May 2021 Your Local Anstey, Thurcaston, Cropston, Newtown Linford, Woodhouse & Woodhouse Eaves

YOUR LOCAL 6,000 COPIES DELIVERED EVERY MONTH - ANSTEY, THURCASTON, CROPSTON, NEWTOWN LINFORD, WOODHOUSE & WOODHOUSE EAVES - MAY 2021

Can You Help Brookvale Groby Learning Campus Transform This Area Into A Peace Garden?

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Still Time To Apply For Your Donation Thurcaston Brownies Have Spaces For New Girls

Latest News From Anstey Nomads DESIGN & PRINT SOLUTIONS 01530 262020 info@norwoodpress.co.uk www.norwoodpress.co.uk NorwoodPress  @norwoodpress Norwood Press, Unit 1, Moore Road, South Leicester Industrial Estate, Ellistown, Leicestershire, LE67 1EU

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BGLC Peace Garden – GoFundMe Project Please can you help Brookvale Groby Learning Campus to transform this area into a 'Peace Garden' for our Students?

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We have written to local businesses, but would also like to ask for help from our local community in making our plan of a 'Peace Garden' in time for Mental Health week in May (10th-16th) a reality.

After the uncertain and unprecedented year we’ve had looking after our mental health has never been more important. Students have shown resilience in such an unpredictable time and we would like to create a space to aid in well-being. The theme for this year's Mental Health week is Nature and what better way to celebrate this than by providing our students with a safe space to reflect in at social times.

It will also give students an opportunity to get involved in extracurricular activities such as a gardening club which will be helpful for their well-being.

In addition to creating a peaceful place for students to spend their break and lunch times we plan to have an area containing a bench and plaque to commemorate one of our students Taran Singh Gill, who sadly passed away 5 years ago. He was a bright, friendly and well-loved member of the community, therefore this space will hold sentimental value to a lot of our community.

We are reaching out to you to ask for donations towards our Peace Garden.

We have set up a GoFundMe page; https://gofund.me/d892d9bf but would also appreciate any physical donations.

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Your donations, however big or small, will help us in achieving our goal to create a peaceful, safe and enriching environment for our students who thoroughly deserve it.

Next Issue

Yours Faithfully, Youth Wellbeing Team & BGLC Students Email: Youthwellbeing@brookvalegroby.com

Deadline Date: Friday 21st May Delivery Date: Friday 28th May Deadline and delivery dates are subject to change without prior notice.

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Use this link: https://issuu.com/norwoodpress The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the original advertisers & contributors and do not necessarily represent OpenBox Promotions Ltd. OpenBox Promotions Ltd reserves the right to amend or refuse to publish articles or adverts submitted for publication. 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. To see full terms & conditions visit www.openboxpromotions.co.uk/terms Magazine printed by Norwood Press, Moore Road, South Leicester Industrial Estate, Ellistown, Leicestershire, LE67 1EU

Anstey Chess Club Article by Ben Vaughan

Hello everyone!

I hope that you and your families have all managed to stay safe and well during the pandemic. Thankfully, with the new vaccine programme being rolled out, we can begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of returning to a normal life, incorporating OTB (over the board) chess.

Chess has very much remained out of action since the first lockdown - rightly so - but there are definitely plans on the horizon to begin to return to OTB chess. We may even start as early as October in competitive league terms with some tentative blitz competitions planned over the Summer/Autumn too.

I have had to pause my live streaming for now - in summary, my computer that I was streaming from couldn't cope with the processes etc that a live stream has, so I need to re-visit this in the near future.

You can still 'follow' me at twitch.tv/ notquiteagm - you can type this into any search engine and I will appear (sorry about my ugly mug but I have to put it on there!)

Follows would be greatly appreciated for when I start streaming again.

We are Homeless!

It is with regret that I write and advise that after a couple of years of strong support from the Stadon (62a Bradgate Road - excellent for a quiet social drink of an evening), they have secured a long term let for their room that we used to use and we can no longer use the room any more.

I would like to publicly thank the Stadon for their much-needed support in helping Anstey to establish a chess club. Thanks to Stewart, Christine and Ellen for helping us and providing the space and storage to play chess over the board.

If it isn't obvious, we need a new home please!

We need a room to play (preferably with storage for our equipment - boards, clocks and so on) that is quiet and out of the way of any bar/noisy areas to facilitate playing chess. We would love to hear from any interested parties in hosting us. Please pass this on to your local pub/social club or anywhere that has a private room that is unused on any weeknight that we can use, to contact me on the number below or via email on the below address Stay safe everyone Ben Vaughan Anstey Chess Club ansteychess@hotmail.com 07469 207548

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Protecting Your Family’s Inheritance Article by Klara Hesling

Our frontline staff follow Government guidelines for visiting you in your home and they are in the vaccination program with first course completed.

LevLaw Ltd remains here for you. (previously Kornerstone Legal Services)

Still Time To Apply For Your Donation Article by Norwood Press

After celebrating 70 years in business, local printers Norwood Press wanted to thank the local community for all their support and business over the years. They have decided to donate £700 to local groups and charities, with donations of between £50 and £250 available. If you are interested and would like to find out more send an email to info@norwoodpress.co.uk or call them on 01530 262020.

So far we have managed to help many groups and charities in the area.

We still have some funds left for anyone who needs any help in these challenging times.

Most people hope that their estate will pass on to their children and grandchildren eventually.

But this will not happen for many, unless careful arrangements have been made to protect their assets from being taken towards the end of their life to pay for care home fees. The solution to help protect your estate is a Will incorporating a Property Protection Trust (PPT).

A testamentary PPT can only be executed whilst both partners remain alive.

Upon death of the first partner, their Will specifies that their share of the property is placed into trust and names the ultimate beneficiary of this share, normally the children and grandchildren of the deceased. The surviving partner, under the terms of the trust, has the unequivocal right to remain living in the property for the rest of their life. On the death of the second partner the Trust comes to an end and the property passes to the beneficiaries.

Here are some of the groups we have helped so far: • Shepshed Litter Pickers - New equipment and Hi-Vis jackets • Ratby Band - New Junior / Beginner music • 1st Anstey Guides - Days Out and Camp • Passion Youth Project Shepshed - Contribution to a new waffle maker for their community cafe.

As the surviving partner does not own the deceased’s share of the property it is fully protected for the beneficiaries, so if the surviving partner requires care, or even remarries, this share of the children’s inheritance is protected. This last point can be particular interest to couples who have come together and have children with different partners.

