Good News, Local Voices & Community Stories : Bassetlaw News Highlights from the Last Week
Well that's the end of another busy week of news from around Bassetlaw and the surrounding area - as usual we've taken a selection of our published content and shortened them, where possible into one catch-up newsletter.
Why not grab a Sunday morning brew, grab a hobnob and take ten to catch up on our shortened highlights from this week's Bassetlaw Today newsletters.
Covering all things Bassetlaw the full articles can be accessed in our daily newsletters 100% FREE on https://bassetlaw-today.ghost.io/ .
I hope you enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great weekend wherever you are.
Justin Doddy, Editor
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter here if you haven't already and remember to forward our newsletter to your friends and family.
'She was wonderful and vibrant' - tributes paid to mum-of-two killed in her Ollerton home
Tributes have been paid to 'a wonderful and vibrant' mother who had her 'whole life ahead of her' before she was killed.
Anna Zukowska, aged 52, leaves behind two sons, who have been left devastated by the news of their mum's untimely death.
In a family statement, they said:
"Anna was a wonderful, vibrant person who was full of life and had so many plans for the future.
"She leaves behind countless friends whose lives she touched.
"Her mother, her sister and sons are deeply heartbroken and struggling to process the unimaginable tragedy.
"We respectfully ask for privacy during this painful time and the family place their trust in the justice system to hold the person responsible for this crime fully accountable."
Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police
Worksop Firefighter Completes 9/11 Stair Climb For 25th Anniversary
As the world marks 25 years since the events of 11 September 2001, a firefighter from Worksop Fire Station has returned from Atlanta after taking part in a memorial challenge honouring the firefighters who lost their lives during the attacks.
Firefighter Ben Shepherd travelled to Georgia, USA, to join colleagues from across the UK, Ireland, and the United States in the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. The event sees participants climb the equivalent of the 110 storeys of the World Trade Centre towers in tribute to the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while responding to the attacks.
The climb brought together members of the global firefighting community, united in remembrance and respect for those who ran towards danger, whilst raising funds for three important charities: The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, Fire Fighters Charity, and Blue Light Card Foundation, supporting the firefighting and wider emergency service community when it comes to mental and physical health, both in the UK and U.S.
Misterton News
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION (LGR)
Local district and parish elections will go ahead in May 2027 after plans for a major shake-up of local government were put on hold after the Government launched a review in light of new legal advice. Communities Secretary Angela Rayner this week (7 September) announced that proposals to merge smaller councils to form larger authorities in a number of counties have been withdrawn. And plans for 14 other areas, including Nottinghamshire, will also be paused and reviewed.
Angela Rayner, Communities Secretary, told Parliament that she wanted to check the process and legality. The Government was facing legal challenges (judicial reviews) over proposals to reorganise councils. The Government had argued that the proposals would make the system simpler and produce savings. However, critics said the plans would not save money; and would divert resources from front-line services and mean councils were more remote from their communities.
NEW LOCAL PLAN
Bassetlaw District Council (BDC) will hold a drop-in consultation event on the new Local Plan on Monday 5 October in Misterton Methodist Church between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. The new Local Plan, covering growth up to 2045, will manage and influence economic growth, jobs, services, and investment. For more information, go to www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/localplanreview2026. Consultation started on Thursday 3 September 2026 and closes at 5.00pm on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Alongside this, the Council is also holding a Call for Sites to give residents and organisations the opportunity to submit sites with the potential for new housing or economic development (www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/bassetlaw-local-plan-review-2026/call-for-sites/)
NEW GLASS RECYCLING PAYS OFF
Bassetlaw residents have recycled over 770 tonnes of glass since the launch of the Council’s new kerbside glass recycling service at the end of April. Bins are collected from households every six weeks and during the first 12 weeks of the service, crews collected 771.22 tonnes of glass. By recycling more glass, the amount of waste sent for disposal has reduced.
Download the Bassetlaw ‘Binformation’ App to advise when the next bin collection is, sign up for alerts, and access information on which items you can put in your recycling collections. The Binformation App is available to download free from the Apple App Store and Google Play. A desktop version is also available through the Council's website. For more information and to access the desktop version, visit the Bins, Recycling & Waste section of www.bassetlaw.gov.uk.
HOUSING REGULATOR DELIVERS INSPECTION RESULTS
Bassetlaw District Council has received its judgement from the Regulator of Social Housing following a comprehensive inspection process that took place between February and May 2026. This is the first time the Council has been inspected by the Regulator, which assesses how social landlords are performing against four Consumer Standards. Bassetlaw Housing scored a C2 rating (the highest rating is C1, with C4 the lowest). The Regulator reported some weaknesses in delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards and improvement is needed; specifically in relation the Safety & Quality Standard and Transparency, Influence & Accountability Standard. The Regulator for Social Housing’s full report is at: at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/bassetlaw-district-council
BASSETLAW ACTION CENTRE: UPDATE
Bassetlaw Action Centre is continuing to help people in in the district. They need volunteers to help with a number of services where they will be given full training and expenses paid. The roles are:
Drivers – using their own car or one of BAC’s vehicles (a wheelchair accessible vehicle or a minibus) to take people to appointments, shopping or on social visits
Befrienders – creating friendships and talking regularly to people either face to face or on the phone
Supported hospital discharge service volunteer – helping people who have recently been discharged from hospital to settle back home by doing odd jobs such as light cleaning or shopping or offering a short-term befriending service
Administrator – general administrative duties within the Retford office.
Commitments can be as little as one hour a week and are structured to fit around the volunteer’s life. If you think that you might be a good match for one of these roles, or would like to ask some questions, please call 01777 709650, e-mail enquiries@actioncentre.org.uk or visit BAC’s website: bassetlawactioncentre.org.uk
BAC also offers trips in a fully accessible minibus. This is a door-to-door service, picking up from Misterton and West Stockwith. Membership is free for this service - just pay the cost of the seat on the bus, £12 for lunch club trips and £22.50 for day trips. In September and October, trips are:
Wednesday 23rd - Crystal Peaks, Sheffield (day trip)
Thursday 1st - Rufford Abbey Country Park (lunch)
Monday 5th - Bakewell Market (day trip)
Tuesday 13th - The Woodcocks, Lincoln (lunch)
Wednesday 21st - Lakeside Village, Doncaster (day trip)
Thursday 29th - Thoresby Courtyard Café (lunch).
For further information and to book, call 01777 709650.
WEST STOCKWITH NEWS
ACCLAIMED ACTOR RETURNS TO WEST STOCKWITH
Actor Tim Marriott will return to the village in October with a production called Waiting for Hamlet. It’s on Friday 2 October at 7.00 for 7.30pm; tickets are £13 (students £10). Canapes and drinks are available but BYO wine.
Tim Marriott, who made his name as Gavin Featherly in the BBC sitcom, The Brittas Empire, has been to the village twice before. His new production is a riotous journey into the afterlife of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy… Waiting for Hamlet takes audiences behind the scenes of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy, uncovering the untold tale of the Old King and his court jester, Yorick (pictured left). Arriving in the afterlife poisoned, furious, and desperate for revenge, the King finds himself challenged by the one person who can stand in his way - the fool who knows him better than anyone. A battle of wits unfolds between two unlikely adversaries: one who believes he has all the answers and one who knows that wisdom often comes from embracing the absurd.
NEW SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEN WITH PROSTATE PROBLEMS
A new group has started for men with a prostate cancer diagnosis, going through treatment, or with associated prostate issues. The group meets at the Retford Enterprise Centre (DN22 7GR) on the last Tuesday of each month from 2.00-4.00pm. If interested, or for more information, contact Jean Kirby on 07930 958 938 or e-mail. The next meeting is on Tuesday 29 September.
NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS TRUST: Trust requesting for £16 million in cash support
By: Lauren Monaghan, LDRS
Nottingham’s hospital trust has requested £16 million in emergency funding to ensure it can continue to effectively care for patients.
Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH) board members gathered on Thursday (September 10) to discuss the most recent data on the trust’s operational and financial performance this year.
In recent years, NUH, which runs Nottingham City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre, has been heavily reliant on extra funding from the government to help its operations and system work as effectively as possible.
The trust’s finance official said the £16 million in cash support would help with the trust’s expenditure, including on staffing and suppliers, adding it did not relate directly to a specific service within NUH.
The NUH board said they were waiting on a response from NHS England for the first cash request of £16 million in 2026/27.
OPERATION PERNICIOUS continues as Officers Tackle Illegal Off-Road Bikes
Officers from the Worksop North Neighbourhood Policing Team together with Roads Policing and the Drone Unit have been out conducting Operation Pernicious, targeting the illegal use of off-road bikes across our communities.
