Latest News
Broadband speed is a hot topic at the moment. The
prime issue is that private service providers do not
consider there to be an economic case for improving
broadband provision in some areas with poor
connectivity. A key element of this is that it usually costs
providers considerably more to provide broadband
services in rural areas than it does in more urban areas
emda recently hosted a rural broadband summit
which brought together stakeholders from across the
region to explore the potential for improved broadband
connectivity in areas that are least likely to be reached
by mainstream market providers. Delegates were
invited to put forward their ideas to inform a rural
broadband manifesto for the region.
Broadband connectivity has been identified as a
key priority within the Leicester and Leicestershire
Strategy for Economic Growth, 2010-20. Prospect
Leicestershire, as a delivery partner with the new subregional
governance arrangements, is currently leading
interventions within the County. More »
How can you help?
The Broadband Line Information Monitoring Project
(BLIMP) is supported by a number of Regional
Development Agencies to gather information on local
broadband speeds. It aims to measure the broadband
speeds which are being achieved in the real world
and store these in a database from which the relative
levels of service being delivered across the country by
different suppliers can be monitored. This information
will be made publicly available. It will enable an up to
date, self maintaining atlas of Internet connectivity to be
created.
Visit http://www.blimpchecker.co.uk where you
can download a tool which will make periodic
measurements of your line speed and return this data
automatically to the BLIMP database.
You can uninstall the tool at any time, it doesn’t collect
any personal information and the tool should not
significantly impact the performance of either your
computer or the speed of your broadband connection. « Less
FREE activities for residents in Mountsorrel to help get advice and
support on everything from healthy living, exercise, education,
income and housing.
Supported Accommodation for Older People in Leicestershire
1. Consultation on the proposal of a stand-alone procurement of extra care and specialist dementia care for Catherine Dalley Elderly Person’s Home and Silverdale Hostel Site.
We invite your views.
Consultation period: 25 January 2010 to 19 April 2010.
Who can get involved: Open to anyone.
How can I get involved?
If you would like to contribute see the link above.
2. Consultation on the transfer of nine in-house Elderly Person’s Homes and associated day care services (where co-located) to the independent sector.
We invite your views. More »
Consultation period: 25 January 2010 to 19 April 2010.
Who can get involved: Open to anyone.
How can I get involved? If you would like to contribute see the link above. « Less
ONE year after its creation the NHS Constitution is currently being updated and NHS Leicester City is urging local people to have their say.
The national document outlines what patients, public and staff can expect from the NHS and what is expected from them. There are 25 rights and 14 pledges for patients and the public contained in the NHS Constitution.
The first anniversary of the document is this Thursday and we are asking what people think about Government proposals to introduce two new rights. More »
These rights include reducing waiting times and the introduction of health checks for patients aged 40-74.
NHS Leicester City is currently asking people in the city to comment on the proposed changes via a questionnaire online at www.leicestercity.nhs.uk. NHS Leicester City members will automatically receive a form in the post.
Philip Parkinson, chairman of NHS Leicester City, said: “The NHS Constitution is important and belongs to patients, staff and the public. We hope local people will take this opportunity to have their say on this national document and highlight what is important to them.”
All website and written responses must be returned to the Get Involved team by Monday January 25, 2010.
The Get Involved team work with residents in Leicester to understand what people want from their NHS. For more information please contact the team on 0116 295 4183. « Less
Record levels of Government borrowing mean that public spending will have to reduce.
Over the next four years it is likely that Leicestershire County Council will need to make savings of around £70 million – approximately 25% of its budget (excluding schools).
Over half the savings (c£40 million) will be found from making even more efficiency improvements - but that will not be enough; service reductions will have to be made. Over the coming years Leicestershire County Council will be faced with some very hard choices about services. More »
Leicestershire County Council would very much like your views on how to tackle this issue.
An on-line Budget Consultation Questionnaire asks which services should be reduced, which should be protected and whether you agree with the County Council’s proposals on council tax. The questionnaire would only take a few minutes to complete.
You can access the on-line questionnaire by clicking on the title of this article. « Less
Residents are being invited to find out more about plans for a new, state-of-the-art recycling facility in the Charnwood area.
The County Council is visiting villages across the borough to give people the chance to learn about a proposed new-look site on the edge of Mountsorrel.
Reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill is a top priority in Leicestershire and by 2017 it is hoped that 58% of the county's waste will be recycled or composted.
To help achieve this, the County Council is proposing to replace the recycling and household waste site in Sileby with an ultra-modern, accessible facility at an industrial estate on Granite Way. More »
The new facility would offer:
- a new, modern design
- ample parking space
- containers without steps
- easy access from the A6
- clear signs and information
- recycling for a range of materials meaning less waste to landfill
Roadshow details are below:
• Rothley Centre – 22nd July - 2.30pm – 8pm
• Sileby Community Centre – 23rd July -2pm – 7.30pm
• Mountsorrel Library – 24th July - 2.30pm - 8pm
•A special roadshow will also be visiting Anstey, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse Eaves, Quorn, Barrow, Syston and Birstall on Saturday, 25th July
Anyone unable to get along to the events can also find out more from an online information point available by clicking the underlined link above after 22nd July.
