Police seized two vehicles as they launched a special operation across Gedling borough to catch uninsured drivers.
The illegal vehicles were removed from the borough’s roads overnight following continued pro-active patrols across the area by members of the Special Constabulary.
Both vehicles were stopped by officers and following checks on the Police National Computer, seized for not having the appropriate level of insurance for their journeys.
Police seized two vehicles
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “It’s an offence to drive a motor vehicle on a public road without adequate cover.
“It’s important to remember that there are different categories of insurances, permitting different level of usage, and as the driver of the vehicle, it is your responsibility to check that your sufficiently insured prior to making any journey.
“Failure to ensure that you are adequately insured, could render you liable to prosecution. Your vehicle can also be seized at the roadside if officers reasonably suspect your vehicle to be uninsured.
“Those found to not have insurance at the point of being stopped by the police face six penalty points and a fine of up to £5,000.
They added: “If you find yourself conducting business trips for whatever reason, we would always advise you to check with your insurance company prior to commencing the journey.”
Gedling Borough Council has responded to claims made yesterday that it handed back £29k set aside for a business rates relief fund back to the government.
The authority were, unfairly, not given the opportunity to respond after the figures were shared by chartered surveyors Bankier Sloan, which were published in Gedling Eye yesterday.
The firm’s figures showed Gedling Borough Council received £316,543 from the government and returned £29,471, which is 9.31 percent
The fund was created when the Government changed the way business rates are calculated, it set aside a pot of money to help firms whose rates had been severely adversely affected.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “In 2017, central government granted the council money to help businesses affected by large increases in their rates bills as a result of a revaluation. We used the money to award discretionary relief to every single business in the borough who met the scheme’s criteria.
PICTURED: Civic Centre at Arnot Hill Park
“We took great care to make sure that businesses received the maximum relief to which they were entitled.
“The nature of the relief meant that if any business moved out after April 2017, they would no longer be entitled to relief so we had to return any underpayments to central government, the council was not allowed to keep it.
“Gedling Borough Council supports local businesses. We provide free parking in our town centres, have invested in our high streets and we offer advice to small and medium businesses to drive growth in the borough. “
He added: “What is really needed is for the Government to get on with the long-overdue overhaul of the business rates system they’ve been promising, this would allow councils to retain more of the business rates they work so hard to collect so they can provide more support to those local businesses that need it.”
The Home Office have announced an increase of up to £1.1 billion for police forces throughout England and Wales, to ensure our police can focus on keeping communities safe.
It comes on top of the government plan to recruit an extra 20,000 police officers, along with ensuring they have more powers and better kit.
Nottinghamshire Police is already set to receive an additional 107 officers this year, with more to come in the future.
As a result, overall police funding is set to increase by the biggest amount in a decade. This will see more money available to recruit, train and equip police officers, as well as investment in national priorities like tackling serious and organised crime, and our counter-terrorism capabilities.
PICTURED: Tom Randall is the new MP for Gedling
Tom Randall has urged Labour MPs to vote in favour of this much-needed funding settlement when it comes before Parliament. He said the Labour Party voted against a similar settlement for the police last year, which would have denied forces an additional £970 million.
Gedling MP Tom Randall said: “I am delighted that police funding in Nottinghamshire could increase by up to £16.1 million next year.
“We made a commitment to people at the election that we would crack down on crime and back our brave police to get on with the job, and we are wasting no time in delivering on that promise now.
“The Conservative Party will always ensure that the police have the powers and resources needed to keep our citizens and communities safe.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “This Government is delivering on the people’s priorities by giving policing the biggest funding increase in a decade.
“It will mean more officers tackling the crime blighting our streets, so people can feel safe in their communities.
“The police must now make full use of this significant investment to deliver for the public.”
Thousands of pounds have been sent back to Whitehall by GedlingBorough Council when the cash should have been used to support businesses in the town.
That’s the claim from chartered surveyors Bankier Sloan, which has written about the scheme.
Their figures reveal Gedling Borough Council received £316,543 from the government and returned £29,471, which is 9.31 percent
When the Government changed the way business rates are calculated, it set aside a pot of money to help firms whose rates had been severely adversely affected.
