Best gardens
THOUSANDS OF front gardens in the village
were assessed by the judges of the Mountsorrel Front Garden competition,
organised by the Parish Council.
Pic: Front Garden Competition winners
The competition has been held annually since 1977 and this year's
winners were presented with certificates and trophies by the
Chairman of the Parish Council, Mr Brian Allard, at an award
ceremony in October.
The 2007 winners were:
Large Garden - 1st Mr & Mrs Spiers, 23 Kenilworth Close;
2nd Mr & Mrs J Heemskerk, 29 Kingfisher Road; 3rd Mr &
Mrs N Lyons, 33 West Cross Lane
Small Garden - 1st Mrs K Kissane-Rogers, 1 Glenfrith Gardens;
2nd Mr & Mrs C Squire, 16 Rockhill Drive; 3rd Mr & Mrs
Wallace, 38 Churchill Road
Hanging Baskets - 1st Mr & Mrs C De Bretton Gordon, 149 Leicester
Road; 2nd Mr Munns, 3 Marsh Road
Business - 1st Stag and Pheasant, 109 Leicester Road; 2nd Mountsorrel
Hotel, 217 Loughborough Road; 3rd The Swan, 10 Loughborough Road
Village drug arrests
FOUR PEOPLE were arrested and a quantity
of drugs seized by police after drugs warrants were executed
at four addresses in Mountsorrel.
The warrants were executed under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
between Thursday September 6 and Friday October 12 at the Leicester
Road flats, a house on Boundary Road and two houses on John Wesley
Close.
Four people, two men and two women, were arrested in relation
to drugs offences including possession of Class A, B and C drugs
and possession with intent to supply. They were released on police
bail until December.
Quantities of what's believed to be Class A, B and C drugs were
seized as well as drugs paraphernalia from two of the properties.
They were searched as part of a campaign by police in Charnwood
to disrupt local drug dealing and bring dealers to justice.
The occupants of the flat on Leicester Road were also evicted
by Charnwood Borough Council's Housing Department.
Inspector Cathy Yallop, the Commander of Charnwood local policing
unit (LPU) said: "This was part of an ongoing operation
across the LPU to disrupt drug dealers and prevent opportunities
for other individuals to fall foul of drug misuse. Not only have
we seized drugs but we have also confiscated property under the
Proceeds of Crime Act including a new television and patio furniture.
"We know that local drug dealing blights the local community
and we are taking tough action against drug dealers but we cannot
do it alone. We need the help of local communities to tell us
where the problems are. Don't suffer in silence, if you know
where the dealers are operating - tell us."
She added: "We are planning further searches in the Charnwood
area and I would urge anyone who has any information on drug
dealing to get in touch."
Anyone with any information is asked to call Leicester (0116)
222 2222 or Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous on 0800
555 111.
Charity fair
A CHARITY fair in November at Mountsorrel
Memorial Hall featured stalls from 17 local groups.
Opened by Greg Duffin from Stonehurst Farm, the event was
organised by the Memorial Hall Management committee. For details
about hiring the hall contact acting Chairman Craig Smith on
2302025
Pic: Fundraising for the Take Care Nursery
School are
Karen Davis with Guides Jordan Coleman, Rosie Green,
Kate Smith, Katie Hill & Olivia Hughes
Pic: at the First Mountsorrel Brownies stall
are (l-r) Victoria Wright, Eve Alexander,
Michelle Newby, Laura Smith & Megan Booth
Youth club re-opens
THE REVIVE youth club re-opened at the
end of October.
Located in the Methodist Church on Church Hill Road, the club
was closed over the summer while volunteers received training
and some health and safety issues with the building were put
right.
There are now 15 volunteers and around 50 young people aged 13-17
attending on Tuesday nights from 7-8.30pm.
Funding has been obtained for an internet café and the
success of the youth club, started by Deacon Jan Sutton, has
been acknowledged by the local police who noted a reduction of
reported incidents on the nights the club is open.
Jan Sutton said: "It's good that we have got somewhere for
young people to go. They were telling me how they had missed
it over the summer."
For more details or if you would like to volunteer contact Jan
Sutton on 0116 2302538.
Village problems addressed
SCHOOLS, TRANSPORT, youth facilities and
the need for a new village hall were some of the issues raised
at an event designed to identify gaps in service provision in
Mountsorrel.
Pic: Mountsorrel's Service Co-ordination
event
The Service Co-ordinator Event in October was organised by Leicestershire
County Council and the Leicestershire Rural Partnership. It brought
together service providers and representatives from the local
community to identify issues and look at practical solutions.
