Home Blog Page 239

Gedling borough weather Thursday, March 14

Gedling borough residents can expect a mostly dry and bright start. Showers will soon develop for northern areas, spreading to all parts in the afternoon. Showers locally heavy, but interspersed with some brighter spells. Breezy. Maximum temperature 15 °C.

Showers, locally heavy, mostly easing are expected during the evening with clear spells developing. However, some showers may continue in the south of the region. Mild. Minimum temperature 9 °C.

Tomorrow will see a mixture of sunny spells and showers developing, these locally heavy and perhaps thundery in the south. Clouding over from the north with rain arriving for most. Winds easing. Mild. Maximum temperature 15 °C.

From Bristol to Gedling: Meet the borough’s newest author who has made Gedling his home

Businessman, author and Gedling resident Rhys Freeman published his new novel ‘A New York Night’ in January (2024) and Gedling Eye caught up with Rhys to discuss his latest project and why he chose Gedling to be his new home. 

Bristolian Rhys said: “I’m Bristol born and bred and my business is back in Bristol, but I now live in Gedling. I moved to Gedling last August with my partner after she got a new job opportunity here in Nottingham which essentially required us to move to Nottinghamshire.

“After not having the best of luck house and apartment hunting and being turned down at the last minute for a couple of places, we stumbled upon Gedling by absolute pure chance and felt immediately that it was meant to be for us to move here.

“We fell in love with the area and what it offers straight away. We are both country and open space people so having the vast countryside so close one way and the convenience of the city the other, it is simply perfect for us. Ultimately for me, a new start in a new place means new inspirations and the area has certainly been giving me that”.

Rhys works in film production and felt that his screenwriting skills aligned perfectly with being an author and it was from there that his New York based love story was born.

Rhys told us about his book saying: “My book is set in modern day New York City and is centred around Lauren Monroe, a New York Times journalist and divorcee, and James L.Conway, a Wall Street Financial Consultant, and widower.

“The pair attend one of Manhattan’s regular galas. An event designed to bring the top earners and the elite in New York together; without a hint of what may unfold and a night of limited expectations suddenly turns into a world of possibilities that these two strangers may just have found something above Manhattan’s illustrious skyline.”

Further information about Rhys, his new novel (published January 25) and purchasing details can be found on Pegasus Publisher’s website HERE. The book can also be purchased via Amazon HERE.

Franchising vs. Start-Ups: Why Buying A Franchise Could Be Your Best Bet

Deciding between buying a franchise and launching a start-up is a significant fork in the road for aspiring entrepreneurs. Each path offers unique advantages and challenges. Keep reading as we explore why franchising might edge out starting from scratch, especially for those looking to combine the spirit of entrepreneurship with a framework designed to mitigate risks.

Understanding Franchising And Start-Ups

Franchising offers a blend of autonomy and structured support, allowing you to run your business under a recognised brand. To succeed, research franchisors thoroughly, seeking out those with a robust support system, a strong brand image, and a proven track record of success. For those leaning towards start-ups, it’s about cultivating a unique idea into a viable business model.

Success requires an innovative mindset, resilience, and readiness to navigate the uncertainties of building a brand and customer base from nothing. Choosing between these paths hinges on assessing personal strengths, resources, and risk tolerance.

Financial Considerations

Delving into the financial elements of franchising necessitates a close look at the franchise’s upfront investment. This usually encompasses a franchise fee and ongoing royalties, pivotal in accessing a franchisor’s established support system. Such a system can significantly accelerate the journey towards profitability. In contrast, the allure of potentially lower initial costs for start-ups can be deceptive, as unforeseen expenses have a way of piling up swiftly. A comprehensive business plan is crucial to navigating these financial intricacies, and all anticipated expenses and revenue avenues should be thoroughly examined.

Engaging with financial advisers or seasoned entrepreneurs can also unveil valuable strategies for budget management and potential funding avenues. A practical step for aspiring franchisees is to compare different franchises, focusing on investment requirements and profitability potential. Platforms like www.franchiselocal.co.uk offer a curated list of franchises for sale, making it easier to weigh options against one another based on financial parameters and sector preferences.

