Birstall Post March 2004 (248) cont.

Going great Gunns

Trainers Dean Spencer and Sally Montague-Mason with lads from Birstall United under 9s: Nick Brennan, Bradley Stevenson, Ryan Stevenson, Darren Price, Josh Whitmore, Josh Hill, Simon Mohamed, Nathan Walden

BIRSTALL UNITED under 9s are the latest local sports team to enjoy a training session with a difference at Gunn’s gym on Birstall Road.
Birstall’s Bargain Booze on Sibson Road are the latest of many village concerns and individuals that have supported the gym - they have paid for five rubber training mats

Special Constables

HAVE YOU ever thought of becoming a Special Constable? The police are appealing for more people to come forward and volunteer for this rewarding work.
As a Special Constable you are a vital link between the police and the community.
Each of the 43 police services in England and Wales has its own Special Constabulary and there are now 17,000 Special Constables who volunteer for duty whenever they can.
Duties could include: foot patrol, crime reduction initiatives, schools liaison, policing local events, or more challenging situations, fights, fires, road traffic accidents. You can work as little as one 4-hour shift per week.
Initial training will be at weekends, then followed by regular evening sessions.
Training, experience and commitment will lead to further responsibility and there are several grades of promotion.
Interested? Tel: (0116) 222 2222 Ext. 2657 for more information, quoting ‘Special Constabulary Recruiting’. or visit www.leics.police.uk

Textiles on show

TEXTILE WORK created by Longslade students featured in an exhibition called ‘Striking Textiles’ at Leicester’s City Gallery in January.

Meat at 1953 prices

A 1953 price list from Birstall’s oldest shop has been updated to 2004 prices by Butcher David Michael.
Last month’s Birstall Post article about loyal shopper Pat Hanger showed her shopping at J Michael’s Butchers, buying her meat as she has done for the last 50 years.
Proprietor David Michael has given the Birstall Post a list of various items sold in his shop comparing 1953 prices, in old fashioned shillings and pence, with those of 2004. This is shown below.
Topside of Beef Joint 5/5, £6.17
Pork Sausaage l/3, £1.16
Pork Steaks 3/6, £3.53
Pork Spare Ribs 4/0, £2.77
Free Range Eggs 1/6, £1.98
Plain Back Bacon 3/6, £2.06
Cooked Gammon Ham 2/10, £4.59
2 Tins Tomato 2/0, 92p
Totals: £1-4-0 (£1.20), £23.18

NHW news

WE DO seem to be at that time of year when people are finding that garages and sheds are being targeted by would-be thieves.
However, I am pleased to say not all of them are successful. Only today as I write these notes I have learnt that one of our members had their garage lock forced but thanks to the fitted alarm, the thief made a hasty retreat and nothing was taken. Just £8 - that’s all these alarms cost from the Advice Shop of the Watch.
Mobile phones
The police are telling us people are still using mobile phones while on the move in their cars and vans. If you get caught then the fine can be a hefty one.
Don’t forget to postcode your mobile phone, details how to do this or get it done for you, at our next advice shop on Saturday March 20.
I am sure that lots of children had new cycles for Christmas, but we have had a disappointing number of them brought in for postcoding since then. It’s a service that the Watch does for free, and it only takes a few minutes for it to be done. Code it or lose it. Drop in to our next advice shop, details below.
Complaints about cold calling agents who are about at the moment, electricity, cosmetics, and survey people, asking details about you and your life style. Please turn them away, if they really want to inform you of their offers they should make an appointment to come and see you.
Advance information: Thursday April 22, at the concert room of the Methodist Church, Wanlip Lane, Birstall at 7.45pm is the date for the Watch Annual General Meeting.
Our next Advice Shop is being held on Saturday March 20, at the old Council Offices, Sibson Road, Birstall from 10am until midday.
From Peter Allen
Crime Report
Police have arrested a youth on Stonehill school premises for possession of cannabis. Police are aware of ongoing problems with people visiting the school with the intention of supplying drugs and are taking steps to address the problem.
Three local youths have been arrested and bailed for damage caused to a telephone box and retail premises on Sibson Road.
Police have reported ongoing problems, coinciding with pub closing times, of criminal damage on Sibson Road.
Useful phone numbers:
Village Watch 2676397, Police 24 hrs 222 2222, Police (not 24 hrs) 248 4258, Birstall PC Dave Cole’s mobile 07732 629 434.

