Nottingham News
This month’s aerial photo shows Nottingham Railway Station. The present building was opened in 1904 and the tram bridge was added in 2013.
The photo was taken by Robin Macey who is a member of Nottingham & Derby Hot Air Balloon Club. The club is currently looking to expand. Members take turns being on the chase crew as well as flying in the basket. For further details about how to get involved phone 0115-8541028 or visit www.facebook.com/ndhabc.
Lancashire News
As Andrew and Karen reflect on the success enjoyed by The Riverside Deli in Barrowford in 2018, they can feel more than satisfied. When the business opened more than a year ago, it was about much more than simply showcasing the wonderful flavours of plant based foods and their many exciting possibilities. They wanted to introduce these delicious dishes to everyone and challenge the stereotypes about the limited choice and versatility of plant based ingredients. And it is mission accomplished. Last year, we all became more aware of the potential harm our conventional eating habits and meat consumption could cause to the planet.
While that didn’t mean countless numbers turning to a plant based diet (although there has been a sharp rise due to the recent publicity and documentary’s), it did alert us to the benefits of a plant based diet. For those committed to such dietary or lifestyle changes this new year, The Riverside Deli is the perfect destination. Despite being a store committed to the vegan principles upon which it was established, it certainly isn’t a ‘vegan only’ venue! Whatever your dietary balance, you are welcome to find out more about potential alternatives and their nutritional benefits. It’s also ideal for anyone with vegan friends or family members.
Thanks to its range of products, you’re sure to find a birthday or anniversary gift that wouldn’t be available on the high street. The Riverside specialises in takeaway food of exceptional quality, including wraps, stews, curries and sandwiches, all of which demonstrate the incredible range of options available using only plant based ingredients. And it’s not just the quality and taste that has attracted customers from across Lancashire and beyond; more and more people are discovering that plant based foods are healthier, more filling, and don’t leave them feeling bloated.
This year we have also gone into partnership with just eat offering a unique vegan street food range delivered stright to your door. In addition to its extensive range of foods and ingredients, 2019 will see the introduction of 5 events licences, allowing The Riverside Deli to sell vegan beers, wines and spirits. on selected dates throughout the year. Ingredients and products are sourced locally wherever possible. All packaging is biodegradable or recyclable. Importantly, both Andrew and Karen hold university degrees in the related fields of food science and the health sciences respectively, so they can answer questions about the dishes and ingredients in-store. This knowledge is what sets them apart from others in the field, helping them to develop a genuine relationship of trust with their customers.
Alongside its mouth watering food, The Riverside’s vegan beauty care products from Tropic proved to be another exceptionally popular range among customers in 2018. This demand is likely to continue into 2019 too, with the new clothing and accessories
– all made using only natural materials
– also gathering rapid momentum.
This range includes innovations such as T-shirts made from recycled natural fabrics, and a stunning range of leaf leather shoulder bags, wallets and purses. In addition to the tropic and leaf leather products, this years xmas range includes a variety of chocolate products, rum & traditional minced pies, turkey style roasts, nut roats in three fabulous flavours, salt lamps and lanterns (perfect alternative gift) not forgetting our dairy free advent calendars. 131 Gisburn Rd, Barrowford, Nelson BB9 6EP – 07484 776299
Nottingham News
The skate park on Titchfield Park, Hucknall is to be painted by a local Mural Artist. The popular skate park has suffered from graffiti in recent years. In a bid to make the area look more appealing, local mural artist Peter Barber has been commissioned to cover the walls of the skate park with a modern, geometric design, in a colour scheme that ties in with the rest of the park environment.
Works are due to start in early November and will also include the riding surfaces being cleaned and cleared of graffiti. Cllr Lee Waters, who lives next to the park said “The urban mural will make a huge difference to the look of the skate park, and Titchfield Park as a whole.
The design will be modern, yet sympathetic to the environment and something the young people using the skate park can relate to. “This is just part of the works we have planned for Titchfield Park which will see over half a million pounds of investment, subject to successful award of external funding bids. Plans are in place to relocate the playground into the centre of the park, making is more accessible and visible from the Café and car park.
Funding has also been secured from the Environment Agency and Nottinghamshire County Council to naturalise and de-culvert part of Titchfield Park Brook where it runs through the park.”
Lancashire News
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year in Chorley with so much to check out that you’ll never want the celebrations and Christmas cheer to end. There’s everything from Chorley’s very-own Winter Wonderland to festive market stalls to lots of independent shops for unique Christmas presents, cheeky elves, Christmas crafts and not forgetting opportunities to meet the main man – Father Christmas!
