David Ruffley

The West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust has recently announced they are to introduce a short-stay surgery unit in a bid to tackle the worrying upward trend in the number of cancelled operations.

Conservatives outline new planning control policies

The retrospective planning application, made by the travellers for the site established in August in the Elmswell/Woolpit area, was considered by Mid Suffolk District Council on Monday 15th November at 9 am.

The decision made was to reject the application by five votes to one on the Northern Area Planning Control committee.

David said:

'Police arrests causing serious anxiety in Woolpit/Elmswell'

David Ruffley MP today backed proposals announced by the Conservative Party leader, Michael Howard, to tackle the growing problem of travellers' sites.

David said:

'The Conservative Opposition is fully aware of the concerns held by many people in rural areas regarding the abuse of our planning laws. So today the Conservative Leader, Michael Howard, outlined our new plan to safeguard local communities and tackle the problem of travellers' sites set up in breach of planning law.

Local Conservatives support keynote policies in the 'timetable for action'

David Ruffley, who attended the Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth last week endorsed the series of policies unveiled at the Conference. A 'timetable for action' draws together pledges unveiled over the week, outlining concrete action in the key policy areas of health, education, crime, Europe, immigration and tax. Nationally, over one million leaflets summarising the Conservative agenda will be sent out to voters over the coming days - including local residents in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket.

Oil prices have hit a new in with drivers now paying on average £4 a gallon for their petrol. New figures also show that the big oil companies are making profits at the astonishing rate of £1 million an hour.

David Ruffley MP, today also attacked the Chancellor over the extraordinarily high fuel tax that rural drivers in Suffolk pay.

David Ruffley said:

'Oil company profits may be rising and the Chancellor himself receives £3 out of every £4 we spend at the pumps. This is the highest level across Europe.

David Ruffley today supported the Conservative Party's opposition to the School Transport Bill. The Government Bill received its Second Reading on the 28th October but was voted against by the Conservative Opposition.

David Ruffley said:

Following huge public concern regarding bus services in and around Bury St Edmunds, David Ruffley has called and will chair a high level emergency meeting on the future of bus services in the town.

David Ruffley will perform the official opening of the new youth shelter at Moreton Hall on Friday, 5 November at midday. The youth shelter is by the football pitch next to the Moreton Hall Community Centre and Christ Church on Simmonds Road.

The youth shelter has been provided by St Edmundsbury Borough Council with Christ Church providing £1,000 out of the total cost of £3,000.

The opening will be attended by the Reverend Jonathan Ford of Christ Church, together with St Edmundsbury Borough Councillors and officers and representatives from the Suffolk Constabulary in Bury.

David Ruffley will be holding one of his regular meetings with local church leaders on Friday, 5th November at 12.30 pm at Christ Church, Moreton Hall, hosted by the Reverend Jonathan Ford. The meeting is open to all religious denominations.

The subject that will be uppermost in most church leader's minds is the Gambling Bill which was debated in the House of Commons on Monday, 1 November. David will also be speaking on conscience subjects such as cloning, embryology, and the Mental Capacity Bill, including euthanasia.

Following press reports this week in The Times (page 3 November 1, 2004) regarding likely closures of town centre Post Offices across the country David Ruffley has written to the Chairman of Royal Mail to demand an explanation.

David Ruffley said: