Town
Centre Management has been an integral part of British towns since the early
1908’s. It is seen as a possible inclusion and umbrella organisation to bring
together people with their expertise and direct interest in their surroundings
and towns prosperity. There are today approx 280 town centre partnerships in
one form or another throughout the major towns and cities of the UK.
Bury St Edmunds formed it’s own Town Centre Management (TCM) about 14 years ago, one of the first towns in East Anglia to do so. Then a Town Centre Manager was employed solely by the Borough Council on a part-time basis (he was also employed by the council as Economic Development Officer)
In
2006, TCM moved forward after a successful 10 years, to a new development
stage, with a new independent Town Centre Management Group made up from
businesses within the core of the town. An operating board made up from
members was set up with a direct plan, strategy and constitution to move the
voice and development of the business forward. This was seen as a crucial step
forward to represent businesses on a totally independent level, although still
working with the Local Authorities in partnership on many issues and schemes
to do with the town. A dedicated full time Town Centre Manager has been in
place since then. TCM has always had the objectives of focusing on market
forces and shifts, competition and the overall objective of keeping and
enhancing Bury St Edmunds unique town centre as an attractive, vibrant and
prosperous place to live and work.
One of the main projects of TCM over a two year period was to bring a Business Improvement District (BID) to Bury St Edmunds, where businesses have direct control of their trading environment, additional services for the town and desires that they want to help build business within our town centre. This came to fruition in December 2009 following a long consultation, campaign and electoral vote from the businesses to bring our BID, Bid4bury to Bury St Edmunds. We now have sustainable funding under the management of businesses to ensure these projects as outlined in the business plan come to Bury St Edmunds
