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Pic: Peter Allen (right) is retiring as Chairman
and is pictured with Bill Haines who is also stepping down from
the committee
Popular Chairman retires
AFTER SEVEN years in the post, Chairman
of Birstall and Wanlip Village Watch, Peter Allen is stepping
down.
In his time as Chairman, the Watch has grown: there are now 150
schemes, the number of newsletters circulated has risen from
650 to 3500 and last year £1 contributions from village
households resulted in an income of £3000.
Peter said: “I have enjoyed my seven years, but I will be
79 in July and now feel it’s time for someone else to come
in, with new ideas.”
Peter said he was pleased to have established the monthly NHW
advice shops at the old council offices where alarms, security
lights and Smartwater kits are sold and property is postcoded.
Peter is retiring as Chairman but will remain a NHW street co-ordinator.
Angela Fielding from Syston Police said: “Peter has always
been available to give help and support to other schemes in the
area and has been first rate at representing Birstall’s
NHW.”
Inspector Chris Alcott, Commander of Syston LPU said: “I
would like to pay tribute to Peter’s contribution to NHW.
Birstall’s is the strongest scheme in the Syston LPU.”
Marty’s pennies growing
RETIRED PAT dog Marty the greyhound and
his owner Jean Ward of Kilby Avenue have made a successful start
to their fundraising efforts for PAT.
Pets as Therapy (PAT) is a charity that arranges for dogs to
visit hospitals and care homes to give patients the therapeutic
benefit of stroking an animal.
Jean and Marty are collecting one penny coins for the charity,
and after being featured in the March Birstall Post Jean says:
“There has been a very positive response and I am not in
my stride yet as I am waiting for the better weather.”
She added: “This week when I took Marty for his midday walk
a gentleman stopped his car on Birstall Road and came across
and put a £20 note in my hand,. Can you imagine, I was
almost speechless!”
Gypsy caravans
A FAMILY of Romany gipsies are seeking
permission to site five caravans on a piece of land near the
junction of Greengate Lane and Thurcaston Road, but permission
is unlikely to be granted according to Patricia Hewitt MP.
The land is owned by Leicester City Council and the family has
submitted a formal change of use planning application to Leicester
City Council.
Chairman of Birstall Parish Council Stuart Jones said: “I
am worried out this. It could be the thin end of the wedge, once
five caravans go in, won’t they get approval for more?”
Around 150 people attended a public meeting at Glebelands School,
organised by Thurcaston Glebelands Community Group on April 13
to discuss the planning application.
The meeting was attended by Patricia Hewitt MP (Leicester West)
and City Councillors Gordon Getliffe, Paul Westley and Keith
Lloyd-Harris.
Patricia Hewitt said she was “absolutely opposed” to
the planning application, which was an unsuitable site for a
permanent travellers’ site and was an area already designated
for residential development.
She described the application as speculative, and if successful,
would see the applicant putting an offer to the City Council
to buy the land. She reported that she has learned earlier that
day that the City Council’s Property Department would object
to any sale of the land and that this fact, combined with the
scale of local opposition, meant that: “the chances of this
planning application going through are as near to zero as possible.”
Following a comment from the floor, Cllr Getliffe said that there
was no truth in the rumour that the City Council was considering
seven travellers’ sites within the City. Patricia Hewitt
said that the City Council had looked for suitable areas for
travellers within the city boundary and had found none. This
was why there was no mention of travellers’ sites in the
recently published City of Leicester Local Plan.
Disruptive resident
A DISRUPTIVE resident who swore at his
neighbours and was repeatedly drunk has been rehoused after he
was rescued from his burning flat by the fire brigade.
The man was a resident of Riversdale Court on Riversdale Close,
warden controlled sheltered accommodation for around 20 senior
citizens run by Charnwood Borough Council. He moved into a first
floor flat in March 2004.
A neighbour on the first floor, Bernard Crayfourd, is the Chairman
of the Riversdale Tenants Association. He said: “This man
was trouble from the word go. he would be leaning out of the
window shouting obscenities, other residents were absolutely
scared stiff, especially the ladies. The eldest here is 99.”
“It was absolutely stupid putting a man like that in a place
like this” he added.
On Easter Monday the Fire Service was called to the flats at
3am after the man’s flat caught fire. He was found temporary
accommodation in a hostel in Loughborough and has now been rehoused
in Shelthorpe by the Borough Council.
Mr Crayfourd said: “We contacted the Council several times
about him. They listened to us, but no action was taken. Now
he’s gone, there are a lot of happy bunnies here.”
Mr Crayfourd also praised the warden at Riversdale Court, Serena
Lewis. “She has done a difficult job wonderfully well”
he said.
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Gifts for Sri Lanka’s children
MEMBERS OF Birstall’s churches have
been collecting stationery for children affected by the tsunami
in SE Asia.
Around 200 shoeboxes full of pens, pencils, paper, rubbers, rulers
and pencil sharpeners are about to be shipped out, donated by
the congregations of St James, St Theresa’s and Birstall
Methodist Church.
Church member Joyce McNee of Loughborough Road decided to get
involved when she heard a broadcast on Radio Leicester featuring
the work of a group of young people called Youth Voice, who are
aiming to send 1,000 boxes of stationery to young victims of
the tsunami.
Joyce said: “I sent out leaflets about the appeal to our
three churches, and we have collected enough to provide for nearly
200 pupils.
“I did not think that we would have such a splendid result
when I first became involved as I know so many people had given
to other tsunami appeals. How wrong I was. One group of ladies
even knitted 80 pencil cases and put in pens, pencils and ruler.”
The boxes were stored in Joyce’s garage, before being collected,
and are now destined for Sri Lanka.
Joyce added: “I have had help from someone from each individual
church to co-ordinate the venture. I am so grateful to these
people for their hard work, and to all of you who have given
so generously.”
Rainbow runner
KEVIN HOLDAWAY completed the London Marathon
and has raised in excess of £850 towards a new outdoor
play area for Rainbow Co-op Pre-school Playgroup on Birstall
Road.
Trish Goodrich from the Playgroup said: “A very big thank
you to Kevin, and to everyone who sponsored him”
Great effort
John Meachem
BIRSTALL’S JOHN Meachem completed
the London Marathon and raised £1,100 for the charity Children
with Leukaemia.
John (46) of Goscote Hall Road, completed the 26 miles in 3 hours
59 minutes. His wife Lesley said: “His family are extremely
proud of him and his achievements, he has had various injuries
and illness during his training and it was touch and go as to
whether he would even manage to compete, but with lots of family
support and his own determination he managed to get to the finish
line! 26.2 miles is SOME achievement as is the fantastic generosity
of family and friends in their sponsorship.”
John, a member of Highcliffe Amateur Theatrical Society and Birstall
Village Cricket Club, has also completed the Great North Run,
which he hopes to run again this year as well as returning to
the London Marathon in 2006.`
College stages Grease
SEVENTY TIRED students of Longslade College
are recovering from a hugely successful three-night run at the
popular musical ‘Grease’.
The Casinos’ in action playing
and singing ‘Born to Hand Jive’
Design Teacher Steve Hill as Teen
Angel serenades Shelley Piluke as Frenchie
Laura Maitland and Chris Kilby
Lucy Johnson (Sandy) with Christopher
Kilby (Danny) at the Drive-in movies
Keri Page as Rizzo argues with
Scott Ashby as Kenickie while Jamie Theobald and Ryan Bibby as
Doody and Roger look on
Keri Page shines as Betty Rizzo
Sell-out audiences enjoyed an energetic and entertaining show,
Christopher Kilby as Danny and Lucy Johnson as Sandy led the
cast with charm and professionalism.
One of the high sports of the performance was Chris’s dance
duet with the talented Laura Maitland as Cha-Cha. A boisterous
chorus ably supported the superb Pink Ladies and T-Bird gangs,
while Katy Talbot as Miss Lynch gave a lesson in fearsome discipline
to all present. The young musicians of the college played confidently
and the whole production was supported by a host of student technicians.
Plans are already underway for next year’s production.
Dr Mike Griffiths, Longslade Principal said: “I am very
proud of the students involved and full of praise for the staff
who worked with them over several months of rehearsals.”
Nearly 100 students and staff were involved in the production,
either performing or working back stage.
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Have fun singing
SINGING SALLY’S is a fun based singing
club for the under 5s, their parents and carers.
They have been running in Leicestershire and Rutland for nearly
10 years, seeing nearly 400 children a week and with 29 groups
presently running.
Singing Sally’s has a multi-sensory approach to learning
and meet many of the Early Years Goals by using song and rhyme
to enhance children’s development.
Sally Armstrong said: “We use lots of fun and imaginative
equipment to make the sessions thoroughly enjoyable with the
aim that children learn better if they are having a good time.
“The sessions are very interactive and appropriate for all
ages. Children are encouraged to participate at their own pace
and we hope that we provide a happy and secure environment for
the children to express themselves and to feel confident in their
achievements. Why not come along and join in the fun!”
The club meet regularly on a weekly basis during term time at
Birstall, Highcliffe Community Centre, on Tuesdays at 1.45-2.30pm.
The cost is £3 per session.
Contact Singing Sally on 01536 772545
Jill joins gym
Pic: New recruit Jill Forrester pictured with
Andy Corbett, Carl Gunns, Mitchell Black, Liam Willday, Callum
Harrison, Angelo Cooper, Ashley Lord, Dillan Dattani, Chris Ward
and Sam Holme
GUNN’S GYM has welcomed their latest
volunteer recruit to the training staff, experienced boxer Jill
Forrester.
Jill is a member of the Grantham Amateur Boxing Club, is also
in the Midlands Squad and is hoping to box for the Amateur Boxing
Association.
Jill trains the youngsters every Tuesday night and most Friday
nights at the gym. Jill says: “I enjoy coming to Birstall
because it helps my training and also I like to help train the
youngsters properly”.
Owner Carl Gunns says: “Jill has helped increase the membership,
she knows her boxing and the kids respect her, she is also starting
to help the girls on alternate Wednesday nights. Everyone who
comes to my gym is very impressed with Jill’s enthusiasm”.
Carl added: “Membership at the gym is growing so fast that
the club will have 500 members by the summer, it has been an
incredible two years since the opening of the Gym”.
New doctor
Shiromi Moonesinghe
A BIRSTALL woman will graduate this July
and begin working as a junior doctor at Royal Liverpool University
Hospital.
(25) has lived in Birstall since the age of four. From a very
young age she set her sights on a medical career and has worked
hard to achieve her ambition with the support of her parents
and teachers.
Shiromi was a dancer and choreographer with Birstall’s Monica
Osborne School of Dance and Drama before hanging up her dancing
shoes to concentrate on her university career.
Your Say...
Can I publicly thank John C for his help in raising sponsor
money for the adoption of a child from the Philippines. Not only
did he and the ladies make a fantastic job of my hair but John
also raised £232.50 from his customers (so my thanks also
to those who donated).
On Saturday April 16, St Theresa’s UCM held a coffee morning
for us also and raised £315.11. Thank you to everyone who
helped organise the morning, and to those who attended.
We have a way to go yet, but the generosity of the people of
Birstall makes it easier.
Len & Wendy Baker
I would like to support Cllr Jones’ point of view concerning
policing in the village. If we are paying for two policemen,
then we should be provided with two policemen or obtain a rebate.
It would appear that we are currently only getting 5% of what
we are paying for and that must be seen as unacceptable in anyone’s
eyes. In any other situation, if we received only 5% of the goods
or services we had paid for, then we would be seeking redress.
Community Support officers are not the way forward in this situation.
They have limited training, limited powers and hence, limited
abilities and to expect us all to pay again for a less effective
‘product’ is beyond the pale.
Whenever this topic rears its head I have to wonder exactly when
the definition of a ‘beat’ officer changed from that
of being a policeman who walked his territory (which is what
we need) to be that of a policeman who nips round in his car
on these few occasions when he is available (and must therefore
be less effective, however good the officer).
