NOTTS County must start giving their young players a big chance at Meadow Lane, says chief executive Jim Rodwell.

The Magpies have a lot of highly-rated youngsters, but only 18-year-old goalkeeper Fabian Spiess has started a league game in the first team this season – and that is only because of an injury to No.1 Bartosz Bialkowski.

And Rodwell fears the likes of centre-back Haydn Hollis, 20, and striker Tyrell Waite are going to waste.

Hollis has played just one league game for Notts since graduating from the club's youth setup – and that was over a year ago – while Waite has played two games as a sub, after moving to Meadow Lane from non-league Ilkeston FC 13 months ago.

There are more promising players, like Curtis Thompson, Jake Wholey and Greg Tempest at the club.

And after seeing Spiess take the step-up in his stride, Rodwell wants to see more of those players make their breakthrough.

"Fabian's come in for a couple of games and done well and we'd like to see more of them play," he said.

"It would be nice to see some of the young players have an opportunity.

"I share the frustration of some of our fans and would like to see Haydn Hollis, Tyrell Waite, Curtis Thompson and some of these boys have their chance.

"If we do get some of them in the team we ask for people to give them a chance and get behind them."

RADFORD went down 4-0 at home to an impressive Barrow Town side.

Radford were competitive and Adam Mahl headed against the bar on 16 minutes.

Radford held out until a minute before the break when Michael Coyle was adjudged to have fouled a Barrow player and Cam Gray blasted the spot kick past Martins Apenitis.

Just three minutes into the second half Michael Paparozzi made it 2-0 with a well-taken half volley.

It was 3-0 on the hour mark when Carl Adam chipped in, before sub Lewis Allen rounded things off.

Radcliffe Olympic made it five league wins in a row after beating local rivals Greenwood Meadows 2-0 at the Recreation Ground.

A goal from an Eddie Price free- kick in the first half was followed by a goal from Jack Smith after the break.

Greenwood were first to threaten and Radcliffe keeper Joe McCormack had to rush off his line to clear.

The visitors went on to create a number of chances and it was only poor finishing that let them down.

Both sides had a goal disallowed before Radcliffe opened the scoring on 35 minutes through Price.

Just before the break Lewis Williamson had a golden opportunity to bring his side level, but once again fired wide of the target with just the keeper to beat.

After the break, Greenwood managed to get the ball in net, but the referee had clearly blown for an infringement outside the area.

On 56 minutes Ryan Smith won an aerial battle to head the ball into the path of his namesake, Jack, who coolly lobbed the ball over Kay from the edge of the area.

Radcliffe came close to scoring again but Jack Smith was denied.

ARNOLD Hill Academy have enjoyed a fantastic debut season at national level after two of their girls football teams reached the quarter-finals of a schools tournament.

Both the under-13 and under-15 girls' teams made it through six stages of the English Schools' Football Association tournament to reach the last eight.

Louise Wray, team manager and sports teacher at Arnold Hill, formed the girls' football squads five years ago when she first joined the school and this year was their first attempt in the national competition.

Wray said: "When I first arrived at the school there was an obvious playing talent and enthusiasm for the game – we just needed to provide the outlet.

"It was an immediate success and the girls' teams have consistently collected a number of tournament wins at county level.

"The girls at Arnold Hill have shown a real flair for the game, done extremely well and enjoyed enormous success – so much so that I thought it was time to take the next step and see how we would fare in larger, national tournaments.

"I never dreamt that we would do so well with two teams in just our first year of entering."

A FORMER machinist with a passion for making patchwork quilts has died.

Janet Harper, of Gretton Road, Mapperley, died peacefully at home on January 19, aged 72.

A funeral service took place at Holy Trinity Church, Lambley, on February 4, and Mrs Harper was laid to rest at Lambley Cemetery.

More than 100 people attended the service, at which donations were collected in aid of the Nottingham University Hospital Charity's breast cancer research appeal.

Mrs Harper was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998, and her family have thanked staff at the City Hospital for caring for her over the last 15 years.

Her husband of 49 years, Roy Harper, 74, said: "She was a valued friend."

Mrs Harper, nee Mason, was born in Lambley on March 26, 1940. The youngest of three children, she attended Lambley Primary School and Redhill School.

She embarked on a career as a machinist, firstly at the Kirklands factory in Lambley, then Bancrofts factory, in Roden Street, Sneinton, where she worked for around 25 years.

She met Mr Harper at the age of 17, while he was on his rounds in Lambley as a mobile butcher for the Co-op.

Her mother was a regular customer of Mr Harper, who was 18 when he met his future wife. They married at Lambley Parish Church on October 12, 1963 and settled in Gretton Road.

They had two sons – David, now 47 and of Sherwood, and Russell, 45, of Arnold.

Mrs Harper stopped working in 1986.

Her main interest outside work was as a member of the Patterns and Plains Quilting Group.

Mr Harper said: "She had a lot of friends from there. We also used to go caravanning in Derbyshire. Nether Heage was our favourite area; we would go more or less every weekend in the summer."

Son Russell said: "She was bubbly. She made friends easily and kept them.

"She liked nothing more than putting the kettle on for a cup of tea and having a good chat with her friends."

Mrs Harper is also survived by her brother, Brian, 76, of Arnold, and sister Margaret, 78, of Mapperley.

Arnold: M. N. Singh, 77 High Street, to 6.30pm; Sainsbury's, Nottingham Road, to 10pm; Asda Pharmacy, 111-127 Front Street, 7am to 11pm.

