Hallam Fields tour
Pic: Mike Spencer from Jelsons explains the
layout of Hallam Fields
VISITORS WERE given a guided tour of the
Hallam Fields development as part of National Architecture Week
in June.
The tours were led by Mike Spencer, Jelsons' Design Director
and public art consultants, Orange Dot.
Artist Trudi Entwistle explained that the artists were working
closely with Jelsons to integrate the work into the development
to avoid:" just adding it on top".
She explained their aim was to give an identity to the site and
introduce a personal element inspired by the local landscape.
Mike Spencer said the site would have vehicle speeds limited
to 10-20 mph and the road layout and parking would be arranged
to make the car less dominant and less visible.
Pic: roof with a solar panel
Several of the houses have solar panels in the roof which can
provide a third to two thirds of domestic power, with surplus
sold to the National Grid when the householder is not at home.
Mr Spencer said Jelsons were the first developer to do this and
negotiations with the power suppliers had been difficult.
 
Pics: (left) the balancing pond; homes under
construction
All homes on the site have water butts provided.
Mr Spencer said a number of badgers had been relocated but that
one badger had refused to move, climbing over fences to return
to his sett. This one badger caused a delay of 12 months before
the development started, he said.
Mr Spencer said the whole site will take an estimated 15 years
to complete and that the number of homes "may go a little
over 900 but not substantially and the identified green spaces
are all protected."
Work on the northern access will start in September and when
finished, it will take all the industrial traffic as development
proceeds.
Phase 2 of the development will see homes built on the south
east corner of the site, at the rear of houses on Harrowgate
Drive.
The large pit in the south east corner of the site, beside the
A6, is a balancing pond and will collect surface water run off.
 
Pics: interior photos of a showhome
Properties currently available to buy in phase 1 range from £169,950
for a 2 bed, second floor apartment to £239,950 for a 3
bed, end Mews house. A brochure and price list are available
from the sales office on site.
There are currently two residents who have moved in to properties
on site.
Bus service cut
A COUNTY Council subsidised bus service
that operates in Birstall will be axed in October.
Service 99 goes from Mountsorrel to Leicester and includes Fielding
Road, Allington Drive, Orchard Road, Birstall Road, Kilby Avenue
and Loughborough Road on its route.
Ray Hunt of Orchard Road is a regular user of the service. "This
bus is an essential service for Birstall that we need badly,
it's a lifeline for quite a lot of people, especially the elderly"
he said.
The bus operator is Paul Winson. The County Council have conducted
a review of the 'bus support policy' in a bid to save £150,000
and meet their budget commitments for 2006/07. A further reduction
of £150,000 is planned for 2007/08.
In a statement, the County Council says the 99 service is one
of 8 services in the county that will be "replaced by other
services reflecting essential links for communities along the
route, ensuring better use of limited resources and giving better
value for money."
The County Council's Lead Member for Transport Nick Rushton said:
"We have a duty to focus our limited funds on the most popular
routes and ensure that we meet the essential travel needs of
Leicestershire people."
Ray Hunt has been urging his fellow bus passengers to object
to the proposal to axe the service, and is being supported by
Birstall Parish Council. They are requesting that any resident
wishing to object does so in a brief letter to the Parish Council,
who will forward all objections to the County Council.
Police Officer’s column
The past 30 days have seen a marked increase in the number
of burglaries in Birstall, not only during the evening but also
during the daytime.
This increase can be explained due to several factors. The hot
weather will naturally encourage persons to open all doors and
windows within houses to allow for a breeze to cool the premises.
Whilst being very relaxing unfortunately this can encourage opportunistic
thieves to conduct quick in and out thefts from dwellings as
entry does not have to be forced.
