News

Show of support: MP Adam Thompson is flanked by councillors, Government representatives and community activators on a tour of Cotmanhay – where they visited local radio station - Erewash Sound

The hunt is on for locals to join £20m Cotmanhay board (deadline: 20th March)

A new body that is being set up to decide how up to £20million from the Government can boost one of Erewash’s areas is seeking local people to serve on it. The Pride in Place funding will be overseen by the freshly-created Cotmanhay Neighbourhood Board. Five local people are needed to help determine where the money should be spent. It follows a hunt for someone with close connections to the area to chair the board. The successful candidate will be […]

13 March 2026 8

Derbyshire

Children affected by exploitation to receive vital support thanks to £60k grant from Derbyshire Freemasons

Children and young people across Derbyshire who have been affected by child exploitation - particularly those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) - will receive vital help and support thanks to a £60,000 grant from Derbyshire Freemasons to specialist charity Safe and Sound. The funding will support Safe and Sound’s Transforming Young Lives project, enabling the charity to provide specialist support to 30 young people each year over a three-year period. The programme will focus primarily on children and […]

13 March 2026 14

Derbyshire

Drugs and weapons seized as officers make 19 arrests targeting County Lines gangs

Class A drugs and weapons were taken off the street as officers made 19 arrests as part of a wide-ranging operation to target County Lines gangs across Derbyshire. The week of action saw a mixture of enforcement and community engagement work through the national County Lines Intensification Week (March 2nd to 8th) which this year had a focus on tackling child criminal exploitation. Specialist teams executed numerous warrants and conducted operations to disrupt suspected drug dealing gangs across the county. […]

13 March 2026 3

Derbyshire

County Council Cabinet to consider first biodiversity report to benefit communities

Steps to help nature and wildlife thrive have been set out in Derbyshire County Council’s first ever biodiversity report. The report, which was approved by Cabinet Members at a meeting held on Thursday 12th March details work carried out by the council in a number of key areas to improve biodiversity including: Leading the preparation of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Derbyshire Enhancing the nature conservation status of the council’s countryside sites Tree-planting initiatives such as Million Trees and […]

12 March 2026 13

The proposed HMO at 7 Nuthall Circle, Kirk Hallam. Image from Google.

Borough Wide

Events described as “bizarre”, “peculiar” and “silly” after borough councillors decide not to decide a planning application

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service Derbyshire councillors have decided not to decide a planning application in a move branded “bizarre”, “peculiar” and “silly”. At an Erewash Borough Council meeting last night (Wednesday, March 11th), councillors refused to make a decision on a planning application for a five-bedroom HMO, which did not require planning permission under permitted development rights. After extensive discussions, including legal and planning advice, openly bemused councillors with self-confessed “headaches” voted in favour of non-determination […]

12 March 2026 14

West Hallam

New housing development approved on a former borough care home site

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service Plans to build homes on the site of a Derbyshire care home that closed because of council budget cuts have been approved. At an Erewash Borough Council meeting last night (Wednesday, March 11th), councillors unanimously backed the proposal from RBSL Developments to build 20 houses on the former Beechcroft care home site in Nursery Avenue, West Hallam. Beechcroft was closed by Derbyshire County Council in 2022, under the previous Conservative administration, alongside […]

12 March 2026 10

Councillor Carol Wood, pictured centre, surrounded by newly planted trees with Tibshelf landowner Cat Howourth, right, and woodland creation officer Iaian Stafford

Borough Wide

Tree planting gathers pace as Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest branches out

Thousands of trees are being planted across Derbyshire now the second planting season of the county’s ambitious Derbyshire's Heartwood Community Forest is well underway. Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest is a long term programme led by Derbyshire County Council to increase tree cover across eastern and southern Derbyshire and Derby. Tree planting helps to improve biodiversity, prevent flooding, provide soil stability and shelter for livestock, and create healthier, greener places for people to live, work and visit. Through a Government funded […]

12 March 2026 16

Protesters At Derbyshire County Council'S County Hall Opposed To The Authority'S Feared Closure Plans For Eight Care Homes.

Borough Wide

Derbyshire County Council set to increase care fee contributions during backlash over failed sale of care homes

Derbyshire County Council is expected to confirm its latest annual increase in its care fee contributions which it uses to help cover independent care home and home care agency costs for the county’s residents as it prepares to possibly close eight of its own care homes and sell a further one. The Reform UK-controlled council continued with the former Conservative administration’s plans to sell eight of its care homes to address a multi-million pound budget deficit and adult social care […]

12 March 2026 8

Derbyshire

New funding will help Derbyshire residents improve their digital skills

Derbyshire County Council has approved £200,000 worth of grants, to help more people get online. Rural Action Derbyshire will receive £100,000 to run a scheme aimed over the next two years at helping residents to get better digital skills. The organisation coordinates the Digital Support Derbyshire Network, through which voluntary and community sector partners run several programmes, that support getting people online and providing new or second-hand devices so residents can access the internet. An additional £100,000 will also be […]

11 March 2026 7

The hunt is on for locals to join £20m Cotmanhay board (deadline: 20th March)

Children affected by exploitation to receive vital support thanks to £60k grant from Derbyshire Freemasons

Drugs and weapons seized as officers make 19 arrests targeting County Lines gangs

County Council Cabinet to consider first biodiversity report to benefit communities

Events described as “bizarre”, “peculiar” and “silly” after borough councillors decide not to decide a planning application

New housing development approved on a former borough care home site

Tree planting gathers pace as Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest branches out

Derbyshire County Council set to increase care fee contributions during backlash over failed sale of care homes

New funding will help Derbyshire residents improve their digital skills

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