LADY BAY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.
MINUTES OF AUTUMN MEETING AND AGM HELD ON WEDNESDAY 22nd OCTOBER 2008 AT ALL HALLOWS’ CHURCH HALL

Present: 72 including Councillors Richard & Sue Mallender

Apologies:  Maureen Mitchell, LBCA Committee member, Lorraine of Lady Bay Equestrian Centre.

The Chairman welcomed all present. He introduced Don Read, Chairman of Lady Bay Neighbourhood Watch




 

Neighbourhood Watch Update Don explained that the number of reported crimes in Lady Bay have gone down over the past few years. In Aug this year there were 10 reported crimes & in Sept 4, whilst in the same months in ’03 there were 10 per week.
Don introduced the “2 Steps Ahead” scheme. 10,000 of the laminated cards have been printed & delivered throughout W. Bridgford, including Lady Bay. On 1 side of the card are 10 security tips & a section for messages, on the other a list of useful contacts with spaces for one’s own useful numbers. B & H News & Trent Boulevard Post Office have stocks of dry wipe pens that can be used to write on the cards.

There were no questions or comments

The Chairman thanked Don Read & introduced Jane Turner of the Footpaths group.

Rights of Way The Footpaths group is applying for 2 paths which have to connect to existing rights of way. The group needs to collect evidence for the 2 paths & others e.g. across 10 acre field & to Pinder’s Pond. Jane has a list for people to add their names to if they’re interested in joining the footpaths group &/or have walked the paths.

There were no questions or comments

The Chairman thanked Jane & introduced Gaynor Jones Jenkins of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust:
 
Friends of the Hook: The Hook is owned by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) who contacted the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust sometime ago asking them to manage the area to improve it for wildlife & engage people from the local area in having a say on what happens on it. The plan is to have the Hook designated as a Local Nature Reserve – this is a statutory designation recognised by national government through Natural England. The process is community led rather than run by RBC or the Wildlife Trust. The Trust has written a draft 5-year management plan. When all involved are happy with the plan the Hook will be designated as a Local Nature Reserve which will help to prevent development on or near the reserve; the area will be managed for wildlife with the involvement of the local community especially children & young people. The trust suggests some educational use linked to the curriculum of local schools, e.g. ponds with dipping platforms & a nature trail.
The site is well-used & the wishes of all users need to be taken into account, whilst protecting the endangered & threatened species found there.
The trust has similar projects in other parts of the county including Sharphill Wood & Meadow Covert near Edwalton Primary School - at similar stages to the Hook. Also Bingham Linear Park & Meadow Park in E.Leake, which are local nature reserves already with active “Friends” groups. Local people can read & comment on the management plan or make their own suggestions to the trust.

