An undermanned Eagles squad concluded 2023 with a defeat in the soggy Derbyshire Dales after Cromford & Wirksworth’s tight undulating ground managed to pass a mid-morning pitch inspection.
Having been warned beforehand to ensure we avoided parking on the grass unless we had a 4×4 we knew what to expect on arrival and the treacherous walk to the pitch took some negotiating. With Cromford’s rudimentary facilities despite the lovely location we dropped off the kit and team sheet and as there was still 90 minutes until kick-off were recommended to head for Cromford’s community centre in the village for a cheap and cheerful welcome. A couple of pints of Bass later in a cracking little pub and chips and gravy for Pete and Dennis (which the centre allowed you to buy from the local chippie and bring in) we headed off back for the game.
With a whole host of absentees (Trem Lindo and Tyler Cobb unavailable, Dan Chambers suspended, Aaron Wainaina ill, Kieron Lane injured) Arnold turned up with just 12 players. Matty Hubbard was included in the starting line-up for the first time since early November, Jamie Royle returned from his suspension whilst Toby Francis was able to stretch out and take up the whole of the Eagles’ bench.
Without Cromford’s team sheet I was unable to identify their players but time and again they played the ball down the wings with Arna continuing to play out from the back on a pitch that really didn’t suit this style frequently giving the ball away in poor positions. The only surprise was that Cromford took thirty or so minutes to puncture our defence with a well worked goal having already rattled the post. Keeper Piotr Strycharz made two fabulous saves, touching on to the bar and another finger-tip save to keep the score at 1-0 at the break.
Arna came out for the second half with a much more purposeful approach. Jake Ogden, industrious as ever, was becoming more involved and the midfield was beginning to put together some decent possession as we aimed to support Jamie Royle who was playing a lone role up front. Within three minutes of the restart we were given a way back when one of the Cromford defenders virtually caught the ball in the penalty box. Royle stepped up to take the penalty despatching it in to the corner to level the scores. For the next five-ten minutes we enjoyed our best period of the match as we looked to play longer balls over the top exposing Cromford’s defence in much the same way they had to us earlier. However as Arnold began to tire the hosts were able to pick-up the pace and attacks on the Eagles goal became more frequent.
PHOTO: Jim BethellJamie Royle – scored from the penalty spot PHOTO: Jim Bethell
Toby Francis replaced James Jackson who appeared to pick-up a knock (later confirmed as calf) before the hosts restored their lead with some 25 minutes remaining with a penalty of their own. A cross from the right connected with Lenny Jenkins’ hand at the near post leaving the ref no option but to point to the spot. Having already been booked some of the locals were baying for a red card but Lenny escaped further censure as Cromford restored their lead.
It was now an uphill struggle and although Cromford on the balance of play should have been well in front we had a couple of further chances to perhaps secure an unlikely point. Firstly Jamie Royle broke through and one on one with the keeper saw his shot rebound off the post; and then Francis out muscled the keeper at the far post from a deep cross who fumbled the ball but from close range Toby was unable to convert for the equaliser.
In the descending gloom Cromford were now well on top with Arnold having played their last cards and two close range efforts in the final 10 minutes made the score line perhaps a little more conclusive for all the Eagles’ efforts. Piotr was on hand a couple of times with some fine close range saves to ensure the score did not spiral and was worthy winner of Arnold’s Man of the Match award.
All of which brought about the end of the Yellow’s unbeaten four match run. A good effort from the dirty dozen (you should see the state of the kit!) on a pitch which always suited the hosts on a day when playing any kind of cohesive football was difficult. We trudged back to the cars with a fair amount of Derbyshire mud clinging to our shoes as we attempted to exit the car park where a good deal of blocking in had been necessary to avoid sinking into the abyss!
A blank next Saturday so enjoy your New Year everyone and we’ll see you at Linby on the 13th January.
Energy bills will rise by £94 for many households across Gedling borough from today.
The energy regulator Ofgem confirmed a new price cap would be introduced in January 2024 last month.
It means the average household will see their annual bill increase to £1,928 – but the exact amount you pay depends on your usage.
The price cap changes every three months affecting households on default or variable tariffs.
Richard Neudegg, director of regulation at Uswitch.com, said the rise would bite during the coldest period when households need to use the most energy.
He said: “The price cap will go up by 5% from January due to the increases in the wholesale energy market.
“This means energy bills are likely to be the highest they’ve ever been for most homes this winter.
“Between January and March, average bills will be £46 more expensive than the same period last year when the government’s Energy Bill Support Scheme was in place.”
Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of Ofgem, admitted it would be a ‘difficult time’ for many people, and called the increase ‘worrying’.
He said: “This rise – around the levels we saw in August – is a result of the wholesale cost of gas and electricity rising, which needs to be reflected in the price that we all pay.
“It is important that customers are supported and we have made clear to suppliers that we expect them to identify and offer help to those who are struggling with bills.”
Those households in the borough on prepayment meters will continue to receive a government-backed discount to ensure that they aren’t charged more than those who pay by direct debit – although it’s not a cap on the overall amount people will pay for their energy.
Instead, it caps the amount that they pay per kilowatt hour, or unit, of gas and electricity.
The £1,928 figure is calculated based on what Ofgem thinks an average household will use.
How does the energy price cap work?
The energy price cap works by setting a limit on the maximum amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity.
That means despite the energy price cap being £1,928, you might pay more or less than this amount, depending on your usage.
Ofgem also sets a maximum daily standing charge which is what households have to pay to have their home connected to the National Grid.
The cap is calculated based on the wholesale price of gas and electricity.
It also includes allowances for tax, charges paid to the energy networks, green levies and social payments.
The reason it has gone up so much in the last 18 or so months is partly due to Russia limiting its gas supply to Europe.
But there’s also been high demand from Asia which has seen prices surge.
The UK also imports more than two-thirds of its gas which is subject to global price swings making prices more volatile and likely to rise.
