LetterboxResidents’ newsletter published by Oadby and Wigston Borough Council

Autumn 2015

Our Way to Better Customer Care

This winter garden waste will be collected until December – with the very last collection on 11 December 2015. Normal garden waste collections will resume week commencing 29 February 2016.

Turn to page 18 for more information.

Garden Waste Collection Suspended over Winter Months

Oadby and Wigston Borough CouncilStation Road, Wigston, Leicestershire LE18 2DR

T: 0116 288 8961 F: 0116 288 7828 www.oadby-wigston.gov.uk

Dear Resident, As you will all hopefully be aware the Liberal Democrats were returned by you in May’s Borough Council elec-tions. The Council is now made up of 19 Liberal Demo-crats, 5 Conservatives and 1 Labour councillor. There is no doubt that there are still some very tough times ahead for the country and the borough in the present economic climate. The Council, like all other public sector organisations, will have to make some very difficult decisions over the coming years. I am sure I speak for all councillors when I say that we will do all we can to try and protect the frontline services that you have told us are important to you. Over the last five years we have successfully managed to do this while freezing Council Tax and we will do all we can to continue to do that. In addition, this autumn the Council will be opening a new Customer Service Centre in Wigston Town Centre together with two new swimming pools and a fully refurbished leisure centre. We have also just invested in a new fleet of refuse vehicles to ensure that residents have a reliable collection service. We are currently finishing off the two town centre regeneration schemes while continuing to be committed to keeping free shoppers car parking in the town centres for as long as we can and are now one of only a few councils in the entire country to still do this in order to support our local shops. Over the next four years the Council has committed itself to do all it can to:

Protect the BoroughWe will resist any attempt by the City or County Councils to impose their control over the Borough Maintain Front Line ServicesWe are committed to free shoppers’ car parking and weekly collection of waste and recycling. No change would ever be made without consultation.

Offering Choice when PossibleWe will offer choice when possible Save Money through Service RedesignWe will continue to look at our services and redesign those that can be improved or cheaper to run

Involve Residents and PartnersWe are committed to continue with the town forums and to develop other community engagements systems. The Council will work with and continue to support partners. Economic DevelopmentWe recognise the need to develop both housing and the town centres. This will be done with the maximum of public involvement and at minimum cost to the green spaces in the Borough. Greening the BoroughWe will continue to invest in and encourage activities which result in a greener Borough including prioritising the protection of trees. Improving the Health of ResidentsWe want to ensure residents live a full and healthy life. Value for MoneyWe will always accept any council tax freeze grant offered by the Government. The Council will endeavour to freeze council tax and, if it is raised, it will never rise more than by inflation. Thank you for your continued support and confidence. John BoyceLeader of the Council

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council is embarking on the preparation of a new Local Plan for the Borough. The Local Plan will identify development land for new housing, businesses and other services and facilities that require the use of land in the Borough. The new Local Plan will aim to follow in the success of the current Plan which has focused on; regeneration of the town centres; directing new development to land that has had a previous use; and, recognising the need to carefully consider the appropriateness of using the countryside for new development.

The Government has changed its policies since the preparation of the current Plan and the new Plan will respond to this. In particular, it will take into account

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council has successfully secured funding from the Government’s Local Development Order Incentive Fund. The funding, a sum of £44,500, has been used by the Council to appoint Peter Brett Associates to produce Local Development Orders for three town centre sites. The Local Development Orders will enable the regeneration of sites in Oadby, Wigston and South Wigston to maximise community benefit, with a wide range of options – including residential, commercial and leisure facilities – being considered; to be selected following a community consultation process which is scheduled to take place over the coming months. The Local Development Orders will follow on from the Council’s Town Centres Area Action Plan and Investor Prospectus which together seek to encourage investment and regeneration in the towns and to improve the range of facilities available to local people. Once finalised, details of the public consultation events will be published on the Council’s website and the digital display screens in Oadby and Wigston town centres.

A new Local Plan for the Borough

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council secures funding to prepare Local Development Orders

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how many houses will need to be built in the Borough and where; how we plan for the needs of the business community; how we plan to protect the most important features of the Borough, (including important buildings, conservation areas and wildlife habitats); and, how we plan for areas of open space that both provide an important resource for leisure activities and define the individual settlements within the Borough. The Council is in the process of identifying the main challenges that the new Local Plan will need to address and will be seeking the involvement of local residents during Autumn. Please keep an eye on the Council’s website or digital display screens in Oadby and Wigston town centres for further information. If you wish to receive notifications of key stages in the preparation of the Local Plan please email planningpolicy@oadby-wigston.gov.uk

Digital Display Screens Advertising Opportunity

New digital display screens have been installed in the town centres of Oadby and Wigston, giving businesses and community groups the opportunity to advertise their products, services and events. The new display screens were installed as part of the town centre regeneration projects. The digital display screens are now available to advertise on for community groups and businesses. Commercial advertisers can display an advert for as little as £20 per week, making it affordable for any business. Are you interested in advertising? Email the Town Centre Manager via towncentremanager@oadby-wigston.gov.uk or telephone 0116 257 2706.

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council has taken delivery of six new refuse trucks to upgrade its waste collection operation. Replacing their 12 year old predecessors, these state-of-the-art 26 tonne Mercedes Benz Econics feature greater fuel economy, Zoeller split-bin lifts allowing for two bins to be emptied at a time and CCTV cameras and tracking technology for road safety purposes. Following the introduction of the green bins this year, the new refuse trucks are designed to enhance the waste collection operation even further, saving time and money during collections and making for a clean and tidy Borough.

New Refuse Trucks for Oadby & Wigston Borough CouncilThe waste management team at Oadby and Wigston Borough Council are delighted with the new arrivals. Brian Kew, Street Scene Manager at the Council, commented “The arrival of these new vehicles is great for our Borough; they’re out on the road now and they look great!”

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council is opening a brand new Customer Service Centre in Wigston Town Centre. The Council’s Customer Charter “Our Way to Better Customer Care” promises to provide good quality customer service by continuously monitoring, reviewing and improving the service to ensure that needs are met. As part of this promise the Council is transferring front line Customer Services from the offices at Bushloe House on Station Road – where they are currently located – to a brand-new Customer Service Centre located in the hub of the community. We will literally be implementing our aim to put customer service at the heart of the Borough. The purpose built, state of the art facility is designed to improve the levels of customer service that the council are able to provide our residents. The drop-in centre will make it easier for residents to access advice across a wide range of council services.

New Customer Service Centre is openingin Wigston Town Centre

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Opening mid-October on Bell Street in Wigston, the centre will make council services more accessible to residents. It will be a one stop approach for our customers, assisting in all council enquiries and resolving as many issues as possible at first point of contact. From pest control treatments to reporting of missed bin collections, recycling information or room hire enquiries, the Customer Service Centre is your one stop shop whatever the enquiry. For making payments for council services there will be a payment machine which can take cash, credit or debit cards. Self-serve desks will also allow residents to access online services themselves.

Councillor John Boyce states,

“Moving the customer service centre to where most of our residents shop is just one of a series of positive moves by Oadby & Wigston Borough Council. We do not just talk about putting residents first but, whenever possible, we act on it too. I would like to thank all staff involved in making the move possible and look forward to making the centre a success for the people who matter the most; our residents.”

Please note that the customer service facility will continue to operate at Oadby Library on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdy and Friday from 10am to 1pm. All correspondence with the Council should continue to be sent to: Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, Council Offices, Bushloe House, Station Road, Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 2DR.

 

Oadby & Wigston Lions Club

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Charity Concert in aid of Wishes4KidsOadby & Wigston Lions Club recently joined with the Bardi Wind Orchestra to stage their annual charity concert at the De Montfort Hall Leicester.

This year’s concert rose funds for the local charity ‘Wishes4Kids’. This charity was set up in 2002 with the object of granting a ‘wish’ for Leicestershire children with life limited, terminal illness or who have suffered life changing mental/physical/emotional traumas. The Grand Gala Concert was held in the afternoon of Sunday 7th June which enabled more families to enjoy the music. A special guest artist for the concert was Dawn Allen who earlier in the year had taken part in the BBC’s show ‘The Voice’.

Oadby & Wigston Lions Presentation NightThe best part of fund raising is passing the funds on to local charities to help their work.

At the Oadby & Wigston Lions Presentation Night, 15 local charities received donations from the club. The Lions Club would like to thank the local public who helped to raise the money.

Lions President Yvonne Cluley, with some of the charity representitive holding their cheques.

Tesco Fun DaySouth Wigston

Always eager to get their name around, Oadby & Wigston Lions Club took part in the Fun at Tesco’s South Wigston. No fund raising this time, just a chance to tell the public about Lions activities and hopefully interest them in joining the club.

Past President Chris Huscroft greets the Mayor of Oadby & Wigston, Councillor Latif Darr.And of course ‘Lenny the Lion’ is always around.

Pictured: The Bardi Wind Orchestra on stage at the De Montfort Hall.

Pictured: Past District Govenor Ajit Virdi, representing Lions International - Russel Brickett from Wishes 4 Kids - Yvonne Cluley, President Oadby & Wigston Lions Club - David Swanson, PRO Oadby & Wigston Lions Club

Pictured: Jenny Saunders, Saprano - Yvonne Cluley, President Oadby & Wigston Lions Club - Martin Ballard from Radio Leicester who compered the concert - Councillor Ted Cassidy, Lord Mayor of Leicester - Dawn Allen, guest artist - Resham Singh, Past High Sheriff of Leicester - David Morris, Tenor and with the collecting buckets Robert Calow, Manager of the Bardi Orchestra and David Calow Conductor of the Orchestra.

Photographs by Neville Chadwick Photography

Charity looking for runners for the Leicester Marathon

Local charity, Action Homeless, is looking for runners to participate in the Leicester Marathon and Half Marathon on their behalf. The sponsorship raised will go towards helping the most vulnerable people in Leicester get their lives back on track.

Action Homeless is the biggest homeless charity in Leicester and supports over 350 men, women and children every year. Many of the people it accommodates have experienced severe disadvantage but are given the support they need to leave homelessness behind for good. Unfortunately, many of these services no longer receive statutory funding and rely on public support to keep going.

Action Homeless is now recruiting for keen runners and hopes to have about 20 participants in the race at the end of October. Eilidh Kennedy of Action Homeless said,

“The Leicester Marathon always proves to be a great event for Action Homeless and we hope that this year will be no exception. We’re looking for as many people as possible to take part and would love for Leicester’s public to get behind our campaign. If you’re thinking of running the marathon or half marathon then this is a great way to help some of the most vulnerable people in Leicester at the same time.”

