Bus passenger journeys in Notts are showing no sign of returning to pre-Covid levels as more people choose to work from home and study online long-term.
David Astill, managing director of Nottingham City Transport (NCT), says the smaller number of passenger journeys by bus have reached a “new normal” following the pandemic.
Between April 2018 and March 2019, before the pandemic, NCT’s buses carried 49.1m passengers, compared to 48.8m the year before.
Passenger journeys now sit at around 45m per year, averaging 94 per cent of pre-Covid levels, according to the latest figures.
During a Nottingham City Council Companies Governance Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday (April 1), Cllr Linda Woodings (Lab), chair, asked Mr Astill how services had changed pre and post-Covid.
The committee was told passenger numbers had been increasing over the past four years, but had started to “trail off”.
“People are not commuting to work five days a week in the numbers they used to, and whilst the peaks have returned they have not returned to the same level,” Mr Astill said.
“Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are noticeably the busiest days, which suggests people are working at home on Mondays and Fridays.
“There has been a big change in the student market, probably the most interesting of all. Students are not going to lectures on campus five days a week.
“It is very noticeable in the morning peak that we used to have to get students to campus by 9am.
“We think that is probably the new normal.”
NCT was established as an arms-length Nottingham City Council company in 1986, and through this arrangement the authority receives a small dividend.
The company is not profit-driven, and typically aims for a margin between five and eight per cent each year, with much of this going back into services.
It has been in public ownership for almost 128 years, longer than most bus companies across the country, and was named UK Bus Operator of the Year for a record-breaking sixth time in February.
Cllr Neghat Khan (Lab), leader of the council and member of the committee, asked Mr Astill if an increase to the Government’s bus fare cap had proven problematic for recovering passenger numbers.
The £3 fare cap replaced the previous £2 cap from January 1 this year.
Mr Astill added: “When that came in at £2 we did not detect any noticeable increase in patronage, and I am pleased to say with the fare going back up to £3 we have not noticed any noticeable drop off.
New nursery places are to be created at a school in Gedling after the Government announced new funding for childcare places.
Willow Farm Primary School is among the first wave of Labour’s new school-based nurseries giving children the best start in life and getting them ready for school
The funding is to aid the government’s pledge of offering 30 hours of free childcare a week.
To help hit the target, an initial 300 school-based nurseries will be rolled out across the country and will be available from September.
Twenty six of the first wave are in the East Midlands, with nine of them in Nottinghamshire.
Funding for the programme has been more than doubled to £37 million – and the government-funded hours of childcare available from September is estimated to save parents up to £7,500 on average.
The first 300 school-based nurseries will offer an average of 20 places per site and will be available by the end of September.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “We’ve more than doubled our investment in this first phase so thousands more children can benefit from a high-quality early education from this September.
“We said we’d act, and now we have. But this is just the beginning – we’ve set a hugely important milestone to get tens of thousands more children every year school-ready by age 5 as part of our Plan for Change.
This comes as new research released last month shows that early education is vital for children’s development and school readiness, particularly for those who may need extra support.
Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said: “Parents often struggle with finding good quality childcare, and many will welcome this investment, especially as parents with more than one child may be saved from the mad dash from nursery to school in the morning and afternoon.”
A number of Gedling borough bus services are set to be diverted for almost a month from next week due to roadworks.
A section of Thackeray’s Lane will be closed at its junction with Mansfield Road from Monday (7) until May 2.
Nottingham City Transport’s Lilac 25 will have to divert from the bottom of Breck Hill Road along the full length of Arnot Hill Road, turning right at B&M to resume normal route on the High Street.
Buses to Mapperley and City will depart from Arnold Front Street and follow their normal route to B&M then left Arnot Hill Road (full length) to resume normal route from the bottom of Breck Hill Road.
Buses will not serve Thackeray’s Lane, Daybrook Square, Nottingham Road or Sainsbury’s.
The diversion route (IMAGE: NCT)
All stops on the diversion route will be observed.
Lime 56, 57, and 57X services will also have to divert during this time.
Lime 56 to Arnold will follow its normal route to Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe Park, then divert right Woodthorpe Drive, left Woodborough Road, continue Plains Road, left Somersby Road, right Nordean Road to resume normal route.
