Garden gift
THE BIRSTALL Garden Trail, held in June,
raised £1,700 each for Birstall Methodist Church and the
Stroke Unit at Glenfield Hospital.
Our picture shows Sister Tracey Bowles (Ward Manager) receiving
an Oxymeter from John Kilby (Committee Chairman) and Rev Chris
Gray. Sister Bowles said that having its own Oxymeter would save
the ward vital minutes in diagnosing a patient’s condition.
Clarke acquitted
PARISH COUNCILLOR Chris Clarke has been
acquitted of a criminal charge that he took part in a debate
at Birstall Parish Council while being barred from doing so.
Cllr Clarke, of Harrowgate Drive, attended court on Monday August
13 for what was scheduled to be a five day hearing.
He was charged with the offence that on August 7, 2000, while
being a local parish councillor, he took part in a debate at
a Council meeting, when being barred from doing so by virtue
of holding a pecuniary or a non pecuniary interest, contrary
to section 94(2) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Less than an hour after the hearing had begun, with former Birstall
Parish Council Clerk Mrs Doreen Wilson giving evidence, the case
was dismissed. The Crown Prosecution Service solicitor agreed
with the defence that there was no case to answer as on the date
given in the charge, no debate on Hallam Fields had taken place.
Cllr Clarke was acquitted and awarded full costs.
Cllr Clarke lives beside the proposed Hallam Fields development
on land north of Harrowgate Drive. In October 1999 he was reported
to the Police by the then Parish Council Clerk Mrs Doreen Wilson
after he took part in Council discussions on Hallam Fields. The
Clerk took the view that Cllr Clarke should have declared a pecuniary
interest, and taken no part in discussion of this matter.
Cllr Clarke was interviewed by the Police but before the case
came to court, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided to
discontinue the proceedings against him on the grounds that it
would not be in the public interest to pursue the charge. Cllr
Clarke was awarded full costs.
After taking advice from their solicitors, Birstall Parish Council
resolved in August 2000 to report Cllr Clarke again for his continued
participation in discussions of Hallam Fields. As a result, Cllr
Clarke appeared in court on August 13, 2001, to face the charges,
which he denied.
The case against Cllr Clarke was dismissed because the prosecution
had not checked that on the date in the charge, August 7, 2000,
no debate on Hallam Fields had occurred.
Presiding District Judge Hollond commented that fundamental mistakes
had been made by the prosecution and a full enquiry was needed.
There was no doubt that had Cllr Clarke’s counsel not raised
the point on which he has been acquitted, he said, an acquittal
would have been sought on other grounds.
Cllr Clarke told the Birstall Post: “This whole matter has
been a bizarre and not very pleasant experience for me. What
concerns me most are the processes that the Council has followed.
“The council’s actions necessarily involved me in immediate
legal costs of thousands of pounds, not all of which I will be
able to recover in spite of being awarded full costs.”
If convicted, Cllr Clarke could have faced a legal bill of around
£10,000, a fine and the possibility of imprisonment.
Chairman of the Parish Council Nigel Coleman told the Birstall
Post: “The prosecution picked the wrong date for the charge
and because of that the matter has not been brought to a satisfactory
conclusion.”
When asked if the Council intended to continue to report Cllr
Clarke should he take part in discussions of Hallam Fields, the
Chairman said he had no comment to make at this stage.
Bach choir gift
Carolyn Necklen (centre) receives the £50
donation from Jonathan Wheeler (right), watched by Jane Corcoran
(left), the Highcliffe choir’s accompanist and also a member
of the Leicester Bach Choir.
HIGHCLIFFE PRIMARY School Choir will be
able to tackle some exciting new music thanks to their participation
in a major concert at Leicester Cathedral.
The Choir was one of three invited to participate in the Leicester
Bach Choir’s Christmas Concert and performed three songs
from the musical ‘Nativity 2000’.
Now the Choir has received £50 from the proceeds of the
concert which musical director Carolyn Necklen says will be spent
buying some exciting new music. She said: “The children
were delighted to be invited to perform with the Leicester Bach
Choir, and really enjoyed the experience of performing before
a major new audience.”
