Published 30th April, 2012.
The month of April may well be remembered for the declaration of drought followed by extensive wet weather. A willow tree was brought down on Osier Road.
Politically, it will be remembered national for the double-dip recession, and the reaches of Murdoch’s empire to Tory ministers prompting resignations.
It may well be remembered politically in Nottingham for the huge distraction of a referendum campaign for a directly elected Executive Mayor. And not, you’ll notice for the smooth introduction of Workplace Parking Levy – Nottingham is only the second city to be running a large and serious congestion charging scheme.
Political highlight was a coffee morning held by Lilian Greenwood MP, at the Queens Walk Rec. Pavilion.
The Meadows in Bloom meeting was great too. And conversation was held on ideas for welcoming the Olympic Torch on its way through The Meadows, on June 28th.
In The Meadows, the tram works got going, more properly, with the demolition of buildings on Arkwright Walk and utility diversion works taking place in loads of places. You can now see why the soil has to be sucked away from the roots systems of trees to be removed, as various pipes are intertwined with the roots systems.
NEMTRA was intense with issues and ideas; MAG was methodical with new forms of management reporting.
One resident in the south-west of the ward is working very hard with me on tackling the tipping happening in and around, especially on Hatley Close.
Otherwise, Police continue to report the situation as quiet.
Other bits of case work including chasing skips that have outstayed their welcome, having 4 year old deep pot-hols filled in and problems with blocked run-offs at the Bridgeway Centre and on Blackstone Walk.
In the city centre, Occupy! left the Old Market Square.
At the City Council, nearly all council meetings had been cancelled cos of the referendum. But a Labour Cllr left the party after losing votes for paid positions at the Labour Group’s Annual General Meeting. It was apparently for points of principle.
Nationally, it was a bad month for greens as the gov’t took another step towards under-writing new nuclear energy plants and encouraging thirsty and water-polluting fracking to get gas from shale. This on top of changes to grants to the disadvantage of solar energy and district heating.
On a personal level, I bought a bike, not as any great political statement, but my experiences are being fed into the next phase of biking policy.
And Shrewsbury Town were promoted back to the third tier in front of a packed New Gay Meadow. Que sera … we’re going to Coventry.