Published 24th March, 1994. Street Stall.
This was a useful event and I hope we'll do more.
M1 Widening.
I tried to get the Environment Cttee. to take a stronger stance against the Department of Transport's proposals to widen 7 miles of the M1 between Junction 23a and 25.
I failed, but gave a 15 minute speech in Committee instead - and got press coverage.
There is quite a pro-roads mentality within the Labour Group, despite the range of good public transport things we're doing. This is driven in particular by the fear of large parts of Notts being cut off from the country in a way that will make it hard to attract inward investment.
Proposed Orbital Road is Dropped.
The proposal to build a North and Eastern Orbital Road from the M1 to the end of the planned Gedling by-pass was dropped last week.
Reasons.
The reasons are -
- it does not fit in with public transport plans;
- projections of reduced inner-city traffic did not stand inspection;
- the impact on the environment;
- the landscape actually reducing potential for development schemes;
- the enormous number of protests;
- that applying for £48 million would have meant other more worthwhile schemes were not done;
- that it would have been difficult to join with the M1.
Welcome decision.
I'm pleased by the way this has turned out. I've been working with others to develops criticisms of the Structure Plan in general and I'm pleased there isn't going to be a fight over the Orbital Road.FˇˇPˇ Particularly since the Labour manifesto at the County elections pledged us to campaign for such a road.
Move Forward.
We must know look forward to promoting public transport and reducing traffic usage.
I feel the public mood is for change.
If we are to be more radical, more visible support for new measures is needed from activists and communities.
Magdala Road.
There is to be a public consultation on plans for traffic calming.
It will be on Wednesday, 27th April at the Baptist Church Hall, Mansfield Road, starting at 7:30pm.
I'll probably be chairing the meeting and I look forward to members from the south part of Mapperley Park, particularly those who live on Magdala Road attending.
Elliott Durham.
Proposed Closure of Swimming Baths.
I would make the following criticisms of the City Council's Leisure 2000 report which suggest the closure of the baths.
The City has not consulted with the County Council on its proposals in any way, even though the County holds the £300,000 budget for swimming. Questions about capacity for school swimming are not addressed in the report.
The City proposes a hierarchy of quality facilities including a district facility to cover 4 wards. Mapperley ward has been placed in the North East sector with Sherwood, Basford and Portland. This is not a good fit; our public transport runs north and south; not west.
Further, the north east sector is the one sector without a leisure facility; instead there are two in north and our community is expected to use facilities in north west Bulwell or on Bestwood Estate.
Costs.
Concern is raised by the City about the predicted £167,200 costs of repairs for the baths.
But this is over 10 years and the predictions of costs in general take a violent upturn. I'm questioning these figures.
Further, £5 million of investment is required for the two sites in the northern sector.
Petition.
I've spoken to some concerned parents about this matter and local head teachers have started a petition.
Branch Discussion.
I look forward to the discussion. We need to decide if the City's vision offers more for people that retaining the existing facilities. We will be challenged about this on the doorstep.
Child Support Agency.
I met a delegation before the last County Council. There are a lot of second union families facing serious financial difficulties as a result of the new law and the concern in the public gallery was evident.
By raising this issue, the Labour Group got useful publicity for the cause of these families.
Unemployment.
The January estimates for unemployment in Mapperley ward is 621 (15.7%).
Cases.
45 in 1994.
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