Our Oldest Resident has passed away, age 98

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Eric Carter recently

Eric Carter, the oldest person in Packington, has died, aged 98.

Eric was a journalist all his working life. Born in December 1920, he started as a reporter on his home town paper, the Bideford Gazette, before being called up during the Second World War, serving in India and Burma.

Upon demobilisation, he picked up his journalistic career working for local weekly and daily papers in Kent and Devon before heading to Fleet Street. In London, he worked on various national papers including the Daily Express, Daily Sketch and Sunday Pictorial as well as for a number of magazines such as London Life and the Telegraph Magazine. He was assistant editor of TV Times when he decided to return to Devon and run his own newspaper.

He bought the Dawlish Gazette in 1972, and he and wife Betty – with reporting help from son Nick – ran the paper for ten years before selling up and moving to Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Here both worked on the Kent and Sussex Courier, the paper where they met in 1946 before marrying in 1948: the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last July.

Upon retirement Betty and Eric moved to Packington to be near Nick and his family. Eric died in his Hall Lane home on 15th January of heart failure.

The funeral will be held at Holy Rood Church, Packington, LE65 1UZ on Wednesday 30th January 2019 at noon. Family flowers only but donations can be made to Blind Veterans UK, c/o Lee Cooper Funeral Directors, The Old Courthouse, Belvoir Road, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3PN.

Coleorton Lane Closed – Monday 10th – Wednesday 12th December 2018

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TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE OF COLEORTON LANE, PACKINGTON

(to fix the ruts where the surface melted back in the recent hot summer…)

Leicestershire County Council Highways has agreed to a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order for a temporary road closure from Monday 10th December 2018 to Wednesday 12th December between 7am and 4pm each day.

This will safely allow Leicestershire County Council to undertake high priority carriageway maintenance works.

During the closure, the alternative diversion route will be via:

– Ashby Road, New Packington;

– Leicester Road, Upper Packington Road, Ashby;

– Ashby Road, Normanton Road, Packington;  and vice versa

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Leics Highways Tel: 0116 305 0001

Andrew Bridgen MP – Local Surgeries in Coalville, Castle Donington, Ashby

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Upcoming Surgeries –

Please note: You MUST book an appointment

Coalville

Friday 14th December 2018 11.30am-1.30pm

Coalville Library, High Street, Coalville, Leics LE67 3EA

Castle Donington

Friday 11th January 2019 1pm-3pm

new venue Castle Donington Community Hub,

101 Bondgate, Castle Donington DE74 2NH

Coalville

Friday 8th February 2019 11.30am-1.30pm

Coalville Library, High Street, Coalville, Leics LE67 3EA

Ashby de la Zouch

Friday 8th March 2019 1.00pm-3.00pm

Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, Legion House, South Street, Ashby, Leics LE65 1BQ

TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT:

Call: 01530 417736

Email: [email protected]

Mail:  House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

HS2 – How to Respond: Environmental and Equality statements

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Please tell HS2 what YOU think

1. First, about their HS2 Environmental Statement “ES”

This guide is to assist Packington residents to respond to the HS2 Environmental Statement. 

The Environmental Statement describes the impact of building and operating HS2. The Packington Residents group have identified a number of key concerns that, if left unchallenged, could have a fundamental impact on the village and peoples overall well being.

To enable residents to respond to the Environmental Statement, HS2 Ltd, have provided residents with a ‘Response Form’ to complete. This form must be sent back to HS2 Ltd no later than 21 December 2018. When completing the Response form, tick the box marked LA03 – Appleby Parva to Ashby De La Zouch.  ( they may ignore your response if you  don’t make a note of which section of the line you’re responding about).

Also, please personalise it – say how it will effect you and your family.

To access the ES Response form, see below or click here .

The key concerns to include in  YOUR ES Response form are: Continue reading ‘HS2 – How to Respond: Environmental and Equality statements’ »

Ashby Food Gusto Christmas Fair 2018

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Great Food and Drink – Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd December 2018

Market Street in Ashby de la Zouch will come to life with the sights, smells and tastes of Christmas as the perfect setting for Food Gusto’s largest Food & Drink Christmas Fair yet.
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Event organisers, Food Gusto, will be bringing their unique festive-themed food, drink and artisan-craft fair to the town on the weekend of December 1st & 2nd following previous successful events in the town.

In keeping with the Food Gusto ethos, the Christmas Fair will be made up of the finest quality food and drink producers from across the region, each bringing a taste of something truly unique to the town, alongside a range of festive entertainment for the whole family, including live music and children’s rides.