"A big thank you to Norwood Press for their generous donation to 1st Anstey Guides. It will make a huge difference to our unit and enable us to continue our adventures outdoors, including camps and days out. It will also really help to support the girls who have found themselves in difficult circumstances, due to Covid-19. A massive thank you again to Norwood Press and we wish them many more years of successful business.”

A PPT can help each person in a relationship ensuring that their children inherit their share of the property, while giving their surviving partner the ability to live in the property for the rest of their life. If the surviving partner wants to move to another property, they can still sell the property and the proceeds to be used to purchase a new property, the terms of the Trust remain over the new property.

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WE ARE OPEN! Anstey Community Library is open and we’re looking forward to welcoming you back.

In addition to the lending library we are offering snacks and drinks to take out, some PC services, printing and photocopying. Our shop is open for purchases and we welcome donations of items and paperback books in good condition for sale .

Annual Plant Sale

Saturday 22nd May, 10 – 1pm Locally grown shrubs, perennials and annuals Vegetable plants All proceeds go towards the running costs of keeping Anstey Community Library open If you can help us before then with any donations of plants or garden sundries please get in touch at Garden@ansteylibrary.com or 07915 933512

NorwoodPress  @norwoodpress Norwood Press, Unit 1, Moore Road, South Leicester Industrial Estate, Ellistown, Leicestershire, LE67 1EU

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*Our prices include VAT. These very special rates are only available if you are over 60 years old. Normal price for standard Will £125, £195 for two. We also provide Funeral Plans. LPA if instructed without a Will it is £105. Registration, court fees not included.

LevLaw Ltd was previously Kornerstone Legal Services Ltd. LevLaw Ltd is in association with LevLaw Wealth Protection Ltd.

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Deborah Taylor Borough Councillor for Anstey

T: 0116 2350126 E: cllr.deborah.taylor@charnwood.gov.uk HRH, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Following the sad passing of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Charnwood Borough Council has opened an online book of condolence in his memory. Due to the pandemic, the council are unable to keep a physical book of condolence at the council offices, so we provide the link below to enable residents to share their thoughts. www.charnwood.gov.uk/news/2021/04/09/deeply_saddened_by_the_death_ of_the_duke_of_edinburgh The Royal Family have also opened an online book of condolence on their website: www.royal.uk Coronavirus Restrictions - Step 2 From 12th April pubs, restaurants, cafes, and other venues with outdoor seating will be allowed to open their premises for the first time since the beginning of November. You are urged to plan and book ahead if possible, to avoid queues, and to make sure we all follow the necessary restrictions, in particular the need to continue following social distancing rules.

Paul Baines

Borough Councillor for Anstey

T: 07977 178869 E: cllr.paul.baines@charnwood.gov.uk

Leisure Centres Residents are now able to get back to the gym and take a swim as all three leisure centres reopened from Monday 12th April. Charnwood Borough Council and its leisure partner Fusion Lifestyle have confirmed that in line with the Government roadmap, indoor leisure facilities will reopen at Soar Valley Leisure Centre, Loughborough Leisure Centre, and South Charnwood Leisure Centre. Outdoor group exercise classes at Soar Valley Leisure Centre will continue until indoor classes are permitted from 17th May at the earliest. The centres will continue to operate in line with government safety guidelines and those planning to visit will still be required to book and pay online, in order to ensure that contact is minimised at each centre and to allow for the track and trace process to be implemented.

All three centres will be open daily, but please refer to an individual centre’s website for opening hours. Bookings can be made up to seven days in advance, via download of the Fusion Lifestyle app, or by visiting www. fusion-lifestyle.com (you will need to register to use the booking facility).

Customers will be offered outdoor table service and must order, eat, and drink while seated. Social contact rules will still apply with restrictions limited to the rule of 6 from any number of households (children are counted in this number), or in a group of any size from up to 2 households (you and your support bubble count as one household) for any table booking and social distancing guidelines will still be essential. The Council and Love Loughborough have been working alongside local businesses to introduce a range of measures to ensure customers and staff stay safe.

Government Roadmap - Step 2: What Changes from April 12?

• All non-essential retail to reopen • Outdoor hospitality venues will be able to reopen, with table service only • Personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons will reopen • Gyms and other indoor leisure can open again for use individually or within household groups • Outdoor attractions like zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas can reopen • Some smaller outdoor events such as fêtes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds can take place • Public buildings such as libraries and community centres can reopen • All children’s activities can resume, including indoor parent and children groups with up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number) • Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events can take place for up to 15 people (anyone working is not included in this limit), including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions for up to 15 people must take place outdoors, not including private gardens • Self-contained accommodation will can re-open for overnight stays in England for your household or support bubble • Care home residents can nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits (following a rapid lateral flow test) • You should continue to minimise the amount that you travel where possible.

For further information on the government roadmap out of lockdown see: www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-andcannot-do.

Covid Vaccinations Vaccinations are now available for over 45s. The NHS is taking bookings for Covid-19 vaccinations amongst people in this age group. You can only use this service if any of the following apply: • you are aged 45 or over • you are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable) • you have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable) • you have a learning disability • you get a Carer's Allowance, i.e. you get support following an assessment by your local authority or your GP record shows you are a carer.

If you think you are an eligible unpaid carer who has not been contacted for your coronavirus vaccination, speak to your GP surgery. If you are eligible to use this service but cannot get an appointment, speak to your GP surgery.

The online link to book your vaccination is here: www.nhs.uk or you can book by telephone on 119.

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Charnwood Big Switch Over 1,100 residents have now accepted their Charnwood Big Switch energy offer in the February auction. The scheme helps residents switch energy suppliers with ease and save money on their bills. The next auction is on 18th May 2021 and registrations are open. More information on how to sign up is outlined below.

Local Government Boundary Commission A new pattern of wards is being developed for Charnwood Borough Council. The Local Government Boundary Commission has decided that the number of councillors in Charnwood should remain as now with 52 councillors. The Commission wants to hear what residents and organisations think about their local area. A 10-week public consultation will run until 31st May 2021.

The Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It is reviewing Charnwood to make sure each councillor represents about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements help the council work effectively. It wants to be sure that its proposals reflect community ties and identities. The Commission is interested in views on which communities should be part of the same ward.

• What facilities do people share, such as parks, leisure centres or schools and shopping areas?

• What issues do neighbouring communities face that they have in common, such as high numbers of visitors or heavy traffic?

• Have there been new housing or commercial developments that have changed the focus of communities?

• Are there roads, rivers, railways, or other features that people believe form strong boundaries between neighbourhoods?

The Commission will use local views to help it draw up proposals for new ward boundaries. There will be a further round of consultation once the Commission has drawn up those proposals.

