Village Watch news
BURGLARS BEWARE: Smartwater comes to Birstall
and Wanlip.
The latest technology that his its own individual type of DNA
when marked on the articles in your house that the thief wishes
to steal will deter the thief from even contemplating breaking
and entering your home. The Smartwater comes in a small bottle
with a brush similar to a mascara brush. Just put a touch on
in a crack or crevice of the grill of your TV speaker, laptop,
computer, CD player, to name just a few of the items that are
stolen. Don’t forget to mark the power lead and cords to
the machines. Fill in the registration card provided with your
name and address and send it to Smartwater. Put the stickers
that they provide with your own unique package on the articles.
Near the door or in the window, put the door or window stickers
to announce that your home is marked up with Smartwater. These
Smartwater kits are available from the Watch at a cost of £12,
they will be on sale at our next advice shop day on Saturday
April 17 or at the Watch AGM on Thursday April 22 at 7.45pm at
the Methodist Church Concert Hall.
Yet again we have to say car crime is up again, in six weeks
we have had 12 thefts from motor vehicles. Things that have been
left on the back seat of the car, that should have been put out
of sight or better still, taken with you. Laptops are not cheap,
even if it belongs to your employer, you have still got to face
up to the fact that you’ve had it stolen. The handbag that
had money in and the credit cards you have lost, just for the
sake of that extra minute to put it in the boot out of sight.
If the car is parked up for the night then take your valuables
in the house to be doubly sure they are safe.
Cold weather starting in a morning, DON’T leave the keys
in the car with the engine running, it’s a gift for the
thief and your insurance won’t pay out.
Keep your eyes out for the car or van that goes up your road
that you don’t know; the thieves are about, just touring,
looking for that opportunity to steal. Builders be especially
wary please, both with your tools and materials, both new and
scrap items have been stolen just recently. Ring 0116 222 2222
if you are suspicious.
Peter Allen
Chairman, Birstall & Wanlip NHW
Crime Report for February 2004
Assault 6, Burglary dwelling 1, Burglary other 7, Robbery 1,
Theft from motor vehicle 13, Criminal damage 8
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Your Say...
Having read the latest (March 2004) edition of The Birstall
Post it seems as if wheelie bins are a forgone conclusion. Your
page 1 article explains that even if rejected by the borough
council the cabinet can introduce the scheme anyway.
Have they thought about this? Fortnightly collections of household
waste including leftover food ie chicken carcasses, apple cores,
banana skins etc. During the height of summer Birstall is going
to stink to high heaven! Yes, I know it can be put in a plastic
bag, that’s what we do now anyway. Everyone gets one black
bag for their rubbish but puts out two or three for collection
weekly.
The bins shown in your photograph would not hold two weeks rubbish/recycling
in any household, let alone a family of four or more. What if
we cannot put any more into the bin after the first week? Can
I get a rebate for taking it to the tip? Of course I can’t,
so I’ll have to wrap my chicken bones in recyclable material
and put it in the recycling bin.
At least I won’t have to keep it for a fortnight!
Mr D Boden
I have just received my water bill from Severn Trent.
Severn Trent advertise all kinds of products including gas &
electricity. Read all the contents of the bill and you see that
they claim to be experts in drainage. As experts in drainage
we can offer you a range of property search packages including
flood risks, mining subsidence and environmental hazards. Our
most popular package is our drainage and water survey which the
Law Society strongly recommends for house purchases.
Recently Leicester City had a drainage problem solved by Severn
Trent.
Norwich Union is altering its floodrisk insurance costs. At the
moment only height above the river is taken into account. Later
perhaps it may consider balancing ponds. These ponds are connected
to the sewage system. After a length of time 100-1 is a certainty.
I cannot believe Loughborough has an expert drainage team better
than Severn Trent especially on a two way slope. Can we see this
team. I believe these ponds near recreational areas are dangerous.
Les Briers
It appears that the majority of householders are far from satisfied
with the advent of wheelie bins and coloured boxes.
There is little hope that protest will reverse the process -
the supply of bins is already out to tender. However, it is important
that those who pay council taxes have a right to express their
views and if enough residents do so it might remind the decision
makers that they are servants of the public rather than slaves
to government edict.
