February 2022 - Your Local Shepshed & Hathern

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Shepshed Volunteer Fair Monday 28th February 10am - 1pm Christmas Window Competition 2021 Winner

Shepshed Special Community Bus Service Is Back

Toddler Group Requires Volunteer

Friends Of The Wander Garden

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St.Winefrides R.C. Church, Charnwood Road Shepshed

St Botolph’s & St James’ Church Services Article by Debora Slingsby

St Botolph’s Church, Shepshed Services: 8.00am, Holy Communion (except on the 2nd Sunday of the month)

Article by Brenda Fox

Weekend Services Saturday 6.00pm Mass Sunday 10.00am Mass Children's Liturgy on 1st and 5th Sunday Of the month for children aged 4 to 8 years

10.00am on Sundays, Service with Holy Communion Possible to join on line: www.shepshedandoaks.co.uk

Weekday Services Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9.00am Mass Wednesday, Friday 12.30 Mass

10.00am on Wednesdays, Holy Communion Family Service, 1st Sunday of the month at 10.00am with Holy Communion Children take a central role at this service which has crafts, action songs and much more!

Regular Events Monday 2.00pm Holy Rosary in Annexe Last Tuesday of the month7.30pm St. Winefrides Ladies group in Annexe Wednesday10.15am Toddler Church For further information, any enquires and to see the newsletter published each week, please visit the Parish website, www.stwinefrideshepshed.org and Facebook

Christchurch (Methodist) Field Street, Shepshed Article by Keith Bailey Sundays 10.45 am

6.00 pm

Morning Worship on: 6th, 13th and 27th February Evening Worship on: 20th February

St James’ Church, Oaks in Charnwood Services: 8.30am on Sundays, Service with Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 11.00am, 3rd Sunday of the Month Family Service *********************************************** The rearranged All Souls Services from October 2021 will take place on Sunday 6 February 2022: 4.00pm at St James’ Church and 6.00pm at St Botolph’s Church.

For more information please visit www.shepshedandoaks.co.uk or ring the Parish Office on 01509 502255.

You will receive a warm welcome to any of our services

Toddler Group Requires Volunteer Article by Victoria Jacques

We are currently looking for a volunteer to take over the running of the Scallywags toddler group that usually meets at The Glenmore Centre on Friday mornings. It is term time only.

Everyone is warmly welcomed!

Shepshed Word Of Life Church, Kirkhill

Anyone interested should contact Victoria Jacques on 01509 650662 for further information.

Article by Nigel Holmes Sundays 10.30 am

6.00 pm

Morning Worship including Sunday School for children.

Evening Worship

Thursdays 7.30 pm

Prayer Meeting

ANTIQUES COLLECTORS & VINTAGE FAIR

Sun 20th February Hodson Hall Endowed Campus

Tuesdays (term time only) 10.30am Ladies’ Bible Study 2.00pm Ladies’ Fellowship

Off A6, Loughborough LE11 2DU

Wednesdays 10.30am-2.00pm

Day Centre for Senior Folk

Thursdays 9.30am-11.00am

Kirkhill Kangaroos (parent & toddler group)

Fridays 7.30 pm-8.45pm

Youth Club for 11 – 13’s

For more information on any of these activities please visit www.shepshedwordoflife.org and click on ‘regular meetings and activities’, or ring 07473 952161, or email us at contact@ shepshedwordoflife.org

Join us for a stroll down memory lane filled with a vast selection of quirky finds, Well worth a visit!

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Christmas Window Competition Winner & Runners Up 2021 Article by Brenda Snape

Protecting Your Family Inheritance Article by Klara Dixon

Our frontline staff follow Government guidelines for visiting you in your home and they are fully vaccinated.

LevLaw Ltd remains here for you.

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

Photo above shows presentation by the Chairman of Council, Cllr. Peter Grainger to the overall winner VISTA with a plaque and certificate being presented to Ruth Mainwaring (Assistant Shop Manager) who decorated the window with an Angel.

Shop Manager Sam Tivey said “we are thrilled at VISTA that our Christmas Window has been chosen as overall winner. We that our lovely customers for the continuous donations and support given to VISTA and wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” Photo's below show runners up were AGE UK and Newbolds Flooring who were presented with a certificate.

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.

Shepshed Volunteer Fair

Monday 28th February 2022 10am - 1pm Shepshed Library, Hall Croft Shepshed

Talk to volunteer organisations there on the day

Benefits of volunteering; give back to the community reduce social isolation make new friends learn new skills

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Shepshed Lions

Article by Lynn Jackson During December the Shepshed Lions were extremely busy, very much helped by the Fosl’s (Friends of Shepshed Lions). At the beginning of the month we helped the Oaks in Charnwood Senior Citizens Group with a donation towards the cost of their transport for their Christmas celebration lunch.

Then Santa and his sleigh left the North Pole for a short trip to be at the Shepshed Market Traders Christmas Market where he talked to the children and it magically snowed!

President Lynn Jackson then presented a cheque to The Salvation Army in Loughborough for their Christmas Appeal. This money will be specifically used in the Shepshed area.

A very large shopping expedition followed this as we shopped for food for the Shepshed Food Bank to add to their Christmas deliveries. We handed the goods over to Glennis Wilcox.

Then came the biggy! Santa polished his boots and combed his beard and began the marathon that is the Shepshed Christmas Santa Sleigh tour. For 11 days the sleigh toured as much of Shepshed as we could get to, and sorry to those we didn’t reach.

The weather was kind to us this year as were the very generous people of Shepshed. The amount collected far exceeded our expectations and will enable us to help more people in Shepshed. This year also saw Shepshed Lions embrace diversity as on one of the nights, where Santa was too busy to travel, Mrs Claus stood (or actually sat) in for him.

The children seemed to enjoy seeing her and it may be that next year she represents Santa more often!

Santa also visited the Shepshed Toy Library twice.

To finish our year Santa’s Christmas Post Box was put in the Co-op in Hall Croft. Santa replied to all the letters that he could but unfortunately some children forgot to add their address so he couldn’t get back to them. However their wishes were noted!

This is just a few of the activities that Shepshed Lions have managed to do this year, which as we know has been another odd one. It must be said though that the help given to us by the Fosl’s has been immeasurable especially with the Carnival and Santa Sleigh. This has resulted in us being able to help many more people and organisations in Shepshed which is what we are all about.

The members of Shepshed Lions wish you all a very Happy and Healthy 2022.

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MISSION A Tale Of International Intrigue

She received him as she sat in her favourite rocking chair. Did he remember her daughter? The instructor laughed. “How could I possibly forget? She was by far the most talented cadet it’s ever been my privilege to coach. I took her to extreme levels of physical performance.” With calm resolve Mrs Start withdrew the hand-gun from beneath her apron and shot him dead with a single bullet.

Barely visible in the pre-dawn darkness four runners moved with swift intent through the forest, their feet lightly touching the ground.

Beyond courageous they ran in silence, their focus solely on the task ahead. Two of the men were New Zealanders, the third an Australian while the girl was from South Africa.

Earlier in Whitehall a jubilant senior official had been speaking on a secure line with his counterpart in Washington. “It’s mission accomplished – and with the loss of only four lives!” he enthused.

“Congratulations! That’s great to hear,” the American responded.

“The President will be delighted.

He’s in need of some good news right now, and I’ll see that your people get the credit they deserve.”

Article by David Stevenson

The girl was unknown to the public in her country but officially regarded as a national treasure.

Her family believed that she worked for one of the ministries but had no idea what her job entailed. The government had reluctantly accepted $20m to release her for the operation.

A lifetime later, or so it seemed, the three men returned to the forest.

They were no longer running but lurching erratically and stumbling repeatedly. Zombie-like they persevered until one collapsed in total exhaustion. His companions carried on without so much as a backward glance until a second also fell motionless to the ground.

The sole survivor staggered on until a volley of shots rang out.

Then there was none. Amid the preceding devastation the girl had been taken captive.

That afternoon Mrs Start was busy in the kitchen of her Western Cape home when the phone rang.

“This do, happiness. This do, happiness,” the caller cried. Mrs Start recognised the intonation and remembered at once. That short phrase had been concocted by her toddler daughter years before in the hope of getting her own way.

Let me do this and I’ll be happy.

“Happiness, happiness,” the litany continued, gathering pace with the momentum of hysteria until terminating at length in a lingering scream.

