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Wednesday 16 October 2013

Astronomy & Space | Voyager 1 at the edge of Space

© Richard Pearson

In September NASA officially confirmed that the Voyager 1 spacecraft entered interstellar space beyond our solar system in August 2012 when it became the furthest man made object to do so. In this program we take a look at what this actually means.

Please follow us on our video channels | YouTube | Science Stage | Twitter | Facebook

We also look at the highlights of the October night sky, and with Messier marathon season about to begin we pinpoint several deep sky objects for you to observe. Finally we have the latest news about comet ISON, and nova V339 DELPHINI which flared up in August, and is now getting brighter!

The BBC TV program 'The Sky at Night' is under threat of being axed after 56 years. The program was fronted by TV astronomer Sir Patrick Moore in all of that time. Please help save this magnificent astronomy program by signing Karen Barker's on line petition at Please do not axe the Sky at Night | Thank you for your support.

Monday 14 October 2013

Full City Council Meeting 21 October

MOTION IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR BALL (Sherwood)

BallThis Council notes that pubs are for many people a local facility and social hub that help facilitate community cohesion through interactions between people from different backgrounds. This Council also notes that Licensed premises may not be an appropriate location for building community cohesion for all sections of the community however, the right sort of pub run in the right way can be a great addition to a neighbourhood. This Council also notes that a significant number of pubs have closed in Nottingham’s neighbourhoods in the recent past.

This Council also notes that there are many changes of use for public houses that don’t require any sort of planning application and therefore the local community is denied a say on the future of their local pub.

Finally, it is noted that other Local Authorities have begun to draw up policies and plans to respond to these changes.

This Council Resolves To
- Create a promotional plan in association with partners to support our well-run and responsible local pubs and successful local brewing operations
- Continue to support the Robin Hood Beer Festival in Nottingham
- Invite the Minister for Pubs in Government to the Robin Hood Beer Festival and take them on a tour of Nottingham so they can experience first hand the vibrant brewing economy and pub culture in the city
- Work with Nottingham CAMRA and national CAMRA in their campaign against pub closures
- Work with GMB and other trade unions in their campaign against the beer-tie
- Continue to promote licensing policies that support responsible pub operations
- Promote responsible drinking through the continuation of action against the sale of strong alcohol and irresponsible licensing that encourages a binge drinking culture
- Include a policy within the emerging Local Plan which recognises the importance of pubs in the community, and seeks to ensure that they can continue to play that role wherever possible
- Offer support where appropriate to community organisations seeking to nominate pubs as Assets of Community Value
- Lobby Government for an alteration in the Use Classes Order so that changes from pubs to retail and office uses requires planning permission
- Explore the use of an Article 4 Direction to prevent pubs from changing to retail, financial/professional services and restaurant uses without planning permission being obtained on application.

Thursday 10 October 2013

St Ann’s Projects win ‘Golden Trowel’ award

1270396_591878640869505_1029850968_oPeople from 35 Nottingham neighbourhoods who have been working to make their area a greener, cleaner and friendlier place to live are celebrating their achievements with Britain in Bloom 'It's Your Neighbourhood' Awards.

The award for the Most Inspiring project amongst the 135 groups in the East Midlands was presented to St Ann's Projects, for their efforts in turning a forgotten patch of land in Moffat Close into the Zig Zag Community Garden. At least 40 local people attend each monthly gardening session, with more than 200 people involved overall.

Carly Williams and Martin Sommerville, who lead the group, said: "We're very proud of what everyone has made happen on the Zig Zags. We feel totally humbled and really excited to keep growing."

Thousands of residents across the city are involved in greening and cleaning up their own areas in liaison with Nottingham in Bloom. Many groups have their efforts recognised officially by entering the awards, which are run by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Assessors visited each group in July and awarded marks for horticulture, environmental responsibility and community participation. Certificates were presented at Wollaton Park Community Centre in Harrow Road in Wollaton by Jeff Bates, Chair of East Midlands in Bloom - with eight groups receiving the highest award of 'Outstanding.'

Councillor Malcolm Wood, Chair of the Nottingham in Bloom Working Group, said: "Congratulations to all the neighbourhood groups, who are doing so much to improve their own environment and instil a sense of pride and community spirit across the area. Many of these projects have sparked an interest amongst people who have never been involved in gardening before and we hope that many more will be inspired to get involved in the future."

The Neighbourhood Bloom groups also played an important part in Nottingham's Gold Medal winning entry into the East Midlands in Bloom competition, with 25% of the marks allocated for community participation.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Robin Hood Chase plans on exhibition today

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A steady stream of St Ann’s tenants & residents came along to see the new plans for the Robin Hood Chase shopping precinct.

These two images show the proposals. The planning application is to be submitted in November, and if successful construction will begin next spring.

The Architect is BM3 of Birmingham who are being the Keepmoat Homes development on the nearby Stonebridge Park Estate, and Kingsthorpe Close in Mapperley.

