Nottingham Now 7

Issue. 7 - February 2019 0115 6972670 | www.nottingham-now.co.uk | sales@nottingham-now.co.uk

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Inside this issue: Health & Wellbeing - Looking good feeling great - what’s on

West Bridgford: Can you help following

burglary and theft from vehicle series?

Detectives investigating a burglary and four vehicle thefts in the Compton Acres and West Bridgford area of Nottingham have released images of a man they want to speak to.

They happened between 8pm on Monday (28 February 2019) and 2am the following day.

If you recognise him or have any information that can help, please contact us on 101 quoting incident 42 of 29 January. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Nottingham City Council

launches plans to transform Wollaton Hall & Deer Park

A Transformation Project was launched at Wollaton Hall on (Tuesday 29 January) which will see the iconic Nottingham landmark undergo a major refurbishment of its museum and gardens.

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Nottingham City Council

launches plans to transform

Wollaton Hall & Deer Park A Transformation Project was launched at Wollaton Hall on (Tuesday 29 January) which will see the iconic Nottingham landmark undergo a major refurbishment of its museum and gardens.

This ambitious project will see complete gallery redevelopment of the Wollaton Hall Natural History Museum, the restoration of

the walled garden and the formal gardens – a significant step forward for this iconic Nottingham landmark and important East Midlands leisure and tourist destination.

Funds and grants are currently being sought and secured for this extensive project, with £1.3 million needed specifically to complete the gallery development for the museum redesign. £95,000 has already been secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund with an award from Arts Council England (ACE) to be confirmed and more funders to be announced soon.

The project also has the full support of the Natural History Museum in London.

Arts Council England (ACE) awarded Nottingham City Museums & Galleries National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status in 2018, securing £1.8 million for the service from 2018 to 2022. To date, those funds have supported Wollaton Hall development phase, enabling the master plan design document to be completed.

Detailed plans revealed at the event showed the full extent of the proposed works that will start with the transformation of The Great Hall and two adjacent galleries.

This first stage is expected to be completed by April 2020 and will set the scene for a new

experience of smart, interactive exhibits and visually engaging displays.

Cllr Dave Trimble, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Localities, said: “It’s so important that we safeguard the unique heritage of Wollaton Hall while at the same time realise the full potential of this stunning mansion and park.

This project promises to deliver a transformation of the museum and gardens that will be appreciated by generations to come.”

Cllr Steve Battlemuch explained how plans for the huge walled garden would involve partners and volunteers to create a space that would inspire all its visitors including school children and groups.

Innovative ideas for the space also include growing foods and the construction of glasshouse structures with the aim of promoting sustainable practices.

Plans were outlined for the formal gardens and how new landscaping aims to restore them to their former glory.

Museums Development Manager Rachael Evans added: “Our aim is to create a resource that will be the most

significant Natural History museum outside London – a fully accessible world class offer.

“Gallery space will grow from 320 to over 700 square feet and this will increase the number of objects exhibited from 1,500 to 15,000 allowing far more access to our collection.

Within each of the galleries there will be a designated area for education, increasing capacity for schools five-fold. We will develop galleries that are fully accessible, interactive, engaging and challenging and keep our partners close to make sure we get it absolutely right.”

Wollaton Hall has been home to the city’s Natural History Museum since 1926 and holds a collection of 750,000 objects, ranging from fossils, minerals, plants and eggs to invertebrates, vertebrates, shells (molluscs) and taxidermy, as well as ‘spirit’ preserved animals and rare specimens from across the globe.

The Dinosaurs of China visiting exhibition in 2017, a phenomenally exciting and successful event for Nottingham and a world exclusive, saw 130,000 visitors flock to Wollaton Hall over just a 16-week period, boosting tourism figures by more than £24 million in 2017an indication of what could be achieved and sustained with investment in the museum.

Alleged A52 fridge fly-tippers have vehicle seized Individuals who allegedly fly-tipped fridges on the A52 near Wheatcroft Island have had their vehicle seized

by Rushcliffe Borough Council officers and Nottinghamshire Police.

It follows several incidences of the items being dumped in the area, leading to the use of CCTV capturing those in the act during December 2018. A white van linked to the flytipping was confiscated on January 11 on Grant Street in Nottingham. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Debbie Mason

said: “This successful seizure once again demonstrates the hard work of our Environmental Health team who identify vehicles involved with fly-tipping. “As this case shows, we will use all of our enforcement powers wherever we can and seek to prosecute anyone who fly-tips carelessly to damage the environment in this way and blight any part of the Borough.”

Inspector Craig Berry, from Nottinghamshire Police said: “We take all fly-tipping extremely seriously and work with partners such as Rushcliffe Borough Council

in this case to do everything we can to prevent and deter offending and take action when we can. “It is a particularly difficult offence to investigate, however the use of CCTV cameras, our work with partners and the use of all powers and tools available means we can seize vehicles where necessary.”

Those with information on fly-tipping offences should contact the Council via social media, over the phone on 0115 981 99 11 or by emailing customerservices@ rushcliffe.gov.uk

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Nottinghamshire is national

leader for superfast broadband A new report has confirmed that Nottinghamshire is amongst the best places in the country for superfast broadband.

Councillor Kay Cutts MBE, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, has welcomed the broadbandchoices.co.uk study, which found that residents and businesses in the county have the second highest download speeds in the country. She says the availability of good quality, superfast broadband remains key if job creation and economic growth ambitions are to be realised. Using the latest OFCOM data compiled by the County Councils Network, the new report shows that the average download speed in Nottinghamshire is 54.4Mbps, compared to an average for English counties of 37.65 Mbps and overall national average of 43.6Mbps.

Compared to other English counties, on average, only residents in Hertfordshire can perform tasks like downloading documents, music and video or stream Netflix TV faster than people living in Nottinghamshire.

Meanwhile, thinkbroadband. com – which compares the availability of superfast

broadband in every district, county and region of the UK - shows that people living in Nottinghamshire are more likely to be able to access superfast broadband than in any other shire county in the country. A total of 97.68% of homes and businesses in Nottinghamshire are currently able to access superfast broadband speeds (30 Mbps or quicker), compared to an East Midlands average of 97.06% and UK average of 95.46%.

Superfast broadband availability in the Nottinghamshire districts of Mansfield (99.57%) and Broxtowe (99.39%) is better than in most UK cities, including Nottingham (98.9%), Manchester (95.28%), Leeds (97.02%) and Birmingham (96.77%).

The Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire (BBfN) programme, led by Nottinghamshire County Council, has invested more than £30 million in the county's digital infrastructure since 2014, providing superfast broadband access to over 80,000 homes and businesses across the county.

Phase three of the programme, which is currently being delivered, is using full fibre

technology at more than 3,000 properties in rural parts of Bassetlaw and Newark & Sherwood, providing ultrafast download speeds of up to 330 Mbps - meaning residents and businesses can download a two hour HD film in 90 seconds, a 45 minute HD TV show in 16 seconds, or a nine hour audio book in three seconds. Councillor Cutts said: “The internet has revolutionised the way we do business, keep in contact

with friends, use services, access entertainment and store data. Having fast, reliable broadband is now viewed on a par with access to a water, gas and electricity supply.

"Over the last five years, Nottinghamshire County Council and its partners have invested £30m in improving the county's digital infrastructure which, it is estimated, will generate more than £300m for our economy and create 5,800 jobs by 2030.

New recruits to visit diverse communities Understanding the needs of diverse communities across Nottinghamshire is a priority for the force.

The force want to work with local people and hear directly from members of our black and minority ethnic communities, young people and new emerging communities, to see how our interactions impact on policing in their community.

The force’s new recruits are meeting the local community in the Pilgrim Church in the Meadows on 12 February 2019 with the emphasis of the day on the importance of active community engagement, as well as understanding the needs of the communities.

Ch Insp Suk Verma said:

"It is a fantastic opportunity for the new recruits to get a true picture of the issues and difficulties facing our local people.

The day will help them understand how they need to work closer with the

community and how their views can help us to break down barriers in the future.

"It's a great opportunity for the new recruits to have a healthy, open and honest dialogue."

If anyone wants to attend or knows someone from

their community who would like this opportunity please contact Community Cohesion Coordinator Gurmit Kaur by emailing: gurmit.kaur5525@ nottinghamshire.pnn.police. uk

"The availability of good quality, superfast broadband remains a key driver for our job creation and economic growth ambitions. Continued investment by both the County Council and the private sector in Nottinghamshire's digital infrastructure, including new ultrafast broadband, is keeping us ahead of the rest and in pole position to attract more inward investment."

Openreach announced in November that

Nottinghamshire was to be the first place in the East Midlands to be included in their ‘Fibre First’ programme, where fibre optic cables take reliable, ultrafast broadband right to people’s front doors.

As well as adding even more reliability and resilience to broadband connections and making them less likely to drop out, FTTP offers speeds of up to 1 Gbps - about 24 times faster than the current UK average of 46Mbps.

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Been There, Done It, Got the Badge West Bridgford Air Cadet, Rebekah Oldknow, has gained all the badges available to an Air Cadet, becoming one of a select band in the country to have achieved this milestone.

Nineteen years old Rebekah is a Cadet Warrant Officer(CWO) with 209 (West Bridgford) Squadron in Nottingham. CWO

is the highest rank a cadet can aspire to.

Badges are awarded for qualifying on may varied subjects in addition to badges awarded for completing each stage of the Cadet Syllabus of Training. During her cadet service Rebekah has gained qualifications in subjects and activities as diverse as Music (playing in the Regions Concert and Marching bands), parachuting, leadership, target shooting, and First Aid, to name but a few.

She has also successfully taken part in the Nijmegen March in Holland and successfully completed a Cyber Course at The Royal Air Force No 1 Radio School.

Aeronautics is important to the Air Cadets and Rebekah has been awarded gliding and flying “wings” under the Air Cadet Av i a t i o n Training Package.

She is also a Qualified

Aerospace Instructor, entitling the wearing of the Blue Lanyard.

Although hugely satisfying for the Cadet Warrant Officer, the awards and qualifications not only encourage other cadets on the squadron to achieve, it has also given Rebekah the skills and knowledge to mentor the other cadets at West Bridgford.

“We are all extremely proud of Rebekah and she is a great asset to us. She has grown in confidence and proved to be enthusiastic and committed, qualities that have endeared her to both staff and cadets”, said the Squadron’s Commander, Flight Lieutenant Jade Waring RAFAC.

Charles Hanson Returns To

Broxtowe For Charity Valuation Day Charles Hanson of Flog It, Antiques Road Trip, and Bargain Hunt will be at St Michael's Church Centre, Church Street, Bramcote NG9 3HD on Friday 15th February 2019 to help the Mayor of the Borough of Broxtowe, Councillor Derek Burnett BEM raise funds for his chosen charities. Between 3.00pm and 6.00pm Charles and his team will value antiques, family heirlooms and collectibles. Everyone

is welcome to bring along their treasures and have the wonderful opportunity of learning more about their precious items and find out how valuable they may be.

No need to make appointment just come along with the maximum of three items per person and enjoy the fun!

Charles, and his colleagues, Vanessa Savage and Edward Rycroft will charge £3 per item and every penny raised will be donated to the Mayor’s charities, SSAFA and East

Midlands Ambulance Service.

The Hanson team will be giving their time and expertise completely free of charge.

There will be refreshments and a prize raffle.

The Mayor said ‘I am delighted that Charles and his team have again volunteered their services. Charles does a lot for charity and I feel honoured that he has again chosen my charities.’

Charles Hanson said: “Hansons Auctioneers are delighted to be asked to

attend a valuation day for such worthy causes. We know and appreciate the invaluable service that SAFFA and the First Responders provide to people of Broxtowe and indeed Nottingham. Please come along and see what your heirlooms are worth and raise some money at the same time.”

For more information about the event contact Barbara Parish on 07882 539214 or the Civic Office on 0115 917 3210 or 0115 917 3701.

Appeal: Do you recognise these people

following cross-border distraction burglaries?

Alongside Derbyshire police, we’re investigating, a series of incidents where offenders have distracted shop workers to commit burglaries.

We had three incidents of this in Notts last week, the first happened in Rochester Walk in Clifton at around 12.30pm on 21 January, the other two both happened in Woodfield

Road, Broxtowe at 12.25pm and 12.35pm on Wednesday (23 January 2019). Eight people are said to have been involved. On all occasions, some of them distracted the shop keeper whilst another made their way through to the private area. A variety of jewellery was taken from the Clifton incident. Derbyshire police are investigating five similar incidents and we are treating the eight incidents as a spate. The group are believed to be travelling around in a car similar to either a silver Ford Galaxy or Vauxhall Zafira

(pictured). If you recognise those in the images or have any information that could help, please call us on 101 quoting incident 362 of 23 January. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Residents donate over 12 tonnes of

food and clothes to charity the Friary

Rushcliffe Borough Council and local homeless charity the Friary have praised the generosity of residents who collectively donated over 12 tonnes of food and clothing to those in need.

Residents across the Borough donated items when they placed their bin out for collection on the weeks of (January 7-11) and the authority’s waste team have been busy collecting the charitable gifts.

