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

Firstly, a slightly belated Happy New Year to all Stn readers! I wanted to update readers on a couple of local issues that I know remain of concern to the town. The first is the conversion of the pillar box outside the Post Office on the High Street into a solar-powered one to take parcels, making it impossible for Syston’s own amazing Knitting Banxy to continue using it to display her knitted toppers. Readers will know that Stn and its editor, Fiona Henry, have always been champions of Syston Knitting Banxy (SKB), as have so many in Syston and further afield, and will know the happiness that her toppers bring to so many people locally just passing by, and in fact becoming something of a tourist attraction for people visiting.
In a world that can at times feel challenging and difficult, SKB’s toppers bring a smile to the face of everyone who sees them. So it was deeply disappointing that Royal Mail decided to convert the pillar box, when, even if we needed a solar powered parcel drop-off pillar box, there were plenty of alternative sites available in Syston. As readers will know the whole community rallied round; a petition that within days attracted hundreds of signatures was set up by one of SKBs strongest supporters, alongside which I as the local MP and County Councillors Simon Bradshaw and James Poland all pressed the Chief Executive of Royal Mail to pause and think again. Unfortunately Royal Mail simply pressed ahead, and the response from them to my letter, ironically received as I write this article after a long delay, simply reiterated their commitment to their plan to convert the pillar box.
But, and it’s a hugely important but, as ever Syston doesn’t ever give up, and I know that the campaign championed by the Stn and SKB’s supporters to raise the funds to purchase a decommissioned pillar box to be installed near the site of the one outside the Post Office has got off to a racing start, and I wish it all the very best, and give it my every support. The joy and the happiness that SKBs creations bring, helping bring our community together, are so important we must do all we can to help them continue.
I also recently met with members of Syston’s Flood Group to catch up with them on priorities for 2026, to build on the work that was done last year by the Environment Agency to clear the central section of the brook, and the amazing work done by Flood Group volunteers, and to see what, as Syston’s local MP, I can do to help further this year. Good progress was made last year, following the dreadful floods in early January, both in terms of clearing and improving the flow of the brook, but also of the town being better prepared for future floods. But, while so far this year, we have not experienced the floods of last year, the risk remains, so I will continue to work with County Councillor Simon Bradshaw who also joined at the meeting, the Flood Action Group, councillors and Syston Town Council, and local residents, to put pressure on agencies such as the Environment Agency, Leicestershire County Council and others, as I did in 2025, to make further progress on reducing flood risk in the town. As always, as the year goes on, I will endeavour to keep readers of the Stn updated on work and progress on this hugely important issue, which remains a top priority for me.
I hope to see many of you in Syston over the coming months, and, as ever, if you feel I can be of assistance to you as Syston’s local MP, please do either write to me at: The Rt. Hon Edward Argar MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, or email me at: edward.argar.mp@parliament.uk”