Work originally began on the road in January 2020.
The new footage, released by Nottinghamshire County Council, shows how the road is shaping up as construction continues on the huge project.
PICTURED: New footage reveals progress made in June on the Gedling Access Road
The GAR is being created to ease pressure on Arnold Lane – the A6211– between Mapperley Plains and Colwick Loop Road. It is one of the most heavily used roads in the region, carrying over 15,000 vehicles a day.
Upon completion of the GAR, the new road will become the A6211, and the existing route will be declassified, save for Colwick Loop Road which will be reclassified as a ‘B’ class road.
The GAR is also intended to reduce the speed limit on Arnold Lane and introduce a 7.5t Environmental Weight Limit (EWL) on Burton Road, Shearing Hill and Arnold Lane, by making a Traffic Regulation Order.
Concerns have been raised with health bosses over the ‘thousands of people’ in Gedling borough with little or no access to an NHS dentist.
Councillor Henry Wheeler, who represents Gedling on the county’s health board, asked for a report to be created over funding of local dentist practices after large numbers of patients in the borough complained to him about lack of access to services.
Mr Wheeler said that GPs in the area were being impacted as patients turned to them for pain relief to help cope with ongoing dental problems.
The report was created for Mr Wheeler by deputy head of Primary Care East Midlands NHS England and NHS Improvement Liz Gundel and answers questions that were raised about funding and access to dental care in the borough.
The report said pointed out that local practices had been heavily impacted by the recent pandemic and that although things are improving, it’s still not yet ‘business as usual’.
The report said: “Although face to face services have resumed in all practices, NHS dental practices are working at a much lower capacity as they are following social distancing and hygiene rules as per the national guidelines set by Public Health England, to ensure the safety of both our clinical colleagues and patients.
“Since dental services began reopening in June 2020 there have been steady improvements in access, as changes in infection prevention and control guidance, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and processes and procedures become more familiar to dental teams and patients. But it is not yet business as usual.
“NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) support the full resumption of routine dental care, in a way that is safe, operationally deliverable and allows dental practices flexibility to do what is best for patients and their teams.
PICTURED: Councillor Henry Wheeler
“NHSEI can also categorically confirm that dental funding has remained in place, with all contractors receiving 100% of their regular monthly contractual payments, throughout the pandemic. Additional funding has been deployed across the Midlands region to provide additional access to services for patients outside of regular hours (at evenings and weekends) to try and mitigate the challenges posed as a result of the necessitated reduction in routine dentistry capacity.”
“Practices are being asked to see all regular and non-regular patients (historically referred to as registered patients), where they can accommodate. There are limited routine appointments available as this is dependent on the capacity of each practice, following treating any urgent patients.
“This can mean that even patients who (before the pandemic) would regularly attend a dental practice, are currently only able to be seen in practice if they meet the criteria for safely accessing an urgent face to face appointment.”
The report went on to say that the NHSEI now hoped to see an increase in capacity for patients across the borough.
It read: “NHSEI is monitoring and supporting providers across the region, working collaboratively with the Local Dental Committee and other stakeholders to increase capacity, provide continued access to dental services and to ensure the safe recovery and restoration of NHS dentistry following the Covid-19 pandemic.”
But despite the reassurances, Councillor Wheeler wants urgent action to reduce pressure being seen in other NHS areas as a result of the backlog of patients.
Councillor Wheeler told Gedling Eye: “It is very important that people can access dental care, which is why I asked for clarity on funding and access to dental care in Gedling borough following concerns raised that thousands of people in the Borough couldn’t access dental care”.
“Dentists have had to prioritise urgent work over routine inspections and non-urgent treatment.”
“However the backlog for treatment is leading to people falling back onto their GPs for pain relief or going to A&E and this needs to be addressed urgently as part of a wider and adequately funded local NHS Covid recovery plan”.
Patients in the borough experience difficulties in accessing specific services, or wish to make a complaint should contact the NHS England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 22 33 or www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/ for further assistance.
A spokesman said: “Raising issues through the Customer Care Centre enables a full investigation to take place so we are then better positioned to assist complaints in addressing their specific concerns and issues.”
An Arnold councillor is calling on the health secretary to launch a public inquiry at Nottingham hospitals, where it is claimed more than 30 babies have died under the care of the maternity units in the past decade.
An investigation by Channel 4 News and The Independent revealed that dozens of babies have died or been left with brain damage at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS trust maternity units.
They also revealed that at least 46 babies suffered brain damage and 19 were stillborn at NUH NHS trust maternity services between 2010 and 2020. There have also been 15 deaths at the units involving mothers and babies.
“While I received fabulous care from my consultant prior to birth, both my baby and I received some of the worst of care once he was born,” she said.
But while Councillor Welsh said her experience of the maternity services ‘were bad’, she said she realises they were not as appalling as other cases that continue to come to light.
