JUST recently out of the armed forces and trying to make my way in the world of commerce, married with a young family of two, I joined the then world famous, Joe Lyons of Cadby Hall London, as a trainee salesman, aspiring to get on to the management ladder.

It was June 9, 1962, and I remember it well, being trained in the art of servicing the small shops of Grantham, Melton and surrounding areas with confectionary products produced by the brand leader of the day!

In those days the 'small shops' provided just about everything for the public.

The Grantham co-operative was the only self service around at the time, soon to be joined by the mighty Tesco.

Lyons Swiss Rolls were synonymous with quality, so with the Queens Award emblazoned on the side of the distinctive blue and gold vans, you would have thought the world was my oyster.

Alderman Roberts did not seem to agree with that line of thinking. His small shop at the bottom of Great Gonerby Hill, Grantham, was not on my list of calls – but that was soon to be rectified by my then supervisor, setting me the task of opening up such outlets.

The first time I met with Mr Roberts was when I ventured into his small shop, and inquired as to how come he was not stocking the companies products.

Given that my gleaming van was parked outside, with the Queen's distinctive gold-painted award reflecting through the shop window, I was very confident I was going to do business with Mr Roberts.

Unfortunately that did not happen, and neither did it happen on two other occasions when making similar calls.

At the time, I had not heard of Margaret Thatcher, but got to know more about her father Alderman Roberts, and the influence he had on the town of Grantham as a local councillor.

I made frequent visits to London, culminating in my appointment as area manager East Midlands, before joining head office as a national account executive, not realising at the time, that Margaret Thatcher was employed by the same company I believe, as a scientist.

JOHN M PARR

Pathways

Sheringham Close

Woodthorpe View

Arnold

I HAVE just read two nationals and the Nottingham Post – all are headed by the death of Maggie Thatcher.

Can I please compliment you on the most balanced and succinct comments in your editorial. Well done!

MICHAEL COLLIER

Station Road,

Carlton

FOLLOWING up on Dawn Palmer's letter (Post, Friday April 5 ), it is without doubt a disgraceful case of disregard and arrogance that the people who put this whole carbuncle plan together could think that the actions of their scheme would not affect local business in the clifton area.

I was informed today by the council representative for tram ( steve Tuff ) That the compensation scheme for beeston and chilwell was put in place some five years ago, Oh i said well why was the same scheme not offered to the business's in clifton those very same businesses that pay their business rates to Nottingham city council and not Broxtowe Borough council, Was this a political ploy as to not cross swords with another Borough thus making the job of getting the planning consent that bit easier to swallow.

They have gone ahead with This Tramline works on our estate with with no regard to local people's livelihoods whatsoever this is the second phase of this giant train set that no one whom i talk to wants,but this city council do not listen to what people say anymore the people of clifton have had to suffer the ridiculous road hump calming scheme on every road on our estate for the past five years and now the powers that be have driven this Tram through the HEART of our estate and if truth be told very few of us want.

I am puzzled as to why anyone would risk the lives of local children by running a Tram through the heart of one the biggest housing estates in the country, it's surely only a matter of time before the Tram kills a child, mark my words people will be killed on this estate in the name of this city council.

My heart goes out to Dawn and other independents on the estate who like myself have worked hard for a great number of years building our business's up to see them falling down before our very eyes with no help from this council insight.

Shame on you councillor Chapman and all the rest of the gang responsible for putting so many local people who put you in power out of business.

KEVIN CLARKE

Clifton Cob Shop, Southchurch Drive, Clifton

Reading in the Nottingham Post that the Principal of Bulwell Academy is thinking of sending pupils home if they turn up without uniform on. Well I am sure they will look forward to that. How about giving detentions with extra study, that should get a better result. Oh, I forgot, the underpaid teachers would have to work later.

PETER B HODGKINSON

Meadow Rise

Nuthall

Now it seems that a new rail station may be built at Ilkeston can Broxtowe Borough Council expect to receive applications for land in Cossall and Awsworth to be released for building (Coronation Road and Shilo Way) for new housing.