Amazon Prime Video users in Gedling borough will soon have to pay a new monthly fee if they want to go ad-free, under a new shake-up.
The streaming platform will start showing adverts from February 5, 2024, in the UK and Germany.
The advertisements will be played on films and TV shows on Prime Video.
Customers will be able to pay an extra £2.99 fee on top of their subscription to go ad-free – the equivalent to an extra £35.88 per year.
Amazon said it aims to have “meaningfully fewer ads than ad-supported TV channels and other streaming TV providers”.
In a recent email to Prime members, Amazon said the move will allow the company to “continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time”.
Live events, such as sports, and content offered through Amazon Freevee will continue to include advertising.
Adverts will appear earlier in the US and Canada, from January 29.
Customers in Germany will pay €2.99 (£2.60) while those in the US will pay $2.99 (£2.35), according to the BBC.
Prime Video costs £5.99, or Amazon Prime members can sign up for an enhanced package, known as Prime, for £8.99 per month.
This includes Prime Video, unlimited premium delivery, unlimited music streaming, unlimited photo storage, and unlimited reading within the Prime services.
The Prime annual subscription, which Amazon says offers the “best value”, offers the same services for £95 per year.
For 12 months of Prime Video, members would pay £71.88. It costs £107.88 a year for Prime monthly.
The subscription for students, known as Prime Student, currently costs £4.49 per month, or £47.49 a year for the annual subscription.
At the moment, new student customers can get a six-month trial, courtesy of Microsoft Surface, before the subscription reverts to the £4.49 per month fee.
Amazon increased the cost of a Prime subscription from £7.99 to £8.99 a month in 2022.
The one-off annual fee was raised from £79 to £95 at the time.
In September, Amazon introduced a new £1.99 charge for same-day delivery on Prime orders costing less than £20.
Carlton missed the chance to temporarily move into third in the division as they lost in an entertaining affair at Stoke Lane on Friday evening.
A Niall Davie goal wasn’t enough for the Millers as Borough took the three points with goals from Harvey Tomlinson and Edwin Essel.
Carlton made three changes to the side which brought back three points from Grantham on Boxing Day. There was a second debut for Ryan Ebanks at right back, recently joined from Grantham Town having previously played for Carlton in 2018-19. Khyle Sargent moved into the centre of midfield alongside Greg Tempest as Michael Ford dropped to the bench. Alex Howes also returned to the starting lineup replacing David Adegbola.
Borough arrived at Stoke Lane having recently arrested a damaging run of seven straight league defeats with a creditable draw against Belper before Christmas and they built on that result last time out, taking local bragging rights in the process as they won the “El Codico” against neighbours, Cleethorpes Town.
It was a relatively cagey opening 15 minutes on a heavy surface as both sides were sizing one another up. Carlton were on top though, winning a couple of free kicks in good positions which came to nothing. In Lewis Durow’s absence Tempest assumed long throw duties which he did admirably well and it was these throws which caused most of the chaos in the Grimsby box with Dean Freeman and Peter Dearle the targets. Despite causing some problems for Liam Higton in the Grimsby goal it was without a real clear opportunity to take the lead.
Lamin Manneh created the first real chance of the game, taking up possession just inside the visitors’ half. He left the defenders for dust but was denied from a tight angle by a fine save by Higton.
Tempest was also on corner duty and it was from one of these which saw Freeman rising highest only to see his header crash against the crossbar.
Imbued with confidence and backed by the keen wind, Carlton continued to press high but were caught on the break which resulted in Annan conceding a penalty as he brought down Edwin Essel in the box. Adam Drury stepped up but blazed wildly over the bar which was something more akin to Twickenham than Wembley. It was though a warning the Millers did not heed and only moments later, Harvey Tomlinson, who was a threat throughout the game from wide positions, found acres of space in the inside right position and calmly fired low past Annan.
Carlton redoubled their efforts and a nice flowing move between Tempest and Davie provided Howes with a chance which floated just over the bar.
The second half started as the first half ended, the home side dominating territory, possession and dictating the pace of the game. From an Annan free kick deep in the Carlton half, Alex Hardwick did superbly to control and release Lamin Manneh down the left whilst under pressure from defenders on all sides. Manneh beat his man and laid the ball back to his captain in space, 12 yards out and Davie didn’t miss, firing confidently past Higton to the delight of the well-oiled shed end who had been on their Christmas social event during the afternoon.
Carlton were firmly on top now. Sargent, who had an excellent game, and Tempest had more time on the ball in the middle of the field and Grimsby attacks were smothered with relative ease. Sargent found Ebanks running down the right and the debutant squared it the ball to Hardwick whose shot was well saved by Higton. By sharp contrast to the last game at Stoke Lane, the referee allowed play to flow as much as he was able but he was called upon as Manneh stopped a Grimsby counter attack illegally earning the Carlton winger a yellow card and a knock himself. Tomlinson once again found space in a dangerous area and went down in the box under pressure from Dearle and Tempest but again, the referee saw little wrong and play continued.
Impetus was shifting back to the visitors and good link up play between Lewis Collins and Drury opened Carlton up down their left again and Drury’s cross was converted by Essel only for the assistant referee’s flag to deny the Grimsby front man. Essel did get the reward for his selfless running throughout the game minutes later as a corner wasn’t claimed cleanly by Annan and the striker pounced to bundle over from a yard out.
Carlton’s managers rang the changes as Durow and Adegbola replaced Manneh and Howes. Hylton was pushed forward and Adegbola deployed on the right. Tempest was unlucky moments later as a Durow throw was cleared to the Carlton midfielder some 25 yards from goal. He caught the ball sweetly on the volley only for the shot to fly past the keepers upright.
