Get up to date with Harborough news and events!
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News and features from Harborough District Council - June 2025 |
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Cllr Phil Knowles Leader of Harborough District Council |
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Welcome to our June newsletter which is once again packed with information about our work across the district.
I’d like to start with a special mention of progress on our Market Harborough Rewilding Project. A number of local landowners from adjacent plots have come forward to express an interest in joining us in creating a publicly accessible open space where nature recovery and rewilding are prioritised. There’s now potential for the scheme to cover a total of 500 acres and we have the full support of Natural England.
Everyone I have met has been blown away by our investment and our ambition - words like unprecedented, inspirational and excellent place leadership are being used. Groups and people who are interested in getting involved in the Market Harborough Rewilding Project can email: rewildingproject@harborough.gov.uk.
I’d also like to highlight our Harborough District Community Awards which will take place this autumn. We had an amazing response from the community to our first awards last year showing we have many wonderful volunteers and community groups in our district. They all make a significant difference to the lives of individuals and the wider community. I am looking forward to being able to celebrate and recognise some of them again this year.
Read on for news about our recently opened Friendship Park and pétanque piste and information on how you can have your say on our draft Open Spaces Strategy and proposals for local government reorganisation. There’s also the latest on a number of initiatives to support businesses, grant surgeries for our £1million Community Grant fund and the council’s decision to grant Freedom of the District to our brilliant local Olympian, Lauren Henry.
And, finally, thank you to everyone who took part in the VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations. It was moving to join others in honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Best wishes, Phil |
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Market Harborough’s Friendship Park has officially opened |
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Market Harborough’s Friendship Park has officially opened to the public to enjoy.
The site in Northampton Road is now a welcoming greenspace that the council has transformed for residents to sit in and talk to each other. Chairman of Harborough District Council Cllr Peter James cut a ribbon to declare the park open on Thursday 29 May and celebrate the hard work of the community who have helped create it.
The park has been designed with sustainability, biodiversity and the environment in mind. The space supports wildlife through wildflowers, hedges that produce berries, bat and bird boxes, and a stumpery that has already encouraged bees and small mammals to take residence.
Accessible paths provide easy access and seating has been provided for inclusivity. There are plans for a steel sculpture to take pride of place paid for by FCC Environment, the council’s contractor, and additional signage which will explain the layout of the park. The council has worked with a group of residents living near the park. As well as attending early concept meetings they helped plant around 10,000 bulbs on the site last autumn.
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| | Petanque piste opened in Welland Park |
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A specially built area where residents and visitors can play pétanque has officially opened in a Market Harborough park.
Chairman of Harborough District Council Cllr Peter James was joined by members of local pétanque groups and the President of Central Pétanque Association, on behalf of Pétanque England, on Thursday 29 May when he declared the new pétanque piste in Welland Park open.
Members of Harborough Welland U3A (HWU3A) approached the council some time ago to ask about providing an area to play pétanque as there was not much provision for the game in the area. Two new outdoor table tennis tables have also been installed and equipment can be loaned from the cafe. Some benches and signage are set to be installed soon.
Pétanque is also known as French Boule or boules. It is played with hollow steel balls known as boules, and a small wooden target ball or jack. The piste has already proven to be very popular not just with clubs, but with the residents who just want to turn up and play. |
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| Investment to make improvements to Market Hall and The Symington Building |
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Major improvements are to be made to two of Market Harborough’s iconic community assets to preserve their condition.
The Symington Building will have upgrades to its external masonry, roof and windows with renovations expected to start in June and last up to 39 weeks. The Symington Building was a former Victorian corset factory but today it is our headquarters and is also home to Market Harborough’s library and museum, Job Centre, Citizen’s Advice and retail units.
John Tillotson, Chairman of Market Harborough Civic Society, said: “It is great to see the council taking its custodianship seriously of a prized heritage asset. The Symington Building is Grade II listed and an important building which should be cared for and looked after.”
The Market Hall will also receive upgrades to its roof and windows as well as having a replacement lift for trader use. The building renovations are expected to start in July and last up to 12 weeks with the lift being installed in the autumn. These projects are expected to cost a total of approximately £1.8 million and were approved in May. |
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| | Boost for electric vehicle users with new EV chargers |
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Seven new electric vehicle (EV) chargers have been installed across Harborough district. They are all now operational and helping EV owners keep their vehicles powered up and on the road.
