So what exactly was Tigers and England rugby star Toby Flood doing at a Harborough Council meeting?
Leicester's Toby Flood breaks between Northampton's Brian Mujati and Jon Clarke during a Premiership match in 2011. Photo: David Davies/PA Wire.
IT WAS one of the stranger curios of the week - Tigers rugby star Toby Flood spotted providing some light relief for the public gallery awaiting their Harborough planning applications fate on Tuesday night.
But what on Earth was he doing there?
The fly-half tweeted: “I’m at a Market Harborough planning council meeting. I tell you, this rugby lifestyle is rock and roll. #bringasleepingbag.”
Others at the meeting also tweeted about the appearance, delighted that their moribund evening had been lightened somewhat by a celebrity-spot.
The reason for Mr Flood’s appearance was because he was seeking planning permission for creating an access road for his home near Langton Cricket Club in Main Street, East Langton.
And it seems the matter was no walk in the park for the England international.
Mr Flood was seeking the road for four reasons cited in the planning papers including a privacy submission. The agenda stated: “There are East Langton games on Wednesday evenings, Saturday, Sunday mornings and Sunday afternoons, not to mention the occasional Leicestershire Gentlemen’s games over a three-day period through the summer. Although the club is the heartbeat of the community and a fantastic venue, all of this means there is increased traffic through my boundaries and also down Main Street during the summer. The reduced flow down Main Street also decreases the likelihood of any accidents as raised by the club’s chairman.”
East Langton Parish Council objected to the application and seven letters of objection were received with one commenting “the current shared access layout has suited the village for more than a century”.
And it appears the issue also caused some hand-wringing at the cricket club. In the agenda papers, it states: “Having had time to reflect and following a robust debate at our last committee meeting there were many member who were vehemently opposed to this additional access.”
Despite all this, Mr Flood’s access road was given the green light, chiefly because highways bosses saw no reason to object to the move.
There must be some credit due to Mr Flood for his attendance at the meeting - he could have mailed it in and paid for a planning expert to do his bidding.
Story by Alex Blackwell. Follow him on Twitter.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Sunday 26 May 2013
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