the Birstall post Y O U R
C O M M U N I T Y
FEBRUARY 2015
N E W S P A P E R
www.birstallpost.co.uk
No. 379
Award winning hairstylist A BIRSTALL hairstylist and salon owner has won an award.
A BURNT out car found on Meadow Lane, Birstall contained items stolen in a burglary.
Shapes Hairdressing’s Clare Halford has won the Leicestershire & Rutland Life ‘Hair Stylist of the Year’ award in recognition of her skills and talent. Clare has been in the hairdressing industry for more than 20 years and has been running her own salon with her business partner and husband, Luke, for 12 years. The duo employ a 20-strong team across their two salons, which are based in Birstall and Oadby. Clare said: “I love my job and being entered for these awards is a great honour. Having the opportunity to have someone walk into the salon and then
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Pic:Judge Bhavna Champaneri (left) with award winner Clare Halford
leave looking completely different is just great. “We have recently expanded to two salons which is going really well, and we aim to have 10 in total in the future. The awards celebrate the very best of hairdressing, rewarding high end creations that reflect technical skill, visual neatness and creativity. The judges scrutinised every last
detail on the models – with the ‘avant garde’ category Claire entered leaving a lot of scope for the stylists. Clare fought off competition from top local stylists to win the award. Shapes is currently running a competition with a first prize of 12 months free hairdressing. Visit www.shapessalons.co.uk for more details and to enter.
Stephanie Prime (30) of Davenport Road, Wigston committed the burglary of her sister’s home along with an accomplice, Steven Teal (34). Leicester Crown court was told the motive for the burglary was revenge – Prime had been reported to the social services for being addicted to the drug MCat. Items stolen included a safe containing jewellery with £4000 and £500 in cash. Also stolen was a lock of hair from the victim’s deceased child. Items found in the burnt out Astra on December 8, 2013, the day following the burglary, included the passports, the safe and a few damaged items with the cash and most of the jewellery missing. Prime later sold one of the necklaces for £460. Blood found at the scene of the burglary was a DNA match to Prime. She was given an 18 month jail sentence suspended for two years, 120 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £2000 to her sister. Steven Teal was jailed for two years and three months at an earlier hearing.
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
Donations to village Council youth café precept BIRSTALL’S POPULAR Youth Café on the School Lane playing field has been boosted by two donations. The £1700 raised at the White Horse Duck race has been donated to the café and a further sum of £500 has been provided by the Birstall Methodist Monday Group. Birstall Parish Council runs the Youth Café. Chair Ann Marshall said: “This money is extremely useful and goes towards enhancing the valuable service provided by the Youth Café to the young people of Birstall. “Birstall has let the way in establishing this service and our model has been used by other Parish Councils and is promoted as an example of good practice.” The Youth Café is located in the pavilion in the centre of the School Lane playing field. It is open 6.30-8.30pm on Wednesdays for 8-11 year olds and on Fridays from 7-9pm for 12-19 year olds. The sessions are led by youth workers Helen McNulty, Rebecca Hargrave, Lee Percival and Mariea Hogan. There is no need to book, just turn up – on Wednesdays there is 50p admission to cover the cost of the tuck shop
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BIRSTALL PARISH Council agreed its precept at its meeting in January. The amount paid in 2015/16 per household will remain the same as 2014/15. Because the number of household in the parish has increased the council has been able to increase the precept by 3 per cent without raising the amount each household has to pay. The precept demand for 2014/15 was £351,579 and for 2015/16 will be £362,291. The Council Tax for a band D property is unchanged at £84.81 per annum. The grant element passed on from Charnwood Borough Council is £13,540, giving the Parish council a budget of £375,831 for 2015/16. • Parish councils have the power to raise a local precept which is added on to the Council Tax bill and collected for the parish by the billing authority. • In 2014/15 there were 10,269 parishes in England, collecting a total of £389million. This represents 1.6% of the total Council Tax requirement for England of £23.6 billion
Cat stuck in barrel A KITTEN trapped in a biscuit barrel was released by firefighters from Birstall. The crew from Birstall fire station went to a home in Queniborough at 12.30pm on January 14, after the cat’s owner reported the animal had become distressed inside a plastic biscuit barrel. The crew managed to release the kitten quickly, said a fire service spokesman.
Pic: a smoothie making session
and cooking ingredients. A spokesman said: “In winter we do crafts, cooking, art or just chill out. In the summer we have outdoor activities, sports coaching, picnics and tournaments. “We operate a total ban on the use of mobile phones by the young people during the sessions. This was introduced some 18 months ago to counteract cyber bullying and to encourage the young people to engage more with each other and to participate in more educational and healthier activities. We introduced this with the support of all of the parents.” For more details contact Birstall Parish Council.
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
Birstall councillor standing for Parliament A BIRSTALL councillor has been chosen by the Liberal Democratic party to represent them in the Charnwood constituency in May’s General Election. Simon Sansome (32) was born and raised in Birstall, attending Riverside, Stonehill and Longslade schools. “It is very exciting and I hope I’ll be seen as a fresh face” said Simon. He was elected in February 2014 to Charnwood Borough Council representing the Birstall Wanlip ward. “I have no previous experience of working in senior politics so it’s a great pleasure and honour for me to represent the community of Charnwood in the place I was born and raised. “I believe an MP’s duty is to represent their local community in parliament. Excluding main Lib Dem policies, I would like the community of Charnwood to say how they would like me to vote. If
elected I will set up a website where you can enter your secure personal number and your postcode with house number, and choose how you want me to vote in parliament. “This is something I believe has never been tested or trialled before with any MP but I see it as giving you the choice and letting the community have their say in Parliament, giving more power to the people of Charnwood.” Simon lives in Glenfield, was recently married, and currently works for Leicester City Council Adult Social Services specialising in Adult Mental Health and Physical Disability. He said: “I don’t want to be an MP who is difficult to get hold of, but someone you can talk to, sit down and have a cup of tea with. I hope you will see I am not the normal politician, and that I am just a lad from Birstall trying to get by in life, a breath of fresh air and a change to the politics you see today.” Charnwood: General Election Result 2010 Dorrell, Stephen (Con): 26,560, 49.61% Webber-Jones, Robin (LD): 11,531, 21.54% Goodyer, Eric (Lab): 10,536, 19.68% Duffy, Cathy (BNP): 3116, 5.82% Storier, Miles (UKIP): 1799, 3.36%
Pic:Simon Sansome
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Parish Council notes A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on January 12. PCSO Adam Loydall said that reported crime has been high in January, not just in Birstall but in the whole of Charnwood including Loughborough. He said that antisocial behaviour in the Wanlip Lane area had resulted in the local police team putting an action plan together. One boy has been arrested, then de-arrested. There were no reported incidents on New Year’s Eve in Birstall. Speed checks were being carried out in the village and these will continue. The council agreed a precept of £362,291 for 2015/16. the precept in 2014/15 was £351,579. Because of the increased number of households in the village, the 3% increase in the precept can be collected without any increase in the amount each household pays. The Council considered the format and content of an application form for grant aid. A sum of money is being offered to local groups that apply. Comment was made that the process of applying should be as simple as possible. It was agreed that the council install a memorial clock on the front of the Village Hall. The cost is £1749. The cost of the work required to enable the installation to take place is estimated at £500. The installation will be subject to Listed Building consent. The wording on the clock face will be ‘Lest We Forget’. It was agreed to write to Kinchbus in support of a local petition to have the Skylink service stop on Loughborough Road. Cllr Rollings said the Council should be doing more to promote itself and should make more use of social media and its website. It was agreed to post more frequently on the Council’s facebook page, and to provide a blog on the council website. It was reported that some comments had been received that the lights on the Christmas tree on the Sibson Road car park were not very good.
