VIDEO: Interview with Nottingham City Council Leader Jon Collins
The symbolic transformation of Robin Hood Chase in St Ann’s was marked with an official opening after a £4.8 million investment.
The newly opened area was the setting of a community celebration, marking the arrival of new local GP practices, Nottingham City Homes offices and a number of City Council services.
The event to mark the symbolic changes featured stalls, an Easter Egg hunt and animals from White Post Farm.
It is becoming the focal point
Nottingham City Council Leader Jon Collins said: “It’s very pleasing to see the investment that has taken place in recent years.
“Once again, Robin Hood Chase is becoming a focal point for the community; there was that time when people felt uneasy about coming down here.
“St Ann’s has always had a really strong, vibrant and positive community and it’s had its challenges but the community is so strong.”
The opening on Tuesday comes less than ten a decade after the Chase was seen as an area of high crime and came with a tough reputation.
Rev Karen Rooms, vicar of St Ann with Emmanuel Church on the Chase, said: “It’s so important to have public space where you can bump into people when you’re out and about and you can stop and have a chat.
“The kids will want to run around in it and there’s plenty of space for us all to take part in events.
“You never would think that having shops and a market is really important for a bit of social glue but it’s a social exercise; it’s like gold dust really.”
