Spotligh potlightt Groby & Field Head MID-JUNE 2021
The Monthly News & Information Magazine For Groby, Field Head & The Brantings
New Mayor chosen at annual meeting ONE of the highlights of the civic year took place at the council’s annual meeting last month when a new Mayor of the Borough was installed for the next 12 months.
Unusually, the Borough Council’s annual meeting took place in a larger venue, Hinckley Rugby Club, in order to comply with social distancing requirements. During the meeting, dignitaries paid tribute to the outgoing Mayor Cllr Lynda Hodgkins and welcomed the new Mayor Councillor Ted Hollick who represents Groby Ward for the Liberal Democrats. Usually a new Mayor is installed each year, but the Mayor Making ceremony was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic which resulted in Cllr Hodgkins serving as Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth for two years. Cllr Hollick was first elected to the Borough Council in 2015. He has been married to his wife Ann for 48 years and the couple have three children and four grandchildren. During his year, Cllr Hollick will be raising funds for Cancer Research UK, MacMillan Cancer Support, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People and the Dogs Trust. His chaplain will be Reverend Noel Colley of St Philip and St James Churches in Ratby and Groby. Away from the council, Cllr Hollick enjoys photography and he used to enjoy singing with the Leicester Male Voice Choir. Councillor Dawn Glenville was chosen as the Deputy Mayor and her Consort will be Mr Barry Walker.
Groby Community Library News WE ARE OPEN on Tuesday 10 am -12 Noon,Friday 2- 4pm and Saturday 10am -12 Noon. We will continue to open on these days until the Covid 19 restrictions are lifted further. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 23rd June, 7.30 pm via Zoom.The Zoom login and the Agenda ,will be available from the Library, Facebook and the website.
Dr. Janet Harrison, Trustee
The 18 metre phone mast they want to put on Pymm Ley Lane READER DAVID HARTRIDGE EXPLAINS WHY THIS PLANNING APPLICATION SHOULD BE REJECTED
JUST OVER two weeks ago a chance chat with a neighbour completely turned our life upside down. There was a Planning Proposal Notice attached to a lamp post on Pymm Ley Lane about an 18m high mast and associated cabinets to be erected on the opposite side of the road on the small green verge on the corner of Flaxfield Close and Pymm Ley Lane. No one had told us about it. The notice referred to Pymm Ley Close, which is not the proposed location, and as the lamp post in question is on the opposite side of the road to Flaxfield Close it is unlikely any resident would pass it. It seemed strange that no one had consulted with us. Some might dismiss it as a series of clerical errors, but others might feel that there was something underhand here. As I am the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for Flaxfield Close I immediately went on-line to read and download the Planning Application information. It was unbelievable.
The photo above, copyright David Hartridge, has been prepared by superimposing another scheme on to a photograph of the proposed location. It shows how such a massive structure could dominate the environment and be a total visual intrusion to this peaceful locality. Cllr Cartwright’s report has a similar photo representation showing the side of the property and how the mast might look from the other side of Pymm Ley Lane.) It had been raised in April and the Notice was dated 10 May, we only had 21 days to get objections in and it was the 17th when we found out. I complained to our Councillors that the Notice was in the wrong place and incorrectly referenced. Then suddenly, on the 20 May a Notice appeared on one of our lamp posts referenced correctly. So did we now have 21 days from this new date? Under duress Hinckley & Bosworth admitted they had got the first Notice wrong and we did have until the 11 June to get objections registered. TURN TO PAGE 4 ...>
Next Issue Out On 14th August • Advert & Article Deadline Is 31st July
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For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby & Field Head Spotlight
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Groby’s Heritage: List It or Lose It THE GROBY PARISH Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group are compiling a list of local heritage assets and we need your help.
PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT
Telephone
01530-244069 Email us at: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings. Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press.
The Spotlight is a monthly compilation of articles, press releases, events, general items of interest and news items submitted to us by local residents, groups, associations, sports clubs and local authorities. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Spotlight Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. Groby & Field Head Spotlight cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. Groby & Field Head Spotlight reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/ or advertisements submitted for publication. All contents © Groby & Field Head Spotlight. None of the articles contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from Groby & Field Head Spotlight.
NEXT ISSUE OUT ON: 14TH AUGUST 2021 DEADLINE: 31ST JULY 2021
Local heritage assets are buildings and features of local historical or architectural importance that merit protection due to their contribution to local character and distinctiveness but do not meet the criteria to be statutorily listed. Heritage is not just about settlement, it includes farming – old hedges and slate walls for example. Examples of local heritage assets in Groby might be Victoria Cottages and the Groby Mineral Line. Please send us your own list of local heritage. Make sure you accurately identify the location and perhaps include a photograph. Tell us why you think the building or feature is of interest. Once adopted in the neighbourhood plan, the list of local heritage assets will inform decision making on planning applications affecting such local assets. To find more information about the Groby Parish Neighbourhood Plan and to send your submissions visit http:// www.groby.org.uk/neighbourhood-plan Alternatively, you can submit your answers by post to: Groby Council Offices, Village Hall, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DQ using the reference “Local Heritage” at the top of your letter. Send your submissions by 31 July 2021 and we will publish some of the results in August 2021.
Help Shape the Future of Groby Parish To find out more and see how you can help, visit us online at http://www.groby.org.uk/neighbourhood-plan or write to Groby Council Offices, Village Hall, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DQ or call 0116 287 6985 for further information.
Groby Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
Letter
Solving an age-old problem I was peeling my onions the other day - I love fried onions - but it makes my eyes water, as it does most people.Then I had a brainwave. I got my plastic (anti-virus) visor and ‘Hey Presto!’ I got on much better. My daughter says she freezes hers in small containers so you can use them when you only need a few. I am 87 years old so you are never too old to learn!
Mrs Gillian Mee p.s. I have just got a ‘raised bed’ at Ratby Road Allotments, after renting a big one at the Markfield Road (Orchard) Allotments for many years.
Positive Thoughts “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” Anthony J. D’Angelo
I hate the part of the conversation where the other person says things.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
HOW TO OPT OUT
Choices available to you in the new GP data collection
A government proposal to require an ‘Opt Out’ to the sharing of your GP medical data doesn’t appear to have been widely publicised, so the Spotlight is including details about it from the website www.medconfidential.org The deadline to get your form to your GP practice is 23rd June 2021. IF YOU LIVE IN England and want to stop your GP data leaving your GP practice for purposes other than your direct care, you can do so by filling in and giving or posting the form in step 1 to your GP.
Dissent from secondary use of GP patient identifiable data Dear GP, I am writing to give notice that I refuse consent for my identifiable information / and the identifiable information of those for whom I am responsible [delete as appropriate] to be transferred from your practice systems for any purpose other than my medical care. Please take whatever steps necessary to ensure my / our confidential personal information is not uploaded and record my dissent by whatever means possible.
Information courtesy of www.medconfidential.org playgrounds, mixing with the great and the good.
By Tony Sales
Fraudster, swindler, conman, chancer, trickster, loveable rogue, the Southerner with more front than Southend - call him what you will. Tony Sales knew how to make money. From emptying fruit machines to cloning credit cards, the man from Greenwich made a mint. And boy did he splash the cash. Fast cars, holidays in sun-kissed millionaires’
FROM PAGE 1
This mast is just 3m from two properties. It would be a tremendous visual intrusion on our environment visible from many residences around. But apart from that it immediately raised questions over our health and general well-being. Many of the residents in our Close are retired and there are health problems, some serious. We cannot let this happen. Needless to say the last two weeks has seen a massive campaign by some of our residents in raising awareness in the village and gathering support to object to H&B in the strongest manner possible. I have analysed the planning proposal details and it contains numerous inaccuracies.
This includes adding the ‘Dissent from secondary use of GP patient identifiable data’ 1) PROTECT YOUR GP DATA: fill code (Read v2: 9Nu0, CTV3: XaZ89 or SNOMED CT: 827241000000103) to my / our records. in and give this ‘Type 1’ form to your I am aware of the implications of this request, understand it will not affect the care that I / GP practice – this form allows you to we receive, and I will notify you should I change my mind. include details for your children and Yours sincerely, dependants as well. This is the most Signature ____________________________________ Date ___________________ urgent step; the deadline to get your form to your GP practice is 23 June Information to help identify my records [please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS] 2021, according to NHS Digital. Title _______ Surname / Family name _________________________________________ You can download and print the form Forename(s) _________________________________________________________________ by visiting the www.medconfidential. org website (click on the tab ‘How to Address _________________________________________________________________ opt out’). _________________________________________________________________ If you don’t have access to a working Postcode _________________________ printer, you can ask the NHS Digital Contact Centre to post you the forms Date of birth _________________________ you need. Their phone number is 0300 NHS number (if known) _____________________________________ 303 5678 and they are open Monday Space for additional patient details overleaf to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays). Or, if you prefer, you can e-mail NHS Digital says GP practices are required to action this opt-out, see: http://bit.ly/NHSDigital-Type1-opt-out printer@medConfidential.org with More copies of this letter can be downloaded from www.medconfidential.org/how-to-opt-out your postal address and we will post you copies of the paper forms, for free, no questions asked. If you don’t have e-mail, you can text your address to us on 07980 210 746. We will, of course, only use your details to send you the forms you want and will delete them as soon as we have done that. (medConfidential is registered with the ICO to process personal data in this way.)
THE BIG CON
PHONE MAST
Then came the internet - the game-changer. Data became the new currency, and how he exploited it, stealing identities and splurging hundreds of thousands on the latest musthave goods. Sales never fails. Or so he thought. Tony bit off more than he could chew, and ended up having to swallow a twelve-month stretch in 2010 for passport forgery. It would prove to be a life-changing sentence. Now he has done a Frank Abagnale Jr. and gone from poacher to gamekeeper, helping global finance giants stave off prolific cyber crooks like his former self.Only through the eyes of a criminal can you anticipate their next move. This is the incredible true story of King Con: how he stole a fortune, lost it all, and turned his life around.
• They initially said it is on Pymm Ley Close. It is not. • They say they have consulted with neighbours and the community when they have not. • They say the proposed location is secluded in trees, and will blend into the surrounding street scene, when there are none and it will be a huge blot on the landscape. • They say several other locations were turned down for being too close to residential properties, but surely 3 metres qualifies as too close to an 18 metre mobile phone mast? In addition there has been no thought over the volume of fast traffic that passes this road junction, or the number of school children of all ages that walk through this area each day. There are many more issues that have been overlooked. It is of great concern that the decision will be made by officers in the Planning Department at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and not by the councillors elected to oversee the work of the Council and represent the interests of the residents. This is because of the Government’s relaxation in planning regulations for the spread of 5g mobile phone networks whereby operators can erect their masts free of charge on council land like this site. Residents cannot object to the mast, but can object to the location and appearance. I have just submitted a very detailed objection document. I just hope my democratic right is given fair consideration, alongside the objection lodged by our Member of Parliament. There is just no reason why this Proposal should not be rejected. If you want to read the details and comment go to the HBBC website and enter 21/00522/TGDO into the search box on the planning pages. I implore the residents of Groby to watch their green verges and lamp posts. There are plenty of open spaces less obtrusive than placing these eyesores in the middle of peaceful residential areas. There are still petitions in Wilson’s and the Post Office. We have raised over 700 signatures now and many have also objected on-line and by post. Please continue to support us in fighting this gross invasion of our well-being and environment. Thank you for your support to date.
