Author: Graham Wright

Get Ready for RuddFest!

Graham Wright

Have you realised that Ruddington’s famous annual beer, food and music festival is now almost upon us? Not only that, it’s celebrating TEN YEARS on The Green; after originally being launched and hosted at The White Horse, with other village pubs then joining in. ‘RuddFest 2024’ runs from Thursday 6th until Sunday 9th June – just a little later than last year. (The dates move slightly each time, due to Ruddington Village Market now being held on The Green on the first Saturday of every month.) Once again around over 100…

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New Development Design Consultation Continues

Graham Wright

Following its launch at the start of this year, Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) is continuing to prepare a new ‘Design Code’ to set out quality and standard rules for new developments. Now the authority is inviting residents, local interest groups, design professionals and developers to have our say on the next stage of the process. Since Ruddington’s precious green spaces have taken a significant hammering over the past few years – as a result of infill housing within our village, plus the ‘Rushcliffe Local Plan Part 2’ and its wider development consequences on…

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Further Parking Restrictions at Dutton’s Hill?

Graham Wright

Villagers may be interested to hear that plans are afoot to increase periods when parking is prohibited at a notorious Ruddington bottleneck. Currently, consultees including Nottinghamshire Highways and local Councillors are getting an opportunity to give their thoughts about additional parking restrictions along Wilford Road at ‘Dutton’s Hill’ (pictured top) before VIA East Midlands puts final proposals to the wider public. In between double yellow lines there are three stretches of sometimes unrestricted parking which can accommodate up to seven vehicles. However, the move towards further restrictions is primarily as a…

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New Nursery Plans Approved

Graham Wright

Unpopular proposals to create a new children’s nursery on Brookside Road in Ruddington have been given the go-ahead by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC). This is despite 17 objections (out of 18 comments) by consultees and members of the public to the original application for a ‘registered nursery’ {23/02205/FUL} followed by a further eleven objections to the application {23/02202/VAR} to allow extra onsite parking (for up to 14 cars) and longer weekday opening hours for the new business. When the site known as ‘Brookside House’ (pictured above in June 2021) was sold off…

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School Celebrates New Ofsted Report!

Graham Wright

Staff, children and parents say they’re delighted that a Ruddington school judged to ‘Require Improvement’ two years’ ago has now been rated ‘Good’ in all areas. Pupils and staff gathered in the playing field at James Peacock Infant and Nursery School with balloons and banners {top photo} to celebrate the achievement. The very welcome report, just released by Ofsted, follows a two-day visit to the Manor Park based school by three inspectors in April, during which they assessed numerous aspects of its day-to-day running and curriculum. The school’s performance in the quality of…

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Disruptive Junction Work Restarts

Graham Wright

After originally being rescheduled to resume on May 7th, and then being postponed until May 28th, the major work to reshape Ruddington’s busiest crossroads is now set to begin again this Monday, 20th May. These past few weeks have been welcome respite for long-suffering residents and motorists, during which Flawforth Lane has reopened and the temporary traffic lights at the junction with Loughborough Road and Kirk Lane removed. However, the final phase will see both of these return between now and the anticipated October 2024 completion date. Since this major…

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Concerns Over Ruddington Tree Felling

Graham Wright

Anger has been expressed over the timing of the removal of mature trees at Ruddington’s former Youth & Community Centre site next to The Green. After three, large Leylandii were chopped down there on Monday, villager Margaret Burrell contacted RUDDINGTON.info to say: “I’m absolutely disgusted that the Parish Council have chosen the breeding season for birds as the time to chop down all the trees on the old Youth Centre site. This site has lain empty for years and, despite being promised a temporary parking facility after the buildings were…

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‘Open Gardens’ Countdown Begins

Graham Wright

The organisers of a popular, village weekend – which takes place only every other year – say programmes for this summer’s event are now on sale. Ruddington Open Gardens 2024 is being held on Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd June from 2pm until 6pm. This time around, 13 private gardens around the village will open for viewing, plus the gardens at The Cottage Hotel and behind the Debbie Bryan Gallery on High Street. Hareham Gardens and Paradise Gardens allotments will also be open to the public. ‘Live’ music is…

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Permanent Coral Closure Confirmed

Graham Wright

The owners of Ruddington’s only betting shop say it has shut for good. Villagers noticed late last month that Coral Bookmakers at Unit 2 High Street was dark and empty – after previously being open for business throughout the year, seven days a week, other than on Christmas Day.  The only exception was during a couple of months in the summer of 2019 when a fire at the premises forced the branch to close for a major refurbishment. When it reopened – six months before ‘lockdown’ – the future was looking…

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May’s Mayday Farewell

Graham Wright

Residents and visitors who flocked to enjoy Ruddington Parish Council’s ‘Merry Monday’ event on The Green this week might not have realised it was also their last chance to see perhaps our village’s most famous vintage vehicle in action (on location above). After almost a decade serving barista coffee to Ruddington and beyond out of their converted 1965 VW Split Screen Campervan, owners of The Split Screen Food & Drink Company have revealed they’re putting ‘May’ up for sale. They say the decision to sell their iconic vehicle comes after careful consideration of various…

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