Reform UK won all Nottinghamshire County Coucil seats in Ashfield bar one – the only area retained by the Ashfield Independents The results were key to Reform winning a total of 40 seats – and overall control  of the council with a wide 23 seat majority The Conservatives won 17 seats and Labour won four Although they retain control of Ashfield District Council – which was not part of Thursday’s poll – all but one of their 10 County Council seats went to Reform UK Nottinghamshire residents headed to the polls on Thursday May 1 to vote for local councillors in 66 seats across 55 divisions Votes in Ashfield were counted at Kirkby Leisure Centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield John Wilmott Anthony Wilmott (Ash Ind) won the group’s solitary Hucknall North seat with 1,231 votes – 230 more than Sean Richard Neale (Reform UK) who stood at 1,001 votes and former Notts County Council opposition leader lost his seat to Reform after 18 years of being on the County Council “I’ve been on the County Council 18 years and I tried my best to do a good job “Sometimes the big political parties take a tsunami – and that’s what’s been happening across the country.” Ashfield’s Reform MP Lee Anderson said it was an “unbelievable feeling” seeing his party win over the district He said: “We’ve been building our branch up they want a little bit of honesty in politics “It’s democracy – the best people have won on the day.” It is likely the last-ever Nottinghamshire County Council election in its current format due to ongoing local government reform which could see councils overhauled and new “strategic authorities” and combined councils created between 2027 and 2028 Christine Jennifer Self (Conservatives) 78 Kevin Thomas Rostance (Local Conservatives) 510 Rachel Elizabeth Kotze (Local Conservatives) 277 John Morton Anthony Wilmott (Ash Ind) 1,231 (E) Ethan Tyler Revill (Labour and Co-operative) 293 adult learners and apprentices are set to gain the skills for “rewarding and well-paid” jobs in construction at a major training centre being created in Sutton-in-Ashfield This comes after Ashfield District Council and West Nottinghamshire College secured a new future for the town’s former Wilko store the building will be converted into a modern teaching facility offering opportunities for students to train or upskill for careers in this growing sector The council has purchased the building at 1-5 Outram Street and will now lease the premises to the college The former Wilko building will be fully refurbished adult learners and apprentices to gain trade skills and qualifications in plumbing and electrical installation It will also be a centre for ‘green skills’ courses in areas including ground source and air source heat pump The conversion will involve a major programme of internal works to create classrooms offices and a canteen across three floors within 29,428 sq ft plus renovation and redesign of the building’s façade It is hoped the campus will be open from September 2025 This project is one of 17 being funded by the council’s £62.6 million Towns Deal The funding will also contribute towards the cost of substantial internal alterations to the college’s existing Station Park facility to relocate some curriculum areas under one roof These works will in turn enable the development of the college’s engineering centre on Oddicroft Lane into the UK’s first Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing The district council and college have now signed a 125-year lease which means the college can take possession of the vacant building and begin the conversion works principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College said: “I am delighted this landmark agreement has now been secured Our new construction centre will create exciting opportunities for local people across a range of rewarding and well-paid careers and support businesses in meeting their skills needs “The centre will provide a great environment for students and enable us to further modernise our curriculum “It will bring hundreds of students into Sutton town centre every day bringing economic benefits to high street businesses and breathing new life into this large-scale “I am also excited about the knock-on benefits to our other campuses in Ashfield with major changes coming to our Station Park and Oddicroft Lane sites to respond to the ever-increasing demand for skills in both construction and engineering.” said: “We are excited to move forward with this fantastic project to turn the former Wilko store in Sutton town centre into a new educational facility for construction students in Ashfield and beyond “This will be the fourth construction facility for West Nottinghamshire College and will allow Ashfield’s young people the opportunity to gain valuable skills to set them up for the future and will provide a welcome boost to local businesses.” We offer an exciting opportunity in the East Midlands for companies to plan innovative advertising campaigns alongside consistently excellent reporting Our newsletters are sent directly chief executives managing directors and senior managers across the East Midlands with numerous companies from all sectors – from manufacturing to technology – benefiting from our mix of news and features Contact us: sales@blmgroup.co.uk By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information Accept The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this Close Ashfield District Council’s transformation of Sutton in Ashfield town centre has moved up a gear after ground was broken at Portland Square The new-look Portland Square will feature two raised lawns with inbuilt seating and 8 new semi-mature trees to bring greenery back into the urban setting Alongside the planters will be new street lighting a new level paving and more room outside businesses for outdoor seating State of the art CCTV cameras will also be fitted The plans for Portland Square form part of the Council’s £62.6 million Towns Deal which is funding 16 transformational projects across the District “We’re delighted that another transformational project is starting Portland Square is a vital part of our town centre and it’s an exciting time for Sutton “The plans for Portland Square are ambitious not just with the physical changes but how we are creating a cultural shift towards a thriving night-time economy “In combination with the development of Fox Street and the brand-new Cornerstone Theatre Ashfield District Council was the most successful council in the whole UK to bid for this Town’s funding We are transforming Sutton before resident’s eyes.” the Council is also redeveloping the derelict Fox Street site (behind Lloyds bank) to create a flexible outdoor space The site will be the new home of Sutton’s outdoor market as well as providing a 41 space car park when not in use for markets The improvements to Fox Street are being funded by the £6.27 million Future High Streets Fund with work expected to finish in early 2025 Lindum Group Co-Chairman Edward Chambers said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Ashfield District Council through this second phase of public realm regeneration work in Sutton in Ashfield “We’ve been working with the council since mid 2023 to find the most cost-effective solution to delivering these projects together with the work underway in Fox Street will enhance the town centre with improved community spaces that will promote social interaction and help bring local economic growth.” •  NTU Clifton plans for new multi-use sports hall and football pitches get the go-ahead •  Police engage with Nottinghamshire shop staff to tackle shoplifting An investigation is underway after a stabbing in Sutton-in-Ashfield. Officers were called to Downing Street after a man in his 40s was attacked at approximately 5.45pm yesterday evening (10 April) The victim drove himself to hospital having sustained two small stab wounds to his torso A cordon remains in place as evidence is gathered “Our investigation is at an early stage and we are working hard to establish exactly what happened “We are working in the area to gather evidence and would also like to speak to any witnesses who have yet to come forward If you saw this attack or anything at all suspicious in the moments before and after we would like to hear from you.” “Clearly this will have caused concern in the community so there will be an increased police presence in the area today which I hope provides some reassurance please don’t hesitate to speak to any of our officers “Incidents of this type are concerning and highlight why we continue to work hard the community to tackle and prevent knife crime from happening on our streets.” Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident 539 of 10 April 2025 Reports can also be made anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 •  Police release video after burglary in Edwalton Trading Standards A shop owner from Nottinghamshire has pleaded guilty and been fined for possessing and intending to sell thousands of pounds worth of illicit vapes from Bucharest Mini Market of Sutton in Ashfield pleaded guilty at Mansfield Magistrates Court on 6 February 2025 following an investigation by Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards who is the director of Joshua Foods Limited with £1,715 prosecution costs and a £1,600 victim surcharge When Nottinghamshire Trading Standards officers first visited Bucharest Mini Market in July 2024 they discovered and seized 99 illicit vapes In August 2024 officers returned to the retail premises to carry out further inspections and found a substantial number of illicit vapes hidden behind the shop counter packaged and ready to be sold from the premises the labelling on the vapes was not compliant with legislation as it did not include the wording ‘This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.’ It is also a legal requirement for labels to be included on the front and rear of vapes and cover 30% of the surface area which was not the case with the vapes that were seized Legal vapes are also limited to a tank size of 2ml to ensure users do not inhale an excessive amount of nicotine All the vapes that were seized had tank sizes that were in excess of the legal limit Deputy Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council said: "Illicit vapes have no place in our community and this latest sentencing shows that we will not tolerate the sale of these dangerous and harmful goods in Nottinghamshire We stand firm in our commitment to protect public health and safety and our officers will continue to crack down on those unscrupulous traders who are attempting to sell counterfeit goods in the county." If residents see any tobacco products or vapes being sold to people who they believe are under 18 or they believe a business is selling unregulated products they can report this to Trading Standards by contacting the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 HAF Investing in Nottinghamshire Tourism adventure Mill adventure base notts outdoors More than a hundred families from across Notts enjoyed a day at the county’s newest tourist attraction as part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Healthy Activities and Food (HAF) programme HAF supports the wellbeing of children between five and 16 years by providing a variety of activities and food during school holidays The programme is for families who receive benefits-related free school meals who attended the free HAF activity day over the recent bank holiday had the opportunity to try a range of exciting activities where visitors are able to navigate suspended obstacles10 metres above the ground which is a sprawling network of interconnected nets for adventurous visitors to explore which is perfect to soar through the air at high speeds for daredevils aged 16+ prepared to leap from a nine-metre platform onto an inflatable airbag the county council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “Activity days like this is what our HAF programme is all about providing children and young people the opportunity to go outdoors and try something new over the school holidays “It’s great that so many families have been able to visit this new attraction Our investment in Adventures forms part of the council’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our local communities Feedback from the families who attended included the Verhees family from Mansfield “It's been a lovely day out and all the staff are really nice.” Meanwhile her sons Harlan 5 (see photo) were particularly impressed with the frisbee golf and bouncy nets “Adventures has absolutely amazing facilities with fabulous I felt safe on the high ropes as the staff were very encouraging.” Kelly Ann Pickering from Brinsley attended with her daughters friendly and there every step of the way if my girls were ever unsure Such a lovely place and we will definitely return.” The Hopkinson family from Worksop praised the site as being ‘amazing.’ Kaylen Hopkinson even commented Nyree Hall of Kinoulton said they had a lot of laughs and that the activities pushed her resilience a self-confessed thrill seeker who recommended the attraction The Talbot family travelled all the way from Edwalton to attend It’s been fantastic for us to host this HAF event and see lots of young people outside and having fun with their families and peers We hope everyone who came along had an unforgettable day.” Adventures is the latest addition to the popular Mill Waters site which is nestled on the picturesque shore of King’s Mill Reservoir at Sutton-in-Ashfield The centre is operated and managed by Nottinghamshire County Council’s outdoor environmental education service Adventures is open daily with activity sessions starting from £12 For more information visit adventures.nottinghamshire.gov.uk we are pleased to make available on a new lease this high calibre warehouse / production unit which sits on a securely fenced and gated site just off the A38 in Sutton in Ashfield Set therefore within quick access of Junction 28 of the M1 and readily accessible for the local centres of Sutton the building offers very simple clear span production or warehouse space of just over 14,000ft² available on a new lease With the benefit of having a site shared with only two other occupiers and which is securely fenced and gated this is a rare visitor to the market and should fill a gap in a market where opportunities for units of this size and calibre are hard to find For further information or to arrange to view please contact Jamie Gilbertson (07747 665 941 / jamie.gilbertson@fhp.co.uk) or Tim Gilbertson (07887 787 893 / tim@fhp.co.uk) of FHP Property Consultants Back to the News page This year's event is FREE and open to all - so join us on Zoom on Mon 6 July to hear from @VisitBritain Nottingham Culture Board and @NorthstarMtgs We are so excited to hear this fantastic news from @CreswellCrags A huge thank you to @HeritageFundUK for supporting this valuable and much-loved heritage site. ?Calling all #hospitality and #tourism businesses and organisations! We're thrilled to announce that our FREE Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Virtual Visitor Economy Summit will be held on Monday 6 July Yesterday's government announcement has been welcomed by hotels many of which will be opening their doors on Saturday 4th July ?This summer looks likely to be all about the great British break and for those after some staycation inspiration #Nottinghamshire has plenty of unusual places to stay @Langarhallhotel @YeOldeBell @forestholidays @LaceMarketApmts Pop in and see @MeetInNotts at stand 17 and learn why #Nottingham should be your number one destination for #conferences .