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.