Community Equipment Grant Fund launches 1 April

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Community Equipment Grant Fund launches 1 April

 

 

A Community Equipment Grant fund will open for Parish and Town councils and constituted community groups on 1 April 2024. The grant fund will help fund items of equipment for use by the community.

 

The total grant fund of £25,000 will be distributed on a first come first serve basis, with a maximum of £3,000 available for any one group or organisation and there is also a limit of £3,000 of grant funding for each parish area.

 

Items that could be purchased through this grant could be a bench/seat, sign/noticeboard, defibrillator, tables and chairs as an example. The grant will be for 50% of the item cost or a maximum figure.

 

Paul Scragg, Senior Green Spaces Officer said: “This grant gives councils and small groups the opportunity to purchase items which may help complete a project, be an item wanted and benefit many, but budgets would not simply allow for. The fund is on a first-come basis so I would urge anyone interested to apply as soon as possible.”

 

To find out more visit www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/communityequipment or if you have any questions contact the Green Spaces team greenspaces@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Police and Crime Commissioner Election for the Leicestershire Police Area

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Police and Crime Commissioner Election
for the Leicestershire Police Area
1. An election is to be held for a Police and Crime Commissioner for the
Leicestershire Police Area.
2. Nomination papers can be obtained from the office of the Police Area
Returning Officer, Leicester City Council, City Hall, 115 Charles Street,
Leicester, LE1 1FZ, during the times stated below.
3. Nomination papers must be delivered to the Police Area Returning Officer at
Leicester City Council, City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FZ
between 10am and 4pm on any working day after publication of this notice
but no later than 4pm on Friday 5 April 2024.
4. The £5,000 deposit can be paid by legal tender, by means of a banker’s draft
from a drawer which carries on business as a banker in the United Kingdom
or by electronic funds (if paid on or before Thursday 4 April 2024).
5. If the election is contested the poll will take place on Thursday 2 May 2024.
6. Applications to register to vote must reach the relevant Electoral Registration
Officer by 12 midnight on Tuesday 16 April 2024. Applications can be made
online: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
7. Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must reach the
relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.
8. Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s
Document valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer
by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024. Applications for a Voter Authority
Certificate can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id
voter-authority-certificate.
9. Applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the relevant
Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
10. Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the
relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Thursday 2 May 2024.

For full details see the attached PCC Notice of Election – FINAL

Advance Notice – Temporary restriction of Atherstone Road, Pinwall, Sheepy (HINK1891/2024)

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Temporary Traffic Regulation Order

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is to be made for the following
location: Atherstone Road, Pinwall, Sheepy (see weblink or scan QR code).

The purpose of the TTRO is to allow J D Groundworks Ltd and their appointed
contractors to undertake associated development works/resurfacing works.

The TTRO will incorporate a temporary road closure.

The duration of the restriction is not anticipated to exceed a period of 2 days
commencing on the 18th June 2024.

A Press Release will be issued to confirm these details approximately two weeks
prior to the works commencing.

Weblink: https://one.network/?tm=GB138119426

Or Scan

FREE BUS TRAVEL THIS EASTER

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Children and young people across Leicestershire can take advantage of free bus travel this Easter;

 

  • WHEN – From Saturday 23rd March – Sunday 7th April 2024 inclusive children and young people can travel for free Mon – Fri 09:30 – 11pm and all day at weekends and bank holidays.
  • WHO – Age eligibility: children and young people under 16 can travel by bus for free with participating operators. Operators apply their prevailing young person age criteria, please check local bus operators for age restrictions.
  • HOW – Proof of eligibility: Users will be expected to travel with their school or college ID to demonstrate eligibility if asked.
  • WHAT – Types of journey included: Single journeys (and return journeys where applicable) where a passenger boards in Leicestershire. ‘Tap on, tap off’ will be excluded

 

This free child and youth bus initiative is being delivered on behalf of the Leicestershire Enhanced Bus Partnership and funded by the Bus Service Improvement Plan plus allocation (BSIP+).