Is one person in each street and avenue in Birstall - and other
nearby villages and estates - willing to collect signatures from
their neighbours who are against this unwanted change to an established
and satisfactory refuse and recyclable materials collection?
This could prove to be a powerful rebuttal should the new system
prove unworkable.
Volunteer protest name collectors should please sent their names
and addresses to Box 100 at The Birstall Post
Thank you in anticipation of your efforts.
G Brown
If you wish to reply, address your envelope: The Birstall Post,
Box 100, Longslade College, Wanlip Lane, Birstall, Leicester
LE4 4GH. Post or deliver by hand to Birstall library, where we
have a pigeonhole. Editor.
Yet again it appears the wishes of the people of Birstall
are being ignored by our council. I refer of course to the wheelie
bin and associated Machiavellian recycling scheme. Economists
have long argued that having other people spend your money on
things you have little say in is the most inefficient form of
expenditure (you spending your own money on something you have
complete discretion over is the most efficient form of spending).
This seems to support that view.
The scheme as it stands (which from my straw poll and the letters
in your august publication, suggest almost unanimous opposition
to the scheme) seems to me to be fundamentally flawed. Apart
from the valid concerns of those people where their property
or physical capabilities are not conducive to these wheelie bins
it has at least two other problems. Firstly it will encourage
poor hygiene, can you imagine the smell from two weeks of uncollected
rubbish if we are fortunate to have a summer like 2003. Secondly
if the council will not collect black refuse sacks left next
to the wheelie bins that rubbish will be hanging around for four
weeks and the effect will become cumulative. What would this
encourage people to do? Take the excess to the tip? Some perhaps,
some will fly tip, some (dare I suggest most) will put any old
rubbish in the red/green/blue/brown or whatever colour bag/box,
and disguise it with a thin layer of the approved waste for that
receptacle.
I am no expert in council law but I was under the impression
that the council had a legal obligation to remove domestic waste
and I assume in a timely manner. This proposal cannot be considered
to be timely.
It seems to me the people of Birstall have five options:
1. We take a leaf out of the pensioner’s book and stop paying
our council tax, at least that element which relates to refuse
collection. If everybody in Birstall stopped paying this tax,
even if only to the point of proceedings being issued, the effect
on council finances would be significant.
2. We collect all the excess and uncollected rubbish and dump
it on the steps of the council offices.
3. We telephone the council to arrange collection of uncollected
rubbish which will involve them in yet more cost and expense
thus negating the arguments used to support this nonsense.
4. We remember at the next election which of the politicians
supported this scheme.
5. We do nothing and allow the petty dictators in Loughborough
to impose their will on the majority of people who are opposed
to their half-baked schemes.
Perhaps the time has come for us to stop this nonsense before
the council has time to concoct any other stupid proposals and
I for one would be happy to help in orchestrating some meaningful
form of protest.
Simon Castleman
We wanted to say a huge thanks to all our family and friends
for their kind thoughts, cards, flowers and sympathy, over the
sudden loss of our long awaited baby.
Sadly our son, Gabriel, will never know how loving and wonderful
you all are, but we do and we cannot express our thanks enough
for all your support, especially on the day of the funeral. Thank
you for making the effort to come and say goodbye to our son.
Adam & Julie Clarke
To follow up my letter “Friendship” which appeared
in the January issue of the Birstall Post.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who
contacted me. I was trying to arrange a meeting locally, where
we could have met. Unfortunately I have been and still am quite
poorly and would find it far too stressful to arrange.
I have been in touch with the people who answered ‘My cry
for help’ and left messages to which only one was answered.
So I really do believe the answer to my question “Is there
anyone out there”, the answer must surely be No.
Well it was a try, from a little disappointed
Mary Ellen
I write to you concerning the new County Council boundary
changes. I was fortunate to be invited to attend the March Parish
Council meeting to discuss the proposed boundary changes for
next year’s elections. Initially the view was that to combine
Birstall and Thurmaston together into one ward with two elected
county councillors to cover both settlements would be detrimental
to both villages.
