Home   News   Article A campaign has been launched to recognise the achievements of a Newark man whose invention changed the world of medicine Sir Godfrey Hounsfield is the man credited with the invention of the CT scanner a ground-breaking piece of medical equipment which has become invaluable in helping to diagnose and treat people worldwide for the past five decades he attended the former Magnus School in Newark (now the Magnus Academy) where he struggled academically and left with no qualifications Godfrey went on to become an electrical engineer and while working at EMI Central Research Laboratories he came up with the idea for the CT scanner and built the first prototype This innovative technology was first used in 1971 to scan a patient’s body and the invention later won him and co-inventor Allan Cormack the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine a campaign has been started by history enthusiast Lloyd Richardson to honour Sir Godfrey Hounsfield’s achievements with a blue plaque Lloyd first discovered Godfrey’s story while doing some online research and thought it was strange he had not heard of him previously He was even more surprised to learn that Godfrey had not only grown up in the area and upon a visit to the school Lloyd found that there was no recognition for the man there either “This man needs to be honoured and I was astounded that his name is so unknown,” said Lloyd “When I went to the school they showed me around the library where I walked by photos of Marie Curie and Albert Einstein yet here is a Nobel Prize winner who attended the school and wasn’t highlighted Lloyd added: “The man had a very difficult time pushing the CT scanner “His invention has saved millions of lives and as someone who has had stage three cancer I wouldn’t be alive today without it — in a way he saved my life mine too “So I thought it should be put right and hopefully this will be a catalyst to make sure he is celebrated.” Lloyd has contacted Newark Civic Trust to see if they can assist in pursuing a blue plaque to honour Sir Godfrey’s achievements and hopes that it can be erected at the Magnus Academy He also hopes that more education about the man takes place with books in the school library and potentially an exhibition at the Newark Museum on Appletongate International competitors will be making waves this weekend as a long distance river race returns to Newark for it’s second year The ‘Race to the Castle 2025’ is a 40km endurance paddleboarding race down the River Trent from Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment to the iconic Newark Castle Stand up paddleboarding has been growing in popularity over the past few years as a sport and leisure activity which combines both adventure and exercise but also has a competition scene for athletes Around 350 people are expected to take part in this year’s race said: “I’m about ready to burst with excitement “There is a real draw to the castle and the beauty of the Trent Valley which has really captured the heart of our international paddlers “Which is why we’re so excited to be able to showcase Nottingham and the many fabulous villages in between to the world.” and Cassie has ambitions five year plan to grow the event and make it one of the paddleboarding’s premier worldwide races Participants will set off in two waves from Victoria Embankment in Nottingham starting at 7am with the casual paddlers who will be able to take in picturesque sights of rural Nottinghamshire from the water Then at 9am the competitive paddleboarders and class categories will set off a dedicated team of over 50 volunteers will be on hand to keep participants safe and to help them through key checkpoints and water locks A new addition to this year’s race will be the ability to track the paddlers in real time using GPS The first finishers are expected to arrive at Newark Castle by 12.30pm An events village will be set up at Riverside Park in collaboration with Newark Town Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council Live music from Newark Town Band will welcome participants back onto dry land with food provided by Newark-based cafe Feeling Peckish “The popularity of paddleboarding has really grown,” said Cassie “I think it comes from all the different ways in which is allows people to enjoy being out on the water whether it’s for mindfulness and to get closer to nature or for sport and adventure — there’s something for everyone “Every paddler has been on a long journey to get here It’s not just about paddling the 40km on the day but all the preparation to make sure they are ready for such an endurance challenge please come on down and cheer our competitors along and while you’re here why not sign up for a taster session and check out paddle boarding for yourself.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page places of worship can reclaim a maximum of £25,000 to cover VAT on repairs is facing a shortfall of £600,000 on its £4-million “Reawakening” project as a result of the new cap on the Listed Places of Worship (LPWG) Scheme The cap has left St Mary Magdalene’s — a building the size of a small cathedral and on Historic England’s “At Risk” register — with the £600,000 shortfall The church was tackling the situation on several fronts we’re lobbying the Government to try and see if it will reverse its decision because we feel that this is a really unreasonable move For projects that are already in progress like ours It’s pulling the rug from under your feet when you’ve already signed contracts.” Of the Government’s contention that 94 per cent of the restoration work would be unaffected he commented: “The vast majority of church building projects are minor repairs We’re talking about a major project that is essential to the probable future of our church which is a Grade I listed building that’s been at the heart of our town for generations It’s essential that we safeguard its future.” the PCC had done one round already of what was termed “value engineering”: cutting a sizeable portion of the initial plans after looking at what it could afford in the light of rising costs of labour and materials The diocese had agreed to bring forward cash-flow arrangements that it had put in place and the church had brought forward as much purchasing of materials as possible to keep spending within the financial year “In the grand scheme of government spending the amount it would actually cost to exempt projects already under contract is negligible Yet the impact on the communities is going to be huge if these building projects don’t complete or if the worst came to the worst and we do have to stop the work and find the money elsewhere,” Mr Lion said and all services and community activities are taking place elsewhere until the work is completed The Rector is aware of two other churches — Holy Trinity The three are trying to co-ordinate their lobbying efforts “I remain optimistic that the work will be able to continue,” he said there aren’t some very real problems that we have to find practical solutions to Nicholas Reed Langen examines the Supreme Court ruling on gender We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican USPG is looking to appoint 3 Trustees (lay or ordained) committed to global mission within the Anglican Communion The Diocese of Gloucester is looking for a practical team member to join the Department of Mission and Ministry who brings a creative and flexible approach as we seek to develop and implement innovative approaches to collaborative ministry across the Diocese The Bishop of Lincoln seeks an ordained colleague to lead in vocational discernment within the Diocese The Diocese of London is delighted to welcome applications for the position of Area Director of Ministry (Willesden) and Diocesan Clergy Wellbeing Adviser run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times tickets available This online seminar, run jointly by Modern Church and The Church Times discusses the theology underpinning the drive for growth tickets available Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month The River Trent’s water levels are still rising following heavy snow and rain but they should peak by the middle of today (Wednesday) Nottinghamshire has experienced flooding across the county after the region was hit by melting snow and heavy rain over the weekend with downpours continuing into Monday (January 6) On Sunday more than half of the average rainfall for January fell in the night delivering 44mm of rain- January’s average is 75mm with the A1 closed from Fernwood to Gonerby Moor much of this week as well as the A617 from the Cattlemarket roundabout to Kelham A yellow weather warning was put in place and there were 19 flood warnings on Monday there are still eight flood warnings in place for Newark and the immediate areas which were issued on Tuesday The flood warnings are for Newark Sugar Factory and Kelham Bridge as well as Newark Riverside Properties and Fiskerton Mill including Rolleston Fields Warnings are also in place at Newark Tolney Lane and Riverside Marinas as river levels continue to rise at the Farndon river gauge with areas most at risk are Tolney Lane Caravan Site and riverside marinas in Newark Two other flood warnings are in place on the River Trent north of Newark at Carlton-on-Trent including Beck Cottage and Girton River levels continue to rise at the Carlton-on-Trent river gauge and the A1133 and High Street may also flood in Girton A flood warning at the River Witham and its tributaries from Claypole to Lincoln was in place on Moday but this has since been downgraded to a flood alert The Environment Agency has forecast no more rain for the next several days there is anticipated to be a delayed impact on the River Trent in Nottinghamshire with the flooding in Leicestershire and Derbyshire The Environment Agency is predicting raised water levels in the Trent particularly around the Trent Bridge area to peak around the middle of today (January 8) Nottinghamshire County Councillor Neil Clarke cabinet member for Transport and Environment said: “It’s not rising very quickly but all that water will continue down the River Soar (in Leicestershire) into the Trent which is why there’s a delay in this area.” Mr Clarke said there is “no major threat at present” for those living in homes near the river in the area but the council is asking people to “be aware and be cautious” over