For more information about these events contact us on 0116 305 5850 or email: jmorrison@leics.gov.uk « Less
During autumn 2008, 19 of the 27 community forums completed a consultation exercise under the topic of ‘Influencing the Big Budget’. This exercise involved using the voting handsets to gain people’s view on what they thought was most important and most worthy of investment.
The choices were based on Leicestershire’s Sustainable Community Strategy, the overarching strategy for all public sector organisations in the County.
The consultation was also conducted with the Citizens Panel and Leicestershire Together Forum. In total approximately 850 people have been directly engaged in this exercise. More »
The key finding from the consultation is that making Leicestershire a safe and attractive place to live and work was seen as the most important area for investment. To make that happen tackling anti-social behaviour and disorder should be prioritised.
The results of the consultation have informed the budget process of the County Council and its partners and ensure resources are focused on the delivery of the priorities for Leicestershire.
A copy of the full report on the ‘Influencing the Big budget’ consultation can be donwloaded by clicking on the link below: « Less
Attention all Youth Leaders!!
Environmental Action For A Better Leicestershire (ENABLE), the County wide environmental partnership, is launching a new scheme to loan renewable energy resource kits. This resource will add to the eco-school objectives to deliver sustainable education through schools in Leicestershire.
The resource includes a miniature wind turbine, PV cell and solar water heater for use as a teaching resource. We will be also providing a set of lesson plans that helps teachers to link applications of these kits to the National Curriculum. More »
The kits will be available to all the schools in Leicestershire for the term starting 20th April 2009.
Why?
We are witnessing climate change and the Government is encouraging us to pass the message to our next generation – School Children.
What you can use it for?
You will be provided briefing notes with lesson plans integrating to Science, Geography, ICT, CARE, PSE, etc. showing their links to the National Curriculum.
How much does it cost?
You can borrow these kits for free, there will be a small delivery charge or you could collect and return them yourself. You can also spread the delivery charge by borrowing other items from the Resource Box Scheme.
How long can we keep the loans for?
Schools can borrow up to 25 items from the Resource box including these kits for a whole school term. Non-school borrowers can borrow at any time for a fixed agreed time.
ORDER NOW!! There are only 20 sets available on first come first serve basis. To reserve your renewable energy kit, contact Resource Box Officer on 01455 552834 or sherrier@leics.gov.uk
For further information, please contact Hetal Patel on 0116 3057068 or enable@leics.gov.uk « Less
The new Leicestershire Looks, a directory of Independent Fashion Retailers is now available.
This directory has been compiled to make it easier for the customer to see the wide and diverse range of jewellers, independent fashion retailers, shoes and accessories that are available in Leicestershire’s Market Towns and Rural Centres.
By purchasing locally not only do you get a unique item
but it helps to support the local economy and reduces carbon emissions through less use of the car! To complete your new look why not have a new hairstyle and beauty treatment at one of Leicestershire’s many salons. More »
The directory is arranged by town and then by category, enabling you to find what you are looking for easily.
To complete your day in one of the towns, each offers a unique selection of eating places,
from cafés through to restaurants. Should you welcome a change from shopping, then most towns offer quality museums - especially Snibston in Coalville, which has a new and exciting
Fashion Gallery where you will find pleasant or unpleasant memories!
Copies of these will be distributed to all the shops included in the directory as well as the following,
Car Dealers
Doctors
Dentists
Hotels and other accommodation
Café’s
Tourist Attractions
District Councils
Libraries
If you have any comments or you are interested in a future directory then please contact Nicola Lees on 0116 305 7986 or email betterplaces@leics.gov.uk « Less
The Leicestershire Local Involvement Network being officially launched on Friday 27th March 2009, 12-1pm followed by refreshments, at the BRITE Centre, Braunstone Avenue, Braunstone, LE3 1LE.
This national initiative is a way of giving people the power to improve health and social care services in every local authority area. Through LINk, local people can join together to influence how services are run.
The Leicestershire LINk will work closely with the health and social care services that the people of Leicestershire use, including services across county boundaries. We will also work in partnership with LINKs in neighbouring counties. There are separate LINks for the city of Leicester and the surrounding counties. More »
To find out more and see how you can get involved book your place for the launch by contacting the LINk team on 0116 234 1577 or email: info@leicestershirelink.org.uk
For Leicestershire LINk telephone: 0116 234 1577, or info@leicestershirelink.org.uk « Less
The next Bradgate, Rothley, Mountsorrel & Birstall Area Forum, will be held on 29th October 2008 at 7pm at the Rothley Centre, 12 Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, LEICESTER, LE7 7PR. For additional information, including Agenda items please select the underlined link above.
