Parish Council notes
BIRSTALL PARISH Council held its precept meeting on November
26, 2001.
This is when the Council sets its budgets for the next financial
year, 2002-2003.
It was agreed that an increased sum of £140,000 be allocated
for wages and salaries.
The following allocations were made: play equipment and safety
surfacing £15,000; contingency £10,000; office equipment
£1000; Sibson Road enhancement £25,000; vehicle/tractor
£2000; cemetery building £1500; Sibson Road building
£2000; Gala - Golden Jubilee £2000.
Expenses to be met in the current financial year are the Crossways
car park fence and gates £8000, Crossways car park £35,000
and Sibson Road enhancement £10,000.
The Precept for the year 2002-2003 is £271,150. The previous
year’s figure was £260,000.
A full meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on December
12.
Cllr Chris Clarke questioned the accuracy, and omissions, in
the minutes of the previous meeting. Mr Hugh Knight, the clerk,
said that is was not possible to include in the minutes everything
that was said at Council meetings.
Cllr Dave Cherry reported that the majority of residents were
happy with the bus route along Allington Drive. He said that
some Allington Drive residents had deliberately parked their
cars to obstruct buses.
A member of the public commented that he read the crime figures
in the Birstall Post which painted a depressing picture. He said
he would like to read more about police successes, such as arrests
and convictions. PC Kevin Palmer said he would forward information
to the Birstall Post. [Editor’s note: I have found it difficult
to obtain this information from the police. When I asked to be
kept advised of police initiatives, operations etc, the Police
Press Officer declined, saying: “we can’t send press
releases to every newspaper that asks for them”.]
The Council has received a petition signed by 14 people objecting
to the proposal to extend the opening hours of the Crossways
car park from 6pm to 8pm. They say the car park is used for skateboarding
and football against the wall of the funeral parlour and that
after 6pm there are sufficient parking spaces in the Sibson Road
car parking bays and in the parking bay outside of the car park.
The Council agreed to suspend the decision to extend the opening
hours, pending further investigations.
PC Kevin Palmer reported that a young man had been arrested for
several incidents of motor vehicle crime in the village.
The Council agreed to consider in open session the matter of
whether or not to seek legal counsel’s advice regarding
Cllr Chris Clarke and his alleged non declaration of interest.
Cllr Tony Stott commented that Cllr Clarke had already said he
would not accept the decision of the county solicitor on the
matter. Cllr Clarke said he would accept their adjudication if
it was put before them fairly. He proposed a three hour meeting
where both sides could put their cases and be cross examined
in front of an independent Chairman. Chairman Nigel Coleman said
that this was an abhorrent suggestion and Cllr Stott said there
was no need for a meeting.
A new Code of Conduct for Parish Councils became law on November
27. The Council agreed to accept the Model Code, and to report
Cllr Clarke’s alleged misconduct to the Standards Board
for England.
Cllr Bernard Singleton reported that proposed highway changes
for the A6 now included waiting areas for vehicles exiting from
Park Road, Station Road and Tempest Road and turning right onto
the A6. He said a new Pelican crossing was proposed for the A6
near School Lane, and that these measures would be introduced
before the completion of the 151st dwelling on Hallam Fields.
Cllr Dave Cherry commented that he felt it was deplorable that
the Birstall Post Editor had published a letter containing facts
he knew to be incorrect [see letter from Editor on Your Say page].
The Council has agreed to contact Longslade Youth Tutor Mr Trevor
Wise to consider the possibility of extended facilities for children
aged 12-16 at the 10 Sibson Road building.
Two dog bins on the School Lane playing field have been destroyed
by vandals.
The Council has received a petition from 40 residents objecting
to the provision of a public seat on the Whiles Lane embankment
with a view over the river. They say the seat invaded their privacy
and could lead to an undesirable element gathering at the site.
The Council agreed to find an alternative site. One suggestion
was the lock by Mill Close.
Birstall Rugby Club have asked the Council for a venue to play
matches. Comment was made that there were not any available pitches
as demand from football clubs exceeded supply.
It was agreed to increase annual rent for allotment tenants by
£1 per annum, with effect from January 1,2002.
The date of the next meeting is January 14.
