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Dereliction and Redevelopment
A fierce controversy
The boulder at the Country Park entranceIn August 1993, Nottinghamshire
County Council handed over the Country Park to Rushcliffe Borough Council
on a 99 year lease. A few days before the hand-over ceremony took place, an
attractive sandstone boulder was put in place at the entrance to the Park,
but before the bronze plaque affixed to it was officially unveiled the Borough
Council made a controversial decision. An article in the Ruddington Village
newsletter, `The Rudd` published on 10th September explained the situation.
“The Country Park has finally been handed over to Rushcliffe Borough Council in a ceremony on the Park on 27th August 1993. A welcome day for the whole village but, known to everyone already as Ruddington Country Park, Rushcliffe Borough Council now wish it to be called Rushcliffe Country Park. During the handing over ceremony members of the Nottinghamshire Country Council continually referred to it as Ruddington Country Park. This name was emblazoned on a bronze name plate nearby….
Objections have been quick to flood in to the Parish Council Office and to `The Rudd`. Some people may say `What’s in a name? Does it matter what the Park is called? The local reply is “Yes”. This is where you can help. If you have strong feelings either way please let the Borough know.”
An ill-considered and dismissive comment by the leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council in response to the storm of protest which then erupted, inflamed the issue. On September 24th `The Rudd` appeared with a banner headline, “A Piffling Little Matter”. The leading article went on to explain that the name of the Country Park might appear like that to the leader of the Borough Council, but it had become a vital issue in Ruddington. It continued:
“It has generated more anger in the village than anything else anyone can remember. The people are speaking loud and clear”
When Ruddington Parish Council met, the following resolution was passed:-
1) That the Parish Council object in the strongest possible
terms to the re-naming of the Country Park, the Rushcliffe Country Park, and
that the Borough Council should be asked to reconsider the decision.
2) That should the Borough Council not re-consider its decision, then the
Parish Council will always refer to the Country Park as the Ruddington Country
Park.
Feelings ran high when the original bronze plaque was removed and replaced by another. Councillor Sue Bennett, an elected member of both Nottinghamshire County Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council organised a petition which asked for the name Ruddington Country Park to be reinstated. She also released for publication some of the correspondence she had received on the matter, and thanked `The Rudd` for “exposing the farce that has been created.”
One extract, published by `The Rudd` was a justification of the change of name made in a letter to Councillor Bennett from the Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council. He wrote:
“The fact is that the Country Park has been provided as a major Borough-wide facility, and more importantly is to be financed by all the residents of the Rushcliffe area. It is therefore entirely appropriate that the name should reflect this.”
An aerial view of the Country Park in 1996Few protesters accepted this
argument, and the issue smouldered on through the winter. It was rekindled
in the spring when Rushcliffe Borough Council published a long list of Bye
Laws for the Country Park. Among them was a ban on bicycles (which included
toddlers` tricycles).
When the storm of protest broke out afresh, the Parish Council decided they would boycott the official opening of the Country Park, arranged for Saturday, 28th May 1994. The four Ruddington Borough Councillors also refused to attend. When the event took place many prominent members of the community were also conspicuous by their absence. The atmosphere was tense and uneasy until the Mayor of Rushcliffe announced that the ban on bicycles had been lifted. Wiser counsels had prevailed on this issue at least.
Even those who thought at the time that the whole controversy was a storm in a tea-cup, recognised that it demonstrated the degree to which the local community had already developed pride in the new Country Park, and had acquired a feeling of ownership of it.
The furore died down, and many of the protesters became regular visitors to the Park. Some developed a great affection for it, but they never refer to it by its official name.
The Story > Chapter 10 > Section 10.01