People power puts a swift end to hole pole

The notorious 'Ilkeston Hole in the Wall' (Credit: TripAdvisor)

People power has swiftly brought familiarity back to a much-loved Ilkeston landmark after change was suddenly noticed.

The ‘Hole In The Wall’ near to the Bath Street branch of the Nat West Bank, has been such a major part of local life, that it remains highly ranked on location review website TripAdvisor.

The first review was reportedly left on the platform as far back as 2018, with additional entries helping lift its ranking on the website listings for local and regional attractions.

Comments have described the hole as an “architectural marvel” as well as a “circular wonder”.

When the reviews were blocked a few years back, a backlash led to TripAdvisor bosses lifting the ban, much to the relief of many people.

The ‘hole’ has been used for family photos, as a piece of street furniture to climb from the higher side to the lower side or vice versa, and merely as something for people to appreciate in the town since it was installed in the 90s, reportedly as a way of preventing people from potentially viewing cash-point users activities, including inputting of personal identification numbers (PIN).

However, on Monday 19th January 2026, photos and videos started appearing on social media showing that a short-length of metal pole had been screwed in horizontally, limiting if not preventing people from climbing through, which resulted in outrage and complaint from across the community.

Even the TripAdvisor website itself featured new review posts, complaining about the installation of the bar to further propel the popularity of the ‘hole‘.

Describing the pole as a ‘handrail’, one correspondent expressed feeling … “Disappointed that health and safety has to ruin some harmless fun for people.” whilst another said they had made an “annual pilgrimage” only to see the recent work to install the bar, enquiring: “Why has this architectural masterpiece that has been respected and loved for decades by people near and far, ended up this way?”

Erewash MP Adam Thompson weighed into the discussion raging across the internet, penning an official letter to bank officials, which he shared on line.

Adam described the local feature as an “iconic symbol”, and said that the installation of the bar had raised “concern and speculation” amongst local people.

Seeking clarity as to the rationale which led to the pole being installed, he said: “The hole is well known locally and has become something of a landmark,” he continued, insisting the whole is “one of those small quirks that contributes to Ilkeston’s unique character and identity.”

Online reports claimed that, on the day of the work, footfall into the bank branch had increased, not from customers wishing to carry out transactions and make personal banking enquiries, but instead to protest at the installation of the bar.

Local mystery character ‘Ilson Gnome’ used social media to claim the credit for firstly, raising the matter, and for bringing about the quick removal of the bar which happened on the same day it was installed.

Social media photographs show a contractor installing then latterly removing the bar. Local people who were left questioning the reason for the installation of the bar in the first place, were, instead, left without answers, and, additionally, questioning the extent of expense of the work.

MP Adam Thompson used his correspondence to enquire not only about the reason for the installation, but about its removal too, although, latterly, speaking on behalf of many residents, he expressed relief that the pole had been removed.

A Nat West spokesperson refrained from giving any reason for the installation or the removal work, but simply said: “Customer and community feedback is very important to us”.