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Splash of colour helps bring pavilion back to life at Woodthorpe park

David Bratton
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Splash of colour helps bring pavilion back to life at Woodthorpe park

A splash of colour has helped bring a pavillion at a Woodthorpe park back to life.

A vibrant mural has been created on the side of the building at Breck Hill Park by a talented local graffiti artist.

Inspired by the native wildlife and biodiversity of the area as well the park’s historical significance as a former brickworks site, the mural showcases a stunning array of native wildlife; Song Thrushes, Great Tits, Oak leaves and Pipistrelle bats. They sit alongside subtle nods to the park’s industrial past including a Hoffman kiln which was a cutting edge and innovative way of firing bricks at the time.

Nottingham based artist, Alex Rubes created the impressive piece in just seven days, despite being hindered by rain, hail and extreme winds.

The completed mural at Breck Hill Park (PHOTO: GBC)

The stunning art was completed free-hand using spray paint and was Rubes’ latest work after projects in Arnold and Nottingham City centre.

The project was spearheaded by Gedling Borough Council in partnership with the ‘Friends of Breck Hill Park’ group, and aims to beautify the park while celebrating its natural wildlife and heritage.

This addition to the park comes after other recent developments including a newly built path making the park accessible to all.

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, John Clarke MBE said: “We are thrilled to unveil this incredible mural, which not only enhances the visual appeal of Breck Hill Park but also tells a story about the park’s past and present.

“It’s a testament to the power of community collaboration and the talent of our local artists.”

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Ben Bradley: No confidence vote in leadership is ‘kicking me while I’m down’

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Ben Bradley: No confidence vote in leadership is ‘kicking me while I’m down’

The leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has said a vote urging him to resign is intended to “rub his nose” in his mayoral election defeat.

Councillor Ben Bradley (Con) lost the East Midlands Mayoral election to Claire Ward (Lab) last week.

The county council’s Independent Alliance has since introduced a vote of no confidence calling on him to step down as leader, which will be held after next Thursday’s full council meeting (May 16).

The motion has been introduced by Independent group leader Councillor Jason Zadrozny and four members, and claims the council has neglected its duties.

However, the vote will fail unless several Conservative members join with opposition groups in supporting it.

Councillor Jason Zadrozny claims the council leader has neglected its duties
County Hall Nottinghamshire
The vote will be held after next Thursday’s full council meeting
Councillor Ben Bradley lost the East Midlands Mayoral election to Claire Ward last week.

The motion reads: “This council has no confidence in the leadership of Nottinghamshire County Council.

“Over the past few years, the Conservative administration who run this Council have had one aim and objective; that being to get the current leader of this Council elected as the Mayor of the East Midlands’ Combined Authority at the expense of providing a good level of service across all departments of this Council.

“We therefore call for the immediate resignation of Councillor Ben Bradley as leader of Nottinghamshire County Council.”

Cllr Bradley had intended to step down as county leader if he won the election, but says he will now continue in the job.

“This motion has nothing to do with confidence in my leadership. It is all about the Independents seeking to rub my nose in last week’s election result,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“We have a very clear constitution within the council that says the leader of the largest group is the leader of the council. On Wednesday, the Conservative group will reconfirm this. By the time we get to the AGM, this question will have been asked and answered.

“Cllr Zadrozny [leader of the Independent Alliance] knows the rules, but as usual is wasting everyone’s time. He’s just seeking to kick a man while he’s down.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing but I have no intention of playing his daft games. I’m just cracking on doing my job.”

On Tuesday,  Cllr Keith Girling (Con), the council’s cabinet member for economic development, said Cllr Bradley had the Conservative group’s full support.

Cllr Zadrozny said: “Ask anybody if they are satisfied with the performance of Nottinghamshire County Council and they’ll give you the same answer – no.

“Whether it’s the diabolical state of our broken roads and pavements, serious short-comings in our education service or plans to close our tips, that is down to Ben Bradley.

