Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, on behalf of the Lib-Dems in Broxtowe. May I give a special welcome to the new readers that we have this week.

1. Midland Mainline
The biggest piece of news this week was the announcement from the government that they are postponing the electrification of the Midland Mainline. This is extremely disappointing news and one that I would hope that MPs from across the region, of all parties, will fight against strenuously. For many years the Midland mainline has been at the worst funded of all the north-south lines. Electrification of the East and West Coast line was completed many years ago. Those lines off serviced by fast, efficient and clean electric engines, Rovers we still have to put up with old, smelly diesels. This announcement means that commuters on our line are being told that they will have to put up with technology that is now 40 years old for even longer. During the period of the coalition we had obtained a commitment that the Midland Mainline would be electrified by 2020. The government have now torn this up. The Liberal Democrats have launched a petition opposing the government’s decision and calling on them to reinstate the programme. We had a stall in Beeston on Saturday to launch this, where at times people were queueing up to sign. If you would like to sign the petition then you can find it on our website at www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk.

2. Parademic Responses
There was good news and bad news in relation to the East Midlands ambulance service this week. The good news is that more than 1000 people have applied for jobs after EMAS reintroduced the role of ambulance technicians, a skilled clinical role between the level of an emergency care assistant and a paramedic. Unfortunately the bad news is that the number of life-threatening or urgent 999 calls being dealt with by staff less qualified than paramedics has risen by more than 50% in the past three years. I do find this extremely worrying. (Whenever I run a story about the ambulance service I receive comments about the excellent work that the front-line staff do. I fully agree with these and endorse those comments wholeheartedly. Unfortunately however I think this they are let down by poor quality management.)

3. “Unknown Soldier”
Once again the residents of Broxtowe demonstrated what wonderful people they were this week when hundreds of people turned out for the funeral of Alex McDougall. Alex was a former soldier who had died at a Beeston nursing home, and the staff there had been worried that nobody would turn up for his funeral. They put out an appeal on social media and the result was that so many people turned up that you couldn’t even get into the car park. Thank you to everyone who turned out to pay their respects.

4. Ashfield Dog Walkers
Dog owning residents in the north of the borough will need to take care in the future if they cross the ball alive and walk their dogs in Ashfield. Ashfield District Council are proposing to bring in a number of new offences, including “failing to produce a receptacle for picking up dog faeces.” Much as I find dog mess incredibly antisocial I do think that this is Big Brother going a step too far.

5. Save The Human Rights Act
Broxtowe Liberal Democrats have launched a petition calling on the Government not to scrap the Human Rights Act. We had this on our stall on Saturday in Beeston and it attracted a lot of support. F you would like to sign it you can do so by visiting our website at www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk.

6. A Bendy Library
Alderman Pounder School in Chilwell has a new school library, and this is probably unique in the country. The school have taken delivery of a former Nottingham City Transport bendy bus, which has been paid for by the Ministry of Defence (as so many children of military families go there) and the bus will be the home of the new library.

7. County Council Award
Notts County Councils legal services team has won an award for innovation at the Municipal Journal awards in London last week. The team were commended for their switch from paper systems to digital ones, which has resulted in significant cost savings for the authority. Congratulations to everyone involved in this.

8. It’s Official – Attenborough Exists
I was delighted to hear last week that Royal mail have eventually recognised that Attenborough exists in its own right and that residents there will no longer have to use Beeston as art of their address. We fought this same campaign in Bramcote a few years ago and I’m glad that Attenborough has been able to follow suit.

9. Forever Stars
Congratulations to Richard and Michelle Daniels from Chilwell who have raised £100,000 to build a bereavement site at the Queens Medical Centre. Richard and Michelle set up the Forever Stars charity after the death of their baby daughter, and the money that they have raised will mean that other parents who suffer the same awful experience will have a state of the art centre providing support. It is a special person who can take such a tragedy and make some good come out of it.

10. Hope Community Gospel Choir

On Wednesday 1st July at 8pm Hope Community Gospel Choir will be in concert at Christ Church Chilwell as part of the church centenary celebrations. Tickets are available at the bargain price of Adults £2 Concessions £1 – available on door.

11. Green Infrastructure Consultation
Broxtowe Borough Council have extended the time available for residents to have their say about the brothers green infrastructure. A survey asking residents about their views on the best ways to identify and protect the infrastructure was due to close on 30 June, but has now been extended to 31 July. You can have your say by visiting www.broxtowe.gov.uk/greenconsultation.

12. A453
Although it doesn’t come into Broxtowe the A453 as a significant impact on us. Traffic has been extremely heavy on the A52 throughout the period that the A453 has been rebuilt. Last Thursday the completed road was open for the first time (although this was always only going to be for one day) and when I drove down the A52 on Thursday morning the road was clear. Hopefully this will be a sign of things to come. The builders say that the A453 should be open properly by the end of this week.

13. Jobs Fair
There will be a jobs fair at the Pearson Centre in Beeston on 14th July from 10am to 3pm This will give local people the opportunity to meet local employers, to apply for jobs, get information on and apply for apprenticeships, get one-to-one ‘job ready’ advice, get help with CV’s, filling out application forms and find out about further help and training that is available. For more information contact Janelle on 01159051942

14. Bramcote School Summer Fete
This will take place on Thursday 2nd July from 4pm to 7pm at the Bramcote School. Everyone is welcome to attend.

15. Nocturnal Nature Night

Bats, moths and more will be out at Brinsley Headstocks on Friday 10th July from 6:30pm as local people are invited to join their nocturnal friends for a special Nature Night. Moth, mammal and bat experts will be on hand to shed some light on the habits of these nocturnal creatures. There will also be a chance to have a go at bird box making and pond dipping amongst other activities. Visitors will also be able to watch professional sculptor Peter Leadbeater as he begins work on a tree sculpture which he will carve into a tree stump on the edge of the woodland.

16. Teenage Sports Event
From soft archery to street dancing and sumo wrestling, young people in and around Broxtowe Borough can ignite their competitive spirit at this games and entertainment event next month in Nuthall. The all new Ignite event will take place on Saturday 11th July at the Temple Centre, Nottingham Road, Nuthall, NG16 1DP between 2.00pm and 4.00pm with a host of sports activities, performances and traditional games for young people ages 13 to 19. Activities include table football, missile throwing, Sumo wrestling, Go Karts, street dancing and an obstacle course. There will also be an Avon stall offering free nail painting and a chance for any budding performers to try their hand at entertaining visitors on the stage with a song, trick or joke. Free transport to the event (which must be pre-booked) is being offered from Beeston, Stapleford, Eastwood and Kimberley. Full details are available from the borough council by ringing 0115 917 7777.

17. Strawberry Fayre
There will be a Strawberry Fayre on Sunday 5th July between 1pm and 4pm at The Old Church Tower, Town Street, Bramcote. Visitors will be able to enjoy Strawberries and cream, jam and scones, hot and cold drinks. All proceeds will go to the restoration of the Tower.

As ever thank you for your support for this newsletter. Next week the newsletter will be out on Saturday as I will be going to the British Grand Prix on Sunday. Any feedback is gratefully received.

Best wishes

David
www.davidwatts.org.uk
www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk
Follow me on Twitter @davidwatts12.

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