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Carlton drug raid follows city-centre stop that uncovers suspected cocaine and machete

Emily Sanchez
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Carlton drug raid follows city-centre stop that uncovers suspected cocaine and machete

A Carlton property was searched by police after officers intercepted a vehicle carrying a large quantity of suspected cocaine and recovered a machete, Nottinghamshire Police have revealed.

The incident happened shortly before 9.45pm on Wednesday, 30 September, near Lady Bay Bridge when officers from the road crime policing team stopped a vehicle heading towards Nottingham city centre.

Police used a stinger device to burst the vehicle’s tyres before boxing it in and bringing it to a halt.

During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a bag in the rear passenger footwell containing a large wrapped bundle of what is believed to be Class A cocaine. A large machete was also allegedly found in the boot.

The investigation then led officers to a property in Carlton, where a subsequent search uncovered deal bags and weighing scales, items commonly associated with drug supply.

A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug. A teenager who was also inside the vehicle has since been safeguarded, with police taking steps to protect them.

The arrest forms part of Operation Reclaim, a partnership initiative aimed at tackling issues affecting Nottingham city centre, including drug dealing and the exploitation of young people.

Police say they are continuing efforts to identify and disrupt those involved in bringing drugs into and out of the city.

Chief Inspector Kylie Davies said drug dealers often exploit young people to protect themselves from detection.

She said: “This is exploitation, and they do not care how these young people are treated as long as they protect their supply.

“Not only across the city centre but also the county, we are determined to stamp these drug dealers out and ensure they are put before the courts.

“I cannot be clearer. Come into the city centre to supply drugs and you will be caught and we will do everything in our power to make your life as miserable as possible so you cannot operate.”

Anyone concerned about drug dealing or the exploitation of young people is urged to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or use the force’s online reporting portal. All information will be treated confidentially.

More than 60 illegal e-bikes seized across Nottinghamshire – with riders targeted in Gedling borough crackdown

Gedling Eye
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More than 60 illegal e-bikes seized across Nottinghamshire – with riders targeted in Gedling borough crackdown

More than 60 illegal e-bikes have been taken off Nottinghamshire’s streets so far this year, with Gedling borough among the key hotspots being targeted by police.

The seizures have been carried out as part of ongoing enforcement operations across Gedling borough, Mansfield, Ashfield and West Bridgford, following the success of Operation Wrangel, a crackdown launched in Nottingham city centre last November.

Since the operation began, officers have seized 112 illegal bikes during patrols, with dedicated action now expanding into surrounding areas including Gedling.

Those caught riding non-compliant e-bikes are facing serious consequences. Some offenders have already been handed fines of more than £1,000 and received eight penalty points on their driving licences after appearing in court.

Under UK law, e-bikes must meet strict Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) regulations. This means they cannot provide electric assistance above 15.5mph and must have a motor rated at no more than 250 watts.

Any bike that exceeds those limits is legally classed as a motor vehicle, meaning riders must have insurance, tax and the appropriate driving licence.

To help catch offenders, officers are now using a portable dynamometer, a compact testing device capable of measuring an e-bike’s top speed at the roadside.

So far, police have tested 283 two-wheeled vehicles, with fewer than a quarter found to be fully compliant with legal requirements.

But enforcement is only part of the operation.

Police have also distributed 229 education packs, issued 19 warning letters, and provided riders with road safety and crime prevention advice.

Legal e-bike users have received high-visibility tabards, information about bike-marking schemes to deter theft, and guidance on servicing and maintenance.

Officers are reminding residents across Gedling and the wider county that anyone using a non-compliant e-bike on a road or in a public place risks having it seized.

They also reiterated that privately-owned e-scooters remain illegal to use in public spaces unless they are part of an authorised rental scheme. Such scooters can only be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission.

Wrecking balls move in as demolition begins at former Richard Herrod Centre site

David Bratton
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Wrecking balls move in as demolition begins at former Richard Herrod Centre site

The wrecking balls are finally moving in.

A major milestone has been reached in plans to transform the former Richard Herrod Centre site in Carlton, with demolition work set to get underway this week.

Contractors began the demolition works today (29). The work is expected to take around 12 weeks, although timings could change depending on conditions on site.

