£100 dog owner warning as patrols stepped up across district

Plus: Morrisons announces closure of cafe

Mar 27, 2025

Good morning, readers, and welcome to your Thursday briefing from Ashfield News. Today, a warning is issued to dog owners, a cafe is set to close and much more.

If you don’t already subscribe to Ashfield News, you can click the link below to get this newsletter straight to your inbox every week.

£100 fine warning as patrols stepped up

Dog owners have been warned they could be fined or face prosecution if they fail to pick up their pet’s mess.

Community protection officers will be stepping up patrols in green spaces, parks and cemeteries across Ashfield.

Public Space Protection Orders are in place across a number of areas in the district.

Under the orders, all dogs must be kept on leads while being walked through cemeteries and owners must clean up after their animals.

A spokesperson for Ashfield District Council said: “Using their powers under the Public Space Protection Orders, (community protection officers) will be taking action against anyone who fails to clean up after their dog or doesn’t use a poo bag when asked to do so.”

Anyone found breaching the rules will be fined £100 and could be prosecuted.

The spokesperson added: “Please do your part in helping to keep our green spaces clean and safe for everyone.”

Motorcycle driven illegally on pavement

Police seized a motorbike being driven illegally on a pavement during a patrol in Hucknall.

Members of the Hucknall Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) were in Hucknall’s Welbeck Estate when a Surron-style bike was spotted outside shops in Broomhill Road on March 18.

The rider was in “full flow” when PC Liam Taylor grappled the bike away from the rider, Nottinghamshire Police said.

PC Taylor said: “Here on the NPT we are actively tackling drug dealing and dealers we know are operating on E-bikes and motorbikes in and around the estates in Hucknall.

“In recent weeks and months we have taken thousands of pounds worth of these bikes off the road but we will continue to target them and the people who ride them and use them for criminal purposes.

“On this occasion the rider managed to sprint off as I took possession of the bike, presumably because he was in possession of items he didn't want me to find.

“The bike itself is distinctive and quite possibly stolen so if anyone recognises the bike and is able to provide proof of ownership then please get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC 361 Liam Taylor on 101.

Plaque to firefighters killed in blitz

A plaque has been fitted to the wall of Ashfield Fire Station to commemorate three firefighters who died in the Manchester blitz.

Ralph Burrows, Alan Day and Joseph Wright died during bombing during December 23 1940.

Six firefighters based at Kirkby-in-Ashfield were sent to the city during the “Christmas Blitz”.

Ralph, a bus driver, and decorator Joseph were killed in Piccadilly and Alan, also a decorator, was injured but died in hospital the next day.

Full list of road improvements for district

Dozens of roads and footpaths across Ashfield are set to be resurfaced as part of Nottinghamshire’s highway maintenance programme.

The £72m investment will benefit highways across the county to address a backlog of repairs that are needed.

The roads and footpaths scheduled to be repaired in Ashfield are:

Salterford Road, Hucknall – Resurfacing

Maple Drive, Hucknall – Resurfacing

Elm Avenue, Hucknall - Resurfacing

Blackwell Road, Huthwaite - Drainage repairs

Pinxton Lane, Kirkby in Ashfield - Drainage repairs

Church Lane, Bagthorpe - Drainage repairs

B600 Alfreton Road, Underwood - Drainage repairs

A38 Alfreton Road / A38 Kings Mill Road, Sutton in Ashfield – Resurfacing

C147 Chesterfield Road, Huthwaite – Resurfacing

Morrisons announces closure of cafe

Supermarket giant Morrisons has announced it will close a Nottinghamshire café as part of a series of cuts.

A total of 52 cafes and 17 convenience stores across the country will shut in a move expected to put hundreds of jobs at risk.

The company said in a statement that the closures were a “necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth”

In a full list of closures released by the organisation, it was confirmed the café in Mansfield Woodhouse will close.

Available for iOS and Android

Memorial to pit pony spring

A natural spring used to quench the thirst of pit ponies now has a permanent reminder of its history.

A plaque has been placed at the site in Pinxton Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, which explains the history of the spring near the former Bentinck Pit.

The area had become overgrown but was cleared by a team from Ashfield District Council.

Pit ponies hauled coal tubs through low-ceilinged pits in the 1950s and 60s.

Coal from the pits was transported via horse-drawn wagons, with horses pulling empty wagons back uphill to the summit.

It was not only the pit horses that benefited from the spring as residents also used it as a resting spot for refreshment.

Chris Huskinson, the council’s executive lead member for leisure, health and wellbeing, said: “This natural spring played an important part in Ashfield’s history. It is only right that it is marked and the information is readily available for future generations to learn about its past.”