Blaby Topic

Blaby Parish Council

Newsletter Issue 03: OCTOBER 2002

Results of Competition to Name Newsletter
The Council received dozens of names, most of which were appropriate, though some residents took the opportunity to tease the Council! These suggestions, whilst amusing, were disqualified. The winning name is BLABY TOPIC. The winner has chosen to remain anonymous and has donated the prize ? a £15 voucher from Blaby Art and Print ? with the suggestion that another competition is held.

Competition;
The Council has taken up the challenge
and introduces its new competition.
(Please note: The competition is only open to Blaby Village residents and is not open to Members and Staff of Blaby Parish Council or their families.) Below are listed 6 questions. The winner will be the first set of correct answers drawn out of the hat at the Council meeting on 3.12.02.

1. What event does the big Clock at Forge Corner commemorate?
2. Name the Blaby Parish Council Chairman, 2002/2003.
3. In what year was the landscaped area known as the Parish Pump opened? (Junction Welford Road and Sycamore Street.)
4. What large-scale sunshine project are the Blaby Guides and Brownies currently working on?
5. What is the name of the river that runs between Blaby and Glen Parva?
6. Who was the Bouskell in Bouskell Park?

Send your entries, by Monday 2.12.02, to Blaby Parish Council, 13 Western Drive, Blaby, Leics., LE8 4FR.

News of Council Members;
The Council was pleased to welcome Mr. John Troake in May, but sad to lose the services of Mr. Ellis Peck and Mr. Roger Allsopp in August. There are 3 vacancies on the Parish Council. If you are interested, please read the advertisement overleaf.
Blaby Parish Council's Activities since Newsletter Issue 2

. Cycle Parking. The County Council has liased with the Parish Council concerning the provision of extra cycle racks around the Village.
. Safety Surfacing. Wet-pour rubber safety surfacing has been installed under the third set of swings at Northfield Park. The Parish Council has a rolling programme to replace existing bark pits with rubber.
. Street Orderly. From mid-April the Council has been "buying in" from Blaby District Council, the services of a Street Orderly for 12 hours per week. If you find any litter "hot spots", report them on Leics. 2784728.

Cemetery Extension. With regret, the Council decided that it had to level the ridge and furrow on Cemetery No. 5. At the same time, drains would be installed on Cemeteries 5 and 6, and the pond on No. 6 would be cleared. This work has been carried out. The Council has also agreed, for the sake of security, to remove the hedge between the existing Cemetery and Cemetery (Extension) No. 5.
. Pedestrian Preference Scheme, Western Drive. A preliminary chat has been held between the Parish Council and the County Council with a view to drawing up a scheme to help pedestrians cross Western Drive in safety.

. Lawned Cemetery. The Council has agreed, when No. 5 Cemetery is opened for burials, it will be a lawned Cemetery; that is, only memorials at the heads of graves will be allowed. There will be no gardens, kerbs, additional vases, etc.
. Hanging Baskets/Planters. Fourteen baskets and two planters have produced a glorious show of colour in the Village Centre this summer.
. Water Supply: Allotments. The contract has been given to upgrade the water supply so that all 70 tenants may receive their fair share of water.
. Welford Road: Enhancement Scheme (Grass Verges).

After fifty years of trying to solve the problem of muddy verges outside the terraced housing (odd-numbered side), the Council has finally been able to give the contract for a scheme to enhance the area! The scheme has been made possible by grants from the County Council and Blaby District Council. Work will commence towards the end of September.
. Grants. A grant of £200 was made to Blaby Guides towards their project to construct a Human Sun Dial in the Rest Garden at Northfield Park.

. Changing Rooms, Oakfield Park. A grant was received from Blaby District Council which enabled the graffiti to be removed from the Changing Rooms and a graffiti-resistant coating added.
. Proposed Road Safety Scheme: Enderby Road Area. A Public Meeting was held on 8.7.02 to discuss the scheme that had been drawn up by the County Council. Nearly a hundred people attended the Meeting. Villagers' comments were given to the County Council and will be used to revise the scheme. The revised scheme will be ready for public consultation later in the year.

. Travellers arrived at Westfield towards the end of June. It was traumatic for everyone concerned. They were finally removed and the site cleaned after a stay of just over two weeks. Measures were set in place to prevent another such incursion.
"Pawnee" Play An exciting new play area is soon to arrive at Northfield Park. The Council has purchased a large item of play equipment which has 14 separate play items. The "Pawnee" will stand near the existing two sets of cradle swings and the whole area, including the swings, will be fenced.

Beat Police Officers: Blaby Village;
Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. I am PC 1163 Rich Neal, one of your two local police officers working from the Blaby Local Policing Unit (LPU) and covering the Blaby and Whetstone beat area. I share the beat with PC 1716 Ward.

As you are aware, the LPU has been in Blaby for some time now. During this period of time numerous changes have taken place, the most recent being the introduction of the Beat Team. This team consists of three experienced police officers who work closely with the Beat Officers at the LPU. The Beat Team is a resource that the Beat Officers can draw upon to assist them with issues on their beat areas. These may be crime or community based.

The crime issues on the area are very similar to all the surrounding villages. We always need to be security conscious and aware of vulnerable areas. The most obvious being the security of our homes and vehicle-related crime. PC Ward and myself, if contacted, will be more than willing to offer crime prevention advice in these two areas. We are both presently strongly promoting and have been involved in the two shop watch schemes that have been recently set up in the villages of Blaby and Whetstone. This is a scheme that encourages the local shopkeepers to inform each other of any suspicious persons or crime trends that they have become aware of.

We have also, prior to the school summer holidays, visited the four primary schools in the area and spoken to years five and six in each school offering safety advice and support to the young people in the area.

I would like to thank the Parish Council for inviting us to write an article for their newsletter. In our next article, I hope to supply you with more detailed information about the issues on the beat and any crime trends that may have developed.

The opening times of the Blaby LPU are Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Diary;
October
8th: Parish Council Meeting, Social Centre, 7.30 p.m.
26th: Surgery, 13 Western Drive, 10 a.m. ? 11 a.m.
November
12th: Parish Council Meeting, Social Centre, 7.30 p.m.
29th: Switching-on Christmas Lights, John's Court,
6.30 p.m.
30th: Surgery, 13 Western Drive, 10 a.m. ? 11 a.m.
December
3rd: Parish Council Meeting, Social Centre, 7.30 p.m.
14th: Surgery, 13 Western Drive, 10 a.m. ? 11 a.m.
24th: Carol Singing, John's Court, 4.30 p.m.

Vacancies on Parish Council;
"But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life, it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on"
(Francis Bacon, 1605)

The Parish Council is a vital, vibrant, essential part of our community. It;
. Guards the Past,
. Maintains the Present,
. Plans the Future.
There are 3 vacancies on the Council. If you wish;
. to take part in this important, innovative area of
local government,
. to contribute to this outstanding example of
grass-roots democracy,
. to work for your community,
Contact: Mrs. G. Lee, Clerk to the Council, 13 Western Drive, Blaby, Leics., LE8 4FR. Tel. 2784728.
Email: blaby@parish-council.fsbusiness.co.uk

New Trees
The Parish Council is most concerned at the amount of interference with, and vandalism to, young trees planted around the village. If you see any vandalism happening please report it to the police immediately. It is heartbreaking to see a maturing sapling broken in two. It is unmendable!

Printed: September 2002 by Blaby Parish Council
13 Western Drive, Blaby, Leics., LE8 4FR
Tel. 0116-2784728
Email blaby@parish-council.fsbusiness.co.uk