The March issue of
THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Feb 28. The copy deadline is Feb 13
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Dinner dance for cancer charity A BIRSTALL woman who contracted an incurable disease after exposure to carcinogens at work has organised a fundraising dinner dance. Linda Lakin (62) of Bramley road was diagnosed with mesothelioma, or asbestos cancer, in February 2014 and has had major surgery to remove the lining of her lung and part of her diaphragm. Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester Linda explained how she was working in a dry cleaning shop in her early 20s. “I was operating the dry cleaning machines and the steam presses. The first thing you notice is the smell of the cleaning fluids. I actually now know that fluid that we used was a carcinogen but there was also the asbestos lagging on all the steam pipes and all the water pipes in the back area of the shop which were frequently damaged by physical contact with them, with the rails with which we
High speed internet access 460 HOMES in Birstall can now upgrade to high speed fibre broadband. Three fibre connected cabinets went live in the village in December : one at the junction of Hallam Fields Road/Halfpenny Close, one on Sibson Road and one on Barn Meadow Lane. The County Council’s ‘Superfast Leicestershire’ project is an £18.8million scheme to bring superfast broadband to 96% of homes and businesses in the county by March 2016. The County is working with BT Openreach and Borough Councils. Traditional ADSL broadband is delivered by copper telephone wires while fibre broadband uses fibre optic cable as part of the link between the customer and the telephone exchange. The minimum anticipated speed will be 24 Mbps and the maximum speed 50Mbps. The advantage of superfast speeds are multiple users in one household can use the internet without a drop in service, online streaming is in higher quality and files can be downloaded and uploaded more quickly. The Birstall Post asked when all of Birstall will be connected and was told “more parts of Birstall will be connected over the next few months.” www.superfastleicestershire.org.uk
used to move the dry cleaning around. “It was about four years ago I started to get pains in my chest. I was diagnosed in February 2014 and had the operation in March – the complete removal of the pleura, the lining of my right lung, the removal of part of my diaphragm and the removal of part of the lining around my heart. “Mesothelioma is terminal, having the operation has bought me time. I have a CT scan every three months, which is looking for the return. “I try and convince myself that I’ve stopped it, I know it’s a false hope, I do know it will come back but I try not to let it dominate my life. I want to live the life I’ve got. “I’ve had to give up work, I’m very breathless. It means you can’t do the same sort of physical activities as you could do before, and to a great extent you can’t plan far ahead. I’m 62, why on earth should I be dead that quickly. “It’s the responsibility of someone that I worked for 40 years ago, who didn’t give me the necessary protection or even information, because we as the general public didn’t know how dangerous asbestos was, but the government and employers certainly did. “Everyone needs to know there are things they work with on a daily basis that could kill them 40 years down the line.” Only five per cent of people live more than three years after diagnosis. Linda has been supported by the charity Mesothelioma UK and has organised a dinner dance in March to raise funds for it.
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Pic: diagnosed with mesothelioma - Linda Lakin
She said: “It provides support to victims, mainly through the funding of specialist nurses around the country. I have been supported by an excellent team of medical staff and the charity and so this is my way of putting something back.” Tickets for the dinner dance are £40 per person, there is a three course set
menu, live entertainment and a raffle. Tables seat between 8 and 10 people. It takes place on Saturday March 21, from 7.30pm to midnight at the Keith Weller Suite, King Power Stadium, Leicester City Football Club. To book contact Linda on 07802 756 357 or email linda_lakin@yahoo.com
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
1650 homes in new “garden suburb”
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A PUBLIC exhibition of plans to build 1650 homes in ‘North Birstall’ is expected soon. The landowners are the Palmer-Tomkinson Trust and the Cooper family, and in a statement presented to a planning inspector in January, say that the exhibitions will be followed by a planning application for the first phase of the development. This will include: • the first 175 dwellings • the primary road access junction with the A6 and a two way connection with Loughborough Road, Rothley • the northern boulevard of the garden suburb • the detail of the Broadnook Countryside Park including woodland at the northern and north-western boundaries. • an application for outline planning permission for the whole site of up to 1650 homes and up to 15 hectares of employment land. The statement says: “The North of Birstall proposal is for an exemplar garden suburb mixed use development, based on Charnwood’s established heritage, at a scale and in a development form which safeguards … settlement separation and identity whilst supporting and being served by appropriate physical
THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
infrastructure. “The development will be a flagship scheme for Charnwood, the East Midlands and nationally - it is founded on the established principles of the Garden City movement and the historic development of Rothley Garden Suburb.” The landowners intend to form a Broadnook Foundation and a Broadnook Garden Suburb Trust to ensure a coordinated delivery of design and infrastructure, high standards and ongoing community engagement. The landowners are working in partnership with Barwood Homes and Davidsons Homes. They say that there will be no built development on land east of the A6 and north of the A46 and that consequently there will be no need for a Wanlip bypass – a link road from the A6 to Wanlip Lane. The infrastructure required for the development will be provided and funded fully by the landowners and their partners with no public funding. The total section 106 developer contributions to mitigate the impact of the development are expected to be in the region of £19million. • £5.5million for a new primary school • £0.5million for secondary education • £0.5million for health facilities • £0.5million for policing • £8.2million for transport requirements including a new bridge under the A6 connecting the development to Wanlip, Birstall and Watermead Country Park via a non-vehicular route. Charnwood Borough Council says the development will be capable of delivering 30% affordable housing. It says the timescale for the development is for 75 homes to be completed in the first year, 2016/17 and with completion of 1650 in 2022/23 • The Broadnook Garden Suburb is part of Charnwood Borough Council's Core Strategy. In December and January it was considered by a Planning Inspector. On January 22 the Inspector, Kevin Ward, ruled that the Core Strategy was unsound, but could be made sound with a number of "main modifications". Councillor Eric Vardy, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, said: “Every Core Strategy that is adopted has had to be modified in some way. Mr Ward has found the strategy can be made sound with some modifications and we are now waiting to hear what those are." The options available to Mr Ward included rejecting the Core Strategy or asking for modifications. A third option was to declare it sound as it is. After the Inspector’s modifications have been received by the Council, a six week public consultation will be held. For more details about the Charnwood Core Strategy: www.localplan.charnwood.gov.uk
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Clock planned for Village Hall A COMMEMORATIVE clock is planned for the front of the Village Hall on Birstall Road. Birstall Parish Council want to install the clock to commemorate the fallen of all conflicts, but particularly because 1914 was the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. The clock will be located within the circular recess in the front apex, above the entrance to the Parish Office. The clock will be manufactured by Smith of Derby. The clock face will be coated in a UV protected royal blue vinyl with the numerals and lettering in gold.
Car boot sale at Stonehill
Pic: how the clock will look above the entance to the Village Hall
The inscription on the clock face will be ‘Lest We Forget’. The clock will automatically adjust itself to the correct time. The installation of the clock will be subject to confirmation of Listed Building consent. It will cost £1,749. The cost of the work required to enable
installation to take place is estimated at £500.
The March issue of
THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Feb 28. The copy deadline is Feb 13
A CAR BOOT sale at Stonehill school is set to become a regular event. The first event, held in October, was organised by Birstall Borough Councillor Simon Sansome. He said: “With the assistance of the school and volunteers, hundreds of people turned up and raised £150 for the school.” Following consultation with residents and the school, the next car boot sale will be on Sunday April 19 with a 50p admission fee. The car boot sale will start at 1pm with stallholders advised to arrive at 12noon. There is a charge of £5 for anyone wishing to have a stall. All money from the entrance fee and cost of stalls will go to the school. For updates follow Birstall Car Boot Sale on facebook.
Christmas hampers BIRSTALL PARISH Councillors delivered 24 hampers to elderly residents of the village this Christmas. Parish Council Chair Ann Marshall said: “I myself delivered three and found it to be a really pleasant experience. I was lovely to talk to the recipients and to be able to take them some Christmas cheer. “The hampers were well received and some were kind enough to write thank you cards to the Council.” The hampers are provided annually, part funded by the Land & Lewis charity which is administered by the Parish Council.
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
Resident Notary in Birstall YOUR SAY...
Sanjay Gogia Sanjay Gogia is a practising Notary Public in Leicester
What is a Notary? A Notary is a qualified lawyer. Notaries are primarily concerned with the authentication and certification of signatures and documents for use abroad. They are also authorised to conduct general legal practice (excluding the conduct of court proceedings). They may exercise the powers of a Commissioner for Oaths.
Some things you didn't know about your local Notary Public Q: What was your first job? A: I was a Trainee with a Law Firm Q: What would you have done if you hadn’t become a lawyer? A: I would have been a Freelance Photographer Q: Which Football Club do you support? A: Leicester City F.C. Q: What was your most memorable moment? A: Entering the players room with Michael Vaughan at Edgbaston Q: Which famous person would you like to go out with? A: Ed Miliband Q: Where would you go to eat? A: To an Italian restaurant Q: Which movie do you wish you’d appeared in? A: Saturday Night Fever Q: What’s your most often-worn piece of clothing? A: My blue denim jeans Q: Who is your all time favourite cricketer? A: Sachin Tendulkar Q: What is your all-time favourite record? A: Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley Q: What piece of advice would you give to people in General Elections? A: Please use your vote Q: What do you like about yourself? A: Being friendly and approachable Q: Where would you most like to be right now? A At home in Birstall
Sanjay P. Gogia – Notarial Services Leicester Business Centre 111 Ross Walk Leicester LE4 5HH Email: notarydesk@gmail.com Tel: 0116 268 1341 • Mob: 07960 283 653
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, Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR, or handed in at Birstall library or email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk
Planning I got into politics as my neighbours and I didn't feel fully informed about a then rumoured 6,000 housing development in our area. I went to the town council to find out more and found myself applying for a role as a local councillor. Living a few doors from a field, I had concerns about development at the end of our road. I wanted to know what was going on, to be able to pass on the facts, and to understand the issues. I became, and remain, a local councillor to help better understanding between local government and residents. Planning can be very emotive. As a councillor I've been asked on more than one occasion about how to find information on applications and how and on what grounds can someone object should an individual believe the application is unsuitable. The issues are complex and each application has to be judged on its own merits. Consideration has to be given to local saved policies, emerging Core Strategy, five year supply, national policy planning framework (NPPF) and the latest precedent set by an Inspector on hearing an appeal. Every application will have a report and recommendation from officers and in the report, there will be information on all aspects. It will comment on benefits to the community through Section 106 (S106) or community infrastructure levy (CIL) agreements, and show mitigation of potential problems. Any objection must be on planning law and guidelines. Take a look at local plans on the Charnwood Borough Council website and find out what's applied for and happening near where you live: http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/v iewing_or_commenting_on_planning_ applications . Send your thoughts using the context above to your Borough and Town or Parish council representatives, and cc development.control@charnwood.gov.uk before relevant deadlines. Cllr. Renata Jones BA (Hons) Deputy Chair, Charnwood Conservative Association, and Syston branch cllrrenatajones@gmail.com
Council is pleased to provide financial support to Age UK Ltd, the Youth Café and the Neighbourhood Watch on a continuing basis. Closure of Birstall Pool: it was indeed very sad that the pool was closed. This was not a decision that Birstall Parish Council had any influence over and was largely due to the lack of funds to undertake the necessary and costly maintenance required. Grit Bins: Birstall Parish Council has paid for the installation of three grit bins in this financial year and has budgeted for two bins per year upon requests from residents. The forms are available on the Parish Council website (www.birstallparishcouncil.org.uk) or can be requested from the Council office. Siting of the bins is subject to strict criteria set by Leicestershire County Council (Meadow Lane would not be considered as it is an un-adopted road). Leicestershire County Council are responsible for the installation, filling, maintenance and removal of bins. Bus Shelters: I can confirm that I attended a meeting with representatives from Leicestershire County Council to agree the sites for three new bus shelters on Loughborough Road (all bus shelters in the Parish are the responsibility of Leicestershire County Council). Birstall Gala: This is staged by Birstall Parish Council to bring the community together and has never been a fund raising event. It has proved to be very popular, with positive feedback from those who attend. The Parish Council introduced a £1 admission charge for adults, which contributes to the overall cost which is budgeted for annually. Any member of the public is welcome to attend Gala committee meetings or indeed to join the committee. My fellow Councillors freely give their time to support the Gala and any help from Birstall residents would be really welcomed and appreciated. I would emphasise that Birstall Parish Council makes decisions in an open and democratic way. Members of the public can attend and voice their views at Council meetings. Minutes of the meetings are placed on the Parish Council website and the accounts are made public at the end of each financial year. An Annual Report is prepared and presented at the Annual Parish Meeting and delivered to each household as an insert in the Birstall Post. Council information is available for any resident who wishes to access it. Councillor Ann Marshall. Chair of Birstall Parish Council.
