I have been pressing the Highways Authority to take action to relieve the flooding which occurs beneath the railway bridge on Little Glen Road after heavy rain.

As a result, over the weekend of 28th-30 March, they have:-

• Renewed and improved the single gutter drain on the pedestrian side of the bridge.
• Added two NEW gutter drains on the opposite side of the road. (So there are now three outlets instead of one).
• Cleaned & flushed out all the drain pipes.
• Checked each pipe using a dye to confirm that it is clear. I know that the pipes have been flushed to some 100 yards to the east of the bridge.
• Improved other storm water courses.

I hope this helps to solve this problem.

BLABY FARMERS MARKET dates for Spring, 2008:-

Now running regularly on 4^th Saturday of each month;

April 26

May 24 – with Maypole Dancing

June 28 - plus Local Artists’ Exhibition.

Blaby Farmers’ Market meets at the Blaby Social Centre Car Park, Leicester Road, Blaby.

At the Farmers’ Market you will find:-

Quality fresh, local produce

Free tastings and demonstrations

Refreshments

Leicestershire County Council are consulting on a proposal to resurface and “sign” parts of Mill Lane, Blaby, in order to encourage more cycle use.

The bridleway provides a traffic free route from the National Cycle Network Route 6 to South Wigston for leisure and commuter purposes and it is proposed to resurfaces the bridleway from the allotments to Crow Mills and to provide new signage along the stretch from the cemetery to east of Blaby Mill.

This will be good news to cyclists but also for walkers who find that the private road stretch approaching Crow Mills has become very potholed.

I have written to the Director of Highways at Leicestershire County Council regarding the flooding which regularly occurs beneath the railway bridge on the Little Glen Road. I have copied the text of the letter below:-

Dear Mr Lugg

“At the last meeting of the Council an additional £500,000, over two years, was included in the budget for 2008/09 and 2009/10 for “improvements/remedial works to highway drainage systems throughout Leicestershire directed to increase the capacity of systems and alleviate the risk of flooding.’

Following heavy rain the B582, Little Glen Road, is regularly flooded underneath the railway bridge, which is approx 400 yards east of the County Arms junction. The water also lies in the road for considerable periods after it has stopped raining. The B582, at this point is a very busy road, and as a link with the congested County Arms junction it causes further traffic disruption when many drivers seek out alternative routes in order to avoid the flooded road.

I therefore ask that the roadway beneath this bridge be included in the programme of “remedial works to highway drainage systems to alleviate flooding.””

Yours sincerely

Alan Bailey CC

The County Council has received a planning application for a large waste transfer station on a site at Magna Road South Wigston (Magna Rd is off Blaby Road, almost opposite the new Tesco supermarket).

If approved, this development would have serious consequences for Glen Parva residents.

The application expects a total of 550 extra vehicle movements per day. The hours of operation would be:- weekdays, 5.00am to 2.00am; weekends, 6.00am to 6.00pm.

There are several causes for concern for Glen Parva residents. They include:-

Extra heavy lorries moving along Little Glen Rd would worsen the levels of noise, pollution, pedestrian safety and congestion.

Many Glen Parva children walk and cycle to schools along Little Glen Rd and Blaby Rd., eg Parklands Primary, Sth Wigston High, and Guthlaxton College. Extra heavy traffic would pose an additional safety risk to these pupils.

Extra traffic on the Little Glen Rd would cause further congestion at the County Arms junction and more tail-backs along Leicester Road.

The road system in and around Glen Parva, South Wigston and Blaby is already struggling to cope with demand. More heavy lorries would make things much worse.

The application can be inspected at:-

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council offices , Station Rd, Wigston.

Department of Community Services (Planning Group), Leicestershire County Council, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8TE.

LCC web site at www.leics.gov.uk/eplanning_searchform.htm (quote ref 2008/C217/08)

SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIONS by letter/fax/email to the Director of Community Services, at the above COUNTY COUNCIL address by 27th March quoting reference 2008/C217/08. Email - planningcontrol@leics.gov.uk

New signs and road markings are being proposed by the Highways authority in the streets approaching Glenhills Primary School.

These are aimed at reducing congestion outside the school by improving conditions for cyclists travelling to the school. Similar road markings have been used successfully by Worcestershire County Council to heighten driver awareness of cyclists in locations where road widths do not permit the introduction of cycle lanes.. It is hoped that this will improve conditions for cyclists travelling to Glenhills Primary School and also to encourage others to cycle rather than use their car.

The scheme is still subject to funding and final approval but it is hoped that it will be implemented in the next financial year (2008/09)