The Leicester Marathon is on Sunday 25th October and any runners who participate will be joined by Action Homeless staff and residents.

Olivia Paine of Action Homeless said, “I’ve never done any kind of running before, so participating in the half marathon is an enormous personal challenge for me. I’ve been training regularly though and I’m raising money for Bridge House, our refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence which receives no statutory funding. When I’m having a tough training session, the thought that I’m running to help give families a safe place to stay and rebuild their lives is enough to spur me on.”

“There’s just a few weeks left until the marathon and we would love people to get involved and help us support some of the most vulnerable people in Leicester”

More information about Action Homeless and participating in the Leicester Marathon can be found on the Action Homeless website www.actionhomeless.org.uk. Email Olivia Paine at oliviapaine@actionhomeless.org.uk or call 0116 2211 851 to secure your place.

Are you a local good cause needing funds?Sing4Fun, a Leicestershire based community choir, is looking for local charities in need of a cash injection.

South Wigston’s community choir, Sing4Fun, was first established in April of 2010 after receiving a grant from the OWBC community forum. The small group of 16 voices soon doubled, then tripled and five years on they now have around 80 members who perform in aid of small local charities. The choir perform three concerts annually, organising the venue and refreshments and giving free tickets to little known charities to sell on. By doing this the charity then keep the money made from the ticket sales and the choir gains an audience for a good cause.

To date, thousands of pounds have been raised for causes such as: Wishes4Kids and the Alzheimer’s Society. The community choir have built firm relationships with the organisations that they support but are now hoping to branch out to help other local charities that would benefit from a small injection of cash.

If you are part of a small charity based within Leicestershire, know of one that could use the help of Sing4Fun or would love to become part of the choir, then please do get in touch. More information can be found at www.sing4fun.org.uk or contact Richard Warren via phone on 0116 2889238 or email at rjwintheburrow@care4free.net

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Past Mayor’s Charity Presentations

During her year in office as Mayor of Oadby & Wigston, Sarah Dickinson raised a total of £11,558 for her chosen charities: The Alzheimer’s Society and Wishes4Kids. The photograph shows Sarah (in the middle) presenting cheques to Russell Brickett, the Founder of Wishes4Kids and Danielle Hindle,

Area Fundraiser for The Alzheimer’s Society. Sarah would like to express her thanks to everyone who supported the events that she organised and made it possible for such a large amount to be raised.

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Students help out local church

Anniversary Celebrations for Two Local Foodbanks

Bricklaying students from South Leicestershire College (SLC) put their skills into action recently to help a local church. Students on the Level 2 Bricklaying course travelled to Blaby Baptist Church in Leicester to give the outside grounds a face lift by replacing and re-laying slabs. Duncan MacColl, Construction Lecturer at SLC said: “We were contacted by the Church Deacon, Ernest Pinder to see if the project was something we could help with as part of our working in the community ethos. SLC is proud to be part of the local community and being able to help the church with much needed

Two food banks in the Borough of Oadby and Wigston celebrated a shared anniversary earlier this year.

Oadby Food Bank, which operates on alternate Fridays from Oadby Trinity Methodist Church, held its first annual general meeting on 15th May where Chairperson, Lesley Green, welcomed a dozen members who all give voluntary help to make the food bank work.

This included drivers who collect food donated to churches in the borough and from FareShare, in Narborough, which re-distributes food donated by shops and supermarkets. The food is then stored in secure premises inspected by the borough council before being taken to the church

renovations was a great opportunity to show the skills our students learn on their courses.” Brandon Rowden, one of the students who worked on the project said, “I really enjoyed the project, it gives us the chance to put into practice what we are taught in the classroom. The work-based experience we gain from the projects will really help us in the future.” Bette Bolton, Church Secretary said, “I would like to say a very big thank you for the work done at the Church. It has really enhanced the outside of the building making it look neat and tidy.”

where other volunteers sort and distribute foodstuffs to callers.

During its first year, Oadby Food Bank has usually handed out between 24 and 36 grocery packages every fortnight. More than 60 individuals or families have benefited – some several times – during the food bank’s first year. The Food Bank often refers people to local advice service Helping Hands, and vice versa.

Morsbags, who make reusable shopping bags from old fabric, supply the food bank with bags to minimise the need for plastic bags. Food Bank users can return these for re-use.Treasurer John Cooper reported to the A.G.M. that the food bank’s financial position was secure, thanks

To find out more about Bricklaying courses at South Leicestershire College, visit www.slcollege.ac.uk, call 0116 264 3535, or email info@slcollege.ac.uk

to ongoing donations from churches and other sources and a number of grants when it was set up.

Oadby Food Bank was an Oadby Stakeholders meeting initiative. It was founded with the invaluable help of Chris Huscroft, who was then president of Oadby and Wigston Lions Club, which had set up a food bank in South Wigston about a year earlier.

You can contact Oadby Food Bank by phoning or texting 07913 525718, and Wigston Food Bank on 07818 603699.

New Wigston Foodbank to open in September

The Trussell Trust network of Foodbanks has announced the opening of a new Leicester South branch in Wigston. The new Leicester South Foodbank will open on September 21st and operate out of The Kings Centre on Bull Head Street, Wigston. This joins a selection of other local churches across the South Leicester area that work in partnership with the Trussell Trust which are led by the Meadows Community Church.

