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.

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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.

Two people hospitalised after 14ft fall into basement

Engines from Highfields and Central attended the scene and the two casualties were taken to hospital by the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

At 6:45pm on Saturday night a major incident was declared in Campbell Grove, off Robin Hood Street, St Ann’s. House No 1, the Promenade adjacent Victoria Park is up for sale and there have been people viewing the property over the last few days. There are unconfirmed reports that there were some people on the main stairs inside the building which suddenly collapsed without warning.

The Promenade St Ann’s is a row of large houses adjacent Victoria Park which were built around 1800, and are therefore over 200 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Richard Pearson

Chris Leslie MP | Nottingham Update

I would like to invite you to my annual MP Question Time public meeting which this year will be on Friday 20th September from 7pm at the Nottingham Voluntary Action Centre, 7 Mansfield Road NG1 3FB. This will be an open public meeting chaired by Nottingham Post political correspondent Alex Britton – and I hope an opportunity to discuss questions and issues on your mind. We’ve had great attendance in previous years, but so we can plan for the right number of seats at the venue I’d be grateful if you could rsvp by email at this address (chris.leslie@parliament.uk) if you would like to attend. We will no doubt be covering a range of local, national and international matters – and I hope it will be a chance to both hold me to account and give me a sense of your priorities for the year to come.

On 9th September the City Council debated a motion about the state of the National Health Service. I welcome the fact that our councillors will be scrutinising the state of the NHS and I hope reiterating their support for a service free at the point of need. Thousands of healthcare professionals across the city help care for tens of thousands locally. They are dedicated and have the best interests of people at heart. But the £3billion reorganisation of the NHS has been an unnecessary distraction. Nationally we are experiencing a significant A&E crisis, a third of NHS walk-in centres have been axed, 5,000 nursing posts have gone in the past three years, bed closures have hit many hospitals and the NHS 111 helpline number has been handled disastrously. So I am pleased that the full Council meeting in Nottingham will shine the spotlight on what is happening in our NHS and I hope that councillors will also emphasise the importance of integration between social care, public health and NHS and GP services too.

Chris Leslie MP at Stonebridge City Farm
It was really great to officially open the new animal ‘cabin’ at Stonebridge City Farm in St Ann’s last week, after the kind donation from Nottingham firm Walton’s Sheds. The new space will be used as an education room so local children can learn about the animals and how to look after them (see picture of me, left, not learning the golden rule about working with children and animals!). Stonebridge City Farm is a fantastic local facility – and free to enter all year round! As ever, I am in admiration for the whole team of volunteers who do so well to keep the show on the road and the farm an all-round attraction for the city.

It may still feel like the summer (well, sort of) but I’m launching this year’s Christmas Card Design Competition early! The competition for my winning e-card design is open to all schoolchildren (age 4 to 16) in the Nottingham East constituency who can send in a design to win a great prize courtesy of Experian’s financial education resource for schools ‘Values, Money and Me’. There are a range of runner up prizes and certificates too. Entrants should bear in mind what their final picture will look like scanned electronically, so loose items like glitter should be avoided. The theme for pictures this year will be ‘Pets At Christmas’ and entries can be sent with name, age, class and school to: Christmas Card Competition, Office of Chris Leslie MP, 12 Regent Street, Nottingham, NG1 5BQ to arrive by Friday 15th November. Parents or schools can contact matthew.panteli@parliament.uk for further information. Good luck!

Mapperley Hospital
The campaign to rescue and restore the Mapperley Hospital Chapel on the Wells Road is gaining traction, but neighbours wanting to pull together a charitable body and take over ownership are facing confusing signals from the current owners and their bankers NatWest, who may be intent on holding the property simply for the value of the land. I believe it would be preferable to save the building from disrepair and misuse, especially if there are willing local residents keen to take on the job. I will be working with local Mapperley councillors over the coming weeks to see if a deal can be constructed including with NatWest, in the best interests of the community and our local heritage.

By Chris Leslie MP (Nottingham East)

St Ann’s ‘shined’ at Moffat Close this week

St Ann’s Projects held a successful musical party last Saturday at their St Ann’s community garden in Moffat Close behind the Beacon Pub. Lots of people turned out in lovely weather and had a great time. To find out more about St Ann’s projects please visit there website | https://stannsprojects.wordpress.com/

“Check out our latest short film to see the sights, smells and sounds of a beautiful afternoon filled with 200 local people and lots of fun.”

Carly & Martin | SAP St Ann's Projects

Stonebridge Park Estate | Video update

Keepmoat Homes Ltd moved on to the site 8 weeks ago, so work is progressing well on the Stonebridge Park Estate.

Phase 8 along St Matthias Road has been half cleared and turned into an employee surface car park, with work continuing on site. Phase 1 construction work is a priority and advancing well with the foundations going in. Iron piles are being driven into the ground on Phase 2/3 to provide a stable base ready for construction work on the new homes. Phase 4 & 5 is in the process of ground clearance & preparation work.

Lenton flats | Councillors to approve £6.2m loan

The Executive Board meets on 17th September when councillors are being asked to approve a 50 year loan to Nottingham City Homes to allow them to build new houses in Lenton. The preferred developer is Keepmoat Homes Ltd, and the completion date for the entire project is set as autumn 2017.

The five high rise flat blocks that currently occupy the Lenton site are in the process of decommissioning and demolition. This will create a cleared site extending to 2.95 hectares (7.296 acres) or thereabouts available for redevelopment. It is proposed that Nottingham City Homes (NCH) acquire 1.09 hectares (2.71acres) or thereabouts of the cleared site for the construction of 62, 2 and 3 bedroom family houses. The remainder of the site is to stay in the ownership of Nottingham City Council (NCC) for the development of a further 80 homes. Roads and infrastructure will be shared across the development. On this basis the market value of the land to be acquired by Nottingham City Homes is £2.1 million.

The report proposes the sale of the land to NCH to enable the company to build 62 houses and own and rent the houses in their own right. The land has been valued at £2.1 million and it is proposed that NCC give a grant to NCH to enable the company to finance the purchase.

This means that none of the newly built houses will be eligible to be included in the Right to Buy scheme.

NCC will receive a capital receipt of £2.1 million from the sale of the land, and this can be used to finance the grant to NCH. In addition Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) will be payable by NCH as purchaser of the land at 4% of the purchase price, which equates to £84,000.

The cost of the 62 family homes to be built on this site is estimated to be £6.82 million as reported to Executive Board in February 2013. It is proposed that a loan of £6.82 million be made by NCC to NCH over a 50 year term at an interest rate equivalent to Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) annuity rate for borrowing over 50 years plus 0.5% for the inherent credit risk taken by NCC (equivalent to £17,000 per annum). Based on current rates this would be 5.1% per annum; the actual rate will be fixed by the Director of Strategic Finance on the date the transaction occurs. A loan agreement will need to be drawn up between NCC and NCH to formalise repayment terms.

New City Council Budget consultations

The Budget 2014/15 consultation program is set to begin in a month’s time, which will consist of a number of public meetings taking place around the city in two phases:

Phase 1 – pre-budget engagement and consultation to help to shape the draft budget will start in October 2013 and run until mid November, and will consist of:

a) a survey distributed with the October edition of the Arrow;
b) an online survey on the City Council website – www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk;
c) a programme of pre-budget engagement events with citizens and with the voluntary and community sector which will be led by Portfolio Holders;
d) engagement with Nottingham City Council colleagues.
Some questions may also be added to the 2013 Nottingham Citizens’ Survey to gather additional insight to feed into the pre-budget consultation where appropriate.

Phase 2 - consultation on the draft budget proposals will occur during January and early February 2014 and provides the opportunity to view, challenge and propose alternatives to specific proposals. Specifically it will involve:

a) a budget consultation form which will be made available online and in hard copy to enable everyone to have their say on the proposals;
b) events in neighbourhoods across the City;
c) consultation with businesses;
d) events for the voluntary and community sector and One Nottingham partners.

A1 motorists: don't become a victim of fuel theft

Nottinghamshire Police has issued a warning to protect truck drivers who park in lay-bys along the A1.

In recent weeks the force has seen a rise in reports of fuel and curtain-side property.

In one of the latest incidents 1,000 litres of diesel were siphoned off a lorry which had parked in a lay-by in Markham Moor, in the East of the county. Thieves also struck in Newark, stealing 600 hand-held computers from a parked lorry, while the driver slept.

Many of the incidents are thought to be planned by groups of offenders seeking out vulnerable vehicles to target. We suspect both people travelling across the country and local offenders are involved.

Nottinghamshire Police is targeting the problem with dedicated overt and covert patrols linked up with neighbouring forces along the length of the country’s motorways.

Chief Inspector Paul Murphy, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Due to increases in the price of fuel, we have seen more instances of vehicles being targeted by thieves and organised groups. “Offenders strike while the vehicle is parked overnight and  generally the driver is asleep .”

Drivers are encouraged to do as much as possible to help prevent themselves from becoming victims. Don't park in lay-bys as these are the most targeted locations. Seek out recognised lorry parks along main arterial routes. These are well lit areas often benefitting from CCTV at services and you have protection in numbers.

CI Murphy added: “If people see what they think is suspicious or unusual activity around vehicles parked in lay-bys I’d urge them to get in touch immediately and let us know.

“Please share this information with your driver colleagues who might not be aware of the risk.  Drivers are our eyes and ears and will also have a wealth of intelligence which to share.”

Anyone with any information can contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers in confidence.

By Liz Webster (Nottinghamshire Police, Corporate Communication, Nottinghamshire)

Station Street 1902-2013

Photos © David Horne

Ed Miliband is now less popular than Gordon Brown!

The monthly Ipsos-MORI poll for the Evening Standard is out today.

They repeated their semi regular question comparing whether people like the parties and their leaders, asking whether people like each party and its leader, the party but not the leader, the leader but not the party, or neither. 63% of people now say they don’t like Ed Miliband, up from 56% in Oct 2012 and 51% in Jan 2011. 30% say they like Miliband, a net score of minus 33. In comparison Gordon Brown’s worst score was minus 36 in July 2008. On the party he leads 49% of people say they like Labour, and 43% say they dislike Labour giving them a net score of plus 6 and meaning they are still the party that people have the most positive opinion of.

Looking at the same questions for David Cameron, 43% of people like him, 52% dislike him (a net score of minus 9, slightly better than last year but less positive than when he was in opposition). For the Conservative party 39% have a positive view, 57% a negative view (a net score of minus 18). The pattern we’ve seen before continues – David Cameron is still more likeable than his party (-9 compared to minus 18), while Ed Miliband trails behind his party (minus 33 compared to plus 6). Neither prevents Labour having a lead in voting intention.

For the first time the like him/like his party question included Nigel Farage and UKIP. Farage was liked by 27%, disliked by 50% (a net rating of minus 23); UKIP were liked by 25%, disliked by 52% (a net rating of minus 27, so Farage slightly more popular than his party).

Petition | Calling on the government to review British policy for Afghan interpreters.

With 78,673 supporters | 71,327 signatures  NEEDED

I served in Afghanistan in 2008-2009 and then again in 2010. They were tough days in Afghanistan for all that were there. We relied on the help of local Afghan interpreters who were with us on every patrol and became an integral part of our platoon.

The interpreters took great risks to help us, putting not only their lives but the lives of their families in danger of Taliban reprisals. Now the UK Government has turned its back on the interpreters. It is refusing to give support or resettlement to interpreters who completed their duties between 2006 and 2011. 

My great-grandfather Winston Churchill, who spent a large part of his career in the army, would have been shocked by the way our government is treating men who risked their lives to help British forces. By denying our interpreters entry into the UK the government is condemning them to persecution and almost certain death at the hands of the Taliban. 

That's why I've started a petition on Change.org calling on Foreign Secretary William Hague to review the British policy for Afghan interpreters.  click here to add your name.

The interpreter I remember most was Barri. For all sense and purposes he was one of the lads. When we left Afghanistan Barri's father and brother were killed by the Taliban but the UK government didn't help him. His mother and sister died whilst trying to get to western Europe when their boat sank in Mediterranean. For two years Barri and his last remaining brother have been held in a detention centre until they were eventually granted asylum in Germany. Other interpreters are not even as lucky. They have been forced into hiding in Afghanistan or are locked in foreign detention centres, their lives in limbo. 

There are certain codes we uphold in the military. Two of those are: "loyalty & honour."  So I am appealing to Rt Hon William Hague and Rt Hon David Cameron -- do the honourable thing and remain loyal to those who stood shoulder to shoulder with British Forces.

It is morally reprehensible to force these men to stay in a country that we are counting down the days to finally leaving. By leaving them in Afghanistan the only thing they can look forward to is a life of looking over their shoulders.

