Charnwood

Charnwood is a local government district with borough status in the north of Leicestershire, England. It is named after Charnwood Forest, much of which lies within the borough. The council is based in Loughborough, the area's largest town. The borough also contains the towns of Shepshed and Syston, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. In the south of the borough it includes parts of the Leicester Urban Area, notably at Birstall and Thurmaston. The neighbouring districts are Melton, Harborough, Leicester, Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth, North West Leicestershire and Rushcliffe. History The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time: Barrow upon Soar Rural District Loughborough Municipal Borough Shepshed Urban District Prior to the new district coming into being there was some debate as to what name it should take, with alternatives considered including "Loughborough and Soar Valley", "Greater Loughborough" and "Soar Valley". A committee of the three outgoing councils chose Soar Valley as its preferred option but was overruled by the government, which went instead for the committee's second choice of Charnwood, after the Charnwood Forest which covers the western part of the district. The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.