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‘A smokescreen’: Gedling councillor for health and wellbeing slams PM’s social care tax rise

Gedling Eye Reporter
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‘A smokescreen’: Gedling councillor for health and wellbeing slams PM’s social care tax rise

Gedling’s Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing has attacked the the Government’s Social Care NI Tax Hike, after it was passed by the Commons last night.

Labour Councillor Henry Wheeler said it was ‘a smokescreen for 11 years of Tory neglect and austerity.’

He told Gedling Eye: “The Boris mantra of we all need to chip in to help the government recover the spending costs of the Covid pandemic, is disingenuous. Social care was in crisis before the pandemic.

“The National Insurance Tax hike, is a tax on work and will hit some of the lowest paid workers in society. Including those who provide care.  

“Under these plans care workers will see their wages shrink, you could argue that care workers will literally be paying to carry out the care work. 

“I support Trade Union calls that general taxation should be the way forward to pay for social care. That means taxing the wealthiest, not hiking National Insurance contributions for some of lowest paid workers in society.”

The government won last night’s vote comfortably by 319 votes to 248.

The 1.25 percentage point NICs increase – dubbed the “health and social care levy” – was approved despite criticism the prime minister was breaking a key manifesto pledge not to raise taxes.

Gedling MP Tom Randall and Mark Spencer backed the tax raid while Labour’s Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome voted against the plan.

Do you agree with the latest tax hike? Let us know in the comments below…

Meditation Centre and farm building conversion amongst planning applications in Gedling borough this week

Gedling Eye
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Meditation Centre and farm building conversion amongst planning applications in Gedling borough this week

Plans to convert Gedling House into a meditation centre and converting farm buildings to residential properties are among the planning applications that have been made this week across Gedling borough

Every week dozens of planning applications are submitted to the council – and the recent coronavirus pandemic has not changed that.

Here is the list of applications that have been submitted and validated by Gedling Borough Council in the last week.

Visit the council site HERE the links below to find out more and to have your say…

Arnold

Removal of dead tree
Gardeners Cottage Ramsdale Park Calverton Road Arnold Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG5 8PT
Ref. No: 2021/1010TPO5

Single storey side and front extensions
64 Arnot Hill Road Arnold NG5 6LQ
Ref. No: 2021/0995 

Single storey side extension
36 Thales Drive Arnold NG5 7NF
Ref. No: 2021/0980

Change of use from C3 (dwellinghouse) to C2 (care home).
30 Church Street Arnold NG5 8FB
Ref. No: 2021/0968

Proposed change of use and alterations of farm buildings to residential use to form 3no. new units and an extension to the main dwelling.
Dairy Farm Mansfield Road Arnold NG5 8PN
Ref. No: 2021/0961 

Bestwood

T1 – Oak – Crown lift to 6m to increase light into garden(s).
36 Lambeth Road Bestwood NG5 9QH
Ref. No: 2021/1006TPO

Single storey rear extension (Orangery) – as per drawing RS/KM/11/08/01
12 Leen Close Bestwood NG6 8XD
Ref. No: 2021/0991

Pruning works 1/2m – 1m off lower branches to T1, T2 and T3. Fell T4 due to poor health / disease. 
3 Church View Close Bestwood Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG5 9QP
Ref. No: 2021/0996TPO

Burton Joyce

Variation of condition 3 of planning permission 96/0602 (to increase opening hours from 08.00 to 18.00 Monday to Saturday and at no times on Sundays or Bank Holidays excluding Good Friday and May Day; to 08:00 to 22:00 Monday through to Sunday 
69 Main Street Burton Joyce Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG14 5ED
Ref. No: 2021/1011 

Single storey rear extension
29 Willow Close Burton Joyce NG14 5FF
Ref. No: 2021/0955

Calverton

To construct a dormer over the attic stairs landing to allow access to 2no existing rooms.
181 Main Street Calverton NG14 6FE
Ref. No: 2021/1016

