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Landlord licence scheme extended to four new areas of Gedling borough

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Landlord licence scheme extended to four new areas of Gedling borough

A scheme which requires landlords of rented homes to be licensed has been extended to four new areas of Gedling borough

Following a consultation, Gedling Borough Council has agreed to extend the Selective Licensing Scheme to Colwick, Carlton Hill, Daybrook and Newstead Village, making it mandatory for landlords in those areas to have a licence for each of their privately rented properties. 

The scheme will be in introduced into the new areas in November.

The extension follows a successful pilot launch in Netherfield where over 78% of the properties inspected needed work to bring them up to the legal standard required. Over 400 properties were inspected as part of the scheme and 10% of them needed urgent work to make them safe to live in, including removing imminent hazards in areas such as fire safety because of inadequate fire protection or detection, which all required immediate action to protect tenants. 

John Clarke Gedling
PICTURED: Cllr Jon Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council said the scheme was being extended to additional parts of the borough where we know standards of living could be improved. 

The consultation for the extension of the scheme received more than 200 responses and over 450 written comments which have been analysed and the feedback used to shape the extension to the scheme, known as Selective Licensing Phase two.

The licence requires that landlords meet a minimum standard of accommodation for residents and the scheme is being launched in areas where there is deprivation, high levels of antisocial behaviour, crime and poor housing conditions.

The licensing will give the council’s Environmental Health team powers to do more if landlords do not take the appropriate steps to deal with issues relating to property standards. 

READ MORE: Big four grocers slammed by RAC for failing to pass on fuel savings

The scheme starts on November 1 and landlords can now apply online at www.gedling.gov.uk/selectivelicensing.

They can also speak to council staff directly at two drop-in sessions at the Civic Centre in Arnot Hill Park on Monday, October 10 from 1pm to 5pm and on Wednesday 12 October from 9am to 1pm.  

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE said; “A key priority for the council is to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents and reduce health inequalities and to do that it’s vital that our resident’s homes are safe and suitable.

“Following the success of our pilot scheme in Netherfield, which saw a number of potentially lifesaving improvements carried out as a direct result of Selective Licensing, we’re extending the scheme to additional parts of the borough where we know standards of living could be improved. 

“We’ll work with landlords to make the necessary improvements to their properties to improve the lives and safety of their tenants and under the scheme we’ll be able to do more to step in to help even more residents and landlords if needed.”

Big four grocers slammed by RAC for failing to pass on fuel savings

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Big four grocers slammed by RAC for failing to pass on fuel savings

UK’s Big Four grocers have come under fire from the RAC for refusing to pass on fuel savings to customers.

Figures published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy reveal a litre of petrol cost an average of 165.5p on Monday, while diesel was 181.1p per litre.

This comes as on July 4, the highest average fuel prices for the year so far was recorded, when petrol was 191.6p per litre and diesel was 199.2p per litre.

“Although the fall in pump prices has slowed in recent weeks, they continue to trickle down steadily,” AA fuel price spokesperson Luke Bosdet said.

Tesco_exterior

“This was to be expected as the end of the US summer motoring season eases the pressure on gasoline demand and therefore reduces the wholesale price of petrol in this country.

“At UK street level, petrol prices around 155p a litre are beginning to appear again.”

RAC fuel spokesman added: “While this is clearly good news, prices should have fallen much further than they have due to the big reduction in the cost of wholesale fuel this summer.

“The main reason this hasn’t happened is that the big four supermarkets, which dominate UK fuel sales, have refused to pass on savings.

“Average margins are now 19p a litre – 12p more than the long-term average. Petrol should really be on sale for 153p a litre and diesel 175p.

“We hope the Competition and Markets Authority is watching what’s happening closely.”

Gedling borough residents to have say on regional masterplan for future housing

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling borough residents to have say on regional masterplan for future housing

Residents in Gedling borough will soon be asked to have their say on a regional masterplan looking at where to allocate areas for 2,000 homes.

The joint plan between Gedling Borough Council, Nottingham City Council, Broxtowe Borough Council and Rushcliffe Borough Councils will be published later in the year for public consultation.

The plan will look at how Greater Nottingham’s longer-term development needs can be met up to 2038, supported by more detailed policies which will be developed in each council’s own individual Local Plan.

The councils have now published a ‘Preferred Approach’ document which will form the basis of the Strategic Plan.

PICTURED: Many of the new homes could be built at Top Wighay to help meet targets set by the government

Once approved, the document, along with other planning policies, can be used for guidance by developers and planners as part of the planning process.

The government has set a housing target for at least 7,950 homes to be built in Gedling Borough by 2038. 

The ‘Preferred Approach’ document The ‘Preferred Approach’ document proposes further development at extensions to the strategic sites at Top Wighay Farm and Teal Close.

An extension of 360 properties is proposed at Teal Close, near Netherfield. 807 homes are currently planned there and more than 220 have already been completed.

A proposed extension of 640 homes is provisionally proposed for Top Wighay near Hucknall.

Councillor Milan Radulovic, chair of the Greater Nottingham Joint Planning Advisory Board, said: “The Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan will help us plan for a better future, recover quicker from the Covid 19 crisis, and contribute to progress on making Greater Nottingham a great place to live and work, to visit or do business in.  The consultation on the Preferred Approach is an important part of this process.

“We welcome views from residents, organisations and businesses, and encourage anyone who would like to help shape how we plan for our future development to have their say on the plans which are available to view online.” 

READ MORE: “Any suggestion that fracking will bring down our energy bills is pie in the sky”

The document will be considered by Cabinet Members in December and, if approved, will be followed by a six week public consultation exercise.

Visit http://www.gnplan.org.uk/ to sign up for the consultation or read the draft document.

Two-day event celebrating video gaming to take place this December at Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Two-day event celebrating video gaming to take place this December at Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton

From “Pac-Man” to “Call of Duty,” and Atari to PlayStation, video games fans can enjoy a celebration of their favourite pastime at the Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton this December.

The Nottingham Video Games Expo will be taking place at the centre on December 17 and 18.

The Expo will offer two days of action-packed gaming, activities, guest speakers and more.

As it’s a week before Christmas, it’s just in time to get those last-minute gifts, too!

The event is being put on by James and Alex, friends who met online during the coronavirus pandemic, have been going to gaming events for years, but have now decided to give it a try themselves. They say the formula for the Nottingham Video Games Expo is to put together all of their favourite parts of those previous events and wrap it all together just in time for Christmas with their own video games event.

Fun activities taking place across the weekend include…

  • Mario Kart Tournaments hosted by Nintendo Nottingham
  • Game programming workshops by The Centre for Computing History
  • The Retro Hour podcast will be running live panels with stars of the games industry
  • Pick-up-and-play games from various groups in the Gaming Area
  • Developers showcasing exclusive games in the Dev Area
  • Traders/Sellers will be on hand with all-things gaming and other treats

This is set to be a fun-packed event for all ages.

To find out more visit – https://www.nottsvge.com

Ticket Prices per day : £5 (Child) £10 (Adult)

MARK GLOVER: Any suggestion that fracking will bring down our energy bills is pie in the sky

Mark Glover
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MARK GLOVER: Any suggestion that fracking will bring down our energy bills is pie in the sky

This week the Government lifted a ban on fracking.

Fracking in the UK has been a controversial subject within local communities and amongst MPs due to its association with minor earthquakes.

Business and energy secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg officially announced the lifting of the ban on Thursday (22)

He told MPs that opposition to fracking is based around “hysteria” and the public not understanding the Richter scale for seismic activity.

Mark Glover is a trustee at Gedling Conservation Trust, who manage Netherfield Lagoons Nature Reserve. He shared his thoughts with Gedling Eye on the lifting of the ban and the dangers it poses to the environment…

All those who care about the environment welcomed the manifesto pledge by the Conservatives in 2019 not to lift England’s moratorium on fracking unless it was scientifically proven to be safe.

It is not.

Allowing fracking to go ahead would also threaten this country’s ability to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

A British Geological Survey review into its safety was commissioned by the government but has refused so far to publish it.

We are in the midst of a climate emergency and only speedy and significant action can now prevent a global disaster. We are already witnessing extreme weather events that have killed countless people already this year alone.

Fossil fuels (including gas from fracking) have to stay in the ground to prevent an increase in the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. 

