Welcome to Issue 327, 18th October 2008 of our FREE newsletter
Garage Set To Expand
A company which started with just two staff selling a few cars is celebrating 45 years in business by expanding and moving to bigger premises. W. G. Newman Garages Ltd., one of Long Eaton's longest running family concerns was started by Bill Newman in 1963. At that time there was just Mr Newman and one other member of staff in the workshop on Acton Road selling cars and specialising in body work. Mr Newman is married to Derbyshire County Councillor for the Petersham Ward, Gail Newman. Mr Newman set up the business after finishing his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic aged just 21. He said: "I had to get special permission to run a garage from the Ministry of Transport because I was so young." A move to bigger premises at the other end of Acton Road followed some years later. Now this latest move will see the firm almost treble its floor workspace but the garage will still be based on Acton Road. Mr Newman will be looking for three new employees which will take his staff to 29.
We Are Not Yobs!
A group of skateboarding youngsters in Long Eaton are fighting back against claims they are "anti social yobs", and they have come up with plans for a skateboard area on a town park. The youngsters have come in for heavy criticism for skateboarding on the newly landscaped area near the Tesco Extra store on Waverley Street. They have been moved on by the police on many occasions they claim, but they say they have nowhere else to go and are being wrongly demonised. They have formed a group called SOS, skaters off streets, and have already secured funding of £5,000 from the Erewash Youth Forum. The campaign is the brainchild of Niall Maguire and Sam Tucker, both aged 15. They hope to raise enough money to transform a derelict tennis court on West Park in the town into a boarding arena. Alison Maguire, Councillor and Niall's mother said: "The original skateboard park on West Park was badly vandalised about a year ago. I think it is brilliant that they were victims but have picked themselves up to say 'what can we do to help ourselves'". Niall lives on Trowell Grove and attends the Wilsthorpe Business and Enterprise College. At the Erewash Youth Forum the two youngsters presented a petition with 100 names. The group also plan to apply to bodies including Sport England and the National Lottery.
Reaching Great Heights
Work has begun to stabilise the tower of Sawley All Saints Church. At the moment the beautiful structure is clad in scaffolding - but it is all in a good cause. The £30,000 scheme is part of a £220,000 fund raising appeal which has got off to an amazing start when £26,000 was raised in just six months by community spirited locals. Work on the tower is being carried out at the church by stonemasons from Mark Stewart Architects including an apprentice stonemason James Pollard who hails from Sawley. The job involves repointing the tower using traditional materials. The next stage of the renovation will be to renew the church roof and fund raising is still carrying on to pay for this and a church open day and auction is planned for November 1st. The auction will be of new items and antiques and will be on in the afternoon. There will also be plenty of activities for children including a treasure trail, maze and a quiz as well as a free ride on a roundabout if they bring their teddy bear along.
Scooter Hunt
Police in Long Eaton have defended the use of a helicopter to track a stolen mobility scooter. The scooter was spotted in the town by the owners on Monday 13th October, a week after it had been taken from outside shops in the town. The helicopter and foot patrol were called in after the scooter and the suspect were seen going into a park. Despite not locating either, the force maintained it was responsible use of police resources.
New Crossing
One of the busiest routes into Long Eaton is to get a new "puffin" crossing to help pedestrians get across the road. The crossing will be installed on Fields Farm Road close to the traffic island near the railway station following a campaign by ward councillor, Roland Hosker. Coun Hosker said: "It is a very, very busy area in terms of traffic and there are a lot of pedestrians. You get people going to the railway station and children and families from Sawley heading for the schools in Long Eaton. It is also a mix of residential and industrial areas so you get lorries as well as cars." The new type of crossing should minimise delays to the traffic in the already congested area.
Persistent Burglar Jailed
A persistent burglar has been sent back to jail after raiding homes within weeks of being freed. When Darren Birks was caught, he decided to come clean and took police to other homes he had raided in the Long Eaton area, Derby Crown Court heard. Judge David Price jailed him for 33 months and pointed out that the offences were committed just weeks after he had been released from prison in March. He told the 24 year-old, of Rufford Road, in Sawley: "You have a long record of previous convictions, including convictions for dishonesty and burglary. You were last released in March but within a month you were attempting to commit house burglary." Gillian Foxcroft, prosecuting, said Birks burgled four properties and took goods worth £2,806, including jewellery, coins and computer equipment. He admitted the attempted burglary of a house in Draycott Road, Sawley, on May 1st; burgling a home in Tamworth Road, Long Eaton on May 15th; and handling a stolen mobile phone, satellite navigation system and other goods on May 18th. He was caught when police found a single footprint from one of his shoes. Eventually, he agreed to take officers to the location of five other crimes, which the judge agreed to take into account. Justin Ablott, mitigating, said Birks did so because he wanted to change his life and stay out of trouble. He was addicted to heroin and had spent "a large part of his adult life in one custodial environment or another." Mr Ablott said Birks hoped to get help from the prison service initially and then probation officers when he was released. The court was told that Birks was given 15 months' custody in 2002 for a house burglary. In the following year, he was jailed for four years for similar offences. He was released in March of this year.