Change of use of garden shed into a commercial dog grooming room.
37 Jumelles Drive Calverton NG14 6QD
Ref. No: 2021/0918 

Carlton

The removal of 1no 10m high monopole with wrap around cabinet and 1no other equipment cabinet to be replaced with 1no new 15m high monopole with wrap around cabinet accommodating new antennas and 2no additional cabinets with associated ancillary works thereto.
Scout Hut Fraser Square Carlton Nottinghamshire
Ref. No: 2021/1015 

1no. Internally illuminated fascia sign & 1no. Internally illuminated projecting sign 
18 Carlton Square Carlton NG4 3BP
Ref. No: 2021/1012

Planning_Gedling

Proposed hip to gable extension and rear dormer window
169 Parkdale Road Carlton NG4 1BW
Ref. No: 2021/0984

Colwick

Part demolition of existing commercial property (1no. building) and erection of 1 no. building for General Industrial (Use Class B2) purposes. 
Unit 16 Colwick Business Park Road No 2 Colwick Nottinghamshire
Ref. No: 2021/0982

Daybrook

Gedling

Two storey side extension and proposed single storey rear extension
44 Westdale Lane East Gedling NG4 3NA
Ref. No: 2021/0983 

Approval of details reserved by condition 3 (materials) of planning permission 2020/0954
Site Of The Phoenix Shelford Road Gedling Nottinghamshire
Ref. No: 2021/0973 

Insert 3 dormer windows in side elevation and construct entrance porch
57 Yew Tree Lane Gedling NG4 4AN
Ref. No: 2021/0945

Change of use from office (Use Class E) to meditation centre (Sui Generis) to include café, 10 bedrooms, teacher suite, provision of external ramp and rail, 3 electric charging points, paved area, bin store and cycle store
Gedling House Wood Lane Gedling Nottinghamshire NG4 4AD
Ref. No: 2021/0857

Lambley

Retention of the re-roofing of the existing outbuildings in pantile to match but with some fibreglass
19 Church Street Lambley NG4 4QB
Ref. No: 2021/0553

Linby

Mapperley

Variation of condition 2 (Approved Plans) relating to application 2020/1265 for the erection of single storey and two storey extensions to side and rear
96 Plains Road Mapperley Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG3 5RH
Ref. No: 2021/1002 

Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) relating to application reference 2020/1266 for the erection of dwelling and detached garage 
96 Plains Road Mapperley Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG3 5RH
Ref. No: 2021/1001

Proposed extension to side and rear of property, including internal alterations. Construction (reinstatement) of bay window to front elevation.
87 Sandford Road Mapperley NG3 6AH
Ref. No: 2021/0990 

Netherfield

Newstead

Construction of an access ramp to WCs. Improvement of surface water drainage to main car park by the provision of a new soakaway and permeable paving.
Newstead Abbey Park, Newstead Abbey Station Avenue Newstead NG15 8NA
Ref. No: 2021/0972

Internal alteration and refurbishment of existing toilet facilities and store rooms. Provision of and external ramp to female toilets. Improvements to surface water drainage to car park by the provision of a soakaway and permeable paving
Newstead Abbey Park, Newstead Abbey Station Avenue Newstead NG15 8NA
Ref. No: 2021/0971

Papplewick

Ravenshead

Proposed extension to existing storage barn
155 Main Road Ravenshead NG15 9GS
Ref. No: 2021/1018 

Proposed first floor side extension, new entrance porch, single storey rear extension and recladding / render and new roof tiles to existing property 
5 Quarry Close Ravenshead NG15 9AQ
Ref. No: 2021/0989 

Dormer windows to both front and rear elevations of the roof
21 Mavis Avenue Ravenshead NG15 9EB
Ref. No: 2021/0981

Single storey side extension, alterations to roof & garage conversion
101 Quarry Road Ravenshead Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG15 9AP
Ref. No: 2021/0899

Redhill

Stoke Bardolph

Woodborough

Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of replacement dwelling (alterations to permission 2019/0790) 
10 Bank Hill Woodborough Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG14 6EF
Ref. No: 2021/1020 

Woodthorpe

Plan for Papa John’s pizza takeaway in Carlton Square

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Plan for Papa John’s pizza takeaway in Carlton Square

Carlton pizza lovers will soon be able to enjoy a slice of Papa John’s as plans progress to transform a former betting shop into a new takeaway.

