New chairman takes over at council. A new chairman has been appointed at the district council. At Harborough District Council’s annual meeting on Tuesday (May 17), Cllr David Beaty officially took over from former chairman Cllr Rosita Page. Cllr Beaty, who represents the Nevill Ward, has been a councillor since 2003. He is married with two sons and a grandson. He said: “This is my first time as chairman and I’m very much looking forward to getting about the district and meeting people from different councils and organisations, as well as attending various community events.” Cllr Beaty has lived in the area for 49 years, having moved with his parents from the Coventry area. He married his wife, Sally, in 1967 at Hallaton. Outgoing chairman Cllr Page said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my term as chairman and feel very lucky to have experienced such an interesting and varied role. I look forward to seeing many of you in the future in my role as councillor.” Cllr John Everett, who represents the Misterton ward, was elected as vice chairman. Citizenship Cup for businessman James. The Citizenship Cup, which is given to people who have made a positive impact on their community, has been presented to a local businessman. Harborough District Council’s chairman presented the Citizenship Cup to James Briggs, managing director of town firm Harboro Rubber. The recipient is decided upon by a special Citizenship Cup panel made up of people from the community. Mr Briggs, who accepted the cup at a special presentation at the council offices on Tuesday, May 17, has devoted much of his time to community projects and supporting new business. The cup, which was donated by a local gentleman in 1955 to mark the diamond jubilee of the Market Harborough Urban District Council, is awarded when deemed appropriate, with the last recipients being Donald and Doreen Clinton-Smith in 2008. Some of Mr Briggs’ achievements over the years include: • Fundraising to build the

Evangelical Church on Bath Street , of which he is a prominent elder. The building hosts a range of outside groups within the community.

• Representing the Harborough business community, liaising with East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), being active in the Welland Partnership and bringing investment funding into the district.

• Being involved in the creation of the Innovation Centre, currently being built at Airfield Farm.

• Ensuring the former site of Harboro Rubber, when it relocated to Riverside , was regenerated as a ‘gateway’ development, as part of the St Mary’s Road Regeneration Project.

• A prime motivator of The Cube youth club project, and a supporter of other youth and special needs groups by donation of computers.

• Out of the spotlight – James has been a huge catalyst for a school project in Africa .

Grand opening for £4.2m business centre. A new centre, set to promote business and innovation across Leicestershire, will be opened next month. The £4.2million Harborough Innovation and Business Centre, located at the gateway entrance to Airfield Business Park, just north of Market Harborough, will open its doors on Thursday, June 9. The much-anticipated partnership project will help fledgling businesses set up and prosper, and bring about 180 jobs to the region. Representatives from project partners, Harborough District Council, William Davis Ltd, East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Prospect Leicestershire will be present at the opening ceremony, along with a host of dignitaries. The centre provides 52 individual offices, along with eight studios and meeting rooms and forms part of the 20-acre Airfield Business Park. The building has been designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, reflecting its important sustainability credentials. The site also comprises six commercial and industrial units built by Loughborough-based contractor and developer William Davis.

Travellers’ encampment – Bill Crane Way, Lutterworth. Travellers, who set up an unauthorised caravan camp on land in Lutterworth, have been told they must have left the site by May 16th. Harborough District Council, working with police, County Council’s travellers’ officer and the landowner, have said enforcement action will be taken if the caravans, which moved on to the site in Bill Crane Way this week, had not moved on by the start of next week. The travellers have said they are en route to the Appleby Horse Fair in the Lake District . A spokesman for the district said: “It is unlikely that the council would be successful in obtaining an injunction at this stage with the evidence gathered so far and the fact that the travellers

would have left the site by Sunday. However we will review this situation on first thing on Monday morning. Should the encampment remain beyond the weekend we will consider all options as a matter of urgency to resolve this situation.” Any evidence of criminal damage at the site will be dealt with by the police.

District one of the best places to live in Britain The Harborough district has been named as one of the best places to live in Great Britain, according to a new survey. The Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life survey ranked the Harborough district as the 21st best place to live out of 140 rural local authorities areas. It rates the district as the most desirable in Leicestershire, and the second best place in the East Midlands , behind Rushcliffe, Notts, which was in 11th place. The survey identifies where living standards are highest in Great Britain by looking at such criteria as the job market, housing market, environment, education and health. Residents in areas which ranked at the higher end of the survey tended to be fit and well, live longer, be employed, enjoy a good climate and environment and have school qualifications above the national average. South Cambridgeshire was ranked as having the best quality of life in the survey. Melton came in at 29th place, Rutland at 31st and North West Leicestershire at 49th place.

Bands and musicians needed for free festival The search is on again to find local bands and musicians to play Award-winning Enable Youth’s second free music festival, ‘Rock on the Rec’, taking place in August – and any style of music is welcome. The ‘Rock on the Rec’ event, is being organised after last year’s success by young music fans to support local up and coming acts, and will take place at Symington’s Recreation Ground in Market Harborough on Friday, August 5. Organisers are looking for young musicians, artists and bands to perform at the event, which runs from 4pm to 9pm. There’ll be a main stage, an ‘open mic’ tent (where anyone can have a go) and interactive workshops, including live topical debates. If people are interested in performing or volunteering, need more information, or would like to take part in the Guitar Hero marathon they should contact Sian Ponting on 07575 021144 or email the team at rockontherec@hotmail.co.uk Alternatively, you can follow progress on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and www.enableyouth.org.uk

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