The Rt. Hon Edward Argar MPMember of Parliament for Melton and Syston

Stn readers will recall my recent update on the process of local government reorganisation, following the Government’s decision to require all areas to move towards a single-tier council, rather than the boroughs/ districts and county councils we currently have. Locally, the County Council, the Boroughs and Districts, and the City all submitted different outline proposals to the Government, which has now responded with its initial feedback. The Government has told the councils to put forward their detailed final proposals by 28th November, following which Ministers will decide which approach to adopt. 
The current outline proposals are for either a single council covering the whole county and another for the city; or one for the city and the current county split into two new councils, a north and a south. The different councils will now be seeking to consult locally, with parish councils, local residents etc, before they submit their final proposals. As they do this, for me locally one thing remains very clear – that we must fight the proposal in the Leicester City Mayor’s plans to expand the city boundaries and undertake a land-grab of places like Thurmaston, Syston, Queniborough and the villages from the county, bringing them into the city. For me, and many I have spoken to, whether the final proposal is for a single, or two unitary councils in our county, the idea of the city absorbing our towns and villages is simply unacceptable, and I will continue to vigorously oppose it in the run-up to 28th November.
Another issue that I know is of very real concern to local residents is planning and development, or in many cases locally, the risk of over-development. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is currently passing through Parliament, and I have significant concerns about the way it seeks to reduce the role of local elected councillors in deciding some applications. Similarly I recently voted for amendments to the Bill that would protect high quality agricultural land from being turned into solar farms; that would protect villages from being merged into each other as a result of new developments, and would seek to protect the character and setting of historic villages from the impacts of new developments; and to strengthen Environmental Delivery Plans to provide for more effective and swifter conservation measures to help protect our environment when development does take place.
Unfortunately the Government opposed all of these changes, and they were voted down by Labour MPs, but I will continue to support measures that will improve the Bill, make sure local voices are heard, and that help to protect our villages and rural landscapes from unsustainable over-development. 
Finally, it was a real pleasure to join the Stn’s editor and others for the official opening of Sunlit Chemist in its new premises on Melton Road in the town. Many will be familiar with the pharmacy, run by Rajesh and the team, in its old location in Town Square, but just last month it moved into a state of the art new premises in Melton Road, refurbished to an incredibly high standard. I want to wish Rajesh and all the team all the very best in their new premises.