Load Of Rubbish
Traders and residents are calling for action about the amount of rubbish littering an area of Long Eaton town centre. The calls come after the results of a national survey were published in which Erewash Borough Council's record on litter was described as "unsatisfactory". The Keep Britain Tidy campaign has surveyed all local authorities in England. Erewash's record on fly posting, fly tipping and graffiti was "good" however on litter, grit, old leaves, sand etc., which build up and make an area appear grubby was registered as "unsatisfactory". The Long Eaton Advertiser was bombarded by photographs sent in by several angry residents showing litter strewn around in different areas of the town centre. They showed rubbish littering Main Street and the newly revamped Waverley Street. Philip Wright, from Erewash Borough Council said: "This survey clearly show that we have made considerable progress in some areas, but the survey has been drawn together over the last two years and during that time we have targeted litter through our campaigns such as the successful Pride In Erewash campaign. It is important that people understand that keeping our streets clean is a costly job and that we all have to pay our part."
Market Plans
The Sawley and District Historical Society are seeking funding for a Charter Fair to be held on Saturday, November 14th 2009, to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the granting of a Royal Charter by King Henry III in 1259, that allows a weekly market and annual fair to be held in the village. The society will not know the outcome of their bid until September 28th 2009. The society are planning a day of entertainment with an historical theme, including an exhibition of Sawley's history, guided walks around the village, a country dance, stalls of all kinds and other seasonal attractions. They are inviting members of other local organisations who would like to promote themselves by participating with stalls, games or displays at the fair to contact Pam Mee on 01332 872148 or Judy Kingscott on 0115 9733549 for further details.
Parking Plan
Parking could soon be prohibited on roads near two Long Eaton schools to reduce heavy congestion and increase children's safety. Derbyshire County Council proposes to stop parking on Collingwood Road, Oakleys Road, Oakleys Road West and St Vincent Close. This means that parents whose children attend the nearby Brooklands Primary and St Laurence Primary Schools will have to park elsewhere during drop off and pick up times in the morning and afternoon. Currently, as a result of cars parked along both sides of the road, only one middle lane is made available for cars to travel down. With vehicles coming from both directions, this causes heavy congestion. If the order is approved, parking will be banned between 8:30am to 9:15am, and 2:45pm to 3:30pm. The roads will be clearly marked with zigzags and yellow lines. One local resident said: "It is a great idea in principle. Traffic at school pick up times is horrendous and the road is often gridlocked. My only worry is that the problem will just migrate further along Oakleys Road causing mayhem for residents who legitimately park outside their own homes."
New Buildings
An artists impression of the new building which is under construction by McCarthy and Stone on Tamworth Road next to the fire station,has been released. The impression shows how the development will look when it is fully completed in March 2009. The development has been carefully designed to be in keeping with the local area and will complement other nearby buildings. Once completed it will have 48 one and two bedroomed self contained apartments. They have been specifically tailored for people over the age of 60 who seek a more manageable and secure home without losing their independence. It has been designed for easy maintenance and low heating costs. Each apartment will be linked to a 24 hour personal emergency service and a TV surveillance system at the main entrance. There will also be a house manager to look after the day to day running, a central lounge for social events, a fully maintained laundry room, a hotel style guest suite where visiting family and friends can stay overnight and each floor will be served by a lift. External maintenance, window cleaning, gardening and cleaning of the communal areas will be looked after by a service team. The show complex of the development is due to open in January '09, and the first residents are scheduled to arrive in March '09. Apartments for sale are available now and the full plans and prices for this new development have been announced.
