Disagreement over repositioning of illegal-parking-deterrent planters in Bury St Edmunds town centre in Brentgovel Street

Townspeople have expressed their ‘frustration’ over ‘a fiasco’ concerning planters that were originally installed to deter illegal driving and parking.

The four large wooden planters joined the street scene in Brentgovel Street, in Bury St Edmunds town centre, about four months ago to dissuade drivers from entering the pedestrian and cycle zone.

The project, which was led by Bury St Edmunds Town Council and took around three years to achieve, had been cited as helping to lessen the problem.

However, the planters have been moved from their original positions. The two outside McDonald’s are now much further away to the ones by the entrance to the zone.

It is understood they were repositioned to assist with McDonald’s deliveries, but where they ended up being moved to is said to have caused issues for traders trying to access the twice-weekly market.

Last week, there was an on-site meeting to reposition the planters that got a ‘bit heated’, said Town Clerk Jodie Budd.

Members of the Well Street Association – a residents’ group which supported the installation of the planters – did not agree with the new locations.

Barry Smith, chairman of the Well Street Association, described it all as an ‘unedifying fiasco’.

He told the Bury Free Press: “It is a fiasco, but what is so frustrating is that McDonald’s and their logistics people seem to be calling the shots.”

Despite not yet being planted up, they had been ‘remarkably effective’ in their original positions at deterring drivers from entering the zone, he said.

“Now they have been moved, straight away we are getting more parking and cars coming through,” he said.

Rowland Smith, who is on the Well Street Association committee, said the planters scheme had been ‘completely undermined’ by trying to appease the requirements of McDonald’s deliveries – and McDonald’s was a big cause of the issues in the first place. “It just doesn’t sit right,” he said.

The area alongside McDonald’s was habitually used by food delivery drivers and McDonald’s customers, residents have said previously.

Mrs Budd said McDonald’s had told its food delivery drivers they must not park in Brentgovel Street.

“If this does not happen, I would encourage residents to take a photo of the vehicle so that we can report it,” she said.

She said the planters were now in a position that worked for both market traders and McDonald’s deliveries, and the relocation of them had also been approved by both West Suffolk and Suffolk County councils.

She said the planters in their new positions would still add a deterrent.

The painting of the planters has begun and they will be planted in due course, by Bury in Bloom.

McDonald’s was approached for comment.