Will Erewash and Ilkeston councils try to get the shop owners of Bath Street to clean out the upstairs accommodation and rent it separately to the shop lease. Most shops only use the upstairs rooms for storage of unwanted items and dust.

It would make more sense to make the shop owners (of the building to do up the living accommodation and rent it as well as the shops. They would gain financially long term and so would the public who need homes).

Much more would be gained by this, than by the so called Bedroom Tax, where no one gains except the government. One shop on Bath Street was made into living accommodation above the shop, when the shop was modernised 25 plus years ago. And has never to my knowledge been leased separately as living accommodation. What a waste!

For people to use a station at Ilkeston to go to Notts they will have to live near it. No one is going to catch a bus or go in a car, travel to the station, to get a train, to travel 7 miles to Nottingham when it's easier for them to catch a bus straight there.

J E HOLLAND

Newtons Lane

Cossall

SHOPPERS have welcomed plans for a £35 million makeover of the Victoria Centre.

Owner Intu Shopping has unveiled the plans which include re-cladding the main entrance between Boots, in Lower Parliament Street, and the entrance to John Lewis in Milton Street.

A planning application is to be made later this month with a view to starting the project after next January's sales.

Shopper Ann Walker was pleased to hear the rejuvenation of the Victoria Centre had moved a step closer. The 56-year-old from Stapleford said: "It will be great. It should be more like the Westfield Centre in Derby – especially with the Broadmarsh being so poor.

"The Victoria Centre needs to be more open with more light and I'd love to see more seating areas and maybe a food court.

"We could do with bringing some more individual shops in too. The shops are very much the same.

"It can feel quite claustrophobic, like you are underground. More people will come as well after its is refurbished, especially to start off with."

The refurbishment works are expected to take around 15 months.

The plans also include removing staircases and creating "break out" areas around the lifts for uses such as coffee bars.

Fellow shopper David Cross, of Hyson Green, thought the news was really good for Nottingham.

The 49-year-old said: "The city deserves better, it needs to be done.

"I come nearly every day and I think it's all right, but it needs a bit of work doing. It will be good for the city.

"The plans look really, really good. It's going to make Nottingham more modern."

Erminea Johnson uses the shopping centre regularly and lives in Mapperley Top.

The 75-year-old said: "The shopping centre in Derby is clean and shiny – this is a bit embarrassing in comparison.

"Overall it seems like a good idea. It should be much brighter, so that would be nice.

"Redoing the outside would be really good – it looks dated at the moment."

However, Rebecca Hurd, who lives in Kegworth and occasionally visits the Victoria Centre disagreed.

She said: "It looks just as good as in the plans now. If the place was empty I would understand. It looks good anyway.

"I only come occasionally to meet people for coffee. I think it's adequate – the facilities have always been good enough.

Another shopper, who did not want to be named said the refurbishment was a good idea. The 74-year-old from Lambley added: "It is something we need. It's got a decent reputation as a shopping centre we just need to tart it up a bit."

The centre was last refurbished in the 1990s.

POLICE have apologised to a robbery victim who suffered a heart attack days after the incident.

Balwinder Dhami, 65, was subjected to a 15-minute ordeal by four attackers who barged in to her Kimberley home.

They threatened her with a kitchen knife and squirted her with detergent, as well as pouring two bottles of Lucozade over her after she became unconscious from their punches.

Five days afterwards, Mrs Dhami had a heart attack.

In the weeks and months that followed, her son Harnack Dhami said he became increasingly frustrated with how Notts Police communicated with him and his mother.

He complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which forwarded the complaint to Notts Police, who have now held a meeting with Mr Dhami.

The force apologised that their service did not meet his expectations and Mrs Dhami has since been visited by a police officer at home.

Mr Dhami said: "The complaint wasn't about pointing fingers but what we did want was some closure and some understanding about where things were with the investigation. My mum was unsure as to whether she would have to go to court and was finding it difficult to move on.

"We didn't feel the police were being pro-active and we didn't feel they were communicating with us and we did not feel supported as a result, which is not what you expect.

