Tesco saga continues
TESCO HAS withdrawn its application to
sell alcohol from 139 Sibson Road, Birstall.
Tesco, whose official response to the question: "Are you
opening a store in Birstall?" is "no comment",
applied for the alcohol licence in July.
The licensing authority, Charnwood Borough Council, says it has
received "several" objections to Tesco's application
and scheduled a hearing of the licensing committee for August
13 to consider the application. At such a hearing the applicant,
objectors and the public can attend and present their case and
make comments.
Three Borough Councillors then make a decision on the application.
When Tesco was told there would be a hearing and were given copies
of the objections, they withdrew their application. David Platts,
Deputy Director Partnerships and Customer Services at Charnwood
Borough Council said: "In their letter to us Tesco said
they were withdrawing their application 'at the present time',
and that they reserve the right to submit an application in the
future."
Planning Officer at Charnwood, Darryl Watson, told the Birstall
Post that there had been no Section 106 agreements negotiated
as part of the planning permission for the site. These agreements
secure contributions from developers for community facilities
such as play equipment, or car parks as a condition of planning
permission.
Mr Watson said that before the store is completed, he would expect
a planning application for signage to be made and that this would
require the applicant to supply the words that will feature on
the sign. At this stage the name of the retailer will become
known.
Work on the store is expected to be completed by the end of October.
Sports day
Pic: preparing for the start of the sack race
THE THREE and four year olds at Woodlands
Day Nursery in Birstall had a fantastic time during their sports
day in August.
There were many events including an obstacle course, beanbag
target game, sack races, egg and spoon races and the famous three
legged races. A firm favourite was 'splat the adult' where children
threw wet sponges at them!
Pic: children throwing wet sponges at Leonie
Yates
Leonie Yates, deputy of the nursery, organised the event. She
said: "We decided to hold our sports day today because it
is the last day for many of our four year olds who will be starting
school. We wanted to make their last day a day to remember!"
After all the children had competed, it was the turn of the parents,
where lots of fun…and cheating went on during the egg and
spoon and three legged races. Sports day finished with each of
the children receiving a medal and certificate for all their
hard work.
Married sixty years
THEIR EYES met for the first time in a
Blackpool ballroom in 1941. "It was love at first sight
for me" says George Jones, who has been married for 60 years
to the girl he met that night.
Pic: George & Marjorie Jones
George and Marjorie Jones of Ambergate Drive celebrated their
Diamond Wedding anniversary in August with a party for friends
and relatives at the Cedars Hotel in Loughborough.
The couple met in that Blackpool ballroom while George, now 86,
was serving in the Air Force and Marjorie, 85, was on a week's
holiday. Marjorie said: "He looked so young and boyish and
had a very kindly expression."
Pic: the couple on their wedding day
George was soon posted to South East Asia and their courtship
continued by letter, with George proposing by post. "Her
reply seemed a long time coming but I was elated after opening
that letter" said George.
The couple were married in Manchester and lived there for 15
years before moving to Birstall in 1962. They have two children
and two grandchildren.
Last month George and Marjorie returned to Blackpool for a short
break to revisit some of their old haunts and remember how they
met on the dance floor 66 years ago.
Parish Council notes
A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council
was held on August 13.
PC Chris Falle reported that there had been a 66% reduction in
burglary this year, compared to last.
He said that Police were aware of three vehicles on the School
Lane playing field car park being driven dangerously. PC Falle
reported that 65% of vehicles on Birstall Road are exceeding
35mph.
PC Falle said that, together with the Village Watch, he was trying
to organise a Borough Council Environmental Action Day in Birstall.
This would involve litter picking and graffiti removal from village
'grot spots'.
Residents reported on the parking tickets issued on one section
of Sibson Road and the Council agreed to help them by contacting
the County Council about the designated parking bays that were
created in 2001.
A resident from the Meadway expressed his frustration at not
knowing which retailer would be opening a store at 139 Sibson
Road. Cllr Pat Cleere commented that whatever retailer it was,
the site was unsuitable for such a large convenience store.
Clerk Brenda Thomas reported that the application by Tesco to
sell alcohol at 139 Sibson Road had been withdrawn. The council
agreed to object if the application is re-submitted. The clerk
said that the fact that the site had previously been an off-licence
did not mean a new licence would necessarily be granted if a
case can be made that there were alcohol related problems in
the area, and other alcohol retailers were nearby.
