Birstall Post (427) February 2019 by The Birstall Post

the Birstall post Y O U R

C O M M U N I T Y

FEBRUARY 2019

N E W S P A P E R

www.birstallpost.co.uk

No. 427

Birstall Santander closing THE BIRSTALL branch of Santander, at 661 Loughborough Road, will be closed on June 27, 2019 as part of a nationwide programme of closures announced by the Spanish owned bank in January.

Hisses, boos & laughs at panto HATS first performance at their new venue has been hailed a success. ‘Babes in the Wood’ was Highcliffe Amateur Theatrical Society’s (HATS) first show at Birstall Social Club and the four performances were well received by audiences who joined in with plenty of boos and hissing, cheers and shouting. Sue Withers from HATS said: “The show was full of good humour, with a fabulous opening number and a good variety of songs throughout. “Robin Hood saved Maid Marion from the wicked Sheriff’s clutches, resulting in them getting married to the delight of

the children in the audience.” Audience reviews and posts received include the following: “What a wonderful performance last night of Babes in the Wood, I went along with my family and we had a thoroughly good time. Thank you all for another great evening’s entertainment” Penny Ford “We saw Babes in the Wood, thoroughly enjoyed every minute” Jeanette Ford “We had a fun evening watching Babes in the Wood last night, loved joining in

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with all the booing, well done” Noreen Riley HATS next production will be ‘Vicar of Dribley’ on May 16, 17 & 18 at the Birstall Social Club Details and tickets will be available nearer the date www.facebook.com/hatsamdram/ Pic: the cast of Babes in the Wood

The March issue of

THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on March 2. The copy deadline is Feb 15.

Santander says it is reshaping its branch network and closing 140 branches in response to changes in how customers are choosing to carry out their banking. The number of transactions carried out via Santander branches has fallen by 23% over the past three years, while transactions via digital channels have grown by 99% over the same period. Susan Allen, Head of Retail and Business Banking at Santander, said: “The Continued on page 2

2 Continued from page 1

individual help to find alternative Santander branches and access digital, telephone and Post Office banking services. Santander will retain a nationwide network of 614 branches following the proposed changes. All Santander current and business account holders can also bank using one of over 11,000 Post Office branches across the UK. Shona Rattray, Chair of Birstall Business Co-operative, said: “We are really disappointed to hear that this branch will be closing, with this following recent closures of Birstall Fruit & Veg, and McColls Newsagents. “Our local bank branches are really important to the village and give residents from outside of Birstall a reason to visit our local centre. They provide much needed footfall in our village and the loss of this branch will have a needs. We are also working alongside negative effect on many other local our unions to support colleagues shops and businesses. During this tough through these changes and to find alterretail climate we ask people to consider native roles for those impacted wherever where they choose to spend their money possible. and to think about shopping locally “We continue to believe that branches where possible.” have a vital role to play and we will be She added: “On a positive note, we refurbishing 100 of our branches over are really pleased to see a local Birstall the next two years. We are confident that business growing and MDW Fireplaces following these changes we will have the will soon be moving to the old Co-op right branch network to serve our cusTravel building on Sibson Road with a tomers’ changing needs, and we expect much larger showroom.” the size of our network to remain stable According to Which?, almost two for the foreseeable future.” thirds of the UK's bank branch network Santander has consulted its trade has been closed over the past 30 years. unions on the proposed changes and There were 20,583 banks and buildwill seek to find alternative roles for the ing society branches in 1988, according 1,270 colleagues affected wherever possi- to parliamentary records, but the conble. Santander expects to be able to sumer group's analysis of current acredeploy around a third of those affected count providers suggests the figure has and will be closely supporting colleagues fallen to 7,586 branches. over the coming weeks as the consultaThe nearest branches of Santander tion process continues. that are remaining open are: Santander will support customers of • 125 Belgrave Rd, Leicester closing branches to find other ways to • 2 Fletcher Mall, Beaumont Leys bank that best suit their needs, including • 1262 Melton Rd, Syston way our customers are choosing to bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with more and more customers using online and mobile channels. As a result, we have had to take some very difficult decisions over our less visited branches, and those where we have other branches in close proximity. “We will support customers of closing branches to find alternative ways to bank with us that best suit their individual

Parish council agrees 10% rise in precept THERE WILL be a 10% increase in the parish council part of your council tax for 2019/20, Birstall Parish Council has agreed. It considered its budget for the next financial year at a parish council meeting on January 14 and agreed a precept of £420,182. In 2018/19 it was £378,414. The parish precept is the amount collected from parishioners and is a component of the council tax.. Last year the parish council’s charge for band D households was £84.81 per year. For 2019/20 it will be £93.29, an increase of £8.48 per year, or 16p a week. Birstall Parish Council discussed the budget at two full council meetings, in December and this January. Speaking at the January meeting, Chair Ann Marshall said: “There has been no increase in the precept for four years – coming up are all sorts of issues that will increase expenditure.” After a debate, a proposal to increase the precept by 10% was put to the vote. Of the 15 councillors present, 11 voted in favour, three against and there was one abstention. In a statement, Cllr Ann Marshall said: “The parish council has not increased the precept for the past four years, however they are very aware and mindful of the pressure paced on higher authorities to constantly save money which often results in cut backs and the loss of a valuable local service. This is the second year of a three-year deal that was agreed by the government to not put restrictions onto parish and town councils by capping their precept

demands. “The Parish Council realises that if a situation arose where they were asked by residents to cover the costs of a lost and/or devolved service from a higher authority, the parish council would need to have a healthy reserve in place to be able to facilitate the requests. “By increasing the precept it will leave the council with an amount in reserve that could be utilised for nonbudgeted projects and costs that may arise.” Parish Councils calculate their precept by setting a budget. This sets out details of expenditure in various categories and also projected income. The difference between expenditure and income is the precept amount. It is divided by the number of properties in the parish that fall into council tax band D. Once calculations have been made to take into account the other tax bands, the resulting figure is collected from parishioners. Budgeted categories for 2019/20 include: • Admin & Wages £323,100 • Youth Work £14,000 • Parks, Cemetery, Car Parks, Public Toilets, Allotments £75,463 • Community Events (Gala, Christmas Lights, Civic Service) £20,500 A new community hall at Hallam Fields is being built by the parish council in 2019 and it expects to create new posts to manage the hall from October 2019, increasing the council’s wages budget.

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Bridge and new path improve access A NEW £1.5m footbridge across the A6 dual carriageway in Birstall is now officially open to the public. The 50 metre footbridge spans from the Hallam Fields estate to the Birstall Park & Ride site, with a new combined footway and cycleway providing an onward link to Cedars Academy. A final phase of works will see this footway and cycleway extended to the village of Wanlip. The scheme was constructed Danaher & Walsh Civil Engineering following on from the success of other recent bridgeworks projects, including Leicester's Charter Street Footbridge, opened 12 months previously. The Birstall scheme was funded by a section 106 contribution from Jelson Homes, developers of Hallam Fields. The bridge’s opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the Cedars Academy, Danaher & Walsh,

Jelson Homes, and design engineers William Saunders. Marking the opening of the bridge, a ribbon was cut by the Cedars Academy’s Executive Principal Laura Sanchez. Commenting on the significance of the bridge’s opening, Ms Sanchez said: “This bridge will make a massive difference to the local community, as well as the young people who attend Cedars Academy. “It will allow for safe crossing of a very busy road, whilst also connecting our school with Hallam Fields.” Ann Carruthers, Director of Environment & Transport at Leicestershire County Council, added: “I’m delighted that the Birstall footbridge is officially open to the public. “The bridge will provide a safer route

Pics: Map shows new bridge [A] and new path (red), access to Cedars school [B] and the new path linking up [C] with the existing path (green)

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Pic: Laura Sanchez, Executive Principal of the Cedars Academy, cuts a ribbon marking the official opening of the new £1.5m footbridge over the A6 dual-carriageway in Birstall, accompanied by representatives from contractor Danaher & Walsh Civil Engineering, scheme funder Jelson Homes and design engineers William Saunders.

