Oadby and Wigston is a local government district with borough status in Leicestershire, England. It covers the two towns of Oadby, where the council is based, and Wigston, which is the larger town. Both form part of the Leicester urban area, lying south-east of the city.
The neighbouring districts are Leicester, Harborough and Blaby.
History.
The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of two former districts, which were both abolished at the same time:
The new district was named Oadby and Wigston, combining the towns' names. The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.
Governance.
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Leicestershire County Council. There are no civil parishes in the borough, which is an unparished area.
Political control.
The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 1991.
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:
Leadership.
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Oadby and Wigston. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2006 have been:
Composition.
Following the 2023 election and a change of allegiance in March 2024, the composition of the council was:
The next election is due in 2027.
Elections.
Since the last boundary changes in 2003 the council has comprised 26 councillors representing 10 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.
The wards are:
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The district forms part of the Harborough constituency.
Premises.
The council meets at the Brocks Hill Council Offices in Brocks Hill Park on Washbrook Lane in Oadby.
Until 2023 the council was based at Bushloe House on Station Road in Wigston, which had been built c. 1850 as a house and had been bought in 1942 by the old Wigston Urban District Council and converted to become its headquarters. In 2023 the council moved its meetings and offices to the Brocks Hill offices in Oadby.
Geography.
It is composed of the areas of Oadby, Wigston, South Wigston and the hamlet of Kilby Bridge. It is predominantly urban, and borders Leicester directly to the north-west. There are no civil parishes in the district.
The most northerly corner is near the junction of the A6030 and B582, and near the Bupa hospital it meets Harborough. It runs along the B582 then along the former Roman road (which runs to Corby), passing the playing fields of the University of Leicester. It passes along the north edge of Oadby Lodge, a farm owned by the Co-op. Towards the deserted village of Stretton Magna (outside the district), the boundary passes southwestwards. This area was proposed to be the site of the eco-town Pennbury. It crosses the A6 at Glen Gorse Golf Club. It crosses "Newton Lane" and the Midland Main Line. It crosses the Grand Union Canal, and towards Kilby it meets the district of Blaby at the River Sence. It follows the River Sence, crossing the A5199 ("Welford Road"). At Rose Farm it follows "Countesthorpe Road" towards South Wigston, to the Grand Union Canal, crossing the former Midland Counties Railway, which it follows westwards. It passes northwards across "St Thomas Road" (B582) and the Birmingham to Peterborough Line. It passes northwards on the east side of the Glen Parva prison (in Blaby district). It meets Leicester UA south of Eyres Monsell, a large housing estate.
Following the Leicester boundary, it crosses "Saffron Road" (B5366), then follows "Dorset Avenue", follows the Midland Main Line northwards, crossing "Aylestone Lane" (B5418), then crosses the Midland Main Line. It crosses the "Welford Road" (A5199) at the point where the road becomes a dual-carriageway south of the Best Western "Leicester Stage Hotel" (in Leicester UA). It passes on the south edge of Knighton Park, and the western edge of Oadby Golf Club, west of Leicester Racecourse (in the district). Near the racecourse entrance it crosses the A563 southern ring road, then "London Road" (A6), passing northwards along the western edge of the University of Leicester's Oadby Student Village, west of the University of Leicester Botanic Garden (in the district).
Education.
Both Beauchamp College, in the south of Oadby, and Wigston College, on the B582 in Wigston, are former grammar schools. Both were upper schools, as the three tier system operated in the district's schools. Also near the council offices on the B582 is South Leicestershire College, an FE college. Next to the Beauchamp College is Gartree High School, a former middle school. Another school is Manor High School, Oadby, which was the largest middle school in the country.
Freedom of the borough.
The following people, military units and Organisations have received the Freedom of the Borough of Oadby and Wigston.
References.
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