A long‑empty skatepark in Gedling is about to get a serious upgrade — and it’s all happening in just one weekend, powered by volunteers, local young people and a chunk of government funding.
At the end of June, the former Joshua Dale Skatepark at Colwick Rectory Recreation Ground will be transformed, with local skaters rolling up their sleeves to build new features alongside award‑winning skatepark designers Betongpark. Think DIY, but with concrete, rebar and a lot more stoke.
The project is being funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), after Skate Nottingham CIC secured a grant to kickstart a new future for the site. They’ve spent nearly three years working with Gedling Borough Council, Colwick Parish Council and the Joshua Dale Skatepark Fund to make sure whatever comes next is shaped — literally — by the people who use it.
The original skatepark opened in 2013 in memory of local teenager Joshua Dale, who died the year before at a nearby junction. Built in wood at Joshua’s request, it was well‑loved but tough to maintain, and eventually had to be dismantled in 2023. What’s left is a pristine concrete slab — basically a blank canvas begging for new life.
And with no formal training routes for skatepark construction in the UK, the rebuild doubles as a rare chance for young people to learn real design and construction skills while improving a space they care about. With almost 2,000 skateable spots across the country needing TLC, the timing couldn’t be better.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, a working group of councillors, Skate Nottingham and local residents explored options for the site. Gedling Borough Council had already backed Skate Nottingham’s “Skate & Regenerate” programme for three years, helping young skaters safely repair and improve ageing parks across the borough — from Arnot Hill Park’s bowls to the modular ramps at King George V Park. Earlier this year, volunteers even installed simple concrete curbs at Colwick to get people skating again.
A separate grant from the Thomas Farr Charity, via Forever Notts, funded a major consultation. Forty‑six people turned up to a four‑hour public event, and 133 responded online. A massive 97% wanted the skatepark improved or rebuilt.
That momentum helped Skate Nottingham secure the MHCLG’s Common Ground Award 2025/26 — funding aimed at boosting social cohesion by improving civic spaces. It will pay for this month’s community build, supported by Live Like Ralph CIC and the Joshua Dale Skatepark Fund, both set up in memory of young people who loved outdoor, active lives.
Councillor Viv McCrossen said:
“This project shows what can be achieved when local people, young skatepark users and partners come together with the right support. It’s a brilliant example of community spirit in action, breathing new life into a valued local space, honouring the memory of Joshua Dale, and giving the next generation the chance to build skills, connections and pride in their community.”
Skate Nottingham co‑founder Chris Lawton added: “We’re really excited about this project after three years of collaboration with councils and local communities. There was such a strong will to honour Joshua Dale by bringing the skatepark back into use. Designing and building things goes hand‑in‑hand with skateboarding and BMX, so together we can create life‑changing learning opportunities that will put the East Midlands on the map.”
The build kicks off Friday, June 26 with site prep, before volunteers join expert supervisors on Saturday and Sunday. By Monday 29 June, the park will have a brand‑new 4.8‑metre‑wide concrete quarter pipe — built entirely on site — plus a new steel feature such as a grind rail. The upgrades will boost the space for BMXers and wheeled‑sports users while improving the flow for skateboarders.
As a working society, we’ve become accustomed to some harmful thinking about work and productivity. It isn’t our fault, though; a breakneck pace of industrial innovation, typified by incredible leaps in technological capabilities, has completely altered the professional landscape for practically every business. Productivity, generally speaking, looks very different to what it did even a decade ago – and, as such, people are striving harder than ever for previously impossible results.
A particularly insidious aspect of this new relationship with work is the sense that taking time off is somehow a disruption to productivity – an unconscionable break that could set someone back months. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
There is myriad research to suggest the opposite: that regular breaks from work are crucial for employee wellbeing, focus, and even overall performance. This is to say that, by encouraging staff to use their annual leave, businesses can foster a healthier, more motivated workforce better-equipped to achieve long-term success. What are some of the key ways in which time off can improve business outlooks?
It Helps Prevent Burnout
First and foremost, working without regular time off is a ticking time-bomb for burnout. Continuous workloads without adequate breaks ultimately lead to stress, fatigue, and decreased motivation; we are not designed to work ceaselessly, and failing to blow off steam can be deleterious for mental wellbeing and productivity accordingly. Taking time off allows employees to rest and recharge, lowering their stress levels and giving them the resilience to return to work with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
It Supports Better Mental and Physical Wellbeing
Indeed, better mental wellbeing is a benefit of regular time off in and of itself. Heightened stress over time can lead to chronical mental illness, with knock-on effects for sleep, mood and quality of life besides. None of this is good for an employee or a business. Even short getaways, including spontaneous last-minute holidays, can provide a welcome escape from workplace pressures and help employees return feeling refreshed – reducing the risk of lower employee morale and its consequence impacts for productivity.
It Improves Focus and Creativity
Regular breaks and the taking of annual leave are crucial for the creative health of a business; without firebreaks from day-to-day thinking, it’s impossible for employees to escape certain patterns of thinking. Perspective is what drives inspiration, so the occasional stepping-away from daily responsibilities is ideal for increasing creativity, and fostering a greater ability to solve problems effectively.
It Boosts Job Satisfaction
There is a final element here, to which all other benefits build. Employees who feel encouraged to use their annual leave are, ultimately, more likely to be happy at work. Regular breaks keep workers mentally refreshed and reduce the risk of burnout, while also signalling to employees that they are valued by their employers. This feeling of being valued leads to higher morale, stronger engagement, and a better workplace culture. All of this uplifts the business, to better productivity and better industry image.
Nottingham City Transport officially rolled out its big network overhaul of services in Gedling borough (21) — and for thousands of bus users, the timetable you thought you knew may look very different.
NCT says every route has been put under the microscope, with the shake‑up aimed at keeping services financially afloat as passenger numbers continue to lag behind pre‑pandemic levels. The operator reports around 1 in 10 fewer riders each year, blaming hybrid working, online shopping and years of disruptive roadworks for the slump. A 50% rise in the national Bus Fare Cap in early 2025 hasn’t helped either, with NCT’s own passenger numbers dipping 3.77% in the last year.
On top of that, the cost of running the network is climbing — from insurance and tax to bus parts and wages — even though NCT locked in fuel and energy prices before global spikes hit.
Head of Operations David Conway said the new timetable reflects “in‑depth analysis of passenger travel patterns”, adding that some quieter routes simply couldn’t be justified anymore. “Whilst there are reductions in some areas, we’ve been able to improve frequencies and connections where buses remain popular,” he said.
What’s staying the same?
If you use one of the main daytime routes, your service level should look pretty familiar — though times may have shifted.
What’s changing?
Expect fewer buses on Saturday mornings before 9am and in the evenings across the week, as NCT trims quieter periods to protect busy daytime services. Parts of several routes — including Lilac 24 — have been replaced or rerouted.
Some day ticket prices have increased for the first time in 15 months. City Zone day tickets will increase by 20p for Adults and Under 19s to £5.70 and £3.70 respectively. A Grouprider will be £10 and a Network Grouprider will be £15. The all day ticket for Dogs will increase to £1.50.
But it’s not all cuts. Some areas are actually getting a boost:
New Red 45 links connecting Carlton, Gedling, Colwick Industrial Estate and Daleside Road Retail Parks
A tidier, more frequent setup for Top Valley and Rise Park
The full changes to Gedling borough services are reported HERE
Motorists in Gedling borough are being urged to tighten up their security after police reported a rise in vehicle crime across the area.
Officers say many of the incidents could have been avoided with a few simple precautions — and they’re calling on drivers to take extra care, whether they’re parking up for the night or just popping into a shop for a minute.
