Graham Wright

Green Flags Galore for Ruddington!

25th July 202330th July 2023 Graham Wright

It’s been revealed that TWO local green spaces popular with village visitors and Ruddington walkers are in receipt of prestigious Green Flag Awards this year. Firstly, Rushcliffe Country Park has received its 17th consecutive Green Flag Award, once again acknowledging it as one of the country’s best parks. Ruddington’s popular green space is among 2,216 places in the UK receiving the 2023/24 award. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Leisure and Wellbeing, Cllr Jonathan Wheeler, joined the Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park volunteer group and Council representatives (pictured top) in…

Ruddington’s Summer Roadworks

23rd July 20238th August 2023 Graham Wright

Whilst our schools are out for the big holiday it’s hoped less traffic will mean fewer delays for Ruddington’s long-suffering motorists. However, there are some scheduled roadworks going on which will inevitably still cause inconvenience and longer journey times. First up, St John’s Road (pictured above) – a popular Ruddington shortcut – is closed to traffic from July 24th to 28th for National Grid work (as shown below), therefore motorists from Wilford Road will need to travel via the village centre to get into the estate or out onto Loughborough Road, and vice-versa.*…

West End and TV Stardom for Ruddington Performers!

21st July 202325th July 2023 Graham Wright

The bright lights of London are beckoning once again for two students from Ruddington’s very own ‘Fame’ school who have just secured major starring roles in two forthcoming productions. Freedom Dance & Performance, based at 7 Charles Street, has been nurturing local talent for over two decades, with its alumni securing theatre and TV acting roles throughout the country; as well as internationally aboard cruise ships! Since 2002, children and young people from all backgrounds – from Ruddington and further afield – have been passing through its understated purple door…

And THIS Year’s ‘Green-Fingered’ Winners are…

19th July 202319th July 2023 Graham Wright

Another keen, Ruddington allotment holder is celebrating being awarded both a trophy and year of ‘free’ gardening after scooping first prize in a friendly, annual contest. This time Julia Adams (pictured above with judges, John Hawson and Ange Goodman) has won ‘The Best Allotment on Hareham Gardens’ for 2023 from the James Peacock Bread Charity. It not only owns all the allotments bordered by Asher Lane and Musters Road, but also regularly makes donations of money and produce to Ruddington residents in need. Julia follows in the footsteps of last year’s winners Sue Hallam…

Kerbside Glass Recycling for Ruddington?

17th July 202319th July 2023 Graham Wright

Items such as glass bottles and jars could be collected from our homes under plans being discussed by local Councillors. Whilst Ruddington householders already enjoy a free, fortnightly collection for many recyclable items, under the Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) ‘Blue Bin’ scheme, those of us wishing to recycle glass (or clothing) currently have to head out into the village – either to the Church Street (‘Co-op’) Car Park (pictured top) or to the recycling point along Asher Lane. For soft plastic recycling, such as crisp packets, residents need to go into Ruddington…

Village Pub’s Expansion Plans

15th July 202315th July 2023 Graham Wright

A popular and historic Ruddington public house has submitted proposals which would see its accommodation more than double in size if approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC). Owners of The Frame Breakers (formerly The Bricklayers Arms prior to 2015) have applied for planning permission to build a three storey side extension, with two storey side and rear extension, to the existing building at the corner of High Street and Kirk Lane in our village centre. The Heritage Design and Access Statement drawn up by Welham Architects (who created the images above…

Museum Volunteer’s Lasting Legacy

13th July 202314th July 2023 Graham Wright

Ruddington’s Framework Knitters’ Museum has had some very special visitors from America this month – the family of a woman whose generous gift greatly helped to make its recent expansion plans possible. Many villagers will already know that our internationally famous tourist attraction has been transformed in the last couple of years by the purchase of the former ‘Gunn Cottage’ at the end of Chapel Street. It’s been converted into an impressive new entrance and reception area – plus shop and cafe – acting as a proper ‘gateway’ into Ruddington’s…

Happy 80th to our Scouts!

11th July 202311th July 2023 Graham Wright

This week marks another major milestone for 1st Ruddington Scouts – as the they celebrate their 80th birthday. The group actually came into existence during World War II – launching on 12th July 1943. Since then, as Ruddington’s population has grown, its membership has gone up substantially – with three Beaver Colonies, three Cub Packs and two Scout Troops, numbering over 130 young people in all. They’re supported by more than 40 adult volunteers as leaders and trustees. Jennifer Boniface, Chair of 1st Ruddington Scouts, reveals: “We recently held a…

Major Ruddington Junction Work Begins

8th July 202323rd July 2023 Graham Wright

Long-awaited highway improvements to alleviate the daily traffic queues at an increasingly busy village crossroads are starting this weekend – and will take around five months to complete. As previously reported, local frustrations have been mounting about peak-time tailbacks at the Kirk Lane/Loughborough Road/Flawforth Lane traffic lights in Ruddington. It’s as hundreds of families continue to move into four major new housing developments here (approved over three years’ ago as part of the Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) ‘Local Plan Part Two’) before the mandated improvement works to add extra turning lanes…

What’s Happening with the Old Youth Centre?

7th July 20237th July 2023 Graham Wright

If you’ve walked, cycled or driven past The Green in the last couple of days, you’ll almost certainly have noticed the metal security fencing and scaffolding just erected at Ruddington’s former Youth & Community (‘Young People’s) Centre. Originally owned and maintained by Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) it has lain empty and disused since December 2016, with the main building having to be boarded up in 2018 following repeated acts of vandalism. In December 2019 Ruddington Parish Council (RPC) announced it had purchased the facility from NCC to refurbish it and put it back into use…