Dhillons
A PLANNING application to erect four residential
units on the roof of Dhillons supermarket on Rose Tree Avenue
are still being considered by Charnwood Borough Council’s
planning department.
The Birstall Post has learned that the application may be withdrawn
or is likely to be refused.
Vet dreaming of Olympic glory
Pic: Fencer Jessica Beer
LOCAL VET Jessica Beer has taken leave
from the Hayes and Borrajo surgery on Sibson Road and is currently
in Athens, preparing to compete in the Olympic Games.
Jessica (24) is competing in the fencing event and will represent
her country, New Zealand. Jessica began fencing aged 10 and began
competing at the age of 16. She said: “What appeals to me
about fencing is the mix of the mental and the physical, and
the wide variety of skills needed - patience, speed, endurance
and strength.”
She has won nine New Zealand open fencing titles and has trained
and competed all over the world, recently winning the Asia/Oceania
Olympic Zone qualifying competition held in Manila.
Jessica said: “I was surprised and thrilled to qualify for
the Olympics. It will be an incredibly difficult field of 36
other fencers but if I fence well and do my best I will be happy.”
Jessica qualified as a vet in New Zealand and moved to the UK
to practice in 2003. She lives in Wanlip. “I’d like
to thank the Hayes and Barrajo surgery for being really good
about the leave I’ve taken, and also Green’s Health
and Fitness for their support” said Jessica.
CAB closes
CHARNWOOD CITIZENS Advice Bureau is closing
its Birstall sessions, held at the old Council Offices, 10 Sibson
Road.
CAB say the reason for closure is a lack of staff. They continue
to hold a session at Syston Library, Upper Church Street and
this is now on Tuesdays from 10am-1pm.
Telephone advice can be given on 0870 1264096 from Loughborough
office.
Gardens opened for trail
ONCE AGAIN the yearly Birstall Garden Trail
took place on Saturday and Sunday June 26 & 27, from 2-5.30pm,
organised by Richard Kilby together with many friends and members
of the church helping and stewarding the 15 gardens which had
kindly been opened by the owners in aid of the Birstall Methodist
Church and the Leicestershire Air Ambulance Service.
Pic: the garden of Jane & Shane
Williams at 5 Walnut Ave
Pic: the garden of Mr & Mrs Burke, 48 Greengate Lane
Although the weather was not kind to Saturday ‘trailers’,
Sunday proved to be a better day and some hundreds of folk walked
around and enjoyed not only the gardens but the plant stall,
garden tombola, ice-creams, raffle, children’s treasure
hunt and especially the cream teas!
The gardens were in and around Castlegate Avenue, Greengate Lane
and Walnut Avenue with various sized and well designed features,
many with unusual aspects for wildlife including a fox den under
a shed where badgers are regular visitors. There were ponds with
fish and frogs, streams flowing down under a bridge to the fountain
below, and an array of flowers with tubs and pots brining extra
colour along the paths. Stepping stones, cobbles, pebbles, decking,
everywhere tranquil settings to sit out and enjoy.
The Birstall Garden Centre sponsored the event and the organisers
would like to thank them, the owners of the gardens and the many
helpers including the villagers and friends that supported this
event.
The money raised was £3300 which will be given to the church
and the Air Ambulance Service.
Organiser Richard Kilby said: “Special thanks to the committee,
the many stall holders and helpers and also the 60 volunteers
who sat by the gates and welcomed visitors to the gardens. Very
special thanks to the garden owners for all the work they had
achieved. Once again we were grateful to the Birstall Garden
Centre for their help”.
He added: “A cheque presentation is planned for Sunday evening
August 8 when a representative of The Leicestershire Air Ambulance
will receive approximately £1,550. The Methodist Church
have now organised 14 Annual Garden Trails and the social benefits
to the community continue to be the most pleasing aspect of the
events. On a financial basis we have raised some £16,350
for other charities besides helping our own church finances.”
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Nest in Country Park
Pic: Ken Goodrich with the sandbank in the
background
SAND MARTINS have been resting in an artificial
sand bank created for them in Watermead Country Park for 10 years.
The sand martin bank is in a section of the park newly opened
to the public and a new information board about the bank has
just been erected near a new hide which overlooks the bank.
