Wheelie bins planned for Charnwood
PLANS TO introduce wheelie bins in a bid
to increase recycling rates have been criticised for being pushed
through without proper public consultation.
Charnwood Borough Council are responsible for collecting refuse
and recyclable materials. They want to increase recycling rates
from the current 18 per cent of household waste to 36 per cent
by 2005/06, to reach Government targets and the Borough Council’s
own target stated in its corporate plan ‘Charnwood Together’.
The Council organised nine public meetings throughout the Borough
and put details about the plans to increase recycling rates on
its website. The deadline for comments from the public was December
8 and Charnwood’s cabinet considered the matter at their
meeting on December 18.
Councillors at Birstall and Rothley Parish Councils have criticised
Charnwood for not conducting an effective consultation process.
Birstall Parish Council voted to take an advertisement in the
Birstall Post, publicising Charnwood’s plans and inviting
a public response by publishing a questionnaire. They reversed
this decision two weeks later after the Parish Clerk learned
that any representations made by the Parish Council following
this consultation with Birstall residents would be too late to
have any influence.
Rothley Parish Council received their letter from Charnwood inviting
comment too late - their next meeting fell after the consultation
deadline. At their meeting on December 15, councillors commented
that this was an example of a Charnwood policy being pushed through
without effective public consultation.
Chairman of Rothley Parish Council Percy Hartshorn said: “The
consultation period was too short to give Parish Councils a chance
to discuss the matter thoroughly and give their comments”.
Clerk to Birstall Parish Council Hugh Knight said: “It appears
not only have the residents not expressed their views, but also,
that the views and request of Birstall Parish Council, one of
the largest in the Borough, have not been included in any full
consultations or decision.”
Rothley Parish Council has produced a response to Charnwood’s
plans. It states: “We are totally opposed to wheelie bins.
The present service using sacks which householders put out near
the boundary of their properties is the best service the Borough
Council provides. We do not understand why an option to keep
the status quo was not an option being considered.
“Wheelie bins will only provide another target for vandalism
and lead to untidy streets in the Borough. Terraced houses do
not have the facility to keep them off the street and elderly
residents have problems moving them. We consider wheelie bins
are a health hazard in hot weather.”
Rothley Parish Council’s response also stated: “We
are aware of the targets to increase recycling and the main problem
is to educate the public to use the facilities provided. Responsible
residents already achieve reasonable rates of recycling. It is
an education and advertising strategy that is required to achieve
the targets.
Looking at the published targets of other Leicestershire Borough
Councils the two with the highest results and targets both use
sacks as Charnwood do at present. We note that the New Forest
are achieving 24 per cent using sacks with weekly collections
and are setting a 40 per cent target for 2006. If they can achieve
this, why not Charnwood?”
Charnwood have produced seven different options for increasing
recycling rates, four of which feature wheelie bins. Only these
four options will approach or exceed the declared target rate
for recycling, say Charnwood.
Charnwood Borough Council have received advice that the only
feasible way to significantly increase the amount of waste recycled
is to introduce ‘fixed capacity’ bins, typically wheelie
bins. The Council’s Head of Technical Services Peter Rook
says: “All our research has shown that the best performing
councils across the UK all introduced new boxes or bins for recyclable
material. For example, you can have a separate box for glass
products, or a green bin for compostible material, alongside
the existing black and green sacks.
“The long and short of it is there is no easy answer, every
scheme we have researched either involves a new box, a new style
bin and extra investment.”
Charnwood’s Cabinet met to discuss the results of the consultation
on December 18. It is recommending options that will feature
wheelie bins and fortnightly collections. For details, see their
website www/charnwoodbc.gov.uk/consultation.
Christmas tree festival
Marjorie Newton & Sue Metcalf admire one
of the trees
THE WEEKEND of November 28 saw much activity
taking place at St Theresa’s Church.
This was the weekend of the Christmas Tree Festival and Street
Market. The Church was filled with over 60 Christmas trees beautifully
decorated in all different themes, big and little trees, twinkling
lights, bows, ribbons, figurines, cardboard cut-outs, sweets,
hand knitted angles, to name but a few. Live music was played
throughout the two day festival by our local musicians from all
the churches. Our children’s quiz attracted a lot of entries
and four lucky winners won a cuddly toy.
On Friday morning the marquee was put up and the stalls started
to be assembled for the evening market. Cakes, plants, books,
table decorations, Christmas goodies, tombola, raffle and new
clothes were among the many stalls. Hot dogs, mulled wine and
stollen were the warming food of the evening and carol singers
and our own Morris dancers completed the evening’s entertainment.
The ever flowing cups of tea and coffee kept the kitchen staff
busy, and on Saturday hot soup and a roll were available.
The total raised for this event has reached £2058. This
will be divided equally between The Holy Ghost Fathers missionary
work, the Catholic Children’s Society and our own church
repairs and renewals. Our sincerest thanks go to all who helped
and supported this event to make it so successful.
From Daphne and Sabina
Parish Council sets budget
BIRSTALL PARISH Council has set its precept,
or budget, for the year 2004/05 at £283,850, an increase
of 2.8 per cent on the previous year.
£169,200 of this total is allocated for wages. Other allocations
include:
£22,500 for Estates & Recreation including an allowance
of £200 for machinery
School Lane playing field security measures: £5000
Sibson Road enhancement: £8000
Cemetery building: £5000
Rubbish/Dog Waste bins: £2500
Cricket pavilion: £5000
Village hall maintenance: £4000
Sibson Road building: £1000
Office equipment: £500
Vehicle/tractor: £2000
Gala/Cup: £500
Chairman of Birstall Parish Council Peter West said: “Obviously,
our running costs are something we can do little about. It is
an expensive undertaking to maintain our parks and playing fields
to the standard we have come to expect, and the administrative
workload in the office grows year by year as the Government pushes
more and more paperwork in our direction.”
He added: “Through successfully applying for grants to supplement
our own funds, we have undertaken many capital projects over
the last few years - the upgrading of the Village Hall and the
addition of the changing rooms and groundmen’s buildings,
the Sibson Road Enhancement Scheme and the Shoppers’ car
park, the new playground at Meadow Lane and additional equipment
at School Lane and Harrowgate Drive, and this year’s project
- the refurbishment of the Cemetery Building. For the coming
year, we felt it was time to step back and take stock, merely
making lower provisions for future undertakings.
He continued: “Unfortunately, there is one expense which
is totally unnecessary and makes me very angry. Our Estates Manager
estimates that during 2003, vandalism, mainly on School Lane
playing fields has cost us - the people of Birstall - over £10,000.
That is more than the 2.8% rise in the Parish Precept. And for
2004-2005 we have had to budget £5000 for security measures
although, at this stage, we are not sure what effective measures
we can take.
“Really we need a concerted effort by the whole village
- residents, the police and, above all, the parents of the vandals
- to identify the culprits in order to stop these anti-social
actions. Remember, everyone in Birstall is paying for this mindless
behaviour.”
Parish Council Notes
A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council
was held on December 8.
Clerk Hugh Knight reported that the County Council is still preparing
its report following its consultation about traffic calming measures
in the Stonehill school area. An officer from the County Council
may attend the February meeting, he said. It was agreed to write
to the County Council rejecting its proposals for a traffic calming
scheme.
Councillor Gerald Hardington reported on the meeting Charnwood
Borough Council had staged in the Village Hall regarding recycling.
Attendance was poor, he said and sweeping changes were proposed
for the collection of refuse and recyclable materials. The evening
had been useless as a consultation exercise, he said.
Councillor Iain Bentley said that no decisions should be made
about the recycling issue until every resident in Birstall had
been properly informed and invited to comment. It was agreed
to pay for a full page advert in the Birstall Post January issue,
to include a questionnaire.
PC Garry Rayns reported that there had been a very low burglary
rate in Birstall - one a month since September. PC Rayns reported
he would be replaced on December 10 by PC Dave Coles and councillors
thanked him for his work in Birstall.
It was agreed to donate £300 to the Land & Lewis Charity.
Estates Team Manager Andy Garland’s report stated that intrusions
by motorcyclists on the School Lane playing field continued,
but that there had been some reduction with darker evenings.
It was believed it was the same youths involved.
It was agreed that viable ideas were needed for the future use
of the currently unused bowling green next to the Sibson Road
car park.
The Council agreed to reject proposals from Charnwood to erect
banner poles on Sibson Road because of the cost and their unsuitability
for the street scene. It was reported that stainless steel railings
will be erected along the steps outside Glenwood Interiors on
Sibson Road.
