Villagers are being asked to attend a drop-in safety awareness event following a number of near-misses between pedestrians and trains on local rail crossings.
The event is happening this Saturday (October 15) at the Lord Nelson in Burton Joyce between 10am-1pm and has been organised by Network Rail and the local parish council
Those attending the event will hear driver stories and see videos about the impact of poor crossing safety. VR headsets will also be available to give visitors a train driver’s perspective when a near miss occurs.
They will also learn about the impact of applying emergency brakes and how it impacts the wider rail timetable.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail remains concerned by the number of ‘near misses’ and dangerous behaviours on the rail crossings in the village.
“Incidents have been recorded on camera of people standing on the tracks on the phone, children playing and toddlers being allowed to roam freely on the crossing.
“We would encourage you to come along and hear driver stories and see the impact of poor crossing safety – and help keep this heavily-used crossing open.”
Bus services in Gedling borough that are struggling to recover from a slump in passenger numbers will be propped up by a Government grant.
Nottingham City Council says some routes are not being used enough to make them profitable, partly because journeys have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The council has released a list of borough services which will benefit.
The council is being given £11.4 million to help keep them going and also build new bus lanes and other public transport infrastructure.
The Labour-run authority says the funding “provides a welcome boost as the public transport network continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic”.
The council is expected to accept the funding and discuss how it will be spent next week.
In a report released ahead of a meeting on the spending, the council adds: “In addition to the investment in new bus infrastructure, a number of bus services that are at risk of withdrawal will be supported and enhanced to maintain attractive levels of frequency, open up new connectivity and return to higher levels of commerciality as new travel and work patterns continue to stabilise and consolidate as part of the recovery from the impact of the pandemic.”
The grant money will come from the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which aims to make bus services across the country more efficient and sustainable.
In 2020 the Department for Transport asked local authorities to draw up a BSIP and a number were then selected to receive grant money.
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire were two of 31 successful local authorities, with the former receiving £11.4 and the latter £18.7m.
The city council report says: “It will help the network realign to the new levels of bus patronage which are currently in the region of 80 to 85 per cent of the level of bus use before the pandemic hit and grow patronage going forward.”
The grant money will be accepted during a meeting of executive councillors on Tuesday next week (October 18).
The services which will be supported or enhanced include;
NCT 39, Carlton Valley to City: This service will receive interim support, in order that the current frequency can be retained for an area where passenger numbers are expected to grow back to previous levels over time. Residents in Thorneywood Mount and Gordon Road rely on this service.
NCT 50, Victoria Retail Park, A612, Racecourse P&R to City: Service links expanding Waterside area of Nottingham with the city centre. Service enhancement to provide evening and Sunday services to growing Waterside area.
NCT 53, Clifton to Arnold via Basford, Radford and main hospitals: This is the main ring road service, allowing orbital journeys to take place to key destinations. The route provides some key links within Clifton Estate and the Whitemoor and Valley Road areas that would not otherwise be served. It also provides links for school children at those times of day. This service is already providing additional links within Clifton, at Lark Hill, Summerwood Lane and the Sunninghill Drive area. Additional funding is currently required to support this service.
NCT 56/57/59, Arnold to City via Plains Estate: This service will receive interim support, in order that the current frequency can be retained for an area where passenger numbers are expected to grow back to previous levels over time. The service provides secondary links away from the main road to housing estates east of the A60.
The £4 million flagship business development in Arnold Town Centre building will be the new home to several new business start-ups as well as the Post Office – who will be the first business to open its doors to the public.
New businesses are due to be moving into the units, with terms on their leases being agreed. There will be a wine tasting experience outlet, a cat and dog accessory and treats store, a cake shop and a delicatessen to go alongside the Post Office, which has relocated from nearby Worrall Avenue.
Funding for the project came from Gedling Borough Council’s capital programme budget, boosted by a successful bid for £1.25 million from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund that supports town centre improvements.
