Birstall Post (345) Apr 2012

the Birstall post Y O U R

C O M M U N I T Y

APRIL 2012

N E W S P A P E R

www.birstallpost.co.uk

Traveller site concerns HUNDREDS OF people attended a public meeting to voice their concerns about City Council plans for travellers’ sites.

The City has proposed three sites: on Greengate Lane, Red Hill Way and Beaumont Way. A meeting at Birstall Parish Council on March 12 was attended by 90 people and around 300 attended a meeting two days later at Birstall Social Club, where representatives from the City Council, the Police, and the travelling community took questions. Birstall’s County Councillor Roger Wilson organised the meeting. He said he was concerned that the Greengate Lane site would increase traffic problems and constitute development in a designated Green Wedge.

Several questions were put from the floor at the meeting which often became heated when those attending felt their questions weren’t being answered and their concerns ignored.

Questions included : where are the other 350 sites the City say they have considered, why isn’t the consultation period extended to six months to give more people more of a say, how can the City build in the Green wedge, how can the City prevent the sites expanding,

Pic: the meeting at Birstall Social Club

where will the children be educated and why can’t the City prevent unauthorised camps by building physical barriers.

Leicester City Council’s Andrew Smith, the Director of Planning, Transportation and Economic Development attended the meeting along with Matt Bagley from the Multi Agency Travellers’ Unit.

Mr Smith said the City Council had considered all Council owned land in the city, a total of 350 sites. These were considered against a list of criteria including good access to facilities including a local centre and primary school. He said that 70 per cent of the Continued on page 2

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Continued from page 1 90 unauthorised camps in the period 2009-11 had been in the north west of the city and that government guidance was that permanent sites be located in these areas.

Comment was made that providing an authorised site where travellers were camping illegally was simply rewarding unlawful behaviour.

When asked where exactly the 350 other sites were Mr Smith said the Council was considering publishing the information on its website. This has not been published at the time of going to press.

Mr Smith said the consultation period had already been extended until April 13 and was long enough. He said that Mayor Peter Soulsby and his team would make a decision on the sites. If one, two or all three sites are recommended, each site would then have a formal planning application submitted which would go through the statutory public consultation period and be determined by a planning committee.

A City Council spokesman has told the Birstall Post that objections received from Birstall residents to any of the sites, both within the current consultation process and any future planning application process, will be given the same weight as objections from City residents.

Mr Smith said the Greengate Lane and Red Hill Way sites were within the Green Wedge. He said that the proposed sites were well screened, adjacent to existing dwellings and “would not adversely impact the Green Wedge.”

He said that local roads would accommodate the 3000 dwellings planned for the nearby Ashton Green development, that traffic calming measures were planned for Greengate Lane, and that a 10 pitch traveller site would make an insignificant impact on traffic in this context.

Mr Smith said that the City Council

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had a statutory duty to educate traveller children and that the users of the Greengate Lane site would have access to the facilities planned for Ashton Green.

When asked about physical barriers to prevent unauthorised camps. Mr Smith said Northampton had tried this and it had made a mess of the environment and had not worked. The City Council did not consider it a solution, he said.

Comment was made at the meeting that the proposed sites would affect the value of nearby properties and future homes at Ashton Green, and prejudice the efforts the City Council are making to find a developer for Ashton Green.

It was suggested that authorised sites would simply attract more travellers who would park nearby and increase the problem of unauthorised camps.

Matt Bagley said that within Leicestershire there was no evidence that this was a problem near existing sites.

County Councillor Roger Wilson urged all residents to participate in the consultation process by returning the questionnaire to the City Council by April 13.

Speaking after the meeting he said: “It was an emotive meeting. We are a village community and we have tried to preserve that community and along come the city opening up a crack in the Green Wedge between Leicester and

Birstall, trying to swallow us up.

“I think this consultation might succeed as far as Greengate Lane is concerned. They may have a case for Red Hill Way but Greengate Lane is too optimistic, they may well settle for two sites. But enough people have to take part in the consultation.”

Birstall Parish Council has organised a petition objecting to the proposals. It says the Greengate Lane site is too close to a residential area, is in an area of agreed Green Wedge and is on a difficult road with traffic problems. The Parish Council is also concerned about the lack of any will at the City Council to enforce basic standards of behaviour and maintenance on sites.

• The City Council’s proposals are for a ten pitch site at Greengate Lane, ten at Red Hill Way and a six pitch site on Beaumont Way, behind Beaumont Leys Police Station. The City Council says the sites are needed to tackle the problem of unauthorised camps and because of the statutory duty to provide traveller sites. £1.5million of government money has been provided for the sites.

For details of the consultation and a copy of the questionnaire go to www.leicester.gov.uk/gypsyandtravellersit es. Copies are also available from Birstall Parish Council office in the Village Hall.

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JUST HOURS before this issue of The Birstall Post went to press, the City Council announced it would be widening the search for potential traveller sites and extending the consultation period until July 13.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby has asked the council’s economic development, culture and tourism scrutiny commission to look at the proposals. He has also asked for details of officers’ earlier investigations to be published on the council’s website so that city and county residents can see the full extent of the work done so far.

Peter Soulsby said: “Having listened to the concerns raised, and taken account of the comments our consultation has generated, before taking any decisions I want people to be assured that we have explored every possible opportunity in finding suitable sites.

“Although our aim was to have these much-needed sites in place as soon as possible, the funding will still be available to us if we extend our search and consultation to ensure we have been as thorough as we possibly can.

“The scrutiny commission has already asked for details of all of the areas identified. I have now asked them to carry out a thorough review of them all, with a view to establishing whether there are alternatives available to the ones the officers have identified for consultation.”

The council will be publishing on its website details of the 350 areas it identified at the start of its search. All are on council-owned land.

It will also publish questions and answers that have been frequently asked during the consultation and responses to freedom of information requests about the potential sites.

Peter Soulsby said: “We’ve had many requests for information, so I’ve asked officers to publish everything in one place on the website.

This will take a little time to assemble, but we will publish it as soon as we can.”

The consultation period has now been extended to Friday July 13, 2012.

More information will be published on the council’s website at www.leicester.gov.uk in the coming weeks.

A source told the Birstall Post: “I’m sure this latest development is a result of the pressure put on the City by local residents and all the Freedom of Information requests for details of the 350 sites. But what has really changed, if the City says it had considered all 350 sites previously? If that’s the case, the three original proposed sites will again be identified as the most suitable at the end of this new process.”

THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

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GCR’s new café at gleaming Greenacres THE GREENACRES complex at Birstall’s Leicester North Station has been taken on by the Great Central Railway.

The GCR are leasing the £1.7million community centre from Leicester City Coun-

Singing solo at concert A TEN year old from Birstall will be singing solo at a charity concert in Birmingham.

Alyshia Dhakk, a pupil at Highcliffe school, successfully auditioned for the Voice in a Million concert at the LG Arena later this month.

Pics: (top) the new café and an exterior view of the building

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“I feel quite confident but also nervous at the same time!” said Alyshia. “What I love about singing is how it makes me feel inside, and the effect that it seems to have on people listening. I just love singing.”

Voice in a Million stage concerts to raise awareness of the plight of Pic: Alyshiaworldwide Dhakk children that are orphaned, abandoned or separated from their birth parents and in need of a loving family. Their concerts feature a mass choir of young people.

Alyshia has performed in the Curve theatre’s ‘King and I’ and is a member of the Leicester Junior Choir as well as being a student of ballet, tap and contemporary dance.

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The copy deadline is Apr 20.

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cil and will be providing a café and a training centre from the site’s two buildings.

The building has stood empty singe the organisation that ran it, Chaos Enterprises, went into administration in 2008.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Great Central Railway’s proposals for this site presented a wonderful opportunity to breathe new life into Greenacres. It’s a great facility, with huge potential and has stood empty for too long.

“We’ve worked closely with the railway to agree a way forward that will support its future aspirations and still deliver the training opportunities and community involvement that was always intended for the site. It also offers huge potential for future development of tourism in the area, which already has fantastic attractions in the National Space Centre and Abbey Pumping Station. This is a happy ending for the Greenacres saga and an exciting start for Great Central Railway’s plans for Leicester North.”

Bill Ford, managing director of Great Central Railway, said: “This is one of the most exciting opportunities for the railway in decades. The site will become crucial to the ongoing success of the railway for many reasons. We aim to create a vibrant tourism, training and employment centre and we want this to demonstrate our commitment to the city council as a major shareholder, and to the wider local community. This is a really big opportunity for the railway and the city to work together. We’re grateful to Leicester City Council for responding so positively to our proposals and we look forward to a healthy partnership.”

The Greenacres site is located just of The Sidings, approximately 100 metres along the access road to Great Central Railway’s Leicester North Station.

Along with the opening of the new restaurant café, the railway is also developing plans to use the site’s second building to extend its training programme, in partnership with Leicester College and Apex Works. The new restaurant, which will have seating for around 50 people, will open to the public on April 1 as part of the railway’s 1960s-themed gala weekend.

Kate Tilley, GCR marketing manager added: “This site will be the key to developing Leicester North as a visitor attraction and encouraging passengers to either break their journey here or using it as a destination to start their Great Central experience from. This will allow us to build stronger ties with the other fantastic attractions in the city.”

• The GCR’s two day Spring Festival is a free event that will be held at Greenacres on April 11/12. The café will be open, there will be a treasure hunt, book bus, free face painting, nail art and experts on hand offering ‘back to work’ advice.

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Carl Gunns’ gym celebrates 10th birthday CARL GUNNS celebrated the 10th birthday of his boxing gym by hosting an anniversary party at Birstall Social Club.

The award winning Birstall Road gym has been used 53,000 times in that time, says Carl, who records every name in a visitor’s book.

“The gym’s future is looking good now and I hope I can see another 10 years at the gym” said Carl. “It was a wonderful 10 year celebration, I’ve never seen so many people at one of my dos” Lisa Harrison, Sarah Rigley and Kelly Darlaston helped to organise the party – their children attend the gym. Lisa said: “The gym is a real home from home for the kids and Carl makes them all feel welcome. Carl is a very good bloke, he’s lively and comical but strict with the kids when he needs to be.”

Trainer Dean Spencer has been with Carl at the gym from day one. He said: “I love it, I always get a buzz out of it. We have a bronze, silver and gold awards scheme and that really works, the kids are very motivated.

“I have seen quieter kids and watched them really get into training, opening up a bit and getting confidence which is great to see. I love getting started with those that don’t have a clue and seeing them develop – all they need is to show willing.”

He added: “Carl is always full of enthusiasm and I hope he’s here for another 10 years.”

Pic: Carl Gunns with trainer Dean Spencer, boxer Omar Kalik and some of the party guests.

Parish Council notes A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on March 12.

Around 90 members of the public attended to voice their concerns about the City Council’s plans for traveller sites. Questions raised included why all the proposed sites were clustered near

Birstall and not spread around the city, how would rent be collected, how would Greengate Lane cope with extra traffic, why is bad behaviour being rewarded with the provision of a legal site on land occupied illegally, and how can the City build in the ‘green wedge’.

There were no representatives from the City Council present to answer

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questions as a public meeting in Beaumont Leys had been organised at the same time.

Borough Councillor David Gaskell reported that rules laid down by central government dictated that each local authority area must provide sites for travellers, that Charnwood was carefully examining the issue and that proposals for sites within the Borough would be announced in due course.

The Parish Council will be submitting a detailed objection to the proposals and is urging all residents to fill in the consultation questionnaire provided by the City Council which is available online or from the parish Council office. The deadline is Friday July 13.

PC Richard Caruthers reported that two men had been arrested in the village for burglary and that the number of burglaries had fallen steeply over the last month.

It was reported that HGVs were continuing to use Greengate Lane.

It was reported that the new roadside cameras on Birstall Road and Greengate Lane are number plate recognition cameras used by the Police.

It was suggested by Cllr Julian Howe

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that the Council consider budgeting £6000 to integrate Hallam Fields into the community and organise a public meeting with representatives from the Parish, Borough and County Councils to explain how the £4,200,000 of Section 106 money associated with the development has been used.

The council adopted a policy for dealing with the press and media.

In February the Parish Council resolved to apply for listed building status for the War Memorial. Efforts to determine ownership of the memorial continue. There are no records to show the Parish Council has any responsibility, the Royal British Legion have stated they do not own it, the Diocese of Leicester say that responsibility for the entire churchyard has passed to the Borough Council. The clerk is awaiting a response from Charnwood.

It was agreed that the Parish Council remove some branches of adjacent fir trees to improve visilbility of the memorial. Re-pointing around the steps and base has been done at a cost of £220.

It was agreed to ask that Charnwood pay for the re-gilding of the lettering on the memorial and that if this is refused, the Parish Council carry out the work.

It was agreed to install a Golden Jubilee commemorative bench, two large cast iron black planters, four removable bollards and four static bollards on the frontage of the Village Hall at a cost of £2581. The measures are intended to resolve the problem of vehicles parking on the pavement near the Parish Office.

It was reported that the Hearing Loop has now been installed in the Village Hall.

The date of the next meeting is Monday April 16, 7pm at the Village Hall.

THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

5

Burlesque girl’s bid for title A BATH in a giant champagne glass features in the performance of a Birstall burlesque artist who will be competing in this year’s World Burlesque Games.

Emmanuelle Claire (21), belly dancer and burlesque performer, will be competing for the title of Best Newcomer against competitors from all over the world at the games, staged in London this May.

She said: “I love burlesque costuming and creating weird and wonderful glamorous gowns dripping in crystals, but performing is the most enjoyable part and meeting some amazing characters and performers backstage. It’s a buzzy atmosphere and we always have such a laugh!”

Emmanuelle left Longslade College aged 16 and became a historic racing car engineer apprentice, travelling to race tracks across Europe.

“But performing dance has always been my primary love” says Emmanuelle. “I have been a belly dancer performer since I was 17 and I started performing burlesque striptease and fan dance at the beginning of 2011.

“I have a variety of different burlesque acts that I perform from classic striptease out of amazing ballgowns and extreme tightlace

corsets finishing with a bath in a giant five foot champagne glass.

“I also perform Sally Rand giant fan dances, as a 50s inspired belly dancing Arabian princess and as a mermaid in a giant sea shell!”

Over the next few years Emmanuelle hopes to travel more performing at European events and to host her own burlesque shows.

She said: “Burlesque is fabulous because it is such a varied performance art and accepts everyone for whatever size or shape they may be.

“To be a good performer you need to firstly be in love with burlesque! You have to be creative, have good movement and awareness of your body and look comfortable and confident on stage.

“The least enjoyable part? Stumbling in high heels dragging two heavy suitcases while running to catch a train to a show!”

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The copy deadline is Apr 20.

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Birstall’s youth café extended THE EXTENSION to Birstall Parish Council’s Youth Café was officially opened in February.

Located in the pavilion on the School Lane playing field, the extension contains a pool table and table tennis table and a small staff room.

The Youth Café is run by Parish Council employed youth workers and volunteers and supports dozens of young people both as a drop in centre for socialising and a base for organ-

ised activities including sports and crafts.

It is open on Friday and Wednesday evenings and has just received a grant of £5400 from Charnwood Borough Council from its Positive Activities for Young People fund.

Pic: Guests at the official opening of the Birstall Youth Café extension

Spring comedy HATS SPRING production is a comedy with music called ‘Free and Easy’ written by Bill Cronshaw.

Do you remember the sounds of the 60s – ‘These Boots Were Made For Walking’, ‘Downtown’ and many more? If so, come and re-live these sounds and follow the possible demise of the ‘Last Drop’ public house, famous for its Free &

Easy nights, now subject to the devious plans of Dodgy Ron. Will they survive to entertain their regulars again or fall prey to his evil plans to close the pub and turn it into an entertainment centre? Full of fabulous 60s songs and not forgetting

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Tickets are £6 (£5 concessions) and can be obtained in advance by phoning the box office on 0116 2671181 or writing to 14 Fielding Road, Birstall, Leicester LE4 3AJ or email: hatsbirstall1@hotmail.co.uk From Highcliffe Amateur Theatrical Society

Pic: Some of the cast rehearsing a scene

Bargain clothes A NEW Birstall shop promises to be a treasure trove of fabulous clothes.

Helen Meek’s new shop, New 2 You, at 77 Sibson Road is a clothes agency, selling new and gently worn designer and top-end high street labels at bargain prices.

Helen said: “Most people have clothes and accessories they impulse bought, worn once they sit in your wardrobe never to see the light of day again.

“But there is someone out there who would wear that outfit and with the money you get for selling it you can treat yourself to something new – hopefully from my shop! A clothes agency is a fantastic way to recycle clothes and accessories you no longer use.”

New 2 You, next to Supacare Dry Cleaners, will also stock children’s clothes, shoes, toys and books. The shop opened on March 30. For more details contact Helen 2675408.

THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Epic charity hike A UNIVERSITY student from Birstall is looking for sponsors for a charity climb up Mount Atlas in Morocco.

Pic: Olivia Hay Olivia Hay (18) of Kilby Avenue, is a first year chemistry student at Leicester University. She said: “Some of you may recognise me as I work in the local chip shop, Birstall Fisheries, and have done for three years now.

“The 8 day trek to the summit of Mount Atlas with 30 students from around the world is in aid of the amazing charity Childreach International. It helps children in countries less fortunate than our own, to have access to proper health care, education and rights.”

To find out about Olivia’s fundraising events and to donate go to www.mydonate.bt.com and put Olivia Hay in the search box

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Marching musician’s award A YOUNG musician from Birstall has won a national award.

Meera Patel (16) of Cliffwood Avenue has won the Traditional Youth Marching Bands’ Association (TYMBA) Musician of the Year award.

Meera, a member of Thurmaston Scout and Guide Band, was competing against 111 other musicians from youth marching bands across the county aged between 7-18 years.

The finals of the competition were held in Birmingham in January where Meera and five other musicians from across the UK were judged by musicians from the Royal Marines.

Meera said: “I have performed in front of audiences before but I have never performed to Royal Marine judges. It was probably the most nerve wracking thing I have done but an experience I will always remember.”

Jubilee party CELEBRATIONS FOR the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee are just a few months away and Charnwood Borough Council is making it easier than ever for you to organise your very own street party.

A page of the Council’s website has been devoted to helping residents find out how they can celebrate the Queen’s landmark anniversary in their own neighbourhoods, ensuring it is safe and legal.

So far five enquiries have been made and one application for a street party in Birstall has been received.

Jubilee celebrations are traditionally held between June 2 and June 5 and this year both June 4 and June 5 are public holidays, giving partygoers extra time to enjoy the celebrations.

Ten street parties were held for the royal wedding in 2011 and Charnwood Borough council is keen to offer support for similar events for the Diamond Jubilee.

Parties are ideally held in a culde-sac or quiet street to avoid disruption to traffic, says the Council.

Any parties held should be for residents and neighbours only, not open to the general public.

Charnwood Borough Council does not charge for Temporary Road Closures. Applications for road closures need to be received at least six weeks in advance.

If you want to know more about hosting a street party visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/street_ parties or call Lynne Twigg on 01509 634541

Each musician had to play a two minute piece of music of their choice and flautist Meera chose an extract from the musical Lord of the Dance. After the judges had considered all the performances the competitors were called back on to the stage and Meera was announced as the Musician of the Year.

Meera has been playing the flute for ten years, also plays the piccolo and saxophone, and has been playing with the Thurmaston Scout and Guide band for six years.

A student at Longslade College, Meera said: “In the future I would love to perform as a soloist or part of an orchestra

at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

“I would also love to go on to teach music, because young people like me need to be encouraged to learn skills like this, either at school or within a youth band such as Thurmaston offers.

For me the learning curve for playing an instrument while marching, is a whole lot harder than it looks!”

