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Anger over letter informing residents about homeless charity’s plans to turn care home in Gedling into ‘supported accommodation’

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Anger over letter informing residents about homeless charity’s plans to turn care home in Gedling into ‘supported accommodation’

Angry residents and councillors held a meeting on Monday in reaction to a letter that was sent out to the local community by a homeless charity claiming a care home in Gedling would soon be converted to provide ‘supported accommodation’.

All Saints Homeless Shelter charity sent the letter to residents on Stoke Lane informing them they would be taking over the management of the former Stoke House care home.

The letter stated that “All Saints Homeless Shelter offers temporary accommodation to its residents, until permanent housing can be found for them.

“We will have staff on site 24 hours a day, during the day support workers will be actively working with the residents to assist them with personal development and finding permanant housing.”

The letter sparked outrage in the local community and an urgent meeting was called to discuss proposals.

One resident who didn’t wish to be named told Gedling Eye: “This has come completely out of the blue.

“It’s not that they can’t have a shelter here, it’s just that no-one has consulted with the local community and I don’t think that’s right. We should be allowed to have a say about what’s being put on our doorstep.”

Trent Valley councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams were at the meeting and assured residents enforcement action would be taken ‘if necessary’ to stop work going ahead until a consultation had taken place and planning permission was granted.

In a joint statement the councillors said: “On Friday, residents of Stoke Lane received a letter from an organisation detailing plans for a change of use of Stoke House on Stoke Lane.

“We’ve now held a public meeting with Stoke Lane residents and those surrounding to provide the following update.

“Neither us or Gedling Borough Council were aware of the plans detailed in the letter.

“After being contacted by concerned residents over the lack of consultation, we contacted the Gedling Borough Council Planning Department who have confirmed that a change of use will require planning permission, which, if applied for, will trigger a public consultation and give all residents the chance to comment on the future use of Stoke House.

“Gedling Borough Council Enforcement Officers have contacted the organisation, who distributed Friday’s letter, to inform them that no further action can be taken until they submit a formal planning application. Enforcement action will be taken, if necessary. “

A Gedling Borough Council spokesperson said: “Our Planning Officers have been made aware of an intention to change the use of a former care home into a hostel for homeless people. Any change of this kind requires a planning application which we have not received from the owners at this time.

“Following complaints from nearby residents, we have contacted the owners and are in discussions with them about the planning requirements. The owner is co-operating with our Planning Enforcement Team and has not carried out any changes to the site.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and keep nearby residents informed of any updates.”

Gedling Eye contacted All Saints Homeless Shelter for response following the meeting.

A spokesman said: “To clarify, we are not opening as a homeless shelter, we are re-opening the care home with round the clock care being provided to the vulnerable individuals. 

“We are aiming to open in the coming weeks, and are currently in communication with Gedling Borough Council to facilitate a smooth re-opening. 

“A meeting was held at Stoke House with local residents and the police present. Our representative and the volunteer clarified the charity’s position on the re-opening and answered many questions in the hopes to alleviate concerns. 

They added:” The charity is very excited about the project and welcomes the local community to get involved in the effort to help those in need. 

Got a local story? Let our news team know by emailing news@gedlingeye.co.uk

Man arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after car hits tree in Woodthorpe

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Man arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after car hits tree in Woodthorpe

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a car containing three people hit a tree in Woodthorpe.

A back-seat passenger suffered serious injuries and is currently being treated at the Queen’s Medical Centre.

The driver and front-seat passenger suffered minor injuries.

The black Mercedes car came off Breck Hill Road just before 1pm yesterday.

A man was taken into custody at the scene following a road-side breath test.

Nottinghamshire’s roads policing team is investigating and appealing for witnesses.

Constable Phil Broughton, said: “We would urge people who saw what happened or who might have any information that could assist with our investigation to get in touch with us as soon as possible.

“And if anyone driving in the area before or after it happened has a dash-cam then please get in touch with us.

“Drink-driving is absolutely inexcusable and we treat incidents with the utmost severity.”

A man has been released under investigation as enquiries continue in connection with this incident .

