NEW SCHOOLS AT GRESHAM FIELDS
Outline planning permission for the new Emmanuel and Becket schools between Wilford Lane and the Trent was given a year ago by Rushcliffe Borough Council. The land is to be renamed Gresham Fields or Gresham Park. The detailed scheme for the Emmanuel was approved at committee yesterday evening. Both schools support the CW tram proposal, and will add traffic to the route. The new access for the Becket school will also serve 70 houses to be built on the site of the Chateau. The existing Becket sites will likely be given over to housing as well.
TALK ON TRAMS
Steve Barber, Chair of BACIT, gave a talk on NET Line One and the proposed Phase II to the Nottingham Industrial Heritage Association last night, with a notepad presentation.
RELAUNCHED BACIT WEBSITE
The BACIT website has been relaunched, and now has a BLIGHT-O-METER, measuring the number of days since the Transport Secretary and his various Junior Ministers pledged to give us a decision on whether government funding will be made available for Phase II. http://www.bacit.org/ .
DECISION "CLOSE" ON PHASE II FUNDING
So says Transport Secretary Alistair Darling - within a matter of months, and certainly, he hopes, during the course of this summer. He praises the first part of Nottingham's tram system as "very successful".
LINE ONE TRAFFIC UP FOR END OF YEAR 2
Line One traffic in its second year has reached 9.7 million journeys, 1.3m up on 2004/5, a 15% increase, and around 700,000 above the forecast. Weekend trips and park-and-ride are cited by NET as the chief features, and customer satisfaction according to a recent survey, stands at 94%.
SILENT MAJORITY SPEAK AGAIN
The Clifton Local News has published a poll it carried out in Clifton last month. The question posed was - "Do you want the tram to come to Clifton and Silverdale?" The response was a whopping 86% in favour, and only 14% against.
NATIONAL PFI PRIZE FOR LINE ONE
At the public-private finance awards in London, NET was named the "Best Operational Transport Project" of 2005.
NEW SETTLEMENT ON CLIFTON PASTURES?
An urban extension is proposed on Clifton Pastures in the draft East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy prepared by the Regional Assembly (EMRA). The plan has been put out to public consultation, the period for which ends 20 December. The proposal is tied up with the growth point bid being promoted by the City Council, and a figure of at least 5,000 houses is suggested. EMRA claim the location is suitable for a new settlement because of its proximity to the regional airport, and good transport links, including the future CW tram. However, objectors point out the area is attractive countryside in the Green Belt, and doubt the A453 will have sufficient capacity even after widening.
INCREASE IN FORECAST COST OF PHASE II
The cost forecast has now reached £400 million. Both BACIT and CW YES! are pressing the Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, to make a decision soon, and this is promised. But BACIT point out we were told this two and a half years ago, and this is reported in the Nottingham Evening Post.
CONTROVERSY OVER RETIREMENT VILLAGE AT CLIFTON
Lark Hill, a retirement "village", has been given planning permission - 24 acres for 327 dwellings. It will lie between Barton Green and the future Clifton tram terminus. Access is restricted to residents and their guests, even though this will block the shortest pedestrian route between existing housing and the trams, and local councillors consider this impediment to be a travesty.
EAST MIDLANDS RAIL PARKWAY STATION OPENING ANNOUNCED
The long-awaited parkway station planned at Ratcliffe-on-Soar will open in December 2008, Network Rail has said. The detailed scheme will be submitted next month to Rushcliffe Borough Council for planning approval, and work is expected to start in the Spring of next year. The outline planning application was submitted in 1999. The cost of the project is now pitched at £20 million - the station will have 4 platforms, 70 daily services, and is forecast to generate 3/4 million passenger journeys pa. 500 car spaces will be provided initially, rising to 1,000 later.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR PHASE II CONFIRMED!!
The moment we have all been waiting for - the Transport Secretary, (now Douglas Alexander), has announced the government is prepared to fund 75% of the capital cost of the Nottingham Phase II tram extensions. Mr. Alexander says "the Nottingham tram has been a great success...these extensions provide an opportunity to continue this success, and give people in the south of Nottingham quicker, more convenient, access to the city centre". The current cost breakdown works out at government contribution of £300 million, with the City and County councils called upon to find the remaining £100m. If costs rise, the government is prepared to fund up to £437m, with the Councils asked to pay up to £141m. For the full story, click here to see the BACIT website.
DEVELOPERS WELCOME PHASE II
NG2 developers say the decision of the government to fund Phase II is "fantastic" and a vindication of their own choice to promote business at the site. Good existing and future transport links have been major considerations. The M1 park-and-ride sites will triple capacity of public transport. Employment opportunities will be enhanced, say estate agents.
GOVERNMENT MINISTER VISITS NOTTINGHAM
The Government Minister for tram and railway networks, Tom Harris MP, spoke to an audience of tram supporters amongst local businesses, and BACIT/CW YES! representatives attended. The Minister explained a long consideration for the right decision had been better than the wrong choice following short consultations. Coun. John Taylor, Chair of the NET Development Board, was upbeat, suggesting in a few years time Phase III should be planned.