Player’s 100th game
A FOURTEEN year old player with Birstall
CC Football Club has played his 100th game for the club.
Pic: Manager Gordon Stretton presents
a pennant to player Elliot Fox
Elliot Fox of Windmill Avenue was 10 when he joined, and now
plays in the U15 team, which will be disbanding at the end of
the season.
Manager Gordon Stretton said: "He's a born tryer, he never
gives up, a strong tackler, a good runner and if he gets a chance,
he's a good finisher."
Gordon plans to take his team into the Youth League for the first
time next season.
A6 traffic proposals
AROUND 60 residents put their questions
to County Council officers at a public meeting about traffic
management proposals for the A6 through Birstall.
Several expressed their dissatisfaction that the hour long meeting
was not long enough, and it was agreed to stage a local exhibition
of the plans with officers present to answer questions. This
will take place on Tuesday May 10 at Birstall Village Hall from
4-8pm.
Mr James Holden, Deputy Director Highways and Mr Alan Headley,
Team Leader Highways, explained the proposals to residents and
parish councillors at the public meeting, held in the Village
Hall.
The measures proposed, intended to mitigate the extra demand
placed on the A6 by the Hallam Fields development, include the
introduction of traffic signals to control the Bentley Road junction,
U-turn restrictions, two sections of southbound bus lane, the
introduction of a one way system on the slip road outside the
NatWest bank and modifications to the junction layout at the
A6/Greengate Lane/Sibson Road junction.
Pic: the public meeting was held in the Viallge
Hall
Mr Holden explained that the County Council was still in an informal
consultation stage, inviting public response to the proposals
so that they could be modified before going forward to the formal
consultation phase. He said he understood that the principal
concerns were: the direction of traffic on the one way slip road
and the inconvenience caused to residents of Loughborough Road
who live north of Bentley Road. A U-turn will be permitted for
northbound traffic at Bentley Road but not for southbound.
In answers to questions put to them by residents, the officers
said:
o Traffic signals are preferred to roundabouts at junctions as
they provide a greater capacity of traffic flow
o Computer controlled traffic signals along the A6 will be linked
to improve capacity
o The pelican crossing at Bentley Road will be resited so that
it is 'within the junction'. There will be two additional pedestrian
crossings on the A6 at the southern and northern entrance to
Hallam Fields, and in the long term, a footbridge.
o The footbridge will be located half way between the southern
and northern Hallam Fields access roads.
o The officers were unable to answer why the only pedestrian
access to Stonehill/Longslade from the A6 was via Bentley Road.
Residents felt the volume of young people using the crossing
made it unsafe, and that a footbridge was needed now.
o There are limitations to the amount of modifications that can
be made to the proposals and still remain within safety parameters.
o The officers were unable to say whether or not the trees on
Loughborough Road, south of Hermitage Road, will be removed when
the bus lane is provided.
A County Council spokesman told the Birstall Post: "County
Council staff were pleased to be able to attend the public meeting
on March 12 and to hear the comments of Birstall residents about
the traffic changes necessary to accommodate the Hallam Fields
development. Particular concern were raised about the proposed
banning of U-turns affecting access to some properties, and the
problems of accessing the service road adjacent to Sibson Road
once the Greengate Lane junction is altered. The County Council
representatives explained the road safety reasons lying behind
the proposals.
"Formal consultation on the traffic measures has not yet
started but the County Council has accepted the need for residents
to have an early look at the details, so that the reasons behind
the proposals can be more fully explained. To this end, a public
exhibition is being arranged and details will be well publicised
within the village. "
All residents will have the opportunity to make their views known
when the plans are finalised and put out for formal consultation.
Local walks
A NEW book of circular walks in Leicestershire
has been published by two local authors.
"Walking in Leicestershire : 26 Circular Walks" has
been written by Beryl McDowall from Mountsorrel and Dave Ray
from Thurmaston.
The 160 page book contains 500 colour photographs and clear maps
to guide you around each walk.
Beryl , who lives on a houseboat in Mountsorrel, said: "You
will visit numerous villages, including Mountsorrel, Quorn, Woodhouse
Eaves and Birstall, to name just a few, and be able to enjoy
opportunities to explore many interesting features on your route."
The book is available locally from Alpine House Surgery, Stonehurst
Family Farm and Budgens, where it is on sale for £8.99.
A postal service is also available (£10 inc P&P), using
the downloadable order form on the website, where you can view
sample pages: www.walkinginleicestershire.co.uk
History & heritage at Wanlip
THERE WAS an evening of history, heritage
and more at Wanlip Church in February.
Pic: Chris Poole giving a presentation
about the Leicestershire Villages website to Wanlip residents
Chris Poole from the Leicestershire Villages website, Pat Grundy
from the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland
and Colin Hyde from the East Midlands Oral History Archive talked
to Wanlip residents about researching family history, creating
oral histories, and how to use Wanlip's website at www.leicestershirevillages.com/wanlip
There was a display of historical material relating to Wanlip
and visitors were encouraged to bring along a photo, document
or other artefact and have it scanned or photographed for posterity.
Primary school admissions
CHILDREN ENTERING Birstall's primary schools
will now have a single point of entry each year: September.
Previously there were two intakes, September and January, but
the County Council are changing to a single date from this September.
The new system will apply to Highcliffe and Riverside schools.
Headteacher at Highcliffe, Iain Munro said: "We will now
have younger children in school than ever before, having just
turned four, but the evidence shows that the longer children
are in school, the more successful they tend to be."
He added: "Most parents are happy that their children will
be starting full time education earlier. Some may be concerned,
and I would wish to reassure them that the children will be doing
a practical foundation stage curriculum based on learning through
experience and play.
"We welcome the proposals and are in the process of making
sure that our accommodation is up to date and that we have the
resources for the younger children."
Andy Hayman, headteacher at Riverside School, said: "I would
like to echo Ian's comments and add that the curriculum will
build upon the child's experiences in the home and at any pre-school
setting such as nurseries or playgroups. The activities will
be based around structured play and will be encouraging the development
of a wide range of skills appropriate to their age.
"It is my experience that some parents may be concerned
that the youngest children are not quite ready for a school setting
but these concerns are soon forgotten once the children are happily
settled into the 4 plus base."
There are 439 children at Highcliffe School and 506 children
at Riverside School, aged from 4-11.
Any parent unsure about their child's start date at school should
contact the allocations department at County Hall or their local
primary school: Highcliffe for addresses west of the A6 and Riverside
for those on the east of the A6.
Council clerk leaving
HUGH KNIGHT, Clerk to Birstall Parish Council,
will be leaving the post in June after six years in the job.
Pic: Hugh Knight
When Hugh started the job it was a part time position. "In
the last couple of years it has increased to full time"
he said.
"It has been a very interesting job which I have enjoyed.
The range of issues that come across the desk means there is
always a new challenge and something interesting going on"
he added.
Chairman of Birstall Parish Council Stuart Jones said: "Hugh
has really done his best for Birstall, he's been a very good
clerk and we will miss him very much."
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