David Ruffley MP will be chairing a meeting with the Howard Estate Residents and Tenants Association to address concerns about the plans to build 5,000 new homes around Bury St Edmunds at 6.45pm on Friday 23 March at Howard Middle School. County Councillor Mark Ereira-Guyer will also attend.

David Ruffley MP said: ' I am very concerned that unless we act now we could, in 30 years' time, see the Fornhams, Rougham, Thurston, Westley and Great Barton all becoming mere suburbs of the town of Bury St Edmunds.

This is the likely result of proposed Government changes to national planning rules, which I oppose strongly.

This is all flawed thinking. It is ridiculous to favour greenfield site building ahead of brownfield sites. This new NPPF create a presumption in favour of developers who want to build on greenfield sites. It's a Developers' Charter.

That is why I am so pleased to be chairing this public meeting which will give residents a chance to hear more about the plans, and to have a balanced debate with local councillors.'