SAWLEY BY ELECTION

CHERYL PIDGEON

Cheryl Pidgeon the Labour Candidate won the Sawley By-Election. The Election had been called following the sad death of the long serving and popular Bill Camm. It was a very active and well fought campaign by Tories, Liberal Democrats and Labour. Typically the Lib-Dems made it a bit personal with leaflets denigrating the Labour Candidate. The Tories panicked at the last minute with a leaflet saying Cheryl would do a great job for the Unions but not for Sawley, which owed rather more to imagination than fact. Jessica Lee M.P. had her name on the leaflet along side that of Chris Corbett the Tory Candidate. However despite the cowardly antics of the opposition hard work pulled Cheryl through and she is now the County Councillor for Sawley.

Following the count Cheryl made a speech starting with a glowing tribute to Bill Camm and vowing to work hard for Sawley and Wilsthorpe residents.  Bill Camm is a hard act to follow but Cheryl is certainly a force to be reckoned with. Well done Cheryl!

A STICKY PROBLEM



LIME GROVE LONG EATON

 Lime Trees are a sticky problem at this time of year for the residents of the Lime Grove area of Long Eaton. The trees are great to look at, but don't get the attention they deserve, which makes the residue which drips on to cars even more of a pain. Also some residents live in semi-darkness due to the trees being so close to the houses. The trees need regular pruning but the County Council who are responsible for the trees don't attend to them often enough. To add insult to injury Erewash Borough Council, who are responsible for street cleaning, just aren't doing the job thoroughly. The street gullies are full of detritus from the trees. Following a complaint from me Erewash have been playing catchup in the area and today many bagfuls of twigs and rotting leaves have been gathered up. More needs doing and I hope the job will be done properly at last.

I have also asked Derbyshire County Council to prune the trees more regularly which could help minimise to problem. I like the trees but don't like the mess they cause.

RISLEY LEANING WALL



BATTLE OF THE BULGE



Having e-mailed a complaint to Erewash Borough Council about a leaning wall at Rising Lea Industrial Park I am still awaiting a response. The wall looks unstable to me and it is adjacent to a footpath which increases my concern about danger to the public. The Councils own standards say they will reply to a query within seven days. So far it has been over eighteen days and still no reply!



Another complaint going in to the Council today. Hope the wall's still staying put.

SANDIACRE SHAME

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.



PLEASE MAKE IT VAN-ISH!

When entering Sandiacre from the Stapleford direction the first impression is one of neglect and dereliction. Shops with paint peeling off and derelict buildings offend the eye. Parked outside one unloved edifice is what looks like an abandoned van which has been stood there for over a year. 

On the other side of Station Road is a substantial building, which once housed "Duncan's Cafe" it is now a glorified pigeon loft. Holes in the roof guarantee weather damage and pigeon droppings mean other vermin will soon infest the property.



SANDIACRE'S BIGGEST PIGEON LOFT



Sadly, after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on upgrading the street scene Erewash Council have not followed up the investment by the simple expedient of encouraging owners to keep their properties up to scratch. The abandoned vehicle is likely to permanently disfigure the block paving and Erewash just don't seem to care. It's about time they left their cosy Town Halls and took notice of the real world outside. Sandiacre needs an economic boost. It needs further investment and attention. Get weaving Erewash, make Sandiacre a gateway to Erewash to be proud of, not leave it as forlorn forgotten back door.