EBC News 2024 04 08

Eggs-travaganza of Easter fun lined up at Erewash Museum during holidays
EGG hunts with prizes – plus trails and craft activities – have been lined up to keep children entertained at Erewash Museum during the Easter holidays.

Youngsters can get creative by upcycling and repurposing items like families did during wartime. The Make Do And Mend sessions will be held from Wed 9 April to Fri 11 April.

To join in the fun costs just £4.50 – the same price as events on Wednesday and Thursday the following week, which will be themed around Pages, Poems and Pictures. Kids can meet "Mr Rhyme" and make books from their own writings or art.

On Good Friday – 18 April – there is the opportunity for children to paint their own ceramics courtesy of local firm Slightly Potty. Prices range from £5 to £10. To book for any of the events call 0115 907 1141 or email: museum@erewash.gov.uk

The Easter extravaganza comes just weeks after an army of volunteers descended on the museum like on TV's DIY SOS Big Build. Much of the workforce was supplied by Severn Trent after the water giant ran a competition for organisations needing help with community projects.

There was also £2,500 of funding up for grabs. Erewash Museum – based in what used to be the grand residence of a local family – won a public vote after unveiling plans to restore part of its garden to how it looked in its Victorian heyday. Photos posted online showed plants arriving ahead of work getting under way.

The culture and heritage hub – located near Ilkeston Market Place – later posted on its Facebook page: "The community champions worked so hard on our Path to the Past project in the museum garden. We can't wait to show you the result!"

TV Lindsay says as he tours exhibition about his old teacher: 'I owe everything to him'

TELLY'S Robert Lindsay relived his Erewash schooldays as he made a pilgrimage to an exhibition in his hometown dedicated to the inspirational teacher he owes his acting career to.

Ilkeston-born Lindsay, 75 – who shot to fame on BBC1 in the 1970s sitcom Citizen Smith – was a pupil at Gladstone Boys' School when the late John "Jack" Lally was its art master.

The star of Sherwood and My Family told how Mr Lally also organised drama classes and encouraged him to go to acting college.

He said: "He was a truly extraordinary teacher. I owe everything to him."

More than 15 of Mr Lally's paintings form part of the exhibition at the Erewash Museum near Ilkeston Market Place. The memories flooded back as Lindsay saw his old school badge, which Mr Lally designed. The superstar visited the museum to reminisce with his brother Andrew, 63 – who also went to Gladstone. Lindsay said: "I have such great memories of Mr Lally that I wouldn't have missed this for the world."

War memorials stand proud ahead of VE Day
FOUR of Erewash's cherished war memorials have been painstakingly restored to pristine condition by the borough council – in time for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Teams of conservation specialists have been hard at work cleaning them – ahead of four days of national celebrations that will include local street parties in the run-up to Thursday 8 May.

Stonework has been repaired and inlaid lettering made to look brand new – ready for civic leaders, veterans and representatives of the Armed Forces to pay their respects to the borough's war dead. The Cenotaph on Ilkeston Market Place, pictured, and the War Memorial in Long Eaton at St Lawrence's Church were included in the refurbishment project. Memorials at St Mary's Church in Ilkeston and in the town's Park Cemetery have also been restored.

Unveiled: How cinema demolition will make a Galaxy of difference to town
A DERELICT cinema that has long blighted one of Erewash's town centres is poised to start being demolished this month – as architects issued an artist's impression of the smart new homes and commercial units that will replace it.

The old Galaxy picture house closed more than a decade ago. Erewash Borough Council succeeded in buying the prominent eyesore on Derby Road after helping to secure almost £25million of Government regeneration funding for Town Deal projects in Long Eaton.

The former Stage One nightclub which stands next to it will also be levelled. In their place will be 16 flats and four town houses plus three swish units for businesses to move into. Demolition is expected to take four months – with minimal impact on traffic. Some of the homes – due for completion in August next year – will be for affordable housing.

Richard Ledger, chairman of the Long Eaton Town Deal, hailed what he described as "a significant milestone" in regenerating the town. He said: "After considerable effort to secure these properties, we're thrilled to see demolition begin.

"This is the first step in transforming Galaxy Row into a vibrant hub of homes and businesses, and we're committed to keeping the community informed every step of the way. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact this redevelopment will have on Long Eaton."

