Delays are building and advice is to avoid the area ‘The A46 has re-opened in both directions between the A606 and the A52 near Nottingham ‘We’re pleased to advised that the farm animals returned safely to their original enclosure.’ The A46 in Nottinghamshire is currently closed in both directions between the A606 and the A52 at Cotgrave and Stragglethorpe This is due to farm animals that have escaped a nearby enclosure Nottinghamshire Police and National Highways Service Providers are at scene managing the incident ‘The A46 is closed in both directions between the A606 and the A52 near Nottingham ‘This is due to large animals that have escaped their enclosure and entered the network A diversion route to follow shortly.’ Partially blocked and queueing traffic due to animals on road on A46 Northbound from A606 Melton Road to Owthorpe Road We recommend you upgrade your software or view our website on an alternate device or browser To sign up to play or for help with your People’s Postcode Lottery account, call our Customer Experience team on 0808 109 8765 or email us at info@postcodelottery.co.uk. then won almost £77,000 each four months later Sam decided to join after seeing our telly ad at her boyfriend's home late last year and roped in dad Peter after telling him the next day cried and hugged after Danyl Johnson presented each of them with 'life-changing' cheques for £76,923 Daughter Samantha - who celebrated her birthday last Monday - said: "I was playing first by one day "I had been saying for years that I'd start playing I was sitting in my boyfriend's with my phone in my hand and I just signed up." She added: "This is phenomenal - it has changed my life." Peter - who only retired from his 4am starts as a baker with Morrisons on 31 January - said: "This is unreal The pair are celebrating with 10 other neighbours in Cotgrave after NG12 3NT won our weekly £1m Millionaire Street prize today but one winner doubled their prize to £153,846 as they played with two tickets Sam and Peter threw their hands over their mouths then fell into each other's arms as Sam started sobbing with delight who works for The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Company told us how her windfall will help her plan a new life with her partner Stephen Goodrum Me and my partner have been together for two years and want to move in with each other "We're looking to buy a house and stay local She added: "I might go a nice holiday or have a party for my big 40th birthday next year And she revealed it's not their first win since she and her dad signed up just a few weeks ago She said: "The first month we won £12 and a gift the second month - now this Stunned Peter - who also has a son and two grandchildren - said he'd treat Sheila He said: "I don't really know what to do with it yet as it hasn't sunk in Some home improvements and take my wife on a cruise to the Greek islands or the Caribbean .. But footie fan Peter hinted that he might consider treating himself He said: "I might look at taking a box at Nottingham Forest." Sheila - who retired as an HR assistant for B&Q last October - has no regrets over not signing up "We've got some home renovations to do and then just enjoy retirement now dad-of-four Andrew Higson poignantly revealed he'll spend part of his winnings on a tribute to his late parents by restoring a 2007 S-Type Jaguar he bought with the legacy they left to him The semi-retired piano tuner plans to have the motor - which he has named Tamara - repaired by a specialist He said: "In the garage I've got a 2007 S-Type Jaguar in need of TLC and repair they left enough money for me to buy the house and car This is very much in their memory and doing the car up will perpetuate that The garage will probably suggest getting it into this part of the 21st century and there was a garage selling higher-end cars I walked past it about a dozen times and thought but you wouldn't know it when you drive it." Andrew also had plans for the end-terrace home he bought around 10 years ago the kitchen needs an overhaul and a new washing machine .. I can also look at solar panels and maybe a heat pump Andrew joined Postcode Lottery primarily to help fund charities but admitted he is blown away with his windfall He said: "I wanted to contribute to charities on a regular basis so that was my main motivation for joining the Postcode Lottery This is going to be a street party and a half and some of it will be going back to Postcode Lottery for the charities." Karen Ferns told us how her win came just a day after Dumfries-born hubby Archie marked a year in remission from cancer And the bubbly mum-of-one was also previously diagnosed with breast and thyroid cancers years apart Karen was left reeling after being presented with a £76,923 cheque by Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson Then she covered her face with her hand when he whipped out a second cheque because she played with two tickets She said: "I thought that was both of them Archie was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma out of the blue but was given the heartening news that he was a year in remission just a day before the lottery win That came after Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago just weeks after her mum and sister were also told they had the condition she was also diagnosed with thyroid cancer but has been given the all-clear from both The retired couple - whose only son William has cerebral palsy - were heading away on a long weekend to Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire minutes before finding out about their win Karen said: "When the Postcode Lottery called we were out at the hospital for Archie's check-up 'You've had phone calls from the Postcode Lottery' It's going to be banked first and we'll take a few days to think about it "I might book a holiday for later in the year now "We've already got a holiday booked for next year The former courier added: "William likes going to the cinema The winners all signed up for Postcode Lottery because they believe in supporting good causes at home and abroad And one local organisation, Belvoir Vale RDA, has been awarded £50,000 by Postcode Community Trust The charity - which is a member of the Riding for the Disabled Association - offers a variety of equestrian activities for children and adults with disabilities supported by a dedicated team of around 60 volunteers and more than 10 horses and ponies on site said: "We believe horse riding and the other equestrian activities that we offer are a key aspect in helping to improve the lives of our participants includes significant physical benefit and opportunity to develop and improve skill but also the strong emotional connection between participants and our horses and ponies which enhances wellbeing in a very meaningful way "Everyone should be able to access the benefit of being involved with horses and we are committed to providing both ridden and non-ridden opportunities to cater for a wide range of needs." The charity provided over 900 riding opportunities to more than 100 participants with disabilities last year and this number is expected to rise significantly in 2025 Lesley added: "£50,000 is an absolute game-changer for us it will enable us to acquire a new horse carriage which will significantly improve the accessibility of our carriage driving sessions we are constantly looking at ways to strengthen our existing services but also to widen what we offer "We can't thank the players of People's Postcode Lottery enough - this funding is a vital step in ensuring we can continue providing a much-needed community resource." With People's Postcode Lottery, a minimum of 30% of each ticket price goes to charities and good causes Our players have funded thousands of good causes across Britain and beyond players have raised more than £1.4 billion for community projects and charitable organisations If you haven't signed up to play yet, it's quick and easy to join the fun. You never know when your postcode is going to get lucky. Find out How It Works or check out the amazing Prizes our players can win Winning postcodes are announced every single day and we have thousands of happy winners every week New dad Dave Lowe told how he won a whopping £404,048 on People’s Postcode Lottery - because of his newborn baby daughter Eight neighbours in a block of flats are celebrating together after sharing a £1 Million prize on People’s Postcode Lottery A son won three times more than his dad on People's Postcode Lottery after he kept playing with his parents' address - despite moving out… Rushcliffe Borough Council’s(RBC) £5.2m investment in refurbishments and energy efficient improvements at local leisure centres are progressing with Cotgrave Leisure Centre welcoming newly opened facilities Works started at the site in September 2024 and is being delivered in phases to enable the centre to remain open whilst works take place The centre has already benefited from the addition of a changing places toilet wider corridors and the provision of two enhanced dedicated studios for group exercise and spin classes which opened in December Phase two has now completed with fully refurbished poolside changing rooms open to the public RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “The improvements are on track and getting very positive feedback from leisure centre users “Works have moved to the reception area which will be reconfigured to provide enhanced layout new toilets and an improved reception desk In this phase the sports hall is also receiving a full makeover with brand new professional sports hall flooring and fresh paint the centre has received a new low carbon air source heat pump unit which will deliver an innovative and pioneering application of heat pump and green technology “Once fully connected and turned on later this month the new plant room will use electricity from renewable sources to efficiently draw heat from the air and transfer it into the swimming pool and surrounding areas resulting in 250% to 300% energy efficiency “The solar panels are already producing electricity and are predicted to generate up to 55,000 kwh of electricity a year saving up to £25,000 on running costs the equivalent to running power for 20 houses and a 300T CO2e annual saving.” The decarbonisation of Cotgrave leisure centre is part funded with £1.2m from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and is part of RBC’s £5.2m investment in Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres The solar panels are funded from the Government’s Department for Culture Media and Sport through their Swimming Pool Support Fund The Leisure Centre is also benefiting from £110,000 funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for refurbishments The Changing Places toilet at Cotgrave Leisure Centre was supported by a £50,000 grant from the Department of Levelling Up The ambitious scheme is being delivered by Leisure Energy as the principal contractor leading on decarbonisation alongside their appointed sub-contractor JRD Design and Build TSA Riley is providing the RBC with project management and cost management services The centre is operated by RBC’s leisure provider Lex Leisure who are working closely with users to communicate changes Cllr Wheeler added: “In total we’re investing £5.2m in these refurbishments and energy efficient upgrades at Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres which will enhance the quality and sustainability of the facilities for the community for future generations “The completed parts of the centre are looking superb and the technology installed is a great carbon clever example of how we are helping to reduce CO2 emissions and will go a long way towards achieving our environmental goals to operate as a carbon neutral Council by 2030 “Once works are complete at Cotgrave this Spring our contractors will move to Keyworth to carry out an equally ambitious full refurbishment of that centre over the summer.” Rushcliffe ArenaRugby RoadWest BridgfordNOTTINGHAMNG2 7YG Cotgrave in Rushcliffe has had its seat held by a Conservative councillor for over two decades The Rushcliffe borough division sits about seven miles from Nottingham City Centre with the area praised for the nearby 200-acre Cotgrave Country Park – popular with walkers Conservative councillor and most recent council chairman has been the long-standing representative for Cotgrave at Nottinghamshire County Council since the 2001 local election The 2021 election saw four party candidates run – Conservative Below are what candidates have told us – and the outcome to the 2021 Cotgrave division poll for context Majority: 63.2 per cent of the vote and a 1,322- vote majority over Labour Richard Langton Butler – Local Conservatives “I’ve had the honour of being the county councillor since 2001 I enjoy doing the role but the big thing is being here for residents to help them out and point them in the right direction when they’ve got queries and concerns I want to just continue to see the improvement and the better services