County Councillor for – Gartree – October 2020

19th October 2020 | Councils

Courteous driving

I have received a number of comments about discourteous driving, especially on Fleckney Road, Kibworth Beauchamp.

Built mainly when there were no cars, there is minimal off street parking, so there are long lengths of cars parked on one or both sides of the street.

Drivers with right of way shouldn’t be forced to drive onto the pavement because oncoming traffic does not give way and pause for a few seconds to let you through.

If there are no gaps in the parked cars, then just wait and please be courteous.

Residents should by now have spotted the yellow social distancing, 20mph, ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ large signs on lamp posts on several streets in both Kibworths and Smeeton Westerby.

These have been offered to parish councils and installed by the county council and are just one of several offers to help maintain social distancing.

They act as a reminder that we need to stay alert and yes, be courteous to others.

Defibrillators

I provided some information about the three public 24/7 Automated External Defibrillator (AED) locations and procedures in this column a couple of years ago, but I’ve been asked to repeat the information.

What is an AED used for? They are used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyse the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

If you are in a situation with somebody having a heart attack or similar and you telephone 999 for an ambulance, the operator will give you the code to unlock one of the three public AED cabinets in the Kibworths, depending on your location and the nearest cabinet.

The AED cannot be used unless removed from the unlocked cabinet. While giving you the cabinet code and location, they will also launch the ambulance on its way.

All three AEDs are portable and once opened in the presence of the patient will guide you verbally and easily through what you need to do. While analysing the patient, the AED also checks whether a shock is needed.

If you haven’t spotted the three AED public locations there is one on the front of the Co-op on High Street, one on the north side of the Village Hall on Station Street and one on the side (car park entrance) of Boboli, Main Street, Kibworth Harcourt.

Anti-social behaviour update

Unrelated incidents keep on happening -bench burnt to a cinder in Great Glen public park, litter bins burnt some time ago on Warwick Park, litter still being dropped in various places and not put in nearby bins, a dog bin missing at the bottom of Weir Road, too much dog mess etc.

A very useful patch walk meeting with our local policeman, a Harborough District Council Community Safety Team manager, parish and district councillors and parish clerk, was held on the car park at Warwick Park on 21 September to discuss specific issues raised by a resident.

A number of actions were agreed and are being followed up. In addition, a letter from Leicestershire Police and HDC Community Safety Partnership has been delivered to the households surrounding both Warwick Park and Smeeton Road Rec.

This gives specific advice on how to report a variety of ASB matters. I hope it is helpful. We’re all trying to keep our communities safe and sound especially during the current pandemic and the various government regulations and guidance.

Local situation regarding coronavirus

No matter when I write this, it will already be out of date!

Along with other county councillors, I receive regular briefings from the county’s Director of Public Health, Mike Sandys. He has become increasingly concerned about rising case numbers in Oadby & Wigston, Blaby and Charnwood.

Nine cases of the virus were reported in the Kibworth and Great Glen area in the week up to 1 October; this follows ten for the fortnight ending 29 September, so hopefully just a blip.

The NHS Covid-19 app is now available. I have it running on my mobile phone, have you? I used it to register the QR code while enjoying a coffee with friends at No. 56 on High Street.

kevin.feltham@leics.gov.uk