A chain of supermarkets with branches in the borough are to become the first to sell fish otherwise thrown back in the sea by fishermen.
Iceland will start selling whiting and pouting, which is deemed surplus to requirements by other store chains.
Until now, whiting and pouting have been thrown back into the sea either dead or dying – just because they’re the ‘wrong’ type of cod or don’t fit size criteria.
Megrim and grey gurnard, other types of white fish rejected by some stores, will be packaged up and sold with the cod to be used to make dishes such as fish curry and fish pie.
Forty per cent of all fish caught worldwide is captured unintentionally and returned to the ocean – never to make it to the dinner table.
The unwanted fish, known as ‘bycatch’, is a major issue for the fishing industry because it has a massive impact on sustainability levels.
The chain’s bycatch will be sold as their ‘What the Fish?’ range.
The announcement comes in the wake of the supermarket’s recent pledge to go ‘plastic-free’ on its own label products by the end of 2023 and to stock biodegradable chewing gum.
Richard Walker, Iceland’s managing director, said: “Enjoying fish that is traditionally seen as bycatch gives us more variety and also helps make eating fish more sustainable.
“The more that supermarkets can do to encourage customers to try to new options, the better for the planet”
PICTURED: Iceland’s new What The Fish? brand (PICTURE: Iceland)
Neil Nugent, Iceland’s head chef, said: “Grey gurnard, whiting, pouting and megrim are incredibly tasty, versatile fish.
“We wanted to make these species available to more shoppers to help them widen their repertoire of white fish.
“We are also clearly helping to improve the sustainability of UK fisheries by not discarding good, edible fish as waste, or racking up more miles of transport by sending it to markets overseas.
“‘What the Fish?’ is a natural continuation of our sustainability commitment, which has seen Iceland become the UK’s first major supermarket to commit to removing plastic packaging and palm oil from its own label food.”
‘Can this white man sing the Blues?’ sang Deacon Blue. This Welsh lad certainly could, as well as Blues he sang Soul, Ska, Country, and even a bit of Gospel. Not only that, but Andy Fairweather Low showed he could make his guitar talk a bit! This has surely been helped by many years playing alongside the likes of Eric Clapton.
‘This place is fabulous. It’s certainly on our schedule for next year,’ said Fairweather Low during his band introductions. As previously, the Low Riders consisted of Dave Bronze (bass and vocals), Nick Pentelow (sax) and Paul Beavis (drums) but was further beefed up with Richard Milner (Hammond Organ); Pete Cook (baritone sax) and Matt Winch (trumpet). The extended horn section certainly added a new dimension, at time veering into Atlantic Soul whilst at others bordering on New Orleans Jazz.
Having had a successful pop career as lead singer in Amen Corner and Fairweather, Fairweather Low went on to have a very successful solo spell in the 70s. In his intro to Bebop ‘N’ Holla he noted that this was the last single before AM dropped him in favour of the Sex Pistols. ‘Punk came along and that was me finished!’
On the evidence of this performance in Lowdham, it is hard to credit that Fairweather Low went for decades without a record contract, eventually returning with the album Sweet Soulful Music (2006) from which the Low Riders played the title track and several others.
‘I’ve been in the business for fifty years but working with these guys I think this is the most enjoyable time,’ affirmed Low before launching into Route 66. From here it was just solid class right through till the final song the gospel, Amen.
‘We always finish with this and we hope you’ll join in,’ said Fairweather Low and the crowd were not about to let him down. You could easily have been in a Welsh Chapel from the resounding audience contribution rather than an English Village Hall.
The repertoire was dominated by blues. Gin House Blues proved both a highlight and an opportunity for band members to play extended solos. There was contrast as well. Amen Corner hit, We’ll Fly High In The Sky had folks singing along, as did Wide Eyed And Legless. Similarly downbeat was Hymn For My Soul a lament for when you feel down and out.
The horns featured heavily into two segues: a Stax mash up, including Ride A Pony, Get Up And Get Down, and Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song), and an instrumental mix of Tequila, Peter Gunn and Apache. There was also chance for Fairweather Low to show off some finger picking in old American Folk classic Freight Train
Never one to let a crowd down, Low encored with If Paradise Is Half As Nice before rounding things off with the afore mentioned Amen.
