|
• home
• back to Back Issues list
Birstall Post March 2005 (260) cont.
|
|
Pic: Carl Gunns (left) shares a joke with
former World Champion Chris Pyatt, joined by 'Del Boy', 'Patsy'
and boxing champions David Barnes and Andy Holder
Gunns’ knockout birthday bash
CARL GUNNS celebrated the second birthday
of his Birstall Road boxing gym with a party at the Village Hall.
Around 400 people attended the event: gym users, mums and dads,
local sponsors and special guests David Barnes, British Welterweight
Champion; Chris Pyatt, former World Middleweight champion and
Andy Holder, International World Lightmiddleweight champion.
Carl said: “I thought it was a terrific do, I couldn’t
have asked for a better response or a better turnout. It was
my thankyou to everyone who has supported the gym, the mums and
dads, the people of Birstall and my sponsors.”
Andy Corbett in the ring with David Barnes
Del Boy and Absolutely Fabulous Patsy lookalikes, Maurice Canham
and Sue Bradbury conducted an auction of boxing memorabilia and
equipment including a signed photo of Mike Tyson, boxing gloves
and a punchbag, as well as a shirt donated by Leicester City
Football Club and a family ticket from Leicestershire County
Cricket Club.
The Village Hall was full of guests and well
wishers
David Barnes visited the gym and stepped into the ring. He gave
a demonstration of his skills with Andy Corbett on pads. Andy’s
son Thomas (11) was presented with a clubman of the year shield
for his commitment to the gym.
Carl thanked all his helpers on the day, Andy Corbett and his
partner Anthea Bennett, as well as Bargain Booze, Birstall Jewellers,
Ian Frost of Classic Carpets, John C Barbers, Watermead Plumbing,
Roofwise and everyone at New World Florists who helped set up
the tables and decorate the hall with flowers.
Carl said: “With a membership now of 428, the gym has been
so successful I’m hoping to expand, hopefully into bigger
premises in Birstall.”
The following raffle prizes were unclaimed: pink 243 wine; pink
107 vanity case; yellow 196 red wine; pink 113 shaving kit; yellow
55 boxing book; pink 106 red wine; yellow 138 coffee liqueur;
yellow 131 aftershave kit; pink 111 shaving kit; yellow 289 car
shaped toolbox.
One of the gym’s principal supporters has been the Local
Network Fund, a government funding programme that awards grants
to voluntary organisations working with young people. Programme
Manager Aileen Bedford-Stradling was at the party and said: “Carl
has done very well, this is just the kind of project we want
to support and we have awarded the gym £14,000 so far.
To see the way children are interacting with older people is
tremendous.”
Aileen urges other local groups looking for funding to contact
her on 222 2204.
|
|
Pic: Charity walkers Nikki MacManard and Mikala
Turner
Breast cancer walk
A BIRSTALL woman will be taking part in
a 36 mile charity walk to raise money for a breast cancer charity.
Nikki MacManard (32) of Beechfield Avenue will be joined by her
friend Mikala Turner (35) for the walk, in London in September.
Nikki said: “We have done the Moonwalk event for breast
cancer and the atmosphere there was electric and the energy -
it was an amazing experience. Breast cancer affects so many women,
and the more that can be done in the way of research and education,
the better.”
Thousands will be taking part in the walk, called the Weekend
to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and Nikki and Mikala need your
sponsorship,. You can do this by going to www.breakthroughweekend.org
and click to sponsor 51568-1.
Greyhound Marty
Pat Marty for a penny
MARTY THE greyhound is “missing his
cuddles” says owner Jean Ward, since he retired from his
job as a PAT dog.
PAT dogs visit hospitals and retirement homes to give patients
the therapeutic benefit of stroking an animal - PAT stands for
Pats as Therapy, the charity that organises this work.
Jean (85) of Kilby Ave, was unable to continue with the difficult
bus journies involved, but has now recruited Marty to help her
raise cash for PAT.
