David Ruffley is urging his constituents in Stowmarket and the neighbouring villages to respond to the Stowmarket Area Action Plan consultation run by Mid Suffolk District Council. He has written to the Parish Councils which share a boundary with the town of Stowmarket asking them to submit their views.

The consultation seeks views from local people and organisations on potential development sites in and around Stowmarket for which land bids have been submitted. The consultation is open until 18 May.

The villages which share a boundary with Stowmarket are: Combs, Great Finborough, Haughley, Old Newton, Onehouse and Stowupland.

The purpose of the Stowmarket Area Action Plan is to establish detailed planning policies and identify or allocate specific sites, where relevant, to meet future growth, while protecting and conserving other sites. In particular, it considers the impacts of a growing Stowmarket on the villages in parishes which share a common boundary with the town.

Once formally adopted it will then be used by Mid Suffolk District Council to help determine future planning applications in the area and control development on allocated sites.

David said: 'I firmly believe that local people know what is best for their village and which sites would be best for future development.

'It is inevitable that Stowmarket will expand, and therefore new sites will be required for housing, employment, retail and recreation, but it is important that the views of the villages are taken into account when these decisions are made.

'I urge all my constituents in Stowmarket and the surrounding villages who are concerned about the future growth of the town to look at the consultation document and submit their views about which sites they are happy to see developed and those sites that should be left alone. The consultation is open to everyone.'

Notes:

The consultation document can be accessed from the home page of MSDC's website: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk.

It can be viewed at MSDC offices in Stowmarket and Needham Market, local libraries and the Tourist Information Centre at the Museum of East Anglian Life.

Comments can be submitted:

online at www.midsuffolk.gov.uk,

email: ,

post: Planning Policy Team, FREEPOST RRBU-SRLS-BRYK, Mid Suffolk District Council, 131 High Street, Needham Market, Ipswich, IP6 8DL or

fax: 01449 724627.

Closing date: 5.00pm on Monday 18 May 2009.