Some examples of the involvement of Councillor Dave Houseman in community issues over the last few years

In addition to reading reports, preparing and attending meetings, responding to telephone calls, letters and emails councillors deal with many residents’ concerns. Sometimes these are of a personal nature but they are often about matters that involve the wider community.

Yeomans Dale, . In 2006 Dave helped East Goscote Parish Council get additional bollards installed, funded by the County Council, on Yeoman’s Dale to restrict vehicular access.

A607/Craftsmans Way, East Goscote. Traffic signals were finally completed in 2006 on the A607/Craftsmans Way junction, East Goscote, funded by the developers of the new industrial estate after a long-drawn- out fight. The planning consent was granted in 1999 but then the developers submitted an application for a variation of the planning conditions. This was a request to build 16 industrial units on the old sewage works before installing the traffic signals. The planning authority’s original recommendation was to grant the request, however, East Goscote Parish Council and Dave worked tirelessly to get the recommendation overturned, and the final outcome was that the request was refused, which meant the industrial units could not be occupied until the traffic signals were installed.

Overgrown hedgerows East Goscote. During 2006 overgrown hedgerows adjacent to the new East Goscote cycleway, completed at a cost of £330,000, were causing problems and Dave got the County Highways Department to resolve the matter.

Portakabin on The Chase, East Goscote. In May 2006 the County Council started work resurfacing some pavements and dumped a very large portakabin, WC and canteen in The Chase, East Goscote opposite dwellings. Dave was asked to help get it relocated to a more sensible location where the noise etc would be less of a problem. Fortunately after his intervention County Council officers agreed to do this promptly.

Woodman’s Chase, East Goscote. In 2006 part of the attractive green classified as highway in front of a dwelling in Woodman’s Chase was excavated by the County Council to form a hard standing car parking space. In the process two 40 year old trees were badly damaged. All of the correct procedures had been followed by the applicant. Dave challenged the decision by County Council officers to grant permission. He pointed out that there are often complaints about

1 juvenile vandalism but this was a blot on the landscape and the County Council were responsible. Dave made it clear that it was ecologically and environmentally unsound, and visually unsightly and so he got the green wedge reinstated.

East Goscote ‘Multi Sports Area and BMX Track’. A grant request towards funding a ‘Multi Sports Area and BMX Track’ project was submitted to the County Council in 2007 by East Goscote Parish Council. Dave helped steer this through the process and agreement was secured for a grant of £10,000.

Broomfield Community Primary School. During 2007 Dave attended meetings at East Goscote Parish Council offices to develop a Travel Plan for Broomfield Community Primary School. This is a way to help reduce the environmental impact of the school run and help make it safer and healthier for children to get to and from school. County Council Travel Plan grants are available for up to £5,000 for highway related improvements. The Plan was completed thanks to the children, parents, teachers, Councillor Derry Walton and Mrs Liz Pizer, the Parish Clerk, but mainly due to the commitment of the Head Teacher Mr Alan Nichol.

Bridge on Broome Lane. Dave was contacted by a resident concerned about the dangers presented by the traffic crossing over the bridge on Broome Lane that had priority in one direction. The bridge spans the boundary of East Goscote and . Dave initiated a site meeting between officers of both parish councils and a County Council Highways specialist to observe and discuss the problem. The outcome of the meeting was that an improvement scheme would be implemented, subject to consultations with both East Goscote and Ratcliffe on the Wreake Parish Council. In 2008 alterations were made that involved changing the signing so that no priority is given to any driver from any direction. Thereby, motorists approaching the narrow section from either direction will hopefully be encouraged to slow down to ensure the road ahead is clear.

East Goscote Library. Improvements to East Goscote Library were carried out in 2008 and Dave attended the officially opening of the refurbished library by the Chairman of County Council.

Community Speed Watch Dave has encouraged councils to get involved in community speed watch. Volunteers from East Goscote, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, and have set a scheme up. The County Council runs the scheme and offers speed monitoring equipment training. This is in partnership with the police and volunteers in an attempt to reduce speeding on our local roads. In 2008 there were 705 serious accidents on the county’s A and B class roads, excluding trunk roads, and 13% were thought to be speed related. Of the 81 accidents where someone was killed or seriously injured 20% were speed related. East Goscote Parish Council has taken the lead in co-ordinating this.

