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| Bestwood Park Drive Improvement works commenced on 23rd July, and completion is not expected until early November. Work involves installation of vehicle activated speed limit signs, a 20mph zone by the shops and school, improvements to zebra crossing, anti skid surfacing and other 'safety' features. Work continues along Queens Bower Road, and will result in major traffic delays for the duration. July 2007. | Application
for drinks licence
Martins Newsagents have applied for a
licence
to sell alcohol between the hours of 6am and 8pm. Any objections need to be lodged by 6th September 2007 Aug 2007 |
| 2001
Census Of people between the ages of 16 and 74, 1457 were female and 1506 were male! 87% of households on the estate owned one or more cars, and 66% of the working population traveled to work by this means. 17% traveled to work by bus, 4% went by shanks’ pony, with just 1.4% using pedal power. (Inf per Nottingham City Council web site) |
 Kwiksave
Closes A notice posted on the shop front
announcing closure as from 29th May 2007. One of around 85 stores
closed in an effort to rescue the struggling chain from its continuing
financial problems. As at the end of June staff in the remaining stores
have agreed to work a week without pay to help stave off administration,
but hope of our own store re opening seems bleak! (June 2007) |
| Charles
II closed again The future of
the Public House seems uncertain following further closure and boarding
up. (See Action Group page). The following comment has been received
from the owners, who have promised further information when a decision
has been taken. "We can confirm that Enterprise Inns have closed the pub indefinitely whilst we decide on the long term future of the site. The site should now have been made safe and all rubbish etc that was left by the previous tenant should have been moved or will be moved in the very near future". (April 2007) |
Local
Council Elections resulted in
one change for Bulwell Forest Ward. Gill Haymes is replaced by Gerald
Davie and the votes cast were:-
Alan Clark (Lab) 1944 The turnout for this very close result was was reported as 42.90% |
| Kwiksave
to continue? Concerns have
been expressed about the continuing reductions in stocking levels at
this store. It is now believed that a funding package for the BTTF /
Kwik Save chain of stores is being worked on and could be announced very
shortly. The refinancing, potentially worth as much as £70
million, would provide working capital, as reports suggest the group has
struggled to maintain supply into all stores, not just our local store. It is unclear who the potential investor is but a former chief executive, and a mystery Irish financier have been linked with the deal. Feb 2007 |
New Meeting Group for parents or carers of twins or other multiples will be held in the Church on Rise Park on Revelstoke Way. Meetings will take place monthly on Fridays and times are from 1pm to 3pm. Price is £2.50 per session and refreshments will be provided. Anyone interested in having more information should contact Jill on 0115 8409 724. Or by e mail to cnjplus2@ntlworld.com. Please contact before attending in order to confirm arrangements. |
| Ken Martin Leisure Centre. This facility is due to close in January 2007 for major refurbishments. The work is due to last for 45 weeks, which means that the Centre will be closed for most of 2007 (Nov 2007) | New Pharmacy ? The owners of the former Kwiksave supermarket are understood to be in discussion with a pharmacist wishing to open up within the store. The idea is supported by the Rise Park Action group - see notes re the November meeting (Nov 2007) |
| Bestwood Park Drive The City Council has commenced a consultation procedure relating to proposed improvements in road safety. They are studying 671 questionnaires returned by residents and will then issue a plan showing draft proposals for the scheme. The work could involve waiting / speed restrictions near the schools, traffic signals at the junction of Brownlow Drive and Bestwood Park Drive, vehicle activated speed signs, improved crossings and (surely not!) road humps. Work should begin after April 2007, but will be subject to the usual financial constraints. Further information available by phoning Traffic & Safety Dept on 0115 9156547. (Nov 2006) | Kwik Save is under new ownership as from 27th February. It is believed that the new owners are a specially formed consortium, as opposed to an existing Supermarket chain. Although it has not been possible to obtain further details of the change, we are assured by local management that the store will definitely continue to trade for the for-seeable future, and has not been designated for closure. (March 2006) |
| Stanstead Primary School has been saved from imminent closure as a result of a hard fought campaign by parents, pupils and staff. The Office of the Schools Adjudicator was impressed by evidence of the schools popularity and its' success in caring for childrens' personal development. Also by its recent academic achievements, being the best performing State school in the City in last years SAT exams. City education chiefs had decided to close the school on account of claimed falling pupil numbers. (Feb 2006) | Moorbridge Pond Nature Reserve, managed by the Notts Widlife trust, is to be the subject of a restoration programme as a result of a grant of over £30,000.The site, immediately adjacent to the estate, has suffered badly from vandalism and litter dumping in recent times. The Trust hopes that the planned work will encourage more local people to make use of the site, one of the few remaining pieces of wetland habitats within the City boundary. More information is available on the website www.wildlifetrust.org.uk (Feb 2006) |
