A cyclist involved in a collision with a car near Colwick has died from his injuries.
The rider, a 41-year-old man, was cycling on a roundabout off Colwick Loop Road, near to the Sainsbury’s superstore at around 7.15am on Monday (December 13) when the collision happened.
He sustained serious injuries and died in hospital the following day.
His organs have been donated so that other people’s lives can be saved.
Enquiries into what happened are still continuing but officers are urging anyone who may have seen the incident or who has any dash-cam footage to get in touch to help them with their investigation.
Sergeant Mark Baker, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This is a tragic incident in which a man has sadly lost his life and our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.
“Officers are continuing to work hard to established exactly what happened and our investigations are continuing but we would like to urge anyone who may have seen anything or has any dash-cam footage to come forward.
“Our thoughts remain with the family of the victim and we are continuing to support his family as our investigation continues.”
Anyone with any information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the police on 101, quoting incident number 75 of 13 December 2021.
Staff at an award-winning packaging firm in Colwick have once again played Santa – hand-delivering hundreds of hampers to the most vulnerable people of the area.
Workers at The Wilkins Group put together 250 festive care packages full of winter essentials to help users of local homeless shelters, and other vulnerable people, get through the winter months.
It follows a similar, successful charity drive last Christmas, in which the printing firm delivered 344 festive hampers to local Covid19 heroes and those most in need.
The latest packs contain a hat, gloves, thermal socks, toiletries including shower gel, toothpaste and a toothbrush, and snacks.
Among those set to benefit are users of Emmanuel House, Framework, The Friary, Men’s Complex Needs, Women’s Complex Needs, Hughendon Lodge, Nottingham Nightstop, The Arches and SOTA Sneinton Hermitage.
The generous donation comes after charities warned that they expect homelessness in Nottingham to increase past pre-Covid levels and that this winter could be the worst in a decade for rough sleepers.
A new kind of homelessness is presenting itself, with reasons including domestic issues, rather than substance misuse or mental health problems.
One recipient of a Wilkins care package, Sam, a service user at Emmanuel House support centre, in Goose Gate, said he had recently been released from a five-week prison term for a probation violation.
PICTURED: Staff from The Wilkins Group deliver hampers to Emmanuel House in Nottingham
Sam said: “Last night I was on the Trent embankment in my sleeping bag.
“The toiletries will certainly come in handy. It’s very kind of The Wilkins Group to do something like this. It means a lot.”
Gill Barker, marketing and fundraising assistant at Emmanuel House, said: “The festive packages from The Wilkins Group are gratefully received by Emmanuel House support centre.
“The contents of the donations are amongst our most needed items and will be distributed to people using this service who are experiencing homelessness, in crisis, are rough-sleeping or at risk of homelessness.
“It will make a difference to the beneficiaries, who otherwise have no access to these basic supplies that many of us take for granted. This is particularly important at this time of year.”
Justin Wilkins, sales and marketing director at Wilkins Group, said: “There’s no doubt that it’s been another tough year for many.
“Now, as we’re in the depths of winter, we find ourselves thinking more and more of others, and what we might be able to do to help them.
“I had no idea how many charities there were that help the needy in our city and county – it shows how much they are needed.
“As a local company, we are committed to giving back to our local community, and if these packs can put a smile on just one person’s face, then it’s worth it.”
Last year’s hamper initiative took place instead of The Wilkins Group creating sustainable gifts for its clients, which demonstrates the company’s eco-friendly approach to food packaging.
The Wilkins Group, crowned Family Business of the Year Award in Midlands Family Business Awards in 2019, has more than 500 staff across five sites around the world, running factories in Sri Lanka, China, and Bangladesh.
Its site in Colwick produces food packaging for the UK’s leading supermarkets.
Preparations are underway to protect residents in Gedling borough villages from flooding risks in the coming year.
A “major flood exercise” will take place in 2022 and flood wardens are being trained in Burton Joyce and Stoke Bardolph to deal with extreme weather.
