Syston Town News » Letters

LETTERS

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:06:32 +0000

Dear EditorI can sympathise with the writer of ‘What’s Happened to Syston?’ I suppose I didn’t notice so much when I was driving to Leicester and back every day, but it is true. The volume of traffic is ridiculous, especially at 3.00pm to 4.00pm when the kids are being collected from school. We don’t go out then. We’re retired now and not as quick on our feet as we were! As for the health centre, I nearly got hit by a car there and I can’t blame the driver because two parked SUV’s prevented us from seeing each other. Like your other writer I say “whose stupid idea was that?” Some things have changed for the better, others for the worse and it would be nice to buy what we need in Syston instead of having to go to Leicester, even with a free bus pass.
M Clarke
Syston

LETTERS

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:01:35 +0000

We have received three letters during May that we have published below, if you have anything you would like say please email or send to the address that can be found via the contact us link above.

In response to our request on Frankie Vaughan visiting Syston we have received the following:
Dear Editor
When Frankie Vaughan came to Syston I joined a long queue to get a signed picture of him for my friend who was a keen fan and lived in Leicester. He was a charming and friendly man. She was thrilled with her picture.
Audrey Grimsley, Syston.

Dear Editor
Re: Disposal of Paint
I was advised by Charnwood BC that the only disposable tip that would accept unwanted tins of paint was at Whetstone (Blaby RDC).
What a ludicrous situation this is. I can’t imagine how the elderly, the infirm or people without transport could possibly get to Whetstone. The lack of a tip in the Charnwood area that accepts paint will only force people to put redundant tins of paint into the normal waste bag. Just think of the enormous quantity of paint tins etc. awaiting disposal in the Charnwood area.
After contacting Blaby RDC, I was reliably informed that they do in fact store paint (reusable), then various charities can collect for ongoing jobs (in excess of 1000 litres per month).
Yours faithfully,
B W Henshaw

Dear Editor
We think that Mr Smith is Systons good Samaritan. Every day he walks down our street, with his lovely dog Jess, carrying two or three bags of litter that he has picked up. When I went out to take the
photo below I asked him why he did it, he said “I just can’t walk by and leave it lying there”. That is why we think he is a good Samaritan, what do you think?
Mr and Mrs Reed, Syston.

LETTER: What on earth has happened to Syston?

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:01:48 +0000

I moved away for a few years and when I came back the place has become a traffic jam. Even worse, the people who are not in the cars, the people who live here, can’t buy anything here. Thirty years ago when Syston was just a village, you couldn’t buy an aubergine on a local shop, but you could but a party dress, some boys school shoes, fresh fish or a toy for a toddler. Now the only reason people come to Syston is to drive through it on the way to Thurmaston shopping centre, and local people struggle to cross the road. Of course if you want a hair cut or something pink, frothy and pointless, there are several shops for those. I suppose I should have realized that the motor car was now taking preference over the people, just like other places, when the health centre (built in my absence) forces its patients to traverse a car park to reach a doctor. Whose stupid idea was that? So I shall be leaving again. If I have to live in a traffic jam I may as well go where I can at least find shops and something to do other than swim. So London it is.
Anon.

Do you recognise any of the people in this picture?

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:01:40 +0000

The picture was taken in the mid 1960’s at Skegness. The gentleman is the enquirers late father and the lady in the sombrero is his mother.
They would like to trace the three young ladies as they visited his home town when he was a child to see his mother and father in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
He thinks the girl in the centre of the picture is called Val.
He knows they came from the Leicester area.
If anyone has any information, please contact STN, details on the contact us link.

Please note the picture quality is below usual due to age and the fact that is it scanned from a photocopy.

LETTERS About the demise of the Home Delivery Service

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:01:17 +0000

Dear Editor
I have used the shopping
delivery service for over 10 years. I am 76 years old, a widow and able to select my own shopping. The shop staff and delivery staff are always very helpful. I am now finding it very
difficult with no transport, as I am
limited to what I am able to carry on the bus.
Mrs Maureen Middlemiss
Queniborough

Dear Editor
My name is Joyce Cank, aged 75, and I live in Syston.
The closing of Somerfields, with its free home delivery has greatly
affected me and my shopping routine.
I broke my hip in a fall, three years ago and still being an independent person, found the service given by
Somerfield’s to be of huge value, now it looks as if I will have no choice
other than to make repeated journeys into Syston for my essentials or the same to Asda. It would always be my wish to stay as local as possible and any retailer that would offer a free home delivery service would, naturally get my custom.
Regards,
Joyce Cank.
Syston

