The Bury St Edmunds Town Council has pledged £50,000 to the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn heritage project.

Made possible by National Lottery players, the project will conserve and protect the Abbey ruins, build a visitor centre facing onto Angel Hill, expand and improve the footpaths around the site, and provide exciting interpretation and activities for all ages and interests. It will be a magnet for cultural tourists and an important gathering place for local residents.

Jodie Budd, Town Clerk at Bury St Edmunds Town Council said, “I’m so pleased that the Town Council are supporting this huge project. Not only will it increase the number of visitors to the Cathedral and Abbey site, but the economic benefit to Bury St Edmunds as a whole. The proposals to increase activities and places to explore outdoors, will only improve mental health and increase the social benefits to both residents and visitors alike.”

The Very Reverend Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury welcomed the pledge, “The support of Bury Town Council is an enormous boost to this project and is confirmation of its huge importance to the town and to Suffolk. We are very grateful to the Town Council for their support and look forward to working with them in the coming years for the benefit of all our communities.”

St Edmundsbury Cathedral, West Suffolk Council and English Heritage (the project partners) have come together as members of The Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership (comprising 29 organisations and individuals who care about the Abbey) to develop and deliver this project.