Alliance Leisure, which is managing the development on behalf of Gedling Borough Council, has appointed Universal Civils and Build to carry out the demolition.

Residents living nearby should prepare for an increase in construction traffic and noise while the work is underway. However, the contractor says measures will be in place to reduce disruption, including dust suppression systems, noise and vibration monitoring and traffic management controls.

Pictured in front of the Richard Herrod Centre is Adam Walker, Project Manager at Universal Group and Councillor Lynda Pearson, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy

People living close to the site will receive letters explaining the programme of works, while members of the project team are also expected to visit neighbouring properties to answer questions and provide updates.

The demolition represents the biggest visible step yet towards the proposed Carlton Active leisure centre, which is earmarked for the site.

Fresh designs for the facility have also been unveiled following public feedback. The revised plans feature additional glazing on the front of the building, creating a brighter, more open look and allowing people outside to see activity taking place inside.

A planning application for Carlton Active is expected to go before councillors later this autumn.

While the project is progressing, residents may still have to wait some time before the new leisure centre becomes a reality. Key stages including planning approval, detailed design work, funding arrangements and further council sign-off still need to be completed before construction can begin, meaning no opening date has yet been confirmed.

Councillor Henry Wheeler, Gedling Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Lifestyles, Health and Wellbeing, said: “Completing the demolition arrangements is another important step forward for the site. Over the coming weeks, residents will begin to see more visible activity as the demolition progresses.

“There is still work to be completed before we reach the construction stage for Carlton Active, but we will continue to keep residents informed as the project moves through its next stages.”

These are the roadworks scheduled to take place across Gedling borough in the coming weeks

Gedling Eye Reporter
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These are the roadworks scheduled to take place across Gedling borough in the coming weeks

Motorists across Gedling borough are being warned to expect delays over the coming weeks as a number of roadworks schemes get under way.

The works include major resurfacing on Victoria Road in Netherfield, road closures in Carlton, Stoke Bardolph and Gedling, as well as gas network upgrades in Mapperley. Utility companies, telecommunications providers and Nottinghamshire County Council are all carrying out projects, with some traffic management measures remaining in place until late November.

Here’s a list of the roadworks currently scheduled across Gedling borough…

Victoria Road, Netherfield

Dates: 29 September – 30 September; 5 October – 17 October
Description: Road closure and streetworks, including carriageway resurfacing from 15m west of Forester Road to the A612 Colwick Loop Road junction.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council; Severn Trent Water

Mansfield Road, Redhill

Dates: 29 September – 30 September
Description: Tree maintenance to remove a snapped limb from a poplar tree.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council

Gedling Road, Arnold

Dates: 30 September – 1 October
Description: Replacement of illuminated bollards with new non-illuminated keep-left bollards.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council

St Austins Drive, Carlton

Dates: 30 September
Description: Utility works.
Responsibility: Severn Trent Water

Nottingham Road, Bulcote

Dates: 29 September – 30 September
Description: Utility works.
Responsibility: Openreach

Surgeys Lane, Arnold

Dates: 1 October – 2 October
Description: Footway repairs between numbers 131 and 133.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council

Marhill Road, Carlton

Dates: 2 October – 7 October
Description: Road closure for large-scale carriageway patching repairs (Pothole Pro).
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council

Gedling Road, Carlton

Dates: 2 October
Description: Gas works.
Responsibility: Cadent Gas

Breck Hill Road, Woodthorpe

Dates: 4 October
Description: Road closure and reinstatement of central refuge following a road traffic collision.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council

Stoke Lane, Stoke Bardolph

Dates: 5 October – 18 October
Description: Road closure for trial holes and soil/core sampling in the verge and carriageway.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council

Florence Crescent, Gedling

Dates: 5 October
Description: Road closure for streetworks and telecommunications works.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council; Openreach

Westdale Lane West, Gedling

Dates: 5 October – 8 October
Description: Telecommunications works under multi-way traffic signals.
Responsibility: Hutchison 3G Ltd

Foxhill Road Central, Carlton

Dates: 5 October
Description: Renewal of bollards on a central refuge.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council

High Street, Arnold

Dates: 6 October – 13 October
Description: Telecommunications works requiring a road closure.
Responsibility: O2 (UK) Limited

