ODEF news from the January 2012 meeting of the Core Group

Wild Sherwood Project
The Wild Sherwood project is now enrolling an average of ten new volunteers each month and has recently received addition funding from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. This funding will mean even more unemployed people will be able to enjoy the benefits of the programme over the course of the next eighteen months.

ODEF Work Club
ODEF has successfully applied for an ESF Community Grant in order to set up a work club for Ollerton and Boughton. The club will open every Thursday from 1st March 2012 and will be based around the Government’s self help model. The funding will be used to establish and run the club until September 2012 after which time it is intended to run using volunteers.

Transport Action Team
The Transport Action Team met on 10 January 2012 and discussed a wide number of issues. These included:

• The traffic obstruction problem outside St Joseph’s School and the Cherry Trees development is causing concerns about road safety. The housing development did not include sufficient parking places for residents which has resulted in roadside parking.
• The  zebra crossing on Forest Road causes traffic problems for vehicles pulling out of Briar Road and the Action Team will be writing a letter to Highways Department regarding this
• The recent improvements to the Ollerton roundabout has had a positive impact on traffic congestion but there is still further work to be done, Funding is a problem and it is unlikely that any further works will be carried out in the short term
• The Action Team has a vacancy caused by the resignation to John Musgrove and other ODEF members will be invited to fill the position
• The Action Team has contacted Cllr Smedley with a view to obtaining a copy of both the Local Transport Plan and the Ollerton rail link feasibility report. The Action Team had previously asked for a by pass to be included in the Local Transport Plan.
• There have been some significant developments regarding the rail link. The line through Ollerton has been refurbished and is in use as a test track. There is also some work planned for the line which goes from Ollerton to Bevercotes.

Tourism Action Team
ODEF has submitted a proposal to the County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme to improve the Story of the Sandlands nature trail. The work will be carried out by ODEF’s volunteers from the Wild Sherwood Project and will include new interpretation boards, leaflets, waymarkers and seats and benches along the trail. A decision on the proposal is not expected for some time.

Feel Good Foods Action Team
The Feel Good Foods Action Team met on 14 December 2011 and discussed the following:

• Access to the community garden has been agreed with the Dukeries College and new signage will shortly be appearing around the garden
• A stock of children’s garden tools has been ordered
• The shop is being developed; schools have been invited to design a suitable mural for display. The official opening of the shop is likely to be in March subject to planning permission
• Tracey Goodwin has appeared twice on BBC Radio Nottingham to speak about the project
• A meeting has been arranged with Newark & Sherwood Homes to discuss supporting the cultivation of tenants’ gardens
• A programme of horticultural training courses has been arranged to take place at the community garden starting in February 2012.
• The town council has agreed to support the project and will send a councillor to attend future meetings. They have also said they will explore the idea of allowing town council land being used as a possible community orchard.
• Tracey Goodwin has been talking to the PCC about creating a new garden in the grounds of St Paulinus Church. Learning objectives for the healthy eating and growing educational sessions have been produced
• Sustainability of the project continues to be important and future developments are being planned.

 Disability Action Team
The Disability Action Team met on 16 November 2011 and discussed the latest position with the accessibility audit on Edwinstowe high street. It was also reported that dropped kerbs were necessary at the crossing points around the Ollerton roundabout.

Miners’ Memorial
The town council has submitted a planning application to erect the Ollerton Miners’ Memorial sculpture. The preferred site for the memorial is on land owned by Tesco and it is possible that they will object to the proposal.

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