Birstall Post July 2004 (252)

Riverside pupils’ festival of art

Looking at the art exhibition are Laura Freer and her daughters Kiah (6) and Anastasia (8)

PUPILS AT Riverside Community Primary School, Wanlip Lane, let their imaginations run wild during their Big Arts Week in June.
Big Arts Week is a charity initiative, created by volunteering charity Timebank and The Forwards Arts Foundation, which aims to expand the level of art in schools by professional artists to volunteer their time and share their skills with local schoolchildren. Big Arts Week defines art in its widest sense embracing dance, drama, sculpture, painting, music etc.
During the week June 21-25 hundreds of artists like Elizabeth Forbes spent time in classrooms up and down the country, immersing themselves in projects across every creative discipline to help fire children’s imaginations. Elizabeth Forbes, a performing artist, worked with some of the pupils in year 6.

Children performing a dance piece on the theme of Summer

Throughout the week all the children in the school performed for others with poetry readings, storytelling, short plays, dance, music and puppetry.
A collaborative art morning between Longslade Community College and Riverside saw children from both schools working together on a visual art project.

Teacher Kath Chalk directs the Maypole dancing

The drama club performed a dance piece based on the theme of summer, and there were music concerts and an art exhibition.
Big Arts week is only in its third year but the initiative already has a raft of the nation’s most renowned artists behind it - this year these include Harry Enfield, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Ben Okri, Julian Lloyd Webber, Helena Bonham-Carter, Frederick Forsyth and Wayne Hemmingway.
A spokesman from Riverside School said: “At Riverside we believe it is important to nurture the children’s creativity and find ways to enhance arts provision across the curriculum, taking part in the Big Arts Week is one way to do this.”

Club attracts members

ON A blistering hot June Sunday morning, keen players came in their droves to the Birstall Watermead Tennis Club Open Day.
Proudly clutching their rackets, young and old alike came along to see what the club on Birstall Road has to offer - and they were duly impressed.
By the end of the event, around two dozen new members had joined, having tried out the newly laid courts for themselves. As well as getting the feel of two smart new courts, and rallying with club members, two tennis experts from Withers Sports came along with an array of rackets to be tested, as well as the popular ball machine. Several of the newly signed-up members remarked that they were unaware of the tennis club’s existence in the village. Well, after last month’s highly successful event, one thing is certain - they certainly do now.

Open day visitors at Birstall Watermead tennis club

The revamped tennis room, part of the Co-op Sports and Social Club complex on Birstall Road, is now ready - a long-awaited improvement for tennis club members, who will soon say farewell to their ageing portable building.
With an increased membership, the committee is looking forward to exciting times ahead, with hidden new talent coming to the fore.
As you read this, this year’s Wimbledon Championships will have reached its climax. So why not get swept along with the euphoria and join a friendly, developing club. If you are interested, give chairman and treasurer Roger Bartlett a call on 2675273 or secretary Laura Morley on 2674844. We are here to serve the people of Birstall - and you can serve for us.
From Birstall Watermead Tennis Club

Planning applications

Mrs K Pandvar - erection of single storey extension to rear of dwelling. 30 Ambergate Drive
Mrs A Richardson - erection of single storey extension to side of semi detached dwelling. 30 Copeland Rd
Mr T Thornley - erection of a detached bungalow to side of detached house. 17 Roman Rd
Mr R Patel - two storey extension to rear of detached dwelling. 26 Clarke Grove
Mr & Mrs P Hirst - single storey extension to rear of detached house. 119 Harrowgate Drive
Mrs Kharbanda - erection of two storey extension to side and rear and single storey extension to rear of semi detached dwelling. 20 Fielding Rd
Mr S Chamberlain - erection of a self contained two storey annexe to side of semi detached house. 7 Clarke Grove
Mr A Lord - erection of two storey extension to side of house. 55 Johnson Rd
Mr & Mrs Badge - two storey extension to side and single storey extension to rear of dwelling. 50 Elmfield Ave
Keystone Dev (LG) Ltd - demolition of factory and erection of 41 flats. 27 Wanlip Lane
Mr & Mrs N Chapman - single storey extension to front, two storey extension to side and single storey extension to rear. 6 Greengate Lane
Mr B Taylor - alteration of window openings to front of public house to patio veranda doors. White Horse, White Horse Lane,
Mr & Mrs A M Bestwick - roof extension to side and dormer extension to rear of semi detached house. 18 Ambergate Drive
Mr P Suchak - two & single storey extensions to rear and single storey extension to side of house. 10 Johnson Rd
Mr N Langton - erection of two storey extension to side and single storey extension to rear with dormer window to rear. 29 Holt Rd
Mr Dhillon - erection of single storey extension to front of supermarket and installation of roller shutter curtain to front facade and erection of first floor extension for 4 residential units over supermarket. 15-17 Rose Tree Avenue
Mr Tiisler - erection of two storey extension to side of semi detached dwelling. 30 Woodgate Drive
Mr D Raithatha - extension to rear of garage at side of semi detached dwelling. 15 Saltersgate Dr
Mr & Mrs Chauhan - erection of a conservatory to the rear of detached house. 37 Saltersgate Dr

Your Say...