Meera’s brother Kush is also a talented brass musician and a member of the Thurmaston Scout and Guide Band. He was a finalist alongside Meera in the TYMBA competition.

Pic: Meera Patel with her trophy

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

New hair colour A NEW hair colour product that contains no ammonia has been launched at a Birstall salon.

British United: social history of the factory DID YOU work at the British United factory in Belgrave?

A local historian is aiming to create a book or website of the memories of the people who worked there to show how the BU affected people’s lives, at work and at home.

Burt McNeill said: “Over the last three years I have become good friends with an elderly man living in Birstall who spent virtually all his working life at the BU and through talking with him, as well as a growing interest in local history, I decided to launch this project.

“Although there are one or two histories of the BUSM, there didn’t seem to be any record from the point of view of people who worked there. Considering over 4000 people were employed back in the 1960s it struck me as important that these memories of the BU and life around it, a way of life, were remembered.

“I hope to collect memories from a number of people to record them orally or on paper, along with images of the factory and the Belgrave area from those times and to eventually present the collection as a book and or website for posterity. A piece of history.”

Burt has organised a meeting on May 14 at 2pm, Belgrave library, Cossington Street. Burt said: “I hope the meeting will be an opportunity to present and share some of the memories and be a chance to socialise and start, or restart, friendships.

If you would like to contribute your memories, or have any old photos, film or artefacts, contact Burt McNeill. Tel: 075 25 714 915 email:burtmcneill@ntlworld.com, 8 Greenhill Road, Leicester LE2 3DJ

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Clare Halford of Shapes Hairdressing on the Birstall Triangle has recently returned from a Redken professional hair colour course in London and the salon is now accredited to use Redken Chromatics.

Clare said: “This new colour was formulated in New York by Redken and is setting a new standard and technology in hair colour and Shapes is the first to introduce it in the UK!” Chromatics contains no ammonia and has no odour. Clare said: “The new colour covers 100 per cent and is permanent, producing results even better than regular professional colour for brunettes, redheads and blondes leaving hair in a much better condition.

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Cricket Corner BIRSTALL VILLAGE Cricket Club looks to defend the Senior League Premier Division title once again.

The season begins on Saturday April 28 with the first home game being Saturday May 12. BVCC have been the team to beat over the past few years continuing to retain a strong balance of experienced and youthful players.

BVCC have been running some coaching clinics with the Junior Under 15 team and the response has been overwhelming. John Smith, a past Leicestershire County player who is now a well respected qualified junior coach, has been working with the u/15’s. He aims to continue promoting young talent within the club. There has been an average attendance of more than 15 players each week and we look forward to what the season brings. Andy Galpin and Prad Sood who are senior players are joint managing the team this season and speak highly of the dedication, enthusiasm and talent on display and look forward to what the season brings.

Under 15 Nets at Longslade School Sports Hall Every Monday evening until the end of April from 7 – 8.30pm with a fully qualified coach who will provide these juniors with experienced and skilled advice on all elements of the game.

If you would to find out any more information about our Senior teams, please contact Club Chairman and Secretary, Andy Merry on 07708473308 or 1st Team Captain, Dave Sharpe on 07527186705. For more information about our junior teams please contact Prad Sood on 07531339320. For regular updates throughout the season, keep your eye on the BVCC website.

The club’s AGM was held on Sunday March 4 with a good turn-out of club personnel. Senior positions for the 2012 season are: Club President – Ian Hunt; Vice President – Pete Sharpe; Chairman / Club secretary – Andy Merry; Treasurer – Ian Bartlett; 1st Team Captain – Dave Sharpe; Evening league Captain – Ian Bartlett The biggest notable change within the club was the appointment of past player, clubman and well respected league umpire Ian Hunt who will replace Mike Lord as Club President after he sadly passed away last year. Mike was a much loved and respected member of Birstall Village Cricket Club and the memories of him will remain fondly in our minds and hearts for many years to come.

Pete Sharpe has also been selected in as Club Vice President. Pete has been an integral part of the 1st Team, and continues to be one of the league’s leading wicket takers year after year and an avid supporter of the club.

Keep your eye on up to date club information, match results for all BVCC teams and player information on the club’s website. In addition to this, why not join the members section of the website which will allow you to join our ‘blog’. All this information and more can be found at the website below. www.birstallvillagecc.co.uk We once again look forward to your support for another successful season.

From Joshua Saye

THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Adult cycling PEOPLE WITH a new or renewed passion for cycling have got to grips with winter riding thanks to a series of confidence building sessions.

Leicestershire County Council invited people who took part in its adult cycling courses last summer to attend a free topup course focussing on cycling in wintry conditions. The free sessions were held one night a week for three weeks in Thurmaston and the surrounding area.

Mahesh Parmar (59) from Birstall has been taking part in the course. He said: “Cycling in the dark and in winter weather conditions was a new experience for me and I’m not sure I would have ridden at night if it wasn’t for the course. The instructors really were excellent and as a result I feel a lot more confident now when it comes to cycling during the winter.”

Free adult cycling courses will be held again in the county this spring and summer after proving to be popular last year.

More than 160 people built up their confidence behind the handlebars after attending the County Council organised courses.

This year, even more courses aimed at people who have never been on a bike before, riders who want to improve their confidence and people who haven’t cycled for years will be held so they can develop their skills and confidence both on and off road.

The courses are being supported by EWC (Environmental Waste Controls) which has donated 30 new bikes that can be used by participants who don’t have their own. Sessions will be held in a variety of locations including Watermead Country Park.

Mum-of-two Dawn Mason (34) from Glenfield took part in two courses last year after never having ridden a bike before.

She said: “I never learned to ride as a child and had a phobia when it came to getting on a bike. However, I wanted to be able to ride with my four year old daughter when she learned. I have used my bike to ride into Leicester and I sometimes attach a trailer to the back and take my children out in it.

“Cycling really is fun and, combined with changing my eating habits, I have lost four stone in the past year. I would recommend anyone who is thinking about taking part in the courses to enrol.”

Lesley Pendleton, County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Last year was the first year we held these courses and they proved to be extremely popular. This year we have organised even more and we hope they will enable more people to get on their bikes to get fit, do their bit for the environment, have fun and save money on fuel at the same time.”

The courses will be delivered by qualified instructors over five two-hour sessions. The first ones will kick off in April at Watermead Country Park, Loughborough and Hinckley. Sessions will consist of small groups with people of a similar skill level and will take place during the day, evenings or weekends, with the aim being to enable people to develop the skills and confidence to cycle for leisure or work.

During the course participants will learn how to do a basic bike check.

For a full list of course venues and dates visit: www.leics.gov.uk/cycling Register your interest now at choosehowyoumove@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 8307.

9

Cubs visit armoury BIRSTALL CUBS joined up with around 500 other Cubs from across Leicestershire on a visit to the Royal armouries museum in Leeds.

They were able to see weapons of war from throughout the ages ranging from the longbow and swords of medieval times through to assault rifles and machine guns used by troops today in modern warfare.

Cubs saw displays of Victorian hunters riding on elephants out stalking wild animals and they also looked on as two medieval knights dressed in full armour competed in battle. They armed themselves with mace and spear and a fight to the death ensued -well it was the best of three really.

Outside the main hall and into the surrounding canal basin the cubs had a chance to try their hand at being submariners as they took to the water on board a converted narrow-boat including periscope and conning tower.

Pic: Submariners Joshil, Vivek and Frazer

From Ged Sessions, Scout leader

Record breaking recycling GREEN-THINKING Charnwood residents have been praised for helping the Council achieve record-breaking reductions in the amount of waste sent to landfill.

New figures show Charnwood Borough Council is on course to hit an all time high recycling rate of 51% next year – the current rate is already a record 48%. In 2007/08 the Council’s recycling rate was 39%.

Customer satisfaction with recycling services provided by Charnwood Borough council is steady at 97.6% A spokesman said the success is down to the Council’s introduction of new recycling bins last autumn which has made it easier for residents to recycle household waste.

As well as reducing waste to landfill, the Council is generating more revenue than expected through its recyclates contract with Viridor. The money is generated through the sale of so-called ‘dry’ materials such as glass, plastic, aluminium and steel cans, mixed paper and cardboard.

Viridor won the contract in May 2011 to transport and sort the 16,000 tonnes

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

YOUR SAY...

er-Tomkinson Reception (avoiding the walk up the drive) or post them into the college, whichever is most convenient for you.

Sheila Beatty ICT Technician, Longslade College

Crochet

The Birstall Post welcomes your views and opinions on any subject. Letters, which must include your name and address, (though not necessarily for publication) can be posted to: The Birstall Post, Longslade College, Wanlip Lane, Birstall, Leicester LE4 4GH, or handed in at Birstall library or email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk

Tesco vouchers Once again this year, Longslade are collecting Tesco vouchers for schools and would appreciate your support with their collection, vouchers being ussed from 12/3/12 until 20/5/12. Tesco have advised that they are making some changes to their programme and this is the last year vouchers will be issued.

The college would therefore like to mark this with a bumper voucher collection and your help as always is vital.

To date, they have been able to order six computers, not to mention two printers, a digital camera, sensor equipment for scientific experiments, software, a portable interactive whiteboard, hard drive, A4 flatbed scanner and replacement whiteboard pens. The college have 648 vouchers banked from last year to start this year’s collection and need 14,082 for another computer, which is their aim again this year. You can either drop your vouchers in at the new Palm-

I have just completed two short crocheting courses held at Cookies Cafe near the Post Office in Birstall. I thoroughly enjoyed learning basic stitches, how to make granny squares, flowers and cup cakes and meeting like minded local people. The teacher is Lisa, a local lady and brilliant teacher. To find out about future courses try www.littlebirdsos.co.uk or ring 077 60 23 20 59 J Lambell

Inclusion As Birstall residents and local church leaders, we support the need for a full and fair assessment of the merits of the three gypsy / traveller sites relative to other potential sites in the City and County. We can also understand some of the frustrations felt by local people surrounding the way that decisions have been made and communicated. However, what we cannot support in any way is the idea that Birstall becomes a “better” place to live through keeping certain groups of people out of the village.