Check participating bus operators for further details on your specific journey. Arriva Centrebus, Diamond Bus East Midlands, First, Kinchbus, Nottingham City Transport and Stagecoach have confirmed participation for more information visit https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/free-child-and-youth-fares-this-easter/

 

Link to website is  https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/free-child-and-youth-fares-this-easter/

Queries to choosehowyoumove@leics.gov.uk

Borough hosts annual Rural Conference

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Borough hosts annual Rural Conference

 

The annual Rural Conference, organised by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council was recently held at Mythe Barn, Sheepy Magna, attracting delegates from across the borough.

 

Delegates representing the rural parishes of the borough, along with key partners including Leicestershire Police, the Rural Community Council, voluntary and community sector and business representatives attended.

The year’s event focused on learning and celebrating the work of our parish councils, networking opportunities and bringing delegates up to date on key priorities:

  • Launch of updated Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy 2024 – 2028
  • Making space for nature, an introduction to Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)
  • Launch of updated Rural Strategy 2024 – 2028
  • Updates on local tourism including the Market Bosworth 1485 sculpture trail and Charnwood Geo-park which encompasses Ratby, Markfield and Groby.
  • Community projects update part-funded through the Borough Council’s Parish and Community Initiative Fund, videos of some of these projects can be found on the council YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@hbbc)
  • Update and question & answer session from the Leicestershire’s rural policing team

 

Delegates also had the opportunity to attend dedicated workshops with Leicestershire Police, Voluntary Action Aid Leicester, The National Forest Company and the Borough Council’s Communications Team. They also heard about the work of Student Footprint, a group of like-minded students from Market Bosworth School​ who are working hard to make their school and community more environmentally friendly with simple but effective solutions, for example producing their own water bottles to encourage more sustainable alternatives.

 

Councillor Martin Cartwright, Executive Member for Rural Affairs said: “I would like to thank all our parish councillors and clerks along with our partners for all the work they do for the borough’s communities particularly over the past year.

 

“This conference, at a venue which compliments the council’s focus on climate change and sustainability has provided everyone the opportunity to network and be updated on a range of topics covering climate change and biodiversity, tourism, the rural strategy and different community projects plus many other subject areas of interest to rural communities.  We look forward to developing and progressing new initiatives both within the borough council and its partner organisations in the forthcoming year.”

 

Joanna Garland, Director at Mythe Barn said: “It’s been a pleasure to host the Rural Conference and as a certified ECOsmart venue with sustainability at the heart of everything we do hope that the themes of the conference help achieve positive change towards climate change and local biodiversity.”

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Annual Rural Conference at Mythe Barn, Sheepy Magna.
Attendees looked at the workshops available and took the chance to network.
Credit : Chris De Bretton-Gordon

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Annual Rural Conference at Mythe Barn, Sheepy Magna.
Exec member for climate strategy Cllr Martin Cartwright talks to the participants.
Credit : Chris De Bretton-Gordon

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Annual Rural Students from The Market Bosworth School try out one of the workshop challenges.
Credit : Chris De Bretton-Gordon

 

For further details about the rural work programme and strategy contact Cultural Services email: culture@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Council unveils plans to boost tourism

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Council unveils plans to boost tourism

 

Plans to encourage more tourists to the borough and help the local economy to thrive have been unveiled by the Borough Council.

 

Priorities in the council’s new Tourism Strategy include attracting more overnight visitors, helping tourism businesses to reach a wider audience via social media and to help businesses make the most of smart technology.

 

The plans have been revealed as part of the borough council’s new Tourism Strategy, which has been published to coincide with English Tourism Week.

 

Residents across the borough and visitors coming to the area can already enjoy a thriving tourism industry, with renowned attractions including the Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre, Twycross Zoo, the Triumph Visitor Centre, and the towns of Hinckley and Market Bosworth.

 

Tourism is an important part of Hinckley and Bosworth’s economy, with the local area forming a unique offering which is steeped in rich history and heritage.

 

In 2022, the borough attracted 4.15m tourist days, which created £226m in the local economy and supported 2,281 jobs in the area.