The charity has launched a campaign to collect one penny coins,
and Jean has made a coat for Marty advertising the appeal. Jean
said: “The idea is if you see Marty and I walking in Birstall,
you can pat him for a penny!”
Eyes peeled for man
POLICE ARE appealing for witnesses to an
incident when a teenage girl had a bag of orange peel pushed
down her top.
On Wednesday February 2 at 8.30am a group of around six youths
were throwing fruit peelings at each other near Dhillons supermarket
on Rose Tree Avenue. A man collected some peelings from the floor,
put them in a bag and pushed them down the top of one of the
youths, saying: “I believe these are yours.”
The police are investigating the incident as an indecent assault.
Police say the man was white, five foot nine inches tall, with
grey hair and a grey beard wearing a khaki/beige coloured flat
cap and khaki/beige raincoat, and black trousers. He made off
in the direction of Hill Rise.
If you can help Police identify this man call 2484258 or 222
2222
Parish Council notes
A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council
was held on February 14.
Cllr Chris Clarke made some comments about the minutes of the
previous meeting. Cllr Peter West said the matter had been dealt
with and proposed that Cllr Clarke no longer be heard. The proposal
was seconded and passed on a vote. Cllr Clarke complained that
he was being improperly denied his right to speak. The Chairman
ruled that he remain silent. Cllr Clarke left the meeting.
A resident asked who was responsible for the upkeep of the hedge
on the eastern boundary of Birstall Road and was advised it was
Leicester City Council.
PC Dave Cole commented that there was a continuing problem with
anti-social behaviour from a group of 20-30 youths that were
known to the Police and were suspected of being behind a number
of recent incidents. He said they were Birstall residents, aged
from 14-20. Older members purchased alcohol for consumption by
the younger members. He added that the group was known to a number
of retailers in the village and that they refused to serve them
alcohol.
PC Cole reported that the Gates estate had suffered a spate of
burglaries recently, mainly from sheds and garages. The helicopter
had been called out on one occasion and two people had been apprehended
on the GCR line but were not charged due to lack of evidence.
PC Cole said criminals used the railway line as an entry and
exit route into the village.
Councillors discussed a request from the Police that the Council
fund a Community Support Officer (CSO). It was agreed to respond
to the Police by saying that the Parish Council were not prepared
to pay for a CSO as the community were effectively also paying
for two beat officers but had had only one for a number of years,
and that if a second beat officer could not be provided than
a CSO should be.
The Council, and members of the public present, discussed the
School Lane playing field security fencing and gate. It was agreed
to spend £4,424 on a gate for the car park. No decision
was made about the fence.
The date of the next meeting is March 14.
|
Planning
Ms C Winfield - extension for conservatory to rear of semi-detached
house. 54 Bramley Rd
Mr S Chauhan - erection of 2 storey extension to side of detached
dwelling and single storey extension to rear and insertion of
three dormer windows to rear. 71 Roman Road
OCA UK Ltd - felling of 2 cypress trees (conservation area notice).
Copper Beech Cottage, School Lane
Mr A Doyle - 2 storey extension to side & single storey to
rear of semi-detached house. 35 Goscote Hall Rd
Mr N Mistry - erection of 2 storey link extension to side of
dwelling and garage. 2 Lyngate Avenue
Mr R Boulton - change of use from butchers shop (A1) to flat.
26 Went Road
Mr M Brookes - erection of a chalet bungalow. Land adj to15 Nether
Hall Lane
Mr M Brookes - erection of single garage. Land adj to 15 Nether
Hall Lane
Primelight Advertising - display of a double sided free standing
advertising unit. 19 Wanlip Lane
Mr P & Mrs S Dann - erection of 2 storey extension to side
and single storey extension to rear of semi-detached house. 667
Loughborough Road, Birstall
Burley House Trust - cutting back of one lime tree (tree preservation
order) Lodge B, Tempest Rd
Pic: Len Baker’s hair dyed in the colours
of the Philipino flag.
Flag on Len’s head
A BIRSTALL couple have been successful
in their bid to adopt a Philipino boy.
