Author: Graham Wright

Key Bridge Repair Should Get ‘Big Trains’ Back Soon!

Graham Wright

It’s now over four years since full-sized trains carried passengers on our once popular heritage railway line south of Ruddington. The tough restrictions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 brought a halt to all activities at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre on Mere Way, including the weekend steam and diesel services operated by the volunteers at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (GCRN). Other setbacks since have meant these trains still haven’t restarted. One of these setbacks is a small bridge on the Nottinghamshire section of the railway which…

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Ruddington Bus Service Goes ‘On Demand’ Only

Graham Wright

Following the announcement last November that Ruddington’s only timetabled bus service to Keyworth (via Wysall, Willoughy and Widmerpool) was under threat, Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) has confirmed it’s being axed even sooner than envisaged – at the end of this week! After Saturday 20th July our current, six-day-a-week 863 NottsBus Connect scheduled service is being scrapped by NCC, along with the 850, 852 and 853 routes, in favour of  ‘DRT’ – Demand Responsive Transport. From Monday 22nd July, prospective passengers from Ruddington and elsewhere will need to pre-book each journey they wish…

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Railway Reunification Planning Application Submitted

Graham Wright

An ambitious railway reconnection project to allow trains from Ruddington to once again run all the way to Leicester is now another step closer to achieving its goal. The Great Central Railway (GCR) has just submitted a planning application to Charnwood Borough Council to continue with the next stages of its ‘Reunification Scheme’ for which permission is required. As regular RUDDINGTON.info readers will know, GCR has already raised millions of pounds and already finished three parts of the scheme. Once completed, the project will reconnect the two separate heritage railways currently operated…

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Susan’s ‘Grand Day Out’ in Ruddington!

Graham Wright

Our village is to feature on national television again this week thanks to Glaswegian comedian Susan Calman. For the second episode of her seventh series of ‘Grand Day Out’ on Channel Five, Susan hits the road to Nottinghamshire – including a visit to Ruddington’s increasingly famous Framework Knitters’ Museum. Amongst other things, she’s taught how to knit on one of the Griswold circular knitting machines. Although filming for this episode happened in April, those at the Chapel Street tourist attraction have been sworn to secrecy until now.  Even Susan’s rather…

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Roadworks Disruption Set to Worsen

Graham Wright

Ruddington residents and businesses are being warned that existing roadworks, coupled with additional highways work which is soon to begin in and near our village, means traffic delays and disruption are likely to get even worse over the coming months. As previously reported, the over-running major project to reshape one of our busiest junctions at the Loughborough Road/Kirk Lane/Flawforth Lane crossroads is now set to continue with four-way temporary traffic signals until Friday 8th November – some sixteen months since work first began. Not only that, it’s planned that Flawforth…

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Ruddington Turns Red!

Graham Wright

As the Labour Party celebrates a resounding victory in the General Election, one of its biggest wins is here in Rushcliffe – which has been a Conservative stronghold since Kenneth Clarke won back the seat for the Tories in 1970. A turnout of 73.22% yesterday (4th July 2024), saw queues forming outside Ruddington’s two polling stations at the Village Hall and St Peter’s Rooms.  Ballot boxes from here and elsewhere in the constituency were rushed to Rushcliffe Arena, once the polling stations closed at 10pm, for the counting to get underway. At…

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Planting Plots and Pumpkin Patch Plans for Ruddington

Graham Wright

Just over two years’ ago, residents of the Ruddington Grange area discovered (with some dismay) that plans had been submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) to create an archery range in the field adjacent to their properties. More alarmingly still, this was reportedly to be followed by a planning application for the proposed change of use of all of this remaining ‘green belt’ land on the eastern side of Wilford Road away from agriculture to sports and recreation. Following numerous local objections, this particular scheme was eventually shelved. However, concerns were raised again…

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New Vegetable Oil Bin Lorries!

Graham Wright

Eagle-eyed residents may have noticed a subtle change to Ruddington’s waste and recycling lorries this month – to significantly more ‘eco-friendly’ vehicles than before. Identified by large, new decals on the side – featuring white lettering on a green background – Rushcliffe Borough Council’s new hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) bin lorries, which it’s claimed reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90 per cent – have now been rolled out in our village. The introduction of the converted vehicles, powered solely by waste oil not used by supermarkets and other suppliers, comes as…

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Another Celebrity Diner in Ruddington!

Graham Wright

With just over a week to go until the General Election, that this evening’s final, televised Prime Ministerial Debate between the Conservative and Labour Party hopefuls was being held in Nottingham has been well publicised nationwide. What wasn’t so widely known is what would be happening beforehand. RUDDINGTON.info can reveal not only that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was in Nottinghamshire in very good time, but also that he chose to have lunch today in our village – at The Ruddington Arms!  This is another coup for the Wilford Road gastropub…

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Free Support and Advice for Ruddington Businesses

Graham Wright

High street business owners in our village are being invited to sign up to a new support programme to access a range of free advice, training and grant opportunities, to help their business grow and become more sustainable. Even better, it won’t cost them a penny since the Rushcliffe Accelerator project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Through the Accelerator, businesses can access a range of support including: • 1:1 business advice • A range of free training and workshops • Energy audits…

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