Police say too many thieves are still finding cars left unlocked.
A spokesman said: “Even vehicles parked on driveways or left unattended while filling up at petrol stations are being targeted. Drivers are being told to double‑check doors, windows and sunroofs.
“Criminal gangs are also on the lookout for cars with fold‑in wing mirrors. If the mirrors are still out, it’s a clear sign the vehicle hasn’t been locked.”
Modern cars are harder to steal — unless thieves get hold of the key or fob.
Officers warn that criminals are using “fishing” techniques, hooking keys through letterboxes using sticks and wire. Drivers are being urged to keep keys out of sight and away from doors and windows.
Anyone selling a car is also being told never to let a potential buyer walk off with the keys, even briefly, as they could be cloned.
Police say keyless entry systems remain a major target.
Thieves only need to get within a few metres of a key to capture its signal and trick the car into unlocking and starting. Officers recommend storing keys — and spares — in a Faraday pouch and checking regularly that the pouch still blocks signals.
Drivers are also being advised to switch off wireless functions on fobs when not in use and to reprogramme keys when buying second‑hand cars.
Officers say motorists should avoid dark, quiet streets and instead choose well‑lit, busy areas — even if it means a slightly longer walk.
Car parks with the Park Mark safety award are also recommended.
Police say thieves can break into a car in under 30 seconds — and they’ll do it for loose change, sunglasses or a phone cable.
Drivers are being urged to:
Remove valuables or hide them out of sight
Take wallets, handbags and bank cards with them
Wipe away sat‑nav suction marks
Remove mounts, cables and other clues that gadgets may be inside
Items left on roof racks, tailgate racks or in external tool boxes are easy pickings. Officers say drivers should remove them or secure them properly.
Number plates should be fitted with tamper‑resistant screws, and alloy wheels protected with locking wheel nuts, as both are frequently stolen.
Vans remain a prime target
Tools stored in vans overnight continue to attract thieves.
Police recommend marking tools with a name or company details, storing them in a lockable cabinet inside the van, and fitting small internal cameras.
Registration and insurance documents should never be left in a vehicle. “Thieves can use them to pose as the owner and sell the car on,” A spokesman said..
A Formula 1 pit stop is a race operation that connects tyre performance, timing, traffic, crew execution, and Race Control procedures. One stop at the wrong moment costs track position, while a precise stop gives a driver fresher tyres, cleaner air, or an advantage during a safety car period.
Strategy Inside the Pit Window
Pit stop strategy starts before the race with tyre data, degradation models, grid position, expected traffic, pit lane loss, and weather risk. Formula 1 is closely tied to global commerce through sponsorships, hospitality, merchandise, ticket sales, and digital fan engagement. Service providers such as gatewaycrypto.io can help businesses involved in international sports commerce manage crypto payments, settlement options, and cross-border transaction workflows more efficiently.
Tyre Compounds
Formula 1 dry tyres are supplied in different compounds, with softer tyres offering stronger grip and shorter life, while harder tyres last longer with less peak pace. In a dry Grand Prix, regulations require drivers to use at least two different dry-weather specifications, unless intermediate or wet tyres are used.
Compound choice affects the whole race plan. A driver starting on a softer tyre gains early pace but reaches degradation sooner. A driver on a harder tyre accepts slower opening laps in exchange for a longer first stint. The pit wall studies lap time loss, tyre temperature, traffic, and remaining race distance before calling the stop.
Undercut Strategy
An undercut happens when a driver pits before a rival, fits fresher tyres, and uses the pace advantage on the out-lap to move ahead after the rival stops. This strategy works best when the new tyre warms quickly, pit exit traffic is clear, and the old tyre on the rival car has already lost performance.
The undercut depends on:
Gap to traffic at pit exit after the stop.
Lap time gain from the new compound on the out-lap.
Tyre warm-up speed after leaving the pit lane.
Rival tyre degradation before their next stop.
The risk comes from traffic and pit loss. A driver released behind a slower car loses the tyre advantage immediately. A wheel gun delay or slow release also destroys the margin needed to jump the rival.
Overcut Strategy
An overcut keeps a driver on track after a rival stops. It works when the older tyre still delivers competitive lap times, the rival struggles to warm new tyres, or the track position is worth protecting. The overcut also helps when clean air gives a driver better pace than expected.
Safety Car Timing
Safety car timing changes the value of a pit stop because cars slow on track while the pit lane remains a strategic option under specific rules. A stop under safety car conditions costs less time relative to rivals circulating at reduced speed. That gives teams a chance to change tyres with a smaller track-position penalty.
Safety car strategy still carries risk. A car entering the pits at the same time as a teammate creates double stacking, where the second driver waits behind the first in the pit box. Race control messages, pit exit closure, lapped-car procedures, and restart timing all affect whether a stop gains or loses places.
Pit Crew Execution
The pit crew turns strategy into reality. Each role has a narrow task: wheel gun operators loosen and tighten nuts, tyre carriers remove and fit tyres, jack operators lift the car, stabilisers hold position, and the release system manages exit timing. A smooth stop protects the race plan, while one mistake changes the order.
Pit stop errors create visible race consequences:
A wheel gun issue extends the stationary time and loses track position.
A slow jack movement delays all four tyre changes.
A loose wheel or unsafe release brings penalties or retirement risk.
Double stacking costs the second driver extra seconds in the pit box.
A missed call leaves the driver on the wrong compound for the race phase.
Pit lane speed limits add another fixed cost. FIA sporting regulations list an 80 km/h limit during the competition, with Race Director authority to amend it. The total pit loss includes entry, limiter time, stationary service, exit, and tyre warm-up.
Race Result
Race strategy data decides whether the pit stop cost is worth paying. Teams compare projected lap times, tyre degradation, fuel load, driver pace, rival gaps, probability of safety car periods, and weather radar. The call also depends on championship context, because a team protecting third place thinks differently from one chasing a win.
Pit stops decide Grand Prix outcomes because they combine rules, timing, people, and probability in one short sequence. The fastest car on raw pace still loses if the stop happens into traffic, the tyre choice is wrong, or the crew loses time. The right stop combines clean execution, correct tyre timing, and a strategy that matches the race situation.
A damage-ridden Netherfield street likened to the surface of the moon will benefit from up to £150,000 works.
Godfrey Street’s road surface has been left to deteriorate for several years, with potholes littered across it from one end to the other.
The road’s residents woke up one morning in late February to the work of vigilantes who had left painted profanities around some of the largest sections of damage.
Then in March, an anonymous resident put up signs on the road, warning drivers to beware of the moon-like ‘craters’ on the street and sarcastically referring to it as a ‘NASA testing area’.
Locals have frequently reported potholes to Nottinghamshire County Council, but have been routinely told that the damaged areas are not deep enough, leaving the street to crumble further.
One of the signs on Godfrey Street in Netherfield (IMAGE: LDRS)
Now, the whole length of Godfrey Street is set to get “long overdue” resurfacing works – costing between £100,000 to £150,000 – after the council added it to its £11.2 million “Worst First” priority roadworks list – influenced by councillor requests.
County Councillor Mike Adams (Con), who represents the area on the authority, says Godfrey Street was one of the three roads he put forward as a request and called it ‘one of the top three worst side roads in [his] patch’.
He said: “I thought the residents did really well with their campaigning, the lobbying, keeping it in the news – the signs got quite a lot of notice.
“I’ve driven down that road – it’s horrendous. I’ve took the head of VIA (Nottinghamshire County Council’s highways company) down there.
“It probably started to really deteriorate about 18 months ago, then in the last year it’s just got worse and worse… every journey going over it, the more damage happens to it.”
Nikki Love, 59, who has lived on the street for seven years said she has been complaining about the damage for the past two years and has written to her local MP, Michael Payne (Lab), about its state “several times”.
Speaking on the news of the works, she said: “It’s about time… there’s been some action, they came and filled one pothole and sent a letter saying ‘we’ve finished our work, I hope you’re happy with it’ – the second time they filled in potholes but not very well.
“It’s not good for wear and tear on the cars… West Bridgford roads are so much better, people complain over there and things get done.”
Darren, 55, who has lived on Godfrey Street for 33 years echoed Ms Love’s feelings, saying: “When Arnold want something doing or one of these more affluent areas want something doing, they get it done.
“With us they just threw a bunch of tarmac in – I always think it looks like chewing gum thrown down the street, they are not even filling them right”
“I’ll be happy when they do something about it, until then it’s all smoke and mirrors to me.”
Gedling Borough Netherfield councillor, Alison Hunt (Lab), said she was “absolutely delighted” over the news but said it was “long overdue”.
She said: “Historically, roads in Gedling borough seem to be worse than anywhere else in the county.
“What annoys me about this is people [in Netherfield] can be the least able to afford repairing their cars – the area is a deprived area. If you’ve got a hospital appointment and you come out to your car and you’ve got a flat tyre, it has a devastating effect.”
Cllr Hunt says a lot of the streets in the area have old cobblestone underneath the modern tarmac, adding: “When things are resurfaced or potholes are reported, they have to be a certain depth to qualify – in Godfrey Street because a lot of them don’t meet the criteria, they’re not deep enough, they didn’t get on a list.”
The Reform-led authority has recently unveiled its full list of 44 road sites across Nottinghamshire that it is set to resurface or surface dress as part of an £11.2 million scheme based on councillor requests.
Each councillor at the authority has been able to submit three key roads in the areas they represent to be put forward for priority resurfacing works.
More than 150 councillor requests were put forward and highway officers and staff narrowed this down to 44 sites which met the requirements for full resurfacing.
The “Worst First” list is part of the authority’s wider highways capital programme, which will see more than £181 million put in to mend dilapidated roads in 2026/27.
Speaking on the new list, Nottinghamshire County Council leader, Mick Barton (Ref), said on Thursday (June 18): “It’s brilliant stuff… All three priority roads by each councillor will be addressed in some way or another.
“The ones that haven’t made this [scheme] for resurfacing or surface dressing will still get maintained in some way by JCB patch repairs or the first time crews.”
Cllr Barton says each of the 44 priority works will be done by the end of this year.
Many parents will remember leaving school with shirts covered in signatures and handwritten messages. Today’s leavers’ hoodies serve a similar purpose, providing pupils with a lasting reminder of friendships, experiences and an important milestone.
The tradition itself may have evolved, but the reason behind it feels remarkably familiar. For generations, pupils approaching the end of their school years have looked for ways to mark the occasion. Long before leavers’ hoodies became commonplace, many school pupils spent their final days collecting messages from classmates, swapping memories and finding ways to preserve a moment they knew would never quite come again.
Leaving school represents one of life’s first major transitions. For many young people, it marks the end of a routine that has shaped much of their childhood. Classmates who have spent years together suddenly find themselves heading in different directions. Some move on to sixth form, others begin apprenticeships or college courses, and many friendships face the challenge of adapting to new circumstances.
It is hardly surprising that pupils want something tangible to remember that period of their lives. Leavers’ hoodies have gradually become one of the most recognisable ways of doing exactly that. Across schools throughout the UK, they have become a familiar part of the final year experience. While the designs, colours and styles may differ from one school to another, the purpose remains remarkably consistent: they help capture a moment in time.
Parents often recognise the emotional significance immediately because they remember experiencing something similar themselves. The signed shirt stuffed into a drawer, the old school photograph tucked away in a box, or the farewell messages written on the final day all served the same purpose. They provided a way to hold on to friendships, memories, and experiences that felt important.