Mon 1, Tue, October 2 at 2.30pm, Wed, October 3 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Thu, October 4 at 2.30pm
Fiona Maye is an eminent High Court judge in London presiding with wisdom and compassion over ethically complex cases of family law. But she has paid a heavy personal price for her workload, and her marriage to American professor Jack is at a breaking point. In this moment of personal crisis, Fiona is asked to rule on the case of Adam, a brilliant boy who is refusing the blood transfusion that will save his life. Adam is three months from his 18th birthday and still legally a child. Should Fiona force him to live? Fiona visits Adam in the hospital and their meeting has a profound emotional impact on them both, stirring strong new emotions in the boy and long-buried feelings in her in this powerful adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel.
Directed by Richard Eyre. Starring: Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci (1hr 45 mins) UK/US 2017
Cold War (15)
Friday, September 28 & Thursday, October 4 at 7.30pm
Set against the backdrop of the 1950s Cold War in Poland, two people of differing backgrounds and temperaments begin an almost impossible romance in impossible times. Beautifully shot and with a stunning, Jazz-influenced soundtrack, this is a bitter-sweet tale of passion and love.
*SUBTITLED* Directed by Paweł Pawlikowski. Starring: Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot (1hr 25 mins // US 2018)
The Seagull (12A)
Friday, October 5, at 1pm; Sunday, October 7, at 7.30pm; Monday, October 8 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm; Tuesday 9, Wed 10 & Thu, October 11 at 2.30pm
One summer at a lakeside Russian estate, friends and family gather for a weekend in the countryside. While everyone is caught up in passionately loving someone who loves somebody else, a tragicomedy unfolds about art, fame, human folly, and the eternal desire to live a purposeful life in this wonderful adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s famous play.
Directed by Michael Mayer. Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Annette Bening, Elisabeth Moss (1hr 38 mins // US 2018)
Christopher Robin (U)
Sunday, October 7 at 11am, 2.30pm & 5pm; Monday, October 8 at 11am *Babies & Toddlers Screening*
Christopher Robin — now a family man living in London — receives a surprise visit from his old childhood pal, Winnie-the-Pooh. With Christopher’s help, Pooh embarks on a journey to find his friends — Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Rabbit, Kanga and Roo. Once reunited, the lovable bear and the gang travel to the big city to help Christopher rediscover the joy of life.
Directed by Marc Foster. Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell (1hr 44 mins // US 2018)
One Note At A Time (PG)
Monday, October 8 at 5pm; Wednesday, October 10 at 7.30pm
A documentary about the embattled tradition of New Orleans’ musicians, and their struggle for continued habitation and survival after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area in 2005. A close-up look at musicians such as Dr. John; and the vibrant, battling spirit and culture of the Big Easy.
Directed by Renee Edwards. Starring: Dr John (1hr 35 mins // US 2018)
Arnold On Film (U)
Friday, October 12 at 2.30pm
A fascinating selection of historic film clips filmed in and around Arnold over the past 90 years; specially collated to show local life in times gone by. Come along and see who or what you can remember or simply learn about our local heritage.
The Spy Who Dumped Me (15)
Friday, October 12 at 7.30pm
The Spy Who Dumped Me tells the story of Audrey and Morgan, two best friends who unwittingly become entangled in an international conspiracy when one of the women discovers the boyfriend who dumped her was actually a spy. Far-fetched but undeniably fun!
This screening is sponsored by a Heritage Lottery Fund project entitled “Gedling Borough’s Heritage Brought Alive”
Directed by Susanna Fogel. Starring: Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon (1hr 57 mins // US 2018)
PICTURED: The Spy Who Dumped Me
Dog Days (12A)
Saturday, October 13 at 2.30pm
Elizabeth is a charming anchor-woman who seeks advice from her dog’s therapist. Tara is a spunky barista who dreams of a life beyond the coffee shop. Daisy is a dog walker who’s enamoured with a client. Garrett pines for a woman while trying to keep his adopt-a-dog business afloat.
The beloved canines in their lives soon start to influence their careers, friendships and romantic relationships in funny and unexpected ways.
Directed by Ken Marino. Starring: Eva Longoria, Vanessa Hudgens (1hr 53 mins // US 2018)
Royal Opera House Live Broadcast:
Sunday, October 21 at 2pm
Royal Ballet: Mayerling (12A)
Mayerling is a classic of the Royal Ballet repertory, with its emotional depth, haunting imagery, and one of the most demanding roles ever created for a male dancer. Kenneth MacMillan choreographed a complex work around the psychologically tormented heir to the Habsburg Empire, Crown Prince Rudolf.