People with information are asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 quoting incident 389 of 18 September. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Man in court in connection with firearm and drug charges after search of house in Carlton

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Man in court in connection with firearm and drug charges after search of house in Carlton

A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the recovery of a gun, weapons and drugs from a property in Carlton.

Police searched an address in Douglas Court, Oakdale Road on Tuesday (September 14)

They safely recovered a pistol, rounds of ammunition and suspected Class A drugs. A knife, stun gun, extendable baton and a cannister of CS gas were also seized.

Travis Morgan, aged 26, from Douglas Court, Oakdale Road, Carlton, has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm with a barrel length of less than 30 centimetres, possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid, possession of a weapon for the discharge of electricity and two counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

He was remanded in custody and is next due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on October 14, 2021.

Inspector Chris Pearson, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I want to reassure the public that the use of firearms in Nottinghamshire remains extremely rare and this is a result of operational and preventative work that the force is doing to help take firearms off the streets.

“The force will use all investigative means at its disposal to crack down on weapon-enabled crime and reduce the availability of firearms.

“We understand the concern that incidents of this nature can cause in communities and while no-one was injured in this instance we have upped patrols in the local area to provide reassurance to members of the public.

“Our priority is to keep people safe and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns to please speak to one of our local officers.

“We are also continuing to work relentlessly to tackle the supply of drugs in Gedling and we encourage the community to talk to us regarding any concerns or suspicions they may have regarding drugs-related criminality so we can investigate and take appropriate action.”

Any information can be reported to Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency call 999.

SNP MP calls on Gedling MP Tom Randall to help cancel cut to Universal Credit

Gedling Eye
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SNP MP calls on Gedling MP Tom Randall to help cancel cut to Universal Credit

An SNP MP is calling on Gedling MP Tom Randall to help get a a cut to Universal Credit cancelled.

David Linden, who represents Glasgow East for the Scottish National Party said thousands of people would be made worse off by the UK government’s plans to remove the £20 uplift to Universal Credit.

The increase was implemented at the start of the pandemic to help people on the bread line, however it is due to be removed at the end of this month.

In a lteer to Mr Randall, which he also shared with Gedling Eye, he wrote: “There are only a matter of weeks now until the uplift to Universal Credit is cruelly removed from millions of people by the Chancellor.

Rishi Sunak
PICTURED: Chancellor Rishi Sunak

“Although the uplift was designed to be temporary, the difference it has made has been incredible. There is a huge body of anecdotal evidence to support this. My own local food bank has seen a 75 per cent reduction to the number of single people who require their help since the uplift was introduced.

“It is little wonder that hundreds of charitable organisations have been campaigning to stop the cut. It is now abundantly clear that the standard allowance of Universal Credit was too low before the pandemic and this moment must be seized to right that wrong.

He added: “We hear from the Government benches that ‘work is the best route out of poverty’ when ministers are challenged over the impending cut. But Universal Credit is not an out-of-work benefit.

As many as 40% of the households which rely on Universal Credit are working households. And over the course of the pandemic, many found themselves jobless for the first time in their adult lives.

“It was right that Universal Credit was boosted to help them. It would be equally wrong for that extra money to be taken from those who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in a similar position in future.

The MP then called on Mr Randall to help ‘hardworking people’.

He wrote: “This is the time for Conservative MPs to decide whether they will stand by hardworking people, or stand by while millions of families face the choice between eating and heating this winter.”

Gedling Eye has contacted Mr Randall’s office for comment.

Concern over dead fish found floating in Colwick Country Park lake

Gedling Eye
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Concern over dead fish found floating in Colwick Country Park lake

Fishermen have voiced their concerns after dead fish were found floating in a lake at Colwick Country Park over recent days.

Mick Farrell was one of the fishermen to highlight the issue.

He posted a number of pictures on Facebook after spotting the fish floating on the surface of the lake at the park.

He said:”I’m gutted by what I’ve seen today. There are fish struggling all over.”

PICTURED: A dead fish in the trout lake at Colwick Country Park (PHOTO: Mick Farrell)

Andrew Blake is also a regular fisherman at the site and lives nearby in Netherfield.

He said he was worried by what he saw.

“No idea what’s causing it. I guess it could be low oxygen. It’s not good. Let’s hope it’s not pollution or anything.