In a final throw of the dice Tempest was replaced by Musa Jawarra but it was Durow who had the next chance of the game. After an industrious run from Hylton the ball broke to Durow inside the box. His shot was well placed but superbly saved by Higton. In the dying moments Davie, still full of energy, wriggled free in the box and placed a cross shot into a great area. Keeper, defenders and attackers alike seemed to freeze as the ball bobbled across the six-yard box and agonisingly struck the post before being cleared.
The Millers may well look back on this game as one of missed opportunities but no fixture is a “gimme”, every point hugely prized and hard earned and it’s only the finest of margins in the 90 minutes which decide where the points fall. In this highly competitive division this young side should consider their position at the end of 2023 as a massive positive as they look to push on next year.
Carlton will look to regroup as they hit the road again next Saturday with a visit to North Ferriby.
Carlton Town: F Annan, R Ebanks, D Freeman, P Dearle, N Hylton, L Manneh (D Adegbola 80), K Sargent, G Tempest (M Jawarra 86), N Davie, A Howes (L Durow 80), A Hardwick. Unused Subs: Z Hill, M Ford
Goals: N Davie 49; Harvey Tomlinson 38, Edwin Essel 78
Gedling Eye looks back at the highs and lows of 2023 across the borough, continuing from October to December…
OCTOBER
THERE was a bitter blow as Gedling borough again missed out on Levelling Up Fund cash to revamp towns
Gedling borough agonisingly missed out on £20m which would have paid to revitalise towns and villages, it was been revealed. Five Nottinghamshire towns made the list. Clifton, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Mansfield, Newark and Worksop were all named by the Government on Sunday (October 1) and were awarded £20m which will be split over 10 years as part of a new £1bn “levelling up” drive. The Government says the cash should be used to improve transport and connections, tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and making high streets more attractive.
A ‘DEVIOUS’ Mapperley pensioner was jailed for abducting and abusing boy
Tony Spilsbury, 76, approached the vulnerable boy in Bulwell marketplace and engaged him in conversation. He then asked the child to help him with his van before driving him to a secluded area of a nearby carpark and began his assault. Spilsbury, of Fernleigh Avenue, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by touching. Although he was not convicted of a specific offence of child abduction, Spilsbury admitted to taking the boy as part of his guilty plea.
JAILED: Tony Spilsbury
SEVEN people were arrested after two people were assaulted during a street fight in Mapperley.
Police say they were called to reports of a disturbance in Woodborough Road. Two people had to be taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during a fight in the street. The fight took place near the KFC restaurant on Woodborough Road. Shortly after the incident was reported, police identified and detained a group of suspects in Carlton Road, Bakersfield, and Lower Parliament Street, in Nottingham City Centre.
Six men and one woman were subsequently arrested on suspicion of affray, possession of a bladed article and possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply.
A 41-YEAR-OLD man was arrested on suspicion of acting as a gangmaster without a licence after police carried out a raid of a farm in Calverton.
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police and Immigration Enforcement carried out the operation and a Belgian national was arrested by the GLAA. Searches were also made by the GLAA of addresses in Lowdham and Nottingham in addition to the location in Calverton.
A PUB in Linby closed its doors for the last time blaming Covid and rising energy costs.
Owners of the Horse and Groom pub on Main Street took to social media to share the sad news. In the announcement they said: “Unfortunately due the ongoing impact of losses made due to Covid and the continued high cost of gas and electricity we have decided to cease trading”. The management team issued a “huge thank you” to everyone who had supported the pub over the last nine and a half years.
Pictured: The Horse & Groom, Linby (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
A GEDLING borough councillor resigned from the Labour Party over leader Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Councillor Russell Whiting, who represents Colwick on Gedling Borough Council, said in a social media post that he had resigned and was unhappy about the leader’s refusal to criticise Israel over cutting off food and water to over 2m people in Gaza and also on the order to evacuate 1m people in the area, giving them just 24 hours to leave.
A POPULAR recycling hub was axed at a supermarket chain in Arnold.
Sainbury’s closed the recycling point based at its superstore in Sir John Robinson Way.
A sign at the former hub site read: “The recycling centre is permanently closed. Your nearest tip is Calverton. CCTV is in operation and registrations will be passed on to the police of anyone flytipping.”. The recycling site had recently been targeted by flytippers in recent months. Back in July customers were left outraged by the amount of rubbish dumped at the store’s recycling point, with piles of bin bags, cardboard boxes and old clothes being dumped at the site.
Rubbish dumped by the recycling bins at the Sainsbury’s store in Arnold (PHOTO: Cherie Edwards)
NOVEMBER
A SECOND Gedling councillor resigned from Labour Party over refusal to call for Israel-Gaza ceasefire
A second Gedling Borough councillor has resigned from the Labour Party over their stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Councillor Des Gibbons, who represents Bestwood St Albans, said he will now stand as an independent.
INSET: Cllr Des Gibbons
A LAMBLEY Lane play area reopened for delighted children after £100k refurbishment
Lambley Lane Play Area underwent a six-week refurbishment to regenerate the site and add new and inclusive facilities. The new play area was designed to provide equipment for children up to the age of around 12 years old and includes a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, swings, slides a 30m long zip line, climbing frames, trampoline, basket swing, play panels and more.
PICTURED: (l to r) Bob Murphy from FCC Environment, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Natural Habitat, Councillor Viv McCrossen, Treasurer of Gedling Parks Community Group, Councillor Lynda Pearson and Chair of Gedling Parks Community Group, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth
THE FIRST floor of Arnold’s £4m AMP to become an Enterprise Centre.
Gedling Borough Council approved proposals to turn the upstairs of their £4m AMP in Arnold into a new business centre. The plan for an Enterprise Centre was approved by Cabinet members during a meeting on November 9. The AMP will now provide a number of lettable spaces ‘to support start up and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) businesses’ following the approval. The first floor of the AMP has been vacant since it was handed over to Gedling Borough Council following completion in October 2022.
PICTURED: The new £4m AMP building (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
PLANS for new Popeyes drive-thru near Netherfield were approved despite opposition.
