Hello from Bassetlaw Today
Today's edition includes a visit to the National Holocaust Museum, 16 new dwellings proposed in Walkeringham, good news for Retford F.C., Policing update and also includes your daily puzzle fix.
Todays thought for the day ... “We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” - Oprah Winfrey
Enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great day wherever you are in Bassetlaw.
Justin Doddy, Editor
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Countryside activity centre wants to be good neighbour as locals fear it’s ‘becoming a theme park’
By: Joe Locker
The man running a popular Nottinghamshire outdoor activity centre “wants to be a good neighbour” after residents raised fears the site was “becoming a theme park”.
Walesby Forest, an outdoors adventure activity centre around two miles from Ollerton, hosts more than 30 activities from its Brake Road location and offers accommodation to its visitors.
It was able to host events for up to 4,999 visitors, but was granted a licence on Thursday (April 23) to double its capacity to 9,999 people, as well as extend the hours for late night refreshments and supply of alcohol.
The not for profit organisation offers experiences aimed at educating visitors in a “fun and safe environment within the heart of Sherwood Forest.”
Festivals and events, including fireworks on bonfire night and an upcoming vegan camp-out, are hosted at the centre to help it raise income, but these large-scale events have led to concerns from residents who live nearby.
Walesby Forest’s chief executive, Guy Laurie, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the centre will be striving to “be a good neighbour”.
A man, who has lived in Brake Road for 15 years, said he feared the centre was “becoming a theme park” and that nearby residents felt very much like an afterthought.
“We support it in principle, it is wonderful to see young people coming out into the countryside,” he said.
“I think that is great. But the real story behind all this is the disruption that the place causes.
“Sometimes it is terrible, especially when they have the festivals and the bonfire nights.”
Another resident, a woman who has lived in Brake Road for more than 50 years, described the centre as a “great charity” but said complaints about its events have spanned a decade.
She said: “Our concern really is in the summer when they have a lot of festivals, and in the winter when they have the most enormous bonfire night.”
The resident said horses are kept along Brake Road, and most residents own dogs.
One summer she recalled a glass of water shaking on her table from the music; and said her friends in Tuxford, which is almost six miles away, could hear it, too.
“There is no need for them to have those fireworks. Centre Parcs used to have them but they stopped it a few years ago because of the environmental impact,” she added.
“It does not seem like they care about the village. There are other ways to make a profit, you do not need to have loud events.”
Meanwhile, another resident of the street of 30 years, Kenneth Newton, said: “Live and let live. It does not effect me. It is a good thing. It isn’t bad up there to be truthful, I’ve never seen any problems.”
The LDRS sat down with Mr Laurie at the centre to discuss the concerns.
“We are working with the council to address the concerns,” he said.
“All the major events have to go through the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) at Newark and Sherwood District Council. We work with all statutory bodies, the police, fire service, council and highways, and it is a requirement that we comply fully with what the SAG requires.
“We have had issues with noise. We have a management plan in place and the event organisers will have to record sound levels to submit to the council if required.
“We want to be a good neighbour. We want to do stuff for the local villages and local children. But we are a charity. Money is harder and harder to come by post Covid and after Russia’s war.
“We are not going to become a major events place. We have had a fireworks event for nine years. Taking on board what the locals said we moved the fireworks in and away from the edge of the property from the horses and animals.
“For us we have a legal requirement to make a surplus as a charity, but we’ve had to be flexible.”
As a condition of the new licence, the full capacity of 9,999 people can only be used for scouts and girl guide events, the council told the LDRS.
Bassetlaw planners to decide on 16 new dwellings on land off Stockwith Road, Walkeringham
Full planning permission for the construction of 16 dwellings with associated access, landscaping and car parking has been applied for on land East of and fronting Stockwith Road, Walkeringham (Planning application no. 26/00321/FUL).
The 16 proposed properties are described as being for market housing, consisting of four two bedroom properties and sixteen three bedroom properties. There are eight semi-detached properties and eight detached dwellings proposed including thirty two parking spaces are proposed in total.
A design and access statement from CODA Bespoke of Sheffield to accompany the full planning application states that the dwellings are proposed to be constructed in red brick with tiled pitched roofs with window and door frames to be finished in grey, providing a subtle contemporary contrast to the traditional brick envelope.
CODA bespoke further state that internally, the development is arranged around a simple access road terminating in a turning head. The geometry avoids rigid suburban repetition and instead responds to the irregular shape of the site. This results in a layout that feels organic rather than engineered.
Bassetlaw planners will make a decision on the application in due course.
Further details on the planning application can be accessed at https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/ .
Our three interesting facts for today ....
King George VI's wedding was not broadcast on radio in case people listened without removing their hats
A radio station in Texas that burned Beatles records in 1966 was struck by lightening the next day.
Honesty boxes with photos of eyes stuck on the wall next to them produce more money.
Platform customers visit National Holocaust Museum to learn lessons from history
Customers and colleagues from Platform Housing Group recently visited the National Holocaust Museum near Newark in Nottinghamshire as part of an educational trip focused on learning from the past and promoting stronger, more inclusive communities.
The visit, which took place last month, brought together 15 people, including eight customers and seven colleagues. It provided an opportunity to reflect on the atrocities of the Holocaust and consider the importance of challenging prejudice, discrimination and hate in today’s society.
The group took part in a full programme at the museum, including an introductory film, access to the main exhibition and time in the memorial gardens. The visit also explored the wider context of genocide, including how such events develop over time and the devastating impact of racism, xenophobia and division on individuals and communities.
The trip forms part of Platform’s ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as its work to raise awareness of hate crime and promote community cohesion across the areas it serves.
