The district traces its origins to the Blaby Poor Law Union, which had been created in 1836. Although named after Blaby, the union built its workhouse in Enderby.[1] In 1872 sanitary districts were established, giving public health and local government responsibilities for rural areas to the existing boards of guardians of poor law unions. In 1894 rural sanitary districts were redesignated as rural districts with their own councils, and so the Blaby Rural District came into being.[2] At the same time, Wigston was removed from the district to become its own urban district.[3]Oadby was subsequently also removed from the district in 1913 to become an urban district. In 1935 the district ceded some territory to Leicester and gained six parishes from the abolished Hinckley Rural District.[4]
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 36 councillors representing 17 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[17]
The district straddles the parliamentary constituencies of South Leicestershire and Chanrnwood.[10] There was a Blaby constituency between 1974 and 2010, which was represented by Nigel Lawson between 1974 and 1992.
Premises
Blaby District Council's main offices are on Desford Road in Narborough.[18] The old part of the building was formerly a house called the Old Rectory, which had previously served as the rectory for the nearby All Saints Church. The house was bought in 1936 for £4,250 by Blaby Rural District Council to serve as its headquarters and has been significantly extended since then.[19]
Geography
In 1994 a new development called Thorpe Astley in the parish of Braunstone was started, being built over the course of 15 years. This totalled over 2,000 homes during the phased construction. The development in Lubbesthorpe, approved in January 2014, is located to land west of Thorpe Astley, divided by the M1.
Fosse Shopping Park entrance
Blaby District contains several well-known developments in the county, centred around junction 21 of the M1. The most prominent is Fosse Shopping Park, one of the busiest out-of-town shopping centers in the country. The Meridian Leisure Centre, constructed adjacent to and at the same time as the first phase of Thorpe Astley, is located in the district, including a Vue (formerly Warner Village) Cinema, Hollywood Bowl, Nandos, Frankie and Bennys, Chiquitos, Harvester, Pizza Hut and children's play centre.
Large Sainsbury's and Asda Superstores are also placed next to Fosse Park and the Junction 21 area. Business parks also adorn the gateway into Leicester; Grove Business Park's entrance is less than one mile from the motorway junction and is home to Mattioli Woods, British Gas, Topps Tiles and the Leicester Marriott Hotel. Meridian Business Park is next to both Thorpe Astley and the Meridian Leisure Centre, also houses several well-known businesses including Makro, Sytner, Samworth Brothers and Southern Fire and Rescue Station, the only such station located within the district.
The district contains 24 civil parishes. The parish council for Braunstone has declared its parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council"; the area is often called "Braunstone Town" to distinguish it from the adjoining Braunstone estate which used to be in the parish but was transferred to Leicester in 1935. Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council.[23]
Originally granted to Blaby Rural District Council on 20 December 1954.[24]
Crest
On a wreath of the colours set upon a representation of the entrance to the railway tunnel at Glenfield in the District of Blaby Proper a saltire perched thereon an eagle displayed wings extended fessewise Or.
Escutcheon
Per fesse indented Vert and Sable a saltire Or charged with a saltire Purpure on a chief Ermine a maunche of the second between two legs embowed each hosed and shod with a soft leather shoe of the fifteenth century couped also Purpure.
Motto
In Terra Divitiae (In The Earth Riches)
References
^Higginbotham, Peter. "Blaby Workhouse". The Workhouse. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