and environment around the whole area.” “The number one comment is roads and pavements Everywhere you go we have poor roads and pavements but we have made a start over the last few years the council as a whole is investing more money in Nottinghamshire roads and pavements In Cotgrave we recently had Stragglethorpe Road resurfaced I’ve had confirmation we’ve managed to find funding to get [Ringleas Road] done [this financial year] “You often hear people saying there’s not a lot for young people to do and it might lead to antisocial behaviour In Cotgrave [there’s] an improved young people’s centre I want to keep ensuring we get money coming along to keep that going because it’s very popular and I want to see more young people using it “I include the villagers around here as well- there is a good community spirit You only have to walk through and you’ll bump into people We’ve had superb regeneration in recent years I remember looking at plans and aspirations for what we wanted These things take a long time- now we’ve got it.” Keir Ronald Chewings – Rushcliffe Independents Let’s Fix Rushcliffe’s Roads “People are fed up with nationalistic politics this [election] is about what matters to them locally Cotgrave and surrounding areas have been let down by successive administrations but they’ve been in a dire state for years This is about actually putting the people of Cotgrave first.” It’s going to be refurbished at some point in 2025- no date set and no details of what that refurbishment looks like I will within the first 100 days survey the whole district and determine what roads needs to be done and I will put that to the County Council and demand an action plan “Tollerton Airport’s got a lot of historic presence and it’s being dismantled and taken away for more housing- that’s a burning issue There was an opportunity to remove that parcel of land [in Rushcliffe Borough Council] for house building and there was two councillors that voted against it – I’m one of them The community doesn’t want that airfield destroyed “The local government review- I don’t want to see Cotgrave part of Nottingham City The councils have been underfunded for circa 15 years now from austerity from the government The way forward is to do correct funding for local councils What the Conservative [councillors] are talking about now is they want to see [the county option] and continue to fight that at the district level.” “[The whole Cotgrave division] is a great community I believe people should have choice over where they vote but I think people need more choice than that You get a better system of government from doing that I’ve worked for local government for many years The key thing I like to promote is recycling but I’m very familiar with Cotgrave through friends “We need to have a very strong town and parish council The Government wants to end the current two-tier council system It gets rid of some of the inconsistencies but the needs of local people get lost because fewer councillors and a much bigger area covered “There’s been a lot of building in and around Cotgrave but also to look at the resources they bring in and keep pace with the increasing population and we do need to sort out those potholes.” and I know there’s a good ‘friends of’ group there “[It’s] an opportunity to vote for something different other than the standard Conservative and Labour I care very passionately about a lot of local issues “I have an interest in pupils who aren’t doing quite so well [and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities] yet we’re getting fewer and fewer services for our money I would look at how the county council is specifically distributing money and look at the formula for distribution because it’s being spent in odd locations.” “The farm shop in Clipston is absolutely brilliant People can make a difference at the local level I’ve got lots of experience managing people and challenging conditions in the NHS I’ve lived in various parts of the world and within Rushcliffe so I’ve got lots of experience of different communities “The problem with the bike track from Cotgrave to Radcliffe that’s been closed off for over a year – I’ve spoken to our MP We’ve talked to [regional mayor] Claire Ward I’ve got clear ideas about how to try and bring about a solution I think with determination we could hopefully enable that to open and we want to ensure health facilities are maintained and improved It’s also about ensuring that older people are still able to live at home independently rather than going into a care home or being institutionalised if they don’t want to take that route The Labour Government wants to try to free those funds up to be used to benefit local businesses.” I think people do feel it’s missing out [on having] a secondary school here- it’s something we need to look at in the future.” Teck Keong Khong for Alliance for Democracy and Freedom and Keith Walters for Reform UK were both unable to attend an interview and did not provide a statement by the time of publication •  Local Elections 2025: Nottinghamshire County Council full list of candidates Decarbonisation and refurbishment works at Cotgrave Leisure Centre are set to commence this autumn as part of Rushcliffe Borough Council’s (RBC) £5.2m investment in Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres Keyworth Leisure Centre will receive a refit essential roof repairs and investment in the pool filtration equipment with works expected to start next spring RBC received £1.2m from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to help reduce the carbon emissions at Cotgrave Leisure Centre The funding will enable the replacement of old boilers and outdated inefficient heating and hot water systems with new modern Heat pump units will use electricity from renewable sources to efficiently draw heat from the air and transfer it into the swimming pool and surrounding areas RBC received a further £250,000 funding from the Government’s Department for Culture enabling solar panels to be installed on the roof at Cotgrave Leisure Centre The panels will generate up to 55,000 kwh of electricity a year saving up to £25,000 on running costs the equivalent to running power for 20 houses Cotgrave Leisure Centre will also benefit from £110,000 funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for refurbishments The new Changing Places toilet at Cotgrave Leisure Centre is now open supported by a £50,000 grant from the Department of Levelling Up Leisure Energy employed as the principal contractor will deliver the decarbonisation works alongside their appointed sub-contractor JRD Design and Build is providing the RBC with project management and cost management services Both centres are operated by RBC’s leisure provider Lex Leisure and will work closely with users to communicate any changes Works at Cotgrave Leisure Centre will commence in September 2024 and continue until Spring 2025 The centre will remain open and available for use by the public there will be times when areas of the centre will be unavailable and some activities may move to other nearby centres temporarily Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “We’re committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our residents by providing high quality leisure provision and we’re pleased to see these further upgrades commence in autumn.“The additional funding we’ve secured for decarbonisation and solar energy means we can make great strides towards our environmental goals to operate as a carbon neutral Council by 2030 “In total we’re investing £5.2m in these refurbishments and energy efficient upgrades over the next two years which will enhance the quality of the facilities for residents and visitors and increase its sustainability “I would like to thank the previous Government for the funding we have received towards the refurbishment which will make a huge difference to the community.” Leisure Energy’s Strategic Director Mike Worsnop added: “We are delighted to be working with Rushcliffe Borough Council on the decarbonisation and refurbishment projects at Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres “The works will further assist RBC in moving towards their net zero goals and maintaining the facilities for future generations After several months of design and preparation it’s exciting that we are now ready to start on site.” JRD Design and Build Director Jordon Kemp said: “We are delighted to be appointed to work alongside Leisure Energy to deliver the refurbishment of Cotgrave leisure centre for RBC “We’ve successfully delivered many leisure centres refurbishments Cotgrave provides that extra level of excitement to be improving these facilities for local residents.”  TSA Executive Director Chris Donachie added: “We’re pleased to be assisting with both Cost Consultancy and Project Management services on this project for RBC “The additional external funding has meant the council can provide an enhanced outcome for the residents.” Lex Leisure Contract Manager Adam Groves said: “It is very exciting to see this project come together We’ll work with Leisure Energy and JRD Design and Build to minimise disruption can’t wait to welcome users into the fabulous refurbished low energy centre and I’m confident users will agree the short-term disruption will be well worth it when they see the finished improved facilities.” Results are starting to come in from Rushcliffe Arena as the votes are counted Read more: Reform UK make majority on Nottinghamshire County Council Only 64 of the 66 seats will be declared today The vote for the Mansfield North Division will complete the election result once that vote takes place at a later date Nearly 100 new homes will be built opposite a Cotgrave business park after an application regarding its appearance was approved by the council Applicant and developer Taylor Wimpey (UK) Ltd first had outline permission granted for a 90-home development on land south of Hollygate Lane The homes can now move forward after the part of the application relating to scale appearance and layout was approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council last Friday (December 6) The development will have a central road running through it with access from Hollygate Lane in the north and Colston Gate in the south- a new roundabout will be built on Hollygate lane for access to the north of the site The new homes will be between one to four-bed and mostly two storey semi-detached or terraced with maisonettes and a bungalow included The development is close to two primary schools and 250 metres from Cotgrave Shopping Centre A residential development of 45 homes by Manor Oak Homes to the west of the site has been granted outline permission with another section of land to the east being progressed by Barratt David Wilson Homes The development sits opposite Manvers Business Park An existing public bridleway in the east that runs through the land will be retained to connect with the neighbouring residential development and improve access to Cotgrave County Park A play space will be situated in the north-east of the site and open space will be included in the south-west corner nine homes will be available as affordable housing and will be spread throughout the site •  Residents in three boroughs can explore employment and training opportunities online Cotgrave – Expected to launch later in the month will feature a total of 189 properties upon completion It marks Barratt Homes’ return to the area following the successful completion of its former Hollygate Park development in 2019 Barratt Homes has committed to enhancing the Cotgrave area through a range of improvements to local facilities The investments include a contribution of more than £114,100 towards highway improvements along with £56,994 allocated for a pedestrian crossing £764,888 will be allocated to support a local primary school including funding for improved school bus services Contributions to waste management will exceed £14,300 while £4,500 will be dedicated to maintaining green spaces and pathways that connect to the development Barratt Homes will invest £191,727 in local bus services including enhancements to bus stops on High Hazels Road and Morkinshire Lane “The significant investments we’re making in local infrastructure and green spaces demonstrate our dedication to creating not just homes but vibrant communities where families can thrive “Hollygate Green will be a shining example of sustainable living blending modern amenities with extensive environmental features and we are proud to be contributing to the long-term prosperity of the Cotgrave area.” In addition to the financial contributions being injected into the local community the homebuilder will also incorporate numerous sustainability initiatives at the development aimed at enhancing the local environment and promoting biodiversity Hollygate Green is set to feature six bird boxes and 19 bat boxes across the site Over 320 new trees and more than 6,110 new hedgerows will be planted primarily surrounding the outskirts of