Car crash carnage
A MOTORIST who lost control of his vehicle
on Wanlip Lane collided with two cars, writing them off before
turning his vehicle over and fleeing the scene.
Wanlip Lane resident Bernard Crayfourd heard a loud bang outside
at 11.45pm on Sunday January 10. When he went outside to investigate
he found his car wrecked and a large 4x4 Isuzu lying on its side
in the road.
“I felt sick” said Mr Crayfourd. “My car is a
write off and if anyone had been around at the time they would
have been flattened.”
Police say the Isuzu, travelling from Birstall to Wanlip, took
the chicane at the brow of the hill too quickly, mounted the
pavement, knocked over a bollard, drove over the top of Mr Crayfourd’s
Astra before colliding with the back of a Nissan Micra owned
by his neighbour Miss Valerie Dawson. If then turned over on
its side and witnesses saw the driver running away from the scene.
Mr Crayfourd is a disabled driver and Parish Councillor who relies
on his car for mobility. “I need it for Parish Council business,
for RAFA and my work with the Lions” he said. “This
chicane should never have been put here, as it’s too close
to a parking bay and heavy vehicles are avoiding it and going
down the wrong side of the road” he added.
Miss Dawson only moved into her home on Wanlip Lane three weeks
ago. She said: “I am very angry and utterly disgusted with
this driver.”
In the days following the crash, vandals smashed up Mr Crayfourd’s
car by breaking all the windows with concrete blocks, stealing
his music cassettes, and gloves and walking stick from the car
as well as two of his medals: the General Service Medal with
Malaya clasp and the Queen’s Coronation Medal.
Mr Crayfourd said: “I’m absolutely sick about this.
It’s hard enough losing my car but to lose these medals
as well! I would like to appeal to the people that took them
to return them to me.”
Anyone with information for the Police can contact PC Kevin Palmer
on or the anonymous Police Crimestoppers number.
Centre attacked
THE COST of clearing up the damage and
litter caused by vandals at the Greengate Medical Centre is running
into thousands of pounds.
“This is all NHS money that should be being spent on patient
care” said the Practice Manager Duncan Mann.
What started off as a small problem 18 months ago has got worse
as up to a dozen young people, some of them with skateboards,
gather in the medical centre’s ground out of hours.
“We installed CCTV cameras a year ago which we hoped would
act as a deterrent, but we’re still having problems most
nights” said Mr Mann.
Damage to date includes a letter box being ripped off, signage
being destroyed and litter including broken glass, syringes and
condoms. There was also an arson attack on a builder’s caravan
on the site in January.
Mr Mann said: “Our staff feel intimidated by these young
people. Our cleaning staff were inside one evening at 7.30pm
when a window was smashed.
“It’s also costing us a lot of time and effort clearing
up after these lads”.
The CCTV system cost £4000 and the practice is considering
securing the centre with metal railings at an estimated cost
of £5-10,000.
Mr Mann said: “The Police have done what they can - we have
been able to identify some of the boys from the CCTV tapes and
they have been visited by the Police. But the action they can
take is very limited.”
He added: “I’d like to appeal to the parents of these
young people to do what they can to stop them visiting the centre
grounds. It is such a waste of our resources and energy.”
He explained that the NHS operated a Zero Tolerance policy when
staff feel intimidated. He said: “We can’t be expected
to provide medical services to these people and if we can identify
them we have the right to remove them from our patient list”.
Parish Council notes
A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council
was held on January 14.
The Council resolved to leave the opening hours of the Crossways
car park unchanged. The car park will close at 6pm.
The Council agreed to accept Charnwood Borough Council’s
recommendation to reduce the number of Parish Councillors in
Birstall from 21 to 20.
Cllr Margaret King has resigned from the Parish Council. It was
agreed to write and thank her for her outstanding contribution
as a councillor.
It was agreed to recommend the residential development of the
Holt for the Charnwood Design Awards 2002.
During ‘any other business’ several councillors criticised
the chicanes on Wanlip Lane as presenting a hazard to cyclists,
pedestrians and motorists. It was agreed to request that the
County Council have another look at the road layout.
