MOUNTSORREL POST YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
MARCH 2015
www.birstallpost.co.uk
No. 50
Station nearly complete WORK ON the new Mountsorrel Station by volunteers from the Mountsorrel Railway Project has moved into its final stages with the completion of the platform.
Pics: (top) the station sign; the new platform nears completion; LMS Jinty bringing track materials to the station
The platform picket fence will be painted white and there still remains some general tidying up of the site, off Bond Lane, and other small finishing off jobs. The final major task is the construction of the car park connection to the highway. The station landscaping is also complete with the planting of the boundary hedgerow, new trees and the cutting sides have been sown with wild flower seed. Spokesman Steve Cramp said: “The most striking element of the new platform is the station sign. This has been constructed by our volunteer Ray Martindale with sponsorship of the sign timber coming from Harbot Builders of Carlisle Street, Leicester.” On December 1st LMS Jinty no. 47406 came along the branch line to Mountsorrel station to bring track materials ready for track laying in front of the station platform. He added: "We would like to say thanks to the contractors who have worked on the station project - Costock Continued on page 2
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Quorn tax fraudster AN EX-MAGISTRATE who ran two taxi companies in Loughborough has been jailed for three and a half years for a £250,000 tax fraud and money laundering after a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation. Zaher Somani, 58, of Quorn was the sole proprietor of two Loughborough taxi companies, trading as A1 and Charnwood Taxis which operat-
Pic: Zaher Somani
Continued on page 5
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MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2015
Parish Council notes
Continued from page 1 Building Services, J. Taylor Landscapes and Steve Barsby Digger Services. We also thank Lafarge Tarmac for providing the Landfill Tax Credits grant to allow the station to be built as well as materials for the build and their digger operator Nigel Copson. Most of all we give thanks to our hard working team of volunteers who over the past few months have at times worked seven days a week side by side with the contractors to help keep construction costs to a minimum.” Project volunteers have begun the new year track laying. Steve said: "This is a task that needs at least 20 volunteers
A FULL meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council was held on November 10.
Mountsorrel Station ► Pic: the disabled access to the new station platform
each Saturday, so if you fancy burning off some of those extra Christmas calories, please get in touch and spend a day volunteering with us track laying. No previous experience is necessary so give it a try!" A 58m long platform,
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including ramps at either end, has been created. The platform has been designed for a train consisting of two coaches and a steam loco or a two coach diesel rail car. Contractors Steve Barsby Digger Services and J. Taylor Landscapes have worked with volunteers to create the disability friendly access path to connect the new platform to the car park. The planned opening date of the station is July 2015 and the construction work on the new heritage centre is expected to start in April 2015. www.mountsorrelrailway.org.uk
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It was reported that Tesco’s planning application for the old Stag and Pheasant, 109 Leicester Road had lapsed. It was agreed to write to Charnwood asking if a new planning application was likely and to request that Tesco be asked to maintain the building as it is in a poor state. It was agreed to donate £500 to the Mountsorrel branch of the Royal British Legion. It was agreed that the date of the Annual Parish Meeting be Thursday March 19 at the Memorial Hall. At a meeting on November 17, the Council agreed to increase the budget of the Recreation and Amenities committee by £20,000 to allow for improvements to Halstead Road playing fields and for new projects. At a meeting on December 1, it was reported that the Section 106 agreement associated with the development of 130 houses on West Cross Lane recommended that contributions of £413,442 be made to the new Memorial Centre, £368, 746 towards Cufflin’s Park and £335,223 towards the new Rothley Centre. A full meeting of Mountsorrel Parish Council was held on December 8. A member of the public spoke about the need for more Automatic External Defibrillators in the village and advised that funding may be available from Charnwood or the County Council. It was agreed that this be placed on the agenda of the next meeting. The Council has received a request from the Mountsorrel Youth Café for financial support. After an examination of the café’s accounts, it was agreed that £20,000 be put in the draft budget for the Youth Café. It was agreed that the draft budget should also include £15,000 for the library if it was legally allowed to contribute and £15,000 for the running costs of the Memorial Hall.
Kitten rescued A KITTEN trapped in a biscuit barrel was released by firefighters from Birstall. The crew from Birstall fire station went to a home in Queniborough at 12.30pm on January 14, after the cat’s owner reported the animal had become distressed inside the plastic biscuit barrel. The crew managed to release the kitten quickly, said a fire service spokesman.
MOUNTSORREL POST
Post Office gift PRE-SCHOOL children visited Mountsorrel Post Office to deliver their letters to Santa. Atul and Rita Barot, who run the post office, had created a special post box and they bought each child a gift from their list and delivered it gift wrapped to the pre-school.
Rachel Marshall, Manager of the Caterpillar pre-school, said: “We would like to thank Atul and Rita very much for their kindness.” Sarah Williams, whose son Freddie received a Ninja Turtle, said: “Freddie was absolutely delighted with his Ninja Turtle and I thought it was wonderful that this couple took the time to do this for the children. Pic: Freddie with his Ninja toy
MAR 2015
Plans for new centre approved PLANS TO demolish the old Memorial Hall and replace it with a new building have been given the go ahead by Charnwood Borough Council. The £3.85million project was: “…an opportunity to provide enhanced sports, community and cultural facilities for the village of a high quality design and which have arisen from local community support” said planning officers in their report recommending approval. The new Memorial Centre will be linked via an extension to the existing Soar Valley Leisure Centre. A separate youth building is also proposed along with a community garden and extensions and alterations to the Leisure Centre and Memorial Centre car parks. The Memorial Centre will include: • a multi purpose community hall including a stage facility with retractable seating and a galleried first floor • lobby areas • a crèche and green room • 2 class A1 retail units (totalling 100 sqm in area) • a refreshments area • a series of flexible meeting room spaces • a performance and practice room • a kitchen • changing and storage areas • an extension to the Leisure Centre crèche • an extension to the Leisure Centre Fitness Suite
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• new stone walling to the site frontage, planting, signing, seating and public art Mountsorrel Baptist Church objected to the plans on the grounds that the youth building is too close to its building and that this will give rise to noise, loss of light and structural damage
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MAR 2015
MOUNTSORREL POST
ed 30 private vehicles. Somani’s wife Ashraf, 43, brother Pyarali, 61, sisterin-law Shabina, 50, and officer manager Darren Green, 44, were also sentenced for their part in the conspiracy. HMRC investigators found that, between 2004 and 2011, Somani suppressed his true income on his Self Assessment tax returns. Family members helped conceal company earnings by using bank accounts and assets in Jersey, Canada, India, Turkey and Morocco. They shared the profits from the tax evasion, spending huge amounts on property, private schools for their children and gambling. Stuart Taylor, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: “Zaher Somani was a serving magistrate at the time of these offences; a man supposed to Pic: Ashraf Somani uphold the law. Instead he was stealing from the taxpayer. “This man and his family lived well beyond their legitimate means, until HMRC uncovered their extensive tax evasion, associated money laundering and benefit fraud. “HMRC investigators work to identify tax evasion by individuals and businesses who think they can live and operate outside the law. Somani and his family failed to pay their full taxis at the expense of honest taxpayers. If you know of anyone who is evading their taxes, you can tell HMRC via the Tax Evasion Hotline on 0800 788 887.” Somani’s declaration of his family income was so low that his wife claimed Tax Credits. During the same period he gambled millions at casinos, and bought a property portfolio at home and abroad. Sentencing, His Honour Judge J Sampson said: “Zaher Somani lied to the bitter end and has been shamed and disgraced. The offending spanned many years while sitting as a magistrate, pretending to be a man of integrity and honesty. The hypocrisy could not have been greater.” The defendants were all sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on January 30. Confiscation proceedings under the proceeds of crime Act 2002 will now begin to recover the money they stole.
Pub’s alcohol ban
5
Brownies are hi-vis
A MOUNTSORREL pub has been banned from selling alcohol. The Quarry Master Pub & Vitruvius Restaurant, in Mountsorrel, has had its Premises Licence removed by Charnwood Borough Council after a hearing of the Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee. The committee was asked to review the licence by Leicestershire Police, following complaints about anti-social behaviour, selling alcohol out-of-hours, drug use and verbal abuse. Jane Hunt, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “It is important for pubs, clubs and other premises to be licensed to ensure that residents and visitors are kept safe and secure. “We take complaints about crime, public safety and anti-social behaviour very seriously and this ban shows that we are committed to working with partners to benefit the people of Charnwood. “I hope this sends a message to licensed premises that we will investigate, and remove licences, when there are threats to public safety.” The ban took effect from December 13. Leicestershire Police’s Licensing Inspector, Nigel Rixon, said: “Obviously we are very pleased with the decision of the Licensing Committee. Our main concern has been to protect the local community from the problem of crime, disorder and public nuisance that has been associated with the Quarry Master. “This has been a long process of gathering evidence. Despite meetings with the management of the premises complaints regarding the premises continued resulting in the application to review the premises licence. It has taken time but we are delighted with decision of the committee.” Anyone concerned about a business breaching the conditions of its licence should contact Charnwood Borough Council’s Licensing team, licensing@charnwood.gov.uk or call 01509 634562.
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SPECSAVERS LOUGHBOROUGH recently gave 30 hi-vis jackets to 1st Mountsorrel brownies to use when they are out and about. “Al they wanted in return was a photo” said Brown Owl Carole Hargraves. “This will add so much to our ‘park in the dark’ trip” she added.
PHOTO: CLIVE RASIN
Continued from page 5
Christmas lights switch on The June issue of the
MOUNTSORREL POST will be published on June 6. The copy deadline is May 22 .
OUR PICTURE shows children and staff from Christ Church and St Peter’s School singing Christmas carols at Mountsorrel’s Christmas lights switch-on event at The Green.
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MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2015
Noticeboard all details printed free Charnwood Connect A Loughborough based partnership of advice agencies that can help with: Debt, housing, benefits, domestic abuse, going hungry, homelessness Volunteers always needed Contact 01509 221 200 www/charnwoodconnect.org.uk
Charnwood Orchestra The Banks of Green Willow Concert All Saints Parish Church, Loughborough Saturday March 21 at 7.30pm A programme of music by Butterworth, Howells, Duparc, & Vaughan Williams Dedicated to the memory of the
YOUR SAY...
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, Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR, or handed in at Mountsorrel library or email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk
Cake Catastrophe Why is it when I make a cake, with merely me to eat it It always comes out perfectly – you simply could not beat it. But oh – when I've got guests for tea, whatever is the trouble? My baking does its very best to burst my hopeful bubble. My sponges sink, my buns are burned, it makes me quite despairing I have to hang my head in shame when handing round such fairing. So next time, I've devised a plan that won’t leave me dejected I’ll just pretend I’m on my own and have no guests expected. And that way I am more than sure I’ll find my day less stressful And when my guests arrive for tea –hurrah! My cake’s successful. From Peggy Clarke
Workforce This is an age when Great Britain lies mouldering in the dust of inadequacy.
fallen Concert followed by overnight peace vigil Tickets £10 (£9 con) 07718 153 117 www.charnwoodorchestra.org.uk
Birstall & District Art Society Tuesday March 10 at 7pm You are invited to join us at the Palmer Tomkinson Centre at Longslade College, LE4 4GH to watch renowned artist Tim Fisher asnd good friend of Birstall Art Society giving a demonstration of watercolour/pen & ink painting, the subject is Staithes Landscape’. Demonstration to end at 9pm. Members £1, Guests £3. Free raffle. Ample parking and wheelchair access. Mountsorrel Methodist Church presents the 14th series of Sunday Night @ Eight
We have thousands of young people unemployed but incapable of of filling the technical jobs available, so we have to import “technically capable people from overseas to keep our wealth creating industries afloat. We cry out for more money to be put into the NHS and benefits pot, yet our wealth creating exports are diminishing as so much productive industry is sent overseas. Where is the technically innovative skills based workforce we were once so proud of? If we are to believe modern innovators, it lies in a small hand held tablet or Ipod, which no longer requires you to think or retain knowledge, for all you have to do is “Swipe” a screen and read the answer. I am not blaming our young people. They are being brought up in an era where technology supersedes intelligence and where the education system is frankly unfit for purpose. Any manufacturing company which produced a high proportion of substandard products would be out of business overnight. Could it be that our current obsession with I-Pods and the latest hi-tech information gadgets is stultifying the individual thought process and making our young generation less able to initiate or evaluate a problem and act pragmatically? Skills can be passed on from one person to another but if that process is any way short-circuited because it is seen to be unnecessary then “hands-on” experience is lost and the ability, in "national terms” to stay ahead of the competition is markedly reduced. As a country we have to innovate, initiate, manufacture, and export. Even service industries cannot fill the gap. The sooner the Government and industry get together and come to some amicable solution the better, otherwise our great country will slide, progressively, into obscurity. We can be as multi-cultural as the Government may like but it has to be on an ultra strong, home-grown, technical base, by all means supported by intelligent immigrants who can benefit alongside the whole population by national prosperity and wealth. A Patriot
Organ Recitals Sunday March 15 at 8pm Eric Chan Student at Ratcliffe College Sunday April 19 at 8pm Roxanne Summerfield Assistant Organist at St James the Greater, Leicester Sunday May 17 at 8pm Father Simon Lumby, St Aidans, New Parks Sunday June 21 at 8pm Ron Berry, Organist, St Lukes, Thurnby Admission free Donations for church’s development fund Buffet from 7.30pm The next in the series of
Charity Whist Drives organised by Derek Farr will be held in the Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley at 7.30 p.m on Thursdays 5th March, 9th April and 14th May. Admission £2.00. All players welcome. At the January meeting Derek Farr organiser expressed his appreciation for the support and generosity of the small group of regular players which has enabled a gift of £100.00 being donated to LOROS
Birstall Royal British Legion 7th Warren Dewitt (M/V) 14th Paula Burrows (F/V) 21st Tammy (F/V) 28th Retro (DUO) Dancing every Saturday night with live entertainment Bingo, Free beer raffle and not
forgetting Open the Box Every Tuesday night Bingo starting at 9.15pm Quiz nights Sunday 8th and 29th March starting at 9pm Acoustic night Sunday 22nd March at 8pm Food available every Saturday 122pm Wakes catered for New outside seating area Wi-Fi available
Christ Church top of the Green, Mountsorrel 1st Sunday in each month at 4.00pm - Messy Church - for Families. There are craft activities a small informal service and tea with sandwiches and cakes. Come along and see what it's about! Healing and Wholeness service Sunday 8th Mar/12th April/10th May at 11.00 am. If you have a healing need both in body or spirit come along.... 3rd April - Good Friday witness at the Buttermarket, Mountsorrel. Open air singing and chat. Maybe hot cross buns available 5th April. Easter Sunday Services 10.00 am at St Peter's Market Place, Mountsorrel. (BCP) 11.00am at Christ Church (Common Worship) A Lent study group is being run based on the Lord's Prayer. There are 6 sessions either 10.00 am at St Peter's Chuch or 7.30pm at Christ Church starting on Wednesday 25th February and each wednesday until Wednesday 1st April. Please let Rev. Colin Resch know if you are coming as we need to know numbers on 07878 029879.
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 19th 2015 at 7.30pm.
Charnwood Borough Council & Leicestershire County Council Lafarge Aggregates Leicestershire Constabulary Mountsorrel Charities
birstall post office
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MOUNTSORREL POST
Highcliffe Amateur Theatrical Society Spring Play. Come along and see HATS Spring play, a comedy farce you are sure to enjoy and that will leave you laughing.
“Cheerleaders” a comedy by Dorothy Cooke, produced in association with comedyplays.co.uk. Set in Dave Thornton’s disgustingly untidy flat, Cheerleaders tells the story of Dave and his neighbours Ken and Norm and their involvement with the local amateur football team. In an attempt to boost support for the team they consider auditioning some cheerleaders but confusion follows as Dave also needs a char lady to clean up his flat so he can persuade his girlfriend Sharon to move in with him. Norm gets the wrong end of the stick and things go from bad to worse for Dave and Sharon. Further trouble lies ahead in Act 2 when Sharon’s amorous mother arrives and sets her sights on Norm. Dates: Thursday 14th, Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of May Time: 7.15 p.m. (doors open at 6.45 p.m.) Venue: Highcliffe Primary School, Greengate Lane, Birstall, Leicestershire LE4 3DL. Tickets: £6.00 adults, £5.00 concession. Discount for group bookings. Contact details: 0116 2209594, or 0116 2128757. Email hatsbirstall1@hotmail.co.uk Don’t delay, book today.
restaurateurs in a close-knit French village. Circumstances necessitate Papa Kadam, with his Indian family, setting up his business across the road from the eating establishment of Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren). They eventually learn to see eye to eye over the simmering saucepans and as they lovingly stir their thick sauces, our mouths water. "Mr Turner" Friday April 10 Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost £5 and concessions are £4.50. There will be refreshments and a lucky prize draw. Advanced tickets can be purchased via the parish office 0116 236 7626 or at the door.
MOUNTSORREL POST has a new address & phone number: The Mountsorrel Post, Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR Tel: 0116 4422067
Richard III & the Battle of Bosworth A talk by Richard Knox For the Friends of Charnwood Forest At Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall on Monday 16th March at 7.30 p.m. Richard Knox has been involved in Leicestershire archaeology for 24 years, working in a number of different roles for Leicestershire County Council. He first became involved at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre in 2005, when work started on a survey to find the actual battlefield and he led the reinterpretation of the Heritage Centre on Ambion Hill. He is currently engaged, with colleagues, in organising the County’s elements of King Richard’s reinterment in March. All are welcome. Further information--Peter Bertram 01162100572 or www.focf.org.uk
Film Presentations From Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council “The Hundred-Foot Journey" Friday March 13 (124 mins) This uplifting comedy drama, starring Helen Mirren, charts the battle of wits between two
MAR 2015
Loughborough’s zeppelin raid remembered ON JANUARY 31, 1916, Loughborough was attacked by a Zeppelin. Ten People died, 12 were injured and many more were caught up in the events of the night. Charnwood Arts are organising a community performance project that will use the stories and testimonies of those affected by the raid. It will be performed exactly one hundred years after the attack. In January 1916, nine Zeppelins flew over Britain in a night-time raid – the target was Liverpool docks. The weather and poor navigation meant none of them reached Liverpool but on their return journey, one of the Zeppelins dropped four 50kg bombs on Loughborough. Some historians say the pilots mistook the town for Sheffield. Among those killed were newly weds Joseph Adkin (27) and his wife Alice (29) and the Page family. Mary Ann (44), Joseph (18) and Elsie (16). The bombs fell on Ashby Square, The Rushes, Thomas Street and Empress Road. After attacking Loughborough the Zeppelin dropped four bombs on Ilkeston and the remainder of its load on Burton-on-Trent. The Zeppelin was destroyed three months later over the North Sea.
To get involved in the Charnwood Arts project contact kevr@charnwoodarts.com Pic: the home of the Page family, destroyed in the raid
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Open Day, Saturday 21st March, 1 - 4pm
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MOUNTSORREL POST
MAR 2015
Primary school figures released
Church tower restored ROTHLEY PARISH Church has secured a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for tower restoration and a heritage project. The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the Church of St Mary and St John, Rothley a grant of £56,600 towards a project totalling £82,000 for essential repairs to the stonework, the roof of the 15th century tower and for initiatives intended to improve sharing of the church heritage and village history. The project will include an annual events programme aimed at increasing the appreciation of Rothley’s past involving talks, music, bell ringing and village walking tours. Enhancements to the church’s electronic and printed media are also being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. These include a web-based virtual tour with 360 degree photography, making archive material available for schools and researchers through the website and creating new displays and leaflets. The largely 13th century church has features of interest from the Saxon, Norman, Medieval, Tudor and later periods. The tower has a 500 year tradition of bell ringing and is an important part of the village landscape. The grant will ensure it will be restored for generations to come. For the last 18 months it has been necessary to protect against the risk of falling masonry with fencing and scaffolding. Vicar Rob Gladstone said: “The church greatly values the generous grant made by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It will ensure this place of worship that has been in continual use for well over 1000 years is in a fit condition for future generations. We are also very grate-
SAT MAR 28
ful for their support in sharing our heritage and are keen to welcome our whole community to visit the church, both those who live in established parts of the parish and those who are moving into housing developments in the area.” The first event will be on Saturday March 28. In the morning, at 11am in the nave of the church in Church Street, Peter Liddle, Leicestershire’s Community Archaeologist Emeritus, will deliver an illustrated lecture ‘Rothley from the beginning - recent archaeological finds around the parish’. That might result in people feeling a little peckish, so over in the Old School Rooms in School Street afterwards a hearty bowl of soup with bread will be offered, a sort of Saxon Potage. Then for those that wish, at 1.30pm, Terry Sheppard will lead a Village History Walk taking in Cruck Cottages, Victorian Terraces, a Saxon Cross, and two
Village Greens. In the event if rain, the village walk will take place ‘virtually’ on screen in the Old School Rooms. Admission is free, though donations would be welcome. Numbers are limited for the soup offering and the village walk, so booking is essential on sheppard7pj@btinternet.com or by telephoning 0116 2302931. Pic: The tower of St Mary and St John, Rothley with scaffolding and fencing to protect against falling masonry. Consulting Architect Dr David Pendery of Purcell, Oxford, evaluates the repairs needed from a cherry picker platform
The First Annual
H Towell
Lady Day Lecture
Funeral Services
and supporting programme, free admission
11.00 am to 12.15 pm
‘ROTHLEY FROM THE BEGINNING - recent
12.30 pm
SOUP & BREAD LUNCH, to a Saxon recipe
1.30 to 3.15 pm
FIGURES THAT show attainment in our local primary schools were released by the Department for Education in December.
archaeological finds around the parish’ Speaker: Peter Liddle, Leicestershire’s Leading Community Archaeologist Rothley Parish Church, Church Street
In the nearby Old School Rooms, School St.
VILLAGE HISTORY WALK (or if wet an illustrated presentation of the walk) Terry Sheppard, Parish Council Heritage Warden Meet at the Old School Rooms
BOOKING ESSENTIAL FOR LUNCH AND WALK Call 0116 230 2931 or e-mail: sheppard7pj@btinternet.com Part of Rothley Parish Church Heritage Lottery Fund Project
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The figures show the percentage of pupils achieving the expected level – level four or above at age 11 – in reading, writing and maths (3Rs). The national average is 79%. Highcliffe Primary School 80% Riverside Community Primary School 84% Rothley Church of England Primary School 95% Richard Hill Church of England Primary School (Thurcaston) 73% Christ Church & St Peters Primary School Mountsorrel 69% The government’s floor standard is 65% and there are six council maintained schools in the county below the threshold. The County Council say they have appointed an advisor to each of these schools.
Local property prices THE RIDGEWAY in Rothley is the street with the most expensive property prices in the Midlands, according to the latest research from Lloyds Bank. The average house price is £1.78million, compared to £1.31 million on Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, which is in second spot. Grosvenor Crescent in London is the most expensive street in England and Wales with an average house price of £16.9million. Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Kensington & Chelsea are the areas with the higher property prices. According to property website Zoopla the average house price in Birstall is £201,276, up 6.69% in the last 12 months. The most expensive streets are (average property price): School Lane £565,512 Birstall Road £428,916 Park Road £350,712 Curzon Avenue £340,937 Roman Road £318,600 The average house price in Rothley is £334,167 and in Mountsorrel £192,556
Fly tipper caught
Plan to save library
A FLY-TIPPER has been given a suspended prison sentence after a successful prosecution by Charnwood Borough Council.
A PROPOSAL to keep Mountsorrel library open has been put to the County Council.
Paul Alan Ludlum, of Glenhills Boulevard, Leicester, was found guilty of illegally dumping wood, kitchen units and bubble wrap in a field in Mountsorrel. Ludlum (47) denied the offence, but was found guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court. Councillor Jonathan Morgan, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services at Charnwood Borough Council, said: “It is simply not acceptable to flout the law and dump waste in a field. “This sentence represents the most successful prosecution for fly-tipping by the Council and I hope it sends out a clear message that we will use the full force of the courts to deal with anyone caught fly-tipping in Charnwood. “We have some wonderful countryside in our borough and we will fight to protect it.”
The court was told that the rubbish, which also included a door, was dumped in a lane and a field off Loughborough Road in Mountsorrel. The owner of the field said the gate lock had been cut. He also said a nail, possibly from the fly-tip, had stuck into a hoof of one of his horses in the field. The horse suffered with an infection, became lame and had to be put down. A delivery note containing an address for a business in Leicester was found within the rubbish. A Charnwood enforcement officer contacted the business owner who said he had employed Ludlum to get rid of the trade waste. Ludlum denied he had fly-tipped the waste and claimed he had taken it to a tip in Leicester. However, the tip he claimed to have used does not accept trade waste and Ludlum did not have a waste carrier’s licence which is required to transport trade waste. The owner of the business arranged for the waste to be cleared from Mountsorrel and disposed of correctly. Ludlum claimed he did not benefit financially as he was never paid. Ludlum was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. As part of this suspended sentence he must undertake 200 hours of unpaid work. He is also to pay a contribution to costs of £455 and a victim surcharge of £80. Pic: rubbish tipped in the field.