Both our experience and our faith convinces us that strong communities are made by working hard together to include people, not to exclude them. We are particularly concerned that the sense of fear and anger surrounding this issue may be passed on to our children and young people, making them less confident about how to live alongside people who are different to them.

Whatever the outcome, we will personally remain committed to working and praying for the good of the whole

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Stephen Crofts Curate, Birstall and Wanlip Anglican Churches Vince Jupp Rector, Birstall and Wanlip Anglican Churches Rachel Parkinson Minister, Birstall Methodist Church Fr Keith Tomlinson St Teresa’s Roman Catholic Church

Concerned I am very concerned about the proposals for a permanent Travellers’ site at the top of Greengate Lane. The objections are many and have been well argued and voiced, however, the following are my biggest worries: 1. It seems from an interview I saw on ITV Central News this evening, the intention of these permanent Sites is, contrary to publicised by Leicester City Council, to accommodate the grown up children of the families on the Meynall Gorse site at Leicester Forest East, and to find permanent pitchs for the families on the Waiting List for this site.

This was admitted by the Official of the Council being interviewed. This will not solve the problem of the illegal sites set up by the ‘Travellers’ ie to give them an organised but temporary, seasonal pitch, also where will they put their animals as these are not to be accommodated.

2 Greengate Lane is just that, a Lane leading to a Village! It is already a rat run to the A6 and is not suitable for caravans, chalets and heavy vehicles. The City Council have a duty to their ratepayers to get as much money as possible for the land which is to make up the new Ashton Green development. Builders will not wish to buy land opposite the site as they will not get the price they want for their houses.

3 The Council says it has looked at many other sites before settling on these three and has used the criteria published, where is this documentation, why has it not been published? I have been told that the Council earmarked a larger Site at Hamilton, but pressure was put on them by the local MP, Keith Vaz, not to go ahead with this site for obvious reasons! It would be interesting to know the truth of this allegation.

Lastly I, along with many other residents of the Gates, need something doing about Greengate Lane. It is inevitable that sooner or later there will be a serious injury, or worse, near the Zebra crossing. Cars and heavy vehicles come over the brow of the hill far to fast. Quite often too fast to stop at the crossing, so you find yourself waiting for two or three cars to pass, before someone is travelling slowly enough to

stop in time.

Larger and heavier vehicles are using the Lane regularly now as a short cut and these vehicles need a longer stopping distance.

I feel that the answer is to block Greengate Lane after the bridge, it will stop the rat run and make both the City and County Councils open up the llanned (but abandoned access) from the roundabout on Leicester Road to the A46.

I have lived in Birstall for many years, but prior to that lived in the City on a new estate. The road through the estate became a rat run from Glenfield Road area to the A50. Once again the road ran steeply over the brow of a hill with a primary school just over the hill on the left.

Not long after we left the area there was a very serious accident involving a child and the Council blocked access so that only the residents of the estate and surrounding area used the road.

Hopefully, common sense will prevail and another site will be found.

Gates resident

Appalled I am appalled at our Parish Council.

They are having a meeting on March 12 on the same night that the city is having their meeting about proposed traveller’s sites. No-one in Birstall seems to know what they are entitled to do to have their say. So who is looking after our interests? No-one it seems...I have knocked people’s doors and told them how and what they can do. But how do we all go to both meetings? Simple answer we can't. People have told me that these travellers who aren't allowed to run businesses from the site at the top of Greengate Lane are knocking their doors...do you want tree work doing, can I buy your caravan. Why is no-one listening to us? We pay our council tax, we have put up with far too much over development over the years and now it is time to stand up for ourselves as no-one seems to be taking any notice of what we say. So come on Birstall stand up and be counted!

Kirsty Haywood Birstall Parish Council Steve Blackburn responds: Both the Parish Council meeting and the County Council-run Area Forum had been planned well in advance of the announcement of the consultation about sites.

The Parish Council did realise that there would be no representation from the City Council at its meeting but, given the presence of City Council staff at the other meeting, decided that there was sufficient opportunity for residents to hear from the City Council.

THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Both meetings were well attended and the Parish Council is formulating a response based on all of the comments made. There is still time to sign the Parish Council’s petition and we are still stressing the importance of residents making their views known through the questionnaire.

Lower impact We were upset by the negative response towards the Council’s proposed provision of traveller sites around Birstall. For decades, spaces for travellers to stop have been systemically closed down across the country. What did we expect to happen? Travellers are not going to just disappear and why should they? It is a natural consequence of this short-sighted policy that traveller sites have to be created again.

People often complain about the messiness and rubbish that they see on traveller sites. This makes us angry, because it’s hypocritical if you stop to think about the environmental impact of settled community lifestyles. People who live settled lives in houses, like us, have our rubbish removed and taken to landfill. Our house and garden look clean and tidy but landfill has a huge negative environmental impact, producing pollution and adding to carbon emissions – burying waste simply hides this fact and allows us to produce more waste without dealing with the consequences. An average traveller family has a far lower environmental impact than an average settled household. The settled community have difficult questions to ask ourselves about our use of resources – shouldn’t we be wary of blaming others until we've looked into our own back yard?

We have a tendency to focus on the faults of people who are different from us rather than appreciating what they add to our community. None of us are saints, we all behave badly sometimes – especially when treated with disrespect by other people. Of course this is true for people on both sides of this issue.

Could we aim to do better than this?

Tamar Morton Jones and Emily Hodgkinson Birstall Residents

Traveller sites Like many people I heard on BBC News on the Februrary 17 an announcement from Sir Peter Soulsby on behalf of Leicester City Council that there were to be 3 proposed Gypsy Traveller sites in our area: Beaumont Way, Red Hill Way and Greengate Lane. This announcement on TV was the first notification Birstall Parish Council and the Birstall residents knew about the proposals and to add insult to injury the six week consultation period was to start that day.

At the time of writing the residents of Birstall have still not had official notification of the proposals and the consultation period.

Two of the three sites are closer to Charnwood Borough-Birstall Glebelands and Thurcaston than any area in the City boundary and so we would be most affected by the proposals.

The information about the consultation period advised the two ward meetings, at 6pm on Tuesday February 28 at the Tudor Centre or 6pm Wednesday 7th March at Christ the King Church. The

first meeting was abandoned as over 400 people attended and after being pressed Andrew Smith (L.C.C. Head of Planning) agreed to extend the consultation period and advise all those in areas affected of the new venue and time. The only way anybody could voice their objections or concerns was through a biased questionnaire with loaded questions. The second meeting did not take place and people who intended to attend were handed a leaflet at the door. This explained “due to high public interest a joint Abbey and Beaumont Leys Ward Community Meeting has been arranged on Monday March 12 at 7.30 at Leicester Leys Leisure Centre” Still no mention of the other communities! This was again a ploy by L.C.C. to obstruct debate from those outside the City Boundary as L.C.C. knew very well that a meeting of Birstall Parish Council had previously been arranged on the same night.

Over three years and two months ago L.C.C. granted permission for a temporary pitch with hard standing for tow.

This included a male in the family who was seriously ill and receiving treatment.

During the past three years their have been between two and seven caravans plus cars etc on this ‘Temporary site’.

The travellers have trespassed from the original boundary in to the spinney on the west and taken trees down from this green area. They have erected chicken a coup in the spinney and there are ponies tethered there in appalling conditions also trespassed to the vacant plot to the east and have turned it in to a quagmire with ponies and traps. In the past three years the City Council has failed to manage or police this site they have made little or no attempt to evict any other travellers or gypsies who have illegally occupied the site! Is it really L.C.C.’s intention to reward the flouting of the law and common decency?

At the Meeting on Monday March 12 Sir Peter Soulsby stated that of the over 90 illegal sites that have occurred in Leicester in the past 3 years “57 were in this area”. He has identified the Leices-

ter West area as having the greatest need for permanent sites as it has the largest amount of illegal sites over this period, The reason that there have been more illegal camps in this area is because the L.C.C.’s total inability or desire and because they have consistently failed to take action when the travellers occupy land illegally or break the Law, and it is the Law abiding tax and rate payer who has to pay to clear the carnage left behind, Why are the people who caused the mess not forced to clear or pay to have sites they have illegally occupied cleaned?

On the current printed possible site layouts that have been distributed it does not mention less than 100 yards at the junction with Greengate Lane and Beaumont Leys Lane plans have been approved for Ashton Fields development of 3,500 homes. If the Greengate site is approved it will deter developers from building as the cost of property would be adversely affected by the site on its doorstep. People in the surrounding area are horrified that there own property values will also be adversely affected. Opposite the entrance to the proposed site entrance on Greengate Lane L.C.C. identified the green fields opposite as a proposed site for a school. It would make sense to suspend the decision about the Greengate Lane site until after the Ashton Green site has begun and the school’s location has been confirmed so the true impact of any permanent site can be assessed honestly.

Birstall Resident

Hysterical I don't think I've ever read such a melodramatic letter in the Post as in the March issue. The unnamed author feels they will be “surrounded” by three “Gypsy camps” and that this will “surely be the final nail in Birstall's coffin”.

Which is strange because Birstall seems far from dead to me. New shops, new housing (a lot of it quite attractive), a fantastic new theatre at Longslade, a terrific country park. I notice someone's

11

even doing up the old jailhouse! As for being "surrounded"...one of the sites is at the end of Greengate Lane (already being used), one is in the middle of Beaumont Leys (if anyone's going to be surrounded there it's the potential residents of the site) and one is on Red Hill Way - on a patch of ground primarily used now for fly tipping and separated from Birstall by a dual carriageway! But this is not enough drama for our anonymous correspondent, far from it...apparently if these sites happen we "will not be able" to give our houses away. This is scaremongering at an irresponsible level. You only have to look at the houses at comparative distances from the most (in)famous travellers’ site of them all, Dale Farm at Cray's Hill, Essex. The houses there went up in value between 2009 and 2011 (at the height of the controversy) and in fact have fallen in value since the travellers were evicted. Let me be clear I think three sites in the same area is too many and see no reason why south Leicester can't find some room for at least one, but the fact is we already have travellers camping on our verges and roundabouts every few weeks. Wouldn't it be better in the long term to try and find some way of accommodating them instead of hyping up the problem to hysterical levels?