The seven year old, who because he has epilepsy is living in
a Philipino mental institution, will be collected by Len and
Wendy Baker of Wanlip Lane.
The couple have been through a long and expensive process of
convincing the authorities and in February were told they could
adopt.
Len Baker said: “Even though our children are grown up and
you might think we would have this time for ourselves, we can’t
wait for the adoption to happen.”
The cost of the adoption process has been around £10,000
and to help with the expenses, Len has been sponsored to have
his hair dyed in the red, blue, white and yellow colours of the
Philipino flag. John Clayton of John C’s Barbership on Stonehill
Avenue transformed Len’s hair, as well as making a donation.
Holy week events
THE CATHOLIC Church of St Theresa’s,
St James Anglican Church (& Wanlip Parish Church) and the
Methodist Church, under ‘Churches Together in Birstall’
have organised the following special services and events for
Holy Week to which everyone is most welcome.
Wednesday March 23
This is the only event for which you will need to buy a ticket
in Holy Week. A Passover Supper is to be held at the Catholic
Church of St Theresa’s at 7.30pm. As there is a full meal
(during which the Passover is explained) there is a cost of £5.
Tickets from any of the churches or phone 2675721. Children are
£2.50.
Thursday March 24
Maundy Service at Methodist Church - 7.30pm led by Rev Edward
Sakwe
Good Friday March 25
There is a short joint service at St Theresa’s at 10am.
This will be followed by a procession with the cross round the
village. You are welcome to join the procession at any point
on its journey, or follow from the start at St Theresa’s.
During the procession there will be a children’s workshop
at the Methodist Church. The procession will end up at the Methodist
Church where coffee and hot cross buns will be served.
WI news
AN EVENING of nostalgia was the mood for
the Birstall & Wanlip WI February meeting.
The speaker booked for the evening was unable to come due to
illness but she had contacted a friend, Mrs Joyce Rockley, who
was able to come at very short notice to reminisce on ‘The
Magic of the Ballroom’.
Mrs Rockley had started ballroom dancing as a child and had progressed
through competitions and exams to becoming a teacher and instructor.
Together with CD player, and her husband who was in charge of
the music, Joyce gave an interesting and amusing talk using a
few props to set the atmosphere of the well known Big Bands to
who music most of the members had danced and sung. Beryl Sherriff,
herself a keen ballroom dancer gave a vote of thanks.
During the Business section of the meeting and at which all members
were present, forthcoming events were discussed. Names were taken
of those wishing to attend the concert by Hathern Band on April
8 and tickets given out for members attending a Gilbert and Sullivan
show at the Little Theatre. A delegate was selected for the AGM
on March 16 and names taken of others wishing to go also. Other
County & National events were also mentioned.
Next month the meeting will be on March 7 when there will be
a Quiz by Lynn Mellor ‘I Know that Place’. This meeting
starts at 7.15pm in the Highcliffe School Hall Extension, Greengate
Lane.
From Mrs M Belton
Methodist news
Coffee Shop Proceeds
Our Coffee Shop has divided up the profit from 2004. They have
given £400 each to St James Day Centre & St Theresa’s
Church, £1,000 each to the Marakissa Clinic in The Gambia
and to the Rainbows Hospice, and £900 to the Leicestershire
branch of the Marie Curie Nursing Care.
The Coffee Shop is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to noon. There
is also a Saturday Coffee Shop, which opens at the same times,
but is not part of the Tuesday to Friday financial arrangements.
Jack & the Beanstalk
Once again the Men’s Pantomime played to full houses for
every performance. Audrey Cuttill has written an account elsewhere
in this edition of the Birstall Post
Wishes 4 Kids
Some of the money raised from our November Christmas market went
to this charity, and we were delighted to hear that it enabled
three children to go to Disneyland Paris. All had been, or are
still, quite seriously ill.
Tsunami Appeal
The final total raised from the coffee morning and other collections
was £1,800 which went to the appeal via Christian Aid.
