….a snow plough has today been spreading grit around the streets on Peafields estate; the snow is already clearing fast thanks to the rain, but I suppose now that all main roads are cleared it’s time to give a little something to the residents who have been under siege on account of the hard -packed snow and ice.

I do genuinely understand the need to keep major roads open, but if residents have had to battle against the odds to get off estate roads, what is the point of offering a sop by gritting now, when roads are being cleared by Mother Nature?

Is it just so NCC can say that ‘all roads, including minor ones, have been gritted’?

….are being lined up by one English Council. As local authorities look to make savings, Brighton and Hove council is having great success with its scheme to recruit volunteer urban shepherds to tend flocks of sheep that will reduce grass-cutting costs.

That’s a great idea for a job; I could do that with pleasure. The grass verges of Litton Road would be the ideal place for the sheep to graze….if we could keep traffic away it would let us enjoy a little of the rural life.

…Local people want local services to be controlled and delivered by Local Service Providers, rather than central government as proven  by the following survey….

The Government should keep out of decisions about public spending in local areas according to more than 2,000 people who took part in a new survey. The results show that 65 per cent of people want local councillors to make decisions about any cuts in their areas.

The survey of 2053 conducted by ComRes for the Local Government Association, also reveals priorities for those services that should be protected from cuts. A third of people wanted no cuts in frontline hospital staff and almost as many saw the fire service, the police and care for the elderly as areas that should not be touched. Almost a quarter wanted no cuts in cash for rubbish collections with just over a fifth wanting safeguards for funding for child protection

…Area Partnership met last night at Turner Hall and the setting of priorities for participatory budgeting was on the agenda. Participatory budgeting is a process of democratic deliberation and decision-making, in which ordinary residents decide how to allocate part of a municipal or public budget.

There is a pot of £25k for the area and future meetings (next one in July) will get to grips with the specific needs of the district. This is an exciting time for Mansfield Woodhouse and Mansfield North and it’s great to have been chosen to pilot this new scheme of delivering community-driven services.

It’s a good time to get involved so keep an eye open for posters advertising the next meeting and please try to attend. We need your input.

…….two stories from the national newspapers demonstrate the ineptitude of  the Government when it comes to dealing with rubbish.

1) Recession leads to big drop in rubbish
England’s rubbish mountains are finally shrinking, with people binning less now than at any time in living memory.

2) Return of the bin tax
Ministers have revived plans for pay-as-you-throw bin taxes that could cost families £100 a year, according to reports. Plans to trial the scheme in January were abandoned after not one local authority came forward because of huge public opposition. A quango which will assume all the legal rights over rubbish currently held by councils will now be able to bring back the charges.

Let us hope that if families are throwing away less rubbish, then the expected bin tax will not amount to ‘£100′. Local authorities who refused to implement this bin tax out of respect for their residents will possibly have this idea foisted upon them and who will be in the firing line?…. Not the quango, but those local authorities who are on the front line.

….MANSFIELD and Ashfield day-trippers will be able to get on a direct train to Skegness each Sunday – thanks to the launch of a new service.

Visiting Skegness is an age-old tradition for Mansfield folk as it is the nearest resort to home. This service will be invaluable for those who don’t want the hassle of waiting in queues of traffic as the world and his wife head for the coast.

East Midlands Trains will run one direct train to Skegness and back each Sunday from Mansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse, Sutton Parkway, Kirkby and Newstead – starting from this week.

The train will leave Mansfield Woodhouse at 8.37am each Sunday, arriving at Skegness at 11.49am, with the service departing from the seaside resort at 6.07pm.

For more details visit www.nationalrail.co.uk

plans-for-morrisons.pdf…the plans have been submitted and are on show on MDC website or at MDC Planning Control department., or by clicking on the above link. I can tell those of you who had concerns about the filling station, that it is to be retained and in addition there will be a car wash, subject to the plans being passed.

So far as parking charges are concerned, I’m afraid I have no further news.

….Britain’s cultural attractions have recorded an increase in visitor numbers as cash-strapped families sought a free day out. Defying the impact of the recession, top attractions drew more visitors last year than they did in 2007, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

Mansfield’s Museum was named Museum of the Year at the Nottinghamshire Renaissance Heritage Awards held at the Museum on Wednesday 23 July.The Museum also jointly won the category of Best Exhibition for the Golden Sands exhibition held last summer. The other joint winner was Newark Musuem. Make your family’s day by going to the museum.

Telephone: 01623 463088 Fax: 01623 412922
Mansfield Museum, Leeming Street, Mansfield, Notts. NG18 1NG
Email: mansfieldmuseum@mansfield.gov.uk
Supported by Mansfield District Council

….especially for the elderly who rely on being able to get about to shop and visit the doctor. The pavements have been treacherous, but I did prevail on the caretaker on Peafields estate to grit the sloping pavements along Trusley Walk and Coton Close.  Senior citizens look forward to their social evenings at Calver Street Community Centre so their walk down there will be a little safer. We are, though, still awaiting the connection of the newly installed lamp on Trusley Walk. This area around the jitty running through to Litton Road is a particularly dark spot and residents have taken to carrying torches. I was told that it would be 5 -10 working days for the connection and this timeline runs out on Friday of this week, so I shall be watching closely and will chase up the connection should this be necessary.

