Nick Thorpe gave the Council details of the Festival events scheduled to take place during the period 8-24 June. He would like anyone interested in sponsoring (or sharing the sponsorship) an event to contact him. There is a web link to the Festival site from this site. Just go to the 'Links' page for information

The grant from the District Council earmarked for tourism development in Southwell has now been virtually spent. Apart from the initial set up of the tourism office in the Minster Centre, the grant has been used to aquire planters for all the gateways to the town, more seats, portable pull-up stands to advertise the town at venues throughout the district, interpretation boards and additional information plaques for buildings. The grant had to be used for capital projects (that is to say 'things'), so we were not able to supplement the hours of our tourism officer.At the moment, this valuable role is completely funded by the Town Council.

After months of consultation with officers from the District and County Councils, the new signage for the carparks has been agreed and will be in place in time for the Southwell Festival in June.

The new signs are clear and send those visitors who do not know the town in a definite loop to find alternative car parks if the first one they try is full. a map showing the locations of the new signs can be viewed in the Town Council offices in the Courthouse.

The car park in Memorial drive will shortly be marked out to give 40 car park spaces. This will be signed as a long stay car park.

Following the decriminalising of parking, the police will no longer be the enforcement agency. District Councils will take this on, but this will not happen until ALL the District Councils can agree on the format. Unfortunately this will not come into effect until March 2008.

What is it and what is it for?

The aim of the Conference is to inform as many people as possible abouth the Newark and Sherwood District Council Community Plan. Information and displays of all Community Plan Issue Groups will be displayed. The Issue Groups are: Community Safety Partnership, Community Action Network, Health and Well-being, Lifelong Learning, Economic Regeneration, Environment, Culture, Transport, Children and Young People. the day will give residents from Southwell and the surrounding villages the opportunity of influencing the future in these areas.

Southwell and many of the local villages have undertaken Town/Parish Plans. How do these fit with the District Council's vision for us? 

Who will be there?

Representatives from the Issue Groups, District Councillors, Town Councillors, members of the Southwell Town Forum. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the representatives from the Groups and leave written comments to be taken back to the Dustrict Council.

Do come and make your opinions known.

On March 13th the County Council will make its final decision on whether to close the tip or bow to public pressure and keep it open.the original decision was made by one just County Councillor over 18months ago.

Objections from residents have so far succeeded in delaying the closure twice since it was first made public in January 2006.  As part of the consultation process, more than 900 completed questionnaires were returned to Mrs Smedley, 638 letters sent in and petitions of nearly 2000 signatures were collected on petitions and presented. These resulted in a 'stay of execution'  for a few months while a report was drafted by officers for March 13th's council meeting.

It would be exremely detrimental for the local community if we were to lose this well used and valuable facility, so ............

to keep the pressure on the County Council, write or petition the county council's cabinet member for the environment,

Cllr Stella Smedley at County Hall, West Bridgford, Nottingham or e-mail her on:

cllr.stella.smedley'nottscc.gov.uk