FEARS have been raised about the future of community centres in Nottingham, as the city council tries to save money.

The fears were raised at a meeting organised by the Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service at their offices in Mansfield Road.

The event was designed to give people in the voluntary sector the chance to have their say.

And it led to a heated discussion as service leaders put their questions to Councillor Dave Liversidge, the city's portfolio holder for adults, housing and community sector.

Melanie Jeffs from the Nottingham Women's Centre, asked Mr Liversidge if there were plans to sell off any of the city council's community centres.

She said: "What is the council's strategy around funding community centres and if things get really tight, would you look to sell of some of those buildings?"

Mr Liversidge said it was unlikely the council would sell any of the buildings, as there was no profit to be made.

But he did single out the Queen's Walk Community Centre in The Meadows, which is on a prime site next to the new tram route to Clifton.

Mr Liversidge said: "There is only one community centre in the whole city where we could make money – in The Meadows, because it's next to the tram route, so it will be the most expensive to rent out.

"We've not made any decisions, but these decisions will have to be made."

Concerns were also raised over council and housing association homes.

Jo Mossman, from the Nottingham Disabled People's Movement and the Equality and Fairness Commission, asked what was being done to encourage developers to build more accessible homes.

"We are trying to persuade them," Mr Liversidge said. "But the issue is that most developers are not there to manage the properties afterwards. "They're just interested in making a profit on the buildings and the way they do it is to sell them for cheaper."

Yesterday's session was the first in a series of events arranged so councillors can hear about the voluntary sector and its priorities.

What do you think are the most important issues facing Nottingham's voluntary sector? Email newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk or call 0115 905 1967.

A SHOP owner has applied to be able to sell booze over Christmas – just weeks after being told his licence would be suspended.

The three-month suspension at Arun's off-licence in Upper Parliament Street, in the city centre, is due to come into force on Wednesday, December 19.

It came after the shop was found to be selling alcohol to street drinkers.

Now, Freydun Sakhi has submitted two temporary event notices to the city council which, if granted, would allow him to sell booze between December 20 and 24, and December 26 and 31.

He has sent in two separate forms to the city council to cover those periods.

People would usually apply for the licences for one-off events like music festivals or carnivals.

In the section asking applicants to describe the nature of the events, Mr Sakhi has written: "Build up to Christmas" and "Christmas and build up to New Year celebrations".

He has also said on the form that he needs the notices because of the suspension of his licence.

He wants to be able to sell booze between 8am and 11pm each day.

Councillors on a city council licensing committee are due to meet at Loxley House tomorrow to discuss Mr Sakhi's application.

Notts Police have objected to both applications.

Malcolm Turner, the police deputy head of legal services, wrote a notice of objection against them.

It read: "The police are of the opinion that the giving of this temporary event notice is purely a way of circumventing the suspension and is not an 'event' in itself."

If the notice is granted it would be as a modification of the existing suspension order.

Mr Turner added: "The police are also of the opinion that a modification of the notice will not resolve the concerns held, as it is the management practices at the premises that are the issue."

The city council decided to put the suspension order on Arun's in November, after police expressed concerns that he had sold alcohol to drunk people – known street drinkers – on at least two occasions, despite warnings.

As well as the suspension he was told the shop must never sell beer, lager or cider over 5.5% without permission from the police. Nor can it sell individual cans.

He was given time to appeal, but has not yet done so.

Mr Sakhi refused to comment when the Post contacted him.

PEOPLE in Notts are being warned to avoid counterfeit scams as they start their Christmas shopping.

Nottingham's Trading Standards team has sent out the warning after a series of raids last week uncovered counterfeit goods, believed to be worth in the region of £500,000 if they were the "genuine article".

Trading Standards manager Jane Bailey said: "the Trading Standards team carried out six raids and arrested five people for offences against the Trade Marks Act.

"The team seized thousands of individual items, including potentially fake Armani, Tag Heur and D&G watches.

"Other seizures included Ralph Lauren branded polo shirts and jackets, Barbour Jackets and Ugg boots.

"More difficult for the public to spot were counterfeit Canon, Panasonic and Samsung camera accessories."

