The history of Gedling Colliery has been captured in an online video that’s proving popular with local history buffs and ex-workers.
The video, which was posted online last summer, was recently brought to the attention of Gedling Eye by reader Frank Jacobs, who spotted it on a Facebook group.
Mr Jacobs didn’t work at the colliery but knew many that did and thought the video was worth sharing.
He said it brought back ‘nice memories’ and remembers the pit dominating the Gedling skyline.
Mr Jacobs moved from Gedling in 2003 and now lives in New Zealand.
“I knew many people who worked there and they would often share stories about working at the Colliery and being involved in their sporting clubs and social events,” he said.
“I found the video online and think it does a great job of bringing to life the entire history of that colliery. It’s worth watching if you worked there yourself or had friends and family that did.”
The video was created by Michael Szepeta, who shares videos around the history of Britain’s collieries.
The video features photos and footage capturing working life along with sports and social clubs.
‘Pit of Nations’
Gedling Colliery closed thirty-years ago in early November 1991 due to deteriorating geological conditions in the Main Bright seam. Sunk by the Digby Colliery Company from 1899 to 1902, it later was known as ‘The Pit of Nations’ because of its diverse workforce in the 1950’s to 1980’s period. Many different nationalities worked at the colliery at one time or another during this period.
Gedling Country Park now occupies the land where the colliery once stood and pays tribute to its history through information boards and memorials.
Gedling borough’s railways could be brought to a standstill this summer if a rail union’s 40,000 members vote to take nationwide strike action next month.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union is now balloting its members, with the vote closing on Tuesday.
Another union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, is also consulting members on a strike and has vowed to co-ordinate with the RMT.
The RMT balloted members because it said that Network Rail is planning to cut at least 2,500 safety-critical maintenance jobs as part of a £2bn reduction in spending, while workers at train operators have been subject to pay freezes and changes to their terms and conditions.
In late April, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Railway workers have had to contend with pay freezes, the prospect of losing their jobs and repeated attacks on their terms and conditions.
“Removing 2,500 safety-critical jobs from Network Rail will spell disaster for the public, make accidents more likely and will increase the possibility of trains flying off the tracks.”
But Wendy Morton, the rail minister, has insisted that rail workers have already received greater pay increases in the past decade than teachers, nurses, firefighters and ambulance crews.
The ballot covers RMT members on Network Rail and Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern Railway, South Western Railway, Island Line, GTR (including Gatwick Express), Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, and West Midlands Trains.
The union are not revealing what form any national strike will take but it is believed that it could start with an overtime ban before moving to a national walkout that shuts down the network.
In an effort to prevent empty shelves and petrol pumps from running dry, contingency measures are now being prepared for freight trains to take priority over passenger services, with tracks becoming reserved for goods.
“Removing 2,500 safety-critical jobs from Network Rail will spell disaster for the public, make accidents more likely and will increase the possibility of trains flying off the tracks.”
The RMT has promised to trigger a “summer of discontent” with the biggest stoppage since the General Strike of 1926 – and it could come as early as next month with a mass walkout of 40,000 union members.
It will not be able to go on strike until after the jubilee long weekend because it must give two weeks’ notice.
Rail companies are drawing up plans that include training managers to dispatch trains and Network Rail is working with operators on a skeleton timetable to keep vital services running.
A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said that train operators wanted to offer their staff a pay rise and were “working hard to make that happen” but productivity must improve. The alternative of more taxpayer support or higher fares “simply isn’t fair”.
Many Gedling borough passengers said the pandemic had made them less reliant on the railways for commuting to work.
Mike Green uses Carlton Station to catch a train to work in Leicester and said he would use alternative transport or work from home if a strike went ahead.
“I used to rely on the train but the services haven’t really come back since the pandemic,” he said.
“I now ask my employer if I can work from home or drive in if a service is cut or cancelled.”
Melanie Wright uses Netherfield Station to get into Nottingham.
She said: “The trains haven’t been right since Covid so a strike wouldn’t make much difference. The buses seemed to have bounced back but the trains certainly haven’t. There are less services now than ever. Tony Cave’s column on your site said we are seeing the lowest number of trains here in Gedling for over a decade and I think that’s probably true.”
But Alan Hodge said the the strike was ‘unacceptable’.
The Carlton Station commuter said: “Why should they [unions] still be allowed to bring the country to a standstill in this day and age?