The Charnwood News Spring/Summer issue 2004 printed an article on Hallam Fields. There were not any details concerning the function or problems of the two balancing ponds. There was not any commitment that full sized buses could operate a service. Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council have not agreed on the position and size of the Park & Ride. The developers have not told us anything about the commercial units. The route that the senior and six form pupils will take, after crossing the bridge was not given. A claim is made that others will follow the standard set by Charnwood.
I thought that Charnwood was following the achievement set by Dorchester? Are people either walking or cycling to work? Is there a good bus service with full size buses? Can we have a report from Dorchester.
Severn-Trent Searches state the following: “Our most popular package is our drainage and water survey, which the Law Society strongly recommends for house purchasers”. If there is a drainage problem with this new estate, why cannot Severn-Trent take control? Some years ago Severn-Trent put in larger pipes to ease drainage problems on the Greengate estate.
If Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council cannot agree on the locations of the Park & Rides, what kind of Park & Ride will be constructed near the A6/A46 junction? Leicester City is not sure whether Thurcaston Road is closed, but they are constantly upgrading Greengate Lane and planning to build Ashton Green. Also Loughborough are considering a development in Syston. From a logical point of view Loughborough is helping to create a greater Leicester. With its own traffic problems, why should Loughborough help Leicester and narrow bendy streets with one parking place per dwelling will cause the car to dominate the new estate. A survey will show that the Melton Road is far busier than the Loughborough Road. When Ross Willmot came back from the environment conference in South Africa he spoke of a tram system down the Melton Road not the Loughborough Road. If Loughborough wants to help the traffic problems in Leicester a good site for the traffic coming from a northerly direction would be the old Co-operative site. Previously the site now occupied by Asda would have been even better.
Leicester City plans Aston Green to be an eco-village development with environmentally-friendly houses. It will be built around public transport, with all homes five minutes from bus stops. The developers of Hallam fields have not contacted a local bus company about any route. Why cannot we see a complete plan of the Hallam fields development including the alterations to Greengate Lane. If there are traffic calming measures all over Birstall and Thurcaston, why can’t we have something near the infants and junior schools on Greengate Lane. Two traffic islands, before and after the schools would help.
Les Briers
Planning Officer at Charnwood, Steve Lewis-Roberts was invited to comment on this letter. He said: “There are no anticipated problems with the balancing ponds. Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council are trying to negotiate government funding for park & ride sites, one of which is Birstall. Whether or not this bid is successful, the park & ride will be built in Birstall, opposite Hallam Fields on the eastern side of the A6. If government funding is given it will be for 1000 cars, if not the site will be smaller and paid for by the developers. The park & ride will be built half way through the development in around 3-4 years. A bus service will operate within Hallam Fields - the developers are required to provide £250,000 to ensure this. This will be in addition to the park & ride service.”
He added that the anticipated start date for phase one, the construction of 320 dwellings on Hallam Fields, is September 2004.

It must be irritating for people who live opposite a house where a warning light has been fitted - which lights up, not only when someone walks up the pathway to the house but which lights up each time someone passes by on the pavement!
As I made my way to shops I noticed such a light going on and off regularly, as children passed the house as they made their way to school. A little adjustment needed I think.
Name and address supplied.

This poem is a tribute to Tony the Paul Winson coach driver of the former regular Birstall to town service who was so highly regarded by the passengers he served and very much missed.

To Tony
You know us all by our name,
Leaving us is such a shame,
You have a smile for everyone,
And lift our trolleys off and on,
We will all be sorry when you go,
How to get to town we will never know.

Nothing for you is any trouble,
Has the Garage got a double?
And has he got shirts so very white,
And will he be cheerful and bright?

A helping hand for everyone,
You never swear when things go wrong,
You listen to our gabble and chatter all day,
But the good old music you still do play.

We have had a few drivers in the past,
We are glad that did not last,
They go off before we all sit down,
And we are usually thrown around.

Oh! Tony when you have left,
Us old girls will be bereft,
We see our friends every day,
We have lost a few along the way.

