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Nottinghamshire County Council leader outlines benefits Gedling Access Road will bring to area

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Nottinghamshire County Council leader outlines benefits Gedling Access Road will bring to area

Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) leader Ben Bradley has shared more details around the benefits the Gedling Access Road will bring to the area when it is finally completed next year.

It was announced today that the delayed project is now running at around £8.6m over budget.

But Bradley says he thinks the longer-term benefits the road will bring will outweigh current financial and scheduling difficulties.

“It is a lot of money.  But this is a major scheme being delivered throughout a pandemic and to put it into perspective – the GAR will bring about journey time savings and other safety and efficiency benefits worth at least £73 million.”

These are the benefits the Gedling Access Road could deliver, says NCC…

  • It will bring about journey time savings and other safety and efficiency benefits worth at least £73 million.
  • It will provide access to new high-quality, affordable homes to help people get on the property ladder.
  • It will help people make everyday journeys by bus, car and cycle boosting connections to the wider road network and Nottingham city centre while making journeys quicker and safer.
  • It will provide stronger links between education and business, ensuring young people get the best possible opportunities and are fully prepared for the world of work.
  • As part of the GAR NCC are planting 430 native trees, increasing woodland by 40% and improving habitats for wildlife. 

Councillor Ben Bradley MP added:“In the circumstances, just an extra few months on a project that’s been in the pipeline for several decades, delivered during a global pandemic, is a pretty good effort in my view and I am very proud that this administration is the one delivering this for people in Gedling borough.”

Gedling Borough Council to discuss risk of strike action being taken by teachers and council workers over pay dispute

Anna Whittaker (LDR reporter)
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Gedling Borough Council to discuss risk of strike action being taken by teachers and council workers over pay dispute

Gedling Borough Council are set to discuss the risk of council and school staff across Nottinghamshire taking strike action after unions rejected a proposed 1.75 per cent increase in wages.

Council papers show that the matter will be discussed at the Gedling Borough Council Joint Consultative and Safety Committee on November 16. Other local councils are also expected to discuss the risk of action.

Trade unions are preparing to ballot their members across all of the city and county’s local authorities – and at councils across the country – on a potential national walk out after members turned down the recent pay offer.

Unions Unison and GMB had asked for a 10 per cent increase in wages and called the 1.75 per cent offer from the National Joint Council (NJC) “wholly inadequate” – saying school and council staff have been “working tirelessly” during the pandemic.

Unison members voted 79 per cent to 21 per cent to reject the NJC offer while GMB members voted 75 per cent to 25 per cent to reject.

Pay for workers in local government and schools is negotiated in a forum called the National Joint Council (NJC), which has two sides – council employers and trade unions.

Every council in Nottinghamshire is part of the NJC, meaning every authority would be affected if members choose to strike.

Unison head of local government Mike Short said workers are “appallingly undervalued”.

school-admissions
PICTURED: Teachers across the county could vote to take strike action

He said: “Council and school workers continued working tirelessly throughout successive lockdowns. Their efforts ensured communities were safe, the vulnerable received care and schools remained open.

“But they’re under-appreciated and this offer – a wage cut in all but name – shows they’re appallingly undervalued. Pay is slipping while the cost of living spirals.

“Employers must do the right thing and come back with a decent wage rise to recognise those who provide vital services and reward them properly.”

A GMB spokesperson added: “GMB members working across councils, local authorities and schools recently voted overwhelmingly to reject the pay cuts being proposed by local government employers.

“The offer on the table is wholly inadequate and with energy bills skyrocketing, shopping bills going up, and inflation high and rising, it represents yet another pay cut for workers who have seen a quarter of the value of their pay wiped out since 2010.

“Over the last year GMB members working in councils, local government and schools have shown how indispensable you are. They are true Covid heroes, keeping the nation’s essential public services going during the toughest of times, often putting your own health and safety at risk.

