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May 2021 FREE - MONTHLY Issue No. 43

New Community Centre coming soonRuddington Parish Council have been progressing with their plans forthe new Community Centre on The Green, to make sure it will becomea vibrant hub at the heart of our village.

A working group was set up in 2020 to drive the pace of the project andresearch the needs of residents for inclusion into the structure of thebuilding.A public consultation then took place with an open survey overNovember and December 2020, for residents of Ruddington to voicetheir opinions on core aspects of the new Community Centre.

THE RUDD

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With 475 respondents, several keythemes emerged:

• A requirement for a large,multipurpose building including a largehall, meeting spaces and kitchenfacilities

• The building to be available for hireduring weekdays, but primarily atweekends and weekday evenings

• Having a flexible space for groupsranging from children to senior citizens,with many respondents highlighting aspecific need to accommodate youthservices or activities for young people

• Maximising the available car parkingspaces and bike storage facilities.

With the need to meet these keythemes and considering the currentcondition of the existing Community &Youth Centre, the decision has beenmade to demolish the existing buildingand build a new, modern CommunityCentre that fits the needs of ourgrowing village.

The working group has been joined bylocal architect, Chris Marriott, who hasgenerously provided his time on avoluntary basis to the project.Preliminary plans for the new buildinginclude both a large and smaller hall,two floors of flexible space formeetings, offices and kitchen/hygienefacilities on the inside.

On the outside will be car parking, bikestorage and a garden.

The working group is confident that theplans will provide a much improved,flexible space which all sectors of ourcommunity will be able to access andbenefit from.

The plans and designs will be putforward for consultation, invitingcomments and feedback frominterested parties. Further details ofthe consultation will be made availableby the Parish Council once the datesare finalised.

In addition to the consultation, theworking group is now focusing onobtaining costs for the demolition ofthe existing building and the projectedbuild of the new Community Centre.Once these are in place, the focus willturn to raising funds for the project andfinalising site plans.

To help us with this next-stage work,we urgently need the support of bothan experienced, qualified accountantand an experienced building servicesmanager.

If any local residents have experiencein either of these areas or knowledge offundraising and grant applications forlarge projects, and can spare a littletime to advise our working group on avoluntary basis, we’d love to hear fromyou.

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If you can help, please email office@ruddingtonparishcouncil.gov.uk.

The Community Centre Working Group

Picture credit on front page: GrahamWright via RUDDINGTON.info

Vote safely onThursday 6th May

With just a few days left until Rushcliffevoters go to the polls, we’re urgingresidents to get ready to vote. BothPolice & Crime Commissioner andCounty Council elections will take placeon the day.

Polling stations will be safe places tovote, but if you’re voting in person,please protect yourself and others by:

• Wearing a face covering

• Bringing your own pen or pencil

• Cleaning your hands when enteringand leaving the polling station

• Keeping a safe distance.

Please don’t attend the polling stationif you have symptoms of COVID-19 orhave been asked to self-isolate.

Anyone who develops symptoms or isasked to self-isolate shortly beforepolling day has up to 5pm on Thursday6th May to apply for an emergencyproxy vote. This will let you nominatesomeone you trust to vote on yourbehalf.

Kath Marriott, our Deputy ReturningOfficer, said: “Your poll card will tellyou where to find your polling station.

“Make sure you check the informationon your polling card, as your pollingstation might have changed since thelast elections.

“You do not need your poll card tovote. However, we encourage you tobring it with you to make the processquicker and more efficient.

“Polling stations will be open from 7amto 10pm on Thursday 6th May. Voterswho have opted to vote by post mustreturn their postal ballot pack by 10pmand can hand it in at their pollingstation if they don’t have time to returnit by post.”

To find out how to apply for anemergency proxy vote, please contactthe electoral registration team byemailing elections@rushclifffe.gov.ukor calling 0115 981 9911.

For further information on elections inyour area, you can visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter. This pagewill continue to be updated ahead ofthe polls.

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COVID-19 roadmap rolloutThe Government’s COVID-19 lockdownroadmap is on track so far, with Step 2implemented as planned on 12th April.Step 3, which will be no earlier thanMonday 17th May, will hopefully see araft of restrictions being lifted, taking usanother stage towards getting back tonormal.

Here’s a rundown of the expectedchanges:

Social contact

The Government will look to continueeasing limits on seeing friends andfamily wherever possible, allowingpeople to decide on the appropriatelevel of risk for their circumstances.

This means that most restrictions onmeeting others outdoors will be lifted –although gatherings of over 30 peoplewill still be illegal. Indoors, the “Rule of6” or 2 households will apply. This willbe kept under review until it’s safe toincrease this.

There’ll also be updated advice onsocial distancing between friends andfamily, including hugging. But until thispoint, you should continue to keep yourdistance from anyone not in yourhousehold or support bubble.