You go on holidays far and wide,
Who have you got by your side?
A girl friend we think: what a lad!
Then we find you are going with your DAD!!

WELL YOU DID ONCE

Jill Tansley

As we do not know who the kind person is who found our lost letter addressed to the M.C.S.Ltd, The Crossways, on Monday June 14 so are unable to thank them personally, we are writing to say thank you very much for taking the trouble to post it through their letter box.
This kind gesture was very much appreciated by us as it was a donation to a charity nominated by a friend who has sadly died.
Margaret & Joe Hunt

Would it be possible through your pages to extend a very big ‘thank you’ to the good people of Birstall.
We are part of a dining club aptly named ‘get stuffed’ and on May 8 at Birstall Golf Club it was our very great pleasure to organise a charitable dinner dance. Birstall Golf Club were fantastic and we extend our grateful thanks to Sue and the staff. Through the generosity of the people in the locality we raised in excess of £1,400 which we have divided between two charities, Cystic Fibrosis and Rainbows Children’s Hospice. A very, very good time was had by all.
Again, a huge ‘thank you’ to all who participated - see you next year!
Paul Porter, John Todd and Ray Mills
Get Stuffed!

It would be very much appreciated if anyone who has local knowledge of the history of the playing fields adjacent to School Lane would relate information to myself. John Walker on 07771 632797, or the Birstall Post. It is understood that the Fielding Johnson family donated an area to the cricket club but after this the land, which is now no longer registered, is believed to have been acquired by persons unknown. Enquiries have been made via the Land Registry and County Council without any answers. Should you have served on a local council or any committee that had dealings with this I would very much like to hear from you.
John Walker

Village Watch News

BURGLARIES ARE the priority for us this month. We have had in Birstall a spate of daytime burglaries.
The loss to the people concerned can be many hundreds of pounds. To the thief just a small amount of money probably to get their next fix. Naturally the police are concerned that this is happening and they hope that everybody will take note of what is happening in their road. If you know that your near neighbours are away, just keep an eye out to see that nothing unusual is happening to their property.
Before you go away a few simple tasks will help to protect your property. Make sure that you have cancelled the papers and the milk, and if possible get somebody to take in the refuse bag that’s been tucked in the drain pipe or the letter box, all very easy signs for the would-be thief that the house is unoccupied. If you have an alarm make sure that you have set it and that a near neighbour knows whom to contact should it go off. Sheds and garages should also be left secure with good locks on the doors. Don’t leave garden tools out, put them away under lock and key. The Watch have some very good alarms at a reasonable price on sale at their Advice Shop and of course you can invest in a pack of ‘Smart Water’ which effectively marks all your valuables and gives them a unique DNA.
Car crime still is high in the area and cars are being targeted in the early hours of the morning for anything left in the car that is visible, please lock it in the boot or take it into your home, don’t leave it on display.
Alarms for the shed, the home or for personal use are always available at the Advice Shop which is held on the third Saturday of every month at the old council offices, Sibson Road, or for this month on July 4, why not come to the Birstall gala when the Watch will have all these items available for sale at the event.
Have you looked at our website? All the latest crime is listed, try it. www.villagewatch.co.uk
From Peter Allen, Chairman Birstall & Wanlip NHW
Crime Report May 2004
Assaults 10, burglary 5, Burglary other 6, theft of motor vehicle 3, theft from motor vehicle 3, theft of cycle 1, other theft 9, criminal damage 5, other offences 4.

League and Cup winners

(back row) Scott Jacobs, Jack Wilson, Jake Whitmore, Milan Frank, Ben Smith, Conner Gant, Austin Farrel, Joel Johnson, Dave Sweeney; (front row) Ashton Foote, Conor Jacobs, Glyn Chivers, George Ager, Shane Glover, Arron Page

AFTER FINISHING the season top of their league, Birstall United Under 11s football team crowned their achievement by winning two cup tournaments to finish their season with a treble.
The side came top of Kennedy Johnson Division Three league unbeaten, winning 19 or their 20 matches and drawing one.
They followed up their league success with two cup competitions, in Loughborough and Asfordby.
Managers Scott Jacobs and Dave Sweeney thanked sponsor Mark Nutting of Premier Landscapes for his help in the team’s success.

Top cop’s day in Birstall

PC Dave Coles (left) is joined on his beat in Birstall by North Area Commander, Inspector Geoff Feavyour.