The new Leicester South Foodbank will provide emergency food to local individuals and families in crisis. Food will be issued to those in receipt of a voucher, which individuals can obtain from various referral agencies such as social workers, health visitors, ministers, doctors, Citizens’ Advice Bureau and some schools.

Please contact Leicester South Foodbank for a full list of referral agencies.

Geoff Adams of Meadows Community Church said, “The response and enthusiasm for supporting the foodbank has been really encouraging with many volunteers coming forward with offers to help collect food, fundraise and run the service. Our volunteers are in the process of collecting food to stock the foodbank ready for its official launch in September.”

Food is donated by local people and businesses and brought to the Kings Centre, where it is sorted into emergency food boxes for distribution. For people who cannot get to Wigston, alternative collection points are arranged. In exceptional circumstances delivery may be possible.

We are pleased to announce that Tesco is partnering with us across six of its local stores during August.

The stores at South Wigston, Countesthorpe, Narborough Road, Aberdale Road, Humberstone and Evington will be collecting food for the foodbank every Thursday, Friday and Saturday throughout August.

“Tesco staff have been extremely supportive of the project and will be handing out foodbank shopping lists within the stores during the August period,” said Adams.

He also stressed that the foodbank is much more than a food distribution center, “It’s also a place where people can have a cup of tea and chat with one of our lovely volunteers whilst having access to useful advice.”

“Food Vouchers are given out by referral agencies to people who are in need,” Adams adds.

If you would like information on becoming a referral agency, please visit our website.

For more details on the Leicester South Foodbank and how to get involved please visit leicestersouth.foodbank.org.uk

The Leicestershire Advice Service for Social Care is a relatively new service which was commissioned by Leicestershire County Council in April 2014. LCPT (formerly Leicestershire Community Projects Trust), is delivering the service.

The service is free, independent and confidential for adults of all ages who are residents of Leicestershire County and are in need of information and

advice relating to any aspect of social care. The request for information can be for yourself, a relative, friend or neighbour or if you are a professional it can be for someone you are supporting.

The need to access social care services is often something very new to families and it can be a daunting prospect at what may already be a challenging time. The Leicestershire Advice Service team can ease the pressure by informing you about the services that are available to you and how to access these services. This can include issues such as how to get a Community Care Assessment or a Carers Assessment, as well as identifying the relevant services and activities available in your local area. If we don’t have the answer immediately to hand we will investigate for you.

Information and advice is normally offered by telephone; however, the team recognise that this isn’t always the best approach and alternative arrangements will be made when the telephone is not a suitable option.

Please get in touch if you need information on:

• What services are available for adults in Leicestershire

• How to access services

• Identifying relevant help

• Maintaining maximum choice and control

Leicestershire Advice Service for Social CareTel: 0116 2229555Text: 07585975701Email: advice@lcp-trust.org.uk

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Prepared for Emergencies

October sees the launch of Aware and Prepared, an initiative aimed at improving the extent to which households, communities and businesses are prepared for severe weather, difficult times and emergencies.

Simple, sensible measures can be taken which will make a lot of difference to how well you are able to cope at such times. Such measures will ensure communities can assist those made vulnerable when normal services are disrupted and the Emergency Services are forced to prioritise those at greatest risk.

You can learn about Evacuation Grab Bags, Pets in Emergencies, Community Response Planning, Business Continuity Plans and more on the LLR Prepared website www.llrprepared.org.uk

Energy Advice Line Business Electricity Price Review Quarter Two 2015Business energy users are opting for more short term contracts in response to the current price drops, and hoping that the trends will be similar when their contracts are up for renewal in the same quarter of 2016. However, Energy Advice Line recommends that you take these cheaper prices and lock them in to a fixed term contract of a longer length and avoid the risk of prices going up next year.

According to Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy consumers, longer-term contracts continue to be a more viable option than ever for firms as protection against price fluctuation in a volatile market.

Energy Advice Line is the UK’s leading energy price comparison and switching service exclusively for businesses, and enables firms to compare the market for the best possible business energy deals within minutes.

The free service is backed by a team of business energy experts who provide a complete contract management service including advice about business energy contracts, how to avoid expensive rollover contracts, and a renewal reminder.

The Energy Advice Line also campaigns for a better deal for business energy users from suppliers and have lobbied the government and energy regulator Ofgem for greater protection from practices such as cold calling.

To access Energy Advice Line’s latest price review video, visit http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/eddie.html

For further information, visit http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk

LLR Prepared Week Roadshow 12th - 17th October Look out for this year’s LLR Prepared Week Roadshow. LLR Prepared is the Local Resilience Forum which looks after emergency planning for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The roadshow will feature stands by local authorities, Police, Leicestershire Fire & Rescue, Environment Agency, the Health Trusts, Voluntary Sector partners and others. This is an opportunity to find out more about emergency planning and to get involved.

