We interview ‘whirlwind’ Bury St Edmunds town warden Bradley Smith about role making the community ‘a better place to live and work’

Cleaning dirty signs, making allotment noticeboards, installing speed indicator devices…and that’s not all.

Bury St Edmunds Town Council’s new warden, Bradley Smith, has certainly been busy since he started in the role at the beginning of June.

Bradley, who used to work at Sudbury Town Council, has been tasked with working in the community ‘to make it a better place to live and work’.

This wide-ranging remit has so far seen him spruce up dirty road signs, make a noticeboard for the Moreton Hall allotments out of an old pallet, and one for Nowton Road allotments out of scrap wood, and install speed indicator devices (SIDs) in Horringer Road and Mayfield Road.

He has also been down at Sicklesmere Road allotments strimming two very overgrown plots ready for the new tenants, he is working with schools on a community litter pick project (watch this space) and he is set to carry out an audit of all of the town council’s litter bins and grit bins.

He is doing walkarounds on the wards to see what any issues might be, for example he has already been to Minden with Bury St Edmunds Mayor Donna Higgins and Councillor Richard O'Driscoll. And it doesn’t stop there.

Bradley, from Sudbury, said the response so far to his role – which is new for the town council – had been ‘really positive’. “We can only build on it,” he added.

On why he loves his job, he said: “I love being out and about with people, all different age ranges and walks of life.

“Most people just want people to talk to, and that’s the important part. It’s sad when you meet someone in the community and they haven’t seen anyone for three weeks. There’s a lot of social isolation.

“I don’t think we realise it, but Covid helped people understand it a bit more. Check on your neighbours.”

As Bradley sets to work as town warden, he is naturally meeting lots of people; members of the public, but also those from organisations, such as Bury in Bloom and West Suffolk Council, he will be working alongside.

When asked whether he is the face of the town council out in the community, he agreed, and added: “It’s about getting brand awareness out there.”

With his town-warden-branded van and t-shirt, Bradley can easily be spotted, and he is happy to speak to anyone. He said key skills for the job were being ‘friendly and approachable’.

Town clerk Jodie Budd said: “When I started here 18 months ago, one of the council’s aspirations was to employ a town warden.

“Bradley’s role is to support the community within Bury St Edmunds, working closely with other partners.

“The town council want to help make Bury St Edmunds a better place to live, work and visit.

“I don’t think his feet have really touched the ground since he started. He is a whirlwind of knowledge and expertise in this role.

“He is currently working alongside Bury in Bloom to ensure the judging route for Anglia and Britain in Bloom is pristine. I am sure he will be a great asset to the town council and Bury St Edmunds as a whole.”

While Bradley’s remit doesn’t include fixing pavements himself, he can certainly log any defects that he sees.

Follow Bury St Edmunds Town Council Warden on Facebook.

Bradley said if any businesses wanted to support their community projects, including sponsorship, to email townwarden@burystedmunds-tc.gov.uk

Members of the public can contact him on that email address or call 01284 725111.

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