Beeston and District Civic Society ˜ Publications

BEESTON TOWN CENTRE REVAMP

There was a recent opportunity for the public to comment on a proposed major improvement scheme, designed to "inject new sparkle back into Beeston".

Two public consultation events were held in the Council Offices reception, Foster Avenue, Beeston followed by a display in Beeston Library. These were organised by Broxtowe Borough Council in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and the Beeston Business Forum.

The events provided an opportunity to view and comment on proposals for the area, including new paving, street furniture, cycle facilities and public art - including a possible new home for the much loved Beekeeper.

The improvements - which are designed to build on the success of the Broadgate scheme - aim to make Beeston town centre an even better place to visit.

“The current town centre paving and street furniture was largely installed as a result of pedestrianisation in the 1980s and has served the town well” said Councillor Ken Rigby, Broxtowe’s Cabinet member for Planning & Community Development. “But other towns, which are effectively our competition, have invested money in improving and updating their street scenes, so it’s important that we try and do the same.”

Draft plans have been drawn up and these were available on the Borough Council’s website and at the events. Completed comment forms will be used to finalise the detail design work on the scheme.

"... an eyesore of huge proportions ..."

We wrote to Ruth Hyde, Chief Executive of Broxtowe Borough Council on the 14th March 2008 and published our letter on this web site, see below. We have received a reply saying that the Council feel that there is little that they can do. We have also received the following message from Tesco acknowledging that it is an eyesore;

subject: Tesco

Dear Chairman

I was concerned to read the comments regarding Tesco on your website.

Bowmer and Kirkland have been employed to carry out the necessary 'Enabling Works' on the site - this basically entails clearing the site ready for planned future development. The main elements of the works undertaken to date are as follows-

* Construction of the new Pearson Centre on Nuart Road; this enabled the demolition of the old building on Station Road.
* Construction of the new 'Beeston Old Boys Association' building on Middle Street; enabling the commencement of the demolition of the old building.
* Construction of a new Job Centre on Acacia Walk; the Department of Work and Pensions are currently preparing to move into the new building and vacate their old premises (once this process is complete the old building will also be demolished)
* Demolition of a number of buildings across site including the former Hi-Q, Smart Car, Conservative Club, Be-Wise, Salvation Army Hall and a number of residential properties at the junction of Acacia walk and Middle Street.
* Some alteration to services within the public highway have also been undertaken.

Much of the material that has been created by the demolition has been crushed and retained on site for re-use. Our contractors appreciate this is something of an eye-sore but in Construction, as in most other industries these days, contractors are asked to adopt (and happy to comply with) environmentally friendly practices. They would rightly be heavily criticised if the demolition materials were removed from site and taken to landfill, only for stone to be then imported back onto site from a local quarry.

Of late the amount of work being undertaken has reduced; this is because the limited amount of demolition work that remains cannot progress until the necessary legal permissions and agreements are in place. The paperwork side of this is close to being concluded.

Once this has been done Tesco will be able to appoint a main contractor and set a detailed timetable for construction.

I do hope this clarifies matters and perhaps we can explore the possibility of using your website to keep people informed once a timetable has been established.

Regards
Tony Fletcher
Corporate Affairs Manager Tesco

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The following is the letter sent to Broxtowe Borough Council.

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Ruth Hyde

Chief Executive

Broxtowe Borough Council

Foster Avenue

Beeston

Nottingham NG9 1AB

14 March 2008

Dear Ms Hyde

Re: “Tesco” site Station Road/Middle Street, Beeston

The Beeston & District Civic Society is becoming increasingly concerned at the state of this site in the very heart of the town, more so as nothing seems to be happening of late. This is an eyesore of huge proportions by any standard.

We appreciate that there is bound to be mess and rubble while development is taking place, but this is taking far too long. Where is our civic pride? We feel that we must insist that some action is taken on behalf of Beeston citizens. And who better to make representations on our behalf than our local representatives!

It is virtually impossible for anyone to make contact with the developers and their agents and learn anything from them, as the whole site seems to be shrouded in mystery and secrecy. We also appreciate that the council does not own the site, but it is in the centre of Beeston and we local citizens have to put up with the resulting chaos, and most people are fed up with the whole thing.

We hope, therefore that you or one of your colleagues can help on our behalf.

Yours sincerely

Joyce Brown

c.c. Michael Rich

OUR OBJECTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING ON GREEN BELT AT BRAMCOTE

expressed in the following letter sent to "Nottingham Regeneration"

Nottingham Regeneration Ltd

Shire Hall

High Pavement

Nottingham NG1 1HN

20 March 2008

Dear Sir

Re: Proposals to build on Green Belt Land at Bramcote

As the late Stephen Crow pointed out in his last report on the Nottinghamshire Green Belt; at this point, to the west of Nottingham, the green belt is at its narrowest, therefore it is more critical to retain it than to the east, north and south where there are no nearby large towns for developments to spread into.