“For the last few years, he has been too focused on winning an election campaign that he spectacularly didn’t.

“It’s time to bin Bradley and force the County Council to start doing the basics right.”

The Conservative group controls 35 of the 66 seats on Nottinghamshire County Council, giving them a majority.

The Independents and Labour groups each control 15 seats, with one unaligned member.

If all opposition members voted with the motion, three Tories would have to rebel for it to succeed.

Gedling borough weather Saturday, May 11

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling borough weather Saturday, May 11

Any early low cloud clearing to leave a dry and warm day with plenty of sunshine. Maximum temperature 24 °C.

Patchy low cloud, mist and fog overnight, but some clear spells for many and conditions staying dry. Minimum temperature 10 °C.

Tomorrow will see early low cloud and fog lifting and clearing. Otherwise bright and warm. Maximum temperature 23 °C.

Thief targeted Calverton store 12 times in 10 days

Gedling Eye
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Thief targeted Calverton store 12 times in 10 days

A prolific shoplifter targeted a Calverton store 12 times over a 10-day period, a court has heard.

Persistent thief Aiden Henderson was spotted, chased down, and arrested by the Gedling North neighbourhood policing team. 

The 37-year-old had targeted the same store – a Co-op in the village – and stole hundreds of pounds worth of items. 

Meat, cheese, coffee, and Prosecco were all stolen by Henderson, between April 29 and May 8, who took them from the shelves, concealed the items, and left the store without making any attempt to pay.

He was locked up for six months after appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court

His selfish spree came to an end when he was detained by police after a foot chase on May 8 and he was subsequently charged with 12 counts of theft. 

Henderson, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the offences and was locked up for six months when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Thursday, May 9. 

Gedling North neighbourhood policing sergeant Alison Riley said: “This is a great result for the team as Henderson has been blight on local retailers and small businesses in the Gedling North area, specifically in Calverton, committing a high number of shop thefts and often in a short space of time. 

“The idea that shoplifting is a victimless crime couldn’t be further from the truth. Henderson’s offending had a huge impact on the store he targeted relentlessly, impacting their shop workers and the customers they serve. 

“People should be able to work and shop free of crime or the fear of crime. They should not have to fear for their safety. 

“We will not tolerate the behaviour of those who make our communities feel unsafe.

“I want to reassure our local retailers and members of the public that we will continue to crack down on retail crime and do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

Northern Lights create spectacular skies above Gedling borough

Gedling Eye
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Northern Lights create spectacular skies above Gedling borough

The Northern Lights were visible in the skies above Gedling borough last night.

People from across the borough were snapping incredible photographs of the aurora borealis late on Friday evening.

Aurora watchers predicted that this evening would be a good night to see the Northern Lights because of a combination of clear skies and one of the strongest geomagnetic storms for years hitting the earth.

Such storms increase the chance of seeing the aurora borealis.

According to BBC Weather, clear skies made a sighting possible from most parts of the UK, with people in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern parts of England having a higher likelihood.

Judging by these photos from across Gedling borough last night – the predictions were spot on.

The Northern Lights in the skies above Arnold (PHOTO: Erin Shepherd)
PHOTO: Erin Shepherd
Pictured in the skies over Burton Joyce (PHOTO: Tammy Mills)
In the sky above Netherfield (PHOTO: James Finney)

Calverton Parish Council stump up £20k to pay for removal of ‘protected’ trees which councillor claims were damaged by housing developer

David Bratton
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Calverton Parish Council stump up £20k to pay for removal of ‘protected’ trees which councillor claims were damaged by housing developer

Calverton Parish Council have stumped up £20k to pay for the removal of protected trees which a councillor claims have been damaged by a housing developers during building work.

The trees, which are estimated to be around sixty years old, were on the boundary of William Lee Park and the new Willow Rise housing development from Bellway Homes.

The council said around 35 trees will have to be felled due to root damage caused by the development of the new houses up against the park boundary

Calverton Parish Council chairman Cllr Andrew Meads told Gedling Eye that the developer did a survey of the trees four years ago and they were all classed as ‘healthy’.

Houses on the new Willow Park development in Calverton

He said: “As a condition of being granted planning permission Bellway Homes submitted a tree protection plan for our trees. They needed to put a road in and put bin stores up against our boundary and didn’t carry out the agreed tree protection plan and instead cut through all the roots. 

“Now we are having to have the trees cut down, Bellway say it’s nothing to do with them, and won’t pay towards the cost at all. 

“Our tree surgeons have been on site this week and have been cutting down some of the mature hardwood trees. 

But a spokesperson for Bellway Homes said they were not responsible for the damage and have always adhered to the tree protection plan put in place during construction of the new houses

They said: “Before construction work began at Willow Rise, a method statement for protecting trees was approved by Gedling Borough Council. Our staff and sub-contractors have adhered to this throughout the build programme.

“No homes have been built in the areas of the development which are close to the root protection zone, so no digging into this area was required beyond topsoil removal.

“Our specialist arboriculturalist recently returned to Willow Rise to assess the trees on land belonging to the parish council. They concluded that many do not require removal. Those that do are not on the border with Willow Rise. 

They added: “We plan to share the full report with the parish council once we receive it.”

A spokesman for Gedling Borough Council confirmed they had carried out an investigation.

He said: “Calverton Parish Council contacted our Planning Team about an issue with trees at the Bellway site.

“Our Tree Officer visited the site and informed the Parish Council that there was no tree preservation orders in the area.

“Our investigation has found that there has been no breach of any planning regulations and no further action is required from Gedling Borough Council.”

Dog who was found wandering the streets near Heathrow Airport joins Nottinghamshire Police after training at Arnold HQ

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Dog who was found wandering the streets near Heathrow Airport joins Nottinghamshire Police after training at Arnold HQ

A stray dog has been given a new lease of life serving and protecting the public after being trained to work with police at their headquarters in Arnold.

Police Dog Russo was found wandering the streets near Heathrow Airport late last year before being rehomed by a rescue centre in Essex.

The lively Belgian Malinois was later introduced to Nottinghamshire Police as part of a rehoming project and his potential was immediately spotted by expert trainers and handlers.

After an initial period of assessment to examine his suitability for the role, Russo was paired with experienced handler PC Lee Huffer and began eight weeks of intensive training.

On Wednesday, the pair completed a thorough examination in front of an independent assessor and began their working life together the following day.

PC Huffer said: “Russo certainly had a tough start to his life – most of which we know very little about. What we do know, however, is that he has adapted to this new role extremely well and that he will make an exceptional police dog.

“The past eight weeks have been hard work, but they’ve also been really enjoyable. Russo has been a joy to work with and it has been really rewarding to get to know a different dog.

“Like people, they are all different and respond in different ways and need slightly different approaches to get the best out of them.

“So far it’s been a real privilege to work with him and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together as a team.”

Dog Section Sergeant Nicholas Dachtler explained why Russo – believed to be around 14 months old – may have ended up as a stray in the first place.

He said: “Belgian Malinois make excellent working dogs but very demanding pets.

“In recent years they have been featured in several films and have become more popular with the general public as a result.

“Sadly, some of these owners will not have the necessary skills or experience to train and own such a demanding dog – leading them to be given up to rescue centres or abandoned.

“I am just really pleased that Russo’s natural abilities as a working animal will now be put to use in protecting the public.”

PC Huffer’s previous dog Chase has now been retired and he has found a loving new home with one of the force’s kennel assistants.

Chief Inspector Amy English presented PC Huffer with his licensing certificate.

She said: “Police dog handlers and their animals go through rigorous initial and ongoing training programmes, and I am continually impressed by the skill and professionalism our officers demonstrate throughout this process.

“What impresses me most, however, is the sheer dedication our handlers show to their dogs and the impact their chosen role has on their personal and family lives.

“Because police dogs are not just pieces of police equipment like a Taser or a car; they live with and are cared for every day by their handlers and are a major part of their personal lives as well as their work lives.

