Ridgeway Ramblings – November – Mike Preston

You will remember last month I was honoured to be able to open the new South Charnwood Leisure Centre. The opening and following days were a success. The new facility has to be seen to be believed and will provide vital opportunities for residents in the south of the borough to improve their health and wellbeing. Around 500 people took the opportunity to view the new facilities and participate in free swimming lessons and fitness classes. The good news is more than 200 people signed up to use the Leisure Centre in its first week of opening. Enthusiastic residents have been keen to become members of the facility or use it on a casual pay and use basis. Not only is membership doing well but swimming sessions are being well attended and the new fitness classes are generating good interest.
TV Star
Being a Councillor has its ups and downs. Shortly after the opening of the Leisure Centre the Council had an approach from the BBC to take part in the Politics Show which is shown on Sunday lunchtime. I could not appear in the studio discussion but agreed to be filmed at South Charnwood to be subsequently was shown on the Politics Show on Sunday 11th October. The topic being discussed was how much Councils spend on consultants, Charnwood in particular. (the Leisure centre cost £3.1 m to complete, we spent around £250,00 on consultants. This is about 8% of the price which is quite normal on a project of this size. They were used to design the building plant and ancillary equipment). As is normal on these occasions, the filming was carried out at a number of locations inside and outside of the centre. The filming took about 45 minutes and was subsequently condensed into a final sequence lasting about 60 seconds. The main benefit gained was that South Charnwood was seen in all it splendor. You will agree a good advert for this great new facility.
If you have not visited yet then please go and have a look around, you will be pleasantly surprised.
More Rubbish
People who are caught dropping litter are liable to receive a fixed penalty notice of £80, reduced to £50 if it is paid within 14 days. Since September 2006 a total of 226 fixed penalty notices have been issued in the borough for littering offences. Those who fail to pay the fines could end up in front of magistrates. There have been 10 prosecutions so far for people that failed to pay their fines after littering offences. No-one likes to see litter being dropped in our streets or in our countryside so please take it home with you or put it in a bin.
Ratcliffe on the Wreake Village Hall
The recently refurbished Village hall was officially opened by the Mayor of Charnwood Cllr Roy Brown from Sileby and the Chairman of the County Council Cllr Roger Wilson from Birstall. The hall was originally built in 1926 and was a gift from Sir Lindsey Everard who was the owner of Ratcliffe Hall in the village. The hall has been renovated and extended to provide a larger hall which can be converted to provide a small meeting area. The level of thermal insulation has been increased and it now has up to date facilities including an area for a small stage. The kitchen has been virtually rebuilt with an apex roof and all new equipment. The hall project has been supported by Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council, Ratcliffe Parish Council, Ratcliffe Church, the East Midlands Airport, ‘Awards for all’ which is part of the national lottery and many other fundraising events and individual donations from villagers.
The hall will seat around 80 people at tables or 100 theatre style. The hall forms an ideal venue for small parties or other events which need a smaller hall. If you are interested in hiring the hall then please contact the booking secretary Vicki Whitelaw on 01664 424676.

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