The pizza company has had planning permission granted to set up a new branch in the former Coral bookmakers at 18 Carlton Square.

The branch will be open from 11am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Friday and Saturdays.

The company believes the new outlet could provide up to 20 full-time jobs for Carlton residents, with 10 part-time roles and 10 full-time roles.

The alterations and upgrades to the premises will be undertaken by local tradesmen ‘where possible’ to create some additional short term employment opportunities’.

Carlton-Square-Regeneration
Papa Johns Carlton Square
PICTURED: How signage would look on the new Papa John’s restaurant in Carlton Square

Louise Thorn of Knights PLC, representing Papa John’s said the new restaurant would acts as a boost to the Carlton shopping centre.

She said: “The re-use of the vacant premises will bring a number of social and economic benefits to the local area.

“The proposed use will ensure an active frontage in an area where 3 continuous units are currently vacant, assisting in ensuring the continued vitality and viability of the shopping centre and ensure that the various complementary businesses within the shopping centre thrive.”

No opening date has yet been announced.

National Insurance vote: How did our Gedling borough MPs vote on social care hike?

Gedling Eye
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National Insurance vote: How did our Gedling borough MPs vote on social care hike?

Boris Johnson tonight secured MPs’ backing for his controversial £12 billion National Insurance tax raid to pay for health and social care.

MPs tonight voted 319 to 248 for a 1.25 percentage point rise in National Insurance for workers and employers.

Despite Labour opposition, the PM secured the majority in Parliament after whipping mutinous Tory colleagues into line.

Johnson hopes the tax increase, which breaks a Conservative manifesto pledge, will raise £12bn a year.

Gedling MP Tom Randall and Sherwood MP Mark Spencer voted for the tax hike.

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome voted against the plans.

On twitter earlier Ms Whittome said: “Tory MPs voted tonight for a “health and social care levy” – a tax hike that hits low paid workers hardest. The government is blaming COVID-19, but our social care system was broken before the pandemic because of Tory cuts.

Before the vote tonight, Sajid Javid was forced to insist the Conservatives are still a low-tax party – even though the tax burden on workers is due to reach the highest level in peacetime.

Labour had called for an amendment which would have seen Chancellor Rishi Sunak publish an impact assessment of the national insurance increase – but this was rejected by 335 votes to 243, majority 92.

The Opposition had asked for Mr Sunak to detail before April 2022 how the tax hike would affect jobs and businesses, and also the distributional impact of the measures on different income groups and regions.

Boris Johnson spent almost an hour before the vote addressing a private meeting of Tory MPs at Westminster.

The Prime Minister told the backbench 1922 Committee that the Conservatives remained the party of free enterprise, the private sector and ‘low taxation’.

‘We should never forget that,’ he said.

Businesses in Gedling borough told to prepare for food labelling law change

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Businesses in Gedling borough told to prepare for food labelling law change

Businesses across Gedling borough are being urged to prepare for an upcoming change to the law around allergen labelling on food. 

Natasha’s Law will require all food businesses to provide full ingredient lists and allergen information on foods pre-packaged for direct sale.

From October 1, all foods which are packed at the same site as they are sold, including market stalls and vehicles, and those which are in packaging before being ordered or selected by customers must contain a full ingredient list on their labelling, emphasising allergens.

‘Natasha’s Law’ is being introduced following the death of teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse from an allergic reaction caused by a pre-packed baguette which, at the time, did not require allergen labelling.

