WORKING families on benefits across Notts are set to lose out following the Autumn Statement, a Nottingham MP has claimed.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne revealed most working-age benefits including income support, Job Seekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance will only increase by one per cent annually for the next three years, falling well short of inflation rates, currently at 2.7 per cent.

Child benefit and housing allowance will also only rise by one per cent for two years from April 2014.

He said: "We have to acknowledge that over the last five years those on out-of-work benefits have seen their incomes rise twice as fast as those in work. With pay restraint in businesses and government, average earnings have risen by around 10 per cent since 2007. Out of work benefits have gone up by around 20 per cent."

But Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood said many people on tax credit, child benefit and housing benefit are working.

She said: "Some people are on such low wages because they can't get the hours.

"It's those people who are just about managing, or actually not managing, that are once again being clobbered."

However, the income tax threshold has also been increased, which means workers can earn £9,440 a year without paying tax.

Meanwhile, Nottingham City Council has said its budget will be cut by about £3.7 million in 2014-15 after Mr Osborne announced a two per cent budget cut for councils.

Council leader Councillor Jon Collins, said: "The council has been working hard to continue to provide the services our citizens need at a reduced cost, but the continued attack on local authorities will make this near impossible.

"The additional loss of £3.7 million will make life even more difficult for those who are already suffering from the coalition's unfair cuts."

He also criticised the Government's economic policies, as it was revealed that growth dropped by 0.1 per cent this year – and the period of austerity has been extended by one year to 2017-18.

See page 25.

CHRIS Cohen says history proves it is vital Nottingham Forest are in the chasing pack of teams come the turn of the year, otherwise they will face a mountain to climb to win promotion.

The Reds are tenth in the Championship on 29 points after 20 games and sit just four points off the play-off places ahead of entertaining Burnley on Saturday.

They have slipped slightly after successive defeats to Ipswich and Hull, following back-to-back wins previously against Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves.

And midfielder Cohen insists they cannot rely on being that one team who rockets up the table late on to claim a play-off place.

Instead, he wants the Reds right in the mix when the club enters 2013, following their last five games of the year against Burnley, Brighton, Watford, Leeds and Crystal Palace.

He said history shows you have to be in a strong position come the turn of the year, as when Forest reached the play-offs in both the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons.

In the first one of those, the Reds were third at the turn of the year and finished in the same position, while Newcastle were top and West Brom second – exactly where they finished.

And, the following campaign, Forest went into the new year in fifth place and finished sixth in the final play-off spot, having played 21 games and having 33 points at the turn of the year.

Victory against Burnley on Saturday would put the Reds just one point off that mark after the same amount of games.

In that season, QPR were top, Swansea third and Norwich fifth at the same stage and all won promotion.

Cohen says that proves why it is so important over the next five games to put themselves in a strong position.

He said: "If you look at other seasons, often one team comes out of the pack in the second half of the season but the rest are already there and in the play-offs come January time.

"You have eight teams at the top (come January) who you know will be there or thereabouts and then one team out of the other 16 teams to come out of the pack. You cannot guarantee that to be you so we have to be looking to make sure we are top-ten come the middle of January.

"We have a big enough squad to push on and do some good things in the second half of the season whereas in the past, we have had a tighter squad that maybe got tired a bit towards the end of the season.

"So we know this is an important part of the season for us and one hopefully our big squad can help deal with and share the load and try to put in some good performances."

NOTTS County's French sensation Yoann Arquin has been given a big warning.

The 24-year-old striker from Le Havre has made a great start to his career at Meadow Lane – and is the Magpies' leading scorer this season with seven.

Team-mate Gavin Mahon believes he has got the lot, but says he has seen so many other promising young players fall by the wayside in his long career because they have not worked hard.

"Yoann has got so much potential," he said. "He's quick, he's powerful, he's good in the air and he can strike a ball.

"He's got all the attributes to be a good player, but then sometimes he can frustrate you.

"I've come across so many players in my career and you've thought it can go either way. It can either take off for them or they will just stay at this level and filter down.

"If Yoann can get his head right, work at his game and listen to people who are trying to give him advice then he can be a good asset for this club."

Arquin scored a wonder goal in the FA Cup draw at Rotherham, but could still be on the bench when Notts return to action in League One at Yeovil Town on Saturday, because they also have on-loan Watford striker Chris Iwelumo.

"We've brought in big Chris now and I think that will give him (Arquin) a kick up the backside," added Mahon.

"The big man is a good target man and that's something we've been looking for."

FOLLOWING a summer of change and disruption, Andy Reid believes NottinghamForest's season so far has gone just about as he expected it would.

