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The big stories of 2009 from the Bury St Edmunds area: arc Shopping Centre finally opens, ASDA arrives in town and the Queen visits cathedral




Cast your mind back to 2009. Gordon Brown was Prime Minister, the last Woolworths stores closed across the country, in January the Bank of England cut its base interest rate to 1.5 per cent – the lowest in the bank’s 300-year history – and the UK’s economy was officially in recession.

Swine flu arrived in England at the end of April, Manchester United won the Premier League, unemployment topped two million and more than 80 per cent of the UK population had internet access.

Some of the top films on at the cinema in 2009 included Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Slumdog Millionaire. Meanwhile, stereos were blasting out Lady Gaga’s debut single Just Dance and follow-up Poker Face, while in June the charts were populated by Michael Jackson re-entries following his sudden death.

The Big Stories in 2009
The Big Stories in 2009

Closer to home, Bury St Edmunds town centre was undergoing major change as the Cattle Market development was completed in 2009.

Read on for our monthly look back at some of the Big Stories from the Bury Free Press of years gone by – now it is 2009’s turn.

The Cattle Market redevelopment was complete at long last and the arc shopping centre was open for business in spring 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The Cattle Market redevelopment was complete at long last and the arc shopping centre was open for business in spring 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The arc shopping centre finally opened its doors after years of redevelopment in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The arc shopping centre finally opened its doors after years of redevelopment in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

First up, we covered the opening of the £100 million arc shopping centre development in March 2009.

Retailers opening their doors on the first day included Debenhams, Jane Norman, Clarks, H&M, Vodafone, Topshop and Topman, Peacocks, Fat Face, Wallis, Next, Swarovski, New Look, Crew Clothing, Monsoon and Accessorize.

The opening of the arc shopping centre boosted trade at shops across the town in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The opening of the arc shopping centre boosted trade at shops across the town in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

The shopping centre’s opening boosted trade across the town, with car parks packed out and market traders reporting higher footfall and sales.

A temporary park and ride service introduced to tie in with the opening of the arc shopping centre in 2009 was subsidised by the council to the tune of £55 per car, it was revealed. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
A temporary park and ride service introduced to tie in with the opening of the arc shopping centre in 2009 was subsidised by the council to the tune of £55 per car, it was revealed. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

However, a temporary park and ride service put in place for the arc’s opening saw minimal use, with the council subsidising the service to the tune of £55 per car.

Cattle Market developers Centros shelved plans for a winder link at Market Thoroughfare linking the arc with the existing town centre, blaming economic conditions. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Cattle Market developers Centros shelved plans for a winder link at Market Thoroughfare linking the arc with the existing town centre, blaming economic conditions. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

And it was revealed the planned Market Thoroughfare link between the arc and the town centre would not be built, with developers Centros blaming the economic climate.

We took a look behind the scenes as the public building - later named The Apex - took shape in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
We took a look behind the scenes as the public building - later named The Apex - took shape in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Meanwhile, work progressed on the public building still under construction in Charter Square – we took a look behind the scenes.

The public venue at the heart of the arc shopping centre - later named The Apex - was expected to cost St Edmundsbury Borough Council £657,500 to run over its first three years. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The public venue at the heart of the arc shopping centre - later named The Apex - was expected to cost St Edmundsbury Borough Council £657,500 to run over its first three years. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

But the running costs bill for the public building were expected to reach more than £650,000 over its first three years, with the council footing the cost.

The public building in the arc shopping centre was named The Apex. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The public building in the arc shopping centre was named The Apex. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

In spite of this, excitement grew ahead of the venue’s opening as its name – The Apex – was finally revealed.

The new ASDA supermarket, in Western Way, prepared to open its doors. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The new ASDA supermarket, in Western Way, prepared to open its doors. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Across town, the new ASDA supermarket, in Western Way, was preparing to open.

ASDA, in Western Way, finally opened to shoppers after a long campaign to bring the retailer to the town. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
ASDA, in Western Way, finally opened to shoppers after a long campaign to bring the retailer to the town. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Cheers greeted its official opening in 2009, after a long battle to bring the retailer to Bury St Edmunds.

ASDA opened its new petrol station in Bury St Edmunds in 2009, with the promise of a pricing policy which it was thought could lead to lower fuel prices across town. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
ASDA opened its new petrol station in Bury St Edmunds in 2009, with the promise of a pricing policy which it was thought could lead to lower fuel prices across town. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

And the opening of the ASDA petrol station could – it was hoped – help to bring lower fuel prices across the town.

The new ASDA petrol station was putting pressure on other filling stations to lower their prices to be competitive, as we reported in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The new ASDA petrol station was putting pressure on other filling stations to lower their prices to be competitive, as we reported in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Its national pricing policy put pressure on other filling stations across the town to follow suit and cut the price of petrol and diesel.

Principles, in the Cornhill Walk shopping centre, closed after 21 years in the shopping arcade when the retailer fell into administration in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Principles, in the Cornhill Walk shopping centre, closed after 21 years in the shopping arcade when the retailer fell into administration in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

But as the arc and ASDA opened, Cornhill Walk Shopping Centre said goodbye to popular clothes shop Principles, as the retailer went into administration.

