‘Relief and optimism’ at opening date for pub bosses
PLANS PROMPT CALL FOR MORE COMMUNITY POLICING
PUB bosses say they’re relieved knowing when they’ll be able to trade and reopen under the roadmap out of lockdown.
From April 12 at the earliest pubs and restaurants will be allowed to reopen their outdoor areas and takeaway alcohol can go back on sale.
There will be no curfews or “substantial meal” restrictions on pubs reopening from step two, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed as he unveiled the roadmap out of the coronavirus lockdown.
This will follow the rule of six and households being able to mix outdoor being reintroduced in late March.
From May 17 at the earliest, indoor mixing will be allowed with the rule of six and pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen.
Ezra Watson, who manages two bars in the city, said there was a “sense of relief and a bit of optimism”.
The manager and licensee of Six Barrel Drafthouse, in Carlton Street, and Bunkers Hill, in Hockley, said: “It’s clarity from the Government and this is what hospitality, among retail and leisure, have lacked so much.
“That’s why there’s this sense of being relieved and optimism from myself, my partner and the staff.
“We’ve got dates - yes we know these dates can move but we’ve got dates to work to.
“It’s the whole country, it’s not different tiers.
“For hospitality, for food, for drinks, everything has a kind of a life, a time, a period.
“Knowing that they’re not going to change anything now for five weeks, obviously this period they’re putting in to rightfully listen to the science and pay attention... we all know those dates.
“We all can be ordering beer.” The 29-year-old said he wanted to get the “staff working as much as we can”, adding: “Six Barrel will do takeaway.
“Bunkers Hill, unless they really change, probably won’t operate until May 17 and the indoors rule of six.
“Both just reopening fully as and when we can.”
Simon English, who runs the Tappers Harker, in Long Eaton, added: “I think we’re all relying on really good weather in April.
“That is what it boils down to, to make it cost effective to bring your team all back to work.
“It’s really weather dependent. It’s a start, isn’t it.
“I don’t want to open and then find two weeks down the line it’s all kicked off again, the infection rate’s gone back up.
“You’re buying all your stock say in April and then you’re locked down again if it goes pear-shaped.”
Mr English, 56, added: “We’re certainly moving in the right direction.
“Overall it looks promising if we can all be open fully by May 17.”
PLANS to turn a former police station into three bungalows has sparked calls for more investment in community policing.
Proposals have been unveiled to transform the former Sutton-in-ashfield station, on Church Street, into the three “accessible” properties.
The derelict site would be cleared for two-bedroom bungalows with garages.
However, continued concerns have been raised by councillors in the area over the lack of a physical police station in the town since its closure in 2017.
Sutton-in-ashfield had among the highest rates of crime in north Nottinghamshire according to national Police UK data at the end of last year.
And one councillor believes the area’s higher crime rate is a “direct result” of the station’s initial closure.
Dave Hennigan, who represents Central Sutton and New Cross on Ashfield District Council, told the Post: “It’s very clear that crime is rising as a direct result of Sutton Police Station closing.
“It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to realise that a visible police presence deters criminals.
“Samantha Deakin and I have repeatedly made the case for the proceeds of the sale of our old cop shop should be reinvested in frontline policing in Sutton.”
Councillor Deakin, who represents the same ward for the Ashfield Independents, added: “Crime and fear of crime continues to be a massive issue.
“Sutton has lost 34 police officers since they shut our police station.
“I have written to police bosses offering up our libraries and things like a stall at Idlewells Indoor Market. They are not interested in community policing any more.”
However, a spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police said the force has continued to focus on community policing since the station closed. Inspector Mark Dickson, district commander for Ashfield, said: “Nottinghamshire Police have seen strong results across the force in moving into shared accommodation.
“It enables us to work closely with other services and agencies – like the district council, Fire and EMAS – to better serve our community.
“Since the closure of the old station, there has also been a significant investment in officers.
