Many of our regular readers will know Bob Massey, a well-respected and published local historian that brings history to life with his regular talks around the borough.
What you may not know is that Bob has been working with computers since the 1980s and is a qualified further education tutor in the subject. In fact before he retired Bob taught computer subjects as well as history at colleges and with the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association).
As well as the standard computer classes three of Bob’s classes for the WEA were in computer maintenance. When Bob retired and no one took over his classes at the WEA several of the students wanted to continue so Bob started a computer club with these students, some of which are still members while others have joined over the years.
The club has been running for a number of years and the aim of the group is for students to look at computer problems they have and fix them, such as slow running machines, upgrades, downloads, different software, etc.
Students often bring in machines which they have acquired or bring their own to work on, but there are also machines owned by the group.
Bob said: “Anyone with problems with their computer or just to want to learn more is welcome, just pop in and see what we are doing.
“Some people come for a while and others stay for a long time, they often get hooked.”
The group is a club and not for profit and charges just enough to pay for the hire of the community centre.
The club works over ten / twelve week blocks to fit into term times as some students have children or grandchildren to look after in the holidays.
The club restarts on January 17 at Eagles Nest Community Centre, Arnold. £3.50 per person. The club runs from 10.00am to 12.30pm and no experience is needed.
Residents in Gedling borough are being urged to have their say on the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan.
The plan will help shape future planning across the county – including Gedling borough.
Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe Borough Councils along with Nottingham City Council have created a joint Strategic Plan, which sets out the policies which will help guide future development across their combined areas.
The plan will look at how Greater Nottingham’s longer-term development needs can be met up to 2038 supported by more detailed policies which will be developed in each Council’s own individual Local Plan. The Councils have written a ‘Preferred Approach’ document which will form the basis of the Strategic Plan.
The plan was published today (3) for consultation, to seek views on the proposed strategy and vision, the approach to housing and employment provision and the proposed strategic sites.
Once approved, the document, along with other planning policies, can be used for guidance by developers and planners as part of the planning process.
Consultation responses to the Preferred Approach document will feed into a full draft of the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan, which the councils say will aim to:
Have the right number and types of new homes, which are built in the right places and meet the needs of our local population and diverse communities
Protect, enhance and increase the area’s natural resources, blue and green infrastructure, landscapes, heritage and biodiversity
Ensure new developments address the causes and effects of climate change, assisting each council’s ambition to become carbon neutral;
Create vibrant and viable city and town centres, which are sustainable and are places where people want to live and work;
Provide the right conditions for economic development which generates new jobs and economic growth, and to enable strong, safe and healthier communities.
Approval of the Strategic Plan is a matter for each Council and the Preferred Approach document has been considered by each Council’s Cabinet, endorsing the consultation to commence on 3rd January 2023 for six weeks.
Councillor Milan Radulovic, Chair of the Greater Nottingham Joint Planning Advisory Board, said: “The Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan will help us plan for a better future, recover quicker from the Covid 19 crisis, and contribute to progress on making Greater Nottingham a great place to live and work, to visit or do business in. The consultation on the Preferred Approach is an important part of this process.
“We welcome views from residents, organisations and businesses, and encourage anyone who would like to help shape how we plan for our future development to have their say on the plans which are available to view online.”
Once the consultation has closed, comments will be considered and a summary of responses made available along with the Councils’ response. A draft Strategic Plan will be published next year when there will be a further opportunity to comment.
A care home in Stoke Bardolph passed its first official inspection with flying colours.
Rivendell View care home received a CQC (Care Quality Commission) rating of ‘GOOD’ in their first inspection since opening in 2021.
It was rated ‘GOOD’ in all five areas on inspection, which are designed to ensure that care homes are safe, caring, effective, responsive, and well-led.
During the visit, CQC inspectors observed the residents’ experience in the home. They spoke to several residents, their families, and staff members, seeking feedback on the service the care home offers.
Staff and residents at Rivendell View Care Home in Stoke Bardolph
In the resulting report from the CQC, Rivendell View was found to have a ‘strong person-centred culture’, and staff were commended for supporting residents to express their views and make decisions around their care and lifestyle.
