Melton (borough)

For other uses, see Melton (disambiguation).

Borough of Melton
—  Borough  —
Entering the borough on the A607 at Rearsby
Shown within Leicestershire
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	East Midlands
Administrative county	Leicestershire
Founded	1974
Admin. HQ	Melton Mowbray
Government
- Type	Melton Borough Council
- Leadership:	Alternative - Sec.31
- Executive:	Conservative
- MPs:	Alan Duncan
- Chief Executive	Lynn Aisbett (since 2004)
Area
- Total	185.9 sq mi (481.4 km2)
Area rank	93rd
Population (2010 est.)
- Total	49,500
- Rank	Ranked 320th
- Density	266.3/sq mi (102.8/km2)
Time zone	Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)
- Summer (DST)	British Summer Time (UTC+1)
Postcode
ISO 3166-2
ONS code	31UG
OS grid reference
NUTS 3
Ethnicity	98.8% White
Website	melton.gov.uk

Melton is a local government district with borough status in north-eastern Leicestershire, England. It is named after its main town, Melton Mowbray. Other settlements include Asfordby and Bottesford. It has a population of 46,861.

History

Borough council offices two days after the fire in 2008

It was formed in 1974 from the Melton Mowbray Urban District and the Melton and Belvoir Rural District. The council offices on Nottingham Road burnt down on May 30 2008. Also on the opposite side of the road is the East Midlands Regional Assembly.

Culture

The borough loudly claims to be the Home of Stilton Cheese and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.

Parishes

• Ab Kettleby, Asfordby
• Barkestone-le-Vale, Plungar and Redmile, Belvoir, Bottesford, Buckminster
• Broughton and Old Dalby, Burton and Dalby
• Clawson, Hose and Harby, Croxton Kerrial and Branston,
• Eaton, Eastwell
• Freeby, Frisby and Kirby
• Gaddesby, Garthorpe, Grimston, Saxelbye, Shoby
• Goadby Marwood
• Harby
• Hoby with Rotherby
• Knossington and Cold Overton
• Scalford, Somerby, Sproxton, Stathern
• Twyford and Thorpe
• Waltham and Thorpe Arnold, Wymondham

Political representation

There are 28 councillors, of which twenty one are Conservative and so control the council. Seven are Labour in the Melton Egerton, Melton Newport, Dorian, Craven and Asfordby wards. The Conservative leader of the council lives in Sproxton, representing the Wymondham ward.

The Melton and Rutland constituency is Conservative.

East Midlands Councils is based opposite the Melton brough offices on the A606.

Geography

Belvoir Castle

The district borders South Kesteven, in Lincolnshire, to the east, Rutland to the south, Charnwood to the west (along the A46 Fosse Way), and Rushcliffe and Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire to the north. The north part of the district is known as the Vale of Belvoir.

Economy

Farming and food production are the main industries with Pedigree Petfoods in Melton, and its Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition at Waltham on the Wolds. There is a large creamery (Long Clawson Dairy) at Long Clawson. Samworth Brothers are headquartered in Melton. The Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Defence Animal Centre are also in Melton.

The Birmingham to Peterborough Line runs through the borough, and the borough is criss-crossed by the A607 (Leicester-Grantham) and the A606 (Nottingham-Oakham). Both these roads meet in the centre of Melton (outside Melton Brooksby College), with resulting congestion.

Education

Until September 2008, the district operated the three-tier education system, whereby there were three middle schools. Everyone in the district went to the same upper school in Melton from 14-18. At both GCSE and A level, the district's results are above the England average. Students can also attend Brooksby Melton College from 16-18, but it gets no better results but it is mainly a vocational further education college for practical skills.

Demographics

The district is fairly affluent, with the third highest house prices in Leicestershire, even higher than Charnwood.

External links

Entering the borough near Twyford on the B6047

• Community profile at Leicestershire County Council
• Council returns to Melton in October 2008
• Council office demolished in June 2008
• Melton Borough Council offices burn down in May 2008
• Stapleford Miniature Railway

Coordinates: 52°48′N 0°48′W / 52.8°N 0.8°W / 52.8; -0.8