“I haven’t had a decent payrise for a while but I’m grateful to have a job – especially with energy costs rising and food prices going up.
Sainsbury’s is to stop selling Russian diesel from its petrol stations in Gedling borough.
The supermarket group has said it will halt sales from all its 315 petrol stations.
Earlier this year, the government pledged to phase out imports of Russian oil in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by the end of the year.
“This is a complex process but we are committed to working together with the rest of the UK fuel industry and Government to support the ban on Russian oil imports, which is due to take effect by the end of this year.”
The retail giant said it had been working hard to reduce the amount of Russian diesel it was selling since the early days of the war in Ukraine.
Sainsbury’s touted the whole process of ditching Russian diesel as “complex”.
Rhian Bartlett, food commercial director at Sainsbury’s, said: “We stand united with the people of Ukraine and have taken a range of steps to show our support – from helping to fund the humanitarian effort on the ground, to removing products from our stores which are 100% sourced from Russia.
“We have been working hard to reduce the amount of diesel we sell which comes from Russia since the early days of the conflict.
“This is a complex process but we are committed to working together with the rest of the UK fuel industry and Government to support the ban on Russian oil imports, which is due to take effect by the end of this year.”
Scammers are targeting people across Gedling borough worried about the cost of living and rise in energy bills with fake emails promising an energy bill rebate.
Emails using the logo of Ofgem, the energy regulator, are claiming to offer up to £450 per household and tricking people into handing over their bank details.
The real Ofgem has urged people to be vigilant and make sure they do not open the fake emails, reported Which. The emails direct people to a fake online portal to claim money under the so-called energy bill rebate scheme, where they are then asked for personal and payment details.
The scam email
The fake emails will come from info@rebate-ogem.com and tells the reader that they ‘are eligible to apply for [sic] energy bill rebate’. It claims you have until June 1 2022 to apply. It asks for details such as your address, mother’s maiden name, and card details. This would put you at risk of having your card used and your identity stolen.
Legitimate emails from Ofgem will always come from an address ending ‘@ofgem.gov.uk’.
Since the government’s legitimate £150 rebate scheme was launched, fraudsters have jumped at the opportunity to scam those worried about money.
Celebrations will be taking place next month across Gedling borough to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
On February 6 this year, the Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.
This historic milestone will be marked with a special, four-day UK bank holiday weekend of events, from Thursday, June 2, to Sunday, June 5.
There is lots happening across Gedling borough, from tea parties and beacon lighting ceremonies to music concerts and children’s events.
We’ve put together a selection of events that are taking place around the borough, so you can easily find out what’s happening near to you. If your event is not listed, please let us know about it by emailing news@gedlingeye.co.uk
Thursday, June 2
Beacon Lighting, Gedling Country Park
Platinum Jubilee beacons will be lit across the UK and Commonwealth on the evening of June 2. Gedling borough will be taking part with the beacon being lit at Gedling Country Park.
Café 1899 in the park will be serving refreshments from 9am – 9pm on the day (from the hatch only from 7.30pm).
Carlton Brass Band will perform outside Café 1899 from 8pm and the beacon will be lit at 9.45pm.
Free lantern making kits will be available to pick up from Café 1899 at Gedling Country Park and the Civic Centre in Arnold from Friday, May 20.
This event is being sponsored by Frank Key Builders Merchants.
TRIBUTE: Pipers playing moments before the beacon was last lit for the Queen’s 90th back in 2016
BBQ and Karaoke Night – It’s Inn The Bank, Netherfield 5pm – late
Enjoy a bbq followed by Karaoke at the popular Netherfield boozer.
Friday June 3
The Queen’s Green Canopy, Gedling Country Park, 1-4pm
Gedling Play Forum will be providing free, drop-in Jubilee-themed craft activities near the park’s play areas from 1-4pm.
Local schools and community groups will be planting trees from 2pm, as part of the The Queen’s Green Canopy – a national initiative to encourage people to plant a tree for the Jubilee.
Keepmoat Homes Limited are sponsoring this event.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration, Brookfields Garden Centre, 3.30-5.30pm
A celebration all the family can enjoy with great entertainment, a sing along, royal crafts for the children and a party platter per table including delicious vintage party favourites. Includes a hot or soft drink per person. Selection of alcoholic beverages available to purchase on the day. Adults £18Children £12Please email eventsteam@brookfields-gardencentre.co.uk to book a table, limited spaces available. All tickets must be paid for within 48 hours of your booking being confirmed.
