News - Mining memorial bid gets cash boost (Hucknall)

A BIG cash boost was given this week for a memorial to miners who died working at pits in Hucknall and the surrounding area.


Hucknall members of Ashfield District Council agreed to make a total grant of £2,400 for the highly-praised project, which has been backed by the Dispatch.

The decision was made at a meeting of Hucknall Area Committee.

The proposal is to record the names of the pitmen who lost their lives. As part of the scheme, memorial stones owuld be placed on the site of the iconic miners’ statue on Station Road, Hucknall.

The campaign was started by former miner Barrie Lewis, of Hucknall, whose father, Lawrence (34), was killed in an accident at the former Hucknall ‘Top Pit’ on Christmas Eve 1960, and has received full backing from the Dispatch.

A suggestion is for the memorial to be backed by a book featuring the names of those killed at the two Hucknall Collieries or Linby, Bestwood, Newstead and Annesley Pits.

On Friday and Saturday, November 9 and 10, Barrie will sit at a table in Hucknall Library to meet members of the public and raise awareness about the campaign.

“I hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to find out more about what the project is all about,” he said.

Area committee chairman Coun Jim Grundy (Lab) said he hoped the grant would act as a catalyst to attract further funds for the scheme.

A total of £9,000 or £10,000 is needed and donations so far received include £500 from the grant-making Nottinghamshire Community Foundation.

Barrie said he hoped the work would be completed in time for the proposed memorial to be unveiled at a ceremony next summer.

A report to the committee stated that publicity in the Dispatch had shown ‘considerable support’ for the project. The work will be carried out by a stonemason and other contractors.

Research into the names of miners to be remembered had been a painstaking task carried out at such locations as libraries and archive offices, the report added.

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/mining-memorial-bid-gets-cash-boost-1-5093317

News - Fire prevention work at Abbey (Newstead)

FIRE prevention work will be carried out at Newstead Abbey from January.

Nottingham City Council plans to complete the second phase of the project, which aims to separate parts of the building to prevent fire spreading and minimise any loss, before the summer.

It will see the main part of the Abbey split into three main zones.

The council has been quoted £47,400 by contractors to carry out the work, expected to start on January 9.

However it only has £39,000 set aside for the rest of the project and has said it will pay the shortfall by finding savings in its museum service budget.

A report by Councillor David Trimble, portfolio holder for leisure, says that the work is a vital requirement of their insurer to prevent the risk of "total destruction" by preventing fire spreading through the historic building.

The report says it is essential work begins on time to protect the bats in the roof space and so it does not impact on the tourism season over the summer.

The first phase was completed two years ago and separated the south wing which was deemed to be at greatest risk.

Some roof and loft separation work was also carried out then.

From:Thisisnottingham.co.uk

 

Newstead Abbey, Nottingham City Council,

Event - Abbey Christmas (Newstead)

Open specially for Christmas, see some of Newstead’s finest rooms decorated for the festive season. With displays created by students from New College Nottingham and local florists Chris Haslam and Di Martin, this is a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of the splendour of this historic house.

Seasonal fare available in the Cafe at the Abbey. Special seasonal afternoon tea will be served in the West Front Suite.

10th to 11th and 17th to 18th December 2011
Starts at:     12:00 noon
Cost:            Adults £10.00
                      Concessions £8.00
                      Groups welcome, 1 in 10 enter free of charge

Ticket:         Booking essential: 01623 455 900

From: http://www.thingstodoinnottinghamshire.co.uk/venues/28/Newstead_Abbey.html

Event - Mining memories to pass on to kids (Newstead)

CHILDREN will be able to discover what it was like to work at a pit when a mobile mining museum rolls into Newstead next week.

The event at the Newstead Centre on Tilford Road will also allow residents of the village who remember the halcyon days of local collieries to record their memories for a mining-heritage initiative.

The attraction on Thursday October 13 is being run by the Nottinghamshire National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Ex and Retired Miners Association.

Entitled ‘Mining Memories’, it will feature the mobile museum, complete with artefacts dating from the 1800s to the present day.

Youngsters from Newstead Primary School will get the chance to quiz association members about local pits, including Newstead, which closed in 1987.

Eric Eaton, chairman of the association, said: “A lot of children haven’t got an idea about mining, so it is important that we educate them.

“Generations of families worked at local pits until they closed.

“Mining is a crucial part of the heritage of this area and we will be forever linked with coal mining.”

On the day, residents who worked in mining are invited along to take part in a project to record memories of the pits.

The scheme run by the association aims to create a website and DVD featuring accounts of miners who worked at Linby, Newstead, Hucknall, Ollerton, Blidworth and Rufford Collieries.

The two-year initiative is backed by £46,500 worth of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“Parents and grandparents are welcome to come along and revive memories of their life at the pit,” added Mr Eaton.

“It looks like it should be a good day with lots of activities.”

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/community/mining_memories_to_pass_on_to_kids_1_3851064

News - Council set to discuss budget and £33m in cuts (Notts CC)

CITY councillors are meeting on Tuesday to discuss budget plans for 2011/12.

The council is proposing to cut £33 million, which would hit libraries, theatres, schools and museums.

Spending on the Theatre Royal and the Royal Concert Hall will be slashed by two thirds – but the Royal Centre would become an independent trust, allowing it to apply for grants.

The council has also revealed that Carlton Road library could close, in addition to the closures of St Ann's and Bulwell libraries announced previously.

Opening hours at Newstead Abbey, Brewhouse Yard Museum and Green's Windmill and Science Centre, in Sneinton, could be reduced.

