A CITY centre street could be closed to cars in a bid to make Nottingham Trent University feel more like a campus.

The Post can reveal that plans have been drawn up to make the university more pedestrian-friendly and boost the number of cycle parking spaces by 100.

People are being asked for their views on the plans and, if they are given the green light, they could be put into place as early as this autumn.

Traffic would be prevented from going down Shakespeare Street from the university's library through to its junction with South Sherwood Street, opposite the Orange Tree pub.

The council says the proposals to restrict traffic on Shakespeare Street to just buses, emergency vehicles and wheelchair-accessible taxis would complement developments under way by the university – which is creating a new students' union building with facilities and accommodation for over 900 students.

Head of traffic and safety at the city council Steve Hunt said: "The aim of these proposals is to create a more attractive environment.

"By restricting through-traffic, pedestrian safety would be greatly improved, the amenities of the university campus would be preserved and improved and students would be further encouraged to walk, cycle and use more public transport to get around the city and between campuses."

Ged O'Donoghue, director of estates and resources at the university, said: "Our proposals, if accepted, will greatly improve pedestrian safety along Shakespeare Street.

"As one of the greenest universities in the country, we're very keen to promote the use of public transport and to encourage people to walk and cycle as well."

Proposals for Shakespeare Street include:

A traffic-calming raised hump alongside Boots Library

Signed bus gates at either end of the street

Number plate recognition cameras to enforce restrictions

Zebra crossings at each end of the raised plateau

More than 100 cycle spaces

Removing loading/unloading and pay-and-display parking bays.

An increase in students in the city centre is expected to mean the number of pedestrians in the area will rise to more than 20,000 a day.

The number of people driving to the university since the mid-nineties has dropped from more than 40 per cent to 12 per cent.

More than a half of students and a quarter of staff now walk to university.

Consultation on the scheme remains open until May 21, with details available for inspection on request at Loxley House.

Any comments or objections should be sent to Ian Nash, Traffic and Safety, Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Nottingham, NG2 3NG.

A PENSIONER has appeared in court accused of attempted murder, after a 67-year-old woman was stabbed in Mansfield.

Maurice Joseph Poismans attended Nottingham Crown Court today.

He was charged after the woman was found injured at an address in The Patchills, Mansfield, last November.

Mr Poismans, 68, of The Patchills, was due to enter a plea at the hearing. 

However, the case was further adjourned until July 8. He was remanded in custody.

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THE new mayor of Broxtowe Borough has taken the chains of office.

Stapleford Town Councillor Iris White was officially appointed at the annual meeting of Broxtowe Borough Council last night.

She is now looking forward to meeting as many people as possible and promoting the good work the borough council does.

The Stapleford resident said: "I love meeting people and I am really looking forward to the next year.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and I know that it will be hard work.

"My aspiration is to visit all retirement living places throughout Broxtowe to show them my support.

"We have a high proportion of elderly people and they are all very close to my heart.

"I also want to spread the word about the good our council does."

Two local charities, Treetops Hospice and the Helpful Bureau in Stapleford are councillor White's chosen charities during her year as Mayor.

She added: "The two chosen charities I have decided to support are Treetops Hospice and The Helpful Bureau. They both do fantastic jobs and need all the help they can get.

"I have friends that go to Treetops and I do not know what they would do without them.

"The Helpful Bureau is also absolutely fantastic and the staff make such a difference to a lot of people."

The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Margaret Handley, handed over the Mayoral Chain following a successful year in office.

She said: "It has been a privilege and an honour.

"Over the last year I have met a lot of really nice people who do a lot for Broxtowe.

"I have also learnt an awful lot about the borough and I am sure that I am going to miss being mayor.

"I want to thank everyone who has supported me."

A DRIVE to keep people warmer in their homes has almost finished.

More than 837 houses in Aspley have had solid wall insulation fitted, and many have also had other improvements such as new boilers and loft insulation.

Council tenants also had new kitchens and bathrooms fitted by Nottingham City Homes.

Another 70 homes are scheduled to get the improvements.

The scheme is one of 100 pilot projects across the UK which are part of the government's Community Energy Saving Programme.

Southern and Scottish Energy gave £8,000 per household, with private homeowners making up the rest and council tenants receiving top-up funding through the CESP programme.

Scottish and Southern Energy project manager David Cheesewright said: "The scheme has been a great success with a total investment of over £3 million, and has resulted in 150,000 tonnes of CO2 emission savings from over 1,000 homes.

"These improvements will not only make the homes more energy efficient but will also help to reduce energy bills."

The scheme is run by Nottingham Energy Partnership, a not-for-profit organisation that tackles fuel poverty and carbon emissions. The aim is to reduce heating bills by up to £400 a year.

Sue Stevenson, 66, of Seaton Crescent, was one of the first tenants to receive a whole-house energy makeover through the Super Warm Zone initiative.

Her house was kitted out with internal insulation, a new kitchen and bathroom, a new fire and boiler, a new radiator and solar panels on the roof.

Sue, who has osteoporosis, says she saves about £30 a month on energy bill.

She said: "It has given me a better quality of life. I'm a lot warmer in winter.

"I've always been worried in winter, but now I put it on when it's cold because I know it will right itself in summer. It's been helpful to me not having to worry about getting a large bill."

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen said: "I am sure this has helped many people in my constituency keep warm through the winter and saved them and us from enormous energy bills.

"It's all part of the mix of moving us towards more sustainable energy."

Private tenant Sarah Ward, 33, who lives in an end-terrace house in Welstead Avenue with her father, had external insulation and a replacement boiler fitted more than a year ago and contributed just over £1,000 to the work.

She said: "It's a pretty old house so it looks a bit tidier now. It stays warmer for longer and I've not had to pay as much in bills."

Energy providers must meet CESP targets by delivering energy-saving measures to households in some low-income areas in the country.

THE owners of a new Caribbean takeaway in West Bridgford are celebrating after being awarded the top rating for their food hygiene just seven months after opening.

Twins Jessica and Rebecca Shipman, 33, set up Trio Island Ltd in Melton Road in October last year as a Caribbean style juice bar, serving an array of smoothies, juices and other refreshing beverages.

However, after a few months they decided to expand their business to include Caribbean takeaway food, as of April this year.

And around the same time they were visited by the Food Standards Agency who awarded them five stars for their food hygiene.

Jessica, who initially began the business with her other sister Lucinda Thorpe, 24, says she is thrilled with how it is going.

"There isn't really anywhere else like us in West Bridgford at the moment and we are really pleased with the number of customers we are attracting," said the 33-year-old.

"I set up the juice bar with my sister Lucinda last October, but then she had to move to Dubai for a business opportunity she couldn't turn down. So I paired up with my twin Rebecca and our friend Liam Pierce and we decided to start serving food too."

Trio Island currently receives around 20 to 30 orders a day for food. Popular dishes on the menu include traditional jerk chicken, rice and peas, Caribbean curried chicken on the bone, fish strips, chicken strips, dumplings and patties.

The takeaway will also deliver the food to your door if your order costs over £10.

Jessica and Rebecca's mum Linda Thorpe said she was over-the-moon with how well her children's business was doing.

She said: "I'm so proud of them. They have started this from scratch themselves and it is going really well.

"To get five stars for their food hygiene is really impressive, especially combined with the fact that they have only been open six or seven months."

Jessica added: "We are really taking off now and seeing more and more customers come in. We make all the juices and smoothies fresh in front of the customer's eyes so they can see exactly what goes into it, which I think a lot of people find really appealing."

A SKATE park in Keyworth is set to be renovated thanks to a funding boost from the County Council.

The council's Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) will donate several thousand pounds to improve the run-down facilities at the park in Platt Lane.

The LIS funding has been allocated to a selection of more then 200 community projects throughout the county for 2013-14, directly as a result of people wanting to make their community a better place to work and live in.

Councillor for Keyworth John Cottee said the project would be a big benefit to the whole community in Keyworth.

He said: "The skate park will become somewhere for kids to go. There is a green space in the middle of the village but not all kids want to just kick a football around.

"They want somewhere to shelter and socialise."

He added: "To be fair to the young people of Keyworth we certainly don't have a big problems with them but large groups of young people can come across threatening to some people."

Other programmes in Rushcliffe set to receive LIS funding include village signs for Whatton in the Vale, a defibrillator to be installed in phone box in Scarrington and adult exercise equipment installed in Rushcliffe County Park as well as skate park renovation.

Youngsters have given it the thumbs-up.

Henry Sheriston, 12, from Stanton-on-the-Wolds, said: "I meet my friends here and use the park a lot in the summer holidays so I'm really excited about the plans."

Josh Hall, 12, from Tollerton, added: "I can't wait to show off some of my skateboard and scooter tricks."

LIS Programme manager Sue Jaques said: "The LIS programme helps local people in local communities develop a local 'pride of place' and responsibility for the environment.

"The scheme also aims to promote rural initiatives, market town projects that improve the centre's attractiveness and economic viability, conservation and heritage projects and projects that encourage economic and cultural regeneration."

CHILDREN in Arnold are playing on an unfinished playground on the King George V Playing Fields.

Parents have expressed a concern at the lack of communication from Gedling Borough Council, who began work on January 21, to tell them when the site will be open to the public.

The kids have been accessing the site through fencing that has been put up, and once some children are inside, others assume it's safe.

