Present: 136 including County Cllr. Cooper and Cllr Blount

 

Apologies: Cllr. Tiplady, LBCA Cmtte member John Finney, Maureen Mitchell, Michelene Harris, Ruth Holbrook, Alan & Marianne Clarke & Carol Coole.

Minute Silence for former Cllr & LBCA Committee member Dorothy Bell. The Chairman asked those present to remain silent for Dorothy, who died recently. She served Lady Bay ward as Rushcliffe Borough Cllr for 8 years & was an active member of LBCA & FIELDS. Dorothy & Alan frequently had their beautiful garden on Adbolton Grove open at the FIELDS Open Garden weekends where Dorothy’s home-made cream teas, cakes, jams & marmalade were popular. Dorothy will be missed greatly and our sympathies go to her widower, Alan, & her family.

Lawrence introduced Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust (PCT) rep Vicky Bailey: 

Doctor’s Surgery in Lady Bay. Vicky thanked Clive Rix for representing the concerns of the people of Lady Bay on the PCT. Dr Clark has decided to take retirement earlier than planned due to his unwillingness to work within the conditions imposed by the government, which he feels are incompatible with his aim to provide a good service to his patients. Originally, Dr. Clark was going to practice until he reached the age of 70. As he is planning to move to France, the surgery, which is part of Dr. Clark’s house, is for sale along with the residential part of the building. At the moment Dr Clark has 3,200 patients on his list, the ones who do not live in Lady Bay have already begun to move on to other GPs’ lists. At the same time there are patients who live in Lady Bay who are already with other GPs, through personal choice or because Dr. Clark’s books were full. 

 

Questions & Comments:

 

Brian Frank asked whether it was true that the PCT had classified the surgery in Lady Bay as inadequate & whether the PCT had looked for other suitable premises to purchase within the Lady Bay area.

James Strawbridge asked whether the failings of the surgery are due to failing to meet enforceable standards or merely guidelines.

The secretary asked what would happen; will we be in the same situation as we were 15 years ago, without a GP in Lady Bay?

Will the situation will be temporary? Will we have another doctor in the future?

Would 1 of the other doctors in W. Bridgford be willing to provide a “satellite” surgery in Lady Bay? 

Has the PCT asked GPs in W. Bridgford whether they would provide such a service?

Is it true that the PCT do not support single GP practices?

Could a locum be provided in the present surgery when Dr Clark has left if no-one has moved into the house?

Could the PCT use Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding to buy Dr. Clark’s premises?

There are a great many potential patients for a GP in Lady Bay as a large percentage of people wanted to be with Dr. Clark but were unable to join his practice as he already had enough patients to care for, because of the PCT’s inactivity all the patients in Lady Bay will end up with no local GP.

The chairman asked what was the objective of the PCT with regard to our problem?

Is the PCT promoting Lady Bay as a potential surgery?

Simon Anthony stated that Dr. Clark had told him that there were other GPs interested.

Several people asked how the loss of the GP in the area affected the Lady Bay Pharmacy.

Julie Palmer said that people must use the chemist to obtain prescriptions in order to ensure its future.

Many people were concerned that if we fail to register then we will be without a GP if we fall ill but if we register with other GPs then it will look like there aren’t many patients in the practice in Lady Bay. Is it possible to state that people in Lady Bay will register with other GPs on a temporary basis, but return to a GP in Lady Bay when one becomes available?

A GP needs about 2,000 patients to run a viable surgery. There could be about 4,000 people who would register with a GP in Lady Bay so 2 GPs could practice together in the area.

Alan Bell stated that the area should therefore be very attractive to GPs to run a practice.

Mike Senior observed that many people find it difficult to reach other surgeries.

Carol Crowe asked how the PCT could help. Is there financial support? What powers does the PCT have in this matter?

Brian Franks asked what the patients or potential patients could do.

What happens if patients do not register with another GP?