Huge public pressure convinced the Government to offer resettlement or support to some Afghan interpreters. We need the same pressure to extend the policy and make sure no interpreter is forgotten. 

Please sign my petition and make sure all Afghan interpreters get the support they need.

Thank you,

Alexander Perkins

More people buy there council homes as House Prices continue to rise

New figures suggest there has been an accelerated take-up of the government's Help to Buy Scheme.

The rate of house price inflation in the UK is continuing to rise, according to official statistics.

Prices in the year to June rose by 3.1%, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS), up from 2.9% in May.

A separate industry survey suggests that home buyer activity is increasing fastest in parts of the UK where prices have been the most depressed.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) says prices are rising at their fastest since November 2006.

The largest rise in activity came in the West Midlands and the North East.

Every region saw prices rise, Rics said, although London and the areas around it continued to see the biggest price increases.

Stabbing in Paxton Gardens, St Ann’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At around 3:45pm on Monday 6th August there was a serious stabbing incident in Paxton Gardens on the Stonebridge Park Estate, St Ann’s. The crime scene shown in the above images was cordoned off for five hours as the Police made door to door enquiries in the area.

TWO teenagers have been arrested after a 24-year-old man was stabbed in the leg.

The 17-year-old and 18-year-old males have been quizzed by police and now been bailed.

Today splats of blood can still be seen along the footpath top-right & bottom left.

Police made two arrests from a house in Paxton Gardens shortly after arriving at the scene. Local residents have spoken of a lot of antisocial behaviour being associated with the address which has continually been reported to Nottingham City Homes Patch Manager Jo Bailey.

This is the second stabbing incident to occur in Paxton Gardens in the last 18 months. On 17th January 2012 a teenager was found stabbed in the leg on the footpath close to the now closed pedestrian subway at the side of Beacon Hill Rise Road. Here is the Report from Caroline Lowbridge | St Ann's stabbing victim, 16, heard mumbling before collapse

Pickles takes on town halls' new driveway tax

Across the country, assisted by the internet “matching”, households are renting out their spare or unused dedicated off-street parking space in and near town centres, train stations and sports grounds. This provides a small income for hard-working families, and helps provide more cheap parking spaces for people to park their car, taking pressure away from on-street parking. Personal finance experts like Martin Lewis of moneysaving expert.com have recommended this to households as a practical way of raising and saving money.

It is believed that many councils do not like this activity, as it deprives them of parking income - as a result, they are demanding that households apply for planning permission for “change of use”. Such a planning application fee costs £385 - councils are threatening fines of up to £20,000 if householders do not apply.

Eric Pickles announced today that the government will be publishing new guidance on change of use making it clear that the public should be able to rent a single parking space without planning permission, provided there is no public nuisance to neighbours, or other substantive concerns. A distinction is made between renting out a car parking space to park a single car (which should not normally require planning permission, where there is no change to the intensity of use), as opposed to changing your garden into a car park or a clear commercial use like a car show room or minicab rank (which would clearly require planning permission).

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Local Government, said:

Councils should be welcoming common sense ways that help hard-working people park easier and cheaply and for families to make some spare cash. Councils shouldn’t be interfering in an honest activity that causes no harm to others, unless there are serious concerns. Parking charges and fines are not a cash cow for town halls.

This government is standing up against the town hall parking bullies and over-zealous parking enforcement.

Further information

The Department for Communities and Local Government is currently undertaking a review of Planning Practice Guidance, seeking to consolidate the confusing and inaccessible 7,000 pages of guidance. A streamlined, web-based resource will be launched in “beta” test mode later this month.

This will include new practice guidance on when planning permission is, and is not, required. Ministers will introduce new guidance on the issue of change of use that includes renting driveways. New guidance on changes of use will also make clear that whether an application for change of use is needed should be considered on the basis of the individual circumstances. Material change of use is determined on a case-by-case basis to avoid situations where people may seek to flout the rules by, for example, turning their front garden into a car park.

Moneysaving expert.com has published a guide on how households can rent out their spare parking space, and how people can park for less. There are a number of websites which offer a “matching” service between people who want to rent out their drive and hire it out. They concede that it currently is a “grey area” in planning law, so highlighting the public need for clearer guidance.

Keepmoat Homes installs its new site compound

Left: Jersey Gardens near the Lord Alcester pub.  Right: Fairholm site adjacent Flewitt Gardens

New Keepmoat site compound being set up this afternoon

This week Construction company Keepmoat Homes began the task of installing their new site compound in Jersey Gardens on the Stonebridge Park Estate, St Ann’s, Nottingham.

Workers were also busy clearing two of the main areas ready to build new houses.

This short video shows work being carried out today. The Lord Alcester pub is in the background.

King Edwards Park Gala raised £916 for charity

Hi thanks to everyone who gave their time and effort to raise funds for Hayward House at the city hospital special thanks to Lorna Bampton sue Coxon and all members of stop tra group.

And to all the people who turned up on the day to support our cause and to all the people shops and everyone else who donated prizes etc.

The amount of money raised was £916 34p which was handed over to Hayward house today thank you everyone Pete and all stop tra group.

Maureen & Peter Wright

Award winning Developer to revamp Robin Hood Chase

Wilmott Dixon the Developer behind the successful St Ann’s Valley Centre is also the new developer for phase 2 of the ambitious scheme to regenerate the Robin Hood Chase nearby.

ASRA Housing association will manage the houses to be built on the Chase upon their completion.

City Council Project Manager Gill Callingham, who along side Alan Parker are managing the Robin Hood Chase redevelopment, said today “Wilmott Dixon had done such a nice job building the St Ann’s Valley centre, and they worked really well with the local community, we felt it was important to have them on board from the outset.”

She said Wilmott Dixon have now drawn up the new plans for the Chase, and are presently working with ASRA and the city council to finalise the number of homes to be built in order to make the scheme financially viable.

Once this is complete, and contracts signed, there will be wide ranging consultations with local shopkeepers, and the local community taking place. The planning application will to be submitted in July, and any demolition work on the redundant commercial units, and former health centre, will take place in the autumn around November 2013.

The Time the Place | St Ann’s Well

© Richard Pearson

On Tuesday 11th June 10:30am – 12 Noon Colin Haynes will be giving a talk about St Ann’s Well at the St Anns Library in the St Ann’s Valley Centre. Colin Haynes set up the St Ann’s Well Wishers’ group a short time ago, and in April they launched an online petition asking for any archaeological dig on the site of St Ann’s magical well to be carried out as soon as possible. Please sign Colin’s petition here

This TV program takes a look at St Ann’s Well and its place in history, based on my own research from 1995 onwards.

Please share this video among your friends, on face book & Twitter. You are also welcome to imbed it into your own website or blog. Visit our Our TV Video channel  We are also on Daily Motion

If you have any ideas for news features or community group highlights then please Email us at stannsnews@yahoo.co.uk

If you like this video please share it on your Facebook wall/Twitter, download it onto your pc to play back later, and do share it with your friends & family.

The next program will be broadcast in June.

Richard Pearson

Kingsthorpe Close plans -- residents taken by surprise

in Mapperley on Bank Holiday Monday, I visited Kingsthorpe Close, the proposed new development area, to take a look around.

This is what the area looks like today.

Developer Keepmoat Homes is to submit a planning application shortly, to build a number of new social houses on the former site of Kingsthorpe & Kildare flats in Mapperley.

The developer already has permission to build 111 new homes, on the Stonebridge Park Estate in St Ann’s.

Residents in Kingsthorpe Close were surprised by the news. The locals I talked to, said they had not been consulted by the City Council or the Developer, about the new plans over the last year.

Locals were especially annoyed by the prospect of a large new children’s play area, being laid close to their homes.

The Kingsthorpe Close estate has a children’s play ground, which local residents say is plagued with youths doing drugs, and antisocial behaviour, which has blighted there life’s. They said they did not want another.

All of the houses in Kingsthorpe Close are relatively new, about 25 years old, and are fitted with storage heaters, which the residents tell me, are very expensive to run. They constantly have high electricity bills as a result.

So they were all intrigued to find out what new heating system would be installed in the new houses, and whether it would allow them to be upgraded to Gas central heating, once the new development was complete.

Crime figures: for March

On the Stonebridge Park Estate the level of crime was low during March

Lytton Close; Theft 1
Magson Close; Theft 1, Violent crime 2
St Matthias Road; Theft 2
Melville gardens subway ASB 1

ASB = Antisocial behaviour

Crime map and figures taken from the Police.UK website.