Rothley Post (159) March 2023

THE ROTHLEY POST YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Delivered to Rothley, Thurcaston & Cropston

MAR/APR 2023

www.birstallpost.co.uk

No. 159

Rothley’s award winning club The club is particularly keen to encourage women who have not played for a while to pick up their racquets.

Anne said: “We can offer support through individual or group coaching as you get back to a sport you may have loved some time ago but maybe have not had time for in recent years.”

Contact the club at: enquiries@rothleytennis.info www.rothleytennis.info Pic: Greg Rusedski with (l-r) Anne Mumford, Susan Cottam, Louise Christian, Jackie Wales & Cathryn Colville The next issue of

THE ROTHLEY POST will be published on May 5.

The copy deadline is Apr 21.

Highway works HIGHWAY WORKS on the A6 between Birstall and Rothley started in February and are expected to last 52 weeks.

Developers Davidsons and Cora Homes are starting the main access works off the A6 into the 1950 home Continued on page 3

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ROTHLEY IVANHOE tennis club is one of the most successful clubs in the league, walking away with top place in a number of divisions at the recent Tennis Leicestershire Awards.

The women's teams in the summer league, and at over 40s and over 60s levels, were particularly successful.

The awards were presented by tennis legend Greg Rusedski who entertained the audience with stories from the tour and his views on tennis today.

The club's Chair, Anne Mumford, also received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Anne has been a member of the club for over 30 years. She said: “While it was great to celebrate the league success, the club is about far more than that and offers chances to play socially, within the club with some great all-year round club competitions, as well as in our teams.

We really feel that the club is a club for all - whatever your age or experience.”

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Alpine House Surgery 86 Rothley Rd, Mountsorrel, Loughborough LE12 7JU Tel: 0116 216 9947

Plans were submitted and approved by the local council, and we are now awaiting approval from the NHS estates team. The additional space will provide us with additional capacity for our attached staff provided by our local PCN.

Recruitment We have recruited and welcome our new Reception Manager, Laraine.

Laraine has a wealth of Primary Care Management experience and is your first port of call for any difficulties you may face when navigating the reception system.

We are also in the process of recruiting additional reception staff and have two new staff members who will be joining the team during February and March.

Contacting us We do offer routine appointments so if you do not require an “on the day” appointment do consider calling later in the day and asking for the next routine appointment. Don’t forget, the GP is not always the most appropriate person for your needs but the more information you can give, the better our reception team can help you.

Online access We have recently reinstated online access for routine GP appointments, if you have online access to book appointments, you will be able to use this to book. These appointments are released for 10 weeks at a time and are on a first come first served basis.

All our online appointments are faceto-face but if you prefer a telephone call, please state this when booking your appointment.

Pharmacist, Paramedic & Nursing Teams Our pharmacists can help with medication reviews and many medication queries. Our Paramedic team are

highly skilled health professionals and can help with a wide range of problems. Both teams can prescribe independently and have direct access to a GP for support. Our Nursing team are on hand to help you with your longterm conditions, along with vaccinations, cervical smear testing and minor illness, both of our nurses are independent prescribers. Our HCA and phlebotomy team undertake all our blood testing and can help with simple wound care, stitch and clip removal, routine ear care, flu vaccination, ECGs and BP monitoring.

We continue to see patients face to face, and patients can choose if their GP appointment is face-to-face or by telephone. Our latest data continues to show that our GPs are seeing more than 50% of patients face to face. We also carry out home visits for our most clinically vulnerable patients where appropriate.

We would like to reassure all our patients we are doing all we can to improve the service and we thank you for your continued patience.

In our last article we informed our patients that the Alpine House reception team has been depleted recently and this was having a huge impact on the team and the ability to answer the phones in a timely manner. We are pleased to report that call waiting times are improving and the average wait time at our busiest times has reduced to 30 minutes, this is not deemed unreasonable. We are not an emergency service and if your call is of a life threatening or emergency nature, please direct your call to 999.

Whilst we are continuing to address the current frustrations of accessing healthcare, we are, unfortunately, still noticing an increase amongst a small cohort of patients who have resorted to being abusive to our staff. This is upsetting for staff, and other patients who witness this behaviour, and we would ask that patients always treat all of our team members with kindness, courtesy and respect. We do have a zero-tolerance policy in place to allow us to manage patients who are abusive, and your registration with us may be at risk if you are abusive in any way to any of our team. If patient behaviour is deemed, in any way, violent or threatening, then an immediate removal from the practice list will be instigated.

We are fortunate that this is a minority of people, and we recognise and thank all our patients for your loyalty, kindness and understanding.

All the team at Alpine House look forward to continuing to support you.

Laura Newbold Practice Manager

MAR 2023

We are pleased to let you know that we are currently in the very early stages of planning to make improvements to the surgery site in the form of an extension and refurb to our minor surgery room.

Frontline news

THE ROTHLEY POST

The good news!

Walk raises funds in memory of Samuel THE FIRST official fundraising event for Samuel's Promise, a charity fund set up in memory of Rothley’s Samuel Priestley, has raised £2200.

Samuel’s Promise is raising funds for research into low-grade brain tumours and surgical advancements in memory of Samuel, who died last February, aged 18.

Samuel was 14 years old when in July 2018 he was diagnosed with a brain

though, that was his real passion.

“However, things started to change for us when Samuel began having headaches, and it was on our way to football one evening he asked me if he had a brain tumour. We took him to the GP, and on their advice, he had his eyes checked by an optician, who sent us directly to A&E. A scan was performed, before doctors delivered the most gut-wrenching words to him: 'There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just say it, we have found a mass in your brain.' Emergency blue lights took us to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he had an eight-hour operation.”

Samuel and his family quickly became submerged in a whole new world of hospitals, specialist consultants and brain surgeons, with repeated admissions to hospital.

“His strength of character and resilience amazed us all and together, with his sister Emily, we were a strong, solid unit. Our fears and anxiety

Sharon said: “We were overwhelmed with the number of people who walked and talked with us on the day. It was lovely to see so many of Samuel's friends walking together and to catch up with them.”

She added: “Samuel loved all sports and, when he was younger, has been part of Rothley Tennis club, Rothley Cricket, and Loughborough Athletics, but football was his passion, and he had played for Mountsorrel Juniors Football Club since he was five. It was here that he met and made so many friends, and as a family, we all become involved with

Pics: (above) Samuel Priestly, (right) Samuel with his family

tumour.

Mum Sharon says: “Before his diagnosis, he’d been a happy, carefree boy, surrounded by friends and enjoying the normal life of a teenager. He was in good health, fit and strong, and excelled in all sports, including tennis, cricket and athletics. It was football, Pic: a map of the Broadnook Garden suburb

4 PLOTS FOR SHOWPEOPLE

BROADNOOK GARDEN SUBURB

ST SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS

MAR 2023

WANLIP

BIRSTALL

Continued from page 1 Broadnook Garden Suburb, a planned garden village development.

A county council spokesperson said: “Throughout 2023 there will be an ongoing requirement for phased and approved traffic management and a website will be launched to ensure the public get

THE ROTHLEY POST

were at times overwhelming, but we found strength in each other as a family to pick him – and each other - up and keep going,” said Sharon.

Samuel had several operations, chemotherapy and proton beam therapy; when his tumour had progressed to his brain stem and was now inoperable.

Sadly, after three years and eight months of punishing, intense operations and treatments, Samuel passed away in February 2022, aged 18.

Around 100 people took part in a fundraising walk and talk event, that started and finished in the Woodies car park on January 2, taking in Bradgate Park and Swithland.

updates on phasing and progress. Overnight preparatory works are commencing very soon. The scheme will also include the formation of new roundabouts and diversionary works in the area of the A6/A46 interchange, as well as various highway improvements.”

Pics: walkers setting off ion their charity walk

MJFC. The club has also supported us with fundraising while Samuel was still receiving treatment and has pledged to continue to support his charity Samuel's Promise - MJFC is the reason that Samuel's Promise has the orange logo! They have dedicated an SP10 memorial to Samuel on each of their number 10 shirts and the clubhouse displays his picture. We are incredibly thankful for the support of all our friends and it means so much to know that Samuel's name is remembered.”

Sharon says the family plan to repeat the walk next year.

She said: “We raised just over £2,200 from the Walk and Talk, which is incredible, we were blown away by everyone's generosity.

“At the end of the walk, everyone was tired and muddy, but all agreed that it was a lovely way to start the new year, to come together as a community and honour Samuel, and we plan to do the same again next year - 1 January 2024!”

The Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group is the registered charity hosting the Samuel’s Promise fund: https://specialnamedfunds.cclg.org.uk/ samuels-promise/

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Rothley parish church clock repaired As a result of external wear and tear to the clock hand mechanisms, a specialist company, Time Assured, was engaged to replace the damaged parts to ensure that the clock works as accurately as possible and that both faces are in synchronisation.

This required an expert in clock repairs and one having abseiling skills.

The initial clock repairs were in late January, with the damaged hands removed. The repaired hands are due

to be replaced in early March, after which the local community will have a reliable clock with chiming on the hour restored.

Mike, who abseiled up the church tower in order to carry out the work, kindly cleaned the two windows below the clock face.

Pics: (left) Work during the repairs; (below)waiting for the hands

Humps TRAFFIC CALMING measures are planned for Walton Way. Leicestershire County Council has received a Section 106 contribution from developers William Davis Homes for traffic calming measures, including seven speed humps, along Walton Way, Mountsorrel.