“In the last 18 months, there has been an increase in Response and Neighbourhood officers, two CID teams have been brought to Ashfield, and the new pro-active Operation Reacher team has been established.
“These resources are combining every day to tackle crime and keep people safe. Given the choice of having another police station or additional resources, I would have the additional resources. “During my career, I have worked in stations that are ‘police only’ as well as shared venues, and in my experience, the shared sites offer a better allround service to the public. “The complexity of the issues we deal with day to day need a holistic approach in order to for us to deal with them in the most effective way. This approach works best when we work together in one place.”
And developers behind the bungalow plans believe the development will have a “positive impact” on the area.
They said: “The site has been unused for a long period of time and the opportunity has arisen for the developer to now complete this scheme, redeveloping an otherwise redundant and vacant brownfield site.
“It is anticipated that the market for these dwellings would be with retired couples. The scheme is formed all on one level access and would not be restrictive to disabled occupiers.
“The proposals will have a positive impact for the area.”
It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to realise that a visible police presence deters criminals.
Councillor Dave Hennigan
MUMS from across Nottinghamshire have described the ‘bizarre’ experience of bringing a newborn baby into the world during a global pandemic.
From going through labour alone to the loneliness of motherhood during a national lockdown, three mums have spoken out about the experience they never thought they would have to go through.
One mum, Helen Vale, even gave birth on the first day of the national lockdown and didn’t realise what was happening until she got home with her newborn baby Parker.
Childminder Helen, of Newark, described the feeling of her husband dropping her off at the doors of the maternity ward and waving goodbye, unable to go with her because of the new restrictions.
“When I got into hospital all you could see was the temporary building where the Covid patients were going. It was horrific, I shut the blinds as it all felt a little bit too much”, Helen said.
Helen, 29, who is also mum to Logan, two, said she was meant to be induced on the Saturday before the national lockdown but when she arrived at Kings Mill Hospital they told her they no longer had space.
She said: “On the Sunday, we were told to go back but they said my husband wouldn’t be able to come in because of the restrictions.
“He dropped me off at the front door and that was it.
“I carried my own bags in and I spent 24 hours on my own. It just wasn’t what I expected. They said my husband could come in when I was in labour and he was literally there for 10 minutes.
“It was pretty rubbish, to be honest.”
Helen said luckily she had an easy birth and left the hospital when her baby boy was an hour old.
She said: “I got home and I said ‘let’s go get a coffee’ and my husband said ‘no we can’t, we’re in lockdown.’
“It was just bizarre.
“A healthcare assistant came to see us but she had to stand at the door and I just passed Parker to her.
“There’s been so many times when I’ve thought ‘why have I brought another person into this rubbish world?’
“It’s scary times. He was 13 weeks old before he could meet any of his family. My parents in Hucknall met him at three-anda-half months old.
“In normal times he would’ve had visitors left, right and centre.”
Helen, who lost her child minding clients as a result of the pandemic, said she now has to “start afresh” with her business.
She added: “I wish there was advice to give to new mums. I would just say make the most of it. I know it is horrible and scary but I try to focus on the positive things.”
Helen Davison, of Gedling, also came home from hospital to hear the news of the national lockdown.
She gave birth to her baby girl Hallie, her second child, on March 22 at City Hospital.
She said: “I was alone through my induction, it was a very lonely and scary experience.
“There was no one to support and hold your hand.
“By the time they took me down to labour ward I was 10cm and my partner made the birth with 30 seconds to spare.
“No one met her for over three months as we came home on
March 23 to the news of lockdown.”
Mum-of-three Nergis Ahmed, 37, is due to give birth in March but said it could be “any day now”.
The self-employed speech and language therapist, of Mapperley, said: “It does feel very different this time around.
“I do feel like I am on my own. I’ve not been able to see my friends and they haven’t been able to see my bump grow.”
Nergis, who is due to give birth at City Hospital, also described the challenges of being ‘high-risk’ due to being pregnant during the pandemic, but wanting to carry on with her work.