On a lighter note, has the management at Somerfields suffered
from a bout of spring madness? The previous disabled parking
bays have been converted to normal bays, and replaced with disabled
spaces which are now further away from the store than they were
before! Add these to the mother and toddler bays and there went
nearly half the parking spaces at the rear of the store. If last
Saturday was anything to go by, this has resulted in a much better
shopping experience as the place was nearly empty, presumably
because people were put off by the lack of parking! I will take
my old man with me next week...he’s nearly 85 and has a
disabled badge!
Nicholas G Black
I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped
in any way to make the Barn Dance on April 2 a great success.
Special thanks to Pete’s vegetable shop for the lovely fruit
basket and also New World Flowers for the super bouquet.
£417 was raised towards my trek sponsorship to Iceland
in July for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Gillian Bowler
In reply to Mr Hatwell’s letter I know very little about
the balancing ponds because I cannot get all the details. There
are two sites in Leicestershire with balancing ponds and both
are connected to a local brook. The two balancing ponds in Hallam
fields are situated, I believe, at the bottom of the hill. Are
these ponds near a play area? These ponds are part of the drainage
system and I do not know who is responsible for the construction
or maintenance. The Law Society recommends Severn-Trent for drainage
problems. Severn-Trent should take all responsibility for the
drainage, especially since Severn-Trent are now offering to reduce
bills if you can prove that part of your drainage is not connected
to their system.
A report conducted by Charnwood found that in 2001 air quality
during peak periods on the A6 was a problem, but that this was
no longer the case. Can we have all the details please including
the day of the week, method and time of the survey? The A6 is
becoming busier with the road surface wearing out: pot holes
and ruts are appearing. At times it is impossible to cross the
A6 from Sibson Road to Greengate Lane using the guidance of the
Green Man. The middle refuge seems very vulnerable. Why is Charnwood
claiming that pollution is decreasing?
There is not any money coming from the central government for
the four Park & Rides and all the infrastructure must be
done by the developers. Why should Loughborough, with lots of
traffic problems help Leicester city?
A bus route with bus stops has not been planned. The streets
are narrow and bendy. There is only one off road parking per
dwelling. Leicester fire brigade is planning a no-go area for
some streets in Leicester. How will the emergency operate in
these conditions?
Hallam fields will be car dominated and some of these cars will
travel through Birstall. Why assume that the people who live
there will work on the industrial units? The Park & Ride
should be next to the A6/A46 junction, otherwise part of the
school playing fields could be taken when the Park & Ride
is extended for 1,000 cars. If the bus lanes are bus priority
lanes, this will add to the pollution. The County Council is
preparing plans for a zebra crossing on Greengate Lane. Why cannot
we have traffic calming on Greengate Lane? There are lots of
traffic calming measures in Birstall. The County Council asked
the people in Stonehill Avenue if they wanted traffic calming.
Has the County Council forgotten the two schools in Greengate
Lane? Why is Greengate Lane, an unclassified road, being turned
into a main road?
The demolition of number 57 is for an alley way, not a roadway.
Greengate Rail Bridge must not be re-aligned.
Les Briers
Only in the Quixotic world of local government finance, could
we be forced to pay for something, of which we receive less than
50% of what we actually pay for, and then be asked to pay extra
for something most people do not want. I suspect if the good
Burgers of Birstall withheld that element of the Council Tax
relating to policing, the local constabulary would find sufficient
numbers of policemen to arrest every householder in Birstall
(unless of course they were collecting stealth speeding taxes
on behalf of President Blair).
Of course Birstall folk could ring 999 in case of emergency and
with luck a policeman might arrive in the next hour or two. Alternatively
if during this call, you threaten to shoot the offender (with
say a pop gun) you can be assured that within 90 seconds a fully
armed response unit will attend the incident. The only problem
is you are more likely to end up in prison than the original
intruder.
Is it me?
Simon Castleman
In reply to Roy Hatwell’s letter in last month’s
Birstall Post, could I assure him that Birstall Parish Council
is on the case as far as the footpath/cycle path and lock bridges
are concerned. I can only agree with the points he makes and
have already made a case for improving access to this popular
part of Watermead Park for everyone whatever their mobility.
This is in the form of a leaflet showing a plan of the site and
photographic evidence of the problems, which has been circulated
to the various parties responsible for the area, and there lies
the major hurdle.