David Hartridge
Flaxfield Close Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator
There are now 9 times as many smart phones in the world as there are smart people.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Patients Group Newsletter Home bowel cancer screening is easier now
BOWEL CANCER is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, and is responsible for the death of over 16,000 people each year in the UK. Bowel cancer can affect all ages, though 94% of cases are in people over the age of 50. It’s slightly more common in men than women. The number of people dying of bowel cancer has been falling since the 1970’s, and it’s thought that earlier diagnosis and better treatment has contributed to this reduction. Early diagnosis saves lives, as it is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone survives the disease if diagnosed at the earliest stage and, because of the increased likelihood of developing bowel cancer as we age, screening is offered every two years to people in the age range 60 to 74. This lower age limit is progressively being reduced to 50, and this year should reach those aged 56. In recent years the home testing kit has been improved.The test kit has a stick attached to the lid. This is used to take one small poo sample and then placed back into the tube. It’s sent to the test the screening centre in a self-sealing, freepost envelope. Full instructions are included. The screening looks for traces of blood in the sample. Most people will be told no further investigation is needed. Another test will be sent in two years, though anyone over 75 will have to take the initiative and phone for one. A negative result doesn’t mean that you don’t have, or won’t get, bowel cancer so you if you develop any symptoms you should still see your GP. Around 2 in every 100 are invited for further tests to find out what is causing the bleeding, but this doesn’t mean you have cancer. The screening reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer by around 25%. The risk can also be reduced by keeping active with a healthy weight, and eating plenty of fibre, fruit and vegetables. Consuming less alcohol, red or processed meat and giving up smoking is also thought to help reduce the risks. It’s an unfortunate turn of phrase, but the bottom line is that a few minutes taking the test every two years may help avoid the pain, discomfort and anxiety of dealing with bowel cancer at some time in the future.
Covid vaccination certificates
GROBY SURGERY is not able to provide a letter showing your COVID-19 vaccination status. However, patients who have had two doses of any approved vaccine can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel on the NHS website or by downloading the NHS App. Alternatively, you can request a letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call if you have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago Allow at least 7 working days for your identity to be verified or for your letter to arrive.
Practice Manager leaves
NOELLE SMITH, the Practice Manager, has now left Groby surgery. Noelle helped to improve the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of the surgery from Inadequate overall to Good overall.
appointments, including information about physical, mental and sexual health • data on sex, ethnicity and sexual orientation • data about staff who have treated patients Although NHS Digital will not collect patients’ names or addresses, it will collect data that could directly identify patients such as NHS Number, date of birth, and full postcode. This is replaced with unique codes which are produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital. This means that patients will not be identified directly. However, NHS Digital will be able to use the software to convert the unique codes back to data that could directly identify patients in certain circumstances, and where there is a valid legal reason. Patients may have no concerns about this data collection, as anyone who ventures on to the internet is probably tracked by the likes of Google and Microsoft, or has their viewing habits monitored and stored by iPlayer or You Tube and a host of other service providers. Anyone with a store loyalty card will have their shopping habits and preferences monitored and stored. The privacy battle may have been lost some time ago for for many people. On the other hand patients may be more concerned about their treatment data being automatically stored by the NHS. They may have concerns about the ability of the NHS to protect the data, remembering the hacking of NHS providers who were sometimes using out of date and insecure software. They may recall an abandoned NHS patient record system that cost the taxpayer nearly £10bn. And they may be concerned that there is a key which can unlock the anonymity of the data, with no guarantee whether the rules that control how that key will be used at some time in the future might be changed. Those healthcare professionals that look after us are not responsible for this situation, and indeed some are very angry. The Guardian reported that The Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK), a campaigning and lobbying organisation comprised of doctors, said it was concerned this would “erode the doctor/patient relationship, leaving patients reluctant to share their problems due to fears of where their data will be shared”. It added that Prof Martin Marshall, the chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), said it supported the principle of improved sharing of data for important healthcare planning and research, but it was “critical that this is transparent and that patients have confidence and trust in how the NHS and other bodies might use their information”. NHS Digital says that patient data is used every day to improve healthcare services through planning and research in England, helping to find better treatments and improve patient care. It helps to decide what new health and care services are required in a local area, informs clinical guidance and policy, and supports researching and developing cures for serious illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. We live in a digital world and need to make the best use of all the data we have to improve health and outcomes. Most patients will have no problem with this, though some may be concerned about privacy and the implications of the ability to unlock the encoded personal information.
Your data, your choice
If you are happy for it to happen you need do nothing, and your data will be uploaded from 1 July. If you want to change your mind you can, but any data that has been uploaded cannot be deleted. If you don’t want your full data to be shared in this way you need to complete and return a form by 23 June.
If you do nothing this will be interpreted as consent – if you object you must complete a form and return it to your GP by 23 June.
Further information in this issue about how to opt out is provided independently of the Groby Surgery Patients Group. The Patients Group makes no recommendation one way or the other, as this is a personal decision by each patient, parent or guardian. It’s your data and your choice.
YOU MAY have heard that a deadline is approaching about whether or not you should agree to your GP releasing your data to NHS Digital. From 1 July GP’s will be required to provide, on a daily basis : • data about diagnoses, symptoms, observations, test results, medications, allergies, immunisations, referrals, recalls and
Norman Griffiths
for Groby Surgery Patients Group
I only believe 12.5% of the Bible. Which means that I’m an eighthiest.
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Application deadline is 25th June
Environment grants available for community groups
COMMUNITY groups and organisations have just a couple of weeks left to apply for the latest round of SHIRE Environment Grants of up to £3,000. The scheme, run by Leicestershire County Council, aims to help new projects that minimise household waste, reduce carbon emissions or improve biodiversity. The SHIRE grants project is already making a difference with several projects benefitting from the previous round of grant aid. South Kilworth Parish Council ran one of the projects which benefited. Their bird box scheme saw a total of 94 RSPB birdboxes placed around private houses, the church and the school in time for the 2021 breeding season. The boxes were a mix of designs for Blue Tits, Great Tits, Sparrows, Nuthatch, Robin, Wrens, Pied Wagtails, Spotted Flycatchers and Swifts. The types of projects that could benefit from funding include initiatives to reduce household waste or greenhouse gas emissions within communities, the development of local green spaces or habitats which increase biodiversity, or increase knowledge around these issues. Other projects which have benefited from the fund include Cotesbach Parish Council’s improvements to their village pond to improve biodiversity, Melton’s 103 The Eye who are running a radio recycling and repair scheme and the Loughborough Wellbeing Centre who are running textile reuse and upcycling sessions. To be eligible for the grant, projects must be located in Leicestershire (not including Leicester or Rutland). A simplified application process is also available for smaller grants of up to £300. The application deadline is June 25, 2021. For further information and how to apply, visit: www. leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/grants/environment-grant.htmlOpens another website in new window or email environmentgrant@leics.gov.uk or call the SHIRE Environment Grants Team on 0116 305 7005.
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What happens if Usain Bolt misses his bus? He waits for it at the next stop.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea
Email: ozzy.o’shea@leics.gov.uk or ozzyoshea@hotmail.com • Tel: 0116 239 4336 or 07808 585825
Road Works Leicester Road, Groby DURING the past month residents have had to put up with road works on Leicester Road. These works are necessary as the County Council have responded to residents’ concerns and are working with Severn Trent on flooding issues in Groby. County Highways are putting extra gulleys in order to take the water away safely and quickly. I have been working with residents, County Highways and Severn Trent on flooding issues in Groby over the past two years and this is just the start of improvement work.
Have your say on school term time dates LEICESTERSHIRE County Council want to hear your views on your preferred school term and holiday dates for Leicestershire. We are looking to set the term dates for the five years between Autumn 2022 and Summer 2027 and would like to hear what you have to say on our three suggested options. These different proposals attempt to meet the range of different needs in the county which include trying to reduce term time holidays by having early breaks and balancing the length of terms to try to reduce staff and student sickness. Overall, we aim to improve outcomes for Leicestershire children. Broadly, the proposals are: 1. Keeping the ‘traditional’ county term time pattern, which offers an earlier summer holiday but means a longer autumn term 2. Aligning the autumn and spring breaks in line with most other authorities, including Leicester City, but again means a longer autumn term 3. Introducing a two-week autumn half-term break. This would leave terms ‘more balanced’ across the whole year but would result in a shorter Easter break More detailed information on these proposals is available via our consultation document, which can be found via Leicestershire County Council’s Web site via consultation or type in the below link: https://www.leicestershire. gov.uk/have-your-say/currentconsultations/have-your-say-onschool-term-time-dates The deadline for comments is midnight Sunday 18 July 2021.
All responses will be considered and a recommendation for Leicestershire’s new term time patterns will be presented to the council’s Cabinet which is set to make a decision on this in the autumn.
How we deal with road problems • Potholes All potholes need to be classified, before repairs can be scheduled. When a member of the public reports a pothole, we will ensure an inspector visits and classifies the problem within 14 days. The pothole is classified according to how serious it is and this dictates how quickly it is fixed:
Category 1 defects • Require prompt attention as they represent an immediate or imminent hazard or a risk of shortterm structural deterioration. • These defects will be fixed or made safe at the time of inspection, if reasonably practicable. • If it’s not possible to fix or make the defect safe at time of inspection, repairs of a temporary, or permanent nature will be done within 3 working days.
Category 2 defects • Require attention, but do not represent an immediate or imminent hazard. • These defects have a target repair period of 90 calendar days from being reported by the public or will be included within a planned highways maintenance programme.
• Grass, hedges and trees • Grass cutting is scheduled between March and October, but is dependent on weather and may be subject to change. • Hedges and trees in general, are the responsibility of the adjacent landowner, although a small proportion do form part of the highway assets.
undertake the work ourselves and recharge them.
engines-while-victims-pay-theprice/ - Which?
