The future of a TUI branch in Arnold hangs in the balance.
The holiday firm announced plans to axe 166 of its high street stores across the UK as part of a cost-cutting drive.
The store on Front Street is still listed as ‘closed’ on the TUI website.
Gedling Eye today contacted TUI UK to find out if they would comment on the store’s future.
A spokesman for the travel firm wouldn’t reveal the fate of the town centre branch.
They said: “Unfortunately we cannot reveal the store locations facing consultation.”
On Thursday, the firm announced the company-wide restructuring programme was necessary to cut its overheads by 30% in the coming weeks.
The new model will retain 333 branches but focus more on a bigger “homeworking sales and service team”.
Andrew Flintham, managing director, said: “We want to be in the best position to provide excellent customer service, whether it’s in a high street store, over the telephone or online, and will continue to put the customer at the heart of what we do.
“It is therefore imperative that we make these difficult cost decisions, look after our colleagues during such unprecedented uncertainty and also offer a modern customer service.
“Customer behaviours have already changed in recent years, with 70% of all TUI UK bookings taking place online.
“We believe Covid-19 has only accelerated this change in purchasing habits, with people looking to buy online or wishing to speak with travel experts from the comfort of their own home.
“We have world class travel advisors at TUI, so we hope many of them will become homeworkers and continue to offer the personalised service we know our customers value.”
Parents and pupils say they are ‘absolutely heartbroken’ after a plane in a primary school’s playing field was targeted by vandals.
Images posted on social media show the plane, which is a popular fixture outside St John’s CofE Primary School on Vale Road, covered in graffiti.
One parent, who contacted Gedling Eye about the incident and didn’t wish to be named said: “Me and my son are heartbroken. I showed him the picture on Facebook and he was very upset. Why would someone do this to a school?”
Other parents took to the Colwick Village Facebook page offering to help clean the paint of the plane, which has become a popular feature in the village.
IMAGE: Facebook
Nicola Williams wrote: “Some people have respect at all. Let’s hope the culprit or culprits are found and then made to clean it off.”
Parent Hannah Denton wrote: “Absolutely gutted! Hope you find the awful people who did this. Showed my girls and they’re so upset.”
He told Gedling Eye: “The school has recently received a grant from Colwick Parish Council to undertake much needed repairs and now faces an unexpected bill to remove the graffiti before repairs can take place.
“I hope the culprit is caught, prosecuted, and made to pay for the removal, as happened in a similar case on the Joshua Dale Skate Park.”
Mr Lawrence, who is also a governor for the school, has today offered to pay for the cost of the cleaning from his Gedling Borough Councillor Community Fund.
THE Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has revealed how many complaints it upheld against Gedling Borough Council in 2019-20.
The Ombudsman, which investigates complaints from the public about councils and other bodies providing public services in England, has released the figures as part of its annual review.
During 2019-20, the Ombudsman upheld one complaint against Gedling Borough Council, equating to an uphold rate of 20 per cent – the average rate for similar councils is 45 per cent.
No complaints were upheld against the council during 2018-19.
The council received 14 complaints in total, but two of these were referred back for local resolution.
PICTURED: Civic Centre in Arnot Hill Park
Of the complaints received, one was about benefits and tax, two were about Corporate and other services, three were about Environmental Services, Public Protection and Regulation and six complaints were made about Planning and Development
Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: “While we are seeing more and more complex cases beset by systemic problems, we are also increasingly working with councils to identify the root of those problems and making recommendations to improve the underlying policies and procedures causing them.
“These service improvements highlight the power one single complaint can have – when dealt with properly – to prevent problems reoccurring and improve services for others.
“The cases highlighted in my report reflect the reality of local authority life prior to the Covid-19 crisis, but I believe it is all the more important now to deal with complaints properly and to harness this free public feedback.
“Councils’ readiness on the whole to work with us to implement our practical recommendations to improve the services they provide demonstrates the sector has a mature attitude to complaint handling – one which we have advocated throughout our work”
Police are appealing for witnesses and information after two elderly women were targeted by thieves at a cash machine in Mapperley.
The victims were targeted within 12 minutes of each other outside the TSB bank in Plains Road on Thursday 16 July – at 11.50am and 12.02 pm.