Business and activities

Most businesses will be able to reopenin all but the highest risk sectors.

COVID-Secure guidance will remain inplace and businesses may not cater forgroups bigger than the legal limits.

Indoor hospitality will reopen, with noneed to order a substantial meal withalcoholic drinks and no curfew.However, customers must still order,eat and drink whilst seated.

Other indoor locations to open up willinclude indoor entertainment venuessuch as cinemas and children’s playareas; the rest of the accommodationsector, including hotels, hostels andB&Bs; and indoor adult group sportsand exercise classes.

The Government will also allow somelarger performances and sportingevents in indoor venues with a capacityof 1,000 people or half-full (whicheveris a lower number), and in outdoorvenues with a capacity of 4,000 peopleor half-full (whichever is a lowernumber).

In the largest outdoor seated venueswhere crowds can be spread out, up to10,000 people will be able to attend (ora quarter-full, whichever is lower).

Events

Up to 30 people will be able to attendweddings, receptions and wakes, aswell as funerals. This limit will alsoapply to other types of significant lifeevents including bar mitzvahs andchristenings.

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Review of social distancing

Before Step 4 begins (no earlier thanMonday 21st June), the Governmentwill complete a review of socialdistancing and other long-termmeasures that have been put in place tocut transmission.

This will inform decisions on the timingand circumstances under which therules on “1 metre plus”, the wearing offace coverings and other measures maybe lifted.

This will also inform guidance onworking from home, which shouldcontinue wherever possible until thisreview is complete.

For the latest information on thelockdown roadmap, please visitwww.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Vaccinations updateThe local COVID-19 vaccination bookingsystem is currently open to people aged45 and over.

You can book your vaccination using theSwiftqueue service or by calling 0115883 4640 without waiting for a letter toarrive.

Vaccinations for the 40 to 45 age groupwill open up when enough people aged45 to 49 have had the jab.

For all enquiries on vaccinationappointments, please visit Nottinghamand Nottinghamshire’s CCG website.

Tree planting working groupThe Parish Council has a new workinggroup consisting of Councillors GrahamFletcher, Holly Law, Leo Lanzoni, KenPiggott and Chloe Lewington.

The working group was formed toimprove biodiversity and create spacesfor nature on Parish Council land as wellas making Ruddington a more attractiveplace to live and work. Most of theiractivities are limited to Parish Councilland or property.

Recently, the working group plantedtrees in the open space off VicarageLane with one of Ruddington’s TreeWardens, Geoff East. Geoff had beengiven the trees free of charge byRushcliffe Borough Council.

The working group intend to sowwildflower seeds around the trees oncethe ground has been prepared, with theseeds also being donated by theBorough Council.

Pictured from left to right: CouncillorLanzoni, Councillor Piggott, Geoff Eastand Councillor Fletcher. Picturesupplied by Mandy Fletcher who alsoassisted with the planting.

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Meet our new Parish CouncillorJustine Lucas has recently been co-opted to the Parish Council and nowrepresents Easthorpe Ward. We’d liketo welcome Justine on board.

“I’m 30 years old and have lived inRuddington with my partner for threeyears,” says Justine. “I currently work asthe Performance Lifestyle Advisor forthe Team GB Paralympic swimmingteam and held several welfare-relatedroles before this. I’ve also been aprofessional rugby player in the past,gaining 33 caps for England.

“Keeping fit is obviously a big part of mylife and I’m a keen member ofCompound Strength and Conditioning inRuddington. On a different note, I’verecently joined the Ruddington VillageCentre Partnership committee and amlooking forward to getting stuck in.

“As a Parish Councillor, my mainpriorities are to make sure residents’views are heard on the variousGreenbelt developments our village is

facing. The redevelopment of theCommunity Centre on The Green, andextending the provision of local sportsclub facilities and amenities, are alsohigh on my agenda.”

You can contact Justine through theParish Council office.

There are still some vacancies on theParish Council. If you’re interested ingetting involved, please contact theParish Clerk, Claire Dorans, to find outmore about the role.

Ruddington DiaryDespite the gradual easing ofrestrictions, Ruddington is still inlockdown so there’s no diary thismonth.

However, some outdoor events andactivities such as the Village Market andParkRun have already restarted andsome indoor activities will alsohopefully be allowed from Monday 17thMay. Please see the lockdown roadmaparticle for details.

For the latest information, we suggestyou contact organisers and venues, orcheck social media pages. TheRuddington Mums Facebook page andRUDDINGTON.info are two usefulsources of information.

We urge residents to keep followingGovernment rules on social distancingguidelines and wearing face coveringswhere required.

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1st Ruddington Needs You!You’ve hopefully already seen postersaround the village promoting the localcampaign by First Ruddington Scoutsto recruit leaders. We need YOU tohelp run our local scouts, cubs andbeaver groups in Ruddington.

