Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal
Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of the Lib-Dems on Broxtowe
Borough Council. May I give a warm welcome to the new readers that we have this
week.
1. Field
Farm
The Development Control Committee at Broxtowe Borough Council
met last week to consider the application to build 450 homes on Field Farm in
Stapleford. This was granted after a lengthy debate. To avoid filling up the
newsletter with the details I have prepared a fact sheet about the application,
the issues involved and why the vote went through. If you are receiving this
newsletter y email then it’s attached to the email. If you are reading in on
the web you can see the fact sheet on the Lib-Dem website at www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk.
2. Threats
After the vote on Field Farm one person took to Twitter to
issue a number of very graphic threats against me and my family. These have
been referred to the police and are being investigated. One journalist who read
the messages said that he was deeply shocked whilst another described them as
obscene, violent and nasty. I know that the sender does not represent the vast
majority of the public, but it is disappointing that this has happened. However
I have been greatly cheered by the way that the leading opponents of building
on Field Farm moved very quickly to distance themselves from this behaviour and
a number also sent me personal messages of support, as have a number of
councillors from the Labour party as well as my own group. In 14 years on the
council I have never been subject to this sort of behaviour before and I hope
never to do so again. It will not stop me trying to do the best for the people
I represent.
3. Election
News
The complete list of candidates for the County Council
elections are now available on the County Council website at http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/thecouncil/democracy/elections/election2013/candidates/broxtowe/.
For the Liberal Democrats Stan Heptinstall and Jacky Williams are standing for
Bramcote and Stapleford, Steve Carr for Beeston North, Brian Taylor for Beeston
South and Attenborough, myself and Barbara Carr for Chilwell and Toton, Ken Rigby
for Trowell and Kimberley, Josie Forest for Beauvale and Keith Longdon for
Eastwood. If you would like to help your local Lib-Dem candidate just let me
know and I’ll pass your details on.
There is a very handy blog about the elections in the borough
provided by the Beestonia Blog at http://beestoniabattleofbroxtowe.wordpress.com/.
There is a nice profile piece about me on there although I was a bit taken
aback to be described as a veteran campaigner (for the record I will be 47 next
week).
4. Supporting
Local Businesses
Just before I move away from the County Council elections may
I make one observation. All parties say that they are keen to support local
businesses so with that in mind I had a quick look at the printers details on
the various pieces of election material that I have received. The Conservatives
had theirs printed in Middlesex. The Labour Party had theirs printed in
Uttoxeter. The independent candidate in Stapleford has his printed in Aberdeen.
Only the Liberal Democrats have had ours printed in Broxtowe. We use two local
printers, although in the interests of full disclosure I do want to make it
clear that I own one of the businesses who do our printing. The other is a
company completely independent of the Lib-Dems but based here in Broxtowe. When
canvassers call on your door over the next couple of weeks it might be an
interesting question to ask them why they had their leaflets printed in
different parts of the country.
5. Patchwork
Lives
On Friday 3rd May at 7.30pm Arletty Theatre present “Patchwork
Lives” at Chilwell Arts Theatre, Chilwell School, NG9 5AL. This play is created
around stories collected from the people of Nottinghamshire (including Beeston
and Chilwell), about the women who inspired and influenced them. Each woman’s
name is written on a patch of fabric, then stitched into a patchwork quilt,
just as her story is incorporated into the play. Tickets are £8 (£6 concs) from
the school on 0115 925 2698 or 0777 2053412 or on the door.
6. St
Michael’s Church, Bramcote
The redevelopment of St Michael’s church is now complete and
the church will open for viewing on Saturday 20th April from 10am to
4pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
7. Transport
Forum for Local Businesses
A free forum meeting is being held for businesses on 8th
May to help them prepare their staff for the transport changes that will occur
in Broxtowe when the tram is up and running next year. This will take place at
Attenborough Nature Reserve from noon until 2pm. Businesses can book a place by
emailing admin@thebigwheel.org.uk
8. Beeston
BID
A pub owner on the High Road in Chilwell has started a
petition to scrap the Business Improvement District (BID) in Beeston. He claims
that the voting to implement the BID was unfair and he gets very little out of
the scheme. I’m afraid that I disagree with him totally. Beeston benefits from
advertising and having a dedicated team bringing trade and businesses in. This
is all funded by the BID. The other town centres share one person as Town
Centre Manager whilst Beeston gets the BID teams exclusive attention. The small
number of empty shops in Beeston is testament to the work that the BID team do
and scapping it would be a very foolish move.
9. Round
Hill School
A public meeting will be held on Tuesday 23rd
April from 5pm to 7pm to discuss plans to create an extra 105 places at Round Hill
School. This will be held at the school and anyone interested is welcome to
attend.
10. Mass
Singalong
Members of the public are invited to take part in a mass
singalong in Beeston next Saturday, 20th April. This will take place
at Chilwell Road Methodist Church and the event is aimed at raising money for
Water Aid. Various choirs will also have stalls and representatives present.
Tickets cost £5 on the door or can be purchased in advance by ringing 0115 943
1164. I’m afraid that I don’t know what times the event runs for but I’m sure
if you ring the phone number someone will be able to let you know.
11. Ebooks
in Libraries
Notts County Council’s library service has announced that it
is scrapping the £1 charge it levies when people borrow an ebook. Library
members will be able to borrow up to 5 ebooks at a time and they are available
for most tablets except the Amazon Kindle.
12. Poetry
Event
A season of poetry is about to start in Beeston. The first
event will take place on Friday 26th April at Beeston Library,
starting at 7.30pm. It is entitled “Versions of the North” and tickets cost
£7.50 from the library.
13. Attenborough
Friendship Group
Older Attenborough residents are invited to join the
Attenborough Friendship Group which meets on alternate Wednesday’s at
Attenborough village hall. It is aimed at senior citizens and details are
available on 0115 922 1183.
14. Broxtowe
Fun Run
This Friday the Broxtowe 5K fun run takes place. It starts
and finishes at Bramcote Park and entry costs £10 in advance of £12 on the day.
Full details are available from sport@broxtowe.gov.uk
or by ringing 0115 917 3572.
As ever thanks for your support for this newsletter and any
feedback is gratefully received. There does seem to have been a real southern
bias to this weeks news so I’ll try and find some northern events for next
week.
David