Festive parcels
SIXTY CHRISTMAS hampers were delivered to elderly and needy
residents in Birstall, in December, courtesy of the local charity
the Land and Lewis Trust.
Pic: loading a car with Christmas hampers are Land and Lewis
trustees Mrs Edith Murphy (left) and Mrs Margaret King.
Prize winning sausages
PRIZE WINNING butchers, Mark Patrick of Sibson Road, have
picked up another award, this time for their speciality sausages.
Mark’s ‘Melton Black’ sausage was voted the best
speciality sausage at the Melton and Belvoir Christmas Show.
The sausage, will which will be available in the shop from January,
was a blend of pork, black pudding and spring onion.
Mark Patrick’s who are celebrating their 20th anniversary
in 2001, have previously won gold medals for the pork pies which,
like the sausages, are all hand made on the premises.
Juniors football team 1956
back row: Dave Fisher, Barry Day, Mick Tanner,
‘Razza’ Perkins, ?, Neil Hartshorn? ; front row: Millar
Kennedy, Tony Stewart, ?, John Bellamy, Bill Andrews, Mick James
A READER of The Birstall Post who lives in Barbados and
reads the Post on the internet has sent in a photo of Birstall
Juniors football team.
Millar Kennedy of St Peter, Barbados, says the picture was taken
in 1956 and wonders if any reader can identify some of the players.
Planning
Mrs C Richardson - erection of single storey extension to
rear of semi detached dwelling. 5 Limetree Ave
Mr & Mrs Antonial - erection of 1st floor extension to side
of semi detached dwelling with dormer to front. 29 Elmfield Ave
Mr & Mrs Norton - erection of 2 storey extension to side
of semi detached house. 51 Orchard Rd
Mrs S Slipper - erection of single storey extension to side of
day nursery. Rainbow Nursery, Wanlip Lane
Mrs J Bowler - insertions of 2 dormer windows to front of semi
detached dwelling and dormer window to rear to create bedrooms
in roof space . 3 Church Road, Wanlip
Mr J Haynes - erection of 1st floor extension to side of semi
detached dwelling. 502 Loughborough Rd
Methodist church for you
THE METHODIST Church on Wanlip Lane have adopted a new slogan
“Here for You” with the object of telling the whole
of Birstall that the Church is here for all.
Part of the mission of the Methodist Church is to be of service
and one of the ways the church does this is to the local community
through the use of its premises.
A leaflet has been prepared showing our winter programme and
a list of contacts. The leaflet should be widely available -
watch out for it at various locations around the village or pick
it up from the Methodist Coffee Shop (open Tuesday to Saturday
mornings).
It is many years since churches were left unlocked for the passer
by to wander in for a quiet few minutes. Yet the churches in
Birstall are there to be used apart from just on Sundays. The
Methodist Church on Wanlip Lane is open every Friday morning
10.30am to 11.30am and you are welcome just to wander in and
to sit quietly and pray if you wish - or simply to have a look.
It will be open through the year from January 4. (It will not
be open on December 28, 2001).
The church has a short prayer meeting at 6.30 until 7.15 each
Wednesday evening in the church lounge.
On Sunday January 6 the church holds its annual Covenant Service
led by Rev Chris Gray. There will be two similar services one
at 10.30am and another at 4pm. The afternoon service is timed
especially so that friends from other churches especially St
James and St Theresa’s can share in this very special act
of worship. It is a very appropriate service for the start of
a new year. The words remind us of God’s readiness to enfold
us in His generous love, not dependent on whether we deserve
such love. Our response is that we accept whatever God’s
will is for each of us.
Whilst all are welcome to all services, if you have not been
to church recently, you might find the words used in the Covenant
Service rather too demanding. The following Sunday however, on
January 13, would be suitable for anyone, all age worship at
10.30am led by a young man from Syston, David Winstanley (who
incidentally is hoping to become a Methodist minister). On January
20 & 27 Rev Chris Gray will lead the morning worship and
will preach on the Baptism of Jesus (20) and the Calling of the
Disciples (27).
Booking opens in January for the Men’s Pantomime (Feb 12
to 16) ‘Little Miss Muffet’. Tel: 2675009 for tickets.
