EAST LEAKE TODAY
The profile of a 21st century community

Located five miles north of Loughborough, and ten south of Nottingham, with Leicester only about fifteen miles to the south and Derby twelve or so to the west, East Leake is ideally situated.

Communications are good - the M1 is less than five miles away, EMA (East Midlands Airport) just over five, and Midland Mainline trains serve Loughborough and Nottingham.

Not surprisingly, East Leake is a popular residential area, and its population has now reached almost 7,000; it is one of the six so-called "large" villages in the Borough of Rushcliffe.

It was a typical agricultural community until the late nineteenth century, when the gypsum deposits to the north of the village were exploited for the first time.

Now British Gypsum is the largest local employer, and is part of British Plaster Board (BPB), a significant international concern, which is currently expanding to meet demand from the building industry.

Other industries include the ultra-modern Micropropagation Services, whose cloned Major Oaks carry Nottinghamshire's fame all over the world. There are in addition numerous service sector businesses - legal, financial, architectural.

Although the village has expanded rapidly over the last four decades, it is fortunate enough to have most of the amenities necessary for a community of its size, even if some of them operate at full stretch!

There is a good range of shops and services and, although there is no traditional bank, Girobank is available at the Post Office, and there is a cashpoint at the Co-op supermarket.

Healthcare provision is particularly good - we have a Health Centre, two general medical practices, a pharmacy, two dental practices, an optician and a physiotherapy clinic including a part-time chiropodist.

There are five active churches in East Leake. In addition to the Parish Church of St Mary's, there are Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Evangelical churches.

The Parish Council is based in a modern purpose-built office which is open every weekday morning. The Clerk and Assistant Clerk are available to give advice on many local government issues.

We have four schools - Harry Carlton Comprehensive, Brookside County Primary (with a "4 plus" unit), Lantern Lane County Primary (with attached nursery school) and the PNEU. There are also two private nursery schools, a voluntary Pre-school Playgroup and a Toddlers' Club. Harry Carlton School and most of Lantern Lane Primary School operate in premises built as recently as 2003 under a PFI scheme and managed on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council by Alfred McAlpine Business Services.

That project included a replacement Leisure Centre, to which, as it had always shared responsibility for the old one, Rushcliffe Borough Council contributed. The greatly improved facilities comprise a 25m swimming pool, a toddler pool, air-conditioned fitness gym, dance/exercise studio, sports hall and gymnastics room. Outside are tennis and netball courts, all-weather floodlit pitches and sports fields.

East Leake Playing Fields Charity, based at Costock Road, provides a good range of sporting opportunities, while for the walker, the County Council's "P3" initiative has brought an extensive network of footpaths around the village up to an excellent standard (leaflet available from the Parish Office, 50p).

Meadow Park is a large open area to the west of Gotham Road, and was once part of the Kirk family's farm. When the land was sold for development, the Kirks gave this portion to the residents of East Leake as a permanent amenity; Rushcliffe Borough Council now own and manage it on behalf of the village. It is popular with dog-walkers, and also the many folk who just like to enjoy the wildlife which flourishes there. The sculpture, which was created as a community arts project in 2003, incorporates a millstone found in the park and symbolises the watermill that once stood beside the Kingston Brook.

The Parish Council provides two children's playgrounds, as well as maintaining the old Glebe land (where a Millennium time capsule is buried), the Memorial Garden opposite St Marys Church and the Rest Garden near the centre of the village.

There are many voluntary organisations in the village, of which two stand out. The Town Lands Trust was founded in 1637 by local benefactors to help parishioners who fell on hard times; today it helps individuals or organisations and even, on occasion, the Parish Council. Over three hundred years later, East Leake Community Care Association started, in 1973; its activities include a transport scheme and a twice-monthly day centre for the elderly, as well as a network of care and information, especially for elderly or disabled residents.

Every two years, Community Care publish a 'Village Round-up', containing information about all the organisations active in East Leake. The 2008 issue is in preparation now and will shortly be delivered to every household, with further copies available in the Parish Office or the Library.

Although there are still farms all around, East Leake is now predominantly a commuter village, thanks to its easy access to Loughborough, Nottingham, Leicester and Derby.

It is a busy, modern place, but strives to retain a sense of identity and community.