PICTURED: The market was purchased by Gedling Borough Council back in 2018PICTURED: Delegates at the topping out ceremony at Arnold Market
The AMP is an acronym of the famous Arnold Market Place but it can also mean amplification and amphitheatre, as the outdoor square will be a space used for events and entertainment. The name was chosen following consultation with local residents and businesses and after looking at several options, The AMP stood out as the obvious choice for this exciting project.
The building was constructed by developers G F Tomlinson, the company, who previously built the council’s Café 1899 at Gedling Country Park.
The building has been designed to use less energy, use more renewable energy and reduce its CO2 emissions. The building has a number of energy efficient designs including 51 solar panels, natural ventilation points, and high efficiency LED lighting.
The 51 solar panels on the roof of the building will help generate an estimated annual yield of 14,924 kWh of power to the units. The building is also fitted with rainwater retention tanks that will be used to reduce flood risks and feed the semi-mature trees that are planted around the public realm to offset carbon emissions, contributing to the council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The project meant that Arnold Town Centre received the most significant investment it has ever had with up to £4 million allocated to the project as part of the council’s plan to revitalise the centre and create a new space that will help boost visitors to the town centre and support local businesses.
Gedling Borough Council purchased the land in 2018 and began work on the building in 2020. The site was the home of Arnold Market for over 50 years and, following an extensive consultation, the stallholders moved to nearby Eagle Square while the works were carried out and, thanks to its success, plans are in place for the traders to stay at the location, subject to consultation with the stall holders.
The council’s future plans for the new public space will include increasing the use for community events. The council will also be looking at options for specialist markets, including evening and weekend markets.
A small ceremony will take place later today (11) to celebrate The AMP being officially handed over to Gedling Borough Council. A time capsule, designed by local school children from Robert Mellors Primary School, will be placed into the ground on the site. The capsule contains letters, photos and other materials, designed by the school children, that are sealed in a water tight container and will be placed deep in the foundations of the building.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “We are incredibly pleased to announce that the AMP building is officially complete and our new tenants will begin moving in to this wonderful new building in the heart of Arnold Town Centre.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in helping getting this ambitious project over the line, it has taken an colossal amount of work to get this done by Gedling Borough Council staff, G F Tomlinsons and several other partners who all contributed to this project and made it a success.
“We made a manifesto pledge that we would revitalise the town centre and this will be the jewel in the crown for Arnold.”
Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said: “This new flagship building and public square will bring new business to Arnold and boost the economy for the existing businesses in and around the town centre. This is something that everyone can be proud of, not just in Arnold but also in our surrounding towns and communities.
This investment, one of the largest investments there has ever been in Arnold, has come at a time when the council is still one of the worst affected councils in the country in terms of funding cuts from central government. We are incredibly proud that we have reached this remarkable milestone despite the significant financial pressures the council is under. The AMP is here and we hope residents and businesses will support it and be proud of the things we can achieve together as a community.
We are also committed to revitalising and investing in our other fantastic local town centres and high streets across the borough. We are investing in Carlton Square, have secured a significant amount of funding to make our streets safer in Netherfield and have invested in a dedicated team working to support our small businesses across the borough.’
Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said: “D2N2 is delighted to be one of the co-funders of this strategically important town centre regeneration project. Apart from the initial 40 new jobs, this will potentially assist further new investment in the locality”.
A youth football club based at Stoke Bardolph is counting the cost following a “devastating” act of vandalism over the weekend 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.
A picture released by the club shows damage to the ceiling, lighting and fitness equipment.
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
In statement released on social media, the club said: “We were devastated this morning to find our clubhouse had been broken into overnight, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage and the theft of essential items.
“We’re a youth football club, run by volunteers, this really hurts everyone involved in our club. Any information on the low lives that did this would be greatly appreciated.”
Police say they think the club was targeted by metal thieves.
Officers said they found the front door had been taken off, taps in both bathrooms had been stolen and portions of pipes were cut and stolen.
Some of the ceiling was also removed and copper pipes taken from the loft.
Police Constable Lyndon Brown, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry to trace those responsible for this despicable crime which has caused great upset to the club and the wider community.
“To target a facility used for the benefit and enjoyment of young people is shameful and I’d like to reassure people that we are doing everything we can to identify and locate the culprits who will be robustly dealt with.
“As part of our inquiries we would urge anyone who saw what happened, anyone who may have captured CCTV or dash-cam footage or anyone who has any other information that could help with our investigation to contact the police.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident 188 of 9 October 2022, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
To help find the funds to carry out repairs and replace the lost items, a GoFundMe page has been set up.
The online fundraiser has been set up by parent Nathan Page.
So far £480 in donations have been received – with a target of £2,500 set.
Criminals are taking their life in their own hands by creating improvised firearms which can leave them with devastating injuries.
Nottinghamshire Police has seized a number of ‘slam guns’ where metal pipes are used and hammered to discharge a cartridge.
One suspect lost part of his hand after the weapon backfired.
Criminals are also using blank firing pistols such as the Retays , but rifling them out, so the chamber is clear for a projectile.
PICTURED: ‘Slam guns’ seized by police
The force’s archive and exhibits department handles between 30 to 60 firearms a week.
They work with detectives to build up an intelligence picture and provide a detailed analysis of the weapon seized.
Weapons include rifles, air pistols, BB guns, CS spray and stun devices.
A quantity of weapons seized are found in lofts or sheds after a relative has passed away with no link to criminality or recovered from licensed gun-holders.
But some criminals struggling to get their hands on firearms are making their own known as ‘slam guns.’
Officer David Richardson said: “They are really dangerous to the user not just the public. There was a suspect who blew part of their hand off using one. Blank firing pistols are also used.
“Criminals rifle them out and make them into viable firearms. We had a spate of them, but it has now slowed down.
“We had between 20 to 30 in the space of a three-month period, but they have all been seized and the people who had them have all been sentenced.
“We get a lot of imitation or replica firearms. They look like a viable firearm and fire a projectile like ball-bearings.
“You can still get done by the law for having one and they can be potentially lethal.”
Weapons such as handguns are much rarer and are usually passed between criminal groups.
The weapon itself can be “a business” with criminals paying around £500 to rent it out before it moves to another part of the country.
The force has many intelligence streams to push these weapons out of circulation by intercepting the criminal while the weapon is on the move.
Sgt Rob Spry, who is in charge of the archive and exhibits department, said: “We have seen a downward spiral of firearm offences in Nottinghamshire.
“We are on top of firearms and made great strides over the last decade – and that is dedication to our police teams.
“Public safety is paramount. Our department fills the massive gaps between seizure and conviction.
“We have a 100 percent success rate – we determine ‘this is a dangerous weapon, and it is linked to this person, remand them.’
“If you are criminal and carrying a firearm in Nottinghamshire, we will find you and use the weight of the law to put you behind bars for a very long time.”
A drug dealer has been jailed after police found a gun, a taser and other illegal weapons hidden in his Carlton home.
Travis Morgan, aged 27, was spotted conducting a drug deal in an alleyway by officers and was arrested as he tried to run away.
Numerous wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were found in his possession, along with three mobile phones and a quantity of cash.
Despite Morgan’s claims that he was homeless at the time of this arrest on September 14 last year, he was also found to be in possession of a key to a property he’d been staying at.
PICTURED: Travis MorganPolice carried out a search at a property in Carlton and found a number of illegal weapons
Officers later carried out a search of the house in Carlton, where they found more drugs, cash and dealing paraphernalia.
They also found telescopic baton, a taser and CS Spray.
Things went from bad to worse for Morgan when they found a handgun and ammunition hidden inside a bum bag.
He later pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs with intent to supply, one count of possessing a firearm, possessing ammunition without a certificate, and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying illegal drugs and another of possessing a controlled drug.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, September 23, Morgan, of no fixed address, was jailed for eight years and three months.
Detective Sergeant Emma Pollard, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a great bit of police work by members of Knife Crime Team who were in the right place at the right time to spot Morgan conducting a drug deal.
“Like many career criminals, he was clearly prepared to use violence in his day-to-day business and had amassed an array of illegal weapons for this purpose.
“Unfortunately for him he literally invited the police to his door and is now beginning a very richly deserved jail sentence.”
