David Ruffley MP is chairing a meeting with Councillor Tim Passmore, Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council (MSDC), and representatives of Parish Councils in his constituency on Friday, 12 June.

David has arranged the meeting in response to concerns expressed to him by several local parish councils- Beyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Gislingham, Hessett, Hinderclay, Thurston and Tostock- about the way in which Mid Suffolk District Council deals with local planning applications.

While some parish councils say that the service offered by MSDC planning officers is generally satisfactory, they remain concerned about specific parts of the process- such as enforcement, supplementary planning applications, lack of communication and reluctance to visit sites, among others.

David said: 'I am frequently contacted by parish councils expressing concern about the way the planning process is operated. Although the general feeling is that things have improved, there is still some way to go.

'This meeting with Tim Passmore is to discuss how the service can be improved- it is not the purpose of the meeting to lobby on individual planning applications.

'Parish councils sometimes get the impression that their local knowledge is not taken into account and when they do draw planners' attention to local issues- such as building control and enforcement- action is not necessarily taken.

'I want this meeting to be constructive and positive so it leads to a better service for all my Mid Suffolk constituents.'