MOUNTSORREL POST YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
MARCH 2013
www.birstallpost.co.uk
No. 42
Lindens to be demolished THE LINDENS public house in Halstead Road will be demolished and nine homes built on the site.
Railway project receives award THE MOUNTSORREL Railway Project has received an award from Mountsorrel Parish Council. Volunteers on the project, who are restoring a disused section of industrial branch line, were presented with a Certificate of Commendation by the Chairman of Mountsorrel Parish Council, Brian Allard. He said: “They are all volunteers and they are restoring a part of Mountsorrel’s history that will hopefully bring
employment to the area.” Project leader Steve Cramp said: “It is a great honour for all the volunteers who have worked on the project to receive a Certificate of Commendation from Mountsorrel Parish Council. It is good to know that the Parish Council value the work we are doing to preserve Mountsorrel’s heritage and also how the
Green areas for sale THE LOSS of a valued wildlife habitat is feared by some residents of Balmoral Road who are alarmed that the land at the rear of their properties has been put up for sale at auction. The thin strip of land, owned by developers Jelson, acts as an area of separation between approximately 60 dwellings and since the houses were completed has grown into a wildlife habitat with many mature trees. Balmoral Road resident Elaine Derry said: “It is now a mature wildlife area and any clearing will devastate the bird population which, displaced by the original building, took years to return. It also provided a corridor for other wildlife to move from one area to another. “The residents of Balmoral Road and Conway Road feel aggrieved that this situation has arisen and Jelsons are able sell off this buffer of trees which was a condition of Continued on page 4
Brewery Everards were granted planning permission by Charnwood Borough Council in December for the development. The development will comprise one detached four bedroom house, four three bedroom semi-detached houses and a terrace of four 2.5 storey, four bedroom houses. Several trees on the site will be retained, others will be removed and replaced. The council received seven letters of objection to the proposals, and one of support. Mountsorrel Parish Council objected to the plans.
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MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2013
Book offers insight into village’s past ‘MEMORIES OF Stone, Steam & Steel’ is a 120 page book of rare photographs and personal recollections of Mountsorrel’s industrial and social history. Produced by Glassball Art Projects in partnership with the Mountsorrel Heritage Group, the book was launched at a special event at Mountsorrel library in December. The book coast £15 and is available from www.glassball.org.uk
PHOTOS: CLIVE RASIN
Pic: at the book launch are (l-r) front row: Fran Mills, Keith Foster (secretary of Mountsorrel Heritage Group), Clarice Wignall and Margaret Manning; middle row: Peter Hodson, Mary Neal, Noel Wakeling, Robin Davies, Lloyd Tomlin and Beryl McDowall, back row: Graham Carr, Kay Valentine, Patrick Whelband, Linda Ryman, Pat Neal, Patricia Tomkins and Phil Proud inset: Cora Glasser from Glassball led the project
Visit improving club ROTHLEY IVANHOE Tennis Club have secured grant funding for improvements to their facilities. Located behind the library on Mountsorrel Lane, the club plans to improve safety and security by installing new lighting and replacing broken slabs with plastic matting through which grass can grow. The club also plans to make improvements to courts 5 and 6 and erect floodlighting to provide an additional 1000 hours of playing time during the year. Anne Mumford, from the tennis club committee, said: “The club has a fantastic all year round programme with opportunities for people to play in competitions and to mix in socially as well as offering coaching for all ages and cardio tennis”. The club has secured grants from BIFFA
and Lafarge’s community landfill programmes, Charnwood Borough Council and the Harry Hames Cottage Trust. The club has an open day on Saturday March 16 from noon to 2pm followed by opportunities for joining in the club tennis afternoon and junior coaching sessions. Half price adult membership is available on or before that day. For more information see www.rothleytennis.info email:enquiries@rothleytennis.info Tel: 0775 7833 360
Market improvements LOUGHBOROUGH MARKET is set for a £150,000 makeover. Charnwood Borough Council plans to invest the money on new stalls, electrical infrastructure and improving the appearance of the historic market. Charnwood says the one-off investment is possible following a better than expected financial settlement from the Government.
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MAR 2013
3
Community events at youth café TWO SUCCESSFUL community events at the Mountsorrel Youth Café in December fostered a “real feeling of community and excitement for the year ahead” said Graham Lloyd, the Café’s youth officer. “Both the Christmas Fair and Community Christmas lunch were excellent and their success really highlighted the community spirit of Mountsorrel. We would like to thank everybody who supported us in 2012” said Graham.