Unsuspecting drivers were handed tickets following a successful police operation to target those breaking the law on the roads.
Officers from the Gedling neighbourhood policing team took part in a full day of action to crack down on speeding and other driving offences on Wednesday (October 5) in response to concerns raised by residents.
The proactive operation was run in various hot-spot locations including Calverton Road, Surgey’s Lane, Killisick Road, Rolleston Drive and Coppice Road in Arnold.
Neighbourhood policing sergeant Stuart Howe said: “We managed to stop a number of vehicles speeding, with eight offences being dealt with via words of advice and prosecution.
“Also three drivers were stopped driving with mobile phones and another for not wearing a seat belt. All have had notice of intended prosecutions for these offences.
“I hope targeted operations like this one reassure local residents that we will listen to their concerns and take positive action to tackle issues, such as speeding, which have an adverse impact on the local community.
“Tackling and reducing speeding is a priority for us and we have a number of planned operations taking place within the neighbourhood policing team area through October.
“We will continue to carry out action days like this to combat those who speed on our roads and don’t wear seatbelts and place not only themselves but the public at risk.
“We would urge anyone driving a car without a seatbelt, using a mobile phone or speeding to think about the impact a collision could have on not only their lives but an innocent person as well.
“Neighbourhood policing is about good communication with the people in our communities so I would ask anyone who has any concerns about where they live to get in touch with us or speak to any of our officers out on patrol.”
The owner of The Mustard Seed in Gedling has received a fine for repeatedly opening during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The BBC has reported that Nottingham Crown Court has ordered 71-year-old Christine Stala to pay £10,560 in fines plus £11,190 in council and legal costs.
Earlier this year she lost an appeal over a court fine.
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.
Officers previously said they had reports of “40 to 50 people” inside the cafe between 12 and 19 November 2020, and Stala was served with a three-month closure order.
Stala was also ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge and £510 in earlier court costs.
Around £90m of drugs have been incinerated this year – a record amount for Nottinghamshire Police.
The Archive and Exhibits department – which test most of the drugs that are seized by the force – says “cannabis is still the number one recreational drug in Notts.”
Dealers have also moved into new areas to evade arrest by injecting or lacing (THC) found in cannabis into cookies, cakes, chocolates and sweets, even seaside rock.
Some dealers have also manufactured their own packaging including ‘Zoot Pastels’ and ‘Dorweedos’ which look just like a popular brand of crisps.
PICTURED: Cannabis sweets and treats seized by Nottinghamshire PoliceCannabis plants seized by Nottinghamshire Police (PHOTO: Notts Police)
Officers are concerned these drugs could be marketed to young people and are actively clamping down on those who peddle this product.
These products have also been tested in the lab, with some coming back with traces of pesticides, detergents, hair spray and small traces of rat poison.
Officer David Richardson said: “This year alone we have incinerated up to £90m of drugs and that is the largest amount the force has ever done.
“These drugs are from recent jobs or historic jobs over the last two years, which have been stored while an investigation reaches its conclusion.
“There is a current trend where they are putting cannabis, THC, into cookies, cakes, chocolates, and sweets but they have been mixed with other nasty things such as fly spray and one test came back with traces of rat poison.
“We are getting what we describe as cannabis edibles on a weekly basis. People have started doing their own and are more aware of how to do it through social media.
“We had one case where a woman from Nottinghamshire was making cannabis cakes for her own circle of friends.
“The cannabis market is evolving and those who sell this drug are trying to get one foot ahead of us.
“They think officers will assume they are just carrying chocolate bars or crisps, but on closer inspection we know that is not the case.
“The problem, and concern for us as a force is innocent people get involved and children could be attracted to it. We don’t want that to happen.”
In 2016, the force said the combined street value of all the cannabis seized was around £6m. This has now jumped up to well over £20m a year.
On average, 300 to 500 drug items will pass through the department a week, which also includes heroin, crack cocaine, amphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, cannabis edibles and cannabis plants.
The team says cocaine is still a popular recreational drug in Nottinghamshire, but the purity is very poor, and it is mixed with many cutting agents which are found once examined at the lab.