Pre-packaged for direct sale foods can include those that customers select themselves, pre-wrapped foods which are kept behind a counter and some products packaged and sold at mobile or temporary outlets.

County Hall Nottingham
PICTURED: County Hall

Sarah Houlton, Trading Standards team manager at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “This is a major change for businesses, but one that will help to protect consumers by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging.

“We want to make sure that Gedling borough food businesses are not only aware of the changes, but also that they know what they need to do to comply.

“Nottinghamshire businesses can get a 30-minute consultation with the Trading Standards commercial team free of charge, and we would urge any businesses who are unsure of what they need to do under this new law to contact us as soon as possible on tscommercial@nottscc.gov.uk or 0115 804 2912.

“Businesses can also access a wealth of information on the Food Standards Agency’s website, which includes sector specific guidance, examples of PPDS food, guidance on how to meet the requirements and an allergen and ingredients food labelling decision tool.”

“More information about the changes can be found at: https://www.food.gov.uk/allergen-labelling-changes-for-prepacked-for-direct-sale-ppds-food”

Pride of Gedling 2021: Nominations are now open for your pandemic heroes

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Pride of Gedling 2021: Nominations are now open for your pandemic heroes

The time to nominate your unsung community heroes from across Gedling borough has arrived as the annual Pride of Gedling Awards return for their seventh year.

Organised by Gedling Borough Council with support from sponsors, the awards celebrate the local volunteers and community heroes who make a difference and give them the recognition they deserve.

Due to the pandemic, the presentation ceremony was held online for the first time last year.

But now restrictions have been relaxed, the ceremony will again be held at the Civic Centre in Arnold this November. Plans are also in place to stream the ceremony so more people can see the work of local heroes being celebrated.

Nominations for this year’s awards are open until Friday, October 15 2021 so get nominating your community heroes.

All finalists will be invited to a special award ceremony at the civic centre on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

To nominate someone for an award you just need to choose the appropriate category and then fill out the short form.

Organisers will then contact any nominees who are shortlisted.

The categories for this year are as follows:

The Community Hero(es) Award
Recognising inspirational individuals or groups, from any walk of life, who have gone that extra mile to help others or to make life better in their community.

The Dylan Barker (Young Person of the Year) Award
Celebrating young people, under the age of 21, who make an outstanding contribution to their communities.

Business in the Community Award
Highlighting the role our local businesses play in supporting the community.

Outstanding Community Project Award
This award is open to any project or group which helps our local communities and improves the lives of those who live in them.

The Environmental Hero Award
In recognition of any individual, group, school, club, organisation or business in the borough that have made a positive impact on either; conservation, the environment or community space.

The Inspirational Healthy Lifestyles Award
This award celebrates any individual, group, school, club, organisation or business in the borough that have made a positive impact on health and/or wellbeing in the borough.

You can nominate your local heroes using the nomination form here: https://apps.gedling.gov.uk/forms/default.aspx?formid=64

Open day planned to mark 21st anniversary of Gedling Play Forum’s Scrapstore

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Open day planned to mark 21st anniversary of Gedling Play Forum’s Scrapstore

An open day is planned to mark the 21st anniversary of Gedling Play Forum’s Scrapstore, which provides play materials for families, schools and playgroups across Gedling.

The open day will take place this Saturday (September 11) at the Forum’s base on Wollaton Avenue

Volunteers from the Play Forum provide free play activities across Gedling at events in parks and community centres.  During the summer they run play days in the Borough’s parks and open spaces where families have the opportunity to get creative and have fun.

The Play Forum also runs the “Scrapstore” providing materials for use in play activities. Many of the materials are donated by businesses rather than going to landfill. 

The Scrapstore is part of a national network which organises “swaps” between stores and encourages recycling of surplus material from businesses.

