprised a wide variety of stalls, entertainment and activities for all ages, many of them put on by the businesses in the area.

Congratulations to all who contributed, especially the organising committee, so ably led by Marian Shaw, whose idea it was some months ago.

Hunter Club - latest...

2011-07-14T11:56:00.002+01:00

Following the attempt to introduce an 8.30 condition (see here), which fell due to the required press advertisement not appearing, the applicants have now proposed a condition which says the rear door will be used after 9pm. There are two particular problems with this.

Firstly, there is no mention of specific measures to combat the resultant cumulative effect of noise disturbance by the use of the front door before 9pm. If none is forthcoming then since the Special Area Policy applies here the application should normally be refused. Secondly, unless the applicants can give a voluntary assurance that the 9pm threshold will apply to all activities (not just licensable ones) the condition will not apply at all times and is unenforceable.

Even if such assurances are given and kept, they cannot be assumed to apply to anyone to whom the applicants might sell their business.

Last night's Town Council Planning & Licensing Committee objected to the application, feeling that the front door should either be always usable or not at all. The Licensing Authority's (Borough Council's) hearing is scheduled for 2nd August at 10am.

Surprise, surprise!

2011-07-11T18:54:00.005+01:00

J.D.Wetherspoon have put in a planning application to change their closing hours from 11pm Mon-Thurs and midnight at weekends to midnight in the week and 1am at weekends. Whilst this does not come as a complete surprise, one has to ask why they accepted the condition and incorporated those hours into their licence application. Has someone senior only just noticed?

Wouldn't it have been more sensible to show how successful their operation is supposed to be, for at least some months, and then put in for a change on the back of that. Are they not confident enough to wait until then?

It is true that the condition only went through on the casting vote of the chairman back in April. With a new development control committee it will be 'interesting' to see what happens this time round.

Click here to read the EADT story of 14th July.

The Development Control meeting on 1st September is likely to hear this application.

Memory loss?

2011-06-24T12:21:00.003+01:00

In today's Bury Free Press a letter says I lent "support to the arrival of Wetherspoons".

I am afraid I have no recollection of this support, but perhaps I am suffering more than I realised with the memory problems that come with old age. I vaguely remember responding to the consultation for Wetherspoon's planning application, and must have done because it's on the SEBC website. It says: Consultation response - objection - Cllr Paul Farmer - 17.3.11 and starts: "I wish to object to the opening hours..."

I also seem to remember attending the Development Control meeting when this application was discussed (but I don't recall whether the letter writers were present); in fact I may have addressed the meeting.

Someone recently told me (as I had forgotten) that the closing times I suggested were agreed and later repeated in the licence application. I was also told that the Hunter Club is able to close an hour later than Wetherspoons, but I have no recollection of that whatsoever and find it hard to believe.

Just for a change, something non-Bury...

2011-06-23T18:30:00.004+01:00

...or is it? (Seen at Stratford-upon-Avon.)

Kings Road consultation

2011-06-16T12:53:00.002+01:00

I am delighted that at last the long awaited consultation on Kings Road parking will start, at the end of the month - so I'm told! The subject of the survey sent to all households will be threefold.

The main part of Kings Road could have new residents' parking bays in chicanes, to slow traffic. Properties in the shorter part, east of Parkway could be allowed to purchase permits for Zone H, and might also be able to have a parking bay or two, also arranged to deter speeding traffic.

College Street gas closure

2011-06-16T12:38:00.002+01:00

Please see details below. This all sounds much worse than it is and the plan on the letter residents should get will make it look as if it’s all being done at once. In fact they will do the work by digging a hole every 100m and inserting the new pipe into the old, and there will be vehicular access for all residents but not through traffic. Any gas interruption will be hardly noticeable if at all, so I am told.

Road closure: U7538 College Street, Bury St. Edmunds

Reason for closure: Gas mains replacement scheme

Date of closure: 11 July – 26 August 2011

Alternative route: C765 Westgate Street – C765 Crown Street – C761 Churchgate Street.

Community Event on Hatter Street on 23 July, for which College Street will be reopened for the day.

Enquiries regarding this closure should be made to the following:-

Applicant Mervyn Lambert Plant
Contact name Neil Bennett
Telephone no. 01953 688211
Email planning@mervynlambert.co.uk

Cost code KD502-35446-0-0-S
Date 13 June 2011

The lights are going out...

2011-06-11T16:20:00.002+01:00

Here is a map of Abbeygate showing the (black) lights Suffolk County Council propose to turn off overnight, the (yellow) ones they will leave on and the (orange) ones they will dim. The owners of the green ones have not yet been identified.

I am consulting this week with residents' associations and others for their views, so I can pass them on to SCC who have consulted councillors about their areas. My main conclusion is that certain routes from the town centre outwards should be lit for those walking home late at night or in the early morning. That means the following would have to be lit until later than midnight:

High Baxter Street
Hospital Rd
Mill Rd
Castle Rd
Kings rd
Chalk Rd, Victoria Rd & Albert Cresc/St, or Victoria and Chalk if two, Chalk if one
St James Ln
Sextons Meadow to cycle path
Honey Hill/Sparhawk St (unless Gt Churchyard remain on)
Guildhall, College or Whiting Sts, or Guildhall and Whiting if two, Guildhall if one

Responses so far include both: "Please keep our lights on" to "Please leave our lights off" both for good reasons. If you have any views, please comment or email me.

Bury Free Press headline

2011-06-10T16:25:00.003+01:00

Well it may have been a "victory" for St Olaves' ward in the "battle for the buses" but residents around Southgate Street have failed in their bid to get the new 85 to go anything but one way - out of town. The new "service" was started on April 3rd, without consultation with me or users, and following all pleas to reverse the route once in a while (even twice a day) the answer came back: no.