Beeston and Lenton Abbey: Grewal Chemist, 38-40 Chilwell Road, to 7pm; Jardines Pharmacy, Sainsbury's Complex, Beeston, to 6.45pm; Manor Pharmacy, 24 Chilwell Road, to 7pm.

Burton Joyce: Burrows & Close, 49 Main Street, to 6.30pm.

Clifton: Day Night Pharmacy, 116 Southchurch Drive, to Midnight.

Cotgrave: The Co-operative Pharmacy, 9 The Precinct, Candleby Lane, to 6.30pm.

Daybrook: Snowden-James Pharmacy, Daybrook Health Centre, Mansfield Road, to 6.30pm.

East Leake: Manor Pharmacy, 12/14 Gotham Lane, to 6.30pm.

Eastwood: The Co-operative Pharmacy, 2A Church Walk, to 6.30pm.

Gamston: Morrisons Store Pharmacy, Lings Bar Road, to 8pm.

Heanor: W R Evans, 67 Mansfield Road, to 6pm.

Hucknall: Health Centre Pharmacy, Curtis Street, to 7pm; Lloyds Pharmacy, Unit 1, Farleys Lane, to 6.45pm; Tesco Pharmacy, Ashgate Road, 6.30am to 10.30pm.

Hyson Green: Asda Pharmacy, Asda Superstore, 7.30am-10pm.

Jacksdale: Acorn Pharmacy, 8-10 Main Road, to 6.30pm.

Long Eaton: Boots, Long Eaton Health Centre, Midland Street, to midnight.

Long Eaton: Tesco Extra, Waverley Street, 6.30am to 10.30pm.

Keyworth: Co-operative Pharmacy, 2 The Square, to 6pm; Keyworth Pharmacy, The Square, 8.30am to 6.30pm.

Mansfield: Sainsbury's, Nottingham Road, to 10pm.

New Basford/Forest Fields: Shally's Chemists, 37 Beech Avenue, to 6.30pm.

Nottingham central: Glasshouse Chemist, 42-44 Glasshouse Street, to 7pm; Boots 11-19 Victoria Centre, to 7pm; Canning, 2 Beastmarket Hill, Old Market Square, to 6.30pm; Boots, Riverside Retail Park, 9am-midnight; Castle Marina Sainsbury's, 7am-11pm.

Radford: Canning, 61 Ilkeston Road, to 7.15pm.

Rise Park: Knights Pharmacy, 9 Bestwood Park Drive West, 9am-7pm.

Sherwood and Woodthorpe: Lloyds Chemist, 678 Mansfield Road, to 6.30pm; Jayplex Chemist, 724 Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe, to 6.30pm.

Sneinton and St Ann's: D Parmar, 298 Woodborough Road, 9am-12.30pm and 2-6.30pm; Phakey's, Family Medical Centre, 149 Carlton Road, 9am-6.30pm.

Southwell: Lloyds Chemist, 2-4 King Street, 8.30am-6pm; Co-operative Pharmacy, The Ropewalk, 7am-11pm.

Stapleford: Co-op Pharmacy, Stapleford Care Centre, Church Street, 7am-11pm.

Strelley: Omega Chemist, 25 Flamsteed Road, 8.45am-1pm and 2.30pm-6.30pm.

West Bridgford: Asda Chemist, Asda Superstore, 184 Loughborough Road, to 10pm; Manor Pharmacy, 97A Melton Road, to 7pm.

ASHLEY Johnson, 24, of Linton Rise, Sneinton, will appear at Nottingham Crown Court accused of possessing cannabis with intent to supply and producing cannabis in Carlton on May 9 last year. He was unconditionally bailed to attend a preliminary hearing on February 18.

NADINE Hodson, 29, of Bowbridge Road, Newark, was fined £220 for not having a television licence on October 2 in a case proved in her absence before Nottingham magistrates. She must also pays a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £60.

CLARE Jermyn , 27, of Friars Crescent, Newark, was fined £220 for not having a TV licence on October 1 last year. Nottingham magistrates also imposed a victim surcharge of £22 and an order to pay costs of £60. The case was proved in her absence.

JOHN Jones, 60, of Merlin Drive, Hucknall, was fined £240 for not having a TV licence on October 4 last year. The case was proved in his absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. He also has to pay a £24 victim surcharge and £60 costs.

Pamela Kemp, 29, of Court Leet Way, Bulwell, was fined £75 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty by post to not having a TV licence on October 5 last year. She will also pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £30.

DAN Lovatt, 34, of Wolsey Road, Newark, used a TV without a licence. The case was proved in his absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £60.

REBECCA Loydall, 36, of Lawrence Street, Stapleford, was fined £400 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. She did not have a TV licence on July 18 last year. The case was proved in her absence. She must also pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £60.

ZELDA McGlen, 29, of Deabill Street, Netherfield, has been fined £240 for not having a television licence. Magistrates in Nottingham heard the offence happened between August 24 and September 25 last year. As well as the fine, she must pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £60. The case was proved in her absence.

NATALIE Moneypenny, 32, Vine Terrace, Hucknall, was fined for not having a TV licence. She pleaded guilty by post. Nottingham magistrates imposed a fine of £135, a victim surcharge of £15 and £60 costs.

MARIE Morris, 36, of Wilfred Avenue, New Balderton, was fined £220 for not having a TV licence on October 3 last year. The case was proved in her absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. She must also pay a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £60.

DOMINIQUE Norman , 42, of Sandpiper Way, Lenton, was fined £200 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court for not having a TV licence on August 21 last year. The case was proved in her absence. She must also pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £90.

KATIE Reilly, 23, of Deabill Street, Netherfield, did not have a television licence at her address on September 24 last year. The case against her was proved in her absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. She was fined £95 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £60.

JANET Rogers, 22, of Side Row, Newark, was fined £75 for not having a TV licence on October 4 last year. She admitted the offence by post. Magistrates in Nottingham also imposed a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £60.

WASSANA Thakeray , 34, of Axford Close, Gedling, was fined £220 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. She did not have a television licence between September 23 and September 25 last year. The case was proved in her absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. She must also pay a £15 victim surcharge and £60 costs.

JOY Turton, 40, of Windmill Grove, Hucknall, pleaded guilty by post to not having a TV licence on October 1 last year. Magistrates in Nottingham fined her £75 and imposed a £20 victim surcharge and £60 costs.

RICKY Twells, 24, of Grenville Drive, Stapleford, was fined £200 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court for using a TV without a licence on July 18 last year. The case was proved in his absence. He must also pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £60.

BARRY West, 57, of Goodall Crescent, Hucknall, was fined £120 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court for not having a TV licence from September 9 to October 1 last year. The case was proved in his absence. He also has to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £60.

DAVID White, 28, of Langdale Close, Newark, was fined £130 for not having a television licence between September 1 and October 2 last year, magistrates in Nottingham heard. He pleaded guilty by post and must also pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £60.

EMMA Wright, 24, of St Marys Gardens , Newark, pleaded guilty by post to not having a TV licence on October 1 last year. Magistrates in Nottingham fined her £110 and imposed a victim surcharge of £20.

City centre

Wilford: Ruddington Lane closed between Fieldway and the Nottingham South and Wilford Industrial Estate until March 31.

Broxtowe

Eastwood: Mansfield Road closed between Kelham Way and Greenhills Road from 7am on Saturday, February 16, until 6pm on Sunday, February 24

Gedling

Gedling: Temporary three and two-way traffic signals in Shearing Hill, between Burton Road and Station Avenue, until Friday.

Newark and Sherwood

Lowdham: Caythorpe Road closed until Friday.

Rufford: Edwinstowe Road closed near the Old Rufford Road junction until 5pm on Sunday.

Ashfield

Annesley Woodhouse: A611 Annesley Road closed northbound and southbound, from the A608 Mansfield Road junction to Hucknall Road, Newstead. It will be closed from 8pm to 5am each night from Monday, February 25, until Saturday March 2, and between Monday, March 4, until Thursday, March 7.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: Lime Street closed at the Outram Street junction, from 9am on Monday, February 18, until 4pm on Sunday, February 24.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: Dalestorth Street closed at the Mansfield Road junction for traffic signal improvement works, from 9am on Monday, February 18, until 4pm on Sunday, February 24.

Mansfield

Mansfield: Quaker Way, between Albert Street and Quaker Lane, and Quaker Lane both closed to motorists until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 23. The one-way system in Queen Street, between White Hart Street and Exchange Row, while also be suspended.

Mansfield: Garden Road closed between Rooth Street and Radford Street for water mains disconnection works, until 6pm on Wednesday.

Mansfield: Bolsover Street closed near the Skerry Hill junction for parking bay construction works, until 4pm on Monday, February 25. One-way orders will also be suspended in Montague Street, Rock Street, and Bolsover Street.

Pleasley: Bagshaw Street closed near the High Street junction for sewer repairs, until 6pm on Friday.

THE University of Nottingham's former education centre in the city has been sold to student accommodation firm Fortis Development with the help of Innes England.

The developer exchanged contracts unconditionally and completed the purchase as well as securing planning consent for student accommodation at the buildings, in Shakespeare Street and Peachy Street.

Matthew Hannah, director of retail and roadside at Innes England, said: "The attraction of an unconditional offer and certainty of a transaction made the decision to progress with Fortis Development straightforward.

"Although it is in part a listed building, Fortis Development and Nottingham City Council's planning department delivered a prompt consent, with planning secured in December when terms had only been agreed in August. This should give confidence to other inward investors that matters can be dealt with promptly if the right information is provided."

The developer, based in Manchester and Liverpool, aims to turn the 13,826 sq ft building into student accommodation by the end of the year. Carl Rowland, acquisitions director at Fortis Development, said: "Innes England offered a pragmatic approach and secured the deal promptly.

"The building is ideal for student accommodation, both the location in the city as well as the space available. The fact the building in Shakespeare Street is Grade II listed, certainly added to its appeal."

The original buildings were constructed in the late 19th century and are close to the main Nottingham Trent University campus and Victoria Centre.

Graham Ward, University of Nottingham commercial director, said: "We chose to sell the education centre because we had quite simply out-grown the space. We have now relocated to the Jubilee Campus, which is outside of the city centre, as it suits our space requirements more efficiently and offers a better learning environment for education students."

BERLIN is an historic city which witnessed many of the 20th century's defining moments. And Tempelhof, its old airport, was the site of one of them – the airlift that prevented West Berlin being cut off when the Cold War really got under way.

Today, Tempelhof is a great exhibition venue. While you wouldn't call the Bread & Butter trade show historic, you can certainly say that the industry it serves, fashion retailing, is currently experiencing one of its defining moments.

