Protest Meeting Over Expressway Plan

A protest meeting is held tonight against the plan to build a bypass around the south and east of Leicester, which campaigners say will badly impact on several Harborough villages.

Although the exact route for the so-called A46 Expressway is still to be decided, the Campaign For The Protection of Rural England have listed 60 communities that would be affected, including Kibworth, Fleckney, Great Glen, Billesdon and Shearsby, Broughton Astley, and Houghton On The Hill.

Tony Stott, chair of the charity’s Action Group, spoke to Hfm:

The proposed road, backed by Harborough Council, Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and six other district authorities, underpins a long-term strategy to find space in Leicestershire to build more than 180,000 homes by 2051.

Its likely it will start at the Hobby Horse roundabout at Syston and join the M1 between Junctions 20 and 21 and then continue to the M69 at Hinckley.

Campaigners are inviting people who want to find out more about the plan or are interested in joining the campaign to go to the meeting, which is taking place at the Coplow Centre in Billesdon from 7pm.