We understand that nobody wants to be taking what some may see as a child's "Christmas present". However, these bikes are often being ridden illegally on roads, footpaths, parks and public spaces, causing significant anti-social behaviour and posing a danger to both riders and members of the public.Off-road bikes can only be used in appropriate locations and must meet legal requirements if ridden on public roads.
Natural Flood Scheme Offers Fresh Protection for East Markham
A new scheme designed to slow the flow of water and reduce flood risk has been completed upstream of East Markham.
The £15,000 natural flood management project has been funded and delivered by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Flood Risk Management team, with construction carried out by EMEC Ecology.
Working with a local landowner, the project has brought a previously buried stretch of watercourse back to the surface by removing an old culvert. The water channel has been reshaped with natural bends and curves to slow the flow of water, while new floodplain areas and a low-level earth bund (a gently raised bank made from compacted soil) will help hold more water during periods of heavy rainfall.
By slowing and storing water upstream, the scheme will help reduce the amount flowing towards the village at peak times. It will also create valuable pond and wetland habitat, providing a welcome boost for local wildlife.
Credit: Nottinghamshire County Council
Bassetlaw District Council launches 'Call for Sites'
Bassetlaw District Council has launched a ‘Call for Sites’ offering landowners, developers, site promoters and organisations the chance to put forward land that could be considered for future development in the district.
Sites can be suggested for different uses, including housing, businesses, renewable energy, nature recovery, community facilities and open spaces.
This process will help support the development of the new Local Plan which will set out where homes and other developments can be built, and which parts of the district should be protected over the next ten years or so.
Crackdown on illegal number plates with new government funded roads policing team
New roads policing centre helping to track down offenders faster and disrupt organised crime groups that rely on England's road network.
- government funds new National Roads Policing Coordination Centre, stepping up enforcement on illegal number plates across England
- police join forces to share tech and data in blitz on organised crime
- part of government’s Road Safety Strategy in action, the first in over a decade, which will save thousands of lives
A new nationwide crackdown on illegal number plates will target drivers who dodge fines and organised crime gangs as the Department for Transport (DfT) funds a new roads policing team.
The National Roads Policing Coordination Centre (NRPCC) will bring together police forces from around England to share intelligence, improve collaboration and make better use of data.
Courtesy of www.gov.uk
Police Search South Yorkshire Land in Long-Running Murder Investigation
Peter Turner, formerly of Doncaster Road, Worksop, was convicted of Teresa's murder in 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Police are excavating land in South Yorkshire as part of an ongoing search for the body of Teresa Shephard, a Sheffield woman who was murdered after disappearing in 1995.
South Yorkshire Police have confirmed detectives are searching a site off Piper Lane in Aston, Rotherham. Officers are expected to remain at the location for the next few days, with a police cordon established around the area.
Teresa, who was 26 and lived in Basegreen, Sheffield, went missing in June 1995. Although her killer was convicted the following year, her body has never been recovered.
Source: BBC News reporting by Julia Bryson, 15 September 2026.
Have your say on Cake Sheds in Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw District Council is asking cake shed operators, residents, and local businesses to share their views on how cake sheds and cupboards should be considered as part of its Street Trading Policy.
The Council has launched a consultation to further understand the broad range of opinions on cake sheds and cupboards, which will be used to help the Council make a final decision on the policy as part of a future meeting of Licensing Committee.
This includes assessing options such as retaining the current policy, removing cake sheds from the policy completely, or introducing a simpler permit or consent system.
The online consultation began on Tuesday 15th September and people have until Wednesday 21st October to register their views.
There will also be four drop-in sessions across the district providing additional information for anyone with questions about the policy and the consultation. These will take place in:
Retford Market – Saturday 3rd October, 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
Harworth and Bircotes Town Hall – Thursday 8th October, 10am to 12noon.
Tuxford, Museum of the Horse – Thursday 15th October, 2pm to 4pm.
Worksop Market – Saturday 17th October, 10am to 12noon
Local Martial Arts Club Continues to Grow in Worksop
An £800 Community Grant from Bassetlaw District Councillors has made a striking difference for a Martial Arts group in Worksop.
The Jukado Ryu-Martial Arts and Self Defence group has been able to purchase essential equipment such as gloves, crash mats, strike pads and other fitness equipment for their sessions.
The sessions teach the fundamentals of Aikido, Jujitsu and Karate to form Aikijitsu, a modern effective self-defence style that is suitable for all ages. Currently the group has around 12 members and it’s the only group in Bassetlaw to teach this style of martial arts.