She said: “I left the NHS just before lockdown and started my own business. I’ve had a lot of demand for face-to-face appointments and I’m not slowly down with work until this week. My husband and I are juggling everything. It has been crazy.”
Nergis, who has a 15-year-old, an 11-year-old and an eightyear-old, said being pregnant while trying to support her older children has been “a challenge”.
She said: “I’m thankful for my health but I am starting to feel heavy and tired.
“It has been hard to adjust to because you can’t do baby showers or get that bit of attention. I suppose that’s why I’ve kept myself really busy. There have been tears but I push myself to get out of that quickly.”
SHOPPERS are worried that 10 years is far too long for work to be completed on a decaying and halfdemolished shopping centre in the heart of Nottingham.
Work stopped on improvements to the Broadmarsh Centre last year when then owners intu went into administration.
It was supposed to form part of a much wider project which included a new car park and bus station, central library, and improvements to the south side of the city. These developments are still in place.
Last week, an advice panel featuring key people from the city was announced, tasked with helping to form a vision that will take the site forward.
Suggestions have already been submitted to landowner Nottingham City Council, which include creating a green space on the former shopping centre.
The panel is being asked to recommend two crucial aspects for the future of the site – a creative vision for the space as well as a recommendation on how Nottingham can deliver the project financially over the next decade.
Retail analyst Nelson Blackley described the 10-year timetable as “slightly worrying” considering the implications for surrounding shops.
A number of stores, including WH Smith and River Island, have chosen to leave Nottingham’s Lister Gate and there have been other closures in Low Pavement and Bridlesmith Gate.
Susan Quantrill, 74, from Chilwell, said of the 10-year timetable: “I will be dead by then. It is really sad seeing none of these shops open on Lister Gate. It is crackers. Where does all our Council Tax go?”
Peggy Mcbride, also from Chilwell, added: “Why 10 years? We have been waiting 10 years for the last one. We thought we were going to have a nice shopping centre.
“I would have liked the idea of a new shopping centre but if it is not possible it would be nice to have parks there.”
Joyce Mcguinness, 68, and her husband Peter Mcguinness, 68, of Wollaton, have strong opinions about the Broadmarsh site.
Mrs Mcguinness said: “I think the green space idea is good. I am standing here on Lister Gate and thinking ‘what a mess.’ Look at all these empty shops so green space would be nice. There is nothing down this end anymore other than Marks & Spencer. But 10 years is far too long. Why does it have to take that length of time?”
Mr Mcguinness added: “That is far too long. What are we paying our rates for? This is the first thing you see when you come out of the train station – and it is shameful.
“We need some green space there for kids to play.”
University of Nottingham students Olivia Tomalin, 19, and Ellie Tsoar, 20, also believe 10 years is a long time for the site to be developed.
Miss Tomalin said: “I think if you are looking from an aesthetic point of view, if that is the first thing you see, it could affect people going into shops here and coming back. Ten years is rather a long time.”
Miss Tsoar added: “What is the high street going to look like in 10 years? I just don’t understand why you need 10 years to brainstorm an idea.
“We would like to see another nightclub there. Nottingham does not have enough of them and you can wait 40 minutes (to get in).”
Nottingham City Council said it is committed to developing the site and launched a consultation with the public last year called the Big Conversation.
The local authority said in just two months, more than 3,000 people responded, detailing their ideas in around 13,000 comments to the online survey.
Council leader David Mellen said: “Timescales for development will depend on the final proposals. We have asked the Advisory Group to recommend ideas for how the site can be used to benefit local people before a long term vision for the site is developed and implemented.
“The council is not standing still when it comes to redeveloping the site and the area.
“We have secured, subject to business case confirmation, a grant from D2N2, the Local Economic Partnership, to demolish a large section of the Broadmarsh centre and to create a more attractive through route to Nottingham city centre, with a final decision on this funding due in March.”