Cllr Jess Melrose: Warwick District Councillor for Clarendon

16/06/2026

11/06/2026

As the World Cup gets underway tonight, many people across Warwick District will be looking forward to supporting their teams and enjoying the tournament with family and friends.

Sadly, evidence from previous major football tournaments shows that domestic abuse incidents can increase when England play. This serves as an important reminder that domestic abuse is a serious issue that affects individuals, families and communities throughout the year.

Domestic abuse is never acceptable. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home and relationships.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse, support is available:

📞 Warwickshire Domestic Abuse Service (Refuge): 0800 408 1552

📞 National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24 hours): 0808 2000 247

📞 Safeline : 01926 402 498

As many matches take place in the evening, it is also important to remember that support is available for anyone who feels vulnerable or unsafe while out in the district.

Warwick District Council's Safe Space, located at South Lodge at the entrance to Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa, is open on Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to 4am, providing a safe and welcoming place for support and assistance.

🚨 In an emergency, always call 999. If you are unable to speak, use the Silent Solution by pressing 55 when prompted.

No sporting event is an excuse for abuse. As we enjoy the tournament, please remember to look out for friends, neighbours and family members who may need support.

10/06/2026

⬇️ Statement from Leamington Labour councillors on Reform’s attacks on Warwickshire libraries

Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch is once again attacking the LGBT+ community and library staff.

This is an incredibly dangerous move, which speaks volumes about Reform’s damaging agenda on the County Council. It harks back to the dark days of Section 28, which itself started with censorship in libraries.

It is also yet another distraction from the issues that matter most to Warwickshire residents, such as fixing potholes and protecting local services.

A child having same-sex parents is not gender ideology. Nor is it promoting an ideology for people to have the option, if they choose, to read books with a range of characters that represent the diversity of Leamington’s community. Libraries exist to provide knowledge and ideas from across society.

We all know that books reflect different ideas and viewpoints. That’s the whole point. The answer in a free and tolerant society is never to remove books because a politician feels offended by them.

To Cllr Finch we say: stop the culture-war tirade over which books people are allowed to read, and focus on the actual everyday challenges facing local communities.

We will always be allies to all LGBT+ people in Leamington Clarendon and reject attempts to stoke hate and division.

Signed by
Josh Lewis - Candidate in the Town Council by-election
Chris Knight - District Councillor
Jess Melrose - Labour Warwick District Leader and District Councillor
Chris King - District Councillor

17/05/2026

Out yesterday with Cllr Chris Knight: Warwick District Councillor for Clarendon, Chris King - District Councillor for Leamington Clarendonand local activist Josh on one of our regular community ward walk, listening to residents and tackling local issues together.

Our first stop was on Clarendon Avenue, where part of a car light had become stuck in a tree. County council has been contacted who are now arranging action next week.

We also visited Newbold Comyn East where new metal barriers are being planned to help stop travellers accessing the site again and protect the area for local residents.

Residents also raised concerns about dangerous tree overhang at end of Wathen Road, with branches looking ready to fall. This has now been reported so it can be dealt with before it becomes a safety issue.

We also at Wathen road inspected the alleyway with no lighting, an issue that has been raised by several people locally. We’ll be pushing for improvements to help make the area safer and more secure for everyone.

Finally we meet with Councillor Jim Sinnott - Warwick Saltisford and Aylesford to discuss ASB in our town centre.

If there are issues in your area, please keep letting us know your feedback helps us take action and get things done for our community.

01/05/2026

Renters’ Right Act

As Portfolio Holder for Housing, I welcome the Renters’ Rights reforms which came into effect today.

Since starting this role last August, the volume of housing casework that has come across my desk has made one thing clear: too many residents are still experiencing insecurity in their homes, poor housing conditions, and uncertainty about their rights when things go wrong.

Across Warwick District, where there are around 27,500 renters, these reforms will make a real and meaningful difference.

For residents, this means greater stability and stronger protection. Ending “no-fault” evictions will help prevent people being forced to move with little notice, reducing disruption to their lives and helping more people feel secure in their homes.

We also continue to see significant casework linked to poor property conditions, including damp, mould, and delays in repairs. These changes strengthen expectations on landlords to maintain decent, safe homes and give tenants more confidence to challenge issues without fear of losing their tenancy.

Clearer rules around rent increases and tenancy arrangements will also help residents plan with greater certainty and avoid sudden financial shocks.

For the council, this strengthens their ability to intervene earlier, reduce crisis cases, and focus more on prevention rather than emergency response.

Importantly, this is not about undermining responsible landlords. It is about creating a fairer, more consistent system where good landlords are supported, poor practice is tackled, and residents are properly protected.

The focus now is ensuring these new rights are properly enforced so residents can feel the real benefit in their homes and communities.

27/04/2026

Newbold Terrace East

I want to update residents about the situation at Newbold Terrace East, Leamington Spa.

As many are aware an unauthorised encampment is currently on site. Council officers and the Police attended to assess the situation.

A legal Notice of Direction has been issued. This is a formal step that is required to be taken which sets out a clear deadline for the site to be vacated by Thursday. It ensures we follow the proper legal process while working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Bins are being provided to help keep the area tidy, and the site is being regularly monitored by Community Wardens and the Police.

If the site is not vacated by the deadline, the Council will apply to the courts for further action to regain possession of the land.

If you have any concerns, please report them to the Police on 101.

03/04/2026

Leyes Lane site sold but what this means for Kenilworth and Warwick District?

You may have seen the news this week that the Leyes Lane site (the former Kenilworth School site) has now been sold to Homes England.

This is an important step because responsibility for the site has now moved from the council to Homes England, who will bring forward plans for housing on the site.

This land was allocated for housing back in 2019, so some form of development here has been expected for a number of years. Leaving the site empty wasn’t a long-term option, and in the meantime the council was still responsible for the site and the ongoing costs that came with it. Selling the site means those costs now stop, which saves council taxpayers money.

The key issue now is making sure that what gets built is right for Kenilworth. That means the right level of affordable housing, proper infrastructure, and making sure local concerns about traffic, schools, health services and green space are properly considered as plans develop.

A local residents group has already been set up and has started meeting with council officers and Homes England so that local people are involved early in the planning process, not just asked for their views at the end.

If you live nearby or want to be involved in shaping what happens on this site, please message me and I will connect you with the group so your views are part of the conversation.

I will keep sharing updates as this progresses so residents can see what’s happening and have a say along the way.

01/04/2026

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, in partnership with Warwick District Council will be carrying out a planned training exercise at Christine Ledger Square, Leamington Spa tomorrow, between 10am and 1pm.

The exercise has been designed to test firefighters’ response to a simulated fire in a high-rise building. The Christine Ledger Square building has been chosen as it is unoccupied. Although there will be no real fire or risk to the public, local residents and businesses may notice fire appliances, crews and some noise disruption in the area during this time.

Find out more: https://orlo.uk/0QvD4

25/03/2026

Great to attend and speak at Action 21’s 30th anniversary.

It was inspiring to hear from so many speakers sharing Action 21’s journey, from its beginnings as a local response to global challenges to the community led organisation it is today, working closely with so many partners.

I spoke about how, over the past three decades, Action 21 has grown into so much more than a collection of projects. It’s about people, community, and turning ideas into real action that makes a difference locally. That includes important work alongside partners like the Warwick District Homeless Team, supporting people with housing and wider community needs. With the pressures we’re all seeing around housing, energy, transport and the environment, Action 21’s ethos of think global, act local feels more important than ever. It’s a reminder that even the biggest challenges can start to be tackled at a local level.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers, staff, partners, councillors and residents who have made this possible over the past 30 years. None of it would have happened without your dedication, and as we look ahead, that same commitment will be just as important.

24/03/2026

Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) Update

The item on Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) has been withdrawn from tonight’s licensing committee agenda.

This allows time for further clarification and to review the accessibility of the maps provided.

I will update once revised report is ready.

Thank you to all who have provided their thoughts and feedback.