From the ballet’s start, the glamour of the Austro-Hungarian court is contrasted with undercurrents of sexual and political intrigue that drive the story to its violent climax in a double suicide. This ballet, bursting with intensity, madness and passion, proves that sometimes the truth is more scandalous than fiction.
Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan, Music: Franz Liszt Tickets £15 / £12.50 Concessions / £10 Under 16s
The King Of Thieves (12A)
Monday, October 22 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm; Wednesday, October 24 at 7.30pm; Thursday, October 25 at 2.30pm
A caper film about the unlikely gang of retirees that pulled off the daring Hatton Garden jewellery heist of 2015. Initially believed to be undertaken by a gang of super-thieves, the actual perpetrators were a group of tough-guy retired criminals in their late 60s and 70s — with all kinds of physical maladies — who were mostly unoccupied and bored, until they consulted a bunch of how-to books and figured out a way to pull off one last hurrah over a long weekend in April 2015.
Directed by Marc Foster. Starring: Michael Caine, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Ray Winstone (1hr 44 mins // UK 2018)
The Little Stranger (12A)
Friday, October 26 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm; Thursday, November 1 at 7.30pm
During the summer of 1947, country doctor Dr. Faraday tends to a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked as a housemaid. The Hall, which has fallen into decline, is home to Mrs Ayres and her two children, Caroline and Roddy. After taking on the new patient, Dr. Faraday finds the Ayres family’s story will soon become entwined with his own, as strange things begin to occur in this stunning adaptation of Sara Water’s gothic-horror novel.
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson. Starring Domhall Gleeson, Ruth Wilson (1hr 51 mins // UK/FRA 2018)
BlacKkKlansman (15)
Saturday, October 27 at 7.30pm
From visionary filmmaker Spike Lee comes the incredible true story of an American hero. It’s the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan.
The young detective soon recruits a more seasoned colleague, Flip Zimmerman into the undercover investigation of a lifetime. Together, they team up to take down the extremist hate group as the organisation aims to sanitise its violent rhetoric to appeal to the mainstream. Produced by the team behind the Academy-Award winning Get Out.
Directed by Spike Lee. Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver (2hrs 15 mins // US 2018)
PICTURED: Adam Driver and John David Washington in BlacKkKlansman.
Royal Opera House Live Broadcast:
Sunday, October 28 at 5pm
Royal Opera House Live: Die Walkϋre (12A)
Wagner’s Ring cycle is one of the greatest works of all opera. Keith Warner’s production is conducted by Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera, and this final revival is cast with an outstanding international array of Wagnerian specialist singers. The full cycle’s four operas journey from the beginning of a world to its destruction, with gods, heroes and monsters. The Ring is always a special event in the operatic calendar: once experienced, never forgotten.
Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) is the second opera in the cycle, and features several of the Ring’s musical highlights – the sparkling Magic Fire Music and the electrifying Ride of the Valkyries. But among the musical fireworks and Norse mythology, at the centre of this opera are the unforgettable characters and the complex entanglements between them.
Music: Richard Wagner. Director: Keith Warner. Conductor: Antonio Pappano
Tickets £15 / £12.50 Concessions / £10 Under 16s
Luis & The Aliens (U)
Monday, October 29 at 11am *Babies & Toddlers Screening*; Tuesday, October 30, Wednesday, October 31 & Thursday, November 1 at 11am
After they crash their UFO into his house, 12-year-old Luis embarks on a wild quest to help three tiny extra-terrestrials return to their huge mother ship in this charming animation.
Directed by Christopher & Wolfgang Lauenstein. Voiced by Will Forte, Lea Thompson (1hr 24 mins // US 2018)
Hurricane (15)
Monday, October 29 & Tuesday, October 30 at 7.30pm
Hurricane (Squadron 303) is the story of a group of brave Poles who fought in the skies over England in WW2, not just to keep Great Britain free from the Nazis, but also to keep alive the very idea of their own country.
Equipped with the almost-obsolete Hurricane and (with some initial reluctance) given RAF blue uniforms, while they fought, Poland lived.
