Youth gala
A GALA event for Mountsorrel's young people
held on the Halstead Road playing field in August proved to be
a great success.
Pic: dancers from the Jessica Michelle
School of Dance
The event, sponsored by AstraZeneca, featured a climbing wall,
a bucking bronco machine, arts activities, a penalty shoot out,
a tug of war, dancing displays and many more attractions.
A group of adults and young people called the Mountsorrel Youth
Development Group organised the event. The group, set up by the
County Council Youth Service, comprises representatives from
the Parish Council, The County Youth Service, Scouts, Beavers,
the Methodist Church Revive project, the Parish Plan Group, the
Rural Community Council, Charnwood Arts and Charnwood Borough
Council; Neighbourhood Management project.
Pic: Brendan Sullivan (11)
on the climbing wall
Pic: The girls took on the boys in a tug of war (and won).
Youth workers Margot McSwiney (front) and
Joanna Clarke lend a hand
Pics: Children from the Jessica Michelle
School of Dance
Pic: Megan Barratt (5) tries to
stay aboard the bucking bronco
Pic: Helen Wood and Rachel
Harman-Thomas from
Mountsorrel Scouts
running the BBQ
A spokesman said: "It is part of a long term project to
help improve facilities for and partnership with the young people
of Mountsorrel. The activity day is the first event organised
for the village and we are hoping to build on this event to provide
further opportunities for young people."
County Council Youth Worker Joanna Clarke, who works on the street
with young people in Mountsorrel, said: "I think today has
been fantastic, there's been something for all age groups and
the turnout has been great. It's good to see a lot of the young
people I work with here."
MY cartons plans refused
PLANS TO build 68 dwellings on the MY Cartons
site on Linkfield Road have been refused by Charnwood Borough
Council.
Developers David Wilson Homes wanted to build a range of accommodation
from two bedroom apartments to five bedroom detached houses,
and infill some of the large pond that is on the site.
The Council's principal reason for refusal was loss of wildlife
habitat. The Decision notice states: "The development would
result in the infilling of approximately one third of the pond
within the site. The pond would need to be drained, the banks
re-profiled and a significant amount of tree and shrub planting
around the pond removed. The pond has been identified as ecologically
significant at the parish level by the Leicestershire Environmental
Resources Centre. It would qualify as a Local Wildlife site,
or Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, on the strength
of its breeding toad population .
"The infilling of one third of the pond and the removal
of tree and shrub planting around the pond would have a damaging
impact on a site of ecological value for toads, bats and other
species. The proposed mitigation measures are not adequate."
Charnwood were also concerned that the siting of one of the dwellings
would have a dominant and overbearing impact on some properties
on Linkfield Road.
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Open garden boosts funds for Rainbows
A MOUNTSORREL garden was opened to visitors
to raise funds for the Rainbows Hospice.
Pic: Joan & Mick Steele enjoy
a cup of tea in the garden
This was the fourth year Dave and Pat Radley of Hawcliffe Road
have opened their garden where visitors can enjoy cream teas,
plant stalls, books and bric-a-brac.
Pat said: "Although the weather was very wet and not so
many people visited this year, we did manage to make £775
on the day. We had various donations afterwards which swelled
the total to £850 - a very good outcome bearing in mind
the weather."
Pic: (l-r) Jeanette Marshall, Jean Lee,
Pat Radley and Rainbows Ambassador
Pauline Wells
She added: "We must thank Pat and Hazel Spray for the loan
of their large marquee without which we would have been truly
rained off. Thanks also to all family, friends and neighbours
for their help and support for this event."
The top four of 18 raffle prizes were won by:
Mrs P Wells £25, voucher; Sally Willis, family ticket to
Stonehurst Farm; Betty Hackett, walk in greenhouse; Barbara Wood,
box of groceries.
There were three lottery bonus ball winners of £25 each:
Pam Vernon, Cliff and G Lambert
Pat, together with friends Jeanette Marshall and Jean Lee have
been fundraising for Rainbows for five years and have so far
collected £10,000 for the charity.
Event aims to tackle village problems
DO YOU have a problem with Mountsorrel?