It is estimated that the number of donations has increased by a massive two tonnes since

a similar effort in January last year. Deputy Leader Cllr Debbie Mason said: “The staggering number of clothes and food items donated this year is a wonderful achievement for the Borough.

“Last year the waste teams collected a phenomenal 10 tonnes of donated items, so to surpass that figure this year is a true testament to the generosity of residents.

“It is magnificent how people have entered the spirit of this effort and ensured items are recycled in a manner where they will be warmly received

by those who need them most.”

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s waste teams have been dedicating extra hours to the cause by spending longer on their collections this week to collect the many donations.

Volunteers will soon begin sorting the items so they can be used at the charity’s centre in West Bridgford, which offers advice, health and practical support services to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Sam Crawford, Chief Executive of the Friary said: “A massive thank you once again to the amazingly generous people of Rushcliffe.

“These donations will now go straight to those in crisis and provide further basic essentials they require.

“This will really help the Friary to continue assisting local people in need on their journey to recovery and independence.”

Visit @theFriary88 on twitter,

www.the-friary.org.uk or call 0115 982 5448 to find out more about their services, how to contact them and how you can become involved in

supporting their work.

Rushcliffe Borough Council staff also contributed to the collection efforts with a reverse advent calendar

at their sites at Rushcliffe Arena, Rushcliffe Community Contact Centre and Abbey Road depot offices, that amassed hundreds of items.

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signs Covenant in support of Armed Forces Let’s Live Well in Rushcliffe, the local social prescribing service that supports those with long term physical or mental health conditions has signed the Armed Forces Covenant to offer their support for servicemen and women who have served their country at home or abroad.

The Let’s Live Well in Rushcliffe will now extend its service to help those with military backgrounds, assisting the work of Rushcliffe, Charnwood and Melton Borough Councils in supporting former and serving personnel in the area. Upon

commencing the programme, participants will be offered one to one support to create a personalised plan based on their goals and, if appropriate will connect with local groups and activities to help maintain their progress. Deputy Leader of the Council and Covenant Champion Councillor Debbie Mason said: “It is great to hear that another local service we work with has signed the Covenant, showing their support for those who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces. “We strive to give as much support as possible and Let’s Live Well in Rushcliffe will provide another vital aspect of the support available in the Borough.”

Liz Walker, P r o j e c t Manager at Let’s Live Well

in Rushcliffe said: “It is an honour and a privilege to sign the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the group.’’

“We meet and advise people from all walks of life here, including people who serve in the armed forces, their families and veterans who may need help and advice

on all manner of topics. “By signing the covenant, we are proudly stating to all Armed Forces personnel that we support them fully and are here to help in any way we can.” The Let’s Live Well in Rushcliffe project is a working partnership with GP’s, GP practices and others

to empower and support individuals with long term conditions to take back control to improve their own lives.

In November 2018, the Councils were accredited with a silver award from the Armed Forces Covenant Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition

Scheme acknowledging their awareness of the variety of transferable skills reservists, veterans and current personnel can bring to the civilian workplace. To find out more about Let’s Live Well in Rushcliffe please email LLWiR@nottshc.nhs. uk or call 07909 890699.

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Council And Community Make Broxtowe Cleaner And Greener Broxtowe’s Clean And Green Campaign has got off to a flying start since it launched in October, with real progress made in keeping the Borough tidy and improving parks and open spaces for all residents to enjoy.

Making Broxtowe Cleaner.

Since the Clean and Green campaign launched in October 2018: • 63 litter bins have been refreshed.

• 10 Community Clean up events have taken place across the Borough with 170 local residents joining Community Clean Teams to take part in the events. Two more are due to take place before the end of March.

• Five individuals/groups who the Council wasn’t previously working with have been in touch about getting involved with the Clean and Green campaign.

• Up to five waste days are being planned for February and March to enable resident to dispose of their bulky waste.

• A further three waste days will take place at the Council’s Housing schemes over Easter.

• Initiatives to reduce fly tipping at New Road and Narrow Road, Watnall have been successful, including new signage.

There were 27 fly tipping incidents between April and August 2018 and this has since reduced to just two.

Further work will now taking place at other hot spot sites, including the entrance to the sewage works on the A610.

Making Broxtowe Green The Pride in Parks initiative was launched in March 2018 with £250,000 for improvements to parks and open spaces across the Borough approved in 2018/19 and a further £250,000 in 2019/20.

Since it launched: • £5,000 of Pride in Parks funding was used to refurbish Broadgate Park play area in Beeston, alongside contributions from WREN, United Living North, Vinshire North and Tesco Bags of Help, giving a total scheme value of £87,000. It now features sand and water play tables, a giant swing, trampoline, climbing units and a 30 metre zip wire.

• In Nuthall, £47,500 worth

of play area improvements were unveiled at Redbridge Drive in July and in January 2019, £30,000 worth of improvement works were unveiled at Basil Russell Playing Fields.

• The play area at Leyton Crescent in Beeston has benefited from its first major improvement works in over twenty years thanks to over £100,000 of funding from Pride in Parks, Nottinghamshire County Council, United Living and WREN. • £5,000 worth of new play equipment has been installed at Shilo Recreation Ground in Awsworth, with further improvements planned to the cricket pavilion at The Lane Recreation Ground in 2019.

• In Brinsley, the wooden activity trail at Brinsley Recreation Ground has had new safety surfacing installed to make it a much more accessible and user friendly area. Improvement works to the value of £17,000 have also been undertaken in the main play area.

• In December 2018, children in Eastwood received an early

Christmas present thanks to £28,000 worth of play area improvements at Mansfield Road Recreation Ground.

• Millfield Road Play Area in Kimberley reopened just before Christmas with a bigger area, new surfacing, new swings for older children and an extended range of facilities for younger children. The £20,000 for the improvement works came from the Pride in Parks scheme.

• £165,000 funding has been secured for new, state of

the art facilities at Hickings Lane Recreation Ground in Stapleford thanks to £93,000 from WREN’s FCC Community Action Fund and £67,000 from the Pride in Parks scheme.

• Upcoming projects include Jubilee Park in Greasley, which is currently closed for refurbishment, Hickings Lane Recreation Ground Stapleford, where a successful funding bid will enable a fully refurbished play area and new Multi Use games area totalling

£165,000 to be provided, King George’s Park, Bramcote, Sherman Drive Open Space, Chilwell and Hall Om Wong, Kimberley.

Local residents, businesses or community groups who are interested in getting involved in the Council’s Clean and Green campaign can download a resource pack at our Clean and Green webpage. https://www.broxtowe.gov. uk/for-you/litter-and-streetcleansing/clean-and-green/

Tallents Solicitors supports staff training and development Tallents Solicitors is delighted to welcome Emma Bell to the Mansfield office as she starts her training contract towards becoming a fully qualified solicitor.

Emma graduated in 2018 from Northumbria University at Newcastle with a First Class Masters in Law Degree. She received various awards during her studies including the Family Law Award and Civil Rights in Practice Award for high academic performance.

Emma currently works within the Family Law department at Mansfield and has done so since October 2018 as a paralegal before commencing her training contract with Tallents Solicitors in January 2019. She will undertake contentious and noncontentious training within the firm, with exposure to clients from a very early stage to enable her to build

her client care skills and confidence, as well as her technical knowledge.

Emma said: “I’ve always wanted to work with a legal firm that was both focused on its clients and was at the heart of its community. Tallents Solicitors is all that and more.

I really want to be able to help people in their time of need.”

Mark Hawkins, partner and

Head of Family Law said: “Emma has been an enthusiastic and hardworking member of the Tallents staff from the start. We were delighted to offer her a training contract and I have no doubt that she is going to make a fantastic solicitor when she completes her training with us.”

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Council Leader hits the roads with gritting crews

Nottinghamshire County Council Leader, Councillor Kay Cutts MBE joined gritter driver Paul Davis for the first part of his four-hour gritting run out from Gamston depot to the east of Nottingham on the night of (Thursday, 24 January).

Temperatures have been

below seasonal norms this past week, with sustained periods of below zero temperatures which has required seven treatments of the county’s main routes within four days.

Over the coming days it is expected that the weather will be slightly warmer, but then a further cold spell is expected

from Sunday onwards.

Councillor Cutts was keen to see what a typical gritting run involved and used the opportunity to personally thank some of the gritter drivers for their hard work, both so far this year but particularly during the harsh conditions experienced last winter.

The Leader joined the route which covered parts of the Radcliffe-on-Trent division, which she represent, including Shelford Tops, Radcliffe-onTrent, Holme Pierrepont, and Gamston.

She said: “I want to thank all of our gritting crews based across our four depots at Gamston, Bilsthorpe, Newark and Markham Moor for their continued hard work, unfailing team spirit, and their tenacity during last winter’s particularly trying weather conditions.

“And it was great to meet some of them in person last night as they prepared to head out on their various routes and then join Paul, one of our drivers, in his cab to experience first-hand

what a gritting run involves.

“What struck me was the effort and planning that goes into ensuring our gritting operations run effectively during the winter season, and also the experience and enthusiasm that exists within the team of drivers’ Last night the council’s 23 crews were out spreading salt on all of our A and B main roads and bus routes and our gritting teams are also likely to be out in the evenings from Sunday, according to the fiveday forecast.

“It’s been a slower start to the gritting season this year. So far we’ve been out 33 times, compared to 44 times at the same point last year, when we clocked up a total of 146 runs over the whole winter.

But we’re just as prepared - stockpiling well above the Government’s recommended amounts of salt, “ added Councillor Cutts.

“Our annual maintenance budget is £2.5m which is a sizeable amount and we often get asked why we don’t grit all of our roads. The truth is that we could do this, but that would cost an extra £5.2m, plus an additional £8m for the related equipment and extra salt storage each year.”

Driver, Paul Davis, who has been gritting our 1,560 km of road network for over 30 years, added: “Councillor Cutts was interested to see how the process works and to hear about how we coped with last winter’s Beast from the East.

“Last year’s winter was one of the worst we have had for a number of years, and the snow that arrived in February was some of the most difficult

conditions I have ever dealt with. But we are an experienced team and called on this to ensure the roads were as safe as possible.”

Every time the lorries go out, we grit an area the size of 100 large football pitches.

And each gritting run can take over three hours - which means is that residents’ roads may be gritted sometime after the circuit starts. Councillor Cutts added: “For more rural communities, the cold weather can be particularly challenging for people getting to work, school or generally out and about, “added the Leader. “As well as salting roads, our gritting teams also make sure the 1,400-plus roadside grit bins across the county are full - these are for use by local communities

on pavements and roads, but not private driveways. “We also have over 60 farmers on standby in case of severe weather, supported by 85 snow wardens who will help clear the roads as needed.”

When driving in wintery conditions, the County Council is advising people to plan their route with the help of our online maps which show which roads are gritted: www.nottinghamshire.gov. uk/gritting For winter weather alerts and information, follow @ NottsCC on Twitter.

To see a short video from Paul Davis on how grit works to melt ice on the roads: https:// www.youtube.com /watch?v=DmBQp1W4Hr4 &list=PLZItlOCCIKk9 B6i9yOcAgdchEcQ3yidTM

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New park and play area gets the

green light after securing £120,000 funding

A new £120,000 park and play area will be built on Haywood Road, Mapperley after funding was secured by Gedling Borough Council and The Haywood Road Community Association 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.

WREN confirmed this week that funding of £70,000 has been awarded towards the park and the council will provide a further £50,000.

Earlier this year, the council announced that Haywood Road Community Centre and its bowling green, which was proposed to be sold to housing developers, would be saved by the council after listening to the concerns of hundreds of residents about

its potential closure. Plans for the park were approved in September and include a rope pyramid, seesaws, slide, roundabout, balance beams, swings, picnic tables, benches and a table tennis area. The park is expected to open by Easter 2019.

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said; “It’s absolutely brilliant news to find out the funding from WREN has been secured, meaning we can make this new park and play area a reality.

We listened to what our residents wanted to happen at the site and I would like to thank everyone involved for their support in getting this great community asset ready for everyone to enjoy.”

Paul Drury, Treasurer of Haywood Road Community Association said; “Everyone is absolutely

delighted, so many people in our community came together, first to save Haywood Road community centre from closure, then to campaign to stop the Green being sold to developers and now we have managed to secure funding to turn it into a wonderful park. Thank you to GBC for listening to the people of Mapperley and doing the right thing.”

Cheryl Raynor, WREN’s local grant manager said; “We are delighted to be supporting the Haywood Road Park and Play Area 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.”

Criminal behaviour

order for Newark woman A woman from Newark who has caused repeated nuisance in Newark town centre and surrounding areas while intoxicated has been issued a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Delia Twinley, 59, of Vale View, Newark, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Friday, January 18, where she was issued with the order for repeated incidents of being drunk and causing nuisance.

The terms of the order state that Twinley is forbidden to have an open container of alcohol in a public place within the Newark locality

and must not be intoxicated in any public place within the Newark locality.

Neighbourhood Inspector Heather Sutton said: “Keeping our communities safe within Newark and Sherwood is of paramount importance to us and the Magistrate agreeing to issue this Criminal Behaviour Order will help us ensure that others are not affected by Twinley’s behaviour.

“Anyone who witnesses potential breaches of the order to contact the police so we can take the necessary action and continue to keep the Newark safe and free from this type of nuisance.”

District council leader David Lloyd said: “This is a further example of solid partnership working between the police and district council.

I am pleased with the outcome of the court case which reinforces the message that anti-social behaviour in the community will not be tolerated.”

A key focus of the district council’s Cleaner, Safer and Greener campaign is to ensure effective enforcement against antisocial behaviour in the district.

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New Masterplan to unlock investment for Sutton Ashfield District Council is seeking public feedback on a proposed new plan to reshape Sutton Town Centre. All Town Centres are undergoing fundamental change and it is important that the Council with its partners,

leads Sutton into a more prosperous future. Sutton is a traditional small town centre with a mix of national and independent retailers,

along with a successful indoor shopping centre and a market. The Council has recently provided investment into Sutton with a £1.4m refurbishment of the indoor market and shop front grants to bring empty properties back into productive use.

The Spatial Masterplan will be a valuable document to underpin future investment into Sutton, including a multi-million pound bid to the Government’s Future High Street Fund to help make Sutton a 21st Century Town Centre. The Spatial Masterplan and its high level covering statement aims to provide a framework for future investment and development to transform Sutton as a place into a real destination. It looks to maximise the opportunities for Sutton and capitalise on its existing assets. Importantly, the plan also considers opportunities for the town centre’s future in areas such as its night time economy, public realm and office accommodation.

In particular it: • Provides a consensus

and common understanding of Sutton Town Centre as a place - its character and identity.

• Establishes a clear vision for Sutton Town Centre to guide its development and improvements to 2029.

• Provides clear design principles for subsequent new development/projects with an emphasis on sustainability.

• Identifies sites and building where redevelopment and improvements will be encouraged.

• Aims to improve links to and within the Town Centre for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.

• Sets out how developments/ projects and initiatives could be delivered, who would be involved in delivery, how they might be funded and by what mechanism.

• Provides an evidence base for the emerging Local Plan.

Councillor Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council said: “Our town centres provide vitally important functions, such as being a focal point for local communities, a centre for economic activity, job creation and retention, transport hubs, spaces for

leisure and, increasingly, places to live.

“It is vitally important for the Council to promote and support the role of our town centres by taking a positive approach to their growth, management and adaptation. The Sutton Town Centre Spatial Masterplan will be a key document in ensuring we fulfil our aspirations. “We hope to see as much public feedback as possible during this consultation period, because this is vital when it comes to shaping the future of our town centres.”

A public consultation on the Spatial Masterplan and supporting paper – Sutton Town Centre: Rethink, Repurpose, Remake, will take place from Wednesday 23rd January 2019 and close at 5.00pm on Friday 22nd February 2019.

A copy of the Spatial Masterplan is available to view here, at the following libraries Sutton, Huthwaite, Skegby, Kirkby, Hucknall and Selston; at the Council Offices on Urban Road, Kirkby; Brook Street, Sutton in Ashfield and; Watnall Road, Hucknall.

Further information on submitting representations are also available at these locations.

Representations should preferably be submitted using the representation form, to Ashfield District Council, Forward Planning Section. The Forward Planning Team are happy to provide further information or assistance if required on telephone number 01623 457383 or via email at localplan@ashfield.gov.uk

County Council's pride at best

East Midlands LGBT employer accolade Leading lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender charity, Stonewall, launched its annual Top 100 Employers index on (21 January 2019), rating Nottinghamshire County Council as the most inclusive County Council in the country and best workplace in the east midlands. Overall, Nottinghamshire County Council was ranked 30th best employer in the whole country - the fifth successive year that it has been named in the prestigious top 100.

Marje Toward, Chair of the Council’s Corporate Equality Group said, “This is great news and reflects the range of innovative, supportive and inclusive work taking place across the Council. “It sends a powerful message to all our employees and potential future employees and the people we serve, that Nottinghamshire County Council is a welcoming, inclusive place to work for everyone. It also provides assurance to everyone living

in Nottinghamshire that, through our policies and services, we are committed to fairness and respect for all.”

The ranking is recognition of the work of the County Council's LGBT Staff Network, which supports LGBT staff, challenges discrimination in the workplace, promotes awareness of LGBT issues and provides advice on making Council services more LGBT-inclusive. Mike Severnsmith, Vice-Chair of the Nottinghamshire County Council LGBT Staff Network, said: “I'm really pleased that, for the fifth successive year, we have been ranked in the top 100 LGBT employers in the country. It is in recognition of our hard work over the last few years to raise awareness of LGBT issues in the workplace and makes us the best place for LGBT people to work in the entire region."

To qualify for the Stonewall Top 100 Employers index, employers are assessed on

their work in ten areas of employment policy and practice – from training to community engagement.

Stonewall collects more than 92,000 anonymous responses from employees on their experience of Britain’s workplace culture and diversity. An overwhelming 93 per cent of non-LGBT employees who responded to the survey, say they understand why their employer is committed to LGBT equality.

The Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2017 report is available to download at: www.stonewall.org.uk

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Nottingham fine dining restaurant makes top 4 in Good Food Guide A Nottingham fine dining restaurant is the fourth best in the country, according to influential new rankings.

The two Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains came in third place in the Good Food Guide Top 50 Restaurants.

On hearing the news, Sat Bains tweeted: “To be in such good company is an honour after all these years.”

The restaurant also received an extra honour – scooping the award for best front-ofhouse.

Chef Sat Bains said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received the front-of-house award.

What makes it so much more special for us is that it comes directly from our customers.

Feedback and exceeding g u e s t s ’ expectations are crucial in delivering a

world class service.

“The secret is just listening to our guests. We’ve invested heavily in training the team in order to create a relaxed but professional service and we’re very proud of them all, past and present.”

Elizabeth Carter, editor of The Good Food Guide, said: “Service with loads of personality is quite rare, so well done Restaurant Sat Bains for getting it just right.

“This is a restaurant that understands the word ‘hospitality’, with frontof-house staff noted for being incredibly patient, engaged,

10 tips for healthy eating out Whether it’s lunch with work colleagues or an evening celebrating with friends, most of us tend to eat less healthily when we eat in restaurants, pubs and cafes. Senior Dietitian Victoria Taylor offers her tips for eating out without overdoing it.Believe it or not, it is possible to eat, drink and be merry without overdoing it. Here are my tips for having a good time while keeping an eye on your waistline and good health.

1. How often are you eating out?

A one-off meal out probably won’t make any difference to your health in the grand scheme of things, so enjoy it. However, if it’s one of many, consider carefully how it fits into your overall diet. This could mean having a lighter meal in the evening, like soup or a sandwich, if you had a big meal earlier in the day. Or you could choose the healthiest menu options to make the meal fit into your normal diet, rather than just going for your favourites.

2. Check what’s on the menu Don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant to adapt dishes One of the best ways to ensure you make healthy choices when eating out is to check the menu before you arrive, whether online or in person. It means you can choose your meal without others influencing you. Many larger restaurant chains offer nutritional information online.

3. How many courses?

The tendency when we eat out is to have more than we would at home. Sticking to just one course once you see what everyone else is having is hard. Decide before you begin if you are going to have a starter or a dessert, and which one you’ll find easier to decline.

Having a coffee or cup of tea while others have a pudding is a good way to round off a meal, or you could share a pudding with others.

4. Adapt your dishes Don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant to adapt dishes.

It’s not usually a problem to replace chips with a jacket potato, salad or vegetables.

You can also ask for no extra cheese, butter or oil, and to put sauces in a dish on the side.

5. Portion control A small portion of saladIt can be easy to eat more than you intended when eating out. If you don’t want to feel too stuffed, consider a starter (perhaps with a side order of vegetables), instead of a main course, or ask for a smaller portion.

6. Keep it lean Choose dishes which are based on lean proteins like chicken or turkey (where you can remove the skin) or lean red meats like fillet of pork or beef. Avoid fattier cuts of meat like belly pork or rump steak and remove any visible fat like the fat around the edge of a chop.

Watch out for battered and deep fried dishes - even if the contents are lean (like chicken, fish, tofu or vegetables) the coating means they will come with lots of extra fat and calories.

7. A bit on the side Having a coffee or cup of tea while others have a pudding is a good way to round off a

meal. Having a good helping of vegetables with your meal will add vitamins, minerals and fibre and help you towards your five a day, but beware vegetables that come with added butter, cheese sauce or salt. Ask the server for more information and see if there are any healthier alternatives.

8. Be drink aware Keeping alcoholic drinks within the guidelines is important, particularly if you are going to be socialising more than usual. Try not to exceed the recommended 2–3 units a day for women and 3–4 for men.

Don’t forget the calories that drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, can add. If you can, choose sugar-free drinks or water, and alternate these with any alcoholic drinks you are having.

9. Entertain at home A dinner partyWe all enjoy eating out sometimes, but have you considered inviting family or friends round for a meal? That way you can control what’s on the menu, and it’s often cheaper, too.

Ask your guests to bring a dish if you don’t want to be overwhelmed by cooking, although don’t forget to let them know if you want them to bring a healthier option.

10. Fancy a nibble?

Nibbles are always a very tempting option. It’s fine to indulge in a shortbread biscuit, or a chocolate sweet, but sticking to a regular pattern of meals and snacks will help to make sure you aren’t hungry between meals and help maintain your willpower.

informed, with nothing too much trouble.

“Every diner is made to feel like the most special person in the room and we love the way the maître d’ gives the impression that he has all the time in the world to chat with everyone.

“Staff really get the fact that eating here, for many, is possibly a once in a lifetime experience, and see it as their duty to make the experience as special as possible, in as relaxed and fun a way as possible.”

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Big breakfast bonanza for

Veterans and the Armed Forces Over 60 current and former members of the Armed Forces have enjoyed a breakfast bonanza aiding their network of fellow military personnel and offered further key information to support their civilian lives.

The dozens of veterans attended the Nottinghamshire Veteran’s Big Breakfast on (February 2) co-ordinated by Dave Thomas, Chairman of the West Bridgford Royal British Legion branch.

It saw the former personnel and some of their carers and families served a tasty free breakfast at the Larwood and Voce in West Bridgford, whilst making connections and exploring the support frameworks in place for those with a military background.

Funded by East Midlands Veteran’s Advisory and Pension Committee and the Armed Forces Covenant support to Rushcliffe Borough Council, veterans greeted each other at the welcoming event.

Deputy Leader of the Council and Covenant Champion Councillor Debbie Mason said:

“It was fabulous to be here and meet such a range of former and current personnel and their families and also to see so many networking and sharing stories with their fellow members.

“This initiative enables those now in a civilian background to get the right information and for the covenant and military community to look at further ways we can assist hard-to-reach veterans and families with what they need.”

An Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club also meets at the Poppy & Pint in Lady Bay in West Bridgford, at 9.30am on the last Saturday of every month.

All past and present members of the Armed Forces and their

families are welcome to join.

In November 2018, Rushcliffe, Charnwood and Melton Borough Councils were accredited with a silver award from the Armed Forces

Covenant Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme acknowledging their awareness of the variety of transferable skills reservists, veterans and current personnel

can bring to the civilian workplace.

Check out the Facebook page ‘CMR Armed Forces Covenant Outreach for Charnwood, Melton & Rushcliffe’ for more information and updates on any support available.

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How to Choose a Wedding Venue:

What You Need to Consider Finding the perfect venue is likely to be at the top of any newly engaged couples list. With the venue playing a vital role in the success of your day it’s the big decision you really need to get right. Just like viewing a new property it is easy to become overexcited and fall in love with a place without checking the venue can cater to your requirements, so hitched.co.uk are here to answer that question - how to choose a wedding venue?

Wait until you get the feeling Much like finding your dress, the shoes, a new home, it is true that when you view venues you will know if it is right for you.

You need to be able to picture yourself there on the day and ensure the style of the building both exterior and interior will work with the theme of your wedding.

Finding the right venue in our opinion is the most important factor, once you fall in love with somewhere before rushing in to anything at the very least check the following match your criteria: Is it the right location?

Where will your guests be coming from? If they are not local, choosing a venue that is easily accessible, has accommodation on site or hotels in close proximity is desirable. If you have guests coming from abroad how far is the closest international airport?

These factors may play a role in your decision making.

Is the capacity right for you?

Think about whether you need a large capacity wedding venue or a smaller and more intimate wedding venue. The size of the venue is just as important, too small for your number of guests and the room will feel stuffy and overcrowded, too big and guests will feel lost and the space will feel cold. When a space is empty it is hard to imagine how it will look when filled with tables.

For this reason we would always advise viewing a venue when it is set up for a wedding. If this is not possible ask to see photographs, most venues should have a photo book or slide-show. Another tip is to ask for a seating plan of the room at capacity, this will give you a good idea of how much space there is and how comfortably your guests numbers will fit.

Ask about the flow of the day Make sure the venue representative talks you through how a typical day runs. The flow of the day is crucial, any long pauses or delays and your guests will become bored. If your ceremony and reception is in the same room how long does the turnaround take, where will the guests be and what will they be doing?

This is also relevant between the reception meal and the evening dancing. The weather in the UK can be unpredictable to say the least! If it does rain does the venue have indoor space for the reception drinks? Do they provide a master of ceremonies/

manager? This takes the stress off you and is the best way to make sure all your guests are where they are meant to be at all times.

Check the timings Planning the time of your ceremony is a big decision; when do the venue advise?

In our experience weddings of 8-9 hours work well, any longer than this and the atmosphere dwindles towards the end, you want your wedding to end on a high!

Also bear in mind where the majority of people will be coming from on the day, leave plenty of time for people to get ready and arrive.

Also ask, what set up time is included in the hire fee, when will your suppliers have access to the room and when do things need to be collected?

Think about the lighting. Lighting plays an important part in any event, if your ceremony is during the day does the room have lots of natural daylight? During the evening do they provide/ let you bring in candles?

Cameras will be a big part of your day so practise your smiles! Bearing this in mind what is the surrounding area around your venue like?

Where will your photographs be?

If you are looking at a central town hall where will you take outdoor photographs?

The view from the venue and any outdoor space is also a massive plus not only for photographs but for your guests enjoyment.

Does the venue have grounds or ample outdoor space – this is useful if you have children attending and for guests to stretch their legs for ten minutes after the reception meal. Check the finer details. At the venue viewing stage you will not know every detail of your day however you must ask the venue what is not permitted….

If you envisage a romantic candlelit winter ceremony check the venue permits candles!

If you are having your ceremony at the same venue can you throw confetti?

Finding these details out early in the planning stage before you book is essential, you are likely to have an idea of what your day will be like and the venue needs to be able to live up to this, for this reason write a list of…..

Make a list of your nonnegotiable's Before viewing

any venues sit down with your partner and discuss any non-negotiable's these could include: Budget – will the venue be able to provide everything you need within your budget, is VAT included in the price, are staff gratuities added and if so are they optional? Catering – What type of cuisine would you like? Can the venue provide this?

Suppliers – do you have artistic friends that want to bake the cake or take the photographs? If so check the venue will permit this or do you need to use their recommended suppliers?

Live music – if you would like a band does the venue permit this? If you would like a string quartet during reception drinks do the venue allow music outside?

Fireworks, sparklers, flame eaters etc. – if you have any different entertainment ideas check your venue will allow it.

Finding your venue will be one of the big milestones in your wedding planning and will determine your date, location and therefore will

impact a lot of your other wedding planning decisions. You may even want to consider finding a wedding dress that perfectly suits your venue.

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Church Versus Registry Office Many women dream about their wedding day from childhood. Not only is it one of the biggest days of a person’s life, it is also likely to be the most romantic. Given the momentous nature of the allimportant wedding, it should therefore come as no surprise that a lot of thought goes into the planning involved.

And one of the most significant aspects of that is the wedding venue.

While most people associate a wedding with a church and minister, tying the knot in registry offices has become increasingly popular over the years.

Ultimately, however, the decision between church and registry office depends on the individuals in question.

A bride and groom-to-be could think about whether they want a traditional wedding versus

modern.

There is nothing more traditional than donning a lavish white wedding dress and walking down a long aisle flanked by scores of family and friends to the tune of Here Comes the Bride. The tradition of having the father of the bride accompany his daughter and give her away at the altar is one that many dads dream about.

Having bridesmaids at the side of the wife-to-be is another comforting aspect of traditional weddings that is so engrained in our cultural identity. But such strict adherence to tradition is not everyone’s cup of tea — particularly those who are in no way religious.

Ultimately, marriage is a legal contract and what better way to seal that than by having a more official and

straightforward ceremony in a registry office?

As opposed to having passages from the bible recited and old religious hymns sung by guests, registry office weddings can incorporate a more modern set up consisting of clear and concise vows - that are not necessarily devoid of romance — along with songs that again, are not strictly religious. At the bones of the comparison between church and registry office is just how lavish you want your wedding to be. For example, at a church there will be room for more guests, in which case a big and extravagant ceremony is a possibility, but in an official office, only a handful of people can be present. Brides feel more comfortable wearing a fabulous traditional wedding gown in a church, but in a

registry office, a smart dress and jacket seems more apt. A church wedding undoubtedly provides men and women — regardless of their religion - with the ultimate fairytale setting that is often considered more romantic and magical.

But, on the plus side of the registry office, it can be an awful lot cheaper. There is also less wedding planning and stress involved, meaning that the bride and groom can focus solely on each other and the reasons why they are tying the knot, instead of being distracted by the drama surrounding the spectacle that is their big day.

There is a lot to be said for couples who do not need to profess their love to the world by spending thousands of pounds on an over-the-top ceremony. Clearly all they need is each other.

As couples plan for their big day for 2019 now is the time to get into shape. and start organizing for what will be the best day of their lives.

For the bride, you can’t start earlier enough. You want to arrive at the alter looking vibrant with health and beauty, so what better excuse do you need to invest a little bit of time, money and energy in getting you there?

Whether it is planning a few pampering trips to some spas or joining a gym, not only can you trim your figure, you’ll do wonders for your complexion and overall energy levels.

Shopping for the wedding dress is probably the part of the wedding plans you are looking forward to more than any other aspect.

The majority of bridal gowns bought in the UK are classed as ‘off the peg.’ You try on a sample of the gown in the shop; they take your measurements and order the most appropriate size for you which is then delivered to the shop for alterations to fit your exact shape and size.

Don’t panic, there may be a huge amount to do but here is a handy checklist with some of the main points to take into

consideration in the build up to the big day!

12 months before…

Choose a wedding date Decide on a budget Make a list of guests and decide on numbers Book your Church/Ceremony location Book your reception venue/ caterers Choose your Bridesmaids, Ushers and Best Man Start looking for The Dress!

Choose and book your photographer 8 months before…

Choose bridesmaids’ dresses

Book entertainment Choose and order your wedding cake.

Make an appointment with your chosen florist 6 months before...

Give Notice of Marriage Purchase or hire menswear Select your wedding rings 4 months before...

Send out your wedding invitations Arrange fittings for the wedding dress and menswear 1 month before...

Arrange a final fitting of your wedding dress your bridesmaids, ushers and best

man Enjoy your hen and stag parties!

2 weeks before...

Confirm the date and time of the rehearsal to the relevant people 1 week before...

Arrange to collect your wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses and the menswear Have all your beauty treatments.

Drink plenty of water and have some early nights. Relax and enjoy this time – all your hard work is about to come to completion!

Planning for your Wedding Day 2019

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Getting Married Abroad

the Pros and Cons Thinking about marrying abroad but worried that your grandparents won’t be able to make it? Perhaps your close friends and family can’t afford an overseas holiday or maybe you’d rather just get away on your own. Weigh up your options here with our list of pros and cons to help you decide.

The biggest issue with getting married abroad tends to be that not everyone on your guest list will be able to make it. So if your grandmother has always dreamed of being at your wedding but is unable to travel, don’t be surprised if she seems upset when you drop the bombshell that you’ve decided to get married abroad. Do reassure anyone who can’t make it that you’ll have a second reception when you’re back in the UK. Pros You’ll be able to take your vows in the open air and celebrate your special day in an exotic or unusual location, with different food, flowers and music to complement your wedding.

Getting married abroad can often be less expensive than the average British wedding.

Many couples buy their own tickets and, while the bride’s family may pay for the wedding package, it’s acceptable for guests to pay their own way.

You can invite just a small handful of family and friends to the wedding, so you’re only with people that you really want to celebrate with. It’s the ideal excuse for not inviting your 20 odd cousins and all their children. Alternatively, you can jet off alone and get married in a romantic, private ceremony, just the two of you.

If you book through a travel operator, they’ll do practically all the organising, leaving you plenty of time for dress shopping and planning your

honeymoon!

If you’d rather be totally involved in the planning process, you can opt for a tailor-made wedding.

Cons Friends and family might not be able to afford to travel abroad, or be able take the time to go further afield. You might upset people who’ve been left off your list – but you may be able to ease some disappointment by having a big bash when you get home.

You won’t have as much control over the organising as you would at home.

You might end up regretting not inviting family members if you jet off alone. If it’s just the two of you, you’ll need to rope in a stranger to act as witness.

Although your wedding abroad may work out cheaper initially, if you put on a second reception in the UK for all those who couldn’t make it, you can end up paying as much or more than you would have done if you’d married in the UK in the first place!

Even if you head for tropical climes, you can’t guarantee sunny weather. And remember, unless you head off for a second week somewhere else, you might be stuck on honeymoon with your friends and family!

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With February upon us, Love is in the air and the first signs of Spring are in the garden.

Baby it's cold outside, so wrap up warm because there are a number of outdoor activities this month. Take a walk through the majestic snowdrops and enjoy the views at Holme Pierrepont before taking a look around Holme Pierrepont Hall itself (3 - 28 Feb), or enjoy the snowdrop walk and winter garden at Hodstock Priory (9 - 17 Feb) Every February the Priory’s 12 acre Horse Acre Wood is carpeted with beautiful snowdrops. Visitors travel along the signposted walk through the spectacular

scene of approximately four million of these short lived seasonal flowers. For those after a truly relaxing experience, beautiful country hotel, Ye Olde Bell, a short drive from Hodsock Priory, is offering a special rate of £99 B&B for a double room based on 2 sharing for any guests visiting the snowdrops at Hodsock.

The hotel in the village of Barnby Moor dates back to the 17th century and there’s also the option to book into their luxurious spa for a wide range of pampering treats to

beat those winter blues.

Do something different on a Friday night this month and learn about the night sky in general, particularly naked eye celestial delights such as the planets, aurora, meteors and stars at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre & National Nature Reserve (2 Feb).

Sticking with the space theme, but much closer to earth, you can enjoy free cultural events in the city after dark (8 Feb) as part of this years Light Night Take a journey across the City from the canal side to the Creative Quarter

and beyond as you discover stunning light installations, exciting performances and plenty of opportunities to get involved – all inspired by the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 spaceflight and landing of the first man on the moon.

For something totally different in the dark, join Derbyshire Pony Trekking for a unique pony trek in the dark at Upper Langwith, Mansfield (16 Feb) For a more relaxing experience, head over to Stonebridge City Farm and experience a truly magical and mindful time around rabbits (17 Feb).

It's all about pigs however as we celebrate the Chinese New Year, the year of the pig.

Nottingham City Council and Nottingham Chinese Students and Scholars Association will be holding celebrations in the Old Market Square (2 Feb) and Lakeside Arts hold their annual New Year Gala.

Enjoy fascinating performances by professional artists including Chinese Erhu, Guzheng and Bamboo Flute music, together with spectacular group-coordinated Kung Fu routines (9-10 Feb).

Also celebrating is The Harley Gallery in Worksop.

2019 marks their 25th anniversary and see the return of the popular Open Exhibition which runs until 24th March. If creating your own arts, crafts and clothing is your thing then head to the Materials Recovery Facility in Mansfield (11 Feb) for 'Scraps to Scarves' and the recycled craft workshop (21 Feb If you want to be part of this months entertainment, join the De Vere Orchard Hotel in Nottingham for a night of Murder Mystery and suspense

as you play detective to work out 'whodunnit', or get ready for a night of killer passion at the National Justice Museum's 1940s Murder Mystery event (15 Feb) If you'd rather watch the entertainment this month, there's plenty to choose from.

The most famous love story of them all, Romeo and Juliet visits the Theatre Royal (1923 Feb) and while we're on the subject of desire, Tennessee Williams' explosive 1947 domestic drama; A Streetcar Named Desire is on at The Lace Market Theatre 28 Jan 2 Feb).

Willie Russell's legendary Blood Brothers visits The Theatre Royal (12-16 Feb) and, written by the daughter of a Nottingham miner, the regional premiere of Wonderland begins at Nottingham Playhouse (8 - 23 Feb) If you need a laugh to lift your spirits and forget about the miserable weather outside, Sandi Toksvig brings her brand new, one-woman comedy show to the Royal Concert Hall (7 Feb) and Tony Jameson visits The Canalhouse (20 Feb) The gang from The Full Monty should hot things up at The Theatre Royal (4-9). Based on his smash hit film and adapted for the stage by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, the hilarious and heartfelt production has received standing ovations every night and won the prestigious UK Theatre Award.

Keeeeep Dancing as the Strictly Come Dancing live extravaganza comes to the Motorpoint Arena (5/6 Feb) and Brendon Cole brings a night of beautiful ballroom

magic and high-energy latin passion to the Royal Concert Hall (20 Feb).

Of course there's plenty of music to look forward to this month too. Ozzy Osbourne kicks off his farewell world tour 'No More Tours' tour at Nottingham Motorpoint Arena (1 Feb) which will celebrate more than five decades as a performer (both as a solo artist and as lead singer of Black Sabbath).

Slightly less controversial is the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performing on the same evening at The Royal Concert Hall. This month also sees Don Brocco play The Motorpoint Arena (7 Feb), Tears for Fears play their rescheduled date at The Motorpoint Arena (13 Feb).

The Kaiser Chiefs visit Rock City on the same night. Paul Carrack returns to The Royal Concert (14 Feb) followed by The London Sinfonietta (15 Feb).

The stars of this years X-Factor come to The Motorpoint Arena (15 Feb) and we have an evening of 50's nostalgia with the Billy Fury Story: Halfway to Paradise at the Royal Concert Hall (19 Feb) Finally, foodies should get book themselves a table at the Japanese supper club with The Little Ramen Shop at Debbie Bryan (21 Feb) and romantics rejoice as The Holiday Inn at Castle Marina offer valentines packages from 11 Feb. Enjoy food by head chef Liam Woodward and take advantage of a special room package in the deal.

Always check with the venue ahead and book if necessary.

There is cost or entrance fee unless stated otherwise

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The BIG Ashfield Spring Clean 2019

Following last year’s success, The BIG Ashfield Spring Clean is once again coming to Ashfield. Ashfield District Council are again inviting residents to have a clear out of their homes and gardens and dispose of their waste as part of The BIG Spring Clean 2019. Rolling out in Sutton on the 11th February The BIG Spring Clean will run over three weeks, with Kirkby, Underwood, Selston and Jacksdale running from 18 February and Hucknall from 25 February. Extra waste can be bagged and put out with your regular bin collection during the relevant week, extra bin lorries known as

‘Flying Skips’ will be making scheduled stops on Saturday’s allowing residents to dispose of extra waste and items including small furniture, and residents can take advantage of a free bulky waste collection if booked during the Spring Clean. Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council says “Following the success of last year’s BIG Ashfield Spring Clean, when

the Council collected the largest amount of rubbish ever in a single project, we are proud to announce an even bigger and better Spring Clean this year. We’ve made is easier for all residents to get involved – offering a simple, personalised service.

You simply need to bag your extra waste in bin bags and leave it out with your regular bin collection during the week the

BIG Spring Clean is in your area. “We’ll also be using the campaign as an opportunity to target fly tipping and illegal waste carriers in the district, with the recent introduction of the pin hole cameras at fly tipping hotspots we’re sending out a clear message to fly tippers that we are coming for you. Residents have told us how much they value this extra service. For us as a

Council it’s just common sense. We will do everything we can to assist residents with their waste but come down like a ton of bricks on those who fly-tip and dump rubbish. We are committed to tackling issues and informing residents on how they can help Ashfield stay a clean and pleasant place to live.

We want the residents of Ashfield to take pride in their communities and local community groups, businesses and schools are being encouraged to organise litter picks in parks, open spaces and litter hot spots.” https://www.ashfield.gov.uk/springclean

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Broadway Charity Ball

Prepares For Opening Night Preparations are well underway for Broxtowe’s Broadway themed Charity Ball, with tickets now on sale for the event which will support charities SSAFA and East Midlands Ambulance Service.

The Broadway Charity Ball, sponsored by Novus Property Solutions, will be hosted by Mayor of the Borough of Broxtowe, Councillor Derek Burnett BEM and will take place at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel on Saturday 16th March 2019.

The evening including a drinks reception, delicious three course meal and entertainment from The Beat Roots, as well as a charity raffle filled with the fantastic prizes sponsored by local business and a special auction of a Paul Smith handbag worth over £250.

Tickets are £37.00 per person and can be purchased online until Friday 22nd February at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/charityball.

A special room rate is also on offer for a limited numbers of rooms for guests staying overnight at the Belfry Hotel.

Councillor Burnett said: “As a Community First Responder and an active member of SSAFA, I’ve seen first-hand the fantastic work these two charities do so please come and join me at the Broadway Ball for an evening of fun and fundraising for these worthy causes.”

“I’d also like to thank the local businesses who have supported the event so far by offering sponsorship and donating raffle prizes including Novus Property Solutions, United Living, KLG Amazing Glazing, B Friend Support, Fernwood Group Ltd., Gillots Funeral Directors, Aerofabrications, Sladen Haulage, Paul Smith, Slaters, Complete Working,

Nottingham Belfry Hotel, Onyx Goldsmiths Ltd., Oliver Bonas, Chilwell Manor Golf Club, Colton Bassett Stilton, Ginious, Bleu Hairdressing, GH Hurt, Snuggles and Kisses. If any other local business would like to support the event, please get in touch

with the Civic Office.” Sam Severn, Operations Manager of Novus Property Solutions said: “At Novus we believe it’s important to support charity events that will benefit Broxtowe. The Broadway Charity Ball is a wonderful event and we’re very proud

to be the headline sponsor as we continue to support both our clients and communities.”

Book your tickets online now. (https:// selfservice.broxtowe.gov.uk/renderform. aspx?t=45&k=E45A6B31706973927F521B6 F737C78C5338C36BE) You can also call the Civic Office on 0115 917 3210 or send in a paper or electronic copy of the Broadway Ball Booking Form.

Get involved in Bassetlaw Spring Clean

If your neighbourhood is in need of a bit of your own, Bassetlaw District a spring clean and you have a willing band Council can help your litterof volunteers or you are happy to go out on picking event. As always the Council is supporting Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British Spring Clean’, however this year, we will be running ours from 1 March until 31 May, giving people more opportunity to spruce up their street, village or public space.

You can donate as much of your time as you wish, from an hour to a full day or more!

Simply tell us where your litter pick will take place and the Council will provide you with bags, gloves, litter pickers and high-viz vests.

Once you have finished we will collect the bags of litter from a pre-arranged collection point.

Cllr Julie Leigh, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “We have had a fantastic response from residents, groups and schools in the

past who have helped to tidy up their communities for the benefit of everyone. We want to encourage anyone looking to organise a Spring Clean, to let us know where in the district you plan to get involved and register via our website” To be part of this year’s event, please register your Spring Clean with the Council at www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/ springclean and we will arrange for the equipment to be sent out to you in time for your litter pick. Alternatively you can organise an event at any time of the year, but please give us six week’s notice.

As well as the community spring cleans, we also encourage local schools to get involved by registering on our website www.bassetlaw. gov.uk/springclean and click the ‘Register a school for the Bassetlaw spring clean’ button.

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Call for schools to gear up for The Big Pedal 2019 Schools across Cumbria are encouraged to sign up to take part in The Big Pedal 2019, organised by national cycling charity Sustrans, and supported by Cumbria County Council’s Active Travel team.

This year, The Big Pedal in Cumbria takes place between 25 and 29 March.

The Big Pedal is the UK’s largest inter-school active travel challenge, which inspires pupils, staff and parents to choose ‘human power’ for their journey to school. During last year’s event, over a million journeys

were logged nationally by school pupils, staff and parents.

Schools compete on each day of the challenge to see who can record the greatest number of pupils, staff and parents cycling, scooting, or for the first time this year, walking to school. Journeys are logged on The Big Pedal website and are ranked each day against other schools in Cumbria, the North West and the UK. The theme for this year’s challenge focuses on health, and all schools entering the competition will receive a

human body wallchart with curriculum-based fact cards as well as posters, top tips and daily classroom activities to stimulate their learning.

During last year’s Big Pedal, 42 schools in Cumbria logged 10,529 bike journeys, 9,424 trips by scooter, with supporting families logging a further 2,918 journeys - each year more and more active journeys are logged as The Big Pedal gains momentum in Cumbria. Judith Aris, Active Travel Officer at Cumbria County Council, said: “The Big Pedal event is a

Campaign launched across Carlisle and Eden to find foster carers for siblings in Cumbria Cumbria County Council launches a new campaign today across Carlisle and Eden to try and find more foster carers who can offer homes to siblings groups and help brothers and sisters in care to stay together.

There is a need for all types of carers in the region, but especially for foster cares who can offer a permanent, longterm home to sibling groups.

At the moment there are 22 brothers and sisters across the county waiting for long term, permanent foster placements together. Without more foster carers coming forward during 2018 some children may find themselves living a long way from family, school and friends or being split up from brothers and sisters. Kath and Graham Lamb, from Carlisle, have been fostering for six years and are currently long term carers for a sibling group of three children (aged 7, 8 and 10). Kath, who used to work with children in care, said: “While I was working with looked after children, a group of six siblings came into care and had to be split into three groups of two, with placements all over the county, which meant it was very difficult for them to see each other. “They felt as though they were being punished for things their parents were responsible for. That wasn’t the case but there just wasn’t the carers there to take siblings groups

at that time.” She added that caring for siblings can be less challenging than caring for a single child: “We’ve done single placements, as well as sibling groups, and find siblings a lot easier as they are able to create their own little support network, while receiving the love and care that they need from us.

“Fostering siblings has been an amazing experience for us and I would recommend it to anybody considering the process. The local authority offer fantastic support and advice. It been great for us, the children and our family.”

Cllr Anne Burns, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “We believe that there are many people in our community who have the right skills and qualities to foster. We need you to come forward and help us change a child's life for good. We particularly need more foster families for sibling groups.

“Opening your home and your life to vulnerable children and helping brothers and sisters to stay together, is one of the

most selfless and rewarding things you can do. “I’d urge anyone interested in finding out more to attend one of our information evenings. There’s no pressure or expectation; just the chance to find out about the support we can offer and to ask questions in a private and informal setting.”

The council currently supports 35 fostering households in Carlisle but needs more to come forward this year, in order to offer a safe, secure and loving home to some of the county’s most vulnerable children. If you think you have what it takes and would like to find out more come to one of our upcoming information events and speak to our team and foster carers: Saturday 9 February - Crown and Mitre Hotel, Carlisle - Tea and coffee from 2pm, presentation starts 2.30pm. Saturday 23 February - George Hotel, Penrith - Tea and coffee from 2pm, presentation starts 2.30pm. If you can’t make an event go to www.cumbria. gov.uk/fostering or call 0303 333 1216 to find out more.

brilliant way to get children thinking about their physical health and wellbeing, and ditching the car to get to school is a great way to start!

For the first year walking journeys will now count as well, so we are hoping to get some new schools signing up for the first time.

“Not only is it good for the environment, but travelling actively to school results in healthier and fitter children, and we hope they will carry

this habit in to their teens and adulthood. This is not just about the children but their families and staff too.”

The council’s Active Travel team is offering an amazing prize to the first Cumbrian schools on the leader board.

Winning schools will receive a school visit, workshop and demonstration from Professional Flatland BMX rider and 3 x Guinness World Record Holder Champion Matti Hemmings.

To celebrate the finale of the challenge there is also the option to join in with a superhero day by submitting photos of pupils dressed as superheroes on their bikes, scooters or walking to school!

A £100 Halfords voucher will also be up for grabs for the best photo on the day!

Schools can register now at www.bigpedal.org.uk and click on Cumbria County Council as your local authority.

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Fostering leads to a deep and life-long friendship The moment you meet foster carer Lesley and her former foster child Polly you are struck by their closeness and the undeniable bond between them.

Lesley, 57, from Mansfield, has fostered with Nottinghamshire County Council for 24 years.

Until eight years ago she was a single foster carer of mainly teenagers, but now fosters with her husband Keith.

Lesley and Keith currently have a staying put placement, a young person over the age of 18 who is remaining with the couple beyond his ‘foster placement’, and a 17 year old boy.

“I never had any children of my own and I must admit fostering at first seemed like an alien experience, but I quickly grew to love it,” says Lesley.

“I wanted to bring children into my home and make sure they felt like part of the family, not just visitors.”

Polly, now 33, remembers vividly her first visit to

Lesley’s home.

“She made me feel so at ease and welcome, and asked me very quickly how I’d like my bedroom doing up before my next visit,” said Polly, who now lives with her partner, her partner’s daughter and her own two daughters in Hucknall.

“Lesley and I went shopping for bedding and other bits for my room and we clicked straightaway. I felt comfortable and a sense of belonging from day one.”

Lesley openly admits that she sees Polly as the daughter she never had.

“We just slotted into each other lives and we have been there for each other at important times,” Lesley said.

“Polly played a huge part in the preparations in the runup to my wedding eight years ago and I have some lovely memories of us going to look at wedding dresses together.”

Polly also holds precious memories of Lesley helping her move into her first flat

when she moved out aged 19.

During the years she fostered Polly, Lesley maintained good relations with Polly’s birth mum and dad.

Lesley explained: “I was Polly’s foster carer and she lived with me but it was important in my eyes that she knew where she came from

and had a sense of family and belonging. That sense of belonging is important for any child and we maintained that throughout Polly’s stay with us.”

Lesley has fostered more than 50 young people over the years and tries to keep in regular touch with all of them.

“They need to know that the support is still available even though they have moved on with their lives. I want them to feel they can still come to me with their good news or a problem and I’ll be there for them.” Lesley is supporting the County Council’s New Year fostering campaign This

year, be the difference in a child’s life and urges anyone who has been thinking about fostering to take a closer look.

“It really is a fantastically rewarding role, I feel I’ve made a difference to so many young people’s lives and that gives me a real sense of achievement.”

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Residents get walking, cycling and swimming with exercise referral scheme A new exercise referral scheme will get residents with a long term health condition moving with specifically tailored gym classes, walking, cycling and swimming activities.

The referral scheme has been launched at East Leake Leisure Centre by Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning Group in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council, supporting residents to develop a regular exercise routine.

Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure Cllr Debbie Mason attended the launch of the scheme with local GP Dr Neil Fraser.

She said: “It is great to be

working with East Leake Leisure Centre and Rushcliffe CCG to create this referral scheme which will make such a positive impact on resident’s lives.

“It is designed for those who may not consider partaking in regular exercise so residents who are referred will be given all the support and guidance they need.”

There are a range of classes and activities available and a personalised exercise plan will be developed during a one-to-one initial assessment with a qualified exercise instructor.

Dr Fraser, lead for Long Term Conditions in Rushcliffe

said: “We are proud to launch this scheme in East Leake, supporting residents in need by introducing exercise into their daily lives and helping them attain healthier lifestyles.

“Increasing physical levels of activity has lots of benefits including increasing bone density, lowering blood pressure, improving mobility, cholesterol, mood and lung function, as well as reducing stress and anxiety and increasing energy levels.”

To find out more about the scheme and to check the eligibility criteria please contact East Leake Leisure Centre on 01509 852956 or speak to your GP practitioner.

LIFE COACHING? LIFE CHANGING! Overwhelmed? Stressed? Unfulfilled?

Life coaching can help.

For many of us, life often seems to be a constant battle to juggle work and family, coping with the needs of children and aging parents. So often we struggle to see how we can make improvements and find it difficult to keep on track with plans we have made. This is where a life coach can help us move forward more quickly and productively than on our own. According to Life Coach, Karen MacDuff, “Life coaching can create positive changes. It helps people achieve happier, more fulfilled lives in which they can cope with their difficulties as well as unlocking their potential and realizing new ventures and achievements. Even small changes can have profound, positive, energizing effects on well-being, lifestyle and careers.” More people than ever are beginning to realise the benefits of working with a life coach to cope with their difficulties and achieve their aspirations. For decades, life coaching was only available to those in elite corporations or those who could afford the high cost of coaching sessions. Thankfully, life coaching is now becoming more mainstream and affordable. Using a variety of methods, including skilled questioning and visualization, coaches help clients challenge negative thinking whilst supporting and encouraging them to overcome obstacles and create positive

changes.

All aspects of our lives can be helped, whether they be specific individual one -off problems, long standing difficulties or a desire to follow a dream. Truly remarkable things can occur through small changes and challenging misconceptions.

Life Coaching can help us all to reconsider how we cope with our difficulties, and take back control of our lives: making time for ourselves and regaining a sense of purpose, calmness and wellbeing. The author is a lifestyle development coach with additional specialisms in educational motivation and career transition. She is also a teacher and writer of educational books. www.lifecoachkaren. co.uk info@lifecoachkaren.co.uk

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New research to investigate a common Caesarean birth complication Obstetricians, midwives and women who’ve had babies by Caesarean section are taking part in a new study to find out which technique is best used

by the surgeon if the baby’s head is found to be stuck in the pelvis at the time of Caesarean delivery.

Around 15% of babies are

delivered by emergency C-section in the UK and the problem of ‘impacted fetal head’ occurs in about 1.5% of these operations – that’s

around 1,500 babies who have to be manoeuvred very carefully to release their head from the pelvis.

Experts at the University

of Nottingham’s School of Medicine and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust want to assess the feasibility of a clinical trial to compare different techniques for managing an impacted fetal head during emergency C-section. Thanks to a £200,000 grant from the NIHR, the team will carry out the largest ever investigation into the problem with a view to a full-scale randomised trial to compare different techniques for managing it in theatre.

The study is being carried out in collaboration with the Nottingham Maternity Research Network – which connects medical researchers with local people who have

used maternity services and are interested in participating in research.

Leading the study, Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Dr Kate Walker, said: “Impacted fetal head can cause serious problems for both mother and baby. There are a number of ways to make such births easier; an assistant can push the head up with their hand from the vagina, or a specially designed balloon in the vagina can achieve the same effect.

Sometimes the surgeon delivers the baby’s feet or arms first. Doctors can also use medicines that cause the womb to relax to allow more room for manoeuvre.

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We do not know which of these methods is best for the mother and the baby.

The NHS would like to conduct research in this area. Before they do so they want to

find out from doctors and midwives, how common the problem is, what techniques are currently in use and which ones should be tested in

future research projects. We also need to determine how acceptable research in this area is to parents.”

Samantha Foulke from Nottingham Maternity Research Network said: “Our network is a service user group with an interest in maternity related research. We are delighted to be involved with this piece of research into surveying current practice for this complication during a caesarean birth. This problem can potentially be a highly distressing experience for mothers and their birth

partners, and it is vital that we work together to identify good practice or highlight areas for further research in the future.”

The new study will consist of several different avenues of research: • A national survey of obstetricians and trainee obstetricians to examine current practice, level of experience and training for an impacted fetal head scenario.

Similar surveys of midwives and anaesthetists and a focus group of women who have had an emergency C-section as well as a national survey

of parents to determine views on the idea of a clinical trial.

• A UK Obstetric Surveillance System study to determine the incidence and consequences of impacted fetal head in the UK. • A Delphi survey to decide which techniques should be tested in a clinical trial.

The results of these studies will inform further work to design a large-scale randomised controlled clinical trial in the UK to build an accurate picture of the prevalence of impacted fetal head and the nature and frequency of complications for the mother and baby. The researchers say it will increase awareness of the problem among parents and health professionals and could redress possible training deficiencies in this area of obstetric care.

Phone or video call therapy improves health anxiety and saves money, study finds A new study by mental health experts has found that easyaccess, remotely-delivered psychological treatment can significantly reduce extreme health anxiety in people who repeatedly go to the

doctor, or hospital emergency departments.

The researchers from the University of Nottingham’s Institute of Mental Health and NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) E a s t Midlands* carried out a multicentre trial to compare the effects of cognitive behavioural

therapy (CBT) delivered by phone or video calling, to standard treatment via their GP and the mental health referral system.

The NIHR-funded study found that the randomly selected group of patients who received sessions of remote CBT via telephone or online video calling had markedly reduced health anxiety in the 12 months after the start of this treatment and the cost savings to the NHS were more than £1,000 per patient. The results, published in BMC Medicine, also show that general anxiety and depression in these patients improved over the same period, as did their overall health.

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Councillor David Mellen to

read to 5,000 children in 50 days Councillor David Mellen, Portfolio Holder Reading Challenge – aiming for Early Intervention and Early Years at to read to 5,000 children in Nottingham City Council, is launching his Big 50 days. Running from 28 January to 18 March 2019, Cllr Mellen’s challenge will aim to raise £5,000 to give free books to children in the city through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

It follows his first challenge in January 2018 when Cllr Mellen read to 2,018 children in one month. This year, he will read to school classes and assemblies, nursery groups and library groups, children’s centres and children in hospital. The first day of the challenge will take place at the top of Green’s Windmill in Sneinton with children from neighbouring Sneinton CofE Primary School.

All funds raised by the Big Reading Challenge will go to the Imagination Library – an amazing scheme that delivers

a free book every month to children from birth to five years old.

Councillor Mellen said: “Our children deserve the best possible start in life. We know that reading with children is one of the best ways to set them up for a bright future.

“Unfortunately in Nottingham, too many of our children start school behind the expected literacy levels.

The Imagination Library is proven to change this.

“This charity ensures that every child receives a free book every month. It’s about giving our children the joy of reading.”

The Imagination Library is proven to improve children’s literacy levels so that they are 28% more likely to be ready to start school when they turn five. The scheme in Nottingham was set up

in 2009 and is now running successfully in 10 of the city’s 20 wards.

Cllr Mellen added: “I am delighted the Imagination Library is now running in 10 wards across the city, but we want to go further and roll it out to all children living in Nottingham, making sure every child benefits from receiving a free book every month. To do this, the charity desperately needs more funds.

“Reading to 5,000 children

over 50 days is an ambitious challenge but it’s a cause I feel strongly about. I hope that I am able to raise funds to give even more children the best start in life.”

Cllr Mellen is asking for sponsorship money and is hoping to raise at least £5,000 for the Imagination Library. Every donation helps: • £2 can pay for a child to get a new book • £25 can pay for a child to get a new book each month for a year • £125 pays for a child to get a book every month from birth until their 5th birthday Councillor Mellen’s fundraising page is found here: www.gofundme.com/ bigreadingchallenge

Make 2019 the year to learn a new skill

Rutland Adult Learning and Skills Service (RALSS) is encouraging adults to make 2019 the year to learn something new or improve their skills through a wide range of academic and vocational courses. Based at Oakham Enterprise Park, RALSS offers classroom learning and qualifications in English, maths,

accounting and computers, as well as courses covering employability, life skills, arts and languages.

RALSS works in partnership with Peterborough Regional College to offer apprenticeships and workplace learning qualifications covering a wide range of sectors, including: • Support Teaching and Learning in Schools • Early Years and Childcare • Health and Social Care • Business Administration • Customer Service • Catering and Hospitality • ICT RALSS is also an accredited centre for the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), offering courses for AAT Certificates in Accounting Level 2 and 3 to open doors to chartered accountancy, university, selfemployment and more.

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Private landlords: Have you got a licence?

Landlords of shared houses in some parts of Nottingham are being reminded to check if they need to apply for a licence. Privately rented shared houses in parts of Arboretum, Dunkirk, Lenton, The Park, Radford, Hyson Green, New Basford, Hockley/Lace Market, Mapperley, Sherwood, Carrington, Wollaton Park, Sneinton and Old Meadows are subject to an Additional Licensing scheme. This was first introduced on a five-year basis in 2014, with a new scheme starting on 1 January this year. Landlords and agents who hold valid licences under the 2014 – 2018 scheme must apply for a new licence when their current one ends.

Some properties, which didn’t require a licence under the

previous scheme, may now fall within the new licensable area.

The City Council operates three different types of licensing schemes, depending on the type of property and more than 90% of all privately rented houses in the city now require licensing.

All landlords are therefore being encouraged to check if their properties need a licence. They can check this here: https://geoserver. n o t t i n g h a m c i t y. g o v. u k / myproperty/ or search ‘My Property’ on the Council’s homepage www. nottinghamcity.gov.uk Licensing schemes like this set out clear standards and responsibilities for landlords and tenants, and allow action to be taken against problems

such as inadequate gas, electrical and fire safety, overcrowding and insufficient facilities, poor internal and external property conditions as well as anti-social behaviour like noise nuisance and waste management.

The new Additional licensing scheme aims to: • Protect the health, safety and wellbeing of tenants and communities by ensuring safe, well-managed properties and higher quality standards within Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the licensable area • Help inform tenants of what to expect from their landlord and what is expected of them as a tenant, through better communication and management of properties • Provide increased powers

to inspect properties which otherwise would not be inspected unless a complaint had been received • Provide increased enforcement tools to help tackle rogue, bad and noncompliant landlords • Ensure the property is safe and of a suitable standard for tenants.

This helps landlords find and keep good tenants and helps to raise the profile of good quality private rented accommodation in the city.

Councillor Linda Woodings, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing said: “Poor housing conditions and poor property management can have a serious impact on people’s health and wellbeing, such as accidents and injuries,

increased anxiety, stress and depression, respiratory problems and aggravated allergies. “This scheme is one of a number of initiatives we are undertaking with partners to help improve all types of private rented housing in the city and to help ensure private rented properties are safe, well managed and maintained.

“The previous Additional Licensing scheme had a positive impact on the problems associated with HMOs and we want to ensure this continues for the benefit of landlords, tenants, and the wider local community.”

The reminder comes as the council brings in a new data modelling system which will help them to target high-risk properties that are unlicensed for enforcement action. The

Government has provided funding for the scheme which will allow the council and partner organisation to take more efficient and effective action against rogue landlords.

Nottingham also has an accreditation scheme called the Nottingham Standard in order to recognise private rented homes that are well managed and provide a good standard of accommodation with no hazards to safety.

When tenants are looking to rent houses, they can ask if the property is accredited, as this gives even greater assurance of its quality. Unipol provide the scheme in relation to student housing while DASH (Decent and Safe Homes) administers the scheme, which covers the whole of the private rented sector.

Hello, I’m Paul Toms, owner of www.webuynghouse.com I am delighted to be writing a new monthly column in the Nottingham Now, focusing on the property market in our wonderful City.

To start the column, as we are still early into 2019, I thought a general over-view of the Nottinghamshire property market would be appropriate.

As the year progresses, I will then share my insights into specific NG postcodes to give you an idea of how they compare with both the local and National markets.

The long-let rental market is thriving and can produce attractive yields. With two universities and over 70,000 students, student lets are a strong-performing type of investment property in Nottingham too. As a tourist destination with visitors spending over £1.5 billion a year, short/holiday investment lets could be another consideration for a Nottingham property investment.

Experts forecast that the East Midlands property market is likely to grow by 15.7% between 2019 and 2023.

This figure is slightly higher than the forecast for the UK average over that time of 15.6% The UK average house price as of October 2018 was £230,922 compared the East Midlands average of £191,544 (an annual increase of 4.4%). In addition, the NG1 and NG7 postcodes are highly regarded as postcode hotspots, returning yields of 9.8% and 8.2% respectively.

