DECEMBER 2015 No. 53www.birstallpost.co.uk

Y O U R F R E E C O M M U N I T Y N E W S P A P E RMOUNTSORREL POST

A NEWLY restored section ofrailway line in Mountsorreland Rothley was opened tothe public for the first timein October.

The latest addition to Leicestershire’sGreat Central Railway, the MountsorrelRailway once served the granite quarriesof the village. Its restoration has beenundertaken by volunteers from the localcommunity and beyond.

Volunteer Project Leader Steve Crampsaid: “We started the project eight yearsago with no funding at all and looked athow the restoration of the railway couldbe achieved at minimal cost; the onlyanswer was to do all the physical work

ourselves. From there we never looked back andset out using tools such as a restored 120 yearold cross saw, traditional track laying tools andlots of hard graft. So many people have gottenbehind the project and given their time and ex-pertise to help; 80,000 hours of volunteer timehave gone into the project to complete the resto-ration.”

The project has been able to attract assistancefrom many local businesses who donated time,materials and expertise. “So many companieshave helped with the areas we just couldn’t doourselves. In particular we would like to give ourthanks to Tarmac who donated many thousands

A MOUNTSORREL restaurantthat opened in 2014 hasbeen awarded a Michelinstar.

John’s House at Stonehurst Farm onLoughborough Road is run by JohnDuffin who grew up on the family farm.

John’s food philosophy is ‘from farmto plate’ and about 90 per cent of theingredients used in the restaurant comefrom Stonehurst Farm.

Editor of the Michelin Guide, RebeccaBurr, told thestaffcanteen.com: “I wouldhave to say the find of the year has to beJohn’s House. To go into the guide atthat level is impressive … it’s a superplace and he really does cook his ownstyle and he’s destined for good thingsin the future.”

John began cooking at 14 taking up apart time position at Leicestershire res-

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Historic railway track re-opens

Pic: Project leader Steve Cramp is interviewed for ITV news& (below) a train pulls in at Nunckley Hill

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DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST2

of tonnes of railway ballast andalso digger time to help withtrack bed repairs and ballastlaying” continues Steve.

Not content with restoring therailway, the group then set outto create a brand new railwaystation at Mountsorrel. “Whenthe Mountsorrel Railway wasbuilt originally, it was alwaysintended that Mountsorrel wouldhave a station but that dreamwas never realised. That wassomething that we wanted to putright so that the public couldride the railway that wehad restored” saysSteve.

Thanks to agrant of£66,000 fromTarmac’s Land-fill CommunityFund and morework by the vol-unteers, Mountsorrelnow has a railway station

on Bond Lane toserve the village.

The newly restored

line runs from Bond Lane to Swithlandsidings.

taurant Langs where he continued towork after leaving school. His career hastaken him to London where he hasworked under Gary Rhodes, Clause Bosiand Marcus Wareing.

FacebookreviewerJames Finneyis one of themany diners

who have left enthusiasticreviews for the restaurant.He said: “The intimatesitting creates a wonderfulambience without feelingcramped, the waiters areattentive without beingintrusive and the food iswonderful and creative without feeling pretentious orover engineered. The locally served produce and lo-cally brewed ale come together to create a wonderfulexperience.”

John’s House is the only restaurant in Leicester-shire to receive a Michelin star in the 2016 guide.Prices range from £24 for a two course lunch up to£70 for the taster menu.

www.johnshouse.co.uk

AN OPEN Day and September fair atSt Peter’s church was held on Sep-tember 12.

The event featured stalls, bell ringing and hymnsinging.Pic: The Mayor of Charnwood, Mountsorrel’s JohnCapleton with Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan

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Pic: the heritage centre is expected to open in 2016

Church fair

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DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST 3

THE CONSTRUCTION ofMountsorrel’s new MemorialCentre is expected to takeplace in the first half of2016.

The old Memorial Hall was closed inSeptember. It will be demolished andthe new building erected on the site,linked via an extension to the Soar Val-ley Leisure Centre.

Plans to start work on the new build-ing have had to wait until the financeshave been put in place – two majorcontributions towards the project comefrom Section 106 agreements with devel-opers who are building on West CrossLane and Halstead Road.