I am still trying, and have even contacted Mulleys and Chambers. But for the foreseeable future it looks like the shelter that cost £3,000 will be a monument (or tombstone) to the now defunct service.

Something else is happening in Guildhall Street...

2011-06-09T15:51:00.002+01:00

Road closure: C639 Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds
Reason for closure: Domestic connections for Anglian Water and National Grid Gas
Date of closure: 4 – 8 July 2011
Alternative route: U0508 Whiting Street – C765 Westgate Street – A1302 Parkway – U521 Robert Boby Way – C757 St Andrews Street South – C760 Woolhall Street.

Enquiries regarding this closure should be made to the following:-

Applicant TREK Highway Services
Contact name Laurance Clark
Telephone no. 01362 853604
Email Laurence.clark@trekgroup.co.uk

Date 9 June 2011

Will 17 properties fit in this space?

2011-06-09T12:56:00.007+01:00

A developer is in early pre-application talks with SEBC planners including the Conservation Officer on the subject of this land by the record office, currently a car park. On the basis of draft plans, which I have seen, comments have already been made by them. When these are received by the developer there will be a non-statutory informal consultation process set up for neighbours and councillors. Only then will there be a planning applicatiion, and this will be the subject of a full Development Control committee meeting held in public. The developer is well known to SEBC for small scale developments and has been working locally for several years.

The whole car park and Weymed building area is to be utilised, leaving the right of way for The Manor House. (It is thought that a parking area behind the police station, recently granted planning consent for a car park, may be the quid pro quo for the loss of SEBC car park, but this is another matter!)

There are 17 units of varying sizes envisaged at present, though this may reduce for the application. Clearly some in St Mary's Square and Sparhawk Street will be affected more than others, and some will gain from the loss of the old building.

A crescent of eight 3 ½ story units is planned for the perimeter wall, which would be removed. These are at present very high indeed – about 13.5m on the car park side and as much as 15.5m on the outer side. The substation will go, but it is not known where to.

Between the gardens of 3, 4 and 4A St Mary's Square and the Manor House there would be further units. The record office remains, but obviously could be developed in future.

Watch this space, as ever, for more news.

Bury Free Press re Hunter Club

2011-06-03T17:15:00.003+01:00

Page 7 today includes a piece about the "bizarre" condition which differentiates between those engaged in licensable and non-licensable activities at the club: the latter may use the front door but the former only the rear door. This has arisen following the owners' recent application to use the front door for everyone before 10 pm. This application was refused on 14th April, but because there had been some discussion in the hearing about what the tenant of the flat above the club should do, it appears that officers decided to issue a reworded condition with the non -"licensable" exception, rather than stick with the original one or something similar. Hence the new situation.

According to the BFP the owners now seek to challenge "this strange ruling", but the BFP does not make clear what is being requested. If my readers scroll down to the last Hunter Club post, and click on the link at the bottom, they will see the application form and find the proposed change. The new condition requested retains the "bizarre" differentiation between patrons of licensable and non-licensable activities after 8.30 pm, which still means the front door can be used until 1 am on Thursdays to Saturdays. "Strange" or what?

What is needed is a condition which clearly states the restriction on the use of the front door. If there has to be any differentiation between the occupier of the flat and everyone else, then say so; but don't confuse tenants with those drinking soft drinks.

Did anyone hear it?

2011-06-03T17:11:00.003+01:00

From the Great Churchyard this morning, at about 9 am, I heard the most almighty bang. It was like being close to the biggest of fireworks but was a single blast some way away, that made me and another person nearby ask what on earth it could have been - a bomb?

I honestly expected to see fire engines and people running around by the time I reached Crown Street, but so far I have discovered nothing.

Whoops!

2011-05-29T12:08:00.001+01:00

Not my ward, but close enough (and funny enough) to post!

Bury Free Press letters this week

2011-05-29T09:36:00.004+01:00

Craig Dearden-Phillips’ gloom about the ‘sea of blue’ at St Edmundsbury council nearly had me crying over my breakfast (Letters, May 27). How many Lib Dem councillors did he expect to see elected when only eight stood in total for forty five vacancies, and only one out of a possible two stood in the previous Lib Dem stronghold of Southgate? Since he represents that ward on the county council would it have hurt to put his own name forward?

Rather than publicly bemoan a net gain of two seats by the Conservatives he might do better to work out with his fellow Lib Dems why they didn’t gain a single seat on the borough council. May 2013 isn’t very far away Craig, and last month in your county council division of Hardwick your party only achieved 5.4% of the vote. That’s not much to write home about even under proportional representation.

Hunter club - again...

2011-05-29T09:02:00.008+01:00

Less than six weeks after asking for its licence to be relaxed, and being largely refused (see earlier post) a further variation has been applied for. This time it's for the front door to be used before 8.30 pm and for alcohol to be served in the front room, both of which were effectively refused last time.

The main difference, if there is a hearing (and I am already aware of a neighbour's representation having been submitted immediately after the application was published) is that the application will be covered by the Special Area Policy. This means that the applicants will have to show why their proposal will not add to the cumulative impact of public nuisance in the area.

To see how this has been addressed in the application - click here to view.

Linden House/Pigeon Property

2011-05-26T15:08:00.002+01:00

I have had two answers about the use of the wide pavement at Linden House. The Suffolk County Council officer who replied to my enquiry which included a picture of the area said:

"The highway extends from frontage to frontage (not just the carriageway) and therefore, technically, the police may prosecute those who are parking on the wide footways."