“That’s why we will be asking members to vote in an indicative ballot on taking strike action or industrial action short of strike action across local government.”

If more than 50 per cent of affected staff say yes to strike action, they will proceed to a legal industrial action ballot.

In a letter to the union negotiating team, dated October 19, the council employers’ team said they would not make further offers because many authorities would not be able to afford more.

They wrote: “You are aware of the financial situation in the sector; the employers are therefore obliged to ensure that they represent the interests of local authorities by ensuring that any pay offer is shaped in such a way that it is affordable and fair to both employers and employees.”

Nottinghamshire County Council spends more than £400k maintaining 37 empty buildings

Anna Whittaker (LDR reporter)
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Nottinghamshire County Council spends more than £400k maintaining 37 empty buildings

Hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money is being used to maintain empty Nottinghamshire County Council buildings every year.

The figures were released after it was revealed in October that more than £34,000 of taxpayers’ cash was spent on security at an empty former county council care home in Arnold.

Leivers Court Care Home was shut in 2019 and has not been in use since.

Nottinghamshire County Council currently has 37 vacant buildings which incur security and maintenance costs.

The authority says a review of all of its properties and how they could be best handled was under way.

A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that between August 2020 and July 2021, the total cost of keeping these buildings was £425,599.

A Labour councillor said the figures were a ‘disgrace’ to the Conservative-run council.

Security was the biggest cost, at £230,235 for the year including the fitting of alarms, cameras and callouts to the sites.

Maintenance cost the taxpayer £195,364 in the space of a year, covering boarding, repairs to buildings and landscaping.

County Hall Nottingham
PICTURED: County Hall

The buildings are a mixture of former offices, historic buildings and facilities such as empty care homes and school sites.

Councillor Michelle Welsh (Lab), who represents Arnold South, said: “A ridiculous amount of taxpayers money is being spent on buildings that could be offering the community so much more.

“People deserve better than buildings been left to rack and ruin for years and years.

“It is a disrespectful way to treat communities, it brings them down.

“If a care home has been closed down and the council is spending all that money on the empty building, they could’ve just kept it open for lower cost. Then people can stay locally.”

Councillor Keith Girling (Con), chairman of the Economic Development and Asset Management Committee, said that following his appointment as chairman in May 2021 he had ordered a review of all the council’s properties and how they could be best handled going forward.

This review sits alongside the hybrid working plans, a mix of home and office-based working, that Councillor Girling is also overseeing, which looks into staff working arrangements in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coun Girling said: “The County Council has a lot of properties in its portfolio which is why it’s important we evaluate our estate and get a plan in place for the future.

“Some of the properties are historical, Grade-listed buildings, others will need to be refurbished or renovated for community use, whilst others will have to be demolished so we can sell the land for development.

“I’m in constant touch with the officers carrying out the review and I hope to be announcing plans in the near future.”

REVEALED: Gedling Access Road now nearly £9m over-budget

Gedling Eye Reporter
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REVEALED: Gedling Access Road now nearly £9m over-budget

Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Ben Bradley MP, has reassured Gedling borough residents that the advantages of the long-awaited Gedling Access Road will outweigh current financial and scheduling difficulties.

The county council revealed today that what was initially thought to be a £5.4m overspend on the £40m project has now increased to £8.6m.  

There has also been a delay to the highway’s completion, originally scheduled for this year, until the spring of 2022.

The purpose of the new 3.8km long carriageway is to alleviate traffic congestion in Gedling village and serve the new Chase Farm housing development.

It will link the A612 Trent Valley Road and Nottingham Road to Mapperley Plains.

Mr Bradley told Gedling Eye: “A global pandemic has meant that construction has had to cope with unexpected problems.

“Inflation has also meant that the cost has risen and poor weather and alterations to planned groundworks has unfortunately resulted in a delay.

“When you dig a hole it doesn’t always look like you thought it would.