The LLR Prepared Week Roadshow Itinerary (9am to 4pm)

Mon 12th Oct Leicester, Humberstone Gate

Tues 13th Oct Market Harborough Town Centre

Weds 14th Oct Fosse Park

Thurs 15th Oct Loughborough Market

Fri 16th Oct Hinckley Market

Sat 17th Oct Oakham Farmers Market

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Children’s Activities for October Half-term at Brocks Hill

Guided Walk Trainingby the Brocks Hill teamTuesday 20 OctoberTime: 7:00am to 8:30pmCost: £7.50 per person Tree Felling for Beginners by the Brocks Hill teamSunday 1 NovemberTime: 10:30 am to 3:30 pmCost: £35 per person

Painting and Sketching Pumpkins, Gourds and Seeds by Annabel BarrettSaturday 31 OctoberTime: 10:15 am to 3:15 pmCost: £40 per person Printmaking and bookmaking by Art TracksTuesday 10 NovemberTime: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pmCost: £25 per person

Mixed Media Christmas Wreath by the Brocks Hill teamSaturday 5 DecemberTime: 10:15 am to 1:15 pmCost: £20 per person Parking is free and light refreshments are provided. Advanced booking is essential as places are limited. For further information and the full programme please contact Brocks Hill Country Park and Centre. Telephone: Leicester (0116) 2572888, email: informationofficer@oadby-wigston.gov.uk, visit www.brockshill.co.uk or www.facebook.com/BrocksHillCountryPark

Monday19 October

Tuesday20 October

Wednesday21 October

Thursday22 October

Friday23 October

Happy Hedgehogswith Colleen Powell from Leicester Hedgehog Rescue.

Find out about all things ‘hedgehoggy’ and come nose to nose with one of our spiky friends!

Suitable for families.

Cost per person - £4

3 sessions: 10:30 am to 11:30 am, 11:45 am to 12:45 pm, or 2 pm to 3 pm

Let’s go Batty

Find out about bats and make your own clay bat Suitable for children aged 5 years plus.

Under 5’s welcome but will need a lot of help.

Cost per child - £4

2 sessions: 10:30 am to 11:30 am or 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm

Celebrate Apple Day with a variety of apple based craft activities.

Suitable for children aged 3 years plus.

Cost per child - £42 sessions: 10:30 am to 11:30 am or 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm

Make a Bat Box

Find out about bats and make your own bat box. This is an opportunity for older children to enjoy a session unaccom-panied (Consent form required).

Suitable for children aged 10 years and over. Cost per child - £8.503:00pm - 4:15pm

A Spider’s Web

Weave a spider’s web in a willow hoop and add a special spider for a Halloween surprise!

Suitable for children aged 5 years plus.

Under 5’s welcome but will need a lot of help.

Cost per child - £4

2 sessions: 10:30 am to 11:30 am or 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

The Big Draw 2015

‘Every Picture Tells a Story’

A local storyteller joins with Art Tracks for The Big Draw 2015, with Brocks Hills’ unique way of celebrating ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ using the resources of our Country Park.

Suitable for children aged 4 years to 19 years.

Cost per person - £5 each

2 sessions: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm or 2 pm to 3 pm

Family Star Gazing with the Leicester Astronomical Society.

Donations taken.6:00pm - 8:00pm

Brocks Hill for AdultsBrocks Hill Country Park is developing more opportunities to find out and experience links with the natural environment in the latest Adult Discovery Sessions, autumn and winter programme. There are many new opportunities to be experienced in the programme that runs October to March. A sample of what is being offered includes:

An Introduction to Fungi By Richard Iliffe of Leicestershire Fungi Study GroupThursday 15 OctoberTime: 7 pm to 9 pmCost: £15 per person CommunityNews 9

Friends of Brocks Hill Country Park Events

Want to Lose Weight... For Good?

FREE weight loss sessions at a venue near you

10 week course: Nutrition sessions with exercise classes

Friendly supportive environment

Leicestershire Nutritionand Dietetic Service

For more information call us on

0116 222 7154

The last tea and talk organised by The Friends of Brocks Hill Country Park had staff running round for extra chairs due to the last minute rush to buy tickets. The Friends have organised a number of events for our visitors and have been delighted at the response. If you would like to become a member of the Friends group, annual membership is just £4 each or you can take advantage of the new family membership at only £6!

Food FayreSunday 11 October, 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Free entry.From ground to plate! Stalls with information and displays from growing food to healthy eating. Also, the chance to try and buy local produce. If you would be interested in holding a stall at the Food Fayre, we still have a few spaces free. For more information please email karen.hambleton@oadby-wigston.gov.uk or telephone 0116 257 2730.

Life as a Farmer’s Wife Talk with refreshments3rd December, 6.45pmCost: £3.50 per person or £2.50 for members

Julia Hawley will entertain with a photographic talk on the trials and tribulations, laughter and joy of her world in which 120 females come above her in the pecking order – the lot of many a dairy farmer’s wife. Tickets can be booked by calling the Brocks Hill team on 0116 2572 888 or visiting the reception in the Centre. Find us at: Brocks Hill Country Park and Centre, Washbrook Lane, Oadby, LE2 5JJ

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Leisure Facilities Building Development Update

Want to Lose Weight... For Good?

FREE weight loss sessions at a venue near you

10 week course: Nutrition sessions with exercise classes

Friendly supportive environment

Leicestershire Nutritionand Dietetic Service

For more information call us on

0116 222 7154

Wigston Pool and Fitness CentreThe building of the new Wigston Pool and Fitness Centre continue to progress well with glulam beams a striking architectural feature clearly visible from Station Road. The pool tank is cast, the internal walls of the changing rooms and gym are in place and the roof structure is rapidly nearing completion.

Children’s Holiday Activity Camps

17 October to 21 October 2015

Following on from the highly successful summer of fun where over 1500 children participated in holiday activity events at both Parklands Leisure centre and the Festival of Sport at Blaby Road South Wigston, Parklands will once again be hosting their highly rated Children’s Activity Camps.

