Dog byelaws enforced
DOGS MUST be kept on a lead on Birstall's
playing fields or owners could face an £80 fine.
The current byelaws relating to dogs were introduced by Birstall
Parish Council in 1991 and require that dog owners clean up after
their dog and keep their dogs on a lead in Birstall's three playing
fields: School Lane, Harrowgate Drive and Meadow Lane.
Dog mess on the playing field is a serious problem says the Parish
Council, affecting the council's groundstaff, sportsmen and women
who use the pitches, and the general public including the many
children who use the parks for play.
Over the last 12 months the Parish Council has paid for a dog
warden to patrol the playing fields to enforce the dog mess byelaw
and she has issued several £80 fixed penalty notices to
dog owners.
The problem is still bad, says the Parish Council, and at their
October meeting they discussed a proposal to ban all dogs from
Birstall's parks. Councillor Mary Houghton said: "At all
times of day the School Lane playing field is like a dog lavatory.
It should be a safe and clean area for children to play. There
are signs at the entrances about picking up after your dog and
keeping it on a lead but people are not complying."
A proposal to ban dogs from the playing fields received a seconder
but was defeated when put to the vote.
The council agreed that the best way forward was to instruct
the dog warden to enforce the dogs on leads byelaw. Comment was
made that the Council had no responsibility to provide exercise
areas for dogs, and that owners, especially with more than one
dog, would be able to pick up after their animals more easily
if they were on a lead and in view at all times.
Chairman Stuart Jones said: "In this day and age we have
to take the health and safety of our staff and the park users
very seriously."
A resident at the Council's meeting in October voiced her objection
to the dogs on lead byelaw. She said enforcing it would not stop
irresponsible dog owners allowing their dogs to foul, it would
just prevent responsible owners from exercising their dogs off
the lead. She said the council should provide a safe area, to
exercise dogs off the lead "because animals have rights
too."
Organic vegetables
RIVER NENE Organic Vegetables has recently
launched its award winning organic fruit and vegetable box scheme
in and around North Leicester.
Jit Parekh of Birstall is the local distributor and will be delivering
fresh, organic produce direct from the farm in the heart of the
Fens in Peterborough, to your door.
Jit decided to begin the local box scheme in North Leicester
after years of working in the highly pressured environment of
marketing, working for Ford, Land Rover and Honda. He said: "I
have been trying to centre my family on living a more ethical
life. With two young children, I was keen to focus on a business
which helped educate others about the benefits of organic living."
He added: "I was becoming increasingly concerned with the
food available to me and my children, and I was keen to find
a way of educating others on the benefits of eating organically
and with River Nene Organic Vegetables I have found my voice.
My passion for cooking led me to River Nene Organic Vegetables
and we were very impressed with the quality and reputation of
the business. Vegetable box schemes are a great alternative to
the supermarkets, allowing customers to buy great tasting, seasonal
organic vegetables fresh from the farm."
Over 75% of the vegetables in the boxes are grown either on River
Nene Organic Farm or by a local grower group called Nene Organic
Growers. The company says they focus on flavour, freshness and
seasonality, not cosmetic perfection.
Most vegetables are picked on the farm one day and delivered
free direct to your door the next and more than 60 varieties
are grown and harvested throughout the year. The vegetable boxes
start from £7.50 and come in varying sizes, for one person
up to a large family.
To order call 0845 078 6868 or visit www.rivernene.co.uk
Volunteer of the year
MARKS & Spencer have awarded Carl Gunns
their Best Volunteer of the Year award.
Carl Gunns
Carl, who works as a wine advisor at the store in Gallowtree
Gate, was picked from among the company's 65,000 employers for
his efforts setting up and running his boxing gym on Birstall
Road.
The gym, which started with just seven members and now has more
than 800, has helped to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour
by taking boys and girls off the streets and giving them a new
way of channelling their energy.
Carl received his award and £500 at a ceremony in London
hosted by Marks and Spencer and attended by hundreds of employees.
Carl said: "I am very proud of the difference the gym has
made to the local community and delighted to have been recognised
with this award. The gym's impact has been tremendous. I feel
my experience in life has helped give something back to the community
and it's great Marks & Spencer took the time to recognise
all the volunteers."
Simon Caffrey, store manager at Marks and Spencer Gallowtree
Gate, said: "We're delighted that Carl's outstanding efforts
have been recognised in this way and he is an inspiration to
us all. Everyone at the store is delighted for him."
School's newplay area
Pic: Nigel Robinson, building contractor,
David Bark, Chair of Governors, Velta Woodhouse, Foundation Stage
Co-ordinator and Andrew Pridmore, Acting Deputy Headteacher are
joined by Filbert Fox at the opening of the new play area
THE CHILDREN at Riverside Primary School
are enjoying their playtimes more than ever following the opening
of a new playground for the four and five year olds.
