Castle
It was a pleasure to meet up with members of St Peter’s Church in Nottingham City Centre to discuss the climate crisis and the action needed to address it. It was an honour to be at their first post-pandemic, in-person meeting. I also visited Emmanuel House, an independent charity that supports homeless, vulnerable and isolated adults in Nottingham. The have so much to be proud of and gave me plenty to raise with Government Ministers. Other work included a ward walk with councillors Sam and Angharad, doorknocking sessions across the ward, a drop in session for constituents at Nottingham Contemporary and meeting a new local business making good use of the old phone boxes on Low Pavement.
Clifton
It was lovely to visit the Good Companions Friendship Group at Clifton Methodist Church. Everyone was delighted to be back with their friends after the isolation of life in the pandemic. And who doesn’t love a Beetle Drive? – Joan beat me and Margaret to win by a leg! I also met up with Police Inspector Karl Thomas, and visited Summerwood Community Garden to find Leo busy collecting honey – I wish I could describe the smell when we were spinning the honey out of the comb! Emma took us for a walk around the rest of the garden to see the amazing fruit and veg growing – great to hear about all they were able to do to support people through Covid.
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It was also great to meet Emma, the Manager at Lark Hill Village and hear how they’ve coped with Covid and exciting plans for the future. And to visit Clifton Amateur Boxing Club and hear about the work that Gene and the team are doing. Clubs like this rely on the dedication of volunteers and provide opportunities for so many people, of all ages, to get involved in sport. Other visits included Parkgate Community Kitchen, football camps funded by the Holiday Activity Fund, and Clifton All-Whites Football Club. |
Leen Valley
Lots of issues and concerns were raised with me and councillors Audrey Dinnall and Mohammed Saghir by residents in Leen Valley at the drop-in at St Margaret’s church hall. Road safety, policing, e-scooters, NHS services and more. We also visited what must be Nottingham’s happiest estate – residents told us it’s a great place to live – people look out for their neighbours and care for their area. Good to meet so many people – lots working from home.
Lenton and Wollaton East
It was good to chat to residents on this summer’s Lenton Abbey Ward Walk with councillors Sally Longford, Pavlos Kotsonis, and colleagues from Nottingham College and Nottingham City Homes. The streets were looking clean and tidy and the resurfaced pavements look good. We had another great day with an open air surgery, litter pick and helped carry out the Unpol Notts garden survey in Dunkirk. It was good to meet constituents in person again!
Meadows
It was great to visit the Arkwright Community Gardens with councillors Nicola Heaton and Mike Edwards, meet with the New Meadows Tenants and Residents Association at Queens Walk Rec and catch up with residents at Carroll Gardens. We also did a number of doorknocking sessions and last Saturday attended the Big Day Out with events organised across the area by Green Meadows, Bridges Community Trust and AMC Gardens.
Radford
Over the summer we went out talking to residents in the area. Councillor Anne Peach and I met with local campaigners to discuss how we were trying to ensure sport facilities remain in use at John Carroll Leisure Centre and undertook a ward walk in Lenton Triangle alongside staff from a number of City Council departments including Community Protection and Housing, plus representatives of the two universities and University of Nottingham Students union. There are continuing problems particularly with rubbish and fly-tipping that everyone is working to tackle.
Wollaton West
We had a busy advice surgery/coffee morning at Kingswood Methodist Church and then visited the Friends of Wollaton Park volunteers to see their incredible work to transform the walled garden. Councillor Steve Battlemuch and I also met the volunteers’ group at Martin’s Pond and Harrison’s Plantations Nature Reserves for a walkabout.
