Members of the One Corby Policy Committee will decide on Tuesday whether to back plans to work with Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire, or pursue a Corby-led approach.

Corby MP Phil Hope is campaigning for a university in the town as part of the new £20m Tresham Institute campus.

His Kettering counterpart MP Phillip Hollobone believes calls for a university in just one of the towns would not be the best approach.

Wherever the main campus is based, Corby Council chief executive Chris Mallender thinks the best way forward would be to work on a mutual bid and has recommended that Corby councillors back his proposal on Tuesday.

He said: "We could continue to pursue our independent paths and compete for the limited funds available but a collaborative effort is considered to provide a more compelling way forward – one that is likely to succeed and one that will ultimately have a greater impact."

Mr Hope has been calling for Corby people to throw their weight behind his campaign before he presents his case to John Denham, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills next Wednesday.

And while Corby Council leader Pat Fawcett agrees with Mr Hope's campaign, she thinks the best way forward would be to work together now to secure something for the area.

She said: "We have to work in partnership to make sure a university gets to North Northamptonshire and basically argue later about what sits where.

"We will support Phil Hope but will work in partnership with Kettering, Wellingborough and Rushden.

"North Northamptonshire is a big place and we can't get into arguments or we will all end up as losers."

Kettering council leader Jim Hakewill said: "Kettering passed a similar resolution at its recent full council meeting and I very much hope that colleagues in Corby will support a similar motion.

"It's crucial that we unite as one, in line with the Evening Telegraph's campaign.

"Any question of where the campuses are located must be a secondary issue. It's a bit like arguing over the cask in the shop window and then realising you can't afford to buy it."


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