Directed by David Blair. Starring: Iwan Rheon, Milo Gibson (1hr 47 mins // US 2018)
Halloween Screenings:
Luis & The Aliens (U) (Wednesday, October 31 at 11am)
The House With A Clock In Its Walls (PG) (Wednesday, October 31 at 2.30pm & 5pm)
Ghost Stories (15) (Wednesday, October 31 at 7.30pm)
Hereditary (15) (Wednesday, October 31 at 9.30pm)
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales (U)
Friday, November 2 & Sunday, November 4 at 11am & 2.30pm; Monday, November 5 at 11am *Babies & Toddlers Screening*
Not so much hand-drawn as hand-sketched, this cartoon for young children tells three humorous stories involving a bunch of farmyard animals. The countryside isn’t always as calm and peaceful as it’s made out to be, and the animals on this farm are particularly agitated: a fox who mothers a family of chicks, a rabbit who plays the stork, and a duck who wants to be Santa Claus!
Directed by Benjamin Renner, Patrick Imbert. Voiced by Bill Bailey, Adrian Edmondson (1hr 23 mins // FRA 2017)
The Wife (15)
Friday, November 2 & Sun 4 at 7.30pm; Monday 5 & Tuesday, November 6 at 2.30pm; Wednesday, November 7 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm; Thursday, November 8 at 2.30pm
Joan and Joe remain complements after nearly 40 years of marriage. Where Joe is casual, Joan is elegant. Where Joe is vain, Joan is self-effacing. And where Joe enjoys his very public role as the great American novelist, Joan pours her considerable intellect, grace, charm and diplomacy into the private role of a great man’s wife. As Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for his acclaimed and prolific body of work, Joan starts to think about the shared compromises, secrets and betrayals.
Directed by Bjӧrn Runge. Starring: Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce (1hr 40 mins // SWE/UK/US 2017)
You can find out more information at http://www.boningtontheatre.co.uk/ or book tickets online HERE
Campaigners looking to restore a pavilion at their local park are calling on groups in the area to back their bid for funding to help transform the building into a community hub.
Friends of Onchan Park were formed back in 2016 to save the green space from a possible sale by Gedling Borough Council.
Now after winning the fight to save the park’s future, they are looking at ways to restore the park’s pavilion to it’s former glory.
The building is currently unusable due to its poor condition.
The team recently carried out a survey in the area and the results revealed residents are eager for the creation of a community hub in the area.
To help secure charity funding to help pay for repairs and also a redesign of the dilapidated pavilion building, the group are now calling on local groups to show their support and help back their bid.
Maria Robinson from Friends of Onchan Park told Gedling Eye: “We’d like the building to serve as a community hub for local groups.
“We’d like to create a building that would meet the needs of the groups who would like to use the space. At the same time we would like to create a space that will be very cost efficient to run, perhaps incorporating solar and wind power.
“We are trying to involve community groups in our development project so they can help design a new venue with all the features that their group needs.
“We want to get social groups, fitness groups and any other groups to get in touch with us to help with the planning of the building refurbishment.
“To support our bid [for charity funding] we will be required to show the need for the works and how the project will benefit the community. We think the best way to do this is by involving local groups in the planning stages to create the ultimate community hub.”
She added: “We would like to hold a meeting with interested groups to try to establish a starting point.”
The Friends group are now calling on local groups to get in touch and those interested will be invited to a meeting to discuss future plans.
If you would like to be involved should email parkonchan@gmail.com for more details.
Leaked plans show the seven different options currently being investigated for the future of how Nottinghamshire’s councils are run, and even whether some exist at all.
The Conservative-run Nottinghamshire County Council is working on a plan to abolish itself, as well as all district and borough councils such as Rushcliffe, Gedling and Broxtowe.
It would then create a brand new council, or two new councils, which would cover all of Nottinghamshire apart from the city.
The key supporter of the scheme is the leader of the county council, Conservative councillor Kay Cutts.
She says it could streamline and simplify council services, and save as much as £20 million to £30 million a year, which could then be invested in front-line services.
But vocal critics, including the leaders of several district and borough councils which could be dissolved, have said they will fight to protect their councils.
They say it would remove local decision making and end up costing more in the long-run.
Nottingham City Council has also retaliated to the county council’s plan, saying it would submit its own bid to the Government to expand the boundaries of the city into parts of West Bridgford, Stapleford, Beeston, Arnold and Carlton.
It said the current city boundaries are too small, and the crisis in local government funding which has led to the calls for council re-organisation has been caused by cuts from the central Conservative Government.
Now, leaked documents have revealed there are seven different options being debated by the county council.
The documents were discussed at a meeting which the media was denied access to.
None of the county council’s plans take an expanded city into account.
Cllr Cutts, who represents the Radcliffe-on-Trent ward for the Conservatives said: “Our working group is looking in detail at all options for better local government in Nottinghamshire.