Lime 56 and 57 to City will follow their normal route to Nordean Road then left Somersby Road, right Plains Road, continue Woodborough Road, right Woodthorpe Drive, left Mansfield Road to resume normal route through Sherwood.
Lime 56 will only stop on Somersby Road and Woodthorpe Drive on diversion. Buses will not stop along Woodborough Road or Plains Road.
Stops on Thackeray’s Lane, Arno Vale Road and the bottom of Somersby Road will not be served,
Lime 57X to Arnold will follow its normal route to Mansfield Road, The Vale, then continue along Mansfield Road, right at Nottingham Road, passing Sainsbury’s, right on Arnot Hill Road, left at Hallams Lane, right along Gedling Road (full length), and left Ramsey Drive to resume normal route.
Lime 57X to City will follow normal route to the end of Ramsey Drive then right Gedling Road (full length), left Hallams Lane, right Arnot Hill Road, left Nottingham Road, passing Sainsbury’s, left Mansfield Road to resume normal route from The Vale.
Stops on Thackeray’s Lane and Arno Vale Road will not be served, but Lime 57X will serve all stops on its diversion
Lime 59 buses to Arnold will follow their normal route to Mansfield Road, The Vale, then continue Mansfield Road, right Nottingham Road, passing Sainsbury’s, right Arnot Hill Road, left Hallams Lane to resume normal route.
Buses to City will follow their normal route to Hallams Lane then right Arnot Hill Road, left Nottingham Road, passing Sainsbury’s, left Mansfield Road to resume normal route from The Vale.
Stops on Thackeray’s Lane and Arnot Hill Road will not be served, but Lime 59 will serve all stops on its diversion.
The roadworks are being carried out by Cadent to repair and replace gas pipes.
In the early hours of September 25th 1916, citizens of Mapperley and Netherfield were sent into a state of panic as news filtered through that a Zeppelin had been sighted and was heading towrads their towns.
Two zeppelins L 14 and L 17 had come to Britain together over the Lincolnshire coast at about 10.00pm on September 24.
L 17, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hermann Kraushaar, advanced towards Lincoln with L 14 and then they went separate ways at about 10.45pm.
It was about an hour later that L 17 reached Newark and dropped an incendiary bomb that missed its targets and landed in the River Trent at North Muskham.
But lights from Nottingham were visible 16 miles away and they attracted Kraushaar’s attention. He then set a course towards the city.
Early sightings of the Zeppelin sent the city into near-panic, and lights in households and businesses were immediately extinguished. Unfortunately, the railway companies didn’t follow suit and their lights kept the L17 on course.
At 12.34 am, L 17 reached the outskirts of the city and released a bomb and four incendiaries, with one landing in Netherfield on Dunstan Street, near the junction with Cross Street. It demolished six houses. Luckily, no-one was killed.
The town bombing site remained level for many years and for a while housed a children’s playground. New houses now occupy the site.
Kapitänleutnant Hermann Kraushaar led the Zeppelin bombing over NottinghamThe L 17 Zeppelin that carried out bombing raids on Nottingham in 1916A children’s playground once occupied the bombing site at the junction between Dunsten Street and Cross Street (IMAGE: Google)
Local schoolboy Peter Wooley was one of those to witness the bombing on that night. He wrote about the incident in a letter at the time that was then placed in a school time capsule. The capsule was discovered in the grounds of Netherfield Primary School back in 2015 and the letter was recovered
He wrote: “It was definitely well past midnight when I heard a strange hmmm and then a ghostly apparition (I learnt this new word at Sunday school) at a distance in the sky.
“It looked like an air balloon, but then I heard the air-raid warning. What lights that were on were suddenly extinguished, and looking from my window I saw people appearing at windows and doors up the street. While the whole village plunged into darkness, the shape grew closer even though I could see it was very high in the sky, as it passed directly over us.
Kapitanleutnant Kraushaar made his final voyage in 2017 in the L 43 which was shot down by a British seaplane
“The bottom of my street exploded with a loud bang and the street lit up like a bonfire.”