Proceeds from the pantomime go to various good causes, and is
likely to include the Vision 2000 project to do essential repairs
and cosmetic improvements to the church itself, also linked to
a church building project in The Gambia.
From Birstall Methodist Church
Village Watch news
ON DECEMBER 4 three members of the committee attended a best
practice seminar called by the Leicestershire Constabulary at
their force headquarters to listen to and discuss the best ways
that Neighbourhood Watches can help to combat the crime of distraction
burglary and similar types of crime.
The burglars target the old, inform, people living on their own
who while coping with their everyday life are vulnerable to these
types of crime.
Detective Superintendent Kelvyn Ashby who is seconded to the
Home Office outlined the serious concerns that the Home Office
has about this type of crime and how they intend to combat it.
Operation “Liberate and the Neighbourhood Watch Partnership”
is seen as one of the answers to this problem.
Detective Inspector Pat Parry, the head of this task force, outlined
some of the methods that these teams of burglars use. It seems
that they move all over the country dropping off the main motorways
to “do” a particular estate and then move off again.
Leicestershire has an ideal situation for this. Close to the
M1, the A46 and A47 and the A6. These teams of burglars live
in the lap of luxury and often net 1000s of pounds in one day.
He gave an instance of one person losing £30,000 from the
biscuit tin under the bed. He also stated that it was thought
that only 10% of this type of crime was reported. If it was reported
it was possibly days after the visit because the person didn’t
realise they had been burgled.
He then said what he thought that the Neighbourhood Watch in
Leicestershire could do about this. identify the vulnerable person,
possibly living alone. Ensure that they had adequate security
around the house. Watch members to report immediately a strange
person that was seen visiting, Take a note of the ‘white
van’ number. Go to the house and enquire if the person is
all right. Possibly help with that unkempt garden. Enlist the
help of Help the Aged or Social Services.
Birstall and Wanlip N.W. in conjunction with Help the Aged ‘Handy
Van Scheme’ already are able to arrange for security items
to be fitted free at vulnerable households. Advice is available
at our Saturday Advice Shop. The next one will be on Saturday
January 19 at the Old Council Offices, Sibson Road from 10am
till 12noon. If it is not possible to come to this event then
ring the local Neighbourhood Watch telephone number and it can
be followed up. Leicester 2676397.
Remember to get those new Christmas bicycles coded at this event.
From Peter Allen, Chairman Birstall NHW
Birstall Crime Figures November 2001
Burglary Dwellings 7, Burglary Others 5, Theft Pedal Cycle 1,
Theft from Motor Vehicle 6, Theft of Motor Vehicle 2, Damage
to Motor Vehicle 2, Theft 1, Criminal Damage 2.
Council tenants
AN ASSOCIATION that aims to look after the interests of Council
tenants has a representative from Birstall on the committee,
Bernard Crayfourd of Wanlip Lane.
The Association of Charnwood Tenants (ACT) meet every six weeks
to offer their opinions on a variety of housing issues. Also
attending meetings are Borough Council Officers and Councillors.
The aim of the A.C.T. is to look after the interests of Charnwood
Borough tenants by ensuring through consultation with those tenants
the housing service continually improves. The A.C.T. works in
partnership with Charnwood Borough Council and other agencies
to achieve this aim.
At the meetings the committee are regularly consulted on policy
changes and improvements in the service. A few of the most recent
issues that have been discussed are Rent Arrears Strategy, Anti-Social
Behaviour Policy, New Housing Information leaflets, Improvements
in the Re-let Procedure and Improvements in the Repair Services.
Cllr Bernard Crayfourd 148 Wanlip Lane, tel: 0116 2677385 represents
Birstall on the committee and all complaints and enquiries should
be referred to him.
Your Say...
For some time I have been involved with an Anstey based charity
Africa Aid.
A group recently returned from delivering aid to Sidi Kacam Hospital
in Morocco. The hospital nestles at the foot of the Atlas Mountains;
people in the region are very poor and unable to pay for medical
treatment. With the help of Africa Aid the very poor are now
treated free of charge. The hospital relies heavily upon support
from overseas aid groups and are so grateful for the help given.
