Wigston residents furious with derelict pub planning application 

By Azim Saiyed

A plan to turn a disused pub in Wigston into a community hub and a place of worship has angered some residents who are objecting strongly to it over traffic concerns. 

ABANDONED: The former Nautical William pub is ready for renovation and a new take-over.

A planning application was lodged by the new owners last year for the run-down former Nautical William pub, which caused a strong disagreement in the community. 

Wigston resident Beckie Ligo, 49, said: “The traffic is going to get absolutely stupid down there. 

“We live at the bottom of the road, and it’s really bad, it’s hard enough to get in and out.” 

From the planning application proposals posted to nearby houses, the residents found out the place of worship could potentially be a mosque. 

Beckie said: “To be fair, there are far and few Muslims in this area, it would be much better if it was housing. 

“We were originally promised for housing and flats to be built by the council, but they are absolutely rubbish.” 

A representative from the community hub, who did not want to be named, said: “Let’s get the facts right, it’s not going to be a mosque, this is just misinformation that’s been going around. 

“The community hub will be open to all residents regardless of their age, religion, race, or background.” 

He said residents nearby will be able to visit, have a tea or coffee, socialise, and take part in community activities. 

“In regard to the traffic,” he added, “I can clarify that currently, there are a lot of Muslim residents who are having to drive to the nearest mosque in Oadby, and having a prayer facility nearby will allow to clear up traffic, as they can walk.” 

The representative mentioned that the community hub will provide hot meals, foodbanks and generally a relaxing place for the wider community and in that way the organisers hope to show people what true Islam is. 

Beckie said: “I’m an atheist, I don’t care about what they use it for, but I have appealed against it. 

“Do we really need all this upset?” 

The Nautical William originally started as a brewery pub in the 1950s on a piece of land bought by William Cox. 

For decades it was a regular for the locals, but those days seem to have come to an end. 

For more information about Wigston, visit: www.wigstonhistoricalsociety.co.uk 

Active Oadby and Wigston has post-Covid vision to improve community wellbeing with physical activities 

By Lara Alsaid

The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on how important social life and exercise are for people´s physical and mental health, according to an activities group in Leicester. 

Active Oadby and Wigston is an organisation that aims to deliver programmes to get residents within the borough to improve their health and wellbeing. 

Ross Levy, Community Health and Improvement Officer for Active Oadby and Wigston, said: “A group walk for an hour around the park with the sun shining, reduces isolation and improves mental and physical wellbeing. It is fantastic to have that opportunity.” 

Group walks are one of their programmes

Seven district councils in Leicester have similar teams to Active Oadby and Wigston and share the same inspiration to increase activity for their residents.  

The organisation has a close partnership with the NHS (National Health Service) and operates a lot on the module of social prescribing, which is basically a prescription by medical practitioners to someone to do an activity. 

Mr Levy continued: “It is brilliant for people in our programme that have been referred because of low mood or bereavement etc.”  

The group walk is a growing concept within the organisation that has a powerful sense of community and commitment.  

Mr Levy added: “It is lovely how something as accessible as walking can have such a significant difference to people’s lives who participate.” 

After the Covid isolation, people have been excited to get back out and enjoy gentle exercise and have a chat with people from different walks of life. 

Mr Levy believes people have learned from Covid isolation and social exclusion that it is important to raise awareness of this organisation and for people to know their opportunities and what is available to them in their communities. 

Within the programme, participants have a close community with WhatsApp group chats where they inspire and cheer each other on.  

Most of Active Oadby and Wigston’s programmes are free of charge or incredibly low cost.  

Most activities have an age limit of 18 but they do more targeted activities for families, for example during February half term 2022 they organised family activity days in some of the social housing properties within the borough. 

There are a lot of opportunities to volunteer for students as well. The organisation is always looking for volunteers and urged students across De Montfort University (DMU) to contact Active Oadby and Wigston. 

For more information visit its website https://www.activeoadbywigston.org.uk 

UPDATE: Man bailed after police called to Wigston town centre

By Beth Mosettig

Leicestershire Police have given bail to man who was arrested after suspicious activity in Wigston town centre on Saturday, October 22.

The police were called at around 1.15pm reporting that the man had been acting suspiciously and had apparently approached a child near Sainsbury’s in the shopping precinct.

A police spokesman said: “A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and later bailed pending further enquiries.”

The officers are continuing their enquiries to try and establish the exact circumstances of the incident and are keen to hear from anyone who was at the shopping precinct and saw what happened.

Locals took to social media to comment on the situation:

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Were you in the area at around 1pm yesterday? Did you see what happened?

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting incident 363 of the 22 October 2016

 

 

Man bailed after police called to Wigston

By Beth Mosettig

Police have bailed a man arrested after officers were called to a shopping precinct in Wigston town centre yesterday (Saturday 22 October)

A member of the public called police at around 1.15pm yesterday reporting that a man had been acting suspiciously and approached a child near to Sainsbury’s.

A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and later bailed pending further enquiries.

Officers are continuing their enquiries to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and are keen to hear from anyone in the shopping precinct who saw what happened.

Were you in the area at around 1pm yesterday? Did you see what happened?

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting incident 363 of the 22 October 2016.