The cheque was presented by Jonathan Wheeler a member of the
Leicester Bach Choir and its committee who lives in Birstall.
He said: “The Leicester Bach Choir is keen to encourage
young people to take up singing, and inviting school choirs to
join us for selected concerts is part of this initiative.
“The audience really enjoyed the Highcliffe choir’s
performance, and we are glad that they found the experience valuable.
We hope they also enjoy singing the new music they will be able
to buy with our donation to them.”
Birstall wins promotion
BIRSTALL BOWLING Club had another good year at the Leicester
& District Parks Championship Finals at the end of July.
Wayne Parkin won the Final of the Singles by beating Roy Arnold
of Abbey Park 21-15. Jan Hunt of Birstall lost to Arnold in the
semi final. John Healey & Dennis Measom won the Senior Citizens
Pairs, beating Warren Warner & Bert Cooper of Aylestone Hall
by two shots. In the Final of the Fours, Ivan Slack, Dave Clarke
Wayne Parkin & Dennis Measom lost 22-25 to a four from South
Wigston skipped by David Ward and in the Semi Final of the Mixed
Pairs, Diane Hurst and Andy Wye lost by just one shot to eventual
winners Nilya Draper and Derek Bramley from Western Park 18-19.
Sue Wilson of Birstall won three matches in the Singles at the
World Blind Bowls Championships in Girvan, Scotland. She helped
the England team to third place out of ten countries in the overall
competition.
Diane Hurst & Andy Wye got through to the last 64 in the
National Mixed Pairs before losing to Elaine & Andy Irons
of Knighton in the Area Final.
Finally, Birstall will be playing in the First Division of the
Leicester League next season after gaining promotion. They did
it in style gaining 12 points in the last game, which should
also guarantee the Second Division title. The club only spent
one season in the Second Division having gone up from the Third
Division as Champions last season.
The outdoor season is coming to a close now with the internal
club competitions nearing completion. If anyone is interested
in joining the club next season, or for more information about
the club, please call Betty on 2216743 or Grahame on 2677994.
Girls’ Brigade holiday
(l-r) back row Susan Wheeler (Captain), Christine
Goodwin (Auxiliary), Miriam Gray, June Thrower (Auxiliary), Lucy
Goodrich, Karen Thrower (Lieutenant), Amy Goodwin, Carly Blackshaw.
Front row: Rachel Wheeler, Rachel Clarke, Gemma Hodson and Joanna
Haynes
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MEMBERS OF the 1st Birstall Girls’ Brigade enjoyed
an action packed adventure holiday in the Lech Valley, Tirol,
Austria.
The group took part in white water rafting, dry slope tobogganing,
walking, mountain biking and chair lift rides. In the evenings,
the group who were staying in a self catering chalet, went nine
pin bowling, rifle shooting and attended a Tyrolean evening with
traditional singing and dancing.
The coach was shared with a scout group from Ireland and both
groups got on very well together. The last evening was a joint
party at the scouts’ house, which was thoroughly enjoyed
by all.
Parish Council Notes
A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on August
13.
Cllr Chris Clarke questioned the recent expenditure of £2450
to the Council’s planning consultants for advice on the
Hallam Fields development, which he said could not be justified.
The Chairman Nigel Coleman commented that the decision to commit
these funds had already been approved by the Council.
PC Kevin Palmer reported that theft from motor vehicles on Watermead
Country Park car parks was a serious problem, and he stressed
the importance of locking all items in the boot. He was patrolling
the parks on his bike he said, and had pursued one thief who
had abandoned his bike in order to escape.
PC Palmer reported he was aware that certain individuals on Lambourne
Road were heroin users. Cllr Neville Mayes reported vandalism
to the footbridge on the weir south of Birstall lock.
Councillors discussed a planning application for a hot food takeaway
at 5 Kingsgate Avenue.
Cllr Dave Cherry reported that the surfacing on Wanlip Lane had
been left in a “diabolical state” following work by
Severn Trent.
Birstall Bowling Club have asked the Council to provide CCTV
on the School Lane playing field. The Council will reply that
it has neither the finance nor the manpower to finance such a
system.
The Council will apply to Leicestershire County Council for funding
for a basic pedestrian crossing on Sibson Road.
It was reported that Charnwood Borough Council are proposing
a gated barrier to restrict motor cycle access to Watermead Country
Park from Worcester Avenue.
Mr Jeffrey Cassidy has been co-opted onto the Parish Council,
to fill a vacancy.
Factory plans
PLANS FOR a factory that prepares solvent based adhesives
have been proposed for a site west of Birstall.
A company called Trelleborg, formerly Metalistik of Evington
Valley Road, have put in the planning application which was considered
by Leicester City Council’s Planning Committee in August
(after this issue of the Post had gone to press).
Concerned residents of the Glebelands development on the Leicester
Road have set up a community group to raise opposition to the
plans.
The proposed factory will be located on the Bursom Business Park
Extension, on the eastern side of the old Thurcaston Road and
on the northern boundary of the Mowmacre housing estate.
It will be open 24 hours a day, excluding Sundays, making anti-vibration
systems. Rubber compound is purchased from outside sources ready
mixed therefore there will be no carbon black used or stored
on the site. The compound will then be prepared for production
use by blending two or more of these compounds together with
the curing agents through a mixer and mill installation in order
to achieve the particular hardness required.
Metal parts are coated with adhesive to enable them to bond to
the rubber in the moulding process. Traditional solvent based
adhesives are used but more recently water based adhesives have
been used. Any fumes will emitted to the rear and the air will
be cleaned of solvent using a carbon filter abatement system
prior to discharge from the building.
The site, owned by Leicester City Council, covers 14 hectares
allocated for employment development. The current land use is
agricultural. The current factory has 720 vehicle movements a
day. The proposed workforce is 300.
The application number is PR/DC/GS20001O468.
New service
YOUR GUIDE is a new service being trialled in local Post offices
in the county, and provides free information about finding a
job, training, benefits, pension and other government services.
Your Guide was installed in Went Road and Stonehill Avenue Post
Offices in August and features a touch screen terminal, a freephone
telephone and a range of leaflets from Government Departments,
local councils and voluntary organisations.
Tombo play De Mont
MEMBERS OF the Birstall-based Tombo singing group helped
raise over £20,000 for the Leicestershire-based charity
‘Coping with Cancer’ which they performed in the Robert
Mandell Family Concert at the De Montfort Hall.
Tombo members teamed up with the Highcliffe School Choir, the
Leicester Philharmonic Choir and the Melachrino Strings &
Orchestra to present the concert, in which they performed in
a choral version of Sibelius’ Finlandia, an arrangement
of the 23rd Psalm (The Lord is my shepherd) arranged by Mr Mandell,
and a medley of songs from the musical Annie.
As reward for their efforts each member of the choir who performed
at the event received a personally signed letter from Russell
Birkett, the Charity’s Fundraising Manager, while musical
director Carolyn Necklen received a signed certificate on behalf
of the whole choir.
“On behalf of Coping with Cancer, I would like to say a
very big thank you to the girls from Tombo. The concert raised
over £20,000, which will help a great number of people
in Leicestershire who have either been diagnosed with cancer,
or are helping a relative through the experience”, Mr Birkett
said when handing over the awards.
“Your performance was excellent and I hope you carry on
with your singing, he added, before revealing that he had attended
Longslade School and learned music in the same Music Room where
Tombo rehearse!
Club host cup
THE HARD work done by Birstall Village Cricket Club Committee
has been recognised by the Leicestershire Senior Cricket League.
The club hosted the league’s Sunday Knockout Cup on Sunday
August 26.
Club spokesman Andy Corbett says “I must thank the Birstall
Parish Council Head Groundsman Andy Garland and his team for
providing good wickets, not just this year but for as long as
I can remember. The club have gained a good reputation for providing
safe wickets to play on and I know the ground staff are proud
of the work they do, not just on the cricket pitches but making
the park a very nice place to come and visit.
