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Tony Cave Column: No support for extra trains at Netherfield

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Tony Cave Column: No support for extra trains at Netherfield

Station adopter and train expert Tony Cave provides his regualr update from the borough’s railways…

Off-peak fares

Off-Peak fares are available between Mondays and Fridays at any time after 8.59 at Carlton, except to Leicester with these fares available after 9.15am, and 8.44am from Netherfield. There are no weekend or Bank Holiday restrictions There are also no evening restrictions on East Midlands Trains but some train companies do have restrictions across the UK.

Don’t forget that Carlton and Netherfield tickets can be used for travel out from Carlton and return to Netherfield and vice versa.

Robin Hood day and season tickets are also now valid on trains. Day tickets can be bought on the train.

Second Poacher Line stakeholder event

This was held at St. George’s Centre, Netherfield on Wednesday, April 19, to hear what the consultants had come up with regarding more trains calling at stations between Nottingham and Grantham.

I was disappointed that the best they could do for Netherfield was increase the number of trains calling from seven to 15 per day. Apparently, Netherfield loses out because there’s no car parking or disabled access and it is near to Nottingham, meaning there are alternatives including Carlton Station.

It was pointed out that people want to use Netherfield to travel east to Radcliffe, Bingham, Skegness etc., but they said that this had been factored in. They have to work to a format which the Department for Transport (DfT) lay down, and this is the only way that the proposals are likely to be accepted by them. So, we will have to see this as a start and then press for more trains as passenger numbers build up, which they will do if the extra trains are at convenient times.

Their findings were that Radcliffe, Aslockton and Bottesford would support an hourly service, with extra at peak times, and surprisingly Bottesford would come out on top, more or less equalling Bingham – which already has this level of service.

Actually the criteria laid down for forecasting expected passenger numbers is known to be flawed, with many station openings in recent years far exceeding predicted numbers, whilst some have been way below the forecast.

Strangely enough, it was thought that there was a much better case for providing a new station to the east of the A612 road bridge, near Morrisons and the proposed development on the Colwick side, with the Sainsburys superstore finally going ahead in 2020 and the catalyst for other developments creating up to 1,000 new jobs.

Passenger numbers at Carlton and Netherfield

A few more records have been broken. On Wed, March 15 42 passengers got on and 4 off the 8.08am to Matlock. On Thursday, March 16 I saw all the 8 trains from 6.38am to 9.05am and 103 passengers joined and alighted. The 7.11am Matlock train had 24 joining. This has become even busier with 26 joining on Thursday, April 20, which was just after the Easter holidays.

More are using the evening trains to return in the Nottingham direction after work, especially on the 17.08pm Matlock train. On Saturday, Feb 25, 12 trains between 8.04am to Newark and the 12.08pm to Matlock only 37 people got on and off. On the following Saturday this number had increased to 89.

Netherfield has also seen a slice of the action with 14 on and 5 off the 8.33am to Liverpool train on Thursday April 13. The 17.50 Skegness sometimes has 12 alighting, but when I saw it on Thursday, April 20 there were 3 getting on and 8 getting off.

A big thank you to those who have reported passenger numbers to me, usually because they are surprised at the numbers using the trains.

Bank Holiday Mondays

On May 29 and Aug 28, EMT has announced they will be operating a normal weekday service.

Carlton & Netherfield interchange stations

An interesting consequence of Carlton and Netherfield now being shown within walking distance of each other came to light when two people alighted from the 8.33am train at Netherfield and said they had to go to Carlton to catch the 9.00am train to Lowdham. They had come from Kings Lynn and their tickets were made out via our two local stations. Another day a person alighted from the same train station and hung about. She then said to me: “Do I get a train here from to Carlton? I am supposed to arrive at 8.46am and am being met there.” I told her it was shank’s pony to get to Carlton from Netherfield station. She must have entered Carlton as her destination.

Branch Lines

I have a 32-page Rover Ticket Guide for 2017 with me at all times I am at the stations. It lists all Rover tickets available in Great Britain and Ireland – and even includes our very own Robin Hood day tickets.

A lack of car parking at Lowdham Station is clogging up nearby streets. While EMT has plans to upgrade the platform, it has no plans to look at improving car parking facilities at Lowdham or Fiskerton.

