My motivation for starting this process developed during my time at Charnwood Borough Council.
The public would visit me in reception and vent their dissatisfaction with the borough - from cleanliness to planning. The public knew me and found me to be approachable and attentive.
In many cases I felt powerless to carry out their wishes and was only able to pass on their comments to Departments, Councillors and Chief Executives. Even now, whenever I am in the public arena people ask me questions and to some extent, see me as the face of Charnwood.
My belief is that Loughborough is a wealthy, red brick market town which is being diluted by planning mistakes - Tin roof shopping centres to mention one.
There are golden opportunities and challenges facing us right now - The Wharf project, inner relief road, the hospital site, parking issues, the state of the market, Bus station?, the state of town centre retailing and of course anti social behaviour.
These and many other issues need to be taken control by somebody that's in tune with public feeling, and with what's right for Charnwood. We need to allow the political process to work and not become clogged by internal beurocracy and political in-fighting. Common sense must prevail.
