I've just heard that the Bingham community centre may be built on the paddock. Everybody expects that building will take place here eventually. Why not build the health centre and community centre here and be done with it. Both would be absolutely ideally placed for the whole community to use - able and disabled, old and young.

You got that right big head, warners paddock IS the best place for the health centre.

I don't agree, SAVE WARNERS PADDOCK!!

Save it for what Vic, some up town houses, It will be built on eventualy so get our health centre on it.

I agree with you taff. It's not as though the site is an sssi or has historical links, it has had buildings on it before so it's not green field either. We all know that it will be built on eventally for houses for the wealthy, probably with not a thought for the community. All this stuff about the last green area in Bingham is a lot of guff just drive a mile or so and you can see tons of green fields etc, or maybe yellow at the moment. But you would'nt be allowed to walk on them just like Warners Paddock - it's reserved for horses only. I believe the supporters of Warners all live close to it and are just a load of nimbys. As you said Taff what are they saving it for? For goodness sake put the people of Bingham before horses before it is too late. Let's save this site for everybod not just the few protesters and put community buildings there for all of us.

I agree with Taff and Bigead, you'd think people would be jumping for joy at the thought of new centre

all these people who say the paddock is only for horses really are talking rubbish. why do we need to be surrounded by bricks and concrete? it is much more refreshing and relaxing to bring some countryside into the town. someone mentioned the only people who want to keep it are the people close to it, well more to the point he is happy for it to go because he is not close to it.(how pathetic and short sighted)

Hi Skippy
No you are not correct I do not live a long way from Warners and I am not short sighted in fact I am being long sighted in trying to use this site for the benefit of the whole community before it's too late. You seem to be fairly articulate and intelligent so do you really believe that this site will never be built on? I can't believe that you do - come on be realistic a prime site like that is ideal for development and the people who own it will probably be pleased to be rid of it eventually. Why do you really want to keep it as it is? - be honest and explain it to me.

The only issue i have with warners paddock is the thought of extra traffic on that part of the road, turning onto the road at the back of WP that leads to tithby road (is it the banks?) can be hard often anyway... I havnt seen any plans of how the layout of the site would be though

The best location for a health centre is where it already is but apparently there are issues with the council not wanting to fund things (suprise suprise) I cant help but wonder what it will look lke with a deserted health centre and that other deserted building which doesnt seem to be getitng occupied any time soon! You'd think sorting out the centre should be a priority really!

Hi Mrs S
I agree with you that the existing site is best but can not be used I'm told because it is not freehold and the private group funding the project will only build on freehold property. With regard to access to the Warners site I also understand that the higways authority have no objections to the creation of a proper access and this was shown at one of the public meetings. Maybe someone from the local council can confirm or shed light on this.

hi biged
you asked me to reply so i will

i have not found anyone who doesnt want the new doctors on the site of the old surgery but that seems to be a done deal, It wont be there!!

i do believe we are at risk of that area looking like a derelict area and why spoil green areas (not necessarly green belt) when this area will be empty. i like others would love to see the library in the closed shop in the precinct and the new doctors could have the old site and the library.

having lived in a few places locally especially i hate this filling in every little space with more brick and concrete, we should try and keep our few green areas for as long as we can.

the noncence people are talking about that site being kept green only for the residents of the banks and a horse seems to be just that, Nonsence.

and before you ask i do not live on or near the banks.

Thanks for the reply Skippy. Like you and everbody else in Bingham I agree that the health centre should be built on the existing site. The thought of another boarded up building in the centre appals me. If the existing building is coming to the end of its life surely the library is too. They were built at the same time. I wonder if the county council's obstructive attitude and refusal to move the library to the closed coop shop is political purely on party lines. Perhaps now that the Tories are in power we might get a sympathetic response if we approach them before it is too late especially as the other site owners seem to want twice their original asking price. It would also be nice to know what the county council intend to do with this site if the health centre moves.
As far as Warners is concerned most people of Bingham drive by without stopping not knowing where it is and can't see it from the road. If they wanted to stop there is nowhere sensible to park and certainly no opportunity to enjoy it. So as I said it is only benefitting very few people. Wouldn't it be better to use it for the new health centre and community centre with proper parking and landscaping. We desparately need somewhere for the young people to go and need to provide suitable activities and amenities - a community centre woul be able to provide this. Again could we have some sort of response from our elected council representatives and to at least let us know what they are thinking - not eveybody can get to council meetings

Dear Bigead, I note your comments. The debate over the existing site of the Health Centre, unfortunately, is over. The PCT and LIFTCo will proceed with the Mill Hill site or if negotiations cannot be agreed, another site will be pursued, if funding doesn't dry up.

The existing Health Centre has become too small and unsuitable for the needs of the town, however, the building itself is sound at present. Meanwhile, the County Council are satisfied that the Library meets the needs of Bingham and it is not on the list for major refurbishment.

As the Conservatives now control all three local authorities, this willl have a major impact on how we, the people in Bingham, influence the future of Eaton Place. We will not allow the Health Centre to stand empty for years like the scandalous situation we have with the old Co-Op Pioneer building. It is the view of many Councillors in Bingham and Rushcliffe, that this area has not been a priority within the County Council's agenda for far too long, I expect that attitude to change, quite markedly and soon.

