Plans for major housing development withdrawn and council tax rise
Your weekly round-up of Ashfield News
Good morning and welcome to this latest edition of Ashfield News. This week, plans for homes next to Selston Common have been withdrawn and a huge cannabis farm was found by police.
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Update on major homes plan
A proposal to build more than 40 homes next to Selston Common has been withdrawn by the developer.
Plans submitted by Paul Gaughan Building Consultants in 2023 would have resulted in 42 properties being created on land in Nottingham Road.
The vacant land stands at almost 14,000 square metres and was predominantly used for grazing horses.
The development would have been made up of two-, three- and four-bedroom properties.
But it attracted a great deal of criticism from residents, who objected to the plans.
One resident said: "Already the people living in Selston struggle to get a phone consultation never mind actually seeing a doctor in
person, so how will having more people come to live in the village help this situation?"
Another added: "Our "rural village" is being turned into something that is not viable. We need shops, doctors, a decent post office better roads and better public transport the last thing we need is more homes destroying the countryside."
The proposal was withdrawn by the developer on February 13.
Cannabis factory discovered
Hundreds of cannabis plants with a potential street value of £300,000 were discovered in a Kirkby-in-Ashfield property.
Police were called to reports of a break-in in The Hill just after 12midnight on Tuesday, February 20.
Nobody was discovered at the property when police arrived but they did found 500 plants spread across a number of rooms.
The plants were removed and associated electrical equipment destroyed.
Sergeant Catherine Darby, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a sophisticated and professional operation that will have taken a considerable amount of time and money to establish.
“Industrial cannabis grows of this nature are often linked to organised crime groups from home and abroad and – as we have seen in this instance – can also become a target for other criminals.
“They also pose a significant fire risk to neighbouring properties, which is why we urge residents to make us aware of any suspicious activity or smells at properties in their neighbourhood.”
Anybody who can help police with their investigation is asked to call 101 and quote incident 1 of February 20.
Man dies in flat fire
A 72-year-old man died in a fire at a home in Nottinghamshire.
Firefighters were called to a blaze in a flat in Aspley Road, Sutton, at 7.11pm on Monday, February 19.
Crews from Ashfield and Mansfield were sent after a call was received from a lifeline system in the property.
A man was was pronounced dead inside the property and an investigation is now under way into the cause of the fire.
Area Manager Tom Archer of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We want to extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of the man involved.
"This sad incident and I would like to take the opportunity to remind people to have working smoke alarms on every level of their property, and to test them weekly.”
Leisure centre closure
Officials at the Lammas Leisure Centre have confirmed when both swimming pools will re-open.
The main pool is due to re-open on Saturday, February 24, after undergoing essential maintenance.
Both the main pool and the teaching pool will be open this weekend.
The teaching pool will then be closed from Monday, February 26 through to March 1, with both pools being open on this date.
Chocolate thief jailed
A man who was banned from entering all Co-Op stores in Ashfield has been jailed after stealing chocolate worth £30.
Martin Toon, 32, was issued a criminal behaviour order last year, but was caught on CCTV entering a branch in Alfreton Road, Sutton, on Monday, February 5.
After being challenged by an employee in the store over the theft, Toon, of Welbeck Street in Sutton, threatened to assault them.
He was arrested on the Wednesday and admitted to the theft, breaching a criminal behaviour order and an offence under the Public Order Act.
He was jailed for eight weeks when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
PC Charles Richmond, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Toon is a prolific thief who was banned from entering this store precisely because of this type of offending.
“As he has just discovered to this cost, Criminal Behaviour Orders have real teeth, and the courts take an extremely dim view of people who flout them so blatantly.”
Major road closed as five taken to hospital
Five people were taken to hospital after a crash between Mansfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield.
Police were called to the A617 Marr Road at 3.20pm on Monday, February 19, following reports of a three-vehicle crash.
None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, Nottinghamshire Police said in a statement.
Two people were arrested.
Chief Inspector Neil Humphris, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are at the early stages of our investigation and work is continuing at the scene.
“The road will remain closed for some time and we ask drivers to find alternative routes. Any witnesses who have yet to speak to us are asked to get in contact by calling 101 and quoting incident number 424 of 19 February 2024.”
Council tax rise
Residents in Ashfield look set to pay 2.94% more council tax from April.
The move for Ashfield District Council's portion of the tax would mean homes in Band A, the lowest value which makes up more than 50% of homes in the district, would pay £3.95 extra per year.
For Band B, the rise would be £4.60, for Band C £5.26 and for Band D £5.92.
The rise will need to be approved at a full Ashfield District Council meeting next month.
Free waste collections
Free bulky waste collections, extra side waste collections and litter picks will form part of this year's BIG Ashfield Spring Clean.
The initiative has been running for seven years and in 2024 it will begin on Saturday, March 2, as a 'flying skip' visits Hucknall from 8.30am to take excess waste, toys and bric-a-brac.
The locations and times for the flying skip will be available on the Ashfield District Council website nearer the time.
From Monday, March 4, residents in Hucknall and nearby rural areas - Selston, Jacksdale, Underwood, Westwood and Bagthorpe - will be able to leave a small amount of waste next to their bins.
The flying skip will then visit Kirkby and the surrounding areas on March 4, before a final visit to Sutton on Saturday, March 16.
Meanwhile, from March 18, residents in Kirkby and Sutton will be able to leave side waste next to their bins.
Free bulky waste collections will start in the Kirkby area from April, Hucknall in May and Sutton in June. To book, call 01623 450 000.
Junior Doctor strikes
The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed junior doctors will take part in strike action across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in February.
Junior doctors will be striking from 7am on Saturday, February 24 to 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 28.
The strikes are due to impact the city and county’s hospitals, mental health services, GP practices and other NHS services. The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and Trades Unions about terms and conditions.
Dr Dave Briggs, Medical Director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, has reminded the public to think about which services they need during this action and plan ahead for the period of disruption.
He said: “This is the tenth round of junior doctor strike action and like previous strikes, there will be major disruption during this period. We are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum and we have measures in place to ensure the safety and welfare of our patients and our staff. However, junior doctors do a vital job, so losing this part of our workforce will inevitably have a knock-on effect and you may find longer waits to be seen.
“During the industrial action we will be prioritising patients that need our services the most so if it’s not a life-threatening emergency, an urgent treatment centre can help with the most common problems people go to A&E for, such as suspected broken bones, minor head injuries or burns. If you think you need medical help right now but you’re not sure what to do, NHS 111 can help."