SUMMER 2017

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Advertise with us this AutumnRushcliffe Reports goes out three times a year to 50,000 homes. Advertising with us will get your company noticed – if you’re interested in promoting your business in the next edition, due out in November 2017, contact us at media@rushcliffe.gov.uk or call 0115 914 8555 for our competitive rates.

Rushcliffe Reports on CDAn audio version of Rushcliffe Reports is available for blind and partially-sighted people. Contact us to get the latest edition by emailing media@rushcliffe.gov.uk or call 0115 914 8555.

Cover photo, Rushcliffe Country Park

Let’s be socialSocial media is instant. See what we’re up to and get in touch. Join us on Twitter @rushcliffe. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rushcliffeborough

Keep up to speed with our business news at www.linkedin.com/company/rushcliffe-borough-council

ContentsCOUNCIL NEWS Rushcliffe Country Park 3-5

BUSINESS Funding for digital growth 6 Change is coming in Cotgrave 7 West Bridgford Commissioners 8

FACILITIES Host your event with us 9

RECYCLING Thank you for recycling 10 Bring in your bins please 11

LEISURE Bingham gets better 12 Reactiv8 project 13

SPORT Edwalton Golf Course 14-15 Bowls is brilliant – give it a go 16 Rushcliffe welomes British Triathlon 17

SUMMER EVENTS Bright future for Bridgford Hall 18-19 Here comes summer 20-21

PETS AND PESTS Clever chips for perfect pooches 22

HOUSING Empty homes 24 Home alarms 25

CRIME PREVENTION Summer holiday home security 26

HEALTH Think about what you drink this summer 27

NEWS FROM YOUR CCG Care closer to home 28 Effective prescribing in General Practice 29

GREEN SPACES Green spaces to enjoy this summer 30

VILLAGE IN FOCUS Whatton and Aslockton 31

USEFUL CONTACTS Useful telephone numbers 32

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Rushcliffe Country ParkSet in the beautiful countryside about half a mile south of Ruddington, Rushcliffe Country Park has something for everyone. With a network of over 8 kilometres of footpaths, grassland, conservation and landscaped areas, the park is excellent for walking, jogging, cycling, spotting wildlife and exercising your dog.

Last summer, the park was awarded its tenth Green Flag in a row by Keep Britain Tidy, confirming that it's well-managed and offers visitors excellent facilities. It’s also rated highly on Trip Advisor. Here’s what you need to know about our most popular visitor attraction:

Children’s play

Kids can let off steam in the large play area, which has around 20 pieces of modern equipment ideally suited for children up to the age of 12. The play area includes a medieval city, sky rail, space net, giant sand pit and some equipment suitable for less able users such as a cradle swing and creative play features.

For children looking for something different, we have two table tennis tables, a skatepark with a variety of timber ramps, and a BMX cycle track.

Dogs

Well behaved dogs are welcome to visit the park. Owners are asked to keep them under control and clean up after them. Free poop scoop bags are available at the Ranger’s Office and there are plenty of dog bins around the park.

Certain areas of the park – the car park, lakeside and play areas – are ‘dogs on leads’ zones and we ask that dogs are kept out of fully fenced woodlands.

For the more adventurous pooch, there’s Coppers Dog Activity Trail, a fenced and gated area featuring a variety of obstacles and activities to entertain your dog. The Trail is free and open for members of the public to use at any time.

Feature | Rushcliffe Country Park

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Car parking

The Country Park has a visitors' car park and for just £1, you can park for your whole visit (up to a full day).

The recently introduced parking charge helps fund park maintenance, improve the quality of the car park and increase the number of parking spaces for visitors. If you regularly come to the park, speak to one of our helpful rangers about an annual parking pass – a snip at £20.

Toilets

You won’t get caught short at the park. There’s a toilet block next to the Education Centre near the entrance to the park and environmentally-friendly composting toilets near the play area. Please make sure you follow the composting toilet etiquette and close the lid after use – they don’t flush, you see!

All toilets are wheelchair-accessible and there are baby changing facilities available in the main toilet block and in the Education Centre.

Feature | Rushcliffe Country Park

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Regular activities

There’s always something happening at the park. As well as hosting a whole range of regular activities such as Nordic walking, Buggyfit, bootcamp, parkrun and junior parkrun, Rushcliffe Country Park is the venue for the annual Sunday Funday every September and the popular Rushcliffe 10k race every March.

Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park

The Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park is an active group of volunteers who carry out practical wildlife conservation work and support our Rangers in improving the park. If you’re interested in joining the Friends Group, visit www.friends-of-rcp.co.uk, follow them at www.facebook.com/rushcliffecountrypark or contact the Rangers on 0115 921 5865.

Things we ask you not to do

Horse riding: There aren’t any bridleways in the Country Park so horse riding isn’t allowed anywhere on the site.

Model aircraft and drones: Power driven, model aircraft of any type are not permitted to be flown in any part of the Country Park. Drones are not allowed on the park either.

Fishing and hunting: All wildlife on the Country Park is protected so fishing, trapping or hunting of any description is not allowed.

The park is open 365 days a year. Find out more about what’s on or plan your visit at www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/rushcliffecountrypark

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Organisations across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire can now apply for grants of up to £16,000 to improve their digital capabilities. A grant scheme has been set up through the D2N2 Digital Growth Programme, which helps growing companies to maximise their use of existing technology or introduce new and emerging ICT products.

Match-funded grants of between £2,000 and £16,000 are available to organisations to cover up to 40% of the total cost of projects with an overall aim to encourage and improve competitiveness and productivity.

The grant scheme is part of the D2N2 Digital Growth Programme, which will see up to £7.25m of funding invested into the local economy by 2019. There will also be a series of workshops and seminars for businesses – the full programme will be

Funding for digital growth

released soon, so look out on our website for more information.

The programme is being funded by Rushcliffe Borough Council, the Chamber of Commerce, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire County Councils, Nottingham and Derby City Councils, Nottingham’s Creative Quarter Company, D2N2 and the European Regional Development Fund.

If your business is interested in finding out more about the D2N2 Digital Growth Programme grants and workshops, visit and register at ebusinessclub.biz/technology-grants

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02Funding for rural businessesDo you have a rural business and would like to expand, but need some extra funding? The South Nottinghamshire LEADER Programme has £1.3m of EU funding available in grants to help your business grow and create new jobs. Capital grants, for example, can help you to develop premises and purchase equipment to grow your business.

If you’re interested in finding out more or you want to see if you’re eligible, go to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/leadersouth

Change is coming in CotgraveThe planned improvements as part of the regeneration of Cotgrave are progressing well. The houses on Scotland Bank have been demolished and work will be starting on the construction of the new Multi-Service Centre which will house the GPs surgery, police, library services, Rushcliffe Borough Council contact point and the Town Council.

Work will start on the improvements to the shops and new business centre in the Autumn and, next summer, the existing library and police buildings will be demolished to make way for improved landscaping and car parking.

Residents are encouraged to support their local shops during renovation work. For the latest update, visit www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/cotgrave

Buildings for businessesFifteen light industrial units on land off Hollygate Lane, near the Cotgrave Colts football ground, will be complete by July 2017. The new units will range in size from 750 to 1750 square feet.

If you are interested in renting a unit, please contact our property team at propertyservices@rushcliffe.gov.uk

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Commissioners aim to boost Bridgford businessThe West Bridgford Commissioners are three independent volunteers with expert backgrounds in business who have been appointed to help steer the course of the local economy, supporting the West Bridgford Growth Board (WBGB).

They are former Nottinghamshire County Council chief executive Mick Burrows, Tim Richmond OBE, an experienced entrepreneur and local businessman and Nottingham Business School Professor Kim Cassidy.

They first sought the views of local residents, businesses and community groups when, earlier this year, they ran a consultation to see what you thought could be improved in West Bridgford town centre.

The Commissioners were heartened to receive almost 500 views, ideas and concerns gathered through a wide range of activities including an online survey, postcard questionnaire and Facebook comments. In addition they met with several local groups, businesses and other interested parties, as well as schoolchildren and young people.

Over 150 children from Jesse Gray School met with Mick Burrows in what was a really dynamic and informative discussion. Mick was really impressed with the level of engagement, he said: “I found it really informative and interesting to meet with so many children and hear their ideas. They were very clear about what they would like to see happening, they really engaged in the issues. They are all a credit to the school.”

The Commissioners will be using all of the feedback they’ve received when they draw up a series of recommendations and present them to the West Bridgford Growth Board later in the year.

To keep up to date with the West Bridgford Commissioners’ work, go to www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/wbcommissioners

From left to right: Mick Burrows, Kim Cassidy and Tim Richmond OBE

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Host your event with usWhether it’s a meeting, a party or an exercise class you’re holding, we have a selection of great venues to hire.

Rushcliffe Arena – our brand new building is an ideal venue for meetings, training and conferences. The rooms are fully furnished with Wi-Fi and technology for presentations, set out in a range of layouts for up to 100 people. Hot and cold drinks are available, refreshments can be provided by our partner Parkwood Leisure, with free on-site parking.

Lutterell Hall – this 1920s building in central West Bridgford is ideal for wedding receptions and celebrations of all kinds, especially as it’s next to St Giles Church and within walking distance of West Bridgford Registry Office, West Bridgford Methodist Church and Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Sir Julien Cahn Pavilion, West Park, West Bridgford – an attractive and spacious pavilion with a cricketing heritage and a great view overlooking the cricket pitch. This venue has bags of parking, making it a great choice for parties, discos and community gatherings.

Gamston Community Hall – handily located near the Morrisons supermarket, this is a multi-purpose facility, popular for indoor sports, fitness classes, playgroups, children’s parties, community gatherings and educational classes.

For more details on our competitive prices or to book any of our venues: go to www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/venues email communityfacilities@rushcliffe.gov.uk or call 0115 914 8553

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Thank you for recyclingThanks to your efforts and the success of recycling2go over the past 15 years, half of the waste that we collect is recycled.

We often tell you what you can recycle in your blue bin, but here are some facts and figures about the things that can’t go in your blue bin but that can be recycled at the ‘bring’ sites at supermarkets and car parks across the borough.

From those sites in the past year, we collected:

* We are finding more glass and Tetrapaks placed mistakenly in blue bins – this could cause the whole load to be rejected and can mean the recyclable items end up being incinerated – so please remember to take these items to your local recycling site. Go to recyclenow.com/local-recycling to find your nearest one.

Your recycling efforts are really impressive and we know that, between us, we can

45 tonnes of textiles

up by 5 tonnes compared to the

previous year

7 tonnes of Tetrapak

cartons a tonne more than 2015/16*

recycle even more, in terms of both quantity and accuracy.

In the last year, 521 tonnes of waste had to be rejected at the sorting plant because the wrong things had been put in the blue bin alongside recyclable items. That’s enough material to fill 52 of our bin lorries! Make your efforts count – check your bin calendar or our website to familiarise yourself with what can and can’t be recycled.

2,368 tonnes of glass that’s 27 tonnes more than the year before*

8 tonnes of batteries

(collected from battery bags on

top of bins)

up by 1 tonne compared to

2015/16

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It’s a NO to nappies in the

blue binMums and dads, grannies and granddads, uncles and aunts – whoever changes nappies in your household, please make sure that you dispose of all things nappy-related in your grey bin.

We’ve had an increasing number of instances where they have been placed in blue bins – but they can’t be recycled and can contaminate otherwise clean loads of recyclable material, as well as being unpleasant for the workers at the recycling plant to handle. Thank you for your co-operation.

Bring in your bins pleaseOn bin day, please ensure that you take your bin back on to your property as soon as possible after it’s been emptied.

Bins left out on the street can cause access issues for residents who are partially-sighted or with mobility scooters or pushchairs, particularly when pavements are blocked by bins on one side and parked cars on the other.

Please also try to leave your bin out at the edge of your property, rather than on the pavement where possible.

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Bingham gets betterA brand new Functional Training Suite (FTS) is coming to Bingham Leisure Centre’s gym this month.

It’s been designed in partnership with Toot Hill School, and it incorporates a range of both classic and new equipment, making it suitable for all ages, abilities and training styles. Equipment includes:

• Wall bars

• High bars

• Quad sled run

• Plyo boxes

• Tyre flips

• Slam balls

• Battle ropes

The FTS will be used for group exercise classes such as circuit training and indoor bootcamp but it will also be open for gym users to try the equipment, with a qualified instructor on hand to give advice on how to use it.

For more details and class times, contact Bingham Leisure Centre direct.

Swim 400Swim 400m is an all-inclusive swimming challenge which aims to create fun but challenging goals for swimmers to work towards. It’s open to all swimmers, from beginners wanting to get into the water to seasoned swimmers who want to increase their distance and intensity.

The idea is simple – swimmers complete their 400m swim (16 lengths of the 25 metre pool) at any time and log their time through the Just Swim app (available on the App Store or Google Play). The app helps you set goals and log swims, and will let you track distance, time and calories.

Rushcliffe Arena is one of 12 pools piloting Swim 400 with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) so why not come along, try the new pool, work to improve your overall time and climb up the leader board?

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To take up any of these offers, go to www.leisurecentre.com or contact your local leisure centre:Bingham Leisure Centre 01949 838628 | bingham@parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

Cotgrave Leisure Centre 0115 989 2916 | cotgrave@parkwood-communiyleisure.co.uk

Keyworth Leisure Centre 0115 937 5582 | keyworth@parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

Rushcliffe Arena 0115 981 4027 | rushcliffearena@parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

Reactiv8 ProjectThe Reactiv8 project is a new sport and physical activity programme for people over 16 with a newly acquired disability. People referred onto the programme can access weekly multi-sports and gym sessions for 10 weeks with support from a qualified activity leader.

