Alberto and Leicestershire and Rutland MPs delivered a petition into 10 Downing Street opposing the planned expansion of Leicester’s city boundaries.
Alberto was joined by Peter Bedford MP, Neil O’Brien MP, Alicia Kearns MP, Ed Argar MP and Dr Luke Evans MP. They were accompanied by Cllr Deborah Taylor, Cllr Simon Whelband, Cllr Ben Taylor and Cllr Lucy Stephenson.
A large group of residents gathered on Whitehall beforehand to protest against the planned expansion of the city.
More than 15,500 people in South Leicestershire have signed Mr Costa’s petition. Colleagues have collected thousands more across Leicestershire and Rutland. The petitions were handed in together.
The delivery went ahead after the Government last week paused local government reorganisation. That pause did not take city expansion off the table, and Leicester’s City Mayor has said he still expects the expansion to happen.
Under the proposals, South Leicestershire communities including Blaby, Enderby, Narborough, Whetstone, Countesthorpe, Cosby, Huncote, Glen Parva, New Lubbesthorpe, Willoughby Waterleys and other villages would be absorbed into an expanded city authority.
Alberto said:
“We have just taken these signatures into Number 10. That is thousands of people in South Leicestershire, and around 40,000 across Leicestershire and Rutland. They have a voice, and we want that voice to be properly heard in Government.
“The MPs and council leaders present today are united against these plans. We will keep working together to fight for our residents, until city expansion is taken off the table.
“The Government has paused local government reorganisation. We will use that as an opportunity to keep making the case that city expansion is unwelcome, it ignores what residents have already told the Government, and it would do real damage to the character of our county.”