Leicestershire County Council manage Watermead Park North, Leicester
City Council manage Watermead Park South and some of the towpath,
British Waterways are responsible for the bridges and some towpath
and the area between the Mill Race and the lock is privately
owned, so there are many issues of responsibility to be sorted
out.
Despite the apparent impossibility of getting co-ordinated action
from all these parties we are however optimistic that something
can be done, but it will take time.
Pat Cleere, Birstall Parish Councillor
Members of the 663 Instrumental Ensemble thank everyone who
supported the concert held at the Village Hall on March 20 and
helped in any way. £110 each was sent to the County Air
Ambulance & Rainbows Hospice.
Cynthia Coltman
A very big thank you to all who contributed to helping St
Theresa’s fill 75 assorted boot and shoe boxes and to all
the knitters who helped knit over 80 pencil cases, for the Tsunami
Shoe Box Collection. A full report from the collection agency
will be issued later.
Daphne & Sabina
I wish to add my tribute to the late Shirley Scott who gave
a lifetime of selfless service to Birstall and Wanlip.
As a friend, I soon realised he was an amazing man with a wide
range of talents, academic an intellectual, but I thought his
most engaging qualities were his humour and humility. He willingly
undertook challenging tasks in difficult circumstances, and I
never heard reports of failure. His ability to face awkward situations
and regularise them were evident when we served on the parish
council together.
Birstall has lost a champion; humanity is poorer for his passing.
Dennis Downes, Ambergate Drive
Driving to Melton Mowbray last week, I travelled along the
Rearsby bypass and thought how lovely it must be for the community
of Rearsby to have all the traffic taken away from their front
doors and wondered why Birstall has not received the same.
I live on the main A6 off Loughborough Road and feel that over
the years the speed and amount of traffic that passes through
Birstall is becoming unbearable. Did the council consider the
residents of Birstall when they built the Space Centre? Each
year thousands of visitors are directed through our village yet
we have only one pedestrian crossing to meet the needs of 12,500
residents. Charnwood Borough Council ignored the residents of
Birstall when we said No to the Hallam Fields development, the
least they could do is now to make our village a safer place
and build a bypass around the new development taking traffic
away from our village.
Do other Birstall residents feel the same?
Name and address supplied
In response to Nicholas Black’s letter and ‘name
and address supplied Well done’ in last month’s Post.
May I just say that until people like this know the full story
they should keep their views to themselves.
My daughter was with the girl who was assaulted and was very
distressed herself. They were innocently walking to school when
some boys started throwing orange peel and oranges at them. At
no time did they retaliate and carried on walking ignoring the
boys and this can be confirmed by the owners of Dhillon’s
if they had bothered to investigate it and get their facts right,
when this so called gentleman approached the girls and thrust
the orange peel down one of the girls’ tops and whilst doing
so assaulted her at the time. I note however that this ‘gentleman’
didn’t once attempt to approach the boys. The police were
notified and took the allegation very seriously and have made
attempts to find this man. Perhaps he will assault one of their
children next if they have any and we will see if they believe
their child or of they still think this ‘gentleman’
was in the right. No one has the right to put their hands on
any child in a perverted way.
I think it would be a totally different story if it was one of
their children who had been assaulted and once again would urge
them to keep their one sided views to themselves until they know
exactly what has gone on. I am all for freedom of speech but
when they accuse a child of crying abuse without knowing the
story it makes me feel like they are living in a dream world.
I am disgusted by the litter which is about the village but am
more concerned about some pervert abusing children. Perhaps they
aren’t living in the same world as the rest of us.
Name and address supplied
To everyone who prepared the ‘Passover Supper’ at
St Theresa’s, it was first class, both in quality and preparation.
Thanks to all concerned.
Doreen Pearce
As the weather wets warmer, can we remind Birstall Post readers
that the Loughborough Farmers’ Market is held on the 2nd
Wednesday of the month.
The Birstall Country Market (formerly the Birstall WI Market)
has a stall there and you can find cooking and preserves from
Birstall cooks as well as others from the area.