Parish, Borough and County Council officers attended along with
Borough and Parish Councillors, representatives from the Police,
Rural Community Council, Voluntary Action Charnwood, church and
local business representatives, as well as several local community
groups such as the Parish Plan Group.
Actions agreed at the event include:
o arrange meeting to discuss design of new village hall and new
youth centre
o organise publicity of adult learning classes
o consideration of a new allotment site
o arrange meeting to discuss contribution from Lafarge for displays
in the new library, renovations to the front of the Methodist
church, and the new village hall
Issues raised at the event included:
o the village needs a new school, extra medical facilities and
a youth centre to meet the needs of an increasing population
o bus services to Barrow, Sileby and Cossington
o Linkfield Road development creating road safety problems
o Quorn car boot parking problems
o standard of cycle paths
The actions agreed at the event will be followed up by the County
Council's Rural Services Co-ordinator after three months, with
a second follow up after six months.
A summary of the event can be seen at www.oakleaves.co.uk
Granite story
OUR PICTURE shows local historian Noel
Wakeling at a slide presentation and talk that he gave at the
Methodist Church Hall in October.
Noel spoke about the Mountsorrel granite and the history of the
quarry to an audience of around 40 people. Geoff and Sue Wainwright
provided refreshments and the proceeds went to the Mountsorrel
Heritage Group.
Designer’s toy book
A NEEDLECRAFT designer from Mountsorrel
is celebrating the publication of her first book.
Pic: Zoe Halstead with her book
Zoe Halstead's 'Knitting and Felted Toys' contains 26 hand knitting
patterns for toys and was published in September by New Holland
Publishers (UK) Ltd. It is available worldwide and has been translated
into several languages.
A Textile Design graduate, for the last nine years Zoe (38) has
worked for a company designing needlecraft kits and done freelance
design work for several needlecraft publications. She said: "I
have always been an avid handknitter and it's really good to
see my projects published. I'm thrilled with the book."
Zoe's book is aimed at beginners through to experienced knitters
and contains patterns for toys such as pirates, cowboys, builders,
elephants, dogs and many more. She is currently working on her
second book of clothes and accessories for children.
Dee’s story so far
MOUNTSORREL ENTERTAINER Dee Quemby has
published a book.
Pic: Dee Quemby at a book signing
in Loughborough
'I'm ready for my close up - anybody!' is the story so far of
a stand up comic, actress, panto dame, after dinner speaker,
children's entertainer, clown, radio presenter, compere, tap
dancer, Joan Collins look-a-like, Maggie Thatcher impersonator,
Punch and Judy professor, script writer, stage dance teacher,
ladies night and 40s night promoter and honorary drag queen.
New library open
MOUNTSORREL’S NEW £700,000 library
opened its doors to the public on October 16.
More than 500 people visited the new two storey buildings
in the converted Church House on the Green on its first day.
"They enjoyed looking around the premises and the community
facilities it has to offer. Many of them commented positively
on the layout, the stock and the general structure of the building"
said Library Development worker Bharti Acharya.
The library's window facing the Green is decorated with an engraving
of the Buttermarket by artist Norman Sims,. President of Birstall
and District Art Society.
To celebrate the opening, the library will be hosting a Community
Fun Day on Saturday December 1 from 10am to 4pm. Bharti said:
"All residents are welcome to this fun packed day. There
will be Wriggly Readers, Meeting the Bookstart Bear, face painting,
crafts, a magic show and ICT workshops. Refreshments will also
be available."
The new library facilities include:
o A bright new environment, with improved facilities for disabled
people and children
o New books including all the latest bestsellers
o Free use of email, broadband internet and other software
o DVD collection
o Photocopying and fax facilities
o Regular events including one to one introductory internet training
sessions
The new community facilities include:
o Computer room
o Exhibition/meeting room or classroom with kitchenette
o Disabled access via wheelchair lift
Leicestershire Adult Learning Service will be running a programme
of classes starting at the end of October.
Opening Times of the New Library
Monday Closed all day; Tuesday 10am-12noon, 2-5pm; Wednesday
Closed all day; Thursday 2-5pm; Friday 10am-12noon, 3-7pm; Saturday
9.30am-1pm, 2-5pm
Parish Council notes
A FULL meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council
was held on September 10.
New councillor Mrs E Watson was welcomed to the meeting.
A resident commented that the village website and the Certificate
of Commendation Award Board needed updating.
Councillors commented that Mountsorrel's Beat Officer Paul Bird
was not seen in the village, and that it was difficult contacting
him. It was agreed to contact Inspector Cathy Yallop about these
concerns.
