Roundabout, September 2021
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Editorial policy Roundabout aims to promote local events, groups and businesses and to keep everyone informed of anything that affects our community. We avoid lending support (in the form of articles) to any social, political or religious causes, and we reserve the right to amend or omit any items submitted. The final decision rests with the editors. While Roundabout is supported by Woodhouse Parish Council, we rely on advertisements to pay production costs, and we accept advertisements for local businesses as well as those that publicise charitable and fund-raising events. Brief notification of events in the ‘What’s on’ schedule is free. Copyright in any articles published is negotiable but normally rests with Roundabout. We apologise for any errors that might occur during production and will try to make amends in the following issue. Roundabout needs your input. For guidelines on submission, please see inside the back cover. Management and production Roundabout is managed on behalf of the community and published by the Editorial and Production Team comprising Janine Ainscow, Roger Berkeley, Amanda Garland, Andrew Garland, David McClelland, Grahame Sibson, Andy Thomson and Joke de Winter. Editor for this issue: David McClelland Desk-top publishing (page layout) for this issue: Roger Berkeley Cover: Neil Robinson / Andy Thomson Printing: Loughborough University Printing Services Advertising managers: Amanda and Andrew Garland Distribution managers: Mary and Peter Cheyney Roundabout is available to read or download from the parish council website at www.woodhouseparishcouncil.org.uk/roundabout.html Distribution: Roundabout is delivered by volunteers to every address within the parish boundary – just under 1,000 households and businesses, including all the surrounding farms. Please let us know if any house or business in Woodhouse Parish is not receiving Roundabout, or if you can help out with deliveries. 2 Roundabout September 2021 Contents Page Editor’s note 5 Parish council news 5 Charnwood Borough Council news 6 News in brief 11 Woodhouse Eaves WI: from strength to strength 14 Welbeck closes with a whimper 16 Hidden treasures at the Baptist Church 17 Woodhouse Eaves Plastic Free Group news 21 The ‘Y’ station at Beaumanor 23 Truly a wildlife asset 25 Neighbourhood Watch: how to spot a scam 27 A garden visit 28 How well do you know your village? 31 September in the cottage garden 33 Forthcoming events 35 Codeword 37 The last word 38 Contributions to Roundabout Inside back cover What’s on in September Back cover Deadline for submissions to the October 2021 issue: Friday, 10th September Email to [email protected] or to a member of the editorial team Editor for October 2021 issue: Janine Ainscow Roundabout September 2021 3 4 Roundabout September 2021 Editor’s note Summer has yet to truly take off as I edit this month’s issue, but with shops, sports teams, social groups and events all continuing their return journey to normality, I am once again reminded of how fortunate I feel to live in an area rich with social activities, community support and natural beauty. September’s Roundabout is an expression of all of these, with news from the Woodhouse Eaves Women’s Institute (WI) about a return to in-person meetings, more details of the new Scout and community building, updates from the local Good Neighbour Scheme and Neighbourhood Watch, and myriad essays celebrating our wonderful wildlife and countryside. Of course, much has changed in our community since its doors were last fully open, and this is reflected here too: Ann Irving reports on the final passing out parade at Welbeck Defence Six-Form College, we hear of new ownership for the pharmacy in Woodhouse Eaves, and learn of the retirement of Woodhouse Eaves Cricket Club’s groundskeeper after more than a decade of service. Writing of change, on behalf of everybody here, I would like to express a hearty ‘thank you’ to our departing editor, Jill Craig, who stands down after helping steer the good ship Roundabout during the past three years. Her dedication, commitment and good humour will be missed by the entire team. We would love to hear from readers who might like to join our small team of volunteers editors. As a relatively recent recruit to the Roundabout production team, I know how I have enjoyed getting to know people across the villages and working with the team to produce something the whole community can enjoy. Interested in helping? Do drop us a line: [email protected] Celebrating our past, excited for our future, mindful of our responsibilities for today: drink up an enjoy another full-bodied, well-rounded issue of Roundabout. Parish council news Cricket John Gillingham, our groundsman has decided to retire from being our full- time cricket liaison and groundskeeper after at least 15 years of voluntary work for the Woodhouse Eaves Cricket Club. His work has been invaluable and a