PICTURED: Michelle Welsh with baby son Billy
She has now has written to Health Security Sajid Javid, calling for him to conduct an independent inquiry ‘as a matter of urgency’.
Councillor Welsh wrote: “Channel 4 News has aired a programme about some of those tragic cases where women were ignored and babies lost their lives needlessly.
“A common thread in all of these cases are that they were all avoidable, that women were not listened to and that communication afterwards has been appalling.
“The protection of mothers and babies in Nottinghamshire has to be the top priority. That is why, in light of this evidence, I am calling for an Independent Inquiry into the experiences of parents who utilised NUH maternity services from 2010 and those that are using them now. This must take place as a matter of urgency and the Government must demand answers.
“Lives have tragically been lost, lives have been shattered and hearts have been broken, this must not be allowed to continue.”
In a statement following the documentary, NUH’s chief executive, Tracy Taylor, told BBC News: “We apologise from the bottom of our hearts to the families who have not received the high level of care they need and deserve, we recognise the effects have been devastating.
“Improving maternity services is a top priority and we are making significant changes including hiring and training more midwives and introducing digital maternity records.
“We will continue to listen to women and families, whether they have received excellent care or where care has fallen short; it is their experiences that will help us to learn and improve our services.”
A village hall is to get a new lease of life after residents and councillors in Stoke Bardolph were handed the keys to the property earlier this week.
The hall was closed to the public back in 2016 by owners Severn Trent Water due to lack of maintenance and essential repairs, which meant it breached health and safety regulations.
Villagers had tried to negotiate taking on the lease but these talks broke down and the doors remained closed.
Residents then turned to local councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams who worked with Severn Trent Water and everyone back round the negotiating table.
The water giant has now handed over the building to a charitable trust made up of residents that will be led by villager Kathy Dixon, and will manage the hall.
Local developer Persimmon, who are currently building the nearby Riverdell estate, have also agreed to renovate the hall to make it safe for the public.
PICTURED: Councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams oversee the signing of the new lease
It is now hoped it can again become a hub for the community and also bring in income by holding events.
Councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams, who represent Stoke Bardolph on Gedling Borough Council, said: “We were delighted to join with local residents on Wednesday for the signing of a lease from Seven Trent Water for Stoke Bardolph Village Hall.
“This lease hands over the responsibility of Stoke Bardolph Village Hall to local residents and trustees, which will see the hall re-open for the community to enjoy after more than five years of it being closed.
“Talks between Severn Trent Water and Stoke Bardolph residents had stalled for over 4 years and once elected in 2019 we were determined to get Stoke Bardolph Village Hall restored to its original beauty, re-opened and thriving again with village events. So, last year we began working with Gedling’s Tom Randall MP, local residents and Seven Trent Water to restart lease talks. Today they have concluded and the lease was signed
“This is amazing news for the whole Stoke Bardolph community and it could not have been possible without the tireless work of Parish Clerk Kathy Dixon and the trustees. We also thank Seven Trent Water for engaging with us and agreeing a new lease.
They added: “Thanks to Persimmon Homes, who are developing the Rivendell estate, renovation works on the hall will now begin and community events will shortly resume at Stoke Bardolph Village Hall. We can not wait.”
Gedling’s MP Tom Randall said “Stoke Bardolph village hall has the potential to be a fantastic asset to the community. I’m pleased to have played a small role in helping this project get over the line and many congratulations to the trustees, Councillor Mike Adams, Councillor Sam Smith and Severn Trent Water for making this happen.”
Police tasered and arrested a knife-carrying attacker in Bestwood Village after he repeatedly punched two police officers as they bravely fought to detain him.
As he grappled on the ground with one of the officers the other – spotting what turned out to be a folded knife in the suspect’s clenched hand – fired his Taser and brought him under control.
The dramatic incident unfolded after armed response officers on routine patrol were alerted to a suspicious vehicle in the Bulwell area of Nottingham at around 12.50am on Tuesday (June 29) morning.
After seeing the car on Moor Bridge the officers turned to follow it, before it sped away along Bestwood Road.
The car then travelled at speeds of around 60mph and on the wrong side of the road as it was driven toward Bestwood Village.
After completing several high-speed circuits of The Square it then crashed into a parked car and four men fled from inside.
The officers chased on foot and confronted the suspected driver in the back garden of a nearby property.
After shouting a challenge to officers he immediately launched a flurry of punches, forcing one to fall over a wall and striking the other in the head multiple times.
PICTURED: The Square in Bestwood Village
Immediately after the suspect was brought under control a folding style knife was recovered from the scene.
A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, dangerous driving, assaulting police officers and possession of a bladed article. He was further arrested for failing to provide a sample of breath at the roadside.