The key topic on the agenda will be the Local Development Framework. The Local Development Framework is prepared by Charnwood Borough Council and sets out how future developments will be delivered in the area. Charnwood Borough Council will be consulting from 24th October to 5th December 2008 on the proposed directions of growth for the majority of new homes and jobs in the district. More »
The Area Forum meeting will be an opportunity for local residents to see the plans and discuss them with councillors and officers.
Residents are also encouraged to attend one of the public exhibitions or presentations taking place throughout Charnwood in the next few weeks as part of the consultation, where there will be opportunity to raise questions with officers regarding the consultation document for the Local Development Framework.
Events in this area include:
Exhibitions in Community Buildings
Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road, Anstey 27th October, 7-9pm
Village Hall, School Lane, Birstall 12th November, 7-9pm
Memorial Hall, 105 Leicester Road, Mountsorrel 7th November, 7-9pm
Village Hall Annexe, Main Street, Woodhouse Eaves 30th October, 7-9pm
For a full schedule of consultation events and more information about the Local Development Framework consultation, please visit Charnwood Borough Council’s consultation website: www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/charnwood2026
where there is also opportunity to voice your comments. « Less
More and more people are making use of their Community Forum to try and improve local services and raise issues of local concern.
- Residents in Birstall were unhappy that the swimming pool in Longslade Community College was no longer going to be open to the public outside school hours. Discussion at the local Area Forum meeting resulted in the College working directly with local users to find ways the pool can remain open.
- Following the Government’s shortlisting of ‘Pennbury’ as a potential Eco-town, the ‘Have your Say’ meetings in Kibworth and Tugby were the first opportunity for residents in the surrounding area to find out how the District and County Council were planning to respond to this challenge.
- At the Blaby South Community Forum residents and Parish Councillors from Sapcote, Sharnford, Stoney Stanton and surrounding villages expressed their concerns about the volume and speed of Heavy Goods Vehicles travelling through their villages. In response officers promised to look into a range of measures to reduce the impact of traffic and improve road safety in the short term, while explaining how they were looking to provide longer-term solutions. More »
Community Forums give you the opportunity to discuss local issues with your local Parish, District and County Councillors and representatives from the Police and the Health Service. There are 27 Community Forums across they county. To find out more about forum meetings in your local area, please visit www.leicestershireforums.org
Contact: Derk van der Wardt, 0116 3057581 « Less
Over 40 people heard the latest on the local swimming pool and roads at an Area Forum meeting at Birstall Village Hall in May.
Area Forums are new, interactive meetings allowing people in the community to learn about bigger issues affecting their area, get answers to queries and influence local decision-making.
One of the main items on the agenda was the closure of some swimming sessions at the Birstall Longslade swimming pool.
The pool is old and in need of repairs and was losing a considerable amount of money so the college governors took the reluctant decision to close it. However it became clear at the Area Forum meeting that users were keen to discuss options for keeping it open. More »
A special follow-up meeting between users and those involved in managing the pool was held soon afterwards to discuss ways forward.
Longslade Community College has been particularly active in getting things done. They are looking into funding for necessary structural adjustments to the pool as well as trying to increase the use of the pool when it is open. They have also produced a newsletter with information about opening times and activities at the pool.
Leicestershire County Council has taken action too and has already replaced the boiler at the swimming pool – one of the urgent issues identified at the meeting. The Council’s Highways department has agreed to erect a new sign at the entrance of the College, pointing to ‘Longslade Community College and Swimming Pool’ to increase awareness of the facility.
Residents using the pool have been very proactive and have decided to form a swimming club. This qualifies them for various types of support, financial and otherwise and a number of funding opportunities were identified at the meeting, ranging from initiatives at central government level to local support schemes.
The other main issue discussed at the Forum was to do with the condition of roads, parking and traffic wardens. Andrew Warrington, Northern Highways Manager, attended from the County Council to answer questions and explain who is responsible for what.
He told people, for example, that highway maintenance is done by the local highway office in Mountsorrel, the parking attendant is provided by Charnwood Borough Council overseen by the County Council and traffic calming is undertaken by specialist partnership teams with the aim of reducing accidents in the area.
Where residents experience a problem, it is very useful if they are able to report it to the relevant authority. A specific instance of a reporting mechanism was discussed at the meeting.
Where people have problems with roads, pavements and street lighting, they can be reported to highway officers via forms on the Leicestershire County Council website (www.leics.gov.uk/highways) or through a dedicated phone number known as “Roadline” (0800 62 62 03). By using this service, Andrew informed residents, much quicker response times are possible.
Anyone with a query about a local issue can also go along to Area Forum meetings and quiz people in a 'Question Time' session. The next area forum for Bradgate, Rothley, Mountsorrel & Birstall is on 29th October. Click on the 'meetings' button for more details.
If you have any questions or comments about Area Forums, please contact Richard P Downing at Leicestershire County Council, Email: rdowning@leics.gov.uk, Tel: (0116) 305 5823. « Less
