CANAAN TRUST SLEEP OUT

Recognising the issue of the Coronavirus pandemic the Trust has come to the decision that it would be prudent to POSTPONE the Sleep Out scheduled to take place in a few weeks’ time on 17th April. The decision is taken in the public interest and the interests of so many kind and caring supporters who had signed up to undertake the Sleep Out during this the Trust's 25th Anniversary. It is hoped that the Sleep Out may be held later in the year when the coronavirus crisis is over.

Like for many individuals and families the impact of this crisis will potentially be financial as well as physical. The Trust has historically benefited financially from the Sleep Out to the tune of between £15,000 and £20,000. The loss of this funding will be significant as the calls on the Trust's help and support during the crisis is likely to continue to increase.Please watch out for further information in due course.

Thank you to everyone who has signed up and has been busy raising sponsorship. The Trust is grateful for your support. Thank you for caring!

Kevin Curtis - Project Manager

FISH STOCKS BOOSTED AT GRANGE POND

On Monday 9th March, LEVAS received a delivery of new fish stocks which were successfully released into Grange Pond. Grange Pond Bailiff’s Tim Taylor and Paul Wheeldon, with Head Bailiff Jim Rudkin and Committee Members Rob Pembridge and John Adamson were present to oversee the operation, when a large number (250+) of three year old bream, each weighing around eight ounces, several small carp (one to two pounds), plus a single rogue barbel swam away into their new habitat.

This is the first opportunity to complete the stocking as Grange Pond water levels have just dropped to a level where the banks may be safely accessed, and this year’s stocking is aimed to give a substantial boost to the “silver fish” in Grange, also with the addition of a few more carp. Hopefully the new fish will complement the existing bream stocks and will breed in the lake to perpetuate the population in the coming years. These new fish have been raised on pellets, so it is likely that pellet baits may prove the most successful in the coming months.

POLICE OFFICER SINGS AT CARE HOME

Longmoor Lodge Care Home provides care and support for those with dementia and on Friday 6th March, PC John Aldred was part of the local policing Safer Neighbourhood team that were visiting the home to provide re-assurance and general crime prevention advice. John took along his guitar and spent some of the time there playing and singing to the residents.

Sergeant Sarah Carlile, who is in charge of the team, said: “We don’t often get to do ‘nice’ things in our job and I think this is a lovely example of a team which really care strongly about the vulnerable, hard to reach members of the community they serve.”

Opposite: PC John Aldred sings to the residents of the Sandiacre Care Home

THREE NEW DEFIBS FOR SAWLEY

Derbyshire County Councillor for Sawley Cllr Kewal Singh Athwal has sourced grant funding from the DCC Members Community Program Scheme to fund a further 3 defibrillator's for the wider Sawley area, making a total of 9 machines installed since August 2018. The new machines have been installed on 5th March outside All Saints Church Hall, Dovedale Primary School and Sawley Junior School. They will be available 24/7 for the benefit of our local residents and visitors to the Sawley area. Councillor Athwal has worked closely with East Midlands Ambulance Service and they have recommended the proposed defibrillators. East Midlands Ambulance Service will also maintain these life saving machines on an ongoing basis.

Heart problems can happen at any age, it is not only the elderly or infirm people that can suffer with heart problems but as we have seen recently, that even young sportsmen & women can be effected.

Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal said:

 "Even if only one life is saved by these defibrillators, then it is worth investing in this project and I would also like to thank Reverend Tony Street at All Saints Church, Friends of Sawley Junior School and the PTA of Dovedale School for their support in having these defibrillators installed on their premises".

NEW TOWN CENTRE DRIVE

A new Lead Member whose role will be to target the on-going drive to regenerate Ilkeston and Long Eaton town centres has been appointed by Erewash Borough Council. The ruling Conservative group confirmed this week that Councillor Dan Pitt has taken up the reins for the newly-created Lead Member for Town Centres portfolio. He will be working with local businesses and looking at new ways to increase footfall in the towns.

His appointment is connected to the council’s ambition to encourage people to stay longer in the town centres and make them more viable by shopping locally.

One of Councillor Pitt’s biggest priorities will be to join the work now underway to put together a bid for grant money of up to £25m for Long Eaton from the government’s new Towns Fund. He will also focus on a bid being put together for Ilkeston should new market town grant money becomes available.

Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of Erewash Borough Council says:

“I believe a new Lead Member to give full attention to our town centres and take a proactive approach is the right move. This is all about investigating new ideas and having a fresh look at the way forward, building on the regeneration work put in over the last few years. We know High Streets across the country are facing the same difficult challenges - but if we can attract more people to live in the town centre, we will then, hopefully, see them shop locally. Our night time economy in Erewash works well through the town centre bars and restaurants. Now we will continue our work with local traders and businesses to replicate that in the daytime by finding fresh and pioneering ways to encourage people to support their town.”