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Lost ring returned Parish Council notes on Christmas Eve A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on January 14.

A LOST wedding ring has been returned to a grateful resident who lost it in a Birstall dog waste bin on Christmas Eve. Mrs Sarah Hancock contacted Birstall Parish Council’s Chair Ann Marshall on December 24, explaining she had lost her husband’s gold wedding ring while using the dog waste bin near Whiles Lane. Sarah had been wearing her husband’s ring as her own was too tight. Cllr Marshall was relieved to be able to establish that the dog waste bin she had used was one that was serviced by Birstall Parish Council and although the office was closed, she was able to contact the Clerk, who was at home on Christmas leave to explain what had happened. The Clerk was able to contact a member of the Estates Team who she knew to be working on that day to ask them to see if they could retrieve the ring from the bin. The Estates team members reacted immediately and were able to

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Looking forward to the year ahead Chair Ann Marshall said the biggest project was the completion of the new community hall at Hallam Fields, which will be located next to the Cedar Mews care home. It was reported that John Jenkins has resigned from the Council for personal reasons and that there are now four vacancies on the council. PCSO Mo Musa reported that thefts from motor vehicles were continuing and that people were still leaving valuables inside their cars. He said that there had been several cases of number plates thefts. Stolen plates are often used by criminals who drive away from petrol stations without paying for fuel. He recommended that anti-theft screws be

Cash point theft fails A GROUP of men tried to break into a Birstall cash machine on Christmas Eve. Police say three or four men wearing balaclavas attempted to break in to the cash machine at nationwide on Sibson Road. The incident occurred at around 10.30pm on December 24. The gang were unsuccessful and left the scene empty handed. The only details for the vehicle they were using are that it was a dark grey Volkswagen Gold, possibly an ‘18’ registration, although it could have false plates fitted. At the time no arrests have been made. It is believed that the incident is linked to other cash point robberies around the area. The crime reference number is 18000626455. Anyone with any information should call 101 and quote this reference number.

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fitted to plates. These can be purchased at the NHW surgery or at Halfords. PCSO Musa reported that two males were arrested following a short car chase in the village, from School Lane to Wanlip Lane. Following a collision with a police car the vehicle was blocked in outside Riverside School. Cannabis, cocaine and cash were found in the vehicle. One of the people arrested was local. PCSO Musa reported that there had been an attempted theft of the Nationwide cash machine on Sibson Road on December 24. Councillors discussed the precept and budget for 2019/20. Cllr Norman Cutting suggested that next year all councillors could play a part in the preparation of the budget. Cllr Tony Fowler commented that the budget had been considered by the management and policy committee and was being discussed by all councillors this evening. Cllr Shona Rattray said the increase in the budget for the gala was high at 15%, she thought 5% was appropriate. Cllr Garl Gunns said rents charged at the gala for the fairground operators and ice cream vendors were too low. It was agreed the budget for the gala be set at £14,000 and for the Civic Service, £1000. The budget for the 2019 Christmas event was set at £4000, and £4250 was budgeted for the 2019 Christmas tree. The Events Committee’s total budget is £23,250. The council’s reserve policy is to keep as cash reserves 50% of the council’s annual operating costs. This amounts to £148,720 as reserves. Cllr Julian Howe questioned the process for calculating the reserve and asked that the process be checked by an external auditor. Chair Ann Marshall says the clerk puts the budget together honestly and accurately, nothing is concealed and that all councillors have access to the financial information. The council debated a proposal to increase the precept by 10%. Chair Ann Marshall said the increase was necessary as a buffer for the council if it is required to assume responsibility for devolved services. Cllr Tony Fowler said a 10% increase should be seen in the context of no increases for the last four years. Cllr Shona Rattray said this was too much, it should be a 4% increase. Cllr Chris Morgan suggested a figure of 7%. Cllr Louise Harrison said the increase should be between 5 and 7%. Cllr Julian Howe said he could not vote for any increase when there is not a robust system in place to check that the council was receiving value for money for its expenditure. A 10% increase and a precept figure of £420,182 was put to the vote, with 11 for, three against and one abstention. Chair Ann Marshall reported that one of the parish council’s Christmas hampers, distributed to elderly people in Birstall, had been donated to John Jasper. His wife Janet lost her life following the Allington Drive gas explosion in 2017.

THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2019

Monday club THERE MAY be a general 'lull' after the activities of Christmas and New Year, but members of St. James Monday Group are looking forward to 2019.

Benches installed FOUR NEW benches in the Garden of Remembrance at Birstall cemetery create a peaceful memorial space and were installed following a request from visitors. Birstall Parish Council clerk Sue Coulson said: “In November 2018 we received a number of requests from relatives and visitors to the Garden of Remembrance to install benches in this space with memorial plaques. The Council’s Estates & Recreation Committee considered the request and ascertained that there was room for four benches to be comfortably installed. They took the decision to pre-purchase the wood effect benches to ensure that they were all the same, creating a uniform and aesthetically pleasing space. “The benches are wood effect but are made from a strong polymer that will not rot, warp or go brittle. The families were very happy with the Councils choice and were willing to pay for the cost to purchase the bench. The plaques were supplied and paid for by the requesters and the Parish Council’s Estates Team affixed them to the benches once they were installed. “I was keen that this work should be completed before Christmas because the cemetery is visited by lots of families during the Christmas period. The Estates Team Manager acknowledged the short turnaround but committed the whole Estates Team to the project to ensure that the area would be in order before the Christmas break. I was pleased to see that it was completed in time and delighted at the result. The project has also been admired by many visitors to the Cemetery.”

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We welcomed in the New year with a meal at Birstall Golf Club, which was a good chance for us to re-group and think about the year to come, and the charity we will wish to support during 2019. The nominations for the charity will be given by members during our February meeting (on the 11th). This evening we will also be having a talk by Ruth Cranmer called 'The foot at risk'. For anyone who has had a 'bit of bother' with their feet, or who wishes to avoid trouble, this should prove invaluable, as well as interesting. Time marches on, however, and March will see our AGM. This is a good time for you to join us, to see who we are and what we do, so please do come along to the Age Concern rooms in the Village Hall then and on the second Monday of every month. We will be pleased to welcome you. From St James Monday Group

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New Year sail at club WANLIP SAILING Club ushered in 2019 with their traditional New Year’s day sail. Seven sailors braved the elements, supported by the safety boat team, two race officials and cheered on by family and friends. The day concluded with a buffet provided by the club members. Commodore John Wynd said: “If there are any budding sailors who would like to experience the thrills and spills of dingy sailing Pic: sailing on New Year’s Day at Wanlip Sailing Club they should contact the club.” Wanlip Sailing Club is located off the A46 between Birstall and Syston, the same gate as Wanlip Sand & Gravel. www.wanlipsc.co.uk or email to commodore@yahoo.co.uk.