The Fair, held on December 8, helped the Café raise just over £400. The Café is a charity and costs around £80,000 a year to run and this money will go towards helping to fund its core activities. Leslie Strange, one of the
Charities Trustees, said: “£400 may not seem that much against what we have to raise each year, but every penny helps us. We could not survive without the continued support of local people, their generosity in both time and financial support means a lot.” The Community Christmas dinner, held on December 15 also proved to be a success with 16 of the village’s senior
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includes some flexibility in its opening hours. This was followed with the announcement that the County Council has again agreed a grant for 2013. “We feel that both these decisions recognise the important work we are doing and we thank both the County and Borough Councils for their support. Their faith in us means that the Charity can now plan ahead with some security.” If you are interested in finding out more about the café and its work and/or would like to get involved, then you can contact Graham Lloyd on 0116 2375289. Pics: the Christmas dinner at the Youth Café
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residents being guests of the Café. It was made possible with the support of Stonehurst Farm M E Butchers, Budgens – Mountsorrel and Tesco, Loughborough. Graham said: “It was great to welcome some of our long standing supporters to the Café. It gave us an opportunity to say thank you and for some young people to practise their hospitality and catering skills.” He added: “The Café is also celebrating two major organisational steps forward. Firstly it has been granted permanent planning permission which
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MOUNTSORREL POST
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Mountsorrel Christmas lights MOUNTSORREL’S MP, Nicky Morgan is pictured switching on the village’s Christmas lights on The Green.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS PHOTOS: CLIVE RASIN
Christmas music was performed by staff and children from Mountsorrel school. Each year, members and friends of the Soar Valley Rotary Club accompany Santa around local villages and this year they incuded a visit Budgens Mountsorrel. The proceeds will go to good causes including LOROS, Rainbows and Wishes4Kids. Club President Graham Martin said: “We are grateful to everyone who braved the cold weather to see us and contribute to the £5,300 collected. We are particularly pleased that children, parents and grandchildren came along to Budgens on Sunday December 23 (pictured left) where local choir Enchanted, led by Caroline Sharpe the Loughborough Carillonneur, sang carols and festive songs for Santa. “Our thanks also to Loughborough Kia in Mountsorrel, for providing mechanised support for Santa and his reindeer.”
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Green areas continued from page 1 the original planning approval for the houses at the rear of ‘Balmoral Road/Conway Road. Residents who were involved in the original request for the buffer had no idea that the land was not protected and could be sold in this way, and those who have purchased properties since did so partly because of the privacy which the trees provide. Residents are also concerned that the purchaser may seek to clear the land before submitting a planning application for a dwelling. They organised a residents meeting in February at the Methodist Church attended by around 25 people, where the possibility of them joining together to buy the land was discussed. Borough Councillor Leigh Harper-Davies attended the residents meeting. She said: “I am very concerned that this green area could be lost, ideally I would like to see it protected for its wildlife value and as an area of green space.” The date of the auction was February 20 (after this issue had gone to press). The June issue of the
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MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2013
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Tom Coulton remembered Although born in Ratby he moved to Mountsorrel in 1939 when he married Vera Marlow. They lived at what was then called 3 Leaper Cottages, Linkfield Road and remained in the same house for the next 73 years. Vera died in 1993 but Tom stayed there until 2012 when ill health forced him to go into a residential care home. Tom served in the Royal Leicestershire Regiment and was sent to North Africa in 1943. Captured by the German Army, he and his brother were taken to a Prisoner of War camp in Italy, near Naples. As the Allied forces advanced through Italy the prisoners were shipped off to another camp in Germany where they had to work in an iron foundry. In 1945 the Russians arrived and they were freed. After the war Tom became the Mountsorrel postman and was also involved in the Royal British Legion, helping to erect the premises in Watling Street and sometimes acting as their standard bearer. Very much a man of routine he would “go down the street” as he put it to do his shopping every week. When he was no longer able to walk that far he took his car, when he was no longer
Have your say HAVE YOUR say on what you would like to see in the village and how Mountsorrel could be improved. The Mountsorrel Community Action Group is holding a public meeting on Tuesday April 16 at the Methodist Church located on Church Hill Road from 6.30 – 8.30pm. A spokesman said: “This is your chance to have your say on what you would like to see in the village or what could be improved. Come and join us and help make Mountsorrel an even better place to live. Everyone is welcome and even if you cannot stay for the whole meeting please come along if you have any items you wish to raise. The meeting will include updates from the local Police and other key members of the community.”
Driving day THE MOUNTSORREL Youth Café organised a Road User challenge for teenagers in February. Participants had a free driving lesson, learned about basic vehicle care, driving safety and navigation. The event was supported by the Mountsorrel Youth Development Group.
PHOTO: CLIVE RASIN
A RESIDENT in the village for 73 years, Tom Coulton died in January aged 96.
Legion says thank you for job well done
Pic: Tom Coulton
able to drive, he acquired an electric scooter and used this for his trips to the village and up to the Rothley Cemetery where his wife was buried. He was a keen gardener and grew vegetables which he happily distributed freely among friends and relatives. Although he had been in the army he was very interested in all things naval and went to many Portsmouth Navy Days to see the ships and equipment on display. He had a great deal of support from his neighbours in the past two years when his failing eyesight made it difficult for him to maintain the independence he so cherished. He had said that he wanted to die in the house he had been in for so long but events conspired against that aim and he died on January 14, 2013 in the care home. From Noel Wakeling
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MOUNTSORREL’S BRIAN Allard was awarded a certificate by the village branch of the Royal British Legion to thank him for more than 20 years of help with their accounts. Mr Allard (76) was presented with his certificate at a surprise presentation during the village’s carol concert in December. “I was quite taken aback, it was really a surprise” said Brian. “I have always thoroughly enjoyed the work and feel proud and humbled to receive this certificate.” Former Legion Treasurer Noel Wakeling presented Brian with his certificate. He said “Brian is a man who is involved in so many things in the village, he goes about his business quietly and is somebody who deserves an honour. The Mountsorrel British Legion would like to thank him for all his help”. Brian is the chairman of Mountsorrel
Parish Council, a position he has held on three occasions since 1964, with his current period of office having started in 1995. Born in the village, he has been verger at Christ Church since 1953. A special service to mark his 60 years as verger was held on January 20, led by the Archdeacon of Loughborough the Venerable David Newman. Pic: Noel Wakeling (left) presents a certificate to Brian Allard The June issue of the
MOUNTSORREL POST will be published on Jun 8. The copy deadline is May 24 .
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MOUNTSORREL POST
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Volunteers push on with final section almost completed VOLUNTEERS WITH the Mountsorrel Railway Project were not deterred by January’s snowy weather and continued laying track despite the harsh conditions. One volunteer even travelled all the way from Paris by Eurostar to help out one weekend, Kevin Williams, who has lived in France for the past 20 years, said: “I had read about how the community volunteers had been working to restore the Mountsorrel Railway line and felt compelled by their hard work and dedication to come over and help out myself. I wasn’t disappointed either! It is an amazing project and it was so good to see people of all ages coming together, even in snowy weather, to work on something that has become valued by so many. I’ll be coming back as well, in
about four or five weeks time to help again!” Project leader Steve Cramp said: “We are very grateful for Kevin’s help and honoured that he was prepared to travel al the way from Paris just to help Mountsorrel restore its railway. He added: “Track laying is fast approach-
Pic: Kevin Williams (far left) travelled from France to help out
ing the end of the line at Bond Lane with only 100m left to lay to reach the site of the proposed new Mountsorrel halt. There is still much work to be done before the line is ready for trains
to run but it is hoped that the line itself will open sometime during the summer with Mountsorrel halt expecting to open next year, subject to planning consent and funding being secured.” The project continues to attract donations from sponsors and supporters: in January Loughborough Round Table donated £260, Loughborough University have donated £500 towards the cost of information boards for the Nunckley Trail and Toyota Derby have donated £1000 for fencing materials. www.mountsorrelrailway.blogspot.com
Pic:The Wildlife Warriors at work
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Decent homes MORE THAN 1,300 homes are set for a £5.76million cash injection over the next few months as part of accelerated plans to improve council properties. Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet has given the green light to upgrade kitchens, bathrooms, heating, electrics, roofs and doors at 1,305 properties by March 2013 under the Decent Homes programme. The money is part of an £11million package secured by the Council in 2011 from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and was meant to be spread evenly over four years. The Council says that by March 93% of the Council’s 5,845 properties will meet the Decent Homes standard. The Council will have £13million to spend on improving homes in 2013/14 and £10million in 2014/15. Charnwood Borough Council recently took over the management of its housing stock from Charnwood Neighbourhood Housing (CNH).
MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2013
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Parish Mountsorrel’s new Police officer Council notes MOUNTSORREL’S NEW Beacon Officer is PC 2995 Ian Mundy.
A FULL meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council was held on November 12. PC Glenn Spiby reported that he would be relinquishing his role as Beat Officer for Mountsorrel on January 8 and that PC Ian Mundy would become the Beacon Officer from that date. PC Mundy reported there had been a decrease in burglaries in the previous month. It was reported that negotiations between Tesco and the Mountsorrel War Memorial Trust are still ongoing. Tesco are seeking to secure access to their proposed Tesco Express store from the Memorial Hall car park. It was agreed to donate £400 to the Royal British Legion. A full meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council was held on December 10. Borough Councillor John Capleton reported that all PRC homes now have insulation and many also have central heating and double glazing. It was reported that the Youth Development Group would have to fold if funding could not be secured for 2013. It was agreed to donate £300 to Mountsorrel Heritage Group. It was agreed that no changes be made in 2013/14 to Parish Council charges for the Parish room, allotments, sports clubs and cemetery fees. A full meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council was held on January 14. Cllr Capleton reported that Borough Council Street Wardens had visited Mountsorrel 276 times since January 2012, and that 61 parking charge notices had been issued. It was reported that the Parish Council Carol Concert had been well attended, raising £162 which will be donated to LOROS. A letter from the headteacher of Mountsorrel School, David Williams, was circulated informing members that the school was in desperate need of new computers in order to effectively deliver the curriculum. The school currently has a budget deficit of £135,000. It was agreed to donate £10,000 to the school for new computers. The council agreed a precept of £175,868 for the year 2013/14, the same as 2012/13.
