Watch the moment former Gedling MP Vernon Coaker entered the House of Lords to be made a lifelong peer earlier today (March 22).
The former MP was officially introduced to the House as ‘Baron Coaker of Gedling in the County of Nottinghamshire’ during the ceremony just after 1pm today.
He swore: “I, Vernon Lord Coaker do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs, and successors, according to law, so help me God.”
He was recommended for a peerage by current Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Coaker was the Labour MP for Gedling for 22 years. He lost his seat in the last election to Conservative MP Tom Randall.
The camera, which cost £19,500, covers the whole of the recreation ground, including the children’s play area, which opened in August 2020, and features equipment such as slides, roundabouts, multi play units and swings.
The camera will be controlled and monitored from the council’s CCTV room based in Arnold.
Conway Road is the latest site to benefit from new CCTV equipment installed by the council and follows a number of new cameras installed in the borough over the last 12 months to make communities safer.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said; “We’ve listened to residents’ concerns and we have installed this CCTV to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour on and around Conway Road. We’ve seen the success of cameras in other areas of the borough to reduce these types of issues and we expect the camera will have the same effect here.
We recently opened a new play area on Conway Road and we want to ensure that residents can take their families there and feel safe. One of the council’s main priorities is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and help strengthen our communities and this camera will make a big contribution to that priority.”
A new in-store face mask recycling scheme has been launched at discount store Wilkinsons, which has a branches in Arnold and Carlton.
Customers will be able to drop off used, disposable face masks so that they can be recycled and reused as everything from building materials to new furniture for communities in need.
Once full, these collection bins are then taken away by recycling specialists ReWorked, who together with Metrisk Ltd, Scan2Recycle and wilko are partnering to make the unique scheme – the first of its kind on the UK high street – possible.
Collected masks will be shredded down into raw materials, which can be sustainably refashioned into products ranging from other safety materials for businesses, to building materials and even quality, durable public space furniture.
Wilkinsons say that while the government has encouraged Brits to dispose of face masks via general waste bins, there has been an ever-increasing volume of PPE being discarded in public spaces – meaning there are often greater levels of litter in areas such as parks, beaches and high streets; impacting the life and leisure time of local communities, endangering wildlife and ultimately harming the health of the planet.
Disposable face masks are made from polypropylene fabric – a type of plastic. An estimated 8M tonnes of general plastic waste already ended up in the world’s oceans every year, and the impact of the pandemic will only increase those figures if PPE litter continues to increase.
Jerome Saint Marc, CEO at Wilkinsons, said: “One of our core values is to show we care and, we understand the importance of climate change to our customers who expect us to take-action on their behalf and make better choices about caring for the environment.
“That’s why we’re thrilled to have developed this scheme, which makes it super simple for shoppers to safely recycle a product which is often unavoidably discarded as a result of us all taking steps to protect the health of everyone around us. What’s more, it also means we’re able to help hardworking families, local communities and other businesses by turning something that we’re simply throwing away into a useful and sustainable product that can have a genuinely positive impact.”
The scheme is the latest in an ongoing series of measures which wilko is implementing to make a positive difference to the environment; the retailer has pledged to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2040 by signing the BRC’s Climate Action Roadmap and has joined The UK Plastics Pact, which focuses solely on reducing the use of single use plastic.
For more information on disposable mask recycling at wilko and which of the retailer’s stores are taking part, visit https://www.wilko.com/face-mask-recycling. This scheme is a pilot and will run for three months from 1st April.
A former Gedling MP is to enter the House of Lords for the first time following a ceremony taking place later today.
Vernon Coaker will take part in the ceremony at 1pm, which is being streamed live due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He was recommended for a life peerage by Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Mr Coaker will be officially introduced to the House as ‘Lord Vernon Coaker of Gedling in the County of Nottinghamshire’ at 1pm today (March 22).
PICTURED: Vernon Coaker
Mr Coaker was the Labour MP for Gedling for 22 years. He lost his seat in the last election to Conservative MP Tom Randall.
Before taking on his new role, Mr Coaker had been working for the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab as an Honorary Professor of Modern Slavery Policy, where he had been championing human rights.