Mrs Start was trembling uncontrollably. “Hello! Hello!” she shouted into the phone.

After a calculated interval a male voice replied. It spoke with cool detachment in a cut-glass accent. “We have your daughter.

I thought you’d like to know.”

Another careful pause. “I’ll tell her we’ve been in touch.” The call terminated abruptly. Soon afterwards the girl told her captors what they needed to know, before her lifeless body was ignominiously dumped.

In the evening the instructor visited Mrs Start at her request.

Our man in Whitehall hung up and poured himself a drink. He raised the glass in tribute to the intrepid strike force he’d never met and whose identities had been withheld from him. Their story could never be told of course.

That was a pity, but he could expect a gong in the New Year and it would probably be a special one. Privately he’d dedicate it to the memory of their heroics and feel vindicated accordingly.

The operation had been hugely successful, and even the PMs’ Secretary had been unusually cordial on hearing the news.

The official had just emptied his glass when a courier came in with a personal delivery from the embassy of a foreign power.

Following routine procedures he passed it to security for screening.

Shortly afterwards the building shook momentarily from a muffled blast. Windows rattled. Instantly he realised that it came from a controlled explosion in the heavily reinforced area of the basement.

Colour drained from his face. “My God!” he gasped. “They know already!” A posthumous honour was emphatically not part of the plan. He called security again.

The pathologist in South Africa was puzzled. He was in no doubt about the cause of death. That was as much as his professional responsibilities required, but he could not help but speculate about the motive. The body displayed no signs of a struggle, and he gathered from the police that Mrs Start had hardly known her victim. Neighbours had heard two gunshots but no sounds of an argument. He shrugged. No doubt the court would have to wrestle with that problem.

He looked again at the label around the neck of the second subject on the slab. Anneliese Start. That’s a nice name, he thought. In his younger days he’d known a girl named Anneliese. The pathologist smiled at the recollection.

Wednesday’s 9.30am

at Shepshed Bowls Club, Charnwood Road, Shepshed, LE12 9QF (opposite Asda) with Christina 07486 532978

Wednesday’s 5.30pm & 7.00pm at Christchurch Methodist Church, Field Street, Shepshed, LE12 9AL with Claire-Lou 07488 243173

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Als Electronic Shepshed Experience Article by Allan Dobb

January gives most of us a chance to start anew, or to rejig our lives only to return to how things were. Here in Al’s pod world the objectives are the same to support and interview people locally, who have charities, and are making a difference. In June, see’s my project take on the 2 year milestone, and in the coming year I will put on some specials reflecting not only local issues, but national. Community at a local level always reflects the bigger picture. We have unsung heroes who put their own lives on hold to nurture or care for others.

I will be putting together a feature on Dementia, speaking with people who are involved with caring, and who have been affected by a loved one who has contracted Dementia. Also with a professional who enables, and gives support to the carers. This is under the banner of Dementia U.K. In todays world of fast communication, we need to explore ways of using the media in our locale. Facebook is not a bad thing, but has a bad reputation by some of its users, who cause untold distress to others. In my project I aim for people to feel safe, and can then use the medium correctly, to serve their business or charity. Community is about togetherness, and these media platforms are a very quick way to get messages out there. Over the past year Al’s Electronic Shepshed Experience has seen a great number of successes. If you have any project you need advertising, then please contact me, but give plenty of notice.

You can do this through my group page, or messenger.

So, this next year I will contacting, and visiting different organisations with Facebook live and Al’s Electronic Shepshed Experience. If you would like anymore info please go on to my messenger account, and I will answer any questions as to what this project is all about. Al..

Shepshed History Society Article by Marjorie Schulz

On Tues Dec 14th Shepshed History Society had a very enjoyable evening being entertained by Mr Robert Mee, an entertaining talk which was followed by an excellent Christmas buffet and mulled wine. Robert's talk was about the famous Ealing Comedy films that came to fruition in the 1930's and became very popular in the post war era.

Unlike the American movies at the time that had lavish amounts of money to spend on sets, Ealing by contrast had to make do with real life sets like London in the blitz. Robert then began to enlarge on the various famous comedy stars that many of us could still remember like Alastair Sim, Margaret Rutherford and Alec Guinness, so it was a nostalgic trip into the past that brought back many happy memories.for quite a few members The speaker of the January meeting was Mr Roger Bisgrove who gave a talk on the Swannington Coal Mining Dynasty. New members are always welcome.

Hathern Parish Council Next Council Meetings Mon 07 Mar 19:30 - Mon 11 Apr 19:30 - Mon 23 May 19:30 Clerk: Maureen Spencer Tel: 01509 842813 Email: clerk@hathernparishcouncil.org.uk www.hathernparishcouncil.org.uk Like us on Facebook: @hathernparish Councillor: Roy Dann rdann@hathernparishcouncil.org.uk Councillor: Peter Swift pswift@hathernparishcouncil.org.uk Councillor: John Boyes jboyes@hathernparishcouncil.org.uk Councillor: Ben Murdoch bmurdoch@hathernparishcouncil.org.uk Councillor: Martin Clayton mclayton@hathernparishcouncil.org.uk

Spotlight on Iveshead

February 2022

OUR NEW LIBRARY

Friends Of The Wander Garden Article by Brenda Snape

On Sunday 28th November a group of interested residents met in the Wander Garden Nature Reserve with Shepshed’s Biodiversity Champion, Julian Jones to set up a “Friends of the Wander Garden” despite the snowy weather, there was a great turn out. If any local residents are interested in becoming a Friend of the Wander Garden, please email contact@shepshedtowncouncil.org to register your interest.

Cleaner/ Keyholder Required In Shepshed Cleaner required for newly refurbished public conveniences.

You will be required to lock up every weekday early evening after cleaning. Saturday and Bank Holidays required to unlock and lock.

For further details and application form please Email: contact@ shepshedtowncouncil.org Write to Shepshed Town Council, 47a Charnwood Road, Shepshed, LE12 9QE or Telephone 01509 508872 Please DO NOT contact via Facebook Messenger

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Due to circumstances beyond our control, the school hasn’t had a proper library for the best part of two years. With our move into a newly refurbished building finally completed, the library now has a new home and a new look.

Thanks to the help of colleagues, the new library is a wonderful space. Its central location means no longer do I get the question “Where's the library?” and my personal favourite, “I didn’t know we had a library!” Now, everyone knows we do indeed have a library and they definitely know where it is - taking the maxim “the library should be at the heart of the school” rather literally! As soon as the students moved into the building, the library was being used in and between lessons. It was wonderfully heartening to see the appetite for the library hadn’t diminished at all during the time it was absent.

We have lots of exciting things planned for the library, including various reading clubs and on other interesting topics. We have an ongoing competition this term where every book read and described to me grants the reader a raffle ticket that will be entered into a prize draw so the more books read, the more chances a reader gets of winning. More competitions to do with reading and writing are planned for the future and anthologies of work from previous competitions are proudly on display in the library.

I’m incredibly excited to see what opportunities this new space can bring. With applications for funding from various entities, including being featured in a Tesco public vote in both Shepshed and Loughborough, the possibilities for future development are endless.

It’ll be my pleasure to provide a refuge from the bustle of life for students to develop their academic abilities, get respite from a noisy world and enjoy getting lost in a good book.

Here’s to the next chapter.

Headteacher - Matthew Parrott 01509 602156 @ivesheadschool

by Mr Jenkins, Librarian

Iveshead School, Forest Street, Shepshed, Loughborough, LE12 9DB info@ivesheadschool.org

Looking for fitness activities in Shepshed?

There is so much going on!

Glenmore Centre: Please note that there will be a fee payable to join activities listed below.

Ring 01509 650662 (9am to 12 noon) for information regarding any of the activities.

Monday: 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm 7.15 pm - 9.00 pm 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Paul Tyson Boxercise Yoga Karate with Shoto Rye (Adults only)

Tuesday: 1.30 pm - 2.30 pm 4.00 pm - 6.15 pm 6.20 pm - 7.20pm

Keep Fit for over 50’s.

Aimee Fardell School of Dance Paul Tyson Fitness

Wednesday: 9.30 am - 10.30 am 4.00 pm - 5.00 pm

Yoga Children’s Football

Thursday: 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm

Tea Dance Paul Tyson Fitness

Friday: 12 noon - 2.45 pm 4.30 pm - 8.30 pm

Line Dancing Tiska Karate

Saturday: 9.00 am - 2.00 pm

Aimee Fardell School of Dance

Sunday: 10.00 am - 12.00 am 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm

Diddi Dance Tai Chi

Shepshed Town Council: Exercise equipment is free to use Glenmore Park: Various exercise equipment free to use when park is open.

Oakley Road: Various exercise equipment free to use situated towards the front of the park.

Iveshead School There are a number of fitness activities held at Iveshead School. For more information go to the Iveshead School website, select the Facilities menu, Facilities and Venue Hire, the link to the Facilities website, and finally selecting the What’s On menu. www.ivesheadschool.org

Sponsored by Shepshed Town Council

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Keith Harris

Jane Hunt

T: 01509 557701 E: cllr.keith.harris@charnwood.gov.uk

T: 01509 262723 E: jane.hunt.mp@parliament.uk

Borough Councillor for Hathern

I wish a belated Happy New Year to all residents. There was no edition in January.

I have excellent news on the Daisy hedgerow. William Davis have submitted a new plan with only one access point to the play area and one other to Daisy Bank. This is a major change and we are grateful that they have gone to the expense of a new plan, which involves changing the layout and losing one house. They seem to have taken on board our objections to the removal of large sections of the hedgerow to provide ‘connectivity’ to the new residents. It is unfortunate that they are locating the Daisy Bank access leading to the farm track, when there is an existing gap, which could be bridged to lead straight to the footpath to Rowan. I have called the application in to the planning committee and I will be able to speak at the meeting. In the meantime, I will discuss the matter of the access point with the officer. I would like to thank all residents who sent their comments and objections. This is a success for public mobilisation and for biodiversity versus unnecessary removal of hedgerow for spurious human interests.

The parish council met borough Open Spaces officers last week to discuss the woodland in Hathern. I get into trouble if I talk about these issues before the officers do a communication about them. I will simply give residents a heads up that the volunteer aspect of the planting will be very significant. So there will be a lot of scope for the tireless volunteers of the village and we are looking at getting planting going next winter.

At the parish meeting on January 24th, we discussed the possibility of moving one of the three litter/dog bins from between the Cross and Gladstone Street to Daisy Bank. I got permission from William Davis to site a bin there when we were unsuccessfully trying to get a new bin from CBC. So it should be OK to site one there if they decide whether they will go ahead and which one to move and if we can persuade CBC to move it.

We have heard that the Garendon SUE developers will start building the roundabout just before Dishley Grange in March. The HVA are still hoping to have their Wicked Festival on the field in August.

Hathern Club are following their recent fairs with several more in the months to come. There will be a general rummage sale in aid of Hathern Youth Club and craft fairs for individual crafters.

We weren’t able to celebrate our lovely little library’s fifth birthday in January as we thought it was not safe to have large numbers of people in the small space until the Covid numbers came down. We will be having a party on March 12th when things have hopefully improved. Please drop by for coffee and cakes (including some from the best baker in Charnwood, my Mum).

At a recent Zoom volunteers’ meeting we discussed having a talk in the library on a science topic during Science Week in March. As you might expect, we are hoping to find a local who can bamboozle us with amazing facts and/or theories.

We have lost several volunteers recently, two who moved away for work and some temporarily for medical reasons. If you can spare a couple of hours to help out, it would be very much appreciated, either regularly or to cover or both. Training is given before and on the job. It’s not rocket science to operate the online system and there is always another person there on every shift who knows what they are doing.

The Southfields vaccination clinic has scaled down its operation drastically due to the dwindling national uptake of the booster. Only around two thirds have had the third shot. With daily cases still just south of 100,000, can I urge you to go get it in order to protect yourself and others? We are not out of the woods yet and with restrictions lifted, it is important not to let the virus infect lots more people and possibly mutate. We have recently been open for one day a week, but this could increase if the demand is there.

With such low numbers it is usually possible to walk in. Please make an appointment soon and help us to knock this on the head and to get back to normal life as soon as possible.

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Member of Parliament

This is my first column for Your Local in 2022. Christmas seems so long ago, but I hope you had a relaxing break and my best wishes to you for the upcoming year. As I reported in my last column, I was very much looking forward to Small Business Saturday which took place in December. I was pleased to say it was a great success and I started the day in Shepshed where many local businesses had kindly put on offers for the day. I had been working with Shepshed Town Team to encourage local businesses to come forward with offers and I posted a letter to residents advertising these.

I visited the businesses who had come forward and I was encouraged to hear that Shepshed residents had been taking advantage of those offers. My thanks to all the businesses which took part, and to the people of Shepshed for shopping local!

It was a joy visiting the Alternative Christmas Tree Festival in Shepshed which also took place on Small Business Saturday. There were some great entries, and my huge thanks goes to the Rotary Club of Shepshed who organised such a great event. The Christmas Tree Festival as St Peter & St Paul Church in Hathern also looked fabulous and was good to see after a break the previous year due to the pandemic.

More recently, I warmly welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister about the ending of the Plan B restrictions. It is an important step forward towards normality and a return to the freedoms we hold dear. It is a further sign we are reaching the endemic stage and certainly a cause for optimism.

Work from home guidance has now ended, as well as mandatory wearing of face coverings. We have been able to make this decision due to the incredible success of the booster programme and the willingness of the British public to come forward and get the jab.

Boosters are effective in providing a good level of protection, they are safe and are the best route out of this pandemic. You can get your first, second or booster jab by visiting a local walk-in clinic. Details of local clinics can be found here: www.leicestercityccg.nhs.uk. I’d like to extend my thanks to the amazing volunteers and medical professionals who contributed to the success of the booster programme.

I recently marked two years since I made my maiden speech in the House of Commons. We’ve had a challenging couple of years, but I am confident we are on the right track as we come out the other side of the pandemic.

We have much to be optimistic about in the coming months and I am looking forward to cheering on local athletes who are competing in the Commonwealth Games which takes place in July in Birmingham. And talking of the Commonwealth, I am also looking forward to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year. This February marks the seventieth anniversary since HM Queen ascended to the throne and it will be great to join in some of the celebrations taking place in Shepshed and Hathern.

As ever, if I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Christine Radford County Councillor for Shepshed T: 01509 502974 M: 07796 544817 E: christine_radford@hotmail.com

I hope you all had a good Christmas and the New Year has started off good. Please stay safe and look after yourselves and your family. I have been interviewed by Radio Leicester about how County are and have been supporting care Homes during the Pandemic.

Below are relevant number in relation to safeguarding for Children and Adults.

Safety of an adult 0116 305 0004 Safety of a child 0116 305 0005 Phone 999 if a crime is being committed or if someone is in immediate danger Exhibition celebrates beloved children’s book – The Tiger Who Came to Tea I am delighted that Charnwood Museum is able to play host to this wonderful exhibition celebrating the story and hopefully introducing it to even more readers. Generations of children have been delighted by Judith Kerr’s illustrated story, which was first published in 1968. Now people of all ages have the chance to fall in love with ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ all over again at the new exhibition, which opened on the 8th January and runs until March 5th.

The exhibition, originated by Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, features a number of Judith Kerr’s illustrations from the Seven Stories collection and promises to bring this delightful book to life for a new generation of family audiences.

There is a reproduction of Sophie’s kitchen, where young visitors can sit down to tea with a 4ft cuddly tiger, a reading area, dressing up, puzzles, games and lots more Tiger-related activities to appeal to the latest generation of young readers.

There have been various activity days and on Thursday 17th February from 10.30am-12.30am there will be a session aimed at over-fives who are invited to come and enjoy the full story of the Tiger Who Came to Tea, followed by a crafting session.

Charnwood Museum launches children’s writing competition Budding young writers are being given the chance to get creative and share their short stories to be in the change of winning a prize! It is hoped that young writers will be inspired following the exhibition ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’.

There are categories for children under 7, 7-11 and 12-16. The stories need to be a maximum of 500 words. They can be illustrated as well, although that isn’t essential to the competition.

The entries can be submitted by email to museum@charnwood.gov.uk or dropped into Charnwood Museum during normal opening hours. The closing date for the entries is 28th February.

Cash boost for care workers ahead of challenging winter A £500 payment is being offered to care workers across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland as they continue to make extraordinary efforts ahead of another challenging winter.

The payment is being paid in March to around 20,000 front line workers and staff, who remain in service from mid-December 2021 until the end of February 2022.

It will be worth up to £500 for staff who work 20 hours or more per week and around £250 for staff who work less than 20 hours.

Learning Disabilities Partnership Board I attended my first Partnership Board on 20th January and found it very informative. The Board which is made up of Officers from County and residents with disabilities, information was given about Gig Buddies (residents who are interested in the theatre or music can have a buddy to go with them) and about a new project called Sports Buddies (matches people up based on a shared interest in a sport).

The Board was given information about the government who have partnered

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with the disability charity Scope to develop a new Disabled Persons Passenger Charter (document) to ensure disabled people can travel easily and more confidently.

Victim First – The board were given a presentation from Victim First who support anyone who has been a victim of crime, to cope with what has happened and get the right support. You can call them free on 0800 953 9595 or email the on support@victimfirst.pnn.gov.uk.

They are holding a Victims Firsts, first community Cafe which will be held at Asha House, (opposite the entrance to Beehive car park) on Thursday 10th February between 12-3pm. The crime prevention topic for this cafe will be on Fraud and scams and how to prevent these.

Collapsed Bank – near to Persimmon Homes After much chasing I have received an update regarding the watercourse at Hathern Road. Persimmon is planning to replace the previous bank protection with a new proposal of plastic sheet piling along the watercourse banks. Persimmons have been in discussions with LCC Highways and Structures team. It is hoped that an application for a Land Drainage Consent with County as the Lead Local Flood Authority will be submitted shortly. I have been promised that I shall be kept informed.

I am now concerned about the planning application P/21/2424/2 in which Persimmon are asking to verify a condition which was part of the original planning application to carry out improvements at the junction of Shepshed Road Hathern with the A6.

They are trying to use Garendon SUE as an excuse for the Kings Gate development not to improve this junction. I often get residents contacting me about the large queues during busy periods at this junction. Persimmon must comply with the condition.

Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) A TTRO is to be made for the following location: The Lant. The purpose of the TTRO is to allow Severn Trent Water safely undertake works to replace a manhole cover and frame.

The duration of the restriction is not anticipated to exceed a period of 1 day commencing on 22nd March.

The works can be viewed on https://one.network/?tm=GB126890791 A TTRO is to be made for the following location: Trueway Drive. The TTRO is to allow Severn Trent Water safely replace a manhole cover and frame.

The duration of the restriction is not anticipated to exceed a period of 1 day commencing on 14th February.

The works can be viewed on https://one.network/?tm=GB127083516 A TTRO is to be made for the following location Cumbrian Way/Smithy Way. The purpose of the TTRO is to allow Severn Trent Water safely undertake works to replace a manhole cover and frame in the carriageway.

The duration of the restrictions is not anticipated to exceed a period of 1 day commencing on 8th March.

The works can be viewed on http://one.network/?tm=GB126891757 A TTRO is to be made for the following location Oakley Avenue. The purpose of the TTRO is to allow OpenReach to safely undertake inspection of telephone poles.

The duration of the restriction is not anticipated to exceed a period of 1 day commencing on the 31st March.

The works can be viewed here https://one.network/?tm=GB127053490 Your help and support – my contact details Without your help in keeping me informed regarding issues around Shepshed, I would not be able to do my job. For help and advice on County matters, I can be contacted on 01509 502974, or 07796 544817 or e mail christine_radford@hotmail.com or christine.radford@leics.gov.uk , my monthly surgery, is held on the first Saturday of the month in the Town Council Offices, 47a Charnwood Road, (opp. Tesco) You do not need an appointment; I will be there from 10-11 am.

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Christine Radford Borough Councillor for Shepshed T: 01509 502974 M: 07796 544817 E: christine_radford@hotmail.com

We hope you had a good Christmas and the New Year has started off well for you. We have been working on your behalf over the Christmas Holidays and trying to contacted officers at Charnwood with your concerns.

Planning P/21/1767/2 – 8 Britannia Street – demolition of existing buildings and erection of 11 one bed roomed independent living units for adults with specialist needs with associated infrastructure.

P/21/2576/2 – 3E Jolly Farmers Lane – T21 (Oak) – to fell P/21/21112/2 – Prospected House Unit 4, Old Station Close – Flexible change of use to allow B2/B8 and/or retail members club (Sui Generis use class) in building fronting Old Station Close P/21/1885/2 – rear of 8 Field Street – Change of use of building to a commercial, business or service use falling within Use Class E(c), E(e), E(g) or F1(a) of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987.

P/212045/2 – Land South of Ashby Road Central – outline application for residential development of up to 50 dwellings with all matters reserved except for access.

P/21/2392/2 – 2 Spring Lane – demolition of existing shop and erection of three 2.5 storey terraced dwelling houses.

P/21/2428/2 – 41 Iveshead Road – erection of 2 storey extension to rear of dwelling P/21/2357/2 – Pied Bull Inn, 49 Belton St – proposed outbuilding to serve as an ancillary kitchen P/21/2397/2 – 5 Thimble Mill Close – proposed single storey extension to rear of dwelling P/22/0003/2 – (listed building consent), Pied Bull Inn, 49 Belton St – Proposed outbuilding to serve as an ancillary kitchen P/21/2530/2 – 17 Garendon Close – proposed dormer extension to rear to form loft conversion to dwelling P/21/2191/2 – Shepshed Town Cricket Club, Morley Lane – extension to changing rooms.

More information – we reported last month regarding P/21/2424/2 – Persimmon Homes regarding the removal or variation to condition 16 of a previous condition, for information the condition read – Prior to the occupation of the 150th dwelling on the site, the applicants shall construct, complete and open for use the highway improvement works at the junction of the A6 Derby Road/Shepshed Road/Narrow Lane, Hathern as illustrated on Croft Transport Solutions drawing cumbered 0404-04 – REASON : In the interests of highways capacity. We would like to thank all the residents who have written in in support of refusing Persimmon Homes not to abide with this condition. Cllr Radford has also contacted county highways with her concerns.

Planning applications granted subject to conditions P/21/0913/2 – 65 Charnwood Road – Change of use from Taxi Office (Use Class Sui generis) to retail gift shop offering piercing services (Use Class mixed Class E(a) and sui generis) P/21/1895/2 – 16 Glenmore venue – erection of single storey extension at rear of house P/21/1971/2 – 58 Hall Croft – ground floor – Change of use from shop to a self-contained flat (Use Class C3) and associated fenestration alterations Permission refused for reasons P/21/0582/2 – 64B Brick Kiln Lane – Change of use of land to create extended residential cartilage and erection of 1.2 metre high post and rail fence boundary P/21/0430/2 – 64C Brick Kiln Lane – Change of use of land to create extended residential cartilage and erection of 1.2 metre high post and rail fence to boundary.

North West Leicestershire Local Plane Review – Development Strategy Options and Policy Options NWLDC is undertaking a Local Plan Review. The review will update the adopted Local Plane 2017 (as amended by the Partial Review) and will cover the period to 2039.

Public consultation (Regulation 18) started on Monday 17th January. You can see copies at NWLDC offices at Coalville LE67 3FJ or contact 01530 454676 for more information.

New Armed Forces Bill passed in Parliament.

New legislation which will ensure Armed Forces personnel, veteran and their families are better supported when accessing key public services has been passed in Parliament.

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The Armed Forces Bill places the Armed Forces Covenant in law for the first time to help prevent service personnel and veterans being disadvantaged when accessing essential services like healthcare, education and housing. It will ensure councils pay regard to the sacrifice made by our Armed Forces Community.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge by the nation to acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who served in the armed forces and their families should be treated with fairness and respect. Groups, organisations, charities, local authorities and businesses are encouraged to sign up to the covenant. Shepshed Town Council have already signed up.

Councillor contact details Cllr.robin.popley@charnwood.gov.uk, 07909 447105 cllr.john.savage@ charnmwood.gov.uk 550508(Shepshed East) cllr.christine.radford@charnwood.gov.uk 502974, cllr.ian.williams@ charnwood.gov.uk 07739 389960 (Shepshed West). We meet the first Saturday of the month, 10-11 am in the Town Council offices, 47a Charnwood Road (opposite Tesco)

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