SUPERFAST BROADBAND

 95.8 per cent of premises in Erewash have access to superfast broadband  

Maggie Throup OBE MP, Member of Parliament for Erewash has welcomed the news that 95.8 per cent of premises in Erewash now have access to superfast broadband thanks to the Government sticking to its plan to deliver ‘Project Gigabit’. Over a million properties across the UK, including homes, businesses and public buildings, now have a seamless internet connection following Government investment, delivering on their plan to create a brighter future for everyone across the country. The Government announced Project Gigabit in 2019 – a flagship £5 billion programme to enable hard-to-reach communities access to lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband. The Government is working with broadband suppliers to achieve at least 85 per cent gigabit coverage of the UK by 2025, and nationwide coverage by 2030. We are already ahead of target – the plan is working. 

Maggie said: “Families and businesses across Erewash rely on the internet every day. Whether residents are surfing the internet or using it for work, I know how frustrating slow internet connection can be.It is great news that thanks to the Government’s Project Gigabit, 95.8 per cent of premises in Erewash now have access to superfast broadband. This is making work and leisure faster for Erewash residents and is helping to grow our local economy.The UK is rolling out gigabit networks faster than any country in the EU and shows that the Government’s plan to turbocharge British broadband is working.” 

The majority of premises can now access gigabit-capable networks and is a significant improvement in a short timeframe, with the UK currently building gigabit networks faster than any EU country. Better connectivity boosts productivity for businesses and unlocks new digital opportunities for people in every corner of the country, as the Conservative Government sticks to the plan to help to grow the economy and create a brighter future for all.  

DRAYCOTT VICARAGE

 Council dismay in fight to save old vicarage  

A villages historic former vicarage is poised to be bulldozed after Erewash council lost a battle to save it. The authority backed angry residents in Draycott by pushing Historic England to list picturesque Ferrestone House – a grand gothic revival residence built in 1875. The crusade to save it saw the council issue a preservation notice. This acted as a temporary reprieve while Historic England considered whether the building was worthy of listing – which would have meant an application to demolish it could be vetoed. The public body, which is sponsored by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, has now dashed villagers’ hopes by ruling that the property does not meet its criteria. A letter from the town hall to residents explains: “The law stipulates that in such circumstances, the Building Preservation Notice must lapse and the property is therefore subject to no special protection. 

“Consequently, in light of Historic England’s decision, the council has no alternative but to grant approval for the means of demolition and restoration of the site, which it has done.” The letter stresses: “The council believes that Ferrestone House has architectural and historic merit.”  

The much-loved building, which stands in extensive grounds, is valued at almost £1.3million. When the potential demolition was discussed by Draycott and Church Wilne Parish Council the meeting saw its highest ever attendance by the public. Some were described as being “genuinely distressed”. The parish council said Draycott would be robbed of its character by the loss of a “fine example of gothic revival Victorian architecture”. 

The vicarage was sold by the Diocese of Derby in 1961 and was recently advertised with local estate agent Robert Ellis. It used to be the home of Mr Jack Goss, the manager of Long Eaton’s Woolworths. A tour showing the house’s elegant interior can be found at Property Showcase: Ferrestone House, Draycott - YouTube 

Borough councillor Alex Breene, who is Lead Member for Town Centres, Regeneration and Planning, said: “The council took swift action following residents’ concerns over the fate of Ferrestone House – but sadly it was in vain. We explored every avenue for preservation and are extremely disappointed by Historic England’s decision. Fine old buildings like this are what make the borough so special and we do not want to lose them.” 

BURNS NIGHT

 Church Wilne Rotary Satellite Club Burns Night at Risley Village Memorial Hall 

We recently held our annual Burns Night at Risley Village Memorial Hall with family and friends including guests from Rotary clubs from Derby. The evening included the Haggis being piped in, the traditional address to the Haggis, Scottish fayre, a quiz and entertainment we raised almost £500 towards The Rotary Foundation Charity. A Good time was had by all with guests already looking forward to the next one!  

Further details about Church Wilne Rotary may be found on our website here: https://www.churchwilnerotary.org.uk 

Or you may contact the Secretary at rccw1220@gmail.com 

Rotarian Dr John A Cook. 

PEWIT GOLF COURSE APPOLOGY

Erewash council apologised to residents after it had to halt a town hall meeting – because there was no room for all those who turned up wanting to know about the future of Ilkeston’s former Pewit golf course. The public gallery at Ilkeston Town Hall has space for only 18 spectators so officials let 40 more into the Mayor’s Parlour next door to listen in via an audio link. That still left others outside. Proceedings were eventually adjourned after 15 minutes amid repeated problems with the relay equipment. The Scrutiny Committee was meeting on Thursday 15th February over plans to turn some 17.4 acres of the defunct municipal golf course into a nature reserve while disposing of a seven-acre parcel at West End Drive that has been identified as surplus to requirements. 

The committee will now reconvene at 7pm on Wednesday 21st February. The meeting will be moved to the borough’s other town hall in Long Eaton – which has space for almost 150 including in overflow areas. For residents unable to make the extra journey the council is arranging for proceedings to be live-streamed on YouTube. Erewash Borough Council leader James Dawson said: “We are committed to transparency in all we do – so could not carry on with the meeting while people were excluded or unable to follow what was happening. I know some people are saying there is some kind of ruse to hold the meeting further away from Ilkeston – but while its town hall is where we would ideally want the meeting to take place Long Eaton’s has the facilities.” 

CHAOS

 A COUNCIL IN CHAOS AS CONTROVERSIAL COMMITTEE MEETING IS ABANDONED 

Erewash MP Maggie Throup joined local residents and campaigners to witness a meeting of Erewash Borough Council’s Scrutiny Committee, only for it to end in chaos after just 15 minutes. The landmark meeting, held at Ilkeston Town Hall on Thursday evening (15th February 2024), had been convened to discuss an application to “call-in” a controversial decision made by the Borough Council’s Labour Executive to sell of seven acres of Ilkeston’s Pewit Golf Course. Until recently the prime parcel of public land, which was original acquired by the former Ilkeston Corporation over a century ago, had been set to be transformed into Erewash’s newest Nature Reserve after the previous Conservative Administration secured significant financial backing from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Despite the Borough Council giving a written assurance prior to the meeting that those wishing to view proceedings in person would be able to do so, the Committee was abandoned shortly after it had begun at 6:30pm, with the Chair, Cllr. Pam Philips unilaterally declaring that the meeting would be reconvened at Long Eaton Town Hall next week (Wednesday 21st February 2024). 

Now, Maggie, who has spoken out against the proposed land sale in the House of Commons, has written to the Borough Council’s Chief Executive to demand that the re-arranged meeting is again held in Ilkeston. Speaking after the Committee meeting was abandoned, Maggie said: 

“The right of the public to view the proceedings of their elected representatives is a fundamental feature of our democracy, and so I was ashamed of the farcical scenes that we all witnessed at the Town Hall last night. Not only does the Borough Council’s Labour Executive seem hell bent on sell off the historic Pewit site, but it also appears that they now want to wave the decision through behind closed doors in another part of the Borough. This is a critical decision about the long-term future of Ilkeston’s largest public open space, and so the residents expect it to be made here in Ilkeston. The feeble excuse that the Town Hall is not big enough just does not wash when the Borough Council itself owns many larger venues, including the Rutland Tennis Centre which is regularly used for election counts and is directly adjacent to the Pewit site. I have therefore written to the Chief Executive to demand that the abandoned Committee meeting is reconvened in Ilkeston and that all those wishing to view the debate are accommodated.”