Outdoor Play Area
It is hoped to start work on our children’s outdoor play
area in late March. We shall be using the same contractors who
worked on the play area for the Parish Council. The cost will
be about £3,500. The location at the back of the concert
hall will make it barely visible from The Crossways.
J C Shirley Scott
The Methodist folk were saddened to hear of the sudden death
of Shirley. He was a man who was very ecumenically-minded. On
many occasions he played our organ, often at short notice. We
shall miss him, as we know will our friends at St James.
|
Village Watch news
THE POLICE this month are concerned for
the ‘Burglary Other’ on the crime stats.
This is the break-ins that occur to garden sheds where tools
of all sorts are kept, and garages which again house all sorts
of objects from car tools to garden mowers and tools of the electrical
type that DIY’s use from time to time. Some of these can
be of great value others can be worth only a few pounds but it
all adds up to money for the thief.
Simple precautions can help to prevent all but the very determined
thief to get in. Please ensure that all sheds and garages are
left locked and secure. Postcode or get the Watch to postcode
by engraving those items such as electric tools, garden tools
and equipment. If you can get it to our advice shop then we will
code it. If you cannot get it to us then who not invest in some
‘Smart Water’ and code it up that way. Remember ‘Code
it and Keep it’ makes sense.
Shed alarms are available from the Watch and only cost £8.
These are very simple to use and easy to fit. We sell a range
of alarms and lamps at the advice shop. Why not call and see
what we have to offer?
Motor vehicles are still featuring again on the stats. Thefts
from them are still high. Remember to put items out of sight
in the boot of the car and at night take those valuable items
that you use every day into the house at night. If you park in
the street, if you can, choose to park under or near a street
light, high visibility deters the sneak thief.
Dates for your diary - our next advice shop at the old Council
Offices on Sibson Road will be on Saturday March 19 and the Annual
General meeting will be on April 21 in the concert room of the
Methodist Church Rooms on Wanlip Lane at 7.45pm.
From Peter Allen
|
Ghostly farce
BLITHE SPIRIT, the much acclaimed farce
by Noel Coward, is the next production of Highcliffe Amateur
Theatrical Society (HATS).
As part of his research for a new book, Charles invited an eccentric
medium, Madam Arcati to hold a seance. Charles thinks that it
will be a bit of harmless fun but soon changes his mind when
an unexpected materialisation appears.
Pic: At the seance. Rosemary Gibson as Madame
Arcati with Lucy Staniforth as the ghostly Elvira
Blithe Spirit was first performed in 1942, and proved one of
Coward’s most popular successes, with character actress
Margaret Rutherford winning stardom as the eccentric Madame Arcati.
She repeated her role in a superb film version three years later.
The play will be performed in Greengate Hall, Highcliffe School
on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 14, 15, 16, starting
at 7.15pm. Doors are open half an hour before curtain up. Tickets
for the show are available now and you can reserve yours by phoning
the box office on 0116 2128757. Prices are £4 (£3
for concessions). As usual there will be a reduction for group
bookings.
HATS still needs more members. In particular, we need more male
actors and people interested in the scenery, costume and props
side of things. If you are looking for new interests and are
free on Wednesday nights, come along and see what we are about.
You will be assured of a warm welcome. You can get more information
by contacting the HATS Secretary on 0116 2128757
|
|
Your Say...
Andy Reed is the MP for Loughborough, and Stephen Dorrell
is the MP for Charnwood and therefore not rivals for a parliamentary
seat. Why do the comparisons of attendance at The Houses of Parliament
between the two keep being printed first in the Leicester Mercury
and now in the Birstall Post? As was recorded in a reply letter
in the Leicester Mercury, the service the MPs give to their constituents
is most important, so a few comparative facts about the service
shown appears to be in order.
Leicestershire MPs responses to letters from constituents within
14 days are: Alan Duncan 45%, Stephen Dorrell 83%, Edward Garnier
85%, Andrew Reed 36%, Andrew Robathan 90%, David Taylor 93%,
David Tredinnick 76%.
As Mr Reed lives in a glass house perhaps he should not throw
stones.
