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 Richard Bowers, Evelyn Brown, Peter Crankshaw, Amanda Garland, Andrew Garland, Tony Lenney, Rosemary May, Neil Robinson, Grahame Sibson and Andy Thomson. Content editor for this issue: Peter Crankshaw Cover: Neil Robinson Advertising managers: Amanda and Andrew Garland Desk-top publishing (page layout) for this issue: Richard Bowers Printing: Loughborough University Printing Services 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 1000 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 February 2011 Contents Page Editor’s note 5 Parish council news 5 News in brief 9 The Haunting of the Wheatsheaf Inn 17 Speed sign arrives 19 A Farming Calendar 22 Local History Group 24 Protecting Charnwood’s wildlife sites 25 Women’s Institute report 27 Notes from your Heritage Wardens 27 Garden Matters for February 29 The last word 30 Contributions to Roundabout Inside back cover What’s on in February Back cover Deadline for submissions to the March 2011 issue: Thursday, 10th February Email to [email protected] or hand in at the post office Content editor for March: Evelyn Brown Roundabout February 2011 3 Woodhouse Eaves Open Garden 2011 'Your village needs you!' Woodhouse Eaves Open Gardens has been running for over 20 years. This year we are looking for new gardens to open their 'gates' to visitors. Sometimes the most interesting gardens are the smaller, less manicured ones, so everyone is welcome and would be very much appreciated (and of course we still want the big, manicured ones too!). It is a wonderful way to get involved in village life; so we do hope you (and your shrubs, flowers, lawns and vegetables) will join us on the 5th and 6th of June. If you are interested then please ring Liz Wilson on 890181 or 07814 788503 or email Rochelle Foster at [email protected] 4 Roundabout February 2011 Editor’s note This month’s Roundabout covers a variety of topics, offering something of interest to nearly everyone, it seems. A new monthly series begins, featuring life on a local farm; there is news of police concern about car security, as vehicle thefts continue to plague our villages; the Woodhouse Eaves scouts pay their own tribute to the fallen; there are details, too, of the recently installed vehicle-activated speed sign in Woodhouse, and we investigate something of the paranormal with the haunting tale of ‘the lady at the window’. There are the regular features, too, including news from the parish council, gardening topics, and something of the beauty and diversity of our local countryside. As always, we thank all our contributors and would like to remind everyone that their news, perhaps their points of view on particular topics, or maybe their memories of earlier life, are always welcome. Peter Crankshaw Parish council news Gritting Grit and grit bins were a hot topic this winter and there were many requests to provide more. The council surveyed all the locations and will assess the costs of providing additional bins and what charges a contractor would make to fill up any the county council could not deal with. The present county council policy deals with bus and school access routes and a main route in and out of each village, but leaves side roads for local residents to clear using the roadside grit bins. These are re-filled regularly but the severity of the recent weather meant county council staff had difficulty keeping up with demand and in some cases couldn’t reach their location. The council was thankful for the efforts of the county and borough councils, and especially Charnwood Borough Council’s efforts to keep the car park gritted and for maintaining the refuse collection service along most parish roads. Your snow-clearing duty Clearing snow from your property is entirely reasonable and there is plenty of national guidance on the safest ways of doing this. The Occupier’s Liability Act of 1957 places a duty on everyone to keep access to their property as safe as possible. It is unlikely that, as long as a reasonable attempt has been made to clear snow and ice, anyone would be sued, since Roundabout February 2011 5 individuals on foot also have a duty to take care themselves. The county council is prepared to pay £6.84 per hour to parish-appointed snow wardens; so if you feel fit and strong enough to volunteer, please contact the Clerk. County council officers provide equipment and guidance for this increasingly vital winter task. Crime and safety In December, police officers toured our villages and recorded 51 vehicles either left unattended with engines running, or unlocked, or with valuables in view (see pages 8-9). PC Orton urges everyone to take care with their vehicles as many insurance companies won’t pay out under such circumstances. Sadly, in the same period 79 drivers were arrested for drink- driving offences in the Charnwood area. Traffic speed, even during the bad weather, seemed still too high and volunteers continue to monitor speeding vehicles, using the two devices we own. Liz Randall and her team were warmly thanked for all their efforts to keep our roads safe (see pages 19- 20). In general, crime is down across Charnwood and our local police do a great job. In future, we may see them a little more often since the parish council has agreed to offer them a base here, for when they are in the area. 6 Roundabout February 2011 Responses Requests for parish views continue to flood in and this year the parish council has responded to the county council’s call for details of important open spaces in the parish that should be protected from development. This is part of long-range planning for new housing. The council was able to draw on the 2005 Parish Plan where local people gave their views (www.woodhouseparishcouncil.org.uk/parishplan). Graveyards maintenance One parish council job is to support the maintenance of the graveyards with annual grants. It is a very long time since the amount was increased, so an extra contribution has been granted this year and the amounts will, in future, be reviewed annually. Both St Paul’s and St Mary’s churches depend partly on volunteers for their graveyards’ upkeep but contractors are sometimes essential for graveyard maintenance, and the parish council has a responsibility to help. Be a local hero Parish elections will take place in May this year, so please consider offering your services to the community by standing for election. We meet monthly, except in August, for about two-and-a-half hours. More details can be obtained from the parish council website (see inside front cover), or by telephoning the Clerk (01509) 890 050. Talk to any councillor about what is involved, or come along to the Annual Parish Meeting and Exhibition in April to see some of its work. The government’s Localism Bill, currently going through parliament, will hand more power down to parishes; so this will be an important year for parish councils and residents, alike. You have had an excellent council for the past four years and for many years previously, and we need to continue its good work. Elections are on 5th May and the new council will meet on 9th May. Next meeting See ‘What’s on’ for details. Anyone may attend meetings; however, if you want something considered on the agenda, please let the Clerk have details the week before. Ann Irving, Clerk to the Council Roundabout February 2011 7 8 Roundabout February 2011 News in brief Memories of a ‘White Christmas’ The first day of the Christmas school Out and about with a camera, local holidays and 13-year-old Michael resident Brian Axon captures Cooke, from Victoria Road, celebrates something of the beauty of that snowy by building himself an igloo on the time. St. Paul’s Church and the Donkey Slip, near his home. Memorial provide a dramatic contrast Picture by Hilary Ayling. to the white covering. Car security a growing local problem Police officers concerned about the rise in car crime in both villages, have spent about eight hours checking for unlocked cars parked on the roads, with startling results. A total of 31 cars was found unlocked and a further eight vehicles had valuable possessions on display, including ‘sat-navs’, a mobile phone and handbags.