Underclass News - Bestwood, Notts

The brook ran under the alder-trees, scarcely soiled by these small mines, whose coal was drawn to the surface by donkeys that plodded wearily in a circle around a gin. And all over the countryside were these same pits, some of which had been worked in the time of Charles II, the few colliers and the donkeys burrowing down like ants into the earth, making queer mounds and little black places among the cornfields and the meadows. And the cottages of these coalminers, in blocks and pairs here and there, together with odd farms and homes of the stockingers, straying over the parish, formed the village of Bestwood.

Then, some sixty years ago, a sudden change took place. The gin-pits were elbowed aside by the large mines of the financiers. The coal and iron field of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire was discovered. Carston, Waite and Co appeared. Amid tremendous excitement, Lord Palmerston formally opened the company’s first mine at Spinney Park, on the edge of Sherwood Forest. About this time the notorious Hell Row, which through growing old had acquired an evil reputation, was burned down, and much dirt was cleansed away.

The Bottoms consisted of six blocks of miners’ dwellings, two rows of three, like the dots on a blank-six domino, and twelve houses in a block. This double row of dwellings sat at the foot of the rather sharp slope from Bestwood, and looked out, from the attic windows at least, on the slow climb of the valley towards Selby.

Bestwood is a 'village' smack (le mot juste) in the middle of what was DH Lawrence country - the mining villages to the north of Nottingham. In 1896 it was described as a 'busy centre of industry', characterised by 'the shriek of the locomotive whistle and the rattle of the hosiery frames'. Lawrence called the village where the Morel family lived in 'Sons and Lovers' Bestwood, although I'm not sure whether he was anonymising his home village of Eastwood.

The colliery closed in 1967. The Bestwood Estate, a typical Midlands postwar council estate of solidly-built semis, underwent the social and cultural changes you can see from the Durham and Northumberland coalfields through West Yorkshire to the Valleys, the other side of the Glorious 60s Revolution so acclaimed in liberal England.

Suffice it to say that Bestwood has the Youth Project, the "Centre in Bestwood incorporating Family Learning, Adult Learning and Resources and a Children’s Centre", Surestart, Bestwood Directions ('In Bestwood there are no longer any children on the child protection register' - are they all in care ?), the Healthy Living Centre etc. Operation Kingdom, a multi-agency policing and neighbourhood management initiative, is working to improve the quality of life on the Bestwood Estate.

In other words, all sorts and conditions of social worker and funding stream is washing around this smack-ridden disaster zone.

It must be said that some of the old culture survives in the Black Diamonds Band and the Miners Welfare soccer side. The park where the mining boom began is now a Country Park ('mainly straight dogging fun with male, female and couple swingers up for some action. Weekday lunchtimes are very popular.' says the authoritative Swingers 24/7 site), the Park Lodge is a businessman's hotel and lottery money has restored the old pithead engines.

But the Bestwood boys and girls seem to be caning it a bit even for a disaster zone. Today I noticed this BBC news story.

Police have described the arson, on Friday evening, as "a deliberate and malicious attack".

The lit firework was pushed through the letter box just after 2100 GMT, three men were seen by the occupants running away from the house in Raymede Drive on the Bestwood Estate.

Two men, aged 17 and 23, who were inside the property, chased after the attackers who ran across Paddstow Road and Southglade Road.

But in the ground of Southglades Leisure Centre the three attackers were joined by another four men who attacked the two from the house.

They suffered cuts and bruises in the assault. They managed to escape and ran back to the house to find it gutted by fire, police said.

A third man, aged in his early 20s, who was upstairs in the property managed to escape.

Raymede Drive ? That name rang a bell. Wasn't it there that there was rioting after the verdict was announced in the Stirland murder trial, so well described by the Policeman ?

Six people have been charged with violent disorder after police were attacked with petrol bombs on a Nottingham housing estate.

Officers said up to 30 people set fire to cars and skips and vandalised fences on the city's Bestwood Estate.

It is understood the protest was linked to the jailing of three Nottingham men who plotted to murder Joan and John Stirland at their bungalow in Lincs.

About 200 officers were called in to the disturbances on Saturday night.

Prosecutor Stuart Rafferty told the court that the group were caught on camera ripping up fences, knocking down walls and building barricades across Raymede Drive.

They were filmed hurling abuse at police, setting fire to cars and chanting about a miscarriage of justice.

Their motivation, he said, was the conviction of three men for conspiring to murder Joan and John Stirland at their bungalow in Trusthorpe, Lincs, in August 2004.