In addition to directly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, fracking can cause groundwater pollution, air pollution, surface water pollution as well as earthquakes.

Leaky pipes can also see the release of methane directly into the atmosphere, a gas which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.

Despite all this, the Prime Minister is tearing up the 2019 manifesto pledge and her minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has said fracking was in the national interest and would make the country richer. He accused opponents of fracking as being “luddites”. 

Any suggestion that fracking will bring down our energy bills is pie in the sky as any gas from fracking would be sold to the highest bidder, which could be from another country and the economic case for fracking is fatally flawed. Chris Cornelius, the founder of fracking company Quadrilla has called the latest government announcement a ‘political gesture’.

He told the Guardian newspaper the geology of the UK was unsuited to large-scale fracking operations. “No sensible investors” would take the risk of embarking on large projects here”, he added. 

Cabinet ministers, including Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng have expressed opposition to fracking in the past. He told the Daily Mail earlier this year “Even if we lifted the fracking moratorium tomorrow, it would take up to a decade to extract sufficient volumes – and it would come at a high cost for communities and our precious countryside.”

READ MORE: Dr Ian Campbell: The Government really IS out of touch with what’s happening in general practice if they think their two-week GP appointment plan is achievable

The environmental and economic arguments are clear. Allowing fracking in this country would be a shocking dereliction of duty, particularly when there are other fantastic opportunities to expand on our green energy generation by investing in technologies that have a greater prospect of success including geothermal energy and tidal power.

Trading Standards warning over rogue traders targeting elderly and vulnerable residents in Gedling borough

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Trading Standards warning over rogue traders targeting elderly and vulnerable residents in Gedling borough

Elderly and vulnerable residents in Gedling borough are being reminded to say ‘no’ to doorstop callers as work to tackle rogue traders ramps up.

Trading Standards officers from Nottinghamshire County Council have been offering advice and information on how to say no to doorstep callers, as part of the region’s Rogue Trader Week. 

Officers say rogue traders often target vulnerable residents with the sole intention of obtaining money through deception and fraud.

Rogue trading ranges from poor quality work and high-pressure sales, to organised crime groups targeting the elderly and vulnerable, often demanding large amounts of money. These traders do not just knock on people’s doors uninvited, they frequently have professional websites and pay for advertising in newspapers, magazines, and other publications.

Rogue traders often start with small jobs for which they charge a nominal fee. After this they then claim that further work is needed, going on to demand hundreds or thousands of pounds, often for very little or no work at all.

Nottinghamshire Trading Standards has been made aware of a number of rogue traders operating in the borough. These include a roofer who took a £5,000 deposit but didn’t return to complete the work, leaving holes in the customer’s roof along with leaking windows, and a landscaper that took £10,000 from a resident and left them without a garden.

Councillor John Cottee, Cabinet Member for Communities said: “Rogue doorstep trading remains a serious issue for vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly who live alone.

“We advise people not to be taken in by the sales patter of a doorstep trader as they risk being a victim of a scam or shoddy workmanship.

“Residents can deter unwanted doorstep traders by displaying a ‘no uninvited callers’ sign on their door or in their front window. These can be downloaded for free from the Nottinghamshire County Council website.

“When looking for a tradesperson, our advice is to ask for recommendations from family or friends and obtain at least three quotes from different tradespeople before making a decision. Don’t be tempted by ‘today only’ offers – this is pressure selling, and be wary of requests for cash payments and offers of ‘cash-in-hand’ to avoid VAT.

“Reputable tradespeople can also be found through the nationwide ‘Buy With Confidence’ Approved Trader Scheme.  Buy With Confidence covers all sorts of businesses, so whether residents need a reliable plumber, accountant, pest controller, landscaper, electrician or anything else, they can search for local Trading Standards Approved companies.”

If you suspect someone of being a rogue trader, or find yourself confronted by uninvited doorstep sellers, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.

East Midlands Railway services in Gedling borough to be cancelled as fresh rail strikes announced

Gedling Eye Reporter
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East Midlands Railway services in Gedling borough to be cancelled as fresh rail strikes announced

East Midlands Railway has confirmed that all Gedling borough train services will be cancelled when strike action takes place on Saturday, October 1.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) confirmed that 40,000 of its members at Network Rail and 15 train operators will walk out on October 1, impacting services across the UK, including Gedling borough.