Content courtesy of Bassetlaw District Council
More adopters needed to help shape children's futures across Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands
More people across Nottinghamshire are being urged to consider adoption and give children the safe, loving and permanent family they deserve as part of the national 'Every Day is Everything' campaign.
Across Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, Derby and Derbyshire, children wait an average of 300 days to be adopted, leaving many without the stability, security and sense of belonging that a permanent family can provide.
Adoption East Midlands is hosting information events:
📅 6 October, 12pm to 2pm (online)
📅 20 October, 5.30pm to 8pm (in person at County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire)
To learn more about the adoption process, hear from adoptive families and register for an information event, visit: 🔗 www.adoptioneastmidlands.org.uk
School children learn how to stay safe online at Safety Zone event
Nottinghamshire Police currently has a team of SEIOs who cover neighbourhood areas across the force and are embedded at schools across the city and county.
“A lot of kids have TikTok accounts or Snapchats and they sometimes have followers on there who they may not always know who they are.
"It's just getting them to understand and realise that that could be anybody from anywhere in the world and they may not just want to be their friends."
These are the words of Nottinghamshire Police Schools and Early Intervention Officer (SEIO) PC Natalie Sinclair who educated schoolchildren about how to keep themselves safe online at the annual Safety Zone event held at Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre in Rushcliffe.
PC Sinclair and fellow SEIO PC John Graham engaged with hundreds of Year 5 and 6 city schoolchildren as they delivered engaging interactive online safety sessions at the event on Friday (11 September).
Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police
Nottinghamshire County Council has published its new Adult Social Care Plan for 2026-28
The plan has been shaped by local people, carers and staff, focusing on what matters most: getting the basics right, faster access to support , clearer information, better communication and services that work together seamlessly.
Over the past year, improvements have included better support while people wait for assessments, increased help for unpaid carers, greater use of technology to support independence, more community-based services and stronger partnerships across health and voluntary organisations.
Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire County Council
Mayor Claire Ward is calling on East Midlands employers to help shape the region’s future workforce through the new Generation East Midlands campaign.
Businesses across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are being encouraged to pledge practical opportunities for young people, helping them gain valuable workplace experience, develop skills and build confidence for the future.
Employers can support the initiative by offering:
• Work experience placements
• Workplace visits
• Mentoring opportunities
• Apprenticeships
• Entry-level jobs
• Interview support
The campaign is part of EMCCA’s Youth Ambition programme, which aims to ensure every young person is seen, heard and supported to achieve their potential.
Content courtesy of East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)
Nottinghamshire County Council leader says his authority has a “good case” for a potential legal challenge over the government’s plan to re-shape and merge the area’s authorities.
By: Lauren Monaghan, LDRS
The government made headlines last Monday (September 7) when Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, announced an abrupt pause on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in England.
LGR for some English local authorities has been in the pipeline since December 2024, when the government set out its plan to shake-up and merge councils to create new unitary authorities and abolish the existing two-tier council structure seen in some areas.
It meant that by 2028, Nottinghamshire’s nine local authorities would be reduced to just two unitaries, with the government confirming in July that sections of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe would be merged with Nottingham to form one unitary and a second unitary authority would cover the rest of the county.
The plans had been subject to criticism since being announced, with concerns the LGR process was being ‘rushed’ through and for potential service impacts, local representation and the public consultation itself.
Rushcliffe and Broxtowe borough councils previously intended to assess whether a judicial review on July’s decision was possible. This involves a judge reviewing the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body but can only be launched to challenge the way a decision was made, rather than the rights and wrongs of a decision.
A lawyer was appointed to assess whether a judicial review on the decision had a “potential to succeed” but concluded an application for review was more likely to fail than to succeed.
Now, and despite the government’s LGR pause, Nottinghamshire County Council is ramping up its own efforts to push for a potential judicial review over the government’s re-shaping plan – shortly after sending two letters to Ms Rayner seeking more clarification on the decision.
In the authority’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, September 22, councillors are being asked to delegate authority to council leader, Mick Barton, to “commence legal proceedings” on the government’s LGR decision.
Council documents state the estimation of the total costs – if “proceedings reached the substantive stage” – incurred by the council would be between £450,000 to £500,000.
There are strict time limits for organisations to apply to judicial review claims – within three months of the date the grounds of a claim first arose.
New HomeFinder website to make applying for housing easier
People looking for social housing in Bassetlaw will soon be benefitting from a new and improved website, designed to make managing applications quicker, simpler and more accessible.
Bassetlaw District Council is introducing the new HomeFinder platform which replaces the existing website providing a more user-friendly experience and introducing a range of new features to help tenants manage their housing needs online.
