Birstall Post (446) September 2020

the Birstall post Y O U R

C O M M U N I T Y

SEPTEMBER 2020

N E W S P A P E R

www.birstallpost.co.uk

No. 446

Pop-up cycle lanes are “temporary” THE COUNTY Council’s pop-up cycle lane scheme on the A6 through Birstall has received an almost universally hostile reaction from residents.

Local councillors and residents have expressed their views to the Birstall Post and on social media saying: • They are angry they were not consulted • They have no confidence the scheme is value for money • It will seriously increase congestion on the A6 • It will increase traffic on side roads and Birstall Road • There is no clarity on whether the whole scheme or part of it will be permanent • It looks like a botched job The scheme, described by the County Council as temporary, has seen the creation of a cycle lane between Red Hill and Greengate Lane, the removal of some pedestrian refuges and the narrowing of others.

A County Council spokesman said: “We’re also adding in other safety measures by implementing a temporary 30mph speed limit and temporary rightturn bans from the A6 between Sibson Road/Greengate Lane junction and the Red Hill Way roundabout. The right-turn bans aim to help traffic flow and reduce risks to cyclists and motorists.

Pic: work underway on a section of the A6 near School Lane

“Right-turning provision will be retained at Greengate Lane, Sibson Road, Beechfield Avenue, Johnson Road, Goscote Hall Road and Station Road junctions.”

He added: “One of the conditions of the funding was that schemes must begin within four weeks of receiving the funding, which, unfortunately, meant that

there was no time to consult on the proposals as we would have liked. We did, however, notify key stakeholders including local councillors, emergency services, residents and businesses along the A6.”

All Birstall’s councillors say they were not notified of the scheme.

The County Council says it will collect data on cycle use and traffic flows on the A6 and side roads.

The spokesman said: “Officers have assessed the potential impact of right-turn bans on side roads. Birstall is very well served by numerous side roads on both sides of the A6, therefore it is anticipated that the impact on any one street/road is likely to be minimal, however, this will continue to be monitored.

“These temporary measures are being introduced as part of the first tranche of Emergency Active Travel funding that the council has been allocated.

Data and analysis, as well as other factors, will be taken into account in determining future measures whether temporary or permanent.”

Birstall’s County Councillor Iain Bentley said: “I am completely and totally Continued on page 2

Council to consider performance BIRSTALL PARISH Council has agreed to consider ways it can improve.

“We should be considering opportunities for improvement, we are going along without looking at what we are doing,” said Cllr Geoff Green at a meeting of Birstall Parish Council on August 14, where he proposed that the council set up a working party or committee to look at the issue.

He said: “We don’t know what people want as we are not asking. We are very inward-looking at the moment and not measuring ourselves.”

He said the council continually has trouble finding people to fill vacancies – there are currently four vacant seats on the council.

Cllr Green said: “I propose we set up a team to look at how we do things, what the perception of the Parish Council is, Continued on page 3

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against the whole scheme and want it removed. I was not informed of or consulted about this scheme and I’ve said to officers, what is the point of being a County Councillor if work like this is just done without any input from councillors?”

He added: “I have been advised there will be some public consultation about whether any part of the scheme will be made permanent, and if Birstall says they don’t want it, they won’t have to have it.”

Birstall Parish Council has challenged the way the County has implemented the scheme, describing it as “ill-thought through, rushed and unwanted” causing “much confusion and anger amongst the residents of Birstall whose lives are going to be adversely affected.”

Leicestershire County Councillor Trevor Pendleton, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We’re introducing a mix of temporary and permanent schemes around the county to encourage more people to walk and cycle on certain routes, rather than taking public transport or using a motor vehicle. This follows our successful bid for more than £300,000 from the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund.

“Nationally, there’s been a 100 per cent increase in cycling and walking for leisure purposes as a result of the lockdown so we want these positive behaviour changes to continue.

“By making it easier for people to walk or cycle safely, we’re helping to make Leicestershire a greener, healthier and happier place to live. These changes being announced won’t be all of them,

more projects are in the pipeline and we would very much welcome suggestions for other changes.”

Suggestions can be made at https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/p op-up where routes, maps, and further support can also be accessed.

• A temporary traffic regulation order is to be made for Loughborough Road, Birstall.

This will allow Leicestershire County Council to safely do carriageway patching works and will incorporate temporary road closures and temporary prohibition of waiting and loading at any time restrictions.

Loughborough Road will be closed, in three phases, between the roundabout at Redhill Circle and the roundabout at the A46, Birstall.

The duration of the restriction is not anticipated to exceed a period of six nights, from 8pm until 6am each night commencing on September 21.

As the works progress, as and when required, Station Road, Tempest Road, Park Road, Goscote Hall Road, Johnson Road, Hemitage Road, School Lane, Beechfield Avenue, Firfield Avenue, Sibson Road, Oakfield Road, Elmfield Avenue, Greengate Lane, Bentley Road, Colindale Avenue, Hallam Fields Road and Birstall Meadow Road will be closed at their junctions with Loughborough Road.

During the works, a temporary prohibition of waiting and loading restriction will be enforced on Walnut Avenue and Elmfield Avenue.

Cedars Martin sixth form results THE HEAD of the Cedars Martin Sixth form has said she is proud of how well A-level students have performed this year.

Kathleen Sedgley said: “I am incredibly proud of how well our A-level students have done in an extremely difficult and challenging time. The students have

shown resilience and a positive attitude in overcoming the significant setbacks they have faced, with 82% of our students progressing onto study at university. We would like to take this opportunity to wish them all the best for their future careers.”

Pic: students at the Cedars Academy

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

2 Cycle lanes continued from page 1

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Continued from page 1 and to find out what people want. At the moment we presume things and I don’t think that’s right.”

Cllr Kirstie Haywood said she talks to lots of people about the council's activities and that she didn’t think the council was inward-looking.

Cllr Tony Fowler said the council had done public surgeries for a trial period of six months, consulting with the public on the street and asking for their views. He said: “The response was poor, with not many ideas forthcoming.”

Cllr Green commented that the council should consider different ways of consulting the public.

Cllr Simon Oates said he supported Cllr Green's proposal. “I have a big network of people I know – my neighbours, clubs, and young people and when I ask them, their answer why they won’t join Birstall Parish Council is that they think it’s stuck in its ways," he said.

He added: “There are talented people about and we need to do something to attract them to join the council."

Chair Ann Marshall said that any new committee would need clear terms of reference and would need to be serviced by the council's office staff. She said the council already struggle to find councillors to sit on its existing committees.

Cllr Keith Hampton said: “Why are members frightened of doing this and finding out how we can improve and communicate better? What are we afraid of? We should be asking ourselves this kind of question.”

Cllr Julian Howe commented that Shepshed had recently secured £1.2 million for an improvement scheme. This had been achieved by the town council working closely and in partnership with local businesses, its borough councillors and its community and he said something similar could be achieved for Birstall.

Cllr Green's proposal to set up a team to consider how the council can improve was put to a vote and was carried by six votes to four with one abstention.

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Man hit by car A MAN was taken to hospital after he was hit by a car on Greengate Lane at 6.30am on August 6.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue were first on the scene as the crew came across the incident while returning to their Birstall headquarters.

They gave first-aid to the casualty as they waited for an ambulance to arrive. He was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham and his injuries are not believed to be lifethreatening.

The road was closed following the incident, reopening at 8.45am.

A BROTHER and sister on Went Road made cakes and sold them from their front garden.

Seven-year-old Oliver McCorkindale’s first idea was to make smoothies but he settled on cakes – sister Daisy (5) helped stir the mixture.

“Next time I’m going to get a bigger table and make more and more cakes," said Oliver.

Pic: selling cakes on Went Road: (l-r) Emma McCorkindale, Daisy, Oliver, Olivia Tunks (7) and Sally Tunks

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Doctors’ views on clearing waiting lists NHS England recently set targets to resume normal levels of activity over the next few months, but when asked by the BMA whether they thought these would be met, 70% of more than 3,000 doctors who responded said this was either highly (40%) or fairly (30%) unlikely.

A third of doctors saying they thought it would take more than a year to clear waiting lists for elective procedures.

26% of doctors said that in the first two weeks of August non-Covid demand had increased to pre-pandemic levels, with 17% saying that demand is now even higher than it was before.

