Advertiser readers letters
Delivering on promises made to our residents
May 23 marked two years of being leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council; it’s been the privilege of my life to serve you, the residents.
When it comes to local government, it is always important that as councillors serving our residents, we deliver what we promise.
I am so proud of what has already been achieved in these two years and I wanted to take some time to reflect on just some of our achievements.
As part of delivering the playpark investment plan, we recently worked with Newark Town Council to redevelop Sherwood Avenue Play Park in Newark, with a free family fun event held earlier this month to mark the opening.
We have seen from feedback that this event was thoroughly enjoyed, and I’m delighted to have spoken to some of you at the event to hear that first hand and see the smiles on everyone’s faces.
In November 2023 we also unveiled the new play area at Sconce and Devon Park, all the while we have continued to maintain our Green Flag status across all five parks.
We know how important Newark Hospital is for residents and while we will continue to lobby for increased services, if I am to be frank, our powers at the council are limited in this regard.
However, what we have brought last year, by working in partnership with Sher-wood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is a new 80-space carpark, which I’m sure everyone would agree was much needed and is one small step towards ensuring residents receive the best possible health care provision without needing to travel outside of the area to do so.
In November we reported on the brilliant 62.8% increase in glass being recycled across Newark and Sherwood following us implementing a new kerbside glass recycling scheme a few months prior.
The council is still committed to supporting Recycling Ollerton and Boughton (ROB).
To help support any increase in requests for their glass service, we funded the purchase of an additional 1,000 boxes for them.
This initiative not only ensures we do all we can to promote recycling but has also reduced our bin contamination rates and created more local jobs in the process. I’m really proud of the huge difference this scheme has brought to our area.
Work continues at pace to bring to life the exciting regeneration plans for the Sherwood area, including a new Ollerton town centre hub as part of the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The council has also committed to support the development of a much-needed new community centre in Bilsthorpe.
Work is continuing at Stodman Street in Newark to transform the former M&S building into an exciting hub made of 29 high quality homes and retail units.
The project is being led by the district council alongside Newark Town Board.
We have also secured an extension of funding for our UKSPF and REPF programmes, with more information being announced soon!
The programme of solar panel installation across council buildings has now seen Solar PV arrays installed on seven of our corporate sites.
Installations at the Dukeries Leisure centre, Newark Sports & Fitness, The Newark Beacon, Vicar Water Park, Sconce & Devon Park, Gladstone House and Broad-leaves care home are expected to generate over 470.000 Kwh of electricity per year and save in the region of 100 tCO2e annually in addition to providing significant financial savings on our utility bills.
We have reached 3,210 children this year via educational education visits too and in May 2024 we received a grant of £1.4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for ambitious plans to create a new and improved visitor attraction at Newark Castle.
It’s anticipated that, once works are completed, the castle will attract almost 17,000 visitors each year from outside of the district, helping to deliver sustainable economic growth.
Last month we launched the Town and City Newark and Sherwood gift card which can be spent in more than 70 businesses in Newark, Southwell, Ollerton and Edwinstowe.
We hope the card will encourage tourism by showcasing a variety of businesses, cafes and retailers and making them accessible through a single gift card.
Next month we will be launching two new trails around Newark.
One brings unseen objects from the National Civil War Centre to retailers across the town centre, encouraging residents and tourists to visit our local retailers in a fun, free activity for all the family all the while teaching about local heritage.
The second brings to life the importance of sculpture and artist Robert Kiddey, taking you on a guided trail around nine sites displaying his beautiful work.
While it has received much coverage, Lowfield Lane remains a topic of interest. The site was allocated for housing in 2013 and in finally bringing new homes to this site over the next couple of years, this will,
in part, help us meet our man-dated government target while also providing invaluable new homes for families, couples and individuals.
For tenants, our teams are working hard to implement and embed a new housing management system that is part of a wider programme of improvements to housing repairs and empty homes services.
After years of planning, exciting regeneration work will finally begin at Yorke Drive, Newark, this summer and I am excited to see the progress.
None of this is possible without the hard work and dedication of the best workforce I have ever known, delivering for you day in, day out.
I know that the vast majority of you, our residents, also recognise their efforts. And while this is just a snapshot of things achieved this year, we are working on so much more and I look forward to seeing more aspirations come to fruition over the next few years.
I will continue to do my very best for our residents, and in the face of Local Government Reorganisation, this has never been more important. — PAUL PEACOCK, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council.
Markings cause confusion
A white line has been painted at the cattle market round-about for traffic coming south from the Great North Road at Newark. This is a recipe for confusion and disaster.
I think the purpose of it is to stop traffic blocking the roundabout but some drivers may think it is a give way sign, so traffic coming left may think they have a right of way and some drivers coming from the north may think they have to stop, risking a shunt from the car behind.
Sooner or later I fear there will be an accident here. — DR STEPHEN PACEY, via email.
Great showing
It is for weekends like this that I keep coming back to Newark over and over again.
Last Saturday, me and my family came here for the Steampunk Festival but to our surprise there was also a beer festival at the same time.
As much as people say town centres are dying, Newark over the weekend was nothing but vibrant and there was something for everyone!
I believe the way to bring town centres back to their glory is through events that bring communities together, and Newark is doing an amazing job at it! — R. FENTON, via
email.
Thank you
Newark Dementia Carers Group wish to thank Asda store for selecting our Group for a Diamond Community Award in recognition for our work in helping people living with dementia.
We also thank Angells fisheries and Bakkavor for their donation towards our 80th VE celebration party.
Many thanks to everyone who helped on that occasion. — KEN DAUBNEY, chairman, Newark Dementia Carers Group.