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East Goscote Village Hall. In December 2008 Dave gave his written support to a request by East Goscote Village Hall Committee for a Charnwood Borough Council grant for £2,532 towards a new central heating system.

Melton Road, East Goscote. In 2006 a site meeting was held to consider applying for a traffic regulation order to reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph. This was finally implemented in 2009 and the signage altered accordingly (3 years later!). It was at the request of East Goscote Parish Council in the interests of road safety as many children have to cross the road to get to and from school, and the elderly and disabled have to cross this busy road to get to the shops and their GP.

Lighting on Weavers Wynd, East Goscote . Mrs Veronica Pinnock worked very hard to get a petition signed by over 500 anxious residents to prove that there was widespread concern about the low level of illumination around Weavers Wynd. On receipt of the petition Dave got the additional lighting installed along the pathways near Weavers Wynd, running between the village green and Broomfield School. This busy route leads to the library, school, church, village hall, council office, pub and doctors. The work cost £30,000 and involved replacing 17 street lights with a total of 23 new lighting columns. The area is now a lot safer and meets current lighting design standards which the old 17 lighting columns did not.

East Goscote Bus shelter. Through County Council officers Dave supported a

50% grant towards a bus shelter which has now been installed on Chestnut Way.

Grant Applications for East Goscote Guides. For several years Dave has supported applications for a Voluntary Youth Organisation Shire Grant for the East Goscote Guides. This annual grant is used help pay their rent and running costs.

Grant Applications for V4 Explorer Scouts. For several years Dave has also supported applications for a Voluntary Youth Organisation Shire Grant for the V4 Explorer Scouts. These young people carry out various activities in East Goscote as well as . This annual grant is a contribution towards their rent and running costs.

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Advisory School 20 mph zone. Dave campaigned to get Broomfield Community Primary School Advisory 20mph zone signs installed in order to address the inappropriate speed of some drivers during school times, particularly as Long Furrow is used by school children. They cover a section of Long Furrow, part of Ploughman’s Lea and Chestnut Way. In January 2010 new radio technology was installed to eliminate intermittent signalling problems. Some of the signs are mounted on posts with a flashing amber light unit. Where these have been erected elsewhere they have produced consistently lower vehicle speeds and improved

driver behaviour outside and near schools.

East Goscote Bus Stops. Dave got raised kerbs installed in several locations including Long Furrow, Chestnut Way and Melton Road to make it easier to board the bus and two now have improved hard standing. One of these is on the 5A bus route, at the bus stop, southbound, approximately opposite Broome Lane, East Goscote. Residents reported to him that a number of parents and grandparents with prams and pushchairs, and the disabled and elderly were concerned that it was difficult to negotiate because of the irregular and uneven verge.

Gritting and Salting. At the East Goscote Parish Council meeting in 2010 Dave was presented with an East Goscote petition which 378 people had signed. He then presented it to a Charnwood Highways Forum meeting in March 2010. After a protracted battle he got the County Council to finally agree that the Long Furrow should be re-classified as a Priority 1 Route for gritting and salting.

“No Cold Calling Zones”, a joint County Council and police initiative. County Council Trading Standards purchase and install these signs. There are now 456 “No Cold Calling Zones” in Leicestershire. In 2010 East Goscote Parish Council supported this scheme and Wayfarer Drive and Silver Birch Way are now “No Cold Calling Zones”.

CCTV in Syston. Dave, with considerable help from Charnwood Borough Councillor Tony Noon, led a highly successful campaign to get CCTV in Syston which is now installed and helping to keep criminal activity low in Syston. In 2001 the Shadow Home Secretary the Rt. Hon Ann Widdecombe switched the system on.

4 Within 12 months the Local Police Commander stated that criminal activity had reduced by 12%.

Syston’s boundary signs. Dave was the prime mover in getting Syston’s boundary signs replaced, firstly by getting Syston Town Council to organize an open competition to select a design, and then getting funding for a number of the new signs to be erected.

The Syston Victorian Railway Booking Office. In 2004/05 Dave helped to save Syston’s disused Victorian Railway Booking Office when new flats were built on the site by persuading the developers to dismantle, crate and transport the building, although not listed, to the Midland Railway Heritage Trust site in Derbyshire where it has been rebuilt.

Syston Community Centre. Dave researched the background and use of the Community Centre and then wrote a detailed report to substantiate a request for a Charnwood Borough Council grant to renovate and extend Syston’s Community Centre, which had previously been an old Victorian School. The report was needed to prove that Syston Town Council could not renovate and extend the Community Centre without substantial financial assistance. After careful consideration Charnwood Borough Council awarded a £210,000 grant towards the renovation and an extension.

