DAVID RUFFLEY MP - TEXT ONLY VERSION OF WEB SITE

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Key Issues

Save Our Rural Post Offices
Since I became MP for Bury St Edmunds in 1997 I have been campaigning tirelessly for the maintenance of the rural post office network. They are a crucial community resource, particularly for our older citizens. Sicklesmere Post Office was on the verge of closing when the Great and Little Whelnetham Parish Council and Sicklesmere Sub Postmistress Patricia Larman asked for my help. Since last autumn I personally intervened as the MP and striven to keep the parties involved talking and keeping negotiations open. I intervened with senior Post Office executives at a high level to buy more time in an effort to keep Sicklesmere Post Office open. I knew that by publicising the plight of Sicklesmere we might attract financial help from bodies outside the Post Office. This is what has now happened. I was able to negotiate with Nick Martin, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Economic Development Officer, who came forward with an offer of around £6,500 of funding to help to keep this Post Office open. I contacted the Countryside Agency to conclude a deal with them to grant money from their budget for Sicklesmere Post Office, which will involve new equipment and building alterations. The moral of the story is that if you want to fight for your villages amenities you can win in the end.


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