A Feast of Free Trees!

For the past six years, Ruddington residents have been offered the chance to make our properties greener by applying for ‘free trees’ from Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC). Over 10,000 trees have been distributed since the start of this campaign in 2018. In previous years the authority has given villagers an option of TWO trees to apply for. For 2023 the choice has been doubled to FOUR possible alternatives. However, due to the previous high demand, we’re now only being offered ONE free tree per household. This year, a further one…

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‘Warm Welcome Spaces’ Agreed in Ruddington

Last month we reported how St Peter’s Church and Ruddington Parish Council were launching a village initiative to help those here who may struggle to both feed their families and heat their homes this winter. Whilst, thankfully, the Chancellor’s ‘Autumn Statement’ this week has left the current UK energy price caps in place throughout the coldest part of the year, already soaring gas and electricity costs are presenting a challenge for many in Ruddington. That’s why a public ‘Open Meeting’ was held in St Peter’s on October 18th 2022. Church member…

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Seeking ‘Warm Spaces’ this Winter

Despite the turmoil within our Government continuing – with the appointment of a new Chancellor of the Exchequer one of the recent changes – thankfully the latest gas and electricity price caps and £400 household energy rebates are not yet among the policies being reversed by Downing Street. Nevertheless, the soaring cost of everything, not just our fuel bills, means some Ruddington residents will still struggle to both feed their families and heat their homes this winter.  The support website ‘Warm Welcome UK’ says: “There is an estimated £800 gap…

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‘Freedom Day’ in Ruddington

Since the Government confirmed yesterday that Monday 19th July will by the day that all COVID-19 legal restrictions in England will be lifted, businesses and residents in Ruddington have been weighing up what ‘risks’ they will be prepared to take. Whilst Sajid Javid confirmed England will move to ‘Step 4’ – the final stage of ‘unlocking’ its Coronavirus restrictions on this date – he also described July 19th as “the start of a new phase of continued caution” – saying the use of face coverings will still be “expected and recommended…

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Four More Weeks of ‘Step 3’

Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister about England’s ‘road out of lockdown’ brought a mixture of good and bad news for Ruddington’s hospitality businesses. Boris Johnson confirmed, as anticipated, that ‘Step 4’ – which he dubbed “Freedom Day” – will be delayed by a month due to concerns about the continuing spread of the more infectious and vaccine-resistant ‘Delta’ Coronavirus variant in the UK. He said this pause should allow the vaccination of around five million more people before remaining restrictions are lifted. Here in Ruddington, the latest Government data indicates COVID-19 is…

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Indoor Hospitality Reopens

This week’s milestone date of Monday 17th May has been pencilled in our diaries for a few months now – the point promised on the ‘roadmap’ for a further easing of Coronavirus restrictions in England – assuming all went to plan. Hospitality venues in Ruddington preparing to reopen indoors had begun wondering in recent days whether clusters of cases of the new ‘Indian’ COVID-19 variant in other parts of the UK might put a spanner in the works – following fresh warnings from some scientists not to proceed with ‘Step 3’…

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No Beer from the Pub!

In another blow to our hospitality venues, one of the new restrictions added by the Government in the third ‘National lockdown’ is that public houses in England can no longer serve takeaway alcohol from their premises. Whilst no initial mention was made of this by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his Monday night announcement (4th January 2021), it’s since been revealed that such venues are now restricted to selling alcohol by delivery only – meaning beer collection services being successfully run by pubs such as The Frame Breakers in Ruddington…

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Ruddington Moves to Tier 4

Today’s Government announcement that Nottinghamshire, like most of the East Midlands, will move into England’s highest level of current Coronavirus restrictions from New Year’s Eve means that Ruddington will almost be back in ‘Lockdown’ for a third time. It follows growing concerns about the new and apparently much more infectious variant of COVID-19 which is spreading alarmingly across Britain – leading to record numbers of confirmed new infections and hospitalizations. Starting at 00:01 on Thursday December 31st, our shift up to Tier 4 effectively returns us to the ‘lockdown’ rules of…

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Hospitality Hit Hardest by ‘Return’ to Tier 3

Today’s news that Ruddington will fall back under Tier 3 restrictions when the current ‘lockdown’ ends has not come as a great surprise to residents and traders. However, the Government’s decision to make revised Tier 3 measures even harsher for the hospitality sector has understandably caused dismay among our many village pub, restaurant and cafe owners. From December 2nd they’ll find themselves remaining under the same restrictions as during the current COVID-19 ‘lockdown’, rather than being able to open again if they are serving substantial meals, as previously. So, in line with the…

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24 More Hours ‘Til Tier 3

It’s been announced that Ruddington will now enter the highest category of COVID-19 restrictions a day later than originally planned. The short delay to towns and villages in the Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) area moving from Tier 2 into Tier 3 is due to Nottinghamshire County Council and our eight other local authorities deciding that the alarming recent rise in Coronavirus cases means that all areas should now face the toughest measures. Following further discussions between the Government and Council Leaders, all have agreed the City of Nottingham and the entire County…

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