@MeetInNotts are 'jubilant' after successfully tapping into the North American ? conferences market at @VisitBritain's innovative #MeetGB Virtual and are now setting their sights on Europe ? Read more ?https://t.co/8OZ9HqAkCF https://t.co/EwnQzSYWxR ???Want to be in with a chance of winning a @delilahfinefood hamper worth over £60 Simply complete our tourism survey by 5pm today and tell us how you'd feel about visiting #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire post COVID-19 https://t.co/5xZqO6xtsH https://t.co/BhIL7teYO6 We ♥️ this feature in @TheFoxyDeer Metroland magazine "Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest is a landmark thousands of years in the making history and folklore all waiting to be discovered." Read the feature on p.128 ?https://t.co/Cbh70ePNpo https://t.co/rAUJHlsZy7 .@MeetInNotts are excited to be in the virtual booth ready for @VisitBritain's digital #MeetGB event today where the team will be showcasing #Nottingham's fantastic event and conference spaces to an international audience https://t.co/9h1SUEWcqn https://t.co/I6pqyQhIyQ The @ace_national has today announced that £3.26 million has been awarded to 466 individual artists and cultural organisations across the #EastMidlands through its COVID-19 emergency response package Calling all #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire #tourism businesses - why not check out @VisitEnglandBiz' #BusinessAdviceHub for the latest guidance and support for tourism businesses during COVID-19 https://t.co/tMwnMvL8IY https://t.co/592XpXMkKl Want to be in with a chance of winning a @delilahfinefood hamper worth over £60 Simply complete our tourism survey and tell us how you'd feel about visiting #Nottingham and #Nottinghamshire post COVID-19 https://t.co/5xZqO6xtsH https://t.co/FK7ZNCGJRL #Nottingham #tourism businesses - did you know you can find the latest guidance and support for tourism businesses during COVID-19 on @VisitEnglandBiz’s #BusinessAdviceHub Copyright © 2025 Marketing Nottingham Funds raised from the sale of the Portland Square sundial have been donated to John Eastwood Hospice in Sutton A total of £1,250 has been contributed by Ashfield District Council and its contractors supporting the hospice’s vital end-of-life care and bereavement services The donation was made possible through the sale of scrap materials from the recently removed sundial as well as contributions from local contractors Lindum Group John Eastwood Hospice provides essential end-of-life care and bereavement support for individuals living alone Located just 1.2 miles from Portland Square the hospice was chosen as the beneficiary to give back to the local community The donation will help towards the hospice’s annual running costs Deputy Leader of Ashfield District Council “The removal of the sundial has allowed us to give something back to the community in a meaningful way we have been able to support John Eastwood Hospice with money that may not have been available otherwise “This donation will help support the hospice and its crucial work It also highlights our commitment to community spirit and sustainability and is an expression of gratitude for the significant work the hospice does.” John Eastwood Hospice began providing palliative care in 1991 a scheme aiming to recruit 1,991 members to donate just £1 a week to the hospice The redevelopment of Portland Square will feature two raised lawns with inbuilt seating eight new semi-mature trees to reintroduce greenery to the urban setting Additional improvements include new street lighting expanded outdoor seating areas for local businesses Work on the project is expected to be completed later this year The plans for Portland Square form part of Ashfield District Council’s £62.6 million Towns Deal which is funding 16 transformational projects across the district •  Image shared after woman attacked while helping taxi driver in Nottingham This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services said: ‘Road closed due to crash on A38 Alfreton Road both ways between B6018 Sutton Road and The Snipe pub. has announced the sale of Bright Stars Childcare in Sutton-in-Ashfield Built around You.Your expert business property advisers David EavesDirector - Childcare & Education Bright Stars Childcare is a highly regarded ‘Good’ rated day nursery that offers a wonderful ‘home from home’ atmosphere It was originally founded by Karen and Peter Quinton as a childminding business in 2004 which traded from their home The business transitioned to childcare on domestic premises in 2012 and was re-registered to Childcare on Non-Domestic premises as the pair moved out of the residential part of the property and converted this to additional nursery space to now offer 73 places With an abundance of outdoor space and a highly qualified and long-tenured staff team this is truly a destination nursery within its local area and offers a significant opportunity for a new owner to build on the excellent reputation the owners have cultivated Karen and Peter recently decided to sell the nursery after 20 years and have recognised their deeply fulfilling journey Following a confidential sales process with David Eaves at Christie & Co, it has been purchased by Storal taking the group to 33 registered settings across England “When we first opened the doors to the nursery and joyful environment where children could grow and flourish and with our teams and families support this vision became a reality We are confident that Storal’s vision and commitment will ensure the continued success and growth of the nursery They are enthusiastic about engaging with the community and building strong relationships with each family.” “We’re delighted to welcome