Three Escape From Blaze
Around twenty fire fighters have tackled a fire at a property in Long Eaton that started in the early hours of Monday 13th October. An investigation began to determine the exact cause of the fire on Lawrence Street in the town, officials said. Watch manager Kevin Barber said no one was hurt in the blaze but three residents managed to escape from the two semi-detached dwellings. Fire officials said the property did not have smoke alarms installed. When the fire service arrived the fire had already spread from the first floor into the roof space and into a neighbouring property. Four cars were also rescued from the neighbouring property, and an aerial ladder was used to remove the roof tiles and extinguish the fire. After an investigation into what caused the fire it has been revealed that an electrical fault was the cause in a first floor bedroom.
Man Stabbed
A 25 year old man is in hospital after being stabbed in Long Eaton. The man was attacked on Stanley Street in the town at about 7:35pm on Thursday, 9th October. The man was taken to hospital and had surgery for what police said were serious injuries. He is currently still in hospital, but he is now in a stable condition. The offenders fled from the scene when the man fell to the ground. The man was stabbed in the lower back region. Police have released no further details about the incident and have appealed for anyone who witnessed the attack to contact them on 0845 1233333.
Man Jailed
A Long Eaton man has been jailed after going home to get a gun following a dispute he had, and then firing an imitation hand gun at a Long Eaton pub. Matthew Rose, 22, claimed in court that he only armed himself "because I was scared for my life" after an argument in February this year. At Derby Crown Court, Judge John Burgess told him: "You could not have been scared for your life if you went out again." The judge imposed a 20 month prison sentence on Rose of Thorneywood Road in the town who admitted having an imitation firearm and bladed article in public. Rose had never been in trouble before. The judge accepted that the shot Rose fired was not aimed at anybody else but the judge said: "This case is so serious only a custodial sentence is appropriate." The trouble began when a man approached Rose for a cigarette in a pub. He then noticed he had a knife in his hand. Moments later a shot was fired and this hit the pub wall. In mitigation, Quentin Robins said: "Rose asks himself why he did this moment of stupidity. He generally avoids situations which can become confrontational."
Silver Honours
Long Eaton has once again proved that it has winning flower power after scooping a top honour in a regional competition. Long Eaton walked away with a silver in the East Midlands In Bloom competition. It was the second year running the town has won silver for its floral displays with the shows on the traffic islands coming in for particular praise. The judges liked the flowers around the town centre as well as the landscaping in the library grounds, St Laurence Church and West Park. Erewash Borough Council also won applause for encouraging young and disabled people to play an active role in planting. The Long Eaton School's environmental campaigns were praised too. More acclaim was given in the form of a special award for the town centre improvements in the Waverley Street area.
Work Is Praised
A Long Eaton campaigner is pleased with the action taken to prevent flooding on a busy road through Sawley. Carol Maddison started a petition back in February for flood prevention measures to be installed on the B6540 which is the road from Long Eaton to Castle Donington. This road has regular problems with flooding outside the Plank and Leggit pub and Sawley Marina. Unfortunately Carol was not successful in her campaign after she was told by Leicestershire County Council that any work to alleviate the flooding would cost £1.5m to install. However, she has been told by a neighbour that the main drains in the road have been cleared out and there have been no problems with flooding despite the recent showery weather. Carol said: "Something has obviously been done because we have not flooded." Carol said that some people living near the marina had had to be evacuated because if the water got any higher they would be trapped.
Accident Rankings
The borough of Erewash ranks at number 33 for the most traffic accidents throughout England and Wales. A new website which gives details about traffic and travel in your area has been launched. The site: www.keepmoving.co.uk/government can tell you everything from where your borough is in terms of accidents and congestion, to up to date travel information from your local station. Out of 406, Erewash came 33rd for the most accidents, 84th most congested and 295th with the highest fuel. The website contains a page for each of the constituencies in England and Wales and features details of the MP representing them, along with interesting facts such as how many times they've used transport related words in debates. Visitors to the site are able to view any roadworks, incidents or planned closures of any of the roads in their constituency. People planning to move to a new area can therefore use the website as a useful resource. People can also see if issues that are important to them are being addressed in parliament.
Items Needed
Additional items are needed for an auction being held to raise money for the All Saints Church in Sawley. Organisers are in desperate need of items for the auction which will go ahead on November 1st. They need them well ahead of the day so that the items can appear in a catalogue. The items need to be either new goods or "antiques of merit". Promises from individuals of tasks such as ironing or washing cars can also be donated. Anyone who would like to contribute in any way can contact the rector of the church, Alicia Petty on 0115 9734900 or Pam Plampin on 01332 875363.
