Cllr John Griffiths, St Edmundsbury Borough Council Leader, said: "While this is obviously disappointing, let's remember that the call for a wider link came about in the first place because there were fears people would only shop in the arc and the historic town centre would suffer. Those fears have proved to be unfounded – Bury is bucking the national doom and gloom trend in a big way, and the whole town centre is benefiting from the new development."
The arc shopping and housing development opened on the former cattle market site in March 2009. The Market Thoroughfare is one of several links between the new development and historic core of the town. Cabinet members have been exploring every possible way to force Centros to widen this particular link, including an attempt to compulsorily purchase interests vital to the scheme. Financial and legal realities led to tough negotiations which have resulted in Centros giving valuable parcels of land off Risbygate Street (next to the arc) to the council.
Cllr Griffiths said: "We have pushed Centros and negotiated very hard but while we have had to accept a wider link is not achievable in the current economic conditions, we have managed to secure land which we can use to benefit the town centre. And we must not lose sight of the fact that the refurbished Market Thoroughfare link has been used successfully by thousands of people every day over the past year.
Much as we would like a wider link, there is no evidence that either the old or new parts of town are suffering because that particular link isn't a few feet wider. Indeed traders in the historic centre have been quoted as saying footfall is up and, unlike many other towns, there is strong interest in our shops and retail offer.
It was Centros, not the council, who were able, committed, and intended to widen the link. Once it became clear that Centros were not going to make the anticipated profits on the arc necessary to widen Market Thoroughfare, the borough council tried everything – including the use of a compulsory purchase order – to force them to do so. But frankly, today's economic conditions are very different to those many years ago when we started this process, and have made this impossible. That said, we have managed to get some considerable benefit for the town and Council Tax payers from Centros."
The land, in School Yard West, off Risbygate Street, could be sold immediately for housing. School Yard East could also be appropriate for housing, or kept for some other future use.
ENDS.
Contacts:
Marianne Hulland, St Edmundsbury Borough Council Communications Manager
Phone: 01284 757034 Mobile: 07958 470501 Email: marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
