An energy company is hoping to extract gas left behind from coal mining, in a project which could last 25 years. The application, on land next to Rufford Abbey Registered Parkland, would see three weeks of round-the-clock drilling, while tests are carried out to work out if there is enough gas to make the project profitable.Some of this escaping methane gas would then be set fire to, meaning there would be a flare for some of the three weeks. After that, if the scheme was deemed viable, equipment would be set up to capture the escaping gas.Planning bosses at the Conservative-run Nottinghamshire County Council have recommended that the scheme be approved.Dozens of groups have been consulted about the project, but only one objection has been raised – on highways grounds.The site is on arable land around 1.5 miles to the south of Ollerton.The application does not involve, hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’ – a controversial process which involves setting off small … [Read more...] about Energy company launches gas drilling bid for site near Nottinghamshire country park
Nottinghamshire county council highways
All roads lead back to county council
Nottinghamshire County Council is to spend £5m on the outright purchase of Via East Midlands, which provides the county’s highways and fleet services.Via started operating in July 2016 as a partnership between Nottinghamshire County Council and Corserv, a company owned by Cornwall Council.Prior to that the county council provided highways functions in-house.Less than three years on, Via will be 100%-owned by the county council, which has now bought out Corserv’s shares, which are worth £5m.Via East Midlands Ltd was 51% owned by Corserv Ltd and 49% by the county council.Operations staff transferred in to Via from the existing NCC highways department, while Corserv provided Via with support services, including finance, health and safety, governance and procurement.Asked how outright ownership differed from the in-house arrangements, the county council said: “Because Via operates as a commercial company, with its own board of directors, it can also work … [Read more...] about All roads lead back to county council
These are the most dangerous roads in the city and county for cyclists
The most dangerous roads for cyclists in Nottinghamshire have been revealed by new police data. The A60, which crosses Trent Bridge and heads to London Road Island, is the most dangerous route for cyclists. Official police data shows there were 60 incidents on the road between 2015 and 2017 in which a cyclist was seriously or slightly hurt. Nine of those involved serious injuries. The A6005 (Nottingham to Derby through Long Eaton) was second, with 30 injuries to cyclists - three of which were serious, and one of which was fatal. The A610 (Nottingham to Eastwood) had 24 cyclist casualties, while the A611, in Sutton in Ashfield and the B682, Basford, both had 22. The figures only include accidents which actually took place in Nottinghamshire - even if the road in question goes on to other places. Overall, the data shows 1,053 cyclists were hurt or killed in accidents on roads in the county over the three-year period. The number has remained similar each year, with 348 casualties in 2015, … [Read more...] about These are the most dangerous roads in the city and county for cyclists
County Council pays out £5.1m in pothole-related claims over five years
Nottinghamshire County Council has paid out £5.1 million to motorists and cyclists for pothole-related damage and injury claims over the last five years. An investigation by Cycling UK, a charitable organisation supporting cyclists, found the county council had paid out the money to claims submitted between 2013/14 and 2017/18. Councillor John Cottee, chairman of the communities and place committee, said the county's roads had "suffered from decades of under-investment under previous Labour administrations". Nottinghamshire's highways network covers 2,774 miles and the back-log of inherited road problems amounts to more than £143 million - which will take "many years" and considerable investment to bring roads back to an ideal standard, Cllr Cottee said. Nottingham City Council paid out a much lower £19,620 in compensation claims, but the investigation discovered that individual claims made by cyclists still cost the city council six times more than those of motorists. … [Read more...] about County Council pays out £5.1m in pothole-related claims over five years
County council says innovative approach to road maintenance is alive and kicking
Nottinghamshire County Council has a strong record of innovation when it comes to maintaining the county’s roads, writes Coun Gordon Wheeler. Innovation allows the council to make use of new materials, ways of working and technologies to improve the highway services it provides and the value for money they offer, benefiting county residents. This council had a strong history of innovation whilst it delivered its own highways services and this has continued since Via East Midlands began managing Nottinghamshire’s roads in 2016.One case in point is the way drains at the side of the roads are now cleaned.As a council, we used to clean each of them every 12 months on a rota.But through the collection of data , councillors and council officers were able to understand how quickly every drain fills and blocks in Nottinghamshire, allowing the council to prioritise cleaning at the locations which needed more frequent attention.This has resulted in less complaints from residents … [Read more...] about County council says innovative approach to road maintenance is alive and kicking