Visitors enjoying town centre
The town centre of Bury St Edmunds is bucking the national trend with the number of visitors increasing and new jobs created.
The arc shopping development opened in March 2009, bringing a new Debenhams and range of shops to town which complement the many independent and High Street traders, plus the twice-weekly market, in the historic centre. The multi-million shopping and residential investment in the arc by developers Centros includes an £18.5 million cultural investment by St Edmundsbury Borough Council – The Apex and substantial surface and underground car parking.
Originally the developers planned to widen Market Thoroughfare to create an obvious link between the old and new parts of town, but borough councillors have reluctantly accepted that current economic realities make the scheme too expensive. The council tried to help the process along by getting a compulsory purchase order on property in the area but this has now stopped.
The town centre has a huge range of places to eat and drink as well as shop, plus many other attractions such as the national award-winning Abbey Gardens and Moyse's Hall Museum. For more information on these and other attractions contact the Tourist information Centre on 01284 764667.
For more information on Bury St Edmunds town centre, including a map of the shops, cafes and bars in town, visit www.moreheart.info