Reindeers in Syston. The reindeers that Dave arranged to be in Syston, fully funded by the County Council, on 2nd December 2005 in Park Square were well received. This was the day the Christmas lights were switched on and they were very popular with the young children.

Making Syston an even more attractive town for Ducks. Between 2003 and 2005 Charnwood Borough Councillor Tony Noon and Dave put forward comprehensive detailed proposals on how wildfowl could be attracted and retained in the brook in Syston throughout the year, as it’s the focal centre of the town. The solution which can now be seen, funded by Charnwood Borough Council, has been to increase the depth of the water retained in parts of the brook that runs through the centre of Syston during periods of low rainfall.

5 The trickle of water along the centre of the brook during the summer will now continuously refresh and top up the new weirs that have been created and water is now able to flow into, and through them, thus ensuring water will be retained at the minimum required level for ducks, but not restricting the water flow in the winter.

Syston High Street. Just before Christmas 2006 Dave received many representations from traders and residents about a proposed closure of the carriageway in order to resurface Syston High Street. Dave managed to get this changed from before Christmas to after the New Year, after giving sound reasons to delay the work. Dave was also able to get the actual length of the closure reduced from 2 weeks to a maximum of 4 days.

Barkby Lane, Syston. In 2005 over 50 residents from Lane, Syston, asked Dave to help to get kerbstones installed by the County Council near to the junction with Melton Road. Despite a number of administrative obstacles the work was completed in 2006 with developers paying all the costs.

Jurassic Park Day. Dave’s driving force helped Jurassic Park Day in Syston on Saturday 29th July 2006 on Central Park to be very successful. The County Council provided models of massive Dinosaurs, sandpits, sand, buckets and spades, and an arts exhibition, as well as children’s drawing and colouring materials. The County Council funded the majority of the costs.

Hobby Horse roundabout. In 2006 the Highways Agency completed the £3.5 million signalisation scheme to reduce congestion and improve safety at the A46/A607 Hobby Horse, Syston, roundabout. Dave is still continuing to press for a more appropriate Highways Agency solution, which could involve grade separation of this junction at a cost of £62 million.

Syston emergency traffic diversion. In 2006 the Highways Agency was promoting an emergency traffic diversion route straight through the middle of Syston town centre if the Hobby Horse roundabout ever has to be closed temporarily due to a major accident. After a protracted battle and a campaign, spearheaded by Dave, commonsense prevailed and an alternative was identified. It took a continual barrage of letters to all those responsible pointing out that this could be extremely dangerous for shoppers, the elderly, the disabled, and parents with prams and pushchairs. It could also have been treacherously hazardous for the hundreds of children that visit the town at

6 lunchtimes and pass through the centre on the way to and from school and college, as well as increasing the problems of rat running through nearby villages.

Central Park, Syston. After Dave’s intervention in 2007 a 50% County Council grant was obtained for the resurfacing of the footpath on the eastern perimeter of Central Park by the Peace Garden, in Syston.

Shire Historic Buildings Grant. A request for a 12.5% Shire Historic Buildings Grant towards the estimated cost of £19,492 for repairs to the listed twin arch bridleway bridge, near Meadow Lane, in Syston, gained Dave’s full support in 2006. The restoration took 8 weeks after vandals pushed parapets and coping stones into the River Wreake. It involved using reclaimed hand-made bricks, replacing copings and repairs to the cracked spandrel walls.

Syston street map. At Dave’s request the County Council’s Senior Regeneration Officer in 2007 designed a Syston street map, which includes leisure activities, shopping facilities and places of interest in the town. The County Council agreed to meet all of the costs of designing and printing these leaflets.

Barkby Lane/Melton Road, Syston. A mini-roundabout on the junction of Barkby Lane/Melton Road, Syston, has helped to reduce the speed of traffic, and an additional illuminated speed reactive 30 mph sign on Melton Road which was installed in 2007. The developers of the Barkby Lane site for 89 dwellings paid for both of these, and they have funded the installation of traffic signals on Barkby Lane.

Syston Youth Project. The County Council Youth Service gave Syston Youth Project £1,200 in March 2007, which was a contribution towards the salaries of the youth workers. It also offered to work with a small focus group of young people to resubmit their Youth Opportunity Fund application.

Syston Youth Project. In the financial year 2009/10 they were awarded a grant of £7,600 from the Youth Opportunity Fund. This Fund is external funding provided by the Government Office - to support projects put forward and led by young people. The County Council acts as custodian for this fund. The grant was to redecorate and refurbish the club and provide new furniture and equipment.

7 Watermead Country Park bird hide In 2007 with Dave’s support a £25,146 Flag grant enabled the completion of a bird hide in Watermead Country Park. The specially designed two-storey hide with wooden cladding has ramped access and wheelchair-accessible viewing slits.

Syston Waste Transfer Station. Following a number of complaints made to Syston Town Council, and articles in the Leicester Mercury in 2007/08 about litter and smells, Dave got the County Council to set up a Syston Transfer Station Liaison Committee. At the first meeting Dave was elected Chairman. Members of the committee include a local resident, the site manager, the company regional planning manager, County and Town Councillors, County Council and Environment Agency officers and a representative from the Syston and District Chamber of Trade. Most of the problems have now been sorted out but this is a platform for any new relevant issues to be resolved.

Vehicle Activated Signs. After residents complained about high road traffic speeds on Fosse Way a covert police speed detection device confirmed that 54.9% of vehicles were travelling faster than ACPO guidelines. This is 10% + 2 mph above the given speed limit. In view of the speeding Dave persuaded County Council officers that a serious problem existed and up to £50,000 was allocated to design and implement a scheme to help reduce the high road traffic speeds on Fosse Way. Additional road markings and 4 illuminated speed reactive 30mph warning signs were installed in 2009.

Syston Town Cricket Club. As the local County Councillor Dave gave his written support to a grant application to Biffa Ltd from Syston Town Cricket Club in 2008/9 for a grant towards the installation of mains electricity which cost around £30,000 to complete. The club provides coaching and games for junior teams of all age groups as well as three senior teams. Wreake Valley Community College is given the use of its facilities by the club to play their ‘home’ school cricket matches.

Syston & District Age Concern. In 2008 as an independent referee Dave was pleased to be asked to support a National Lottery application from Syston & District Age Concern for a grant to purchase a new community minibus to be used for the benefit of local elderly and disabled groups. The bid for £39,300 was successful.

Syston on-street parking. In 2008 Dave got the County Council, to include in amendments to the relevant Road Traffic Act, an increase in the on-street parking in Syston on Melton Road, Broadway and additional no parking in various places including by the Hope and Anchor, Road, Glebe Way, and Raynsway, as requested by Syston Town Council. After representations from the

8 residents in Brook Street and Chapel Street he successfully opposed the imposition of double yellow lines outside their homes.

Bus stops and bus shelters on Route 5. Over the last 4 years Dave has been behind the Syston Bus Route 5 improvements with the County Council funding raised kerbs in many locations including Melton Road to make it easier to board the bus. New bus shelters have also been funded by the County Council in various locations including outside Forge Court, near the Melton Road Bridge and outside The Firs on Melton Road.

Vehicle activated sign on Melton Road. One of the 30 mph illuminated speed reactive sign on Melton Road has been vandalised several times. Dave through the County Council has ensured it got repaired and asked for the wiring to be totally enclosed and asked for anti-vandal paint to be used on it.

Syston Arts and Recreation in the Community (SARIC). On 5.3.10 SARIC purchased the freehold of the Old Chapel in Chapel Street, Syston, built in 1797 at a cost of around £700, which they have leased for over 20 years. Dave helped them get a Forward Leicestershire Aggregate Grant of £30,000. SARIC is home to many local organisations that cater for all age profiles such as the Brownies, Rainbows, Thai Kick Boxing, “Singing for Fun”, Syston Operatic Society, Syston Theatre Group and a Youth Drama Group. They also have monthly screenings

of up to date films.

Syston Bus Route 6. At the Syston bound bus stop on Glebe Way, between Swallow Drive and Fosse Way the bus stop was situated on the grass verge and there was some difficulty for people to easily access the stop. In 2010 Dave requested hard standing and after a survey the work was carried out.

Meadow Lane, Syston. Adjacent to the A46, Glebe Way and Meadow Lane there are two lakes and a meadow which has a rich wildlife value. One of Dave’s key objectives is to get this space delivered as an enjoyable public access open space. Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust have indicated that they would be interested in taking responsibility for the area and maintaining it. A complicated S52 Developer Agreement is involved which is in the process of being sorted out.