The council is considering cutting the workforce by about 370 posts next year, saving more than £11 million.

Funding for capital projects such as roads, schools and housing has also been reduced or scrapped.

City council deputy leader Graham Chapman said: "We have been among the most successful councils in protecting jobs and frontline services but because of the scale of these cuts, there will inevitably be some significant impacts. We are approaching the Government about the damage another settlement like this next year would inflict." Proposals will be discussed by the executive board on Tuesday and ratified at full council on March 7.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Council-set-discuss-budget-163-33m-cuts/article-3242880-detail/article.html

News - Anger over abbey lodge sale (Newstead)

NOTTINGHAM City Council has announced plans to sell one of the residential lodges in the estate of Lord Byron's former home, Newstead Abbey.

The proposed sale of the grade-II listed West Lodge has provoked fears that the council may "split up" the estate, which it is struggling to maintain.

The Post previously reported that the council plans to close the abbey and its museum collections every day except Sunday in a bid to save cash. It is currently open four days a week.

Ken Purslow, chairman of the Newstead Abbey Byron Society, said the West Lodge was in a "dilapidated state" after being empty for about 10 years. Before that, he said, the caretaker used to live in the lodge."It's a clear indication that they can't look after it," said Mr Purslow."If it's got into a dilapidated state like this, then the solution is to find someone who will put it in decent order."There is a great danger of breaking up the estate if they're starting to do this now – what are they looking at next?"

The council claims it has been forced to reduce the opening hours because it has been hit by a 16.5% cut in Government funding, which is about £60 million. It has revealed budget proposals to save £33 million.

The two-storey stone lodge is about half a mile from the abbey and has a large garden surrounded by a brook and a grade-II listed wall.

The council plans to sell it in an auction with a reserve price on it, to prevent it going too cheaply.

A spokeswoman for the council said she was unable to confirm any other details.

The abbey was given to the people of Nottingham in 1931 by owner Sir Julien Cahn, whose granddaughter Miranda Rijks has written to the council urging it to give or sell the property to another organisation to help keep it open.

The plans for West Lodge were approved by Councillor Dave Trimble, portfolio holder of leisure and culture.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Anger-abbey-lodge-sale/article-3192821-detail/article.html

 

Grand-daughter of former Newstead Abbey owner appeals against closure

THE man who gave Newstead Abbey to the people of Nottingham in 1931 would be distraught at plans to close it six days a week, said his granddaughter.

 

Miranda Rijks, whose grandfather Sir Julien Cahn owned the abbey, is calling on Nottingham City Council to change its proposals.

Mrs Rijks has written to the authority urging it to consider other options – including giving the abbey, once home to Lord Byron, to another organisation to run.

She said: "My grandfather gave it to the Corporation of Nottingham for them to be custodians so it could be open to the public.

"This year it's the 80th anniversary of him giving it to the public – essentially they're taking it away from the public on its 80th anniversary."

Her appeal has been backed by the current Lord Byron, who has described the proposals as alarming.

Other supporters include Professor Michael O'Neill, chairman of the International Byron Society Advisory Board, and Dr Christine Kenyoun Jones, who is on the executive committee of the Byron Society.

At the moment the abbey is open four days a week in the summer, with the grounds opening every day all year.

Under the council's proposals, the grounds will remain open but people will only be able to visit the abbey and the Byron museum on summer Sundays as part of a tour.

Council leisure spokesman Councillor Dave Trimble said: "Our priority in relation to Newstead Abbey is to protect the legacy of Lord Byron and Newstead Abbey.

"The grounds remain open and we are not closing the park or the abbey. Our aim is to guarantee a sustainable future for this internationally important heritage site."

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Grand-daughter-man-gave-Newstead-Abbey-public-launches-appeal-closure/article-3150532-detail/article.html

Plan to Cut Open Times at Newstead Abbey

NEWSTEAD Abbey, the ancestral home of Lord Byron, faces reduced opening times as part of cost-cutting drive.

Nottingham City Council is set to change the way it runs the historic site in a bid to make savings and balance the budget - and while the gardens will continue to stay open throughout the year, access to the house will be mainly by appointment for pre-booked groups, conferences, weddings, catering and as an event venue.

The proposals would mean that house tours for the general public will only be available on Sundays (between April and October), on Bank Holidays, for Christmas events and for heritage open weekends.

If given the go-ahead, the plans would mean that house tours for the general public will be available on Sundays (April to October) and Bank Holidays and for Christmas, festive events and heritage open weekends. It is proposed that school groups would continue to access Newstead Abbey as before by pre-booking.

Council bosses say that it costs the authority up to £600,000 a year to run Newstead - but these proposals could halve this.

Earlier this month, the Government announced a 16.5 per cent cut in the council’s budget - which equates to a £60 million reduction in grants for the next financial year.

The new operating model will only be implemented after the 90-day consultation period has concluded.

A spokesman from the council said: “The City Council remains open to discussions on how best to continue to manage the house and site in the longer term and is willing to talk to other partners or operators about the site and how best to preserve and conserve this important part of Nottinghamshire heritage.

“In the meantime, it is proposing to change to the new operating model to reduce its costs and ensure access is maintained to this important heritage site.

“The new arrangements would lead to changes in staffing and operations and consultation is currently underway with affected staff and the trade unions.

“Every effort is being made to re-deploy staff where possible and minimise job losses as result of the changes needing to be made.”

From http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/plan_to_cut_open_times_at_abbey_1_2889857