People power could see new town council created

The town has not had its own council for more than half a century

People power could see a new council created to represent a Leicestershire town.

For more than half a century, Market Harborough has been overseen by the wider district council, with town residents paying a special rate rather than having their own parish council.

Now a petition of more than 1,600 residents is set to be served to Harborough District Council by campaigners who want one to be set up.

The move comes ahead of the government's reorganisation of councils which will see the district swallowed up by a new, wider authority serving part or all of Leicestershire and Rutland.

In the north of the county, Loughborough is in a similar situation, with Charnwood Borough Council now looking to establish a new parish body for the town.

But although the creation of a new council was suggested in Market Harborough and supported by the district council's cabinet in July, a decision was taken not to explore it at a full council meeting in October.

Since then Harborough Town Hub, made up of the town's four neighbourhood forums, has been seeking the backing of 7.5% of the town's residents - about 1,600 in total, a milestone which the group has now passed.

'The right time'

Bob Bellm, chair of Welland Neighbourhood Forum, said: "There's fairly widespread unhappiness about how we're represented. We have 10 councillors that do a great job, but they're pulled in different directions.

"What is inevitable is there'll be larger unitary authorities and that risks us in Market Harborough being more remote, further away from decision-making, with less ability to influence what happens where money is spent. We want to be prepared."

Mr Bellm said there was "strong feeling" among people the hub had canvassed "that now is the right time to do it".

He added that while the review will determine what assets and services a new council would take on, it could include open spaces like Welland Park, the town leisure centre, and the programme of events held locally.

Welland Park is one open space which could be transferred to the new council, suggested Mr Bellm

Mr Bellm said: "It's been suggested that it is a burden, but actually I think it's a responsibility that we're very keen to take on, and talking to residents, they do want to have a say in how those things are run and managed and funded."

A Harborough District Council spokesperson said its leader, councillor Phil Knowles, was "supportive" of the proposal and was helping to "liaise" with both the district council and the campaigners.

The spokesperson said if a "valid petition" is submitted, the council will be "obliged" to undertake the review which was blocked in October.

The council said: "This is a consultation-led process to determine the best options for the future governance arrangements of the unparished area of Market Harborough, which must be concluded within a year."