Councillors clash at Gedling hustings event

CAR parking charges and the possible closure of Gedling School were two of the hot topics at a Nottingham Post election hustings event on Friday.

Council leader Roland Spencer, Labour leader John Clarke, Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Hughes and Green Party candidate Jim Norris answered questions from the public at the debate at Arnold Hill School.

The candidates were asked how they would protect Arnold jobs.

Councillor Hughes said: "The shops have been suffering a little since car park charges were introduced, which is why we would have the first hour's parking free."

Mr Norris said he would like to see the green economy in the area boosted.

He said: "We could develop the use of land for growing food to support local shops and infrastructure."

Councillor Clarke said Labour would provide two hours' free parking. He said: "Arnold, over the years, hasn't really grown.

"There are a lot of businesses out there now that are clearly struggling."

Councillor Spencer and Mr Clarke clashed over whether it was possible to offer two hours free. Mr Spencer said: "Everybody knows he can't do it across the borough." But Mr Clarke insisted the plans had been budgeted.

Mr Spencer added the council had done a "fantastic job" in keeping job cuts to a minimum.

The future of leisure services, including Pond Hills Community Centre and the Bonington Theatre, was another hot topic. Under council plans for a new leisure centre on the King George V recreation ground these would have closed, but the plans were recently withdrawn after local opposition.

Mr Spencer said he was "disappointed" at not being able to develop the recreation ground but that the council had listened to people under the democratic process.

Mr Clarke criticised the Conservatives for having to do a U-turn over plans and said "something needs to be done pretty rapidly".

Mr Hughes said: "It's a great shame that scheme fell through."

And Mr Norris said the theatre and community centre were important. He said: "These are all key elements of the structure of Gedling."

All candidates were concerned over the future of threatened Gedling School.

Mr Spencer said: "We have put a lot of money into Gedling School so we are not very pleased if we lose what we have put in.

"We are doing all that we can."

Mr Hughes said: "It's a very important part of the local community."

Mr Clarke urged supporters of the school to "keep lobbying".

Mr Norris said it would be a "tragedy" to lose the school and that it was a "strange education policy" that would result in closure.

The candidates also agreed that residents' concerns over Dorket Head landfill site should be listened to.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/1443abec/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CCouncillors0Eclash0EGedling0Ehustings0Eevent0Carticle0E34581460Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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