Here in the UK, high streets are feeling the strain like never before. The fall-out from the credit crunch and the recession that followed in its wake continues to take its toll on consumer credit and consumer spending. On top of that, the march of technology and the internet have raised questions about whether you need to physically go shopping.

On the face of it, Bread & Butter, which has been running for more than a decade, seems insulated from these doubts. Berlin is an incredibly cosmopolitan city, and the Tempelhof exhibition was a typically loud and proud event. But behind the glitz and the glamour, my conversations told me that the challenge facing fashion retail isn't confined to the UK.

All over the world, retailers are asking what they need to do to their stores to deliver an experience which goes beyond great clothes – and whether current models of property leasing are appropriate to the way we trade now.

Bread & Butter is the place where fashion wholesaling and retailing go to network, trend-spot, share ideas and generally see what's coming next. Big high street chains go (House of Fraser was there), major fashion brands display up-and-coming collections (such as Superdry, Marc O'Polo and Scotch & Soda), and they're joined by emerging fashion brands. These emerging brands are the ones who might find their way into major retailers, into fashionable independents – and may be go from wholesale to retail themselves one day.

Wandering round the vast halls of Tempelhof told me that there are some new and innovative brands which we need to bring to Nottingham. We've got a heritage of cutting-edge fashion (this is the home of Paul Smith, remember) and I know there are plenty of boutiques who attract the right kind of customer and know how to market new brands to them. Just look at Ark, on Victoria Street – a real independent success story.

But the economic climate and the disruptive effect of the internet mean that wholesaling to retailing is a big transition to make now. In the past, the aim was to gradually build a big network of stores covering all the major cities and towns. But outside London, the high street today is seen as high risk, and the view among many is that nine or 10 major cities together with a strong online platform is as far as they'd extend themselves.

The rise of the internet has obviously had a big impact on this (though it still accounts for only a small proportion of retail turnover). But so has the traditional leasing model: 10-year leases with upwards only reviews and fixed rents make a major move into high street retail look like a big bet.

There is an overriding desire among retailers for landlords to bear some of this risk. Leases with base rents and turnover provisions are becoming more prevalent in shopping centre leasing. Is this something we'll see introduced on the high street – and what would the implications be?

There's a clear and emerging message, too: if high street retailing is going to be sustainable, it has to be a partnership between retailer and landlord, where both understand what they are trying to achieve. Landlords need to understand a retailer's market proposition, have a feel for its current and future trading performance, and work out how well it might fit in with the shops around them: adding an up-and-coming fashion retailer to your parade might look great on paper, but what if the anchor tenant is only months away from a break – where would that leave their footfall?

Fashion retail is an innovative trade and it is thinking hard about new ways of keeping customers coming in. At Bread & Butter, I saw some incredibly innovative brands display fashions and accessories which will be making headlines months from now. But I also saw and heard some inspiring talk about adding value to the high street experience – the fashion chains who will add male grooming, refreshment and all kinds of other entertainment to their offer.

Quite rightly, we talk about Nottingham as a retail and leisure destination, one where shopping is just part of the experience. Retailers themselves need to be thinking in the same way, and they should be supported by landlords.

David Richardson is a surveyor with Nottingham property consultancy FHP.

A SCHOOLWEAR supplier has leased premises in Woodborough Road, Nottingham, allowing the merger of two of its Nottingham branches.

Property agent Innes England has secured a deal with John Cheatle Schoolwear on a property of 4,500 sq ft in a highly prominent position in the popular district of Mapperley.

John Cheatle provides uniforms and sportswear to about 500,000 pupils each year and has 77 outlets nationwide.

The family-run business has streamlined its retail space by merging its substantial Maid Marian Way branch in the city with its smaller Arnold branch.

Charles Howard, at John Cheatle, said: "We found access to our previous location awkward for our customers and we wanted to get better value for our money. We needed premises that gave us enough space to house a larger business, with easy access for our customers. I'm thrilled with the premises Innes England found for us, as it ticks every box, in particular a large car park that makes it easier not only for our customers but also the running of the business."

The property frontsWoodborough Road on the corner of Porchester Road, close to the main retail area of Mapperley.

Ben Taylor, of Innes England, said: "This location is ideal for the business, as it serves schools both in the city and to the north of Nottingham. The landlord invested substantially in providing modern, open- plan showroom premises, ideal for a retailer such as John Cheatle, who needed highly visible premises and a large car park."

NG CHARTERED Surveyors has almost filled a set of micro units at an industrial estate in Nottinghamshire – and says it's a sign that small businesses in the region are feeling confident despite the tough economic climate.

Seven out of nine brand new 1,000 sq ft. units – the Sycamore Pods, at Moorgreen Industrial Estate – are now let, with strong interest in the remaining two.

The units have been on the market since 2011 but interest has shot up in recent months, particularly from start-ups. The spate of new deals brings a greater diversity of businesses to the estate.

New tenants include a micro-brewery, a renewable energy firm and a book restoration company.

Henry Henson, of NG Chartered Surveyors, said: "Since the credit crunch, small businesses have been nervous about taking on a new property, choosing to put off the decision until they were feeling more confident about the future.

"But the last four or five months have been an entirely different story. We've had lots of enquiries from people who are serious about taking on new business space, so we've been able to do a series of successful deals that mean nearly all of the Sycamore Pods are now let. A lot of the new tenants are start-ups, which I think is a sign that smaller companies – which have less fixed costs and more flexibility – are in many cases doing better than medium-sized and larger companies, who have been badly hit by the economic downturn."

One of the new tenants is David Winfield, co-owner of the White Dog Brewery. He set up the business with Paul Burke and Eamon Lyons last summer. The company moved into one of the pods in November and started trading soon after.

He said: "Paul is a talented brewer and Eamon and I have experience running our own businesses. We were all itching for a new venture, so we decided to go for it.

"Now that we've moved into the new space, we're ready to drive the business forward. Last Friday, our first brew went on sale at a local pub – the Marlpool, in Heanor – and it was sold out the next afternoon. We've started to supply the Dewdrop pub, in Ilkeston, and we're now working on building contacts with pubs and showing off our products at local beer festivals.

"Our Sycamore Pod is perfect for us – it's new, smart and in a nice area. We had looked around so many other places that just weren't up to scratch."

Andy Graves, owner of Sycamore Bookbinders – a book binding and restoration specialist with clients as far afield as Japan and Dubai – moved into another of the pods in December. He set up the business after being made redundant from his previous job.

"I had built up some great contacts over the years and they all said they'd work with me if I set up on my own," said Andy. "I needed somewhere to set up a workshop and the Sycamore Pods were the perfect space and price for what I needed. The feedback from visiting clients has been brilliant.

"So far, things are going really well and I've taken on four members of staff. We're currently working on a project for the Isle of Man Heritage Museum. We've also picked up some work with private individuals who want to restore their old family books – from bibles to Victorian children's pop-up stories."

NG Chartered Surveyors has completed another deal at Moorgreen Industrial Estate, letting a larger unit at Chestnut House.

With further deals in the pipeline for the remaining unit on Birch Park and the last Ash Court unit, the firm is aiming for 100 per cent occupancy of the entire Moorgreen estate.

IMPLYING that "it has all gone wrong since Labour left office", Ed Jacobs ("Why has it gone wrong since Labour left office?", Post, January 28) uses the same technique as Eric Goodyer to deflect attention from Labour's legacy by criticising the current government.

It seems to have has slipped Mr Jacobs' mind that when Labour left office the annual borrowing figure was £160 billion. He now seeks to make an issue of the fact that so far this financial year it is £106.5 billion. Whilst we have to wait for another quarter to see the full figure for the 2012-2013 year it will be much lower than the £160 billion Labour left behind.

And, according to Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, the current government is "cutting too far too fast". Logic suggests then that, had he been Chancellor, borrowing would have been higher. On the other hand, Eric Goodyer recently reminded us that, just before losing the election, Labour passed a law requiring their £160 billion deficit to be cut by half in four years. So, presumably, he would have us believe that, had they won the election, they would have reduced their £160 billion annual borrowing legacy by £80 billion by next year.

Given Ed Balls' view about the cuts in spending, it would be interesting to learn how that would have been done. Otherwise, we are entitled to conclude that the best Labour can do is to contradict themselves.

DOROTHY WILSON

Main Street

Willoughby on the Wolds

AFTER reading Tony Morris's letter ("Family life is under increasing pressure", Post, January 28), I could see exactly what he meant. Yesterday I was at the Lakeside Arts Centre watching a documentary on St Ann's 1969. Family struggled. Dad went to work! Quite a few things mirrored what's happening today. Second-hand shops thrive, pawn shops are on the up. In that respect we are going backwards. The young wife in the film said she was married 14 months before she got a television. I washed by hand for a couple of years, saved for a spin dryer, then my mam gave me her old twin tub (it was like winning the pools). Nowadays more wants more (and seem to get it).

Our kitchen had a stove, coal house, food cupboard, sink, table. My bed was cosy flannelette sheets, blankets, candlewick bedspread. We were fed, warm and loved. Club man and tick was used at most households. I can hear my mam say now: "Looks like I've got to rob Peter to pay Paul."

Mum also said "Laugh and grow fat" – ha ha. I've laughed a bit too much (or ate too much).

I think Anna Soubry is eating her words. She's said it so it will be (hard to swallow).

JEAN TAYLOR

Barlock Road

Basford

I LIVE on the former Premiere Red 8 route in the west of Hucknall and would like to say how much we all miss this service. It was our only direct bus service into the centre of Nottingham via Watnall Road, taking just 45 minutes. When the service was brought in by Premiere some time ago it was welcomed with open arms by many people in this area.

True we are not so badly affected as people in the small villages who have no alternative service. It must be awful for them.

In your paper, however, it says the Red 8 service is now covered by Trent Barton Rainbow 3 and the tram. But no way is it the same or as convenient, and it takes much longer.

First we have to catch a Trent Barton Connect bus before we can get the other two services from central Hucknall. The Connect service run two routes, one on a mainly half hourly service (Monday-Sunday) from the tram through the centre of Hucknall around the west area of Hucknall then returning to the tram stop via Broomhill Road and Portland Road. The second Connect route runs the opposite way with modifications to the route on a mainly 15-minute service. This route however stops after 18.40 Monday to Saturday with no service at all on a Sunday.

Unfortunately this adds quite some time to each journey, not to mention time waiting for connections and the failure of the Connect service which constantly seems to have problems with breakdowns. People often have to wait far longer than 15 minutes for a connection.

JUDITH WILKINSON

By e-mail

I AM writing in response to your feature regarding Allen Tipton ("A magical tribute show", Post, February 1).