Following its Netherfield attack, L 17 then zeroed in on the illuminated city railway buildings, dropping a clutch of bombs in a line, from Eastcroft through the Meadows, to Nottingham Midland Station, along Carrington Street, Greyfriar Gate, Wheeler Gate, Lister Gate and on to Victoria Station
Kraushaar released eight high explosives and 11 incendiary bombs during the city raid; the first two causing minor damage but the third had a devastating impact, landing on 32 Newthorpe Street destroying it and neighbouring houses. Alfred Rogers and his wife Rosanna, were killed in the explosion and eight people were left buried in the rubble. The latter luckily all survived their injuries.
Other bombs injured two men at the Midland Railway goods yard and caused damage around the station.
An incendiary that struck No. 3 Chancery Place claimed the life of 21-year-old Harold Renshaw who suffered horrendous burns in the resultant fire. The Nottingham Evening News of September 25, 1916 reported that ‘Harold Renshaw was in bed with his wife when a bomb crashed through their ceiling, setting fire to his clothing. Mr Renshaw was so badly burned, he died soon afterwards in hospital. His wife, lying beside him, was uninjured.’
L 17 bombed Victoria Station on the Great Central Railway, with the last bomb on the city falling on the station’s Platform 7.
At 12.49am the Zeppelin steered away and went on to drop a single bomb in Mapperley. The explosion damaged a house and smashed window panes in the street. The aircraft then followed a course back over Lincolnshire and flying out to sea near Spurn Head, where the 3-pdr AA gun opened fire at her at about 2.00am.
Kapitanleutnant Kraushaar made his final voyage in 1917. On the morning of June 14 he was flying the zeppelin L 43 over the Dutch North Sea coast when he encountered a British seaplane that was on a reconnaissance mission. The L 43 fired ammunition at them. When the seaplane flew over the tail, one of the crew fired a Lewis machine gun at the Zeppelin’s hull. After two hits, the Zeppelin exploded. Kraushaar and his 23-man crew were killed.
A wildlife charity is urging people in Gedling borough to let part of the garden grow wild with long grass until September to help boost the declining UK butterfly population.
The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme made the plea after revealing more than half of the UK butterfly species are now in long-term decline, as humans destroy habitats, use pesticides and drive climate change.
The charity has also revealed that 2024 was one of the worst on record for butterflies in the UK with species including the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and small copper suffering their worst year ever.
The monitoring scheme by charity Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has been running since 1976, and now sees volunteers count butterflies across more than 3,000 sites.
2024 was one of the worst on record for butterflies in the UK (Photo: Leonardo Jarro)
Monitoring revealed that 2024 was the fifth worst year since records began for butterflies, with 51 of the UK’s 59 butterfly species declining last year compared with 2023, while just six increased.
It was the second worst year on record for common butterflies that live in gardens, parks and the wider countryside such as common blue, gatekeeper and large whites, while nine species had their worst year since counting began.
Experts said that butterfly numbers fluctuate from year to year, and last year’s low numbers are in part due to the wet spring and relatively cool summer which did not provide good conditions for winged insects to feed and breed.
But the monitoring data also shows that for the first time, more than half of the UK’s butterfly species are in long-term decline.
It reveals 31 have declined since monitoring began, with 22 species suffering significant declines including widespread species such as the small tortoiseshell whose numbers have plummeted 86% since 1976, and the green-veined white which has seen a 28% decline.
Several species listed on the “red list” amid concerns over their survival, the grizzled skipper, small pearl-bordered fritillary and chalk hill blue, had their worst year on record, the monitoring showed.
Conservationists said those species required specific habitat to survive, which had been destroyed over the past century.
Richard Fox, from Butterfly Conservation, said he was “devastated” by the declines in British butterflies, which he said were driven by human actions.
Dr Fox said: “I am devastated by the decline of our beloved British butterflies, and I’m sorry to say it has been brought about by human actions: we have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate.
“That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can’t bounce back like they once did – and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual.”
The results come after Butterfly Conservation declared a UK-wide “butterfly emergency” following the worst-ever results of its citizen science Big Butterfly Count last year.
Dr Fox said the wildlife charity had been “inundated” with people last summer asking where the butterflies had gone and what they could do to help.