Sessions cost £4 and are available at all four of the Parkwood Leisure Centres in the borough.

For participants in the project, sport and physical activity can:

• Improve fitness levels

• Help to manage weight

• Build muscle strength

• Reduce stress and depression

• Improve confidence and self esteem

• Give opportunities to meet other people

You can be referred to the project by a medical professional or carer, or by completing and returning the Reactiv8 self-referral form at nottingham.sportsuite.co.uk/forms/view/210

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A breath of fresh air for golf at EdwaltonIn September, we signed a contract with Glendale Golf to secure the future of Edwalton Golf Course for a further nine years. Since then, this well-respected community facility has seen a renovation and, if you haven’t visited recently, then it’s well worth checking out.

Heralded as one of the top ten public courses in the UK for its individuality and quality, Edwalton is renowned for its relaxed, tranquil and friendly atmosphere. The new-look clubhouse includes an upgraded bar and restaurant, and you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy a cuppa and slice of cake, or to check out the lunch menu, just call in and chill out overlooking the luscious greens.

The clubhouse facilities, such as toilets, showers and meeting rooms have also been refurbished. The meeting rooms are available for general hire for community groups and private parties.

If you fancy trying your hand at a spot of golf, Edwalton Golf Centre is made up of 2 gently sloping 9-hole courses that

SPORT

06encompass everything the newcomer, occasional or established golfer needs. There's a brand new practice range, and PGA Golf Coach and Centre Manager, Simon Williams, will be on hand to talk you through the basics. Of course you can pay and play, but the club also offers a number of flexible membership packages designed to suit playing habits, lifestyle and affordability.

Families are a common sight on the greens – a breath of fresh air, friendly competition and good quality family time. The course is also perfect for the keen golfer who’s pushed for time. Even if the busy-ness of modern life is taking its toll, the 9-hole course means you don’t have to give up on your favourite pastime just because time is short – come visit us at Edwalton where you will always find a warm welcome.

Fancy something a little bit different? Come and give Footgolf a go! It’s like golf but played with a football which you kick into larger holes around the course – fun for all

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the family, school-run parents, or a work based team looking for something to build important relationships.

Glendale Golf has run the Wellin Lane course since 2002 and, last year, signed a

new deal to lease the land from the borough council until 2025.

Find out more at www.glendalegolf.co.uk/Edwalton-Golf-Centre

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Bowls is brilliant give it a goSince it reopened in January, bowls at Rushcliffe Arena has grown and the re-formed Rushcliffe Indoor Bowls Club (RIBC) is now in full swing. Over half of their previous members have returned and new members are joining all the time.

73 year old Rita, who lives in Gamston, started playing bowls in January, just six weeks after her husband Ron passed away. Rita says: “I was so nervous about joining but I thought ‘I either sit here and sink, or I get up and go’. The club members were really welcoming and they took me under their wing straight away.”

Rita borrowed bowls and shoes and started learning about the game. Now, a few months in, she’s joined the club, bought her own kit and has been recruited to play in a mixed league.

Rita added: “I’m still learning the game but everyone here is great at guiding you

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and its good exercise too – I play at least 2 hours a week now. I’ve even introduced my grandkids to the game – and they loved it!”

Irene Herod from the club says: “Our team of qualified coaches have been very busy, providing coaching for adults, juniors and those with disabilities. If you think you’d like to try bowls, give it a go, there’s nothing to lose! And if you’re worried about lack of mobility, don’t be - there are aids to help you bowl so don’t let that put you off.”

RIBC is looking forward to the new season in September when a full league programme will be started. They’d be delighted to welcome new and former members. They’re also keen to find volunteers to get involved with their committee.

To get involved, contact Irene on 0115 933 5202 or visit www.rushcliffeibc.co.uk

Irene Herod (left) communications officer at Rushcliffe indoor bowls club, and new member Rita (right).

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SPORT

06Rushcliffe welcomes British Triathlon Mixed Relay CupThe borough will welcome Olympic stars on Saturday 2 September when Britain’s top triathletes gather on Victoria Embankment for the inaugural British Triathlon Mixed Relay Cup.

Watch liveLive on BBC One, quartets from across the country and further afield will take on the fast and furious mixed relay race format, seeing athletes each complete a short-course triathlon through the River Trent and alongside the embankment before tagging their next teammate to do the same. With England holding the current Commonwealth Games Mixed Relay title, prepare for a nail-biting battle as teams race to be the very first to lift the cup.

Get the best seats to capture the finest elite action by booking a spot in the Grandstand. Tickets start from £10 at www.seetickets.com/tour/british-triathlon-mixed-relay-cup

Take partBut the action doesn’t stop there. Amateur triathletes are invited to warm up the course before the elites take their marks, with the City of Nottingham Triathlon welcoming entrants of all abilities. With the choice of the beginner GO TRI or super sprint distance, there’s an option for all to be part

of the weekend’s excitement. The pool-based swim is followed by bike and run elements which take in much of the same course as the showcase event.

Don’t fancy taking on the entire course? Grab two teammates and tackle one discipline each in the relay. For details on race distances and to enter visit www.britishtriathlon.org/mixedrelaycup

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Bright future for Bridgford Hall

Over £1.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Enterprise Scheme has been secured to enable the renovation of Bridgford Hall, with an additional £800,000 from the borough council. The grant is the first awarded in Nottingham under HLF’s Heritage Enterprise programme, which is designed to help when the cost of repairing an historic building is so high that restoration is not economically viable.

Dating back 250 years, Bridgford Hall has a long and illustrious history. It was built by Mundy Musters, Lord of the estates of West Bridgford and Colwick, in 1768 before being occupied by the Heymann family. Rushcliffe Borough Council assumed responsibility of the Hall and park in 1974.

After a £2.3 million renovation project, Grade 2-listed Bridgford Hall has reopened as a hotel and wedding venue. Seven brand new apart-hotel suites operated by Birchover Residences now occupy the first and second floors, whilst Nottinghamshire County Council’s popular registrations service has returned to the ground floor in two new ceremony rooms.

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To enquire about booking apart-hotel accommodation at the hall visit www.thebirchoverresidences.com/bridgford-hall

To enquire about booking a ceremony at the hall visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/celebrate/venues/bridgford-hall

Throughout the renovation, activities have taken place for local residents to get involved in, including hard-hat tours of the construction site, work experience placements, a conservation workshop and history workshops in local schools. Still to come:

Bridgford Hall Community Theatre Production Sunday 25 June, 1.30pm - 6.30pm

A Reduced Shakespeare Company-style romp through the history of Bridgford Hall, featuring a cast of over 250 talented local amateur performers including West Bridgford Dramatic Society and pupils from Lady Bay Primary School. There’ll be three short plays to watch during the afternoon, leading up to a finale musical performance at 6pm. Admission is free.

Bridgford Hall Heritage Open Day Saturday 9 September, 10am - 1pm

In celebration of Heritage Open Days 2017 we’ll be throwing open the doors to Bridgford Hall and giving visitors a unique chance to see the hidden history of this landmark local venue and learn about the important role previous owners played in shaping modern West Bridgford. There’ll also be lots of family-friendly activities to try in the surrounding park including traditional Victorian games and sideshows. Admission is free.

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Here comes summerFrom June to September you’ll find a whole host of fun family events taking place in Rushcliffe. We’ve highlighted a few of our favourites below.

Get on the ball Sunday Funday comes to Rushcliffe Country Park in Ruddington on Sunday 10 September 12pm - 5pm. It’s a fun and free festival of sport, health and wellbeing to help you eat well, move more and live longer. There’ll be lots to see and do with fantastic displays, games and activities plus market stalls, health advice and much more. It is run in partnership with Rushcliffe CCG.

Central Avenue becomes the hottest spot in West Bridgford this summer as the Taste of Rushcliffe Festival comes to town. On Friday 21 July we celebrate our third annual Friday Night Fiesta from 6pm - 10pm on the croquet lawn. We’ve partnered with local music promoters Roots Acoustic to present an evening of chilled-out tunes by the best of local unsigned talent. So sit back, enjoy some tasty street food and grab a drink from the Double Decker bus bar.

On Saturday 22 July, it’s Food and Drink Festival time from 10am - 4pm. Over 30 great independent food businesses will be showcasing their wares with masterclasses, cookery demos, a children’s cookery school, a food science lab and lots more. You’ll also find the YouNG Market, which showcases stalls from local young entrepreneurs and musicians. The best performing stallholders will get the opportunity to sell their wares at a Slovakian market in October, as part of the YouNG Goes Euro project.

Food and cricket – howzat for timing?

With a great weekend of T20 cricket planned for both Friday and Saturday at Trent Bridge, we think you’ll be bowled over!

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Strike up the band Proms in the Park returns to Bridgford Park, West Bridgford on Saturday 24 June from 12pm - 9pm in celebration of Armed Forces Day. There’ll be musical performances throughout the day leading up to a ‘last night of the proms’ concert at 7pm with Nottingham Concert Band, plus charity and community stalls, garden games, circus skills and free sports activities. Bring a picnic or enjoy the onsite food and bar. Proms 2017 is kindly sponsored by Grosvenor House Day Nursery and our official charity is the Defence National Rehabilitation Centre at Stanford Hall, Stanford on Soar.

Nottinghamshire’s biggest celebration of National Play Day – Lark in the Park – takes place in Bridgford Park on Wednesday 2 August, 10am - 4pm. Our theme this year is ‘Go Wild’ so expect lots of messy outdoor adventures to get you up close and

For further information on all our summer events, visit www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/whatson, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rushcliffewhatson or call 0115 981 9911.

personal with Mother Nature, as well as the usual shows, classes and sports activities. Admission is free but there is a charge for fairground rides and inflatables.

Lark 2017 is kindly sponsored by Rex Gooding Estate Agents

What a lark

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Clever chips for perfect poochesSince April last year, it’s been compulsory for all dogs over 8 weeks old to be fitted with a microchip. Whenever we find a lost or stray dog we always scan for a chip and we often find much-loved pets without them, meaning it’s harder to reunite them with their owner. Please ensure you have your dog chipped – it’s low cost and painless, and they could be lost without one.

Unfortunately, many ‘chipped’ dogs have out of date details registered on the microchip database. Again, this could mean a delay in reuniting dogs with their owner or mean that we can’t contact the owner at all.

Wave goodbye to waspsFinding a wasps' nest at home can be stressful, not to mention potentially painful if you are stung. But don’t worry, help is at hand from our pest control service who will deal with the problem for just £51.60 (a discount is available if you are on a qualifying benefit).

They’ll visit and spray the nest which quickly destroys the wasps in most cases. If the nest is very difficult to access, our officer will discuss the alternatives with you.

Booking is easy, complete our online form at www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/pestcontrol or call us on 0115 981 9911.

If you’ve moved house or changed your phone number, or acquired a dog that was already chipped, remember it is your responsibility to ensure that the dog is chipped and your contact details are fully up to date. If you aren’t sure if your details are up to date, you can check at check-a-chip.co.uk or call 0203 773 8398 with your chip number and they will tell you which company holds your details and how you can update them. If you aren’t sure if your dog is chipped you can ask your vet, local rescue centre or contact us to arrange for a scan on 0115 981 9911.

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Help us bring empty homes back into useAt any one time in Rushcliffe, we estimate that around 500 homes have been empty for 6 months or more. Given the shortage of affordable homes and the need to build more, it makes sense to ensure that empty properties are brought back into use.

As well as providing a home for people in need, refurbishing and repairing empty homes can help improve the look and feel of a neighbourhood. Derelict properties can attract problems such as fly tipping, vandalism and arson.

We need your help to identify any empty properties in your community. If you see an

empty home, please report it to us by emailing customerservices@rushcliffe.gov.uk or calling 0115 981 9911.

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Don’t be alarmed we’re here to helpAre you or your relatives living alone and in need of some support in an emergency?

Our Home Alarm service has been providing comfort, reassurance and support for residents in Rushcliffe for over 30 years.

The service provides an emergency response 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing peace of mind.

95% of our customers are happy with the service.

They say:

“The service has literally been a lifesaver and I recommend it to everyone. Having the service reassures me and it helps maintain my independence.”

“I recently fell in the hall, could not get up, and would not have managed to get help without the home alarm.”

For a free demonstration or to find out about the grant and the service, contact our housing support team on

0115 981 9911 or visit

rushcliffe.gov.uk/homealarms

Our service provides

• Caring and professional service

• Full installation

• No-obligation demonstration in your own home

• Annual service visit.

The service costs just £3.68 per week and we have Better Care grant funding to subsidise the cost for people who claim certain benefits. If you qualify for this support, the weekly charge is £2.62. There’s also a one off installation charge of £30 for all customers.

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Summer holiday home securityYou’d never deliberately tell the burglars what you’ve got planned so don’t advertise that you’re away on social media, and wait until you’re back home to share your holiday snaps. Only tell the people who need to know that you’re going away and don’t have your home address showing on the outside of your luggage – put this on the inside of your case instead.

Other holiday home security tips

• Lock all doors and windows and put keys in a safe place.

• Set your intruder alarm (or think about buying one if you don’t have one).

• Make your home look occupied by using plug-in timers for lamps and radios, and keep valuable items, such as laptops, out of view.