With new owners, a new manager and a host of player exits and arrivals in such a short period, Reid admits he did not expect the Reds to be top of the table at this point of the season.

But the Irishman feels the time has come for them to make a real push in what he admits will be a make-or-break spell for Forest and many other teams in the championship.

Reid believes the players have now had long enough to work with each other and the manager and so those initial disruptions can now no longer be used as an excuse.

And he thinks that under Sean O'Driscoll's management, their organisation and preparation means the players can only look at themselves if they are not performing.

"It's kind of gone as I expected it to go really," said 30-year-old Reid. "There were a lot of big changes at the club in the summer.

"Obviously the manager went and the new manager came in and although he had worked with us in a coaching capacity last year, he still had to stamp his authority on the players who were already here and obviously bring in a lot of new players as well.

"We're at the stage now though where we're not looking for excuses of a new squad.

"We've been playing together, we've been working together so everybody knows their role and now's the time we're looking to kick on."

On O'Driscoll, Reid added: "His organisational ability is as good as I've seen.

"I've never played in a team that's more organised and prepared for a game.

"If people in our team don't produce what they're supposed to then it's not because of lack of organisation, it's because they haven't done their job.

"We go into games fully prepared, fully knowing who we're playing against.

"We have a game plan against everybody and then after we've played the game, on the Monday, we'll evaluate it and find out what we did right and where we went wrong."

The Reds midfielder also thinks that, under O'Driscoll, Forest will be able to mix their style of play when necessary, something he feels will be important over the Christmas spell and during the remainder of the season.

"He wants us to play nice football and we all want to play football but sometimes in the championship it's not possible," said Reid.

"On plenty of occasions he has told us to play long and play off the second ball.

"There are plenty of ways to skin a cat and we don't want to be restricted to one way of playing; we want to have options on the pitch.

"We can start the game one way and have an option through the game to change.

"That's the manager he is.

"Although generally his teams do play good football, we've also got other options and other ways of playing as well."

 Designer Forum Celebrates the Diversity of its Creative Members

Designer Forum demonstrated the breadth of the talent of its members recently through a collaborative project which brought together a wide range of creative individuals culminating in an exciting photoshoot.

Creative collaboration

Every item featured in the shoot (ranging from fashion, furniture to ceramics) was the work of Designer Forum members. Even the photographer, the models and the stylists were members who all contributed the items and gave their time for free.

Student and graduate members got the opportunity to work with established professionals from a variety of disciplines to develop ideas, share skills and work as a team. All were members of Designer Forum, a Nottingham based membership organisation which provides inspirational resources, guidance, events and training for designers and creatives working in fashion, textiles and other design led industries.

Trend Forecasting

Inspired by long term trend forecasts researched in the Designer Forum library, NTU furniture and product design graduate, Paul Dack, designed and built Velouria for his degree show, walking away with first class honours and best in year. The wardrobe is a whole dressing room experience designed to bring back joy of the dressing experience and has already attracted a lot of attention at recent design shows such as New Designers and 100% Design

Diverse skills

Members were keen to give their time for free and contribute examples of their work for the project. Textile graduates' work sat alongside luxury kimonos worth thousands of pounds and a newly launched lingerie brand was complimented by hosiery provided by some Designer Forum's larger company members, all of whom are based in the East Midlands region. Umbrellas and hand made scarves sat happily with bespoke bridal gowns and reproduction vintage fashion nestled with intricate lace necklaces and hand printed wool cushions. Initially the plan was for one 'scene' but so many members had so much to contribute that it grew to 3 stories, Vintage Traveller, Dark Glamour and Candy Girl. 

Gisella Sobarasua is an active campaigner who has lived in St Ann's since 1972, and feels strongly that the identity of our neighbourhood should be preserved.

After the slum clearance program of 1971 the area was left with far fewer green open spaces, shops & pubs, and Gisella told me today that she did not want the local community to lose them with the Council intending to build new houses on the land.

Over the last week Gisella Subarasua has been gathering signatures for a petition to prevent up to 18 new houses being built on the site of the Robin Hood Chase Shopping precinct as part of the latest regeneration scheme. So far over 220 local residents have signed her petition.

Gisella has now set up a face book page to campaign to keep the Robin Hood Chase as a community open space free from housing development; & have many new shops along with a supermarket built on land at the front of the Chase facing St Ann's Well Road for easy public access.

Gasella imagined what the Robin Hood Chase would be saying right now if the shopping precinct had a voice:

"I am The Robin Hood Chase Shopping Precinct in St Ann's. I have been here in the St Ann's since 1972 and now there is a threat to my existence.