New minister

THE VILLAGE Hall in Birstall was filled to capacity on the afternoon of Saturday January 17 to welcome Birstall Independent Baptist Church’s new minister, Alan Stenfalt.
Alan has spent 33 years in engineering and 10 in the Christian ministry. He has recently been involved in planting a new church in Lichfield, and began his ministry in Birstall in January of this year.
Residents from Birstall were joined by friends from churches as far away as Matlock in Derbyshire. Gareth Crossley from Belper in Derbyshire spoke on the essential Christian message as being the good news about Jesus Christ.
Birstall Independent Baptist Church meets on Sundays at the Community Room of Highcliffe School on Greengate Lane, see back page for details.

Methodist Church news

Change of Minister
More details have now been given of the minister who is to replace Rev Chris Gray from September this year.
Rev Edward Sakwe with his wife Esther will move into the Park Road manse with their three children, two daughters Lucella and Jemea, and son Masoma. They are aged between two and seven. They come from Cameroon, but Edward has spent time in the united Kingdom having studied at Hull University, so Leicester will not be a complete culture shock for him.
He will have pastoral oversight of both the Birstall and Rothley Methodist Churches and be part of the staff of the Leicester North Circuit.
Our present Minister Rev Chris Grey will move with his family to Beeston in the Nottingham Trent Valley Circuit. His wife Viv, who is a Deacon at Anstey, has a similar appointment in Long Eaton.
These changes are part of the Methodist system, where Ministers move on to different churches every few years.
Garden Trail
The Garden Trail Committee is considering having themed scarecrows on the route of the Garden Trail,. The theme would be children’s fictional characters. If you might be willing to make a scarecrow for the Garden Trail please contact Charles Hilton 2122513. The date is June 26&27 and will be in the Greengate Lane area.
Different Services
Rev Chris Gray will lead a Family Service on March 21 and everyone is welcome to what will be a lively morning. For a contrast of reflection and stillness you are welcome to Sacred Space on Wednesday evening March 3 at 8pm.
£527 in one coffee morning
Members, volunteer helpers and committee of the Luncheon Club all joined forces to raise this magnificent result for the purchase of a dishwasher for the main kitchen of our church.
Women’s World Day of Prayer
All ladies are welcome to this special annual event. This year the Birstall Service is at the Methodist Church on Friday March 5 at 7.30pm. The service has been put together by the Women of Panama along the theme of “In Faith Women Shape the Future”. The speaker is Dr Margaret Williams of Loughborough.

