Alicia Kearns MP joined the Minister for Roads and Buses, Simon Lightwood MP, and the Member of Parliament for Melton and Syston, Ed Argar MP, to celebrate the opening of the North and East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (NEMMDR).
The event included speeches from the Roads Minister, the Leader of Leicestershire County Council and Ed Argar MP. The official name of the road, ‘Pork Pie Way’, was also unveiled following a public vote to decide the name.
As the former Member of Parliament for Melton Mowbray, Alicia Kearns MP long campaigned to secure the funding needed to allow the NEMMDR project to go ahead. Working with then-Conservative Councillor Nick Rushton and Councillor Joe Orson, Leicestershire County Council voted to approve the Council’s funding contribution for the north and east sections of the MMDR in December 2022. Shovels went into the ground, and work began in early 2023 while Alicia was still the MP for Melton.
The £131 million project has been funded by the Government, Leicestershire County Council, the Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and developer contributions. The 7.1km road is the largest highways scheme Leicestershire County Council has ever undertaken.
Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Stamford, said:
“Following years of fighting for this vital infrastructure project to go ahead as the MP for Melton, I warmly welcome the official opening of the MMDR.
“Significant financial and inflationary pressures did not make this a smooth-sailing journey, but I'm relieved after over fifty years of waiting, the project has finally reached this important milestone thanks to the initial support of the then Conservative-led Leicestershire County Council.
“This road will create many new opportunities for businesses and jobs, reduce HGV traffic, cut congestion, and help Britain’s ‘Rural Capital of Food’ reach its full potential.”
