I am pleased to announce £90,000 has been allocated for the B600 for resurfacing works.  The scheme will start at Archway Interiors and go towards the direction of PyeBridge.  This is part of a maintenance programme which will see that road being funded over a number of years.  Also a number of surface dressing and slurry sealing programmes will be undertaken in Somercotes.  These will run from April to April and obviously residents will be notified nearer the time.  I am also pleased to say that the crossing near the Royal Tiger Public House has now been upgraded from a Pelican to a Puffin Crossing.  I had a number of people approaching me thinking it was going to be removed permanently but in effect it has being upgraded with a more modern facility; the light remains on red which stops traffic until people have crossed safely and if people press the button and decide to walk away the lights do not activate.

Over the last two months I have given grants to the Junior Fishing Match which takes place at Pennytown Ponds every year.  I have also managed to secure £2,000 for the Police to run a Nintendo Wii Tournament at the Somerlea Park Centre.  This is open to all age ranges and for further information contact the Centre on 01773 528181.

I’m also pleased to announce that Pennytown Ponds is in the final of a National Environment Award which is being run and judged by BIFFA.  Out of 70 applicants we are in the final six and having met the judges last week, like me, they were very impressed by the site and the improvements that have been made to Pennytown Ponds.  The announcement will be made in late November and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has worked hard to protect and enhance our own green oasis.

I haven’t forgotten about safer crossing areas on the B600 and I’m still waiting for a decision on a crossing on Leabrooks Road.

Through residents’ requests, Bryan Lyttle and I have met with Derbyshire County Council’s Street Lighting Officers to discuss the possibility of two new lights on Hedley Close and Philipway/Peterway near to the garages.

I have reported a number of footways and bridleways to Rights of Way Officers at Derbyshire County Council that have become badly overgrown.  If anybody experiences problems whilst walking on any footways/bridleways, please pass your complaint through to Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058.                

I am also pleased to announce the replacement footbridge off Cotes Park Industrial Estate over the railway line and into Bluebell Wood, South Normanton.  At one point it didn’t look as though Railtrack were going to replace it but I’m pleased to say they have protected this important route via the area affectionately known as RedBridge.