As you receive your copy of Your Local this month, we will be heading into the summer recess. I hope you manage to enjoy some rest and relaxation as the good weather continues.
What have I been up to?
On Friday 20th June/Saturday 21st June, 17 colleagues hiked up Mount Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa to see the sun rise on the summer solstice. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but it was an amazing feeling to reach the summit and to be treated to a beautiful sunrise. Our team raised over £4,000 for the ‘Bright Hope’ charity based in North West Leicestershire. Find out more about them here: www.brighthope-nwl.org.uk
On Monday 23rd June, I attended the flag-raising ceremony at County Hall for Armed Forces Day.
On the 4th of July, I headed over to Queens Park in Loughborough for the ceremony to unveil the Hope Bell. This monument and bell are a place of remembrance for all those affected by the Covid pandemic. The Hope Bell was rung for the first time. I was there when the Hope Bell was poured into the cast at the John Taylor and Co Foundry, and then to hear the bell ring for the first time was a very moving experience. If you are in Loughborough town centre, please go to the park to visit, see, and hear the Hope Bell.
On the 8th of July, I attended the official launch of the LLR Local Nature Recovery Strategy at Brooksby Hall. I was the Acting Leader when this strategy was being planned and produced. It was great to see so many partners there at the launch and read the final strategy. The challenging work will now start as we begin on the action plan and the first of many projects are commenced.On the 9th of July, I was invited to join the lovely ladies of the Anstey WI for their Annual Garden Party. I enjoyed a glass of Pimm’s and several pieces of delicious cake. I always receive a warm welcome and had a lovely time!
It is great to hear how successful the Anstey WI is.
On Sunday 13th July, I appeared again on the BBC TV East Midlands Politics Show discussing more funding for roads in the region. The full electrification of the Midland Main Line has now been shelved and the great angry from the East Midlands about this decision. Also discussed was can Labour build 1.5m new homes, and the campaigner angry at people building cairns in the Peak District.
You can catch up on the IPlayer.
Free E-bike Training Sessions
These courses offer people the chance to try an electric bike under expert supervision, with everyone completing them receiving a £300 reimbursement toward the purchase of an e-bike from a local e-bike shop.
Organised by Leicestershire County Council, the training includes guidance on selecting suitable e-bike models, battery care, basic maintenance, and safe road riding techniques.
The free courses are taking place as follows:
- Saturday, 16 August 2025, 10am - 12pm: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA
- Monday 18th August, 3pm-5pm: Brocks Hill Country Park, Washbrook Ln, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5JJ
- Thursday, 21 August 2025, 5pm - 7pm: Welland Park, Market Harborough, LE16 9DN
- Tuesday 26th August, 5pm-7pm: Brocks Hill Country Park, overflow car park, Washbrook Ln, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5JJ
To book your free place and reserve a discount, residents can book online now on the website: www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk or call 0116 305 8418 - spaces are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
A New Reading Challenge
Leicestershire County Council is inviting children to join the fun initiative and read six or more library looks over the summer, collecting rewards as they go.
Last year, a huge 250,000 children’s books and over 13,000 e and eAudiobooks were issued across the county.
Children taking part will also receive free entry to the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, as well as the 1620s House and Garden at Donnington le Heath, when attending with a paying adult.
Created by the Reading Agency, the challenge is available for free in both County Council-run and community-managed libraries across Leicestershire.
It runs between 5th July and 6th September and is open to children aged 4-12 years old.
Information about the challenge, events and how to sign up to the library online is available on the website: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/libraries/books-and-reading/summer-reading-challenge
Local Government Reorganisation
Leicestershire Conservative Councillors have called an Extraordinary meeting of the County Council. This follows announcements by the Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, the day after our council meeting, where Sir Peter said that the county council had publicly acknowledged that the city boundary needed to be expanded.
Councillors were not told this information by the Reform UK Leader of the County Council, as they should have been. We plan to move a motion at the council meeting to put on record, that we, as the Conservative Group, do not agree to a city expansion. As the Leader of the Conservative Group, I have issued a statement, and I have copied this here below for you. The meeting is being held on 30th July at 2pm.
The extraordinary Full Council meeting will debate a motion tabled by the Conservative Group which confirms that Leicestershire County Council is opposed to any expansion of the city’s boundaries. The motion also states that any submission of Local Government Reorganisation proposals made or agreed by the County Council must be subject to a full vote of all members.
County Conservative Group Leader Cllr Deborah Taylor said:
“Residents in Anstey, Syston, Thurmaston, Birstall, Glenfield and all the other areas of the county threatened to be swallowed up by the city of Leicester are strongly against Sir Peter Soulsby’ s expansion plan. Services in the city are poorer, council tax is higher, and people are angry that their place in the county is under threat, without being given any say on their own future. Reform UK’s County Leader Dan Harrison might be content to give away towns and villages to the city, but Conservative County Councillors are not.
We will be the voice of residents who are deeply concerned about these plans. We will speak for those who live in Leicestershire and wish to remain in Leicestershire, doing everything we possibly can to stop this city expansion. We are here to serve our residents, and we will absolutely do tha
Being elected as your local councillor, I will do all I can to ensure our villages remain in Leicestershire and not be swallowed up by Leicester City.
If you have any issues or concerns, I’m here to help.