You can report any of the above issues via the County Council’s Website. Please follow the link:
Microsoft Scam Email
https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/ roads-and-travel/road-maintenance/ report-a-road-problem
Investment scammers run riot on search engines, while victims pay the price SEARCH ENGINES such as Google and Microsoft’s Bing provide an easy hunting ground for criminals who target victims via paid-for adverts, while the spike in investment scams is pushing regulators and law enforcement to the limit, warns Which?. Action Fraud received more than 17,000 investment scam reports in the year to September 2020, up 28% on the previous year, with total losses reaching £657m – and many more cases go unreported. The financial uncertainty created by the pandemic has played into scammers’ hands: the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) warning list of firms potentially running investment scams doubled from 573 in 2019 to 1,184 in 2020 (follow the link. https://www.fca.org.uk/ scamsmart/warning-list) Many firms on the warning list initially advertised on either Google or Bing, having paid to appear at the top of search results for terms such as ‘best bonds’ and ‘best fixed-rate bonds’. We’ve found that such adverts have remained for weeks after the FCA issued warnings to avoid them. Read more: https://www.which. co.uk/news/2021/03/investmentscammers-run-riot-on-search-
Below is a typical scam email note the address it was sent from. Support Management Inc <JLPODBEVSEK@msn.com> Thu 13/05/2021 19:52 To: member@microsoft.com; account@live.com Microsoft support Info Starting on May 15, 2021, customers that are yet to update their account will no longer be able to log-in due to the recent security upgrade. Please follow the link below to secure your account: Update: E-mail Thanks, Please do not reply to this message. Mail sent to cannot be answered.
WhatsApp Scam HACKERS are trying to get access to WhatsApp accounts after stealing the identities of their victims’ contacts. Here’s how it works and what to watch out for. First, you’ll receive an unexpected but genuine text message from WhatsApp containing a verification code. This is usually triggered when logging into the app for the first time, when you’ve been logged out, or you’re trying to log into WhatsApp from a new device. But in the case of this scam, fraudsters have entered your number into WhatsApp themselves to try to get access to your account, triggering the verification code text. Next, one of your WhatsApp contacts will message you via the app, usually with a story to
• It may be worth notifying the adjacent landowner before contacting us, as they might be able to resolve the issue. • We will ensure an inspector visits and investigates the problem within 14 days. • For grass cutting issues, we will try and get these resolved as soon as possible. • For tree and hedge issues, we will find out who is responsible and ask them to cut back the trees within a reasonable timescale. If they don’t we will arrange to
I can’t believe I forgot to go to the gym today. That’s 7 years in a row now.
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National Trust Leicester Association
try to persuade you to give them the verification code you’ve just received. They might say they’ve accidentally entered your number by mistake, for example. Because the message seems to be from a relative or friend, a lot of people have been tricked into passing on the verification code, which then allows fraudsters to take over their accounts. Once they’ve taken over, scammers might use your account in a few different ways How this WhatsApp scam works 1. You get text 2. Then a WhatsApp message from a friend asks you for the code. DO NOT SEND! Your friend’s WhatsApp has been hacked – now you’re the target! If you share the code, the scammers will hack yours too. Finally I would like to thank residents and councillors for your continued support. Should you need my help or advice on any matter or issue please contact me. I pride myself on always making myself available to residents and councillors and getting straight back to you. Remember I am only a phone call or email away. Kind Regards
Ozzy O’shea Working for you
Tel 0116 239 4336 or mobile: 07808 585825 Email: Ozzy.O’Shea@leics.gov.uk Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com
THE NATIONAL TRUST is well known for its conservation of historic buildings and their contents and also for the conservation and enhancement of woodland and areas of open countryside. However in the last two years it has also become involved in a completely different project to help tackle climate change. In January 2020 an adult pair of Eurasian beavers were released into a 2.7 hectare fenced area of unmanaged woodland on the Holnicote Estate on the edge of Exmoor. They will help with flood management and to improve biodiversity. As natures engineers they are a natural solution in making the landscape more resilient to climate change. The beavers were relocated, under licence, from the River Tay in Scotland. The dams the beavers create will slow the flow and hold the water which in dry periods will reduce the impact of drought. They will also help to lessen flash-flooding downstream, reducing erosion and improve water quality by holding silt and pollutants. Just over a year later, in March 2021, two more beavers were released on the edge of the South Downs into a 15 hectare secure area. Hundreds of years ago beavers were an important part of the UK ecosystem, but they became extinct in Britain in the 16th century as they were hunted for their fur, meat and scent glands. The Lead ranger for the South Downs said that as nature’s water engineers the beavers will help bring back many natural processes that have been missing from the local environment for many years. The creation of dams will create new and wild-life rich wetlands, ponds, rivulets and boggy areas that will benefit a wide range of wild life. These will include frogs, toads, dragonflies, damselflies and wildflowers leading to a return of various bird and bat species. Both pairs of beavers are being closely monitored by NT staff and researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Birmingham and the University of Exeter. The National Trust Leicester Association meetings are currently suspended but a full programme of meetings and lecture lunches, with speakers, has now been published to commence in September. The Association also continues to issue its monthly email Newsheet and its triannual printed Newsletter to members. Please check the Association web site, at its new web address – www.leicesternt.com - for further details.
Alan Tyler, Publicity Officer NT Leicester Association
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Spot The the Difference Spot Difference
Slim down TWO OUT of three adults in the UK are now overweight. That means that the Government has made tackling obesity as the ‘priority’ for recovering from the pandemic. (80 per cent of our health problems are caused by unhealthy lifestyles.) Boris Johnson recently announced an Office for Health Promotion (OHP) to boost our activity and to slim our waistlines. Experts say that the Covid-19 death toll has been fuelled by the obesity epidemic.
Why your dog may be in danger DOG THEFTS across the UK soared last year. The problem is now so serious that the government is to set up a pet theft taskforce to fight the organised crime gangs involved.
Can you spot the 10 differences in the cartoons above? Answers on page 27
Summer Hair Care Strong sun, high temperatures, humidity and pool or sea water will damage your hair, leaving it dry and brittle. Try taking a gentler approach to your hairstyling in the summer months.
If your hair is long enough, put it into a loose bun and tuck the ends out of sight, as this is the most vulnerable part. Pulling your hair back in this way also mean you don’t have a parting, which will prevent sunburn on your scalp – although sunscreen all around the hairline is important. If you don’t have long hair, have a parting and don’t want to wear a hat, it’s essential that you
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, said: “Having callous thieves steal a much-loved pet is heart-breaking for families, and is a cruel crime.” Stealing a pet is already a criminal offence, with the offender facing up to seven years in prison. The police strongly advise pet owners never to leave their pet unattended in public, to vary their walking routines, and to take basic security steps at home, such as checking locks on doors and garden gates.
Use a mild shampoo and when you do wash your hair, finish with a cool or cold rinse to seal the cuticles. Try to limit hair treatments such as bleaching, and cut back on the use of heated hair styling tools such as curlers and hair straighteners.
The taskforce will include officials from the Environment Department (Defra), the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the police. There will also be input from animal welfare experts.
apply sun lotion to your scalp. Your hair might look a little greasy during the day, but that’s better than the bad dandruff look that a peeling scalp will give you. Before going into a pool or the sea, wet your hair with plain water as this will reduce the absorption of chlorine or salt. After your swim, rinse your hair with plain water again and use a mild shampoo at the end of each day, to ensure those chemicals and salt aren’t continuing to do their worst.
Don’t forget to send us your news! Contact us by email: info@grobyspotlight. co.uk
Thank you, student loans, for helping me get through college. I don’t think I can ever repay you.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
First Social Event since March 2020!
THE ALLOTMENT SOCIETY held its first Open Shed Sunday event since the 1st March 2020, when we had the official opening of our new social area on the Ratby Road site by one of our longest serving tenants and longest serving committee members.
Gosh that seems like a lifetime ago! Since then, of course, due to the pandemic, sadly the social area has been very unsocial and unused! However, with the easing of restrictions to allow up to thirty people to meet up at a time outdoors, we dipped our toes in the water so to speak and held our first post-lockdown gettogether on Sunday 23rd May. We had to make sure that we had plenty of Health and Safety precautions in place of course, with hand sanitisers, a one-way system, screens in place at the food counter, a cap on numbers allowed in at any one time and socially distanced seating and were quite nervous about how it would go but it was a success and so good to see people again after so long! We had plenty of vegetable and flowering plants on sale, lovingly grown by our resident horticultural wonder, Amanda, as well as a Tombola, Bric-a-Brac and pre-loved book and jigsaw stalls and welcome refreshments of tea and coffee and bacon cobs or a veggie slice. One of our younger tenants said that as he had been waiting for a bacon cob for so long, he had two to celebrate! We had our stalls spaced out on the allotments car park so that we wouldn’t create any pinch-points in the one-way system and it worked very well. The chairs for people to sit, eat and chat had to be spaced out too but we all seem to have become very good at holding distanced conversations now. It was such a success that we are planning to hold another Open Shed Sunday on 13th June. All Groby residents are welcome to come along and grab a bargain vegetable or flowering plant or just to browse our bric-a-brac stalls and have a cuppa and a cob as long as you can follow our social distancing guidelines and one-way system, so do pop along and see us if you can and say hello!
We held our first post-lockdown get-together on 23rd May and officially opened our new social area on the Ratby Road site.
Gardening in unusual times
I’M SURE THAT with the rest of gardeners out there, you can agree with me that May has been a challenging month with regard to planting out our precious plants raised from seed, with the cold, wet and windy weather.
Now at the end of the month, with the change to more seasonable weather (permanent change we hope!) and a few dry days, I have been able to plant out all of those vegetable plants which have been growing so tall on my windowsills, spilling over from the greenhouse! A few days ago, I was wearing a jumper and waterproofs on the allotment and now I’m in a tee shirt having to water the plants in as I plant them out! I thought at one stage that I had better change to growing rice, the plot was that waterlogged with all the rain we had! Still, the plants always seem to catch up in the end, even if they are a bit leggy at the moment and so I am now hoping for a good harvest! If like me, you have a few failures in your vegetable plants this year, we may have some for sale to plug that gap, so do come along to our social gathering on 13th June and see what we have.