9 Watermead Country Park Joint Advisory Committee. As Chairman Dave wrote to the two brave men for the extremely brave and courageous and heroic rescue which they performed following the tragic accident on one of the Watermead Country Park lakes in January 2010. The Connect 2 Lottery grant bid was successful and with matched funding a total of £1.4 million is being used to improve access to the park from Syston and nearby villages, including Cossington, and Leicester City via local cycleways, pathways and bridges. Work has progressed well during 2009/10 and 4 bridges and several kilometres of surfaced routes have been completed. Plans are being made for some alterations and improvements to the right of way linking Syston Road, Cossington and the Junction Marina, Syston. This includes replacing the existing bridge at the confluence of the river Wreake and the Grand Union canal to make it more suitable for the disabled, the elderly, cyclists and parents with prams. The Connect 2 Steering Group, which Dave Chairs, are now working through an implementation plan. There is also funding available for a multi-user Fosse Way, Syston crossing to help connect Glebe Way to the town.

Flooding. Dave persuaded the County Council to fund work to resolve the long term problems in Syston of flooding under the railway bridge on High Street at a cost of £68,000. Work was carried out in 2006 to temporarily alleviate the flooding problems and although this reduced the number of times the road had to be closed, occasionally flooding still occurred. The flooding constrained trade as vehicles were often unable to get in and out of the industrial estates and it caused great inconvenience to Syston residents as they had to turn around and then seek an alternative route to work, or home, or when they returned from work. This resulted in unwelcome and unnecessary traffic congestion on Melton Road. Twin carrier pipes have been installed from the open ditch just before the Fosse Way traffic lights, along the High Street, past The Half Croft to the railway bridge. The work was successfully completed in 2010.

South Charnwood Syston, and Wreake Villages Area Forum . At a meeting in February 2010, held at the Syston Brookside Club, which proved to be an excellent venue, when Dave was Chairman, the Area Forum agreed to allocate £5,000 from the participatory budgeting money towards Syston and District Volunteer Centre, subject to conditions, and £3,000 to Syston Bowling for the Disabled to purchase a specialist wheelchair that will allow people with disabilities to participate in bowls.

10 They also agreed to allocate £5,000 from the participatory budgeting money towards youth facilities in East Goscote.

Syston Fire Station. In 2010 Dave opposed the closure of Syston Fire Station by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service because he considered it was premature as an up to date Local Development Planning Framework has not been completed yet to make it clear where new developments are expected. He did support the proposal to open a new Fire Station at Birstall whilst expressing his disappointment that only one fire appliance is to be located there.

Health Care Facilities. Dave was a Chairman of a Charnwood Borough Council Planning Committee for 7 years. He successfully campaigned for a new Charnwood Borough Council procedure and tariff formula in order for officers to negotiate contributions for health care facilities from developers of residential properties. For example the planning consent for a local housing development for 89 dwellings in Barkby Lane, Syston, included a planning condition to contribute £87,200 towards the provision of improvements to local health care facilities in Syston.

Syston Health Centre. Dave successfully led a drive for a new £5 million Syston Health Centre which was officially opened by HRH the Princess Royal on 28.2.08 funded by our local GP’s. He is presently supporting the new building proposals to extend the facilities on the same site.

Shortage of Syston recreational facilities. Dave has for the past 5 years been working to address the shortfall in junior and mini pitches in Syston. Syston Juniors Football Club has identified the need. A local developer may soon be submitting a planning application which could include sports facilities gifted or leased in excess of 25 years to the community. If this project proceeds to completion it could deliver increased sports facilities, an increase in the number of businesses locally that offer employment, and replace an eyesore with a landmark building at the A46 gateway to Syston, at no cost to Syston Town Council.

Syston Cemetery. In September 2010 Dave wrote an illuminating report, including the historical background, on the existing and still used Victorian cemetery and chapel. Recently planning consent has been refused for a Syston Town

11 Council Cemetery extension. This report could be used if required as supporting evidence for a revised submission of the planning application.

Syston Social, Economic, Environmental Regeneration Partnership. This is a 10 to 30 years Syston Regeneration Project. Under Dave’s Chairmanship Specialist Regeneration Consultants were commissioned to produce a report with 83% of their £6,000 fees paid for by the County Council. The County Council then agreed to fund an audit of the Syston street scene, and consider environmental streetscape improvements and public realm improvements. Two County Council Town and Country Planning Officers developed a draft Town Centre Plan. Syston Town Council, Syston in Bloom and Syston and District Chamber of Trade were consulted and contributed various ideas. The Town Council also agreed they would like a black colour scheme with gold relief where appropriate for street furniture. Dave is robustly supporting Syston Town Council’s action in pursuance of the Priority Areas of the Syston Town Centre Improvements which evolved from the Town Centre Master Plan. Two of the Priorities agreed with Syston Town Council were to upgrade and smarten up the visual appearance of the Green in the High Street, and improve the area opposite the Co-op car park which involved removing the chain link fence on Walkers Way. These were completed in 2009 funded from £13,000 of outstanding developer contributions toward environmental improvements in Syston. One project identified in the report is a Heritage Trail. Syston Town Council asked Syston History Society to design a Heritage Trail for the town. They willingly accepted this challenging task. Recently the area by the Police Station has been improved as part of the Master Plan.

Thrussington, tree and shrub planting. A grant request to the County Council was made prior to Christmas 2006 towards funding for tree and shrub planting in Thrussington to encourage local wildlife whilst improving the visual amenity and character of the area. Dave was pleased to help steer this through the process, with the support of the Parish Council. Agreement was secured for a grant of £1,775 and the planting has been satisfactorily completed.

Shire Historic Buildings Grants. In 2007 Dave supported a 12.5% Shire Historic Buildings Grant towards the £9,690 repairs to the thatched roof of a property in School Street, which is in the Syston Conservation Area and a smaller repair grant for a property in Thrussington.

Thrussington C of E Primary School. In June 2007 Dave sent his written support to the Governing Body for their proposal to seek a change of category from Voluntary

12 Controlled to Voluntary Aided, under the regulations published by the Department for Education and Employment in August 2000.

A46 Thrussington/ Junction. On 21st September 2008 a site meeting was held with the Highways Agency at the A46 crossroads. This included their agents at that time A M Scott, the Borough Councillor for Thrussington and Seagrave, Thrussington Parish Councillors and Dave. The Highways Agency agreed to carry out an appraisal of the junction against the criteria to see if it qualified for mobile or fixed camera enforcement. As a result of prolonged and concerted action by Dave, the Parish Council, Borough Councillors and our MP Stephen Dorrell, the Highways Agency in 2009 installed a speed camera to cover the A46 on each side of the dual carriageway Thrussington/Seagrave crossroads.

National Cycle Network Route 48. From 2009 Thrussington has been signed by the County Council as being on Route 48 of the National Cycle Network. Part of this route runs from East Goscote to Nether Broughton passing through the middle of Thrussington village.

Thrussington Safe Routes to School. In June 2005 the County Council commenced the construction of a £55,000 Thrussington Safe Routes to School scheme. It involved the widening of existing footways, a build-out on the junction of Hoby Road and The Green, provision of crossing points, the construction of a lay-by outside the primary school and changes to road signs and road markings.

Thrussington School Travel Plan . Thrussington C of E Primary School submitted a School Travel Plan some time ago. Included in the plans was an advisory 20 mph safety zone outside the school, which included flashing amber lights to show the times it applies. The majority of Leicestershire Highways expenditure on this scheme was during 2007/08. The total cost for the scheme was approximately £3,700 and was fully supported by Dave.

Thrussington nameplates. When four village nameplates, two funded by the County Council were replaced the Parish Council requested that the courtesy message “Please Slow Down” was added.

Voluntary Youth Organisation Shire Grant. For several years Dave has supported applications for a Voluntary Youth Organisation Shire Grant for the 1st

13 Rearsby Scout Group. This annual grant is used by the group for reimbursement against costs incurred at The Pentland Rooms and Thrussington Village Hall.

Overgrown hedge on land adjacent to Hoby Road, Thrussington. In 2009 the parish council experienced problems finding the owners of an overgrown hedge. After Dave’s intervention the hedge was cut back. Relevant paperwork was given to the parish clerk to help with any further problems because if the boundary hedge is not part of the ‘Wildlife Habitat’ then it may still be owned by the original owners of the land, or the developers of the dwellings if they purchased the site and it included the boundary.

Thrussington Grit bin. After the severe winter in 2009/10 the County Council agreed to fill a grit bin that is located on Seagrave Road. Thrussington Parish Council supplied the bin and paid for the installation.