“Teams that come to Birstall have to give us marks out of
10 for pitches and club facilities and Birstall are second out
of 20 clubs. The league also fun a fairplay league, the winners
receive £150 prize money and we are also second in that.”
On the playing side the first team are still in trouble with
three games to go,. They need two wins to avoid relegation. The
second team are still in with a chance of winning their league.
Captain Steve Findley says “It’s an outside chance
but we need to put out a full strength team to compete at the
top but we’ll give it our best shot.”
The highlight of last month (which was also picked up by the
national press and every pub in Birstall) was the performance
by veteran Kev Woods. Kev took a hat-trick (three men out in
three balls) against Woodhouse Eaves with the last three balls
of the game to earn Birstall a draw. Kev says “The last
time I took a hat-trick was 29 years ago in 1972 and I was 26
years old. I still have the match ball on my mantelpiece as a
memento but at 55 years of age and in what could be my last season
I never thought I’d see two balls on the mantelpiece”.
The club have been struggling to field two teams lately: anyone
interested in playing cricket next year can ring club secretary
Andy Merry 2600590. The club are hoping to have indoor nets during
the winter at Longslade School.
Computers
A WHOLE range of exciting, up to date computer courses will
begin at Longslade and The Martin Community Centre in Anstey.
Both centres are offering courses for complete beginners, including
free taster courses in the week commencing September 10 and for
the more experienced there are also Internet Technologies (Web
design/E-mail etc), IBT2 and 3 and Computerised Accounts. For
those who want the new European, professionally recognised qualification
then information and advice about the European Computer Driving
Licence can be obtained at ww.longslade.freeserve.co.uk or telephone
0116 2673389. Other new computer courses will be publicised shortly
so please let us know what you would be interested in if you
have more specific requirements.
WEA courses
The WEA are offering a variety of courses this autumn in Birstall,
Rothley and Anstey with one or two new subject areas.
At Birstall on Monday evenings there will be a chance to learn
about your family history with Pat Grundy and on Thursday mornings
at the Methodist schoolrooms Eric Davies will be talking about
the development and history of the English house.
At the Rothley Centre on Tuesday mornings, Brian Taylor returns
after the very successful ‘Grand Tour of Europe’ to
tell us about the exploration and art of the wild west in the
19th century in a 15 week course entitled ‘Wagon Trains
West’. Whilst on Wednesday evenings Janis Baker returns
with ‘Artists of the twentieth century’.
The WEA are also, this year, putting on two courses at the Anstey
Martin High School. On Tuesday evenings Marc Hagarty will introduce
an Interior Design course, looking at colour theory and scheming,
fabrics and curtains, flooring, lighting and simple paint effects,
together with tips and a few trade secrets. Finally, on Thursday
evenings there will be a Garden Design course with Kim Sutherland
aimed at the novice who wishes to tackle their garden with greater
insight and confidence.
All these courses start during the week commencing September
24.
To find our more about these courses, phone the Branch Secretary
on 0116 2675212, pick up a brochure from your local library,
or visit our website: www.birstalland rothleywea.org.uk. Email:-
msmith@birstallandrothleywea.org.uk
Bradgate Park charges
BRADGATE PARK re-opened in July after a five month closure
because of the foot and mouth outbreak.
Bradgate Park Trust have increased the car parking charges.
Car/Van/Motorcycle: Mon-Fri, up to 2 hrs £1.50, 2-4 hours
£3, over 4 hrs £4. Sat, Sun, Bank Holidays, up to
2 hrs £2, 2-4 hrs £4, over 4 hrs £5.
Season tickets are available. These are valid for 12 months and
there is no waiting limit. The cost is £90. Concessionary
price is £60 for senior citizens and registered unemployed.
A limited concessionary season ticket is available for £45,
usable only on weekdays.
Parking for registered disabled drivers is free when an Orange
Badge is displayed.
More details from Bradgate Park Trust 2362713.
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