Local Elections Are Looming

27th March 202327th March 2023 Graham Wright

With elections for new Ruddington Borough and Parish Councillors taking place on Thursday 4th May 2023, there are a few things villagers may need to do right now in preparation. Firstly, not only do residents need to make sure we are registered to vote, we will also need to have an accepted form of ‘photo ID’ ready to show if voting in person. It follows the UK Government introducing this requirement – which applies for the first time in England at these 4th May polls. Forms of acceptable photo ID, which…

‘Offer Day’ Dismay For New Ruddington Families

11th March 202319th March 2023 Graham Wright

Just over a week ago it was National Secondary School ‘Offer Day’ – when the parents and guardians of all current Year 6 children in Ruddington were informed by Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) whether (or not) they had been successful in getting their son or daughter a place at their first choice secondary school. It brought good news for our longer term village residents whose children are pupils in their final year at St Peter’s Junior School and had applied to go to Rushcliffe Spencer Academy (formerly Rushcliffe School) – Ruddington’s usual ‘feeder…

Dozens More ‘Green Belt’ Houses for Ruddington?

5th March 20235th March 2023 Graham Wright

It’s taken almost two years to sell the site, and for developers to put together this full application, but detailed plans have now been submitted to build yet more new homes on former Green Belt land east of Loughborough Road. Chave Planning Ltd has drawn up the Design and Access Statement for land at ‘Croft House’ at 211, Loughborough Road, Ruddington, on behalf of the applicant TH Ruddington Ltd – which is part of national housebuilder Taggart Homes. It’s intended to explain how the site’s ‘environmental constraints and opportunities, the surrounding context, relevant planning policy and outcomes…

Ruddington Solar Farm Application

3rd March 202310th March 2023 Graham Wright

Following a public consultation in our village in March 2022, Ridge Clean Energy (RCE) has now submitted a full planning application for its proposed ‘hybrid renewable energy project’ on agricultural land south west of Ruddington. Called ‘Fair Oaks Renewable Energy Park’ the power generation scheme would be located at Fields Farm off Asher Lane and pair 49.9MW of solar panels with 49.9MW of battery storage capacity. That’s said to be enough to supply 11,200 homes with green electricity. The company says the combination of technologies can achieve “efficient, reliable, and stable…

Appeal Against Planning Refusal on The Green

23rd February 202323rd February 2023 Graham Wright

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s refusal of permission to build a contemporary, new home at the heart of Ruddington’s conservation area [22/00485/FUL] is being appealed by the applicant. In March 2022 Building Design (Nottm) Ltd submitted plans to demolish the current garage belonging to 6, The Green (‘The White House’) to make way for a modern two storey house (plus attic room) to be built ‘next door’ over the current garden – filling the “gap” seen in the photograph above. You can find further details >>HERE<<. Now it seems these controversial plans may yet see…

Police Praise Ruddington Drivers

10th February 202310th February 2023 Graham Wright

Motorists entering our village via one of its northern gateways are being praised for doing better at obeying the speed limit than when Nottinghamshire Police previously carried out checks there. When Rushcliffe South neighbourhood officers last brought their radar gun to Wilford Road in September 2022 they recorded three vehicles still doing in excess of 35mph along the main, built-up stretch. That’s well after where the 30mph limit now begins (due to the new ‘Fairham Green’ housing development) and despite a flashing sign to alert drivers to their speed as they pass Sellors’ Playing Field.…

New Digital Retail Adviser Visits Ruddington

26th January 202326th January 2023 Graham Wright

Ruddington’s independent fashion outlet on Church Street is among the Rushcliffe-based businesses now benefitting from professional advice to develop their digital offer alongside in-person sales at their retail premises. Utilising UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF), Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has contracted East Midlands Chamber’s Steve Phillips as one of its experienced Business Advisers to deliver the project here in Ruddington and beyond. RBC is one of the first authorities in Nottinghamshire to use this new £25,000 funding from central government to respond to the pressures our high street traders are facing currently. Between now…

Historic Ash Tree Felled by Developer

24th January 202324th January 2023 Graham Wright

Ruddington residents overlooking the new Wilbur Chase development south of Musters Road are expressing their dismay that a large, mature tree next to the site has been chopped down today – despite their pleas to save it. The historic Ash tree sat on the boundary of the field owned by village businessman John Hallam and the former green belt agricultural land next to it – upon which Avant Homes is now constructing 175 controversially approved new houses. Retention of this 17 metre tall tree was clearly shown on the developer’s…

School Expansion News Welcomed

15th January 202316th January 2023 Graham Wright

Village families who currently have children attending James Peacock Infant & Nursery School and St Peter’s Junior School are welcoming this week’s announcement that Ruddington’s historically preferred Secondary School will be made over a third larger. Since the building of thousands of new homes began in its catchment area, some residents here have been struggling to get places for their kids at Rushcliffe School in West Bridgford (now rebranded Rushcliffe Spencer Academy). In fact, in recent years, a good number of Ruddington pupils have been split up from lifelong friends to be accommodated…

New Ruddington Roundabouts on the Way!

9th January 20239th January 2023 Graham Wright

National Highways has revealed that the final part of a major upgrade to the A52 around Nottingham has now moved a step closer – with work to enlarge and redesign the two main roundabouts taking traffic in and out of Ruddington scheduled to begin next summer. The agency has announced it’s appointed Griffiths Farrans Joint Venture (GFJV) as the main contractor to deliver the project. GFJV will finalise the design and construct the remaining two junctions at Nottingham Knight and Wheatcroft – with its work due to start in September…