David Ruffley MP is keeping up the pressure on the parties involved in the longstanding flooding problem at Thurston Road, Beyton, by calling them to a meeting that he will chair on Friday, 24 July at Mid Suffolk District Council offices, Needham Market.

The meeting will be attended by Matthew Riches, West Area Highways Manager at Suffolk County Council, Martin King, Head of Housing Services at Mid Suffolk District Council, Brian Pitkin, A14 Route Performance Manager, Highways Agency, and Dave Gillett, Asset Systems Management Team Leader at the Environment Agency. Local elected representatives from County, District and Parish will also be present.

Flooding has been occurring after heavy rainfall in Thurston Road, Beyton, near where it passes under the A14, since the early seventies when the A14 was built. At times the water is two foot deep which means that the road is impassable even for many 4x4 vehicles.

In March this year David stepped in to support the campaign by Mid Suffolk District Councillors, Rod Scott and Derrick Haley, to find a solution to the flooding in Beyton. They had raised this issue on many occasions with Suffolk County Council and the Highways Agency on behalf of residents of Beyton and the surrounding villages. Beyton Parish Council also took up the issue with the County Council as far back as 2002.

David said: 'I have called the councils and agencies involved in this long running saga to a meeting because until now there has been little progress towards a solution.

'At the meeting on Friday I want a commitment from the councils and agencies that they will work together to reach a timely solution.

'I want to see leadership, commitment and a timescale for action from the councils and agencies involved in this longstanding flooding problem.

'Following this meeting I will be demanding regular updates so I can monitor progress.

'When I was asked to step in and help, I pledged my full support to get this problem sorted. This long running saga affects a large number of my constituents and it is high time it was resolved.'