Mary Allen
“I think it is only fair to try and put some balance on
the letter from Mary Allen with regards to the figures quoted
concerning Andy Reed MP. As Andy’s Parliamentary Assistant
in his Loughborough office I have a fair knowledge of how things
work, and the speed of responses to correspondence.
• the figures quoted in Mrs Allen’s letter are taken
from a website called faxyourmp from a period when Andy Reed
was trying to get the website to send him the emails to the right
address
• Andy wasn’t able to respond to fax/emails because
this organisation wasn’t forwarding them. So respondents
were telling the site he wasn’t responding!
• Andy is still in dispute with them because they won’t
reply to his emails!
• Andy has asked them 10 times in the last 12 months to
change the details they have on their web site and they have
not even acknowledged him!
Andy’s response time for 95% of letters is five working
days
• The faxyourmp website still does not divert people to
Andy’s proper email address so most don’t even get
through. That is why we put out another press release recently
saying please DO NOT USE faxyourmp to contact Andy Reed MP!
Regarding the articles in The Mercury about comparative voting
records - the newspaper actually gave an impartial account of
figures which are publicly available - the fact that Stephen
Dorrell was the Leicestershire MP with the lowest attendance
in the House was not an opinion expressed by Andy Reed - it was
and is a public record."
Richard Robinson, Parliamentary Assistant to Andy Reed
MP
On behalf of the Leicester Association for Spina Bifida and
Hydrocephalus I would like to thank HATS (Highcliffe Amateur
Theatrical Society) for agreeing to support us with the raffle
held before each performance of the Christmas pantomime. This
raffle raised £188 and our thanks must also go to the audiences
who bought tickets.
Incidentally I thoroughly enjoyed the pantomime and would recommend
it to everyone for next year.
Carole Armour
Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council have
failed in their bid to receive cash for the four Park & Ride
schemes to ease traffic problems in Leicester and the immediate
area. The two Councils are now applying for cash to build a tramway
as well as the Park & Ride scheme. This means that it will
be a long time before any money is received from central government
and the developers will have to find all the cash for the infrastructure
connected with Hallam Fields.
Does this mean that the bus lanes will be bus priority lanes
instead of new constructed lanes and that part of the playing
fields of Stonehill and Longslade will be taken for the Park
& Ride scheme? Less green fields and more cars from Hallam
Fields will bring more pollution through Birstall.
Charnwood Borough states the planning team has been signalled
out for praise by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM)
for the work that accompanied the planning process for Hallam
Fields development in Birstall. If this plan for Hallam Fields
has been passed to the ODPM why can’t Birstall see the finished
plan. The finished plan should show all the details of the balancing
ponds, including the capacity of these ponds. There should be
a designed bus route that will be wide enough for full sized
buses in order to stop obstruction by cars. John Prescott, the
Deputy Prime Minister has asked the people to use their cars
less and to use the buses more. I assume that he means full sized
buses, not mini buses.
The planners state that the speed limit in Hallam Fields will
be 20mph or less. The demolition of No.57 Harrowgate Drive is
for an alleyway, not a roadway and the access/exit to Hallam
Fields will be via the main A6 at all times. The speed on this
part of the A6 is often 70mph or more and must be addressed now
not later.
Les Briers
The Birstall Post reported in the February 2005 issue that
remains of an Iron Age farmstead and many small items of interest
have been found on the site of Hallamfields development, north
of Harrowgate Drive.
WHAT will happen to this site? Will it just be recorded then
built over. I hope it will be marked in some way and left as
open ground for all to see in the future and that the finds will
be put on public view in a museum.
Does anybody know and WILL THEY SAY what size buildings will
be allowed on the industrial site north of Harrowgate Drive and
will their function be monitored? Given a good road link to the
M1 via the Western bypass it will prove a tempting site for large
buildings to be erected, causing yet another blot on the landscape
and the increase of large lorries on our roads.
Margaret Briers
Editor’s Note: archaeologists will remove the artefacts
from the site, which will be built over in accordance with the
planned layout of Hallam Fields.