…for four weeks for re-furbishment by Morrisons, who have taken over the lease. The Co-op has been the vibrant hub of Mansfield Woodhouse for approximately 20 years and I shall be sorry to see its demise.

They have a huge customer base that walks to the store, many being without transport. How will they cope during this four week closure? I suppose many will take to travelling to ASDA by way of the free bus service, but equally many will use their local shops, so it’s not all bad news!

I wonder, will the free parking currently enjoyed by shoppers in Mansfield Woodhouse be continued or will Morrisons levy a charge to park in their car park? This car park is central to M/W and is used not only by Co-op shoppers but by visitors to other shops in the village. Will they lose custom? It’s a concern that must be addressed.

………..He has taken an executive decision to extend the recent car parking concession until March 29th. It will be free to park at Walkden Street and Four Seasons car parks from Monday to Saturday (max stay four hours) Parking at other car parks in town will revert to normal charges.

In addition, Mayor Egginton has announced a reduction of £5 in charges for market stall rental.

…..was instated today and the train into Mansfield Woodhouse was greeted by Robin Hood, who sounded his horn as the train arrived. Newstead Brass Band played seasonal music and local Independent Forum Councillors Kate Allsop, Mick Barton, Norman Cook, Labour Group Councillor Derek Birkin and I were pleased to be there, regardless of the early hour….8.15 on Sunday is usually, for me, a time to awaken slowly and read the Sunday papers! Glad I went though. My sole complaint is that by the time I had walked along the access route to the platform I felt I could have been half-way to Shirebrook!!

….and I am so glad that I managed to find a gap in my diary, so that I could attend. Chairman of MDC, Alan Fell, was there and a number of people from the voluntary sector that I have been lucky enough to meet before. Navi Saheli’s co-ordinator , Jyoti, was there with her husband, manager of Mansfield MIND, Girish Ravat and members of Mansfield Woodhouse Development Group.

Jigsaw have a wonderful strapline - ‘Helping People To Help Themselves’ -  and is all about pointing people in the right direction to access information and assistance to remain independent in their own homes.

There was a superbly funny mini -play performed with the aim of alerting people to the dangers within the home and how to avoid the pitfalls of fire, bogus callers and the like. The timing of the two actors was faultless and everyone loved the performance. In fact, I am going to book a showing of the play for Navi Saheli and let the committees of the community centres  in my ward know how to get a showing.

……..in the Nottinghamshire Renaissance Heritage Awards, scooping the top award which recognises excellence in Museums and Heritage Societies and  have also received accreditation from the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council.

The museum staff are deservedly very proud to have won the award which marks Mansfield Museum as the best in the County.

….Peafield Park has been successful in its bid for the prestigious Green Flag. All the hard work and dedication by Friends of Peafield Park and local Councillors has paid off and we intend to celebrate!!!!! We missed out last year, but with the guidance of Kathryn, MDC’s Parks Development Officer, we managed it at our second attempt.

The Green Flag for parks is the equivalent of the Blue Flag awarded to beaches which  reach a level of excellence in their category. We are all so thrilled to have done it, but we have to keep up the good work - 2009 is just around the corner!

…………TWO FINGER RULE ON BIN COLLECTIONS
West Wiltshire District Council has come under fire after its waste contractor told its bin emptying staff that they should only collect bins if they could pull the wheelie bin with two fingers. How discrimating is that to anyone who has ‘heavy rubbish’?

I have heavy fire ashes and  cat litter, in addition to everyday household waste. If the refuse collector tried to move my bin with two fingers, he would probably break them! How mad is this world becoming? Take the mascot off your wagon -that’s another idea. Where’s the harm?
 

….what does it mean to you? Probably exactly what it meant to me, up until a few days ago. It was pretty much a closed book to me - didn’t really know why it exists, what agencies make up the partnership, what are its functions or what its plans are.  Since the leaders’ meeting, when MASP was discussed, I have been more aware of the workings of the partnership.

I gleaned even more information last night when I attended a presentation by the Executive Mayor, Tony Egginton, who explained all about MASP. If you would like to know what MASP is all about you can find out by following this link to the MASP  website. It covers a wide range of subjects and is a very informative site.

http://www.masp.info/_2007/community-strategy/moving-forward.php

………..to look at Peafield Park and after deliberations, we shall be given feedback with regard to things we are getting right and areas where we need improvement. We shall learn the result towards the end of July…….here’s hoping for a positive judgment.

Pictured are Councillor Jill Usher (2nd R)and MDC Parks Development Officer Kathryn Poxon (L), with the Judges.

………final! The toilets on St John Street will not be kept open and the original decision, taken in February by the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, will stand. I can’t say I disagree with her. 

The scrutiny of the decision following the Call-in was carried out diligently by Select Commission 1 members, regardless of their personal opinions on the matter. We had to be totally unbiased in our public consultation and as a result of all the research a veritable mine of information has been gathered which may be invaluable in future, should MDC decide to look to alternatives for the provision of Public Conveniences for Mansfield.