Popeyes was granted permission to build a drive-through outlet near Netherfield despite road safety and litter worries from residents and councillors. Members of the planning committee at Gedling Borough Council approved the American fried chicken giant’s application for the new outlet on Magenta Way near Teal Park yesterday (29) with a majority of one.
DECEMBER
33 CARLTON businesses are now ‘Age Friendly’
There are currently 33 businesses signed up and proudly displaying the bright pink ‘We are Age Friendly Carlton’ logo so, if you see the logo on the door/window of a Carlton business, you can rest assured that you will be welcomed and have support available, should you need it. The Age Friendly movement was launched by the World Health Organization in 2005, with the mission of developing local strategies to support people to remain independent in older age.
A REDHILL Academy student became a British Ice Skating Champion
Redhill Academy lauded student, Jack Donovan as he became the Advanced Novice Boys British Ice Skating Champion. Jack finished his competition with 117.05 points, almost 20 points ahead of his nearest competitor, Edward Solovyov with 97.75 points. This marks Jack’s fifth win of 2023 and his third British Championship at the Advanced Novice level, having previously placed third in 2021 and second in 2022.
Pictured: Jack Donovan (Courtesy of Facebook)
GEDLING Eye’s new campaign encouraging Gedling borough residents to buy locally over Christmas and beyond launched
We threw our support behind the amazing local businesses in the borough – and urged readers to do the same. The main aim was to promote all the fantastic traders in the borough and remind readers they can invest in their communities by investing in local businesses.
A CAR smashes into Carlton business after failing to stop for police.
A man was arrested after a car failed to stop for police and ploughed into a Carlton hair salon. The vehicle failed to stop and at around 12.50am and crashed into Image Hair Fashions business on Burton Road, Carlton.
TIMETABLE CHANGES: No changes at Carlton or Netherfield apart from some retimings of between one and three minutes. 17.54 Nottingham to Newark now leaves at 18.00 Mon.-Fri., Carlton 18.07.
Other changes on the East Midlands Railway (EMR) network, are Mon.-Fri. 05.53 & 16.16 Nottingham to Crewe reinstated and 08.10 & 18.10 return. Pre-covid two of these services ran to or from Newark. 11.39 Nottingham to Norwich starts back at Liverpool at 08.51. Some trains on the Liverpool to Norwich route are now six-car class 170′, such as the 06.35 Nottingham to Liverpool. The first and last trains from Worksop now start from Mansfield Woodhouse and the 22.22 from Nottingham terminates at Mansfield Woodhouse. Cross Country Trains have now re-instated the hourly Nottingham to Birmingham services, so making 2 trains an hour to Birmingham, the other service to Cardiff.
Estimated station usage figures 2022/23
This covers the period from 1st April 2022 until 31st March 2023. On a number of days no trains ran owing to industrial action and at least two weekends of engineering work, buses replacing trains. Figures for 2021/22 in brackets.
Burton Joyce : 9,426 (6,146)
Carlton: 36,846 (27,610)
Netherfield: 6,946 (5,556)
However, I believe the number of passengers at Carlton is double the estimated figures, as many people use the Robin Hood card which does not show as a journey to or from Carlton. Here is my reasoning: we have 225 trains a week. Over 50 weeks (2 weeks lost as mentioned above) that is 11,250. This means an average of just over three passengers per train. So for 3 days recently I saw 5 trains between the 08.43 and 11.05. I counted 36 one day and 42 on two other days joining and alighting. It is estimated 120 passengers use Carlton on weekdays. So on the 3 days mentioned, according to official figures, only 2% of people used the other 31 trains including at ‘rush hour’! Pre-covid I suggested we were approaching 100,000 per annum.
An additional statistic this year is ‘Main origin or destination station’. Carlton has 8,654 travelling to and from Nottingham. In 2020/1 when consultations were held regarding train services it was said, “the vast majority of passengers using the Matlock service from Carlton only travel as far as Nottingham’. Even with the usage of Robin Hood tickets, which are not counted, the vast majority do not travel to Nottingham, many using the cards to travel to Beeston for example. Interestingly, at Bulwell (also available with Robin Hood tickets), the vast majority from that station travel to Mansfield (12,238 out of 56,336). There is more I could say, but space is running out. Trains not re-instated which we lost during covid, for example
NETHERFIELD STATION
Of the 6,946 passengers in 2022/3, 1,780 travelled to Nottingham, but again this does not include Robin Hood Tickets. Will we ever get a better train service here? Well, devolution for the East Midlands (actually Nottingham City and County and Derby City and County) will take effect from May 2024. Transport and Housing will be among the areas where powers currently held by national politicians in Westminster will be devolved to leaders in the East Midlands. £4 billion will be allotted to the new authority which will ‘improve our roads and public transport’.
Some years ago when East Midlands Trains took over the franchise, one of the requirements laid down by the Department for Transport was that a train from Netherfield should arrive in Nottingham before 08.45 for school children. You can just imagine a clerk in their office saying, ‘there aren’t many trains call at Netherfield, it must be a village near Nottingham, so we had better give them a train for school children, as I suppose they don’t have a Secondary school in their area’. Well, I never saw a school child join the 08.31, and I used to be at the station most days to see this train. Occasionally a school child would alight from this train. I think it is time I put my ‘soap box’ away, but you can see how frustrating it is trying to get more trains at Netherfield.
EMR NEWS
EMR has launched a £3 million project to replace standard-class seat covers and foam padding used on its Intercity fleet (London services). 5,272 standard-class seats and 243 tip-up seats will be changed to a neutral grey colour and will be refurbished during routine maintenance. Old materials will be recycled, the foam being used to make rubberised safety matting in children’s play areas.
Class 158 and 170 units used on Regional services (that’s us!) will be undergoing a refurbishment and refresh this year.
