A guide to public art around Coalville has been launched, which leads residents and visitors around the prominent and lesser-known artworks in the town and surrounding areas.

Prominent, long-standing pieces such as the Mother and Child statue outside the Library are contrasted against newer installations such as the Hugglescote Bear, the Phoenix Green muraland mosaic panels placed around the town centre and Council Offices.

The Public Art Trail also gives information on the background and development of each piece.

To download the Public Art trail and find out more please visit http://www.coalvilleschanging.com/coalville-trails.html.

Detailed plans for the new Tesco store on the site of the existing Ford garage on Whitwick Road, Coalville have been approved by the District Council. The exciting design of the store marks a new chapter in the regeneration of the town. Plans include demolition of existing buildings, and redevelopment of the site for a mix of uses including the food store, other shops, 20 residential apartments and associated car parking, infrastructure works, servicing, and improvements to the area surrounding the development.

Tesco was granted outline planning permission for the store in October 2009. Planning officers have now agreed the detailed design application. For further information, please contact Chris Elston, Development Control Manager, by emailing chris.elston@nwleicestershire.gov.uk or phone 01530454668.

Further images of the plans can be seen on the Planning Portal

Tesco has submitted detailed plans for its new Coalville store on the site of the existing Ford Garage on Whitwick Rd, Coalville.

The plans include demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site for a mix of uses including A1 foodstore, other A1-A5 retail space, 20 residential apartments and associated car parking, infrastructure works, servicing and public realm enhancement.

Tesco was granted outline planning permission for the store in October 2009. Planning officers are currently considering the detailed design application, and aim to make a decision on the proposals early in 2011.

Residents, neighbouring properties and other interested parties are invited to comment on the detailed proposals by using the 'Submit Comment' link on the Public Access planning system via the link below. The application can also be viewed by visiting the Council Offices - the new application reference is 10/01045/REM.

View and comment on the detailed plans for the new store

Four very different films offering something for everyone are set to feature in Coalville’s Film Weekend. The event takes place from 15th to 17th October at the Century Theatre, Snibston off Ashby Road, Coalville. Local scenes filmed at Loughborough Bell Foundry and the Great Central Railway feature in ‘Cemetery Junction’, a 1970s-set British comedy drama written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant of ‘The Office’ and ‘Extras’ fame.

For the youngsters, there is ‘Toy Story 3’, the third instalment of the much-loved Pixar/Disney animation saga - the hit film of the summer. Of special interest to local people previously involved in the mining industry will be ‘King Coal’ - archive film from the BFI National Archive telling the turbulent story of coal and its immense effect on British life. Admission to this one is free.

Rounding up the Film Weekend on Sunday will be a newly restored version of the classic wartime thriller ‘Went the Day Well’ in which villagers fight back when German paratroopers invade their quiet English village. There are also supporting programmes including archive British Transport Films and premieres of short films by young film makers.

Councillor Trevor Pendleton, Culture Champion for North West Leicestershire District Council, said: “There’s something for everyone in this exciting line up of films and we hope to see big audiences for the whole weekend event.”

The Film Weekend is sponsored by Coalville Town Partnership in conjunction with Century Cinema and North West Leicestershire District Council. Full details are to be found in a leaflet available from Snibston and North West Leicestershire District Council and on-line at http://www.centurytheatre.co.ukor contact Ashby Tourist Information Centre on 01530 411767 or Snibston on 01530 278444.

Programme
Friday 15th October
7.30pm - Cemetery Junction (15), Admission £3.50, pay on door

Saturday 16th October
10:30am - Toy Story 3 (U), Admission £1, pay on door
2:00pm - King Coal (U), Admission Free

Sunday 17th October
2:00pm - Went the Day Well? (PG), Admission £3.50, pay on door

Coalville Library is inviting children aged between 4 and 12 years old to follow the crew of starship Ex Libris as they try to set up the first libary on the moon! Space Hop is themed around the final frontier and blasted-off from Leicestershire libraries on 10th July. It's a free and fun way for kids to get into reading - which is out-of-this world news for parents too!

Children can pick up their membership card and a poster on which they can log their reading progress with stickers from their local library. Completing the Summer Reading Challenge is a rewarding way to learn. Children read at least six books during the holidays, collect stickers and a bookmark along the way and are rewarded with a certificate and other Space Hop goodies.

Children can read any book as part of the challenge and there are also specific space-themed reading lists for younger readers featuring over 30 books, including 'I Wish I Was An Alien', 'Space Pirates' and 'The Comic Strip History Of Space'.

