Labour councillor Dr Terri Eynon has welcomed a new transport study that looks at traffic congestion in and around Coalville.

"I am pleased to see the Highway Authority showing its teeth at last," she said.

"There are plans to improve the A511, but traffic problems are likely to persist unless something more is done.

"It is good to see Leicestershire County Council Highways are prepared to tell North West Leicestershire District Council planners to refuse unsustainable development."

Dr Eynon says she looks forward to both authorities working together to address the congestion in Coalville's town centre and bid for national funding.

The Labour Party in Coalville says: "In 2013 the District Council Cabinet decided to promote huge areas of housing in South East Coalville.

"It also dismissed the Bardon by-pass as unnecessary.

"Labour Councillors raised concerns, they were told it would be 'short term pain for long term gain'.

"The reality has been massive housing development.

"This has led to short term financial 'gain' for North West District Council in the form of a New Homes Bonus, planning fees and Council Tax receipts.

"Highways' study shows a future of long term 'pain' unless something is done.

"Our town centre streets will get more congested and more lorries will grind slowly along the residential A511 Bardon Road."

Dr Eynon added: "It is disappointing to see the state of the A511 corridor setting limits to local ambition.

"I would like to see the pedestrianisation of a short section of High Street, from Holmes Butchers to the Library.

"People would be able to sit outside Coalville's delightful town centre restaurants.

"It would encourage drivers to park in the town centre and would divert through traffic back onto the A511.

"I am being told that, even with the planned improvements, the A511 cannot support the extra traffic that this minor town centre improvement would load onto an already congested route."

"Short-changing Coalville on national funding for the A511 would be a false economy. North West Leicestershire needs more investment in transport infrastructure, and this should include the reopening of the National Forest/Ivanhoe Line."