Grim Dungeons, Drug Drive Arrest, Ranskill Bowls Club & More
Happy Monday readers !
I hope you had a nice weekend, its time to grab a brew and a rich tea and have a read of today's newsletter covering all things Bassetlaw and surrounding areas.
Today's Quote of the Day - "Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it." — George Orwell
I would ask you to forward this newsletter email to anyone that you may think it would be of use to - perhaps people not on social media 24/7 or just people who like a summary read in the morning.
Enjoy the read and have a great weekend wherever you are reading this.
Justin Doddy, Editor
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Pair appear in court after death of boy in Newark collision
Two men have appeared in court following the death of a four-year-old boy in a Newark collision.
Police were called to Churchill Drive at 6pm on Sunday 30 August following reports of a collision between an off-road motorbike and a car.
Robert Henry Steele, who was a passenger on the motorbike, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The off-road bike's rider, Robert Steele, aged 24, of Grange Road, Newark, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while uninsured and unlicensed and breach of a restraining order.
He pleaded guilty to all offences at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (30 September) and was remanded in custody until 11 November 2026.
Police investigations revealed the motorbike was riding in convoy with a second bike, whose rider left the scene before officers' arrival.
Thirty-two-year-old Brian Cameron, of Chatsworth Road, Newark, pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and causing death by driving while uninsured and unlicensed during the same hearing.
He was remanded in custody until his next hearing at the crown court on 15 January 2027.Robert Henry's mum,
Tilly Robinson, described him as her 'pride and joy' in a tribute released after the incident.
Detective Inspector Jamie Moore, of Nottinghamshire Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said:
"Specially trained officers continue to support the family and they have asked for privacy at this difficult time."I would urge people to respect their wishes and also not speculate online about this tragic incident."
NEWARK: ‘Grim’ dungeons of ancient landmark to be opened up after huge investment
The dungeons of an ancient castle in Nottinghamshire will be opened to the public, allowing them to visit parts of the 900-year-old landmark “that haven’t been seen for centuries”.
Newark Castle is currently undergoing multimillion-pound works to open up the original gatehouse, restore access to parts of the surviving walls and improve accessibility.
It was originally built in the mid-12th Century by Bishop Alexander of Lincoln, who was known as Alexander the Magnificent.
The castle survived three sieges during the English Civil War, but was partly demolished by the townspeople following orders from Oliver Cromwell.
However, the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and its Mayor, Claire Ward, has now announced they will invest a further £2.5 million in more work.
It will bring back to life dungeon areas and an undercroft, which could one day be used for weddings.
One of the dungeons is known as an “oubliette”, a name derived from the French verb meaning “to forget”.
Cllr Rowan Cozens, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for heritage, culture and the arts, said:
“It is a really exciting day for us.
“Phase two is as a result of a successful phase one, which has opened up the gatehouse, allowing people to see life in a medieval castle and it has been the restoration of the grounds.
“This extra amount of funding from Mayor Claire is great news because it means we can open up subterranean spaces, so the dungeons and the undercroft.
“It just makes this an even better offer that is probably going to attract people from across the UK to come and visit.
“What we are dealing with is effectively rooms we know we have got. So we’ve got an oubliette, a dungeon that you were put in to be forgotten, pretty grim. Then we’ve got the debtors’ jail. You were chucked down there unless somebody paid to get you out.”
Back in June, the authority approved an increase in the budget for phase one of the scheme by up to £1.5 million, taking its total cost to more than £8 million.
Costs have been rising due to the complexity of the work and the discovery of several “unexpected and potentially significant archaeological findings”.
Archaeologists previously said they found what they believed to be a cesspit associated with one of the castle’s garderobes – toilets – possibly dating back to the 13th or 14th Century, as well as a wall associated with town fortifications, observed on a 1646 map.
A well has also been discovered in the centre of the gatehouse, which the council described as an “unusual location” that required further investigation.
Cllr Cozens added:
“How do you value something that is priceless. This is our heritage.”
Mayor Claire Ward told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:
“It is always competitive because there is so much in the region. We are building a pipeline of investment opportunities, but this one has come through. It is timely, and I think it would have been a real shame to have only got the first part, the gatehouse, and not to have been able to unveil so much more of this wonderful castle.
“Visitor economies and local economies are really important to me. We want more people to come and visit, to stay over, to enjoy what we have, not just in Newark, but in the region more widely.
“If you offer them attractions like being able to visit a castle that is nearly 900 years old, to see parts that haven’t been seen for centuries, that will be something that improves our visitor economy.”
Drug-drive arrest after Clumber Park crash
A man has been arrested on suspicion of drug-driving after a crash near Clumber Park.
Emergency services were called to the A614 Blyth Road at 3.35pm on Wednesday (30 September) following a collision between a car and a van.
The van driver, a man aged in his 60s, was taken to hospital with injuries which are not currently believed to be life-altering or life-threatening in nature.
The driver of the car, a 47-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs after a roadside drugs wipe found traces of cannabis.
The road was closed for several hours while investigations took place but reopened around 8pm.
Police Constable Richard Walker, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
"Emergency services colleagues worked together closely at the scene to safely release the van driver from his vehicle and provide medical treatment.
"Following the positive drugs wipe, an arrest was made and investigations will continue.
"We'd urge anyone with any information, or relevant dashcam footage, to get in touch."
Anyone who can assist should call 101, quoting incident 493 of 30 September 2026.
Bassetlaw North Policing Team Update
Following reports received during the evening of 1 October 2026, officers were called to the area around St John's Park, Worksop, following concerns about a group of children and youths involved in anti-social behaviour and targeting a number of vulnerable properties in the area.
As part of our response, officers seized a number of illegal off-road motorcycles ("revvis") and e-scooters using powers under Section 165. We recognise the impact this behaviour has on local residents and want to reassure the community that officers will continue to conduct patrols and work proactively in the area to identify those responsible and take positive action where offences are being committed.
A reminder to both parents and young people: many of these electric bikes, revvis and e-scooters are not legal for use on public roads, pavements, parks or other public spaces. Where they are being used unlawfully, they may be seized by police.Parents and guardians should also be aware that allowing or facilitating the unlawful use of these vehicles can leave them vulnerable to committing offences themselves.
In some circumstances, this may result in prosecution and could lead to penalty points being endorsed on a driving licence.Children over the age of 10 are above the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales and can be held accountable for criminal offences.
Know where your children are and understand how they are spending their time.
Speak to them about the consequences of anti-social and criminal behaviour. We ask parents to work with us to prevent young people becoming involved in criminality and anti-social behaviour.
By working together, we can help keep our communities safe and protect those residents who are being affected by this behaviour.
If you have information regarding anti-social behaviour or the illegal use of vehicles in your area, please report it via 101 or online. Always call 999 in an emergency.
Grant Helps Keep Ranskill Bowls Club Rolling
Ranskill Bowls Club is looking ahead with confidence after receiving a £500 Councillor Community Grant to help improve security and maintain the facilities that local members enjoy all year-round.
The funding has been used to install new perimeter fencing and a gated entrance, helping to keep the grounds secure, improve the appearance of the site and ensure the club remains a welcoming place for current and future bowlers.
Simon Wallace, Chairman of Ranskill Bowls Club, said: "This grant has made a significant difference to our club and has allowed us to install much-needed perimeter fencing around the bowling green. Improving security was a priority for us, and the new fencing will help safeguard the facilities that so many local people enjoy.
"On behalf of everyone at Ranskill Bowls Club, I would like to thank Cllr McCallum for his support. Community facilities like ours play an important role in bringing people together, and this investment will help us continue providing a welcoming environment for years to come."
Ranskill Bowls Club welcomes 22 members of all ages from across the district. The club meets twice a week and currently plays friendly matches both home and away against local sides in the area.
Cllr Andrew McCallum, Ward Member for Ranskill, said: "Ranskill Bowls Club plays an important role in village life, and I'm pleased that this grant has helped fund new perimeter fencing to improve security around the green.
"Volunteers put a huge amount of time and effort into maintaining facilities like this, so it's only right that we help protect them. I hope this investment gives members peace of mind and helps ensure the club remains a welcoming place for residents to enjoy for many years to come."
Ranskill Bowls Club is always pleased to welcome new members of all ages. The club plays on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings and is already looking ahead to next year, when it will celebrate its centenary with a range of events and celebrations at the clubhouse.
The clubhouse is available to hire throughout the year, and the club is interested in supporting its future through sponsorship. To keep up to date with the latest news and match results, follow Ranskill Bowls Club on Facebook.
Each Bassetlaw District Councillor is allocated a small annual budget and has the discretion to award grants to support community activities within their ward. Councillor grants may support projects related to sport, culture and heritage, environmental sustainability, social welfare and general community benefit.
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