I was a pupil of Allen Tipton's in 1957 at Glaisdale School and a member of the cast of The Lost Tribe. It was our first year there and Allen's first placement after leaving college. We were 11 and Allen was 24 but in our young eyes he seemed ancient!

How lucky we were to encounter such a teacher. Allen's usual attire was a baggy black sweater and tights, sometimes accompanied by ballet pumps, so different from the rest of the teachers who were tied and suited and very strict! We were a large unruly class but Allen cast each one of us in his play The Lost Tribe. We won awards for this play. He gave us confidence and pride and he treated us with kindness and respect.

We were happily reunited in 2002 with Allen and old pupils of 1B, Glaisdale School. We had grown up, married, had kids and grandkids but our dear Mr Tipton, even after 40 years, barely looked a day older! A group of us continued to meet for lunch, Allen always being our guest of honour and deservedly so.

He left his mark on so many and will be sadly missed.

JILL BOWLES and the "Lost tribe"

BILLY Davies – NO! All you people calling for him to come back are sadly misguided.

Remember when he first took over, we had one of the best reserve teams in the country with only three defeats in two seasons, lots of young promising players just waiting for a crack at the first team, all expertly coached by John Pemberton. So what did Billy do? He immediately sacked him, thus destroying the foundations of future success. Billy is only interested in spending money on ready-made players and took no interest in the reserves at all. The same thing will happen again and poor old John Pemberton (one of the best coaches in the country) would be out the door once again.

MICHAEL PEMBERTON

By e-mail

DURING this current negative publicity about the NHS, I would like to comment on a very positive experience I had recently.

On January 18, during the bad weather, I had a fall in the garden resulting in my suffering a broken hip.

I cannot praise the professionals highly enough.

The ambulance arrived five minutes after the telephone receiver had been replaced from calling 999. I was treated very kindly by the attending paramedics, and transferred via ambulance to the A&E department at the QMC, where the kindness and consideration continued.

I was then admitted on to Ward C4 for a hip replacement operation.

I can only describe my experience as absolutely first class. The care I received from ALL the staff was second to none, nothing was too much trouble and the food was very nice.

MAUREEN DANIELS

Wensley Road

Woodthorpe

YOUR readers may be interested to know that all the windy weather recently has not gone to waste.

Output from wind turbines to the UK grid peaked at just over 5GW on February 2. That was 12 per cent of UK electricity demand – enough to power ten million homes.

Over the last week in January, wind was providing two thirds of Scotland's electricity.

Nottingham can't expect to do as well as Scotland. But we should be welcoming a few more turbines in the area.

NIGEL LEE

Nottingham Friends of the Earth

Ash View

CERTAINTY and clarity are essential for the property and development sectors, so we must welcome the Government's decision to identify Toton Sidings as its preferred location, for the HS2 station to serve the East Midlands.

There had been talk that the route might enter Derby, but for me that was – and is – an absolute non-starter, because it would put Nottingham at a massive competitive disadvantage in the inward investment stakes.

Derby's politicians and business leaders are already vigorously stating their case, and pledging to throw tens of millions of pounds into diverting HS2 into their city centre.

However, HS2 is intended to stimulate the economies of regional centres – so a station midway between Derby and Nottingham, which is accessible from Leicester via the M1, has to be argued as the logical location.

Toton is also ideally placed close to Junction 25 of the M1 and already has much of the track infrastructure that HS2 will require. Building a station there is far more cost-effective than creating a route, at huge expense, through established urban centres, as happened in the 19th century.

I don't believe local connectivity will be a major issue. It's a good eight years since proposals were put forward for a Nottingham Express Transit (NET) route through Beeston, and on to a park-and-ride terminus at Toton, and it's surely time for that concept to move forward to reality.

We need the politicians and business leaders across the East Midlands to be singing off the same hymn sheet and recognise what benefits HS2 will bring to the region, to ensure we maximise its potential.

I suspect the decision to choose Toton will also stimulate debate about a proposed urban extension close by the sidings, put forward last October by a major regional house builder, Peveril Homes, and its development partner, UKPP (Toton) Ltd.

They envisage building 775 homes, employment space and expanded education facilities on a site which would be linked to both Toton Sidings and the NET terminal, creating a new community with fantastic infrastructure.

The presence of tram, rail and motorway connections would create a truly sustainable hub, which I am sure would attract not just home-owners but office users and companies looking to benefit from the increased connectivity. Dramatically shorter journey times between London and major regional centres will create significant opportunity for Nottingham; both as a catalyst to attract inward investment, and to allow people to easily commute both from and to the city.

However, as HS2 moves forward in the coming years, everyone also has to work harder to enhance its offer to office users and other corporates considering relocation.

When Britain's equivalent of Japan's bullet trains are hurtling across the region at 225 mph, then Nottingham's "shop window" will be open wide, but we all need to ensure that it is well stocked, with suitable development sites and new Grade A office space.

As I've said before, we also have to learn how to nurture the businesses that are already based here, by offering them platforms on which to expand.

We can't just base our inward investment strategy on hopes that a major international employer is out there, just waiting to be seduced into coming to Nottingham. Our growth and success will be through home-grown businesses too.

A major issue of HS2 will, however, be how it impacts on land values and existing schemes, along its route and in nearby locations.

It's easy to predict that prices will rise in and around Toton itself, where land with permission for residential use would currently fetch anywhere between £500,000 and £750,000 an acre.

