ITS PLAY DAY

All 50 play areas in Erewash will re-open this week on Thursday 9th July following the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions and comprehensive safety checks by Erewash Borough Council. The council has carried out extensive inspections on the play sites across the borough and is now urging residents to follow safety guidance to keep everyone as safe as possible and minimise the risks of spreading the virus. In addition to the play areas, the outdoor gym equipment at West Park in Long Eaton will also reopen. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“Before re-opening the play areas, our first priority has been to ensure that they all meet the highest standards of safety in line with all the guidance issued to combat covid-19. I can assure everyone that a lot of hard work has gone in to ensure children will be as safe as possible. We know our play facilities are very popular with families, especially during the summer. However, we do need everyone to play their part and appeal to parents to take responsibility for basic hygiene measures and safety guidance. We thank everyone for their help in this.”

Safety advice will be on display at the play areas, with guidance including:

·         Please do not visit the park if any family member has symptoms of the virus.

·         Continue to follow safe social distancing of at least two metres where possible and encourage children to do the same.

·         Wash hands before leaving the house and on returning home. At the park use hand sanitiser regularly, especially before and after eating, and after touching shared surfaces such as gates, railings and climbing frames.

·         Take wipes to clean the areas of play equipment that children are most likely to touch, such as the handles on seesaws and bars on climbing frames.

·         Discourage children from putting their hands in their mouths after playing, and from putting their mouths on the play equipment.

·         Avoid eating or drinking within play areas. 

·         If the bins are full, please take your litter home with you.

Anyone using the outdoor gym circuit at West Park is asked to take cleaning products with them and wipe down equipment before and after use. Wash or sanitise hands before and after using the gym and do not use if feeling unwell. The Splashpad water playpark at West Park remains closed until further notice in line with Government guidance.

PARKING CHARGES REINSTATED

Parking charges have resumed in all Erewash Borough Council car parks from 1st July. The fees were suspended by the council on 27th March to support and show appreciation for key workers who needed to park in the borough’s car parks, including Long Eaton Railway Station, for long periods during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. But with restrictions easing, and following the permitted opening of all non-essential shops, the council has made the decision to lift the suspension on parking charges and will return to the standard tariff of up to one hour free, up to 2 hours, £1.50; up to 3 hours, £2.00; and over 3 hours, £4.00 from Wednesday 1st July. All charges run from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday inclusive – excluding Bank Holidays. All parking in Erewash Borough Council car parks is free of charge on Sundays. Councillor Michael Powell, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, says:

“It was absolutely right that we suspended the charges to help our key workers and residents during what has been the most difficult of times for everyone. While the way forward out of lockdown is ongoing, the fact is that restrictions have been eased and we – along with councils across the country - had to make a decision on when charges would be reintroduced. We have to now start looking at the way forward, at the financial situation and how best we can continue – having, I believe, worked with our wonderful community in the monumental effort to get us all through this crisis. With town centre shops in Ilkeston and Long Eaton now able to open, we hope residents will support them as the High Streets look to recover from the lockdown.”

Before the coronavirus lockdown the council had agreed a new and simplified two-tier charging system of just £1 for up to three hours and £3 for any period over three hours, with the current rates remaining the same at the commuter car park at Long Eaton Railway Station. This is still going ahead and the revised charges will come into force on Thursday 1st October. 

HISTORIC CHIMNEY DEMOLISHED

Picture by Steve Ingers

On Sunday morning at 9am June 28th local residents gathered to watch the demolition of the chimney at the old Wade Springs Factory on Bennett Street.

Until 2009 the site was home to a number of mills buildings which  included the Britannia and Portland Mills, which were built in the early 1900s. A huge fire started at the mattress manufacturer Elson and Robbins and soon spread gutting many of the buildings on the site which were later demolished. The only thing left was the chimney which has been used as a mast for telecommunications equipment. The work was carried out by Total Reclaims Demolition. Developers have submitted plans to build 109 homes on the site. The council gave the thumbs up for the demolition work in April.

PARKING CHARGES REINSTATED

Parking charges are set to resume in all Erewash Borough Council car parks. The fees were suspended by the council on 27th March to support and show appreciation for key workers who needed to park in the borough’s car parks, including Long Eaton Railway Station, for long periods during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. But with restrictions easing, and following the permitted opening of all non-essential shops, the council has made the decision to lift the suspension on parking charges and will return to the standard tariff of up to one hour free, up to 2 hours, £1.50; up to 3 hours, £2.00; and over 3 hours, £4.00 from Wednesday 1st July. All charges run from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday inclusive – excluding Bank Holidays. All parking in Erewash Borough Council car parks is free of charge on Sundays.

Councillor Michael Powell, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, says:

“It was absolutely right that we suspended the charges to help our key workers and residents during what has been the most difficult of times for everyone. While the way forward out of lockdown is ongoing, the fact is that restrictions have been eased and we – along with councils across the country - had to make a decision on when charges would be reintroduced. We have to now start looking at the way forward, at the financial situation and how best we can continue – having, I believe, worked with our wonderful community in the monumental effort to get us all through this crisis. With town centre shops in Ilkeston and Long Eaton now able to open, we hope residents will support them as the High Streets look to recover from the lockdown.”

Before the coronavirus lockdown the council had agreed a new and simplified two-tier charging system of just £1 for up to three hours and £3 for any period over three hours, with the current rates remaining the same at the commuter car park at Long Eaton Railway Station. This is still going ahead and the revised charges will come into force on Thursday 1st October. 

GOODBYE CHIMNEY

On Sunday morning at 9am June 28th the chimney at the old Wade Springs Factory on Bennett Street is to be demolished. Local residents are being warned not to be alarmed and that there will be a big blast.

Roads around Bennett Street, Long Eaton will be closed for an hour on Sunday whilst the work is carried out. Total Reclaims Demolition of Hucknall are to carry out the work.