Rainworth

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 53.1197
longitude= -1.1235
map_type = Nottinghamshire
official_name= Rainworth
population = 7,829
shire_district= Newark and Sherwood & Mansfield
shire_county = Nottinghamshire
region= East Midlands
constituency_westminster= Mansfieldand [Sherwood [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherwood_%28UK_Parliament_constituency%29]
post_town= MANSFIELD
postcode_district = NG21
postcode_area= NG
dial_code= 01623
os_grid_reference= SK586584
static_

static_image_caption=Main Road through Rainworth

Rainworth is a village which is split between the Newark and Sherwood and the Mansfield districts of Nottinghamshire, England.

To the north of Rainworth is the village of Clipstone and to the east are the villages of Bilsthorpe and Farnsfield. Mansfield lies two miles to the west. The village of Blidworth and is a mile to the south. The A617 dual-carriageway bypasses the village. The roundabout at the western terminus was the starting point for the Mansfield and Ashfield Regeneration Route. The former route through the village is the B6020.

Brief History

The history of Rainworth has roots in Roman times, and Rainworth lodge was built in the 12th century. Rainworth as a village was created in the early 1870s, 40 years before [http://www.terryblythe.co.uk/page107.html Rufford Colliery] opened in 1911. The Colliery provided over 80 years of service before closing in 1993. The old site is now a wildlife conservation area, with links to the National Cycle Network which travels through Rainworth and into Sherwood Forest which intertwines the village to the North and South. Joseph Whitaker School, on "Warsop Lane", next to [http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?IDType=Page&ID=8213 Rainworth Leisure Centre] and the "Archer" pub, opened in 1962. Before this Heathlands school was built on a temporary basis at the start of World War I but lasted until 2004 when a replacement was built in the village. Other pubs in Rainworth are the " [http://www.pub-explorer.com/notts/pub/lurcherrainworth.htm Lurcher] " on "Westbrook Drive" and "Sherwood Inn" on "Kirklington Road", and " [http://www.roundabout-rainworth.fsnet.co.uk/hood.html Robin Hood Inn] " on "Southwell Road East" near the Co-op. Dawn House, a school for children with speech and language difficulties is also located in the village.

In 1975 killer Donald Neilson was caught by police officers helped by locals at a chip shop on "Southwell Road East" in the village.

Future

Rainworth is currently the focus of two controversial projects. One, designed to provide electricity to [http://www.chad.co.uk/sherwood/3000-back-Rainworth-windfarm.3191028.jp 4,700 Homes] has been accepted for planning despite local objections over the location of the 125m Wind Turbines.

The other is a waste incinerator on the site of the former Rufford Colliery which is currently being proposed by Veolia Ltd, the preferred contractor for Nottinghamshire County Council. This has been met with [http://www.blogstoday.co.uk/bloghome.aspx?username=Rainworthlad hostile views] from many local residents, concerned with the environmental impact and the increased traffic around the village.

Planning permission application has now been submitted and the first stage of consultation has taken place, comments of support and objection may still be made to Notts County Council (who you may note is the body responsible for waste disposal and who appointed the contractor in the first place!) and to the Environment Agency whose consultation ends in May 2008. Opposition is from several local environmental groups led by People Against Incineration (PAIN) [http://www.p-a-in.co.uk/] who have just obtained the support [http://www.chad.co.uk/news/Celebrity-botanist-backing-incinerator-fight.3669421.jp] of David Bellamy.

External links

* [http://wrenyouresmiling.intheteam.com/modules/page/page.aspx?pc=home Rainworth Miners' Welfare FC]
* [http://www.mansfielddeanery.org.uk/RAINWORTH St Simon & St Jude church]
* [http://www.dukeries-rally.co.uk Rainworth Dukeries Rally]
* [http://knowhere.co.uk/4939.html Knowhere Guide]
* [http://www.heathlandsprimary.co.uk Heathlands Primary School]
* [http://www.rainworth-village-hall.co.uk Village Hall]
* [http://www.p-a-in.co.uk Incinerator Protest]