More problematic, though, is the likely impact on schemes built along the M1 corridor, as the proposed route will impact on all the junctions from Junctions 24 to 29(a), which have been development hotspots during the last decade.

The risk is that some new occupiers decide not to take space, as the proposed route could cut through their sites, and some schemes could be blighted, even before formal CPO notices can be served. It's a simple equation – if demand reduces, so will values.

As I said at the beginning, certainty and clarity are essential for the property and development sectors, so we need to be clear on the route so everyone can move forward and focus our thinking on progress and how we make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Matt Smith is lead director of Jones Lang LaSalle Nottingham.

THE family of a woman shot dead in Pakistan have spoken for the first time of their shock.

Nafees Fatima, 55, of Lenton, was gunned down in a remote village near the city of Samundri, Faisalabad District, while visiting relatives.

Mrs Fatima's son, Amer Ali, 33, said: "I got a phone call from a relative in the area who said something had happened.

"They eventually said 'look, your mum is no longer here'. It took an hour and a half before I realised that my mum had passed away.

"We were all just devastated – we were in a state of shock."

Amer, of Lenton, had travelled with his mother and other relatives to the village of Ghar Fateh Shah at the end of December for a family wedding

Nafees and her husband Liaqat were born in Pakistan but moved to Nottingham 40 years ago and hold British citizenship.

Amer and most of the group returned to Nottingham in early January but Nafees and a handful of other relatives, including Amer's brother Mudassar, stayed behind to deal with family business.

It was when Mudassar, 31, called Amer on January 6 that the full horror of what had happened that day emerged.

Liaqat travelled straight to Pakistan to arrange his wife's burial, which was held in the village on January 8.

Amer said: "Once my mum was buried, it was a feeling of 'at least she's not suffering'.

"Now there's a feeling of 'how could this happen?' I just can't believe that someone took my mum's life away."

He said Mudassar told him a gunman entered the front room of a house where Nafees was talking with other relatives and shot her in the chest with a shotgun, then fled.

Nafees's daughter Shazia Ali, 35, also of Lenton, said: "My mum was a well-respected and well-known woman in the Lenton community, who was friendly and approachable and would go out of her way to help others.

"We have been overwhelmed with the support we've received from family and friends. An investigation is ongoing and we are seeking justice."

The shooting is believed to be related to a family feud.

The Post agreed not to report the incident until now because of safety concerns for other family members who were also in the area but have now returned to the UK.

One man is in custody in Pakistan after being arrested in connection with the killing.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the death of British national Nafees Fatima in the area of Ghar Fateh Shah, near Faisalabad, on January 6, and are providing consular assistance."

A RADFORD shop is facing losing its alcohol licence today after counterfeit cigarettes were found there.

As previously reported in the Post, sniffer dogs were sent in to Ezee Shop, in Ilkeston Road, on August 9, 2012, by Notts Police and Nottingham City Trading Standards.

Almost 100 packets of cigarettes and tobacco hidden behind a metal shelving unit under the till were discovered.

None of the items had the correct health warnings. Further examinations found 74 of the products were counterfeit.

Owner and licence holder Anwar Abbas was out of the country when the search was carried out.

In a report, Jane Bailey, of Trading Standards, said: "The tobacco found at Ezee was clearly smuggled tobacco.

"Even if Mr Abbas knew nothing about the illicit and counterfeit tobacco being sold from his premises, he has left his store open to abuse by not taking the actions any responsible retailers would be expected to take."

Mr Abbas said he had left a Mr Ali in charge of the store while he was abroad. He originally intended to be away for a month but extended his stay because his mother was ill.

A licence is not needed to sell tobacco but selling counterfeit cigarettes is serious enough to warrant a review of an alcohol licence.

The city special licensing panel meets to debate the issue at Loxley House at 10.30am.

A MAN had to be cut free from his vehicle by firefighters after two cars crashed in Derby Road, Nottingham.

It happened at about 1pm yesterday and police shut the road while crews from Central Fire Station cut the roof off a Vauxhall Astra.

The other car involved in the crash was a blue Ford Focus.

Jade Fitzsimmons, 22, a support worker, of Westwick Road, Bilborough, was walking along the road when the crash happened. She said: "I was in a crash about a year ago. I know what it's like, it's horrible and my heart goes out to the people involved.

"I don't think the people in the Ford Focus were too badly hurt, they managed to get out of the car themselves and get into an ambulance."

A parked Nissan Micra was also damaged.

Miss Fitzsimmons said: "I saw the woman return to her car and see it was scratched. I bet she feels awful about it."

Freelance photographer Sam Hardwick, 22, of Hall Drive, Beeston, was also at the scene.

He said: "It happened just after 1pm. I saw the fire engines racing up Derby Road and I started taking pictures.

"Although the roof had to be cut off the car and it looked quite bad, I think everyone will be OK."

Gabriel Cooper, 24, who works as a nursery nurse in nearby St Joseph's School, heard the crash.

He said: "I was talking to a parent when I heard a loud bang. I thought, 'oh my God, I hope everyone is OK'."

Police closed the road, causing traffic delays, while the rescue operation was carried out. Both cars were later towed away.

A diversion was set in place along North Circus Street near Nottingham Playhouse, and the road fully reopened at around 2.30pm.

Notts Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that one man was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre.

NOTTINGHAM'S relationship with China, Malaysia and South East Asia is exceptional. Prof Greenaway advises the Government on opportunities.