Work is continually taking place at stations on the EMR network, replacing damaged or vandalised panels in waiting shelters, installing new benches at all stations and other work. I have requested extra benches at Carlton so we will have to wait and see,
An EMR Station Adopters newsletter outlines other activities that have taken place such as Remembrance services at Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. Also a week in the life of the Commercial Director. One thing caught my eye: ‘We have recently seen high levels of growth on Lincoln services due to a new medical college opening, and so we are looking at whether we can provide additional capacity on some of these trains.’
BRIEF ENCOUNTERS
Ticket offices to stay open: MP for Newark also said that £350m will be invested in making stations accessible, arid he is hoping this will include Bingham station
New restaurant: An Italian restaurant is expanding and will take over a unit at Newark Castle station. Rella Vita, already in Ollerton, is expected to open in January.
Skegness Station Revamp: £3.3m has been allocated to improve Skegness station. The layout of the station will be reconfigured to improve passenger flow. Phase 1 is the conversion of a disused building at the front of the station into a new passenger area, including a cafe and shops. It is also planned to link the railway hub to the bus station, with work continuing throughout 2024.
Beeston improvements: Planning application has been made to replace the timber in the waiting shelters at Beeston, and the felt roof, plus repaint shelters and benches. Lifts are to be installed.
QR Codes: QR codes at Regional stations will provide details on next 3 trains. Codes will be placed on stickers in waiting rooms or platforms
Fare rise: Rail fares to rise up to 4.9% from March.
There is a chance to win up to £25,000 every Saturday when you play Gedling Lotto.
You just need to match six numbers to win the £25,000 jackpot.
We now publish the winning numbers each Saturday night.
THIS WEEK’S WINNING NUMBERS (23/12/23)
1 1 6 2 8 1
How does Gedling Lotto work?
Gedling Lotto is a weekly lottery draw that raises money for good causes across Gedling Borough. All good causes supported by the lottery will benefit the Gedling Borough and its residents.
Play the lottery, support Gedling Borough – it’s that simple!
From every £1 ticket you buy, 60p will go to local good causes in the Gedling Borough and improve our community.
Some of the many causes to benefit from the Lotto include:
Gedling Eye looks back at the highs and lows of 2023 across the borough, continuing with July to September…
JULY
THE FATE of a new development in Arnold remained in limbo following news that the housebuilder has gone into administration.
Work on the new development on Rolleston Drive was put on hold while the manufacturer of the factory-built homes destined for the site sought a buyer to help raise cash to keep them operational. However news broke that the modular homes builder, Ilke Homes had gone into administration resulting in the closure of its manufacturing facility.
PICTURED: The reality of the new homes on Rolleston Drive and the dream affordable home for so many. (GEDLING EYE)
A preschool which had been serving communities in Gedling borough for 50 years announced that it was closing due to financial difficulties. Carlton Preschool Playgroup, which is based at the Richard Herrod Centre in Foxhill Roady rented out a room at the centre from Gedling Borough Council and had 34 children on its roll. Seven staff have been made redundant as part of the closure, which manager Maxine Payne described as “devastating”
A suspect from Carlton was charged in connection with a string of 14 shop thefts as police continued efforts to crack down on retail crime. A 33-year-old man was arrested in the Carlton area by officers investigating raids at the Co-op store in Westdale Lane West, Mapperley, between February 11 and 2 July 2023. Daniel Whitchurch, aged 33, of Portland Road, Carlton, was subsequently released on conditional bail and was due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on July 20 2023.
More than 1,200 incidents of fly-tipping across Gedling borough ended up costing taxpayers £189,000 in 2022. Fly-tipping, the illegal dumping of waste, is the costliest form of waste crime in England with estimates from 2021 from the Environmental Services Association (ESA) suggesting the overall cost of fly-tipping across the country is £391.8m a year. During a Gedling Borough Council Full Council meeting on Wednesday, July 12, Cllr Mike Adams (Con) asked the Labour-led administration what the total cost of fly-tipping was to taxpayers. Responding Cllr Marje Paling, the chairwoman of the environment and licensing committee, said: “Last financial year the cost for removal of fly-tipping in Gedling was calculated at £189,000, which equates to £1.61 per resident and it was for 1,220 incidents in 2022.”
PICTURED: Rubbish dumped in Stoke Lane, Gedling borough
A wanted man from Mapperley Park who fled the country was left “speechless” after returning on a plane and finding police waiting for him. Anas Bahbaishi, aged 33, bought a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia after being charged with driving whilst disqualified. The businessman was due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 10 May but flew out of London Heathrow four days earlier. A warrant was issued for his arrest and Nottinghamshire Police inquiries found he had flown out to the city of Jeddah. Police at Manchester Airport received a notification from Border Force that Bahbaishi, previously of Cranmer Street, Mapperley Park, Nottingham, had checked in for a flight from Jeddah to Manchester and Nottinghamshire Police was informed and officers from the City South neighbourhood policing team travelled to the airport and awaited his arrival. He was arrested on the plane moments after landing and transported back to Nottingham for questioning.
A Netherfield GP will hung up her stethoscope after serving the community for 31 years. Dr Caitriona Kennedy informed patients via social media that she has taken the decision to retire. The GP has worked for Trentside Medical Group, which owns the Netherfield Medical Centre where she is based, for three decades. In a post on the Trentside Medical Group Facebook page she wrote: “After 31 years at Trentside, it is with a mixture of sadness and excitement that I am retiring from the Partnership.”
A new CCTV camera was installed at an anti-social behaviour hotspot in Colwick after Gedling Borough Council was granted funding from the Government’s Safer Streets fund. The 360-degree CCTV camera was installed on Balmoral Road to help tackle anti-social behaviour and support the new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which is active in the surrounding area. The camera provides high-quality images to the council’s CCTV control room and is used to assist the police with investigations, as well as aiding the council’s Community Safety Team and Neighbourhood Wardens in tackling anti-social behaviour.
PICTURED: Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE with Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry at the new CCTV Camera on the corner of Balmoral Road, Colwick.
A project to restore an historic Victorian train station in Gedling to its former glory was dealt a major blow after its bid for £250k of heritage lottery money was rejected. A grant application to support Gedling Youth and Community Hub with their work in restoring the building on Shearing Hill has been rejected by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for England, Midlands and East, according to their website. The announcement gives no indication as to why the grant application was rejected however a spokesperson from the National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We can confirm that Transforming Gedling Old Station has been rejected. We know this is very disappointing news. There is a high level of competition for grants at every stage of the grant application process and unfortunately, we are unable to support all the applications we receive.”
A teenager appeared in court after a fight in an Arnold street. Police were called to Cavendish Street following reports of an assault and when officers arrived at the scene they found a teenage girl had suffered stab wounds. She was taken to hospital with injuries that are not currently believed to be life-altering or life-threatening. Officers quickly located a suspect in a nearby street and a 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, possession of a knife in a public place and possession of a Class B drug.
AUGUST
A CCTV appeal was launched by police after a disabled man was robbed on the doorstep of his Carlton home. The victim was trying to unlock his front door when a man rifled through his shoulder bag and stole cash before leaving the scene. It’s believed he was followed by a man after getting off a Nottingham City Transport number 27 bus at the bottom of Carlton Hill, Carlton, and then walking to his home in Southdale Road. As part of their ongoing inquiries, officers released images of a man they believed may have information that could assist with their investigation.
PICTURED: Police want to speak to this man following a doorstep robbery in Carlton (IMAGE: Notts Police)
After being closed for over two years, due to Coronavirus restrictions and the death of the museum keeper, the Calverton Folk Museum reopened. Owned by the Calverton Preservation and History Society and situated on Main Street, Calverton next to the Baptist Church the Museum is housed in a 4-roomed, Grade II listed, 18th. Century cottage. The museum was opened in 1974 and has a variety of displays depicting local history and heritage. There is also a kitchen and bedroom from about 100 years ago and a variety of objects relating to local coalmining, farming and education.
Newstead’s annual Family Fun Day event was heading towards cancellation due to the atrocious British weather until the British bulldog spirit kicked in. After some very last minute changes and the addition of an indoor venue the event was able to go ahead much to the delight of the several hundred people who attended. Those braving the weather were rewarded as the weather Gods decided to be kind and blue skies finally emerged in time for the main attraction – the Savage Skills Stunt Show.
KH Hair Arnold stylist, Amelia Krasinski secured her place at the UK finals of a major hairdressing industry competition. The 18-year-old was named as a finalist in the Colour Visionary category at the Wella Professionals TrendVision Awards UK & Ireland. The prestigious event celebrates exceptional talent and has become one of the most iconic hair competitions in the hairdressing industry.
PICTURED: Amelia Krasinski, who has secured her place at the UK finals of a major hairdressing industry competition.
It was a season of success in the borough for one talented primary school. Stanhope Primary, in Gedlingvillage, reached the finals of the county cup football competition with both their girl’s and boy’s teams, with the girls going on to take the crown. Years five and six were competing and the amazing achievements of both teams were recognised by sporting royalty, with the pupils having a video message from Carl Froch, as well as a special assembly with England international Sophie Bradley-Auckland.
A man was caught hiding in a loft at an Arnold property with a JD Sports bag containing cannabis and cash when he tried to evade arrest. Officers attended an address in Worrall Avenue on Thursday, August 10 were looking for a man wanted in connection with a GBH offence. Within the rear first floor bedroom was a small loft hatch leading into the loft space. Officers made themselves known but no one responded. Once entering the loft, they found the suspect in a dressing gown lying on his side in front of the water tank attempting to hide. A search of the loft – close to where the man was hiding – recovered a black jacket containing a quantity of cash and a black JD Sports drawstring bag containing a quantity of cannabis and more cash.
Administrators confirmed that hundreds of staff at Wilko working for the collapsed chain would lose their jobs. The redundancies were being made after the latest deal to buy the business fell through. Private equity firm M2 Capital said it made a £90m bid for Wilko but was unable to provide proof of funding in time to complete the sale. PwC, which is overseeing Wilko’s sale, said it was it was clear there was no viable offer to buy the whole business.
SEPTEMBER
Nottingham City Transport expanded its network to serve the new Chase Farm development in Gedling. Chase Farm is now served by an extension of NCT’s Sky Blue 45 service, providing a 10 minute Monday to Saturday daytime service to Mapperley and the City Centre with Sunday daytime buses operate every 20 minutes, with a half hourly service every night and last buses back from the City at midnight on Mondays to Saturdays.
PICTURED: A bus at Chase Farm
A Mapperley man appeared in court after a woman was attacked in an alleyway. The 50-year-old victim was walking home after a night out when a man crept up behind her in Diversity Way, Radford. It was reported the attacker grabbed the woman around the neck and pulled her to the ground, before stealing her handbag. Following inquiries, police arrested a suspect in connection with the incident. Darren Unwin, of Mapperley Road, Mapperley Park, Nottingham, was subsequently charged with robbery and intentional strangulation.
Sainsbury’s launched an exciting new service in Colwick, with the introduction of a brand-new Ultra-rapid Electric Vehicle (EV) charging hub at its store by Colwick Loop Road. ‘Ultra-rapid’ is the fastest type of EV charging currently available on the market. Designed to be quick, reliable and easy to use, Sainsbury’s new service will allow customers to charge Electric Vehicles in as little as 30 minutes – providing enough power to travel up to 200 miles – rather than waiting for hours when using slower types of EV charging.
Carlton Community Hub hosted their official launch and family fun day on Saturday, September 23. The hub was established by Christian charity Hope Nottingham two years ago, building on a long-standing foodbank partnership with Main St Methodist Church. The community hub offers a wide range of holistic support to the local community and the foodbank has been enhanced with a wonderful community café every Tuesday and Friday afternoon.