Councillor Alex Norris, the city's portfolio holder for community safety , said: "We know that people may be tempted by the thought of a bargain, but counterfeit goods are a false economy, often being of very poor quality."

TODAY is a day to remember, as the calendar marks 12/12/12. It will be the last day of its kind – when all three numbers in a date are the same – for the next 88 years.

And it is even more special for Rosey Ingleby, of Central Drive, Elston, as she celebrates her 12th birthday today.

Rosey, who goes to Toot Hill School in Bingham, said that she was looking forward to celebrating her birthday on such a significant date.

"I'm happy because it's not the kind of thing that happens very often and won't happen again for a long time," he said.

"I worked out that my 12th birthday would be on December 12, 2012 when I was nine, and I was surprised and happy – not everyone has a birthday on a day like this."

Rosey said she would be celebrating her birthday with her family when she gets home from school today.

Rosey's mum, Lyn Alexander, said that the significance of the date would make her daughter's birthday extra special.

The 55-year-old said: "It's the kind of day that we won't forget very easily, it really is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

"There can't be many people across the country who are celebrating the same thing – it just makes a special day that little bit more special."

Ms Alexander, who works as a dog-groomer, added: "It's a shame that Rosey will have to spend most of tomorrow at school, but we will make up for it in the evening and help her celebrate her unique birthday."

The day has also proved popular for couples tying the knot.

A spokesman for Notts County Council said its register offices had seen a big surge in demand.

There are 16 weddings taking place across the county today – three of those are taking place at 12 noon. There are eight in Mansfield, three in Rushcliffe, two in Newark, one in Worksop and another two in "approved premises" that have a licence to hold weddings. Registration Service Development manager Helen Scaman said: "We are lucky to have one or two weddings on an average Wednesday in December, so people are definitely taking this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get married on 12/12/12."

JOSEPH Fidel, 42, of Woodthorpe Gardens, Sherwood, pleaded guilty to driving a Ford Transit Connect van without due care and attention in Burton Road, Carlton, on January 15. He was fined £80, had his six points put on his licence, and was ordered to pay £35 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Fidel faced no separate penalty after also admitting to using the van without a valid MOT.

AN Arnold man has been jailed for 16 weeks for taking a person's car without their consent. Liam Smith admitted taking the Vauxhall Corsa in Arnold on November 30. Smith, 27, of Heddington Gardens, Arnold, also admitted driving while disqualified and drink-driving after being stopped in Church Street, Arnold, with 79 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – exceeding the 35 micrograms legal limit. He was handed a further 16-week prison sentence for driving while disqualified and ten weeks for drink-driving, all sentences to run concurrently. He was also banned from the roads for a further three years, as the court heard he had four previous convictions for drink-driving. He faced no separate penalty after admitting a further offence of driving without insurance.

YU DI, 28, of Templars Court, Radford, was fined £600 for failing to provide police with information about the identity of the driver of a Ford Mondeo. He was required to provide the details, as the driver of the vehicle was allegedly guilty of a road traffic office in Arnold on December 22 last year. The case was proved in his absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on November 30. As well as the fine, Di is required to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and court costs of £85. His licence will be endorsed with six penalty points.

NATHAN Faulconbridge, 39, of Dennis Street, Netherfield, is to appear at Nottingham Crown Court accused of perverting the course of justice in Bramcote on January 19 last year. His case is listed for a plea and case-management hearing on December 21. He is on unconditional bail.

CHRISTOPHER Johnson, 43, of St Mawes Avenue, Wilford, is due in court on January 3. He is accused of driving a Ford Cougar car without due care and attention in Nottingham on August 26 this year. His case was adjourned at Nottingham Magistrates' Court last month. He was given unconditional bail.

MICHAEL Wadhams-Wood, 22, of Ash Road, Newark, is to appear at Nottingham Crown Court accused of assault causing actual bodily harm in Newark on September 29. His case was sent by magistrates to be heard at Nottingham Crown Court on February 15, and he was granted conditional bail.

STEVEN Whyler, 26, of St Albans Road, Arnold, has been ordered to pay £33.60 compensation after he committed an offence of criminal damage. He pleaded guilty to damaging a sale board belonging to a woman in Arnold on August 26. The compensation must be paid to City and County Signs, Windmill Business Park, Mill Lane, Riddings, near Alfreton. He was fined £70 after he admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in Arnold on the same date. He was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £50.

JAMES Hardy, 46, of Winchester Street, Sherwood, has been given a community order at Nottingham Magistrates Court after he committed a benefit offence. He admitted failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions about a change in his circumstances, that he was in receipt of an income, when he knew this would affect his entitlement to Job Seeker's Allowance. The offence happened between August 26, 2009, and June 7, 2011. Included in the community order is a requirement to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community over the next 12 months. He must also pay costs of £100.

LISA Thorpe, 35, of Petersham Road, Long Eaton, has been bailed to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on April 3 over claims she falsely claimed benefits. She denied dishonestly failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions about a change in her circumstances, that she was living in the same household as a man as husband and wife, when she allegedly knew this would affect her entitlement to benefit on May 16, 2006.

OLIVER Jillings, 32, of Pinewood Close, Southwell, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention in Oxton Road, Calverton, on December 13 last year. He was fined £250, had his driving licence endorsed with four penalty points, and ordered to pay £35 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

MICHAEL Wilson, 37, of Gregory Boulevard, Hyson Green, has been jailed for 28 days after admitting the theft of two jars of coffee from the Co-op supermarket, in Victoria Road, Netherfield, on October 10.

TIMOTHY Vickers, 24, of St Stephens Road, Ollerton, admitted driving without due care and attention in Great North Road, Newark, on February 14. He was fined £100, had his driving licence endorsed with six penalty points, and was ordered to pay £35 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

FOUR homes in one street in Rainworth were burgled over the weekend.

The break-ins happened in Cambridge Road on Saturday and Sunday.

In all incidents the intruders got in through the back of the house and stole items including jewellery, cash and bank cards.

In three of the break-ins the victims, who were all elderly, were out at the time.

In the fourth incident an elderly man was at home. He was unaware of the burglars and unharmed, but he was left distressed.

People living in the area have been visited by police and patrols have been increased to deter further incidents.

PC Lisa Mortimore said: "We are urging residents to be security conscious and vigilant.

"Lock doors and windows, fit burglar alarms and security lights, where possible, and keep valuable items, including keys, away from view."

Witnesses or anyone with any information should call PC Mortimore on 101, extension 809 7861."

MORE than 20 jobs have gone at Nottingham AutoPark, part of the Drive Assist group, after it called in administrators.

A spokesman for the administrators, Zolfo Cooper, said the Nottingham operation closed with the loss of 21 jobs.

Five members of staff have stayed on temporarily to help wind the company down.

More than 250 jobs at Drive Assist, a car-leasing firm, have also been lost.

The 259 employees at Drive Assist, based in Tamworth, Staffordshire, were made redundant with immediate effect, said Zolfo Cooper.

The firm, which in total employs 640 people at 14 offices, deals with the short-term leasing of replacement vehicles on a credit hire basis to individuals following road traffic accidents, when they have not been at fault.

The company's other business activities include the retail sale of its ex-fleet vehicles at Nottingham AutoPark, which is based in Mapperley, part of the Millennium Motor Group division.

According to Zolfo Cooper, the administrators were appointed as a result of the companies experiencing "considerable working capital management issues" and subsequent cash flow problems.

Alastair Beveridge, partner at Zolfo Cooper and joint administrator said: "Unfortunately, in recent months the companies have experienced the loss of a major customer which has resulted in increasing cash flow pressures and administration was the only option available.

"Regrettably, 259 employees have been made redundant with immediate effect.

"We will be working alongside all stakeholders to determine the most appropriate next steps for the benefit of all creditors."

Employees were advised to contact 0161 838 4579, or email driveassistemployees@zolfocooper.eu, while individuals with cars on hire should contact 0161 838 4585 or driveassistcustomers@zolfocooper.eu.

A CAMPAIGN group has criticised a Notts council for spending £54,000 a year on two new workers who they claim will do the job councillors are elected to do.

Gedling Borough Council appointed two locality coordinators in September to work with communities in Netherfield as well as Newstead on a permanent, full-time basis.

Their duties include consulting residents to determine local priorities and coming up with plans to tackle them.

Jennifer Eurge, based in Netherfield, and Deborah Widdowson, who is based in Newstead, are employed to focus predominantly on issues such as employment, environment, school engagement and educational achievement, as well as energy efficiency, crime, antisocial behaviour and health.

Robert Oxley, campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This role is what residents elect and pay councillors for.

"It is a non-job that should be scrapped. The last thing local taxpayers need is more unaccountable local bureaucrats.

"If councillors did a better job representing residents rather than acting as spokesmen for city hall, maybe people would feel listened to."

However, Tina Simpson, trustee and treasurer at Netherfield's St George's community centre, where one of the new locality coordinators is based, has welcomed the posts.

She said: "I think it's a good idea.

"Anything any agency puts forward to work for and on behalf of the community is a good thing."

Nottingham City Council said the roles were comparable to its 21 neighbourhood development officers, who are paid between £26,000 and £29,000 a year.

Notts County Council employs five community engagement officers, who earn between £24,646 and £28,636. Their duties include helping residents to set up community groups and help identifying and access funding.

Mansfield District Council also has a community engagement manager, who earns between £24,646 and £28,636, and a community engagement and communications officer, who is paid between £17,161 and £21,519.

Notts councils who said they did not employ any comparable or similar roles are Rushcliffe and Broxtowe Borough Council, Newark and Sherwood, Bassetlaw and Ashfield District Council.

Councillor John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, said: "The new locality coordinators play a vital role in the way the council engages with its communities.

"Our coordinators are experienced professionals with a wealth of knowledge that can and will help people access the services they need.

"They are on the ground in these communities all the time, working with local people to improve things for them.

"Many councils have officers doing similar jobs in areas where they're needed, and I'm sure they'd agree that providing a regular, day-to-day, accessible means by which communities can speak to the council is important. I'm delighted that we're able to offer this service."

A CANNABIS user led police to discover his homegrown crop after he was stopped by police while driving "stoned" in his car.

James Eames had begun growing his own drugs in his garage to try to save on the cost of paying a dealer to feed his £100-a-week habit.

But police sprung his money-saving enterprise last month after they arrested him "stoned" on cannabis in his girlfriend's BMW.

By chance, officers had been scouring the streets of Mansfield for a stolen BMW.

They saw Eames, a banned driver, behind the wheel of a BMW in Stockwell Gate and decided to pull him over.

When he stopped, he ran away, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Officers warned him if he continued to run, they would have to use a police dog to capture him.

Eames still failed to stop, so a dog was used to detain him.

The 27-year-old, of Bramling Close, Mansfield, then refused to be breathalysed.

Katrina Wilson, prosecuting, said: "He gave the explanation he had a dry mouth and was stoned on cannabis."

Police searched his home and discovered 15 plants at various stages of development.

Eames pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to provide a specimen of breath, taking the BMW without consent from his girlfriend, producing and possessing cannabis.

Judge Andrew Hamilton gave him a total of 12 months in custody, suspended for two years, and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

Eames will be supervised by the Probation Service for two years and be subject to a three-month curfew between 7pm and 7am.

"You will suffer hardship," the judge told him. "You will be indoors for Christmas.

"I call it home imprisonment, so effectively you are serving part of your sentence being tagged.

"At least it's your own bedroom door you are closing...rather than a cell door."

Fiona Tannock said, in mitigation, the driving offences smacked of stupidity.

Eames had smoked cannabis since he was a teenager and his usage increased after he was seriously assaulted, she said.

He was out of work and claiming Employment Support Allowance but was smoking ten cannabis cigarettes a day, the court heard.

BROXTOWE MP Anna Soubry has written to the Transport Secretary over concerns about the closure of a main road to build the new tram line.

Sections of Chilwell Road, Beeston, and High Road, Chilwell, will be shut for 12 months as part of the works.

Miss Soubry has said she fears many of the businesses on the road are already "on the edge" and the road closure will have a devastating effect.

She has written to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin with her concerns.

She said: "Up until late September, NET – who are responsible for the tram works – assured me they would not close parts of High Road and Chilwell Road to traffic.

"They have gone back on that and the assurances given at the public inquiry. Understandably traders on both roads are angry and worried about the effect on their businesses."

Miss Soubry added that she felt traders on the road need more financial assistance than the £13,500 a year for each business against loss of profit.

She said: "I spoke to Patrick after the meeting between traders and tram operators NET and have now written to him formally to ask for a meeting and for his advice.

"The tram works are having a profound effect on residents and businesses in and around Beeston already – these planned road closures will make a seriously bad situation intolerable.

"I want to be sure that there is no alternative.

"If there isn't, then traders in particular need more support and assistance."

The proposed road closures will be between Middle Street and Ellis Grove for six months, and then from Ellis Grove to Holly Lane for another six months from September 2013.

The original plan was for a one-way system for 18 months, but contractors Taylor Woodrow Alstom say the new proposal will be safer for workers and pedestrians.

In her letter, Miss Soubry also says that she was unhappy with the notice given by NET that they were considering closing the road.

She writes: "I am extremely concerned that, as late as September 2012, I was receiving assurances from NET that rumours regarding the closure of Chilwell Road during the construction works were unfounded.

"In short, businesses on High Road and Chilwell Road are not prepared for such a profound level of disruption and damage to their business for such a lengthy period of time."

However, Beeston Rylands councillor Steve Barber said he was keen to look for "win-wins" which could help traders and the public.

He said: "I would like to see a shuttle bus which could continue to serve the roads during the work – it would be good for the public and be good for businesses.

"We could have it running from pub car parks during the day and perhaps it could be given clearance to go down the roads themselves like contractors' vehicles. It's just an idea that would help during the works."

But Steve Williams, of the Beeston Bed Centre in Chilwell Road, said: "If they can run shuttle buses, they can run a one way system.

"We have had this in the air for a long time, but it's such short notice that I can't believe it.

"I don't see what gives them the right to disrupt my business during the works."

A spokesman for Taylor Woodrow Wilson, the contractors who are carrying out the work for NET, previously told the Post it would work closely with the Beeston Business Improvement District and Broxtowe Borough Council on a range of measures, including destination branding and marketing initiatives which will support traders on Chilwell Road during the works.

Chris Deas, project director of NET, said: "The works are coming and I think it will be better to work together. I'm committed to working with traders in Chilwell Road."

CAMPAIGNERS fear people in parts of Nottingham will be hard hit by changes to council tax benefits.

From April, the national council tax benefit scheme will be abolished under the Welfare Reform Act, with responsibility for discounts being passed on to local councils.

Nottingham City Council says this may mean many people will end up having to pay more council tax, and has set up a Council Tax Support Scheme to help reduce the burden.

But the Defend Council Tax Benefits campaign group fear it doesn't go far enough.

The group met last night at the Chase Neighbourhood Centre in Robin Hood Chase, St Ann's.

Gary Freeman, of the group, said: "This move is another attack on people who struggle to make ends meet.

"I don't believe the council is fighting hard enough against the Government cuts. People are going to be severely affected by this."

St Ann's resident Richard Pearson was among those who attended.

He said: "I receive a council tax discount as I live on my own, but this will probably not be the same once the new measures come into force.

"The move is going to have a negative impact on people. They are going to struggle to afford to pay their council tax."

The Council Tax Support Scheme is set to be approved by the city council in January.

A package of £775,000 is to be given to the city council by the Government to reduce the burden on affected citizens.

Ashley Wills, 35, also of St Ann's, added: "People are really going to feel the pinch.

"There are a lot of hard-up people out there who find it difficult to pay bills as it is. Now they are going to find it even harder."

Councillor Graham Chapman, deputy leader of the city council, said: "The Government has once again given no thought to how cities and deprived areas are going to be most affected by its decisions, so although the belatedly-announced grant will go some way towards reducing the impact, it's not nearly enough in the context of broader Government cuts to our budgets.

"It is also for one year only, which means we will have to look again next year at what is affordable.

"While we have devised a scheme which we feel spreads the burden as fairly as possible, these changes will undoubtedly have some serious consequences for people already facing significant hardship."

MOTORISTS could be fined £70 for parking on pavements and grass verges around the city when new rules are introduced.

The restrictions will only apply to named roads where there are warning signs and Woodside Road in Lenton Abbey will be the first to trial the scheme – which could be in place by March.

The council has decided to use a national traffic power for the first time and hopes it will be a permanent move – but if objections are raised in the first six months then it will review the situation.

Areas such as Sneinton, Forest Fields, Radford, Sherwood and Lenton, among others, have narrow streets where many cars park on pavements, and not everybody thinks the plans are a good idea.

Sydney Cornwall, 84, who lives in Woodside Road, said: "I don't know where they come up with these crazy ideas. Where am I supposed to go?

"They are all a bunch of crazy people with all these schemes – constantly changing things."

Gail Harbuz, 51, who also lives in the road, said: "Whilst it is unpleasant for someone else to park on the grass in front of the house I do it myself as I have two cars and I wouldn't like to get fined."

However, others would welcome action to tackle the problem.

Daniel Read, 23, who lives in the road, said it was "stupid" people park on pavements.

"If the council were to take action I think it would deter people – they shouldn't do it."

And neighbour Robert Frettingham, 53, said that while he did not think the council should impose fines, the grass verges on the road were getting "chewed up and muddy."

Councillor Alex Norris said: "I get a lot of frustration in public meetings that people park on pavements – sometimes for weeks.

"If you have a mobility scooter or wheelchair you can't get past it."

He insisted it will not just be rolled out across all city roads.

"We'll apply common sense based on what people say," he said. "If they say it's a trouble spot then we'll look at it.

"Grass verges present a different frustration for residents as well. If you imagine you have a grass verge outside your house and people constantly park on it, in bad weather it gets chewed up."

Where the new traffic order is in place, the council said cars will be checked by existing traffic enforcement officers so there will be no extra cost.

The council also said it is a potential problem for utility companies that need to gain access to pipes below ground.

A spokesman added: "There may also be risks with heavy vehicles parking above pipes which are not deep beneath the ground."

Do you live in a parking problem area? Call our newsdesk on 0115 9482000 or e-mail us at newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

OVER 75,000 more people are living in Nottingham and Notts compared to a decade ago, according to census figures.

The total population of the city and county is now 1,091,482, according to the census carried out last year – up 7.4 per cent from 1,015,498 people in 2001.

Results of the latest census were released yesterday, and also revealed there are now 11,957 single-parent households in the city, compared to 11,483 in 2001.

The average age of the city's 305,680 people was 34.8 years old, with its median age – the age which divides the population into two numerically equal groups – being 30.

This median age is ten years lower than the East Midlands average, and 12 years less than in Notts – where the average age is 41.1.

Mick Burrows, chief executive of Notts County Council, said: "The census provides invaluable information which councils use to help plan what will be required in future years for things such as housing, roads, schools and care for older people.

"The Government also takes census data into account when determining the level of funding for local council services and we hope the 75,000 increase in the city and county's population is taken into consideration when future spending allocations are announced."

The census is carried out every ten years and aims to collect a snapshot of life across the UK.

It asked households to fill out the form on March 27, 2011.

The 2011 census also revealed there are more single people living in the city than a decade ago. Of the 250,104 people who gave a marital status in 2011, 128,363 or 51.3 per cent said they were single. This compared with 94,885, or 44.3 per cent in 2001.

The number of married people has also grown from 66,299 to 79,116.

The figures also contained same-sex civil partnerships for the first time, with 600 people registering their status as this in the city.

A further 1,301 people said they were in a same-sex civil partnership in Notts, with 323,211 people (50.2 per cent) married and 192,587 (29.9 per cent) classed as single.

The census also looked at the types of employment taken up by workers in Nottingham and Notts.

The most popular was wholesale, retail, or motor repair trades, with nearly 88,000 people in the city and county employed in this area.

Meanwhile, less than 2,000 people were still employed in the mining industry in Notts.

Mr Burrows said: "The types of jobs that people are employed in show the changing nature of the Notts economy and we have seen a big shift in employment types.

"However we should be really encouraged that manufacturing figures so strongly, particularly in advanced and knowledge-based sectors where they support better paid employment and good opportunities for export of goods."

Nationally, the population of England and Wales on March 27, 2011, was 56.1 million – up 3.7 million (seven per cent) since 2001.

THE FUTURE of a community's GP service is set to be decided at a meeting this evening.

Controversial plans to merge five West Bridgford GP surgeries into one £8m super hub have been recommended for approval and will be considered by the Development Control Committee meeting at the Rushcliffe Civic Centre on Pavillion Road at 7pm.

Scores of residents are expected to go to the meeting to highlight their disappointment at the plans that will replace five existing surgeries at Southview, Trent Bridge, Ludlow Hill, Musters Road and Compton Acres with one centre on Wilford Lane.

A patients' group, Patients Against Surgeries Move (PASM) has been campaigning against the changes and has sent an alternative plan to councillors to consider ahead of the meeting.

Peter Jaggar is a member of the PASM group. He said: "This is totally the wrong location for both the existing and likely future catchment area of these five surgeries.

"There are good planning reasons for refusing the application - the site is very hard to reach by all sustainable modes of travel, especially for the thousands of people who are elderly or disabled."

About 30,000 patients will be affected by the plans to merge the surgeries.

Patrick Armstrong of Musters Crescent used to work for the City Council and has provided the group with transport and highways advice.

He said: "I believe there are very substantial travel, access, environmental, social and economic sustainability failings in the proposed site. These failings have not been satisfactorily addressed."

A spokesperson for Notts Primary Care Trust said: "GPs involved in the project looked at 60 different sites in West Bridgford. The practices examined 23 sites in detail, but unfortunately only one of the sites was deemed suitable for their needs.

"The GP practices are working with Notts County Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council and local bus companies on the options for improving transport links."

The deputy chief executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Paul Randle said the plans have been well publicised.

Dr Gavin Derbyshire, a GP at the Musters Road Medical Practice, said: "It will greatly improve services; all the practices as they stand are sub-standard. They are in houses from the 1930s, some even older, that were not designed to be doctors surgeries.

"This makes disabled and access for the elderly difficult, with stairs in the surgery.

He added: "If we have to use a room downstairs it means the nurses have to suspend surgery which creates a backlog and increases waiting times.

"The new premises will allow for a better range of services and facilities."

Do you think the new surgery is a good idea? Contact Peter Blackburn on 0115 905 1955 or email peter.blackburn@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

FORTY per cent of all violence in the city is domestic, it has been revealed.

The figures emerged at a full city council meeting when councillors praised the Nottingham Post's domestic violence campaign.

It was also reported there were 12,000 domestic incident calls to police last year in the city alone – with 2,700 crimes reported.

Councillors voted to protect their funding for domestic violence services and to lobby the Government to prevent national cuts in funding.

Councillor Alex Norris praised the Post's Man Enough campaign for bringing so many organisations together.

They include Women's Aid, Notts Domestic Violence Forum, the police, Nottingham City Homes and councils across the county, with Gedling Borough leader John Robinson taking a leading role.

Mr Norris also named dozens of businesses, voluntary organisations and celebrities, including Nottingham boxing champion Carl Froch, that have got involved.

He said: "A remarkable breadth of people and organisations are getting involved and coming together to say we have a vision for our city.

"People will always have differing views about what they want the future of the city to look like.

"This is the thing where everyone can come together and say it's never OK."

He also expressed concern that neighbouring authorities might not protect their services, as it is not a statutory requirement.

"We can't have wide-ranging discrepancies so that it's a postcode lottery," he said.

"I look to Government to provide a national framework."

The meeting saw many other councillors give heart-felt speeches about domestic violence, including Councillor Jackie Morris who was emotional as she spoke from her own experience.

