The Newark Advertiser heard people’s opinions on the Yorke Drive redevelopment plans

In its weekly voxpop, the Advertiser found out people’s opinions on Yorke Drive’s redevelopment at a drop-in session as plans were approved.

Newark and Sherwood District Council hosted a drop-in session at Bridge Community Centre, Newark on February 27, where residents, members of the community, and official authorities including police and the council were able to look at the final designs and discuss with the District Council the options for new housing.

Residents’ opinions varied with some concerns about public transport, housing and noise being raised, but overall, despite the long time the plans took to be approved, the people the Advertiser spoke to were welcoming of the proposals.

Stacey Fixter said: “It has taken a long time and it will be nice when it is all done but I feel like it will be a new Fernwood.

“There are a lot of houses there.

“I think it will be beneficial because at the minute it is all rundown so making houses will be good but it is just being stuck in the middle of it that feels like living in a limbo.”

Geraldine Jenkins said that she doesn’t think the plans will be very beneficial because “they are taking away more space off the field that we have used”:

“I don’t really have an opinion on it anymore, we have gone through that many emotions with it being that long in the making but with this one, we are just going with the flow and see what happens.

“We used to have a skatepark there which was taken down due to vandalism or something but nothing ever has been replaced, I like the idea of the designated football pitches being there year around rather than taking them down.

“Housing-wise, they are taking big houses and will be building smaller houses, I don’t think it is ideal but I am sure all will work out fine in the end.”

At present, the estate has 355 homes and a sports pavilion next to playing fields, with 130 homes demolished along with the sports pavilion, and a row of garages.

The Yorke Drive Estate Regeneration scheme will see the demolition of old properties to make way for 207-new homes, as well as a new sports pavilion and upgrades to a sports pitch on the Lincoln Road Playing Field site along Lincoln Road.

Marylin Bloom raised concerns about the bus services: “I am a bit worried about the noise and everything that is going to happen.

“Are we going to lose the bus services? Because we rely on them.

“I think they are going to be struggling to get rid of people to move out of what is there because that is their home.

“Thankfully we are in a bungalow and we are not going to be moved out.”

“I think it is taking too much time, the first meeting it was about eight years ago, and the plans still went forward which is great,” Alexander Bednarkis said.

“Overall I am pretty happy with the plans and I think they will be good for the area, more people and a playground area.

“I am just concerned about having to move temporarily to a new home which will not be as good as having my own home, with my decorations, but it will have to be done.”

Dale Shaw said he thought the scheme is “a really good idea”:

“I hope it will affect crime in the area, and help people have a better quality of life, it is a lot of work but I think it will be a great benefit to people.”

Ginnette Hardy, however, was not a fan of the plans: “I don’t like new builds and I personally think that they could do a lot more to do these ones up.

“They are knocking down more than they are rebuilding so to me it is not worth it, it is a waste of money.”

The original application was first submitted in 2018 and approved by Newark and Sherwood District Council in November 2019, but the project faced years of delays due to issues.

To address the concerns, a re-design of the proposals was submitted to reduce the number of homes from 320 to 207.

The new plans saw a change to the size and location of playing pitches and include more open space and landscaping as well as improving linkages between Yorke Drive and the surrounding area, the energy efficiency of homes, and electric vehicle charge points on the estate’s parking.

Susan Cooks is a resident of Yorke Drive, and said that it has “got to be done”: “This has to be better than the houses we live in now.

“We waited for so long for them so I think they have done well to get it through planning.”

A former resident of Yorke Drive Lorraine Lyons said that she thought the plans are “fantastic”: “It has got to be built and if you want to live in a nice place you have to go with the flow despite the noise,” she said, “I used to live on Yorke Drive a long time ago and the recreation ground they are putting for the children and even the adults to go, I think it is going to be lovely.

“It will benefit everyone.”

Lee Brazier, portfolio holder for Housing at Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “I think it is great that we finally got through planning with a full scheme that we can move forward on.

“When we talk administration in 2023, we made sure that this was our top priority because for too long the residents of Yotrke Drive have been left behind regarding this scheme so for me this was a priority.

“Looking at the plans they look absolutely brilliant so I am just hoping that in winter of 2031, everyone is happy and we see the end point.”

Amanda Richards, the Newark and Sherwood District Council tenancy officer for Yorke Drive said that the plans were brilliant and that they will improve the things in the area, including the security.

She added: “I love the green feel of it.

“It will be good to get away from the concrete sight you get when you come to the Drive.”

Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood said: I think it is brilliant to see that there is some progress being made to redevelop and make environmental improvements.

“From my perspective when we are talking of things like antisocial behaviour and crime there is definitely an environmental factor to that so anything that lifts the area and gives the feeling of development is really beneficial.

“It’s not lost to me that there have been challenges in terms of crime and antisocial behaviour on Yorke Drive and we want the residents to know that we are committed to tackling that and there is a longer-term solution that is part of that.”

What is your opinion about the Yorke Drive redevelopment plans? Let us know in the comments bellow…