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The Big Stories in the Bury St Edmunds area in 2000: Cattle Market development, three arrests in Vicky Hall murder and Angel Hill likened to Disneyland




2000: It was the dawn of a new millennium as we left the 90s behind.

In a new nostalgia feature, we have trawled our archives to look back on some of the big stories in West Suffolk during 2000.

There are also some you might have forgotten.

Millennium celebrations from our archives.
Millennium celebrations from our archives.

How the year began

The new millennium started with a big party in Bury St Edmunds, as thousands of people gathered on Angel Hill.

The dawn of a new century in Bury St Edmunds.
The dawn of a new century in Bury St Edmunds.

One person 19 minutes late for the celebrations was Samantha Millie Knott, who claimed the title of Suffolk's first millennium baby as she arrived into the world at West Suffolk Hospital.

Elsewhere in the town revellers raised a glass to the dawn of a new millennium at pubs and parties.

The latest on the Vicky Hall case from 2000.
The latest on the Vicky Hall case from 2000.

Ongoing murder hunt

The murder of Vicky Hall, whose body was discovered in Creeting St Peter in 1999, made headlines as detectives arrested three people in connection with her death.

It was the latest twist in what has become a long-running unsolved case.

Part of Ickworth was for sale in 2000.
Part of Ickworth was for sale in 2000.

Ickworth hotel plan in its infancy

Hotel operators from around the world were vying to win the chance to turn Ickworth House's east wing into a 40-bedroom hotel.

The National Trust wanted to turn the wing into a hotel to bring financial security to Ickworth House and help to fund the proposed development of the west wing.

'Welcome to Disneyland' - criticism for the Angel Hill facelift in 2000.
'Welcome to Disneyland' - criticism for the Angel Hill facelift in 2000.

Disneyland on Angel Hill?

Angel Hill was likened to Disneyland in a scathing attack by Bury MP David Ruffley.

The area had undergone improvements costing £500,000, but Mr Ruffley said the money should have been spent on 'sensible road projects' instead.

"I am not in favour of Disneyfied changes which cost far too much money which could have been put to better use in the town centre," he said in comments directed at the Crown Street gates and the light-coloured Angel Hill paving and Abbey Gardens crossing.

A McDonalds drive-thru was planned for Tayfen Road in 2000.
A McDonalds drive-thru was planned for Tayfen Road in 2000.

Drive-thru mooted for Tayfen Road

Burger giant McDonald's wanted to build a drive-thru restaurant in Tayfen Road.

The proposal sparked mixed views, with Cllr Frank Warby saying: "We have got to grow as a town," and Cllr Trevor Beckwith adding: "We have always said we want Bury to be a thriving town but people who live there have to be considered as well."

A front page story about the Crown Street gates from 2000.
A front page story about the Crown Street gates from 2000.

The Crown Street gates saga

In early 2000 experts recommended to St Edmundsbury Borough Council that 'notorious' metal gates installed in Crown Street should stay.

The black metal archways had sparked a long-running heated debate, with hundreds of people attending a public meeting at the Athenaeum, when many called for them to be pulled down.

But council leader Mike Brundle – who made an election commitment to pull down the gates if the people wished – said he believed residents now wanted them to stay.

A report on the Crown Street gates from 2000.
A report on the Crown Street gates from 2000.

Archways proposed for untidy Skinner Street

Meanwhile, metal archways were proposed to tidy up the 'untidy' Skinner Street and help to hide the numerous trade bins along its cobbled length.

Former Bury Society chairman Sir Reginald Harland designed latticed archways which he said 'could distract the eye from the wheelie bins and the rather ugly backs of the premises, even if they did not hide them altogether'.

A front page about public art in the town centre from 2000.
A front page about public art in the town centre from 2000.

Millennium art?

The 'Crown Street gates saga' was fresh in people's minds as funding for public art to celebrate the millennium was sought.

The Bury in Bloom committee wanted to offer young artists the opportunity to design artworks for traffic islands in the town.