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The Commission has a dedicated section on its website where people can give their views. Please visit: https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/25847 Residents can also give their views by e-mail at reviews@lgbce.org.uk, and by post: Review Officer (Charnwood) LGBCE, PO Box 133, Blyth, NE24 9FE

The Charnwood Gardener Article by Peter Flood

Member Grants The Member Grants scheme for 2021/22 is now open. For the 2021/22 financial year, each borough councillor was allocated an annual budget of £500 to be used to support projects that bring benefits to their ward.

Organisations currently running projects with community benefit in Charnwood are invited to apply for a minimum of £250 per member, and up to a maximum of £500 per member, and applications may be made to more than one member. Funding can be provided towards community events, activities, equipment, and uniformed groups such as Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies.

Marsh marigold is a cheerful, easy to grow pond plant

The Charnwood Gardener Wa-ter Way To Garden!

There are a hundred good reasons to have a pond. Many of them are purely aesthetic - the sparkling surface of the water on a hot day, the lush foliage of a happy pond plant, the relaxing burble of a little fountain. Some are more pragmatic – a well-designed pond can add value to your home. But more vital than all of these is the simple fact that there is no life without water, and water is the key to bringing life into your garden.

It's often assumed that you need a big garden to have a pond, but even the smallest space can accommodate a dynamic, watery world.

And what a world it is! Bringing water into the garden immediately draws in creatures from far and wide, both of the aquatic and terrestrial varieties.

If you’re short on space, a tiny pond with a few plants will be quickly colonised by insect and amphibian life. What’s most essential is ensuring that the pond is a stable environment. A small pond should have a suitably deep part to make sure that it doesn’t empty during dry spells; a large plastic box (the kind you buy for storage) is ideal for sinking into the ground, but try to make sure that it’s at least 50cm deep.

Your first visitor may be a hot frog. Check on a warm day and you could see two partially submerged eyes staring back at you from a relieved amphibian. They’ll pay their way by eating slugs. Pond snails will arrive as if by magic, most likely carried on the legs of your hopping friends. They’re great houseguests, munching on watery weeds and keeping your pond clean. Then, as time passes, birds and mammals will discover your oasis, and soon you’ll have the most popular watering hole in town.

MAY TIP: Warm, wet weather means that compost bins and heaps really get going this month. Turn them regularly to ensure everything breaks down thoroughly.

If you would like to apply for a member grant, please contact either Paul or Deborah in the first instance. There is £1,000 available for community groups in Anstey. For more information please visit: www.charnwood.gov. uk/pages/member_grants Anstey Lane We have had many residents contact us about the businesses operating from Anstey Lane site without planning permission. There have been many reports of the site being extended without permission and multiple concerns raised about the traffic and large plant vehicles travelling through the village. We also share these concerns and have been pushing the planning department at Charnwood to make sure that this site remains a priority. Enforcement officers visited the site at the end of April and found several issues with the site. The findings are summarised below.

Callington Construction have submitted a planning application to Charnwood, which is currently being considered. It was noted that an additional building has been constructed on the site which isn’t included in the current planning application. Callington Constructive have been advised that this building needs adding to their live application for consideration.

When enforcement visited the site, it was noted that the neighbouring unit occupied by EL Fencing was extending their site significantly and due to the extent of this and the other breaches identified on site, the enforcement officers have served upon the owner a ‘Planning Contravention Notice’ which is a precursor for the Council to take formal enforcement action. The owner of this site will now be required to submit a retrospective application (the legislation allows for this) to regularise the unauthorised development.

It was made clear to the company that there is no guarantee the application would be approved. Charnwood Borough Council have requested that EL Fencing cease works on this site with immediate effect.

We are grateful to all residents providing us with evidence on the illegal operation of this site and we will continue to keep pushing Charnwood Planning Department to take robust action against these companies where possible. This site is having a detrimental effect on the village but we will continue to object to the planning application on this site and hope the enforcement action from the council will encourage the companies concerned to operate more responsible and with greater due consideration to their community.

If you have any issues or concerns, we are here to help.

Deborah and Paul P.S. Some helpful tips for managing stress and mental health in these difficult times from the NHS are outlined below.

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Come and visit our fabulous outdoor food court at The Wheatsheaf Inn at Thurcaston, every Friday from 9am until 3pm.

There is a huge range of fresh fruit, veg and salad from T G Portas & Daughter who also sell local Thurcaston honey and fresh farm eggs. Hambleton’s Bakery with their sweet and savoury treat stall. Fillet & Fish with their restaurant grade frozen sea food. Brockleby’s pies with their huge selection of savoury and sweet pies, they also have a vegan option available.

The Wheatsheaf Inn will also be serving hot drinks and breakfast rolls to take away.

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Deborah Taylor

County Councillor for Bradgate Division T: 0116 2350126 E: deborah.taylor@leics.gov.uk HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Following the sad news announcing the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Michael Kapur OBE, and The Chairman of the County Council, Pam Posnett MBE, issued statements and sent their condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family on behalf of Leicestershire residents. As a mark of respect, the Union and County Flags were lowered to half-mast at County Hall. A virtual book of condolence has been made available online for people to leave messages: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/book-of-condolence

Compostable items include fruit and vegetable peelings, grass cuttings, coffee grounds, newspaper and cardboard which will all decompose in around a year. The resulting compost can then be dug back into your garden next spring to provide nutrient rich food for the garden.

Covid Restrictions On 12th April, Covid-19 restrictions lifted to Step 2 (see diagram below).

Grass Cutting The routine urban grass cutting program started on Tuesday 6th April 2021.

There is an interactive grass cutting map by postcode or place name to find upcoming cut dates. Just click on the map to see when your area is due to be cut or if there are any reported issues. The council aim to cut on, or within, 3 working days of the programmed cut date.

I am sure everyone who was able to, enjoyed a trip to the pub or restaurant, had friends and family round for an open air catch up, had a haircut, and maybe had a trip to the shops. I have only managed the haircut so far and friends and family visits to the garden!

As the warmer weather comes, I am sure we will all enjoy a bit more freedom to get out and about and life starts to get back to some sort of normality. I view this as a positive step and if we continue to practice social distancing, and limit our contact as much as possible, hopefully we can keep the infection rates down.

Leicestershire County Council’s Director of Public Health, Mike Sandys, said ‘’Covid-19 infection rates are the lowest since the summer of 2020. This is welcome news, but we are being asked to re-iterate a ‘stay cautious’ message as lockdown restrictions are eased’’.

Rates of infection will no longer be reported at the local level and national rates will be made more public.

The following changes will take place locally from Monday 12th April: • Students return to their classrooms; • Libraries across the county will re-open; • Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are permitted for up to 15 people, with receptions and celebrations also able to take place outside, with the same limit on numbers in place.

• Lateral flow tests available for everyone. The government's expanded testing for people without symptoms will be delivered through: • a home ordering service • community testing - there is a test site in each district; Charnwood’s is at the Gorse Covert Community Centre on Maxwell Drive • collection at a local ‘PCR’ test site during specific collection times • testing at schools and colleges • a new ‘pharmacy collect’ service • private sector workplaces.

Compost Residents across the county are encouraged to take up composting this spring with the offer of cut-price compost bins. Many of you will be starting to think about cutting your grass and pruning plants ready for new growth – and the best way to dispose of garden waste is to compost it at home.

Composting reduces the amount of food and garden waste sent to landfill, which cannot decompose properly without air and, instead, produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes negatively to climate change.

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You can buy a discounted compost bin from as little as £12, with a second one offered at half price. The bins are made from 100% recycled plastic and are available in two different sizes and colours to suit individual needs. For more details or to order a compost bin visit: www.getcomposting.com

33 Parish Councils in Leicestershire cut grass in their own Parish areas on the council’s behalf and that includes the villages of Anstey and Thurcaston & Cropston in my council area. Other areas are cut as follows: • Grass on the verges either side of 60mph roads linking towns and villages is classed as rural grass. Tractors are required to cut grass growing along these roads. This will start mid to late April – dependant on growing conditions • Junctions and bends in the road are cut right back for safety purposes – the council have a duty to ensure visibility is maintained for road users.

Junctions and bends will be cut three times.

Urban Wildflower Verge Scheme 41 Parish Councils are displaying Blue Hearts on 54 verges across Leicestershire, indicating that the verge has been left as part of the ‘rewilding Britain’s roadside verges campaign’.If you would like to join the campaign and see one of your own verges left uncut in your town or village, please get in touch with the council or contact me about taking part in the 2022 urban verge scheme. More information is available on the website: www. leicestershire.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/road-maintenance/grass-cutting#FAQ Shire Grants - Environmental Projects Residents are reminded that they can apply for environmental grants worth up to £3,000 to support local projects which help the environment and reduce household waste in the county. Leicestershire County Council is encouraging people to apply for its SHIRE environmental grants, which are available until the end of June 2021. The grant will only be available for projects where the main beneficiaries are residents of Leicestershire county and should help reduce the amount of household waste or greenhouse gas emissions within communities, improve biodiversity or support sustainable green spaces. A simplified application process is also available for smaller grants of up to £300. The deadline to apply for a grant is Friday 25th June. For more information, for more information, see: www.leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/grants/environment-grant or email: environmentgrant@leics.gov.uk Top Performance New analysis suggests Leicestershire is one the top-performing county councils in the country and reveals improvements in several areas. Based on around 250 different measures ranging from adult social care, the economy and environment to schools, the research places the county council in 2nd place. The ranking - based on a group of 33 two-tier and unitary county areas – puts Leicestershire 3rd for children’s social care, whilst being among the lowest spenders per head in this area, and 1st for transport and highways. To carry out the analysis, the council used around 250 performance indicators from the last 12 months across 12 service themes.

The data used has all been obtained from nationally published sources.

The analysis can be found here: https://public.tableau.com/profile/r.i.team. leicestershire.county.council#!/vizhome/BenchmarkingDashboard2019-20/ Introduction?publish=yes Local Election 2021 Just a reminder that the County Council elections are being held on 6th May. Polling stations will be open from 7am – 10pm. Polling stations have been made Covid safe. Please remember to wear a face covering, social distance outside and inside and bring your own pen/pencil. Your polling station will be shown on your poll card, that you will have already received. If you have

a postal vote, you must ensure it is received by 10pm on 6th May. You can hand in your postal vote envelope at your local polling station. You have one vote in the County elections. The Police and Crime Commissioners elections are also being held on 6th May and you can cast your one vote for those elections at the same time.

Updates Parking restrictions in Newton Linford: The majority of the new road lining has been implemented in Newtown Linford. The area that is still under review is Main Street and I am hoping a decision will be made very soon and the scheme implemented.

Parking Restrictions in Cropston: We are now in the process of reviewing all the comments received for this area during the consultation. Discussions will be held with the Parish Council before a decision is taken.

Beacon Hill: There have been issues with parking and traffic queuing around the area. I have held discussions with officers regarding the concerns raised.

They will continue to do all they can to prevent the highway from being blocked and stop vehicles being parked in dangerous positions. I have fed back to Woodhouse Eaves Parish Council and will continue to ensure that the officers are aware of all residents’ concerns.

Virtual Meetings: At present, virtual council meetings will not be allowed under the legislation from 7th May. During the past year, councils have been able to hold all their meetings over the virtual network under special Coronavirus emergency legislation. This change has made it difficult for Parish Councils and the Local Authorities to continue to operate all the meetings needed in a Covid safe environment. Many Parish Councils in my area have decided to hold their Annual Meetings earlier (before 7th May) and then wait until 21st June 2021 to hold further meetings, when all restrictions are due to be lifted. I am in support of some meetings being held virtually as it has enabled many more residents to attend meetings to have their voice heard. This is very important, and I will campaign for councils to have the choice to hold a mixture of face-to-face meetings and virtual meetings.

Day Job: I have continued for the past month to work from home. With the elections being held on 6th May, much of the council’s work has been put on hold and no major decisions have been taken. This has meant a reduction in meetings and reading to do. This has enabled me to get out and about around my area more on the campaign trail. It has been great to see so many faces that I have not seen for over a year! It has been fantastic to speak to as many of you as I can, I have missed being out and about on my patch this past year. Also, it helps me to achieve over 10,000 steps each day and the dogs have enjoyed their long walks delivering leaflets.

I hope to be re-elected on 6th May and, if I am, will be back to you next month with my regular report and promise to spend another four years of hard work representing you all at County Hall.

If you have any issues or concerns, I’m here to help.

Deborah

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Thurcaston Brownies In Lockdown And Beyond

Give Hayfever The Heave-Ho Article by Gary Trickett

Article by Irene Marriott

We were able to squeeze in our bonfire, fireworks and hot dogs on November 4th 2020, as lock down came into force on November 5th.

Since then Brownies have kept in touch virtually and been supplied with activities to do at home from Girl Guiding national level. Midlands Girl Guiding organised the Smile badge on Youtube and facebook Sleep somewhere different; Make music. Imagine you are an explorer. Learn a dance from another country. Experience food from another country and finally do a good turn to make someone SMILE. This took place over the week end closest to Thinking Day, February 22nd (the birthdays of both Lord and Lady Baden Powell) when we think about Brownies and Guides from all over the world.

But the great news is that we can start meeting again face to face provided we comply with Covid safety rules. Wednesday April 14th is our first scheduled meeting and we have spaces for new Brownies. See details below.

Its great to be back.

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An allergic reaction such as hayfever can be explained as an excessive reaction to a normally harmless substance. The immune system identifies the harmless substance, in this instance pollen, as dangerous, and produces an antibody called IgE, which triggers the production of histamine. Histamine is an inflammatory chemical that causes an array of unpleasant symptoms, including a running nose and eyes, itching and burning in localised areas such as in the throat, nose and eyes, puffiness, swelling and mucus formation. Altogether, not much fun.

BUT if you are prone to hayfever, there are a number of measures you can take to stay one step ahead of your pollen-shaped foe.

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Anstey WI

Article by Sheila Timms Members of Anstey WI were delighted with another goody bags full of homemade gifts and treats for Easter, as well as a newsletter and a quiz. This time delivery was shared by a number of people,, so each had only a small number to do, and it was a joy to do on foot in beautiful sunshine.

We had a speaker at our Zoom meeting in April. Tracey Pollard told us about Age UK Leicestershire. There were technical issues at her end. At first we could see but not hear her, then we could hear but not see. This puzzled her, as she had successfully used Zoom that same afternoon. We went ahead with audio only, poor Tracy bewailing the fact that she had put on make-up and done her hair specially!

Nevertheless, she proved a warm and enthusiastic speaker. She began with the need for volunteers, particularly for the befriending service. Tracey does this herself, and clearly enjoys it very much. She also told us of the 28 services they provide, most of which are free. A new, popular one is their footcare. They have also delivered food and medicine to people unable to get out during the pandemic.

She encouraged us all to take part in the Big Knit, making tiny hats for Innocent smoothies. Each one earns 25p for the charity. Several of us had made them in the past, and some new recruits have already started on them. There is a good range of patterns available on the internet, so although they are quick to make it doesn’t become repetitive or tedious. In fact it can be great fun.

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Keep your body as toxin-free as possible by avoiding junk foods, caffeine and alcohol, and drink plenty of water.

Avoid dairy foods as they cause mucus formation that can exacerbate hayfever symptoms, and keep your intake of refined sugar low.

Do stock up on quercetin-rich foods. Found naturally in apples (with the skin on), red onions, capers and black tea, quercetin is well-documented for its antihistamine activity.

Luffa operculata taken twice daily two weeks before your usual symptoms begin can help with sneezing, blocked and runny noses. It is usually teamed with Galphimia glauca, which can be especially useful for reducing eye irritation. Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets from A.Vogel contain both and are non-drowsy so will not affect your ability to drive or use machinery. A nasal spray is also available for immediate relief. If your eyes are particularly sensitive, Euphrasia (in the form of eye drops) can help.

Check prevailing winds and pollen counts before venturing out, and remember that wind dried clothes can become pollen catchers; hang them inside instead.

Finally, treat yourself to a pot of local honey. It’s not a solution that works for everyone but many people swear by it, the theory being that the pollen that is naturally present has a desensitising effect.

For further information visit Gary and his team at Healthy Route, 18 Silver Street, Leicester.

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Citizens Advice Charnwood - Now Able To Offer Face To Face Appointments For Those Who Need Them Article by Roxanne Hawkins Chief Officer Ian Dennis said: ‘With the help of our volunteers we have continued to provide advice and support by telephone throughout the pandemic. But some people find this difficult. For example, filling in lengthy and complicated forms when applying for disability payments. We are therefore delighted that we can now resume face to face appointments as well as our ongoing telephone advice service.’

Since the first lock down Citizens Advice Charnwood has helped over 300 people, with applications and appeals relating to disability payments, including Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Attendance Allowance.

Most help has been provided over the phone.

Volunteer Gill said: “People can find it difficult to put down in words how their health problems affect their daily lives and may be unable to fill in forms by themselves. Many are struggling to cope with both physical and mental health problems and are in danger of not applying for or renewing their claim and losing the money they rely on”.

For example: Wendy cares for her adult daughter, Emma, who has cognitive difficulties and depression following a head injury. Emma gets the enhanced rate of PIP. But Wendy’s own mental health has gone downhill during the pandemic so when she received a review form to complete on Emma’s behalf, she felt unable to cope. The country was in lockdown and Wendy was terrified that Emma would lose her PIP award and she would lose her Carers Allowance as a result. She eventually called our Local Enquiry line and got a phone appointment with an adviser who went through each section of the form with her. The adviser was able to record Wendy’s responses and type them up and post them to her so she could send off the review form. But it would have been much easier with a face-to-face appointment.

If you need help and wish to make an appointment contact Citizens Advice Charnwood on 01509 649605, Mondays and Thursdays 9.30 am – 3.00pm, Tuesday 9.30am – 12 noon. Information and advice can also be found on the website: www.charnwoodcab.org.uk

Bradgate u3a

Article by Ian Welch The u3a is an United Kingdom wide movement of locally-run interest groups that provide a wide range of opportunities for people to meet up and to explore new skills and activities together.

We are an organisation for people, who are no longer in full time employment or looking forward to retirement, who wish to meet new people and enjoy exploring a wide variety of interests at low cost.

We provide the opportunity for lifelong learning in its broadest sense, enabling members to share their interests, knowledge and skills.

The range of activities is so broad that there really is something for everyone.

The local Bradgate u3a has groups for art, canasta, card making, Come & Sing choir, carpet bowls, croquet, dry crafts, garden visits, heritage group, Knit & Natter, mahjong, military history, National Trust, petanque, stitching crafts, reading, Ride & Amble, scrabble, stitching crafts, strollers, table games, ten-pin bowling and walking. There are also monthly meetings with a speaker.

There are also national groups for more specialist interests.

To join up see our website at Bradgate u3a for contact details or telephone the Membership Secretary on 07805717416.

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Thurcaston And Cropston Gardening Club Spring 2021 Article by Richard Elks

As Gardening Club members experience their second spring in lockdown, they look back on a year where contact has been by monthly newsletter.

Members have sent photos and stories of their gardening highlights, with spring bulbs and roses being the most popular. Several members are reporting back on their success of using peat free compost; and others are proudly presenting some fabulous looking, or very long-lived flowering houseplants.

More time at home has meant that for some, much closer observation of the birds visiting their gardens has become a source of some delight. For many those often talked about but never completed chores or major tasks have finally been tackled and even completed; the pond cleared out, the perennials split and divided into several smaller plants; even the shed tidied and the greenhouse cleaned.

By now the spring seed sowing is well under way. Are last year’s experiments turning into well-established favourites? We are growing peppers and aubergines from seed this year after a chance lockdown purchase from a local hardware store netted a fine harvest of peppers for the first time.

