Delighted to hear that someone is taking on The Wheel this week. Please give your full support unless you want to lose this listed building which has been such a popular meeting place for so many years.

Perhaps John Palmer would like to comment further following his post in June taking exception to HH's observation about the state of the buildings. It would certainly seem that since March nothing else has been done. Is there a plan or a timescale to renovate the buildings to make them inhabitable again and not be such an eyesore on the village, as is the wheel opposite.

How gentle is Henry the village hinny. However, please don't think he and I are one persona, even if sometimes we act like it.

If I have offended you, of course I apologise. That was not my intention. The posting of 12th February is a personal observation; nothing more. As a villager, it did seem that the property was being neglected and was deteriorating. I hoped for reaction and action, obviously I have got them both. Very happy to hear my worries are unfounded, very pleased to note the new roof, and hope to be really chuffed in due course, as your plans develop. (Now, opposite at the Wheel it is another matter but happily this is being progressed by the brewery.)

Dear All.

How interesting to read the comments following the posting of my recent letter regarding the opeing of the bypass and other issues and to note the different opionions. It pleases me that we can have the debate and attract so many varied thoughts and idea's. However, one thing is unforgiveable and that is the matter of personal insults dished out by annonymous individuals. It is not only irritating but very childish. Its is also a real shame the writer does not feel confident to admit to the world who they are when advertising their feelings. Shame on you Melton Road Resident.

To those who have been adult enough to admit who they are, how refreshing to have sensible debate about acceptance and tolerance alround. However george, I am not sure whether there is a legal requirement to be on the electoral role to qualify as a resident?

To others I say that not having to wait 5 minutes to exit my work has indeed been a benefit of the bypass but it is still a scary experience to leave the premises when the boy racers are flying past at speeds in excess of the speed limit. Can I ask if there are any plans for some traffic calming between Rearby Lodge Farm and the Speed Camera's ? It would certainly help - there is a serious accident waiting to happen ! And yes, I have observed also that the road is much quieter - I am wodering whether it is worth opening for business at all now !

Question: I was in discussion recently with a friend about which might be the oldest surviving residence in the village. We could not decide - any suggestions ?

At this point, all I would ask is that readers of this forum should read once again my original letter and note that it is only positive about the role of the village in National and International life only let down by certain individuals. This is not a forum for personal insults but a place for lively and respectable debate. It also serves as a place for people with a genuine interest in the life of the village from world wide locations to follow the gossip and rantings of locals. Perhaps the internet and this location will replace the garden fence ?

For now, Regards, Rob Boswijk

I act as the land agent looking after the property 1819 Melton Rd amongst others.I saw the aboves remarks about the property in February where he stated that "it seems .... that the owner is hoping to let them fall down so the area can be redeveloped". He might have surmised that to reroof a house on the road prior to the opening of the bypass was impossible and to put up scaffolding with traffic lights at such a time would not have been allowable by County Highways.

Shortly after the bypass opened we were given consent for traffic lights and reroofed the house as the first stage to renovating it to re-let.Indeed HH observed this in March. What has surprised me is that he did not then apologise for his previous statement which was totally unfounded and if I might say so was made without having even bothered to consider as to why the roof might have been left in this state.

The house had previously been lived in by Graham Sharpe who died in the house leaving it in need of renovation.There was no point doing this until it had been re-roofed. HH seems to go around the village commenting freely on subjects that he knows nothing about.

I have to agree with the message posted about the poor image of the village. Brookside is such a beautiful area of the village and that green between the post office and the school looks awful. I walked past yesterday and also noticed black bags and a cardboard box full of rubbish in the grassed area. One of the owners is on the Parish Council. Shouldn't they be leading by example?

I have just seen the comments from Rob Boswijk regarding the hijacking of the Rearsby by-pass opening at which I was present. Of course, the hunting fraternity intended to disrupt the official opening of this much needed by-pass. I have lived in this area for the past 38 years and you, Mr Rob Boswijk need to get out of your nursery and live on Melton Road, not cocooned in your rose garden. The traffic for the past few years has been terrible, perhaps you can sleep above lorries passing every second, some of us cannot, and you as a Methodist preacher should be more considerate of others. I am shocked to say the least not just that you organised the protest on the day of the opening, but at your total selfishness. Yes, I remember you father at Willik's but he is a true Christian as is your mother!

And further thanks for the second session on 21 May.

Thank you to the small band of volunteers responsible for the clear-up of the Brook, all acting in the common good. It has been much appreciated by us all.

The chap from Rearsby roses asks 'What has the Government done for Rearsby - nothing'- and yet has wittered on about the past (failed) campaigns for a by-pass - where does he think the money for the by-pass came from! Like all local government expenditure, the vast majority comes from central government. Rearsby was clearly not a priority for previous administrations......oh, and by the way, which party deregulated the buses, leading to devastating effect on rural life? Personally, I have no political bias - though ignorant blustering does irritate me.

