Public Meeting on The Abbey Project

The Bury Society have invited its members and other local people to have their say on the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn project at a public meeting on October 1^st at The Guildhall, where the doors will open at 6.30.

This follows the consultation exhibition held in St Edmundsbury Cathedral from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 September.

The first of two opportunities – this one September 26 to 28 at the Cathedral

The public meeting will be an opportunity to view panels explaining the proposals and to listen to a presentation about the project. There will then be time to ask further questions and to make views known. These views will be recorded as part of the public consultation.

The Abbey of St Edmund has a history stretching back more than one thousand years. Once one of the richest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in medieval England, the story of the Abbey is central to the development of the town across five centuries. Made possible by National Lottery players, the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn project will conserve and protect the Abbey ruins, build a visitor centre facing onto Angel Hill, expand and improve the footpaths around the site, and provide exciting interpretation and activities for all ages and interests.

The exhibition presents a series of 14 panels that outline the project’s emerging ideas, proposals and priorities, many of which have not been shared publicly before. Visitors will be able to find out how the Abbey’s extraordinary history is presented to visitors, plans for conservation and interpretation of the ruins, opportunities for education, community engagement, and tourism. Also, how the biodiversity of the site will benefit from the project and how new buildings may look.

An illustrated half hour presentation from James Mellish (Project Manager) will explain details of the main elements of the project and how they all fit together.  This will be followed by questions and comments from the audience. This feedback will play a vital role in shaping the next stages of the project.

The second opportunity – at the Guildhall on October 1

Martyn Taylor (Chair of the Bury St Edmunds Society CIO, a member of the Abbey Heritage Partnership) said, “The Bury Society offered to host this public meeting in addition to the public consultation exhibition, to give another opportunity to local  people to find out more details about this really important project for our town and how it might affect them. We care about Bury St Edmunds and it is vital that people have their say on what goes on here.”

The Bury St Edmunds Society CIO is a voice for local people to represent their views, especially with larger organisations. See www.burysociety.com for more information. It is a founder member of the Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership.

The Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership comprises over 20 organisations and individuals who care about the Abbey. St Edmundsbury Cathedral, West Suffolk Council and English Heritage (the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn project partners) have come together as members of The Partnership to develop and deliver this project. Find out more at www.stedscathedral.org/abbey-st-edmund