Bridge
I read with some unease in your latest edition of the Post that a bridge is planned to cross the A6 just north of Stonehill school. For various reasons I doubt that this would be a good idea. Firstly the diagram does not show how people are meant to get on to the bridge, but does suggest that it is some distance back from the road on both sides. Whilst some people are quite comfortable with this arrangement, this will deter others from using the bridge. Secondly, it still does not answer the question that I join Mrs Howe in thanking all volun- I have raised several times concerning teers who offer their time to support school children from the state. At services in our Parish. Birstall Parish present there are two options – to walk
Parish Council
THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
to Bentley Road and use the crossing or to walk to Wanlip and use the path across the fields. Most choose to pull down the fence enclosing the Stonehill playing field, then walk diagonally across the main road climbing over the crash barrier in the middle. I suggested a gate opposite the first crossing into the new estate. It would seem that such a gate would need a road built through the playing field, and, horror of horrors, people may use it as a short-cut to and from Birstall Road. If a gate were to be provided for the bridge, do the authorities expect the school children to use the bridge? Most unlikely. They will still cross the road diagonally, climbing over the crash barriers. I remember the Kingston bypass was provided with three such bridges, though with steps leading up to the bridge on each side. In 20 years I never saw a bridge being used. They have now been removed. Should the powers that are put their thinking caps on again? Dr D A C McNeil
Bus service [In reply to Sue Hitchcock, Jan Birstall Post] Sorry to hear that you are dissatisfied with the new timetable that we are operating within the Birstall estate. The new timetable is designed to provide an enhanced 15 minute frequency on Sibson Road in Birstall and a half hourly daytime service to the Gates estate and Wanlip Lane estate of Birstall. In addition to this extra evening journeys have been added to the timetable. We have carried out a check of our GPS tracking and ETM data for the 08:05 journey from the 10th November (which is when the new timetable came into effect), to date and found that this journey has been operating on time from Harrowgate Drive 86% of the time. Centrebus adheres to the window of tolerance set by the DfT, whereby anything that is operating up to 1 minute early and up to 5 minutes late is counted as being on time. Centrebus operates the 22A/B/C services on a commercial basis and the only funding that we receive from the council is for the 22B service on Saturdays. We offer our customers a wide range of great value ticketing options in order to meet every customers needs, with fares as low as £1.20 with our Carbonara smartcard. Whilst conducting a check of our ticketing machine data, we were pleased to see that many customers in Birstall have taken advantage of these low fares and are using a Carbonara smartcard to travel with us. Newer vehicles are expected to be coming into Leicester in the next month as part of a fleet cascade, which will be replacing some of the older vehicles in our fleet. It is also worth mentioning that since last month bus stops have been fitted in the Gates estate and the service is no longer hail and ride in this area. Customers are expected to board and alight at the stops going forward and we hope that this will help to speed up boarding times and increase the overall reliability of the service. We note that there are a high volume of passengers boarding the service at certain times of the day, which can at times cause delays. This will continue to be monitored going forward to see if
there are any adjustments required to the running times of the timetable. Bijel Mistry Commercial Manager, Centrebus
Thanks I would like to thank most sincerely the two ladies (one of them called Susan) who found my wallet which I had dropped near Tesco’s, Birstall on January 7 and it was handed to Santander office, Birstall. Thank you both once again. A Pattini
Shocked I read the Birstall Post regularly but have never posted a letter to you before now. However, this morning I was left feeling so shocked and aggrieved by the comments of a contractor working at the Traveller site on Greengate Lane I decided to write in. Like myself, many Birstall residents utilise Greengate Lane on a regular basis, as it is the most direct route to Tesco, their place of work, or their child’s school. Many will be aware that construction of the Greengate Lane traveller’s site is well under way and that temporary traffic lights were put into place outside the site in January. At non-peak times the lights cause delay but no major inconvenience. However, at peak times traffic is prevented from entering Birstall via Greengate Lane because oncoming traffic (which is queuing all the way back to Highcliffe) not only have to wait for a green light but then get held up exiting onto the Leicester Road/Beaumont leys lane. This means those patiently waiting to enter Birstall are unable to move forward when their light turns green as the carriageway remains full of oncoming traffic. On the morning of the 13th January 2015 this is exactly what happened, and unless traffic entering into Birstall wanted to run a red light and try and beat the oncoming traffic their only option was to sit and repeatedly watch their green light turned to red again, with no end in sight. Having sat through multiple light changes I sounded my horn in a bid to alert the site workers to the situation. I thought they would take some action to help, even tell us they were calling someone to sort it. I was wrong. One stood staring at me, three discussed it. No intervention taken. Finally, thanks to the slow pull off of the oncoming van I was able to move forward. I politely shouted to the worker that he needed to do something as the traffic light system was not working. His response, “get a f*****g job!” Shocked by this rude response I drove off but noticed that the driver behind me also spoke to the worker. Did they receive the same response? I have since made a formal complaint to Leicester City Council for whom the contractors work. Hopefully, the council will take action to alieve congestion on Greengate Lane. Mrs Richardson, Birstall.
The March issue of
THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Feb 28. The copy deadline is Feb 13
Noticeboard all details printed free Lectures by historian Dr Michael Lynch (University of Leicester, retired)
‘The British Empire – for good or evil’ Tuesday February 17 The Governance of the United Kingdom Tuesday March 17 The Rothley Centre, 7.30pm Tea/coffee break, Q&A session To book your place call 0116 237 5254 Tickets £5, pay at the door
Councillor Surgery Last Sat of every month 10am to 12noon 10 Sibson Road, Old Council Office Talk to your District & County Councillors to discuss any issue of local concern
Birstall & District Art Society Tuesday February 2 at 7pm You are invited to join us at the Palmer Tomkinson Centre at Longslade College, LE4 4GH to watch renowned artist Julia Kent giving a demonstration of ‘Still Life’ using Acrylics and missed media. Demonstration to end at 9pm. Members £1, Guests £3. Free raffle. Ample parking and wheelchair access. Mountsorrel Methodist Church presents the Second in the 14th series of Sunday Night @ Eight
Organ Recitals Sunday February 15 at 8pm by David Bristow Director of Music, Trinity Methodist Church, Loughborough Admission free Donations for church’s development fund Buffet from 7.30pm
Women’s World Day of Prayer St Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church, Front St, Birstall Friday March 6 Beginning with lunch at 12noon followed by a PowerPoint presentation on the Bahamas and culminating in a service at 1.45pm approximately and ending at about 2.45pm
Charnwood Orchestra The Banks of Green Willow Concert All Saints Parish Church, Loughborough Saturday March 21 at 7.30pm A programme of music by Butterworth, Howells, Duparc, & Vaughan Williams Dedicated to the memory of the fallen Tickets £10 (£9 con) 07718 153 117 www.charnwoodorchestra.org.uk Saturday 14th March 2015 10am- 1.00pm at Birstall Methodist Church
Mini-Market & Table Top Sale tables @ £10.00 each contact: 0116 2672606
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10
THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
Good-as-New clothes Home-made cakes,preserves, crafts,plants,books Refreshments in the Coffee Shop
Birstall Royal British Legion 7th Shana Q 14th Charlie Grace 21st Sharna 28th TBC Dancing every Saturday night with live entertainment Bingo, Free beer raffle and not forgetting Open the Box Every Tuesday night Bingo starting at 9.15pm Quiz nights Sunday 8th and 22nd February starting at 9pm Acoustic night Sunday 15th February at 8pm Food available every Saturday 122pm Wakes catered for New outside seating area Wi-Fi available
Leicester Symphony Orchestra De Montfort Hall Saturday 14 February 19.30 Conductor: John Andrews Soprano: Sarah Redgwick Tenor: Christopher Diffey Tchaikovsky Fantasy Overture: Romeo & Juliet Delius Walk to the Paradise Garden Puccini La Boheme (end of Act 1) Gounod Je veux vivre Donizetti Una furtiva lagrima Verdi Parigi o cara Bernstein Symphonic Dances (West Side Story) 6.30pm FREE pre-concert talk: "The Tragedy of Love in Music" by conductor John Andrews
