Good morning and welcome to this week’s edition of Ashfield News. Today, a decision has been made on plans to convert a pub into a house and a man who made assaulted emergency workers has been sentenced.
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Decision made on plan to turn pub into house
A plan to convert a Nottinghamshire pub into a house has been approved.
The Maypole at Skegby received rave reviews from customers, with Google reviews describing it as a “great pub” with a “great atmosphere”.
But the bar has been closed for some time and a proposal to convert the venue, in Dawgates Lane, into a dwelling was submitted in February.
Drawings submitted to Ashfield District Council showed the ground floor would include a study, dining room, kitchen, living room and a toilet and shower room.
The planning application was approved by Ashfield District Council on Wednesday, May 8.
Landlord hit with huge fine
A landlord has been fined £17,500 for failing to license two properties in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The properties in Sutton are in the Council’s Selective Licensing Scheme which means all landlords with any privately-rented properties in the selected area will need a licence.
Despite a number of attempts to secure an application from the Southwell-based landlord and agency, including a final warning advising of the consequences of failing to licence the two properties, the landlord did not submit any application or paperwork required for the properties.
Ashfield District Council officers visited the two properties and found they were occupied and there were concerns relating to the safety of the properties, which is being dealt with separately to the licencing offences.
John Bennett, Executive Director of Place, said: “It is a criminal offence to let a privately rented property in a designated area without a Selective Licence in place.
“Penalties include prosecution and an unlimited fine or a financial penalty up to £30,000. Enforcement action is always a last result, we will always try to engage with, and support landlords to apply for their license first.
“Selective Licensing has brought real positive changes to the designated areas, it allows the council to regulate the housing for the safety of both the tenants and the landlords.”
The landlord penalised this month cannot be identified as an agreed condition of them accepting the penalty.
A total of six financial penalties have been served on landlords who have failed to licence their property or breached their duties totalling over £56,500 since the start of the current selective licensing scheme, with an additional 10 ongoing investigations for similar offences.
Dog owners banned from park feature
Dog owners have been banned from part of a Hucknall park after persistent issues of dog fouling.
Signs have been put up outside the football courts at Titchfield Park.
The signs warn those flouting the Public Space Protection Order face a £1,000 fine if caught.
We understand the order was put in place amid ongoing issues with walkers using the courts and issues surrounding fouling.
Man banned from calling 999
A Sutton man has been banned from contacting the emergency services unless there is a genuine emergency.
Steven Deville admitted to two counts of assaulting emergency workers – a paramedic on August 31 last year and a health care assistant on December 2.
Deville, 67 and of Willowbridge Lane in Sutton-in-Ashfield, called the paramedic to his home.
He was drunk at the time and pushed the paramedic and resisted their help, Nottinghamshire Police said.
While they were at King’s Mill Hospital, Deville then proceeded to grab the paramedic’s arm and twisted it in a “Chinese burn” attack, causing the worker’s arm to bruise.
The second victim was treating Deville on a ward at the hospital in December.
When he was told to wait for food, Deville punched the victim in the chest.
During a hearing on May 2, where a criminal behaviour order was sought for Deville, it was revealed he had contacted East Midlands Ambulance Service 534 times in 2022, which cost the NHS £31,934.43.
Between January 1, 2023 to January 17, 2023, he went on to make a further 86 calls to the 999 service, costing £3,354.87 to the NHS. He also made calls to the fire service and police.
A hearing at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court imposed the order on Deville prohibiting from contacting the emergency services except in the case of a genuine emergency or threat to life.
The order is in place until May 2, 2027.
Magistrates also imposed a community order requiring Deville to undergo rehabilitative activity and to pay the victims compensation, £200 to the first victim and £175 to the second victim.
PC Norris from the Sutton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Deville and his behaviour has been concerning to many of our paramedic and firefighter colleagues, and his continued and persistent calling has diverted numerous resources from attending actual emergencies.
“The courts have taken the time to review the evidence brought forward thanks to our multi-agency working, and have agreed that Deville’s behaviour was anti-social and that an order was necessary to mitigate and prevent it happening more.”