We have heard remarks in the village that the market closed because
of hygiene problems. This is NOT the reason for the closure of
the Friday market. We were short of people able to cook every
week and decided to concentrate on the Loughborough Farmers’
Market once a month.
All Market cooks have current Hygiene Certificates which are
renewed every three years. Hygiene has never been a problem for
WI markets.
We look forward to seeing old and new customers at Devonshire
Square from 8.30am to 2pm. The next Farmers’ Markets are
on May 11 and June 8.
D Gregory, Chairman, G Ratcliffe, Secretary
It’s me the wheelie bin moaner again!
On that subject, we got a wheelie bin and they are collecting
from the rear of our house, and the neighbours, so I guess that
we have had some success. I still think that as it wasn’t
broke they shouldn’t have tried to fix it.
I am enclosing [details] of a planning application which was
brought to my notice yesterday as we have a client with relatively
adjacent interests.
Even although I live in Birstall, this is the first that I had
heard of a travellers’ permanent site here.
To say that I am not happy is an understatement and I assume
that many others will also not be happy at the prospect, particularly
those residents in Greengate Lane and the new large housing development
on the Birstall side of Thurcaston. Perhaps the developers of
the new housing development (Jelsons?) alongside the A6 will
not be too impressed either.
I am hoping that you may want to pick up the banner on this one
and at least get the knowledge out there to the residents who
are about to allow the City Council to impose this blight upon
us and watch our property prices nose-dive.
Q Reidford
Club’s cash boost
BIRSTALL VILLAGE Cricket Club has just
received a major funding boost.
Local Network Fund Programme Manager, Aileen Bedford-Stradling
has given the junior section a cheque for £6319, which
was gratefully received by all at the club.
The award was the result of efforts made by Junior Co-ordinator
Andy Corbett who has been working hard behind the scenes with
Leicester Charity Link and the Local Network Fund to get a grant,
so that the new cricket season can begin with replacement kit
to replace the old kit stolen in a burglary last year.
Andy has arranged a trip to take the youngsters to Trent Bridge
in June to see the twenty twenty match between Leicestershire
Foxes and Nottinghamshire Outlaws. This trip will be open to
junior members and parent helpers, and anyone interested should
contact Andy on 0116 2693936. The places will be on a first come
first served basis.
Andy said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank
Carl Gunns of the Community Gym and Doug Topley Chairman of Birstall
Village Cricket Club who both gave references, which helped put
the project together and made it the success it has become”.
Treasurer and under 17s manager Hamish Carnan who is a life member
of the Cricket Club cannot believe what has happened. He said:
“The club can now buy top quality kit, the main thing we
need to buy are some portable outdoor nets and not have to worry
where the money will come from. This means we will not need to
increase the subs and so everyone will benefit.”
The training dates and fixtures for the under 10s kwik cricket
teams are -
Training: Thurs May 5, Tues May 17, Thurs June 2, Tues June 14,
No training due to trip, Thurs Aug 4, Tues Aug 9
Match days: Fri May 6, Fri May 20, Fri June 3, Fri June 17, Fri
July 1, Fri Aug 5, Fri Aug 12
Training times are 5.30-7pm
Sunday May 1, all juniors are welcome at the Presidents Rugby
Day at Stonehill High School, meet 10.30am to help demonstrate
kwik cricket.
Top bobby
BIRSTALL’S BEAT Bobby PC Dave Cole
has been nominated in the Beat Bobby of the Year Awards contest.
Dave’s abilities as an officer have earned him praise from
the community as well as from senior police officers.
The annual Beat Bobby awards reward the most dedicated and community
spirited officers in the city and county.
The winner of the prestigious competition will be presented with
a shield and crystal rose-bowl and go forward to the national
finals in London.
The winner’s local police station will be given £5,000
to improve facilities.
NHW news
Identity fraud is in the news at the moment.
We are all being warned to be very careful how we dispose of
bills and credit slips.
Letters that contain banking details should always be disposed
of by shredding. Shredders come in many forms but the best ones
are those that cross cut the paper into small pieces. It is possible
to put together the long strips that some shredders produce,
would you believe.
When you buy a new item for the home that has a guarantee form
in that asks all those questions, forget all those questions
that ask for, how many people live in your house? How many cars
do you have? What is the combined income of the household etc?
Just fill in the part that asks for your name and address and
leave it at that. This is only another means of finding out your
life style and if it’s worth something to these people to
sell on, it can get into the wrong hands.
Rubbish put out in the street for collection overnight is also
a means of obtaining information about you. I heard of a case
only this week of a white van being outside a house at 3am with
the person going through the rubbish looking for this kind of
information. Fortunately this was not in Birstall but nevertheless
it is a warning to us all to be on our guard. At cash machines,
with the statements that you get from them, don’t put them
in that little rubbish bin that the bank provides. Take them
home, check them off when you get your account, and above all
dispose of all this kind of information in the shredder.
At this time of the year sheds and garages are again in the news.
Please remember to keep them securely locked and use an alarm
to protect them. Please don’t leave spades or this type
of tool out in the garden. It only helps the thief to gain access
to property. Shed and garage alarms can be purchased at our Saturday
advice shop, which is held in the old council offices on the
third Saturday of every month on Sibson Road from 10am until
noon.
From Peter Allen
Crime Report February 14 to March 11, 2005
Burglary dwelling 4 (Wanlip Lane, Lambourne Road, Sycamore Road
x 2); Burglary other 2; theft from motor vehicle 2; damage to
motor vehicle 2; theft cycle 1; theft/theft person 5; robbery
2; damage 8.
Useful phone numbers: Birstall & Wanlip Village Watch 2676397
Beat Police Officer PC Dave Coles 2485675, enter 0290
Police 24 hours 222 2222
Police not 24 hours 248 4258
If you see a crime being committed, or suspicious behaviour,
call 999
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Age Concern info
Budget : March 2005
The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, presented this budget on March
16, 2005. He confirmed the tax and benefit rates previously announced
and made the following specific announcements in relation to
pensioners:
• There will be free off peak local area bus travel for
those aged over 60 and for disabled people in England - this
will be from April 2006.
• Council tax paying households with someone aged over 65
will receive a £200 payment this year. Apparently a lot
of people have been thinking that this would be paid straightaway
or deducted from the council tax bills from April but the intention
is that it will be paid at the same time as the 2005 winter fuel
payments.
The winter fuel allowance has been cut by £50 to £200
for those over 70 and to £300 for those aged 80 or over.
Next year the fuel payments will drop by another 25%.
Although the £200 payment towards council tax payments
is welcome it will not be paid to those already receiving council
tax benefit and in a lot of cases it could be less than the increase
in council tax this year.
A rebanding of properties in Wales has been carried out over
the past two years and a similar exercise is being carried out
in England from April this year, based on April’s property
prices. Homeowners will not get these new bills until April 2007.
• The Pension Credit which replaced the minimum income guarantee
in October 2003 will rise as expected from April 11. Single pensioners
will see their minimum weekly income rise from £105.45
to £109.45 and couples will get £167.05, up from
£160.95 a week. The credit will rise by 13% in line with
earnings from now until 2008.
• Personal tax allowances for pensioners will rise in line
with earnings - unlike allowances for people under 65, which
rise in line with inflation. People aged 65 to 74 will receive
£7.090 before their income is taxed in the 2005-06 tax
year beginning on April 6, a rise of 3.8% on the existing £6,830.
Allowances for people aged 75 or over also rise by 3.8% to £7,220.
• In the 2003 Budget it was announced that State Pensions
and certain other benefits would be paid for the first 52 weeks
of a hospital stay. The Chancellor has now announced that this
time limit will no longer apply. All those entering hospital
from April 2005 onwards will continue to receive their pension
and benefits for the entire length of the stay. Those who were
already in hospital before April 2005 and had had their benefits
reduced because of the 52 weeks rule, will have them increased
in April 2006.
• The Chancellor announced also a change in stamp duty on
the purchase price of houses. The threshold on which people have
to pay 1 per cent of the purchase price was raised from £60,000
to £120,000 but most homes will not benefit as only an
estimated 15 per cent of properties on the market are valued
below the new threshold figure.