• Ask a family member or neighbour to move your post and open and close your curtains each day.

• Lock external gates and use outdoor security lighting.

• Make sure sheds and other outbuildings are secure and bring valuable bikes etc into the house.

• Check your buildings and contents insurance is up to date.

Hi local burglarI am writing to inform you that my home will be

unoccupied for 2 weeks from 5 August 2017. We’re off to

Palma on the 7.30am flight and we’re not back until 19th!

You can take your time planning the burglary at our home

because we’ll be relaxing by the pool, watching the kids

building sandcastles and drinking cocktails - bliss!All the best, Rushcliffe Homeowner

Postcard

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Postcard

charity that helps people to change their lives for the better, we’ve branded 50 bottle banks in Rushcliffe with subtle questions to make people think about their drinking habits whilst recycling. The questions - “Come here often?”, “Get smashed often?” and “How many units are you recycling?” come alongside contact information and aim to offer support if needed.

If you would like help or advice about issues relating to alcohol, contact CGL on 0115 896 0798, email notts@cgl.org.uk or visit www.changegrowlive.org.uk

IS ALCOHOL AFFECTING

YOUR LIFE?

Contact us on 0115 8960798 or visit

www.changegrowlive.org.uk

We’ve teamed up with key partners in health and social care to help people to think about what they drink. The campaign has been launched at bottle banks throughout the borough as there’s concern about the rise in people drinking unhealthy levels – that means drinking more than the recommended 2-3 units a day for both men and women.

Rushcliffe has a high level of ‘unhealthy’ drinkers and regular excessive alcohol intake can lead to issues such as mental health problems, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, liver disease, reduced fertility, excess weight gain and heart disease.

Together with NHS Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Change, Grow, Live (CGL), a social care and health

Think about what you drink this SummerAs the weather warms up, it’s easy to drink more when you’re at a BBQ or on a summer picnic. But if you’re drinking more alcohol than you think you should, help and advice is at hand.

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In good health working together to improve patient careHealth and care organisations across Rushcliffe have been exploring new and innovative ways to design and deliver health and care services over the last two years.

All twelve Rushcliffe GP practices have come together as PartnersHealth, and are playing a crucial role in driving these changes and the integration of services.

Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), patients, hospital colleagues and community service providers, and PartnersHealth are working in collaboration under the name ‘Principia’ to try these new

Patients now no longer need to go to hospital outpatient clinics for an appointment for some medical specialities, instead their GP can refer them to community clinics to be assessed by consultants and specialist teams.

Community care on offer includes gynaecology (Keyworth), trauma and orthopaedics (West Bridgford and Bingham), gastroenterology (West Bridgford) and intravenous treatment for osteoperosis (various GP practices and in patients’ homes across Rushcliffe).

These new services have helped reduce the need for patients to attend the hospital and has saved the local NHS more than £1m.

ways of working. Principia’s aim is to make services more convenient and accessible to patients – as well as providing better value for the NHS.

Principia is attracting national attention for its success in Rushcliffe - the following examples highlight just some of the areas where we’re making a real difference to local people through more integrated care delivery.

Care closer to home

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Reducing strokes through proactive careAll Rushcliffe GP practices are now using an easy-to-use tool that helps them to better identify patients with symptoms of atrial fibrillation (AF) – which puts them at risk of having a stroke. Following diagnosis GPs can reduce this risk of stroke starting patients on anticoagulation therapy.

There has been an 18% reduction in AF-related strokes in Rushcliffe between since 2015 – and it is estimated that at least 20 strokes have been prevented.

Effective prescribing in General Practice Principia invested in a computer-based prescribing system which has been rolled out across all GP practices in Rushcliffe. This supports safe and cost-effective prescribing by delivering patient-specific information to the GPs and Advanced Nurse Practitioners to help decision-making about the appropriate treatment and medication.

Cost savings to the local NHS are predicted to be £160,000 in the first year of implementation – representing a return on investment of 300%.

Reducing hospital admissions and A&E demandA study by the Health Foundation has shown that Principia’s support to care homes has helped reduced the number of A&E attendances, ambulance call-outs and hospital admissions from residential and nursing homes.

Each care home now has a designated GP practice looking after their residents – this improves communication and relationships with care home staff through regular visits to the home. The model also sees integrated community nursing teams going into the home and improved understanding of the alternatives to an ambulance call-out.

Comparing data from Rushcliffe care homes against similar care homes elsewhere, the study found that those receiving Principia’s enhanced model of care attended A&E 29% less frequently were admitted to hospital 23% less often.