Leicestershire Police has adopted a new neighbourhood policing model to ensure it’s able to deliver the best, most efficient service in the future. The neighbourhood teams have been expanded to ensure more police officers are dealing with local issues and concerns. Four years of incident and crime data has been analysed along with other research to provide a highly accurate picture of demand and crime trends. This has enabled the Force to ensure it has the right officers in the right place at the right time, focussing on issues of local concern. Every community in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has a team dedicated to policing their neighbourhood now known as Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs), made up of a Sergeant, a Beacon Officer, Police Community Support Officers and other Police Officers and special Constables. The Beacon Officers, many of whom are already well known in their communities, will be a principal named point of contact for the public. They have committed themselves to working on their neighbourhood for a minimum of three years to provide local knowledge and continuity. Response officers continue to be based at every local policing unit in the counties but will be supported by those who start and finish their shift at five hubs in Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Market Harborough, Braunstone and Coalville. This ensures they are deployed in the most effective way across the counties and work across local authority boundaries. Assistant Chief Constable Steph Mor-
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gan, who has led the project for the Force, said; “A great deal of hard work has gone into this review and we are confident that by realigning our staff in this way we will be better able to match demand. This isn’t about cutting costs it’s about delivering the best possible service but with tight financial conditions we are rightly looking at how we can work in the most efficient way. Our duty is to protect communities and that is at the heart of everything we do. “The newly expanded SNTs will take on greater responsibility for crimes and
issues on their Neighbourhood while response officers will have more time to proactively patrol and respond to calls for assistance. Technology such as GPS tracking and mobile computing now enables us to intelligently deploy our people to make sure we use the nearest, best resource. “If we are to meet the ever changing needs of a modern society the police service needs to adapt. Modern technology also enables our officers to patrol their neighbourhoods for longer without the need to return to their base station. This keeps local officers in the heart of their communities working alongside local residents and other organisations to tackle issues together.”
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Noticeboard all details printed free Conservation Volunteers Make new friends, keep fit, learn new skills, enjoy access to wonderful wildlife sites Contact Charnwood’s Green Spaces
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Officer on 01509 634976 or visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/ch arnwoodconservationvolunteers
Charity Bridge Drive Loughborough Lions Club Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley Wednesday April 24 at 1.30pm with afternoon tea provided at a cost of £6 per person To book a table please contact Jackie on 0116 2303317 or email: brianjackie.popple@ntlworld.com
Wednesday Evening Talks Mountsorrel Library 2013 Talks begin at 7.30pm £3.50 (£3 conc) inc refreshments
The Mountsorrel 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 Mountsorrel Post, Longslade College, Wanlip Lane, Birstall, Leicester LE4 4GH, or handed in at Mountsorrel library or email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk
A smile An apple a day keeps the doctor away Perhaps that’s not quite true, But here’s a thing I recommend – A smile a day for you A gift that’s free for everyone And welcome all the year, A gift for strangers in the street Or those you hold most dear A smile can touch a lonely heart It could be all they need And if they want to share with you Well, that’s success indeed But, if some people think you’re strange Or simply turn away Don’t worry, there’ll be someone else To meet along the way So as you give away these smiles You’ll find that it’s so true You’ll feel much better day by day As they return one to you From Peggy Clarke
Mar 13 John Levison (SOFA): Rooms in Strange Places Apr 10 John Florance: John Betjeman – The People’s Poet May 15 Nick Marshall: The first Crusade June 12 John Florance: Philip Larkin July 17 Nick Marshall: Medieval Agriculture Aug 14 John Florance: Thomas Hardy- The Poet
To book tel: 0116 3055892 during library opening hours or email Ann.Bywater@leics.gov.uk Mountsorrel Methodist Church
Sunday Night @ Eight Organ Recitals on Sunday March 17 at 8pm By Father Simon Lumby of St Aidans, New Parks Admission free Donations for Development Fund Buffet from 7.30pm
Mountsorrel Community Action Group are continuing a craft group at the Sorrel Court Lounge, The Green, Mountsorrel which is a warm inviting space where we can bring our ongoing perhaps unfinished craft activities As a group we learn new things together and share our knowledge
We would love to see you, young and old, everyone is welcome, with a minimal charge of £1.20 per person Contact 0791 925 6873 for details
The Parenting Children Course For those parenting children 0-10 years old Family life is under great pressure today Discovering we are not alone in the challenges we face and picking up ideas from other parents can make a huge difference @ the Sorrel Youth Café, The Green, Mountsorrel Wednesdays, morning or evening Starting February 27 Café open 9am start 9.3011.30am OR Café open 7.30pm start 8-9.30pm For more information please contact: Christine Butcher on 0116 2376122 or chrissie.butcher@yahoo.co.uk
The Alpha Course The Alpha Course starts again at Christ Church, Top of the Green, Mountsorrel on March 1 starting at 7.30pm. If you are interested in finding out more about the Christian faith or want to explore the meaning of life Contact Christine Butcher on 0116 2376122 or 07708 443870 or chrissie.butcher@yahoo.co.uk
Soar Valley Trampoline Club Monday and Wednesday evenings at Soar Valley College Trampolining is great fun and an excellent way to keep fit! Sessions are for children aged 6 and upwards Visit our website for further details at www.soarvalleytc.co.uk or contact Annette by email: aandnlewis@gmail.com or tel: 01664 840079
on Saturday April 20, 10am - 1pm at Birstall Methodist Church Tables at £10 each Tel: 2672606
Home-Start Charnwood Are you a parent or a grandparent? Can you spare 3-4 hrs a week to help a family? Do you want to make a difference? Come with us on a journey Train to be a family support volunteer Next free training course: Start: April 11 Location: Loughborough Duration: 6 weeks, every Thursday, 9.30am to 2.30pm A pre-course interview is required Travel expenses will be paid Tel: 01509 239786 enquiries @homestartcharnwood.co.uk www.home-startcharnwood.co.uk
The Soar Valley Model Railway Club present their popular, 2 day club Open Day’s Model Railway Show Sat/Sun April 6 & 7 Martins High School Anstey Link Road, Anstey Leics LE7 7EB All the Club’s Layouts Thomas the Tank engine & friends For the youngsters and Rainbows A great school holiday outing whatever the weather for enthusiasts and families alike Come and join us
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Raffle win a brand new ‘00’ City of Leicester Locomotive Plus other great prizes Model Railway Trade Stands Refreshments and free car parking Open from Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm Adults 33, OAPS £2.50, Child £1, Family Ticket £7.50 Enqs. soarvalleymrc@gmail.com Visit our website for more details www.svmrc.co.uk
Film Presentations From Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council ‘Hope Springs’ Friday March 8 (100 mins) This joyful romantic comedy drama is about Kay, played by Meryl Streep, and her plodding husband, striving to re-ignite their relationship with greater imagination and connection to one another. How does their therapy in the village of Great Hope Springs work out? ‘The Lady’ Friday April 12 (145 mins) This is an extraordinary true story of Aung San Su Kyi and her husband Michael Aris. We watch the peaceful quest of the woman who is at the heart of Burma’s democracy movement. This film depicts devotion and human understanding within a dangerously hostile regime. ‘Quartet’ will be shown on Friday May 10 Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost £4.50 and concessions are £4. The price includes refreshments and a lucky prize draw. Advance tickets can be purchased via the parish office, 0116 2367626 or at the door
MAR 2013
Teenager nominated for award A ROTHLEY teenager has been nominated for an award for his voluntary work. Daniel Bowler (13) has been praised for the interest he has in helping others: he volunteers at the Mountsorrel Railway Project and plans games and activities at Mountsorrel Cubs. Daniel has been a part of the project that is aiming to restore a disused branch line from Swithland sidings to Bond Lane. He has also helped with the project’s Wildlife Warriors group, which runs practical outdoor activities for children, teaching them about wildlife. He was nominated for the volunteer category of the annual Lord Lieutenant’s Awards by Malcolm Law from the Mountsorrel Railway Project and by his mum Caroline, who runs the Wildlife Warriors Group. She said: “Daniel was nominated by Malcolm for his hard work and dedication to the project after putting in hundreds of hours of volunteering. “I also nominated him to let him know how proud I am of the way he always tackles everything he does with total commitment. He had a difficult year especially with my cancer diagnosis but he continued to offer his help to the Mountsorrel Railway Project, school events and the Scouts without complain-
Pic: Daniel Bowler volunteering with the Mountsorrel Railway Project
ing and always with a smile! He hopes to pursue a career in music and lighting engineering, making use of his considerable computing talents.” The Lord Lieutenant’s Awards are open to all teenagers living in the county. The Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton, said: “One of the joys of this role is having the opportunity of meeting young people and seeing
some truly remarkable examples of volunteering in their communities. “I’m delighted with the way my award has helped to raise the profile of their achievements. The June issue of the
MOUNTSORREL POST will be published on Jun 8. The copy deadline is May 24 .