The new play area has slides, swings, rope wall, a cable swing and an area for younger children.

Mother-of-two Sarah Lewin, of Charles Street, said: "We were told it was going to be open in March and has appeared open several times when we've walked past. Over the bank holiday weekend there was around 30 kids in there."

Sarah added that when she sees others using the new equipment she would assume it was complete, despite the fencing.

"When you see the fence open, you don't know whether the workmen have said it's ok or not," she added.

Her daughter Megan, 6, who attends Arnold View primary school, said: "I'm excited for the swing and sad it's not open yet. If I saw other children playing I'd join in."

Another parent, Claire Smith, 29, of Central Avenue, said: "I let my children play on it because we live so close and they have been watching other kids using it. You can't keep saying no!"

Michael Higgins, 36, and Amanda Hempshall, 26, walked their kids down from Calverton Road, and Tristan, 8, Paige, 6, and Kaiden, 4, were left disappointed when they realised it was closed.

Michael said: "We brought them down because we saw it open earlier and the parks near us don't have all this. Now we're going to have to walk all the way back."

Paul Key, a governor at Arnold View primary, said: "Parents and children alike just want a date when they know it will be open. Many children have rushed into the King George V playing Fields tempted by the newly installed play equipment, only to return with saddened eyes and looks of disappointment on their faces."

He added that he was concerned for the safety of children playing near machinery that may have been left by workmen who are still active on the site.

Gedling Borough Council say the official opening of the play area is imminent.

Councillor Michael Payne, Portfolio Holder for Communications said:

"The safety of the children using the park is our first priority and contractors will not let us open the park until they are happy that it meets health and safety regulations."

He said all security signs and provisions were in place while the access to the site is prohibited.

"We ask that parents do not allow their children onto the site while under construction as any damage done to the equipment will delay the opening. We expect the park to be handed over to us in the next week and we will then be able to let local residents enjoy the facilities safely," he said.

Arnold: M. N. Singh, 77 High Street, to 6.30pm; , Nottingham Road, to 10pm; Asda, Front Street, 7am to 11pm.

Beeston and Lenton Abbey: Grewal Chemist, 38-40 Chilwell Road, to 7pm; Jardines, Sainsbury's, Beeston, to 6.45pm; Pharmacy, 24 Chilwell Road, to 7pm.

Bestwood: Forest Pharmacy, 131 Arnold Road, to 7pm.

Bilborough: Co-op, Bracebridge Drive, 7am to 11pm.

Clifton: Day Night Pharmacy, 116 Southchurch Drive, to Midnight.

Cotgrave: The Co-operative, 9 The Precinct, Candleby Lane, to 6.30pm.

Daybrook: Snowden- James Pharmacy, Daybrook Health Centre, Mansfield Road, to 6.30pm.

East Leake: Manor Pharmacy, 12/14 Gotham Lane, to 6.30pm.

Eastwood: The Co-operative, 2A Church Walk, to 6.30pm.

Gamston: Morrisons, Lings Bar Road, to 10pm.

Heanor: W R Evans, 67 Mansfield Road, to 6pm.

Hucknall: Health Centre, Curtis Street, to 7pm; Lloyds, Farleys Lane, to 6.45pm; Tesco, Ashgate Road, 6.30am to 10.30pm.

Hyson Green: Asda, 7.30am-10pm.

Jacksdale: Acorn, Main Road, to 6.30pm.

Keyworth: Co-operative, The Square, to 6pm; Keyworth, 8.30am to 6.30pm.

Kimberley: Manor Pharmacy, Greens Lane, to 7pm.

Long Eaton: Boots, Long Eaton Health Centre, Midland Street, to midnight.

Long Eaton: Tesco, Waverley Street, 6.30am to 10.30pm.

Mansfield: Sainsbury's, Nottingham Road, to 10pm.

New Basford/Forest Fields: Shally's Chemists, 37 Beech Avenue, to 6.30pm.

Nottingham central: Glasshouse Chemist, 42-44 Glasshouse Street, to 7pm; Canning, 2 Beastmarket Hill, Old Market, to 6.30pm; Boots, Riverside Retail Park, 9am-midnight; Castle Marina Sainsbury's, 7am-11pm.

Radford: Midnight Pharmacy, 194 Alfreton Road, 9am to midnight.

Rise Park: Knights Pharmacy, 9 Bestwood Park Drive West, 9am-7pm.

Selston: Selston Pharmacy, 137 Nottingham Road, to 6.30pm.

Sherwood and Woodthorpe: Lloyds Chemist, 678 Mansfield Road, to 6.30pm; Jayplex Chemist, 724 Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe, to 6.30pm.

