Following huge public concern regarding bus services in and around Bury St Edmunds, David Ruffley called and chaired a high level emergency meeting. This took place last Friday, 5th November, and centred on the future of bus services in the town.

David said:

'I am pleased that we have been able to get all the key players together in one room to thrash out an agreement on how to improve the current dreadful state of our local bus service. I am hopeful a fresh agreement will be drawn up soon with the bus company, First, tying the company to strict targets ensuring a certain level of buses both complete their journeys and stick to the official timetable.

'On the Buses was a 1970s comedy, but for the last year, trying to use buses in Bury has been far from a joke and not a laughing matter. I want to see that an agreement is put in place by the end of this calendar year, to establish the targets, and to ensure the resources are there from Suffolk County Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council so these targets can be met. I want what the people of Bury St Edmunds want, better services, more services and more convenient routes.

'I want to see more people on the buses, including people who have cars and I certainly feel much more confident about the situation having called this meeting. I appreciate the cooperation we are now getting from First buses and I will continue to work closely, both with them, and the local and county council. David Kaye of First is a man we can do business with. He believes in action not words'