It's Closer Than You Think

Whilst we were in Derby last week I stopped at an information point in the bus station to see if there were any new leaflets that I hadn't seen before. I picked up a couple concerning Denby Pottery and Haddon Hall. Both were advertising events in December and "Christmas" was a common word on both leaflets. I know I've often said that I think Christmas starts far too early but as I write this, two of my grandsons are making Christmas cakes. They have to be done in October so that they can mature and brandy be added at intervals during November ready for the icing and decorating just before Christmas.
   The weather last week was anything but Christmas-like being dull and mild with a hint of drizzle in the air. Saturday was the exception as a cold blast straight from the Arctic blew away the clouds and sent a shiver down the spine before returning to damp and dreary weather today. It did mean though that the trees showed up really well on Saturday (see picture) in their autumn colours but looking at those leaflets again that I picked up in Derby, I've just noticed a line on the one for Haddon Hall. It says "Christmas is closer than you think" - how true! And I'll tell you something else, with the cakes now baking in the oven and the aroma emanating from the kitchen, it's even beginning to smell like Christmas.

Where's The Logic?

   The Planning Committee of Erewash Borough Council last week gave the go ahead for a Morrison's supermarket to be built in Ilkeston. Whilst I welcome the prospect of a Morrison's in the town, I can't help but feel that the logic of the decision is somewhat warped. The idea that building a new college on the former Magistrate's Court site and attracting 800 students plus 200 staff there will revitalise the town centre is something of a forlorn hope as the new supermarket to be built where the existing college stands will only succeed in drawing shoppers out of the middle of the town. With Tesco's and Aldi at the bottom of Bath Street and Marks and Spencer's, Argos and others on the Waterside Retail Park off Station Road also already taking people away from the traditional shopping areas, the construction of the Morrison's store will only exacerbate the situation.

   The Annual Charter Fair last week shows exactly what is needed to revitalise the town - an attraction in the town centre. Some people do not welcome the annual event but it doesn't take a genius to see the number of people that are drawn into the town when it is being held each October. The answer is surely obvious. To revitalise the town centre there needs to be something there to bring the people in. Development on the edge will not do this - but I am pleased that in the future we won't have to travel out of town any more to shop at Morrison's.

Confusion Reigns

   Last week we were looking at the Stanton Wagon on the island at the northern end of Chalons Way but confusion reigned at the southern end one day last week. The traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing are being replaced and the work is expected to take three or four weeks which has necessitated the closing of one or more lanes at various times. As vehicles approached Chalons Way warning signs indicated the one lane (of two) was closed but one sign showed the left hand lane and another showed the right as the picture below shows. 

   It looks as though the new lights are of a different design to the old ones and the indicators for pedestrians to cross are no longer directly in front but are to one side which means that if someone is standing next to you, then you can't see when they change to green. Also if the lights are the same design as others that have been replaced, there will be no audible signal to aid the visually impaired. If this is progress it is not very good. I doubt that these traffic lights are in the running for any design awards. Confusion will continue to reign even when the warning signs are removed and the work is complete.

Lighting Up The Town

   Cards have been on sale since August; the leaves on the trees are just starting to turn; there's a nip in the air as Autumn makes its presence felt; Ilkeston's Charter Fair is still a couple of weeks away; Hallowe'en and Bonfire night later still and adverts for never-ending sales of furniture and beds have reappeared on TV. To top it all men were working on Bath Street last week stringing coloured lights from building to building.

    It can only mean one thing - Christmas is coming and before you know it, there'll be Easter Eggs in the shops!

*****************

The Stanton Wagon

    The Stanton Wagon has always divided opinion among the townsfolk and now after extensive restoration work it has been returned to its position on the island at the northern end of Chalons Way. Regarded by some as an iconic Ilkeston landmark denoting the town's industrial heritage it was the subject of some criticism when first placed there as visitors to the town may have mistakenly thought the word "Stanton" was the name of the town. The wagon received little or no maintenance and deteriorated badly so the restoration work was costed at over £15000. This project again divided opinion with one section of the community saying the money could be better spent elsewhere but a majority seemed to be in favour of the work and the wagon was removed in February 2012.

    Now that it is back the project has restored it to pristine condition with new parts being added to replace old ones. A fresh coat of paint and treated with sealant to protect it against the weather it looks as though it has just rolled off an assembly line but again it has attracted some negative comments. Basically I think the argument is just how much work has to be done before "restoration" becomes "replica"? Whichever side you come down on, I think most people will agree that it is good to see it back in its rightful place as a reminder of the area's past.

   So it's been a big day in Nottingham this weekend with the Robin Hood half marathon and the local football derby between Forest and Derby. As an ex-referee myself I feel officials are put under extreme pressure in local derby games and on balance in today's match the referee made some really good decisions but equally just as many bad ones. In the end probably the only really good attacking move resulted in the bragging rights remaining with the visitors although who knows what the result would have been with a different official.

   That's just conjecture but there can be no doubt about the next big thing in Nottingham and that will be the annual Goose Fair which runs from the 3rd to the 7th October. Personally I'll wait another couple of weeks for the more intimate and atmospheric street fair of the older Charter Fair in Ilkeston which marks its 760th anniversary in 2012.