The date of the next meeting is January 12.
Puppy reaches final
Irish Water Spaniel Woods
A PUPPY from Birstall has reached the finals
of the Dog World/Purina Pro Plan Pup of the Year final.
Now in its 32nd year, the competition is seen as the gateway
to Crufts and the 31 finalists have already won regional heats,
beating almost 9000 dogs that entered the competition.
Taking part in these finals will be Woods, an 18 month old Irish
Water Spaniel from the award winning Cuboglach kennels on Woodgate
Drive, run by Martyn and Margarita Ford. They have been breeding
prizewinning dogs for more than 20 years.
Blue Moon rising
Beauty therapist Maggie Cowley
A WIDE selection of beauty treatments are
available at Birstall’s newly opened Blue Moon beauty salon
on Birstall Road.
Run by Maggie Cowley, a fully qualified beauty therapist from
Leicester College of Beauty, the salon offers treatments including:
facials, eye treatments, anti-stress treatments, waxing, manicure
and pedicure, aromatherapy massage, Indian head massage, hopi
ear candles and collagen injections.
New to the salon is a revolutionary treatment which successfully
permanently reduces unwanted hair growth. Non invasive, quick
and painless, the treatment is a major improvement on waxing,
says Maggie.
Maggie says: “Free friendly and confidential consultations
for all treatments is available and I look forward to meeting
the Birstall community and offering a service which was not available
prior to the Blue Moon rising over Birstall”.
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Funds raised for Lee
Pic: Sharon Mitchell presents a cheque to
Dave Wood for his son Lee (right).
A STALL on Birstall Gala day in July and
a rock and roll night have raised £455 for a young boy
with cerebral palsy.
The fundraising was organised by Birstall’s Alan Eden and
friends and will help pay for specialist treatment for five year
old Lee Wood of Thurmaston.
New look Linda
Linda after losing weight
A WOMAN from Birstall has lost seven stone
in two years, attending the Slimming World group that meets in
Birstall Village Hall every Tuesday.
Linda Bindley decided the time was right to lose weight in 2000.
She said: “Not only did I not feel good about myself, it
was my health that was at risk. Once I’d made up my mind
to join, I had no problems. I found the group friendly, everyone
being there for the same reason.”
Slimming World consultant Mandy Cross said: “The Slimming
World plan is called Food Optimising - it’s easy to follow,
generous, with no calorie counting and no foods being forbidden”.
Linda before her weight loss
Mandy added: “It takes time and determination to lose weight
and it’s not always easy. Linda is a star, she was determined
from the start and is an inspiration to us all, we are proud
of her.”
A new daytime session starts at 4pm on January 6. For more information
contact Mandy on 01664 567260 or drop into the Village Hall on
a Tuesday at 4pm, 5.30pm or 7pm.
Driver kidnapped
POLICE ARE hunting robbers who threatened
a lorry driver with a stun gun, stole his lorry containing £250,000
worth of alcohol, and then dumped him in the road in Birstall.
Two men took the driver by car from an industrial estate in Northamptonshire,
with his hands and feet bound, and dumped him in the road in
Birstall.
They have released descriptions of the men involved in the kidnap.
The first offender, who threatened the driver with the stun gun,
was white, in his 20s to early 30s, about 5ft 10ins tall and
stocky, with short dark hair and a round face. He was wearing
a black sweatshirt.
The second offender, who climbed into the passenger seat of the
lorry cab, was also white, and of similar age and height to the
first man, but he had a slim build. He had dark hair which was
balding, a thin face and a goatee-style beard. He was wearing
a blue top which had white stripes down the sleeves.
The third offender, who waited outside the lorry was white, in
his 40s, about 6ft 1in tall and of broad build with short dark
hair and a chubby face. He was wearing a dark top and possibly
dark jeans.
Anyone who say a silver coloured saloon being driven at 11.50pm
on Monday November 24, or who has any information that may be
of use, should contact Northamptonshire police on 01327 300300.
Beaver leader retires
Richard Moore with Birstall Beavers
A POPULAR Birstall Beaver Leader, Richard
Moore, has retired after 12 years with Birstall’s Beaver
Scouts.
Vic Dolby, Group Scout Leader, said: “Richard has been a
leader with the group for 12 years and in that time many hundreds
of 6 to 8 year old boys have had their first taste of the fun
and enjoyment scouting has to offer and Richard has played a
large part in this. Good luck to Richard in his retirement -
he will be missed.”
