Category Archives: Village News

The Parish Council welcomes Councillor Della Kagure Brown

I moved to the village about eight years ago with my long term partner Maggie. We live at the Old Post Office with our five pugs.
For the last twenty years I have been the director of a local charity in Leicester that supports women and young people who have been sexually exploited, involved in sex work or who are victims of human trafficking. I am a qualified social worker and psychodynamic psychotherapist and specialise in counselling sexually abused children.
Since moving to Rearsby, the village has become increasingly important to me and I would like to contribute what I can to our community.
My passions include laughing with my partner, walking my dogs, reading anything and everything and writing psychological thrillers. And I’m always happy to share a bottle of wine with friends.

Parish Council ~ Chairman’s November Update

Hello everyone

November’s here, the smell of open fires in the air, leaves all over the garden and thoughts of what Christmas will be like this year in these very unusual times.

I wanted to start my note this month with a reminder to stay vigilant and safe during these continuing challenging times and to ask that we all be mindful of others within the community who may be struggling or need some support.
The ever changing rules and restrictions around Coronavirus make it difficult for us all to keep pace with what we should and should not do but please spare a thought and time for those in our parish who don’t understand, or who are vulnerable or just need a guiding hand at times.

Parish Council business continues, with meetings still being held in a virtual setting normally on the first Thursday of each month and the main areas of business are currently:

Conker Field:
Phase 2 of the tree works will begin prior to Christmas (weather permitting) and as part of the program we have agreed that some smaller branches from the horse chestnut which is being felled will be left at the side of the conker field for residents to help themselves for logs over the winter. I would at this stage however ask that people do not remove any logs or branches from the spinney area of the conker field as these have been deliberately left there for wildlife habitats.
The PC also intend to review and consider planting new trees within the field in an effort to possibly re-establish similar numbers to those seen recently on papers from the 1960’s/70’s.
The new sign for the Station Road entrance should be installed before Christmas as will other signage around the field.
The new hedge in front of the Station road fence has been approved and will be planted at the appropriate time but residents should be aware that this will not include the fenced triangle behind the layby area next to the entrance to the convent development as the builders have informed us they wish to landscape this area themselves.
We continue to chase the new waste bins.

The Neighbourhood Plan (NP):
Having raised this on several occasions over recent months we have had no response from parishioners wishing to get involved in the working group so the PC has decided to push forward with the support of a local organisation used to supporting councils with their NP’s.
Following a meeting in October we will now determine exactly where we are in the NP cycle and plan to push it to a conclusion over the coming weeks / months. We will of course review all of the original responses from interested parties and endeavour to keep everyone in the community up to date at each PC meeting and through the website.
We are extremely keen on getting this concluded especially in view of possible national planning changes coming forward from government.

Christmas:
With some uncertainty this year of what Christmas will be like for many families I can tell you that the PC is hoping to once again have the traditional Christmas tree and lights on the village green over the festive season, details will be discussed and confirmed at the December PC meeting.

Rearsby Village News website:
The website www.rearsbyvillagenews.co.uk continues to grow with news, information and stories being added regularly. You can also view information about Parish Council meetings and a summary of all the business covered at each meeting.
We would like to encourage residents to visit the website and give us feedback on the content and what other information / articles you would like to see.
If you have any information you would like us to add please let us know via email councillor5.rearsbypc@btconnect.com .

Dog Poo
Unfortunately, no real improvement so, again I appeal to all dog walkers to watch your dog, pick up its poo, bag it, bin it!
Please remember you can report dog fouling direct to Charnwood Borough Council online at www.charnwood.gov.uk or on 01509 634564.

Home Security:
Over recent months I have joined the neighbourhood alert link through Leicestershire Police which is extremely informative and well worth linking through your email.
One of the areas they focused on recently was making sure people secure their homes and leave a light on when out, especially as the nights get longer and the general crime rates such as burglaries increases.
So please be mindful of your home security and of your neighbours and any one in the parish who could be vulnerable to attack by unscrupulous individuals.

Footpaths, Cows and Railways:
An unusual header you may think but, I felt I needed to share my concern that on two separate occasions over the past few weeks I have witnessed individuals walking along the actual railway from the footpath / railway crossing point at the rear of Wreake drive down towards Station road I assume to avoid the cows in the field.
I appreciate cows have recently had some bad press locally and some people may be anxious about them when out walking but, walking along the railway is extremely dangerous if not illegal!

