March 2021 Your Local Ratby, Kirby Muxloe & Leicester Forest East

YOUR LOCAL 6,800 COPIES DELIVERED EVERY MONTH - RATBY, KIRBY MUXLOE & LFE - MARCH 2021

Norwood Press Celebrating 70 Years Pilates What Is It? Jane Thomas Explains

National Day Of Reflection

Kirby Muxloe Local History Group

Money Match March Set To Boost Ambitious Rail Link

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

PILATES From My Home To Your Home Here are just four ways online Pilates with us can work for you at home

your local Pilates Specia — with list — Pilates can help you: t e g r n R eg ou l of ✔ Move more freely tes you ca Y ula r ❏ m o nl lai k Tria sses ✔ Improve muscle tone ❏ Pila in e C t s e e a cla ✔ Become more flexible ❏ eb sse 4-We lar cl h T s fo gu OW ✔ Improve posture ❏ st.

N r ere ali joint pain ✔ Ease backciand ❏ v Regular, online ✔ Feel great & have fun! matwork classes — Our Absolute Beginners Course is a self❏ contained, six video class course that guides 6–8 live classes broadcast each week on you through the basics of Pilates, showing you various days and times. All classes recorded correct techniques and explaining the principles. then made available for viewing 24/7.

The Course is accompanied by a 52-page full-colour All inclusive for just £10 a month. book of the classes and exercises.

Once you’ve completed the SPECIAL OFFER: a free 4course you’ll be able to continue Week Trial of our regular your Pilates journey by joining online classes. You will our regular classes. get full and free access to everything for four Costing just £30, we believe our whole weeks to see for your Absolute Beginners Course is simply self how online Pilates works. the best way to start Pilates.

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While the Covid-19 pandemic is with us, we are not able to meet with clients on a 1:1 basis, however this will return just as soon as Government regulations allow. Our Studio is Tier 3 Covid-Secure and ready to accept 1:1 clients immediately the area is taken out of Tier 4.

Meanwhile, online 1:1 Pilates matwork and Reformer sessions are available for those who prefer a more personalised guidance than group classes allow. Ask for a free consultation to discuss your individual requirements and see how we can help. in e c

For those lucky to have a Pilates Home Reformer, our Reformers At Home series of online classes could be the best thing since... err, you bought your Home Reformer in the first place.

We know that finding good routines to do on your Home Reformer isn’t easy. After you’ve completed the first few sessions included when you bought your machine, finding new routines to do is draining. Our Reformers At Home series gives you a weekly email with a new Reformer routine to do at home. Cost is just £10 a month.

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For more information about Pilates and anything covered above, please email office@janethomaspilates.co.uk including your mobile number Or take a look at our website: jtp.zone

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Pilates - What Is It? As a lucky few know, Pilates is an exercise programme that promotes fitness, flexibility, mobility and strength. It was originally developed a hundred years ago

by Joseph Pilates, a German born in 1883 and a gymnast, who came to England in 1912 to work as a self-defence trainer to the police in Scotland Yard. When WW1 began, Joseph was classed as an “enemy alien” and held in internment camps for the duration, working in hospitals to aid recuperation of soldiers after injuries.

are quite large, heavy, expensive and difficult to teach in large groups. He cleverly took his Reformer exercise programme and developed the exercises into a suite of exercise that can be done on the floor - hence what we know today as Pilates matwork.

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Alongside the development of matwork Pilates and its subsequent uptake around the world, Joseph continued to develop and improve his Reformers over the years, to the modern Reformer comprising several important parts shown here. This is a typical

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Joseph used whatever came to hand to help with his work, making do with metal-framed hospital beds and extra bedsprings to make supportive frames that people could use to exercise. Effectively, Joseph’s exercises helped patients get better faster, and they were less susceptible to secondary infection, which killed so many people in similar circumstances back then.

When the war ended he developed the recuperation and exercise beds further, into what were eventually called Reformers. Emigrating to the USA, he filed his first patent for the Reformer there in 1927, and also filed patents for several other bits of Pilates apparatus after this. Opening his first studio in New York, in the same building as the New York Ballet, his first customers were dancers.

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Originally calling his exercise programme Contrology, his success at treating injured dancers in particular helped him spread his exercise programme throughout the States, and as more people became devotees it eventually became known as the Pilates programme.

As more and more people began to train using his technique, he realised that a more “mass-market” way of performing Pilates exercises was needed - Reformers

Studio Reformer, which quite naturally is big, heavy and bulky. Home Reformers on the other hand are pared down, usually folding in the middle to aid storage, but keep all the important parts shown. Whether Studio or Home Reformer however, your Pilates is taken to the next level.