Pigeon, the property company which erected the no parking signs, claim they own the land and have offered to show me the relevant deeds.

I shall now go back to the SCC officer for a further response.

Back to work...

2011-05-12T12:57:00.005+01:00

Friday 20th May update: Regarding Swan Lane, a site meeting was held today with neighbours and a SCC officer. The proposal is for another no left turn sign on the right hand side, level with the existing one (where there is an unused rear of another sign), turning the no entry sign more towards the oncoming road through the square and painted arrows on the road pointing only towards Southgate Street and Westgate Street.

But it all has to be costed, and then I have to persuade my county councillors to fund it!

Now that Suffolk County Council have taken back from the Borough Council full control of most highways matters, it will be 'interesting' to see how much easier or more difficult it is to get things done.

Issues I am currently dealing with include the question from a Kings Rd (east) resident, who asks whether Linden House can use what seems footway space for private parking. For the answer, watch this space, as ever.

Secondly, what should be done about vehicles illegally turning left down Swan Lane. Should there be another sign or a build-out, the latter being the best part of £10,000, which just isn't going to be forthcoming in the current financial climate. Maybe the site meeting next week will clarify.

Election results

2011-05-05T11:56:00.007+01:00

The votes cast in the borough council election for Abbeygate ward were:

Paul FARMER (C) 1,007
Pippa JUDD (G) 448
Chris LALE (LD) 317
Tina ROSS (L) 259
Richard ROUT (C) 744
Tom STEBBING (L) 282
and therefore I and Richard Rout were elected.

The votes cast in the town council election for Abbeygate ward were:

Mark EREIRA (G) 327
Paul FARMER (C) 1182
Tina ROSS (L) 391
Richard ROUT (C) 700
Tom STEBBING (L) 389
and therefore I and Richard Rout were elected.

For all the election results for St Edmundsbury and Bury St Edmunds click here.

D-day

2011-05-05T08:09:00.004+01:00

The scene outside The United Reformed Church, Whiting Street, just before the polling station opened at 7 am today. If you are an Abbeygate elector you have until 10 pm to cast your five votes or deliver your postal vote if you forgot to post it. You have two votes for the borough council, two votes for the town council, and the AV referendum.

Watch this space for the results...

Back to reality...

2011-05-01T18:45:00.004+01:00

While HRH Prince William and HRH The Duchess of Cambridge evade the press, here in Bury St Edmunds election candidates are gearing up for the last three days of the campaign. Whilst I welcome the variety of candidates standing for Abbeygate borough and town elections (and I hope they'll forgive me for poking fun at their election literature) I believe that my electors are well served by the current regime of Farmer and Rout.

We do not wear our Conservative label prominently, but concentrate on getting things done for all our residents. Only this month we have made a real difference to our area by ensuring the return of the Special Area Policy, achieving the retention of important conditions in the Hunter Club licence, and pressing successfully for an 11pm/midnight closure of Wetherspoon's in the week and at weekends.

We are experienced and effective, so stick with the tried and tested formula in both the borough and town council elections - and, by the way, vote 'no' to AV. You have five votes on Thursday at the United Reformed Church, Whiting Street from 7am - 10 pm. You do not have to take your polling card, and if you forgot to post your postal vote you can take it with you on the day

J.D.Wetherspoon planning result

2011-04-28T07:49:00.013+01:00

Today I shall be at the meeting deciding the result of the planning application for Wetherspoon's use of the Corn Exchange as a giant pub. I shall be speaking as ward councillor and proposing closing times of 11pm in the week and midnight at weekends - both including drinking up time.

Watch this space this afternoon for the result...

Update 13.00 hrs:

I am delighted to report that although the application was approved (as I had expected), my proposal to restrict the hours to 11pm Sun-Thu and midnight Fridays/Saturdays (as in my letter to the BFP 18th March) was accepted. These closures include any 'drinking up time'.

Even though the company can appeal against these restrictions or just put in a simple planning application to amend them, this decision today has put a marker down on behalf of people living in the town centre (and others) who do not want their small hours of sleep disturbed. Maybe the tide is at last turning....?

Election-watch 5

2011-04-21T15:33:00.003+01:00

This morning I obtained a copy of the Labour party's election leaflet for Abbeygate, featuring 18 year old Christina ('Tina' officially) Ross and architect Tom Stebbing. I have already commented on Tina's candidature, so apart from noting that her alleged away-from-Abbeygate higher education plans are not included on this leaflet, I will say no more. I must also be careful, as one of my council colleagues thinks all these posts are 'childish'.

Tom's pedigree is pure Bury and he lives and works in the ward. He thinks we should have 'good politicians: those who are not part of the old guard, those who understand the impact of government cuts' (well we certainly understand which party is responsible for them Tom) etc. I suppose I must be part of the 'old guard', whatever that is. I don't think it is complimentary.

Apart from that Tom and Tina believe in 'an inclusive council' (?) 'the integration of services with neighbouring local authorities (we're doing that) and 'will maintain the rolling programme of road and pavement repairs'. Sounds like council tax will go up then

Election-watch 4

2011-04-16T12:45:00.005+01:00

Click on picture to enlarge

He couldn't resist it. The top 'story' in his second leaflet, though technically correct, suggests that some of the credit for the Special Area Policy should go to the Lib Dems. Well, three of them were among those borough councillors who voted overwhelmingly for the SAP on 5th April. If the three (soon to be nil?) Lib Dems had voted against, it would still have easily gone through. I went to a Churchgate Area Association (300+ members) meeting last night, and people were up in arms about this leaflet they had received. They just couldn't believe the cheek of this man, and anyone who might have thought of giving one of their votes to him will certainly not do so now.