Both were distracted by men who feigned to help them use the machine.
The first victim, aged 84, had £500 taken as she was attempting to withdraw it. He then pretended to use the machine himself, before approaching the victim to hand her card back.
The second victim, 79, was attempting to get a mini statement from the machine when a man reached in front of her and stole her card, which was used shortly afterwards to withdraw £350 from a cash machine at the Co-op supermarket over the road.
Detective Sergeant Charlotte Henson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “These were brazen thefts perpetrated against elderly female victims in broad daylight and we are determined to bring the people responsible to justice.
“We believe that the two men captured in these CCTV images may be able to help us with our enquiries and would like to speak to anybody who recognises them or who may have seen them in them acting suspiciously around cash machines at any time on around 16 July.
“Distraction thefts like this can be very distressing for victims as they are so personal in nature – so often committed by people to at first come across as kind and helpful. So please, if you have any information that may help us in our investigation, please contact us as soon as possible. At the very least I would ask you to share this appeal on social media to help us to cast tour net as widely as possible.”
If you have any information in this case please contact police on 101 quoting incident number 325 of 16 July.
Face visors have been donated to workers at a Gedling-based charity to help protect them from infection while providing a service to the local community.
The visors were donated to workers at Gedling Play Forum, which is based at the Wollaton Avenue Community Centre, by Trent Valley Labour Group and local councillor Nicki Brooks.
The Play Forum help encourage children’s play by offering a range of services which include a scrap store, community play activities and workshops.
The masks have arrived in time to offer extra protection to staff before they open their scrapstore again on Tuesday (August 4).
PICTURED: A volunteer wheres one of the donated visors (IMAGE: GPF)
The scrapstore offers a range of recycled materials for creative play for small groups and schools
Most of the materials/goods were originally destined for landfill but have been donated by companies for creative play.
The Forum thanked Trent Valley Labour and Cllr Brooks in a tweet.
They wrote: “Thank you for supplying us with visors. We can reopen our Scrapstore on August 4 knowing our volunteers will be just that bit safer.”
Those showing key symptoms – a new continuous cough, a temperature or loss of taste or smell – had previously been told to isolate for seven days.
The new advice is in line with World Health Organization guidance.
The chief medical officers said the change is “particularly important to protect those who have been shielding and in advance of the autumn and winter when we may see increased community transmission”.
Police have issued a warning to people in Gedling borough about scam emails claiming to be from PayPal.
Scambusters Action Fraud said the emails state the recipient’s account has been “limited” as a result of a policy violation.
The emails then ask for customers to update their account, or check the security of their account by clicking a link in the email.
The links provided in the emails lead to genuine-looking websites that are actually phishing sites designed to steal PayPal login details, as well as personal and financial information.
A PayPal spokesperson said: “At PayPal we go to great lengths to protect our customers in the UK, but there are still a few simple precautions we should all take to avoid falling victim to scams.
PICTURED: A scam email claiming to be from PayPal (CREDIT: City of London Police)
“Be aware of any emails or text messages that ask you to provide personal information directly in response.
“Scammers often use a false sense of urgency to prompt you to act on a phishing email.
“All communications from PayPal to account holders would be sent to the secure message centre within their PayPal account. You will have a secure message waiting if PayPal does need you to take any action.
“A genuine PayPal email will only ever address you by your full name – anything that starts differently should immediately raise your suspicions.
“Look out for spelling mistakes, which are a common tell-tale sign of a fraudulent message. If you have any concerns regarding an email you have received, you should send it to spoof@paypal.com.”
If you do receive a suspicious email, do not click on links or attachments.
To keep yourself secure online, ensure you are using the latest software, apps and operating systems on your phones, tablets and laptops
A frontline nurse from Arnold has been left devastated after his new bicycle was stolen from the Nottingham City Hospital Campus.
Anthony Ndung’u, 30, had just finished a 12-hour shift not long after 7pm on Saturday, July 4 when he discovered an empty bike rack outside his home in Arnold. He said: “I was really upset to find my bike had gone. I only had only bought it a few days beforehand to help keep fit and had been finding that using it was really improving my wellbeing. I was going to start using it to bike to work but never got the chance.”
Mr Ndung’u migrated from Kenya eight months ago to take the job at the hospital and works on the admissions ward.
He says he works long hours, especially as a result of the coronavirus outbreak: “Patients come to our ward from A&E to determine which department in the hospital they will need to be treated on so one of the first things we have to do is screen them for the infection. It has been challenging and now to have my bike stolen is a real kick in the teeth.”
PICTURED: Anthony Ndung’u
The incident comes after a series of incidents where bikes have been stolen from outside hospital locations.
In June, Robert Wilson, 33, of Rodwell Close in Beechdale, was jailed for 14 months for stealing eight bikes from outside the QMC and University of Nottingham Campus between 2 November 2019 and 25 March 2020.
Neighbourhood Police Sergeant Nicholas Wealthall said it’s disgraceful: “Our hospital workers are true heroes and should be praised for the work that they’re doing, not be subjected to crime.
“Mr Ndung’u is an example to us all – working around the clock every day in order to treat the sick, unselfishly risking his own health during the outbreak.
“We are doing everything we can to catch the person responsible for this crime and do what we can to get his bike back.”
A spokesperson from Nottingham University Hospitals said: “Nottingham University Hospitals are supporting Anthony with this incident. All of our staff are working incredibly hard, and crimes such as these against our staff are felt across the whole Trust. We thank Nottinghamshire Police for their continued help and support to Anthony.”
The bike (pictured) is described as a silver Carerra Crossfire bicycle and officers are appealing to anyone with any information that could help to call us on 101 quoting incident 495 of 6 July.
You can also call us on Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A new postcode checker has been launched by the government to help people find restaurants in Gedling borough taking part in its Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
The new discount scheme will see diners able to enjoy cut price meals at restaurants, cafes and pubs throughout August, as part of the government’s efforts to boost the economy after lockdown.
The new scheme will allow diners to receive 50 per cent off meals and non-alcoholic drinks (up to the value of £10 per head) at participating eateries throughout August.
The offer will be available for a limited period only, from 3 until 31 August, with the discount applying on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The Eat Out to Help Out restaurant finder is available on the Gov.uk website.
Simply enter your postcode and hit search to find all of the businesses nearby that are running the scheme.
A number of local businesses are already signed up to the scheme as well as a number of the larger chain restaurants in the borough including McDonald’s, KFC, Subway, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Wetherspoons and Toby Carvery.
Our Gedling Neighbourhood Policing teams have provided an update on activity carried out across the borough over the past few months.
UPDATE FROM INSPECTOR CHRIS PEARSON
Lots of work went into the reopening of licensed premises across the Gedling Borough with members of the Neighbourhood Policing team carrying out visits to licensed premises over the first few weekends.
The team were supported by police/council licensing colleagues and Gedling CCTV to ensure a safe reopening.
There were only a small number of issues reported across the area and as ever we are taking appropriate action together with our partners.
Going forward we will be carrying out regular visits to licensed premises to ensure that these are operated as safely as possible and in line with government guidelines.
Reacher work
The Neighbourhood Policing team and Operation Reacher have continued to work together to address local priorities.
PICTURED: Inspector Chris Pearson (IMAGE: Notts Police)
Our engagement with the public has been ongoing using platforms such as Facebook or Twitter and I’m pleased that we have been able to address some of their concerns around drug use and supply with a number of warrants carried out over the last month. Whilst there is a still lot to do there have been some great results.
On July 21, I joined the Gedling South team and local councillors for a walk around Netherfield. We spoke with members of the local community about ‘Operation Thistle’ and delivered letters to residents in order to raise awareness of our work and the Crimestoppers charity. Drug use and dealing will remain a priority and I know that this is a concern in our communities.
Priorities
Moving on I wanted to touch on our performance around Burglary and Shop theft which are two of our other priorities. In terms of Burglary this July has seen around 16 less offences than July 2019 which is around a 40% decrease in reported offending. Likewise Shoplifting offences have reduced by 38% or 17 less reported offences. Whilst the Coronavirus has undoubtedly impacted on crime levels there is also a huge amount of work that has gone in to policing hotspot areas and targeting those who we know commit offences in the Gedling Borough so the results are encouraging.
Like our colleagues across the Force, the Gedling North Neighbourhood team has had a busy month in relation to the COVID-19 restrictions being lifted. We worked with our partner agencies to put plans in place to aid a smooth transition into this new phase.
The reopening of pubs was of course challenging but thankfully we have only seen a handful of issues. We will continue to work with partners and the licenced premises over the summer to ensure any problems are addressed swiftly.
In addition to COVID-19 work we have been doing a lot of work around anti-social behaviour (ASB). The warmer weather has resulted in an increase in ASB and we have been identifying those involved to disrupt their behaviour. We have been working with the Outreach Youth Workers so that they can target their diversionary work in the right areas.
Park assault
Last month we reported that we had been assisting CID colleagues with the investigation into an assault at Bestwood County Park where a male was struck with an axe.
Thankfully, the victim escaped with relatively minor injuries but this was a very concerning incident.
Graham Timlick, 67, has now been arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm, affray, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. He was also charged with two offences of affray and possession of a bladed article in relation to an incident on August 13, 2019 when a group of teenagers were threatened in the same location.
Drugs results
As promised last month we have continued with proactive drugs enforcement across the area. The Neighbourhood policing team have worked with Op Reacher to execute a further four drugs warrants in the last month where quantities of Class B drugs, cash and drug related paraphernalia were seized.
A drugs warrant in Calverton on Saturday, July 25 resulted in 250 cannabis plants being recovered and a male arrested on suspicion of drugs supply offences. All of these have taken place as a result of feedback from the local community and the results have been pleasing.
Tackling drug dealing remains a priority for the Gedling South NPT with a focus on proactive policing in Netherfield under the OP THISTLE banner.
On Tuesday, July 21, two drugs warrants were simultaneously executed leading to the recovery of Class A and B controlled drugs. Following the warrants officers took to the streets with their council partners to engage with residents, talking about the operation and encouraging the public to pass on information to officers.
To date there have been ten warrants executed in and around the Netherfield area as part of OP THISTLE, leading to a sizeable amount of drugs and a number of persons dealt with for supplying drugs. The information has all come from members of the public who have taken the step to contact officers direct or through Crimestoppers with their observations.
The ethos of OP THISTLE is simple: you tell us what is happening and we will take action. All information passed is taken in the strictest confidence and the source of the information is never divulged.
Shoplifters
The team have also been targeting the retail premises to disrupt shoplifters operating in Victoria Retail Park.
The team have been operating in plain clothes to quickly identify those looking to steal from the shops.
A prolific shoplifter was quickly identified by local officers having stolen goods from Pets From Home and apprehended, leading to charges. That person now has bail conditions to keep out of the retail park and officers are working with all the shops to prevent further offending.
(IMAGE: Notts Police)
In other good news officers responded to a burglary on Claygate, Carlton on July 17 whereby a vehicle was taken from the driveway with keys. On July 18 roads policing colleagues sighted the vehicle in Sneinton and following a small foot chase arrested a 33-year-old male on suspicion of burglary theft of a motor vehicle and possession of cannabis. CID colleagues are now investigating this offence and the vehicle will be returned to its rightful owner.
OPERATION REACHER UPDATE FROM SGT MATT SISSON
Operation Reacher has continued to conduct proactive patrols across Gedling borough.
The team have now received a new Skoda Octavia police vehicle which along with the traditional police branding has the ‘Operation Reacher’ branding to differentiate it from other marked Police vehicles. If you do see the team out and about in these cars then please do have a chat with a member of the team.
Stolen goods
The team have also continued to work closely alongside the Carlton Neighbourhood Policing Team on cracking down on shop thefts from the Netherfield Retail Park.
Recently the team had information that a vehicle was travelling into Netherfield that contained individuals who are involved in committing shop thefts. The team located the vehicle parked inside the retail park car park and its two occupants were caught having just left Marks and Spencer’s with about £40 worth of stolen goods. The two males where promptly arrested, interviewed and charged with the theft.
Reacher month in numbers: – 8 arrests, 3 illegal vehicles seized, 14 stop and searches and 13 pieces of intelligence generated.
