Post Office
We reported last month on the rumours circulating about the Post Office in Anstey closing. We have now heard back from Post Office Customer Care. They advised us of the following:
- They are unable to confirm when the branch will close.
- However, they can confirm that they are already advertising for a new Sub Post-Master.
- They can only assure that if a branch closes in our area, they will do all they can to reopen it ASAP and/or relocate it.
- They further advise “We are working hard to secure the future of Anstey Post Office, and we are advertising the opportunity on our website for a permanent branch. I can assure you that we’re committed to maintaining Post Office services in Anstey and we will update our customers and local stakeholders once we have a confirmed proposal for the service."
Anstey Post Office is currently operated on a temporary basis, which means that the service can be withdrawn at short notice from its current premises. The advert for operating a permanent post office branch in Anstey can be found here:
https://runapostoffice.co.uk/branch/anstey-post-office-le7-7ab
This is the advert currently running:
Anstey Post Office, LE7 7AB
General information; Franchise; We're seeking applicants to set up brand new Post Offices in this area
Closing date: 22nd July 2022
(Advert may close early if sufficient interest is registered)
Post Office Ltd is looking for a successful retailer to incorporate a Post Office Local into their existing or proposed business.
The offer available in this Post Office would be:
Post Office Local – integrating Post Office services into a vibrant and sustainable retail business, so they can be offered over the same opening hours. The exact layout and design will be agreed with you to suit your business.
If you know of anyone that would be interested in setting up a new post office in Anstey, perhaps as part of their existing retail outlet, please share this information with them. There is also information on our website: https://www.bradgateconservatives.org.uk/news/anstey-post-office-update
Bus Stop
We have been contacted in the past few months by residents of the new Bloor and Jelson estates off Cropston Road, regarding the possible provision of a new bus stop closer to the estates for ease of access on the existing 154 bus route, which links our local villages to Leicester and Loughborough. We are pleased to announce that we have been in talks with the County Council and CentreBus and they have agreed that an additional stop will be placed nearer to the estates. The installation will be planned when the next tranche of bus stop upgrades in the area are due to be mapped out. This will mean that the stop will be erected sometime within the next 6 months, but we are assured that we will be prioritised as one of the first upgrades in that tranche. A site survey will be required to ensure that it will be erected in the correct place, with regards to pedestrian and traffic safety. As soon as we have more information, we will let you know of the timescales for when the work will be completed.
New Political Map for Charnwood Borough Council
The Local Government Boundary Commission has been undertaking a review of the boundaries with Charnwood. This has been out for consultation twice and now the final report and recommendations have been published. The Local Government Boundary Commission is the independent body that draws up these boundaries. It has reviewed Charnwood to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively. This is necessary every now and again to take account of urban-rural migration and population changes such as births and deaths.
The Commission has published final recommendations for changes to Charnwood Borough Council. It says residents should be represented by 52 councillors. This is the same as the current arrangements. There will now be 24 wards, which is four fewer wards than there are now. There will be five single-councillor wards, ten two-councillor wards, and nine three-councillor wards. The boundaries of all but two of the existing wards will change, Anstey’s boundaries will remain the same.
There were 150 submissions from residents and organisations which helped decide the new wards. Thank you to all our local residents who took part in the consultation.
The Commission has made further changes to its earlier proposals. Details can be found on its website at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/east-midlands/leicestershire/charnwood
Parliament will now need to agree the changes. The new arrangements will then apply for the 2023 council elections.
Planning Applications
Bradgate Road, Anstey
The planning application for 150 houses and 350 houses on ‘Land to the West of Bradgate Road, Anstey’ has officially been submitted. There are two separate applications, but they cover one site and are submitted by the same developer. The first is a full application for 150 dwellings including access, associated highways, drainage infrastructure and landscaping. The second application comprises of outline application (access only) for up to 350 dwellings, public parkland and amenity space, community uses, and a site for a two-form entry primary school and associated infrastructure.
Comments can be submitted on both the applications until 8th March 2022. We have asked for an extension on this time scale to enable us to ensure that Anstey and Newtown Linford residents are fully aware of the implications of these developments for our villages. All the details can be found on the Charnwood Borough Council Planning Explorer: https://portal.charnwood.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorerAA/Home.aspx
The reference numbers are P/21/2358/2 for the 150 houses and P/21/2359/2 for the 350 houses. We are asking for as many residents as possible to submit their comments on these two applications. We consider this is over development of the village and we do not have the infrastructure in place to support any more additional houses.
Further details can be found on our website: https://www.bradgateconservatives.org.uk/news/anstey-newtown-linford-planning-applications-150-houses-and-350-houses
Groby Road, Anstey/Groby
We have been made aware of proposals for ‘Groby Employment Park’. This is just over the boundary of Charnwood and is under the planning control of Hinckley and Bosworth District Council. We feel that this will have far reaching effects on Anstey, much more than Groby, as this will be on 'our side" of the A50. The proposals are for the development of a large employment site consisting of 57 hectares of land (roughly the size of 50 football pitches).
The developers, IM Properties, are starting early consultation on the plans:
CONSULTING LOCAL PEOPLE
We want to hear about your aspirations for the local area so we can factor these into our plans and respond to your concerns. To find out more about our vision and input into our plans, please visit our consultation website: www.impgroby.co.uk
The consultation website will give you the opportunity to input into our plans by:
• Completing an online comment form
• Posting your comments straight onto a consultation map
We are also hosting two consultation events in the next few weeks.
Consultation events:
Thursday 10th March 17.00pm-20.00pm Groby Ex-Servicemens Club, 16-18 Leicester Road, Groby LE6 0DJ
Saturday 12th March 10.00am-16.00pm Dining Hall, Brookvale Groby Learning Campus, Ratby Road, Groby LE6 0FP
There are also more details on our website: https://www.bradgateconservatives.org.uk/news/proposals-groby-employment-park
Drive Through Clinics
Did you know that you can now get your Covid vaccine without having to get out of your vehicle? The clinic is in the car park to the rear of County Hall, Leicester Road, Glenfield LE3 8RA and is open every Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm. Vaccines are available to people aged 12 years and over and this includes first, second, third and booster doses. Just turn up – no appointment needed – or if you want you can book a timed slot in advance.
Mayoral Updates
The Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood were delighted to host Living Without Abuse’s Burn’s Night at the Swan in the Rushes pub in Loughborough, in January 2022 attended by around 22 people including Loughborough’s MP, Jane Hunt, Chairman of the Leicestershire County Council, Dan Harrison, Deborah Taylor as deputy leader of the Leicestershire County Council, and other dignitaries from surrounding boroughs. We were pleased to have Bill Pepper, our piper (who was excellent), piping in the haggis, and the Mayor thoroughly enjoyed himself reciting the ‘Ode tae haggis’ in his best low Scots accent. He should have been an actor!
The Mayor and Mayoress were also delighted to attend the Welcome Service for the new Bishop of Loughborough, the Right Reverend Saju Muthalaly, organised by the Diocese of Leicester. This was a joyful event and it was great to see so many members of the Leicestershire community come together to bring in our new bishop.
The Mayor attended the Holocaust Memorial Day, a sombre affair held in Queen’s Park in Loughborough, and spoke to a large crowd about the council’s commitment to do all it can now and in the future to counter holocausts and genocides wherever they occur around the world.