First RuddingtonScouts is athriving groupwith over 100boys and girlslooking forexciting, fun andadventurousactivities tosupport theirpersonaldevelopment and wellbeing. However,the successful future of the Scoutsorganisation in Ruddington can onlycontinue if new leaders are found tohelp run the groups. We’ve managedto survive the COVID-19 pandemicwith online activities, but now we’removing to face-to-face meetings again,we’re desperately in need of new adultvolunteers.

Ruddington prides itself on itscommunity spirit and First RuddingtonScouts is a huge part of theneighbourhood offer for ouryoungsters. We need YOU to help thisoffer continue effectively; indeed,without new leaders the successful

running of the groups will beunsustainable.

We don’t just need swashbucklingadventurers to lead our expeditions –we also need creative thinkers,organisers, tidy-uppers and tea-makers, committee members,fundraisers and great listeners from allwalks of life.

For as much or as little time as you canspare, be it an hour a week or a coupleof hours each month, We need YOU!

So, if you’re curious and think youmight have something to offer FirstRuddington Scouts group, and wouldlike some more information, pleasecontact Dan and Gavin, Group ScoutLeaders at gsl@firstruddingtonscouts.onmicrosoft.com.

Dan Clifford

Crime figures for RuddingtonFor March 2021, these were as follow:

• 1 x theft of diesel road roller

• 2 x theft of fuel

• 10 x criminal damage to vehicles

• 1 x burglary

• 2 x theft of bicycles

• 1 x theft from vehicle

For crime prevention advice, pleasevisit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/advice.

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Craft Group updateRuddington Craft Group has beenunable to meet since goodness knowwhen!

However we hope brighter times areahead and it’s possible the nextmeeting will be in a month or two.Please watch this space for moredetails to come.

Christine Gibson

Many hands make…twiddle muffs

In response to an appeal in the localnews for twiddle muffs, somemembers of the Inner Wheel Club ofKeyworth and Ruddington set to workto make some.

Using scraps of wool, material andbuttons, over 80 muffs have so farbeen made to deliver to the NHS.

Twiddle muffs can help some patientswith dementia and sensory problemsby providing an object to handle andexplore.

Diana Herrington, President

Money Match March success£755,000 raised for railway

reunification project

The Great Central Railway (GCR)’sambitious Reunification project hasleapt forward with a month-longfundraising push. Money Match Marchoffered to match all donations receivedduring March pound for pound, up to avalue of £100,000.

Support was received from enthusiastsand well-wishers around the world. Alate flurry of donations received justbefore month-end saw well over£150,000 being received, over theavailable “matching funds”. With thematch funding, the new grand total isan incredible £755,000.

“We can’t quite believe we’ve reachedthree quarters of a million pounds,”said Andy Fillingham, Chairman of theFriends of the Great Central Main Line,the membership organisation for theGCR which is driving the fundraising.

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“The generosity of the support hastaken our breath away. We now have25% of the £3m we need to build thenext two phases of the Reunificationproject.”

Reunification will bring together twoseparate halves of the Great CentralRailway which were separated after theoriginal line was closed in the 1960s.The two lines combined will create an18 mile heritage line connectingRuddington with Leicester, which willboost the local economy and createjobs.

Two stages of the scheme have alreadybeen built after millions of pounds wereraised. The next two phases will see alocal road crossed on a bridge and aviaduct built over a factory car park.

“Our funding grows all the time aspeople give by standing orders,”explained Andy. “We will need to haveraised most of the full cost of the nextsection before we can start building it,but the incredible response to MoneyMatch March brings that day closer. Wecan’t thank everyone who hassupported us enough. As the railwaygets closer to reopening, this has beena tremendous boost.”

How to donate

Donations can be made online atwww.gcrailway.co.uk/unify.

Cheques for the appeal can be madepayable to The David Clarke Railway

Trust and posted to DCRT, LovattHouse, 3 Wharncliffe Road,Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE111SL.

Free COVID-19 testsfrom Evans Pharmacy

Evans Pharmacy on Charles Street isnow supplying free lateral flow test kitsfor COVID-19, as part of the NHS Test &Trace scheme.

The tests, which are designed toprovide reassurance for individuals andemployers, must only be used if youdon’t have any symptoms of COVID-19.

The pharmacy can supply one box ofseven tests per person, which must becollected by someone aged over 18.However, the tests are safe for childrento use.

You’ll need to carry out the test awayfrom the pharmacy and register yourresult online at www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result within 24 hours of takingthe test. Or, you can call 119 to registeryour result or if you need any help withthe test.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, oryour lateral flow test is positive, pleasevisit www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-testor call 119 to book a PCR test.

You may need to self-isolate until youget the results of the PCR test – pleasevisit either of the Government testingwebsites or call 119 to find out more.