Birstall’s Beaver colony has now closed as the group have
been unable to find replacement leaders. Vic said: “There
are at least 18 Beavers in the colony who are unable to carry
on with the Beavering, so I’ve organised an open meeting
for anyone interested in either helping to recruit a new leader
or finding out what a leader in the scout movement does and what
leaders get out of it.”
The open meeting will be held in the Scout HQ on Birstall Road,
next to Gunns Gym, on Tuesday January 13 at 7.30pm.
Dancers qualify
Tracey Liggins (left) & Faye Berdinner
TRACY LIGGINS and Faye Berdinner of the
Starlight Theatre School have recently been successful in gaining
teaching qualifications.
Student Joanne Tomlin gained the highest marks for her major
ballet examination, and 12 others received a platinum certificate
from the British Theatre Dance Association for their exceptional
performance in examinations.
Village Watch news
BIRSTALL VILLAGE Watch is very concerned
about the number of telephone scams that are about at the moment.
We ask all the readers to be on their guard when they take a
call on the normal network or on their mobile phones.
Calls are being made to numbers asking for details of households
or say that you have won a prize or a holiday, please press 9
or a similar number to obtain details how you can claim.
Whatever you do, DO NOT press the number requested but just hang
up. This will prevent you being charged for a premium call costing
£2 or more a minute and they hold the call for up to 10
minutes. You do not know that you have been charged this amount
until you get your next telephone account/bill. Telephones that
have call management on them should not ring back to a number
that they do not recognise. Again this is another way of getting
you to call on a premium charge line.
Welcome to our new beat officer PC 290 Dave Coles who is replacing
PC Kevin Palmer and PC Garry Rayns who is transferring to other
duties at force headquarters. We hope to meet with PC Coles very
soon.
I have been asked by the police to remind drivers that it is
now illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone when on the move.
It has been noticed that car and van drivers in Birstall are
still using phones whilst on the move. They can be fined up to
£1000 and the employers are also responsible for their
employee’s actions as well.
From Peter Allen, Chairman Birstall & Wanlip NHW
Cash for Children in Need
STUDENTS AT Longslade College raised £1164
for Children in Need Day in November.
Technology College ICT Co-ordinator Helen Foster said: “Many
thanks to those who made this day the great success that it obviously
was! We have made a very valued contribution to a very worthy
cause - well done!”
The breakdown of the money raised was: one student wearing pants
over trousers for the day £76.34; two students from the
sixth form collecting money £83; concert £283.34;
year 10 Cake baking and selling £93; 10LJG collection £15;
post-16 fair trade stall £104.55; 10 KHG £19.73;
fairy cakes £11.40; 10JP £9; library £22.14;
11MAD £7.72; 11AS £19.84; 10IH £10.58; three
students having legs tied together for the day £24.94;
individual student collection £12.80; individual student
collection £17.07; two students collecting £18.87;
10KHG £19.73; individual student collection £9.60;
11RVR £16.24; miscellaneous donations and collections £289.87
Thanks also go to the four students from Mr Lea’s Tutor
Group for collecting money on the day.
Club’s charity night
Bill Mann, representing VISTA, receives a
cheque from men’s president Trevor Tait and lady president
Ella Grant.
ST MARGARET’S Co-operative
Bowls Club held a charity evening in aid of the blind and raised
£591.
This was the second year the club had organised an event of this
type - both have been hosted by entertainer and singer John Darrell
- and the evening was very well attended.
Local artists Mike Knight, Pete York, Steve Sonatra and Martin
Russell donated their time free of charge.
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Schools burgled
STONEHILL AND Longslade had valuable IT
equipment stolen after a break-in on Tuesday December 2.
Stonehill was attacked first, in the evening, and although some
staff were on the premises, several doors were broken and laptop
computers and digital projectors were stolen. The thieves broke
into several rooms throughout the school before moving on to
Longslade where they stole more laptop computers.
Stonehill suffered so much damage that it was closed the following
day for health and safety reasons. The Police spent the day gathering
forensic evidence.
Headteacher Alan Baker said: “I would like to thank the
pupils for their responsible behaviour when they arrived at school
and the help the parents gave at such short notice. The Local
Education Authority has also been very helpful.”
Your Say
How did we get into this situation in the first place? There
are the residents of one end of Birstall (Birstall Road) crying
out for help with a traffic problem in the form of speeding cars
and here are the residents of the other end of the village (Stonehill
Avenue area) fighting off the unwanted advances of a traffic
calming scheme which is both unrequired and ill considered.
Surely it doesn’t require a quantum leap in thinking to
take the funds set aside for the unwanted scheme and use these
moneys to alleviate the problems along Birstall Road where help
is required.
Personally, I would be quite happy to see speed cameras in both
areas if they would help, but I doubt that they would raise sufficient
revenue to be considered viable in spite of the good they may
do.
For what it is worth, I have been driving in this area for more
than 30 years and cars have sped along Birstall Road ever since
I can remember. Perhaps it is time something was done.
N Black
If we have some bad winter days and the roads require gritting
then the priorities are Motorway, A class roads, B class roads
and unclassified roads some time later.
What co-operation has Leicestershire County Council with Leicester
City. Greengate Lane is unclassified and is a rat run. Leicester
City has upgraded their part of Greengate Lane.
Will Greengate Lane be half untreated and half gritted.
Les Briers
Several readers have contacted The Birstall Post about the
withdrawal of a mobile NHS footcare clinic that used to visit
Birstall regularly but has now been withdrawn. I have made repeated
attempts to get a response from Charnwood and North West Leicestershire
Primary Care Trust for an explanation of why this service was
withdrawn without success. The NHS manager responsible would
not answer my questions and referred me to their media officer,
who has not replied to emails. I will continue to press for a
response.
Jerry Jackson
Editor, The Birstall Post
Just to say A Happy New Year everyone. Now the bells that
jingle at Christmas, and the bells that chime for the New Year
have finished jingling, do you think we could hear more bells
on push bikes, doing their bit!
You walk along peacefully down the country park and all of a
sudden there is a person on a pushbike right next to you. I am
sure they would rather run you over than use a bell.
So come on push bikers, let’s hear those jingles.
A J Gamble
Recycling
We are all encouraged to help recycle our domestic rubbish and
the Government, quite rightly is demanding that we double our
recycling rate from the current 17% to about 34%. Now, how can
we do this! Well, if we’re better informed about how to
separate different sorts of waste packaging then we might get
there. If we don’t respond positively then we will all suffer
financially because the Government’s landfill tax is set
to rise enormously.
Recently, there was a public meeting in the village hall where
Charnwood Borough Council - our recycling collection agency -
made a so-called ‘genuine consultation’ presentation
on possible changes to the recycling collection scheme. The meeting
failed on several counts - not least of which was the sad fact
that Joe Public was poorly represented. Coronation Street wins
again!
The meeting, attended by some Birstall Parish Council members,
Thurmaston councillors, a former Chairman of Queniborough Council
and former Recycling Officer for Leicester City Council, one
or two local residents - probably less than twenty people altogether.
This is an apparent consultation and not an effective communication
to residents of Birstall. Do you want wheelie bins for residual
rubbish for landfill?
The meeting was introduced by Mr Brian Hays, the new Chief Executive
of Charnwood Borough Council who stated that “Birstall looks
a nice place to live”. It certainly is a great community
and a pleasant village. I wonder if Mr Hays would really make
such a remark if he visited when the Christmas lights were over
and it was ‘Wheelie Bin’ collection day some time in
the future. Yes, the dreaded plastic army is under consideration
by Charnwood, to line our pavements from morning till dusk. Are
they made of recycled plastic? I don’t think so and they’re
expensive, top heavy and cumbersome.
Fortunately (for once) I can remember the old days when galvanised
dustbins littered our streets once a week waiting for the bin-men.
They were awful containers, stinking and rusty. Then a clear
thinking person invented biodegradable black plastic sacks, followed
by various coloured plastic racks for different types of recyclable
materials. Wonderful, progress at last! And now to boost our
recycling rate another bright spark (commercially driven of course)
proposes Big Wheelies! Who needs to go to the gym when you can
struggle with the plastic monster down your alley or through
your awkward gateway? Of course, elderly and infirm people are
excused the gym call! The vandals will enjoy the exercise of
toppling the wheelies into the road before the neighbours return
from a long day at the office. Oh? one more thing, there will
be a fee to pay the mobile wheelie bin wash man when he calls
to sanitise your portable bug-box!
