December 2024 CAT Meeting Minutes Published

Community Action Team

Minutes

2 December 2024 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 last CAT meeting were submitted and approved.

3.          Bramcote Leisure Centre

Cllr David Watts advised those present that formal plans for a replacement Leisure Centre had yet to be received by the Borough Council, but he understood them to be well advanced. The new leisure centre would be built alongside the existing centre, allowing for minimum disruption to clubs and groups during the build, as well as for a deeper and bigger pool to be constructed. 

Discussions took place regarding some concerns about the design of the pool. The synchronised swimming team required at least a 1.8 metre deep pool, preferably 2 metres, for them to be able to compete. Given that the club is very successful it was important that they had the facilities that they needed.

Concerns were also raised about the lack of a café and a lack of spectator seating for competitions. 

Residents were encouraged to keep a look out for the plans being made available and then to submit their own comments to the borough council.

4.        St Michael and All Angels graveyard

The borough council currently have contractors examining all the headstones in local graveyards to see if they were safe. A number of headstones in St Michael & All Angels graveyard on Church Street, Bramcote had been marked as potentially unsafe. Cllr Watts had contacted both the council and the church about the survey. The church had responded but no response had yet been received from the council. Cllr Watts had asked whether the families of those whose graves were flagged as unsafe had been contacted and also whether any financial assistance could be made available to make them safe.

5.         Bramcote School

The plans for the new school have been approved. The planning permission for the development on the school field, which will free up the funding, should be granted shortly when the final agreements are signed.

6.            Proposed A52 Development

Developers have unveiled plans to build 700 houses on green belt land alongside the A52 by-pass between the Sherwin traffic island and Bardill's Garden Centre, Toton. This is currently green belt land and is essential to prevent Bramcote, Chilwell, Toton and Stapleford merging into one. The land being proposed for development is next to the land belonging to the Church.

7.          A52 Roadworks

Roadworks on the A52 by-pass had been necessary to alleviate flooding on both sides of the carriage way. This work has been completed.

8.          Bramcote Bus Routes

After residents raised concerns at a previous CAT meeting about the cutting of some local bus routes, discussions had been held with the relevant bus company operators. Cllr Watt said he was hopeful that some could be reconnected. The government have made some funding available and Cllr Watts has asked the council to support an application to use some of this to fund a north/south route in Broxtowe including Bramcote Moor.

County Councillor Steve Carr added: "I have spoken to the route operator CT4N and have also been told that money may be made available to reconnect some routes."

9.          Crime Figures

 These were not available at the meeting.

10.      Japanese Knotweed Update

The concern of local residents had been raised with Broxtowe Borough Council about the spread of the Japanese Knotweed on and around the Alexandrina Plantation and Sandy Lane open space. Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive plant that chokes and destroys other native vegetation. The council insisted that all the Japanese Knotweed referred to is on privately-owned land and, as such, a lot of it is not very accessible. Cllr Andy Kingdon said that he will continue to press the point with the council as residents do not believe that the knotweed is restricted just to private land.

11. Planning 

a. Sherwin Gardens

 Although this development is in the Stapleford North ward the address will be Bramcote.

b.Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan*

Cllr Watts had asked where any new development was likely to be in connection with the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan, and had been advised that there were no plans for any strategic size new developments in Broxtowe. 

12.  Neighbourhood Forum report

Those attending the December CAT meeting were advised that the need for a Neighbourhood Forum would tie in with the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan* and residents will be invited to report on-line if any proposals are put forward for the Strategic

Plan.

A resident commented: "Whether any plans were submitted as part of the Greater Nottingham Plan or not, Bramcote has a high-level need for a Neighbourhood Forum.

13.  Highways issues

a. Parking on Cow Lane

Residents had reported problems with parking on Cow Lane caused by contractors vehicles. Police had been asked to monitor the area and to take any action they considered appropriate. Cllr Steve Carr added: "The county council is carrying out traffic surveys on Cow Lane and they are considering reducing the speed limit to 20mph which they believe should help stop inconsiderate parking."

b. Footbridge over the A52 at the Sherwin traffic island

Cllr Carr said that, as the roadworks took place at the Sherwin traffic island, the Highways Authority had been considering removing the footbridge completely. Residents commented that, although the footbridge might be somewhat ugly, it was the only safe way to cross the A52 at that point due to the volume and speed of traffic.

14.        Dates of future CAT meetings

2 June 2025
1September 2025
1 December 2025
2 Mar 2026

The December Bramcote CAT meeting closed at 8.50pm.