David Ruffley

FRESH calls have been made for urgent safety improvements along a notorious Suffolk road after it was labelled one of the top five most dangerous in the county.

New figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the A143 - which runs from Haverhill to the Norfolk border near Diss - has claimed the lives of 15 people since 1997.

Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley, who requested the statistics as part of an investigation into road safety along the A143, said the new information gave even more sway to the need for improvements.

A FUNDING boost of nearly £60million will make a Suffolk college one of the region's leading institutions, it was claimed last night.

All but three of the buildings at the West Suffolk College campus in Bury St Edmunds will be knocked down as part of a wholesale redevelopment scheme earmarked to begin next year.

Last night, it emerged the college can go ahead with the scheme, which has been in the planning stage for the past two years, after the Learning and Skills Council agreed to pay £58m of the £78m project cost.

FESTIVE cheer was restored to a Suffolk town last night as its 'best ever' Christmas lights display was switched on - marking the end of a bitter row which almost saw the illuminations sold off.

It was feared last year's decorations in Bury St Edmunds would be the last thanks to the row over the cost of decking out its cobbled streets - which came to a head when the town council agreed to put the lights up for sale.

A TOWN which feared losing its Christmas lights forever has been promised the best display of all time by event organisers.

Hundreds of residents and visitors are expected in Bury St Edmunds for the turning on of the festive lights on Thursday.

Last year, it was feared it could lose the lights because the town council decided it could no longer afford to manage them on its own.

It claimed the cost of maintaining, storing and putting on the event was costing about £50,000 each year and voted to sell them off unless anybody came forward to take them on.

Road chiefs have been criticised for putting people's lives at risk over problems with a newly-opened section of the A14.

An MP has said he is hopeful of securing a rethink over plans to move flight paths, following talks with a Government minister.

An attack on Post Office Ltd was launched this week by MP David Ruffley over its "shameful" handling of the closure of Gislingham Post Office.

Dignitaries got together to open the new-look Quaker Meeting House, in Bury St Edmunds, following a £500,000 restoration project.

MP David Ruffley has written to St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Suffolk County Council after meeting members of the Bury Society who are concerned at changes to the town's historic buildings.
The society is worried about the decisions which have led to the selling of the Manor House Museum, the proposed sale of the town's register office and development of West Suffolk House, in Western Way, as the borough moves from its Angel Hill offices to shared facilities with the county.

Local hero Joan Fry has been presented with a certificate at a tea party at the House of Commons.
David Ruffley, MP for Bury St Edmunds, and Stowmarket, chose Joan, from Woolpit, as his local hero.

A volunteer with Mid Suffolk Axis for nearly 20 years, Mrs Fry has also been an active volunteer and fund-raiser for people with disabilities for more than 40 years.

Mr Ruffley said: "Joan Fry is a shining example to us all. At the age of 85 she is still an active volunteer. She is twice as active as some people half her age.