In preparation for the changeover, on 23rd September 2026 the current Choice based letting system will be unavailable for all users. If you need to contact us about your housing application on this day, you can still do so by contacting the Housing Registration Team on 0800 509 542 or emailing housing.registration@bassetlaw.gov.uk
Content courtesy of Bassetlaw District Council
Officers save man's life after grabbing his ankles as he fell from top-floor window
Response officers are being commended for their swift actions after saving the life of a man who attempted to throw himself from a top-floor window.
Officers were called to concerns for the welfare of a man at an address in St James's Street, Nottingham city centre, at 1.50pm on 5 September.
When officers arrived, the man initially engaged but then without warning rolled across the bed and tried to throw himself out of the window, situated on the third floor.
Acting instinctively, PC Joe Blake rushed to the window and grabbed hold of the man by his ankles, before PC Luke Kerruish, PC Laura Rowan and PS Megan Lewis assisted in pulling him back into the bedroom where they safely detained him.
If you are struggling with mental health, you can call the Samaritans 24/7, 365 days a year on 116 123 for free. In an emergency always dial 999.
Nottingham Forest’s plans for a major expansion of the City Ground have been given the green light.
By: Lauren Monaghan, LDRS
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s planning committee met on Wednesday evening (September 16) to consider one of the most monumental developments to pass through the authority.
Back in 2019, Nottingham Forest Football Club first revealed its plans to expand its capacity by thousands, with the council giving permission for a smaller 5,000 capacity expansion in the summer of 2025. The capacity currently sits at around 31,000.
Months later, in December 2025, the club revealed its ambitions to drive its capacity up to more than 50,000, with two applications detailing a total stadium capacity of 52,500 in future.
The first application discussed concerned the full demolition of the existing Peter Taylor Stand and the filling in of the Trent End corners, which will take capacity to 45,000. This was given conditional planning permission on the night.
The temporary corner module between the Brian Clough Stand and Trent End will also be demolished to facilitate this part of the project.
Under the plans, the Champion Centre, Club Shop, Nottingham Rowing Club’s Britannia Boathouse and Sims Boathouse buildings, along with six homes, would be knocked down. A new club shop will be built as part of the project.
Chuter Ede celebrates completion of a £9.4 million upgrade to double school places
Councillors, partners, pupils and teachers gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new, single-storey extension at Chuter Ede Primary School’s Fernwood site, near Newark. An additional 210 primary school places have been created, doubling the number of places.
This upgrade comes as part an overall £9.4m investment, made up of £5.4m from Nottinghamshire County Council’s school places programme, with housing developer contributions worth £4m.
Pupils are now benefitting from eight new classrooms, a library and music room, an activity hall, a medical room, a football pitch and new outdoor equipment.
Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire County Council
Man who kicked friend 'like a football' jailed for more than three years
A man who kicked another man's head "like a football" has been jailed for more than three years.
Padley Dempsey, 25, of Smithy Carr Avenue, Sheffield, launched an unprovoked attack on a friend during a night out in Worksop shortly after 6.30pm on 1 March 2026.
Earlier that evening, Dempsey had been drinking in a nearby social club and, following a brief row, was asked to leave. His friend followed him outside in an attempt to calm him down.
However, in what was described in court as a "vicious attack", Dempsey chased his friend down the street before kicking his legs from underneath him, causing him to fall to the ground.
Dempsey then kicked his friend's head "like a leather football" and repeatedly punched him until he lost consciousness.
The assault was only brought to an end when a member of the public intervened, prompting Dempsey to flee the scene.
More than a month later, on 4 April, Dempsey was involved in a second violent incident following an argument with his then-girlfriend.
Witnesses reported seeing him drag her "around like a ragdoll" before repeatedly striking her and stomping on her head.
Once again, the violence ended only when a member of the public stepped in to help.
Dempsey later handed himself in at Worksop Police Station and subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday 14 September, he was sentenced to three years and one month in prison.
Thanks so much for reading our local newsletter and for supporting us. We’re committed to providing Bassetlaw with the quality local news service it deserves, but sustaining this work may come with some challenges. Our team is currently discussing how to make Bassetlaw Today financially viable in the long term, and one option we’re considering is introducing a subscription model to help cover our costs.
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Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.
Justin Doddy, Editor
Bassetlaw Today
P.S. Your feedback about this newsletter is important to me. You can email me your feedback to news@bassettlawtoday.co.uk
