UPDATE: Eco Town Plan Under Fire - Let's hear it for Leicestershire (comment)

Opposition councillors have set up a group to investigate the pros and cons of the eco-town.

Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green city councillors said they were worried about the impact of the 15,000-home town proposed by Co-operative Estates for land south-east of Leicester.

They were also concerned Labour council were being won over to the plans by promises of a tram for the city.

The group wants to find out if the Pennbury development is a "done deal".

Councillor Ross Grant, chairman of the committee, said: "Through this group, we can carry out relevant investigation, including asking officers for briefings and also requiring the administration to be transparent about its involvement in discussion with Government and the developer.

"I'm very worried that the council is blinded by promises of trams that could come to nothing - such as the park-and-ride scheme at the football stadium."

Councillor Hussein Suleman, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, and Councillor Matt Follett, Green Party leader, will be vice-chairmen of the group.

Coun Suleman said: "There remain unanswered questions on the impact on health and education services.

"We need to ensure the five tests the ruling administration has put forward are being met, as well as ensuring any such tests are not governed by Labour Party national interests."

These days, there are few prejudices people feel comfortable displaying in public, but you can always get away with being rude about the Midlands.

This dismissive attitude goes back a long way. Hilaire Belloc described the Midlands as "sodden and unkind", and when Leicester council engaged a London advertising agency to boost the city's image, it was naturally offered an achingly ironic campaign with the slogan "Boring, boring Leicester".

As with all prejudices, the most insidious effect of "Midlandsism" is the way its victims internalise it.