Councils were given the money, and told to distribute it to business.
PICTURED: Greenwoods in Arnold (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)
Any money not given out would have to be returned.
No council distributed all the money in Notts. Newark and Sherwood were the worst offenders and Mansfield the second-worst.
Speaking about those councils which have performed worst, a spokesman for the firm said: “We have despaired at moments over the last two years as councils across England have, in many cases, failed to alter their schemes in order to insure they spent the free funding provided by central Government intended to help local businesses.
“The funding was ring-fenced and has now been returned to the government.”
How did Notts councils perform?
Ashfield – Received from Government – £286,806 Returned – £18,158 6.33 percent
Gedling Borough Council received £316,543 and returned £29,471, which is 9.31 percent
Bassetlaw – Received from Government – £417,918 Returned – £80,930 19.36 percent
Broxtowe – Received from Government – £243,964 Returned – £83,386 34.18 percent
Newark & Sherwood – Received from Government – £518,964 Returned – £394,192 75.96 percent
Mansfield – Received from Government – £311,536 Returned – £129,982 41.72 percent
Nottingham – Received from Government – £1,630,261 Returned – £130,527 8.01 percent
Rushcliffe – Received from Government – £396,081 Returned – £27,293 6.89 percent
An MP for Calverton has thrown his weight behind a petition calling for a busy road in the village to be resurfaced.
Sherwood MP Mark Spencer has joined forces with village community activist Jane Walker to campaign to get Nottinghamshire County Council to resurface Park Road East.
They have created a petition for local residents to sign and voice their support.
The petition has already received considerable support from the village
after Jane Walker spent a day campaigning around Park Road East.
Discussing his campaign, Mark said: “Park Road East is one of the busiest through-roads in the village, it’s also a bus route, so the road needs to be fit for purpose.
PICTURED: (left to right) Parish councillor, Marie Knowles; Calverton community activist, Jane Walker and Mark Spencer MP, Member of Parliament for Sherwood)
“When Jane proposed doing a petition to get the County Council to consider re-surfacing it, I thought it was a great way to show how strong the need for it is in the village.”
Calverton resident Jane Walker said: “As a resident of Park Road East myself, I know too well how bad the road is. I’m really grateful to our MP for his support with this campaign.
“The more support we get from people in the village, the louder our voice is and the harder we are to ignore! There has been a huge amount of support for this in the village, and everyone I’ve spoken to so far has been eager to sign our petition!”
You can find a copy of the petition at the Gleaners Pub at the bottom of Park Road East that residents can sign.
The Environment Agency has said it has no plans to give the public access to a bridge across the River Trent at Colwick sluice flood gates as it would pose a ‘significant health and safety risk’.
The Agency was responding to recent calls from the public to open the bridge, currently used by EA teams, to all so it could be used by people to cross the River Trent and enjoy the facilities at Holme Pierrepont Water Sports Centre.
The bridge idea, which has been gaining momentum on social media, was welcomed by residents in Colwick.
Sarah Deakin said: “A footbridge across the River Trent is a fabulous idea and we would definitely make use of it and explore the other side of the river.”
Jenny Hilton told Gedling Eye: “I would love a footbridge from Colwick to Holme Pierrepont as it means I could pop over and watch the kayakers, which I always find fun. It would also mean I don’t have to drive all the way round to West Bridgford way to get to the centre.”
Karina Batchelor said the bridge would help get people out of their cars.
PICTURED: The Environment Agency site in Colwick (PICTURE: Gedling Eye)
She said: “It’s a brilliant idea. I’ve lived in Colwick all my life and would love to walk with dog and children over the sluice. It would mean so many more cars would be off the road and it would encourage people to get out and walk more – so will have an environmental impact too.”
Colwick resident Dawn Hilton, said: “It’s something we have wanted for many years. It would be fabulous to be able to cycle across and would be extremely convenient for us to visit family who live that way. We could leave the car at home.”
Cathryn Jani said a bridge would provide a boost to the local economy.
She said: “This would be fantastic for walking, running and cycling. It would hopefully encourage more businesses to consider Colwick as a base for cafes, restaurants & shops.”
Gedling Eye contacted the Environment Agency, who run the site, about the mounting calls from residents who want the bridge opened.
An Environment Agency Spokesperson said: “Colwick Sluice is a fully operational automated site that poses several significant health and safety risk due to the complex nature of operations there.
“The site and the sluices in particular therefore have tightly controlled access to protect both Environment Agency staff and the general public from any potential harm.”
This isn’t the first time calls have been made to open up the bridge.
A feasibility study looking at public access was carried out in 2014 but plans for the bridge were abandoned after the Environment Agency highlighted a number of safety risks if the public gained access to the site.
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Plans for the construction of two highway junctions which could pave the way for a controversial major housing development near Linby have been approved.
Nottinghamshire County Council have said the road improvements are being put in place in preparation for the proposed Top Wighay Farm development, which would see 800 houses constructed on 40-hectares of farmland near Linby.
The planned road improvements include the expansion of a roundabout on the A611/Annesley Road and a new signal-controlled junction as well as a new, three-metre wide, shared use footway/cycle lane along the northern side of the A611 north of Hucknall and to the west of Linby.
The move comes just days after councillors approved a report at their Policy Committee to seek Outline Planning Permission to regenerate 42 acres of former farm land – which belongs to the council.
The Top Wighay development would create more than 1,000 full time jobs as part of a new flagship village on a 40-hectare site near Linby, which includes more than 800 homes, a new primary school, playing fields, potential for allotments and a village hall.
The creation of the new village could generate £873 million* economic output contribution over a ten-year period.
Councillor Kay Cutts MBE, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted and excited that this decision now means the Top Wighay Farm development is moving closer to becoming a reality.
PICTURED: Cllr Kay Cutts said she was delighted that plans were moving forward
“This development is one of this Council’s flagship projects and it will create a real sense of community by integrating new homes, a new primary school, areas of communal open space and a neighbourhood centre with potential for facilities such as a medical centre. There will also be new offices for County Council staff that will act as a catalyst for local economic growth.
“The creation of more than 1,000 jobs will also be a tremendous boost to the economic prospects of the whole area over the next decade.
“The investment in community facilities, infrastructure and education facilities means that the Top Wighay development will be positive for everyone as it will have the needs of the local community at its core.”
The site will feature carefully thought-through cycling and pedestrian routes and conservation concerns will remain a key objective throughout the build phase, with trees and hedgerows being maintained.
The roads around the new school will be protected and traffic calming measures will be introduced with the residential area well served with footpaths and cycle routes within easy reach of the school.
The site will build upon existing landscape character to create an extensive and diverse framework of green infrastructure which encourages biodiversity and quality landscaping. Attenuation ponds and innovative drainage systems to help the site to cope with surface water while supporting wildlife.
Councillor Cutts added: “The Top Wighay Farm development will improve the quality of life for people moving into the area with excellent education, medical facilities, and green open spaces. The traffic calming, and cycle and footways will make it is a safe area for parents to take their children to school by reducing the need for parents to drive their children right up to the school gates and encouraging students to walk to school.
This is the next significant step towards realising the overall vision for the site as Chairman of the Council’s Planning and Licensing Committee Councillor Chris Barnfather commented: “Top Wighay is a once in a lifetime development that I hope will become a strong and sustainable community. A well designed and effective road system is an essential element of the development. The cycle and footways will make the school run a pleasurable experience too for parents and children alike and I look forward to seeing the plans develop further.”
The proposed highways improvement have been funded by a £5.8 million grant from the Homes England Local Authority Accelerated Construction Fund and with additional funding from Nottinghamshire County Council.
A new area of woodland with 10 different species of trees will be planted alongside part of the new multi-million pound Gedling Access Road.
Concerns had been raised that several hundred trees would be dug up to make way for the road, but it is now hoped the new woodland will more than make up for the number of trees lost.
The plan came about because huge quantities of earth needs to be moved to make way for the 3.8 km road.
Several options were considered for where to put the 165,900 tonnes of earth – the equivalent of 27,650 adult African elephants, or 753 Boeing 747s.
PICTURED: Construction begins on new Gedling Access Road on Lambley Lane (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)
The Conservative-led Nottinghamshire County Council calculated that it would take 9,300 lorry loads (18,600 return trips) to move the soil off site.
One idea was to move it to Dorket Head Quarry to help fill sites which had been dug up. But the quarry is not yet ready to be filled, and the impact of HGV trips was deemed prohibitive.
Instead, the construction equipment which will be on site anyway will transfer the waste soil to the new area of woodland, which is off Arnold Lane in Gedling.
Councillor Pauline Allan represents Arnold North for Labour, and said: “My husband has been a member of that scouts since he was 12 so we’ve both been aware of it for a long time. It’s nice to see a solution that the scouts are happy with and the community are happy with.
“The other one is that the transport of the huge pile of soil so easily from where the GAR is going to be is a bonus, and I can’t think of a better place to put it.
“I’ve very pleased that this is a good solution, and I’m happy this is happening.”
A pensioner has died after falling from his bike in Porchester
Officers are appealing for witnesses after the 73-year-old man fell from his bicycle and suffered a serious head injury.
Police confirmed he died in hospital today (January 21) following the incident in Porchester Road, near the Punch Bowl pub, at around 9.10am on Monday (January 20).
Police are appealing for witnesses, or anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the incident, to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 178 of 20 January 2020.
The deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council is calling for local MP Tom Randall to take urgent action and secure extra funding for the authority which he said is the ‘worst affected council in England’ when it comes to government spending cuts.
Councillor Michael Payne has said that despite a proposed minor increase of 2.3% for this year, the reduction of 21.3% since 2015/16 has seen Gedling Borough Council become the worst affected in terms of cuts to core spending power.
Core spending power measures the core revenue funding available for local authority services, including Council Tax and locally retained business rates.
In a letter to Mr Randall, which has been shared on Twitter, Councillor Payne asked the MP to try and secure an increase before the council budget is finalised in March.
He wrote: “Gedling Borough Council serves the residents you represent in Parliament but now finds itself the worst affected council in England in terms of change in Core Spending Power as a result of decisions taken by Conservative government ministers
PICTURED: Tom Randall is MP for Gedling
“Why did you fail to raise an Oral Question on this issue in the Local Government Finance debate with the Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Government, which took place in the House of Commons on January 13, 2020?
Mr Payne said that Prime Minster Boris Johnson’s promise to ‘unite and level up’ the whole of the United Kingdom he made on the steps of Downing Street in December ‘now rings hollow for the residents of Gedling borough.’
He added: “Will you now join the Leader of Gedling Borough Council and I in demanding the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Governement honour their promise to ‘level up’ and ensure Gedling Borough Council is treated as fairly as other councils.”
In the letter, Councillor Payne claimed that 28 councils have seen a 15% uplift in Core Spending Power in 2020/21.
“23 of these 28 are Conservative controlled councils. Is this governing in the national interest or governing for narrow party political interest?”, said Councillor Payne.
Mr Payne finished the letter by saying that the Gedling MP needed to secure the extra funding to assure the people of Gedling borough that the Conseravtives promise to ‘level up’ the UK, ‘wasn’t simply empty rhetoric designed to win votes’.
Gedling MP Tom Randall responded by saying the council were given the opportunity to take part in an earlier consultation on funding – but failed to do so.
He told Gedling Eye: “The Settlement was preceded by a consultation which gave representatives of local government the opportunity to give their views on proposals for the local government finance settlement for 2020-21. I am disappointed to learn that Gedling Borough Council did not participate in this consultation.
“I am pleased to see that Gedling will benefit from an increased Core Spending Power of £0.2m, which is an increase of 2.3%. Additionally, through the Social Care Grant, Nottinghamshire will benefit directly from £14,400,000 more than last year to assist some of the most vulnerable people.
“There will be a Fair Funding Review Consultation which will likely open this Spring. I would encourage Gedling Borough Council to take part in this consultation and I would be very happy to work with the Council as it prepares its response.”