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A concert on Valentine's Day would not be quite complete without the yearning love theme from Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture. But far from being all romance, this concert provides a more complete view of love in music. West Side Story, based on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, is the epitome of vibrant passion, Latin flare and painful tragedy. Leonard Bernstein's groundbreaking score still encapsulates the mood as the Sharks face off against the Jets, whilst two starcrossed lovers are fatefully drawn to one another. Tickets £11 £15 £18 Concessions 18 & Under All tickets £5.00 Seniors 10% discount Students 50% discount Leisure Pass 20% discount
St James Church Tiny Tots Group A small friendly group for preschool age children and their carers. We meet every Monday afternoon in term-time at Birstall Village Hall. 1.30 until 3.00pm. 50p per family. For more information phone Marion Tegg 267 3817 or Elaine White 267 3030
Birstall & District Local History Society The next meeting of the Society is to be held on Thursday 12th February 2015 in the Birstall Village Hall, Birstall Road, Birstall.Leics LE4 4DH. The subject of the talk is "Leicester Oddities" given by Virginia
Birstall Flower Club February 25th 2015, 7.15pm Birstall Village Hall Demonstration by Lorena Dyer "A Touch of Romance" Visitors welcome - £5 Queries to Sylvia: 0116 2674206 or Mary Linnett: 0116 2672247
Quorn Badminton Club Rawlins Community College Sports Hall ( 4 Courts) Monday evenings 7.45 - 9.45 Just come and experience having fun playing matches with us. Further Information 07837 646544
Women's World Day of Prayer at St. Theres's Roman Catholic Church, Front St, Birstall. Friday, March 6th. Beginning with lunch at twelve noon, followed by a PowerPoint presentation on the Bahamas, and culminating in a service at 1:45pm approximately, and ending at about 2:45pm
200 Club Winners The winners for Nov, Dec 2014 and Jan 2015: Nov: 1st V Clements, 2nd T Lane, 3rd S Coley, 4th J Todd
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Dec: 1st J Button, 2nd S Ball, 3rd C Chapman, Christmas Bonus R Newitt Jan: 1st B Sherrif, 2nd M Allen, 3rd R Cowham, 4th C Greaves Birstall Methodist Thursday Group
Coffee Morning Saturday 21st Feb, 10-12 am Methodist Church Centre, Wanlip Lane, in aid of Prostaid, and George Hythe House minibus appeal. Home made cakes,tombola, books and puzzles etc. All welcome.
A Bit of A Do! Charity Dinner & Dance in aid of Mesothelioma UK A much needed but little known charity providing specialist nurses for victims of this asbestos cancer Saturday 21st March 2015 7:30pm to Midnight Keith Weller Suite - King Power Stadium Leicester City Football Club Minimum dress code is cocktail dress/lounge suit but feel free to take it to the maximum too. Three course set menu (details on request) Vegetarian options available, Special diets catered for: advise when booking Tables seat between 8 and 10 people so why not round up your friends and make a night of it Live entertainment and raffe Only £40 per person A £10 deposit secures your place - Balance payable by 7 February 2015 Overnight accommodation available at discount rates onsite at the Holiday Inn Express Booking: Call 07802756357 or email linda_lakin@yahoo.com Birstall Methodist Men's Pantomime Proudly Presents
Aladdin Performances: 7:30 from Tuesday 17th February - Saturday 21st February Matinee Saturday 2:30pm at the Methodist Centre, Wanlip Lane, Birstall Tickets £5.00 available from Deborah Tel 07941113771
THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
Film Presentations From Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council
“Jimmy's Hall” Friday Feb 13 (109 mins) This 1930's historical drama is based on a true story about the causes of Jimmy Gralton's deportation from Ireland. He builds a rural dance hall to meet the needs of young people in County Leitrim, against the wishes of the Church and the local landowners. He determines that all people should be allowed to celebrate and dance as free human beings
“The Hundred-Foot Journey” Friday March 13 (124 mins) This uplifting comedy drama, starring Helen Mirren, charts the battle of wits between two restaurateurs in a close-knit French village. Circumstances necessitate Papa Kadam, with his Indian family, setting up his business across the road from the eating establishment of Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren). They eventually learn to see eye to eye over the simmering saucepans and as they lovingly stir their thick sauces, our mouths water. "Mr Turner" Friday April 10 Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost £5 and concessions are £4.50. There will be refreshments and a lucky prize draw. Advanced tickets can be purchased via the parish office 0116 236 7626 or at the door.
National Library Day Saturday 7th February Birstall Library Free Coffee Morning & a Taster Craft Session during normal opening hours which are 10-1pm. We will be promoting the new digital e-Resources that people can download for free if they are a library member, and it is still FREE to join the library. We have a variety of talking books, books and magazines that are available. Also every fortnight we have a lunch time session on Tuesday when shared reading takes place, which is also free to attend. For further information on any of the above please contact the library directly on 0116 305 8756
The Birstall Post has a new address & phone number: The Birstall Post, Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR Tel: 0116 4422067
The March issue of
THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Feb 28. The copy deadline is Feb 13
Section 106: getting a fair deal A NEW committee that looks into the way Section 106 developer contributions are agreed and spent has been set up by Charnwood Borough Council. Section 106 agreements are agreed tigation into why this unsatisfactory secbetween developers and planning author- tion 106 agreement was signed? And ities when planning permission is grantbecause the residents paid for the seced. They are contributions tion 106 agreement made by developers to with their mortgages, mitigate the impact of are they going to get new developments, such a refund?” as providing new roads, Charnwood’s forschools, community mal response was: “A facilities and affordable school for the Halhousing. lam Fields developThe new Section 106 ment is identified in Funds Scrutiny Panel at the Section 106 Charnwood was set up after councillors agreement and a financial contribution expressed concerns about: was offered to the Local Educa• how much councillors were intion Authority (LEA) at the volved in deciding what was included in appropriate trigger point. Section 106 agreements “The Section 106 agreement • how well they were consulted about also requires the following: the impact of new development 'That the aggregate total contri• how well they were kept informed bution to the provision of the when the money was spent Community Meeting Hall shall The panel has made a number of not exceed the sum of recommendations to increase the ability £350,000.' This sum is not of councillors to influence decisions therefore specifically indexed relating to 106 agreements, and that the linked. The agreement is linked Council should publish an annual report to the submission of the resetting out what money was collected, served matters planning applicawhen it was spent and what it was used tion for the Local Centre, which for. was permitted in June 2013. Charnwood Borough Council is the The agreement enables the planning authority that agrees the Seccosts incurred in the design tion 106 obligations, and Birstall’s Borand specification work of the ough Councillors have been asking for Meeting Hall to be paid by the years for clarification about the Section developer. It is understood that 106 associated with the Hallam Fields Birstall Parish Council has development, which includes the provicommissioned an architect and sion of £2million for a new primary a surveyor to undertake such school and recreational facility. work. At Charnwood’s full council meeting “The agreement requires a in January, Birstall Cllr Simon Sansome asked: “Residents buy their homes with extra costs incorporated to cover the section 106 agreement. Residents were expecting a school, this has not materialised. “Speaking to staff at the Borough Council it is now not clear if the £350,000 is enough to build the community centre. “The residents don't have a school, they don't have any shops as promised, they don't have any transport links, there's a bridge being built connecting the estate to the park and ride, however the park and ride’s future is in doubt. “Can I ask this Council for a full inves-
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schedule of works containing a detailed breakdown of the construction and other associated costs of building the Community Meeting Hall to be prepared by the contractor or his agent. The design and contract costs are to be met by the housing developer. The agreement requires payment to be made to the builder of the Community Hall in stages in accordance with the building contract within 28 days of a written request from the Borough Council or its nominee. “The agreement was prepared and signed in 2003 before the Council published its current supplementary planning document on Developer Contributions, which does provide specific advice on indexation and has set the approach for agreements since its approval in 2007. “The contributions secured by the Section 106 agreement are funded by the developer of the houses and not the mortgagees. Therefore the costs came off the development value of the site and were indirectly met by the landowner.”
