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£1.27m boost unveiled for Nottinghamshire’s roads

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£1.27m boost unveiled for Nottinghamshire’s roads

Nottinghamshire County Council today revealed plans to boost the region’s road repair budget by an extra £1.27m to fix 1,500 miles of unclassified road.

The move comes following feedback from residents and will now see the total being spent to repair potholes around the region increase to £2.27m.

A £1m boost to the budget was announced earlier this year to repair potholes on many of the county’s major roads, but the extra funds will see potholes carried out on unclassified roads – these are roads that don’t have an M, A or B number.

Councillor John Cottee, Committee Chairman for communities and place saw patching and resurfacing in action earlier this week when he visited the newly-patched Swabbs Lane in Owthorpe, as a good example of the type of rural road set to benefit from the additional £1.27m funding. He said:

“We know that investing in a good quality road network is important to local people which is why last month we allocated £1m worth of extra money which boosted the budget for road repairs by around 30 per cent.

“Things are now moving to the next stage as this additional £1.27m funding will be specifically used on a programme of patching and resurfacing on the county’s unclassified roads. Many of them are in urgent need of attention as it’s often the case that the county’s main roads benefit from repair work.

“Motorists can continue to play a really important role in helping us identify the roads in greatest need of repair by reporting them on our website or with their local county councillor.”

You can report a pothole on the County Council’s website at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/potholes.

A detailed programme of where the repair and patching work will specifically take place until the end of March 2018 is currently being reviewed and is due to be finalised in August 2017.

Have say on plans for seven-day access to GPs in Gedling borough

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Have say on plans for seven-day access to GPs in Gedling borough

Patients are being encouraged to share their views on plans to work towards offering extended access to GP services, seven days a week.

This Summer,  Nottingham North and East Clinical Commissioning Group (which mainly covers Gedling Borough, Hucknall and Eastwood) is has launched a campaign to get people in the borough to share their views and help them plan seven day services across the area.

In line with NHS England’s ‘General Practice Forward View’, published in April 2016, the CCG is working towards implementing extended hours and seven day local GP services across the Nottingham North and East area during 2018/19.

Racheal Rees, Head of Primary Care, Nottingham North and East says: “Our services must change in line with NHS England guidelines, which say that local seven-day access to GP services must be in place by 2020.

“To support the CCG and the GP Practices to deliver on seven-day services, we need to find out what people want and need. For example, is evening opening more important than early morning? Is Saturday morning preferable to a Saturday afternoon?

“We want to a design a service where patients are seen in the right place, at the right time and by the right people. But in order to do that, and to create a service that works for our communities, we need to get their views.”

Patients can pick up and post a survey at their local GP Practice or fill in the survey online at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/GPaccess2017. They also have the option of calling our Patient Experience Team to fill it in over the phone on 0800 028 3693 (choose option two)

Burglary rise in Gedling area prompts crime prevention advice from police

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Burglary rise in Gedling area prompts crime prevention advice from police

Police are appealing to residents and homeowners in the Gedling area to be extra vigilant following more burglaries in the area over recent weeks.

Officers say there has been a rise in reports over the past 30 days and have offered advice to residents to ensure there houses and vehicles are more secure.

A spokesman for Gedling South Beat Team said: “In light of these incidents we would like to offer crime prevention advice to residents.”

The police crime prevention advice is as follows:

  • Ensure you lock your doors and windows, even when you are in
  • Fit good quality locks to your exterior doors
  • If you have an intruder alarm, make sure you set it when you go out and when you go to bed.
  • Leave a light on when it’s dark, make use of timer switches and consider leaving a radio on or investing in a fake TV device
  • Register your property for free on the national property database www.immobilise.com
    Immobilise helps police to reunite stolen items with their rightful owners in the event of them being recovered.
  • Protectively mark your valuable property with your name and postcode preferably using a visible property marking kit such as Cremark or SelectaMARK and don’t leave valuables like laptops on view.

Your View: ‘Rip-off’ credit and debit card charges to end

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Your View: ‘Rip-off’ credit and debit card charges to end

Customers will no longer be charged extra for goods or services when paying for credit or debit cards after the Government revealed these levies will be outlawed from next year.

Some firms charge customers up to 20% when paying for products such as flights or takeaways just because they use a card.

The new rules also cover charges levied by local councils and Government agencies such as the DVLA.

The Treasury estimates the total value of such surcharges at £473m a year.

The changes, due to take effect from January, are being applied as the result of an EU directive.

The Treasury said the directive banned such charges being levied by Visa and Mastercard but that it had gone further, extending it to cover other card and payment providers such as Amex, PayPal and Apple Pay.

Businesses usually tell customers they add on the charges to cover the cost of processing card payments.

The Government said that while many industries had acted to absorb these costs and not passed them on to consumers, the new rules would bring an end to the practice entirely.

The economic secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Barclay, said: “Rip-off charges have no place in a modern Britain and that’s why card charging in Britain is about to come to an end.

“This is about fairness and transparency, and so from next year there will be no more nasty surprises for people at the check-out just for using a card.

“These small charges can really add up and this change will mean shoppers across the country have that bit of extra cash to spend on the things that matter to them.”

What do you think?

We asked people across the borough what they thought about the changes in the law…

Carol Griffiths from Mapperley said: “About time. The worst for it is HMRC in my opinion. When I pay my taxes online they charge a fortune. Gig tickets as well – their fees are terrible.

Gary, a trader in Bestwood, said: “I don’t see why we have to absorb costs when customers pay on card. It’s there choice. It made them use the high streets, which are dying, rather than be reliant on online traders.”

Peter Marsden, a student in Burton Joyce, is worried this ‘common sense’ thinking only comes from the European Union, and worries about Brexit.

He said: “It was a move brought about by the EU. They are always keen to tackle big firms trying to rip-off consumers and I worry that after Brexit, our Government will pander to the linkes of Sky, Apple and Google.”

What do you think about the end to card charges? Let us know in the comments section below…

 

Gedling borough parks recognised in prestigious Green Flag awards

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Gedling borough parks recognised in prestigious Green Flag awards

Three parks in Gedling borough are among the best in the world after being awarded a prestigious Green Flag Award, it was announced today.

Gedling Country Park, Arnot Hill Park and Burton Road Jubilee Park are among a record-breaking 1,797 UK parks and green spaces that today received a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.

This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

Arnot Hill Park has retained the flag for the 11th year running, Burton Road Jubilee Park for the 4th year and Gedling Country Park for the 2nd year in a row.

CELEBRATION: Members of Gedling Borough Council and volunteers celebrate Arnot Hill Park winning a Green Flag Award for the second year in a row

Councillor Peter Barnes, Portfolio Holder for Environment said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for these fantastic parks.

“We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining our parks to such a high standard.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme.

“Each flag is a celebration of the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. The success of the scheme, especially in these challenging times, demonstrates just how much parks matter to people.”

Colwick Country Park, Colwick Woods and Woodthorpe Grange Park were also on the list of Green Flag Award winners announced today.

These are maintained by Nottingham City Council and Cllr Dave Trimble, who is portfolio holder for Leisure and Culture was delighted by today’s news.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded total of 32 Green Flag Awards this year, from Keep Britain Tidy.

“This Award recognises and highlights the value we put on our parks and green spaces, they are such an important part of people’s lives and well-being in Nottingham.

“It is fantastic that Nottingham City Council’s investment in parks has been recognised with these accolades.”

“We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining our parks and open spaces to such a high standard.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme.

“Each flag is a celebration of the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. The success of the scheme, especially in these challenging times, demonstrates just how much parks matter to people.”

Carlton pupils call for more education cash during Parliament visit

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Carlton pupils call for more education cash during Parliament visit

Two Carlton schoolgirls got the chance to grill government ministers and politicians last week.

Ella Henry and Ella Foster, who are in Year 9 at Carlton le Willows, travelled to Westminster last week along with pupils from schools across the UK to lobby Parliament as representatives of the 300,000-strong Send My Friend to School youth campaign.

The two Ellas took the opportunity to call for increased investment in education around the world, when they met with local MPs, parliamentarians and Ministers at the Houses of Parliament last Wednesday (12).

VISIT: The students we joined by pupils from other schools across the UK

The trip formed part of the girls’ work as Campaign Champions for the Send My Friend to School campaign, which urges world leaders to provide a quality education for every child in the world by 2030.

During the day Geography GCSE students Ella and Ella joined 16 other Campaign Champions from across the UK, meeting with the Chair of the International Development Committee Stephen Twigg, Special Envoy for Gender Equality Joanna Roper and finally Minister of State for the Foreign Office and the International Department of International Development Alastair Burt.

During each meeting they were able to ask questions, grilling Ministers on the level of their commitment to improving global education and urging them to commit to greater levels of government funding in the future.

The 14-year-old Academy students also found time to speak to their own local MP Vernon Coaker, who they said was extremely supportive of their campaign.

Ella Foster said: “My favourite part of the day was getting to talk to our MP Vernon Coaker and to talk about what we wanted to do in our own community.”

Ella Henry said: “The whole day was such an opportunity to be able to press the MPs, speak to them face to face about important issues, basically talking directly to the people with the power.  It’s not something that you could usually do.”

Carlton le Willows geography teacher Kate Wood said the students were a credit to the school.

She said: “Both girls were incredible. They spoke with real confidence and had both put in huge time and effort to grasp all the facts, figures and to be able to ask intelligent questions about the issues. I’m so proud of them.”

Carlton pub charity night raises £3,500 for city cancer ward

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Carlton pub charity night raises £3,500 for city cancer ward

Families and friends visiting terminally-ill cancer patients at a city hospital are set to benefit from new and improved facilities after a charity fundraiser brought in £3,500 to give the ward a facelift.

The Ladies Night, which took place last Friday, was organised by the Elwes Arms in Carlton to help bring in money which can be used to buy new furniture and improve facilities for visitors at the Frazer Ward in Nottingham City Hospital.

The ward looks after terminally-ill women suffering from cancer.

Ladies attending the fun-filled evening were served at their tables by ‘butlers in the buff’, and also enjoyed cocktails & canapes, music and entertainment.

Elwes Arms landlady Beccy Webster said: “I am so pleased at how the night went. All the ladies had a wonderful time and so did the staff, it was a great event for a great cause.

“In total we raised £3500 which is going to make such a difference to the ward.

“A lot of preparation went in to the night and I can’t thank Rhiannon and Amy for everything they did, Grace for decorating the room and supplying the sweetie cart and also the chocolate fountain and Craig for DJing. Everyone really pulled together to make it a success. I just wish we could do it all again.”

Borough residents urged to sign up to spot-scam scheme

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Borough residents urged to sign up to spot-scam scheme

Residents in Gedling borough are being urged to sign up to a scheme that aims to raise awareness of scams in a bid to support and reduce the number of vulnerable local people in the area becoming victims. 

An event is being held at Arnold Library this Wednesday (July 19) to explain to residents how to spot a scam and avoid becoming a victim.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards team said they received 224 reports of scams in the last twelve months and the authority is using Scams Awareness Month this July to promote the ‘Friends Against Scams’ scheme.

So far 170 local people have signed up to the scheme, which involves either completing an online awareness session or attending a local workshop event at local libraries.

The average scam victim loses about £1,000 to scams and older people are 2.4 times more likely to die or go into a care home than those who are not scammed.

Scams come in many forms and can be the result of a postal, telephone or electronic communication. Examples include fictitious prize draws, false investment opportunities, fake lotteries or bogus equity release schemes.

Nottinghamshire County Council has been supporting older people and people with dementia who have become victims of mass marketing scams and has so far seized 54 stone of scam mail from victims’ homes since January 2015.

Councillor Gordon Wheeler, Vice-Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Communities and Place Committee, said: “It’s believed only five percent of scams are reported so there are many people in our communities that are suffering in silence and are not seeking the help and support they need.

“The ‘Friends Against Scams’ scheme is helping to spread the word on how to spot and avoid a scam amongst local communities so we want as many people as possible to sign up to this scheme.”

To sign up to the ‘Friends Against Scams ‘scheme visit its website at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk

To report a scam contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.

It’s a stitch up as Arnold gets yarn bombed

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It’s a stitch up as Arnold gets yarn bombed

A group of ‘guerrilla knitters’ have added a touch of colour to Arnold once again in time for the borough’s annual arts festival.

A group of yarn bombers have been working for weeks to prepare knitted decorations to dress the street furniture.

Bollards around the town centre have been dressed as Robin Hood and his Merry Men, or as Minions. Bunting and other pieces have been put on fences.

The event has again been organised to mark the start of the annual Gedling Borough Arts Festival by the owners of Arnold arts and crafts shop Button Moon.

The arts festival began today (17) and runs until Sunday, July 23.

Free family activity passes on offer when you sign up to swim lessons at leisure centre in Hucknall

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Free family activity passes on offer when you sign up to swim lessons at leisure centre in Hucknall

Sign up to swimming lessons this summer at your local Everyone Active leisure centre and you can get your hands on four free family activity passes – allowing you and your family to use your local centre’s sporting facilities free for one day.

So why not take the plunge and sign up for a fun swim classes taking place at Hucknall Leisure Centre this summer.

Once you sign up and you will get your four free family activity passes at the centre on Linby Road.

Each pass offers you and your family the opportunity to use the centre’s facilities for free for one day. Why not enjoy a family swim, hire a court for a game of badminton, have a session in the gym or try a group exercise class!

There is a large gym, a dedicated group cycling studio, a group exercise programme, a 25m swimming pool, sports hall and two squash courts.

The gym offers over 100 pieces of the latest fitness equipment complete with a full weights section. The group cycling studio is always busy and offers members a different challenge in a fast paced class that is led by one of Everyone Active’s qualified instructors.

The group exercise programme offers something for every different age group and level of ability featuring everything from Pilates to Body Pump. In the pool you will find our award winning swim school as well as our Wet and Wild fun swim sessions.

Hucknall Leisure Centre also has a packed programme to cater for children of all ages including Active Antz, Gym Active, gymnastics, and family roller skating.

Find out more by clicking here

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