A goal on the stroke of half-time from Aaron Opoku gave Carlton Town a much needed 1-0 away win at Sutton Coldfield Town.
The Millers still remain seven points adrift of the playoffs with only six games remaining but this was a much-improved performance and only a second away win since October to the delight of the travelling support.
Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made two changes to the side which had lost against Yaxley last time out. In came Khyle Sargent and Opoku in place of the injured Niall Davie and the absent Tom Maddison.
On a gloriously sunny afternoon Carlton began on the front foot and played some lovely passing football in the opening period of the game without really threatening the Royals goal.
Indeed, it was Sutton who had the first real chance of the game when Leo Brown ran through on goal on 14 minutes but Shaun Rowley was quick off his line and the striker hit his effort high over the bar.
Martin Ball then played a superb pass to send Aaron O’Connor away. O’Connor looked certain to score before being barged to the ground by James Beresford. It looked a stonewall penalty but the referee waved away the claims to the amazement of the travelling contingent.
Opoku then forced Beresford into a hurried clearance which struck the impressive Sargent and rebounded just wide of target.
The Millers should have taken the lead just after the half-hour when an unmarked Ball headed a Nat Watson corner against the top of the crossbar.
Alex Howes was a constant threat and O’Connor was keeping the home defence busy, and the goal that always looked like coming finally arrived in the last minute of the first half. Holmes slipped the ball to Howes who then fed Opoku on the left hand side with a lovely pass. The Millers had had problems all afternoon keeping the right side of a well-worked offside trap but Opoku advanced on goal and beat keeper Jonathan Brown at his near post with what looked like the help of a possible deflection.
PICTURED: Carlton Town manager Tommy Brookbanks (PHOTO: Twitter)
The Royals began the second half much better and Brett Lloyd and Leo Brown both went close with efforts that flew across the face of goal, the latter’s shot very close indeed.
But Carlton kept the home side at bay, not least due to some decisive goalkeeping from Shaun Rowley and some fine defensive work from the whole defence, particularly Dan Brown who made a couple of key interceptions.
Indeed, after the opening 15 minutes Carlton regained their control of the game and a fine passing move involving Watson, Holmes and O’Connor led to the latter drawing an excellent save from Brown.
Lawrence Gorman was then called upon to cut out a Sutton attack and he and Opoku combined to give Howes another chance, but Jonathan Brown saved comfortably.
Howes looked certain to double Carlton’s lead after another Opoku cross, but a block from Beresford kept the Sutton deficit at one goal.
Still Carlton pushed forward and a wonderful move from Sargent, Howes, Gorman, O’Connor and Opoku saw Howes hit the base of the post from a narrow angle on the right.
Howes then advanced into the area and sent the ball across the face of goal only for the home defence to clear.
Daniel Fletcher and Gorman kept the Sutton wide players quiet and although there were a couple of deep crosses late in the game, Rowley dealt with them confidently and the Millers saw out the final minute of the game to secure a fine away win. They left the field to merited applause from the decent travelling support in the West Midlands.
Carlton Town: S Rowley, L Gorman, D Fletcher, M Ball, D Brown, J Holmes, N Watson, K Sargent, A Opoku, A O’Connor (T Blake 78), A Howes. Unused substitutes: N Towle, L Czerwak, D Elliott, D Flint
One day it’s just an ordinary semi-detached home in Carlton – and on the next, it’s a buzzing bookshop.
After a two year covid break, Gedling borough’s popular Masked Charity Booksale is being resurrected – but possibly for the final time.
ExLibris, the Masked Booksellers, started in 2006 after Bob Cann and Chris Cook-Cann deplored the quantity of interesting books being thrown out by charity shops, libraries and people who had run out of shelf space.
The pair donned masks, called themselves ExLibris, and started rescuing as many books as possible – even intercepting some as they were being thrown into a skip at the dump. Selling them became an effective way of raising funds for local good causes.
At first, books were sold out and about, at stalls. The very first stall, at Nottingham Green Festival in 2006, raised £106 for Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum. Since then, £24,636.85 has been raised and distributed to various charities and other good causes.
