North West Leicestershire councillors have made it clear they do not want to put stage one of the planned Ivanhoe Line railway at risk by insisting it links to Leicester.

The District Council's Community Scrutiny Committee heard from Douglas McLay, of the Campaign to Re-open the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL) at last night's meeting (Thursday) in Coalville.

He said the opportunity to get the line from Coalville to Derby - via Ashby and Burton - should be taken with both hands.

But he added that CRIL would continue to campaign for a line from Coalville to Leicester South, where passengers would have easy access to Leicester City's King Power Stadium.

He also said a third phase may be possible in the future, which could link to the main Leicester Railway Station, but only after track alterations at that end of the line.

But councillors moved to dispel talk of the area losing the line completely after a motion was passed last month asking the Government to make the Coalville to Leicester section part of the scheme.

That led to talk of the whole project being abandoned as the funds are not there for such a link.

As it is, there would be a new stations in Coalville, Ashby and Gresley.

District and County councillor, Keith Merrie, told the meeting: "We had a very early reply from the Transport Minister's office, with a few days in fact.

"The North West Leicestershire alliance is fully committed to the Ivanhoe Line.

"At Leicestershire County Council, we passed an almost identical motion. We're all behind it.

"It will cost a lot more to get the line right through to Leicester. Let's hope we can get the Government to open up the purse strings.

"But we must keep up the pressure to get the full line done, or at least stage two, without compromising stage one from Coalville to Derby.

"If stage two ends at the football stadium, supporters of rugby and football will be cock-a-hoop at that.

"CRIL say they will continue to campaign for the Coalville to Leicester link, the line can be funded in stages.

"We want the whole line done - but we don't want to stop stage one because we're waiting for stage two.

The former railway station building at Ashby. Photo: Ashby Nub News

"It's not true that this council wants to cancel the whole thing if there's no link to Leicester.

"On social media, it's been bandied around that we don't want the Derby link.

"CRIL say we should push for phase two straight away, which is what we've done with our motion, the letter to the minister, and the reply.

"We don't want to lose stage one."

Labour councillor, Murrae Blair-Park, said it was important to get 'markers down' and ensure the first stage of the line went ahead.

Cllr Merrie responded: "We don't want to lose it and we want the markers and pegs in the ground.

"But we want them to go from Derby to Leicester.

"Let's get what we can now, but let's not stop working on the other stages.

"We'll get great work done with everybody involved, no matter what government is in."

Committee chair, Cllr Terri Eynon, added: "No-one would disagree that we wish to support the work CRIL have been doing.

"It does feel as though it might actually now happen, it would be the best late Christmas present ever."