Pic: Ken Goodrich, Maureen Milgram, Director
of the Ken Chamberlain Trust and Ernie White, Lead Member for
Community Services at Leicestershire County Council beside the
new board
Birstall Birdwatching Club, who have part funded the information
board, were instrumental in getting the sand bank built. Club
Chairman Ken Goodrich explains: “An area of land to the
east of Wanlip village was leased to ARC, and was used to store
fine gravel from the quarry at Shepshed. Sand martins used to
next in the storage heaps - 30 pairs was not uncommon. In 1989
the lease ran out, the site was cleared and it was taken over
by Leicestershire County Council as an extension to Watermead
Country Park.
“I thought it would be a good idea to try and keep the sand
martin colony going, so I approached Leicestershire County Council
with the idea of building an artificial nest bank. They agreed
that it was a good idea, and I began some research into what
was needed. I discovered an artificial bank had been built near
Lockerbie in Scotland, which was proving successful, so in 1992
I arranged a visit there with Tim Maydwell (Watermead Country
Park senior ranger), David Robbins, my wife and myself (from
Birstall Birdwatching Club).
I, together with members of Birstall Birdwatching Club, then
began fundraising, and a cheque for £1000 was handed over
to Leicestershire County Council to help with the building costs.
With the help of the Leicestershire County Council Surveyors,
plans were drawn up, and work commenced on January 23, 1993 and
the artificial bank was completed on March 6, 1993. The construction
was undertaken by the Warden and his assistants with some contract
labour.
Although no nesting took place in 1993, sand martins began nesting
in 1994 and have been successful every year since. Other species
which have used the bank to nest in are blue tit, great tit,
wren and kingfisher.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first permanent sand
martin bank to be built in England.”
Birstall bowling
BIRSTALL BOWLING Club are having another
busy season.
There have been many visitors to the green already this year,
including 26 of the local Birstall Cubs on a Monday night in
June. Hopefully some of them will return to the club as players
in future years as they certainly seemed to enjoy themselves.
Meanwhile the club, who are sponsored by Bentleys Roses, reached
the area semi final of the National Top Club competition for
the second year running before losing to Knighton Victoria 3-2.
Knighton also beat Birstall in the last 16 of the County Cup.
Several Birstall players were in the final stages of the Leicester
City & District Parks championships that were being played
at the end of July. A report on how they got on will be in September’s
Post.
Bus service changes
BUSES WILL operate along Allington Drive
when the new 99 bus service is introduced in November.
The County Council initially planned to stop serving Allington
Drive but after a consultation exercise in May, it has found
additional funding to replace some of the routes that were lost
in the initial proposals.
Plans for introducing the service have been postponed from August
31 to November 1.
A County Council spokesman said: “Final details of the revised
services will be available shortly and full publicity will be
distributed in October.”
New dining experience at the Mulberry Tree
Pic: James Cunningham behind the bar of the
Mulberry Tree
NO LONGER a traditional pub, the White
Horse has a new name and a new owner and has been transformed
into a stylish bar restaurant offering quality food.
The Mulberry Tree is the latest venture of restaurateur James
Cunningham, who has been in the industry for 11 years.
James(28) said: “We have tried to create a chilled out and
relaxed decor, a fusion of the modern and the traditional, retaining
some of the original features of the White House.
“The name change was necessary because we are taking the
business in a completely different direction. The pub has been
here for 200 years and we don’t want to erase that history
- we are keen on restoring its original features and will be
creating a display to hang above the fireplace.”
James is passionate about food and speaks with real enthusiasm
about his chef and the Mulberry Tree menu. He said: “Our
chef James Blakemore trained at Claridges and has worked at several
Michelin starred restaurants in London including four years as
senior sous chef at La Caprice. For the last three years he has
been head chef at Raymond Blanc’s Le Petit Blanc in Birmingham.”
He added: “The style of the food here is fresh, modern and
European, using only the freshest ingredients and with every
dish prepared by the chef from scratch. It’s an affordable
menu - the cheapest main course is £4.25, the most expensive
is £12.75. All day from 12 on Sundays we have a fantastic
quality roast with sirloin of beef, homemade Yorkshire puddings,
home roasted potatoes and rustic summer vegetables with a rich
red wine and mushroom gravy, all for £8.95”.
The wine has been carefully selected to complement the menu,
and there is a wide range of cask conditioned ales which James
says has already attracted many compliments from customers.
James is planning further improvements to the garden: new furniture
and parasols over the patio complete with lighting and heating
for late summer dining. Inside there is a 60 seat non-smoking
restaurant, a coffee lounge with comfortable leather armchairs
and a bar area for drinks and informal dining.
