Huge congratulations to Anstey Community Library on their ten-year anniversary, as a community hub for the residents of Anstey and surrounding villages.
Well done to all the volunteers, who work so hard for the community. Well done!
Charnwood Forest
Leicestershire’s Charnwood Forest is about to step out onto the world stage with an application for a prestigious international designation. The famously scenic area, home to some of the oldest animal fossils in the world, will be applying for UNESCO Global Geopark status later this year. If successful, it would become the county’s first site with a coveted UNESCO status.
Charnwood Forest Geopark has been developed over the past four years as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund supported scheme, hosted by the National Forest. Working closely with 17 partner organisations, the Geopark team has delivered projects including conservation work, schools outreach, arts programmes, volunteering, and interpretation infrastructure. The Geopark includes well-known sites such as Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill, but also hidden gems like Morley Quarry and Markfield’s Hill Hole.
There are currently 229 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 50 countries, each hosting internationally significant geological features that communities use to support education work and growing the local economy in a sustainable way. Charnwood Forest’s bid focuses on the 560-million-year-old fossils found in the Geopark, which tell the story of the rise of the first animals on planet Earth.
The Geopark team will be submitting the application to UNESCO later this year, and in 2026 two international evaluators will visit to judge if the region meets the high standards of a Global Geopark. If all goes well, Charnwood Forest will be awarded the status when the UNESCO Executive Board meets in the spring of 2027.
Millfield Pump Track
As many residents will be aware, Anstey Parish Council were pursuing a project to erect a large pump track on the Millfield Playing Fields. This would be funded by developer’s money, given to Anstey from the development on Cropston Road. This funding was for improvements to the recreation ground on Stadon Road. Anstey Parish Council were trying to get the developer money changed to be used at the Millfield Playing Fields. The developers have refused to change the agreement, and therefore the money must be spent at Stadon Road.
The Parish Council discussed this on 5th August and decided to give delegated authority to the Project & Grounds Committee to upgrade the Skate Park at the recreation ground. This will be an agenda item for the next Project & Grounds Committee meeting to be held on the 9th September 2025.
The Parish Council has confirmed that the Pump Track at Millfield Playing Field remains a current project and further funding will be investigated with Charnwood Borough Council.
We are still of the view that Millfield playing fields is the wrong location for a pump track and many of the residents who live in the area do not support this. We support a pump track for Anstey but in our view a different location needs to be found.
Flooding Support
Towns and villages are being offered funding to buy equipment to protect properties from flooding as Charnwood Borough Council commits £150,000.
The funding can be used by Town and Parish Councils in the borough to install flood lockers which will include equipment such as aqua snakes and signs.
During the last three years, several areas in Charnwood have been affected by flooding due to heavy rainfall with hundreds of households and businesses experiencing internal damage. Town and Parish Councils in Charnwood will need to apply to receive funding for a flood locker. Each area can apply for up to £10,000 to buy a locker and the equipment.
Loughborough has been allocated £30,000 due to the high flood risk in the area and flood lockers can be applied for by local community groups. Only areas that have been recently affected by flooding will be able to access the funding.
The lockers will be accessible by local, trained individuals including flood wardens that will have been provided with a key or combination lock to distribute the equipment. Details of the scheme are being finalised, and the application process will be launched ahead of the autumn.
Local Government Reorganisation
A big thank you to the many residents who joined us at our protest outside County Hall, to say no to a City expansion. The motion put forward by the Conservative Group was passed with all parties voting to say no, apart from the Reform UK Group, who voted against our motion and tabled a last-minute amendment. This was voted down by all the other parties at the County Council.
We now wait for further information to be shared by the County Council Administration.
Emergency Alert
On Sunday 7 September at 3pm, the UK Government will be running a nationwide test of the Emergency Alerts system.
This system sends urgent messages directly to your mobile phone in the event of serious emergencies, helping protect lives during incidents like extreme weather, major fires, or other threats.
It’s a quick test that could make a big difference in a real emergency.
More info: gov.uk/alerts
If you have any issues or concerns, we are here to help.