Bright Stars Childcare which shares Storal’s passion and ethos around early childhood education We were attracted to the nursery due to its emphasis on ensuring children’s experiences at the nursery are memorable and educational not just with parents but with local agencies and local schools too we look forward to blending Bright Star Childcare’s strengths with Storal’s values and strong support structure whilst embracing its uniqueness and individual story.” Director – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co “It was a pleasure to support Karen and Peter in the sale of their wonderful nursery Since first meeting Karen and Peter over two years ago we have navigated the change of use from Childcare on Domestic Premises to Childcare on Non-Domestic Premises the change of planning to increase the capacity to 73 places and the relative merits of a leasehold vs freehold sale we were delighted to introduce Storal and I’m sure Sarah and the team will build on the fantastic legacy Karen and Peter leave behind This is a further example of the continued high levels of demand for good opportunities across the East Midlands and beyond.” Bright Stars Childcare was sold for an undisclosed price Visit Christie & Co’s Business Search page to find out more about current listings. Keep up-to-date with our latest listings and more… © Christie & Co 2024 | A member of Christie Group The leader of Ashfield District Council hopes the owners of a Sutton-in-Ashfield shopping centre will help to make the town more “bespoke” after the site failed to sell at auction is owned by London-based investment company Midos Group and managed by Davlea Estates It was put up for auction with a date of 12 December but the centre has not been sold as bids did not meet the needed minimum price The centre’s original guide price was up to £3.5 million said: “In the weeks since Idlewells Shopping Centre was listed for auction we have been able to agree leases with several new tenants “This meant the guide price for the centre was increased and the bids submitted during the auction did not meet this improved valuation.” Mr Reisner says the new leases will see several new stores opening in the centre—clothing store North West opened last week said: “What it does mean now is the council can do more work with the existing owners and be part of their plan to move forward and make sure Idlewells is a really thriving hub of a shopping centre—which it’s not quite been over the last couple of years “The company that owns it is a business; they’re trying to squeeze as much money [as possible] “We want to work with whoever owns it for the long term—it’s not a cash cow as far as we see it.” Cllr Zadrozny called the shopping centre a “critical part” of making Sutton-in-Ashfield more vibrant alongside the council’s plans for the new theatre and market square The leader praised the shopping centre’s indoor market saying: “[It’s] working really well because it’s old-fashioned the stalls where you can go look at things and speak to someone about them—I think Sutton has got to become more bespoke.” he said he wants to see more services like restaurants and leisure activities in the town centre and thinks Idlewells can be a “big part of that” Cllr Zadrozny added: “It’s the centre of Sutton and we can spend loads of money on the rest of [the centre]—if that fails it means everything else fails—so we will be working with the new owners to make sure that that is the anchor part of Sutton.” Other existing retailers include JD Sports Mr Reisner added: “Idlewells continues to be a vital retail and community hub for Sutton-in-Ashfield residents and these new additions will help us in our goal of continually improving the experience for visitors.” •  Loxley House and car park utility costs overspent by over £500,000 as tenants sought for two floors Father-of-six Alfred Swinscoe was 54 when he mysteriously disappeared after a visit to a North Nottinghamshire pub in early 1967 His fate remained a mystery until his remains were unearthed during construction work on farmland in Sutton-in-Ashfield in April last year Nottinghamshire Police say two potential suspects have been identified and had inflicted injuries on another man similar to those found on Mr Swinscoe's remains The force said both suspects had since died saying their policy was only to publish the names of those who are charged Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin said: “During our investigation we have identified two potential suspects who under normal circumstances if Alfred had been murdered today would have been arrested and brought in for questioning “We don’t have that opportunity as they are no longer alive “We will continue to investigate this crime and continue to look at all new and existing avenues available to us." Mr Swinscoe was last seen drinking at the Miners Arms in Pinxton in January 1967 money to buy a round and went to use the outside toilet but never returned There was no sign of him until his remains were found in Coxmoor Lane on 26 April 2023 when digging work was being carried out It is believed he had been murdered and buried in a grave between 4ft and 6ft deep His identity was only established when Mr Swinscoe's grandson recognised items of clothing found with the remains including two distinctive socks and a shoe DNA tests on Mr Swinscoe's family