Joseph had his original team of teachers he personally trained. Becoming known as Pilates Disciples, they took the Pilates programme around the world, in turn training their own generation of teachers, who in turn trained theirs.

Who is Jane Thomas?

Jane is your local Pilates specialist.

In terms of the hierarchical Pilates family, Jane Thomas is effectively Joseph’s great-greatgranddaughter, making sure that the original Pilates principles are maintained to this day. She has been teaching group and one-to-one Pilates classes for over 20 years in the East Midlands, and also now trains other Pilates teachers - eg, most of the local teachers, and many nationwide.

With Covid-19, Jane took her matwork classes, beginners course, Reformer classes, and 1:1 clients online so that everyone can still take advantage of this wonderful exercise format. Online Pilates means you can exercise in a perfectly Covid-19 Secure environment - your own home - and have no travel worries.

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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)

'Your Local' Printers Norwood Press Celebrating 70 Years Article by Norwood Press

Local printers Norwood Press are celebrating 70 years in business.

Based now in Ellistown, Leicester, this third generation family printers has come a long way since starting in 1951. In that time they have built themselves a solid reputation, offering their customers a professional, personal service at competitive prices.

After outgrowing the premises in Anstey they moved to Ellistown in 2010. They cover all types of printing from magazines, leaflets, banners, brochures and business cards.

As a way of giving something back into the community they are donating £700.00 and are looking for any local charities or groups looking for a donation of between £50 and £200 to get in touch.

Any interested charities please contact Norwood Press on: Tel: 01530 262020 Email: info@norwoodpress.co.uk

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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.

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 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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Ozzy O’shea County Councillor

T: 0116 2394336 M: 07808585825 E: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com County Council Tax to Rise by 4.99% Budget background These are increasingly tough times. And without local government funding reform, we will have even less room for manoeuvre. But our prudent, long-term approach is paying off. And the difficult decisions we’ve taken over the last decade – saving £220m – have put us in a better position than many other councils who are floundering.

Asking residents to pay more is not where we want to be. But if this increase was not taken, service cuts would be the inevitable consequence.

This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly but we have to keep the show on the road. Reducing frontline services isn’t an option and higher Council Tax increases were broadly supported by respondents to our recent budget survey. Unfortunately, Government has pushed us in this direction by already assuming Council Tax is increased when calculating their latest assessments of councils’ spending power.

Balancing the books when you’re the lowest funded county in the country is difficult. But I believe the budget we’ve set out delivers the services residents depend on.

Against a backdrop of lack of reform, coronavirus and rising demand for services, there is a danger that we’re pushed very close to the edge, but I am confident that the budget strikes the right balance of financial sustainability and service protection.

Councillor Byron Rhodes Cabinet member for resources and finance Our 2021-25 budget at a glance: Balanced budget for two years £220m savings since 2010 £450m capital pot for new roads, schools and more £255m for children and family services and adult social care What services does the county council provide?

We're responsible for delivering a wide range of services including adult social care, children's social care, public health, transport, education, planning, road maintenance, libraries, waste management and trading standards. These are funded by Council Tax, business rates, Government grants and income from fees and charges.

We are proud that as a Council we have protected the most vulnerable over the past year during the pandemic. I have supported the several grants in my ward, including £22.436 to the Benefice of Groby and Ratby Community Response Team who provided food and supplies to vulnerable members of our community.

Budget in more detail Rising costs Growing demand for services is expected to increase costs by £60m, including: • Children and Family Services (£23m) - this is mainly due to pressures on the budget for social care places, which are rising by over 10 per cent a year, and growing social worker caseloads • Adult Social Care (£13m) - this is largely the result of an ageing population with increasing care needs and a growing number of people with learning disabilities • Environment and Transport (£4m) - this primarily relates to more SEND pupils requiring transport Savings The £56m savings are made up of: • £30m of detailed savings – reducing children and family costs by reshaping how services are delivered, reducing adult social care costs by simplifying processes and speeding up support, bringing together early help and prevention services - and delivering some in-house and reducing disposal costs by recycling and re-using more waste • A ‘high needs development plan’ which will reduce SEND costs by £26m Council Tax A Council Tax increase of 4.99 per cent is proposed (including the 3 per cent adult social care levy) and equates to £5.59 a month for a band D house. Councils can apply a levy of three per cent for adult social care over two years – the proposal is to include a three per cent levy in 2021/22.