the development and a community allotment will be created in collaboration with another developer A dedicated play area will be included for children and hedgehog highways will be integrated into the design with a minimum of two per property situated at the rear of the gardens Each property will also be equipped with an electric vehicle charging point The homes will be constructed using timber frames and will include photovoltaic solar panels ensuring that every property contributes to sustainable energy use the development will include up to 25.82 acres of biodiversity areas Hollygate Green is set to consist of a mix of two- to five-bedroom homes and will feature the first home of its kind by the developer with an interlocking brick system showcased as part of one of the show homes Located near Cotgrave Country Park and Grantham Canal residents can easily enjoy outdoor activities while benefiting from excellent road links The development is well-served by local amenities such as a shopping centre Families will appreciate the proximity to highly-rated schools including the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Cotgrave Candleby Lane School •  New Rushcliffe health and wellbeing hub website launched •  Historic England reveals the Nottinghamshire buildings added to ‘at risk’ register Three cars stolen during two burglaries were recovered in rapid time – thanks to quick-thinking Newark officers The response team managed to track the vehicles down in a matter of hours despite having little to no leads available at the time officers responding to the break-ins used a range of policing tactics to zero in on the locations of the cars and return them to their owners The response team was initially called to Cotgrave following reports that intruders had broken into a house and stolen a set of car keys at around 5:20 am on 1 February These were then used to steal the vehicle parked outside in Meadow Crescent with police notified just after 7:30 am that day when the burglary was discovered Despite limited lines of enquiry available officers managed to track down the car and other stolen belongings within it in under an hour – discovering it in De Havilland Way officers were then informed by a resident on the street that their home had also just been broken into A window was reportedly smashed to gain entry to the De Havilland Way home sometime between 6 am and 6:15 am on 1 February officers had traced both vehicles to separate locations across the county border in Long Bennington All the cars have since been returned to their rightful owners Police are still in the process of identifying who was responsible for the break-ins and are now appealing for anyone with information to share it with them PC Tom Mead said: “We were really pleased as a policing team to make these vehicle recoveries within a matter of hours of being told they’d been stolen “This was despite there being very few lines of enquiry available when we were first made aware of the burglaries and two of the stolen cars actually being in a neighbouring county “While it represented a good result for all the officers involved the real winners were the victims of these offences who have thankfully now had their vehicles and property returned to them “This was an example of what a bit of good teamwork and proactive policing can achieve and we hope it reassures the public how seriously we take reports of this nature and how committed our policing teams are to helping victims of crime.” Detective Constable Liam O’Kane added: “We are still in the process of trying to establish who was responsible for these break-ins and car thefts so we would ask anyone who has any information about who could be involved to share it with the police now we want to hear from anyone living in either area targeted who has any CCTV or other footage that could be relevant to the investigation “This can be reported to the police by calling 101 quoting either incident 145 or 160 of 1 February 2025 Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously with information on 0800 555 111.” •  Image shared after woman followed from tram and ‘harrassed’ at Nottingham casino A voluntary advice centre in Cotgrave which offers free support sessions for Rushcliffe residents has received a funding boost to help deliver the project Rushcliffe Borough Council allocated £1,500 funding to Cotgrave Advice Centre through its Community Wellbeing Fund that is supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which has now helped to contribute to venue hire and running costs The centre welcomes walk-ins and booked appointments between 9am and midday on Tuesdays and Thursdays at All Saints Church on Plumtree Road in the town Volunteers offer comprehensive and professional advice in many specialist areas such as debt Legal advice is also available through a Solicitor who visits once a month Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Wellbeing ICT & Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “We’re pleased to support this project through our Community Wellbeing Fund which has helped to cover rent and running costs enabling the project to continue to flourish •  Petition launched to protect Rushcliffe from joining Nottingham City Council area Cotgrave Advice Centre Manager Jacky Shaw added: “We run twice-weekly sessions at the church helping people with any query they may have “The support from RBC and various other local areas have made us able to continue our appreciated work for the people of Cotgrave and the whole of Rushcliffe pop in and see us – you don’t need an appointment not refuse to help anyone and will either deal with a problem presented to us or know where to refer the client for more expert support “To find out more about what we do, visit our website at https://cotgraveadvicecentre.org.uk.”  Cotgrave Advice Centre are looking to recruit new volunteers to be trained as advisors and doing supportive office work. If you’re interested in volunteering, get in touch with Jacky at cotgraveadvicecentre@gmail.com or call the team on 0115 8501851 Rushcliffe Borough Council’s (RBC) £1.2m investment in a decarbonisation and refurbishment project at Cotgrave Leisure Centre is underway set to transform how its swimming pool and leisure features are heated It follows a significant milestone with the delivery of a new low-carbon air source heat pump unit Once fully connected and operational later this month The Pod was designed and built off-site at contractor Leisure Energy’s Technology Centre and delivered to the leisure centre in its own acoustic container enabling better quality control and ease of installation The decarbonisation of Cotgrave Leisure Centre is part-funded with £1.2m from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and is part of RBC’s £5.2m investment in Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres Alongside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s investment RBC received a further £250,000 in funding from the Government’s Department for Culture The panels will generate up to 55,000 kWh of electricity a year saving up to £25,000 on running costs – the equivalent of powering 20 houses The leisure centre is also benefiting from £110,000 in funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for refurbishments A new Changing Places toilet at Cotgrave Leisure Centre is now open supported by a £50,000 grant from the Department for Levelling Up Phase 1 of the refurbishment is due to be completed in December with the corridor widened and improved activity and spin studios Work will then move on to the poolside changing village in Phase 2 The ambitious scheme is being delivered by Leisure Energy as the principal contractor TSA Riley is providing RBC with project management and cost management services who are working closely with users to communicate changes said: “It’s very exciting to see works progressing on-site and reaching a significant milestone with the arrival of the Net Zero Pod “This project is a great carbon clever example of how we are helping to reduce CO2 emissions and will go a long way towards achieving our environmental goals to operate as a carbon-neutral council by 2030 we’re investing £5.2m in these refurbishments and energy-efficient upgrades over the next two years at Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres which will enhance the quality and sustainability of the facilities for the community for future generations.” added: “We are pleased to be assisting Rushcliffe Borough Council with their carbon reduction goals through both the refurbishments within the leisure centre and the installation of the Net Zero Pod and solar panels which will result in lower carbon emissions and help to ensure the longevity of the facility for the community.” said: “TSA Riley is proud to provide project management and Principal Designer services for Rushcliffe Borough Council’s decarbonisation project at Cotgrave Leisure Centre “The innovative Net Zero Pod and solar panel installations are key milestones in reducing carbon emissions and supporting the Council’s goal to operate as a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030.” •  Ruddington museum’s digital upgrades to improve its visitor experience •  Ruddington: Rudd Yarn Ninjas get the village ready for Christmas •  Mystery in Tollerton as festive knitted characters appear around the village The  3.8-acre development will be located off Hollygate Lane and will provide a total of 45 new energy efficient properties which will be installed with air source heat pumps The homes have been thoughtfully crafted to meet the aspirations of future homeowners and designed based on in-depth research into their priorities and values Allison Homes East Midlands will be making section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions worth over £650,000 to support Cotgrave’s highways The housebuilder will be submitting a reserved matters planning application following pre-application advice and subject to approval construction work is due to commence later in 2025 This scheme will be Allison Homes East Midlands’ fifth site overall and first in Nottinghamshire Operations Director at Allison Homes East Midlands said: “We are incredibly proud to have acquired our first site in Nottinghamshire and are looking forward to establishing ourselves in the county This new development will deliver 45 high-quality homes community benefits and a host of new employment and training opportunities for local people •  Six by Nico: Nottingham city plans approved for 17th chain restaurant A special assembly took place at Cotgrave Candleby Lane School this week to bid farewell to a midday supervisor who has worked at the school in various roles for an incredible five decades Mrs Rosemary Bulman has clocked up 52 years at the school and attended as usual on her final day there were a few surprises in store for her where children celebrated the Harvest Festival Rosemary and departing teacher of ten years Irenka Arroyo-Goodman (Teacher of Spanish) were both given farewell gifts to mark their final day of service to the school and its children the school couldn’t leave it at that for Rosemary and her kitchen pals had been secretly cooking up a plan to make her day especially memorable To the unmistakable sounds of the rock anthem ‘The Final Countdown’ by Europe her colleagues from the kitchen stormed on to the scene and Variously dressed as rock stars and food items – including a banana and at least one chicken – Rosemary’s colleagues gave Rosemary’s final assembly a rock concert finish Rosemary’s midday colleagues said later in a statement you have been such an inspiration to us all for seeing through three generations of families Rosemary says she has been a midday helper and helped children to read during her time at the school but trying to get children to eat cabbage or peas is still as hard as it was when she first started “…though sausage and mash is the favourite at the moment!” Rosemary says she hopes to revisit the school in the future and often get stopped when I am out and about by former pupils some of whom have their own children attending the school and have remained here because I just loved the work and being with the children because I still live in the same house I first moved into in 1969!” Rosemary says she would like to leave a message for the children on her final day: “Always look after yourself and your friends And give me a wave when you see me out and about!” Headteacher at Cotgrave Candleby Lane School Rosemary has sadly decided it is time to retire and dedication she has shown during this time have been amazing a primary-only multi-academy trust of which Cotgrave Candleby Lane was the founding school she was on the interview panel when I first came looking for a job many years ago changing the course of my own life in the process I believe she can have no real idea of the huge and positive effect she has had not only on Cotgrave children in her care but also on all the staff who have worked alongside her “She has carried out