Dear Editor
I was sorry when Somerfields closed. I had my provisions delivered so I am hoping Tesco will do it.
Thank you.
Mrs Digby
Syston
Dear Editor
On reading your item in the Syston Town News about the delivery service provided by Somerfield, I felt I should reply. My parents used the service for years due to having to travel by bus. My father became housebound and still my mother relied very heavily on the service, but now she has to phone me an order that I can send by
computer to Tesco and have this
delivered to their home in East
Goscote.
I don’t mind helping in this way but I have an ill husband and also
sometimes go away on holiday. It would be very good if the Coop or somebody could be persuaded to
provide the service, even if a fee is charged it would be helpful.
Yours,
Christine Lincoln
Loughborough

Dear Editor
I have just read the Syston Town News and saw your article about Home delivery shopping which was a service offered by Somerfield.
Not having a car I used the service every week, along with a great many other families in the area and hoped the Co-op store might start a Home delivery Service. When I enquired I was told this was not possible. I’m hoping Tesco might continue the service when they open. It would certainly generate a lot of goodwill in the town for those of us reliant on the service.
At the moment I travel to Leicester, and use the Iceland Home Delivery Service some weeks and also shop in Syston as well. Its not very convenient. I want to be able to shop in my local town of Syston for all my grocery needs and have my shopping delivered to my home as I have done for quite a number of years.
Will any Syston store carry on this service please?
Yours faithfully,
Mrs D Elliott
Queniborough

Dear Editor
We were very disappointed to hear of the demise of Somerfield. The friendly, helpful staff have almost made
shopping a pleasure! To pensioners (70’s and 80’s) the provision of
Somerfield delivery service has been a lifeline, allowing people to shop
personally, knowing that their
groceries would be delivered at no extra cost an hour or two later by cheerful staff. Thank you Somerfield and Well done!
Not everyone has Internet facility or a car and shopping becomes
increasingly difficult with age. It would be wonderful if any retail outlet in
Syston could provide the same
delivery facility as that which
Somerfield provided so well.
Sincerely,
Mr J.M and Mrs E.M.Smith
Syston

Dear Editor

Regarding the closure of Somerfields in Syston and the loss of their home delivery, I am writing to say how much I am missing this service, I used to regularly on a weekly basis and it as wonderful ad very reliable.
We do not have a car and I am in my late 70s. My husband is not in good health and is unable to help me with the shopping. I do have a trolley but it doesn’t hold that much and it pulls at my inside especially going home over the
station hill.
From what I understand, so many people are missing this wonderful service and I’m sure there is a good opening for either the Coop or Tesco to take on this service.
I for one would be more than grateful.
Mrs Mercy
Syston.

Letter to whom it may concern

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:07:00 +0000

To whom it may concern, I am writing to you to tell you how very disappointed my family were on Saturday 5th December. What a letdown. I have twins of five and half and we go to the switch on every year. My kids get so excited in October about going. I know the weather was terrible and no one can book the weather, but there was nothing there, compared to previous years. My children were very upset about this, what happened to the rest of the fair rides and the other stalls that were missing?
We make it a big family event, there is my mum and dad plus my four sisters and their families, there is a right big crowd of us and every one of them have said this is the last time. It’s all the children that were disappointed, I took mine home crying.
I have lived here all my life and over the years Syston is getting bigger. I just could not believe the shambles of Saturday 5th. We did notice that we had new lights put up, which are very nice, but I think that because of the lights, all the other attractions had to be cut back on.
I have spoken to a lot of people since and all have said the same. On previous years we have all stayed to the end, and we have not shut up about it for days. I just cannot believe what a bad night it was. I am not one for complaining but when it comes to my children being upset then I have to voice my opinion.
I think if you are considering doing the same next year you will have to change from this year as I feel a lot of people will not go. This is one event in Syston that we really love going to and I can tell you that we were all disappointed and sad.

A copy of this letter has been forwarded to Syston Town Council for reply.

Letter – Lucky to live in a place called Syston

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:07:00 +0000

I have lived here in Syston for over 30 years and always try to support my local venues etc. What a joy it is to relax in nearby Daisies tea shop in Brooklea Nurseries up from the Red Lion at Rothley, on the old Loughborough Road, on a lovely crisp and sunny Sunday morning. You will be greeted with a friendly smile and may I say home cooked cakes to die for and scones as big as your hand.
We are so lucky to live in a place called Syston with so much going on, who wants to live anywhere else I say.
Chris Tebbutt.

Letter – Watch this plot! Syston Cemetery may be moving in!

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:07:00 +0000

The Ridgemere now faces another major threat. For some considerable time now Syston Town Council has been preparing an application to create a new cemetery on land immediately adjacent to the western end of Ridgemere Lane. An initial application for planning permission was withdrawn last year after the County Council made it clear that they had, if you’ll pardon the pun, grave reservations about the site and access to it. In particular, they felt that the junction of Ridgemere Lane and Barkby Road was potentially very dangerous and that further investigative work was required on the archaeology of the site. The application was withdrawn in 2008.
Archaeologists have dug several trenches across the area in question to investigate whether any valuable remains exist. A fine piece of ridge and furrow has been scarred by an archaeological trenches dug by a huge mechanical digger! I do hope that the ground will be restored to its former condition! This is a follow-up to a major geophysical survey of the field carried out earlier in the year. Clearly Syston Town Council are intent on preparing a second application for their new cemetery and are quite prepared to spend significant amounts of money in order to do so. Why they are not investigating sites adjacent to the old A46 or elsewhere within their boundaries is a mystery. Perhaps they should have considered this problem before allocating so much of their suitable land for new housing, effectively narrowing the green belt between themselves and the surrounding villages so drastically?
The site now under consideration is totally unsuitable as a cemetery for Syston. It is too far away for Syston residents, particularly those that are elderly or infirm, to visit easily. The roads to the area have no pavements. The roads themselves are extremely busy with fast traffic. The junction at the corner of Ridgemere Lane is on the brow of a hill in a 50 mph zone and would be very hazardous indeed to negotiate with a full funeral procession of vehicles. The field in question is a lovely ridge and furrow meadow, adjacent to the Ridgemere, with super open views across the city and the valley. The Ridgemere is a wonderful resource for all the people of Syston and the surrounding villages: it doesn’t need traffic lights, pavements, road signs, road lighting etc.
I do hope that the residents of Barkby, in whose parish this site stands, and Queniborough and indeed Syston itself, can unite to convince those responsible for this misconceived proposal that they need to think again! I urge everybody, particularly the two parish councils, to make their views clear to Syston now at this early stage.
John Tinning

Thank You from residents of St Peter’s Court

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:03:36 +0000

We residents of St Peters Court, Syston wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to the hardworking committee of dedicated volunteers, June, Hilary and Dave for the wonderful year of care and entertainment they have provided for us. Included amongst the most successful and highly appreciated events have been our Easter tea, strawberry tea, sausage and mash suppers, evening entertainment, Bingo events and coffee mornings.
They also laid on a splendid Christmas dinner on the day itself, for those residents with no relatives or visitors to provide for them and another for us all!
We also wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to our Warden Karen, who is always there for us when needed.
Our best wishes to all of them for a happy and peaceful New Year.
From the residents, their relatives and friends of St Peters Court.

LETTER FROM READER

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:01:43 +0000

Hello,

I’m writing this after just getting back from the Remembrance service down at the War Memorial, I’m so disappointed by the lack of wreaths that were laid this year. In the 34 years I’ve been living in Syston every year I’ve been to the War Memorial and there’s always been many wreaths and we’ve always sung ‘O God Our Help In Ages Past’ however this year we didn’t it was just the prayers, the last post and revival, the naming of the dead (while the British Legion Band played the hymn) and then the Lords Prayer and that was it. In years gone past we always sang the hymn after the naming of the dead. I feel like I haven’t been down to the Memorial this year and I’m seriously thinking of giving Syston’s Remembrance service a miss next year and going to the one at Sileby.

A M Brown.

REPLY:

Dear A M Brown

The Royal British Legion who organise the event would like to assure readers that this was an unfortunate error on the day and that the tradition of singing ‘O God our help in ages past’, is an important part of the short service but was unintentionally missed when the prayers were read immediately after the reading of the names. We hope that this will not put people off attending next year and hope we can sing it with even greater emphasis.