A SENIOR police officer had a taste of front line policing when he joined Birstall’s policeman PC Dave Coles on his Birstall beat.
Inspector Geoff Feavyour is the North Area Commander of Leicestershire Police, in overall command of 320 police officers and 50 support staff in Syston, Quorn, Loughborough, Shepshed, Ashby and Coalville.
On June 16 Inspector Feavyour spent the day with Dave Coles patrolling Birstall, and spent some of his time carrying out stop and searches on young people in the School Lane playing field car park.
Birstall Parish Council have been pressing hard for a second beat officer to join PC Coles in Birstall. Inspector Feavyour told the Birstall Post: “I try to keep one officer on every beat, and we do put on extra officers where they are needed but Birstall isn’t it, it doesn’t stand out. I can’t provide two officers where the crime levels don’t justify it. I’m not saying Birstall has sufficient policing, I’d love to have two officers on every beat, but I have no more spare officers with the resources we have at the moment.”
Inspector Feavyour commented that PC Coles had one of the highest arrest rates in the North Area.

WI news

A BEAUTIFUL EVENING following a hot day made the 86th birthday party of Birstall & Wanlip WI very enjoyable.
It was sad that Mrs Dorothy Gregory, President, was unable to be there owing to her being a patient in Leicester General Hospital. All the members signed a card of good wishes for her and it is hoped she will be back in the Chair soon.
Mrs Rosalie Morling deputised for her and efficiently dealt with business matters after the singing of ‘Jerusalem’. Tickets were available for members attending the Caribbean evening at Thornton, the skittles team had won their first round match and other forthcoming Events were noted in County News. A group summer meeting has been arranged with Birstall & Wanlip as host institute. This will be at Birstall Methodist Church with a walk near Watermead Lakes (weather permitting) followed by tea & cakes at the Church which will be joined by Leicester Male Voice Choir who will give a concert afterwards.
Mrs Caroline Figgit had been the advisor at the May meeting when the Resolutions had been discussed.
After all this business Rosalie welcomed Linda & John Beynon who were to be entertainers for this party. Linda and John now live at Fleckney but were resident in Birstall until about 14 years ago, so they were known to a lot of the members. They started the programme with some singing which included everyone and then went on to an unusual quiz.
They had visited Birstall earlier and taken photos of various points of interest. Some were doors, chimneys, roofs and others streets and road signs. Out of 37 pictures the highest score was 25 which proved that though we pass and look at places regularly we don’t always ‘notice’. After another song refreshments were the order of the evening with finger food and ending with a celebration birthday cake.
Altogether it was a very happy and successful party there is no meeting in July and the next one will be on August 2 at the Methodist Church at 7.15pm. The speaker will be Mrs M Wright demonstrating ‘Parchment Craft’ with a competition for a homemade card.
All visitors will be very welcome to attend.
From Mrs M Belton

Turnout

Charnwood received a turnout of 45% in the European Elections held in June.
This was almost double the turnout for the previous European Election in this area. The Local Returning officer did not receive any reports of fraudulent practice.
Cllr Sandie Forrest, Cabinet Lead Member for Electoral Services, said: “The 45% turnout is a remarkable success for Charnwood and we would like to thank all the officers and staff involved for all their hard work in making the new postal system run so smoothly.”

Tesco vouchers

LONGSLADE COLLEGE are celebrating after collecting a record breaking amount of Tesco Computers for Schools vouchers.
Sheila Beatty from Longslade College College said: “You’ve done it again! Thanks to your tremendous support we are able to order another computer this year for 12,910 vouchers. The total collection so far this year is 13,786 which breaks all previous records. This is an excellent achievement, thank you.”

Age Concern Info

Housing Benefit and Moving into a Care Home
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a circular to local authorities explaining a new interpretation of the rules, following a decision by two social security commissioners.
It relates to people who move into a care home and are thus liable to make payments both for the care home and for rent during the notice period, when giving up a tenancy. As a result of the commissioners decision, the DWP has changed its advice and from October 2003 (the date of the decision) people who move into care homes and who are liable to pay for their care in the home, but at the same time still have to pay rent on their former home, can now get Housing Benefit paid for up to four weeks during the notice period of their tenancy. Previously the advice was that Housing Benefit could not be paid.
(Dept for Work and Pensions Adjudication and Operations Circular: Housing Benefit and Council Tax. HB/CTBA18/2004, March 24, 18pp)

Driving Licence Proposals : Age Concern Response
Age Concern has responded to a recent consultation from the Department for Transport on European Commission (EC) proposals for a Third Driving Licence Directive. The EC’s intention was that all existing entitlements to drive, granted before the new measures came into force, should be respected. Age Concern felt this would negate any benefits which the Commission claims would result from their implementation. If new measures were only to be applied to the issue of new licences, it could be some 50 years before every driver would be subject to the harmonisation measures. It was felt this could lead to a confusing situation for drivers, advisers and law enforcers.
The response supported the proposal that all drivers would have to renew their licences every 10 years but not, that once over the age of 65, renewal would be every 5 years. This was seen to be discriminatory. Nor did the response support the proposal that all minibus drivers should have to have a medical every year after the age of 65. There is little robust research on the effect of certain medical conditions on the ability to drive. hence it was doubted whether passing a medical examination would ensure reliability, nor that failing one would necessarily suggest unreliability.
(Age Concern’s Response to the European Proposals for a Third Driving Licence. 4pp. Available on receipt of a 9”x6” sae from Donna Pearce, Policy Unit, Age Concern England. Email: policy@ace.org.uk)

Living Wills
The Department for Constitutional Affairs has issued a press release about its plans to improve advance decisions (sometimes called ‘living wills’). In the proposed Mental Incapacity Bill people will have the opportunity to plan ahead for a time when they might lose the capacity to make their own decisions. Advance decisions will allow them to set out specific medical treatments they wish to refuse in specific circumstances. This will not change the law on euthanasia, which will remain unlawful and this will be made clear on the face of the Bill.
Constitutional Affairs Minister, Lord Filkin said: “We don’t want advance decisions to be vague or to be pieces of paper that are not revisited for many years. Nor do we want to put doctors in an unfair and uncertain position. I want to give people who fear they may lose capacity, the choice of refusing treatment (just as people with capacity do) but I want them to take this decision understanding their medical condition and what treatment might be available.”
The following improvements take on board recommendations made by the Joint Scrutiny Committee on the draft bill and comments made by interest groups.
Advance decisions must always clearly specify the treatments to which they apply
Before an advance decision is followed a doctor must be satisfied that the decision has not been revoked, that the person has not done anything to show they have changed their mind, and that circumstances have not changed in a way that would have affected the person’s decision.
If there is doubt about validity and applicability of the advance decision, it must be resolved in favour of the preservation of life.
The Code of Practice on the Bill will also recommend that advance decisions should be made in writing and witnessed by someone independent; should be discussed with a health care professional; and should be regularly reviewed and updated.
(Dept for Constitutional Affairs Press Release, 22 April 2004)

Pneumococcal Vaccine for Older People
The Department of Health has issued a factsheet on pneumococcal disease and the new vaccine which will be made available to older people. The risk of pneumococcal disease increases with age and rises sharply for people aged 75 and over. The disease accounts for a significant number of hospital admissions and deaths each year.
People aged 80 and over were offered the vaccine in 2003-04. From April 1, 2004, the vaccine will be offered to people aged 75 and over and in 2005-06 this will be extended to those aged 65 and over. The vaccine can be given at any time of year and, unlike the influenza vaccine, most adults need only one dose of pneumococcal vaccine in their lifetime.
(Pneumococcal Vaccine for Older People 6pp. Available free from Immunisation Information, Dept of Health Publications PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH, tel: 08701 555 455, Fax 01623 724524. Also available on the Internet at http://www.immunisation.org.uk/pdf/over 75 factsheet.pdf).

‘Mobilise’ : Ending Age Discrimination in Disability Benefits
‘Mobilise - end discrimination in disability benefits’ is a campaign launched on April 29 to end the age barrier of 65 in claiming disability benefits.
At present people can claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) up to the age of 65 and those who claim DLA before their 65th birthday can continue to receive it thereafter. People who become disabled or ill at or after the age of 65 can only claim the lower rate of the benefit Attendance Allowance, which does not include help with mobility needs or lover lever care needs. The campaign believes this to be unfair and discriminatory.
Help the Aged is leading the campaign and various other charities, including Age Concern, are supporting it. (Mobilise Press Release, 29 April 2004).

Pension and Benefit Payments
Work and Pensions Minister, Chris Pond, has announced that the system of paying pensions and benefits to people who are not able to receive payment directly into an account will be through a weekly cheque sent to a home address. The cheques can be cashed at post offices or paid into bank accounts. Cheque payments will start in October this year as order books start to be phased out.
(Dept. for Work and Pension Press Release, 11 May 2004)

Pensions Bill : Help for Workers Who Have Lost Occupational Pensions
The Government is amending the Pensions Bill to provide help for people who lost some, or all, of their occupational pension when their pension scheme was bound up. A fund of £400 million will be set up to be paid in over 20 years with the possibility of a further contribution from industry. The fund is needed because the new Pension Protection Fund, designed to help pension scheme members whose company goes bankrupt in the future, will not apply to those whose pension schemes have already been wound up.
(Dept for Work and Pensions Press Release, 14 May 2004)
Jex Woods

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