No! Charnwood we are willing to increase recyclables - but please
consult the residents of Birstall in a proper manner, tell us
how we can help and then we can all work together.
We don’t like any scheme which is rail-roaded through to
meet budget deadlines.
Gerald Hardington
I regret not having read Mr Lacey’s letter.
I also regret that the letters I have read in the past few months
from the chairman of the parish council have in style a mixture
of a political Jim Laker and a literary John Prescott. On the
one hand Mr West pleads that he is a volunteer, and should not
be criticised , on the other he is an elected official who has
authority over money we, the rate payers, have had to contribute
in local taxation.
I am not in favour of personal abuse at any level, particularly
at the political one, and I would agree with Mr West that parish
councillors should not be abused personally for council decisions.
Yet it appears that Mr West himself can have two coats - that
of politician and of volunteer, and can abuse for the one whilst
hiding behind the other one. Eat your heart out, Alistair Campbell!
Amongst other things he saw fit to accuse me of in reply to my
question - which he never answered - was supporting Mr Clarke
of Harrowgate DRIVE. I have never met the man; why Mr West thinks
I would want to observe parish meetings to listen to Mr Clarke
speak for two and a half hours - when Mr West himself says that
the same man drives away good councillors - puzzles me.
This is a democracy. We the people elect people to meet together
to make decisions, and, once made, to stick to. We do not want
to feel that those we elect spend all of their time denouncing
each other and the electorate through the columns of the local
paper, nor running with seemingly trivial complaints to national
complaints bodies. Nor do we wish to be treated to the sort of
abuse that has appeared in the letter columns of this paper.
Pray make note Mr West; in the last council election it was my
turn to lose. I am now an ordinary elector. Please answer the
following question in a civil manner - when are you going to
sort out Mr Clarke’s position over the Harrowgate DRIVE
issue?
Dr D A C McNeil
After spending most of our summers during the past 20 years in
our Norfolk caravan, we have finally taken the plunge and decided
to move to sunny and sometimes ‘bracing’ Overstrand
near Cromer.
Having lived in Birstall for more than thirty years, Anne’s
childhood home, it is with very mixed feelings that we are making
the move, particularly leaving family and many friends behind.
We would like to say cheerio to everyone who knows us and perhaps
we will still see familiar faces on what we are sure will be
our frequent return visits to see family members and longstanding
friends.
We have very happy memories of our lengthy time in Birstall which
we will take with us to the East Coast.
Mike and Anne McCann
I would like to congratulate all who participated in the HATS
pantomime, Aladdin. It was first class. I thought the quick scene
changes were superb. Well done to all actors, production and
orchestra for a wonderful performance.
D Pearce
Is there anyone out there?
Would anyone in Birstall or the surrounding area, be interested
in forming (or just to make friends) a ‘Friendship Group’
for help and support, who like myself is suffering from anxiety,
panic attacks and agoraphobia.
There doesn’t seem to be any support or help with this very
lonely illness in this area.
If you may be interested, and would like to chat, I can be contacted
on Leicester 2200891 any time. I shall look forward to hearing
from you. I am a very young at heart lady in my early sixties.
Mary L Ellen
On behalf of Birstall Royal British Legion Women’s Section
I would like to thank everyone who supported our Christmas Tombola
Night especially the shopkeepers of Birstall, who donated prizes.
We raised the marvellous sum of £400 which we are very
grateful for.
Thank you all once again and we wish you all a Happy & Healthy
New Year.
Angela Parkin (Treasurer)
Once again Mr Peter West scores an ‘own goal’. His
letter under the heading of ‘Public Service’, printed
in the December issue of Birstall Post, is a clear indication
of his blinkered and self-righteous view of other people’s
opinions. He demonstrates a chronic and comprehensive failure
to realise that what is being brought into focus and to his attention
is his habit of being so scornfully dismissive of anyone who
does not agree with him. He seems to characterise recent letters,
and by implication the writers of those letters, as having been
‘abusive’ and ‘offensive’, among other unflattering
epithets. Again he suggests that the Editor should not have allowed
a letter to be printed (ostensibly for the reason that the correspondent
chose not to reveal her name, although the Birstall Post allows
that people may take up that option). Worse still, he leaves
it open to inference that the letter of November is a ‘poison
pen’ letter (without, apparently, being aware of the true
definition of the term or the implications involved). One wonders
whether he classes all letters from ‘Name and Address Supplied’
as being poison pen letters, or only those which seek to put
forward opinions which do not coincide with his. Thank goodness
we have a robustly independent editor.
