Wilford Community Group

 

Minutes of the committee meeting

held on Monday 21st May 2007

at Wilford Social and Bowls Club

 

 

Present:            Brian Hardy (BH)                                Chairman

                        Dave Boulton (DB)                              Secretary

                        Sheila Atherton (SA)                            Treasurer

Chris Allsopp (CA)

                        Stephanie Taylor (ST)

                        Frank Wakelin (FW)

Ed Armstrong (EA)

Kate Clark (KC)

Brian Clark (BC)

Roger Steel (RS)

 

 

The Chairman warmly welcomed approximately 20 local residents to tonight’s meeting.  He also extended a welcome to Don Bulmer, Community Development Officer for the Area 9 Neighbourhood Management Team. 

                       

 

 

Action

1

Apologies

Bill Roughton.

 

Absent

Jonathan Shewell Cooper

 

 

2

Minutes of 16th April Committee Meeting

Approved.

 

 

3

Matters Arising

 

 

a.

Newsletter

Thanks were expressed to RS for arranging delivery. 

 

 

 

b.

Dorothy Boot Homes

An article had been published in the Nottingham Evening Post mentioning that they are up for sale at £1.25m.  BH was aware that the police had removed a squatter from the premises on Friday 18th May.  FW told the meeting that he had noticed a van in the village with “Elevatedphotos.com” on the side.   The driver erected a camera on a very tall pole and took photos of the area.  One of the purposes of such photography is to inform possible developers (although there are other purposes).  FW provided photos of the van and the camera and some information from the website.

 

 

c.

Road surfaces

DB still pursuing this with the council.  It was noted that there had been damage to a road sign close to Bader Road

 

 

 

 

 

DB

 

d.

Anti-social behaviour survey

DB had met John Lee the Nottingham City Council’s footpaths officer who agreed to put a barrier under the bridge behind Vernon Avenue to deter motorcylists.  It was suggested that this route may be used more now that there is a route through from Wilford Lane.

 

 

4

191 Bus Service

The Chairman invited Mark Garlick, a representative of the Nottingham Public Transport Team to address issues related to the service.  He raised the following points:

 

·         Driver courtesy – as previously recorded in WCG minutes, only 2 people had returned comment forms and one of those was entirely complimentary

·         Vehicle size – Mark noted that although there had been some busy times, number using the bus seemed to be falling.  This could be due to residents leaving the Dorothy Boot Homes but possibly also due to the fact that the bus does not always leave the stops at the schedule times so potential passengers have missed it.  He was not in favour of a booking system.  No larger vehicle is available.  BH noted that Silverdale residents have similar complaints about the service.

·         Non-completion of journeys - Mark told the meeting that is totally unacceptable for drivers not to follow the designated route in its entirety.  He wants to be informed of any incidents of this nature.

·         Changes from 30th July 2007: 

1.       passengers will be able to get off the bus at any stop on the route in to town

2.       on the route back from town there will be no getting off allowed until Wilford Green – to discourage passengers who don’t need to catch the 191

3.       the bus that has usually come through the village from town at 3.30 will come through at 3.20.  Anyone wanting to travel in to town will need to use that bus and travel in via Silverdale.  This will avoid the very congested time around school leaving.

 

BH suggested that any resident experiencing a problem with the service should contact a committee member and the committee will pass on the issues to Mark.  Mark left comment forms for residents to complete if they wish.

 

BH expressed his thanks for this contribution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

The Tram

DB informed the meeting that only 9 residents had responded to the request in the WCG newsletter for comments about a possible tram stop close to Bader Road.  All but one had been opposed to the idea.  This was discussed further in the meeting and based on responses from the residents present, it was agreed that as the majority response had been against, then the WCG should not pursue this possibility any further.

 

DB, RS and BH were due to meet NET on Friday 25th May to discuss the various concerns of local residents.  The deadline for representations to the Secretary of State is 7th June 2007.  There has been information on the WCG Notice Boards and a consultation will be held with NET on Saturday 2nd June in the Church Hall from 11.00a.m. – 3.00 p.m.  Clearly the group’s representations have to be compiled quickly.  DB had already begun to put together a lengthy letter.  Email submissions are acceptable.  DB had thoroughly read NET’s proposals and told the group that the main issues are:

 