“It’s clear we can give the best value-for-money, be more accountable to local people and improve services with a unitary system.
“By replacing eight senior management teams with one, reducing the number of councillors and having one point of contact we can make significant savings, end confusion and ensure you get the best services, no matter where you live in the county.
“We look forward to sharing our business case with local people when it is fully developed.”
The seven options:
Option One – preserve the status quo.
Keep with seven district and borough councils, and the county and city councils.
Option Two – One unitary authority for Nottinghamshire.
It would have a population of around 817,000. The headquarters would likely be County Hall, in West Bridgford, and it could be called simply Nottinghamshire Council.
Option Three – Divide the county into two unitary councils (north and south)
In the north would be Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood. This would have a population of 472,000.
In the south, with a population of 345,000, would be Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe.
Option Four – Divide the county into two unitary councils (north and south)
In the north would be Bassetlaw, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood, with a population of 345,000.
In the south would be Ashfield, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe, with a population of 472,000.
Option Five – Divide the county into two unitary councils (east and west)
Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe would be in the east, with a population of 353,000.
Ashfield, Broxtowe, Gedling and Mansfield would be in the west, with a population of 464,000.
Option Six – Divide the country into two unitary councils (urban/rural mix to roughly equalise population density)
The north west would have Ashfield, Bassetlaw and Mansfield, with 351,000 people.
The south east would have Broxtowe, Gedling, Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe. This would have 466,000 residents.
Option Seven – Two unitary councils
This would see Ashfield, Broxtowe and Mansfield in one area and Bassetlaw, Gedling, Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe in the other.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Cllr John Clarke said he had no interest in pursuing any of the leaked options.
He said: “We want nothing to do with it. We’ve already seen £270,000 spent, plus a huge amount of office time.
“We’re fighting for Gedling. We have had so much response to it from right across the board – people who have never voted Labour in their lives are saying they support us on it. No one wants it. People want councils to stay local.”
How can a new council be created?
Under Government regulations, a new council area has to have at least 300,000 residents.
It also has to have ‘co-terminus boundaries’, meaning the districts or boroughs have to currently share a border. This is to avoid creating ‘doughnut options’.
There is some dispute over whether the new councils have to be based on current district and borough council boundaries. The county council states they do, but the city council believes they do not, and that its proposal would still be considered by the Government.
They also need to maintain ‘reasonable levels’ of population density.
Gedling MP Vernon Coaker was today sent out on patrol with police officers based in the borough to get a better understanding of the challenges and demands placed on the local emergency services.
Mr Coaker spent the day with officers as part of The Give a Day to Policing scheme which is being co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, giving MPs the chance to spend a day during the Parliamentary summer recess to better understand the challenges facing police forces across the UK.
The MP for Gedling started the day in his constituency at 7am by meeting Gedling Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Steven O’Neill. He then took part in the response morning briefing before taking a tour of the local partnership hub facilities at Jubilee House, Arnold.
Mr Coaker then met the Neighbourhood Policing Team for Gedling at both of their bases, Jubilee House Arnold and Carlton Ambulance Station. He was shown how officers are now working alongside their council colleagues including the recently Community Safety Scheme Accredited neighbourhood wardens.
He then went on morning patrols with the beat team around some of the local schools and was also shown some antisocial behaviour hot spots, including the site of a proposed new CCTV location in Smithy Crescent, Arnold.
He was then taken to the Gedling Civic Centre at Arnold and shown the knife amnesty bin, one of 13 locations across the county for the amnesty which runs until Sunday (23 September).
Mr Coaker later took part in a planned policing operation organised by Insp O’Neill’s team to try to deter and detect burglary and autocrime offences in the Porchester and Woodthorpe areas.
He was able to see how officers use modern technology in policing and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) in particular to help to focus their patrols on such an operation. Mr Coaker visited the Police front counter at Carlton Fire Station with Insp O’Neill where another knife amnesty bin is being hosted, and then joined response officers on their duties to see some of the fast-paced demands placed on local policing teams.
Mr Coaker said: “It was very interesting to see the day-to-day work of the police and to see first-hand the important and vital work they do every day in our communities.
“They work incredibly hard to keep the people of Gedling safe and it was very clear to see just how committed they are to the communities they serve.
“Despite the Police Force being faced with ongoing budget challenges they continue to do their very best under very difficult circumstances.
“I will continue to press the Government for the funding and resources Nottinghamshire Police need and deserve. I would like to thank Nottinghamshire Police for today and thank them for everything they do.”
