You may have already received our Autumn update, which we are delivering across Anstey. It includes information on all the current live planning applications and information on the two campaigns we have recently launched.
- Keeping our village clean
- Filling pot holes
The Autumn update is also available to read on our website here: https://www.bradgateconservatives.org.uk/news/your-local-councillors-anstey-village-update-autumn-2023
We also want to tackle the issue of dog fouling that occurs regularly across the village. We would urge all dog owners to please clean up after their dogs when out and about, so we all can enjoy walking around the village.
Dog mess is the most unacceptable and offensive type of litter on our streets.
Dog fouling is not only deeply unpleasant but also dangerous. Whilst rare, contact with dog excrement can cause toxocariasis – a nasty infection that can lead to dizziness, nausea, asthma, and even blindness or seizures.
Anyone who fails to clear up after their dog can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £100. If the case goes to court this could cost the owner or person in charge of the animal up to £1,000. Charnwood Borough will prosecute anyone who fails to clear up after their dog. You can report it here: https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/report_a_dog_problem
‘There’s no such thing as the dog poo fairy’
We are currently sourcing some environmentally safe spray paint to spray the dog poop across the village. This will highlight where the major issues are across the village. If you want to become a ‘Dog Poop Spray Champion’ please let us know.
If you have an issue near where you live, maybe consider attaching some dog poo bags to your front fence or under a plant pot for dog owners who forget their dog poo bags when on a walk. Hopefully we can all encourage dog owners to clear up after their dog.
The Right Stuff, Right Bin
Charnwood Borough Council which collects recycling from 77,000 homes in the area has launched ‘Right Stuff, Right Bin’, a campaign to help residents increase their knowledge around recycling to ensure their efforts do not go to waste.
Around 40 tonnes of waste are ending up in the wrong bin each week in Charnwood. Sometimes this can lead to recycling going to landfill.
The launch of ‘Right Stuff, Right Bin’ coincided with the start of WRAP’s (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) Recycle Week which took place between October 16th and October 22nd.
The ‘Right Stuff, Right Bin’ campaign shares key information and offers top tips to give residents the confidence to recycle correctly. The campaign will also highlight some of the common items in the household which end up in the black bin but are recyclable.
These items include:
- Clean aluminium foil
- Empty aerosol cans
- Clear plastic bags (including bread and vegetable bags)
- Plastic cellophane and cling film
Each week, around 325 tonnes of recycling is collected in Charnwood and taken to Casepak, a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) for sorting. However, on occasions, a lorry load of recycling can be rejected due to it being contaminated by non-recyclable and dirty materials such as food, nappies, and textiles.
To find out more about the ‘Right Stuff, Right Bin’ campaign including a list of what can and cannot be put in your green recycling bin, visit charnwood.gov.uk/rightstuff
People are also encouraged to get involved in the campaign by following the council on social media. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest waste and recycling information from the borough council by signing up to receive free email alerts. Head to charnwood.gov.uk/alerts to find out more and register.
Polling Stations
A consultation has been launched about proposed changes to polling districts, places, and stations in Charnwood. All 92 polling districts, places and polling stations have been reviewed by officers at Charnwood Borough Council and views are now being sought.
There are a small number of changes proposed in the review including creating an additional polling station inside Jubilee Hall in Anstey. Overall, the number of polling districts, places and stations will broadly be the same.
Polling districts are reviewed for various reasons including to ensure all electors have reasonable facilities for voting, they are accessible for people with disabilities and so ideally there should be no more than 2,250 electors voting in person at the polling station, in line with the recommendations of the Electoral Commission.
People can find out more by reading the Council’s Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations Review 2023 document on the website. There is also information on how to give your views. Please visit charnwood.gov.uk/pollingdistrictreview
The deadline to submit representations is Friday 10th November 2023
We received a lot of feedback during the last elections in May, that the new polling station at Woolden Hill School was not the ideal place for a polling station. There was no parking on site (causing parking issues in the nearby residential area), no dogs were allowed on the premises and many people were unsure what polling station they could vote at.
We fed back what our residents were telling us and Charnwood Borough Council has listened. It is now proposed that the much needed second polling station in Anstey will be located back in Jubilee Hall.
If this proposal is approved by the Cabinet, it will mean that everyone will go back to voting in Jubilee Hall.
You can respond to the consultation on the proposals, either in support or objecting online here: charnwood.gov.uk/pollingdistrictreview
Flooding
As we approach the season where the risk of flooding may increase, we thought it would be helpful to share an update to provide some information about some of the actions which can be taken to prepare for flooding.
Who is responsible for what?
Charnwood Borough Council is only responsible for clearing gullies and keeping watercourses flowing on land it owns. They have a maintenance schedule to ensure that happens.
Leicestershire County Council is responsible for maintaining road gullies and brooks on its own land. Landowners also have a duty to ensure watercourses on their land are flowing freely.
The Environment Agency is responsible for the maintenance of main rivers which are usually large rivers and streams such as Sileby Brook and Wood Brook in Loughborough.
Flood alerts
If you live in a part of the borough which is prone to flooding, signing up to the Environment Agency flood alerts is free and easy. The alerts will notify you about possible flooding and you can sign up here: https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings
Sandbags/Flood defences
Charnwood Borough Council has a small stock of sandbags. Sandbags only provide limited protection against flooding and are most effective before flooding takes place. The small number of sandbags the Council have will be issued to:
- protect life, critical infrastructure, and buildings, e.g. hospitals and substations
- protect elderly, disabled, and vulnerable residents
- support the emergency services.
If you know your property is prone to flooding, you may want to consider investing in other flood defence products. ‘Blue Pages’ is the UK’s leading independent flood directory which the National Flood Forum charity runs.
Reporting a flood
The cause of the flood may determine which organisation you need to report it to. Leicestershire County Council is the lead local flood authority and more information about which organisations you may need to contact is available on their website here: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/flooding-and-drainage
Loughborough Fair
The Loughborough Fair returns to the town in November for the 802nd year. The fair will take place from Wednesday 8th November to Saturday 11th November.
Granby Street car park will be closed from the afternoon of Monday 6th November and the car parks at Ward's End and Bedford Square will also be closed from the afternoon of Tuesday 7th November.
The layout to this year’s Loughborough Fair will be altered slightly due to the scaffolding outside HSBC following a fire in the town centre but this will not affect the number or types of rides that will be on offer to visitors.
The Beehive Lane multi-storey car park and Southfield Road car parks are available during the hours of the fair. Southfield offices car park will also be open to the public outside of the Council’s opening times.
The opening times for the Loughborough Fair are:
Wednesday 8th November – 6pm until 11pm
Thursday 9th November – 12pm until 11pm
Friday 10th November – 11am until 11pm
Saturday 11th November – 11am until 11pm
