Archived News

Parish Petition (October 2021)
Information Day on Friday 8th October, 10:30am-1:00pm and 5:00pm-8:00pm

We’re ready to move to the next stage in creating a separate parish of Upper Saxondale. To do this we have to present a petition to Rushcliffe Borough Council signed by a minimum of 187 Upper Saxondale registered electors. In the next few days, village residents will receive a leaflet from USRA explaining more about the petition. We've arranged an 'information day' at the village hall on Friday 8th October so please come along between 10.30am and 1pm or between 5pm and 8pm to find out more and to sign the petition. If you're not available at those times and are willing to sign the petition then please email us at info@uppersaxondale.com and we'll be in touch.

You can also find out more on our village website.

Upper Saxondale Electoral Ward & Parish Council Proposals (August 2021)

We have now collated the feedback from the ward boundary and parish council consultation.

The majority of residents who responded were in favour of the proposals. We will therefore go ahead and submit the ward boundary proposal as described in the consultation document to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).

The LGBCE is expected to publish its first draft of the revised Rushcliffe ward boundaries for comment towards the end of 2021. This will be solely with respect to the electoral ward boundaries. The LGBCE have no jurisdiction with regards to parish boundaries.

The USRAcic committee met with representatives from the Rushcliffe Borough Council Executive earlier in July. Agenda points discussed were the ward boundary submission, the possible subsequent formation of a parish council and any update on the possible transfer of David Wilson Homes land to RBC.

Thank you again for your support and interest in our proposals. We will continue to update residents on any news and keep our website https://www.uppersaxondale.com/ward-parish-consultation-faq and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Uppersaxondale updated too.

Covid-19 Update (August 2021)

To keep everyone safe we’re encouraging visitors to the village hall to wear masks and scan or sign in. We’ll continue to provide sanitiser and paper towels.

Village Hall Friday Coffee Morning (August 2021)

Our wonderful Coffee and Cake Team are taking a well earned rest during August but will be back with tasty treats and delicious drinks in September. Date to be confirmed nearer the time. The team are always looking for help with making cakes, serving customers and doing track and trace on the door. If you would like to volunteer on Friday mornings then please email us at info@uppersaxondale.com

Land and Village Hall Update (July 2021)

Earlier in the year we responded to a number of issues and concerns raised by village residents. Here is a further update on what’s been happening since then:

  1. General Community Access to USRA land - We now have signage informing visitors that the land belongs to USRA and asking everyone to “Please Respect It”. In addition, “Soft Verges” notices have been placed along the kerbs on the back road to discourage parking and driving on the grassland

  2. Village Hall Car Park - Is now fully open for use by visitors to the village hall, tennis courts, play park and woodland walk.

  3. Bollard at the end of Westminster Drive / Serpentine Close - A new security bollard was installed but frustratingly irreparably damaged within a few days, so its replacement is currently being considered.

  4. Parkland and Gazebos - Are the responsibility of David Wilson Homes (DWH). USRA have made them aware that many areas need urgent attention, including the deteriorating state of the gazebos, trees needing pruning, overgrown shrubs adjacent to residents homes, and resurfacing of the back lane. Whilst DWH are in discussions with Rushcliffe Borough Council about handing over ownership of DWH land, any planned works are temporarily deferred.

  5. Village Hall - developed a leaky roof which has now been repaired.

  6. Woodland Walk - With many thanks to a village resident who has volunteered their time and skills to repair the damaged benches which are also being re-sited on a hard base to minimise damage from the wet ground. You may have also noticed that the balance beams have been treated with anti-slip paint to make them safer to use.

Ginger & Blue Coffee Van (Summer 2021)

Unfortunately Ginger & Blue Coffee Van will no longer be visiting our village. But you can still get delicious coffee and scrumptious cakes at our village hall coffee mornings each Friday, 10:30am to 12:30pm.

Upper Saxondale Electoral Ward & Parish Council Proposals (June 2021)

(June 2021) We'd love to receive your feedback about USRA's proposals for the electoral ward boundaries review and formation of an Upper Saxondale Parish Council, by Sunday 13th June at the latest, please. Email us via info@uppersaxondale.com

Upper Saxondale Electoral Ward & Parish Council Proposals (May 2021)
Time for change? Have Your Say

All residents will soon be receiving a letter from USRAcic through their door.
This letter will outline proposed changes to how we manage the land and amenities here at Upper Saxondale.
The proposed changes will be significant.
We want to consult with you about these proposals.
Please keep an eye out for this letter and how you can contribute to the discussions.
You can find more information on our website

THANK YOU

USRAcic
(Upper Saxondale Residents Association Community Interest Company)

Coffee Morning News (May 2021)

Our wonderful Coffee and Cake Team are opening up again at the Village Hall for Friday Coffee Mornings at 10.30-12.30am. They are looking forward to welcoming everyone with seating inside, and if the weather is kind - outside too. Take-out is also available. They’ll be following all Government guidelines with Hands/Face/Space.

Everyone is very welcome and it’s a great way to catch up with friends, and a great way to meet new people as well. Plus an extra coffee opportunity for those WFH. See you then, and bring on those wonderful homemade cakes. We love our Coffee and Cake Team!!

Springtime Cherry Blossom (May 2021)

Who needs to visit Japan to enjoy the springtime Cherry blossom bloom when you can find it right here in our village on Millennium Way. Thanks to Steve Ball for the lovely photo.

Upper Saxondale is no longer under National Lockdown. England is now carefully exiting in incremental phases. However, please refer to current Government guidelines which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home

Would you like to volunteer to manage the administration of our village hall? (March 2021)

We need a new team member to join our happy band of volunteers.

The Village Hall is the focus of village activities, and hiring the hall out is a key element of raising funds for the village. We have a great team, and after five generous years, John Wilkinson is standing down in March. We really thank John for all his work taking care of the hall and the bookings for ad hoc hirers as well as our regular hirers.

If you or somebody you know would like to get involved, it would be great to hear from you. Please drop a note to info@uppersaxondale.com

Duties, as you might imagine, are currently very light!!!!! However, these will be the duties when we are able to re-open:

  • Respond to requests for booking slots received by email and telephone from ad hoc hirers (mainly children’s party bookings) and from regular hirers. Arrange for hirers to complete booking form and acknowledge they have read and agree to booking conditions.

  • Check payments have been received (normally by bank transfer) and refund deposits where these are due, transfer hire fees paid by cheque or cash to the USRA account

  • Maintain the hall diary and communicate with the Hall Support Team.

  • Where requested meet prospective ad hoc hirers at the hall to show them facilities

  • As a general rule meet all prospective regular hirers before agreeing to the hire (essentially a vetting process)

  • Maintain the Covid 19 Risk Assessment, making any amendments necessitated by changes to government guidelines in consultation with the USRA Chairman

  • Relative to Covid 19 ensure required levels of PPE, sanitising materials and signage in the hall are maintained

  • Obtain the return of the hall key, when regular hirers quit hiring the hall

LAND INFORMATION UPDATE (January 2021)

Whilst lockdown has given us all challenges, it has also given many of us more time to appreciate our surroundings. Certainly over the last few months there have been more and more residents and members of the wider community out walking and exercising in Upper Saxondale. This has led to some concerns being raised, as a consequence, USRA volunteers will be actioning the following over the coming weeks.

1. General Community Access to USRA land

USRA own the village hall, tennis courts, carpark, woodland walk, fruit farm and the play park land.

Much of the funding which was received to develop this area was predicated on the wider community also being able to enjoy these facilities, especially allowing access to the play park.

Signage will be erected informing visitors that the land belongs to USRA - Please respect it.

2. Village Hall Car Park

The carpark is private, and needs to be kept secure, unfortunately it’s not feasible to unlock and lock the carpark every day.

A coded padlock will be attached to the gate, it will be set to the same number as the tennis court padlock.

This system will be trialled over the next few months, to see how that works from a security perspective and also for people using the hall and/or the courts.

3. Bollard at the end of Westminster Drive / Serpentine Close

The security bollard will be reinstated and will be closed at night as and when required, especially if there are threats of unlawful occupation of the land/drug dealing in the area. (Thank you to those residents who have already volunteered to take part in this rota.)

4. Parkland

Upper Saxondale is a conservation area and the parkland is of environmental interest, as it is land which has not been cultivated for over a century.

This land still belongs to David Wilson Homes, USRA will look at what actions can be taken regarding vehicle access, so the parkland is maintained in good condition.

We live in a lovely area, let’s work together to conserve it !

Thank You,

USRA Committee