The survey results come after NHS figures on Thursday, August 13 showed record waits in a number of areas, including the wait between being referred by a GP to first treatment, and the

number of people waiting longer than a year for treatment rising to the highest in over a decade.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said: “The most recent waiting time data speaks for itself, with patients waiting unacceptably long times for treatment. But the Government and NHS England also need to be honest with both healthcare staff and patients about the backlog we’re facing. They must produce a clear strategy of how we can manage this increased demand, working with clinicians to prioritise those patients most in need of care, while at the same time being able to continue treating people who are still suffering with Covid19. And crucially, doctors do not want patients avoiding the health service and risk getting much sicker as a result.”

Guided walks CHARNWOOD BOROUGH Council has resumed its program of guided walks.

A spokesman said: “You will notice a few changes which are in place to protect walk leaders and participants.

In particular, all walks require prebooking, group sizes will be limited

initially to six people per group, and social distancing will be observed.”

Walks will be published on a fortnightly basis. Further information, the list of walks and how to book can be found at: www.charnwoodsport.org.uk/guidedwalks

PHOTO: LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE

THE MAJORITY of doctors think ambitions to get the NHS back to near-normal service by autumn are unlikely to be realised, according to a major survey by the British Medical Association, highlighting the sheer scale of the challenge of tackling an ever-growing backlog of care after the first peak of Covid-19.

Selfie-posting car thieves jailed TWO MEN who filmed themselves speeding in cars they had stolen have been jailed for more than nine years. commit burglary and a further 18 28 burglaries, including some in months in prison for an unrelated burBirstall, were reported to the police between March and April this year when glary. This sentence is to run concurrently. car keys were stolen from inside the Two juveniles, both now aged 17, are properties and subsequently the cars due to be sentenced at a later date. were taken. Vehicles worth a total of The fifth person, a 16-year-old who more than £300,000 were driven away while their owners slept. They were sold was charged with burglary, was sentenced after pleading guilty at the Youth on for a fraction of the cost – one Court in June. He was given a referral £40,000 Land Rover Discovery was oforder and ordered to pay compensation fered for sale for £600. and costs to the victim.

Due to the similarities between all of Detective Constable Nicola Holyoake the reports detectives were able to link was the investigating officer. She said: the incidents and identify potential sus“This investigation brought together many pects. functions within the force to reach a On May 4 during a burglary in successful conclusion. The defendants progress in Davenport Avenue, Oadby, showed no remorse for their actions and officers arrested two 16-year-old boys. the impact their crimes had on the vicLater the same day, 18-year-old Jake tims.

Ward and a 17-year-old boy were also Detective Inspector Henry Henderson arrested after warrants were executed at led the investigation. He said: “This is a their home addresses. great result and a testament to the hard A mobile telephone belonging to Ward, formerly of Babington Row, Leices- work that has gone into securing these convictions. ter, was seized and following an exami“The three Neighbourhood Policing nation, a number of videos and images Areas affected by this series of offences were found which identified cars that merged their resources together and had been stolen during some of the identified links between each incident. incidents.

“The burglary in progress on 4 May The following day 23-year-old Ricky resulted in officers from across the force Cox was arrested after a warrant was being deployed including the traffic unit, executed at his home in Pochins Bridge dog unit and the National Air Support Road, Wigston.

Cox, Ward and two boys, aged 16 and (NPAS) unit and led to the two 16-yearold boys being arrested.

17, who can’t be named for legal rea“These types of offences have a massons, were charged with conspiracy to sive impact on our local communities commit burglary. and we’d like to reassure people that we The fifth teenager, aged 16, who also do take vehicle crime extremely seriouscan’t be named, was charged with burly and will prosecute those involved. glary.

“This was a complex investigation and The charges relate to incidents in due to the investigating officers’ diliOadby, Wigston, Market Harborough, gence and attention to detail in securing Birstall, Knighton, Braunstone Town, the evidence the defendants had no Eyres Monsell, Saffron Ward, Leicester choice but to plead guilty.”

Forest East and Stoneygate.

Cox, Ward, the 16-year-old and 17year-old appeared at Leicester Crown Court at an earlier hearing and pleaded The October issue of guilty to their parts in the offences.

THE BIRSTALL POST On August 14 Cox was sentenced to will be published on Oct 3. four years in prison for conspiracy to The copy deadline is Sep 18. commit burglary. Ward was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

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Centre’s Funds for Luke’s Ecuador trip lottery grant A 15-year-old student at the Cedars Academy is fundraising for a four week trip to Ecuador in 2021.

A VOLUNTEER centre has been awarded a £20,000 lottery grant.

The grant, from the Government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund and distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund, has enabled Syston and District Volunteer Centre to purchase an upgraded, wheelchairadapted vehicle.

The Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life 2.0 TDI 5dr DSG will be put to immediate use helping vulnerable residents of Syston and neighbouring communities to overcome the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Luke Rames needs to raise £4500 to pay for his trip with Camps International. He said: “This is a once in a lifetime experience because it will teach me a lot about the environment and important life lessons such as improved confidence, dealing with money, leadership and teamwork to name a few.

“While there, I will be helping local communities to improve their quality of life which will include building facilities such as classrooms to provide better education given to their children. I believe that everybody has a right to be able to learn, especially about the world and the issues we face such as climate change.

“I will also be doing my part in helping improve some of the environmental issues around the world by participating in reforestation in the Amazon and marine clean up at the coast. This experience will not only completely change my life, but it will make

Pic: Luke Rames is fundraising for a trip to Ecuador

Gunns’ gym opens its doors for kids

a huge difference to the communities we will be helping in Ecuador.”

Luke’s fundraising so far has included online quizzes and a raffle and he plans to do a treasure hunt and a yard sale.

He has also set up a gofundme page and is asking for donations of unwanted foreign currency which can be left at

Filigree Heart on Sibson Road.

Luke said: “The Birstall community have been incredibly supportive, especially with the Birstall businesses raffle and the businesses themselves kindly donating so generously, particularly at this difficult time.” www.gofundme.com (search for ‘Luke Rames’)

Café welcomes you THE MET Café at the Sidings, near the Birstall GCR station, has now reopened.

Operations Manager Phumuzile Ndlovu said: “Come down and visit us, and try our new delicious menu including pancakes, full English, sandwiches, paninis and many more.

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

“I FEEL great, like I’ve been born again," says Carl Gunns about reopening his Birstall Road boxing gym after being closed since March because of Covid-19.

“Boxing is my life, it was horrible when we closed," he said.

The gym used to get 50–60 young people attending each night but because of social distancing rules, it’s now limited to six people a session.

Carl said: “I’ve taken advice from Charnwood Borough Council about reopening the gym. There is no sparring, no pad work, just exercises, weights, bag work and the speedball."

He added: “When we closed I’d pop in to clean and tidy up and without the kids there it was a ghostly place.

“Reopening has been an injection of life and the kids have loved coming back.”

Gunns' gym is open Monday – Friday 4.30 – 7:30pm and Sundays from 10–12noon.

We offer a socially distanced space according to the government guidelines, easy parking, outdoor seating area, and kids are welcome to play on the grass whilst you enjoy your coffee. We also have a large collection of books from autobiography’s to fiction for you to enjoy, as well as books for kids to read.”

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Group looking to the future BIRSTALL’S HELPING Our Community group continues to support individuals and projects and members are looking at how the group might evolve in the future.

Co-founder Rosie Rollings reports: The group has continued to support those shielding in the community by collecting prescriptions, shopping and keeping in touch.

We have continued with the Monday puzzle swop which is still being used. As things are returning to the new normal we shall be scaling down the puzzle swop.

We would like to keep the Community Group running and would like people to tell us what they would like to see included. We would like it to be community-based but not as a sales page or a replacement for any other established groups. We are happy to promote local businesses that have joined the “shop local page”. A lot of people have said how much more they enjoy shopping and sourcing things locally and I am sure all the local shops that have had a hard time during Covid-19 appreciate our custom.

There really isn’t much you cannot get in Birstall.

The group has helped promote Luke Rames in his efforts to fundraise for his forthcoming trip to Ecuador with the

Cedars Academy. If you have any foreign currency, loose change or odd jobs please contact the group and we will put you in touch. If we can help anyone else please get in touch.

Birstall’s Big Yard sale will be held on September 12. It’s a £3 suggested

The Community Quilt and Children’s Quilt will need to have the squares returned by September 1 so we can get them made up.

Birstall scrub team have continued to make scrubs for the “above and beyond" scheme over the three Leicester hospitals. We are now also making quilts for the NICU and special sheets for premature babies nursed in “nests”. The quilts are all original designs and are beautiful. We have also made “quilts for carers- supporting the NHS”. We have been asked to make some very small bespoke items to help the NICUs so we are trying to help and come up with sewn items to be used for the very small premature babies. Our next project is gowns for the breast care unit, however, we hope to continue with the quilts.

If anyone wants to help quilt or has suitable scraps of material we would love to hear from you.

Thanks to the admin team and all the members of the group for making it such a good local resource - long may it continue.

Pic: some of the quilts made by volunteers

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A NEW St Margaret’s bus station is planned after £20 million of funding was awarded to the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).

The money, from the government’s Getting Building Fund, will be used on four infrastructure projects, with £10.5

million allocated to the St Margaret’s regeneration gateway.

Deputy City Mayor for Environment and Transportation Cllr Adam Clarke said: “This is very good news for Leicester. The St Margaret’s area of the city has great potential for large-scale regeneration, with the opportunity to attract further private investment and create a

high-quality public realm to connect with the city centre. This investment will also give us the chance to replace a worn-out bus station with a new, modern and efficient building that will signal the beginning of the revival of this part of our city.”

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THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

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Schools prepared for full return of students ALL BIRSTALL’S schools have spent the summer preparing for the full return of students in September.

Shreekant Raivadera, Chair of Governors at the Cedars Academy, reports: All the Birstall schools wrote to parents in July with initial plans for the full return of students in September. Further letters went out in August with more detail.

The schools have put in place all current Government recommendations and have carried out comprehensive risk assessments on all aspects of school life to minimise the spread of Covid-19 and make the schools as safe as possible.

Curriculum In terms of the curriculum, the plan is to work with students and parents to address any gaps in knowledge at an appropriate point in the year. On-going assessment will be carried out in all subjects and detailed curriculum plans are in place to address any gaps as they arise.

The Lionheart Trust’s on-line learning platform will continue to be developed and used to support learning outside the classroom, for example by setting tasks for homework and the uploading of key pieces of work. Should a child fall ill or need to self-isolate for a period of time, the school will ensure that suitable work is set through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they do not fall behind with the learning of their class.

Groupings Following current Government guidance, to minimise the likelihood of COVID spreading within a school, all

Pic: the Cedars Academy

learners will be placed within a bubble.

Initially, this bubble will comprise of a year group. Each year group will be placed within a zone in the school where they will spend the majority of their time.

At social times, break and lunch, children will remain in their bubble and not mix with other year groups. To facilitate this, outside space will also be zoned and split lunches and breaks used so that all children can have access to fresh air, catering facilities and appropriate space to socialise.

Behaviour, Attendance and Holistic Support At the start of term, each school will spend time ensuring that all learners are aware of the changes and processes needed to ensure that the school runs smoothly and safely.

We know that while some children may have thrived at home during this lockdown period a number will have struggled with the isolation and may also have lost loved ones. So that all children have the support they need on their return we have ensured that all teaching and learner-facing staff have undertaken

port on this important initiative.

A quick reminder: students without access to the internet and/or a device are significantly disadvantaged – whether education is delivered fully online or if students are on-site.

The Lionheart Academies trust has identified learners for whom lack of device or internet is the reason for them not engaging with online learning and considers this disadvantaged group a high priority.

The Trust has therefore invested over an awareness course on childhood be£250,000 to provide these students with reavement and we have trained addition- the tools they need to learn. We are now al staff in each school to support fundraising to help cover some of that children with bereavement and any child cost and appeal to any individuals or protection issues. businesses who may be able to sponsor Hygiene a Chromebook for £225. Please contact The best way to prevent the spread of me by email Covid-19 is good hygiene and we will be Shreekant.raivadera@lionhearttrust.org. expecting all learners to follow the rules uk and you can make a positive differrelating to hygiene. These include ence to a disadvantaged child in Birstall. washing/sanitising hands before they Results leave home in the morning, on entry to We’re very pleased to report really school, on movement between classpositive results for our A level students rooms, at the end of break and before this year with most getting on the coursand after eating. Hand sanitiser will be es they wanted to pursue after sixth-form. provided in every classroom.

The school is supporting two students Parents have been provided with a lot with appeals and the clearing process more detail, but I wanted to give the and is confident of positive outcomes for wider community a snapshot of the both. plans in place for a safe return to school.

GCSE results day is a little too late for The staff are really looking forward to this issue of The Birstall Post, but The seeing students again and the school is Cedars Academy is prepared with a team aiming to make this a positive and hope- of staff and a bank of phones ready to ful return to learning. support pupils who need to discuss their Chromebooks results.

We’ve already had one very kind offer from a private individual in Birstall to sponsor a Chromebook for a child in The October issue of Birstall, we’re very grateful for any sup-

THE BIRSTALL POST

Remembering Jessie Wainwright

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

A BIRSTALL midwife and Guide leader who had an active role in Birstall’s community life has died, aged 97.

Jessie Wainwright was born in Sunderland on May 12, 1923.

In her childhood, Jessie was a Brownie and a Girl Guide. She trained as a nurse and midwife and met her husband Gordon, who had been a Far East prisoner of war and married in 1950 in Sunderland. There were two children, Louisa born in 1951 and Gordon born in 1955.

In 1962 due to the uncertainty of the Sunderland shipyards, the family moved and Jessie became a district nurse/midwife in Birstall, one of a team of three nurses. She lived on Lambourne Road before moving to Holly Tree Avenue.

She returned to Guiding as a helper and took her Warrant as an Assistant Guider and eventually Guide Leader with 1st Birstall St. James Company until she reached retirement age at 65. She acted as a tester for First Aid badge for Guides and Brownies. Jessie attended many of the Oaks in Charnwood Camps either as a Guider or as a First Aider. In 1973

Pic: Jessie Wainwright

due to a badly broken wrist, Jessie trained as a Clinical Teacher and worked with pupil nurses at Charles Frear School of Nursing, Groby Road Hospital and Glenfield Community Hospital.

In 1984 Jessie and Gordon made a pilgrimage to the Far East to visit War Graves where so many of Gordon’s comrades had died, sadly Gordon passed

away shortly after returning. Before Jessie retired she attended the 40th Anniversary Celebrations of the NHS in 1988 and went to London with her daughter.

Jessie worked until she was 65 when she was obliged to retire.

Since retiring Jessie did some agency nursing, became a member of the Trefoil Guild after retiring as a Guider, worked as a Caseworker for S.S.A.F.A (Soldiers. Seamen and Air Force Association) and was invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in 2001 because of this. She volunteered at the local hospice shop (LOROS) for over 20 years and sang in two church choirs (St. James the Great and St. Nicholas and Our Lady at Wanlip) and one secular choir. The only thing she ever wished for was that her husband could have lived longer, though knowing the hardships he endured as a Japanese prisoner, she was grateful for the time they had together.

Jessie died on July 27, 2020, and is survived by her daughter Louisa, son Gordon and grandchildren Christopher, Helen, Michelle and Michael and three great-grandchildren.

A service was held at the Chesterfield and District Crematorium on August 12 and was attended by family only due to Covid-19 restrictions.

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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 email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk

Cycle lanes I didn’t know there was a new postcode lottery just for the Goscote side residents of the A6 dual carriageway!

This is not a lottery anyone would

wish to be in. Gone are the safe halfway crossings. People, especially elderly will not want to walk all the way to the zebra crossing especially in winter to go down to the Co-op, or when coming back with shopping. What happens then?

It will be an accident (or many) waiting to happen. An utterly disastrous decision. No wonder we were not consulted. Nothing is positive about the plan either - confusing. We came up Red Hill from Leicester and to turn left into Goscote Hall Road (which I presume we can still do) and we had to cross the cycle lane. If left and right turnings are not made clear then cyclists, as well as pedestrians, are at risk.

Shame on the planners or whoever gave the go-ahead for it to happen.

Margaret Briggs

Book sales Thank you Jerry for the publicity in last month's issue. The sales of the history book, A Walk Around Old Birstall, have gone quite well with well over 100 already sold. I am getting good reports that searching back through the years has been very interesting. There are three other places now for access that can be used for obtaining the book. They are the Parish Council offices, my telephone number (0116) 267 3239, and the Air Ambulance shop on Sibson Road where the profits from these books will be donated.

John Kilby

Cricket Why No Cricket? At last, after months of being stuck at home and the sun shining, I can go to the park and watch some cricket and sit and have a pint with the friendly people at Birstall Village Cricket Club.

As I walk past the Bowling Green it is nice to see people enjoying their sport, but wait, no cricket. In the distance I can see the children’s play area, there is certainly a lot of activity on there. Feeling a little puzzled by this I make further enquiries and find that despite Boris giving the go-ahead from early July and the ECB giving clear guidance on how to play the game in a safe environment and the club implementing those guidelines and purchasing sanitising equipment etc, Birstall Parish Council have stopped any matches being played. The grass has been cut so staff must be working and I cannot understand why no cricket has been allowed. I have since travelled to five different venues in the Charnwood area, all council-owned, to get my cricket “fix” as they

have no problem with matches being played. It is such a great shame that players are not allowed to play and are unable to do their usual fundraising for local charities. I understand they have donated £3,000 locally over the last four years. In the modern-day, we are all trying to do our bit to save the environment and now eleven players are travelling alone for a twenty mile round trip for a home match when the majority are within walking distance of the playing fields.

Shame on Birstall Parish Council for making this decision.

Ex Player

Poem

Noticeboard all details printed free Big Birstall Yard Sale Saturday September 12 10-4pm Supporting Luke Rames who is fundraising for a trip to Ecuador to help communities and families.

Suggested donation per stall £3 Birstall Methodist Church pit stop cafe open 10-4pm To register for a stall contact Big Birstall Yards Sale page or contact Sharon Bingham 07841448511 sharonbingham@aol.com

Autumn Murmurs Starlings line the roofs, chattering, shifting side by side like children settling down in line awaiting assembly at primary school.

Following the next instruction, a starling takes to the breeze, followed by more starlings drifting down like autumn leaves.

Murmuring against the evening sky a cloak of starlings swish on by.

By Bernadette Gibson

Regrettably, there will be no meetings of the

Charnwood Group of the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust for the foreseeable future.

Information about when talks and activities will be resuming will be posted on the Trust's website, along with details of any virtual talks and presentations. https://www.lrwt.org.uk/

legs up in the air a few times. After getting on to its feet it ran to a spot close by and did another rollover with Remembering Ken Goodrich. more leg kicking and then at another Ken, sorry we didn’t get to say goodbye. I want to thank you for your friend- spot it did the same antic a third time.

After that it ran to the plum tree, quickly ship and for our birding holidays together over the years, here and abroad. climbed the trunk and disappeared among the branches for a few seconds.

So many happy memories, where have It ran down the trunk and then started all the years gone? to run along the lawn towards the house Goodbye old friend. but instead of running in a straight line, Maureen & Alan Smith it was going from one side of the lawn to the other as it gradually progressed to the end of the lawn. It then turned Surprising antics around and ran in a straight line to the I think some people might be interest- plum tree quickly running up the trunk ed to read about the very surprising and down and then did another quick antics performed by a grey squirrel in run up and down. After reaching the my garden one day in June. ground, it moved a few feet and did yet On Saturday afternoon June 13, I another rollover with more kicking of all went into my kitchen and saw a squirrel its legs. When it rolled onto its feet it sitting on the ground under my plum did another run up the lawn, again weavtree near the far end of the lawn. Squiring from side to side of the lawn. At the rels often come into my garden to eat end of this second run, it turned around nuts and seeds I put out for birds. Some- and ran down the lawn in a straight line, times they don’t eat them but take them went past the plum tree and disappeared to various places on the lawn and bury into the bushes beyond. them, presumably to recover and eat at I was very surprised and fascinated to a later date. see the squirrel perform all those antics.

During June, fruit trees for various I waited for 10 minutes to see if it reasons discard a lot of very small fruit would reappear but it didn’t come back in their early stages of growth. This so I made a cup of tea and went and process is called 'The June drop.' wrote notes about what I had seen.

So on that afternoon, there were I don’t think the performance I saw several very small plums on the ground was the normal antics of a squirrel. I under my tree. The squirrel proceeded think it was on a ‘high’ caused by a to pick up a plum, not eating it but just substance in the plums, which it ingesttaking a bite into it and then putting it ed when biting into them, like someone down. Whilst I watched, it did this with getting a ‘high’ after taking an illegal about 10 plums. Then it ran around in a drug. small circle, ran a few yards and jumped I have heard of recently someone in into the air keeping its body stretched the west of Leicestershire who saw in out in a vertical position with rear feet her garden this year a squirrel doing about 12 inches off the ground. After similar antics after biting into small two or three seconds it landed, ran a pears. Perhaps someone knows of a few yards and did another jump. Then it substance in very small fruit that can moved to another spot, rolled over onto induce a ‘high’ in squirrels? its back and lay there kicking all four J Woods

Ken Goodrich

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

8

9

Birstall & District Local History Society Due to the uncertainty of Covid-19 a decision has been taken to cancel all this year’s monthly meetings as well as the January 2021 meeting.

The society is hoping to recommence monthly talks, virus permitting, on February 11, 2021, which includes our AGM. We are looking forward to seeing our members and any interested visitors again.

More information will be provided before the anticipated restart date.

We send our best wishes to all our members at this worrying time and hopefully, we will see you all again in 2021.

Birstall Royal British Legion The Legion is now open to members old and new We welcome you all back with a few changes to keep you all safe These are a few things we are starting up again Bingo on Tuesdays starting at 9.15pm Quiz nights every Wednesday at 8.15pm And Sunday quiz 13th and 27th starting at 9pm Hope you can join us soon From the Committee

BOWLS: St Margaret's Co-operative Bowls Club is open to anyone who wants to give bowls a try.

Contact Sam Dobson 0116 2677372

Bowlers get back on the green BOWLS IS in a happy position relative to other sports.

When Covid-19 first struck all official leagues and competitions were suspended, the first time this has happened since 1945. At club level, in many parts of the country, the game has started up again.

Some clubs are getting an influx of

the green enjoying a friendly game of people who want to give bowls a try. bowls. There is still time for anyone to Bowls is one of the few outdoor games come down to the club and give bowls a which can easily adapt to social distancing and the lockdown has made us real- try. They will receive a warm welcome.”

For further information, please conise just how important social activities tact: 0116 2677372 are. from Margaret's Co-operative B C Down at St Margaret's we have been www.smcbc.com enjoying informal games since early June.

Pic: friendly games at St Margaret's, early Club Chair Carolyn Foster said: “It is August lovely to see so many people back on

Library open, no computers yet BIRSTALL LIBRARY has reopened for browsing, borrowing and returning books, but you must book a time slot first.

The county’s main libraries are operating with an online booking system, allowing members to book a slot to visit their preferred library. There are a limited number of slots available each day to ensure social distancing is observed within the buildings.

To book your slot, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/book-a-library-visit. Residents who are unable to book a slot online can call 0116 305

2695 to book their timed appointment.

Library users may visit in groups of up to three to browse, borrow and return items. Hand sanitisers are available at all sites and face coverings will be mandatory.

Library staff are on hand to welcome customers back to their local library and assist them to use the services safely.

For the time being, toilets remain closed to customers and the use of computers will not be available. The county council hopes the service will return in September, once necessary health and safety measures are in place.

The click and collect service continues to operate alongside browsing.

Over 900 click and collect orders have been placed in the first three weeks since launching the service.

Visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/click-andcollect.

Some community managed libraries are also open for browsing and to offer the click and collect service. For more information, contact the library directly.

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

Film Presentations Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council “Downton Abbey” We know this film is very popular.

In fact, we have sold many tickets and know that we would have had a capacity audience in March, before we all realised how easy it is to develop the coronavirus.

If we were to show this film in September or October, we would need willing volunteers and a willing audience. However, with social distancing under the current restrictions, there would be insufficient room to present the film safely. We may have to wait until the New Year to show a film

The October issue of

THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Oct 3.

The copy deadline is Sep 18.

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10

SEPTEMBER 2020 Visit our website at: www.villagewatch.co.uk and join our Group on Facebook

Getting Support and Advice In our August edition we reported that Lockdown has placed many strains on individuals and family relationships. Concern about jobs and money, added to the reduced opportunities to take time out from stressful situations, have left many people feeling alone, unsupported and even desperate. Helplines that can, quite literally, be life‐savers for people who can find nowhere else to turn have seen a dramatic surge in calls since March.

We have a list of telephone numbers on our website but thought that it would be useful to publish some of them here.

There are many other support services available that can be found on the website:

Age UK Advice Line

0800 678 1602

A free and confidential national phone service for older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals.

Al‐Anon Family Groups

0800 008 6811

For anyone affected by somebody else's drinking.

Alcoholics Anonymous

0800 917 7650

If you need help because of a drinking problem.

Childline

0800 1111

Free, confidential advice and support for those under 18, whenever help is needed and whatever the worry.

Citizens Advice

0345 404 0506

Local charities that offer free and confidential advice.

Cruse Bereavement Care

0808 808 1677

Emotional support and practical advice related to bereavement, including dealing with an estate, debt and arranging a funeral.

First Step

0116 254 8535

A Leicestershire organisation for male survivors of sexual abuse and rape.

Frank

0300 123 6600

Advice and information for drug misusers, their families, friends and carers.).

