David Ruffley

David Ruffley MP warned this week that the revaluation of properties for council tax, starting next year, was a 'ticking tax timebomb' that threatens to send council tax bills in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket soaring. By contrast, Conservatives have pledged that they will stop the revaluation being used to further increase the tax burden on local residents.

The latest report from the Home Office, the Police Performance Monitoring 2003/04 report, published last week highlights the growing problem of robbery and burglary in the Suffolk Constabulary. These are the official figures for the year up to March 2004.

David Ruffley MP this week attacked proposals by the Liberal Democrats for a barrage of new taxes on local residents across Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket and warned that the level of tax would be a key issue in the forthcoming general election campaign expected next year.

As the Liberal Democrats left their annual party conference in Bournemouth, it has been revealed that their official party policies feature over 40 new tax levies, including:

The traveller encampment off Norton Road near Woolpit has now become a national issue. David Ruffley was today reported in The Times expressing his concern. Mr Ruffley already last week asked some specific legal questions of Mid Suffolk District Council.

David Ruffley has acted immediately following calls from constituents in Woolpit, Tostock and Elmswell concerned about the travellers who have set up an encampment in a field on the outskirts of Woolpit.

The text of the letter David has sent today to Councillor Roger Saunders, Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council is below:

I have been contacted this morning by constituents in Woolpit, Elmswell and Tostock concerned about the newly established travellers' encampment on land north of the A14 and west of the A1088 on the edge of Woolpit.

John Prescott's Department has recently published new planning guidelines on countryside development, with small print that weakens existing planning protection against building on Suffolk's rural acres. David Ruffley MP warned that this would weaken local council's ability to protect against unwanted development. By contrast, Conservatives nationally have pledged to make it easier to create new Green Belts across the country, including in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and surrounding areas.

Mr Ruffley explained:

David Ruffley will be paying a visit to Felsham Street Fair which is being held on Sunday, 5 September in the centre of the village. David will be arriving at 2.30 p.m. and will be escorted round the Fair by Mike Davis, Chairman of Felsham Parish Council.

This shocking news came to light in the House of Commons today as Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford published the Balance of Funding Review contributed to by a pro-government think tank, the New Policy Institute.

This latest announcement could see council taxes rise well above £2,000 for properties in the area worth over £200,000. Band D levels would rise by over 33% in both Mid Suffolk and St Edmundsbury. Research shows that the Band D tax level in St Edmundsbury would rise from £1,214 this April to £1,619; and in Mid Suffolk from £1,205 to £1,607.

Mr Ruffley said:

David Ruffley MP this week pointed to new crime figures published by the Government as evidence that Labour have failed to be 'tough on crime'. The figures released by the Home Office on 20 July show that in the last year, violence against the person rose by 26% in Mid Suffolk and by 13% in St Edmundsbury. The figures for the number of sexual offences are equally shocking. There has been a 33% rise in sexual offences in Mid Suffolk and a 14% rise in St Edmundsbury.

Mr Ruffley said:

David Ruffley MP this week endorsed calls by Conservatives nationally to review family law and give divorced parents greater rights of access to their children. Today divorce affects almost 150,000 children every year, more than two-thirds of whom are under the age of ten.

Mr Ruffley explained:

'When relationships break up, too many children become unfairly cut off from one of their parents, as well as grandparents and other close relatives. The current legal system isn't working, trapping many families for years in the courts running up massive legal bills.'