Carol Lincoln
Letter from Uncle Eustace
On why the clergy should avoid computers The Rectory St James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren Thank you for the kind offer of your old computer, but I do not want it. I know you find it a fundamental basic of daily life, but I do not, and I intend to keep things that way. This is despite the fact that our diocesan office now takes it for granted that all of us clergy have a computer. Indeed, the diocesan secretary and I have had several awkward phone calls upon this very subject. He can’t believe that I really don’t have one, and suspects that I am simply hiding my
email address from him so that he cannot send me the daily diocesan briefings, weekly questionnaires, and constant notification of all sorts of meetings and training days. But I remain firm: I have survived in ministry for nearly 50 years without a computer, and I don’t intend to change now. When he gets tetchy with me, I take the high moral ground and remind him that St Paul did not have a computer. Besides, it would not end with just a computer. Next, I would be obliged to get a printer and then ink cartridges and then maybe some sort of virus would attack me. As I have no idea about any of this, I might have to allow someone into the vicarage to sort it out, and even worse, I might even have to
pay them. My money can be far more usefully spent on good claret. Being without a computer also saves me much aggravation. From what I can gather, most computer owners spend significant parts of their lives either trying to get their machine to do something that it refuses to do, or else getting help from someone in a remote part of the world who speaks a jargon only distantly related to English, who assures you that whatever you did, it would have been better if you hadn’t. So I have decided that should I ever REALLY need to use a computer for something, I will visit our local primary school and
get a six year-old to do the job for me, which they do with effortless efficiency, speed and accuracy. Your loving uncle,
Eustace
Entered what I ate today into my new fitness app and it just sent an ambulance to my house.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
More development, more traffic, more roadworks
T
NOTES:
ALL LEVELS RELATE TO ORDNANCE SURVEY DATUM, CORRELATE WITH ORDNANCE SURVEY BENCHMARK V
New part-time signals
Road m
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MARKFIELD LEICES
You might think that the pieces are starting to fall into place on the jigsaw. In addition to this Growth Corridor there is the northern expansion of the city beyond Beaumont Leys towards Thurcaston, and we have seen highway improvements in the northern gateways to this side of Leicester. The Ravensbridge Drive junction through Blackbird Road to Anstey Lane has been completed, as has the extension of duelling on Anstey Lane towards the A46. And on the A50 there was a consultation in 2019 on a proposed bus lane on the city-bound section of Groby Road between Mary Road to Medina Road, near the Fosse Road North junction, to “improve reliability and help stabilise bus journey times.” On the A50/A5111 route, Matt’s focus was the proposed changes to the Flying Horse Roundabout and the Field Head Roundabout. He believes both schemes run the risk of making problems worse for local residents. “The Flying Horse proposals are hugely controversial as they envisage stopping traffic from Stanton going right or straight over to Copt Oak on the roundabout. Instead traffic will be directed left down to the Bardon roundabout to come back up. The proposal has little to commend it from a local resident perspective, it is a scheme that is clearly harmful to local residents.” Matthew explained that the proposals at the Field Head roundabout are essentially creating a traffic light-controlled roundabout. “The Field Head scheme on the face of it looks an improvement until you study it further and realise that improving access onto the roundabout for Markfield residents is not the primary purpose of the scheme. Instead it is to decrease the time spent travelling along the A50, not the time for local residents to get onto the A50.”
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He describes it as like a magnet pulling in developers from far and wide. “It’s definitely one of the reasons Markfield and Stanton suddenly find themselves at risk from speculative and unwanted developments, both housing and industrial on a scale we have not seen before. The objectives of the growth corridor are many. Its main focus is to actually improve the load capacity and journey time on the road from the A50 Field Head roundabout to the A511/ A42 roundabout east of Ashby. Essentially from the M1 to the A42. Alongside this objective is a stated desire to open up yet more land for development, both housing (5,250 houses) and industrial (25 extra hectares) and it is clear that this is beginning to happen. In fact it’s on a scale few can imagine.”
Extent
A50
“ Close to the Amazon depot at Ellistown are new signs indicating that development is set to begin on 2000 new homes,” he said. “These estates are being called Hugglescote Grange and Swinfen Vale and will essentially engulf the land surrounding Ellistown and Hugglescote. This is on top of already massive developments taking place at Hugglescote and industrial warehousing at Bardon. One of the main drivers for all this development happening close to the A511 is the so called A511 strategic growth corridor.”
Key:
0
But let’s look at Markfield, where the Spotlight recently reported on another new estate approved near Ratby Lane. In May Markfield Councillor Matthew Lay wrote about the impact of the A5111 Strategic Growth Corridor in the Markfield Herald.
ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS ON DRAWINGS TO BE RE SOON AS IDENTIFIED.
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Beyond the parish boundaries activity is ongoing or planned. Towards Leicester land at the rear of County Hall, and extending behind Gynsill Lane to Anstey Lane is said to be able to take 185 homes, whilst the Western Park Golf Course site could provide 252. Meanwhile, if it wasn’t for issues such as the flood risk and access to the A50, the site surrounding the former Brant Inn development, and running along the A46 towards the M1 is thought to be able to accommodate nearly 1000 homes. This is currently considered ‘not achievable’, but who know what the future holds. Ratby is expanding, but perhaps not fast enough for some developers and, on the opposite side of the village, Charnwood Borough Council has plans for 647 new homes in Anstey over the next 16 years.
ALL COORDINATES RELATE TO ORDNANCE SURVEY O PROJECTION, REFIXED USING GPS FROM THE NATION HOWEVER, THE LOCAL SCALE FACTOR HAS BEEN REM DISTANCES TO BE MEASURED.
A5
HE PRESS have been reporting that house prices have been rising fast, yet everywhere you look there seem to be new estates being built or land identified for future housing. Following the completion of the Hello site on Leicester Road all has been relatively quiet in Groby, that is until the land on Markfield Road next to the church was cleared of vegetation for the second time. This was earmarked for the construction of two blocks of flats.
REVISION APPROVED
AMENDMENT
ANN CARR DIREC
ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT DEPAR
LEICESTERSHIRE HIGHWAYS
New part-time signals
CLIENT:
Assets and Major TITLE:
A511 GROWTH CORR FEASIBILITY LAYOUT
A511/FIELD HEAD RO Consultation Drawing DRAWING NUMBER
MRN A511-000_FIELD HEAD/H1/1 PREPARED
BY:
CHECKED
BY:
APPROVED BY:
B Wilson A Dunn J Walker & P Clarke
AUTOCAD PROJECT DIR:
N:\Proj Majors
AUTOCAD FILENAME:
MRN A511.
COUNTY HALL * GLENFIELD *
Tel:0116 305 0001 Direct Dial 0116 3
FIELD HEAD ROUNDABOUT PROPOSALS
E.Mail address:
From the point of view of most Groby residents any benefits are likely to be outweighed by the disadvantage suffered by our Markfield and Stanton neighbours. But there is one certainty, and that is the disruption and delays that another set of roadworks will bring local motorists if the changes are implemented. (Matthew Lay’s article can be read in full at www.http://www.markfieldherald.co.uk)
Norman Griffiths
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My wife sent her photograph to the Lonely Hearts Club. They sent it back saying they weren’t that lonely.
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Sage and Pancetta Roast Chicken Give classic roast chicken a tasty makeover with a handful of fresh sage and some delicious smoky flavoured Italian bacon called pancetta. Look out for thin rashers of pancetta in the deli section of your supermarket or buy it freshly sliced from an Italian deli. Serve with roasted baby new potatoes and lightly steamed vegetables for a wonderful summer Sunday lunch. 1. Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas mark 5. Place the chicken in a foil-lined roasting tin. Smear half of the softened butter over the chicken breast, legs and wings and scatter over half the sage leaves. Season lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover the chicken loosely with foil and roast in the preheated oven for 1 hour 10 minutes. Uncover and baste the chicken with any juices twice during cooking. Serves: 4 Ready in: 2 hours 30 minutes • • • • • • • • •
1.3kg oven-ready chicken (preferably free range) 55g butter, softened Approx. 20 fresh sage leaves Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 85g smoked pancetta slices 115g fresh white breadcrumbs 1 medium egg, beaten Fresh sage leaves, to garnish Tip To make light gravy to serve with the roast chicken, drain off any excess fat from the roasting tin then heat the pan juices until sizzling. Add a splash of dry white wine or sherry then stir in a little plain flour and 1 tsp wholegrain mustard. Cook for 1 minute then gradually pour in 400ml hot chicken or vegetable stock and slowly bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until just thickened. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper.
2. Meanwhile, melt the rest of the butter in a frying pan, add the chopped onion and fry gently for 5 minutes. Chop half the pancetta and add to the pan, frying for a further 5 minutes until the onion is softened and golden. Remove from the heat. Finely chop the rest of the sage and add to the pan with the breadcrumbs and some seasoning. 3. Leave to cool then stir in the beaten egg. Press the stuffing mixture into a greased 18cm round shallow cake tin. 4. Uncover the chicken and top with the rest of the pancetta slices. Return to the oven and roast, uncovered, for a further 25-35 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through – the juices should run clear with no sign of pinkness when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced. Cook the stuffing in the oven at the same time until set and pale golden.
Church notices that didn’t quite come out right ... •
The preacher for Sunday next will be found hanging on the notice board in the porch.
•
The minister is going on holiday next Saturday. Could all missionary boxes be handed into the vicarage by Friday evening, at the latest.
•
Ladies, when you have emptied the teapot, please stand upside down in the sink.
•
There will be a procession in the grounds of the monastery next Sunday afternoon. If it rains in the afternoon, the procession will take place in the morning.
5. Remove the chicken from the oven, cover and leave to rest for 10-15 minutes. Cut the stuffing into wedges and serve on a platter with the roast chicken, garnished with the fresh sage leaves.
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So there I was, just minding my own business, when someone forced me to eavesdrop.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Perfect Picnics After months of only being able to meet up outdoors, we’re now into the summer and outside is exactly where we want to be! Let’s make the most of it then with good planning and some fun accessories.
• Research your perfect picnic spot carefully. How far is it from the car park and is there a charge for parking? Are there toilets? Can you bring your dog? Is there somewhere to shelter if it’s too hot or there’s a sudden shower. • Pack everything you need for the day: water, sunscreen, a lightweight waterproof (just in case), warmer layers and the all-important face mask and hand-santiser. A plastic bag for your rubbish will be handy too. • Decorate your picnic area with batterypowered fairy lights, lanterns and some bunting. Get comfy with camping chairs or deck chairs, using your picnic basket as a handy side table. Music adds atmosphere so take a Bluetooth speaker.
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• Bring along games that all the family can play. Rounders and croquet are great, or organise a treasure hunt, play hide and seek, or set up an old-school egg-and-spoon or sack race. • The best picnic food? Anything you can eat with your fingers. Sandwiches, mini pies, kebabs, chopped vegetables with dips, plus fruit and something sweet, for example. ç With compartments for dippy sauce & sections so the peas don’t touch the carrots this little car is perfect for turning fussy eaters into foodies. £32.99 at bluebrontide.com
A State of Fear By Laura Dodsworth
THIS IS A book about fear. Fear of a virus. Fear of death. Fear of losing our jobs, our democracy, our human connections, our health and our minds. It’s also about how the government weaponised our fear against us – supposedly in our best interests – until we were one of the most frightened countries in the world. But why did the government deliberately frighten us? How has this affected us as individuals and as a country? Who is involved in the decision-making that affects our lives? How are behavioural science and nudge theory being used to subliminally manipulate us? How does the media leverage fear? What are the real risks to our wellbeing? Ahead of any official inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, Laura Dodsworth explores all these questions and more, in a nuanced and thoughtprovoking discussion of an extraordinary year in British life and politics.