She said: "I'd like to make you aware it's such a complex issues, it's not straight forward.

"All violence is unacceptable but this violence takes place in a relationship – a relationship that was born out of love to start with – that doesn't go out the window.

"I'm not condoning that behaviour – I'm just saying it's different, the emotional abuse that comes out of it, the effect on children, the effect it has on family life."

She urged councillors to distribute the Women's Aid helpline number so that when a woman's "switch goes" and she needs to call for help, she can.

The council also heard the number will be put on bus shelters and timetables around the city, as suggested by Councillor Carole McCulloch.

And Councillor Emma Dewinton, who helped get This is England star Andrew Shim to support the campaign, said: "Having worked in a refuge, I found it frustrating that for some time, domestic violence was seen as Affecting only women. Domestic abuse impacts on children, not just in terms of physical risk or harm – but mental health, behavioural problems and overall development."

Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services, read quotes from children who have witnessed domestic violence.

A 12-year-old boy said: "Some teachers understand if you have a sad face.

"Teachers shouldn't know because their mum will get angrier and that's worse."

He added that a nine-year-old girl said: "If you're going to tell someone your problem you have to trust them."

People who need help can contact Nottingham's Women's Aid on 0808 800 0340 or visit www.wais.org.uk

A WOMAN who had to give up work and a passion for running because of disability says she has been given a new lease of life – by a Madness concert.

Joan Ward, of Mapperley, first began struggling to get about more than 20 years ago after complications from a knee operation.

She later developed multiple sclerosis, which affects movement of her muscles, and muscle tension dysphonia – which affects her ability to speak.

Joan, 52, said she had spent years battling falling confidence until last Thursday's gig by the legendary ska band at the Capital FM Arena.

She had won two tickets through the Post's Hottest Ticket competition and later rang the paper to say the trip had changed her life.

Joan, of Kenrick Road, said: "It's the first concert I'd been to since Boy George in the mid 90s.

"Things had got worse and worse for me. It's been hard to get through and hard to understand. I do think to myself 'why me?' at times.

"But the concert made me smile again. I'd never entered a competition before but suddenly decided I wanted to go. Before I went I'd lost confidence on going out to things like this completely because I just didn't know whether I could do it – but now I know I can with my husband's help.

"It's changed my life completely."

Joan, a former marathon runner, has faced her uphill struggle since around 1990.

Her problems began after the knee operation and eight years ago she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, which affects her joints.

Then two years ago she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease affecting nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing problems with muscle movement and vision.

Today, she relies on crutches and a wheelchair to get around and can no longer work after having to give up a job in a day nursery.

Muscle tension dysphonia has also hit her confidence as it affects the volume of her voice.

To keep her brain active she is doing a maths course at South Notts College.

And after last week's concert, Joan, who has followed Madness since they first found fame in the early 1980s, now says she feels able to get out properly, socialise and go to gigs for the first time in years.

"Suggs is coming to the Royal Concert Hall next year and I'm raring to go," she added.

"I've even been going to the local pub since the concert.

"I think it all comes down to the power of music. I was still hyper the next day."

Her husband Alan, 57, a retired scientist, has also seen the difference and went with Joan to the concert.

He said: "She loves music and she's just much more lively and positive. She's talking a lot more.

"With her disabilities it's difficult to go any distance but this has given her more determination."

PLANS for an annexe with space for 300 pupils at a West Bridgford school look set to get the green light next week.

Notts County Council's planning and licensing committee meets on Tuesday to discuss plans for the building in Swithland Drive, which would connect to Heymann School.

The proposals also include replacing a playing field at the existing school with a multi-use games area.

A 24-YEAR-OLD man was arrested after drugs were found at a house in Ripley.

Police searched the property in Beighton Street at 1.15pm on Monday.

Cash and suspected heroin and cannabis were found.

The man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class A drug. He was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

AN ATTEMPTED robbery took place at a betting shop in Hucknall on Tuesday night.

Two white men entered Ladbrokes, Watnall Road, at 8.20pm. They threatened staff and demanded cash before fleeing empty handed.

No one was injured and no weapons were seen.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.