Councillor Pitt has welcomed the new approach to town centre regeneration: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed to this position, which will allow me to focus on how we get more people into our town centres and, most importantly, to stay in them for longer and show their support for local businesses by shopping locally. It is a difficult challenge, I am well aware of that, but it is one that I fully embrace. I aim to change the negative narrative that surrounds our High Streets and work with everyone to create fresh and exciting ideas that will bring a new positivity going forward.”

Elected to the council in May last year, Councillor Pitt represents the Derby Road West ward in Long Eaton. He has previously worked as a manager in the hospitality industry and for the last five year has taught business and politics in the Higher Education sector. He holds two masters’ degrees, one in international business and the other in political philosophy.

FLOWER BASKETS

Local businesses, parish councils, community groups and residents can show their pride in Erewash by sponsoring flower baskets helping to put the feel-good factor in the borough over the summer. The sponsorship fee is £99.60 per year, based on a three year contract, and covers everything from the cost of the basket and plants through to watering, maintenance and an optional sponsor plaque.

The colourful baskets are attached to lamp columns and brighten up the towns and villages in Erewash throughout the summer. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure says:

“Our sponsorship scheme offers residents and businesses the ideal opportunity to play their part in helping the borough bloom this summer.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring a flower basket needs to apply by Monday 23rd March. Application forms can be obtained by emailing parks@erewash.gov.uk or telephone 0115 907 2244. Applications will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis. 

POLICE APPEAL AFTER CRIMINAL DAMAGE

Police have issued an image of a woman we would like to speak to following a complaint of criminal damage in Long Eaton.

Officers from our Safer Neighbourhood team in the town are investigating the incident that took place on Tamworth Road, between 10pm, Friday, 31st January and 7am Saturday, 1st February.

Do you recognise the woman?

If so please contact the team using any of the following non-emergency contact methods, quoting reference number 2*60421:

Facebook send us a private message to /Derbyshire Constabulary. Twitter – direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContactWebsitePhone – call us on 101.

OLD MARKET STALLS TO GO

Erewash Borough Council are going ahead with plans to remove the fixed market stalls in the marketplace. They say the current stalls are badly damaged and attract anti-social behaviour. The cost of repairing the stalls and improving them would be £27,000. A report shows that only three traders use the market stalls on Tuesday and Wednesday and one uses them on a Friday. On Tuesday, February 18th, the borough council’s executive chose to go ahead with plans to remove the stalls. One councillor said:-“The market stalls are not where the council or traders want them, they want them in the high street, where all the footfall is, not tucked away. We will provide space on the high street for the affected traders. You don’t want to walk through dilapidated stalls, especially at night-time – when it attracts misbehaviour from quite a number of people. I will be glad to see the back of these stalls and get on with regenerating the town centre.”

EREWASH AWARD WINNERS

People who have contributed to making Erewash more active have been awarded for their efforts. Around 100 people attended the Erewash Active Lives Awards, organised by the council’s Sport and Health Development team.

Held at Long Eaton Rugby Football Club, the awards celebrated individuals, community groups and clubs that have helped change the lives of local people through physical activity.

The winners were:
·         Active Place Award: West Park and Victoria Park.
·         Active Life Award: Anna Swain.
·         Legacy Leisure Adversity Award: Abbie Breakwell.
·         Community Group/Association Award: Long Eaton Rugby Football Club (LERFC).
·         Active Volunteer Award: Richard Tilson.
·         Project/Initiative/Innovation Award:  Ilkeston Joggers.
·         Active Coach/Activator Award: Paul Hartley.
·         Active Partnership Award: Erewash School Sports Partnership (ESSP).
·         Active Young Persons Award: Evie Hartley.
·         Special Recognition Award: Chris Brookes

The 20 finalists had made it through to the final selection from a total of 52 nominations.
Councillor Mike Wallis, Lead Member for Culture and Leisure sat Erewash Borough Council, said:

“This year has seen an extremely strong group of contenders for the awards and on many occasions the judging panel found it extremely difficult to make a decision.”

FLEET INVESTMENT

Erewash Borough Council is looking to replace its ageing refuse fleet over the next few years with more up-to-date and efficient vehicles. Some of the vehicles in the current fleet date back to 2013, and are now out of warranty and repairs and maintenance costs have increased this year.

The council plans to buy three new refuse trucks in 2020 at an estimated cost of £185,000 per vehicle. A further six replacement freighters are likely to be purchased over the following two years giving a total cost for all nine vehicles of £1.6m. The remaining fleet of eight refuse vehicles will be replaced at a later date. Councillor Garry Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment, says:

“Our refuse freighters and other vehicles in our fleet are out working every day, providing one of the most important services for our residents. That use takes its toll and we need now to look at investing in a new fleet to help provide an efficient and reliable service, bringing significant benefits to the community and the environment.”

Details of the plans to replace the fleet were included in a report going to the council’s budget-setting meeting on Thursday 5th March at Ilkeston Town Hall.