The £3.85million Memorial Centrewill include:

• a multi purpose community hallincluding a stage facility with retractableseating and a galleried first floor

• lobby areas• a crèche and green room• 2 class A1 retail units (totalling 100

sqm in area)• a refreshments area• a series of flexible meeting room

spaces• a performance and practice room• a kitchen• changing and storage areas

• an extension to the Leisure Centrecrèche

• an extension to the Leisure CentreFitness Suite

• a community garden with outdoorplay facilities

• a new mini-roundabout access offLeicester Road. Extended car parkingprovision (21 new spaces off LeicesterRoad, 42 new spaces off Kingfisher Way)

• a new pedestrian link between thetwo buildings and connecting to thefootpath network beyond

• new stone walling to the site front-age, planting, signing, seating and publicart

• a separate youth buildingThe new Memorial Centre will have

charitable status. The old Memorial Hallwas run by volunteers but it is planned

that Mountsorrel ParishCouncil will take on theresponsibility of runningthe new centre.

• the old MemorialHall was opened in 1965

• it was paid for bylocal fundraising and agrant from the Ministryof Education and Science

• it is owned by theMountsorrel War Memo-rials Trust Ltd.

• within two years of

opening an extension was built• community use over the years has

included amateur dramatics, dances,parties, indoor sports events, keep fit,playgroups and senior citizens meetings

New Memorial Centre for Mountsorrel

Pics: (above & bottom left) the planned new Memorial Centre

Pic: the old Memorial Hall

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4

THE FUTURE of Mountsorrellibrary is uncertain after theCounty Council rejected aproposal from the commu-nity to keep it going.

The County is withdrawing supportfor 36 village libraries to make budgetsavings, and is transferring day to dayoperation of them to community ledgroups. Rothley’s library was handedover to a volunteer led community groupin October.

Mountsorrel Parish Council togetherwith the Mountsorrel War MemorialTrust Ltd presented a business plan tothe County Council in April 2015. It wasrejected by the County who said it “ …did not fit with our infrastructure sup-port package as it required continuousfinancial support from the County Coun-cil for the management of the librarybuilding.”

The County have now begun a con-sultation process that is required before

they are allowed to close the library andreplace it with a mobile service visitingthe village for six hours a week. They

held a consultation event in the village onNovember 26 as part of this process.

The county will keep the library openuntil March2016.

Will Antill,a trustee ofthe Mountsor-rel War Me-morial Trust,said: “Thelibrary is agood buildingand an excel-lent facilityand I amoptimistic thata solution willbe found to

keep it open. It is important that thepublic tell the County Council that amobile service is an insult and thatthey would like to see the librarykept open.”

A ‘Save Mountsorrel Library’ face-book page has been started as wellas ‘Keep Mountsorrel Library Open’petition on www.change.org. startedby Elizabeth Blackshaw. She said:“our library is so much more than aplace to borrow books. It has anumber of computers one of whichis dedicated to young people. It hasa scanner, printer and photocopier.It has a DVD lending service, refer-ence books and audio books. It is abase for the local house-bound read-er service and the Book-startscheme. It has a study space, news-papers and a local information point.It has a large meeting room and acomputer suite upstairs (all withdisabled access). It was home to ourWar exhibition, our quarry exhibi-tion, our oral history project and ourart group. It has toilets and a babychange, it’s warm and it’s dry andone of the most historically signifi-cant buildings in the whole village. Itis critical to the new civic hub devel-opment which includes the leisurecentre, the redeveloped MemorialHall, the community café and theyouth café. Mountsorrel would loseso much more that just a few booksif it were to close.”

To submit your views, fill out thequestionnaire and return it beforeJanuary 17, 2016. The survey isavailable online atwww.leics.gov.uk/futurelibraries.

DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST

VOLUNTEERS ARE being sought tohelp tackle the problem of flooding.

Charnwood Borough Council has a network ofCommunity Flood Wardens (CFW) and is seeking torecruit volunteers in Mountsorrel.

The role of the CFW is mainly one of communi-cation. Their roles include:

• monitor the condition of local drains, culverts,brooks and other watercourses and report anydefects or blockages to the appropriate agency

• distribute flood related information to the pub-lic

• encourage individuals to sign up to the Envi-ronment Agency free flood warning scheme, Flood-line Warnings Direct (FWD)

• make arrangements to reinforce flood warningswhen they are issued

• visit people at risk to ensure that warningshave been received (where safe to do so)

• call for assistance on behalf of people who arestruggling to carry out essential actions to safeguardthemselves or their property

For more details contact Kevin Roberts, Emer-gency Planning Officer, Charnwood Borough Coun-cil 01509 634911

kevin.roberts@charnwood.gov.uk

Pic: Mountsorrel library

Mountsorrel library: plan needed to keep open

Communityfloodwardens

5

MOUNTSORREL REMEMBEREDall those who lost theirlives in war at the Remem-brance service and paradeon November 8.

