Here’s what Mapperley people were talking about in February 2026. Topics ranged from Woodthorpe in 1960, car headlights and our neglected brownfield sites.
Changing Woodthorpe
How about this image from circa 1959, taken from Breck Hill Road (just above Maitland Road) looking over Melbury Road.
On the right is the Arnold County High School which opened in November of 1959. The headteacher was Dr J H Higginson.
Note the scaffolding on St Marks Church, which was consecrated in June 1962. There is a train in the distance travelling R to L from Mapperley Tunnel and towards Daybrook Railway Station (which closed in 1960).
The chimney and buildings of Arno Vale Infants School are also visible to foreground of the train.
It brought back many memories:
Wendy Honeyman-Smith – It’s a fantastic picture! Is that road going down on the left hand side, Breck Hill Road?
Richard Mottram – Know it well, my folks lived on Melbury Road, can just make out their bungalow! Thanks for sharing.
Carol Clifford-Williamson – I used to sit on the embankment collecting train numbers there.
Simon Kirkham – In the 1970s I used to deliver papers and magazines around this area brings back some great memories.
Pam Hope – I moved to a house next to St Mark’s church in 1960. When there was no church building so its after 1959.
Headlight Menace
We posted:
This appeal is relevant generally when parked or stationary. Please post a polite reminder that if you are going to park on Digby Avenue to wait for your kids playing football on the old college site, please switch your headlights off. Oncoming cars cannot see and we don’t want anyone hitting a child running between parked cars.
Niki Ward – I feel this is relevant for anyone parked up anywhere. If you’re sat with your lights on you’re blinding everyone heading towards you.
Meryl Whittington – I’m not sure, with all the auto lights now, that some people even know how to use them manually any more
Pippa Belinda Morley – Idling (leaving your vehicle engine running while stationary) creates air pollution and is usually unnecessary. It is also an offence in law under the Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Mike Cook – It’s so dark on there, they need to keep the lights on so their kids can see the ball 🤷♂️
Robert Fretwell – Some drivers of new cars are not aware that their headlights are on, they are all automatically switched on.
Andy James – The LED headlights in vehicles are causing a massive problem. Coupled with dark nights and dark clothing. Potentially a fatal mix. Not verified but banned in Japan. France have yellow filters. We have to put up with them and they were never needed. Cheaper to produce apparently.
Andy James – It is generally an offence, or a breach of the Highway Code (Rule 238), to leave headlights on while parked at night because they can dazzle other drivers. While parked, you must switch off the engine and headlights. Use parking lights (sidelights) on.
Karen Pritchett – On any road!!! Pull over turn your lights off!!! Not hard!!! Pet hate!!!
Urban Wasteland
We posted:
This wasted land is irritating, it would make a great retail site, M&S Food, Lidl, or food outlets.
Does anyone know if anything is going to happen?
I’m guessing housing got shelved.
Opinions were varied
Judy Tate – NHS dental surgery and an NHS treatment centre with lawn, benches, beautiful garden and reasonably priced coffee shop.
Lizzy Youles – If there is anything built traffic lights will be required at the top of Wells Road. It’s really difficult to turn right from out the top of The Wells Road at rush hour as it is.
Mark Williams – Aldi is literally right next door and there are more than enough food outlets in the area as it is. Flats probably make the most sense there or maybe a college of some kind to teach more specialist trades to young people and ex servicemen in the area.
Kirsty Jones – I think it would be great for housing which the previous application was for but it expired. I have asked the Planning department at Nottingham City Council whether they are able to find out from the owner whether they plan to do anything but no luck. It would be perfect for council or social housing which is so desperately needed and plenty of retail, transport links and other facilities nearby (though I wouldn’t mind an M&S Food as well! 😅)
David Shelton – Three nail bars and four Turkish barbers. Perfect.😍
Kevan R Matthews – Or a development of ‘truly’ affordable homes, that’d be novel, but probably equally irritating, to some
Dominic Simon Talbot – Something recreational would be pretty cool, arcade, bowling etc? As far as i’m aware there’s not really much in the area? Sherwood is only down the road, Aldi next door. School across the road, heck of a lot of traffic, would easily get people in.
Always wondered about the stability of that land on the edge of a steep slope.
Tony Novellino – It did have planning for housing some years back but if I remember it was to sell the land with planning in place …then it was sub let for storage and siting for a film crew for 6 months
Nigel Wildgust – Depot for pothole repair
Jo Wilkins – Who built apartments opposite I think own it, and they stored all equipment there when building, was going to be more flats/apartments built after, but may be waiting to see what happens to the community centre, and buy that. I know when they built across roads there plans included the takeaway and the old cinema even though they didn’t own them, and they had to change plans to what they have now built.
Mapperley Reservoir – Severn Trent Water
We posted:
We have been trying to speak to someone in the relevant department at STW, but this is proving difficult.
There is a general feeling that the boundary of the site has been neglected and should be maintained to a better standard.
The B684 Woodborough Road is a busy road and the 120 yr old railing and wall bordering the site are visible to many and as such is representative of what is a proud area and community.
Does anyone here work at the site or know someone who does?
Whilst no-one was able to identify anyone from the site, it did prompt some debate
Elaine Richardson – The wall the railings are on is dangerous and looks like it’s going to fall into the pavement and road
Caven Gérard – Careful, they might put our bills up even more than they have done
Peter Mackness – Clearly a case of neglect. SWT have a duty of care towards the public and its assets. Take a photo of brickwork+ railings. Get a copy of STW company annual report (online) for section managing its many ‘assets’. Failing that a letter to your MP + photo and, copy these to your Ward City Councillor. They can get things moving.
Simon Wright – The house on STW was occupied by a family and thus the area reasonably well kept. STW then decided to raise the rent by £200+ a month so the family moved out. Since then the house was broken into, all the piping/metal stolen and now the place is just effectively derelict.