The play area was officially opened by Filbert Fox and Chair
of Governors David Bark. Filbert then joined the children in
trying out the climbing frame and other pieces of equipment.
The play area is themed as a trip to the park and consists of
raised planters, trackways for bikes, raised beds, shaded areas
as well as the climbing and activity areas. In addition care
has been taken to use as wide a variety of hard surfaces as possible
to add to the sensory aspect of the area.
Pic: Filbert Fox playing with children from
Riverside School
Pic: (l-r) Arvind Navaneeth, Freya Littley
& James Liquorish have fun on the equipment
The parents of the school raised funds to help pay for the facility
that cost in excess of £34,000.
Teacher Velta Woodhouse, said: "The play area is fantastic
and the children are thrilled. We would all like to thank the
governors for providing such an exciting outdoor area."
Headteacher Andy Hayman, said: "The importance of positive
play is something that we recognise at Riverside and we intend
that this is just the first stage in the development of the play
facilities at the school."
Chair of Governors, David Bark, said: "The Governing Body
at Riverside are delighted to see the new play area open and
in use. You only have to see the faces of the children to know
that it is a success."
Jemima, age 4 years, said: "I like swinging on the bars.
I love tipping over the top."
Drama, dance & song
A THEATRE school for young people aged
6-17 meets at Longslade College in Birstall every Friday evening.
The Respect Academy of Performance teaches singing, drama and
dance and is run by Polly Hubbard and Rosetha Claxton.
Polly has been working as a drama practitioner with young people
in youth theatres, schools and projects in Leicestershire for
12 years and Rosetha as a street dance teacher and choreographer
for 10 years. Some of their past pupils now work professionally
in theatre and television.
The three hour sessions are split into an hour each of dance,
drama and singing. Polly said: "We aim to keep classes real
and fresh by tailoring them to the interests and abilities of
the participants, to increase skills both artistically and socially
and to get the children performing regularly to showcase their
achievements."
The Longslade Class is from 5-8pm on Fridays and the first session
is free so that new students can meet the staff and see if they
like the classes on offer. Prices are £12.50 per session
for the first child, £8.50 for the second child and £6.50
for the third.
For further details and to register for a free trial class contact
Respect Academy on 2230073 or email performance_respect@yahoo.co.uk.
Dennis Galpin remembered
DENNIS GALPIN, a resident of Birstall for
54 years, has died.
Dennis grew up in London in the care of foster parents and Dr
Barnardos Home.
Dennis served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War,
after which he worked until his retirement as a telephone engineer,
firstly based in Leicester and then at the telephone exchange
on Fielding Road in Birstall.
Pic: Dennis Galpin
Dennis and Barbara first met while singing in a choir at a Baptist
Church in London and their love of singing lasted throughout
the 64 years of their marriage - singing together in various
choirs, including Birstall Choral Society where they were members
for many years.
They also shared a love of dancing and were longstanding members
of the Old Time Dancing Society in Loughborough.
A lifelong interest in clocks took Dennis to exhibitions all
over this country and in Europe.
Barbara and Dennis moved to Twyford in Berkshire in 2000 to live
closer to their son Stephen where they became an active part
of the local community despite Dennis's mobility difficulties.
Dennis passed away peacefully after a very short illness. In
Barbara's own words "Dennis was a very contented man".
How true. Never caught up in the rat race of modern day life,
Dennis was always happy to spend time on the things and the people
that mattered. To the children local to the Fielding Road telephone
exchange and the Elmfield Avenue area he was like the pied piper
(mending bicycle punctures was just one of his fortes).
We both consider it an honour to have known Dennis as a neighbour
and a very close friend.
From Mary & Trevor Downs
Nursery’s birthday party
Pics: Anand Archarya helps Mrs Custard perform
a magic trick.
WOODLANDS DAY Nursery celebrated their
fourth birthday on October 3.
During the morning the children were busy baking cakes and biscuits
for the party, which was held in the afternoon.
In the afternoon there were party games and a special appearance
from Mrs Custard who did balloon modelling with the younger children
and a magic show for the two, three and four year olds, which
was a great success.
(l-r) Archie Lamont, Hannah Bardsley and Katie
Williams enjoying the magic show
Leonie Yates the Deputy Officer in Charge of Woodlands Day Nursery
said: "We are extremely proud to have been open four years,
we have grown so much! In the beginning we were only registered
for 52 places, but now we are very busy and always improving
and expanding with 73 registered places for children aged six
weeks to when they are big enough to go to school".
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