The Mountsorrel Community Action Group
Public Meeting Have your say on what you would like to see in the village and how Mountsorrel could be improved. Everyone is welcome The meeting will include updates from the local Police and other key members of the community Tuesday April 16 at the Methodist Church located on Church Hill Road from 6.30 – 8.30pm
Leicester Hedgehog Rescue Are inviting like minded souls to join their active team in this area & give Mother Nature a bit of help. Carers need to be mature, responsible, at home for part of each day & ideally with transport All equipment & training will be provided with a level of care geared to suit yourself For more information please ring Colleen on Leic 2207844
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Rothley Ivanhoe Tennis Club Open Day, Saturday 16th March, 12 - 2pm followed by social play and junior coaching
Elizabeth Qualified Mobile Hairdresser Appointments available weekdays, evenings & weekends
Tel: 2672142 Mob: 0780 380 2895
50% off adult membership plus coaching vouchers if you join on the day Friendly local tennis club with lots of playing opportunities (social and competitive) and coaching for juniors and adults. Six courts (3 floodlit) located behind the library at the side of the school in Rothley. For more information call the membership line
0775 7833 360 www.rothleytennis.info
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MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2013
Twenty mile cycle ride through Charnwood TAKE PART in a charity cycle ride from Rothley and help to raise money for Alex’s Wish. The Charnwood Forest Cycle ride takes place on Sunday April 28 and is a 20 mile circular route starting and finishing in Rothley. Alex’s wish is a charity dedicated to finding a cure for the muscle wasting condition Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It was set up by Andy and Emma Hallam from Rothley whose son Alex was diagnosed in 2010 when he was 3. Emma said: “To date we have raised £20k towards research and trials but we hope to raise more in the coming months. Our son has this terrible condition and we have taken the step towards helping scientists and researchers fund
new trials. As a result, we hope to make a difference to all the children living with this condition with a view to delaying the symptoms by several years to buy time for a cure to come along. “We would like to thank everyone who takes part, to our event organiser Rachel Porritt and helpers and to our event sponsors – Bradleys Superstore and The Woodman’s Stroke in Rothley – this means 100% of all money raised will go direct towards our aim. “I took part in this event last year despite the horrendous weather conditions and thoroughly enjoyed it – although it was a challenge! It’s a fantastic route and a great way to get fit and do something for a worthwhile cause.” There will be free refreshments, home made cakes, sandwiches and drinks for all cyclists at the finish line. Children aged 14-18 can
take part in the cycle ride but must be accompanied by an adult, children under 14 can take part in craft and games activities. For more details on how to take part and obtain entry forms, please visit www.alexswish.co.uk, call Emma on 07903 349475 or email: emma@alexswish.co.uk
Children learn & explore at nursery A NEW Children’s day nursery has opened in Mountsorrel. Caste View Day Nursery is owned and led buy Helen Telford and Jayne Butler who are both local residents in the area. They have known each other for ten years, both as friends and colleagues, and have extensive early years backgrounds. Both are experienced managers and Helen has recently achieved her BA Honours in Early Years while Jayne is currently working towards a BA Honours
in Education. Jayne said: “Promoting the outdoors environment is a key focus for us. The site of Castle View was specifically chosen for its location which offers a wealth of opportunities for the children to learn and explore. Just minutes from the front door there is access to a library, farm, shops, river and wildlife walks which we make use of on a regular basis.”
Day Nursery Now open in Mountsorrel
Pic: Helen Telford & Jayne Butler
She added: “Bespoke learning opportunities are tailored to each and every child through understanding their uniqueness and individuality, enabling us to provide experiences that foster their natural curiosity to discover and learn. “A warm welcoming and secure environment is provided for all children and their families.” Please call Helen or Jayne for more information on 0116 3191016 or pop in for a visit during our opening hours. www.castleviewnursery.com
Watling Street, Mountsorrel, LE12 7BD Providing high quality day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. Opening times 7.30am – 6pm, Mon – Fri, all year round (except bank holidays) For more information please contact us by telephone: 0116 3191016 E-mail: admin@castleviewnursery.com or visit our website www.castleviewnursery.com
DIY discount TENANTS OF Charnwood Borough Council can DIY at a discount thanks to a partnership with Jewson Loughborough. All council tenants are entitled to a free discount card which can be used at the Blackwell Road branch of Jewson. The card will give tenants special discounts on decorating, landscaping, flooring, joinery, building materials, tool hire and more. Councillor Jane Hunt, Charnwood Borough Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “Improving your home can be an expensive business so we’re very pleased that our partnership with Jewson Loughborough means that tenants can benefit from this discount card and make savings on the things they need.” John Heathfield, Sales Manager for Jewson, commented: “In line with our partnership with Charnwood Borough Council, we are delighted to offer tenants extra discounts and savings on a wide range of products to support any home improvement plans. We have created a unique cash account which can be used at the branches when the discount card is shown.” Any tenant wishing to take advantage of the discount card should call Tom or Simon at Jewson Loughborough branch on 01509 212121. The partnership with Jewson Loughborough was launched in December 2012 and means the Council’s Property and Investment team can deliver better value for money when carrying out repairs and improvements to council homes, said a council spokesman.