For more on how Principia is improving local services through NHS England’s New Care Models programme, visit www.rushcliffeccg.nhs.uk or follow us on Twitter @PrincipiaMCP

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13 In the Spring edition of Rushcliffe Reports, we ran a survey asking you where your favourite green space in the borough is.

And the winner was… Cotgrave Country Park, which you voted for overwhelmingly.

Owned by Nottinghamshire County Council, it is part of the old colliery site and includes woodland, grassland, ponds, and a restored section of Grantham canal. It’s on Hollygate Lane in Cotgrave and admission and parking is free – so give it a visit this Summer and find out why it was chosen as Rushcliffe’s favourite green space.

The runner up was a dead heat between three green spaces as they all got the same number of votes. They were:

• The Hook and Trent Field – a large area of grassland alongside the River Trent in Lady Bay.

• Meadow Park, East Leake – an area of meadowland alongside Kingston Brook – easily accessible from the village.

• Sharphill Wood, Edwalton – an area of mixed deciduous woodland – popular with dog-walkers.

There are well over thirty nature sites and green spaces in Rushcliffe – some are well-known and some are hidden gems. For more information on these, please visit www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/greenspaces or alternatively you can contact Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust at www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org or on 0115 958 8242.

Green Spaces to enjoy this Summer

The Hook and Trent Field

Meadow Park

Sharphill Wood

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Aslockton is famous for being the birthplace of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1533 to 1555, and the school, pub, village hall and borough ward are named in his honour. Whatton is the home of the Church of St Beverley and is a collection of leafy lanes and cottages. It is also the site of a five-storey tower windmill which was built in 1820 and is now a listed building, although it no longer has its cap or sails.

The two villages have a joint cricket team, and there are football, tennis and table tennis clubs in Aslockton. For history buffs, there is the Cranmer Local History Group, and a highlight in Whatton’s annual calendar is their Easter duck race.

Village in focus:

Whatton and AslocktonYou get two villages for the price of one in this edition of Rushcliffe Reports. Whatton and Aslockton are neighbouring villages, east of Bingham, separated by the River Smite. They have been synonymous with each other as far back as the Domesday Book of 1086. Whatton appears as ‘Watone’, and Aslockton as ‘Aslachetone’.

Both villages are in the middle of beautiful countryside, with a plethora of footpaths and quiet cycling routes on the doorstep – very handy for local villages such as Scarrington, Orston and Granby, and only a few miles from Belvoir Castle. What better way to spend a summer afternoon than wandering around these characterful villages in the heart of the Nottinghamshire countryside?

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Whatton

Aslockton

USEFU

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Rushcliffe Reports is the newsletter of Rushcliffe Borough Council. It is distributed to every home in the Borough.

Printed by AR Signs

Rushcliffe Community Contact Centre Rectory Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6BU

By telephone: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm In person: 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on the first Saturday of every month.

T 0115 981 9911 | E customerservices@rushcliffe.gov.uk | W www.rushcliffe.gov.uk

twitter.com/rushcliffe facebook.com/rushcliffeborough

linkedin.com/company/rushcliffe-borough-council

Useful contacts cut out and keep guide

Rushcliffe Borough CouncilFor bins, street cleaning, council tax and benefits queries, planning, and elections. Phone: 0115 981 9911 Email: customerservices@rushcliffe.gov.uk You can also visit us in person at our contact centre or contact points across the borough. Go to www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/customerservices for details and opening hours.

Nottinghamshire County CouncilFor anything related to highways, pavements and street lighting, schools, social care, tips or the registration service.Phone: 0300 500 80 80Email: enquiries@nottscc.gov.uk

Nottinghamshire Police• If someone’s life is in danger or a crime is

in progress dial 999• Otherwise, call the main switchboard

on 101

Crimestoppers Phone: 0800 555 111Report online: www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Ambulance / Fire and Rescue Service• For emergencies, call 999

Flooding• Environment Agency Floodline (24 hour

service): 0345 988 1188 • Online information:

www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/flooding

Power cutIf you experience a power cut, contact your network operator to report it by calling 105

HealthNHS 111 non-emergency number is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – call 111

Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning GroupPhone: 0115 8837880Email: mail@rushcliffeccg.nhs.uk

Leisure centres • Bingham Leisure Centre

call 01949 838628 or email bingham @parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

• Cotgrave Leisure Centre call 0115 989 2916 or email cotgrave @parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

• Keyworth Leisure Centre call 0115 937 5582 or email keyworth @parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

• Rushcliffe Arena call 0115 981 4027 or email rushcliffearena @parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

• East Leake Leisure Centre call 01509 852 956 or email eastleakeleisurecentre@carillionplc.com