Blaby Topic

Blaby Parish Council

Newsletter Issue 05: October 2003

Vacancies on Blaby Parish Council
Following Council elections in May, there were 5 vacancies on Blaby Parish Council. Since May, 3 people have joined Blaby Parish Council:-
Mr. Alan Goodwin
Mr. William Jennings
Mrs. Marian Broomhead
There are now 2 vacancies on the Parish Council.

Members of the Parish Council: 2003/04
Chairman Tel. No.
Miss Ann Marie Morris 2772088
Vice Chairman
Mr. Graham Harding 2772237
Members
Mr. Colin Bonser 2776158
Mrs. Marian Broomhead 2771711
Mr. Jack Churchard 2771403
Mr. Alan Goodwin 01455-283787
Mrs. Lorna Gutteridge 2775947
Mr. William Jennings 2774263
Mr. Mike North 2777433
Mr. Clive Orton 2785318
Mr. Stuart Parker 2837964
Dr. David Pollard 2772076
Mrs. Felicity Pollard 2772076
Mr. Joe Roper 2773965
Mrs. Carole Thomas 2772894
Mr. John Troake 2771055

BMX Track, Westfield, Grove Road
It is with regret that the Parish Council has had to dismantle the BMX track, despite its popularity with youngsters from all surrounding communities.
The Council commissioned ROSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) to carry out an inspection of all play sites in Blaby. Concerning the BMX track, the inspector found it to be a HIGH RISK site for the following reasons;

1. Unsuitable access for emergency vehicles due to the restricted (6'3") barrier at the entrance;
2. No safe provision for casual spectators;
3. Edge of track ? undefined and crumbling;
4. The surface of the track was rutted and stony;
5. Concrete fencing posts at the boundary with the rugby fields were too close to the track.

Parking ? Queens Road
The Parish Council has been approached by residents who expressed extreme concern about the appalling, chaotic, selfish and sometimes dangerous parking by parents of children attending Stokes Primary School. Fortunately, the Police had already been alerted to the situation. PC 1716 Ward has visited the site and has spoken to the school. He has produced a letter which the school has sent to all parents. It states;
"This style of parking is not acceptable. The Police will prosecute. Traffic Wardens will be sent to the site."

A Parish Plan for Blaby?
The Government is giving each small, rural community a bigger opportunity to run its own affairs; to set out a vision for its village; to guide its future development. This is done by way of a Parish Plan.
A Plan can cover everything that is relevant to the people who live and work in a village, from social housing to children's play areas. A Plan,
. will address the needs of the entire community,
including local businesses,
. will contain actions to meet the needs that have
been identified by the community.
Any small, rural parish council may apply for funding of up to £5000 to meet 75% of the cost of preparing a Plan, but the Plan itself needs to be "bottom up"; that is, members of a community should work together to prepare the Plan.
As yet no group has been set up to prepare a Plan for Blaby Village, though some interest has been expressed. If anyone is interested, please contact Blaby Parish Council at 13 Western Drive (Tel. Leics. 2784728). The Parish Council will help you to form a group, and offers the use of its offices for meetings.

Blaby Parish Council's "Policy Against the Discrimination of Disabled People"
BLABY PARISH COUNCIL will actively seek to identify areas, under its management, in which disabled people may be disadvantaged, and to take steps to overcome such disadvantages wherever practical and reasonable.

The Parish Council wishes to know if any Blaby parishioners have identified any areas within Blaby, which are managed by the Parish Council, where they are denied access to services or information. Please telephone to discuss any issues with Mrs. Lee, Clerk to the Council, Tel. 2784728. If you are unsure whether or not a matter falls within the Parish Council's remit, 'phone Mrs. Lee anyway to discuss if and how the matter might be addressed.

Diary
October
14th Parish Council Meeting, Social Centre, 7.30 p.m.
November
11th Parish Council Meeting, Social Centre, 7.30 p.m.
21st Switching-on Christmas Lights, John's Court, 6.30 p.m.
December
2nd Parish Council Meeting, Social Centre, 7.30 p.m.
24th Carol Singing, John's Court, 4.30 p.m.
Blaby Parish Council's Activities since Newsletter Issue 4 (April 2003)

. Extension of Cemetery (Mill Lane)
. No. 5 Cemetery was graded/weedkilled/seeded at a cost of £1505 + VAT.
. The Order for the diversion of Footpath Z.54, around the outside of No. 5 Cemetery, became operative on 14.9.03.

. Human Sun Dial, Rest Garden, Leicester Road
The Human Sun Dial is a project of the 1st Blaby Guides. It was officially opened on 3.7.03

. New Play Area, Northfield Park
. A 'Spiro Whirl' roundabout has been installed in the fenced off play area and is proving to be very popular.

. The two accesses to the play area have been tarmacked so that it will be accessible all year round.

. Barrier against Travellers, Northfield Park
A barrier has been erected inside the field gate at a cost of
£850 + VAT. Concrete bollards to form a 'compound' cost
an additional £20 each.

. Changing Rooms, Oakfield Park
The brick changing rooms/toilet block was subjected to a particularly nasty attack by vandals in April. The water tower and five skylights were smashed and every wall was covered in graffiti. The cost of repairs totalled £2194 + VAT.

. Grants
. The Parish Council has made grants:-
1. To the Countesthorpe Community College Summer Playscheme 2003 (half the deficit to a maximum of £100);
2. £50 to Leicestershire Crimestoppers;
3. £25 to the Rural Community Council;
4. £200 to the Royal Leicestershire Regiment Museum Appeal.

. Improvements to Workshop, Blaby Cemetery
The Parish Council apologises for any disturbance caused by works to install an indoor toilet in the workshop and a septic tank. The cost of the scheme is £14,852 + VAT. Phase II of the scheme will be to install a mezzanine floor for a canteen area.

. Cemetery Noticeboard
A noticeboard has been ordered for erection near the car park, at a cost of £811 + VAT.
. Christmas Lights
Building on the success of the past two years, the Council has purchased a third set of illuminated lights for the coming Christmas season.

Road Safety Scheme: Enderby Road Area
The Parish Council was consulted on the detail of the scheme:-
. The Parish Council opted for no speed tables on Park Road and The Avenue;
. There will be no speed tables on Enderby Road following objections by the emergency services;
. The cycle track from the Bypass crossing will finish at The Avenue;
. There will be 'build-outs' and parking bays on the side of Enderby Road at West Street, James Street, New Street and Lime Grove;
. Two '30' vehicle activated signs will be installed on Enderby Road (the signs will not include cameras);
. A public exhibition will be held later in the year so that parishioners may discuss the detailed scheme with the County Council.

Police File
Firstly, I hope that you have all had a lovely Summer and had the opportunity to enjoy the good weather. This unfortunately has caused an increase in the area in domestic burglaries. Naturally, people in good weather tend to leave windows open and insecure, giving burglars a soft target. Please remember to lock your doors and windows and especially be aware of what is insecure when you leave
your house or go to bed at night.

As Autumn approaches you'll be putting your mowers and garden equipment away to hibernate for the Winter. Again, please make sure that your sheds are secure and any valuable equipment is protected appropriately within its Winter housing. We also have an addition to the Beat in the form of Ivan
Kearney, our Community Support Officer. You have possibly seen in the national press the initiative to recruit CSO's. Ivan has been assigned to the Blaby Beat to assist PC 1716 Nick Ward and myself with our duties.
Initially the has been to the local Primary Schools and is actively looking at parking issues outside both.

Schools at picking;
up and dropping-off times. When parking your cars, please be aware of parking restrictions and any dangers that you may cause for the young children.I am also aware of the issues arising with regard to the gathering of youths on the Southway and Lutterworth Road. Rest assured, PC Ward and myself, along with Ivan Kearney, are looking at the problems developing and ways of combating the anti-social behaviour. PC 1163 Richard Neal

Printed September 2003 by Blaby Parish Council
13 Western Drive, Blaby, Leics., LE8 4FR
Tel. 0116-2784728
Email blaby@parish-council.fsbusiness.co.uk