That desire has not changed. Only the tradition has evolved.
More Than Just A Piece Of Clothing
At first glance, a leavers’ hoodie might seem like a simple item of clothing, but the reason pupils value them has very little to do with the garment itself. What matters is what it represents.
For many pupils, the hoodie becomes a symbol of an entire chapter of life. Every nickname printed on the back, every year-group reference and every familiar name helps connect the garment to a collection of memories that extend far beyond the classroom.
School life creates countless shared experiences. Some memories involve major milestones such as performances, sports competitions or residential trips. Others are much smaller. Sitting with the same friendship group at lunchtime, walking to lessons together or sharing jokes that only a particular year group understands can often leave just as strong an impression.
Those experiences help create a sense of identity. Pupils spend years learning, growing and overcoming challenges alongside the same group of people. By the time they reach their final year, many have developed friendships that feel inseparable from their school experience. The hoodie becomes a visible reminder of those relationships and the role they played during an important stage of life.
The emotional value often far exceeds the practical value. Many former pupils wear their leavers’ hoodies very little after leaving school. Instead, they often store them alongside photographs, certificates and other reminders of school life.
Years later, people frequently rediscover them and find themselves immediately transported back to a particular time and place. A familiar name on the back can trigger memories of classmates they have not seen for years. A school logo can bring back recollections of teachers, lessons and friendships that once formed part of everyday life.
Very few possessions carry that kind of emotional connection. That is why leavers’ hoodies continue to matter. People do not value them for their usefulness. They value them because they help preserve memories that might otherwise fade with time.
Why Shared Memories Matter
The final year of school often feels different from every year that came before it. Pupils know that change is approaching, and familiar routines that once seemed permanent suddenly acquire greater meaning. Ordinary moments become memorable because everyone understands they are happening for the last time.
That awareness often strengthens the importance of shared experiences. School life creates countless opportunities for pupils to build memories together. Sports days, school productions, educational trips, charity events, revision sessions and exam periods all become part of a collective experience shared by an entire year group.
Even the challenges contribute to the memories. Preparing for exams, navigating difficult assignments and supporting friends through stressful periods often creates bonds that remain long after school ends. Shared challenges bring people together by creating experiences everyone understands.
Friendships frequently develop through those moments. Some begin in classrooms, while others emerge through sports teams, clubs or school trips. Many grow stronger simply because pupils spend years experiencing similar events together. By the end of school, those relationships often form a significant part of a young person’s identity.
That helps explain why many former pupils keep leavers’ garments for years. The garment itself becomes connected to a much larger collection of memories. It serves as a reminder of friendships, achievements, challenges and experiences that helped shape who they became.
Parents often notice a similar pattern when looking back on their own school years. The specific traditions may have been different, but the emotions remain familiar. Most people can remember the excitement, uncertainty and anticipation that accompanied leaving school. They can remember the friendships that felt permanent and the feeling that an important chapter was coming to an end.
School traditions endure because they help people navigate those moments of transition. They provide an opportunity to celebrate achievements while also acknowledging what lies ahead. In many ways, leavers’ hoodies have become a modern expression of a timeless idea: people want to remember the experiences and relationships that matter to them.
For pupils preparing to leave school, few experiences matter more than the friendships, memories and shared moments they have built over the years.
Organising A Leavers’ Hoodie For The Whole Year Group
While the emotional significance of leavers’ garments is easy to understand, organising them for an entire year group often requires careful planning. Schools typically need to consider design choices, nickname submissions, colour selections, sizing and deadlines, all while ensuring pupils receive something they will be proud to keep. Many schools now choose dedicated suppliers of school leaver hoodies because they can help simplify the process and ensure that the finished garments reflect the year group’s shared identity rather than simply providing another item of clothing.
That sense of shared identity often sits at the heart of the process. Schools want something that feels representative of the entire year group rather than a collection of individual preferences. Pupils often contribute ideas, vote on colours, and suggest design elements that reflect their time together at school. Discussions about nicknames, memories and design choices frequently generate conversations about the years pupils have spent together, turning the planning process into another opportunity to reflect on friendships, achievements and shared experiences.
Inclusion also plays an important role. Successful leavers’ projects aim to create something that every pupil feels connected to regardless of friendship groups, interests or backgrounds. The goal is not simply to produce a garment but to create a lasting reminder of a shared journey. That is one reason the tradition has become so widely adopted across UK schools. It provides a practical way of bringing an entire year group together around a common milestone while creating something pupils can keep long after their school days have ended.
Why Many Schools Choose To Work With Local Suppliers
School leavers’ projects often involve more coordination than people initially expect. Schools need to manage information, communicate with pupils and families, review designs and ensure orders remain accurate throughout the process.
Many schools also prefer working with local printers because the relationship often extends beyond simply producing garments. Guidance on nickname layouts, artwork preparation, colour selection and sizing can help reduce common problems when coordinating large year-group orders. Having access to local support can also make communication easier for schools managing deadlines and ensuring every pupil receives the correct garment.
Local relationships often bring additional benefits. Schools frequently work with the same local organisations for several years, allowing trust and familiarity to develop over time. Familiar relationships often help schools resolve questions more quickly, and communication tends to feel more personal when schools know the people they are working with. Many schools also value opportunities to support local businesses, strengthening connections between schools and the communities they serve.
For parents, teachers and school staff, a well-organised leavers’ project can remove a great deal of unnecessary stress. The practical details matter because they support something far more important: helping pupils celebrate an important milestone and creating a positive experience they will remember for years to come.
Marking The End Of One Chapter
Every generation develops its own traditions for marking the end of school. For many parents, that tradition involved signing school shirts, exchanging handwritten messages and taking photographs with friends on the final day. Today’s pupils often mark the same moment in different ways, but the motivation remains remarkably similar.
People want to remember the experiences that shaped them. They want to hold on to friendships, shared achievements and the memories created during an important stage of life. School traditions help provide a way of doing exactly that.
Leavers’ hoodies have become a familiar part of modern school culture because they capture those feelings in a simple and lasting form. They remind pupils of the friendships they built, the challenges they overcame, and the experiences they shared with those around them. The tradition may have evolved since previous generations left school, but the reason behind it has not.
Leaving school represents the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. For pupils standing on the edge of that transition, the memories they take with them often matter far more than any item they receive. That is why school leavers’ hoodies continue to resonate with so many pupils, parents and schools across the UK. At their heart, they are not really about clothing at all. They are about friendship, belonging, shared experiences and preserving a moment in life that people experience only once.
The Reform-led authority has been steamrolling its various programmes to repair Nottinghamshire’s crumbling, dilapidated roads since early 2026, following a September 2025 survey which found 38 percent of roads were in ‘poor condition’
In February, it announced a £2 million ’emergency’ pot of money would go towards road fixes across sites deemed in immediate need.
The following month, a ‘game-changing’ £122.5 million ‘phase one’ sum was announced to be pumped into fixing the county’s road network in 2026/27.
This total was then brought up to £181.25 million when its phase two scheme for 2026/27 was announced in April, adding an extra £58.75 million.
Around £11.2 million of the phase two pot was already earmarked that month to be set aside for the so-called ‘Worst First’ roads, where each councillor at the authority could submit three key roads in the areas they represent to be put forward for priority works.
More than 150 councillor requests for roads to be resurfaced were put forward and highway officers and staff have now narrowed this down to sites which met the requirements for full resurfacing.
Speaking on the new priority scheme, Council leader, Mick Barton (Reform), said “it’s brilliant stuff”, adding: “All three priority roads by each councillor will be addressed in some way or another.
