‘Positive discussions’ on future of Bury St Edmunds town centre £20,000 metal tree sculptures

The fate of two Bury St Edmunds metal tree sculptures remains in doubt – more than seven years after they were placed in storage.

But there have been ‘positive discussions’ about their future, according to West Suffolk Council.

The stainless steel trees were installed in St Andrew’s Street South in June 2015 as part of the overall arc Shopping Centre development – however vehicle strikes forced their premature retirement and they were removed less than a year later, in May 2016.

This week, a West Suffolk Council spokesman said: “The metal trees remain safely stored, positive discussions have taken place and we will announce more when we are able.”

The £20,000 trees – commissioned West Suffolk Council predecessor St Edmundsbury Borough Council – were designed to give the street a visual boost.

They were funded through section 106 contributions from arc developer Centros specifically for the installation of public art.

Their original installation was delayed after Suffolk County Council raised concerns over the ‘safety implications’ of their position.

By 2020, the stainless steel trees were being stored at Nowton Park’s walled garden.

They were subsequently moved to the West Suffolk Operational Hub in 2021, with West Suffolk Council at that time saying it still intended to find a town centre site for the trees.