NOVEMBER 2020
~ THE MONTHLY NEWS & INFORMATION MAGAZINE FOR GLENFIELD ~
Letter
Gazette owner THE OLD WESTERN Ken retires after 35 years GOLF COURSE IS UNDER THREAT DR. KEN RUSSELL, who founded the Glenfield Gazette back in 1985, has decided to take a wellearned retirement at the age of 90.
Ken has been an influential figure in Glenfield for many years, having served on Glenfield Parish Council - both as a councillor and as Chairman - in addition to running Glenfield’s Community Newspaper, The Gazette for 35 years. He is also a keen local historian and has produced four history books on Glenfield. Happy retirement Ken!
IN SEPTEMBER the City Council launched the consultation for their Draft Local Plan. The whole of the course is owned by City although a part of it lies within Blaby. Proposed plans for the course are: • FIFTY Acres of Industrial • 466 residential dwellings • 7 permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches Unreleased plans I’ve seen show that in collaboration with Blaby there may be a total of 735 dwellings and a retail area. This will cover 95% of the course! The old course is designated as Green Wedge but that will not save it. This is the last large green space in Glenfield and many people believe this needs to be protected from development. It has a unique beauty of trees and grasslands, forming a ‘green lung’ which contributes towards improving air quality and reducing climate change. In these pandemic times many people have found the old course to be very beneficial with mental and physical wellbeing. Green Wedge areas also act as a separation area between settlements. If the City are really serious with their declaration of a climate emergency, they need to keep vital green areas like the old course. In recent years Glenfield has lost many green areas to housing and 65 acres to Optimus Point. We must save this last large green space. Objections are vital, PLEASE write your objections on the City planning site: consultations.leicester.gov.uk (CLOSES 7th December). For details on how to object, please join Western Golf Course Area - Action Group on Facebook. You will also find a link to a petition and fundraiser. Thank you.
Steve Walters
Glenfield Christmas lights switch-on 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic GLENFIELD PARISH COUNCIL has announced “with sadness” that the village’s Christmas lights switch-on - which was due to take place on November 27th 2020 - has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and the potential health and safety risks involved in arranging a large public gathering. Christmas lights will still be installed and switched on in Glenfield for people to enjoy throughout the festive season but there will be no large-scale public event. The coronavirus epidemic is still prevalent and great care needs to be exercised when considering the health and safety risks involved in arranging any event where large numbers of people are congregating within limited areas of space. The decision to cancel the switch on has not been taken lightly. The threat of coronavirus is likely to last for a significant amount of time and the Council’s ongoing priority must be the safety of everyone involved.
But ... Santa will still be coming to Glenfield - see page 3
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