Craig Smith - NWL

24/10/2026

That’s the poppy appeal 2026 officially launched in Coalville
Great to be back side by side with our Coalville Veteran family
And thank you for the support of Conservatives councillors Keith Merrie Paul Lees and Jenny Simmons for your support 🙏🏻

23/10/2026

🌺 PAINTING COALVILLE RED! 🌺

This morning was a brilliant example of community teamwork! 👏

Members of the Coalville and District Veterans Association, This Is NWLeics and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Coalville Station all came together to paint the town red in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. ❤️

Over the past six months, our wonderful community has crocheted an incredible 10,000 poppies, painstakingly attaching them to cargo nets, ready for today’s big installation ahead of tomorrow’s official Poppy Appeal launch.

As always, plenty of banter, some questionable working-at-height practices by us Vets 😂 and the Fire Service showing the rest of us how it’s done! 🚒

Fuelled by plenty of coffee from Coalville C.A.N ☕, we got the job done, and I think you’ll agree, it looks absolutely fantastic!

A huge thank you to everyone involved. This is Coalville at its very best. 🇬🇧

We Will Remember Them. 🌺

22/10/2026

🇬🇧 NORTHERN IRELAND TROUBLES BILL – HOW DID LEICESTERSHIRE MPs VOTE?

On Tuesday 20th October, MPs voted at the third reading of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, legislation that could reopen criminal investigations and legal claims relating to former British soldiers who served Northern Ireland during the troubles, potentially affecting veterans who are now pensioners.

The recorded voting positions for Leicestershire MPs are:

🔴 2 Labour MPs – FOR
🔵 6 Conservative MPs – AGAINST

Interestingly, Labour MP Al Carns, a former Royal Marines Colonel and Veterans & Armed Forces Minister, stuck to his principals and voted against his own Government.

On Armistice Day, MPs from across Leicestershire will lay wreaths in their towns to honour those who served , some will be able to hold their heads up high knowing that they back our veterans.

Remembrance must mean more than laying a wreath.
🇬🇧 Protect those who served our country.

21/10/2026

🚦 A511 / BROOM LEYS ROAD – ROADWORKS UPDATE 🚧

Heads up, Coalville! More roadworks are on the way, so please plan ahead.

From Monday 26th October until 11th December, BT Openreach will be carrying out essential works at the A511/Broom Leys Road junction as part of the wider A511 improvement scheme.

🚦 26 Oct – 13 Nov: Four-way traffic lights

🚧 16 – 27 Nov: Lane closures

🚦 30 Nov – 4 Dec: Two-way traffic lights

🚧 7 – 11 Dec: Lane closures

Some site clearance, including tree removal, will also begin this Friday.

I appreciate just how frustrating the ongoing roadworks around Coalville have been. I’ve been assured that traffic lights will be manually controlled during the day to help keep things moving.

I’ll be keeping a close eye on this and raising any issues that arise.

Please allow extra time for your journeys and share to help spread the word! 👍

21/10/2026

Common sense prevails

After months of dithering and delay, Conservative pressure has finally forced Labour to approve Jackdaw.

This should be the start, not the end. Labour must approve Rosebank, end the ban on new drilling licences, and scrap the Energy Profits Levy

21/10/2026

A511 Broom Leys Road, Coalville

BT Openreach will be carrying out work at the A511 Broom Leys Road junction from 26 October to 11 December as part of ongoing preparations for the A511 MRN Growth Corridor Scheme.

What to expect and when:
• 26 October to 13 November: temporary four-way traffic lights
• 16 to 27 November: lane closures and narrower lanes
• 30 November to 4 December: temporary two-way traffic lights
• 7 to 11 December: lane closures

Temporary traffic lights will be manually controlled between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday, to help keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible. Working hours will be between 8am and 5pm; however, the traffic management will remain in place outside of these hours.

While the work takes place, drivers should expect longer journey times and allow extra time for travel.

20/10/2026

20/10/2026

🚌 GOOD NEWS FOR OUR VILLAGES! 👏

One of the issues I championed during my recent election campaign was the lack of decent bus connections between Diseworth, Long Whatton and Loughborough.

So I’m delighted that Leicestershire County Council is launching the new LC18 trial service from Monday 26th October!

✅ Diseworth → Long Whatton → Hathern → Loughborough
✅ FREE travel during the trial
✅ Operating between 10am and 2pm

I’ve been pushing for better rural bus connections for some time, and I know others have been making representations too.

When we all push in the same direction, it’s residents who win!

Of course, it’s only a limited trial, but it’s a positive step forward, particularly for older residents who rely on public transport.

Now we need people to USE IT! 🚌

The more passengers we get, the stronger our case for making it permanent and expanding the service.

Less politics, more getting stuff done! 💪
fans Long Whatton and Diseworth Parish Council Diseworth Village Hall DVH Long Whatton Village

20/10/2026

UPDATE: STW Now on site and repairs underway.

Just called in a major water leak to Severn Trent Water on north Street/Church Lane Whitwick outside The Black Horse, Whitwick

Please try to avoid if possible Silver Street/Hermitage road is also closed so Whitwick is going to be a challenge for a few days

19/10/2026

🏡 BROOM LEYS FARM I'VE OPPOSED THESE PLANS FROM DAY ONE!

With plans for 300 new homes at Broom Leys Farm heading to the Planning Committee on 28th October, I thought I'd update residents on where I stand.

I've already submitted TWO formal objections to this development, the first back in APRIL and a second in JULY.

Now, let me be clear. I'm NOT against building new homes! Far from it. We desperately need more housing, particularly affordable homes for local families and young people trying to get onto the property ladder.

But we need to build in the RIGHT places, with the RIGHT infrastructure!

Trying to squeeze another 300 homes onto an already congested road network is, quite frankly, foolish!

🚗 Broom Leys Road and the A511 are already struggling with traffic.

🚸 Serious concerns over road safety, particularly for schoolchildren, pedestrians and cyclists.

🏘️ More pressure on infrastructure that's already stretched.

🌳 Further erosion of the green space separating Coalville and Whitwick.

I've also formally challenged the traffic assessments, which I don't believe reflect the reality of what residents experience every single day.

We cannot keep building houses without properly addressing the roads and infrastructure needed to support them!

I've been making these arguments for months, and I'll continue standing up for our community as this application heads towards a decision.

I'm all for progress, but it has to be the RIGHT kind of progress!

As always, I'll keep you updated.