With a mixture of Sports, Games, Arts and Crafts and other entertainment, children can come along from 8:00am in the morning until 5:00pm for just £10 per day.

These activity days are hugely popular and advance booking is essential.

‘No Strings’ BadmintonParklands Leisure Centre has teamed up with Badminton England to promote Badminton sessions throughout the UK. There are now ‘No Strings’ Badminton sessions for Juniors and Adults on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Players from beginners to Advanced can just turn up and play alongside like minded and skilled players under the instruction of qualified leaders and coaches.

Tuesday 7pm to 8pm Juniors 8pm to 10pm Adults

Wednesday 10pm to 12 noon Ladies Only

Saturday 9am to 12:00 noon Juniors 1pm to 3pm Juniors 3pm to 4:45pm Adults

Photograph: Wigston Pool and Fitness Centre – external

Parklands Leisure CentreProgress on the new pool is gathering pace. The internal structure and walls are now complete for the pool changing rooms, café, foyer and entrance. The pool tank has been integrity tested and is ready for tiling.

Photograph: Parklands Leisure Centre pool – internal

It has been 6 months now since the new gym and exercise studios were opened. We have had fantastic feedback on the new facilities as well as new activities we have launched such as Virtual Group Exercise classes from just £1 per session. This has meant we are now able to offer up to 180 classes every week. Although both projects are on schedule for completion we will not know exact dates when we will be open to the public, until we get closer to late autumn. Look out for more info!

Children’s PartiesParklands Leisure Centre has recently invested in an amazing new Bouncy Inflatable for use during Children’s activities. It can also be hired as part of the Leisure Centre’s fantastic party packages.

With Sports Parties including Football, Uni Hockey or multi sports to Inflatable parties and even Sand Art parties, the dedicated team can help you organise an out of this world party for children of all ages.

The new inflatable has a jungle theme with a slide and separate play area.

CommunityNews 11

Do you haveType 2 diabetes?

Then meet DESMOND!

DESMOND is...

• A way of finding out more about Type 2 diabetes.

• A resource to help you manage the changes diabetes will bring to your life.

• An opportunity to meet and share experiences with others.

For more information please speak with your GP or practice Nurse for a referral to a local course.

www.desmond-project.org.uk

Poster_2010_print.indd 1 18/08/2015 15:24

12 CommunityNews

Local Resident’s Inspirational Journey to a Healthier Lifestyle

Sixteen years ago Sherbanoo Kidy was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which she describes as being mainly down to a lack of regular physical activity and a poor diet. During the following four years she was prescribed tablets to control this condition but unfortunately her health deteriorated resulting in her having to start injecting insulin. This became her daily routine until 2013 when she made the decision to improve her health and lifestyle for the better.

With the help of her GP she was referred onto the Exercise Referral Scheme at Parklands Leisure Centre in Oadby where she attended the gym three times a week for the duration of the 12 week programme. Her fitness programme consisted of 40 minute sessions of a mix of walking, cycling and using resistance

machines. After completing the programme she then enrolled as a member of the Leisure Centre and continued her exercise routine. This considerable increase in her weekly amount of physical activity had a positive effect on her diabetes as she was able to start lowering her daily dosage of insulin.

Attending a Health and Wellbeing day at the Oadby Community Centre lead to two significant events. Firstly, Sherbanoo was prompted to sign up for a free Weight Watcher’s programme. During this programme she was able to learn about better food choices and especially about the negative effects of too much saturated fat and refined sugar in her diet. This knowledge helped her to make some small changes to her meals which continued to improve her health. Secondly, as part of the Oadby Community Centre she was able to apply for a Shires Community Grant with the help of Amanda Measom, Health Improvement Officer, from the Leicestershire Partnership Trust and was successful in her bid for a Healthy Lifestyle Food and Physical Activity project for local Asian women.

This funded project started in October 2014 and consisted of Yoga, Gentle Exercise and a Walking group which ran on a weekly basis in addition to healthy food sessions. The yoga sessions were then changed to Pilates. This gave Sherbanoo the opportunity to not only continue to improve her own health, but help others from her local community, many of whom had never participated in any form of physical activity. The venue was very comfortable for the ladies and they were free to dress in any form of loose clothing.

On 7th July 2015 all of Sherbanoo’s hard work and dedication paid off when she was told she no longer needed to take insulin for her Diabetes and was also delighted to have lost 20lbs in the process. She is still taking her metformin which she is determined to give up.

Not only is this a fantastic success story for Sherbanoo but it is also a great achievement for the local community. As many more local women are now exercising regularly and improving their health as a result of her progress. Sherbanoo is aware that there are many people across the borough with diabetes that could improve their health with a little bit of encouragement and this is why she wants to tell her story.

If you would like to find out more information about joining any of the exercise sessions at the Oadby Community Centre please contact Sherbanoo Kidy on 07929825309.

Have you been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?

Would you like to improve your health?

If so, please let us know if you would be interested in joining an Exercise for Diabetes programme by contacting Sara Davies, Exercise Referral Coordinator, Everyone Active, at Parklands Leisure Centre:Email: saradavies@everyoneactive.comTel: 0116 272 0789

CommunityNews 13

14 CommunityNews

The world is your oyster if you learn to dive.

50% discount offered for your first try dive.