Is this why the Lib Dems are called by some the "Fib Dems"? (Try Googling Fib Dems to see how widespread the term is.) The fact is that although the existing councillors are pretty decent people, and have made their own individual contributions by attending meetings diligently, their actual contribution to debate has been rare and not very influential. As a group on the council I cannot think of anything they have achieved: maybe that's why Chris Lale seems to be borrowing the achievements of others.

Richard Rout had the original idea for the SAP, and he and I with the CAA took it through all the various meetings to its implementation in Jan 2009. I have done exactly the same during the last ten months, and apart from the one Lib Dem on the Licensing Committee, the Lib Dems have shown no particular interest in the issue to my knowledge. I can't wait to see the next edition.

Hunter result

2011-04-15T13:59:00.004+01:00

Yesterday's Licensing hearing was addressed by me, the Principal Environmental Health Officer, five local residents and one of the applicants, Mr Andrew Hunter. The result was:

closing at 1am granted, but only for Thurs-Sat, not 7/7 as requested;

alcohol on sales extra hour granted Thurs-Sat as requested;

music and dance extra hours rejected;

request to change condition relating to noise rejected;

change of condition to front door rejected;

extension to floor space rejected.

All the neighbours spoke very well, and described the serious problems of noise and the use of the front door (contrary to a condition of the existing licence). I was amused by one, who said: "Our anger was not drummed up - we were already angry!". This refers to the EADT article referred to in an earlier post - click here to see it.

Mr Hunter has been publicly critical of the Special Area Policy. It is interesting to note that his mainly rejected application was not heard under the aegis of the SAP as his application was made before it was readopted.

Election-watch 3

2011-04-13T19:11:00.003+01:00

I am eagerly awaiting sight of Tina Ross's Labour election literature. She has only recently turned 18 and is surely the youngest local candidate in this election. What puzzles me though is how she is going to deal with ward matters from as far away as Brunel university in Uxbridge, where she aims to spend the next three years. Am I missing something here, or is she simply not a serious candidate?

Election-watch 2

2011-04-12T18:49:00.004+01:00

The Green party's leaflet landed on my desk this morning, from their candidate Pippa Judd. She starts one paragraph: "As your local councillor..." Yes, I know what she means, but it did rather put me off. She wants the government and banks to support small businesses, and does not want "the cuts" to affect road safety, public transport, the young the old and the vulnerable, or libraries.

All very well Pippa, but you're not still fighting the Tower by-election. Those are all county services. Or did you just take recycling too seriously and recycle your Tower literature? What are your views on planning, licensing, waste management, leisure, parks, environmental health, etc? How will you keep in touch with residents? Have you put out any leaflets in between the Tower by-election and the current election? Have you held any surgeries? Have you written to the paper - apart from that one on April 1st in support of my friend nice Mr E-G? What is the Green Party's policy as it applies to the borough council - or is it just a cuddly not-the-nasty-party, unlike those beastly Conservatives, Lib Dems or Socialists. The voters need to know Pippa. So do the honourable thing and comment below.

PS You need to have a proper imprint on your literature. The current one is incorrect.

Election-watch 1

2011-04-08T17:22:00.006+01:00

This is my opportunity to respond to other candidates' propaganda. First, Chris Lale's leaflet headed 'local community news' which just happens to be the first edition timed to coincide with his nomination for Abbeygate ward in the borough elections. Quelle coincidence! With the headline PARKING NIGHTMARE Chris says that streets in the town that are not designated for residents' parking can suffer from increased problems, and claims these may be worse when the parking charges go up.

In particular he rightly cites Hospital Road as one which is always full of cars. OK Chris. What is the answer? He is quick to empathise with his readers worries, and then offers no solutions. If he thinks getting residents parking for Hospital Rd is the answer he may be right, except that when I canvassed opinion months ago I could not find a majority prepared to join the scheme. Even if I had, it could take years to get it established, as he will find out if he ever gets elected.

Overleaf Chris 'tackles the council over pedestrian safety', describing his petition: 'Make Kings Rd Safe' and allowing the reader to think that the result of his presenting it to the council's Bury St Edmunds working party on 22nd Feb was various measures to be taken in the future, such as bollards and chicane parking. What he failed to point out was that these measures arose as a direct consequence of a site meeting which he actually walked past and saw taking place on 14th Feb with police, borough and county officials, residents, County Cllr Ereira and me. In fact the bollards were my suggestion!

Is this the LibDem election-winning strategy, making out they are responsible for some good or popular result? A very cheeky example of this is on Chris Lale's website, where he describes the Special Area Policy vote as 'a move supported by LibDem councillors'. Full marks for trying Chris. It was Richard Rout and I who first got the SAP introduced, and since July 2010 I have worked relentlessly with the CAA to regain it. I didn't notice you or any LibDem councillors not on the Licensing committee showing any interest until now. Let's see if the public are fooled. I'm not.

Special Area Policy back again

2011-04-06T08:51:00.006+01:00

Enjoying a glass of wine in Nice three years ago

After ten months of planning and preparation, working alongside the Churchgate Area Association (CAA), I am delighted to report that the Special Area Licensing Policy for the historic grid of Bury St Edmunds was re-adopted by St Edmundsbury Council last night, by an overwhelming majority.

For the next twenty months applicants for licences or major variations in the area bounded by both sides of Abbeygate, Guildhall, Westgate and Crown streets and Angel Hill will have to demonstrate that their plans do not add to the cumulative impact of licences in that area.