Council Tax is the only significant lever available to the County Council to raise additional money to fund vital services whilst balancing the budget Capital programme The £450m four-year capital pot sets out plans for sustainable investment across the county including:

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• £70m to improve and maintain existing roads and bridges • £120m for improving transport infrastructure • £72m for extra school places, including specialist provision for SEND students • £25m to boost adult social care accommodation that supports people to live independently • £23m for recycling and household waste initiatives and specific carbon and energy reduction projects • £71m to invest in property to generate ongoing money for front line services School Crossing Patrol Ratby Primary School Main Street, Ratby.

I have been contacted by concerned parents regarding the unfilled position of the school crossing patrol, on Main Street Ratby for Ratby Primary school.

I am aware over the past 6 months there have been a couple of incidents.

I understand parent’s concerns and I share those concerns. I have spoken with both the school and the County Council regarding this vacant position and I am aware that they have both advertised this position. I have been assured that they will continue to advertise this post. If anyone can spare the time to help out please see the details below this may well suit a retired person.

The School Crossing Patrol vacancy in Ratby is attached to Ratby Primary school and has been vacant since July 2019. The crossing point is on the zebra crossing outside of the school entrance.

Have you ever considered that by dedicating around 35-40 minutes of your time twice a day, you could help to make the routes to and from school safer for our children?

You can help them to cross the road and be paid whilst doing this.

Working hours: Monday to Friday: AM: 08:30-09:05 & PM: 15:00-15:35 What we offer: • £9.33 per hour (subject to annual increment) • Full Training provided • Summer and winter uniform provided Applicants can contact the SCP team by telephoning: 0116 305 7233 or by email: scpservice@leics.gov.uk Ratby Parish Support Wildflower Verges For Wildlife.

Ozzy working with Ratby Parish Council, Siobhan Woodward from the County Council and David Nicholls from Naturespot, have set out two areas on Ferndale Drive to become wildflower verges. This will help wildlife and biodiversity in this area. With the support of your local Parish Council and Leicestershire County Council.

Verges with Blue Hearts have been dedicated as ‘verges for wildlife’.

Blue Hearts? What do they mean?

These hearts belong to a larger national campaign called the ‘BLUE’ Heart Campaign, dedicated to re-wildling roadside verges for nature. These areas will be left to grow throughout the Spring and Summer and will not be cut until late Summer. Did you know? Over 700 species of wildflower grow on the UK’s road verges –nearly 45% of our total flora. The Verges will be surveyed for wildflowers in the summer by our partners at NatureSpot Advance Notice of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order.

Markfield Road Ratby.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is to be made for the following location Markfield Road, Ratby. The purpose of the TTRO is to allow Leicestershire County Council to facilitate carriageway patching and any other associated work to the highway. The TTRO will incorporate a temporary road closure. The duration of the restriction is not anticipated to exceed a period of1daycommencing on the 19thMarch 2021.The closure will be between 09:00 and 15:00.

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Email Admin <denisetaylorroome@hotmail.com> Sun 21/02/2021 00:35 Microsoft (c) 2021 Review Dear user, Your in-coming Emails were placed on-hold due to lack of our recent upgrade which may lead to permanent delete of your account from our

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Leicestershire Shared Reading

Scam alert: fake Barclays ‘unusual payee request’ text I have been made aware of a scam text message targeting Barclays customers by directing them to a fake website. Here’s what you need to look out for

As one group member said: “Joining this group is the best thing I have done for me for years. It has made the world of difference to me, even more so in the present circumstances. I just love it.”

Fake text messages posing as banks are nothing new – last year saw a huge rise in the number of people reporting that they’ve received one purporting to be from Halifax.

But this one using Barclays to target victim’s features another twist to be wary of: it’s managed to successfully drop into people’s inboxes with the sender set as the bank itself These types of ‘smishing’ attempts work by rushing people into visiting a fake website, which can go on to request and steal sensitive information, such as bank details. In this case, its victims will alarmed to read that an ‘unusual payee request’ has been ‘flagged’ on their account.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank residents for your continued support. It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to have represented you over the past 8 years as your County Councillor. Remember I am only an Email or a phone call away. I am always here to help in any way that I can.

Kind Regards Ozzy O’shea.

Working for you

'An Unusual Delivery'

by Brian Cunningham (from 'Finddhorn's Saga') An expectant hush descended on the Tavern.

All eyes focussed on the Lady Foxglove.