PICTURED: Inside the Scrapstore

Chair of Gedling Play Forum Racheal Ellis said: “Twenty one years ago there were play forums and play schemes across Nottinghamshire but with austerity and cuts to funding from local government many of these schemes have closed. 

“We are grateful for the continuing support from Gedling Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.  This funding enables us to provide play activities and achieve this milestone anniversary”.

“Our volunteers believe that play is an important way for children to learn.  Our activities help children be creative and explore physical skills.  Many of the activities are designed to encourage children to think about the environment and local ecology.  Play is important to all ages, supporting mental health and wellbeing.  After the last year we all know how important this is”

The resource centre will be open from 10am to 4.30pm for parents and children to look around at what is on offer and purchase play materials.  Cakes and refreshments will be served.

Vernon Coaker was the very first member to sign up when the resource centre opened in 2000.  He will be there again on Saturday to officially open a garden dedicated to the memory of friends and volunteers who have been lost. 

Mr Coaker said: “I’m delighted to attend the open day to publicise the excellent work that the Play Forum does. 

“It’s great to see that it is going from strength to strength after 21 years. 

“I’m also pleased to pay tribute to the hard work of all the volunteers past and present in providing play opportunities for the children of Gedling”.

‘Disastrous situation’ of long waits to see GPs

Andrew Topping (Local Democracy Reporter)
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‘Disastrous situation’ of long waits to see GPs

Councillors warned of a “disastrous situation” emerging in local healthcare after figures showed around one in ten Nottinghamshire patients are having to wait more than three weeks to see their GP.

Figures from the clinical commissioning group (CCG), which organises NHS services in the city and county, show 231,702 patients out of 522,336 were seen on the same day as contacting their GP in June 2021.

This is the most recently available data, and while it was not compared to other years, the CCG provided assurances it is slightly better than the national average.

But the data showed 26,906 people had to wait more than 28 days before being seen by their doctor, and 26,153 waited between 22 and 28 days. Taken together, these figures mean around one in ten people had to wait more than 21 days – three weeks – for a consultation.

The data, reviewed by Nottinghamshire County Council’s health scrutiny committee on Tuesday (September 7), also showed the spread of patients seen either face-to-face, on the phone, at home or by video.

In total, 298,001 patients accessed face-to-face appointments, or roughly 57 per cent, while 191,704 were supported over the phone.

A further 3,071 accessed video appointments, with 1,677 seen in their homes.

The CCG conceded the demand for healthcare services is at its highest ever point, increasing even before the Covid-19 pandemic.

But councillors spoke of conversations with constituents who have struggled in the past to access their GP.

Councillor Michelle Welsh (Lab) said some patients have struggled to even get past receptionists, describing it as a real issue of residents being stuck at the “first hurdle”.

GP appointments

Other concerns were raised about patients being supported through telephone calls, which accounted for around one in three June appointments, and the potential of major health issues being missed.

Cllr Sue Saddington (Con), chairman of the committee, said: “This business of telephone calls is causing problems with people who have major surgical issues, and then being missed.

“They don’t work, people don’t like them, and there is nothing to replace a face-to-face meeting with a doctor.

“It’s also outrageous people are having to wait such a length of time.”

Cllr Matt Barney (Con), who represents Leake and Ruddington, added: “We know there is a huge differentiation across Nottinghamshire, in the experience of residents [accessing] their own practice.

“I think there is a disastrous situation here and this data reveals it.”

But the CCG assured councillors it will be “transparent” in looking towards a solution on the issue.

The committee requested the CCG return in November with more detailed figures, broken down by individual district and GP practice.

This, the committee hopes, will address issues of individual practices falling below a “standard of care” expected by patients.

Lucy Dadge, chief commissioning officer at the CCG, said: “We do recognise the demands on all our healthcare services now are greater than they ever were.

“They were growing pre-Covid, and they’re growing now.”

She added: “There are mechanisms for us to act on individual concerns, and we will come back and go through it.