Watermead Country Park news

January
At the start of a New Year there are a lot of things to tell you about. Firstly, the work on the reedbeds is going very well and the new lake is taking shape. Four new birdhides are to be built. Each one will be a different design according to its position and what we hope to watch from it. For example, one will have an artificial kingfisher-nesting wall underneath. We have had success in the past with kingfishers using artificial walls so let us hope for the same luck with this one! More good news is the presence of birds such as the water rail, which are still present despite all the disturbance caused by the building works. No doubt the herons will soon begin nesting in the tall trees in and around the reedbeds, in fact in past years it has not been unusual to see them sitting on their nests with snow all around!
Cattle have recently been reintroduced to Watermead. Not since sand and gravel extraction took place have we had animals grazing within the County Park. And fine specimens they were too. No-one could miss the tremendous horns that these British longhorn cattle have. They are a traditional breed native to this country, quiet by nature and producing excellent meat. They tolerate poor pasture and are ideally suited to the meadows found adjacent to the River Soar. The herd at present is still quite small, but will have nearly double in size by the Spring as all the cows are in calf. The benefit to wildlife cannot be overstated as grazing is a good way to manage these areas creating areas of long and short vegetation and preventing trees such as willow from becoming too dominant. So, keep your eyes open for them when the warmer weather returns and please remember to keep your dog on a lead if you happen to walk through the fields where the cattle are grazing.
Residents of Thurmaston will be pleased to hear a handrail has now been installed at the site of the bridge below Thurmaston Lock, which will help improve access.
Sadly I must report the burning down of the small birdhide overlooking the Nature Reserve at the beginning of December. Although the hide will be rebuilt it does mean that visitors will be unable to use this facility in the meantime.
February
While writing this article the snow is fast thawing and the river level is rising. The drought of last summer now looks to be a distant memory as the river banks start to burst, flooding the water into the lakes, replenishing that lost last year. In many ways the floods can be a nuisance, with for example the amount of rubbish (litter) it brings down from Leicester and leaves behind when the water recedes. But they are also a benefit to the park as the silt, carried in the water, contains many important nutrients, which are deposited over areas such as the wild flower meadows. Also the smaller lakes/ponds benefit with having a fresh supply of water, washing away any stagnant water and algae blooms built up during the dryer months.
Water levels in the park’s reedbeds are very important. If the levels drop too low species of trees, such as willow, start to take over, as happened last year. The masses of seed dropped by the mature willows grew like mustard and cress at an alarming rate. Luckily with the water levels rising again the seedlings will drowned out and the Norfolk reed can go on growing without competition.
Winter work in the reedbeds is well underway with areas of encroaching willow/alder trees being cut back to allow the Norfolk reed to spread. Also mentioned in previous articles is the building of four new birdhides in the reedbed area. The foundations for these were laid earlier this year and much of the blockwork is in place. Keen eyed visitors to the northern end of the park will have noticed that the new lake has now been filled with water. As the lake was dug above water level it had to be lined. For this an artificial clay liner was used. This is basically two thick sheets of fabric filled with powdered clay, which when wet turns into a thick waterproof gel. This was laid into the bottom of the lake in long strips, then covered with soil and finally water was pumped in. Soon a couple of floating islands are to be designed, built and floated out onto the lake. These will hopefully be used by birds such as common terns for nesting sites.
This winter has been a good one for visiting migratory birds at Watermead. Smew have been sighted regularly on the large match lake and also in front of the large birdhide at Birstall. Other interesting visitors have included pintail, wigeon, goosander and Ruddy duck.
This year’s guided walk programme will soon begin. This will be with an early morning dawn chorus walk on Sunday May 16. For more details and to book a place please telephone the Watermead rangers on the number below.
Tim Maydwell, & Richard Woolley, Rangers
Leicestershire County Council
To contact the Rangers please ring 0116 2671944 or in an emergency ring 07850 276226.

Complaint rejected

A COMPLAINT made against Parish Council Chairman Peter West has been rejected by the Standards Board for England.
Parish Councillor Chris Clarke made the complaint which related mainly to procedures, in particular the Council's Standing Orders.
Cllr Clarke also complained that he had been prvented from seeing documents he was entitled to see and that Cllr West had written offensive and misleading remarks about him in a letter published in the Birstall Post. The Standards Board said it would not proceed with the complaint as Cllr Clarke had not produced insufficient evidence. Were more information provided it would consider the complaint again.
Cllr Clarke claimed that at the last Annual General Meeting Mr. West discriminated against him by precluding him from membership of the Council's Management Committee.
Cllr West said: “Under the Council's constitution, the Management Committee, which meets only occasionally, usually to discuss employment matters, has always comprised the Chairman and Vice-chairman of the Council and the chairman and vice-chairmen of the various Council committees.
"Any member can be elected Chairman or Vice-Chairman of any committee on which he serves or, indeed, of the Council itself. However, it will come as no surprise to anyone that other councillors have always felt that Mr Clarke's behaviour at meetings does not make him a fit person for such a position of responsibility."
Cllr West added: “There seems to be a small minority of people in the village who find the problems caused by Mr. Clarke amusing. I can assure them that this is not at all funny - it is very distressing and the major reason why the Council is now short of members. Other councillors attend meetings to do what they can for the village and then go home to their families and jobs. Mr. Clarke seems to turn up solely to disrupt meetings and then appears to go away to plan "revenge" on other councillors he feels have disagreed with him. Really, it is very, very sad for all concerned."
Cllr Clarke said: "These comments seem to be the usual rubbish we are accustomed to seeing from Mr West in the Birstall Post. I have read these with a growing sense of amazement. Others have commented in the same vein but I do not wish to comment as I would be bringing the Council into disrepute. I have been endeavouring to have these issues resolved within the Council, but have been refused the ability to do this by Mr West."
A complaint made about Cllr Clarke to the Standards Board by Parish Council Clerk Hugh Knight is still being considered by the Board.

