NEWGATE ACTION GROUP
The Community Forum of the Newgate Lane Urban Renewal Scheme

 

 

Dear resident,

 

Please find enclosed the agenda for the next meeting together with the minutes from the previous meeting. Your support at the next meeting would be most welcome, however, if you cannot attend, the minutes will be available to view and/or download from the NAG website.

 

Invitation to attend the next meeting

Date: 6.30pm Tue 11th June 2002

Venue: 110 Newgate Lane

 


AGENDA

1.     Welcome, introductions and apologies

2.     Minutes of 14th May 2002 meeting (enclosed)

3.     Reports and updates

a.      Jackson’s park update/official opening

b.      Newgate lane drains

c.      Maun Valley Credit Union – a new way of banking for the community

4.     Any other business

5.     Date and time of next meeting

 

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Yours sincerely

 

 

Michelle Ward
Chairperson, Newgate Action Group

 

 

Have a question for the next meeting?

 

Use the space below to remind yourself of questions or comments you wish to raise at the next meeting.

 

If you can’t make it to the next meeting you can submit questions from the ‘Contact Us’ page on our website or you can leave comments in our online forum.

 

www.the-nag.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes of the meeting of the
Newgate Action Group
held 6.30pm on Tuesday 14th May 2002 at 110 Newgate Lane

1.      Attendees

Michelle Ward (Chair)

Bentinck Street, 40

Ian Lilliman (Secretary)

Beresford Street, 15

Pat Gallagher

Resident

Janet Smith

Resident

Gary Jones (Vice Chairman)

Resident

Max Banks

Resident

Mrs E Henshaw

Resident

Mrs J Lissaman

Resident

Ron Carlin

Resident

David Clay

Resident

John Pickering (Treasurer)

Resident

Mrs M Wheat

Resident

Mr & Mrs Mycock

Resident

Steve Thompson

Resident

 

Courtney Nangle

Mansfield CVS

Jonathon Dix

Groundwork Ashfield & Mansfield

Councillor Malcolm Sage

Mansfield District Council

Samantha Raggart

Mansfield District Council

 

2.      Apologies

Caroline Beastall

Resident

Ann Norman

Resident

Rosemary Banks

Resident

Councillor Barbara Nestor

MDC Titchfield Ward

Margaret Wheat

Resident

Allan Wallace / Eileen Heaps

Poetic Pictures, 145 Newgate Lane

 

3.      Introductions

3.1.   Michelle Ward (Chair) welcomed all to the meeting and introduced Courtney Nangle, the newly appointed Titchfield Neighbourhood Social Inclusion Officer, working for Mansfield Community & Voluntary Services (CVS).

4.      Previous Minutes

4.1.   Minutes of the meeting of 14th April 2002 were agreed to be a true record.

5.      Reports & Updates

5.1.   Jackson’s Park Progress Report

5.1.1.             Play Arena – Despite a number of communications between NAG and Groundwork/MDC, the play arena in the centre of the park will be coloured Purple and Orange as opposed to the community choice of Green and Red. Samantha Raggart (MDC) explained that the choice of Green and Red would have taken the project over budget and would have prevented the project completing on time.

5.1.2.             Access Road – The planned route of the access road and the boundary fence was also discussed, the result of which was that they shall remain as originally planned by Groundwork, which was much to the dismay of residents whose properties were accessed by this road. Residents explained that they had used this road for over 30 years and should remain as such.

5.1.3.             Footpaths/wheelchair Lay-by’s – NAG made Jonathon Dix (Groundwork) aware of the error in the design of the path leading from the top to the centre of the field. Wheelchair bound persons would not be able to utilise this footpath due to the installation of a set of steps. Jonathon did agree that our observation was correct and this had been an oversight.

Ian Lilliman (NAG Secretary) also raised the issue of the wheel chair lay-by’s. Ian spoke about a previous meeting where the impracticalities of such areas were discussed in detail. Other residents at the meeting also stated that these would not get used and would be a waste of funding. Ian also asked why they had been constructed at the same angle as the incline of the field instead of being horizontal. Jonathon Dix replied that this would have created differing levels of ground around the lay-by’s resulting in an increased danger of stumbling.

5.1.4.             Access to Jackson’s Field via Bolsover Street – John Pickering (NAG Treasurer) raised the issue of access to the field via Bolsover Street, in particular whether or not Groundwork were aware that these access points needed to be secure. Jonathon Dix assured the group that they were aware of this and would be dealt with.

5.1.5.             Mosaic – Comments were raised about the mosaic located adjacent to the garages at the top of Bolsover Street. This has suffered from severe vandalism and, more recently, had resulted in a child being injured by another child striking her with one of the mosaic bricks. Samantha Raggart said that to repair the mosaic would be uneconomically viable and would therefore be tarmaced over. Ian Lilliman said that although such structures were well meant, in practice the construction of the mosaic was poor and did not take into account the ‘mentality’ or ingenuity of local youth.

5.1.6.             Jackson’s Park Viewpoint – Through the Secretary, a question by local resident Caroline Beastall, was asked about what the rectangle was for at the viewpoint. Jonathon Dix replied that this was to install some form of artwork but this was not a part of the field renewal project but would be funded by a Community Arts grant at a later date. He also assured the group that the community would be consulted on this matter.

5.1.7.             Jackson’s Park Oval Footpath – Gary Jones (NAG Vice-Chairman) asked about the lack of width of the oval footpath that circles the park. Jonathon Dix did comment that this path was indeed narrower than the existing footpaths but stated that these were designed more for leisure walking rather than crossing the park.

5.1.8.             Jackson’s Park Perimeter Fencing – When asked about the wood/wire fencing which had been erected around the perimeter of the field, Jonathon Dix said that this was for the protection of planting. He re-iterated that the security fencing would be 1 metre high to prevent vehicular access.

5.1.9.             Jackson’s Park Waste Bins – It was re-iterated that only standard waste bins would be installed. No special dog-waste bins would be installed, as here is no legal requirement to install such bins. Signs instructing dog owners to clean up after their dog would be installed and bags are available free of charge from the Civic Centre. Further details to be included in the newsletter. Action – Ian Lilliman

5.2.   Jackson’s Park Children’s Playground – £42,000 has been sought by Groundwork/MDC from an organisation called WREN, an organisation that utilises funding (raised through business environmental taxes) to make environmental improvements to deprived areas. This will be used to replace the existing children’s playground that has suffered much from vandalism, and lack of maintenance by the Council. Equipment will be suitable for 6-12 year olds and the deadline for completion should be within 6 weeks. Samantha Raggart said that certain equipment would not be installed, such as swings, as these were classed as too dangerous and were the cause of many injuries. Through the Secretary, resident Caroline Beastall asked why there was a need for fencing around the children’s playground. In the past, the fence has acted as an impromptu set of goals, resulting in damage to equipment that was not designed for such activities. Samantha Raggart commented that the Council would insist on perimeter fencing to ‘contain’ the play equipment and to prevent the access by dogs.

6.      Any Other Business

6.1.   Beat Bobby – Several residents raised comments about the continuing lack of a visible presence of the local beat bobby, Paul Atherley, despite the recent promise of an additional beat Bobby and the introduction of 88 new officers throughout the Nottinghamshire force as a whole. Many residents were keen for the beat bobby to attend meetings so that he would be aware of crime issues affecting the community. ACTION – Michelle Ward

6.2.   Resident Using Air Rifle – A number of residents raised concerns about an individual residing on Gladstone Street firing an air rifle at targets on their garden, resulting in debris being carried onto their property. They also showed concern over the dangers to themselves and wildlife, etc. Councillor Malcolm Sage said that as far as he was aware it is not illegal to fire an air rifle on your own property, however another resident stated that they thought this only applied if the rifle was fired towards their own property. Councillor Sage said that if the resident in question was a Council tenant then this may be in breach of their tenant agreement and he would pass on our group’s comments to the MDC for further investigation. Action – Councillor M. Sage

6.3.   Skerry Hill Traffic Lights – Michele Ward (Chair) expressed concerns over the sequencing of the lights at the top of Skerry Hill which were causing some confusion, and build up of traffic at peak periods. She asked if they might be changed from 2-way to 4-way sequencing to try and alleviate this problem. Councillor Malcolm Sage suggested that she contact Peter Thom of the Highways Department. ACTION – Michelle Ward

6.4.   Improper Parking of Vehicles – Members reported a caravan that had been parked on the grass verge on Bolsover Street for several months. This was reported to contributing to the general untidiness of the street. Councillor Malcolm Sage suggested that if the vehicle registration plate was on the caravan then this too could be passed on to Peter Thom.
ACTION – Michelle Ward

6.5.   Blocked Drains – John Pickering reported that the drains were blocked between the newly built properties on Rock Hill Gardens and the residential home. ACTION – Ian Lilliman

6.6.   Drains on Newgate Lane – Following communications between Ian Lilliman and Richard Goad (Chief Executive, MDC), the Council’s technical services department reviewed the problems of damp cellars on Newgate Lane. They stated in an e-mailed report that this is to do with rising water tables and not the result of property renewal’s or road enhancements. They confirmed that the drains between 130 Newgate Lane and the Post Office were ‘proper’ drains and not soakaways. Ian Lilliman said he would contact Severn Trent to get to the root of the problem as this was causing much distress to residents in that area. ACTION – Ian Lilliman

The meeting ended at 8.30pm.

Next Meeting 11th June 2002 at 6.30pm, 110 Newgate Lane