Welcome to the latest edition of the Parish Pen, the official voice of Glenfield Parish Council. I would like to wish you all best wishes for the forthcoming year.

Lee Breckon, Chairman

Is it Tree-mendous?

After some years of trying Glenfield Parish Council has been able to provide seasonal lighting on the tree in The Square. The lights were turned on by Malcolm Tuff and Gordon Brooks in recognition of their association with The Square. Mr Tuff still runs the butchers on The Square and is now in his 51st year. We understand he has yet to have a day off ill! Mr Brooks was formerly the postmaster, starting his office in 1956 in the post office that used to overlook The Square. Mr Brooks, now of G l e n f i e l d Travel and still o v e r l o o k i n g
The Square, donated the village sign that is on The Square just a couple of years ago. We thank them both for turning the lights on. Readers may be interested to know that part of the delay was the high cost of obtaining power, with fees running at up to £20,000 just to provide a power source and a total cost of in excess of £26,000 together with annual costs of £4,000. Glenfield Parish Council did not feel that this was a sensible spend of ratepayers money. Discussions with Leicestershire County Council over the use of the tree and the provision of power have now been very fruitful and we thank them for their assistance. We also thank Beddow Tree Surgeon’s for their skill in installing the lights. You may have seen their operatives swinging through the tree last November. The total cost, including the power source, lights and installation has been less than £4,000. The lights should provide at least five years of pleasure and annual power costs, because we have used the latest LED lights, is about £5, yes £5, per year.

This is the time to get Smarter.

As outlined in the last edition of the Parish Pen, Blaby District has now launched a districtwide Smartwater scheme. Smartwater provides
the ability to mark and subsequently identify property to a specific forensic code, which in turn is registered to a specific address.

Registration is on a Smartwater database accessible only to Smartwater and the police. Quite simply burglars hate Smartwater. Areas that have used Smartwater have seen dramatic reductions in burglaries and where Smartwater has been used as evidence there has been a 100% conviction rate.

The village of Glenfield was designated a Smartwater area in 2008 under a scheme implemented by Glenfield Parish Council. Inspector Jon Brown, the inspector in charge of the Blaby District Local Policing Unit, decided to use the proven success of Smartwater and to launch an initiative to go district wide. The further use of the Smartwater technology is seen by Glenfield Parish Council as a positive step forward. As part of the extended initiative local second hand stores will be informed about Smartwater. Probation and similar offices will have Smartwater posters displayed. Car boot sales will have high profile visits by police officers. Schools will be visited and postcards will be sent to known burglary offenders and stolen goods handlers.

As a New Year offer and in recognition of the lead that Glenfield has made in the use of the product 20 vials have been made specifically available to Glenfield residents at a price of just £5. These vials will be available from the Parish Council offices at Park House on a first come first served basis with the product limited to one per person. The price will then return to the standard price of £15, still a huge reduction on the individual purchase price of over £50. Both the scheme’s standard price for the product will be £15. Glenfield Parish Council will have to consider whether or not to fold the village specific scheme in favour of the district wide scheme but the council does want to ensure the product is available locally.

Many of our readers will have received gifts over the Christmas period that burglars would like to get their hands on. Is this the time that you should purchase Smartwater?

Help is at hand with Glenfield Benefits Surgery

Local people are now able to access advice and information about housing benefit and council tax benefit at special surgeries held in Glenfield. This service is open to all types of households.

Operating from Park House on Stamford Street, the project provides people with any council tax benefit and/or housing benefit issues, which include changes in circumstances and new applications for benefit help. Blaby District Council’s Benefits team will be at Park House from 10.00 am until 12.00 am each Friday morning (excluding Bank or Public Holidays). Please make an appointment by calling 0116 272 7510, which will guarantee that you will be seen on the day. It will also ensure that a member of the team has your details to hand when you visit.

Do you recognise this tag?

The tag shown is appearing in numerous places around Glenfield, and in particular around the Dorset Avenue area of the village. This is
wanton damage and is causing many householders misery and costs. If you know who this tag belongs to then please contact either the
Neighbourhood Policing Team or Glenfield Parish Council. All contact will be in the strictest confidence. You can contact the Neighbourhood Policing Team by calling Leicester 2222222 and leave a message for officers 1851, 6508 or 6160. You can email them directly from our web site or even visit them at their office on Ellis Park.

Thanks for your help

Following an appeal in the last Parish Pen three youths were identified as being responsible for the damage to prize crops, which had taken place on our allotments. Our local officers have visited the people concerned and all three youths have admitted the offence. On this occasion, and following discussions between all of the parties, it was considered that restorative justice was the way forward and the three youths have all undertake work around the village.

Councillor Vacancies

We still have two vacancies for the position of Parish Councillor. This could be your opportunity to help shape the future of Glenfield. No experience is required, training is available. Parish councils are not split along party political lines.

Please contact the Clerk at Glenfield Parish Council for further information.

Your Parish Council

Parish councillors represent the whole of the village. All councillors have equal voting rights on all items that the council makes decisions about. The Chair of Council and the Chairs of the Committees manage meetings and do, if required, have a casting vote on evenly split decisions.

Although all councillors represent the whole of the village, Glenfield is split into six wards. This allows councillors to become even more conversant with specific areas of the village and advise council accordingly.

Councillors are:

Central Ward –
Mrs L Adlam, Mr P Cheeseman, Ms J Sexton and Mr P Lowe.

Faire Ward –
Mrs T Abbott, Mr R Boby and Mr J Garratt.

Manor Farm Ward –
Mr L Beckon (Chair of Council), Mr J Peachey, Mr J Walton and Mr B Neale.

Stone Ward –
Mr N Cox, Mr M Neal, Mr K Russell and Mrs H Evans.

North Ward –
Mr H Eppel and Mr J Springthorpe.

Glenfrith Ward –
Mr R Denney and Mrs E Hudson.

Contact for all councillors is, in the first instance, by calling Leicester 231 2498 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The parish council officers are:
Mr A Robotham, Clerk to the Parish Council, Mrs J Kneafsey, Administrative Assistant, Mr T Furnival, Head Groundsman.

There are three other members of staff providing ground and property maintenance services.

Contact for all officers is, in the first instance, by calling Leicester 231 2498 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .