David Ruffley will address the members of the Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce on Friday, 28 May at 10.30 a.m. at the Farmers' Club in Bury at the invitation of Chrissy Harrod, the Chamber's Chairman. The Chamber is very agitated about the lack of a clear Council plan on future business development.

The Chamber asked for a meeting with David Ruffley to raise with him their concerns on local issues.

They want to discuss the lack of industrial development, particularly the dearth of suitable premises for small to medium businesses. Businesses are having difficulty in finding suitable sites in the town and the fear is that they will move elsewhere.

The A14 is another issue of concern. The Bury interchanges will be gridlocked within a decade if nothing is done and that will destroy local businesses.

David said: 'I am most concerned about the future of the town's business land and the interchanges. I have held high level meetings with St Edmundsbury Borough Council to keep up the pressure on them. The town cannot be pickled in aspic. It is essential that the town attracts some new businesses and sites must be made available to accommodate them. We must also ensure that the infrastructure- particularly the A14- is capable of supporting a sensible, controlled expansion of Bury's business community.

Albert Cook, of MENTA in Bury, said to me last week: 'We are turning away potential new businesses every week. The closure of Hardwick Industrial Estate increases the problem.' I think Mr Cook is right.

The Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce speaks for local business and I will be listening carefully to what its members have to say.'