Volunteers got behind a borough-wide initiative on Saturday (16) and were out and about clearing their local streets and parks of litter.
The Gedling Big Spring Clean was organised to help rid the borough of litter, which has blighted the area in recent months.
Teams from Arnold, Mapperley, Carlton, Netherfield and other areas helped rid their local parks and streets of litter and also waste left by flytippers.
A team in Gedling also removed rubbish from Willow Park and Lambley Lane Park. Amongst the volunteers was Philip Oddie, who helped raise interest in the issue locally with a number of articles for Gedling Eye.
PICTURED: Mr Oddie in Willow Park in GedlingGONE: Litter and waste collected form Carlton after volunteers targeted the area (PICTURE: Twitter)GOOD EFFORT: A team from Mapperley with their haul
Lucy Anderson joined in with the clean up in Netherfield, tackling litter in the nearby Jackie Bells play area with her young children.
She said: “I saw people were getting out and about picking litter so I took a few bin liners and headed out to our local park.
“Most of what we collected was plastic bottles and sweet wrappers, but it certainly looks a lot better. I saw other teams about the town too. It was a great effort.”
Following the success of this event, Carlton Community Cleaners are planning a second clean-up on Saturday, April 20 to coincide with Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘s Great British Spring Clean.
People are being asked to meet at 9.30am at Piggins Cafe on Carlton Hill.
Gedling Borough Council has said it is considering creating its own housing company to meet the needs of local people.
The authority believes that by setting up its own housing firm could help accelerate the need for new homes in the borough and also help boost council coffers.
Cabinet members will now consider approval of a business case which will explore the establishment of a local housing company to create a mix of affordable, rented and for sale homes controlled by the council.
The council has spoken to experts from the housing sector about possible options which included looking at creating a housing revenue account, a general fund or possibly a joint venture with another company.
However, the option for a local housing company was deemed the most viable based on the consultation and advice from the market experts.
If approved, the business case would be prepared setting out the financial, resource and risk implications of different housing delivery models for Gedling.
The plans are part of the council’s strategy for increasing income whilst dealing with severe budget cuts from central government.
Gedling Borough Council say they are one of the worst affected councils in the UK when it comes to government funding cuts and this business case could help reduce the strain on council resources, whilst providing much needed new homes.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “We’re determined to play our part in providing much needed affordable homes for local families to buy and rent – establishing our own housing company is just one way for the council to do that.
“This proposal could also help reduce the strain on our budget as we continue to face severe cuts from central government.”
Bookworms in the borough are being invited to bag a bargain at a unique annual charity sale in Gedling and help raise much-needed funds for local charities.
For the past 13 years Bob and Chris Cann have hosted the Masked Charity Booksale at their home in Vernon Avenue, which brings in thousands of pounds for their chosen charities.
Their property will again be crammed full of 15,000 second-hand books from as little as 10p when the sale begins on Friday, April 26.
Last year’s mammoth sale brought in £2176 for local charities and boosted the total amount raised over the past 13 years to nearly £20,000.
It takes Chris, Bob and a team of volunteers over ten weeks to prepare for the sale, and over the years a special insulated building has been erected to help house the mammoth collection.
Chris said the continuing popularity of the sale proves that books will never be replaced, despite the growth in electronic devices.
She said: “There’s something magical about a book, that you just don’t find on an electronic device. And that magic is even greater when it’s a second-hand book, because as wellbeing directly connected to the author’s mind, you’re also physically holding something that may be a hundred years old, and you’re connected to all the previous owners and readers.”
As well as books, homemade cakes will be available for donation, and children can play on the ExLibris Express – a train built out of reclaimed wood. They can ring the train’s bell, toot the horn, sell tickets, blow bubbles, shovel “coal”, and more.
Many visitors to the sale also take part in the tradition of wearing a mask while attending the event.
The tradition was started by Josiah Saithwaite, founder of the Federation of Masked Booksellers who are the group who organise the event. Saithwaite believed in doing good by stealth and decided therefore that the identities of all who helped out on his bookstalls should be concealed behind masks.
This year visitors are also invited to bring a tin of vegetarian food, which will be passed on to Netherfield Food Bank after the booksale.
The sale takes place between at 16, Vernon Avenue in Gedling between 10-6 on April 26, 27, 28 and 29.
It will also be open again the public on May 3,4 and 5 between 10-6.
Diggers are set to move in and demolish two dilapidated properties in Carlton before the area is transformed in a bid to boost trade in the area.
Gedling Borough Council has appointed CMEC to demolish the dangerous properties on Burton Road – with works expected to begin in the next few weeks.
The council took ownership of the properties in October 2018 due to the dangerous state of the buildings – which locals have described as ‘an eyesore’.
Since taking on the buildings, the council has been working with CMEC and neighbouring properties to ensure that the buildings can be taken down safely, with minimal disruption to businesses and residential properties nearby.
The area is set to get a big boost in the coming months with plans now in place to transform the nearby Carlton Square shopping centre and help improve trade for local businesses.
PICTURED Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Regeneration, at the demolition site on Burton Road, Carlton.
Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Regeneration said she was looking forward to work starting to help revitalise the area.
She said: “I’m delighted that works will be starting on these properties. This is part of the wider regeneration of the Carlton Square area and I’m excited to see how things progress in the near future.
“There are big changes coming to Carlton Square that are really going to improve the appearance of the area as well as attract shoppers and retailers.”
Police recovered drugs, stolen goods, air weapons and counterfeit cash after executing a warrant in Carlton yesterday (March 18).
Officers arrested two men aged 48 and 47, on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply and possession of criminal property.
Officers executed the warrant at an address in Southdale Road at about 5.20pm yesterday.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “Items recovered from the property included two air weapons – namely an air rifle and realistic-looking handgun, quantities of Class A and B drugs, stolen property and counterfeit cash.
Councillors are getting together to set out a bid for up to £5million-worth of funding to help boost Arnold’s town centre.
Gedling Borough Council will make the bid to the government’s Future High Streets Fund and, if successful, will go towards improving the town centre transport access, improve the high street and create a more vibrant centre.
The council needs to submit an expression of interest by March 22 and will then wait to hear if it’s shortlisted before creating a business case in the summer.
Arnold town centre was identified as the best area for the funding bid based on the criteria set out by the government, according to the council.
The criteria requires the town to need investment in infrastructure, transport access and adaption of the high street in response to changing technology.
The bid is part of the council’s ongoing drive to revitalise Arnold town centre.
The council acquired Arnold Market and work has begun to improve the site with new temporary stalls being installed in April alongside the demolition of the old stalls at the same time.
PICTURED: Councillor Gary Gregory, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Leader of Gedling Borough Council Councillor John Clarke and Deputy Leader Councillor Michael Payne outside Arnold Market
The council also recently improved the Eagle Square area of Arnold and have announced plans, working in partnership with the agents Waypoint, to revitalise Carlton Town Centre with the public having been consulted on the plans.
The council also recently approved plans to employ a new Town Centres & Markets Manager as part of its 2019/20 budget.
More details about how the funding will be used will be discussed at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday (March 19).
The money could be used to create a programme of events, make the town accessible to all with improved access throughout the centre, and bring empty and vacant buildings back into use, all with the aim of increasing the enjoyment of the centre and increase footfall to support local businesses.
Deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council, Cllr Michael Payne said; “We hope the government will agree with us that Arnold Town Centre is the perfect candidate for their Future High Street Fund.
“We’re proud to have invested in refurbishing Arnold Leisure Centre, Bonington Theatre & Cinema and to have purchased Arnold Market and renovated Eagle Square. Our two hours free parking offer has also made a big difference and is here to stay.
He added: “In April we will be installing new, improved temporary stalls on Arnold Market and demolishing the old stalls, we will then work with residents, market traders and local businesses to crack on with creating a modern, vibrant Arnold Market fit for the future.
“We may have lost a little over 60p in every £1 of our funding from central government but this hasn’t stopped us being ambitious our town centres. We hope the government gets behind our bold plans to improve Arnold even further.”
Currently, pet cremations are arranged by local veterinary practices and carried out by private firms. Operating under the name Gedling Pet Cremation Services, the Pet Cremation Team at Gedling Borough Council will provide bespoke arrangements to collect customers pet’s from their home or vet, provide an individual cremation and return the pet’s ashes the following day.
A reflection room will also be available for customers to say their last goodbye in private.
The service will be available from the April 1, providing bespoke cremations for dogs, cats and other small animals, with prices starting from £40.
PICTURED: (l to r) Cllr Peter Barnes, portfolio Holder for Environment; Councillor Gary Gregory, Portfolio Holder for Community Development; and Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke, stood beside the new Gedling Pet Cremation Services Van.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “We’re very pleased to be launching Gedling Pet Cremation Services as this is a great opportunity for Gedling Borough Council to provide a service to our community.
“We understand how distressing the loss of a pet can be and we will ensure a dignified and high quality service, meeting the wishes of pet owners, is provided in what is a difficult time for them”
A £93,000 cinder pathway in Netherfield has been restored and will be officially opened tomorrow (March 19)
The funding provided by WREN and Gedling Homes has been used to renovate, widen and tidy up the cinder pathway which runs from Manvers Street to Ashwell Street in Netherfield.
WREN is 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. They have providing a total of £84,117 towards the project. Gedling Homes, now part of the Jigsaw group, has also provided a contribution of £9,074.28 towards the refurbishment of the walkway.
Works on the cinder pathway included the removal of trees, which have been identified as dead or diseased, and tidying of vegetation to improve the lighting and make the area cleaner and safer for pedestrians.
The local heritage of the cinder path will be told along the walkway with interpretation panels. Local historian, Hayden Reed has contributed to the panels, providing information on the history of the area including details about the railway history of the path.
The path will be opened by the Mayor of Gedling, Councillor Barbara Miller and the Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke on Tuesday (March 19) at 2pm.
Cheryl Raynor, WREN’s local grant manager said: “It’s wonderful to see something we have funded fully completed and ready to have a positive impact on the local area. WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that benefit local communities and this is a great example of what can be achieved.”Martin Curtis, Project Manager for Gedling Homes said: “We’re delighted to see the work finished on the cinder path and look forward to seeing it open.”
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said;“I’m very pleased that the cinder path has been revitalised and I’m sure residents will be very pleased with the results.
“This funding from WREN and Gedling Homes has helped turn this old unsightly corridor into a nice, clean walking path which will bring to life the history of this cinder path. With the ongoing issues we have with budgets, we would not have been able to do this ourselves, so we are very grateful for the funding for this project.”
He has been shot at by robbers, arrested two murderers and saved the life of a toddler found choking to death.
Now the community he has loyally served for nearly half a century has shown their gratitude by presenting him with one of the borough’s highest honours.
Special Constable Alan Marwood was greeted by a standing ovation as he took to the stage on Wednesday night to collect his Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pride of Gedling ceremony in Arnold.
It was revealed by radio presenter and award host Gareth Evans that the volunteer cop has experienced things that most full-time police officers would never come across during their service, including coming face-to-face with and arresting two murderers.
He’s even been shot at whilst trying to stop robbers who had targeted a cash-in-transit van in Upper Parliament Street whilst on patrol in 1978, and in 1998, Alan was one of the first officers on scene at a street in St Ann’s, where two people had been stabbed.
Alan, who also doubles up as a fully trained advanced Paramedic, has also been responsible for saving the lives of countless people during his time with the force, including that of a two year old boy, who was choking near to where he was on patrol.
PICTURED: Special constable Alan Marwood, centre, with his Lifetime Achievement AwardON DUTY: Special constable Alan Marwood (PICTURE: Notts Police)
Special Inspector Neil Healey is delighted that Alan has been recognised for his dedicated service to the force.
He said: “Alan thoroughly deserves this award for his dedicated service of almost 50 years to the people of Gedling Borough, and beyond.
“His fellow Special Constables are very proud to have him amongst our ranks with his breadth of knowledge and experience – well done Alan!”
Alan’s boss, Chief Inspector Suk Verma, also heaped praise on the Special Constable.
He said: “Alan has achieved something spectacular: 49-years volunteering to support the public of Nottinghamshire is truly phenomenal.
“I am thrilled to hear of Alan’s success at the Pride of Gedling Awards and I cannot think of a better recipient.”
The Chief Inspector, who also heads-up the force’s Citizens in Policing Department, added: “I first met Alan in 2002 at Carlton, and was amazed to see the dedication and commitment on a weekly basis, as he worked tirelessly to serve his local community.
“I remember having a conversation with my father over a beer in regards to the Special Constabulary, and even he remembered Alan from the 1980s at Sneinton.
“Alan epitomises what the Special Constabulary is all about; unbelievably dedicated people, whose values and ethics ought to be bottled up and sold to make the world a better place.
“It wills me with great pride to be the Citizens in Policing lead for Nottinghamshire Police, and even more so when I hear of such amazing achievements being recognised on such a large scale – well done Alan!”
Alan continues to play an active role within Nottinghamshire Police and continues to share his vast knowledge and experiences with the new recruits and fellow colleagues.
You can read our all coverage of the Pride of Gedling awards here.