The date of the next meeting is February 11.
Drug information
IF YOU’RE concerned in any way about
drugs in Birstall, or just simply want to find out more about
the issue, an informal and entertaining evening is being planned.
The Birstall and Wanlip Drug Forum have organised a ‘Quiz
and Information night’ at Birstall Village Hall on February
19 at 7.30pm.
The evening will include presentations by parents of drug users
talking about the issue and an entertaining quiz. The Police
will be present with a display of drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Parents, young people and anyone else who is interested are being
invited to attend.
Train link
A COMPUTER link between Loughborough and
Birstall utilising the Great Central Railways track is being
planned.
Instead of a locomotive and carriages, a vehicle called a Parry’s
People Mover would carry passengers between Birstall, Rothley,
Quorn and Loughborough at peak commuter times.
The scheme is being championed by Loughborough MP Andy Reed,
who has described the vehicle as a cross between a train and
a tram. He says that People Movers cost half as much as a tram
and were half as expensive to run.
A meeting was held in December to discuss the feasibility of
the plan and was attended by representatives from the Great Central
Railway, Leicestershire County Council, Charnwood Borough Council,
the Cyclists Touring Club and Parry’s People Movers.
A second meeting is now planned to meet again to discuss costings
and safety implications.
Village Watch News
“The reason I come to Birstall is that people still leave
things in their car where I can see them”, Car Thief, Beaumont
Leys.
This is why the Police are still very concerned that car crime
figures have gone up in the last few months and that it is down
to car owners to be made aware of how easy it is to attract the
wrong person to Birstall. They damage and steal from motor vehicles.
Tradesmen who keep valuable tools and equipment in their vans
and do not keep them out of sight or in very good alarmed vehicles
are also at risk. Don’t leave the car for one moment unlocked,
mobile phones on the seat are accounting for 40% of car break-ins.
Bicycles are still being taken, since Christmas we have had brand
new cycles taken. One nasty incident was when a cycle was taken
by a person who forcibly took it from the owner. Newsagents shops
are the targets for paper delivery boys’ and girls’
cycles, remember ‘Lock it or Lose it’ and get it postcoded.
Our next session will be on Saturday February 16 at the Old Council
Offices, Sibson Road, 10am till 12noon.
Distraction burglars are in the area, please check the identity
of any person you do not know, or do not expect to call, before
you let them in the house. If you are not sure, don’t let
them in.
Dates for your diary: Co-ordinators meeting on Thursday February
28 at the Methodist Church Hall at 7.30pm; Annual General Meeting
of Birstall and Wanlip Neighbourhood Watch on Thursday April
25 at the Methodist Church Hall, Wanlip Lane, also at 7.30pm.
From Peter Allen, Chairman Birstall NHW
Crime Figures December 2001
Burglary House 5; Burglary Other 6; Theft Person 2; Theft Cycle
4; Theft from Motor Vehicle 5; Theft of Motor Vehicle 2; Damage
to Motor Vehicle 7; Criminal Damage 5.
Cricket ahead
BIRSTALL VILLAGE Cricket Club have just had their AGM for
the forthcoming season.
The members have elected Andy Corbett to Captain the 1st team
again, despite the team narrowly avoiding relegation. Andy said:
“The two teams that will be promoted to our league will
be quality teams therefore we will be in for another tough season.
The club have signed ex Hinckley Town player Paul Snuggs, an
exciting left handed opening batsmen and he also keeps wicket.
He will be a great asset to the club”.
The 2nd team Captain will be John Meachem, with Steve Findley
stepping down. Steve is hoping to play for the 1st team having
bowled a tidy length and line for a few seasons. His dream could
come true.
Chairman Douglas Topley was made a life member. The committee
and members thanked Doug for all the hard work he has done for
the club over the last decade. Without his help the club would
not be in such a healthy position. Doug said: “I love the
club and its people and from being a hobby it has turned into
a full time occupation in the summer, with senior cricket, junior
cricket and ladies rounders. I am lucky to have an understanding
wife and I enjoy the company and meeting different people every
week”.