Galop

0800 999 5428

The National LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline.

Leicester Rape Crisis

0116 255 8852

Accepts self‐referrals from individuals who have been sexually abused or raped.

Leicestershire Relate

0116 254 3011

Help for people of all ages, backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities to strengthen their relationships.

Men’s Advice Line

0808 801 0327

For male domestic abuse survivors.

Mencap

0808 808 1111

Information and advice for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers.

National Debtline

0808 808 4000

Talk through your options and get clear advice on how to take back control of your money.

National Domestic Violence Helpline

0808 200 0247

Advice and help for victims of domestic abuse.

National Rape Crisis Helpline

0808 802 9999

For women survivors of rape and sexual abuse in England and Wales.

NSPCC

0808 800 5000

If you are worried about a child, contact professional counsellors for help, advice and support.

Samaritans

116 123

Call any time whatever you are going through. Free from any phone.

Scope

0808 800 3333

Free, independent and impartial advice and support on issues that matter to disabled people and their families.

StepChange Debt Charity

0800 138 1111

Free, confidential advice and practical solutions to help you deal with your debts.

The Mix

0808 808 4994

Support for the under 25s; mental health, money, homelessness, finding a job, break‐ups, drugs etc.

Victim Support

0808 168 9111

Free service for anyone affected by crime, regardless of whether it has been reported or how long ago it happened.

(National Drugs Helpline)

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

www.supportline.org.uk/problems

11

If You Dial 999 but are too Frightened to Speak It is always best to speak to the operator if you can, even by whispering. You may be asked to cough or tap the keys on your phone in response to questions.

Because calls from mobile phones can be made from anywhere, emergency services have to know where it is before they can send assistance.

Silent Solution is a police system designed to help people who are unable to speak but genuinely need police assistance. If they do not say anything when the operator answers, they will hear an automated police message that begins with ‘You are through to the police...’.

It will ask them to press 55 to be put through to a police call handler. If they do not, the call will be automatically disconnected.

The police call handler will attempt to communicate with them by asking simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. If they are not able to speak, they should listen carefully to the questions and instructions so that the call handler can assess the call and

arrange the necessary help.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT SIMPLY PRESSING 55 DOES NOT TELL THE POLICE WHERE THE CALLER IS. Because landlines go to a fixed address the system is different. When a 999 call is made from a landline, information about where it is from is available automatically to the call handlers.

If, when an emergency call on a landline is received, there is no request for emergency assistance, the caller does not answer questions and the operator cannot decide whether an emergency response is needed, it will be connected to a police call handler. The process will then be similar to that used for calls from a mobile phone.

If the handset is replaced during the call, the line should remain connected for another forty‐five seconds in case it is picked it up again. If it is and the operator is still concerned about the caller’s safety, the call will be connected to the police.

A Message for our Coordinators

Nuisance Phone Calls

When we wrote to you a few weeks ago, we asked if you were willing to let us have an email address at which we could contact you. Many of you have now done so but there are still quite a few who have not.

It is quite easy to put things off and then never get around to them so, if that is the case, could you please respond to this reminder.

Just send a message from that email address with the subject ‘Email Address’ and your name and the first line of your postal address as the message to:

Registering with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) prevents businesses based in the UK from cold calling you without your permission. They can be fined if they do so.

Take care to use only the free TPS and beware of scam and copycat websites.

watch@villagewatch.co.uk Of course, if you prefer not to do so, that is fine.

Back to School Safely With all the disruption to school life caused by Covid‐19, young people will have many uncertainties to face as they return to the classroom. Parents may be worried that their children could be exposed to drugs or other risky behaviour.

Most of them will be unsure about how to deal with these issues or any information they may pick up.

The Fearless scheme. introduces young people to the services offered by Crimestoppers in a way that they can understand.

It has its own website specially designed for them and contains a wealth of information about crime and similar problems that can affect them. It gives guidance about how they can pass on information that may be worrying them anonymously.

Just go to the website for more information:

www.fearless.org

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

Local Police News The Birstall and Wanlip Neighbourhood Team produces a monthly Newsletter written by our Beat Officer, Dave Jaeckels. It contains news about recent crime in our villages, crime prevention advice and other information about the Team’s activities.

You can read it in full each month on our website:

www.villagewatch.co.uk/police

www.tpsonline.org.uk Unfortunately, its powers do not extend to calls made from abroad. Telephone service providers have introduced measures to prevent many of them getting through but the scammers are doing their best to get round them.

Caller identification is a very useful feature of modern phones and enables us to block specific numbers.

Computers make thousands of calls a minute to numbers stolen from many sources, including ex‐directory numbers. They generate fake numbers as the caller identification, so blocking one has little effect because the next call will appear to come from a different number. Increasingly, they are making the fake number look similar to the one being called, so that it appears to be a local call.

A message, designed to frighten and panic the recipient, urges them to press a key for more information. If they do so, they are connected to a call centre where the operator, paid by results, launches into their current scam. To add insult to injury, by pressing the key, it is the victim who starts paying for the call. It is charged at international premium rates, so the fraudsters still make money whether their main scam is successful or not.

There is very little risk if you simply answer one of these calls but you should NEVER respond to the message, just ring off immediately.

Contacting Birstall and Wanlip Neighbourhood Watch watch@villagewatch.co.uk 0756 2422 756 Calls go to our answering service but we always try to reply within 24 hours. Please remember to leave your number.

c/o Birstall Parish Council Council Office, Birstall Road, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4DH

Thank you to Birstall Parish Council for continuing to support the Watch — www.birstallparishcouncil.org.uk © Published by Birstall and Wanlip Neighbourhood Watch — 0756 2422 756 — watch@villagewatch.co.uk

Parish Council notes A MEETING of Birstall Parish Council's Estates and Recreation committee was held on July 27.

A member of the public asked a question about a statement published on the Parish Council website that states: “the playing fields, sports grounds and play areas in Birstall are all owned by Birstall Parish Council. They are not parks or open spaces that the public have a right to use but is private land that the public are permitted to use.”

The questioner wanted to know where is the information kept that states the parks are private property. Chair Ann Marshall said the parks and open spaces were owned by the Parish Council and suggested he contact the parish office.

The committee considered matters relating to cricket on the School Lane playing field. The clerk had responded to an enquiry about the availability of the ground from the Asian Sports Cricket Club on July 2 and had informed them that no plans for any cricket this season would be considered. An enquiry from Birstall Village Cricket Club received the same response and the clerk was subsequently sent an abusive and threatening email.

After consulting the estates team manager, the clerk had concluded it was not feasible financially and on the grounds of safety to prepare the wicket for four

weeks in August.

Cllr Keith Hampton said he supported the clerk and was disappointed that she had received a threatening email. He said the council had a community engagement policy and on this occasion, we had fallen short, we could have kept a more open dialogue with the cricket club.

Cllr Tony Fowler said the clerk is responsible for the safety of the park, it was due to Covid-19 that the wicket is not prepared and she had made the only decision possible in the circumstances.

Chair Ann Marshall said it was unacceptable for staff to be threatened, that the estates team manager's report highlighted the difficulty of making the surface safe and that the clerk had taken the only reasonable decision. She said she would not want to see good relations with both clubs soured over the issue.

Paul Oldcorn, a committee member of Birstall Village Cricket club, apologised for the abusive email which he said had not been endorsed by the club or the committee. He said it was now too late to prepare a wicket and asked if the council had made the decision to cancel all cricket in March.

Clarke Sue Coulson said there were staff issues, some staff were off sick and the full team were not back until July 1, and that everything was cancelled in

HANNAH CLARKE FOR ALMSHOUSES The almshouses has a vacancy of a one bedroom flat, well situated with an open outlook over the golf course, and is maintained to a high standard by the Trustees.

The property is of a sheltered nature and is suitable for a lady of 60 years plus. It is situated in Park Road, Birstall.

Apply to Andrew Atkinson 07973 309 987 or 0116 2675446 Greengate Medical Centre will be offering free flu vaccinations to those eligible from the 21st September with evening and weekend clinics also available: the first Saturday clinic is on the 26th September.

Public Health England state that the flu vaccine is more important than ever this year and all patients aged over 65 are eligible as well as all those who suffer from longterm conditions or who are pregnant. You can be assured that having your flu vaccination given by a qualified clinician within the surgery is the safest way to be vaccinated. Greengate Medical Centre has exceptional infection control measures in place with all clinicians wearing full personal protective equipment within our surgery.