Secure wall built at Hotpec orphanage BIRSTALL’S BARK Foundation supports the Hotpec orphanage in Cameroon – its latest project is securing the boundary against intruders as the country continues to suffer unrest. Some parts of Cameroon are seeking independence and the government responded with a military offensive in 2017. Since then fighting between separatist guerrillas and government forces continues. One of the trustees of the charity, Joy Bark says: “Our orphanage family have been living in fear now for many months as burning and shooting by the Francophile ‘military’ continues daily. It has never been a concern that most of the

jungle boundary was not fenced, but following a serious incident we appealed for help in mid-October to make the campus secure. The cost was to be over £5000 (330 metres). “We would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all of our supporters who made

an overwhelming response to our first ever urgent appeal. A wonderful concert by Loughborough Male Voice Choir in November raised over £600 and generous personal donations kept coming in! “The orphanage management decided to have a two metre high concrete block wall built, using volunteers to assist the essential professional workers. The blocks are made on site by hand. It has not been easy getting the materials to the site around constant gunfire, but we are thrilled to report that by the time you read this the wall will be finished! At least now intruders cannot creep into

the site unseen and we have done our best to help them keep safe. Sadly one worker was killed when his wooden home in the village was strafed by gunfire as he slept in his bed. Matron Beatrice phones us at least fortnightly to let us know they are all OK and has asked us to convey the sincere thanks of all the children and carers who are overwhelmed that wonderful people from so far away care about them. “Because of the difficult situation local people, many of whom now have no work, go about as little as possible. This means that the orphanage no longer receives donations of food. They have been able to manage with their own grown vegetables and eggs from the chickens we funded, but now the harvest is coming to an end they will have to wait until the next harvest is grown. They are not starving but constantly hungry. As we always support their most urgent need future fundraising will be to support their food budget. “It is just 11 years since the inception of The Bark Foundation, during which time wonderful, extraordinary supporters have helped us to raise over £160,000. Thank you all, on behalf of Hotpec orphanage!” Pic (left): the final part of the boundary wall at the Hotpec orphanage being built

Flower club IF YOU are looking for something different to do this year - why not join Birstall Flower Club? The year was started in January by an AGM and this was followed by a wonderful “Giant Picnic”. The lure of a good meal; prepared by the committee, tempted most members to attend. During the year, the club meets on the fourth Wednesday of most months at 7.15pm in the Village Hall in Birstall. A spokesperson said: “you do not have to be a flower arranger. A qualified flower arranger comes to the Club, with a selection of wonderful flowers and interesting flower containers. Five or six arrangements are created and these arrangements then become the raffle prizes. If you are a lucky winner, you get to take the arrangement home.” During 2018, a lot of work was done to repair and restore Birstall village War Memorial in time for the 100 year anniversary. The Flower Club replanted the surrounding gardens as part of this campaign. The Parish Council has placed a plaque in the gardens to record the club’s efforts and to thank them for their community endeavour. During the course of the year, the club organise a coach day trip for the members. This year the destination is to Staffordshire on 10th July -The Beeches; Lichfield (for Lunch); Grafton Cottage The Club also arrange evening visits to local gardens of interest, usually with tea and cake included. In November we have our Christmas meeting, which is always a very flamboyant evening and attracts many visitors. On December 4 the club will run a Christmas wreath making workshop in the local Village Hall and this has always been very popular. Yearly membership is £35, which includes the Christmas “open evening”, (£10 to visitors). The Club is looking forward to 2019 with a delightful programme of demonstrations, outings and events. If you would like to know more about us or see what we do, please phone Sylvia on 0116 2674206 or Mary on 07704398017, or just pop along to a meeting in the Village Hall; (dates in the BP noticeboard). £5 for visitors (deductible from you membership if you decide to join). From Birstall Flower Club Pic: An arrangement made at the club

THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2019

Outwoods School settling in to new building improved PLANS TO invest £140,000 in the Outwoods in Loughborough have been revealed. Charnwood Borough Council has secured funding to upgrade visitor facilities at the popular woodland and will be installing a shelter to hold more activities, a play area and an open events area with more picnic tables. The car park will also be improved. Work started in January and there are longer term plans by the Council to convert the old ranger’s cottage into a café and visitor centre. The £140,000 of European funding has been provided by the Rural Payments Agency to support the development of tourism throughout the year in the area. The Outwoods is 110 acres of ancient woodland to the south of Loughborough and is one of the oldest surviving woodland sites in Charnwood. The Outwoods is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England, which means it is protected by law to conserve its wildlife and geology. Later in the year, the Council is also planning to carry out work to restore native oak trees to the Outwoods.

HIGHCLIFFE SCHOOL’S newly opened primary school block is a landmark project, being one of the first school buildings in the UK to be built using entirely modern modular construction methods.

The £3.3million project was delivered by Spatial Initiative (SI) and funded by the Department for Education under its Priority Schools Building Programme. SI rebuilt the 13,200 sq ft primary block using 38 modular units. SI also delivered an internal fit-out, furniture and external works, including the installation of new interactive smartboards and modernised IT infrastructure. Highcliffe was one of the first projects to be allocated under the school building framework, which is rebuilding and refurbishing school buildings across the UK deemed to be most in need of renovation. Design began in September 2017, with onsite construction commencing in April 2018. Olivia Noonan, operations manager at SI, said: “This is a landmark project as one of the first school buildings in the UK to be built entirely using modern, innovative construction methods. It is great to see the success of the Priority School Building Programme so early on in its lifecycle, marking the first step in delivering the highest quality learning environments to children up and down the country.” “Modular construction is the ideal choice for school builds, reducing the

Pic: Highcliffe’s new building: one of the first of its type in the UK

amount of time spent on site to avoid interfering with term time activity. Our expertise in this area means we are equipped to deliver these projects efficiently with minimal risk, waste and disruption, allowing teachers and their pupils to access their new facilities as quickly as possible.” Katherine Renshaw, headteacher at

Highcliffe School, said: “We’re incredibly excited to have moved into our new building after watching it take shape over the past six months. Our new state-of-the-art technology and modern classroom facilities will allow us to provide the best possible experience for our pupils for years to come.”

THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2019

YOUR SAY...

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

Duck Race Lining up their ducks in a row – the White Horse at Birstall are to hold their annual Duck Race on Monday, May 6, 2019 with proceeds going to Save the Children. The Bank Holiday event has become a firm favourite in the local calendar

whilst raising thousands of pounds for charity. 2019 marks the very special Centenary year of the forming of Save the Children by founder Eglantyne Jebb. The Duck Race will bring together the Birstall community in a fun -filled day which will not only raise funds but awareness of the charity’s work around the world. If you would like more details about the event or further details on how you can become involved with fund raising for Save the Children contact: Charlotte Foy at the White Horse: info@thewhitehorsebirstall.co.uk Josephine Burgess Leicestershire Save the Children volunteer co-ordinator ajbsavethechildren@gmail.com

Active role

(why 20?) to be filled in May you could be thrown in at the deep end (as I was) and enjoy every minute. It’s a steep leaning curve and we found we could achieve more than the town clerk thought possible. Lateral thinking is all that is required! If you would be interested in standing as a candidate for Birstall Parish and giving other residents a choice (I believe most existing councillors were simply unopposed and just carried on as before) then there is plenty of information available on the charnwood.gov.uk web site or contact the writer for ‘real world’ information and what is involved. Norman Cutting norman@berko.org.uk