The last trip was in November 2001 delivering wheelchairs, medicines,
gift packs for mums and their babies, laboratory and medical
equipment. This is an ongoing project, the next trip being early
2002. If anyone would like to be involved they would be made
very welcome. If anyone has unwanted knitting wool, baby clothes
age 0-3 months or anything that might be helpful to the project
please tel:0116 2674171 and I will arrange collection or alternatively
contact DFord@africaaid.freeserve.co.uk.
Thanks so much.
Patricia Bishop
According to a letter in the December Birstall Post (name
and address supplied) the Birstall Council has rolled over. I
agree. What has been achieved? The 600 houses are replaced by
900 houses. The land not used could have been used by tree planting.
We cannot obtain details of the following Greengate Lane alterations,
Park & Ride, or the owners of west Wanlip and central Wanlip
(please use Survey Map). A Park & Ride from the A46/A6 junction
with a new constructed road down to 2nd bus stop (the one after
the Greengate Lane/Sibson Road junction going into Leicester)
would decrease pollution a little but if a bus lane means taking
a car lane then pollution would increase a lot. Do the owners
realise that developing west Wanlip not central Wanlip and constructing
a footbridge over the A6 create pollution and danger. If Palmer
Tomkinson wants to be honoured then build in central Wanlip and
make west Wanlip part of the new Forest. Have the planners consulted
the bus people before any building?
I have some information from the city (surprise). The city realise
that Greengate Lane bridge and the bend is in the county and
that to alter anything would require help from Birstall Council.
The writer of the letter asks people to write to the MP (Stephen
Dorrell), our only chance of limiting the damage. If lots of
people write and the Council also write in we might get the Minister
for the Environment interested (The Minister is now the only
person who can help).
L Briers
After reading Mr Clarke’s unfounded accusations in December’s
issue of The Birstall Post I would like to respond.
Mr Clarke asks no less than 16 times how “you” (the
reader) would feel in 16 scenarios in which he appears to feel
victimised. My answer is “tied up in knots and in need of
help”. I wonder why he does not acknowledge that his own
choices are involved in this tedious saga.
Mr Clarke often states his legal position, but has side stepped
the ethical questions. Legally, electors’ rights are protected
by local government laws about financial interests, which state
councillors with “pecuniary (ie financial) interest”
on any matter should not speak as councillors on that matter.
Mr Clarke is the only councillor owning a house backing on to
the Hallam Fields development site, (the house being his “pecuniary
interest”). It is not enough to be squeaky clean, you must
be above suspicion by keeping out of council business when it
affects you personally. Mr Clarke could give his views freely
as a private citizen, either individually or via any other group
he chooses. It is only actions as a councillor that are regulated
and with good reason.
Mr Clarke’s pursuit of private freedoms in public office
is therefore controversial. One police investigation might be
unlucky, surely three indicates at best poor judgement? Mr Clarke
now has one conviction for criminal damage, one charge dropped
and an acquittal to his name. Since he was charged with taking
part in a Hallam Fields debate when no debate occurred inevitably
he was acquitted, and the court was displeased with the error.
That could be seen as getting off an a technicality rather than
a vindication, an opportunity to quit whilst ahead. Debates occurred
on other dates and still do. However convinced Mr Clarke is of
his legal defence, every TV viewer knows there are always two
sides in court. The prosecution case does not disappear just
because the defence is confident.
Obviously, no responsible council could refuse to assist the
Police with criminal investigations. When the accused is a member
of that Council who insistently demands information concerning
his own prosecution, a tangle inevitable results. Somewhere in
the tangle, the key issue has been lost. Mr Clarke could solve
his problems honourably at any time either by resigning or withdrawing
from all council discussions on Hallam Fields. As he refuses
to do either, the present mess is likely to drag on. It may be
exasperating, undignified, and a huge waste of everyone’s
time, but it is not the inexplicable persecution Mr Clarke portrays.
Finally Mr Clarke a few months ago in a debate in Council I repeated
the words of Oliver Cromwell to Lord Hampden repeated by Leo
Amery to Neville Chamberlain in the dark days of 1940, it is
now the beginning of 2002 and I quote them to you “You have
sat here too long for any good you have been doing, depart I
say and let us have done with you! In the name of God go!”
Bernard Crayfourd
After receiving a comment about a letter published in the
December issue of the Birstall Post. I thought it would be helpful
to explain my editorial policy on the publication of letters
on the Your Say page.
In principle I aim to publish all the letters that I receive.
Three exceptions are: if the letter is anonymous, the contents
are libellous, or if the letter is clearly nonsense or repetitious.
I reserve the right to edit letters but very rarely do so.
Because letters are not edited, it is possible they may contain
factual errors. In my view, the purpose of the Your Say page
is to provide a version of a village noticeboard, where residents
can come and stick up their views on any subject. Readers can
make up their own minds about the content of letters.
Of course, anyone who disagrees with one of our correspondents,
or wants to point out that they’ve got the facts wrong,
can reply in the next issue of the Post.
Another comment I’ve received is that Cllr Chris Clarke’s
letters are always in the Birstall Post and it’s unfair
to allow the letters page to become a platform for an individual’s
view.
In the last 18 issues of the Birstall Post (July 2000-Dec 2001),
five have contained a letter from Cllr Clarke. Letters from Cllr
Clarke are treated in exactly the same way as letters from any
other correspondent.
I have been asked to explain why ‘name and address supplied’
is printed at the foot of some letters. Sometimes I receive a
letter for the Your Say page, which must include the writer’s
name and address, and the writer requests anonymity. On these
occasions, ‘name and address supplied’ is printed,
and the writer’s name will not be passed to any third party.
Anonymous letters are not published.
Jerry Jackson (Editor, The Birstall Post)
A ‘worried grandfather’ wrote in your last issue
about the skateboarders’ half pipe down at Meadow Lane.
My understanding is that this project cost £18,000 and
not £35,000+ as he wrote. Also £10,000 came from
the Borough Council,. The half pipe has been built on the Meadow
Lane playing field and not on Birstall United’s grounds,
and it is well used by young people.
Name and address supplied
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I was angered by three letters in December’s Birstall
Post.
The first was from Mr C D Clarke.
For the last two years I have supported Mr Clarke in parish council
meetings, either voting with him on the subject of his Declaration
of Interest or abstaining, as the law on this matter is complicated
and I could not honestly say I knew whether Mr Clarke’s
view or the opposing view was correct.
However, Mr Clarke’s letter was so one-sided and full of
half-truths that I have to object.
His claim, that he had been vindicated in court was nonsense,
as both cases were decided on technicalities before the matter
of his Non-Declaration of Interest was considered. He also stated
that he had not been given the opportunity to put his case in
Council. Anyone who has been present at a council meeting will
know that many hours have been wasted listening to his tirades
on this subject, hampering Council business on every occasion.
The Chairman has been regularly subjected to verbal abuse from
Mr Clarke, once in the presence of a senior police officer, and
the new Clerk was harangued even before he had taken up his post.
Other parish and borough councillors have also been abused, and
I understand that, unforgivably, a member of the office staff
also suffered such treatment.
The Council recently offered to seek Legal Counsel’s opinion
on this case, but Mr Clarke commented that he would only accept
this if the barrister agreed with his view.
Need I say more?
The second letter from ‘Name and Address Supplied’
criticised the council for spending money on a skateboard ramp
for the young people of the village, instead of bailing out Birstall
United F.C. Wildly inaccurate costs were quoted, unfounded allegations
of drug abuse were made and offensive remarks were made about
councillors’ knowledge of village activities.
For many years I ran an amateur sports club, which produced two
junior internationals. We funded ourselves. My son is a member
of Birstall C.C. Football Club. If they are short of money, they
engage in fund-raising. Birstall United F.C. is already subsidised
by Birstall Parish Council in that they rent their ground for
a nominal amount.
Your correspondent, who did not have the decency to identify
himself, should address his criticism to the officials (and more
especially the past officials) of Birstall United F.C. and ask
them where their money has gone. It is known that the Junior
Section is viable so what have the Seniors done with their money?
The third letter, full of criticism of the Parish Council was
mainly about planning matters although the writer contradicted
himself by complaining that the Council had wasted money on consultants
while fighting the Hallam Fields Development (the largest campaign
against a development by any local council in the UK) and then
ludicrously stating that they “have done nothing to stop
the bandwagon rolling”.
