Wednesday 25 October 2017

GREEN FLAGS TO FLY HIGH

The Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Mary Hopkinson, will officially raise a Green Flag at the three sites in the borough that have been confirmed as among the best in the country. Erewash Borough Council retained its Green Flag awards for 2017 at the three sites – Long Eaton’s West Park; Straw’s Bridge Local Nature Reserve at West Hallam and Victoria Park in Ilkeston. The Mayor will be joined by members of the local Friends groups at the following flag raising ceremonies: West Park, Long Eaton – Thursday 2nd November at 2pm. Straw’s Bridge LNR, West Hallam - Thursday 9th November at 2pm. Victoria Park, Ilkeston – Thursday 16th November at 2pm.
Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:
“We know residents and our Friends volunteers share our pride in these three popular leisure sites and we all look forward to seeing the Green Flags continue to fly high above them – something which tells everyone they are right up there with the best in the country.”

Monday 23 October 2017

THE PERFECT FITNESS GIFT

Residents looking for Christmas present ideas have the chance to give the perfect fitness gift to the women in their lives this festive season . . . thanks to a seasonal offer courtesy of Erewash Borough Council and Sport England’s ‘this girl can’ campaign. Gift-hunters can now buy a £15 fitness present that gives the lucky recipient six weeks all-inclusive membership at all four of the council’s Leisure Centres and includes the use of state of the art gyms, swimming, sauna and steam rooms, group exercise classes, and running track. There is no signing on fee and the Technogym key is included in the membership. The membership is for females aged 16 years and above. The offer is limited to 100 memberships on a first come, first served basis. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“Giving someone the chance to use any of our fitness facilities and take part in workout activities for six weeks is a great and very healthy Christmas or birthday gift idea. We are grateful to Sport England and fully support the ‘this girl can’ campaign. With this in mind, we hope it would encourage women who receive this gift to carry on with a new healthy lifestyle. The gift offer is already selling fast - so get yours sorted quickly!”

The healthy gift includes a card and envelope giving all the information on how to start the membership. It is available to buy now from West Park Leisure Centre, Long Eaton; Sandiacre Friesland Leisure Centre; and Rutland Sports Park and Victoria Park Leisure Centre in Ilkeston. The gift can be activated anytime between now and 12th February 2018.

Sunday 22 October 2017

TIMES CHANGE AT FRIESLAND CENTRE

New opening hours at Sandiacre Friesland Sports Centre come into force on Monday 30th October after Erewash Borough Council approved the changes due to low levels of daytime usage on weekdays. The new hours are as follows:
· Monday to Friday Squash courts and gym 3pm 10pm
All other activities 4.30pm 10pm
· Saturday 8:30am 6:30pm
· Sunday 9:30am 7:00pm
Councillors agreed to reduce the opening hours after a report showed that over the last five years visits to the centre by residents during the day on weekdays were very low and the latest figures showed 89.87% of usage is during the evening and the weekend. A consultation was carried out on the revised opening hours, with responses from the public seeing little objection to the proposal and all comments received showed an understanding of the council’s position. Leisure facilities are on offer at nearby West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton for those who want to visit during the day. The move is expected to save the council just over £65,500 a year. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:
 
“Everyone is well aware that these are financially challenging times for all local authorities and we continue to look at ways to save money and be more efficient. At our Sandiacre sports centre it is clear that the high demand to use the facilities is during the evening and weekends – and, as such, the new opening hours reflect this.”

The centre opened in 1975 and is in the grounds of Sandiacre Friesland School. A successful partnership agreement between the council and the school is in place which will see the school continue to use the sports hall and a range of facilities during term time.

Tuesday 17 October 2017

TWO MEN ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPED MURDER

Police investigating an incident in Long Eaton in the early hours of Saturday morning October 14th are appealing for information. A call was received from a member of the public at around 4am reporting that a man had been injured in a car park on Orchard Street. When officers arrived an 18-year-old man was found with serious injuries and was taken to the Queens Medical Centre. West Gate and Gibb Street Car Park were cordoned off while a forensic team examined the scene. West Gate was reopened at 1pm but the Car Park remained closed. Detective Inspector Graham Prince said: “It appears that there has been some sort of altercation between two groups of men in or near to Manhattan’s bar on Clifford Street. This then continued in the car park off of Orchard Street where an 18-year-old man has allegedly been hit by a car. I would like to speak to anyone that was in Manhattan’s or around the Orchard Street area between 3am and 4am on Saturday morning who may have information that would assist with the investigation.” Two men, aged 18 and 33 both from the Nottingham area, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and have since been released under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 17000443076. You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 0115 

Friday 13 October 2017

PARISH BY ELECTION FOR SAWLEY

 A by-election to elect a councillor for Sawley Parish Council will take place on Thursday 2nd November. Two candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election: · Denise Bond, representing the Labour Party · John Francis Hay-Heddle, representing the Conservative Party Polling will take place between 7am–10pm, with polling stations at Sawley Community Centre and All Saints Church on Tamworth Road. The count will take place at Sawley Community Centre after the close of poll at 10pm. Any residents who are not registered to vote have until Tuesday 17 October to register. For anyone wishing to vote by post the deadline for receipt of applications is 5pm, Wednesday 18 October and the deadline for receipt of applications to vote by proxy is 5pm, Wednesday 25th October. Anyone wanting more information can contact Erewash Borough Council’s elections team via email at electreg@erewash.gov.uk or call 0115 907 1190.

JUNIOR SWIM OFFER

A cut-price half term Junior Swim Membership is on offer for the October school holiday following the success of Erewash Borough Council’s similar summer package. The membership offers nine days swimming for just £5 and the council has made 60 memberships available – 30 at Ilkeston’s Victoria Park Leisure Centre and 30 and West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton. The half term membership - which runs from 21st-29th October inclusive - has been funded by Sport England and is for 11-16-year-olds as part of Sport England’s campaign to encourage young people to be more fit and healthy. The memberships are available to buy now from both leisure centres and also include entrance to two Halloween pool parties at Victoria Park Leisure Centre in Ilkeston on Saturday 28th October. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says: “Our summer special proved extremely popular so we are grateful to Sport England for helping us return with this half term offer as part of our ongoing commitment to get young people physically active – particularly in this 11-16-year-old age range.”

Thursday 12 October 2017

EREWASH IN BLOOM WINNERS 2017

Best Front Garden 1st - Mrs C. Holloway, Poplar Road, Breaston 2nd - Mr B. Pinfield, Holland Meadow, Long Eaton 3rd - Mr Emanuele Maxia, Anson Walk, Ilkeston
Best Hanging Baskets and Planters 1st (joint) - Mr Ken Young, Blandford Avenue, Long Eaton Mark, Jill and Paul Prentice, Harrington Street, Sawley 2nd - Mrs S. Hainsworth, Beech Croft, Breadsall Village 3rd - Ms Tina White, Brick Kiln Lane, Morley
Best Rear Garden (medium to large) 1st - Mark, Jill and Paul Prentice, Harrington Street, Sawley 2nd - Mr Ken Young, Blandford Avenue, Long Eaton 3rd - Mr Cook, Chestnut Grove, Sandiacre
Best Rear Garden (Small) 1st (joint) - Mrs Jean Whitwell, Pimlico, Ilkeston Mrs S. Hainsworth, Beech Croft, Breadsall Village 2nd - Mark Gatley, Wirksworth Road, Kirk Hallam 3rd - David Mayo, Newbery Avenue, Long Eaton
Best Wildlife/Environmental Garden 1st - Mark, Jill and Paul Prentice, Harrington Street, Sawley 2nd - Mr Nigel Downes, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston 3rd - Mr M Bilbie, St Vincent Close, Long Eaton
Best Street, Community Area or Friends Group 1st - Coach and Horses, Draycott. 2nd (joint) - Three Trees Community Garden. EPHA House sheltered accommodation, Ilkeston. Long Eaton Railway Station Community Improvements, Sawley .3rd (Joint) - Artemis Hostel P3, Long Eaton. Heanor Road Community Allotment, Ilkeston.
Best Allotment Site 1st - Far Lane Allotment Association, Borrowash. 2nd (joint) - Sandiacre and Risley Gardenholders Association. Shacklecross Allotments, Borrowash. 3rd - Elm Street Allotments, Borrowash
Pubs Restaurants and Hotels 1st (joint) - Carpenters Arms, Dale Abbey. The Stanhope Arms, Stanton by Dale. 2nd (joint) - Chequers Inn, Breaston. Spanish Bar, Ilkeston. 3rd (joint) - The General Havelock, Ilkeston. Seven Oaks Inn, Stanton by Dale
Business, Commercial and Places of Worship 1st - Brooklands Court, Long Eaton. 2nd - Bramble Lodge, West Hallam. 3rd - Friends of St Mary’s Churchyard, Ilkeston.
Best School Garden 1st - Chaucer Junior School, Ilkeston. 2nd (joint) - Parklands Infant School, Long Eaton. Granby Junior School, Ilkeston . 3rd (Joint) - Morley Primary School. Ladywood Primary School, Kirk Hallam
Tallest Sunflower (under 16s) 1st - Ladywood Primary School, Kirk Hallam 2nd - Luca Rowbottom, St Alban’s Close, West Hallam 3rd - Parklands Infant School, Long Eaton

EBC NETS A NEW LOOK WEBSITE

Erewash Borough Council has unveiled a new look website, with an all-new contemporary design that is aimed at making it easier and quicker for residents to find the information they need. The new site will continue to be developed to ensure it remains easy to use, informative and accessible for all customers. A clean, fresh homepage features easy to recognise icons for the most popular services used by visitors to the council’s website – while the redesign is also now mobile-friendly for the increasing number of people who use smartphones, tablets or laptops to access information and services. The responsive design, together with the new ‘most popular pages’ icons, make tasks such as reporting a missed bin, paying council tax and finding sports and leisure information much easier. Further development will be undertaken to improve online services for all our residents and visitors to the council’s website. The council’s latest news and what’s on guide remain key features on the website to keep residents fully informed on what is happening across the borough. Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of Erewash Borough Council, says: “The redesign has been done with our customers very firmly at the heart of it and highlights our commitment to providing a first class digital customer service for those residents using our website for our services and as a way of keeping up-to-date with our news. This is very much the first step; it paves the way for us to continue to develop the website in all sorts of ways. We are keen to hear from residents and customers about what they think of the new look - their ideas will help us continue to shape the site in the future.” Residents wanting to share their views or ideas on the new website can email Stewart Millar on communications@erewash.gov.uk To see the new website, visit www.erewash.gov.uk.E

Tuesday 10 October 2017

REPRIEVE FOR JUST FOR PETS

PSR Trading, which is owned by Nottingham-based pet supplies business Pedigree Wholesale have bought 18 of the 25 stores from Just for Pets who were placed into administration after the company started making a loss. The purchases include the Long Eaton store on Waverley Street. The buyout has saved 200 jobs at the shops and its head office in Hartlebury, Worcestershire. John Carpenter of Dow Schofield Watts who were appointed as joint administrators said: "We are delighted to have secured the future of this long-established retail business and wish the PSR Trading team every success for the future.” 

Friday 6 October 2017

POLICE APPEAL AFTER TYRES ARE SLASHED

Police from the Long Eaton Safer Neighbourhood Team are appealing for witnesses after eight cars had their tyres slashed in an area of the town. The incidents happened over two nights between Tuesday, September 26th and Thursday, September 28th on the following streets: Hawthorne Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, Wyvern Avenue, Lynden Avenue and Manchester Street. “The attacks seem to be completely without motive and acts of pure vandalism. Hundreds of pounds have had to be spent by the victims replacing the tyres and so we would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious or knows anything about the attacks to make contact with the team. We have been completing house to house enquiries in the streets affected but would also ask if anyone has any private CCTV, that they check it for the nights concerned and give us a call should they find anything suspicious.” If you think you can help the team contact police on 101 quoting reference number 17000415453. Alternatively send them a message online by visiting the Contact Us section of their website. You can also anonymously contact  Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.