Richard Spring’s Constituency Itinerary

Friday, 22 & Saturday, 23 January

Richard visited Newmarket & Beck Row

Friday, 22 January

Richard joined Bill Sadler, County Councillor for Exning and Newmarket, and representatives of the police, King’s Forest Housing and Suffolk County, Forest Heath and Newmarket Town Councils, for a street meeting with residents on the Houldsworth Valley Estate to hear their views and concerns.

Afterwards, Richard said: “This was an excellent idea which offered an opportunity for Houldsworth Valley Estate residents to meet their local representatives and voice their concerns. I applaud Cllr Sadler for taking this initiative and I found it invaluable to meet so many residents and hear their views.”

Richard was invited to a meeting by Clive Pollington, Chairman of the Wickhambrook Action Group, to receive an update on developments surrounding St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s proposal to increase the size of the travellers’ site at Kelly’s Meadow, Wickhambrook. Plans to increase the pitches at Kelly’s Meadow have met with considerable concern by residents. Richard has been closely involved in this matter and has voiced villagers’ concerns to the Chief Executive of St Edmundsbury Borough Council in person.

Richard said after the meeting: “I cannot understand why St Edmundsbury Borough Council want to impose extra pitches at Kelly’s Meadow when there are good relations between the villagers and the Goodey family living at Kelly’s Meadow. I believe that an increase in pitches will be become unmanageable and have an adverse effect on village life. It was helpful to receive an update from the Wickhambrook Action Group and to hear about the outcome of the mediation process set up by St Edmundsbury Borough Council. I will now take the matter forward.”

Saturday, 23 January

At the invitation of Major General Mark R Zamzow, Vice Commander of the Third Air Force, Richard attended a winter reception at RAF Mildenhall.

Richard said after the reception: “I was pleased to meet Major General Zamzow and his staff and to receive an informal update from him. The USAF in Mildenhall plays a very important part in the local community and has done over many decades. I like to encourage strong connections between the local community and the Air Force base, and I was pleased to show my support."