Graham Wright

Junction Works to Last Until October!

4th February 20244th February 2024 Graham Wright

After another short period back on the old traffic lights, following the timely completion of cable re-routing work by Virgin Media, potentially disruptive work resumes at the Kirk Lane/Loughborough Road/Flawforth Lane crossroads this week. Since this major highways project began in July 2023 – to improve the layout and install or reconfigure utility connections at the busy Ruddington junction – it has caused major frustration due to long, peak-time delays for drivers and bus passengers, and had a significant impact on nearby residents. The latest bombshell from Via East Midlands is that it now anticipates…

‘Have Your Say’ on New Development Design

2nd February 20242nd February 2024 Graham Wright

Ruddington’s green spaces have seen significant shrinkage over the past few years as a result of infill housing within our village and, most recently, because of the ‘Rushcliffe Local Plan Part 2’. Not only was planning permission granted by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) in 2020 for hundreds of new homes on four large areas of our village’s former Green Belt, developers are also continuing to benefit from ‘windfall’ land which wasn’t originally included but had its ‘protected’ status removed at the same time. So far this has allowed a significant…

Pharmacy First for Ruddington

31st January 20242nd February 2024 Graham Wright

Our village chemists is welcoming today’s announcement that pharmacies in England will now be allowed to prescribe drugs for minor illnesses instead of doctors. Similar services are already offered in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Trying to book a non-urgent GP appointment at Ruddington Medical Centre or Church House Surgery nowadays can often mean a wait of weeks, rather than days. Evans Pharmacy is confirming this new ‘Pharmacy First’ service will be available at its Charles Street branch. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this morning: “You’re going to be able to get treatments…

Swapping and Sowing Seeds for Spring

30th January 202431st January 2024 Graham Wright

It’s now over a year since Ruddington’s last remaining public telephone box, in front of our War Memorial, was saved for future generations by being put to a completely different use. Adopted by Ruddington-based charity The Mustard Seed Project (Uganda) for just £1, since being launched in October 2022 {top photos} the kiosk has served as a seed exchange; dubbed ‘The Mustard Seed Box’. With spring now just around the corner, Trustee Clement Dixon thought it would be a good time to remind villagers about this free facility for all who enjoy…

Will You Open YOUR Garden for Charity?

28th January 202428th January 2024 Graham Wright

After returning post-pandemic in 2022, it’s been confirmed the (usually) biennial ‘Ruddington Open Gardens’ event is being staged again this summer. In fact, planning is already underway for Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June 2024, when gardens and allotments in our village will be opening in aid of two charities from 2.00pm to 6.00pm on both days. As previously, all proceeds from the event will be split between Save the Children and Action for Children. Residents willing to participate in this year’s two-day horticultural feast are now being invited to get in touch.…

A Hundred More Jobs For Ruddington?

26th January 202426th January 2024 Graham Wright

A major UK software company, which already employs around 900 workers at Ruddington Fields Business Park, says it could create over a hundred further jobs at the site if revised proposals for a new office block and car park are given the nod by planners. MHR, which provides HR, talent management, and payroll services, has applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) to revise plans which were already approved in September 2022 for another building adjacent to ‘Britannia House’ (pictured top). This additional block was to contain 2 floors of car parking and 2…

An SOS From The RBL!

24th January 202425th January 2024 Graham Wright

After the sad passing of its longstanding Chair, Ken Hicks, it’s just over a year since we reported on the appointment of his successor, Malcolm R Greenberry, to this key role at the Ruddington & District Branch of the Royal British Legion. The UK’s leading Armed Forces charity has a network of branches and clubs all over the country and overseas for its members to engage and participate in social, fundraising and welfare activities. Here in Ruddington they also help to organise the well-attended annual Remembrance Services at the War…

Residents Object to New Nursery Plans

21st January 202422nd January 2024 Graham Wright

Proposals to create a new children’s nursery on Brookside Road in Ruddington have proved unpopular with householders in the area. When the site known as ‘Brookside House’ (pictured above in June 2021) was sold off for redevelopment in 2022 by former owners Brookside Autoservices, other units there which were still occupied were also vacated. However, the commercial premises have since lain empty, facing an uncertain future. Most recently, plans to demolish all the existing buildings and build three houses and six apartments there were also shelved. This followed a negative response…

New Ruddington Defibrillator

18th January 202418th January 2024 Graham Wright

As our village population continues to grow, so does the need for potentially life-saving yellow and green boxes in close proximity which are available to our community 24 hours a day. In the past few years, as well as inside various Ruddington premises and on standby for public events, several publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been installed at locations around our village. Now there’s another one – on the wall of the Old Chapel belonging to The Framework Knitters’ Museum down Chapel Street. It’s just been unveiled by electrician David Selby…

Recruiting Ruddington Runners!

16th January 202416th January 2024 Graham Wright

Do you enjoy running and socialising? If so, a new, free-to-join group of like-minded Ruddingtonians would love to see you. Ruddington Running Club was started by 29-year-old villager Jack Simkins in 2023 but has only been active since the start of this year. Members currently run together twice a week; with one session in the morning and the other in the evening. Jack, who moved to Ruddington just eighteen months’ ago, reveals: “In 2022, while solo training for a half-marathon, I had this idea – why not turn the pavement…