It will be interesting to see what effect this has on any licence application by J.D.Wetherspoon or indeed the current variation from the Hunter Club to be heard on 14th April.

Elections on May 5th

2011-04-05T16:01:00.002+01:00

To see who is standing for the borough council click here. To see who is standing for the town council click here.

D - Day for Special Policy

2011-04-03T07:06:00.003+01:00

On Tuesday evening the Borough Council, acting as the Licensing Authority for the area, will decide whether to reinstate the Special Area Licensing Policy after it lapsed in January. This follows several months of work by me and the Churchgate Area Association (CAA) to convince the Licensing & Regulatory Committee that the policy is still needed and wanted. For further details click here. The CAA have shown great spirit and flare in drumming up concrete support for what has always been a popular policy, culminating in 50 letters/emails individually submitted in response to the legal consultation. As a result the L & R Committee unanimously recommended the policy to Cabinet, who did the same for Council. All eyes are on the Council meeting now, where I expect the CAA (who are presenting a 100+ signature petition) will be well represented.

The weakest link?

2011-03-23T10:50:00.002Z

I have called for this dingy alleyway between Dorothy Perkins and W.H.Smith to be closed off, with fire escape doors as necessary. It is an eyesore that the council do not own and therefore have not the responsibility to clean. Central Walk and the Market Thoroughfare are sufficient to take "link" traffic until such time as there is any further development of the area. This blot on the landscape should really be obscured from the view of townsfolk and visitors.

J.D.Wetherspoon @ The Corn Exchange

2011-03-19T16:12:00.002Z

Here is the planning application Wetherspoons have put in - nearly three inches of it. They want to close at 12.30 am Sundays - Thursdays and 1.30 am at weekends. To have hundreds of watered adults disgorging from the building at this time is a potential nuisance for residents nearby, so I have proposed these times are reduced by 90 minutes respectively. Will the development control committee agree with me???

Please delete!

2011-03-19T16:07:00.003Z

This is not what we want creeping over Halfords' (or any other) building. Unfortunately the store manager tells me there is nothing in this year's budget to pay for its removal, and he must wait until April 1st. I have arranged for the council's waste management/cleansing staff to make contact and see if the firm can be persuaded to accept cost price.

Democracy in action

2011-03-17T11:58:00.002Z

I am delighted to report that following the borough council's Licensing & Regulatory committee's unanimous and cross-party decision to back the Special Area Policy, the cabinet last night recommended to Council that this should be re-adopted. This followed fifty letters or emails from local people and the strong support of the Churchgate Area Association, and shows that democracy still works sometimes!

School crossing patrols - what to do?

2011-03-11T14:28:00.005Z

Read about this by clicking here...

Are these 50 people all wrong?

2011-03-11T12:12:00.002Z

The council's Licensing & Regulatory committee will on Monday decide whether to reinstate the Special Area Policy in the historic core of Abbeygate. The recommendation is not to, despite the formal public consultation attracting 50 emails or letters of support (including the police and town council) with none against.

Read the report and responses for yourself by clicking here.

J.D.Wetherspoon - LATEST...

2011-02-27T11:56:00.005Z

Friday 4th March. Now available. No wonder it took a while to appear!

Thursday 3rd March. The applications for the Corn Exchange should be registered by 5pm today and available to view on the Steds website. The application Numbers are SE/11/0187, SE/11/0190 and SE/11/0191.

I have decided to ask the borough council’s Development Control committee, which will look at the planning application, to limit the hours of operation until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 11pm the rest of the week – in each case at least an hour earlier than the applicant has requested. I will also ask the Licensing Committee to endorse these hours, and propose a condition that would see smokers banned from the front steps, with door staff if necessary to supervise its enforcement.

There are very mixed feelings in my ward about Wetherspoon’s taking over the Corn Exchange as a pub. Some would like themselves and families to be able to benefit from competitive food and drink prices; others are worried about the impact a giant pub will have on the town centre at night, including the viability of smaller long established outlets. It will be hard to support both groups. Rather than simply oppose the planning and licensing applications, I want to concentrate on ensuring that this venture meets as many needs as possible.

Unusually, I will be putting my views separately to both the Development Control and Licensing committees when they hear Wetherspoon’s applications over the coming weeks, something that has only been possible following recent changes to statutory guidance.

I believe it is important that cheap alcohol should not be available to such large numbers of drinkers late at night, as this might lead to noise or other disturbance in the immediate partly residential area.

Watch this space for my reaction to the planning and licensing applications...

Manor House car park

2011-02-27T11:48:00.001Z

The view at 11 am today. Does Sunday charging pay?

Hunter Club latest...

2011-02-26T18:20:00.002Z

My representation has been accepted and there will now be a hearing before 28th March. I am aware of seven other representations from near neighbours, some of which I have been copied; but I do not yet know how many have been accepted as valid.

Update on Hunter Club

2011-02-19T10:09:00.003Z

I am intrigued that my efforts to inform residents about the Hunter Club variation (see below) have "dismayed" the manager of the local Chamber of Commerce. A copy of my letter, which I noticed Andrew Hunter had when he accosted me in Churchgate Street about it, has obviously been given to the Chamber and thence to the EADT (see pg 13 today).

Those whom I originally informed of the variation, some of whom would otherwise not know about it, are equally dismayed that I have been publicly lambasted for doing my job, which over 800 residents elected me to do in 2003 and 2007. Did they elect me to just stay at home and react to events, or to be pro-active?

St Andrews Street 'madness'

2011-02-19T09:55:00.003Z

EADT report now on line if you click here.