Again the writer was too cowardly to identify himself, preferring
to hide in his cave while the attack took place.
The members of Birstall Parish Council give up their time freely.
There is no pay, no compensation for loss of income and no expenses
are paid. I have had to take time off work due to daytime meetings
and the Chairman, Nigel Coleman, almost resigned because his
business was suffering due to his unpaid Council work. We are
not the only ones.
And yet we are attacked by correspondents such as this, a know-all
with 20-20 hindsight who does nothing himself but delights in
telling hardworking, public-spirited citizens what they should
have done and who seems to be very ignorant of the functions
of the various levels of local government.
Birstall Parish Council is not a planning authority. We have
a part-time clerk, with two part-time assistants. We do not have
planning officers. We mainly employ groundsmen, because our main
brief is to provide parks, playing fields, playgrounds and a
cemetery as well as a village hall. About £217,000 of our
budget (80%) is spent on the maintenance of the village’s
assets (including wages) and the replacement of items such as
play equipment.
Because of this - and because our staff are first-class - we
have some of the best playing fields in the county, on which
football, cricket, bowls and rounders finals were played last
season. Our playground equipment has been upgraded with many
new items built to the latest safety standards.
That is why our parish rate is high. If ‘Name and Address
Supplied’ is dissatisfied he should move to Wanlip, Cossington
or Ratcliffe. They have a low rate and no playing fields, no
parks, no play equipment and no cemetery.
As only 17 people put their name forward for 21 Council seats
at the last election we must assume that in the village there
are some like the members of the Parish Council who stand up
to be counted and try to do their best for Birstall, and others
who stay at home, do nothing and criticise.
It is obvious which category ‘Name and Address Supplied’
belongs to.
Peter West
Vice-Chairman, Birstall Parish Council
I am writing about the skateboarding facilities in Birstall
and Leicester. Firstly I would like to say that the new mini
ramp is great but it seems to be a place where people can just
sit on the ramp and talk. Skaters cannot use the ramp because
it is covered with violent people who get in the way
Secondly many people think that because the ramp is there that
skateboarders will not be seen anywhere else. Many people have
approached me saying that I should be at the mini ramp.
Frankly I don’t think the ramp is enough. Sure it is a good
spot but Leicestershire should have a decent skatepark. New skaters
cannot use the ramp because it is too hard.
Neal Hill
May I thank, through the Birstall Post, all the wonderful
people who gave their time in the rain to buy a poppy from me
once more. I was astounded by this year’s total of £218.09,
this is fantastic and makes it all worthwhile. I would like to
thank the children who ran up to me and were only too ready to
part with their pennies and had heard all about the Legion. This
is due to the schools teaching this as part of the school curriculum.
And to the little boy who asked me how could he be a poppy seller
a special thank-you, I will keep my patch warm for you. Once
again to all of you who made this fantastic effort for Birstall
possible, a heartfelt thank you.
See you again next year along Sibson Road.
Mrs V A Joyce, Birstall Women’s Section of the Royal
British Legion.
The Birstall Methodist Women’s Group would like to thank
everyone who helped in any way with our ‘Afternoon of Fun’
on 11th December in aid of our project - the Alzheimers Society
and Society for the Blind (Children’s Section)) we raised
£239.20
Many thanks for your support.
June Strong
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Age Concern info
•Women Over 70 Win Right to Free Breast
Screening
The Government is extending free breast cancer screening on request
to women over 70, junior health minister Hazel Blears announced
during an adjournment debate on October 23.
Ms Blears said that women aged over 70 would be entitled to free
screening every three years - though they would not receive invitations
to attend. Women who had previously been screened would be told
of their right to free tests. A leaflet and video was being prepared
with Age Concern to publicise the right to screening of women
aged 65 and over.
Ms Blears said the government was not ignoring men. An additional
£6 million was being spent on two new research centres
that would look at screening and treatment for prostate cancer.
•The Promise of Half Price Coach Fares
in 2002/03
Older people are to get half price fares on long distance coaches
sometime in the next financial year, transport minister John
Spellar said during the second reading debate on the travel concessions
(eligibility) bill on November 5.