"We went to the media, which we didn't want to do, but it was the only way we could get any information."

Mrs Dhami's attackers forced their way into her bungalow in Bassett Close after she answered the door at around 8pm on August 25.

There have been no arrests in the ongoing investigation.

Following the heart attack, Mrs Dhami spent around three months in hospital and underwent three operations.

Mr Dhami, 42, of Leicester, said: "We are disappointed with the lack of arrests. My mum's attackers are still out there and she is constantly looking over her shoulder."

A spokesman for Notts Police said: "A number of public appeals for information have been issued. All leads have been followed up in relation to this case and an offender has yet to be identified.

"Our professional standards directorate received a letter of complaint. A sergeant met with the complainant to discuss the issues. We have taken on the complainant's comments as part of our work to strive to provide the best service we possibly can."

Anyone with information about the robbery should call Notts Police on 101.

A MUM is growing increasingly concerned at not being able to get her 15-year-old daughter into a school.

Charlie Morgan hasn't been to school since the end of the last academic year in July 2012.

Her mum Kelly Morgan stopped her going to Carlton Academy as she claims she was being bullied.

But efforts to find her a school where she could start Year 10 last September proved fruitless.

And more than six months on Charlie is still not in a school.

Miss Morgan is worried she is falling too far behind and it will badly affect her chances of gaining good results in her GCSEs, which she should be sitting in just more than a year.

Miss Morgan, of Netherfield, said: "I refused to let my daughter go to a school where she was being badly bullied.

"I have tried to get her into others like Arnold Hill Academy, Carlton le Willows and the Sherwood E-Act Academy.

"My applications were rejected and I have had appeals turned down.

"It's so frustrating. I need to get my daughter into a school urgently. She is missing out."

Miss Morgan said she had left her job as a computer salesman as a result of her daughter's school absence.

She has contacted the county council for help but most of the schools in the area are now academies – which are free from local authority control and set their own admissions criteria.

Arnold Hill says if applications are made mid-term they will be offered subject to availability.

If there are no places in the relevant year, the child is added to the waiting list.

Carlton le Willows has a similar policy.

Miss Morgan, 35, added: "I've been told the academies are full but I do not want my child going back to a school where she has been bullied."

She said Charlie had been targeted in the last school year after sticking up for a friend who was also being bullied.

She was taken out of school for a week but Miss Morgan claims the bullying, some of it physical, continued when she went back.

No one from the academy was available for comment.

On its website, it says that teachers are expected to deal with issues of bullying when they are made aware of them.

John Slater, Notts County Council's service director for education standards and inclusion, said: "We have been working closely with Kelly and Charlie to secure a suitable school place and we hope to resolve this situation as soon as possible."

AFTER ten calls, Steve Higgins' frustration boiled over.

A telesales company was repeatedly cold-calling him saying he was eligible to reclaim mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance (PPI).

Fed up with the bombardment he threatened to invoice them £10 per call for wasting his time.

But Synergy Leads Ltd continued to ring.

Mr Higgins, 38, of Wendling Gardens, of Bestwood Park, said: "I would answer calls and there would be an automated voice saying they'd looked at my records and found I was entitled to PPI.

"I'm not, because I've already claimed it back years ago. I'd go through to an operator and I asked them who the company were, and to stop calling because I've been on the Telephone Preference Service (which is supposed to block unwanted calls) since 2011.

"By the tenth phone call I decided to invoice them for my time. I thought 'I'm going to hit them where it hurts'."

Mr Higgins filed a small claims court application last month, stating Synergy Leads Ltd had called his landline 94 times in October and November last year, with the calls either being answered by him or his wife, Gemma, 27.

As a result of the repeated calls, Mr Higgins claimed £940 for potential lost earnings while answering the calls.

Mr Higgins stated they were wasting his time as he wasn't eligible for a PPI claim – he'd made a previous claim years ago.

Mr Higgins, who works as an operations manager in the renewable energy industry, has now been told the court has found in his favour.

