The DW Fitness First gym in Netherfield will ‘remain open and trading throughout August’ the company has confirmed after announcing it was entering administration.
In an email to members, the company said that ‘it is our intention to work with the Administrators to ensure this site remains operational in the long term’.
This administration impacts all of DW Sports retail stores and some gyms.
The gym on Victoria Retail Park reopened on July 25 after four months closure due to lockdown. Members were not charged during the forced closure period.
In the email they also said that The DW Sports retail store in Nottingham will continue to trade during August, and ‘has now today moved into a ‘Closing Down sale’ with all remaining products reduced to at least 40% off’.
They added: “This is a final opportunity to take advantage of some of our fantastic ranges at truly great prices.
The fitness firm also announced that Graham Newton and Ryan Grant, partners in BDO LLP, have been appointed as the Joint Administrators (‘the Administrators’).
Over 1,700 jobs are at risk. The DW Sports website has also been shut down.
Children will get the chance to enjoy Carlton’s exciting new play park from Wednesday (August 5).
Dignitaries will be heading to Conway Road Recreation Ground to officially open the brand new children’s play area thanks to external funding.
The recreation ground, which currently features tennis courts and a bowling green, will see the addition of slides, roundabouts, multi play units, toddler and junior swings and other equipment, thanks to external funding.
The play area will be officially opened by The Mayor of Gedling, Councillor Sandra Barnes at 2pm.
Funding for the play area comes from FCC Communities foundation, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by waste and resource management company FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. FCC Communities Foundation provided a grant total of £94,486 for the play area.
Cheryl Raynor, FCC Communities Foundation Local Grant manager said: “It’s great to see the play area opening and ready to be used by local children, the enhancements to the park are fantastic and offer families with young children a great space to play and have fun for many years to come.
“FCC Communities Foundation is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and this is a great example of what can be achieved.”
Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Peter Barnes said: “This new play area is a fantastic addition to facilities we have across the borough, and I’m sure it’s going to be incredibly popular with local children.
“As a council, one of our key priorities is to enhance our parks and open spaces and these new facilities do just that. I’d like to thank FCC Community Foundations for providing the funding for yet another superb play area. It’s a great addition to the borough and will make a big difference to the area, yet another brilliant example of the results of partnership working.”
Police have arrested three people after drugs and cash were seized when a warrant was executed in Carlton
Class A and B drugs were discovered when a firearms warrant was carried out at a property in Oakdale Road just before 9am today (August 3).
The suspects, aged 22, 27 and 26, were arrested on suspicion of drug supply and possession of criminal property offences. They remain in custody.
Police said the warrant was carried out by the Gedling Operation Reacher Team and Neighbourhood Support Unit in response to ‘community concerns about drug use and supply in the local area’.
The operation was part of the ongoing drugs operation ‘Operation Thistle’, which aims to tackle the issue of drug supply when raised by the local community.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Chris Pearson said: “There has been a lot of police activity in the area this morning as we executed this warrant.
PICTURED: Inspector Chris Pearson (IMAGE: Notts Police)
“The supply of drugs and the harm they can cause to vulnerable people is a priority for our officers and we remain committed to working with our partners to target offenders and disrupt criminal activity.
“As today’s warrant shows we will take proactive action in relation to anyone allegedly involved in the selling or dealing of controlled substances. The use of drugs causes immense personal cost and damage to lives which will not be tolerated.
“I would like to thank the local community for their support – operations such as the one today can’t happen without it.”It’s essential that our local communities continue to tell us about the issues in their areas – whether this relates to suspected drug offences, or other related criminal activity.
“If you have concerns about drug-related activity in your area I’d urge you to come forward and talk to us in confidence.“Anyone with information should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
A full review of place and street names in Gedling which was sparked after the Black Lives Matter movement has now finished.
After the death of George Floyd, and growing awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement, Nottingham and Gedling councils decided to conduct reviews into whether any street or place names had links to the slavery trade.
Now, Gedling Borough Council has said no place names or streets require further investigation.
However it has said it will investigate if any specific concerns are raised.
The leader of Gedling Borough Council, John Clarke, said he was opposed to ‘throwing signs away’, and would only consider changing street names found to be problematic after extensive consultation with the people who live there.
He also said the council would consider educational material around the signs, or placing them in a museum, should the need arise.
He also said: “I thought at the start that it was unlikely we’d have any (with links to the slave trade) but you’ve got to check these things.
“We’ll keep looking if anyone brings anything up, but I’ve not been made aware of any that are problematic.”
A spokesman for Labour-run Gedling Borough Council said: “Our building control team has now reviewed a list of all 1,716 street names in the borough to make sure they meet the expectations of our multicultural society.
“No names have been identified which require further investigation, but we can look further should we be made aware of any concerns.
“Similarly, we have considered the names of all known statues and public signage and have not identified any names which we consider should be reviewed.”
DW Sports has said it will enter administration, putting 1,700 jobs at risk.
The company, which has has a gym at Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield, operates 73 gyms and 75 stores across the UK.
The company’s website has ceased trading with immediate effect.
DW has said it would work with administrators to save as many gyms as possible, while all of its shops will eventually close.
Chief executive Martin Long said: “As a consequence of Covid-19, we found ourselves in a position where we were mandated by government to close down both our retail store portfolio and our gym chain in its entirety for a protracted period, leaving us with a high fixed-cost base and zero income,”
“The decision to appoint administrators has not been taken lightly but will give us the best chance to protect viable parts of the business, return them to profitability, and secure as many jobs as possible.”
Administrators will be appointed today (August 3) and they will run the business and the stores, who will now sell their remaining stock.
Police have charged a man with animal cruelty in connection with a report of three sheep being killed in a grisly incident in Calverton.
Grigore Vlad, 41, of no fixed address, has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, criminal damage, driving without insurance, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and failing to surrender to custody.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Monday, August 3, 2020).
The charges relate to a report of a suspicious incident on Oxton Road on the night of 6 April 2020 after a farmer heard loud bang noises and talking in a field.
The caller left his house and went out with his torch to find three sheep dead. Two of the animals were found to have had their throats cut and another sheep was suspected to have died through shock.
Two other sheep were also tied up by their horns with nylon rope, with one of them also having a slash wound. Thankfully they survived.
Police officers moved quickly to arrest a man thanks to the help of a local gamekeeper who helped to track the suspect down.
The gamekeeper followed a vehicle, which the suspect was believed to be travelling in, into the city which was finally stopped in Gregory Boulevard.
Local officers were alerted to the incident and arrested a man.
Detective Sergeant Luke Todd, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a horrific incident that has caused much upset to the farmer. A suspect has now been charged and we now await the outcome of this case through the courts.”
A community and local councillors are calling on Severn Trent Water to back their bid to bring a village hall back to life in Stoke Bardolph.
Residents in the village are working with Trent Valley councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams to try and get the hall on Stoke Lane reopened and back in use.
The hall was at the heart of the community for over 100 years and was the only meeting place apart from the church, and was provided for the use of the villagers by the Nottingham Corporation who then owned the Stoke Farm estate.
In the 1970s Severn Trent Water took over the estate and extended the hall, but due to lack of maintenance and essential repairs, compromising health and safety regulations, it was closed in early 2016.
In 2017, villagers made contact with Severn Trent to discuss the possibilities of securing the hall again for the village via a lease or rent. A Charitable Trust was formed to manage the hall and is being led by Kathy Dixon a Trustee and Stoke Bardolph Parish Clerk.
Last October a new lease offer was produced by Severn Trent which the Trustees say contained a lot of restrictions ‘and was not suitable’, so was turned down.
Since then, talks have stalled.
But the group are now preparing for fresh negotiations with the water giant and hope to secure a more favourable lease that will allow them to bring their plans to fruition.
The councillors and and Village Hall Trustees recently approached Persimmon Homes, who are building the Rivendell development, and the developer has agreed to renovate the whole of the Village Hall at no cost.
PICTURED: Cllrs Mike Adams, left, Sam Smith, centre and Kathy Dixon, right
Gedling Borough Councillors Mike Adams and Cllr Sam Smith have also recently donated £815 from their Councillor Community Funds to the project.
The scheme also has the full backing of Gedling’s Conservative MP Tom Randall.
Councillor Smith said: “Stoke Bardolph residents deserve better after four years of waiting. We are determined to get Stoke Bardolph Village Hall restored to its original beauty, reopened and thriving again with village events.
Councillor Adams added: “We thank the Trustees for all their work and also thank Persimmon Homes for their generous renovation offer. We look forward to negotiating a new lease for the Hall with Severn Trent in August and hope to have the hall open soon.”
Gedling Eye contacted Severn Trent for a response.
Severn Trent confirmed they had been working with all those involved on a solution since closing the site, including the local MP.
They said that the ‘building is not fit to be used or safe for anyone in its current state’ and ‘to make it safe again requires a lot of work and significant investment’.
A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “We had a responsibility to close the building for safety reasons, and to allow it to be used again, a significant investment would be needed to make it safe. While we’re supportive of the local residents’ wishes, we invest in our operational networks to make sure all of our customers have the best possible service.
“We have been working with local stakeholders including the local MP and Gedling Borough Council on a solution, and we have offered the Parish Council a repairing lease previously. We’re happy to continue to discuss potential options going forward.”
People are being urged to make the most of Calverton Recycling Centre‘s longer opening hours over the summer months.
The centre on Hollinwood Lane is now open from 8 am right through until 8 pm every day from today (August 1) until Wednesday, September 30.
Nottinghamshire County Council is reminding people that the site is social distancing so there may still be queues at times.
Nottinghamshire County Councillor Phil Rostance, vice chair of the Communities and Place Committee said: “We’re delighted that we are now in a position to extend the opening hours at Calverton Recycling Centre.
“With the current social distancing restrictions in place we are seeing queues. We hope that by extending the opening hours residents will choose to visit a site during the evening which tends to be a quieter time and avoid queues.
PICTURED: The council’s recycling facility in Calverton
The Nottinghamshire Recycling Centres accept a wide range of household waste for recycling; including textiles, glass bottles and jars, wood, scrap metal, batteries, garden waste, electrical appliances and even engine oil and cooking oil. On average, the Recycling Centres recycle an impressive 80% of the waste they receive.
Top tips to remember when visiting your local Recycling Centre:
• For your own safety and the safety of others using the sites please ensure you adhere to the social distancing requirements on site. Only one person per gantry or skip at a time.
• If assistance is needed, please ask a member of staff as they are still able to offer advice, but at the moment are not able to physically help you move your waste and recyclables.
• A visit will be quicker if your waste is sorted into types and will help us recycle as much as possible as we can’t currently do any sorting on site.
• Don’t forget you need to be a Nottinghamshire resident and registered to use our Recycling Centres, and will be turned away if not. Register for free at:
• Trade waste, commercial waste, or waste from home building projects can’t be taken to the Recycling Centres. You must only take your own personal household waste.
• Sensible footwear must be worn when visiting the Recycling Centres and waste must be placed into skips carefully to avoid injury.
• Children and animals must stay in vehicles at all times.
We may be basking in a heatwave but police are warning people about the dangers of swimming in the borough’s open waters such as at Newstead Abbey and the Netherfield Lagoons.
The appeal comes after a heartbroken mum whose son drowned while saving two friends teamed up with Nottinghamshire Police to warn of the dangers of swimming in open water.
Nicola Jenkins lost her 12-year-old son, Owen, in July 2017, after he had gone into Beeston Weir to help two friends.
After rescuing one friend, who’d got into difficulties, Owen returned to the water to rescue another friend but the current was too strong and it dragged him under. Sadly he didn’t resurface.
Owen gave his life to save another and died a hero.
Nicola is urging young people not to enter rivers, lakes and canals and to be aware of the dangers, now that schools have broken up for the summer holidays.
More people will potentially visit county beauty spots to enjoy warmer weather as the Covid-19 lockdown eases.
Mrs Jenkins, who founded the Open Water Education Network (OWEN) water safety programme in Owen’s memory, said: “With the weather getting warmer, water is inviting. The first thing children want to do is cool off but they don’t think about the dangers.
“If you jump into the water the temperature outside is warmer than the temperature of the water so you’re probably likely to go into cold water shock. That’s where your body goes into an automatic shock response so your heart beats faster and you start gasping for air.
“There are also hidden dangers like undercurrents, debris in the water and potentially sharp objects.
“Don’t take the risk by going into the water just for some fun. It’s really not worth your life.
“I’d also urge parents to speak to their children about the risks of what can happen by going into open water and tell them about Owen’s story.”
Inspector Chris Pearson is the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector responsible for local policing in the Gedling borough area.
He said: “Owen’s tragic death during the summer of 2017 should still be fresh in the minds of Nottinghamshire residents. “This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the very real dangers of swimming or playing in open water, no matter how tempting it may appear in warm weather.
WARNING: Inspector Chris Pearson (IMAGE: Notts Police)
“Water such as reservoirs or lagoons can be very cold, even in the summer months, and people suddenly entering cold water are susceptible to hyperventilation, which could result in the body going into seizure.
“There can also be hidden currents and unseen dangers such as mud banks or items under the water which a swimmer can become caught on.“As inviting as the water can look, it simply isn’t worth the risk.
“There are still plenty of things to do safely near open water sites and we don’t want to discourage people from enjoying the activities some sites provide – but please be safe.
“The best way to stay safe is to avoid swimming in open water and ensure that you only enter water where there is adequate supervision and rescue cover.
The dangers of open water include:
Temperature – the water can be extremely cold, which can lead to a number of physiological conditions which affect the ability to swim
Strong or hidden currents – water being pumped out of reservoirs creates currents which aren’t always noticeable
Depth – it is difficult to estimate the depth of open water and it can change dramatically, even close to the bank
Hidden hazards – such as weed, rubbish or broken glass which could trap a young person or cause injury
Climbing out – once in the water, it can be difficult to get out due to steep, slimy or crumbling banks
Pollution – this can affect any stretch of water, but may particularly be an issue at old industrial sites such as quarriesTo read more about water safety on the Royal Life Saving Society’s website visit: https://crowd.in/0n6hO6For more information about the Open Water Education Network (OWEN) visit their Facebook page here: https://crowd.in/VlGZgp
Plans for a new Sainsbury’s supermarket in Colwick are expected to be approved by Gedling Borough Council on Wednesday (August 5) night.
The proposal, which includes creating a new Sainsbury’s supermarket, Argos store and petrol station, has been recommended for approval.
If approved, construction work will start before the end of the year with the new store opening in summer 2021
Sainsbury’s have said that over 100 new jobs will be created for the local community when the new store opens.
They said if approved, Sainsbury’s hopes to start work on site before the end of the year and open the store by summer 2021.
A spokesman said: “Planning permission was originally granted for a Sainsbury’s supermarket and petrol station in 2014.
“Sainsbury’s has reviewed the requirements for the store and is seeking minor amendments to the previously approved planning permission. The minor amendments application seeks to update the store frontage to include additional glazing, amend the back of house area to meet the latest requirements and deliver a new Argos store within the supermarket.
They added: “The addition of the Argos store inside the supermarket will bring great choice, value and convenience to customers who can benefit from thousands of technology, home and toy products available for purchase and collection.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director said: “We’re excited about the plans for our new store, which will provide a significant investment in Colwick, supporting economic growth locally, creating jobs and providing a convenient shopping location for residents. We are delighted that our amended plans are recommended for approval and hope to welcome the local community into the new store by next summer.”
