NO AUTUMN SAILS

The Dale Windmill at Cat and Fiddle Lane, West Hallam, is one of the most prominent features on the Erewash landscape. What a pity it's languished without it's sails for several years. The prospects for an early return to normality seem remote. I have asked Erewash B.C. and English Heritage to see what can be done to hasten the process. But it looks like there will be no Autumn sails this year.

THE NEW ILKESTON STATION

The need for a Railway Station at Ilkeston is growing. With proposals for yet more houses in the area, Ilkeston needs more travel options and a Station is wanted now more than ever before.

With rail franchises coming up for grabs soon, now is the time to get a new service programed in. Together with the remodeling of the Erewash Valley Line, which has improved signaling and line speeds, the time is ripe for a new Station at Ilkeston. Derbyshire County Council and other Council's that will benefit should put money on the table now. 

So far all we have got from Erewash Borough Council up to press is warm words but very little action and certainly no money to pump prime the project. It's make your mind up time for Erewash!

IT'S THE FROZEN LIMIT!

I think that Derbyshire County Council are pushing their luck with their idea of cutting winter maintenance. After two years when they lost the plot with thousands unable to move about freely and Accident and Emergency Units cracking under the strain. They now want to cut salting and gritting even further. Businesses lost an estimated £5 million pounds per day during the worst of  last Winter. But that doesn't matter to Tory Derbyshire. What they intend to do now is to pass costs of disruption on to the public and local businesses, who will pay many times over the amount the Council will save, in extra accidents and inconvenience.  Derbyshire's daftest idea yet.