David Ruffley MP has personally called and will be chairing a meeting between St Edmundsbury Borough Council and a delegation of local independent retailers on Friday 2 March at 11am.

David called the meeting at the Borough Council's Angel Hill Offices following his tour of independent retailers during December 2006.

The retailers David met were concerned by the lack of communication they receive from the Borough Council, a lack of car parking in the town, the disruption caused by the Cattle Market Development and how the Borough Council intend to promote the existing town to new visitors to the Cattle Market Development.

The delegation of ten local retailers will be led by John Deane-Bowers, owner of Trotter & Deane, and they will be putting forward ideas for the future of retail in the town.

David said:

'This is a vital meeting. We need to improve the dialogue between Bury's fantastic independent shop owners and St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

'During December I met with people who have put their own money into making Bury St Edmunds more successful.

'I have called on the Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, John Griffiths, to hold this summit meeting with a delegation of local retailers, led by John Deane-Bowers, which I will chair in order to discuss the concerns of local traders and to make sure that as Bury grows it does so to the benefit of everyone who has invested in this town.

'Independent retailers and traders are the lifeblood of our town and they deserve our unstinting support.'