members matched the bones exhumed from the ground A team of detectives supported by scientists have been working on the case Tests on Mr Swinscoe’s bones established he suffered a major stab wound and blunt force trauma injuries He had a broken hand thought to have been suffered as he tried to defend himself Some of his bones were missing from the site suggesting he had been killed elsewhere and moved to Coxmoor Lane The cause of death will be determined by a pathologist ahead of an inquest Detectives have interviewed people who knew Mr Swinscoe taken witness statements from those who saw him in the days before he disappeared Medical notes and work rotas from his time as a miner have also been analysed to narrow down the exact time he went missing Officers have also carried out criminal record and background checks on those living in the area at the time They have also checked those who had access to a car as they believe a vehicle would have been used to move the body Mr Griffin added: “Alfred died in the most horrendous way imaginable but he was then buried in a field so that no one would find him “What makes this crime even more distressing is that it has taken more than 50 years for his remains to be found and for his family to be reunited with their loved one so he can have a proper burial there will be little relief for his family as there are still so many unanswered questions of what happened that night and the motive behind his murder “Many of the people who would have been with Alfred that night are no longer alive and we may never get the full picture of what occurred in January 1967 “That certainly hasn’t stifled our determination to investigate this crime and leave no stone unturned to find his killer or killers." The force is continuing to appeal for witnesses Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) has completed its evaluation of the decision to reinstate 24-hour whole-time crewing at Ashfield Fire Station with a report revealing significant improvements in service delivery and response times in the district were part of a broader effort to address resource gaps and enhance the safety of the community with the results now exceeding initial expectations The reinstatement of 24-hour cover at Ashfield has had an immediate and positive effect During the first nine months following the change up from 433 in the same period the previous year average attendance times dropped from 8 minutes and 36 seconds to 7 minutes and 24 seconds This 1 minute and 12-second improvement far exceeds the 48-second reduction predicted in the 2021 review the change has had no adverse effects on response times elsewhere in the county Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service reported a slight improvement in county-wide response times reducing to an average of 8 minutes and 1 second post-implementation The changes at Ashfield have also led to a decrease in cross-border support from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service Prior to the reintroduction of full-time crewing Derbyshire’s fire appliances were called into Ashfield 68 times over a comparable period significantly easing the reliance on neighbouring fire services The reduction in callouts for On-Call firefighters at Ashfield and Hucknall stations has saved approximately £46,000 in attendance fees contributing to a projected £65,000 underspend in the On-Call pay budget for the 2024/25 financial year The new crewing model has allowed Ashfield Fire Station to expand its community outreach efforts Safe and well visits—a critical part of fire prevention work—have increased by 93% with 736 visits completed post-implementation compared to 381 in the previous year Business safety checks have surged by over 250% the station has been able to support more community groups increasing its partnerships from two to five including initiatives like the Selston Youth Initiative and Ashfield LGBT+ Drop-in While the changes have been largely positive they have had some impact on the On-Call firefighters at Ashfield Mobilisations for the On-Call crew dropped by 56% the availability of On-Call staff remains strong at 92.39% two On-Call firefighters have left since the changes but exit interviews confirmed that the departures were unrelated to the reduction in callouts Staff morale at Ashfield Fire Station has shown marked improvement since the changes A recent staff survey revealed that 82% of employees plan to stay with the service for at least the next 12 months up by 8.8 percentage points from previous surveys 67% of staff would recommend NFRS as a great place to work The service will continue to monitor the effects of the changes with a full 12-month evaluation set to be presented to the Fire Authority in 2025 This will mark the conclusion of the formal evaluation process but ongoing assessments of performance and ridership will ensure the changes continue to meet community needs •  Closure of Britain’s last coal fired power station is chance for Green Growth lead in East Midlands, says Chamber A new Ashfield housing development plan has led to fears that the area’s road network could become overstretched and unsafe Developer Avant Homes Central submitted plans to Ashfield District Council yesterday (25 November) for 84 homes in Sutton-in-Ashfield. the £23.1 million development will be located on land off Fisher Close