An event is being held on October 10 when problems raised by
residents will be discussed by service providers and local representatives
and an action plan produced. The action plans will be followed
up after three months, then six months.
Called a 'Service Co-ordination Event' and organised by the County
Council, those invited to attend include representatives from:
the Police; County, Borough and Parish Councils; the Health Authority,
Headteachers, Community Groups and the Parish Plan Group.
Council representatives invited include Youth Workers, Housing
Officers, Highways Officers, Planning Officers, Adult Education
Providers, Rights of Way Officers and Community Safety/Antisocial
Behaviour Officers.
The Mountsorrel event organiser is Rural Services Co-ordinator
Brigitta Palinkas and she is inviting residents to contact her
with their problems so they can be discussed at the event on
October 10.
The sorts of problems identified at previous events include:
road safety, speeding, CCTV, traffic calming, danger spots, parking,
bus services, footpaths, pavements, cycleways, bus shelters,
lighting, access to healthcare, pensions, adult education, schools,
youth clubs, recycling, litter, playing fields, council services,
community facilities (shops, Post Office etc), antisocial behaviour.
Brigitta Palinkas said: "The aim is to improve the provision
of services based on community needs. The event brings members
from all sectors of the local community together to seek practical
solutions to any issues."
Following the event an action plan is drawn up which is followed
up after three and six months to see that progress is made.
Send a brief description of your problems before September 20
to Brigitta Palinkas, Policy Team, Room G49, Chief Executives
Dept, Leicestershire County Council, or email: bpalinkas@leics.gov.uk
Service Co-ordination Events were introduced in 2001 and 25 have
so far taken place.
WEA courses
BIRSTALL AND Rothley WEA are offering courses
on history, art and Tai Chi this September.
'What did the Romans do for the East Midlands?' is a 10 week
course starting on September 18 at the Rothley Centre that looks
at Celtic tribes and the impact of Roman colonisation.
'The Orientalists' explores Orientalism as a theme in Western
Painting and as in inspiration to artists. It is a 10 week course
at the Rothley Centre starting on September 19.
Tai Chi is an eastern form of exercise and meditation using soft,
flowing movements. A 12 week course begins on September 18 at
the Methodist church Hall, Birstall. Postal enrolment for this
course in essential.
For fees and further information contact Franca Freeman 0116
236 2566 or francafreeman@hotmail.com or Marion Vincent 0116
2303405 or vincent.bangogh48@virgin .net
Visiting children sing
A CHILDREN'S choir from Chernobyl performed
in a concert at Mountsorrel Baptist Church in July.
Pic: The Chernobyl Children's Choir
performing in Mountsorrel
The group of 15 children from the Chernobyl area of Belarus sang
in English as well as their own language.
Earlier in the day the children had visited Gartree prison near
Market Harborough where they also gave a concert.
Each year a group of children come to Leicestershire for a four
week stay, organised by the 'Chernobyl Children Care' charity,
and the concert in Mountsorrel raised £186 for their funds..
Library open in October
MOUNTSORREL'S NEW library will open to
the public on October 16.
The £700,000 project has seen the conversion of Church
House on the Green into a two storey building that will replace
the existing library in Market Place.
The library will occupy the ground floor of the new building
with a learning suite and exhibition area or community space
on the extended first floor, accessed by a lift or stairs.
This space will be available for hire and planned uses include
displays of work by local art groups and a local history centre.
Birstall artist Norman Sims has produced a design of the Buttermarket
that will be etched into a large window pane overlooking the
Green.
An official opening event is expected to take place in early
December and Lynne Brown MP, Chairman of the House of Commons
Committee on Libraries, has been invited. A village fun day is
also planned.
Head of Leicestershire Libraries Margaret Bellamy said: "It
will be much more than a library and I am delighted with this
very exciting new facility in the village which has only come
about because of the contributions of a range of partners.
Capital funding for the new library has been provided by Leicestershire
County Council, Charnwood Borough Council and Mountsorrel Parish
Council.
Alec Gibson remembered
ALEC GIBSON, the man who owned the last
of Mountsorrel's bakeries, has died aged 86.
Pic: Alec Gibson
Alec came to the village from Northampton with his parents when
they bought the Loughborough Road bakery from the Braybrooke
family. He continued in business after his parents died until
the late 1970s when it became impossible for a one man operation
to succeed in the trade.
