David Ruffley MP has called a top level meeting to try to prevent the Bury St Edmunds Christmas lights being sold off.

On Friday 18 January David Ruffley will be chairing a meeting at the Town Council offices in Guildhall Street to try to find a solution that will allow the lights to continue to be displayed.

In attendance will be representatives from St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Bury St Edmunds Town Council, Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce and Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Management.

David said:

'Time is running out. The Town Council has said it will no longer be solely responsible for the town's Christmas lights and, if nobody comes forward to take over before 29 February 2008, the lights will be sold off to the highest bidder.

'The Christmas lights bring valuable trade to our town. We must ensure that the lights are not sold off and that Bury St Edmunds continues to celebrate Christmas properly.

'A survey I ran on my website late last year suggested overwhelmingly that the public want to see a committee of all the interested parties running the town's Christmas lights in the future. This is a matter I will be raising at the meeting and something I hope to see come out of our discussions.

'The new Cattle Market development will be opening in 2009 and the Christmas lights bring valuable trade to our existing town centre. This part of the town is home to many fantastic independent retailers and it is imperative that they receive promotion and our unstinting support.'