many roles in service to the school We know how lucky we have been to work alongside such a fantastic and caring person who has devoted an amazing 52 years of her life to the school and to generations of its children •  Last chance to buy as final Nottingham riverside apartments go up for sale •  Southwell Bramley Apple Festival spreads its roots Works to repair a Radcliffe on Trent cycle path have moved a step closer – but residents and councillors say they are frustrated there is still no date for when it will re-open The £250,000 ‘greenway’ route for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders links Radcliffe-on-Trent to Cotgrave and opened in 2019 But a section at the Radcliffe end has been closed off since January after it was destabilised by unauthorised work on the embankment between Holme Lane and Stragglethorpe Road near Radcliffe The damage was done at the rear of Cedar Lodge Caravan Park when a digger on the site appeared to have removed a section of embankment earth Nottinghamshire County Council then closed off the route with a temporary fence with a sign in July saying there were “no timescales” on repair work Despite the months-long closure of part of the path the County Council has still not provided a timeframe for work completion in its latest update Chair of Radcliffe-on-Trent Parish Council said: “The village is still very upset about it it’s a facility that we can’t use so we really are quite frustrated.” Rushcliffe Borough Councillor Roger Upton (Con) said he is trying to get a timescale for the works “I can understand it’s frustrating for them – cyclists and horse riders – they’re concerned about it “We don’t seem to have any dates – we are trying to get those dates from the County Council.” “It’s a big project and difficult to access – I suppose the County Council have got a lot of things to think about.” It is also communicating with neighbouring landowners to figure out how the works the council said: “We understand the frustrations of the local community and are continuing to work hard to resolve a complex issue that requires a technical “Please do not attempt to circumvent the barriers that are in place to use the closed section – they are there to ensure your safety “We will provide a further update once we have agreed the preferred option and have an estimated timeframe for completion.” Two new green-roofed shelters have been officially unveiled at a popular Nottinghamshire country park They have been erected at Cotgrave Country Park as part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s commitment to providing high-quality green spaces and a covered area that can be used by visiting schools has funded work to build the structures via its Green Investment Fund and has worked with the Friends of Cotgrave Country Park to deliver the community-boosting project County Council Chairman and local divisional member Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment joined volunteers from the Friends of Cotgrave Country Park at a special unveiling ceremony on Wednesday Cllr Butler had proposed the project to benefit from Green Investment Funding and he said: “As the county councillor for the area I was delighted to attend the official unveiling of the shelters at Cotgrave Country Park and I am sure they will prove extremely popular with families and community groups—especially during the warmer summer months “It is great to see money from the Green Investment Fund being used for such a worthwhile project which will benefit everyone who visits this fantastic green space “I would like to thank the volunteers from the excellent Friends of Cotgrave Country Park who have worked tirelessly with our officers to bring this fantastic project to fruition “Cotgrave Country Park has so much to offer and I would encourage anybody who lives in the area to come and explore and enjoy the beautiful green surroundings open-sided structures with a sedum roof and bug hotel panels to benefit pollinators and other insects £27,495 of a £50,000 funding pot has been spent on the two shelters and associated groundworks such as creating concrete bases for the structures and a path The remaining £15,155 is expected to be used to complete landscaping works in and around the area occupied by the shelters in the coming months Cllr Cottee said the shelters would further improve the visitor experience and are ideal for schools to use for educational projects we know how important green spaces like this are to Nottinghamshire residents and that is why I am delighted the shelters are now in place for everyone to enjoy in a picturesque setting and I’m sure they will prove to be a huge hit with families and community organisations as well as schools that will be able to use them to help children learn more about nature and environmental projects “This project is part of our commitment to providing high-quality green spaces to promote health Chairman of the Friends of Cotgrave Country Park thanked the county council for providing the support to deliver a ‘wonderful’ community asset He said: “The Friends of Cotgrave Country Park are delighted to have these new ‘living roof’ shelters in our park “They represent another collaboration between ourselves and Nottinghamshire County Council that has delivered a wonderful asset for the whole community “We are grateful for the investment in our park and look forward to a number of further projects in the years to come.” For more information about the Green Investment Fund and the county council’s work to reach its carbon-neutral targets Any school or community group that would like to access the space should contact Nottinghamshire County Council’s Green Spaces team by emailing Greenspaces@nottscc.gov.uk The growth of Cotgrave from a village of around 750 people to a town of well over 5,000 was because of coal There had been mining in the area before but not on the scale of this colliery built in the 60s to supply coal to fuel the Ratcliffe on Soar power station Hundreds of experienced miners recently laid off in Wales relocated with their families to the swiftly growing town efficient and safety was an important concern in this highly dangerous industry One everyday aspect of the work was the use of “Pit Checks” or “Tokens” to keep tabs on who was in the mine at any given time In the two check system at Cotgrave each face worker was issued with both a circular and a square token Maurice Brown explains: “All persons going underground would give the square tally to the banks man when entering the cage On coming out of the mine you would give the round tally to the banks man They were then sent back to the lamp room and put on a board where the workers would pick them up for their next shift” When the colliery was decommissioned in the 90s most of the pit checks disappeared in various directions and since an electronic card system superseded the checks and few mines remain They appear to be becoming collectors’ items So there was a degree of surprise when a lady in the USA contacted the cotgravecolliery.co.uk website offering her collection of pit checks to Cotgrave had acquired them to use in an art project but no longer had use for them A confessed Anglophile she wanted the checks to be appreciated by residents of the town whence they came and returned them via the website manager “I bought the checks from an antique dealer in Chicago in around 2005 “I did not even know the word colliery meant to be honest I always thought they would end up in a piece of artwork and I found them again and looked them up to see where this Cotgrave place was I am chatting with you and making a much better art project of getting them back to where they can be of some purpose So thrilled they’ve found themselves a permanent home.” Such wonderful generosity from Catherine as these can sell for anything between £5 and £20 each on e-bay all stamped for Cotgrave Colliery with individual numbers ranging from 204 to 3037 It’s hoped that there are miners still living that can identify their own check Maurice Brown at Cotgrave Club has organised a display case for the checks along with an explanation of their original purpose They will be handed over to the club shortly impart a little historical information and help to keep alive the memory of Cotgrave Colliery which was such an important part of the town’s history Rushcliffe Borough Council dog wardens post an update about a lost Lurcher ‘This friendly lurcher was found in Cotgrave on Saturday December 7 with her microchip details not registered on our database ‘Please share so we can get her home.’ the Nottingham Tamil Kuzhumam (RCN 1205049) – NTK orchestrated a spectacular Pongal ( harvest ) festival at Cotgrave Social Welfare Centre bringing together over 75 families in a heartfelt tribute to tradition is a time-honoured occasion dedicated to expressing gratitude to farmers and the Sun God for a bountiful harvest This year’s celebration was nothing short of extraordinary fostering a deep sense of unity and pride among attendees The festival commenced with families assembling outdoors embracing the age-old tradition of cooking the Pongal dish in clay pots using rice As the milk bubbled and overflowed—a symbol of abundance and prosperity—chants of “Pongalo Pongal!” resonated through the air setting the stage for an auspicious celebration The prepared dish was then shared among all embodying the spirit of togetherness and goodwill The crisp winter air was soon filled with lively Tamil folk music as attendees broke into graceful traditional dances celebrating the rich heritage of Tamil Nadu The warmth of community spirit eclipsed the chilly weather making the event a truly vibrant spectacle Following a sumptuous feast of authentic Tamil delicacies the festivities continued indoors with a Kolam (Rangoli) competition where women showcased their artistic finesse by crafting intricate floor designs using coloured powders transformed the venue into a tapestry of colours The excitement soared as participants geared up for Uriyadi a thrilling Tamil traditional game where blindfolded players attempted to break a hanging clay pot filled with hidden treasures The sheer determination and enthusiasm displayed by the players—despite the bitter cold—was a testament to the unwavering spirit of Tamil culture where a dazzling array of stage performances captivated the audience From soulful songs and graceful dance routines to children’s competitions like Wealth Out of Waste While the debate engaged the audience with compelling arguments the speakers and judge skilfully interwove humour ensuring the discussion remained as entertaining as it was enlightening A celebration of such magnitude and success would not have been possible without the generous support of our esteemed sponsors: Their contributions played an invaluable role in bringing this grand event to life The evening concluded with a grand prize distribution ceremony recognising the outstanding talents of participants across various competitions and the warm glow of cultural pride marked the perfect end to an unforgettable celebration The Nottingham Tamil Kuzhumam Pongal Festival 2025 was a testament to the strength and enduring traditions of the Tamil community in Nottingham As families departed with hearts full of joy and memories to cherish the event stood as a shining example of how culture brings people together in the most profound way James Naish MP visited posties at Cotgrave Delivery Office in his constituency to show his support during the busiest time of the year for the postal service Around twice as many parcels and letters are sent through Royal Mail during the festive period compared with other months as people send Christmas cards and shop for gifts online Cotgrave Delivery Office has a new recruit and an extra vehicle for the Christmas period James Naish MP visited postal workers at Cotgrave Delivery Office last week to find out more about what it takes to deliver letters and parcels in the peak Christmas period with around double the normal volume of letters and parcels processed James spoke to Customer Operations Manager Adam Radford about Royal Mail’s strategy to continue to make sending and receiving parcels as convenient as possible over the festive period by adding more choice This includes services like Parcel Collect where posties pick up parcels from customers at the doorstep and offering more ways to drop off parcels at convenient times and locations Royal Mail has already rolled out more than 5,000 parcel points this year including at Collect+ stores and its growing number of parcel lockers Royal Mail prepares all year to deliver Christmas the business has recruited 16,000 temporary workers to help its 85,000 posties sort the additional mail and the increasing number of parcels expected over the festive period and trailers are being added to the fleet in time for Christmas Cotgrave Delivery Office has hired a new recruit and an extra vehicle for the Christmas period to meet increased demand for deliveries in the local area said: “It was great to