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Remembrance Day: The events happening across Gedling borough to remember our fallen soldiers

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Remembrance Day: The events happening across Gedling borough to remember our fallen soldiers

As Remembrance Sunday on November 14 approaches, veterans groups around Gedling borough are working with Gedling Borough Council on planning special events to mark the occasion.

Last year saw many annual celebrations cancelled due to Covid, and it is likely some of this year’s events will continue to look a bit different from what people are used to from past years.

Nevertheless, veterans and serving members of the armed forces will be out with civic dignitaries and members of the public this month to mark the occasion and remember all those who have given their lives for their country.

Among the events taking place this year are the following:

Arnold Remembrance Parade

This event takes place on November 14th and begins at 9am.

A parade will form at 9am at the Victory Club on Church Drive and will march off to St Paul’s Church for the service of Remembrance at 9.15am

The parade will then leave the church and form up for the march to Arnot Hill Park via Mansfield Road, Sir John Robinson Way and Nottingham Road.

People will then assemble at the Memorial in Arnot Hill Park at 10.45am for a wreath-laying ceremony.

Between 11:15-11:30am the parade will march back to the Victory Club via Nottingham Road and onto Church Drive for an 11:45am finish.

Gedling Remembrance Service and Parade

Proceedings commence with a service at All Hallows Church in Gedling on Sunday, November 14 at 10am.

At 10.45am, following the service, guests will make their way out of the church and form up into a small parade down to the War Memorial.

There will be an act of remembrance at 11am and wreath laying, before parading back to the church where coffee and refreshments will be available.

Mapperley, Porchester & District Remembrance Parade

This parade takes place on November 21st.

At approximately 10:35am The band and parade will assemble at the Gedling Borough Council Car Park on Bonnington Road, which is behind the TSB Bank on Plains Road in Mapperley.

The band will then lead the parade from the car park onto Woodborough/Plains Road Mapperley and head towards Mapperley War Memorial, on the corner of Woodborough Road and Woodthrope Drive.

Once at the memorial, there will be a short service, followed by the Last Post, two minutes silence at 11am, laying of wreaths and closing prayers.

Following the memorial service, the band and parade will march back to the starting point where the national anthem will be played.

Daybrook Remembrance Parade

This year’s commemoration will begin at St Paul’s Church, Daybrook at 9.15am.

The parade will arrive at the War Memorial in Arnot Hill Park by 10.30 for a short service of Remembrance.

Laying of wreaths will take place at 10.45am followed by an Act of Remembrance at 11am.

Gedling campaigners will join major COP26 protest taking place in Nottingham city centre tomorrow

Irene Bisoni
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Gedling campaigners will join major COP26 protest taking place in Nottingham city centre tomorrow

Environmental campaigners from across Gedling will be heading into Nottingham city centre tomorrow (November 6) to demand radical action on climate change.  

They, along with hundreds of other campaigners from across the city, will gather at the Forest Recreation Ground at 1pm for speeches before marching down Mansfield Road to an event at the Old Market Square at 3pm. 

The event, organised by the COP26 Coalition for Climate Justice, calls for an end to fuel extraction and the immediate emergency decarbonisation required to stay within a 1.5° C global temperature rise, as well as putting an end to the systemic climate injustice and exploitation of indigenous communities.  

Speakers at the event will include former Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, as well as representatives from Nottingham community groups like Stand up to Racism, DIY Poets, and the Pythian Club. 

Members from more than 30 Nottingham groups will gather for the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice to demand climate equality and reparation to the Global South. 

Jean Thompson, 71, from Gedling, said she is taking part in the protest as she is worried about the future of the planet and the next generations. 

She said: “I have children and grandchildren and they are all being affected by changes in the climate that are already happening such as extreme weather, floods, fires, great heatwaves and droughts. 

“They would not have the quality of life that I have. 

“If we don’t stop this, there won’t be enough land to grow food or clean water.” 

Jean shares the Cop26 Coalition’s demands to stop new fossil fuel investments and infrastructure at home and abroad.  

She said: “The oil, coal and gas companies are the ones who are causing the problem. 

“There is an alternative. Clean energy, but unfortunately, we are already locked into global warming. 

“It is already in the system. It is already happening.” 

The 71-year-old pensioner also said that the local council can do a lot to reduce net carbon emissions. 

 But she feels that local authorities are limited by the big fossil fuel companies and investment banks. 