A person who carried out eight cable thefts in the Nottingham area – including two in Netherfield – in March 2016 has been jailed for 26 months (16 months for cable thefts and the other 10 were for other offences). It caused almost 55 hours of delays to trains and cost Network Rail more than £164,500. Passengers were badly affected and some stopped using the trains because of the uncertainty it caused.

There are three bidders for the East Midlands franchise. These are the incumbent Stagecoach-owned East Midlands Trains, Arriva Rail East Midlands and First Trenitalia East Midlands Rail, a joint franchise between First Rail and Trentitalia – the primary train operator in Italy.

New timetables May 21 until December 9

There are no alterations to the weekday or Saturday trains from Carlton and Netherfield but a new Sunday service will launch with extra trains.

Trains from Nottingham to Lincoln will now stop at Carlton at 9.36am, 11.36am, 14.41pm, 17.32pm and 22.34pm

Trains from Nottingham to Skegness will stop at Netherfield at 16.29pm and 17.42pm.

Extra trains running from Lincoln to Nottingham will call at Carlton at 9.57am, 12.10pm, 15.16pm, 17.14pm, 17.52pm, 19.01pm and 23.05pm

Trains from Skegness to Nottingham will call at Netherfield at 12.18pm and 13.23pm.

Carlton school students say their piece for global education campaign

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Carlton school students say their piece for global education campaign

Two students from Carlton le Willows have created an eye-catching jigsaw piece in a bid to raise awareness of the Global Week of Action, which encourages people worldwide to back calls for quality education for all.

Year 9 students Ella Henry and Ella Foster joined the campaign as piece as part of their national role as Send My Friend to School Campaign Champions.

The 14-year-old geography students were recently selected to represent the East Midlands as ‘Campaign Champions’  – two of just 22 students from across the UK chosen by Send My Friend to help lobby locally and nationally to improve global education.

Ella Henry said: “We are so excited about this opportunity to make a difference – big or small, and fight for something that is a global problem which affects 263 million children. Children’s education may not be daily headline news in Britain, but it is a global problem that needs global attention.”

World leaders have made a clear promise to ensure every child in the world gets a quality education by 2030. But a key piece of the puzzle is missing – the money to pay for this education.

Kate Wood, a geography teacher at the Academy, said : “To get our MPs attention the students have created an eye-catching paper jigsaw piece symbolising that there is a missing piece in the global education puzzle – the money to pay for good quality schooling.

“Over the course of the campaign, the girls will be working with other students both at Carlton le Willows and in our feeder primary schools, talking about what makes a quality education and creating jigsaw pieces that reflect their views. They will then present these to their local MP and ask their message to be delivered to the government.”

New vaping laws come into force later this month

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New vaping laws come into force later this month

Businesses in Gedling borough selling vaping products are being reminded new rules around e-cigarettes and e-liquids sales come into force on May 20.

Trading Standard officals want retailers selling vaping products to be aware of the new regulations.

Anyone who falls foul of the rules could be jailed for up to two years or face an unlimited fine.

The new rules restrict the products that can be on sale online and on the high street.

Under the new regulations, the changes include:

• all e-cigarettes and e-liquids being registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before they can be sold
• e-cigarette tanks restricted to a capacity of no more than 2ml, refill containers restricted to a maximum capacity of 10ml and strength of e-liquids restricted to no more than 20 mg/ml
• nicotine containing products required to be child resistant and tamper evident
• new labelling and warning requirements, including the health warning ‘this product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance’
• the banning of certain additives such as the stimulants caffeine and taurine or colourings.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards team sent letters to shops in the county that sell e-cigarettes and e-liquids outlining the forthcoming changes last year and is shortly sending a reminder letter.

Officers will also be carrying out visits to premises across the county with Trading Standards East Midlands colleagues to ensure they are following the new regulations.

The regulations apply to producers of e-cigarettes, including people who produce e-liquids at home to sell online.

Claudine White, Trading Standards Manager at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “The changes should help to create a level playing field for all sellers and help consumers get a consistent product whilst hopefully removing a lot of potentially unsafe products from the legal market.

“So while shops may be aware of the changes, those who make or sell e-cigarettes or e-liquids online via social media, auction sites or from their own website need to be aware that they apply to them, too.”

Anyone who does not comply could face imprisonment of up to two years and/or an unlimited fine.

Detailed guidance for sellers can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/e-cigarettes-regulations-for-consumer-products

Consumers and healthcare professionals can report safety concerns and side effects with e-cigarettes or refill containers to the MHRA through the Yellow Card reporting system at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

Park in Arnold to get £48k revamp

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Park in Arnold to get £48k revamp

PLAY time is set to get a whole lot better in Arnold with the go-ahead for a brand new games play area in one of the town’s parks.

The Muirfield Road Recreation Ground will now be improved thanks to £48,435 of funding from WREN, 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.

The money will be used to install a multi-use game area (MUGA).

The funding bid was made jointly by Gedling Borough Council and the Warren Action Group, a local residents group. The group have been working to revitalise the playground area and were granted planning permission by Gedling Borough Council in March last year to start work and begin applying for external funding.

Cheryl Raynor, WREN’s grant manager for Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire says: “We are delighted to be supporting the Muirfield Road Recreation Ground Development project and pleased that our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for young people.

“WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”

Sue Jablonskas, Chair of the Warren Action Group, believes the facility will make a huge difference to the lives of people living in the area.

She said: “It’s fantastic that WREN has awarded us this money and we’re really looking forward to our MUGA taking shape over the next few months. It will provide a safe place for ball games to be played and will encourage children, young people and adults in the area to be physically active.

“This is the first phase of our project to improve the facilities available on the Muirfield Road Recreation Ground. It will provide a real boost to the people in the Warren Action Group area.

“We are grateful to the Officers of Gedling Borough Council who have supported us with this application and we are continuing to work closely with them to achieve the best value possible for the money that has been awarded. ”

Gedling Borough Council Parks Development Officer, Jane Richardson said: “This is fantastic news and I’d like to thank the Warren Action Group for all the work they’ve done alongside the council officers to get this funding.

“The money will make a huge difference to the place and the new equipment will be fantastic for the people using the park and we hope it will encourage more people to use the facilities and improve their fitness and health.”

CCTV released in connection with robbery at Thorneywood petrol station

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CCTV released in connection with robbery at Thorneywood petrol station

A man robbed a petrol station in Thorneywood three times on two separate nights.

Nottinghamshire Police has released CCTV images of a man who robbed the Marmion Service Station on Carlton Road in Thorneywood.

The man covered his face with his hand in the first incident and wore a mask similar to one from the film Saw in the other two incidents.

He escaped with cash from the till after threatening the shop worker in the first incident – seen here on CCTV – at about 12.50am on Sunday (April 23 ). He also stole chocolate and energy drinks on his way out.

He was wearing a Saw mask when he returned at 4.20am the same day and again threatened staff and took cash, as well as cigarettes.

The final incident, when he was again wearing a Saw mask, happened at about 3.30am on Tuesday (25 April 2017). He fled after taking cigarettes but failing to open the till.

The man was described as black, about 5ft 8ins, of average build, wearing a three-quarter length black jacket, black gloves with white stripes on them and black and grey Nike Air Jordan trainers. He was also carrying a black, blue and red rucksack.

Anyone with information about the incidents or the identity of the man is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident numbers 36 and 136 of the 23 April and 41 of 25 April 2017 respectively. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Top musical acts lined up to play in Lowdham this May and June

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Top musical acts lined up to play in Lowdham this May and June

Warthog Promotions have a number of acts lined up to appear at various venues in Lowdham this May and June. Here’s a list of the acts appearing with tickets still available…

Hat Fitz & Cara

Wednesday, May 3 at Lowdham Village Hall

Tickets £12.50

Hat Fitz is a “veteran” wild man of the blues scene in Australia.  He has a record 18 straight appearances at Byron’s East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, a record that is not likely to ever be broken, and one which bears testimony to his amazing live performances and popularity with festival goers.

Cara draws on her soul background (she’s toured Europe and the United States with singers such as Jamiroquai and the hugely popular Corinne Bailey-Rae), and although blessed with a sensational voice she was not content to be labelled as ‘just a singer’. She has taken to drumming duties as well as washboards, flute and tin whistle, sometimes all at once.

This barnstorming duo have circled the globe as they continue to branch out and hit new territories, blowing through and leaving entire communities awestruck, as if a tornado just turned their whole world upside down.

Ticket are available online from: http://www.wegottickets.com/WarthogPromotions

Phil Beer Band

Friday, May 12 at Lowdham Village Hall

Tickets £20

Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England’s foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley.While having his feet firmly in the ‘Acoustic’camp, he has “kept his hand in” with electric music with an annual outing of The Phil Beer Band.

The Phil Beer Band performs a unique blend of folk and roll trawled from Phil”s treasure trove of traditional tunes and American country rock.

Ticket are available online from: http://www.wegottickets.com/WarthogPromotions

Daniel Smith Blues Band

Friday, June 16 at Lowdham Village Hall

Tickets £12.50

Daniel has been one of the most exciting talents to emerge on the British blues scene. In 1994, he first shot to prominence with Sonny Black, gaining rave reviews from press, audiences and fellow musicians alike. 1999 saw him launch his own solo career and form The Daniel Smith Blues Band.

Virtuoso live performances, his acclaimed debut album ‘Southside Boogie’ – re-released in 2006, BBC Radio sessions, tours backing USA bluesmen, several Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival appearances as well as appearances on the European festival circuit have earned him as string of nominations as Best UK Blues Keyboardist.

Ticket are available online from: http://www.wegottickets.com/WarthogPromotions

Harp And A Monkey

Friday, June 23 at Old Ship Inn, Lowdham

Tickets £10

Formed in 2008, Harp and a Monkey have been building up a loyal following via the old fashioned practice of relentless gigging and modern practice of social network sites.

Regulars on the northern festival circuit, in recent years they have expanded their live outreach across the country.  The band are particularly proud of the fact that they have gained a strong reputation for building an excellent rapport with their live audiences and the fact that they have never played anywhere and not been invited back. Such is the strength of their reputation as a quality live act, they have twice been asked to perform at the Homegrownfestival; the annual international showcase of the best of English folk music.

The trio’s melodic and hauntological storytelling, which is always underpinned by a firm commitment to classic songsmithery, has caught the attention and support of the likes of Steve Lamacq, Mark Radcliffe and Mike Harding on BBC Radio 2, Lopa Kothari and Nick Luscombe on BBC Radio 3, Folk Radio UK and many more international, national and regional broadcasters.

Ticket are available online from: http://www.wegottickets.com/WarthogPromotions

Borough train passengers help raise over £500 for children’s charity

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Borough train passengers help raise over £500 for children’s charity

Train passengers using services in Gedling borough have helped raise over £500 for a children’s charity after donating compensation received for delays to their journeys.

An innovative new scheme launched by East Midlands Trains enables customers to donate their Delay Repay compensation to charitable causes.

Delay Repay was recently introduced to ensure customers are compensated if their train journey overruns by 30 minutes or more.

The first charity nominated to receive was Railway Children, a charity fighting for children at risk on the streets of the UK, India and East Africa who run away from home or are forced to leave due to poverty, violence or neglect.

Jake Kelly, Managing Director for East Midlands Trains, said: “We’re really delighted that this scheme has already been well received by our customers.

“We dislike our trains being late as much as our customers do and we do everything we can to avoid delays. However, if we can make sure that good causes such as Railway Children can benefit from any unfortunate delays, then at least we’re making a positive difference.

“We’d really like to hear from our customers about their suggestions for which other charitable causes or organisations we could select to be recipients of this scheme in future.”

Dave Ellis, Corporate Partnerships Manager for Railway Children, said: “We are so grateful for all the support we receive from our partners in the rail industry including East Midlands Trains.

“This project has already raised money that will have a very real impact on the lives of vulnerable children in the UK, India and East Africa.

“Just £6 will allow us to feed a child in India three meals a day for a week, £11 could buy a new set of clothes for a child in Africa and £20 could fund an hour of support work for the family of a UK runaway.”

Find out more about Delay Repay at eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/information/Delay-Repay.

Customers can continue to claim their Delay Repay compensation either by Bacs (bank transfer, Paypal, cheque or rail travel vouchers).

Got a story for the Gedling Eye news team? Email us at news@gedlingeye.co.uk

Primark shoppers in Gedling borough warned about fake Facebook voucher

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Primark shoppers in Gedling borough warned about fake Facebook voucher

Primark shoppers in Gedling borough are this week being warned to stay away from a fake £100 discount voucher circulating on Facebook this week.

The Facebook post claims retail giant Primark is giving away coupons as part of their anniversary celebrations; it encourages social media users to click on a link and participate as instructed.

But this week experts have warned that anyone who does click on the link is likely to have their personal information stolen and their friends are likely to be spammed in the process.

fake-primark-voucher
FAKE: The scam Primark voucher appearing on Facebook

Hoax Slayers, a website which aims to expose email and internet hoaxes, reported the scam after it appeared on Facebook this week.

The link in the message opens a fake website that asks users to complete a survey about their shopping habits at Primark, Hoax Slayers says.

Users will next be told they must share the voucher on Facebook and post the link to 15 of their friends on the social network.

However, no matter how many surveys Primark fans complete, they will never receive one of the promised vouchers instead, the site warns.

Arnold family to take on Tough Mudder challenge for autism charity

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Arnold family to take on Tough Mudder challenge for autism charity

A family of ‘mudders’ from Arnold is set to take on one of the biggest tests of fitness and endurance to raise cash for an autism charity

Richard Lewin will be joined by family members Jo Lewin, Anthony Abbot-Lewin, and James Grimley for the Tough Mudder challenge next month.

The team, who have called themselves ‘Jumping in Muddy Puddles’, will face 12 miles of mud and obstacles which organisers say is “designed to drag you out of your comfort zone by testing your physical strength, stamina, and mental grit”.

Richard and his team have been inspired by his son Theo who has recently been diagnosed with autism and have chosen to fund raise for Autism East Midlands.

Richard said: “Before my son Theo was diagnosed I didn’t really know anything about autism, now I am still learning more and more about it each and every day and I am happy I can do something to help support people with autism.

“Theo is a lovely boy, he is happy, polite and his creative skills blow me away, I would like people to know more about autism and it’s great that I can do something I love to do and raise for this fantastic charity at the same time.”

Richard and team are set to take on the Tough Mudder Midlands challenge on Saturday. May 20 within the grounds of Belvoir Castle, in Grantham.

The 16,000 acres surrounding the castle will once again play host to miles of the tortuous course and a twisted collection of new and classic Tough Mudder obstacles.

A spokesperson for Autism East Midlands said: “We would like to take this opportunity to wish Richard and the ‘Jumping in Muddy Puddles’ team the best of luck with their Tough Mudder 2017 challenge and thank them for their generous support of Autism East Midlands.

You can sponsor the Richard and the ‘Jumping in Muddy Puddles’ team here at his dedicated Just Giving Page click link https://www.justgiving.com/companyteams/ATSM

Borough businesses reminded about changes to UK smoking laws this May

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Borough businesses reminded about changes to UK smoking laws this May

People and businesses in Gedling borough are being reminded a shake-up of the UK’s smoking laws is going full steam ahead from next month.

From May 21 it will be illegal to sell cigarettes in branded packs after top judges refused to let global tobacco giants appeal against the decision.

All packaging of tobacco products on sale in shops in the borough will be a standardised drab green-brown colour with large pictorial and text health warnings from next month.

The new regulations on the appearance of tobacco packaging came into force in May 2016, giving tobacco companies one year to make sure all packs on sale in the UK comply with the changes by May 2017.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards officers will continue to investigate the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco and will also be checking that businesses comply with the new packaging requirements.

Failure to comply with the new legislation is an offence and can include imprisonment of up to two years if heard a crown court or a fine.

Claudine White, trading standards manager at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “The new plain packaging changes aim to make smoking less enticing by removing the stylish branding and attractive colours to encourage people to give up.

“We are working with Public Health colleagues at the Council to support local smokers to kick the habit and combating the problem of counterfeit tobacco is a key part of this.

“Counterfeit cigarettes undermine the Government’s pricing policy to discourage people from smoking by making cigarettes and tobacco more cheaply available.”

To report any concerns regarding the sale or distribution of illicit tobacco contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

For free support to quit smoking contact a stop smoking advisor on 0800 2465343 or text QUIT to 66777. For the locations of clinics visit www.smokefreelifenottinghamshire.co.uk

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