Huge new theatre project announced and tributes to man killed in attack
Your weekly round-up of Ashfield news
Good morning and welcome to the first weekly round-up of the latest news for Ashfield. In addition to breaking news and big stories published throughout the week - this newsletter will arrive in your inbox every Thursday at 8am.
This week there has been plenty going on in Nottinghamshire’s courts, while plans were announced for a major new theatre and community centre.
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Drawings released for brand new theatre
Artist impressions have been released showing how Sutton Community Academy’s theatre could be transformed and opened to the public.
Funding to upgrade the venue, which would be rebranded Cornerstone Theatre, has been secured through Ashfield District Council’s £6.27m Future High Streets Fund.
The authority is working alongside the academy on the plans, which would see the theatre renovated and reconfigured to create a new community space for performances and acts.
It would give residents a new space to watch professional theatre performances, cinematic experiences and music and comedy nights, in addition to other uses.
According to the plans, there would be new dressing rooms, toilets, a box office and foyer, in addition to a retractable seating system for about 200 people.
Jason Zadrozny, leader of the council, said: “We are incredibly pleased to be able to release the details of the last of our Future High Streets Fund projects. So far we have delivered the renovation of the former Yorkshire Bank in Sutton, the old DWP building on High Pavement, and we are currently transforming another long-vacant unit on Low Street.
“The Cornerstone Theatre project is the cherry on the cake, it will allow more residents to access quality cultural events and productions, without having to leave Ashfield.”
Simon Martin, Vice Principal at Academy Transformation Trust Further Education (ATTFE), added: “ATTFE is hugely excited to be involved in the inception and the future running of the Cornerstone facility. Sutton-in-Ashfield and the surrounding area has long needed investment in and opportunities for cultural experiences of all sorts, and Cornerstone will provide these for the direct communities, neighbourhoods, and families that we serve."
A planning application will now be submitted to the Council in the coming days before work can start on the refurbishment. Work is expected to start in summer 2024, with a finish date of early 2025.
Community centre demolition
A former village community centre could be demolished and homes put in its place, according to new plans for the site.
Garages around Huthwaite Mill House Centre, in Mill Close, would also be torn down under the proposal submitted to Ashfield District Council, with two semi-detached homes built.
The plans show the homes would be two storeys and would include solar panels on the roof. They would include three bedrooms on the top floor along with a living room, toilet and kitchen/diner on the ground level.
Court round up
A sex offender who raped a young girl on multiple occasions has been put behind bars for 15 years.
Nicholas Smith preyed upon the girl and raped her up to six times over a five-month period – warning her not to tell anyone or they would both go to prison.
Detectives began an investigation when the girl revealed what had happened to friends, and teachers at her school became aware.
As well as raping and sexually assaulting the girl, Smith also forced her to watch sexual acts and send him indecent images of herself between January and June 2022.
The 44-year-old, of Oakenhall Avenue, Hucknall, was jailed for a total of 15 years at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (8 December).
Huge drugs haul in sorbet pallet
Millions of pounds of imported cocaine and heroin were discovered inside a pallet load of raspberry sorbet at a warehouse in Nottinghamshire.
The haul contained 39kg of cocaine and 18kg of heroin, according to Nottinghamshire Police.
The consignment was found at a frozen food warehouse in Bilsthorpe and is understood to have been the biggest drugs seizure in Nottinghamshire for many years.
It was stowed in a lorry trailer after 26 pallets of frozen yoghurt ice cream was collected from a factory in Wellens, Belgium. This was then moved to a town on the Hook of Holland before being shipped to the UK on August 10, 2017.
‘Much-loved’ Ashfield man killed in attack
Loved ones have paid tribute to a 24-year-old Nottinghamshire man who died after an attack in Nottingham.
Jack Edwards, who police say was from the Ashfield area, was attacked and robbed near a skate park in Nottingham city centre on Tuesday, December 5, at about 6.50pm.
Jack suffered ‘significant’ head injuries and was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre, where he died on Thursday, December 7.
In a statement, Jack’s family said: “We are still trying to process what has happened and comprehend the fact that Jack is no longer with us.
“He was only 24 years old. It is difficult for us to put into words the emotions we are feeling right now but we are devastated.
“He was much-loved, and leaves behind a mum, a dad, a brother, a sister and many other family and friends.
“We have been by his bedside at the hospital throughout and we would like to thank the ambulance service and police officers who attended that evening and the hospital staff.
“The support we have received has been overwhelming.
“We would now like to ask for privacy at this incredibly difficult time.”
Free Christmas parking
Ashfield District Council has announced all district-run car parks will be FREE throughout December. Perfect for a bit of Christmas shopping.
Here is the full list of car parks:
Sutton
Sutton Market
New Street
Sherwood Place
Kings Mill Reservoir
Kirkby
Ellis Street
Hodgkinson Road
Hucknall
Piggins Croft
Market Place
Yorke Street
Christmas and New Year bin collections
Is there anything worse, I ask you, than a full bin at Christmas? Torn up wrapping paper, boxes, and food waste can be a bit of a menace.
There will be a number of bin collection date changes running for 10 days from Christmas through to Friday, January 5.
The image below details all the changes you need to be aware of
What’s on this week
There are plenty of events happening across the district this week in the run-up to Christmas.
Newstead Abbey is running a Narnia-themed Christmas event, which includes ‘magical installations’ and a self-led walk through the house.
It runs until Monday, January 1 except for Christmas Day. Tickets cost £12 for adults and is free for children 15 and under. More details and booking here.
Over at Kirkby Leisure Centre, Santa and the Grinch will both be in attendance for the C.A.K.E annual Christmas Party. There will be games, dancing and - best of all - a gift from the man himself. It costs £2.50 per child and the bar will be open for the older member of the event. Full details here.
Carols by Candlelight will be taking place at St Wilfrid’s Church in Church Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, on Sunday, December 17, from 6-7pm. What better way to get in the Christmas spirit.
Thank you for reading
I hope you found the first edition of the weekly Ashfield News useful and informative. If there is something you wanted to read more about, or if there was a topic not included that you would like to see in future editions, then let me know. Please leave a comment below or, alternatively, email matt.bunn@protonmail.com and I’d be happy to include in future editions.