County Councillor for Gartree
Flooding
We have experienced some wet weather recently. Leicestershire residents are urged to be ‘flood aware’ and to be prepared for bad weather.
There is no single organisation that is responsible for flooding. Depending on what has caused the flood, you’ll need to contact different organisations.
Main rivers, which also include some smaller streams or brooks that feed into main rivers, e.g. Kibworth Brook, and reservoirs, are the responsibility of the Environment Agency. Flood warnings can be found at https://www.gov.uk/check-flooding. Mains and wastewater sewers are the responsibility of Severn Trent Water and Anglian Water.
The County Council is the lead local flood authority (LLFA) for surface water, including public highways, and groundwater. More details of whom to contact can be found at https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/flooding-and-drainage/report-a-flood. However, if unable to complete the online form then report to mail:flooding@leics.gov.uk.
If the excess water, flooding, is on your own private property then have it checked as this may be your responsibility or a neighbour’s. Check your home insurance policy to ensure flood cover is in place.
Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy
The County Council is taking major strides towards meeting a rising demand for public charge points as the number of electric vehicles on the county’s roads continues to rise sharply.
Electric vehicle ownership across the county increased by over 60 per cent between 2021 and 2023. Research suggesting that up to one in four registered cars could be electric by 2030. A minimum of 3,200 charge points will be needed to match this demand.
The County Council, sub-national transport body, Midlands Connect, and four other local authorities are part of a consortium to secure almost £1m of Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding for public charge points across the Midlands.
In April 2024, further LEVI funding was provisionally allocated for charge point installation across the county and the Council is now working with a wider consortium to secure the funding.
Although specific charge point locations have yet to be finalised, the focus will be on residential streets in highly populated areas, where access to private off-street parking is limited. The delivery of charge points is planned from 2025 onwards, following engagement with local communities.
Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, cabinet member for highways and transport, said:
“We’re making significant progress in growing Leicestershire’s network of EV charge points. We know that most electric vehicles are currently charged on driveways, but supporting residents who don’t have access to off-street parking is important to us too.
Rolling out public charge points in residential areas will help us achieve the council’s commitment to carbon neutrality, as well as making EV ownership more accessible.”
Fibre Broadband around the Kibworths
Many streets around the two parishes are having fibre broadband installed, mainly along the pavements. The company installing them, at the moment, is Gigaclear. Other broadband suppliers are available but Gigaclear is currently focussing on installing fibre to the property (FTTP) services for the Kibworths.
mail:kevin.feltham@leics.gov.uk
New Head Coach at Kibworth Tennis Club