é Giant picnic blanket for your outdoor group of 30! £59.95 annabeljames.co.uk
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With stories from members of the general public who were impacted by fear, anxiety and isolation, and revealing interviews with psychologists, politicians, scientists, lawyers, Whitehall advisers and journalists, A State of Fear calls for a more hopeful, transparent and effective democracy.
Can you believe that my neighbour knocked at my door at 2am? Luckily, I was up playing my drums.
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New appointments at Druck DRUCK have confirmed the appointments of Hernan Bassi as Chief Financial Officer and Charles Lawrence as Global Quality Excellence Leader, as well as launching a recruitment campaign amid increasing demand globally for their products. Hernan Bassi joined Druck from sister Baker Hughes company, Waygate Technologies, in May 2021. He has held senior finance roles in Baker Hughes, GE, Ernst & Young and was Managing Director of his own corporate finance advisory firm. Hernan will provide leadership to the Druck finance team and help drive profitability, process improvements, simplification and compliance across the Druck business. Charles Lawrence joined Druck on May 24th after ten years at Rolls Royce in Derby where he enjoyed several senior Quality Leadership roles, and most recently was its Head of Quality, Governance and Reporting. Charles’s career in Quality extends more than 25 years across a range of sectors including aerospace, railway innovation, automotive and consumer electronics. Based at Druck’s headquarters in Groby, Charles will provide leadership to the Druck Quality team, and help drive quality, pushing the boundaries of performance, across every aspect of the Druck business.
Druck Recruitment Campaign IN THE wake of increasing customer demand, Druck has launched a wideranging recruitment campaign designed to attract high calibre candidates to fill a range of vacancies. In total 15 positions are available from Groby, including Embedded Software Engineers, Project Managers and Mechanical Design Engineers. Druck is also looking for immediate start Production Operators to join the Manufacturing Shop Floor team in Groby, with full training provided.
Do I just call you or should we resolve this quickly with 200 text messages?
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
New project for autistic people LEICESTERSHIRE County Council and Leicester City Council have joined together to encourage autistic people, their families, and carers to share their experiences of being diagnosed with the condition and receiving support.
The Every Voice Counts initiative is asking residents to share their personal experience of health and social care services from the day of their diagnosis through to their ongoing support. Their experiences will help to improve the care which autistic people receive in the county and city. To gather people’s views, the councils are hosting virtual focus groups and one-to-one discussions throughout June, with the sessions chaired by an autistic person. Christine Radford, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for adult social care, said: “This new project seeks to break down the barriers and boundaries which may exist between professionals, communities and the people who use our services and their carers so that we can work together better and create really positive changes to the services we offer. “The project will provide a platform for autistic people, and their families and carers to share their experiences and be at the heart of making sure the right services and support are available for everyone in Leicester and Leicestershire in the future.” There are other ways to get involved, such as by sharing artwork, poems, or short stories. Cllr Sarah Russell, Leicester’s deputy city mayor for social care and anti-poverty, said: “We want the Every Voice Counts project to become a catalyst for real and meaningful engagement with autistic people who use our services. It’s really important that they, their families and their carers have their voices heard. “We want to involve as many people as we can in this, to make sure we all learn from the experiences of autistic people when they access health, education, housing, leisure, and social care services. “People can share their experiences with us so that we can feed back to other specialist groups.” If you would like to get involved or sign up to a discussion group, contact autism officer Ester Vickers on 0116 454 4243 or email: ester.vickers@ leicester.gov.uk
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Volunteers are needed to visit children in care
LEICESTERSHIRE County Council is marking Volunteers’ Week with a fresh appeal for independent visitors for children in care.
For some children in care, their only adult influences are professionals, such as foster carers, social workers or teachers. An independent visitor can be a role model and friend outside this network. The scheme offers a flexible way for people to support children in care and make a positive difference by spending a few hours each month with them, providing friendship and support. Independent visitors might take a young person to the cinema, to play football at the park or another activity. These simple actions offer consistency and fun for vulnerable young people, as well as being rewarding for volunteers. Sallyanne and Richard have been independent visitors for seven years. They said: “It feels good to make a difference to someone else, however small a part of her life we are. “We see how her trust and confidence has grown since we’ve been taking her out, and we love making her laugh. She really makes us laugh too.” The council is particularly looking for more men to volunteer. Independent visitor David, said: “We get on well and he seems to enjoy our time together. He positively engages with me and the activities we do. I enjoy seeing him happy and it gives me satisfaction too.” Councillor Deborah Taylor, the county council’s cabinet member for children and families, said “All kinds of people can be brilliant independent visitors. Our children in care come from lots of different backgrounds and we’re looking for people from all walks of life with different experiences and interests to connect with them and build meaningful friendships. “If you feel you could offer support, fun and friendship to a child and create memories for both of you, we’d love to tell you more about becoming an independent visitor.” Whilst independent visiting is a volunteer role, expenses are paid for days out and activities. If you would like to be an independent visitor, or have any questions, contact the Fostering Team on 0116 305 05 05 or email fostering@leics.gov.uk For more information about different ways to foster, visit www. fosteringleicestershire.com
What will you miss about LOCKDOWN? MORE THAN half of us admit that we will miss some aspects of the Covid-19 restrictions, especially spending more time at home with our family, and appreciating the quieter roads. A recent study by King’s College London and Ipsos Mori found that around one third of us feel the past year has been similar or better than normal, while 54 per cent of us say that we will miss some of the changes. Three in ten of us feel closer to our immediate family than we did before the pandemic, while just one in six of us say that we have grown further apart. One in five of us say that our finances are better because of the pandemic. Overall, it seems that while the public would rather the pandemic hadn’t happened, that doesn’t mean it’s been all bad for everyone, or that people see it as deeply affecting their future lives.
My car has one of those reversing cameras so I can see what I hit.
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Planning Apps Proposed 18m Phase 8 Monopole C/W wrapround Cabinet at base and associated ancillary works - At Land Adjacent To 45 Flaxfield Close, Groby, Leicestershire.
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Enrich Your Child’s Learning Experiences
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Roof extension to garage and bedroom - At 32 Woodbank Road, Groby, Leicestershire LE6 0BN
UNFAITHFUL By Natalie Barelli “Thank you,” I say sweetly when she tells me I’m lucky to have such a beautiful family. But I want to tell her it’s not just luck. A family is like a fortress you have to defend all the time. You can’t relax because there’s always someone looking for a breach, always someone trying to get in. Someone just like her… When I arrive unannounced at my husband’s studio in need of a shoulder to cry on after hearing that my best student, Alex, has died, I see a pair of wine glasses drying by the sink and my deepest fear is confirmed: my husband is having an affair. Most women would fall to their knees in tears and throw him out of the house–but I just can’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I go home and cook a healthy dinner for our children, walk the dog and unload the dishwasher without complaint. I will make him see that I’m still the woman he married; attractive, successful, the glue that holds our perfect family together. I need this marriage to work to protect a terrible secret of my own, something that would destroy everything I’ve already sacrificed so much for. But when the police arrive at my door asking questions about Alex’s death that I can’t answer, and threatening text messages start appearing on my phone, I know that someone close has been watching me very carefully. The truth is, there are three people in my marriage, but only one of them is deadly…
Ch
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What happens when you look at your smartphone LOOKING AT your smartphone, or touching it, makes other people want to do the same to their smartphones. A recent study at the university of Pisa calls it ‘human mimicry’, when people unintentionally change their physical behaviour to match those of people nearby. The study found it happened to people in social settings that included work, restaurants, cinemas, gyms, waiting rooms, social parties, social meals, public parks and family environments. Try it yourself, and see what happens to people near you a few minutes later….
How do people write an autobiography? I can barely remember what I had for lunch yesterday.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Junior U-13 Gladiators win their league
ON SUNDAY the 23rd May, the Groby Junior U-13 Gladiators, beat Ibstock United Panthers to finish league champions of the U13 I Spring Red division.
They sealed the championship with an unbeaten run that saw them accumulate six wins and only one draw. After the final whistle the players celebrated in style, by uncorking and spraying the non-alcoholic champagne, getting out the sky and navy blue flags and enjoy a lap of honour in front of the waiting fans (mainly parents standing two metres apart!). It concluded a tough season, which has seen a frequent stop start due to Covid restrictions and all the difficulties the pandemic has brought. The U13’s Gladiator coach, Phil Chick, was delighted with the teams achievement. He said: “I’m so proud of all the players and what they’ve achieved. Since they returned from the last lockdown, they have worked so hard and have adopted a real team spirit and never give up attitude. “This has been seen in some of the games, where we’ve had to come from behind to get the result. In some ways the lockdown has helped the players, as they came back raring to go and have enjoyed being able to play football again. “All of the volunteers at Groby Juniors and the Leicester and District Sunday Junior League have worked hard to get the children playing football again and give the children some normality. A special thanks to Groby Parish Council and Brookvale Leaning Campus in helping their local football club, by getting training and matches back on in the village.” Well done to all the players, coaches and parents.
Phil Chick, Groby Junior Gladiator U13’s
FREE Maintenance Checks & Recycle Your Old Bicycle Join us for a FREE bike maintenance check and minor repairs. You’ll also be able to donate unwanted bicycles for Northside Bikes to recycle for community projects. The event takes place at Central England Cooperative, 11 Leicester Road, Groby LE6 0DJ on Thursday 22nd July 2021 from 11am to 2pm. For more information, call 01543 414140 or email: member.community@centralengland.coop
National award for local road improvement work
A £10M SCHEME to tackle congestion and improve road links between Leicester city centre and the rest of the county, has scooped a national award for the considerate way in which the work was carried out.
