Village news
If you would like to contribute to Village News, write to Andy Rush, Editor, Loughborough Echo, Ark Business Centre, Office 7, Gordon Road, Loughborough, LE11 1JP or email: andy.rush@trinitymirror.com
East Leake Mike Elliott 0115 937 6506 elliottnews@btconnect.com
ELAPS AGM. Thursday was our AGM which was very well attended. The AGM deals with all of the statutory requirements of voting in the committee and reviewing the finances but also gives us chance to reflect on the past year.
The chairman’s report looked back throughout the year, starting with the Pantomime Alliance of Leicestershire awards in March. For a relatively small group we did exceptionally well, being nominated in almost every category, and winning several awards including the coveted Blue Balloon trophy for Best Pantomime with our production of The Snow Queen. This was followed in May with more awards for our junior members at the NANDA Youth Festival where their performance of The Baddams Family won Best Actress under 12 (Jessica Das), Most Entertaining Play, the Adjudicators Award and Best Overall Play of the Festival. Amazing achievement from our juniors! The May Play for the adult members was Blithe Spirit which was very well received, and we ended the year with sell out performances of our pantomime Rapunzel.
After the AGM we gave out our own awards nominated by the directors of each production.
The Off Stage Award went to Gisela Petschler who worked behind the scenes on Blithe Spirit and also during Rapunzel. We know we can always rely on Gisela to ensure everything is where it should be, and to source those hard to find props. Congratulations Gisela.
The Nikki Dinnie Award for On Stage Achievement went to Nicky Doherty who was nominated for her portrayal of Ruth Condomine in Blithe Spirit, and jointly nominated with Lesley Hesk for their roles as Grimm and Grovel the Goblins in Rapunzel.
The Madeline Lord Rising Star Award went to Megan Walker who was nominated for her role as Sign Bearer in The Baddams Family, as well as for her wonderful Hissing Sid the snake in Rapunzel .
Finally, we have our Frank.O’Connell Unsung Hero Award voted for by our members. This year it went to Sonya Oates, who directed 2 productions, took a leading role in one, did vast amounts of set painting, serves as our committee secretary as well as umpteen other things through the year (and for many years before this one!). Congrstulations (and thanks) go to Sonya.
Now is a great time to come along if you are thinking about joining. We have a read though of both the junior and adult productions taking place this Thursday evening and would welcome any newcomers both on and off stage.
PARISH COUNCIL PLAN DISPUTE. East Leake was heavily featured in TV news programmes last week as the dispute between the parish council and Rushcliffe Borough Council over housing development in the village goes on.
Coun. Chairman Conrad Oatey and parish planning chairman Coun. Carys Thomas were interviewed for the BBC Midland News programme as were three residents.
The Parish Council are the first in Rushcliffe to adopt a Neighborhood Plan but are concerned that Rushcliffe are ignoring the contents despite having agreed with what the parish are asking for within in in regard to the type of housing they say is required in the village.
The feeling of the parish council is such they have written to every parish council in the Borough suggesting if they have similar ideas to have a Plan not to bother because all the hard work –in East Leake’s case over two years – will not mean anything in the eyes of the Borough.
In an open letter to all parish and town councils in the borough they have criticised Rushcliffe over the lack of attention they give to such Plans after lots of people have done an immense amount of work to produce it. And already there have been responses backing them in their criticisms. Both Bunny and Costock Parish councils – both the villages are affected by extra traffic brought about by the extensive development being allowed in East Leake -- have written to sympathise with their neighbouring council.
East Leake parish clerk Neil Lambert has confirmed their letter to every parish council in Rushcliffe tells them putting time, effort, and money into creating a Neighbourhood Plan they shouldn’t bother. And they have extended their comments to individual village groups who otherwise might have ideas to produce such a plan.
Says Mr Lambert: “We were the first parish in Rushcliffe to adopt a Neighbourhood Plan and we have been appalled at how Rushcliffe Borough Council appears to ignore its policies in preliminary discussions with developers and when determining planning applications.”
The clerk says their only recourse was to take their decisions to judicial review – but said this was a step that were reluctant to follow because of the cost and complexity.
“The latest decision that has shocked us is a reserved matters approval for 118 homes in which the houses for the open market are almost all expensive 4 bedroom detached.
“This goes completely against the Neighbourhood Plan policy on housing mix, Rushcliffe’s
The clerk says among all the market homes so far approved at East Leake, not a single one caters for the needs of older residents, and there have been precious few starter homes.
“There are two things that are driving a horse and cart through our Neighbourhood Plan policies. The first seems to be the attitude of Rushcliffe’s planning officers and committee, giving insufficient weight to the policies in our Neighbourhood Plan. This may be because they are unfamiliar with neighbourhood plans in general, or somehow regard them as less important than other policies, and it could be argued that will improve as more neighbourhood plans are adopted in the borough. But there is certainly no sign as yet.”
East Leake says the second problem is Rushcliffe’s failure to maintain a five year housing land supply. “This means that alongside the council’s own policies in the Core Strategy, policies in the Neighbourhood Plan that relate to supply of housing land are deemed to be ‘out of date’ and so they carry less weight than they otherwise would.
“That effectively means that developers have a better chance of winning appeals to build anywhere in Rushcliffe, particularly sites that are not protected by green belt.
“It is worth noting that it is only policies that relate to supply of housing land that are deemed out of date by the government, i.e. where houses will be built. All the other policies, to do with what will be built, should be given full force.
” These policies could cover environmental aspects, house design, housing mix, improving the vibrancy of the village centre, and other aspects of development that are very important to the individual communities.”
The clerk says that at East Leake they have been sickened at how Rushcliffe Borough Council seems to have ignored the wishes of East Leake residents in this regard.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, Coun. Roger Upton says they encourage residents to help create and feed into Neighbourhood Plans as a key channel to share views on local housing matters.
He claims the reserved matters application referred to by East Leake Parish Council was part of a larger site and does provide a range of housing. The original application of this site was approved prior to the adoption of the East Lake Plan.
Coun. Upton – who lost his seat on his local Radcliffe on Trent parish council in the last elections and who also now have a Neighbourhood Plan-- has denied the suggestion the Borough Council ignores policies in preliminary discussions with developers and when determining planning but does say they are reliant on cooperation from their representatives and land owners to work with them on these rules.
“Neighbourhood plans are treated by our officers as importantly as any other planning policy and the Council is not unique in the situation of identifying a five year housing supply. Many councils experience this issue hence why the government are looking at ways to solve this complex problem.
“The Council supports Neighbourhood Plans and encourages local communities to consider having them.”
CARILLION FEARS. Fears that two schools and the Leisure Centre in East Leake could be affected by the Carillion collapse have so far proved groundless, although there will eventually be need for some changes.
The construction giant collapsed on Tuesday last week amid fears nationally of thousands of job redundancies and locally of the effects on the East Leake Academy, East Leake Lantern Lane school and the village Leisure Centre.
Rushcliffe Borough Council issued a statement on Wednesday in which they said following the news about Carillion entering into compulsory liquidation, the Council would like to reassure local residents that East Leake Leisure Centre is open today and it will be business as usual for the foreseeable future.
Notts County Council also said all services would be running as usual.
Nigel Stevenson, the service director for finance, procurement and improvement at the county council, said they had PFI contract arrangements with Infrastructure Management Ltd (IML) which includes the running and maintenance of the East Leake Academy, the Lantern Lane Primary school and the East Leake Leisure Centre.
“IML sub-contracts facilities management services at these sites to Carillion. Following the announcement that Carillion was entering into liquidation, IML is working with the County Council and other partners to ensure that there is a continuity of services at all the buildings concerned and we can confirm that all of the facilities are operating as normal with no impact on services or employees.
“In the longer term, we will work with partners to ensure permanent, alternative arrangements are put in place.”
NOVEL WAY TO LEARN MATHS. Interesting advice on a novel way for learning maths has been put forward to parents and their children by staff at East Leake Lantern Lane Primary School.
In a newsletter distributed to parents, an item produced by Miss K Roberts and Mrs Prowse asks: “Do you ever hear yourself saying, ‘I just didn’t get maths’ in school?’
They suggest it is necessary to start with a positive mind set. “Children pick up on negativity towards particular subjects from their parents. Positivity can go a long way to improving their attitude towards maths.
“Use maths talk every day,” is their advice. Two easy concepts they say is to develop doubling/halving and adding/ subtracting,” suggesting if they asked the child if they doubled the number of sausages on their plate right now, how many would they have and if they added the number of sausages on their plate to the number on the youngters plate how many would they have altogether?”
“Develop memory skills. Encourage your child to memorise your phone number and their grandparents’ phone number, then test them occasionally. This not only helps develop their memory skills but could also help keep them safer.”
It is also important to practise reading the time. “As we move into digital, many children grow up not reading analogue clocks. Ensure you practise reading analogue clocks in everyday life, as this is part of the maths curriculum.”
Parents are told they should involve children with problem solving.” It helps to practise these skills every day. You can ask your child to tell you which is the best deal at the supermarket or how much their new pair of trousers will cost when there is a 20% sale on. Play maths games together. Many games use mathematical and logical skills that your children will need in later life, plus they’re fun! Board games with dice can develop counting skills. Other games that may help develop your child’s maths skills are darts, scrabble and chess. Get playing! “
CHRISTIAN AID QUIZ. Thanks have been given to everyone who supported this year’s Christmas themed, Christian Aid Quiz in East Leake.
The quiz made £134 which has been sent off immediately to help people in great need. A total of 144 copies of the quiz were sold and there were seven people with the quiz sheets fully correct. They were: - Mrs Sharon Carter, Ms Rita Alsop, Mrs Sheila Jackson, Mr. Walter Guthrie, Mrs Patricia Harris, Mr Martin Hill and Mrs Lynda Carter. The person whose name was drawn was Mrs Patricia Harris. The question which stumped most people was number 43. “Sailors rode one of these to raise the anchor” -- the answer being “donkey”.
NEW MOTHERS’ UNION MEMBERS. East Leake Mothers’ Union enrolled four new members at their meeting of the New Year -
Debbie Anderton, Carolyn Simmonds, Pam Webb-Ingall and Esther Willis and also presented Margaret Pollard with a certificate marking 50 years of membership of the organisation.
Judith James on 01509 853126 and Gill Young on 01509 852536 are he contacts for the branch.
MEADOW PARK ACTIVITY. East Leake’s Friends of Meadow Park staged another activity morning when those volunteering and able to help turned up at the parish council depot ready for a 10am start, armed with gloves and many with their own equipment.
A reminder has been given for Renewing membership, with thanks being offered to those who have already done it.
If you have not already renewed your membership, please take this message as a reminder. “We really value our members and all the support they give us. Even if you cannot get along to the activity sessions, just having your good will and general support is great.”
PLANNING APPLICATION. Parish councillors at East Leake have not objected to a planning application submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council for permission to erect a single storey front and rear extensions at 11 Leivers Close in the village.