Information on Loughborough

Loughborough in the Frame

Posted on 06/02/2008
P. Klein

What the judges said: “A vivid, dramatic, very arresting and eye-catching image as a result of the angle, composition and exploitation of colour in this development. The photographer has chosen just the right day, time and sky to show off the bold colours. The bold angle is clever and adds to the drama.”

They went out in force and loads of snap happy photographers putting the Borough of Charnwood in the frame have made a real difference to our local community.

Announced on inLoughborough last  year Charnwood Together the ‘Picture Your Neighbourhood’ competition last year so residents of the borough could focus in on the good and the bad parts of key areas in our local environment.

The idea was to get people from all age groups to take pictures of 5 neighbourhoods in Loughborough, Mountsorrel, Thurmaston and Syston illustrating what it means to them.

The winners have now been chosen and presented with their respective prizes. However all the pictures have assisted Charnwood Borough Council staff to identify problem areas - such as graffiti and vandalism – now it is clear where action is required.

For the competition more than 120 disposable cameras including film processing were handed out for free by the Council during the months of September 2007 and October 2007. The judges commented that all the entries arriving were of a remarkably high standard.

John Pilling was awarded the prize for his work in the best overall picture category. He wins  £150 worth of vouchers to buy camera equipment. His award winning picture was of the new wharf building between Derby Road and the canal.

In second place was Beryl McDowall who won £50, while third place and £25 went to Bethney Lee-Smith.

In the under 18 category - Best Picture by a Young Person, Maryum Jalal came in first and took away a 4GB iPod Nano. Maryums picture was of vandalised playground equipment.

Joint winners of iPod shuffles were Jamie Duncan and Charlie Charlesworth both won an iPod shuffle (presumably one each), while Charlie Pearson was £25 the better for taking third prize.

The judging panel comprised of Charnwood Borough Council leader, Cllr Richard Shepherd (Conservative councillor for Quorn & Mountsorrel Castle), Cllr Peter Lewis (Conservative councillor for Loughborough Nanpantan), Cllr Jill Vincent (Labour councillor for Loughborough Southfields). Joining them was Andy Rush, the Editor of the Loughborough Echo.

One of CBC’s Community Strategy Support Officers Hiron Miah, said: “The pictures have identified problems like graffiti and vandalism have been reported to the relevant departments.

“We will be visiting all the areas where problems have been highlighted to check they have been addressed.

“The difficulty is some problems have been reported on private land and we have no authority to make them address the problem.”

While the photographs have brought attention to the issues that need addressing in the Borough, they also presented the judging panel with an incredibly tricky choice.

Iain Kirtley, one of Charnwood’s Community Strategy Support Officers, added: “All the pictures received were of an exceptionally high standard.

“They have helped give us a really good idea of what it means to people to live where they do. We can also take action to improve these areas where possible if a problem has been identified.”

Peter Lewis added: “I find it incredibly interesting to see that these pictures reflect an interest in geometrical shapes and the patterns they make collectively. Bright colours seem to also be a priority.”

If you would like to find out more information about Priority Neighbourhoods and live in Loughborough, Mountsorrel, Syston or Thurmaston you can contact Hiron Miah on Loughborough 632 517 or alternatively Iain Kirtley on Loughborough 632 518.

What the judges said: “The design is new but nothing changes – children seem to have vandalised their own back door playgrounds forever. It is wonderfully ambiguous: should we be angry and upset about spoiling a climbing wall or merely a bit fed up with kids who will make their mark on everything – but does it matter because it’s in their playground?”