Support growing to name Melton bypass after local war hero

Acting Corporal Wojtak was one of 457 British service personnel who died in the war there with countless others sustaining serious injuries in the conflict.

Marcin, who lived in Melton, died when the patrol vehicle he was driving hit a roadside bomb in Helmand Province. He was 24.

He had been deployed there as part of a US-led coalition involving troops from NATO countries in the wake of the devastating 9/11 attacks on the US in 2001.

The sacrifices made by Marcin and the hundreds of other UK troops killed in Afghanistan have been highlighted following the recent disparaging and highly disrespectful comments made by US President Donald Trump.

In a TV interview on the future of NATO, he said the US had never needed fellow NATO troops, adding: "They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan... and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines."

The President later backtracked on those words, praising the ‘great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom’ without offering an apology for his original statement.

His initial words sparked a backlash of criticism from families of veterans, from politicians of all parties and from Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan.

There is now a strong campaign to honour Marcin by naming the North East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (NEMMDR), or a section of it, after him when it opens to traffic at Easter.

Leicestershire County Council will next month launch a public vote on the road’s official name, with residents able to choose from a shortlist.

Nick Pridden, chairman of the Melton branch of the Royal British Legion, has been in touch with Marcin’s family and he says it would be a fitting tribute to the Royal Air Force Regiment serviceman.

"We are going to speak to the local authorities to name this new road after Marcin but if we can’t we will do a sporting event with a trophy in his name,” he told the Melton Times.

Nick said it was his personal opinion that President Trump’s comments on NATO soldiers in Afghanistan were ‘disgraceful’ and ‘hurtful to the families and disrespectful to those who gave their lives’.

Melton MP Edward Argar also backs the idea of having Marcin’s name on the bypass. He has written to the council to ask them to consider naming different sections after local people so more individuals are honoured.

He said one of his suggestions to the authority had been to name the road, or part of it, after Marcin, if his family agreed.

Melton Borough Council leader, Pip Allnatt, said there was a strict four to six-week consultation process on potential names for a new road and it might be too late for the county council to consider adding Marcin’s name to the shortlist.

But Councillor Allnatt added: “I hope that the county officials could find an easy legal way to get Marcin’s name on the shortlist.

"If not perhaps we could, if the family wish it, bring his name onto the next shortlist for a road naming. I believe a great many people would support that.”

We are awaiting comment from the county council.