A motion to urge Network Rail to connect Coalville to Leicester as part of the Ivanhoe Line project, has been passed at a full council meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council.

Cllr Michael Wyatt proposed the motion after it was announced that a first phase of the line would run from Coalville to Derby, rather than to Leicester.

The Liberal-Democrat councillor argued that the Derby plan was 'half-baked' and not what had been expected after many years of campaigners to re-open the route, which was closed in the 1960s as part of the Beeching Cuts.

But an amendment proposed by Labour councillor Terri Eynon argued that National Rail's proposal to build the line from Coalville to Burton, linking to Derby after that, should be accepted.

She added that the Coalville to Leicester link could be considered after that, but referred to last week's article in the New Civil Engineer which claimed National Rail had cost that section at £271million.

Coalville councillor Michael Wyatt proposed the motion to push for a rail link to Leicester. Photo: Supplied

A recorded vote among councillors on Cllr Eynon's amendment was tied at 19, for and against, with the committee chairman Cllr Ray Morris, having the casting vote.

Cllr Wyatt said: "This motion is to make clear the council's stance on the Ivanhoe line which is supported by all political parties and the vast majority of residents.

"Currently, the plan is to only implement the Burton to Coalville line and then look again in the future at the Coalville to Leicester link which in my opinion, and many whom I have spoken to is half-baked and fails to deliver the whole infrastructure project which would have taken you directly into Leicester.

"Both economically and with a large sporting-related connection with Leicester such as football, rugby and cricket, I feel it would be a missed opportunity not to reinstate the Coalville to Leicester line which could help to address the growing problem of traffic congestion and most importantly air pollution which is increasing yearly.

"This council must send a strong message to network rail and the Department of Transport that we strongly encourage and urge them to fund the entire line and just half of the section.

"Any delay in the second section would inevitably cost more, and could potentially see the plans rejected due to further inflated costs.

"The HS2 project which is now being partially scrapped which I welcome was all pain and no gain for North West Leicestershire, but the Ivanhoe line is a strategic link which can help boost our local economy, our growing tourist industry, and open up better transport links for all residents to utilise."

The station at Ashby would be linked to Derby rather than Leicester. Photo: Ashby Nub News

Cllr Wyatt later commented: "Labour submitted an amendment which was accepting no link from Coalville to Leicester, and instead accepted a half-baked scheme which would only take you to Derby but not Leicester. Once again Labour cannot be trusted to fight for our area."

Ashby-based district councillor Kenny Horn said: "The Ivanhoe Line is a significant development for the people of Ashby and the surrounding area.

"It will hugely improve transportation links with other East Midlands towns and cities and help to reduce traffic and improve our carbon footprint. 

"I understand the opposition position to settle for bronze or silver, but I think there is a real opportunity to go for gold with a link between Coalville and Leicester."

But Cllr Eynon responded to the outcome of the meeting on social media and said: "The Conservative/LibDem Alliance have voted against the early delivery of the Coalville to Derby leg of the Ivanhoe line.

"Rather than accept a pragmatic approach – which would have seen work able to start next year as part of the Government's Restoring Your Railway fund – the Alliance want us to wait until the whole line can be delivered.

"NWLDC is a hung Council and this decision only got through on the casting vote of the Chair.

"Getting the Coalville to Leicester leg open will take time and money - at least £271M – and, whilst we all still want it, putting the first phase on hold while we wait for it is unhelpful.

"For the sake of residents in Coalville, Ashby, Castle Gresley and Swadlincote I can only hope that the Transport Minister sees the strategic importance of this East-West line and funds it anyway."