She added: “The government has declared a climate emergency. What we want to do is to hold the government to account.  

“Their job is to look after people, not fund fossil fuel.” 

A statement from the Nottingham COP coalition reads: “2021 has seen floods and hurricanes to some of the biggest wildfires in history. 

“The poorest people in the world and the Global South are disproportionately affected by these events, and this is already forcing a rising number of children from their homes with no way back.” 

People from local groups will also take part such as the Green Party, the Woodland Trust, the Gedling Conservation Trust, and the RSPB among others. 

You can view the full list of demands here. 

Calls to ease ‘rat run’ traffic in Linby village

Andrew Topping (Local Democracy Reporter)
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Calls to ease ‘rat run’ traffic in Linby village

Councillors have spoken of their desire to ease traffic concerns in a “lovely” Gedling village regularly used as a route to the M1.

Linby, which borders Hucknall and Papplewick, has been protected by a conservation area since the early 1970s, preventing overdevelopment on nearby greenbelt land and limiting new plans at its historic centre.

However, Gedling Borough Council recently launched an appraisal of the existing conservation area, with a consultation finding concerns over the level of traffic running through the village.

The main strip of road connects the A60 to the M1 at Junction 27 and is cited as the quickest route for people in parts of Gedling to access the motorway.

Councillors were told on Thursday how some residents have called for a bypass access road to ease the high volume of traffic and divert cars away from Linby and nearby Papplewick.

A council report warned how this traffic, coupled with upcoming developments at nearby Top Wighay Farm and the potential 3,000-home Whyburn Farm plans in Hucknall, could “impact upon village life”.

It adds the village is relatively well-hidden due to its landscape and character, with its “intimacy and seclusion only disturbed by the flow of traffic”.

The calls to ease traffic flow were met with support when the conservation area appraisal was discussed by Gedling Borough Council’s cabinet on Thursday (November 4).

Councillor Peter Ellis (Lab), the portfolio holder for the environment, said: “The biggest problem is the road, it’s so fast and it goes towards the motorway.

“Cars are coming down into Papplewick and through Linby at all sorts of speeds, and the village is being spoilt by the fact there’s so much motorway traffic going down there.

“It is really sad, it’s so dangerous. The properties there are fantastic, it’s a lovely area.

“That road is just about the quickest way to get from Arnold to the motorway. We ought to try, if it’s possible, to siphon off traffic from that part of the borough because it is a rat run.”

Cllr John Clarke (Lab), leader of the council, agreed and said he would support the creation of a road to improve safety.

Cllr Clarke, who also sits on the highways authority Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “With the comments that some people want a bypass road, this fits in with my long-term dream… to do what we’ve done with the Gedling Access Road and connect it to Junction 27.

“That would bypass the village and significantly siphon down traffic.

“There are thousands of homes going to be built near that area, with Top Wighay and the plans at Ashfield, which will have a massive effect on the quality of life of Linby and other villages.

“It would improve safety if we got that road.”

The updated conservation area document was unanimously approved by the cabinet.

It will see the continuation of measures to protect the heritage and landscape of the conservation area, and remove the possibility of large-scale development near the centre of the village.

Carlton woman who saved life of boy wanting to jump off Trent Bridge launches new venture to help people boost mental wellbeing

Irene Bisoni
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Carlton woman who saved life of boy wanting to jump off Trent Bridge launches new venture to help people boost mental wellbeing

A healthy living expert is urging borough residents to take care of their mental health after saving the life of a boy who threatened to jump off Trent Bridge. 

Charlotte Stripling, owner of Simply Dance in Carlton, was honoured for her bravery with a police commendation and local award after supporting the youngster for four hours and talking him to safety. 

She has now launched a new business called Charlotte’s Way to help people with their mental mindset. 

The online tool and resource offer support to help reset the mind to find a happier, healthier you with affirmation cards to help turn negative energy into positive thoughts and feelings. 

Charlotte is also running a Reset Retreat at Colwick Hall on November 14 with workshops including hypnosis, yoga, meditation and much more. 

The event will also include a lunch, welcome smoothies and a goodie bag.  

Speaking about her initiative, Charlotte said: “I’ve worked with young people and adults in the city for many years through my dance business and together we’ve worked through mental trauma and supported one another through difficult times.  

PICTURED: Charlotte Stripling, who runs Simply Dance studio in Carlton

“The support available for people is limited and with such a rise in mental health issues, it’s a very overstretched sector.  