The quality food and drink on offer, as well as a range of selected handmade artisan crafts, will provide the perfect opportunity for people to pick up some special Christmas gifts, while enjoying the seasonal atmosphere.

Whether you’re aiming to buy a stand out gift for that special someone, or simply want to eat, drink and be merry, the Ashby de la Zouch Food Gusto Christmas Fair will have plenty to offer, from beautifully spiced mulled wine to freshly-made mince pies.

Other offerings include award-winning Melton Mowbray pies, assorted home baked cakes, flavoured liqueurs, farm produced cider, handmade chocolates and fudge, artisan gin and vodka, sparkling bubbly, jams, chutneys and preserves, Asian street food, cheeses, vegan food, and much, much more.

Hot food is available both days, so you can dine out on anything from Organic Beef, Burgers & Sausages, Samosas to Thai , Wood Fired Pizza and freshly made Crepes. This can be washed down with a Hot Chocolate, Specialist Tea or Barista Coffee.

Not only do we have great local food and drink, we also have a range of entertainment, including children’s rides, a live music programme and even Santa will be visiting.

The Ashby Food Gusto Christmas Fair runs between 10.30am & 5.00pm Saturday, 10.30 & 4.30pm Sunday. The event is free to attend with free Parking in NWLDC car parks (please check as fees will apply in private car parks).

If you would like more information, visit www.foodgusto.com or email [email protected]. Tel 01530 411337
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HS2 Roadshow – This Thursday, 1st November 2018, at Measham

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2pm – 8pm at Measham Leisure Centre DE12 7HR

Spread this news! – as a final part of consultation, HS2 are holding Roadshow information meetings close to us, as follows:

  • THIS THURSDAY 1st November: Measham Leisure Centre, bottom of High Street, Measham, DE12 7HR, 2pm – 8pm
  • Saturday 10th November: Wilnecote School, Tamworth, B77 5LF, noon – 5pm
  • Thursday 15th November: Yew Lodge Hotel, Kegworth, DE74 2DF, 2pm – 8pm

Below are 2 maps for you to consider.  Yellow and brown are construction compounds, fenced off.  Pink is land required for construction.  These are here on HS2 website, part of the working-draft Environmental Statement (WDES) to describe likely environmental effects of building and operating HS2, as well as proposed ways to “avoid, reduce, mitigate, and monitor” these effects.

Consultation only lasts to 21st December 2018 – HS2 have engaged beneficially with our HS2 Response Group, and your presence and questions at one of these meetings will highlight our concerns to them. 

Map to our North West:

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Map to our North East:

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Residents have an opportunity in the next few weeks to submit a response to these reports. Both the local HS2 team and Leicestershire County Council have advised us that responding to these reports is vital as it forms the detail of the construction process and the design of the route which means how it will impact our daily lives. It’s this detail that they will be firming up in the months ahead so we continue to put forward our mitigation proposals. 

The Packington Residents Team will provide further updates over the next month for those who plan to respond to HS2.

Below are some of the major elements which we’ve highlighted from the reports:
The maps are based on the 2017 route.

Construction…

  • HS2 are assuming they will take all of the land between the A42 and the gardens of those living on Mill street and Ashby Road during construction. (The pink area on the maps)
  • Ashby Road bridge is expected to be closed for 19 months, as are Leicester Road bridge (new Packington) and the B4116 (Measham-Ashby road) and the A511 – all at different time – We are continuing to ask for Ashby Road HS2 bridge to be built “offline” so the road can stay open, as it is a school route and a life-line for Packington to access facilities in Ashby. The risk is that Packington becomes a rat-run / the diversion route when other roads are closed – we need to avoid this.
  • It is unclear if public footpaths will be diverted, & can stay open, or will be closed during construction. Vicarage Lane is the most used public right of way (that crosses HS2 line) in the NW leicestershire area according to HS2’s survey.
  • The maps show no construction traffic through Packington (and we have been told construction traffic will be via a “haul road” with the site), BUT... The words say that Measham Rd/ Bridge St / Normanton rd / Coleorton Lane / Ashby Rd / Vicarage Ln will be used as construction routes (i.e. many trucks per day) – We need to make sure no construction traffic uses Packington’s roads (it will be bad enough with extra traffic avoiding HS2 work elsewhere in the area)
  • Park farm (8 houses) & Sweethill cottage (Measham Road) and the fastener factory and 2 houses at New Packington will be demolished, as they are within the HS2 area.
  • HS2 are thinking building a Railhead beside the Burton – Leicester railway line at J13, to being material in for HS2. This was expected, and will reduce the number of HS2 trucks on the roads, but they are currently assessing a very large area of land (way more that is required), most of which is greenfield!

