We both hope our residents enjoyed the Easter celebrations and are looking forward to watching King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla’s Coronation.
At the time of writing and submitting our report, the local elections are just about to be held. The results will be published on our website: www.bradgateconservatives.org.uk/ and social media platforms as soon as we can after the count has been completed.
We just wanted to thank all our volunteers and supporters who have helped deliver our message across the village in these important local elections.
Due to restrictions during the pre-election period, the council reduces the amount of work it does, so we have taken the opportunity to promote some of the wider work of the council. We hope to be back next month with a fuller report if we are successful in being re-elected!
Loughborough Town Hall
Loughborough Town Hall welcomed back audiences on Thursday, April 6th following the fire in the town centre last month.
Charnwood Borough Council has been busy getting the Grade II listed building ready for customers since the blaze at the neighbouring HSBC bank on 15th March. It caused some fire damage to the Town Hall roof and some smoke and water damage to other parts of the building.
Since then, the Town Hall has had thorough inspections, with all seats in the main hall auditorium and other parts of the building being thoroughly cleaned and repairs and maintenance carried out to the air handling and air conditioning units.
The doors to the Box Office and Sock Gallery opened on the Thursday morning and the first show back took place that night. The Town Hall programme will now continue as planned in April.
For any more information, please visit: www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk/
Climate and Nature Pact
The Leader of Charnwood Borough Council has supported a pact to tackle climate change, nature decline, and carbon reduction in Leicestershire. The Leader signed the Leicestershire Climate and Nature Pact along with other councils and organisations in the county.
The pact is based on the principles of the Glasgow Climate Pact, signed by the UK government in November 2021. It supports national and international efforts to tackle climate change by bringing together the businesses and private sector, voluntary, community, and social enterprises, universities, the education and research sector, the public sector, and the people and communities of Leicestershire, to drive local action and work towards a number of shared environmental aims.
The core requirements of the pact include the need to act quickly on reducing the impacts of climate change, reducing carbon emissions to net zero, halting ecological decline, supporting climate recovery, and working together to deliver effective action on climate change.
The pact was officially launched at a signing ceremony at Leicestershire County Council’s headquarters.
Leicestershire County Council is calling upon other organisations and groups across the county to sign up for the Pact and play their part in combating climate change and nature's decline. A number of other organisations have already informally pledged their support, ahead of going through the formal decision-making process.
Contact [email protected] to find out more.
Tenant Garden Competition
Council tenants are being encouraged to enter the annual garden competition.
The event is run by Charnwood Borough Council and is open to its tenants who are being urged to showcase their skills in the garden.
This year, there are eight categories to enter:
- Best newcomer
- Fruit or vegetable garden
- Hanging basket, window box, and balcony
- Sheltered court garden
- Communal or shared garden
- House or flat garden
- Children’s garden (entrant must be under 16)
- Greener garden (must show the use of upcycling, recycling, planting of wildflowers, environmentally friendly).
Entries for the tenant garden competition need to be submitted by Friday, June 2nd and judging will take place between July 10th and 14th. The winners and runners-up will receive high street shopping vouchers as prizes.
Due to the changes in weather throughout the year and the effect that this can have on gardens, applicants can also submit pictures of their gardens between now and the judging dates to ensure that they are being judged at their very best.
The Council has around 5,500 properties and the competition is one way of celebrating tenants’ pride in their homes and communities.
To enter, tenants can call the customer engagement team on 01509 634679 or 01509 634955 or email [email protected] for an application form.
Alternatively, apply online or download an entry form via www.charnwood.gov.uk/gardens.
The Hope Bell
A bell that will mark the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Charnwood communities was cast in Loughborough on 16th March 2023.
The Hope Bell will remember those lost in the pandemic but also pay tribute to the NHS and key workers while being a beacon of hope for the future and a reminder of how communities came together to support each other in challenging times.
Charnwood Borough Council has commissioned the bell which was cast at John Taylor & Co in Loughborough, the last major bell foundry in the UK. It is part of a wider project to better link the town centre with Queen’s Park, all of which is being funded by the Loughborough Town Deal.
A number of guests gathered to watch the casting including the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur, and representatives from the local community, NHS, police and key workers, including from the Council’s waste partner Serco. Partners who worked with the Council during the pandemic, such as Leicestershire County Council and Loughborough University, also attended, as did members of the Loughborough Town Deal Board.
Over one tonne of molten metal was poured into a mould for the Hope Bell. The mould will be broken open a few days after being cast before the bell is completed in the foundry’s workshop.
The Hope Bell will be a clock chime installation with five bells. The main Hope Bell will sound the hour and the quarter bells on the quarter hours.
It will have a stone base and a band of gold-coloured metal will be wrapped around the top, encircling the bells, and giving a visual feeling of sound emanating from them. The structure will stand around seven and a half metres high.
It is anticipated the Hope Bell will be installed in Queen’s Park in 2024.
Walking
Now the clocks have gone forward, and the sun is slowly starting to shine, it is good to get out in the fresh air.
Active Charnwood has plenty of opportunities for all levels of walking abilities to get outside and enjoy a walk with some nice company. We have highlighted a few of the walks coming up, but there is plenty of walks available on their website, so why not take a look: www.active-charnwood.org/guided-walks
Discover Charnwood
Discover Charnwood has launched just over a year ago. Whether you want to learn about Charnwood's fascinating history or see where you want to explore next in the borough, Discover Charnwood is the place to visit. Find out more here: discovercharnwood.co.uk