The county council carried out a speed survey which showed the 85th percentile speeds at both AM and PM peaks to be in excess of the speed limit along Walton Way. The provisional location for the traffic calming measures: Walton Way, Mountsorrel - One set of two cushions 75mm high approximately 50m south of Edinburgh Way - One set of two cushions 75mm high between Barnard Way and Kenilworth Close - One set of two cushions 75mm high approximately 15m north of Carisbrooke Road - One set of two cushions 75mm high between Kirby Close and Caernarvon Close - One set of two cushions 75mm high between Grange Lane and Meadow Road - One set of two cushions 75mm high between Castle Road and Renning End - One set of two cushions 75mm high outside property numbers 14 – 18 Walton Way - One raised table 75mm high at the junction of Walton Way and West Cross Lane

Details of the proposed scheme, which was subject to a public consultation that ended on March 1, can be viewed at https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/roads -and-travel/cars-and-parking/trafficmanagement-consultations

MAR 2023

AN EXPERT abseiling horologist has repaired the clock at Rothley Parish Church.

THE ROTHLEY POST

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THE ROTHLEY POST

MAR 2023

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The Rothley Centre, 12 Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, Leicester, LE7 7PR Normal Office Hours: Monday to Friday 09.00 to 11.00am www.rothleyparishcouncil.org.uk Phone: 0116 2374544 Email: clerk@rothleyparishcouncil.org.uk

King’s Coronation in May

Parish Council Elections Local elections take place on th Thursday 4 May. On this date there will be elections for local borough councils (Charnwood) and parish councils (Rothley); voting for both being held at the Rothley Centre, M’tsorrel Lane.

Residents in Cropston can vote at the School Room at Cropston Chapel, Station Rd. and in Thurcaston votes can be cast at the Harrison Room, All Saints Church, Anstey Lane.

New regulations on voting.

Photographic identification will need to be produced at the polling stations before being given a ballot paper in order to cast your vote. These include: ~ passport ~ driving licence ~ bus pass ~ Blue badge Speed ramp Mountsorrel Lane RPC have received a number of complaints regarding the speed ramp on Mountsorrel Lane opposite the entrance to the Library. The issue being that the underneath of cars and other larger vehicles hit the ramp as they head on up the road.

RPC have repeatedly contacted Leics. County Council Highways Dept. to express these concerns.

The consistent reply that we have received is that the ramp conforms to agreed dimensions.

A Parish Council election will be held should there be more than 10 candidates. Local residents wishing to stand for a place must submit the nomination papers by th Tuesday 4 April. 4.00pm. to Charnwood Borough Council Electoral Registration Officer Southfield Road, Loughborough LE11 2TR RPC are considering ways to Briefly candidates must mark the coronation of King · be at least 18 years old Good Neighbours Scheme th Charles III on 6 May. Following a request from Rothley · be a British citizen, We would welcome any ideas · meet at least one of the Good Neighbours Scheme RPC from members of the public. has agreed to fund the following four items organisation so that they can a) Your name must appear on Street Parties carry on their work. the register of local government Anyone thinking of holding an The scheme, run by volunteers, electors & throughout your term event to celebrate The King’s helps and supports the elderly, of office should you be elected.

Coronation should consult the vulnerable or those who are in Parish Council website for further b) You have occupied any land need of temporary assistance advice or ring Leicestershire C.C or other premises as owner or due to illness injury or tenant in the parish/community on 0116 305 7239 during 12 months before the day bereavement. More details about Town Green RGNS can be found in this issue. of your nomination and the day Town Green was laid out in 1954 of your nomination and the day Opening of footpath due to the generosity of George of election.

A footpath adjacent to the Gee of Rothley. The Beech tree c) Your main place of work was planted to commemorate the during the 12 months prior to the Cemetery from Mountsorrel Ln. into the Rothley Meadows estate Coronation of Queen Elizabeth day of your nomination and the was opened in January by day of election has been in the William Davis Ltd. The route of parish/community area. You do the path includes some excellent not have to have paid play facilities for children. employment to qualify, as long as your main or only place of work is in the parish area. d) You have lived in the parish area during 12 months before the day of your nomination There has been damage to some Nomination papers can be obtained from Charnwood or the of the white posts and RPC are Rothley Parish Office. replacing missing or leaning posts & repainting them all white.

Village Hall

RPC is keen to continue the upgrading of its facilities and are in the process of getting quotes to upgrade the Village Hall toilets which will include the addition of a disabled toilet and baby changing facilities.

Parish Precept The ‘precept’ (the Parish Council’s share of your Council Tax) makes up the greater part of our income, with a further significant contribution coming from the hiring of rooms at the Rothley Centre and Village Hall.

With the reopening of both buildings following Covid restrictions and the recent refurbishment of the Rothley Centre this income stream is now improving. This means that for the coming year the precept will only need to be increased by a relatively small amount, from £199,132 in 2022/23 to £204,925 in 2023/24, a 2.91% increase.

The Parish Council’s total budget for 2022/23 was £239,682. This has risen to £263,642 for 2023/24, an increase of about 10%. The breakdown of Parish Council expenditure for 2023/24 will be approximately as follows: Salaries & Centre costs 15.7% Open Spaces 19.8% Admin/insurance 8.6% Village Hall 5.8% Street Lighting 6.5% Insurance 1.9% Other 10.00% Readers may wish to know the full costs of running the Rothley Centre. Our best estimate for the year 2022-23 is around £50,000 for non-pay costs plus £25,000 for pay, offset by around £30,000 in income. The total net cost of around £45,000 is clearly significant. Resident’s comments are welcome.

MAR 2023

Rothley Parish Councillors Andrew Brettle Nathanial Bromwich Mike Ferguson Roger Gross Graham Hall Percy Hartshorn Steve Mitchell Barry Simons Douglas Sutherland Christine Watts RPC Administration Parish Clerk: Gail Newcombe Senior Administrator: Sue Wyles Facilities Administrator: Vacant Caretaking staff Jenny Cornish Andy Hodgson

March/April 2023

THE ROTHLEY POST

Newsletter No 15

Raising awareness of autism

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A ROTHLEY organisation that supports people with autism has partnered with Deli 1880 to raise awareness of autism for World Autism Acceptance week, which starts on March 27.

Freedom Active is a life skills training centre on Fowke Street for working-age adults with a diagnosis of autism, learning difficulties and behaviour that may challenge.

It featured in the BBC documentary ‘Inside our autistic minds’, presented by Chris Packham. Chris was filmed visiting the centre and talking to staff and clients.

THE GCR is running trains beDeli 1880 is partnering in this event tween Birstall and Mountsorrel by offering a promotional offer on hot drinks and by working on projects and while work to replace two bridgopportunities with Freedom Active in the es is completed. future.

The 125-year-old bridges are being A stall replaced near Quorn and Woodhouse will be in station, and the usual ‘main line’ route place on between Loughborough and Leicester is Cross Green temporarily closed. Instead, heritage during this trains are leaving Leicester North station, week, from pausing at the Edwardian Rothley station 10.30am before changing tracks onto the Mountuntil sorrel branch line and heading to the 12.30pm.

Nunckley Hill station at the Mountsorrel The stall will & Rothley Heritage Centre. offer a variety of items available to buy “We’re looking forward to offering this on the day, alongside some information treat to our visitors,” said Great Central about autism.

Railway Chairman Richard Patching.

“Members of the group will be staffing “The contrast between the branch line the stall all week, so feel free to come and our main line is really something. along and support World Autism Accept- The train slows right down, leaving plenance Week!” said Daniel Morson from ty of time to enjoy the scenery and relax.

Freedom Active.

As our main line was built in the 1890s, Pic: The Freedom Active life skills training we need to keep investing in the railway centre in Rothley so we continue to serve the community as a leading attraction and employer.

The next issue of The work will take the whole of March THE ROTHLEY POST to complete. We’re relieved we don’t will be published on May 5. have to close entirely, so now is definiteThe copy deadline is Apr 21. ly the time to come and see us for this

THE ROTHLEY POST

MAR 2023

Take the train to Mountsorrel

Pic: a train entering the Mountsorrel branch line from the GCR main line

very rare chance to travel from Leicester to Mountsorrel!”

The branch line to Mountsorrel leaves the Great Central main line near Swithland. It was originally built to carry trains laden with stone from the local quarry. It fell out of use in the 1950s but was relaid by volunteers as a community project. They have transformed an empty site into a visitor centre telling

the story of the quarrying and railways in the area, plus other village stories.

The trains between Leicester and Mountsorrel will be operated by vintage diesel multiple units dating from the 1950s.

Please note a separate admission fee (£1 for adults and 50p for children) is payable to visit the Mountsorrel Heritage Centre if you leave the train at the Heritage Centre.

Based in Rothley with 20 years experience as an Estate Agent, I would love to help you move home in 2023.

THE ROTHLEY POST

MAR 2023

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Tribute paid to headteacher THE HEADTEACHER of Rothley’s primary school, Fiona Riley, is retiring.

In a statement, the school paid the following tribute: After seventeen years of outstanding service to the village community, Mrs Fiona Riley, Headteacher of Rothley C of E Academy, has retired.

When Mrs Riley first became Headteacher, the number of pupils on the roll was little more than 250 children. By the time she left, the school was to become a three-form entry school, with 90 children in a year group.