There have also been several 'travelling criminals' that come
to Birstall purely to commit crime as the village has several
exit/entry points for quick getaways. Criminals from other areas
of Leicester or even other counties have come to Birstall, committed
burglaries or similar crimes and have left within minutes making
it difficult to locate and arrest offenders. The key to combating
the out of town criminal was excellently illustrated by a member
of the public who reported a suspicious male on Stonehill Avenue
in the early hours of July 12.
Males were seen near to a premises pushing motorbikes down a
street and the concerned resident got straight on the phone and
called the police as a matter of urgency. As a result, several
police mobiles attended the area along with a police dog and
a search commenced. Two persons were arrested and enquiries are
continuing.
It is thanks to this member of the public that this burglary
may well be detected as opposed to being an undetected burglary
with questions unanswered.
Along with the increase of burglaries has come an increase in
the amounts of persons arrested for such crimes. There have been
numerous arrests over the past 60 days and a good number of burglaries
within the village are now being detected.
Again, I would like to encourage all members of the public to
report suspicious persons or activity direct to the police to
maximise the possibility of a positive outcome.
Police operations have been and are still in place to disrupt
the criminal activity. There have been a high level of plain
clothed officers in the village, predominantly during the day,
in a bid to stop and search potential offenders before they get
the opportunity to commit any criminal act.
Operations will continue as long as there is excessive activity
that needs addressing.
I would like all readers of the Birstall Post to view the form
below [not available on website] which relates to policing priorities
in the village.
The current policing priorities are to tackle antisocial behaviour
near to the shops on Wanlip Lane, to tackle incidents of drug
misuse at the public toilets on Stonehill Ave and to tackle incidents
of damage on Birstall park.
These priorities were decided by several community contacts who
work in partnership with the police in a bid to tackle issues
close to the village's heart.
I wish to obtain the views and opinions of as many residents
as possible in relation to what you would like the police to
address in the village in partnership with the Council, Neighbourhood
Watch, Housing etc.
If you could fill in the form below with ONE issue that you believe
causes you most concern in the village. Be that antisocial behaviour,
parking, speeding, drug misuse, graffiti, damage etc. Please
be as specific as possible using no more than 20 words and please
give as precise a location as possible for any issue raised.
Upon feedback received I can hold a meeting with the community
contacts with a view of generating the most requested issue as
a police priority.
The completed forms can either be dropped into the council Offices
on Birstall Road or Syston Police Station. Please return the
forms within 7 days as action will be progressed as soon as possible.
Finally, I would like to add that as of August 26, 2006 I will
no longer be the local police officer delegated to Birstall.
The role will be taken over by PC 815 Chris Falle who is keen
to address any issues that you may have.
I will have been the local police officer for Birstall for 16
months and would like to extend my thanks to all the residents
and agencies concerned with Birstall for all your help over my
time here and wish you all the best of luck for the future.
From Jamie Hughes
Crime report
TWO PEOPLE have been arrested and charged
after being caught in possession of property stolen from a house
on Curzon Avenue.
The pair had gained entry to the house under false pretences
on June 21.
The Police have also asked residents to report sightings of a
blue and white striped lorry FE02 KHL by calling them on 222
2222. They are concerned that rogue traders are offering garden
services.
Crime Report May 20 - June 20
Burglary dwelling 12: Curzon Ave (2), Lyngate Ave, Myrtle Ave,
St James Ct, Ambergate Dr, Greengate La, Firfield Ave, Queensgate
Ave, Iris Ave, White Horse La, Hawthorn Ave.
Burglary other 3, theft of motor vehicle 1, damage to motor vehicle
7, theft 5, theft cycle 2, damage 6.
Slimmer takes her time
A 62 year old slimmer who attends Birstall's
Weightcare class has lost 4 stone 12lbs, but it took her 20
years to do it.
Consultant Tracey Brewill said: "Gill Boyer has been with
me at the Birstall class for as many years as I can remember.
If nothing else, gill should be awarded for sheer perseverance
over 20 years, she proves you can get there in the end."
