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.”
People in Gedling borough out on pothole patrol can report their findings to the council.
Nottinghamshire County Council maintain our roads in Gedling borough and were recently allocated another £8 million to tackle the problem across the county.
And to get potholes repaired on our borough roads, they can be reported to the authority online or via telephone.
The council say any pothole reported will be investigated by one of their team within 10 working days.
You will need to be able to pinpoint the pothole using the council’s online map.
The instructions on the council website state: “Please be as accurate as possible. You can use the search box above the map to type in a postcode or street which will zoom the map and enable you to locate the problem more quickly.
You are also able to upload an image of the pothole to the online form.
The council say you can post a report anonymously, but if you want to receive and update on the situation, they require your email address.
A telephone number may be needed if our inspector is unable to find the pothole you reported and requires more details of its location.
You can report a pothole online HERE or via the MyNotts app.
Potholes on these roads can be reported directly by telephone: 0300 123 5000 or email: info@highwaysengland.co.uk.
“We know that this is a very important subject in our communities and that residents may be concerned when they see potholes in their local area.
“With 2,734 miles of roads to cover, highways inspection teams cannot be in every location at once.
“That is why it is so important for residents to report any potholes or road defects that they see to us, otherwise we may not know about it.
“When potholes are reported to the council, an inspector will visit the site within 10 working days, and those which are at least 40mm deep will be repaired in a time scale ranging from within two hours to 28 days depending on their severity.
“Many may wonder why we only fix some and not all potholes on the same street at the same time. In many cases, larger potholes need to be addressed by separate teams with different equipment in order that the most effective repairs can be carried out in each situation.”
“Residents who have provided an email address when reporting a pothole, will be informed of actions taken following the inspection.
“We would like our communities across Nottinghamshire to know that we are committed to ensuring that our roads are of a high quality, and that they have a significant role to play in helping us to achieve this.”
Police in Gedling borough took a number of uninsured and defective vehicles off the road yesterday.
The vehicles were spotted while a team of Gedling Specials carried out increased patrols in Carlton following reports of catalytic convertor thefts.
Two tipper vehicles and one car was seized.
Specials Sergeant Dilks said:”Driving offences are incredibly dangerous. They not only pose a risk to the driver but also the public and we will always take these offences very seriously”
“Just one uninsured, untaxed or defective vehicle on Nottinghamshire’s roads is one too many and our message is simple: driving offences will not be tolerated on our county roads.”
“The vehicles seized yesterday are from a combination of offences which include, no insurance, no tax, no MOT and defective tyres.
”Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK to protect you and other road users when something unexpected happens. It can cover costs from accidents, thefts, or fires depending on the type of cover you choose, as well as others’ injuries or damage to property. If you drive without insurance, you can get a £300 fine and six penalty points on your licence – we may also seize your vehicle, and even have it destroyed. If your case is taken to court, the maximum fine is unlimited and you may be disqualified from driving.
Inspector Chris Pearson the local policing inspector for Gedling said: “Traffic offences remain a priority for us following feedback from the local community and we are now planning further enforcement activity.
“The additional patrols yesterday by the Gedling Specials patrolling our roads has led to the seizure of these vehicles and a number of offences being reported for summons.” “This just goes to show how the Gedling Special Constables work closely with our Neighbourhood policing and Operation Reacher teams in order to proactively police the Gedling Borough”.
600 extra secondary school places are to be created at Carlton le Willows Academy as part of a county-wide cash boost from the council.
Nottinghamshire County Council is planning to invest £16 million over the next two years to expand primary and secondary schools all over Notts.
The council say the funding is being put in place to ensure there are enough school places for local families over the coming years.
More places for primary and secondary school pupils are being created
The costs will be covered by the council’s basic need allocation budget, as well as housing developer contributions.
600 places are planned over the next two years at Carlton le Willows Academy. 300 have already been provided at Carlton Academy.
Councillor Philip Owen, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee, said: “We are committed to ensuring that children across our county have access to a good quality and education, and we have a duty to provide a sufficient number of school places in Nottinghamshire, to meet growing demand.
“We are continually working to analyse the figures and predict where school places will be needed. This £16 million investment will mean that we can provide extra capacity where it is needed over the coming years.
“This is an investment in our children’s future. The next few years will be an exciting time for school developments, with expansions and improvements planned across the county.”
Nottinghamshire‘s new ‘dog detective’ has vowed ‘to do everything in her power’ to stop families suffering the heartache of having their beloved pets stolen.
Chief Inspector Amy Styles-Jones, who has three pet dogs of her own, said she understood how dogs are part of the family for many people and having one taken can be devastating.
The newly-promoted officer took up the first police role of its kind in the country last Friday and will take a strategic overview of dog thefts and mistreatment in Nottinghamshire – where last year the attempted drowning of Bella the dog gained international media attention and the joint working of Nottinghamshire Police and the RSPCA led to Bella’s owner being sentenced earlier this month.
Ch Insp Styles-Jones’ role will also involve analysing trends, co-ordinating resources and working alongside partners to prevent and investigate crimes involving dogs.
She said: “I’m really excited to take on this role which gives a great opportunity to understand what has been a really serious issue nationally over the last 12 months and I want to ensure we put our resources in the right places within force to make sure it doesn’t become a local issue.
“I understand how concerning it is for people. As a dog owner myself I know it is an emotive issue and that you want to feel safe walking your dog or whilst at home or in your garden with your pets.
“I understand that for many people your dogs are part of your family and Nottinghamshire Police understands that as well which is why we are the first force in the country to appoint a lead for this type of crime.
“I want to reassure people that if you want to report any concerns about your dogs being stolen we will take that seriously.
PICTURED: Chief Inspector Amy Styles-Jones, left, and Nottinghamshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPPC) Emma Foody
“I also want to make it clear to anybody involved in dog theft or the mistreatment of animals that it will not be tolerated.”
Ch Insp Styles-Jones, who will perform the role alongside a number of other duties and responsibilities within the force, will work closely with the officers who investigate individual dog thefts, including neighbourhood and response officers.
Part of her role will also be to work with partners and other forces to establish best practices in investigating this type of crime and work out how processes can be improved.
An animal lover herself, as she has three pet Chihuahuas called Tink, Jasper and Josie, she said: “As well as investigating dog thefts I’m also keen to prevent them happening and there are a number of things pet owners can do to increase safety for themselves and their pets.
“One of the best things is to have your dog microchipped, make sure you keep your details up-to-date with the microchipping company and have them to hand if the worst should happen. This is one of the fastest ways that the police can track stolen animals and really save you the heartache.”
She added that around 50 per cent of dog thefts were from gardens and by securing fences, gates and perimeters it could help reduce this threat.
Ch Insp Styles-Jones also advised people not to leave dogs unattended outside shops or in cars.
The new role was created after a survey revealed dog owners are increasingly fearful over their pets’ safety following growing cases of dog theft across the country during the pandemic.
Nottinghamshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPPC) Emma Foody, who launched the survey, was instrumental in devising the role.
She said: “I’m delighted that Nottinghamshire has become the first force in the country to appoint a dog theft lead. There is growing alarm – both locally and nationally – over the threat of dog theft. This has been fuelled by a number of distressing incidents which have eroded public confidence.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support of Guide Dogs for the Blind in helping us highlight how serious this issue is, and I’m keen to work with other organisations to do whatever we can to prevent dog theft in the future and disrupt the lucrative market that has emerged during the national lockdowns.
“As a dog owner myself, I know just how worrying this issue is, and I’m determined to fight for tougher penalties for those involved in this despicable crime.”
Anyone who has their dog stolen is urged to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.
Uber drivers in Gedling borough will now be paid holiday time, automatically enrolled into a pension plan, and guaranteed to earn at least the National Living Wage.
All Uber drivers across the UK will now receive holiday pay, meaning every two weeks drivers will receive a payment of 12.07% of their earnings to reflect their right to paid holiday.
Drivers will now also receive automatic enrolment in a pension plan, with contributions from Uber and paid at least the National Living Wage.
A spokesman for the taxi giant said: “This is a floor, not a ceiling and drivers will still be able to earn more, as 99% already do.
“This is in addition to the benefits available to drivers since 2018, including free insurance to cover sickness, injury and maternity and paternity payments.
“Making these changes to the way drivers earn with Uber is the right thing to do, and we hope other operators will join us in taking this important step. “
Frances O’Grady, general secretary at the Trades Union Congress, told Sky News: “Gig economy workers deserve to be treated with dignity at work, and to be given the same basic rights as everybody else.
“We will check the small print of this offer. But this appears to be a big step in the right direction from Uber.
“Now the company must recognise trade unions. The TUC stands ready to host talks with Uber and private hire unions to begin that process.”
