Bury St Edmunds Society commissions Elwood Landscape Design (October 2008)

Concerned about the ‘bleak’ car park that will service the new mixed retail development at the former cattle market in Bury St Edmunds; the Bury St Edmunds Society has engaged local Chartered Landscape Architect Ruth Elwood, of Elwood Landscape Design, based near Stowmarket, to provide a strategy for a ‘greener’ and more attractive outlook across this gateway entrance into the town’s retail district.

BSE Society chairman Sarah Green has described the present scheme as being ‘profoundly disappointing’ and ‘greatly in need of improvement’. Ruth’s brief was to propose a design that would see a softening and ‘greening’ of the development, to include significant improvements to the car park area that has been described by the Society as being, ‘a serious, missed opportunity’.

Ruth stated, ‘we presented a concept design to introduce more trees into the car park and are now progressing discussions with the Council. Together, we hope to detail an improved scheme that will work around existing utilities and CCTV constraints. We are hopeful that a greater number of trees can be introduced into the car park and within planters around the retail area. It is vital that we grasp every opportunity to improve the green infrastructure of our town centres, for the benefit of future generations, especially in light of climate change and development pressure on existing trees - This is a prime opportunity that must be explored further.’

The Bury St Edmunds Society has pledged to give a substantial donation towards the improvement of the project at the Cattle Market Car Park and is seeking the backing of St Edmundsbury Borough Council for the venture, which they say would considerably augment the Council's own proposals.

Mrs Green added, "I am pleased with a presentation made by Elwood Landscape Design to St Edmundsbury Borough Councillors and officers and I am confident we can work together to vastly improve the area as a lasting legacy for future generations.”