Costs of running town council could be covered

LAST week’s letters asked me to outline the benefits and costs associated with a town council for Loughborough.

The benefit is that we would have an authoritative body with the responsibility to discuss issues that are specific to the town and to speak for the people of Loughborough.

At present, only two of the nine councillors with cabinet posts represent Loughborough wards, and while Loughborough councillors are of course active on various council committees and panels there is no place where they represent the town’s interests alone.

The Loughborough Special Rate is levied on the people of the town. It is spent on parks and open spaces, sports grounds, town centre management and CCTV, and contributes to some voluntary and community facili- ties. The costs of running a town council could be covered by the Special Expenses.

We need a town council to control these matters and also to be a powerful voice on planning issues and in support of the town centre and the economic success of Loughborough.

So far as the mayoralty is concerned, I think the comments are mistaken.

Our first Mayor was Joseph Griggs in 1888 when Loughborough was incorporated. The municipal borough continued to govern the town until 1974 when the town became the centre of the newly established Borough of Charnwood, named for the ancient forest that once covered the area.

We are in no danger of losing our status, or our mayor.

Jill Vincent