R Pugsley

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Noticeboard all details printed free The Rothley Centre 12 Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley LE7 7PR Friday April 27 at 7.30pm Presents for your pleasure

The upBeatles Supporting guest James Aaron King as ‘Elvis’ in a Charity Concert in aid of The Leicestershire & Rutland Branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association Tickets £6 From John on 0116 2674040 •••

Charity Craft Fair Loughborough Lions Club Sunday April 15 Indoor Bowls Centre, Browns Lane, Loughborough 10am to 4pm Entrance fee £1/adults, 50p/children over 5 and concessions Free parking, numerous stalls, refreshment plus activities for children •••

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Afternoon Tea Amanda Cameron Wednesday April 25 at 7.15pm Birstall Village Hall Visitors very welcome Sylvia Simes 2674206 •••

Birstall Royal British Legion April 7: Amy C (F/V) April 14: Index (GRP) April 21: Steve Cooper (M/V) April 28: Jacqui Daniels (F/V) Dancing every Sat night with live entertainment

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Bingo, Free meat raffle and not forgetting Open the Box Every Tuesday night Bingo starting at 9.15pm Quiz nights Sunday April 8 & 29 starting at 9pm Acoustic night Sunday April 15 Rock & Roll nights Wed April 1 & 15 Food available every Saturday Open Bank Holiday Monday April 9 families welcome Wakes catered for •••

Birstall Birdwatching Club Presents

Travelling Light with Nigel Slater No suitcase needed by these travellers as we take a look at how birds make their long journeys abroad and back again with the new technologies that enable us to track their progress in real time. An evening of travel experiences with a difference Tuesday April 17 at 7.30pm The Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley Visitors welcome £2 Contact Ken Goodrich 0116 2674813 ••• Birstall Social Club, Wanlip Lane Come and dance the night away Every Tuesday & Saturday night

Ballroom & sequence dancing Cash raffle Thursday Bingo Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Games Room Secure parking New Members Welcome Function Rooms available •••

The Friends of Belgrave Cemetery Sunday April 22 Annual General Meeting Welford Road Cemetery, Visitor Centre 10.30am to 12noon Sunday June 17

Open Day

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Indian Head Massage, Wash & Blow Dry £15 Back& Hand or Back & Foot massage £15 30 mins makeup session £5 • Eyebrow threading £2.50 Mini Facial £10 • Three Card Tarot Card Read, 15 mins £10 Jewellery Making • Aloe Vera Health Products

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Belgrave Cemetery 10am to 3pm •••

Belgrave Bowls Clubs Both men’s and ladies’ clubs would like to welcome new members for the 2012 season – experienced players or beginners.

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Two greens are available weekdays and weekends and both clubs offer free membership for the first year.

Coaching is available.

For details phone: men’s secretary 0116 2870787; ladies’ secretary 0116 2674234 ••• Mountsorrel Methodist Church presents The Fourth in the Eleventh Series of Sunday Night @ Eight

Organ Recitals Sunday April 15 at 8pm

by Ivan Linford, Rutland organist Admission free Donations for Church’s Development Fund Buffet from 7.30pm ••• The Bark Foundation

Fashion Show & Sale Friday April 20 at 7.30pm Birstall Methodist Church Bargains to be had – best High Street brands at greatly reduced prices Tickets £5 inc refreshments and free gift, raffle Book your ticket now 0116 2677576 Coffee Morning Saturday June 23, 10am to 12noon Birstall Methodist Church Centre ‘Recycled’ costume jewellery, raffle and tombola Proceeds from both events support HOTPEC Orphanage in Cameroon ••• Birstall Methodist Church

Garden Trail This year’s garden trail will be during the weekend of Saturday/Sunday June 9 & 10 from 2-5.30pm The area this year is in the Walker Road, Goscote Hall Road, Went Road and Fielding Road area Passports (£3) will be available at retail outlets in Birstall from midMay •••

CLASH (Community Leicester Arthritis Self Help) is pleased to invite you to the launch of its new headquarters Friday April 20 at 1.30pm At the Peepul Centre, Orchardson Avenue, Leicester LE4 6DP Refreshments will be available and our patron, Nicky Morgan MP will formally open the proceedings. There will also be a screening of My Alien Mother, an award winning short film about living with arthritis •••

Leicester Symphony Orchestra Saturday April 28 at 7.30pm at De Montfort Hall Bizet: Carmen (excerpts) Elgar: Froissart Overture A selection of songs for soprano by Delibes, Massenet and Rachmaninov Dvorak: Symphony No.8 Guest Conductor Toby Purser

THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Soprano Denise Leigh 6.30pm Free pre-concert talk with soprano Eva Ganizate Full price £17/£14/£11 Children age 16 and under £3 Concessions available Tickets from: De Montfort Hall Box Office 0116 233 3111 Leicester Symphony Orchestra Ticket Secretary 07976 231812 Pearcekate1@gmail.com •••

Coffee Morning and Good-as-New-Sale Saturday April 21 from 10am to 12noon at Birstall Methodist Church Clothes and Accessories Soft furnishings, household, books, raffle •••

2012 & Beyond a talk by Val Stirling Leicestershire & Rutland Dowsing Group Saturday April 14 St James Day Centre, Birstall Village Hall Details John Rippin 0777 029 1484 ••• The Winners for March

St James Day Centre, 200 Club 1st No.76 Mr Raymond Folland 2nd No.79 Mrs Mary Yates 3rd No.109 Mr Stephen Darlison 4th No.102 Mr Harold Morris •••

Birstall’s Jubilee Gala 2012 Saturday June 30 and Sunday July 1 Again we are hoping for fantastic weather and for your support to make this year’s Gala and extra special weekend in honour of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee If you or your organisation would like to have a stall, stand or some space to promote your business or charity please contact Sue Coulson at the Parish Council offices for the appropriate forms and any further information you may require on 0116 2676191 or email:admin@birstllpc.org.uk Or you can download the forms from our website: http://birstall.leicestershireparishcou ncils.org/birstallgala.html •••

Film Presentations From Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council ‘Jane Eyre’ Friday April 13 (120 mins) Mia Wasikowska had never seen an earlier version of this film when she took on the role of Jane Eyre. We swing from the strange happenings in the house out in the wilds back to Jane’s hard childhood and then to the electrifying attraction between her and Mr Rochester. However, secrets threaten that glimpse of happiness…

‘My Week with Marilyn’ Friday May 11 (99 mins) In 1956 Marilyn Monroe came to

Pinewood studios to make a film costarring Lawrence Olivier and Dame Sybil Thorndyke. Although Marilyn was the greatest movie star in the world, there rose a clash of culture with Olivier’s intensity and punctuality. Played in our memorable film by Kenneth Branagh, Olivier quipped “Teaching Marilyn is like teaching Urdu to a badger!”

‘The Iron Lady’ Friday June 8 (105 mins) ‘The Artist’ Friday September 14 (after the summer break) Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost £4.50 and concessions are £4. The price includes refreshments and a lucky prize draw.

Advance tickets can be purchased via the parish office, 0116 2367626 or at the door.

•••

Soar Valley Trampoline Club Monday & Wednesday evenings from 5-7pm at Soar Valley College Sessions are for children from age 6 upwards Contact Annette for more details on 01664 840079 or email: aandnlewis@gmail.com •••

Abbeyfield Festivities Easter Monday April 9, from 3-5pm Afternoon tea, choice of sandwiches, homemade cakes & a drink £3 per person, under 16s £1.50 Free activities include Children’s Easter Prize Hunt, Raffle, Best Easter Bonnet Abbeyfield Church Hall, Birstall LE4 4DN

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Bluebell Walk Come and walk among the glorious bluebells in a woodland setting All in the beautiful gardens at 240 Markfield Lane, Markfield Sunday April 29 From 11am to 3.30pm Car parking in grounds Various refreshments all day, with books & paintings for sale All proceeds in aid of charities Admission: adults £2 at the gate, children £1 (under 5 free) ••• Wednesday May 16

A day trip to Liverpool The coach will leave Birstall at 8.30am and leave Liverpool at 6pm.

Come & join us, the cost is £20 per person and when we arrive there will be a tour bus to show us round the city if you are interested, at a moderate cost.

It has been organised by the Birstall Conservatives and for further details please call: Mary Allen on 0116 2673941 or David Gaskell on 0116 2674746 •••

Birstall & District Local History Society The next meeting will be ‘Leicestershire Heroes’ – speaker David Bell on Thursday April 12 at 7.30pm in the Birstall Village Hall, Birstall Road Visitors are very welcome •••

New & Used Sale Of baby and kids’ clothes, toys, equipment Saturday April 21, 12.30-2.30pm

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Midland Pub, Melton Road, Syston LE7 Proceeds to ADAPT Prembabies Ltd ADAPT also purchases old clothes, shoes, boots, underwear, mobile phones, DVDs, CDs and Playstation games www.prembabies.co.uk Lindsay 07847 264 382 ••• Diamond Jubilee

Music in the Park Wistow Hall Saturday June 9, 5.30 for 7.30pm Bring your own picnic Music from swing band Junction 21 and the all female brass band ‘Boobs and Brass’ Finale & grand firework display at 10pm Tickets £12.50, 12-16 yr olds £5, under 12 free www.wistow.com 0116 2318431 •••

Vintage Easter Festival at the GCR, Quorn station April 6-9 Country fair with a steam powered carousel, vintage traction engines, live music, craft stalls, steam rollers, vintage big wheel and train rides Entrance £5, family ticket £25 www.gcrailway.co.uk •••

The Annual White Horse

Duck Race Bank Holiday Monday May 7 Event starts 12noon, Duck Race at 2pm White Horse Lane riverbank and White Horse pub car park, Birstall Face painting, Peppa Pig, cake stalls, Continued on page 14

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Continued from page 13 tombola, donkey derby, hook a duck, canoe experiences, bell boat races In aid of local Scouts/Guides/Boys Girls Brigade/Birstall Special Needs Playgroup Buy your duck now at Lily&Grace, Revive, or the White Horse •••

Secret Gardens of Cossington Bank Holiday Weekend Sunday and Monday, May 6 and 7 11am – 5pm each day Passport to Open Gardens Adults: 3.50 Children and car parking free Village gardens open, art exhibition in church, displays, plant and other stalls, tombola, raffle, quiz, refreshments, Pimm’s tent, hot dogs, children’s activity and much more For more info contact: 07754 892842 or email:pennyweston-webb@talktalk.net All proceeds towards church repairs, extension and refurbishment

•••

Woolly Egg Hunt The Knitting Guerillas from Birstall invite you to find the woolly eggs hidden around Birstall Village from Saturday, March 31.