The club have booked the Birstall Social Club for its first ever
Junior Section Presentation Night and Disco, the event will be
held on Saturday March 23. Tickets will be available soon.
The club also pulled off a major coup for the village by being
chosen to play against Leicestershire County Cricket Club Youth
Academy as part of Jack Birkenshaw’s benefit year. No date
has been fixed yet. The last time Leicestershire came to Birstall
was in 1975.
The snowdrops and crocus are already showing in the gardens,
a sure sign spring is just round the corner and that Birstall
Parish Council groundstaff will soon be starting to prepare the
excellent pitches they always provide. Another busy season will
soon be upon us, so hopefully it is goodbye to another cold and
frosty winter; hopefully!
New GCR station
Leicester North Staff Ruby Buxton, Chief Booking
Clerk; Ann Abell, Buffet Manager; Bert Horton, Acting Stationmaster
THE NEW station building at the Great Central
Railways Leicester North Station has been given a warm welcome
by both staff and visitors.
Assistant Stationmaster Tony Harrison said: “We the staff
think it is great and it has given us a new lease of life. If
you are passing our way please call in and have a chat as we
would like to get to know our neighbours in Birstall a little
better”.
The new station building has a waiting room with open fire, a
stationmaster’s office for selling tickets and refreshments
and public toilets.
Tony added: “We have all mod cons, and you can buy a cup
of tea or coffee and watch the comings and goings of the trains.
It has taken a long time to get the station up and running, so
now we have we would like to show it off to one and all.”
The GCR is run by volunteers and are appealing for additional
help at Birstall. “We are really short of staff so if there
is anyone out there who feels they would like to help run the
station please do come and ask for information or give us a ring.”
After 6pm you can call: Tony 2673011, Mr Smith 2865250 or Mr
Horton 2867275
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Year of starlight
THE STARLIGHT Theatre School have had a very successful year.
Examination entries have doubled over the past 12 months and
the school are proud of their 100% pass rate from first exams
through to majors.
They came away with numerous trophies from the B.T.D.A. and Les
Amis festivals gaining 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places, and special
congratulations to the mums and dads who took 1st place in the
adult section of the Les Amis festivals.
Luka Moscetano gained a British Theatre Dance Association scholarship.
Dancers from the age of two to 21 plus performed in the Christmas
show ‘Wonka’s Wonderland’ at Babington Community
College to a capacity audience. All nights were a sell out, the
show was a complete success.
The school is looking forward to a very busy 2002.
TG news
THE DECEMBER meeting of the Townswomen Guild opened by celebrating
Christmas with mince pies and stollen.
Margaret Jones introduced the Drama Group with a light hearted
interpretation of the nativity play, actors being Alwen Skinner
and Marjorie Jones in ‘Fawlty Towers, Bethlehem’. Poems
were read by Joan Johnson and Margaret Jones and another sketch
called ‘No Kidding’ with actors Valerie Skeffington,
Mary Bruce, Dorothy Rowley and Joan Johnson giving a fine performance.
The choir ended the evening with carols, with Jane Osborne (the
federation Chairman) as conductor and pianist. Everyone agreed
it was a good start to the festive season.
A new year is now upon us, creating time for fresh ideas and
making new friends. Your local TG branch is waiting for you!
The first meeting in 2002 of the social studies group was introduced
with wine and cheese, a demonstration on ‘How to Pamper
Your Hands’ and a quiz. The Chairman Jean Veitch and the
Secretary Valerie Skeffington are retiring and many thanks to
both for their efforts in making this group such a lively and
interesting one.
The Townswomen’s Guild were delighted to see many visitors
at the first meeting of the year, perhaps because Mr John Clews
was the speaker from the RSPB. His talk on ‘Action for Birds’
set many people thinking about the plight of our native birds
today, and before he left, he had assigned new members to what
is a vital conservation plan for our birds.
The next meeting of the TG will be on Tuesday February 19 at
Highcliffe School Birstall at 7.30pm when Linda Robinson will
speak on ‘Another Fine Mess You’ve Got Me Into!”
