News and features from Harborough District Council -  November 2024

Remembrance Weekend 2024

The war memorial in Market Harborough town centre has been cleaned and restored in advance of the remembrance period and 115 mini Union Flags are being installed above shops and businesses in Market Harborough town centre to mark Remembrance Day and Armistice Day with events being held across the district. 

Sunday 10 November

The Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire, the Royal British Legion, the Chairman and Leader of Harborough District Council will be attending Market Harborough’s primary Service of Remembrance at St. Dionysius Church, adjacent to the High Street, on Sunday 10 November.  Everyone is welcome to attend the service which starts at 10am (please be seated by 9.50pm). 
The Service will be followed, at approximately 10.40am, by a parade along the High Street to the War Memorial where the Act of Remembrance and 2 minutes silence will take place at 11am.  
The parade will include a marching band, local cadet units, scouts, guides, brownies and cubs, and a contingent of Armed Forces veterans from across the local area. 

Lutterworth Parade: Starting at the Wycliffe Rooms at 10:30 am on Sunday, 10 November, proceeding to the Memorial Gardens for a service of Remembrance.

Monday 11 November

On Armistice Day, Monday 11 November, at 10.45am there will be a short Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial on the Market Square, to mark the moment when the Armistice was declared in 1918. 
This service, which will be conducted by the Chair of the Market Harborough Branch of the Royal British Legion, Mr Stewart Harrison and the Reverend Phil Bryson, will include a 2 minute’s silence at 11am.  

Local residents and businesses are advised that the period of silence will begin and end with a loud noise as a maroon is fired.  All members of the public are invited to attend the ceremony and join in by taking part in the silence.

Tommy on The Square in Market Harborough

The Harborough Monster Trail

The South Leicestershire School Sport Partnership, with the support of the Harborough District Council and Active Together Harborough, are delighted to announce that we have created the 'Harborough Monster Trail'. The programme is funded by the UKSPF and will form part of the ‘Harborough on the Move’ programme. 

The aim of the trail is to encourage children and families to be active this autumn. The Monster Trail began on Monday 21 October and finishes on Friday 29 November. During the summer, children created monsters which have been designed into monster cards.

We have hidden 20 monster cards in 4 green parks in the Harborough District for children and families to find.  Participants can find the monster cards in one of the parks or all of the parks to win special prizes. Prizes include mini fuzzy monsters, certificates and medals.

To find full details about the Harborough Monster Trail and meet our monsters, please click here.

How To Play

1.     Find monsters hidden in parks across the Harborough District. Click here to download the maps.

2.     When you find a monster card, scan the QR code and make a note of the number.

3.     Submit your competition entry here.

Parents/guardians that tag the South Leicestershire School Sports Partnership and use #MonsterTrail24 in social media posts about the trail will be put in a prize draw to win amazon vouchers. Our social media handles are below:

X - lslssp

Facebook - learningsouthleicestershiressp

Instagram - southleicestershiressp

Husbands Bosworth ghost sign restored

The historic ghost sign of ‘P.Phipps & Cos. Ales and Stouts. Northampton’ in Husbands Bosworth has been lovingly restored.

The sign has been carefully reestablished, replicating the original colours and lettering that first adorned the Northampton-based brewery’s building over a century ago.

This restoration is part of ongoing efforts to protect and enhance the district’s heritage and celebrates the historical connections of the village to Northamptonshire’s brewing industry.

The brewery was founded in 1801 and played a key role in supplying villages like Husbands Bosworth. Its products were once staples in local pubs throughout the Midlands.

This project has received funding from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supports our commitment to maintaining ghost signs across the Harborough district.

Last year, the ghost sign of ‘Taylors’ above Duncan Murray Wines in Market Harborough was revived.

If you know of any ghosts signs in need of revival, please contact us: business@harborough.gov.uk                

The festive season begins in Harborough District

The Christmas Lights Switch on in Market Harborough will be held on Saturday 23 November 2024 from 5pm until 8pm with the illumination of the lights at 6.30pm.

