Author: Graham Wright

Ruddington Crossroads Work Resumes Soon

Graham Wright

After a 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, Ruddington’s seemingly never-ending crossroads work will be back soon. Since this major highways project began in July 2023, to improve the layout of the increasingly busy Ruddington junction, it has caused major frustration for both villagers and visitors. Before the widening work could even begin, numerous contractors including Cadent Gas, Severn Trent Water, National Grid, Virgin Media and BT Openreach – have had to be called in…

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Country Park Parking Price Hike

Graham Wright

Visitors who travel to Ruddington’s country park by car are being warned about substantial increases to the parking charges there this month. Following removal of the previous £1 all-day rate, from Wednesday 1st May 2024 those using the official parking at Rushcliffe Country Park now have to pay £1.50 to stay up to three hours and £3 hours to stay any longer than that.  That’s a rise of 50% and 300% respectively on the previous tariff. The cost of the annual car parking permit, for frequent park users, has also shot…

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Ruddington’s Election Candidates & Results*

Graham Wright

If you haven’t already voted by post, here’s a timely reminder of the names on the ballot papers for villagers to choose from at this week’s (two) local elections. On Thursday 2nd May 2024, we’re urged to have our say on both who we’d like to lead the ‘Combined County Mayoral Authority’ and which candidate should be our next ‘Police and Crime Commissioner’. It’s Ruddington’s chance to help choose the first-ever elected East Midlands Mayor; after local councils gave the green light for a £1.14billion devolution deal for our region. We’re also voting…

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Methodist Church Closure Threat

Graham Wright

The Minister of Ruddington Methodist Church has confirmed that the future of their historic, village centre building is in doubt due to the rising cost of maintaining it. Reverend Tony Simpson replaced Reverend Nichola Jones as our Methodist Minister in 2023 when she was rather unexpectedly moved to another circuit in Cornwall last July. He also looks after the Methodist Churches in Clifton, Bradmore, Keyworth, and Tollerton, so usually only takes services here in Ruddington around once a month. After Christmas, rumours started circulating that the 150-year-old building on Church Street…

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Flawforth Lane Shuts Completely

Graham Wright

The end of the Easter holidays heralds another period of disruption for Ruddington’s long-suffering residents and motorists due to the long-term junction remodelling work at the Kirk Lane/Loughborough Road/Flawforth Lane crossroads. From Tuesday 2nd until Friday 26th April 2024 the current one-way system between Flawforth Avenue and Loughborough Road is replaced with the complete closure of Flawforth Lane at that point for Cadent Gas to complete its mains pipe work under the road. As well as this meaning a long way around for through-traffic, residents and businesses along Flawforth Lane and Flawforth Avenue, and…

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MP’s Ruddington Pothole Pledge

Graham Wright

Rushcliffe’s Member of Parliament is promising to take action after being contacted by residents across our village complaining about the many potholes and deteriorating road surfaces here in Ruddington right now. On a flyer delivered to Ruddington households, Ruth Edwards MP says: “Working with your local county councillor, l have been collating these issues. In particular, Asher Lane, Mere Way and Flawforth Lane have all been highlighted. l also know there are some more general concerns about road maintenance and the deterioration of the road surface across the village, particularly between Ruddington and…

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Bowls Club Centenary Celebrations

Graham Wright

Another special milestone in our village history will be reached during 2024 – when Ruddington Bowls Club celebrates a hundred years. When it was founded in 1924, it was originally called ‘Ruddington (Paget) Bowls Club’, as the land it occupied had been donated by the Paget family. However, just ten years’ later, the club moved to the Green at Elms Park, on grounds owned by Ruddington Parish Council, where it remains to this very day. Outrageous as it seems now, women were not allowed to play bowls there until 1960,…

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Makers’ Night Goes Back to its Roots!

Graham Wright

Organisers of an annual, village event which brings together dozens of crafters, creators, designers and makers from across the region in an artisan/craft trail through Ruddington have announced it will return to its usual summer slot this year. Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP) – which also runs our monthly Village Market – has revealed Makers’ Night 2024 will be held on Friday 21st June from 4pm until 9pm. This time around the official host venues will be St Peter’s Church (pictured top), The Cottage Hotel, Ruddington Methodist Hall, The Framework Knitters’ Museum and Philo’s…

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Play Area Refurbishment Plans Announced

Graham Wright

Plans to refurbish the children’s play area in Ruddington’s country park have been revealed today by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC). The authority says the changes at Rushcliffe Country Park will be made after the Easter holidays in April as part of its £175,000 of investment into local facilities. Works will include replacing the existing central space net with a new Kanope Tower multi-play unit featuring 14 different play elements and a new wooden trail. RBC  says this will offer panoramic views of the park, increase play opportunities with a new pendulum pod swing…

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Flawforth Lane’s Unplanned Partial Closure

Graham Wright

The ongoing Ruddington highways project which began in July 2023 – to improve the layout and install or reconfigure utility connections at the busy Kirk Lane/Loughborough Road/Flawforth Lane crossroads – has entered its next phase earlier than expected. Following complaints from long-suffering residents and motorists, faced with frequent long queues through 4-way temporary traffic lights, early last month we reported the good news that the total closure of Flawforth Lane would only be actioned for around three weeks, from 2nd April until 26th April, rather than the three months planned originally. The not…

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