Gedling Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Steve thought the visit had been a real success.
He said: “We tried to fit in as much as we could to give Mr Coaker a real sense of local policing in Gedling. Policing is not just about seeing officers on the street corner, there is so much more to the role.
“Every day the local response and neighbourhood officers deal with diverse issues including dealing with many immediate incidents where life is at risk and problem solving longer term issues in partnership with other agencies in the area.”
A group of travellers have stationed themselves on playing fields in Arnold.
They are thought to have damaged a gate to gain access to Church Lane playing fields, which are located behind St Mary’s Church.
The site was being assessed earlier today by Police and officials from Gedling Borough Council.
A spokesman for the council said: “We’ve been made aware of travellers on the site of Church Lane playing fields, in Arnold.
“Our officers have been and carried out the assessments and served a notice requesting the occupants to vacate the site within 24 hours. Failure to comply will result in enforcement action. “
Calls for a county-wide referendum on plans to form a ‘super council’ have been rejected.
If plans for a combined council move forward, Gedling Borough Council an other smaller local authorities would be scrapped.
Now a group opposed to the ‘super council’ had put a motion calling for a the referendum to be held.
Earlier this month a cross-party meeting was held, which the press was denied access to. The motion also called for these meetings to be held in public.
A detailed plan is currently being put together by Nottinghamshire County Council for the new ‘super council’, with a public consultation expected early next year.
It would see a new council created for Nottinghamshire, and supporters say it would save £20 to £30 million a year and make it simpler to provide services.
However critics fear it will cost too much to set up, and would remove local decision making.
Now the Ashfield Independent Party, which opposes the plan, has attempted to hold a debate on whether to have a county-wide referendum on the plan.
It hoped to debate the motion at a full council meeting this Thursday, which is open to the public.
But the council rejected the debate on technical grounds. The independent council officer who made the decision not to allow the motion to be debated said because a plan to draw up a business plan was passed by a committee in July, no amendments could be made to that plan for six months.
The council also said the public’s voice will be heard in the full consultation.
Councillor Jason Zadrozny, who represents the Ashfields ward for the Ashfield Independents, said: “I am appalled that the county council will not even listen to our arguments.
“We were very clear about our motion to the council – that any business case for change should be decided by the people and not self-interested politicians.
“The Conservatives who run our county council want to scrap eight local councils and we think the public should make the decision.
He said he was not happy at the decision of council officer to “gerrymander” the democratic process, meaning to manipulate the boundaries of the county to favour the Conservative party.
Councillor Zadrozny is also the leader of Ashfield District Council, and said he was considering holding a referendum on the issue in Ashfield on the same day as local council elections in May next year.
Marjorie Toward, monitoring officer at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Local government reorganisation has been comprehensively debated twice by councillors recently – both at the last full council meeting and policy committee.
“The county council’s constitution stipulates that decisions taken at council or committee meetings should not normally be altered or amended within six months. I considered that the proposed motion would have altered those original decisions.
“In order to make a reasonable decision on such a significant matter, the council would have needed more information than what was contained in the submitted motion.”
Coronation Street star Alan Halsall will join colleagues and local residents at the official launch of the new Midcounties Co-operative Travel branch in Arnold this weekend.
Halsall, who plays much-loved character Tyrone Dobbs, will be at the Front Street branch’s opening event on Saturday, September 22 between 10.30am and 12pm.
The independent travel agent was named ‘Central England Large Agency of the Year’ for the sixth time at the 2018 Agent Achievement Awards.
To celebrate opening its doors in Arnold, Co-operative Travel will also offer holidaymakers the chance to take advantage of its celebratory savings offer on holidays booked before September 30.
Alan Halsall said: “I’m always delighted to lend my support to Co-operative Travel. They’re committed to making a difference in the community, and I’m sure Saturday’s event will be a great example of this.”
Natalie Turner, Head of Branches at The Midcounties Co-operative Travel, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Alan to our celebrations in Arnold He has long been an advocate of Co-operative values, and I’m sure with his support the launch will be a massive hit.”
Police have charged two men after a 17-year-old boy suffered burns and stab wounds at an address in the Bestwood on Sunday (16).
Brandon Whelpton, 22, of Danes Close, Arnold and 25 year-old Jake West, of Pedmore Valley, Bestwood, have both been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment.
They are due to appear at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court today (September 18).
Three other men arrested in connection with the incident remain in police custody.
The 17-year-old victim remains in hospital in a stable condition.
