Update: Nottingham East MP Chris Leslie

Chris talking to Joan Bradley at Bluebell Hill Primary School

The Robin Hood Chase

“There are many issues facing the community in St Ann’s, but currently the imminent closure of the Coop Food Store in the Chase precinct is causing a great deal of anxiety, particularly as this is the last basic food shop in the area – with the Aldi in the city centre the nearest available main store half a mile away. On Friday around fifty local residents gathered outside the Coop (see picture below) to protest at the decision and I joined them to discuss what few options now exist.

“It is especially disappointing because the Cooperative Group normally take a more ethical approach to their business – but they say that this particular shop is making a persistent loss and that the revamp of the premises three years ago didn’t reverse the losses. I have been talking with senior people at the Coop Group at a regional and national level and urging them to rethink or at the very least give a stay of execution, perhaps leaving the store running for a few more months until the redevelopment of the health centre land nearby at St Ann’s Well Road is able to provide brand new modern space for their relocation. I haven’t yet given up trying to persuade them to recommit to St Ann’s, but so far I have no positive news. I am deeply concerned that many vulnerable residents will face a long walk over the cold winter months – with scant public transport options available – just to get a basic food shop. Together with local councillors we will have to come up with a plan to tackle this issue going forward, and I will report further if and when we get any news.

Blue Bell Hill Primary School

“It was a great honour to visit Bluebell Hill Primary School on Friday and meet with head teacher Jo Bradley to look around their modernised building and hear about the great progress they have made at this outstanding school. They run a number of very welcome projects including ‘Every Child A Reader’ and a breakfast club which helps give a real boost at the beginning of the school day to many of the children – and they work hard to encourage parental involvement in much of the school activities. Jo Bradley has been at the school for 29 years and it is a tribute to her commitment and dedication that the school has such a positive ethos and has improved so much.”