Pictured: Carlton Community Hub (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
A woman from Gedling risked arrest and a possible two-year imprisonment by holding up signs outside Nottingham Crown Court, as part of the growing public campaign Defend Our Juries. The silent protest was one of 21 being held today across England outside Crown Courts. Amanda Pumo, 64, a retired therapist from Gedling said: “Defendants should be able to tell the jury the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Isn’t that what you swear to do in Court? And the truth includes why you’re protesting. If defendants can’t tell the whole truth, how can the jurors make a truly informed decision about their guilt or innocence?”
Gedling Eye looks back at the highs and lows of 2023 across the borough, continuing with April to June…
APRIL
BUILDING site mess at a school entrance in Gedling caused fury amongst residents.
Locals said they were being forced to walk on the road due to building site mess on the Clegg Construction site on Burton Road. Pedestrians said they had to walk into the road as the footpath outside the building site at Carlton Le Willows Academy became ‘a quagmire’ every time it rained.
One local parent said the footpath was ‘a mess’ even when it wasn’t raining.
PICTURED: The site outside Carlton le Willows Academy entrance on Burton Road (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)
A POPULAR Sneinton bakery made the move to take over new premises on Carlton Hill.
Beccy and Mark Wilson, a husband and wife duo, opened the doors of The Bakery & Kitchen to Carlton Hill customers for the first time.
Beccy told Gedling Eye that they had been looking for a new premises with seating for a while that was not too far from where they were based in Sneinton. They had looked at their new property previously and said they ‘were delighted’ when it became available again as a lot of their existing customers come from Carlton.
PICTURED: Pictured: The Bakery & Kitchen (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
A WOMAN attempted to pull a two-year-old boy from his mum’s arm in Gedling.
The incident happened in Arnold Lane towards the junction with Friday Lane.
The mum had one child in a pushchair and another in her arm when an unknown woman approached her muttering under her breath and then tugged at the two-year-old in his mum’s arm.
A NUMBER of patients at Stenhouse Medical Centre in Arnold were told they may need to find a new doctor if they have moved out of the area.
Managers at the surgery made the request on their Facebook page posting: “Over the last couple of years the number of patients registered at Stenhouse has increased considerably as has the complexity of those patients. We have to accept new patients who live within the practice area, so after taking advice, have taken the difficult decision, to ask some patients living outside the area to register elsewhere. These are mainly patients who live a significant distance out of the area.”
PICTURED: Stenhouse Medical Practice
PLANS to demolish a former church in Arnold and replace it with housing were turned down by councillors who said it would be a ‘travesty’ if they went ahead.
Construction company Direct Land Investment applied to knock down Beacon Baptist Church in Killisick Road and replace it with housing but Gedling Borough Councillors voted to refuse the application. A petition ‘Save Beacon Baptist Church from demolition for housing’ gained 193 signatures.
CARLTON Town FC fought off relegation to secure their Step 4 status.
Tommy Brookbanks, co-manager of The Millers, said: “You look at it from January 7, nine games we got four points. From March 7, nine games we got 19. Now that is playoff form”.
Relegation was avoided by virtue of North Shields failing their ground grading and Carlton Town only finding out that they would not have to play a relegation playoff three days before they would have had to have played said playoff.
MAY
LABOUR retained control of Gedling Borough Councilafter winning 28 out of 41 seats – giving them a comfortable majority.
Labour lost two seats in Cavendish to the Liberal Democrats but gained a seat in Plains ward from the Conservatives. Four Liberal Democrat seats were won which was two-seat gain. No independent candidates managed to secure a council seat during the election.
PICTURED: Gedling Borough Council leader John Clarke
A NAIL BAR in Calverton was repossessed by landlords.
Customers of ‘Nails Bar’ were shocked to find the business on St Wilfrid’s Square locked and empty and a forfeiture notice on display on the inside of the main door.
Locals expressed their shock at the closure on the village’s dedicated Facebook page, with one writing: “Calverton Nail shop, GONE!!!!”. The notice was served by Parkinsons Bailiff Services Ltd, Enforcement Agents on Long Hai Cao of 14 St. Wilfrid’s Square, Calverton, NG14 6FP and all signage was removed.
CARLTON Town’s official website revealed that the football club was to call an emergency meeting after receiving a ‘horrendous’ electricity bill.
Following a submitted meter reading they were hit with an electricity bill for over £7900. The club revealed that their direct debit contribution to the annual bill will almost double going forward – adding to growing travel costs this following the FA’s decision to move the club into the Northern Premier East League from the Midland League.
CALVERTONParish Council (CPP) joined the national Coronation celebrations and organised a mass picnic in William Lee Park.
The event was attended by over 3,000 partygoers following similar successful events delivered by CPP at the Christmas lights switch on and the very successful and well-received Jubilee picnic.
Cllr. Andy Meads (CPP Chairman and co-organiser) told Gedling Eye that a last-minute grant from a special National Lottery fund had helped the council afford to pay for everything.
He said: “It was all free for residents including bouncy castles, a giant slide, a 100 ft obstacle course, a climbing wall, fairground ride, and wipe out game.”
PICTURED: Crowds enjoy the coronation in William Lee Park
THE OXFAM Homeware store on Arnold high street closed after it was revealed by head office said that they could not afford to keep the site running.
The outlet was one of two shops run by the charity in the town.
An Oxfam spokesperson said: “Oxfam shops exist to raise as much money as possible to overcome poverty and suffering in some of the poorest countries in the world. We constantly evaluate the profitability of all our shops, to ensure they are efficient and making the most money for Oxfam’s vital work. Sometimes this leads to difficult decisions about the viability of particular shops.
They added: These decisions are never taken lightly and we always take into account the impact on our staff and volunteers.”
The closed Oxfam Homeware shop in Arnold
GREENE King’s decision to go cashless at a pub in Mapperley left regulars angry.