In its heyday it was a busy business, baking and delivering to
homes on a daily basis in five local villages. Alec would also
cook Christmas dinners for local families in his coal fired ovens.
Alec married a local lady, Gladys Seaton, and after her death
he met up again with Kay, whom he had previously known: they
were married 12 years ago at St Peter's Church.
Alec's funeral was at St Peter's, where he was a verger and a
cross bearer, and more than 60 family, villagers and friends
attended to celebrate his life.
GCR 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
New village policeman
MOUNTSORREL HAS a new beat officer, PC
Paul Bird, replacing PC Del Gillespie who has moved on to a new
post in Leicester.
Pic: Mountsorrel's new PBO Paul
Bird, 1326
Paul has been a police officer for eight years and Mountsorrel
is his first beat. "I'll be trying to carry on where Del
left off and build bridges with our policing partners" he
said.
He added: "Mountsorrel is not as bad as some people make
out, it has its problems with young people and I'm quickly becoming
familiar with them and addressing some of them."
Paul will work alongside Mountsorrel's existing Police Community
Support Officer, Sally Penny
To leave a voicemail for PC Paul Bird, dial 222 2222, ID number
1326.
Parish Council notes
A FULL meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council
was held on June 11.
A resident expressed his concern at damage to his property and
possible future injury to himself and children from baseballs
being knocked into his property from the Memorial Playing Fields.
Chairman Brian Allard said he was concerned by the health and
safety issues. The council agreed to suspend all practice and
games until further notice.
Cllr Allard commented on the overall concern regarding the current
policing situation in Mountsorrel including poor response times
and manpower moving to Syston as an operational base. Inspector
Cathy Yallop said she was not aware of any current problems or
concerns within the village. Cllr Allard reported on recent vandalism
to bus shelters during March when there was no response at all
by the Police.
Inspector Yallop reported that PC Del Gillespie, Mountsorrel's
Beat Officer, would be moving on to a child protection unit with
a view to going in to the CID in the near future. He will be
replaced by an officer currently working in Melton Mowbray.
Cllr Steve Haywood commented that there were large numbers of
youths hanging around the village late at night and felt this
was intimidating for elderly people. Cllr Lemon reported that
young people had intimidated the caretaker on the playing fields.
Inspector Yallop stated there was no displacement order in place.
The council was given a presentation by Paul Lillie of the Pillings
Lock marina development, off the Barrow Road. It will involve
the construction of a marina.
The council agreed to the co-option of Mr N Asher to the Parish
Council.
The council agreed to send a letter of thanks to Lafarge for
the donation of materials for ramps on the Halstead Road BHX
track.
A full meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council was held on July
9.
PC Del Gillespie introduced his replacement, PC Paul Bird 1326.
The council thanked PC Gillespie for all his work for the village.
PC Gillespie reported that the crime figures were dominated by
criminal damage, especially theft of and damage to motor vehicles.
He said he could find no record of a byelaw preventing parking
on the Green, but if there is one, the Police and the new parking
attendants could enforce it. With regard to parking, he said
the Police could now only deal with wilful obstruction and that
all other parking issues were the responsibility of the parking
attendants/street wardens.
He said residents on the Green had been issued with a leaflet
from the Police requesting they do not park on the grass.
PC Gillespie said Mountsorrel's PCSO Sally Penney worked on a
rotating shift basis. Early shift is 7.30am to 3.45pm and late
shift is 2pm - 10pm.
Cllr Steve Haywood reported that a meeting in June of the Youth
Forum had been well attended and it was decided to organise a
youth event on August 11 on Halstead Road playing field.
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Local art on show
MOUNTSORREL PAINTING group staged their
second exhibition in the village in August.
There are 10 members in the group and more than 100 pictures
were on display.
Pic: (l-r) Margaret Manship, Pat Morris (seated),
Guy Martin and Margaret Woodford
Weather report
JULY WAS the wettest in Leicestershire
since 1932 and therefore continued the frequent downpours that
began in May.
155mm or over six inches of rain fell in Mountsorrel which is
three times the usual total with Barrow upon Soar catching 130mm.
