Minutes:
Greening of Urban Areas: Tom Lester spoke about an opportunity to green urban areas along the Parade, which would restore pride in the area, reduce nuisance and anti-social parking. The first suggestion is to install rain gardens in this location. The UK suffered 4 heatwaves over the summer of 2025, and our weather is shifting to extremes. Our infrastructure is not built to mitigate against these, with seating areas exposed to the elements. This is also seen as a first step to reclaiming areas for pedestrians from those that would misuse them, such as problem parking. Rain and biodiversity gardens would prevent this, and work in tandem with any enforcement planned. Blurring the line between where cars can drive and pedestrians walk are likely to result in more accidents. Businesses along the Parade are closing down, including a butchers which has been a fixture for many decades. Tom has explored tentatively with an urban designer who has undertaken similar work in London; they are positive about this approach and are willing to explore funding. Severn Trent water may have community funding that could start to support this project. Specifically the ask is that the Council endorses the principle of this work, nominate a Council Member or Officer to engage with Tom on the scheme, and support the seeking of funding for the works.
Residents supported these proposals being discussed at Full Council and then an update provided to the Forum after this has taken place.
The Chair has proposed that Tom is put in contact with the Council’s Environment Officers, Town Centre Manager, and the Environmental Committee. The County Council should also be included as the Highways Authority.
Residents suggested Section 106 monies may be able to support this approach.
Residents asked if the scheme were to go ahead, who would be responsible for maintaining it? This would need to be discussed as part of exploring the workstream.
Residents’ only parking was proposed again but it was noted that all residents would need to agree to this for the permit scheme to progress. The County Council was invited to attend this meeting to discuss parking issues again but there was no response.
Funding Request for the Oadby 50 Plus Group: Tracey Weskamp attended on behalf of the Oadby 50 Plus Group. Over 100 people are on the books of the group with an average of 53 attendees per week. The group has not received any funding for some time and funding applications have not born fruit. Previously the group has had funding from the Oadby Village Hall fund. The funding is being requested to support a Christmas party for vulnerable members of the group who feel isolated. The group meets at Oadby Youth Club every Wednesday, 11am – 1pm. Residents noted that there is a Senior Citizen’s Forum that runs in the Borough who also have a Christmas party. It was proposed that £500 be made available to the Oadby 50 Plus Group – Residents voted on this and supported the application progressing to PFD Committee on 2 December. The Group advertises in the Library and the Oadby Matters Leaflet. Tracey will be put in touch with the relevant Council Officer to support advertising.
Washbrook Lane Planning Application: The original application for football pitches was turned down on appeal, and an enforcement notice has been issued to clear the land of the rubble on site. A new planning application has been submitted and will be brought before the Planning Development Committee for review. A new application has been made for Paddle Courts. The environmental benefits of the site being left as a natural area were raised in the Forum.
Industrial Estate Speeding Vehicles: Police not present but there are ongoing issues with speeding vehicles, and potentially racing vehicles, at this location. Residents expressed disappointment that the Police were not in attendance at the meeting. M Smith noted that Lidl’s car park is also an area of concern for the Police re. ASB vehicle use so will feed this information back to the Police. Concerns were also noted about vehicles running the lights at the bottom of Brabazon Road.
ASB Parking: ASB parking in Oadby has become “the norm” with nobody seemingly enforcing it; neither Civil Enforcement Officers or the Police. Residents noted that usually PCs or Sgts would attend these meetings, or even Inspectors, instead of PCSOs. The Forum has requested that a Sgt or above attend the next meeting of this Forum. County Council Highways Officers deal with roadside parking issues, the Civil Enforcement Officers contracted via Harborough County Council are responsible for parking within the Council’s car parks. Data regarding the issuing of roadside parking tickets was requested. M Smith will include an email address in these Minutes for reporting parking issues to the Police as this was missing from July’s Minutes. The wider parking concerns for the Borough have been requested to be reviewed within the Community Safety Partnership. The Lead Member for County Council Highways will be invited to the next meeting.
Uplands Park: A query was raised as to what the construction on Uplands Park is; it was confirmed that this is tennis courts to replace those at Ellis Park.
Cottage Farm Area: Residents noticed that whilst some of the roads in this area haven’t been adopted, and don’t have a proper surface, cars are already parking on the pavement in this area. The developers are thought to have powers to enforce their own parking restrictions whilst the roads are unadopted.
Replacement of Apparatus at Iliffe Park: Likely removed as part of the ongoing regenerative works around the Borough’s play equipment. A firm update on this will be sought for the next meeting.
Oadby Tip Reopening: Hours change to a reduced schedule next spring. No details on when the tip will reopen but it was 12 weeks from 27 August.