Brand Recognition And Customer Base

Leveraging an established brand’s recognition can catapult a franchisee to success, bypassing the slow and often costly process of building trust and loyalty from scratch. To maximise this advantage, franchisees should engage in local marketing efforts that tailor the brand’s established messaging to the local community’s specific needs and preferences.

Conversely, start-up founders must concentrate on identifying their unique value proposition and invest in targeted marketing campaigns that communicate this value clearly and compellingly to build their customer base.

Risk Management

Franchising typically offers a predictable path to success, with established operational procedures and market-tested products or services. Prospective franchisees should conduct thorough due diligence, seeking franchises with a low failure rate and strong market presence. For those leaning towards the unpredictability of start-ups, risk management involves rigorous market research, financial planning, and the creation of a flexible business model that can adapt to market changes and challenges.

Making The Decision

The decision between franchising and starting up comes down to personal goals, risk appetite, and the desired level of independence. Prospective entrepreneurs should reflect on their long-term objectives, consider their strengths and weaknesses, and realistically assess their capacity for risk. Engaging with advisors, industry experts, and other entrepreneurs can provide valuable insights and perspectives that inform this crucial decision.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on aligning one’s personal goals with the characteristics of each option, ensuring a fulfilling and successful entrepreneurial journey.

Severn Trent pledges £630m investment on 258 storm overflows in Nottinghamshire

A water company has revealed plans to spend more than £630m on storm overflows to cut the amount of sewage spilled and improve the health of rivers in Notts.

Severn Trent has announced it will make the investment over a 25-year period up to 2050, as part of its plans to reduce spills from storm overflows across the county.  

A total of 258 storm overflows across Nottinghamshire will undergo investment – which could range from increasing the capacity of its storage tanks to introducing green nature-based solutions.  

The company said it is also investing to ensure rivers are monitored closer than ever before with 100% of its storm overflows with monitors – and the company is now analysing around 300m pieces of data a year helping to prioritise investment.    

Sewage Ouse Dyke
Raw sewage pictured flowing into the Ouse Dyke in Carlton – PHOTO: Mark Glover

The investment for Nottinghamshire forms part of a wider £4.4bn injection into 2,472 storm overflows across the Severn Trent region, as part of the water company’s Storm Overflow Action Plan (SOAP).  

The aim is to reduce the number of spills into water courses across the county, ensuring that by 2040 no overflow will spill more than 10 times in an average year in high priority areas, and in all areas by 2045.   

Bob Stear, Severn Trent chief engineer said: “This is a huge long-term investment plan for Nottinghamshire, improving storm overflows and bringing benefits to rivers now and during the coming years. 

“Today’s announcement marks another significant milestone in our drive to deliver real improvements in river health. This is why we launched Get River Positive that has already delivered great results, despite the region having experienced seven named storms between September and December, contributing to some of the wettest months on record. And we know there is still more to do, which is why this investment is so important – not just to us, but to our region’s rivers and the communities they serve.”  

Back in 2022 it was revealed that untreated sewage had been discharged into the Ouse Dyke in Gedling for 376 hours, according to figures by published by The Rivers Trust.

The data showed 218 incidents of raw sewage being poured into the dyke were recorded during 2021.

Planning: Triple garage proposed to make way for two apartments in Mapperley

An application for outline planning permission with all matters reserved has been received by Gedling Borough Council from Matthew Ngai of Mapperley acting as agent on behalf of Mr P Georgiou for the proposed erection of two one bedroom apartments with external yard retained to the rear of 918 Woodborough Road, Mapperley, NG3 5QR.

A previous application for the demolition of the single storey triple garage to be replaced with a 2 storey development containing 4no. studio apartments (Planning Application No.2023/0555) was refused by Gedling borough planners on January 11. 

Pictured: Proposed development site on Bennett Road (Courtesy of Gedling Borough Council planning)

The new application describes the proposed works as ‘Outline application for the demolition of a single storey triple garage and replacement with a 2 storey development containing 2no 1 bed apartments with external yard retained for 918 Woodborough Road’

The garages subject to the outline planning application are accessible via Bennett Road, Mapperley.