|
Rise Park Surgery
The 6000, or so, patients of the Surgery on Rise Park will be happy to
know that the Practice has just achieved a 99.99% score in a recently
published performance table for GP’s – making it one of the top
performers in the country. Congratulations to
Dr Patrick, his partners and the rest of the team (Sept
2005) |
Bulwell
Common Car Parking The golf
club has taken over maintenance of the golf course and automatic
barriers have been installed for added security, especially during the
hours of darkness. The car park remains fully accessible to members of the public wanting to use the football pitches or walk on the Common, but it may be necessary to call at the Shop or the Clubhouse to obtain an exit code if the bollards are up. Some members of the public are being deterred by the new sign at the entrance. Do not be put off by the sign - the public do have full right of access as confirmed by the City Council! (Feb 2005) The sign has now been altered to remove any suggestion that Authorisation is needed (Nov 2005) |
| CCTV Cameras Representatives of the Rise Park Action Group, and our local Councillors, were given a guided tour of the high security, hi - tech CCTV monitoring station situated in Radford. The station is manned on a 24hour, 365 days a year, basis to view / record the input from around 180 colour / infra red night vision cameras - including those recently installed in the Shopping Precinct and Bus Terminus areas. The cameras give an extremely clear and detailed view over a wide area, and a Rapid Dial connection to the police should ensure a speedy response to any sign of potential trouble. (Oct 2004) | Stanstead Primary School has been scheduled for closure as from September 2007. It is understood that moves are afoot to fight proposals, but no further information is available as yet, and any details would be appreciated if the organisers would like further mention on this page. If so, please e mail details. |
| The
Academy Day Nursery held an
Open Day on Saturday 31st July. The Nursery is now open throughout the
year (except for one week at Christmas), and caters for children up to
age eleven. This well designed and purpose built building is a very
welcome improvement to the area - and an ideal replacement for the
filling station. (Though the quality of the building does now seem to
emphasise the shortcomings of the adjacent Community Centre) !! (July
2004) |
 One
of the modern playrooms in the Academy Day Nursery |
| Mobile phone mast (1). The application referred to below has now been rejected on the grounds that it would be "unduly prominent and visually intrusive". Also that it is considered that the visual impact could not be satisfactorily addressed by the proposed landscaping. (July 2004) | Mobile Phone Mast( 2) Planning permission has been refused in connection with an application by Orange for the erection of a mast on Bulwell Forest golf course. Reason given is that "by reason of its' siting, height & design it would have a detrimental impact on the appearance & character of the golf course and surrounding areas". (May 2004) |
 Council
Tax demands are landing on the increase
this year is 10.1%, which
apparently puts Nottingham in the top three cities/towns in England for
achieving the highest rate of increase over last year. It could be worse
though, we might live in Torbay (10.8%) - but then, they do have the
benefit of a slightly sunnier climate!What a pity to have lost the chance of First Place just for the sake of saving us tha extra 0.7%) |
 New
Day Nursery Work started at
the beginning of February to convert the derelict filling station into
the Academy Day Nursery. The 40 place nursery should be open by June
2004 and is now taking applications for places. It will also offer
literacy and information technology training for parents wishing to get
back to work. For information call Debbie Simon on 0115 919 1583. |
| Tram
System Line One commenced
public services on 9th March. Full details are available on the " Tram System" page. (Jan 04) |
Shopping
Precinct Work started in
February and involves the provision of new paving to shop frontages and
improvements to the canopy, shutters, signage, and island planting.
There will also be CCTV coverage of the area and improvements to the
lighting and the bus terminus in general. This development incorporates ideas from the Rise Park Action Plan completed by Allen Joyce Architects in July 2003, and work should be completed by March 2004. (8/2/04) |
| Top
Valley School now has 53 CCTV
cameras inside and outside the buildings. These relay images of any
attempted break-in to a central control room, where monitoring staff can
talk directly to the perpetrators and alert police or fire
services. The school has also introduced a tough" late to lessons" policy and a lunchtime pass system in an endeavour to curb problems in the vicinity of the shops. (Oct 2003) |
|
Top
Dog ? - He thinks so ! Having
managed to sneak into the frame on several recently published
"Readers photo's" in the Nottingham Evening Post, local
resident Scamp decided to try his hand in the ring at the recent RSPCA
Open Day and Gala held at Radccliffe on Trent. He is seen here proudly
displaying the rosette awarded to him as the "Dog with the Waggiest
Tail".(Sept 03 |
Tesco
to be rebuilt ? Tesco have
submitted a planning application to replace the current store
"which, by current standards, has a dated appearance and does not
offer the standard of accommodation Tesco ...seek to provide", with
a modern foodstore of 8,106 sq. mtrs. (Present space approx 4500 sq.