He said: “By far the best thing we can do to help butterflies is to create more habitat,” he said, pointing to research by the charity which showed letting part of the garden grow wild with long grass increases butterflies – particularly in gardens and intensive agriculture.
“That is why we are calling on people and councils across the UK to pledge to not cut their grass this year from April to September: this simple act can make a real, immediate difference to butterflies, moths and other wildlife.”
Jane Sinclair, retired police officer and Rushcliffe resident, paid a special visit to Nottinghamshire Police’s headquarters in Arnold to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Jane was joined by her daughter, Fiona, and Gill Evans from the Metropolitan Women Police Association for a tour of the offices.
During the visit on Friday (28), the group took a glimpse into the control room, met with the lead of the armed response vehicle crew, and had a chat with Deputy Chief Constable Steve Cooper.
Jane began her career with Metropolitan Police back in 1947, where she spent three years in the Ealing community beat team covering Hammersmith and Richmond in west London.
Jane Sinclair during her days as a police officer
Her career then took her to Australia, working for 10 years in the Victoria Police force.
The life of a female police officer in a new country was a lot different for Jane in the 1950’s as she was issued with a firearm and received equal pay to men – which wasn’t official in the United Kingdom until 1970.
Jane said: “I knew things would have changed, but seeing all the new systems and technology showed just how much policing has moved on since I’ve been in the job!
“For example, when I was working, we’d contact the local office through blue telephone boxes. Now, they have their own radios and phones to use.
“We loved every minute of the visit and meeting the Deputy Chief was a real highlight.”
Inspector Tim Cuthbert, neighbourhood policing inspector for Rushcliffe, who toured the group around the offices, said:
“It was an absolute privilege to welcome Jane as our special guest. Hearing her stories demonstrated just how much policing has changed during her lifetime.”
A groundbreaking ceremony has marked the start of work on a new 763 housing development near Linby.
Cllr Sam Smith, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, and deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council Jenny Hollingsworth joined leading figures from Vistry Group, who are constructing the 763 new homes, to celebrate the start of work on the development at Top Wighay,
The £191m development forms part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s (NCC) flagship mixed-use scheme. The 86-acre site, contracted in 2023 with NCC and earmarked for development for more than a decade, will also include 21 acres of employment land, a local centre with retail and a new primary school.
Now the ceremonial spade has been placed in the ground, work will start imminently on the 763 homes
Now the ceremonial spade has been placed in the ground, work will start imminently on the 763 one-, two-, three, four-, and five-bedroom homes, maisonettes and apartments. Of the new homes, 269 will be affordable properties, 97 will be available for private rental and 397 will be on sale on the open market through Vistry’s Linden, Bovis and Countryside brands.
In addition to new housing, the developers said there would be benefits to the wider community, with almost £6million designated to bolstering local services. This includes £4,750,000 for education, £800,000 for highways and bus improvements, and £436,000 towards healthcare.
The scheme also includes new parks, sports facilities, wildlife corridors, pedestrian and cycle routes, a new primary school, and an on-site Skills Academy in partnership with Chameleon School of Construction. This innovative training initiative will aim to encourage local people not in employment or training back into work.
Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy at Gedling Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that work is beginning to provide 763 much needed homes, together with improved infrastructure, including highways, education, health, and a local centre.
“The plan for on-site skills and training is particularly welcomed and will provide great opportunities for local people and the local economy.
“The site has been allocated for development for some time so it’s particularly good to see that this significant investment has allowed this project to get underway. I very much look forward to following its progress over the next few years ”
Cllr Sam Smith, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said:“This milestone marks a significant step forward in a project that will bring lasting benefits to Nottinghamshire. From a brand-new primary school to improved transport links and employment opportunities, this investment will enhance local services and create a vibrant, sustainable community for generations to come.”
Andy Reynolds, managing director of Vistry Group’s partnerships division in the South East Midlands, said: “We were delighted to welcome key figures to celebrate the start of work on these much-needed new family homes at Top Wighay. Over the past year, we have consulted with the community to finalise the details of the scheme and ensure it meets local people’s needs and now we are on site, ready to create a new community of high-quality properties for people in the area to call home.”
There are a number of road closures in place across Gedling borough this week that drivers should be aware of.