Sneinton and St Ann's: D Parmar, 298 Woodborough Road, 9am-12.30pm and 2-6.30pm; Family Medical Centre, 149 Carlton Road, 9am-6.30pm.

Southwell: Lloyds Chemist, 2-4 King Street, 8.30am-6pm; Co-operative, The Ropewalk, 7am-11pm.

Stapleford: Co-op, Stapleford Care Centre, Church Street, 7am- 11pm.

Strelley: Omega Chemist, 25 Flamsteed Road, 8.45am-5.15pm.

West Bridgford: Asda, 184 Loughborough Road, to 10pm; Manor, 97A Melton Road, to 7pm.

City centre

City centre: Lane closures until Wednesday, May 15.

Lace Market: Pilcher Gate closed until Monday, May 20.

Sneinton: Lane closure in Bath Street from Tuesday, May 14, until Wednesday, May 22.

Wollaton: Temporary traffic signals at the junction with Arleston Drive, until tomorrow.

Broxtowe

Chilwell: Two-way signals in Inham Road until July 9.

Rushcliffe

West Bridgford: Two-way signals in Loughborough Road until Tuesday, June 4.

Gedling

Carlton: Multi-way traffic signals in Carlton Hill until Monday, June 3.

Daybrook: Off-peak lane closures in Mansfield Road until Saturday, June 15.

Gedling: Stoke Lane closed until Sunday, June 9, at the Emerys Road junction to allow for works by Western Power Distribution.

Newark and Sherwood

Blidworth: Dale Lane closed for carriageway resurfacing works until tomorrow.

Coddington: Drove Lane closed near the junction with A17 Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, between 6am and 9pm on Saturday, and Sunday, due to the Nottinghamshire County Show. There will also be no right turn from Drove Lane into Lincoln Road and vice versa.

Kirklington: Southwell Road closed until Saturday.

Southwell: Two-way temporary traffic signals in Nottingham Road between 9am and 3.30pm daily until Monday, May 20.

Ashfield

Annesley Woodhouse: Salmon Lane closed for skid resistant surfacing works, from 7am to 4pm daily between Monday, May 20, and Friday, May 24, and Tuesday, May 28, and Friday, May 31.

Hucknall: Wood Lane closed , from 9am on Wednesday, May 29, until 11.59pm on Friday, May 31.

Kirkby-in-Ashfield: Grives Lane closed until 6pm on Tuesday, May 14..

Mansfield

Mansfield: Cedar Street closed from 8am on Tuesday, May 28, until 6pm on Friday, June 7.

Mansfield: Parkland Close closed from 8am on Monday, May 20, until 11.59pm on Saturday, May 25.

A BUSINESS owner from Woodthorpe is campaigning to tidy up a small shopping precinct in the neighbourhood, after her young daughter cracked her head open tripping on loose paving stones.

Jess Carter, who owns Dolly's Vintage Tea Rooms on Somersby Road, wants the council to spend some money to make the area safer and more attractive to new shops.

She has started a petition, which has attracted around 150 signatures from the community already.

Jess said: "It's looked disgusting for years. The building itself has been left to ruin."

Her daughter Lacey, two, tripped on uneven paving, and had to go to hospital with a head injury.

"She's too young for stitches," said Jess. "The nurses tried to glue her back together, but we had some problems because it's on her hairline. The best we can do at the minute is to use creams."

Jess feels that the precinct needs a revamp not just for safety but to increase interest in local business.

"I think people will actually notice it, and will want to be a part of it by shopping here. Improvements would be better for everyone."

Other businesses in the area agree. Sharon Seymour, manager at hairdressers New2You, said: "There are a couple of empty shops, which look like they're going to ruin. Potential investors aren't interested in buying them if the area's a mess."

She added that some money was spent on the neighbourhood over the last few years, but that it didn't make ay material difference.

"We feel it's very important for the local area - not just the businesses, but the people and those who use the shops."

Vernon Coaker, MP for Gedling, is backing the scheme to spruce up the area.

"It's an exciting project to improve an important small shopping precinct. I hope that we will be able to get the private landlord and the council to work together to bring these plans to fruition."

Mr Coaker has sent a letter in support of Mrs Carter's petition to both Gedling Borough Council and the London-based private landlord.

"Local people will back the plans because it will benefit local businesses, jobs and the general environment," he added.

Councillor Darrell Pulk, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Development said: "Recent investments made by the Council into local businesses include the Local Shop Front Scheme.

"It offered help to improve the physical appearance of local independent shops.

"We are currently running an apprentice scheme to help local young people gain employment through local businesses, generating local jobs for local people and helping businesses by providing extra resources to develop their business models.

"We understand the need for assistance in these difficult times and we will continue to work closely with local businesses to find ways of increasing economic growth and get local people back into local shops."