NOSTALGIA & MAILBOX

COUNCILLORS have reacted angrily at hearing Leicestershire is missing out on the Towns Fund.

While 45 parts of England are celebrating getting support from the new government fund, no town in the county will benefit from the £1 billion announced by the Chancellor in the recent Budget to help support areas recover post the Covid-19 pandemic.

Leicestershire Lib Dem finance spokesman Councillor Michael Mullaney, pictured, said “This is a bitter disappointment. Many of our towns would have welcomed being part of this fund to help them recover post Covid-19.

“Sadly, this is another example of Leicestershire missing out. We have the worst funded county council by the government in the country, meaning people paying more and more in council tax. We have police, schools and fire services among the worst funded in the country by the government.

“Now none of our towns have been included in this support either.

“The people of Leicestershire have loyally elected a Conservative county council for the last 20 years, they have elected all Tory MPs in Leicestershire.

“Yet time and time again people’s loyalty has been thrown back at them by a Tory government that puts Leicestershire, its towns and services at the back of the queue.”

Simon Galton, Liberal Democrat group leader on the county council, said: “The government talks about its levelling up agenda. In reality this appears to be about improving the Conservative party’s future election prospects as it is difficult to understand any other the rationale for the way this funding has been allocated.

“What is clear is local council tax payers are continuing to foot the bill for the government’s refusal to address Leicestershire’s chronic underfunding, lack of investment.”