The Mulberry Tree has created 15 new jobs for local people and
James hopes his bar restaurant will be an asset for Birstall
and attract people into the village.
NHW news
THIS MONTH the Syston Local Polishing unit
will be visiting three areas in and around Birstall and Wanlip
with the Local Policing Unit Van.
On July 26 it will be on Sibson Road between the hours of 10am
and 3pm. On August 2 it will be at Watermead Park at the John
Merrick Lake and on August 7 it will also be at Watermead Park
at the King Lear Lake. Why not call at the van and have a chat
and see what the LPU is doing in this area?
Crime in the area this month has been the average for this time
of the year. Burglaries and car crime again are at the top of
the list. It is important for everybody to take care over the
holiday period. Ensure that if you are going away you inform
neighbours or the local contact of neighbourhood watch that you
will be away, so that an eye can be kept on your house. Cars
should be left locked up with nothing showing that is immediately
attractive to the thief to break in and steal.
Many of the readers of the Birstall Post will have seen articles
in the national and local press about the National Neighbourhood
Watch Association, and that it is under threat of closure by
the government. I have had correspondence from the home office
minister Hazel Blears MP that this is not the case. There is
however a request to NNWA from the government to quote “improve
its financial management, particularly to reduce its high running
costs and to live within its means”.
Please note that Birstall & Wanlip Neighbourhood Watch does
not have any connection with National Neighbourhood Watch Association
and does not receive any funding from this organisation.
Our next Advice Shop will be on Saturday August 21, at the old
parish council offices, Sibson Road, between the hours of 10am
and 12 midday.
From Peter Allen
Your Say...
How sad I was to discover that The White Horse Pub is no more.
I started to use the White Horse more than 30 years ago, had
my stag night there, and frequently took my family to enjoy the
garden during our all too short summer. How nice it was to sit
out there, watch the narrow boats go by, let the kids explore
a little. I’m sure that on occasion the boaters would moor
up and enjoy the Pub as well.
Last Sunday (June 27) I went with my family for a quick drink
before lunch only find that it is now ‘The Mulberry Tree’
restaurant. As it still has garden tables we sat down and I went
to get our drinks. One glass of wine and three soft drinks and
two packets of albeit upmarket crisps. Total cost ...Over £13!
(Same round just over £6 at the next place)
Now I know that for a Pub to close it must mean that for whatever
reason it was not generating sufficient income to its owners
to remain open, but I hope for the owner/tenant/manager’s
sake that they have done their sums properly and attract the
custom they want. I for one, and several of the customers I spoke
to including those I met later at another hostelry, will not
be returning.
The message is however very clear. If we choose not to use our
local pubs, and for that matter, any other local amenities, we
have little grounds to complain when they disappear. It doesn’t
make the pill any easier to swallow though.
Nicholas G Black, Stonehill Avenue
ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour makes peoples’ lives a misery and
blights communities. It isn’t fair that the selfish few
- the louts, the yobs, and the nuisance neighbours - should be
allowed to ride roughshod over everyone else. Graffiti, litter
and abandoned cars foster an environment where crime and anti-social
behaviour can thrive.
Tackling anti-social behaviour is a priority for the Government
and we have taken steps to give organisations the powers and
resources to win back their communities.
The tough new laws in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, with
measures such as the closure of crack houses and dispersal of
intimidating groups gives communities the powers to combat this
blight and sends out a strong message that anti-social behaviour
will be tackled not tolerated.
In every town there are people and organisations who are already
making a real difference tackling anti-social behaviour in their
communities - helping in a youth centre, running a residents’
group or Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, or organising community
clean-ups.
We want to recognise and support this work which is why we are
running the Taking A Stand Award scheme for the second year.
I am asking the public to nominate local people who have decided
enough is enough - people who have decided to tackle anti-social
behaviour and help to put a stop to it.
Entries for the Taking A Stand Awards are invited until September
28. The overall winner will receive £5,000 and the additional
100 winners nationwide will receive £1,000 to help fund
their local anti-social behaviour projects. Winners will also
be offered a specialist programme to help build their skills
and confidence in tackling other local problems and help people
in a similar situation.
Do you know of a likely candidate or local group that deserves
recognition, or are you one yourself? Call 0800 085 2980 or visit
www.takingastand.org for a nomination form. We’d love to
hear from you.
Together we can beat anti-social behaviour. It’s time to
Take A Stand.