Principles had been in the shopping arcade for 21 years.

The popular cheese stall on Bury market closed after 25 years in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The popular cheese stall on Bury market closed after 25 years in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

And in the market, the cheese stall decided to close down after 25 years in the town.

An historic window at Bloomfields shoe shop was smashed in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
An historic window at Bloomfields shoe shop was smashed in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Over in Churchgate Street, an original 150-year-old window was smashed at Bloomfields Shoes – one of the town’s oldest shops.

The Millennium Tower project, at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, neared completion in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The Millennium Tower project, at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, neared completion in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

At St Edmundsbury Cathedral, a vaulted ceiling was about to be hoisted into place as the finishing touch for the Millennium Tower project.

The Archbishop of Canterbury visited Bury St Edmunds as the Millennium Tower project came to an end. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The Archbishop of Canterbury visited Bury St Edmunds as the Millennium Tower project came to an end. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

And the Archbishop of Canterbury visited the town when the 11-year project was finally complete.

The Queen was in Bury St Edmunds for the 2009 Maundy service. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The Queen was in Bury St Edmunds for the 2009 Maundy service. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The Queen was in Bury St Edmunds for the Maundy service, which was held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
The Queen was in Bury St Edmunds for the Maundy service, which was held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

The cathedral was also graced with a royal visitor, as the Queen was in town for the traditional Maundy service.

St Nicholas Hospice Care appealed for more donations after being forced to shut beds in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
St Nicholas Hospice Care appealed for more donations after being forced to shut beds in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

In charity news, the recession was hitting good causes and St Nicholas Hospice Care issued an appeal for donations after it closed beds on its inpatient ward.

Tributes were paid to fitness instructor and mother-of-three Mary Griffiths, who was murdered at her Bury home in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Tributes were paid to fitness instructor and mother-of-three Mary Griffiths, who was murdered at her Bury home in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Tribute was paid to much-loved mum-of-three and fitness instructor Mary Griffiths, who was murdered aged 38.

John McFarlane, 40, pleased guilty to murdering mother-of-three Mary Griffiths in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
John McFarlane, 40, pleased guilty to murdering mother-of-three Mary Griffiths in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Her killer appeared in court later in 2009, entering a guilty plea to her murder.

Fallen soldier Lance Corporal Adam Drane, 23, of Stanningfield, was brought back to the UK after being killed in Afghanistan in December 2009. He was the 100th British soldier to be killed in the conflict. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Fallen soldier Lance Corporal Adam Drane, 23, of Stanningfield, was brought back to the UK after being killed in Afghanistan in December 2009. He was the 100th British soldier to be killed in the conflict. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

It was a sad day as Lance Corporal Adam Drane, 23, of Stanningfield, was brought home after becoming the 100th British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan.

Plans for a £78 million redevelopment of West Suffolk College were shelved after £58 million of funding was withdrawn in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Plans for a £78 million redevelopment of West Suffolk College were shelved after £58 million of funding was withdrawn in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Multi-million plans to develop West Suffolk College were shelved after £58 million of funding was pulled.

Mexico travellers were told to monitor their health as swine flu alerts were issued in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Mexico travellers were told to monitor their health as swine flu alerts were issued in 2009. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

Travellers from Mexico were told to monitor their health in early May, as swine flu reached British soil.

Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley spoke out on the expenses scandal. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley spoke out on the expenses scandal. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

And Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley spoke out on the expenses scandal and allegations he ‘flipped’ his main residence to London in order to claim expenses for his constituency flat.

West Suffolk Hospital staff were upset by a parking consultation in 2009, with 2,600 employees warned options could involve staff being barred from parking at the congested site. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
West Suffolk Hospital staff were upset by a parking consultation in 2009, with 2,600 employees warned options could involve staff being barred from parking at the congested site. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

At West Suffolk Hospital, 2,600 staff were sent an email about a car parking consultation which they feared could lead to employees being barred from parking on site.

Essex County Buses started a public transport war, after launching services in Bury to rival operator First. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Essex County Buses started a public transport war, after launching services in Bury to rival operator First. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

But public transport in the town was undergoing a period of change, as new operator Essex County Buses launched rival services to those operated by First.

Plans to scrap middle schools in Suffolk were 'in chaos' as funding problems meant the final phase of transition to the two-tier education system was delayed. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Plans to scrap middle schools in Suffolk were 'in chaos' as funding problems meant the final phase of transition to the two-tier education system was delayed. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

In education, the final phase of transitioning from three-tier education in West Suffolk to the two-tier system was delayed due to funding issues.

Lord Tebbit, 78, spoke to the Bury Free Press after settling into his new home in the town centre. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Lord Tebbit, 78, spoke to the Bury Free Press after settling into his new home in the town centre. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

New Bury resident Lord Tebbit spoke to the Bury Free Press after settling into his new home.

Lucie Falco had a double celebration, passing her driving test in Bury just four hours before getting married. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Lucie Falco had a double celebration, passing her driving test in Bury just four hours before getting married. Picture: Bury Free Press archive

And finally, Lucie Falco enjoyed a milestone day as she passed her driving test four hours before getting married.



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