the next few days Between 20 and 30 homes have been evacuated in the county since the adverse weather hit including homes in the Trent Valley and a few near Retford Mr Clarke added the council is currently on “standby” for potential evacuations should the need arise but says the Environment Agency is not predicting the River Trent’s level will reach the same height it did a year ago – when Storm Henk caused devastation to more than 350 homes and businesses across Nottinghamshire The County Council has already deployed street sweepers to clear the roads of debris and silt from the flooding and is working with district and borough councils and emergency services The council will also continue to grit the roads as long as the temperature stays below freezing Neil Clarke added: “If there is water approaching people’s houses contact the councils and we can get sandbags out to them to help stop the water it has to be a measured warning and we are asking people to be aware and be cautious.” A new study centre offering maths and English programmes has opened its doors today (January 8) Kumon Newark on Trent will start tuition services at the YMCA Newark and Sherwood Community and Activity Village self-paced tutoring in maths and English for students of all ages who has partnered with Kumon to create the Newark Centre decided to change her path in life from mechanics to helping students achieve their academic best With a degree and an MBA in mechanical engineering she is currently pursuing her Postgraduate Certificate in Education intending to obtain a qualified teacher status Sheila said: “My journey into this role began when I found out my child was struggling academically “This realization highlighted a substantial shortage of support in the area leading me from seeking a tutor for my child to pursuing the path of becoming a Kumon Instructor myself.”I became acutely aware of various educational gaps that affect student performance particularly between high-achieving students and their peers “I recognized these disparities were not solely linked to curricular knowledge but also encompassed essential work and practical skills—all of which Kumon emphasizes in its educational philosophy.” Kumon is the UK’s largest supplementary education provider with over 70,000 students studying at more than 620 study centres however students receive guidance from the instructor to learn to take learning into their own hands to increase their motivation to succeed and achieve Sheila said: “I am incredibly excited to become a Kumon instructor because I have a deep passion for education and helping students reach their academic goals “I believe in the power of individualised learning and can’t wait to see students thrive at their own pace “The chance to inspire young minds and boost their confidence fills me with joy.” Classes take place on Monday and Wednesday from 3.30pm to 6.30pm and on Saturday from 9am to 12noon All the students who join the centre before January 31 will receive free registration Sheila added: “I understand how important it is for your child to receive personalized support and I create a learning environment where each child can thrive “My goal is to ensure that your child not only meets their academic goals but also gains confidence and a love for learning we can work towards helping them reach their full potential.” Sheila said that parents can anticipate regular progress updates ensuring they stay informed about their child's development as well as engaging resources and materials will be made available to make learning enjoyable and effective contact Sheila on 0735 608 57 20 or email newarkontrent@kumoncentre.co.uk Several new flood warnings have been issued for Newark as river levels rise After several flood warnings and alerts have remained since yesterday — with roads also still shut — river levels continue to rise as a result of recent heavy rainfall The Environment Agency has this afternoon (Tuesday) issued seven new flood warnings for the River Trent in and around Newark at the Colwick river gauge An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We are closely monitoring the situation Our incident response staff are patrolling watercourses in the area “Please move possessions and valuables off the ground or to safety and avoid contact with flood water.” A flood alert remains in place at from Cromwell Weir to Gainsborough as river levels continue to rise at the Colwick More on the flooding situation as we have it Elements Green, a renewables developer based in the UK, has today launched Phase Two Statutory Consultation on plans for the Great North Road (GNR) Solar and Biodiversity Park – a new solar, energy storage, and biodiversity park located to the northwest of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. With a potential generation capacity of around 800 megawatts (MW) AC of solar energy the scheme has the potential to meet the power needs of approximately 400,000 homes equivalent to 100 per cent of the homes in Nottinghamshire Subject to being consented and becoming operational the GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park would make a significant contribution towards decarbonising the UK by generating clean It would also support UK energy security and contribute to tackling the cost-of-living crisis through the reduction of household energy bills Elements Green has launched Phase Two Consultation for GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park The developer welcomes all communities and interested parties to view Elements Green is committed to undertaking a transparent and rigorous consultation process which involves engaging with local planning authorities This phase of consultation will run until Thursday Elements Green will be holding a series of in-person and online exhibition events providing opportunities for the community and key stakeholders alike to find out more information about the proposals and provide their feedback There will be a total of eight in-person events and one online webinar during this second phase of consultation Project Director for the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park “Our plans for GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park will make a significant contribution to meeting national targets to triple solar power to 47 GW by 2030 and decarbonise our electricity systems to reach net zero by 2050 With an installed capacity of over one gigawatt (GW) DC GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park would contribute significantly towards this target.” “We want to talk to communities to understand their views and listen to their ideas Feedback received during Phase Two Statutory Consultation will help us to refine our proposals and we want to hear from as many members of the community as possible Our project website and contact channels continue to be live and we look forward to meeting the community at our exhibition events We encourage anyone with an interest in our proposals to provide their feedback and take part in our consultation We are also interested in speaking to people with an interest in free renewable energy training courses and employment opportunities.” “We believe that local communities have an important role to play in helping to inform and influence how our proposals for GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park evolve,” explains Mark “We want to deliver this project responsibly and are committed to consulting as widely and effectively as possible and community organisations to improve and enhance our proposals as our plans for the project progress.” Due to its proposed generation capacity being over 50MW GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) This means that Elements Green will make an application to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) for a Development Consent Order (DCO) Thirty years ago the Newarks Of The World reunion in 1995 came to our town A large bronze plaque is located on Church Street on the road in front of the parish church this being the mother of all the other Newarks There are 26 Newark names - 21 American states use a Newark (Arkansas West Virginia and Wisconsin) and there are more Newarks in South Africa Not on this plaque is Newark Bay in the Falkland Islands and Newark in Cambridgeshire is nowadays absorbed as part of the city of Peterborough The Newark reunions started in 1987 in Newark California to give communities in Newark across the world the chance to get together They took place every two years and have been hosted by Newarks in Vermont I believe wholeheartedly in being actively involved with every issue of importance by promoting Newark-On-Trent Let's do our bit by promoting what is good about Newark-On-Trent A flotilla of more than 30 boats will be travelling through Newark next week on their way to the River Thames in protest of waterways funding the boats will be led by Newark’s Les Reid who will meet the sailors in the morning at Nether Lock before guiding them with his boat — Ruffian — through Newark’s stretch of the River Trent The convoy is part of a Fund Britain’s Waterways initiative which was launched in 2023 to highlight the underfunding and deteriorating condition of the country’s network of canals and navigable rivers The campaign seeks the support of parliamentarians and the general public to secure the necessary resources for the upkeep of the vital waterways The journey will begin on Saturday with a group of six boats setting off from Strawberry Island Boat Club in Doncaster The six boats will be joined by others along the 21-day journey which will cover the 278 miles and 172 locks before reaching Parliament on May 7 Les Reid said: “I am quite proud to be guiding the flotilla through Newark “People are very keen to revert what is happening to the canals As my boat is too big I won’t be going all the way down to London but I am supporting this and I hope more people do.” The boats will go from the Nether Lock in Newark near the British Sugar Factory and the East Coast Mainline through Trent Bridge by Newark Castle and down to Farndon This year’s flotilla will be led by Hazel Owen the chairman of the Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs who will then carry on from London to the East of England The combined flotilla will pass through Gainsborough on April 1 around 10am where they will be greeted by more boats and