Some roads are closed while others have lane closures. Temporary traffic measures or diversion routes may also be in place on roads in the region. Motorists are urged to make allowances for these closures and alter their travel arrangements if necessary.
If you’re planning to travel through the borough over the next few weeks take a look at the list below to see whether your journey will be affected.
Cohen Close, Arnold 04 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Richey Close, Arnold 04 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Gedling Road, Arnold 07 April – 14 April Roadworks, Delays likely Responsibility for works: National Grid
Hallams Lane, Arnold 09 April – 11 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Cadent
Bestwood
Burton Joyce
Foxhill Road, Burton Joyce 01 April – 02 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council
Lambley Lane, Burton Joyce 02 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council
Calverton
Rigg Lane, Calverton 03 April – 04 April Roadworks, Delays possible from Ash Lane to Forestry Houses| Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council
Moor Road, Calverton 04 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Carlton
Innes Close, Carlton 01 April – 03 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Standhill Road, Carlton 02 April Traffic management: Road closure Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Marhill Road, Carlton 04 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Ernest Road, Carlton 07 April Road closure Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Ernest Road, Carlton 07 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Valley Road, Carlton 07 April – 09 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Carlton Hill, Carlton 07 April – 10 April Roadworks, Delays likely Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Colwick
No roadworks scheduled
Daybrook
Thackerays Lane, Daybrook 07 April – 02 May Road closure Responsibility for works: Cadent
Gedling
Friday Lane, Gedling 02 April – 03 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Arnold Lane, Gedling 03 April Roadworks, Delays likely from Jessop’s Lane to mini roundabout Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council
Lambley
Linby
No roadworks scheduled
Mapperley
Kenrick Road, Mapperley 02 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Openreach
Kenrick Road, Mapperley 03 April Road closure Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Digby Avenue, Mapperley 07 April Road closure Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Netherfield
No roadworks scheduled
Papplewick
Mansfield Road, Papplewick 07 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Openreach
Moor Road, Papplewick 07 April – 29 May Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Cadent
Ravenshead
Priory Avenue, Ravenshead 07 April – 30 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Cadent
Redhill
Litchfield Rise, Redhill 03 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Woodborough
Main Street, Woodborough 07 April – 08 April Roadworks, Delays possible Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water
Woodthorpe
Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe 07 April – 17 May Delays possible due to lane closure Responsibility for works: Cadent
An Arnold woman was part of a group of criminals who have been handed nearly 50 years’ worth of prison sentences after police made the biggest recovery of improvised firearms in its history – while exposing a drugs conspiracy too.
Eight of the so-called ‘slam guns’ as well as shotgun cartridges were found inside one Nottingham house, while a loaded pistol and magazines of ammunition for the gun were at another.
Bulk quantities of drugs were discovered inside both addresses, with cannabis also found growing – in some cases on an industrial level – at four other linked properties across the city.
Ringleader Christopher Jones was central to all the firearm and drugs offences, with associate Lee Blake housing the slam guns, and Sophie Wootton, Drew Williamson and Joanne Allen involved to various degrees.
The slam guns and several shotgun cartridges compatible with the firearms were seized from a cupboard by officers while they were executing a warrant in Thomas Close, St Ann’s, on November 3, 2022.
Each of the homemade weapons looked alike, with two pieces of pipe fitted together with a firing pin designed to slam and discharge a single shot. The eight recovered represented a record for the Nottinghamshire Police area.
Some of the ammunition and cannabis recovered by police (PHOTO: Notts Police)Members of the group jailed on March 31
Within the same address – owned by Lee Blake – more ammunition was found that matched a handgun recovered days earlier in Barry Street, Bulwell. That weapon was forensically examined and pointed police to Blake when his DNA was found on it.
Officers initially attended Barry Street on October 23, after receiving an unrelated report about Sophie Wootton, the then girlfriend of Christopher Jones.
After police arrived and spotted cannabis was being grown at the address, they searched it further and ultimately seized a viable handgun, two magazines’ worth of ammunition, and a box of shotgun cartridges.
Approximately two-and-a-half kilos of cannabis with an estimated street value of up to £20,000 was within the address too, along with around £55,000 in cash.