Whilst acknowledging that there is a constant need for more housing; on behalf of our members, the Executive Committee of Beeston & District Civic Society makes comment and objections to any proposal to build on green belt land in this area as follows:

You should be aware of the extent of local opposition
Our locally elected representatives should be allowed to speak on our behalf
This particular area of green belt has always fulfilled its objective as it was set up to do – namely to separate the districts of Bramcote, Chilwell, Toton and Stapleford and to preserve their separate identities – and it has been successfully defended on many occasions.
If allowed to be developed, it could set a precedent making it difficult to defend future plans and gradually the green area separating this side of Nottingham from the conurbation of Derby would be even more eroded.
The extra traffic generated by new developments would have considerable traffic implications for all the areas named in 3, but especially on the A52 itself and at the junction with Bardill’s island, where it is proposed to construct a park & ride for NET.
Chilwell Lane and Town Street, Bramcote are not of the required standard to cope with extra traffic.
If development takes place on either side of the A52 in this area, the noise levels to the residents will be totally unacceptable and difficult, if not impossible, to control
Only 11% of agricultural land in the county is grade 2 whereas most of the agricultural land in this area which would be lost to new development is grade 2.
Potential flood risk. As we are all now more aware, especially in the light of Global Warming and climate change, the run off from surface water in developed areas could well pose a threat in this area.
This particular area of green belt is attractive and popular with walkers, especially local families and present government health strategy urges us all to exercise more and stay healthy. It would be loss of a local amenity should it disappear.
Finally we would submit that there reasonable alternatives to using green belt land in this area, for example the old Stanton & Staveley ironworks site near Ilkeston, the Nottingham (or Tollerton) airfield at Gamston and the old RAF Newton site.

We trust that you will give due consideration to our objections and proposals and refuse consent to build on green belt land in this area.

Yours faithfully

Joyce Brown

c.c. Broxtowe Borough Council. Planning Officer and Chief Executive

Notts. County Council Planning Dept.

Dr. N. Palmer

Councillor S. Heptinstall

Bramcote Conservation Society

PARKING ENFORCEMENT

After too long a period of increased virtual anarchy on our streets (and pavements) Civil Parking Enforcement finally commenced throughout the area on Monday 12^th May 2008. Nottinghamshire County Council took over responsibility for on-street parking enforcement from the Police, and Civil Enforcement Officers (supplied by National Parking Services under a central contract with the County Council) will be enforcing parking regulations. This is intended to help reduce traffic congestion and improve road (and pavement) safety.

One of the likely consequences of the re-introduction of “traffic wardens” will be that more vehicles will resort to parking along our residential streets. This may well be an issue for many residents so it is vital that the County Council quickly consider the introduction of further Residents Parking Schemes to protect against the effects of excessive and inconsiderate parking. We also trust that they will commence a long overdue programme of repairs to the pavements and street furniture, which have suffered from damage by heavy vehicles and neglect over the years.

NET PHASE TWO

In April 2007 Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council jointly submitted an application for the powers to buy land, build and run NET Phase Two - part of which is intended to run through Beeston and Chilwell. Following a six-week public consultation period, the Department for Transport announced that it would hold a Public Inquiry. This was held during November and December 2007, when evidence was heard from over 100 businesses and residents (including Beeston and District Civic Society).

Mr Robert Barker, from the independent Planning Inspectorate, was appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport to chair the Public Inquiry and consider the evidence, is said to have taken more than one thousand pages of notes, which indicates the scale of the inquiry and the evidence. He also carried out site visits after which he is to produce his report and recommendations for presentation, some time in the Summer 2008, to the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly. She is then expected to announce the Government's decision in early 2009. Subject to that decision, if it is to go-ahead, a competitive tendering process would then commence during which private companies can bid for the work of building and running the expanded NET system. Construction could then start in 2010 and trams actually running through Beeston and Chilwell in 2013.

PARISH CHURCH RE-OPENED AFTER MAJOR RESTORATION

The listed Parish Church of ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, in the centre of Beeston, has recently undergone a major re-development and restoration after an investment of approximately £860,000. The 15^th century Chancel and 19^th century building are now complemented with a bright, attractive and versatile 21^st century interior, which may be visited most weekday lunch times (11:30am to 1:30pm).

so it's GOODBYE to this ==>>

BUT does it have to be HELLO to this ? ==>>>

It is reported that "Pet Mart", the independent store of 32 years standing, situated on Station Road in Beeston, has finally given up the struggle to survive, and will shortly close to make way for the Tesco development ( by being part of their car park ?).

Also, there is widespread speculation and concern over the ultimate design of the controversial supermarket, and this Society has gone on record that it will rally opposition to any design that is inappropriate to the scale of other buildings in the centre of Beeston.