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.
Broxtowe Core Strategy
I’m
starting again with a regular theme, the council’s core strategy for
development over the next 15 years. There was a further hearing about this on
Wednesday when residents and other interested parties from Toton were able to
have their say. I was extremely surprised to hear Anna Soubry MP attending to
say that she supported development at Toton linked to HS2 and that she agreed
that this should include some housing, which is a significant change in her
position from previously.
2.
Road Works
This is an advance notice of road works being carried out at
the railway bridge on Stapleford Road in Trowell from 2200 hours on Wednesday
16th April 2014 until 0600 hours on Saturday 19th April 2014 (2200 hours until
0600 hours each night for 3 nights). The road will be completely closed from
10pm to 6am each day.
3.
Council Ward Boundaries
As
I have mentioned before the Boundary Commission are currently changing the
boundaries of wards in Broxtowe to try and make them fairer. The council have
now submitted our suggestions, which were to make few changes to the existing
layout. However we are suggesting that Eastwood should be split into three
wards rather than the current two, and that a small number of houses that have
been in Beeston West should now transfer to Beeston Central. The Boundary
Commission will make their final decisions by the summer.
4.
Eastwood does buttons
Volunteers
with local group ‘Communities Against Poverty’ are currently working on a
programme of events for 2014. Two events
for February and March have been arranged at the Library Bar – ‘Eastwood does
Buttons’. There will be buttons suitable
for knitters, dressmakers and cardmakers, including Christmas and animal themed
buttons. Visitors will be able to buy
buttons in jars or on a ‘pick and mix’, ‘fill a bag’ basis.
As
well as buttons visitors will be able to:
·
see a display of historical buttons by the local branch of
the UK Button Society
·
take their own buttons along to the event for more
information and a valuation by Jenny Swindells of the UK Button Society for a
small donation. Jenny has been
collecting and researching buttons for 40 years and is the Button Consultant
for Bonhams Auctioneers and several other auction houses
·
join a flower making session using fabric, crochet and/or
knitting. Materials are provided and the
flowers produced will go on display in Eastwood during the town’s July Arts
Festival.
There
is no charge for entry to the events which take place at the Library Bar on
Scargill Walk (in the Craft Workshops area) from 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday 22
February and at the same time again on Saturday 29 March 2014. At the March event the group will be selling leather remnants for
crafts people. Contact: Please email
Angela on angela.kinton@talktalk.net
5. Talent
Development at Work
Derbyshire
and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce (DNCC) is working with organisations in
both counties to develop their staff through a new Talent Development
programme. This fully-funded programme is available to organisations that fall
into the eligible sector list in the following areas: customer retention and
sales growth, information technology, business administration
efficiency, business social media and marketing and leadership and management. There
are a range of job-specific courses on offer, from Level 2 to Level 4 and there
are no fees to pay. If you are interested contact Trudi Davidson at
trudi.davidson@dncc.co.uk for further information.
6.
Watnall Bunker
As
you may have seen on Channel 4 TV this week an old World War Two bunker in
Watnall is set to be turned into a bed and breakfast. The bunker on land off
Main Road - which used to be an RAF plotting station – was bought two years ago
and Broxtowe Borough Council has now given planning permission for it to be
converted. It will be interesting to see how the work develops.
7.
Truancy
I
reported last week that Eastwood School was in the bottom five schools for
attendance in Nottinghamshire. I’m very grateful to the chair of the Governors
who informs me that the figures released by the County Council were based on
figures a year old and that the school have taken significant steps to address
the issue, so that attendance this year is up to 94%, a far better figure.
8.
Number 14 bus
Nottingham
City Transport have announced that they are withdrawing the number 14 bus which
serves Beeston and Chilwell and runs into the city centre. The last service
will run at the end of March. The route is being withdrawn because NCT say that
it losing a significant amount of money.
9.
Bramcote Ridge
The
Friends of Bramcote Ridge planted 120 new trees on the ridge last week as part
of their efforts to restore the area. The new trees were Hawthornes and have
been planted near Sandy Lane. Well done to everyone involved.
10.
Cator Lane
The
County Council have announced that they are bringing forward plans to resurface
Cator Lane in Chilwell a year ahead of schedule to try and take advantage of
the fact that the road is currently closed because of tram works. The
resurfacing will take place between Bramcote Avenue and Greenwood Court. Whilst
it seems sensible to try and tie in with the tram work I’ve already been
contacted by residents expressing great concern about these proposals and the practical
details about how they will work.
11.
Water Bills
Severn
Trent have announced that average bills for customers will go up by £3 this
year. May I make it clear that this is not simply so that they can pay for the
damage they caused to my house when they flooded us last year. It does mean
that the average bll for combined water and sewarge treatment will be £333 next
year.
12.
Railway Station Bike Racks
Planning
permission has been given to Network Rail to install more bike lockers in the car
park of the station. This will mean that there will be storage space for 44
bikes at the station, but it will mean the loss of 2 parking spaces.
13.
Potholes
The
County Council has launched an appeal for people to report pot holes to them
after revealing that one in six of pot holes that they repaired last year was
as a direct result of a report from a member of the public. They have a site on
their web site at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk
where people can report pot holes. Last year the county repaired 34,400 pot
holed of which about 5,500 were reported online by the public.
14.
Paul Smith Photographs
An
exhibition of photographs taken by fashion designer Sir Paul Smith are on
display at the DH Lawrence Heritage Centre in Eastwood from now until the end
of March. Photographs from a number of local photographs are also on display.
Sir Paul’s father was a long time member of Beeston Photographic Society.
Admission is £2.90 per person.
15.
Amnesty International
The
Beeston branch of Amnesty International are holding a letter writing session on
Monday evening. The idea is to write letters to put pressure on governments to
prevent human rights abuses. The session takes place at the Commercial Inn from
7.30pm to 9.00pm.
As ever thank you for your support for this newsletter. Any
feedback is gratefully received.
Best wishes
David
Follow me on Twitter @davidwatts12.