Thanks The Rotary Club of the Wreake Valley would like to say a very big thank you to everyone in the Birstall, Thurmaston, Rushey Mead and Syston areas who so generously supported us during our Santa runs and also at our collection point outside ASDA Thurmaston supermarket. During our two weeks of collections, your generosity enabled us to raise in excess of £4,500 for local charities. In the next few weeks we will be deciding which charities will benefit from our efforts and your wonderful generosity. A cheque presentation evening will be arranged which is always a lovely occasion and following that, we will provide a list of those charities to have benefitted to you all through your village news publications. Peter Fox Rotary Club of the Wreake Valley

Noticeboard all details printed free Birstall Running Club Meet Monday & Friday nights, 6.15 for 6.30 run Birstall School Lane playing fields – showers & toilets available We also meet on a Wednesday night at Sibson Road car park at 6.15pm for 6.30pm run Speed work sessions also available on Wednesdays for those wanting to improve Contact Deryk on dwoods1@sky.com or Bob 07927 346640 www.birstallrc.org.uk

Vivaldi’s Four With the UK due to become independent at the end of March, we also have Seasons the opportunity to take a more active In Mountsorrel part in our local community aka CharnSun Feb 10, 3pm wood Borough and Birstall Parish CounMountsorrel Memorial Centre, 105 cils. Leicester Road, Mountsorrel LE12 I only moved to the area from the 7DB Chilterns (down south, you know) and The Heart of England Orchestra was surprised how disinterested local Conductor: Paul Hilliam residents are in decision making that Soloist: Amy Littlewood affects us all. I was the Tickets £14/£12 concessions (£5 same until the Town/Borough Councils children) where I lived went one Tel: 0116 2304877 step too far (approving the building a supermarWorld Day of Prayer ket on the main town On Sat Feb 23 from 10-12noon at centre car park!). The Birstall Methodist Church there natives vented their anger will be preparations for the World in the local press and a Day of Prayer service. There will group of businessmen Thanks be activities for children and picked up the baton. Myself and family wish to thank all Just two months later adults and afterwards light rewho attended the funeral service and the result was every seat freshments will be available wake of my husband John Harvey on on the Town Council was On Friday March 1 at l.30pm at December 21. contested and dislodged Birstall Methodist Church there To see so many friends, neighbours 11 of the 13 sitting counContinued on page 10 and previous work colleagues was both a cillors such was the feelblessing and comfort. John and I had 56 ing. The Council suddenly years of marriage which has left me with became democratic with so many lovely memories, once again public participation the norm as was co-operation thanks and all the donations come to a total of £336 pounds, this has been with higher tiers of local donated to Glenfield Critical Care and government with partnerArchitectural plans drawn & submitted for planning ships forged for footpaths, Coronary Care wards for the purchase of a Ketone Monitor (for renal use) and any permission & building the disabled, the canal balance to the lovely nurses who stock a regulations approval and riverside and ‘commu'compassion box' with food etc for relanity action’ as examples. It Tel: 0116 2674395/ 07974807111 tives who do not feel they can leave their was the partnership with E: info@amlidesign.co.uk loved ones to go for something to eat or the electorate which drove W: www.amlidesign.co.uk drink, the nurses stock this compassion events. I was the only membox out of their own pocket. ber of the group (I should Thanks from add non-political group) David Ives Bsc(Hons) MCIOB FCABE C.Build E. Ann Harvey, Matthew, Morag that stood for a Borough Chartered & Accredited and Lisa & family seat (elected) and the CE of the Borough suggested I was the Town representative as the other seven at the best prices Councillors were ‘yes men politicians’. 121 Sibson Rd, Birstall • www.prospecs.co.uk • 0116 2376098 We changed the publics view of the Town Council Get a Quote from Us before You Buy from ‘yes men’ to a ‘proacYour Next Pair of Spectacles tive body’ the legacy continues to this day and even We offer though I was no longer on EXPERT ADVICE the council in this century, on your lens options many still believed I was. including specialist Call to make an appointment If you don’t think your lenses for sport, work, driving and leisure activities or book online at Council is doing all it could, www.prospecs.co.uk then with 20 vacancies

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Debenham’s Afternoon Tea

will be a short presentation on Slovenia followed by our service at 2pm. Everyone is warmly invited to join in and celebrate with us

Fashion Show

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

Cheeky Cherubs Parent & Toddler Group 0-4 year olds Birstall Methodist Church Rooms 9.30-11.30am Open every Monday term time Separate baby section No weekly commitment £2 for adult & 1 child, 50p additional children £1 additional adults This includes snack for the children & unlimited juice, also unlimited tea & coffee for the adults Craft table For further information please contact us on 07934 551 563 Hope to see you there

Tuesday April 9 Doors open 5.30pm At Debenham’s restaurant (Highcross Shopping Centre) Tickets £10 From Nadine Wood 0116 251 0999 In aid of The Carers Centre St George’s

one or an organisation that may benefit please get in touch with us. Please apply preferably by e-mail to receive an application form and details of the criteria for a successful application ngdr@talk21.com

Crazy Bird Comedy Club

Fun Day & Craft Fair Tuesday April 23, 11-3pm at The Brite Centre, Braunstone Ave, Leicester LE3 1LE Entry 50p, children U14 free, must be accompanied by an adult Optional themed fancy dress – knights & princesses Prizes for best children’s costume Face painting, craft stalls, tombola, raffle In aid of The Carers Centre

Grants Available Are you an individual or small organisation within the local community who would benefit from a grant to meet a current need? Rothley and Soar Valley Lions have funds available for organisations and individuals who have a pressing need to progress their project, we are keen to reach out to as many people as we can in the local area. If you know some-

Sat Feb 9, doors open 7pm for 8pm start Mountsorrel Memorial Centre A shining line-up of professional comedians from the UK circuit Britain’s Got Talent 2018 semifinalist Nick Page Tim Hoskins Lovdev Barpaga Tickets £13.50 www.mountsorrelmemorialcentre. co.uk Mountsorrel Methodist Church Centre presents the 2nd in the 18th series of Sunday Night & Eight

on Sunday Feb 17 at 8pm by Anne de Graeve Leicestershire Organist Admission free Donations for Church Development Fund Buffet from 7.30pm

Rothley/Birstall Birdwatching Club presents: A Peek Behind The Curtain – Wildlife In No-Man’s Land By Tim Sexton For over 40 years the Iron Curtain divided Europe. Along stretches the physical barrier was set 5km inside a country’s actual border, creating a no man’s land, free from human habitants. With little disturbance, wildlife thrived. When the iron Curtain fell many of these areas became protected as national parks. Tim looks at the wildlife of one such area, Podyji National Park in the Czech Republic and on the borders of Austria. Tuesday, February 12th 2019 at 7.30p.m. The Rothley Centre, 12 Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, LE7 7PR. Members are free, visitors £2.50. New members and visitors are always welcome. Ample free car parking on site. Further information from Jack Wootton on 0116 2692480

Organ Recitals

THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2019

Tea Dance dancing to The Karl Boettcher Dance Band to support HCPT (Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust) Sunday 10th February 2 to 5 pm at St Patrick's Parish Centre, 100 Beaumont Leys Lane, LE4 2BD Cost £5 per person to include afternoon tea Please contact Katy 07538493913 or parish.centre@saintpatrickleicester.co.uk

