Welfare site to be secured

Newark and Sherwood District Council is to take responsibility for securing the former miners’ welfare site in Ollerton ahead of any future sale to developers.

The site was demolished last year and is surrounded only by a flimsy metal fence. There are fears the rubble-laden land off Whinney Lane poses a health and safety risk and is a target for anti-social behaviour.

The council served administrators Auker Rhodes with a notice to secure the site but the firm, which advises the charitable trust that ran the welfare, says the money is not there to do so.

A council spokesman said it would therefore pay to install better fencing and recover the money through any future sale.

It follows a meeting between the district council, Auker Rhodes and the MP for Sherwood, Mr Mark Spencer.

Mr Spencer said it represented progress but he was still frustrated at how long things were taking.

“All of that sounds fine but the receivers seem to be dragging their feet,” he said.

“All I can do is keep putting on as much pressure as possible. The immediate priority is to get some secure fencing and make sure it doesn’t become a focal point for anti-social behaviour again.”

Mr Spencer said he was in talks with Sport England to ensure the bowling green next to the site was retained.

He said he would also like to see a scheme for housing development drawn up.

“In the end I would like to see some new housing and a better bowling facility,” he said.

Town councillor Mr Stan Crawford said he was hopeful that the site would be secured within the next few weeks.

However, he was not confident it would be easy to attract developers in the current economic climate.

“Everything has taken a long time and a lot of pressure,” he said. “I feel sorry for those who live opposite because of the bad behaviour there has been, and the bowls club which is soldiering on next to a bomb site.

“At least now we will be able to get on with securing the site and making it look better.”

The council’s community director, Mr Andy Statham, said: “Following meetings with the charity’s advisers, the council will commission improvement works on the site, those being mainly steel security fencing as well as on-going grounds maintenance, to improve the general appearance of the welfare site until it is sold.”

The Advertiser contacted Auker Rhodes but its calls were not returned.