A message from City Council Leader, Councillor David Mellen

This green gateway to the city centre will be further enhanced by the new Central Library. This purpose-built facility will be spread over three floors and includes an extensive collection of books, access to free computers and iPads, bespoke meeting rooms and a learning lab for students.

Work will continue on the Green Heart of Nottingham, situated on part of where the Broadmarsh Centre used to be located, providing a beautiful area that will welcome visitors to our city and transform the current surroundings. While it was disappointing to be unsuccessful in gaining Levelling Up Funding from the Government, we will still be able to move ahead with initial work as we look for alternative funding.

To comment,

Go online: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/hys

Textphone or minicom: 18001, then 0115 915 5555

Phone us on: 0115 915 5555

Write to: Have Your Say, Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG

We recognise libraries are a special place for children; many of us have fond memories of visiting libraries as children, picking out the books we want, and being transported to other worlds. Therefore, along with the announcement that we’re keeping three libraries open that were proposed to close in Aspley, Radford, and Basford, the new city centre library will have an impressive children’s section, with an extensive catalogue of children’s books, an immersive storytelling room for younger children and comfortable soft areas to sit and read. I hope this will help to inspire and entertain generations of Nottingham children.

It is not just in the city centre that improvement work is taking place. Work began in January to improve the shelters at Bulwell Bus Station, providing three types of seating to make waiting for buses more comfortable. The layout of the bus stops has also been changed to improve flow in the location.

We are also working with Nottingham City Homes to continue building new social housing in the city – for example, at Kieron Hill Court in Clifton, named after a young local who sacrificed his life while serving in the British Army –amongst others such as in Bestwood.

The next steps of our devolution deal will also take place this year and I would like to thank all those who took part in the consultation. We will now work with Nottinghamshire County Council, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council, and consider the results which will inform our final proposal that will be submitted to the Government.

If the deal is approved by Parliament and new legislation is passed, then the East Midlands Combined County Authority will be formed. There is still much work to be done and the journey is only beginning but a devolution deal represents a great opportunity for Nottingham and the wider region, allowing us access to more funding which will encourage growth and improve the lives of our residents.

Finally, the whole country remains in the grip of a cost of living crisis. As a council, we are supporting residents in every way we can. We will continue to signpost people to support, such as how to budget, where to get debt advice and what help you can get in an emergency. More information can be found online CLICK HERE