We also offer free training (BSAC) to all existing and new club members.

Why not pop along to Delmar dive club who meet at  Parklands Leisure Centre, Wigston Rd, Oadby, Leicester

LE2 5QG at 7 pm each Tuesday.

Want to know more? Contact us.

maureen.ruston@yahoo.co.uk

maureen.ruston on: 07910 212 435 delmardive@mail.com

delmardiveclub.co.uk

TRY SCUBA DIVING WITH DELMAR DIVE CLUB 312

CommunityNews 15

16 CommunityNews

FREE Fun, Food and Activity Group for Families

FLiC is an 8 week group for families keen to learn more about becoming

fit, healthy and managing their weight

FLiC groups start in January, May and October, to find your nearest group contact us onFLIC@lnds.nhs.uk or 0116 222 7154

(you can leave a message on our voicemail)

We are a friendly and very approachable team

Did you know that 1 in 3 children are overweight

and 75% of parents do not realise this.We can help! Call the FLiC team to find out if your child is overweight or use the web link

for NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/tools and click on the BMI healthy weight calculator

For families with children aged 8-13 years

16 CommunityNews

FREE Fun, Food and Activity Group for Families

FLiC is an 8 week group for families keen to learn more about becoming

fit, healthy and managing their weight

FLiC groups start in January, May and October, to find your nearest group contact us onFLIC@lnds.nhs.uk or 0116 222 7154

(you can leave a message on our voicemail)

We are a friendly and very approachable team

Did you know that 1 in 3 children are overweight

and 75% of parents do not realise this.We can help! Call the FLiC team to find out if your child is overweight or use the web link

for NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/tools and click on the BMI healthy weight calculator

For families with children aged 8-13 years

BUSINESSES across Leicestershire are being urged to take the offer of help to get faster broadband as part of a voucher scheme across Leicester and Leicestershire.

All county businesses are now eligible to apply for the broadband connection voucher scheme.

Gaining faster broadband connectivity can help businesses to save time, money, increase productivity and provide a greater service for their customer base.

Businesses can apply for up to £3k of grant funding for the increased infrastructure. However there is limited time to access this funding as 50 per cent of the funding pot has already been allocated and businesses are urged to apply or miss the chance to secure finance to improve their business efficiency.

The funding is on a first come first served basis so businesses should apply as soon as possible.

To find out more visit the following website: http://www.connectionvouchers.co.uk/or email: digitalleicester@leicester.gov.uk

You are also encouraged to promote your business by registering on the council’s business directory which can be found using the following link: http://business.oadby-wigston.gov.uk/

Active Oadby and WigstonCheck out the Active Oadby and Wigston website, www.activeoadbywigston.org.uk, to find out about a range of physical activity groups and sports clubs across the borough.

Broadband Connectivityfor Business

Brocks Hill’s Christmas Craft FairSaturday 21 NovemberFrom 10:30am to 3:30pm

A great family day with local crafters and charities. Lots of stalls for everyone and Santa’s grotto.

Free Parking and entry.

The website also provides information about funding you can apply for, if you are a talented athlete, coach, club or community group. You can also find out about details of free or low cost health and physical activity programmes which you may be entitled to attend.

We also like to keep you updated on the latest news via our Twitter page, so please follow us!

@activeoadbywigs

CommunityNews 17

18 CommunityNews

Recycling - Incorrect Items

Garden Waste Collections Suspended over Winter Months

We often find incorrect items that cannot be recycled in the green and brown recycling bags. These items are removed by hand, by staff working on the sorting line. Large items of incorrect items can also damage the sorting machine, which can lead to expensive repairs and downtime.

The items to be placed in green and brown recycling bags are as follows:

Brown Recycling Bag Brown Recycling Bag

Flattened Cardboard Clean clothes Catalogues Bed sheets Directories Towels Newspapers Shoes (tied in pairs) Magazines Handbags Envelopes Belts Cereal boxes Please keep clothing and card/paper in separate bags. Green Recycling Bag Rinsed cans and tins Clean plastic bottles Empty juice and milk cartons Empty aerosol cans Washed aluminium containers Clean yoghurt pots, margarine tubs

Please remove the lids from plastic bottles and juice cartons and place them in your green recycling bag.

The most common incorrect items are:

X Plastic film

X Carrier bags

X Polystyrene

X Salad and vegetable bags

X Crisp packets

X Children’s toys

X Buckets

X Nappies

X Washing up bowls

If your bag is identified by our crews as having incorrect items in them, they will leave a sticker on the bag and it will not be collected, you will need to remove any incorrect items and place your recycling bag for collection the following week.

For further information please contact Customer Services on 0116 288 8961.

This winter garden waste will be collected until December – with the very last collection on 11 December 2015. Normal garden waste collections will resume week commencing 29 February 2016. Please refer to the new Refuse and Recycling Calendar which will be delivered to you early next year.

Garden waste can be recycled during this period at the local Civic Amenity Site located on Wigston Road, Oadby, LE2 5JE. Alternatively, you could try home composting to dispose of your vehicle. For more information please visit: www.leics.getcomposting.com

In February 2015 we introduced changes to garden waste collection and residents were given an option to have a free 240 litre or 140 litre bin or use up to four reusable garden waste sacks. Over 13,000 householders have requested a garden waste bin and last year the Council recycled over 2500 tonnes of garden waste.

