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 14th May 2002

Venue: 110 Newgate Lane

 


AGENDA

1.     Welcome, introductions and apologies

2.     Minutes of 16th April 2002 meeting (enclosed)

3.     Reports and updates

a.      Progress report – Jackson’s Field

b.      Children’s playground renewal update

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 16th April 2002 at 110 Newgate Lane

1.      Attendees

Michelle Garden (Chair)

Bentinck Street, 40

Ian Lilliman (Secretary)

Beresford Street, 15

Mrs S Adamson

Resident

Mr & Mrs Gunn

Resident

Mrs B Miller

Resident

Andy Sissons

Resident

Janet Smith

Resident

Gary Jones (Vice Chairman)

Resident

Max Banks

Resident

Rosemary Banks

Resident

Jonathon Dix

Groundwork Ashfield & Mansfield

Mrs E Henshaw

Resident

Mrs J Lissaman

Resident

Samantha Raggart

MDC

John Pickering (Treasurer)

Resident

Mrs M Wheat

Resident

Mr & Mrs Mycock

Resident

Steve Thompson

Resident

 

2.      Apologies

Ann Norman

Resident

Allan Wallace

Poetic Pictures, 145 Newgate Lane

Eileen Heaps

Poetic Pictures, 145 Newgate Lane

Councillor Barbara Nestor

MDC Titchfield Ward

 

3.      Previous Minutes

3.1.   Minutes of the meeting of 19th March 2002 were agreed to be a true record.

4.      Reports & Updates

4.1.   Jackson’s Field Update – Jonathon Dix (Groundwork Ashfield & Mansfield) and Samantha Raggart (MDC) gave an update on the park. Foundations of the multi-play games area have now been laid and surfaced with tarmac. Some trees have been planted, but it was noted that a number of them have been wrongly placed. Jonathon said the sub-contractor would be contacted to rectify the problem. ACTION – Jonathon Dix

Concerns were raised over the numerous delays within the project that has led to the scheme being approximately 1½ weeks behind schedule. Jonathon said that sub-contractors employed by CEDLOE, the Council-owned contractor responsible for the renewal scheme, had delayed some aspects of the field’s renewal. He stated that the use of sub-contractors was quite common in this type of work as some specialist knowledge and equipment has been required. He assured the group that several teams of men would be working on the field in the future to get back on schedule for completion in May.

4.2.   Jackson’s Field Lighting – The group asked about the lighting of the park. Jonathon displayed   a CAD (computer aided design) drawing of the locations of the park lighting. Several comments were raised about the plan to install two lights adjacent to the garages at the top of Bolsover Street – an area that is already well lit. Also, why there is not lighting designated on the plan for the lookout area which would create a ‘blind spot’ should no lighting be erected. The group asked for at least one light to be taken from the top of the field to be erected close to the lookout area. ACTION – Jonathon Dix

4.3.   Jackson’s Field Waste/Dog Bins – When asked about the inclusion of dog waste bins on the park, Jonathon replied by saying that bins specific for the use of dog waste would not be erected. He continued by saying there is no legal requirement to provide such facilities and there is also concerns by Council staff regarding the emptying of such bins. Only standard bins are to be erected.

Ian Lilliman (NAG Secretary) asked if the bins would be of an anti-tamper design as the area does have a problem with youths setting fire to waste in bins. He continued by saying that standard bins, in his opinion were totally inadequate for the job, being generally post-mounted (resulting in them being kicked over) and being open-topped which make them prone to having the contents being dispersed on the field by vandals and also by poor weather conditions. Anti-vandal bins would have cost slightly more money but, in the long-term, would have been the better choice for the continuing sustainability of the project. Jonathon replied by saying that the plans for the park were formed through various consultations with the community over two years ago and that because of no objections in the past, the waste bins had already been ordered. Ian urged Jonathon to look into the possibility of changing the order if possible.

4.4.   Jackson’s Field, Children’s Playground – Michelle Ward (NAG Chair) told the group that she had spoken to playground manufacturer and the cost of repairs would be too much. Jonathon Dix said that Groundwork has applied for £40,000 in additional funding for the playground but no decision has been made yet. The secretary said that in the meantime the group would look into possible designs and discuss them at the NAG meetings.

5.      Constitution

5.1.   The Secretary referred the group to the Constitution document, which had been enclosed in the last newsletter. No comments were raised as to the content of the document and therefore it was accepted. The constitution describes who we are, why the group exists and how it shall be run. Having a constitution will allow the group to have greater access to funding. In the very near future the group will open a bank account.

For anyone wishing to review the document again, you can view it on our website. The link can be found on the home page www.the-nag.org.uk.

6.      Police & Crime Issues

6.1.   Many members remarked that they had not seen a single beat bobby in over 3 months, although a few did comment that they had seen a police presence but could not confirm if they had seen Paul Atherley, the new beat bobby for our area.

6.2.   It was suggested that the local beat bobby be asked to the next meeting. It was also suggested that the group ask Alan Booth, the Crime Prevention Officer to give a talk on crime prevention and advice on the benefits of setting up our own Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. ACTION – Ian/Michelle

6.3.   The secretary also informed the group of a regular program on Radio Mansfield – 103.2FM called ‘Cop Slot’ (Wednesday’s 11am), which allows the community to ring the station (01623 666020) and pose questions to a member of the Police force.

 

6.4.   Several crimes were reported to the group. These were:

·         A large number of cars had their tyres slashed on one particular night. It is rumoured that the culprit was caught.

·         A handbag was stolen from a property on Montague Street whilst the owner was still at home!

·         A resident on Carter Lane reported seeing an intruder in a garden and called the police. During their visit, another resident reported that his car stereo had been stolen. A quick search of the area resulted in the (reputed) capture of two youths.

·         A spoiler was stolen from an expensive car on Montague Street.

7.      Quality Street Scheme

7.1.   One of the new refurbished shops has been occupied. The premises will be used to sell discount furniture

8.      Bolsover Street – Car Parking problems

8.1.   It was reported that the Treasury had applied for funding to create a car park adjacent to the Treasury. This would go someway to reliving the parking problems at the bottom of Bolsover Street. However, another member of the group suggested that this might not be the case as monies were required for possible replacement/repair of the church organ.

9.      Any Other Business

9.1.   Margaret Wheat of 130 Newgate Lane reported that she had heard nothing from Care & Repair/Severn Trent regarding the on-going problems with water in both her own and other neighbouring cellars. The secretary said he would e-mail Richard Goad, Chief Executive of the Council to look into the issue. ACTION – Ian Lilliman


NEXT MEETING
6.30pm on Tuesday
14th May 2002 at 110 Newgate Lane.