The future of Nottingham's Broadmarsh has emerged as a key priority for some of the parties standing in the upcoming city council election. Parties have been putting out their key pledges ahead of voters choosing their next Nottingham City Council representatives on May 4.
Labour and the Conservatives have already published their manifestos, with the latter party saying they will be seeking to form a strong opposition on Nottingham City Council rather than trying to gain enough seats to lead it. Now, lists of pledges have been released by the Nottingham Independents, Green Party and the Liberal Democrats.
The Nottingham Independents are fielding the most candidates out of the three, with 28 people putting themselves forward for the party. Kevin Clarke, the Leader of the Nottingham Independents, said that the party would not be publishing a full manifesto.
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He said: "We have encouraged all candidates to concentrate on what is needed in the wards they are representing. These candidates all live in their respective wards and know the issues that are related to that ward."
The party has published 10 main pledges including saving youth centres, ensuring there are no more library or community centre closures and tackling issues such as fly-tipping, road repairs and knife crime.
The party also says more social housing is "desperately needed" in Nottingham and that it would look at "all options" to request the building of more family homes. The Nottingham Independents say they would also look to stop business rate increases in the city, encourage local jobs fairs and seek a new local venue for city market traders.
For the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats though, both have mentioned the future of Nottingham's Broadmarsh as a key priority. The Green Party says it would "implement the joint Green Party-Liberal Democrat plan for a new, regenerated, thriving Broadmarsh centre based around access to green spaces, growth and jobs."
In terms of its pledge for the former shopping centre, the Liberal Democrats say: "Making sure the Broad Marsh development has a proper green space and that any building on that land is to a decent environmental standard, rather than lowest common denominator." In terms of its ambitions in the upcoming elections, the Liberal Democrats say: "Labour have controlled the council since it was formed. They have 50 seats and it is certain they will be in charge again - what isn't certain is whether there will be an opposition.
"With the Conservatives in chaos and Labour pushing hard to win marginal seats, there's a chance that we could be in a one party state from 5th May. That being the case, every vote for the Liberal Democrats will send the council a message. Every Liberal Democrat elected will be an effective opposition."
Other Liberal Democrat pledges include ensuring the return of "sound finances" at Nottingham City Council, reopening Nottingham Castle with a public business plan, protecting libraries and attracting jobs and investment. The party also says turning round the city's 'inadequate' children's services would be a key priority, adding: "It is shameful that the City Council's provision of children's services has been rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted.
"There are Lib Dem councillors in the UK who have turned around failing children's services provision. If elected, the Lib Dems would engage with them and push for sharing of best practice so that the next generation in Nottingham are not let down."
The Green Party's pledges include ensuring there are enough bed spaces in Nottingham so that no one has to sleep rough, expanding the park and ride system and working with job centres to create new volunteer positions that support local charities.
The party also says it would seek to "eliminate" litter around Nottingham, subsidise costs for insulation upgrades in low-income homes, extend free school meals and raise awareness of women's mental health issues such as endometriosis. Finally, the Green Party says it would create a citizens' assembly "as an improved forum for people to be consulted on local developments and policy, and allowing residents to hold their politicians to account."
Labour are going into the election with a strong majority of 50 members on Nottingham City Council, compared to three currently held by the Nottingham Independents and two held by the Conservatives. Labour will be the only party with a candidate for each of the 55 council seats available.
The Conservatives have 41 candidates, the Nottingham Independents have 28 and the Liberal Democrats have 20. Those with a smaller number of candidates include the Green Party with 17, UKIP with two, the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition with one and three independent candidates.
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