Improvements on the A5630 Anstey Lane and A46 roundabout in north west Leicester were completed on time and within budget last summer – and the scheme has now been recognised for its high standards. At the national Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) Awards; the project, carried out by Galliford Try on behalf of Leicestershire County Council, scooped the title of ‘most considerate site’ in the £7.5m-£10m bracket. The county council led on the delivery of the improvements on behalf of the city council with the work, which has improved road links between the city of Leicester and the wider county. Galliford Try, a partner of the CCS, carried out local community work during the Anstey Lane project, including helping a local charity with food donations and supporting a school with its outdoor playing area renovation and a flooding issue. David Lowery, Managing Director for Galliford Try Highways, said: “As a business we are proud of our record, achievements and collaboration with the Considerate Constructors Scheme and the part it plays in helping to drive standards across our business, which in turn allows us to push boundaries and innovate in new ways. “Our continued collaboration with our clients centres on delivering lasting benefits to the communities in which we work and continuing to raise the bar across industry. The whole team at Anstey Lane richly deserve this recognition for their efforts, which were above and beyond, and I congratulate them on their achievement.” City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This important scheme has provided vital infrastructure needed to support the growing demands for housing in this part of the city. “The efficient delivery of such a major and complex project is a credit to the contractors and to the close partnership between the city and county councils. It will provide long-term benefits to residents and commuters.” The scheme involved turning a single-lane section of road between the A46 interchange and Bennion Road roundabout into a dual carriageway, creating additional lanes at the approach to the roundabouts at both junctions and installing new traffic lights. Pedestrian and cycling routes along the road were also improved. The improvements are designed to help accommodate the extra traffic that will be generated by the 3,000-home Ashton Green development by Leicester City Council. It will also support growth anticipated from future housing developments in the north of Leicester and in the county. Leicestershire county councillor Ozzy O’Shea, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “This scheme of improvements is easing congestion and reducing delays for motorists, as well as providing a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists. To hear that it has also won an award for being carried out with such consideration and minimal disruption is the icing on the cake and I would like to congratulate all involved.” The scheme was funded by Leicester City Council – as developers of Ashton Green – and Highways England, as well as through part of the £16.2m allocation from the Local Growth Fund, a pot of government funding awarded to the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) for projects which benefit the local area and economy.
Road sign outside a cemetery: Drive carefully. We don’t mind waiting for you.
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Read “The House of Grey” then tour the grounds of Groby Old Hall
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LAWN MOWING AND GARDENING SERVICES THROUGHOUT LEICESTERSHIRE
IN A LETTER to the editor, local historian David Ramsey has recommended a book for readers and included a reminder about the Leicestershire and Rutland Festival of Archaeology, which was mentioned in the May issue of the Spotlight. This year the Festival runs from Saturday 29th June to Sunday 28th July. As mentioned last month there are lots of events including over 40 guided walks. More information is now available and two of the walks are in our local area, On 20 July there’s an evening walk through the geological and social history of Markfield. There is some rough terrain and steep tracks, and the advice is to wear suitable footwear. The guided walk is free, but donations welcome. Booking is essential on 01530 244497. At 2pm on Saturday July 31st for £4 for adults (children free) there’s a tour of the grounds of Groby Old Hall. This takes an external look at the house. Numbers are limited and booking is essential. Call 0116 221 4508 to book or email Peter.liddle51@gmail.com. “With Archaeology fortnight coming up in July I thought I would bring the Melita Thomas book (released in 2019) to the attention of readers,” writes David. “This book is already being offered on the discounted book websites at far less than £20.00. It’s well worth a read but do not expect true enlightenment on what happened where and when in the Bradgate area of Leicestershire, that area still teases and events remain far from clear with the sequence of known events and folk tales not fitting together at all well. For happenings away from Westminster and London there are new things to savour but a new understanding of the Greys’ activities in Leicestershire 1495 - 1540 cannot be put forward. Melita Thomas first published ‘House of Grey: Mothers and Sons’ in 2019 (Amberley Publishing ISBN 978 1 4456 8497 0 Hardback).” Melita Thomas is the co-founder and editor of Tudor Times, set up in 2014 as a repository of everything about the period from 1485 – 1625, primarily in Britain, but also looking at European influences. If you would like to know more about the book, before you decide whether you want to buy it, you can read articles she has written relating to the first three chapters on the Tudor Times website. As David says, definitely worth a look. Just Google ‘Tudor Times Grey’.
Norman Griffiths
For a free quote, call Dan Hardy on 07598 200 185 or visit www.leicesterlawnmowing.com www.facebook.com/leicesterlawnmowing
Can your child swim the length of a pool?
Twitter marks its 15th birthday IT WAS 15 years ago, on 15th July 2006, that Twitter, the American micro-blogging social network, was launched. The first tweet – or short message – had been sent internally in March that year and was recently sold for over £2 million.
BEFORE THE pandemic, about a quarter of children could not swim the curriculum stipulated length when they left primary school. But now it is feared that by 2025, this could rise to three in five of all primary school children. The figure comes from the AllParty Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Swimming and Swim England. With pools closed during lockdown and pupils not able to have faceto-face swimming lessons, fewer and fewer of them can swim at 25 metres competently, use a range of strokes effectively, or perform safe self-rescue in different situations. The APPG says it will raise the issue with the Department for Education ‘as a matter of urgency’.
The service was originally known as twttr (by analogy with the photo site flickr) because the domain name twitter.com was already in use. But this was eventually purchased. Jack Dorsey, the originator, said that the word twitter meant “a short burst of inconsequential information”, which he regarded as perfect for what they were intending. The messages – tweets – were originally limited to 140 characters, but the limit was doubled in late 2017. Audio and visual tweets have now been introduced, which are normally limited to 140 seconds. There are reckoned to be more than 330 million monthly active users, but the vast majority of tweets are sent by a small minority. Many churches use Twitter to reach members who cannot attend, using #hashtags to link with them. The Church of England, not surprisingly, has provided guidance for this.
I’ve just painted a giant blue square in my back garden so Google Earth thinks I have a pool.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS
Councillor Ted Hollick reports
Annual Council Meeting THE 18TH OF MAY saw the first actual face to face meeting of the Borough Council since the start of the pandemic.
Spotlight Small Ads Pro Fitness Folding Treadmill for sale, non-motorised. Price: £30.00 Tel: 07901 513603 (Groby) Slumberland 2 Drawer Double Divan Base With a Sensaform Mattress. Excellent condition, used only for family visits once a year, bedroom required for a different purpose. Price £50.00 Tel: 0116 231 2395 (Groby) Monitor and stand,boxed.TFT LCD, 19inch slim line grey Price: £10.00 Tel: 0116 287 3270 (Groby)
The meeting was held at the Hinckley Rugby Club in order to have sufficient space to seat all councillors suitably socially distanced. The meeting was the Annual Council meeting and Mayor Making at which I was honoured to be appointed Mayor for the next 12 months. The proceedings should have been relayed from the Rugby club via You Tube but unfortunately due to technical problems it failed to do so.
Making a Difference Awards
JUNE THE THIRD was my first official engagement and was a very pleasant one where I had the pleasure of delivering the opening welcome speech. it was the largest Zoom gathering that the Officers had hosted. The “Making a Difference Awards evening’ usually sees trophies etc. awarded to individuals and groups who have been nominated by members of the public throughout the previous 12 months. However this year because of the larger than ever Number of nominations received due to the stress caused by the Corona Virus Pandemic and the many and varied ways that people had risen to the occasion either by delivering food, collecting prescriptions, Shopping or just making contact with people who were lonely or shielding. people really missed the opportunity to interact and have conversations with their friends in the usual way, We heard about the wonderful people we have throughout the Borough who selflessly and willingly gave their valuable time to helping others (and still Do ) all through this difficult period. The amount of time and effort that people had spent in volunteering was really remarkable, so on behalf of the Borough Council THANK YOU ALL. As was said on the evening they are all winners and would be receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from the Borough Council who are justifiably proud of all of them.
Councillor Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@outlook.com Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY
• Ikea display cabinet - H:2.1m X W:1.03m X D:0.4m . Price: £80.00. • Ikea black standard lamp. Price: £5.00. • Rubber ladder mat, still packaged. Price: £10.00. • Welsh Dresser base H:0.825m X W:1.38 X D:0.42, Price: £10.00. • Laminated light wood tv base unit and matching display unit. Price: £20.00 • Bathroom black metal shelving unit, 3 glass shelves. Price: £15.00 Tel: 0116 287 5342 (Groby) • Dining Table - oval shaped polished table, 5 ft long x 3 ft wide, extendable plus 6 chairs. V.g.c. Price: £50.00. Tel: 07593 450117 (Groby) • Hardback Books: Trace Your Family Tree, History of War, Cold War, Autobiography of Terry Wogan, Biography of Fred Dibnah. Price: £2.00 each. Tel: 07565 219995 (Markfield) • Aquarium 30cm x 35cm x 60cm, plus stand/cabinet, both white. To include heater, thermostat, filter and coloured gravel. Cost over £300. Price: £30.00. Can deliver. Tel: 0116 231 4304 • Only Fools & Horses: A-Z, Peckham Archives hardback books & Christmas 96 Trilogy Box Set on VHS. Price: £10.00 - will split. • Disney Ladybird hardback books: approx. 25. Price: £20 o.n.o - will split. • Dear Fatty by Dawn French, hardback. Price: £1.50. All excellent condition. Tel: 07511 552857 (Markfield) • Premier 5-piece drum kit in grey/ silver. Used professionally, looked after but has a few marks. Stored in drum bags, cymbals are almost new, with stands and bass pedal. Seat & sticks included. Great kit. Offers around £200. Tel: 07972 198802 (Markfield) • Yamaha Electronic Keyboard, PSR E423. Boxed, very good condition, will suit beginner to Grade 5. Lots of voices, rhythms & effects. See Yamaha website. Price: £160 o.n.o. Tel: 07951 991408 (Markfield)
• Hardwood 3 seater garden Bench, light oak, h 37”, w 54”, d 25”. The bench is in good condition and is designed to be dismantled for transport. Price £55.00 • Slow Cooker Russell Hobbs, little used. Price: £10.00 • Specialist jigsaws, 1,000 piece Pomegranate, etc - Price: £4 each. Tel: 07763 110929 or 01530 242318 (Markfield) • Elite Traveller Mobility Scooter LX. Excellent condition. Dismantles for easy transport. Used four times, complete with front basket, cover & manual. Price £350.00 o.n.o. Tel: 07929 042824 (Bagworth) • For sale: Garrett Ground Hog metal detector - any reasonable offer considered, working order. Tel: 01530 242025 (Markfield) • Kampa Rally Air 260 caravan awning. Nearly new (used 3 times). Price: £550.00 • Kampa Gale 12 volt Air Pump. Price: £35.00 • Aqua roll water carrier. Price: £20.00 Tel: 0116 287 5955 or mobile: 07962 373983 (Groby)
SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Maximum EIGHT items please. Our postal address is: Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk PLEASE ENSURE that you put ‘SMALL ADS’ in the subject line, and INCLUDE YOUR FULL POSTAL ADDRESS (not for publication, just to know where you are).
