EREWASH PERFECT

 A Looming dilemma over where the newly-elected East Midlands “super mayor” should be based can be solved in an instant – because Erewash is ideal, according to the borough’s leader. Cllr James Dawson made the pitch as he congratulated Labour’s Claire Ward on her poll victory. A colossal £4billion is coming to the region as part of a government devolution deal that creates a “combined county authority” for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Its powerful new mayor will oversee strategic investment in transport and infrastructure across the two counties. But a decision has yet to be made over where  Claire will have her HQ. Erewash council’s leader said: “Naturally both Nottingham and Derby will be keen to be seen as the region’s ‘capital’. But the fact is that Erewash is slap bang between them – right on the border of the two counties – and we have unrivalled transport links to both cities. Long Eaton even has a Nottingham postcode despite being in Derbyshire. But don’t forget our great town of Ilkeston, which would also be perfect.” 

Cllr Dawson added: “Erewash council is very much looking forward to working closely with the new mayor to make sure our borough benefits from the billions that are being promised. As an authority that has been able to set a balanced budget despite massive pressures on our funding we are keen to see that not a penny of the new money is wasted.” 

The mayoral election on Thursday 2 May also saw a separate vote to pick Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner – with the winner also being congratulated by Cllr Dawson. A spokesman for the new East Midlands Combined County Authority confirmed that it has yet to be decided where the mayor and her team will be headquartered.