The first booksale took place on a single day on September 8th, 2007 in front of the Canns’ Gedling home, raising £189.
The booksale proved popular and became annual events, running over two days in 2008, three days in 2011, and seven days over two weekends in 2016.
But the organisers have now warned his year’s booksale may be the final one ever and will take place over three long weekends – twelve days in all.
Cann and Cook-Cann said each booksale now requires over ten weeks of preparation, plus the help of other volunteers. Then it has to be cleared away again afterwards.
There will be over 20,000 books on all conceivable topics, including new, genre, unusual, modern and classic fiction; every non-fiction subject you can think of, from art to zoology; books on leisure interests such as gardening, crafts, and cookery; hardbacks and paperbacks; lots and lots of children’s books; and some really weird books that you wouldn’t believe could, or maybe should, exist. As books get sold, more are waiting to top up empty spaces.
Chris Cook-Cann said, “There’s something magical about a book, that you just don’t find on an electronic device. And that magic is even greater when it’s a second-hand book, because as well being directly connected to the author’s mind, you’re also physically holding something that may be a hundred years old, and you’re connected to all the previous owners and readers.”
Prices are always low, and start at 10p. Even the scarce and collectable books are priced more cheaply than online. If people are buying books in order to sell them on for profit, they are asked to pay a bit more.
Children (and people who feel like children) can play on the ExLibris Express (a train built out of reclaimed wood and permanently stationed at Adlestrop Station), where they can ring the bell, toot the horn, sell tickets, blow bubbles, shovel “coal”, and more.
Visitors are invited to bring a tin of vegetarian food, which will be passed on to Netherfield Food Bank after the Booksale. There will be a silent book auction.
ExLibris hopes the event will raise a lot of funds for their two chosen good causes.
The sale takes place at their home on 16, Vernon Avenue in Carlton.
Sales take place on the following dates: Fri April 15, Sat April 16, Sun April 17, Mon April 18, Fri April 22, Sat Aptil 23, Sun April 24, Mon April 25, Fri April 29, Sat April 30, Sun May 1 and Mon May 2
The sale will be open between 10am – 6pm on each day of opening.
Martin also said if VAT goes back to 20% as planned next month, the company will have to put up its food prices and did not rule out further increases this year.
He also again called on the government to create tax equality between pubs and supermarkets.
Speaking following the company’s half-year results, Martin said: “I suspect volumes are down across the pub trade overall, although restaurants, music-oriented pubs and some pubcos are producing good results.
PICTURED: Wetherspoons chairman Tim Martin
“Most commentators, including us, predicted a boom after restrictions ended, but we’re having to graft hard for every penny. The supermarkets, using their massive tax advantage, are trying to keep the trade they won in lockdowns. If Rishi Sunak has any sense he’ll create tax equality between pubs and supermarkets. It’s the only way to revive high streets and town centres, especially in less well-off areas where the price differential is driving people to the off trade.
“If VAT increases to 20% in April, on-trade food prices, including ours, will be going up, whereas mighty supermarkets, who’ve made hay in the pandemic, won’t be getting a VAT increase – crazy, but true.”
Martin said further investment in its pubs and future openings “depends on trade and a continuing absence of restrictions”.
He added: “Provided trade returns to normal, we hope to open 20 to 30 new or redeveloped pubs per annum, as a rough guide.”
In terms of trends, Martin said “shooters”, flavoured vodkas and cocktails are “growing like mad”, but traditional ale is “struggling”.
Rishi Sunak yesterday pledged to “stand by” budget-squeezed households and appeared to hint help could be coming in the form of a fuel duty cut.
Rising petrol prices are one of a number of escalating financial demands the public is struggling to get to grips with, along with rising energy bills, widespread inflation and an increase in national insurance contributions from next month.
The Chancellor is being put under pressure to introduce further measures to soften the impact on already stretched budgets, with reports suggesting he could slash fuel duty in his spring statement which is due on Wednesday.
The latest figures show average prices are a record 165.9p per litre for petrol and 177.3p per litre for diesel.
The Conservative Chancellor told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “Obviously I can’t comment on specific things (that will be in the spring statement).
“But what I would say, I understand that… I have a rural constituency, people are incredibly reliant on their cars and this is one of the biggest bills that people face, watching it go up.
“We’re all seeing that, when we’re filling up our cars.
PICTURED: Chancellor Rishi Sunak, left, with Gedling Mp Tom Randall, right
“I get that, that’s why we’ve frozen fuel duty already.”
With the Government having frozen fuel duty for 11 consecutive years, Mr Sunak said he knows such action “really helps people”.
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said a 5p cut in fuel duty would “only reduce filling up the car with petrol by £2”.
She told Sophy Ridge: “I don’t think that really rises to the scale of the challenge we face at the moment.”
The Treasury has already announced plans to offer financial support to the public through a £150 council tax rebate to some households and a repayable £200 saving on energy bills this year.
Mr Sunak, asked on the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme whether he is prepared to step in and keep offering aid on energy bills over a sustained period, said: “Of course I am, and people can judge me by my actions over the past two years.
“Without question, this is people’s number one priority – I get that, and I know how difficult it is when you are working hard and seeing the price of everything go up every day, every week.“The steps we have taken to sanction Russia are not cost-free for us here at home, and I want to be honest with people that it is not going to be easy.
“I wish Government could solve absolutely every problem and that I could fully protect people against the challenges that lie ahead, but I can’t do that.
“But what I would say is that I will stand by them in the same way that I have done in the past couple of years.
“Where we can make a difference, of course we will.”
Police officers arrested two suspects within minutes after they came across a man being attacked in the middle of a Netherfield street.
The officers were on patrol when they saw the 35-year-old victim curled up on the floor as he was being punched and kicked in Pearson Street.
The suspects ran off in different directions but the determined officers gave chase and arrested two men nearby in connection with the attack which happened on September 22, 2021.
The victim was taken to hospital with swelling and a cut to his head which needed gluing.
Daniel Marrett and Jordy Mumbiny and subsequently pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (March 18 2022).
PICTURED:Pearson Street NetherfieldPICTURED: Pearson Street in Netherfield and inset, Daniel Marret, left and Jordy Mumbiny, right
Marrett, aged 27, of Mora Road, London, was jailed for 13 months and Mumbiny, aged 26, of Barnhill Road, Wembley, London, was locked up for 12 months.
Detective Sergeant Dave Prest, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We will always respond swiftly to reports involving violence and we treat such incidents seriously.
“I’m pleased that thanks to our speedy response officers were able to arrest two suspects within minutes of this report which demonstrates our commitment to tackling crime and keeping people safe.
“This was a brutal attack and the consequences could have been much worse for the victim.
“I hope the positive action taken in this case shows that Nottinghamshire Police takes violent crime extremely seriously and will always strive to put offenders before the courts.”
On the 3rd August 1846 the Nottingham to Lincoln railway passing through Burton Joyce was opened.
It had been started in mid 1844 and had taken only eight months to build. This speeded up the transport of people and goods to and from the village allowing residents to now work in Nottingham or Lincoln and be able to return the same day.
Trains were quick and frequent but on January 1849 an incident occurred more in line with modern transport than 19th century railways.
In March of that year Alexander Ford, an engine driver with the Midland Railway, was charged with “At Burton Joyce being unlawfully and willingly offended against the statute by being drunk and leaving the engine under his care” and brought to court.
The first witness called was William ‘Bill’ Sims who said that on night of 28th January, 1849, he had been the stoker on the train from Lincoln to Nottingham; Ford was the driver.
When the train reached Fiskerton, Ford said “Bill, I’ll try thee whether thou can manage it as far as Carlton. I am going into the break [van] and the guard will go on the engine”.
Sims then drove the train to Nottingham instead of Ford. Simms had been a stoker for two years and although he could drive an engine, he had not done so before.
At Lowdham he saw Ford but did not speak to him. Ford came up on the foot plate but he then climbed over the tender and headed towards the break van while the train was still moving. Sims did not see him again during the journey to Nottingham.