Please take my money HAVE YOU ever tried to use cash in a shop, and been refused? That happened to more than a third of us last year. But now, in response to widespread protest, supermarkets and high street shops have promised that they will continue to accept cash. Aldi, Asda, Co-op, John Lewis, Lloyds Pharmacy and Waitrose have all joined a pledge organised by the consumer group Which? to protect customers’ choice. Which? is now asking the government to set out when it will introduce laws protecting access to cash, which the Treasury promised in March 2020. A treasury spokesman said: “We remain committed to further legislation to protect cash.”
Best text message ever: I’ll be there in five minutes - if not, read this text again.
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Letter
Lofty Ideas
Response to article in last month’s issue
Converting your loft can be the ideal way to gain extra space without the expense and hassle of moving house.
I WAS very moved by Roger Lincoln’s article in May edition of Spotlight. I reminded me so vividly of the relentless physical and verbal abuse one of my sons suffered at school in Groby thirty years ago.
Dark, pokey and inaccessible, lofts can often be, literally, a waste of space, useful for a bit of dusty, long-term storage and nothing else. Turn that space into one or two useful rooms and – ta da! – not only might you have added real value to your property, but you have extra living space that could make all the difference to happy family life. The simplest loft conversion might just involve strengthening and boarding out the floor, adding a light and sticking in a pull-down loft ladder – giving you a good-sized storage area that’s accessible on a regular basis, at a cost of probably only a couple of thousand pounds. Bear in mind, however, that Building Regulations may apply to even a simple conversion – see more at www.planningportal.gov.uk. Such a basic project may be a good idea in practical, everyday terms, but if it’s added value you’re after you’ll have to be more ambitious, say the experts, and put in at least one ‘real’ room. To maximise your return, the conversion has to be designed properly from the very beginning. You should have a proper lobby area when you come up the stairs, there should be sufficient head clearance, it should be properly insulated and ideally you should have a dormer window rather than a Velux. It’s also important to think about how a loft conversion affects the house as a whole, as they can make them top heavy, with too many bedrooms and, in comparison, too few reception rooms. Check out other properties nearby that have been similarly extended, to see what has been done and what they’re worth.
A word about space planning. If you have room, adding a bathroom to a loft conversion makes sense both practically and financially, and shouldn’t cost any more than adding a new bathroom anywhere else in the house – in other words, anything from around £3,000 for a plain fit-out. Costs will be minimised if you place the bathroom above one on the floor below, keeping plumbing work simple. However, don’t compromise on the rest of the design just to keep the new bathroom above another. If it really doesn’t work and needs to be moved, the extra cost will be worth it in terms of having proper, usable space. Finally, if overall head height is an issue in your potential loft conversion, don’t try to get away with cramped, uncomfortable rooms. Lowering the ceilings of the rooms below is often a possibility and may not be as expensive as you would imagine. It can make all the difference to the success of a project.
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Asperger Syndrome wasn’t well recognised at that time – as far as his fellow pupils were concerned he was just, as Roger says, “weird” and therefore fair game. Roger describes being picked on, targeted and publically humiliated - he describes it as disability discrimination. Let call it by another name – bullying. This should not be tolerated by the school staff. It certainly wouldn’t be if the bullying were directed at a physically disabled child. I hope it will help Roger to know that my son went on to gain a first class honours degree in Maths followed by a PhD. He found friends online – not through Asperger specific sites, although they might well be useful, but by connecting with people around the world through his wide-ranging interests. It has been said that the internet is the natural means of communication for autistic peopleno problems with eye-contact, tone of voice –type, don’t Skype. Mind to mind, not face-to-face. I promise you, Roger, things will get better. No people you meet from now on will be half as feral and insensitive as adolescent boys. Hang on in there – the best revenge is living well.
Lindy Hardcastle Reply from Roger Dear Lindy, Thank you for your support. I too have been to University, studying sciences, humanities and the decorative arts, culminating in a Master’s Degree.
I’m in my 50’s and still being got at for not being ‘normal’, and especially for being incapable of just putting up with stuff. I find the greatest amount of understanding comes from those who have a family member, or a friend, with AS, or are medically trained. I find the worst offenders for adult-to-adult bullying are the footy-obsessed, or ‘van man’, who just don’t seem to get hobbies, hypersensitivity or value academia.
Roger Lincoln
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS
Councillor Martin Cartwright reports
Tel: 0116 287 4500 Mob: 07850 707050 E-Mail: hbbc@appliancehome.co.uk Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council AGM - Mayor Making:
The Borough Council’s annual general meeting (AGM Mayor Making) was held on May 18th and had to take place at Hinckley Rugby Club to comply with COVID compliance as the Borough Council chamber would not have been large enough given the restrictions in place at the time. It had been hoped to live stream the event but this failed. If you tuned in to watch it was not your equipment or you that caused it to fail. Congratulations to Cllr Ted Hollick who will be the Mayor of the Borough for the Civic Year 2021 – 2022 and to Cllr Dawn Glenville who was elected to the position of Deputy Mayor 2021 – 2022. I held the position of Mayor for the Civic year 2012 – 2013 and raised £31,000.00 split between eight charities. The leader of the Borough Council remains as Cllr Stuart Bray with Cllr David Bill MBE as Deputy Leader. My Committee positions are as follows: • Planning Committee (Substitute) • Licensing Committee • Licensing Regulatory Committee Please note: If the constitutional amendments are adopted at full council these two committees will become combined. I will be on the combined committee if this happens. • Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee • Appeals Panel My representation to outside bodies for HBBC positions are as follows: • Dixie Grammar School • Bradgate Landfill Liaison Committee • Charnwood Forest Steering Group • Cliffe Hill Quarry Liaison Committee • Hinckley & Bosworth Community Transport
Application for an 18m Telephone Mast - Pymm Ley Lane/Flaxfield Close Entrance Planning Application Number: 21/00522/TGDO A planning application has been submitted to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to erect a 18m Telephone mast and associated
cabinets on the green grass next to the BT telephone cabinet on Pymm Ley Lane, Groby at the entrance to Flaxfield Close It will sit alongside the side wall of the last house in Flaxfield close. As a comparison, the house at its highest point is 8m tall the mast will be 18m tall over twice the height of the house. It will be seen from many points on the Pymm Ley Lane estate. Very few people were notified of this planning application by the Borough Council itself who used mainly the site notices attached to lampposts.
Pictured above: An example of how the mast if approved will look in this location in relation to the surrounding properties kindly supplied to me by a Groby resident. I produced and hand delivered around a thousand leaflets advising of the application and how to see further details of the application if the homeowner was interested. The result of which was me being inundated with people who were simply unaware of the application. Interestingly other sites were considered by the applicant and dismissed due to the proximity of houses, yet this is proposed in a high yield residential property area! Other reasons for the other sites not being suitable was because of the proximity to schools, yet in this
location it is very close to Elizabeth Woodville, Lady Jane Grey and Toddlers Nursery. The footfall of children to all these locations past the mast is huge. As ward member I called this application into the planning committee so that elected members not officers made the decision to approve or refuse. This was denied as the applicant has chosen to use the new planning rules - an extension of Permitted Development called, Prior Approval. Prior approval is both less costly to submit, has a much quicker determination date (56 days is the government’s target, 21 days of which have to be for comments to be submitted) and removes the local democracy in members having the final say. It is important to understand that they are able to do this as planning rules over time get more and more relaxed resulting in less and less say for members. However that said the residents of Groby have had their say with a massive amount of objections submitted to HBBC and a petition which was still running at the time of writing this article. The knowledge of this application was received too late for the May edition of the Spotlight and consultation will have finished officially by 11th June too early for this edition. This obviously is not helpful as many would have learned about it in the Spotlight. A residents campaign group lead by David Hartridge had I was advised at my time of writing obtained over 700 signatures against the mast being positioned at this location. At the request of the campaign group I will be presenting the petitions handed to me from them to offices as ward member the day before the comments cut off date. One further reason for refusal may be due to highway safety. Cllr O’Shea, the county councillor for
Cllr Martin Cartwright Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council – Groby Ward. Executive member for: Licensing, Environmental, Climate Change, Rural Issues & Klondyke Community Hub
Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 07850 707050
E-Mail: hbbc@appliancehome.co.uk Write : Maverick House,10 Pine Tree Avenue, Groby, LE6 0EQ
Cllr Martin Cartwright
@CllrCartwright
cllr.martincartwright
Groby, was taking this issue up with the highway agency at County Hall. Cllr O’Shea will update you on this via his column. You may still be able to comment if the decision has not been issued by the time you read this article. If you wish to and indeed are able to you will have to be quick as the deadline for comments would have passed. A further update will be provided in the next edition of the Spotlight.
Groby Burglaries
Some information enclosed from Market Bosworth Police regarding the increase in burglaries in Groby. Groby continues to be a target for burglaries. We know that a male on a cycle is targeting properties in the early hours - between 1am and 4am. Overnight a shed was broken into and a cycle was removed - the offender however was disturbed and the bike was retained. Earlier this week when occupants on Leicester Road were away - the house was broken into. The rear patio door was smashed and entry was gained. It’s fair to say that there is a disproportionate amount of burglaries in this area and it is likely that one suspect is responsible for the breaks. Further to the recent update about burglaries in the Pymm Ley Lane and surrounding area. Overnight - another break occurred on Castell Drive in Groby. Year to date - we have had 11 domestic burglaries over the 52 villages we cover. 5 of these now have been in this area. We think a male on a cycle was responsible. CCTV shows the offence occurring around 03.20 in the morning. Please bear in mind that this appears to be a hot spot area now for burglaries. We will continue to patrol but we really need to encourage you all to consider a suitable doorbell camera. The best evidence is witness information or CCTV. Please remain vigilant. The most recent one was a smashed rear window as the point of entry. I know I sound like a stuck record - but doorbell cameras are so important. They are easy to set up - the sensitivity can be set and they offer great evidence for us. We really want to catch this suspect but we can’t do it without your help. Any early morning noises - dogs barking or glass smashing - get it reported to us so that we can respond. If you can help in anyway could
Find that special person who’ll watch you stare at your phone for the rest of your life.
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be the part of the jigsaw that leads to catching the offender/offenders please contact the Police on 101. I am here to help you Should you have any comments or problems you would like me to mention in my article please get in touch. Please remember if I can ever be of help to you or your family please do not hesitate to contact me. My contact details are listed above. Keep safe, take care.
Cllr Martin Cartwright
Remembering Princess Diana
LADY DIANA SPENCER – later Princess of Wales – was born 60 years ago, on 1st July 1961 at Sandringham in Norfolk. Twenty years later, on 29th July 1981, she married Prince Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. She died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Diana was not an academic child, but concentrated on art, music and sport. She was widely admired for her beauty and style, and during her time as Princess of Wales achieved a great deal in her charity work, particularly in the unexpected areas of AIDS and landmines. Partly because of this she was believed to have strong Christian beliefs, but this is not something she spoke about, though a special episode of Songs of Praise on the BBC saw it as the motive for her charity work. Her marriage to Charles suffered because of their obvious incompatibility and their affairs. They separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Their two sons, William and Harry, suffered as a result and have reacted in markedly different ways. Diana was the first Englishwoman for more than 300 years to marry the heir to the throne. She was also the first royal bride to have a paying job before her engagement.