Birstall Flower Club February 27th 2019, 7.15pm Birstall Village Hall Demonstration by club members Demonstration title : “Colours of the Rainbow” Visitors welcome - £5 Queries to Sylvia: 0116 2674206 or Mary : 07704398017

Birstall Royal British Legion Club

THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2019

2nd Caron Louise 9th Sean Lainey 16th Hollie Marie 23rd Anne Marie Dancing every Saturday night with live entertainment Bingo free raffle and not forgetting open the box Bingo every Tuesday starting at 9.15pm Quiz every Wednesday starting at 8.30pm Sunday quiz 10th and 24th February 9pm Acoustic night 17th February Food available Saturdays 12 till 2pm Wakes catered for Free WIFI New members very welcome easy to join ask inside Saturday bar staff required 12 till 6.30pm, ring 0116 2674817 and ask for Karen

Miracle Of Dunkirk" given by Derek Holloway. We welcome visitors to join us for this talk and there will be parking available on the Birstall Playing Fields through the School Lane entrance

St James Birstall Village Hall Birstall Road Leicester LE4 4DH Fridays 8th & 22nd February 2019 3.30 pm - 5.30 pm, £4 each Tea / coffee and cakes included All welcomed Further information contact: Jackie 0116 2248278 / 07908607405 jackielucas957@hotmail.co.uk Film Presentations Thurcaston and Cropston Parish "Edie" was one of the best films that we have ever shown. The 85 year old was well portrayed by Sheila Hancock whose character fulfilled a long-held dream of climbing a Scottish mountain. We witnessed her outstanding perseverance in the face of exceptional storms. "Mamma Mia-Here We Go Again" Feb 8, 114 mins In this sequel to the popular musical comedy, Sophie prepares for the opening of the Hotel Bella Donna on a beautiful Greek island. However, her husband is working in New York with her father, played by Pierce Brosnan. Meryl Streep, Cher and Colin Firth feature in this entertaining and joyful performance. "The Children Act" March 8, 105 mins

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group for Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers and carers. Please come and join our friendly group. Our February meetings are on the 4th and 18th. We meet at Ruth's Lambourne Cafe on Lambourne Road Birstall 2pm. Very informal share your cares but also have a light-hearted chat. Come and have a cuppa and a natter. Hope to see you Barbara. Contact me on 07905760556 for more info

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The February monthly meeting takes place on Thursday 14th February 2019 commencing at 7.30pm in the Birstall Village Hall, Birstall Road, Birstall, Leics. The meeting will start with our Annual General Meeting followed by a talk on the subject of "The

Quiz Night Saturday 23rd February, 7pm Syston Methodist Church Tickets £6 including light supper. Tel: 0116 221 1033

Birstall Tea Dances

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In March's British drama, Dame Emma Thompson plays a high court family judge who can make life or death decisions. Having visited a very sick teenager in hospital, she must deliver a ruling as to whether he should be given a blood transfusion against his parents' wishes. The judge's workload is high but does this affect her marital relationship? "The Wife" will be shown on April 12. Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Film tickets will cost the usual £5 which will includes refreshments and a lucky prize draw during the interval. Advance tickets may be purchased via the parish office –0116 236 7626 or at the door The Bark Foundation Supporting HOTPEC Orphanage Cameroon

Coffee Morning Saturday 9th February

Creative Movie Madness Workshop! Thursday 21st February 10am 12pm Rothley Village Hall Come along for a morning of crafty makes and sensory fun with theme from some of your favourite family films. £6 per child including refreshment. For more info and booking visit FB: 'Creative Movie Madness Workshop! or 'Letters and Stitch 2'

Bradgate Sewing Circle Have you thought about joining a friendly craft and chat group? If so why not come along to the Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley on any Tuesday morning 9-30 - 11-30am. The group was formed in 1985 mainly as a quilting group, but crafts now include knitting, crochet, cross stitch and more. If you are looking to try a new craft we have members who would be happy to show you. At present the cost per meeting is two pounds, which includes coffee/tea and biscuits. Come along and give it a try

NHW news

& crime report HMRC Scam Action Fraud has had an increase in reports recently about malicious telephone calls, voicemails, text messages and emails claiming to be from H. M. Revenue and Customs (HMRC). They state that the recipient is liable to prosecution or repossession of property if they do not settle an unpaid tax bill immediately. They are told that they can do this by bank transfer, iTunes or other gift cards. If the victim hesitates or refuses, they are threatened with immediate arrest, bailiff visits or even deportation from the UK. While this scam is not new, it has become prevalent again; this time pretending to be from HMRC. It is very unlikely that you have debts

Two men arrested TWO MEN were arrested after a car chase in Birstall. Police pulled over a Volkswagen Golf on School Lane on Monday January 7. The driver of the vehicle sped off in reverse, but was stopped on Wanlip Lane when it crashed into some railings outside Riverside school. The occupants of the car were both aged 20 and were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs. Police found cannabis, a knife and cash when they searched the car.

that you do not know about already. If you owe tax you will receive several warning letters about it from the Tax Office before they take any action. Do not be rushed or pressured into sending money. Under no circumstances would a genuine organisation try to force you to make payment on the spot, especially using iTunes Gift Cards, or some other type of voucher. These vouchers can only be used to purchase things like music and apps from the people that issue them and would be of little use to government organisations like HMRC! Always follow your instincts; if something feels wrong then you should question it. Contact the organisation the message claims to be from directly, using a trusted email address or phone number. Do not use any supplied in the suspicious message but look at the genuine website or a telephone directory. You can find the contact details for most government departments on their official website: www.gov.uk The next Neighbourhood Watch Advice Shop will be held on Saturday, 16th February between 10 a.m. and 12 noon in the Parish Council Building, 10 Sibson Road (opposite the Garden Centre). From Birstall & Wanlip NHW

Crime update We have had a total of 53 crimes reported in December, which is slightly up on November when we had 51. Thefts from vehicles has yet again been the biggest category with a total of 15 reports, nine of which occurred over the Christmas period. We are still receiving reports of laptops, jewellery, wallets and sat-navs being stolen from out of cars – please remember to remove these items and lock your vehicle whenever you leave it, as if the thieves continue to find these items they will carry on returning to the area. Thankfully, the number of burglaries has decreased compared to November with only three reports being received this month, two of which were break-ins to garages where access to the house itself was not actually gained. We have also had seven vehicles stolen this month which is a lot more than usual, two of which were motorbikes

which were stolen from outside of houses. If you own a motorcycle, please try to store it in a garage or behind a locked gate, and if you must leave it outside, consider securing it with a ground anchor or something similar. Aside from this, there have been no other significant crime trends this month. For further crime information please visit: www.police.uk/leicestershire/NL60/ Crime Prevention Advice We sometimes get reports about suspicious ‘devices’ being attached to cash (ATM) machines. These are used by criminals to ‘read’ bank cards or ‘trap’ them, allowing the criminal to later retrieve it themselves. Follow these simple rules to avoid becoming a victim: 1) If you see anything suspicious attached to an ATM machine, do not use it and inform the bank or shop that it is attached to as soon as possible. 2) Be aware of people standing uncomfortably close to you when using ATM’s as if they have fitted a device to the machine to trap the card they may be trying to see you enter your PIN number with the intention of retrieving it & using it later. 3) Never disclose your PIN number to anyone, even of you think they are trying to help you. 4) Keep your cards safe at all times and if you lose them, report it to the bank immediately. Neighbourhood update As stated in the ‘crime update’ section above, thefts from vehicles continues to be the main threat on the beat, so this month we have been out delivering vehicle crime leaflets in the areas that have been affected. We have also received a few complaints this month about mopeds being ridden in a dangerous manner around the Harrowgate Drive & Hallam Fields area, however I am pleased to report that one rider has been identified and issued with a warning under section 59 of the Police Reform Act. This means that if caught again in the next 12 months his bike can be seized from him. Meet your local police team A member of the team will be at the following locations: Sibson Road Police Office - Saturday February 16 from 10am to 12 midday (in conjunction with the NHW). From PC 1759 Dave Jaeckels, PCSO’s 6611 Mark Butler and 6552 Mo Musa. NL60 – Birstall Police Office. http://www.leics. police.uk Tel: 0116 2677355 (Please note this is an advice line only – Please use 101 or 999 to report crime)