My first reaction to the council report recommending lifting access restrictions to At Andrews Street South was anger. My recollection of the workshop I attended was that there were physical changes proposed, better signing of the restrictions and marked crossing points for pedestrians. My table opted against full closure but never meant that to mean the exact opposite. For full details click here.

I have been urging the police to enforce these restrictions, and despite many vehicles getting away with using the road illegally, many do avoid it. To lift restrictions for 18 months, as recommended, would simply mean that if that didn't work we could never pull back even to the current level of disobedience.

"There I was, digging this hole..."

2011-02-16T15:03:00.002Z

The "hole" will reveal a medieval cellar, according to the county council archeologist on site. Visitors will no doubt realise it is where the Whiting Street garage was, until planning permission for a pair of houses was approved.

Hunter Club 'variation' sought

2011-02-10T18:28:00.005Z

The Hunter Club (pictured above when it was the British Legion's former building) has applied to vary its premises licence. Briefly, the changes proposed are as follows:

closing at 1am instead of midnight each night;

serving alcohol until midnight Thursday-Saturday instead of 11pm;

using the front entrance before 10pm each night;

extending the ground floor drinking area.

I have contacted those who live closest to let them know what is proposed, in order to see if they are happy about the changes. If not they, the CAA and/or I could object and take the matter to a hearing.

Watch this space...

Update Wednesday 16th

I am already aware of at least three local residents who will be objecting, and several have asked me to do so on their behalf.

More on Kings Road...

2011-02-05T17:49:00.005Z

Monday 14th 12.30 pm - Just back from meeting with council officers, police and residents. Consensus that the addition of parking bays in Kings Rd positioned to act as chicanes could help slow traffic. Advice from officers was that making one way would speed traffic if anything. Whilst there I was also asked to visit Shillitoe Close where parking is again getting out of hand. Yellow lines needed.

A resident kindly came to my surgery this morning, and suggested that King's Road should be one way (eastwards) with car parking bays arranged as chicanes. Could this work? How would the rest of the roads fit into the one way system? What do you think?

Dangerous corner...

2011-02-01T12:54:00.003Z

On 9th January there was a serious accident at the bend where Kings Road meets Albert Crescent. A speeding car ploughed into a back garden, as can be seen in the picture above. Two pedestrians were badly injured and a man was subsequently arrested.

Residents in the area are naturally concerned, and there have been calls for action, including to make Kings Road safer. I have discussed this with some residents and am meeting with officers from the borough and county councils to see what if anything can be done.

Spare spaces or not?

2011-01-28T15:03:00.008Z

I have been trying since 2004 to get dedicated permit parking for those living in Kings Road (East) from Parkway to Prospect Row. Originally it was hoped that bays could be created in that road, especially after it was made one-way. The wide pavement outside the recently modernised offices was also thought a possibility, but for various reasons (not my lack of will) nothing materialised.

Now that Zone H (also including Albert Crescent, Albert St, Victoria St) has extra spaces in Chalk Road, it seemed sensible to me to see how much they are used. I surveyed the area on four days in January from the 4th to the 10th and found on average 19 spaces empty. I therefore asked the residents of Kings Rd (East) whether any of them would be prepared to purchase a parking permit which they could use in Zone H. Seven said yes, and so I have asked the council if this can be arranged.

Unfortunately the law and bureaucracy dictate that widening the area of eligibility requires the same lengthy procedure as creating new bays. I am currently arguing for an experimental road traffic order, which is somewhat easier, and would really test whether there were sufficient spaces to add more permits without reducing spaces irrevocably.

Last week the Bury Free Press published a photo of me by some of the empty new spaces, which I thought might help to concentrate the minds of officers dealing with my request. This week two letters have been published claiming there are not enough spaces, one from a lady who says these spaces are "for family, friends and ourselves" and another from a man who says he is "lucky to find one" at 5.45 pm.

I certainly don't want to take away spaces that are already needed, but I do think existing permit holders should realise that these spaces are for as many residents as can be accommodated in them, not just their own friends and family. As the scheme runs from 9-5 weekdays and Saturdays it is hardly surprising that anyone is having difficulty at this time. Permit holders need to understand that permits do not guarantee a space, even within the period of operation, and they may not be useful for someone who is out at work during that time.

Today (Friday) at 12.30 I took the following photographs, which show the four areas of Chalk Rd permit parking, and indicate about 23 spare spaces. This is quite apart from the vacant bays in the other roads in the zone.

Isn't it reasonable to let the seven households in Kings Road (East) join the scheme if they are prepared to walk over Parkway from and to their cars, possibly further than Chalk Road?

2011-01-27T08:47:00.001Z

Click here to a Bury Free Press link to my bid to get parking permits for residents in Kings Road (East)...

How's it done?

2011-01-17T16:21:00.002Z

First I took a screwdriver, then went home to collect a set of Allen keys. I still couldn't remove the front of the the area where the bus timetable should go. I shall have to put the sheets in plastic and sellotape them to the unit. Wonder how long they'll last like that?

Happy new year!

2011-01-01T12:35:00.003Z

I was very surprised to find that the library was opening today, and although I didn't expect any customers, felt duty bound to hold what not surprisingly turned out to be an empty surgery.

On my way I was able to look into something an elector had alerted me too - another fine mess I shall have to sort out. I do hope the old system of services restoring tarmac to original materials within a certain time frame still applies. I will find out on Tuesday. Anyone recognise the location?

At last!

2010-12-27T16:59:00.003Z

This extension to the yellow lines in Sextons Meadows came into effect in July but has only just been painted. Residents had been rightly pestering me about the delay and are now delighted, as this is a much-needed safety measure.