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Monday 7 October 2013

Robin Hood Chase consultations begin

131002 RHC poster corpo

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Updated On 30th September Councillor Dave Liversidge, who is a key officer of the City Council, made an executive decision to provide £1,132,350 from the Capital Fund for the demolition works to Digby Court, Cranwell Road
Crosswall Flats, Robin Hood Chase and Locksley House.

The new concept | Lose the present small car park area, bottom row of 4 shops & former housing office, and the former Wellspring health centre, which will be subject to demolition before Christmas. A new car park area will be introduced at the bottom of the Chase with access from St Ann’s Well Road. A new super market will be built that will be 40% larger than the former Co-op, with sheltered accommodation for the elderly above. Three new shop units will be constructed facing the St Ann’s Valley Centre.

  • Proposed to build 45 sheltered units over 3 floors. 44 one bed and 1 two bed unit.
  • There are 3 shop units shown on the plan, the supermarket at the front can be split into two units to make a total of  4 shops or kept as one big store (which will be more attractive to a retailer) with an option to include a retail unit within the larger store (e.g. a post office or sandwich shop).
  • There are no plans to reopen Livingstone Street to Aster Road.

ASRA Housing Group will manage all of the accommodation once the scheme has been construction by Wilmot Dixon, and Asra will contribute £1m to the scheme.

By Gill Callingham (Project Manager)

Saturday 5 October 2013

Citizens in London & Nottingham win ‘Bedroom Tax’ appeals

bedroomA BLIND man who claims housing benefit has won an appeal against paying the so-called bedroom tax - the first of its kind in England.

Surinder Lall would have seen his benefits cut by £12 a week because his local council claimed he had a second bedroom.

But the barrister, who lives in Lon­don, successfully argued the space was used to store medical equipment and not as a bedroom, meaning his case was outside the scope of the tax.

In his decision notice, the judge wrote: 'The term "bedroom" is no­where defined. I apply the ordinary English meaning. The room in question cannot be so defined.'

Ashampoo_Snap_2013.10.05_20h07m40s_001_About 80,000 London households are affected by the bedroom tax, of which more than 50,000 comprise or include disabled people.

The victory could pave the way for thousands more benefit claimants to take their local council to court. Mr Lall said his case should stop local housing departments from using the term 'bedroom' in their tenancy agreements to cut benefits.

Although Westminster council has said it will not appeal the decision, the Department for Work and Pen­sions has said it may do so.

A spokesman said Mr Lall may have won because the room was too small to qualify as a bedroom.

Left: Anna Whyman from St Ann’s, Nottingham, also won her appeal Yesterday.

The ruling comes as the £500-a-week benefit cap comes into place. Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: 'Out-of-work households know they can no longer claim more than the average family earns.'

Nottingham Tram Phase 2 | Photo Update

Works are continuing at the Toll Bridge crossing over the river Trent, which has been widened to except trams crossing over the bridge in both directions.

These photographs were taken a few days ago in poor weather when rain stopped work during the afternoon. However they do give you an idea of the progress at the site so far this year.

The new Phase 2 tram extension is expected to be finished an operational by January 2015.

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Millennium Garden stroll

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30 09 2013 Sep Mon BFTFWD To Uni Gardens via Dunkirk 017BEST FOOD FORWARD | Monday 30th September.

We joined the canal near Loxley House in the city centre and had a nice stroll along the canal towards Dunkirk. Then into the Millennium Garden at Nottingham University which was very nicely laid out and colourful with all of the plants. The weather was fine considering that we are now in autumn.

Best Foot Forward offers a number of short walks in the Nottingham City area. These free guided health walks offer you the opportunity to improve your health, make new friends, have fun and get to know your local environment. Everyone welcome!

For more information please contact:

Sarah Allen Best Foot Forward Co-coordinator 0115 9933397 sarah.allen@ageuknotts.org.uk
Carol Wilby 0115 8414474 carol.wilby@ageuknotts.org.uk

By Robert Battey

Promenade house – City Council enquiry after freak accident

DSCN1445An estate agent and potential buyer were injured when they plunged through the floor of a house during a viewing.

The man and woman were taken to hospital after falling into the cellar of the end terrace in Nottingham.

The Grade-II listed house, on Promenade, near Sneinton Market, is due to be auctioned on 10 October.

Nottingham City Council, which owns the house, said it was investigating how Saturday's "terrible freak accident" happened.

DSCN1443Savills, which is selling the property, said: "Our first concerns are with the two people hurt, one of whom is a Savills employee.

Emergency services parked nearby Emergency services were called to the house on Saturday evening
"We wish them a full and speedy recovery."

Ambulance crews were called to the scene shortly before 17:30 BST, to reports that two people had fallen through floorboards into the cellar.

DSCN1447An ambulance spokeswoman said the woman had head injuries and the man had back pain.

Both were taken to hospital for further assessment and treatment.

A Nottingham City Council spokesman said: "This appears to have been a terrible freak accident at a property we have been trying to sell which has been empty for a number of years.

"We're investigating how this happened and have secured the building until structural engineers have established what needs to be done to make sure the building is safe."

By Caroline Lowbridge (BBC)