  • treatment of the Toll Bridge – NET have always resisted the suggestion of building an extra bridge to carry the tram.  DB found their main argument is that a tram route over the bridge will preserve its role as a significant crossing point.  He will question this, because it is and will continue to be “a significant crossing point” .  He will also be asking for more details about measures to prevent motor access to the bridge in its widened state
  • tram stops -  there was a long discussion about the pros and cons of various stopping places and their impact on parking in the area.  The Emmanuel School wants a stop close to the school, some residents would like a stop at The Ferry and at Bader Road, while NET is suggesting a stop on Coronation Avenue as an alternative to The Ferry stop.  DB and BH will ask NET if it is possible to have a permanent stop on the far side of the embankment but there were also concerns about security at such a stop and it would mean removing more embankment.  BH had taken some photographs from the end of Bader Road and felt the footpath from there to Coronation Avenue would be very unsafe.
  • Use of Main Road between the Ferry Inn and the Toll Bridge as a construction site – DB felt that NET were probably unaware of the extreme congestion in the village around school times and how building time could be severely affected by the consequent delay of construction traffic.
  • Effect on Nottingham Moderns Rugby Club – RS pointed out that the club is an important community facility offering a range of sports activities.  A tram stop/construction work at The Ferry would mean a loss of parking (particularly significant for the Bonfire Night event which attracts large numbers of cars), loss of access to the playing fields for emergency vehicles, nowhere for away-team coaches to park.  The suggested new car park close to the pond with 30 spaces would be totally inadequate.  Club officials fear that without adequate parking facilities it may be forced out of action
  • Ruddington Lane crossing – the latest proposal is that the tram will cross at road level.  Traffic lights will be installed and trams will cross every 6 minutes.  FW pointed out that if dualling of the A453 proceeds then traffic from the motorway will reach Wilford Lane even quicker and 6 minute stops, plus other traffic light stops on the road will cause longer and longer delays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DB

BH

RS

 

·        Residents close to the tram line were very worried about the impact on the security of their homes and very concerned about losing the natural environment of the embankment.  Some residents (although not all) do not want the tram at all and still insist that the route along Queens Drive would be much more appropriate.  This will be raised at the meeting on Friday. RS suggested that WCG should canvass every house between the Post Office and the Ferry Inn for opinions.  DB pointed out there wasn’t time to do this before the submissions deadline but that we could bring it to the attention of NET at a later date.

·        If we have to have the tram install it in a way that does not require removing the embankment

 

DB reminded the meeting that there could be a public enquiry at the end of this year but it is crucial that there is plenty of comments from residents to trigger one.  After this meeting the letter to the Secretary of State will be published on the website (www.thisiswilford.org.uk)

 

 

8.

Secretary’s Report

DB and BH had attended the launch of the Learning Zone at Emmanuel School.  This is a meeting place for the school and local people while construction is in progress.  It has been set up and organised by Laing O’Rourke who showed visitors construction work.  Residents will be invited to visit the site in July and to use the viewing platform.  Laing O’Rourke are moving the garden in the school grounds (which is run by MENCAP) and this can also be visited in July.  Look out for dates on boards and in the WCG Newsletter.

 

The AGM will take place on 12th July 2007.  Speakers to be invited are Tim Spencer (Councillor and independent chairman), PC Nigel Brown, Neil Hopgood, leader of the Neighbourhood Wardens.  All residents are welcome to the AGM and new committee members are particularly welcome.  The newsletter will contain all the information.  The meeting was reminded that the newsletter and the WCG itself are quite separate from the ng11 group.  The WCG newsletter has the WCG banner down the lefthand side.  No space in the newsletter this time to canvass support for the traffic speed project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.

Don Bulmer – Community Development Officer and member of the Neighbourhood Management Team for Area 9

Don explained the role of the team in helping to join services together in the area.  He is trying to find out about all the activities in the area and the issues that are important to local residents so they can be raised at the Area Committee.  He mentioned an action week in the first week of June during which time people can help to clean up the area around the Iremonger’s Pond.  If anyone wants to contact Don about various issues he can be contacted on 0115 8786243 or by email at don.bulmer@nottinghamcity.gov.uk .  He would like to receive newsletters, ideas for volunteering, minutes of meetings etc.

 

 

10.

The meeting ended with a presentation to Kate and Brian Clark who have been long term, active members of the Group.  They are moving to a new home in Long Eaton.  We thanked them for their work and wished them well in their new home.

 

 

 The meeting closed at 21.40.

 

 The Date of the next meeting is 18June 2007

 

Approved……Sheila Atherton….(Treasurer)

 

 

Date………18th June 2007