The County Council has asked the Parish Council for its views
on their plans to move the bus stop outside 139 Sibson Road.
The Parish Council agreed to suggest the stop be moved nearer
to Boots.
Cllr Neville Mayes reported that, after consulting with the site
foreman at 139 Sibson Road, the shop will be completed at the
end of October.
The council discussed plans to extend the Sibson Road car park
onto the old bowling green opposite Birstall DIY. It was agreed
that the clerk obtain the costs of professional guidance as several
planning issues would be involved.
Petrol thrown
A DOG walker had petrol thrown over her
as she walked in Watermead Country Park.
The incident happened on July 26 between 10.30-11am. The 33 year
old victim had just entered the park near the Hope and Anchor
pub when a man approached her from behind and threw what is believed
to be petrol over her.
The man, who was black, then threatened her before running off.
Det Sgt Adrian Platts, who is investigating the incident, said:
"This woman has obviously been left very shaken by this
incident. We would like to reassure people that we do not believe
this man poses a threat to other members of the public, however
his actions are very concerning and we are therefore very keen
to trace him.
"We know that there were other people on the park that morning
and it is a popular venue for dog walkers. We are therefore appealing
to anyone who was on Watermead park that morning to think back
and see if they recall any suspicious activity.
"You may have witnessed this incident and thought it was
just a prank and therefore thought nothing of it. If you did
it's important you get in touch as you may recall key details
about the incident or the man responsible."
Anyone with information should contact DS Platts from North Area
CID on 0116 222 2222 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Body art skill
A MAKE-UP artist from Birstall competed
in the World Body Painting festival in Austria this July.
Pic: make up artist Jessica Nurse
with her model, Anna
Jessica Nurse, 22, was part of a team of four including two friends
from London and another from Hong Kong competing against make-up
artists from around 40 countries at the event, held at Seeboden
on the shores of Lake Millstatter.
Jessica said: "It was a very busy week and as soon as we
stepped off the plane into 40 degree heat we knew it was going
to be a lot of hard work."
The team spent six hours painting their model, Anna and were
ranked high enough to get into the following day's final. Jessica
said: "We didn't expect to go through and so had to think
of a totally new design for the next day. Once again in boiling
heat we painted for another six hours, a really bold butterfly,
Chinese idea."
Out of the 72 competitors in the brush and sponge category, Jessica
and her team were ranked 12th. "We thought this was brilliant
considering some of the artists had years more experience than
us" said Jessica, who plans to return to the event next
year.
Fined for parking
CHARNWOOD'S NEW Street Wardens have been
issuing parking tickets to vehicles parked in designated parking
bays.
Four tickets were issued to motorists parked on Sibson Road between
the Posy Bowl and Birstall Garden Centre. The fixed penalty notices
impose a fine of £30.
The tickets were issued because the County Council failed to
complete a Traffic Regulation Order to permit parking in the
bays that were created in 2001, as part of the Sibson Road enhancement
scheme. As a result, the Street Wardens were acting correctly
when issuing tickets.
A County Council Highways spokesman said: "Leicestershire
County Council completed landscaping and environmental improvements
in 2000/2001. When consultation upon the proposals began, it
was agreed to block pave a grass verge in the above location
which was suffering repeated damage caused by residents' vehicles.
At the time a traffic regulation order should have been completed
to legalise this parking arrangement.
"Now that this problem has been brought to the Council's
attention the necessary legal advertisement required before the
signs and lines can be changed is being put together. Assuming
there are no unanticipated objections, this process should be
completed in the autumn.
"In the meantime, no further enforcement of this short parking
area will be carried out upon vehicles parked in this location,
as we appreciate the inconvenience this is causing to residents
at present."
Sibson Road resident Jim Garner was one of the first to get a
parking ticket. "I reacted with horror. I wrote back to
explain the situation but was told I had to pay up" he said.
Neighbour Lynne Pawley said: "A number of residents and
visitors have received tickets. A visitor to my home was issued
with one and I myself was told to remove my car from outside
my home this morning otherwise I would be issued with a ticket."
The parking bays are for public use, not just householders outside
whose property the bays are located. Stainless steel railings
prevent cars encroaching upon the pavement.
The County Council says that all the tickets so far issued will
be withdrawn and fines will not have to be paid.