Pictured: Proposed site plan (Courtesy of Gedling Borough Council planning)

A planning statement provided in support of the planning application states that the ground floor flat has access to a private garden to the rear and that the development is set back from the road with hard landscaping between the main entrance and the highway.

Full planning details can be accessed on Planning Application No.2024/0114 HERE.

Gedling borough weather Wednesday, March 13

Gedling borough residents can expect it to be mostly cloudy through the day though parts of the east may see occasional bright or sunny spells developing. Most parts staying largely dry. A windy and mild day. Maximum temperature 13 °C.

Dry with variable cloud and some clear spells are expected overnight. Cloudier in the west, with perhaps the odd spot of light rain over the Derbyshire hills. Breezy and mild. Minimum temperature 8 °C.

Tomorrow will be largely dry with variable cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the day. Turning cloudier, with rain or showers, locally heavy, arriving from the west by evening. Breezy and milder. Maximum temperature 15 °C.

PLANNING: Plans to build 93 houses in Bestwood to be considered by Gedling borough planners.

Plans to construct 93 houses, associated infrastructure, and external works are to be considered by Gedling Borough Council planners following an application submitted by Halsall Lloyd Partnership of Nottingham acting as agent on behalf of Langridge Homes Ltd.

The land proposed for the development is described as agricultural land and is located east of Westhouse Farm, Moor Road, Bestwood, Nottinghamshire, NG6 8ZQ.

PICTURED: Proposed site location (Courtesy of Gedling Borough Council planning)

65 of the properties are proposed for market housing consisting of 1 X 2 bedroom property, 10 X 3 bedroom properties and 54 X 4 bedroom properties.

The remaining 28 proposed properties are proposed for social, affordable or intermediate rent consisting of 4 X 1 bedroom properties, 15 X 2 bedroom properties and 9 X 3 bedroom properties.

PICTURED: Proposed site plan (Courtesy of Gedling Borough Council planning)

There are 225 parking spaces proposed in the planning application.

The site is located to the side and rear of Hawthorne Primary and Nursery School with access to the development via Westhouse Road (off Moor Road).

Further details regarding Planning Application 2024/0095 can be accessed HERE.

Gedling borough weather Tuesday, March 12

After a dry but cloudy start to the day rain will soon sweep in from the west, turning heavy at times. It may turn drier from the west through the afternoon but staying cloudy and breezy. Maximum temperature 12 °C.

Tonight is expected to be mostly cloudy and rather breezy and mild overnight, while many parts may stay dry there will be further bursts of light rain in places, especially Derbyshire hills. Minimum temperature 8 °C.

Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy through the day though parts of the east may see some brighter spells. Most parts dry though further rain is likely over the Derbyshire hills. Very mild. Maximum temperature 15 °C.

Match Report: Arnold Town 1 – 3 Mickleover RBL

Saturday March 9

Kicks in the teeth are a regular feature for your long suffering Arna supporter. On February 17 in their last game the Eagles’ 16 man squad had put together one of their most fluid fast flowing performances for many a moon and things were looking decidedly promising.

Three weeks on and exactly half of that squad were suddenly “unavailable” for various reasons, none of which appeared to involve injuries.  Manager Ash White was thus forced to include Liam Black (actually nursing a long term serious injury) and recall veteran striker Stephen King who had not seen action since the beginning of September in order to come up with sufficient bodies to fill the eleven shirts. 

With ninety minutes stretched out before them the threadbare line-up suffered an immediate set-back conceding a soft goal from the kick off.

Mickleover’s opening move down the right rolled along unhindered all the way into the Oxton Road penalty area where the carefree winger simply looked up and passed across to Sam Vickers who calmly slotted the ball home as easy as you like.

In stark contrast to Arnold’s start the weather was bright and a fierce freezing Eagle Valley wind was fully behind the home side who thankfully soon began setting about their arduous task with surprising conviction given the circumstances. 

Seven minutes in a lofted cross from the left into the Colin End box saw Lenny Jenkins rising highest amongst a group of players but the skipper’s backward header over shot the crossbar by a foot or so. Multi player moves and a succession of corners soon followed as the Eagles clearly were not prepared to go down without a fight.