Jubilee Family Fun Day, Gedling Inn, 12-4pm
Bouncy Castles, Slides & Inflatable Fun, face painting games and stalls will be on offer – with fun for all the family at this popular Gedling pub.
Royal Burger Night – It’s Inn The Bank, Netherfield 3pm-8pm
Enjoy a selection of freshly-cooked burgers from a royal-themed menu
Saturday, June 4, 11am – 5pm
The Queen’s Jubilee Fair, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold
There will be performances from local choirs, schools and artists throughout the day.
Come and take part in activities and workshops for all ages around the park, including a young people’s area at the shelter and skate park.
Browse stalls from local groups and enjoy food and drink representing different areas of the commonwealth.
Sunday 5 June,
The Big Jubilee Lunch, King George V Recreation Ground, Arnold, 12 – 4pm
Bring a picnic or just come along for an ice cream in the park.
Join Gedling Play Forum in celebrating ’70 years of play’ and help to create a piece of art celebrating the Queens Platinum Jubilee.
Platinum Jubilee Celebration, Carlton Hill, 12pm-3pm
There will be music, dance, stalls, tombola candy floss and food and drink available as the Carlton Hill community comes together to celebrate the Jubilee
Street Party – Pigginns Cafe and Bar, Carlton Hill 12pm onwards
Only £7.00 a ticket which includes food and a drink. As well as an afternoon filled with fun, games and amazing entertainment.
Dress code: 1950s to present day. They’re will be a prize for best dressed.
Come in to buy yourself a ticket to secure your place (only a limited number of tickets available)
Here’s one property you’d only buy if not easily spooked.
This former Methodist church in Burton Joyce is up for sale – with a price tag of £295,000.
The 3,252 sq ft property is on the market for less than the price of your average house in England, and can still be used as a place of worship or converted into a rather unique home – subject to planning permission.
Bids to buy the church must be received by today (May 20) at 12pm.
The church on Meadow Lane is Grade II listed and very pretty from the outside, with large, ornate windows and a spire.
Inside, you’ll see that the church pews and a raised pulpit are all still in place.
PHOTO: Innes EnglandThe church organ is still in place (PHOTO: Innes England)
The building comprises a traditional church structure of primarily brick elevations with stone detailing, beneath a pitched slate covered roof and benefitting from a prominent spire. Internally the property has until recently been used for assembly and worship purposes.
From the main entrance, a small vestibule leads to a hallway, off which the main church area is accessed, which has a gently sloping suspended timber floor. There is a substantial church organ and raised pulpit area. Behind is a church hall or school room with various ancillary rooms off providing storage, office, kitchen and WC facilities including a single disabled provision.
The deadline for bids is 12pm today.
The local community have been trying to prevent the church from getting into the hands of developers – and could still bid to save it.
Iceland has announced it is to cut prices for over-60s to help with soaring food prices amid the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation.
The Grocery Gazette has revealed that the supermarket chain – which has stores in Arnold and Carlton – will be cutting prices for shoppers aged 60 and above.
The discount will only be available on Tuesdays and will allow shoppers to take 10% off whatever they spend.
Launching on Tuesday, May 24, shoppers looking to take advantage of the discount will be able to claim the offer in-store at branches of Iceland and The Food Warehouse by showing a proof of age.
There is no minimum spend and the discount applies across all products and ranges.
The retailer said it decided to launch the offer following the news that Age UK recently revealed that three-quarters of older people in the UK (9.4 million) are worried about the effects of the rising cost of living.
The charity also revealed that two million older households will have insufficient income to cover their essential spending this year, with almost half of these living in poverty or just above the poverty line.
“We have a long history of supporting our over 60s customers, such as when we launched ‘Elderly Hour’ at the height of the pandemic,” said Iceland’s managing director Richard Walker.
“The cost of living crisis has made support for these customers even more important, which is why I’m proud that we’re finding new ways to support them, including the launch of this discount. We hope it will help all those in this age category to cut costs where they can.”
A Gedling councillor first elected almost 50 years ago has become the borough’s ceremonial mayor for the coming year.
Councillor Peter Barnes (Lab), who represents Daybrook, has been a member of the council since 1974 and was voted in to chair the authority’s full council meetings during the annual general meeting on Wednesday (May 18).