Deputy Mayor opens new £30k community hub
A NEW community hub for Erewash has officially opened – after Deputy Mayor Cllr Harry Atkinson cut the ribbon on what has been a £30,000 project.

The borough council clinched a grant to transform a sizeable building that has been used as changing rooms next to a Kirk Hallam football pitch.

It will continue to be a place where players can don strips – but now boasts space fully kitted out for the wider community to use. The revamp of the block on Windsor Crescent was funded by what is called the FCC Communities Foundation. It is an organisation that backs environmental and social projects using money from the UK arm of a waste and landfill multinational. Kirk Hallam Community Wellness Network pushed for the building to be repurposed after highlighting a need for youth and community space.

Local people backed the idea in a survey that was launched by the council's Active Erewash team – which provides sport, physical activity and health-related services in the borough. The community hub can be booked for events by calling 0115 907 2244

Recyclo Saurus glee as schoolkids are visited by council bin lorries they named
PROUD pupils at two Erewash schools were thrilled to be visited by bin lorries they came up with names for – including one called Recyclo Saurus.

The 26-tonne truck with the dinosaur-style moniker was joined by Mighty Recycler at Brackenfield SEND school in Long Eaton, where youngsters got to climb inside the cabs and push buttons on the back to lift wheelie bins. There were similar scenes at Bennerley Fields School in Ilkeston when Rocket the Recycler and Waste Wizard turned up. Pupils there had also named a fifth new £227,290 addition to Erewash's fleet Garbage Guzzler. A sixth truck bears the name Jerome – in tribute to a Brackenfield pupil aged 11 who was given a VIP tour of the council's depot because he is such a fan of bin lorries.

The school's head Trish Turner told how students have built up a rapport with council crews who collect the bins every Friday. She said: "Our children are really interested in the lorries, what happens with the recycling, with the rubbish, and engaging with their crews." Teacher Peter Csizmadia said of the visit: "I can see the excitement in their faces, it's like another Christmas for them."

Nine-year-old pupil Tilly said after being shown how to tip the bins at the back of a lorry: "I love it so much, I like the bins going up."

Garden Waste Collections
APRIL marks the start of a new subscription year for the garden waste collections service. The discounted price for the service came to end on 31 March and the price for anyone wishing to renew or sign up for the period 1 April to 31 March 2026 is £37.

1 May elections: Are you registered to vote?
ELECTIONS are coming up on Thursday 1 May – and Erewash residents are being reminded time is running out to check they are registered to vote.

The poll is to choose representatives on Derbyshire County Council – with candidates also standing in by-elections for three Erewash Borough Council seats. If you are not registered to vote you have until Fri 11 April to do so. The easiest way is online by clicking on the button below. More info is here: Electoral Register. The vast majority of eligible residents are already on the register. Poll cards are currently being sent out – meaning many will already have received them. They tell you where your local polling station is. Voters now require photo ID – so don't forget.

Alpacas, skywalks and treasure hunts . . just step this way for spring adventures
RESIDENTS are being invited to get out and about exploring the beautiful borough of Erewash this spring – as a month-long season of more than 40 organised walks is launched by the council.

The guided strolls – a lot of them free – take place throughout May. They range from "skywalks" across Bennerley Viaduct near Ilkeston to an "alpacas loop" near a farm that is home to the cute llama-like animals at Ockbrook. On Wed 28 May there is even a family treasure hunt at Long Eaton's West Park. As well as a total of 42 walks there is also a challenge to try to clock up 85 miles by the end of the month.

Last year hiking fan Phil Haynes, pictured, hit the milestone in just 12 days at the age of 63. Rachel Scott, who is the council's Community Health and Wellbeing Officer, congratulated him – but was keen to stress: "We want people to walk at their own pace. This is about encouraging people to walk more often every day so should not be seen as a contest. We don't want anyone to feel under pressure. That being said, Phil's is a great achievement."

Spot the difference . . EBC website gets new look

A MISSION to make the Erewash Borough Council website zippier and more user friendly is getting underway this month – meaning visitors to it will begin to see changes. The revamp follows consultations with residents about how we can keep improving our services.