Neither in Mr Neil Lacey’s letter (October) nor in the ‘View
of West’ letter in the November issue was there any criticism
of the work of the Parish Council as a body or that of its councillors
as individuals. The inference I gained from those letters was
that it is the ongoing, rambling and unashamedly virulent slanging
match, conducted in public, which is bringing shame upon the
Council and the village as a whole. That possibility seems to
have passed right over Mr West’s head.
Speaking only for myself, but in the hope that my sentiments
may be echoed by many Birstall people, I feel that overall the
Council does a pretty satisfactory job, apparently in somewhat
trying circumstances, to judge from the evidence of previous
articles in our community newspaper. Where on earth does Mr West
get his idea that we think it amusing that councillors give up
their time to serve the village, only to find that they are subjected
to a variety of negative factors? That is one of the results
of being a volunteer, as the may volunteer workers of Birstall
know, and it is neither amusing nor a cause for distress. It
just comes with the job, as do any perceptions of power glory
and self-importance. The actual cause of our amusement is the
alacrity of certain frequent correspondents in rushing to put
pen to paper in order to denigrate the views and actions of others,
apparently before allowing their own feelings of rage to subside.
Venom has flowed freely and I’m afraid we have relished
it.
Perhaps the time for me to look upon this lengthy saga as a source
of amusement is past. It is rather sad, really, when adults continue
to behave as though interacting with their worst enemies in the
primary school playground. The main antagonists in this drama
should not be surprised when decent, ordinary folk at last raise
an eyebrow at their antics and suggest obliquely (but politely)
that they should desist. Mr West does them, himself and the community
a disservice by directing his scathing and quite unfounded criticism
at them in public. He should be thanking them on our behalf.
Will anyone take notice, or shall I too now become a silly half-wit
and a target for offensive and abusive words? Am I to be treated
with contempt by the elected leader of our council in the February
issue of the Birstall Post?
J Smith
Age Concern Info
Council Tax Benefit - many more could claim
- rebanding of properties due to take place.
It is estimated that thousands of households who are entitled
to council tax benefit are not claiming it. With council tax
likely to increase again next year by more than the rate of inflation,
obtaining a benefit will be crucial to many people, especially
pensioners on low incomes.
Age Concern Factsheet No.17 - Housing Benefit and Council Tax
Benefit is in the Age Concern Factsheet Folder No.1 at Birstall
Library and may be read there. People wishing to read this at
home, at their leisure, may send for a free copy from: The Age
Concern Information Line FREEPOST (SWB 30375) , Ashburton TQ13
7ZZ
All council tax bands across Britain are due to be changed: the
new system will take effect first in Wales from April 2005 and
thereafter in the rest of Britain from April 2007. Thousands
of households in Wales have just learned that their council tax
bill will double in 2005. The value of properties in fashionable
Cardiff and in picturesque areas of Wales have risen considerable
in recent years which has meant that many homes occupied by people
on low incomes have been pushed into higher bands. There are
instances of properties being moved from band B to band F and
council tax due to increase from around £650 to £1200.
Property prices have risen so much more in England than in Wales
so many people here face re-banding of properties and huge increases
in council tax in 2007. This is startling and worrying news for
everyone and it does not seem fair for the Welsh to have to pay
huge council tax increases resulting from re-banding two years
before the rest of Britain. Speaking personally, I am inclined
to agree with those people who are saying that the poll tax would
have been fairer than the present council tax which is a property
tax. Local income tax would seem to be the fairest system.
Fight the freeze - keep warm and healthy.
Be prepared.
Power cuts and the likelihood of these happening in the next
few years have been in the news recently and severe winter weather
can make disruptions in your supply more likely. If your lights
go out, hopefully your supplier will quickly sort out the problem
but it’s worth bearing in mind to have in stock a few things,
just in case:
a torch and spare batteries, candles and matches
food that does not need heating or cooking
important phone numbers
freezers can be useful in winter too but remember not to re-freeze
food once it has thawed
Check your heating is working properly - if all the adults in
your home receive the state pension or are chronically sick or
disabled, you can register as a Priority User with your electricity
or gas supplier to receive free safety checks.