……….St John Street public conveniences.

Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Councillor Kate Allsop,  will decide whether to uphold her original ruling to close the toilets.

I am convinced that Kate, as an experienced Councillor with lots of ‘nous’ will make the judgment in the best interests of all concerned, whether this means that the decision is to be upheld or reversed. 

This review of the  Portfolio’s original ruling followed the call-in of that decision by 6 members of MDCouncil. A public consultation was conducted by Select Commission 1  and results of this and other findings have been passed in a  report to Councillor Allsop.

……..a heady combination. I have passed the starling chick I have been raising to the owners of the Cedar Bird Rescue Centre at Kirkby-in-Ashfield. I felt a pang of sadness as he left my hands to fly up to the top of the branches in the aviary. Funny how after only 10 days he had found a place in my heart, but I was so happy that he would not have to live his life in a cage.

He was ready for flight; in fact he had his maiden flight, purely by accident, in my bedroom and he was a sight to behold.  Whilst I was feeding him he got out of his cage and flew around the room. It was obvious that my term of care had come to an end and he needed more than I was able to give. He needed to socialise with other birds and have the chance of life in the wild, which was always my hope for him. I was very impressed by the setup at Cedar. Wendy and Phil are committed to releasing birds and I have every confidence that ‘Joey’ will leave the aviary when he is equipped with the social and survival skills he needs.

Cedar Bird Rescue Centre are having an open day on Sunday, 8th June and I shall go back to visit and see how much he has grown. It took a couple of days to adjust to not having to feed him every 45 minutes, but it is good not to have to get up at dawn for the first feed of the day!  

……..is coming up fast and today we Friends of Peafield Park, together with MDC Parks staff, are preparing our promotional boards for our display.

If you use the park and find litter or dog mess, will you please report it to me and I shall ensure it is cleaned up. We are pushing hard for the status that a Green Flag award brings and any support you can give us would be appreciated. I’ll keep you informed; as soon as we know the judging day, I shall post it here.

….with my site, will have ’sussed’ that I am a person who looks on life with a positive attitude - my glass is half-full and like Eric Idle I always look on the bright side of life!

Our local newspaper regularly publishes letters from ‘Irate of Mansfield’ and ‘Disappointed of Mansfield’ bemoaning the demise of Mansfield market and laying the blame at the door of MDC, but if the following experience is not an isolated incident then perhaps the blame should be laid at the feet of traders……….. 

On Saturday, having answered the call to support our local traders in their fight to survive in the face of competition from ‘out of town stores’ and supermarkets, I was  sold less than perfect goods by a market trader.  His produce was beautifully displayed and  mouth-watering but from one pound of cherries, 5 oz were inedible (I weighed them!) and had to be thrown away.

Maybe because I wasn’t a regular customer he saw an opportunity to offload his less than wholesome stock; this is hardly a strategy that will encourage me to return to his stall. If instead, he had sold me delicious, good quality cherries, like those on display, I would have returned and in time, may have become a regular customer.

 So, I say to traders………Sort your stall out!

..that our local schools are finding it extremely difficult to recruit teaching staff. I am a governor at The Manor School and during the short time I have been in post, I have been  impressed by the school’s attitudes towards the welfare of its pupils and the enthusiasm of the teaching staff. The school has received glowing reports from Ofsted and if you should ever have the opportunity to teach at Manor, please don’t turn it down. The school is situated close to local amenities and a ’stone’s throw’ from world-renowned Sherwood Forest. The cities of Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby and Lincoln are all within easy reach, the ‘natives’ are friendly and Mansfield Woodhouse is a thriving  ‘large village’.

….is being reviewed by Councillor Kate Allsop, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration. Following the publishing of the report of Select Commission 1, chaired by Councillor June Stendall, the Council members voted in favour of the decision being referred back to Councillor Allsop, who told Council that she would ‘read the report thoroughly before making a final decision within a few weeks.’

We await her decision with ‘crossed legs’!

….replaced by ‘outreach’ counters. Hundreds more outreach counters will be opened in libraries, churches and pubs to quell the fury over PO closures. Critics have condemned these so-called ‘Post Office Lite’ counters, saying that nothing can replace a proper local post office. However, Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the Local Government Association is quoted: ‘ It is a huge step in the right direction as for some time councils have been putting forward proposals to save some of their local branches. Many councils who have been trying to find innovative options have often been met with unhelpful stonewalling’. (This story appeared in  The Mail, Telegraph and The Mirror.)

I am unsure about future plans for the scheme of Post Offfice outreach facilities in the Mansfield area, but it is food for thought, isn’t it?

…the submission of the report of Select Commission 1, regarding the closure of Public Conveniences at St John Street in Mansfield. It remains to be seen whether the campaigning by local Pensioner Groups and the public consultation by SC1 will have any bearing on the decision; a lot of hard work has been put in by all SC1 members, but especially by the Chair, Councillor June Stendall, who has done a magnificent job in dealing with this call-in. It is thanks to June that I have learned a considerable amount about this procedure, during this 6 week review of the decision to close the toilets.