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
NHW news
& crime report Later this month we shall be sending out our small brown envelopes attached to the newsletter. These are for the annual donations to the Watch. We ask for £1 per household which covers your membership for twelve months. Of course, we are delighted if you feel like giving more! Your local Co-ordinator collects the envelopes, or you can put them through his/her letter box. The money we collect is used to buy the security items we sell at Advice Shops and for the printing of the monthly Newsletter. It also covers telephone expenses and the hire of the Methodist Hall for the AGM and Open Meeting. We like to help our local Beat Team with items like ink cartridges for their printer.
You can be assured that your donation is put to good use. All the items we sell are at cost price and some are free to members. We should like to thank all the members who regularly donate. Our local NHW would not exist without you. From the Birstall & Wanlip NHW committee
Crime Report : Birstall & Wanlip, Dec 2014 Assaults 6, burglary 8, burglary nondwelling 1, damage 1, damage to motor vehicle 1, drugs 1, robbery 1, theft 5, theft from motor vehicle 6, theft of motor vehicle 1, theft from store 9
RECORDED CRIME has fallen slightly in December with a total of 40 crimes being reported compared to 45 in November. Unfortunately dwelling burglary has risen from five offences to eight which is very disappointing and fails to reflect the fact that Neighbourhood Officers have been out this month doing extra patrols in the run up to Christmas. Please continue to ensure that you remain vigilant at all times and secure your property as
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this really does provide the best deterrent. We have also been out conducting some more speed checks on Birstall Road in relation to our priority looking at speeding in the village. In total approximately 160 vehicles passed through the site, 16 of which were found to be exceeding the 30mph speed limit. 3 drivers were reported (2 for travelling at 37mph and 1 for travelling at 40mph) and several others were also verbally warned for travelling at 35mph. We will continue to conduct these checks as and when and will report the results in due course. On December 12 we conducted a consultation event in Sibson Road with officers handing out crime prevention leaflets and asking members of the public about their views on Policing in the village, and what they felt we should be concentrating on. A number of people raised concerns about the street lights being switched off, parking and dog fouling – all issues that we are unfortunately not able to do a great deal about as it is the local council that is now responsible for enforcing these. AntiSocial Behaviour (ASB) was however also mentioned as being of concern to a number of local residents, especially around the Wanlip Lane and Sibson Road area, where we have unfortunately started to see a rise in ASB with a particular group of local youths causing some issues for local shopkeepers and members of the Public. The beat team has responded to this by visiting the parents of the youths involved to speak with them about their child’s behaviour and by creating a new Problem Solving Plan (PSP) so that all incidents of ASB can be properly logged and recorded. This will also allow us to work more closely with other agencies, such as the council and youth services in order to tackle the issue in a more cohesive manner. And as always, please continue to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to either the Police on 101 or your local Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. PC 1759 Dave Jaeckels, PCSO’s 6611 Mark Butler, 6048 Adam Loydall and 6391 Fiona Lacey. L05 – Birstall Office Leicestershire Police http://www.leics.police.uk Tel: 101 or 0116 2677355 (Please note this is an advice line only – Please use 101 to report crime).
birstall post office
The March issue of 6
THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Feb 28. The copy deadline is Feb 13
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County council tax increased by 1.99% LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY Council’s ruling cabinet has proposed a 1.99 per cent Council Tax rise next year. In December the Conservative run council proposed a 1.5 per cent Council Tax rise for each of the next four years. The proposal for a 1.99 per cent rise in 2015/16 would raise £4.8 million, or £1.2 million more than a 1.5 per cent rise. At this stage, it is still proposed to have a 1.5 per cent rise in the remaining three years, subject to the next Government’s funding settlement. Deputy council leader and finance spokesman, Byron Rhodes, said: “Last month, we proposed a 1.5 per cent tax rise, after four years of Council Tax freezes. However, that was before the Government’s funding announcement, later in December. “In the light of our funding problems – with a £16.4 million or 12.8 per cent grant reduction in the next year alone – we’re proposing to seek a 1.99 per cent rise next year. The Government’s capping limit is two per cent.” A rise of 2% or more would require a referendum. The latest budget says £91 million has to be saved over the four years starting next April – and proposals are being developed to cover £82 million of this. There is a £9 million shortfall within the savings target and the proposed Council Tax rise will help to reduce this. Talks have been held with MPs about the council’s funding situation. Byron Rhodes said: “In the past few weeks, we’ve had meetings with Leicestershire MPs, who have been very understanding and helpful and are pressing our case for fair funding with the Government.” The increase represents an extra 41p per week for a band D property. Cllr Rhodes added: “Despite being a well-run council, we’re facing the toughest financial situation we’ve ever experienced and there is no doubt that the public will notice the cuts we will have to make. We’re going to have to look for savings from every part of the council. “Fairer funding would help to ease a lot of this pressure. If the Government funded Leicestershire at the same level as the average county council, we would receive an extra £37 million per year, or £56 more per person. If we received the same overall funding as East Sussex, we’d receive an extra £113 million per year. “We know local government has to take its share of austerity savings but we have briefed our MPs on what the impact will be, unless we get fairer treatment.”
THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
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Church appoints community worker BIRSTALL’S ANGLICAN churches have appointed a community worker for Hallam Fields. Stephen March has been employed by St James the Great, Birstall and Our Lady and St Nicholas, Wanlip to help the churches become a greater presence on the Hallam Fields and Cedar Walks estates. “His first task will be to listen to those living on the estates and them to seek to provide for their spiritual needs through opportunities to meet and build relationships, socialise, and learn about the Christian faith” said Rev Vince Jupp, Rector of Birstall and Wanlip. He added: “Stephen and his wife Sharon will eventually live on the estate and are excited about discovering ways to serve their local community. “Birstall and Wanlip already has a few established traditional churches, so Stephen’s work on Hallam Fields will be focussed on developing fresh ways of ‘being’ church. If traditional church is not for you then we hope to offer new and exciting ways that you might discov-
A RECORD breaking fundraising year for Birstall Quilters saw them present a cheque for £1500 to the Leicester branch of the Parkinson’s Association. Howard Gowdridge from the Association said: “This is an absolutely fabulous amount, the money will be split between research and the local Leicester branch of the association.” Pic:Stephen & Sharon March
er the love of God for yourself through involvement in Christian activities for all ages, friendships and informal worship. “Everyone is welcome to come and share in this new way of worship. When they arrive in February they will be keen to hear from you as to what your needs are. If you would like to know more or would like to get involved early on then please don’t hesitate to contact me by email on vincejupp@btinternet.com or phone 0116 2674517”
Planning applications P/14/2542/2: 15 Hallam Avenue – erection of two-storey extension to side and rear and single storey extension to rear of dwelling P/15/0044/2: 72 Queensgate Ave – erection of single storey front and rear extensions and two storey side extension to dwelling
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ed in National Curriculum linked visits, workshops, simulated space missions and classroom based learning experiences, again a record number. People travel, on average, 67 miles for a visit to the National Space Centre and over 11% of those family visitors will stay in local accommodation. Malika Andress, Head of Marketing at the National Space Centre said: “People think the National Space Centre is a Leicester attraction, when the reality is that people from London, Nottingham and Birmingham are more likely to visit than those on the doorstep. In 2014 we saw a significant growth in visitors from the local communities and we are going to work hard to support those people to access all the resources on offer. In 2015 we will improve the visitor experience, launch a new Planetarium show in the larger Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium, and we will keep shouting about how amazing and inspiring space science and exploration really is.”
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
wars and conflicts around the world. It all makes us feel very uncertain and vulnerable, so we are offering a single meeting to look at what the Christian “February fill dyke” is how my mother Bible has to say to us at the start of Methodist Men's Pantomime used to describe this time of year. 2015. The title is: “How can we know Some tickets are still available at £5 However at the time of writing this, at each for the 2015 Performance of ‘Alad- certainty for today and tomorrow?” As the end of January, we are inclined to with previous Discussion Topics meetdin’ being presented during Half Term think that the dire threats of storms and ings, this one is open to all, whatever Week Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st at flooding in much of the UK often seem to 7.30 each evening with a Saturday Matidenomination or religion or none, and pass us by, here in the East Midlands. is free of charge. If you would like to nee at 2.30. Telephone Deborah on Long may that continue! attend, then please contact the number 07941 113771 If the sight of snowdrops convinces given below. Methodist Church Family Weekend you that spring is on its way, you might Still time At the very end of February you are be interested to hear that at Launde AbLast month we mentioned that there invited to the Church Family Weekend. bey, near East Norton in Leicestershire, has been some interest for a series of This is being run along similar lines to you are invited to view the snowdrops in meetings giving an introduction to the the 2013 weekend which was called the extensive grounds, then enjoy afterBible. If you didn’t see this notice, then “Sharing God’s Love” and was led by the noon tea (for £6) in the delightful dinthere is still time to register your interest Lay Witness Movement. This year the ing room. The dates are from February weekend will be led by the District Chair- in attending by phoning the number 15 - 19 and February 7 - March 3, 2pm given below. (As stated in January, we man Rev Peter Hancock under the title to 4pm each day. Proceeds to the Abpropose to start with answering the “Ordinary people seeking a deeper life in bey’s upkeep. questions: how did the Bible come to be God”. It will start on Friday 27th at 6pm A reminder too of the travel talk about written; is it trustworthy; have there been with a Family meal followed by a session Poland in the church and community changes and are there contradictions? with Rev Peter Hancock. Saturday morncentre at Wanlip on February 27 at We would then move on to what the ing groups will meet for coffee and dis7.30pm. Tickets will be limited (£4) Bible actually says, the content tailored cussion in people’s homes for Coffee & and will include a glass of wine/squash to the needs of the group members.) Discussion. At 6pm there will be a Fish at the interval. Please ring 2674913 or Sunday services & Chip meal followed by an evening of see Beryl at St. James. You are warmly invited to join us for social & spiritual input. The weekend On Sunday February 15 at 10am we our services, which are held in the Comconcludes with a celebratory service at shall be welcoming to the parish a new munity Room at Highcliffe Primary 10.30 with an early (9.30) communion. member of staff. Stephen March has School, Greengate Lane (LE4 3DL), For more details, see the leaflet availrecently been appointed as a community starting at 10.45am. We have two visitable at church or pioneer worker for our churches in ing speakers in February: John Todd email:chrismbrice@yahoo.com. Birstall and Wanlip, with particular care (Loughborough) on 1st and John Tonks Film Food & Discussion for the Hallam Fields estate. Along with (Leicester) on 15th. We are not able to At the beginning of Lent, on Sunday Sharon his wife, he will be living on the use the school premises on the Sunday February 22, the evening service will estate where he hopes to get to know at the end of half-term (22nd), so take on a very different style, perhaps local people. There will be more about please ring for the venue for that day. similar to our café services. Please note Stephen and Sharon after their arrival. Further information: please ring 0116 On that particular Sunday the 10am serv- the earlier start time of 5.30pm 2214883. Methodist Mini Market In March ice will be organised by the church’s From Anne Taylor, Birstall Independent Advance notice of a Spring Mini-Marhome groups. Baptist Church ket to be held on Saturday March 14. There will be some more special visiFrom Birstall Methodist Church tors on Sunday February 22 when we have a visit from the Church Missionary Society’s representatives at 10am at BirA ‘One-Off’ Discussion stall and 6pm at Wanlip. Do come along Recent news items have been distressand hear about the work of this Society, ing, with lives lost in plane crashes, the which we contribute to annually as a terrorist attacks in Paris and continuing church.
News from the churches
WI news
From Beryl McHugh, the Parish churches
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IT WAS a busy evening on January 12 as yearly subscriptions were paid in and the 2015 calendar of events discussed at Birstall and Wanlip WI’s first meeting of the year. We have so much to look forward to including the Annual Council Meeting where county members will meet and compete with their cakes, scones and flower arrangements and listen to guest speaker Angela Rippon. Also in March we will be visiting the Curve to watch The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole. We also have a Harvest Supper and Evening of Gin later in the year. Ladies shared craft ideas to raise funds for our Methodist Church Coffee Morning on 30th May and hopefully members will be busy creating beautiful and useful gifts over the next few months. On a more serious note we put forward our own personal choices for the National WI Resolution of the Year. A dull evening was then brightened by a talk about the vivid Art Pottery of Clarice Cliff given by Derek Holloway. We next meet on February 2 when Lisa Gooden will tell us “Why I Don’t Like Brussels” and the competition is a Valentine Memento. From Birstall & Wanlip WI
Day of prayer WOMEN’S WORLD Day of Prayer is an international inter church organisation which enables the voices of women from a different part of the world to be heard each year, expressing their hopes and concerns, and bringing them before the rest of the world in prayer. On Friday March 6 an estimated three million people, in over 170 countries, will gather to observe the day of prayer, using an order of service written by Christian women from the Bahamas. Here, in Birstall, and organised by ladies from the Churches of Birstall and Wanlip, the service will this year take place at St Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church. The day will begin with lunch at twelve o’clock, followed by a PowerPoint presentation, showing various aspects of life in the Bahamas, and culminating in a religious service. All are welcome, and it is anticipated that the service will end at about 2.45pm
Skylink bus petition A PETITION has been launched to get the Skylink bus service to stop on Loughborough Road near Red Hill circle. Birstall Parish Council has written to the bus operator, Kinchbus, in support of the petition.
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
15
Thurcaston playgroup THURCASTON PLAYGROUP finished 2014 with a Christmas party for the children.
Putting £10 to good use THE TREASURER at Birstall Methodist church, David Bark, is used to receiving money from the congregation to pay the church’s running costs. But one Sunday last month, everyone attending morning worship had the chance to leave with an extra £10 in their pocket. The turnaround marked the launch of a new fundraising scheme. "It's based on a story told by Jesus and recorded in the Bible" said Methodist Minister Rachel Parkinson. "In the parable of the talents a landowner goes on a journey, entrusting different amounts of money to his various servants. On his return, he praises those who have put what they have been given to good use, returning it with interest." David Bark said: “We hope that giving out this money will inspire people to use their creativity, skills and imagination in ways which will bring back a good return. Signs are already very encouraging as people were bubbling over with ideas before they’d even left the building.” The new fundraising is in aid of a £155,000 development project called “Walk in the Light”. It involves redesigning the entrance used by those accessing the church hall for Pre-School, Special
Santa bought a present for all the children who attend on a regular basis. “A big thank you to all the parents and grandparents who helped to make the party fun by providing food and also for their continual support and help with running our local playgroup” said spokeswoman Estelle O’Donoghue She added: “The new year has brought the cold and frost and the comfort of the Thurcaston Memorial Hall has been very helpful to help burn energy and keep our little ones busy. The children have had fun on the bikes, indoor slide, pop-up tent and playing with the balls. Activities have included painting, drawing and sticking. The two hours that playgroup provides is a great way to help the children form new friendships as well as a chance for parents and grandparents to indulge in a cuppa and a chat.” If you are looking for a relaxed, friendly local playgroup for your children (0-5 years of age), then call 0116
210 9188 or just turn up on Tuesday mornings (term time), 9-11am at Thurcaston Memorial Hall, Anstey Lane. Cost is £2 per family.
Pics: how the new entrance will look
Needs Playgroup, Lunch Club and a range of youth activities. This foyer will be enlarged and made much more light and bright. A new entrance to the worship area of the church will be made from the foyer and fitted with glass doors. Internally, the worship area will be re-carpeted and pews removed. “The Walk in the Light” project will link the worship area with the rest of the church rooms, allowing much more access during times when the buildings are open. “People might think that this is a lot of money to spend on a building at a time of austerity” said Rachel. “We are already doing many things to combat hardship and loneliness but we also want people to be able to easily access the sanctuary of a quiet, holy space as a way of relieving the pressures and stress of modern life. And for members of the church, worship is at the heart of everything we do.”
Santa sleigh tour MEMBERS OF The Rotary Club of the Wreake Valley toured Birstall and other local villages with a Santa’s sleigh this Christmas. A spokesman said: “Many thanks to all residents who supported our Christmas 2014 collections at Asda Thurmaston, Tesco Syston and with our Santa Sleigh. Thanks too to the supermarkets for allowing our collections. “As usual most of the proceeds will be distributed locally during 2015. You can find out more about this and about our club at www.wreakevalleyrotary.org.uk. If you know of a local cause we could support please do get in touch.
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THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2015
Birstall BAG’s cancer corner The Cancer Drugs Fund There has been a significant amount in the press this week about the cancer drugs fund. Birstall BAG’s thought it might help to explain what the fund is and what the recent changes mean. What is the Cancer Drugs Fund? The Cancer Drugs Fund is money the Government has set aside to pay for cancer drugs that haven’t been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and aren’t available within the NHS in England. Once drugs are approved for use by NICE they are automatically funded and do not require Cancer Drugs Fund money. Explaining the Fund The Cancer Drugs Fund started at the beginning of April 2011 and will continue until the end of March 2016. The fund is worth £340 million per year. There is a national list of drugs available through the Fund. You may hear this called the priority list. If you meet the conditions for a drug that is on the list, you should be able to have it on the NHS if you live in England. There are separate but similar arrangements in Scotland and Wales.
The Fund will also consider applications on behalf of individual patients for other drugs that are not on the list. This is usually to treat rare cancers. Recent Controversy The list of drugs included was revised recently and it is the publication of this revised list that has resulted in the renewed media coverage about the Cancer Drugs Fund. Previously there were 84 treatments on the list but following a review 16 drugs used in 25 treatments are to be removed. Three of the drugs to go are used in advanced breast cancer. Patients currently receiving the treatment will be able to continue. Some new drugs will join the list. Media headlines have also highlighted the reduced access has come about since NHS England took over responsibility for the fund. Previously the fund was shared and allocated across England Strategic Health Authorities. Some confusion has arisen because a drug may have been removed as a treatment for lung cancer but is still permitted in breast cancer. Patients have recognised the drug name, seen it has been removed not realising it is only in
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Small Ads 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, mob: 077 91788331 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 LOST New Years Eve – a dark sheepskin hat with a fur-trim, lost either on Saltersgate Road or Kilby Avenue. The hat is of great sentimental value and therefore a reward will be given to anyone who has found it. Please contact 0116 267 6377 or email cgeschke@btopenworld.com
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lung cancer and not breast cancer. Meaning their breast cancer treatment will not be affected. Applying for a drug through the Cancer Drugs Fund Applications to the fund must be made on behalf of patients by a recognised and accredited cancer specialist and must be supported by the NHS trust/foundation trust’s clinical cancer lead. The application process is on line. There are 4 regional committees that process applications. Decisions are usually made within a few days. In summary It is difficult to keep pace with scientific advances in our understanding of cancer and potential or emerging treatments. Hopefully in future generations life style adaptations will help reduce the incidence and science will find a cure for all cancers. In these interim years meeting the cost of research to improve our understanding and of providing emerging treatments is likely to be an ongoing struggle. Many new drugs and treatments are available in clinical trials which do not incur any additional costs to the NHS or the patient. It is always worth exploring clinical trial options with your clinical team. For further information: www.cancerresearchuk.org University Hospitals of Leicester Cancer Information Centre on 0116 258 6189. For more information on the funds we have raised, projects we support and forthcoming events see www.birstallbags.co.uk Contact the BAG’s by email birstallbags@hotmail.com Thank you all for you ongoing support.
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