Take a picture of your find and email your image, along with your contact details to: niddynoddy@hotmail.co.uk before April 13 and you could win a prize!

This ‘Make you Smile’ event is supported by the Knit2gether Group Birstall and is sponsored by Flexpress Printers Birstall 0116 2676269, www.flexpress.co.uk •••

Knit2gether Group Birstall Last Wed of every month at the White Horse Pub in Birstall, 7.30pm onwards

Next meeting Wed April 25 All are welcome to join in our social knitting and crochet group. Meet like minded friends and learn about participating in public art projects. There is no charge to join but we don’t provide materials or equipment as the group is currently unfunded – we welcome donations or sponsorship!

For more info contact Lisa Pidgeon at www.lttlebirdsos.co.uk or call/text 7760232059

•••

Are you employed/self employed and signed off sick?

Get free, impartial, 1-2-1 support and advice on the issues preventing your return to work.

Ask your GP to refer you to Leicestershire Fit For Work Leicestershire’s Fit For Work Service 0116 2851710 www.leicesterfit4work.org.uk •••

Birstall & Wanlip NHW AGM Thursday April 26, 7.45pm Methodist Church Hall All members welcome ••• SKYDS Syston Kids and Youth Drama Society Calling all children aged 7-12 Bored on a Friday night?

Then come and join us at the Old Chapel, Church Street, 6-7.30pm

to try your hand at some drama.

It is an informal group that enjoys playing games and working on various types of performances that are then put on for the enjoyment of parents and relatives. The group allows you to build your confidence and performing skills and it’s a great way to meet new people.

Come along and try us out, only costs £1 per week plus annual membership Everyone welcome For more info contact Mark Smith 07795821368 Mark@iwanttopass.co.uk There is also a senior group for ages 12+

Church news An eye-witness account A high spot for many people last month was the visit of her Majesty the Queen to Leicester. Many of us were only able to follow the events of the day on our TV, but some were privileged to be present at the splendid multi-faith service at the Cathedral.

Amongst these were our Rector, Revd. Vince Jupp and curate Revd Stephen Crofts, with two lay representatives of our parish, Christine Suffolk and Mary Belton. Mary describes the background to the scene: “It was such an honour and a privilege to be asked to represent Wanlip church at the cathedral service to welcome the royal guests to Leicester to celebrate the beginning of the Diamond Jubilee festivities. There had been so much thought and organisation put into the whole day and much hard work by everyone involved – from the flower arrangers, including Birstall’s Sylvia Symes, stewards, clergy and last but not least the vergers, who were still sweeping and dusting till almost the last minute before the royal party arrived!

“We are very lucky to have the ‘park and ride’ on our doorsteps and on that day it was well used, taking us to within yards of the cathedral.

Christine and I were fairly early and were able to get seats on the south side near the door, so we had a good view of all the comings and goings and plenty to occupy us during our lengthy wait. The atmosphere was electric and time soon passed. We had a view of a large screen and could watch the outside activities too. We knew when the cars arrived and the cheering and flag-waving escalated as the photographers dashed in to take up their positions.

“The service was perfect, with so many involved, from the choir, cathedral clergy, dancers, schools and representatives of all faiths adding their own contributions.

Finally, everyone standing to sing the National Anthem with the organ and brass instruments was exhilarating, and the whole morning was an experience of a lifetime that I shall never forget.”

Christine, representing St James, adds: “The moment the Queen entered the cathedral, all eyes were focused on her lovely smile and those of the following Royal party. They seemed so genuinely delighted to be with us, just as we were to be with them on such a momentous occasion. A precious memory to last a lifetime was given to us.”

Returning to more everyday events, after the excitement that Mary and Christine describe, we all have an occasion for rejoicing, as Easter is almost upon us. This year the solemnity of Good Friday (April 6) will be marked by a procession of people from all the local churches, starting at 10am from Barclay’s bank and pausing at different places around the village. Then at St James at 2pm the same day there will be a service to mark the last hour of Jesus on the cross. On Easter Sunday we shall celebrate at Wanlip and Birstall (see church services on back page) and at St James there will be a celebratory Easter Communion for all, at 10am.

The annual general meeting of the parish churches, (known as the APCM) takes place shortly after Easter on

Wednesday April 11 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Anyone in the parish can attend but only those on the Church Electoral Roll can vote. This is when new church councillors and churchwardens are elected, and the time to hear about and discuss the past year’s happenings, as well as plans for the future.

From Beryl McHugh, Parish Church Easter Everyone is welcome to the various Easter Services, remembering the crucifixion and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Maunday Thursday & Good Friday events are planned via Churches together in Birstall. On Maunday Thursday April 5 at 7.30 Rev Rachel Parkinson will conduct a service which will include Holy Communion. On Good Friday (6th) there will be a procession of witness starting at 10am at Barclays Bank on Sibson Road, stopping on the way at the Co-op to finish at St James in Church Hill. Both 10.30 and 6pm services on Easter Sunday include Holy Communion.

Old Specs For New Vision There is still time to give your old spectacles to the Vision Aid Overseas project, where used spectacles will be sent to Ethiopia or Burkina Faso via the local opticians Henry Smith and Hamylton. Full details of this worthwhile project were detailed in last months Birstall Post.

Creating Safer Space The Methodist Church is committed to making all of our local churches “safe spaces” for everyone, including particularly for children, young people, and vulnerable adults. As part of this commitment the Methodist Church nationally is requiring each Circuit to deliver a foundation module in Safeguarding procedures to a range of listed office holders and volunteers within the life of the church. Birstall, like many Methodist Churches, relies on the huge volume of help from many volunteers and many of these volunteers (without whom many activities would be curtailed) are being asked to undertake this short training session. All who are required to do so have been sent details of all the dates available for these sessions. Completion of the training will indeed help to ensure the Church is a ‘safe space’.

Church Car Parking There are car parking spaces surrounding the Church premises on Wanlip Lane, and the church does turn a ‘blind eye’ to the many drivers who use the spaces for reasons other than visiting the church for short periods. The school run and visiting the library for example.

There have now been notices erected that on Sundays the parking is for those attending worship only (after all there is no school run & the library is closed!).

Pantomine Result The Mens Pantomime raised £1800 for Church funds and a further £296 for LOROS from the retiring collection.

Good As New On Saturday morning April 21 there will be a ‘Good as New Sale’ and the usual coffee morning. The funds will be to supplement the Christmas Festival Funds for 2012.

From Tony Moore, Methodist Church

THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Church news continued from page 14 Meanings Have you ever thought about the way some words come to have an opposite meaning? Take, for example, the words ‘awful’ and ‘wicked’. ‘Awful’ originally meant full of awe or reverence (like we use ‘beautiful’ or ‘wonderful’) but it is mostly used now to describe something which is extremely objectionable. ‘Wicked’ means morally very bad or evil but in modern-day slang it is used for something considered very good.

As we come to the most important Christian festival of the year, you might wonder why ‘Good Friday’ is so called, when it seems to be remembering a day of suffering and apparent weakness and failure. However, Christians call it ‘Good’ because of the finished work accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross and confirmed by His rising from the dead on Easter Sunday morning. One book (2004) by John Piper lists fifty benefits Christ obtained for His followers on that first Good Friday: a once-and-for-all historical event in time but which is also timeless. If you would like to know more, please contact us (see below).

Services Good Friday: we will be joining with other local evangelical churches for a joint service at Holywell Free Church, Berkeley Road, Loughborough, LE11 3SJ on Friday 6th April at 7.45pm when the speaker will be Ray Evans from Bedford.

Easter Sunday: We will be joining with East Leake Evangelical Church. Please contact for details.

Our regular Sunday services (from 15th) are at 10.45 am in the Community Room at Highcliffe Primary School and Community Centre, Greengate Lane (LE4 3DL). You will be most welcome to join with us. Our visiting speaker on April 22 will be Stan Braybrook from Shepshed.

Contact details: For further information, please ring 0116 2214883.

From Anne Taylor, Birstall Independent Baptist Church

WI’s pink ladies 28 LADIES attended Birstall and Wanlip WI’s March meeting.

We had a very busy schedule as February’s meeting was cancelled because of the snow and we had two months of past and future business to discuss.

Plans for the future include a Summer Schooldays themed dinner, trip to Royal Ascot and Methodist coffee morning in June and to celebrate the London Olympics we are planning walks and swimming events under the banner of Big walk, little Splash This is a national WI competition challenging WIs to walk or swim 209 miles which is the distance between Llanfair PG Angelsey where the WI movement began and the London Olympic stadium.

Our speaker was Ken Goddard who gave us an introduction to Classical

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Mary Belton won the competition with very clever new words to the tune of Jerusalem. These were tunefully sung

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to us by Ken and Kathy. A Resolution and Pudding Club meeting will take place on April 16 at Highcliffe School at 7.15pm.

This is later in the month due to the Easter Holidays. We will be discussing WI Resolutions and sharing and tasting our favourite pudding recipes.

From Birstall & Wanlip WI Pic: (l-r) ‘Pink Ladies’ Beverly Blackburn, Kathy Wright and Maxilyn Geary who suitable dressed attended the Singalong Grease evening at the Curve in February and in an impromptu moment decided to go on stage as the ‘New Face of the WI’.