Questions & comments

A resident stated that his 1st reaction to the plan was to say “hands off” but there are good ideas in it, e.g. improving the water quality of the stream. The area is used by dog walkers, people riding horses, for kite flying & picnics & is an open field site – hedge planting & wetland creation would mean that dogs would not be allowed to run free.
A lot of people in the community have this view, there is no desire to make people put their dogs on leads or stop horse riding. Wetland creation could be scaled down & situated in line with the ditch to benefit the water voles. Cycling, dog walking, kite flying & horse riding would carry on as they do now.
Alan Bell asked whether there would be additional hedges or fences
A fence with a gate would be provided for safety reasons round the proposed educational pond.
The Reverend Robert Breckles asked whether there would be an archaeological survey on the land & if so who would do it.
The line of the old riverbed & associated mediaeval settlements will have to be avoided. Any wetlands created will thus have to be very shallow. There will be an archaeologist on site at the time of any digging. The County Council archaeologist did a survey at the time of the flood protection works.
Alan Booth asked who is responsible for the dyke & whether it could be dredged.
RBC is responsible. Dredging can be done as long as wildlife needs are taken into account.
Alan Booth stated that there are snapping turtles, wading birds & brown rats in the dyke as well as water voles, yet the management plan only mentions the water voles.
Simon Anthony asked why the area was called the Hook.
Alan Booth & the chairman stated that narrow boats would rest up in a hook shaped section of the river.
A resident asked whether the designation of the land as a nature reserve will mean that RBC will develop other land in exchange.
The designation has nothing to do with development. 1 of RBC’s nature conservation strategy targets is to have a designated local nature reserve in each parish/ward throughout the borough.
A resident asked how the designation will be paid for
There is grant funding from the Environment Agency. RBC has no budget to manage the land.
A resident asked whether Pinder’s Pond is to be part of the designation.
The Chairman suggested that the County Council could ask the wildlife trust to manage Pinder’s Pond and the farmer’s field to the East of the Hook as it is already seasonably wet.
A resident asked what could be done about the fishermen cutting down the riverside trees
Alan Booth informed us that Bingham Angling Club hold the fishing rights & maintain the places from which they fish.
 Diana Geary asked whether there is a proposal to plant up the riverbank with black poplars.
The non-native species will be replaced – over time - by black poplars.
The chairman stated that the 10 poplar trees near the Forest ground block the sight of the ugly British Waterways buildings but the management plan suggests removing these trees in 2-3 years.
The black poplars could be under planted but this would mean that there would be a thick layer of trees for a while.
A resident stated that the Environment Agency had felled many trees in order to improve the habitat for water voles – this was done without any consultation. Also – there are a lot of pet cats in the area – aren’t these a threat to water voles? Ponds near residential areas could be a danger to children. The land was donated to local people & should not be fenced off.
The Chairman mentioned that the management plan refers to the Hook as “unique”.
The scrub removal was done to improve the water voles’ habitat as they do not like shade. Domestic cats are not a threat to water voles. Ponds are considerably less dangerous than the river Trent which is also near houses in Lady Bay.
Ron Baxter stated that the Hook is alright now – why alter it? The paths need mowing.
No-one is saying that there is anything wrong with the Hook. The Wildlife Trust would like to improve it for local people.
A resident mentioned that there is a good view of the river from Holme Road – tree planting would block the view.
A resident asked whether Canada geese might inadvertently be attracted to the Hook.
The Chairman was also concerned as he considered that the proposed inlets might attract Canada geese.
Canada geese like short mown grass – the grass on the Hook will be left in tussocks.
A resident asked what the proposed scrapes would be like.
These would provide stop-off points for migrating birds e.g. red shanks & increase invertebrate diversity.
A resident stated that there are a lot of people at the meeting tonight who are positive about the management plan. It is good for children to learn about wildlife & the proposed nature reserve would be educational.
Sylvia Wilkins considered that the plan & designation offers a wonderful opportunity to improve the Hook & cannot understand why there are people against the idea.
A resident suggested that Pinder’s Pond & 10 Acre Field would be better educational resources than the Hook.
The Wildlife Trust will discuss the use of the adjoining land with the appropriate landowners; it would be a good idea to extend the local nature reserve, perhaps as far as Skylarks Nature reserve.
The Chairman suggested people write or send emails to the Wildlife Trust with comments on the designation & the management plan.
Friends of the Hook (FrOTH) will be conducting further consultation.
A resident asked about the timescale for the consultation.
RBC is hoping to designate the land as a reserve within the next 6 months. Works to put the management plan into place are likely to begin within the next year. This winter some work will take place using funding from the Environment Agency – this is likely to be measures to improve the water quality of the ditch & will involve no land take. A site visit – open to all – will take place on Sun 25th Oct at 2pm, meeting near the skateboard ramp.      

The Chairman thanked Gaynor & introduced Richard Mallender, LBCA treasurer

LBCA Financial Report Richard drew everyone’s attention to the printed accounts. He thanked Phyl, LBCA’s previous Treasurer, for all her help. He explained that the cheque that is outstanding on the accounts is due to the account it was to be drawn from having been closed. Richard thanked FIELDS & Open Lady Bay for their contributions towards the insurance. He apologised for the lack of information on the amount of interest on the savings account – this is because he was not aware that the account book had to sent away in order to have the interest added.

