Villagers in Stoke Bardolph say a nearby beauty spot is being used as a “dustbin” by visitors leaving their waste behind.
Since lockdown, the area has become extremely popular with people in the borough visiting the hotspot for their permitted local exercise.
And since the rise in popularity, locals have sadly seen a sharp rise in litter too
Those living in Stoke Bardolph are now having to take matters into their own hands to keep the village and area by the River Trent tidy.
PICTURED: Cans recovered from around the River Trent
PICTURE: Michael Terry
PICTURED: Cans floating in the River Trent (PHOTO: Michael Terry)
Michael Terry is one of the residents tackling the litter problem in his spare time.
On a mile-walk of the area this week, Mr Terry collected up 162 empty cans of various alcoholic drinks and 12 cans of soft drinks left behind by visitors.
Mr Terry said: “It’s really sad. By my reckoning I picked up 175 cans in total. What’s really sad is more were floating in the river.
“There’s nothing more disheartening than going for a walk in your own village and seeing it like a dustbin. Especially when it’s a riverside location and it gets in the way of the wildfowl. Incredibly I’ve seen wine, whisky and vodka bottles too.”
Mr Terry said he had contacted the council who were quick to respond.
They said: “We’ve made both the street cleaning team and the Neighbourhood Wardens aware of this.”
Two men were quickly tracked down by police officers after they drove away from a reported aggravated burglary and street fight in Calverton, with a large amount of cannabis found inside a car.
Masked men were witnessed on the street by residents with metal bars and shouting, before leaving the scene in vehicles.
Officers were called several times by concerned residents to a reported disturbance in the early hours of Thursday morning (January 29) in Flatts Lane.
Detective Sergeant Mark Shaw is leading the investigation. He said: “This was excellent work by officers. They were quick on the scene to find a cannabis grow at the address following a number of 999 calls.
“They searched the area and tracked a car which matched the callers description that had left the scene.
“The car travelled northbound on the A60 into Derbyshire and with help from the Derbyshire Operational Support officers they were able to stop the vehicle in Pinxton.
“Within a car was a large amount of a cannabis, which was seized.
“Two men aged 36 and 25 were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. They remain in police custody.
“Violent crime has no place on our streets and we will always take swift and proportionate action against those who commit such offences.
“We take reports of drugs activity very seriously and we will investigate thoroughly where there are such reports.
“The large-scale production of illegal drugs has a significant negative impact on our communities that often brings with it violence and other related offending. We are determined to clamp down on the people responsible.
“We would highly encourage anyone in the community to report their concerns to us. Our neighbourhood policing teams and our local Reacher teams are there for that exact purpose, to listen to any information you might have about any crime and act upon it. We are there to tackle the issues that matter to you.”
Firefighters from Carlton rushed to rescue a distressed buzzard that had been stuck in a tree for several days.
Crews from Carlton Fire Station carried out the rescue yesterday (January 27) after being called out by the RSPCA.
Fire crews and RSPCA wit the rescued bird (PHOTO: Notts Fire & Rescue)
The rescued buzzard in a cage (PHOTO: Notts Fire & Rescue)
The fire teams used a nine metre ladder, safe working at height kit and an extendable pole, supplied by the RSPCA to rescue a Buzzard that was stuck in a tree in Adbolton.
The bird of prey was said to have been there for two days before the crew were called to rescue it.
Crews were pleased to report the Buzzard seemed well and was going to be checked over by the charity.
The buzzard is now in the hands of the RSPCA and will hopefully be reunited with its owner in the coming days.
RSPCA officer Annette della-Porta said: “This poor buzzard was huge – and she had got herself well and truly stuck. She was clearly an owned bird, as she was wearing jesses – the leather straps used by falconers – and these had become wrapped round the branch of a tall beech tree about 30 feet up.
“To add to the difficulty, the tree was up on a bank – this bird was in a very inaccessible place. I knew I would need expert help if we were going to rescue this buzzard, so I contacted the local Greenwatch Fire & Rescue team from Carlton Fire Station.
“The team were absolutely brilliant! Using their very tall ladders they skillfully manoeuvred themselves higher and higher, until they were able to reach the bough that the buzzard was entangled in. Firstly, securing the branch before cutting it down, they were eventually able to position the bird so that we could gently contain her.
“We finally got her down to ground level safely and I took her to a nearby vet to be checked over. Six year-old American Red-Tailed Buzzard, named ‘Red’, was luckily ringed, so we were able to identify her and track down her owner. Red was thankfully unharmed despite her ordeal and once she had spent the night at the vets under observation, I was able to reunite her with a very relieved and grateful owner, who exclaimed ‘thank you, you’ve made my year’.
“I’d like to thank the member of public who first spotted Red and alerted us. This rescue was very complex and took around over hours, and I am also hugely grateful to Greenwatch. Without this amazing team, the outcome for Red could have been very different.”
A Gedling police team have celebrated their first year in operation by releasing some impressive crime-fighting statistics
The Operation Reacher team, which covers Gedling borough, celebrated their first anniversary this week.
As part of their celebrations, the team recapped some of their successes over the year.
The local team has expanded to eight officers.
They have managed to arrest 141 people for a variety of different things from thefts to drug dealing to online sex offences,
They have conducted 38 warrants, seized 56 vehicles, done 230 stop and search, seized 36 weapons and £255,000 in cash.
PICTURED: Operation Reacher officers carrying out a warrant at a property
A spokesman for the team said: “Some personal highlights from the team were; reuniting two stolen campervans with the owners that were found in a ‘chop shop’ being taken to bits, arresting a male in the street that had a large knife, drugs and cash in his bag and the community engagement work we did during the first lockdown delivering essentials to those most in need.
“We feel we’ve managed to make a real impact, which has improved the lives of the people in the area but we want to do more for you.
“We know there are people out there that need our help and that know things we need to know. So why not send us a message and let us know what we can do for you!”
Nottinghamshire Hospice in Mapperley received ‘a very welcome surprise’ amid the coronavirus outbreak this week.
An anonymous trust has donated £110,000 to boost frontline services at Nottinghamshire Hospice.
The grant will fund the Hospice Outreach and Discharge Support service (HODS)– set up in May in response to the pandemic – for the first three months of the year.
The service fast-tracks people out of hospital so they can be at home at the end of their lives, and intervenes to prevent hospital admissions.
Hospice intervention helped Nick Pezzolla from Clifton bring his wife Christine out of hospital to spend her final weeks at home where the couple spent their last Christmas together. She passed away in mid-January, aged 72.
Christine, who had Alzheimer’s, suffered internal bleeding in November after falling down the stairs and hitting her head. She was taken to hospital for assessment when Nick was told she was approaching end of life and there was no further treatment available.
“The hospital said they could make her comfortable, or she could move into a residential care home, but I’d already made up my mind to bring her home,” he said.
“At the hospital I got a call from Felicity at the hospice, telling me you were coming on board and explaining about all the help you could provide for us. I was worried it would cost a fortune but she reassured me that it was all free.
“If Christine had gone into residential care she would have been very confused and I might not have been allowed to visit. I’d promised her she would never go into a home, and I kept my promise.”
The hospice stepped in the day Christine was discharged with visits from the HODS team plus night support.
Nick said: “I can’t praise the hospice enough. Everyone who came was wonderful. They treat you like a human being not a patient. After her fall Christine wasn’t able to speak, but she recognised your nurses and had a smile for them. They helped Christine and they helped me too.”
Since HODS was set up in May, it has provided vital palliative care to patients across Nottinghamshire in their homes and support for their families. It complements the hospice’s other services which provide care in shifts or night support visits, enabling us to support families round the clock across the city and county. There are currently two teams working with plans for a third.
Jo Polkey, Director of Care at Nottinghamshire Hospice, said: “We’re so grateful for this substantial donation which will secure the service for the next three months.
“Our care is more important than ever during the pandemic as it keeps patients out of hospital, allowing them to spend their last days at home with family around them and keeping beds free for Covid patients. Since the HODS service was set up it’s been very successful and in high demand so we’re delighted to be able to continue it into 2021.
“And if there are any other trusts with end-of-year funds to dispense, please consider supporting us!”
Nottinghamshire Hospice urgently requires funds to extend the HODS service into a second year to continue supporting patients at the end of their lives and protect the NHS. The pandemic has severely affected the charity’s ability to raise funds due to repeated closures of its ten shops and cancellation of all fundraising events since the first lockdown in March.
Two men suspected of carrying out a ‘terrifying’ aggravated burglary with machetes were apprehended last night in Arnold.
Police arrested the suspects following a pursuit in snowy and icy conditions.
Officers spotted a Mini Cooper, believed to be linked to the aggravated burglary in Mansfield, which was heading along the A614 towards the Leapool Island. The car sped off from officers and officers started an authorised pursuit.
The vehicle was being driven dangerously on treacherous roads before trained officers made tactical contact with the Mini.
Two suspects got out of the Mini, while it was still in motion, and fled on foot while the car collided with a parked vehicle.
Officers chased them on foot and the suspects, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, were quickly detained in Warren Hill Close in Arnold.
The 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, failing to stop and possession of cannabis.
He was also detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary – relating to a series of car key burglaries arcoss Nottinghamshire in September 2020.
The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and possession of cannabis. He was also detained on suspicion of burglary – relating to two car key burglaries in Nottinghamshire earlier this month.
Both suspects remain in custody. No-one was injured during yesterday’s incident, with the police chase beginning shortly after 3.30pm (Sunday 24 January 2021).
The aggravated burglary relates to an incident reported to have happened in Spencer Street, Mansfield, on Thursday (January 21, 2021).
Two suspects armed with machetes smashed a door down to get into the property. It’s believed they were looking for someone before they left empty-handed. No-one was injured during the incident.
Detective Inspector Nick Hall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Thanks to some excellent police teamwork we were able to bring this incident to a safe conclusion and we are now questioning two suspects as part of our ongoing enquiries.”
Police are appealing for information after an expensive shoulder bag, watch and bracelet were stolen during a burglary in Mapperley.
A brown leather Louis Vuitton shoulder bag, Longines watch and Hermes bracelet were taken during the break-in at a property on Northcliffe Avenue.
It is believed the burglary happened at around 3am on Sunday, January 10, 2021.
The Hermes bracelet
Louise Vuitton bag
Longines watch
Detective Constable Emma Straw, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I’d like to speak to anyone who has any information as to the whereabouts of these items or who may have been offered valuables like those pictured for sale.
“Likewise I’d like to speak to anyone who was in or around the area of Northcliffe Avenue at around 3am on 10 January and who noticed anything suspicious or untoward. Any information you have could help with the investigation.
“If you have any information about this break-in or regarding the whereabouts of the items please call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 130 of 10 January 2021.”
Aerial footage from a drone reveals the extent of flooding caused by the River Trent at Burton Joyce.
This video shows flood waters near the village on Saturday afternoon (January 23).
Stoke Lane remains closed by Burton Joyce Station, with flood waters cutting off the route to Stoke Bardolph.
PICTURED: Stoke Lane is close near Burton Joyce Station (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
A flood warning remains in place in the area.
The Environment Agency warns: “Further light rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours. We expect river levels to remain high over the next few days.
“We are closely monitoring the situation. Please avoid using low-lying footpaths near local watercourses and avoid contact with flood water.”
The Government has again updated information revealing how many cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Gedling borough neighbourhoods over a seven-day period.
The data reveals that most parts of the borough have seen a decrease in the weekly period up until January 17.
There were some increases though, with the biggest being in Arnold Town, which saw a rise of 32.
You can see the details for each Government-defined neighbourhood in the borough in the list below.
Seven–day rates are expressed per 100,000 population and are calculated by dividing the seven day count by the area population and multiplying by 100,000.
An Arnold police officer has helped finally snare a violent robber who has been on the run for over a decade.
Ambrose Nicholas O’Neill – dubbed ‘The Running Man’ by the national media because of his ability to evade capture – threatened to kill a 67-year-old man in a terrifying robbery in Seagrave, Leicestershire, on February 10, 2007.
Following his arrest O’Neill attended the first day of his trial at Leicester Crown Court in July 2008 but then failed to turn up for the rest of the case and despite being sentenced in his absence to eight years in prison in December 2008 he had yet to serve any time – until now.
He was finally brought to book yesterday (January 22) after Arnold officer PC James Gill, an award-winning officer commended in 2019 for his dedication to catching wanted criminals – even in his spare time – picked up O’Neill’s case and made it his mission to get him in cuffs.
PICTURED: PC James Gill from Arnold
PICTURED: Ambrose Nicholas O’Neill
PC Gill put in hours of dedicated work, including working extended hours in his free time, to follow up every thread of intelligence.
Recently he was also supported by another officer who works in covert local intelligence and efforts were stepped up as they homed in on their target.
Officers carried out the arrest in the early hours of this morning and finally got a surprised O’Neill in custody. Response officers from Gedling helped carry out the arrest, with support from Lincolnshire Police.
O’Neill has now been taken straight to prison to start his eight-year prison sentence and will appear before Leicester Crown Court at a date to be confirmed, where the sentence could be extended.
Officers also arrested a 41-year-old woman on suspicion of assisting an offender. She remains in police custody.
PC Gill, who is based in Arnold and works on the ‘wanted squad’ which tracks down outstanding offenders, said he was extremely proud to have helped catch O’Neill after all this time.
“He is known as ‘The Running Man’. We knew he had changed his appearance and lived in an area where people do not know him and he had an assumed identity,” he said.
“He was laughing at the police so we were determined to do everything to find him.
“It has taken an incredible amount of work to find him. It’s making these people know their time on the run is over.”
PC Gill, who featured heavily on the television police documentary Bodycam Squad, praised his colleagues for the team effort.
“Policing is not an individual activity, it is a team, ” he said.
“It is because I have been surrounded by good, experienced and motivated officers we have achieved what we have. It is not a solo achievement.”
During the offence, O’Neill, now aged 42, knocked on the victim’s front door posing as a pizza delivery man before pushing him over and punching him in the face. He demanded for the victim to open his safe before leaving empty-handed.
Leicestershire Police launched a man-hunt to find O’Neill after he skipped court in 2008 while colleagues from Nottinghamshire Police also carried out extensive enquiries, as his last known address was in Arnold, but after detectives had exhausted all lines of enquiry the trail went cold.
But determined PC James Gill and an intelligence officer took it upon themselves to launch ‘Operation Gladiolus’ in December 2020 as they continued to work tirelessly in an effort to track O’Neill down, with support from response colleagues on Rota 3.
One piece of recent intelligence that proved to be the start of a major breakthrough in the case was an anonymous tip-off through Crimestoppers which suggested Ambrose may be living with a woman in the Wyberton area, near Boston, in Lincolnshire.
The information didn’t include an exact address so the officers worked relentlessly to develop the intelligence and used a number of tactics to pinpoint his home in Causeway, Wyberton, so they were confident they had found their man.
PC Gill even turned up for work in his own time at 2am the day before the arrest to finalise the details because he was so excited at the prospect of getting O’Neill in custody after all this time.
PC Gill said: “We are delighted with this arrest and it’s taken a lot of hard work to finally reach this point.
“O’Neill had been wanted for a long time and was particularly difficult to find once we received this fresh piece of intelligence we didn’t hesitate to act on it.
“I’m delighted that it paid off and that we’ve now been able to get justice for the victims of this horrific crime.”
Chief Superintendent Rob Griffin, of Nottinghamshire Police, added: “I’d like to commend the excellent work and dogged determination of our officers who went above and beyond in hunting for O’Neill and getting him arrested.
“It’s a shining example of the commitment shown by our officers to ensure criminals are brought to account and justice is delivered to victims of crime.
“Once our officers sank their teeth into this operation they wouldn’t let go. Without their tenacity this fantastic result wouldn’t have been possible.
“They left no stone unturned and a result O’Neill now at last must face the consequences of his actions.
“I’d also like to thank our colleagues at Leicestershire and Lincolnshire for their support during this investigation.”