Thrussington Mill. One of the pedestrian bridges across the River Wreake near Thrussington Mill House developed a serious structural fault in 2008 and the route was closed for safety reasons. It was then necessary to clarify ownership, liability and possible options, and the cost of renovations. Dave ensured that the route was opened as soon as it was feasible and all the necessary work was completed in 2010.

Cossington Meadows Nature Reserve. Dave attended the official opening of Cossington Meadows Nature Reserve in 2006. It was opened by the patron of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Sir David Attenborough. Cossington Meadows extends to over 188 acres. The majority of the area was acquired from RMC Aggregates in 2004 following completion of gravel extraction. The Trust has since embarked on a significant and exciting programme of habitat management. A recent Flag grant of £19,268 supported by Dave has complemented previous grant schemes regarding restoration and creation of a multi-purpose wetland, delivering integrated gains for biodiversity, recreation, environmental education and floodplain management.

Excessive speed of traffic along Syston Road, Cossington . In 2006 Dave received representations about the excessive speed of traffic along Syston Road /Cossington Lane in the vicinity of the bend at the western end near Cossington Old Mill. He asked the County Council’s Accident Investigation and Prevention Team to look at what could be done. After a traffic survey they concluded that the sporadic development and the 85 percentile speed readings appeared to warrant

14 a 40 mph restriction in the interests of road safety. In view of this they agreed to impose a 40 mph limit instead of retaining the existing national speed limit.

All Saints Church Cossington. In 2007 a proposed two-storey extension to the side of All Saints Church, Cossington was granted planning permission. Dave strongly supported this proposal.

Stepping Stones Countryside project grant. Dave was pleased to support a Stepping Stones Countryside project grant in 2009 for hedge planting and associated fencing in Cossington. This has now increased the available wildlife habitation area.

Street drainage. In October/November 2009 a serious problem appeared in the vicinity of 68 Main Street. Dave asked for the County Council jetter to be brought in to flush through the drainage system in an attempt to unblock the main drains. This did not resolve the matter and Dave asked for an underground drainage CCTV camera survey to be carried out. This revealed a connection to a culvert on the opposite side of the road had partially collapsed. Excavation was then carried out at the appropriate point to remedy the problem. Further away excessive debris was found to be restricting the flow and cleared out of the drains to maximise the flow.

Polly Pegs. A kissing gate was installed in 2010 by the County Council after the original barrier was damaged by a car. The costs were recharged to the vehicle owner’s insurance company.

Cossington Meadows. In 2010 Dave gave his written support to a Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust application for a grant of £7,498. This was for a “Wetland Enhancement project” to increase and extend the number of shallow pools to improve the Cossington Meadows wetland habitat. It cost a total £15,489. The balance of the cost came from the Lafarge Aggregates Landfill Communities Fund.

Cossington Advisory School 20mph zone. There is a proposal to upgrade the Advisory 20mph zone signing to include flashing amber light units to complement the existing advisory 20mph zone in the vicinity of Cossington Primary School.

15 Ratcliffe College. At a meeting of Cossington Council in 2010 a College representative unveiled a plan to create a new College exit, subject to consent, onto Ratcliffe Road. It’s planned to have improved visibility splays and should increase the safety of drivers entering the main highway.

Ratcliffe on the Wreake Vehicle Activated Signs . Ratcliffe on the Wreake Parish Council asked the County Council to do something about the speeding traffic on Main Street. In a letter dated 21.7.06 the County Council stated it was unlikely to implement a scheme to reduce the speed of traffic as there had been no recorded personal accidents over the previous 5 years. However the assessment system for Reducing the Impact of Traffic (RIOT) Scheme uses set criteria to access and prioritise requests for speed reducing measures. Under this officers were persuaded that Vehicle Activated Signs that display a message when a vehicle is travelling at an excessive speed on Main Street should be fitted. These have now been installed and display a 30 mph speed limit sign, and the legend ‘slow down’ when activated.

Ratcliffe Village Hall. Dave was delighted to attend the opening of the impressively refurbished Village Hall in October 2009. More than 50 visitors were able to see the renovations which include new toilets, disabled access, the new kitchen, hall extension and the redecoration. The Village Hall Committee and residents must have worked very hard to get the funding to do this. Funding is still required to upgrade the heating and Dave has stated he will support any grant applications for this.

Disk: Some examples

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