The Bramcote Conservation Society has formally objected to the closure of a claimed Right of Way on Moss Drive, Bramcote. The Chairman, Rob Greer, delivered over 100 completed claims to the Right of Way to Councillor John Wilkinson, the chair of Nottinghamshire County Council's Planning Committee, at a specially arranged meeting at County Hall today. This starts the process of consideration of the claims that will lead to a public enquiry on the possibility of re-stablishing a route that has been used for many years as a means of access to the woods and paths beyond Moss Drive. 

The situation has arisen as a consequence of the owners of the land closing the access. The owners, Lawns Co, believe they have the right to close the access, and have done so to put pressure on Broxtowe Borough Council to grant planning permission for a housing development. An application for such was turned down by Broxtowe Borough Council's Planning Committee. The land is in the green belt and protected from development under current policies. This will not prevent the owners putting in further applications for development. 

My own view is that Broxtowe Borough Council made the right decision to turn down the planning application and that the subsequent closure of the route by the owners cannot be justified. The evidence regarding long term use is overwhelming and the route should be reopened as soon as possible. As a county councillor for the area, I will do all I can to support the Bramcote Conservation Society in their efforts to restore access through this land.

It's the start of term again and once again I am receiving messages about arguments outside school in our area. These arise when parents drop their children off at or pick them up from school and manage to cause significant obstructions to other road users at the same time. Yesterday I heard about problems at the junction of Blake Road and Toton Lane and also Brookhill Street and Toton Lane. Can I ask people to be tolerant of one another? In consequence to yesterday's problems the County Council are already looking at placing double yellow lines at these junctions. The police have also been asked to look out for obstructive parking.