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Fairham scheme kicks offwith Countryside

Housebuilder Countryside has beenannounced as the first company todevelop new homes at Fairham, thenew £800 million neighbourhood forNottingham.

The new 606 acre mixed usedevelopment is being delivered inpartnership with Clowes Developmentsand Homes England, the government’shousing accelerator.

Countryside plans to build 332 newhomes on 20 acres of land south ofNottingham Road at Fairham, nearClifton.

The developer will submit a planningapplication to Rushcliffe BoroughCouncil before summer 2021 for a mixof housing types, including three andfour bedroom houses and one and twobedroom apartments.

The homes will comprise a combinationof affordable housing through aregistered partner as well as homes forprivate rent and open market sale.

Subject to planning permission, it’santicipated that work will start on sitebefore the end of the year, with the firstproperties available to occupy from latespring 2022.

Fairham will create a total of 3,000 newhomes to be built by a number ofhousebuilders to ensure choice andindividuality across size, style andtenure, but all tied together by acommon purpose governed by a holisticdesign code that ensures the differentparts of the new neighbourhoodcomplement and support one another.

As well as the new homes, 1 millionsquare feet of commercial space and aneighbourhood centre will be built, pluscommunity, health and educationalfacilities, and 200 acres of green space.

Fairham has been designed around ahighly sustainable, ultra-connectedlocation set amid the green landscapeof south Nottinghamshire.

With all amenities co-located alongsideone another, it will be one of the mostaccessible and sustainable communitiesin the country.

Fairham forms a key part of RushcliffeBorough Council’s Local Plan and willhelp meet the borough’s housing needfor 13,500 new homes over the nextdecade.

To find out more, visit www.fairhamlife.co.uk.

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COVID Digital RecoveryGrants still available

Eligible high street businesses orestablished business groups can still beboosted by Rushcliffe BoroughCouncil’s COVID Digital RecoveryGrants, that can help them furtheradapt and improve their onlinepresence or sales.

Small to medium size retail, hospitality,personal care, leisure, tourism andother enterprises in Rushcliffe can nowaccess up to £1,000 over and aboveexisting central government grantsupport by visiting the BoroughCouncil’s webpage.

Part of the authority’s recovery planfrom the pandemic, the funds allowbusinesses to create or improve awebsite, seek advice and support onimproving their social media presenceor create greater online transactionalcapability.

It can also aid local retail groups ortraders’ associations supporting orenhancing the development of, forexample, an online marketplace fortheir town or village.

Applicants must be a high streetbusiness who pay their business ratesto the Borough Council or receive smallbusiness rate relief with between oneand 30 employees.

All appropriate licences andpermissions must be in place. Fullcriteria and available on the webpage.

This latest news on Digital RecoveryGrants builds on the Councildistributing over £40m of vital centralgovernment grants and support to over600 businesses since March 2020.

Restart grants are now also availablefor eligible businesses on the BoroughCouncil’s business webpage.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s ExecutiveManager for Finance and CorporateGovernance Executive Pete Linfieldsaid: “We have set up the High StreetCOVID Digital Recovery Grant asanother way to support businesses whoare continuing to adapt quickly in lightof the pandemic and who may need afurther boost to reach out to new andexisting customers.

“Business owners should apply as soonas possible if they have digital plans inmind. Please email us if you have anyquestions on the grants.”

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Edited and produced by Ruddington Parish CouncilTel: 0115 914 6660 Email: office@RuddingtonParishCouncil.gov.ukWebsite: www.RuddingtonParishCouncil.gov.ukTweet to: @RuddingtonPC Facebook.com/Ruddington Parish CouncilViews expressed in the newsletter are those of the contributors and may not be thoseof the Parish Council.

For copyright information, please contact Ruddington Parish Council or visit the website above

Funding for elite Rushcliffe athletesElite athletes across the Borough have been awarded grant funding to supporttheir efforts in their chosen sport as they reach for their Olympic and national goals.The Elite Sports Grant has been awarded to 19 local athletes to reduce some of thefinancial burden of competing at an advanced level that can often create a barrierto their achievements.Funds can help with costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competitionfees and equipment, coaching and other specialist support deemed appropriateby the National Governing Body over the next year.Those awarded the fundingare competing in a numberof different sports such asathletics, canoeing, archery,wheelchair tennis, icehockey and swimming, withsome athletes waiting to seeif they’ll take their place atTokyo 2021.Athletes include BarneyCorrall, who is World JuniorChampion after winning gold at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships inSwitzerland in 2019 and was also Sports Person of the Year at the 2019 CelebratingRushcliffe Awards.Meanwhile, short track speed skater star Charlotte Hayward, whose ambition is toqualify for the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing 2022 and again in Milan 2026, isalso among the recipients of the grant.A full list including information about each athlete is available atwww.rushcliffe.gov.uk/eliteathletes.