Police warn "Nottinghamshire is not your personal racetrack"
Plus: Changes planed for town centre restaurant
Good morning and welcome to Thursday’s edition of Ashfield News.
In today’s headlines: a 21-year-old man has been arrested after a knife was found in a car following a crash, food and drink festival to return, changes planned at restaurant and much more.
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Please note: there will be a short break after this edition, but we’ll be back with the next update on 28 August.
‘Some of the poorest’ driving ever seen by police
A 21-year-old motorist has been caught street racing on a busy Nottinghamshire road in what a police officer described as some of the “poorest” driving he had ever witnessed.
Harry Easton was spotted racing another vehicle between two roundabouts on the A608 Mansfield Road near Junction 27 of the M1, known as the Friezeland Interchange, just before midnight on 6 April.
Easton, driving a red BMW, was seen accelerating sharply and speeding recklessly around the roundabouts, showing little regard for his own safety or that of other road users.
Nottinghamshire Police officers, who were patrolling the area in an unmarked car as part of Operation Wheelspin, a targeted crackdown on car cruising and dangerous driving, pursued Easton. After stopping the vehicle, Easton was issued with a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) for driving without due care and attention and for driving without insurance. His car was seized at the scene.
TORs are issued for a variety of motoring offences, including driving without a seatbelt or with defective tyres, and can lead to fines or penalty points on a driving licence.
Operation Wheelspin was launched last year to tackle illegal street racing and reckless stunts across Nottinghamshire. Since its introduction, offences linked to these activities have fallen by 20 per cent.
Easton, from Hammonds Drive, Peterborough, pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 4 August to the charges. He was fined £1,011, ordered to pay £120 in costs and a £404 victim surcharge, and received six penalty points on his licence.
PC Lewis Cragg, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Easton’s street racing showed a blatant disregard for his own safety and the safety of pedestrians and other motorists. It is purely by luck that no collision occurred.
“I witnessed his driving around the roundabouts at excessive speeds, far below the standard expected of a careful and competent driver.
“We have zero tolerance for antisocial driving. Dangerous stunts, collisions, and excessive speed—often by young and inexperienced drivers—can cause life-changing injuries or even death on our roads.
“We will continue to prosecute motorists who race on Nottinghamshire’s roads. Our message is clear: Nottinghamshire is not a personal racetrack, and we will do everything possible to keep people safe and bring offenders to justice.”
Public warned after woodland fire
People are being urged to take care when visiting the countryside following a fire in Hucknall woodland on 11 August.
Firefighters from Ashfield and Hucknall were called to tackle the blaze, which involved grass and undergrowth and destroyed natural habitat in the town’s forested areas.
Two appliances from Ashfield Fire Station and one from Hucknall attended.
Visitors are reminded to take their rubbish home and to speak to children about the dangers and consequences of deliberate fire setting.
New SEN school set to open in November
A new state-of-the-art school for children with special educational needs (SEN) in Mansfield is due to be completed in November. Horizons Academy is being built on the former Ravensdale School site and will be run by Diverse Academies Trust.
The purpose-built school will have capacity for up to 160 pupils aged seven to 19, providing a specialist learning environment for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs. It is scheduled to open by spring 2026.
The project forms part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s wider plan to create up to 490 additional SEN school places by 2026, responding to growing demand across the county. The council’s property services commissioned the scheme, with design and cost management by Arc Partnership – a joint venture between the authority and SCAPE – and construction by Morgan Sindall Construction.
County Council leader, Cllr Mick Barton, said the new school is “regenerating an important area of Mansfield” and thanked the community for its patience during construction.
Dan Maher, Managing Director at Arc Partnership, highlighted the project’s focus on creating a calming learning environment, while Cat Thornton, Chief Education Officer at Diverse Academies Trust, called the development “an exciting milestone” for Mansfield and surrounding communities.
The £30 million project is expected to provide much-needed specialist education facilities for future generations.
Food and drink festival returns this weekend
The Ashfield Food and Drink Festival will take place on Hucknall High Street on Sunday 17 August. The event will run from 10am to 4pm.
Visitors can expect more than 50 stalls selling a range of food and drink, including street food, cheeses, baked goods, beers, rum, and cider, as well as kitchen gifts.
Live music will be provided by the band Vaguely Savoury from 11am to 2pm. Cookery demonstrations will also be held by Rupert from Healthy Eating Solutions.
Cllr Chris Huskinson, Executive Lead Member for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing at Ashfield District Council, said the festival is popular with local residents and offers the chance to try new foods.
Hucknall councillors John Wilmott, Lee Waters and Dave Shaw said the event showcases local producers and community spirit.
The Ashfield Food and Drink Festival follows a summer of events including the Ashfield Show and Hucknall Fest. The next council-organised event is Sparks in the Park at Sutton Lawn on Saturday 1 November.
Changes planned for town centre restaurant
The Posh Bar and Grill in Ellis Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, has applied to change its operation from a restaurant and café to a pub and wine bar with expanded food offerings.
No major changes to the building are planned, and the first-floor manager’s accommodation will remain. A decision on the application is expected by October.
Arrest as knife found after crash
A 21-year-old man has been arrested after a knife was found in a car following a road traffic collision in Mansfield.
Emergency services were called to the junction of the A60 and Portland Street shortly after midnight on Sunday (10 August) after two vehicles collided.
During the investigation, officers discovered a locking-style knife in one of the cars. The man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife in a public place but has since been released on police bail. The knife has been seized and enquiries are ongoing.
Inspector Katie Eustace said: “It is never acceptable to be in possession of a knife in public, and anyone we find doing so will face serious consequences.”