Apparently this concept is in the development stage at the moment; but there has been no consultation with the public and there has been no release of any detail of this proposed development, apart from Babergh giving the thumbs-up to negotiations over two parcels of land: the site and gardens of Belle Vue House, and the site of the old swimming pool.

Last May, Babergh District Council's development control committee refused planning permission for a development by MacCarthy & Stone of a reasonably large residential development, including elderly accommodation, house manager's office, some small retail outlets, landscaping, and car parking on the old Cakebread site by the bus station. MacCarthy & Stone's appeal failed on the grounds that the use of this site for this purpose would have an "adverse effect on the vitality and viability of the town centre".

So now, MacCarthy & Stone will have land in Belle Vue for this reasonably large residential development, and Babergh will have the bus station site, so that it can integrate Sudbury's "existing transport and shopping facilities and its community into a unified whole". (Quote from Babergh District Council's announcement]. Does that mean more shops by the bus station, reached by crossing the bus park with a few zebra crossings?

The other selling point for the grabbing of Belle Vue Park is that a" speculative approach by the Hardwicke House practice" has developed into a "visionary opportunity" that is "a once-in-a-generation opportunity", acording to babergh's strategy committee chairman Nick Ridley.

Hang on ... Hardwicke House is a doctor' surgery, a private business, albeit attached to the NHS (South Suffolk Primary Care Trust).
Hardwicke House is a group GP practice with two surgeries in Sudbury, one in Great Cornard, one in Bures and one in Clare From a quick Google on the internet, Hardwicke House has been looking at expanding for some time: in 2005 the surgery in partnership with the Primary Care Trust was looking to moving to the new Sudbury Health and Social Care Centre at Churchfield Road, Chilton. Expected date for completion: 2007. It is now 2008, and this visionary scheme has not appeared there, or on People's Park, or anywhere.

Also, presumably, Suffolk Council Highways will get involved as planning for a large volume of traffic (patients and doctors; service vehicles, staff and visitors for the retirement complex) with safe access to the site from Newton Road and without disrupting the flow down Girling Street will be quite interesting; maybe it would need to be visionary.

So a public space, providing the community with a safe environment for teenagers to meet, and parents to bring their children to play, is being sold to two private businesses (yes, there are strings attached: the existing community services at Belle Vue house have to be accommodated in the scheme).

Iain Treadaway
Sudbury