2018 has seen plenty of highs and lows for Ruddington.
As the new year arrives, your independent village website looks back at some of the biggest news stories on which we’ve reported during the past twelve months. Please click on the photos or links to read more…
JANUARY:
At the start of 2018, the winter crimewave blighting the lives of residents and traders in Ruddington showed no sign of stopping – after a late night raid on Classic Cuts Hairdressing on the corner of High Street and Charles Street (on January 10th). Owner Traysi Kirk told RUDDINGTON.info: “Stock was stolen and there was lots of mess and damage. Four youths used a crow bar to smash the side window and enter the salon. They broke into the till which was empty, so took stock and gift boxes from the window display.”- There was also unwelcome news that Flawforth Lane would need to be closed for yet more roadworks in January – despite already having been shut to traffic for over THREE MONTHS at the end of the previous summer. Drivers were subsequently diverted for a further three weeks whilst “completion of new drainage works” took place.
FEBRUARY:
After its appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against Rushcliffe Borough Council’s refusal to allow it outline planning permission for 175 new homes on Green Belt land off Musters Road – with access via Asher Lane – landowner Space Foods Ltd submitted revised plans (right) showing an access route from Musters Road instead.- On February 2nd, Ruddington’s newest coffee shop, Jasper’s Café, closed down after less than a year on Dutton’s Hill when a planned refurbishment of the site meant it could no longer continue to trade from there. A few days’ later, owner Paul Carver announced that new village premises had been found – and that the popular café would be moving into the former “Drinks & More” convenience store later on in 2018.
MARCH:
Ruddington shoppers were left reeling at the shock news that their much loved independent, village greengrocers Thomas’s was to cease trading (March 31st). The sudden closure announced by Glyn Thomas on the morning of its last day brought to an end over 60 years on High Street for the shop – which had been opened by J.R. (“Wilf”) Thomas in the 1950s.- After a closure for extensive refurbishment, the former Jasper’s Café/Bar Six premises on Dutton’s Hill were reopened as a contemporary drinking and dining venue called Apotheka.
APRIL:
There was welcome news for our village centre when Philo’s Deli announced it would expand into the empty shop unit at 1A, Church Street recently vacated by Tanners Estate Agent – whilst Ives & Co Solicitors said it would be opening a new High Street branch (right) where Ruddington’s Barclay’s Bank used to be.- In the wake of a spate of car crime in Ruddington, Rushcliffe Police warned that some vehicles may have been accessed and/or stolen using a method known as “Relay Car Theft” – whereby a remote transmitter fools key fobs within homes into de-alarming and unlocking cars on driveways.
MAY:
Ruddington residents, campaign groups and Councils reacted with disbelief as the Government’s Planning Inspectorate overturned Rushcliffe Borough Council‘s outline planning refusal for 175 new homes on Green Belt land off Asher Lane.- Meantime RBC granted approval for a terrace of contemporary new homes (pictured) at the heart of Ruddington’s conservation area – on the site of the former Alfred Cooke Machinists‘ building on Parkyns Street.
JUNE:
Despite the 175 extra Green Belt houses now allocated to Asher Lane, and strong village opposition, Rushcliffe Borough Council pressed on regardless with its existing Local Plan Part 2 consultation for Ruddington. In August this plan was submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government without any modification. This will mean a total of around 525 new homes on four Ruddington Green Belt sites {pictured} if approved by The Government’s Planning Inspector following appeal hearings in December.- Meantime a “Create a safe access route for Ruddington residents” online petition was started by villagers frustrated by Crest Nicholson Homes and Nottinghamshire County Council‘s apparent lack of progress in building the promised footpath/cycleway from Clifton Road via the Old Station Drive development directly into the Pasture Lane Estate. It attracted over 500 signatures – but also protests from residents impacted by its route.