For the strikes on October 1, East Midlands Railway has confirmed all services running from Burton Joyce, Carlton, Netherfield and Newstead stations will be cancelled.

East Midlands Railway has confirmed the following services will run during the strike between 7.30am and 6.30pm:

EMR train at Carlton Station
PICTURED: An EMR train at Carlton Station (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)

EMR Intercity

  • One Train Per Hour between Nottingham and London
  • One Train Per Hour between Sheffield and London
  • One Train Per Hour between Corby and London

EMR Regional

  • One Train Per Hour between Derby and Matlock
  • One Train Per Hour between Derby and Nottingham
  • One Train Per hour between Sheffield and Nottingham
  • One Train Per hour between Leicester and Nottingham

Although no strike action is planned for Sunday, October 2, EMR are warning that there will still be disruption.

A spokesman said: “There will be no strike action on EMR services on Sunday (October 2), however, there will be a slightly later start up first thing in the morning as a result of the strike action on Saturday. Please check your journey before setting off.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said it was encouraging that the new Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan had met the union.

He said: “We welcome this more positive approach from the government to engage with us as a first step to finding a suitable settlement. However, as no new offer has been tabled, our members have no choice but to continue this strike action.

“We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes,” he said.

EMR issued a statement after fresh strikes were announced.

A spokesman said: “If you are planning to travel during this week it is important to check your journey as services are likely to be significantly reduced. Timetables will also vary throughout the week as strike action will be taken by different parts of the railway on different days.

Dr Ian Campbell: The Government really IS out of touch with what’s happening in general practice if they think their two-week GP appointment plan is achievable

Dr Ian Campbell
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Dr Ian Campbell: The Government really IS out of touch with what’s happening in general practice if they think their two-week GP appointment plan is achievable

This week saw the first substantive policy announcement from the new health secretary, Thérèse Coffey.

On Thursday morning, she shared her ‘Plan for Patients’ that contained a number of initiatives designed to reform healthcare.

One of the measures included was a commitment to patients that they would see a GP within two-weeks if they had non-urgent needs.

Dr Ian Campbell is a GP at Jubilee Park Medical Practice in Carlton and shared his thoughts with Gedling Eye following the plan’s release…

I welcome the Government’s announcement that all patients should be able to have an appointment their GP within 2 weeks – who wouldn’t?

NHS staff used to be able to take pride in the quality of the care they could deliver and the speed within which we could respond to patient need.

It’s why we do the job.

GP
Patients will get to see a GP for appointments about non-essential needs within two weeks
The new promise was contained within health secretary Thérèse Coffey‘s new ‘Plan for Patients’ that was unveiled yesterday

But unfortunately the Government hasn’t the slightest chance of succeeding.

They either know that, in which case they are deceiving the public; or they don’t realise it, because they are completely out of touch with what’s really happening in general practice. 

General Practice is under greater pressure than ever before. Increased demand from patients with much more complex medical problems, with a grossly understaffed workforce and poor support from secondary care has created the perfect storm.

The problem pre-dates Covid, but Covid has certainly amplified and highlighted the crisis. We have 2,000 fewer full time GPs now than we had four years ago when the Government promised us 5,000 more.

It’s estimated that another 8,000 GPs will leave or retire in the next eight years.

We have 2,000 fewer full time GPs now than we had four years ago when the Government promised us 5,000 more.

It’s fine to claim we’re training more doctors, but medical student places at University have actually been decreased this academic year! And someone entering medical school now will take more than 10 years to become trained as a GP. And that’s if they wanted to be a GP. Young doctors are voting with their feet, avoiding general practice, preferring hospital roles or leaving for overseas work. 

To claim we can offer more appointments for patients by drafting in allied professionals, nurse, pharmacists, physios and so on, is fine, but each one that joins general practice leaves a void somewhere else.

READ MORE:

In short, we have too few health professionals available to meet demand and too little resources to deliver. It’s a bit like asking a builder to build you a smart new home, agree a completion date, and a price, and then tell them there are no windows available, not enough bricks and too few builders to do the work. But you’ll insist on it being built perfectly and on time in any case and blame the builder for not doing the job properly.