Of course you can't please everyone, and already a complainant has penned a letter to the Bury Free Press.

2010-12-22T14:43:00.002Z

Thank you to all who contributed to my charity piano-playing events in

October and December this year, and a Happy Christmas and

prosperous New Year to all my readers.

Christmas piano charity performance

2010-12-07T16:03:00.005Z

On Friday 17th December at 11 o'clock I shall be playing a selection of 50 Christmas and Advent carols and songs, in aid of St Nicholas' Hospice. The following day I shall be doing the same at the apex in Charter Square.

Here is the full selection, from which I am happy to receive requests - providing you donate £5! Smaller donations welcome of course, if you're just listening. But all are welcome and no one will be shaking a bucket in front of you!

In the previous post below you can hear a taster, and read about this in Lifestyle pg 2:
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/lifestyle/what-s-on-listings

Walking in the air (the snowman)
Angels from the realms
Winter wonderland
Away in a manger
Jingle bells
Ding dong merrily
God rest ye merry
White Christmas
We wish you
Angel’s carol (John Rutter)
In dulci jubilo
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Good King Wenceslas
Hark the herald
Little donkey
Candlelight carol
In the bleak midwinter
In the bleak midwinter arr. Darke
Infant lowly
Have yourself a very merry
Mary’s boy child
I saw three ships
Christmas time, mistletoe & wine
It came upon a midnight clear
O come all ye faithful
So this is Christmas
O come, O come Emmanuel
O little town of Bethlehem
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
On Christmas night
Once in royal
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Silent night
The first Nowell
Santa Claus is coming to town
The holly & ivy
We three kings
Merry Christmas everybody
While shepherds watched
As with gladness
Jingle rock
Lo He comes
See amidst
Let it snow
Unto us
The angel Gabriel
The shepherds’ farewell
Nativity carol (John Rutter)

Come Thou long expected Jesus

Sleepers wake!

So here it is...!

2010-12-02T15:17:00.004Z

By which I mean my live charity performance of Christmas carols/songs on the weekend before Christmas. Details with a full listing in due course, but here's taster (with apologies for the quality of the recording):

Calm before the storm?

2010-11-27T10:02:00.000Z

Early Saturday morning, before the crowds and the snow...

Ding ding!

2010-11-26T11:32:00.002Z

Last July I had a request from the Saxon Gate Community Association for a bus shelter outside the Defra offices in Southgate Street. I duly asked St Edmundsbury, and was pleasantly surprised when their very helpful Highways Maintenance Engineer, Andrew Tipple, did not rule it out but said he would see what could be done.

I was even more surprised when he later said one could be installed, subject to the conditions of the Conservation Officer. On further enquiry I was delighted when this was confirmed, but sceptical when a date of "mid November" was given.

Today I was stunned when I met a resident in town who said "Thank you for our new bus shelter".

Well done Andrew and all others involved in this little triumph.

A new residents' association?

2010-11-18T08:48:00.003Z

A group of residents in Southgate Street are thinking about setting up a residents association to further the improvement of the Southgate "corridor" - i.e. from the gates at St Mary's down Honey Hill, through both Sparhawk Street and Swan Lane, across St Mary's Square and down the Southgate Street one-way stretch.

One of the main aims of such an association would be to reduce speeding vehicles, in particular those which collide with houses on foggy frosty mornings like the one in the picture above.

Success!

2010-11-10T12:55:00.002Z

See http://paulfarmer.blogspot.com/2010/11/tougher-licensing.html for details of a great result...

...and read about it today in the EADT at:

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics/bury_st_edmunds_residents_delight_at_u_turn_1_723288

Too high?

2010-11-09T16:25:00.005Z

Residents in this street welcome the reduced clutter of no parking signs being taken off redundant poles and added to lamp posts, but wonder if this one's a bit too high. They don't want those who abuse the system in this narrow road (often blocking the waste trucks) using this as an excuse.

What do you think? I have asked for an official comment, which I await with interest.

PS: anyone know where it is?

Rugby club fireworks...

2010-11-05T22:18:00.000Z

Tougher licensing?

2010-11-05T15:07:00.004Z

On Monday I shall be attending a meeting of the borough's Licensing & Regulatory committee, of which I am a member. I shall be putting an amendment to a recommendation to adopt the revised Licensing Statement of Policy, calling for a reinstatement of the Special Area Policy (SAP) that has existed for the last two years.

Despite what the Bury Free Press says on page two today, this policy does not make it "harder" to get a licence in the town; but it does require the applicant to show that a new licence will not add to the cumulative impact of licences in the area. This means that instead of objectors having to prove that a licence may be harmful, the applicant has to prove it will not be. It is a subtle change of emphasis and this may indeed make it "harder" to apply for a licence, but it does ensure a higher standard of application which is reassuring for local residents and businesses alike.

Representatives of the Churchgate Area Association will be presenting a petition at the start of the meeting, also calling for the SAP to be reinstated.

I am grateful to Bury Boy for reminding me that I had not posted on the greatest success of the week, namely that the committee voted 8-1 for my amendment. The SAP will now receive 12 weeks legal consultation, before the committee has t decide on March 21st whether to recommend the SAP to council for reinstatement.

Whoops!

2010-10-28T13:07:00.005+01:00

SEE UPDATES BELOW...

At least these early warning signs are posted in really good time which is very useful. No regular traveller can say they didn't know.

Update 2nd Nov: St Edmundsbury's highways section are aware and have ordered new signs.