The parade from the Green to StPeter’s church for the RemembranceSunday Service was led by Deputy LordLieutenant, Col R Martin OBE, Leicester-shire County President of the Royal Brit-ish Legion and also President of theLegion’s Mountsorrel Branch.

In the parade alongside members ofthe Legion were; Mr Edward Argar MP,Parish, Borough, and County Councillorsand contingents from the Cubs, Guides,Brownies, Rainbows and Boys Brigade,together with representatives of the Po-lice, Mountsorrel War Memorials Trust,Mountsorrel Heritage Group and LafargeTarmac. On returning to the Green afterthe Service the salute was taken by hisWorship the Mayor of Charnwood, CllrJohn Capleton accompanied by theMayoress, Mrs Meg

Jenkinson and Mrs J Martin, President ofthe Leicestershire Royal British Legion –Women’s Section.

On Armistice Day, November 11,Year 6 pupils of Christ Church & StPeter’s School led a Remembrance Serv-

ice at St Peter’s church and afterwardsjoined a large crowd of villagers at thePeace Garden for the two minutes si-lence and laying of crosses.

Poppy appeal organiser John Doylesaid: “The Mountsorrel Branch, Royal

DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST

British Legion thanks all those whomarked Remembrance Sunday and Ar-mistice Day 2015. We also wish tothank all those who have, once more, sogenerously supported the Poppy Appeal.

The village Appeal this year has so farraised £3400 with more yet to come in.Although focussed around November,The Poppy Appeal is a year round fund-raising effort and we welcome donationsat any time.”

Remembrance Sunday service & parade

Pic: the parade through Mountsorrel

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MA’S COTTAGEChinese Takeaway

Welcome to Ma’s Cottage – your traditional Chinese Takeaway in BirstallOur takeaway aims to deliver fast, fresh food that is full of authentic finest ingredientsOur main dishes are generous portions!You can order your favourite dishes online,over the phone or in person. We acceptcash payments for delivery and collection,card payment is available for online ordersthrough our website:www.mascottagebirstall.co.uk

Please let us know if you have any specialrequirements eg larger party or group lunch…

Tel: 0116 267 1577Ma's Cottage Chinese Takeaway1 Hannah Parade, Stonehill AvenueBirstall, Leicester LE4 4JEOPEN: Tue-Sun 5pm-10.30pm

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6

Would you like it re-opened? If any ofthis jogs your memory or you have beenaffected by the closure, please contactMountsorrel Parish Council office for aform to complete and, if enough arecollated, they will be sent to Leicester-shire County Council for their considera-tion as mentioned above.

Thank you.Cllr Steve HaywoodMountsorrel Parish Council, 2A Little

Lane, Mountsorrel, Loughborough,Leicestershire,

LE12 7BH Tel no: 0116 2303809

DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST

YOUR SAY...

The Mountsorrel Post welcomes yourviews and opinions on any subject. Let-ters, which must include your name andaddress, (though not necessarily forpublication) can be posted to: TheMountsorrel Post, Unit 109, Greenacres,The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR, orhanded in at Mountsorrel library oremail:editor@birstallpost.co.uk

Can you remember the ‘walk through’under the archway at the Old Bull &Mouth Public House in Leicester Road(now the Slate restaurant) which leddown to the Playing Fields? This hadbeen in use for many years – I can re-member 50 years plus and recall thecricket players walking down this pathon a Saturday and Sunday and, followingthe match, back to the pub for a shandy.In the winter, the football players used itto carry their nets and posts from thechapel, which was utilised as a changingroom.

It was also greatly used by residentsof Mountsorrel and other surroundingvillages when the fair came here manyyears ago, together with both past andpresent walkers and ramblers.

We, as children, used the path to theplaying fields, then walked across the

fields to Sileby to swim in the back wa-ter or fish in the mill pond (in the daysbefore Health and Safety!)

Unfortunately, this ‘walk through’ hadnever been officially designated as aPublic Footpath and has recently been‘blocked off’ as a result of the develop-ment of 5 houses.

In order for Leicestershire CountyCouncil to give this consideration forre-opening, they require evidence ofusage for a minimum of 20 years andmust be from ‘highway to highway’ i.e.not just a ‘short cut’ to the PlayingFields.

We are now in the last month of theyearNow, what do we need to remember?Perhaps a ‘to do’ list would be of someuseOh, there’s so much to do in DecemberThere’s shopping of course with ourfamily and friendsWatch out for that last posting date!You’ve probably written so many nicecardsYou’ll not want them turning up late.Is the pudding complete? Is the Christ-mas cake iced?Have you made a big trifle to share?Have you candles and crackers for yourfestive meal?Or gifts if you’re dining elsewhere?How many mince pies did you carefullybake?Will there be enough do you suppose?Have you hung decorations and put upthe tree?Are the presents all tied up with bows?If the answers are ‘yes’, than that’s won-derful newsIt’s certain that everything’s doneBut wait – there’s one more thing youmustn’t forget:Most important of all – have fun!From Peggy Clarke

A Christmas List

Walk through

You are all invited to theMethodist Church, Church Hill Rd on

Tuesday December 8 at 7.30pm

Those taking part include:The Ratby Co-operative Band

Local Organisations • Local ClergyLight refreshments will be servedat the conclusion of the concert

ChristmasCarol Concert

Organised byMountsorrel Parish Council

Roy MorrisPlumbing and Heating

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Leicester Society ofArtistsAnnual Exhibition2015Nov 6, 2015-January 9, 2016New Walk Museum, 53 New Walk,Leicester LE1 7EAPaintings, sculpture, ceramics,prints and multi-media dazzle inone of the largest group shows ofart in the city.Leicester Society of Artists cele-brates the arrival of 28 newly elect-ed members this year so join themany talented artists showing theirlatest work for the first time.Take the opportunity to stroll downhistoric New Walk this winter, havea coffee in the museum café anddiscover the huge range of art creat-ed by artists living, working andstudying in Leicestershire and Rut-land.www.leicestersocietyofartists.co.uk

The Magna Cartaa talk by retired lecturerDr Michael LynchTuesday Feb 2, 7pmThe Rothley Centre, MountsorrelLane£5 (pay at the door)

Anglican Churches in Mountsorrel

Christmas Services& EventsSunday Dec 6: 12.30 till 4pm Christ-mas Tree Festival at Christ Church;4pm Fun@4 – Christmas activitiesMonday Dec 7: 7pm Ladies CarolService with Christmas trees. Comealong and join in. All ladies wel-comeSunday Dec 20: 11am Christingle atChrist Church; 6pm Traditional CarolService at St Peter’sTuesday Dec 22: 10.30am Nativity –come and enjoy the film at ChristChurch. All children must be accom-panied by an adultWednesday Dec 23: 8pm Carol Sing-ing at The Waterside Inn. Comealong and join in the funChristmas Eve: 4pm Crib Service atChrist Church. Children may comedressed as a nativity character;11.15pm Holy Communion at theMethodist ChurchChristmas Day: 9.30am Holy Com-munion at St Peter’s; 11am HolyCommunion at Christ Church

Birstall RunningClubMeet Monday & Friday nights, 6.20for 6.30pm runBirstall School Lane playing fields –showers & toilets availableWednesday night beginners group atBirstall Legion 7pm

Speed work sessions also availableon Wednesdays for those wanting toimproveContact Deryk ond-woods1@sky.com or Bob 07927346640Website – www.birstallrc.org.uk• • •Mountsorrel Methodist ChurchCelebrating fifteen years ofSunday Night @ Eight

Organ Recitalson Sunday January 17 at 8pmby Ben GiddensDirector of Music at Queen Anne’sSchool, CavershamAdmission is freeDonations for the development fundBuffet from 7.30pm

Birstall & DistrictArt SocietyTuesday January 12, at 6.30pm for7pm startYou are invited to join us at thePalmer Tomkinson Centre at TheCedars Academy, Wanlip Road, Bir-stall LE4 4GH to watch exciting art-ist Haidee Jo Summers giving ademonstration in acrylic and oilpaints of ‘Figures in a Setting’.Demonstration to end at 9pm. Mem-bers £1, Guests £3. Free raffle. Am-ple parking and wheelchair access.

Christ ChurchRothley Road, Mountsorrel

Christmas TreeFestivalSat Dec 5, 2015, 10am-4pmSun Dec 6, 2015, 12.30pm - 4pmhttp://cofe.mountsorrel.org/index.php

Santa’s ComingSanta will again be visiting TheBaldwin Trust’s narrowboatSt.ClareIt will be sailing from TheHope & Anchor Wanlipevery Saturday and Sun-day starting 28th No-vember until 20thDecember and also21st and 22nd De-cember cost £5each.Santa will have apresent for all children12 and under drinks and a mince piefor everyone else to book ring hishotline on 0754 8813168.

Charnwood Forest:a Living LandscapeTalk by Michael JeevesMonday 18th January 2016 at7.30pmWoodhouse Eaves Village HallMichael Jeeves has been Head ofConservation, Leicestershire andRutland Wildlife Trust for the last 25years.The Charnwood Forest Living Land-scape project aims to conserve andenhance the unique wildlife, geolo-gy and character of Charnwood For-est. The project is led by theLeicestershire and Rutland WildlifeTrust and is supported by AggregateIndustries.The Trust offers free wildlife sur-

DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST

Noticeboardall details printed free

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The tax return deadline is

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07765635505 • 01162209573LOCAL BUSINESS

8veys to landowners, has a smallgrant scheme to help with manage-ment work and collaborates withothers who are concerned with theconservation of this special area.Members are free. Guests are wel-come, £3 at the door. Refreshmentsincluded.Further information: Peter Bertram01162 100 572 or www.focf.org.uk

Oliver!is the Christmas production atCurve, LeicesterLet us transport you to VictorianLondon this Christmas for this time-less tale about the boy who askedfor more…After escaping the workhouse,young orphan boy Oliver quicklyfinds himself alone on the bleakstreets of London. When he be-friends the mischievous Artful Dodg-er, Oliver is introduced to the art ofpickpocketing, but could his newlifestyle lead him to discovering hismysterious past?Based on Charles Dickens’ classicnovel, Oliver! is one of the mostsuccessful musicals of all time andhas a sensational score that in-cludes such classics as Food Glori-ous Food, You’ve Got toPick-a-Pocket or Two, Where IsLove? and I’d Do Anything.In Curve’s brand new production ofLionel Bart’s multi-award winningmusical, director Paul Kerryson willbe joined by choreographer AndrewWright, Musical Director Ben Atkin-son and Set Designer Matt Kinley, tobring you another must-see familyfavourite. Consider Yourself in for atreat this Christmas!Tickets£42* – £18.50*Discounted Tickets**£16* Under 16s£4 off for 16 – 26 yrs£15 Under 18s school groups£2.50 off over 60s and registeredunemployed£5 off for Groups 10+**Discounted tickets are subject toavailability and are restricted to cer-tain areas and performances.*Plus a transaction fee of £3 for allcard payments. Excludes Members,Groups 10+ and customers printingtickets at home. Discounts are sub-ject to availability and are onlyavailable on certain performances.•

Want to know more aboutbreastfeeding your baby?Be in the company of like mindedmums?Pop along for a cuppa.Babies and toddlers welcomeLa Leche League Birstall Breastfeed-ing GroupSecond Thursday of the month1pm - 2.30pmBirstall Village Hallfor more info call Jackie 07787130801or find us on facebook

DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST

SANTA’S SOAR Valley Tourwill once again be visitingMountsorrel this year.

Organised by Soar Valley Rotary Clubhe will visit Mountsorrel on Tuesday Dec8 in the Halstead & Balmoral Road areasbetween 6-8pm, Wednesday December 9in the Leisure Centre area from 6-8pmand Saturday & Sunday Dec 19/20 in theBudgens Car Park from 9am to 5pm.

As usual Santa will be greeting fami-lies from his sleigh which will be drawnby a vehicle kindly loaned by Loughbor-ough Kia, whist Soar Valley Rotarianswill be collecting for Rotary charities.

A Rotary spokesman said: “All themoney raised goes to help good causesand to date the Club has donated over£200,000 for local charities large andsmall. Charities which have benefitedinclude LOROS, Rainbows, Macmillan,Prostaid, Age UK and the Air Ambulanceand we have helped young peoplethrough Wishes 4 Kids and Rotary YouthExchange. We also responded to interna-tional emergencies with disaster boxesand support Rotary’s drive to rid theworld of polio ‘End Polio’.

Recent grants include the SorrelYouth Café in Mountsorrel and the CarlGunns Community Gym in Birstall.

P/15/2102/2: 255 Leicester Road – creationof vehicular access and formation of dropped kerb

P/15/2174/2: 12 Mere Close – erection of twostorey extension to front, single storey extension toside and rear of dwelling

P/15/2132/2: Harby Developments, GraniteWay – construction of new access off Granite Way

P/15/2012/2: Land adj 72 Boundary Road –erection of a dwelling

P/15/1904/2: 52 Hawcliffe Road – retentionof single storey extension and dormer extension torear of dwelling

P/15/1869/2: 251 Leicester Road – retentionof rear extension to dwelling

P/15/1797/2: 4 Celandine Close – erection ofreplacement conservatory to side & rear of dwell-ing

P/15/1779/2: 3 Kestrel Lane – erection ofsingle storey rear extension to dwelling

Planning

Santa toursvillage

Please phone to make an appointment.You will need to give some financial details

but these are kept confidential.

Do you need financial help?Have you lived in

Mountsorrel for 6+ months?

MOUNTSORREL UNITED CHARITIESRelief in Need Fund

Registered charity number 217615

Call or text Rachel on 0793 1129 360Email mountsorrelunitedcharities@outlook.com

The Mountsorrel Relief in Need Fund couldhelp by giving you a grant towards items for yourhome, your health, your garden or other needs.

www.mountsorrelunitedcharities.com

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MOUNTSORREL QUARRY willhave its operational lifeextended by 25 years afterit was granted planningpermission to extend thesite.

The county Council have approvedplans for a 20.6 acre extension and therelocation of the primary crusher, whichis currently located on the rim of thequarry.

This will enable millions of tonnes ofgranite to become workable, say quarryowners Lafarge Tarmac.

Tim Deal, Estate manager at LafargeTarmac, said: “We are extremely pleasedwith the decision which will help tosafeguard 149 jobs and continue toprovide over £10million a year to thelocal economy. Mountsorrel quarry pro-vides a nationally important source ofgranite, essentials for the UK’s roads andconstruction industry..

“By extending the life of the quarryfor a further 25 years we will be able toaccess additional stone reserves andmaintain supply at a time when the UK isinvesting in new infrastructure.”

Lafarge Tarmac say the new equip-ment will be quieter and less visible forthe majority of residents. Their plansalso include moving the quarry offices,workshops, lorry and car park.

New areas of woodland will be plant-ed and a network of new footpaths andbridleways will be created to improverecreational access.

Some residents have raised concernsabout noise from blasting operations,dust, the impact on house prices and onwildlife.

The quarry at Mountsorrel has beenin operation for at least 250 years. Itnow has an operating life up to 2040,say Lafarge Tarmac.

DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST

ON REMEMBRANCE Sunday Mr Alan Smith received an award forhis long service to the Mountsorrel branch of the Royal BritishLegion.

Our picture shows him receiving his award from Colonel Robert Martin OBE (pic-tured right), the Legion County President.

Quarry extension approvedP

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Long service toLegion recognised

The March issue of the

MOUNTSORREL POSTwill be published on Mar 11.The copy deadline is Feb 26.

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The Broadnook Garden suburb is oneof the areas suggested for developmentin Charnwood Borough Council’s CoreStrategy, which is the council’s blueprintfor where new housing, employmentland and infrastructure should be builtuntil 2028.

At a meeting of the full CharnwoodBorough Council on November 9, 39councillors voted to adopt the CoreStrategy and eight voted against.

The main areas of proposed develop-ment are:

• 1500 homes and 15 hectares ofemployment land on land to the north ofthe A46, between Birstall and Rothley.The land is in the parish of Wanlip.

• 4500 homes and 13 hectares ofemployment land to the north of

Hamilton/east of Thurmaston.• 3000 homes and 16 hectares of

employment land to the west of Lough-borough

The Core Strategy also sets out howthe Council aims to help boost economicrecovery in the area with plans for theregeneration of the Watermead corridorwithin the Thurmaston and Syston area,support for further development of theLoughborough Science and EnterprisePark and a regeneration plan for Shep-shed.

The Mountsorrel Post understandsthat the developers of the BroadnookGarden Suburb are planning publicexhibitions of their plans in January orFebruary of 2016, prior to submitting anoutline planning application.

Birstall Parish Council’schairman Ann Marshallsaid that the Parish Councilobjected to the inclusion ofthe Broadnook Gardensuburb at the earliest pos-sible stage. She said: “Weobjected on the groundsthat the strategy was un-sound and that the localinfrastructure couldn’tcope.

“The village tried sohard to stop the HallamFields development and itmade not one jot of differ-ence and realistically Idon’t think we could everstop this one. Charnwoodhas its housing targets tomeet – that’s good forthem, but what about theresidents!”

A FULL meeting of MountsorrelParish Council was held on July13.

Sgt Ludlam introduced PCSO 6392Tom Lloyd as a new PCSO for the villagewho would be working alongside PCSO JMeachem, PC G Spiby and himself.

Borough Councillor Leigh Harper-Dav-ies reported that Sorrel Court was in needof some new windows and advised thatfunding was available for this.

It was agreed to arrange a meetingwith County Councillor Peter Osborne todiscuss the future of Mountsorrel library.

It was reported that Cllr Steve Hay-wood had met with the Heritage Group atthe cemetery to look at the second roomin the chapel which they would like touse. Lights stored there would need to bemoved. The Heritage Group would like toapply for a grant to repair the chapel.

The Council agreed to look into thepossibility of placing one defibrillator inthe phone box on Cromwell Road andone at 211 Loughborough Road if thecompany who owned the premises werein agreement. It was agreed to ask Charn-wood Surgery on Linkfield Road if theywould consider moving the defibrillatorthey had inside the building to outside soit will be accessible 24 hours a day.

A full meeting of Mountsorrel ParishCouncil was held on July 27.

The council received and considered aletter of resignation from the Clerk to theCouncil, Mrs Julie Walker.

A full meeting of Mountsorrel ParishCouncil was held on September 14.

Cllr Steve Haywood reported that hehad tried to phone 101 to report antiso-cial behaviour by teenagers at the rear ofthe premises of an 86 year old lady butwas unable to get through. The next dayCllr Haywood was offered a visit from aPCSO from Barrow – that would havebeen too late as the teenagers would havebeen gone by then.

Cllr Paul Harris reported that he had

been waiting for 20 weeks for contactfrom the police regarding a burglary.

Cllr Mick Lemon reported that a meet-ing had taken place with the CountyCouncil regarding the library and that thelibrary will remain open until at leastMarch 2016.

It was reported that the skateboardramp at the Halstead Road playing fieldhad been vandalised. Repairs have beencarried out. It was agreed to arrange asite meeting to assess the extent of dam-age to all the play equipment and trees.

The external auditors have written tothe Parish Council as expenditure hadexceeded £200,000 in 2014/15 and theauditors require further information re-garding this.

A full meeting of Mountsorrel ParishCouncil was held on October 12.

The meeting was attended by theLeicestershire Police and Crime Commis-sioner Sir Clive Loader.

Sir Clive was given two examples inthe current year when the Police re-sponse had been less than satisfactory. SirClive referred to the three months trial oftaking no action depending on whetherthe premises had an odd or evennumber. This practice has been discon-tinued. Vulnerable victims of crimeshould be followed up soon after beingreported. Diarised appointments withofficers are now being issued.

Further incidents were reported to SirClive, including difficulty in contacting thepolice and the lack of follow up action bythe police.

PCSO James Meachem reported thatthis would be his last meeting and hewould be handing over to PCSO TomLloyd.

It was agreed that a grant of £15,000be made to the Sorrel Youth Café with theproviso that the café seeks fundraisingfrom a different source in future years.

A full meeting of Mountsorrel ParishCouncil was held on October 26.

The meeting was attended by GeoffBrown, Senior Planner from CharnwoodBorough Council.

Mr Brown gave a presentation aboutsection 106 developer contributions andthe consultation process for parishes.

Will Anthill reported that the plans forthe new Memorial Centre had been re-duced in scale and revised tenders hadbeen sought. Financial contributions areexpected from a number of sources,including section 106 developer contribu-tions. The new centre will have charitablestatus. It was agreed in principle that theParish council sign a lease with theMountsorrel War Memorial Trust, thelandlord, to take over the running of thenew centre, subject to confirmation bythe Parish Council’s solicitor that it wasin order to do so.

DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST

CHARNWOOD COUNCILLORS have voted to approve a planning documentthat recommends building 1500 new homes north of Birstall.

Sites for new homes Parish Council notes

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library's long history” said Steve Mitch-ell, chair of the library group. “The

whole event is a re-flection of local com-munity activity, andshows the importantplace of the library inthe village. Wecouldn’t let it close.”

Before the open-ing, library volunteersspent two weeksimproving the interi-or space. Spokes-woman MaxineLinnell said: “New

LED lights brighteneverything up, the counter has beenmoved leaving a space for events andgatherings, there is room for four newpublic computers, and the toilet is nowavailable for general use.

“There were wonderful displays allover the new noticeboards and a boardwhere people couldleave their com-ments on the chang-es. “It’s perfect”wrote one child.

“Kate Burlinsonmade a library cakein the shape of aRothley Community

Library book – like the cake made byvolunteers in 1997 when the librarybuilding opened. Betty cut it in style, andthere were queues for a slice” addedMaxine.

A grant has funded £1000 worth ofnew books.

Steve Mitchell praised the formerlibrary staff. “They’re going to be hardto follow” he said. The new group hasformed after the County Council wasunable to continue to pay for staff at thelibrary, and has been supported by theParish Council, Voluntary Action Leices-ter and the library service.

Rothley library opening hours:Mon 2-7pm; Tue closed; Wed 2-5pm; Thurs 10-12noon, 2-5pm; Fri Closed; Sat 10-1pm. Tel:0116 3053671

ROTHLEY’S NEW volunteerrun library was officiallyopened with a vibrant com-munity event on SaturdayOctober 17.

Around 150 people gathered onCross Green and the recently formedRothley Gospel singers began the cele-brations before the crowd walked alongMountsorrel Lane to the library, withmany of the children dressed as theirfavouritebook char-acter.

Outsidethe librarythere werecake stallscraft stallsand bookstalls, hotdogs andplay areas for children. The Scouts, theParish Church, the school PTFA, theMountsorrel Railway Project and Harri-son Murray Building Society were allinvolved, and many local businesses andshops helped out. Anne Davies, fromBBC East Midlands today, unveiled thelibrary sign and children presented flow-ers to Betty Roberts, one of the library’soriginal volunteers when the library washoused in a classroom at Rothley schoolbefore 1986.

“This is a new chapter in Rothley

11

AN ART group that startedin April still has placesavailable for new members.

Local artist Jo Sheppard runs theQuorn Art Group, which meets at AllenHouse, the scout hut on Meeting Street,Quorn, every Thursday from 10am to12.30pm.

Jo sets a series of 10 week pro-grammes for learners to follow, but theyare also welcome to bring something oftheir own to work on if they prefer. Thesessions are aimed at covering the prin-ciples of drawing, painting and print-making using a wide variety oftechniques and materials. Jo said: I

adopt a learner based approach toteaching; relaxed and creative, all aimedat encouraging people to develop theirown creative style. Every skill level iswelcome, with classes providing a crea-tive challenge for both inexperiencedand experienced learners.”

You can choose to pay ‘up front’ forthe whole 10 sessions (£80) or pay £10a session and pay-as-you-go. Contact Jovia email info@josheppard.co.uk or callher for further details 07984 316292

DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST

MOUNTSORREL POSTYOUR INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERUnit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings

Leicester LE4 3BREditor: Mr Jerry Jackson

Editorial/Advertising (Tel & Fax)

0116 4422067Correspondence, news etc can be handed in at:

Mountsorrel Library, Rothley Post Officeor to our office.

editor@birstallpost.co.uk

AMLI DESIGN Architectural Consul-tancy. Plans drawn and submitted.Extensions, conversions, newbuild. David Ives B.Sc.(Hons)FBEng MCIOB 01162674395/07974807111www.amlidesign.co.uk

Small ads are 25p for the first 16words. 17-32 words: 50p. Enclosingpayment, post your ad to us or handit in (inside an envelope) at Mount-sorrel library.Trade/business rates for small ads are 25p aword. You are liable for the trade/businessrate if you are offering a service for whichyou are asking for payment, or if you are ad-vertising new goods for sale. All text will beprinted bold. Box outline £1 extra. Max 50words. Phone numbers count as one word.

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12 DEC 2015MOUNTSORREL POST