We worked with local business, Plugmein, to install chargers at Station Road, Lutterworth (one charger), Orchard Road, Broughton Astley (one charger) and School Road, Kibworth (two chargers). They are all 22kw chargers and replace old, less powerful 7kw units.
New chargers have also been installed in two villages; at North Memorial Hall, Main Street, Tugby (one charger) and Allerton Project Visitor Centre, Loddington (two chargers). These will be owned by the local parish and community organisation. More charging facilities around the district makes it easier for residents who would like to buy an EV to help cut their carbon footprint, but can’t charge at home, to make the switch.
Existing EV drivers will have more options for charging their vehicles more conveniently. With additional rural charging sites, the hope is that EV drivers visiting for tourism and other purposes will be encouraged to spend more time in the district, helping to support the local economy. Anyone visiting the district will be able to plan their route and charging times and locations accordingly.
The cost of using the new chargers is just 43p per kWh. £150,000 funding from the government’s Rural Prosperity Fund was allocated to pay for the chargers. More EV chargers are planned for later this year as part of our response to the climate emergency.
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| | Help to shape our new Open Spaces Strategy |
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Will you help us to shape our new Open Spaces Strategy? Harborough District spans 238 square miles across south and east Leicestershire and features open spaces of varying size and type. Together, these open spaces form a valuable network of green space providing recreation and essential habitat for wildlife.
We’re working with The Environment Partnership (TEP) to review and update our Open Space Strategy so that it provides robust evidence to support the Local Plan up to 2041. TEP will carry out quantity, quality and accessibility of open spaces district-wide to guide our approach to open spaces in future.
You are invited to take part in this project by completing an online questionnaire which can be found on our website at: www.harborough.gov.uk/consultation/info/161 It will be available until 15 July 2025 so you can offer your views on the quantity, quality, accessibility and management of open space provision in the district.
Public drop-in sessions where you can find out more and give your views in person will take place and details will be published on our website shortly.
TEP will also consult parish councils, neighbourhood forums and other key stakeholders. |
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Awards set to celebrate volunteers for second year |
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The Harborough District Community Awards will be held for the second time this autumn, following their success last year.
The awards will be a chance for residents to highlight community groups, voluntary organisations, charities and volunteers who make a valuable contribution to their local community within the district.
This year will see the introduction of a new ‘Workplace Impact’ category which will recognise individuals or organisations that go above and beyond their formal role to make a meaningful difference in their community. The previous Special Recognition Award will be replaced with the Citizenship Cup. The categories for 2025 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)
- Special Recognition of the Year to be replaced with The Citizenship Cup
- Stronger Together: Workplace Impact Award (new award)
A small judging panel made up council officers and local groups will choose a shortlist of nominees who will be invited to the evening awards ceremony, where the finalists will be thanked publicly and the winners and runners-up will be announced. Harborough District’s Youth Council will choose a shortlist of nominees for the Young Person of the Year award.
The awards ceremony details will be confirmed soon. Details of how to nominate a group or individual for the awards will be shared later this summer.
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Councillor Peter James elected as Chairman of Harborough District Council for 2025/26 |  |
Councillor Peter James has been elected as Chairman of Harborough District Council for the 2025/26 council year.
Cllr James (pictured right) received the chain of office from outgoing Chairman, Cllr Peter Elliott (pictured left) at the Annual Council meeting on Monday 19 May. The Chairman, whose role is ceremonial, represents the council at civic functions and at local events around the district. Cllr James represents the Little Bowden ward in Market Harborough.
His chosen charity for the year will be Smile Train. The Vice Chairman is Cllr Buddy Anderson (pictured centre), ward councillor for the Great Bowden and Arden ward in Market Harborough. During his time in office, Cllr Elliott fundraised for his chosen charity Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People raising more than £1,000. |
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| | Olympian Lauren Henry granted Freedom of the District |
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Olympic gold medallist Lauren Henry has been granted the Freedom of the District for her amazing sporting achievement. The 23-year-old rower, from Lutterworth, has received the honour for winning a gold medal for Team GB in the women’s quadruple sculls rowing event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Mother Nicola Henry and auntie Mandy Jesson accepted the honorary scroll on Lauren’s behalf at Harborough District Council’s Annual Council meeting on Monday 19 May 2025. Last year, Harborough District Council unanimously agreed that the authority would confer the title of honorary freewoman respectively to Lauren.
