Hello and welcome to today’s edition of Ashfield News. This week, a pub wants to keep its garden open longer and arrests disrupt drugs supply in Hucknall.
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Pub wants longer garden opening time
A popular Kirkby-in-Ashfield pub which has become ‘a real community hub’ has applied for its garden to be used later into the evening.
Currently, The Doghouse, in Station Street, is only allowed to open its garden up to customers until 9pm.
But pub bosses say this restriction means the bar can become incredibly crowded in the evenings.
They have applied for the garden to be used until 10pm when they are open.
In its application to Ashfield District Council, a spokesperson said: “With the existing time (9pm) in place it causes the pub to become very busy and overcrowded when we have to shut the garden.
“The pub has grown to become a real community hub with not a single bit of trouble and due to the size of the pub it can become very very busy and when the garden has to be shut at 9pm it can cause major overcrowding within the pub.
“We have had no issues or complaints received in relation to the condition being in place. The removal of the condition ensures the business can continue to trade successfully.”
The pub has said it would be willing to run a 12-month trial with longer opening times.
A decision is due on the application by June 6.
‘Significant’ arrests in Ashfield drug supply
Police made two ‘significant’ arrests as part of an initiative to tackle crime in part of Hucknall.
The Clear, Hold, Build initiative has focused on areas around Hucknall East, with officers carrying out warrants on a number of streets.
In the last week, members of the Hucknall Policing Team have benefited from residents informing them of issues where they live.
Speaking of the action they have taken, PC Neil Reddish said: “Over the last two days the Hucknall NPT have completed two warrants resulting in four arrests and yesterday (April 11), two significant arrests were made of individuals suspected of being heavily involved in drug supply in the area.”
School offer placement issues
Nottinghamshire County Council has moved to reassure parents after a system crash meant many people were unable to confirm school places.
Thousands of people discovered where their children would be attending school come September on Tuesday, December 16.
However, an error message showed up for many when they followed a link to accept the offer.
The incident caused concern among many parents who were anxious it may have affected their place.
But a Nottinghamshire County Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of an issue that some parents and carers are experiencing when accepting their school place and we would like to apologies to anyone affected.
“The council’s software provider is urgently investigating. However, we would like to reassure families that the system itself is working, despite the error message, and we have had more than 9,000 places accepted so far this morning.
“We are confident that these technical difficulties will not affect the school offers and families have until 30 April to accept their place.”
Portable defibrillator donated
Ashfield District Council has donated a portable defibrillator to Byron’s Rest Walking Group in Hucknall.
Funding secured through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) enabled the Council to purchase and donated the new portable device.
The authority worked with the group to identify the need for a portable unit, allowing greater flexibility and deployment of the life-saving equipment in Hucknall. Local events, groups, and activities can now ‘sign out’ the unit, giving those attending the reassurance that a device is nearby should it be needed.
All change at primary school
An Ashfield primary school and nursery has converted into an academy.
The former Abbey Hill Primary and Nursery, in Abbey Road, which was last rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, is now part of the Transform Trust.
The multi-academy trust runs 21 schools across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.