Gill said: "I have not been a perfect slimmer over the last
20 years, I have lost and gained. Finally I have achieved what
I set out to achieve all those years ago, my target weight, you
can guess how proud that makes me feel."
Contact Weightcare on 01509 414208.
Boxing event
A DAY of exhibition fights by young boxers
from Gunns Gym will also feature a visit by a World Champion.
Gary Lockett, the WBU World Middleweight champion, will appear
at the event, which has been organised by Carl Gunns to remember
a regular gym user who was killed in a road accident in June.
20 year old Laurence Kellett, a former Longslade pupil who lived
on Welford Road, was a regular at Gunns Gym.
Carl said: "Laurence was very popular in the gym, we miss
him and this is our way of saying: we're not going to forget
you mate."
The exhibition will also feature Midlands area middleweight champion
Andy Holder and heavyweights Paul Butlin and Scott Lansdown.
There will also be entertainment provided by award winning karaoke
singers, a raffle and an auction of boxing memorabilia.
The exhibition will be held at Birstall Social Club on Sunday
August 20 from 10am to 6pm. Admission is £2 and proceeds
from the event will go to brain injury charity Headway and the
Kellett family.
Florist’s silver award
BIRSTALL'S NEW World Florists on the Meadway
is one of 203 florists across the country to have been presented
with a silver award.
Gill Bolton and the team received this recognition from the National
Flower Shop of the Year Awards. Winners had to show their expertise
in floristry skills, shop layout, customer service and business
management.
Green oases of Birstall
Pic: Steve & Nicky Spiers take a break
in their garden
BIRSTALL'S GARDEN trail in June attracted
hundreds of people who enjoyed the pleasure of walking around
some lovely gardens in the Allington Drive area of the village.
Organiser Richard Kilby said: "The weather was very kind
on both days although it did quieten down on Sunday when the
football started."
He added: "Special thanks to the committee, the many stallholders
and helpers and also the 50 plus volunteers who sat by the gates
and welcomed visitors. Very special thanks to the garden owners
for all the work they achieved. One again we were grateful to
the Birstall Garden Centre for their help."
Pic: Pat & Bob Chapman in their Worcester
Ave garden
Pic: Nila Mistry, Shailen Mistry, Akhilesh
Mistry & Janet Stevenson
A presentation is planned for Sunday evening August 13 when
a cheque will be handed to Roger and Sheila Wilson for their
Glebe House appeal. The Methodist Church have now organised 16
Annual Garden Trails. Richard said: "The social benefits
to the community continue to be the most pleasing aspect. On
a financial basis we have raised over £19,000 for other
charities besides helping our own financial church."
Library makeover
BIRSTALL LIBRARY re-opened in June after
a £125,500 refurbishment.
The children's area upstairs has been enlarged and redesigned
with the lift now opening into a public space rather than office
space. There are sofas for parents to sit with their children,
desks for studying and three computer terminals. A meeting room
has been provided for community use.
On the ground floor there are six computers and a toilet with
baby changing facilities.
 
The library has been redecorated throughout, with new lighting
and furniture.
A County Council spokesman said: "£10,000 has been
spent on new stock for Birstall. Staff took the opportunity to
edit stock and take out books in a poor condition, any that were
out of date and any that had not been issued in the previous
two years. This means that current stock in the library is new,
vibrant and attractive and what the users want."
Following these changes, the adult non fiction stock has been
substantially reduced.
The public have welcomed the re-opening of the library. One comment
made was: "The new library is bright, cheerful and welcoming.
The staff are as helpful and friendly as ever. The new chairs
are more comfortable and the new desks are bigger which are great
when need to spread out."
The extra funding for libraries is part of the Government's 'Love
Libraries' campaign which has resulted in the County Council's
£5 million budget for improvements. Libraries in the county
have been undergoing makeovers for the last four years with a
further 13 revamps planned for the next three years.
Book issues in Leicestershire have risen by two per cent while
junior book issues have risen by 10 per cent.
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