"My existence is based on the community using and needing me, that was how it used to be. I can remember when the Chase used to be full of people shopping.

"This can all come back if I get the right shops once again. I need shops and stores like Farm Foods, Iceland, The Pound and 99p stores. These are the places that the community are asking for and need.

"The City Council backed by its Cllrs want to demolish me and put houses were there are the last open spaces in the St Ann's. They say they will put new units on the main Wells Rd, that this will make the Chase better and safer. I ask, who for?!

"I know people like to talk bad about me. They like to say, I'm scary and unsafe with dark alleys and paths. I say, you don't really know me and worst of all, you don't want to. You use the weapons of words to frighten people and convince them that I am to be done away with that their options are for the best.

"I say be clearer with your words. I say there are people out there who still recall the destruction of the old St Ann's and how with words of poverty and slums, not only an area was destroyed but its people."

We are likely to be hearing a lot more from Gasella in the weeks ahead.

For more interestind news about St Ann's http://stonebridge-park-nottingham.com/

A MAN has appeared at Nottingham Crown Court accused of murdering his father in a Notts village.

Garry Talbot, 39, was arrested on Sunday.

It came after his father, Charles Talbot, 64, died after suffering serious head injuries at their home in Headland Avenue, Elkesley, near Retford, at around 5.15am on the same day.

He died later at Bassetlaw and District General Hospital in Worksop.

The case was adjourned until April 5, 2013.

Garry Talbot was remanded in custody.

A MAN on trial for indecently assaulting and raping two girls has accused both of them of lying.

Andrew Crane denies 15 sexual offences against the children, who are now adults, in Nottingham.

He is alleged to have abused the first girl hundreds of times since she was five-years-old.

Crane, 49, of Coronation Walk, Gedling, is accused of six charges of indecently assaulting her, one charge of gross indecency and four of rape.

He is charged with rape and three counts of indecent assault in relation to the second girl.

However, Crane yesterday told Nottingham Crown Court that none of the allegations were true.

When he was asked if he abused the first girl, Crane said: "I didn't. No, not at all."

And when Ian Way, defending, asked whether he had touched her and rewarded her with Smarties, he said: "No."

The court heard that the second girl told police she was first abused by Crane when she was 11.

When asked about claims that he pushed himself up against her in a bathroom, he replied: "It's absolute rubbish".

And when asked if he performed a sexual act in front of her, he replied: "Never".

He was then asked if he raped her, replying: "No, rubbish."

He was unable to explain why false allegations would be made against him, although he said he thought the first girl might have become "jealous" of his relationships with others.

The court heard Crane first learned she had said he had touched her about eight years ago but he took no action and "brushed it aside" because he felt so "disgusted".

Two other women have said Crane confessed his "wrong-doings" to them.

But he insisted they were also lying and that he had never said such a thing.

Andrew Vout, prosecuting, listed all the people Crane claimed had lied about the case and asked him what their motivation would be.

Crane said he did not know.

Mr Vout added: "You're just really, really, really unlucky?"

Crane replied: "Must be."

Both women, who claim they were abused by Crane as children, gave evidence in court earlier this week after the trial started on Monday.

Judge Jeremy Lea was today due to start summing up the case before the jury start their deliberations.

POLICE investigating an incident where a man grabbed a girl in a Carlton street made an arrest.

The 29-year-old was questioned by police yesterday and bailed pending further inquiries. It follows an incident on Monday when the 12-year-old girl was approached from behind by a man at around 7.40pm at the junction of West View Road and Heather Road.

The stranger tried to lift her from the ground, but the girl escaped from his grasp and he fled. The girl was unharmed.

Detective Sergeant Paul Lefford said: "While we have made an arrest we are still appealing to witnesses."

Contact NottsPolice on 101, quoting incident number 725 on December 3, 2012, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

FOUR village burglaries targeting jewellery and computer equipment are linked, police believe.

Houses in Robin Hood Road, Abbey Road and Dale Lane, Blidworth, were broken into between November 24 and 25.

In each incident, thieves got in through the back door.

About £2,000 of damage was caused at a house in Robin Hood Lane on Saturday, November 24, but nothing was stolen. On the same day, a tablet computer was taken from a property in Abbey Road.

The next day a gold wedding ring, solitaire diamond ring and a cameo pendant and gold chain were stolen from a house in Dale Lane while an elderly woman was asleep inside.

Jewellery, a Nintendo computer and a car key were stolen from a house in Abbey Road.

Police said a neighbour saw a man cold calling at houses in Abbey Road offering free burglar alarms. He was white, 6ft, slim, with fair, short hair.

Call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.