David Ruffley

Following complaints from constituents, David Ruffley has written the following letter to Mike More, Chief Executive of Suffolk County Council, regarding their decision to ban hanging baskets.

"I am writing to you regarding the decision that your Council has made regarding the safety of hanging baskets on certain lamp posts in Bury St Edmunds.

I have been contacted by many constituents who believe this to be an example of unacceptable 'nanny statism' gone mad. You will, no doubt, wish to rebut this before I reply to my constituents.

David Ruffley has called a public meeting on the future of Moreton Hall Post Office.

The meeting will be held on Friday, 13th February at 7.30 p.m. at Sebert Wood Community School, Sebert Road, Moreton Hall.

David Ruffley will chair the meeting. It will also be attended by David North of Tesco and Steve Cooper of the Post Office.

David Ruffley will present West Suffolk Headway with their Investor in People Award on Friday, 18 July at 5.00 p.m. at their offices located at The Croft, Hardwick Industrial Estate, Bury St Edmunds.

David Ruffley has called a meeting with Harper Brown, Chief Executive of Central Suffolk Primary Care Trust, on Friday, 16th January.

Top of the agenda will be the continuing bed blocking crisis in Suffolk.

David Ruffley is continuing his rolling programme of visits to schools in his constituency with a visit to Stowmarket Middle School on Friday, 16 January to speak to groups of pupils as part of their Physical, Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum. David will meet pupils from Year 8 (12 year olds).

David Ruffley is holding the next in his series of 'Business Days' in Bury St Edmunds on Friday, 23 January.

First on the list is British Sugar where David will arrive at 10.30 a.m. He will be met by the Plant Manager, who will take him on a tour of the plant to meet the staff. Sugar beet processing will still be in operation.

David Ruffley will launch a petition with the Great Barton Parish Council Chairman calling for speed cameras to be installed on the A143 in Great Barton following the very recent serious road traffic accident and the increasing concern of local residents.

The petition calls for cameras at both the approaches to the sharp bend near the A143/Thurston Road/Brand Road crossroads in Great Barton.

David's initiative follows consultation with Great Barton Parish Council Chairman, Mr Derek Firth, and representations from local residents along the A143.

David Ruffley MP warned that Liberal Democrats' proposals for a new local income tax, published last week, would mean an average household in Mid Suffolk District Council paying £618 a year more in tax and an average household in St Edmundsbury Borough Council paying £593 a year more in tax. A local income tax has also been suggested by the Labour leader of the Local Government Association, in its response to the Government's review of local government funding.

David Ruffley received news today that the Planning Inspector has dismissed the appeal by Hutchinson 3G against refusal of planning permission to install a mobile phone mast on top of the BT Telephone Exchange building in Whiting Street.

David Ruffley today warned that the Suffolk Fire Service could be abolished under Government plans and replaced with officials located at a more distant regional level. New laws debated in Parliament on 26 January will allow John Prescott to restructure fire authorities on a regional basis. David Ruffley cautioned that this could allow cuts to be made to local fire services without any input from local people.