Don’t forget the next PC meetings (currently via ZOOM) are held on the 1st Thursday 7.30pm for more details see www.rearsbyvillagenews.co.uk or www.rearsbypc.org.uk

Thank you & please STAY SAFE
Martin Cooke (Parish Council Chair)

Parish Council – Chairman’s October Update

Hello everyone

Well October is here, leaf’s falling, those wonderful autumn smells in the air and like many others I am enjoying getting the garden ready for the winter months.

I wanted to start my Note this month with an appeal to everyone to stay vigilant and safe during these continuing testing times. The easing of Coronavirus related restrictions continues in certain areas but equally new concerns are raised with numbers seemingly on the rise again so please don’t be complacent, protect yourselves and those around you and make the environment we all share as safe and secure as we possibly can.

Parish Council business continues, with meetings still being held in a virtual setting normally on the first Thursday of each month and the main areas of business are currently:

New Councillor:

I am delighted to welcome Della Kagure Brown to the Parish Council, Della will formerly take up the co-opted role from October having been proposed and approved at the recent September PC meeting.

Conker Field: 

Phase 2 of the tree works was approved at the September meeting and will hopefully begin over the coming few months this, will sadly includes one of the horse chestnuts (conker trees) being felled due to decay and decease. As mentioned in September the field may be partially closed on this day due to health & safety, but the tree surgeon will determine that once a full risk assessment has been done. 

We have also agreed to fit springs or closers to the kissing gates to try and ensure they close on one side when not in use.

The new sign for the Station Road entrance has been approved and ordered as have other signs which should all hopefully be in place over the next few months. 

We are still chasing the new waste bins which were ordered some time ago and these will be installed at each end of the field. 

Speeding:

I mentioned this last month and can confirm the PC are looking at ways to try and combat this ongoing issue in the parish. I would however also appeal to residents to be a little more conscious of their own speed when driving in and around the village. 

New data from the speed activated sign in the village will be displayed on the website www.rearsbyvillagenews.co.ukwhich makes disturbing reading at times.

The Neighbourhood Plan (NP):

As mentioned before, the council want to re-establish a working group to push this to a conclusion and I am again appealing to individuals in the village to please join us on the working group to help and assist us to do so. If you are interested and can help, please contact Sue Norledge our Clerk, we would greatly appreciate your support.

Rearsby Village News website:

The website www.rearsbyvillagenews.co.uk continues to grow with news,  information and stories being added regularly. You can also view information about Parish Council meetings and a summary of all the business covered at Council meetings.

We would like to encourage residents to visit the website and give us feedback on what other information / articles you would like to see. If you have any information you would like us to add please let us know via email councillor5.rearsbypc@btconnect.com .

Village Tidiness:

I also mentioned last month about the great work Ed & Sam Offer were doing with their weekly litter picks but I have to say I am very concerned and disappointed at the general lack of care shown around the parish when it comes to general littering and people just not bothering to take their own litter home or just feel it acceptable to throw wrappers or rubbish on the floor or in hedgerows. I appreciate much of this may come from people outside our community but equally, we can all play our part and make sure we take our rubbish home and keep our village looking attractive and pleasant to walk around.

Dog Poo

Finally, “Dog Poo” still no better so, I appeal again to all dog walkers to watch your dog, pick up its poo, bag it, bin it! 

Please remember you can report dog fouling direct to Charnwood Borough Council online at www.charnwood.gov.ukor on 01509 634564.

October is a busy month with lots going on, lots of celebrations and some particularly poignant topics in these rather testing times, like World Smile Day 2nd, World Teachers day 5th and World Mental Health day 10th to name but a few. 

Whatever you are doing or celebrating please do it safely and always try to be considerate and kind to others. 

Don’t forget the next PC meetings (currently via ZOOM) are held on the 1st Thursday 7.30pm for more details see www.rearsbyvillagenews.co.uk or www.rearsbypc.org.uk

Thank you & please STAY SAFEMartin Cooke (Parish Council Chair)

Grind rail on the village hall playing fields

The Parish Council is currently reviewing the play area at the rear of the village hall. This includes the use of a temporary grind rail on the field that the Borough Council has advised us needs to be removed as it does not meet current safety requirements. We are looking into the possibility of purchasing a grind rail for the area and would be grateful if anyone who would be interested in using one could get in touch with myself with recommendations as to the most suitable type.In the meantime the PC would like to request that the grind rail is removed as soon as possible. If it is not removed by the 30th September we will need to arrange its removal. Many thanks and look forward to hearing about any suggestions for the grind rail