 

Highlights of the area’s tourism industry include:

 

  • More than 20 places to visit, including historic sites, areas of natural beauty and water attractions and parklands.
  • 22 accommodation providers offering more than 1,600 bed spaces, as well as a growing number of privately managed Air BnBs.

 

  • More than 160 pubs, restaurants, bars, tea rooms, coffee houses and farm shops, as well as a wide range of supporting facilities and services.

 

  • Twycross Zoo, including the Zoo’s pioneering World Primate Centre. Twycross is dedicated to preserving threatened species whilst providing education and opportunities for study and wonder for visitors.

 

  • Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre, an important landmark which commemorates a significant change in England’s history as the birthplace of the Tudor Dynasty. This has been given further prominence by the reinterment of King Richard III in Leicester.

 

  • Hinckley & District Museum, which attracts visitors from across the country and overseas. Many visitors are those who are looking to find out more about their ancestral roots.

 

Councillor Mark Bools, Deputy Leader, said: “We are proud to have an extremely vibrant tourism sector in our borough. There is so much to do and see, and we want to help our tourism industry to thrive and grow even more in the coming years. We truly believe that there’s something for everyone to see and do here – whether you want to visit the renowned primate centre at Twycross Zoo, see the birthplace of Tudor England, or visit one of the many areas of natural beauty.

 

“Looking forward, there are several exciting new projects underway, all of which will be delivered in 2024. These include the exciting Bosworth 1485 sculpture trail, a Great Food Club trail called Taste the Place and additional short breaks opportunities. This new strategy will boost the borough’s visitor economy, enriching and expanding on the variety of business, leisure and hospitality opportunities we already have to offer.”

 

 

“I am also pleased to say that we have completed our first podcast focussing on the theme of travel and tourism – a very personal view of what I consider to be some of the highlights of the borough. I hope people will have a listen or watch via the council’s YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/_icY5y0ONGo).

Deputy Leader HBBC Cllr Mark Bools, responsible for Leisure and Tourism launches the new tourism strategy in the picturesque Market Bosworth.
Credit : DeBG Photography

 

For more information or to read the strategy, plus lots of information on local tourism visit www.richardiiicountry.com

MAKING SPACE

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MEMORIAL HALL NEW BENCH AND RENAMING OF THE HERITAGE ROOM

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The Memorial Hall have recently installed a new bench outside of the premises for parishioners to rest on whilst out on their walks, its a unique bench dedicated to those who lost their lives during the wars and the Heritage Room has been renamed the Lyne and Maurice Percival room in honour of the tireless work they have done for the Sheepy History Society over the years.

Mental Health Support

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At the recent Rural Conference the Parish Council collated information on helplines regarding Mental Health for young adults, children and adults, please see below for the information:

COMMUNITY ORCHARD PLANTING UPDATE

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Community orchard planting update

The planting of the community orchard will take place on the morning of Thursday 21st March. During the day, the children from Sheepy School will carry out the planting of the trees starting from around 9.00am until around midday. Everyone is invited to come along to help with the planting or just to have a look and find out more about what’s involved.

The orchard will comprise ten fruit trees, including different varieties of apple, pear and other trees with edible fruits. At the start, the trees will be only about 1m (3-4 ft) high but over time will grow to a maximum height of 4m (14 ft). The young trees will have wooden stakes beside them to give them support and a ring of mulch at their base to provide nutrients and protection. A guard will also be placed around the base of the tree trunk. After the trees have been planted, more secure metal tree guards will be installed to give added protection to the trees. The installation of the guards will take place about a week after the tree planting.

Why are we having a community orchard? Parish Councils, Schools and other community groups are being encouraged to plant community orchards in public open spaces. The reason for this is that orchard trees offer benefits to the community and the environment. From a community perspective, the orchard offers educational opportunities, improved well-being, a chance to try a range of different fruits and social opportunities. For the environment, it helps protect our heritage varieties of fruit tree, increases biodiversity and contributes to tackling climate change.