Foxhill Road East, Carlton

Dates: 6 October
Description: Renewal of bollards on a central refuge.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council

Plains Road, Mapperley

Dates: 6 October; 5 October – 28 November
Description: Central refuge improvements and a long-term gas main replacement programme.
Responsibility: Nottinghamshire County Council; Cadent Gas

Tunstall Road, Woodthorpe

Dates: 6 October – 7 October
Description: Telecommunications works.
Responsibility: Openreach

Central Avenue, Mapperley

Dates: 7 October – 23 October
Description: Gas main replacement programme.
Responsibility: Cadent Gas

Latest Gedling borough planning applications – the schemes submitted this week

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Latest Gedling borough planning applications – the schemes submitted this week

A range of planning applications have recently been submitted across Gedling Borough, covering everything from home extensions and loft conversions to commercial developments and tree works. According to the latest publicly available planning records, notable applications include:

Conversion of an existing dwelling into a 6-bedroom, 6-occupant HMO, including internal reconfiguration, rear and side extensions, rear dormer extension, new windows and rooflights, cycle and refuse storage, boundary treatments and drainage works.
Address: 70 Dale Road, Carlton, Nottinghamshire, NG4 1GT
Reference: 2026/0642

Erection of a detached garage.
Address: 1 Copse Close, Newstead, Nottinghamshire, NG15 9HU
Reference: 2026/0637

Prior approval relating to conversion of a dwelling from C3 residential use to a small HMO (C4) for up to six occupants.
Address: 26 Edwin Street, Daybrook, Nottinghamshire, NG5 6AZ
Reference: 2026/0636

Non-material amendment to planning permission 2021/0072 to allow minor amendments to materials.

Address: Land to the West of Mansfield Road, Redhill, Nottinghamshire

Reference: 2026/0640NMA

Construction of a replacement dwelling following fire damage.

Address: 51 Emerys Road, Gedling, Nottinghamshire, NG4 2QR

Reference: 2026/0638

Tree works including ivy removal, crown raising and removal of failed limbs to sycamore trees.

Address: Spinnies, Linby Lane, Linby, Nottinghamshire, NG15 8AF

Reference: 2026/0626TCA

Permission in Principle application for between one and two new dwellings.

Address: Land between 306 and 314 Spring Lane, Lambley, Nottinghamshire, NG4 4PE

Reference: 2026/0633

Submission of drainage, ecology, arboricultural and bat survey documents.

Address: Development Site, Chase Farm, Arnold Lane, Gedling, Nottinghamshire

Reference: 2026/0620DOC

Single-storey rear extension, first-floor side extension, garage conversion, new porch and front garden wall.

Address: 14 Longdale Avenue, Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, NG15 9EA

Reference: 2026/0621

Proposed replacement dwelling.

Address: Adjacent 114 Lowdham Lane, Woodborough, Nottinghamshire

Reference: 2026/0624

Two-storey side and rear extensions, loft conversion with raised roof and three side dormers.

Address: 2 Walsingham Road, Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire, NG5 4NW

Reference: 2026/0616

Single-storey rear extension.

Address: 63 Longue Drive, Calverton, Nottinghamshire, NG14 6QE

Reference: 2026/0623

Front porch extension, single-storey rear extension and garage conversion to habitable annex accommodation.

Address: 10 Wilson Close, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, NG5 6RJ

Reference: 2026/0619

Tree works including removal of dead trees and pruning of oak and sycamore trees.

Address: Firethorn Cottage, Newstead Abbey Park, Nottingham Road, Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, NG15 8GD

Reference: 2026/0613TPO

First-floor side extension and 4m single-storey rear extension.

Address: 344 Greenwood Road, Carlton, Nottinghamshire, NG4 1AR

Reference: 2026/0611

Proposed new dwelling and alterations to existing property.

Address: 54 Buxton Avenue, Carlton, Nottinghamshire, NG4 3RS

Reference: 2026/0607

Discharge of conditions relating to materials, drainage, contamination, biodiversity and construction management.

Address: 28 Church Street, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, NG5 8FB

Reference: 2026/0610DOC

Amendments to approved plans and materials for planning permission 2026/0302.

Address: 21 Knighton Road, Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire, NG5 4FL

Reference: 2026/0600

Single-storey rear extension to replace conservatory and new single and two-storey side extensions.

