A planning application has been submitted to the City Council to build a new supermarket on the former MFI sites follows:

‘Food/Retail store (Class A1) following demolition of existing buildings, with associated car park and service yard; alterations to vehicle access from New Park Street; associated highway works on New Park Street and Narborough Road North’

The application can be viewed online by searching the planning database for application number 20101687 or in person at New Walk Centre customer service centre.

Your local councillors Andy Connelly and Sarah Russell have asked for this application to be heard by the Planning and Development Control Committee and need your views on the plans and how they would affect your shopping habits.

Please take the time to fill in and return this questionnaire. You may also wish to make representations directly to the Planning Service by phoning the officer dealing with the application, Daryl Watson on 0116 252 7265 or emailing planning {at} leicester.gov(.)uk

I recently met with representatives from the PCS and FDA unions at the Land Registry office on Westbridge Place to discuss the Government’s review of the Land Registry and its potential privatisation. I have written to Lord McNally (the Government minister responsible for the review) to outline my concerns and request an urgent meeting.

You might not believe it when you read the newspapers! But good progress is being made in Leicester West: there are more police, including a neighbourhood police team in every area, crime is being reduced and our Labour council and Labour government have helped fund new play areas like the ones in Westcotes Park and Braunstone Park.

But I know there are still very real issues that need to be tackled to make all our communities decent, safe places to live in.

One of the biggest problems local residents raise with me is that there’s still too much anti social behaviour. I’ll support tough action on the minority of people who create anti social behaviour in our communities. I’m also backing Labour’s new proposals to crack down on shops that sell alcohol to underage children, and pubs that encourage binge drinking.

Alongside these measures, we’ve got to give our young people more things to do, especially in the evenings and weekends. I know that local voluntary groups are already working hard to get young people involved in sport, dance and music. I’ll support this work, and work to get the investment we need to provide better facilities for young people in every community.