Update 9th Nov: Only just noticed the improvement:

Bury Free Press letters today

2010-10-15T15:10:00.003+01:00

Last week a letter of mine was published by the BFP, calling for a 20 mph speed limit in the Southgate corridor. In it I referred to the police consistently not supporting its introduction.

Today Chief Inspectors Martin Barnes-Smith and Adrian Dawson have responded, claiming the police don't set speed limits (which I never said they did) but agreeing with the council that such a limit would "offer no advantage." The fact is that neither the council nor the police have ever supported a 20 mph limit in this area, but each tends to blame the other for being unsupportive.

The Wetherspoons debate...

2010-10-11T16:33:00.003+01:00

Finally set foot inside a Wetherspoons last weekend at Windsor. Examples of the very reasonable prices are:

2 teacakes with jam 79p
pint of Abbot £2.10
cappuccino £1.45
3 sausages, beans and chips £3.99

Should the residents of and visitors to Bury be denied these prices? Would the competition force others out of business? If a Bury Wetherspoons closes at midnight would that be 'early' enough to allay fears of late night drunkenness?

Answers by clicking on 'comments' below, please.

Thank you!

2010-10-11T09:09:00.002+01:00

Many thanks to all those who visited the Apex this weekend and helped me raise nearly £150 in two hours of piano playing. With uncollected pledges I hope to make that £200 for St Nicholas Hospice, and will be handing over a cheque in a few days time.

Thanks also to the Bury Free Press and East Anglian Daily Times for their coverage, which certainly helped bring people to the event. Today's EADT has a tiny picture of me playing the Yamaha upright in the first floor bar area, but claims I was playing the Yamaha grand in the auditorium, once played by Rick Wakeman. No such luck, although I have tinkered on it before.

Play it again, Paul

2010-10-01T11:48:00.018+01:00

On Saturday and Sunday 9th/10th October I shall be playing the piano in the upstairs bar area of The Apex from 10.30-11.30 a.m. each day, in aid of St Nicholas' Hospice. Here is a sample of what I shall play:

Everyone is welcome to come along, but there will be a collection box for your coins (and notes!) please. You can ask me to play something from the following list for a donation, or something not on the list for a more substantial donation! You can even make a request online by clicking on 'comments' below, and I'll tell you when I shall play it, or text your request and pledge to 07919 080 777.

Air on G string
Un homme et une femme
Autumn Leaves
Something
Killing Me Softly
Edelweiss
As Tears Go By
The Entertainer
English Rose
Sound Of Music
Climb Every Mountain
Some Enchanted Evening
Younger Than Springtime
My Way
Midnight
I Don’t Know How To Love Him
I Know Him So Well
Don’t Cry For Me
Unchained Melody
Sailing
Love Story
Stranger On The Shore
Blowing In The Wind
Moon River
I’ll Do Anything
Where Is Love
As Long As He Needs Me
Somewhere Over A Rainbow
One Hand One Heart
Maria
There’s A Place
Always Something There To Remind Me
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
Its Not Unusual
When A Man
Streets Of London
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Londonderry Air
As Time Goes By
Romeo & Juliet
Solitaire
What Would You Do
Norwegian Wood
Here There Everywhere
Eleanor Rigby
Michelle
Hey Jude
Fool On The Hill
Yesterday
Let It Be
Send In The Clowns

Back to the library

2010-09-27T09:58:00.005+01:00

I am delighted that I shall be back at the newly refurbished library for the start of my fifth year of monthly surgeries on Saturday 2nd October from 10am-noon.

Not AGAIN!

2010-09-07T16:14:00.003+01:00

Here is the damage done by a driver at about 11.30 last night. Had it not been for the bollard that was knocked down, the car would probably have gone straight into the pink house behind.

What is the answer? Will drivers determined to speed round the corner from St Mary's Square take notice of 'dangerous bend' or 20mph signs?

The only good news is that 24 hours after the accident, and only three hours into the working day, the bollard was fixed. Bet that won't make the Bury Free Press!

Water, water everywhere

2010-08-17T10:34:00.002+01:00

This leak in Westgate Street has been wasting water since the middle of July when it was first reported. It was brought to my attention on 13th August by a resident who thought I might have some 'influence' over Anglian Water. Though flattered, I replied that this was unlikely - however I would try. So why was it not repaired after nearly a month, when I took this picture? You may well ask.

The first reason I was given was that people were moving the bollards to park and so the engineers could not get access. Well, my picture shows that this wasn't the case at the time. The person I spoke to seemed to think that until there was some guarantee that the leak would be accessible they couldn't programme a repair - sort of chicken and egg-like. I said I would ask the police to put their bollards there and was told that if I could achieve that (unlike anything in her experience in x years of trying to liaise with the police) I should tell them and they would certainly book a repair.

I phoned the SNT team but they said no more notice would be taken of their bollards than the ordinary ones. They suggested Anglian Water leave the red and white barriers around the leak. That seemed a good idea, and I rang AW to suggest it. That's when they told me that this leak was linked to one at 120 Out Westgate. And so it went on.

Last night I had a call from an appreciative resident who said it was now being attended to, but it 'looks like a long job'. Not another month I hope. Local people are fearful for their cellars.

Corn Exchange decision

2010-07-02T16:01:00.002+01:00

St Edmundsbury Council decided last Tuesday to accept the Wetherspoons bid, subject to the necessary planning and licensing applications.

Decision time

2010-06-22T19:00:00.004+01:00

The future of the Corn Exchange will be decided by a meeting of the full St Edmundsbury Council on Tuesday 29th June. A report on the recent consultation can be found by clicking here.