Request SKY LINK buses to pick up/drop off passengers at Redhill Circle Birstall.

As mentioned in my previous post, finally SKYLINK bus stop was agreed and given by Trent Barton Bus Company. Passengers I meet while travelling on SKYLINK to Loughborough & back are thankful specially students and pensioners who regularly go to Loughborough and in Leicester City Centre.
I have asked our councillor Mr Daniel Grimley to look at possibility of providing bus shelter at Redhill Circle from the money (£25000.00)he has received from Leicestershire County Council to improve facility in Birstall. I was advised by him that he will make the decision by end of January 2022. This is my next task to get bus shelter at Redhill Circle. You can help by writing to Mr Grimley. Contact details of Mr Grimley in my previous post. Thank you for your continue support.

Hello Everyone,
Finally we have received confirmation from Jeff Counsell that SKYLINK bus stop will be provided by the company on Sunday 31/10/2021. Our campaign is not over yet. I have contacted our Councillor Mr Daniel Grimley to provide bus shelter on both side of A6 Loughborough Road near Redhill Circle from the £25,000 funding he has received from Leicestershire County Council. I believe that instead of flower beds and benches for public during summer months, if bus shelter is provided then it will be used all year round specially in winter. If you agree with my proposal please write to our councillor Mr Grimley for the support of bus shelter on A6 Loughborough Road at Redhill Circle. Like our successful campaign to get SKYLINK stop at Redhill Circle we will get bus shelter if enough people support me by writing to Mr Grimley. His e mail address is: [email protected]
I hope all residents will support me once more for all our benefit.

I have yesterday received promising email from Jeff Counsell Managing Director of Trent Barton bus company to review their decision and reconsider to provide bus stop at A6 Loughborough Road near Redhill Circle after cycle lane is removed. Watch this space and Birstall Post for update

If any Birstall residents would like copies of petition with proof of 230 signatures; reconsideration letter to Trent Barton with supporting documents can e mail me at "[email protected]". I will be happy to provide them. Please mark you email heading as Skylink bus stop petition documents request.
Thank you.

Ms Julie Palmer (Labour) Lives on 16 Rosetree Avenue Birstall. Resident in Birstall for nearly 18 years. Full time teacher and newly appointed Parish Councillor. Support request sent on 19/4/2021. Received positive response in 24 hours. She provided Copy of letter she has written to Trent Barton on 24/04/2021 supporting our campaign. Further e mail received on 28/04/2021 in which she promised to put an agenda item on 17/5/2021 at Birstall Parish Council general meeting to request all councillors to support our campaign.
Very impressed with her approach to help our campaign and also provided proof of her action. My friends and family vote including mine will surely go to her and I request all Birstall residents to do same. We have lost one dedicated helpful local resident councillor Mr Iain Bentley. Please replace with similar person who is worthy of out vote.

Mr Rob Hewson. (Liberal) (Very little information about him) comes from farming family. Lives on Barkby Road Syston (4.3 miles from Birstall). No connection with Birstall found. First e mail on 21/3/21 for campaign support was ignored. Following e mail on 19/4/21 for support. His reply was will discuss with party and see what help can be given. Hallow promise. Appears he is a full time businessman and willing to become Birstall Councillor for financial gain and party politics. "Think" before voting.

Mr Grimley (Conservative) lives in Q estate Queniborough. Le7 3FP where he holds his surgery (It is 5.4 miles from Birstall). Full time job and Queniborough ward councillor. He has not committed anything in writing. I hand delivered copies of documents I provided to Jeff Counsell, Trent Barton to Mr Bentley on 13/4/2021 who faxed to Mr Grimley. I had to contact Mr Grimley 3 times in 10 days to request his willingness to help our campaign. After persistence request for his answer to help us, he telephoned and advised me that he will speak to his party and Mr Edward Argar to see what can be done. Hallow promises nothing in writing. Do we need a councillor who does not have any current connection with Birstall and will he stand up in hour of our need? He already has plenty on his plate and it appears greed for more recognition for very little work. Once chosen his post as councillor of Birstall is safe for 4 years with allowance of £11430 every year. "THINK" before voting for him

