Three reasons to stay positive about Bury St Edmunds

Published: 4 November 2026

Let’s be honest: Bury has enjoyed better months than October 2026. Many of us have seen the news reports about violence in the town and, at the beginning of the month, a local newspaper claimed BSE was towards the higher end when it came to crime reports in Suffolk.

These reports matter. One act of crime is one too many. And while all towns have to deal with anti-social behaviour and worse, we can never let that be an excuse to try and brush such issues under the carpet.

But for those of us who love living and working in Bury, it’s also important to keep the full picture in view. There are countless reasons to stay positive about our town. Here are just three of them:

A celebrated high street – it’s only been two years since a national newspaper ranked Bury as the UK’s fourth best high street. They praised our independent shops, historic streets, cathedral, theatre, gardens and market
A distinctive local character – according to BSE BID (Business Improvement District), 60% of our local businesses are independent. We have cafes, restaurants and shops that you can’t find anywhere else
Award-winning green spaces – Abbey Gardens and Nowton Park both have “Green Flag status” – a quality recognition from Keep Britain Tidy. This is awarded to parks and green spaces that are welcoming, well-maintained and well-managed

There is so much more we could say. We are the home of Britain’s only surviving Regency playhouse. Local community groups are clearing up litter, fly-tipping and graffiti.

None of this means we don’t have problems. Every town does. But as we work honestly to address them, it’s crucial that we don’t lose sight of the unique, generous and thriving community that we encounter every day.