The plan to ease lockdown that the Government set out is still holding up so far, so the Gardening Club is also starting to plan a route out of lockdown as well.

The Gardening Club committee met in April in someone’s garden, and socially distanced. This was our first meeting for over a year. Our initial plan is to open some local gardens for Club members to mix outdoors socially in May. A day, hopefully, in everyone’s spring calendar.

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Anstey Parish Council Report Article by Liz Hawkes

Meeting of the Council For the past 12 months Council meetings have been held virtually via zoom this new way of working has enabled the Council to continue its work throughout the pandemic and has provided a platform for members of the public to attend.

The legislation that has enabled this to happen is due to come to an end at the beginning of May and it seems highly likely that the Council will resume meetings in the Jubilee Hall. This will bring new challenges for the Council, as the hall will not be large enough to accommodate all that may wish to attend on occasions.

There have been a number of meetings that have been cancelled or re-scheduled following the sad death of HRH Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh. These changes affected meetings held in the last two weeks in April. The next meeting of the Parish Council will be its annual meeting, this will be held on the 4th May and will be held virtually. At this meeting the first item to be discussed is the election of the Chairman. This may be the last opportunity for the Council to carry out a virtual meeting and if you would like to come along and see how the Council operates use the following link to the meeting. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85083358551 Jubilee Hall As the national restrictions are relaxed the Jubilee Hall will be looking at re-opening its facilities within Government Guidelines. The Parish Office is open between the hours of 10am – Noon for enquiries.

There is currently no date to when the community hall will be available for hirers, the Council has to ensure that the building is COVID-19 safe for activities. The safely of the Council staff will also be taken into consideration as to when to open the facilities. Further information will be provided in the next edition of your local magazine.

Calling All Sporting Hero’s This is the last opportunity for you to nominate your local sporting hero’s.

Make sure that your nominations are received by the closing date of the 31st May 2021.

It could be that you, your neighbour or friends ran the London Marathon in Anstey, entered a charity dance off, or climbed Everest up your stairs?

Have you started a new sport or organised a virtual fitness class?

Anstey Parish Council would love to hear about any sporting achievements that you are proud of.

Please send us photos of your sporting activities over lockdown, along with details of certificates, medals, sports blogs and Strava awards!

To clerk@ansteypc.org Or message us on www.ansteypc.org.uk or Anstey Parish Council | Facebook By 31st May 2021 You may be up for winning the John Sutherington Sporting Award and a cash prize of £250.00 Footpath J76 Anstey Parish Council are ready to complete the necessary upgrades to footpath J76 that runs from Woolden Hill School to Link Road Playing Field.

Leicestershire County Council have not yet given the necessary permissions

Your Councillors

Your Councillors can be contacted through the council office:

T: 0116 2362646 E: clerk@ansteypc.org Jubilee Hall Stadon Road Anstey Leicester LE7 7AY

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to do this and have asked for the path to be made wider. It is unknown if it is possible due to the trees and ditch that run alongside the path. This is a disappointment to have these plans stalled. The Parish Council will be working with LCC to overcome these problems and make these muchneeded improvements. A further update will be given in due course.

Neighbourhood Plan The Neighbourhood Plan Group met on Tuesday 13th April 2021. This was not an official meeting of the group due to the restrictions around scheduling of meeting. The committee did have a useful discussion about a vision statement for Anstey, the developments of Questionnaires and a summary of the history of Anstey. The group will be working on an ‘open event’ to try and engage with other residents of Anstey to hear views about the things that are important for the future of the village. An open event during these times comes with challenges and at the next meeting the group will be discussing how and when these can be carried out.

The group would particularly like to hear from you if you have local knowledge about ownership of land. The group are trying to build up a picture of local landowners to understand who owns the land surround the village. If you can help with any of this information do make contact.

On the Anstey Parish Council website there is a dedicated page for the neighbourhood plan, this page contains agreed documents and will have information about future meetings. www.ansteypc.org.uk/neighborhood-plan.html on this page there is also the link to the map of Anstey. The red line denotes the parish of Anstey, this is the area that the neighbourhood plan covers and the fields that surround the village that the group are particularly keen to learn about the ownership of. www.ansteypc.org.uk/uploads/parish-map-3.pdf If you would like to receive more information about this project do contact the parish office or Councillor Grant Cotton by email at cllr.grant.cotton@ ansteypc.org Gary Kirk from Yourlocale will be guiding the Council through this project providing his specialist knowledge on this topic and the changes to the planning system that will impact this project.

You can contact the Parish Council in the following ways.

By Post: Parish Office, Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7AY Telephone: (0116) 236 2646 mobile: 07458 305025 Email: clerk@ansteypc.org Parish Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday 4th May 2021 starting at 7.30pm. Details of meeting are shown on the Meetings are currently virtually via zoom, the link to the meetings is advertised on the agenda which can be found on the council’s website. www.ansteypc.org.uk/council-meetings.html all members of the public are welcome to these meetings.

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David Snartt Borough Councillor for Forest Bradgate T: 01530 244804 E: cllr.david.snartt@charnwood.gov.uk

The Duke of Edinburgh.

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh.

I had the privilege to meet the Duke on two occasions when he visited Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College. His service to our country has been immense, which has earned the respect of not just this nation, but those around the world. After the time of mourning we should remember the Duke with pride and affection.

Aircrew Memorial Seat and Plaque.

I was delighted to be invited as Mayor of Charnwood to the unveiling of the excellent memorial seat and plaque to commemorate the tragic loss of life when a Wellington aircraft crashed in a nearby field in Woodhouse during the Second World War. I just needed to thank all the people who have been involved in this project.

In my view, it is most important that we remember in this way the three young men who lost their lives in this tragic accident. Having this memorial seat and plaque in this prominent position in the centre of Woodhouse, will be a constant reminder of the sacrifices made and many lives lost during this time of war.

I was pleased to secure a small amount of money from Charnwood Borough Council through the Member Grant Scheme to help with the funding of this project.

Nationwide Building Society.

I am sorry, with all the correspondence between Nationwide Building Society, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Financial Ombudsman Service, along with my Councillor colleagues we were unable to stop the closure of the Anstey branch on the 31st March. It was so disappointing that Nationwide didn’t keep to their promise to keep branches open until at least January 2023.

In my view, it was difficult to correspond with Nationwide, they seem not to understand the difficulties this decision to close Anstey branch would cause many members, especially the elderly who rely on public transport.

There seems to be no organisation that could help to reverse this decision.

The Financial Ombudsman Service said ‘they deal with a wide range of complaints about financial services, but unfortunately, from the issues raised; it doesn’t look like your complaint is something we would look into’.

