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MP Richard Spring says he is “delighted” that St Edmundsbury Borough Council has committed itself to getting a professional overview of Haverhill.
Earlier this year Mr Spring had criticised the council for failing to commission such a plan and urged them to “get on with it”.

This week, he received a letter from council leader Derek Redhead, saying the administration was committed to obtaining such an overview of the town, covering every aspect of local needs.

Mr Spring will meet Coun Redhead again on November 16, along with Nick Martin, town centre manager, and Jerry Massey, director of development control to discuss the plan.

He suggests specialist town planning and strategic consultants should be appointed to consider a whole range of issues relating to Haverhill’s physical and social infrastructure.

“My constituents in Haverhill will be well satisfied with the prospect of the town’s infrastructure matching its expansion and much enhanced opportunities.

“So many people in the community, from business people to teachers, to local councillors to those in caring professions, will applaud the decision to improve, revitalise and plan for the town’s future.

“In the next decade, I believe Haverhill will be the biggest success story in East Anglia. The possibilities of real improvements in the quality of life for the town’s residents are abundantly clear, and proper co-ordination of this process will maximise its benefits.

“I regard this process — above any other — as my key objective as the local Member of Parliament. I look forward to working closely with you to bring this about,” Mr
Spring replied to Coun Redhead.

Coun Redhead said they had been waiting for the outcome of a number of studies on Haverhill, including the recently completed Social Impact Study, before commissioning an overall plan for the town.

“It is something we have always planned to do, but there is no point in trying to come up with an overall plan until you know what needs to be done.

“We have been getting studies done since 1999 and I have always said we will have an overview in place by the end of our term of office in May 2003,” Coun Redhead said.

CAPTION: Richard Spring, Conservative MP for West Suffolk