Operation…

  • Although there is some suggestion (not confirmed though) in the words that the Gilwiskaw viaduct will be slightly lower and shorter than stated in 2017, it is still too long and too high & will cause noise and visual impact on the village.
  • This is borne out by the Noise map for Packington. Main areas of impact for Packington are Ashby Road and Mill street. New Packington & a surprisingly large part of Ashby are also seriously hit with noise.
  • There are no sound bunds shown for between Ashby Rd and New Packington and no sound bunds for the raised section of HS2 behind the sewerage works – both mean that when the wind blows from either of those directions, Packington will get both A42 noise and railway noise.
  • There’s NO viewpoint from top of Mill St in the middle of the village (which will show how badly the HS2 slicing through the hill opposite will look) – we need to push for it to be included.

The Packington Residents Team
Contact Terry Hammond Tel:- 01530 415764
Email:-[email protected]

Animals Hate Fireworks – Please think of THEM this week..

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Animals are often TERRIFIED by fireworks..

Packington is in a rural area surrounded by fields with animals in them. Lots of village folk have dogs and cats.  It’s likely that things will seem to go “bang” this week and next, and these animals won’t like that. Animals can panic and even die where people don’t take care.

We’re lucky in this country that most people understand being frightened, and wouldn’t want their pretty and spectacular fireworks to cause fright or fear in animals. Most of us take care about when and where we set off our loud and sudden visual delights. 

If YOU see or know people who don’t seem to understand the problem, please try to mention to them that we also have laws:

  • It’s an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause any unnecessary suffering to any captive or domestic animal.
  • Fireworks MUST NOT be set off near livestock or horses in fields, or close to buildings that house livestock.
  • Causing unnecessary suffering carries a fine of up to £20,000, and / or a prison term of up to six months.
  • It is illegal for anyone under 18 to possess a firework in a public place
  • The law says you must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.
  • Fireworks must not be set off by a private individual between 11pm and 7am except for certain nights of the year – bonfire night when the cutoff is midnight, and New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1am
  • You can be fined up to £5,000 and imprisoned for up to 6 months for selling or using fireworks illegally. You could also get an on-the-spot fine of £90.


If your premises are adjacent to property containing animals, you must not let off fireworks there. Take them some-where else!

There are excellent displays in the local area, including at Packington’s own Recreation Ground at 7pm on Bonfire Night.

Villagers who own or manage animals asked us to mention these facts, and to say “Thank You” for your concern and understanding.

 

Venison Evening at Hill Farm – Local Village-Business Event

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Friday 2 November 2018 at 7.00pm – Hill Farm, Spring Lane

Venison Butchery Evening, followed by a two course Venison meal with wine.

You’ve probably seen the herds of Exotic animals at Packington’s Hill Farm on Spring Lane – Bison, Alpacas, Deer. The meat from deer is called Venison, and there’s an opportunity to “See it and Eat it” this coming Friday:

  • Venison butchery demonstration – how to cut it
  • Why Venison? This amazing all-round super meat is
    • low in fat
    • very high in protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids
    • has iron and vitamins B6 and B12 too !
  • – Learn how to cook it
  • – Recipe sheets available.

Cost £25.00 per head. Booking essential.

Tel 01530 411984 or email [email protected]

Packington Bonfire and Fireworks, Monday 5th November 2018

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6-45 pm – entry from Vicarage Lane   LE65 1UZ

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  • traditional date again this year – Monday 5th November
  • entry via the Vicarage Lane Playground entrance,  LE65 1UZ
  • The event is free but we ask for a donation, which can be gift-aided, to help the Recreation Ground charity pursue its aims
  • DO NOT bring your own fireworks or sparklers – that would invalidate our insurance
  • bonfire lit at 7pm
  • two sessions of Display Fireworks
  • FREE interval sparkler session for youngsters accompanied by an adult
  • Volunteers still needed – contact numbers below
  • we still need easily-combustible wood, such as
    • old fence panels,
    • pallets
    • old sheds,
  • bring them to the bonfire site, OR arrange collection by calling Chris Miles on
    • Telephone:   01530 414378 or
    • cellphone:     07856179485

2nd May 2019 – Local Elections are coming. Be the Voice of Your Community?