Mr Rafferty said: "It is perfectly plain that the over-riding motive of those who orchestrated this and took part was to make public their displeasure at the recent conviction of the men for conspiracy to murder and the very lengthy imprisonment they were ordered to serve."

Mr Rafferty said the group, led by New and the 34-year-old woman, shouted instructions to the others in the group, ordering the setting of fires and the building of barricades.

A crate full of unused petrol bombs was later discovered by police abandoned in an alleyway on the estate.

"The people on the street were volatile," Mr Rafferty said. "However, some of them were demonstrably enjoying every moment. There was a group elation at what was going on."

The group, led by the two ringleaders, marched up and down the street, calling for the release of the three men through a megaphone. The pair also threatened further outbreaks of violence unless the men were released from jail, the court heard.

I did a bit more digging. Well blow me down. This is only available in the cache so I'd better post the whole thing. Using the Compose' format gives a pretty good clone of the page. I wonder for how long the Fire Services have been handing out useful tips to householders on protection against arson ?

According to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in August 2004 - way before the Stirland convictions - "there have been over 200 arson attacks in the last 12 months alone in just three streets in Bestwood – Raymede Drive, Leybourne Drive and Andover Road".

200 arson attacks in a year ? In three streets ? No one apprehended ? What the hell is going on on that estate ?

hot news

08/13/2004
Fighting back against arson
Firefighters, police, local councillors and housing officials have joined forces to fight the arson problem that is threatening to engulf a small area of the Bestwood Estate. There have been over 200 arson attacks in last 12 months alone in just three streets in Bestwood – Raymede Drive, Leybourne Drive and Andover Road. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is spearheading a new taskforce which has been set up to address the problem. Assistant Divisional Officer John Topham, who is heading up the taskforce, said: “Arson is blighting the estate and is ruining the residents’ lives. We need to take immediate positive action to stamp out this crime and turn this part of the Bestwood Estate around. “Local councillors, housing officials and the police are already working well with us to address this problem but we have to make sure we keep the momentum going. It’s not all about quick fixes and we intend to get some long term measures in place to tackle the problem.” After just one meeting of the taskforce, immediate measures planned to tackle arson in the area include: clearing the existing burnt out houses in the area and preparing them for new tenants increasing the number of Housing Wardens patrolling the area stepping up the campaign to remove rubbish left in the area, to reduce the fuel available for fires providing residents with a number to report any abandoned rubbish providing residents with information on how to contact Crimestoppers increasing the level of police Anti Social Behaviour Patrols in the Bestwood area raising the profile of local youth provision visiting local schools to educate children about the dangers of arson. Stewart Smith, Nottingham City Council’s Housing Manager, said: “Fire damaged houses are an eye-sore in an otherwise popular area. They attract fly-tipping that acts as a magnet for arsonists. Tackling areas of Nottingham that are causing ongoing problems is a major part of the Respect for Nottingham campaign and we want to clean up this area.” Inspector Mick Windmill-Jones, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are supporting the Bestwood community through the use of our Beat Managers and Police Community Support Officers but local people have their part to play too. “They are our eyes and ears and I would urge them to report anything suspicious. They can do that anonymously, by calling Crimestoppers on (0800) 555 111. Arson is a serious crime. It endangers lives and has a detrimental impact on an area.” In the past year in Nottinghamshire: 11,443 fires were started deliberately two people were killed and 58 injured due to arson arson cost £52.5m to the local economy there were 368 house or flat fires as a result of arson there were 202 other building fires there were 2,344 vehicle fires there were 681 other major fires there were 7,843 grass and smaller fires Residents can report any incidents anonymously to Crimestoppers on: (0800) 555 111. Anyone wishing to report abandoned rubbish in the area can phone the City Council on: (0115) 915 2282. People can also contact the City Council for special collections of fridges, tyres, etc from their homes for free on: (0115) 915 2000. 10 Top tips for avoiding arson in your home Deter unauthorised access by installing security fencing or lighting. Ensure your house is securely locked. Install an intruder alarm and make sure the box is visible from the outside of the house. Make sure you have a strong front door fitted with strong locks and a chain. Ensure that the latch cannot be reached if someone breaks a panel of glass. Install a metal box container for incoming post. Ensure any rubbish outside your property is cleared – contact your local authority. Do not keep rubbish bins or other flammable items next to your house – store at least eight metres from a building so that fires cannot spread. Ensure you have a smoke alarm fitted, preferably one on each floor and check it works regularly. Keep internal doors shut to prevent the spread of fire. Plan an escape route from your home in the event of a fire and talk to your family about it.