There were no questions or comments & it was agreed unanimously to accept the accounts.

Committee Elections  

The nominations are as follows: Secretary – Sue Mallender, Treasurer - Richard Mallender, representatives of other organisations: Open Lady Bay – Richard Butterwick (not present), Neighbourhood Watch – Don Read, FIELDS – to be appointed. Committee members (10): Simon Anthony, Alan Bell, John Finney (not present), Lawrence Geary, Peter Hammond, Maureen Mitchell (not present), James Strawbridge & Sylvia Wilkins. There were 2 volunteers from the meeting for the remaining vacancies: Malcolm Todd & Sian Trafford. All the above were elected unanimously.

The Chairman introduced Alan Bell of Simkin’s Farm & Community Group (“Greenies”)

Simkin’s Farm & Community Group Update 2/3 of “Awkward field” is under cultivation with onions, sweet corn, cabbage, beans, potatoes, pumpkins & fruit trees. There are 6-8 people regularly working on the land. Access is from Moore Close at the end of Trent Boulevard. More members are needed – there is a lot of produce to share. Please see Alan at the end of the meeting or ring him on 0115 914 0806 if you are interested.

There were no questions or comments

The Chairman thanked Alan & gave an update on the land East of Lady Bay

Land East of Lady Bay Simkin’s farm, a grade 2 listed building, has been sold to Havenwood Construction. The ‘phone no. of the company is on the banner outside the farm. Contact your borough councillors or RBC if you have any questions or comments about the future of the farm. Lorraine of the Equestrian Centre has a 2 year lease on the farm land; she is replacing the fencing along Adbolton Lane & is using the land for grazing for her horses & ponies & hay-making.
The Chairman presented a donation to Alan Bell in the form of a cheque, from Lorraine to Simkin’s Farm & Community Group.
Mud Pie Lane, opposite Simkin’s Farm & leading to Regatta Way, has 3 gates (1 at each end & 1 at the centre) which were closed by Chris Scott, the last tenant farmer, some years ago, Lorraine is now happy for people to walk along Mud Pie Lane. If Lorraine is successful in extending the lease then LBCA may claim back Mud Pie Lane as a right of way.
Mr Thompson, of Gertrude Rd. Riding Stables also uses a portion of the land for grazing horses.   
 There are plans to build a 50,000 seat stadium on the land for the 2018 World Cup should England be chosen to be the venue for the tournament & Nottingham picked as 1 of the cities used as a venue.
The County Council plan to build a Park & Ride site on the land & are likely to put in a planning application late this year or early next.
Julie Palmer & Dan Patterson (former Chair & Treasurer of FIELDS) are helping the newly formed FIELDS committee. If you are interested in joining FIELDS then see Ellie Bernhard or Jane Turner at the end of the meeting.

There were no questions or comments

The Chairman introduced Ellie Bernhard from FIELDS
 
FIELDS Report Ellie explained that if a serious proposal for the stadium is forthcoming then a public meeting will be held to discuss it. The building of a stadium may also bring back a proposal for the 4th Trent Crossing. The County Council is carrying out a “scoping report” for the proposed Park & Ride site.

There were no questions or comments
The Chairman thanked Ellie & introduced Rebecca Archibald of the Lady Bay Planters group

Planters There are 52 planters in Lady Bay; ½ have been allocated, mainly to community groups. The ones on the periphery are generally unallocated. If you are interested in joining the group or in adopting a planter please contact Rebecca at the end of the meeting or email:  HYPERLINK "mailto:LBPlanters@googlemail.com" LBPlanters@googlemail.com

There were no questions or comments

The chairman thanked Rebecca

 AOB
A resident mentioned that the hedges alongside Simkin’s Farm between the 11 bus turning circle & Skylarks need trimming as they are very overgrown.
Simon Anthony reported that the paving near the “Local Link” bus stop opposite Skylarks needs repairing.

The Chairman introduced Peter Hammond, local historian, who gave a talk about the history of buses in W. Bridgford – “On the Buses” – illustrated with slides.   

Meeting closed at 22.03  

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