JULY:
After RUDDINGTON.info paid a Thursday morning visit to a distraught Shane at Ruddington Village Butchers – hearing he would have to close his then loss-making Church Street shop that weekend – we launched a 48 hour campaign on our website to save his business. Promoted and shared via social media, overwhelming last minute support from shocked villagers led to queues out of his door – and sufficient trade in his remaining two days to enable him to continue trading!- Families from the travelling community illegally set up camp on Sellors’ Recreation Ground after gaining access by lifting the locked metal access gate off Wilford Road from its hinges at one side. They remained there for six days before being evicted. The following month a similar incident occurred on the site – but with the eviction taking just three days this time.
AUGUST:
Visitors to Rushcliffe Country Park were warned to take extra care after reports that a woman was bitten by an adder – {injury pictured} and had to be rushed to A & E. The disabled victim was in her wheelchair retrieving a tennis ball from some long grass for her dogs when she felt a sharp prick on her left leg – after something bit her. Conservationists said this was the first reported adder sighting in the Borough for over 30 years – with these snakes being so timid it’s very unlucky to be attacked by one.- Payroll software company MHR based at Ruddington Fields Business Park applied for permission to build a new multi-storey car park to accommodate the vehicles of all its employees in ‘Britannia House’ and the newly built ‘Wellington House’. It was to be built over the current surface car park to allow room for 209 cars – that’s 143 more spaces than there are now! Since then, revised plans have been submitted and can be found >>HERE<<.
SEPTEMBER:
RUDDINGTON.info revealed that Caroline, Princess of Hanover and Albert II, Prince of Monaco – daughter and son of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III – had secretly dined at the Ruddington Arms on Wilford Road. They were here especially to attend the funeral of their much loved former nanny Maureen Wood {pictured with the children} – but their visit was not publicised due to security concerns.- On the morning of Saturday 8th September, after months of preparation by residents, local groups and businesses, 120 of the world’s elite cyclists raced through Ruddington during the much anticipated Stage Seven of the OVO Energy “Tour of Britain”. Residents and visitors lined the route and cheered on the cyclists – with “live” worldwide coverage on ITV4 as the riders passed through via Wilford Road, High Street, Kirk Lane and Loughborough Road.
OCTOBER:
This month saw the arrival of Ruddington’s brand new Loyalty Card, launched in partnership with RUDDINGTON.info. It was the first major initiative by The Ruddington Village Centre Partnership and designed to encourage residents and visitors to patronise our village’s many shops, pubs, cafés, restaurants, takeaways and other retailers. Monthly special offers would showcase the diverse range of products and services available right here on our doorstep. For the first time, all the participating traders would also feature in the new edition of “NCT’S Ruddy Good Day Out” guide booklet.- Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) proposed new parking restrictions to address the issue of finding a space in Ruddington for visitors, local residents and workers. The most controversial of the suggestions under consultation was to make most of Charles Street and Parkyns Street ‘residents only’ parking on Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm.
NOVEMBER:
November saw the launch of the next phase of the Ruddington Neighbourhood Plan process – as its team of volunteers prepared to distill the views of over 900 people, and their priorities for Ruddington, following the summer consultation. You can find ALL their summer survey results >>HERE<<- Meantime, residents from the new Pasture Lane estates, and those who enjoy walking to Rushcliffe Country Park, celebrated the completion of a long awaited all-weather surface on ‘Footpath Number 5’ between Vicarage Park and 50 Steps Bridge. The new tarmac access route followed many winters of pedestrians having to “…wade through a quagmire”.
DECEMBER:
A unique and musical Christmas video featuring staff from a dozen of Ruddington’s Loyalty Card retailers – singing on location in tandem with Ruddington Community Choir – premiered during our annual, village Christmas Fayre (Saturday 1st December). The reworded Carol “Twelve Days of Traders” encouraged residents to shop locally over the festive season – and was filmed and produced for RVCP by village videographer Paul Witney in collaboration with RUDDINGTON.info.- Householders in Ruddington reported envelopes stuffed with cash being pushed through their letterboxes over Christmas! Filled with £20 notes, these were delivered anonymously – marked only with the words “R. A. K. Random Act of Kindness”.
What will 2019 bring? Find out by checking back here frequently – and keeping an eye out on Ruddington social media – for the latest village news, events and information.
Meantime we’d like to wish all our RUDDINGTON.info readers and supporters A VERY HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