Run up a tower block A 23 strong team from the Sweatbox studio in Birstall are taking part in the St George’s Tower Run in Leicester in aid of LOROS. Led by personal trainer Tim Davies, on March 9 they are all planning to race up the 351 steps in the fastest time possible with an aim to raise a minimum of £1000 between them. Tim’s team fundraising efforts last made over £500 for several other charities when a team of nine tackled the Summer Wolf Run in 2017. He is hoping to at least double the money donated with the largest team he’s led so far from his SWEATBOX studio in Birstall which was first opened in January 2017. Tim said: “Some of the participants have never taken part in a physical challenge such as this but I’ve managed to convince them that they can achieve their own personal goals by completing this as well as supporting such a worthy cause.” Pic: Tim Davies He added: “Unfortunately some of my clients and team mates have recently lost loved ones who were under the amazing care of the LOROS hospice in Glenfield so this particular fundraiser is even more important and close to the hearts of many. We want to give something back for the wonderful work they do for both patients and their families. “I’m so impressed with everyone’s enthusiasm and tenacity to train for this event.” Tim took part in the same challenge in March 2018. “I thought it was a great quad-burner and because it only takes minutes rather than hours to complete, it meant more people could get involved BUT it does require lots of training if you’re not used to speeding up 20 flights of stairs on a daily basis!” he said. If anyone would like to support the SWEATBOX team in their efforts fundraising for LOROS, you can donate via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/timsweatbox The Sweatbox studio, located on Front Street offers many classes such as Circuits, Kettlebells, Spin, Skipfit and Suspension Training for those looking to improve their fitness without facing large classes in daunting gyms.

THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2019

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Air quality plans: the burning question WOOD-BURNING stoves will not be banned following the implementation of the Government’s Clean Air Strategy, published last month. They are currently 1.5million households in the UK with a wood burning stove and 200,000 new ones are sold annually. Although burning wood is carbon neutral, it does release particulate matter into the atmosphere which can penetrate into your lungs and pass into the bloodstream. The Clean Air Strategy sets out new restrictions on wood burning stoves, open fires and farming techniques in a bid to reduce emissions. The key impact of the new strategy on existing stove owners will be on fuels like wet wood and traditional house coal, which will likely be phased out. The government also plans to give local councils more powers over existing smoke control areas. At the present time there are no smoke controls in Charnwood but in the Leicester city boundary, only smokeless fuels are permitted, or wood burning stoves that are designated as suitable for a smoke control area. The government will also require that all new stoves sold from 2022 comply with EU eco-design regulations, many of which are already on the market. These stoves allow combustion higher up in the fire chamber, re-igniting any particles of wood that are in the smoke so that emissions from the chimney are reduced by 80% compared to a stove manufactured 10 years ago. Birstall’s MDW Fireplaces sells and installs stove, gas and electric fires and fireplaces. Established in 2017 it is run by Hayley and Mark Warne. Hayley says she recognises the importance of the Clean Air Strategy in protecting the envi-

Pic: a wood burning stove in a domestic setting

ronment and the nation’s health but says it has caused some confusion among consumers. “The Clean Air Strategy has caused confusion because of the articles that have been printed recently in the press” she said. “Stoves will not be banned and if you have a stove already you will able to use it as normal once the regulation comes into effect. The regulation affects any new stove that you buy from January 1, 2022 and most of our stoves on display are already new regulation ready. She added: “It is also important that the consumer is educated in choosing the correct fuels to use on their appliance. Burning the incorrect fuel to use such as wet wood, will have a big impact on emissions and heat produced as well as other factors.” Hayley says their sales are growing year on year and their most popular appliance is a wood burner or multi-fuel stove which makes up 95% of installations. The growing business is now expanding into larger premises and opening a new showroom on Sibson Road in the old Co-op travel agents, opposite their existing shop. Hayley said: “Our new showroom will be open in February and will be showcasing a wider range of products, with several new gas and electric appliance displays as well as expanding our range

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of stoves. Customer parking will still be available outside our existing showroom on Wanlip Avenue as we are keeping this building for other uses.”

NHS ENGLAND says that almost 30% of preventable deaths in England are due to non-communicable diseases specifically attributed to air pollution. A pollution called Particulate Matter (PM) is a particular concern with the World Health Organisation (WHO) identifying it as the most damaging for people. Fine particulates, known as PM2.5 are around 200 times smaller than a grain of sand. They are a major health worry as they can penetrate deep into your lungs, pass into your bloodstream and get embedded in your bodily organs and your brain. The WHO’s models indicate that around 92% of the world’s population live in places where air quality levels exceed their guidelines. In the UK more than 40 cities and towns were at, or have exceeded, the WHO limit. The government has previously said it will reduce by half the number of people living in areas breaching the WHO limits by 2025. But they now say they will go beyond this and set a “world leading” goal on exposure to PM2.5. Without giving many details, or a timeline, the government says that by 2030, fine particulate concentrations will be reduced below the WHO safe level “across much of the country”. According to the government the steps outlined in its strategy will cut the costs of dirty air to the UK by £1.7billion every year from 2020, rising to £5.3billion every year from 2030. Green groups have welcomed the Clean Air Strategy but says the government should be doing more about the level of nitrogen oxides, produced in the main by diesel cars

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Project offers support to find work A FREE project that provides support, encouragement and training is looking for new people that it can help get into employment. The Getting Ready for Employment and Training (GREAT) Project exists to support members of families who are not currently in work or training, and get them on the road to employment by helping them overcome any barriers they face. The GREAT Project is a partnership of multiple organisations and is delivered by Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL), a charity dedicated to helping change lives for the better in local communities. The GREAT Project is funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery Fund. The project offers a unique approach to helping those who are unemployed find work, and every participant’s journey is different. Each participant on the project has access to a range of benefits, most importantly a designated Employment Support Officer who is with them every step of the way. The Employment Support Officer guides the participant through the project, and ensures their time on the project is tailored to their specific goals. Once on the project, participants can access a variety of support, including; CV writing, money management, confidence building, industry visits and work experience. The project also supports its participants in other ways, as it provides free child care at certain workshops and

Santa visits pre-school CHILDREN AT Birstall Methodist Pre-school enjoyed a visit from Santa this Christmas, who gave each of the children a gift. Michele Tookey from the pre-school said: “The start of term has been just as exciting as we are focussing our attention on enhancing our outdoor area, the children have already got stuck in helping and giving us their own ideas. We all can’t wait to see how it goes over the next few months.”