The Parish Council, the War Memorials Trust charity and the owner of Church House have drawn up the plans, that would see the Parish Council commit £15,000 a year towards keeping the library open. If the County Council agrees to the plans, the library would remain open 20 hours a week staffed by library workers employed by the County Council with their salaries charged to the War Memorials Trust. The Parish Council cannot legally directly provide library services but it can grant aid other organisations to do so, in this case the War Memorials Trust. The Parish Council is also approaching the Mountsorrel United Charities (Education Fund) to request consideration of an additional annual grant to support the library, particularly for the young people in the community and in response to the identified needs of the Mountsorrel Priority Neighbourhood. Parish Councillor Dr Stan Coats said: “The Parish Council and the War Memorials Trust wish to do all they reasonably can to ensure the continued use of this excellent facility. “We think our proposal is a fair one and we believe it will be acceptable to the County Council.” Mountsorrel’s Library and Learning Centre was created in 2008 from an extended Church House. Dr Coats said: “the next stage in the process is to support these proposals with a business plan to be submitted to the County Council at the end of March. A working group will be set up to complete this stage and if anyone is interested in being involved please contact me: stancoats@yahoo.co.uk” • The County Council currently runs 52 libraries. To save £800,000 it is reducing opening hours at the main 16 libraries and inviting communities to run the remaining 36. Groups of people have come forward with proposals for 29 of these libraries.
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Carol concert in Mountsorrel MOUNTSORREL PARISH Council’s annual Carol Concert was held on December 9 at the Memorial Hall. It featured performances by the Ratby Co-operative Band, children from Christ Church and St Peter’s School and the Townswomen’s Guild and Women’s Institute, as well as poems and readings by the local clergy. Pic: The Townswomen’s Guild and Women’s Institute performing at the concert.
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Revival to return this summer THE VILLAGE is in for a real treat this summer with the return of the Mountsorrel Revival. The event will be held on Sunday August 9 and organiser Ian Shonk is hoping the weather will be better this year – it rained for most of the day on last year’s event, which was seven months in the planning. Ian said: “The Revival is Mountsorrel’s village party, promoting and supported by local businesses and societies, but of course it needs lots of volunteers to make it all happen.”
Anyone interested in participating in the event is being invited to a public meeting at the Youth Café on the Green on Wednesday March 4 at 7pm. “Come along, find out more, get involved and find a role to suit you” said Ian. Spread over the whole village in various venues visitors to the 2015 Revival can expect hot rods and custom cars, have a go archery, a burlesque show, river trips, soap box racing. Live
bands, American Civil War re-enactors, fancy dress competitions and a parade. At the meeting on March 4, Ian will give a
Local policing reorganised CHARNWOOD AND Loughborough Police merged in February, as part of a cost cutting drive by Leicestershire Police. Charnwood Police were based at Syston Police Station, covering Mountsorrel, Rothley, Birstall, Sileby, Cotes, Barrow-upon-Soar, Anstey, Syston, Woodhouse Eaves, Wymeswold and Prestwold. The areas will now be looked after from Loughborough Police Station and Syston Police station will close. The force’s 15 Local Policing Units have been reduced to eight Neighbourhood Policing Areas (NPA). From Monday February 9, beat officers will be known as Dedicated Neighbourhood Officers. A police spokesman said: “Offices working in this new role, along with Police Community Support
Officers, will be patrolling streets and dealing with issues relating to public protection, community engagement and antisocial behaviour. “They will no longer routinely carry out duties such as crime investigation, planned arrests and attending incidents – these will now be dealt with by other specialist units.” The Police say less than 25 per cent of a neighbourhood officer’s time is spent working on ‘Core Community’ activities and that by shifting these duties to other areas of the force it will free up their time to work more closely with local communities. Non-emergency calls that require a police response will be dealt with by a new Managed Appointment Unit. This will enable the public to book an appointment to see an officer at a convenient time and location, usually on the same day that the incident has occurred. The changes will result in £10million of savings. £20million has been removed from the budget in the last four years by reducing operating costs. Leicestershire Police Chief Constable Simon Cole said: “The transformation is the latest in a series of ongoing changes in response to reducing budgets and changing public expectation and demand. “This new way of working will allow the teams based in our communities to dedicate their time to working closely with neighbourhoods and partners to resolve issues at a local level.” A new Commander, Inspector Tracey Willetts, will take over the running of Loughborough and Charnwood.
brief review of last year’s Revival and outline plans for this year’s event. Graham Lloyd from the Mountsorrel Youth Café will also give a presentation on the future of the café and listen to any feedback or comments. www.mountsorrel-revival.co.uk www.sycafe.org
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Pics: Scenes from last year’s event The June issue of the
MOUNTSORREL POST will be published on June 6. The copy deadline is May 22 .
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Panto time
Christmas tree festival
IT’S NEARLY panto time again and Barrow Panto Group will be performing its annual family panto at the start of March. This year it’s Aladdin with the familiar story line and full of terrible jokes, audience participation and pandas. The show is in Humphrey Perkins Community Centre, Cotes Road on Friday March 6 and Saturday March 7. Both have an evening performance that starts at 7pm and there is also a matinee on Saturday starting at 2pm. Tickets are £8 (£6 concessions or a family ticket for £24) and are available from Barrow’s High Street Paper Shop or by emailing judithrodgers155@gmail.com, phoning the box office on 07718153117 or by Paypal on www.busca.org.uk.
A CHRISTMAS tree festival at Mountsorrel’s Christ Church in December raised £416. Visitors enjoyed a festive display of 33 trees, a craft sale and lunches and refreshments. The money will be split between church funds and the Mountsorrel Youth Café. The joint winners of the favourite tree were the Year 3 North Pole and South Pole, followed closely by the
P/15/0013/2: Land off West Cross Lane – erection of 130 dwellings with associated infrastructure and public open space (Reserved matters – outline application P/14/0058/2 refers) P/15/0007/2: 2 Hawthorn Road – creation of additional car parking area P/14/2432/2: 4 Glebe Close – demolition of dwelling and erection of two dwellings P/14/2396/2: 5&7 Wishbone Lane, Waterside Drive – erection of 2 dwellings and detached double garage P/14/2416/2: 2 Windmill Close – single storey rear extension and conversion of garages to bedroom and gym
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.
The June issue of the
MOUNTSORREL POST Garden Tree and Beaver Tree. Cromwell Road Coffee House, the Memorial Tree, the Caterpillar Tree, and the Royal British Legion Tree were also popular.
DE MONTFORT MEMORIALS
A TWENTY four year old man from Mountsorrel has won an award.
Planning
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Award A spokesman said “If you’ve been to our last few productions you’ll be delighted to know that Richard is on terrific form as Widow Twanky and we have a real scoop with Abi as Aladdin’s Princess. She comes hotfoot from the Hinckley Panto and what a star! Book it in your diary and then go and buy the tickets. It’ll be good and just the tonic for a dull March day.”
MAR 2015 11
Mitul Gadhia is the Leicester Mercury’s Student of the Year, having already taken the top spot in the Business and Enterprise category. Mitul runs his own estate and letting agency, with branches in Mountsorrel and Loughborough. Advertise in the
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PILBEAM ACADEMY of DANCE Tel: 07584 166838 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. Some spaces available in the beginners class at 4.30pm. All classes can lead to stagework, medals and examinations. Pupils 3yrs + welcome
will be published on June 6. The copy deadline is May 22 .
Contact us THE MOUNTSORREL Post is delighted to receive contributions from residents. You can send us: Details of a community event such as a rummage sale, fete or coffee morning for free publication on our ‘Noticeboard’ page. Items of news - we’re interested in everything: club and society news, prizewinners, charity events, church news, complaints, praise, new projects, new facilities, trips, sport, crime, anything that concerns or interests you. A letter for our letters page - we welcome letters on any issue, local or national. All letters must include the sender’s name and address (though not necessarily for publication). Photos - we particularly welcome old photographs giving an insight into local history. Small ads - you can sell items with a classified ad for only 25p! How you can contact us: Phone or Fax (0116) 4422067 Hand in your items at Mountsorrel Library, Rothley Library or Birstall Library Write to us at The Mountsorrel Post, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR Email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk The Mountsorrel Post is an independent newspaper
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MAR 2015