GREEN FLAG AWARDS

 Six prestigious national awards have been scooped by Erewash council for its management of parks and green spaces in the borough. Five local havens won salutes at the annual Green Flag awards for being kept pristine. These included previous winner Victoria Park in Ilkeston – which in addition was awarded a coveted Green Heritage Accreditation.

The others to be honoured with Green Flag accolades were Long Eaton’s West Park and the nearby Forbes Hole Local Nature Reserve, plus Straws Bridge in Ilkeston and Pioneer Meadows in Kirk Hallam. All have been previous winners. The Green Heritage Accreditation for Victoria Park is backed by Historic England. It rewards efforts to maintain the historically significant elements of the park, which opened in 1902 after the Duke of Rutland gifted land to the town to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Erewash has 650 acres of parks, open spaces and nature reserves. The council’s Lead Member for Environment Cllr Joel Bryan said: “Local people are rightly proud of the borough’s green spaces. These awards recognise the council’s commitment to maintaining our treasured havens.”

The Green Flag awards are run by the Keep Britain Tidy campaign on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Keep Britain Tidy’s Paul Todd MBE, who manages the Green Flag scheme, said: “These Erewash green spaces are vital community assets, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. Staff and volunteers do so much to maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award. Everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available at Keep Britain Tidy.

TWO WEEKS TO USE YOUR STAMPS

The public are being urged to use their classic Royal Mail stamps before they become worthless at the end of next week. They are to be replaced by barcoded stamps which will enable recipients to watch videos when they scan the barcode with the Royal Mail app.   

The deadline for for using older stamps is July 31st, 2023. If you find you have a lot of older stamps left over that you won't be able to use in time, the company is offering you the chance to swap them through a new scheme. 

FREE AT THE MUSEUM

A Jam-packed summer of free attractions has been lined up at Erewash Museum – including the chance for computer game fans to enjoy playing classic adventures from yesteryear. The award-winning museum is hosting a “Games Week” from Wednesday 16th August to Saturday 19th August. The showcase event includes retro computer games as well as board games and even cards. Fans of Warhammer can join free workshops to paint figurines. Gamers are urged to book half-hour slots in advance.    

The last week of July is “Summer Week”. A range of activities will wow kids at the museum, including Punch and Judy shows on Thursday 27th July. Popular donut stand Project D will be there too. August will kick off with “Circus Week”. On Thursday 3rd August visitors can “have a go at flying with Ilkeston Aerial Arts”. There is also the opportunity to perform tricks with Splat Entertainment and to have faces painted.

Really Wild Week from 9th August to 12th August includes jungle stories and “the chance to hold some real wild animals”. On 14th August, theatre company Jellyfish will be staging morning and afternoon performances of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

The free events are funded by money allocated to Erewash council under the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Erewash council Deputy Leader Cllr Becca Everett, Lead Member for Community Engagement, said: “There really is something for everyone at Erewash Museum this summer. Be sure to check out the opening times on the web.”

The museum is in Ilkeston, just off the Market Place. Contact museum@erewash.gov.uk or call 0115 907 1141.

COUNCIL SUPPORTS TOWN CENTRE SHOPS

A new grants scheme to encourage fresh shops into empty town centre retail units in Ilkeston and Long Eaton is poised to see the council help pay for the signage the stores need to get up and running. The grants apply to new shops only and are worth up to £2,000 each. Erewash Borough Council experts are aiming to support new business and fund “quality signage, thereby enhancing the street scene and improving the overall vitality and viability of our town centres”.  A report says the money will help “reduce vacancy rates in our town centres by encouraging new businesses to occupy empty units”. The grants over the next two years will come from cash allocated to Erewash under the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Erewash’s Council Executive meets on 18th July and is set to give the green light to what is called the Empty Shop Signage Grant Scheme. The borough’s Director of Resources said: “It will allow the council to support town centre businesses with immediate effect.”

Cllr Alex Breene, the council’s Lead Member for Town Centres, Regeneration and Planning, said: “We want our town centres to be vibrant and thriving but too many shops have been left vacant. These grants of up to £2,000 recognise financial support is necessary when opening a new business. The grants also signal the council’s wider ambitions to revitalise Erewash high streets.”

TEENAGER ARRESTED

 Armed Police were called to Long Eaton town centre at 4.25 on Wednesday, July 12th, after an officer patrolling the local area spotted a teenager they wanted to speak to in connection with a robbery. The robbery took place on Orchard Street between 12.30pm and 1pm on Thursday July 6th. The 16-year-old boy from Nottingham was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and drug offences and is currently in police custody. The arrest was made near St Laurence's Church, next door to the Halifax on Market Place.