Parish Council Notes
A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council
was held on February 11.
Several residents from Allington Drive/Blenheim Road area were
present and reported on problems with inconsiderate parking obstructing
the movement of buses on Allington Drive. They wished to see
the service retained and received the support of the Parish Council.
Christine Taylor, the Standards Monitoring Officer at Charnwood
Borough Council, gave a presentation to councillors about the
new Code of Conduct which has been adopted by local authorities
nationwide.
She said the starting point of the whole code was that councillors
needed to make a written registration of their interests, as
being responsible for public money made it each councillor’s
responsibility to make public their interests. She said that
it was a requirement of the Code that councillors report fellow
councillors whom they feel are in breach of the Code.
She defined a prejudicial interest as an interest that a member
of the public, in full possession of the facts, would say was
so significant that it is likely to prejudice a member’s
judgement of the public interest. Councillors should err on the
side of caution when considering whether or not they had a prejudicial
interest, which once declared means they must leave the council
chamber.
Several councillors voiced the comment that they would not be
unable to represent parishioners in their wards as they would
now be considered to have a prejudicial interest in ward issues,
since they lived there. Mrs Taylor suggested that councillors
pass on issues raised by their ward parishioners to fellow councillors
who do not live in that ward.
PC Kevin Palmer reported on the crime figures and said that the
Crime Prevention Officer had carried out an assessment of boundary
security between Birstall Golf Club and Cliffe Road.
It was reported that on December 6 the Cabinet at Charnwood Borough
Council had agreed to consider a second phase of improvements
to Sibson Road to include Hannah Parade and the Triangle area.
The Council voted to adopt the revised plans for the Sibson Road
improvements. It was reported that there were four new car parking
spaces outside the video shop on Sibson Road, but that spaces
had been lost along the area outside NatWest bank as a result
of parking on the grass verge bank being prevented. Cllr Peter
West commented that the yellow lines in the Sibson Road laybys
were unnecessarily long and took up parking spaces. Work should
start before June 2002.
The Council are considering installing a round wooden seat around
the trunk of a Scots pine outside the old Council Offices.
The date of the next meeting is March 11.
Soar Valley Centre
BUILDING WORK on the long awaited Soar
Valley Leisure Centre in Mountsorrel could begin as early as
June.
Funding issues have now been finalised and the £4.4 million
centre will feature a 25 metre swimming pool, an indoor sports
centre, a full size outdoor floodlit pitch for hockey and five
a side football, a fitness suite and a gymnasium.
September 2002 was the original start date but this has been
brought forward.
The site still needs detailed planning permissions and Charnwood
have yet to advertise for contractors.
Funding has been supplied by Charnwood Borough Council, Sport
England, Serco, David Wilson Homes, Fairclough Homes and Mountsorrel
Parish Council. Local groups have also raised money including
the Mountsorrel and Rothley Swimming pool fund which has given
£100,000.
Old lady
ONE OF the Great Central Railway’s
locomotives has recently celebrated its 90th birthday.
The Class 04 loco, number 63601, was originally built for the
GCR to work heavy freight trains on its Manchester to London
line.
Built in 1921 in Manchester, number 63601 was in service until
June 1963 and instead of being scrapped it was preserved and
loaned to the GCR in 1996 by the National Railway Museum. It
was fully restored in 2000.
Council tax rise?
COUNCIL TAX in Charnwood could rise by
up to 9 per cent to ensure services are maintained at a level
set by the Government.
The rise will be necessary as a result of reduced Government
grants to the Council and increased spending costs.
The Government has instructed Charnwood to raise its net expenditure
by 4.2 per cent for the next financial year, but has only increased
the grants that it pays to the Council by 2.3 per cent.
Charnwood are £4.95 million short of the amount needed
to achieve the levels set by the Government’s Standard Spending
Assessment.
At a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet held in January it
was agreed to adjust the budgets in four areas:
reduction of furniture and equipment budgets by 50%
reduction of computer purchases by 50%
increase of management vacancy saving by 6%
reduction of contingency items budget to 30% of items identified
Woman robbed
POLICE IN Syston are seeking witnesses
following a robbery on Watermead Country Park, near to White
Horse Lane in Birstall.
The incident occurred about 2.30pm on Wednesday February 6.
While out walking, a woman was approached by two men who stole
items of jewellery from her, then made off towards the Front
Street/Whiles Lane area of Birstall.
They were both white men. The first was aged 17-20 and had dark
brown collar-length hair. He wore a blue jacket.
The second was aged 20-25, of slim build with very short-cropped
hair with large ears and pale complexion. He wore a grey jacket
with the word ‘Gap’ written on it.
Anyone who may have seen these two men or has any information
about their identity or the incident itself is asked to contact
PC 1639 Kevin Palmer at Syston local policing unit on Leicester
(0116) 222 2222 ext 4231 or Crimestoppers, which is free and
anonymous, on 0800 555111.
Tesco vouchers
LONGSLADE COLLEGE is once again participating in the eleventh
year of Tesco Computers for Schools.