“We don’t contract for individual episodes of care, but we want to support GPs to recover from Covid, to respond to our increasingly-frail elderly population, but we need to do it together.”

Inspector Chris Pearson’s latest update on policing activities across Gedling borough in August

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Inspector Chris Pearson’s latest update on policing activities across Gedling borough in August

Inspector Chris Pearson leads the Gedling Neighbourhood Policing team which helps crack crime across the borough.

Here’s his latest update on progress his team made over August…

Road safety

We have received lots of feedback in relation to speeding and the anti-social use of the roads. This is heavily linked to our local priorities and this month we carried out a day of action known as ‘Operation Highway’.

Neighbourhood officers from Arnold were joined by Operation Reacher, Roads Policing and the Driver and Vehicle Standards
Agency. Throughout the day the team targeted the ‘Fatal 4’ offences and operated two check points on the Gedling North area.

In the morning the team focused their attention on Arnold and the A60 Mansfield Road at Redhill before moving to Mapperley, Calverton and Woodborough in the afternoon.

During the day 20 drivers were issued traffic offence reports for a number of offences. The DVSA also prohibited 5 vehicles due to defects being identified.

Over in Gedling South the team have also carried out recent speed enforcement work in the village of Burton Joyce.

Sgt O’Connor and the team issued one driver with a traffic offence report and the driver will be dealt with in due course.

I know that speeding is a concern for a number of residents across the Gedling Borough and we will act on feedback from the community.

Autocrime

A number of vans have been targeted across Gedling during the last month with a number of offences reported in the Woodthorpe area. In some cases the vehicles have been taken whilst in others tools have been targeted by thieves. The Operation Reacher team have carried out some increased patrols in the area and this is being supported by neighbourhood policing officers.

Over on Bestwood Lodge Drive we received a report of a lorry having been targeted with machinery stolen. The tools were later advertised for sale on the internet and I was pleased to join the Arnold team on an operation to retrieve the stolen property. We arrested a 32-year-old male who remains under investigation. It was a pleasure to return the property to the victims and I want to be very clear that we will investigate all reports of Autocrime
thoroughly.

As with any vehicle offences I would encourage the removal of tools from vans overnight or whilst working at a site.

Car_theft

Burglary

Throughout August we recorded an increase in Commercial Burglary with numerous premises in Arnold town centre targeted by offenders overnight.

We launched ‘Operation Neonfire’ to investigate and target the individuals involved in the offences.

I know what a difficult time it has been for all including the retail sector who cannot afford the financial loss of being targeted by thieves who damaged doors, windows and stole several thousand pounds worth of stock.

Officers were involved in a number of lengthy enquiries to review CCTV footage in the area. We worked with the victims to
target harden their premises and finally in the early hours of 25th August following the deployment of plain clothes officers we made 4 arrests at a property on West Street, Arnold. Stolen property was recovered from the address along with a crowbar. The following
day our CID colleagues continued the investigation resulting in two males (aged 25 and 45) being charged with Burglary offences and remanded to court. I want to pass on my thanks to all of the officers involved in this investigation. They put in a lengthy shift
and carried out numerous enquiries to try and identify those involved.

A really good result for us at Arnold and once again a clear message that we will simply not tolerate burglary offences in our Borough.

Drug supply

The supply of controlled drugs remains very much in focus at Gedling.

Last month the team over at Gedling South carried out a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant on Cavendish Road, Carlton. The team recovered some controlled drugs for personal use and acted on concerns raised about the supply of controlled drugs in the community.

Over in Arnold I was pleased to hear that an argument in the street resulted in the seizure of Class A & B drugs, cash and mobile phones. Officers attended Nursery Road, Arnold at around 01:20 on August 16 before making the discovery. Two males were
arrested aged 36 and 39. Both remain under investigation for drug supply offences.

Community engagement

Now that the Coronavirus regulations have eased we are getting back into our Community engagement schedule for the remainder of the year.