She started, slowly, with a song about a Prince who travelled to faraway lands, looking for a woman he had dreamed of.

Then came a change of mood; a song about a wastrel who fell in love with a lady of the night. This was much liked by all the men, noisily banging their wooden mugs on sturdy tables in enthusiastic approval.

There was a hushed pause. Then, swirling in her finery, The Lady Foxglove began to juggle with three apples, taken from a bowl on the table. Their spirits up, the men cheered her to go faster and faster.

As the apples whirled, she started to take a bite from one of them, keeping the other two in rapid motion.

Tremendous encouragement from the packed tavern. Having eaten the apple to the core, she dropped it into the bowl, keeping the other two in the air with one hand.

She took another apple, eventually dropping its core too into the bowl.

The crowd were rapt in astonished approval.

Without the slightest warning, she spun on her heel and, holding the remaining apple high above her for the crowd to see, she launched it like an arrow at her blind partner, Reynard.

All eyes followed its flight.

The room held its collective breath.

At the very last instant Reynard seemed to sense it and gave a little grin, as he snatched it, just as it was about to hit him.

His blind eyes twinkled with mischief as he began to take a huge bite.

At that precise moment, with the crowd's attention on Reynard, Lady Foxglove dropped a small vellum scroll, tied with yellow ribbon with black decorations onto Finddhorn's table.

Not a single person noticed the sleight of hand, as Finddhorn deftly swept the scroll up his sleeve.

(For any enquiry about The Village Writers, please contact David on 07552107461)

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‘Make Friends, with a Book’ Do you enjoy reading? Are feeling a bit isolated right now? If so, you are not alone, Leicestershire Shared Reading online will help you feel more connected with other people and the wider world.

Leicestershire Shared Reading is a voluntary organisation, set up in September 2016, to work in partnership with Leicestershire County Council's library service to support a thriving network of shared reading groups.

Shared reading brings great poems and stories to life through reading aloud and group discussion. You do not have to have any knowledge of literature, just love reading. Unlike book clubs, you don’t have any reading to do before the shared reading session – it all happens in the group. There is no pressure to read aloud or talk if you don’t want to.

Who can join?

Before lockdown, Shared Reading groups met in county libraries, but since coronavirus has prevented live meetings, the groups have been running virtually. The beauty of a virtual group meeting is that it doesn’t matter where you live: anyone who has a phone or computer can join in. There is no long-term commitment - you are welcome to give it a try, and come every week or when you feel like it!

Will it cost me anything?

Joining Leicestershire Shared Reading is free. The cost of joining via Zoom or using the phone will depend on your broadband, mobile or landline provider. For many people this will be free.

What if I haven’t used Zoom or WhyPay before?

Don’t worry – this is a good opportunity to learn new skills. Some of our existing members weren’t familiar with these technologies at first and now feel comfortable with this way of communicating. Our friendly reader leaders will help you if you need guidance.

When do the groups meet?

You can come to whichever session suits you.

The two newest sessions use Zoom and are on Wednesdays 1.30-2.30pm and Thursdays 3.30-5.00pm Three existing groups are also taking new members. These meet on: Tuesday 10.30am-noon, using Zoom Tuesday 1.00-2.30pm, using WhyPay telephone conferencing Tuesday 2.00-3.30pm, using Zoom To join, just contact the website (below) and we will send you the details you need. www.leicestershiresharedreading.org

National Day Of Reflection Article by Claire Korsakovs

On 23rd March, let's come together to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.

Since the first lockdown began in 2020, hundreds of thousands of people have died. Too many lives have been cut short and millions have been bereaved.

Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for the people left behind.

Join us on 23rd March, the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown, for a National Day of Reflection to reflect on our collective loss, support those who've been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.

There are still tough times ahead, as the death toll continues to rise. This annual day will give us all time to pause and think about this unprecedented loss we're facing, and support each other through grief in the years to come.

More information can be found: www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/day-of-reflection

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Latest plans unveiled for heritage railway ‘Reunification’ project.

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The Great Central Railway’s plans to reconnect two halves of the award winning line are set to leap forward with a massive fundraising drive in March 2021.

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With everyone’s help we can spread some positivity and push that totaliser even higher thanks to the Money Match March scheme!”

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The multimillion pound project will create an eighteen mile heritage railway linking Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, reconnecting two halves of the Great Central Railway separated after they were originally closed in the 1960s. Five hundred metres of railway needs to be rebuilt in Loughborough.

Two parts of the scheme have now been completed including building a brand new bridge to carry heritage trains over the national rail network.

