Talks under way about which historic archives should remain in Bury St Edmunds and which should go to the The Hold in Ipswich

Talks are under way about which historic archives should remain in Bury St Edmunds with the impending closure of the records office.

Suffolk County Council has decided to close West Suffolk Archives branch in Raingate Street amid budget cuts. It plans to move the records to The Hold in Ipswich.

But first a working group has been set up to discuss the town archives, some of which were specifically requested to stay in the Bury by depositors.

The first working party included representatives from Suffolk Archives, Suffolk County Council Archives, Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides, West Suffolk Council, Bury St Edmunds Past and Present Society, Suffolk Family History Society, Bury St Edmunds Town Council, Bury St Edmunds Town Trust, Suffolk Local History Council, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Suffolk Libraries, King Edward VI School, Friends of Suffolk Archives and Suffolk Regiment Museum.

Collections discussed included those belonging to King Edward VI School and Suffolk Regiment Museum, both of which contain archives requested to stay in Bury by depositors.

Local studies collections were also on the agenda.

West Suffolk Council, Bury Town Council, Bury Library and Bury Cathedral all confirmed that they have very limited or no room to store any archive material.

Further reviews of the King Edward VI Grammar School collection, which includes The Bury Psalter, are now being undertaken and any key requirements.

Lieutenant colonel Tony Slater said some of the Suffolk Regiment collection is deposited with Suffolk Archives, another seven years’ worth is held directly by the Regiment and some remain on loan to Cambridgeshire Record Office.

The trustees want to bring the whole collection together and keep it in Bury St Edmunds. The Regiment Museum is a tenant of the MOD but has no current scope to expand its site.

Alex Wilson, from West Suffolk Council, mooted the possibility that the Regiment Museum could take out a private tenancy agreement within West Suffolk House to house the collection.

Tony Slater felt West Suffolk House could be a suitable location. The building is owned in equal part by West Suffolk and Suffolk County Council - but neither council is in a position to manage access to the collection.

Judith Berry, of Suffolk Archives, said they will be conducting an internal audit of local studies materials. Suffolk Archives has held preliminary talks with Suffolk Libraries about taking any duplicated material.

If Suffolk Libraries decline the materials, then alternative options will be considered. Suffolk Archives will use the Museum and Libraries network to consider relocation of Local Studies material.

Friends of Suffolk Archives said they would like the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History collection to be reviewed.

Judith Berry advised Suffolk Archives is already in discussion with them.

Suffolk Archives resolved to communicate branch closure time scales to the public as soon as practical.

Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, cabinet member for communities and equalities, said: “We are continuing to work with local residents and organisations to investigate which local collections may be able to remain in the area, rather than being moved to Suffolk's flagship storage facility The Hold in Ipswich.

“The working parties have provided an open and collaborative environment for us to work with local depositors and develop local solutions in our communities together.”

The closure of the West Suffolk Archives branch prompted a 1,700 signature petition against the move.