“The commitment to being a dog handler really is 24/7 and I would like to thank to PC Huffer and every other dog handler within Nottinghamshire Police for everything they do to protect and serve the public.”

Gedling borough’s latest petrol and diesel prices – and where’s the cheapest to fill up

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling borough’s latest petrol and diesel prices – and where’s the cheapest to fill up

Petrol prices remain high across the country, as households across Gedling borough continue to be squeezed by the cost of living crisis.

Gedling Eye has compiled a list of the cheapest petrol pumps in Gedling borough. The data is sourced from PetrolPrices.com, which covers major service stations including brands like BP, Shell, and Texaco as well as supermarkets, smaller chains and independent stations.

The website combines price data from Catalist with its own crowdsource data, which comes from website users and forecourt owners. The site says it hopes to have “the most up to date and reliable price data across the industry”.

The UK’s average fuel price is 143.75p per litre for Unleaded and 153 p per litre for diesel as of May 1.

The following prices were reported locally on 09/05/24

Here are the latest prices from across the borough…

UNLEADED…

Arnold

Sainsbury’s Arnold – 144.9p

Asda Arnold – 144.7p

BP Daybrook (Mansfield Road) – 146.9p

Esso Maid Marion (Mansfield Road) – 147.9p

Carlton

Texaco Burton Road – 146.9p

Shell Carlton Square – 147.9p

Texaco Westdale Lane (East Lane Service Station) – 145.9p

Petrol_pump

Colwick

Sainsbury’s Colwick – 146.9p

Lambley

Lambley Motors – 165.9p

Mapperley

Asda Mapperley – 146.7p

Netherfield

Morrisons – 146.9p

DIESEL…

Arnold

Sainsbury’s Arnold – 153.9p

Asda Arnold – 153.7p

BP Daybrook – 154.9p

Esso Maid Marion (Mansfield Road) – 152.9p

Carlton

Texaco Burton Road – 153.9p

Shell Carlton Square – 154.9p

Texaco Westdale Lane (East Lane Service Station) – 154.9p

Colwick

Sainsbury’s Colwick – 152.9p

Lambley

Lambley Motors – 169.9p

Mapperley

Asda Mapperley – 154.7p

Netherfield

Morrisons – 153.9p

Gedling borough’s latest petrol and diesel prices – and where’s the cheapest to fill up

Gedling Eye Reporter
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0
Gedling borough’s latest petrol and diesel prices – and where’s the cheapest to fill up

Petrol prices remain high across the country, as households across Gedling borough continue to be squeezed by the cost of living crisis.

Gedling Eye has compiled a list of the cheapest petrol pumps in Gedling borough. The data is sourced from PetrolPrices.com, which covers major service stations including brands like BP, Shell, and Texaco as well as supermarkets, smaller chains and independent stations.

The website combines price data from Catalist with its own crowdsource data, which comes from website users and forecourt owners. The site says it hopes to have “the most up to date and reliable price data across the industry”.

The UK’s average fuel price is 143.75p per litre for Unleaded and 153 p per litre for diesel as of May 1.

The following prices were reported locally on 01/05/24

Here are the latest prices from across the borough…

UNLEADED…

Arnold

Sainsbury’s Arnold – 144.9p

Asda Arnold – 144.7p

BP Daybrook (Mansfield Road) – 146.9p

Esso Maid Marion (Mansfield Road) – 147.9p

Carlton

Texaco Burton Road – 146.9p

Shell Carlton Square – 147.9p

Texaco Westdale Lane (East Lane Service Station) – 145.9p

Petrol_pump

Colwick

Sainsbury’s Colwick – 146.9p

Lambley

Lambley Motors – 165.9p

Mapperley

Asda Mapperley – 146.7p

Netherfield

Morrisons – 146.9p

DIESEL…

Arnold

Sainsbury’s Arnold – 153.9p

Asda Arnold – 153.7p

BP Daybrook – 154.9p

Esso Maid Marion (Mansfield Road) – 152.9p

Carlton

Texaco Burton Road – 153.9p

Shell Carlton Square – 154.9p

Texaco Westdale Lane (East Lane Service Station) – 154.9p

Colwick

Sainsbury’s Colwick – 152.9p

Lambley

Lambley Motors – 169.9p

Mapperley

Asda Mapperley – 154.7p

Netherfield

Morrisons – 153.9p

UK Gambling Commission Updates Regulations

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UK Gambling Commission Updates Regulations