Are GPs’ lists in W. Bridgford full? Does this mean we will have to go to Bingham or Keyworth?

Could people become official temporary patients of other GPs?

An elderly resident observed that there are more elderly people living in Lady Bay now than there were when we were previously in this situation 15 years ago.

Simon Anthony stated that he would put an advert for a GP for Lady Bay on the Lady Bay web site.

We could advertise in medical journals.

The secretary made the suggestion that we send letters to the PCT stating that we will become patients of a GP in Lady Bay when 1 becomes available.

The PCT should write to all residents of Lady Bay, not just Dr. Clark’s patients, asking them whether they will be prepared to become patients of a GP based in Lady Bay.

The Chairman asked the audience to raise their hand if they wanted a GP in Lady Bay – the vote was unanimously in favour.

 

 

The Chairman introduced Julie Palmer, Chair of FIELDS.

FIELDS Report: Julie reported that the inspector’s report on the RBC local plan was published in Feb. The inspector agreed with RBC & not with the County Council that the land E. of Lady Bay should not be used for housing & that the 4^th Trent Crossing route should not be preserved.

The officers of Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire County Councils are organising a conference on the Green Belt that will report to the Regional Assembly. This un-elected body will provide plans that the borough councils will have to interpret, for instance; the amount of land to be removed from the Green Belt. The Regional Assembly is part of a general trend with power being taken away from loc government. In the past the boroughs had to make loc plans that fitted in with the County Council’s Structure Plan. FIELDS need volunteers to work on this. In the past FIELDS has sent reps to the Examination in Public for the County Council’s Structure Plan. The Regional Assembly is holding seminars on different subjects, today there was 1 on housing on 12^th May there is 1 on culture, on public transport on 16^th May & on the environment on 31^st May. FIELDS needs people to attend to find out what the Regional Assembly is up to.

The county council have now withdrawn the application for the park & ride site but want to develop park & ride on the land opposite the original site.

Questions& comments:

Where are the people serving on the Regional Assembly from?

Has RBC granted planning permission for the playing fields?

  

 

 The chairman thanked Julie & introduced Sue Blount, the Secretary, who gave a report about the plans of Nottingham Rugby Club.

Nottingham Rugby Club. Although no planning permission has been applied for as yet, Nottingham Rugby Club intends to move to the land that was the former Boots Sports Ground. Despite this area being in the flood plain, with the new flood protection system being constructed behind it, the club intend to build a temporary stand for their 800-1,800 supporters, a practice pitch enclosed in a “bubble” & new admin buildings after demolition of the existing pavilion. The Environment Agency has raised strong objections to this proposal. The development control officers at RBC, however, seem keen on the idea as the club has promised a great deal of youth work for local people. It seems there have been discussions with Nottingham Forest FC to have home rugby games played when there is no football game scheduled, so that rugby supporters can use the car park belonging to the football club. Like the Environment Agency LBCA are concerned about development in the flood plain as well as the parking problem that will undoubtedly ensue from yet more supporters parking all over Lady Bay, especially at the Radcliffe Rd end of the area. As with the playing fields on the land E. of Lady Bay, the club will probably apply for a slight enlargement of the present admin buildings, then a temporary stand until finally the whole area is built up with the loss of flood plain & subsequent risk to neighbouring properties.

 

Questions & comments:

 

Maggie Smith commented that the Rugby Club is playing home matches at Notts. County FC’s ground, perhaps this arrangement can continue?

Do the new flood banks make it more likely that the land E. of Lady Bay will be used for housing development?

 No, the flood protection measures stop inundation from the river, not seepage of ground water; the area is still in a flood risk zone.

  

 

     The Chairman thanked the Secretary & introduced County Cllr Barrie Cooper:

1^st Impressions. Barrie was born in W. Bridgford & his parents lived in Lady Bay with his mother a member of the congregation of All Hallows’ Church. He was a partner in a business based in Lady Bay but is now retired. Barrie was elected in 2005 to the W. Bridgford Cent & S. Division. Lady Bay is 1 of the 6 RBC wards that make up the division. There are 2 County Councillors for the division, the other 1 is Mike Cox, who has been a County Cllr for 30 years & represents RBC on the Police Authority.

 

The County Council has 23,000 employees & owns 9,000 properties. It has been under Lab control since 1981. Barrie has worked in industry all his life & is surprised by the length of time it takes the public sector to get things done! The County is in charge of education, the environment, highways, policing & Soc. Services.

 

In Jun there will be a govt white paper produced that will plan for the reorganisation of loc govt. It is likely that the 2 tier system of county & boroughs/districts will be replaced by unitary authorities of about 300,000 residents.

 

The concerns of the people of Lady Bay are: as we have just heard, the loss of a local GP; crime & fear of crime; the environment, particularly the issues of street cleansing, the state of footpaths, the new flood defences & air quality; & education, especially Lady Bay Primary School.

 

LBCA have brought several issues to Barrie’s attention: the land at the side of Lady Bay School, which LBCA were hoping to have improved, & which had received allocation of a “Building Better Communities” (BBC) grant, is now to be the site of portable classrooms; the official designation of the footpath along the river – this is proving to be very expensive as the land owners want £196,000 compensation; the re-designing of the junction of Rutland Rd & Trent Boulevard as a T-junction – this idea could receive the BBC money that was to be used for the land next to the school.

 

Barrie has found his 1^st year eventful, exciting & rewarding. He will always do his best for the community he represents.

 

Questions & comments:

 

What protection from flooding is there for people living in bungalows in the area?

When were the river & canal last dredged?

Will the reorganisation of loc govt mean that we will become part of the City?

The Secretary asked about the sorry state of street trees; they are never replaced now that the county council & not RBC are responsible for them.

A resident of Melbourne Rd. mentioned the problem with parking on Forest match days, especially on Melbourne & Woodland Rd. Could there be a residents’ parking scheme? Could Forest &/or the cricket club pay for it in part?

Brian Franks asked who enforces the 20mph home zone.

Finally, Barrie read out an amusing poem about how life had changed for people born before 1940.

 

 

The chairman thanked Barrie.

 

Rachael Terry, who was to tell us about an over 50s mentoring scheme, is unable to attend as her vehicle has broken down. The chairman introduced Inspector Norman England.

Crime Up Date: As it is getting late Inspector England decided to go straight to questions:

Should residents report roads blocked by parked vehicles to the police?

There is a big problem with illegal parking at Adbolton garage on Trent Boulevard.

There is a great deal of anti-soc behaviour occurring on Holme Rd. opposite the Hook, it happens on most nights with fires being started on the playgrounds; damage to vehicles, including jumping on car bonnets & ripping off wing mirrors; & drinking alcohol in the street.

A resident of Melbourne Rd. also stated that there were problems with young people coming from the Hook.

Cllr. Cooper suggested that there should be a “Problem Solving Group” set up like the 1 that was formed at Compton Acres when there was a lot of trouble with youths in the area.

The Chairman asked whether youth workers were in the Lady Bay area.

Cllr. Cooper stated that there were Outreach Youth Workers allocated to Lady Bay.

The gangs are from outside Lady Bay.

A disabled resident stated that his specialist wheelchair user’s vehicle has been damaged recently, yet he has owned it for a long time with no problems.

Maggie Smith said she was pleased to see a Police officer riding a bike around Lady Bay & that whenever she reports a crime a response is initiated. Simon Anthony & Sylvia Wilkins agreed with this latter point.

Don Read, of Lady Bay Neighbourhood Watch, mentioned a forthcoming event to take place on Lady Bay pub car park on Sat. May 6^th from 2-5pm. There will be an opportunity to win a garden shed, bikes can be brought along to be post coded & a bouncy castle & face painting for children will also be present.   

 

 

Meeting closed at 10.25pm.