Published 13th November, 1993. Polling Districts.
Mapperley's polling districts are to change. Byford Close, Bladon Close, Morley Avenue (East), Mapperley Crescent and St.Judes Avenue are to join B block and their residents will vote at Walter Halls Schools.
Private Road (south) and Victoria Crescent are to join A block and the residents will vote at the Synagogue Hall.
The Council may be looking for a new polling station for "C" block.
Police Sports Ground.
I was astonished at the column inches given to Bradbury's alarmist press release by the local press.
I'm meeting the Sports Ground Action Group soon.
School Closures.
The proposals to close two secondary schools are driven by surplus places and the 1993 Education Act.
The 1993 Act enables the Secretary of State to close schools of his choice if the LEA will not act to remove surplus places.
The creation of the CTC which takes 900 pupils doesn't help.
I met protesters from Padstow school who argued vigorously about the quality of the school and the need for a local school.
The problem is, given the 1993 Act, if we don't nominate Padstow, we'd have to nominate another school.
Tory Response.
I was surprised to see the Tory Councillors play to the gallery by saying the proposals were causing terrible distress and that a comprehensive plan was needed for LEA provision. And people applauded!
In fact the Tories regularly call for school closures at each budget debate. It's just that they don't name which schools.
A review was conducted in the eighties. But as the initial draft was completed, the Tories introduced opting out. Any general review would have panicked schools into opting out to avoid closure.
Local Management of Schools makes the situation worse. It stops the LEA diverting funds into schools which might need additional support to attract parents to send their kids there.
Elliott Durham.
Elliott Durham is not proposed for closure, although its future was considered. If there had been a chance of its closure being proposed, I would have consulted the branch at the last meeting.
However, the school's rolls are lower than desirable and there is some concern than the Secretary of State will decide that the LEA is not proposing to close enough schools.
Ewing School.
I voted for the report proposing its closure. I've written directly to those who expressed an interest.
Derbyshire.
The Local Government Commission has changed it proposals for Derbyshire. Now NE Derbys. (incl. Chesterfield and Bolsover) is proposed as a unitary authority alongside Derby, whilst the rest of the County would retain the two-tier model.
Gotham.
Residents of this village are calling for gypsum to be transported by train rather than driven through their village by HGV.
Bus Wars.
The Transport Commissionaire has pronounced that the County Council has the powers to stop the problems associated with the current fierce competition.
Alternative Energy.
A post-Rio Govt. scheme invited Authorities to bid for money to run buses using more environmentally friendly energy.
Notts. bid to use buses powered by battery to run the Forest Park & Ride scheme. The bid failed because it would have eaten up the total national budget for the scheme. Oh Yes!
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