The Freedom of the District is the highest honour the council can bestow and is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and have a strong association with the Harborough district. Speaking about her award Lauren said: "I just want to say a massive thank you. It is both an honour and privilege to receive the Freedom of the District and I am truly humbled." |
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| | Supporting LGBT+ History Month in June |
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Throughout the month of June we are flying the Progress flags on The Symington Building and in the centre of Market Harborough to acknowledge and support LGBT+ History Month.
You can out more about the history of LGBT+ History Month online. Save the date for Leicester Pride on Saturday 30 August 12pm – 9pm.
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| Read more about the council's approach to equality and diversity
| | Ward Improvement Grant Scheme now open |
Money is available to support local projects that will benefit residents and improve the environment within their ward.
For 2025/26, each Harborough district councillor will have £5,000 available to grant to local organisations in their wards. Councillors may decide to award this funding to one project or may choose to split it between several good causes, with the minimum grant being £1,000.
The scheme intends to financially support smaller projects that are easily deliverable and to be supportive of local organisations.
Those wishing to apply for a grant must be constituted with their own bank account and based within the Harborough district. Items such as equipment for groups, community events, volunteer training, start-up funding, match funding for other grants, health and wellbeing programmes, emergency initiatives and capital costs for improvements to buildings or open spaces may be eligible. |
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| | Grant surgeries offer help with applications to our £1million Community Grant Fund
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Round four of our £1 million Community Grant Fund runs from 30 June to 18 August 2025, with decisions on applications set to be made at the Cabinet Subcommittee - Grants on 23 September.
Help is at hand for applicants with a number of grants surgeries: - 25 June, 9.30am - 1pm, Council Chambers, The Symington Building, Market Harborough
- 3 July, 1pm - 4pm, Ullesthorpe Village Hall
- 4 July, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Thurnby Memorial Hall
The surgeries are open to constituted, not-for-profit community organisations, parish and town councils and parish meetings, to talk to us about any potential projects.
Please book in advance to arrange an appointment at one of the surgeries.
Community Grant funding is for capital projects that create lasting assets across Harborough district, such as improvements to building, facilities, or purchasing and installing equipment. Decisions on round three applications will be made by councillors at the Cabinet Subcommittee - Grants on 24 June.
Keep up to date with community news
If you’re a member of a community group then why not sign up to our Communities Team newsletter. Issued monthly, it will keep you informed about upcoming events related to grant funding, Youth Council activities, success stories from across the district, and events to help parishes and community groups.
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| | New Prison at Gartree: Update from Ministry of Justice |
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Wates continue to prepare the site for main works, which will start in around September this year. We expect to write out in the coming weeks to local residents to provide an update on expected activity on and around site between now and late summer.
My team is also preparing to launch a community consultation to name the new prison, as it is important that it has an identity of its own and that the local community has a say on this. We continue to listen and respond to feedback received on the works carried out to date. We are working closely with key stakeholders to address issues and make changes wherever we can. This includes providing additional fencing to help reduce noise and picking up litter.
We are also keen to create benefits for the community around the prison wherever we can – and we will be working closely with the on-site team to do this as we move into the main works of the project. My team also continues to meet regularly with the ward and parish councillors for the new prison site to ensure any arising issues or queries are efficiently managed.
We hope to provide a further update in the next edition of this newsletter, but in the meantime, you can email (psdenquiries@justice.gov.uk) with any questions, queries or suggestions you may have.
Kind regards, James Smith, Senior Responsible Owner, New Prisons Programme.