and will be named Silverhill Edge was previously granted in May 2023 – the new plans are for the main design The entrance to the site would be from Fisher Close with potential plans for a pedestrian route through to Stanton Crescent The development site sits in the council’s Carsic ward but its access point via Fisher Close falls under the Dales ward Ashfield District Councillor and County Councillor Helen-Ann Smith (Ash Ind) who represents Sutton North at the county level which covers residents living in Fisher Close has expressed concern over the consequences of the Labour Government’s housing targets on congestion levels She said: “What is clear is that since the new Labour Government announced that they were increasing enforced housing targets to 604 houses a year developers are crawling all over Ashfield – no green land is safe “The junction of Fisher Close clearly cannot cope with the current number of houses and I think the application for this site is for far too many houses.” The Labour Government announced its new housing plans in July 2024 with all councils across England being given mandatory housing targets to help deliver the government’s aim of 1.5 million more homes to tackle the housing crisis Changes include an overhaul of the planning system ensuring all areas have local housing plans and a drive to deliver 50 per cent affordable homes Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past and set us on our way to tackling the housing crisis delivering 1.5 million homes for those who really need them.” Cllr Smith believes the application “will be detrimental to the safety of existing residents” She has called the application in to be decided by Ashfield District Council’s planning committee citing concerns about highway safety and the “intensification” of the site Avant Homes has confirmed a community contribution of £750,000 from the development which will help fund improvements to local public transport said: “Sutton-in-Ashfield is a fantastic location for us to further expand our development footprint in Nottinghamshire we are committed to providing quality new homes for everyone in places where people want to live Silverhill Edge is an excellent opportunity for us to deliver on this “We now look forward to Ashfield District Council considering our plans to create a new thriving community in Sutton-in-Ashfield.” with eight designated as affordable housing Brierley Forest Park borders the site on its western side and a wildflower meadow would be planted in the northern part with the first residents expected to move in by April 2026 Ashfield District Council’s Planning Committee will decide on the application at a later date •  Lenton: £300,000 cannabis factory shut down by police The director of the company managing Idlewells Shopping Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield says there is “lots of potential” for the site after it was put up for sale for £3m and a multi-storey car park with around 250 spaces Some of the current occupiers include JD Sports which is owned by the London-based investment company Midos Group and managed by the Leicester-based Davlea Estates told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that there has been a “huge amount of interest” and that he expects a bidding war “We can confirm that the decision has been made to list the Idlewells Shopping Centre for auction with Acuitus in the coming weeks,” he said “The decision comes as we look to realign our portfolio of properties and is in no way related to the performance of the centre which continues to attract over three million visitors each year.” the shopping centre celebrated its 50th anniversary After being acquired by Davlea Estates in April 2023 Mr Reisner said the site has “lots of potential” including the possibility of redeveloping a disused underground car park “It would be ideal for a local business to think of a use to bring it back into action,” he said “Any prospective buyer will inherit a shopping centre with a strong retail offering and strong interest in every available unit “The site will remain as a shopping centre in the coming years providing a strong retail offer for the residents of Sutton and the surrounding areas.” Ashfield District Council currently operates a market inside the centre The market area also underwent refurbishment works costing £1.8m The Ashfield Independent-run council says the sale will not have an impact on the market “We are not directly affected by this sale as a council,” a spokesperson for the authority said Midos Group was also contacted for comment •  Plans submitted to make Eagle Square permanent home for Arnold Market Sutton-in-Ashfield – The Sports Hub at Sutton Lawn moved a step closer today after Ashfield District Council’s Planning Committee approved the plans The plans approved for Sutton Lawn today include the extension and refurbishment of the current pavilion building creating a brand new car park and access road The pavilion will be managed by Sutton Community Academy with community football groups having access to the facility in the evening and weekends The new car park will create space for an additional 58 cars easing pressure on the popular main car park and surrounding residential streets These plans are part of the wider Sports Hub project which centres around increasing provision for football at the park and has previously been approved by Planning Committee The Sports Hub includes creating two new 3G football pitches improvements to the existing grass football pitches and converting the derelict shale pitch to grass pitches These improvements to Sutton Lawn are being made in conjunction with the Football Foundation and Academy Transformation Trust Further Education The sports hub is being funded as part of their £62.6million Towns Deal, which is financing 16 major transformational projects across Sutton and Kirkby that will change the face of Ashfield for generations to come A further Sports Hub is planned for Kingsway Park to improve facilities for hockey “This is going to be a huge investment into Sutton Lawn shaping the football facilities for years to come “The new car park will be welcomed by visitors and the residents that live around the park It’s fantastic that we are able to prioritise sports at a time when other Council’s are closing facilities.” “One of the Council’s priorities is helping our communities live healthy and happy lives and our long-term investment into sports in Ashfield is proof that we are committed to achieving this aim.” •  Image release after baby snatched from mother’s arms on Worksop train •  West Bridgford hotel is on the market for £2.25 million •  West Bridgford mum gave birth in woodland cabin as Nottingham’s Home Birth Service returns Reform UK have gone into a formal coalition with the Conservatives in Lee Anderson MP’s constituency of Ashfield All Ashfield District Councillors have been formally notified of the decision today leading to criticism from the ruling Ashfield Independents This is the first formal coalition between Reform UK and the Conservative Party at any level of government in the United Kingdom a former Conservative councillor created headlines in November by joining Reform UK “The Conservatives are now all but extinct here in Ashfield and we will replicate this across the country in May 2025.” Councillor Justice has caused controversy by setting up a formal coalition with Ashfield’s remaining Conservative Councillor Philip Rostance – who will become Leader of the ‘opposition group’ Councillor Rostance will receive £5,825 a year for his new role as a result of the coalition Ashfield Independent Deputy Leader of Ashfield District Council said Councillor Dawn Justice left the Conservatives to join Reform UK with great fanfare just weeks later she has joined a coalition with the Tories – the first in the UK many failed Conservatives have joined Reform but this is the first coalition and begs the question is that a vote for Reform is a vote for the Conservatives – they are like 2 peas in a pod Residents aren’t stupid however and will see right through this baffling decision.” A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Reform claim to be offering something new to the public but this backroom deal in Lee Anderson’s Ashfield makes it clear – a vote for Reform is just another vote for the Tories “And no-one in this county needs reminding about the damage the Tories have done The culmination of 14 years of chaos and decline led by the Conservatives in Downing Street “At least both parties have shown their true colours ahead of the local elections on 1st May Voters now know the only way to vote for change is to back Labour to run Nottinghamshire County Council.” The make-up of Councillors at Ashfield District Council is now: Conservatives / Reform UK (The Opposition Group) 2 Police made three arrests in a Sutton park after discovering a telescopic baton and a knife inside a tent Officers attended Sutton Lawn, Sutton-in-Ashfield after being called out to reports of disorderly behaviour A man was reportedly threatened by a group of people near a fishing pond in the park around 12.15pm on Wednesday (23 October) Response officers arrived shortly afterwards and spotted a tent containing three people matching the description of those involved in the disorder The fishing tent was subsequently searched by police who found an extendable baton and a lock knife inside and a 16-year-old boy – were all arrested for possessing an offensive weapon The 19-year-old man was additionally arrested on suspicion of possessing Class B drugs but there is absolutely no reason for anyone to be carrying a telescopic baton or knife out in public these types of extendable batons are on a long list of offensive weapons that are now illegal for anyone to keep at home or in any other private setting in the UK “We’re pleased to have been able to recover both weapons with this discovery being made by our officers while they were attending reports of disorderly behaviour we don’t want to see this type of conduct in our communities either and we will always look to respond to any reports we receive of antisocial behaviour.” •  Masked robber who threatened to stab West Bridgford shop staff twice faces jail sentence A family-owned supplier of curtains to retailers and the hospitality trade is facing an uncertain future has posted a notice of intention to appoint administrators (NOI) via law firm Smith Partnership The move will protect the Nottinghamshire firm against creditor action for around 10 days Home Curtains (UK) was established over almost 40 years ago The firm makes all of its products at its in-house production department The company has been contacted for comment.