Government guidelines suggest that those without a chronic condition aged between 50 and 64 years may also be eligible. This age group will be updated in due course to book when we have further guidance as to when this will be. We are looking at ways to safely re-introduce online appointment booking, specifically for these flu clinics. Please keep checking your GP online access, our website or follow Greengate Medical Centre on Facebook for updates. You can call the surgery on 0116 2677901 with any questions or to book your free flu jab appointment now. www.greengatemedicalcentre.co.uk

March.

A full meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on August 10.

County Councillor Iain Bentley raised the issue of the pop-up cycle lanes on the A6 and said he was dead set against all of it. He said he couldn’t see how all the disruption and money spent on it would be worth it. He said the effect on pedestrians would be dire, and that he had had no consultation about the scheme whatsoever. He said he had received a reassurance that a bus lane south of Hermitage Lane to Red Hill would not now be in installed.

Councillors made several points about the scheme including the risk to pedestrians by removing or narrowing pedestrian refugees; uncertainty about Loughborough Road residents being able to turn right into their properties; the lack of consultation and the increase of traffic on side roads and on Birstall Road due to no right turn restrictions.

It was agreed that the council write to Leicestershire County Council with its concerns.

It was reported that the estates team have produced a tree report that identifies some trees as important and proposes measures to protect and preserve them.

It was agreed to spend £1650 on removing two sycamore trees.

It was agreed to allow Greengate Medical Centre, and any other NHS practice, the free use of Parish Council buildings for a flu clinic and Covid-19 vaccine program.

It was agreed to approve a request from local author John Kilby to allow books sales to take place from the parish office.

Councillors considered the loss of income due to Covid-19.

There will be no Parish Council Christmas event but a tree will be erected as well as the trees above the shops.

Councillor Julian Howe suggested the council needs to advertise its community grant scheme.

It was reported that the youth café is not open, the youth workers are still being paid and are working at home on projects and future planning.

It was agreed to spend £495 on emergency repairs to the school Lane pavilion roof and £840 on removing asbestos sheeting from the Meadow Lane allotment site.

It was reported that £3000 given to the Parish Council from the Edith Murphy Foundation for Birstall gala will be used instead to support local community groups who apply for a share of the funding.

Cllr Jeff Green proposed that the council set up a committee or working party to consider ways the council could improve its performance. After debating the issue, it was put to the vote with six in favour of Cllr Green's proposal, four against and one abstention.

Cash for groups £3000 OF sponsorship funding for Birstall’s cancelled 2020 gala is now being made available for community groups.

“Birstall Parish Council is pleased to announce that the Edith Murphy Foundation has kindly agreed that the Parish Council can retain their annual sponsorship funding for the Gala of £3,000 and to make this fund available to community groups which operate in Birstall and that have provided or are providing a service for Birstall residents during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Birstall Parish Council clerk Sue Coulson.

Any Birstall based community group can apply through Birstall Parish Council for monies from this fund.

Sue said: “Birstall Parish Council has a long association with the Edith Murphy Trustees and is pleased that they have asked us to administer it.

The Parish Council will, of course, inform the trustees of where the money has been allocated.”

To make an application or request an application form, contact the Clerk at the Council Offices by email: admin@birstallpc.org.uk or by telephone: 0116 267 6191 or in writing to: The Clerk - Birstall Parish Council, Birstall Road, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4DH

Waste ALL 14 OF Leicestershire County Council’s recycling and household waste sites are now open.

Nine of the sites will be open five days a week – the same number of days as before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the service.

Mountsorrel and Whetstone have increased to opening seven days (from five days a week before the pandemic) and the remaining sites will be open for 2-3 days each week during the ongoing pandemic.

Mountsorrel and Whetstone are the county’s busiest, and since reopening both sites have had an average of 250300 visitors each day.

Visitors to sites need to book a slot in order to visit so that social distancing can be observed, and restrictions on some waste types are still in place at some sites. Sites will continue to be open between 9am and 5pm.

The council is also reminding any residents that if they can’t make their time slot, or it is no longer needed, they should log in to their council account and cancel the appointment so that it can be used by someone else.

For more information about individual sites opening times, to book an appointment and for further details on recycling and waste in Leicestershire, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/waste or call 0116 305 0001.

THE BIRSTALL POST SEP 2020

12

Garden Keep calm and keep a baking delight THE WHITE Horse 8th Great Birstall Bake Off in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support will take A COLOURFUL front garden place over the weekend of Saturin Newton Drive is appreciatday and Sunday, September ed by many people who 19/20. pass by it on their way to

Watermead Country Park.

Neighbour Maria Stubbs said: “I think it’s beautiful and everyone that passes by looks at it, I watch them stopping to enjoy it.

“Mr Surelia spends so much time in his garden making it nice for everyone.”

Raj Surelai has lived at the house for 35 years. He said: “I am delighted to see people being cheered up by the garden. It does take a lot of time and effort but I will continue to keep it as it is.”

Pic: Maria Stubbs admires the garden

Cricket corner CHARNWOOD BOROUGH Council has been only too happy to help the club find different venues to play on following the decision by Birstall Parish Council not to let cricket matches be played on the park.

In a much shortened season of just five matches followed by play-offs, the 2nd XI has started with a 100% record from their first three matches. The highlight was a 160 run victory over Shepshed in which Steve White retired on 109 not out, and Ian Bartlett made

89.

The 1st XI has suffered from many players living in the Leicester lockdown area and have done well to gain maximum points from two of their first three matches.

From Birstall Village Cricket Club

Covid-19 cases POSITIVE CASES of Covid-19 in Birstall, Aug 9-15: 8

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The World's Biggest Coffee morning has always been a firm favourite in the nation's diary and now is an established event in Birstall too. And perhaps this year, more than ever, is the right time to put up the bunting, fire up the kettle and get together with friends and family to support the millions of people living with cancer.

“We have decided to go ahead with the Great Birstall Bake off for Macmillan as cancer won't stop for Covid-19 so we are going ahead, making changes to assure we adhere to the guidelines to keep everyone safe but we hope that a good few people will bake entries and also come along to the coffee morning on Sunday, September 20 at 11am which will be held in our new outside marquee,” said Charlotte Foy. “It would be great to see families getting involved, so many of us have done much more baking since the lockdown began and it would be great to sample some new 'signature' bakes for this fun competition and great cause,” added Beccy Kay The categories this year are:1. Cup Cakes/tray bake

2. Cake 3. Biscuits 4. Sweet Pastry 5. Savoury Bake 6. Bread 7. Free From 8. Best decorated* 9. Best under 16’s entry* *Any 1-7 category is eligible All entries are extremely welcome, no matter your experience level, sweet or savoury, from the young or less young. The entries need to be at the White Horse for judging on Saturday 19 between 9am & 12 noon.

The ‘Star Bakers’ will be celebrated at the coffee morning on Sunday, September 20 from 11am hosted by the White Horse.

There will be entertainment for all the family as well as, the most important aspect, an abundance of baked treats for all to enjoy.

Given the current situation, a delivery service or collection option is being planned and there is also an official code which means anyone wishing to support Macmillan cancer care can donate by simply going to https://thyg.uk/BUU004475300.

All the funds raised will go straight to Macmillan’s world’s biggest coffee morning which raised an incredible £27.5 million in 2019 to help people facing cancer.

Application forms can be found on the White Horse website or from the pub and further details are on their Facebook page.

13

News from the churches

NHW news

& crime report Looking for a Pet? Scammers are quite heartless and have no conscience about the distress they cause to their victims. The lockdown has led to an increased demand for pets and they have been quick to get in on the act.

As a result, a lot of people looking forward to getting a new companion have found themselves deeply disappointed and out of pocket instead.

The scam is not new and Action Fraud reports that more than three million pounds have been stolen in this way over the past six years.

After seeing an advert for two young puppies on a popular website, an interested person contacted the seller who claimed that they needed new homes because their owner had died. They sent heart-melting photographs and said that they would cost £300, including the use of a specialist animal delivery service. The buyer requested more information, including microchip numbers and details of their vet. There was no response and no further contact and it is almost certain that this would have been the same outcome if the money had been paid.

Would-be pet owners are always encouraged to visit and meet animals before making any decisions. Most legitimate breeders insist on meeting buyers in-person to satisfy themselves that pets are going to loving and responsible owners. However, lockdown has made such visits difficult and fraudsters have taken advantage of the situation.

If you are looking for a pet, always make sure that it actually exists and has been bred legally. Ask for its inoculation history, microchip number, breed paperwork and certification. If possible, pay with a bank card or through PayPal. These methods give much greater protection than bank transfers that are notoriously difficult to trace once the money has left your account.