It is always a sad occasion when a Country Market ceases to
trade and we at Syston were very sorry to hear that Birstall
Country Market had made that decision.
The Marketeers, at Syston Country market, would like to extend
a warm welcome to Birstall producers and customers. Come and
browse around the stalls, we sell cakes and pastries, bread,
savouries, preserves, honey and free range eggs, plants, vegetables
and crafts. Have a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the friendly
atmosphere. Chat with Shirley Calver, our Market Controller,
or phone her on 0116 2697985. Orders are taken at the market
and if you have a special favourite then I’m sure someone
will make it for you.
Syston Country Market has now re-opened after the January break.
The Market is held, on Friday mornings, in the Methodist Church
Centre, High Street, Syston from 10-11am.
Rosemary Foster, Market Chairman
Christian Aid: 2004 seems to have been, sadly, a big year
for humanitarian disasters; first there was the Sudan Appeal
and then the huge appeal for the victims of the Tsunami - to
which so many of you responded with great generosity.
Unfortunately there are still many areas of ongoing need in the
Third World. There are places still where people are living in
abject poverty, suffering from homelessness, hunger or disease
- or all three!
The means that the need for help does not go away. Once again
we will be having a House to House collection for Christian Aid,
this year it will be May 15-21. We urge you to respond once again
as generously as you can. Last year we broke all records for
Birstall and would love to raise well over £4000 once again.
We will also need some extra collectors. If you are willing to
‘adopt’ 15 to 30 houses and deliver envelopes to them,
and then collect them in a few days later - hopefully containing
a donation! - we would love to hear from you. Just a little of
your time could mean so much to people struggling to survive.
If you can help, please contact me.
Ian Mason (2671074)
The free car parks in the Meadway and Colindale Avenue are
now full to capacity every day. Thanks to all concerned.
Name & address supplied
|
|
Pic: Birstall United Juniors wearing their
new strip
Club is quality
BIRSTALL UNITED Juniors Football Club are
celebrating good news - thanks to the hard work and dedication
of the volunteers they have been awarded the Football Association
Charter Standard Mark.
The Charter mark is recognition that the Club operates within
the guidelines set out by the Football Association best practice
and meets FA criteria, ensuring they provide opportunities for
players irrespective of age, gender, religion and ability. Clubs
must also provide qualified coaches, first aiders and child protection
officers for all teams within the Club.
Development Secretary, Catherine Scragg said: “It has been
a hard few months arranging for all the managers to get qualified,
and we do still have some more work to complete, but I have delivered
what I promised when I took over the task in June 2004 and it
can only be for the benefit of the children who play football,
which is what it should be about.”
The award also opens up new avenues for funding the redevelopment
of the Club’s base, currently without electricity, heating
and suitable changing facilities for the Club’s 13 teams.
The Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity,
has awarded the first of these grants. The Foundation has provided
the Club’s Under 13 team with brand new kit worth £300
as part of its Junior Kit Scheme, providing strips and equipment
to teams across the country. Over 7,500 kits have already been
provided by the Foundation to junior clubs and schools. Funded
by the premier league, the Football Association, Sport England
and the Government, the Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising
the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities,
developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle
for education in communities.
Chairperson Phil Baker thanked the Foundation, saying: “The
kit is a huge boost for our Club and the team looks great. There’s
some way to go before we reach the Premier league but, we certainly
look the part”.
|
Clarke hearing adjourned
A HEARING convened by the Standards Board
for England to consider a complaint made against a Birstall Parish
Councillor was adjourned without coming to a decision.
The Standards Panel at Charnwood Borough Council was considering
a complaint made by Birstall Parish Council Clerk Hugh Knight
about Cllr Chris Clarke.
Mr Knight’s complaint was that Cllr Clarke failed to comply
with the Code of Conduct of Birstall Parish Council by failing
to register his address in the Register of Members’ Interests,
failing to disclose a personal and prejudicial interest, failing
to withdraw from a meeting when a matter in which he had a prejudicial
interest was discussed, failing to treat others with respect
and bringing the Council into disrepute.
