….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.