Due to purely technical reasons, I have placed the next blog on views 'From The Study Window' on a different page.  Apologies for any inconveniences this may cause.  I will still be checking and updating the blogs below in the future.

To access the new blog area in general, please click on the link below:-

www.PaulHopfensperger.com
 
Paul Hopfensperger
Bury St Edmunds Town & Suffolk County Councillor (June 2003 - June 2009)

Above: The Entrance to The Cattle Market Re-development.

Getting out of bed after a short lay in last Saturday after a very busy week, I looked out of my second floor landing window to be greeted by the same view as I have become accustomed to over the past couple of months - a building site and a full car park in the distance. Even at 09.30 Hrs. on a Saturday morning, cars could be clearly seen behind the Taylor Woodrow hoardings, desperately seeking out that elusive space in an attempt to get as close as possible to the town centre.

Looking out of the first floor landing window, another familiar sight appeared. The sight of empty disabled spaces in the Nelson Road car park, with the frustrated shoppers mentioned above, pouring down Nelson Road, upsetting the residents, then taking the short cut across the car park wondering why they couldn’t park there. These shoppers then become the ones who stream up Risbygate Street in their hundreds as reported in my “Welcome to Risbygate Street, Gateway to Hell” blog below.



Above: The Disabled car park in Nelson Road.

It is clear for all to see, especially those who live in the area, that we have a problem here. People are simply unhappy with this setup, and it needs looking at. Various solutions have been metioned in the afore mentioned blog below. To compound the issue, at about 5pm on Wednesday evening March 2nd, I was shown a planning application where St. Edmundsbury Borough Council, wanted to place a temporary bus stop in Risbygate Street while Anglia Water spent weeks putting in a new water supply to feed the cattle market site! Can you imagine the chaos that would have caused in Risbygate Street? As Suffolk County Councillor for Tower Division (which covers Abbeygate and Risbygate Wards where this work would have taken place) I put in an objection to the Bury St Edmunds Town Council via e-mail at short notice, which thankfully they supported and they proposed that the existing Bus Station is used rather than a temporary one in Risbygate Street.

I can confirm that the following e-mail was received this week:-

-----Original Message-----
From: Martin, Jacky [mailto:Jacky.Martin@stedsbc.gov.uk]
Sent: 09 March 2007 09:47
Subject: Temporary road closure, St Andrews Street South
 

Thank you for the e-mail dated 2nd March regarding Councillor Hopfensperger's comments discussed by the Town Council about the proposal to consider a temporary bus stop for the above road closure. We consulted all affected bus companies on this aspect of the road closure and the outcome of that was that the bus station will be used for the closure- First was the only company that responded and they prefer not to have the facility of a temporary stop provided.

Regards

Jacky Martin
Traffic and Transport Officer

At lease we should not now see the traffic problem worsened by some of these decisions which do not, from an outsiders point of view, seem to have much forethought and planning before they are suggested by St. Edmundsbury Borough Council. You would have to ask why the residents and councillors are not consulted at the very least?

Anyway, back to the parking problem. I walked up Parkway on the same day as the above photos were taken, and noticed this:-



Now this is a problem which has been highlighted many times, we simply do not have enough parking spaces in Bury, and the ones that are there are proving too far from the town centre for people to walk. This is causing trade in the town to suffer. I spoke to a market trader recently who told me this "Yes, there are lots of people about, but just look at their hands. They are empty. They are not buying goods because it is too far to carry them back to their cars. I may as well pack up and go home".

From my point of view as County Councillor for the area, as stated previously, I am pushing for an out of town Park and Ride facility for Bury. I will not rest until we get this much needed facility fo Bury.

I would appreciate any comments and viewpoints on this subject please so I can present them to the Portfolio Holder for Roads and Transport at Suffolk County Council.

For an interesting and historical view of Risbygate Street, please click here.

UPDATE - April 07, 2007

The situation in the Nelson Road/Risbygate Street area has got even worse over the past 3 weeks. For an update please click on the link below:-

High-Rise Hell in Nelsn Road...

Cllr. Paul Hopfensperger - Councillor for Tower Division

Web site: www.hopfensperger.co.uk  

Above: Aerial view of The Cattle Market site in days gone by - Circa 1950. (Click here to download a copy of the photo).

Yesterday, a very kind Gentleman stopped me in the street and gave me two photos of old Bury St Edmunds to scan into my computer. The first was of Risbygate Street Circa. 1910, which I have inserted into the blog below "Welcome to Risbygate Street, Gateway to Hell". The second is an aerial view of the Cattle Market and surrounding area in about the 1950's (I think).

One of the reasons for sharing this photo, is that on the The Editor's Cattle Market Blog, under the title of "Memories from you" I had a conversation with Ruby about the old swimming pool there. My dad took me for my first ever swim there in 1967 at the age of 4. It was here where I learnt to swim. Ruby asked for photos. Well here is one. Behind the very tall chimney where they used to burn all the local rubbish, the swimming pool can clearly be seen (see picture below). Next to it is the old Bury Town Football ground where I used to go every other Saturday to watch the Bury Town home games as a small lad. Parkway and the Cinema run through here now. Nelson Road and Schoolyard haven't changed much, but all the area behind and to the right of the chimney have changed beyond all recognition. The old greyhound stadium can also be seen at the top of the picture which is now a housing estate.



Above: The old Bury Swimming Pool on the Cattle Market Site. (Click here to download a copy of the photo).

Now with the cattle market development heavily under way, the words of Bob Dylan come to mind - "The times they are a-changin'". In Bury St Edmunds today, this seems a most poignant statement.

Cllr. Paul Hopfensperger - Councillor for Tower Division

Web site: www.hopfensperger.co.uk  

Cllr. Rebecca Hopfensperger, Mayor of Bury St Edmunds, officially starts the 2006 Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds

Last year, my wife Beccy was the official starter of the 2006 "Race for Life", in aid of Cancer Research UK, in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds. This being the case, she was unable to enter the race itself as she had done in previous years. She has today entered this year's race and so we felt it was time to do just a little bit of training in preparation.

Armed with her husband (me), a dog (Casper) and a camera (un-named), we got in the car and drove the short distance to Nowton Park. After a little bit of stretching to warm up, she commenced her first training run through the beautiful daffodil lined avenue of trees, attempting to follow the course of the race (pictured below).



Following behind I tiptoed through the sodden ground, before being lauched forward by Casper in hot pursuit of his mum. No matter how I tried he would not understand that he had to stay on the lead. I showed him the St. Edmundsbury Borough Council's signs which said something like "Dog's to be kept on a lead at all times", but would he take any notice? Absolutely not. I proceeded to trot along behind the Mayor being dragged by the dog, until I was totally covered from head to toe in splatters of mud!

Anyway, the Mayor carried on on her run at a relentless pace, around the course of last years run. Eventually, having wrestled with the dog enough for one day, we took a short cut back to wait in "Daffodil Avenue" to see The Mayor enter the finish straight and complete the course and her first (of many?) training runs (pictured below).



Well done Beccy! Keep up the good work!. Since it started in 1994, Race for Life has grown to become the UK’s biggest women-only fundraising event. All the money raised by the participants helps fund the crucial work of Cancer Research UK – the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research. So far, over two million women of all ages have run, walked or jogged to raise over £140 million in sponsorship for the charity.

To find out more about this years Race for Life, please click on the link below:-

http://www.raceforlife.org

If you would like to sponsor Beccy for this event, then please click on the link below to donate securely online:-

http://www.justgiving.com/RaceforLife2007

Good luck to everyone who participates in this very worthwhile event.

Cllr. Paul Hopfensperger - Councillor for Tower Division

Web site: www.hopfensperger.co.uk  

Above (Left to Right): A Bury St Edmunds Fire Fighter, Cllr. Paul Hopfensperger and Cllr. Joanna Spicer in full Fire Fighters uniform.

As a Suffolk County Councillor life is very busy and varied. One moment I am dealing with a fence which has fallen into a Havebury garden on the Howard Estate, the next I am attending a Residents Association Meeting on the Mildenhall Road Estate, the next, we are meeting to discuss Suffolk Schools, the next I am dressed in full firefighters uniform in a room filled with smoke holding the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection, Cllr. Joanna Spicer's hand!
 
As a member of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Joint Consultative Committee at Suffolk County Council, Joanna and I were guests at the Bury St Edmunds Fire Station, which is on my County Council Division, to look around and experience first hand what it is like for a Fire Fighter to enter a smoke filled room and remove a body (pictured below).



Above: Entering the smoke filled training room at Bury St Edmunds Fire Station

The first thing I noticed was how heavy the equipment was. Even the boots were really heavy making it difficult to walk, let alone fight a fire. As we opened the door and entered the building, the heat hit you full on as the smoke poured out of the building. We entered, shut the door and we were in total darkness and very warm. Joanna grabbed my hand and we walked into the building, only feeling our way by taking small steps and feeling the wall. Even though it was a controlled entry, it was quite a frightening experience.

Having spent the morning with the Fire Fighters at Bury St Edmunds Fire Station, I have to say that I have only admiration for the sterling job that they do. Bravo to Suffolk Fire Fighters!

Cllr. Paul Hopfensperger - Councillor for Tower Division

Web site: www.hopfensperger.co.uk

UPDATED - March 09, 2007

Living and working in Risbygate Street on Abbeygate Ward 24/7/365, and representing it as County Councillor for Tower Division, I get people constantly knocking on my door and asking me to sort out problems for them, and complaining about various things. Yesterday, Friday February 23, 2007 was no different.

Firstly, a man who used to work for the Electricty Board for many years stopped me on my front doorstep and said "You're a Bury Boy. What do you think to this mess?" [The signage and cattle market development pictured above]. We continued to have a long discussion about things but his main concern was the position of the disabled car park in Risbygate Street/Nelson Road.

His wife is disabled and he regularly has to push his wife all the way from Nelson Road up Risbygate Street into the town centre. He explained that although it has dropped kerbs for wheel chairs, due to the slope and uneveness of the pavements, and his age, he simply cannot continue to push his wife up into town. I told him that I totally agreed and discussed alternatives. He came up with a very simple alternative which I am now investigating for him. He asked why could not the town centre car parking spaces be used for 100% disabled car parking, and the Nelson Road and other car parks be used for the able bodied among us? I said that I didn't know. I'm sure there will be a reason but I assured him I was on the case and would find out. Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Secondly, parking, traffic and pedestrians in Risbygate Street. A lady from Sudbury stopped me in the street and commented about the unsightly street clutter pictured above, and the chaos in Risbygate Street. 

Pictured below is a typical day in Risbygate Street. Blue Badge holders parked along the entire length of the street on the single yellow line. Others who can't park on the single yellow, park the other side on the double yellow. Traffic is in chaos with irritated drivers trying to get past the blue badge holders. Able bodied pedestrians are stepping into the road trying to overtake the less abled, directly into the path of oncoming traffic. The pavement width is woefully inadequate due to the increased numbers of people being fed up Risbygate Street from the car parks. It is an accident waiting to happen.



The two pictures below clearly show people stepping off the pavement with their backs to the traffic. The volume of pedestrians is simply too great for the existing pavements to cope with.




A suggested solution which would solve both problems would be as follows:-

1) Turn the town centre (including Angel Hill) into 100% Disbaled parking.
 
2) The able bodied would be able to park in the remaining car parks in the town.

3) Risbygate Street pavements should be totally remodelled or even removed to incorporate a "Shared Space" approach (see www.Shared-Space.info for more information on this type of system)

4) Bury St Edmunds must have a Park and Ride to remove traffic from the town, and reduce the type of congestion which can clearly be seen in the photos above.

If you have any other suggestions to rectify the problems, I would sincerley like to hear them so that I can try to get the situation rectified. Please add your comments in the "Add a comment" section provided below.

Click here to download more photos of Risbygate Street (Requires Adobe Reader - see below)

Get Adobe Reader here

Yesterday, March 07, 2006, a very kind Gentleman stopped me in the street and said he had an old photo of how Risbygate Street used to look. I thought I would share it with you here. The mixture of traffic, pedestrians and cyclists in the street epitomises the concept of Shared-Space mentioned above. It is a wonderful photo of times gone by.



Risbygate Street from the site of the old Risby Gate, circa 1910. (Click here to download a copy of the photo).

If anyone has any further old photos of Risbygate Street please contact me as I would be interested to see them.

If you would like to compare more photos of Risbygate Street in Yester year with those of today, please click here. 

Cllr. Paul Hopfensperger - Councillor for Tower Division

Web site: www.hopfensperger.co.uk

Above: Bury St Edmunds Railway Station - The Start and End of my "Integrated Transport" Journey.