Hello there, I am lucky enough to be able to keep my horses in Rearsby, but am finding it increasingly difficult to find out where any of the local bridle paths are. Could anyone help me? I've been advised that the bridle paths map for this area is currently being updated, but perhaps locals know of areas where horses are welcome i.e Farmers fields etc... Cheers Fleur, (Dermot & Lola)

Note from webmaster: Thanks to George Friendship for sending this reply to the website mailbox:

This address might help you to find local bridle-paths: http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/community/community_services/environment_and_heritage/paths/maps_of_paths.htm

Many people have expressed concern to me about the current condition of The Wheel Inn, externally, internally and the current operation including the effects on the village, such as the increase in incidents and police attendances during the last 12 months.

The fact that there probably are as many if not more people out there who are just keeping quiet has prompted me to set up www.savethewheel.co.uk for feedback on anything to do with The Wheel. These will be forwarded on to the current brewery as a package for their consideration whilst they plan for the future of the building and the business. Please feel free to visit the site and send me your feedback.

I noted that a few months back people were complaining about the bad image that the new wheelie bins gave to the village when left out along brookside. but this is nothing to the eyesore that now inhabits the 'green' between the Post Office and the school the area once know as cottons hedge. Not only is the hedge in a bad state on repair and overflowing on to the public path but the enclosed grass behind has been strewn with hundreds of childres plastic toys for the last 9 (plus) months, none of which ever move. Many people have commented on this but no one wants to offend the 'new' owners, so when will the council do some thing about this and make the onwers tidy up the rubbish and take care of the hedge.

Today (Thursday 22rd March) a lorry unloaded a large quantity of scaffolding and equipment at the buildings opposite the Wheel. Does this point towards the refurbishing of that property? Please that it does!

On with another matter at the Wheel. Punch Taverns (the chain that now own it) have been contacted by one parishioner about the present poor state of repair. The Chain have a mind to do something about it but they have priorities. If you want to write to Punch to make your point, send a letter via the Landlord (Steve).

I am glad to have the opportunity to comment on your recent posting. Since when, is length of residence in a community important? At the last election (May 1999) only two of the candidates were from old families and one was indeed elected. There was no election in 2003 and the Council has had to co-opt a sixth member. Does this reflect on a qualification based of the length of residence or does it show that as a village, we all work in some way for the common good?

What is an old family? Shall we go back to Geoff Trolley to claim antecedents or to Wyn Dewick whose forebear is commemorated on the village War Memorial? Would the Hassall family qualify to have a mention or the Ortons? How far? Time is relative. Surely, service to the community shows more about village life, than do antecedents! Rob, I can’t find your name on the electoral lists. Do you claim too much? You get the Scene, as you say, so living locally you have an interest and the right to be heard. Come along to a Council meeting and be heard. We are not all reactionaries.

The deaths of five people in traffic related accidents is indeed a tragedy and for me particularly as in two of the incidents, pupils of mine died. We are all touched by tragic events. I congratulate you on your prominent public stand and high profile in our campaign. Thank you for your support. Who cares who did what! We built a sense of community by our banding together.

Again, your musing over local businesses is very interesting, especially as I am an historian. The change in social conditions have seen a rural economy replaced by urban, to the benefit of many, but not all. Small village concerns are no longer viable. Rob, I hope that you bought Feroze Ali and Geoff Harris’ expensive petrol, and didn’t go to supermarkets for routine shopping, when there were some here. Things do change and not only for the better. It would be nice to have a supermarket in Rearsby, but after all we only have 1047 inhabitants. Why has the change taken place? People appear not to have supported the older businesses enough and circumstances change. (The most common trade in the early 1900 was that of groom. In 2005 no one is carrying out that occupation!)

Much of your long discussion over field sports is a complete non sequitur. By combining the matters of our village and a national issue, you blur matters. There is generally some local support for hunting but why tell us all about it. Stick to the point and get off your high-horse (sic).

I write regarding some of the comments from Brian Frodsham and our Parish Chairman, John Lambert. These names are not familiar to me - did they grow up in the village or are they recent incommers ?

I have to admit that I find it rather insulting, and I hope to many life long villagers, that Mr Frodsham refers to the "crowning glory of over 4 years work by the village people" when you and I both know that the bypass has been a subject of hard work for over 30 years. Indeed, when father was at the Garden Centre, he offered to pay for a mirror to be positioned at the bottom of Gaddesby Lane to allow traffic to be seen. The local Authority would not accept the offer. Sadly, perhaps the death of father's managers son, Mark Clayton, perhaps was one death too many on this dreadful road to make the council sit up and notice. Perhaps we should dedicate this bypass to Mark and the many others who have lost their lives at this junction. I would be in favour of that.

I am at a loss as to the words of our Council Chairman, both in Melton Times and here in our village news letter. How can anyone think that the opening of the bypass was hijacked by members of the hunting community? How arrogant to think that Rearsby would have got any lineage in any paper, let alone television coverage if it had not been for the protesters.

I would appeal to all villagers to think about the fact that we now have our bypass - something we have worked on for many years but the hunting debate continues. The choice of minister to open the bypass was the issue - and a poor choice at that. Why not our local MP?

I find myself in a three corner position here; as a local business which stands to lose due to the bypass, as a villager - one who was born here and has looked forward to the bypass and as a mounted follower of the Quorn Hunt who has naturally been affected by this ridiculous law.

As a local business, I look around and wonder where we shall be in a few year's time....I remember the Mace shop, Toddingtons on Brook Street, John Smith Butchers, and now the Garage has gone too ! What are we going to do - the Garden centre has gone, are we next ? It does not do for local Parish Council Councillors to kick us in the teeth when all we are trying to do is earn a living from the local economy. I have to say though, I would like to think that as a business, we have put the name of Rearsby much more in the fore of local, national; and international media that any bypass has, this cannot be denied.

I address now the villagers of whom I have been one since my first breath. Rearsby, a small village in the shires, has a great international support - our village website stands testimony to this. Over the years, my family have tried to keep these relationships going. But as we all know, times moves on.

Hunting is also at the heart of the shires - indeed, Sir Hugo Meynell (first Master of the Quorn Hunt in 1698) must have travelled on horseback through the Rearsby Turnpike many times whilst going to Melton. If you look at a map of Quorn Hunt countries you will see that Rearsby is in the centre of all the countries - Saturday to the North, Tuesday to the West, Friday to the South and Monday to the East. Even Melton Mowbray can't boast that!

Hunting in its regular and correct form is under considerable pressure from this current government. But what have they done for this village? As I mentioned before, the local shops and businesses have now all but gone, no rural services, perhaps we are next? But what has this government done for our village? Nothing!!

The hunt protest when the bypass was opened had a number of purposes. I was party to it's organisation and made a point of saying to all demonstrators that not only should we demonstrate but first, celebrate with the villagers the success at getting the bypass. We did not inconvenience anyone as it is not in our interest. We purely added a colourful spectacle (words of the Chairman of the Charnwood Borough Council) but we also made our feelings known. Ms Atkins was under no illusion about what we felt and as it turns out, ran tail between her legs to Downing Street. 2 days later we heard that the Government would not block an injunction to the bill if granted.

Rearsby, once again, has played it's part in shaping English History. So, lets not sit with our head in our hands, we have the bypass but also a stupid, un workable law that proves that this government does not care who it hurts. The Nanny State is here!

If you would like clarification on what the hunting bill represents and how it may affect Rearsby, please, by all means, get in touch. We have some thoughts. Meanwhile, I am happy to apollogise to villagers who feel the wind was knocked out of their sails regarding the new road but would remind them that without us, a howling gale would have only been a mere zephyr in the history of Leicestershire.

The Hunting community now look towards the support from the Village similar to that support given to us in Melton on the 19th February. Now that's what I call support. Its all part of Country life, a part of which we have been for centuries.

What a disgrace the line of buildings opposite the Wheel are. It seems to me, that the owner is hoping to let them fall down so the area can be redeveloped. As a group of 19c buildings (nearly a homestead) and of some architectural merit, we must not allow them to do it. Point 2: Now, cross the road and look at the Wheel itself. What a disgrace that the brewer allows the exterior of his property to become so run down. It is an insult to our village. I have already written to them but get no reply. Will you join me in this protest? Use this column please. Remember how protest got us a by-pass.

Rearsby is currently well protected from development under the Charnwood Borough Council Local Plan 1996-2006. A number of policies apply such as CT/1, CT/2, CT/4 and CT/7 designating ALL the area around us as one or other of the following: countryside area, area of local separation, area of particularly attractive countryside, countryside priority area, floodplain.

We currently have protection against infill between the bypass and village under the classification of this part of the village as a 'countryside area'. Rearsby Village Design Statement, Guideline 1 is also applicable.

Starting from a position of strength, what we must do is ensure we maintain the same level of protection we enjoy now in the next local plan 2006-2016 (to be known as the Local Development Framework). In which context, the Rearsby Parish Plan is due out next month and commits the Parish Council to discussions with Charnwood to ensure future development in and around the village is small, appropriate and does not infringe on our current protected status.

If you want to find out more about our current level of protection, use this link and and work through the map (and colour codings) you find there - www.charnwood.gov.uk/static/local_plan/map_index.htm.

Also check out 'Written statement - Contents' on the menu above the map and read policies CT/1-CT/9. CT/1 describes the 'exceptions' to development protection in the countryside, but none of them are anything we need be worried about as they do not include housing or business development. (In fact, one of the exceptions is 'transport infrastructure', which is one of the reasons why the bypass went ahead so smoothly.)

I have recently moved to Rearsby, October 2004, and realised that within the short time Ihave been here , how silent the village has become since the building of the bypass.I hope that the area around the bypass doesn't turn into a large business park resembling Fosse park or Thurmaston ,it would be such a shame for Rearsby as a village.

With the celebration last month, the final stages of our by-pass are being reached. The cabins have gone, trees are being planted and it is a splendid piece of civil engineering. Even the first accident has occured! Are we now happy with traffic calming in the village? What about speed past the Village Hall? Too fast for me. This weeks' Melton Times forecast that the pressure for new houses to the north of the by-pass will be irresistible. I don't want my village to "sprawl". What do you feel about it?