Tinsel Time, Out Comes the Baubles! 

Hopefully readers managed to catch sight of some of the clearance activity last month along by the car park through to the Memorial Park, the Environment Agency (the cavalry) finally found their way to Syston (late) but what confusion over the main car park closure, plus the Brookside (near St Peters Street, no one seems to know who owns that bit of land, do you?) oh and those ‘well publicised start dates which changed, without it seems many actually knowing’, you could write a book, our suggested title, ‘Oh What A Circus’! 
Now the big stuffs done let’s all keep an eye on the infamous ‘butchers beach’ area by the main Melton Road bridge, no more arches blocked please, we don’t need that particular tourist attraction back now do we?
What we do need is those monthly inspections ‘by the EA’ to actually be meaningful, not a quick glance over the railings, tick a box and move on, our brooks maintenance over 20 years has been shameful.
Inspections and maintenance by all those responsible needs to be fit for purpose, the purpose being, to keep the Barkby Brook flowing through town, in its banks, not out of it! 
Syston deserves better, all of those you pay your rates to need to be ‘seen actually doing their bit’ as riparian owners, it IS (always has been) their responsibility to maintain the banks of the land they own to the middle of the brook! Lets not forget our businesses who also own the land from where they trade, the landlords who sublet their shops and warehousing, they are also riparian owners and have a duty to maintain their stretch and keep the watercourse flowing, we acknowledge it’s complicated for private residents who’s homes border the brook, you should seek advice, if in doubt contact the Environment Agency. 
But, here’s a smile, the EA sub-contractors by the brook last month must have chuckled watching the ‘pictures’ being taken of a representative of our council ‘working on trees’ (for social media) such a shame there’s been no enthusiasm to actually do any maintenance to the banks of the section that they ‘actually own’ for many many years – ironic really! 
Nearly there, teas mashing!
The ‘Syston Community Flood Group’ (SCFG) is a low key group who just wanted to do positive things to help, there’s been ups, there’s been downs finding the right balance, a right faff becoming ‘official like’ but their getting there with local companies now showing their support (those that have, we thank you).
They will continue to keep in contact with LCC/CBC/EA this winter to chase up any outstanding area’s identified. They’ve also been busy raising awareness of the poor condition of the brook along Meadow Lane, with blockages reported several times to the EA over the last eight months (and more recently a landowner)! Sadly though it’s not just nature that caused this blockage to grow, any readers remember those mislaid branches from the conifer trees they lopped or the old fence panels they replaced, or even a large electrical item which mysteriously found its way out of its domestic setting, well the SCFG found them for you, it wasn’t beavers who added to one particular blockage, it was people!
We trust that 2025 will bring positive things to the town, that residents who were badly effected will find peace once again on returning home, and local businesses will work together with the community and that 2024 will be put well and truly behind us all – where it belongs!  
Support your local businesses this Christmas folks, look out for your neighbours, look after ‘your’ part of Barkby Brook, a ‘kind’ word and a ‘bit of help’ goes a long way! 
M & K
Residents.