Looking at NG7 specifically, this area is home to the University, QMC, Lenton, Radford and Wollaton. It has seen a rise in house value of 28% over the last five years with the average house price in the postcode at £176,644 as of January 2019. The average rent for a 3 bedroomed house in NG7 stands at £1098 per month.

Although mortgage lending saw a slight decline towards the end of the year, the positive is that lending still reached £23.8m across the UK, with 136,000 mortgage approvals.

Having said all the above, investment in property can be a risk if not managed in the correct way.

When viewing property, in addition to the bricks and mortar, always remember to undertake a detailed

analysis of the area (local developments, planning permissions granted nearby etc), conduct a risk assessment

of your borrowing and make sure you stress test the mortgage rate. Finally, if any refurbishment is required, I

would advise to over-estimate the figure or appoint a project manager to ensure the budget is kept under control.

www.webuynghouse.com

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Winter is coming!

DIY home improvement projects for this winter

It will soon be too cold to work outside, and so consider tackling these indoor projects this winter instead. They will improve the look and feel of your home, and keep you active in the winter months!

Block draughts Draughts or air leaks can make the temperature of your home drop by several degrees and can cause you to waste unnecessary cash by driving up your heating bills. Check for gaps around windows and doors, and invest in some self-sticking weather strips to block any gaps. Making sure your attic and basement is properly insulated is also a good tip for keeping draughts at bay.

Check your roof Now is a good time to check your roof, before it gets too cold. It is important to clear off any debris that has

landed on your roof during the summer months. This will also be a good chance to make sure no tiles have blown off or become loose. Just make sure you have a sturdy ladder, a reliable spotter and make sure your shoes have good grip – safety is crucial here.

Keeping your roof in good repair now may well save you serious headaches further down the road Declutter When spring arrives, you’re not going to want to spend time sifting through piles of junk in your home – you’ll want to be outside enjoying the warmer weather. Winter is therefore a perfect time to get organised.

A popular way of doing this is the “do I love it, do I need it?” method. If you any spare storage, you could also put some things into hibernation

for a while and see if you miss them.

Another good tip is to take small steps. Don’t try to tackle the entire house at once – start small, and go slow.

Insulation We realise adding insulation isn’t the most exciting of jobs to get stuck into, but it will save you money. Top-rate insulation is the ideal way to lower your heating bills.

Newer homes generally are better insulated than older homes. If you live in a period property, now is therefore the time to sort your insulation out, before the winter chill really sets in. If you have cavity walls in your property check whether cavity wall insulation has been fitted. It is a good idea to have insulation professionally installed to avoid moisture problems or air quality problems but remember to wear a facemask, goggles and protective clothing if you choose to do it yourself. It’s easy to get cabin fever this time of year, but throwing yourself into a home project is a great way to keep yourself active, add value to your home, make your property more comfortable and cheaper to run and beautify or improve your living space. It’s win-win!

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Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, has joined dozens of prominent figures from the East Midlands signing an open letter calling on party leaders to publicly commit to completing HS2 Phase Two. Midlands Connect, Midlands Engine, Northern Powerhouse Partnership and Core Cities UK are urging Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn, Vince Cable and Nicola Sturgeon to offer their unwavering support to the project, explaining it is the only way to ensure the country benefits fully from a oncein-a-generation opportunity to drive regional economic growth and rebalance the economy.

Among the high profile figures who’ve signed the letter are: East Midlands Airport Managing Director Karen Smart; Elizabeth Fagan, Managing Director of Boots UK and Chair of D2N2 LEP, Ian Glade, Director of bus and tram operator Wellglade Group; council leaders in Derby, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, and Scott Knowles, Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire,

Leicestershire). Counterparts in the West Midlands and north of England have also signed it.

Delivering HS2 in full will connect eight of the UK’s ten biggest cities, and once integrated with crucial upgrades to the existing rail network, including the Midlands Rail Hub and Northern Powerhouse Rail, all ten cities will benefit from a step-change in rail connectivity.

The open letter explains: “HS2 Phase Two will extend the benefits of this vital piece of infrastructure to more than 25 million people – over a third of the UK’s population – across the East Midlands, the North and Scotland. These people and places should not be denied the job and growth opportunities that HS2 brings.

It must continue beyond Birmingham.“Our support must not flounder or stall. We must unite to deliver HS2 in full, and we urge you to join us by offering your vocal and unwavering support.

Help make HS2 happen for everyone, and help us all achieve our full potential.

HS2 Phase One, connecting London to the West Midlands,

received Royal Assent in 2017 and construction is underway.

Phases 2a and 2b, connecting the West Midlands to the East Midlands, Crewe, Manchester, South Yorkshire and Leeds, still require parliamentary backing to proceed. Phase 2a is scheduled to receive Royal Assent before the end of 2019, with Phase 2b following in early 2023.

The East Midlands Hub station at Toton is expected to generate £4 billion a year for the East Midlands economy and generate 74,000 new jobs. In October 2018, the government pledged to create a locally-led development body to maximise the benefits of HS2.

The open letter comes as MPs, business and civic leaders from the East Midlands are uniting with others from across the country today (Thursday 24 January) for a parliamentary reception at Westminster to intensify their unequivocal support for HS2.

The event will be chaired by Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South and Chair of the Transport Committee, and attended by Allan Cook in his first public engagement as Chairman of HS2.

Councillor Collins said: “HS2 is hugely important to the region as a driver to create jobs, growth and business opportunities.

Recent Treasury statistics revealed that last year the East Midlands received less public funding on transport per head than anywhere else in the country. In London, the spending per head was four times as much.

“This is an opportunity to help rebalance the national economy through improved infrastructure, better connecting the north, south and the Midlands. Now more than ever we need reassurance that all parties are committed to investing in the future of our region.”

Sir John Peace, Chairman

of Midlands Connect and Midlands Engine, has signed the letter and said: “The Midlands and the North are uniting behind HS2, promoting the short and long term benefits and answering the project’s critics to make sure it goes ahead in full.

Securing unequivocal, crossparty support to deliver HS2 in its entirety is essential to the economic futures of the Midlands and the North. The East Midlands alone stands to create 74,000 new jobs as a result of HS2; reaffirming the promise of this investment will catalyse growth and business confidence during a crucial transitional period for the country. We can’t afford to let this opportunity slip through our fingers.”

Karen Smart, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, added: “HS2 will be the step-change that the East Midlands needs to be able to compete with other areas of the UK for inward investment and business growth.

This, in turn, will lead to greater job creation, new housing and communities, and improved quality of life for people living and working in the region.

Alongside other key transport assets such as the airport, which has capacity to grow, and the East Midlands Gateway, HS2 will further enhance the region’s connectivity making it one of the most convenient parts of the UK to visit, work and live.”

Cllr Denis Beeston MBE has died It is with deepest sadness and regret that on 16 January 2019 Councillor Denis Beeston MBE passed away peacefully at Nottingham City hospital after a long period of illness.

Cllr. John Clarke, Leader of Gedling Borough Council said: ‘Councillor Denis Beeston MBE represented the residents of Bestwood Village and latterly Bestwood & St. Albans ward as a Gedling Borough councillor for 36 years.

He was also a long-serving Chair of Bestwood Parish Council and local school governor.

He was honoured with an

MBE from Prince Charles in 2009 in recognition of his service to his community.

During this time he demonstrated the very best of distinguished public service - tirelessly championing the cause of the place he was proud to call home.

His fierce commitment to the values of social justice, fairness and his trademark courtesy and grace were a reflection of Denis’ selfless and compassionate nature.

He was one of society’s true gentleman.

Our beloved colleague ‘Denbo’ was a friend to many, a fine mentor and an inspiration to us all.

His voice of wisdom and reason will be missed at Gedling Borough Council but he can rest in peace knowing his fine commitment, service and dedication made our borough and his village a better place for all.

We will miss Denis dearly but we will commit to honouring his life and service by redoubling our efforts to continue championing the causes he held dear.

Today Gedling Borough and Bestwood Village have lost a towering figure and a truly fine representative.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Denis’ family and friends at this difficult time.’

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Crackdown on stolen motorbikes continues This week two more motorbikes have been seized as part of an ongoing operation in Kirkby by Ashfield District Council.

This means in just a few weeks SIX stolen motorbikes causing misery for residents have been seized on the Coxmoor Estate alone.

In the first incident, two males aged around 12-14 years old were spotted riding the motor bike down Beacon Drive, Kirkby in Ashfield.

Abandoning the Motorbike on Holiday’s Hill when they saw the Council’s Community Protection van. The bike was retained by the Community Protection Officers and passed to Nottinghamshire Police for further investigation.

In the second incident two males aged around 18-20

years old were seen pushing a scooter down Park Lane, Kirkby in Ashfield. On stopping them, Community Protection Officers enquired about the scooter which they stated had been bought from a male on the Coxmoor Estate. Officers contacted the Police and the bike had been registered as stolen. Officers retained the bike until the police removed it for further investigation.

Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council says “These are just two more examples of the Council’s Community Protection Officers seizing stolen motorbikes in the Coxmoor area. This is the sixth in the past two months. Following concerns from residents in the

summer, a multi-agency task force was set up to get to grips with crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.

“We are committed to reducing anti-social behaviour on Coxmoor and

across the Ashfield District.

We are working closely with the Police on a number of initiatives. The fact that 55 police response officers are now based in Kirkby continue to makes a real difference in

the fight against crime.

“Last month a day of action on the estate resulted in the arrest of a known trouble causer and we’ve already received feedback from residents on the positive changes that are

taking place on the estate. We will continue to work closely with the police and residents of Coxmoor and believe we’re on track to make Coxmoor a place where residents feel safe and proud to live.”

Beeston Business Hub Welcomes New Businesses Two new and expanding businesses have moved in to Broxtowe’s new Business ‘Incubator’ Hub in Beeston, thanks to a unique Council initiative to transform flats above retail space in Beeston Town Centre.

Philip Davis of Island HVAC Systems, an air purification systems company for residential and commercial properties, and Trevor Woolery of Create Animate, an educational animation studio, have moved in and are already seeing the benefits of the Hub. The hub, on the corner of Station Road in Beeston Town Centre, provides new and expanding businesses that want to grow but may not be able to afford full rent, with desk space and a base to work from.

Chair of the Jobs and Economy Committee, Councillor Tony Harper said: “This is one of flagship initiatives of the Council and it’s a fantastic

opportunity for businesses.

It’s right in the centre of Beeston, an ideal location.

The people that have moved in are more than happy with it, it ideally suits their needs, so it suits everybody and is allowing new businesses to thrive.”

“This is a pilot initiative which we’re very proud of, and if we can get a good blueprint on this project then we can move it around Broxtowe and use it for other towns and villages to help many more businesses across the Borough.”

Philip Davis of Island HVAC Systems said: “I decided to move into the Hub because of the flexibility of the contract and the options available for a new start business.

Indoor air quality is a growing agenda, particularly air purification on indoor air quality and public health issues, so with Nottingham as a central base the Hub is an opportunity to grow out to the UK and a national audience.”

“It’s been great so far, we’ve had a few meetings here already and we’ll hopefully get a few more networking events available and get the opportunity to meet other new start-ups.

We want to use the Hub as a base to grow our businesses and to look for opportunities with a wider network available in the community.”

The Council will be providing Case Studies of the businesses using the Hub in the coming months to help other new startup businesses understand the benefits of network working.

A tapered rent agreement for four years is available to allow businesses time to grow and afford commercial rent rates.

The shared space also offers fantastic networking opportunities with other businesses in the hub.

The space is fully kitted out with: • Kitchen (including appliances) • Wi-Fi • Meeting/Break out Area • WC • Communal Outdoor Space Anyone interested in renting in the Hub should contact Rebecca Ogden on 0115 917 3826 or by emailing economic. development@broxtowe.gov. uk. Find out more about the Beeston Business Hub. The Incubator Hub is just one of a number of Council initiatives to support new business in the area.

Also available is a £1,000 Grants scheme for startup business throughout Broxtowe. Any registered

businesses that are not yet on eligible activity. Find out trading are free to apply, and more about Broxtowe Startinterested applicants need to Up Grants. showcase up to a £2,000 spend

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Want to advertise here? call: 0115 6972670

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10 Tips for Managing 1st Tee Nerves WE ALL play golf for fun but the one shot that reduces most of us to shambling wrecks is the opening tee shot. It often sets the tone for the day and is all the more difficult because there is usually a crowd hanging around the first tee, and we all get nervous when we feel eyes boring into us, wondering if we are going to top the ball 20 yards or slice it out of bounds with that first proper swing of the day.

First-tee nerves even afflict the very best players - ask any European or American golfer what it feels like to strike the opening drive at the Ryder Cup and they will tell you that they are so nervous that they struggle to put the ball on the tee.

In many respects it is a good thing to have some nerves and to be able to summon up a little adrenaline. But there are some things you can do to make life a bit easier. Here, we provide 10 tips that may make that opening drive a little easier.

