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.

MAGGIE THROUP URGES TESTS

• As half term comes to an end, Maggie is urging students to take a Covid test as they return to the classroom
• Regular rapid testing twice a week remains the best way to find asymptomatic cases of Covid-19

 Local MP Maggie Throup is urging students to take a coronavirus test before returning to school this week following the half term break. A major testing programme has been in place for students since schools returned in March to identify asymptomatic cases and isolate them as quickly as possible, helping to keep schools open in Erewash. The success of students and staff in building regular twice-weekly testing into routines is testament to their dedication to keeping the virus out of schools and colleges. Rapid testing continues to help find the one in three people with Covid-19 who show no symptoms, allowing them to isolate rather than unknowingly spread the virus, preventing outbreaks from taking hold. Maggie said: 

“I urge all children and families in Erewash to test themselves on ahead of schools returning, and then twice weekly to keep their friends and families safe.

Rapid tests are available to everyone free of charge and by using them regularly, you can find cases of infection that wouldn’t otherwise be found and help stop the infection spreading. One in three people with Covid-19 have no symptoms so can go under the radar without testing. We can all do our bit to keep our schools and communities safe as school starts again.

Secondary schools and colleges across Erewash continue to provide packs of tests to their students so they can take two tests a week. Primary schools are also providing packs to their staff. Everyone is encouraged to test twice a week, with one of the two tests at the weekend to catch cases before starting the new school week. Positive cases identified by rapid testing are confirmed with a PCR test, meaning nobody has to worry about isolating unnecessarily following a positive rapid test result.

 

BUS STOP

Major news this week is that CT4N have issued a new timetable leaflet for the 29 and 16 (renumbered from S16). No change in the 29, but the 16 now runs only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On the trains we retain our hourly service to London, gain a Newark-Crewe service, and the Matlock service now terminates at Nottingham (new times to learn there). The Nottingham- Birmingham & Cardiff route goes at the same times. Over 3 weekends, starting Saturday 5th June, Ashbourne Road in Derby will be closed for resurfacing. This will affect the Swift. The Notts & Derby X52 (Nottingham-Derby-Ashbourne-Alton Towers) does not accept card payments. It is cash only. Nottingham City Transport note that the Department for Transport has produced Safer Travel Guidance for Passengers. The £500m. Newark By-Pass plans are being debated. Euston has become the 1st station to display information in British Sign Language, via touch screens. The Great British Car Journey museum at  Ambergate, has opened. Domestic Abuse Counsellors are to patrol railway stations to spot children involved in County Lines drug dealing. The ITV 'Tonight' programme highlighted what a major nuisance E-scooters have become, where they are being trialled, which round here means Nottingham. There are calls for an incident with a concrete lump falling off a lorry, where a driver was killed, not to happen again. A 71-year old cyclist was killed in an incident on the A52 slip road at Spondon on Sunday 30th May. Midlands Connect are looking at better rail services from Leicester to Coventry. 

 

FIGHTING FUND FOR COVID-19

Erewash Borough Council is expected to confirm its receipt of £100,000 towards the ongoing public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A report going to the council’s Executive next week (9th June) says the funding has been provided by Derbyshire County Council, which has also awarded grants to the other districts in the county, to support the public health response in the event of a localised or wider outbreak of COVID-19 in the community or in workplaces. Erewash will use the funding to recruit an Environmental Health Officer on a temporary contract to support the team in its COVID-19 work, including reacting to any outbreak, helping trace contacts and making sure that local businesses are following COVID-19 regulations.. In addition, the post holder will be able to help maintain other environmental health duties, from food safety inspections and food business advice through to responding to food outlet complaints. Councillor Garry Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment, says:

“Erewash continues to work together with all out partner councils in Derbyshire to ensure we remain on alert to respond to COVID-19 issues. This funding is vital to enable us to recruit an additional Environmental Health Officer for nearly two years. The pandemic has been a busy time for our team, which is already investigating suspected workplace-related outbreaks of COVID-19. Since March last year, more than 350 such requests have been investigated in addition to nearly 400 other enquiries not related to the virus.”

 The meeting of Council Executive is at Ilkeston Town Hall on Wednesday 9th June at 10.30 am.

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

DEAN MARTIN WILES 40th Birthday

Born 5th June 81 died 8th June 81

Son of Debra and Martin Wiles

Sister to Cara Wiles

Always in our hearts and never will be forgotten

Our Angel

BROWN, Josephine. Sadly passed away on 17th May 2021 aged 96. Beloved Mum and Grandma. Funeral at Bramcote Crematorium on 15th June 2021 at 1.30pm. Donations to British Heart Foundation at www.bhf.org.uk.

CLUB CALL

Rotary Club of Church Wilne Guest Speaker Evening

World Vision by Sue Tinney

On the 17th May 2021 members of the Rotary Club of Church Wilne were treated to an informative and interesting presentation from Sue Tinney of World Vision on how the organisation is combating climate change and is helping the young and vulnerable to combat it and give them a voice to make their views known.

