News

Proud: schoolboy Nathan, 15 – seen with Mayor Cllr Greg Maskalick – becomes youngest resident ever to ask a public question at Long Eaton Town Hall council meeting (Credit: EBC)

SUMMER KIDZ: Boy, 15, is youngest ever to ask town hall question

A proud schoolboy was congratulated by Erewash’s Mayor at a full meeting of the borough council – for becoming the youngest resident ever to submit a public question. Nathan Hayward, 15, wanted to know if the authority had any plans to introduce youth democracy schemes – and what the requirements might be to serve as a young person’s mayor or councillor. He was not old enough to ask the question himself – so his father accompanied him to Long Eaton […]

30 July 2026 28

Scott Knowles (Credit: East Midlands Chamber)

Derby

3.75% interest rate hold offers stability but little relief for firms looking for a better rate to borrow

The East Midlands Chamber has said the Bank of England’s decision to keep the interest rate unchanged at 3.75% gives predictability to business but will frustrate those looking to borrow at a lower level. East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “Keeping a steady ship amid an uncertain economic climate by not moving the interest rate yet seems a logical decision, especially with the ongoing Middle East conflict, but will be a frustration for firms looking to borrow at […]

30 July 2026 19

The proposed new A50 junction and link road at Sinfin. Image from Pegasus Planning Group.

Derby

Fears for Derby’s future amid new doubts over A50 while A38 works in jeopardy

Fears have been raised over Derby’s future as fresh doubts surface over a new A50 junction – while major A38 improvements appear in jeopardy too. An investigation is to be held amid deep concerns about the impact on Derby jobs and traffic should both major schemes not happen. It was reported this week that the cost of a new Derby A50 junction has soared to more than £89 million with work yet to start. This is despite planning approval given […]

30 July 2026 34

The closed cycleroute which connects the Nutbrook Trail to the Erewash Canal. Image from Eddie Bisknell. F

Borough Wide

Erewash commuter route reopens

The reopening of a major Derbyshire commuter route which has been closed for a year has been welcomed as a win for residents – despite the extended delay. Enforcement action from Erewash Borough Council has seen the cycle-route connection between the Nutbrook Trail and Erewash Canal via the under-development New Stanton Park development south of Ilkeston, finally reopened to the public. For more than a year, the many people – including those in Shipley, Cotmanhay, Ilkeston, Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston, Sandiacre, […]

30 July 2026 49

Richard Blackmore from The East Midlands Chamber

News

Chamber responds as Government green lights unitary councils for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham

The East Midlands Chamber has cautiously welcomed the Secretary of State's decision to proceed with the two unitary council options requested by Nottingham City Council, which would be subject to Parliamentary approval, but called for the process to bring minimal disruption to business. A Structural Changes Order is being prepared to formalise the reorganisation and is expected to come into force in 2027. It will transfer functions, responsibilities, assets, liabilities and rights from existing councils to the new unitary authorities. […]

30 July 2026 14

The Derbyshire LGR decision map. Image from One Derbyshire Two Councils.

Borough Wide

Name revealed for combined Derbyshire councils

The Government has revealed the names for the new Derbyshire councils, which will be formed after the current 10 authorities are all scrapped. A letter from the Government to the chief executives of all of the county and city’s 10 councils outlines the next steps to form the new north and south authorities to replace the existing system from April 2028. It says the two authorities will be called Derbyshire North Council and Derbyshire South Council. The letter, from Ruth […]

30 July 2026 29

Derby

£75m needed for Derby roads

A total of £75 million is needed to bring all of Derby’s roads to an “acceptable standard”, a city highways boss has said. The eight-figure sum was revealed at a Derby City Council meeting on Tuesday (July 28th), which centred on the condition of the area’s roads. Council documents state the authority fixed more than 1,200 road defects within 14 days or 28 days between January and February this year. And a Freedom of Information request (FOI) revealed the council […]

29 July 2026 35

Long Eaton

Honouring a Long Eaton ‘celebrity’

Respects have been paid to a town stalwart as she made her final journey down Long Eaton High Street. Construction work was halted on the town’s main shopping street on Wednesday 29th July for the funeral procession of Shirley Kidsley, 87, known locally as “Pocket Rocket” for her big energy and small stature, which she insisted was “four foot nine and a half”. Shirley will also be the last person to be buried at West Park Chapel. There hadn’t been […]

29 July 2026 38

News

£750,000 to launch aviation careers for diverse young talent

Thousands more young people will be encouraged to consider careers in aviation, as organisations across the UK are now able to apply for a share of £750,000 through the latest round of the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund. Over the last four years, the fund has inspired over 1 million young people and invested more than £3 million in 46 organisations, to inspire 16+ year-olds from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to explore careers, including piloting, engineering, aircraft maintenance, aerospace […]

29 July 2026 27

SUMMER KIDZ: Boy, 15, is youngest ever to ask town hall question

3.75% interest rate hold offers stability but little relief for firms looking for a better rate to borrow

Fears for Derby’s future amid new doubts over A50 while A38 works in jeopardy

Erewash commuter route reopens

Chamber responds as Government green lights unitary councils for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham

Name revealed for combined Derbyshire councils

£75m needed for Derby roads

Honouring a Long Eaton ‘celebrity’

£750,000 to launch aviation careers for diverse young talent

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