The Standards Board for England had investigated the complaint,
collected evidence and presented this in a report for consideration
by Charnwood Borough Council’s Standards Committee.
A hearing was convened at Southfield’s in February for the
Standards Panel to consider the evidence, to determine if a breach
of the Code of Conduct had occurred and to impose a sanction
against Cllr Clarke if necessary. The hearing was attended by
Cllr Clarke and Birstall Parish Councillors Peter West and Stuart
Jones, and Hugh Knight.
The Panel decided they could not fairly consider the evidence
in the Standard’s Board report because of the way it was
presented. Chairman of the Standards Panel Philip Tomlinson said
that the report contained evidence relating to two separate complaints
made by Hugh Knight, but that the way the evidence was presented
was “lumped together”, and it was not the Panel’s
job to separate out the evidence in relation to each complaint.
Mr Tomlinson said the decision to adjourn was made to protect
the interests of Cllr Clarke and to ensure that any decision
about the complaints is arrived at fairly. He requested the report
be rewritten and that the hearing be reconvened at the earliest
possible date.
MP at public meeting
BIRSTALL’S MP Stephen Dorrell listened
to residents’ concerns at a public meeting in the Village
Hall last month.
One issue raised was a problem neighbour who was noisy and abusive,
and problems caused by youths, particularly on the School Lane
playing field.
Duncan Mann, Practice Manager at Greengate Medical Centre, said
that they had ended their problems with youths on the premises
by erecting a £25,000 fence and CCTV cameras. Mr Dorrell
said that turning places into Fort Knox was not the answer, that
children needed to be brought up properly and that the problem
was best addressed with a package of measures and a multi agency
approach.
The proposal to erect a mobile phone mast on Greengate Lane and
the traffic implications of the Ashton Green development were
two other issues that were raised.
Fourteen people attended the meeting
GCR up security
FACED WITH an annual cost of £50,000
to repair damage caused by vandals, the GCR have extended the
coverage of their CCTV cameras and are to fit extra security
lights.
Recent incidents have seen staff and windows pelted with stones
while fitters working at the engine sheds in Loughborough have
had items thrown at them from the bridge.
The new CCTV camera will be fitted at the Loughborough signal
box which was hit by stones on New Year’s Eve.
The GCR recently spent £90 restoring three coaches that
had been covered in graffiti and have had points motors worth
£10,000 each stolen.
Learn to play drums
DRUMMING TUITION at Syston Drum Station
attracts a wide range of students of all ages and abilities.
A spokesman said: People come to study at Syston Drum Station
for varied reasons, from those who want to take it up as a hobby
to those who want to take it up as a professional career. Whatever
your aspirations, our aim is to get you where you want to be.
Our youngest student is six years old and our oldest is 70”.
Beginners are taught good solid foundations, vital for further
development. Ultimately, the beginner is given the necessary
tools in order to become a competent drummer.
The spokesman added: “We usually find the intermediate or
advanced type of players have developed bad habits that are preventing
them reaching their full potential so like an engine, we strip
down their playing and put it together for optimum performance.”
Lessons are tailored to the individual and are carried out within
a fun, relaxed and stimulating environment.
Syston Drum Station can be contacted on: 0871 488 7950
Age Concern info
Volunteer Driver Needed for Minibus
A volunteer driver is needed on Thursdays to drive the minibus
which takes elderly people to and from St James Day Centre. Suitable
for a retired person (male or female and under the age of 70)
who would like to help elderly people in the community in this
worthwhile way.
The time involved is 9.30-11am approx and 3-4.30pm approx. For
further details please contact Gerry Davies, the Thursday manager,
at St James Day Centre, tel: 2677023 on Thursdays, 9.30am to
4.30pm.
