Councillor Craig Leyland
Your voice on the council

Dear Constituent,
Thank you for visiting this website.

We are all aware of the challenging times ahead of us and as a community representative I know the challenge will be to direct resources to services that make a real difference to the quality of peoples lives. There will be some difficult decisions to be made and I will focus my attention on how ELDC priorities affect local need.

I know that many residents see housing development as the biggest threat to Woodhall Spa’s unique character. I too share this view, however I would qualify this statement by saying no development is as dangerous as too much development. We have to balance the need for growth against it’s impact, both positive and negative. The focus needs to be on quality and in this respect our past should influence our future.

We are fortunate to have many facilities that most villages and even some towns are without. Our Library is a much valued community asset and we are fortunate to have St Andrew’s C.E. Primary School as the young heart of our village. Kirkby on Bain Primary School is also a vibrant addition to an idyllic village.  The existence and success of these assets are all considerations when considering the impact of future development.

I constantly encourage our Parish Councils to fully participate in the consultation for the Local Development Framework. Local communities need to influence regional and national planning priorities. Woodhall Spa Parish Council have taken this work very seriously and are embarking on training to better understand planning policy. They are also creating a Village Design Statement to identify and promote local priorities.

Woodhall Spa and Kirkby on Bain have many niche businesses that rely on the tourist trade for their profitability and existence. We are lucky….our history and our surroundings have created a destination of quiet charm and character. We need to nurture this to secure economic benefit for our businesses. Residents also benefit from successful shops. Our business community provide employment, vitality and interest as well as valued services. I know that many residents are concerned about the development of 2 new caravan and camping sites in Woodhall Spa. This has to be balanced by the potential closure of Bainland Park as a touring site and the uncertainty regarding the future of Jubilee Park caravan and camping site.

The future of Jubilee Park is now a major focus for WSPC and ELDC….work continues to achieve a successful outcome. More information is provided on this site regarding Jubilee Park.

I am also working locally to establish a Chamber of Trade so that local businesses can have a co-ordinated voice to influence local decision making at WSPC and at Manby. I have been securing support for this idea over the last few months and I look forward to this becoming a reality very soon. See Local Issues for more information.

This last year has seen Woodhall Spa looking its very best with the success of Woodhall in Bloom and the illuminated Christmas Trees. The revival and refurbishment of Coronation Hall has created a fantastic community asset. I firmly believe in enabling communities to better themselves. As local authorities seek more cost effective ways to spend ratepayers money, I know this is the way forward.

If you'd like to know more about what I do on your behalf at ELDC please CLICK HERE.

As your elected member I am always interested to hear about issues that affect you. Please contact me with your concerns as a resident.

Kind Regards
Cllr Craig Leyland