Fears Beeston is reaching ‘student saturation’ point
FORMER NURSERY IS LATEST BUILDING TO BECOME HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
NEW student housing could be on the way in Beeston – where a children’s nursery used to be.
Local people had mixed feelings about the prospect that the building earmarked for conversion into a house in mulitple occupation (HMO) could become a university residence, with one saying the area was already “saturated” with student flats.
Revised plans for a new development on the site of the former Young Rascals Day Nursery, in City Road, have been submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council and have been granted conditional permission, following a previous application to convert the building, which was approved.
Builders are currently on the site, which has been empty since December when the day nursery closed.
Residents Gwyn and Grant Campion, who met at the University of Nottingham in the late 1960s, said they were surprised that more student accommodation could be built in the town, given the large number of similar developments in the area.
Mrs Campion said: “I’m not against student housing in principle, but it comes to a point where it begins to sort of dominate. I would think there’s more of a need for cheaper family housing really, for first-time buyers who find it hard to get on to the property ladder.
“We’ve certainly missed having the students around in lockdown – it’s nice to have them. But I’d have thought that it’s more or less reaching saturation.”
Mr Campion said: “I don’t understand the economics of it. I mean, they’re so expensive. I just wonder if there isn’t space on the university campuses themselves that aren’t so expensive. But I suppose modern students want this.”
While neither the applicant JH Hofton Trust & PM Read nor the agent on the application, Abi Saunders Architects, have confirmed what the final use for the house will be, it is understood student accommodation is likely.
When asked whether he thought Beeston needed more student housing, another resident, Ashleigh Bissett, said: “I would have thought so given that there are campuses going up left, right and centre.
“There’s a growing need for student housing. It puts a bit of a strain on the infrastructure sometimes.
“People sometimes complain that the bars are too full and there’s partying going on, music being played loud, but that’s just students.”
And Richard Thompson said: “It’s the same anywhere you go. Look in town. I know it’s a good source of income and everything but there’s nothing for older people. I’m retired and if my landlord turned round tomorrow and said he wanted to turn my house into something for students I’d be homeless.”
We also spoke to Jonah Frostdann, a student who lives in Beeston, studying economics at Nottingham Trent University.
He said: “I don’t mind it, considering I’m not a final-year student I think Beeston is a little quieter, and I’ve got a few friends who are moving here. A lot of them prefer having a space away from student living. People are focusing on work a bit more. I prefer a community feel, I know my neighbours well.
“I think it’s a good thing but I understand that there might be some people worried if [student housing] is pushing up house prices here.
“I do think in general it’s a good thing. Compared to somewhere like Lenton or Radford I don’t think Beeston is going to be too populated with students.”
TWO lottery winners have now got the go-ahead to open a decades-old bottle of champagne they saved for a lottery win after scooping £500,000 on the Thunderball.
Weston-super-mare couple Brian Courtney, 65, and wife Julie, 62, won on January 30, allowing them to retire early.
And while the odds were stacked against them, Mr Courtney’s belief that he would win big stretched back to the 1990s and a bottle of champagne.
“We used to take part in a French exchange and in the early nineties we had a family to stay who brought us a very nice bottle of pink champagne to say thank you,” said Mr Courtney. “When they gave it to us we said then and there that we’d keep it and drink when we won the lottery.
“I think they thought we were mad but I was sure that we’d be cracking it open one day to celebrate a big win!”
Mr Courtney, a factory worker, and Mrs Courtney, a hotel worker made redundant last year, were able to put work behind them as a result.
“Julie and I have worked all our lives and I think we’re both ready for retirement,” said Mr Courtney.
“However, to be able to retire knowing we don’t have to worry about money, is just the icing on the cake.”
TEN people have been fined £100 each for thoughtlessly chucking away face masks in Rushcliffe.
Rushcliffe Borough Council has issued hundreds of on-the-spot fines since it joined forces with Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) last month for increased environmental crime enforcement seven days a week.
WISE investigates fly-tipping, waste offences, littering and dogs fouling the pavement.
Anyone caught fly-tipping can be issued with a £400 fixed penalty notice.
People caught littering or failing to pick up their dog’s waste, can be fined £100.
Councillor Rob Inglis, the council’s cabinet portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, said: “We’re pleased with the level of action since the partnership began showing we will not tolerate fly-tipping, dog fouling or littering in Rushcliffe.
“The issues are a real frustration for many residents and it’s particularly disappointing that a minority of people still believe it is OK to just dump their rubbish wherever they fancy – including face masks.
“Dumping waste is anti-social behaviour and impacts on our environment. There is never an excuse to mess up our borough in this way and these fines show that we will not hesitate to take action.”
WISE managing director John Dunne added: “Our aim is to reduce environmental crime for the long term and we’re continuing to work in an ‘intelligence-led’ manner working with individuals and businesses to ensure Rushcliffe is clean and tidy.
“We use a wide range of technical support including wireless bodyworn cameras and a handheld computer which can confirm the identity of an alleged offender before issuing a notice.”
Meanwhile, Newark and Sherwood District Council has fined a woman £400 for an illegal tip-run which led to her rubbish being flytipped and is now warning residents to be extra vigilant when employing “man with a van” services after Amazon delivery packaging and other household goods were found dumped in black bags on Forest Road, Oxton.
The council took swift enforcement action after an investigation traced the rubbish back to its owner and she was fined for failing to take the appropriate steps to prevent it from being fly-tipped.
RESIDENTS in the area with the highest Covid infection rate in the county say they are shocked by a recent surge in cases.
East Bridgford and Aslockton has an infection rate of 833.4 in the seven days leading to February 16, putting it in the Government’s highest-risk Covid-19 category.
This is due to 62 positive cases during this period, putting the area far above the national average rate of 124.9.
The rise has worried East Bridgford residents, who are confused by their village having the highest Covid rate in Nottinghamshire.
Elizabeth Peters, who lives in the village, said: “It is surprising – absolutely.
“I thought we were pretty safe here in the village. We are pretty isolated.
“I absolutely love it here – there’s a real sense of community. I just can’t believe it.
“I’m so surprised we’ve had that many cases in such a short period of time.”
Harry Pankowski, 27, said: “I’m pretty shocked by that, yes.
“I’ve been furloughed so I’ve pretty much only been going to the
I thought we were pretty safe here in the village. We are pretty isolated.
Elizabeth Peters
shops and for walks. I guess I’ve seen quite a few people out and about – but everyone keeps their distance.
“Hopefully we can see that number go back down again.
“It’s anyone’s guess why we’ve seen a rise.
“I’ve lived here all my life – I went off to university but then came back.”
Karen Swann, 28, said: “It’s absolutely fine here – it’s a normal kind of village.
“I don’t know what the rise in cases is down to.
“Pretty much everybody gives you plenty of room – we call it the ‘Covid shuffle’ in our house.
“I’ve lived here since 2008 – we very much like it here.
“Everybody has been looking after each other.”
Other villages within the East Bridgford and Aslockton area include Scarrington, Car Colston and Granby.
By contrast, neighbouring Bingham’s rate is only 39.2 due to just four cases over the same period, while the virus has been suppressed in nearby Lambley and Burton Joyce.