Inspectors found that Rivendell View’s values ‘ensured people were at the heart of the service’, and that staff were motivated to deliver ‘high-quality care’.
Upon speaking to the care team at Rivendell View, the CQC inspector found the staff to be knowledgeable, skilled and experienced, saying ‘management and staff were motivated to put people at the heart of the service.’
Thrilled with the outcome of the inspection, home manager, Lisa Tungate, said: “I am incredibly proud of my team, and thankful for their hard work and dedication. We have some amazing people living with us, and we feel honoured every day to spend time with our residents.
“Thank you to all the staff, residents, families and community members who have supported Rivendell View since we opened. It’s been great to see the wider Rivendell community growing over the last few months and we are enjoying building relationships with the new school and local businesses. Here’s to a very positive future for us all!
Rivendell View is a purpose-built, luxury residential and dementia care home operated by Ideal Carehomes.
Gedling Borough Council is once again offering residents across the borough the opportunity to dispose of large waste items for free, for a limited period in January and February.
The council usually charges for bulky waste collections (except for pensioners, who can arrange a free bulky waste collection throughout the year), however, free collections for anyone living in Gedling borough, are available from Monday, January 9 to Friday, February 10, 2023.
The council has said it will take away up to three large items from outside residents’ homes for no cost, when a free bulky waste collection is booked.
Residents will need to book a collection online at www.gedling.gov.uk/bulkywaste or call the council on 0115 901 3901. The number of collections per day are limited and it is first come, first served and subject to availability.
Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Ron McCrossen said: “The free bulky waste collections are always extremely popular and we are pleased to be able to offer this service to people across Gedling Borough again this year.
January is a good time to have a clear out and we hope that the free collections help people to get rid of things that are too big for their bins. Items that can be collected include TVs, carpets, artificial Christmas trees and mattresses.”
Thousands of fish found new homes over Christmas thanks to the work taking place at the Environment Agency’s fish farm in Calverton.
In Leicestershire, 3700 fish – including 1500 chub, 700 dace, 1000 roach and 500 bream – reared at the Calverton farm – were released in the River Sence and River Soar as part of the annual programme.
Every year, Calverton Fish Farm breeds coarse fish for release into rivers and still waters across England to help boost fish populations, and the restocking in Leicestershire will provide a welcome boost to the angler experience in the area.
PICTURED: An EA worker at Calverton Fish Farm
Responsible fishing provides a good opportunity to connect with nature and feel the range of benefits doing so can bring. However, it is important to remember that a valid rod fishing licence is required, and anglers must adhere to fishing byelaws and fishery rules.
Jake Dorey, Fisheries Technical Officer for the Environment Agency, said: “While there is a healthy amount of fish in Leicestershire’s waterways, occasionally a helping hand is needed to restore the natural balance following a pollution incident or decline, or to create new fisheries and opportunities for anglers.
“The work of our National Fish Farm is funded by income from licence fees, so in the lead up to Christmas it’s great to see the fish farm continuing to produce strong and healthy fish needed for restocking and recovery.
“The restocking is part of an annual programme funded by income from rod licence sales. Restocking occurs in winter because water temperatures are low and this minimises any stress on the fish, giving them the best possible survival rates.
“Christmas is a good time to introduce the fish into rivers, as it enables them to acclimatise to their new surroundings, ahead of their spawning season in the spring. Fish also play a critical role in sustaining a river’s finely-balanced eco-system, so the wider natural environment will also get a festive boost.
You need a rod fishing licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line in England. Get yours from https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences.
Police are encouraging people in Gedling borough to form community speed watch teams to prompt motorists to slow down.
Nottinghamshire Police have a launched a brand-new Community Speed Watch scheme to help tackle the problem of speeding across the county.
One community in Notts said they are already reaping the benefits since signing up to the scheme – with 12 volunteers tackling hotspot areas in the village.
Now police are calling for more areas to sign up to take part, with training provided.
Community Speed Watch is where volunteers can monitor and record the speed of vehicles travelling through their community.
Hayley Holt is the co-ordinator for the Awsworth Community Speed Watch scheme, which was launched this Autumn.
