News and features from Harborough District Council - June 2026

Nominate your local heroes for a Community Award

Help us to celebrate the everyday heroes and hidden champions across Harborough District by making a nomination now for our Community Awards. 

From passionate volunteers to inspiring young people, community groups and businesses, these awards shine a light on those making a real difference.

This year the categories are:

• Voluntary and Community Group of the Year
• Young Person of the Year (11-18yrs)
• Volunteer of the Year (19-59yrs)
• Volunteer of the Year (age 60+yrs)
• The Citizenship Cup
• Stronger Together: Workplace Impact Award
• Business-Community Impact of the Year Award 

Do you know someone or a group or organisation who’s making a difference in their community? Maybe they:

• Coach their children’s sports team every weekend or help wash the kit or organise refreshments 
• Run a local youth or community group or reading club 
• Sit on a charity board or school governing body 
• Organise arts, heritage or community events 
• Volunteer as a befriender or mental health supporter 
• Help out with local clean-up days or fundraising efforts
• Go above and beyond their everyday role to support their community
• A business that gives back

Nominate someone who makes Harborough a better place to live, work, and belong before midnight on 18 August 2026.

Market Harborough parish council consultation to start on 15 June

Councillors have voted in favour of a second and final round of consultation on a new parish council for Market Harborough starting on 15 June.

In April, residents voted in favour of a new parish council in a non-binding poll which followed earlier consultation as part of a community governance review.

The second consultation will focus on more technical aspects of setting up a new parish council, such as how many councillors it should have and how the council should be split up into areas (wards) which councillors are elected to represent. 

We want to hear your views on what you think is best for you and your community.

To have your say please visit www.harborough.gov.uk/cgr25 from 15 June and complete the online questionnaire.

You will find documents there about the community governance review which may help you in completing the questionnaire. The deadline for responding to this consultation is 3 August 2026.

Rockingham Road improvements public engagement on 16 June

Officers from Leicestershire County Council will be available between 11am to 4pm at Harborough Indoor Market on Tuesday 16 June to share information on the upcoming Rockingham Road improvement scheme, planned to take place between August 2026 and March 2027.

Designed to tackle congestion, boost safety and travel reliability, upgrades are part of the wider Market Harborough Transport Programme.

Information on diversions, public transport and support available whilst the work takes place will be available.

Could you give at least one hour a year to inspire a young person? 

We have launched Working Wonders, a new flexible work experience initiative to support local schools and help young people learn more about the world of work. 

Work experience is no longer just the traditional one week in a workplace. It has changed, meaning more people across the community can now get involved in ways that suit their time, skills and experience. 

The innovative project has been shaped with input from our Youth Council. Working Wonders aims to make it easier for schools to connect with local businesses, organisations, sole traders, community volunteers, recently retired people and anyone with useful career or life experience to share. 

You do not need to offer a full placement or have an office to get involved. Support can be as simple as giving a short careers talk, offering a mock interview, hosting a workplace visit, setting a small project, sharing your career journey, or taking part in activities such as “Guess My Career”. 

Support can be as little as one hour a year and can take place online, in school, at your workplace or as part of an event.

New tree trail celebrates nature in Market Harborough

Residents and visitors to Market Harborough can now enjoy a new outdoor walking experience on a curated route celebrating the town’s rich natural landscape. 

The route guides walkers through local parks, riverside paths and historic streets to learn about the value of biodiversity and wildlife through the seasons.

The new trail has been developed with the expertise of local voluntary community group, Harborough Woodland, and reveals a series of carefully selected sites that showcase ten native and heritage trees.

More than £95,000 shared with community projects

Two community projects have received a financial boost from Harborough District Council.

The council’s Cabinet agreed in May to allocate a total of £96,359.61 to two exciting projects: Kibworth Joint Recreation Board, which received £47,359.96 for a path upgrade to Rookery Park, and Harborough District Council’s Environmental Services, which received £48,999.65 for accessible play equipment upgrades at Bellfields Recreation Ground, Market Harborough.

The projects are benefiting from Section 106 money which is provided by developers for community projects and social infrastructure in locations where development has taken place.

Great Glen residents invited to submit ideas for new facilities

Staff from the council were out and about in Great Glen earlier this month to find out what residents like about their community facilities and activities and whether there are any improvements they may like to see.

Residents can put forward their ideas for improvements and find out more on our website until 5 July.

Share your views on being active and enter a prize draw

Active Together is inviting you to give your views on being active, including your current habits and future intentions in their Physical Activity and Wellbeing Residents’ Survey.

All voices are important, including those who are not currently taking part in sport or regular physical activity.

Your feedback will help shape future support and opportunities across Leicestershire, improving health and wellbeing in local communities.

The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete. Those who opt in will be entered into a prize draw to win one of 25 x £20 Everywish Gift Cards.

The closing date is midnight, Friday 10 July.

HMP Welland Oaks want your ideas for community initiatives

The HMP Welland Oaks project team is keen to hear ideas from the Harborough community on how they can support local initiatives, projects and clubs. 

While they may not be able to help with every suggestion, they commit to carefully considering each one. 

If you have a project or idea you think they could support then please email the Wates social value team directly at: contactgartree@wates.co.uk. 

If you have any questions, concerns or comments about the project and its construction - please continue to contact the project team at psdenquiries@justice.gov.uk. 

New Chairman confirmed at Annual Council

Cllr Buddy Anderson has been elected as Chairman of Harborough District Council for the 2026/27 council year. Cllr Anderson received the chain of office from outgoing Chairman Councillor Peter James at the Annual Council meeting on Monday 18 May.

The Chairman, whose role is ceremonial, represents the council at civic functions and at local events around the district.

By-election in Lutterworth East on Thursday 2 July 2026

A by-election is taking place in Lutterworth East ward on Thursday 2 July. If you live in Lutterworth East ward please check your polling card for information about when and where you can vote. Valid photo ID is required to vote.

Tell us what you think of this newsletter

Thank you to those of you who have completed our one-minute reader survey in recent weeks.

The survey, which asks for views on this newsletter, is still open so if you haven't completed it yet please do and let us know your thoughts so we can make improvements. Thank you!

Search local planning and enforcement decisions in your area

Are you interested in local planning issues in your area? If so, did you know that you can find current and past planning applications along with details of planning permissions recently granted on our website?

You can also search for information about why something was removed following a complaint or enforcement decision and look up details and documents relating to them.

We have a weekly list that you can search by ward or parish to find details of planning applications in your area. 

You can also search for details of enforcement cases, which may include matters of unauthorised development, changes of use, unauthorised advertisements and works to trees.