News – Page 8 – RUDDINGTON.info

New Pentecostal Church for Ruddington

11th February 202411th February 2024 Graham Wright

The original timing for announcing the launch of a brand new type of worship in Ruddington was rather unfortunate, to say the least. It was back in February 2020 – just a month before the COVID-19 ‘lockdown’! Edwalton-based ‘The Rock Church’ managed to host only ONE of its Pentecostal-style services in St Peter’s Rooms before further plans had to be put on hold due to the virus. Undeterred, its members returned to our village last summer, led by Ruddington’s new ‘Location Pastor’ Cathy Appelbee (famously the owner of Wilbur the Cat), for a further ‘trial’…

Kids’ Fun Run Turns Ten

9th February 202411th February 2024 Graham Wright

It’s hard to believe that Ruddington’s free, weekly park run for children aged 4 to 14 and their families is now a decade old! When Rushcliffe Junior Parkrun was launched in Rushcliffe Country Park, at 9am on Sunday 2nd February 2014, it was only the eighth junior event to be set up in the world – and yet it managed to attract 118 participants and 20 volunteers for the very first one. This 2k ‘fun run’ was set up to encourage kids, families and friends to enjoy exercising in open spaces,…

Historic Footbridge Closes Again

7th February 20248th February 2024 Graham Wright

Less than five years since it was last closed for repairs, one of Ruddington’s railway landmarks is currently undergoing a little more TLC following new safety concerns raised by the increased number of pedestrians who now use it. ‘Fifty Steps Bridge’ over the Great Central Railway line was constructed well over a century ago (circa 1899) and still survives as a functioning footbridge to this day. This is despite the passenger line beneath it becoming a victim of Dr Richard Beeching’s cuts in 1963, and nearby Ruddington Station subsequently being…

‘Troubled’ Ruddington Arsonist Sent to Prison

5th February 20245th February 2024 RUDDINGTON.info

A village resident has ended up in gaol after he set fire to his own flat. As RUDDINGTON.info first reported last autumn, Stephen Pritchard, prompted an emergency evacuation when he started fires in multiple rooms of the property in Dunblane Road in Ruddington on the evening of Thursday 12th October 2023. As his neighbours watched from outside, 32-year-old Pritchard was rescued from his flat on the second floor of the block by firefighters who guided him down a ladder. Thankfully no-one was injured and the blaze was soon extinguished. Pritchard immediately…

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…