Synergy Leads Ltd has until today to pay him £1,000 – £940 for the calls, plus £60 costs for making the court claim application.

Mr Higgins said: "I think it sends a message to telesales companies that there's a way for customers to fight back.

"I don't think I'll get the money back by today to be honest.

"I'll go down the enforcement route and send bailiffs out to the registered address."

Mr Higgins gathered evidence from his landline provider, Talk Talk, to make his claim.

Talk Talk confirmed the couple had answered 94 calls from Synergy Leads Ltd in October and November, and that they were also on the Telephone Preference Service.

The couple also received about ten calls a month from Synergy Leads Ltd in December, January and February, but have had none since he filed the claim with Northampton County Court on March 14.

The company had two weeks to acknowledge receipt or defend the claim.

The two weeks passed without acknowledgement, so Mr Higgins made a claim for judgement by default last Wednesday, because Synergy Leads Ltd had not replied.

Judgement was issued by the court last Thursday in Mr Higgins' favour, with Synergy Leads Ltd having until today to pay him £1,000.

Mr Higgins said: "I'm no stranger to small claims.

"It's a great arena for ordinary people to claim some lost money back.

"If more people did it then service in this country would improve, but the trouble is companies get away with it because they can."

Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service confirmed Mr Higgins received judgement by default in his favour on April 4 for the sum of £1,000.

The Post attempted to contact Synergy Leads Ltd for comment about the case.

A phone number for the company's registered address at New Pit Cottages, Bridge Place Road, Camerton, Somerset, was not in service when called yesterday.

A second phone number supplied by Directory Inquiries to the Post for the company had it based in Coomb End, Radstock, Somerset.

The phone number rang out when called by the Post, while searches found other businesses were registered to the same address.

Records on the website companycheck.co.uk had the company based at New Pit Cottages, but there was no telephone or website available.

Companies House confirmed to the Post that Synergy Leads Ltd was set up in July 2011 and that its records were up to date.

FOR many motorsport fans, Formula 1 is a religion. Now one city church is aiming to take this to the next level – by screening races.

St Andrew's Church, at the junction of Mansfield Road and Mapperley Road, will show this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix on its big screen projector, and is inviting the whole community to join in the spectacle.

Reverend Richard Clark, who has been vicar at St Andrew's for 21 years, said: "There's no obligation, but if people want to stay for the service afterwards that's great. If they want to just watch the race on the big screen they will be equally welcome.

"Jesus is interested in every part of community life and bringing people together. That's the point of a church, it's a gathering place.

"There's always going to be limits as to what we can do inside a church building but this is just a great chance to bring people together."

The church first screened major events on its projector last year, including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.

It also screened the final Formula 1 race of the 2012 season, the Brazilian Grand Prix, in November.

Parishioner and F1 fan Chris Howes, 38, of Sherwood, came up with the idea for the church screening races.

He said everyone would be welcome to watch Brits Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Paul di Resta and Max Chilton in action at the circuit of Shanghai.

Mr Howes, who has attended the church since 2007, said: "We decided to screen the opening ceremony of the Olympics last year and this kind of stemmed from there.

"Everyone in the congregation knows of my love of F1, and I said why not show a race? We showed the Brazilian Grand Prix and that was a success, so we decided to go for a few more."

He added: "However, to get somebody into church is a good thing. It doesn't have to be for a church service.

"Once they are through the doors it breaks all those negative attitudes towards church, like it's stuffy, cold, and full of hard pews.

"A church isn't about the building. It's the people inside that building, and we are warm and friendly people.

"Even if people just come for the F1 and then leave, that's fine."

As for Sunday's race, Mr Howes said he would be cheering on Jenson Button.

He said: "I'm a big fan of his and follow him on Twitter. McLaren haven't had the best of starts this season, but they've proved time and again that they can turn it around."

The church will open its doors at 7.30am on Sunday in time for the start of the race at 8am.

Breakfast will be laid on at the church for those who come along to watch the race, in exchange for a donation towards church funds.

The race is due to be finished in time for the church's regular morning service at 10.30am.