Address: 5 Park Avenue, Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire, NG5 4HS

Reference: 2026/0593

Proposed boundary wall and alterations to existing wall.

Address: 329 Foxhill Road West, Carlton, Nottinghamshire, NG4 1PZ

Reference: 2026/0583

Replacement and refurbishment of front doors to Hardstaff Almshouses.

Address: Hardstaff Almshouses, Arnold Lane, Gedling, Nottinghamshire, NG4 4HD

Reference: 2026/0579

New modular covered seating and standing stands, with associated access and ground works at Carlton Town FC.

Address: Bill Stokeld Stadium, Stoke Lane, Gedling, Nottinghamshire

Reference: 2026/0578

Demolition of summer house and construction of replacement detached photography studio.

Address: 18 Campbell Gardens, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, NG5 8RY

Reference: 2026/0552

Tree works including removal of dead and poor-condition birch trees.

Address: 111 Main Street, Woodborough, Nottinghamshire, NG14 6DA

Reference: 2026/0533TCA

Orangery.

Address: 3 Hall Mews, Hall Lane, Papplewick, Nottinghamshire, NG15 8FW

Reference: 2026/0441

Retrospective application for erection of a porch.

Address: 23 Tithe Gardens, Bestwood, Nottinghamshire, NG5 9PB

Reference: 2025/0711

Approval of details relating to materials, finished floor levels and landscaping for planning permission 2020/1153.

Address: 145 Simkin Avenue, Carlton, Nottinghamshire, NG3 6HU

Reference: 2022/0431DOC

Residents can view full details and track the progress of applications through Gedling Borough Council’s planning portal HERE

Injury Crisis Could Decide 2026 Premier League Title Race: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool

Graham Finch
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Injury Crisis Could Decide 2026 Premier League Title Race: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool

Three contenders, three medical rooms, one crucial weekend

Arsenal are without William Saliba, Manchester City are missing Jérémy Doku, and Liverpool have four players in long rehab. When the league returns on 10 October, Arsenal host Leeds and Liverpool welcome City to Anfield. Injuries will shape the early table, and prices for the title will move with every team sheet.

This guide explains how injuries turn into points in the Premier League title race, stage by stage, and what that means for the English Premier League table and the Premier League outright odds. For context on how Andoni Iraola wants Liverpool to play, the preview of Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest key matchups is worth a read: written before his first home game, it breaks down his high-pressing plan and how Forest set out to stop it, which helps explain why a thin squad makes that style hard to sustain.

Short answer and immediate takeaway

City gain most, for now. Enzo Maresca’s side have won all five league games in their first season after Pep Guardiola and lost only Doku, out with a calf problem since the Community Shield. Nico O’Reilly was declared fit for the derby, and Erling Haaland is scoring freely, so City have barely felt the absence.

Arsenal lose most in defense. The champions are three points behind City and still waiting on Saliba’s return. Ezri Konsa has partnered Gabriel, Jurrien Timber is back but on managed minutes, and Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera missed the 3-0 defeat at Brighton. Arteta has cover, but not the same partnership that kept clean sheets last spring.

Liverpool are the most exposed. Iraola is rebuilding without Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa. Ronald Araújo, on loan from Barcelona, adds cover at the back, and the latest updates sit on Liverpool’s official injury list. For Premier League managers with deep squads, rotation absorbs these blows; for the rest, one more injury can swing the odds.

How the Premier League season works, stage by stage

Injuries do not hit evenly across a season. They cluster where fixtures pile up, and every stage has a different cost:

  1. Pre-season and the first ten matchdays (August to October): players return from the World Cup summer, and soft-tissue injuries are common.
  2. International breaks (September-October and November): players travel, and clubs have no control over their minutes.
  3. Mid-season clusters, including 10 and 11 October: league and European games every three or four days test squad depth.
  4. The January transfer window: the only chance to replace a long-term absentee before the run-in.
  5. The final run-in (April and May): one missing key player can decide a title when points gaps are small.

Season format: 38 matches per team

Twenty clubs play each other home and away, 38 games each, for three points a win and one for a draw. Teams level on points are separated by goal difference, then goals scored. Over 38 games, injuries hurt thin squads most, because the damage adds up week after week rather than in one match.

