David Ruffley and Mrs Arlene Cruickshank, Chairman of Onehouse Parish Council, presented a petition of over 200 signatures to Councillor Roger Saunders, Leader of Mid Suffolk District, on Friday, 26 March at the Council Offices in Needham Market.

The petition was launched following the very well attended public meeting in Onehouse last November which David Ruffley called and chaired.

The text of the petition is as follows:

'We the undersigned, supported by our local Member of Parliament, David Ruffley MP, wish to state to Mid Suffolk District Council that we oppose the bid to change the land on Chilton Leys Farm, Forest Road, and land between Union Road and Finborough Road, both in the parish of Onehouse, from agricultural usage to housing and economic benefit usage. We consider that the provision of upwards of 600 houses on this area would be detrimental both to this rural community and to the environment surrounding the village of Onehouse.'