Mtrs.) The existing shop units are also to be rebuilt, and there will be a single car park to accommodate 591 vehicles - with improved layout and an increased number of disabled spaces. The petrol filling station would also be re designed to provide a modern 6 island facility. Sept 2003
|
| Household
Waste Collection The City Council appears to be about to introduce a "pilot scheme" to
certain parts of the estate, under which general household waste will be
collected fortnightly instead of weekly. Garden waste only will be
collected in the intervening weeks - using a separate brown bin. Paper
to be separated to blue bags. Leaflets have been distributed seeking the views of residents, and it is clearly important that anyone who is not in favour of the idea should ensure that their leaflets are completed and returned in the envelope provided as soon as possible. Or contact their local Councillor about the matter. (28/5/03) |
The
hanging baskets have arrived ! And
are now brightening up the area around the shopping precinct. Thanks, in
no small measure, to the efforts of the Action Group in ensuring that
available funds were identified and made available for this small, but
important improvement. June 2003
|
 Election
News (May 2003) A Public Meeting of the
Rise Park Action Group, held on 9th April, was advised that Karen Kemp
(a resident of the estate) has been put forward as the Independent
Candidate for the local elections to be held in May 2003. The group is
urging all residents to vote for Karen in an endeavor to get their
concerns addressed.See the Action Group page for more information 10/4/03 |
Results
- 1344 of you turned out to vote for
Karen, leaving her just 153 votes short of being elected. An excellent
result for a first time effort, and one that gives a clear message to
the existing Councillors need to 'look to their laurels' before the next
election. Votes cast were :- Alan Clark (lab) 1582 elected Eunice Campbell (lab) 1519 elected Gill Haymes (lab) 1497 elected Karen Kemp (ind) 1344 Bill Dennis (con) 1051 Melvyn Shepherd (con) 1040 Halimeh Qureshi (con) 885 Peter Boyle (lib dem) 513 |
| City
Council elections - Elections
are to be held on 1st May 2003, and local polling station will be at
Rise Park Junior School. As a result of Boundary Changes throughout the
City area, Rise Park now falls within the Bulwell
Forest Ward, which also includes Heron Ridge, parts of Top Valley
and Highbury Vale 26/2/03 |
Paper
Recycling - doorstep collection of
paper for recycling is to be introduced to the area. It is believed that
the scheme will commence some time during March. 26/2/03 |
 Our
Local Sculpture Park ? : Boulders have been put in place to
prevent unauthorised access to Bulwell Common. Metal sculptures have now
been attached to some of these adjacent to the Golf Club House. They
depict golfers, bowlers and tennis players in action.24/2/03 |
New
lighting should be ready for installation at the bus terminus
at the
beginning of February. At the same time, painting of the roller shutters of the shops should also be completed. It has also been confirmed that £3000 has been allocated for the provision of hanging baskets of flowers, exact location and details still to be decided (Jan 2003) |
| Improvements
to the shopping precinct and bus terminus
- Work has now started on cosmetic areas, including Christmas
lights, and with further work in the pipeline following the confirmation
of a £100,000 grant. Much of the credit for this has to be given to the work of the Rise Park Action Group and some further information can be found on the Action Group page. (Dec 2002) |
Bird
watchers descended in force at the beginning of the month, following
reports that a number of waxwings had arrived. They were to be seen around Bestwood Park Drive and in the vicinity of the Top Valley Schools opposite the Charles II public house. Further details can be found on the Nottingham Birdwatchers site. this can be accessed via the link shown on the Country Park Page of this web site (February 2003) |
| Late Shopper Store
-
Poor trading forced the closure of this store as from Saturday 14th
September 2002. So far as is known, there are no new tenants in the pipeline. September 2002 |
|
Hucknall
Road Work started on reconstruction of the A611
Hucknall Road between Moor bridge and Gala way in Nov 2001.
But now (10 months after commencement), it all seems to be over and we have an excellent stretch of road on the main approach to the estate. Let us hope that it will last for the promised twenty years. October 2002 |
|
| A 12 year sentence has been passed on a man convicted of taking
part in the armed robbery of the Rise Park Post Office towards the end of last
year. Forensic evidence played a major part in the result, for which the local
police are to be congratulated. (March 2002
|
Petrol
Filling Station - For Sale - asking price believed to be £175 000
if anyone is interested. But vandalised, graffiti covered, a dumping
ground for rubbish and old cars.
This property has been a cause for real concern to residents. But it is nice to see that considerable improvements have now taken place (including boarding up of the old car wash), following representations to the owners by the City Council, Action group and individuals. Now rapidly becoming the main car park for shoppers, it should be borne in mind that this forecourt is still privately owned property. Thieves have also recently targeted cars parked here, and valuables should not therefore be left in any unattended vehicle. (April 2002)
|
The main contractors for the job were Nottingham City Contract Works
department who, it seems, did not have the resources to throw at a major project
of this kind, hence the need to bring in other subcontractors, and a reason why
there was often little sign of activity on many an occasion. (In strict
contrast to the speed at which independent contractors managed to rebuild a
similar length of the very busy Ring Road in jus a few weeks).
Trading was temporarily brought to a halt on Sunday 5th March
2002 following a ram raid on the premises of Martins Newsagents.