The Chinese Grand Prix is the first of four F1 races the church plans to screen over the coming months.

It is also planning to show the Canadian Grand Prix on June 9, the Italian Grand Prix on September 8, and the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 24.

Sports fans can also watch the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final on July 7, and enjoy a strawberry cream tea.

Anyone who would like to watch the race at St Andrew's is asked to call the church office on 0115 912 0098, or to text the church mobile on 07970 823462.

A WOMAN was taken to hospital suffering burns on her neck from a chemical spill at a branch of Boots.

Emergency crews were called to the Boots store in Mansfield Road, Sherwood at around 1.15pm yesterday.

The woman, who was an employee, also got some of the chemical fluid in her eye which had to be flushed out at the scene.

A second person was treated for burns on her hands, but did not need to go to hospital.

The chemical spill forced the store to close and its customers were evacuated.

The immediate area taped off to pedestrians, while fire crews from Stockhill Fire Station contained the spillage.

Three fire engines parked up outside the shop – including one vehicle from the environmental protection unit – and police also arrived to block off one lane of Mansfield Road while work was carried out.

The 999 call for help was made by a member of staff at the pharmacy, after two chemicals had been mixed together and subsequently reacted.

Those chemicals were potassium permanganate – a strong oxidizing agent – and Temazepam – which is an anti-anxiety drug.

When the Post contacted Boots the pharmaceutical giant could not offer any explanation as to why those two chemicals would have been mixed together.

Station manager Kev Cleary, of Notts Fire and Rescue Service, said: "There's been a chemical reaction. They were mixing two chemicals in the pharmacy when it got out of control."

Passer-by Jaz Spearheard, 42, of Sherwood said: "I'm supposed to be going to the pharmacy for a friend and now I can't – it's quite annoying."

A Boots spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident that has taken place at our Sherwood Boots store and we are cooperating with the local police and fire services.

"The store was closed for a short period this afternoon and should be open for our customers first thing today."

WALKING down Clipstone High Street, the remnants of the mining industry still dominate the skyline, telling visitors this was once a thriving industrial village.

The pit headstocks, although now decrepit and ringed by a wire fence stating 'no entry', still stand proudly at the entrance to the town.

The surrounding fields still look like the text book setting for a mining town and many residents still remember the days when Clipstone pit was a hive of activity.

They also remember the Miners' Strike of 1984-5 like it was yesterday.

Michael Farn, 52, of Clipstone, was having a pint in the Top Club pub in the village.

The ex-miner and ex-soldier said he wouldn't be mourning the death of Margaret Thatcher, who many claim brought the mining industry to ruin.

He said: "I'm an ex-miner and I worked at pits all around this area when I was younger, at Ollerton, Thoresby, Clipstone and Bevercotes.

"Thatcher devastated the mining community. What she did was absolute sacrilege.

"I hate the woman with a vengeance and there are a lot of people around here who would say a lot worse.

"I come from a family where all of us were miners and it was very hard work under Thatcher. I remember always feeling hungry.

"I know that sounds silly in this day and age, but that was the truth of it. It was horrific being a miner under Thatcher and what she did was evil."

His friend Ben Haywood, 36, was also having a pint at the Top Club and he shared Mr Farn's views.

"Thatcher was evil. I have waited for this day, for her to die, for a long time. She decimated this community and a lot of communities around here.

"My dad was a miner and I remember a lot of hard times growing up. I remember arguments and not enough money. My dad decided to go back to work and others didn't, and that caused massive tensions," he said.

The strike was the most controversial period during Thatcher's 11 years in power.

At the time the National Coal Board wanted to close a large number of pits because they were uneconomical.

At the industry's height, there had been 40,000 miners working in Notts. Now only Thoresby Colliery in Edwinstowe remains.

However Mr Farn and Mr Haywood's friend, who was also having a drink with them yesterday in Clipstone, had a very different take on the Iron Lady.

The 57-year-old, who wanted to be referred to only as Tony, said: "I fought in the Falklands war and I supported Margaret Thatcher. As a person she had a lot of stamina. She was voted into office three times.

"I do not speak ill of the living so I'm not going to speak ill of the dead."

On Monday we launched an online poll on thisisnottingham.co.uk, asking readers whether they thought Margaret Thatcher was a hero or a villain.

As of 5pm last night, 1,277 people had voted, with two thirds saying Thatcher was a villain.

THE "Enemy Within" was the greatest insult ever given to a group of workers in this country and one that will continue to be rejected by miners, former miners and their coalfield communities.

The mining industry fuelled an industrial revolution and two world wars and most miners, well those I knew were very patriotic; so it was with shock and dismay when Prime Minister Thatcher used those words against us.

Not only did she seek to destroy our jobs and communities but our very soul and the dignity that had served us throughout the years while doing a very dirty and dangerous job.

The allegation that Margaret Thatcher divided mining communities and a nation was not a by-product of an extremely insensitive policy to close so called uneconomic pits – but a policy in its own right to rule by division at any cost.

It was a myth to say that the mines were uneconomic, yes we were subsidised but far less than other mines across the globe.

So it is now with hundreds of years of coal left underground that we find ourselves in a fuel crisis and hostage to unstable former Eastern block countries for gas and unstable Middle East oil.

It is however the personal price that miners and there communities paid for her catastrophic policies that hurts me more than anything else.

Having to watch communities that were once thriving and self policing in the grip of crime and antisocial behaviour.

Words like heroin and housing benefit were as uncommon to our vocabulary as England winning the World Cup again.

As a councillor in the 90s the vast majority of my casework had a direct connection to the Thatcher policies of the 80s. However the worst thing for me and many of my mates was having to attend the funerals of men who had "given up" on life years before their time. Are we to "forgive and forget?" I believe many have, but for those who haven't there is no option if we are to move on.

When a life is lost it can only be sad. The time for celebration is not now but was when she left office.

However look what followed. John Major a so called moderate closed just as many mines if not more than his predecessor.

If there is one thing that a time of reflection can achieve is to learn the lessons of our actions and ensure that we never enter a period of desperation and division like thosr of the 1980s.

I WAS a young Conservative and grew up with blue blood in my veins. I joined the local party and served nine years as a county councillor before being chosen as a local candidate for parliament.

I was an ardent supporter of Margaret, although I didn't meet her until April 1983, when there was a candidates' tea party. The reception was at Belvoir castle and the candidates for upcoming elections were there. It was an inspiration and the room was full of energy.

When Margaret was speaking we all stood and listened – here was someone who could do something for us and the party.

I was elected the following summer with a small majority and spent nine years working and representing the mining community of Notts. I did 51 visits to mines during my years.

There's a lot being said at the moment, every second person is a striking miner making allegations against the government. But this was an undemocratic strike and Nottingham miners continued to work.

The miners said no, we will work unless we get a ballot. That's the truth of the matter, the miners didn't do anything illegal, in fact they stuck to the union rules.

As part of my job as the local member of parliament – I had eleven pits at the time in my constituency – on a Monday morning I would go to the meeting points where the miners worked and walked with them to the pit. You were sworn at and called scabs by local striking miners. I was there showing solidarity with democratic working miners.

After bringing up the issue of the safety of the working miners in my area in parliament, Mrs Thatcher spoke to me personally about what was going on and she gave me a letter to pass to the miners. She said on the behalf of the nation she would like to thank them for upholding democratic principles and working.

In our area, the vast majority of people supported the working miners and the principle of democracy.

A FATHER-OF-THREE has won a court battle against a company which cold-called him more than 90 times in just two months.

Steve Higgins filed a claim against Synergy Leads Ltd, after the company called him 94 times stating he was eligible to reclaim mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI).

Mr Higgins invoiced the company £10 per call, stating they were wasting his time as he wasn't eligible for a PPI claim, and filed an application in a small claims court.

He has now been told the court has found in his favour, and that Synergy Leads Ltd has until today to pay him £1,000 – £940 for the calls, plus £60 costs for making the court claim application.

He is thought to be one of the first people in the country to have won such a case.