As a member of the Bingham Town Council Community Building Working Group (CBWG), I can confirm that Warners Paddock or any other potential site previously identified has not been chosen as a preferred site. The Town Mayor, Mrs Maureen Stockwood and the Group are still looking at various interesting possibilities and the search for the best recommended site is still not quite over.

In any case, Bingham Town Council will be seeking to involve residents, groups and potential users of such a Community Centre in further consultation, before any decisions are formally made and any brick is laid.

I would encourage people to continue adding their views and comments, they are being noted and considered.

Cllr. Francis Purdue-Horan, Chairman of Bingham Conservatives.
Bingham Town Council & Rushcliffe Borough Council (Bingham West.)

our views and comments were a wast of time, the decision was all ready made,before the bridge work took place.

Thank you for your contribution Francis. Do the local council have a collective view with regard to the site for the health centre or community centre? Do other council members read this message board? If they do why not tell us your views - it would be nice to hear what you think on matters that seriously affect us all. For goodness sake let us get the right decision before it is too late or the next generation of unwell residents will be forced to trudge up a hill for 30 years - remember that those of you who are fit and well and drive are OK now but who knows how you will be in 25 years time. Will you then regret the choice of site up a hill?

Like you Francis I hope that Eaton Place doesn't turn into a derelect area to be used for graffitti or vandalism by young people with nowhere to go and nothing to do. Perhaps the old health centre could be used for community purposes - maybe not suitable but could be modified or is it maybe to far in the distance timewise. I seem to remember that the community chest has 1million pounds to be spent for local purposes - could we not purchase the old health centre from the county council and refurbish it.

I too also hope that the new county council will at last favour Bingham and rekindle some life and respect for our town centre

An Architect's building plan and an artist's impression of a possible Community and Sports Centre will be unveiled to Bingham Town Councillors and the public at the full Council meeting at 7.00pm on Tuesday, 7th July 2009.

This will be only the next stage in seeking to identify what kind of building and facilities within it Bingham wants, the preferred site for such a building is another debate, obviously related of course.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting, however, due to limited space and fire regs, it may be a good idea to turn up early to be guaranteed entry.

Cllr Francis Purdue-Horan.

Francis,

if you and other councillors feel so strongly about the old coop building cant you get something done about it?

Skippy, Bingham Councillors have explored all of the avenues potentially available to local authorities to pursue. Whilst we all agree that the old Pioneer Co-Op store remaining as an empty building is a disgrace, the arrangement between the owner of the building and a third party "tenant" is a proper legal arrangement and the building maintenance meets the minimum standards required by authorities. Nevertheless, we continue to apply pressure and the extremely complicated, very expensive and long drawn out legal process of complusory purchase order is not ruled out in the future.

However, quite rightly, it is extremely difficult for the State or it's agencies, such as local authorities, to seize property and impose it's preferred use on owners or communities. Although, in this particular case, most of us in Bingham would agree this principle and existing legislation does not help us, this country is not run like the old Soviet Union or a dictatorship.

Meanwhile, rather than turn this particular site into "Ask Francis," why not take advantage of my 24 hr residents hotline on Tel : 01949 - 876401. I will hopefully be able to help with any queries related to Bingham matters. Alternatively, you can e-mail me at: f.purduehoran@googlemail.com

Cllr. Francis Purdue-Horan.

Wake up Bingham and in particular its elected and unelected representatives, ignore the Eco town, ignore Warners Paddock, ignore Tesco. The most important Community issue is the site of the Health Centre and the Community Centre. The Health Centre site has been a problem for about 10 years when excellent alternative sites were available but not taken up. Now money has been made available and we have to rush to a viable site for a building. Unfortunately, the viable site is on the highest, most southerly point of the town and without regular existing bus services. A visit to the Health Centre and a walk up and down Tythby Road hill by the PCT planners might have revealed that the users are generally old, infirm, young with pushchairs or just ill and the last thing they would want is a journey up and down Tythby Road hill.
What happened to the Town Plan? Is there a town plan? Why have we got Fire station in the town centre? Why have we got Police station which is barely manned and can’t react, combined with police training facility. Why not a combined building on the industrial estate? The police station site would then be free. Ooops, I forgot, the houses on the police station site which were empty for years were sold, which cuts down the amount of space for Health centre and or Community centre.
Why not move the horses of Warners paddock to the site of the medieval village on Cogley lane, where the children on the way to school or in the play area can safely see the horses and with the cattle gone less damage will be caused to the site by cattle hooves.
We need the best site for the whole community, and Warners Paddock is the best possible site for the new Health Centre and possibly Community Centre.

I do not wish to hog the message board on the curious situation regarding Warner's Paddock but although I have lived in Bingham for many years I did not realise until last week that the Paddock appears to be in 2 parts. From Grantham Road/ Longacre corner it is about 1.7 Acres/0.7 Hectares. Hidden behind the Bowls club up to The Banks is more Paddock of 1.5 acres/ 0.6 hectares. In laymans terms a total area of well over 2 football pitches. Was this total area and layout made clear using an accurate map on the Warners Paddock petition? Can anyone remember or even have a copy of the information on the petition?