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Last chance for first-time buyers to get help onto property ladder from Gedling Borough Council

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Last chance for first-time buyers to get help onto property ladder from Gedling Borough Council

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First-time buyers in Gedling borough still have time to sign-up for a council scheme which gives them a lift onto the property ladder.

The Local Lend-A-Hand project was set-up to help first-time buyers in the area with a small deposit, but time is running out for new applications as the scheme comes to an end in July.

The project, which is run by Gedling Borough Council and Lloyds Bank, helps the buyer with a deposit of just 5%. Since it launched in 2012, the council have had 36 successful applications.

Gedling Borough Council set aside £1m and have so far invested £846,000 which has helped 36 buyers on to the property ladder. There is a remaining amount of £154,000 which could potentially support a further six or seven mortgages but the deadline for applications is July 31, 2016.

First-time buyers often say that raising a deposit is the biggest challenge they face when looking to take their first steps onto the property ladder.

Responding to calls for further innovation in the first-time buyer market, Lloyds Bank worked with Sector Treasury Services, part of the Capita Group, to develop the Local Lend a Hand product. The scheme helps first time buyers seeking a mortgage but who do not have the 10% deposit normally required by lenders. Successful applicants will also benefit from favourable interest rates.

Gedling Borough Council leader, Councillor John Clarke, said: “We launched this scheme back in 2012 and it has been a big success. It has helped 36 first time buyers get on the property ladder at a time when borrowing has been almost impossible. There is still a pot of money left and we urge any potential new home owners to get in touch with Lloyds Bank and apply for the support.”

Subject to Lloyds Bank usual lending criteria, borrowers are able to select any existing property in the area covered by Gedling Borough Council up to a maximum loan of £118,750. This does not include new build homes. First time buyers will put down 5% of the property price, and Gedling Borough Council will provide a cash backed indemnity of up to 20% as additional security. The local authority then earns interest on this amount.

The first time buyer owns the property in its entirety, and will have access to a range of products at a lower rate of interest than would normally be available for this level of deposit.

Those interested in the local scheme should visit their local branch of Lloyds Bank for more information or visit www.gedling.gov.uk/housing

Trains to call at Carlton Station every half hour on Saturdays following launch of new timetable

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Trains to call at Carlton Station every half hour on Saturdays following launch of new timetable
Picture courtesy of East Midlands Trains
Picture courtesy of East Midlands Trains

Train passengers using Carlton Station are to benefit from an improved Saturday service.

East Midlands Trains has announced a new “faster, more frequent Saturday train service” will begin on the Nottingham to Lincoln line from May 21.

There will now be an extra 25 train services running between Nottingham and Newark Castle on a Saturday, which means a train will stop at Carlton every half-an-hour for the majority of the day.

The majority of services from Nottingham to Lincoln will be around three minutes faster than today with the fastest journey time just 47 minutes compared to the current 51 minutes.

The new timetable will also offer direct Saturday services between Newark Castle and stations to Matlock for the first time, providing new summer day trip opportunities for customers.

There will also be extra services to Lincoln and Nottingham from Fiskerton, Carlton, Hykeham and Collingham providing much improved connections for customers for shopping, work and day trips.

The increase in Saturday services follows on from the launch of extra weekday trains on this route in May 2015 as the result of a successful partnership with the Department for Transport, Nottinghamshire County Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, City of Lincoln Council, Newark & Sherwood District Council, Newark Business Club, North Kesteven District Council, Gedling Borough Council as well as the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

READ MORE: Tony Cave: Hourly Saturday service from Carlton Station to start in May

The latest changes come on the back of a £13million customer investment programme East Midlands Trains has agreed with the Department for Transport that also delivers improved services, cleaner stations and trains, better information and new technology.

As part of the agreement, East Midlands Trains had committed to improve Saturday services by December 2016, however with the support of local stakeholders, East Midlands Trains has brought that forward by seven months so customers get to benefit from the improvements earlier than planned.

Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “This is fantastic news for passengers travelling between Lincoln and Nottingham, and I am pleased to see that our £13 million investment in the East Midlands franchise is delivering better journeys for passengers well ahead of schedule.

“This is another example of the work happening to transform the UK’s railways through record levels of investment, delivering better journeys for passengers, communities and businesses.”

Sarah Turner, general manager for East Midlands Trains, said: “It’s great news that our customers travelling on the route between Nottingham and Lincoln are going to benefit from extra services and faster trains.

“The improved weekday timetable we launched last May has been a great success and is already delivering a massively improved service for our customers. Saturday is a popular day for travel with daytrippers, shoppers and of course, people who need to work, and we are confident our new services will make a big difference across all of our local communities.

“We also need to pass on thanks to our partners in the Nottingham Lincoln Stakeholder Board for helping us to introduce these services seven months ahead of schedule. This is a great example of outstanding teamwork across a range of organisations to make a real difference and improvement in service for our customers.”

The new May timetable will launch on Sunday, May 15 and the first day of improved Saturday services will be Saturday,May 21. For more information or to download a timetable, visit eastmidlandstrains.co.uk

Council staff throw weight behind colleague’s bid to become world bench-press champion

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SUPPORT:Wendie’s dad and trainer, David, Wendie, Deputy Leader Cllr Michael Payne and Leader Cllr John Clarke
SUPPORT: Wendie’s dad and trainer, David, Wendie Kirkland, Deputy Leader Cllr Michael Payne and Leader Cllr John Clarke

Staff at Gedling Borough Council have thrown their weight behind a colleague’s bid to become world bench-press champion by helping fund her trip to a tournament later this month.

Wendie Kirkland will be competing in the World Women’s RAW Bench Press Championships for Great Britain during the contest from 15-21 May.

The Service Support Officer for Housing Services will be miles away from her day job at Gedling Borough Council as she travels to Potchefstroom, South Africa, at the end of this week to compete for Team GB.

Wendie, 43, has been raising funds to pay for her trip by running a raffle at work and has also received a donation from Gedling Borough Councillors, who donated £200 from the County Councillors funding pot.

She first started bench-pressing 22 years ago since began competing in 1994.

Wendy trains locally at the council’s Redhill Leisure Centre with her dad, who still trains at the age of 73.

As a working single mum, Wendie can only fit in one training session a week, but that hasn’t held her back. She competed in the 2014 World Masters Women’s Bench Press Championships, 2015 European Masters Women’s Bench Press Championships and can lift up to 75kg (12 stone) unequipped.

Wendie is one of 11 women representing Team GB in Potchefstroom and will be competing against six other athletes in her Masters 1 category.

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said; “I’m really pleased we can support Wendie in competing for Team GB in her sport. We wish her the best of luck and are proud of her achievement.”

Ahead of the trip Wendie said; “I am apprehensive about going as it is difficult with family commitments to put things in place for my daughter while I am away, but this is a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which I didn’t want to miss.

“I have been competing in powerlifting since the age of 22 and what was at first a hobby, has turned into something that has changed my life. I’ve managed to see parts of the world I wouldn’t have necessarily seen.

“It’s a privilege for me to be going and representing Team GB and I am grateful to my family, friends and colleagues, who have supported me in order to be able to do this. Even if I don’t come back with a medal, as long as I do my best that’s all I can ask of myself.”

Charity booksale in Carlton raises record amount for local good causes

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Charity booksale in Carlton raises record amount for local good causes
WIDE SELECTION: Each year donated books fill the entire property on Vernon Road, in Carlton
WIDE SELECTION: Each year donated books fill the entire property on Vernon Road, in Carlton

An charity book sale held last weekend in Carlton raised a record amount for local good causes.

Organisers behind the ExLibris book sale, which took place over ten days at a property in Carlton, announced today that the sale brought in a total of £2376. The cash will now be donated to charities in the region. They also rescued over 5,000 books from landfill.

Last year’s event raised over £2,000 for local charities, and volunteers, who famously all have to wear masks while selling the books, were hoping this year’s extended ten-day celebratory sale, which began on April 29, would raise even more money.

The book sale was opened by Mayor Meredith Lawrence, who also wore a mask during the event to honour the group’s tradition.

12 Notts acts in NUSIC battle to play main stage at Splendour

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12 Notts acts in NUSIC battle to play main stage at Splendour

Splendour2010-JSW04

The cream of Notts talent has reached the next stage of Future Sound of Nottingham, the annual contest which gives one lucky act the opportunity to perform at Splendour in front of 20,000 people.

Opening the main stage at Wollaton Park on Saturday,July 23, the winning act will join headliners Grammy Award winner Jess Glynne and legendary bands The Human League and UB40.

Organised by community project NUSIC and supported by Nottinghamshire Music Hub, a total of 12 semi-finalists have been selected by a panel of industry experts and cover a variety of genres, from Acoustic Pop to Hip Hop and Rock.

After securing the most points in round one, eclectic rapper Ski and soul artist Oscar Speed will go straight through to the final held at Rock City on Sunday,June 19.

The other successful semi-finalists are: Babe Punch, Homesick, Alice Short, Katie Lyle, Lisa Hendricks and the Project-Us Band, Wolf Club, One Giant Causeway, Megan Kelsey, The Young, Sonder, Indian Summer and Super Furniture.

The FSN champ will add to an already huge Splendour lineup and an impressive roster of Nottingham talent, including a debut from local rising star Ady Suleiman. Across the park, home-grown talent will flourish on the Acoustic Rooms Stage as well as vibrant fringe acts entertaining the 20,000 crowds expected at the summer festival.

Mark Del, of NUSIC, said: “Three acoustic singer-songwriters, one Reggae band, two Indie bands, one Punk band, one MC, one alternative band, one electronic artist plus two Pop Rock bands, I’m proper happy with the musical diversity in this year’s semi-finalists.

“And remember an MC plus a Soul artist are already straight through to the Final. Plus the ladies are taking over. Eight of the twelve semi-finalists are either female, or female led groups. I’m hopeful the people of Notts feel FSN is doing a decent job of representing our wondrously diverse music scene. It should be a great final on June 19.”

Anton Lockwood, Director of Promotions at DHP Family, added: “Splendour offers a great opportunity for local talent to play alongside some truly legendary names. The Notts music scene is alive with recognisable names, from Jake Bugg, Indiana and Ady Suleiman who’s playing at Splendour this year, and the array of FSN contestants is proof of the quality and diversity the county has to offer.”

The public vote is open now at www.nusic.org.uk/fsn until 11.59pm Wednesday 18th May 2016 with a live poll showing the number of votes cast for each artist. The finalists will be announced on Monday 23rd May 2016 via the New Music Podcast.

Tickets for Splendour are on sale now and start at just £20. To get the latest line-up announcements and festival updates go to www.splendourfestival.com or like www.facebook.com/splendourfestivalUK or follow @splendourfest.

Four men from Carlton and Arnold charged over fight involving football fans

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Four men from Carlton and Arnold charged over fight involving football fans
FIGHTING: Fans from Nottingham Forest and Notts County were involved in fighting at The Major Oak pub in the city centre
FIGHTING: Fans from Nottingham Forest and Notts County were involved in fighting at The Major Oak pub in the city centre

FOUR men from Carlton and Arnold are among seventeen who were today charged with affray following a city centre fight involving Nottingham Forest and Notts County fans.

The men are alleged to have been involved in the fight at The Major Oak pub in Pelham Street, on Saturday, March 19.

Jake Bramley, 27, of Valley Road, Carlton; Andrew Fuller, 23, of The Beeches, Carlton; Harry Nicholson, 20, of Cranston Avenue, Arnold; and Craig Sisson, 23, of Honeywood Drive, Carlton, were all charged with affray.

 

They were arrested in an early morning operation in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire on Tuesday ( May 10).

All are currently due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ court on Thursday 9 June

Bestwood man jailed for ‘clocking’ over one million miles off cars

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Bestwood man jailed for ‘clocking’ over one million miles off cars

CrownCourtA car dealer from Bestwood has been jailed for “clocking” over one million miles off car odometers he was selling.

Marcin Kaminski, of Pavior Road, Bestwood and brother-in-law Meti Zielinski, of Sandon Street, Basford went on to sell the cars with fake MOT certificates and service histories,

They were both sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay £20,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act after admitting the offences at Nottingham Crown Court.

Over an 18 month period between 2013 and 2015, the men tampered with 17 vehicles, cutting the mileage on 13 of them by around half and reducing the total by 1,159,743 miles. All the vehicles were then sold with false documents.

After a complaint from a consumer, Nottingham City Council Trading Standards Service, working closely with Gumtree, Autotrader, British Car Auctions and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, made two test purchases and searched homes and business addresses.

They found cash, false service stamps and paperwork for more than 70 vehicles that had been bought, advertised and sold on to victims across the country, using various phone numbers, email accounts and names. Seized laptops and iPads showed fake documents created for the sales.

Jane Bailey, Nottingham City Council’s Trading Standards Manager, said: “We are pleased that the defendants have been given significant sentences for these crimes, which have left numerous citizens out of pocket.

“Cars were sold with false service histories, suggesting to the buyers that the vehicles had been regularly serviced. This was not the case. Advisory notes on MOT tests had been removed, including tyres with low tread and brake discs corroded.  This could have meant that the vehicles were sold in an unsafe condition and that purchasers were unaware they might be at risk.

“I would urge anyone buying a second hand car to make as many checks as they possibly can to ensure that the vehicle is showing its true mileage.

The website https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history will allow potential buyers to check the genuine mileage of any vehicle they are considering buying.”

Cllr Nicola Heaton, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Community Safety, said: “This crime required intense investigation by Trading Standards and the result will protect people across the country from the organised criminality committed within a family unit.

“Buying a car is large part of anyone’s budget and to find out that your new vehicle has a false mileage and fake documents and so is worth a lot less – and in a poorer state of repair than expected – must have been a shock and concern for many victims. Pursuing compensation for the victims involved in this investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act may mean that some of the losses are repaid from the car dealers’ profits.”

Men from Arnold and Carlton among 17 arrested in connection with city centre fight between football fans

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Men from Arnold and Carlton among 17 arrested in connection with city centre fight between football fans
FIGHTING: Fans from Nottingham Forest and Notts County were involved in fighting at The Major Oak pub in the city centre
FIGHTING: Fans from Nottingham Forest and Notts County were involved in fighting at The Major Oak pub in the city centre

Four men from Arnold and Carlton were among seventeen arrested this morning in connection with violent disorder involving football fans from Nottingham’s two football teams.

Groups of Nottingham Forest and Notts County fans fought each other in The Major Oak pub, in Pelham Street, on the evening of Saturday 19th March.

Both teams had been defeated in their respective matches on that day, but Nottinghamshire Police officers are investigating whether the fight had been organised between the two groups.

Officers carried out arrests across the city and also Derbyshire early this morning (May 10).

A total of 17 men, 11 Forest supporters and six Notts County fans, aged between 19 and 28, have been taken to separate custody suites in the city and the county, where they will be questioned by detectives throughout the day about their involvement in the disorder.

Chief Superintendent Mark Holland said: “This is a very significant operation as we investigate the circumstances of a very disturbing violent incident allegedly involving rival groups of so-called football supporters in Nottingham.

“This incident occurred in a pub that was busy with people who were there to enjoy a night out and suddenly found themselves in the midst of a terrifying situation such as this.

“One of the lines of enquiry we are looking it is that this was a pre-arranged fight and not a spontaneous coming together of rival groups. It is only by sheer good fortune that no one was seriously injured.”

He added: “We have always had a very direct and robust approach to football-related violence and disorder. Only last week, three Notts County fans were dealt with at court for the disorder that occurred in the recent game at Mansfield Town. Two of those individuals were banned from all football grounds in the country for three years.

“Football does not provide any acceptable excuse for violence and we will continue to use the CCTV and witness evidence at our disposal to identify and arrest those suspected of taking part in this disorder, with the aim of bringing them before the courts to be dealt with appropriately.

If anyone saw the incident or was in the pub at the time of incident and has not yet come forward and spoken to police, please call us on 101 and quote incident number 682 of 19 March.

40 residents attend meeting to have say on fate of former youth club building in Gedling

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40 residents attend meeting to have say on fate of former youth club building in Gedling
DISCUSSION: People in Gedling have the chance to decide the fate of the former youth centre building
DISCUSSION: People in Gedling have the chance to decide the fate of the former youth centre building

Around 40 residents attended a meeting last week to have their say on the fate of a building that used to house a popular youth club.

The meeting was called last week to discuss future uses for the old Gedling Youth Centre building in Gedling village.

Attendees suggested using the site as a future tram station if a line was put through Gedling, and also selling the building to raise cash for existing youth groups in the area.

A steering group has now been set up to investigate all possible options and will meet again at the beginning of June.

A Facebook site and a mailing list may also be set up to keep local people informed about the possible uses for the site.

Rick Wilson, who helped organise the meeting, said: “We will be holding a further public consultation when all options have been formalised.

“Anyone who wishes to receive a note of the comments made at the meeting can contact me via email”

You can email Rick at richard.wilson@ntlworld.com

Bogus council contractor targets Gedling borough residents in driveway con

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Bogus council contractor targets Gedling borough residents in driveway con
WARNING: Police say there has been increase in cold callers in Gedling South
WARNING: Trading Standards are urging residents to be cautious of a driveway conman calling at homes in the area.

A council is urging Gedling borough residents to be cautious of a conman posing as a council highway contractor and offering to resurface their driveway on the cheap.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards team say they have received reports of a man approaching local people and falsely claiming to be working for Nottinghamshire County Council’s Highways Department.

Tim Watson, from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards team, said: “Nottinghamshire County Council would never approach individual homes offering to carry out driveway maintenance work

“Trading standards never recommend employing a trader based on a cold call.

“We would advise that any householder who is considering having work done to their property should get quotes from at least three companies before agreeing to go ahead with any work. Also speak to friends and relatives for recommendations.

“If you need work carrying out contact Checkatrade for details of trades people who have demonstrated their commitment to fair and honest trading.”

To report suspicious traders in the area, phone Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06. If possible, please note any registrations or details of vehicles.

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