Last year more than 13,500 children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge in Leicestershire with over 10,000 children completing the challenge. This year it is hoped that even more kids will get into the cosmic world of reading.

Younger children can join in their own version of Space Hop by visiting their local library and collecting stickers for a special Bookcrawl Space Hop certificate.

For more information about Space Hop just call in at your local library or visit the website at www.leics.gov.uk/spacehop.

On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June, Coalville will be celebrating the Coalville Festival Weekend, incorporating the biannual Picnic in the Park with Battle of the Bands, and a new event- Brassfest.

Details of the events are listed below:

Battle of the Bands - Enjoy live music in the Park from local bands - Coalville Park, 5:30pm onwards, Saturday 26th June

Picnic in the Park - Community procession leaves Clock Tower at 11:20am. Live bands, arts workshops, children and youth zones, stalls and refreshments - Coalville Park, 12-6pm, Sunday 27th June

Coalville will be decorated with colourful banners from this weekend, courtesy of the Coalville Town Centre Partnership, with some designs produced by children in local primary schools. The banners fall into four different categories:

- History banners to celebrate Coalville’s industrial heritage in Marlborough Square
- Events banners to celebrate the wide and varied events programme centred around the town centre in Memorial Square
- Gateway banners to provide a sense of arrival into the town centre.
- Love Coalville banners which feature quotes from students at Belvoirdale Primary School, All Saints Primary School, Hermitage FM listeners and other Coalville people.

This project is supported by the Leicestershire County Council Place Shaping Fund as well as local organisations, including Stephenson College, Snibston Discovery Museum and the National Forest.

Councillor Matthew Blain, Coalville Champion said, “These banners will show everyone how proud we are of Coalville’s past, present and future. I’m really pleased that the students at All Saints and Belvoirdale were involved with the project.”

More information on the project can be found on the Flags over Coalville page.

Transport Festival - 14th to 16th May
Snibston Discovery Museum is currently planning the Transport Festival, one of its biggest annual events. The star attraction will be a steam locomotive built in 1940 called Linda. The locomotive will arrive at Snibston on Friday 14 May and visitors can ride along the railway over the weekend for just £1.50.

The May transport festival will have something for all visitors. The Battle of Britain Lancaster Bomber flyover will be a big draw, but there will also be a selection of vintage vehicles – some from the museum’s collections and some from local enthusiasts – trade stands, music from organ grinders, artists and not forgetting smaller guests, a Thomas the Tank Engine bouncy castle, horseshoe painting and pony rides.

Coalville Film Weekend - 21st to 23rd May
Developed to promote Coalville and all it has to offer the Coalville Town Centre Partnership and partners are pleased to present the first Coalville Film Weekend hosted at the Century Theatre, Snibston Discovery Museum. From blockbusting award winners to locally made shorts - there's even animation workshops so you can have a go yourself!On Friday 21st May the weekend kicks off with the award winning A Single Man staring Colin Firth. Then on Saturday 22nd May Fantastic Mr Fox, is being screened together with locally made short films and animation workshops. Finally on Sunday 23rd May the Ealing classic comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt will be available. For further information visit www.centurytheatre.co.uk/coalville-film-weekend.

Coalville’s Memorial Clock Tower has been honoured with a Grade II listing by English Heritage following efforts by North West Leicestershire District Council.

Built in 1925, the Memorial Clock Tower honours those who fought and died in the First World War, and also serves as a memorial to locals killed in action during the Second World War.

English Heritage has designated the Clock Tower as worthy of a Grade II listing as it is an “imposing, proud and architecturally distinctive tribute to the Fallen of the First and Second World Wars”. They also noted the historic interest of the memorial stone located close to the north side of the Tower which marks the end of the Second World War.

The Clock Tower has a history of admiration for its architecture, once being described by eminent architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner in his book The Buildings of England as “quite a proud thing to build for a small town”.

North West Leicestershire District Council has announced its decision to grant planning permission for a new Tesco foodstore in Coalville has been given the green light by the Secretary of State.

The Council had been required to refer the application to the Secretary of State back in October 2009 for him to decide whether or not he wished to 'call in' the decision and hold a public inquiry. The Secretary of State has now written to the Council to inform them he does not wish to intervene and the Council is free to issue the permission.

Councillor Matthew Blain, Deputy Leader at North West Leicestershire District Council and Coalville Champion said: "I'm delighted the Secretary of State has not intervened in this decision. We are keen to get on with the job of regenerating Coalville, and if this scheme had been 'called in' it would have lead to delays.

"We now await the decision of the Government Officials on the second major regeneration scheme in Coalville for the redevelopment of the Belvoir Centre which was also referred to them in March."