Tim Lenton
New scheme launches to boost skills, training and employment WITH THE pandemic having changed the working lives of so many, Leicestershire County Council is launching a scheme to help residents get back on track, with help available to those seeking paid work or training for a new role.
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Can you sleep? IN THE WEST, insomnia is thought to affect between 10 and 30 per cent of adults at any one time, according to the Economic and Social Research Council. The group also says that a tenth of British adults regularly take some kind of sleeping tablet, with its accompanying risk of addiction. Now The Sleep Charity, which campaigns to improve sleep support, warns that:
Work + is a free one-to-one service offering support, advice and information to people looking for secure paid employment the chance to learn new skills or to find out more about volunteering or becoming selfemployed. Work + is open to everyone – from those who have never been employed to those who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, been furloughed or who are at risk of redundancy. It will also help college leavers, graduates and agency staff on zero hour or temporary contracts. Qualified personal advisers will offer impartial and professional advice to people from all backgrounds and support people on a one-to-one basis. Appointments will initially be offered online due to the pandemic but later in the year face to face meetings will be held in local libraries and adult learning centres. Everyone who signs up to the scheme will have the opportunity to have a tailored work plan drawn up for them, including clear targets and steps to achieve their goal. Help will be given with CV and letter writing skills, job searches, interview techniques and digital training, self-employment advice and business support. The Work+ team will also work directly with employers who may be in the unfortunate position of making redundancies and want to support their staff to find new employment. County council leader Nick Rushton said: “The pandemic has been a challenging time for businesses with many people finding themselves furloughed or out of work and we want to do all we can to help residents make a fresh start with a new job or retraining. “Our Work+ scheme will be open to everyone from the long-term unemployed and those recently made redundant, to graduates and college leavers who are just starting out in the working world. “I would urge anyone who is looking for support in seeking a new role to get in touch and see how Work+ can help you.” To find out more or to register your interest contact the Work+ team on 0800 988 0308 or visit:www.work-plus.co.uk
“While prescription drugs can help with short-term insomnia, and help to break a cycle of poor sleep, they don’t tackle the root problem. They really just mask symptoms. With long-term insomnia, lifestyle changes usually need to happen, which is why cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia is an effective treatment.”
Teeth-cleaning lessons SCHOOLS should teach younger children to brush their teeth properly. So says the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Dentists say that teeth-cleaning sessions would ensure that those pupils who skipped the routine at home would at least be less likely to suffer major dental problems. As one dentist explained: “In a year that has seen visits to the dentist disrupted… it is even more important that we take steps to protect children’s teeth at home, and at school.”
Both of our churches here in Groby are open as below Please see our on-line links below for up to date information.
!"#$%& ! !"' () *+,-$%. /001234152/ !"# $%"& '%&&"( )**+* ,)--*. !!!"#$%&'(()"%(*+,-.$/0,-1 !!!"$%234%2/&$45(3"%(*+%234%2+6678 !"#$"% #$&% '()%*+%, )%-.#*) '%)&$/%' *' 01##12'3 4&%)5 61",*5 7.%',*5 8%,' *( 9:+ ;1+:#$"% 4&%)5 7<.)',*5 *( =>*+ 61)"$"- ?)*5%) 4&%)5 @.",*5 *( =>*+ 61)"$"- 81)'<$: Live church services as below: 6th June 10am All age 13th June 6pm Holy Communion 20th June 10am Holy Communion 27th June 4pm Chattabox 6pm Holy Communion - e 4th July 10am All ag 11th July 6pm Holy Communion 18th July 10am Holy Communion 4pm Chattabox 25th July 6pm Holy Communion Every Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion
!" #$% &''( )&# *+,-,.%)/ *%++$-. $- +-)#'-* +/')*' .'0.12'**)3' #$%- &)2' )&( 4$2' .'/'+4$&' &%25'- .$ !"# !$ !!& #'"#&) !" *+,*+*-./00 ! 1!! 23'' 4#5 6 76'' back. Services in church every Sunday at 10am, subject to governmental guidelines. Attendee numbers restricted. ===@")>'5$$?@>$213-$5#%->1 !"#$"% '()%*+%, '%)&$-%' 01",*2' after live service ! 34##45 1' 4" 6*-%7448 34) +4)% $"34)+*($4" *", ,*$#2 94'(' (4 '1994)( : %"-41)*;% 241< Christian Booklets/Gospels/Magazines and DVDs - have been put outside the church on Chapel Hill for anyone who is interested and would find them helpful.
The recovery time from a 60-minute workout for a guy my age is roughly 5 years.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JUNE 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Gardening Society AS PREVIOUSLY announced, there are no planned meetings of the Society for the foreseeable future. Covid-19 restrictions are still in place making group meetings impossible, however at the time of writing the UK is still on course for the lifting of restrictions on June 21st. The vaccination program continues at great pace, some degree of normality may be on the horizon. Unfortunately, the Society’s proposed trip to the Belvoir Castle Flower Show on July 17th has had to be cancelled. Fewer people than anticipated showed an interest, and the cost of the trip per individual would have had to rise to unreasonable and unpredictable levels. If restrictions ease sufficiently, it might be possible to arrange another trip later in the year. Details will be placed in the Spotlight. For anyone who has already paid, refunds are in hand and will be with you as soon as possible. As predicted (unfortunately!) the May Day Bank Holiday was a washout, as the driest, coldest April came to an end and heralded what became the wettest May for 150 years! Some place in the UK recorded zero rainfall in April, many have far recorded at least double their average rainfall for May. Maypril showers, possibly!? At least it washed off all the Saharan dust from the cars, even if it also battered the cherry blossom on the trees and decorated my car with a pink polka-dot pattern.
My phone often shows photos reminding me of what happened this time last year, the year before etc. I was struck by the fact that in May last year the garden was in full bloom, with roses already open and trees in full leaf, and we were getting to grips with lockdown and worrying about grocery deliveries. This year, Spring is a bit later because of the cold and wet weather, and there are far fewer shortages in the shops. By the time you read this, meteorological summer will have begun (June 1st) and astronomical summer will be approaching, with the solstice on June 21st (4.31 a.m. if you’re up early!), coinciding with the possible lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. Of course, the day after, the nights start drawing in again, but that’s a long way off! Days out, deckchairs and barbecues beckon.
Whilst some rain is welcome in the garden, such a large volume had caused problems of waterlogging. I decided to adopt the Met Office and Wildlife Trust suggestion of “no-mow May” to give wildlife a chance to prosper in the garden (and saved me a few hours of lawn mowing). In the event, most of the time it was too wet to cut the grass, and while the effect certainly encouraged more birds into the garden in search of bugs, and the hedgehogs seemed to be enjoying foraging in the long grass, I stopped the experiment a couple of days early (having, in my defence also started the experiment early) as the grass was looking more towards unkempt than wildflower meadow. A worthwhile experiment, and a reminder that grasses are one of the toughest plants on the planet.
Several groups in the village including the Rotary Club, Groby Meadow CIC and the Gardening Society joined forces to grow wildflowers for transplanting into the Groby CIC Meadow, following on from earlier planting schemes over recent years. There was a rare window of dry weather for the event, with many trays of plants being planted. Hopefully the plants will flourish and produce colourful displays over the coming months, you’ll find them in the right-hand corner of the field as you enter the gate from Newtown Linford Lane. Enjoy your garden when you can. Stay safe. (If you have any queries about the society, please email Helen Box on helen_box@hotmail.com in the first instance.)
Keith Poole
Bands who can’t afford a smoke machine should hire my girlfriend to cook at their concert.
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GREATEST MOVIE CHARACTERS
WORDSEARCH This is your Word Search! ‘Dirty Harry’ Callahan
The Annual Parish Meeting – but not as you know it
IF YOU can find 18 MEMORABLE MOVIE CHARACTERS in the Wordsearch grid above, you could win yourself a meal for two and a bottle of house wine at The Stamford Arms in BUTCHCASSIDY CAPTAIN Groby.
AllELLENRIPLEY you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark a lineFORRES through - 18 GREAT MOVIE CHARACTERS. These can run HARRYPOTTER INDIANA vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your marked entry forms to: DO YA FEEL LUCKY, Groby JOHNMCCLANE KEVINM Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by NORMANBATES OSKARS Saturday 3rd July 2021. Please remember to fill in your name and address. (Some people don’t!) RANDLEMCMURPHY SARAHC The sender of the first correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the voucher for a Meal for Two and a Bottle of House Wine at The Stamford Arms, Groby - thanks to the generous sponsorship of Brian Rigby - owner of The Stamford Arms. (Redeemable when restrictions allow.)
Find the word in the puzzle. Words can go in any direction.
Here are the 18 MOVIE CHARACTERS you have to find:
Words can share letters as they cross over each other. THIS YEAR’S Annual Parish Meeting was like no other in the history of Groby Parish Council. Covid 19 regulations regarding social distancing meant that the number attending the meeting at the Village Hall was set at no more than 25, and that included councillors and staff as well as members of the public. The Council asked residents to attend the meeting via Zoom if they could. In the event there were empty seats in the Village Hall, and only 3 residents attended online. After Committee reports and an address from the Chairman two questions were asked by residents and everyone went home, or switched off if they were watching from home, and perhaps put the kettle on.
Norman Griffiths
Did YOU find all 10 differences?
1. hat, 2. starfish, 3. bucket, 4. flake, 5. pattern on shorts, 6. cloud missing, 7. mouth changed, 8. toggle on shorts, 9. toe missing, 10. belly button
BUTCH CASSIDY • CAPTAIN QUINT • DARTH VADER • ELLEN RIPLEY FORREST GUMP • HARRY CALLAHAN • HARRY POTTER • INDIANA JONES BOND • JOHNplaced. MCCLANE • KEVIN MCALLISTER • MARTY MCFLY 18JAMES of 18 words NORMAN BATES • OSKAR SCHINDLER • PHIL CONNORS RANDLE MCMURPHY • SARAH CONNOR • VITO CORLEONE
Name: .............................................................................................................. Address: .............................................................................................................
Copyright © 202
.............................................................................Postcode: ............................. Last Month’s Winner was:
GILLIAN PALMER of Leicester Road, Groby. Congratulations! Your voucher will be sent to you soon!
I’ve found that the key to avoiding a mid-life crisis is to spend your entire life in crisis.
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