The Range coming to Nottinghamshire town and fatal fire investigation
This week's round-up of Ashfield News
Good morning and welcome to this week’s Ashfield News.
In this edition there is an update on the former Wilko store in Hucknall and an investigation is under way into a fatal fire.
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The Range to open in high street
Dozens of jobs are set to be created after it was confirmed The Range will open a new store in Hucknall’s former Wilko shop.
The building in High Street is scheduled to open on March 15 this year, Ashfield District Council confirmed.
It is expected up to 90 jobs will be created in the move, with the roles now available on The Range’s careers site.
Leader of Ashfield District Council, Jason Zadrozny, said: “I am delighted to be able to announce that The Range is set to open in Hucknall in March. As a Council we look forward to a positive relationship with another major retailer which can only be good news for Hucknall town centre and our local residents.”
The confirmation comes amid a number of planned changes in Hucknall, with work also taking place to improve Central Walk, which connects High Street to the Piggins Croft car park.
Post Office could become house
A village post office could be turned into a home after plans were put forward for the project.
The application is for the Annesley Woodhouse Post Office at 184-186 Forest Road.
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The proposal, submitted by NTR Design and Build, is to change the use of the shop floor area for a residential purpose, with a two-storey rear extension and new window at the front of the property.
A decision is due on the project by March 13. You can find more details here.
Woman and boy die in house fire
An investigation is under way after two people died in a house fire in an Ashfield village.
The emergency services were called to Rawson Street in Selston just after 1am on Sunday, January 14.
A 24-year-old woman and a nine-year-old boy were taken to hospital with serious injuries but police confirmed they died of their injuries.
Detective Inspector James Oakton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “My thoughts are with the family and friends of these two young people at this incredibly sad time.
“Specially-trained officers are continuing to support family members in any way we can. This has also been a traumatic event for the local community, especially for neighbours who will no doubt be shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic incident.
“I would encourage anyone with concerns to speak to an officer. They are there to help. We are continuing to work alongside our fire colleagues to establish exactly what has caused the fire but at this stage we do not believe it was suspicious.”
Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Damien West, added: “Our most heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and community affected by this tragic fire in Selston.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in this incident for their efforts, throughout the incident and in the time since.
“I know that everyone who attended gave their everything to save those affected by this fire.
“We are grateful for the outstanding support from the other emergency services who attended the scene and for understanding and support from the local community at this difficult time.”
Anyone with any information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 38 of 14 January 2024, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Splendour Festival cancelled for 2024
Splendour Festival has been cancelled for 2024, it has been announced.
The popular music event at Wollaton Park attracts thousands of fans and last year included the likes of Madness and The Kooks.
However, in an update to supporters, DHP Family, which has run previous festivals, said: “We are disappointed to have to announce that Splendour Festival will be taking a break in 2024.
“Last May, Nottingham City Council initiated a festival tender process for Wollaton Park, which regrettably has encountered numerous delays from the council’s side. Delivering a high-profile event like Splendour requires more than a year’s worth of planning, and these delays mean we have not been left with enough time to put on the festival.
“We know many of you will be sad to hear this news, but rest assured, we are working hard to bring Splendour back to Nottingham in 2025.”
A city council spokesperson said: "Since its inception in 2008, the festival has grown to become one of the best-loved in the country. We, therefore, completely understand why people will be disappointed that it won't take place in 2024.
"We said last year that under the council's new commercial strategy, the event fell into a category where a formal tender process was needed.
"This was to protect the authority legally, financially and to ensure the festival was achieving best value for the council and the residents of Nottingham.
"The procurement process is complex and has taken longer than we would have liked - this has made the viability of delivering a festival in 2024 very difficult.
"However, we remain optimistic that we will be able to secure an event for future years and hope to announce plans regarding this in the coming months."
£14,000 raised for hospice trust
Ashfield and Mansfield District Crematorium has raised £14,000 for the John Eastwood Hospice Trust, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, from a metal recycling scheme.
The cheque was presented in January 18 to Lisa Todd, Fundraising Innovation Manager at the hospice by Ashfield Council's Leader, Jason Zadrozny and Cabinet Members, Cllr Helen Ann Smith and Cllr Chris Huskinson.
Each year the Crematorium donates the money it receives from metal recovered from cremations where bereaved families have given permission for it to be sent for recycling.
In addition to the money raised from the recycling scheme there is an amount of £246.93 that was raised from the annual Christmas memorial service.
The money is split between the Joint Crematorium Committee’s nominated charities, The Sir John Eastwood Hospice and Beaumond House Hospice in Newark. This year was the turn of the Sutton in Ashfield hospice to receive the donation.
The Mansfield Crematorium signed up to be part of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management’s (ICCM) Recycling of Metals Scheme in 2011. Since then, it has distributed more than £82,000 to local hospices.
A specialist company is used by the crematorium to sort the metals collected. Proceeds collected nationally from the scheme are then divided among crematoria who have signed up to the scheme.