Councillor Leigh Harper-Davies expressed concern about antisocial
behaviour in the village, which she described as diabolical and
dangerous. She stressed the importance of reporting incidents
to the Police.
Chairman Brian Allard commented that the new library and learning
centre was a credit to the village.
Councillors discussed the problem of youths throwing missiles
at the Leicester Road flats and it was agreed to set up a working
party to consider this issue and possible solutions including
the installation of netting/fencing.
It was agreed that a working party consider the introduction
of CCTV in the village.
A full meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council was held on October
8.
PC Paul Bird presented the September crime report. It was reported
that the young persons' residential home on Halstead Road is
privately owned by EduCare.
A full meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council was held on November
12.
Cllr Harper-Davies reported that Charnwood Borough Council intend
to conduct air quality testing in the village.
A new 'Mountsorrel' village sign will be installed on Walton
Way and the sign near Linkfield Road on Leicester Road is to
be moved to a location between Kiln Garth and Linkfield Road,
to indicate more accurately the parish boundary.
It was reported that the CCTV working party had looked at the
different systems available. PC Paul Bird and Charnwood's Community
Safety Officer David Burge have done a survey of the village
to identify camera locations. Five cameras would cost in the
region of £20,000. The cameras work wirelessly and transmit
a signal over the internet to Charnwood's monitoring station.
Suggested camera locations include the top of Hawthorn Road and
the Leicester Road flats. A fully costed scheme is expected shortly.
Cllr Lemon reported that plans, drawings and a model of the new
Mountsorrel Memorial Hall and youth centre will be available
for public inspection at the new Mountsorrel library on Friday
December 7. The project will cost an estimated £3million.
It was reported that a meeting of parish councillors with residents
of the Leicester Road flats had been well attended. Cllr Harper
Davies reported that it may be possible using tenancy agreements
to refuse housing to certain individuals. Cllr Lemon suggested
that the best solution would be for the flats to be demolished
and rebuilt in partnership with a housing association. Some frustration
was expressed at Charnwood's inability to take effective action.
It was agreed to donate £300 to the Royal British Legion.
The council agreed to buy two composting bins for Mountsorrel
school.
It was agreed to request a greater frequency of buses on the
Walton Way estate, improved efficiency of the 127 service and
that the Startrak service be made operational at bus stops.
The council agreed that it needed to know the hourly rate of
the dog warden before it could consider whether to continue paying
for the service.
Coffee morning
GEOFF AND Sue Wainwright helped the Macmillan
Nurses Cancer Support charity stage their 'World's Biggest Coffee
Morning' event by opening their Field Crest home.
Pic: Geoff and Sue Wainwright serving
their first customer
of the day Mrs Babs Baker
The couple served tea, coffee and biscuits and raised £162
for the charity.
Remembrance parade
OUR PICTURES show the Mountsorrel Remembrance
Day parade from the Green to St Peter's Church, where a service
of Remembrance was held.
Pic: Royal British Legion Standard Bearers
Pic: The Charnwood Brass Band
Pic: Chairman of Mountsorrel Parish Council
Brian Allard, Lady Martin, the Chairman of
Leicestershire County Council Mike Jones with
his wife Marj
Crime report
Crime Report : Mountsorrel, September 2007
Burglary other than dwelling 1, assaults 12 (five in a residential
home for young people, five of a domestic nature), criminal damage
3 (youths caught vandalising sports pavilion), damage to motor
vehicle 5, theft of motor vehicle 1, theft 3, drugs 2.
Beat Officer PC Paul Bird 1326 Voicemail 222 2222
PCSO Sally Penney 6030
To contact your beat officer by email : paul.bird@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
African holiday forges school links
MEETING A local schoolteacher while on
holiday in the Gambia has changed the lives of a Mountsorrel
couple.
Pic: Ant & Karen Davis with Ndey &
Hjie at the Take
Care Nursery School
And now they are helping to transform the lives of children
in a Gambian village by supporting the nursery school started
by the teacher they met, Mr Bakary Kujabi.
Anthony and Karen Davis of Edinburgh Way decided to holiday off
the beaten track in the Gambia last November, staying in small
lodges rather than the big hotels on the coast.
Friends told them to take pens, pencils, paper and rulers to
donate to a local school. Karen said: "We asked the owner
of the lodge where we were staying where we could go and had
a fantastic day at a village school, where they were very appreciative."
The next day, back at the lodge, one of the teachers they had
met came to visit them. "It was Bakary" says Karen
"and he explained how he had started a nursery school in
his home village in 2004 and was trying to get sponsorship and
support. We took to him and decided to help him - it felt like
the right thing to do."
Map shows location of the Gambia
Education in the Gambia is not compulsory until the age of eight
and Bakary's Take Care Nursery School provided an education for
younger children. When he met Ant and Karen there were three
teachers and 145 pupils.
Karen said: "The school is entirely dependent on donations
and more often that not there is no money to pay the teachers'
salaries and they continue to work for no payment as they passionately
believe that education is the way forward for these children."
The school's motto is: 'The greatest way to fight the way out
of poverty is to provide education.'
In the last year the couple have raised £13,000 for the
school with fundraising events and by forging links with Longslade
College, Roundhill College, the Leicester Orphean Youth Orchestra
and Mountsorrel Guides. A sponsored headshave by Ant, his first
shave in 34 years, raised £1000.
Also in the last 12 months:
o a new latrine has been built
o repairs to the existing three classrooms have been completed
o a kitchen block has been built
o a micro loan system has been set up within the community with
12 beneficiaries so far
o a new well has been dug providing clean water to the school
and the community
o outdoor play equipment installed
o work has started on a new classroom as the school roll has
risen from 145 to 196.
In 2008, plans include starting a school feeding programme as
the children often come to school hungry, paying Bakary a salary
as he currently receives no payment, and helping fund staff training
and the salaries of the teachers. A community garden fed with
water by a solar powered pump is also planned.
Ant and Karen are planning a return visit to the school, which
is the village of Farato - Sotokoi - Darn, later this year, and
in early 2008 hope to accompany a container of goods they intend
to ship over at a cost of £3000.
Karen said: "It has been an exciting and rewarding experience
for us and the feedback we get from the village, the staff and
the children is humbling. The school is making a significant
impact and is raising hopes and expectations.
"Last year the sign pointing to the school from the road
was a grotty little thing - now it's a very smart sign with the
school's email address. It's a sign that says look at us, we're
going somewhere, hopeful about the future."
Pic: teacher Bakary Kujabi
In September, Bakary (43) visited Ant and Karen for two weeks,
his first trip out of his country. He said: "My visit to
the UK was the most wonderful experience in my life. The visit
was educative, promotive, interesting, an eyeopener and above
all a very important step towards the progress of Take Care Nursery
School.
"When I arrived at Mountsorrel I found the place to be so
beautiful, tidy and quiet. Quiet in the sense that I did not
hear people speaking loud, there was no noise of children playing
and no loud sound of music as in my country."
During his stay Bakary visited London, Stonehenge, Cheddar Gorge
and the GCR as well as meeting supporters, visiting schools and
nurseries and being interviewed on BBC Radio Leicester.
He said: "It was a trip I shall never forget to my last
breath. It has given me the idea that the world is not exactly
as I thought it to be."
Find our more at www.takecarenursery.co.uk or by phoning Ant
and Karen on 0116 2301385, email: chuck@takecarenursery.co.uk
The website details all the ways you can support the school,
which is now a registered charity (1120479)
Planning
58 Hawcliffe Road - erection of single storey extension to
side and dormer extension to rear of dwelling
37 Glebe Close - erection of two storey extension to the side
& rear and single storey extensions to front & rear of
dwelling
6 Linkfield Road - erection of shed/summerhouse to rear of dwelling
253 Leicester Road - erection of single storey extenssion to
rear of dwelling
8 Back Lane - erection of dwelling and garage block
2 Plough Close - erection of a two storey extension to side of
dwelling
130 Rothley Road - erection of conservatory to rear of dwelling
Corner of Danvers Road and Marsh Road, 1 Danvers Road - site
for the erection of a two storey dwelling
Mountsorrel Church of England Primary School, 8 Rothley Road
- erection of 2 classroom extension and additional car parking
area
163 Loughborough Road - erection of 2.5 storey rear extension,
including accommodation in roof and detached garage
24 & 26 Halstead Road - erection of 9 dwellings and associated
works
202 Loughborough Road - erection of 2 dwellings following demolition
of dwelling
Land to rear of 202 Loughborough Road - erection of a dormer
bungalow
Christ Church, Rothley Road - single storey extension to church
2A Hawcliffe Road - conversion & side extensions of building
materials store to form a single dwelling
34A Market Place - demolition of garages
34A Market Place - erection of 2 dwellings following demolition
of garages
48 Loughborough Road - change of use from residential to retail
(Class A1) and residential, to include installation of shop front,
alterations to rear including roof extensions and pitched roof
to garage
18 Grange Lane - erection of single storey extension to side
of detached dwelling
Mountsorrel Library, The Green - display of illuminated sign
33 Castle Road - erection of two storey extension to side of
dwelling and cover over rear yard
6 Swallow Close - erection of brick wall to front of dwelling
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