erewash borough council Archives

The gardens of Doncaster Grove, Long Eaton, which face onto an offshoot of the River Erewash. Photo by Eddie Bisknell.

‘Higgledypiggledy garden mess’

A council has been accused of making a “higgledy-piggledy mess” over land it has told Derbyshire residents to buy, rent or have seized. At an Erewash Borough Council meeting last week (Thursday, April 23rd), councillors discussed the ongoing issue of potentially seizing land used as gardens from 35 homeowners in Doncaster Grove, Long Eaton, after decades of private use. A move from the opposition Conservative group, led by Cllr Wayne Major and supported by other groups, saw a vote urging […]

27 April 2026 13

Cricket

Grassroots cricket boost: £3.5k for 192-year-old club

A much-loved Erewash cricket club that has existed since before Queen Victoria came to the throne has been given a £3,500 boost by the borough council – ahead of it marking its double century. The community grant follows a battle to keep the grass flat between wickets at Sawley Cricket Club, which was founded in 1834 when William IV was monarch, and Earl Grey was Prime Minister. A new roller to replace the club’s rusty old one was seen as […]

22 April 2026 8

David Woodhouse in his garden in Doncaster Grove. Photo by Eddie Bisknell.

Long Eaton

Garden seizure threat

Dozens of residents in a Derbyshire town have been told they must either buy or rent land they believed was their garden – or face having it seized. A string of 35 houses in Doncaster Grove, Long Eaton, include extensive gardens which back onto an offshoot of the River Erewash and the Manor Farm and Toton Fields nature reserves. However, much to their surprise and “disgust”, two years ago, Labour-run Erewash Borough Council informed the homeowners that they do not […]

22 April 2026 16

Borough Wide

Borough Council to turn meadow into new nature haven

A new beauty spot is to be created by Erewash Borough Council on grassland it owns – with the potential for it to be turned into a wood that would be a haven for wildlife. The proposed transformation is at Bothe Meadows next to Sawley’s All Saints Church. Re-fencing is currently taking place at the site on Tamworth Road, which was formerly rented out for grazing. Existing trees that are dying and in need of removal are being dealt with. […]

16 April 2026 19

News

Parishes set to reap benefits of £360k fund

Erewash Borough Council’s new Village Investment Fund is set to support improvements and special projects for local parishes via the Erewash Investment Fund. A total of £180k will be allocated across all Parish Councils in Erewash, allowing each one to access the funding, enabling improvements for each area. A further £180k will also be available for Parish Councils to submit applications for special projects that would benefit their parish. In the spirit of the project, the council reached out to […]

1 April 2026 5

A crowd at The Glow Music and Arts Festival in Ilkeston (Credit: EBC)

Borough Wide

£300k to boost community groups

Community groups in Erewash will soon be able to apply for a grant to boost their funds. Erewash Borough Council recognises the fantastic work done by community organisations and the difference they make to residents. That’s why there have already been a range of successful Community Grant Schemes offering up to £3,500 to support local organisations. These schemes will continue, but the council will also be introducing a new grant scheme using the Erewash Investment Fund. This would offer grants […]

1 April 2026 30

The 'panicked' deer on land between Spondon and Spondon Wood, and concerned residents talking about the issue. By LDR Eddie Bisknell.

Borough Wide

Government refuses to intervene over controversially approved plans for houses in Derby’s protected Green Belt

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service The Government has refused to intervene over controversially approved plans for houses in Derby’s protected Green Belt. In a case which residents and councillors feared would be a “dangerous precedent”, developers submitted and had plans approved for a Green Belt housing site which a Derbyshire council had tentatively earmarked, but not adopted, as part of a future homes plan. That draft housing plan, for 7,000 homes by 2040, drawn up by Erewash […]

1 April 2026 20

Sawley

Derelict loo block to become coffee shop and workshop

By Eddie Bisknell - Local Democracy Reporting Service A derelict toilet block in a car park is set to be converted into a coffee shop and workshop after councillors gave plans the go-ahead. At an Erewash Borough Council meeting this month, councillors gave their unanimous support for plans from Nichol Dexter to give the former public loos in Sawley’s Trent Lock car park a new lease of life. The toilets have been disused for around a year, and the area […]

16 March 2026 42

Tipping point: smouldering rubbish is hosed down – sparking reminder to Erewash residents that batteries need to be taken for recycling and not chucked in bin (Credit: EBC)

Ilkeston

Bin lorry with smouldering load gets fire engine escort

Two fire engines have escorted a bin lorry back to its Erewash depot after its load began smouldering from something in the rubbish. The borough council’s eagle-eyed refuse crew spotted smoke so pulled over and immediately summoned help. Firefighters decided the safest way to deal with the emergency – and potentially save the lorry – was for the truck to return to base and tip its contents out. The convoy with one of the fire engines following behind made its […]

13 March 2026 31

erewash borough council

‘Higgledypiggledy garden mess’

Grassroots cricket boost: £3.5k for 192-year-old club

Garden seizure threat

Borough Council to turn meadow into new nature haven

Parishes set to reap benefits of £360k fund

£300k to boost community groups

Government refuses to intervene over controversially approved plans for houses in Derby’s protected Green Belt

Derelict loo block to become coffee shop and workshop

Bin lorry with smouldering load gets fire engine escort

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