Government must finally deliver fair funding for Leicestershire demands Lib Dem opposition leader
At today's Annual General Meeting of Leicestershire County Council the Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition Councillor Michael Mullaney raised again the continued unfair funding of Leicestershire.
Michael Mullaney said "Leicestershire is the worst funded county in the country by the Conservative government. People see this in the reduction of vital local services. An example being the recent scrapping of the 159 bus service that served Hinckley, Coalville and many villages. And now plans that could see a further 26 bus services in Leicestershire axed by the County Council.
"Back in 2018 the Conservative Leader of Leicestershire County Council told the Council that a junior Local government Minister called Rishi Sunak was sympathetic to Leicestershire's cause for fair funding.
"Well the reality is that Rishi Sunak failed to deliver fair funding for Leicestershire when he was local government minister. Rishi Sunak failed to deliver fair funding for Leicestershire when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer in charge of the nation's finances. And now he's manoeuvred himself to be the latest in the line of Tory Prime Ministers, he's failed to deliver fair funding for Leicestershire as Prime Minister.
"The Conservatives and Rishi Sunak take Leicestershire for granted. It's the residents who pay for this through higher taxes and poor services. It's time for the Conservative government to stop taking Leicestershire for granted and deliver the fair funding and quality public services people here in Leicestershire deserve."
A Hinckley County Councillor has renewed calls for a safe road crossing to be installed near a Hinckley School.
Lib Dem Councillor for Hinckley De Montfort Michael Mullaney has campaigned with local parents, residents and fellow Hinckley Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray to get a safe crossing near St Peter’s School on London Road, Hinckley.
This follows news that Leicestershire County Council have again decided against putting a crossing there.
In a written submission to the County Council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee Michael Mullaney set out why a crossing was still needed there
“A huge number of residents in the area I represent on the County Council and the area my two fellow Hinckley County Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray represent support a safe crossing at St Peter’s School on London Road in Hinckley. 8,850 residents signed a petition supporting the campaign.
“There are safety concerns, there have been a number of near misses involving pupils and parents going to the school. Although not recorded it is believed that there was an accident leading to a fatality some years ago along this part of London Road when a pedestrian was knocked over.
“Whilst I appreciate the extra road safety measures that are proposed for London Road near St Peter’s School I am extremely disappointed that the request for a safe road crossing has not been supported in the report.
“There is widespread support for it and Cllrs Bill, Bray and myself identified funding for putting a crossing in at the site through the Members Highway Fund, a fund which was developed with the apparent intention of supporting Highways causes that were important in Councillor’s local areas.
“Whilst it’s welcome that a crossing person has been recruited for St Peter’s School there is always the risk that the person may step down from the job and it may be difficult to find a new person (as it took some years to recruit a crossing person there, with no school crossing patrol between 2017 and 2022 despite attempts to recruit to the post). A safe pedestrian crossing at the site however would be a permanent safety measure that would benefit pupils and parents and residents more generally crossing the road there.
“Whilst I welcome the fact there will be some safety improvements at the site I and many residents believe there still needs to be a safe permanent crossing at St Peter’s School. I therefore urge the County Council to rethink and agree to installing a crossing near St Peter’s School”