 Sue informed the members the bench mark was set out in the 2015 Paris Climate Summit. One of its objectives was to give children a chance to be heard and introduced a project to encourage youngsters to participate, make a difference and to take part in the next summit scheduled for later this year. The summit  also acknowledged an increase in global hunger and highlighted that more must be done to help the poorest become resilient to climate catastrophes'.

Climate change has  caused natural disasters such as floods, drought and famine with consequences such as migration and homelessness through people fleeing their homes. Two countries show contrasting causes of problems caused by climate change. Mali in West Africa has suffered significant loss in food production caused by drought.  World Vision established projects and employed agricultural engineers to train farmers to use different farming methods to increase farm yields. It showed them tree management techniques, new methods of planting and the use of drought resistant seeds to help them combat the drought and become self sufficient. Over the last four years the lives and livelihoods of the people in Mali have been rebuilt. 

In contrast, The Philippines have been severely affected by hurricanes, typhoons and flooding. World Vision has worked with the populous and the authorities to give training for disaster mitigation such as evacuating schools and other public buildings and clean up initiatives following flooding. They were trained in  disaster reduction strategies and shown how to build better houses with stronger structures to withstand these adverse events. The policy of world vision is that it is committed to ensuring vulnerable people have a future and can adapt to the problems caused by climate change. It is keen to give the younger generation a voice and seeks to encourage them to use it..

The vote of thanks was given by Rotarian Mick White who said we had learnt a lot and agreed children must be engaged in combating this problem. It was heartening to see that climate change was being confronted and positive action taken.

SAILING INTO HALF TERM

Boat magnets, crazy jumping birds and sailing boats are all part of the half term fun at Erewash Museum as popular family activities return following the  pandemic. In step with safety guidelines, however, booking for timed slots is essential for the activities which will take place 11am-2pm from Tuesday to Saturday next week in the museum gardens. To ensure everyone is safe only two households or six people can be booked per slot and those visiting will also be able to explore a fun trail and new displays - while the tea rooms will also be open. Contact the museum to book a slot on museum.bookings@erewash.gov.uk or call 0115 907 1141. Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of Erewash Borough Council, says: 

“It is great news that the museum is able to finally restart its popular events. We have to proceed with caution and safety at all times, but how wonderful it is to see a half term week back on the calendar again at our award winning museum. We have to keep our fingers crossed for the weather, but hopefully we can see the start of welcoming back visitors, old and new, to our hidden gem in the heart of Erewash.” 

Craft activities to make a sailing boat magnet take place on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday next week (1, 3, 5 June ) while children can enjoy creating jumping birds on Wednesday 2nd June and ice cream magnets on Friday 4th June. To ensure covid safety; hand sanitizers, regular cleaning and social distancing measures will be in place and toilets and baby changing facilities are available 

Erewash Museum is in Ilkeston town centre, a short walk from the Market Place. Admission is free. Contact 0115 907 1141, email museum@erewash.gov.uk  or visit the Facebook page /erewashmuseum. You can also follow the museum on Twitter @Erewash_Museum, and Instagram @erewashmuseum.

MAGGIE CALLS FOR BAN

Local MP, Maggie Throup, has given her backing to a Parliamentary petition established by a young Erewash resident calling on the Government to criminalise the distribution of unsolicited sexual images commonly referred to as ‘nudes’. This follows shocking statistics which show that 41 per cent of women aged between 18 and 36 have reportedly received non-consensual sexual images. Speaking about the campaign, Maggie commented:-

“I am delighted to back this campaign, which has been set up by a brave young woman living in Erewash, following her own her own personal experience of receiving unsolicited sexual images. In recent years, the Government has made significant progress in this area, banning the abhorrent practice of ‘upskirting’ through the passage of the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019 and ‘revenge porn’ through the Criminal Justice and Courts Act in 2015, and has made a commitment in this year’s Queen’s Speech to publish new strategies to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls and Domestic Abuse. Whilst these developments are to be welcomed, in an age where more people are now making contact online with people they do not necessarily know, it is important that Parliament continues to update the law to reflect the potential threats that this type of interaction poses.

The forthcoming Online Harms Bill provides us with a golden opportunity to close the gaps and I have already held discussions with the Home Secretary about how a ban on these types of unsolicited images could be included in the legislation.” 

 To view and sign the petition, please visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/579912.

PIECING TOGETHER MEMORIES

A landmark ‘memory quilt’, a tribute to the phenomenal work of the Long Eaton Scrubbers in supporting the NHS, will be showcased at Erewash Museum when it re-opens on Tuesday 18th May.  The Long Eaton Scrubbers, founded by co-ordinator Angela Manson, consists of over 40 women and girls who had never met, and came together in the first lockdown in March 2020 to make much needed items for NHS care workers after seeing a comment on social media highlighting the lack of scrubs. When the need for scrubs, bags, headbands and ear protectors reduced; 540 scrubs sets were distributed to hospitals, care homes and surgeries, a remarkable achievement. To mark their incredible journey, the group set about creating a special quilt with scrub fabric and by June 2020, exactly 3 months after the UK went into lockdown, they had not only helped and supported the NHS and care sector, but finished a memory quilt ready to be displayed around the borough which is a colourful commemoration of the pandemic times. Leader of Erewash Borough Council, Councillor Carol Hart, says

 “Of all the initiatives that have taken place during the pandemic in the borough, this is one of the most heart-warming and uplifting projects I have seen. The determination of these ladies to help provide our NHS care workers with much needed scrubs and other protective equipment is a shining example of how the spirit of Erewash has been used to full effect. The idea of a memory quilt to commemorate their shared experiences is lovely and I encourage everyone to visit the museum, safely, and take a look at their incredible creation.”