I do not think that the Boundary commission will alter their
plans on this matter. So we have to be positive! We will have
two representatives at County Hall looking after our interests
both in Thurmaston and Birstall. It will be a hard job to cover
both settlements, so any person worthy of our support must be
involved in one of the villages at least at parish level and
have already shown a commitment to the community that he or she
hopes to serve.
We will have two county councillors to call on, if we have a
problem, if either of them is ill or on holiday then we will
have an alternative councillor to support us. At county Hall
we will have two votes in the council chamber.
Having been born and raised in Thurmaston I married a Birstall
girl! I lived then in Oakfield Avenue for a number of years
so I understand both communities, Thurmaston residents are not
any different to Birstall residents, all we want is quality services
delivered at reasonable cost and if we have a problem, for it
to be dealt with in a sympathetic and efficient way.
These are my own views, not necessarily the views of either the
parish council or the views of the residents of Thurmaston. We
are going go consult the residents on this matter and any action
we take will be based on their views.
Paul Harley, Charnwood Borough Councillor Thurmaston
Ward, Vice-Chairman Thurmaston Parish Council
I believe the wool shop in Hannah Parade has to close because
of an unacceptable rate rise. We are going to lose the heart
of our village when these shops are forced out. Why do we need
another hairdresser? Where will people go to buy a reel of cotton,
a few grams of wool to knit a grandchild a present, get a quick
alteration done, purchase a zip or some buttons? We are going
to end up with a load of charity shops (good though they do),
greengrocers and bakers. No-one wants, or is able, to travel
to Leicester for ‘bits and bobs’ This type of legislation
will force us into becoming a ‘dormitory’ village.
SHAME on all who allow this to happen. I am disabled and count
on this type of shop for a lifeline.
Sue Lyons
Well! The Men’s Pantomime was absolutely first class,
scenery, music, entertainment, were all superb. It was so happy
to watch! Everyone felt better for having gone to see it. It
was all second to none. Congratulations to all who assisted and
acted in the production of Ali-Baba and the 40 Thieves.
Doreen Pearce
I can’t believe that we are to have the dreaded wheelie
bins thrust upon us whether we like it or not.
What is wrong with the present system, it is neat and clean,
provided everyone does as asked and ties up the bags? I for one
am been on recycling and do my best, even taking glass to the
local hostelry where there are special containers.
A stroll through the back streets of Leicester shows what a ghastly
mistake they are. Row upon now of these black monstrosities put
us to shame. You certainly wouldn’t want to live there,
and I doubt any town councillors do.
I know that in the main we have front gardens in Birstall, but
these surely are for shrubs and flowers to enhance our property.
So, we put them at the back, but with my tiny wedge shaped garden
(a corner plot) it is not going to be a pretty sight.
Then we come to collection day and being ‘rather elderly’
I have to ask someone to take them all through my garage to the
front and back again - there goes my independence!
I know I’m not alone in my protest and I’m sure it
is now a fait accompli, but I felt I had to get this off my chest
and make my feelings known and I’m sure I speak for a lot
of other old folk.
Joan Potter (80)
May Root and family would like to thank friends and neighbours
for their cards, letters and telephone messages, sent to them
at the sad time of losing Bill. It was a great comfort to know
you were thinking of us. A special thank you to Rev Sue Wicks,
also to Angela Parkin and Liza Gibson for their help.
Mel Gibson’s latest film on the last twelve hours of
Jesus’ life is now on show in Leicester. It has caused controversy
in the USA with the Jews who claim it will stir up anti-Semitism,
and others have criticised it for graphic displays of excessive
brutality. Anyone going to see the film should expect to be shocked
and deeply moved. It shows the physical sufferings of Christ
at great length and in lurid detail.
The film, however, does not tell the whole story. Indeed it leaves
out the most important facts concerning the crucifixion.
Why should this man be receiving so much attention after 2000
years? Why not one or both of the others who were also crucified?
Indeed, out of the many thousands who died in this way, why single
out this man? What is special about him and his death? Who is
he? Why did he really die?
The film has brought many people to tears. It also brought tears
to the eyes of some who saw the actual event, but Jesus said
to them “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but
weep for yourselves.” Why would he say that, what did He
mean? Whether they see the film or not, people should read the
Bible for themselves and get the full picture: the missing answers
are to be found there.