“It’s great to fish here and I normally do ok so it would be a shame to see numbers decline. Let’s hope they can sort it out.”

A spokesman for the park posted on their Facebook page after concerns were raised by visitors.

They wrote: “Thank you to those that have reported sightings of dead fish at the main lake. We are aware of the issue and are liaising with the Environment Agency.

Gedling Eye has contacted the Environment Agency for a comment

Delivery driver says she ‘could have lost sight’ after putting off visit to Arnold opticians despite experiencing black dots across her vision

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Delivery driver says she ‘could have lost sight’ after putting off visit to Arnold opticians despite experiencing black dots across her vision

A delivery driver has said she could have lost her sight if she’d put off a visit to an opticians in Arnold any longer.

53-year-old delivery driver Lesley Grocock started to experience black dots across her vision she just put it down to getting older.

What she didn’t realise was that this was in fact, a sign of something far more sinister.

When the symptoms persisted, Lesley decided she’d book in to see her local optician at Specsavers on Front Street.

“Like so many of us I’m always rushing around and just hadn’t found the time to make the appointment,’ she said.

“As it turns out, if I’d left it just a couple of weeks longer, I could have lost the sight in my eye – it doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Lesley was seen by the store’s optical director Vineet Nehra who carried out a full eye examination including using the store’s OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) machine, which provides a detailed structural scan of the eye. Vineet quickly picked up that all wasn’t as it should be – suspecting Lesley was suffering from a retinal tear in her right eye.

PICTURED: Delivery driver Lesley Grocock

The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. It’s responsible for receiving light and translating it into electrical signals to send to the brain, where it creates the images we see.

‘Vineet explained that I needed to go to hospital straight away before it got any worse and made me an urgent referral,’ adds Lesley.

‘I’m prone to being a bit panicky but he was really good and kind, helping to keep me calm.

‘I saw a doctor at the hospital who said how lucky I was to have caught it – if I’d left it much longer, I could have lost my sight. I was booked in for an operation the next day at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham.’

Lesley underwent an operation under general anaesthetic to repair the tear with three stitches and the insertion of a silicone rubber implant. Six weeks later she underwent another procedure in hospital to remove the silicone as well as a cataract that had formed. After five months of recuperation Lesley is now back at work.

‘I’m so thankful to Vineet for spotting the problem and for his kindness and professionalism. I couldn’t fault him and can’t thank him enough for what he did for me,’ continues Lesley. ‘I never imagined that the black spots might have been as a result of something potentially so serious.  I’d never even heard of a retinal detachment.

‘I’d recommend an eye test to everyone now; you shouldn’t shrug off problems with your sight.’

Specsavers Arnold optical director, Vineet Nehra, said: ‘I’m so pleased that Lesley is on the road to a full recovery. 

“Cases like hers, although not common, do demonstrate that you shouldn’t put off any changes with your vision, and we encourage anyone who is worried about their sight to check with their local optician.’

Gedling MP calls for emotional impact on owners to be taken into consideration when sentencing pet thieves

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling MP calls for emotional impact on owners to be taken into consideration when sentencing pet thieves

Gedling’s Member of Parliament, Tom Randall MP, has asked the Secretary of State for Justice to ensure the emotional suffering caused to Gedling residents by the theft of a pet is reflected in the sentencing for those who break a new law. 

During Justice Questions, Tom said: “I thank [the Lord Chancellor] for his work on bringing criminals to book with the much needed criminal offence of pet theft.”

Tom went on to ask: “Does he agree that it is important that the sentence for this offence, when determined, will reflect the unique emotional suffering caused by the theft of a beloved pet, and will he ensure that that is reflected?”

The Lord Chancellor replied: “The use of the term “abduction” is a crucial reflection of the fact that these are sentient beings; they are not mere chattels or goods. The emotional effect both on the pets and their owners has to be taken into account. I think there is a read-across to animal cruelty and the important reforms that we made recently in increasing maximum sentences.”

Speaking after Justice Questions, Tom said, “Pets are beloved members of the family and criminals should face the consequences for pet theft.

Like many Gedling residents, I was delighted that the Pet Theft Taskforce, launched by Government, formally recommended a new criminal offence for pet abduction which will recognise the welfare of animals and that pets are valued as more than property. This will help to protect the safety of our pets across Gedling and keep them with their families, where they belong.

“I understand why Gedling residents who contact me about pet theft feel so strongly about this and I am pleased that the Lord Chancellor agrees with me that this emotion of pets and their owners has to be taken into account when courts are sentencing pet thieves.”

Police recover drugs and pistol after search of Carlton property

Gedling Eye
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Police recover drugs and pistol after search of Carlton property

Police have recovered a firearm and drugs and arrested two suspects as part of a proactive investigation.

Officers on patrol spotted a man who ran away when he saw them.

An officer chased the suspect and quickly arrested him nearby at around 1.20pm yesterday (Tuesday 14 September). He was found to be in possession of plastic bags containing suspected Class A drugs.

Following his arrest officers searched an address in Douglas Court, Oakdale Road, Carlton, where they safely recovered a pistol and drugs and arrested a woman.

Nottinghamshire Police

A 26-year-old man and 24-year-old woman remain in custody on suspicion of possession of a firearm and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Walters, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Thanks to some good teamwork two suspects are now being questioned in connection with this ongoing investigation and a firearm and drugs have also been removed from harm’s way. 

“Incidents relating to firearms are thankfully still very rare in Nottinghamshire and that is because of the intelligence-led proactive work we do to take them off streets.

“Reducing the availability of firearms and taking guns and drugs off the streets are priorities for Nottinghamshire Police. We will continue to take robust action against those who commit such offences however we encourage people to help us protect our communities by reporting any information about suspicious and illegal activity to us.”

Members of the public are urged to report any suspicious activity to Nottinghamshire Police by calling 101. If an incident is in progress call 999. 

Latest Covid infection rates as cases fall in Gedling borough

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Latest Covid infection rates as cases fall in Gedling borough

Coronavirus infection rates have fallen in Gedling borough.

Latest figures reveal the infection rate has fallen to 40 after being 42 the previous day.

The figures from Public Health England show how many people in the borough have tested positive for the virus over 24 hours and were released last night (Tuesday, 14)

The figures also show 442 new cases ( yesterday 362 ) for Nottinghamshire in the last 24 hours.

Below are the case numbers for local authority areas in Notts. The number in brackets show the previous day’s case number

Richard Herrod Centre
PICTURED: The Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton is being used to vaccinate people in Gedling borough.(PHOTO: Gedling Eye)

Ashfield 57 (53)

Bassetlaw 47  (56)

Broxtowe 31 (31)

Gedling 40 (42)

Mansfield 51 (34)

Newark 45 (42)

Nottingham 110 (70)

Rushcliffe 61 (34)

First phase of construction completed at new Teal Park business development near Netherfield

Gedling Eye Reporter
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First phase of construction completed at new Teal Park business development near Netherfield

Nationwide businesses have started fitting out their new premises at a major multi-million-pound development near Netherfield.

The first phase of construction has been completed at Teal Park off the Colwick Loop Road which is being jointly developed by Warwickshire-based AC Lloyd Commercial and Nottingham-based Henry Davidson Developments (HDD).

The completed phase consists of 33,300 sq ft of trade units and a 28,860 sq ft industrial unit.

This is part of a £30 million GDV mixed-use site which will also include a further six trade units and six large employment units totalling 111,000 sq ft, a care home, a new Local Centre with four retail shops, a children’s day nursery and a pub as well as an Aldi supermarket.

Tool Station, Screwfix and Howdens are kitting out their new homes of 4,000 sq ft, 5,000 sq ft and 6,000 sq ft respectively ahead of their planned openings in the next few months.

Mark Edwards, Managing Director at AC Lloyd Commercial, said: “This is the next exciting phase in the development of Teal Park and to be have delivered it on time and to budget, considering the impact of Covid-19 and labour and construction materials shortages, is sterling work from everyone involved.

“We expect the total number of jobs to be created on the site to reach over 340 when all three phases are completed which will give a much-needed boost to the economy as we start to re-build following the pandemic.”

Richard Croft, director at HDD, added: “Following the opening of the care home earlier this year, it will be great to see Tool Station, Screwfix and Howdens open their doors to their customers and really see the area come to life.”

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