She said: “We are at three different locations in the village at different times of the day. We wanted to be involved because we were worried that someone will get seriously injured.
“We have had a number of cars veer off the road into walls and into the front of people’s gardens – and it is not like this has happened once. It happens a few times a year. This is the first step towards sorting this problem out.
“It is quite worrying the amount of people we do catch speeding, but we hope that people now know we are about.
“I would definitely encourage people to sign up. It is run by volunteers and it is a real community scheme to make the area safer.”
Chief Inspector Chris Pearson, in charge of City Neighbourhood Policing, said: “Speeding is a major concern for lots of communities across our city and county.
“Speed limits are there for a reason and deciding to go over them has the potential to really hurt someone or even cause a fatality.
“This relaunched scheme will act on results sent through by the Speed Watch teams.
“Once a driver is clocked by the teams it will be recorded and a letter sent. If that driver is caught elsewhere in the city and county speeding, then we will know this is continuous behaviour and will be considering paying them a visit.
“We want this relaunched scheme to have teeth. Yes, it is about prevention, and we know having Speed Watch in areas does make drivers think twice about speeding.
“However, we also need to enforce when drivers are showing the same patterns of behaviour.”
“We really want neighbourhoods to take up this offer. We would love to welcome you onboard.”
Police are now actively looking for volunteers to drive the speed watch programme in their communities. If you are interested in volunteering please contact CSW@notts.police.uk.
An accomplished young pianist and harpist from Burton Joyce has won a scholarship to train in the West End.
13-year-old Freddie Vokes will now get to train with West End professionals for up to six hours every Sunday in a bid to realise his dream to perform in London.
Freddie’s mother Sarah told Gedling Eye that it is her son’s dream to perform on stage in the West End in the future
PICTURED: Freddie Vokes with his Pride of Gedling Award
The teenager currently has an annual scholarship to the Pixie Lott Performing Arts Academy.
Freddie also writes his own music and is having a recording session with Stuart Epps in the new year. Stuart Epps is a British record producer and has worked with artists such as Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Oasis and Robbie Williams.
The Burton Joyce teenager also recently appeared in the latest video ‘Mixed Emotions’ by English rock band You Me at Six, available here.
In March, Freddie was shocked to see the scenes unfolding in Ukraine and decided to take action. He started arranging live streaming concerts and raised over £1000 towards the Ukraine appeal. As a result of this charity work, he was awarded the 2022 Young Achiever Award at the Pride of Gedling Awards, sponsored by Gedling Eye & This is Gedling sponsored
For those who would like to see Freddie live, he can be seen performing in Lowdham’s pantomime ‘Snow White’ as Doc, at Lowdham Village Hall in February.
Supermarket giant Morrisons has confirmed it will cut the costs of 130 items including food and cleaning products.
Morrisons, which has a supermarket in Netherfield, said they have invested over £16 million to make these cuts as customers look for help on their weekly shop after the expense of Christmas and as the cost of living crisis continues to impact household grocery budgets.
PICTURED: Morrisons in Netherfield (PHOTO: Neil Slack Photography)
The cut prices will apply to Morrisons’ own-brand ranges including Savers, Wonky and Essentials.
Reductions will be applied to items including:
Bacon
Cooked chicken
Cheese
Fruit
Vegetables
Frozen ready meals
Pizza
Fish fingers
Tins – including beans, tuna and chopped tomatoes
Orange Juice
Sauces and spreads – including marmalade and ketchup
David Potts, Chief Executive, Morrisons, said: “Our Savers range offers customers great value on the products they buy every day. We want to do all we can to help when it comes to the cost of grocery shopping and by investing in the range and cutting the prices further, our customers will see a noticeable impact on their budgets at a time when they really need it.”
Gedling Eye continues to look back at the highs and lows of 2022 across the borough, continuing with October to December …
You can read our round-up of news between January-March here
You can read our round-up of news between April-June here
You can read our round-up of news between July-September here
OCTOBER
A runaway driver was sniffed out by a police dog – moments after causing a crash involving a police car. Raheem Rahman, aged 22, drove away at speed after being spooked by an unmarked police car traveling on Forest Lane, Papplewick, on blue lights to an unrelated call. A member of the public driving through the lights then collided with a police car as he swerved to avoid a head-on crash. At this point Rahman abandoned his Audi and attempted to flee the scene on foot. After a methodical search by a police dog handler, he was located hiding in a hedge. Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court, he was jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for two years.
A Carlton motorist spotted driving whilst disqualified was locked up after being caught offending again. Garfield Lewis was clocked by police driving a van in Marlborough Road, Woodthorpe and after noticing Lewis was driving while disqualified and without any insurance, officers quickly arrested the 40-year-old after catching up with his van. Garfield was given an eight month sentence after appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
Gedling MP Tom Randall cut the ribbon to officially open a new £4.9million housing development for people aged over 55 in Burton Joyce. Stockinger House, owned by housing provider Jigsaw Homes Group, was formally opened by the MP and Jigsaw Group’s Chief Executive, Hilary Roberts. They were joined by residents, Gedling Borough councillors Sam Smith and Michael Adams, Burton Joyce Parish councilors and Jigsaw Group board members.
PICTURED: Gedling MP Tom Randall, left, cuts the ribbon to officially open Stock with Hilary Roberts, Chief Executive of Jigsaw Homes, right
Birds Bakery officially opened its 63rd store in the East Midlands – bringing its famous selection of baked family favourites to Teal Park, the new business park based between Netherfield and Stoke Bardolph.
The new 1,200 ft² store on the business park created eight new jobs and joins a number of household names on the expanding business park, situated off Colwick Loop Road, including Aldi. The site is also home to a new school and children’s day nursery.
PICTURED: The new Birds Bakery store at Teal Close
The owner of The Mustard Seed in Gedling received a fine for repeatedly opening during the Covid-19 lockdown. The BBC reported that Nottingham Crown Court ordered 71-year-old Christine Stala to pay £10,560 in fines plus £11,190 in council and legal costs. The Christian cafe on Main Road was served a closure order in November 2020 after refusing to shut. At the time England was under its second lockdown – from 31 October until 2 December – which required hospitality venues to close.
A youth football club based at Stoke Bardolph was counting the cost following a “devastating” act of vandalism at their clubhouse. Volunteers at Gedling FC, who have a ground in the village, say thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused by thieves who broke into the clubhouse on Saturday night and also stole a number of items.
PICTURED: A photo posted by the club shows some of the damage carried out during a break in at Gedling FC’s clubhouse in Stoke Bardolph
Police took out a cannabis operation in Calverton – finding plants, cash, burner phones and some drugs stored in a freezer in dog litter bags. Officers from Gedling’s Operation Reacher team, supported by the Reacher team from Oxclose Lane, executed an early morning warrant at an address in Flatts Lane. A number of cannabis plants were discovered in various states of growth as well as cannabis packed into dog litter bags in a kitchen freezer. They also found hundreds of pounds of cash, some mobile phones, and sim cards hidden around the property believed to be linked to drug dealing.
Powerlifter Martin Wilson, a 33-year-old fitness advisor, from Gedling, has become a British and World Champion in amateur British powerlifting. He won the ‘Open Men Raw Under 82.5kg’ category in the Amateur World Powerlifting Congress (AWPC) World Championships which were held in Manchester in September. He also won the same category at the Amateur British Powerlifting Union (ABPU) which took place in July. Martin has worked at Carlton Forum Leisure Centre for four years, specialising in powerlifting and nutrition, as well as teaching exercise classes.
CHAMPION: Martin Wilson competing in the Amateur World Powerlifting Congress (AWPC) World Championships. (Photograph courtesy of ‘Shots Like Sumo’)
Work to revamp a play area in Colwick will begin in the New Year after almost £100,000 in funding was found to pay for improvements. FCC Communities Foundation will be providing a grant total of £99,466 to improve Colwick Rectory Play Area on Mile End Road.
