Minutes Bramcote CAT Meeting March 2025
Community Action Team Meeting
Minutes of Community Action Team meeting 3 March 2025
Held at Bramcote Memorial Hall, Church Street, Bramcote
1. Apologies for absence
Apologies for Absence were received.
2. Minutes of previous CAT Meetings
Minutes of the previous CAT meeting were submitted and approved.
3. Bramcote Leisure Centre
Plans for the replacement Leisure Centre have been received.
Cllr Watts said that they were not good enough: for example, no provision had been made for a Viewing Gallery for spectators wanting to view events.
Whilst asking for more comments, Cllr Watts said schools that currently use the Leisure Centre had good access to its resources, and would continue to do so during its rebuild. (The new Leisure Centre will be built alongside the existing centre).
He also noted that no provision for a staff changing room had been made in the new plans.
An attendee at the CAT meeting asked if there had been any consultation with Bramcote residents. Cllr Watts replied: "Yes, there have been consultations.”
A comment was received via Zoom, advising residents who attended the December 2024
CAT meeting that the question concerning consultation had been submitted to Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) on 30 September 2024, but at the date of the December meeting, a reply from the council was still awaited.
4. Bramcote Hills Care Home
The Bramcote Hills Care Home had been closed due to Care Quality approval not being adequate. This means it will remain closed; otherwise there was nothing to report. Cllr Watts had asked Broxtowe Borough Council if it might consider looking at the site for new house building.
5. Hemlock Happening 2025
Spaces were still available for the Hemlock Happening 2025 (taking place on 7 June), and anyone interested was asked to contact the organisers through Broxtowe Borough Council.
6. Garden Waste
Subscriptions for the Broxtowe collection of Garden Waste for 2025/2026 had been set at £45.00.
7. Japanese Knotweed
NCC were to be asked who was responsible for the clearance of grey' areas of this highly invasive weed, Japanese Knotweed, between private and public land and along fencing,
8. Local Government Authority Reform
As part of its plans for a Local Government Authority Reform, the Government wants Broxtowe to merge (the Government's Option l) into a council responsible for about 500,000 people, which would cover areas of north and south Nottinghamshire.
Broxtowe Borough Council has responded by saying it wishes to remain as it is, i.e. as a unitary county authority.
A resident at the March meeting asked for clarification as to whether the borough of Broxtowe might be amalgamated into the County or the City. "Do we really want to be part of the City?" he asked.
Another further Bramcote resident said, "I have also heard there was a distinct possibility of Broxtowe re-merging with Wollaton, Beeston North and so on." As far as he was concerned, "This is something that needs further discussion. It makes no sense to remerge now."
Cllr Watts had noted that options appeared to be in favour of not merging with the city council.
9. Speed racing along the A52
Speed racing has become prevalent along the A52 by-pass between the Sherwin Arms island and Bardill's Garden Centre (Brian Clough Way). Noise from speeding racers along this stretch of road has become an issue, and the Highways Authority has been asked when they plan to carry out work to slow the racers down. The police have also been advised that the noise from the speed racers has worsened since trees along the edge of the A52 by-pass were removed.
A resident of Town Street, Bramcote village, said: "If you can get registrations of the speeding racers, even photos, then call the police on 999."
Cllr Watts commented that many of the speeding cars would not be registered.
In addition, there had been a significant increase in the amount of rubbish and bottles strewn along the edges of the A52 between the Sherwin Arms island and Bardill's.
A resident at the March meeting asked who was responsible for problems with rubbish etc. Cllr Watts replied that the responsibility lay with Broxtowe Borough Council.
10. Youth Mayor
Cllr Watts said that Broxtowe's young people were to be asked who they wanted to be the borough's next Youth Mayor, adding that they should be encouraged to apply or make nominations.
11. Cow Lane 'Little Library'
The organisers of the Cow Lane Little Library have said that at the moment they are not able to accept any further donations of books. This led to a discussion about the concept of little libraries. Residents were fully supportive of them.
12. Crime Figures
Residents were advised to look at the police website for the latest crime figures (@police.co-uk)
13. Local Elections — 1st May 2025
Those attending the CAT meeting of March 3 were told that ID would not be required if they wished to vote by post and that their vote would need to be submitted by Royal Mail. ID would be required for those who vote in person.
14. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
14.1 Sherwin Gardens
Cllr David Watts advised those attending this March CAT meeting that Sherwin Gardens, off Coventry Lane, has been allocated a Bramcote address by the Royal Mail although it is in the ward of Stapleford North. There are still no traffic lights at the junction with Coventry Lane even though five houses are already occupied.
14.2. 'White Lining' along the A52
Broxtowe Borough Council was promising €350,000 for a 'white line lane' for cyclists along the A52.
Residents wondered how this could help, with an attendee at the March meeting adding that they would like to see any plans submitted. A further resident suggested a designated cycle lane along the edge of the A52 might be preferable, rather than allowing cycling along the bus lane.
14.3 Devil's Elbow wall
The wall on Devil' s Elbow had come down twice in recent months following heavy rain. The bend is very tight and, for this reason, there was no urgency to repair or re-open the road.
A resident said he thought that the plans would have to be thought through again, as the wall would obviously fall again. Another resident said that no information had been provided by NCC, and County Councillor Steve Carr added that concerned residents would need to submit any objections in accordance with planning procedure.
14.4 Noise over manhole covers at Ilkeston Road/Coventry Lane junction
A resident asked if anything could be done to lessen noise over the manhole covers at this junction, and from problems caused by water spray after heavy rain at the same spot.
The Bramcote CAT meeting of 3 March 2025 closed at 8.50pm.
Dates of future CAT meetings
1 September 2025
I December 2025
2 March 2026