Neither of the officers or the suspect was seriously injured.
Inspector David Mather, of Nottinghamshire Police’s operational support team, said: “These two officers did a great job in very difficult circumstances – using all of their training and experience in a volatile situation to choose the appropriate level of force to bring this suspect under control.
Tasers are effective devices that were introduced to help officers deal with incidents like this – minimising the risk of serious harm to suspects and themselves. As last night’s incident shows, in the right hands they can bring highly dangerous situations to a very swift conclusion.”
Taser – or conducted energy devices – are not routinely used in Nottinghamshire and are carried only by officers who have been specially trained. Armed officers carry the devices in addition to their firearms to give them an additional option.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper said: “This incident is a sad reminder of the risks that our officers take every day when they go out on patrol. When they start their shift they are fully aware that they could later be faced with violent suspects and potentially life-threatening confirmations like this. I also hope it serves as a reminder to others that if you assault our officers during the course of their duties they will take the necessary action to detain you and you will face very serious consequences for your actions.”
The council submitted a Levelling Up bid to the government which would be invested into Gedling’s leisure and cultural hub in Arnold, improving Netherfield’s connectivity, and kickstarting Gedling’s high streets by repurposing vacant and underused shops.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Randall championed this bid and said: “The high streets have had a difficult time lately, and Gedling’s are no exception. But Gedling Borough Council’s Levelling Up Fund bid will help to kickstart high street regeneration, improve Arnold town centre and encourage healthy travel in Netherfield.”
PICTURED: Gedling Borough Council Civic Centre in Arnold
Mr Randall went on to ask the Prime Minister: “Will my Right Honourable Friend join me in thanking the Council Officers at Gedling Borough Council, particularly Mike Hill and Joelle Davies, who have put the bid together and will he agree that this is a bid that can help to make Gedling an even better place to live, work and raise a family?”
The Prime Minister replied: “Yes and I thank Mike Hill and Joelle Davies for their efforts and I thank them also for what they are doing to call upon the Levelling Up Fund which will indeed invest in infrastructure projects that improves life across the country but in his constituency particularly.”
Speaking after PMQs, The Gedling MP said, “Arnold is where I grew up, where I live and where my constituency office is.
“I have seen independent retailers and branches of national chains give way to a high number of charity shops and empty units. If successful, parts of Gedling’s Levelling Up bid will create an attractive gateway to Arnold from the north, improve the leisure and cultural hub facilities and provide funding to help small businesses move into shops and units on our high streets.
“Improving Netherfield’s connectivity and bringing its industrial heritage to life is also included in Gedling’s levelling up bid, alongside a proposed scheme which will help to kickstart the diversification of Gedling’s high streets by repurposing vacant and underused shops.
“All of this will help make Gedling an even better place to live, work and raise a family and it has my full support.”
Police across Gedling borough have stepped up high-visibility patrols and are urging residents to be vigilant following recent burglaries and catalytic converter thefts.
Officers are currently investigating reports of house and garage burglaries in the Carlton, Woodthorpe and Calverton areas as well as an attempted burglary and thefts from cars in the Arnold area, including two catalytic converters removed from vehicles.
The crimes were committed between the early hours of Thursday (June 24) and Monday night (June 28, 2021).
During one of the house burglaries, in Coronation Road, Woodthorpe, the victim had been outside doing her gardening when a man entered her home through an unlocked door.
When she came back inside, on Friday morning, she disturbed the suspect who ran out of her house. It’s not currently believed he stole anything.
Inspector Chris Pearson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Our enquiries are ongoing into these incidents, most of which happened during the late evening or overnight, and we are working hard to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
“We have increased high-visibility patrols in these hotspot areas to provide reassurance while our investigations continue and I’d urge anyone who has any concerns to speak to one of our officers.
“We’re also urging residents to be vigilant and make it as difficult as possible for criminals to target their homes and vehicles. They should ensure doors and windows are locked and any valuables inside vehicles are removed or kept out of sight.
“Where possible ensure that your vehicle is parked on your driveway or in your garage if you have one. Alternatively, ensure your vehicle is parked in a well-lit area.
“Having an alarm and immobiliser fitted to your vehicle is also an effective way of deterring criminals.”Anyone who sees any suspicious activity in their area is advised to report it immediately by calling Nottinghamshire Police on 101. If an incident is in progress call 999.”
Police have arrested of a 54-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy in connection with an investigation into county lines drug dealing after stopping a vehicle in Arnold.
Acting on intelligence, officers stopped a car, believed linked to county lines, in Lime Lane at about 10am on Saturday (June 26).
The boy ran off into a hedgerow chased by officers. He was soon tracked down thanks to good work teamwork by a police dog and handler.
The dog tracked through fields and woodland before indicating on an area of grassland where the suspect was hiding. He was detained and found to be in possession of cannabis, a mobile phone and cash.
Officers also found mobile phones and a knife inside the car and arrested the adult occupant on suspicion of conspiring to supply a Class B drug and possession of a knife in a public place.
The boy was questioned on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug.
The arrests come after a report of two boys who were seen dealing drugs in the Outram Street area of Sutton-in-Ashfield town centre shortly after 2.20pm on Wednesday (June 23).
The car stopped on Saturday is believed to be linked to one of the boys concerned.
Neither the man nor the boy arrested live in Ashfield.
County lines is a term used to describe urban gangs supplying drugs to other parts of the UK using dedicated mobile phone lines. The gangs are likely to exploit children or vulnerable adults to move and store drugs and they will often use violence and coercion.
This is a national issue and Nottinghamshire Police say they have been working to identify criminal gangs, protecting vulnerable people who are at risk of exploitation and enforcement and disruption activity targeting those who pose the most risk to the local community.
Nottinghamshire Police has a dedicated county lines team which is aware of the issue and is working closely with the force’s proactive Operation Reacher and neighbourhood policing teams to tackle this problem and protect young people at risk of criminal exploitation.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Kate Long, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “County lines drug dealing blights communities and the lives of those taking drugs and those who are often coerced into dealing them on behalf of organised crime groups.
“These arrests are just one example of the work we carry out day in day out, working closely with our partners, to crack down on those involved in county lines and to safeguard vulnerable young people at risk of criminal exploitation.
“We continue to respond to intelligence and seek opportunities to disrupt criminal activity linked to county lines and we will relentlessly pursue drug dealers who look to exploit others.
“I’d like to thank the members of the public who have reported their concerns about drug dealing to us and I hope the ongoing positive action we’re taking to tackle this issue reassures people how committed we are to tackling serious and organised crime.”
Anyone who has information regarding drug dealing in their area, is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or dial 999 in an emergency.
Police on patrol in Arnold town centre have arrested a man on suspicion of supplying drugs.
Operation Reacher officers made the arrest earlier in the week after spotting a man they suspected was in possession of drugs.
Following a search, they recovered cannabis and a large amount of cash.
Cash recovered following a search of a suspect in Arnold town centre
The 48-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs and taken to the Bridewell where he was later interviewed and released under investigation.
A police spokesman said: “We are committed to making sure that Arnold town centre is safe and drug free.
A pregnant woman from Gedling has spoken about why she chose to have the Covid-19 vaccine and her experience in a bid to encourage other expectant mothers to consider getting the jab too.
Olivia Saxton, 28, had her first vaccine at King’s Mill Hospital in January. She was eligible due to being a frontline health worker working in the maternity department.
At the time of her first vaccine she said she was apprehensive as she was trying for a baby. However, after speaking to a consultant she decided to go ahead and have the jab.
She said: “A consultant at work explained to me there was no plausible way it could affect fertility so I went ahead as the pros outweighed the cons. I had a sore arm for 24 hours and then I found out we were expecting a baby two months later in March.”
When she found out she was pregnant she decided to research about having the vaccine in pregnancy before going for her second appointment.
PICTURED: The Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton is being used to vaccinate people in Gedling borough.(PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
After doing lots of research, Olivia, who is a mum-of-one, decided to go for her second appointment and had the second dose at 13 weeks pregnant.
She said: “I decided after some research that the benefits were better than the known risks of contracting Covid-19 in pregnancy.
“Due to my job, I had personally seen women severely unwell with Covid-19 with caesarean section kits next to their beds in case the worst happened to them. This was sobering enough for me, alongside knowing that vaccines are given routinely in pregnancy.
“There has been more than six months of data about the vaccines with no major risks outlined and there have been more than 100,000 women in America who have had the vaccines safely in pregnancy.”
Following both the vaccines, Olivia had a sore arm for 24 hours and after her second dose she had a mild headache.
She said she wanted to have the vaccine to be protected at work as well as protecting her baby, patients and family.
Olivia added: “We know the risks of getting Covid-19 in pregnancy and the effects can be devastating. It is more important to be protected.
“The vaccine doesn’t cross the placenta so cannot hurt the baby. You can also pass on Covid-19 antibodies to your baby!”
Those eligible can walk into any of our vaccination sites to receive their jab or you can book an appointment by calling 119 or visiting the National Booking Website.
For more information on the Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy, you can speak to your community midwife or GP.
30-minute webinar around vaccination in pregnancy
On Monday, July 5, 2021 at 6pm the local NHS teams will be hosting a 30-minute webinar around vaccination in pregnancy. This is an opportunity to ask questions. This session will take place on the online platform, Zoom.
You can register in advance for this webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you would like to submit any questions for the panellists to answer during the session, then please email: nnccg.team.engagement@nhs.net.