Housing developers will now be forced to take action to improve drainage at their sites after a village was hit by severe flooding. Residents described seeing a ‘sea of mud’ wash through the village of Burton Joyce during recent heavy rainfall, with poor drainage at new housing development sites at Orchard Close and Glebe Farm being blamed for the incident. Following complaints from villagers, Councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams, who represent Trent Valley, called on planning inspectors from Gedling Borough Council to call a halt to development until drainage was improved. A 14-day notice was issued to the Orchard Close developer, telling them to immediately take measures to ensure surface water is appropriately managed during the construction phase of the development by installing a temporary drainage system and seeking the submission of permanent drainage plans.
PICTURED: Flooding in Burton Joyce (PHOTO: Cllr Sam Smith)
NOVEMBER
A drug dealer was jailed after he sped away from police in Mapperley and threw items from his car in a failed bid to evade arrest. Jordan Grant, aged 29, was spotted in Westmoore Close by cops on patrol who recognised him. When officers began a pursuit, Grant was seen throwing items from his car as he drove dangerously along residential streets. Mobile phones and a bag of coins were later recovered from the roadside. Grant, of Florence Avenue, Long Eaton, was jailed for a total of three-and-a-half years at Nottingham Crown Court.
PICTURED: Grant throwing items from his car during a police pursuit
A Colwick firm which designs and manufactures pharmaceutical test equipment used across the world, was crowned this year’s Nottinghamshire Business of the Year by East Midlands Chamber. The firm, which are based on Colwick Quays Business Park, were honoured during a gala dinner at the Nottingham Belfry. The winner was chosen by a judging panel of the Chamber’s senior leadership and board of directors, as well as sponsors.
It was decided that streets in a new housing development in Ravenshead will be named after fallen First World War and Second World War soldiers. Custom Homes is building 44 houses on land at Cornwater Fields, off Longdale Lane. Gedling Borough Council proposed that they be named after fallen soldiers from both the Second World War and First World War. Delegated decision documents said: “The names chosen are fallen soldiers from WW1 and WW2, taken from St Peter’s Memorial Board in Ravenshead.”
PICTURED: AN artist’s impression of the new development
A £50k project to help prevent flooding in Burton Joyce was announced. Flooding in recent months brought disruption to the village after intense rainfall resulted in surface water flooding with drainage systems overwhelmed. Following a feasibility study, a scheme to install natural flood management measures in carefully selected areas within the upper catchment of the Crock Beck is now planned thanks to part funding from the county council’s Green Investment Fund. The measures will help restore the natural functions of the Beck to temporarily capture and hold back water running off land during times of heavy rain, releasing it slowly after the rain has passed.
The HSBC announced plans to close its branch in Arnold. The banking giant today announced it will be shutting 114 branches across the UK next year and the latest round of closures comes as more people turn to online and mobile banking. The bank in Arnold was temporarily closed to the public late last year after it was turned into a ‘digital service’ branch, with counters being replaced by self-service machines. The Arnold branch, based on Front Street, will close in May 2023.
PICTURED: The branch on Front Street is earmarked for closure (IMAGE: Google)
DECEMBER
A tree-mendous new ‘green lung’ pathway was opened up in a Mapperley park. Children from Carlton Digby School planted trees and native daffodils at the park to mark the opening of the new trail. More than 500 trees have now been planted to enhance the new trail which runs through Digby Park. At the opening was Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy at Gedling Borough Council who said: “The planting is part of our commitment to people enjoying the outdoors; our commitment to the environment and reducing our carbon footprint.”
PICTURED: Pupils from Carlton Digby School plant trees along the new trail in Digby Park
The importance of small business was highlighted by a campaign launched in Arnold. Small Business Saturdays were marked with the launch of Festive Saturdays in Arnold Town Centre to celebrate the opening of The AMP, a new development supporting small, independent businesses. The Small Business Saturday campaign aimed to encourage people to shop locally but is not just about spending money. Customers were encouraged to do other things to help highlight the small business they love by leaving positive reviews, telling friends and family about their experience or sharing posts on social media to show their support.
Gedling Borough Council spent more than £89,000 on upgrading and improving CCTV cameras and equipment across the borough in a bid to cut crime and anti-social behaviour. Equipment in Arnold Town Centre, Carlton, Netherfield and Calverton was upgraded to improve the image quality from the cameras, which are transmitted to, recorded, and monitored from the council’s central CCTV Control Room.