The next two sections to be built have an estimated cost of three million pounds and have been called ‘The Factory Flyover’ as they cross a factory car park and a road.

“As much as we would like to, we can’t build the next stages until we have the vast majority of the funding in place,” continued Andy. “That’s why Money Match March is so important. We can take the half a million pounds already raised and supercharge our fundraising thanks to this amazing offer. Every contribution takes us closer to building again and delivering the benefits of Reunification.”

The completed railway will be used not only for heritage trains and boosting tourism, but to attract more commercial work to the line including testing and training for other rail companies.

This will help secure the GCR’s long term future as well as bringing income to the East Midlands economy.

Meanwhile the latest plans for the next section have been published by the railway. Developed by engineering consultants Cass Hayward they show concrete beams being used to construct the car park and road crossing. A reclaimed bridge deck donated by Network Rail will also be used.

“These are really exciting times for the Reunification scheme,” concluded Andy, “which was once described as impossible. People power is making it happen though and if everyone gets behind Money Match March, we’ll really have some momentum going.”

How To Donate • Donations can be made online at www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify • Cheques for the appeal can be made payable to The David Clarke Railway Trust and posted to: DCRT, Lovatt House, 3 Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 1SL • Donations received in March online, or through the post will be matched pound for pound up to a value of £100,000.

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intouch WITH GROBY, RATBY & FIELD HEAD

Promoted by Richard Allen on behalf of Ozzy O'Shea both of the BCA office 10a Priory Walk, Hinckley, LE10 1HU

May 2021

HIGHLY RESPECTED COUNCILLOR CHOSEN Local County Councillor Ozzy O’Shea has been selected as the Conservative County Council candidate for the Groby & Ratby and Field Head ward for the County Council Elections to be held on 6th May 2021.

GET IN TOUCH

Email: ozzy@yourlocalcandidate.co.uk Tel: 0116 2394336 Mob: 07808585825

Ozzy, with his late wife Jenny, have four children and 9 grandchildren, Ozzy has lived in the ward area for 32 years.

Ozzy has always been active in the community, serving as a PTA chairman and a school governor a position he held for 29 years.

He has a served as a parish Councillor for Ratby for the past 25 years, Borough Councillor for Ratby, Bagworth and Thornton for 14 years, and he became the County Councillor for Groby & Ratby in 2013 and Field Head in 2017.

Ozzy has a wealth of experience in community matters having retired from Leicestershire Constabulary after completing 43 years’ service both as a police officer and as a civilian supervisor in the Force Operations room. For the last 9 years of his service Ozzy changed to a job share position so that he could dedicate more time to his community.

His dedication to the local community has earned Ozzy a reputation as someone who is always available, ready to listen, takes time to understand people’s concerns and then acts immediately to deal with issues. Put simply Ozzy is the local man who gets things done. Actions speaks louder than words.

Re-electing Ozzy will ensure a strong voice for Groby, Ratby and Field Head on the County Council and he says, “I am both proud and honoured to have served as your County Councillor for the past 8 years. It is great to be given the opportunity to represent my home area once again and I promise to ensure that the interests of local people remain my first priority."

Ozzy has the experience of holding the office of Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council 2017/18 Ozzy also served as Chairman of Leicestershire County Council 2018/2019 where he made contacts all across Leicestershire.

While holding these offices Ozzy always found time for his residents and acted on local issues. He has a reputation for dealing with residents’ issues even when on holiday something his late wife Jenny happily put up with.

Ozzy was also appointed a Magistrate in October 2018.

Register to vote: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/registertovote Register for a postal vote and proxy vote: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/info/200172/how_to_vote/454/ voting_at_the_polling_station_by_post_and_by_proxy/2 To find out more information please visit: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

A vote for Ozzy is a vote for the Local Man That Gets Things Done - 6TH MAY 2021

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Ozzy O’shea Borough Councillor

T: 0116 2394336 M: 07808585825 E: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com Borough Council Tax Rise The Borough Council is to increase its council tax charge for 2021/22 by £5 following a decision of the full council on Tuesday 23 February 2021

risen from £25 to £33

This means the average Band D council tax (including the Special Expense Area) for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will increase to a charge of £139.87 for the 2021/22 financial year, the lowest in Leicestershire and anticipated to be the fifteenth lowest in England, and certainly within the lowest quartile.

Development by Miller Homes Markfield Road, Ratby.

We have both now met with the site manager and contracts manager to work collectively to resolve resident’s issues.