Instead of relying on adverts that may or may not be genuine, consider looking at established local animal charities and rescue centres. They can be trusted and are always looking for responsible people to offer homes to animals in their care. If you are looking for a particular breed of dog, you can find reputable breeders through the Kennel Club. www.rspca.org.uk/findapet www.cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat www.thekennelclub.org.uk Please Stay Safe and Well, From Ed Chambers, Chairman Birstall & Wanlip NHW

Priorities We intend to continue to focus on Anti-Social Behaviour and drug use around the Birstall & Wanlip areas. In recent weeks we have been paying particular attention to the local parks and areas where we are aware drugs are being used, and we will continue to patrol these locations to discourage this behaviour and deal with any offences that we identify. Thankfully, Birstall & Wanlip are now out of the ‘protected zone’ and

so some sense of normality is starting to return, however, please ensure that you continue to stick to the rules by wearing face coverings in shops and maintaining AFTER SO long away, we have social distancing whenever possible. had a tantalising glimpse of a Crime Update Reported crime fell in July with a total very small light at the end of of 45 crimes being reported, which is the tunnel. down from 58 the previous month.

In St James, Birstall, and Our Lady & The main category was again 'assaults', St Nicolas, Wanlip, Sunday services have of which there were 14 reported, howevstarted again, one at 9.30am at Birstall er, four of these were as a result of one (no 8am service yet), and one at 6pm at individual incident and two other inciWanlip. Unlike any other services, we are dents accounted for another four offences. keeping apart from each other, and We have also had a total of nine ‘Public plenty of hand sanitising before, during, Order’ offences reported to us, seven and after proceedings. No wine at comreports of criminal damage, five ‘other’ munion, and no tea or coffee afterwards, thefts, two reports of thefts from vehicles with the accompanying hubbub that goes (one of which was a theft of number with it. plates) and two actual thefts of vehicles.

But it was so great to be back in our Lastly, we have had three ‘possession churches, with familiar surroundings, of weapons’ offences (none of these and seeing familiar faces, recognisable involved firearms), one sexual offence, even hidden under obligatory face one dwelling house burglary (this was an masks! To be able to worship as a conattempt with no actual entry gained) and gregation, and pray together, gives us a one non-dwelling burglary. feeling of comfort and security that lately For further crime information please has been taken from us. We can also visit: www.police.uk/leicestershire/NL60/ mourn those friends that are now no Events longer with us, and comfort those left.

At present we do not have any consulWe must give a huge “Thank you” to tation events planned, however, we intend our churchwardens for our Sunday servto try and arrange some of these as soon ices, and for our times of private prayer, as possible. These will probably be in the as putting place all the safeguards for form of street consultations and we will our protection must have been quite a update you further as soon as we have Herculean task. We know we are not arranged when and where these will be. allowed to sing, but was there a little bit We will also advertise these on twitter a of humming when the organist was playfew days beforehand —see below for ing? Our organist and our service leaddetails of how to follow us. ers kept us all feeling safe, and In the meantime, you can stay in something else to celebrate – a wedding touch with your beat team by contacting us via phone, email or through the Leices- at Wanlip. So, for now, it’s 9.30am at Birstall and 6pm at Wanlip. Still no rectershire Police website. Neighbourhood tor, but we are back!

Link is also a free and easy way of findFrom the parish churches, St James the ing out what is happening on the beat Great, Birstall, and Our Lady & St Nicolas, and what the Police are doing in your Wanlip area. It is free, only takes a few minutes to sign up and you can choose what you Not Open Yet receive information about. You can also As these notes are written, our complete a survey about what matters to church remains closed for worship. The you and what issues you would like us to concentrate on. Sign up now at:www.neighbourhoodlink.co.uk You can also follow us on twitter at @CharnwoodPolice You may have noticed that I have takMicrosuction ear wax removal & en over from PS Boylin as the new Serhearing care. A local mobile service geant for Birstall and Wanlip.

I come to the beat with a wealth of • Ear wax removal in the experience in a number of different roles comfort of your own home • Safe, gentle & effective and will be working closely with the beat • No need for water or syringing team to tackle the issues that you tell us you are concerned about.

Now offering FREE hearing assessments I know the Birstall & Wanlip areas quite well and am keen to get out and Call now: Lindsey Ince about on patrol as much as possible.

07702 021996 If you see me out and about and wish to discuss anything, please feel free to stop me and have a chat. We will do our best to resolve any concerns you may The Midlands Co-Operative have or try and advise you who to contact Sports & Social Club if we are unable to assist.

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congregation is sharing worship either via printed sheets or using Zoom on the Internet. There are so many things to consider before our church is to reopen for public worship. Many of our congregation are elderly and have been shielding and some will be reluctant to venture into an indoor gathering of people. Opening is a very difficult decision and no single answer is correct. One of our congregation, a local preacher, wrote in our notice sheet quite a long essay titled ‘Democracy, Power and Truth’. His final paragraph reads as follows: "We know from the history of the Methodist Church of our active participation when we have witnessed social injustice, intolerance and indifference.

When we as stalwart members of the Methodist Church in the UK can see these issues first-hand, we are motivated to do something about it. Our priority, of course, is to bring our concerns to God in prayer and to ask God for guidance on our next steps as disciples of Jesus Christ. My exhortation is for us all to take action on the concerns we have placed before God, no matter how small we may think of our own contribution.

For me, my action has been to write articles, letters and emails, to local councillors, my MP and the Secretary of State for Health. I believe it is time to stand up and make a bit of noise, especially on some of the quieter but still vitally important issues facing our future in the UK.” Boys’ Brigade Maurice Hayward, a previous Captain of the Birstall Boys’ Brigade Company (2nd Leicester) some time ago started a Facebook group called “Second Thoughts”. It is a public group and anyone can view it. If you were in the Birstall BB, or you had sons who were in it, then do take a look. It is well worth

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viewing, especially as it shows many pictures from the 1960s and 1970s. One of the regular contributors is Carl Palmer. Older members of the congregation may remember the church raised funds for Carl to attend Bible College. He is now a Pastor at Elm Park Baptist Church.

He regularly posts Snippets and quotations etc on his own Facebook page.

Very evangelical in outlook, but well worth taking a look.

still have some questions about spiritual issues and Christianity, then please contact us on 0116 2214883 for further discussion.

Pic: Simon Terry in Birstall in July 2014 Hymns and hymn writers Not being allowed to sing in church at the current time is very strange, especially since the Bible exhorts us to do so.

Psalm 147 begins: ‘Praise the LORD! For From Birstall Methodist Church it is good to sing praises to our God’ and in the New Testament we read: ‘… in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, Sunday Services singing with grace in your hearts to the Please check with our website (http://www.birstallbaptistchurch.org.uk) Lord.’ (Colossians 3:16) However, we can still read the words of our hymns or phone us on 0116 2214883 for upand think about their meaning – perto-date information about when we will be allowed to resume Sunday services at haps while having the familiar tunes running in our heads.

The Cedars.

Isaac Watts has been given the title of Farewell to Simon ‘the father of English hymnody’ and he wrote over 600 hymns, many of which are still sung today. He was born in Southampton in 1674, his father being imprisoned more than once for his nonconformist religious beliefs, but Isaac was brought up in a family where the Bible was daily read and prayers were said.

Isaac himself became a Christian Pic: Simon Terry when he was 15 and, turning his talents Working with Birstall Independent to the service of the Lord, his great caBaptist Church, Simon Terry (pictured above) has served the Birstall communi- reer as a hymn-writer began. He took the words of the Bible for his hymns and ty for the last ten years, touring the village in all weathers, listening to people’s many are based on the Psalms (the book called ‘the Church’s hymnbook’), concerns, sharing in their joys and sorwith praise being a common theme. rows, discussing science issues, world views, life’s big questions and the Gospel Examples are: ‘Give to our God immortal praise’ (Psalm 136), ‘I’ll praise my (Good News) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Simon says that it has been a privilege to Maker while I’ve breath’ (Psalm 146), ‘Our God our help in ages past’ (Psalm work in the village and that he has a great heart for the people he’s met. Now, 90) and ‘Joy to the world! The Lord is he is called to work in education and we come!’ (Psalm 98). Perhaps his most famous hymn is ‘When I survey the wonwill sadly miss him but want to extend drous Cross’, which paints a vivid picour grateful thanks and wish him the ture of the death of the Saviour. What is Lord’s richest blessings in the place striking is the use of ‘I’ as it is a very where the Lord has chosen him to serve personal response to these events. If you in the future. If you were one of the would like to discuss why a Christian hundreds with whom he spoke and you Advertise in

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can call such a cruel method of execution ‘wondrous’ then please contact us.

Isaac Watts died in 1748, having left an enduring legacy of praise to ‘his Maker’.

