James Cartlidge calls for meeting over Sudbury Delphi future

South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge has written to Babergh District Council to push for a meeting to discuss the Delphi site off Newton Road in Sudbury. 

This comes after the building caught fire on Tuesday, May 28 prompting a large emergency service response and the arrest of a 14-year-old on suspicion of arson, who has been bailed until July 27. 

The Delphi fire in May (Image: Joe Collins)

Mr Cartlidge, who was re-elected following the recent general election, said: “I know that many people in Sudbury will have been concerned in the wake of the recent fire at Delphi.

"This is not just a totemic industrial site, but whilst the buildings remain unused, we are literally wasting the opportunity to support jobs and prosperity in our town.

"Of course, the fire broke out during the election, so I was not able to respond formally at the time. However, having been re-elected, it is an early priority of mine to ensure everything possible is being done to ensure this former factory has a vibrant future again.

"I hope that by working with Babergh and other stakeholders, that we can reopen the prospect of finally making real progress.

"The owner has not engaged previously, but I hope that he will see that the fire means that the site’s future is generating legitimate public interest that cannot go unanswered."

South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Cartlidge has written to Deborah Saw, leader of Babergh, asking to meet with the council's economic development team to discuss the future of the site. 

In the letter, he wrote: "During the election, a number of Sudbury residents raised with me their concerns about the recent fire at Delphi, which they felt seemed to embody the lack of progress at the site.

"As such, I would be grateful if this meeting could also include attendance by stakeholders from the fire and police services, so that we can discuss the anti-social behaviour and other such matters."