This figure will be supplemented by the charges levied by Leicestershire County Council (£1,410.78), the Police and Crime Commissioner (£248.23) and the Fire Authority (£69.29).

The average Council Tax Bill for a band D property in Ratby will be £1911.92 including the Parish Precept.

Residents are reminded they can pay their bill annually, half-yearly or monthly. In a full year the monthly instalments will normally be paid from April to January, however residents can also opt to pay their council tax over 12 instalments if they prefer.

The Administration also put up the Garden Waste Collection 25% from £24 to £30. So much for their claims at the last election that this was an unjust cost. They said they would do away with it if elected. Last year they kept it at £24 instead of keeping their pledge they have risen it to £30. Ozzy asked for a costs breakdown of this service as it looks like the administration are using this increase just to make money to cover other services.

T: 0116 2912796 M: 07306 390543 E: chris.boothby@hotmail.com

At a time when the Borough is experiencing a rise in fly tipping, Ozzy could not support these rises and voted against their budget.

Ozzy had previously met with both the contracts manager and the site manager a couple of weeks ago on site. He took up the flooding issues in resident’s gardens and the damage to verges. He has also arranged for Miller Homes to erect No Contractor vehicles signs on the entrances to the estate and the service road on Markfield Road.

Flooding of gardens.

Chris had a site meeting last Friday to discuss various issues, the first being flooding of properties on Markfield Road. This was caused by two pits which were dug to hold surface water and were placed behind the existing properties on Markfield Road. Unfortunately, one of these pits ruptured causing flooding to the gardens. We can tell you now that 3 further pits that have been created and the water is being pumped away from Markfield Road into these Balance Ponds.

HGV Deliveries Again the question of the HGV deliveries going into the site off Groby Road was raised. This is stone that is needed to construct the internal roads 90% of which is going on to the site via Markfield Road.

They expect delivery of all housing by 2024.

Collection of White Goods/Bulky 3 Items has risen from £15 to £20 Collection of White Goods/Bulky 5 Items has

ChrisBorough Boothby Councillor

Rest assured we will continue to hold Miller homes accountable should anything else

happen. However, they have said they are willing to appease residents and put right any issues.

Business Recovery Project Fund Launched.

Small businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic are being urged to apply to a new fund to help businesses to safeguard jobs in the borough.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council has launched a Business Recovery Project Fund to target match funded grants to help to small businesses and help them to recover from the impacts they may have faced or are still facing, from the pandemic.

The fund prioritises independent business (including retail), tourism and hospitality business and creative industry and is designed to help toward the costs of investing in new equipment or other capital expenditure to aid their recovery. Other independent businesses that can demonstrate they have suffered severe hardship as a result of the pandemic are also welcome to apply.

Suitable projects might include new equipment or machinery, building a new website, investing in new products and e-commerce such as contactless payment technology or permanent fixtures and fittings to support social distancing such as an awning for a café or restaurant to support alfresco dining.

The grants available range from £1,000 and £15,000 and the scheme will provide 50% grant support with the applicant providing the other 50% as match funding. This grant scheme is funded through the government’s Additional Restrictions Grant. The council’s initial allocation of £300,000 is for the period to the end of March 2022 or until funds run out.

Businesses should be able to demonstrate their recovery project will safeguard jobs and ideally create new ones.

I can, I will, (I might) Poem by Kirby Lad

With summer just around the corner I think the time has come to warn yer You’ll need to exercise a bit If you’re to get yourself ‘beach fit’

The simplest thing that springs to mind is, search the house and try to find Those running shoes you bought last year Stored with your other sporting gear

All winter your eyes have been glued To all those box sets you’ve accrued So where to start, what would be best To compensate for your long rest

A quick run round the block to start But then the pounding of your heart Suggests that in your present state You should stay in and lift some weights

For those who are of tender years While ice cold winds still burn their ears (and noses), it don’t halt their play Mere weather won’t get in their way

Oh dear you think, I’ve strained my arm That lifting’s done me serious harm Perhaps I should just take a hike Or maybe go out on my bike?

But some of us are somewhat older And when the climate’s this much colder We’re somewhat loath to venture out To play some sport or run about

I could play football, squash or bowls Or else a round of golf (9 holes) Go abseiling, become a rower I know I’ll join the gym (tomorrow)

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Leader of the Council, Councillor Stuart Bray said: “We recognise local businesses has been severely impacted by the pandemic and many may need to adapt and change to survive. This grant is available to support our local businesses in implementing a recovery project enabling them to them get back on their feet and grow sustainably.”

