Holiday lodges plan for 'five-star' site set for green light
Also: A man is seriously injured in 'abhorrent' bridge incident
Good morning and welcome to your Monday briefing from Ashfield News. In today’s edition, plans for dozens of holiday lodges take a step forward, a man is seriously injured after a boulder is thrown from a bridge, a plea from King’s Mill Hospital and more.
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Holiday lodges set for green light
Dozens of holiday lodges are set to be given the go-ahead for a ‘five star’ luxury camping site in Nottinghamshire, despite opposition.
A total of 62 lodges are planned for the Teversal Camping and Silverhill Woodland Retreat, just north of Fackley, and for touring site facilities to be removed.
Ashfield District Council’s planning committee is being recommended to approve the proposal when it meets on Wednesday, December 4.
This has come despite opposition in the area around the site, which also comprises the Teversal Camping and Caravanning Site.
The Teversal, Stanton Hill and Skegby Neighbourhood Forum was among the most vocal critics of the plan.
They said the site was rated five stars by Visit England and claimed an extension of 31 static caravans had already “altered the character and appearance of the site, especially when viewing from Silverhill Country Park.”
Concerns were also raised that the addition of 62 static homes would increase traffic and would also lead to more congestion in the surrounding area at weekends and during holiday periods.
But in a report, planners have been told: “In social terms, there would be benefit from the provision of further lodges.
“The proposal also features a good level of pedestrian connectivity into the wider settlement and the proposed design and layout are in-keeping with the character and appearance of the local vernacular.
“The development would improve access for many to the countryside and the Highways Authority are satisfied that the proposal has demonstrated that there is sufficient parking and as such there would be no impact on highway safety.
“In economic terms, the provision of lodges may increase local spending, all of which would contribute towards the local economy and would support sustainable rural tourism which respects the character of the countryside.”
Man seriously injured in ‘abhorrent’ act
A 26-year-old man is in hospital with serious head injuries after a boulder was reportedly dropped from a flyover bridge in Nottinghamshire.
The boulder dropped on to a silver Transit van driving along the A617 near Hemsley Road, Rainworth, at about 10pm on November 29.
The boulder crashed through the van’s windscreen, causing the driver to suffer significant head trauma.
A road closure was put in place on the A617 between the Kirklington Road roundabout and the A6191 roundabout while police investigated the incident.
Superintendent Heather Maelor described the act as "mindless and abhorrent," urging motorists who were in the area to check their dash cam footage for any relevant evidence.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting incident 761 of 29 November, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
Cemetery to be closed for works
A cemetery will be closed this week while roadway maintenance is carried out.
Kingsway Cemetery in Kirkby-in-Ashfield will not be open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 3 and 4.
It will re-open on Thursday, December 5.
A spokesperson for Ashfield District Council said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Appeal from King’s Mill Hospital
King’s Mill Hospital is asking people to support their loved ones’ timely discharge from hospital to help ease pressure on its Emergency Department.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust revealed last week that its Emergency Department was handling double the number of patients it was designed for due to a combination of factors.
A key strategy to relieve this pressure is ensuring patients are discharged as soon as they are medically fit.
Currently, 52 patients across the trust’s hospitals are occupying beds despite being ready to leave, including those at King’s Mill, Mansfield, and Newark hospitals.
Janine Foxhall, Associate Director of Operations (Urgent and Emergency Care), emphasised that while hospitals provide vital medical care, they are not ideal for recovery once treatment is complete.
Simple actions like assisting with travel home or ensuring the heating is on can make a significant difference, helping patients recover while freeing up beds for those in urgent need.
Mum who died in hit-and-run named by police
A young mum who died in a hit-and-run incident in Pleasley has been named as Alana Armstrong.
The 25-year-old, from Tibshelf, was fatally injured in the collision in Batley Lane at around 8pm on Tuesday, 26 November.
Alana was riding pillion on an e-bike when it was struck by a dark-coloured 4x4, believed to be a Land Rover Discovery.
The vehicle, which had been following two e-bikes, rammed one of them, causing both riders to fall, Derbyshire Police said.
The driver of the 4x4 then fled the scene without stopping. Alana was pronounced dead at the scene, while the male rider, also in his 20s, was rushed to hospital and has since had to have his leg amputated below the knee.
Chief Superintendent Dave Kirby expressed his sorrow, describing Alana as a "mum to a six-year-old boy", whose family would never get to see her again or celebrate milestones together.
He confirmed the vehicle involved was a Land Rover Discovery, manufactured between 2004 and 2009, and was last seen in Rowthorne Lane, turning right on to the A617 towards New Houghton.
Two people, a man and a woman, both in their 30s and from Skegby, were arrested in connection with the incident but have been released without charge and excluded from the investigation.
A team of detectives continues to investigate, with house-to-house inquiries, site searches, and CCTV footage being examined.
Authorities are appealing for anyone who may have seen the vehicle or has information about the two people in the Land Rover to come forward.
Mr Kirby urged the public to provide any additional information that could lead to finding those responsible for Alana's death, especially from those with CCTV along the A617.