Labour candidate Damilola Ojuri pledges to give residents clear and honest information about what the council can and cannot do for local communities.
Major local concerns centre on airport development, disputed planning allocations and protecting the community’s voice through the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan.
Damilola will also work with Amanda Hack MP to fight for better connectivity, while ensuring residents’ views are properly represented on planning and development proposals locally and nationally.
The by-election on Thursday 1st October follows the death of Councillor Nick Rushton, who represented the ward for many years. With significant development and infrastructure proposals affecting the area, Damilola says residents deserve a councillor who will listen to their concerns, scrutinise proposals and be honest about where decisions are ultimately made.
Damilola has served as a Town Councillor in Ashby-de-la-Zouch since 2023 and served as Ashby Mayor in 2025. Damilola says this experience has given her practical insight into how local government and elected representatives can work together to deliver for residents.
Alongside council work, Damilola regularly participates in charity events, careers events, conferences and community activities across Leicestershire. Her professional background in technology and consultancy has involved working across complex programmes, managing stakeholders and delivering projects in challenging environments.
I will be straight with residents. I will tell you what I can influence, what I can fight for, and where decisions ultimately sit elsewhere. - Damilola Ojuri
If elected, Damilola has pledged to:
Make sure residents have a voice in planning decisions, representing the community at relevant council committees, consultative bodies and discussions involving planning and East Midlands Airport.
Keep residents honestly informed, explaining clearly what decisions are being made, why they matter, who is responsible and how local people can have their say.
Challenge planning proposals where appropriate, ensuring decisions are properly scrutinised and residents’ voices are heard, and fought for.
Push for better public transport and connectivity, campaigning alongside MP Amanda Hack to push Leicestershire County Council to seek sustainable bus provision, reconnecting Long Whatton, Loughborough and the surrounding villages.
Speaking about why she chose to stand, Damilola said:
“I am standing because I believe my experience can be put to work for the residents of Long Whatton, Diseworth and Belton. I will listen to residents, understand their issues, challenge where necessary and work constructively to deliver the best possible outcomes for the community.
Most importantly, I will be straight with residents. I won’t make promises simply because they sound good on a campaign leaflet. I will tell you what I can influence, what I can fight for, and where decisions ultimately sit elsewhere. Where they do, I’ll work hard with our local MP Amanda Hack to push for the improvements you want to see.”
Freeport
Another key focus for many residents is the significant development activity around East Midlands Airport and the Gateway corridor, and Damilola believes residents deserve clear information about what these proposals could mean for their communities. One of the major issues is the proposed East Midlands Gateway 2 development.
The proposals involve complex planning processes at both local and national level. The district council will have an important role in scrutinising the proposals, including the MAG/Prologis application, which is expected to come before the planning committee, while the SEGRO application is being considered through the national planning process in Whitehall.
Amanda Hack MP has already made representations on behalf of residents in relation to both applications. If elected, Damilola will ensure that local residents’ voices are represented at district level and will work closely with Amanda to ensure the community’s voice is heard on the national application.
Damilola added:
“There is a huge amount happening around Diseworth, Long Whatton and Belton – residents deserve a councillor who will give them straight answers. I won’t pretend that every decision sits with the District Council. But where the council does have influence, I will use it. Where decisions sit elsewhere, I will work with the people who have that responsibility to make sure residents’ voices are heard.”
Working alongside MP Amanda Hack to improve transport will be a key focus of Damilola’s campaign, even though many transport responsibilities sit with Leicestershire County Council rather than the district council.
