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| Bury Free Press, 27 January 2004 |
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| RESIDENTS of Moreton Hall have been urged by David Ruffley MP to back plans for CCTV on the Bury St Edmunds estate. |
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| A spate of incidents last year raised concerns among people who want St Edmundsbury Borough Council to look at the possibilty of installing CCTV. |
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| Past incidents have included eggs being thrown at buses, while £30,000 of new playground equipment in Heldhaw Road was set on fire. |
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| One of the most serious incidents happened in November last year, when two rival gangs clashed outside the One Stop shop. |
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| But two local councillors claim there are not significant problems on the estate. |
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| Mr Ruffley, MP for Bury and Stowmarket, visited residents with a petition to gain support for CCTV at the Lawsons Place community area, shopping precinct, Moreton Hall Community Centre and Christ Church. |
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| Petitions have also been posted to residents and placed in the One Stop shop, Moreton Hall pub and Mount Farm Children's Day Nursery. |
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| "By the support that has been lent today, especially by traders and businesses, it seems there is a problem, otherwise why would there be support for this petition," said Mr Ruffley. |
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"The whole point of this is to test the public demand – I think people are concerned. There have been a number of reports in the press about anti-social behaviour on Moreton Hall and I hope we will be able to get the council to look at our views. Let us see if people power can win through – I think it will."
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| But last week, Cllr Frank Warby, who represents Moreton Hall, said there was not a crime problem. |
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| And Cllr Terry Buckle, who also represents Moreton Hall, claimed Mr Ruffley had 'blown the situation out of all propotion'. |
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| "There is not a problem on Moreton Hall," said Cllr Buckle. |
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| "Myself and Frank Warby have been dealing with the situation for some time now in the proper manner. We did have problems with kids coming from different estates, but the police have been involved and that has all been sorted now. |
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| "Mr Ruffley is devaluing the work myself and Cllr Warby have carried out. What Mr Ruffley needs to do is come up to the estate and meet these kids. I support the petition for CCTV to act as a deterrent, but there isn't a problem whatsoever." |
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| The Rev Jonathan Ford, of Christ Church, said the church was often targeted by youths who congregatedoutside the One Stop shop at night. |
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| "Since 2000, we have had to replace several windows in the north side of the church at £70 a pane," he said. |
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| "We regularly get eggs and milkshake thrown at the walls. There are about 2,000 children on Moreton Hall but it's just a small element who are causing the trouble." |
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