“The ones that haven’t made this [scheme] for resurfacing or surface dressing will still get maintained in some way by JCB patch repairs or the first time crews.”
In May, the authority’s two new leased JCB Pothole Pro machines began works on roads, where the machines will be trialled by the authority for 12 months.
Cllr Barton said each of the priority works will be done by the end of this year and said Reform UK’s headquarters were using the County Council as an example for what can be done for local roads.
He continued: “Councillors know their areas the best and work closely with their communities, so it’s also the community having a say.
“It’s going to have a massive difference across the county. This year, what we’re doing with highways, that’s the Reform way.”
Here is the full list of the nine locations set for repairs in Gedling borough…
Resurfacing of A60 Mansfield Road, Arnold – from the Ram Inn near Henry Street to Arch Hill Layby – £200,000 to £250,000
Resurfacing of A60 Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe, from the junction at Woodthorpe Drive to the junction at A6514 Valley Road – £400,000 to £500,000
Resurfacing of Killisick Road, Arnold, from Gleneagles Drive to Parry Way – £100,000 to £150,000
Resurfacing of Valley Road, Carlton, from Marshall Hill Drive to Foxhill Road – £400,000 to £500,000
Resurfacing of Birchfield Road, Arnold, from Oakdale Road to Homefield Avenue – £250,000 to £300,000
Gunthorpe Road, Gedling, from Stanhope Road to Bayliss Road – £100,000 to £150,000
Resurfacing of Hilton Road, Mapperley – whole road length – £250,000 to £300,000
Resurfacing of Godfrey Street, Netherfield – whole road length – £100,000 to £150,000
Resurfacing of Whittingham Road, Mapperley, from Haywood Road to Kent Road – £50,000 to £100,000
If you have noticed the winters in Nottinghamshire becoming noticeably wetter and the summer days sharper, you are experiencing a shift that hits closer to home than global maps suggest. Right here in Gedling, the erratic weather transforms how local properties stand up to the elements.
Consequently, the builders, roofers and plumbers you rely on are completely rewriting their traditional playbooks to protect your home.
Adapting to Unpredictable Weather
Extreme weather patterns bringing searing heatwaves and intense downpours mean local contractors can no longer rely on predictable seasonal schedules. When you plan a renovation, you will find project timelines flexing around sudden meteorological shifts to protect both the structural integrity of exposed masonry and the safety of the crew.
For instance, local bricklayers now frequently adjust their shift patterns during extreme summer peaks, switching to early morning starts to ensure mortar does not dry out too quickly and lose its strength.
New Materials and Techniques
To withstand these shifting patterns, local installers are adopting sturdier, high-specification building components designed for long-term resilience. You will see a distinct shift toward breathable external renders and heavy-duty flashing that keeps flash floods from penetrating cavity walls.
Take time to verify that your chosen contractor uses vapour-permeable membranes on roofing projects, as this specific installation method actively prevents timber rot during prolonged periods of high humidity.
Changing Customer Demands
Your own expectations as a property owner are driving a massive transformation in the types of services local firms provide. Homeowners increasingly request upgrades like advanced external wall insulation or the integration of air conditioning units to maintain indoor comfort during unprecedented heat spikes.
Schedule a home energy assessment with a local specialist to identify exactly where your property loses heat before investing in major structural alterations.
Future-Proofing Local Trades
Preparing the next generation of specialists requires a coordinated approach to technical education across the borough. Local colleges are updating their apprenticeship curricula to focus heavily on green retrofitting techniques and sustainable drainage systems.
To support this vital evolution, search for certified local businesses that actively invest in continuous professional development for their staff. By prioritising these forward-thinking teams, you help maintain a robust network of skilled professionals capable of safeguarding our local infrastructure.
Building Resilience for Tomorrow As the local climate continues to evolve, the relationship between Gedling residents and neighbourhood tradespeople grows ever more vital. Embracing these practical upgrades ensures our community infrastructure rem