You can still apply for a garden waste bin by:

Visiting our website www.oadby-wigston.gov.uk/garden_waste_collection

Emailing: gardenbinrequest@oadby-wigston.gov.uk Or calling: 0116 257 2885 (where a recorded message will ask you to leave your details)

CommunityNews 19

Oadby, Wigston and South Wigston are all set to glow this winter with festive light displays that everyone can enjoy. All three centres have welcomed brand new lights over the last two years. Each town was supplied with a basic set of lights provided by the Borough Council which were supplemented by additional decorations, funded by the business groups. These help to add to the festive cheer. The festive lights and decorations will be installed during September, October and November, ready to be switched on by each trader group at their special events. The first event will be Oadby’s Festive Light Switch on, which will take place on Saturday 7th November. There will be a selection of rides, carol singers and festive food to mark the occasion. The switch on will take place at 5.30pm along The Parade in Oadby. Oadby’s festive lights will then continue to shine through to the end of January to cover other festivals. Wigston will be holding their Christmas Light Switch on Saturday 28th November. This event will take place along Bell Street in Wigston and will include fair rides, food, drink, activities, music and other entertainment. The switch on will take place at 6pm at the corner of Bell Street and Leicester Road. South Wigston will be holding their Christmas Capers event on Saturday 5th December from 3pm to 8pm. There will be lots of activities, including: the Billy Bates fair, Transformers, street entertainers, reindeer, Santas Grotto and much more. The lights will be switched on at 5.30pm by Olaf from Frozen. Head down to your local light switch on to see your Borough glowing with beautiful lights.

Police volunteers assisting local officers to help spread Celebrate Safely messageDuring Autumn local officers and volunteers at South Leicester Neighbourhood Poling Area will be out reminding residents to Celebrate Safely. Local knowledge has shown that insecure homes can be targeted from when the students arrive to the Borough, living away from home for the first time, through to Christmas. The aim of the Celebrate Safely Campaign is to raise awareness of the crime prevention precautions that local residents can take while enjoying the festive season and events, including: Fresher’s Week, Navratri, Diwali, Halloween, Bonfire and Christmas. Last year local officers visited places of worship and community centres, gave presentations in schools and youth clubs, and made use of a large interactive board displaying a crime prevention message. Also police community support officers, assisted by police volunteers, personally visited and checked over 500 houses and gave crime prevention advice where properties were found to be either insecure or unoccupied with no lights on. Sgt Joe Gunduz said, “As the nights get darker, houses with no lights on are sometimes susceptible to being targeted. Our volunteers do a brilliant job in spreading the crime prevention message in person and via social media. Please take steps to protect yourselves and your properties.” By taking a few simple steps you can help prevent yourself becoming a victim of crime:

• Use light timers to make your home appear occupied when you are out• Keep your doors and windows secure at all times.• Don’t advertise your property to thieves – make sure it can’t be seen through the window• Be aware of people acting suspiciously near your home and report incidents immediately Further crime prevention advice can be found at: http://www.leics.police.uk/advice-and-information Anyone with information about crime and anti-social behaviour in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland are urged to call Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is free, and anonymous on 0800 555 111.

Lights Brightening up the Borough

20 CommunityNews

Pride of the Borough in Oadby & Wigston

There are now 430 members receiving large discounts at 30 businesses across the borough. There are discounts at cafes, opticians, florists, and a variety of shops selling: DIY materials, clothing, flooring, fireplaces, mobility equipment, pet supplies, electrical goods, cosmetics and greetings cards.

Grange Farm will give 25% of the total bill when dining, Cheikhos, Oadby Spice and the Cuisine of India will give 2 for 1 on mains and other restaurants are giving discounts of 10-30%

Henry Smith & Hamylton Ltd will give 15% of complete spectacles and Ken Bailey at Wistow will gve 10% of all goods.

Please note that restrictions may apply to all offers.The 2015 card is still available to purchase. For more information on all the fantastic discounts and to purchase the card, costing £5, please visit the council service desk in Oadby Library, the Council Customer Services desk in Bell Street (opening soon) or Brocks Hill Visitor Centre.

The 2016 card will be available to buy from Tuesday 1st December from the above outlets. It can be used immediately and will still only cost £5. Several people purchased it last year as a Christmas Gift for a friend or family member.

Pride of the Borough Membership and Loyalty Card

Great Local Produce on your DoorstepWhy not treat yourself this Autumn by heading down to your local farmers market for locally sourced, excellent quality produce brought to you by local traders. These products were all produced within 30 miles by regular traders like: Picks Organic, Annie’s Eggs and Brocklebys who offer the best tasting fresh local produce you can find. At the market you can expect to find: organic and specialist meats including hams, bacon, pork, sausages, lamb and goat, as well as: seasonal fruit, honey, preserves, a wealth of savoury and sweet baked products, local cheeses, and much more. This great food can be washed down with some beautiful ales, wine or cider. The Oadby Farmers Market takes place on The Parade in Oadby on the fourth Friday of the month from 9am to 2pm. The Wigston Farmers Market takes place on Bell Street on the first Friday of each month between 9am and 4pm. Both markets are run by a partnership between Leicestershire Food Links and Oadby and Wigston Borough Council. The Wigston Market was initiated by the Wigston Business Group. Both markets aim to attract shoppers into the town centres of Oadby and Wigston. Come on down to the market each month to get your supplies of quality locally produced goods.