Archive for the ‘Local Issues’ Category

How the new Harborough Local Plan affects our area

by simongalton on 15 February, 2019

The loss of local control over planning decisions is there for all to see. Drive anywhere in Harborough District and you will pass a building site. Planning permission has been granted for over 900 houses in Thurnby, Bushby and Scraptoft and a further 140 are being built up the road in Houghton. It is against […]

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On 24th Nov Leicestershire County council’s Cabinet considered it formal response to the draft Harborough Local Plan. Below is the submission I made setting out the concerns about the traffic impacts of the proposed SDA at Scraptoft. The proposed Strategic Development Area at Scraptoft relies heavily on improving and upgrading Keyham Lane West to serve […]

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Come along to a drop-in event taking place this Saturday 7th Oct 2017, 9.30am – 2.30pm at the White House pub, Scraptoft Lane, Scraptoft, LE7 9SE. The Local Plan has reached an important stage and Harborough District Council is inviting representations from the public until 3rd November 2017. Two key areas of housing (strategic development […]

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Further to the large number of emails and letters received in recent weeks about the decision by Arriva to withdraw the 56 bus from this Saturday this update sets out the latest situation. In response to the announcement by Arriva a petition signed by over 700 local residents was sent to the County Council and […]

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Public Meeting to Save the 56 Bus Route

by simongalton on 23 March, 2017

A few weeks back I broke the news that Arriva were planning to end the 56 bus service and that Station Road would no longer get a service. The response has been incredible. A petition has been signed by over 500 people and is being presented to Leicestershire County Council. A public meeting is taking […]

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In response to the news that Arriva is to withdraw the 56 bus serving Scraptoft and Thurnby, I have issued the following press statement:   Local community shocked at decision by Arriva to withdraw their bus service Local Residents in Thurnby and Scraptoft have expressed surprise and shock at the decision by Arriva to withdraw […]

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Tories Forced to make U-turn on Bus Subsidies

by simongalton on 27 February, 2017

At Wednesday’s budget meeting, the Tories made a last minute change to the budget, deleting the lines that would cut £1.3m from bus subsidies. In response I sent out the press release below: Tories Forced to make U-turn on Bus Subsidies The Tory group on Leicestershire County Council made a surprise announcement at yesterday’s budget […]

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747 Bus gets a Temporary Reprieve

by simongalton on 16 December, 2016

Further to concerns about the planned withdrawal of the 747 bus service, I am pleased to report that the County Council has agreed to step in and provide emergency funding to keep the service going for the next 12 months. This is in the form of a one off intervention payment of £60,000 to Centrebus […]

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With less than one week left to respond, we want to make sure local residents are aware of a really important public consultation taking place which will influence where thousands of new houses will be built in Harborough District. The Harborough District Council Local Plan document looks at nine different ways new housing could be […]

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Planning Disarray in Harborough District!

by simongalton on 6 March, 2015

Control over planning decisions in Harborough District has reached a crisis point after shock new figures show that 700 houses will have to be built each year if the Council is to meet its new 5 year housing target. The news came after the Conservatives on the Council’s Executive Committee agreed to sign a Memorandum […]

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