Hazel Blears MP
Minister of State, Home Office
Severn-Trent should take over all problems concerning drainage
and sewage, including maintenance. Loughborough makes the claim
that there are no anticipated problems with balancing ponds.
This means that over a period of time something could happen.
If a drainage problem in Leicester can be solved by Severn-Trent
why can’t a drainage problem in the new estate be the responsibility
of Severn-Trent? The details of these two balancing ponds should
be published.
From a logical point of view Loughborough is helping to make
a greater Leicester and since Leicester is planning to close
Greengate Lane to cars then a mini Park & Ride will not suffice.
The Park & Rides should be the responsibility of Leicestershire
County Council and Leicester City Council and nobody else. Also
there must be a new constructed bus lane as far as the Sibson
Road bus stop. A bus priority lane will not solve any problems.
When coach drivers take a group of people from the north part
of Leicester and plan to drive north on the M1, the driver takes
the Western bypass back to Groby and then connects the M1 at
Markfield because of traffic congestion in Loughborough. Why
is Loughborough trying to solve traffic problems in Leicester?
The developers have promised to provide £250,000 for the
bus service. Even if they contributed £1,000,000 this would
solve any transport problems because full size buses, including
double-deckers could not provide a bus service on narrow bendy
streets with car owners having only one car space. Also the bus
companies are fed up with their staff being abused.
If Loughborough is so proud of its unique estate then a complete
plan should be published now. If this estate is built section
by section then it will be a unique disaster.
Are people walking, cycling or using the buses at Poundbury.
Are there any balancing ponds? Can we have a report from Dorchester.
Les Briers
I am writing to object very strongly about the intended closure
of Greengate Lane. Surely the access of this new development
could be from the Leicester Road, nearer to Beaumont Leys as
it is a Leicester City Council project, Greengate Lane needs
to be left along as it is a popular route for Birstall people.
A Davis
Your July edition had an interesting piece about the proposal
to cut off Greengate Lane as part of the Ashton Green development.
Thank you for keeping me informed.
I for one would be very much in favour of this proposal. Greengate
Lane has changed from a pleasant residential road to a major
thoroughfare in recent years. It is bad enough already - noisy
motorbikes early in the morning are the worst culprits - and
it can only get worse with the Ashton Green development. So,
the sooner it is cut off the better. In the meantime can we have
a 20 mile an hour speed limit and some speed cameras?
Sam Dobson, Greengate Lane
We are normally on holiday when the Birstall Gala takes place
but, being at home this year, we invited our grandchildren to
stay over so that we could enjoy two funfilled days as advertised.
Advertised where? Gunn’s Gym appears to have taken over
on the radio and indeed in posters in the village. So sparse
were any adverts I was unable to find any opening times until
the Post was delivered on Friday 2nd.
Duly wrapped up against the very inclement weather - we live
in England so we are always prepared for the worst - we arrived
at the playing fields at about 2.15pm to a virtual ghost town.
The entertainment consisted of a beer tent, a burger bar, two
stalls, a noisy disco tent and a kiddie section. Doom and gloom
descended, a visual check of other (sparse) visitors showed them
to be mainly early teens who were not drawn to the noisy disco
tent. Perhaps other villagers had been in previous years and
knew what to expect.
What was Saturday supposed to be? Maybe Birstall should concentrate
on a one day Gala. Sunday was better - maybe all the hard work
was put into this day - BUT what about the Saturday let down.
We do not included weather conditions here, we live here and
know what to expect.
A disappointed villager who really was looking forward to a funfilled
weekend.
Mavis Garland
Inter Care is a local medical charity, now based in Syston.
For 30 years, it has been sending medicines and training materials
to help small rural units in ex-British colonies in Africa.
We have recently been sending them valuable teaching material
on the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Sets of coloured
slides are an important part of the teaching programme but several
of the small hospitals and training schools to which we have
sent have no projector.
In this age of camcorders and digital cameras, we know many people
have stored away their old projector in the attic.
If you could donate one to Inter Care that is in good working
order you would be helping fight this most distressing condition.
We will be pleased to collect locally.
Please contact Margaret, Carol or Emma at: Inter Care,
46 The Halfcroft, Syston, Leicester LE7 1LD. Tel: 0116 269 5925.
www.intercare.org.uk
Having read the article in July’s issue of the Birstall
Post, namely - Watermead Country Park ‘News from the Park’
I felt the need to put pen to paper.
