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Ticket-only meetings as Blaby council considers Lubbesthorpe homes plan

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On any other day, attending a council meeting and finding a seat at the back would be easy.

But Blaby District Council is in the unusual position of having to make one of its planning meetings next week a ticket-only event.

The subject of the meeting is a controversial plan to build 4,250 homes at Lubbesthorpe – which has attracted more than 1,000 objections – and hundreds of people will want to be there.

The first 130 people will get a seat to watch the planning meeting in the council chamber. About 100 others will get tickets to watch live screenings at two other venues.

A council spokeswoman said: "It's in order to prevent people turning up on the day and not being able to get in. "The council chamber holds about 130 people and we expect it to be full."

The meeting is to take place at the council's headquarters in Narborough on Thursday, November 1, from 4.30pm.

As well as 4,250 homes, the development plan includes shops, schools and 52 acres of employment land on the site, which is near Leicester Forest East.

Tickets are free and limited to two per household.

The live screenings will be at Winstanley Community College, in Kingsway North, Braunstone Town, and Enderby Civic Centre, in King Street.

However, it is unlikely people will see the planning issue resolved next week.

The recommendation from planning officers is to agree to the plans, as long as the Government is happy with it.

This means that if the planning committee says the development can go ahead, it will then be forwarded to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles, who might decide to intervene.

And, after 18 months of negotiations between planners and the consortium of developers, there is likely to be an appeal if councillors refuse the builders permission to go ahead.

Paul Fox, secretary of the protest organisation, Leicester Forest East Residents Action Group, said he was happy the Government would have a say.

"It's good news," he said. "Hopefully, it will be given proper consideration now."

David Clements, a councillor for the area, said: "We don't know what the members of the development control committee will do.

"I will be there and I'm sure it will be very busy."

Paul Burton, of the New Lubbesthorpe development consortium, said: "This development can deliver a multi-million pound package of transport improvements, new shopping, three schools, a health centre, work space, community and leisure facilities.

"It will be sustainable, boost the economy and create thousands of new jobs."

Applications for tickets can be made by calling 0116 272 7505. The ticket phone line is open between 10am – 5pm and will remain open until the tickets are gone.

To watch the meeting live online visit:

www.blaby.gov.uk/webcast

Ticket-only meetings as Blaby council considers Lubbesthorpe homes plan


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