huge asset to our community. You have probably seen him down in the cricket field each week, cutting grass, preparing the wicket, marking out Roundabout September 2021 5 the pitches and all of the extra work he does to ensure that the cricket field is rated one of the best wickets in the county. The parish council would like to give its heartfelt thanks for all his time, hard work and efforts over the years. He will be hugely missed. Due to John’s retirement, we are now seeking his replacement. We are looking for someone who is local, flexible and with an interest in cricket, who can give their time during the cricket season to maintaining the field. John is very willing to give training and nurture anyone who is interested in helping. Please see our advert on page 10 and contact Gordon Watson at [email protected] or telephone (01509) 891 299. Parish council meetings We are pleased to announce that we are back to running face to face Parish Council meetings. Our next meeting is on Monday, 6th September at 6.45pm and will be held in the Village Hall, Woodhouse Eaves. All parishioners are welcome. Please contact me with any news or issues at [email protected]. You can also phone the office on (01509) 891 299. Keep in touch on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/woodhouseparishcouncil Emma Crowe, Clerk to the Parish Council Charnwood Borough Council news Draft Charnwood Local Plan 2021 to 2037 As Roundabout is not published in August, I am sorry I was unable to give you this information while the public consultation for the draft Local Plan was open. Charnwood Borough Council launched a six-week consultation about its new plan and vision for the area over the next 16 years. The consultation was for residents, businesses and other interested parties to submit comments about the ‘soundness’ of the draft Local Plan, ahead of its planned submission to government. That said, I did manage to have the detail printed in another locally distributed magazine and through the parish council. The council states: The Local Plan is a key strategic framework for supporting future growth and developing healthy communities and environmental safeguards. It 6 Roundabout September 2021 guides development and identifies locations for housing and employment land. The Local Plan also considers the impacts of climate change, infrastructure needs and protection of green spaces. At the full council meeting where councillors agreed that the Local Plan 2021 to 2037 should go out for public consultation, I spoke of my concerns and asked for further information about two areas of the plan. Therefore, I abstained when the vote was taken. In my view, one of the sites selected for development will have consequences for the Woodhouse village and surrounding area. I need to understand more fully the impact this will have on the Forest Bradgate ward I represent at the council. I need more information about the site HA15, which is supported in the plan. This is designated as land south of Loughborough for 723 homes. I needed to know how this site was selected as it encroaches into Woodhouse Parish, part of my Forest Bradgate ward, and the designated area of Charnwood Forest. This site is also on productive farmland and without more detailed information, in my opinion, risks the integrity of nearby ancient woodland. I will be submitting my comments to the consultation process, which I will share through Roundabout. I am hopeful residents did manage to see the detail about the draft Local Plan and respond to the council before the closing date of 23rd August. Planning appeal: Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves I was pleased to receive information from the planning inspectorate about the decision by the inspector to conduct a virtual hearing on 28th July 2021. I had been corresponding with the inspectorate about changing this appeal from written representations to a hearing because of the public interest when this planning application was decided by Charnwood Borough Council. I was told the inspector would keep the appropriate procedure under constant review throughout the appeal process. Having read the file in detail and visited the site, he found he had some questions he would wish to raise with the parties, and considered a hearing would be justified. However, the hearing would be focussed on a few specific areas where the inspector felt questioning necessary to clarify or explain matters. I sat through the virtual hearing on the 28th July 2021. In my view, the day ran smoothly, albeit not the same as the previous hearing in the Woodhouse Parish Hall, where there was certainly more opportunity for local residents to participate. It seemed the areas the inspector focused on were the changes since the previous appeal, Charnwood Borough Council Roundabout September 2021 7 8 Roundabout September 2021 being unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, and the reduction in the number of dwellings from 50 to 36.