The change at The Travellers Rest on Mapperley Plains was part of the company’s trial to drop cash payments as most customers pay via card.
Many punters did not agree with the decision as they do not want to participate in a cashless society. Ross Da’Bell, 65, of Arnold, was one of many customers disappointed with the change. saying: “I was a regular and they didn’t tell me this had happened until I finished my meal there. I’m against this as I’m older generation and like paying cash, I know where I am, but more, they’ve taken away choice.”.
Another customer added their view on a Facebook group post, they wrote: “Won’t be going again unless this changes.”
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Police arrested a 54-year-old suspected drink-driver after a two car head-on collision in Ravenshead left a woman with broken bones.
Officers from the Road Policing Unit were alerted to the incident at Main Road where there was significant damage to both vehicles and debris was scattered across the roads.
PICTURED: The secene of the crash in Ravenshead (PHOTO: Notts Police)
JUNE
ARMED officers arrested a man in Daybrook after the police were called to an address in Frobisher Gardens, Daybrook.
It was reported that threats were made towards people inside the property. Police said armed officers detained a suspect within minutes and that no-one was injured. A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
NOTTINGHAM City Transport ordered 12 battery-electric buses as it seeks to move its fleet to zero emissions. The greener buses will serve the borough’s Red 50, which goes to Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield, and the Blue 39, which provides public transport to parts of Carlton. NCT said the new fleet is able to run a full day’s service on a single charge.
A BURGLAR from Calverton who left his blood at a crime scene in Arnold after stealing a car was jailed.
John Wilson, aged 39, broke into a home in Sandfield Road, Arnold, on April 11, 2023 and carried out an untidy search of the property. He stole a jewellery box, purse, two sets of car keys and the car which was parked on the driveway. However, detectives investigating the burglary were able to link the break-in to Wilson after finding traces of his blood on a stairgate.
Wilson, of Labray Road, Calverton, was jailed for a total of 18 months when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court.
PICTURED: John Wilson (PHOTO: Notts Police)
AFTER decades serving Gedling Borough Council and three mayoral terms, 87-year-old former Mayor and political icon Peter Barnes retired following the local elections.
Peter spent a collective 53 years in local government, 49 of which were as a member of the borough council.
POLICE Officers made a significant breakthrough after a public appeal for information prompted a grandson to come forward about unidentified remains found in Coxmoor Road.
Russell Lowbridge was only four years old when his grandfather, Alfred Swinscoe, went missing in early 1967 after drinking at the Pinxton Miners Arms in Derbyshire.
Family members had been waiting 56 years for answers after Alfred, aged 54 at the time, went missing in mysterious and unusual circumstances. DNA tests were carried out on Russell and Alfred’s son, now in his 70s, and matched against the bones exhumed from the ground.
Police launched a murder investigation and a team of dedicated detectives are now working alongside a team of scientists hoping they can to bring his killer to justice.
PICTURED: Alfred Swinscoe, aged 54 at the time, went missing in mysterious and unusual circumstances
ALMOST 50 formal complaints were made against Nottinghamshire’s crime commissioner Caroline Henry after she was found guilty of speeding five times in 12 weeks.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mrs Henry pleaded guilty to the five speeding offences at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court. Mrs Henry was clocked travelling over the 30mph speed limit twice near Burford Primary School in Daybrook.
She was further caught speeding on roads in Chilwell and Beeston and on the A610. She was fined £2,450 and banned from driving for six months at the time. A report detailing the complaints the crime commissioner received over 2022/23 was noted during a Police and Crime Panel meeting at Nottinghamshire County Council’s County Hall on Monday, June 5.
AN ONGOING police operation cracking down on nuisance car cruisers in parts of Gedling borough resulted in more than 120 drivers being dealt with.
Operation Triplefin was launched in October 2022 to prevent and reduce antisocial behaviour and criminal activity associated with the car cruises. Hotspots for unlicensed gatherings, which have caused road safety, noise, and antisocial behaviour concerns, included the Colwick Industrial Estate and near Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield.
A SCHEME to make cycling safer in an area of Mapperley was handed a cash boost from the Government.
Nottingham City Council has accepted more than £1.7million from the Active Travel Fund to invest in creating a cycling and pedestrian route along Porchester Road that will be clearly segregated from traffic.
The council was awarded the full grant due to its track record of building safe walking and cycling routes.
The City Council expects to hold a public consultation later this summer, where local residents, cyclists and people who commute through the area will have a chance to give their views and suggestions on the designs which are currently being developed.
Pubgoers across Gedling borough will soon be able to save money when they visit the budget boozer chain next month with some pints costing as little £1.99 and a range of food on offer too.
Wetherspoons will be reducing the price of some of their drinks and meals for just over two weeks, starting on Tuesday, January 2 and ending on Wednesday, January 17.
The average sale price of favourite pints such as Bud Light and Doom Bar will be just £1.99.
Meanwhile, a classic cocktail will cost £2.99, a bottle of Beck’s Blue at £1.49, Pepsi Max (14oz) at £1.49 and Lavazza coffee, tea and hot chocolate (with free refills) at £1.29.
Low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks are also included in the sale such as Erdinger, BrewDog Punk AF, Stella Artois, Heineken 0.0, Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime, Adnams Ghost Ship and Beck’s Blue.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said: “Department stores and shops hold their sales in January, so it is the perfect time to have a sale in the pubs too.
“The range of drinks and food on sale in the pubs is aimed at suiting a wide variety of tastes.
“This year we have included our biggest selection of low and non-alcoholic drinks. I believe that the January Sale will prove popular with our customers. As always, staff at the pubs will serve customers responsibly.”
The January sale will be available across all Wetherspoon pubs, of which there are more than 800.
Customers will also be able to save on food, such as the small breakfasts, small “3 for…” plates and a range of burgers.
Here’s where to find your nearest Wetherspoon in Gedling borough:
