ACCESS: A Retrospective and Update

Update as at 9/12/2025

In around 2022, I wrote on this homepage with the hope that ACCESS, an organisation established almost 20 years previously, would experience a revival. The original plan was to redevelop the website, introduce new sections, and breathe new life into our activities. However, circumstances have shifted, and these ambitions have not materialised as intended.

ACCESS Achievements Over Two Decades

During its 20-year history, ACCESS has made notable contributions to the local community. Among our achievements are:

  • Saving Little Oak Plantation, securing its designation as a Local Wildlife Site, and ensuring a Total Tree Preservation Order (TPO) was established.
  • Successfully opposing Taylor Wimpey’s proposal to build a 99-house development on the Forest Grass land behind Forest Road.
  • Researching previously unrecognised footpaths, which were subsequently acknowledged by Nottinghamshire County Council, preserving them for future generations.
  • With community support, submitting and having recognised a number of sites of local heritage by the local council.

None of these successes would have been possible without the active involvement and support of the community.

Challenges and the Decision to Pause

On 19th March 2019, a meeting was held where it was agreed to place ACCESS into ‘slumber mode’ due to a decline in community interest, despite appeals for new, younger committee members to succeed the existing team. The adoption of a new local plan was anticipated, but this did not come to pass. The situation was further complicated a few months later by the onset of the COVID pandemic, which severely limited all forms of social interaction.

Maintaining the Website and Subsequent Events

Despite these challenges, we continued for the next few years in ‘acting roles,’ keeping the website active and updated. The intention was to provide new residents with insights into the community’s development and to make available any useful information we had published.

Regrettably, support continued to dwindle. Among the remaining original committee members, one underwent a heart bypass and was also battling cancer, another had nearly lost their sight, and a third was contending with cancer and advanced age. Given these circumstances, it was decided at a meeting on 21st August 2023 that ACCESS should be formally dissolved. This decision had not previously been communicated on the website, though it was likely that most residents were already aware. I am now addressing this omission, with and by some assistance in website programming.

A Personal Reflection and Future Hopes

On a personal note, I am reluctant to let ACCESS fade away entirely. Our community deserves better, and I have been pursuing several initiatives that I hope to share with you in the New Year. These efforts are aimed at deepening our appreciation and understanding of our local heritage and environment.

Therefore, I repeat my earlier request: please continue to watch this space for future updates.

Peter Olko

 

 

About the Photographs

All the photographs featured above were taken within our local community. If you click on a picture, you will be able to view the next one; click again to explore the full current range.

 

 

 

 

 

Uncategorised

Details
Category: Uncategorised

The following shows which potholes etc. I have reported, the date of reporting, the detail that was given to NCC highways, their report number, the date they said that the work was completed and my observations as to the standard of repair and the correctness of their response.

 

Date Reported Detail NCC report No. NCC Date complete NCC Observations My Observations
 14/01/2026 Repairs required to road side repairs for about 20 yards outside doctors surgery.   CSC780687335  30/01/2026  

Roadside outside doctors surgery

We are pleased to let you know that the road damage you reported has been repaired.

 No -  Only a small patch carried out - re - entered 08/02/2026 - see below and they have removed itemfrom NCC webmap showing repairs and inspections.

Surely, if further repairs are required - item should be kept open!
19/01/2026 Blocked Drain junction of Forest Road/Derby Road, near Badger Box  CSC787657419  Response -  6th February 2026

CSC787657419. - The road damage you reported is to be repaired as part of a drainage improvement or maintenance scheme.

 08/02/2026 - Still blocked - I wonder when it will happen?

IMG 7220
08/02/2026 Pothole in main Derby Road, as travelling to Mansfield, near Bus stop before Mutton Hill. Appears to have been reported 5 days ago, awaiting inspection
CSC794144935

     IMG 7221
 08/02/2026 Long trench of defects (about 20 yards) - in road, near Bus stop opposite Annesley Woodhouse Working Mens Club making it dangerous to cyclists and people walking across road to catch bus.  CSC796340422 11/02/2026   We are pleased to let you know that the road damage you reported has been repaired.  IMG 7225
IMG 7227
 08/02/2026  Repairs required to road side repairs for about 20 yards outside doctors surgery.  CSC780689083      Orginal photo IMG 6944
 09/02/2026 Repairs required to series of potholes - on Forest Road about 20m up from Badger Box junstion travelling towards Selston   CSC796723687

 11/02/2026

 

  We are pleased to let you know that the road damage you reported has been repaired  This was reported previously and stated as repaired - so submitting it again, no doubt like many other residents.
IMG 72391
09/02/2026 Drain needs unblocking opposite side of road to 65 Forest Road. CSC796738699     IMG 7243
10/02/2026 About 6 potholes across top of junction with Western Avenue with Kingsway Road need filling  CSC797473303  11/02/2026  The location you reported road damage at has now been inspected and repairs will be carried out shortly. IMG 7284 Medium
10/02/2026 Not exactly a pothole, but resulting from doing a minor survey for management company of SBP, but reflecting a little sign of spring Spotted Orchid starting to push through grass   reported about 10 potholes, which the Management company said they would pass to NCC  IMG 7261 Medium
11/02/2026  Footpath has overhanging hedges from adjoining allotments along footpath from Acacia Playpark to Wesley Street. ADC confirms that they will undertake this     No picture




Details
Category: Uncategorised

We are sorry for the long explanation letter, but it important both to safeguard Little Oak Plantation from V/2021/0682 and what we see as environmental destruction on cyclepaths which are not really needed and the threat of a potentiial cycle path within the Local Draft Plan down Little Oak Avenue - these factors are intertwinned and cannot be seperated and need your action

Peter Olko/Bob Collier

Click here to see our full concrens

 

Details
Category: Uncategorised

Having examined the Local Plan and being aware of the strength of feeling towards the retention of the remaining area of this development (K1Hi)  as a Sports Field, we urge that you ask the Council, for rejection of KA049 as shown within the SHELAA reports, and that this area is safeguarded as "Green Space"

This link shows and expands on our concerns which we hope strengthens the petition.

Peter Olko/Bob Collier - ACCESS

 

Details
Category: Uncategorised

We are concerned about the above application, that seemingly gives the impression that work is being undertaken to existing footpaths within Little Oak Plantation when actually, this seems a precursor to the construction of  a hard surface cycle path through the wood and adjoining land.  I have no objection to cycle paths, but there is clear evidence within the application on a drawing that substantial construction works to a depth of 200mm will have to be undertaken which may damage the wood and no account or surveys have been undertaken regarding the impact of this.

Our drawing showing cycle path and extent of application

 

overview of works and application


Even the tree officer's report seems to indicate that work will not interfere with the existing footpath system - indicating that he may not be aware of future construction works

I am not sure if planning permission is required for a cycle path, but clearly specialist advice should be undertaken when construction works of this magnitude are being envisaged through what is an ancient woodland. Perhaps even advice should be sought from ecologists, Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Record Centre and Natural England.

Nor should ADC waste taxpayers monies in preparatory works if there is a chance that the cycle path may be refused.  Why cannot ADC tell the truth in what is their ultimate aim.

Personally I also cannot understand what benefits a cycle path from Derby Road to the footpath linking Forest Road near the doctors surgery to Sherwood Business park will achieve.  In these troubled times we shouldn't be spending monies just for the sake that it is available.  I am sure that with public consultation perhaps better and more worthy schemes could be found within the District.

I urge you to contact you councillor or even MP to get the true facts about this application found out.  Even through the closure date has passed ADC have to take into account all submissions up to the date of the debate in council.

 Please read our letter by clicking the link below - Thank youi

 Our Letter

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