The education of hundreds of children has been steered by Mrs Riley and her dedicated team of staff, providing an excellent education for the children of our village.

Her commitment cannot be underestimated.

During Mrs Riley’s Headship, she introduced residential school trips for the older children in school, including Dukes Barn in Derbyshire, Hilltop Outdoor Centre in Sheringham and even an overnight trip to London, which includes a theatre trip and a visit to Harry Potter World too! The children always look

Pic: Mrs Fiona Riley

forward to these trips, and their adventures regularly feature in the children’s favourite school memories during the Year 6 Leavers Assembly.

With a passion for the performing arts and music, Mrs Riley created lots of opportunities for the children to perform for their parents and a wider audience.

Woodcock

Salon’s seasonal gifts

FARM SHOP

Home Grown Potatoes: White Marfona Red Mozart

A ROTHLEY hair salon delivered a sackful of Christmas gifts to a children’s hospice, thanks to the generosity of their clients.

THE ROTHLEY POST

MAR 2023

During December, award-winning salon Gavin Taylor Hair on Fowke Street, put out a plea to all of their clients.

Instead of bringing in copious amounts of chocolates and wine for the staff, they asked if they could pass it forward and asked them if they were thinking of bringing in a gift if it could be a gift for terminally ill children and their families receiving care from Rainbows Children’s Hospice in Loughborough.

A ginormous Santa sack was ready and waiting in the salon reception area to be filled with gifts.

Gavin and Jane Taylor of Gavin Taylor Hair ran the Christmas campaign with the assistance of Jenny Ball, Community Fundraiser at Rainbows Hospice, who gave them specific items to ask the clients for, such as craft items, winter hats, toiletries and sensory toys.

The next issue of

THE ROTHLEY POST will be published on May 5.

The copy deadline is Apr 21.

The confidence gained by so very many children is a joy to see. Their newfound confidence has far reaching impact, and we know of children who have gone on to become actors and performers. We are sure this will continue in the future too.

With her continued passion to achieve the best for the children in her care, she oversaw the move from the school building on Mountsorrel Lane to the impressive new school building on Burrow Drive. Our children now have a truly amazing school with outstanding facilities.

Opportunities for staff development were always at the forefront of Mrs Riley’s thinking, and there is no doubt that because of this, the staff at Rothley Academy are all excellent practitioners and always have the latest knowledge and skills to provide the very best education for our children. As a mark of respect and thanks to Mrs Riley, the staff and Governors have arranged for a rose garden to be created within the school grounds, which will include 17 roses; one for each of the years that Mrs Riley dedicated to our school.

Fresh Fruit & Veg Local Honey & Preserves incl Marmalade & Chutney

Horse & Pony Feeds, Goat Feeds, Poultry Feeds, Rabbit Food, Hay Straw & Shavings Pic: Gavin Taylor and his two daughters delivering the first run of the gifts

The Santa sack soon became overflowing with gifts, spreading out across the lounge area of the salon.

“The support from our clients during our campaign was phenomenal, myself and our team were hoping to see the Santa sack fill up, but not once did we envisage the amount of generosity our clients gave,” said Gavin Taylor.

The team at Gavin Taylor Hair also gave generously, as well as their families.

On December 22, Gavin and his two daughters proudly delivered all of the gifts to Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough and met with Jenny, Community Fundraiser, to hand them over.

Jenny said: “Thank you so much for your donation, it's very kind of you and your clients to support Rainbows in this way.”

Rainbows provides care and support for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, across the East

Midlands. The care offered is wide-ranging: palliative care, end-of-life care, symptom management, emergency care and respite. Without the support of the general public and their fundraising, Rainbows would not be able to offer this service.

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2-4pm, the Harrison Room at All Saints Church is open for anyone to come and join us.

Noticeboard all details printed free

Birstall Flower Club Wednesday March 22, 2023 Birstall Village Hall 7.15pm Demonstrator: Pauline Foster Title: Let Us Dance In The Sun Visitors £5 Queries to: Sylvia 0116 267 4206 or Carol 0116 267 1437

In Thurcaston

Rothley First Friday

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris Run time 1hr 55mins Free refreshments & good prizes in raffle Everyone welcome In partnership with the House of Dior, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but the very future of the House of Dior

The UK Constitution History, Present and Future with Bob Grindrod 5 week course starting on Wed 26 April 2-4pm – at The Rothley Centre - Fee £43* (or free if you are in receipt of an income related benefit; or you could also apply for WEA Learner Discretionary fund for a fee waiver if your household income is less than £21,000 a year).

The course will look at how the UK Constitution works and whether it remains 'fit for purpose' in the modern world. We will look at how our Constitution has come about, its main components and the recent crises that have tested it almost to destruction. Would we all be better off if it were codified, written down, and taught in schools as in many countries around the world?

To enrol please ring 0300 303 3464 quoting course ref.

C2348849 or via the WEA website www.wea.org.uk Thurcaston All Saints Church

Film Club Note the date! A week later than normal due to Good Friday holiday Fri April 14, 2pm Rothley Centre

The Wednesday Hub – Warm Welcome Every Wednesday afternoon from

GAS-SERVWELL (Charnwood Ltd)

Service, Repairs, Installations of all Gas Appliances

12 YR WARRANTY ON BOILER INSTALLS BOILER REPLACEMENTS • SAME DAY BREAKDOWN VISITS Contact Rob:

07860 735066 0116 2367923 bobzgas@gmail.com

Boiler & Gas Fires Serviced

The Wednesday Hub is run in partnership with the Thurcaston & Cropston Good Neighbours group and is free to attend.

Come along for coffee, cake, chat and a warm welcome!

We also have puzzles, games (such as cards and Scrabble), books or you can bring your own activities with you.

WiFi now available too.

For further details, please call 07834 483850 or email us on Wednesdayhub3@gmail.com Syston and District University of the Third Age

Open Day Wednesday April 26, 11am – 2pm.

Not in full time work? Is this what you’ve been waiting for? A chance to meet future friends, become more active, enjoy new interests and socialise. Does having fun appeal to you? Discover more about these opportunities and talk to both Group Organisers and members of Syston and District u3a.

Visit our Open Day at Grosvenor Snooker Club, Syston, LE7 2EN. We are waiting to welcome you *

Rothley & Birstall Birdwatchers Tuesday March 14, 7.30pm This has been changed to a talk on his visit to Mongolia by Andy Smith Tuesday April 18, 7.30pm Please note this meeting will be on the third Tuesday of April, the 18th, not on the second Tuesday as usual, due to Easter being the previous week.

"Nature's Darning Needles" An introduction to Dragonflies by Kevin Reynolds Membership £15 p.a. Talks free to members but if you just want to come and listen, come as a visitor for just £3 Birstall Methodist Church Ratcliffe Chorale & Knighton Community Choir present

A Spring Concert At Birstall Methodist Church, Wanlip Lane, Birstall Saturday March 18, 2023, 7pm Conductor – Simon Lubkowski Organist – Ron Berry Free entry – Raffle and retiring collection in aid of Action for Chil-

Syston Model Railway Society will be holding its

Annual Model Railway Show

at ROOTS @ Thorpe Farm, Barkby Thorpe, Leicester, LE7 3QE on April 29th/30th. Opening times are 10am – 4:30pm on Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sunday. Admission is £5 per adult and £4 per unaccompanied child. Accompanied children go free.

There will be a number of layouts in various gauges as well as specialist traders and demonstrations. Refreshments will be available.

Plenty of free parking For further information please contact John on 07948419664 or email systonmodelrailway@gmx.co.uk. www.systonmrs.org.uk

From Classics to Jazz Rachael Lawson: Clarinet/Saxophone Stephen Waterhouse: Piano Saturday 1st April 2023, 7pm Syston Methodist Church High Street, Syston LE7 1GP Tickets £8 including light refreshments Tel no 0116 2609804/0759 462 8961 In aid of LOROS

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MAR 2023

Friday Night Films

“Mr Malcolm’s List” (April 14, 115 mins) Set in the 19th century, April’s film is a feel-good romantic comedy drama. Mysterious but handsome bachelor, Mr Malcom, has many lady followers. Exasperatingly, Julia discovers that he has an actual written list of qualities which he requires in a future wife.

However, She resents being rejected and creates a plan ..... but will her plan work?

“Mrs Harris goes to Paris” (May 12, 115 mins) In our May life-affirming drama comedy, Oscar nominee, Lesley Manville, plays a cleaning lady who ventures to Paris to buy the luxurious dress of her dreams.

This is a delightful “rags to regalia” tale that you should not miss.

“The Lost King” will be shown on June 9.

Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Film tickets will cost the usual £5, which includes a lucky prize draw and refreshments during the interval.

You can pay for tickets at the door, if there are any left, or pay in advance from: Richard 0116 2363 066 or Diana 0116 2362 619

dren & Church Funds All Welcome

THE ROTHLEY POST

10

Parish Council notes A FULL meeting of Rothley Parish Council was held on January 16.

The crime figures for December 2022 were presented.

No reports of vehicle crime, two reports of theft (theft of parcel, bags of coal stolen from outside the shop).

Three burglaries (rear door broken, property entered, and items taken).

There were no reports of criminal damage and no reports of antisocial behaviour in December. Anyone witnessing antisocial behaviour should report it to the police via 101 or via the Leicester-

shire Police website.

It was reported that the Rothley Christmas light switch-on event had been well received and had run smoothly with the help of volunteers. In 2023, the event will take place on November 30.

A full meeting of Rothley Parish Council was held on February 20.

PCSO Katrina Hallmark reported that since the start of February, there have been three reports of criminal damage, two of which were to the windows of cars. There has been one burglary and no reports of antisocial behaviour so far this month. Police are aware of a group of young people responsible for antiso-

cial behaviour, and they have been spoken to twice. One of the young people has particularly complicated issues.

Police are patrolling problem areas.

PCSO Hallmark requested that members of the public report all incidents of antisocial behaviour to the police, so they can be aware of when and where the problems are occurring.

Comment was made that the problem of antisocial behaviour had reduced in the last couple of weeks.

It was reported that during the refurbishment of the Rothley Centre a pipe had been cut, and there was no water supply to the bar.

Borough Cllr Mark Charles reported that the borough council has a new customer services team in place, responding to phone calls and emails. The

Latimer Players’ spring show THE LATIMER Players had a very successful run with their last production, ‘Three Score Years and Ten’, a celebration of 70 years of the Thurcaston based amateur dramatic society.

They were especially pleased to welcome back their loyal audiences who ventured back after the COVID pandemic.

They hope they will have continued success with their April production.

The Inspector Pratt plays have always been a firm favourite with their audiences, and they are pleased to present ‘Sleighed To Death’, a comedy by Peter Gordon. This play takes place during the early days of Pratt’s career, when he is a police sergeant.

The play opens on Christmas Eve in the manor house of the bumbling aristocrat Sir Walton Gates and his wife Grace.

His daughter from a previous marriage arrives from town with her new companion in tow, the dashing James Washington. Added to the mix is Sir Walton’s estranged brother Archie, recently re-

Pics: scenes from the last production of the Latimer Players

turned from years spent in Australia, bringing with him an appetite for mischief and a dodgy accent.

Enter England’s most confused police officer, Sergeant Pratt, and the evening soon descends into chaos with failed

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MAR 2023

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All performances will have café style seating, where you are invited to bring your own drinks and nibbles.

Production dates are April 27, 28 & 29 at the Memorial Hall, Anstey Lane, Thurcaston, at 7.30pm.

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customer services desk is open five days 11 a week from 9am to 4pm for face-toface enquiries. Cllr Charles reported that nighttime and weekend construction work at the Broadnook Garden Suburb would start in August 2023.

The council agreed to a request for grant funding of £250 from the Rothley Good Neighbours scheme. The funding will pay for the group’s operating costs: a mobile phone contract and public liability insurance.

A FULL meeting of Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council was held on November 14.

It was reported that a Warm Space was being provided in All Saints Church from 2 to 4 pm every Wednesday.

A resident of Latimer Road has reported that a young ginger cat had been shot with an air rifle and had to be euthanised.

Three burglaries in Thurcaston were reported. No crimes were reported in Cropston.

In public participation, a member of the public reported tyres being fly-tipped in a lay-by on Anstey Lane.

The council agreed that Cllr Andy Sharp be appointed tree warden.

A full meeting of Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council was held on January 16.

PCSO Mitch Jarvis reported that there had been a rise in crime across Charnwood. In Thurcaston, a motorbike has been stolen and there has been one house burglary. Three people forced bi-fold doors, took car keys and came back for vehicles. Three suspects are in custody. In Cropston, one van was stolen.

Councillors considered a request from a local resident for electric car charging points in the villages. It was agreed that the parish council contact the breweries of the Wheatsheaf in Thurcaston, the Bradgate Arms and Badgers’ Sett in Cropston to see if they are interested in providing charging points as the Parish Council has no land suitable.

The council agreed on a precept for 2023/24 or £51,823.90. A council tax band D property will pay £54.02 per year, a monthly increase of £0.68.

It was agreed to award a grant of £250 to Thurcaston & Cropston Gardening club, £130 to Thurcaston & Cropston Local History Society, and £300 to the Latimer Players.

A full meeting of Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council was held on February 13.

It was reported that one person has been arrested following a burglary in Thurcaston, reported at the January meeting. There has been one theft in Cropston. It was agreed to submit a representation to Leicester City Council regarding its Leicester Local Plan consultation.

It was agreed to plant a tree in Jubilee Park and erect a plaque to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III. The annual parish meeting will take place on April 17 from 6.15 pm in the Memorial Hall, prior to the full council meeting.

It was agreed to spend £170 replacing corkboards with new pinboards on noticeboards in the village (Rectory Lane, Thurcaston; Station Road, Cropston).

Opening Hours: Current opening hours Monday 2.30 – 4.30 Tuesday 2.30 – 4.30 Wednesday 2.30 – 4.30 Thursday 10.00 – 12.00 & 2.30 – 4.30 Saturday 10.00 – 2.00 Library Events Book Group March 8– ‘Dancing at the Asylum’ by Marilyn Ricci Yarn Craft Group This meets on the first & third Tuesday of each month. Bring your own knitting, crochet or anything else ‘yarny’.

Help each other with those tricky bits.

Exchange ideas and knowledge. Have a cuppa and chat. £1 per person, payable towards the running costs of the library.

Chess Club This meets every Thursday 2.30 – 4.30pm. Open to all, beginners to advanced. Feel free to bring your own set if you'd like.

Under 5s sessions During term time, there will be weekly sessions every Tuesday & Friday morning 9.30 – 10.30am. Stories, songs and crafts! All welcome. No need to book. £1 per family. Term-time only. Please note that due to the popularity of these sessions, parents are politely requested to only come to one session each week and not both.

LEGO Club Lego club is the first Saturday of each month, 2-4pm. Lots of Lego free-play, with like-minded playmates.

AGM The AGM of the Community Library will be on Wednesday March 22, at 6.30pm in the library. Come along and have your say on how the library runs and can improve and develop. Listen to

and question reports on last year's activities. Suggest any fund-raising activities you may have. Enjoy a quiz with wine and nibbles and meet other team members.

First Saturday of each month Real Refills van

The next issue of

THE ROTHLEY POST will be published on May 5.

The copy deadline is Apr 21.

On the first Saturday of each month, the Real Refills van will be in the library car park from 10am -12noon. This is a service where you can bring your empty bottles etc, and get them topped up, saving on plastic. The van also supplies items from Olivia's award-winning bakery in Loughborough.

Book sales On the first of each month (beginning April 1) 10am -12noon, there will be an outside book sale of adult and children’s fiction. These are books that have been kindly donated

Abbey park road opens A MAJOR £7.5million revamp of a busy Leicester road is nearly complete, with the final phase of resurfacing work due to begin this week.

Leicester City Council has been carrying out an extensive programme of improvements to Abbey Park Road, alongside essential maintenance to its Grade II-listed road bridge.

Abbey Park Road will remain closed to through traffic during this final stage of work. The road is due to reopen during the week commencing Monday March 17, but some temporary lane restrictions will be still required while work to the bridge parapets is completed.

Footpaths have been widened, with new off-road cycle lanes created to provide more space for people walking or riding bikes, and two new road crossings have been installed.

The area immediately in front of the main gates to Abbey Park has also been overhauled to create a more open and attractive approach to the award-winning, historic park.

The £7.5million revamp of Abbey Park Road is supported by the Transforming Cities Fund, a programme of investment in sustainable transport across the city.

Art society sessions BIRSTALL AND District Art Society’s ‘Early Evening Art Sessions’ are now up and running at Wanlip Village Hall on Wednesday evenings from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

They are an informal get-together, in a friendly atmosphere for anyone to come along and paint or draw in their own style and medium, at their own pace. Although it is not a teaching class, it is hoped to have some workshop sessions from time to time.

The cost is £3 per session (to cover the hall hire costs and refreshments).

No booking is required – just turn up.

You really will be most welcome.

In addition to the Wednesday evening sessions, members can meet every Friday morning from 930am to 12noon at Birstall Co-op Sports & Social Club, for an informal painting/drawing session. No booking is required – just turn up. You really will be most welcome.

Anyone wanting to see if our art sessions (Wednesdays and Fridays) are what they are looking for, can come for up to three weeks for just the £3 session fee. After that, they would need to join the society to be able to continue coming. Our members can be any age, but anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied to meetings by a responsible adult.

We hold evening, live art demonstrations once a month, and full details are on our website www.badas.uk. The next one, which will be on April 11, is by Sallyann Brackett, making a welcome return to us. Her subject will be British wildlife. She employs a technique that uses pen and ink on tissue paper which is then collaged onto a background canvas. Old maps and book pages can be used in the background. Highlights and hints of colour are added afterwards using watercolours and acrylics.

The demonstration evenings are held at the Palmer-Tomkinson Centre at the Cedars Academy, Birstall. The charge for non-members is £4. They start promptly at 7pm and finish at 9pm.

On May 9, it will be a local artist, Lesley Brookes, providing the live art demonstration. She will be producing a landscape in acrylic, and the subject will be the Norfolk Broads.

We also run a few series of art classes during the year, as well as one-day art workshops.

Although our name is Birstall and District Art Society, our members come from all areas of Leicestershire, including Rothley, Syston, Thrussington, East Goscote, Groby, Quorn and many others.

Please visit our website for full details of all our activities.

From Birstall and District Art Society

MAR 2023

News from Rothley library

to the library, and their sale will raise valuable funds towards library running costs. These will be on sale at 50p each or a bargain 3 for £1!

Charnwood Community Lottery Great News! One of our lottery supporters recently won £2000 on the Charnwood Lottery!

Further details on how to buy tickets and support your local library can be found at https://www.charnwoodlottery.co.uk Thinking of hiring a space?

Please note that the library can be hired out when it is not open for public use. Already a number of local groups are hiring the space for their activities at very reasonable prices. Why not enquire next time you are in the library?

THE ROTHLEY POST

12

History society news many of the other workers, which quite often relate to their trades, such as Smyth, Turner and Plummer. We also learn where all the raw materials came from and, of course, their cost.

At the end of the first year, the incomplete walls were protected with straw Taking the Kevin McCloud role was over the winter. our old friend Peter Liddle, who used a Work continued through 1482, by which time the structure was high enough for a “jenne” or hoist to be needed.

However, 1483 brought the unexpected death of Edward IV while his son Edward V was still a child.

This led to a power struggle between the family of Edward’s queen (Elizabeth Woodville of Groby) Pic: Kirby Muxloe castle and his brother (the future Richard III).

William Hastings supported Richard until rare set of surviving accounts to lead us the latter seized the throne for himself, through the process of building Kirby Muxloe Castle. Though Kevin has report- whereupon Richard had William summarily executed. As you might expect, ed on plenty of setbacks over the years, this caused the building at Kirby Muxloe they have never included the execution to be stopped for a time. However, of the building’s owner…

After tracing the history of castles and William was given an honourable burial at Windsor and his lands were not conbrick buildings in Leicestershire, Peter explained the rise of the Hastings family, fiscated so, after a delay, his widow resumed work on the project. who acquired land at Kirby through The final year of the accounts is 1484. marriage in the early 14th century.

Masons, carpenters and plumbers were William Hastings supported the Yorkstill on site and we are told that the ist cause during the Wars of the Roses. gatehouse was thatched – an unconvenHe was knighted, married well and betional material for a castle! Peter’s concame a great friend and ally of Edward IV, who appointed him as Lord Chamber- clusion is that, contrary to the traditional view that the building was never finished, lain and gave him many estates and in fact, the plans were scaled back to positions of power in the Midlands. By create a functional manor house, which 1474, the Lancastrian threat seemed to members of the Hastings family were be over and Hastings was granted a able to occupy until about the year 1700. licence to “crenellate and empark” at I wonder whether they were able to three places in Leicestershire. move in before Christmas!

He began with the large stone castle ‘Excavating the Rutland Roman Villa’ at Ashby that survives in ruined form was our February talk and attracted a today. We don’t know whether he ever large audience. They were not disapbuilt anything at Baggrave, but by 1480 pointed! Peter Smith, the Society’s secrework was underway at Kirby Muxloe. tary, brought to the evening, not only his Roger Bowlott from New Parks was apknowledge of Roman history and legend, pointed to oversee the project.

The 1480 accounts begin with making but also his personal experience of working as a volunteer, on the excavacarts and buying oxen to pull them. tion of the Roman Villa in the summer (Nothing came “off the shelf” in those of 2022. days!) Wood was purchased to fuel the By the 4th Century AD, that small kilns, which would eventually produce settlement of Rome had grown into a over 1.3 million bricks. A team of massive prosperous empire. Part of that “ditchers”, nearly all with Welsh names, empire was Britannia, which had been spent a year digging the moat.

Meanwhile, slaters were repairing the under Roman rule for almost 300 years.

This is where the Villa in Rutland enters existing manor house on the site – which might have been William Hastings’ the story. The Romans had built a great road, an important road, between Lonbirthplace – so presumably he planned don and the north. Just off the road to incorporate it in the new castle. was built a beautiful villa, probably by a In 1481, foundations were dug and work began on the gatehouse and flank- wealthy Roman or a rich, British, nobleing towers. A master mason oversaw the man and the owner decided to decorate the huge floor of his dining room with a stonework around the windows and doors, while a team of Flemish bricklay- beautiful mosaic. This would impress ers and “hewers” were employed for the his visitors and friends. The Siege of Troy had taken place 1600 years earlier main walls – building in brick having but the battle between Achilles and Hecbeen practised for much longer in the tor was obviously still well known.

Low Countries than in England. The Peter moved on and reminded us that hewers’ brick-cutting skills can be seen in the year 2020, 1600 years later, “The in the curving vaults of the spiral stairVilla has now disappeared, and the land cases. where it once stood is part of an arable The accounts reveal the names of

THE ROTHLEY POST

MAR 2023

FANS OF TV’s Grand Designs would have enjoyed our January meeting, which was approximately the 15th-century equivalent!

13 farm in the small county of Rutland”. Covid has swept through the world, and many people’s places of employment are closed.

Jim Irving, the son of a farmer moves back to his family farm to help his father, and, whilst wandering the fields, finds pieces of pottery. On the internet, he finds aerial views of the farm and notices what appear to be the outlines of buildings. After Jim and his dad dig a hole, they find part of a mosaic!

Fortunately, Jim’s interest in archaeology prompts him to seek expert help at this point and, after advice from the County’s Senior Archaeologist, Historic England commission an excavation led by the University of Leicester Archaeological Services.

After identifying the subject matter of the Mosaic as the battle between Achilles and Hector, the dig team, then covered it to protect it over the winter.

Alongside this, towards the end of 2020, a couple of geophysical surveys of the area were carried out.

These revealed amazing results in terms of possible walls, columns, and posts underground. Another survey revealed a circuit of ditches and walls and buildings in a central area. This caused great excitement, as Pics: Excavations at the Rutland finding such a well preRoman Villa served villa was very rare.

In 2021, the excavation continued then it had been guarded and kept sewhen students from the University cret to preserve it from ‘visitors’ and worked there on a field study and the others. It also featured on television in site was identified as having been in use “Digging for Britain”. late in the Roman occupation at a date When a call went out for volunteers in between the third and fourth centuries, 2022, Peter Smith responded and, over A.D. It appeared to have been in a large a one-week period in August, joined room with an apse at the north end. On professional and volunteer archaeolovery informative photographs and plans, gists at the site near Ketton in Rutland.

Peter identified columns and posts with Our speaker’s enthusiasm and deep might have supported a vaulted roof. knowledge were apparent throughout his There was also evidence of underfloor talk. He described how the site and the heating from the hypocaust system, and excavation were managed and stressed a highly decorated mosaic was found in the great support and camaraderie withthe main area. Sadly there were signs of in the team. He summed up his coldamage to the mosaic from later burning by occupants who used the room for leagues as a diverse group, some other purposes. It appears that the mosa- talkative, some quite reserved. He had joined in interesting personal and aric rectangular and divided into four chaeological debates and urged his audipanels. Three panels depicted the Hecence to take up such an opportunity if it tor/ Achilles battle whilst was the fourth ever came their way. He had been one was undecorated. present at a moment in history and, for In British terms the standard of the one hour, we, as the audience, felt part mosaic is high and it was recorded as of it as well! Thank you, Peter. being the “most important mosaic to be Our next meeting will be held on discovered in Britain in the last 100 Tuesday March 21, when Jess Jenkins years”. The finds were impressive with will speak on ‘Conscientious Objectors pottery, artefacts, roof tiles, cooking and the Peace Campaign in Leicestervessels, animal bones, oyster shells(!), shire’ at Thurcaston Memorial Hall at jewellery, a two-person grave, (proba7.30pm. bly) a well, the walls of innumerable We meet at 7.30pm in the Memorial other buildings, an apse, and even a Hall, and the fee for visitors is £4. bronze Roman stylus. All portable findwww.thurcastoncropstonhistory.org.uk ings were carefully, tabulated, preserved From Thurcaston & Cropston Local and are now being examined. The find History Society made international news after a press release in 25th November 2021. Up until

14

Come and try bowls ROTHLEY BOWLS Club extends a warm welcome to everyone to its Open Afternoon on Sunday April 16, from 1pm to 4pm.

Please come and visit us for a chat to find out more about the game and the club or to have a go. All you need to bring with you is a flat pair of shoes, we provide all the necessary equipment to get you started! Bowls is a great sport for all ages and Rothley Bowls Club, with its great community spirit, is the perfect

place to do just that. We are located off Mountsorrel Lane in Rothley just behind the library. Disabled access has recently been upgraded and new fencing installed. The Club will also be taking part in the Bowls England Big Bowls weekend with another open afternoon on Sunday May 28.

Following a successful 2022 season, the club is happy to announce that the Wednesday Social Bowling afternoons will start again from April 19. These sessions (from 2 to 4pm) are open to all. Why not come along and join us.

For just a £10 joining fee for the first year for those new to bowling, there is little to lose? Why not give it a try. It’s a wonderful opportunity to try some gentle exercise and make new friends.

Further information and contact details can be found on the website: www.rothleybowlsclub.org From Rothley Bowls Club

Pic: Captains Andy Simpson & Tuula Hastings

Club’s new captains

Come & sing with us WATERMEAD SINGERS attracts people with all kinds of singing experience and welcomes anyone who fancies having a go at singing.

“Some of our members are seasoned singers, and others are complete novices with no musical experience at all,” said spokeswoman Caroline Sharpe.

“And that’s the real pleasure that comes from singing with others - it doesn’t matter how you think you sound on your own when you sing in a choir, you are part of making a great collective sound,” she added.

The choir meets at the Elizabeth Park Centre in Thurmaston. Caroline said: “Life has changed for so many people over the last three years, but one thing we’ve learnt is how important it is to be with other people.

“We were all impacted by lockdown, and not wanting to dwell on the particular challenges faced by singers and choirs over that time, it’s just worth saying how amazing Watermead Singers is, surviving 18 months of rehearsing on Zoom, a summer of outdoor rehearsals and six months of indoor socially distanced rehearsals.

“We are delighted that we are now

almost a year into being back to normality, and each Thursday afternoon Elizabeth Park Centre is filled with music, singing, laughter and chatter as Watermead Singers are back to making music in the way that choirs are supposed to!”

Singing is beneficial to mental and physical health. Caroline said: “You might have heard about singing releasing happy hormones – well it’s true. Something which I hear often is how good someone feels after an hour or two of singing. And singing with a friendly, easy-going, and fun group doubles the benefits.”

The choir is now back to singing at events and giving concerts – the next is at St Hilda’s, East Goscote on Friday May 26 at 7pm. “We would love to see you there,” said Caroline. “The singers are a really lively group from Birstall, Thurmaston, Syston, Queniborough and beyond. Membership of Watermead Singers comes with the added bonus of being able to visit and sing with any of the Charnwood Community Singers choirs who meet in Rothley, Tilton on the Hill, Quorn and Woodhouse Eaves.”

You can find out more about the choirs and concerts by visiting the website: www.charnwoodcommunitysingers.com Pic: The Watermead Singers

MAR 2023

Men’s Captain, Andy Simpson, joined the club in 2012 after retiring from Leicestershire Police. He says having seen how much his wife was enjoying golf and what an inclusive club it is, he would give it a go and he has thoroughly enjoyed ten years of golf after many years playing rugby and cricket.

He gained his first official handicap in the spring of 2013, and the rest as they say is history! He was immediately made to feel very welcome and has since made many good friends. His chosen charity for his year in office is Hope Against Cancer, a local Leicestershire charity which raises money to fund research and trials in the continuing battle to beat all types of cancer. He will be raising funds through a variety of golfing and social events.

“I am really looking forward to a busy year in office where I can help in the continued development of junior golf at the club and support all the different teams and promote the club both locally

and nationally,” he said.

The Ladies Captain this year is Tuula Hastings. She joined the club in 2009 having decided it would be great to be able to play social golf with her husband and enjoy golf breaks together. Tuula’s charity is the Joe Humphrey’s Foundation which is a Leicestershire charity set up to increase awareness and understanding of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in young people. Joe sadly died at age 14, while out jogging and the charity was set up to promote CPR training and Defibrillation awareness in schools.

Tuula said: “In my captain’s year, I am looking forward to playing with a lot of different members and supporting the various teams in the Ladies’ Section, as well as enjoying a variety of mixed golf opportunities and of course, my Lady Captains Day in June. Rothley Park is a great club of which to be a member.

The course is beautiful and extremely well looked after, the Ladies’ Section is strong and vibrant providing lots of opportunities to play competitively and socially.”

The 2023 Senior Men’s Captain is Mike Bruce and the Junior Captain is Harry Finch.

THE ROTHLEY POST

NEW YEARS Day at Rothley Park Golf Club saw a great turnout to enjoy the traditional new captains’ drive off.

Hunt on for gardeners IT’S COLD and windy with the threat of more cold weather to come, so who on earth is thinking about gardens? Well, the Thurcaston and Cropston Open Garden team is!

There will be a 5K electronic chiptimed run and a 3K fun run which will not be an electronic chip-timed event.

The 5K run entry fee for affiliated running club members is £15, and for non-affiliated running club members is £17 until May 31.

After that date, the entry fees will be increased to £18 and £20 respectively.

The 3K fun run entry fee is a flat rate of £10.

Online entry is via the event entry website www.evententry.co.uk. Scroll down for Watermead Challenge Run where full details and how to enter can be found. The event is open for entry from March 1.

Watermead Park currently charges their usual fee of £2.50 per car, which would be payable on the night.

Over the past ten years, our increasingly popular charity run has raised over £30,000. Charities to benefit over this time include the following:

garden looks like, we can assure you of lots of interested visitors to share your interest and gardening passion.

So if you would like to open your garden for this year’s event or

would like more information (or encouragement), please contact us. We hope you will join us for another successful year as part of the Thurcaston and Cropston Open Gardens event.

Contact Linda 0116 236 3872 email Linda@tcog.org.uk or look at our website for more information, inspiration and encouragement www.tcog.org.uk.

We look forward to hearing from you.

If opening your garden is not for you, then please put the date in your diary to come along and support this worthwhile community event on June 24 & 25, 2023.

We’d love to see you.

Thurcaston and Cropston Open Gardens 2023 June 24 & 25, 2023, from 2pm to 6 pm From the Thurcaston and Cropston Open Garden team Pics: Some of the many visitors to the 2022 Open Gardens

MAR 2023

Rotary run WREAKE VALLEY Rotary Club is holding its annual Watermead Charity Challenge Run on Tuesday, July 4.

It’s never too early for some advanced planning. The dates are set, key jobs are allocated, and the hunt is on for gardeners to sign up for this year’s very popular community event. The focus of our fundraising will continue to be The East Midlands Air Ambulance Service.

They receive all the garden entrance fees.

Such a bargain at £5 for two afternoons of delightful garden browsing.

We’d like to beat last year’s grand total of just under £3000. Many gardeners will also use the opportunity for some additional fundraising activities, such as plant and book sales; and of course, there will be several refreshment stops along the way.

So, gardeners of Thurcaston and Cropston WE NEED YOU! If you are a first-timer, a regular, or a ‘returner’ after a break, let us have your details.

We’ve always prided ourselves on a real broad range of gardens, large or small: neat or “rustic”; child-focused or not; whatever your

THE ROTHLEY POST

15

Birstall BAGs (Cancer support) Alex's Wish (Mountsorrel based charity Supporting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) MDNA (Motor Neurone Disease) Leicester Children's Holiday Homes Dementia UK Jade's Retreat (Birstall Cancer support) Prostaid Rainbows Hospice for children and young people Soar Valley Food Bank Defibrillator for Watermead Park Sunday morning Park Runs Mosaic 1898 (support for disabled people). We helped provide a lift for their canal narrowboat, based at Birstall.

Shelter Box (providing essential items to support families in various disaster areas around the world - war in Ukraine, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria).

Rotary International is a truly worldwide charitable organisation, and supports people in need around the world, so when humanitarian situations arise, individual clubs and our central organisation will invariably offer financial and/or practical support where possible.

We look forward to welcoming you to our event and helping us to once again raise as much money as we can to enable us to distribute to various charities so get your running gear out and sign up for what promises to be a great event once again.

If anyone has a close connection with a charity or knows someone who has and would like to enquire as to whether we might be able to offer our support, then please contact us via our club website www.wreakevalleyrotary.org.uk Also, if there is a local company that would like to sponsor this annual event, then we would be delighted to talk to you. Again, contact can be made via our website.

From Wreake Valley Rotary Club

ADVERTISEMENT

THE HEALTH on Hand Chiropractic Clinics gets inundated with people hurting their backs, muscles and joints, in the garden every spring.

Gardening for many people is just a A FUNDRAISING concert for chore that has to be done, but for others LOROS takes place on Saturday it's their main pride and passion. In both cases, it is important to prepare April 1, at 7pm in Syston Methyour joints and muscles prior to deodist Church. scending on your garden in the spring.

‘From Classics to Jazz’ has been organTom Wikeley, one of the chiropracised by Maureen Lawson. Her daughter, tors at Health on Hand, says: “The reaRachael Lawson (clarinet/saxophone), son people get backache when they and Stephen Waterhouse (piano) make a undertake what appears to be a relativewelcome return, after a prolonged break, ly restful activity such as gardening, is to give this popular concert in aid of that the actions required are quite differLOROS. ent from those carried out the rest of the year.

“The main cause of back pain when gardening is prolonged stretching and overuse of the ligaments and joints in the spine. Digging, prolonged stooping and bending over whilst planting places considerable stress on the ligaments and joints in the lower lumbar spine and causes them to become inflamed and tender. This, in turn, triggers a protective muscle spasm which gives rise to the deeper, duller achy type of pain that occurs over the following few days.”

Injury Prevention Chiropractor Mohammed Mulla explains: “There are many ways to help prevent injuries. The way you bend and move determines how much strain is put on the spine, and by using certain muscles to protect your back you can reduce the likelihood of developing pain.

“It is also extremely important to warm up before any strenuous activity is started. The simplest form of warming up is walking, and this should be folPic: Trombonist Faith Lawson lowed by some flexibility exercises.”

Warming Up This year they will be joined by RachThese flexibility exercises can help ael’s daughter Faith (9) on the trombone. Over the past years, while the concerts could not take place, Rachael and Maureen have continued to raise money for LOROS by pedalling (virtually) to Norfolk and back and from Lands End to John O’Groats, raising over £2600. LOROS is a cause close to Maureen and Rachael’s hearts, as it is where Maureen’s husband, Jim, passed away almost 25 years ago.

They hope as many people as possible will support them on April 1 to help raise as much money as possible for LOROS. Tickets are priced at £8 and include light refreshments. These can be purchased by phoning 0116 260 9804 / 0759 462 8961 or on the door.

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thigh: sitting crosslegged, gently push down on your knees until you can feel a stretch. Repeat as above.

These exercises will improve the flexibility of the muscles that affect the spine.

By doing them regularly, you will keep supple so that during the bending and crouching activities you will be less likely Pics: (right)Chiropractor Mohammed Mulla with the correct to injure yourself. Make sweeping and raking posture; Chiropractor Tom Wikeley sure they do not hurt showing how to dig with good posture you while doing or after prevent back problems and should be having done them! done regularly, twice a day, preferably in Any problems with these, please feel the morning and in the evening, they are free to call Health on Hand and speak to also fantastic before and after gardening. one of the experienced chiropractors. ❶ Lie down on your back, bend Chiropractic Gardening Tips your right leg and pull the knee up to Chiropractor Thomas Jeppesen has a the chest, keeping the other leg straight. few tips to keep you safe while gardenRepeat on the left leg and then pull both ing. knees up together. Repeat this exercise ❶ Kneel on one leg rather than bend2 or 3 times. ing down repeatedly from the hips. ❷ Kneel on the floor on all fours, ❷ Try and keep your back hollow relax the back and let the spine go holwhen digging, with your legs spaced well low. Then reverse the curve in the spine apart. Use your legs rather than your by arching the back. Repeat this 2 or 3 back. ALWAYS try to avoid twisting! times. ❸ Vary the tasks of the day into ❸ Stretching the front of the thigh: short bursts of different activities rather standing up, support yourself with a than slogging away all day at one thing. hand against the wall and take hold of Sent your timer to 15 minutes, and your right ankle with your right hand, change between 2-3 tasks. bend your knee by pulling the heel to❹When mowing the lawns with a wards your buttock until you feel a hover mower, resist the temptation to stretching sensation on the front of the swing the mower from side to side in an thigh. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat arc. Instead, mow forwards and backthis 3 times on each leg. If you feel any wards as you would with a conventional discomfort in your back stop the exercylinder mower. cise. ❺ If you suffer from knee problems ❹ Stretching of the inside of the and tend to stoop rather than kneel, then use a cushion to kneel on or a gardening stool to sit on. Try keeping the back as hollow as possible. ❻ Keep yourself warm and covered i.e., keep shirts tucked in: this prevents the muscles from becoming chilled. ❼ If you ache the next day, rest, and if it persists for more than a few days; seek advice from your local chiropractor, who will advise you whether you should apply heat, or ice packs to the area, or if you require further treatment.

You should exercise and keep fit so that you can enjoy your gardening and other leisure activities, rather than using your gardening as an exercise to keep fit.

Good luck!

Health on Hand deals with a multiTrouble with your figures? tude of problems ranging from back and neck pain to leg pains, sports injuries, Let me help Want repetitive strain to whiplash-related injuget your someone to ries and more. books in walk you Call us today for your appointment! shape… through a self Get £10 off your initial consultation, & keep them trim assessment? including a treatment, in March and April Quoting ‘BirstallMarch” Linda Kimberley-Brooks (ACMA) Visit www.healthonhand.co.uk for Final accounts • Self assessment more information Taxation • Bookkeeping • VAT Or call us on 0116 2101619 to book Payroll • Management accounts your appointment www.twyf-accounts.co.uk Email: Linda@twyf.co.uk Health on Hand Chiropractic Clinic is Companies & individuals call now on at 193 Loughborough Road, Leicester, 0116 23 66 345 LE4 5PL A friendly service tailored to your needs

MAR 2023

Fundraising Gardening aches and pains concert for LOROS

THE ROTHLEY POST

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Monday Club news At first the techniques were all manual, and it took a long time to compare one set of fingerprints with another.

Mrs Galloway became a registered expert, and was sometimes required to give evidence in court.

In time she became a Fellow of the Our Speaker was Mr Derek Holloway.

Fingerprint Society, and later she beHe has prepared a series of talks about came President. She met the author inspirational women who changed the Colin Dexter who wrote the stories about world.

Mr Holloway told us about the adven- Morse and Lewis. She also met a memtures and trials of Amy Johnson, with the ber of the Chicago Police, and learnt something of their methods. aid of slides showing many photographs She closed her talk by saying that, of the time and other interesting informasupported by her husband, she had tion. Amy was an early aviator who was enjoyed her work, having spent 37 years born in Hull in 1903. with the Manchester and then the LeicesAmy earned numerous awards and tershire Police, and mentioned that honours during her lifetime and is she had received commendations. commemorated by plaques and She was even invited to meet our statues in various places. She late Queen at an evening recepwas a complex character who tion. battled many problems and Interesting facts: A Sherlock promoted the worth of women Holmes story published in 1890 in a man's world. She will long mentions fingerprints, and evidence from be remembered for her amazsuch prints has been accepted in UK ing exploits, courage and sheer courts since 1901. Even identical twins tenacity, and will be an inspiration for have slightly different prints. Another future generations. creature who has fingerprints is the In February, Mrs Viv Galloway spoke koala. They are almost indistinguishable to us about her life in forensics, which from those of humans! included many different areas of investiOur next meeting will be on Monday gation.

March 13, when we shall hear Mrs SanShe spent five years in training, and dra Moore telling us about "Strong Men over the years new terminology came in and Women of Belgrave". Mrs Moore and more complicated methods were has been to us before, and given us used to retrieve, classify and identify several interesting talks, dressed in perifingerprints from crime scenes. Fingerod costume. Annual membership is just prints can include patterns called loops, £13, and the entrance fee is £2 for whorls and arches, and there are lots of permutations. Sometimes one finger can members, or £4 for visitors, who are even be slightly different from the others. most welcome. This will include tea / coffee and biscuits. We start at 2.15pm This work exposed her whilst quite and finish around 4.15pm. young to the seedier side of life, but it From the Monday Club - Cropston was an interesting career to pursue. and Thurcaston You had to be very careful about details.

THE MONDAY Club - Cropston and Thurcaston began the New Year with the Club Leader Jenny Kennington welcoming everyone warmly.

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Rothley speed checks A POLICE operation to check vehicle speeds on Swithland Lane resulted in two speeding drivers being issued with tickets and advisory letters.

The speed check took place on the morning of February 17. Police say the majority of drivers were keeping to the 30mph speed limit.

Pic: PCSO Katrina Hallmark on Swithland Lane (photo: Charnwood Police)

Fined for leaving 100 bags of waste

THE NEXT scheduled elections taking place in this area will be on Thursday May 4, 2023 to elect councillors to: Charnwood Borough Council (all seats) All parish councils in the borougharea (all seats) Charnwood Borough Council is currently controlled by the Conservative Group, the 52 seats being broken down as follows: 37 Conservative councillors 13 Labour councillors

One Independent councillor One Green Party councillor Registering to vote To be able to vote in these elections, you must have registered to vote by midnight on Monday April 17, 2023.

You can register to vote at any time, so if you’re not already registered, it is best to make sure you do this in plenty of time. If you are not sure if you are registered to vote, you can find out more information on the register to vote webpage of Charnwood Borough Council.

How to vote All voters in the polling station will need to show photographic ID before voting.

Voting by post Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you do not want to vote in person at a polling station. Your voting forms are posted to you together with a postage paid return envelope.

You can apply to vote by post for a particular election or referendum, for a set period of time or for all future polls.

Postal votes can be sent to addresses in the UK and abroad.

You must be registered and eligible to vote.

How to apply for a postal vote Your completed postal vote application form must be received by the Elec-

toral Services office before 5pm on Tuesday 18th April 2023 if you wish to vote by post for the upcoming elections FLY-TIPPERS at Filingate in Wanbeing held on Thursday May 4, 2023.

If your application is received by lip have been handed a £400 Friday March 17, 2023 and is successful fine. and you are eligible to vote in the upOver 100 bags of domestic waste coming elections, then your postal vote were left beside the road, and two peopack will be sent out 1st class to you on ple each received a £400 fixed penalty Friday April 14, 2023. notice.

If your application is received beNine fines totalling tween Monday March 20, 2023 – 5pm over £3,000 have been on Tuesday April 18, 2023 and is suchanded out following cessful and you are eligible to vote in reports of fly-tipping, dog the upcoming elections, then your postal fouling and poor dog vote pack will be control in Charnwood sent out 1st over the last three months. class to you on The borough council Monday April 24, says it has taken action as 2023. part of its ongoing comDownload a mitment to look after the postal vote applilocal environment and cation form from crackdown on those who Charnwood webshow a disregard for the site, print off, area. read the informaThe Council is also tion, follow the advising people to contininstructions, ue to report issues. complete and return the form. AlternaA further five people have been handtively, contact Electoral Services on ed £400 fixed penalty notices for fly01509 634546 and they will send you an tipping. application form.

A £400 fine was issued following a The deadline to apply is 5pm on Tuesreport from a resident of a van fly-tipday April 18, 2023 ping on Derby Road in Hathern. Enough Parish Council election evidence was provided to hand the fine A poll will only take place if there are to the driver of the vehicle. more nominations than there are seats.

Items including a washing machine If there are the same number or fewer and wooden pallets were left in George candidates than there are seats available, Yard in Loughborough. Council officers no election is required and the seats are were able to trace the offenders through allocated to the candidates. statements and evidence gathered resultIf you would like to stand as a parish ing in another £400 fine. councillor, obtain the nomination papers A name and address was recovered from Electoral Services at Charnwood from domestic waste dumped along and return them by April 4, 2023.

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fixed penalty notice.

Following household waste being left in Thurmaston by a driver of a vehicle, a £400 fine was handed out.

Fly-tipped household items were found just off Woodpecker Way in Shepshed. Evidence found from the waste

related to an address which was followed by another £400 fine being handed out.

After a report from a member of the public about a dog not being controlled at Dishley Pool, a £100 fine was handed to the owner as they were in breach of the restrictions in the Public Spaces Protection Order where the dog was not placed on a lead in the restricted area.

A £100 fixed penalty notice was also handed out to a dog owner following a report from a member of the public about persistent dog fouling in Hathern.

Birstall Borough Cllr Shona Rattray, the Council’s lead member for Regulatory Services, said: “The fact we have issued these fines recently should reassure residents that if incidents are reported to us and we have enough evidence, we will take action to protect our borough.

“Both fly-tipping and dog fouling are criminal offences with significant impacts on our communities and it is important that we continue to take action.

“I would encourage all residents to make sure their waste is disposed of correctly to ensure it does not impact on our green and open spaces across Charnwood.”

If you ever see any fly-tips across Charnwood or fly-tipping taking place, you are encouraged to report it directly to the Council by visiting: www.charnwood.gov.uk/flytipping.

To report issues with dog control and dog fouling, please visit the Council’s website: www.charnwood.gov.uk/dogcontrol.

Residents are reminded to only use authorised waste carriers to dispose of their waste and make sure the carrier has a license from the Environment Agency. You can find out more details on the Council’s website about authorised waste carriers: www.charnwood.gov.uk/flytipping Pic: fly-tipping on Filingate, Wanlip

MAR 2023

Cast your vote

THE ROTHLEY POST

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Rothley’s Museum in restored wagon Good Neighbour scheme

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THE ROTHLEY POST

MAR 2023

THE ROTHLEY Good Neighbours Scheme has been operating for four years, and in that time it has come to the aid of 130 local residents.

The scheme, run by volunteers, helps and supports the elderly, vulnerable or those who need temporary assistance due to illness, injury or bereavement.

At its February meeting, Rothley Parish Council agreed to award a grant to cover the scheme’s annual running costs of £250, which pays for a phone contract and insurance cover.

In the past four years, the scheme has come to the aid of 130 local residents.

Since November 2018, the organisation has carried out the following tasks: 180 trips to hospitals 54 trips to doctors’ surgeries 540 prescription collections & deliveries 51 trips to shops 16 gardening make-overs 14 D I Y tasks 32 domestic tasks 29 befriending sessions If you would like help, ring Rothley Good Neighbours on 0756 1596 873.

The Good Neighbours Scheme has been in contact with Kate Crowfoot from the County Council. Kate is a Community Recovery Worker tasked with assisting the vulnerable and elderly across the Charnwood area in combating many problems that exist within our communities: the aftereffects of the pandemic, people who are feeling isolated, fuel poverty, the cost of living crisis and many other issues.

For example, we should all be able to stay warm at home. However, rising energy costs, low incomes and energyinefficient homes are restricting people’s options, leaving them in impossible situations like having to choose to heat their homes, feed their children or pay their rent.

Kate can also offer support if you are feeling isolated and lonely, linking you up to one of the many groups we have in the local area.

Kate may be able to help with many of these problems – her contact details are: Tel: 0116 305 8559 Mob: 07514 719331 Email: Kate.Crowfoot@leics.gov.uk

The next issue of

THE ROTHLEY POST will be published on May 5.

The copy deadline is Apr 21.

The wagon, located in the lower part of the site, was restored by volunteers in 2021 from a complete wreck. The inside has been effectively converted into a giant display case, with exhibits all having a local connection.

The exhibits include a large 70-yearold Hornby Dublo train set that visitors can operate with the push of a button to see the trains run around. Rather than written panels explaining the various

Pics: (above) the Traction engine ‘Pops’: the museum wagon

The Heritage Centre’s resident traction engine, “Pops”, (named in memory of the owner’s father) completed its restoration a couple of weeks ago and has already been steaming around the Heritage Centre site.

Built in 1920, this Fowler traction engine is over 100 years old. The owner plans to steam "Pops" as often as possible at weekends.

exhibits, the centre has created a large audio box with a series of buttons that explain each item’s history.

Mask wearing LEICESTER’S HOSPITALS announced changes to maskwearing requirements.

A spokesperson for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said: “From today [22 February 2023], we no longer require patients, visitors or staff to wear face masks in public areas of the hospital – i.e. corridors, restaurants, stairwells or lifts. This decision has been taken by our infection prevention and control (IP) teams, in response to the drop in respiratory cases including Covid-19 and flu.

“To keep people safe, patients, visitors, and staff will still be required to wear a mask – unless exempt – in ward areas, emergency admission and inpatient areas. Colleagues and patients who wish to continue to wear masks will be free to do so, and the Trust will continue to supply masks at entrances to the hospital, outpatient departments and throughout all our clinical areas.

“We will continue to monitor respiratory infection numbers. Should there be a significant increase in cases, there may be a requirement to return to mask-wearing in non-clinical areas.”

PHOTOS: ROTHLEY & MOUNTSORREL HERITAGE CENTRE

A NEW local history museum based in a restored wagon has opened at the Rothley and Mountsorrel Heritage Centre.

Britain in Bloom News from Thurcaston & Cropston Gardening Club DO YOU imagine Britain in Bloom to be a very quintessential British activity? If so, you’d be wrong!

The idea of brightening up towns and villages with flowers and planting came from France! It was introduced by Charles De Gaulle a decade or so after the Second World War – as Simon Lucas from East Midlands in Bloom explained at the club’s February meeting.

Simon is a judge and treasurer for East Midlands in Bloom, and he told us about the background from its small beginnings and how it developed into the huge UK wide festival it is today.

Britain in Bloom was first held in 1963 – so it is 60 years old this year.

In 2001, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) took control of the competition.

It is a nationwide gardening competition aimed at building communities and

tackling local issues together. The aim of the competition is to encourage the improvement of our surroundings through the imaginative use of trees, shrubs, flowers, and landscaping. It also aims to achieve a litter free and sustainable environment. This links directly to the three RHS core pillars of excellence which are: Horticultural Achievement, Environmental Responsibility, and Com-

Pics: Some of the many images of East Midlands in Bloom

munity Participation Entry is welcome from communities of all shapes and sizes from small villages to large towns and cities in the East Midlands region. This covers Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Entries can be from communities or local authorities though a partnership between them works best.

Entries are divided into like size categories based on the number on the electoral roll.

gardener or an enthusiastic beginner we Judging takes place on a date set in are sure you will find something of interadvance in July, whatever the weather! est in this year’s programme. New memIn addition to the East Midlands in bers are made most welcome. What’s Bloom competition, there is also a nonmore, it is excellent value. The membercompetitive category called ‘RHS It’s ship fee is still only £12 for the year Your Neighbourhood’ In a nutshell, if a group of people are (pro rota) or £3 per meeting. So, if keen to improve their local surroundings, you are interested in gardening - come then this is the ideal way to get practical and give the club a try.

For more information about the club, advice and recognition for their efforts. please contact RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood welcomes Dave Haddon (0116) 235 9758: groups taking the first steps towards david.haddon20@ntlworld.com community regeneration through all Or Richard Elks (0116) 236 8313: year-round events and activities. Entries cropston161@hotmail.co.uk are not judged against each other, but The next club events are: assessed by environmental and horticulWednesday April 12: Waving in the tural ‘In Bloom’ experts during July – Wind, Steve Lovell August, who then provide valuable feedWaving in the Wind - Grasses for the back and helpful advice on how to develgarden - Texture, Movement and duraop current bility these plants have it all. Steve Lovell activities and is a professionally qualified garden deencourage onsigner and soft landscaper with 30 years’ going improveexperience specialising in gardens for ments.

Simon told us wildlife.

From Thurcaston and Cropston Garmany humorous dening Club tales of his time as a judge and the transport provided to judges from a helicopter to a horse and chart!

The Gardening Club meets in the Thurcaston and Cropston Memorial Hall Whether an experienced Specialist Wedding Gown Cleaning

CHARNWOOD BOROUGH Council approved its budget for 2023/24.

The budget sees the Charnwood element of an average Band D property rise by £4.78 (3.52 per cent) to £140.47 for the year. It equates to an increase of 9p a week.

The budget sets out the Council’s spending plans for services in the coming year and the Council’s lead member for finance, Cllr Tom Barkley, said: “The Council is still delivering excellent value for money. Charnwood’s council tax remains one of the

lowest in the country and is only a small part of residents’ overall council tax bill, with the county council receiving the largest share.”

The Loughborough Special Rate, the equivalent of a parish precept in villages and paid by residents of the town, will increase by £1.58 (1.99 per cent) to £81.11 for the year.

The Council’s draft budget for 2023/24 looks to spend around £20 million on services for the borough. This includes generating extra income through fees and charges and using around £1.3 million of reserves.

The Council is also continuing to invest in the borough including: A planned £2m million regeneration scheme for the centre of Shepshed, with some joint funding being provided from other sources Investment in local parks including £200,000 earmarked for Queen’s Park in Loughborough and around £50,000 for the creation of a Community Garden in Syston £65,000 to facilitate additional EV charging points in the Bee Hive Car Park in Loughborough

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MAR 2023

Council approves budget

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