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."