supporters on land Hazel Owen said: "The need for greater investment in our waterways has never been clearer it represents the voices of everyone who cares about the future of our canals and rivers “We must show Parliament that we are serious about safeguarding these precious resources." The A46 in Nottinghamshire is closed southbound between the A1 (Brownhills Roundabout) and A617 (Cattle Market Roundabout) near Newark-on-Trent following a serious collision involving three cars The A46 southbound in Nottinghamshire is now fully open between the A617 near Newark-on-Trent and A6097 East Bridgford Delays of less than 10 minutes remain on the approach and the A46 southbound in Nottinghamshire remains closed between the A617 near Newark-on-Trent and A6097 East Bridgford The incident occurred shortly after 23:15 yesterday evening Nottinghamshire Police continue their investigation work vehicle recovery and clear-up work can begin National Highways assets are en route to attend to assess and treat a spillage from the collision Due to the nature of this incident the carriageway is expected to remain closed for several more hours today Road users are advised to follow the below diversion route which is not symbol led Take the A1 northbound at the A46 junction Travel along the A1 to the next junction (North Muskham) and exit the A1 At the end of the slip road take the 1st exit onto the B6325 towards Newark/Ollerton Continue on the B6325 for approximately 2.5 miles to reach the A46 at Cattle Market Roundabout Continue your journey from the A46 Cattle Market Roundabout and the A46 southbound in Nottinghamshire remains closed between the A1 and A617 near Newark-on-Trent The A46 southbound in Nottinghamshire remains closed between the A1 and A617 near Newark-on-Trent following a serious collision Police collision investigations are underway and the road is expected to remain closed into the peak traffic period The A46 south has been closed near Newark-on-Trent while Nottinghamshire Police lead a multi-agency response alongside Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service to work at scene Due to the nature of this incident police collision investigations are taking place with the road expected to remain closed throughout the morning and into the peak traffic period Road users are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journey’s if travelling in the area • Take the A1 northbound at the A46 junction • Travel along the A1 to the next junction (North Muskham) and exit the A1 • At the end of the slip road take the 1st exit onto the B6325 towards Newark/Ollerton • Continue on the B6325 for approximately 2.5 miles • Continue your journey from the A46 Cattle Market Roundabout Thirty-six crews are ready to row for charity as the Newark Dragon Boat Festival returns for a fifth time this weekend crews made up of organisations and groups from the district will take over the River Trent and Riverside Park The festival — jointly organised by the Children’s Bereavement Centre and Beaumond House Hospice Care — is the biggest annual fundraiser for the two Newark charities the teams will race a series of heats competing for a place in the finals The nine fastest from the heats will go through to three semi-finals to battle for a place in the final where there will be a trophy for the winning team people will have the chance to meet Inferno the Smoke Breathing Dragon and Sapphire There will also be traditional and fairground games where people can win prizes Some of the usual festival favourites will return as well face painting and a variety of food and drink stalls Live entertainment will carry on throughout the day with stage performances from the Barnby Road Primary Academy choir head of fundraising and communications at Beaumond House Hospice Care said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome back the Newark Dragon Boat Festival for its fifth year “The festival’s popularity continues to grow and we’re delighted to see so many people supporting the event Watching the banks of the Trent fill with cheering spectators never gets old we have a day packed with exciting dragon boat races and a fantastic selection of food and drinks “We invite everyone to join us from 10am for a wonderful day and to help us raise much-needed funds for two incredible local charities and we are immensely grateful for their efforts “We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our event sponsors and we deeply appreciate the countless hours contributed by our volunteers This event wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s collective effort “This year promises to be bigger and better than ever." Low Marnham and Normanton on Trent can look forward to a new and improved bus service thanks to support from the county council a revised service 37 and a new 38 will replace the current 339 bus service providing direct links to Retford and Newark This service will still be operated by Marshalls on Mondays to Saturdays These improvements are partly funded by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) These new direct journeys mean there is no longer a need to transfer between buses to reach Retford or Newark and aims to be more reliable than before Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “I’m delighted to see the re-launch of the improved 37 and new 38 service which will make it easier for passengers to get to Retford and Newark particularly those who live in the more rural villages These changes will help to offer a simpler service to passengers with greater reliability.” Operations Assistant at Marshalls said: “The new 37 and 38 timetable means that passengers from our rural communities will no longer have the hassle of changing buses during their journey to Newark and opens up brand new journey opportunities to Retford for passengers living in Cromwell giving people more choice and encouraging even more people to leave the car at home and catch the bus.” A busy road is to be closed for more than a month as works are carried out to allow Severn Trent Water to install a new water main It will affect the road between its junction with Victoria Street and the mini roundabout The road is a popular cut-through to connect homes to the South of the town to the A46 and traffic will instead be diverted along Victoria Street A Severn Trent spokesman said: “A team will be working on Boundary Road installing a new connection for a customer Due to the location of the pipe and to keep everyone safe it will be necessary for us to complete these works under a road closure “A signposted diversion will be in place throughout and we’ll be working hard to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible “We’d like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience while we complete these works.” and the footpaths will remain open to pedestrians A £100,000 grant is to fund a major play park renovation and ensure it is accessible to children with physical and sensory needs The FCC Communities Foundation has approved the major grant to Newark Town Council and it will be used to extensively renovate Riverside Play Park The upgraded play park will include equipment to accommodate children with physical and sensory needs to benefit both residents and visitors to Newark believes the facility will make a huge difference to the lives of people living in the area She said: “This project will provide a real boost to the people of Newark It is fantastic that FCC Communities Foundation has awarded us this money and we are looking forward to our play park taking shape over the next six months” FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund FCC Communities Foundation senior grant manager for added: “We’re delighted to be supporting the new play facilities at Riverside Play Park and pleased our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for children and young families across Newark FCC Communities Foundation is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.” The creator of the Newark on Trent Photographs Facebook group has expanded his interactive map to over 230 sights created the group in March 2021 to share his photographs of the town with the community He aimed to “create a place of positivity for people to share the beauty” of the market town and in just three years Dave has been creating a website to highlight places in the area with historical information on each and spreading knowledge that some people might not be familiar with the amateur photographer decided to create an interactive map of Newark — which can be found at https://shorturl.at/wTmOX — in March this year and has expanded over the last few months to other towns and villages in the area Dave said: “I started to get invested in my little side project and started to add not only historic sites but points of interest basically anything that someone may find interesting “The latest addition is independent cafes and local walks of various distances taking in some of the sights “As of now there are over 230 points mapped in and around the local area and I’ve added layers for various things local village histories and even pre-history points “Some may not know but there is evidence of human activity in Newark going back 15,000 years “I wanted to make the map free and usable to all There have been people who have spoken to me who have lived in Newark for a long while but never knew of certain things “My main aim is to promote what the town has to offer and if it inspires even a dozen people to the town The map has been promoted by Newark Town Council Newark and Sherwood District Council and Newark’s MP Robert Jenrick Aerial images have captured the extent of flooding which had seen multiple road closures put in place and vast swathes of land underwater Drone pilot John Edlin captured the images which show floodwater in in Newark and surrounding areas Flood alerts remain in place for the River Trent in the district with this escalated to warnings at Kelham Bridge The A617 between cattle market roundabout and Kelham Bridge remains closed to motorists Water Levels in the River Trent also remain high at Farndon although river levels are now beginning to fall The brainchild behind a new tapas bar has a bold ambition to be the ‘biggest and most successful venue’ in Newark town centre Ambitious Lee Haig has jumped at the chance to be the operations director at a yet-to-open tapas bar — Lock and Key — in Middlegate The bar will share the premises with Polly’s Kitchen which opened in December last year in the premises formerly occupied by Stray’s Lee’s experience ranges from construction and engineering to education and hospitality — and he was offered the opportunity to turn his hand to the tapas bar about a month ago by Adam Docherty the owner of the building and its businesses “This will be the biggest and most successful venue in Newark,” said Lee He is hoping to create a community hub — offering not only good food and drinks The name Lock and Key was inspired by the town’s history as Lee wanted something that related to the river and the Civil War I came here for a coffee and I just fell in love with the building and now a two-year plan that I had to have my own business just happened in about two days,” he added Lee is waiting on an alcohol licence for the new venue and would be willing to occasionally open the tapas bar earlier for people who work antisocial hours Mondays will be reserved for hospitality workers as most hospitality venues close on a Monday charity stalls and sound baths all feature in Lee’s vision for the future of a venture — with hundreds of hours already spent on getting the space ready to open They are now just waiting for Newark and Sherwood District Council to approve the premises licence to be able to open their doors to the public The cafe is currently open 9am to 4pm and the tapas and bar space should be open from 6pm until 11pm Monday to Thursday and from 6pm to midnight Friday to Saturday The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Never miss a crime story with our free email updates Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters A new investigation has been launched following the death of a Newark couple, who were found unresponsive in their home. Emergency services were called to a property on Blackbrook Road in the Nottinghamshire town shortly after 10am on Tuesday An inquest was opened into the deaths of Rachael Simmons The short afternoon hearing was told by coroner Fiona Gingell that Mrs Simmons suffered traumatic injuries before her death She and Mr Simmons were both formally identified by their daughter on June 27 A provisional cause of death was not given during the opening of the inquest which will resume for a final hearing at a later date yet to be fixed Coroner Gingell said: "The information I have available to me at this point in time gives me reasonable cause to suspect that Mrs Simmons' death was unnatural due to traumatic injuries "That triggers my duty to open an inquest and I can certify that in accordance to my statutory duty The hearing now stands adjourned to allow for completion of an ongoing criminal investigation "I'd like to take the opportunity to express my sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Simmons in relation to their loss." The coroner added that she also has reasonable cause to suspect Mr Simmons' death was unnatural She concluded the hearing saying: "I take the opportunity to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Simmons in relation to his death." At the time of the incident, Detective Inspector Craig Hall who is leading the Nottinghamshire Police investigation our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those affected by this tragic incident "An investigation into the circumstances surrounding these two deaths is ongoing and is very much in its early stages I’d like to reassure members of the community that while we are keeping an open mind we do not currently believe there is any wider risk to the public "We would also ask the public to respect the privacy of family members at what is an incredibly difficult time for them They are being supported by specially trained officers." The captain of Newark’s floating museum is appealing for volunteers to carry on the word and the nautical passion of the Trent he was discovering more about the visitors’ untold stories Feeling the lack of something to represent and reflect the town’s and the river’s history he created a floating museum with his friend Jeff in 2008 and he has been responsible for the Leicester Trader — Newark Heritage Barge — ever since I used to volunteer there at a waterway museum and the chap said to me ‘I suppose when you go home you're doing the same thing’ and I said that nobody's interested in our river “That’s when he said to me ‘Well you know what you've got to do’.” and then continued his boat adventures as his friend Jeff used to work on a 500-tone barge “And we just happened to see this boat partly sunk as a wreck we found that the significant thing was that not only was it the last boat of this size to be built that fitted the old lock just up there it was also the last one to come up here with the cargo in the old way towed by another boat because this boat has no engine.” Their research found that the Leicester Trader was first built at the Trent Navigation dockyard at Newark in the early 1900s and carried on until the mid-1920s which had to be cleaned out in a real ‘labour of love’ so it could be opened soon after The result was a free museum and learning resource with an archive of collections The floating museum also explores the life and work of barges on the River Trent in the days when families with children were brought up in the cabins To keep it interesting and appealing to all ages and learning skills the barge developed a Key Stage Two learning pack for schools And now Les is appealing for volunteers to come forward to help keep the barge going in the years ahead they both died and eventually you realise you are not immortal,” Les said we are all getting older and less able and we really need people who are interested in learning what we have to tell and then be able to tell visitors.” Those who are interested in volunteering at the barge or simply curious about exploring more of Newark’s nautical history can meet Les there this weekend The Boat will be open for the last few times this year from tomorrow (September 13) until Sunday (September 15) from 11am to 4pm but on Sunday the boat will be closer to the bridge due to the Dragon Boat Race People interested in becoming volunteers who are unable to attend this weekend can attend the barge’s Annual General Meeting at 24 The Weavers Local leaders say they’re ‘nervous’ about making flooding worse if the major A46 Newark bypass road project goes ahead A special planning meeting held on Monday (14th October) heard widespread support for the scheme but also concerns about how it might worsen flooding The proposed £500m project would create a new flyover and turn parts of the single-lane road north of Newark into a dual carriageway It’s hoped this would ease the chronic congestion residents say regularly grinds the town to a halt The plans have been submitted to the Government by roads body National Highways Newark & Sherwood District Council has now prepared a report on how it could affect the area There are “massive concerns” about the bypass being built on a floodplain senior planning officer Lynsey Preston told the meeting on Monday (14th October) While compensation areas would be built to the north and south for flood water to go instead it’s “unclear when they will be in place or if they’re sufficient” “We don’t want development in the autumn or winter on the floodplain and the water has nowhere to go,” she said Councillor Emma Oldham (Green) said: “I’m incredibly nervous about flooding That area is one of the first places to go [during heavy rain] you can see the water rising close to the roads.” She also asked if there would be compensation for the small group of residents who found themselves living next to a flyover after the road is built Councillor Keith Melton (Lib Dem) said he was “torn” between the economic benefits and the risk of flooding “We’ve been told some of the earth will be coming from Kelham fields My ward has ten miles of Trent riverbank – more low-lying areas are a real concern,” he said Areas around Newark and the Trent Valley suffered from severe flooding last winter after Storm Babet and Storm Henk brought downpours construction on the bypass would begin next year and be completed by 2029 Other councillors said the bypass was essential for keeping up with the growing traffic around Newark Muskham Councillor Sue Saddington (Con) said: “This cannot come soon enough for me and the residents in my ward “Businesses are suffering in town because of the traffic It’s starting to look derelict because people don’t want to drive in and to do that we need to get traffic moving.” The report also warned that major local employers such as Vodafone could leave Newark if the congestion doesn’t improve Councillor Linda Dales (Con) also warned of “looming” housing developments in the area which could coincide with construction The committee unanimously approved the report saying they wanted clearer details on how traffic would be managed and flood problems alleviated As the project is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project the Planning Inspectorate will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport – MP Louise Haigh – who will have the final say It is expected this will happen sometime in 2025 Work is already ongoing on the separate Newark Southern Link Road project a new three-mile route connecting the A1 to the A46 This £100 million project is funded with a combination of public and private investment •  National Civil War Centre wins Family Friendly Museum Award Exciting plans are in place to enhance the riverscape through Newark — and businesses and volunteers are being called upon to help make it happen Trentlink is a group of volunteers set up to improve and enhance the visitors’ experience of using the River Trent working in partnership with the Canal and River Trust said that the plans are to encourage more boaters to use the Trent there needs to be better infrastructure in place to make it safer and easier for boaters to use “The idea is we want boaters to moor here in Newark and then make the most of the amenities in town and this will then help to improve the economy too,” he said “We want to enhance the the riverside as much as we can and find more ways to do that and for local people to get involved.” Trentlink has already secured a winter mooring for the ‘Leicester Trader’ the Newark Heritage Barge run by fellow Trentlink volunteer Les Reid