Big cat spotted near Henson Close

SIGHTINGS OF Leicestershire’s mysterious ‘big cat’ have been made in Birstall and Rothley.
Birstall’s Beat officer PC Dave Coles spotted a large cat while on undercover duty one night in Birstall. He said: “I was with another officer at the bottom of Henson Close when we spotted this large, panther sized cat walking across the field at the end of the road. It was only 20 feet away from us and didn’t seem concerned we were there”.
On New Year’s Eve in Rothley a resident spotted what he thought was a large panther roaming outside his house.
Now members of the National Farmers Union are being asked to give detailed information on any panther like arrivals they have seen. The farmers’ survey is being organised by the British Big Cats Society to try to gather more information about the subject.
There were more than 50 big cat sightings in Leicestershire in 2003 with most sightings in the east of the county.
It is now widely believed that the animals that are roaming not just in Rutland and Leics, but in nearly all the counties of the UK and Ireland originate from animals that either escaped or were released following the introduction of the dangerous animals act in 1976. Up until this time, it was fashionable to own panthers or pumas, indeed one famous London store used to sell them! With the introduction of tighter controls and requirements for enclosures, many owners simple let their animals loose or even failed to register, and kept them.
These cats have adapted to the British countryside, which can be easier than in their native countries where food is in short supply and other predators exist.
As with the sightings in the West Country, there are two main types of big cats involved as well as a rarer third type: these are panthers (always black), pumas or lynx.
Surviving the British climate is not too difficult for big cats. Pumas and lynx roam America and Canada from the mountain deserts in the south, to the snowy Yukon and Rocky Mountains. The panther is also at ease in all temperatures and can happily withstand the British weather, with an adaptable thick coat. Shortage of water is the big cat’s main enemy, something that does not pose a problem in the UK.
As far as fitting into the food chain, both the puma and panther are the most adaptable of all the big cats, with the most varied of diets imaginable. In their native continents, they are known to eat anything available, including fruit, carrion, fish, small and large rodents, rabbits, birds etc right up to large fully grown deer. The British countryside with its abundance of rabbits, muncjac deer (very common small deer but seldom seen) and pheasants. Not to mention foxes badgers, pigeons and other birds. The British countryside suddenly becomes far more attractive than the frozen wastes or barren deserts that they have already conquered so easily. There is also an absence of hunters armed with rifles on bounty hunts, as in America. It is reckoned by zoologists that both these cats require only two rabbits or similar a day to survive.
They are now increasingly seen right into the centre of the major towns and cities of the UK (as occurs in America and Africa and Asia) following the urban foxes and muncjak deer in along railways and canal banks. They then feed on domestic cats, foxes, deer and often raid back gardens taking food left for the foxes and raiding rubbish bins. The numerous parks in Leicester have often had sightings of panthers at night.

Pup wins top prize

WOODS, THE puppy from Birstall featured in last month’s Birstall Post, has won the UK’s most prestigious prize for young dogs - Purina Pro Plan Pup of the Year.
Woods, an Irish water spaniel owned by Martyn and Margarita Ford of Birstall, competed against 30 other star pups to take the coveted title.

Your Say...

I am saddened by the many resignations from the Birstall Parish Council that have been tendered over the recent past. During the 70s and 80s I worked within and for the community in a professional capacity. For more than 20 years I have lived in the community and have taken an active part in several organisations including being Chair of Governors of one of its schools that I still hold.
Many of the resignations that have been declared from the Parish Council are from people who have served the community well over a number years in their personal and sometimes professional life. I just wonder how much time the individuals causing so many of the problems in the Council have given their time and contributed to other aspects of the Birstall community.
The recent resignation by the current Chair of the Council, Peter West, is a sad loss and when added to the resignation of Nigel Coleman as Chair a year ago is a double blow. These are people who have worked hard for the community with little thanks but a great deal of hassle. How many more resignations from Birstall Parish Council from community minded people have to be received before Birstall people stand up and be counted?
David Bark

1. No; 2. No; 3. No; 4. Yes; 5. Possibly; 6. Gladly
I would like to know how Charnwood expect us to compress our waste, recyclable or not, into two fixed sized containers when at present there would appear to be no limit to the amount of black/green bags the council will collect.
Having seen wheelie bin operations in other areas, it is my opinion that they provide an inferior service to that which we receive at present, and I would foresee many more trips to Sileby tip by many more householders should these changes be allowed to happen and of course, a rise in the amount of fly tipping.
Same old story, higher council taxes for lesser services. No change there then.
Nicholas G Black

I was quite sad to read that Mr Peter West was leaving the council because of the verbal treatment he had been receiving through the Birstall Post. Although I have never met him, it’s obvious that he was doing his best for Birstall, so I would like to wish him well and thank you for what you have done.
A Davis

We are writing in response to a letter from Gloria Brown (February Birstall Post) concerning the proposed introduction of wheelie bins. In answer to the questions raised we would make the following response:-
1. No, the consultation meetings were not clearly publicised well in advance of the deadline (the first we knew about the proposals was in the January edition of the Birstall Post).
2. No. we do not consider that all Charnwood residents have been fully consulted (no one has consulted us or any of our neighbours).
3. No, we are definitely NOT in favour of wheelie bins.
4. Yes, the present collection system should be retained. It works well and there are no problems.
In Birstall we pay higher council taxes than a lot of other areas. Wheelie bins are expensive. Who is going to pay for them? Who is going to pay for replacement bins when they get damaged by vandals or the collection men? Not Charnwood Council, it will be down to the residents.
We have also been told that the bins will only be emptied fortnightly. If this is correct what are the health implications? And will we get a reduction in our council tax?
We urge everybody who is against these ridiculous proposals to make their feelings known.
Paul and Sheree Frost

Re your letter in the Birstall Post regarding wheelie bins. It is in our view that we pay the highest rates (council tax) in Leicestershire and up to now Birstall is quite clean and tidy, but wheelies, what a mess they will bring, we do not want them. On getting older myself and hubby will not be able to drag them out when they are emptied, nor will a lot of other people in Birstall. There are a lot of older people here, who must be terrified at the thought of a large bin outside the house.
Now, in answer to your questions:-
No.1 No we were not
No.2 No
No.3 No we are not, too many old people in the village who would not manage them, us included
No.4 Yes we do
No.5 Yes
No.6 Hopefully our views will be noted.
PS Will wheelies be emptied every week?
Mr & Mrs G Large

We, the riff-raff of Birstall, humbly take issue with Mr West on alleged written attacks upon his person. To the knowledge of this hovel no such attacks have taken place. Others may be responsible, but none of this hovel. Again we feel that we are being used as a scape-goat. True we enjoy the banter that has gone on in the Birstall Post twix Mr West, Mr Clark and others. We would even suggest that, if Mr Clark is so unpopular and was elected by default, someone should stand agin him in the next ballot. Then perhaps the council could conduct its business in its chamber? But who are we to say?
I understand Mr West is going to Spain.
We will miss him greatly, and we grovellingly send him our good wishes for the future. We understand that certain members of the Conservative party do too, but are too shy to say.
Yours unworthily
His Dolefullness the Grand Riff of the Birstall Mountain
Name and address supplied

1. No, we don’t think the consultation meetings were clearly publicised well in advance of the deadline.
2. We don’t know if everyone was consulted - we completed a questionnaire and wrote to Charnwood Borough Council.
3. No, we are definitely not in favour of wheelie bins.
4. We do feel strongly that the current system should be retained - as well as objecting to wheelie bins, we would be unhappy to move to fortnightly collections. We would consider using additional recycling bags.
We wrote to Charnwood Borough Council as soon as we heard of the plans. The reply we received gave the distinct impression that the decision had already been made, although the deadline had not then been reached. It is not possible for us to use wheelie bins, as the only access to the front and back of our house is up two flights of steps. There is also no footway in our street. Other houses in the street have similar access problems.
Pat and John Scott