As Vice Chairman of the Roads and Transport Scrutiny Committee at Suffolk County Council, I thought it prudent to attend a National conference in Birmingham on November 9th entitled  "Integrated Transport 2006 - Are we there yet?". Being an avid car traveller in the past, I thought it would be a good idea to experience first hand our transport system so I could ask questions of the panel of experts which included the shadow Minister of Transport Stephen Hammond MP and Lord Faulkner to name but two, so I booked a return train ticket from Bury St Edmunds to Birmingham, New Street to see how it all went. 

My outward journey was quite uneventfull, despite the fact that arriving at Birmingham, New Street, I was surprised to find the station fronted onto a busy main road, with apparently no taxi ranks, and so I walked approximately a mile to get to the Novotel in Broad Street with my heavily laden bags. I made a mental note about that as it wasn't a particularly good start, especially if I had of been elderly, or disabled. Point 1 - No Taxis at the station for onward Travel.

The conference was informative, with some good speakers, interesting Topics, and I came away with some useful information. The journey back though, was something else!  Having sat through a whole day listening to "Integrated Transport" talks, I walked back to my Hotel to get my bags, and then back to Birmingham New Street.  They were heavier this time, as I had gathered many brochures from the trade stands, and the walk seemed further due to the extra weight. 

Arriving at the station early to ensure I got a seat on the train, I was guided to platform 6a, where I waited for the 5.30pm train. I looked back down the track (platform 6) at a stationary train, at which people gathered outside.  I asked the platform attendant "Is this the platform to Ely?". "Oh yes" she replied. So I waited with a couple of others. Eventually, the lights went on on the train down the track, and everyone clambered on board, leaving us on platform 6a.  I asked again, "Is that not the train to Ely?" pointing at the one on platform 6. "Yes it is she replied". Angrily, and after a few words, we rushed down the platform to make sure we got a seat. Point 2  - Do the platform attendants actually know what they are doing?

The train was nearly full, but I managed to get a seat by the window. At 5.30pm a message came over the tanoy stating that a train had broken down on the line in front, and there would be a 10 minute delay. This 10 minute delay turned into a 40 minute delay, during which the train kept filling up with people who were all standing, until I didn't think they could possibly allow any more people on for helth and safety reasons. But they did. Point 3 - Why does it take so long to move a broken down train? Point 4 - How many people can trains take and is it safe to stand up for such long distances on a train?

Eventually, we trundled off, and looking around, it reminded me of one of those trains you see on the TV in India, with all the people filling every available space on the train including the outside. There obviously weren't people outside, but I did feel it was over crowded. We arrived in Ely, changed Platforms, and the announcement came over the tannoy.  Once again there was a delay.  The incoming train was about 15 minutes late.  A small group of us waited in the cold on the platform until eventually the train arrived, we all got on, and sat peacefully looking forward to the final leg home.

Five minutes into the journey, a man's voice came over the tannoy which went something like this:-

"This is the train from Peterborough to London Liverpool Street, stopping at Bury St Edmunds.  Unfortunately, due to cables on the line between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, and Stowmarket and Ipswich, this train will stop in Bury St Edmunds.  There will be coaches waiting for you to take you to Ipswich, where you can continue your Journey to London, Liverpool Street by Train. We apologise for any inconvenience."

From my point of view, it didn't matter because I was getting off in Bury.  A girl sitting opposite me, stopped texting her boyfriend, looked at me and we both laughed, shaking our heads. She then phoned him and told him the story.

Arriving at Bury eveyone got off, and there was plenty of mumbling going on.  Outside, there were two taxis waiting and I immediately grabbed one.  The driver was a chap I hadn't seen for years, who greeted me like a long lost friend.  He explained that I was lucky to get a Taxi, because the railway station had put their costs up from £250 to £400 per year I think he said.  He explained that they were not wanted there anymore. He then went on to tell me about an old friend who had died after a wedding the previous Saturday. My head was spinning trying to take in everything that he was saying. I arrived outside my home at about 10.15pm, and went in physically and mentally shatterred after my eventful day.

This was my journey from Bury to Birmingham and back.  The thought springs to mind, which was the title of the conference and is Point 5 - "Integrated Transport - Are we there yet?".  I'm not so sure - what do you think? 

Cllr. Paul Hopfensperger - Councillor for Tower Division

Web site: www.hopfensperger.co.uk