and there are now plans to create a permanent site for the barge to be able to showcase Newark Lock’s heritage One of the things the group is looking at is trying to attract more volunteers and create a Friends of Newark Town Lock “We need lots of volunteers to make this work,” Dean said “We all have a part to play to make sure this will work in the future and we would be grateful to anyone who would be willing to come along and help.” chairman of the town’s Riverwatch scheme — similar to a Neighbourhood Watch scheme but along the town’s river — said that the group wants to invite some of the businesses and pubs along the river in Newark to get involved in the plans as well to make the Newark experience even better for people passing along the River Trent on their boats “It’s about promoting the fact that the area is a safe place for people in barges to stay,” he said “We want people on boats to want to moor up in Newark and come and see what the town has to offer.” As well as increasing CCTV along the river to improve security for mooring boaters and installing signs to promote the Riverwatch scheme the volunteers are also hoping to improve lighting down the stretch as well to improve security for boaters and create a footway to make embarking and disembarking boats easier One of the ways that volunteers can get involved is to volunteer to help maintain tidy and safe waterways and generally keep the area looking tidy to encourage and attract more visitors to want to stay and visit Newark If the plans to regenerate Newark’s riverscape are a success Keith suggested that a boat festival could even be a possibility if there were sufficient funds and volunteers to help make it happen A Riverwatch meeting is scheduled to be held on October 8 at the Castle Barge at 10am where the plans will be discussed and any interested parties are invited to attend To find out more about how you can get involved with the plans visit https://trentlink.website/ or email admin.team@trentlink.website or cllr.keith.girling@nottscc.gov.uk flooding Work has taken place at two properties on a Newark estate to help reduce the risk of floodwater entering the homes Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures have been installed at the bungalows in the Beacon Heights area of the town where internal flooding has taken place for several years following heavy rainfall The multi-thousand-pound project has been led by the lead local flood authority Nottinghamshire County Council – in partnership with Severn Trent Water and Whitehouse Construction Ltd – and has involved the installation of flood-resilient doors and an external pump whose elderly father John Hunt’s home is one of the two bungalows to have benefitted from the PFR measures said the work will now give him ‘peace of mind’ She said: “We now no longer feel as anxious when it rains heavily We also feel reassured that we have got the support network around us and people who can help who are only a phone call or email away “We are very thankful to Nottinghamshire County Council Severn Trent Water and Whitehouse for everything they have done someone came to see him the next day and talked us all through what could be done and everyone cares and it’s so sincere – it’s like a personal touch for which we are really grateful.” who supported Mr Hunt and the Beacon Heights estate during the flooding events in his capacity as their County Councillor for Newark East visited Mr Hunt’s bungalow to see how the flood resilient measures he had helped secure are now protecting the properties He said: “Flooding has been a devastating and traumatic experience for John and his family so I am delighted that working with our partners his home now benefits from a package of measures to protect it “He now has peace of mind because of the work which has been carried out to his bungalow and I would like to thank our Flood Risk Management Team for providing him with such fantastic support – which forms part of a wider effort to achieve flood resilient communities in Nottinghamshire we recognise that there are properties across the county like this and therefore we have developed an approach with our partners to make sure those vulnerable to flooding can be protected “We know that flooding devastates communities and that is why we are committed to delivering solutions to protect vulnerable residents like John and their homes.” The PFR programme aims to help reduce the risk and consequences of flooding to properties across the county and to date 282 properties have been protected in the last four years – with a further 50 in progress A third property in the Beacon Heights area of Newark will also benefit from PFR measures in the coming months The project to protect the properties in the Beacon Heights neighbourhood has cost around £75,000 and has been jointly funded by the county council and Severn Trent Water Waste Catchment Lead for Nottinghamshire at Severn Trent Water said: “We know that flooding can have a devastating impact on people’s lives so we’re thrilled to have had a hand in completing this work much to the benefit of those living in the properties.“It was great to work alongside Nottinghamshire County Council and Whitehouse to support those customers and make their properties more secure and resilient during adverse weather.” A spokesperson for Whitehouse Construction Ltd which has received the King’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation for its flood mitigation products said it was proud  to have provided effective PFR solutions to numerous properties across Nottinghamshire as part of its partnership with the County Council.The spokesperson said: “The nature of PFR allows residents like Mr Hunt and his daughter to actively participate in protecting their home from flooding It is incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact our installations have made and to receive such encouraging feedback directly from the residents.“In collaboration with Nottinghamshire County Council and Severn Trent Water Whitehouse successfully installed a sump pump system for Mr Hunt to redirect floodwater away from his property “To further reduce the risk of water entering the home Whitehouse also fitted a BSI Kitemarked Flood Door this initiative has been incredibly gratifying providing Mr Hunt and his family with peace of mind knowing that their home is better protected from flooding.” Two flood alerts are in place this morning (Tuesday) around the Newark area The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the River Devon and Smite and the tributaries from Knipton to the River Trent at Newark There is also an alert on the River Trent from Cromwell Weir to Gainsborough Areas highlighted as being at risk including Dunham and Sutton-on-Trent and the tributaries around Fiskerton The Environment Agency is “closely monitoring the situation” and a further update will be issued tomorrow “Please avoid using low-lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low-lying roads near rivers Newark has been named the best place to live in Nottinghamshire — thanks to its architecture and riverside castle Award-winning luxury lifestyle site Muddy Stilettos in association with global property consultancy Knight Frank asked its readers to vote for the best village town or city to call home for it’s annual Best Places To Live guide readers voted for Newark to take the top spot from ten candidates independently researched and picked by the Muddy Editorial team out-ranking areas including Southwell and West Bridgford for the title and provided with information about the areas’ schools but the ultimate decision came down to their own personal experiences Dubbed a ‘buzzy market town’ Newark’s attractive Georgian and Victorian architecture excellent commuter links and castle by the river helped it cinch readers’ votes The guide states: “Newark-on-Trent (or just plain old Newark to the locals) is a town that’s back on the up its own castle and glorious Nottinghamshire countryside on all sides but it’s also a spot for super-convenient living “Young families and professional couples have flocked to Newark in recent years because of its fantastic commuter links market town charm and nearby attractions which for large parts of the year Baseri and Gannets all got a mention — with Stray’s jazz nights named as the town’s best-kept secret — while antiques clothing stores and children’s shops were highlights of the shopping experience thanks to the popular Newark Festival and shows at the Palace Theatre the top ten most popular towns and villages in Nottinghamshire for 2024 are: Southwell’s eighth place ranking celebrated its famous cathedral landscape of rolling hills and impressive history as well as a “a glut of great restaurants fantastic local schools and some fab music festivals” right on residents’ doorsteps It’s ‘best-kept secret’ is the Bramley Apple Festival which happens every year in October and celebrates the popular cooking apple which was first grown in the town with attractions including the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest was named a ‘quaint spot steeped in folklore’ perfect for those seeking trees and fresh air It was also praised for a selction of excellent pubs and dining experiences founder and editor-in-chief of Muddy Stilettos said: “We’ve built our reputation on having first-hand knowledge on the in-the-know places to live and places to go This reader vote gives a truly independent view on the towns and villages with the most popular postcodes head of country business at Knight Frank added: “When it comes to where to live more than ever people want a vibrant and tight-knit community It’s a trend that deepened during the pandemic and is likely to remain a leading factor for those looking to relocate and access to local amenities also continue to be significant factors.” A major deal has been struck to convert 10 Homebase stores nationally into new supermarkets is one of the stores set to close in an agreement reached between Sainsbury’s and HHGL Limited The supermarket chain identified stores in what it called “key target locations” as it aims to grow its coverage across the country and convert them into new Sainsbury’s supermarkets The handover of the sites is expected to take place in early September with the first stores set to open next summer and conversion of all sites complete by the end of 2025 Sainsbury’s say that the deal will create approximately 1,000 new jobs and confirmed that Homebase colleagues at risk of redundancy will be offered an interview The closest Sainbury’s site to Newark is a small store located on London Road in Balderton Residents currently have to travel to Grantham or Nottingham to visit one of the chain’s larger supermarkets said: "Sainsbury’s food business continues to go from strength to strength as we push ahead with our Next Level Sainsbury’s plan “We have the best combination of value and quality in the market and that’s winning us customers from all our key competitors and driving consistent growth in volume market share “We want to build on this momentum which is why we are growing our supermarket footprint “Our ambition is to be customers’ first choice for food and these new stores will showcase some of the best that Sainsbury’s supermarkets have to offer to even more communities around the country.” As to countdown to the festive season begins the full itinerary for the Newark Christmas lights switch-on has been announced The town will see plenty of entertainment on Sunday from mince pies and mulled wine to school choirs and the Beaumond House Rudolph Rodeo will officially open with a series of musicians and dancers taking the stage in front of the Newark Town Hall throughout the day • 10.55am to 11.15am: New Youth Theatre Newark • 11.25am-11.55am: Newark and Sherwood Concert Band • 2.45pm- 2.55pm: Studio29 Performing Arts Academy • 4.05pm - 4.35pm: Fake it till you make it The moment that everyone had been waiting for is taking place at 5.25pm There will be no fireworks display this year Newark mayor Diane Ledger said: “It is a great event that draws a lot of people to the town “It’s lovely to see so many families having fun and supporting the charities and businesses that have stalls on the market I’ve been attending since I was a child and I still enjoy the atmosphere and entertainment that’s on throughout the day.” the market town will continue busy and entertaining during the festive period on the first floor of the Buttermarket from 12noon to 4pm people can meet the Sprit the White Wolf and Snow Queen and make their own festive decoration while enjoying Victorian Carol Singers there is the chance to meet the museum curators and kick off the festive season with Christmas cream tea and a gallery tour Beaumond House Hospice Care will host its Light up a Life: Remembering Loved Ones event in Southwell the Newark Palace Theatre will be hosting its annual panto season with Aladdin On December 7 the Newark Market Place will welcome the Christmas market from 10am to 4pm and the Santa Dash from 12noon to 1pm the National Civil War Centre will host a family Saturday from 10am to 4pm with wreathmaking and festive family fun the popular Steampunk Christmas market will return with 100 stalls festive food and live entertainment and a torchlit procession at 4.30pm from Kirkgate to Market Place The much-loved Newark Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival will be taking place at the first floor on the Buttermarket from December 7 to 15 the National Civil War Centre will have an evening of talks about historical Christmas music at 7.30pm Newark and Sherwood District Council is offering free weekend parking at all of its owned pay and display car parks from November 24 to December 29 It will also include free parking for Bank Holidays on Wednesday 25 December and Thursday 26 December East Midlands Railway announced the incident at 7:15 on Friday 17 January ‘Trains cannot run between Stoke-On-Trent and Crewe in both directions ‘At present we are expecting the line to re-open in the next 60 minutes our priority will be to get trains running to their advertised times again ‘We expect our advertised timetable to resume on the affected routes by 0815.’ Have you been affected by a railway incident? Samaritans are there for you. If a railway incident has affected you or someone you know, visit samaritans.org/railsupport. If you’d like to talk things through, Samaritans are there to listen A new ‘sparky’ and ‘bubbly’ shop is set to be opened as its owner comes out of retirement with the aim of enjoying life New gift shop Razzle Dazzle is set to open its doors at 19 Middlegate offering a range of gifts such as popular teddy bear brand Charlie Bears located at the former ladies’ clothes shop Estilo which closed last year Wanting to do something more exciting and give a new life to the silver jewellery handmade by her son the Collingham woman decided to offer something new to the town “I am retired and I wanted something more to do than just hibernate,” said Andrea Andrea said that she chose to call the shop Razzle Dazzle because she wanted something a bit “sparky” and as a nod to the Charlie Bears’s line of bears called Razzle Dazzle I want to bring to Newark something bright “I got together a group of friends who will be volunteering here to help me I’ve known them for a long time and just like me “I suppose I am hoping that people will come and have a look I would like for them to know what is on offer “We will be focusing on nice things for people to enjoy.” The shop will be open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 3.30pm Detectives are appealing for information after making three arrests following a stabbing in Newark. Officers were called at around 10:35 pm on Monday (3 February) after paramedics reported that a man had suffered a stab wound had been assaulted in the car park of Morrisons supermarket on King’s Road He was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening Officers worked quickly overnight and arrested three suspects at addresses in Newark Two 18-year-old men were detained on suspicion of committing grievous bodily harm with intent A third 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender “We have a team of detectives working hard to progress this investigation “Officers worked quickly and efficiently overnight to detain three suspects but we are also asking for the public’s help “This incident took place in a supermarket car park we believe there could have been witnesses there may be people who have recorded dashcam or other footage that could assist officers with their inquiries.” Anyone with any information should call the police on 101 quoting incident number 709 of 3 February 2025 •  Burglary gang caught by mobile device, forensic and location evidence •  91-year-old targeted in Tesco Express store by robber The beloved high street store Toys R Us will be making a return to the high street in Newark The toy retailer will open concessions within WHSmith stores in 37 new locations across the UK Newark’s WHSmith store in the Market Place is one of the locations set to welcome the Toys R Us name A planning application has also been submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council in order to change signage and install advertising window vinyls at the Newark shop It comes after all Toys R Us stores closed in 2018 after the company filed for bankruptcy WHSmith later stepped in and bought the rights to relaunch the UK branch of the Toys R Us online shop and trialled physical concessions in other parts of the UK in 2022 The new locations are expected to open at some point between late September and Christmas 14 November 2024 over 1,000 students from schools across Newark Sherwood and Lincoln will gather at The Lady Eastwood Centre at Newark Showground for the highly anticipated 7th Future First Careers Expo This event offers a valuable chance for young people in years 11-13 to explore a wide range of career paths and educational opportunities available to them after leaving school the event’s sponsor for the fourth consecutive year will showcase their apprenticeship programme offering insights into the opportunities available at their training academy in Upper Saxondale There is still an opportunity if you are a local business training provider or further education organisation to have a stand at this year’s Future First Career Expo You are encouraged to contact Newark and Sherwood District Council soon to ensure your place is secured First set up in 2017 and organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council in partnership with the Lincoln College Group and Newark Advertiser the Future First Careers Expo continues to provide young people with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions about their future The aim of the Careers Expo is simple – to improve the aspirations of young people helping them to feel informed and inspired about a number of careers paths some of which offer new and different opportunities This is done in a relaxed yet informative setting further education or inspiration for a long-term career the Future First Expo gives the opportunity for students attending to make informed choices The day will also allow students to ask specific questions about their future whilst gaining invaluable advice from local businesses leaders Further and Higher Education providers attend the Expo This year this includes the Barcode Warehouse Skanska and RWE with representatives from the British Armed Forces and Police Service Training and education providers include Newark College Nottingham Trent University and West Notts College.  Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development commented: "The Future First Careers Expo has consistently proven to be an invaluable event for the young people in our community and it was truly inspiring to hear about the enthusiasm and proactive engagement of students and young people at last year’s expo Their curiosity and eagerness to explore future opportunities was evident “As we look forward to the upcoming Expo on Thursday continue to invest in the aspirations and futures of our younger generation we empower them to make choices that align with their personal and professional goals We are committed to supporting young people providing them with educational and employment opportunities and this event is a great way to help us achieve that aim  “The Future First Expo is a cornerstone event for us and it’s an excellent platform for businesses to connect with prospective talent and showcase the diverse range of employer-led courses and apprenticeships available Supporting with the organization of this event is a privilege as it plays a vital role in helping young people make educated choices about their career paths as well as offering businesses an opportunity to engage with and inspire the next generation of professionals." If you are a local business, training provider or further education organisation interested in having a stand for this year’s Future First Career Expo, please contact Veronica Dennant at veronica.dennant@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk by Friday 6 September 2024 Customer complaints and feedback In a boost for local growth, Nottinghamshire County Council has given the green light to transfer £3m to Newark and Sherwood District Council (NSDC) to support the development of the Newark Southern Link Road scheme which will help unlock thousands of new homes and jobs in the area The new 5 km road will connect the A1 at Balderton to the A46 at Farndon along the southern fringe of Newark and will help alleviate traffic pressures within the town which has been a long-standing issue for residents and businesses The road will also support the planned improvements to the Strategic Route Network managed by National Highways including the A46 and A1 near Newark-on-Trent and improve the cycling and walking infrastructure in the area helping more people to choose active travel to reduce their carbon footprint As well as providing a new route for traffic the Newark Southern Link Road will also pave the way for a major transformation of Newark and its surroundings with the construction of Middlebeck a sustainable urban extension that will offer a range of benefits for the local community This includes up to 3,150 new homes and the potential to create up to 5,000 new job opportunities for the local area The new development will also feature a new primary school and 200 acres of green space for the community The County Council’s contribution of £3m will help secure an infrastructure package of £80m for the Newark Southern Link Road scheme which has also received £20m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund £7m from the D2N2 LEP and £5m from Newark and Sherwood District Council The scheme is being delivered in phases by developer Urban&Civic The first phase between Staple Lane and Bowbridge Lane has already been completed and the developers are currently on site at both ends of the route delivering the A46 to Bowbridge Lane element and linking the Southern Link Road from Staple Lane to the Great North Road just south of the A1 junction The final connection at the A1 end is expected to be completed by the end of November 2024 with the remaining works scheduled to be finished by Summer 2026 Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment said: “We are delighted to approve this funding contribution to the Newark Southern Link Road project which will deliver significant benefits for the residents and businesses of Newark and Nottinghamshire and support economic growth and housing development in the area It also demonstrates our commitment to the Government’s Levelling Up agenda and our ambitions to improve transport infrastructure and attract investment in Nottinghamshire.” Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “We are extremely grateful for the support from our colleagues at Nottinghamshire County Council to help deliver this significant project for Newark and surrounding communities the road will help ease dreaded congestion and allow much-needed homes and employment opportunities to be delivered It is a real testament to partnership working the new road will become adopted highway and the County Council will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance Multi-thousand-pound work has taken place on a Newark estate to help reduce the risk of floodwater entering the homes Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures have been installed at two bungalows in the Beacon Heights area where internal flooding has occurred for several years following heavy rainfall The £75,000 project has been led by the lead local flood authority Nottinghamshire County Council – in partnership with Severn Trent Water and Whitehouse Construction Ltd – and saw the installation of flood-resilient doors and an external pump whose elderly father John Hunt’s home is one of the two bungalows to receive PFR work said the installations will now give him ‘peace of mind’ County Councillor for for Newark East and council leader Sam Smith visited Mr Hunt’s bungalow to see how the flood resilient measures he had helped secure are now protecting the properties 282 properties have been protected in the last four years by the PFR programme — with a further 50 in progress Newark Market Place will be transformed into a spectacle of light and flame this spring for the next fantastic town centre event from Newark Cultural Consortium’s programme Flame and Frenzy will take place on Saturday welcoming visitors to wander through a vista of flames and chemical reactions in Doctor Kronovator’s Fire Laboratory Guests will be able to help the Doctor and his team prepare their experimental flame and steam-powered contraptions try their luck at a test-of-strength machine and create chemical reactions in this fantastical evening of family fun Held in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts and Lightfires the main event will take place from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm with last entry to the queue at 8:00 pm to ensure everyone can enjoy the experience fully there will be complementary activities spreading the spectacle out around the Market Place and surrounding streets A stunning LED Hoop Show will be roaming from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm followed by an amazing five-minute show at 7:30 pm on Church Street where acrobat performer Angie will leave audiences spellbound as she spins A roving display of ornate colour and light will also come in the form of The Living Lamp-Posts These enchanting and illuminating creations from Theatre Illumiere will be entertaining passers-by at half-hour intervals between 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm Local organisations are getting involved too with a Create Late at the National Civil War Centre from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm where visitors will be able to help themselves to a vast array of recycled and scrap materials and tinker away in the Tudor Hall at twilight the team from St Mary Magdalene Church will be getting everyone in the mood with some fantastic Medieval Stained Glass Making sessions Led by an expert craftswoman from The Company of Artisans the sessions will be held at Hope Community Methodist Church on Barnbygate at 2:00 pm and 3:45 pm Booking is essential as places are limited and free places can be reserved at newarkcreates.co.uk Those wishing to attend the evening in style can come along to free workshops in advance of the event to make beautiful Inspire at the Buttermarket will be hosting the sessions on Tuesday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 1:30 pm until 4:30 pm Participants aged six and above will join local artist Emily Cartwright to make a fabulous light-up Free places can be booked by emailing sara.bullimore@inspireculture.org.uk with details of the preferred session time Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “After the success of the incredible A Likely Story projection on the Town Hall last November it’s wonderful to be seeing Newark Creates bring yet another landmark event to our town centre This is a great opportunity to make memories together as a family and extend the evening to enjoy our brilliant local eateries too or even invite family and friends from further afield to come and stay for the weekend to take advantage of everything our fantastic town has to offer.” Newark Creates is a cultural programme led by Newark’s Cultural Consortium which has seen the curation of free arts and heritage activities across the town since 2021 the programme has been supported by Newark Town Board’s Newark Heart project creating opportunities for more events than ever before our Newark Creates programme over the past year has certainly been eclectic Thousands of people of all ages have engaged with our activities and this is exactly what we are all about—encouraging creativity and bringing colour and fun to the heart of this wonderful town.” added: “Seeing Newark really come to life for these events has been wonderful The turnout for A Likely Story was brilliant and I’m really excited to see the town centre benefit from this March event It’s so important to create opportunities to encourage people into our town as there are so many amazing businesses here from great-quality restaurants and pubs to fantastic independent retailers This event will be a great chance to make a night of it and get a bite to eat too!” For more information and to stay informed about the latest event updates, follow NewarkCreatesUK on Facebook and visit www.newarkcreates.co.uk A taxi driver says he doesn’t feel safe working in Newark after eggs were thrown at his car an Uber driver of six-years is registered as a Nottingham City private hire driver and often drives to Kelham and Newark to drop people at Northgate Station past Newark Castle Station on his way back to Nottingham when someone threw eggs to his passenger side door He said: “After this incident I feel terrible “It may be fun for them but it is costing me.” A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: “We’re aware of reports of eggs being thrown at a motorist as they were driving through Newark “They were reportedly thrown at the car as it travelled past Newark Castle Train Station “Aside from being an unpleasant thing to do throwing missiles at a moving vehicle is also extremely dangerous “We’d ask anyone who witnessed what happened or has any information about the incident to report it the police on 101 A new bar in Newark is set to open this week with drinks and tapas and the owners are hoping the business will be the town’s ‘biggest and most successful venue’ the operations director at new tapas bar Lock and Key in Middlegate is preparing for the grand opening this Friday (March 21) Lee confirmed that the license for the venue has now been granted and will be hosting a VIP pre-opening event on Thursday (March 20) to then open to the public the following day who has been working on the project for over 60 consecutive days said he was very excited to see the venue come to life and to ‘finally have a