Keep up to date with what the Executive Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, is focusing on.
Latest blog post: Your opportunity to shape Mansfield’s Future and help your communities
For those who read my column regularly, you’ll notice I share details of projects that demonstrate how I am delivering on my two election pledges to ‘Regenerate our Town and District’ and ‘Protect and Care for our Communities’. As part of this process, we’ll regularly ask the public’s opinion to help us shape our ideas. What you think about these issues is really important to me, and I’m really keen for you not to miss your opportunity to help shape Mansfield’s future.
The biggest and most significant consultation is the first re-organisation of Local Government for 50 years. The public is fed up with the two tier system that exists now, with Nottinghamshire County Council handling some services (e.g. highway maintenance, education and adult and children’s social care) and your District Council delivering other services such as planning, housing, waste collection, regeneration and parks.
When residents have an issue, they want to speak to one authority and not be passed from ‘pillar to post’. I have been promoting, option 1e, what we are referring to as the ‘Northern or Sherwood’ option. This brings the districts of Mansfield, Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood and Gedling together as a single unitary authority responsible for delivering all services. My reasons for promoting this option are it: reflects sensible geographies and economic areas; is the right size to be efficient, build capacity, and withstand financial shocks; will deliver high quality, sustainable public services; is informed by local views and will meet local needs; will enable stronger community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment. You may have a completely different view and that’s fine, but if you want your voice to be heard, please complete the consultation using www.lgr.notts.org. You can also pick up a paper copy in local libraries across the district. The consultation is open until 26 March.
The second consultation on the pre-planning for the ‘Mansfield Connect’ project has just closed, but information on the scheme can be viewed on www.mansfield.gov.uk/mansfieldconnect. I would encourage you to see the video that shows our ambitions for this £33m development in the heart of our town to transform the landscape and attract even more private investment into the town. A very symbolic moment occurred last week, when the connecting bridges from the old co-op building were removed, opening up Stockwell gate to light, space and a taste of how the future could look.
We had a fantastic response to the ‘Mansfield NOW’ presentation at the old town hall last month with over 150 attendees. The video of the 18 public and private investments in the town centre that we showed, can be watched on Facebook, TikTok or Instagram ‘Mansfield Forward BID’. Buildings like the Old Eight Bells, the Brunts Chambers, the White Lion Yard, the Old BHS building the Rosemary Street Centre and the ‘Former Dial’ have all been renovated by a mixture of local entrepreneurs and external private investors. It indicates a newfound confidence in Mansfield that we can all celebrate.
To share some more great news, we have just invited organisations from across Mansfield to apply for funding up to £200k for capital projects that will make a significant impact as part of the £1.5m Pride in Place investment from the government. Community organisations across Mansfield district can also apply for up to £50,000 each to deliver visible, lasting improvements to local spaces as part of a major new funding programme through the Community Sparks Capital Grant, funded through the Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund.
We continue to clamp down on those residents that cause nuisance and show no consideration for the neighbours. Two council homes have been closed using closure powers after reports of persistent nuisance and disorder linked to criminality, including illegal drug use and supply. This action is part of the council's stance on tackling anti-social behaviour and protecting communities. Another Mansfield resident was prosecuted and ordered to pay over £1500 in fines for fly tipping, having left two mattresses in the street near their home. This case has been used to reinforce messaging around responsible waste disposal and the council's willingness to take legal action against environmental offences. We will continue to do everything to deliver our election pledges, looking after our communities and regenerating our district.
Thanks for reading,
Andy Abrahams, Mayor of Mansfield
Now that’s progress!