Similarly the Financial Conduct Authority had a similar reply; ‘Although we’re unable to investigate or intervene in individual cases, we do have supervisory teams that are responsible for monitoring regulated firms to ensure they follow the correct rules and procedures. When concerns such as yours are shared with us regarding conduct of a firm, the information is recorded against them’.

The Commission will use local views to help draw up proposals for new boundaries. There will be a further round of consultation once the Commission has drawn up those proposals.

It is easy to get involved, you can go to the Commission website, e-mail or write to them. They have dedicated a section on their website where people can give their views, just visit https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/25847 by e-mail reviews@lgbce.org.uk or by post to Review Officer (Charnwood), LGBCE, PO Box133, Blyth. NE24 9FE. Woodhouse Neighbourhood Plan.

I was pleased to receive details about the Woodhouse Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents which have been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council for the purpose of consultation, examination, and, if appropriate, a referendum ahead of it being adopted as part of the Local Plan for the area.

Charnwood Borough Council has considered the Plan against the statutary requirements set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and is satisfied that these have been met and it can proceed to consultation.

I am grateful to all the people who have taken the time and interest to be involved in progressing the Neighbourhood Plan to this stage. I believe it will be a vital document to help with the preservation and wellbeing of the Parish, shaping the environment and local identity for future generations. It will also help to deliver development which influences the type of housing provision needed, in line with the recommendations made in the Plan.

Charnwood Big Switch.

I thought I would just remind residents about Charnwood Big Switch. This is a collective energy switching scheme to help residents change suppliers and save money on their energy bills. The scheme is delivered by Charnwood Borough Council and iChoosr, an independent specialist provider in collective energy.

There are three auctions each year, where energy suppliers bid against each other to provide the lowest priced tariff. The next auction will take place on May 18th 2021 and registrations are now open. The cheapest supplier wins the auction and each registered household can then decide if they want to switch or not. There is no obligation for people to switch if they do not want to.

For more information visit charnwood.gov.uk/charnwoodbigswitch. If you do not have internet access and need help with your registration please call iChoosr on 0800 0488439.

Fly-Tipping.

I would like to thank the residents who recently reported a big fly-tip on Groby Lane to Charnwood Borough Council. I also reported it, taking a photograph to show the size of the tip. I understand some of the bags contained cannabis plants.

Again, I am sorry we were not able to save the Anstey branch from closure.

Have Your Say. I have received information from the Local Government Boundary Commission that a new pattern of Wards are being developed for Charnwood Borough Council. At the moment Woodhouse Parish comes within the Forest Bradgate Ward which includes the villages of Newtown Linford, Ulverscroft, Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves. This Ward was created in 2003 when I was elected the Borough Councillor for the first time.

The Commission have decided that the number of Councillors in Charnwood should be 52, the same as now. The Commission wants to hear what residents and organisations think about their local area. The consultation will run until 31st May 2021.

The Commission is interested in views on which communities should be part of the same Ward. What issues do neighbouring communities face that they have in common, such as high numbers of visitors or heavy traffic?

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Just a reminder, you can report any fly-tipping to Charnwood Borough Council. This is illegal dumping of household and trade waste, and it’s a criminal offence that can result in unlimited fines or five years imprisonment. Charnwood Borough Council needs as much information as possible in order to prosecute someone fly-tipping in the Borough, so any help you can give is very important. Please remember, do not disturb the fly-tip waste, but do visually inspect the waste, it does help the Council to know what has been dumped and how much.

To report fly-tipping to the Council, e-mail cleaner.greener@charnwood.gov. uk or telephone 01509 634564.

If you need to contact me on any issue, please write to 10 Groby Lane, Newtown Linford, Leicester. LE6 0HH e-mail cllr.david.snartt@charnwood. gov.uk or telephone 01530 244804.

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Rugby Has Returned To Anstey - Training Now Games From 8th May Article by Chris Apperley

Anstey Nomads

Article by Adam Etheridge Anstey Nomads returned to action on Saturday the 17th of April, four months after their last competitive match. A home draw against Wellingborough Town in the 4th round of the FA Vase saw the Nomads pitted against a league rival that they had previously faced this season, winning 1-0 away from home in September 2020.

Michael Reeve, who had scored the winner on that wet and windy afternoon in Northamptonshire, tested goalkeeper Noah Murray-Hawkins with an early shot that had him at full stretch. Wellingborough almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute when a shot had eluded Conrad Logan, only to see Billy Blackshaw divert the shot wide to keep the match scoreless.

The first half was largely lacking in dram, but the second half more than made up for it. Anstey, who had shaded the first half, came out after the break and took hold of the game, Cosmos Matwasa and Henry Bestwick testing the keeper in the opening ten minutes before both got on the scoresheet before the hour mark.

Matwasa broke the deadlock with a shot on the turn after Tendai Chitiza had picked him out in the box. Matwasa then turned provider as what looked to be an already goalbound effort, received a neat flick from Bestwick to put the Nomads 2-0 up on the hour mark.

Wellingborough responded immediately though, Matt Long fired in a beautiful curling effort from outside the area that left Logan no chance in the Nomads goal, reducing the arrears and keeping the match within reach for the Doughboys.

Reeve restored the two-goal cushion for the Nomads, latching on to Bestwick’s clearance and drawing Murray-Hawkins out of his goal before lobbing him from just inside the touchline in the 72nd minute. The Wellingborough ‘keeper’s day was about to get worse though as he was sent off for bringing down Matwasa outside the box with 10 minutes to play.

As so frequently happens, the numbers were evened up just three minutes later as Joel Wolfe was dismissed for a foul, despite his protest that Long had actually pulled him over. The drama didn’t end there though, Chitiza rounded substitute goalkeeper, Nigel Beford, in stoppage time, firing into an empty net, only to see Lloyd Buckby head in for Wellingborough in the 93rd minute to end an entertaining second half.

With the 4-2 victory, the Nomads equal their best ever run in the Vase, reaching the fifth round for the first time since their 1995 run, which ended in defeat away to Collier Row. Anstey will again travel, as they make a trip to the West Midlands on the 24th of April to face Walsall Wood. The draw for the quarterfinal has already taken place, so the Nomads know that another trip would await them, this time heading south to face either Cobham or Leighton Town if they can make it past Wood.

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All being well, when you read this, Anstey RFC will be days away from our first match of the 2020/21 season away at Vipers in Blaby.

But, as I am writing this it is still mid April and what we have learnt over the past 13 months is that things change - but not this time?