When the engine finally arrived in Nottingham, Sims noticed that Ford was missing; he went back along the line towards Carlton to try and find him.
Sims finally spotted Ford being helped along the track by two men about ¾ of a mile away.
Ford appeared to be drunk and it seemed had fallen off the train during its journey from Burton Joyce. Ford pleaded with Sims to say he ‘had just fallen from the train’ and not reveal he had been drinking; Ford promised in return for as long as he lived he would make sure Sims never starved.
John Bradley, who had been the guard on the train, confirmed that he had also been asked to say Ford had just fallen from the train. He told the court Ford had said that he felt ill and was going to ride inside the train instead of driving it. He said believed it was because Ford was drunk.
Mr Pettifog, the Station Master at Nottingham, was told after the train had been at Nottingham for ¾ hour that they had lost Ford. He then sent the train back to look for him. When they finally found him, Pettifor said that he did not think that Ford was drunk.
The court decided that the drunk charge not be could be proved but did find Ford guilty of neglect of duty and ordered that he be imprisoned for two months.
Snippets of History vol 1 and 2 by Bob Massey are available from The Bookcase in Lowdham, MSR News, Front Street, Arnold; or Fiveleaves Bookshop in Long Row, Nottingham. Details can also be found on Bob’s website www.bobmassey.info
Mr Randall said: “Netherfield’s County Councillor Mike Adams and I are keen to know what the community of Netherfield think about Houses of Mulitiple Occupancy (HMOs), so we’ve been knocking on doors and surveying residents.
“If you live in Netherfield, you can take part in the short survey on my website.”
Russel Whiting is a member of the Netherfield Against HMOs action group.
A meeting was held between residents and council officers about HMOs earlier this month
He was pleased to be given the chance to share how people in the town are feeling about the growing numbers of HMOs in the town during a meeting with the MP and councillor.
On the group’s Facebook page he wrote: “We relayed the strength of feeling from the meeting and outlined the objections both to Chandos Street in particular but the growth HMOs in the community more broadly.
“Tom has put this survey together and I’d urge everyone to do it, get partners to do it, get friends and neighbours to do it.
“Let’s keep the pressure up until we get Article 4”.
Feeling has been growing in the town since it was revealed a new HMO was planned for a property on Chandos Street.
There are calls for Article 4 to be introduced that would see all HMOs requiring planning permission, not just those with six rooms or more.
Mr Randall said he would be sharing the results with Gedling Borough Council who are responsible for planning in Netherfield.
It’s been over two years in the making – and finally, Gedling Access Road will be opened up to motorists next week.
To mark the occasion, Gedling Eye took a look back through the archives to chart the story of the road’s creation.
And it’s been one heck of a journey…
Where it began…September 2016
It was revealed a number of landowners could be issued with compulsory purchase orders in a bid to get the Gedling Access Road scheme up and running.
29 landowners have been identified who own 70 individual pieces of land needed to build the road. 28 pieces of this land are already owned by the authorities.
March 2017
PICTURED: The planned route for Gedling Access Road
Plans looked set to move to the next stage as a legal process to acquire essential land looked set to get approval by councillors.
The legal processes are known as a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and Side Roads Order (SRO) which are subject to final approval by the Secretary of State.
No existing residential properties would be affected and the only buildings affected are outbuildings or are derelict.
A total of approximately 28 hectares of land would have to be acquired to construct the GAR. This is made up of 53 plots of land with more than half of these plots and land already owned by public sector organisations. The remaining plots – covering 14.6 hectares – has 14 individual owners.
A team from Via East Midlands, working on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council go in contact with all 14 landowners affected by the proposals including a local scout group and Carlton le Willows Academy.
Ron Hodges of the 3rd Woodthorpe Scout Group on Mapperley Plains said at the time: “We’ve had firm assurances that our buildings will not be affected by the scheme and that we will continue our scouting and guiding activities at Pepperpots Scout Ground which has been our group’s home for the last 40 years.”
October 2018
Nottinghamshire County Council was given the green light to buy land needed for GAR.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Policy Committee gave the go ahead to buy the two areas of land that form part of Glebe Farm on Lambley Lane in Gedling and Ranch Kennels on Whitworth Drive in Burton Joyce.
It was hoped the main construction works would last 18 months and the road would be completed and open to traffic before the end of 2020.
April 2019
PICTURE: Francis Rodrigues
Work to demolish an iconic farm building and also construct a new bat house began to help clear the way for the development of the new Gedling Access Road (GAR).
Construction started on a bat house which was being built due to the loss of daytime and maternity roosts as a result of the demolition of Glebe Farm, which would take place the following month.
The demolition of the Glebe Farm buildings was expected to take six weeks.
Some local residents said they would be sad to see the properties reduced to rubble.
MEMORIES: Glebe Farm in Gedling Village (IMAGE: Francis Rodrigues)
Iris Lane said: “I’ll be sad to see it go. Glebe Farm is part of our heritage and too many of these buildings are being lost and replaced by more modern monstrosities.
He said at the time: ”Although It’s sad to see Glebe Farm disappear, the benefit to Gedling Village of the new road (GAR) will be immense and will improve the quality of life for thousands of local residents in and around Gedling Village, Carlton and Netherfield.
He added: “The building has been recorded and photographed for historical purposes.”
May 2019
It was revealed that the start of work on the new Gedling Access Road (GAR) could be delayed unless a number of objections from landowners who are subject to the compulsory purchase scheme were resolved.
Nottinghamshire County Council said they were launching a public inquiry to consider the objections, which could possibly hold up the start of construction work, which is due to begin in 2020.
The council did say that if the objections were resolved quickly, they would look at starting construction work sooner.
Cllr John Cottee, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Communities and Place Committee, told Gedling Eye: “The start of the road’s construction is dependent on the outcome of the public inquiry, but we are aiming to start the main works at the beginning of next year (2020) with an expected completion date during 2021.”
October 2019
Residents in Mapperley said they were ‘deeply concerned’ about the impact the new multi-million pound Gedling Access Road (GAR) would have on their lives if plans to install acoustic screens and reduce traffic noise were abandoned.
Gedling Borough Council’s planning committee discussed scrapping plans to have protective screens and barriers running alongside the new road at the Mapperley Plains end.
A public document available on the Gedling Borough Council website revealed that an unnamed planning officer had recommended removing the screens from the plans because they would be ‘detrimental to the visual amenity of the area’.
The officer went on to claim that screens wouldn’t be needed because GAR would be raised above the existing ground level and any increase in noise to dwellings at a lower level ‘would be marginal’.
They also recommended that plans to have acoustic fencing placed near the former railway tunnel entrance in Mapperley should also be removed. These screens were proposed to protect the bats who have made the old tunnel their home.
The officer said in the assessment that ‘due to a change in levels and planting, the fencing is proposed to be removed from this location too.’
November 2019
It was decided that acoustic screening along a stretch of the Gedling Access Road (GAR) in Mapperley would now be installed after proposals to ditch them were rejected at a council planning meeting.
The recommendations were unanimously rejected by Gedling Borough Council‘s planning committee at a meeting.
After the meeting, Arnold North Councillor Michael Payne told Gedling Eye that the decision was ‘a victory for common sense’.
He said: “It was a real team effort to ensure the plans for the screens remained.
“It’s all about trust and I think that we’d have struggled to get people to believe in the planning process if we’d lost. They’d have felt like we had gone back on our word to protect their properties and local wildlife.”
December 2019
PICTURED: Gedling leader John Clare, left, with deputy leader Michael Payne, right
The leader and deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council called on Nottinghamshire County Council to help them urgently replace every tree being removed to make way the construction of the new £40m Gedling Access Road.
Councillors John Clarke and Michael Payne made the plea while planting new trees in Gedling Country Park, which is next to where the new road will be built.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke hoped Nottinghamshire County Council would lend their support to the initiative.
He said: “Nottinghamshire County Council are responsible for building the Gedling Access Road and they are felling 1000s of trees to make way for it. We’re calling on them to immediately join us and do everything they can do mitigate the impact of the new road by replacing every single tree that have felled.
“The Gedling Access Road is needed and is an important part of the infrastructure to provide much needed new homes and less traffic in Gedling Village, however, everything must be done to limit the destruction of natural habitat and wildlife which is why we are planting these trees.”
January 2020
(IMAGE: D2N2 Partnership)
Construction on the new Gedling Access Road (GAR) officially began on January 6.
Main construction work was expected to last 18 months and there was hopes it should be completed in the Autumn of 2021.
The green light to begin construction work was given after the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership approved its share of funding for the project.
D2N2 said they would contribute £10.8m from its Local Growth Fund allocation towards the construction of the new road.
The £10.8m contribution from D2N2 is part of an overall package of funding which includes £17m from Keepmoat Homes, £5.4m from Nottinghamshire County Council, and £7.1m from the Home & Community Agency totalling over £40m.
D2N2 Chair Elizabeth Fagan said at the time: “The construction of the Gedling Access Road is a huge opportunity for unlocking new housing and employment for Gedling.”
“High quality and reliable infrastructure is critical to giving businesses the confidence to invest in our area and therefore create further opportunities for the whole region to enjoy.”
The Gedling Access Road would only offer a short-term solution to our traffic problems, said Philip Oddie from Willow Farm Action Group…
He pointed out that The GAR planning application in 2014, had identified that 12,000 vehicles per day used Arnold Lane / Main Road / Shearing Hill in Gedling however, since then the numbers had risen to over 15,000 per day, making this route one of the most heavily used roads in the region, with the section between Lambley Lane and Main Road operating over capacity.
Whilst, historically, the need to reduce the traffic levels within Gedling has been the driving force behind the plans to build this new road, the sheer scale of Gedling Borough Council’s plans to develop the area has forced a change to the primary purpose of the road, from providing a bypass to a road which unlocks land at the edge of Gedling for new housing.
He wrote in a column for Gedling Eye: “Throughout the planning process, Gedling Borough Council has continued to claim that Gedling will benefit from a reduction in the level of traffic on the Arnold Lane / Main Road / Shearing Hill route.
“Nottinghamshire County Council published a report last year which confirmed that, with the opening of the GAR, there will be an initial reduction in the volume of traffic through Gedling Village however, the longer term projection, which takes account of the additional traffic generated by the new housing developments, is that the level of traffic will, in fact, rise to 18350 vehicles per day by 2034, which is an increase of over 2000 above the current levels.
The amount of traffic will, of course, increase as the new homes are completed and occupied and by 2026, 506 new homes are expected to have been completed on Chase Farm and 110 on Willow Farm, with the result that the volume of traffic on the route through Gedling Village is highly likely to exceed current levels within 5 years of the opening of the GAR.”
It was revealeda new area of woodland with 10 different species of trees would be planted alongside part of the new multi-million pound Gedling Access Road.
Concerns had been raised that several hundred trees would be dug up to make way for the road, but it was now hoped the new woodland would more than make up for the number of trees lost.
The plan came about because huge quantities of earth needs to be moved to make way for the 3.8 km road.
Several options were considered for where to put the 165,900 tonnes of earth – the equivalent of 27,650 adult African elephants, or 753 Boeing 747s.
One idea was to move it to Dorket Head Quarry near Calverton to help fill sites which had been dug up. But the quarry was not yet ready to be filled, and the impact of HGV trips was deemed prohibitive.
Instead, the construction equipment which would be on site anyway, would transfer the waste soil to the new area of woodland, which would be off Arnold Lane in Gedling.
February 2020
IMAGE: Gedling Eye
A water mains was left damaged by a HGV thought to be working on the Gedling Access Road.
7,000 homes were initially cut off when a lorry struck the pipe close to the Gedling Access Road site near Burton Joyce.
Engineers for Severn Trent Water worked around the clock to restore water to around 6,000 homes in Netherfield, Gedling and Carlton, but it was estimated around 1,000 homes in Burton Joyce still remained dry.
July 2020
Pedestrians were being warned not to access a closed road in Gedling after reports people were ignoring warning signs.
Lambley Lane is currently closed to road users and pedestrians until February 2021 to allow for work on the new £40m Gedling Access Road to take place.
Nottinghamshire County Council issued a warning following reports people were continuing to access the road on foot, despite the risks to safety.
A spokesman said: “We have received reports of pedestrians accessing Lambley Lane in Gedling.
“This is not permitted and is extremely dangerous due to the heavy earth moving equipment in operation to construct the Gedling Access Road.
“Please do not ignore the signs.”
August 2020
Construction vehicles pictured on Shearing Hill (IMAGE: Francis Rodrigues)
A construction firm apologised for sending large vehicles down narrow village roads in Gedling.
Residents in Gedling village voiced their anger after HGVs and large construction vehicles were spotted using Shearing Hill and Arnold Lane to gain access to the Gedling Access Road (GAR) site near the village.
Locals said the vehicles were having a ‘devastating impact’ on the local community.
Geoffrey Pope, 77, who lives in the village said the narrow roads can’t cope with this kind of traffic.
“I was under the impression the firm working on the road wouldn’t be using our village roads to access the site. It’s just not on,” he said.
“The roads simply can’t cope with these huge vehicles. They weren’t built for that. I worry some pedestrian is going to get hurt as it gets very narrow. They need to stop now. It’s having a huge impact on the village.”
Village resident Francis Rodrigues said that recent activity proved how much the Gedling Access Road was needed.
He said at the time: “These huge vehicles demonstrate how much the GAR is needed when you see them on Shearing Hill– which is so narrow in parts including the pavements.
“Over 25,000 cars and lorries use this route now, of which 2,000 of these are HGVs.”
September 2021
Workforce and labour issues as well as delays over Covid caused council spending on the Gedling Access Road to be more than £5 million over budget.
It led to mounting concern over where the funding will be found, with one councillor fearing the £40 million project could become “our HS2”.
Nottinghamshire County Council documents, reviewed by Monday’s finance committee, forecast the project will cost £5.4 million more than originally planned.
Issues of delays accessing materials, construction workers being ‘pinged’ and the council continuing to pay costs have, documents say, caused the overall cost to rise.
Speaking at a finance committee meeting on Monday (September 6), some raised concerns over where the extra finance will be found to combat the “spiralling costs”.
Councillor Tom Hollis (Ash Ind), who represents Sutton West, told the committee: “I certainly feel that, with better planning, this overspend could have been avoided.
“The Gedling Access Road was originally meant to cost £40 million, it’s now gone up by £5.4 million or 12 per cent, but included in that initial £40 million was contingency costs.
October 2021
It was revealed the opening of Gedling Access Road would now be delayed until spring 2022.
Nottinghamshire County Council blamed challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for the delays.
The road was initially expected to take 18 months to complete.
Councillor Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said at the time: “In the circumstances, just an extra few months on a project that’s been in the pipeline for several decades, delivered during a global pandemic, is a pretty good effort in my view and I am very proud that we are the ones delivering this for people in Gedling.
“The road will make a huge difference to motorists who will notice faster journey times, and local residents, who will benefit from less congestion through Gedling Village and for the further investment it will unlock in the area.”
November 2021
The county council revealed today that what was initially thought to be a £5.4m overspend on the £40m project has now increased to £8.6m.
NCC council leader Ben Bradley told Gedling Eye: “A global pandemic has meant that construction has had to cope with unexpected problems.
“Inflation has also meant that the cost has risen and poor weather and alterations to planned groundworks has unfortunately resulted in a delay.”
John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, has said that the overspend “sounds like a lot of money but [not] if you compare to HS2 and other things like that.
“The actual building has been extremely challenging, and I think they’ve done well.
“It is public money and we want to know where the £5.4m is coming from but I would like to set a more level playing field.”
Gedling Access Road could be known as ‘Colliery Way’ when it finally opens up to motorists next year.
Documents published on Gedling Borough Council’s website revealed a new name had been proposed for Gedling Access Road.