 The museum’s opening times are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10.30am and 3pm - with admission by advance booking only to ensure the safety of everyone. The safety of visitors is paramount and a range of covid-secure measures are in place. Contact Erewash Museum on 0115 907 1141 or email museum.bookings@erewash.gov.uk Visit Facebook/erewashmuseum

MAGGIE URGES LONG EATON RESIDENTS TO BE VIGILANT

Following the significant outbreak of Coronavirus which was identified as originating at Wilsthorpe School in Long Eaton, Maggie is urging residents to be vigilant as cases increase. Commenting Maggie said:  “I have been in constant contact with Derbyshire’s Director of Public Health, Dean Wallace, in order to monitor the situation and to offer my support, and I would like to thank him and his team for the amazing work they have done so far to contain the spread. The management team at Wilsthorpe School also acted rapidly to contain the virus and have worked extremely hard along with the public health professionals. Testing is a key part of the effort and over the weekend 2,200 PCR tests were conducted which will undoubtably help to cut the number of community transmissions."

“I want to urge all residents with links to the school, who are not displaying symptoms and who have not already done so, to come forward and get a lateral flow test at West Park Leisure Centre as soon as possible. However, those displaying symptoms should call 119 to book a PCR test straight away at the testing site closest to you home. In addition, a dedicated website has been established to provide the community with updates as and when the situation changes which can be accessed at: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/wilsthorpe. This outbreak shows that the virus is still circulating in our communities and has not gone away, and it continues to be vital we all follow the simple rules of Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air.”

BUS STOP

Major news this time is that East Midlands Railway conductors are staging 3 1-day strikes on Suns. 16th, 23rd and 30th May., in a dispute over pay and conditions. At the moment there is a serious problem with cracks being found on new Hitachi class 800 trains, which will not be easy, cheap or quick to fix. Fortunately these do not run through Long Eaton. East Midlands Gateway has been a big success, with several freight trains daily (except Sundays). It can take 16 775m. trains per diurnal cycle and is handling about 10,000 containers a month. There is storage capacity for 4,000 20ft. length equivalent container units. Roadworks on Derby Road, Nottingham affect the Trentbarton indigo and i4 from Mon.10th-Thu.13th May. The road will be closed at Sawley Junction on 15th, 22nd and 23rd May. This will affect the 15, Skylink and CT4N 29. The closure of Kirkhill in Shepshed may divert the Skylink Coalville. Notts & Derby have some new 2nd hand double deckers to serve their vastly reduced network. Nottingham City Transport have helped in the raising of £138,000 for Emmanuel House homeless charity. 

 

We are back in the world of day trips now, thanks to the rollout of vaccinations. I have had both mine now. My 1st outing was to the Great Central Railway, on Saturday 17th April (the day of Prince Philip's funeral), the 1st operating day for the GCR, booked in March. It only cost £11, which, with the Anytime Day Return, with Senior Railcard, from Long Eaton to Loughborough, made it quite a cheap excursion. The rest of the time, I was using my bus pass, so no costs there. The 0841 London train was on-time, with very few passengers. I was soon on the NCT South Notts no. 1, at Loughborough Midland, and this terminated at Baxter Gate, where I had about 10 yards to walk, to get the Centrebus no. 154 to Quorn station, the only boarding point for the steam trains. Class 08 no. D4137 shunted 6990 'Witherslack Hall' into Quorn Yard at 10 to 10, for people to look at. I got the 10 o'clock, formed of ;9F' 92214 'Leicester City', the LMS Inspection Coach and 5 British Railways mark 1 carriages. There was a signal check on the way up to Leicester North, and another one on the way back. I ate my pork pie before the return journey, washed down with water. We were late back at Quorn, but I did not see the 154 bus, as I walked back up to Chaveney Road. I asked a lady if she had seen it go- she said "No". I adjudged it was wise to wait, and I was proved right, when it hoved into view a few minutes late. I transferred to the South Notts no. 1 at Baxter Gate- the garage at Gotham, and former HQ of this firm, was to close this weekend, and had 5 minutes to catch my train, at the Midland Station. We did not know, then, that the Brush factory, overlooking the station, was to close, but 5 days later, it was announced, with 300 redundancies, another blow to Loughborough, after 3M went, a few years ago. My train was on-time, and I got home at 1211. The Camra Zoom AGM and Conference was postponed 'til Sunday, out of deference to Prince Philip, which meant I was able to see the whole lot. And, also in recognition of him, the last train at the GCR was cancelled. It had been a sunny morning, and a sunny, cloudy afternoon, with a very light breeze, quite pleasant overall.

 C R Davis