Water Walk
Thirty walkers carried large bottles of water whilst embarking on a four mile trek around Long Eaton. A total of £430 was raised for Samaritan's Purse to go towards providing third world families with access to clean water. The walkers, aged between three and 81 years included members of the St John's Church on Canal Street in Long Eaton, and a local church scout and guide organisation. People took it in turns to shoulder a 29 litre container of water weighing 29 Kgs between them. The idea of this fundraiser was to raise awareness of the millions of poor people in Africa and Asia who walk an average four miles a day to fetch water for domestic use.
Treatment Appeal
A Long Eaton mother has braved a panel of five NHS experts to appeal against their decision not to fund treatment to correct her baby's deformed skull. Kellie-Anne Mitchell of Moorlands Close lost her appeal but was successful in persuading the panel to review the advice it gives to parents. Mrs Mitchell's son, Alfie, suffers with the condition Dolichocephaly, more commonly known as "flat head syndrome". In May this year Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust had refused to fund a special helmet to correct the one year olds condition. The little boy was eventually fitted with the helmet, but only due to donations including one from Long Eaton's Asda store on Midland Street. For the last six months Mrs Mitchell has been researching flat head syndrome in preparation for the appeal. She said: "It was the scariest thing I have ever done. There was a big table with five people sitting across from me." Although she has lost the appeal, Mrs Mitchell is pleased the panel agreed to review the information given to parents in the same situation. Thanks to the special helmet, Alfie's head is "almost perfect" now after four months of wearing the helmet.
Taking The Plunge
Swimmers of all ages and abilities are to take part in a sponsored swim in aid of the Treetops Hospice in Risley. The money raised will go towards its Ripple Appeal. Working with the Long Eaton Lions Club, the fundraiser takes place on Saturday, October 25th, between 6pm and 7pm at the West Park Leisure Centre on Wilsthorpe Road in Long Eaton. The swimmers can start at any time during this hour and complete a maximum 20 lengths. The Treetops Hospice Ripple Appeal is a £2.5m fundraiser to build a new day care centre at the hospice's grounds on Derby Road. The care centre is to accommodate the growing number of patients in need of specialist palliative care, who suffer from life limiting illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and AIDS. Therapies, counselling and carer support are also available for both patient and family members. For more information about the hospice and the work it does, or to take part in the fundraiser, contact the Ripple Appeal manager, Kate Shaw on 0115 9491264.
Warning To Residents
Long Eaton Police are urging residents to lock their doors at all times. The warning comes following a burglary at a home in Long Eaton. The incident took place at a property on Breedon Street. The perpetrator got into the house through an unlocked door and stole the keys to a Volkswagen Golf car and then drove off with it. The police advised residents to lock their doors at all times, even when they are at home and to avoid leaving valuables in clear open view. People with any information about the incident can call 0845 1233333.
Fund Raising
A Long Eaton pub aims to raise £1,500 over three days through a fund raising day in aid of a children's charity. Local residents are encouraged to pop in the Twitchell Inn, on Howitt Street, and take part in a range of activities. The event is part of a nationwide £1m challenge taking place in all Wetherspoon pubs. All money raised will go towards CLIC Sargent, a charity which supports children and young people with cancer. Manager of the Twitchell Inn, Simon Carter said: "The fund raising events will give our customers the opportunity to have fun and support a wonderful charity at the same time. The event will be over a weekend in October and on the final day the pub staff will take part in a football competition.
Last Show
The Long Eaton Horticultural Society presented their 89th Annual Open Show which will be their last show of this season. Exhibitors prepared their displays of all manner of things that grow, while in other areas, mouth watering cakes, jars of jams and pickles were put in their own special sections. Children placed beautifully decorated biscuits and cakes for their displays. The wine making competitors showed off their skills transforming all manner of fruits into tasty treats. Miniature gardens were on display as well as home made invitation cards. The whole event was transformed into a galaxy of colour, scents and sights. The Mayor of Broxtowe, Coun Sue Wildey paid a visit and stayed for several hours. During her tour of the show she showed her interest in gardening, and the culinary section.
Man Attacked
A 51 year old man was punched in the face when two men demanded money from him. The incident happened on Granville Avenue in Long Eaton. The victim who was parked in the road and was in a fast food delivery van when he was approached by two unknown offenders. They opened the door and punched the man in the face and demanded cash. But someone came out of a nearby house which caused the men to run off without the money. The victim received a cut lip and swelling to his face and was treated at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. Derbyshire Police are appealing for any witnesses to the attack and to contact them with any information on 0845 1233333.