Mid-October cluster: fixtures on 2026-10-10 and 2026-10-11

Saturday 10 October opens with Arsenal vs Leeds United at 12:30, followed by Liverpool vs Manchester City at Anfield, while Crystal Palace host Nottingham Forest on the 11th. All three contenders then face Champions League games days later. Players returning from international duty with knocks could miss both.

Squad registration: 25-player squads and under-21 exceptions

Each club registers a squad of up to 25 senior players, with a quota of homegrown players, while under-21s can play without registration. That rule shapes Premier League predicted lineups: when senior players are injured, managers often promote academy players rather than reshuffle the registered squad.

StageDatesParticipantsWhat it decides
Opening blockAugust – early OctoberAll 20 clubsEarly table and title favorites
Mid-October cluster10–11 October 2026Arsenal, City, Liverpool and othersDepth after the international break
January window1 January – early February 2027All clubsReplacements for long-term injuries
Run-inApril – May 2027Title contendersChampions and European places

Exceptions and common misconceptions, and implications for fans

Myth: one injury ends a title bid. Arsenal won last season despite long spells without Timber and Merino; depth matters more than any single name.

Recovery times vary widely. A muscle strain usually costs two to four weeks, while ACL and Achilles injuries take six months or more, which is why Leoni and Ekitike matter to Liverpool’s second half of the season. Iraola was frank about Bradley:

“Definitely I want him as quick as possible ready, but it’s a long-term injury.”

Markets overreact. Short-term prices on the Premier League Oddschecker comparison pages often swing on a single fitness update, then settle once the team sheet appears. The Premier League injury tracker is the best source to check before trusting those moves.

Final Verdict

Liverpool are the most vulnerable to an injury crisis: a new manager, a demanding pressing system and several long-term absentees. Arsenal come next if Saliba’s return drags into November. City look the most robust, and outright prices are likely to shorten for them if they win at Anfield. October will tell: Liverpool host City on the 10th and Arsenal on the 31st, so Iraola’s patched-up squad faces both rivals within three weeks. Our view: back depth, not names, and treat every price move after a fitness rumor with caution until the lineup is confirmed.

FAQ

Three quick answers to common searches; the sections above give the detail.

How many games are in a Premier League season?

Each club plays 38 league games, 19 at home and 19 away, giving 114 points on offer. See the season format section above for tiebreakers.

When did Arsenal last win the Premier League?

If you are wondering when did Arsenal last win the Premier League, the answer is 2025/26, their first title since 2003/04. That also answers when was the last time Arsenal won the Premier League, and it is why this season is framed as a back-to-back attempt.

How do injuries change Premier League title odds and markets?

Match odds react to one game’s team news; outright odds price the whole season, so they move less unless a key player faces a long absence. Predicted lineups on comparison sites update quickly, which is why prices can jump before a manager’s press conference.

Demolition of Richard Herrod Centre could start within days as Carlton Active plans progress

Lauren Monaghan
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Demolition of Richard Herrod Centre could start within days as Carlton Active plans progress

The tearing down of an outdated Carlton leisure centre is expected to take place over a 12-week period.

Gedling Borough Council’s vision to transform the Richard Herrod Centre site into a brand new, modern leisure centre is progressing.

Boards and fences can be seen surrounding the centre on Foxhill Road, in preparation for demolition works that could start within days.

The Richard Herrod Centre has served the Carlton and wider Gedling community for decades, housing a dry ski slope between the 1960s and 1990s and acting as the home of Gedling Indoor Bowls Club from 1987 until 2026.

Its doors were closed at the start of May this year, following the bowls club’s lease expiring, and to kick start the council’s nearly £30 million replacement leisure centre, Carlton Active.

Carlton Active is intended to sit on the current Richard Herrod site in future, where the wider project also involves the demolition of the similarly “not fit for purpose” Carlton Forum site, in an effort to bring the area’s leisure facilities under one roof.

A spokesperson for the council says the redevelopment of the Richard Herrod site “continues to progress”, with the demolition contract arrangements now completed and works to bring the building down “expected to begin at the end of September”, meaning works could begin within days as we head towards October.

They continued: “Demolition is expected [to take] approximately 12 weeks, subject to site conditions.

“Plans for the new Carlton Active leisure centre are also progressing. The planning application is expected to be considered by the Planning Committee during autumn 2026.”

The authority says the construction start date and date for the opening of the new leisure centre cannot be confirmed at this stage, as this depends on the outcome of the planning application, completion of the detailed design of the site and funding arrangements.

In the summer, the first detailed designs of Carlton Active were formally submitted by the council, with planning documents displaying an eight-lane swimming pool, teaching pool, changing rooms, café, soft play area, community room, toilets and a studio with power-assisted equipment featuring on the ground floor.

The first floor would house a gym, two studios, changing and toilet facilities and a pool viewing area.

Though the project is progressing, it has been met with swathes of criticism during its development.

Gedling Borough Council has been routinely criticised for its decision not to include an indoor bowls facility in the Carlton Active project, despite it having been originally considered in the proposals.

This has meant the 300-member-strong Gedling Indoor Bowls Club was left effectively displaced from the end of April, with no solid alternative location to move into, leaving people concerned that members, many of whom are older, could be left “isolated”.

Councillor Henry Wheeler (Lab), portfolio holder for lifestyles, health and wellbeing, previously told the authority’s cabinet that a six-rink bowls facility in the plans would add between £5.6 million to £7.7 million to capital costs, leaving the council a subsidy of around £500,000 a year.

The council has previously said more than £2 million in backlog works were required for the two existing leisure centres in Carlton, which, along with a £545,000 yearly subsidy, made them “unsustainable in their current form”.

The new Carlton Active building is designed to have 154 parking spaces, 15 motorbike spaces, and 81 bicycle spaces.

1,600 residents demand action over ‘dangerous’ Nottinghamshire junction plagued by traffic chaos

David Bratton
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1,600 residents demand action over ‘dangerous’ Nottinghamshire junction plagued by traffic chaos

More than 1,600 residents have signed a petition demanding urgent action at one of Nottinghamshire’s busiest and most congested junctions.

Newstead Conservative county councillor Stuart Bestwick presented the petition to Nottinghamshire County Council on behalf of residents and parish councils in Papplewick and Linby, warning that the Griffins Head Junction has become a bottleneck blighted by long queues and safety concerns.

The crossroads, where the B6011 and B683 meet, is already struggling to cope with traffic, with residents reporting severe congestion during rush hour and frequent minor collisions.

Speaking at a full council meeting, Cllr Bestwick said the junction had effectively reached capacity years ago and urged the authority to deliver a long-promised solution.

“It’s now the subject of huge traffic jams every morning and every evening,” he said.

“Lots of small accidents and bumps occur all the time.

“We’ve been told we can’t have an island, we can’t have traffic lights, we can’t have a crossing despite the safety concerns of motorists and pedestrians in that area.

“The County Council have the expertise. The question is over to you now. Let’s have a solution and let’s put the safety of people who use that junction to the forefront.”

The councillor also warned that plans for thousands of new homes across Gedling Borough could pile even more pressure onto roads that are already struggling to cope.

Under the emerging Gedling Local Development Plan, major housing growth is proposed in areas including Top Wighay, Bestwood Village and Ravenshead.

While planning decisions sit with borough councils, Cllr Bestwick argued that Nottinghamshire County Council ultimately deals with the consequences through its responsibilities for highways and flood management.

He said: “Borough councils can propose these developments but it is this council that has to pick up the pieces financially and logistically.

“We should be objecting to these applications wherever pressure on infrastructure is showing it cannot cope.

“We need to push back against these developments and insist developers put financial provision in place for improved junctions and bypasses, or improved traffic flow measures before any planned applications are agreed.”

Concerns surrounding the junction are not new. The Papplewick Neighbourhood Plan has previously highlighted the impact of housing growth on traffic levels through the village and raised concerns about the capacity of the Griffins Head crossroads.

Cllr Bestwick said the petition demonstrates the strength of local feeling and vowed to keep pressing for improvements.

“Residents have been raising these concerns for years and they deserve more than excuses,” he said.

“More than 1,600 people have now put their names to this petition because they want action.

“We cannot keep adding more traffic to roads and junctions that are already struggling and then wait for the problems to get worse.

“The County Council needs to work with the parish councils and residents, look seriously at the options and deliver a solution that puts safety and the quality of life of local people first.”

The council has been approached for comment.

Shoplifting suspect accused of stealing £1,500 worth of goods from Arnold Boots charged after police crackdown

Emily Sanchez
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Shoplifting suspect accused of stealing £1,500 worth of goods from Arnold Boots charged after police crackdown

A man has been charged with multiple offences after police launched a targeted crackdown on shoplifting in Arnold town centre.

Uniformed and plain-clothed officers carried out a day of action following reports that around £1,500 worth of products had been stolen from Boots over just two days.

During the operation on September 17, officers arrested a suspect on suspicion of theft and possession of the Class B drug Mamba.

Guy Donegan, 44, of Raithby Close, Bestwood, was later charged with three counts of theft and one count of possessing a Class B drug.

He has been released on bail ahead of an appearance at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on October 16.

As part of his bail conditions, Donegan has been banned from entering any Boots store in Nottingham as well as the Boyes store on Front Street in Arnold.

Police say the arrest came during a wider initiative aimed at tackling persistent shop theft across Gedling.

Inspector Steven King, Gedling’s local area commander, said shoplifting continues to have a significant impact on businesses and local communities.

He said officers received positive feedback from retailers during the operation and vowed that repeat offenders would be dealt with robustly.

Police are also continuing to use Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to target prolific offenders. The orders can ban individuals from certain areas, restrict behaviours linked to offending and include requirements aimed at rehabilitation.

A dedicated anti-shoplifting initiative, known as Operation Shifted, has now been launched across Arnold, Daybrook and Bonington.

Officers have identified key hotspot locations and repeat offenders and say work is already underway to tackle the problem.

Business Action Groups have also been introduced across Gedling, bringing retailers and neighbourhood policing teams together to help prevent crime, share information and bring offenders to justice more quickly.

Gedling council leader ‘staggered’ as former Mapperley restaurant sits empty for 20 years

Lauren Monaghan
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Gedling council leader ‘staggered’ as former Mapperley restaurant sits empty for 20 years

A Nottinghamshire council leader says he is “staggered” by the length of time a former Mapperley restaurant has been left empty.

The former French and Italian Mange Tout restaurant in Woodborough Road, Mapperley Top, has been left disused for around two decades.

Locals estimate it closed around 20 years ago, and say nothing has been done with the unit since, aside from a clean-up job a couple of years ago.

Back in late 2023, an ironic piece of street art depicting the popular character of Del Boy Trotter, from the iconic show Only Fools and Horses, appeared on the wooden boards in one of the empty restaurant’s windows.

Fans of the show will have known at the time that “Mange Tout” is one of Del Boy’s classic lines.

Just a few months later, in March 2024, Gedling Borough Council served a Section 215 Notice, which required the owners of the building to improve the appearance of the derelict site.

Despite the spruce up, the unit still lies vacant, with a cleaner restaurant sign still on display.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), someone working in a business near the old restaurant said: “We’ve had numerous people come in [our business] and ask if we know what’s happening with it because people want to take it on – there’s loads of people over the years who have wanted to.”

Gedling’s council leader, Councillor John Clarke said he is “absolutely staggered” by how long the unit has sat empty.

He said: “It was a great restaurant, I went years ago. It’s sadly missed actually in the Mapperley area, it had a good reputation – why it’s not opened up again through new owners I have no idea, but it would be a welcome addition if it came back.

“It does seem a shame for a piece of real estate like that to be left, not being used. There will be some form of council tax charge to it.”

When asked what he would like to see the space turn into one day, he said: “As long as it’s not a Turkish barbers or something like that. Something a bit different, where it might be a chance for a person starting out working from home in a kitchen who is wanting to branch out a bit.”

“I’ll find out [what is happening with the unit], I’ll see if there anything that can be done to put pressure to get that unit back in use.

“I see that Newark and Sherwood [District Council] have been given £800,000 for shop fronts and getting places occupied, granted from the government – it might be worth looking into if we can get a bit of that funding.”

A spokesperson for Gedling Borough Council said: “The Council served a Section 215 Notice in March 2024 requiring improvements to the appearance of the building. The works required by the notice were completed.

“The Council has not had contact with the property owner regarding letting of the unit and any future plans for the premises would be a matter for the property owner.”

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