The councillor, who has previously held the mayoral position, has also been chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council when he represented Arnold South on the authority.
The position is largely ceremonial, with Cllr Barnes to run the full council meetings and also attend civic events on behalf of the authority.
He will also raise money for a charity of his choosing while holding the position until May next year.
Speaking after his election on Wednesday, he described the position as an “honour”.
He added: “I’ve been on this council since 1974 and has been a fantastic few years on Gedling Borough Council.
“We’ve got the best record in Nottinghamshire in looking after the people of this borough, and we should all, as members of this council, be very pleased on what we’ve achieved.
“We have achieved so much. It has been tremendous, we’ve also got a very good record looking after people from a disadvantaged point of view and from different nationalities.
“That’s one of our greatest achievements. We’re an international council, we believe in people wherever they come from and we respect their ability to do well – I welcome that.
“Thank you very much for giving me this job.”
Cllr Michael Payne (Lab), deputy leader of the council, proposed Cllr Barnes for the role and described his service as a “real inspiration”.
Cllr Payne, who was recently selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the next general election, said: “It gives me real pleasure to propose Cllr Peter Barnes to be elected as mayor for the ensuing year.
“He is two things – one of my closest friends on the council and one of the reasons I was elected into public office.
“He’s a real inspiration and has given almost half a century’s service to the residents and communities here in Gedling borough.
“I think there is no finer office to hold to top off, almost, this half a century than the office as the first citizen of our borough.”
Royal Mail is set to hike prices and slash costs in a bid to offset soaring inflation – despite posting a rise in annual earnings.
The group cautioned over “significant headwinds” as it faces higher wage demands, surging energy and fuel costs.
It is cutting costs by more than £350 million to help mitigate the hit, but said it would also have to look at prices.
The group has already increased the cost of posting letters by an average of around 7%, and parcel prices by an average of about 4%.
The increases took the cost of a first-class stamp to 95p and a second-class stamp to 68p.
It came as the group reported an 8% rise in underlying operating profits to £758 million for the year to the end of March.
But it sees numerous threats from rising costs ahead, including the failure to agree a pay deal with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) which is opposing measures the company wants to implement as part of its transformation programme towards a parcel-focused business.
The union said it was seeking a “no strings attached pay rise” for Royal Mail staff on the grounds the company could afford it after posting adjusted operating profits of £758m for the year to 27 March.
Simon Thompson, chief executive of Royal Mail, said: “As we emerge from the pandemic, the need to accelerate the transformation of our business, particularly in delivery, has become more urgent.
“Our future is as a parcels business, so we need to adapt old ways of working designed for letters and do it much more quickly to a world increasingly dominated by parcels.”
He added: “Our focus now is to work at pace with our people and our trade unions to reinvent this British icon for the next generations, so that we can give our customers what they want, grow our business sustainably and deliver long-term job security for our great team.
A tanning salon in Stoke Bardolph and plans for five new dwellings are amongst the many applications submitted to Gedling Borough Council in the last week.
Here is a round-up of the latest plans that the council’s planning officers will now decide on.
Arnold
Discharge of condition 3 of planning permission 2020/0645 Ramper Covert Wood Mansfield Road Arnold Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0535DOC
Proposed side single storey flat roof bedroom extension 2 Pinewood Avenue Arnold Nottinghamshire NG5 8BU Ref. No: 2022/0520
Erection of double storey rear extension, extending 4m from the original wall and single storey side extension. 6 Kirkley Gardens Arnold Nottinghamshire NG5 7GF Ref. No: 2022/0503
Erection of double storey rear extension, extending 4m from the original wall and single storey side extension. 6 Kirkley Gardens Arnold Nottinghamshire NG5 7GF Ref. No: 2022/0503
Single storey rear extension 33 Jenned Road Arnold Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG5 8FT Ref. No: 2022/0449
Bestwood
No planning applications this week
Burton Joyce
Alteration to garage of plot R3 (NMA to application 2020/0475) Land At Glebe Farm Glebe Drive Burton Joyce Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0557NMA
Garden room, loggia and replacement balustrade 44 Lambley Lane Burton Joyce Nottinghamshire NG14 5BG Ref. No: 2022/0523
Demolish existing outbuilding and construct storey side and rear extension 188 Nottingham Road Burton Joyce Nottinghamshire NG14 5BD Ref. No: 2022/0521
Alterations to conservatory; applying render to existing elevations and construction of a single storey rear extension 20 Hillcrest Gardens Burton Joyce Nottinghamshire NG14 5DE Ref. No: 2022/0451
Calverton
Single storey front extension 4 Jumelles Drive Calverton Nottinghamshire NG14 6QD Ref. No: 2022/0495
Carlton
Approval of details reserved by condition 3 (materials) of planning permission 2019/1031 Site Of The Earl Of Chesterfield Carlton Hill Carlton Nottinghamshire NG4 1BG Ref. No: 2022/0550DOC
Proposed 5 new dwellings, parking and landscaping on the land to the rear of Nos. 31-37 Gardenia Grove. Widening of the existing access/creation of a new entrance from Gardenia Grove @ 35 Gardenia Grove, Mapperley, Nottingham, NG3 6HY. 34 Gardenia Grove Carlton Nottinghamshire NG3 6HZ Ref. No: 2022/0545
Proposal to install 2x Teko Booster Compressor Pack within secure store and New 2x Kelvion 4 Fan Gas Cooler with 1.1 m High Armco Barrier around Tesco Stores Ltd 2 Carlton Hill Carlton Nottinghamshire NG4 1EB Ref. No: 2022/0494
Approval of details reserved by conditions 6 (EV charging points), 13 (levels), 14 (bat and bird boxes) and 15 (boundary treatments) of planning permission 2021/1080 Land South Of Colwick Loop Road Road No 3 Colwick Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0546DOC
Approval of details reserved by condition 7 (CEMP) of planning permission 2021/1080 Land South Of Colwick Loop Road Road No 3 Colwick Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0497DOC
Proposed office extension Goodman Metal Works Road No 7 Colwick Nottinghamshire NG4 2JW Ref. No: 2022/0476
Gedling
Alteration to rear fence line and height of plots 1, 3-22 (NMA to permission 2021/0694) Land To The South Burton Road Gedling Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0558NMA
Relocation of 1.8 metre high close boarded timber boundary fence 9 Corbett Chase Gedling Nottinghamshire NG4 4LU Ref. No: 2022/0467
Proposed rear 2 story extension with twin pitched roofs over. 52 Westdale Lane East Gedling Nottinghamshire NG4 3NA Ref. No: 2022/0469
Approval of details reserved by condition 3 (hard and soft landscaping) of planning permission 2020/1255 Land At Chase Farm (Former Gedling Colliery), Adjacent To Arnold Lane And Land Off Lambley Lane Gedling Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0337DOC
Lambley
Variations of conditions 1 and 5 attached to planning permission 2020/0767 (relating to the hours of operation of the business). 19 Church Street Lambley Nottinghamshire NG4 4QB Ref. No: 2021/0761
Single storey side and rear extension. 35 Newstead Avenue Mapperley Nottinghamshire NG3 6GB Ref. No: 2022/0524
Proposed single-storey front, side & rear and two-storey side extensions 36 Plains Road Mapperley Nottinghamshire NG3 5LE Ref. No: 2022/0517
Netherfield
Addition of door to unit 4. Land Off Teal Close Netherfield Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0534NMA
Newstead
No planning applications this week
Ravenshead
Extension at rear of house. 71 Nottingham Road Ravenshead Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG15 9HG Ref. No: 2022/0561
Redhill
No planning applications this week
Stoke Bardolph
Application for the use of unit 4 as a Tanning Salon (Sui generis) Unit 4 Teal Park Local Centre Magenta Way Stoke Bardolph Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0502
Woodborough
Removal of Lime Tree (10) Replanting of 12 trees to create a positive carbon offset The Farm House Bank Hill Farm Bank Hill Woodborough Nottinghamshire NG14 6EF Ref. No: 2022/0547TPO
Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) attached to planning permission 2019/0790 for the demolition of existing dwelling and construction of replacement dwelling 10 Bank Hill Woodborough Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG14 6EF Ref. No: 2022/0530
Woodthorpe
First floor side extension and single storey rear extension 29 Grouville Drive Woodthorpe Nottinghamshire NG5 4NN Ref. No: 2022/0519
Extend the garden out on to the garage roof and erection of fencing. 40 Breck Hill Road Woodthorpe NG5 4GQ Ref. No: 2022/0346
