APPEAL AFTER SANDIACRE ALTERCATION

 Police are asking for the public’s help following an altercation between two drivers in a Sandiacre street. The incident took place close to the junction of Lawrence Street and Church Street at around 6.15pm on Thursday 31 August and involved a grey BMW 1 Series and a black BMW 3 Series. Nobody was physically hurt in the incident. Officers want to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and saw what happened – in particular they want to speak to the driver of a dark coloured Honda which was directly behind the 1 Series at the time of the incident. 

Anyone who is able to assist the investigation is asked to contact the force using any of the below methods, including reference 23*542088:  

• Website – We have crime reporting tools on our website: use our online contact form 

• Facebook – send us a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page 

• Twitter – direct message our contact centre via @DerPolContact 

• Phone – call us on 101 

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website. 

VICTORIOUS PARK

 Town’s haven  flies flag for green spaces in Erewash 

A Green Flag is officially raised at Ilkeston’s Victoria Park – after the town’s much-loved haven was again honoured in a nationwide awards scheme. The banner salutes the park being kept pristine. It is among a total of five Green Flag awards that were won by green spaces across Erewash. The others to scoop the honour 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. Like the others, Victoria Park has been a previous winner. This year the park was ALSO presented with a Green Heritage Accreditation – an award backed by Historic England. The Green Flag scheme is run by the Keep Britain Tidy campaign on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The gongs salute Erewash council’s stewardship of its 650 acres of parks, open spaces and nature reserves. Pictured are the Mayor of Erewash Councillor Frank Phillips, fourth from right, Councillor Joel Bryan, fourth from left, some of the staff who keep the parks looking lovely, as well as members of the Friends of Victoria Park.  Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment, Councillor 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.”  

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.”  

LONG EATON RFC

 Boost for women’s rugby as Long Eaton RFC is set to benefit from the RFU’s Impact Programme  

Maggie Throup, Member of Parliament for Erewash, has welcomed the announcement that Long Eaton Rugby Football Club (RFC) is set to benefit from RFU (Rugby Football Union) funding which will boost the women’s game. Ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England, the RFU in partnership with the Government and Sport England will be delivering an Impact Programme to help grow the women’s game. Funding will be provided to community rugby clubs, including Long Eaton RFC, to encourage women and girls to take up opportunities at every level of the game. Investment will be provided to recruit and train more female coaches as well as referees. Funding will also be made available for the provision of basic sanitary requirements; improvements to create female friendly club social spaces and enhancements to existing and construction of new female changing rooms.  

Maggie commented: “I am absolutely delighted that Long Eaton RFC has been selected as part of the RFU’s Impact Programme. Sport plays such an important role in our physical and mental health, and we have a duty to encourage more women and girls to participate in sports such as rugby. Rugby clubs, such as Long Eaton RFC, are the heart and soul of our community. A rugby club provides both a sporting and social life, offers physical and mental wellbeing and encourages the next generation of men and women to take up the sport. I hope that this announcement will inspire more women and girls to join the club and take up the sport. We have all seen what an incredible impact that the Lionesses have had on women’s football. Their World Cup performance has inspired the next generation of girls to take up football. I hope that the combination of more funding into women’s rugby along with the spectacle of the World Cup itself will encourage more women and girls to join rugby clubs such as Long Eaton RFC. I can’t wait to get down to West Park and watch a women’s match once the new season begins.” 

Between 2023 and 2027, the RFU will deliver a transformational Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Programme in partnership with HM Treasury, DCMS (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) and Sport England. The programme includes a £7M facility investment fund. 

VACCINE RECORDS

 Maggie urges students to check their vaccine records before heading to university 

 Maggie Throup, Member of Parliament for Erewash and former Public Health Minister is urging all students heading to university this Autumn to check their NHS vaccination records and get jabbed up if they are missing MenACWY, MMR or HPV jabs. Before starting the new term, students should make sure that they are up to date with the following free routine vaccinations: 

• MenACWY – protecting against 4 common strains causing meningitis and septicaemia. 

• MMR – protecting against measles, mumps and rubella. 

• HPV – protecting against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), related cancers such a cervical cancer and other cancers of the head, neck and genital areas, and genital warts.  

Students can check whether they have had these vaccines via the NHS App. If any students missed these vaccines, they should contact their GP surgery to arrange an appointment. 

Maggie commented: “With the new university term upon us, I am urging all students, new and returning, to make sure their NHS vaccination records are up to date before heading to university. With large numbers of students coming together from home and abroad, infection can spread easily, and it is imperative that students have protection against these deadly bugs. After clean water, I believe vaccinations are the most impactful public health measure possible. So, I am urging students to check your records and get jabbed up if necessary. I would encourage students to contact their GP at the earliest opportunity if they have missed out on a MenACWY, HPV, or MMR jab as doing so could help save their life.” 

Data shows that around 1 in 8 new students heading to university this autumn are unprotected against 4 deadly types of meningitis - A, C, W and Y – which can cause long term disability, serious health complications and can even be life threatening. All first-year students starting college or university this September and returning students who are not up to date with all their childhood and adolescent vaccines are at increased risk of serious diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia and measles as they mix with large numbers of other students from around the country and overseas. 

HOMELESS PREVENTION FUND

A Councils cost-of-living battle has been given a £25,000 boost using cash from the government to help people at risk of being made homeless or struggling to find somewhere new to live after racking up rent arrears. The money will be allocated to a new Homelessness Prevention Fund which has been given the go-ahead by Erewash councillors. The fund will be administered by Erewash Borough Council’s Housing Options Team using money from the government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant. It will be launched next April and will provide financial support where tenancy related debt could lead to eviction or present a barrier to someone finding a new social rent home or one in the private sector. 
A report says the fund will “help to relieve the trauma and anxiety of homelessness by ensuring accommodation solutions can be found as quickly as possible”. It stresses: “Extended stays in temporary accommodation are undesirable and increase cost pressures on revenue budgets. The council also has a duty to ensure families do not remain in bed and breakfast for longer than six weeks.” Councillor Claire Marie Poole, who is Erewash’s Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said as the Council Executive met to approve the plan on Tuesday 5th September: “The cost-of-living crisis is hitting everyone hard. Helping residents through the worsening squeeze is the council’s absolute priority. When it comes to those who face losing their homes we not only have a legal duty to act but a moral one too.”