As per the ‘Return to Rugby Roadmap version 2 we have restarted full training following the D1 guidelines working towards 26th April when we will move to D2 when we can actually start playing, albeit under Adapted Laws.

The temporary laws mean no Scrums and Mauls and a limited form of Ruck plus other changes all designed to minimise close contact.

Following on from the general fitness regime over the winter months mainly consisting of cross country socially distanced runs and bike rides it was great to see a sizeable squad of 30 players arrive for training at our Link Road Home Ground on Wednesday evenings.

The first couple of weeks have been geared towards handling skills and basically getting the squad (including some new faces) interacting with each other.

On to the third week and match preparation is under way learning the new skills and laws to be ready to play the adapted game in a few weeks time.

In addition to Wednesday evenings, Saturday training will recommence on 24th April when who will play in what positions will be worked through.

More local friendly fixtures are being arranged throughout May and Anstey RFC will be back in the Leicestershire Leagues come the new 2021/22 season all being well starting in September.

In the short term due to difficulty accessing changing facilities in the adjacent Martin High School our games will probably be at away grounds.

Any co-operation from our village High School neighbours will be welcomed.

The Leicestershire Rugby Union have kept the club supplied with sanitising equipment ready for training sessions and any home matches when possible.

As soon as we have more fixtures confirmed they will appear both on our website and our Facebook Page.

The Club noticeboard is in The Coach & Horses - at the big screen end just round to the left inside the official entrance door from the Nook — But you can’t go in the pub just yet.

When you can get in you will need to wear a Face Covering if reading anything there!

If you would like to get involved contact either our Club Coach and Chairman Shane Frear on 07725 642525 or Captain Graham Waring on 07764 461961 Visit www.pitchhero.com/clubs/ anstey or our Facebook Group Page at www.facebook.com/ groups/20694012567 for updated information.

Looking forward to seeing Rugby Union played in Our Village Very Soon.

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Anstey Local History Society Article by Jane Cole

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday May 19th at 7.15.p.m.

Mike Greenwood from the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust will be giving a talk on: The Story of Leicester’s Trams If you are not on our E mail list and would like to join us, please E mail: jane.m.cole@btinternet. com to receive a link to the Zoom meeting.

Dance Of The Flowers Poem by Pat Langton Skirting the garden along the wall, Looking pretty, and standing tall.

The wall flowers in rows so neat, Wafting perfume, soft and sweet.

Honeysuckle and columbine, Decided to let their arms entwine.

Whilst Poppy in her scarlet skirt, Took her chance to have a flirt.

Flitting like a butterfly, Giving all the boys the eye.

Daisy looking fresh and sweet, Waltzed dandelion off his feet.

Shy Violet, with eyes cast down, Said "Hya-cinth, I love your gown".

Rose blushing a deep shade of pink, Gave a twirl as she sipped her drink.

Said Lilly of the valley, to Ragged Robin, You sure have set my heart a throbbin'.

Sweet William feeling rather bold, Asked for a dance with Marigold.

Pansy with her pretty face, Stepped out with a lively pace.

Litter Picking Equipment To Help Spring Clean Local Communities Article by Charnwood Borough Council

Residents in Charnwood are being encouraged to get their free litter picking equipment ahead of the Great British Spring Clean.

Charnwood Borough Council has purchased additional equipment to help people who want to help give their local communities a spring clean or are planning to get involved in next month’s Great British Spring Clean.

The campaign is organised by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy and will be held across the country between Friday May 28 and Sunday June 13, 2021 however, residents are being encouraged to get a head of the game this year and safely start litter picking now if they wish.

The Council has bought an extra 100 hi-vis jackets and litter pickers and will also be providing colour coded bags to help identify rubbish which has been collected by litter picking groups.

Equipment will be distributed on a first come, first served basis and people are being urged to get in touch with the Council as soon as possible.

There will be a limit of six equipment packs per groups, and the Council will also accept requests from individuals.

Groups and individuals will be able to keep the equipment for future litter picks.

This year the Great British Spring Clean is asking communities of #LitterHeroes to join its #MillionMileMission to clear litter from streets, parks and beaches across the UK. Matt Bradford, head of cleansing and open spaces said: “I’m pleased to see the Great British Spring Clean return after it was cancelled due to the pandemic last year. Many more residents have enjoyed our parks over the past 12 months and this is a great opportunity to take pride in the places which have provided us with safe spaces to exercise and meet friends and family outdoors during the pandemic. We have purchased additional equipment this year to help support those who want to get out in the fresh air and make a difference to their local areas. We know lots of womble groups and individuals are already out and about litter picking and people don’t have to wait for the Great British Spring Clean if they want to get started now. I would encourage everyone to only pick litter in numbers which meet the current Government guidance and to follow current public health advice to reduce the spread of the virus and ensure people stay safe.”

Swayed around looking rather lazy.

The Council is being supported by partners Idverde which manages the Council’s parks and green spaces, and Serco, which runs the refuse, recycling, and street cleansing service.

Snapdragon said,"lt's time to stop"!

Individuals and groups can also register their litter picking and cleansing events at www.greatbritishspringclean.org.uk.

But purple hazy Michaelmas Daisy,

Everyone looked at the dandelion clock.

The Bluebell rang, and called out "Time", So everyone got back in line.

People can request equipment and provide details of their litter pick by emailing cleaner.greener@charnwood.gov.uk If you’re going out and about litter picking, then share your photos with us at @CharnwoodBC on Twitter and Facebook. You can also tag in @ keepbritaintidy and use the hashtags #GBSpringClean #MillionMileMission.

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Leicestershire & Rutland Heritage Awards 2021 Article by Jane Cole

The Leicestershire & Rutland Heritage Awards take place every two years.

Their aim is to celebrate and showcase the heritage work that is taking place across the region and is open to all heritage groups and museums in Rutland, Leicester and Leicestershire.

This year Anstey Local History Society entered in the category ‘Commemorating Anniversaries’ with their Anstey War Memorial Project and we are thrilled to announce, we WON! Many of you will remember our project that took place between 2016 and 2018, which was a commemoration of the men, from both WWI and WWII, named on the War Memorial.

The project evolved as a series of village events based in Anstey Library, Latimer School and other village venues and culminated with the wonderful display of poppy crosses made by Anstey Rainbow and Brownie units at the Centenary Remembrance service held at the War Memorial on Sunday November 11th 2018.

Most of the groups who entered the awards are well- established and have entered before, so ALHS is thrilled to win at our first attempt.

We would like to thank everyone involved in the project, in particular Anstey Community Library, Anstey Parish Council, Charnwood Borough Council, Anstey Brownies and Rainbows, Loughborough History Volunteers, Century of Stories, all members of ALHS and of course everyone who supported our events.

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