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Packington Post is asking YOU to consider being the Voice of your Community, by becoming a Councillor next year.

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On Thursday 2nd May 2019, our village has the opportunity to elect 6 new councillors to serve on our Packington Parish Council.  On the same day we also vote for District Councillors for North West Leicestershire District Council, NWLDC

Could one of the Councillors be YOU?

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To help you consider better, there are the following information events:

Saturday 27 October 2018

10am to noon Council Chamber, Blaby District Council, Desford Road, Narborough, LE19 2EP

Tuesday 6 November

6pm to 8pm Melton Borough Council, Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1GH

Saturday 10 November

10am – noon, or 12.30pm – 2.30pm Council Chamber, Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP

Saturday 17 November 2018
10am – noon Council Offices, Charnwood Borough Council, Southfield, Road, Loughborough, LE11 2TX

Our 6-member Parish Council controls a tax-precept budget of £25,000, plus grants from a solar farm fund, and two village charities. Planning applications for the village are first scrutinised by the parish councillors. The council employs a clerk, meets once a month on the first Tuesday, and holds an Annual meeting.

It could be valuable for someone new to sit on or lead our Parish Council, perhaps to bring a fresh viewpoint to this important body. How do YOU feel?

You can learn more about our Parish Council on their website, and more about the forthcoming information events described above from NWLDC Electoral Services – Contact Melanie Long by telephone: 01530 454 511, or by email: [email protected]

Major Village Celebrations: “The Great War” 100 years on: 10th-11th November 2018

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Saturday 10th November – A Night of Edwardian Music Hall & Remembrance

Let’s celebrate the ending of the Great War in Style, and remember those who allowed us to thrive

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  • Edwardian Cavalcade by Little Pixie Productions, an award-winning theatre company
  • Period Dress optional, but preferred
  • Memorial Hall Venue 175
  • 7 for 7:30 pm
  • Full bar service
  • Supper Included ! Tickets £ 5 per person – from:
  • May be sponsored by NWLDC and Packington Parish Council

Sunday 11th November – Family Event 2:30 to 4:30 pm

Afternoon Family Event at Memorial Hall – Including:

  • Best period costume
  • Edwardian Games
  • Charlie Chaplin
  • Buster Keaton
  • Stories and letters from the period
  • Food Parcels, Drinks
  • Tea and more tea for the Adults
  • – And Much More

May be sponsored by NWLDC and Packington Parish Council

FREE weekly ‘Steady Steps” Class – starting Thursday 1st November 2018

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10:30 am to noon, at Venue 175 Memorial Hall – book first

We in Packington can take advantage of a FREE  “falls prevention class” for those 65 years and older

  • run by a specialised level 4 instructor
  • seated and standing exercises to improve balance, strength and co-ordination
  • helping to minimise the risks of falls
  • session length one hour,  each week for 24 weeks
  • It’s fun! and social time, with refreshments, provided after the class
  • here in our village, at our Memorial Hall Venues
  • starts on Thursday 1st November 2018
  •  join the course within the first six weeks
  • booking essential – see below:
  • Continue reading ‘FREE weekly ‘Steady Steps” Class – starting Thursday 1st November 2018’ »

300 Cycles to pass through Packington – Sunday 2nd September 2018 9:15 am onwards

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Leaving Manchester at dawn – 80 miles and 3+ hours later they come THROUGH PACKINGTON en-route for London

The 80 miles could be just over 3 hours, more likely about 4 or more.

From the North, they come inbound down Ashby Road, go round Normanton Road, then depart East to Normanton.

Total journey – 220 miles, taking most of Sunday to reach London. Full details on the Event website here

Probably the BEST Open Gardens in Leicestershire – Monday 27th August 2018

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GarenView_CIMG3673w160_4kPackington Village Gardens Open Day – Probably the BEST Open Gardens in Leicestershire – Major Village Event on Bank Holiday Monday, 27th August 2018 from 2pm to 7pm. Admission is by passport to 12 gardens, Adults £4.00, Accompanied children FREE.

Passports available on the day from Packington village Car Park on Measham Road – LE65 1WP for your SatNav – also at Memorial Hall and participating gardens.

Refreshments, including Ice Creams and afternoon teas, Continue reading ‘Probably the BEST Open Gardens in Leicestershire – Monday 27th August 2018’ »