Robbery Bid
A young offender waved a penknife at a 13 year old girl and demanded money from her. The incident happened on Lime Grove in Long Eaton. Police said that when the girl told the offender she had no money on her a weapon was pulled out and waved around her face. The girl repeated that she had no money and the offender eventually walked off. Police are appealing for any information to this incident by calling 0845 1233333.
Event Planned
The National Deaf Children's Society are planning to hold a family weekend for parents whose child/children have just been diagnosed. Jeans For Genes fund raisers are holding the event at the Novotel in Long Eaton from November 14th to 16th. At least 50% of childhood deafness has genetic causes and Jeans For Genes are holding a series of regional family weekends throughout the country. The weekend enables the whole family to get to know others who are experiencing the same new challenges as well as beginning to understand a bit more about deafness itself. Lisa Pettifer, for Jeans For Genes said: "We're delighted to be able to make such a difference to parents who have just been told that their child is deaf. It's crucial that families in their day to day lives get to know the problems they face and these weekends are a perfect first step."
New Trees
New trees will soon be put in place on West Park in Long Eaton. Specialist workmen will fell ten old and damaged Poplar trees along the main avenue on the park and new trees will be in place before Christmas. The trees which run from the fork in the main path to the changing rooms, have all reached the end of their natural life spans and stand in an area which is prone to damage during high winds. Once felled, work will then take place to remove the stumps and the site will be replanted in November with eleven "Princeton" Elm trees - which are a variety that is resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Mike Wallis, for Erewash Borough Council said: "West Park is extremely popular and it is important that the many people who enjoy the park understand what is happening. It is all part of our commitment to maintain West Park and ensure that it remains the lovely place that it is. In order to preserve the character of the main avenue we are planning to carry out the same programme of work to the remainder of the avenue in the next few years."
Front Door Fire
A Long Eaton man suffered smoke inhalation after the front door of his house in Long Eaton was set alight. The incident took place at a property on Thirlmere Road. Fire fighters found that a large object had been placed against the door and then set on fire. The unnamed man was taken to hospital for treatment. An investigation is being carried out by Derbyshire Police to determine whether the incident was arson. Any witness or anyone with any information about the incident are urged to contact the police on 0845 1233333.
Diamond Wedding
A Long Eaton resident enjoyed a double celebration when both is Diamond Wedding Anniversary and birthday were on the same day. Arthur Coulson, 83, married his wife Violet 60 years ago in September 1948. The retired milkman and former Boots employee now takes care of Violet, 80, who suffered a stroke two years ago. Arthur said: "Being married for 60 years has been alright and lovely. We've had our ups and downs just like everybody else but I still love her just as much as I did on the day I met her. Violet had a stroke two years ago and she is getting over it really well because she's a fighter." The retired couple have one daughter, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Ninety Seventh Birthday
A Long Eaton woman put on her walking boots to take part in a sponsored walk on her 97th birthday. Nancy Bakewell participated in the walk which was to raise money for a new mini-bus at the Brackenfield Special School in Long Eaton. Nancy used to work at the school and was one of the first employees there. Nancy wore a banner so people would know she is celebrating her big day. She decided to do this because she has done a lot of work for the school before. The walk took place at West Park in Long Eaton between 10am and 12 noon. Children and dogs were welcome and it was a fun day out for all while supporting a good local cause.
Lorry Fire
A lorry was set on fire outside the Nottingham Trade Centre on Nottingham Road in Long Eaton. The vehicle was parked behind the building on Nottingham Road when someone torched it. A spokesman for the Long Eaton fire service that attended the incident said it was lucky that the building did not also catch fire. They also warned other businesses not to leave vehicles and waste paper bins too close to their premises.
News In Brief
Blues Keep Going
Long Eaton United continue to show their Northern Counties East League Premier Division promotion credentials and have lost only once in the last 12 games. The latest game was a hard fought match against Dinnington Town, but Long Eaton came away with a 1-0 win. The game saw seven players booked, but a Martin Bowles header in the 48th minute was enough to give the blues the three points. Long Eaton had the best of the early play, and it was late in the first half before Dinnington showed any kind of attack at the blues' defence. The second half saw tempers flare and a series of altercations and strong tackles saw a number of players booked. Dinnington were pressing for an equaliser but it never came.
For Your Amusement
Humour For Lexophiles (lovers of words)