Latest news with #CharnwoodBoroughCouncil
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Bid to turn former tip in Loughborough into public space dropped
A bid to turn a former rubbish tip in Loughborough into a new park or public open space has been dropped. Charnwood Borough Council says it planned to transform the former refuse site behind Loughborough recycling and household waste centre into a new public open space. However, no progress has been made on the plan in the last 20 years and the council says it has been left with "no route" to complete the project due to lack of cash. Officers have now asked the council's ruling cabinet group for permission to lease the site to a company nearby, which plans to install solar panels on the land to power its premises. A report compiled for the cabinet says the land is currently not occupied or maintained in any way and is not accessible to the adds there is a locked gate, but it is often "breached" and "used for anti-social behaviour purposes, such as motorcycle riding and illegal camping".The report says: "Local government now faces significant challenges, both in terms of funding and in terms of local government reorganisation, which may continue to prevent any meaningful redevelopment of the site."Officers had considered installing solar panels on the site themselves in 2022, but realised they would not be able to connect the panels to the National Grid for another 10 years. Instead the authority is now looking to lease the land to an unnamed company which plans to install its own solar panels to power its premises nearby. The council's cabinet is being asked to confirm the land is surplus to requirements and approve the lease at its meeting on 6 June.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Substantial changes' made to Wymeswold solar farm project
Concerns raised by residents have prompted an energy company to make "substantial changes" to plans for a solar Development wants to build the farm on the edge of Wymeswold, near Loughborough, and has submitted a planning application for the scheme to Charnwood Borough Council (CBC).The company held a public consultation earlier this year over the 240-acre Mantle Solar Farm development, off Narrow developer said there had been a "significant reduction" in solar panels near public rights of way amid concerns about the scale of the farm. During the consultation, residents raised fears the project might interfere with views of the countryside and the potential impact it will have on nearby homes, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). 'Visual impact' The company said the consultation has "resulted in substantial changes to the development", including landscaping and biodiversity "enhancements".There will also be an additional two paths to link existing public rights of way. The company will also plant new hedgerows and add to existing hedgerows, the LDRS planning documents stated: "There were concerns raised around the scale of the project, visual impact and effect on the nearest residential properties, ecology and biodiversity impacts. "Exagen has taken into account of all comments and made changes to the design and layout in response to these."The company claims the site would power almost 20,000 homes.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'We weren't anxious or worried anymore on VE Day'
In a red leather photograph album, 90-year-old Sheila Breed points to a little girl at a VE Day street party on 8 May 1945. ''That's me," she said. "We'd not seen food like that for ages." Victory in Europe Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe, is one Sheila will never forget. "Everybody was so happy, they were singing and smiling," she added. "You didn't feel worried or anxious anymore, you'd not got to think of going in the air raid shelter, it was relief that it was not going to happen again." Mrs Breed arrived in Leicestershire as a four-year-old evacuee from Sheffield on 1 September 1939, as the war began. She was taken in by a family in Cossington after a nerve-wracking selection process in a nearby village hall. She said: "I can remember holding my sister's hand very tightly and all these people came in. "We were chosen and I had a wonderful childhood in Cossington and the people were so kind. "We were very fortunate." Mrs Breed was among hundreds of thousands of children taken out of UK cities and into the countryside, away from the risk of German bombs. But even in a rural Leicestershire village, she experienced air raids. Mrs Breed said: "There was a bomb that dropped not far away and blew all the dining room windows out. "At night, when the siren went, we slept underneath the stairs. It was dark and it was scary." Wartime also brought food shortages and rationing. "I couldn't bake or learn to cook because we only got one egg each week and a certain amount of ingredients," she added. "I can't remember ever feeling hungry but I wasn't that thrilled with the food." After the war ended, she remained in Leicestershire with her older sisters, who found love and settled in the county. She now lives in Sileby with her husband of 71 years, Terry, who she met at school. The couple have four children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Mr Breed, 92, said: "It was one good thing that came out of the evil of the war – had there not been a war, we would not have known each other and got married." Sheila and Terry met at school after she came to Leicestershire [BBC] Mrs Breed has been invited to light a beacon in Queen's Park, Loughborough, to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May. She was chosen for the role in a competition organised by Charnwood Borough Council. She said: "I was honoured and when I light the beacon my thoughts, my prayers and my thanks will go to all those who gave their lives so we could enjoy all these years of peace." The mayor of Charnwood Julie Bradshaw added: "I am looking forward to joining Sheila when the beacon is lit in Queen's Park to mark this anniversary. "Charnwood is proud of its military history and Armed Forces community, and it is set to be a poignant night." The beacon will be one of thousands across the country lit to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story Related Internet Links
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Beacon lighting to mark 80th anniversary of VE Day
The 80th anniversary of the allied victory in Europe is to be marked with a special beacon lighting at a park in Leicestershire. Local organisations will be present alongside other activities to mark the VE Day anniversary at Queen's Park in Loughborough on 8 May, with gates open from 20:30 BST. The beacon will be lit at about 21:30. A small flag-raising ceremony is also being held at the offices of Charnwood Borough Council in Southfields Road from 10:00. Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE said: "It is a great honour to be Mayor of Charnwood for a second beacon lighting, after last year's event to mark 80 years since the D-Day invasion. "This year's beacon lighting will be a poignant and memorable event for residents and visitors to Queen's Park. "Charnwood has a rich military history and strong Armed Forces connection and marking the anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives is so important." Beacon lightings and events to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day will also be taking place in towns and villages across Charnwood and around the UK. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Charnwood Borough Council Flypast and concert for VE Day 80th commemorations
BBC News
02-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Beacon lighting in Loughborough to mark 80th anniversary of VE Day
The 80th anniversary of the allied victory in Europe is to be marked with a special beacon lighting at a park in organisations will be present alongside other activities to mark the VE Day anniversary at Queen's Park in Loughborough on 8 May, with gates open from 20:30 beacon will be lit at about 21:30.A small flag-raising ceremony is also being held at the offices of Charnwood Borough Council in Southfields Road from 10:00. Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE said: "It is a great honour to be Mayor of Charnwood for a second beacon lighting, after last year's event to mark 80 years since the D-Day invasion."This year's beacon lighting will be a poignant and memorable event for residents and visitors to Queen's Park."Charnwood has a rich military history and strong Armed Forces connection and marking the anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives is so important."Beacon lightings and events to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day will also be taking place in towns and villages across Charnwood and around the UK.