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Queen’s flowers TWO MEMBERS from Birstall Flower Club helped to arrange the flowers in Leicester Cathedral for the Queen’s Jubilee visit to Leicester in March.

Pics: Carole Cottam (left) & Sylvia Simes

“For a time everything was top secret and we were not allowed to tell anyone until just before the day” said secretary Sylvia Simes.

On the Tuesday before the visit Sylvia and club chairman Carole Cottam spent the whole day in the Cathe-

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dral. “We were up and down ladders, arranging the beautiful flowers on two very large windowsills, three and four metres wide” said Sylvia.

“We fielded many questions from television, the press and general public. Carole had a prime position in the front row outside the Cathedral on the day of the visit and had an unforgettable face-to-face view of the Queen.

The eagle-eyed of you may have seem me on the BBC and ITV News and in the Leicester Mercury.

“It was an experience we will never forget and we feel very privileged that we were able to represent Birstall Flower Club.”

The next meeting of the club is in Birstall Village Hall on Wednesday April 25 at 7.15pm with Amanda Cameron demonstrating ‘Afternoon Tea’.

Visitors are always welcome.

Coffee morning & cakes help Rangers raise funds SIX BIRSTALL Girl Guides organised a coffee morning and raised £117 for a women’s healthcare charity.

Abi Duckham (15), Melissa Berry (16), Lydia Clemence (15), Georgina Fearn (18), Alice Gunn (17) and Karishma Shah (15) are all Birstall Ranger Guides and with the help of Ranger leader Rachel Smith hosted a coffee morning at the Johnson Road HQ in February.

Abi said: “We organised a whole host of things for our café, including a cake stall, tea and coffee, a tombola, information stand and a guess the weight of the cake competition.

“There was much support from everyone, with tombola items and cakes donated. All of us girls pitched in to create an impressive amount of cakes

and lots of people turned up. We were so pleased with how it had gone, it was a complete success and together we raised over £117.”

The money will go to the White Ribbon Alliance, an organisation that promotes healthcare for pregnant women.

Abi said: “I had a fantastic time, and so did everybody else, so it’s many thanks to the people who came along for making it such a success.”

Birstall Rangers meet on a Monday evening and is open to girls and young women aged 14-26. Contact Rachel on 07907 579 685.

Pic: Abi Duckham (right) and Karishma Shah

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Hallam NHW news & crime report Fields school Now the weather is getting warmer and we are looking forward to holidays and gardening, there are some simple steps that we can take to protect our property.

This may seem obvious, but please be careful when leaving windows and doors open. I recently noticed a neighbour's window wide open and a handbag was within reach, she was in the garden!

There are many obvious signs that you are away from your property, if your neighbour's notice these signs then so could an opportunist burglar.

If you don't normally leave your curtains shut all day, please don't do it when you go away. Leaving your rubbish or recycling out a week early is also an obvious sign, ask a neighbour or friend to put it out for you.

There are some old tricks that can also help - leave a few pots near your sink so it looks like you are going to wash up or leave an open magazine on a chair as if you have just left the room. Please do not tell everyone you meet that you are going away you never know who may hear your conversation. Ask a neighbour, close friend, family member or your Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator to keep an eye on your property.

Mail left sticking out of a letter box is an obvious sign, ask someone to push it through for you. Leaving valuable items on show is never a good idea, even when you are at home and if you buy new items please don't leave the empty box on show next to your recycling bin.

There are lots of products available to protect your property - timer switches and alarm systems to name just two. We sell security items at cost price at our monthly advice shops, the next one is on Saturday April 17th at the old Council offices (opposite the garden centre, Sibson Road, ) We are there from 10 until 12, please feel free to pop in for a chat and a cup of tea and a biscuit!

Karen Moon, Birstall & Wanlip Neighbourhood Watch.

Crime Report : Birstall Feb 14 – Mar 12 Assaults 4, harassment 1, burglary 9, burglary non-dwelling 3, damage 2, damage to motor vehicle 1, drugs 3, fraud 6, theft 3, theft of cycle 1, theft from motor vehicle 4, theft stores 2 There have been two incidents where burglars have been arrested over the last few weeks. Burglaries have dropped dramatically as have assaults and damages. There remains a marked reduction in antisocial behaviour in the village.

The year on year figures are: total crime down 22 per cent; total burglary down 27.6 per cent, total vehicle crime down 16.9 per cent.

From PC Richard Carruthers 2139 & PCSO Mark Butler 6611. Tel 101

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN Jelson and the County Council about the provision of a school on Hallam Fields are making slow progress.

Developers Jelson are required to pay a sum now estimated at £2.6million for a school and recreational facility and are in no hurry to hand over the money, a source told the Birstall Post.

The County know that £2.6million is not enough to build a school and do not have the resources to make up the shortfall. Their preferred solution is to accommodate the children at Riverside school but there would be difficulties in obtaining planning permission for the necessary extensions.

There are also concerns that transferring the agreement with Jelson to a Riverside extension will see some of the previously agreed £2.6million lost, with Jelson pocketing the difference.

One idea floated has been to provide a school building at Hallam Fields that would be a satellite of Highcliffe School.

Another solution would be for a Free School to be built at Hallam Fields, which is likely to attract additional government funding. Free schools are set up by individuals and groups with the support of national government.

If there was ever a moment for someone or some group to raise their hand and say I’ll start a Free School, that moment is now, said our source.

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Pic: Lilian and Thomas Coleman

Couple celebrate Diamond wedding A BIRSTALL couple celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary with a party at a local pub.

The family and friends of Lilian and Thomas Coleman organised a surprise party at the Trees for the Bramley Road couple, who were married on March 15, 1952 at St Ignatius church, Stamford Hill, London.

Lilian (82) and Thomas (85) moved to Birstall in 1970. Thomas worked for British United Shoe Machinery Company on Belgrave Gate until he retired. Lilian worked as a shoe machinist for Diana Shoes and Greenleys, then later worked for Gateway in Birstall.

The first met in 1950 when Thomas came into the factory where Lilian The May issue of

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Dowsing A TALK entitled ‘2012 and Beyond’ will be given at the next meeting of Leicestershire & Rutland Dowsing Group on Saturday April 14.

Val Stirling will be the speaker and he will explain why he believes next year will mark a new beginning, rather than the end of the world, as some have predicted.

The talk will be held at the usual venue St James’ Day Centre, Birstall Village Hall. Everyone is welcome.

Further information from the hon secretary, John Rippin, on 07770291484.

Police budget LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE Authority has agreed to increase the amount people pay towards policing by 2.5% in 2012/13.

The budget for policing Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in 2012/13 has been set at £169.6million. Householders living in a Band D property will pay an extra £4.24 per year, about 8p per week, taking the total amount paid for policing to £173.87 per year.

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Growing Club’s new skippers salon

NEW BIRSTALL Golf Club skippers Gerry Hyde and Chris Marvell drove in on an untypically wet day.

A BIRSTALL beauty salon is expanding into new premises.

Birstall Sunrooms & Beauty are opening another salon opposite their Wanlip Avenue premises – the new business, called the Hair Lounge, will be located in what was previously the Three Little Bears gift shop.

The family run business is now three years old and is run by Zoe Neale with mum Celina. Zoe’s sister Emily will be managing The Hair Lounge.

Emily said: “It will be a unisex salon promoting a full range of treatments at affordable prices using Davines hair care products, one of the most respected brands in the industry.

We are a friendly, family run business that will cater for all ages and offering a personal, one to one service.”

The upstairs rooms at the new premises will be used by sister Zoe to offer an expanding range of beauty treatments. Look out for details of a special opening event.

Barry Young A PROMINENT Birstall character in the 1970s and 80s has died.

Barry Young owned Goscote Hall and ran a cabaret club from the venue in Goscote Hall Road.

In 1988 he sold the Hall and opened the Stardust club in Bardon, near Coalville, retiring in 2005.

The 75 year old died on March 6 at his home in Malaga, Spain. His funeral took place on March 23 at St Margaret’s Church, Vaughan Way

Planning P/12/0668/2: 77 Orchard Road – erection of a single storey extension to rear of dwelling P/12/0613/2: Land adj. 271 Birstall Road – erection of a bungalow (revised scheme P/05/2293/2 refers) P/12/0519/2: 28 Holt Road – erection of two storey side extension and single storey extension to rear and installation of roof lights P/12/0626/2: 62 Rectory Road, Wanlip – single storey extension to rear of dwelling

But they had the consolation that the much-needed rain was doing their course – and many others – a lot of good! For Gerry, the event was a particularly proud moment. He said: “Birstall was always my favourite club even before I joined it”.

Gerry, who lives in Rothley, retired from managing an insurance company some years ago and then became Secretary and Manager at Forest Hills GC. “When I retired from there a few years ago I decided it was time to join my favourite club. I have played Birstall in invitational events for many years and always loved the course. It is in wonderful condition at the moment and benefits from its hill-top position.

It is always playable.”

New Ladies’ skipper Chris Marvell, who lives at Ratcliffe on the Wreake and used to work for Age Concern, has been a member at the club since 1979.

She said: “ It is a great privilege to be made captain and my aim is to ensure that everyone has a really enjoyable year”.

The club is again looking forward to hosting the Mark Group Midland Open, which this year is being held on Wednesday Aug 1 and Thursday Aug 2 and will feature a field of top professionals from all over the Midlands.

Pic: New Birstall Golf Club skippers Gerry Hyde and Chris Marvell

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Students’ UN stle debate SIX LONGSLADE students participated in United Nations style debate in London last month.

Sam Robinson, Katy Vickers, Sean Torr, Mike McCarthy, Hollie Davison and Jake Dickman (pictured) were accompanied by Longslade teacher Dr Liz Pearce.

The event was a debating competition

hosted by the Model United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA) on the subject of making a reality of the Olympic truce.

Students from across the UK were taking part and Longslade’s Jake Dickman won an award for being the ‘Best Delegate’ on his committee.

