THE BIRSTALL POST, APR 2010
Parish Office at any time to raise issues. Another resident raised concerns about the condition of the ditches along Meadow Lane. Cllr Tony Fowler said that the land was not owned by the Parish Council, the landowner was responsible for maintaining the ditches, and the landowner was unknown. Attempts to establish the identity of the landowner had failed. It was reported that BUFC will be removing a skip located at their Meadow Lane ground and will be tackling their litter problem. Owing to the difficulties caused by a full size bus using Stonehill Avenue, it was agreed to write to bus operator First Leicester to suggest they use smaller vehicles on the route. Councillors debated a proposal to ban all dogs from the village playing fields. It was defeated by nine votes to seven with two abstentions. It was agreed to obtain a quote for providing steps in the grassy bank opposite Birstall DIY for users of the car park, and for creating a path through the flower beds from the Sibson Road car park to the bowls club. Both routes are being used informally and the ground is becoming muddy. It was reported that a planter near the car park entrance is obscuring vision for motorists exiting the car park and it was agreed to invite the County Council to suggest a solution. It was agreed that the County Council be asked to replace the daffodils and white roses planted outside Greengate Medical Centre that were lost during the 2009 junction improvements. The Council have formed a steering group to oversee the installation of a skate park and multi use games area on the School Lane playing field.
Sentence upheld A BIRSTALL man jailed for a violent torture attack has failed to have his sentence overturned on appeal. Paul Sean Timothy Bradley (21) of Johnson Road was convicted in 2009 after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm and false imprisonment. He was one of a gang of seven who tied up and tortured a man they believed was involved in a robbery at one of the gang member’s home. The victim was tied up and held for five hours. Bradley branded him with a hairdryer and sprayed aerosols around his head, which he then lit. Burning cigarettes were stubbed out on the victim’s body. Bradley was given an indefinite prison sentence in 2009 and was ordered to serve at least three years and four months behind bars before he would be considered for release, and then only if he could prove he was no longer a danger to the public. His lawyers urged Lord Justice Thomas, sitting with Mr Justice Roderick Evans and Mr Justice Coulson at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, to overturn the open-ended sentence and replace it with a determinate number of years. Lord Justice Pic Paul Bradley Thomas said: “In a civil society, if someone sets about torturing or committing the extreme brutality in this case, why should he be considered for release, if ever released?” Noting that Bradley took a ‘lead role’ in the incident, the judge said: “It was an incident of extreme and severe violence and the sentencing judge took the view that this was inevitably linked to some kind of drug gang deal.” Bradley had three previous convictions for common assault, two for threatening behaviour and one for affray. That record, combined with Bradley’s “propensity for violence” justified the indefinite sentence, the judge ruled.
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Band Charity shave night for car park A LOCAL football club wants to resurface its car park and has organised a gig to help raise funds for the project. Birstall United Juniors FC, who are based on Meadow Lane, are putting on the gig at the Newfoundpool WMC, Beatrice Road, Leicester on Saturday April 24. The gig will feature the covers band Weirdfish – the drummer is club manager Phil Hughes. He said: “As everyone who comes to the club knows, our car park is in desperate need of resurfacing. Unfortunately, this is not going to be cheap and so the committee came up with the idea of doing a gig to raise the money. We are holding the gig at the Newfoundpool Club since they are the landlords of part of our training facilities and they are letting us have their concert room for free. This will be a great evening out for everybody involved, especially if you like live music.” Weirdfish plays rock covers from groups like Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Green Day, the Fratellis, Razorlight, Neil Young, The Clash, AC-DC and many other favourites from the past four decades. There is a bar until midnight and other fundraising activities on the night including raffles and auctions. The club will be arranging buses to take people to the gig and back for a small charge so that they don’t have to worry about driving or taxis. Phil said: “This gig is open to anyone, not just members of the football club, so please come along and support us.” Tickets are priced at £7.50 per person but are restricted to adults only. They are available from www.bujfc.co.uk. Finally, the club would be very grateful if people or local businesses could donate some prizes for the raffle/auction, so if you would like to donate something no matter how small, please contact Phil on contactweirdfish@yahoo.co.uk
A PINT and a shave please: not an unusual order at The Plough last month when players from a local rugby club had their beards shaved after growing them to raise money for an injured team mate. 25 players from Birstall Rugby Club were sponsored to grow their beards from January 1, to raise funds for Richard Engelgardt who dislocated his spine when a scrum collapsed. Hairdressing students from Brooksby College did the shaving. The club expects the event to have raised more than £2000.
Pic: Brooksby College Hairdressing student Natalie French shaves Chris Barbrook
Burglars arrested Ale festival OFFICERS FROM Charnwood local policing unit are appealing for public help after two men were seen acting suspiciously in Birstall. Police received a report at about 2am on Monday March 22 that two men were seen acting suspiciously in the Cliffwood Avenue area. Following a search of the area two men were arrested and property believed to have been stolen from the Copeland Road area was recovered. A black Pentax digital camera and some prescription medication was recovered from the men. The owner of the medication has been identified but officers have not traced the owner of the camera. Detective Constable Alf Doyle is investigating the incident. He said: “It is
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believed that the suspects may have committed further incidents in the area and we would urge anyone who believes the camera may belong to them to contact us as soon as possible. The camera contains a number of pictures including a wedding and a holiday.” Two men, aged 18 and 21, have been arrested on suspicion of theft and remain in police custody. Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC 170 Doyle on 222 2222, follow the instructions to leave a message for a police officer and when prompted key in the officer’s identification number 0170. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous on 0800 555 111
FANCY YOURSELF as a real ale connoisseur? Unsure what ‘real ale’ is but tempted to give it a go? Then look out for The Rotary Club of the Wreake Valley’s 6th Annual Charity Real Ale Festival being held at Syston Community Centre in April. There will be around 30 real ales to sample together with a range of refreshments for the peckish, and of course soft drinks for drivers. On the Saturday evening at 8pm there will be a quiz that is free to enter for all attending the festival so get your teams of between two and six members arranged now. All proceeds to Rotary designated charitable causes. Entrance is £5 to include a commemorative glass and your first half pint. There will be concessions for card carrying CAMRA members. The event will be held on Thursday April 15 and Friday April 16, from 510.30pm and on Saturday April 17 from 12noon 10.30pm. Further information from and quiz entries to osteofred@hotmail.co.uk