The document states that Colliery Way was favoured over 20 other suggestions because “the name suggested is relevant to the local area as the road is adjacent to the former Gedling Colliery site”.
The following names were also suggested for the new access road, which opens in Spring 2022:
Pepper Pot Way
All Hallows Way,
Mercury Way,
Gedling Park Way,
The Pit Road,
Gedling Pit Road,
Gedling Pit Way,
Gedling Way,
Mapperley Wharf Way,
Old Pit Way,
Top Hard Way,
Main Bright Way,
High Hazels Way,
Wharf Way (or Wharfs Way)
Chase Farm Way
Gedling Colliers Way,
Harvey’s Way,
Peppermint Way,
Ghellenge Way,
Gedling Village Bypass,
and Five Rings Way
The proposal was now awaiting approval.
Nottinghamshire County Council, who are responsible for the road’s construction, said the name suggested to Gedling Borough Council met with their approval.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Chairman of the Transport and Environment Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, said:”Gedling Borough Council’s proposed name is a fitting tribute to the important mining history of the area.
“Colliery Way will not just connect people to the history and heritage of the area but will also connect residents and communities to new future opportunities, employment and housing in the city and county.
“Once completed, the new road will become the A6211 Colliery Way.”
March 2022
The opening date for the delayed Gedling Access Road was officially confirmed.
Colliery Way, as it will now be called, will finally open to traffic on March 22.
It was revealed construction teams have moved 512,000 cubic metres of earth, equivalent to 204 Olympic swimming pools, laid 45,816 tonnes of tarmac and installed 30 kilometres of drainage pipes and cable ducts to create the site
53,000 new trees are being planted across the site, and ecological measures including seven badger tunnels, six amphibian crossings and seven bat hop-overs being constructed.
Traffic will be able to use the new road from midday on March 22.
The Burton Road junction with the A612 was closed so work could take place on the Gedling Access Road (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
“The Colliery Way will contribute towards the ongoing housing development in the area, creating much needed new homes, with improved access to the Chase Farm development and improved access to our Gedling Country Park. This all directly contributes to the local economy through new jobs and more people moving into the area to live and work.
“This road will also be welcomed by the residents of Gedling Village who will see a big reduction in through traffic, it will give them their village back, which is something we have been wanting to achieve for a long time.”
The road will officiallyopen to traffic on Tuesday, March 22 at mid-day.
Police have launched an investigation following a serious assault in Carlton
Officers were called to Ramsdale Road shortly before 11.45am today (19).
A man has been taken to hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening.
Inspector Matt Scott, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “High visibility patrols are in the area to reassure the public while officers work hard to understand the circumstances of what happened.
“Anyone who saw the incident or has information is asked is call us on 101 quoting incident 307 of 19 March 2022.”
People in Gedling borough are being warned about a new Royal Mail scam as fraudsters turn to using online chat boxes to get your details.
According to consumer campaigners Which? there is a new twist on the Royal Mail delivery scam which sees fraudsters creating fake chatbots that sign victims up for expensive monthly subscriptions.
Which? has revealed that scammers have been sending phishing emails inviting people to ‘start a chat’ to trace a delivery.
The fake Royal Mail chatbot lists a delivery tracking number and shares an image of a parcel explaining that the ‘label was damaged’ to convince you to reschedule the delivery. Clicking the link takes you to a different website, asking for your name, address, and payment details.
The small print reveals that adding these details enters you into a ‘Skill Game’ and purchases a three-day trial to bilingua.net costing £2 then £59 every 30 days.
Which? says the form has also switched to promoting a different website – called proplanner.io – costing £62 every 30 days.
Bilingua.net told Which? that the Royal Mail scam is an unscrupulous activity conducted by an ‘affiliate’ – a company that joined its marketing program and gets paid per sale generated for bilingua.net.
A spokesman told Which?: “We do not condone or approve the abusive behaviour by the affiliate in question.
It is a gross violation of our affiliate terms and conditions and marketing code of conduct. We have marketing compliance procedures in place to ensure that such violations do not occur, but once in a while abusive affiliates do slip through.”