MOUNTSORREL Every year parishioners in PARISH COUNCIL Mountsorrel show their interest and concerns by attending the Annual Parish Meeting. The Parish Council are hoping that the following guests will be attending to answer your ANNUAL PARISH questions and hear your opinions MEETING REPRESENTATIVES FROM Mountsorrel Memorial Hall, Leicester Road, Mountsorrel
Thur March 21st 2013 at 7.30pm.
Charnwood Borough Council & Leicestershire County Council Lafarge Aggregates Leicestershire Constabulary Mountsorrel Charities
MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2013 11
Changes to Council tax benefit A NEW Council Tax Support Scheme is being launched on April 1, 2013, to replace Council Tax Benefit in Charnwood. Charnwood Borough Council has developed the scheme after the government cut the amount the council receives to help pay for benefits and abolished Council Tax Benefit. It means that all working age Council Tax Benefit recipients in Charnwood will have to pay up to 8.5% of their Council Tax bill – which works out at about £3 a week for someone in a Band A property. Around 3,600 of these households will be paying Council Tax for the first time. Pensioners will not be affected by any of these changes. More than 300 people last year responded to a Council consultation about the changes, with 50% agreeing that everyone should contribute something towards their council Tax bill. Councillor Jenny Bokor, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Revenue, Benefits and Customer Services, said: “We have listened to our residents and key stakeholders and designed a scheme which we believe is as fair as possible. We know that these changes will not be easy for some of our residents which is why we are offering as much help and support as we can to those affected by this and other welfare reforms. But our challenge was to provide a scheme which supported the most vulnerable members of the community and which also provides value for money and protects other services for all our residents. I think we have achieved that.” From April 1, 2013, there will be other changes to the way Council Tax is
50 jobs at new build PLANS TO build a warehouse next to the Rowena Nursery between Mountsorrel and Rothley have been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council. APAC Packaging Ltd, an importer and distributor of florist accessories, want to build the 4830 sq.m. warehouse to accommodate its expanding business. Outline plans for a further 11 units, totalling 14,447 sq.m. on the same site have also been submitted. The firm said that if the plans are given approval it will be able to expand the size of its workforce from 50 to 100 plus. Planning ref: P/12/2426/2
administered in Charnwood: • second adult rebate is being abolished • Council Tax exemption on second homes is being abolished • property owners, whose property is unoccupied and undergoing repairs, will now get a 50% discount for 12 months instead of a full discount • property owners whose property is unoccupied but not undergoing repairs, will only get a 100% discount for one month instead of up to six months under the current scheme In cases of extreme hardship, the Council can offer a Council Tax Discretionary. Discount which offers shortterm help to those suffering severe hardship as a result of welfare changes. Changes to Council Tax Benefit are part of a wider raft of welfare reforms which also includes changes to the way Housing Benefit is calculated based on underoccupancy – otherwise known as the ‘bedroom tax’. There is also a Discretionary Housing Fund to help council tenants suffering severe financial hardship. Both forms will be available from the Council’s reception, website or we can post out forms to you on request by contacting the authority. For more information on how benefits are changing visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/benefitchange or email: council.tax@charnwood.gov.uk If you are concerned about how these changes will affect you, please contact our helpline on 0845 6091258 or 01509 634666 if you are a council tenant.
Trio raise funds A FUNDRAISING trio of local ladies have presented a cheque for £8500 to Rainbows. Jeanette Marshall, Jean Lee and Pat Radley raised money over the past three years by holding table top stalls at local charity events. Since they started fundraising in 2004 they have raised £25,000. In 2010 Jean Lee had to retire from the fundraising due to ill health but Jeanette and Pat
have carried on. They would like to thank all family and friends who have donated things to sell, wool to knit toys etc and to those who gave their time to help and support with the bigger events they ran. Pic: (l-r) Jeanette Marshall, Emma Lovegrove from Rainbows and Pat Radley
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An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is still required if you are selling or renting out your house. Call David Jackson on 0781 5519490 to arrange your EPC
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MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2013
Small Ads Small ads are 25p for the first 16 words. 17-32 words: 50p. Enclosing payment, post your ad to us or hand it in (inside an envelope) at Mountsorrel library. Trade/business rates for small ads are 25p a word. You are liable for the trade/business rate if you are offering a service for which you are asking for payment, or if you are advertising new goods for sale. All text will be printed bold. Box outline £1 extra. Max 50 words. Phone numbers count as one word. AMLI DESIGN Architectural Consultancy. Plans drawn and submitted. Extensions, conversions, new build. David Ives B.Sc.(Hons) FBEng MCIOB 0116 2674395/07974807111 www.amlidesign.co.uk OUR PICTURE shows Olive Didny, joined by other members of Mountsorrel Baptist Church, presenting a cheque for £682 to Adrian Walker from LOROS. The money was raised by holding coffee mornings.