Visitors especially welcome.
From Anne Boden
The Parish Council:
who do they think they are?
If you’ve ever wondered “just who are Birstall Parish
Council and what do they do?” then read on: we invited the
vice chairman, peter west, to shed some light on the workings
of our parish council.
There are 21 seats on the Council, with elections taking place
every four years.
A Parish Council meeting
Councillors represent five ‘wards’ covering the village.
They come from all walks of life, from all age groups from around
30 upwards and live in every part of the village. Peter West
said: “Although some are members of political parties and,
indeed, represent Birstall on Charnwood Borough Council and Leicestershire
County Council, Birstall Parish Council itself is not run on
a political basis, with no “party voting” or groupings.”
“There is no pay for being a councillor, no expenses are
paid and there is no compensation for time taken off work - which
may be why it is sometimes difficult to maintain a full complement
of 21 members” says Peter
There is a ‘full’ Parish Council meeting each month,
which is open to the public. “Anyone can come along and
make comments, suggestions and, yes, complaints during the “open
session” in the middle of the meeting” added Peter.
This monthly Council meeting is mainly a formal one, which approves
the work done and decisions taken by the various committees and
sub-committees. “These less formal committees are where
the real work is carried out” aid Peter.
Each councillor will serve on one or more of the Estates &
Recreation Committee, Village Hall Committee, Environment Committee
and various others. They may also represent the Village on outside
bodies, such as the Leicestershire Association of Parish Councils,
the South East Charnwood Crime & Safety Forum or the Charnwood
Drugs Forum, or attend meetings with other councils, local groups,
the Police or bus companies. Tony Stott, a member of Birstall
Parish Council, is also the current Mayor of Charnwood.
Councillors are not allowed to speak on subjects in which they
are deemed to “have an interest.” This might be a matter
that affects their business or employment, organisations to which
they belong, or planning applications for properties near their
home. Peter said: “Readers will know that there has been
considerable controversy recently as one councillor who has a
house next to the proposed Hallam Fields Development and is therefore
regarded as having a ‘pecuniary interest’ or, under
legislation adopted this year, a ‘personal interest’
- the value of his house could be affected by the building of
the new estate - has refused to withdraw from discussions as
he believes that a paragraph of the rather complicated legislation
excuses him from doing so.”
Estates & Recreation is the largest committee, with the Village
Hall Management Committee the second largest, as the main duty
of the Parish Council is to provide playing-fields, playgrounds,
a cemetery, allotments and a village hall. About 80% of the Council’s
annual expenditure, about £217,000, is spent on the upkeep
and improvement of these facilities: the playing-fields and playgrounds
at School Lane, Harrowgate Drive and Meadow Lane; allotments
off Greengate Lane, Meadow Lane and Worcester Avenue; the cemetery;
the old council offices on Sibson Road and the Village Hall,
both of which are used by various village groups for activities
and functions.
THE School Lane playing-fields are regarded as among the best
in the county, with football, cricket and rounders finals having
been played there last year. In addition, there is a basketball
court and two bowling-greens. Peter said: “Unfortunately,
there are more requests for use of the sports grounds than can
be accommodated and, at the moment, there is no other land available
in the village for sports use.” Requests by the Council
for community use of school playing-fields has been refused.
Play equipment at the three sites has been updated every year
since 1995, with much of the Council’s “capital”
expenditure being on new play equipment and safety surfacing.
It is probably not widely known that the safety surfacing usually
costs more than the equipment itself. All the play equipment
in the Birstall parks is subject to regular Health & Safety
inspections.
“Andy Garland, the Estates Team Manager, and his staff of
Stuart Clare, David Gee, Richard Ludlam and David Page are the
ones who should be given the credit for the excellent year-round
state of our recreational facilities, AND Keble Croxtall WHO
maintains our cemetery” said Peter.
The administration of village matters is carried out by the Clerk,
Hugh Knight, who joined the Council staff a year ago after a
career in banking, assisted by accounts clerk Linda and secretary
Jennie. All are part-time employees, with the Council Offices
open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.
