The project to extend Nottingham’s tram system to Clifton and Silverdale received an official Government sign-off last month. The tram extension will also see a line constructed to Chilwell via Beeston.
A detailed construction programme is now being finalised and the first phase of construction work will start this month, with services on the new lines planned to start in late 2014.
The construction of lines two (Wilford and Clifton) and three (Beeston and Chilwell) of the tram will take place concurrently. The initial works will largely involve clearing sites and moving utility services to the side of the new tram route. This will be followed by works to ready roads and off-street areas for track laying.
The physical works in the first three months of the construction programme (January to March 2012) are dominated by property demolitions, installing temporary fencing, site clearing and starting utility diversions.
Once the tracks are laid and the overhead cables are installed, there will be a period of several months in 2014 of testing trams along the new tram tracks, before the tram is expected to open to the public in late 2014.
For further details visit the nottinghamcity.gov.uk or contact planning policy by calling 0115 981 9911.

Local MP Ken Clarke led a delegation from Nottinghamshire to London to discuss the widening of the A453.
The meeting with the secretary of the state for transport, Philip Hammond, has been described by those who attended as “very constructive”.
Mr Clarke joined Nottinghamshire County Council leader, Kay Cutts, and chief executive, Mick Burrows, and they were accompanied by Brian Conway, head of government and industrial affairs at East Midlands Airport and Patrick Dunne, Alliance Boots’ group procurement and property director.
The dualling of the A453, which runs though Clifton, is one of a number of schemes currently planned for construction after 2015. However, the government is expected to announe later this year some schemes which could be accelerated to start construction before 2015 if circumstances allow.
The scheme to dual the A453 has already been subject to a public inquiry and is one of only a few nationally which would effectively be ready to go if given the go-ahead.
The A453 is one of the most congested roads in the country and costs larger businesses as much as £100,000 a year because of increased fuel usage, difficulty reaching customers, abandoned journeys and accident costs. To the region as a whole, it has been estimated that an improved A453 would bring a boost to the economy of £540m.
The County Council wrote to Mr Hammond in May pledging £20m towards the cost of widening the route and used the meeting to set out the details of their offer to the government. Councillor Cutts also wrote to major businesses in the region, urging them to support the bid.
Mick Burrows told The Local News: “The meeting with the secretary of state was very constructive. There is still more work to be done on our funding proposal for the scheme and to that end a meeting will be arranged shortly between myself, County Council officials and representatives from the Department for Transport.”
Councillor Cutts added: “The A453 is the weakest link in the regional road network and the road, in its current state, is severely limiting the economic recovery and development of the area.
“The widening of the A453 is fundamental to unlocking the huge economic potential of our vibrant county.
“We already know that the traffic delays encountered, especially by businesses, are having a detrimental effect upon inward investment in the area.
“That is why Nottinghamshire County Council has offered £20 million towards the cost of widening this vital route in the hope that the Government will bring forward
its approval. I am very grateful to Ken Clarke for leading the delegation and securing the meeting with the minister.”

Here’s the reaction of shoppers in Clifton…

I would be thrilled if the A453 was finally widened – no more time wasted trying to get home from town.
Jane
Why do they want to build a road to encourage more people to use it? Doesn’t make sense to ask for more traffic.
Dave

Residents in Clifton and beyond continue to voice their dismay about plans by the University of  Nottingham to erect wind turbines on land near the River Trent in Beeston.
Local resident, John Carr, told The Local News: “My major concern is the danger to traffic caused by drivers being distracted by looking at the wind turbines, rather than fully concentrating on driving over Clifton Bridge in particular, where traffic is heavy and there is continuous lane changing and exit routes.
“The University in particular should have the intelligence to accept that the benefits of wind turbines are open to significant scientific question. Presumably there is the promise of substantial tax payers funds to subside the proposal?
“The public generally are not aware of the facts relating to the Climate Change Act and the UK and EU policies arising from it, which result in massive subsidies for wind farms and solar panels.
“This Act must be reviewed by politicians as a matter of urgency, especially when public funding for welfare, the NHS and education is being reduced.
“The 100 wind turbines off the Kent coast, with large subsidy to a Swedish company which built them, will cost a £60 million subsidy per year for 20 years. In 2003, the average output of a turbine in the UK was only 25% of its full capacity (the load factor).
“The Renewable Energy Foundation website states this load factor of turbines (which only generate with optimum efficiency at wind speeds between 34mph and 56mph) varies wildly according to location from 57% on Shetland to 7% on the edge of London.
“This is one of the best kept secrets of the wind industry because it meant that the wind turbines were not saving anything like the amount of carbon dioxide they liked to claim. A ‘spinning reserve’ was essential from conventional power stations to provide back-up. The more wind farms were built the more gas fired or nuclear power plants would be required.
“The reputation of Nottingham University should not be tarnished by this crazy proposal to put three 125-metre wind turbines adjacent to the River Trent and Clifton Bridge. The benefits are too obscure and the landscape intrusion motivated by a selfish unconcern for the views of the community.”

A company which has sent leaflets to people in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire asking for clothing to raise money for a mystery air ambulance service, is upsetting supporters of the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust (LNAACT).
The leaflets, branded ‘Air Ambulance Service’, ask people to leave good quality clothing in bags. They claim that the clothes will be sold to raise money for the service and give the impression that this is a charity supporting air ambulances on a national basis – but no such charity exists. Nottinghamshire Police are currently investigating to try and find out who is behind the campaign.
Peter Aldrick, chief executive of the LNAACT, said: “Despite first impressions, these people are not from a registered charity and they have no connection with any air ambulance service operating within the UK. It appears to be a profit making company trading on the good name of the air ambulance network and diverting the generous support provided by the public.”
A Clifton resident who received the leaflet was Iris Smedley, aged 82. She said: “A piece of paper was pushed through my door, which said that clothing was being collected to raise money for the air ambulance service. I left some clothing in a bag on my doorstep, as did another lady who lives up the road. I was a bit suspicious because they hadn’t even left any bags for us to put the clothes in, so I decided to phone the local air ambulance.
“They said that they hadn’t sent any leaflets out, so I brought the bag back in. I think it’s terrible, what are these people doing with the clothes? They aren’t using them to make money for the air ambulance.”
Anyone who is concerned about the validity of leaflets, clothing bags or letters they have received asking for donations, should contact 01522 548 469.