VILLAGES
| Date | 07 July 2021 |
| Published date | 07 July 2021 |
| Publication title | Loughborough Echo |
The project, under the leadership of church youth leader Jo Leatherland, aims are to raise the profile within both East Leake and its the surrounding villages, of the Friary Centre in West Bridgford.
In addition to raising the profile the young people are planning a number of activities from which they aim to raise funds to help maintain the massively important services together with collecting urgently needed items of clothing and footwear for the many people who access the services of the Friary.
Says Jo: "We want to inform and encourage people to pray for their work, raising funds to keep the Friary's services going and collect urgently needed items of clothing and footwear for the many who access the services."
Founded in 1988, the Friary was created to meet the needs of the homeless in Nottingham. Open in those early days just once a week and run by volunteers, the Friary is now a UK registered charity maintaining its distinctly Christian ethos to serve the poor and opens its doors on the Musters Road, West Bridgford, 6 days a week.
Responding to the ever-changing complex needs of the homeless, the
Friary has tailored its services into the extensive provision today. The ministry serves people who are hungry, in crippling debt, homeless, struggling with mental and physical ill-health, substance misuse and addiction, unemployment, illiteracy, domestic abuse and social exclusion.
ANNUAL REPORT. East Leake parish council
Amenities Committee chairman Coun. Sara Budzik in the annual report began by saying: "What a year to take over as Chair of the Amenities Committee. Stepping-up part way through the Council calendar was never my plan, but little about the last year has followed anyone's plans.
"However, I'm very pleased to have pushed myself beyond my comfort-zone. Though I don't mind admitting I'll be glad to put the Zoom meetings behind us. Despite the difficulties we have all faced, I'm pleased to report that."
Sara says that thanks to a great number of people improvements to village life have taken place in East Leake in the past year despite the pandemic restrictions, In her report to the annual parish meeting Coun. Budzik said: "There has been some great work happening on behalf of East Leake residents throughout the lockdown period in one form or another" and said that East Leake Market Association (ELMA) began its early steps in 2019, "but last September finally saw it come to fruition with the first taster market and
December's Christmas market."
The ELMA team comprised of local traders and business owners and has been jointly supported by the East Leake Traders Association, Rushcliffe Borough Council, and the Parish Council.
Coun. Budzik added: :"We are hugely grateful for the fantastic efforts of all the volunteers --including the ELMA team -- for bringing a safe and successful market to our village. We hope it will be here to stay."
She also singled out a team of volunteer litter pickers for praise: "The Tidy Team have continued their fantastic efforts to keep our village looking super-smart. I'd especially like to thank Finlay Horn who volunteered his litter
picking services as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award."
Coun. Budzik urged residents to follow the group on Facebook and get involved in keeping their village tidy.
She said:" Littering is an offence and Rushcliffe are starting to send their high street wardens out to issue on the spot fines. Please help by using the bins provided throughout the village centre."
New hanging baskets in the village centre were introduced this year and Coun. Budzik said they were generally considered to look "stunning" and was to say more are returning this summer, with hopefully even more impact."
At the same time there are plans to develop, improve and increase their planted spaces. In her annual report Coun. Budzik told villagers:"
We hope you will start to notice more bulbs, more wildflowers and hopefully some decorative troughs on the entrances to our village. A Tree Warden was appointed, and what a great move that was. Wendy has made an incredible start to adding more trees to the village, both on the Oldershaw Trust Land and dotted around our other green spaces."
She also urged residents to look after saplings in the village A grant has also been secured to create a new hedgerow along the front of the Oldershaw Trust land.
Coun. Budzik told residents that the Council "finally have a contractor ready to resurface the playpark on Gotham Road! Work will start as soon as possible. It has been a long and extremely frustrating battle and we are all relieved the end is in sight. We have created a working party to look at ways in which the Gotham Road Recreational ground can be improved in the future , once funds allow."
Plans are currently being worked on to create a natural, local play space for young children on the Oldershaw Trust land,
fulfilling its purpose. She said:" We are using the Section 106 money from the Cornflower Way estate from Rushcliffe Borough Council designated for this intent. We have consulted directly with the local residents and are thrilled that they are, in the main, very supportive of our plans."
The Parish Council hope to run a 'come and look at our plans' event at some point in the near future. Coun.
Budzik said: "We have
continued to support the Playing fields charity in their plans to develop the Pavilion, as we believe it will be a great facility for the village. Plans have been drawn up by architects and funding is being sought."
The Parish Council is currently waiting on a decision from planning at Rushcliffe Borough Council to enable the go-ahead for an overflow car park on Costock Road, "which we hope will alleviate some issues with parking at that end of the village, once it is complete."
According to Coun. Budzik the Parish Council is " mindful of becoming more environmentally conscious in our practices and are currently writing a new wildlife policy."
She told residents:" When you're out and about in the village over the next few months look out for the new drinking water fountain...
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