There are no Planning or Housing Officers. These are based at
Charnwood Borough Council. Birstall Parish Council has no Planning
powers. PETER SAID: “It can only make observations or objections
in the same way as an ordinary citizen, although perhaps it can
object a little more loudly. Planning decisions are made at Charnwood.”
The Parish Council, with the help of the “Birstall Against
Development” campaign, fought long and hard against the
Hallam Fields housing development. There were more objections
to this development than had ever been made against a similar
proposal in this country but, ultimately, Birstall Parish Council
could do no more than make objections. The final decisions were
made at Charnwood and by the Government-appointed Inspector.
Peter said: “There is a feeling that the strong objections
by the Parish Council and the people of the village caused the
developers to offer a more valuable package of community facilities,
both in Hallam Fields and the rest of Birstall, in return for
the housing development.”
The Parish Council also has no responsibility for refuse collection
or street cleaning, although one of the groundstaff does do some
litter-picking. Street cleaning is again the responsibility of
Charnwood Borough Council.
Roads, schools, libraries and social services are under the control
of Leicestershire County Council, based at Glenfield. Again,
Birstall Parish Council can only bring residents’ complaints
to the attention of the County Council. It cannot act on them
itself.
So where can Birstall Parish Council make a difference and how
does it make sure Birstall’s voice is heard?
Peter said: “The Council has, over the last few years, tried
to use its limited amount of capital expenditure in “joint-funded
projects.” In this way, Council money has been matched by
other authorities or organisations to produce more significant
results. Examples of this are the basketball court on School
Lane and the skateboard ramp on Meadow Lane, where substantial
grants were received to supplement Birstall’s contribution.”
He added: “Because Birstall Parish Council was prepared
to fund part of the cost of the improvements to Sibson Road and
of the conversion of the new Shoppers’ car park, both the
Borough and County Councils were able to bring these forward
and invest considerable amounts of money in the projects.”
Smaller amounts, but no less important says Peter, are spent
on community projects. The Council is represented on and makes
contributions to Neighbourhood Watch, the South East Charnwood
Crime & Safety Forum, Birstall & Wanlip Drugs Forum and
the Susan Jones Family Group, which supports and counsels the
families of local drug addicts. A contribution is made to the
Highcliffe Summer Playscheme, to the provision of an Age Concern
Bath Nurse at St. James’s Day Centre and to the funding
of the Young People’s “Drop-In Centre” at the
old Parish Council offices. The Council also administers and
contributes to the Land & Lewis Charity which distributes
Christmas parcels to elderly people in the village.
Peter said: “Although the Council has limited powers, it
has tried to lobby hard on the village’s behalf. After two
years of complaints in our meetings with the Police, it has now
been agreed that Birstall’s second beat police officer will
be re-instated in the summer.
“Councillors also consulted village residents and had several
meetings with First Leicester bus company in order to re-route
local bus services. Unfortunately, this battle continues as the
bus company steadfastly refuses to re-instate the “Fox-Cub”
services which used to serve much of Birstall. The Council is
now looking at other ways of improving local transport in the
village.”
For the last two years, Council Chairman Nigel Coleman and a
small committee has organised a summer fete on School Lane playing-fields.
Peter said: “Anyone who has been involved in such a venture
will know that this sort of event takes an enormous amount of
planning, but it has certainly been worthwhile as so many people
have been able to enjoy a ‘village day.’ The Council
would welcome any members of the public who could help in the
organisation of this year’s fete.”
Thanks to the co-operation of local shopkeepers and businesses,
the Council was able to provide Birstall’s best-ever Christmas
display recently, with Sibson Road and parts of Wanlip Lane being
decorated with an impressive array of illuminated Christmas trees.
Finally, Birstall Parish Council is always keen to receive suggestions
from people in the village, in particular the younger members
of the community. Peter said: “We are there to represent
you and to provide facilities for you. So, please do not just
complain, come to us with practical ideas and, if it is in our
power to help, we promise that we shall do the best we can.”
Birstall Parish Council, The Village Hall, Birstall Rd
Tel 2676191
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