THE GREEN, Mountsorrel. Lock up garage to let. £30 per month. Tel: Jarroms (0116) 2221999
Police crime figures Café
BUILDING PLANS drawn & submitted for Local Authority approval. Fee quotations. Quorn Plan Services 01509 413 332
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE has reported the lowest recorded crime figures in over 20 years for 2012. work remains to be done. To this end, I Local police recorded 61,515 crimes intend to work with partners, not only to last year (2012), a reduction of 10% raise our game regarding those unfortuand equal to 6,849 fewer victims of nate enough to become victims but also crime than in 2011 – the lowest yearly to ensure that known repeat offenders total of recorded crime since 1990. Chief Constable Simon Cole of Leices- receive the appropriate support to help them out of their spiral of crime. tershire Police said: “I am very pleased “All this, of course, is set against a to see crime fall. It is testament to the difficult funding position – and one professionalism and commitment of our which is very likely to become even officers and staff who served the public tougher. So maintaining our improveduring 2012.” ment in terms of crime reductions will From January 1 to December 31, be a big task. Nonetheless, I remain 2012, Leicestershire Police formally confident that by embracing new workidentified the offender in 19,591 of the ing practices, by dealing with problem 61,515 crimes, 17,674 of those by way issues in concert with our partners, and of sanction detection and 1,710 by way by drawing on the excellent work of the of Restorative Justice disposal where voluntary sector and others, we can – victim, perpetrator and the police agree and we will – deliver safer communities on a suitable outcome outside of the in 2013 and beyond.” criminal justice system. There were also If you have any information about 228 other non-sanction detections where crime or antisocial behaviour in your offenders were also detected. area, call your local police on 101 or Leicestershire Police is still required to find upwards of £20million in savings make a free and anonymous call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 over the remainder of the Comprehensive Spending Review period. Looking ahead to the challenges of the New Year, Chief Constable Simon Cole said: “We are seeing reductions in crime at a time when we are experiencing considerably reduced budgets. However, we are not complacent. There is still a lot of work to do in the coming weeks and months to tackle crime and to seek new efficiencies in the way we do business.” VOLUNTARY AND community Commenting on the support of local groups can learn how they can people, Chief Constable Simon Cole concluded: “Such reductions in crime obtain up to £15,000 of fundare made possible by the support of ing at the next meeting of the partner agencies; members of the public Bradgate, Rothley, Mountsorwho report crime and antisocial behaviour, and by those who give evidence at rel and Birstall Area Forum. court, helping bring those responsible to Run by Leicestershire County Council, justice.” the forum meeting will take place on Acknowledging the performance imThursday March 21 at Woodhouse Eaves provements over this last year Sir Clive Village Hall, at 6.30pm. Loader, Police and Crime Commissioner Topics will include an update on the for Leicestershire, said: “Naturally I am Mountsorrel Railway Project. The meetpleased to see this reduction in the ings are open to the public. number of crimes committed. But, while For more details go to: there are still victims of crime, more www.leicestershireforums.org/mount
Area forum
brings “clear benefits” THE MOUNTSORREL Youth Café on The Green has been given permission to remain open indefinitely. The café, which is run by volunteers and a paid youth worker, had previously only been given temporary planning permission while the impact of its operation on the area was monitored. This expired in October 2012. Charnwood Borough Council’s Planning Officers consulted two sets of data sources relating to crime and antisocial behaviour at The Green: from the Police and Charnwood’s Antisocial Behaviour Team. Their report states: “There is nothing within the data to indicate that the youth centre use itself is directly contributing to antisocial behaviour in the area. The behaviour does occur at times but the data suggests that it remains at a fairly constant level whether the centre is open or not.” The report also states that the café has “clear community benefits”. Charnwood Borough Council granted planning permission in December, and also approved extended opening hours. No drop-in access shall be allowed other than between the hours of 8am and 8.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am and 6pm on Saturdays. There shall be no drop-in access on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Pre-arranged events by specific invitation must take place between 8am and 9.30pm Mon-Fri and 10am9pm at weekends and Bank Holidays.
MOUNTSORREL POST YOUR INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
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0116 2674213 Correspondence, news etc can be handed in at: Mountsorrel Library, Rothley Post Office or to our office in the Youth Centre, Longslade College, Birstall
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PILBEAM ACADEMY of DANCE Tel: 01509 816117 Classes in Ballet, Tap, Modern & National for children from age 3. Held at Rothley Village Hall, on Monday & Tuesday evening, & at Rothley Baptist Church, Woodgate, from 4.30pm on Wednesday All classes can lead to stagework, medals and examinations. NEW PUPILS WELCOME
New Classes started Jan 7 Ladies Tap classes for experienced or beginners held on Mondays at 7pm. JOIN US FOR FUN, EXERCISE OR EXAMINATIONS
Principal: Antonia Pilbeam F.D.D.A.