News

Trees have been chopped down and damaged at the ancient Chaddesden Wood Local Nature Reserve in Derby. Images by LDRS.

Ancient woodland damage investigation is completed

No suspects have been found after several trees were seriously and ‘deliberately’ damaged at an ancient woodland in Derby. It was reported in April how ‘youths’ debarked and chopped down trees to make dens at the Chaddesden Wood nature reserve in Oakwood. It was confirmed that two mature oak trees, understood to be around 100-years-old, were seriously damaged and are now in ‘decline’. Both trees have a combined value of £145,000 and are under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) – […]

15 July 2026 33

Borough Wide

Ombudsman releases complaints data for the East Midlands for 2025-26

Complaints about local services in the East Midlands are among a record national total released today by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, as new data reveals it experienced a 33 per cent rise in complaints about English councils in 2025-26. The Ombudsman’s review of local government complaints reveals a sharp rise in its national caseload, with 27,625 complaints received in 2025-26, a 33 per cent increase on the previous year and the sharpest rise in more than a […]

15 July 2026 28

Black mould in bathrooms (Credit: Groundwork Five Counties)

Borough Wide

Groundwork charity tackles damp and mouldy homes

Regional charity Groundwork Five Counties is working with local authorities and social housing associations in the East Midlands to educate and support tenants to be safe from damp and mould. In 2025/26, the charity visited 427 households and found a total of 2,001 rooms that were not up to standard. Groundwork Five Counties has recently published its annual report which highlights how damp and mould is a widespread problem in social housing. The organisation visits homes selected by their landlords […]

15 July 2026 23

News

End of the line for fare evaders: new ticket barrier overhaul at railway stations across England

As part of Government’s landmark rail reforms, new ticket gates will be installed at stations and platforms across England targeting fare dodger hot spots to crack down on deliberate ticketless travel and make sure fares go towards improving the services passengers depend on. Passengers will benefit from a fairer railway with £33.4 million of funding to support the rollout of a range of gate types at stations which currently have none, including new taller gates to prevent barrier jumping, and […]

15 July 2026 15

Derby

Key decision due on next chapter for Derby Assembly Rooms

Plans for the redevelopment of Derby’s former Assembly Rooms – seen as a key element of the city centre’s regeneration – are set to be decided on by councillors. On the evening of Wednesday 16th July 2026, Derby City Council’s planning control committee was due to decide on proposals to redevelop the derelict building after delaying a final decision in May over design concerns. The site is seen as a pivotal part of the overall regeneration of the Market Place, […]

15 July 2026 23

Belper's Ada Belfield care home residents joined the campaign to stop the proposed sale of the home which is subject to Derbyshire County Council changes to care services. Picture courtesy of Belper Together.

Borough Wide

Derbyshire campaigners call for update over delayed council plans to sell care home operation

Campaigners opposed to the planned sale of a Derbyshire County Council care home operation are pressing the authority for an update after it confirmed three months ago that negotiations were underway with an interested party to take over the running of the facility. The Reform UK-controlled council’s planned sale of eight of its care homes to a single provider collapsed and led to their closure but the authority confirmed in April that negotiations with an ‘established care provider’ were underway […]

14 July 2026 18

Borough Wide

New quarterly priorities for Long Eaton SNT

Officers from the Long Eaton Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team have issued a set of new priorities for the next quarter of the year. These include work on cross-border operations - focussed operations working with bordering forces including Nottinghamshire using intelligence and targeted policing. Designed to proactively identify and tackle individuals and vehicles committing drug related offences on Derbyshire. Pro-active serious violence prevention will see close working with schools and partners. The Youth Engagement Team will work to educate and deter […]

14 July 2026 11

Borough Wide

Appeal issued after e-scooter is stolen during robbery in Ilkeston

Ilkeston Police officers have issued an appeal for information after a robbery in the area, in which a 15-year-old boy had an e-scooter stolen. The incident happened on Saturday 11th July at Potters Lock, just off Monks Close, where the 15-year-old and his friend were fishing in the canal. At around 2:30pm, they were approached by a man who is described as white, around 30 years old, and of average build. The man had long hair and was wearing a […]

14 July 2026 62

Derbyshire

Reform UK’s cost-cutting “DOGE” team shows no intention to visit to tackle County Council budget issues

Reform UK’s cost-cutting “DOGE” team has not made any indication it is interested or intends to visit Derbyshire to tackle its budget issues. It has now been more than a year since Reform UK were handed the keys to Derbyshire County Council, including flagship pledges around “DOGE” – in a bid to achieve Government efficiency. In that time, the administration has retitled the role of finance cabinet member to include “DOGE” and the word efficiency, adopted by postholder Councillor John […]

14 July 2026 22

Ancient woodland damage investigation is completed

Ombudsman releases complaints data for the East Midlands for 2025-26

Groundwork charity tackles damp and mouldy homes

End of the line for fare evaders: new ticket barrier overhaul at railway stations across England

Key decision due on next chapter for Derby Assembly Rooms

Derbyshire campaigners call for update over delayed council plans to sell care home operation

Appeal issued after e-scooter is stolen during robbery in Ilkeston

Reform UK’s cost-cutting “DOGE” team shows no intention to visit to tackle County Council budget issues

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