A Sense of Place
1995-2002
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A local council is about a place. Not just emptying the bins or cutting the grass. A sense of place refers to the deep bonds and attachments we have for our town or village. It's our responsibility to foster that.
Our town centre
In 1995 Loughborough town centre was a car park. Many people liked it like that. Our new Council Leader, Mike Jones, overcame the naysayers and gave me responsibility for pedestrianising the Market Place, Market Street, Ashby Square, and Cattle Market.
The planning officers, highways experts, police, legals, clerks and I worked together to deliver the block paving and art deco themed street furniture (sadly now replaced). It was topped out by Cllr Bert Dodd and me in August 1996 - all within 15 months.
About that time a committee was formed to choose a sculpture as a centrepiece. Something celebrating the town's hosiery heritage? As chair of the committee it was clear to me. But simmering resistance to the Sock came from the naysayers, and then from the local paper. But there was support from the East Midlands Arts Council and many others. We stayed strong and so the "Sock" by Shona Kinloch was born and, of course, it is now much loved.
A sense of place
The new Market Place, with its statue, art deco street furniture and new festive lights, was a huge boost for the town but we needed to get right down into the community. We invited primary schools to present their own flags for the four Town Hall flagstaffs. As Chair of Public Works, I had a small highways budget. I used this for more dropped kerbs, particularly to assist disability. I also recommended the creation our first bus lane on the A6 from Quorn into the town.
Bus shelters, keeping the wind and rain out, are where neighbours meet too.
Footpaths need names just like streets for directions and to ensure good maintenance.
And making our walking and cycle routes joyful to use. This bridge was an example.
Thorpe Acre 2000: the Millennium
The Thorpe Acre housing estate was built in the 1970's around a tiny village. The Millennium presented an opportunity to bring residents together to make it stand proud! A dozen residents volunteered and met in the church hall.
The community group decided upon a trail - the Thorpe Acre Trail - because it brought every idea we had together - from art to wildlife. It encouraged healthy exercise as well. Sponsors were found including the NHS and local industry.
There were waymarking signs with poetry, stone sculptures by students, wildlife areas, a map, and leaflets. It was hard work obtaining sponsors but plenty in the end for a beautiful mosaic too.
See more in http://www.thorpeacre2000.freeuk.com/ composed at the time.
A tile for each century, for streams and for wildlife.
Waymarking and art on the Thorpe Acre Trail
One of several stone sculptures from students.
The Dishley Sign shows a young Robert Bakewell which the local school children decorated.
It was only after the millennium that we had enough energy to commission our Leicester artist, Roger Hutchinson, to create two village signs. The images were captured with the help of local people,
The Thorpe Acre sign stands on a post made from an oak felled in Garendon Park
Twin towns and villages
Twining with youth, arts, militia, Mayor Ciastok and friends!
Town Twinning began in our in the 1950's when the town reached out to Epinal in eastern France and exchanged groups of young people.
Though some schools were involved there was scope to do much more. As association president I cycled to Epinal and Gembloux and our Bare Bones dancers went to Schwäbisch Hall.
Mayor Alistair Duncan and I signed a new link with a Polish town and in 2001 the town hosted a group of youngsters from Zamość to perform a play about the holocaust in the Polish Centre.
We and many others still maintain the friendships made. Sadly, town twinning is less supported since the UK left the EU in spite of having much easier travel between partners. Modern languages are also less popular in schools and universities.
Dancing
Community
Consulting
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