David Ruffley

'Police arrests causing serious anxiety in Woolpit/Elmswell'

David Ruffley MP today backed proposals announced by the Conservative Party leader, Michael Howard, to tackle the growing problem of travellers' sites.

David said:

'The Conservative Opposition is fully aware of the concerns held by many people in rural areas regarding the abuse of our planning laws. So today the Conservative Leader, Michael Howard, outlined our new plan to safeguard local communities and tackle the problem of travellers' sites set up in breach of planning law.

David Ruffley MP this week added his support to the Conservative campaign for the law to be changed to tackle criminals who break into people's homes. David is calling for the rights of self-defence in the home to be strengthened, in the face of public concern about rising levels of violent burglary.

David Ruffley has today written to the most senior GP in each of the surgeries in his constituency to ask for their views on the threats currently faced by GPs and family doctors services.

David said:

David Ruffley MP today announced the result of negotiations with Richard Ellis, Chairman of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). Following David's concerns that EEDA need to focus more support on the Bury St Edmunds part of the Cambridge to Ipswich business corridor, Mr Ellis will attend meetings, chaired by the MP, with Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, and Chrissy Harrod, Chairman of the Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

David Ruffley is holding urgent talks with Bury St Edmunds firefighters on Friday, 14th January at 2.00 p.m. at Bury Fire Station. He was contacted by Matt Hassey, a firefighter at Bury, when it became clear that there is a serious possibility of Bury Fire Station losing twelve firefighter posts.

This proposed cut in the service was highlighted in Suffolk Fire Authority's Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan 2005/6 which was put out for public consultation by the Public Protection Directorate of Suffolk County Council. The deadline for representations is the end of February.

David Ruffley will be visiting Unilever Bestfoods UK at Needham Market on Friday, 14th January at 11.15 a.m. to hold meetings with Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) officials and management following the announcement by the company that the Needham Market site will close in the second half of 2006. The T&G are campaigning to keep the site open.

David will meet Brian Smith, Regional Industrial Organiser, and Dave Rowland, T&G Shop Steward. He will then have a separate meeting with Alistair Joyce, Unilever Factory Manager.

David Ruffley will see for himself just how much time police officers have to spend filling in forms following an arrest when he is given a personal presentation by Suffolk Constabulary officers on Friday, 21 January at Suffolk Constabulary Western Area Headquarters at Maynewater House, Maynewater Lane, Bury St Edmunds.

We must postpone the introduction of reckless new licensing laws

David Ruffley MP this week added his voice to growing concern over the introduction of new licensing laws, which will allow an explosion in late night drinking. A senior judge has warned that town centres across Britain are becoming 'revolting and dangerous places' and young people are being turned into 'urban savages' because of the rise in alcohol-fuelled violence. David raised this issue when he appeared on Andrew Neill's 'Daily Politics' show on 11 January.

Ruffley calls for independent review of mobile masts

David has this week opposed the erection of a mobile phone mast in Cullum Road, Bury St Edmunds. He has leafleted the local area encouraging the public to have their say during the now closed consultation process.

David Ruffley has been invited to join the 1st Stowmarket Brownies and Guides at their weekly meeting on Friday, 28 January at 6.00 p.m. at the Guide Hall, Marriott's Walk, Stowmarket. Other Brownie and Guide packs in the town and Stowmarket Trefoil Guild members (adult former Guides) have also been invited to the meeting.

Press and photographers are welcome to attend.

David will talk to the Brownies and Guides about his work as a Member of Parliament and will be happy to answer questions on any topic- local or national- that they want to raise with him.