The popular Christmas Food and Drink Festival will be on The Square from Friday 22 November to Sunday 24 November. There will be lots for the family to enjoy with activities including live music, Christmas carols, street entertainment, and Father Christmas joins us from the North Pole. There’s plenty more surprises in store on the night, so miss out on this wonderful annual event. Road closures will be in place for the event.

Late Night Shopping returns on Thursday 28 November 2024 so remember to shop local this Christmas to support your local retailers and businesses.

Lutterworth’s Christmas Market is on Friday 29 November 3.30pm-8pm.

Broughton Astley Christmas Fayre and Lights Switch on will be on Saturday 7 December with an exciting Santa Dash and Dawdle on Sunday 8 December. 

Keep up to date by following our social media pages on more events from around the district this festive season.

If you're holding a public Christmas event in the Harborough district and would like some support with promotion please email our tourism team: business@harborough.gov.uk

Shop local this Christmas

We know Christmas can be an expensive and stressful time for families so to help a little we're offering FREE parking in council-owned pay and display carparks in Lutterworth and Market Harborough on Saturdays leading up to Christmas to help residents to shop locally and support our wonderful local shops, traders & businesses. Dates include 7, 14 and 21 December 2024.

Short stay car parks in Market Harborough will be free for four hours. Long stay car parks and Lutterworth car parks will be free all day.

There is one free parking session per vehicle per Saturday. Please note machines in other car parks will not issue further free sessions on the same day.

To qualify for this offer you will need to obtain a free ticket from the machines by entering your vehicle registration number and pressing the green issue button, or by obtaining a free parking session on the Pay by Phone App.

If you wish to shop longer you can return to your vehicle and top up your parking with a paid ticket or purchase extra time when you arrive at the car park and this will be added on to your free ticket. You can also do this via the app. 

Blue Badge holders should set their display clock on arrival at the car park, as normal, and will be permitted four hours free parking in short stay car parks, and all day free parking in long stay car parks, without the need to get a pay and display ticket.

Please do shop locally this festive season in our village centres, towns and rural businesses such as farm shops and garden centres with excellent choices of festive merchandise.  By supporting traders, independent businesses and high street brands, garden centres, and food and drink businesses in Harborough district, we are also supporting and protecting our local economy and local jobs. 

You don't need to overspend or panic-buy gifts. There are lots of super charity shops across the district who support both local and national charities. Many local businesses also offer gift vouchers as a great present option.

Leicester Comedy Festival is running from 5 - 23 February 2025. Tickets are now available to buy with a range of fabulous shows coming to the district as part of the Big Weekend. Comedy acts are being held in Fleckney, Foxton, Lutterworth and Market Harborough. 

Community newsletter for all households

Every household in the Harborough District can expect to receive a hardcopy newsletter from the district council this November. 

The four-page, A4 newsletter includes information about Harborough District Council initiatives and how residents can have their say on the design and delivery of council services. 

The newsletter also includes useful information on how to check eligibility for Pension Credit, which in turn will ensure eligible residents continue to receive the Winter Fuel Payment. Promoting Pension Credit to eligible residents in the district is in line with a motion that was carried at a recent Council meeting. 

Information about how residents can apply online for a license, housing support or benefits, report an issue or make a payment is included, highlighting how residents who are able to use the internet can carry out these tasks at a time that suits them, in the quickest way possible.  

For residents who do not have access to the internet, or who choose not to access information electronically, and who do not have someone trusted that can help them, the customer contact centre phone number and other numbers are included in the newsletter. 

The newsletter is printed on paper that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Sustainability, quality and cost have all been factors in selecting the paper stock. 

Distribution will start in the Lutterworth and Broughton Astley areas and delivery of the newsletter across the whole of the rural district will take place during November. With plans that a hardcopy newsletter will be delivered once a year to each household. 

Pictured from left to right: Cllr Jim Knight, Cllr Darren Woodiwiss, Cllr Simon Galton, Leader Cllr Phil Knowles, Cllr Jo Asher, and Cllr Paul Beadle with the new community newsletter.

Gartree 2: Next update from Ministry of Justice

If you live in the vicinity of Gartree, you may have recently received a letter providing an update on site activity expected in the coming months, and importantly an invitation to attend a community drop-in session which is an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the new prison.