“The choice was to delay even further, waiting another 18 months to two years, or crack on. I think the latter is the right thing to do.”

Ben Bradley
PICTURED:Nottinghamshire County Council leader Ben Bradley

“However, the benefits of the finished project, including improved journey times, links to expanded housing, the creation of local jobs and the overall easing of congestion outweigh the difficulties we are currently experiencing big time.”

“I also think the project could bring in £73m to the local economy. It will more than pay for itself.”

Mr Bradley maintained that, dependent on a continued lack of major Covid restrictions during the winter, the road is on course to be opened in Spring 2022.

He added: I’m quite confident that we will meet the new deadline and I recognise that residents are eager to see this due to current disruptions to traffic flow.

“This new capacity will connect places in the county that are currently inaccessible and do so in a green way as we’ve sought to protect the area’s habitats and plant trees as we go.”

John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, has said that the overspend “sounds like a lot of money but [not] if you compare to HS2 and other things like that.

“The actual building has been extremely challenging, and I think they’ve done well.

“It is public money and we want to know where the £5.4m is coming from but I would like to set a more level playing field.”

Pride of Gedling Awards 2021: Unsung heroes in spotlight at ceremony

David Bratton
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Pride of Gedling Awards 2021: Unsung heroes in spotlight at ceremony

Heroes were celebrated in Gedling borough as the winners of this year’s Pride of Gedling Awards were presented with their prizes.

The annual awards, held on Wednesday night (November 10), recognise those who go above and beyond to support communities in the borough in different ways.

This year, entries flooded in from people keen to highlight the unsung heroes – but only with normally only one winner in each category – it had been a difficult time for judges.

This year’s Business in the Community Award was given to two worthy winners. Netherfield pub It’s Inn The Bank and Ravenshead Farm Shop were both handed the prize for their incredible work during the pandemic, with both businesses feeding local people in the area during lockdowns. The Bank also put on entertainment via their Facebook page and helped prepare meals at the council’s Humanitarian Centre.

The Community Heroes Award went to Cullen Morathota and Bernice Thomas. The duo were recognised for coming to the aid of a man who had been involved in a motorcycle accident who they found by the side of the road. They administered first aid until emergency services could get him to hospital.

All those nominated for this year’s Environmental Hero Award were handed a prize. Judges felt it would be too difficult not to recognise The Wilkins Group, Amy and Ella Meek, Martin Dermody and Frank Knowles for all their hard work introducing green initiatives to help save the planet.

The Outstanding Community Project Award went to Emmanuel Church in Bestwood Village. They were recognised for cooking low-cost homemade meals for the whole community during lockdown.

Arnold Swimming Club was crowned this year’s Inspirational Healthy Lifestyles Award winner. They were recognised for being at the heart of the community for 95 years. During lockdown they helped lift the spirits of their members by setting challenges for them – even without the water.

The winner of The Dylan Barker (Young Person of the Year) Award, sponsored by Gedling Eye, was Isobel Somerton. Isobel was handed the prize by judges after bravely facing two life threatning conditions and hospital admissions while studying for her GCSEs. She also held a bone marrow register event in the community to help raise awareness.

The Overall Pride of Gedling Award went to Chris Channon MBE. Chris is a former Paralympian who, with his Pegasus system, made the 999 emergency call system more accessible for disabled and vulnerable people.

Gold medal winner Richard Whitehead scooped the lifetime achievement award after achieving incredible success in sport and for everything he has done to raise the profile of people with disabilities and to inspire millions of people across the world.

Surprise Remembrance silhouette pays tribute to brave Carlton firefighters

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Surprise Remembrance silhouette pays tribute to brave Carlton firefighters

Two new Remembrance silhouettes have appeared outside Carlton Fire Station – with one paying a touching tribute to firefighters.

One silhouette features a Royal Air Force solider stood beside a propeller, which stands close to the fire station reception. This has been funded by Nottinghamshire County Council to replace the one vandalised and damaged prior to the pandemic.