• The Chancellor made changes also to inheritance tax (IHT
- formerly known as death duties). From April 6 the threshold
at which IHT is payable has risen from £263,000 to £275,000.
The subsequent rises means that the figure next year will be
£285,000 and £300,000 in the year after that.
In the past, in order to avoid IHT, people often gifted their
homes to their children through a trust whilst continuing to
live in them rent-free. The Chancellor’s new ‘pre-owned
assets’ rules effectively puts a stop to this. These complex
rules introduced on April 6, mean that anyone who continues to
live in a property that has been removed from their estate for
IHT purposes faces an income tax charge from this year. This
will be equivalent to 40 per cent of the market value of the
property. Guidance on how these rules will be implemented was
not published in the Budget.
Numbers Receiving Pension Credit
The latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show
that 2.65 million pensioner households (3.22 million individuals)
are receiving Pension Credit. Overall take-up is around 70 per
cent but the DWP estimates that for the guarantee element of
Pension Credit it is higher, at over 80 per cent, and that as
many as 90 per cent of single women pensions may be taking up
their entitlement to guarantee credit. More detailed analysis
of Pension Credit take-up is not yet available in the income-related
benefits take-up figures since Pension Credit was only introduced
in late 2003. (Dept for Work and Pensions Press Release, Feb
3,2005)
Protection for Occupational Pension Scheme
Members
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published a leaflet
giving information about the Pension Protection Fund. The fund
came into operation from April 6, 2005 and is designed to provide
protection to members of eligible occupational pension schemes
in the event of insolvency. The leaflet summarises who will receive
protection; how much compensation will be provided; the role
of the Pensions Regulator, the trustees and the Pension Protection
Fund; and how to get further information.
The DWP has also provided more information about the Financial
Assistance Scheme which has been set up to provide some help
to workers who have lost pension rights due to insolvency before
the Pension Protection Fund came into force. So far 380 potentially
eligible schemes have been identified. Pensions Minister, Malcolm
Wicks said that, depending on the pension age of their particular
scheme, members aged 57 to 73 should expect up to 80 per cent
of their core promised benefits.
(DWP Press Release, February 22, 2005)
An Introductory Guide to the Pension Protection Fund. 11pp. ISBN:1843884275.
Available free from EC Group, Swallowfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex
UB3 1DQ. Tel: 020 8867 3297. Email : pensionprotectionfund@ecgroup.uk.com
(Quote ref PPF0501)
Also available on the internet at www.pensionprotectionfund.org.uk/420054_ppf-leaflet_v10a.pdf.
Gas Safety for Older People
A nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of carbon
monoxide poisoning has been launched by CORGI (the gas safety
watchdog) and the Health and Safety Executive. The campaign warns
that older people are most likely to become victims, particularly
those who spend most of the time indoors. The problem is due
to faulty gas appliances. As part of the campaign all GP surgeries
are being supplied with posters giving advice to older people
and their carers and describing the symptoms to look out for.
(CORGI Press Release, February 15, 2005)
Recognising Scams : Advice Leaflet
The office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published a leaflet about
recognising scams. These include fake lotteries and prize draws,
investment plans and work from home schemes. The leaflet has
sections on how to identify scams, how the scam artists succeed
by offering ‘something for nothing’, and other things
to look out for. How to Recognise a Scam - Is it Too Good to
be True? 5pp. Available free from OFT. Tel: 0800 3893158. Also
available on the Internet at: www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press &
releases/2005/22-05.htm and clock on link at end of press release.
Cost of Running a Home in Retirement
A report commissioned by Prudential states that pensioners spend
£1 in every £8 on running a home and this will increase
by twice the rate of inflation for the next five years. The independent
report by Datamonitor concludes that pensioners will become poorer
as costs of running a home outstrip their income in retirement.
Research shows that people in retirement who own their own home
hope to make home improvements over the next five years. These
include:
• 41% who will need to redecorate
• 12% who will need to fit a new bathroom
• 9% who will need to fit a new kitchen and
• 5% who will need to install a stairlift
Cost of Running a Home in Retirement. 12pp. Available free from
Prudential. Tel: 020 7150 3001.
Jex Woods
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