Pic: the project helped Emma

covers travel costs where needed. Tracey, a past participant who successfully completed the programme, said: “I don’t really remember doing anything fun in my life, but I remember everything I did with the GREAT Project. I’m genuinely upset that my time with the project has come to an end, but I’ve had an incredible experience and met some amazing people. Best of all, I now feel ready to go back to work. To those unsure or are considering joining the project, I’d say do it now, because it’s the best thing you’ll ever do.” Enstruct is one of the projects delivery partners and focuses on delivering key construction and home improvement skills to participants. Over the course of 10 weeks, participants have the opportunity to learn a variety of skills including tiling, plumbing, bricklaying, electrics and carpentry. In some cases, participants can also undergo training to obtain a CSCS qualification. Bradley, a participant from The GREAT Project, has recently completed the 10-week course at Enstruct and

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earned a certificate acknowledging his achievement. He learned new skills and also built a comic book themed storage box for his son. Bradley said: “I really enjoyed my time at Enstruct, and I learnt so many core skills whilst I was there. Having now completed the course, I feel so much more confident in my capabilities and I’m excited to look for work in the construction field. “I’m due to enrol on another construction course next year, and I’m really excited about starting it. If it wasn’t for The GREAT Project suggesting I go to Enstruct, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do this.” Enstruct is a family-run business based in Leicester, offering training in both environmental and constructional fields. With a dedicated and skilled team, they provide a comfortable environment for participants to develop their skills. One of the things that make the GREAT Project unique is down to the people it supports. The project helps those who identify as a member of a family; which is defined as a parent with a child living at home, a parent who has contact with their child or an adult living with parents or other family members. The GREAT project is keen to sign up more local people who could benefit from the programme. Those that want to get support and have barriers to work, like mental health issues or lack of skills, should contact

the project directly. Individuals can selfrefer by texting GREAT and their name to 66777 or by calling 0116 257 5020. The project also accepts referrals from organisations who work with those that meet the eligibility criteria, and organisations are free to contact the project by calling the same number. www.greatproject.org.uk. Pic: an Employment Support Officer with Bradley, one of their participants receiving an award.

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Get off the couch WREAKE RUNNERS are offering the chance for complete beginners to participate in their 10 week ‘Couch to 5K’ programme. Club president Dave Palmer said: “Taking up running can seem like a daunting prospect, especially if you feel out of shape or unfit. We will help you gradually work up towards running 5K in just 10 weeks. Probably the biggest challenge a new runner faces is not knowing how or where to start. Often when trying to get into exercise, we can overdo it, feel defeated and give up when we're just getting started.” He added: “Couch to 5K works because it starts with a mix of running and walking to gradually build up your fitness and stamina. Week 1 involves running for just a minute at a time, creating realistic expectations and making the challenge feel achievable right from the start. Each week we will gradually increase the running time, culminating on week 10 by running for 30 minutes to achieve the 5K goal.” If you have any health concerns about beginning an exercise regime, make an appointment to see your GP and discuss it with them first. There are plenty of benefits from getting into running, including improving the health of your heart and lungs. It can also help you lose weight, especially if combined with a healthy diet. Taking on the challenge of Couch to 5K can help boost your confidence and selfbelief, as you prove to yourself that you can set yourself a target and achieve a goal. This programme will start on Monday February 25 at 6:45pm on the Industrial Estate in East Goscote (Outside the Green Thumb offices LE7 3XA) where several club members will run along with you to help and support. No need to book, just turn up. On completion of the programme, you will be encouraged to continue your running by joining Wreake Runners and run with them on regular club nights if you so wish. The cost is £15, but should you wish to join the club afterwards, it will go towards the annual membership fee of £35. For further information email run@wreakerunners.co.uk

THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2019

News from the churches Now we are well into January 2019, the glittery bustle of Christmas which celebrated the birth of Christ now seems like a distant memory. However, I expect many people are still picking up needles from their Christmas tree as we rush towards Easter. (Tescos have had hot-cross buns on sale for several weeks now, totally by-passing Ash Wednesday/Mothering Sunday/ Palm Sunday and Good Friday as well as other significant dates in the Christian calendar! That is something that makes me a bit hot and cross! This January we will have seen Old Nick's Coffee Shop in Wanlip Hall on the 15th. This really goes from strength to strength and proves a lovely oasis to stop, meet friends and enjoy cake and coffee. We have also taken part in the hunger lunches at the Methodist Church (on the 19th) and St. Theresa's (on 22nd). This is for the 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity' and all money raised will go to Christian Aid. Our Mother's Union had their AGM on January 28 in St. James, and there will be a member's lunch at the Rothley Court Hotel on February 4, which I am sure will be lovely and tasty. On February 25 they will be having a very entertaining and interesting talk by Rev. Michael Webb entitled 'New Parks to Birstall - the long way round (Part II)’. Michael is returning by popular request, after previous entertaining talks. As you will have read in the January edition of the 'Post', the increasingly important and essential Food Hub has moved from the Methodist Hall to St. Theresa;s RC Church social area, which will give the team greater flexibility, as they will have sole use of the space. If you feel you can help them in any capacity, please contact Gill Chester on 07832299671 or Peter Molesdale on 07984 410618. They will be pleased to hear from you. The Hub is open each Tuesday morning from 10 to 11.30am A plea for help comes from Sue O'Neill, for a musician to play for the residents on Sunday mornings at Cedar Mews, at their weekly Songs of Praise. Canned music just doesn't do the job, does it? If you can help with this, please contact Kerry Emmett on 3194736. From Birstall Parish Churches

THE BIRSTALL POST FEB 2019

Line Up For Lunch Club Around 40 people sit down to a hearty two course lunch followed by a hot drink every Wednesday at Birstall Methodist Church. We welcome anyone of senior years living in Birstall to join us, not just for the meal but to enjoy the company of others. The meals vary week to week and are prepared by our resident cook and served by a team of volunteers. We currently have a few spaces available and can offer transport by minibus to those who require it. For more details contact 07928 864586. From Birstall Methodist Church

Sunday Services All of our services this month will be in Room PT1, The Palmer Tomkinson Centre, The Cedars Academy, Wanlip Lane, Birstall (LE4 4GH) and begin at 10.45am. Our Elder, Graham Bunkall, will be continuing his studies from the Gospel of John. A Sunday School for junior children is available during the service. We extend a warm invitation to you to join with us. If you wish to confirm any details or have a query about Christianity, then please contact the

number given below. Evington Winter Lectures The fourth of these lectures, on the theme ‘A Taste of the Puritans’, will be on Saturday February 23, starting at 7pm. The subject is: “’The Mystery of Providence’: John Flavel” and the speaker is David Cooke (Banbury). Admission to these meetings is free and all are welcome. (A lift is available.) The chapel is situated on High Street, Evington, LE5 6FH. These lectures are recorded and can be downloaded afterwards from the Chapel’s website: www.evingtonchapel.org.uk. Enquiries about BIBC: please ring 0116 221 4883. From Birstall Independent Baptist Church

