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Click on the following link to see my leaflet being delivered through doors in Nuthall and Kimberley: Richard Robinson Campaign Leaflet 2021 (7) 

Why am I standing, what motivates me, what do I want to achieve and what experience do I have and what do I see as some of the key issues?

a) what is an ‘independent candidate’?

• The vast majority of cllrs are made up from members of the major political parties ie Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green Party etc.  Being independent means quite simply that I stand in my own right as myself.  I am not a party candidate.  I am Your candidate, accountable only to the public.  I work with you and for you and I stake my reputation on it.
• I was previously a Labour Party member (and of course Labour cllr for many years).  Many of you will remember that I resigned two years ago from the Labour Party: Richard Robinson » 1981 – 2019 – why 38 years in the Labour Party for me has today come to an end (richardsrobinson.org.uk) 

b) why am I standing?

• A vote for me won’t always mean I get everything right all of the time.  However it will guarantee that you have a County Cllr in Nuthall & Kimberley who works passionately for you and with you, is transparent and does not give up easily. 
• I appreciate that there are always things that I can improve on.  For example I’ve made a particular effort for the past few years to communicate better and attend Kimberley Town Council meetings.  I am not a town councillor and do not have to attend their meetings, however I realised my own errors in the past in not communicating with them fully.  Since May 2019 I have either attended in person (for the past year of course virtually), or sent very comprehensive reports to every monthly town council meeting.  This has resulted in much better working relationships, having acknowledged areas where I had previously fallen short.
• I want to be your County Councillor as I am motivated to working hard, putting the needs of Nuthall and Kimberley first and want to tackle the key issues locally that residents have raised with me.

c) what do I want to achieve?

Some of the key issues locally that I am determined to tackle as your County Councillor in Nuthall that I have identified from talking with residents (I’ve done as much door to door knocking as possible since restrictions were lifted last month) as follows:

• The general feedback I get is that people rather feel that local politics is done “to them” rather than “with them”.  People are ready for a change.  The overall sense I get (and borne out by residents) is that politics in Nuthall has become very stale, with little vibrancy and residents being told often what can’t be done, rather than local people being encouraged to come forward with new ideas.  Providing I am elected on 6 May this will change.   I will be holding regular sessions in various locations in Nuthall – including pubs – where you will be able to come and have your say, and I will answer questions on local issues affecting Nuthall, and give you the opportunity to state how you want to see Nuthall developed.
• Then I have heard on the doorstep so many times questions lately on why only certain roads get resurfaced (and then only near election times), in those “fashionable areas” – known to the current County Councillor.  Providing I am successful on 6 May, this will change.  I will be ensure that that there is a proper, recognisable and transparent system applied to all areas for resurfacing.  Priority will be given to those areas that have been neglected the longest.
• There’s many comments about pavements remaining untreated for years, inadequate lighting prevailing in parts of Nuthall, and lots of complaints from in and around in Cedarlands and Horsendale on the bus plug.  I have put in a Freedom of Information Request to the County Council on the amount of money raised since the outset of the scheme, and this has duly revealed huge sums of money being raised.
• Providing I am successful on 6 May I will be looking to review the current operation of the bus plug, and achieve some easements within two years (see below). In particular I want to look at at what can be done for residents in and around Cedarlands and Horsendale by the way of residents permits, or using the best new technology on number plate recognition, to prevent the instances of multiple fines that frequently occur.
• Elderly and disabled residents in a different part of Nuthall especially around the Larkfields area have asked whether a community transport scheme could be made available as Covid-19 restrictions are gradually lifted.    I will work with the County Council and other agencies for example AgeUK to see what new scheme could emerge that would help the elderly and disabled get out and about.

Some of the key issues locally that I am determined to tackle as your County Councillor in Kimberley that I have identified from talking with residents are as follows:

• There has been a collective failure by the County Council to tackle a number of highways issues in Kimberley on both a small and large scale for a number of years.  Let me cite a few examples:

1)  Less than five years ago I undertook a major consultation exercise in conjunction with local residents and schools to look at addressing two key traffic hot spot areas in Kimberley.  One being Maws Lane, Cliff Boulevard, Hardy Street, and the other from Sainsbury’s on Greens Lane upwards towards Swingate, Little Lane, Babbington Lane, Knowle Lane etc.  A team of local volunteers plus myself held public meetings, distributed consultation letters and produced a substantive report which was duly sent to the County Council:  Richard Robinson » Submission to Nottinghamshire Council regarding suggested highways improvements in Kimberley – Swingate and Maws Lane areas (richardsrobinson.org.uk) 

It took the volunteers and myself some six months to compile the report above, and complete the consultations which produced lots of pragmatic suggestions on how simple improvements could be considered by the County Council.

The response from the County Council: they failed to take any action.

2) Then on other smaller scale issues – the County Council have made it extraordinarily difficult to get any meaningful progress with resurfacing the car park for residents near Bassett Close, removing a wall nearby that acts a magnet for anti-social behaviour, and have refused numerous requests to move the bus stop on Eastwood Road (direction towards Ikea) – (where buses queue over the Maws Lane junction).  

Several years ago just before the bollards on the bottom of Maws Lane were completed, several residents and myself met with the County Council to ask why the bollards were being implemented.  The answer we got was astounding “it is the quickest and cheapest option”.

When asked whether the £30k bollard scheme would not have been better spent looking at a comprehensive transport study for both the Maws Lane and Swingate areas – there was no response.

There are then lots of requests for zebra crossings in several locations in Kimberley and multiple areas that need pothole repair.

Some of the key issues locally that I am determined to tackle as your County Councillor across both Nuthall and Kimberley that I have identified from talking with residents are as follows:

• Delivering a young people’s manifesto for Nuthall and Kimberley – I want to ensure that our young people can help shape their communities – where they live in Nuthall and Kimberley.  I will work alongside our schools and look to facilitate a young person’s conference to be held in November this year.  This will be run by young people where they can come together and have their say and share their ideas on how they want to see their local community developed.
• I also want to create “community hubs” safe venues where young people in Nuthall and Kimberley can come together and meet.

So as your County Councillor in Nuthall and Kimberley – how will I tackle these challenges?

In terms of highways matters whilst “the buck will stop with me” or so to speak (highways issues are predominantly a County Council function), this will very much be a collective endeavour with me working together with groups of residents in order to see some positive results. 

Together we will be able to ensure that these very important issues are no longer ignored, and that proper attention is given to fully costed proposals to make major improvements in both the Maws Lane and Greens Lane, Swingate areas of Kimberley – please see below.

My four year plan of action

County Councillors are elected on a four year term of office – this will be 7 May 2021 – May 2025.  This is the timescale I would like to work to:

• Highways between May 2021and March 2022 – undertake major consultation exercise with Nuthall and Kimberley residents, schools, businesses etc, in order to get an up to date consensus on what they want to see going forward.  This will take place though public meetings, on-line surveys, hard copy letter distribution.  Work closely with County Council Highway Officers in order to produce a detailed, realistic and report (see below).
• Highways between April 2022 – March 2023 – in April 2022 submit the detailed report to Nottinghamshire County Council Highways officers (with realistic timescales) for work to be undertaken once the appropriate funding has been found.
• Education – in November 2021 – hold a major young people’s conference in Nuthall and Kimberley (see above).
• Working together with the police and other agencies on anti social behaviour – between 2021 and 2025 hold regular public surgeries together with the local police where residents can come and discuss any problems.
• Pot hole and pavement improvements – identify *all* problem road and pavement surfaces (including those areas that traditionally get neglected – smaller roads like Regent Street and Noel Street, Kimberley).  By the summer of 2022 – produce a transparent programme up to May 2025 on what areas will get treated year by year as a priority, with plans then for how the remaining areas will be tackled post May 2025.
• By March 2023 – having carried out a full review of the current bus plug scheme for Cedarlands & Horsendale – to work with the County Council to offer a new revised scheme (with easements for residents living within the areas above)

So essentially I’ll be kept pretty busy for the next four years 

That of course is in addition to other issues and campaigns such as the developments of the potential tram extension from Phoenix Park: 

Richard Robinson » Langley Mill Super Hub – Tram extension Line 4 phase III to Kimberley, Eastwood & into Amber Valley (richardsrobinson.org.uk)

the future of Kimberley Leisure Centre, policy issues on social care that affect so many people, and so on.

d) What experience do I have for the role?

In both Nuthall and Kimberley – these are examples of individual requests for help I have received from local residents, thus far in 2021:

• grants for local businesses
• recycling matters
• moving of gas meters on domestic properties
• dangerous parking
• social services assessment for vulnerable adults
• pavements, new and existing footpaths
• moving of bus shelters
• CCTV installation in several problem areas
• multiple issues around housing on the former brewery site in Kimberley
• provision of new litter bins
• complex planning matters
• recycling issues
• anti social behaviour and police matters
• dog fouling issues
• requests for new road signs – some people in the Stocks Road area of Kimberley were having problems getting deliveries – due to lack of proper signage.  I was able to get a new sign that identified both Stocks Road and Edinboro Row properties. 

And finally – do I have a life outside of council work?

The answer to that is yes 

• I am married to Sarah.  She works for Derbyshire County Council.  We have two children – Laura who is a nurse and Joseph who is a policeman.  They are both married and live in Newcastle.
• Sarah and I are members of Trent Vineyard church in Nottingham.
• I work in a part-time capacity for AgeUK Nottinghamshire: Welcome to Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire 
• We love walking in the Peak District.
• I am a passionate Leeds United supporter, like good red wine and real ale, and love the country of Greece, especially the island of Rhodes.
• If you want to see something a little more light hearted from me – there’s a video of me below from over 15 years ago when I once met Johnny Vaughan and Westlife:  Party Tricks – YouTube 

Day One and Day 2’s musings are shown here: https://richardsrobinson.org.uk/2020/04/covid-19-blog-day-2-getting-dressed-up-to-go-to-morrisons-radio-4-just-a-minute-community-heroes-dragons-den-masterchef-why-mps-matter-jeremiah-ch-6/

So it’s Sunday 5 April and Her Majesty the Queen has addressed the nation.

Also I shared my 58th birthday yesterday with the announcement of Labour’s new management (more of this below).  For now – what else has been happening the last few days? 

Day 3 – Thursday 2 April

In itself maybe not so eventful as days one and two above.

It was literally non stop work-wise (I work for an MP).  I’m so thankful to have a job and to be able hopefully to making a positive difference in a small way.   It does break my heart though to see so many people have such an uncertain future with regards to a job and financial security.  Livelihoods of the many appear in jeopardy.

We did manage to get a Sainsbury’s home delivery at 5 30pm.   In normal times we’d have a Sunday delivery slot night at 5pm (when the football is on & I’m not too chuffed to have to help unpack).  These are not normal times however.  The lovely delivery driver rang Sarah from his van outside our house to say the shopping was in plastic shopping bags at our front door.  We’ve now inherited loads of plastic bags.

At night Sarah and me did our church Small Group via Zoom.  Our church is Trent Vineyard in Nottingham.  For those of you reading this who don’t normally do church (or God) let me say a few brief words about Trent Vineyard https://trentvineyard.org/ – we are basically very imperfect people who meet together on Sunday’s (when COVID-19 isn’t around).  It’s maybe not quite church as you’d expect.  We meet in a warehouse (there’s quite a lot of us), worship God and serve the poor.  The church is led by John and Debby Wright (two of the most humble people I have met in my lifetime).

As a lot of people go to our church – it’s not always easy to be needed and known at a Sunday service (maybe around 1800 attendees all in all).  This is why we have Small Groups.  They are essentially groups of between six and twenty people who meet together on a weekly or fortnightly basis.  We (that’s Sarah and me) lead a Small Group at our house.  There’s around fifteen in ours.  We aim to encourage one another and build relationships through prayer and practical support.  So we all met virtually (thanks to Zoom) on Thursday – we were able to share each others difficulties and fears, pray and encourage one another.  We also even managed some virtual worship.  Let’s hear it again for Zoom.

Day 4 Friday 3 April

Social media – Facebook and Twitter in particular are often maligned because they are used so often as platforms to spread much so much vitriol and personal abuse.  You have to be extremely disciplined, wise and be careful not to get sucked in.

It’s not all doom and gloom though – a well known British TV presenter and political columnist tweeted one of my blogs.  This in due course reached its way through the Ethernet to Dawn – a friend in Scotland who I haven’t seen for almost twenty years – and she’s been in touch. We’ve been reacquainted. How social media can be a force for good.  Thanks @steverichards14 – I’m forever indebted to you.

I also chatted this time on Facebook video messenger (I really am that tech savvy) with Bryan.  He’s a lovely guy.  He lives alone in Arnold (Nottingham).  He had a stroke a few years back which leaves him with extremely limited movement down one side of his body.  We put the world to rights – he’s very politically astute and is not afraid to tell me if he thinks I’m wrong.  The world needs more folk like Bryan.

Day 5 Saturday 4 April

So now I am 58.  I celebrated this with a 4(ish) mile run in the morning.

Sarah and me had a lovely day – we even got our best clothes on to have a birthday tea in our kitchen at home at night.  See below: 

One of my favourite presents was a Leeds United mug – shown here: 

Earlier we went on a walk, which was interrupted by this time a WattsApp video call from my brother in law Tim wishing me happy birthday. We were in Heanor (that’s just a tad over the border from us in Amber Valley) at the time.  It was lovely to catch up virtually – whilst at the same time walking and trying not to walk into lampposts.

Something else also happened yesterday – the Labour Party announced a new Leader and Deputy Leader – Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner respectively.

In February 2019 I left the Labour Party – see below.  I was asked yesterday to rejoin.   What a conundrum.  Forty eight per cent of me wants to rejoin today.   Fifty two per cent of me is a little unsure about this.

Should I have a second referendum?  I’m now an Independent councillor having taken on both the Tories, Labour & Green’s at last May’s election and won.

I miss meeting and the camaraderie with so many friends over 38 years and the sense of solidarity.  I do want the Labour Party to own its Christian Socialist roots again.

I need a huge amount of wisdom before rushing to any decisions.

1981 – 2019 – why 38 years in the Labour Party for me has today come to an end

The raw facts are about the Labour Party are this – in less than a decade it lost 4 elections (in 2019 of course catastrophically).

If you take Tony Blair out of the equation (for whom in large measure I have tremendous admiration) the last time Labour won a General Election was 1974.  

I was 12 at the time and Leeds United were in the First Division (the precursor to the Premiership), for those of you reading this who belong to Generation Z & Millennial.

Wow – these are extraordinary times.

Yes these are absolutely extraordinary times.

I thought I’d start a public daily blog – that will hopefully offer some encouragement and optimism tinged with a sense of humour to lighten the day.

I’ve kept my private own journal (not always daily) since 2011.  It records days when I’ve had deep disappointment and records my personal feelings, when I’ve made many mistakes, and even when I’ve had glorious successes.  It’s also littered with the ups (and mainly downs) (until of course this season) of Leeds United.

So what happened yesterday Tuesday 31 March?

a) working for an MP

My full time job is working for an MP.  I’m working from home and started at 630am.  There is a relentless and endless stream of emails from extremely worried residents and businesses about a multitude of issues.  Not just about the future, but for many their everyday existence.  One very local small business has around £30 left in the bank, with bills to pay.  How really will they survive?

b) my Greek friend Yiannis

My favourite place in the world (apart from Elland Road) is the Greek island of Rhodes.  There’s a small village on the south of the island near Lindos – it’s called Pefkos.  Possibly not much larger than Matlock Bath – but much prettier (and no motorbikes or chippy’s).  Me and Sarah have visited every year since 2010 (I was working for Ed Miliband at the time).  Pefkos is a wonderful place.  We’ve got some Greek friends out there where we stop who own a bar and apartments.  I got a message from Yiannis (although TBH there are any literally thousands of Greek guys who share the same name).  Anyhow it’s definitely our Yiannis.  His livelihood depends on us Brits visiting them.  He’s worried about the loss of income, how he’ll survive and realises that he’ll have to open later this year.  I love Yiannis.

c) being a local authority cllr

I’m a Borough Cllr in Broxtowe (Nottingham).  I love the work and am passionate about serving my local community – my ward is Kimberley (it’s got an IKEA near it), which usually helps people recognise the area.

I get a telephone call from a council officer to say that council meetings may have to be conducted virtually in the future and asks whether I am ok with this?  Naturally I agree.  I might be able to mute cllrs who persist in talking and talking and talking.

d) cleaning the toilet

To show some solidarity with Sarah (my wife by the way) I thought it was time to show willing.  I put on the marigolds and cleaned the toiler (and shower).  I then changed the bed.  But I did take the marigolds off first.

e) talking with friends

I had telephone conversations with two dear friends in Nuthall (Nottingham).  They are both keen Labour supporters.  One also supports Sheffield Wednesday (never mind).  We talk about Brexit, Hs2 and whether either of them will really still happen.  We did not reach a satisfactory conclusion.

f) my daily run

Me and Sarah can’t go to the gym.  We’ve resorted to going a 3-4(ish) run down the Erewash Valley trail near us.  It’s wonderful.  I find running a stress-buster after a tough day at work.  Sarah’s not always so enthusiastic.  She always finishes a country mile ahead of me though.

g) New Statesman

I’ve been a subscriber for around 150 years.  I love reading my weekly subscription.  One of my dear friends Adrian Pabst is a contributing writer.  I read quite a bit of last Friday’s edition last night – there’s some excellent articles.  My favourite was one from Jonathan Powell (Downing Street Chief of Staff between 1997-2007) on how COVID-19 will change the British state for ever in 10 ways.

I’d love to be a contributing myself writer one day.  Who knows?  I’m ever the optimist.

h) Psalm 23

I read this passage at 630am this morning.

One of the most famous Psalms of King David.  One of my favourite Psalms.  The first four verses read “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me besides still waters.  He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even through I walk through he valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me“.

Wonderful, wonderful words.  No extra words needed.

i) & finally (for now) I’l blog again tomorrow

Our children Laura & Joseph being either millennial’s or Generation Z are of course more tech-savvy than me.  I keep getting Marco Polo and Zoom messages.  It was my daughter in law’s birthday yesterday.  She said thanks for the present on Marco Polo.  When I was a kid I’d send a thank you letter and put a stamp on it.

Wow – these are extraordinary times.

Saturday 16 February 2019

Live music plus refreshments

7pm

See document here: 3188177 for full details