Issue 8   January 2005

    

       

SPEED RESTRICTIONS THROUGH STANTON

For many years residents and the parish council have drawn the attention of the Nottingham County Highways Authority to the problem of traffic speed through the village of Stanton on the Wolds on Melton Road and Browns Lane, which currently have no speed restrictions. These roads have become significantly more dangerous in recent years and the response to earlier appeals is no longer acceptable. We have been informed that no action can be considered as there have been insufficient accidents to warrant the costs involved. Recent events have overtaken the rationale for this policy. There are 55 properties, 120 electors and their children, three farms, an industrial estate, a busy garden centre, a service station and a shop on the Melton Road. There are 55 properties, 66 electors and their children, one farm offering B & B accommodation, a pine workshop, an industrial estate and a garden nursery on Browns Lane. Houses are located on both sides of these roads unlike the situation in Tollerton on the Melton Road which has the benefit of a 40mph speed limit. Speed limits are also in operation through other villages on the A606 on the route to Melton Mowbray and Oakham and on the A60 through Ruddington, Bradmore and Bunny.

The building of the new dual carriageway ring road around North Leicester has resulted in an increased flow of fast traffic on the A46 to the flyover at Widmerpool, where traffic to Nottingham meets a single carriageway on the A606 through Stanton on the Wolds with many bends and an undulating road with reduced forward visibility for drivers. Many of these vehicles have estimated speeds of 70mph on the M1 and A46 and little attention is paid to the change of conditions on the A606. Most road users at least reduce their speed when entering a 40mph zone whereas some drivers continue to drive as if on a dual carriageway with little if any reduction in speed. In addition to introducing a speed limit on these roads, there is also a need to provide central refuges on the Melton Road to allow residents to cross the road in safety, to reach bus stops for buses to Nottingham and Melton Mowbray. These should be situated near to the service station  at the top of the village, halfway down the hill at the Post Box and at the bottom of the hill near to Lamin Gap.

We now request the appropriate authorities to urgently consider the introduction of speed limits through the village of Stanton on the Wolds on Melton Road and Browns Lane and we ask all residents to sign, indicating their support, on forms held by the following parish council members; Councillor Bryan Baines at 120 Melton Road, Councillor Alan Jackson at 31 Melton Road, Councillor Roy Butler at 43 Melton Road and Councillor Mrs Margaret Healey at 1 Stanton Mews, Browns Lane.

 WARMER, CHEAPER AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

Homes across Rushcliffe -  including Stanton on the Wolds – could soon be warmer, cheaper to heat and more environmentally friendly following the launch of a new energy efficiency campaign. The HEAT Nottinghamshire campaign has begun and residents will receive information on grants available for cavity wall and loft insulation. Letters will be sent out over the next 6 months. Sheila Hood, energy efficiency officer at the council said; “If you have no loft or cavity wall insulation you are heating your street. The HEAT project is available to owner occupiers and private sector tenants regardless of income.

For a detached home, cavity wall insulation with a grant would cost you £175. Other homes will pay £125. Loft insulation will cost between £100 and £225 depending on the existing depth of insulation. Prices for homes heated by coal or electricity are considerably cheaper and start at £50. We estimate that a poorly insulated house wastes around £200 a year on fuel.”

For further information on the HEAT Campaign please call 0800 093 4050

LOSE FESTIVE EXCESSES AT REDUCED PRICE

Stanton on the Wolds residents are being offered a chance by Rushcliffe Borough Council to ward off the Christmas excesses with a special fitness offer. The offer gives opportunity for New Year fitness at 2004 prices. People are being urged to make their New Year’s resolution to get fitter earlier- save pounds and lose pounds. Sign up by the end of January for a 2005 annual membership- and pay 2004 prices.

Annual membership currently costs £280 giving unlimited use of fitness suites, swimming pools and exercise classes – and prices will rise to £320 in January. Pay for the whole year in advance during either December or January and save £40.

Craig Humphries, corporate fitness manager at the council said; “The national trend is towards fatness not fitness. So my advice is move it and lose it. Get moving, get motivated and get down to your local leisure centre now.”

NEW WEBSITE FOR BOROUGH COUNCIL

Details have been revealed by Rushcliffe Borough Council on a new version of its website. The address for it remains the same at www.rushcliffe.gov.uk and offers a much wider range of services than previously. For the first time customers will be able to pay their bills and report incidents of anti-social behaviour such as fly-tipping, abandoned cars and graffiti, online.

A spokesman for the council says they designed the new site to make it as simple as possible for visitors to find out about their services. The new site has a better search facility and more online forms. It contains a page listing all the parish councils in the area along with their contact details. There are plans to introduce text and picture messaging as well.

SAVING MONEY THROUGH NEW TAX PAYING SCHEME

Council finance chiefs in Rushcliffe are hoping to make efficiency savings of up to £100,000 a year by altering the way residents pay their council tax. Around 15,000 homes have received a letter advising on changes to payments from April – and people will be encouraged to sign up to Direct Debit which is cheaper and easier for everyone.

Colin Bullett, Borough treasurer said; “At present around two-thirds of tax payers pay by Direct Debit, but every month a significant number of people still traipse into the Civic Centre or their bank to pay their bills over the counter. This is time consuming for them and expensive for us. By encouraging people to sign up for Direct Debit, and by rationalising the payment dates, we will reduce admin costs, raise the level of council tax collected even higher to deliver better value for money.”

At present tax payers can chose one of four days each month to make their council tax payments – this will be reduced to three days which are earlier in the month. People currently paying on the 14^th of the month will now be asked to pay on the 1^st- unless they sign up for a Direct Debit.

CALLING ALL TREE ENTHUSIASTS

Rushcliffe tree enthusiasts – including any in Stanton on the Wolds – are being asked to volunteer as tree wardens and play an active role in safeguarding their communities trees. REACT 21 and the parish councils with support from the Tree Council, are running a series of training sessions for the prospective wardens.

Council community environment officer Paul Phillips said; “So far 12 people have volunteered, but we are expecting many more. The tree wardens will complete up to six training sessions covering subjects such as identifying trees, surveying, legislation, pests and diseases, woodlands and planting.”

The wardens will begin their role in the New Year. The Rushcliffe tree warden network is part of the Tree Council’s UK-wide tree warden scheme, which is run in partnership with National Grid Transco. It was launched in 1990 and works closely with local councils to set up networks. Today there are over 7,500 tree wardens throughout the country. The scheme enables people who feel passionate about trees to play an active role in conserving and enhancing their local trees and woods. Tree wardens can get involved with a range of activities from practical projects such as planting and caring for trees to gathering information about local trees and developing imaginative projects to encourage others, including schoolchildren, to value their local tress and woods.

MEETINGS ON A REGULAR DAY

The parish council has agreed that meetings throughout 2005 should where possible be held on the same night, on the second Wednesday of every other month. The first one for 2005 is on January 12^th and will be held in the parish church.

Bits and bobs

New borrowers are being sought in Stanton  by the WRVS books service. The scheme’s local contact is Mrs Ferrer on Stanton Lane who can be contacted on 937 2838

A new meeting and conference room is being planned for Keyworth Village Hall on the Elm Avenue side of the building.

Local ‘Children in Distress’ volunteers Geoff, Trish and Charlotte Witcomb of Keyworth are offering thanks to everyone who helped them raise cash during 2004. Among the gifts sent to the Rumanian hospice was £500 raised from the tombola at Keyworth Show last July for festive gifts for staff and children.

The ‘Riding for the Disabled Association Group ‘ at Lings Lane, Keyworth is in desperate need of more helpers. Volunteers would be asked to give just two hours of their time to help on a Thursday morning. Contact Carole on 01509 880092 or Gwyneth on 0115 937 2272.

Rushcliffe Borough Council are to abolish a scheme under which they give grants to parish councils towards the council tax requirement for their parish. In future a parish council will need to precept for their total requirement to be paid for by local tax payers.

A farmer’s market is held every 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of the month on Central Avenue West Bridgford.

The parish council have agreed to hold their next meeting in the parish church on Browns Lane.

COMMUNITY TRANSPORT NEEDS

The parish council have agreed to place an item on its next agenda to discuss a request from Notts County Council on any community transport needs in the parish.

PLANNING DECISIONS BY THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The following is a list of recent planning applications for Stanton dealt with by Rushcliffe Borough Council.

04/01590/FUL Mr Greenwood: erection of single storey extensions to form entrance hall, gallery and orangery at Furlong House, 19 Browns Lane. Grant permission.

04/01494/COU Mr Stoppiello & Mr Akbari: use of part of the site for sale of 24 used cars (in association with the existing petrol filling station and shop) at Wolds Service Station, 198 Melton Road. A decision by the Borough Council is still awaited on this application.

YOUR LOCAL CHURCHES

Stanton on the Wolds Parish Church: Rev Trevor Sisson, tel 0115 937 2017.

Catholic Church, Willowbrook: Fr Gregory Tobin, tel 0115 981 4271.

Methodists: Rev Peter Green, tel 0115 921 2146.

Baptists: Rev Neil Brighton, tel 0115 914 7449.

United Reformed: Rev Chris Ford, tel 0115 937 5086.

CALLING ALL READERS

We would welcome an input into this newsletter from any resident in the parish. Items for inclusion can be Emailed to elliottnews@btconnect.com

Thought of the month

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right moment

 but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment