COME DINE WITH ME

The Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Mary Hopkinson, is inviting local residents to join her at the annual Charity Civic Dinner. The prestigious dinner is one of the major fundraising events in the civic calendar and residents and local businesses are once again invited to join the Mayor for the event, which this year will be held at the Erewash Valley Golf Club at Stanton by Dale on Friday 20th April.

The main entertainment will be provided by Acoustic Union, a four piece band from the East Midlands who perform acoustic arrangements of pop and rock classics along with their own material of bluegrass, instrumentals and traditional songs. The evening will begin with a wine reception at 7.15pm followed by dinner at 8pm, with the dress code of cocktail or long evening dresses for the ladies and dinner jackets or lounge suits for the men. Tickets are on sale now, with money raised going to the Mayor’s chosen charities - Sight Support Derbyshire, Alzheimer’s charities, Ben’s Den and the Canaan Trust - at the end of her year in office. The Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Mary Hopkinson, says: 

“I look forward to welcoming guests to this year’s dinner which will be a wonderful occasion to enjoy with residents, colleagues, friends and family. It is a civic tradition and I do hope that local people will support this event and help raise as much money as possible for well-deserving charities which are close to my heart.”

Tickets are £35 each for the four course meal, welcome drink and entertainment and are available from the Civic Office at Ilkeston Town Hall. For more details, please contact Sue Dunkley, Civic Support Officer - email sue.dunkley@erewash.gov.uk or telephone 0115 9071115.

CARE HOME WILL REMAIN OPEN

Derbyshire County Council’s ruling Conservative administration has revealed that Hazelwood Care Home in Cotmanhay will remain open until a brand new facility is built in the community to replace it. At a meeting on 22nd February, Conservative Councillors are due to consider a report which recommends that Hazelwood care home remains open with essential work carried out to ensure it remains safe in the meantime.

 

Catherine Atkinson, Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Erewash, who has been campaigning to keep the Home open said:

“Whether we were campaigning on street stalls or taking the petition door to door, everyone we spoke to locally opposed the Council’s plans to close Hazelwood. But time and time again we were also told we were wasting our time because the Council had already made up its mind. The family and friends of residents demonstrated incredible courage and determination. The families did not believe or accept the inflated costs of keeping Hazelwood open alleged by the Council, costs which have now been exposed as nonsense. I couldn’t be happier that the Council have been forced to listen to the community. The recommendations have come as a huge relief and cause for celebration. However, given the emotional toll on the residents and their families, questions need to be asked about why this exercise was allowed to happen.”

On 6th December 2017 Catherine Atkinson along with families and campaigners attended a meeting at County Hall. A petition signed by 3813 people was presented and questions were asked from the public gallery. Catherine Atkinson, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Erewash told the Council: “You can’t do this to vulnerable elderly people at Christmas. Today the Cabinet member ignored our specific questions and just gave a vague answer, it was totally unsatisfactory. I can’t decide whether the way the Tory Council are handling this is incompetent or cruel.”

 

The day after the petition was presented Derbyshire County Council extended the consultation period on the future of the Cotmanhay care home. On Wednesday 20th December residents of Hazelwood care home were visited by campaigners fighting to keep it open. Families of the residents, and Catherine Atkinson also used the visit to call on Council leaders to look again at the cost of keeping Hazelwood open, in the light of evidence they may have grossly over-estimated repair bills. Catherine Atkinson said: “The fact remains that the Conservatives made a manifesto commitment not to close a care home without building a new one. They will stop at nothing to try to justify breaking their election promise.”

FURTHER ARREST MADE FOLLOWING SPRINGFIELD PARK STABBING

A second arrest has been made as Long Eaton police bring in further dispersal powers following the recent disturbance in the area. The incident happened on Springfield Park between Long Eaton and Sandiacre on Saturday, February 3rd, when a pre-arranged fight involving a group of 13-17 year-olds resulted in a 15-year-old boy receiving minor stab wounds. Shortly after the incident a 17-year-old boy from Nottingham was arrested and is now on police bail with a condition not to enter Derbyshire. Officers investigating the incident have now arrested a 14-year-old girl from Stapleford on suspicion of possessing a bladed article, she has been interviewed and released under investigation.

Inspector Jim Thompson, who is in charge of policing in the area, said: “We will not tolerate the type of behaviour we saw from a group of young people. I had additional officers on duty the following weekend and authorised them to have additional powers to disperse anyone in the area who they felt was likely to cause crime or disorder. It is clear that the recent disturbance involved a group of children aged between 13 and 17 years and so I would also ask parents in the area to take extra steps to ensure they know what their children are doing. The particularly disturbing element of this case is the apparent use of a knife and we would urge that anyone thinking about going out carrying a knife or bladed-article to think twice. Carrying a knife or bladed-article is a serious offence and it is so easy for the use of a knife to end in a fatality, the consequences of a young person losing a life is devastating to all concerned.”

The investigation continues and if you have any information about this incident please contact DC Hayley Jones, the investigating officer, on 101 quoting reference number 18000055052. Alternatively send her a message online by visiting the Contact Us section of our website. You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

RINGING IN THE CHINESE NEW YEAR

Music, dance and a heart-warming lantern procession are among the highlights when the Year of the Dog is celebrated in colourful style during Chinese New Year festivities on Saturday 17 th February. Drop-in family lantern making workshops will be running at Erewash Museum between 12.30pm and 5pm where, for £1.50 per person, people can make their own lanterns to take along to the early evening parade.

The Year of the Dog celebrations will begin at 5.30pm when the lantern procession will set off from the museum to the nearby Ilkeston Market Place. The parade will also feature a special processional dog lantern made by local artist Ann Levett and adults with learning disabilities from the Outlook Day Centre in Long Eaton.

A one-hour New Year knees-up in the Market Place will include Dragon Dancing by pupils from Hallam Fields Junior School, Lion Dancing from Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Chinese music and song from professional musician Ling Peng. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“Whether you want to make lanterns and join in the procession or simply want to go along to watch the fun, our Chinese New Year celebration will be a memorable family event. So join us to welcome the Year of the Dog!”

Organised by Erewash Borough Council’s Arts Development Team, the Chinese New Year celebration is the final event in the council’s Festival of Light programme – a series of events to mark traditional and culturally diverse celebrations from September through to February each year. These feature Harvest Moon, Diwali, the Erewash Bonfire and Fireworks display, Christmas Lights switch on events and Winter Solstice.

In Long Eaton, musician Ling Peng will be working with pupils from Sawley Infant and Nursery and Dovedale Primary schools. They will be exploring Chinese song and dragon dancing, leading up to a performance for family and friends at Long Eaton’s Dovedale School.

ARMED ROBBERY AT BREASTON SERVICE STATIONARMED ROBBERY AT BREASTON SERVICE STATION

CCTV footage released after moped rider robs service station at gunpoint

 

Police have issued CCTV footage of an armed robbery in which a man made off with cash and cigarettes from a service station kiosk. The man rode his moped across the forecourt at the Jet garage in Wilsthorpe Road, Breaston, at about 9.15pm on Thursday, February 8th.

He then walked into the kiosk and showed the cashier what appeared to be a handgun, before demanding cash and cigarettes. The offender then made off with a small amount of cash and rode off on his moped in the direction of Breaston.

Police released footage which can be seen on the Derbyshire Police Website and want to speak to the man shown in it. He wore a red jacket, tracksuit bottoms and trainers, and kept his full-head helmet on during the incident. Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting reference 18000063545. You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

15 YEAR OLD STABBED AT PRE ARRANGED FIGHT

A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with a stabbing on Springfield Park last Saturday teatime. A 15 year-old boy received minor stab wounds. He was taken to hospital and is now at home recovering. Police arrested a 17 year-old man from Nottingham who was interviewed and later released on police bail with conditions not to enter Derbyshire.

Police had been called to Sandiacre and Long Eaton between 5pm and 6pm on Saturday 3rd February after residents reported a group of youths fighting. A large group clashed on Petersham Estate and one resident said that at one point there were up to 100 youths involved. Later around 9pm police were called to Hicken Park, Stapleford after a report of people arguing. No one was arrested.

Sergeant Rich Price, who is currently in charge of neighbourhood policing for the area, said: “The incident is under investigation, however we are confident that this was a one off, pre-arranged fight between a group of 13-17 year-olds. The investigation continues and we fully expect further arrests to be made. Our officers will be in the area this week on high-visibility patrols and I would ask that if anyone has any information about what happened on Saturday evening that they stop and have a chat with them. In addition to this, there will be some additional intelligence-led patrols in the area this coming weekend, where officers will have extra powers to disperse anyone they suspect are there to cause disorder."

If you have any information about this incident please contact DC Hayley Jones, the investigating officer on 101 quoting reference number 18000055052.

LONG EATON CAMERA CLUB

The latest night at the club house was devoted to fund raising. Members were invited to bring unwanted goods that could be sold at auction in order to raise club funds. Auctioneer and Host for the evening was Roy Maddison. Roy tackled the sale as though it was in one of the big auction houses, fun was had by all as well as the serious side of raising money for the club.

LONG EATON MAN STABBED

The Long Eaton man who died as a result of an attack in Loughborough has been named by detectives as Mark Swinhoe. Police were called to Moira Street in the town at around 3.20am on Sunday 14th January after two people were found injured in the street. Mr Swinhoe, 38, of Long Eaton, was being treated by the ambulance service for a stab wound when he died at the scene. His family have asked for privacy at this time.

A woman, who sustained minor injuries to her face, was treated at the scene. A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody where detectives are continuing to question him. Enquiries are continuing into the incident and officers are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or the events leading up to it to make contact. A car park in Moira Street was cordoned off following the incident to allow for a full forensic examination to take place and officers remain in the area to reassure the local community.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Smalley, from East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime Team, said: “Our enquiries are very much ongoing into this incident as we continue to investigate the incident to fully establish the circumstances, trawling CCTV and carrying out searches. We are working with our partner agencies to address any concerns people in the community may have. We urge anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to get in touch. It could help us with our enquiries.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101, quoting incident number 82 of 14th January. 

NEW OFFICERS IN LONG EATON

Police have announced that they have two new officers on the beat in Long Eaton. PC Helen Gallear, an officer with 16 years’ experience, has been joined by brand new Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Joe Constantine. Both officers will be working for the Safer Neighbourhood teams covering the town centre and Sawley areas of Long Eaton.

Helen started with Derbyshire police back in April 2002 and as such brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Her previous roles have seen her working as a detective dealing with burglaries, a family liaison officer helping victims in the most serious of cases and she also worked for nine years investigating sexual offences. Helen said:

“I have been working back at the front-line of policing now for the past six months covering the whole of Erewash, reacting to 999 calls and dealing with issues that the public have called us about. I am now really pleased to be joining the Safer Neighbourhood team at Long Eaton and getting to know the community and issues that affect them, then working with others to come up with longer term solutions. I know that there have been issues with anti-social behaviour and damage in the area and this will be one of the areas Joe and I will be working with the rest of the team in trying to solve."

 

In contrast to Helen, Joe is a new starter to Derbyshire police, having joined as a PCSO in November last year. He has now completed his initial training at HQ and is raring to get stuck in to his new role. Joe is 22 years of age and knows Erewash well as he lives in Ilkeston. He said:

“I only started with the team at Long Eaton at the end of December but already I am really enjoying my new job. The team are fantastic and so committed to making Long Eaton a safe place to live, work and visit. I know Long Eaton well and have actually lived there, not that I can remember much about that as we moved when I was only six months old. Like Helen I know there have been issues with anti-social behaviour and we are determined to target those responsible and help to improve the problem.”

To contact the Long Eaton Safer Neighbourhood Team call them on 101 or send them a message online by visiting the Contact Us section of our website www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us

TOURING WAR EXHIBITION

Erewash Museum welcomes the touring exhibition Derbyshire Lives through the First World War on 20th January – a timely visit to the borough as the world prepares centenary commemorations to mark the end of the Great War. The exhibition, which will be in the Lally Gallery until Saturday 3rd March, was commissioned by Derbyshire Libraries and Heritage in 2016 and has been visiting venues across the county over the last two years and will continue through to December this year at other venues. Poignant stories of struggle, triumph and injustice are featured in the exhibition, which looks at life on the front line, the home front and how the individual lives of Derbyshire people were affected by the conflict. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“This exhibition will bring to life the stories of people who lived through and died in the First World War and will help us all to imagine how horrific it would have been to fight in the trenches. We will also be able to find out more about what life was like for those left behind in Derbyshire.”

The display is the final stage of the wider Derbyshire Lives through the First World War project, which has supported local communities countywide to commemorate their experiences of the First World War. The project is supported by Derbyshire County Council with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).