Borough Wide Archives - Page 2 of 424

Cllr Alex Stevenson. Image from Derbyshire County Council.

Local leadership declares move ‘pathetic’ after seven county councillors join new political party

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service A total of seven Derbyshire councillors have joined a new political party created by Reform UK’s former deputy leader, in a move dubbed “pathetic” by local leadership. Both Cllr Alex Stevenson and Cllr Phillip Rose were elected as Conservative members on Derbyshire County Council in 2021 before each being separately suspended. They joined Reform UK before resigning from the party to sit as independents before then failing to retain their seats in […]

7 January 2026 22

Plans to build homes bordering a widely contaminated historic former Derbyshire industrial site are set for approval. At an Erewash Borough Council meeting next week, councillors are being recommended to approve plans for 82 homes next to the former Oakwell Brickworks, between Ilkeston, Kirk Hallam and Stanton, stemming off Derby Road. If approved, part of the heavily contaminated former brickworks would be built on, but just for a flood water collection pond, not for homes. The Grade-II listed and heavily dilapidated former Hoffman kiln at the centre of the former brickworks site would not be affected. Residents remain concerned about what potential impact the proposed development could have on the hazardous waste deposited on the brickworks site. Meanwhile, experts, including the Mining Remediation Authority, while not objecting, say “intrusive” site investigation works followed by any required remediation, must take place before work starts. Further officials say investigations to date have been “limited in scope” and need to be re-explored in depth. Documents submitted by the developers, Waterville Land Ltd, found “there was a low risk to future residents from any potential on-site and off-site sources of contaminants”. The area which forms part of the former brickworks, which is to be used for a floodwater drainage pond, “was not investigated due to the presence of a sewer and dense vegetation”. It details: “However, no signs of raised ground were observed, and as this area is proposed for public open space this is unlikely to present a significant risk. It is recommended that additional investigation is undertaken once the area has been cleared.” Comments from the borough council’s housing and policy teams list their support for the scheme, utilising land in the Ilkeston urban area and inclusion of 15 per cent affordable housing – 12 two-bed houses. A total of 11 objection letters have been submitted by residents, opposing the potential harm to widespread wildlife and the landscape, road safety issues, increased congestion, lack of infrastructure such as health and school facilities, and concern over contamination and associated health risks. Council officers, recommending approval, said: “Inevitably, the development of this site will result in many changes for those residents who live nearby. The site is currently undeveloped and the development of 82 dwellings will result in physical and visual changes to the area and will result in more noise than has been previously experienced from the site. “However, it is considered that the development has been designed such that the impact arising would not result in unacceptable harm to the residential amenity of surrounding properties. “The applicant has supplemented their initial eight boreholes with a further five along the boundary with the former brick pit. “These found no evidence that the brick pit extended onto this land, no evidence that there is made ground on this land from the brick pit, and no evidence that any contamination associated with the brick pit is leaching onto this development site. “The applicants therefore conclude that they consider the development site to fall in the lowest risk category for contamination.” The developers have committed to providing £162,000 for improvements at Field House Infant School, £153,000 for improvements at Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, £82,000 for improvements at nearby healthcare facilities and £5,700 for Ilkeston Library stock. If approved, the breakdown of house sizes would be: 35 two-bed houses, 45 three-bed houses and two four-bed houses. The site’s history stretches back more than 100 years, during which it has been mined for coal, become a dumping site of harmful and toxic materials, seen widespread fly-tipping of asbestos, been a storage space and tip for World War Two bombs – as well as a renowned brickworks. Contamination fears have consistently stalled housing plans on the overall former brickworks, with the borough council having earmarked the site for 519 houses and a further 138 on adjoining plots in 2012. Much of the land was used for the dumping of offshoots from the Stanton Ironworks nearby – the firm had bought the brickworks in 1919 and later merged it fully with its own operations. Ground investigation expert RSK was commissioned to look into the site by owners Tata Steel. It noted that Stanton had filled clay pits on the site with blast furnace and concrete slurry, oil residue, coke grit, ammonia and sulphur building waste including foundry sand, spent lime and asbestos-containing materials. RSK found that the “main contaminant of concern” was lead while there were also “elevated concentrations” of arsenic, cyanide and benzo(a)pyrene (a material found in coal tar and tobacco which causes cancer). It said that asbestos material has also been found in samples and seen on the site from historic and current fly-tipping issues.

Borough Wide

Plans for homes bordering widely contaminated historic former Erewash industrial site set for approval

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service Plans to build homes bordering a widely contaminated historic former Derbyshire industrial site are set for approval. At an Erewash Borough Council meeting next week, councillors are being recommended to approve plans for 82 homes next to the former Oakwell Brickworks, between Ilkeston, Kirk Hallam and Stanton, stemming off Derby Road. If approved, part of the heavily contaminated former brickworks would be built on, but just for a flood water collection pond, […]

7 January 2026 18

Pictured Is Derbyshire County Cllr Stephen Reed, Taken By BBC LDR Jon Cooper.

Borough Wide

Derbyshire councillor blames former administration and Government for collapse of care homes sale

By Jon Cooper - Local Democracy Reporting Service Derbyshire County Council’s business services chief has blamed the authority’s former Conservative administration and the Labour Government for the collapse of plans to sell eight of its care homes which has left them in danger of being closed down. The former Conservative-controlled council originally agreed to sell nine care homes while managing a multi-million pound budget deficit after it argued a need to refocus adult care services by supporting more dementia patients […]

6 January 2026 26

Borough Wide

Appeal after assault at Little Eaton island

Derbyshire Police officers are appealing for witnesses to an assault at Little Eaton island. The incident occurred at around 2.55pm on 2nd December 2025 at the traffic lights on the southbound carriageway of the A38. Two men left a blue Hyundai and attacked a man in a white Renault Megane. The man was left with injuries to his face and head but is expected to make a full physical recovery. Officers want to hear from anyone who was in the […]

6 January 2026 12

A Eurasian Beaver. Image from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust/Shutterstock

Borough Wide

Borough Council pursues plans to reintroduce beavers in a bid to boost biodiversity

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service A Derbyshire council is pursuing plans to reintroduce beavers, following success elsewhere in the county, in a bid to boost biodiversity. Erewash Borough Council has revealed the plans as part of its new draft biodiversity strategy. The strategy aims to pursue a “feasibility study and exploration with partners to potentially reintroduce the Eurasian Beaver into the Erewash Valley”. This follows the successful reintroduction by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust of a breeding pair […]

6 January 2026 10

Erewash Borough Council headquarters in Long Eaton. Photo by Eddie Bisknell.

Borough Wide

Borough Council set to scrap housing plans after Government inspector states they are not fit for purpose

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service A Derbyshire council is set to scrap its future plans for thousands of homes after a Government planning inspector said it would be effectively not fit for purpose. Erewash Borough Council has been working on a blueprint – called the Core Strategy – laying out plans which earmarked sites for thousands of homes and acres of employment space up until 2040. It was submitted for inspection by the Government more than three […]

6 January 2026 32

Derbyshire Police Headquarters stock image. Image by LDRS/Nigel Slater.

Borough Wide

Police officer sacked after serious failures in domestic abuse investigation

By Nigel Slater, Local Democracy Reporting Service A Derbyshire police officer has been sacked after her serious failures put an alleged domestic abuse victim “at risk of harm” PC Gemma Cumberlidge was dismissed without notice after “failing to adequately carry out her duties” while investigating a domestic abuse case and carrying out a stop and search on a teenager. A misconduct hearing found it proven PC Cumberlidge failed to properly question an alleged victim of domestic violence when she visited […]

6 January 2026 20

Derbyshire County Council HQ at County Hall. Image by Eddie Bisknell

Borough Wide

Derbyshire County Council set to roll out multiple years of maximum council tax increases after pledging cut

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service Reform-run Derbyshire County Council is set to roll out multiple years of maximum council tax increases. Budget papers published by the authority for the next few years propose a maximum 4.99 per cent council tax increase for the coming financial year 2026-year. These papers also pledge that the current assumption is for further maximum council tax increases up until 2030. Reform UK, which took control of the county council in May, had […]

5 January 2026 17

Derbyshire County Cllr John Lawson, Cabinet Member For Council Efficiency, Courtesy Of DCC

Borough Wide

Derbyshire County Council considers ‘savings plans’ with potential cutbacks to meet forecast £37.8m budget shortfall

By Jon Cooper - Local Democracy Reporting Service Cash-strapped Derbyshire County Council is once again planning to introduce significant ‘new savings plans’ with potential cutbacks expected across a number of areas to save millions of pounds to meet a forecast £37.8 million shortfall and to balance its budget for the 2026-27 financial year. The council’s former Conservative administration before the May election had claimed it was on track to achieve over £31m of savings by the end of the 2024-25 […]

31 December 2025 34

Borough Wide

Local leadership declares move ‘pathetic’ after seven county councillors join new political party

Plans for homes bordering widely contaminated historic former Erewash industrial site set for approval

Derbyshire councillor blames former administration and Government for collapse of care homes sale

Appeal after assault at Little Eaton island

Borough Council pursues plans to reintroduce beavers in a bid to boost biodiversity

Borough Council set to scrap housing plans after Government inspector states they are not fit for purpose

Police officer sacked after serious failures in domestic abuse investigation

Derbyshire County Council set to roll out multiple years of maximum council tax increases after pledging cut

Derbyshire County Council considers ‘savings plans’ with potential cutbacks to meet forecast £37.8m budget shortfall

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