When I was elected in 2011 there was a major issue in the ward. The derelict former Victoria Ground. I did a lot of work behind the scenes that wasn’t obvious but there has been, in many people’s eyes, a successful conclusion.

What surprised me was that the path alongside the River Trent beside McLagan Street had stopped being maintained. Now this was created as part of the works to remove the roundabouts on the D road. The new underpasses and flyovers were opened to traffic on the 26th September 2006. That is 16 [SIXTEEN] years ago!

It was formally opened by the Secretary of State on 8th November 2006. The landscaping should have been adopted and maintained by the City Council since – but they are arguing about it with Highways England – for some reason.

Now this was intended to be a link from the town centre in a southerly direction towards Hanford and now the path is being continued alongside the river through the Victoria Ground it really should be maintained properly.

On my list of cases this has been going on almost as long as the Victoria Ground, and that is nearly built out. Now, I don’t think there is any doubt from the drawing above that the City should be maintaining the land.

So, today, I ask again for the City Council to take up their historic responsibility to maintain this land – before the 16th anniversary arrives on 8th November!!!