“Many older and disabled people rely on coaches to travel
long distances, especially to maintain family links, so I am
sure that they will welcome a free pass entitling them to half
price fares” Mr Spellar said.
In return for offering half price fares, coach companies would
get fuel duty rebate for the first time. In a statement the following
day, Mr Spellar said the intention was to introduce regulations
after detailed consultation with operators which would come into
effect during 2002/03. The scheme is expected to cost £10
million.
Scotland and Wales will be consulting on their own schemes at
the same time.
•Home and Personal Safety - Smoke Alarms
The National Community Fire Safety Centre (NCFSC), has been running
a campaign in September to promote the use of smoke alarms. Older
people are one of the key target groups of the campaign.
With the smoke alarms campaign in mind, Age Concern England has
been advised by the NCFSC that its advice regarding the placing
of smoke alarms is not consistent with their guidelines and it
is not best safety practice. The references in question, that
were checked by safety experts, were published in one of the
booklets accompanying: Resource Pack 23, Home and Personal Safety.
The title of the booklet is - Safety and Security at Home. The
fourth bullet point on page three should say: “A smoke alarm
should be fitted between the living and sleeping areas, in a
two storey house usually at the bottom of the staircase. For
extra protection, additional alarm(s) should be fitted on all
the upstairs landings.” The last bullet point on page six
should say “A smoke alarm should not be fitted in the kitchen”.
Because smoke alarms need to be sensitive, if placed in kitchens
they will frequently be triggered by ‘smoke’ produced
in the normal course of preparing food. People often then remove
the power supply to avoid the hassle, rendering the alarm useless.
The best place for positioning a smoke alarm in a single storey
home is between the living and sleeping areas. Where there is
more than one floor, it is strongly recommended that a second
smoke alarm is fitted on the landing; or that one is fitted on
each landing if more than one upstairs floor exists.
It is a crucial to ensure that smoke alarms are fitted where
they will provide a clear audible warning to all people in a
dwelling, even when sound asleep. If the inhabitants experience
limited hearing, smoke alarms will need to be selected with this
in mind. Alarms that connect to a vibrating pad and a strobe
light are available on the market although they are somewhat
expensive compared with other smoke alarms. A recent addition
to the range of alarms available includes one with a ‘hush’
button. This may be pressed to silence an alarm for approximately
10 minutes. If a real emergency were to occur during this period
the hush button would be overridden.
Full details regarding smoke alarms can be found in a new booklet
‘Excuses Kill: Get a Smoke Alarm’, that has been produced
by the NCFSC. Copies of this booklet are available free from
your local fire brigade, via the Community Fire Safety Officer
(CFSO). For further information contact: The National Community
Fire Safety Centre (NCFSC), Room 740 Horseferry House, Dean Ryle
Street, London SWIP 2AW Tel: 020 7217 8399. Fax: 020 7217 8731.
•Digital Hearing Aids Offer Best ‘Chance
to Change Lives’
Backbench MPs are pressing government to speed up the provision
of modern digital hearing aids.
Fewer than 5 per cent of the 2 million people currently using
a hearing aid have a digital one and a further 3 million people
could potentially benefit from one, an early day motion suggests.
Currently a third or people to not use their outdated NHS hearing
aids as they provide little benefit.
The digital aids cost £2,500 if bought privately, yet the
NHS could get them for about £150 if it was buying large
numbers. At a cost equivalent to less than one day in hospital
‘ no opportunity exists in the NHS to change so many lives
so radically, the 174 MPs who have signed EDM 317 argue.
While welcoming the creation, jointly with the RNID, of the first
20 modernising hearing aid services, the motion argues that more
are needed soon. The universal provision of digital hearing aids
would reduce public expenditure as people would be able to work
for longer and they would experience greater well-being.
A second motion, EDM 339, put-down by shadow health secretary
Liam Fox, claims that waiting times for heading aids have increased
in the last two years. The motion, which 23 MPs have signed,
suggests some people are waiting up to two years before they
receive even an old-style hearing aid.
J Woods
Chairperson Age Concern Birstall & Wanlip
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