Harborough MP welcomes rethink of plans for major development on Burford Green
Harborough MP Neil O’Brien has welcomed the new council administration’s announcement that it will rethink plans for a major development on Burford Green.
Harborough District Council had been pushing proposals for a development on the Southern Estate site in the town, including a large community hub and sports hall, car park, football pitch, padel courts and a cricket pitch on the green space.
A petition against the scheme had received more than 1,300 signatures.
And now the plans have been paused by the new administration, led by Conservative councillor Simon Whelband, who won a leadership election earlier this month, enabling them to take office.
During a public meeting held at the Royalist pub, Cllr David Page made it clear that the scheme would not go ahead in its current form.
Mr O’Brien said: “These plans were completely over the top.
“There is a need for more community facilities, but not at the cost of concreting over one of the few green spaces people use.
“Burford Green is valued by local residents every single day, and people were rightly furious at the idea of losing it.
“I’m pleased the new administration has listened and is now looking at more sensible, proportionate improvements to upgrade facilities without destroying the green space.”
Harborough District Council is currently running a survey, open until mid-May, as part of its Community Visioning projects, giving residents the opportunity to comment on how they would like to see Burford Green Recreation Ground developed.
A Harborough District Council spokesperson said: “The council is undertaking masterplan consultations in five locations across the Harborough district to support neighbourhoods in understanding the options for improving and enhancing open space provision and facilities.
"Burford Green is one of these locations, following approaches from a number of residents in the area seeking support.
“The purpose of the consultations is to enable the council to understand whether the community wants or needs new or improved facilities, either now or in the future, and if there is no support, then no further work will take place.
"The Burford Green consultation has taken place, and early indications are that the preference is for improvements to existing facilities rather than large-scale new amenities.”