During the Communities Committee meeting on December 15, the ’emergency planning’ department of Nottinghamshire County Council updated councillors on plans to deal with extreme weather in the county.
The major flood exercise will allow for multi-agency flood plans to be put in place and for lessons to be learnt from recent flooding events.
Documents show that County Council emergency planning staff joined with the Environment Agency and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to deliver training to new flood wardens the two villages.
The wardens will be given roles and responsibilities, and actions to take before, during and after a flood.
Robert Fisher, Group Manager for Emergency Planning and Registration, said during the meeting: “Flooding is always going to be a focus of attention at any time of year.
“Early preparations have begun for a major flood exercise to take place in 2022 to rehearse our preparedness for future flood events.
“The report highlights the work we have been doing with the Environment Agency and the Fire Service to train flood wardens.
“Under current Covid precautions we are not able to offer that training in person, however, we can offer virtual events.
“Tomorrow evening we will be giving training in a virtual presentation to volunteers in Shireoaks and Rhodesia in an event promoted by councillor [Sybil] Fielding.”
Further plans for winter weather are also under way, including the provision of 4x4s to help social care and other sectors to safely drive in snowy and icy conditions.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of “commending the work undertaken by the emergency planning team and agreed to receive further updates on key activities of the team”.
With just 10 days to go until the big day, Lidl has announced it’s slashing the prices of its Christmas veg at stores in Arnold and Netherfield to just 19p.
The retailer announced today it has reduced the price of its British Carrots (1kg), British Parsnips (500g) British Mini Roasts (1.5kg), British Red Cabbage (per kg), Echalion Shallots (300g) and the all-important British Brussels Sprouts (500g), which means savvy shoppers can pick up everything they need for a festive feast for less than £1.15.
The discount supermarket giant says these brilliant bargains will be available in stores nationwide from December 16 while stocks last.
Martin Kottbauer, chief commercial officer at Lidl GB, comments: “This year, like always, we want to help our shoppers enjoy the highest quality produce for the best value. As we look forward to delivering a brilliant Christmas for our customers, they can rely on the fact we won’t be beaten on price.”
Lidl’s great value veg and more is available in store from Thursday, December 16 and available while stocks last.
Newly-released figures from Defra show that fly tipping across Gedling borough surged during the pandemic.
Between 2020/21, a total of 2003 incidents were reported, a significant increase from 2019/20, when 1359 were recorded.
Incidents involving debris dumped by roads surged, with 1686 cases in 2020/21 – a surge of 38% if compared with 1359 incidents in 2019/20.
In Gedling, construction/demolition and excavation waste incidents skyrocketed by 88% with 61 cases in 2020/21 from 7 cases in 2019/2020.
Incidents involving black bags and other household waste were the most common instances, with 1,435 cases.
The most common size category for fly-tipping in Gedling in 2020/2021 was equivalent to a small van load, with 900 incidents reported.
This data is in line with national statistics.
For the 2020/21-year, local authorities in England dealt with 1.13 million fly-tipping incidents, an increase of 16% from the 980,000 reported in 2019/20.
In terms of enforcement actions, national data shows a decrease of 4% from 474,000 in 20219/20 to 456,000 while the number of court fines issued decreased by 51% from 2,672 to 1,313 in 2020/21.
In Gedling borough, actions taken by the council were also down. Only 30 actions in 2020/21 compared to 53 in 2019/20.
Total fines mirror the national data. 998 in 2020/21, a drastic decrease from 2720 fines issued in 2019/20.
The 2020/21 reporting period covers the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic where many local authorities were unable to maintain waste collection, with some suspending garden and bulky waste collection.
Many household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) were also closed.
Moreover, staff shortages, staff being furloughed, and redeployment of existing staff may have exacerbated the issue and hinder the number of enforcement actions carried out during 2020/21.
He said: “Unfortunately, over the past year, many councils have seen an increase in fly-tipping incidents, caused by a number of factors including lockdowns, COVID measures as well as closures and reduced hours at recycling centres.”
He also added that residents have a responsibility over their waste and how waste is disposed of.
He said: “Fly-tipping causes serious harm to local communities; the environment and wildlife and residents have a duty of care to be responsible for removing household waste appropriately and using licenced removal companies.
“Residents should be aware that if fly tipped waste is found and can be traced back to the household, they will be responsible, even if they didn’t dump it.
“It costs the council to clean up fly tips and takes money away from elsewhere at a time when budgets are tight due to government cuts.
“We take all reports of fly-tips very seriously and will do everything we can to prosecute those involved wherever possible.
“If anyone witnesses or has information regarding fly-tipping in the borough, please contact us on 0115 901 3901 or email enquiries@gedling.gov.uk.”
The leader of Gedling Borough Council wants NHS bosses to reopen the Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton as a vaccine centre to help increase the uptake of Covid boosters in the borough.
The site on Foxhill Road stopped delivering jabs in October after serving the borough as a vaccination centre throughout the pandemic.
Councillor John Clarke yesterday made the call after health bosses outlined the scale of the challenge facing local services to rollout the NHS Covid-19 booster vaccination announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The PM said everyone over the age of 18 will be offered a Covid booster jab by the end of December, provided three months have passed since their last jab, to help protect people from a fresh wave of infections.
He promised extra vaccine and mobile sites would be set up and opening hours extended. He said more volunteers would be trained to deliver the vaccines.
But concerns have now been raised by local health chiefs about people not being able to book an appointment close by.
In Gedling borough, 41 per cent of the population aged 12 and over have had their third booster jab.
Cllr John Clarke told local democracy reporter Matt Jarram that the logistics of doing what is planned will be very difficult.
He said: “The Richard Herrod site was closed by the CCG and I am happy for it to be used in some form.
“I would call on them open up part of it again. The offer is there. With the booster jab now high on the agenda we need to open as many places as possible.
“I think they are going to struggle personally. It has been rushed through without having the extra centres set up in advance.
People were being vaccinated at the Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton up until October
“We, in Gedling, will help as much as we can but without the cash and direction then we will struggle.”
Amanda Sullivan, Accountable Officer at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, said: “The NHS is working exceptionally hard to accelerate the booster programme to offer protection to as many people as quickly as possible.
“Locally, we are establishing a number of ways we can quickly step up the volumes of jabs given to the public.
“These will include increasing capacity at our sites, offering extended opening hours, standing up more vaccination sites, working to increase our vaccinator workforce, accepting the national support on offer which includes the military and supporting our GPs and community pharmacies to be able to offer the lifesaving jabs to as many people as possible.
“I want to be clear that our NHS workforce will be working very hard to vaccinate as many people as possible and I am grateful for the support across the local system in helping us to achieve this.
“The local NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and I would urge eligible people to book a slot to guarantee their jab.
“If you are over 30 you can book on the NHS website or by calling 119. We appreciate the booking systems are very busy at the moment, but we would ask that you keep checking for more availability as it comes online.”
Mr Johnson said in his briefing to the nation on December 12: “I am afraid we are now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant, Omicron, and we must urgently reinforce our wall of vaccine protection to keep our friends and loved ones safe.
“I’m afraid it is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need.
“But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose – a booster dose –we can all bring our level of protection back up.
“At this point our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe, and even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible, that a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths.”
Third booster jab take up aged 12 and over so far across the city and county:
Gedling – 43,811 – which equates to 41.2 per cent
Nottinghamshire – 326,338 – which equates to 43.1 per cent
Nottingham – 65,559 people – which equates to 20.3 per cent
Rushcliffe – 48,658 – which equates to 45 per cent
Broxtowe – 44,736 – which equates to 42.3 per cent
Bassetlaw – 51,962 – which equates to 47.7 per cent
Newark and Sherwood – 48,283 – which equates to 42.5 per cent
Mansfield – 41,592 – which equates to 41.1 per cent
MPs last night approved the government’s plan to reintroduce some COVID-19 restrictions following the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
Parliament passed the Plan B rules, which involve regulations on face masks, isolation rules, COVID passes and compulsory vaccinations for healthcare workers.
MPs voted 369 to 126, a majority of 243, to approve the mandatory use of Covid passes for entry to nightclubs and large venues in England, but 96 Conservative MPs have voted against Boris Johnson’s proposals in a huge blow to the government.
Gedling MP Tom Randall was one of the MPs to vote against the passes plan.
Following the Commons vote, he spoke out on social media about his decision not to back Number 10.
He said: “I believe that the Government is well-intentioned in introducing this measure and colleagues of mine might understandably take a different view. However, as I am personally unconvinced that Covid certification will work, I reluctantly voted against the Government on this measure.”
PICTURED: Gedling MP Tom Randall, left, and Sherwood MP Mark Spencer, right
Mr Randall had said that an earlier study carried out by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (PACAC), of which he was a member, failed to produce evidence Covid passports were necessary.
He said: “Our inquiry found that the Government has so far failed to make the scientific case in favour of the system. The Committee found little evidence that the introduction a Covid-status certification regime would actually increase public confidence. I still hold this view.”
He did say he backed the rest of measures being introduced as part of Plan B.
Sherwood MP Mark Spencer voted in favour of checking vaccine passports, which will come into force from today (Wednesday, 15).
Covid-19 NHS passes be required in nightclubs and other large busy venues, to show proof of a vaccination.
Nottingham City Council is due to approve plans to create a brand new £9m bridge – the first over the River Trent in more than 50 years.
The new pedestrian and cycle bridge at Trent Basin will create better links between West Bridgford and Nottingham city centre.
It will also make it easier for walkers and cyclists to access places such as Colwick Park from the south side of the river as well as Nottingham Forest games.
The project is being funded by the Government with a Spring 2023 opening date. The structure will be the first new bridge over the River Trent since Clifton Bridge opened in 1958.
The boundary between the city council and Rushcliffe borough runs along the centre of the river, so a joint planning application will be needed.
Nottingham City Council is due to approve Trent Basin as the preferred location for the bridge and take forward the arch steel bridge design at an Executive Board meeting on Tuesday, December 21.
It is also expected to approve the submission of duplicate planning applications for the bridge with connecting ramps and secure land and highway agreements with third party landowners, to deliver the scheme to a value of £9.2m.
A report prepared for the meeting said: “A new bridge for cyclists and pedestrians located at Trent Basin will add to the route choices available to both pedestrians and cyclists for both commuting and leisure journeys and support the redevelopment of the Waterside regeneration area.”
In October, it was recommended Trent Basin was the preferred location for the new bridge.
Other options such as Trent Lane were discounted due to complex engineering concerns, potential impacts on existing residents and the need to remove sensitive trees on the south bank.
Building a bridge at Poulton Drive was deemed achievable, but did not offer the same connectivity benefits that the Trent Basin location will provide.
Discussions have been held with water users regarding the height of the new bridge.
The current design allows for the Nottingham Princess and Trent Lady cruise boats to pass underneath and also allows for the single-handed sailing boats from the nearby sailing club.
The bridge would not, however, allow the less frequently used double-handed sailing boats to pass underneath.
This was considered during the feasibility design options, however, raising the height of the bridge requires much longer ramps, which impacts on the building of the structure.
Following a consultation, it is proposed that approval is granted to take the bridge scheme at Trent Basin forward and a planning application submitted.
Currently, it is not thought the council will need to actually buy land to deliver the scheme.
Subject to planning determination, and securing the necessary land approvals, the construction work on the bridge will start towards the end of 2022 and complete in 2023.
However,, the council is aware of some risks attached to the project. This includes the potential for cost escalation due to the rising price of materials, particularly steel.
To mitigate this, an uplift to cost contingencies has been applied at this stage. A further risk includes delays to project delivery due to materials shortages and long lead times for steel.
The owner of a hotel in Mapperley Park has received a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to six offences which could have had ‘catastrophic consequences’ in the event of a fire.
Chate Singh (33) of Manthorpe Road, Grantham, the sole director of CP Nottingham Ltd, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 10 December and was handed a 12 month custodial sentence, reduced to 8 months for early guilty pleas, for fire safety offences relating to the Ebers Hotel in Mansfield Road, Nottingham.
Mr Singh was responsible for this property and the sentence is suspended for 18 months.
In addition to this, Mr Singh was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and to pay prosecution costs of £12,000.
CP Nottingham Ltd received fines totalling £18,000 and it was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £12,000.
His Honour Judge Watson, sentencing, described Mr Singh’s conduct as “a wholesale failure to ensure the safety of (their) staff and guests,” which could have had “catastrophic consequences” in the event of a fire.
He went on to say that there is no room for inadequacy of this extent in respect of protecting people from the dangers of fire. He concluded that these were very serious offences and warned Mr Singh that he had only just avoided immediate imprisonment.
Fire Protection Station Manager Tom Clark, of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“It is particularly encouraging that the courts have shown that fire safety within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is taken very seriously, and we welcome the comments made by His Honour Judge Watson when passing sentence.
“Whilst we are saddened that this case has had to brought before the courts, fire safety deficiencies must be taken seriously, and the appropriate action taken when required.
“Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service does and will always seek to work with and support business owners, particularly during the current economic climate.
“However, staff, members of the public and visitors using premises within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire need to feel reassured that they can do so safely.
“Furthermore, business owners who do comply with their fire safety obligations also need to know that those who don’t will be challenged.
“We hope that this sentence sends out a message that we take fire safety matters very seriously, and that we are committed to keeping people safe.”
Burton Joyce residents and local councillors gathered at the rail station this morning as part of a campaign calling for more services.
The villagers were on the platform to welcome the return of the vital 7.59am service – which was axed in May of this year when an emergency timetable was introduced on the Nottingham to Lincoln line, which serves Burton Joyce.
They are now calling for a much-improved level of services throughout the day for Burton Joyce which has been neglected and marginalised over the last decade. With major road, residential and retail development taking place nearby there is an imperative to mitigate consequent transport and community pressures.
Laurence King, chair of Burton Joyce Parish Council said “ There is an urgent need to to provide regular train services throughout the day for our community.
“Villages such as ours need a timetable that provides connectivity for people and promotes use of public transport to assist the environment, reduce vehicle use and congestion.
Villagers want more trains to call at Burton Joyce
“Consideration of any new timetable must include more of the trains that are actually passing through our station stopping here, for the social, leisure and economic wellbeing that brings”.
Chris Helmore, of The Friends of Lowdham and Burton Joyce Stations, sayid “ The recent discovery that there has been a strategy board in existence for over a decade that discusses and influences services on the line without any reference to Burton Joyce residents has left many feeling deeply concerned”
He adds “Lowdham, the next village on the line has over twice as many stopping services and yet has a slightly smaller population, there is no reason for such a disparity”.
The campaign is fully supported by local MP Tom Randall and the village’s Borough and County councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams.
They said “We’re delighted that the 07:59 train from Burton Joyce to Nottingham is back on the track from Monday 13 December, helping residents travel to work and into the city in an environmentally friendly way.
They continue “More must be done, however, to improve the train service in Burton Joyce and to match these to the needs of residents. Working together, we have met with East Midlands Rail and will continue to lobby them and the Department for Transport for an improved timetable which can be delivered simply by increasing the number of trains that stop at our station based on those services that are currently passing through.”
Parish council chairman Mr King added: “Local stations are crucial infrastructure that must utilised. This will be an ongoing campaign to obtain a useable and attractive timetable, which by definition will then attract people to use trains.
“Improved services will have a hugely positive impact, not just for Burton Joyce but for the wider city of Nottingham.”