From Birstall Independent Baptist Church

and the summer concert did not go ahead in July, practices have continued for the adult choir, using Zoom. This, too, took a little getting used to, but the weekly practices have proved to be both successful and most enjoyable. As ever, Chris Lowe must take great credit for organizing the sessions, overcoming a variety of technical challenges and arranging new songs for the choir’s repertoire.

HOW WONDERFUL it is to be able to gather together again and worship as parish communities.

There have been several changes since the pre-Covid-19 days which now From St Theresa’s, Birstall seem such a long time ago.

YOU MAY well be familiar with Psalm Our Priest 23 from the Bible, which starts with Firstly, Fr Ted has been unwell in the words ‘The Lord is my shepherd’. recent months and we welcome in his Over the years the words of this place Fr Tom Thomas (pictured below), psalm have brought comfort to many who will be with us for the foreseeable people. future. We send our best wishes to Fr There is a verse in this psalm about Ted as he recovers after surgery and we passing through the valley of the shadow remember him in our prayers. of death- here is a modern version of Hello, my name is Fr Tom Thomas that verse: and I recently came to look after the “Lord, even when your path takes me parishes of St Theresa Birstall and Sathrough the valley of deepest darkness, cred Heart fear will never conquer me, for you Rothley. I am already have! You remain close to me a Rosminian and lead me through it all the way. Your priest belongauthority is my strength and my peace. ing to the The comfort of your love takes away my Institute of fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are Charity. The near.” order was Psalms 23:4 TPT founded in This is our prayer for you from us at 1828 in Italy TLC. May you know the Lord as your and our misPic: Fr Thomas shepherd and the comfort and strength sion involves that comes from that relationship. Even us mainly in education and pastoral in a deep, dark valley. work.

Do visit us online at Originally from India, I came to the UK in 2010 working first at Etheldreadas www.trinitylifechurch.org.uk to see what is happening...

Church in Central London whilst underAnd let us know if you would like a taking part-time studies at StMary’s University Twickenham. From there I moved call, some prayer or a visit from a pastor or need any practical help from us or to parish work at St Marie’s Church in our compassion charity Open Hands.

Rugby. I look forward to meeting you Email Susan.hind@trinitylifechurch.org.uk all and serving as your Parish Priest .We are praying for you and for all of during my time here.

Birstall, Celebration of Mass Pastors David and Susan Hind (Senior During the lengthy period of lockLeaders of TLC) down, Fr Ted (and more recently Fr From Trinity Life Church Tom) continued to say Mass daily, though sadly with no parishioners present. However, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, many parishionGENERAL BUILDING & HOME REPAIRS ers were able to “attend” Mass via liveBrickwork • Patios streamed services from participating churches.

Re-pointing Now that we can return to our parish Tiling • Plaster churches, we are quickly getting used to Patching • Fencing etc the very different practices required to No job too small control the risk of passing on the virus.

Friendly Reliable Service Sanitising hands, signing in, wearing Free Quotations • Fully Insured masks, seating well apart from each other, not singing hymns or sharing the Tel: 0116 260 7716 sign of peace etc - all these things seem Mob: 07770 785400 so alien to our normal behaviour, but as Email: dave@dave-hutchings.com a caring community, we happily do whatWebsite: www.dave-hutchings.com ever is required to keep each other safe and well. A big thank you to our teams of stewards and cleaners at both churches for all they are doing.

To maintain social distancing, we now have fewer seats are available in church, a particular issue at Sacred Heart, where outdoor Masses have been celebrated instead. There are now additional masses on Thursday and Saturday at St Theresa’s. Full details of Mass times for the week can be found in the newsletter or online at https://st-theresasacredheart.co.uk Sycamore Rd, Birstall Choir 0116 2677905 Although the choir is unable to lead the singing at Sunday Mass at present 07834 600384

DAVE HUTCHINGS

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Birstall BAG’s cancer corner The National Cancer Patient Experience Birstall BAGs would like to provide readers with some insight into a national cancer survey that is conducted every year by NHS England. You may have taken part in this survey yourself, which is wonderful. Understanding what patients and their families experience when using health care services is vital to the NHS. It means changes made and new services can be tailored to meet a genuine need. If you are ever asked to provide feedback through a survey of this kind please be assured the hospital teams scrutinise the results, they take on board every comment written and genuinely try to mould services and departments based on the results.

NHS England recently published results from the 2019 Cancer Patient Experience Survey. The survey is conducted on an annual basis and includes all adult patients (aged 16 and over), with a confirmed primary diagnosis of cancer, who have been admitted to hospital as inpatients for cancer-related treatment, or who were seen as day case patients for cancer-related treatment, and have been discharged between April, May or June 2019.

The survey has been designed to monitor national progress on patient experience of cancer care; to provide information to drive local quality improvements; to assist commissioners and providers of cancer care, and to inform the work of the various charities and stakeholder groups supporting cancer

patients.

The survey was overseen by a national Cancer Patient Experience Advisory Group. This group advises on the principles and objectives of the survey programme and supports questionnaire development. The survey was commissioned and managed by NHS England and Improvement. The survey provider Picker is responsible for technical design, implementation and analysis of the survey.

How is the survey distributed?

As in the previous four years, the survey used mixed methods. Questionnaires were sent by post, with two reminders where necessary, but also included an option to complete the questionnaire online. A Freephone helpline and email were available for respondents to opt-out, ask questions about the survey, enable them to complete their questionnaire over the phone and provide access to a translation and interpreting facility for those whose first language was not English.

How is the survey scored?

52 questions from the questionnaire are scored as these questions relate directly to the patient experience.

Results for 2019 Results from the survey are available nationally, by region, such as the East Midlands Cancer Alliance, by NHS trust such as University Hospitals of Leicester and they are broken down by cancer type providing there are sufficient re-

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sponses from that type of cancer to be collated.

Looking at the national results, compared to last year’s survey, scores significantly improved on eight questions.

Some of the largest differences were seen in the proportion of respondents saying they were given information on financial help or possible benefits, and the proportion of respondents that said they were given a care plan. Scores deteriorated significantly on five questions. Whilst these differences appear small, most of these questions were around communication with hospital staff which is key for ensuring patients are informed and involved at every step of their cancer care pathway.

Picker currently holds the contract for completing the survey. If you would like to read more or see the results broken down by region or cancer type please visit https://www.ncpes.co.uk.

For local support and information about cancer services please contact:University Hospitals of Leicester Cancer Information Centre on 0116 258 6189 For more information on the funds Birstall BAGs have raised, the projects we support and forthcoming events see www.birstallbags.co.uk or look us up on Facebook or email birstallbags@hotmail.co.uk

THE BIRSTALL POST YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR Editor: Mr Jerry Jackson Editorial/Advertising

0116 4422067 Correspondence, news etc can be emailed or handed in at our office: Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings Leicester LE4 3BR,

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

Planning P/20/1480/2: 29 Greengate Lane Birstall LE4 3JF Minor Alteration to the arrangement of the fenestrations and minor sundry fixings.

P/20/1475/2: 52 Wanlip Avenue Birstall LE4 4JR First-floor side extension and change of use from commercial and dwelling to 2 x two-bedroom flats Planning has been granted recently, however the updated application changes the front single storey roof from flat to pitched and also the front door has been positioned further tot he left to make a more efficient layout by not having to alter the existing structure P/20/1465/2: 15 Cordelia Drive Birstall Leicestershire LE4 3PH Two storey extension to rear of house P/20/1443/2: 90 Curzon Avenue Birstall Leicestershire LE4 4ADerection of two storey side and single storey rear extensions P/20/1435/2: 11 Park House Close Birstall Leicestershire LE4 4AW I wish to remove 2 Lower limbs Off a horse chestnut tree, the first limb is reaching over next doors property and the second limb is on the opposite side of the tree this to remove for aesthetic and balance reasons.

Also after this work I would like to crown reduce the rest by 2-3 meters if possible.

P/20/1394/2: 46 Oakfield Avenue Birstall Leicestershire LE4 3DR Erection of two storey extension to side and rear of dwelling and single storey extension to front P/20/1282/2: 56 Denegate Avenue Birstall Leicestershire LE4 3GG Certificate of Lawfulness (proposed) for a single storey side extension.

P/20/1257/2: 67 Greengate Lane Birstall Leicestershire LE4 3JG The erection of a single storey rear extension extending beyond the rear wall of the original house by 8.0m, with a maximum height of 3.0m, and height to the eaves of 2.5m.

P/20/1356/2: 1 Church Road Wanlip LE7 4PJ Erection of two storey detached dwelling.

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