Police caught up with Jones on October 26 when he and Drew Williamson were seen leaving a house in Knowles Walk, Arnold, and getting into a vehicle together, which was duly stopped by officers.
Ten kilos of cannabis was found in the boot of the car, with a further 14 kilos then seized when the address they’d just left was searched.
A one kilo block of cocaine and thousands of pounds of cash were also recovered from the Knowles Walk property. The total estimated value of the drugs seized from the address and the car totalled an estimated street value of up to £333,000.
Three further properties linked to Jones – in Egypt Road, Basford, Raymede Drive, Bestwood, and Deepdene Way, Broxtowe – were all later found to be housing cannabis grows to varying degrees.
The latter discovery was made by officers on October 27, with Joanne Allen the next person to be detained by police when they located her inside that house.
Allen admitted to the charge of producing cannabis put to her, while Blake pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition without a certificate, and supplying cannabis.
Jones, Wootton, and Williamson also pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis but denied the rest of the offences they’d been charged with – although none of them were able to convince the jury in the resulting eight-week trial, which concluded on 17 January.
Jones was convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing ammunition without a certificate, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possessing with intent to supply cocaine, and possessing criminal property.
Wootton was found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing ammunition without a certificate, and possessing criminal property.
Williamson was convicted of possessing with intent to supply cocaine and possessing criminal property.
All five returned to Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced today (March 31), where they were jailed for a combined 47 years.
Jones, 33, of Glamis Road, Sherwood, was jailed for 25 years.
Wootton, 32, of Broxtowe Lane, Aspley, received an eight year prison sentence.
Blake, 40, of Thomas Close, St Ann’s, received a nine year extended prison sentence. He will serve six years in custody, before remaining on licence for a further three years.
Williamson, 28, of Knowles Walk, Arnold, was jailed for five years.
Allen, 56, of Deepdene Way, Broxtowe, received a 12 month sentence, suspended for two years. She must also complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Detective Inspector Chris Berryman, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Seizing these firearms represented a big win for the people of Nottinghamshire, whose safety their presence would’ve otherwise put at risk.
“In fact, the detection of the eight slam guns during this operation made it the biggest discovery of its kind that we’ve seen in our policing area.
“On top of that, a handgun and a range of different ammunition was also found at a separate address that had links to the other one.
“It can’t be stressed enough how dangerous and serious an offence it is to be in possession of a lethal firearm, whether that be a viable handgun or an improvised one like a slam gun.
“The sentences passed to Jones, Blake and Wootton should serve as a warning to anyone else thinking of getting mixed up in gun crime about the penalties they could face.
“In addition to the firearms seizures, we were also able to uncover and disrupt a drugs supply operation, led by Jones, that involved the production of cannabis on an industrial scale.
“Following an extensive investigation that involved countless hours of police work, we were really pleased to see the strong case we built help secure each of these convictions, with the high total custodial sentences issued today just reward for these efforts.”
A popular green space could soon be known locally as the Sports Direct Country Park after it emerged billionaire businessman Mike Ashley is poised to join the race to secure the renaming rights for Gedling Country Park.
Gedling Borough Council are considering accepting a bid for rights to rename the attraction in a bid to raise much-needed revenue to fund other activities across the borough.
It is understood a number of parties have been approached by the council and are said to be interested, including Sports Direct and Frazers founder Mike Ashley.
Sources close to the London-based businessman revealed he is keen to acquire naming rights to a UK green space due to its association with fitness and health – which would be a perfect fit for his Sports Direct and Everlast Gyms brand.
Documents seen by Gedling Eye revealed that the winning bidder would have the right to rename the park and also create retail space within the popular visitor’s centre – making a bid appealing to retailer Ashley.
The park attracts more than 100,000 a year and would create a huge amount of footfall for any future Sports Direct store based at the attraction.
One park goer who didn’t wish to be named said: “This is outrageous. I won’t be supporting it. Sports Direct Country Park sounds ridiculous. Keep it as it is.”
Joe King lives in nearby Carlton and visits the park daily. He slammed the move.
Mr King said: “Everything is up for sale these days to cash rich businesses. Any commercial name change would put me off visiting. I hope this is just a stupid rumour and not true.”
