Plans announced to demolish school and create new building
Your weekly round-up of Ashfield News
Good morning and welcome to this week’s edition of Ashfield News. Today, plans have been announced to create a brand new school and demolish the existing building. A man has also been jailed after a crash which left two victims with serious injuries.
If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe to this newsletter to get it in your inbox every Thursday morning by clicking the button below.
School could be demolished
Plans have been announced to create a brand new school building in Hucknall – and the demolition of the current site.
Under the plans, a new two-storey school will be created for pupils at Broomhill Junior School in Broomhill Road, Hucknall.
A multi-use-games-area, car and cycling parking and landscaping will also be created on the site.
Following the completion of the work, the existing school building will be demolished, documents submitted to Ashfield District Council show.
The facility currently teaches more than 270 pupils aged between seven and 11 and the school expects to be at capacity – 300 pupils – this September.
In addition, there are currently almost 60 pupils on the special education needs register.
The work will be made possible through the school rebuilding programme (SRP), which carries out major refurbishment projects at school, sixth form and college buildings in England.
The current site is made up of a single-storey block constructed in the 1960s.
Documents put forward by Tilbury Douglas state: “This block has been classified as a target block due to the age of the building and the functionality of the spatial provision. Due to the conditions, Broomhill Junior School is selected for SRP and getting funding for its replacement.”
A decision is due on the proposal by July 17.
Two women seriously injured in drink-drive crash
A drink-driver who ended up on the wrong side of the road and crashed into another car has been jailed.
Richard Miller, of Springwood View Close in Sutton, admitted drink driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after the incident in Main Road, Ravenshead, at 6.15pm on May 17 last year.
Miller, 55, was driving his Ford Galaxy towards Blidworth when he crashed into a Ford Fiesta while on the wrong side of the road.
Two women who were travelling in the Fiesta were cut from the vehicle and taken to hospital.
One victim had suffered broken ribs while the other suffered head and spinal injuries. The driver of the Fiesta has not been able to get behind the wheel since the incident, police said.
Miller told police at the scene he had misjudged a bend near the junction with Robin Hood Way.
A roadside breath test recorded a sample of 110 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – more than three times the legal limit.
Miller was sentenced to 14 months in jail when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on April 17.
Detective Inspector Kate Savage, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This case serves as a stark reminder that those who drink and drive are never in control of their vehicle and are selfishly putting the lives of other road users at risk.
“The two victims simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Both suffered nasty injuries which could have been much worse. The collision has had an ongoing impact on their lives.
“Nottinghamshire Police takes offences like this very seriously and we will continue to do everything in our power to take people like Miller off our roads.”
Community centre will be torn down
A former Sutton community centre will be knocked down and two bungalows built in its place.
Residents had pleaded for Brierley House, in the Carsic estate, to be saved following its closure last year.
But Ashfield District Council said it had been used for just five hours over a period of 12 months in 2022 and 2023.
Councillors approved plans to knock the facility down and build two adapted-living bungalows for elderly residents in its place.
New council houses to be built
New council houses are set to be built on the site of former garages in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
Ashfield District Council approved the plans for land off Central Avenue last week.
The new development will consist of 16 homes, which will be made up of two- and three-bedroom properties.
The authority says nearby allotments will not be lost as a result of the development.
John Bennett, Executive Director for Place at the council, said: “We currently have over four thousand families in Ashfield waiting for Council homes, so we will maximise every opportunity that we get to reduce this. Central Avenue is a perfect spot for redevelopment. It has sat empty and derelict for many years and will now welcome much-needed quality housing.
“Ashfield District Council has already built over 100 new Council homes and we are committed to continuing this by building even more excellent homes.”
Mansfield Town open-top bus tour
An open top bus tour will take place in Mansfield to celebrate Mansfield Town’s promotion to League One.
The Stags secured their return to the third tier of English football after a 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley.
The club has now confirmed a parade will take place on Sunday, April 28.
A new marquee and fan zone will be open for refreshments on the day.
The tour will leave the club’s One Call Stadium at 1pm on the day.