Help with the bills - if you dread opening your gas or electricity
bill why not consider spreading the cost of winter throughout
the year. Your energy supplier will have a scheme which allows
you to do this. If you find you are unable to pay a bill, let
your supplier know as soon as possible - and make sure they know
you are a pensioner - gas and electricity companies will not
disconnect to all-pensioner households in winter.
If you need more independent advice on meeting payments calls
the Age Concern Information Line and your Citizens Advice Bureau
can negotiate directly with fuel companies on your behalf or
check on meter readings if you think you have been overcharged.
Dress properly to keep warm
It is important to dress with several layers of clothing in extreme
weather conditions in order to keep warm. Conserving body heat
is important as getting cold can constrict blood vessels and
lead to heart attacks. Many men seem to think it is macho to
wear as few clothes as possible and to not wear hats these days
but a lot of heat is lost through the head and wearing a hat
helps to conserve body heat.
It is also important to keep as active as possible even if housebound
and a lot of exercises can be done even whilst sitting in a chair.
Useful phone numbers
Age Concern Information Line - 0800 00 99 66, 7am to 7pm, seven
days a week
Energy Efficiency advice line - 0800 512 012 - free advice on
energy saving and information on local energy efficiency schemes
and grants.
Winter Warmth Advice Line - 0800 085 7000, 8am to 8pm, Monday
to Friday
NHS Direct - 0845 46 47 - advice on what to do if you’re
unwell (as well as to how to stay healthy). 24 hours a day, seven
days a week
Warm Front grants - 0800 316 6011. Find you if you are eligible
for money for insulation and heating.
Keep warm, Keep well provides information on more ways to stay
warm in winter, from the Department of Health, Freephone - 0800
085 7000 - to get a copy
Electric blankets - key safety measures
Buy new. Second hand blankets may not be safe
Have your blanket checked by an expert every three years to ensure
it is still safe to use
Always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully
Never use a blanket with scorch marks or exposed elements
Never use the blanket if it’s wet or creased. Never switch
it on in order to dry it out.
Never use a hot water bottle and an electric blanket together
Check the plug cord for any signs of wear and tear or damage
Do not fit the blanket to an adapter or multi-socket block with
another appliance plugged in
Make sure the power is turned off at the wall and the blanket
is unplugged if it’s not in use.
Always spread out the blanket - never use it folded
Keep the blanket stored carefully during the summer months -
refer to the manufacturer’s instructions
Most electric blankets are designed not to be washed - always
check the manufacturer’s instructions
A working smoke alarm could save your life
Recently, the tragedy of a man being killed in a house fire at
Anstey, where there was no working smoke alarm, highlights the
importance of having one in all accommodation.
if you do not already have a smoke alarm, please get one.
If you already have one (or more) please check each week to make
sure it is working satisfactorily.
A flu jab could also save your life
Research shows that some people who are over the age of 65 are
not going for the free flu vaccinations to which they are entitled
because of serious misunderstandings. 52% of people over 65 believe
the flu jab gives you flu.
The fact is that the flu jab is not ‘live’ and therefore
it cannot give you flu. Influenza or flu as it is commonly called,
is very infectious and a flu jab gives the most effective protection
against the virus. Flu can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis,
pneumonia and severe depression. Between 3000-4000 people in
Britain die from flu each year.
Age concern factsheets for free
In addition to Factsheet No.17 - Housing Benefit and Council
Tax Benefit, which I have mentioned already, other Factsheets
which may be of particular interest are:
No.1 Help with heating
5 Dental care and older people;
12 Raising income or capital from your home
13 Older home owners: financial help with repairs and adaptations
15 income tax and older people
18 A brief guide to money benefits
24 Direct payments from social services
31 Older workers
40 Transfer of assets and paying for care in a care home
42 Disability equipment and how to get it
45 Staying healthy in later life
46 Paying for care and support at home
48 Pension credit
49 Help from the Social Fund
If, instead of reading Factsheets at Birstall Library, people
wish to have a copy to read at home, up to a total of five Factsheets
may be requested free of charge from: The Age Concern Information
Line, FREEPOST (SWB 30375), ASHBURTON, TQ13 7ZZ
From Jex Woods
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