Officer Richardson says the number of seizures is down to the excellent work by officers from across the force.
He added: “The whole of Nottinghamshire Police should be proud of their efforts. It has been a collaborative effort with all departments coming together.”
The department has also trained more than 170 officers in field testing so they can test seized drugs straight away, which leads to a quicker charge.
He added: “Cannabis is not getting worse – we are just getting better at finding the drugs. These teams are squeezing the drugs market and are massively proactive.
“We thought we might experience a dip during the pandemic, but we have not had that. We have just got busier.
“When people say ‘why don’t you just legalise cannabis, they don’t see the adverse effect it has on families, the local community, mental health, and the massive burden it has on the struggling NHS.
“Also, the money that criminals generate from drugs it just fuels more criminal activity.”
Sergeant Rob Spry, who leads the archive and exhibits department, said: “Cannabis seizures forms a massive part of our work.
“Drugs has a massive impact on our communities. It is linked to serious organised crime, violence, and modern slavery, with cannabis gardeners brought to Nottingham from overseas and forced to work in horrendous conditions.
“Cannabis grows in residential properties are also extremely dangerous with electricity bypassed making it a fire hazard.
“Drug dealers are making significant amounts of money from their illegal behaviour, and it is not fair on the law-abiding members of our community and therefore the force will continue to pursue those involved in this criminality.”
Gedling Borough Council plans to make it easier for people in the borough to afford their first home by lowering the threshold and increasing discounts on the Government’s First Homes scheme.
First Homes is a Whitehall-backed scheme to offer low-cost housing to first-time buyers at a reduced rate.
Discounts of at least 30 per cent on market value are offered to prospective buyers permitting their joint household income is no more than £80,000.
Homes must also be sold for no more than £250,000 once the discount has been applied.
Discounts of at least 30 per cent on market value are offered to prospective buyers permitting their joint household income is no more than £80,000.
National planning policies require that First Homes should account for at least 25 per cent of all affordable homes built on new developments – or 10 per cent of the total housing, depending on whichever is greater.
But now Gedling Borough Council has approved plans to take this further by writing new policies to offer greater discounts for first-time buyers.
Local authorities are able to increase the discount above the 30 per cent minimum and vary the price and income caps to suit local needs.
The council plans to offer a discount greater than 30 per cent on First Homes to ensure the price cap for the property is no higher than £173,000 once the discount is applied.
However, this would only be offered to households with a joint income not exceeding £38,830, while new buyers must also meet eligibility criteria providing they have a “local connection” to the borough.
The policy was approved by members of the Labour-run authority’s cabinet on Thursday (October 6).
Presenting the plans, Mike Avery, head of development and place, told councillors: “We’ve commissioned new evidence about the First Homes policy in our local housing market area.
“The study makes a number of recommendations. Firstly, there’s strong evidence to support an increase in the 30 per cent discount for First Homes.
“Secondly, there’s strong justification to support capping the price for the first sale at £173,000, and thirdly a household income cap should be £38,830 and also a local connection test is recommended.
“This reflects local house prices for affordable housing … and the local [income] situation.”
However, he added that the emphasis for the remainder of affordable housing on new developments will be given to affordable homes to rent.
This comes in response to an identified need for more affordable rent homes in Gedling.
Both moves were welcomed by cabinet members who said it will help people on lower incomes to be able to get onto the property ladder, afford deposits or have cheaper rent fees.
Councillor David Ellis (Lab), portfolio holder for community pride and engagement, said: “We know from planning meetings that the committee is concerned about the number of affordable homes in the borough.
“I am slightly sceptical about the First Homes scheme, the successor to the Government’s Starter Homes scheme, which was criticised for spending £174m and not delivering a single home.
“But I think this is a sensible implementation of the policy. It clearly doesn’t help social tenants who tend to have lower incomes and have great difficulty in getting a deposit.
“I would echo comments that the emphasis elsewhere in the area needs to be on affordable homes for rental and I support that.”
The policies will be written into the authority’s planning guidelines for when new developments are submitted.