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| | New schemes to support district businesses |
Our district has long enjoyed a robust and resilient local economy, characterised by a diverse range of industries, a highly qualified workforce and an excellent natural environment. We are working to support the local economy and a number of initiatives have been announced in the past few weeks, including:
Businesses are encouraged to access a new programme of business support, the Harborough District Business Advice Service. This free-to-access support includes start-up workshops, accelerator programmes, local one-to-one advice clinics, and more, all to help businesses at every stage of their development and growth journey. Harborough Rural Business Grant Fund, supported by the Rural England Prosperity Fund offers capital grants between £5,000 and £20,000, with applicants required to contribute a minimum 25% match funding. It's open to rural enterprises and community organisations. Businesses, community groups and organisations can apply for revenue grants of between £500 and £2,000 to help fund improvements to new or existing visitor events. Grants of between £500 and £2,000 are available to businesses and organisations for revenue-based projects that boost the visibility and appeal of local history and culture, attracting new audiences and enhancing community engagement. Businesses are invited to apply for grants ranging from £500 to £2,000 from the Green Growth and Innovation Fund 2025/26. Additionally, a scheme aimed at getting people into full time employment, the Helping Improve Rural Employability (HIRE) programme, has been extended until March 2026. This supports people who have not been looking for work in the past four weeks and/or are not currently available to start work.
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| | Active Harborough activities to boost your health and wellbeing
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If you are looking to be more active and boost your health and wellbeing a boost, then take a look at our Active Together Harborough website for a range of activities for all.
As well as details about activity sessions and useful links to specific programmes, you’ll find information about local groups, exercise classes and activities alongside a range of community activity programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds.
There is also information about local sporting activities and clubs, healthy eating and self-help. |
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| | Find your local councillor |
Do you want to raise an issue with your local councillor? Head straight to our website to find out which councillors represent your ward and how to contact them. You'll find all their contact details and information about their political affiliation, personal interests. You can search for your local councilors by postcode, political party, ward or name. From the same page on our website you can also find details about your local MP.
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| | Choose the easy way to dispose of your garden waste each fortnight |
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With our garden waste service you can put grass cuttings, leaves, flowers, weeds, twigs and small branches in your green wheeled bin and have it collected fortnightly from the kerbside outside your home. The garden waste collection service charge has been frozen for the third year in a row and you will get collections until November.
You can subscribe to our garden waste service from our website.
As part of service improvements, you no longer need an account or password to sign up to the service and recurring payments are no longer taken automatically. |
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Have your say on rights of way |
Leicestershire County Council is seeking your views on its draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and associated action plan. The county council is responsible for over 1915 miles (3084km) of public rights of way, including paths in the countryside and urban areas. A right of way is a public highway that anyone, by law, has the right to use. There are four types:
Footpaths for walking, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs Bridleways for walking, horse riding, cycling, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs Restricted byways for walking, horse riding, cycling, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs and horse-drawn carriages Byways for all modes including motorised vehicles |
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| | Possible town council for Market Harborough to be discussed |
A report about the benefits of creating a town council for Market Harborough will be considered by the Market Harborough Special Expense Advisory Panel on 11 June 2025.
Market Harborough is ‘unparished’ which means that there is no town council and the town is directly managed by Harborough District Council. Some of the responsibilities that the district council adopts in this role are the management of some open spaces and the organisation of events, including the Christmas lights switch-on. |
| Cllr Barbara Johnson, district councillor and former Chairman |
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Harborough District Council marked the sad and unexpected death of Cllr Barbara Johnson in May.
Cllr Johnson will be remembered for her kindness, dedication and tireless community service. John Richardson, Chief Executive of Harborough District Council, said: “Cllr Johnson touched many lives as a dedicated councillor, volunteer and friend to many. She was particularly proud of her role as former Chairman of the council and she was highly respected by all she met."
The funeral took place at Great Glen Crematorium on Friday 30 May. The family’s memorial page for Cllr Johnson can be found online. |
| Dates for your diary |
5 June, 9am - 3pm, Farmer’s Market on The Square, Market Harborough 7 June, 9am - 4pm, Young Trader Market, The Square, Market Harborough 25 June, 9.30am - 1pm, Grant surgery at Council Chamber, The Symington Building, Market Harborough 28 June, 9am - 4pm, Artisan Fair on The Square, Market Harborough - 3 July, 1pm - 4pm, Grant surgery at Ullesthorpe Village Hall
- 4 July, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Grant surgery at Thurnby Memorial Hall
- Throughout June and July: 1645: Civil War Comes to Harborough Exhibition, Harborough Museum
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| Find more events across Harborough district
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