“Charlotte’s Way is my way of offering support and helping people change their mindset to think more positively.” 

Charlotte also said she has been suffering from mental health issues and depression since she was a teenager, and that mental health was not something people spoke about at the time. 

She said: “I remember very clearly how I felt. I would get crazy thoughts that made me feel like a freak show, wanting to disappear, wishing I wasn’t here, wondering if anyone would care if I died.   

“I hit rock bottom in my late 20’s off the back of a failed business which left me with huge financial burdens, the loss of my baby, being told I had PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and potentially not being able to have children and the breakdown of my marriage.” 

The 30-year-old businesswoman said she started to change things around when she began to work on her own wellbeing and mindset, through self-love and healing, which inspired her to start Charlotte’s Way and the Reset Retreat, to help others going through a similar path. 

She added: “I want to support people through their journey to reset their mindset and work on their own mental wellbeing.”  

Charlotte’s Reset Retreat is being held at Colwick Hall on Sunday, November 14. To find out more https://www.charlottesway.co.uk/shop/reset-retreat/.  

Rise in staff injuries at Gedling Borough Council

Andrew Topping (Local Democracy Reporter)
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Rise in staff injuries at Gedling Borough Council

Gedling Borough Council health and safety teams will “get to the bottom” of why there was a higher-than-average rate of staff injuries last year.

Council figures show there were 61 reports of employee injury across the authority in 2020/21, with 12 of these put down to Covid-related incidents.

However, over the past eight years, there were an average of 47 accidents and incidents each year, making last year’s figures considerably higher than in previous years.

It is the highest number of reports since 2013/14 when there were 62 injuries, and it is almost double the 31 incidents in each of the two years between 2016 and 2018.

The figures were revealed in documents published ahead of a cabinet meeting on Thursday (November 4), with members given an update on the overall health and safety picture.

The documents did not outline any specific cases or causes of the injuries, or what constituted a Covid-related injury.

But the figures did show that, even without the coronavirus incidents, there were 49 incidents reported at the council last year.

This is the highest since 2015 and is marginally higher than the eight-year average of 47 even without Covid incidents.

Gedling Borough Council

Commenting on the figures, Councillor David Ellis (Lab), portfolio holder for crime reduction and community safety, said: “This demonstrates it’s important not to blame Covid for everything.

“At this stage, we could easily fall into saying ‘last year was a strange year, everything was Covid-related, so there’s nothing to learn from that’.

“We mustn’t lose sight that there are some underlying issues.”

The data is coupled with a formula, named Accident Incidents Rate (AIR), which quantifies the number of incidents compared with the average number of employees.

Documents state there were, on average, 480 employees working at the authority last year.

To calculate the overall formulas, council officers multiply the number of injuries by 1,000 and divide the average employee number.

With the Covid incidents, the 61 injuries gave the council an AIR of 127. This figure was 102 without the Covid injuries.

For the previous four years, the AIR was 88, 82, 51 and 49, showing a marginal year-on-year rise in the rate of staff injuries at the council.

Grant Ilett, health and safety officer at the council, told the meeting:  “[The 61 figure] was quite an increase on the average, but when you take out the number of accidents involving Covid-related injury reports, it’s not far off the average.

“But in terms of the accident incidence rate, it’s gradually been increasing year on year. If you remove the Covid-effect from last year, it’s still slightly increased.

“There’s quite a bit more work going on behind the scenes to get to the bottom of why this is, and to put some suggestions to management and SLT as to how we can address this moving forward.”

Operation Reacher team make arrests after thefts and drug seizures in Arnold and Calverton

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Operation Reacher team make arrests after thefts and drug seizures in Arnold and Calverton

Gedling’s dedicated Operation Reacher team made a number of arrests this week during patrols in Arnold and Calverton.

An individual was charged in Calverton following a theft from a motor vehicle.

They were also charged with fraud offences.

The courts this week handed them a suspended prison sentence.

On Thursday (4) the Reacher team were in Arnold.

They conducted six stop-and-searches while on patrol.

Operation Reacher

Three people searched were found to be in possession of Class B drugs. Two of these three individuals, have been interviewed and reported for summons for the offence and one other is due to be interviewed at a later date.

As well as making drug seizures, the team have also taken two vehicles off the roads of Arnold. One vehicle was seized for not having any tax and the other for being driven without any insurance cover.

Those wanting to learn more about Operation Reacher and meet the team who will be on Carlton Hill on Monday, November 8 handing out freebies and talking to the public.

Gedling Borough Council spent £70k in three months managing absences in waste teams

Andrew Topping (Local Democracy Reporter)
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Gedling Borough Council spent £70k in three months managing absences in waste teams

Gedling Borough Council spent £70,500 over three months to fund agency staff as it battled sickness and absence in its environment departments.

The authority spent the sum during the second quarter of the current financial year, between July and September, with its waste services, street care and fleet management teams affected.

The sum comes in addition to the £45,000 approved following the first quarter, between April and June, to manage the same issue.

The expenditure forms part of a wider issue within the environment budget, which the council forecasts to be £163,300 overspent by March next year.

Another additional spending in the service includes £55,000 on replacement recycling bins, while there was a £22,000 reduction in its commercial tree team due to staff vacancies.

The overspend in environment services, the documents state, is the primary contributor of an overall £58,800 overspend in the council’s revenue budget for 2021/22.

Additional incomes to the authority, including £30,000 in cemeteries due to higher-than-expected burial rates, helped to offset the overspend.

The £58,800 shortfall on the wider budget will be transferred from earmarked efficiency and innovation reserves, after it was approved on Thursday (November 4).

Bins Gedling Borough Council

Commenting in the administration’s cabinet meeting, council leader John Clarke (Lab) asked whether the authority could seek financial support for the service.

Nottinghamshire County Council is responsible for disposing of household waste, and both Cllr Clarke and Cllr David Ellis asked whether Gedling could seek funding from the county council’s Covid reserves.

In response, Alison Ball, the council’s chief finance officer, said: “It would be nice if the county council could help us out, but I’m not expecting that.

“There’s certainly no additional funding for this financial year which I’m aware of. We were given some funding, but our original estimate related to Covid was already in excess of this grant funding.

“This is where we’ve got to manage within our resources.”

The environment overspend comes after previous cabinet meetings discussed issues with missed bin collections in the borough.

The October meeting heard how parked cars blocking bin lorries and increased numbers of people working from home contributed to a surge in complaints against the authority.

Documents showed 64 per cent of complaints upheld by the council related to missed bin collections and waste services – 328 out of 510 complaints.

It came as separate figures showed bin collections were missed on more than 100 occasions between June 7 and August 2.

The council said the issue was putting a separate financial strain on its services, with lorries having to return to blocked streets at a later date to complete collections.

‘Significant reduction’ in library use but no plans to close services

Anna Whittaker (LDR reporter)
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‘Significant reduction’ in library use but no plans to close services

There has been a ‘significant reduction’ in the number of people using Nottinghamshire’s libraries – but there are no plans to close services.

Councillors raised concerns about the future of libraries in the county during the Communities Committee meeting on November 3.

Libraries were closed during the lockdown but reopened in April 2021. Many offered online services.

In last week’s budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak promised large sums to “renovate, restore and revive” public libraries.

Councillor Elizabeth Williamson (Ind) said: “I am pleased that our opening hours have been extended post Covid – but concerned about the problem of physical visits to our libraries.  With 112,087 physical visits to our libraries, I have worries that our library estate may not be fit for purpose as more and more residents go online.

“Will this council do a future report into increasing footfall in our libraries and look at bringing more services into our libraries and events?”

Derek Higton, Service Director, Transformation and Change and Service Director, Place and Communities, responded: “Absolutely, we are seeing a significant reduction in physical visits to libraries.

“Our assessment is that it is in part due to the fact that we’re still in the act of reopening all of our 58 libraries across the county.

Carlton Library
PICTURED: Carlton Library

“In Nottinghamshire, our visit numbers have been largely stable.

“There is concern amongst a number of library users, despite our libraries being Covid safe, about visiting those kind of facilities.

“In Nottinghamshire our return to normal operating is notably quicker than in many other parts of the country.”

Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle (Lab) added that he hoped Mr Higton would “fight for libraries to remain open”.

Mr Higton responded: “I suspect I am not breaking any confidence to say that the current administration is absolutely committed to retaining the current network of physical libraries.”

Crime rates fall across Notts

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Crime rates fall across Notts

New figures released today reveal that crime rates have fallen across Nottinghamshire.

The figures released today (November 4), by the Office for National Statistics show that across the East Midlands, Nottinghamshire Police has seen a big reduction in crime rates in the year to June 2021.

In total, crime in Notts fell by more than three times the national average – meaning there were around 11,000 fewer victims in the last year compared to the previous year.

Burglary plummeted by almost a third – with a drop of 31 per cent compared to the previous year.

Violence with injury fell by 17 per cent, theft fell by 22 per cent, while sexual offences also saw a reduction in figures too with a fall of seven per cent.

Figures for the same period showed knife crime also decreased by 10 per cent.

Nottinghamshire Police say the reduction in crime remains the best outside the City of London Police, which covers just a square mile of the capital.

From an East Midlands perspective, Nottinghamshire has continued to see less crime than Leicestershire, which has historically had lower volumes of crime than Nottinghamshire.

Police in Ravenshead

Chief Constable Guildford said: “It’s clear to see that crime has reduced in Nottinghamshire far more than other areas.

“As we continue to move out of the Covid restrictions we are still seeing credible reductions which means fewer victims.

“The workforce continues to work incredibly hard in serving the public and focussing upon those who cause communities angst. I admire their individual and collective efforts.  

“This shows that the reductions are not just due to the ‘covid effect’ but also our relentless pursuit of offenders who cause the most harm to our communities.

“Our force level targeting operations to tackle serious organised crime, drug dealing and other serious offences is paying dividends in bringing people to justice and keeping Nottinghamshire safe.

“Our dedicated teams including Operation Reacher, burglary, knife crime and robbery teams are now out and about every day in locations across Nottinghamshire relentlessly tackling criminals and offenders who break the law.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry, said: “The latest figures – showing crime rates in Nottinghamshire falling three times below the national average – are a testament to the success of our dedicated police response to incidents of crime.”

Heritage at Risk register 2021: Church in Woodthorpe and monument in Lambley feature on latest list

Gedling Eye
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Heritage at Risk register 2021: Church in Woodthorpe and monument in Lambley feature on latest list

Three buildings and monuments from across Gedling borough feature on Historic England’s annual Heritage at Risk register due to fears over their future.

The three sites of concern to Historic England include a church, monument and Abbey.

On the register are listed or protected buildings and monuments whose future is uncertain due to reasons such as structural disrepair, ownership disputes, a lack of financial viability or inappropriate development.

Entries are removed from the register when they receive major restoration or if a building has been repurposed, converted for a new use or given special legal protection from disturbance.

The historic fort at Newstead Abbey was removed from this year’s register after major repair work was carried out.

The following Gedling borough buildings and monuments feature on this year’s at-risk register…

Church of the Good Shepherd, Thackery’s Lane, Woodthorpe

PICTURED: The Church of the Good Shepherd in Woodthorpe

This Grade II-listed building was opened in 1964. The architect was Gerard Goalen and the modern design won an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1966

It features beautiful stained glass windows by Patrick Reyntiens.

The at-risk register said: “The church is suffering severe concrete decay problems requiring urgent specialist attention to avoid loss of historic fabric.

“An extensive programme of grant-assisted repairs, jointly funded by Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund, successfully renewed complex roofing and ensured concrete facing panels are safe and weather tight.

“Further extensive repairs, possibly renewal, needed to mullions and glazing. Specialist advice is required.”

Round Hill, Lambley

PICTURED: Round Hill Lambley

Situated on high ground near Lambley is Round Hill.

Round Hill was previously believed to be a fort, however, more recent
excavation has revealed a mill bearing which would indicate it was a mound for an early windmill and possibly medieval in origin. History experts believe it was probably associated with the nearby manor house.

The mound is a listed monument.

The site is now featured on the at-risk register, with Historic England reporting it has ‘significant localised problems’ and ‘in decline’.

Newstead Abbey, Newstead

Newstead_Abbey
PICTURED: Newstead Abbey

The priory was built in 1165 and eventually became a post-Dissolution country house. It is now a visitor attraction and museum, set in formal gardens and parkland and also former home of the poet Lord Byron.

The at-risk register reports the building as being in a ‘poor’ condition.

It says: “By 2018, stone fragments were falling from the adjoining priory church ruin and the area was cordoned off. Historic England awarded a two-stage grant in 2018 and repairs were completed in 2020.

“Roof coverings of the main house are at the end of their effective lives. Leaks are addressed as they occur, but re-slating is now required. Development work is required as an initial step in planning for repairs.”

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