Now about the 3 candidates who are standing for councillors post.
Candidate receiving highest votes will receive £11340 a year allowance for their duty and their post will last for 4 years. They can carry on with their current jobs/business in addition to Councillors post. I sent special emails to all 3 candidates with same documents sent to Mr Edward Argar. In the e mail I informed them that:
"On behalf of residents, I would like to inform you that we are not interested in which party candidate wins; as long as the candidate demonstrates that he/she is genuinely interested in helping to solve Birstall residents' this current problem (before the election on 6th May 2021).
On behalf of residents I am going to evaluate all the candidates and inform residents before Thursday 06/05/2021.I will be informing on this website how each candidate demonstrated that they will help us to solve this and any future problems.
In next post I am writing my findings.

NO phone call was received from Mr Argar on 30/4/2021 until 13.20 (half an hour waiting beside phone stopping my business). Mr Argar phoned by private number at 13.24 and left message on answering machine that he is late in calling me and he will call me later. E mail received next day that he will call today 4/5/2021. Provided him alternate number and landline as it became vital to speak to him to find out if he was willing to support our campaign. It is 18.27 now and still waiting for him to call me

Mr Edward Argar MP for Birstall. Appointment with our MP is like trying to get appointment with Queen. He has a lot on his plate and he is aware that he will not need constituent votes until 2026. All phone calls, emails and recorded delivery letters were ignored until surgery appt was provided for 12.45 on 30/4/2021. Recorded delivery letter (Petition signed by 230 residents; reconsideration request letter & supporting proofs) were sent in anticipation of explaining him of our campaign before telephone appointment on 14/4/2021. ( continued on next post)

Roy Rollings (Birstall Councillor) NO response to request letter of 3/11/20
Iain Bentley (Birstall Councillor stepping down) passed the petition to Daniel Grimley conservative candidate.
Julian Howe (councillor) NO response
Ann Marshall (Chairperson of parish Council) No response to support request of 26/4/2021
Sue Coulson (clerk of Parish Council) passive response. Advised matter for bus company and residents. (note each householder in Birstall contributes £99.00 per year to upkeep Parish Council)
Jane Hunt (Loughborough MP) received response from her secretary that our MP is Edgar Argar and request has been forwarded to him.
Varsha Parmar (Loughborough Equality Action Group) Very positive response including letter to Trent Barton supporting our campaign.

As promised, I am updating progress of our campaign. Following people were contacted for support and response I have received from them.
Lauren Baker (safe & sustainable travel team in Leicestershire at Glenfield County Hall) Very positive support all the way through from initial request on 6/11/20 to final letter of support to Trent Barton Bus Company on 28/4/21.
Mr N J Rushton (leader of Leicestershire County Council) mixed response. His department investigated and he replied that County Council cannot help as it is matter between bus company and residents.
Shona Rattray (Birstall Councillor). Very passive response to request to 3/11/20. Advised disable and elderly to walk to Greengate bus stop as solution.
(continued in next update)

I have sent email to following candidates applying for Birstall Councillor post with our petition.(Mr Danial Grimley, Mr Rob Hewson and Ms Julie Palmer) and informed them that we will evaluate their willingness to help our petition before casting our valuable votes.
I am going to update the residents of all the candidates' action to our petition through my petition website.

Our petition has gather the speed now. Total of 230 signatures (86 on line and 144 door to door around Roman Road and side streets) were collected by myself and together with reconsideration request letter with supporting evidence of need of 2nd stop of Skylink bus stop at Redhill Circle was delivered by hand on 13/4/2021 to Managing Director Mr Jeff Counsell. In addition copy of above was sent to following for additional support: Charnwood MP Mr Edward Argar, Loughborough MP Ms Jane Hunt, Mr N J Rushton (Leicestershire transport chairperson)Birstall Parish Council, Conservative candidate Mr Daniel Grimley, liberal candidate Mr Rob Hewson, labour candidate Ms Julie Palmer and Loughborough Disability Action Group.

The above campaign article is published in The Birstall Post January 2021 edition on page 9 under "your say" Heading is SKYLINK.
Please advise your family and friends to support our campaign.