The drop-in session will be held as follows:

·       Venue: Market Harborough Methodist Church

·       Date: 12 November 2024

·       Time: 3-8pm (no appointment required)

If you’re unable to attend the drop-in session, you can still email: psdenquiries@justice.gov.uk with any questions, queries or suggestions, including on how you would like to be kept up to date on progress.

James Smith

Programme Director, New Prisons Programme

Calling all 11–18-year-olds in the Harborough District  

We have a new Youth Engagement Officer here at Harborough District Council, Becca Powell, who is tasked with creating a Youth Council.

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals aged between 11 and 18 years old who want to learn more about what the Council does, how they can get involved with making changes in their community and getting our young people’s voices heard across the district, all whilst having fun and making new friends.

If this sounds like something you, or some young people you or your organisation work with, might be interested in, please follow this link to share some details with us and our Youth Engagement Officer will be in touch.

Kibworth & Smeeton Nature Project (KSNP)

Following delays due to Storm Babet, the habitat works for Kibworth and Smeeton Nature Project, restoring a section of the Langton Brook in the Upper Welland, near Smeeton Westerby (Leicestershire) have finally been completed.

Funded by the Environment Agency, Harborough District Council, IFM Investors (Australia) and Anglian Water this project restored a section of the Langton Brook, part of the Upper Welland catchment.

The Welland catchment has a long history of channel realignment and dredging. As a result, rivers are incised, disconnected from the floodplain, and with little in-channel habitat diversity. These modified channels were designed to transport water rapidly during high flows, increasing flood risk for communities downstream, evidenced by recent flooding in towns and villages such as Harborough, Stamford and Tallington.

Working closely with the landowners, 600 meters of new channels were created, partially reinstating the original course of the brook, some of which was modified prior to 1781 as is apparent in historical maps. The stream bed of the main channel was raised using locally sourced gravel in order to reconnect the floodplain. This has created a 1.5 ha wetland, which will help to store water during periods of high rainfall, improving climate change resilience. Gravel riffles and bars, berm features and ponds have the added value of increasing habitat for wildlife.

Later in the year, with the help of volunteers, the site will be planted with a range of native trees sourced with the help of the Woodland Trust, bringing the total area of habitat created to around 4.5 ha.

Are you over State Pension age, or know someone who is?

Pension Credit tops up pension income and can help with day-to-day living costs.

If you are over State Pension age, you may be eligible to claim Pension Credit, even if you own your home or have savings.

People who claim Pension Credit may also be able to get:

• The Winter Fuel Payment and other help with heating costs
• Help with rent and Council Tax
• A free TV Licence for those aged 75 or over
• Help with the cost of NHS services, such as NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments.

You could be eligible for Pension Credit if your weekly income is below £218.15 or, if you have a partner who lives with you, £332.95. Qualifying income level may be higher in some circumstances. 

Please share this information with your friends or neighbours if you think they may find it helpful. 

First Veterans Information Fair a great success

Pictured: Harborough District Council's officer Clive Mason, Cllr Jo Asher, Armed Forces Champion and Ian Reynolds, Armed Forces Officer

On Thursday 26 September Harborough District Council (HDC) held its first Veteran’s Information Fair at The Symington Building in Market Harborough.

The event provided military veterans and other members of the armed forces community (Serving, Reserves and their families) with the opportunity to talk to numerous organisations and to get information about the social activities, support and services available to them in the local area.  

As well as representatives from HDC, including the Housing Team and the Armed Forces Officer, there were stands from a multitude of organisations such as the Royal British Legion, Royal Naval Association, the NHS, the Department of Work & Pensions, the Armed Forces charity, the Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmen's Families Association,(SSAFA), Harborough and Lutterworth Veteran’s Breakfast Clubs, and many more.  

It was also an opportunity to sign up for HDC’s new monthly veteran’s coffee morning that is starting soon.  

For more information, please email our Armed Forces Liaison Officer via: communications@harborough.gov.uk .  

The event proved to be a great success, and it is intended to hold another one in 2025.