We do not want wheelie bins thank you. They will be difficult for older people to move about.
Some will be left out on the streets for idiots to tip up or set fire to.
There is nothing wrong with the present system.
M Shaw

Further to the correspondence regarding wheelie bins. I am not in favour of them preferring the present collection system.
Last January I spoke to an official at the Refuse department CBC saying I would rather pay for my own plastic bags than have these ugly contraptions on my property. But it seems the bins are coming anyway - ‘new vehicles are fitted with the equipment to pick up the bins’!
OK if the bins would be wheeled back out of sight once emptied and the official said notices would be printed stating that bins must be wheeled away as soon as possible. Not all householders can do this if they are out all day and bins are cumbersome for many people to handle and bins are not easy to clean either.
Many people do as I do at present - pull out a full bag from my dustbin, tie the bag and place it at my gate, rinse out the dustbin ready to pop in a clean bag. What could be easier and neater?
I despair when I look down once neat streets where now wheelie bins clutter up pavements making the whole area look tacky.
Name & address supplied

I am very much against the use of wheelie bins. They are most unsightly, an eyesore in all areas currently using them.
Imagine Front Street for example, a pretty part of the old Birstall, with ghastly great plastic bins standing all along (a perfect target for all the young men leaving the pubs and clubs incidentally). They are dirty, smelly, unhygienic and I do not think that in view of the enormous rates we are already paying that we should now be obliged to pay out for the cleansing of these bins.
I have many friends who have already had the “wheelie” inflicted upon them and I have not yet heard a good word said about them. The current bag system is ideal, tidy, easy to handle, convenient and must be cheaper to operate.
I was also unaware of any consultation with residents, therefore it was not a well advertised issue beforehand. It will be very interesting to find out in the near future, whether the preferences of the residents (and rate payers) will be of any concern to the Charnwood Councillors or whether it is yet another issue that had already been decided, done and dusted before being “discussed” with the residents.
Please retain our current sacks which are cleaner, easy to handle and out of sight is my plea to the Chairman of the Council.
P A Towers

I was alarmed to read in recent publications there are rumours of the appearance of wheelie bins. I have written to Charnwood Council for some information in the hope that they are only rumours as, enquiring of neighbours, they have similar fears.
The southernmost roads of the village are rather steep and I wonder how stable they would be in a wind.
Mrs Jean Ward

A happy land was Birstall
Once swathed in mystery
With famous sands and lighthouse
And not a drop of sea.
In concord and contentment
All read their Birstall Post,
While munching on their breakfast
Of caviar and toast.
All residents were peaceful
Their talk was beer and sport
Their worthy parish councillors
Could count on full support.
A web was as in spider
With nectar flowed the pen
It eulogised the daffodil
In hands of nobler men.

O troubled land of Birstall
Appraise your present state
Redress your tarnished image,
It’s really not too late.
You’ve had an open season
With comments sharp and snide,
But common sense and charity
Can thrust it all aside.
A gentler wind is blowing
Away with rant and rage:
Look back to last month’s issue
It’s on the letters page.
A much beleaguered father
Defended by his son.
Youth championed by the aged,
I’m sorry Mr Gunn.

Soon - proud and virtuous Birstall
Once more you’ll show your worth.
The shires will salute you,
Along with Middle Earth.
And your redeeming council
Will with all foes unite,
Conscripting Smith and Lacey
To set the record right.
All arm in arm together
For all the world to see:
And one who chops down awful signs
Will get an OBE.
Pure reconciliation
The slogan of the day.
(You’ll have to get it sorted
Before the month of May)

Has it escaped your notice?
Somebody’s feeling hurt.
You need your wounded Chairman
And he’s threatening to desert.
Encourage, soothe and flatter,
Point out he’s in his prime.
All he needs is a thicker skin
And that will grow with time.
Surround him in the Chamber
When nothing can be heard
And help him with his problem
In firm but kindly word.
Relate how former Chairmen
Respected men and true
Survived their term of office,
And quite enjoyed it too.
All stress, all strain, all conflict,
Miraculously gone.
(It’s oral by tradition
Impostors can’t log on)
So sane - so sound - so simple -
And aggravation free.
You just ignore the riff-raff
And serve the other three.
J M Wilkinson

What a wonderful, positive and heartening letter from Carl Gunns in February’s issue of The Birstall Post. His description of the young people who have been using his gym is indeed cheering and encouraging when he states that they show terrific enthusiasm for work and that they show respect and that there has been no bad behaviour. It shows that when young people are provided with a facility that they want to use, they will use it properly and positively and productively. Carl Gunns is to be congratulated on providing this gym in the village and the young people deserve congratulations also.
The Parish Council should consider providing an additional facility for young people, indeed a facility for people of all ages in the village. It is asking for ideas for alternative uses for the bowling green next to the Sibson Road carpark which is now unused by bowlers. My suggestion is that a sports hall, catering for various sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton etc be built on that site.
A report called “Storing Up Problems : The Medical Case for a Slimmer Nation” was launched recently by the Royal College of Physicians, the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The report warns that at least a third of adults, one in five boys and one in three girls will be obese by 2020, with millions more overweight. This scenario is due to happen unless a lot of people change their diets and take more appropriate exercise. It could be said that because of this probable alarming situation, local authorities have a duty, an obligation to provide as much sports/exercise facilities as possible.
Birstall Parish Council has a golden opportunity to provide such a facility for people of all ages in the village by building a sports hall on the bowling green site - it is an ideal site which has already been used as a site for sport.
J Woods

Planning

Mr A D Cobb - erection of 1.8m high boundary fence to side of detached house. 4 Ashmead Crescent
Mr A Hames - demolition of modern extensions, erection of replacement extensions and conversion of hall into 8 apartments. Goscote Hall, Goscote Hall Rd.
Mr A Hames - erection of 3 blocks of two and two and a half storey flats (16 units) - Goscote Hall, Goscote Hall Rd.
Mr & Mrs Holmes - single storey extension to side of semi detached house. 33 Orchard Rd.
Mr D Armstrong - erection of conservation to rear of semi detached house. 91 Gwendolin Ave.
Mr & Mrs A M Bestwick - dormer extensions to side and rear of semi detached house. 18 Ambergate Dr.
Fast Fit Motor Spares Ltd - change of use from open storage to vehicle recycling, storage and distribution centre. Land at Meadow Lane
Mr R Andrews - extension of porch with WC. 1 Whiles Lane
Mr & Mrs C Marlow - erection of grand & 1st floor extension to front and conservatory to rear of semi detached house. 703 Loughborough Rd
Mr J Eld - demolition of conservatory and extensions to front of detached bungalow. 26 Tempest Rd
Crawley Farms Ltd - demolition of industrial buildings & erection of 11 one and 2 bedroomed flats - site of Birstall Garage, junction of Loughborough Rd & Colindale Ave
Jelson Ltd & Palmer - landscaping of phases 1a and 1b of residential and associated development. Land to north of Harrowgate Dr and west of A6, Birstall

Age Concern Info

Ageing Population No Threat to Economy
A House of Lords’ committee has criticised the current state pension system for leaving many older people, particularly women and those from minority ethnic communities, in poverty while concluding that an ageing population provides no threat to the country’s prosperity.
A report from the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, released on January 10, called on the Government to help the most vulnerable by considering the replacement of the basic state pension with a non-means-tested citizenship pension. This pension would depend on the number of years of residence rather than National Insurance contributions. The committee argued that this would provide a foundation for a scheme of additional pensions funded by voluntary saving and would avoid the Government’s “heavy and growing reliance on means testing”, which was severely criticised by the committee. The report warned that too many women relied on their husband or partner to provide for them in later life.
The inquiry into Aspects of the Economics of an Ageing Population, launched in December 2002, also examined pensions policy, the supply of labour, age discrimination and retirement age. Its report concluded that an ageing population posed no threat to prosperity and growth in the economy but said that ageism was still rife in the UK and called for an end to “blatant age discrimination”.

