East Leake
ACADEMY SET TO RETUN. ast Leake Academy returns to lessons at the start of next month after the interruption brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, but on the first day, Tuesday September 1, it will be staff only there, for a training day.
The following day, Wednesday September 2, students from Years 7, 12 and 13 only will be attending, with a n 8-30am start while the day after, September 3, all years 7 – 13 will be catered for, again with an 8-30am star.
VILLAGE EVENTS. Village event organisers in East Leake are being reminded they can give details of what they are hoping to organise after the coronavirus situation goes to parish councillor Mel Roper at the Village Greengrocer shop on Main Street so they can be displayed on the Village Events board sited at the shop.
Mel asks for organisers to please keep them informed of any village events that might be planned even though at present no-one really knows when they might start to appear on the diary programme again.
MOVES FOR A MONTHLY MARKET. Efforts are being made to bring a regular monthly market to East Leake.
A small group of East Leake residents have joined forces with East Leake Traders and the Parish Council get the project of the ground.
Volunteers will run the market as a not-for-profit organisation, with any proceeds being used to improve the market and any excess funds donated to local charities.
The original opening event had to be postponed due to the lockdown but it is hoped to be able to bring a local artisan market for villagers in the near future.
It is planned as a twilight market from 3pm until 8pm) on the second Friday of the month and it will be located in the Bulls Head car park once it gets the go-ahead.
Organisers are currently on the look-out for local artisan food and product traders who may be interested in having a stall. Traders who are interested should contact market manager Meg (info@ eastleakemarket.org.uk)
Special thanks have been expressed to local Rushcliffe Borough Councillor Kevin Shaw for allocating funding to get the project off the ground. Thanks have also been expressed to everyone behind the scenes who have already donated so much of their time and professional expertise to the project.
COSTOCK ROAD FIELDS PARKING PROBLEMS
Car parking problems outside the Costock Road Playing Fields when sports matches are taking place are being tackled by East Leake Parish Council. The council say that the overflow car park off Cornflower Way has helped relieve the situation but too many cars obstruct Costock Road, and the demand for parking is greater than the current and the onsite parking can accommodate.
This results in dangerous situations when cars are on the wrong side of the road attempting to drive past parked vehicles, close to the bend in the road. There is also parking on the pavement, creating problems for pedestrians.
The Parish Council will shortly be applying to Rushcliffe Borough Council for planning permission to add further parking on the opposite side of the road, on waste land purchased a while ago.
This will accommodate a further 60 cars, with separate a entrance and exit at the site. There will also be a pavement for pedestrians to wait on when crossing to the pitches. Hopefully construction can start reasonably quickly when permission is granted.
SCHOOL FUNDS. A school in East Leake looks to be going to possibly benefit from additional funding to improve facilities.
Primary and secondary schools in Rushcliffe and Gedling have been allocated a share of a £434 million investment to expand classrooms, upgrade facilities and improve education for children across the country.
In Rushcliffe, the schools that will benefit from this new investment include East Leake’s Brookside Primary School
The money is part of the £1.4 billion of capital funding for 2020-21 announced in April and is provided through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).
Councillor Philip Owen, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee, said: “This is excellent news. The funding will ensure academies in Nottinghamshire continue to be well-maintained, safe environments with up to date facilities, supporting a high standard of education.
“It will ensure that our children have appropriate spaces to learn, both now, as we recover from the impact of the coronavirus, and in the future.
“This investment will give our young people the best chances to learn and to succeed.”
Ruth Edwards, Conservative MP for Rushcliffe said: “Coronavirus has taken a toll on us all, not least our children, who have been kept from their friends, their teachers and their schools.
“As we exit lockdown we must focus on getting children back to school – and ensure that schools have the facilities and classrooms they need to support the high-quality education our children deserve.
“This funding will help ensure all children have the very best education and preparation for the 21 century work place.”
Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson said: “My number-one focus will always be to make sure every student has access to excellent education and training.
“Replacing and upgrading poor condition school and college buildings with modern, energy efficient designs will give our students and teachers the environment they deserve, and support them to maximise their potential.
“As we look forward to this September and all children returning to school, we can be assured that for years to come this country’s education system will drive opportunity and prosperity for all.”
CHURCH BELL RINGING GROUPS. With church bellringing getting nearer to being permitted again as coronavirus pandemic restrictions ease off, it is useful to remind residents in the East Leake churches group of the Ringing Contacts
The contacts for the various churches are: East Leake St Mary’s. Friday. 7.30pm to 9.00pm. Confirm with Captain: John D. Cooper 01509 853572 , Rempstone All Saints Wednesday, 7.30pm to 9pm. Confirm with Captain: John D. Cooper 01509 853572,
Stanford on Soar St John the Baptist. Contact as for Remptone, and Normanton on Soar Saint James. Wednesday, 7.30pm to 9pm. Confirm with Captain: Shirley Barnett, 01509 844 136
MEADOW PARK REPORT. The enterprising and successful Friends of Meadow Park group in East Leake have published a report for members in which they look month by month this year starting from January of their activities.
They say that the trees along the boundary of Bateman Road, towards the railway embankment, were cut down in error by Streetwise, adding that there is a requirement that Meadow Park has a defined boundary, and so it was decided by the Friends group to erect a fence. The fence has 40 posts and 400 metres of wire. Squeeze gaps for pedestrians have been carefully sited. The cost of the fence was very modest (under £500) and has been met out of their own funds and from donations.
“We are always very grateful to our members and others who contribute via the boxes in village shops. The fence looks really good and we attacked the Russian Vine which was growing with enthusiasm. Russian Vine is a pernicious invasive plant which was planted by an unknown resident and has over-run the Bateman Road boundary.
“When the fence was erected large swathes of Russian Vine were dug up and disposed of. We had hoped to burn it, but the copious amounts of rain made this impossible. We had the stems and leaves shredded and disposed of the roots separately so that it could not re-grow. We know that this is only the first stage of tackling the problem and have seen some re-growth. It is virtually impossible to stop this shrub in the short term. Over time we will keep attacking it and hope in the not too distant future we will eradicate it. “
CHURCH OPEN ONCE AGAIN. An excited East Leake St Mary’s Church Rector, the Rev Tim Parker, says they are very pleased to announce the Church is once again open for worship, with Communion services being held on Wednesday and Thursday mornings and the first evening service having now been held as well. .
Digital worship will, says the Rev Tim, still continue as normal each week and remain the main focus of our prayer, worship and Bible teaching. But alongside the online services, they are beginning holding services of Holy Communion where small groups of people can gather for simple said services in which they share the Lord’s Supper together.
On the question of a Seating Plan the Rev Tim says as part of the national guidance, the ‘2m rule’ still applies in church, but the chairs will be arranged so households can sit together and all the words for the service will be printed on single use service sheet which you will find in your seat.
“Members of the congregation are not required to wear masks, but you are most welcome to do so. The service leader will of course be following all the hygiene guidance around communion, including wearing a mask/visor as appropriate. We will remain in our seats throughout the service, with communion (bread only) being brought to you where you are sat.
“Everyone will also be asked to use the hand sanitiser, and there will be a steward to assist in social distancing as we enter and leave the building.”
The space limits in church mean a limit of around 20 people at a time can attend the services, , so in order to ensure they use the space as efficiently as possible, the Rev Tim says they are asking everyone to ‘book’ a space. “We anticipate seats to be filled, so this will need to be done in advance,” he adds.
The Rector says there is absolutely no expectation or pressure for anyone, especially those in vulnerable groups, to come along to any of the services, but everyone will be made welcome and if you do wish to come, please use the form available to indicate all the services you would be available for.
“Once we know peoples preferences, we will do our best fit as many people in as possible and then contact you again with the results, but please do be patient with the process as it might take a while to find the best way of managing things,” says Tim.