Minutes:
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a |
Group Spotlights
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Dr Chris Bignell provided a brief verbal update on North Wollaton Residents Association which included:
(a) the group has been running for about 29 years, from the time when Lambourne Drive ended in a few bushes and a cricket pitch and before the new estate was built in the 1980s;
(b) whilst the group initially had 60 members, committee members have since dwindled to a few dedicated volunteers;
(c) one of the initial issues for the group was concern over the potential development of the allotment site;
(d) the group holds one major meeting a year to which the Police and all residents are invited (via a leaflet/newsletter to every home);
(e) issues are addressed as they arise. Current issues include dust from the development of Martin’s Reach and Radford Bridge Allotments. It’s a shame that the allotments were cleared as it is expected that the new site won’t be ready for about a year.
The Chair informed the Committee that he too had been working with the developer ‘Avant Homes’ , to try and resolve the issues of dust, access and timescales raised by residents. In March he, Councillor Woodward, a resident and a representative of the allotment group had met with the developers and there was a robust exchange of views. Unfortunately it appears that contractors and developers on site keep changing. Following the Nottingham Post publishing two articles on the problems experienced by residents, Avant Homes did engage more fully and more detailed discussions took place. With the hot, dry and windy weather, dust became a serious problem so Environmental Health demanded that the dust issue was addressed or the site would be closed down. As a result the site was dowsed with water each day to prevent further problems. There is now another new contractor on site which has indicated that the timescale for the site completion would be approximately two to two and a half years but there was hope that the allotments would be available fairly soon. Further resident meetings will be held at the end of the month.
RESOLVED to thank Dr Bignell for his presentation.
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Group Updates
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Wollaton Vale Resident’s Association (Anthony Swannell)
The group has been unsuccessful in recruiting new members so at its AGM on 12 June, the options to expand the area covered to include Bramcote Lane or continue with the existing area, will be put to the vote.
Friends of Wollaton Park (Pete Forster)
A new park manager is in post and the group will meet with him to walk the park and hall and discuss what the group can offer. It has been agreed with the Conservation Society that no major work will be undertaken in the walled garden.
Lenton Abbey Resident’s Association (Adam McGregor)
A fun-day is being planned for the first Saturday in July on Lenton Abbey Park. New terms and conditions are now in place for the running of the Sheila Roper Centre to prevent some of the problems caused by private party users who have been noisy and messy. It may yet be decided that private parties are no longer allowed.
The Chair commented that it was recognised that these are difficult times for voluntary organisations and encouraged new approaches, stressing that an online presence is vital.