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Families are being urged by the government to look out for the early warning sides of dementia when they visit elderly relatives (BBC NEWS 7/11/11). Detecting the signs early is key to improving quality of life but, ignoring these early signs can cause increased disease progression: • Forgetfulness of names and items • Loss of short term memory of what you were told an hour ago etc.

• Difficulty following instructions and making decisions New indicators and recommendations for stroke The UK’s health experts

have called for the government to introduce national screening programmes for people aged 65 and over to prevent the number of premature deaths caused by strokes (AgeUK). Health experts urge General Practitioners (GPs) to check the pulse of 65 and overs to identify atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart condition that significantly increases the risk of stroke.

Any irregular pulses would then be further investigated.

Olympic torch comes to Birstall THE OLYMPIC torch will travel through Birstall aboard a steam train this summer.

The GCR have laid on a special train with three carriages open to the public so that visitors can accompany the torchbearer to Quorn station. From there the torch will be carried to Loughborough.

A runner will bring the torch to the GCR’s Leicester North Station at 8am on July 3.

Kate Tilley from the GCR said: “We are thrilled to be part of this epic journey and feel extremely honoured to be hosting the torch for six miles along our line.

We are laying on our very best Pullman train to mark the occasion and have three

carriages open to the public. Olympian breakfasts will be served on board the train on its six mile journey to Quorn where the runner will carry the flame up the station steps and away for the next stage of the flame’s journey.”

The Olympic torch relay will start on May 19 and finish on July 27 at the Olympic Games opening ceremony. On its 70 day journey it will travel 8000 miles across the UK. Train tickets for July 3 can be booked at www.gcrailway.co.uk

THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

Further research by the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust has highlighted two more symptoms that may indicate someone is having a stroke. As well as ‘slanted face’ to one side, unable to raise arms and slurred speech, the researchers suggest loss of vision and leg weakness are strong indicators to be looked out for.

Attendance Allowance - The benefit for rich and poor alike Attendance Allowance is extra money you can claim if you have difficulty washing, feeding and dressing yourself, need help with certain tasks or need someone with you. Savings and income don't matter.

You must have needed supervision, or help with personal care for the last six months to qualify. The form is long so get expert help (from Age UK or Citizens Advice - CAB) to fill it in correctly and increase your chances of a successful application.

Did you know…up to 60% of people eligible for Attendance Allowance don't claim?

Many claims fail on first application but succeed on appeal so don't give up! If you qualify, it is worth up to £73.60 a week.

Getting Attendance Allowance? Tell the Pension Service and your local council's housing benefit department. You may also be entitled to up to £55 a week in Severe Disability Premium (SDP).The word disability can be misleading. Not everyone who claims Attendance Allowance or SDP is necessarily disabled.

Extra money if you're looking after someone If you care for someone else (day or night) for at least 35 hours a week, consider applying for Carer's Allowance. First get a benefits check for you and the person you care for by

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phoning the Carers UK Advice Line on 0808 808 7777. Find out if it's in both your interests to claim as getting Carer's Allowance could reduce the benefits of the person you care for.

If your state pension is £55.55 a week, or more, you are unlikely to get Carer's Allowance but you may be able to claim underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance (known as Carer Premium). This can mean up to £31 extra a week for you when they are calculating how much Council Tax you need to pay and how much you may receive in Housing Benefit or Pension Credit.

From Samantha Price

The Midlands Co-Operative

Sports & Social Club Birstall Road The ideal venue for for

Weddings • Parties Christenings etc Large Function Room with use of Kitchen

Separate bar for that quiet moment

Car Park with CCTV coverage Disabled facilities Mid Week Functions taken Give us a call at Birstall Rd on

2674059 or 07837 690287

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is still required if you are selling or renting out your house.

Call David Jackson on 0781 5519490 to arrange your EPC

the

WOODGATE CLINIC OSTEOPATHY & PHYSIOTHERAPY - Any muscular pain or strain - Any joint from head to toe - Neck Pain (especially after road accidents) - Frozen Shoulders - Low Back Pain - Sciatica - Tennis Elbow • Golfers’ Elbow - Cranial treatment for babies - We now have a female practioner

EARLY MORNING, EVENING & WEEKEND APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

0116 237 4522

osteofred@hotmail.co.uk

Unit 12, Lazarus Court, Woodgate, Rothley LE7 7LJ

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THE BIRSTALL POST APR 2012

0116 258 6189.

To reflect the interest and support of the local community Birstall BAG's seeks to be inclusive of all cancers and the group welcome villagers to support the many events they organise each year within the local community.

The BAG’s have had a busy time organising events and have raised approximately £2500 in the last month. For more information on the funds we have raised, projects we suuprt and forthcoming events see www.birstallbags.co.uk From Birstall BAGS

Small Ads Cancer Research Medical research studies involving people are called clinical trials. This month we thought we would write a little bit about clinical trials in cancer.

Trials are vital if we are to lessen the effect of cancer and improve the outcomes of those people affected by it. In the UK there are various ways in which trials are funded: the government sets aside some research funds, large and small charities fund studies and drug companies also fund their own research.

Clinical trials in cancer look at • Risks and causes - how genetics, lifestyle and other factors can increase people's risk of cancer • Preventing cancer - using drugs, vitamins or diet to reduce risk • Screening - for people at higher than average risk, or for the general population • Diagnosing cancer - new tests or

scans • Treatments - new drugs or combinations of drugs, new ways of giving treatment, and new types of treatment • Controlling symptoms or side effects - new drugs or complementary therapies The Aim of Clinical Trials Trials aim to find out if a new treatment or procedure: • Is safe • Has side effects • Works better than the currently used treatment • Helps you feel better New treatments have to be thoroughly tested. For example, a new drug is investigated first in the laboratory. If it looks promising, it is carefully studied in people.

Different Types of Trials There are 4 phases of clinical trials.

Phase 1 trials look at whether a trial treatment is safe or has any harmful effects - the research team will also find out the best dose to use.

Quality spectacles at the best prices

We offer friendly, professional & reliable electrical services to businesses & homes in Birstall at affordable prices

Richard Borrajo 2 Hallam Ave, Birstall 07530 211211 richard@borrajoelectrical.co.uk

Advertise in

The birstall post 47 x 59mm £26 • 47 x 120mm £44 98 x 59mm £44 • 98 x 120mm £78

1) Decide what size you want 2) Send us a sketch of your ad 3) We design, publish This Siz & send e you the Wednes bill days

S£E2X6Y +VAT

CALL 2674213 for an advertising rate card, or view online at www.birstallpost.co.uk The prices above exclude VAT

Phase 2 trials look at how well a treatment works - only treatments that have got through these 2 phases go into phase 3 testing.

Phase 3 trials test a new treatment against the existing standard treatment if it gives better results, it may become the new standard treatment.

Phase 4 trials are carried out after a drug has been licensed - they collect information about side effects, safety and the long term risks and benefits of a drug.

Not all hospitals are involved in cancer clinical trials however the University Hospitals of Leicester are. They have a broad range of Phase 1-4 clinical trials open although not all types of cancer will be involved. More information about specific trial availability it is best to discuss with your oncologist or cancer nurse.

For more information: http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.or g/trials/types-of-trials/what-clinical-trialsare Macmillan Cancer Support free phone help line 0808 808 000 Monday – Friday 9am-8pm. University Hospitals of Leicester Cancer Information Centre on

visit our showroom proSP CS eyewear GET A QUOTE FROM US BEFORE YOU BUYYOUR NEXT PAIR OF SPECTACLES Same day service on most plastic lenses Top quality lenses including Varilux, Nikon, Zeiss DESIGNER FRAMES

Contact Mike or Teresa Keily on 0116

237 6098

Unit 3, Victoria Mills Fowke St, Rothley

Small ads are 25p for the first 16 words. 17-32 words: 50p. Enclosing payment, post your ad to us or hand it in (inside an envelope) at Birstall library.

Trade/business rates for small ads are 25p a word. You are liable for the trade/business rate if you are offering a service for which you are asking for payment, or if you are advertising new goods for sale. All text will be printed bold. Box outline £1 extra. Max 50 words.

Phone numbers count as one word.

TELEPHONE EXTENSION Sockets fitted by ex-BT engineer. Cable, BT and digital TV. Over 25 yrs experience. John 2675132 AMLI DESIGN Architectural Consultancy. Plans drawn and submitted. Extensions, conversions, new build. David Ives B.Sc.(Hons) FBEng MCIOB 0116 2674395 / 07974807111 www.amlidesign.co.uk REIKI TREATMENTS at Blue Moon.

First visit half price. Vouchers available. Visit www.rainbowtherapy.net for details ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES provided by qualified accountant. Low rates for sole traders/small businesses. Tel: 2673951 PIANO TUITION: Friendly professional tuition for all ages. Lessons tailored to individual needs. Chris White 07587177851 FOR SALE Girl’s bike, 16” wheels, 8 yrs plus, 6 gears, full suspension, very good condition £50 ono. Leic 2671527 AGENTS REQUIRED to promote ‘new’ British Misfuelling Prevention Device. No more mishaps at the pumps, prevents petrol entering diesel vehicles. Tel: 2677113, mob: 07803 142636

Easy Parking

Church Administrator The churches of St James Birstall and Our Lady in Wanlip have a vacancy for a church administrator.

The post is for 6 to 8 hours per week with the person expected to work Friday morning and then one other morning each week by agreement with the Rector. Duties include providing administrative support to the Rector and Curate as well as general duties such as preparation of notice sheets for church services. The place of work is the church office on Church Hill, Birstall.

Wage rates are set at the Diocesan Standard. For full details of the post, please contact Alan Lewin (church treasurer) on 2672600 (office) or albirstall@gmail.com

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Longslade College, Wanlip Lane, Birstall, Leicester LE4 4GH Editor: Mr Jerry Jackson Editorial/Advertising (Tel & Fax)

0116 2674213 Correspondence, news etc can be handed in at: Birstall Library or to our office in the Youth Centre, Longslade College, Birstall

editor@birstallpost.co.uk www.birstallpost.co.uk