COLUMN - Political View with Edward Argar MP

LCC closed the Bottesford site temporarily on August 7, but it's short-term closure was then indefinitely extended beyond its previously announced reopening date, with the council citing factors such as higher than usual demand, staff shortages across its waste and recycling sites, and capacity issues at waste processing providers nationally, to which the waste collected is sent on for processing.

Around two weeks ago I called on LCC's Reform UK leadership to set a firm date to reopen Bottesford's much-used Waste and Recycling Site, to set out a clear public plan to reach that date and restore this vital service for local residents that has already been paid for through their Council Tax, and to commit that the temporary closure would under no circumstances become permanent.

It is important that I am fair in recognising that the county council’s cabinet member for environment and waste, Councillor Adam Tilbury, has responded to my calls helpfully, confirming that he and his team are working hard to be able to reopen the Bottesford site, so I hope that we will see swift progress, and the site once again available for residents to use.

I also wanted to use my Melton Times column this week to congratulate everyone across Melton and the villages who recently received their GCSE results.

As the Melton Times has reported, our area has seen some great results, and young people who have worked incredibly hard, supported by their teachers and families.

These exam results reflect not only their hard work, but their determination, focus, and commitment, and they should all be very proud of their achievements as they think about their next steps in life, whether in work, or continuing in education.

Finally, I very much welcome the recent announcement by the leader of Melton Borough Council (MBC), Councillor Ronan Browne, about the replacement of the parking payment machines in the council’s car parks in Melton Mowbray.

All too often the existing machines have been out of service, or faulty, and the previous leadership of MBC launched a survey in the spring consulting residents on different options for replacing/upgrading the payment machines.

Rather than opting to go for just pay-by-phone or a parking app, as some car parks across the country have done, the decision by Councillor Browne to go ahead with replacing the machines, and to ensure that the new machines are able to take payment by all methods, app, contactless card payment, and retaining the cash payment option is absolutely the right decision.

Our car parks in Melton, and the ability to park and pay easily, are a crucial part of what brings people into the town centre to shop, and helps our town centre businesses thrive.

For many people cash is still the way they wish to pay, and it is absolutely right that the council has ensured that they can continue to do this.