Indeed throughout the afternoon the visitors were displaying few signs of being a top four side and it was the beleaguered yellows making most of the running with RBL’s first half threats reduced to a couple of long range free kicks the last of which taken by Jordan Lee on the stroke of half time hitting the crossbar. 



Sadly for Arnold though their lively first 45 minute play through midfield (with Lewis Neville again having an excellent game whilst also carrying a knock) had often suffered from a unhappy mix of the ball being speeded up by the following wind over running an understandably less than mobile forward line. 

Above all however the contest as a whole was being severely hampered by an extraordinary performance from a totally inept card happy official who had clearly graduated with flying colours from the Brian Glover school of refereeing. 

The second half began fairly quietly with the Eagles again somehow managing to look the more threatening of the two sides and their efforts were duly rewarded nine minutes after the re-start.

An Arnold move had created some chaos in Mickleover’s area and at one point Lewis Neville threatened to open his goal scoring account for the Eagles but his blocked shot bounced back to the edge of the box from where Owen Taylor launched the sweetest of volleys which rocketed into the roof of the net. RBL’s keeper Bran Meehan couldn’t have been better positioned for the shot but he simply didn’t have time to react as the ball whistled past him at blistering pace. 

Not content with getting themselves back on terms in such a spectacular fashion the Eagles carried on in a positive manner and some heroic performances were really beginning to blossom, not least from Stephen King who was proving to be a bit of a handful for the visiting defence as he tried his level best to carve out an opening for himself. 

From such unpromising pre-match beginnings the afternoon was taking an unbelievably positive turn for the Arna faithful who should have known it couldn’t last. With Arnold largely on top the Eagles were cruelly reduced to ten men on 66 mins. A promising Arna move down the right wing was brought to an abrupt holt by a dangerous flying tackle on Eddie Morgan.

Scything Morgan to the ground was clearly not enough for the Mickleover offender who then attempted to grab Eddie by the neck at which point Morgan understandably flew his arms up to defend himself. Queue our imposter of a “ref” who sprinted a full fifteen yards to gleefully show the Arnold winger a straight red. 

Mission impossible had just become even harder as the ten Arna watched Mickleover reloading from the bench whilst Liam Black was forced to transfer his brave display of nuisance value from one end of the pitch to the other. With Arna well worth at least a draw up to this point in proceedings it was now only a matter of time before a rejuvenated Mickleover moved in for the kill.

With about 13 minutes remaining RBL duly regained the lead after some toing and froing in the Arna box resulted in a half stop by Piotr Strycharz before Mickleover’s Ben Rushby found the net with a well directed punt from close range. 

Arnold refused to give up the ghost however and impressive left winger Callum Jones continued to demonstrate some slinky skills right up to the end and on 80 mins he almost created a goal from nowhere following a long run into and across the Oxton Road area. 

As the game came to a conclusion there was just time for a remarkable last ditch goal line clearance by Kyme Mason, a second yellow card dismissal for debutant Dylan Humphrey (who can look back with some pride on his first outing for the Eagles) and a rather tame penalty conceded by the limping Liam Black providing Mickleover’s Connor Livingston with the opportunity to make the final score an extremely flattering 3-1 following up after Strycharz had managed to save his initial spot kick.

At the end of the ninety minutes never mind the fully anticipated loss, never mind having to suffer the egotistical antics of a complete joke of a “look at me referee”, never mind the eight players who had more important things to do on a Saturday afternoon none of this could begin to scupper the fact that the home supporters had been privileged to be on hand to witness eleven players prepared to dig deep and put in a proper shift for the sake of Arnold Town.

Hats off to every single one of them!

Scalable Server Solutions for Seamless Growth

In the dynamic world of business, adaptability is the key to survival and growth. As your company expands, so do your operational demands, placing increasing strain on your IT infrastructure. This is where scalable server solutions come into play, offering a flexible and future-proof approach to managing your computing resources. By embracing these cutting-edge technologies, you can ensure that your business is equipped to handle surges in demand, accommodate new applications, and seamlessly scale without compromising performance or efficiency.