day off’ He added: “The community support has been overwhelming both the public and traders have been incredibly supportive.” will also offer a variety of entertainment including gypsy jazz performances with Newark International School of Violin Making and even a re-enactment from Colonel Overton's Regiment of Foot Working alongside Newark’s Civil War Centre and the castle Lee is planning to expand events to include medieval-themed activities “We can divide the venue into two or three areas for different music styles Lee moved to Newark 14 years ago and when he went to the building adding to his dream of opening his own venue “All the skills I’ve gained over the years have clicked together for this moment.” The café is currently open 9am to 4pm and the tapas and bar space it to be open from 6pm to 11pm Monday to Thursday a residential unit and a new bottle shop are set to open in the building Police are appealing for information on a woman who was reported missing from the Newark area Amelie was last seen in the Newark area on Wednesday (March 26) around 1pm She is described as being around 5 feet 6 inches tall with jaw length and dark curly hair that is different in length on each side and it is not known what she was wearing when she was last seen Nottinghamshire Police are asking anyone who has seen her or has any information on her location to contact them on 101 quoting incident 167 of Tuesday 25th March 2025 The following planning applications have been submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council for decision: Averham: Demolish single-storey rear addition and construct single-storey extension Carlton On Trent: Change of use from paddock to equestrian facility alterations to existing vehicular access and tree works Carlton On Trent: Variation of approved drawings for ground and first floor extensions Farnsfield: Single-storey side extension and single-storey garden store Gunthorpe: External changes including a small cold room extension enlarge driveway and extension of garage for a separate bedroom ancillary to main dwelling rendering front and side wall of main house Newark: Installation of air source heat pump by The Waterfront (Newark) Management Ltd - Mr Michael Davies Newark: Prior approval for proposed single-storey rear extension Newark: Demolition of a single-storey existing structure and erection of a side two-storey and front single-storey extension Ollerton: Change of use and conversion of hall to new residential apartments with new bin and cycle store Oxton: Change of use from domestic dwelling to holiday let Southwell: Rear and side ground floor extension and porch One year on from the devastating floods of last Winter the authorities have committed themselves to preventing future flooding and ensuring that communities are better prepared to respond heavy rainfall during Storms Babet and Ciaran caused chaos across the county and the Midlands as a whole Nottinghamshire experienced its wettest three day period on record — with 37 different locations across the East Midlands recording their highest ever river levels Some areas also experienced flooding for the first time in their history Newark and Sherwood in particular was one of the worst affected areas and hundreds of houses and businesses swamped after many of the district’s rivers Problems brought about by both storms coming in short succession were only compounded by an extremely wet December and January meaning many of the communities and households worst affected were subject to further flooding without reprieve the response was led by Nottinghamshire County Council who have now said they are committed to ensuring that flooding on the same scale is never repeated through better cooperation and preventative action They were assisted by Newark and Sherwood District Council paid out 278 community recovery grants totalling £139,000 to help communities clean up and re-build — 16 businesses within the district also received business recovery grants of £40,000 each the district council committed to pushing for further funding to assist in flood prevention and endorsed the one-off use of Public Protection Reserves to fund resilience stores buy basic equipment and resources to allow communities to respond more effectively during an emergency In a collaboration with Nottinghamshire County Council and the Environment Agency a flood warden scheme has also been established and expanded with training sessions held at the district council’s headquarters at Castle House there are currently 294 fully trained volunteers as part of 18 active flood warden schemes — these individuals will have a number of responsibilities and powers such as setting out road closures Town and parish councils have also been contacted to establish a full understanding of emergency preparedness and current flood warden coverage within the district The district council have also contributed towards flood alleviation schemes such as the one currently being built in Lowdham — a village hit particularly hard by last winter’s storms A key priority was also better communication between partners and as such an interagency group was established to work together on solutions to flooding The district council will also be running a social media campaign this winter sharing useful advice with residents on how they can best prepare for possible flood risks such as checking insurance cover and property protection portfolio holder for public protection and community relations said: “It’s so important that lessons are learnt from past events “While there are always going to be unexpected outcomes we react to those situations is the most important thing “We provide residents with the most up to date information we have on flood warnings road closures and disruption across the district We also offer advice to residents on how to prepare for and how to deal with floods when they happen “We’ve given residents access to grants and hardship payments as soon as we were able to added: “We will not stop until we address flooding in our district which is destroying our homes and impacting our residents and businesses.” have also been hard at work throughout the year working on new flood solutions These include exploring natural flood management proposals for a number of areas within Newark and Sherwood and detailed investigations are now underway in Ompton The authority has supplied monitoring equipment and CCTV to the community in Girton have funded supplies for the community flood store in Gunthorpe and have undertaken widespread ditch clearance work in Bilsthorpe the authority approved an increase in funding to tackle the effects of future storms and prepare the county’s roads for winter A total of £467,000 was also allocated to improve drainage across the county through the employment of four additional teams to regularly and reactively cleanse gullies in flood prone areas The council hope to complete more than 25 ditch cleansing and culvert improvement schemes while also reducing the amount of time between which are prone to flooding The Advertiser has once again opened its archives to look what was making the news this week 25 ABOVE: Past members of the 7th Newark Everett Cub Pack were reunited oat their Lovers’ Lane headquarters to celebrate the pack's 70th anniversary with a special lunch The pack is named after founder member Mrs Connie Everett It met originally on Slaughterhouse Lane but bought the old church hall on Lovers’ Lane after St Leonard's Church was knocked down in the early Eighties is pictured with Ashleigh Yates and Louis Keal * This year's switch-on of Newark's Christmas lights will be a starspangled occasion The countdown begins at noon when a special Christmas retail and charity market gets under way will entertain the crowds followed by Stars in their Eyes winner Jason Searle as Neil Diamond The big switch-on will be performed aby Mayor of Newark Miss Jean Moore followed by a spectacular fireworks display The day closes with a community carol service in Newark Parish Church Newark town councillors have clashed over making a contribution towards a bandstand in Newark Castle grounds Newark and Sherwood District Council may attract lottery funding for the bandstand it believes will add the finishing touch to the castle grounds refurbishment project But it will need to raise £15,000 from local organisations or public subscriptions towards the £60,000 costs before this will be considered * Elderly tenants of the Westhorpe bungalows are celebrating after plans to demolish their homes were scrapped A special meeting of Newark and Sherwood District Council community services committee overturned proposals to knock down the eight homes to make way for 40 flats for the elderly * Children from Stagecoach theatre arts schools in Southwell and West Bridgford joined forces in Southwell Minster for a world record-breaking event Their efforts were applauded by a packed audience that included stage and TV comedy actress Su Pollard Some 12,000 students in 280 Stagecoach schools worldwide simultaneously presented The Rainbow Juggler ABOVE: The 1st Balderton Scout Group have four tyres and a steering wheel but they are not quite good enough to use as transport for weekend trips So now the Scouts are organising money-raising ventures to buy a mini-bus The Army may be called in to help farmers with this year’s sugar beet harvest The harvest is badly behind schedule due to the exceptionally wet weather Many farmers are having difficulty getting the beet out of their fields because their harvesters are becoming bogged down in the heavy soil the British Sugar Corporation has written to the Minister of Agriculture asking for Army aid Newark’s MP Mr Ted Bishop is keeping an open mind on the question of capital punishment for terrorists convicted of causing death by planting bombs Mr Bishop made the comment after public outcry against last week’s bomb outrages in Birmingham and the spate of letter box bomb blasts in London Cold draughts that have been chilling the stage and auditorium of The Palace arts and leisure centre The centre’s council of management approved a plan to draughtproof the roof of the stage by sealing it on the outside Former world snooker champion John Spencer gave an exhibition of his skills at Newark Town and District Club The large attendance was entertained by six games of snooker from the champion against local opponents.