THE

BESTWOODCOMMUNITYLEDACTIONPLAN VILLAGE

2012-2022

Prepared by Village Vision with support from Rural Community Action Introduction Bestwood Village Community Led Action Plan

This document has been produced following consultation with the residents of Bestwood Village during Spring/Summer of 2011.

The consultation was conducted by the Village Vision Steering Group supported by Bestwood and St Albans Parish Council, Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire and Gedling Borough Council.

In 2011 a questionnaire was distributed to all households in Bestwood Village and returned by 323 households. In addition young people and children were consulted. On September 24th 2011 approximately 40 residents attended an action planning event to take forward the findings of the consultations.

The following action plan is an outcome of the above activities.

2 The Action Plan Layout

This document lists the issues raised by the village consultation. The actions to be taken and the responsibility for these are laid out in the following way:

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements

Issues identified by Description of action Date or month to complete Responsibility and Partners What has happened so far consultation and research required or review the aim

The Issues and Actions are listed under the following headings: • Services • Social & Leisure • Transport • Our Surroundings • Communication

Jargon Key Abbreviations may be used for organisations at times as we put this plan into action. Listed below are the main organisations involved and their role:

PC Parish Council NCC Nottinghamshire County Council

GBC Gedling Borough Council RCAN Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire

GCVS Gedling Community & Voluntary Service 3 Services

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To explore possibilities for Contact possible venues; • Village Vision 2012/13 Discussions have been adult education classes in Social Club, School, • Sure Start held between the Trustees the village Church, Dynamo house • New College of the Social club and a • Social Club provider of adult education classes

To improve access to Contact the Primary Care • Village Vision 2017 health care Trust to explore ways in • Sure Start which health services can • Bestwood St Albans be brought into the village Parish Council • Gedling Community & Contact and consult with Voluntary Service 2012/3 GPs identifying the lack of health services and provision in the village 2012/3 Contact and consult with local Dental Surgeries informing them of the lack of dental provision in the village

4 Services

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To increase the range of, Investigate retail • Village Vision 2015 and access to shops in the opportunities to bring to • Bestwood St Albans village the village. For example a Parish Council veg van, farmers market • Nottinghamshire etc Chamber of Commerce

To explore the possibility Liaise with the Social Club • Village Vision 2014 The social club exploring of a pub/restaurant in the and offer support to • Bestwood Village Social the possibility of providing village being established design a menu for lunch Club food and evening food to extend the services they offer

5 Social & Leisure

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To explore the possibility Work with RCAN and the • Village Vision 2013 Further consultation was of a Coffee shop in the Plunket foundation to • RCAN undertaken at the school village further develop a funding • Social Club Christmas Fayre and the application to Village SOS Christmas Tree light switch on

To promote and support Work with the newly • Nottinghamshire 2017 Our Chair, Jack Ashworth efforts to improve facilities formed County led County, Gedling, has been elected to be within the Country Park, in Development Group in Ashfield and Parish part of the new particular to restore toilet order to improve facilities Councils Development Group. facilities and provide a • Friends of Bestwood Specification for new toilet refreshment facility Country Park block currently being drawn up

To provide a better play Apply for Contact Sue Jaques 2013 Application made in facility for children and Nottinghamshire County September 2012 to Local young people Council’s Local Improvement Scheme for Improvement Scheme £50,000 funding

6 Social & Leisure

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To pursue the previously Speak to the Parish • Bestwood St Albans 2012/3 agreed funding for a Multi Council and ask them to Parish Council Use Games Area on contact Gedling Borough • Village Vision Wimpey development Council’s Planning Officer • Local Councillors - Bev Pearson to discuss the installation of a play park on the Wimpey site

To investigate the Write to Gedling Borough • Gedling Borough 2012/3 At the Action Planning installation of dog Council’s Direct Services Council Direct Services Event it was suggested to mess/litter bins in department and Ashfield • Friends of Bestwood apply to Ashfield District Bestwood Country Park District Council who are Country Park council for a grant for Mill and Mill Lakes responsible for emptying • Ashfield District Council Lakes. Kevin Rostance or the bins (Andy Fell, • Nottinghamshire County Mick Murphy may be able Environmental Supervisor) Council for funding to support through their Elected Members pot

7 Transport

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To improve the Speak to the bus operators to discuss the • Bestwood St Albans 2017 frequency of the bus frequency of the timetable and whether other Parish Council services to provide: services can be diverted through the village • Village Vision • Local Bus Operators 1. A more frequent Request change of time for allowing over 60s to • Gedling Borough daily service; travel with bus passes from 9am rather than Council 9.30am – this may increase occupancy • Ashfield District Council 2. A night bus service; • Nottinghamshire County and Speak to NET (trams) with regards to tying in the Council free travel pass times to those of the free travel • NET 3. A Sunday service; pass times for buses

To improve the standard Speak to Gedling Borough and Ashfield District • Bestwood St Albans 2017 and condition of roads Councils and Nottinghamshire County Council to Parish Council and pavements in the remind them of their obligations in respect of • Village Vision village particularly road and pavement maintenance • Gedling Borough where major sub-surface Council works have been Remove overgrowth & weeds from hedgerows • Ashfield District Council undertaken onto pavements to ensure a clear pathway • Nottinghamshire County Council

8 Transport

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To explore alternative Write to Nottinghamshire • Village Vision 2017 traffic calming measures County Council to • Bestwood St Albans to address the villagers, investigate options Parish Council concerns in respect of the • Nottinghamshire County inadequacy/ Write to local Councillors Council inappropriateness of the • Gedling Borough existing speed humps Council • Ashfield District Council

To address village Consult with local councils • Bestwood St Albans 2015 concerns in relation to and Police Parish Council parking generally within • Nottinghamshire County the village but particularly Write to all parents to Council on Moor Road & Park ensure they are aware of • School Social Club Annually Road the school travel plan which allows parents to To resolve parking issues park at the Social Club on School Walk and and walk to the school. Church Road during Investigate one way travel school drop off and pick on Church Road & School up times Walk

9 Our Surroundings

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To reduce criminal Actively promote villagers • All Villagers 2012/3 damage to report crime. This may lead to a higher Police presence if crime statistics go up

Provide activities and • Village Vision 2015 facilities for younger • Gedling Borough people Council

Contact “Safer • Village Vision 2012/3 Neighbourhoods Committee” East to gain support in tackling crime.

To tidy up grass, hedges Organise litter pick • Village Vision Annually Community litter pick and dog mess around the undertaken in May 2011, village Raise pride in the Village • Village Vision alongside Annually well attended and enjoyed through events and other Village groups by all involved competitions • Youth Offending Team Probation Service 10 Our Surroundings

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To reduce the amount of Campaign to promote • Village Vision Annually dog mess around the responsible dog • Gedling Borough village ownership Council • Ashfield District Council

Report regular fouling so • Village Vision Ongoing the dog warden can set • Gedling Borough an ambush and catch the Council owner brown handed • Ashfield District Council • Police Community Support Officers

Encourage closer links Contact all Councils to • Village Vision 2014 between Gedling Borough establish common issues • Bestwood St Albans Council, Bestwood St and suggest a meeting to Parish Council Albans Parish Council, join forces and work • Ashfield District Council Ashfield District Council together • Gedling Borough and Nottinghamshire Council County Council • Nottinghamshire County Council

Create a map of who • Village Vision 2014 owns/is responsible for which parts of the village 11 Communication

Aim Action needed Who Timescales Achievements To make information Create Village Vision • Volunteer interested in 2013 Facebook page up and about what is happening page to feature on the creating a web page running for Village Vision in the local community Parish Council website easily/readily available/accessible to all residents

To develop and publish a Contact the individual • Village Vision 2013 village newspaper or who expressed an interest • Volunteer interested in magazine in co-ordinating the writing/publishing village newsletter

12 Useful Contacts for Bestwood Village Residents

Parish Council Clerk Mary Hall – [email protected] Gedling BC 0115 9013901 www.gedling.gov.uk [email protected] Gedling BC Flytip Hotline 0800 0681233 Gedling BC Emergency out-of-hours number 0800 0960306 Gedling Homes 0115 9051515 Ashfield DC 01623-450000 www.ashfield-dc.gov.uk 0115 9155555 www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk Notts County Council 08449 808080 www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk Notts County Council Benefits Help + Advice- 0115 9774018 [email protected] Citizens Advice Bureau-local info www.nottinghamshirecab.org.uk 0115-9400999 ext 3470 [email protected] Arnold Police Station 01159670555 extension 4161 NOTTSWATCH (Anthony Morris) Nottinghamshire Neighbourhood Watch Associations 07796514135 [email protected] Chris Barnfather – Nottinghamshire County Councillor 01623 436995 [email protected] Jenny Kirkwood – Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire [email protected] 01623 727600 Laurence Quirk – Health Development Manager GCVS [email protected] 0115 854 6262

For further information on the Village Plan contact Jack Ashworth 0115 9797715 13 Notes:

14 15 Launched 2012 Design & Print: The Big Idea