Mr Higgins, 38, of Wendling Gardens, of Bestwood Park, said: "I think it sends a message to telesales companies that there's a way for customers to fight back.

"I don't think I'll get the money back by today, to be honest. I'll go down the enforcement route and send bailiffs out to the registered address."

Mr Higgins gathered evidence from his landline provider, Talk Talk, to make his claim.

Talk Talk confirmed the couple had answered 94 calls from Synergy Leads Ltd in October and November.

Mr Higgins filed the claim with Northampton County Court on March 14.

The company had two weeks to acknowledge receipt or defend the claim. The two weeks passed without acknowledgement, so Mr Higgins made a claim for judgement by default last Wednesday, because Synergy Leads Ltd had not replied.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Synergy Leads, the Post was unable to get a response.

FOR secretary Jane Arscott, catching the train from Hucknall in to Nottingham every morning is all part of her daily routine.

But from July 20 that routine looks set to change drastically.

Rail bosses are closing the Robin Hood Line for six weeks to allow for major re-signalling works to take place.

No trains will run at all, with replacement bus services, while Nottingham railway station will close completely. Ms Arscott, 31, said: "I hate the idea of replacement buses – they're slow, cramped and just not a nice way to get around. "My commute is usually okay, but I don't think it will be over the summer with the line closed."

East Midlands Trains were today launching a major information campaign to inform people about the changes to their journeys.

There will be four replacement buses per hour running between Nottingham and Mansfield, and an hourly service to and from Worksop.

While the Robin Hood line is the only line closed entirely, rail replacement buses will be in use on most o routes in and out of the city.

East Midlands Trains says the Robin Hood Line needs to be totally closed because it will have nowhere to keep the rolling stock needed to service the line during the works, while sections of track will also be replaced.

Neil Micklethwaite, customer service and commercial director at East Midlands Trains, said: "We cannot run the trains because the Eastcroft depot that all our smaller trains are serviced from is cut off from the network for 37 days."

David Thornhill, chairman of Notts Campaign for Better Transport, said the closure of the whole line was "totally unacceptable."

He said: "We accept that the work at Nottingham Station has to be done and it will deliver huge benefits, but the Robin Hood Line is so important and people still need to get to work."

The closure of Nottingham Station is allowing Network Rail to spend £100 million on renewing six miles of track, installing 140 new signals, and revamping two level crossings to the east of the station.

The works promise to speed up services as trains will no longer have to wait outside the station for other trains using the platforms.

As a result, passengers could reach London from Nottingham in 94 minutes on some East Midlands Trains service from December.

The closure will mean between 25 and 35 rail replacement buses will leave Nottingham Station every hour, transferring passengers to nearby stations.

East Midlands Parkway station will be used as the main alternative for passengers heading to cities such as London, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield.

Network Rail is planning to build an extra 150 parking spaces at East Midlands Parkway station to cater for extra demand.

Commuters were concerned about the plans yesterday.

Matt Halfpenny, 34, of Mansfield, sometimes uses the Robin Hood Line to travel to work in Nottingham. He said: "It normally takes around 30 minutes to get to Nottingham on the train, whereas when I've driven in at peak times it's taken an hour or longer.

"If they have got to do it and it will make things better in the long run, then it's worth having the heartache in the short-term."

Paul Whittle, 42, from Vaughan Avenue, Linby, cycles to Hucknall station every morning to take the train to Nottingham.

He said: "People are used to taking the train from here – and it's a lot quicker than the tram because it doesn't stop anywhere.

"These things have to be done, I suppose, and it might be better in the long run, but I wouldn't fancy taking a bus to and from Worksop every day."

John Tew, 57, from Hucknall, was waiting to visit relatives in London with his wife Carol, 55. He said: "We take the train down to London every so often and if they stop the service for the summer it's going to irritate quite a lot of people."

David Horne, managing director for East Midlands Trains, said: "Our priority in creating the alternative timetables has been to run as many trains as we can, while offering a comprehensive and efficient bus operation on those routes where we are unable to offer a train service."

Justin Page, acting route managing director for Network Rail, said: "We're spending £100m to completely rebuild the railway through Nottingham.

"It is the biggest development on the network in this area for a generation and will transform the reliability of services from the station."

NOTTS County will be driven by the hurt of failure next season, says Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

The 30-year-old winger admits the Magpies have badly underachieved in League One this season.

They were expected to challenge for promotion into the Championship, but look set to finish in mid-table with three games left.

Campbell-Ryce was one of the club's big signings last summer that really sparked hope they could finish in the play-offs.

But he said: "We've massively underachieved this season.

"There is no one more disappointed than us players and we're the only ones who can put it right.

"It will make us 100 per cent more determined next season.

"I think everybody wants to be successful. Nobody goes into a season or a game negative, wanting to lose or not wanting to play well.

"We all go out there with the right intent, to play well and get a result.

"We've fallen short in some games, but we've just got to crack on, work hard and rectify it."

Campbell-Ryce has scored eight goals this season, with five from the penalty spot, and is baffled why the Magpies have faded so badly in the second half of the season, after being in the top-six for most of the first four months of the campaign.

"Who knows?" he added.

"If we knew then I'm sure the season wouldn't have gone like it has and we would be doing better.

"It's football – the other teams around us have kicked on and we've come off the pedal."

The Magpies face Colchester United at Meadow Lane on Saturday and end the season with games against league leaders Doncaster Rovers and Coventry City – and Campbell-Ryce still wants to end it on a high.

"It's pride isn't it? Nobody wants to lose games," he said.

"When you cross that white line you're representing yourself and your club."

And he says Notts need more firepower next season.

"We definitely need to be more prolific in front of goal," he said. "It's been the story of the season that we haven't taken our chances.

"Even when we were flying we were drawing and losing games because we weren't punishing teams."

TEN new independent shops will share £50,000 as part of the Mary Portas initiative to rejuvenate ailing high streets.

The businesses have been awarded £5,000 start-up grants after taking over empty retail units in Broxtowe borough.

Charity Young Potential took on the abandoned site of a former travel agent in Stoney Street, Beeston, in December. They are using it as a shop to help fund support for adults and young people with learning disabilities.

Chief executive Teresa Cullen, who lives in Beeston, said: "The shop wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the grant."

Young Potential needed a revamp, so the money was spent on fittings, repainting and new flooring.

Ms Cullen said: "Starting up a shop is expensive and we didn't want to spend money we could use to help people on fitting out a shop."

All of the businesses are being helped by consultancy Kerching Retail Ltd as part of the scheme.

The grants will be paid in two instalments by Broxtowe Borough Council, which successfully bid for cash from the £10m High Street Innovation Fund in March 2012.

Young Potential also spent money on a six-metre banner, as suggested by Kerching.

"It made perfect sense," added Ms Cullen. "A permanent sign was £650 more and we aren't sure if we are able to stay here after the lease expires."

Young Potential has two other shops, in Worksop and Lincoln, and will use the shop to give long-term unemployed teenagers the chance to get some work experience and increase their confidence to apply for jobs.

"We keep losing them because they all end up in jobs so soon," added Ms Cullen.

Eastwood Pineshop, in Nottingham Road, is owned by Dennis Bird, 71, who has been in the pine industry for over 20 years.

He owns two stores in Chesterfield, and used the grant to start a branch close to where he lives in Eastwood, which opened last month.

He said: "We wouldn't have taken the gamble if there wasn't some form of grant involved."

He used the money to refurbish the premises, install a broadband and telephone connection and set up a website.

Eastwood Pineshop sells furniture made in the UK at workshops in Retford and Nuthall.

Mary Portas was hired by the Government in 2011 to conduct an independent review of the nation's high streets, and the grants are one of her suggestions to stimulate growth.

But Ms Cullen said the grants aren't enough to really help a business get up and running.

She added: "It's great that we got the grant and I really appreciate it, but if we weren't a charity it wouldn't even get us off the ground."

UK charities are entitled to a 20% discount in business rates.