The second silhouette of two firefighters tackling a blaze was funded by Nottinghamshire County Council and Gedling Borough Council, erected as a surprise for all the staff at Carlton Fire Station. It was a gesture of thanks for all the hard work and community support, especially throughout the last 18 months.

The two silhouettes were blessed on November 1 as part of a ceremony conducted by Pastor Ogle and attended by local councillors and the Mayor of Gedling Meredith Lawrence.

The welder of the two silhouettes, who is based at a local company, has a particular connection to Carlton Fire Station, after his American Red-Tailed Buzzard was rescued from a tree by firefighters at the station in January 2021.

Station Manager at Carlton Fire Station, Paul Harley, said: “We are delighted by these two silhouettes and want to thank the kind generosity of our partners and the community who have gifted these to us.

“Both as a station and as Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service we are proud of the contribution we made during the pandemic to keep our communities safe and it is very touching to be recognised in this way, especially ahead of Remembrance Day.”

LIVE: Pride of Gedling Awards 2021

Gedling Eye Reporter
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LIVE: Pride of Gedling Awards 2021

You can follow all the action at this year’s Pride of Gedling Awards 2021, which are taking place tonight (October 10) at the Civic Centre in Arnold.

Wad of cash found hidden down trousers of disqualified driver stopped and searched by police in Arnold

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Wad of cash found hidden down trousers of disqualified driver stopped and searched by police in Arnold

Police found a large quantity of cash hidden down the trousers of a driver they stopped in Arnold.

Gedling Operation Reacher were out on patrol on Coppice Road when a Kia Sportage caught their attention.

Officers got behind the vehicle and pulled it over on Rolleston Drive.

The driver, after initially giving false details, then admitted to not having any insurance.

It then became apparent when his details came back that he was a disqualified driver.

A search of him also discovered a bundle of cash hidden down the front of his trousers.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “A large quantity of cash being hidden from cops might mean it hasn’t been earned legitimately so we arrested the driver.

“The driver has been charged with driving whilst disqualified and for driving with no insurance and will appear at court.

“He remains under investigation on suspicion of possessing criminal property whilst cops try and establish where the money has come from.

The Kia was seized and taken to the police compound.

Gedling activist joins Extinction Rebellion sit-down protests in Nottingham city centre

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling activist joins Extinction Rebellion sit-down protests in Nottingham city centre

A Gedling activist is one of three Extinction Rebellion (XR) members holding sit-down protest today (November 10) at locations across Nottingham city centre.

Jeannie Thompson, 71 carried out her protest near the Boots Library on Shakespeare Street.

The grandparent from Gedling said: “I am sitting in the street because I want my granddaughter and you to have a happy secure life.

“I am worried that you won’t because of climate change. It will bring floods, heatwaves, droughts, famine, and terrible storms. Millions of humans and animals will die.”

The three protests began at 11am,coincide with other actions all over the UK today, some of which will be disrupting traffic.

All protesters in Nottingham today chose to use pedestrian areas to bring their messages to the public’s attention. 

Karunavaca Lake, 71, a retired psychotherapist, sat at the junction of Clumber Street and Long Row,

PICTURED: Karunavaca Lake, 71, a retired psychotherapist, protesting in Nottingham city centre

She said: “I’m sitting here because I’m scared and desperate and furious. COP26 is a disaster, I see world leaders failing us, betraying us on a huge scale. I can’t trust or rely on those leaders, or a system that is all about profit and exploitation. But I do still believe in people – people all over the world – in their millions, having the courage and confidence to come out and act together. In support of life, of all our futures we have to act now.”
 
Sitting near the Portland Building at the University of Nottingham is Etienne Stott.

The 42-year-old sports coach and London 2012 Olympic Champion said: “I feel angry that the future which young people are facing is bleak. They are being cruelly disenfranchised as the can is kicked down the road into their adulthood, where they will be left dealing with the consequences.

“2050 targets sound good, but they are too late given the remaining carbon budget to keep to the 1.5 degree limit. I hope they can find a way to make their voices heard and their feelings known.”

Despite the UK hosting the COP26 negotiations, the government’s own Climate Change Committee (CCC) has said the government is failing on its targets. The committee’s report has called the current government’s actions so far as “disappointing” and that the UK will miss climate goals by ‘huge margin’ without new policies.

A statement from XR Nottingham said “We plan to continue to use peaceful civil disobedience methods to highlight the failures of politicians at local and national level to create appropriate policies to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. Without strong leadership and solid promises of action from COP26, emissions are projected to keep rising which put the world on a dangerous path to disaster on a terrifying scale.”

New Sainsbury’s store in Colwick opens its doors to customers

Gedling Eye Reporter
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New Sainsbury’s store in Colwick opens its doors to customers

A new multi-million pound Sainsbury’s store in Colwick opened its doors for the first time to customers this morning (November 10).

The new 53,000 sq.ft store was opened by The Mayor of Gedling Meredith Lawrence, who cut a ribbon before customers flooded in.

He was joined for the ribbon cutting by St John the Baptist Primary School pupil, Jace Pikett, who won a competition to design a limited-edition Sainsbury’s bag for life to mark the launch of the new store.

Work on the site situated off Colwick Loop Road, begin in late 2020 and continued at pace despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The technology within the new supermarket will enable it to operate as one of Sainsbury’s most sustainable stores ever and its arrival represents a substantial boost for the local economy.

Over 150 of the store’s colleagues are new to Sainsbury’s and most of the new store team live locally in Colwick, Nottingham or the surrounding area.

PICTURED: The new store opened its doors today (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
There is a large variety of fruit and veg on offer (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
PICTURED: The new store is spacious
A large clothing section greets customers when they enter the new store (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
Gedling Mayor Meredith Lawrence gave a speech to staff before declaring the store open (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)

Sainsbury’s Colwick contains a Specsavers store and a Starbucks Cafe, both of which opened today (10) . The opening of the Specsavers store marks the 70th branch to open inside a Sainsbury’s since the two companies entered a partnership together in 2016.

An Argos store is also situated inside the supermarket, with the superstore on Victoria Retail Park now closing its doors after relocating to the new Sainsbury’s.

Paul Wain, Sainsbury’s Colwick Store Manager, said: “My fantastic new team and I are thoroughly enjoying welcoming customers to the store for the first time today and are proud to be able to provide a wide range of high-quality  products at great prices. We’re really looking forward to becoming an integral part of the community here in Colwick. ”

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s property director said: “We’re delighted to now be able to open our doors to shoppers in Colwick. We have created over 200 jobs at the new store and are really pleased to have delivered one of our greenest supermarkets to date, ensuring it’s a supermarket that’s built for the future. The initial response to Sainsbury’s Colwick has been fantastic and I’d like to thank the local community for the support throughout the construction phase, and for the warm welcome we’ve had so far.”

Tom Randall, Member of Parliament for Gedling said: “This is a really exciting time for the Colwick community. It is especially pleasing for me to be able to welcome Sainsbury’s to the area as well as the significant investment and the new jobs created through the construction period and now within the store.

“I look forward to continuing to work with Sainsbury’s and wish the new team every success.”

Leader of Gedling Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “I’m delighted that Sainsbury’s has opened its new store to customers.

“In my role as neighbouring Netherfield ward councillor, I know this is a welcome addition to the local community and will benefit a great number of people in the local area. “

Portfolio Holder for Growth and Regeneration at Gedling Borough Council, Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth said: “The new Sainsbury’s Colwick supermarket will lead the way for future supermarkets, with a range of exciting features, which make it truly sustainable.

“The investment is a real boost to the local area and is providing a range of opportunities for local people to benefit from.”

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