Bid Success

Long Eaton’s future

It was a ground-breaking summer for Long Eaton when the government confirmed the town’s bid for nearly £25m had been successful.

It means the Long Eaton Town Investment Plan - one of the most visionary documents in the town’s history – can use the £25m to fund seven ambitious projects over the next decade:

• Layout changes at The Green to reduce traffic congestion and accidents and to provide new green space and safer routes for walking and cycling. • Redevelopment of the High Street to make a pedestrian-centred heart and relocate the market back to the historic marketplace.

• Turn the derelict Box Office cinema into a cultural hub that could feature a café, gallery and auditorium for performance and other arts-related events.

• Redevelopment of the Galaxy cinema site into a four storey commercial and apartments building.

• Transform the Grade II* listed Stable Block at the rear of Long Eaton Town Hall into affordable small business units.

• Upgrade the cycle and walking network, including improvements to the Broad Street Bridge between West Park and the town centre; a new bridge over the canal at Britannia Road; and lighting along the cycle route through West Park.

• Creation of a ‘West Park Waterfront’ alongside the Erewash Canal and improvement of facilities for events.

The bid was put together by the multiagency Long Eaton Town Deal Board, led by chairman Richard Ledger and vice chairman Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of Erewash Borough Council.

Ambition for Ilkeston

Residents will be asked later this year for their views on possible regeneration projects for Ilkeston as part of Erewash Borough Council’s bid for up to £20m of government funding.

The council says the involvement of residents and local businesses will be an important part of the bid for money from the Levelling Up Fund.

The focus of potential projects will be town centre regeneration and derelict properties, although ideas may also include a wider scheme.

Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of the Council, says: “This is an exciting opportunity to bid for substantial funding that would help our drive to make a real difference to Ilkeston town centre. We are in the early stages, but much work is going on right now to put together realistic regeneration projects.

“We will keep everyone updated, but residents and businesses can be assured that we will be asking them to get involved so they can help us be successful in our bid for this funding.” Councillor Carol Hart said: “Winning this funding is definitely good news for the town. I am delighted for Long Eaton and its residents.”

The council is now working on business cases for each project and will deliver progress reports to the government by June next year to trigger the release of the first wave of funding.

They’ll be back!

A sea of red, white and blue will return to Erewash next year as the Borough Council recreates its patriotic planting displays to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Union Jack Beds at key sites in Ilkeston and Long Eaton town centres were first created in 2012 to celebrate the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

They returned in 2018 as part of WWI centenary commemorations.

Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of the Council, says: “It will be a special celebration and we want to put the pride in Erewash with the return of our ‘floral flags’.”

Landords’ support

Landlords who let out their privately rented properties in Erewash are being urged to seek help with any tenancy issues following the end of the government’s ‘eviction ban’.

Erewash Borough Council says private sector landlords can get in touch for free and impartial support to try to resolve any issues.

Call B4 You Serve (CB4YS) is designed to listen to landlords and help them with tenancy issues before they serve an eviction notice and can also provide direct support to their tenants.

Councillor Paul Maginnis, Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, says: “We recognise that both landlords and their tenants have suffered due to the pandemic. “We want to avoid a potential rise in evictions and homelessness and urge people to seek help early. We are here to help and want to work with you.”

The CB4YS initiative includes: • Support for landlords and tenants in what can be a very stressful time. • Help to create an agreed and personalised housing plan. • Rent arrears advice and financial assessments. • Referrals and signposting to specialist services for long-term support if needed. • A mediation service between landlords, tenants and the council. Landlords can get in touch with the service by calling 01332 641408 or they can email the service at CB4YS@derby.gov.uk Tenants can request support by emailing homelessness@erewash.gov.uk

We’re here to help

Are you worried that you will not be able to afford to pay your council tax bills over the next year? Help and advice is available. If you are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic, you may be entitled to help as part of the council’s Council Tax Discretionary Scheme. Residents can apply for extra support if they are struggling with their payments and are in receipt of Council Tax Support.

Councillor Wayne Major, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources, says: ‘We would urge anyone who is in difficulty to get in touch to see if they are eligible for Council Tax Support. We’re here to help so please talk to us.”

The most effective way of getting in touch is through a My Erewash online account.

Vaping taxi ban

Vaping and E-cigarettes have been banned in taxis in Erewash.

The change is one of a number of revisions to the council’s hackney carriage and private hire vehicle, driver and operator policies which were approved by the Licensing and Public Protection Committee.

It means that licensed drivers and their passengers must not vape or use e-cigarettes in the vehicle. This adds to the ban on smoking, which has been illegal since 2006.

Councillor Dan Pitt, Lead Member for Town Centres, said: “There have been instances where people have claimed they were vaping or using an E-cigarette when they may actually have been smoking a cigarette. This makes enforcement very difficult. The policy change makes it very clear that smoking in any form or vaping is no longer permitted in taxis in Erewash.”

Other changes will mean that staff working at a taxi operator’s base who take private hire bookings and dispatch vehicles to customers will now be subject to an annual basic Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The council has adopted the Statutory Guidance on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards which focuses on the role of taxi licensing authorities and enhanced regulation in protecting children and vulnerable adults.