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Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton to offer Covid booster jabs from Monday

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton to offer Covid booster jabs from Monday

The Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton has again been chosen as a the home of the borough’s walk-in vaccination site and will begin offering booster jabs from Monday (December 20).

The move is part of a huge drive to vaccinate the people of Gedling borough against Covid-19. 

The new site will open at 1pm – 5pm on Monday, December 20 and will operate from 9am-5pm, 7 days a week following that.

The Richard Herrod Centre will be a walk-in site and is expected to administer up to 1,000 vaccines each day. 

Existing appointment-only vaccination sites have also increased their appointments by thousands each day to allow people to get their jabs as soon as possible over the next three weeks.  

It is estimated around 64 per cent of the population aged 12 and over in Gedling borough have had their third booster jab.

Covid jab

Amanda Sullivan, accountable officer at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, said she hopes the opening of the site will help drive forward the booster programme even faster.

She said: As we know this is a convenient, local and well-known setting for the public to quickly receive their jab.  

“Our teams have been working hard to increase the capacity of our sites so that we can protect the public as quickly as possible. We have thousands and thousands of additional bookable appointments available between now and New Year’s Eve and more get added each day. My simple message to the public is to get a booster and protect yourself, protect your loved ones, and make sure you have a safe and Covid-free Christmas.” 

Gedling Borough Council leaders and Councillors John Clarke and Michael Payne praised the decision to open the centre again after calling for its reopening earlier this week.

In a joint statement they said: “We’re delighted our Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton will be opening as a walk-in vaccination site from Monday to help drive the national effort to vaccinate people with boosters.

“We’re proud of the role Gedling Borough Council played in helping to administer first and second covid vaccinations to local residents.

“Our simple message now to the public is to get a booster and protect yourself, protect your loved ones, and make sure you have a safe and covid-free Christmas.”

All adults aged 18 and over are eligible for a booster jab, appointments can be booked through 119 or on the NHS website.  

No appointment is needed for the new walk-in centres, but long queues might be encountered.  The public are advised to wrap up warm.   

New pub at former bank in Mapperley must wait for licensing hearing

Andrew Topping (Local Democracy Reporter)
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New pub at former bank in Mapperley must wait for licensing hearing

Owners of a new pub due to take over the former TSB bank in Mapperley must wait another month before being able to plead their case for a controversial license application.

Staff behind ‘The Old Bank Mapperley’, on Plains Road, were initially scheduled to make their case for the license on Thursday (December 16), but the hearing at Gedling Borough Council has been postponed until January 13.

The council says the meeting was postponed “to allow sufficient time for all parties to prepare for the hearing” due to a large number of objections to the plans.

The application is requesting a license to turn the building into a bar and restaurant, coming as part of a wider redevelopment which also includes flats upstairs.

In its application, the pub’s owners propose standard operating hours of between 8am and 2am the following day, seven days a week, with the pub bidding to serve alcohol during the same period.

Owners hope to occasionally show plays, films, sport, live music, recorded music and dance performances.

And the venue states it will also bring in a CCTV recording system prior to opening and will train all members of staff in the sale of alcohol, stressing it will follow “all relevant legislation” on public safety and nuisance.

But as many as 23 written objections were submitted in regards to the plans, with several concerns raised.

TSB Mapperley
PICTURED: The former TSB branch in Mapperley (IMAGE: Google)

Drawings for the pub show it could feature a beer garden to its rear, which several residents objected to on the grounds of “public nuisance”.

Terry Buttle, the council’s environmental health officer, also raised similar concerns.

In an objection letter, he said: “I have examined the plans submitted and I would like to object to the use of the outside area on the grounds of public nuisance.

“[This is] due to the potential noise levels from the use of the outside area, as these are likely to cause a public nuisance to nearby residential properties including those properties that have been proposed to the rear and above the premises.”

Others raised issues with the proposed opening times, stating no other venue stays open for alcohol sales until this hour and the majority are closed by midnight.

Objector Lynda Schippers, who lives on nearby Bonington Road, said: “The site of the premises is at the top of Bonington Road, which is a very quiet and peaceful place.

“We have a strong community spirit and a venue such as this is nothing but alarming.

“There is no other venue, restaurant, pub or bar that serves alcohol past 1am. The majority close at 12 midnight at the weekend and 11pm during the week, there is no demand for a 2am closing.”

She went on to raise noise concerns from, people leaving “at all hours”, as well as taxis driving around the area and the potential effects of alcohol on the “wrong kind of customers”.

In its submissions, the applicant said it will follow all “relevant legislation” to prevent public nuisance and will “liaise and cooperate” with responsible authorities.

It confirmed a ‘Challenge 21’ policy will be in place to prevent the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers.

‘Tragic incident’: Cyclist dies after collision with car on roundabout off Colwick Loop Road

Gedling Eye Reporter
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‘Tragic incident’: Cyclist dies after collision with car on roundabout off Colwick Loop Road

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.

Kind-hearted Colwick firm help out the homeless and vulnerable with festive care packages

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Kind-hearted Colwick firm help out the homeless and vulnerable with festive care packages

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.

Flood wardens being trained in Burton Joyce and Stoke Bardolph to prepare for extreme weather

Anna Whittaker (LDR reporter)
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Flood wardens being trained in Burton Joyce and Stoke Bardolph to prepare for extreme weather

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”.

Lidl slashes cost of Christmas veg to 19p at Arnold and Netherfield stores

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Lidl slashes cost of Christmas veg to 19p at Arnold and Netherfield stores

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.

Lidl

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.

Covid blamed for surge in fly-tipping incidents across Gedling borough

Irene Bisoni
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Covid blamed for surge in fly-tipping incidents across Gedling borough

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. 

fly_tip

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.  

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said the surge in fly-tipping is down to a mix of different factors including COVID and lockdowns.  

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 offer is there’: Gedling leader calls on NHS to use Richard Herrod Centre for booster jab rollout

Gedling Eye Reporter
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‘The offer is there’: Gedling leader calls on NHS to use Richard Herrod Centre for booster jab rollout

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.

Vaccination Gedling
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

Ashfield – 47,296 – which equates to 42 per cent

How did Gedling borough MPs vote on No 10’s Covid pass plan approved by Commons?

Gedling Eye Reporter
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How did Gedling borough MPs vote on No 10’s Covid pass plan approved by Commons?

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.”

Tom Randall and Mark Spencer
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.

Plans move ahead on first bridge over the River Trent in more than 50 years

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Plans move ahead on first bridge over the River Trent in more than 50 years

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.

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