GCR’s first profit
THE GREAT CENTRAL Railway has made a profit
for the first time in its 30 year history.
The GCR recorded a profit of £62,000 for the 12 months
period from February 1, 2006. The previous 12 months had seen
a loss of £35,000.
The profit comes two and a half years after major board level
and management changes at the railway
Red Hill allotments
BELGRAVE ALLOTMENT Society held an Open
Day at their Red Hill site in July.
Pic: Bob Roe and Kate Hartopp at
Red Hill
allotments.
Visitors bought produce grown on the allotments and found out
more about having your own allotment. The annual fee for renting
an allotment on the Red Hill site is around £20. To find
out more contact Steve Callis on 0116 2607515
Morleys reach final
A MOTHER and daughter combination are the
toast of the village's tennis club after their terrific efforts
at a major tournament.
Pic: Laura (left) and Wendy Morley
at the Senior
County Closed Championships
Wendy Morley and her daughter, Laura, reached the final of the
Women's Handicap Doubles event at the Senior County Closed Championships,
before losing in a thriller 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to Ronnie Porte and
Elsie Randall from Rothley Ivanhoe Tennis Club.
Laura, who captains Birstall Watermead Tennis Club's First Ladies
team, and Wendy, who played for both first and second teams this
year, battled through stifling hot conditions and a tough handicap
at the Leicestershire Tennis Club.
It was the first time that Laura and Wendy had partnered each
other in a tournament. Club chairman James Berry said: "We
are extremely proud of their achievement and it is a great boost
for our club."
Six other players from Birstall Watermead Tennis Club took part
in the Championships which avoided the heavy rainstorms that
had plagued the month of July.
The club will now be concentrating on its own annual championships,
which take place this month - Laura is the current holder of
the Ladies Singles title.
Club’s charity night
A CHARITY night organised by Birstall Bowling
Club raised £1750 for the Radio Leicester Ruby Rainbows
appeal.
Several Radio Leicester presenters and staff attended along with
local actress Dee Quemby and members of various bowls clubs.
The evening started with an informal bowls match and was followed
by a raffle, auction and entertainment by Banjo Des. Finally
a sponsored beard shave took place as Birstall treasurer Grahame
White was shorn of the beard he's had for 40 years by Radio Leicester's
Bridget Blair, although there were plenty of volunteers for the
job! "Thanks go to everyone who attended the event and particularly
to the local businesses that donated prizes for the raffle and
auction, your generosity was very much appreciated" said
club spokesman Andy Wye.
Birstall Ladies Bowling Club were represented twice in the National
Finals at Leamington Spa last month. Sue Wilson, Pa Walker, Jan
Everitt and Diane Hurst were in the fours competition and eased
past the Ilkeston Rutland club from Derbyshire 21-14 in the first
round before narrowly losing 17-15 to four from Nottinghamshire's
Forest Oaks club. Diane was also in the singles losing by the
narrowest of margins 21-20 to Gillian Clarke from the Tockwith
club in Yorkshire in the last 64.
In the Leicester City & District Parks finals, Birstall representatives
picked up three titles. Dave Clarke beat Steve Elliott of Aylestone
Hall 21-11 to win the singles. In the mixed pairs, Jan Everitt
and John Hurst kept the trophy at Birstall by beating Rushey
Mead's Brenda Simnor and Barry Page 23-19, while in the pairs
Dennis Measom and John Hurst beat fellow Birstall pair Grahame
White and Dave Clarke 15-13 in the final having edged past another
Birstall pair, Richard Smith and John Lee, 19-18 in the semi
final. Dave and Dennis teamed up in the senior citizens pairs
and reached the semi final, just losing out 22-19 to Warwick
Popple and Brian Capel of Evington.
For more information about the club you can visit the Birstall
Bowling Club website www.birstallbowling.co.uk
Free child clinic
A NEW baby and child health clinic is held
at Birstall Village Hall every Wednesday from 9.15-10am
Staffed by NHS Health Visitors Cara Rowlett and Tina Holme, the
clinic is for babies and pre-school children. Parents can discuss
any concerns they may have about their child including behaviour,
feeding or sleeping. They can also talk about problems they are
having, such as post natal depression.
The clinic is free and appointments are not required. For more
details contact Cara Rowlett on 2671578.
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