COUPLE JAILED AFTER ARMED ROBBERIES

A couple have been jailed for nearly 20 years for their parts in a string of armed robberies across Erewash. Mark Hamlet used a handgun to demand cash, tobacco, and alcohol from terrified shop keepers during a campaign of robberies in the June and July of 2019. The 37-year-old carried out the first two offences on consecutive days – striking first on June 23rd, at the Co-op in College Street, Long Eaton, where his partner, Rebecca Monk, had gone inside to recce who was in the shop prior to the robbery. 

The following day Hamlet struck again at the Select Convenience Store in Stanton Road, Sandiacre. The final two incidents took place at the Texaco petrol station, in Nottingham Road, Spondon, on July 3rd and the Post Office in College Street, Long Eaton, on July 4th. Following the robbery of the Post Office officers attended the couples’ home in Grasmere Road, Long Eaton. The pair refused to come out of the house and a 14-hour armed standoff ensued – before they were both safely arrested. Inside the house officers found the handgun used in the robberies hidden inside a Mr Kipling cake box. Hamlet was charged with four counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and one count of threatening a person with a blade in a public place. 

Monk, 50, was charged with one count of robbery – in relation to the incident at the Co-op in College Street, Long Eaton. Both denied the offences but were found guilty after a trial at Derby Crown Court. On Friday 10th December, at Nottingham Crown Court, Hamlet was jailed for 15 years and six months, with Monk handed four years and three months for her part in the College Street robbery. 

DC Gavin Owen, who was part of the team that brought the pair to justice, said: “Incidents such as these are thankfully rare in our county – but in many ways that makes the actions of Hamlet even more shocking. The offences took place in small towns and villages and left those involved in understandable fear for their lives. That nobody was hurt during the offences is only due to the sheer good luck. CCTV footage of the incidents showed Hamlet pointing a gun, and in one case a knife, in the face of his victims. In one case the terrified shop worker heard the gun click and thought she was about to be shot. The victims in these incidents bravely gave evidence during the trial which was vital in securing this conviction. I cannot thank them enough for their support and strength since the offence took place.” 

DESIGNING THE FUTURE

Erewash residents have the chance to decide on a brand new look for a popular play area. Erewash Borough Council won an external funding bid for £70,000 for the refurbishment of Larklands Play Area inIlkeston. Two artists’ impressions of different play areas have been put forward and residents are being invited to pick their favourite with the most popular design selected to create a fantastic new play area for children to enjoy.

The ambitious project will see a range of exciting new play equipment installed, as well as new safety surfacing and fencing. The play area will be fully accessible and will cater for a wide age range and it is hoped that completion will by the end of this year.

 Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Paul Maginnis, says:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the local community to have their say in the design of the new play area. Both designs offer a multitude of fun play equipment and, whichever one is chosen, this will benefit children and families for years to come, so please take the time to choose your favourite!”

External funding has come from FCC Communities Foundation, which is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund. The bid for funding was supported by Ilkeston Parents for Play and Kensington Junior Academy in Ilkeston, with the council also contributing to the project. To take part in the online survey visit erewash.gov.uk/larklands where the two designs can be viewed, or email parks@erewash.gov.uk with your decision, ‘Option 1’ or ‘Option 2’. Please mention ‘Larklands Play Area Consultation’ in the subject field of your email. The consultation closes at 9am on Wednesday 4th August 2021.

MAN DIES AFTER COLLISION IN BREASTON

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man sadly died in a collision last Sunday night 18th July. The incident occurred just after 8.10pm on Draycott Road near the junction of Marlborough Road. Emergency services were called and Draycott Road was closed while they were in attendance. Sadly, a man aged in his 30s died at the scene. Police would like to hear from anyone who was travelling in the area at the time and witnessed the incident, or who may have dashcam footage which could help with their inquiries. If you have any information which you think may help please contact us on one of the following non-emergency methods, quoting reference number 1136-180721.