Alan Stenfalt
Birstall Independent Baptist Church
The book ‘Birstall Village. A brief history of Birstall
1900 to 1999’ by John Kilby is an interesting book and an
important record of part of the village’s history. Therefore
in order to get an item in that record correct I feel duty bound
to point out an error otherwise it would be unfair to all those
people who worked hard to raise funds for the establishment of
St James Day Centre.
When Mr Kilby talks of the official opening of St James Day Centre
in 1993, he rightly says that this wonderful achievement was
mainly due to the endeavours of Rev Charles Bradshaw (the vicar
at that time). However he goes on to say that he had been successful
in applying for a lottery grant for the project. Unfortunately
this is not correct, Mr Kilby must have been misinformed.
He makes it appear as though all the money needed for the project
just came cascading down from the National Lottery Community
Fund like manna from heaven. Oh, it would have been wonderful
if only the fundraising had been that simple and that easy. It
took a lot of effort and energy and time, mainly by Rev Charles
Bradshaw, to raise all the money needed, from many sources. He
approached individuals, family trusts, various charities and
organisations etc. A large amount came from the local Health
Authority but donations and grants from other sources arrived
in much smaller amounts and slowly, over a long period. As far
as I know no funding was obtained from the National Lottery Community
Fund. I don’t think it was making grants for new buildings
at that time : a large part of the St James Day Centre was new
construction, an extension to part of the former church hall.
Several people in the community, mainly from the congregation
at St James church, also spent time and effort in helping Rev
Charles Bradshaw (indeed they were inspired and motivated by
him) raise funds by organising various events such as fetes,
fashion shows, a donkey derby, coffee mornings etc. Betty Howard,
the first manager of the day centre, organised a fun fundraising
day in the village, supported by various village organisations
who paraded floats through Birstall and it ended in the evening
with a hog-roast barbecue. Over £1600 was raised that day.
Direct funding and gifts from people in the village eventually
raised about £10,000.
It was indeed a long, hard slog and Rev Charles Bradshaw was
unsure at times whether he would be able to raise sufficient
funds : in fact it took him at least two years to get all the
funding that was required.
Jex Woods (Chairperson, Age Concern Birstall and Wanlip)
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Age Concern info
Careless Smoking
The Government has launched a campaign to raise awareness of
the dangers of careless smoking and to advise on how to reduce
the risk of fires caused by smoking. Cigarette fires are the
biggest killer because they often happen at night after people
have gone to bed. This is because people may be more relaxed
in the evening, may have had a few drinks or feel tired and therefore
they are less vigilant when extinguishing their cigarettes. In
2002, 120 people died in house fires caused by cigarettes and
over half of all fatalities in accidental household fires each
year are people over the age of 60.
Britons Have Missed out on £26bn of Benefits Since 1997
Pensioners and families have missed out on £26bn of state
benefits since Labour came to power in 1997 new figures have
revealed. The figures have been compiled by the House of Commons
library and are based on government data. Pensioners account
for a large slice of the total. Elderly people have missed out
on £9bn by failing to claim income support/minimum income
guarantee benefits.
Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for work and pensions
has stated: “Pensioners and families are missing out on
vast amounts of cash. These figures show the sheer scale of the
problem and strike at the heart of the Government’s flawed
mass means-testing strategy. More complexity and more form-filling
only means that fewer people receive what is rightfully theirs.”
Age Concern has also called on the Government to turn its back
on means testing. Gordon Liskman, the director general, has said:
“These figures are profoundly disturbing. Many pensioners
fail to claim because they don’t realise they are entitled
to or they are put off by the stigma and complexity. The state
pension must be increased and council tax replaced with a fairer
system of taxation.”
Choice of Accommodation in Care Homes
Age Concern has submitted a response to a Department of Health
consultation on revisions to guidance on the 1992 Choice of Accommodation
Directions. These directions enable older people who are placed
in a care home by a local authority to choose an alternative
to the home that they are offered, provided that it meets their
needs. An alternative choice must not incur additional expense,
although people can choose a more expensive home if a third party,
such as a relative, is willing to fund the difference. The consultation
proposes changes to guidance but not to the regulations themselves.