Get your skates on this Christmas and glide, pirouette and whirl across Chorley’s real ice rink and then enjoy some festive drinks in Betty’s Tipi when they return as part of Chorley’s fantastically festive winter wonderland on Cleveland Street in Chorley town centre.
Nottingham News
Marie Gowns have been a fixture of Sutton town centre for the past 72 years. First opened in 1947 by Marie, the gown shop situated on Outram Street and is renowned for selling quality ladies wear along with the attractive window display.
The current owner of Marie, Anne Cooper, has worked at the shop for 50 years and took over ownership in 1981. Anne was presented with her plaque to celebrate the impressive milestone by the Leader of Ashfield District Council, Cllr Jason Zadrozny alongside Cllr Samantha Deakin, ward member for Central and New Cross. Cllr Zadrozny, Leader of the Ashfield District Council, commented “It is wonderful to see an independent business based on Outram Street thriving after 72 years of trading. It goes to show that hard work and a determination to succeed pays off.
Trading for over 70 years is a real accomplishment and deserves celebrating, we are proud to have local businesses that have stood the test of time.” “We need local retailers to continue to succeed alongside national chains to ensure that our town centres are buzzing once again. Hopefully Marie Gowns will remain a fundamental part of Sutton’s high street for many years to come.”
Nottingham News, Notts What's On
Small but perfectly formed, DHP Family’s Bodega is celebrating its well earned reputation as Nottingham’s go to venue for catching acts on the way up with a special 20th birthday weekender.
The artists who have passed through its intimate room over the last 20 years make for impressive reading. The Strokes, The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, The xx, Scissor Sisters, Florence and The Machine, The 1975, Easy Life and Slowthai are just some of the better known names to have played the 220 capacity venue.
Now the Nottingham institution is marking its birthday with a special series of shows and DJ sets. Headline acts from The Orielles (Thursday 28 November, sold out) and Stealing Sheep (Sunday 30 November) nod to its history with the Heavenly Records, while Kagoule (Sunday 1 December) is one of a raft of homegrown bands to have gone on to bigger things after showing off their artistic chops at the venue.
Cai Burns, Kagoule, said: “We feel very honoured to have been asked to headline The Bodega 20th anniversary show alongside some of our favourite Nottingham bands. It has been a kind of spiritual home for us over the years and has been an integral part of ours, and many others, growth as musicians. We are truly looking forward to celebrating its legacy on 1st December.”
Bodega’s Sam Keirl said: “It’s crazy to think of bands playing to a couple of hundred people in Nottingham and then a couple of years later they can be headlining Glastonbury. It’s very exciting to see who will be next!
With a gig on most nights, we see a lot of amazing bands, some go on to huge things and some stay underground hidden gems.”
The Nottingham music scene has also benefited from the nurturing environment of The Bodega from Saint Raymond getting a top 10 album to Amber Run touring the US, while upcoming band Do Nothing have spent a lot of their formative years within its four walls honing their performance skills.
Club nights have also played an important part in the appeal of the bar, club and music venue with the legendary Pop Confessional taking place every Friday since its inception in 2006. Share favourite gigs, pix and club nights at #20yearsofbodega. For more info, go to http://www.bodeganottingham.com/
Lancashire News
Dress up the home for Christmas in 3 easy ways – by using velvet, opulent marble, and DIY place settings for an occasion to remember. Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style Advisor at Furniture Choice, shares tips on how to achieve a luxurious and cosy ambience for the Christmas season.
Lancashire News
We’ve said a big thank you to our foster carers who look after some of the borough’s most vulnerable children and young people. The council recently held a special celebration night to acknowledge what a great job our foster carers do.
The highlight of the night was when a special award was given to Lynda and Ron Bibby, who have been fostering in the borough more than 30 years. Lynda said: “We have been fostering for more than three decades and have loved it. “Don’t get me wrong, fostering is quite challenging and there have been many highs and lows, but overall it has been very rewarding. “We have fostered all ages from new born babies to young people over 18. “If you are thinking of fostering, we would definitely recommend it. You will need lots of patience, time, understanding and a big heart to welcome someone into your home.”
Deputy Mayor Councillor Jenny Harrison, her consort Councillor Shaid Mushtaq, along with the Youth Mayor, Samah Khalil, attended the evening at Oldham Event Centre and handed out the awards to the dedicated carers who have given between five and 30 years of support. Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to all our foster carers for the amazing work they do, day in, day out.
“Fostering isn’t just a job, it’s a vocation. Our carers welcome children and young people into their homes and treat them as a member of their family. We are truly grateful to them.”
Oldham Fostering Service would like to hear from anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer. Life experience and personal qualities make all the difference to a child or young person. If you are a good listener, have a great sense of humour, plenty of energy and always see the bright side of life, you already have the qualities we are looking for.
All we ask is that you are over 21, enjoy working with children and have room in your home. Carers receive a generous support package, including a competitive financial package, extensive support and ongoing training.
Call 0161 770 6600 or go to www.oldham.gov.uk/fostering to find out more.
Nottingham News
Cllr Dale Grounds, also known as That Spidey-Tastic Superhero, has been nominated for the Unsung Hero of the Year Award at the Nottingham University Hospitals annual Team NUH Awards 2019. Cllr Grounds has been shortlisted for the award thanks to his tireless work entertaining ill children and young people. He has been visiting Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, every week for over three years, dressed as Spiderman. He first suited up in 2016 in an effort to soothe his son Reece who is autistic.
The Unsung Hero of the Year Award recognises the contribution of staff who provide essential work yet do not provide direct clinical care to patients.
There were over 1,100 nominations received for all of the categories this year. Cllr Grounds nomination was handpicked as one of the three finalists from the 156 nominees that were received for the category. Cllr Grounds has also been fundraising, as Spiderman, for the Ducklings, the charity of the Nottingham Children’s Hospital School.
Cllr Grounds said “Being nominated for this award is such a huge honour. I started doing this as a way to soothe my son and then eventually to bring joy to children in hospital. I never thought that I would end up being nominated for an award alongside some incredible people. I become Spiderman because I love it, nothing beats bringing a smile to the children’s faces.
The children that I visit are so strong and brave; they are the real heroes.”
All of the shortlisted nominees will attend the award ceremony on the 5th December where the judging panel will choose the winners of each category.
Nottingham News
Kirkby residents have had their say on the new leisure destination coming to the town. Throughout September, Ashfield District Council consulted with residents to see what they want from Kirkby’s new facility. Over 300 people responded to the survey, which was made available online and in person at several events across Kirkby.
The Council also spoke to young people at the Acre Centre for Young People to ensure that young people were listened to and catered for.
Here are ten clear messages we heard from the consultation and how plans are already being put in place to respond to the wishes of residents.
• 75% of respondents said they were looking forward to a swimming pool coming to Kirkby, seeing it as an important activity in the plans. The latest plans for the destination incorporate water space for fun, fitness and swimming.
• Health and Wellbeing came out as an essential aspect of a new facility with 93% of people saying it is important to them.
The Council’s recently published Corporate Plan outlines an increase in physical activity participation levels and a reduction in both child and adult obesity as key outcomes it wants to achieve for Ashfield.
• 63% of those who responded were people who currently never or hardly ever use the existing Festival Hall site.
• Councillor Tom Hollis, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “We are certain that the new leisure centre will increase participation in sporting activities and also provide a hub for the Kirkby community. When Lammas Leisure Centre first opened we saw participation increase by over 50% so it’s fantastic to see potential new service users having their say on the new facility.”
• 44% of people who took part in the survey said that the cost of activities is a barrier to their participation.
Ashfield District Council is working with partners to develop the business model for the new leisure destination and is also looking at options to remodel concession rates to increase participation.
• 72% said that a gym and fitness suite was an important part of the new leisure destination. As a result of this, the latest plans will see an increased gym space for the expected increase in members as well as an area for free weights.
• 69% also said that activities for all abilities was an important part of the new facility. Ashfield District Council are developing plans for a facility mix that will be accessible to all, including increased availability of activities, state-of-the-art changing facilities and a health and wellbeing suite.
• 46% of respondents said that they also see arts and culture as an important aspect in the project.
With this in mind, the latest plans will incorporate an events space with a large cinema screen and bleacher seating for over 200 people, the perfect environment for film screenings.
• 90% of people said that easy parking is a must for the new leisure destination. The Council is planning to increase the number of spaces available on the site as well as ensuring parking is free for service users.
• Throughout the consultation, the Council has been working with current service users to ensure the new destination works for them. A key group is the 50 Plus Club who are keen to see bowls provision maintained for their group.
• Barry Brown from 50 Plus Club’s Bowls section said: “We are pleased we have been able to make our voice heard and that the Council is listening to us.
Participation in activities for people of all ages is important so I believe the officers appreciate our expertise when it comes to the facilities we need.”
• Numerous respondents said they wanted to see a less programmed access to swimming facilities, with more availability to drop-in than other leisure centres. The Council is committed to ensuring the offer is different to the other sites across Ashfield, including adventure play, a climbing wall and more opportunities for residents to access the pool.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Jason Zadrozny, said: “I’m overwhelmed with the number of residents who have taken the time to help shape the new leisure centre. “Having spoken to residents, it is clear that there is passion for having high quality and accessible facilities for all. I’m proud that we are already acting on the feedback we’ve had from the consultation and shaping our plans accordingly.”