For the full guidance and details on how to apply visit: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ businessrecoveryfund We are both working hard in conjunction with partner agencies to keep you all as safe as possible. Whilst we are all in the same boat, we are both still here to help all of you if you need us in terms of Borough Council Services. As we always say, we are only a phone call away. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support.

Chris & Ozzy.

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The Kirby Muxloe Local History Group Article by Judith Upton

The Kirby Muxloe Local History Group generally meets 6 times a year, and membership is open to all. Visitors are always welcome to all our meetings, which usually take place in St. Bartholomew’s Church Hall, Main St., Kirby Muxloe and start at 7.30 pm.

Details of the dates of meetings, together with the topics that will be covered, are shown on the notice board in Kirby Muxloe Library and on our website, which is www.kirbymuxloelocalhistorygroup.org Unfortunately, due to the Corona virus (Covid-19), all our meetings are cancelled until further notice. This includes our new “Memories” meetings, held at the Library meeting room each month. We will continue to support “Your Local” magazine with our monthly articles. Stay safe, follow government advice and if you are out and about, practice social distancing. For the latest details about meetings, see our website.

Digging Hobill's milk float out of the snow in Kirby Muxloe date unknown - Courtesy of the late Bill Hobill

Snow, slides and life in snowy Kirby Muxloe A few days after the last article was submitted I awoke in the morning to see snow covering the ground. That was rather ironic as I had just written “where is the snow”? However, now, after a few days it has disappeared. This seems to be the current trend over the last 20 or 30 years as when we do have snow at all, it only lasts a short time and is never thick enough or frozen enough to make a good base for sledging.

Talking to people in the village who were children in the 1930’s until the earlier years of 1960, it is interesting to find how different our experiences of snow and extremely cold weather are now, as opposed to their childhood. Many memories revolve around homes, which, with no central heating, double or triple glazing, or cavity wall insulation were extremely cold. Many of us remember going to bed with hotwater bottles, in the later years made out of rubber, but earlier they tended to be either stone or even copper. Although the first electric blanket was invented in 1912, by Sidney Russell, it was not until 1930, when George Cowley designed a blanket which was considered to be safe. Electric blankets are now no longer fashionable and the rubber hot water bottle seems to have been revived in recent years, mainly due to the fun hot water bottle covers, which come in an amazing choice of fabric, colours and often taking the shape of an animal. Years ago most houses were heated by a coal fire or a range in the living room, a boiler in the kitchen and sometimes a coal fire in the bedroom. Up to and including the 1930’s many houses were built with fireplaces in the bedrooms. If the house possessed a bathroom it would be heated, usually on a Friday night

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by a parrafin heater. Friday night was “bath night”!

Since the last article several lasting memories have come to light, many of them from one of our older residents- Jan Timson. Jan remembers the great freeze of 1947, and also many years when the snow lay thick on the ground.

Jan’s memories in her own words: Waking on a winter morning to find Jack Frost had been drawing on the inside of my bedroom windows. I loved the patterns, but also loved making more patterns in the frost with my finger nails!

I remember noticing that the slushy snow which piled up in the gutters after the roads had been gritted had a colour and texture that reminded me of soft, brown sugar. I can still remember when the thick snow on the roof made a rumbling noise as it slid down during a quick thaw and icicles hanging from the gutters on the roof during a slow dripping thaw.

I remember that one year after prolonged frosts, Groby Pool was frozen over and folk went skating there, I think this was pre-war. I remember my father wearing skates towing me across the ice, I was holding tight to his coat belt. As a child I just accepted what he had on his feet were skates the same as everybody else was wearing.

Many years later when helping to tidy the garage I found his skates and the blades were made of bone, at the time I thought nothing of it, but Googling bone skates I found the oldest go back to about 3000B.C. and were found in a lake in Switzerland. The skates were made from the leg bone of large animals, holes were bored at each end of the bone and straps were used to tie the skates onto the skate shoes. Difficult to be sure but I think my father’s skates were like that.

It was something my father or grandfather would be able to make.

Peter Cooper recalls the “Rapids” something referred to in last months article. It appears that many Kirby people have tales about sledging down Big Hill and encountering the Rapids. When reaching the Rapids (the brook) and often coming down the hill at some speed, the person or persons on your back ended up being despatched “most rapidly” into the hedge, often resulting in a split lip or similar. Peter said that as the hill was so steep, it was a dream for sledgers. Mr Chesterton also deserves a mention. As being the village blacksmith, when the snow arrived and sledges had been retrieved from the back of the shed, they were often found to need a new set of steel runners. Mr Chesterton’s smithy on Main street was very popular, as inbetween shoeing horses he often made and attached new steel runners to the sledges for very little cost.

Lastly a memory from John Cowling regarding the “Cresta run”.

This took place on Hedgerow Lane, usually on a Sunday morning when there was little or no traffic. One of his friends had been loaned a very “upmarket” Swiss toboggan which moved along at great speed. When the coast was clear the boys used to hop onto the sledge at the top of Hedgerow Lane and gathering speed finish off right at the bottom of the lane. If a vehicle appeared, the lads just stood innocently at the roadside as they went by. John said “if only our parents knew”!

Exciting Times Ahead Article by Peter Cooper

Local artist Peter Cooper at 93 years old has decided to sell about 20 of his paintings and prints, giving all the proceeds to be divided between the Parish Church of St Bartholomew’s and the Free Church in Kirby Muxloe.

Kirby Muxloe Castle by Peter Cooper Cooper

A date will be announced when the current restrictions are lifted.

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At long last, we are beginning to see some signs of progress, tentative as that may be. Bearing in mind that the Government is acting on data and not dates, and that therefore things may change at a moment’s notice, we have now been able to make plans for re-opening the Library – hurray!

Our plans are as follows: Tuesday 13th April will be our first day of opening. Our opening hours will be Tuesdays 2.00 – 4.00, Thursdays 2.00 – 4.00 and Saturdays 10.00 – 12.00. As in the last re-opening period, we will follow all necessary measures to safeguard visitors and staff, viz.

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From 27th April, we will open up two of the public computers for use.

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Ratby Community Library Joan Burton

What did you dress up as on World Book Day? Well, maybe we didn't get to dress up as a book character this year but we may know some children who did or would have loved to if only... My last costume character was as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: I hunted out a tweed skirt and jacket, 'sensible shoes' and knitting needles and had a lovely time at work 'dithering' but hunting down the phantom milk thief!

Thinking about children's tastes made me look up some of my old favourites.

I still have my copy of Heidi, as well as another called Knight Crusader which was the start of a series all based around the D'Aubigny family over the centuries of British history. I loved the drama of these stories which then led me on to the 'He went with...' series of characters who just happened to go along with famous explorers like Vasco de Gama, Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus. All very male oriented but by the time I was in my early teens I balanced them off with stories like Little Women, Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre. All of these stories I borrowed from my local libraries, visiting two or three times a week after school (I really was a book worm!) and working out the perfect way to read in class whilst supposedly copying from the board (satchel propped open with an ink bottle).

I'm not alone in having favourite stories though: a quick survey on Thursday had colleagues remembering theirs such as The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark, Fix It Duck, The Perfect Hamburger, Wind in the Willows, another lover of Anne of Green Gables, Cider with Rosie. Now we recall the books we loved reading to our children: Angelina Ballerina, Diary of a Whimpy Kid, The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom. Searching through the Leicestershire County Library Catalogue reveals that many of our favourites are in stock and when we're open again, we really would love to see the children back, exploring and choosing the books that one day they will say to their own children, 'I loved this when I was little!

As the country opens its doors again we are so looking forward to seeing you all back in Ratby Library but until then, stay safe and look after yourselves.

After lockdown ends our opening hours will be: 10am – 12 Monday, Saturday.

2pm – 4pm Tuesday, Thursday.

Closed Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

We have changed from Wednesday morning to Monday morning as a result of public requests. We are always happy to listen to public opinion and will respond if possible.

On re-opening please be assured that all Covid-19 regulations will be followed assiduously and, as ever, the volunteers will be happy to assist with helping visitors find just what they're looking for.

Rocket Around Ratby Article by Emma Grundy

We are very excited to announce a new outdoor art trail, taking place Monday 31st May to Friday 4th June around the village. All money raised will go to LOROS. If you are a business and would like to be involved, please email Emma at write2moi@hotmail.com. Thank you to Pattersons Commercial Law and Bakerlu who have already jumped aboard.

All details about this event will be revealed in the next issue...watch this SPACE!

Ratby Wriggly Readers Article by Emma Grundy

Hi everyone! Just a little note to say we are really missing getting together and sharing stories and songs. We miss seeing all your little faces and have finally decided to create our own Facebook page! We will be posting stories and creative ideas to complete with your little ones. Also look out for the live story sessions. Add us on Facebook to find out more. New babies and faces are welcome too!

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