The Op Reacher team have been the first to get this up and running and they were recently invited to the open day at Arnold fire station. The team arrived with their ANPR car and a number of
goodies to give away to members of the local community. It was great to read such positive feedback and over the next few weeks we will be increasing our engagement events across the area.

Community engagement is a really important part of our work so
that we can break down barriers with our communities, understand concerns and make sure that members of the public know where to come for help.

Keep an eye on our social media for details of our future engagement events.

Operation Reacher

The Operation Reacher team continue to go from strength to strength.

The team have now carried out 56 Magistrates Court warrants across the Gedling Borough.

Alongside this the team have arrested or interviewed 250 suspects, made 147 individual drug seizures and seized 75 vehicles (5 of which were stolen).

The team has also dealt with 182 road traffic offences and have seized over £275k in suspected criminal money.

The team have generated a large amount of intelligence to
help in our fight against crime and ASB across Gedling.

If you have any concerns or information for the Reacher team, particularly around the supply of drugs then please email gedlingreacher@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk or this can reported via the Crimestoppers website at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Reporting crime

Please remember that you can also report Crime and ASB online via our website at https://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/do-it-online

Our website has the facility to report hate crime, fraud & cyber-crime and has a link to our advice centre where you can find crime prevention advice and guidance on a number of topics such as home or vehicle security.

The online reporting tool does not replace the 999 or 101 system but is there to enable you to report non-urgent incidents which can be passed to the neighbourhood policing team or our managed incident team for further investigation.

Gedling Access Road £5.4m over budget

Andrew Topping (Local Democracy Reporter)
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Gedling Access Road £5.4m over budget

Workforce and labour issues as well as delays over Covid have caused council spending on the Gedling Access Road to be more than £5 million over budget.

It has led to mounting concern over where the funding will be found, with one councillor fearing the £40 million project could become “our HS2”.

Work is well under way on the large bypass road, in the Gedling borough, with construction workers on-site in various stages since the start of 2020.

Official timelines for the project anticipate the road to be open in autumn this year, helping to ease traffic congestion in Gedling village by linking the B684 Mapperley Plains and the A612 Trent Valley Road.

But Nottinghamshire County Council documents, reviewed by Monday’s finance committee, forecast the project will cost £5.4 million more than originally planned.

Issues of delays accessing materials, construction workers being ‘pinged’ and the council continuing to pay costs have, documents say, caused the overall cost to rise.

Speaking at a finance committee meeting on Monday (September 6), some raised concerns over where the extra finance will be found to combat the “spiralling costs”.

Councillor Tom Hollis (Ash Ind), who represents Sutton West, told the committee: “I certainly feel that, with better planning, this overspend could have been avoided.

“The Gedling Access Road was originally meant to cost £40 million, it’s now gone up by £5.4 million or 12 per cent, but included in that initial £40 million was contingency costs.

Gedling Access Road
PICTURED: Gedling Access Road progress

“We’ve gone above and beyond those contingency costs already, and seemingly that money has got to be found from somewhere within our budgets.

“I don’t suspect the transport committee will receive any more money from this council, so that’s going to come from our existing capital programme, and £5.4 million is a lot of money.

“I’m concerned the Gedling Access Road is going to become our HS2, with spiralling costs going out of control.”

Councillors were told an additional report will be brought forward to the same committee in the autumn, addressing how the overspend will be funded.

Nigel Stevenson, service director for finance, infrastructure and improvement, said: “Some issues are related to Covid, with some of the workforce pinged and not available, but we’re still paying for construction costs despite progress being less.

“In terms of materials, which has been the issue particularly in the past year, not only materials but costs have gone up.

“As you delay in getting materials, it means the workforce is still yet to use materials despite us still employing them [to do so].

“A report will come back to the finance committee, and I take points entirely about the impact on the highways budget.”

The 3.8km single carriageway road is scheduled to open in the autumn.

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