Renewed hope archive office could be saved in Bury St Edmunds

The Bury St Edmunds record office closed in August after Suffolk County Council announced the archives would be transferred to the county's purpose-built stronghold rooms at The Hold in Ipswich.

The move caused uproar in the community, with campaigners taking to the streets in protest, and residents are still fighting for the west Suffolk archives to be retained.

Protestors outside the Bury St Edmunds record office (Image: Bury St Edmunds Society CIO)

On Thursday, August 29, representatives from 12 of the 27 organisations and bodies, which indicated to the Bury Society and the Bury Town Trust that they would be interested in being involved in the creation of a new site, met to discuss their plans.

The meeting was also attended by a representative from West Suffolk Council which offered space at West Suffolk House, which is jointly owned by the district council and Suffolk County Council, whose consent would be required.

During the meeting they also established a working committee to examine the possibility of forming a charitable organisation to create the new archive, which will require extensive fundraising and annual funding for staff and maintenance. 

The committee will be chaired by Martyn Taylor, chair of the Bury Society, who has been given the task of investigating proposals for the new site in more detail.

Martyn Taylor (Image: Bury St Edmunds Society CIO)

Mr Taylor said: "We are pleased to be able to liaise with West Suffolk Council, that is very important. 

"Suffolk County Council has been notified and as of yet we haven't had a confirmed response other than that they are willing to work with us." 

He said keeping the archives in Bury St Edmunds is important not only for residents of the town, but also those in the west and north of the county. 

"These are historical records that not only belong to Bury St Edmunds but also to west Suffolk. 

"Should the archive office close down and everything be moved to The Hold then obviously people from north of the county in Brandon, Lakenheath, Mildenhall, and across to Clare or Haverhill, they would have to travel an awfully long way.

"What would be a trip say half an hour there and half an hour back could turn into maybe three or four hours." 

The Hold in Ipswich (Image: Newsquest)

He thanked John Popham, of the Bury Town Trust, for his hard work in relation to the archives.

Once a detailed investigation has been completed the interested bodies will make a final decision as to whether to proceed with the new archive at West Suffolk House.

Cllr Ian Shipp, cabinet member for leisure at West Suffolk Council, said: "We are happy to explore any options that will retain local collections for people to view in West Suffolk and we’ve been working positively on this ever since we were made aware of Suffolk County Council’s decision.

"We are involved in the process set up by the county council to explore proposals from local collection owners. 

"We have also said that West Suffolk House could be a potential venue, if the funding and technical requirements can be met and there is no objection from Suffolk County Council as co-owners of the building."

Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for environment, communities and equality, said: "After the closure of the west Suffolk and north-east branches of Suffolk Archives was announced, SCC arranged working party meetings with key depositors.

"The purpose of the meetings was to explore and advise on community-led proposals to keep some collections in their original areas of origin.

"We can confirm that The Bury Society and Bury Town Trust were involved in these discussions and that they continue to explore alternative options.

"Alongside West Suffolk Council, we have indicated our willingness, as potential landlords, to explore the use of West Suffolk House as a new home for local led proposals, provided that there are no capital or revenue implications for the two authorities."