From Monday January 28 to Sunday April 7 shoppers will be able
to collect one voucher for every £10 spent in a single
transaction at any Tesco store or petrol filling station. This
year the scheme is being supported by Coca-Cola, Dairylea and
Kenco Rappor
Since 1992 Tesco Computers for Schools has supplied schools with
more than £70 million worth of equipment, including over
46,200 computers and 394,000 items of additional equipment such
as printers, scanners and software.
Longslade’s target for 2002 is 8,920 vouchers, as the College
is hoping to order a portable interactive touchscreen whiteboard.
Longslade would be delighted if readers, family and friends could
help them meet their target. Please send your vouchers to the
Tesco Computers for Schools Co-ordinator: Sheila Beatty, Longslade
Community College, Wanlip Lane, Birstall, Leicester LE4 4GH
Also the library are collecting the Walkers Books for Schools
tokens again this year and any help with tokens would be appreciated.
Sharon Bursnall is collecting these.
Investment in Stonehill
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS to Stonehill school have got underway.
Decorators have been on site for many weeks, working their way
around the Design Technology and Modern Languages departments
as well as the toilet blocks and some office areas.
Large numbers of new chairs and tables have replaced ageing and
unattractive furniture and new carpets and blinds have been installed.
Head Teacher Alan Baker said: “Our plans continue and will
include as soon as possible a refurbishment of the library, a
long term plan to upgrade the Technology block and to install
a substantial number of new computers in a range of locations”.
A bid to upgrade the PE changing rooms has been successful and
the school will be working alongside the Local Education Authority
to achieve this improvement.
Mr Baker added: “We are planning to upgrade the school environment
for the benefit of the children.”
Parking
CAR PARKING charges in Loughborough’s Council owned car
parks will be changing from April 1.
Half hour remains at 20p
One hour costs 40p (rise of 5p)
Two hours £1 (from 70p)
Three hours remains £1.50
Up to four hours £2.20 (from £2)
Up to five hours £3.30 (from £3)
Over five hours remains £4
Faxes a pain?
ARE YOU plagued with unwanted faxes at work or home?
These can be reduced by registering your fax number with the
Fax Preference Service on 0845 070 0702.
Award winners Andy Corbett, Doug Topley,
Andy Lord, Steve Finley, Ian Hunt and Andy Merry
Award winners
BIRSTALL VILLAGE Cricket Club held their
annual presentation night at Leicester Tigers Rugby Club on February
2.
84 members and guests attended the evening, where Andy Lord was
presented with the award for Best First Team Batsman.
Other award winners were: Andy Corbett, First Team Bowler; Steve
Finley, Second Team player of the Year; Ian Hunt, Second Team
Best Bowler and Batsman; Peter Sharpe, First Team Player of the
Year.
Chairman Doug Topley presented the first ever Chairman’s
award to Andy Merry for his services to the Club.
The Club have organised a presentation night for its growing
Junior Section on March 23 at Birstall Social Club.
Any reader interested in playing cricket can contact Andy Corbett
on 2693936 or Andy Merry on 2600590.
Marketing award
BIRSTALL-BASED Wheeler Woodhouse Public
Relations has helped its client Simba Horsch win a national award
for the quality and impact of its marketing activities.
Simba Horasch, based at Sleaford, Lincolnshire, makes cultivation
equipment and drills for use in arable farming.
Simba Horsch won the 2001 NIAB Arable Marketing Award for its
promotion of Horsch CO drills. The award, sponsored by leading
agricultural magazine Farmers Weekly and endorsed by the Chartered
Institute of Marketing, comprises a silver trophy and framed
certificate.
Jonathan Wheeler, Managing Director of
Wheeler Woodhouse (left) receives the award from Charles Abel,
Technical Editor of Farmers' Weekly
Wheeler Woodhouse Public Relations completed the writing and
public relations elements of the programme, as Managing Partner
Jonathan Wheeler explains: “This award is a tribute to professionalism
and quick thinking. Farmers like to see machines working, either
on their own farm or on similar soil types, before they commit
to buying them. For 2001 we planned a major programme of field
trials, open days, technical events and agricultural shows.
“But the foot and mouth epidemic meant the whole programme
was cancelled and we had to work very quickly to find different
ways of attracting orders. We quickly devised a new programme,
working with Simba Horsch and Marksman, the Grimsby-based agency
that completed the creative and production elements of the programme.
“The new programme used CD roms featuring video footage
of machines at work, suipported by advertising, newsletters,
magazine articles and the like. It was tough, but with good teamwork,
we got through it and ended up selling as many drills in 2001
as we did in 2000 - which was a major achievement”.
The event judges commended the campaign for being “extremely
well conceived with clear objectives, using a wide range of media
and high quality marketing materials. It scored particularly
well in its integration and relevance to its target audience,
as indicated by an excellent outcome. That this was achieved
against very difficult market conditions clearly demonstrated
the exceptionally high quality of the campaign as a whole”.
Village Watch news
CAR CRIME in Birstall is still very high. Car crime consists
of Theft of Cars, Theft from Cars, Damage to Cars.
A staggering 25% to 30% of crime in Birstall is down to these
categories. I am sure that the people who read this article will
say “It’s car crime again”. But what a difference
it would make if we could get the message across that secure
vehicles in secure situations will stop the thief from committing
this type of crime.
Spring is round the corner. Have you got the mower ready? Have
you got a mower? Have you checked that it’s still in the
shed and that it’s with all the other tools that you left
for the winter there? Or have they disappeared? Do you have a
good lock on the shed, have you put coach bolts through the hinges
on the door and also on the door frame? Have you got a shed alarm?
The Watch sell at cost a very good shed alarm and now is the
time for you to fit one. We sell them for £8. The Watch
have them in stock and they can be purchased at our Saturday
Advice Shop, our next session will be on Saturday March 16 in
the old Council Offices on Sibson Road, 10am until 12noon.
Remember a garden space or fork is a valuable tool for the burglar
to assist him to gain access to your property or your neighbour’s.
Keep them secure.
From Peter Allen
Crime Report from January 24 to February 19
House Burglary 3; Other Burglary 4; Theft from Person 3; Theft
Pedal Cycle 2; Theft from Motor 8; Theft of Motor Vehicle 6;
Theft Other 2; Damage to Motor Vehicle 2; Damage to Property
6.
Good News
l. Leicester youth admits 30 thefts from Motor Vehicles in Birstall
2. Leicester youth admits Burglary of a house on Cliffe Road,
Birstall
Changes on campus
INVESTMENT IN Longslade College is resulting
in a lot of changes on the campus.
The Lecture Theatre conversion to a Dance and Drama Area is almost
complete. Two rows of seats have been removed and a large open
space has been created with an audience viewing area.
The old Food Technology room has been converted into a light
airy teaching room and the computer hubs in the library, comprising
20 machines, are being installed. Some computers will also be
put into the History and Geography departments.
Specialist equipment and materials have started to be purchased
by departments. Design now has an A3 printer and extra digital
cameras. Various CAD and CAM software and machinery is to be
researched. Mrs Charlish, Mr Hall and Mr Brewster are now all
accredited to teach Prodesk Top and that brings with it a site
licence worth £4,500.
The Science Department have bought extra power packs and a range
of additional textbooks. Two successful trips have run, one to
the Space Centre and one to Leicester University, and the possibility
of having a “Researcher in Residence” is being investigated.
In Maths, various software packages are being trialled: Cami
Maths, Omni Graph and staff are being trained. Additional graphical
calculators have also been bought.
Our broadband connection is now up and running and as soon as
Mr Hardy has rooms prepared he will be installing at least three
more computer teaching areas.
Adam Brewster, Head of Design Technology, said: “Things
are moving very fast and come September, pupils will have a quite
different learning experience”.
New era for club
IT’S THE start of a new era at Birstall
Watermead Tennis Club.
At the club’s annual general meeting David Cartwright stood
down after four years as chairman.
David has had a long association with the club, and was a member
of the committee for 17 years. His contribution to the club was
praised by fellow committee members, and he was presented with
a commemorative tankard by incoming chairman Mel Whiteman.
As well as Mel taking over as chairman, three new committee members
were elected: Mary Whiteman, Wendy Morley and Mark Whiteman.
Existing committee members voted back on were secretary Carol
Vincent, treasurer Mike Deacon, Dave Watson, Bev Hallett and
Mahesh Parmar.
One of the first moves by the new committee is to organise more
social tennis tournaments to generate a more informal feel to
the events calendar.
Meanwhile six Sunday afternoon junior coaching sessions have
been organised with a qualified coach, starting on May 12. Anyone
interested should contact Bev Hallett on 2201725.
Learning difficulties
THE WAY Ahead Group was formed two years
ago by a group of adults with learning difficulties to encourage
and help one another speak out about the valuable contribution
they can make in the community and their places of work.
We have also organised skittle evenings, discos, coffee mornings
and raised almost £1000 for the Children in Need appeal.
If you would like to make new friends and share news and views
on your daily life, come along to the Luther King Centre at Longslade
College where you will find us every Thursday evening from 7.15-8.45pm,
or phone Deborah on 2606309 or Margaret on 2673803 if you need
help to get to the college.
From Margaret Timson
New Asda superstore
ASDA COULD be opening a new superstore
in Thurmaston by the end of the year.
Asda have been granted outline planning permission for the erection
of a 50,000 square foot food superstore with associated petrol
station, carparking, servicing and accesses with two football
pitches and a cricket square to land north of Barkby Thorpe Lane
and opposite the Co-op superstore.
The new store will create 450 new jobs and offer a wide range
of goods and services including specialist fresh food counters,
clothing, music and video, health and beauty and home/leisure
items.
The planning permission has been challenged by the Co-op and
a hearing will take place in March or April. An Asda spokesman
said he was “confident of a positive outcome”.
March 2002 Birstall Post continues here
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