Group wants YOU to love ‘great’ Bulwell

A new community interest company (CIC) was formed this week as part of a We Love Bulwell town team.

A well-attended inaugural meeting took place at Bulwell Academy..

We Love Bulwell stems from a national review by Mary Portas, the ‘Queen of Shops’, which stresses that local communities and businesses should cherish their high streets and town centres to keep them flourishing and sustainable.

Bulwell and the Lace Market were the only two places in Nottingham to benefit from this initiative. It is supported by the Association of Town Centre Management and includes funding of £10,000.

Bill Blackamore, chairman of the We Love Bulwell steering committee, said: “Bulwell is a great place to be but we have the opportunity to help shape the future now, making it brilliant for the local community, businesses and visitors alike.

“We Love Bulwell want to be the hub for future events. A lot is already happening and this has included the successful first Bulwell Arts Festival. We need to make the most of Bulwell’s tremendous potential.”

Mark Armstrong, senior regeneration officer of Nottingham City Council, said he was currently working on an action plan for Bulwell, which had ‘everything we want’ for a town centre,

This included a picturesque section of the River Leen, excellent transport links, a vibrant market and only two empty shops, he added.

Bulwell’s first female Sheriff of Nottingham, Coun Jackie Morris, said: “One of my passions is to raise the aspirations of young people in Bulwell.

“We should tell them they don’t come from a deprived area but can be proud of Bulwell being a historical place. I think Bulwell should be regarded as a town in its own right and not just as a suburb of Nottingham.”

Alison Bingham, head of business studies at Bulwell Academy, said: “We have fantasic young peple here and I would like them to be ambassadors of Bulwell.”

Kevin Price was elected chair of an ICI committee.