The UK is recognised as having one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks in the world for its gambling industry. This has facilitated its growth to become the world’s biggest betting market, welcomed investment from global operators, and ensured consumers can enjoy an extensive and safe betting environment.

The online betting industry has increased the UK’s reach and potential to generate revenue with a variety of regulated casino sites available to the public.

The British betting industry is governed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC is a non-departmental public body that is responsible for issuing licenses to operators, setting guidelines and regulations, and providing advice to businesses and individuals about the gambling industry and its laws.

As the gambling industry is fast-paced and incorporates state-of-the-art technology to enhance the betting experience, laws and regulations must be flexible and regulalry reviewed to ensure they cover new markets and tech.

On April 27th 2023, the government published a white paper that provided recommendations for gambling reform in the UK.

The paper reflected on how gambling in the digital age has changed habits and betting behaviours and continues to develop at a rapid pace. The new rules and guidelines will be implemented across 2024 and 2025 and serve to protect vulnerable and digital customers, improve marketing restrictions, and mitigate the risk of underage gambling.

Checks are set to be implemented on online customers who exceed a monthly spending threshold.

A start date of August 30th has been set for initial checks on those who deposit £500 or more per month. This total will gradually be reduced until February 28th 2025, when the limit will be set at £150.

The online betting industry will also face tougher regulations on game speed and intensity. The idea behind these new guidelines is to give consumers more time to understand gameplay and reduce losses.

The new regulations will come into action on January 17th, 2025. Operators will then be obligated to display the time customers have spent gambling and their net spend.

Some gameplay features will also be banned with the opportunity to speed up games or set autoplay being disabled.

Other changes to online gaming machines include celebrations being withdrawn from games when the player’s winnings are less than the stake. Players will no longer be able to play multiple games at once and game spin speeds of under 5 seconds will be discontinued.

On the same day that these changes to games are enforced, online operators will also be forced to ensure consumers have a clear and easy way of opting out of marketing campaigns.

Online gambling operations are the most likely to be targeted by rule changes as the industry continues to develop. The safeguarding of vulnerable customers, and ensuring operators behave in a fair and transparent manner will improve the industry and make it a more welcoming environment.

However, it is not just the online betting industry that will see new regulations. Retail betting operations will also have new rules that will come into effect in August and November of 2024.

Online betting operators are relatively well protected against underage bettors having access to their sites. Robust verification processes are required during customer registration, helping to identify the users’ location and age. Retail betting shops don’t have the same processes and anyone of age can walk in off the streets and place a bet.

At present, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to enter a betting premises or place a bet. Many bookmakers operate a ‘Think 21’ policy where they must get an ID from a customer who looks around the age of 21.

The UKGC will implement a Think 25 regulation that will commence on August 30th 2024. Betting operators will be obliged to carry out test purchasing to ensure the policy is being adhered to.

Another change that will affect all betting operators on November 30th 2024 regards personal licences.

The UKGC will identify specific management roles in betting operations that require a personal management licence. This will help to protect the industry, maintain its integrity, and keep it crime-free.

Online casinos in the UK must register with Gamstop to give consumers the opportunity to self-exclude. Offshore operators provide bettors with casinos not on Gamstop and won’t be affected by the new changes. This could see some operators lose customers who like the opportunity to play quickly.

The Gambling Commission’s decision to implement these rule changes will provide a safer online betting environment in the UK, and operators have plenty of time to make the necessary changes.

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