Facebook– send us a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary  Twitter– direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact  Website– complete the online contact form derbyshire.police.uk/ContactUs. Phone – call us on 101. You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

PARKING PAYMENT UPGRADE

A further seven contactless payment machines have been installed in some Erewash town centre car parks to make life easier for drivers. The new machines were installed by Erewash Borough Council this week - with upgrades in Ilkeston to the two payment machines at Club Row and one at Lower Bath Street. In Long Eaton, the two machines at Beaconsfield Street are now contactless and upgrades have also been made to the Long Eaton Town Hall machine and at Waverley Street car park. The move is part of an on-going programme to provide the contactless option in the council’s car parks. Councillor Michael Powell, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, says:

“This is good news for drivers using our town centre car parks. The new machines will make life easier and also provide a covid-secure contactless payment option. However, there is still the option to pay by cash for those that prefer to pay that way.”

Contactless payment has been available since 2019 at Ilkeston town centre’s Albion Centre Pimlico, Queen Street and South Street car parks. It is also provided at Long Eaton Train Station.

TWENTY SIX TOWNS TO SHARE 600MILLION

Investment will boost local economies, create jobs and new homes, and improve skills. Plans will transform public spaces, deliver green transport links and revamp cultural and tourist attractions. Part of government’s multi-billion levelling up programme 

 TWENTY-SIX TOWNS in England will share over £610 million to boost their local economies, create jobs and help them build back better from the pandemic. These new Towns Deals range from seaside towns like Hastings and Hartlepool to the historic market towns of Long Eaton and Bishop Auckland. The money will help them to grow their local economies, while also carving out new opportunities to reshape the look and feel of their areas. The Deals will help breathe new life into neglected areas or unused buildings by creating vibrant spaces for businesses, community events or much needed new homes. Sustainability is at the heart of many of the schemes with new greener transport infrastructure including cycle paths and pedestrian walkways that will connect areas in the greenest way possible. The Deals will also create thousands of jobs, with many towns investing in opportunities to improve skills through new vocational training hubs that will support high skilled and higher paid jobs in the area for local people. These landmark deals will see hundreds of millions of pounds invested in projects across England including £24.8 million for Long Eaton which includes:

Tackling the eyesore of Galaxy Row, Creating better connections between the town centre, Erewash Canal and West Park, Making better use of the park and the canal Making the Box Office into a cultural hub, Addressing the traffic issues at The Green

Local Member of Parliament, Maggie Throup said: “This £24.8 million is fantastic news for the residents and businesses of Long Eaton and represents the largest investment in regeneration that our town has ever seen. This award follows a tremendous amount of hard work by a dedicated group of volunteers, councillors and council officers and I was proud to be part of the bid. I would like to pay special tribute to Richard Ledger who gallantly chaired the group, ensuring we were able to submit a high quality bid which has now paid dividends.”

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:  “We are levelling up towns and cities across the country by building stronger and more resilient local economies, boosting prosperity and opportunity in our communities, and helping them build back better from the pandemic.Today I am announcing new town deals in 26 areas, backed by over £610 million investment from the Towns Fund. This will support locally-led projects to transform disused buildings and public spaces, deliver new green transport and create new opportunities for people to develop new skills. This is a boost for communities and businesses across England.”

 Today’s announcement means that 79 Towns Deals have now been agreed - totalling over £2 billion investment in communities across England. This is part of comprehensive action by the government to level up opportunity and prosperity across all areas of the country, including through the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, the £220 million Community Renewal Fund and the £830 million Future High Streets Fund. Building successful, thriving communities is at the heart of the Government’s levelling up agenda.  As well as creating town centres that people want to work, rest and play in, the government is delivering the homes that people need where they need them, making home ownership a reality for many young people and key workers in the places they want to live. Last Friday the government announced the First Homes programme which provides a 30% discount to first time buyers.