But its campuses in Ningbo and Malaysia are also opportunities for Nottingham to seize in terms of business relationships, developing warmer relationships as a city with overseas students and keeping those resulting friendships in good repair.

"We do need to welcome them into our city and really make them feel part of the place," Prof Greenaway says.

"These are students who might be here for three, four, five years, a period of transformation for them. They return to their own country, they are smart people with a good degree and get good jobs. Most are successful. Some are spectacularly successful.

"We want to be in a position where, if they are very successful and they are thinking of getting into export where they can set up some activity, the first place we want them to think of is Nottingham if they feel an affinity. a love for the environment."

A great asset is the name of the city, helped by a large population of former international students who have graduated from the university.

Prof. Greenaway says: "Let's be more creative in the way we maintain contact with them. We do that as a university. The city should think about ways in which, as a city, it can try and build on and benefit from these relationship.

"This could include events, laying on more events that aren't led by the universities, where the city says 'it is great to have you here and we would like to celebrate that' – sport, a cultural event,

"Of course, there are budgetary and capacity constraints. Invite them a couple of times a year to the Council House, make them feel special, give them a tour."

AN amazing 12 months for sport in the county was capped by a star-studded awards ceremony last night.

The Notts Sports Awards took place for the 21st time – six months to the day since the end of the London Olympics.

Gold medallists, coaches and community sports clubs rubbed shoulders to compete in 14 categories in the Notts County Council-run event.

It was another night of glory for Keyworth's Sam Oldham, who won the sports person of the year honour after the 19-year-old helped the GB men's gymnastics team win bronze in the summer.

Team of the year at the East Midlands Conference Centre event went to Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott, who took gold in the canoe slalom at the games.

Tim said: "When you see everyone's name's mentioned it's nice to see but it's harsh that they pick a winner - we know everyone trains to their absolute maximum."

Both train together at the National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont.

Etienne said: "We're from Notts and we would hope this lifts the profile of our sport.

"We've got a great facility that not everyone knows about (the National Water Sports Centre) and it's good to think people are proud of Notts and feel there are good things happening in the city and county."

Kirkby-in-Ashfield's Oliver Hynd, known as Ollie, won gold in the 200m individual medley swimming event at the Paralympics. He won an achievement of the year honour.

He said: "It's special and it feels very humbling.

"Ever since the Paralympics everyone has been saying they are proud of me and have been congratulating me. It's been amazing. I had hoped the games would be received the way they were – everyone got behind us."

Newark's Sophie Wells brought back an equestrian gold medal and two silvers from the Paralympics and got an achievement of the year award.

She said: "It's been a whirlwind since the games but I hope we were able to spread the word about disability.

"It's amazing to be honoured like this, but there's a lot of strong Paralympians in the county and I'm honoured just to have been named alongside them."

Sutton Sting Ice Hockey Club won club of the year and Lowdham's Richard Whitehead, who took the gold medal from the 200m Paralympics final, was named disabled sports person of the year.

Kay Cutts, leader of Notts County Council, said: "Sport is in our psyche here in Notts. It's been an inspiring year."

Eastwood: Police are warning teenagers to be on their guard after two suspicious incidents in the town.

Three girls were walking along Nottingham Road at about 8.10pm on Thursday, February 6, from a youth club when two men inside a black Volkswagen Golf shouted across to the girls, trying to get them into the car. It had an orange sticker in the rear driver's side passenger window which said 'Golf' and was parked near the butchers in Wellington Street.

Twenty minutes later, in nearby Mansfield Road, a girl was walking home from the youth club back to Brinsley when a passenger in a white van rolled down the window and told her to get inside. The girl said no and carried on walking towards Brinsley but the van drove alongside her for a short distance, before eventually turning around. Call 101 with information.

Cinderhill: A careless burglar was confronted by pub staff when he set off an alarm. Millers Barn Public House, in Millennium Way West, was targeted at about 4.55am on Sunday. A window near to the children's play area was smashed and an offender put his hand through to open it fully and allow entry. Night staff who had heard the alarm activate confronted the burglar and he fled on foot towards the A610.

Stapleford: Witnesses are being sought after a motorbike was stolen in Braddon Avenue on Saturday. It was later found in nearby Sheridan Court. Anyone with information should contact Notts Police on 101.

NOTTS households are being urged to get plugged into average savings of up to £200 off their annual gas and electric bills – by joining a new collective energy switching scheme launched yesterday.

The Nottinghamshire Switch'n'Save offer has been set up by Notts County Council and consumer organisation Which? to try and offer residents value for money on gas and electricity prices.

The scheme – similar to one run by the city council – works by collectively negotiating the best possible price for its members, with energy companies competing for their custom.

Figures show that the average bill has risen to £1,264 following price rises of 20 per cent in 2011 and a further 11 per cent late last year.

Reg Adair, chairman of the council's finance and property committee says: "This is a great value-for-money offer.

"We want as many people as possible to join, as we'll be able to use our collective buying power muscle to negotiate a really good deal from the energy companies.

"We know many older people have been put off switching energy supplier and are missing out on big savings."

Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: "Which? is proud to be teaming up with Notts County Council to help people 'Switch'n'Save' on their energy bills.

"Rising energy prices are one of consumers' top financial worries but by taking part in 'Switch'n'Save', people in Nottinghamshire could help their household budgets.

"When Which? ran our national collective switch last year, The Big Switch, we saved those who took part an average of £223."

For more information on the scheme, which will run until March 20, visit www.nottinghamshiregov.uk/switchnsave.