Sunday 27 October 2013

Broxtowe Enews 27th October 2013

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 special welcome to the new readers that we have this week.

1.       Eastwood Post Office
At their meeting last week, Eastwood Town council decided to buy the Post Office building for their new offices. This week they met and appointed a solicitor and an architect. This means that the council will now have a permanent base again in town. Although part of the building will be used for offices, the main area will be used as a community facility where, for a small fee, any group in town will be able to use the room. Another upside to this is that the Post Office will remain. If a developer had bought the property he could have ended the lease and put in an application to pull it down and build flats. Eastwood would then have been left with no Post Office.

2.       HS2 Benefits
Research by accountants KMPG, published this week, suggests that Broxtowe could benefit from the HS2 by between £154million and £331million. The council has set up a working group to look at the area and how we can ensure that we are maximising the benefits, and I have the honour of chairing that. We have our first meeting this week to get the process moving and we will be contacting interested parties in due course to invite them to participate as well.

3.       “No Trick or Treat” Posters
As usual as we approach Halloween the police have made available posters that people can display to show that trick-or-treaters should not call. These can be downloaded from http://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=17538&p=0 or from http://bramcotetoday.org.uk/.

4.       Nottingham Credit Union, Rumbletums, Kimberley
The rescheduled meeting to discuss the proposed Nottingham Credit Union information point at Rumbletums will take place at the cafe (2a Victoria Street, Kimberley) on Thursday 31st October at 6.30pm. For more details about this contact Jeff Buck on jeff.buck2768@btinternet.com.

5.       Focus Deliverer Needed
The Lib-Dems currently need a new deliverer to deliver Focus in Bramcote on Chesham Drive, Sloan Drive, Wembley Gardens and Kilburn Close. As residents of these streets will know we deliver Focus every quarter in Bramcote, free of charge, to all of the village (as we do in many other parts of the borough). Delivery rounds take about 45 minutes each four times a year, so if you could help us do this we would be very grateful. Just get in touch with me if you can help. We’re always also grateful for any offers of help elsewhere so if you can assist please just let me know.

6.       County Council Minerals Plan
Notts County Council are currently consulting on their new mineral plan. This is a significant matter for Broxtowe as the mineral plan deals with, amongst other things, where and when open cast mining would be permitted. The consultation is available at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/minerals and the closing date is Wednesday 4th December.

7.       Remembrance Day Parades
Stapleford’s Remembrance Day Parade takes place on Sunday 10th November and will lead to a number of road closures between 10.45 and 12.00. The parade starts on Halls Road, travels to Walter Parker Square on B5010 Derby Road for the Remembrance Service. Upon completion of the service the parade continues along B5010 Derby Road, turns right onto B6003 Toton Lane, then right onto Eatons Road. It then turns right again onto Victoria Street, then left back onto B5010 Derby Road where it travels back to the starting point on Halls Road.
Nuthall’s Remembrance Day parade will result in roads being closed from 10.30 to 12.00. Nottingham Road will be closed between Nuthall Roundabout and Watnall Road.

8.       Daybrook Learning Centre
This is based in Arnold but I’m mentioning it because the County Council say that their current consultation, about whether or not to close it permanently, would affect people in Broxtowe. If you wish to have a say then visit the County Council's website  where you can completing the council's response form on-line. The closing date for the receipt of comments on this proposal is Friday 6 December 2013.


9.       College House Fireworks
College House junior school in Chilwell are holding a fireworks night on Saturday 2nd November starting at 6pm. Admission costs £3.50 for adults and £2.50 for children.


10.   Shortwood Farm
The consultation on whether to permit open cast mining at Shortwood Farm in Cossall has now reopened. This is because the county council rejected the original application for technical defects and it has been resubmitted.  I have ensured that the Borough Council have already resubmitted our complete objection to the scheme.

11.   Ambulance Response Cars
East Midlands Ambulance Service has unveiled new response cars to enable it to achieve the response time targets for 999 calls. The cars enable trained volunteers to give assistance prior to the arrival of the paramedics and are equipped with two way radio’s as well as medical equipment. One of these cars will be based in Beeston.

12.   Train Times
East Midlands trains have unveiled their new timetable for the winter and from December trains from Beeston to London will be up to 8 minutes faster, due to the work that has taken place this year. This is welcome news, but I’ve already seen on the web that the train I was due to get to take me to London tomorrow morning has been cancelled because of the storms forecast for tonight. Whilst talking about the trains may I also mention that Network Rail have submitted plans to install wi-fi at Beeston station which will be available for commuters to use.

13.   Stapleford History Society
The next meeting of the Stapleford and District History Society will take place on Wednesday 13th November at Maycliffe Hall in Stapleford, starting at 7.30pm. The meeting will include a presentation about Hopewell Hall and entrance is £2.50.

14.   Parking Consultation
Notts County Council is currently consulting on introducing a residents-only parking scheme for Endsleigh Gardens and Muriel Road in Beeston. The consultation is open until 6th November (sorry about the short notice – I missed this originally) and permits will cost £25 each, although they will be free for those over 75 or holding a blue badge. If you have any comments on the proposals please write to The County Council, Trent Bridge House, Fox Road, West Bridgford.

15.   Solar Panels at Ikea
The borough council have granted planning permission for Ikea to install 1,000 solar panels on the roof of their store in Giltbrook. This is part of their programme to get their stores entirely dependent on renewable power and I’m delighted to welcome this initiative.

16.   Kimberley War Memorial
A campaign has been launched to raise £20,000 to restore the Grade II listed war memorial in Kimberley. The organisers hope that this can be done before a march next year by the Royal Engineers based at Chetwynd Barracks.

17.   University Numbers
An interesting piece of information released this week was that nearly half of all youngsters in Broxtowe go on to university. 46% of all school leavers in the borough go on to university, compared to 54% from Rushcliffe, 36% from Gedling and 23% from Ashfield.

As ever thank you for your support for this newsletter. Any feedback is gratefully received.

Best wishes

David
Follow me on Twitter @davidwatts12.


Monday 7 October 2013

Broxtowe Enews 7th October 2013

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 special welcome to the new readers that we have this week.

1.       Moving to the City Survey
Thank you for all the responses to the new survey on our website about whether residents would support the south of Broxtowe moving into an enlarged city council area. We have never had such a large response or such a swift response to any survey that we have run. We had nearly 100 responses in the first 72 hours that it was running. 97% of respondents were opposed to the idea. The survey is still open and so if you haven’t completed it yet then you are still able to do so. It is on our website at www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk

2.       Paradiso Cinema
The next film at the Paradiso Cinema, Chilwell School, is Moby Dick. It's on Friday 11th October. This is the classic story by Herman Melville of Captain Ahab's obsession with a huge whale, Moby Dick. It stars Gregory Peck and Orson Wells. Tickets on the door £5 (£4 conc). Film starts at 7.30pm. Refreshments from 7pm.

3.       Rumbletums/WEA adult learning
Rumbletums in Kimberley are working with WEA to explore the possibility of a range of adult learning courses being provided there. I’ve attached a flyer giving more details and if you are interested please contact Jeff Buck at jeff.buck2768@btinternet.com

4.       Kitten found
A kitten has been found in Bramcote at the north end of Coventry Lane. She is about three months old and has no collar or microchip. If you think she might be yours please contact me.

5.       Walter Grauberg
It was with great sadness that I learned this morning that Bramcote resident Walter Grauberg had passed away over the weekend. Walter was a highly respected member of the community here in Bramcote and worked hard for the benefit of everyone, especially via the Bramcote Hills Community Association. Indeed the BHCA’s regard for him was such that a bench was provided in his honour on the Bramcote Ridge. Walter will be missed greatly by all those who knew him.

6.       New Korfball Team
Korfball is a mixed gender ball sport, with similarities to netball and basketball. It is played by two teams of eight players with four females and four males in each team. The objective is to throw a ball through a bottomless basket that is mounted on a 3.5 m (11.5 feet) high pole. Jennifer Price, Marketing Officer for Magic-Korfball Says, “We are a korfball team looking for new recruits in the Beeston/Wollaton area. We train on Mondays, 19:30 at Bilborough College Sports Hall, Nottingham from September until May.  During the summer (June until end of August) we train outdoors, our current park of choice is Dovecote Park, Beeston. See you there from 7:30pm, followed by a pint in The Victoria Hotel. Your first two indoor training sessions are completely free, outdoor training is always free.” For more details please visit the clubs website at http://www.magickorfball.co.uk/.

7.       Half Term Activities
Broxtowe Sport are running holiday activities for children with disabilities and inclusion needs aged 8-19 years old, with siblings and friends also welcome to join. Here are the schedules of activities:   
Wednesday 23rd October 9am – 2pm   Drop off Bramcote Leisure Centre 9am, pick up Foxwood School 2pm. Please provide children with a packed lunch, swimming kit, water proof coat and wellington boots or outdoor shoes. Cost £10 per child. Activities: Water Games, Attenborough Nature Reserve Walk, Lunch, NHS nutrition team Cook and Eat session
Thursday 24th October 10am – 12pm Chilwell Olympia Sports Centre. Cost £5 per child.  Activities: Badminton, Golf, Table Tennis, Korfball (children can make their own choices on the day)
Thursday 24th October 1pm – 3pm. Kimberley Leisure Centre   Please provide children with their swimming kit. Cost £5 per child. Activities: Youth Gym and Water Games.
If you would like to book your children and their siblings or friends onto any of the activities please get in touch via email, telephone 0115 917 3572 or online booking form at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/inclusion. Bookings must be made and pre-paid by Friday 18thOctober 12pm.

8.       Anna Soubry MP
Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry has been moved in the cabinet reshuffle. She had been a junior health minister but now has been moved to the Ministry of Defence. I’d like to wish her lots of luck n her new role.

9.       Ladies Pamper Evening
A ladies pamper evening is being held in aid of the Mayors charities. Treat yourself to an evening of pampering at the Town Hall on Thursday 7th November with beauty treatments including Boots No7 and retail therapy. I’ve attached a flyer with details for anyone interested.

10.   Tree Planting Grants
To help schools, community groups and parish councils to plant trees in school grounds or on community green spaces. The Greenwood Community Forest Team is once again offering free advice and funding for tree planting of up to £500. This year, thanks to Nottinghamshire County Council's Local Improvement Scheme, funding is available for planting throughout Nottinghamshire. Projects could include planting to provide areas of shade, creating or enhancing a wildlife area, memorial trees, screening unsightly areas or healthy living projects such as planting apple trees. To be eligible, your scheme must have the permission of the landowner, be located on school grounds or publicly accessible land and involve the school and/or local community. The deadline for applications is 13th December 2013, but funding is limited so parish councils, groups and schools are encouraged to apply early. Guidance notes and an application form are available at www.greenwoodforest.org.uk. For further information or advice on developing your project including the types of trees contact the Greenwood Team on 0115 969 6533 or email greenwood@nottscc.gov.uk.

11.   Greasley CAT Meeting
Local residents in Greasley can find out about more about flooding issues at a special CAT Meeting later this month. Greasley, Giltbrook and Newthorpe Community Action Team will welcome representatives from Nottinghamshire County Council and Severn Trent Water on Thursday 17th October who will be answering questions on surface water flooding following flooding in the area on 23rd July. The meeting will be held at Greasley Parish Hall, Dovecote Road, Newthorpe between 7.45 pm to 9.15 pm

12.   Polling Station Review
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the council were starting a review into polling stations in the borough. They have now launched an online consultation which can be completed at http://broxtowe.firmstep.com/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=PW8H9NGsz8G&HideAll.

13.   Strictly 50’s Dance Event
The council is holding a dance event on Sunday 1st December from 1pm to 4pm at the East Midlands Conference Centre. The event is a fun afternoon for spectators who can watch and be entertained and dancers who want to take part in social dancing and try new types of dance in the dance workshops. Spaces are limited so early booking is essential. You can do this online at www.broxtowe.gov.uk.

14.   Beeston Probus Club
Beeston Probus Club are appealing for new members. The club has dropped to just 18 active members and they would like more. If you are interested in joining then please contact the chairman, Brian Palmer, on 07999 978638.

15.   Recycling Centre Closing Times
The county’s recycling centres, including the one in Beeston, will close at 6pm throughout October. They will then be closing at 4pm from November throughout the winter.

16.   Oxylane Sports Village
As regular readers will know a planning application to build a sports village at Junction 26 of the M1 was withdrawn a few weeks ago. This has now been resubmitted and now includes a new swimming pool and sports centre as well as the facilities that have previously been suggested. This will be decided by the council’s Development Control Committee in due course.

17.   Potholes
It was disappointing to read this week that the County Council have missed their targets for repairing potholes. There are currently more than 60 miles of roads in the County in need of repairs. I know that we will all be able to bring sites to mind and rest assured that as local councillors we are regularly pressing for our streets to be repaired.

As ever thank you for your support for this newsletter. Any feedback is gratefully received.

Best wishes

David
Follow me on Twitter @davidwatts12.