The Challenges of Traditional Server Setups

Traditional server setups often present a significant hurdle to growth. With fixed hardware configurations and limited capacity, businesses can quickly outgrow their existing infrastructure, leading to performance bottlenecks, downtime, and costly upgrades or replacements. This inflexibility not only hinders operational efficiency but also impedes innovation, as companies struggle to keep pace with technological advancements and emerging market trends.

Enter Scalable Server Solutions

Scalable server solutions, including cloud servers, offer a revolutionary approach to managing your IT infrastructure. Unlike traditional setups, these solutions are designed to grow and adapt alongside your business, providing the flexibility to scale resources up or down as needed. Whether you’re experiencing a surge in website traffic, launching a new application, or expanding your operations, scalable server solutions ensure that you have the computing power to meet your evolving demands without missing a beat.

The Power of Cloud Computing

At the heart of many scalable server solutions lies the transformative power of cloud computing. By leveraging the vast resources of cloud service providers, businesses can tap into virtually unlimited computing power, storage, and bandwidth. This on-demand access to resources allows companies to scale up or down seamlessly, paying only for the resources they consume and avoiding the costly overhead associated with maintaining and upgrading on-premises hardware.

Additionally, cloud computing solutions often come with built-in redundancy, ensuring high availability and minimising the risk of downtime. This resilience is particularly crucial for businesses operating in competitive markets or those with mission-critical applications that cannot afford prolonged outages.

Hybrid Solutions: The Best of Both Worlds

While cloud computing offers unparalleled scalability and flexibility, some businesses may have specific requirements or regulatory constraints that necessitate maintaining certain workloads on-premises. In such cases, hybrid server solutions provide the perfect balance, combining the scalability of the cloud with the control and security of on-premises infrastructure.

Hybrid solutions allow businesses to seamlessly migrate workloads between on-premises and cloud environments, ensuring that mission-critical applications and sensitive data remain within the confines of their own data centers while leveraging the cloud’s scalability for less critical workloads or burst computing needs.

Automated Scaling and Load Balancing

One of the key advantages of scalable server solutions is their ability to automatically scale resources based on real-time demand. Through advanced monitoring and load balancing technologies, these solutions can detect spikes in traffic or resource utilisation and dynamically provision additional computing power or redistribute workloads across available resources.

This automated scaling not only ensures optimal performance during peak periods but also helps businesses avoid over-provisioning resources during lulls, resulting in significant cost savings and improved operational efficiency.

Seamless Integration and Migration

Embracing scalable server solutions doesn’t have to disrupt your existing IT ecosystem. Many modern solutions are designed to seamlessly integrate with a wide range of applications, databases, and platforms, ensuring a smooth transition and minimising downtime during the migration process.

Furthermore, many scalable server solutions offer robust management tools and APIs, allowing IT teams to streamline administration, monitoring, and maintenance tasks, freeing up valuable resources to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Cost Optimisation and Pay-as-You-Grow Models

Traditional server setups often require significant upfront investments in hardware, software licenses, and maintenance contracts. In contrast, scalable server solutions frequently operate on a pay-as-you-grow model, allowing businesses to start small and scale their resources as their needs evolve.

This flexible pricing structure not only reduces upfront costs but also aligns IT expenditures with actual usage, ensuring that businesses only pay for the resources they consume. Additionally, many scalable server solutions offer reserved instance pricing or long-term commitment discounts, further optimising costs for businesses with predictable workloads.

Future-Proofing Your Business

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, agility and adaptability are essential for long-term success. By embracing scalable server solutions, you’re not only addressing your current computing needs but also future-proofing your business against the inevitable growth and technological advancements that lie ahead.

As new applications, services, and technologies emerge, your scalable infrastructure will be ready to accommodate them, ensuring that your business remains at the forefront of innovation and stays ahead of the competition.

Seamless growth is no longer a luxury reserved for tech giants; it’s a necessity for businesses of all sizes and across all industries. By embracing scalable server solutions, you’re investing in a future-proof IT infrastructure that can adapt and evolve as your business grows, providing the flexibility, performance, and cost-efficiency you need to thrive in an ever-changing market.