A GROUP formed to ensure the voice of parishes was taken into account when major planning decisions were being decided is fielding four candidates in this week's elections to Suffolk County Council.

Graham Dines

A GROUP formed to ensure the voice of parishes was taken into account when major planning decisions were being decided is fielding four candidates in this week's elections to Suffolk County Council.

Suffolk Together managed to get two councillors elected in 2007 for Mid Suffolk district, when the controversy over the proposed SnOasis ski resort in Great Blakenham was at its highest.

Among its other concerns are the plans to build an incinerator to dispose of household and industrial waste.

Lord (Michael) Blakenham said that as a result of the two forming an alliance with the Greens and an Independent, Mid Suffolk district's record of public consultation had improved markedly.

“However, there is a lack of integrated planning between the county council and the districts in Suffolk and that's why we are fielding candidates for the election,” said Lord Blakenham.

“We want to extend the voice of communities so that decisions about our day-to-day life should be made as close to the people who pay for them as possible.

“Suffolk Together is committed to increasing local prosperity by encouraging new businesses that will bring sustainable and well paid jobs to the area. But we also believe that there needs to be a proper balance between development and the environment and we will resist projects that destroy Suffolk's landscape, environment and wildlife.

“We want to see more local food in the shops, more local post offices, better local schools, and doctors; a better more sustainable approach to generating energy and disposing of waste. Above all, we want to see local people properly consulted and listened to by the councils that we foot the bill for in an efficient and effective local government approach.”

Lord Blakenham added: “Suffolk is a very special place. Let's make sure that we keep it that way by listening to the people who live and work here.”

The party is fielding candidates on June 4 in the Blackbourn division of St Edmundsbury, the Whitton-Whitehouse division in Ipswich and the Gipping Valley and Bosmere divisions of Mid Suffolk.