I have lived in Birstall for 28 years and spent many of them
walking my dog(s) around this lovely area, feeling privileged
to have such a lovely park so near. However, I am sure I speak
for a great many of us dog walkers when I say that when the fishing
season opens in June our enjoyment of the park is marred until
October, a great pity as summer around the park is so beautiful.
I realise that many of the fishermen who use the park are extremely
careful and take their rubbish away with them, but a great many
seem oblivious to the fact that other people use and enjoy Watermead
Park. Dead fish are left to rot on the bank side, open tins of
sweetcorn and other bait, fishing lines and all manner of rubbish
are just discarded, causing not only injury to dogs, but also
to the abundant wildlife around the park. Now the summer holidays
are upon us many children are also using the park to fish and
the amount of rubbish around at the moment is horrendous.
Could not the rangers be more in evidence around the park, perhaps
speaking to people, explaining the Country Code? I have to say
I rarely see the rangers, and when I do they never step out of
their jeep!
Pat Herbert
May I thank everyone who purchased the recent book of memories
that, I understand, is now almost out of print. I am grateful
to the many people who have contacted me by letter and telephone
from all over the world. I did not realise quite how interesting
the memories would be to other people, but nevertheless I am
pleased to have shared these with you.
Very shortly another booklet sponsored again by the Local District
History Society, is to be published. This book was the idea of
Stuart Liquorish who thought it would be interesting to learn
of the people and faces of those who died during the two great
wars. He has searched diligently to establish as much as possible
about the people and their families whose names appear on the
War Memorial and where possible has found photographs of them.
This document will be a valuable history and especially helpful
to the records of the Birstall British Legion. To supplement
this I have set out details of other prominent characters who
have roads or avenues in Birstall named after them and details
of their families that will provide interesting information into
some of our former occupants and people who have affected our
community.
The booklet will be on sale by the beginning of September.
Again thank you all for your interest.
John Kilby
Somewhere in Birstall lies a rusty six foot galvanised fence
which Birstall Parish Council plans to erect on the School Lane
playing fields and Loughborough Road.
They claim that the fence, a free gift, would deter vandals.
I think not!
Have the Parish Council thought through the consequences of such
a fence? Clearly, the fence will need erecting and painting.
An estimated cost of this work from a reputable contractor would
cost between £20,000 to £25,000.
There are other access points into the park which are kept open
at all times. Could not vandals use these?
Think again Birstall Parish Council, this fence will do absolutely
nothing to improve things and will only serve to spoil the beautiful
view across the park.
B J Garner
As residents of School Lane we would like to point out that
whilst something must be done to secure the playing fields from
vandalism, the proposed erection of a six foot galvanised fence
will only serve to conceal any activity there. In the view of
the police one of the greatest aids to crime prevention is natural
surveillance. If this fence is put up as planned, this will act
as a screen and have the effect of blocking the view of passing
police, members of the public and local residents and have the
unintended consequence of creating a haven for hidden activity.
The vision and imagination of the Parish Council and the dedication
of the staff have given us a public amenity to be proud of. Perhaps
something more in keeping with the attractive outlook could be
considered?
Mr B & The Rev S Skidmore
As the storm of recent news reports shows, it appears that
the only certainty older people and their families face when
it comes to obtaining and paying for care is that it will be
a confusing and daunting experience.
The chaos over who pays for care continues unbated and the real
losers are older people and their families who are left feeling
vulnerable at the time when they need support most.
The government has admitted that some people have wrongly paid
for their care and the NHS has set aside up to £180 million
to compensate them. The cases that have been identified so far
may just be the tip of the iceberg and there may be other people
paying for care costs that should in fact be met by the health
service.
Older people who are entering or already in care and who are
confused about their fees or feel they are paying wrongly need
good independent advice. The Help the Aged Care Fees Advice Helpline
can help people find their way around the complex system of funding
care. Readers can telephone freephone 0500 76 74 76 for further
information.
Philip Spiers
Help the Aged Care Fees Advice Service
I am sure I speak for all the members of Birstall Parish Council
who were on duty at the Village Gala when I say how impressed
I was with the young people of the 1947 Squadron of the ATC who
manned the main gate and also sold programmes.
They were always helpful and unfailingly polite, a credit to
their squadron and to the village.
Older people are often critical of today’s youngsters. Perhaps
next time we have reason to complain, we should think of these
young men and women and remind ourselves that there is just as
much quality among our young people as there was when we were
their age.
Peter West
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