New NHS Complaints Regulations
The National Health Service (Complaints) Regulations 2004 came
into force on July 30, 2004. The main change is to the second
or independent review stage of the complaints procedure. Patients
who remain dissatisfied after the have received a formal response
to their complaint from the primary care provider or NHS Trust
now have the right to ask for their complaint to be reviewed
by the Healthcare Commission. NHS complaints staff must make
this right explicit to patients or their representatives. This
change is designed to bring true independence to this stage of
the complaints procedure.
The Healthcare Commission has produced a comprehensive patient
leaflet - Unhappy With The Way Your Complaint Has Been Handled
By The NHS? This explains the new review process and includes
an independent review request form.
It is available on their website www.healthcarecommission.org.uk
and can also be ordered by sending an email to complaints @ healthcarecommission.org.uk
or by calling the complaints helpline on 0845 601 3012 (local
call rate). The helpline has been set up by the Healthcare Commission
to help a person completing the review form, to answer queries
about the review process or to request information in a language
or format other than English.
The Disability Discrimination Act
New Requirements for Premises and Employers With Small Numbers
of Employees
Under Part III of the DDA, form October 1, 2004, service providers
have to take reasonable steps to remove, alter or provide reasonable
means of avoiding physical features in or around their premises
that make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled
people to use their services.
Service providers should have decided by now what they need to
do to comply with the requirement to make reasonable adjustments
so that they are in the best possible position when the legislation
actually comes into force. Any business found not to be complying
may find that it faces legal action in an employment tribunal
or civil case for discrimination, and may have to pay compensation.
It is illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities
in employment, including recruitment, all aspects of the way
an employee is treated, training, promotion and dismissal. From
October 2004 the exemption to employers with few than 15 staff
has not applied and the Act applies to all employers regardless
of number of staff. All employers are required to make reasonable
adjustments to working practices and to physical features of
premises to enable a disabled employed to carry out the work.
Care of Elderly People Market Survey 2004.
Laing and Busson has published the 17th edition of its ‘Care
of Elderly People Market Survey’. The main findings are:
• In April 2004 there were an estimated 486,000 places in
residential settings in the UK - a drop of some 89,500 places
since the peak in 1996.
• The rate of new care home registrations has dropped again
- to 76 homes with 3,200 beds. Closures, although past their
peak in 2000, are still well in excess of new registrations,
with some 585 care homes closed in the year to April 2004 with
the loss of 11,800 beds.
• Occupancy rates are in excess of 90%, with local ‘hotspots’
of insufficient capacity
• Over 50% of admissions to nursing homes are from hospital
• 61% of residents of independent sector care homes were
having their fees paid by local authorities at April 2004. Industry
sources report that topping up has become more frequent over
recent years for local authority funded residents.
• The NHS pays for 21,000 residents, which is 13% of all
those in nursing homes.
• At April 2004 an estimated 126,000 residents (33%) were
funding their own care. The percentage of self payers varies
widely around the country, with some areas having as many as
50% and others as few as 15%.
• In March 2004 the average weekly fee for nursing home
care was £496, and £345 for residential care. Fee
increases in 2003/4 averaged 7.4%
University of the Third Age
A new book tells the story of the origins and development of
the University of the Third Age (U3A), from its formation in
1982 to provide an education opportunity for older people, to
the large organisation of the present day, with 500 groups and
140,000 members across the UK. The final chapter explores how
the U3A should develop in the UK in the future and whether the
U3A model could be replicated in different ways in British society.
The U3A is devoted to self-help shared learning and is open to
all those in the ‘third age’. There is no minimum age,
although most members are over 50. Members promote the values
of lifelong learning and of the positive attributes of the third
age lifestyle. They meet in local groups and organise their own
programme of study. Each local group is autonomous and has a
confederate relationship with the national body, the Third Age
Trust. Further information at: www.u3a.org.uk
500 Beacons : The U3A Story by Eric Midwinter, 318pp. Price £12.50,
ISBN : 1898576815. Available from Third Age Press, Clarkside
Gardens, London SW19 5EY Tel: 020 89470401. Fax: 020 8944 9316
Jex Woods
|
|
• home
• back to Back Issues list |