Food Hub The Birstall Food Hub which was based at the Methodist Church is now settling into its new venue in the Social Room at St. Theresa’s. The opening time remains the same 10.30 – 11am each Tuesday morning. As ever, donations of non-perishable foods are greatly appreciated. Cedar Mews A half hour worship service is now held at Cedar Mews each Sunday at 11.00am and any help with running this would be valued. Murder Mystery A Murder Mystery Evening with a fish and chip supper took place on January 25 and was a great success. We are assured that no actual murder formed part of the evening’s event. Big Knit Knitters everywhere are invited to take part in THE BIG KNIT making little hats for Innocent Smoothies in support of Age UK. Don’t worry if you are out of practice, just dust off your knitting needles and have a go – you have until April to contribute. Patterns can be found in the Narthex. Dates for your Diary: Monday February 4: Meeting of the Church Parish Council at 6.30 in the Fr Keating Hall, Rothley, Thursday February 28: Games Night at 7pm in the Fr Keating Hall, Rothley. Friday Feb 8. 7.30pm St Theresa's Care Hub What is the Care Hub and who is it for? The Hub is a friendly gathering of parishioners who meet for a game of snooker, table-tennis, board games or just a drink and a chat. Everyone is welcome from the youngest to the oldest. The Hub is free of charge and refreshments are provided. Concert The annual St Theresa’s Christmas Concert was well attended and enjoyed by all. About £500 was raised and will be divided between two charities, Menphys and the Retired Priests Fund. A huge thanks to Chris Lowe for his dedication and hard work. We are now working to and looking forward to our concert for July. If anyone would like to join us we meet at St Theresa’s on Tuesday’s at 7.30. We sing a variety of popular songs and songs from musicals. Anyone who likes to sing is very welcome to come along. From St Theresa’s Birstall and Sacred Heart Rothley.

January, a time for decisions and challenges. You may have started 2019 with some life changing decisions or just wanting to make a difference or simply wanting to do something different. Did you know that Trinity Life Church

has a campus right here in the village of Birstall. We are a vibrant, caring and friendly church that comes together every Sunday to meet as church representing different people from all walks of life. Why not join us on Sunday mornings for something different, a chance to encounter God and enjoy good fellowship. We have excellent kids group every Sunday morning as well with lots of fun activities and teaching. Small groups also meet regularly around the area. For more details email andre.timothy@trinitylifechurch.org.uk School’s Out Event ….AND keep the 18 February 2019 free … we will be at the Village Hall hosting our amazing Schools Out event. School’s Out is a brilliant Half Term Club for any Primary schools aged child (5-11s). Full of activities, crafts, challenges, sport, prizes, surprises, videos, stories and much more. It is free to attend, and there is no need to sign up beforehand – just come, bring your friends and have an awesome time! For more information, email kids@trinitylifechurch.org.uk. We will see you on Monday Feb 18! From Trinity Life Church

Planning P/19/0132/2: 505 Loughborough Rd – erection of one new dwelling, replacement garage to existing dwelling and access improvement P/19/0085/2: 5 Copeland Rd – 2 storey rear & side extension and loft conversion P/19/0078/2: 63 Orchard Rd – single storey front extension P/19/0048/2: 85 Roman Rd – Ground and first floor extension to front and side of existing dwelling P/19/0024/2: 3 Beechfield Ave – the erection of a single storey rear extension extending beyond the rear wall of the original house by 3.6m with a maximum height of 2.725m and height to the eaves of 2.600m

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WI news BIRSTALL AND Wanlip WI met on January 7 at the British Legion. 32 ladies shared good wishes for the New Year and caught up on Christmas news. Then talk turned to future events for 2019 starting with a Federation trip to Warners at Holme Lacy on January 14 and a chance to catch up with ladies from other Leicestershire WIs. We have a three way skittle tournament with Thurcaston & Cropston and Markfield WI’s arranged for January 29. We are also trying to form a team so that we can compete in the Federation Dart Competition. We have many Curve seats booked throughout the year including Romeo and Juliet in May. Speaker Mike Lister told us about the history, myths and facts of playing cards and finally showed us a few clever card tricks. We meet again on February 4 when our speaker is Derek Holloway talking about “The Story of Beatrix Potter” and the competition is a model of a Beatrix Potter animal. From Birstall & Wanlip WI

Gas crash MCDONALD’S ON Red Hill Circle had to close for several hours after a car fleeing Police crashed into a gas maintenance box in the car park. The car had been stolen in Evington and on Friday January 11 Police spotted it in the car park at McDonald’s. As officers approached the vehicle it sped off, colliding with the gas box and leaving the restaurant with no gas. The vehicle was pursued down Abbey Lane and was stopped by Police in a controlled collision. The occupants ran off. One 18 year old woman was arrested on suspicion of robbery. McDonald’s was closed for around 7 hours as a result of the incident.

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Skydive A CHARITY skydive by a Birstall man has raised £241 for Gunns’ Gym. Owen Turner Hill (18) made his charity jump on December 4. Carl Gunns from the Birstall Road boxing gym said: “Owen is a super lad who has been coming to the gym for a long time. He’s very dedicated to his boxing.” The money raised will help pay for new boxing gloves for the gym, which has recently had a new boxing ring installed.

Birstall BAG’s cancer corner Going Dry or Vegan – the cancer benefits There has been significant post festivity coverage in the media about the benefits of going alcohol free for a month or becoming a vegan. Birstall BAGs aren’t recommending you become vegan or T-Total but would like to highlight some potential benefits of both. Going Veggie Cancer Research UK have launched the VEG PLEDGE to highlight the benefits of reducing meat intake. Of course the biggest benefit of taking the Veg Pledge is that you can help raise money for your chosen cancer charity. But it can also be fantastic motivation to be that bit healthier in the long run, which has lots more benefits. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help you keep a healthy body weight. Keeping a healthy weight is important, because obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. Here are CRUK’s top picks: Eating lots of processed and red meat

can increase the risk of bowel cancer. If you’re eating lots, it’s a good idea to try and cut down. How much is too much? People in the UK have 70g a day on average - that’s around 3 slices of ham – so try to stick within that. When you cut down on meat, there’s more room on your plate for high-fibre foods like veg, wholegrains and pulses. Meat and fish is often the most expensive item in the shopping trolley. So by eating less of it, not only are you helping your own health but could also help your bank accounts! The meat industry is responsible for a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, so the World Health Organisation has said that one of the best ways we can personally take action against climate change is by eating less processed and red meat and more fruit and veg.

By giving up meat and fish, you have the opportunity to learn some new, tasty vegetarian and vegan recipes that you might not have otherwise tried. There’s plenty of delicious recipes online and if you try out a new one each week of November, you’ll soon have a staple collection that you know and love. Dry January, Stoptober – reducing your alcohol intake Alcohol can cause seven different types of cancer. Whatever your drinking habits, cutting down will reduce your risk. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of mouth cancer, pharyngeal (upper throat) cancer, oesophageal (food pipe) cancer, laryngeal (voice box) cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer and liver cancer. Some of these might be quite surprising but alcohol gets in to our blood stream and can cause damage all around the body. cancer risk starts to increase at small amounts, so the more you can cut down the more you can reduce your risk. Sticking within the government guidelines is a good place to start. This doesn’t mean everyone who drinks alcohol will develop cancer. But when we look at the whole population, people who drink

alcohol are more likely to develop cancer than people who don’t. Drinking alcohol causes 11,900 cases of cancer a year in the UK. Cutting back has lots of benefits other than reducing your cancer risk- including reducing the risk of accidents, high blood pressure and liver disease. Is binge drinking worse for me? Not when it comes to cancer risk. There isn’t currently good evidence that one specific drinking pattern is worse than another. Research shows drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer whether you drink it all in one go or spread it throughout the week. We hope this inspires you to think about subtle changes that will make your lifestyle a little healthier. For more information:www.cancerresearchuk.org Or contact:- 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 BAGs by email birstallbags@hotmail.com

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