Ageing and the UK Facts and Figures
Average life expectancy has risen from 42 in the middle of the 19th century to over 75 for men and 80 for women today
The birth rate is falling : women born in the mid-1930s had an average of 2.45 children, while those born in the mid-1970s are expected to bear an average of 1.4.
In 2001 for the first time, there were more people aged over 60 in the UK than under 16.
By 2051 an estimated one in four people will be 65 or over.
The average employment rate among men aged between 50 and 64 is 70% - this rises to 78% in South East England and falls to 55% in the North East of England. For women of the same age the average employment rate is 55% (62% in South East England, down to 45% in Wales).

Caring for Someone with Depression
‘Caring for Someone with Depression’ is a new addition to the Carers Handbook series of books, which aims to guide carers through the emotional and practical maze of caring and help them make informed decisions.
Topics covered in this book include: what depression means; an introduction to diagnosis and treatments; depression in older people; the role of the carer; support with financial and legal affairs; and stress relief for carers. The book contains also sources of help and support available.
A number of books in the series have recently been fully revised and updated.
These are:
Carers Handbook : What to Do and Who to Turn To
Caring for Someone at a Distance
Caring for Someone with Dementia
Caring for Someone Who Has Had a Stroke
Caring for Someone Who is Dying
Caring for Someone with an Alcohol Problem
Caring for Someone with Arthritis
Caring for Someone with Diabetes
Choices for the Carer of an Elderly Relative
‘Caring for Someone with Depression’ by Toni Battison. 230pp Price £6.99 ISBN : 0862423899. This and other Carers Handbooks listed above are available from Age Concern Books, Units 5 & 6, Industrial Estate, Brecon, Powys LD3 8LA Tel: 0870 442 2120 Fax: 0870 8000100

Social Security Upratings and Income Tax Allowance for April 2004
On to December 2003, Chancellor Gordon Brown presented his pre-budget report. He confirmed a previous announcement that a new harmonised Consumer Price Index will be adopted as the operational measure of inflation used but that state pensions and benefits will continue to be uprated on the same basis as at present. Andrew Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, gave more details about pensions and benefits. The state pension will increase in April 2004 by 2.8% in line with the retail price index. Pension Credit rates will be increased in line with earnings.
The main proposed rates are detailed below. The first figure given is for April 2004, the second figure, in brackets, relates to 2003.
Contributory and Non-Income-Related Benefits
Attendance Allowance:
higher rate £58.80 (£57.20)
lower rate £39.35 (£38.30)
Carer’s Allowance £44.35 (£43.15)
Dependency increases (adults)
Retirement Pension £47.65 (£46.35)
Incapacity Benefit (long term) £44.35 (£43.15)
Severe Disablement Allowance £26.65 (£25.90)
Carer’s Allowance £26.50 (£25.80)
Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over pension age) £42.65 (£41.50)
Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under pension age) £34.60 (£33.65)
Retirement Pension:
Basic Pension £79.60 (£77.45)
Married Woman £47.65 (£46.35)
Couple on Husband’s Insurance £127.25 (£123.80)
Over 80s pension (non-contributory) £47.65 (£46.35)
Income-Related Benefits
Pension Credit
Standard Minimum Guarantee
Single £105.45 (£102.10)
Couple £160.95 (£155.80)
Additional Amount for Severe Disability
Single £44.15 (£42.95)
Couple (one qualifies) £44.15 (£42.95)
Couple (both qualify) £88.30 (85.90)
Additional Amount for Carer £25.55 (£25.10)
Savings Credit Threshold
Single £79.60 (£77.45)
Couple £127.25 (£123.80)
Maximum Savings Credit
Single £15.51 (£14.79)
Couple £20.22 (£19.20)
Income Tax
The proposed income tax allowances are:
Personal Allowance
Aged under 65 £4,745 (£4,615)
Aged 65-74 £6,830 (£6,610)
Aged 75+ £6,950 (£6,720)
Married Couple’s Allowance (allowances where relief is restricted to 10%)
aged less than 75 and born
before 6 April 1935 £5,725 (£5,565)
aged 75+ £5,795 (£5,635)
Married Couple’s Allowance:
Minimum amount £2,210 (£2,150)
Income limit for age-related allowances £18,900 (£18,300)

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