Hucknall Councillor labels decision to extend e-scooter trial as 'inappropriate'

Hucknall West County Councillor David Shaw has slammed the decision to extend the e-scooter trial in Nottingham City.

Nottingham's trial of the yellow e-scooter rental scheme has been extended until November 2022.

Councillor Shaw claims that issues in Hucknall have not been addressed including confusion about the law and residents speeding on parks and open spaces in the town such as Nabbs Lane and Titchfield Park.

The Councillor accused Nottingham City Council of being 'irresponsible' and called the extension 'inappropriate'.

Councillor Shaw, Ashfield Independent councillor for Hucknall West, said: "The City Council have claimed they will issue fines for bad parking and are tackling illegal pavement riding in the city. At no point have they addressed the problems caused by the trial in places around their environs like Hucknall and its impact on residents' safety. There have been so many near misses with these scooters in our town."

In August, e-scooters in Hucknall were described as a '…menace' and '…a danger to the public' by local Hucknall Ashfield Independent Councillors. The Councillors claimed that the government trial in nearby Nottingham has 'exacerbated' the problem with many confused about the legality of using them in places like Hucknall which aren't part of the trial.

The only e-scooters that can be used on public roads are those rented as part of government-backed trials and have a top speed of 15.5mph. However, the most powerful privately-owned e-scooters can reach up to 68 mph. Outside of the trial areas, residents can only use them on private land and not on public roads, cycle lanes or pavements. This means it is illegal to use them in public places in towns like Hucknall.

Councillor Shaw added: "The nearby Nottingham City trial scheme has exacerbated the issue, yet it has been extended without any consultation. People are seeing these e-scooters being driven in Nottingham and purchased one for themselves.

"They are as dangerous as the off-road bikes that cause a significant problem in our parks and open spaces in Hucknall. I don't think e-scooter users appreciate that they are illegal on roads in Hucknall. Months down the line, the problems continue in Hucknall, and this has not been addressed – the confusion remains. Yet in an inappropriate move Nottingham City Council continue to put pressure on our police officers by extending the scheme in an ill-thought, irresponsible decision."

"There has also been reports of e-scooter users on Hucknall's Titchfield Park. These have no speed restrictions like the ones used in Nottingham. I'm afraid that if we don't have an urgent crackdown on the e-scooter menaces then we may see a serious accident or worse. They are a clear and present danger to the public."

Hucknall's policing team have confirmed that they are aware of the issue and are working on it.