This is clearly a problem long in the making, and any solution will need long term and sincere Government commitment to the NHS, with realistic expectations and significant funding to break the cycle of decline we have witnessed.

The alternative is too daunting to consider.

If we don’t have a publicly funded NHS, free at the point of delivery, for everyone, we face a privately funded or insurance based alternative, in a world where only the wealthy can afford to be healthy.

Life expectancy in the UK has actually decreased in the last decade, people are dying younger because of a lack of funding in healthcare, social care and other public services.

It’s down to us to resist this change, to defend our NHS and demand real Government commitment to long term investment in our public services.

Only then do we have a hope of patients, all patients, being able to see their GP within two weeks!

War derails plan to shut down Ratcliffe power station and it will now remain in operation over the winter to boost UK power supply

Gedling Eye Reporter
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War derails plan to shut down Ratcliffe power station and it will now remain in operation over the winter to boost UK power supply

Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station is to remain open longer than planned after the war in Ukraine derailed plans to shut the site in September.

Owners Uniper says it will carry on running the coal-fired facility at Ratcliffe-on-Soar to boost the UK’s power supply, having been approached by the government in April following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

In a statement the Uniper said it would “help maintain energy supply security in this unprecedented situation”.

Part of the existing power station is set to be replaced by a waste incinerator while the site was previously shortlisted as a possible location for a government-backed fusion reactor once it is decommissioned in October 2024.

Uniper said the site would “continue to be available” to the National Grid until 31 March 2023 and is “also reviewing the potential for operation after this time”.

Mike Lockett, its UK chairman, thanked staff at the power station”for their contribution in ensuring that we can continue to operate the unit”.

Six schools across Gedling borough receive a share of £9.5m upgrade fund

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Six schools across Gedling borough receive a share of £9.5m upgrade fund

Schools across Gedling borough are to receive a share of £9.5m in funding to make infrastructure improvements.

Six borough schools will receive the cash during the next two years – with all works scheduled for completion by the start of the 2024/2025 academic year.

Money from the programme will be used to cover for projects like replace ceilings, installing air source heat pumps and upgrading lighting and electrics.

In total, 20 schools across the county will benefit from the cash.

Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Councillor Tracey Taylor, said: “This council is committed to having fit-for-purpose schools, and the £9.5m school building improvement programme for the next two years will deliver them.

County Hall Nottingham
PICTURED: County Hall

“I’m delighted we’ve now set out our plans to enhance the buildings of more than 20 schools across Nottinghamshire – every borough or district will receive a slice of investment from the programme.

“We pledged in our ten-year council plan to provide sufficient school places and to give parents a greater choice and getting our schools’ infrastructure up to speed will help towards this ambition.”

Borough schools receiving cash…

Arnold View Primary School (Gedling) – £98,800 – replace the failing outdated gas boilers with high efficiency Gas boiler equivalent. The current pipework and heat distribution system is in good working order, so a full decarbonisation (gas replacement) project is not economically viable at this time.

Phoenix Infant School (Gedling) – £1,222,000 – replace flat roof coverings, replace roof lights and improve insulation. Replace cement cladding to elevations. Replace windows, external doors, facias and soffits. Replace hall ceiling and install new insulation. Replace remaining old emitters and carry out legionella works.

Pinewood Infant School (Gedling) – £85,340 – conversion and renovation of the kitchen from gas to modern electric, eliminating the ventilation issues associated with the gas installation.

Stanhope Primary School (Gedling) – £237,510 – replace Upper School roof covering and upgrade insulation. Replace existing roof lights with triple skin polycarbonate glazed domes. 

Woodborough Woods Primary School (Gedling) – £375,190 – replace gas boilers with high efficiency modern equivalent. Replace all heat emitters and pipework. 

Woodthorpe Infant School (Gedling) – £228,100 – conversion and renovation of the kitchen from gas to modern electric, eliminating the ventilation issues associated with the gas installation.

The multi-million-pound investment has come from Nottinghamshire County Council’s School Building Improvement Programme (SBIP), designed and delivered by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between the council and SCAPE.

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