Community Awards

Mayor’s Awards

Erewash Borough Council is calling on its residents to nominate someone they admire for their valuable voluntary work in the borough. The popular Mayor’s Awards salute those who go the extra mile and deserve a pat on the back for their tireless work for the community.

Nominations are now open for the annual awards ahead of the closing date of Friday 25 March, with the presentation of awards due to take place on Thursday 28 April.

The Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Donna Briggs, says: “I know there are lots of people across the borough who will be worthy of recognition, including those who have helped others and shown kindness throughout the pandemic. If you know someone who would be a worthy winner then get nominating so that their achievements can be celebrated.”

Please note that serving councillors of the county, borough, parish councils and their employees are excluded from nomination.

Nomination forms are available at Ilkeston and Long Eaton Town Halls and online at erewash.gov.uk or send full details in a letter to Susan Dunkley, Democratic and Civic Officer, Town Hall, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston, DE7 5RP. Email sue.dunkley@erewash.gov.uk or call 0115 907 1115.

Royal times

This stunning Royal Emblem embroidery has been presented to Erewash Borough Council by Tom McDonald of Hucknall-based civic specialist Spurcroft Civic and is a fitting tribute for the Queen’s platinum year.

A framed copy of the piece will be hung in the reception areas at Ilkeston and Long Eaton Town Halls for visitors to view. The countdown is underway to events that will celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Erewash Borough Council is offering small grants for street parties held over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

See page 11 for details and information on Beacon Lighting events and the return of the patriotic planting. We also take a look back to royal celebrations of the past on pages 12-13.

Council Tax

A recommendation that Erewash Borough Council raises its share of council tax for 2022/23 by 2.54% - a £5 per annum increase - was expected to be approved at the council’s budget setting meeting.

It means that the council’s charge for a band D property will increase from £196.59 to £201.59 per annum, an increase of 10p a week.

The expected increase comes as the council continues to face pressures caused by the pandemic.

Continuing uncertainty of additional costs and reduced income due to the impact of covid-19 means setting budgets is challenging.

The delay in any changes to how much business rates revenue councils can retain, along with the unknown factor of how many businesses impacted by the pandemic will recover, make forecasting future income levels even more uncertain.

Councillor Wayne Major, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources, says: “We have been a strong and robust council with a healthy financial record. I can assure everyone that we will continue that hard work as we face new challenges. We are committed to ensuring that Erewash remains strong.”

Only 11% of the total council tax bill that residents pay goes to the Borough Council. The rest is for services provided by Derbyshire County Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue and Parish Councils – Erewash has no control over the charges set by these organisations.

Photo by Paul Atherly

Landmark reopens after 50 years

Bennerley Viaduct has reopened as a route for walkers and cyclists - 54 years after closing to freight traffic and 58 years since the last passenger travelled across it.

Crowds of people walked across the magnificent Iron Giant on its first opening weekend in January to celebrate the new life of the famous landmark.

The iconic structure, owned by Railway Paths Ltd (RPL), has an international following after it became the only British site to be included on the World Monuments Fund Watch List in 2020.

The successful project to restore and re-purpose the viaduct has been a labour of love through a partnership between RPL and the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct, dedicated volunteers who formed in 2015 and have spent the last seven years working with local communities and the wider public to support and promote the scheme.

Work has included repair and restoration work on the Victorian structure, the installation of a new full length deck and access for users. At the Ilkeston end a fully accessible ramp leads from the Erewash Canal towpath to the new deck. Access from the Awsworth side is currently by steps. The Friends plan to explore ways of creating a second ramp so that users of mobility scooters and wheelchairs can gain access from both ends.

Bennerley Viaduct is the longer of only two surviving wrought iron railway viaducts left in the country and is Grade II* listed by Historic England.

Erewash Museum has built close links with the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct and will play a key role in the further development and promotion of the attraction.

The museum will act as a visitor hub, with exciting plans for an exhibition and illustrated talks about the viaduct and its history.

The plan is for visitors to go to the museum, where there is also a tea room and other exhibitions that visitors can enjoy, as part of their trip to see the viaduct.

There are good bus services to Cotmanhay via the town centre. The ramp to the viaduct is a short walk from the bus stop at Bridge Street in Cotmanhay.

Bridging the Gap

The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct (FoBV) will begin the next chapter in the Iron Giant’s story this month after the group successfully gained a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Called Bridging the Gap, the new two-year project will develop the viaduct and its surrounding area as a community asset and a visitor attraction. The Friends aim to reach a wider range of people and plans include offering training and learning opportunities to create a greater wellbeing effect.

The grant will allow the FoBV to employ three staff - a Project Manager, a Heritage Engagement Officer and a site Ranger. It will also help the group to manage the attraction and take on projects in the future, such as a fully accessible ramp at the eastern end and the construction of a visitor centre.

Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of Erewash Borough Council, says: “Congratulations to the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct who have been outstanding in their work to bring this ‘sleeping giant’ back to life. It is an amazing achievement and their enthusiasm and desire to move on to this next stage is wonderful. Well done on achieving the funding to enable you to do that.”

A good day out

Marching on

Thousands of pounds of grants will reach businesses across Erewash thanks to a series of government funding schemes, that closed at the end of February.

Erewash Borough Council’s teams have been busy processing the applications for support for businesses affected by the pandemic, with all payments due to be sent out before the end of this month.

Eligible businesses have applied for support via five programmes:

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant - one-off grants, with payments dependent on the rateable value of premises.

The Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant for businesses affected by covid but that did not qualify for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.

Manufacturing Grant to support businesses in the manufacturing sector that have suffered adversely from the effects of Covid-19. Grants of up to £15,000 were available to fund projects that could safeguard and create new jobs.

Covid era Start-up Grants offering small awards of up to £5,000 for businesses that started trading during the pandemic but have struggled to establish themselves due to its impact.

The Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF), a rate relief scheme for local businesses outside of the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors that have not so far received government funding to help with the impact of covid.

Rural delights

Residents took part in an Erewash Visitor Survey to find out what current and potential users think of the borough’s rural recreation facilities such as heritage sites, conservation areas, hospitality outlets and leisure facilities.

Part of Erewash Borough Council’s Rural Recreation Project, the survey was led by Marketing Peak District Derbyshire (MPDD) on a countywide level. The survey results will help shape a marketing campaign by MPDD aimed at increasing visitor numbers to attractions and businesses.

It will also help the council monitor how this sector evolves in the future and help it improve the range, quality, and number of rural recreation opportunities for Erewash residents and visitors to the borough.

Councillor Wayne Major, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources, says: “This New Year has continued to bring unprecedented challenges to roll out the vital support to our business community and it has been our absolute priority to ensure we do that as quickly as possible. We thank all businesses, large and small and in all sectors, for working with us to get this latest round of support sorted. We understand the struggles that many businesses face and we applaud your strength and determination.”

Council officers worked closely with Erewash Partnership to develop the new schemes offering grants to the manufacturing sector and startup businesses and the Partnership will continue to be involved to offer support for successful applicants.

Support your market

Appalling waste

A 31-year-old Long Eaton woman was made to pay a total of £1,145 following a successful fly-tipping prosecution by Erewash Borough Council.

Ishka Day, of Walton Street, failed to use an authorised person to dispose of her waste which was traced back to her after evidence containing her contact details was found in waste dumped on Wilne Lane, Draycott in June last year.

In 2021 Erewash Borough Council dealt with more than 400 fly-tipping incidents, double the amount of 2020. It costs the council around £15,000 each year to clear up fly-tipping in the borough. Miss Day pleaded guilty to the offence at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court and was fined £120, must pay a victim surcharge of £34 and council costs of £991, including clean-up costs of £506. Magistrates told her that dumping the waste was appalling and that it should not be left to the local council to clean up fly-tipped waste.

Councillor Garry Hickton, Lead Member for Environment, says: “This case shows once again the importance of checking that the person you pay to dispose of your waste is licensed. We don’t enjoy prosecuting residents, but as a council we take fly-tipping very seriously and we will take action whenever possible.”

Fly-tipping can be reported using your online My Erewash account or the PRIDE-line 0115 850 8383. Erewash residents and businesses are being asked for their views on a five-year strategy to take the borough’s economic growth forward.

A public consultation is underway on Erewash Borough Council’s Economic Development Strategy 2022–27 – a working plan that looks at ensuring the borough’s economy takes advantage of opportunities on offer.

The strategy looks at town centre regeneration, the rural economy, the importance of green space recreation and supporting business growth.

A community success

The council’s free community household waste collection scheme continues to be a success with more than 37 tonnes of materials collected.

The 18-week scheme, for small bulky waste items, saw collection points at two locations in the borough on a Saturday morning with council staff on site to assist residents with heavy items.

The latest collections took place on 5 March at Kirk Hallam and Stanley Village.

The scheme was created in 2018 to help, in particular, people who don’t live near a household recycling centre. It is for smaller bulky waste items, such as toasters and damaged or unwanted toys, which would not be collected as part of the council’s chargeable bulky waste collections. The latest statistics show that between 23 October 2021 and 22 January 2022, around 35 tonnes of waste and recycling was collected, and around 2.5 tonnes of electrical waste.

Councillor Garry Hickton, Lead Member for Environment, said: “The free community household waste collections have been popular since they started four years ago and we have had some great feedback from residents who have used them, including excellent praise for the on-site staff.”

Materials that don’t get recycled are used for refuse derived fuel, which is used to create steam, turn turbines and create electricity.

Keep an eye on the council’s website for news on further dates for the scheme.

Onwards

Councillor Michael Powell, Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, says: “We need to set down the key priorities for economic growth in Erewash. Our draft plan does just that, but it is important that residents and businesses get involved to give us their views. It will be the platform for the council to help meet all our aspirations.”

The survey is open until13 April at erewash.gov.uk/haveyoursay

Long Eaton free WiFi

Serves the Town Centre areas High Street, Market Place, Cross Street and part of Tamworth Road.