have James visit our Delivery Office and to show him how we are gearing up for our peak period We are pulling out all the stops to deliver Christmas for our customers.” James Naish, Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe said: “Royal Mail is an iconic part of Christmas in the UK so I was pleased to meet local posties who live in their communities and faithfully serve them day in It’s really helped to see how the operation works on the inside and I’ll continue to engage with Royal Mail locally and nationally as it seeks to navigate and respond to a rapidly changing distribution and logistics sector.” •  Nottinghamshire bin collection dates over Christmas and New Year in your area •  Edwalton: Plans for assisted living development changed to affordable apartments •  Police cadets wrap 2,000 Christmas gifts for children of Nottingham Cotgrave residents attended the official opening of the Dr Alex Macdonald Memorial bench on Saturday 20th July Dr Alex Macdonald (known to everyone as Dr Mac) was a GP in Cotgrave for over 25 years until September 2020 and then following his untimely death in 2021 the people of Cotgrave spontaneously raised £4,818 in his memory The family of Dr Mac had asked if the money could be used to create a small garden near the surgery at the Cotgrave Hub a place for people to visit and have a moment’s peace perhaps before or after a medical appointment with the support of Rushcliffe Borough Council enlisted a local artist to be commissioned to produce a beautiful bench decorated with images from Dr Mac’s life and things he loved in his life The bench has been incorporated in the Rushcliffe Borough Council’s public realm improvement scheme and includes a new footpath heading towards the surgery Cotgrave Town Council has kindly agreed to provide the maintenance for the area The bench has been designed with space for a wheelchair at the heart of the design Dr Mac was very involved with the local school who teach children with complex needs and the local nursing homes •  New Canalside Festival launches in Nottingham this weekend Home   News   Article A dozen neighbours have scooped hefty cash prizes after their home addresses hit the jackpot won the Postcode Lottery’s weekly £1million Millionaire Street prize on Saturday Every ticket was worth £76,923 — and one winner doubled their prize to £153,846 with two tickets Among the lucky residents were father and daughter Samantha and Peter Newham decided to join after seeing a TV advertisement for the lottery at her boyfriend’s home late last year The pair cried and hugged after they were each presented with ‘life-changing’ cheques for £76,923 Chocolatier Sam said: “I was playing first by one day “I had been saying for years that I’d start playing I was sitting in my boyfriend's with my phone in my hand and I just signed up This is phenomenal — it has changed my life.” She plans to use some of her winnings to get on the property ladder with her partner who only retired from his 4am starts as a baker with Morrisons on January 31 he added: “I might look at taking a box at Nottingham Forest.” dad-of-four Andrew Higson revealed he planned to spend part of his winnings on a tribute to his late parents Alan and Peigi — by restoring a 2007 S-Type Jaguar he bought with the legacy they left to him — as well as making some improvements to his home The semi-retired piano tuner said: “When my parents passed away “I wanted to contribute to charities on a regular basis I thought I would never win… I’m going to be putting it to good use and some of it will be going back to Postcode Lottery for the charities.” 67-year-old Karen Ferns’ win came as a huge surprise as she played with two tickets — and so was presented with a huge £153,846 It came just a day after her husband Archie was given news that he was a year in remission from cancer The retired couple plan to spend some of their money on a holiday with son William as well as investing in a new iPad for him Karen said: “When the Postcode Lottery called we were out at the hospital for Archie’s check-up ‘you’ve had phone calls from the Postcode Lottery’ “Archie had Hodgkin’s lymphoma and he got the all-clear again yesterday Nearby charity Belvoir Vale RDA also benefitted and was awarded £50,000 by the Postcode Community Trust The charity — which is a member of the Riding for the Disabled Association — offers equestrian activities for children and adults with disabilities supported by a dedicated team of around 60 volunteers and ten horses said: “We believe horse riding and the other equestrian activities that we offer are a key aspect in helping to improve the lives of our participants “Everyone should be able to access the benefit of being involved with horses no matter their circumstances and we are committed to providing both ridden and non-ridden opportunities to cater for a wide range of needs £50,000 is an absolute game-changer for us.” The partial closure of a £250,000 cycle path between Radcliffe-on-Trent and Cotgrave is now indefinite after assessments showed unauthorised building work had left it unstable Villagers are “very angry” over the damage and ongoing lack of access The route on a former railway line embankment opened in 2019 after Nottinghamshire County Council spent months restoring it Linking Radcliffe and Cotgrave Country Park cyclists and horse riders from both villages a section between Holme Lane and Stragglethorpe Road near Radcliffe-on-Trent has been closed off after unauthorised work on the embankment carried out at the rear of Cedar Lodge Caravan Park a travellers’ site on the A52 Nottingham Road Earlier in the year a digger could be seen at the site which appeared to have moved and flattened a section of earth from the path’s embankment Nottinghamshire County Council closed the route with a temporary fence at Radcliffe after the work saying it needed to assess the damage as the path may be unstable signs appeared on a new security fence installed at the Radcliffe end of the route saying the council had now assessed the damage and decided it was still unsafe to use – but it added there were “no timescales” on repair work which must now be done before the route can re-open Chair of the Radcliffe-on-Trent Parish council expressed village residents’ concerns over the closure She said: “The feeling in the village is very angry “We were hoping and promised that path for years and we were all really pleased because it was a lovely walk to Cotgrave “It was a real disappointment for the village it was enough to get a good amount of exercise safely.” Cllr McLeod added: “It is damaged so significantly it’s dangerous to walk on “Large cracks have appeared along the linear walk and because the side has been removed the actual path itself is unstable because there’s no foundations.” A Nottinghamshire County Council spokesperson said: “The council has been advised that there is a real risk that the slope could slip without warning and take a section of the greenway with it- the route will need to remain closed until it is made safe “The County Council has now received all of the specialist reports that it commissioned and it is understood that significant reinforcement works will be required to stabilise the embankment “The next step is to get the required works designed and costed “We ask that members of the public do not move the barriers that have been put in place or attempt to use the closed section as this could put yourself and others at risk.” The sign at the closure in Radcliffe adds: “An assessment has indicated that there is a risk of the embankment collapsing “Works are now being commissioned to undertake a repair of the embankment to allow its reopening – although we have no timescales for when this may be.” A suspect has appeared in court after a woman was threatened with a knife during an attempted robbery around 9pm on July 22 when it was reported offenders had confronted the woman inside her home and demanded money After she managed to flee from the address Detectives have been investigating the incident and arrested a suspect after executing a warrant in Langley Mill has now been charged with attempted robbery and possession of a knife in a public place He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (3 August) and was remanded in custody until 19 August when he will appear at Nottingham Crown Court said: “This must have been a frightening ordeal for the victim so we hope she is at least comforted by our efforts “Detectives have worked hard on the investigation and arresting and charging this suspect is an important step “If anyone has any further information about the incident please call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.” New facilities have opened to the public as part of a £5.2million leisure centre investment Rushcliffe Borough Council has invested in refurbishments and energy efficient improvements at two of it’s leisure centres with Cotgrave Leisure Centre the latest to benefit Work started at the site in September 2024 and has been delivered in phases to enable the centre to remain open whilst works take place It has already benefited from the addition of a changing places toilet wider corridors and the provision of two enhanced studios for group exercise and spin classes which opened in December Portfolio holder for leisure and wellbeing said: “The improvements are on track and getting very positive feedback from leisure centre users the new plant room will use electricity from renewable sources to heat the swimming pool and surrounding areas while the solar panels are predicted to generate up to 55,000 kwh of electricity a year and save up to £25,000 on running costs The decarbonisation of Cotgrave leisure centre is part funded by a £1.2million grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s public sector decarbonisation scheme while the solar panels were funded by the Government’s Department for Culture Media and Sport’s swimming pool support fund Further grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Housing and Communities have also been invested into the scheme Mr Wheeler added: “In total we’re investing £5.2m in these refurbishments and energy efficient upgrades at Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres “The completed parts of the centre are looking superb and the technology installed is a great carbon clever example of how we are helping to reduce CO2 emissions and will go a long way towards achieving our environmental goals to operate as a carbon neutral council by 2030 A housebuilder has secured it’s first Nottinghamshire site Allison Homes’ newly established East Midlands region has acquired the land in Cotgrave The 3.8-acre development will provide a total of 45 new energy-efficient properties with air source heat pumps which has four other sites across the East Midlands states the planned houses have been “thoughtfully crafted to meet the aspirations of future homeowners” the housebuilder will also make section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy contributions worth over £650,000 which are to support Cotgrave’s highways A reserved matters planning application is to be submitted after the housebuilder has sought pre-application advice construction work is due to commence later in 2025 operations director at Allison Homes East Midlands “This new development will deliver 45 high-quality homes ‘To be elected as a county councillor representing your community is an honour and to become Chairman of the county council is a privilege that I never expected to happen ‘It is a role that I will take very seriously.’ Cllr Butler has chosen Headway as his charity for the year and will be undertaking fundraising activities for them throughout his civic year •  Skegness – Nottingham 3,450 advanced return rail tickets released for just over £15 •  West Bridgford: Latest amendment to road closures for Take That concert at the City Ground Barratt Developments PLC has entered into a joint venture with Homes England and Lloyds Banking Group Formed as MADE Partnership the organisations will focus on the development of large sites deliver primary and community infrastructure and dispose of serviced parcels of land to developers The development opportunities will include large brownfield developments as well as new garden village style communities The long-term partnership is initially backed by combined equity funding of up to £150m provided equally by the partners with the ability to unlock and scale the capital required to bring larger sites into production It aims to enable both major and SME homebuilders to build new homes Matthew Pennycook said: “A failure to ensure the development system is working properly has held back the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes over recent years and this Government will work in partnership with all those who are focused on turning things around “The landmark new partnership announced today will support our commitment to ramp up housing supply and boost economic growth.” Barratt recently completed its acquisition of Redrow in a £2.5bn merger deal The deal came under the scrutiny of the Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) after concerns it would limit competition at housing sites near Whitchurch The decision by the CMA to accept the housebuilder’s proposals to address its concerns was made in August 2024 That decision is separate to the CMA’s ongoing investigation into eight housebuilders – including Barratt and Redrow – over suspected sharing of competitively sensitive information we are creating a master developer which can manage the infrastructure and placemaking that is needed to deliver at scale.” >> Read more about Barratt in the news Issue 117 - March 2025 Sign up now to get news by email from Roofing Today Osma StormLine: Designed to weather the storm Unlocking roofing potential: Onduline & Northstone Partnership Traditional Roofing spring 2025 trentbarton is boosting the bus services on three key routes in and out of Nottingham and through West Bridgford from Sunday The improvements are coming to Mainline, Rushcliffe Villager Mainline is getting an enhanced evening service from Mondays to Thursdays with frequency increased to every half hour There will also be changes to Mainline’s early morning timetables across the whole week creating an ideal Nottingham arrival time of 6:23 AM for people travelling on to the QMC The Cotgrave is being boosted by returning to an hourly evening service to Cotgrave from Monday to Thursday There will also be improvements to evening peaks to improve reliability And Rushcliffe Villager’s route is being revised around Newton to take in a new housing development, and Bingham to serve the Bingham Gate development The route in Gunthorpe is being altered to reverse the direction of its existing loop said: “We have listened to local people and designed these service enhancements to better serve more customers “We are very pleased to be boosting frequency and adding services enabling more people to travel where and when they need to – all served by our award-winning driving team which is officially the best in the country “We hope people who perhaps have not been on a bus in a while will take the new opportunities to do so They will be helping cut pollution and congestion by travelling by the greenest mode of public transport available the Neighbourhood Policing Team for Rushcliffe South has been engaged in activities centred around the three pillars of Neighbourhood Policing: Engaging the Communities PC Pooley attended the Vale Market Café at Barnstone on Saturday and Sgt Hodson went to Cotgrave Country Park to speak to the Friends of Cotgrave Country Park on Sunday Other members of the team have been out on patrol due to an increase in burglaries over the last two weeks and conducting Op Wheelspin patrols to prevent antisocial and dangerous driving This targeted activity, aimed at identified hotspots to prevent crime and identify offenders contributes to the priorities for the area Car cruising and the associated complaints about poor driving and highway obstruction are being tackled with a force-wide problem-solving plan On Saturday, the team from Cotgrave supported West Bridgford team and the Force Intelligence Unit with arrests and searches for a drug importation investigation involving two addresses in West Bridgford Drug supply and production is one of the current priorities for Rushcliffe •  Rushcliffe police inspector’s detailed monthly update for the community Refurbishment works at Keyworth Leisure Centre are set to commence in May as part of the next phase of Rushcliffe Borough Council’s (RBC) ongoing investment in its leisure centres This forms part of the authority’s wider £5.2 million investment in refurbishments and energy-efficient improvements at Cotgrave Leisure Centre and Keyworth Leisure Centre Keyworth Leisure Centre will receive essential roof repairs to enhance the site in line with RBC’s Leisure Strategy alongside internal refurbishments throughout the facility Residents will be able to enjoy a refreshed reception and seating area providing a welcoming environment with views to watch children’s swimming lessons while enjoying a hot or cold drink The centre will also benefit from new doors This significant scheme of improvement works will require the centre to close for approximately 10 weeks during the summer months who will work closely with users to communicate changes and relocate activities to other venues where possible The scheme will be delivered by JRD Design and Build with TSA Riley providing RBC with project management and cost management services “After seeing a fantastic transformation at Cotgrave Leisure Centre it’s exciting to know that Keyworth is set for a similar upgrade this summer “The centre is a valuable resource for the community “I welcome the additional £200,000 investment we have committed following discussions with ward members and reviewing plans for the site which will ensure this redevelopment is even more impactful “These new enhancements will help to keep the leisure centre modern and sustainable serving the community for many years to come.” TSA Riley Technical Director Remei Mulet Gonzales said: “TSA Riley is proud to provide project management and Principal Designer services for Rushcliffe Borough Council’s refurbishment at Keyworth Leisure Centre “We’ve worked with the council to improve Cotgrave Leisure Centre and it is great to now be able to provide the Keyworth community with an improved leisure centre too.” “I am excited for the transformation that these works will bring to Keyworth Leisure Centre and look forward to welcoming customers into the refurbished centre when we reopen later in the year.” A solar farm near Radcliffe-on-Trent has been approved after the majority of people asked about the project welcomed the proposal The Heron Solar Farm will generate power for nearly 8,000 homes when it is built on land off Stragglethorpe Road Plans were submitted by JBM Solar Projects which claims to be the UK’s largest energy generator While some planned solar farms are facing stiff opposition the majority of Radcliffe and Cotgrave residents who left feedback welcomed the proposal More than three-quarters of the 36 people who attended consultation events were in favour giving an ‘overwhelming positive response’ according the planning documents Others have written to Rushcliffe Borough Council in support of the application Rob Watling said: “I support this application because it’s a no-brainer” and hoped it would stop “insane plan to authorise more licences for gas and oil” Cotgrave resident Pauline Isabelle said: “This proposed solar farm does not ‘inflict’ itself on the landscape and is not an eyesore “It will provide additional habitation for wildlife and have the added benefit of providing electricity for the local area.” Another local resident said: “I support this application because we need to take responsibility for our own future and deliver clean energy locally and not give it to foreign imported energy.” Others welcomed the developer’s plan to donate a £264,000 community benefit fund to Cotgrave Town Council to support local initiatives No Nottinghamshire County councillors or parish councils made objections The plans have been given approval by Rushcliffe Borough Council The solar farm will cover 51 hectares – around 70 football pitches – of land that is considered either good or moderate farmland with another five hectares set aside for infrastructure There are already several solar farms on Stragglethorpe Road near Radcliffe and another two nearby on Main Road to Cotgrave Construction is expected to take seven to nine months and the panels will be decommissioned after 40 years Detectives investigating two serious assaults in the Cotgrave on the same night are appealing for witnesses to come forward The first incident happened outside Cotgrave Village Stores at around 7.35pm on Tuesday (30 April 2024) The 44-year-old victim was pushed to the floor and attacked by two men who kicked him to the body and head and hit him in the face with a beer can A third man then stole alcohol and tobacco which the victim had bought from the shop and a quantity of cash he had Around an hour later police received a further call that a 35-year-old man had been set upon by two men in Candleby Lane Nothing was stolen but the victim suffered cuts and chest during the attack which happened around 8.40pm Officers attended and after a foot chase arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of robbery and possession of cannabis following the incidents said: “We are treating these two incidents as linked and we are working hard to trace two further suspects in relation to these serious unprovoked assaults “A number of lines of enquiry are being investigated “To assist us in our investigation we are urging anyone who witnessed these attacks or any other relevant information to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 753 of 30 April 2024 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.” •  Updates: Melton Road near Plumtree and Keyworth closed – lorry fire •  Police statement after Newark Library vandalism incident •  Fire crews attend 29-year-old horse after stable fall Trent Bridge Community Trust will be providing a snapshot of its work within Nottinghamshire with a Community Day in Cotgrave on Wednesday 17 August Located at The Welfare and Cotgrave Community Garden the charity will run a five-a-side football tournament for children aged 10-14 and host a range of alternative sporting activities including cricket as well as a range of stalls selling goods provided by Ambassadors of the YouNG Project.  Police Community Support Officers will also be present to offer security marking and provide cycle security advice rather attendees are encouraged to drop by on the day Our great thanks go to The Welfare and Cotgrave Community Garden for allowing Trent Bridge Community Trust to use their spaces for the event and for their ongoing support of the Trust’s work Trent Bridge Community Trust aims to ‘change tomorrow care and intervention to individuals in need within Nottinghamshire communities.  From individuals affected by dementia on the Forget Me Notts programme, to children at risk of social exclusion from school who receive mentorship with Positive Futures, the charity creates a real, tangible change, as evidenced by our service user testimonies. Follow us for latest news and behind the scenes exploits It's jolly convenient to receive latest news ticket information and behind the scenes exploits direct to your inbox and we'll never pass on your information to others NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB TRENT BRIDGE GENERAL ENQUIRIES: +44 (0)115 982 3000 GENERAL ENQUIRIES EMAIL: QUESTIONS@NOTTSCCC.CO.UK TICKET OFFICE: +44 (0)115 8990300 Design and development by threebit Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) is investing £4.1m in refurbishments and energy efficient upgrades over the next three years at Cotgrave Leisure Centre and Keyworth Leisure Centre The refurbishment programme subject to planning approval will see the decarbonisation of the leisure centre in Cotgrave making it carbon neutral followed by building repairs and upgrades to the site in Keyworth The leisure centre will also welcome funding to undertake refurbishments which include: The Changing Places toilet will be available to use by April 2024 and is courtesy of a £50,000 capital grant investment secured from the Department of Levelling Up Following on from works at Cotgrave the team will move on to Keyworth Leisure Centre which will see essential repairs to the roof and a facelift of toilets Leisure Energy has been appointed as principal contractors to deliver both schemes with Henry Riley Consultants Limited providing the Council with project management and cost management services There will be a period of design before starting the works late next year Both centres will continue to be managed by our leisure operator Lex Leisure during the refurbishment programme ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “We’re continuing to invest in our leisure centres across the Borough to enhance the quality of facilities for residents and further help reduce carbon emissions “Having significantly invested in West Bridgford and Bingham leisure facilities recently it’s exciting that we can welcome this further £4.1 funding and help the Council move closer to its zero-carbon agenda by making leisure centres more efficient to run “The improvements are also an essential part of our continued effort to increase accessibility of our sports venues across the Borough.” Leisure Energy’s Strategic Director Mike Worsnop added: “We are delighted to be working with Rushcliffe Borough Council on the decarbonisation and refurbishment projects at Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres to assist them with moving towards their net zero goals and maintaining the facilities for future generations Managing Director for Parkwood Leisure Glen Hall said: "We are delighted that Rushcliffe Borough Council are investing in these significant improvements at both Cotgrave and Keyworth Leisure Centres "We are committed to ensuring that these fantastic developments are maximised by all within the local community and we look forward to the completion of these works." Henry Riley Executive Director Chris Donachie said: “We are delighted to have assisted with both Cost Consultancy and Project Management services on this project for Rushcliffe Borough Council "We are proud that our team has helped achieve the best outcome for the refurbishment including further reductions in carbon emissions.” Passengers travelling on the Nottsbus ECOnnect 33 bus service through Cotgrave are advised that services will be disrupted for three weeks from this weekend buses will not be able to serve stops on Hollygate Lane due to works being undertaken in the area by a developer Nottinghamshire County Council will be running a free shuttle bus service between Hollygate Park, (Harvest Drive and Yew Tree Road) and Candleby Lane to connect passengers to the 33 bus services going to and coming from Nottingham city The temporary shuttle service operated by CT4N will operate Monday to Saturday throughout the disruption period Councillor Neil Clarke MBE Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “We would like to reassure passengers that despite this road closure disrupting the 33’s usual route they will still be able to maintain access into Cotgrave “The shuttle bus will take the diversion route along Main Road Stragglethorpe Road and onto Colliers Way and Harvest Drive “We would also like to assure passengers that shuttle buses will wait for arrivals of the 33 before departing so that no passenger is left without a connection The Conservative administration on Nottinghamshire County Council was accused of breaking an election manifesto pledge after confirming it has paused plans for a new recycling centre in Rushcliffe The authority approved initial plans to create the new recycling centre no planning application has been put forward to progress the plans Now it has been confirmed plans have been put on hold while the council awaits the outcome of a national ‘resources and waste strategy’ expected to change the type and amount of waste disposed both at kerbside and at recycling centres The confirmation came during the full council meeting on Thursday with former Conservative Councillor Francis Purdue-Horan questioning the administration on a lack of progress He asked for an update and was told the plans are now paused with a strategic review into Nottinghamshire’s recycling centres to be conducted and a report due before the Transport and Environment Committee next year Cllr Purdue-Horan accused his former Conservative colleagues of breaking their 2017 election manifesto pledge – which helped to get him elected in Bingham East He said: “The Conservative Group laid out its intentions quite clearly when it forced the then-Labour administration to defend its decision to close Langar [Recycling Centre] in 2014 • New Rushcliffe recycling centre expected to be approved at Cotgrave colliery site • Green light given to explore new £2.5m Recycling Centre for Rushcliffe “It became a key manifesto commitment in the following election in 2017 and was a key plank of my platform when I was elected in August 2016 “Would Cllr [Mike] Adams agree with me that residents of Rushcliffe with firm promises in a manifesto that have clearly been abandoned?” vice-chairman of the transport and environment committee said part of the shifted focus is the council moving alongside changes to national policies He said: “Residents of Nottinghamshire would expect us to move with the times and when changes happen in the national strategy they would expect us not to be in the background running behind “The key thing here is we’re in a review period we will ensure future provision matches the National Resources and Waste Strategy and as such we will look to improve the provision across the county and not diminish it “This could include the creation of waste recycling super-centres which would enable us to provide enhanced services from the best locations for each area “That will be in the best interests of Nottinghamshire and in line with the national waste strategy.” Responding to Cllr Purdue-Horan’s initial question Cllr Adams said the Conservative administration is “assessing its priorities” to best use available funding brought forward in line with the National Resources and Waste Strategy will influence the council’s forward planning and its upcoming review into its own resources “Once that review is complete,” Cllr Adams adds “further proposals to improve recycling centres in the county will be brought forward.” The planned improvements to Cotgrave Leisure Centre and Youth Club has been given the green light – and local leaders say it will bring “huge benefits” for the community Rushcliffe Borough Council first announced the refurbishing of Cotgrave Leisure Centre The youth club will also receive its own entrance lobby alongside new toilets and office space Other improvements include the widening of corridors a larger dance studio with better lighting and sound systems and an improved layout to the poolside changing rooms Councillors approved the plans during a Planning Committee meeting on Thursday evening (April 11) Cllr Hetvi Parekh (Con), who represents Edwalton said: “The proposals submitted are very thorough “It accords with the principles of sustainable development with huge benefits to the community in Cotgrave The council announced it would be investing £1.2m into the facility having received funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Towards the end of March the council was given an extra £250,000 for the installation of solar panels alongside a £50,000 grant from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to provide a new Changing Places toilet at the leisure centre Work on the toilets is already under way and they are expected to open in April an air-source heat pump to replace the old boilers and “outdated” heating and hot water systems will be installed and will work by drawing heat from the air to transfer it to the swimming pool Electric vehicle chargers will also be installed alongside a dedicated cycle shed there is better provision for young people and for cyclists and therefore active travel “There have been no objections and it is only here because it is a borough council application.” the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety said the separate entrance to the youth club would help reduce anti-social behaviour In total the council will be investing £4.1m in refurbishments and energy efficient upgrades over the next three years at both Cotgrave Leisure Centre and Keyworth Leisure Centre A Changing Places toilet which enables users with mobility challenges to change more easily has been installed at Cotgrave Leisure Centre ensuring even greater access for people to engage with sport at the site It features a height adjustable adult changing bench peninsular toilet with space for two assistants and a privacy screen The work is courtesy of a £50,000 capital grant investment secured from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC).This is the latest successful Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) development in making facilities across the Borough more accessible joining Gresham Sports Park in West Bridgford Rushcliffe Country Park in Ruddington and Bingham Arena offering the specialised toilet to aid users or carers who may struggle with standard accessible toilets The Council is committed to providing facilities that are accessible for all residents aiding in more people being able to take part in or attend events and activities at its sites across Rushcliffe RBC’s Director for Neighbourhoods Dave Banks said: “This fantastic new Changing Places toilet is the latest facility we have put in place as part of our continued effort to increase accessibility across the Borough “Changing Places are designed so that they are completely accessible and they make a difference to thousands of people who desperately need these facilities “Making sure places such as leisure centres are somewhere that can be utilised and enjoyed by everyone is absolutely essential to provide a safe and comfortable experience for athletes “Thank you to DHLUC’s investment in the facility which will help countless people enjoy sport in the years to come.” RBC has also recently announced a further £250,000 investment at Cotgrave Leisure Centre for the for the installation of solar panels enabling the site to run even more efficiently using solar energy courtesy of Sport England through the National Lottery Fund It builds on a future £1.2m investment from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme that will enable the site to run even more efficiently with the replacement of old boilers and outdated low carbon air source heat pumps at the leisure centre Plans to revamp a leisure centre and youth club in Cotgrave in a bid to enhance the facility for the community and become more energy efficient look set for approval Rushcliffe Borough Council has submitted plans to refurbish the Cotgrave Leisure Centre including the building of a new entrance lobby to the youth club To make the existing building more energy efficient the council plans to install an air-source heat pump to replace the old boilers and “outdated” heating and hot water systems The pump will use electricity from renewable sources to draw heat from the air and transfer it into the swimming pool and surrounding areas resulting in up to 300 per cent better efficiency Electric vehicle chargers will also be installed in the car park The plans have been submitted after the authority announced it would be investing £1.2m in the facility having received funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which have been recommended for approval at an upcoming Planning Committee meeting on April 11 say: “The application proposes alterations to the leisure centre building including a replacement entrance canopy and the external siting of a plant room to the east side of the building and substation to the north east corner of the car park “Various internal alterations are proposed including the formation of a separate youth club lobby The youth club would be served by a separate access from the Woodview elevation “A glazed canopy is proposed at the youth club entrance Within the leisure centre entrance the alterations would include new accessible changing provision the reconfiguration of toilets and repositioning of management office a larger dance studio with improved lighting and sound systems and an improved layout to the poolside changing rooms Towards the end of March the council said it welcomed a further £250,000 funding for the installation of solar panels The additional funding comes from Sport England through the National Lottery Fund which aims to improve energy efficiency of public swimming pools so the leisure centre becomes “more environmentally and financially sustainable” a £50,000 grant from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will help provide a new Changing Places toilet at the leisure centre with work now underway and an expected opening in April Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing said: “The solar panels are a fantastic investment that helps us work towards our environmental goals to operate as a carbon neutral Council by 2030 “In total we’re investing £4.1m in refurbishments and energy efficient upgrades over the next three years at Cotgrave Leisure Centre and Keyworth Leisure Centre “We welcome this further funding for solar panels which will help the site to use renewable energy sources reduce the carbon emissions and lower running costs “This investment will also enhance the quality of facilities for and ensure they remain sustainable for future generations.” •  West Bridgford car parking charges increase from 1 May •  Rushcliffe Country Park: Parking charge increases from £1.00 per day to £3.00 over three hours A violent offender who left a former work colleague with serious head injuries after attacking him with a hammer has been jailed Jordan Laird struck the victim with the weapon and then repeatedly kicked him in the face during a fight The victim was found lying in a residential street in Cotgrave It was later discovered he had suffered a bleed to the brain fractured skull and had a visible footprint mark on his forehead from being kicked or stamped on Thirty-two-year-old Laird, from Cotgrave, was jailed for three years and 10 months when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday 27 February He had earlier pleaded guilty to committing grievous bodily harm with intent Laird and the victim had fallen out while working together a few months before the incident The victim had been bullied by Laird in the workplace and travelled to Cotgrave to meet him Laird armed himself with the hammer and travelled to the scene by bicycle He was seen by a passer-by to throw the bike in some bushes before grabbing the victim from behind Laird was seen to swing the hammer four to five times at the victim’s head The final swing caused the victim to fall to the floor in the middle of the road before Laird was seen to repeatedly kick him to the face the victim was taken to hospital by paramedics where the full extent of his injuries were revealed Detectives were able to identify Laird as the offender after carrying out extensive local inquiries “This was an extremely violent attack which left the victim with severe head injuries “Laird armed himself with a hammer when he went to confront his former colleague “We know incidents of this nature can rapidly escalate when any weapon is involved “I hope the victim can continue his recovery from these injuries and move on from this incident “I also hope both he and members of the public in Cotgrave are comforted by the sentence handed down by the judge.”   • Read next: Grade II listed former bank to become town centre bar and restaurant   • Read more: Minister congratulates West Bridgford primary school in achieving top 2% in country for Key Stage 2   • Read next: Huge drone light show comes to West Bridgford in April Cotgrave Candleby Lane School has been judged to be an Outstanding school by Ofsted in an inspection which took place in December In a glowing report which found the school Outstanding in all areas judged inspectors said ‘All pupils at Cotgrave Candleby Lane School flourish The school’s relentless focus on providing the highest-possible quality of education enables all pupils to excel.’ The school’s curriculum is described as ‘…extremely well designed and implemented fully by staff’ and is ‘…underpinned by a clear vision of a ‘love of learning’ where ‘…pupils across the school develop a rich and deep body of knowledge over time.’ Children are described as eager to attend school each day ‘The school has developed a thoughtful and well-planned personal development programme that is rooted in the values of the school This helps pupils to develop a thorough understanding of how to stay safe and healthy.’ Speaking of her pride in the outcome is Claire Lindsay who said: “This amazing achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire school community – from our exceptional children to our committed staff and supportive parents “I would like to thank the fantastic staff team; their dedication to create an engaging and supportive learning environment where high quality provision is delivered has been instrumental in shaping the positive outcomes observed during the inspection “I want to thank each member of our teaching and support staff for their tireless efforts in ensuring the best possible education for our children.”  Inspectors recognised the broad opportunities for children at the school saying: ‘Pupils have access to a rich set of wider opportunities Staff plan many outings for pupils which help to develop their learning.’ ‘Pupils delight in the vast array of high-quality enrichment activities that the school offers Describing children at Cotgrave Candleby Lane School the report says ‘Pupils live by the school’s three expectations of: ‘be kind Pupils show kindness and respect towards one another told inspectors how they ensure fellow pupils are supported at social times ‘I can lift spirits and make someone feel like they are better.’  Pupil Eva Haddow is in year 6 at the school and said “I am very proud of my school and this result is incredible It’s really easy to make friends here and the teachers are very nice Behaviour is good and it is easy to be yourself.” Eva loves learning and says her favourite lessons are Maths and Science but says she always tries to be there for other pupils during their day “I really like helping other pupils and everyone is encouraged to be kind I do want to inspire younger children to be kind and that is why I try to help so much I hope everyone is as proud as I am of my school.” the school’s multi-academy trust are described as having ‘integral roles in developing this exceptional school’ Staff were recognised as making ‘full use of the latest educational research to inform teaching The school also delivers the highest-quality ongoing training to staff staff are exceedingly well equipped to design learning activities that enable pupils to thrive.’ Chris Wheatley is a former Headteacher at the school and now serves as CEO of The Flying High Partnership the multi-academy trust he founded at Cotgrave Candleby Lane School back in 2012 As a former Headteacher at the school I still feel very much a part of the Cotgrave community I am thrilled that the school is rightly recognised for consistently bringing the highest quality of education My heartfelt congratulations go to the children families and staff at this fantastic school Inspectors described reading as being at the heart of the school’s provision ensuring children learn well across the whole curriculum and in all year groups ‘Children in the early years get off to a flying start’ says the report There are well-established routines and high expectations of children’s learning  The school is also recognised for meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) ‘The school identifies the additional needs of pupils quickly and accurately’ and that ‘Staff take extreme care to ensure that all pupils with SEND can access the plentiful enrichment opportunities that the school offers to enhance their learning.’ ‘Pupils are incredibly proud of their school ‘This is the best school in the whole universe.’  •  CQC action to protect people at Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire A violent offender who stabbed a man in the chest after a fight broke out has been put behind bars Tobias Clarke pulled out a blade during the altercation between a group of men and women at a club in Woodview The 35-year-old later returned to the scene with another knife and lunged at a number of men with the weapon was jailed for 16 months at Nottingham Crown Court after being convicted of two counts of possession of a knife in a public place and one of affray which was initially a verbal altercation between two women spiralled into violence between two groups of people on a night out Punches were thrown at Clarke before he was caught on CCTV with a large knife in his hand the victim turned away and could be seen with a patch of blood on his chest Clarke was then punched to the floor by friends of the victim and left the club The knife was later handed in and recovered by police Clarke left the scene before returning with another knife and his dog A stand-off took place before one of the opposing groups pushed Clarke and he pulled out the blade Police arrived at the scene and arrested Clarke before recovering the second knife After sentencing on 24 January, Detective Constable Nathan Wall, of Nottinghamshire Police said: “This violent incident could easily have had even more serious consequences “It happened in a busy location where other people were simply trying to enjoy a night out I’d like to commend the venue for its excellent CCTV system which was essential in our investigation to bring Clarke to justice we treat all reports of knife crime extremely seriously and will always investigate reports thoroughly “This case highlights the terrible consequences of carrying a knife “Every incident has the potential to be serious and shows why we continue to work relentlessly to take knives off the street and educate people about the dangers of carrying them.” •  The Island Quarter announces student accommodation provider •  Appeal after violent assault in Nottingham city centre left victim unconscious •  CCTV images released after break-in at Nottingham student property Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has welcomed a further £250,000 funding for the installation of solar panels at its Cotgrave Leisure Centre enabling the site to run even more efficiently using solar energy The new panels will generate up to 55,000 kwh of electricity a year saving up to £25,000 on running costs The energy-saving project is supported by Sport England through the National Lottery Fund which aims to enable more public pools to improve their energy efficiency and become more environmentally and financially sustainable It builds on the recent £1.2m investment from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme that will enable the replacement of old boilers and outdated low carbon air source heat pumps at the site The pump units will use electricity from renewable sources to efficiently draw heat from the air and transfer it into the swimming pool and surrounding areas RBC also received a further £50,000 grant from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to provide a new Changing Places toilet at the Leisure Centre with works underway and an expected opening in April The authority is working in partnership with Leisure Energy as principal contractors and Henry Riley Consultants Limited who have provided the Council with project management and cost management services ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler joined partners including leisure centre operator Lex Leisure at the site to welcome the additional funding He said: “The solar panels are a fantastic investment that helps us work towards our environmental goals to operate as a carbon neutral Council by 2030 Leisure Energy’s Strategic Director Mike Worsnop added: “We are delighted the Council has received this additional funding and are pleased to now be able to add solar panels to the scheme to further help them move towards their net zero goals.” Henry Riley’s Executive Director Chris Donachie said: “We’re pleased to be assisting with both Cost Consultancy and Project Management services on this project for RBC “We welcome the news of the additional funding that means solar energy can be included in the scheme resulting in further reductions in carbon emissions.” Lex Leisure Contract Manager Adam Groves said: “It is very exciting to see this project start to come together which will benefit leisure users and the local community” “We are thrilled that solar energy can now be included and we are looking forward to running a lower energy Nottinghamshire’s two busiest late-night drinking spots have seen a dramatic reduction in antisocial behaviour during the Covid pandemic With lockdown preventing people from visiting pubs and shops for large parts of the last 12 months the city centre saw a 39 per cent drop in antisocial behaviour incidents while it fell by 17 per cent in Mansfield town centre have led to an average 50 per cent increase in reports of antisocial behaviour across the force Antisocial behaviour is one of the few offences to have risen in the year since 1 April 2020 – with total crime across Nottinghamshire falling by a fifth during that period This is because Covid legislation created offences that didn’t exist before the pandemic which are now recorded as antisocial behaviour The rises in neighbourhoods across the county come as people were urged by the government to stay at home for large parts of the last year The areas which saw the highest increases in reports of antisocial behaviour were: * Ashfield Rural – encompassing Hucknall Selston and Underwood – with a 134 per cent increase (from 270 to 633 incidents) This equates to about one extra incident a day with a 132 per cent increase (from 83 to 193 incidents) with a 125 per cent increase (from 119 to 268 incidents) City centre Inspector Arnie Ahmed said: “Clearly with fewer people congregating in the traditional hubs of social activity it has meant a complete drop off in the types of antisocial behaviour that you would normally associate with the night time economy “This has allowed the neighbourhood team to conduct more proactive work including tackling drug dealing whilst also supporting other local neighbourhood teams “With pubs opening their outdoor spaces and shops reopening this week I have been really encouraged by how well the majority of people have been following the Covid legislation and as more people return to the city centre the public can be reassured that our team is well versed in the demands of city centre policing and keeping people safe.” said that while antisocial behaviour had risen in the area over the last year “The majority of the increase is down to reporting of Covid legislation breaches such as people gathering indoors,” he said “During lockdown people have been staying in their own communities a lot more so that is where more of the incidents have been taking place “Whilst people may see an increase of 134 per cent in Ashfield Rural for example as a big rise it’s important to remember this is actually just an increase of 363 incidents over an entire year – so about one a day – and most of these relate to us recording offences that would not have been illegal in the previous year.” •  Find crime reported in your West Bridgford and Rushcliffe street? Map of all Rushcliffe recorded crime in Feb 2021: Type, location and outcome