When his new role was announced, Mr Coaker said: “My important new role will give me me the opportunity and platform to stand up for fairness, equality and social justice and play my part in holding the Government to account.
“I will also be working hard to ensure we have that desperately needed Labour Government as soon as possible.
“I will continue with my current local roles helping in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery and with the local Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership.”
Police have seized kitchen knives and a machete after being called to reports of a group wielding weapons on Saturday (March 20) in Carlton.
Officers from Operation Reacher managed to spot the group walking up Station Road in the the town.
Once they arrived on the scene, two suspects ran off in different directions and a foot chase occurred.
Operation Reacher officers were called to attend the incident
Cars were backed up on Station Road as officers detained the suspects in the centre of the busy road.
Large foot-long kitchen knives were found on the suspects, both wearing balaclavas, and a machete was found discarded in a nearby garden.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: ” A small foot chase with two suspects with balaclavas that didn’t want to be caught occurred.
“Officers would like to take this opportunity to apologise to those members of the public caught up in the traffic jam caused by both suspects being detained in the centre of the road.”
A leading Nottingham health official has apologised over an error that was made offering vaccinations to over 40s.
On Monday, March 8, it was announced that residents 40 and over would be the latest cohort to be offered the jab.
A press release and a tweet – that was up for at least six hours – claimed that appointments were now going to be made for the group.
The decision was reversed a few hours later over a perceived lack of priority for more vulnerable groups, such as the over 50’s.
Amanda Sullivan, Newark and Sherwood CCG, faced questions about the error during a press briefing on Friday.
She said: “We had intended to release a number of cohorts on the understanding that that would be line with the overall direction of travel nationally.
“We weren’t able to continue with that and we very quickly had to come in line with the national approach and it’s right that we should do that so that there is a fair prioritisation of people going forward.
“There was a lot of demand as well.
PICTURED: The Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton is being used to vaccinate people in Gedling borough.(PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
“This is a very fast moving and complex programme and things do change very quickly.
“I understand and apologies for the error on Monday.”
At Fridays Coronavirus press briefing, there were also warnings that areas like Gedling still had work to do to ensure Nottingham’s Covid rates fell in line with the England average.
Jonathan Gribbin, Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire County Council, spoke about the slow rates of decline in the area.
He said: “Case rates are still edging in the right direction and that’s a cause for hope.
“But they are edging rather than racing downwards at the steep decline that we would like to see.
“In fact, the rate of decline has slowed up a bit over the last week and in one or two places in Nottinghamshire it has actually increased over the last few days.
“The England average currently stands at 58.3 p 100000 in notts county the rate is 79.1.
“We have got a picture where we find lots of signs of hope and encouragement, but also where there is still plenty of challenge.”
Having answered questions about the over 40’s blunder, officials were unable to comment on exactly when the group would be next in line to receive the vaccine.
Police have again stepped up patrols in the Carlton area in a bid to deter thieves targeting sheds and garages in the area.
Operation Reacher and Gedling Specials teams have carried out the extra patrols and are asking the public to increase security and make it difficult for those targeting sheds and burglaries in the area to gain access.
The thefts have been reported in the Standhill Road, Prospect Road and Carlton Hill area.
It’s the second wave of shed and garage break-ins over recent months in the area. A police crackdown took place last month after a spate of thefts in the Carlton and Colwick areas.
Inspector Chris Pearson, Neighbourhood Policing Inspector responsible for local policing in the Gedling borough area, previously said: “Unfortunately we have seen a significant increase in shed break-ins in the area but, we are determined to stop burglars in their tracks and are continuing to work hard to reverse this trend.
Sheds are being targeted across the borough by thieves
“Burglars are targeting bicycles and tools which have been taken from sheds and outbuildings so we’re urging residents to be extra vigilant and make sure their sheds, garages and outbuildings are kept secure to help avoid them falling victim to opportunistic thieves.
“We are also urging people to report any suspicious activity to us by calling Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If a crime is in progress call 999.
“I’d like to reassure local residents that we take reports of burglary extremely seriously and will work tirelessly to pursue offenders and bring them to justice.
Police advice on securing your shed or garage
Fit a strong hasp and padlock to your shed door. Make sure the door is strong enough to resist being kicked or pushed in. Replace standard hinges with strap hinges secured by coach bolts or use security screws on existing hinges.
Consider fitting a battery operated shed alarm.
Visibly mark the property you keep in your shed and garage and use anchor points to secure larger tools and equipment.
Gedling Borough Council has called for the use of ‘quieter’ fireworks at displays to protect vulnerable people and animals.
The call comes after the council agreed to introduce a number of changes to reduce the impact on the public caused by fireworks events.
All events taking place on their property will now need to be advertised in advance to allow residents to take precautions where needed. Those supplying fireworks at these events will also be urged to use quieter ones ‘to help minimise disruptions.
The council said it will aslo be suppirting the RSPCA in their campaign to make fireworks safert as well as writing to the Government asking them to limit the legal maximum noise of fireworks sold to the public.
A spokesman told the council’s CONTACTS magazine: “Fireworks are often used throughout the year to mark different events and while they can bring much enjoyment, for some they can be very stressful, especially for vulnerable people and pets, livestock and other wildlife.
“Not only can they cause psychological stress but can also lead to serious injuries.”
Nottingham City Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council have also introduced similar measures.
Nottingham City Council will encourage private sellers to stock ‘quieter fireworks’, and a carry out a PR campaign about the impact they can have on animals and people living with PTSD and autism.
Rushcliffe Borough Council has agreed to discontinue the use of loud fireworks at its events.
Should loud fireworks be allowed at events? Should they be banned? Let us know in the comments section below
The market stores which had occupied the site have now been temporarily moved into Eagle Square and the site has been cleared in preparation for work to begin.
It is anticipated the new space will be open for business in Spring 2022
As well as significant upgrades to the marketplace itself, the centrepiece of the redevelopment will be a new ‘landmark’ market building, between the Methodist Church and King George V park.
The building will have seven small outlets on the ground floor facing the marketplace, targeted at small, independent businesses, and will provide a ‘central focal point for the market’.
Solar panels are planned to be installed on the roof of the building, along side a range of other environmental measures.
PICTURED: An artist’s impression of how the market will look from Front Street (IMAGE: GBC)
The first floor of the building will be set aside for flexible business space, which could be used either as a single office or subdivided offices.
An office and toilets for traders would also be included on the ground floor of the new building.
Councillor Michael Payne is the deputy leader of the council, and represents the Redhill ward for Labour.
He previously said: “This is a really good example of local government stepping in to try to assist the local economy.
“None of us know where the economy is going to go in the next six months, and clearly everybody is trying to do their level best to make sure the economy doesn’t tank in the next six months.
“We have a role to play in that, private business has a role, and central Government also has a role.
“Of course everybody hopes and expects the building and the market is full and flourishing but nobody knows what shock the economy is going to face after we’ve just gone through one of the worst pandemics we’ve ever faced.
“I think we all look forward to the building being open , the market being open and people being able to enjoy the space once when we can return to normality.”
Rescue crews were called out to assist an ambulance which had reportedly become stuck in mud on a raised grassy knoll next to a road in Gedling during the early hours of this morning (Friday, 19).
Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue teams were on the scene at around 4.30am to help stabilise the vehicle and ensure it didn’t topple over after it ran into difficulties near the bottom of Priory Road and Apple Tree Lane.
Tape was placed around the scene to keep pedestrians away while the rescue operation took place.
The emergency vehicle was finally removed and put onto a recovery truck at around 10.30am.
A spokesman for Notts Fire & Rescue told Gedling Eye: “We were called out to assist an ambulance at 4.33am this morning after it had become stuck in a precarious position.
PICTURED: Fire crews at the scene in the early hours of the morning (PHOTO: Abbey Spendlove)
PHOTO: Sharleen Whiley
PICTURED: Rescue teams try to remove the ambulance from the mud (PHOTO: Mark Kight)
“Crews stabilised it until a recovery crew could attend the scene and remove it.
“Arnold, Carlton and Highfield crews were in attendance.”
Ambulance Operations Manager for the Nottingham Division of EMAS, Wendy Bainbridge said: “One of our ambulances got into difficulty at the side of a road in Gedling in the early hours of the morning.
“There were no patients on board and the crew came to no harm. They informed our control room and recovery of the vehicle was arranged.”
