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June 2019
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Hundreds of new jobs to be created
ASHFIELD District Council has granted planning permission for the building of a distribution centre and industrial park at land on the Mansfield and Ashfield border. The development at Summit Park, located on Sherwood Way South, will create about 1,800 jobs. Summit Park, formerly known as Prologis Park, is a new development, originally set aside in 2014. It followed the development of the MARR (Mansfield Ashfield Regeneration Route). It was planned for Summit Park to become a new state-of-the-art logistics and business park and officials at both Ashfield and Mansfield district councils described it as the beginning of a rise in skilled employment in the area. Several firms showed interest in developing units but, because of the economic climate, development has not progressed until now. Developers Ashton Smith submitted plans to Ashfield District Council for an initial distribution centre in February. This has progressed on a confidential basis, with the occupier’s details withheld. The plans also include car parking, a potential new bus route, electric car charging ports and the potential for more businesses. As part of the planning application, a travel plan needs to be drawn up before any of the business units can be occupied. Officials at Ashfield District Council welcomed the plans’ approval and said it was the biggest single private sector investment in the district for some time. Carol Cooper-Smith, service director for place and communities, said: “The council has been working with the site owner for some time to bring an occupier on to the site. “We’re pleased to confirm that we have now conditionally approved planning permission for this large investment. “In total, it will bring around 1,800 good quality, well-paid jobs to the district. We hope to work with the end users to maximise employment opportunities for local people.”
Hero award for volunteer, 82, DEDICATED charity volunteer Sheila Shields has been rewarded for her 20 years of running a community charity shop with a heroes award.
Sheila, 82, of Meden Vale, opened the Charity Shop in the village 20 years ago were her twin sister, Ann, and three other ladies. Now she has received the Nottinghamshire County Council Community Heroes Award — the last to be presented by chairman Coun Sue Saddington. Sheila, a former parish and district councillor, said the award showed community spirit was alive and kicking in the village. The Meden Charitable Fund Charity Shop, on Ossington Close, began when the sisters applied for a Coalfield Regeneration Trust grant, which they used to buy the shop. Volunteer collect unwanted and unused items from residents and sell them to raise funds for a range of facilities across the village. A doctors’ surgery, sports clubs, school and old people’s centre have been among the beneficiaries. The Charity Shop, which has become the hub of the village, also serves tea and coffee — and gives villagers the chance to meet up for a chat. All funds raised there are used solely for the benefit of the village. Coun Saddington said the chairman’s Community Heroes award, which is presented every few months, provided an opportunity to raise the profile of community More at www.news-journal.co.uk
SHEILA Shields, right, receives the award from the chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Coun Sue Saddington. champions in local areas right across the county. “There are so many people who do a tremendous amount of work which doesn’t get recognised, so these awards seek to address that,” she said. “It also gives me a chance to say Email news items to news@ news-journal.co.uk
a big thank you to the chosen nominee for everything they do. This is the last Community Hero Award which I will present as chairman, so I would like to end my term of office by saying thank you to our wonderful and inspiring unsung heroes in this way.”
People urged to join town’s clean-up day COMMUNITY groups, schools and businesses have been invited to take part in litter picks, painting and community clean-up events ahead of International Clean Up Mansfield Day, on Friday, 7th June. Mansfield District Council organised a four-week programme of activities, called Be Tidy Together, as part of the seventh annual cleanup day. The council collected extra waste on its usual green bin days for one week in May and there are free bookable collections of bulky waste up to 7th June. Mike Robinson, strategic director at the council, said: “Be Tidy Together is more than a spring clean up — we want to increase awareness and understanding of environmental issues and the work that goes on all year round to keep the district clean and tidy. “We get a lot of reports of litter, dog fouling and fly-tipping so we know these issues are important to people and we work hard to deter offenders, clean up our streets and tackle those responsible. “We hope lots of individuals, schools, businesses and community groups will join us to make longterm improvements to their local neighbourhoods in the run up to Clean Up Day on 7th June.” International Clean Up Mansfield Day sees the community — schools, businesses, community groups and individuals — work together to help brighten the local area, clean up areas and improving the spaces that we live and work in. A spokesman said: “Whether it’s a litter pick, tree planting, window cleaning or making an extra effort to recycle materials, all our clean-up activities will help brighten the areas where we live.”
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