• Go to the practice ground and hit some golf balls before you start your round. It may seem obvious, but most of us

turn up in the car park 10 minutes before we are due to tee off, hit half a dozen putts and then climb onto the first tee and expect to crunch our opening drives.

Tour pros warm-up properly for a reason.

• Do some warm-up exercises.

It is important to stretch your muscles and get yourself ready. Taking half a dozen violent practice swings is not warming up. Tight muscles make for tight golf swings.

• Take deep breaths. It make sound like a cliche, but breathing properly is important. If you take the time to have some deep breaths before you play it will help you to relax and you may be surprised by how much better you feel when stand on the tee.

• We all have a favourite club in our bags, our go-to club.

Most of us automatically reach for the driver on the first

hole, but it is surely better to go for the club you are most comfortable with, the one that is most likely to help you find the middle of the fairway.

• Come up with a strategy.

Don’t just walk onto the opening tee and fire off your first drive of the day without first thinking about the best way to play the hole. Think about where you want to put the ball - and use that club last of all before you walk off the practice ground or driving range.

• Don’t put down a brand new Titleist ProV1 unless you are properly prepared. If you lose an expensive new golf ball with your first shot of the day the chances are that it will put you in the wrong frame of mind for the rest of your round. But don’t put down a battered old ball either.

• Arrive in plenty of time. Even if you decide that you don’t want to spend an hour on the driving range before starting your round, give yourself time to get to the opening tee in the right frame of mind. Go for a coffee or a bacon roll.

• It may seem obvious but have you cleaned your clubs? At least give yourself a chance by ensuring that your equipment is clean, that all the mud from your previous round has been removed.

• Take some time to chat with your playing partners before you start your round.

Share some banter, have some laughs.

• Have fun! No matter what, it is only a game and the reason that we play is because we enjoy it, so don’t stress about your opening drive or anything else that follows it. No matter how badly we play, there will always be at least one shot that will bring us back.

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Page 39.

First look at new leisure centre for Kirkby revealed

Agonising & Eventful Month at Stoke Lane Carlton Town 2-3 Loughborough Dynamo The new year would commence with a home fixture against Loughborough Dynamo with both teams looking to get a good start on the first day of the calendar year. The opposition came with a strong squad and showed a lot of determination again under a difficult footing.

The Millers would score twice in the first fifteen minutes with goals from Opoku and Clarke before the away team could really get a look in.

Dynamo raised their game and were to pull a goal back thirteen minutes before the break. This would spur them on in the second half where they would equalise and ensure that they would run out the victors via a seventy-ninth minute penalty in a game where there were many hotly disputed decisions.

Pickering Town 0-2 Carlton Town. A week later Carlton would travel to yorkshire looking to avenge their home defeat from back in november and would be involved in a fight to the death in this encounter.

They would score early through the now fit again Blake and with ten minutes remaining would go onto double that lead through substitute Rollinson. The Millers would finish the game with nine men with Opoku

being sent off for time wasting and Clarke for being accused of throwing a water bottle off the pitch which hit the linesman’s flag on it’s way.

Clarke in this instance was not to blame and was instigated in a case of mistaken identity.

It was a harsh way to end a game which on a heavily sloping pitch would produce a very hard working performance from the team.

Carlton Town 0-4 Stamford Up next were Stamford, again a team looking to reverse their result from earliar in the season and with the Millers looking to make it back to back victories in the league for the first time this season.

The away side started brightly and at times produced some neat and productive play, keeping the home side in hand and under control.

They would lead at the interval two-nil with Carlton missing a penalty that could have reduced the arrears before the close. Stamford would continue their good work in the second half and eventually

win the game with another two goals in the second period of play.

Ossett United 1-1 Carlton Town. Saturday soon comes round and another furore into Yorkshire beckoned.

This one was an end to end battle with Carlton for long periods on the back foot and having to dig in. The home side would open the scoring six minutes after the break and Bartram would equalise twelve minutes later after a goal-less first half.

The two teams couldn’t be divided after ninety minutes and again the Millers would finish the match with only nine men with Robinson and Blake both being dismissed for two separate instances.

Newark Flowserve 0-2 Carlton Town A cold tuesday night was next on the agenda in the senior cup and at times in literally a bruising encounter the team would be triumphant.

Another goal early in the game from Bartram would set the Millers on their way

but at a cost. Carlton would have to use all three substitutes in the first forty minutes, losing Rollinson with a hamstring problem, Spence with a dislocated shoulder and then his replacement the recently signed McLoughlan with a broken foot. It was at times a fierce contest and was very tight until the dying embers of the game when substitute Stovell put the result beyond doubt.

Carlton Town 1-5 Cleethorpes Town An encouraging week for the team on the pitch would see a lot of expectation and with the squad now being stretched due to injuries and suspensions see Cleethorpes come to town.

It was to be a very frustrating day at the office for the home side and would see them fall apart in the second half after coming back to two-one just before half-time.

Stovell again would get on the score sheet to give the Millers some hope for the second half but the team would see three goals conceded in the last twenty-five minutes ruin a decent run of performances from the previous seven days.

February is now on the horizon and the expectations are still high with a group of players that are more than capable of producing a run of results to elevate them up the league.

Hopefully this will be achieved this month and the team will be able to show their true quality.

Forthcoming Fixtures 2nd Feb Sheffield (a) 9th Feb Belper Town (a) 16th Feb Spalding Utd (h)

Opoku scoring against Loughborough Dynamo

Ashfield District Council’s cabinet approved the land behind the current Festival Hall site as the preferred location for the development at a meeting on 21st January. The state-of-the-art provision will see the introduction of long awaited water space to Kirkby in the form of a leisure pool and a 25-metre swimming pool, as well as an indoor adventure climbing wall and cinema screen in the multi-purpose sports hall. The artist’s impressions, developed by GT3 Architects, depict the proposed design for the destination’s swimming pool, fitness suite and café. The outline plans will be developed over the next few months and further images will be made available as the project is progressed.

The facility mix approved includes: • Water Space (25m pool with flexible floor and separate leisure water pool) • Sports Hall (size of four badminton courts - the same floor space as the current Festival Hall) • Health and Fitness suite with full gym • Two multi activity studios • Group Cycling studio • Well-being toning and Rehabilitation suite • Indoor adventure climbing wall Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Tom Hollis said: “The new drawings are amazing and is another step closer to the new leisure destination Kirkby deserves.

Residents have waited decades for this and it is clear residents value their Council making such a dramatic investment in our future. These are exciting times for Kirkby and we are remembering our past too with the Nag’s Head Clock going back up!”

The drawings that have been produced by the architects showcase our ambition for a state-of-the-art space that will provide Kirkby with the high quality leisure provision it so desperately needs.

It’s exciting to see our vision come to life.” “The facility mix that has now been approved provides something for everyone.

There are activities for the very young to older people. By bringing such excellent facilities to Kirkby, the new leisure centre will be a destination for residents to be proud of.” The Council recently met with a community focus group set up to help shape the project. Andy Hall, member of the group said: “I think a new leisure centre will transform the local area and people’s lives. It is fantastic that Kirkby will be having both a lane swimming pool and a leisure pool, it will provide something for everybody of all abilities.” The approval will see the new leisure centre built behind the existing site, ensuring that the Festival Hall remains open to its customers throughout the build programme. It is anticipated that the new centre will be opened in 2021.

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Page 40.

Brian Rice – Exclusive Interview

Andrew Antcliff & Brian Rice Nottingham Forest football has been home to many iconic players throughout its illustrious past, perhaps none more so than former winger and cult hero Brian Rice.

Brian, now 55 years old, has just landed the manager’s job at Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership having previously held assistant positions at Hibernian and St Mirren.

I will return to his coaching toward the end of this piece but in the meantime prepare yourselves for a whirlwind of events during his time at Forest under Brian Clough.

Brian Rice joined Forest for £175,000 from Hibernian in August 1985. Liverpool were vying for Rice’s signature at the very same time but as the man himself explained, it was an easy choice to make. Brian had the following to say, “When I knew Brian Clough was in for me, having watched his great Forest sides over the years, there was only one place I wanted to go.”

I asked Brian if he felt the pressure and expectancy of playing for a club whom five years previous were European champions. “It was more daunting following a man like John Robertson, who’s a God to the Nottingham Forest supporters. He’s an absolute legend, I was a massive fan of his, I’d watched Forest on the TV on that muddy City Ground pitch and seen this wee Scottish guy terrorising teams from all over Europe.”

It was at this point during the conversation that I realised the two men actually crossed paths for a short while at Forest. Robertson had returned to the Reds from Derby in 1985 but featured in just a handful of matches for his former employers. Whilst the ageing legend’s contribution on the field was miniscule, his impact off it would prove to be pivotal in the development of 21 year old Rice at Nottingham Forest.

Brian revelled in his appraisal of Robertson as his mentor during those early days in Nottingham. “I was staying in the Balmoral Hotel and John would come down at night and have a drink and a chat. I was a young Scottish lad away from home and he’d been through that himself, he really took me under his wing.”

Brian recalled a time when he and John Robertson went to a local nightclub, “We were in Madison’s (remember that?)

And everyone was coming up to Robbo for his autograph (remember those, prior to selfies?). Robbo told me to look above his head where there was a huge picture of the man himself holding aloft the European Cup. That’s when it hit me, I was out with a guy who’d assisted and scored winning goals in the European Cup final and scored the winner for Scotland against England, it does ne get any better than that!”

Once Brian Rice had settled in at Forest he forged another great friendship with Stuart Pearce, who’d happen to sign on the very same day as him. The pair would socialise together before striking up a great on field understanding down the left flank at the City Ground.

Brian then revealed a hilarious ritual that he and Pearce would engage in prior to kick off, “Pearce would beckon me to a quiet part of the dressing room as the lads went out for the warm up, then he’d get me to cut his fringe for him, I kid you not!”

Rice continued in his strong Lanarkshire accent, “Here’s the thing, I could ne draw a straight line with a ruler but he must have been chuffed because it became a regular thing.”

On the field of play Rice and his teammates would be instrumental in Brian Clough’s second wave of trophy hunting. The young pretenders produced two consecutive third place finishes in the top flight of

English football as well as reaching two consecutive FA Cup Semi Finals and winning two consecutive League Cups.

I asked Rice what the secret to the team’s success was under Brian Clough? “First and foremost, it was great fun because everything was about doing things as a team and not as individuals.

You never knew what the gaffer was going to do from one day to the next, five a side one day and then being told to bring your tennis racket the next. One time Cloughie told us to bring our passports with us to training, next thing we knew we’re on a plane to France. Every day was an adventure which made life great fun, and that was the beauty of it because it kept you on your toes.”

The next topic of conversation was all about THAT goal at Highbury, I remember it like it was yesterday. Arsenal v Forest in the FA Cup Quarter Final, with Forest hanging on to a slender lead Nigel Clough sprayed a defence splitting pass to Rice who carried the ball a good fifty yards before lobbing John Lukic with the deftest of chips.

That was my version of it but it would be remiss not to hear it from the man himself. “It was all about the ball from Nigel and my first touch” said Brian Rice. “When I went through I felt really confident even though I had England’s back four chasing me down.

When I got to Lukic, who was a big lad, I waited for him to make the first move which he did by going down slightly.

Then the instinct kicked in and importantly I managed to stay composed and just chip it over the top of him.” It’s no surprise to learn that Brian’s nickname has always been Chipper, which he earned those early years at Hibs.

I then asked if there were any comical encounters between Brian Rice and Brian Clough?

“Aye,” said Rice with a pre chuckle brewing in his voice.

“I was on the bench one

Saturday, just seconds from kick off when Mr Clough ordered me to run onto the pitch, he told me to ask our No9 if he was giving his dad a lift home after the game. I felt like a right idiot as I sprinted over to Nigel and whispered the question, delaying the kick off in the process. Red faced, I returned to the bench where Clough senior asked for his son’s response.” “Well, what did he say?” asked Brian Clough.

Rice tentatively relayed Nigel’s response by saying “Am I ****” If column space permitted, I could have written at least three full pages about Brian Rice and his time at Nottingham Forest, which he emotionally described as the best days of his life. He produced some brilliant performances for Forest and weighed in with important goals too, like the winner against West Ham in 1986. The game is always remembered for Johnny Metgod’s stunning free kick but Brian Rice’s goal at the Trent End put a huge dent in the Hammers title hopes on an unforgettable evening.

Brian is still obsessed with football and has progressed

Written by Steve Corry through the coaching world following his retirement from playing the game. His appetite is insatiable and It was no surprise to see him land the Hamilton Job, his first as the main man in charge. He told me it would be a dream come true to coach at the City Ground one day and I for one wouldn’t bet against it, his favourite saying in football sums him up perfectly, “Hard work beats talent when talent does ne work hard.”

It was an absolute honour and a pleasure to interview such a wonderfully genuine guy, to this day Brian Rice has a great affinity for our fans and the City itself, he truly is a Nottingham Forest cult hero and will be forever more.

Mark Richardson & Brian Rice

Each Edition of the Nottingham Now has a print run of 10,000 copies. Published by Wilcop Media Ltd, Unit 8, The Glade Business Centre, Forum Road, Nottingham. NG5 9RW.