Bury Society chairman Meg Clibbon said: "If the sculptures are going to be something quite hideous we shall have something to say about it."

A report from 2000 on the Greene King access road on the Water Meadows.
A report from 2000 on the Greene King access road on the Water Meadows.

Water meadows road campaign

Across town, campaigners fighting a proposed Greene King access road across water meadows called for a public inquiry into the matter.

Water Meadows Defence Campaign spokesman Simon Harding said: "This planning application is the most significant to be considered by our council for a long time. It has a far greater significance than just the Greene King proposed link road."

Our report on the Haughley Bends picnic site from 2000.
Our report on the Haughley Bends picnic site from 2000.

Haughley Bends picnic site complaints

A picnic site which had gained a reputation for anti-social behaviour underwent a clean-up following a series of complaints to Suffolk County Council.

Members of the public said they felt 'intimidated' when using the Haughley Bends picnic site, just off the A14.

Warden patrols were stepped up, the police were involved with monitoring the site and CCTV was installed to help prevent misuse of the site and toilet block.

A special report from 2000 about the Cattle Market redevelopment.
A special report from 2000 about the Cattle Market redevelopment.

Town centre's future considered

Back in Bury, the Cattle Market redevelopment project started to gain pace, as residents were given their say on what the scheme could include.

Palmers department store said it wanted to be in the first phase of development, adding 'we believe we could make a success of this', while questions were raised over the wisdom of allowing buses to continue using St Andrew's Street South.

A Bury Free Press report from 2000 about the Cattle Market 'link'.
A Bury Free Press report from 2000 about the Cattle Market 'link'.

The all-important link

Alongside the Cattle Market development came a call to create a link between the existing town centre and new shopping complex.

The Town Centre Management Group said shops could be demolished to create the link, with the existing 'rather scruffy back alleys' leading to St Andrew's Street South described as 'not really suitable'.

A story about Parkway cinema from 2000 (61916403)
A story about Parkway cinema from 2000 (61916403)

Cinema scheme under threat

However, proposals to build a cinema on Parkway looked set to collapse after the prospective operator threatened to pull out.

The development had been subject to four years of delays due to a campaign against the multiplex.

Our report on the opening of the Moreton Hall Community Centre in 2000.
Our report on the opening of the Moreton Hall Community Centre in 2000.

'Dream come true' community centre

One development which did open in 2000 was the new Moreton Hall Community Centre, which was described as a dream come true for residents.

The 'resplendent' new centre was a step up from the previous terrapin building off Symonds Road.

Cllr Terry Buckle said: "Over the years we've had to listen to many doubters saying that we'd never finish to but we have finally got it done and I couldn't be happier."

A story about the Moreton Hall estate from 2000.
A story about the Moreton Hall estate from 2000.

But no more houses, please

Despite the new community centre, Moreton Hall residents sent a message to planners that no more houses should be built on the estate.

Cllr Trevor Beckwith said: "I think we have been overdeveloped. Moreton Hall has borne the brunt of new housing for 20 years."

Petrol prices in 2000 (61916419)
Petrol prices in 2000 (61916419)

Panic at the pumps

A 'dump the pump' campaign to see drivers pay less for petrol saw the price of unleaded drop to 79.9p in August.

Fuel blockades cause problems in 2000 (61916411)
Fuel blockades cause problems in 2000 (61916411)

But that autumn, oil refinery blockades caused escalating fuel problems as panic-stricken drivers cleaned out petrol stations across the region.

West Suffolk Hospital was put on fuel alert, with some staff forced to sleep on makeshift beds as they were unable to get home.

The latest Harry Potter book was published in 2000 (61916425)
The latest Harry Potter book was published in 2000 (61916425)

Potter prompts sell-out scenes

And finally . . . Pottermania gripped Bury when parents and children queued to get their hands on the latest Harry Potter book.

Ottakar's and WH Smith opened at 8am when the fourth instalment in the series hit the shelves.

At the Bury Book Shop, in Hatter Street, copies of the book sold out on Saturday and again on Monday.