Village news
Kegworth Mike Elliott 0115 937 6506 elliottnews@btconnect.com
COMMUNITY LIBRARY. Today – April 4, it’s Bingo - eyes down at 2.15 with free refreshments. It says on the posters “You know you want to…” but it seems that maybe you don’t know you want to.
A gentleman came along to the library during the last session and declared he’d “had the best time ever”. And he’d only come in to do some photocopying! (Did you know we do photocopying ? Very reasonable rates, A4 and A3 mono and colour with a good reduction in price for more than ten copies !)
On Tuesday, April 10, our local police community support office Nicki Russell will be in the library between 2.30pm and 4pm. Come and have a chat with her about any issues or concerns you may have.
We have a new art exhibition starting next week, with work by Audrey Lockwood. She has exhibited at the library before and her work was very well received with two paintings sold.
Audrey is from Castle Donington and so she’ll be setting out with her pictures about now in order to give herself enough time to get across the M1 junction. Do make her perilous journey worthwhile by calling in to the library to take a look.
Wednesday, April 11, we’re singing again with EmbarrasSING. 7pm, just £2 for a very enjoyable evening.
MAKE YOUR VILLAGE VIEWS KNOWN. A plea has been made this week by Kegworth Parish Council for residents to make their views known to them on what they want to see their village is like at the end of the present changes involving the introduction of a by-pass.
After at least 70 years of waiting and campaigning for a bypass, the village is finally getting one and completion of it is due in October.
Council chairman David Hignett says the first consultation on the possibility of redeveloping the village began early in 2016, and this produced a wish list from residents that included the village being reclaimed for people, create a place that is welcoming, attractive and economically vibrant, prioritizing pedestrians, reducing traffic, better, easier and more encourage cycling, creating a better space for relaxation and community events and the elimination of rat runs.
The chairman says he is aware car parking is going to be a major talking point and one of the questions they are putting to the village is should this be introduced on Derby Road.
The parish council say by using some of Derby Road for parking it could provide additional parking for residents and shoppers as well as helping to slow down traffic and give the village a more relaxed, continental feel. It could also provide additional opportunities for benches, trees and pots to break up the expanse of tarmac and to make use of the width
The council say consideration would of course need to be given to the method of control to prevent all day parkers, holiday makers etc. and an example is that there is potential to say no parking between say 8.30am and 9.30am each day (except Sundays). “Any ‘no parking’ hour slot could be chosen. The reason for choosing a single hour is because it provides consistency and keeps the cost of enforcement down which would need to be met by the parish.”
Stefan Kruczkowski, an Urban Designer has been involved with the project for around twelve months and has put forward sketched a concept of what could be provided.
Coun. Hignett says to meet one of the wish list ideas, they want to give the civic space back to the people, plant trees and provide seating. “Events could be held, including the possibility of a regular market, said the chairman.
The parish council say it will cost around £10-£15,000 to have one scheme costed by a Project Engineer and therefore they need to be certain this is the concept everyone would like to see priced up.
On the question of traffic, the council say that Derby Road was designed to take heavy vehicles. “The downgrading of the road will mean these large vehicles will no longer use Derby Road as a main route. Some of the width of the road could therefore be used for parking. Additional parking could benefit residents and shoppers but would need to be regulated.
Coun. Hignett says the parish council feels there will be a cost of the village if nothing is done to improve it after the bypass.
“The concept is uncosted at present however it is estimated the work could cost around £1,000,000. We already have £227,000 in the pot from various sources.”
Local MP, Andrew Bridgen and County and District Councillor, Coun. Trevor Pendleton have said they are happy to approach large businesses in the area for contributions while the parish council can also apply for grant funding.
But both those avenues of funding are uncertain as they do not know what the outcome would be.
Adds the chairman: “We are therefore asking if residents would be happy to pay £3 per month on a Band D property to fund the project. We could borrow the £1,000,000 needed if residents agreed to pay an additional £3 per month via a loan repaid over thirty years.
“If other funding and grants were received, we would not need to borrow as much.”
The parish council consultation is taking place for six weeks between 3rd April and 15th May.
The form being given to residents can either be sent to the Parish Offices at 1 London Road or to Picture This at 3A Dragwell.
Or can be completed online at www. kegworthparishcouncil.co.uk . Residents can also call into the Parish Office to complete the questions during our opening hours.
And an invite is given to them to go to the Parish Office on Saturday, April 21, between 9am and 12 noon to discuss the consultation in more detail and provide the council with their responses
Adds the chairman: “This is your opportunity to shape the future of your village so please take the time to reply.”
AIMING TO IMPROVE SOCIAL LIFE OF VILLAGE. egworth’s enterprising OneKegworth are continuing to look for ways to improve socialability in the village.
The group have already very successfully brought lots of people together through events they have held and are keen to continue their aims?
to organise and create as much participation as possible by finding a formula and to build on success of previous events to create a greater sense of a stronger community of Kegworth.
They are continuing their aim of raising the profile of the village through events which are targeted at being inclusive; the young, elderly and families and they give out a message to everyone who live or work in Kegworth to say they are they are welcome and part of the community.
The long term aims are to showcase village resources that people were previously unaware of and to create a series of events over the year that allows people to explore all they have to offer as well as to present to people the opportunity to try new things and to join the clubs, organisations and most importantly to have fun.
The central organisation facilitated events by seeking permissions for the use of the public spaces, providing car parking, toilets, stewards, signage, publicity, raising sponsorship, inviting and encouraging and informing participants and were successful in gaining a monetary award from the Big Lottery for the Summer Family Fun Day.
The group say the number of people, businesses and groups involved in the events they have held is a testament to how OneKegworth has galvanised the community; with the resultant wide range of activities meaning there is something for everyone. They are happy that all sections of the diverse community have worked together to create a mutual respect through the village.
One of the successes has been the major change that has been witnessed by the OneKegworth team is the regeneration of the SideLey Rec to SideLey Park.
WINTER QUIZ LEAGUE WINNERS. The annual winter quiz held over five months at Kegworth Cricket Club pavilion has finished with the host team The Cricket Club topping the table as clear winners.
With just a point between them, The Hockey Club finished second and teams called Just For Fun and Third Again were in joint third place.
Question setter and quiz master David Buxton thanked all twelve teams for taking part. Bill White manned the bar to ensure all entrants were suitably refreshed.
The final evening closed with a buffet and it is hoped that all teams will compete again starting in November.
Sutton Bonington Mike Elliott 0115 937 6506 elliottnews@btconnect.com
BOWLS AND WHIST. Another bowls season is fast approaching. Maximum effort is being put into getting our green in good order ready for our first match on April 16 and our Open Day on the 22nd.
With 70 matches arranged, it is going to be a busy summer, but we are going to attempt to continue to run the village whist drive
Sutton Bonington Bowls Club, held their whist drive on Monday 26th of March at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.The drive was attended by 21 players.
This week’s winners were Sheelagh Stafford, Pat Knight, Christine Cadwallader, Janet Goddard and Trevor Popay
Raffle winners were Janet Goddard, David Gee, Mike Grout and Bill Kyle.
The next whist drive will be April 16.
SUTTON BONINGTON SHOW. Sutton Bonington Show committee are already working on plans for this year’s event, being held as usual on the first Sunday in September, which this year is September 2.
The first meeting after the annual meeting has looked at some of the arrangements for 2018 and already some of them are in hand. There will be around ten meetings for the committee to hold as they build up towards September 2.
The show continues to be well known in three counties, situated as it is on the borders of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire and is one of the biggest of its kind in the area, attracting as it does hundreds of people to the village each year. The 2018 event will be the 32nd in its present form.
This year as well as all the usual activities for all ages and dozens of trade stands, the main attractions will be Xtreme Motorcycle and Mountain Bike Display Team and The Quackpack. The Birds of Prey exhibition and Terrier racing will be again prominent in the days event, and much more.
Lucie Ashley-Carter, show secretary, says they have already held a meeting to discuss possible changes to the field layout for 2018 and they will to make one of their main goals to generate income to cover our costs and raise monies for their chosen charities which include numerous village groups in Sutton Bonington.
“Whilst not losing the essence of what makes the Sutton Bonington Show so special …. small changes/ suggestions have been made,” says Lucie.
The secretary says fundraising continues to be a vital component for any committee to not only survive, but to also ensure that they can develop and provide an excellent Show for the wider community.
OPEN SPACE AUDIT. Parish councilors at Sutton Bonington have been told that Rushcliffe Borough Council are currently conducting an open space audit as part of their Local Plan.
The open space data is in relation to outdoor sports and recreation facilities that exist in the parish.
Following a discussion at its meeting the parish council, agreed that the information regarding Sutton Bonington Primary School held by the Borough in its present records was inaccurate and that Diamond Woods should be included.
WEEK OF PRAYER. There will be a special Week of Prayer at Sutton Bonington Baptist Church from April 9 to 13. The Minister, John Hebblethwaite, invites anyone who has something that they would like the church family to pray about to contact him.
The Rock-Solid youth club based at the church are from 13th – 15th April have a weekend away at Harby for the 11-14 years age group.
CHARITY PLATFORM. A Charity Society based at the Sutton Bonington campus of Nottingham University has aims to run events for various charities throughout the year and raise as much awareness and money for them as possible.
The group, writing on the Campus website, say last year, they found that it was difficult for students to put on charity events without being part of a society or having the backing of one, so this society was produced to be a platform to support all non-profit events on the campus.
They say their committee has plenty of experience at running events and would welcome suggestions for their work.
RESIDENTS NOT COMING FORWARD TO ASSIST SPEED CAMPAIGN. Progress in the work of Sutton Bonington parish council to combat speeding motorists in the village is being slowed down because local residents are not coming forward to offer to assist.
The council has vehicle speeding equipment available but if they are to make the village safer then volunteers are essential
The council is very disappointed that none have come forward to help monitoring speeding. They make an appeal to residents to come forward and offer to help. Anyone willing to assist is asked to contact the parish clerk at jenny.faulks@ntlworld. com.
HORTICULTURAL SPRING SHOW. The Sutton Bonington Horticultural Society’s Spring Show will be on Saturday this weekend, April 7. It will be taking place as usual in Sutton Bonington Village Hall. Schedules are available from the Post Office and on the society’s website, sbhortsoc. btck.co.uk.
Exhibits can be entered at 2pm and the classes are open to everyone, members and non-members alike. At 2.30pm all those present are invited to judge the exhibits.
Refreshments will be available together with a plant sale. “Do come along and admire the spring flowers and help to judge them,” is the message from the organisers.
TENNIS CLUB OPEN EVENINGS. Sutton Bonington and District Tennis Club has two open evenings this month. The first having taken place last night. The next will be on Tuesday next week, April 10, at 6.30pm. All are welcome to come and play. Rackets can be provided. Just turn up or for more information call Rod (07785 263152).
HISTORY SOCIETY. Sutton Bonington Local History Society’s annual meeting take place on Wednesday next week April 11th and will be followed by a presentation from Rachel Blackshaw about The Sutton Bonington 1911 Census based on the research work donated by the Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteers.
The meeting as usual will be held at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church Schoolroom on Main Street and visitors are very welcome. The charge is £3 including coffee.
STARRY THE PONY. Palm Sunday brought all the churches together in Sutton Bonington for a service at St Michael’s Church following a walk there from the Primary School headed by Starry the pony. The service was aimed at commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry in to Jerusalem when he rode on a donkey. The short service at St Michael’s was followed by coffee, squash and biscuits being available to those attending.
PARENTS WITH TEENAGERS. The final two sessions of the Parentalk course for parents of teenage children in Sutton Bonington and area have taken place in the Methodist Church in what has been a joint churches event with the Baptist Church.
The joint churches Lent Course which have taken place in the lounge at the Baptist Church which involved material looking at Jesus’ sayings known as the Beatitudes have also concluded.
Long Whatton and Diseworth
Mike Elliott 0115 937 6506 elliottnews@btconnect.com
NEW LIFE FOR BRITISH LEGION. Fears that the Royal British Legion branch at Diseworth would have to close have for the time being gone, because several new members have joined.
Branch secretary Barry Smith said they had reached the point of considering closing down because they were down to just 9 members and they need seven just to form a committee.
But he said that with a bit of local coercion they now have five new members so should be able to keep going.
The year 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1 and country-wide and throughout Europe there will be many commemorations being staged.
The British Legion itself is 100 years old in 2021 and Mr Smith says it was formed to look after the ex-service community and their dependants and continues to do a sterling job as there are still ex-service of recent past conflicts.
Anyone interested in joining the Legion does not have to be ex-service and can do so online at The Royal British Legion web site. The secretary can be reached by email at barryandrosie@diseworth.org or by phone on 01332 812600.
Last year the Poppy Appeal collection organised by the branch raised £1100 and thanks have been given to all who made such a great figure possible.. And thanks have bene given also to the poppy sellers.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING. The annual Annual Parish Meeting for Diseworth and Long Whatton will take place on Thursday April 12 at the Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. During the evening there will be a presentation from Leicestershire Police on the important topic of Cyber/ Internet Safety.
OVER 60s SPRING LUNCH. Diseworth’s annual Over 60s Spring Lunch takes place on Wednesday Maty 2.Bookings should go to Kath Taylor on 07891 628 292.