Since May a staggering 400mm or 16 inches of rain have fallen
in the three month period, this amount of rainfall should have
fallen in seven months. It has been the wettest May-July period
ever recorded since records began in 1786. Over 580mm or 23 inches
have fallen so far this year and I would expect that total by
October and we look to be heading now for one of the wettest
years on record. July was also cooler than average, the first
such month since March 2006 and this illustrates how warm it
has been in the last 12 months. Afternoon temperatures averaged
19.6c, 1.6c below the norm. Night time temperatures of 12c were
close to normal. It was also a duller month than usual with
164 hours of sunshine being recorded about 7% below normal. The
jet stream during the last three months has been much further
south than its usual summer position and this has been responsible
for the amount of rain and cooler temperatures than normal.
Our main river the Soar was regularly in flood to very severe
levels too, which is very unusual for the summer and this caused
traffic problems on many local roads. Our top temperature of
23c was the lowest I have had in July in my 10 years of records
and to compare last July saw the 26c mark crossed on 17 occasions
bringing us the warmest July every recorded but this one was
the coolest nationally since 1993. Sunshine totals were very
poor until the last few days and there were four days where none
was recorded at all. The last three days of the month did see
a change in the weather as high pressure began to build in giving
us a warn and sunny last couple of days to the month with 14.5
hours of sun recorded on the last day of the month. So for the
third month running it was very wet and this July was also very
cool. Let's hope that August gives us a change in fortunes!
Outdoor service
MOUNTSORREL CHRISTIAN Council held the
annual open air service on The Green in July.
More than 100 people heard the guest speaker the Rev Mark Chandler,
minister of Rothley Baptist Church, give a talk entitled Lost
Property, and many stayed on for a picnic afterwards. The service
was led by Rev Kerry Emmett of the Mountsorrel Anglican Churches.
Churchwarden Peter Hodson said: "We thank the Parish Council
for permission to use the Green and the music group from Mountsorrel
Baptist Church."
The annual Ride and Stride fundraising event takes place on Saturday
September 8, and on that day at St Peter's Church, Mountsorrel
there will be a display, including old photos, by Mountsorrel
Heritage Group.
Christ Church, Mountsorrel is planning to have a Christmas Tree
Festival on Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2. Open 10am
to 7pm on both days, admission £1.
Club’s birthday party
THE MOUNTSORREL Housebound Club which is
an Age Concern, Leicestershire and Rutland Day Centre, held a
party to celebrate its 24th birthday.
Pic: two of the volunteers who
received
vouchers: Clive Rasin and Sue Wain
The group had invited previous volunteers to share a meal with
them. Elderly clients are referred to the Day Centre by Social
Services, and enjoy friendship, shared meal times, a varied programme
and current information. It also allows carers a respite break
knowing their loved one is being looked after.
During the party, the Day Centre gave gift vouchers to the current
volunteers as part of Volunteer's Week. Clients and staff know
how much these volunteers commit to the group. Further details
can be obtained from Pam Cooper, tel: 0116 2302078, pamann_143@hotmail.com
Crime report
This will be my last report as I am moving
on to pastures new and a new role in Leicester. PC Paul Bird
is my replacement.
Thanks to you all for assisting and supporting me during my time
in Mountsorrel.
Crime Report May 1-31
The past couple of months have seen a decrease in reported crime
in the village.
The Revive youth club is up and running and Deacon Jan Sutton
is doing a fantastic job that is having a real impact on the
village. Both PCSO Sally Penny and I receive positive comments
from the local youth and on the occasions that we have visited
the club it is well attended, by around 40 young people.
There were 51 reported crimes in May.
Burglary dwelling 4 (Marsh Rd, Windmill Close, Hawcliffe Rd and
Barons Way), burglary other than dwelling 2, assault and harassment
10 (a total of five suspects have been charged in relation to
these offences), theft 4, theft from motor vehicle 6, theft motor
vehicle 3 (two arrests made in relation to these offences), criminal
damage 9, damage to motor vehicle 4 (one person has received
a reprimand for damage caused to a vehicle on Leicester Road).
From PC Del Gillespie and PCSO Sally Penny 6030
There are 36 Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in Mountsorrel that
are making an impact on the crime figures for the village. Becoming
a street co-ordinator involves notifying those of your neighbours
who agree to join NHW about local crimes. To find out more about
the role call your area co-ordinator Maureen Rolland on 0116
2374773.
Railway book response
IN THE LAST issue we reported on a book
currently being researched about the Mountsorrel Railway.
Local resident Steve Cramp and national railway magazine editor
and GCR director Nigel Harris are recording the history of this
once-extensive private railway which linked the Great Central
Railway at Swithland Sidings to the granite quarries of Mountsorrel
and then on to the Midland Railway main line at Barrow Upon Soar.
We caught up with Steve to see how the project is progressing.
"We had a tremendous response to the articles published
in the Mountsorrel Post and the Rothley Post" says Steve.
So thank you very much to all who responded - in total we received
15 new leads from Mountsorrel and four from Rothley. We also
had several phone calls and emails of encouragement and support.
If you thought about giving us a call but never quite got round
to it then please do, there is still time! We want to be sure
that we have recorded everything we can. It would be very disappointing
to publish the book only for someone to then come forward with
extra information or pictures."
Steve went on to reveal some of the nuggets uncovered so far.
"Much new information has been unearthed. Stories of trains
getting stuck on the steep gradients…the mass of lines that
crossed Wood Lane at the entrance to Buddon Wood…stories
of accidents involving the railway, including, sadly, one fatality.
There's evidence of the part the railway played in local life
transporting local goods and supplies other than quarried stone.
There is lots more - but you will have to read the book to find
out the rest. We don't want to spoil the surprise or enjoyment!"
So, where will the project go from here? "I still have leads
to follow up and I am attempting to uncover more detail about
the Barrow Upon Soar end of the line. The main area were we are
really lacking is old photographs of the railway. So far we have
managed to obtain around 70 photos. Most of the shots we have
are of the railway in or around the quarry. It would be great
to have some shots of the line out to Swithland Sidings, Barrow
and the small branch that used to run to what is now the Buddon
Wood quarry.
Steve added: "This is where I am hoping that your readers
can help us again. Any old photos of the railway that may be
buried in a drawer or in the attic could make a big difference
to the thoroughness of this book. They say that a picture speaks
a thousand words and we would like to include as many of them
as possible."
Can you help Steve? If so he can be contacted on 0116 2301374
or by email at smcavalon@yahoo.co.uk
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Exhibition opens
WORK BY artists from across Charnwood is
being exhibited at a new gallery in Loughborough, curated by
Mountsorrel artist Antonia Winsor.
The 'Open Summer' exhibition runs until September 29, Mon-Sat
from 10am to 5pm at Galerie Resonance, 47 Church Gate, Loughborough.
Pic: Pictured at the opening event is artist
Joe Wright and his painting '1860 Bridge' and Antonia Winsor
beside 'Gethsemane'
Charity helps students
YOUNG PEOPLE seeking financial assistance
to help continue their education can apply to a village charity.
The Mountsorrel Educational Fund is administered by a Body of
Trustees, chaired by Mr Brian Allard who, at their absolute discretion,
can award grants to assist young people in pursuing their education.
Grants amounting to £65,464 were awarded by the trustees
in 2006 towards local school pupils, students and those in higher
education and training. At their next meeting in October the
trustees will be considering applications from those who are
planning to extend their education at college and university.
Applications can be made from persons under the age of 25, who
are pupils or former pupils of Christ Church and St Peter's Church
of England School, or who have been or whose parents have been
resident in the electoral parish of Mountsorrel for at least
12 calendar months.
The forms of application are as follows:
Application Form 1 - University/Higher Education
Application Form 2 - A Level/College Equivalent
Application Form 3 - Educational Visits (Primary to A Level)
Application Form 4 - Music Tuition (Primary onwards)
Application Form 5 - Other Applications
All of the above forms can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed
envelope detailing which Application Form is required, to the
Clerk to the Trustees, Mr P R Blakemore, Godkin & Co Ltd,
105 Derby Road, Loughborough LE11 5AE
The deadline for submission of completed application forms is
October 17, 2007.
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