A spoof blue plaque about the achievements of Conservative MP for Gedling Tom Randall has put smiles on the faces of residents and people in the area. While genuine blue plaques are dotted around Nottinghamshire to celebrate important historical markers, this one has a bit of a difference.
Mr Randall worked with Network Rail to get a new fence under the old railway bridge on Burton Road close to its junction with A6211 Shearing Hill. Mr Randall's efforts have not gone unnoticed by the community and someone has attached a small blue sign to the fence to mark the occasion. It reads: 'Tom Randall's achievement, June 11 2022, no. 1 in a series of 1'. It has caused much amusement among residents and people in the area.
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Lisa Blissett, 53, who lives in Gedling and was walking her dog, said: "It's good, it made me smile. I think people take things too seriously nowadays. It's nice to have a bit of a smile. I think he's alright though, he does a lot for the community."
Tom Parnell, 46, who lives in Gedling and was walking his dog, said: "It's quite funny really isn't it. I think it should have said half an achievement."
Joss Yarnell, 68, who lives in Carlton, said: "I've not seen it just yet, but I'll give it a look when I walk by shortly. That sounds funny though. I've been in touch with Tom Randall before, and his responses have always towed the party line. There are no personal opinions, I didn't vote for him I must say."
The Gedling MP himself has taken the sign in good faith.
Tom Randall MP said: "The plaque is very droll, but I do fear that there's one local creative with too much time on their hands. My work on this site isn't finished: I'm working with Network Rail to get the rubbish removed.
"Once that’s done, maybe it'll keep our mysterious sign maker busy creating a new plaque? The plaque says 'achievement 1' but it misses the work I've done locally to campaign against development on the Burton Road car wash site, raise speeding issues along Nottingham Road, and help Linden Grove residents with encroaching development among many other things.
"But given that this plaque has probably been put up by a local Labour Party member I'm not surprised they've got their numbers wrong."
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: "Safety is our top priority and we always take any concerns raised about railway equipment seriously. In this instance, our teams visited site to inspect the fence and found that parts of it were damaged.
"We've installed a new fence to secure our land and equipment. We'd encourage anyone with concerns about railway infrastructure to report it to our National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41."
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