PICTURED: A CCTV camera in the footpath leading to Front Street in Arnold
Big Mike’s Artisan Cheesecake Shop on Carlton Hill announced it will close for good on Christmas Eve. The announcement about the store’s future was made via the well-known store’s social media channels. The shop was first opened back in November 2020 by owner Mike Jones, AKA Big Mike, and partner Jess Graham. In the social media post he wrote: “We have had so much fun on Carlton Hill over the last two years, but I am sorry to say we have taken the decision to close our little shop for good on Christmas Eve. “I am afraid that the financial situation of the country over the last year has put so much pressure on our business that we have taken the decision to change the way we operate.”
PICTURED: Mike Jone, aka as Big Mike, has taken the tough decision to put his business up for sale (IMAGE: Facebook)
Green belt land at Stoke Bardolph that was earmarked for housing was spared by council leaders. Following a meeting of Gedling Borough Council’s Cabinet, it was announced that under threat land to the east of Teal Close will not now be consulted on for housing development. In a joint statement, the Cabinet members said: “We’ve listened to the views of the residents we serve in Stoke Bardolph, Teal Close, Burton Joyce and surrounding communities and decided to protect the green belt land to the east of Teal Close. Over 800 people had signed a petition calling on the council to spare the land from developers. Trent Valley Councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams also wrote to the Cabinet calling for a consultation to be delayed until housing legislation was changed so that housing targets were advisory rather than compulsory.
Gedling Borough Council will receive £2.9m over the next three years to fund a number of different projects. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is the successor to the European Structural Fund and Gedling Borough Council will receive £368,000 in the first year followed by £696,000 in year two and a final instalment of £1.8 million in year three. Projects to start in the first year include plans to build a new sports pavilion at Lambley Lane Recreation Ground, expand CCTV in crime hotspots in areas including Calverton, provide community grants to local charities and groups and the council will also use the funding to install new Changing Places public toilets at King George V Playing Fields in Arnold Town Centre.
PICTURED: The Civic Centre in Arnold
A disqualified driver killed a man from Mapperley after crashing into a tree while trying to evade police. Anthony Riley lost control of the Volvo XC90 after hitting 89mph in a 30 zone. The 32-year-old survived the crash but his front seat passenger died at the scene. Riley was jailed for 10 years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
More than 30 drivers were stopped as part of ongoing efforts to crackdown on a noisy “boy racers” in hotspots across Gedling borough. Police teams focussed their efforts on tackling dangerous driving in hot-spot areas including Colwick Industrial Estate. Patrolling officers spoke to drivers and provided education – and took enforcement action where necessary. During the crackdown, 30 vehicles were stopped, 22 people received words of advice, five individuals received warnings and four vehicles were seized
A revamped hardware store reopened its doors – much to the delight of locals. Carlton Hardware is based on Carlton Hill and the owners recently demolished the old store, that had housed the business for 37 years, to make way for a new premises that now provides more space for products and services that will delight locals. The business was first opened up back in the eighties by Mustafa Ali, known locally as ‘Steve’ and is now run with the support from family members Muza, Hussein, Ammar and Mo.
PICTURED: Mayor of Gedling Peter Barnes, left, and Gedling MP Tom Randall open the new-look store on Carlton Hill
A historic hall in Woodborough reopened its doors to the public after being rescued by new owners. Grade 11* listed Woodborough Hall, was placed in receivership in October 2021 and rescued by new owners in July 2022. Following five months of refurbishment, the historic Hall was once again open and ready to welcome both new and old customers.
A pothole has appeared on the £49m Gedling Access Road just nine months after the flagship road opened to motorists. The long-delayed 3.8km carriageway, named Colliery Way, opened in the Spring and cost £8.619m more than its initial £40m budget. Tens of thousands of cars have since used the road, which was planned to ease traffic in Gedling village and offer better transport links to motorists. But Nottinghamshire County Council has come under fire after a pothole appeared on the road nine months to the day since it opened on March 22.
