COUNCIL TO SCRAP FREE PARKING

A proposal to scrap one hour free parking in Erewash car parks and introduce a simplified two-tier charging system is expected to be sent to Erewash Borough Council’s budget setting meeting next month. If agreed, the new charges would see drivers pay just £1 for up to three hours and £3 for any period over three hours. The change would not affect rates at the commuter car park at Long Eaton Railway Station. The suggested change is included in a report going to Council Executive next week (18 February), with councillors expected to give it the green light to go to Full Council for a final decision. The council has carried out an extensive review of charges in its car parks and while the free parking has been popular, it is relatively costly and arguably has not encouraged longer stays in the town, potentially restricting shopping and other opportunities. The budget proposals report outlines the tough financial challenges facing the council. Councillor Michael Powell, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, says: “This move, if agreed, will encourage people to stay longer in Ilkeston and Long Eaton town centres. We believe a simplified two-price system will work well and that the new rates are fair and compare favourably to charges in other local authority areas.” Additional income generated from the changes would help the council meet the long term costs of maintaining and upgrading the car parks. The meeting of Council Executive is at Long Eaton Town Hall on Tuesday 18th February at 10.30am. The budget-setting Full Council meeting is at Ilkeston Town Hall on Thursday 5th March at 7pm.

CAR PARK PETITION
I've set up a petition for those people who do not wish Erewash Borough Council to begin charging for the first hour spent in council owned car parks in the area. It will be decided on 3rd March and if I get enough signatures, it will give a real boost to my request for them to rethink their plans. 

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/Erewashparking  

Kind regards
Clare Green

MAN ARRESTED AFTER LONG EATON INCIDENT

Officers were called to a property on Briar Gate in Long Eaton at 7.45am on Wednesday morning February 5th to reports of a man with a firearm.

Armed officers were deployed to the scene along with negotiators.

A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and is in police custody.

There have been rumours in the area that gun shots were fired, we can confirm that no shots were fired by officers or by the man under arrest.

SCAM PHONE CALLS

Over the last few weeks police have seen an increase in the number of calls received by members of the public stating they have been contacted by a “DC Morris from Hammersmith Police Station”. This so called Police Officer claims he is investigating the unauthorised use of the callers bank card.  This is a SCAM and if you receive a call of this nature please terminate the call immediately and do not give any information.  This type of call is linked to Courier Fraud, and the victim will be encouraged to help police in an investigation, they are usually asked to withdraw funds from their bank account and/or give bank cards to a courier arranged by the police officer.

The whole time the victim is encouraged by this so called Police Officer to tell no one of their involvement as it could jeopardise the investigation.  The so called Police Officer has used many names eg: DC Morris, DC Ryan, DC Clarke and Sgt Wiggins. The Police will never contact you and ask you for banking information or request you withdraw money from your account to help with an investigation. Often fraudsters target geographical areas in particular the elderly, if you receive a call from someone claiming to be a Police Officer who is investigating unauthorised use of your bank cards police would ask you make contact with Derbyshire Constabulary as soon as possible.  Their aim will be to assess the area they are targeting, alert banks in the area, protect residents in the area and prevent financial losses.
Derbyshire Constabulary can be contacted in a number of ways:

Online https://www.derbyshire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/
Twitter @DerPolContact
Facebook @derbyshirecontabulary
By phone 101 *calls to 101 cost 15 pence per call from landlines and mobiles, no matter how long you’re on the phone.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can also text on 07800 002414 or email deafsms@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk