Shoppers heading out to supermarkets across Gedling borough today are still facing a long wait to get into the stores, with long queues forming outside as people continue to stock up before the Easter shutdown .
With opening hours altered over the bank holiday weekend, many customers have braved the huge queues just to get into local stores so they can fill up their fridges and freezers at home
In recent weeks supermarkets across the borough have introduced new measures to help shoppers stay two metres apart in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus, including limiting the amount of people allowed inside at any one time, which has caused delays.
Shoppers waiting outside Tesco on Carlton Hill at 5.30am this morning still faced a lengthy wait to get into the store when the doors opened at 6am..
Peter Oakley from Carlton said “I was here just as the sun was coming out, but I wasn’t alone. Many local people had the same idea. There was a long wait and then when the doors doors opened at 6am we had to wait quite a while then.”
Long queues outside Tesco in Carlton (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)PICTURED: People queue in Morrisons’ car park in Victoria Retail Park (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)PICTURED: Shoppers wait to get into Morrisons (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)PICTURED: People queue to get into B&M Bargains on Victoria Retail ParkPICTURED: People wait to get into Wilkos on Carlton Square (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)PICTURED: Queues outside Wilkos in Carlton Square (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)
Queues were still lengthly this later in the morning outside Tesco in Carlton, Asda at Arnold, Wilkinsons in Carlton Square, Morrisons and B&M Bargains at Victoria Retail Park and Co-op in Netherfield.
Linda Smalls described the wait outside Asda in Arnold as ‘ridiculous’.
She said: I’m a key worker so this has been my first chance to go shopping. Some of these people have had all week and I bet they’ve just come out for something to do. It’s disgraceful.”
Shoppers reported being turned away for a short while earlier this morning at Morrisons due to the lengthy queues.
Mark Samson arrived at Morrisons just before eleven and said he was “shocked” to see the size of the queue outside the store.
He said: “I was shocked. We are in a lockdown yet so many people from around the local area was there in one place. It’s madness.
Despite the long waits, one member of staff at Morrisons who didn’t wish to be named told us that yesterday (Friday) had been ‘a lot worse’.
He said: “There was a wait of an hour and a half to get into the store. It was crazy. It’s not as bad today, but it’s still ridiculously busy.”
Supermarkets will close tomorrow to mark Easter Sunday, although many people had called for them to be allowed to remain open due to the current crisis.
What was your shopping experience like? Share your stories and pictures with us by emailing news@gedlingeye.co.uk
A local bus service covering Arnold and Mapperley will be suspended today (April 11) after a driver was admitted tp hospital with coronavirus symptoms.
CT4N’s L9 Saturday service will be suspended following the incident.
A spokesman for the bus firm said: “Yesterday evening we received notification that one of our drivers was admitted to hospital late on Friday afternoon with suspected Covid-19 symptoms. Following this, the management team has decided to suspend operations on Saturday, on a precautionary basis.
Whilst we have been rigorously following government health and safety advice, a service suspension will provide the time to further review health and safety arrangements and consult with staff and others. Further information about services will be posted on our website.”
For listeners to the BBC Home Service in the late 1940s, the sound of the BBC Show in the late 1940s the sound of the BBC Show Band playing the popular tunes at the time were a nightly pleasure. The leader of this band was Cyril Stapleton.
Stapleton was born in Mapperley at the start of the First World War on December 31, 1914.
At the age of seven, Cyril started to study the violin and by 12 he had made the first of many broadcasts on the radio. This first transmission to feature Stapleton was on 5NG, the local Nottingham Radio Station and the youngster soon became a firm favourite with the BBC and regularly performed from their studios in Birmingham.
Cyril’s talent was quickly recognised and he travelled to Czechoslovakia to study under the famous violin teacher Otakar Sevcik.
Returning to England as a teenager, he found employment playing in the ‘Pit Orchestras’ of local Nottingham cinemas.
In 1931, aged 17, Cyril won a scholarship to Trinity College of Music and started his band career proper when he joined Henry Hall’s Dance Band while still at college. He can be heard on recordings of the BBC broadcasts made by this band at this time and on old 78” records made by Henry Hall in 1932.
Shortly after this brush with fame, Cyril returned to Nottingham and again worked in the cinema orchestras, but he was soon back in demand and joined the Jack Payne Orchestra when it toured South Africa. Records made by the Payne Orchestra in 1936 featured Cyril’s playing.
The Italian Theme was one of Cyril Stapleton’s biggest chart hits
Stapleton left Jack Payne just before the Second World War to form his own band in London, appearing in local clubs and in 1939, the band debuted on the BBC.
During the war, Cyril served in the RAF as an Air Gunner. He was also in the RAF Symphony Orchestra.
After leaving the RAF he continued to pursue a classical career playing with three symphony orchestras.
In 1947, he reformed his own band and started broadcasts on the BBC again.
In 1952 Cyril became the conductor of the BBC Show Band and appeared in some of the earliest TV transmissions. The band attracted top visiting stars including Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. At this stage in his career, Cyril Stapleton was now a household name.
Cyril and the band appeared in the 1955 film Just for You as well as having chart hits in 1956 and 1957 with the Italian Theme and the Children’s Marching Song.
When the BBC Show Band was disbanded in 1957, Stapleton again formed his own band and toured all over the country, playing to packed houses during throughout the 1950s and 60s.
Touring took its toll and in 1965 he became Artists and Repertoire Manager for Pye Records. However, he soon missed the band life and reformed his band, yet again, and they continuing to tour until the 1970’s.
Cyril died suddenly on February 28, 1974 aged only 59, leaving a wife Sheila and three children and a long musical legacy.
Chase farm, on the outskirts of Gedling, is currently one of the largest developments anywhere in the county.
But building the multi-million pound development has been complicated, and the progress of the whole site has, from the start, depended on the Gedling Access Road.
We’ve put together all you could need to know about the development, and what’s happening there over the coming months and years.
How many homes will there be?
Eventually there’ll be 1,050 – and outline planning permission has been granted for all of those.
However this depends on the completion of the new Gedling Access Road (more below).
Currently, detailed plans have been approved for the first 506 houses – just under half of the total.
A separate application has also been granted for an additional 46 new homes immediately next to the new development.
How many homes are there already?
About 20 percent – 180 have so far been built by developers Keepmoat.
Why haven’t they built all of the homes yet?
From the start, this development has hinged on the Gedling Access Road.
Developers aren’t allowed to build all of them until the new road is finished.
There is currently a cap of 315 homes, but developers have asked that this cap be lifted, in light of work on the GAR starting.
Keepmoat Homes has planned the development in three phases:
Phase 1a – 315 new homes due to be finished by 2022
Phase 1b – 190 new homes along with the commercial units and school due to be completed by 2026
Phase 2 – up to 545 new homes due to be completed by 2035
What is the Gedling Access Road?
The A6211 between Mapperley Plains and Colwick Loop Road in Gedling has been subject to an increasing amount of traffic and is one of the most heavily used roads in the region, carrying over 15,000 vehicles a day.
The GAR will provide a safer, less congested and faster route for this through traffic.
The existing route will remain to provide a quieter route for local traffic, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
Upon completion of the GAR, the new road will become the A6211, and the existing route will be declassified, save for Colwick Loop Road which will be reclassified as a ‘B’ class road.
ARTIST IMPRESSION: The new homes at the Chase Farm site in Gedling
What about the prefabricated homes?
Of the 506 homes which have permission, 36 are expected to be built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
This essentially means large parts of them will be built off site, and then they’ll be transported on the back of lorries and loaded onto concrete bases.
These require minimal finishing and connection to services before they can be lived in.
Already six have been built, out of the 180 total houses already constructed.
What else will there be, other than houses?
The long-term plan is for business units, as well as a drive-through eatery and a pub/restaurant.
A primary school and community centre have also been mooted.
Gedling Borough Council has granted outline planning permission for business units and a pub/restaurant, subject to the applicant entering into a legal agreement.
The timescale for the submission of the building plans is currently unknown.
However the units cannot however be brought into use until the completion of the Gedling Access Road (GAR) as this is needed to access the land.
Will any new traffic calming measures be introduced?
A new pedestrian crossing has already been installed outside the site to help new residents safely cross the road and it is understood that the speed limit on Arnold Lane will be reduced to 30mph by the Highways Authority, Nottinghamshire County Council.
When will it all be finished?
The GAR, which will serve the Chase Farm development, is expected to be completed next summer.
Keepmoat say all phases of the development will be finished by 2035.
What about Gedling Country Park?
There will be connectivity between the Keepmoat development and Gedling Country Park.
To construct the new road a small proportion of Gedling Country Park will be required. This land will however be replaced with a larger area of neighbouring land. The country park will therefore increase in size as a result of the scheme.
The GAR includes provision for several access points for pedestrians and cyclists along the south-west of the country park including from the Keepmoat development and Lambley Lane Recreation Ground.
Are the homes available to purchase?
The simple answer is yes. Homes currently for sale start at £239,995, and range up to £299,995.
What does the council say?
Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth is the portfolio holder for growth and regeneration at Gedling Borough Council, and represents the Gedling ward for Labour.
She said: “The Chase Farm development is one of the biggest and most ambitious sites we’ve had in the borough and will provide much needed housing but also new business and employment opportunities too.
“We have worked very closely with the developers to ensure it has met the criteria set out in the local plan and we will continue to work with them to make sure the development complies with our planning regulations.
“The site has also benefited from the construction of the Gedling Access Road which we are very proud to have been able to finally bring forward and it is now underway and being built by Nottinghamshire County Council.
“This site along with several others in the borough has helped ensure we are achieving the objectives set out in our Gedling Plan – to deliver key housing sites, develop additional housing across the borough as well as support business growth and create jobs.”
Colwick-born boxer Carl Froch wants to come out of retirement to take on old rival Joe Calzaghe later this year.
The 42-year-old, who first began training at Phoenix ABC in Carlton, is keen to get back in the ring despite hanging up his gloves back in 2015 and has now challenged Calzaghe to a bout later this year, reports MailOnline
Froch said he always fancied fighting the Welshman during his career, but the champion had always ignored his repeated requests for a fight.
The prized fighter said he now has the bug for a bout with his rival after being approached by his former promoter Eddie Hearn regarding a virtual press conference during the coronavirus lockdown.
Froch explained on his ‘Froch on Fighting’ Podcast: “Eddie Hearn sends me a message saying, ‘I’m doing some virtual press conferences, I’m thinking about getting you and Calzaghe on.’
PICTURED: Former super-middleweight World Champion Carl Froch MBE
“I thought, ‘He’s probably not gonna get Calzaghe on, he probably won’t fancy it.’
“I said to him, ‘Forget the virtual one, we’ll do the press conference, but if we can get him out of retirement, I fancy a bit of that.’
“I’ve always said I’ll come out of retirement for the right dance partner. Obviously I’m not gonna jump in there with a current world champion who’s been active, but someone like Joe Calzaghe, I mean, I’m not being funny.
“I don’t wanna be horrible or disrespectful in any way, but it’s gonna sound like I am, even though I’m not, but have you seen the state of him?
So if he agreed to give me a fight, to come out of retirement, because of my cheek, and because of the way I’m speaking about him, then I’d definitely fancy a bit of that.
“But he ain’t gonna wanna come out because he knows he’d get absolutely flattened, because I’m in good shape.”
Froch, who now works as a pundit, has a record of 33 wins in 35 fights with 24 victories by knockout while Calzaghe went through his career undefeated with 46 wins and 32 knockouts.
The outside of the Gedling Borough Council’s Humanitarian Centre in Carlton will be lit up blue as part of the nation’s recognition of our NHS staff and key workers who are working on the front line in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
A 20ft banner thanking the NHS staff and key workers will be displayed on the side of the Richard Herrod Centre, Carton and it will be lit up blue on Thursday evening at 8pm to coincide with the national ‘clap for carers’ campaign.
The Richard Herrod Centre has been transformed into a Giving for Gedling Humanitarian Centre and ‘super food bank’ distribution point as part of the council’s response to the outbreak. Council staff have been co-ordinating food parcel deliveries from the centre for residents who are vulnerable and elderly. They have also been collecting food to distribute to the local food banks.
The council has now raised over £23,000 in just six days and all of the money is going to local food banks who are struggling with an increase in demand and a reduction in supplies. The council has also pledged a further £20,000 to go towards the purchase of food from local suppliers to be distributed to food banks from the humanitarian centre. At the outset of the Coronavirus outbreak the council provided all of the local food banks with a £2,000 donation each to help with their efforts.
The Leader and Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council will be at the centre on Thursday evening to take part in the clap for the NHS, carers and key workers, next to the building whilst ensuring they are adhering to the social distancing guidance set out by the government.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke and Deputy Leader, Councillor Michael Payne said in a joint statement:
“We want to show our appreciation to the incredibly brave efforts of our NHS staff, careers and all key workers including our own council staff. We will be lighting up our Humanitarian Centre blue on Thursday evening and clapping, alongside millions of people across the UK, to say thank you to everyone who is working on the front line and saving lives every day.
We are immensely proud of the work our staff have being doing over the last few weeks and we are also proud of our residents who have donated to our Giving for Gedling Food Bank Appeal and helped us raise over £23,000 in less than a week.”
Gedling MP Tom Randall is urging people across the borough not to break lockdown rules as the Easter holidays get underway.
In a message to Gedling Eye readers, Mr Randall said: “As we look towards the coming Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, I would like to reiterate the Government’s message of ‘Stay home, Protect the NHS, Save lives’.
“I know it will be tempting to meet up with friends and family as we normally would, but it is so important that we don’t mix with others outside of our own households and only leave our homes for essential shopping or daily exercise.
PICTURED: Police have been out and about across the borough dealing with reports of anti-social behaviour (IMAGE: Notts Police)
“As well as helping to slow the spread of coronavirus, this will mean less pressure on our police, who are currently experiencing higher callouts to reports of antisocial behaviour.
The MP for Gedling also thanked local emergency services who are working so hard to keep us safe at this very uncertain time.
He also paid tribute to the work of local volunteer groups, under the umbrella of the Giving for Gedling network, who are helping the elderly and vulnerable across our communities.
Mr Randall said “It is so important that we can rely on our emergency services at this time and I thank all those across Gedling who are working so hard to keep us safe. I am also heartened by the response to Giving for Gedling by people who want to help their neighbours through local isolation support groups.
“I wish all Gedling residents a very Happy Easter”.
I have often wondered what sparked my interest in computers: was it the engineer in me or was it genetic in some way?
In the 1920s my grandfather, like me, was into the latest technology of the time and in his case, it was radio.
Radio was a new thing back in the 1920s. Sets were expensive but you could buy a set of earphones and build yourself a crystal set, as they were called, and be able to tune in to the local transmissions. Magazines published instructions on how to put them together and my grandfather decided to take on the challenge of constructing a set. He was in his element with bits of wire, coils and the like taking over my grandmother kitchen.
In 1924, a new radio station transmitting from Nottingham went on the air. It was called 5NG and its studio was situated at 4, Bridlesmith Gate in the city. The building, which still exists today, was once the Dog and Bear pub.
This station was part of the new British Broadcasting Company and became the 16th local station to be opened around the country. 5NG was added to the service on September 16, 1924 and became Nottingham’s first local radio station transmitting from a single studio measuring 18′ by 35′ . This was fitted with a single microphone and the music was provided by a gramophone .
A second microphone had been provided by the BBC exclusively for use during the new outside broadcasts, with concerts and other events now being broadcast from venues around the city and the local villages. The Albert Hall in Nottingham was one of these, being used for concerts.
By 1926, the station was well established and more events from outside the studio were being considered. This boosted the audiences attending these shows and concerts as they all wanted to hear themselves on the radio and see this strange new media at work.
PICTURED: The Dog and Bear in Bridlesmith Gate, pictured in 1990s
On Thursday, April 8, 1926 a musical play , the first of its type, was broadcast by the Nottingham station 5NG.
The play was called “Cupid The Pilot” and the details were listed at the time in the Radio Times as follows:
Book and Lyrics by Arnold D. Sykes and William Merrin.
Music composed by William Merrin.
Characters: Airmen, Clerks, Slaves, Dancers, etc.
Act 1: The General Office in Lord Hermitage’s Aerodrome.
Act 2: Inside the Tent of Sheikh Abdulla el Din.
Operatic Items.
DORIS STOREY (Soprano).
MARK MELLERS (Baritone).
LYONS’ CAFE ORCHESTRA. Conductor – BRASSEY EYTON
It featured local artists Miss L A Mumford as the Hon. Beryl Hermitage and Mr A.B Cragg as The Inventor. The show’s writer A.D Sykes played The Sheik.
Other parts were played by Mr J Henry, P Stansby, R Fenson, J Shelton, A.S Barnes, J.H Krause, and F Bunney. They were joined by Miss B Willamson, I Lees, J Mayfield, W Wells, A Herrod and Mrs E Weeley.
The music being provided by Billy Merrin and his orchestra.
William “Billy” Merrin was a local Nottingham band leader and Music Hall star.
This outside broadcast was transmitted live in front of an audience and all recorded using a single microphone.
Strangely, the venue for this ground-breaking work was not the 5NG studio or even the Nottingham Albert Hall, but none other than Burton Joyce Village Hall.
The local audience understandably packed the hall for the occasion as this was a major event in the Village. They came not only be entertained but to see this strange new medium, Radio, in operation. According to the report of the proceeding in the Nottingham Post, all present “received the rendition with great enthusiasm and applause”.
Why this particular venue was chosen for this ground-breaking work when theatres and cinemas abounded in the area is unknown. Burton Joyce can at least claim however to have been in the forefront of the latest in technology and entertainment of the day. This all for a short while in the 1920s at least, before returning to a more usual sedate condition. All of this a forerunner of things yet to come and the beginning years later of the present Radio Nottingham. Things often in history go full circle.
Local historian Bob Massey hosts local history walks and talks in the area. You can find more details at his website: http://www.bobmassey.info/
Police have arrested a man on suspicion of possession with intent to supply after drugs were found during a search of his vehicle.
Operation Reacher officers were on patrol on Sunday (April 5) near Ravenshead when they spotted a vehicle acting suspiciously around Longdale Lane.
Officers had seen a male near a van who then went running off into the woods.
A bit of perseverance paid off when officers saw the same van being driven north along the A614. The van was stopped and searched during which a package of drugs was found hidden behind one of the panels and the driver was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs.
A spokesman said: “The driver was also suspected of being under the influence of drugs when he was driving but refused a blood test at the Police station so has been charged with failing to provide a specimen.”