The Age Concern response raises a number of problems with the
current system:
Local authorities do not always offer a person a place even where
they have accepted responsibility for funding but tell the older
person or their relatives that it is up to them to find a place
at the local authority’s ‘usual rate’. However,
places at the local authority rate are often a rarity or non-existent.
Age Concern perceives this as being an increasing problem.
Local authorities sometimes routinely ask for a third party top-up
even though residents have been offered a place at what the council
says is its usual rate.
Most of the references in the directions and guidance fail to
make it clear that the council must offer a place and that its
powers to require a third party top-up only take effect if the
place is more expensive than the one offered.
Age Concern lists a number of misleading statements from local
authority leaflets that suggest that the local authority is not
required to pay the full cost of a home and that ‘third
party top-ups’ are a general requirement.
Age Concern criticises the guidance for implying that a local
authority can set its ‘usual cost’ of purchasing a
care home place unilaterally without reference to market conditions.
This could result in a ‘usual cost’ that bears no relationships
to the actual availability of care home places.
Age Concern therefore recommends that councils be expected to
demonstrate that they have taken steps to negotiate a realistic
‘usual cost’. Before asking for a top-up, councils
should show that there are at least two suitable homes in the
local area with vacancies at the council’s usual cost.
Age Concern also refers to situations where the home offered
does not meet the social and psychological needs of the older
person and recommends that the guidance be strengthened to remind
councils of the need to vary their ‘usual cost’ if
this is necessary to meet social and psychological needs.
Age Concern criticises the dispute resolution procedure proposed
in the guidance, which suggests that if an older person ‘unreasonably’
refuses the service offered by the local authority, the authority
may considered that it has discharged its statutory responsibilities.
It is argued that a client might act reasonably in disputing
the services offered by the local authority. Age Concern refers
to a number of cases that have established that the courts set
a high threshold for deeming that a client has acted unreasonably
in refusing services.
Age Concern’s Response to the Department of Health Consultation
on Guidance on the National Assistance Act 1948 (Choice of Accommodation)
Directions 1992. 10pp. Available free on receipt of a (9”
x 6”) sae from Donna Pearce, Policy Unit, Age Concern England,
Astral House, 1268
London Road, London SW16 4ER
Grandparenthood in Older People’s Lives
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has published
research on the role of grandparents undertaken as part of the
‘Growing Older’ programme. This study attempts to explore
the diversity of grandparents’ roles in Britain. Findings
include the following:
Government policy is ignoring the diversity of grandparents.
One third of grandparents in the study were aged under 60 years;
38% had grandchildren in ‘non-intact’ families; and
21% had step-grandchildren
Three out of five grandparents saw at least one grandchild on
a weekly basis. Similar proportions lived within half an hour
of one or more grandchildren or reported other contact such as
via letter, telephone or email.
40% of grandparents wanted more contact with their grandchildren
and under 1% wanted less contact.
The main factor was proximity in determining contact but it was
difficult to determine whether moves occurred in order to facilitate
contact or vice versa.
Paternal grandparents were less likely to look after grandchildren,
especially if the son had separated from the grandchild’s
mother.
Grandparents, particularly grandmothers, gave practical support
in times of upheaval such as the arrival of babies, moving house,
the illness of a parent or more protracted crises.
Grandparents often stepped in to remedy financial difficulties
after divorce.
Some grandparents felt obliged to contribute more help than they
wished, especially when children separated from parents or where
a daughter or daughter-in-law was working.
Negotiation of the grandparenting role with parents and the importance
of ‘not interfering’ emerged as key concerns on the
part of grandparents.
Grandparenthood : Its Meaning and its Contribution to older People’s
Lives. ESRC Research Findings 22 by Lynda Clarke and Ceridwen
Roberts. 4pp. Available free from the ESRC Growing Older Programme,
Department of Sociological Studies, Elmfield, Northumberland
Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield. S10 2TU. Tel: 0114
222 6467 Fax: 0114 222 6492. Email: Marg.Walker@shef.ac.uk.
Jex Woods
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