This is the second time a visit to the museum has been organised, following an initial trip in 2020.
Tom Piotrowski, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Platform Housing Group said: “Visits like this are incredibly important in helping us understand the impact of hatred and division, and the role we all play in challenging it.
“As a housing provider, we work with diverse communities every day and it’s vital that we continue to educate ourselves and others, ensuring we create places where everyone feels safe, respected and included.
“This visit was a powerful reminder that the events we learn about did not happen overnight and that we all have a responsibility to recognise the warning signs and stand against prejudice in all its forms.”
Jason Calver, a Platform customer and community representative from Elizabeth House in Leicester who attended the visit said: “It was a really powerful and thought provoking experience. It makes you reflect on how important it is to treat people with respect and to stand up against discrimination in all its forms.
“It also showed how important it is for communities to come together, support each other and learn from the past so we can build a better future.”
Platform has supported a range of similar initiatives including Holocaust Memorial Day and Srebrenica Memorial events, reinforcing its commitment to building inclusive communities and learning from history to shape a better future. The group also collaborates closely with a wide range of statutory agencies on community safety and cohesion priorities.
Update on policing in Bassetlaw from Inspector Robert Harrison
Inspector Robert Harrison provides the latest update on policing in Bassetlaw covering January - March, 2026.
'Our key local policing priorities, which are agreed quarterly after consultation with the public, local partners and reviewing crime trends are drug supply and drug use in Worksop town centre, rural crime in East Bassetlaw and burglary'.
Inspector Harrison further stated that 'Although we have these three key priorities each period, it does not detract from other work either locally or across the force. Whilst great progress has been made, there’s always more work we can do.'
Actions on our priorities
Drug supply and drug use in Worksop town centre:
The impact of drug supply within communities cannot be understated. This is due to the widespread ripple effects it causes ranging from from antisocial behaviour (ASB) to feed addiction, to the organised criminality leading to exploitation and violence. I am committed to tackling both users and dealers.
Operation Legacy continues with the aim to aid those entrenched in drug use and criminality and ultimately get them the rehabilitation support they need. We work with probation, Bassetlaw District Council, drug treatment services and more to aid them. Eight individuals are currently enrolled on the programme, and I am pleased to report some incredible work taking place, which has resulted in some of our cohort entering rehabilitation or abstaining from committing offences.
Sadly, two of those we are trying to help have continued on the path of criminality and both have been sent to prison, where we will make efforts to begin the process of gaining compliance and treatment again.
Our efforts to clamp down on shop theft - most of which is related to drug use - have continued. In 2025, the Bassetlaw neighbourhood policing team amassed over 15 years of imprisonment for shop theft offences alone.
The hard work to tackle this issue has certainly not let up though, and residents can expect to see our officers conducing high-visibility patrols alongside Bassetlaw District Council’s street wardens in Worksop town centre. If you have any concerns or queries to raise with us, I encourage you to have a chat with us.
The local council provide us with CCTV for both live incidents and for investigations, as well as help us to identify and track offenders and gather evidence.
The importance of help from the community cannot be understated, so if you have any information on drug dealing or linked activity, this can be reported to us on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers.
A recent court result saw us lock up two cannabis farmers from Worksop: Video: Hole in the wall leads police to uncover two cannabis farms | Nottinghamshire Police
Rural crime in East Bassetlaw:
Spring is a vital time for our landowners and farmers, which is why tackling rural crime remains a priority for us.
We have continued to run Operation Star with our colleagues from South Yorkshire Police, Lincolnshire Police and Derbyshire Constabulary, with the aim to share skills, tactics and intelligence in locating and arresting offenders.
We have seen issues with illegal off-road motorcycles continue, although I’m pleased to see that incidents are reducing due to some excellent work by the neighbourhood policing team, including target hardening, CCTV monitoring, seizures of vehicles and visible patrols. I encourage officers to seize off road bikes, if powers allow, on every occasion.
Poaching around East Bassetlaw remains an issue and officers are actively out targeting wildlife crime offenders in rural locations. We have a number of active investigations and again, if you have any information such as quad bikes being active at night, poaching, or suspicious behaviour, then please let us know so we can take action.
One recent investigation by our neighbourhood policing team led to two men appearing before court earlier this month: Wildlife protected after two men detained for poaching offence | Nottinghamshire Police
Burglary:
As well as affecting livelihoods, burglary can also leave a lasting impression on people from an emotional standpoint too. That is precisely why it remains a focus for us.
Whilst our dwelling burglaries are beginning to reduce, we are seeing a rise in commercial burglaries, where tools and building equipment is the target. Our neighbourhood policing officers, response officers and roads policing unit are continuously tracking down offenders. We have a number of lines of enquiry, where I am confident arrests will be made.
The force has a burglary team who are also investigating several incidents on our area, working closely with Worksop’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
You can find crime prevention advice on our local social media pages detailing how to protect your property and belongings from becoming a target. This work will continue.
A recent positive result came from our response officers who had a triple win all in one morning: Response officers' morning of success with trio of burglary arrests | Nottinghamshire Police
Did you hear about this?
Our officers have hosted educational presentations in Worksop secondary schools following a series of fires in 2025.
They have been speaking directly with pupils alongside Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to warn young people about the dangers of deliberately starting fires, the destruction they can cause, and the devastating and fatal consequences of their actions: Schoolchildren warned of arson dangers to prevent spate of summer fires | Nottinghamshire Police
Looking for help or information? Want to tell us something or report an incident? Use our simple online tool to find the best way to get in contact.
Call 101 for non-emergency enquiries. Alternatively, our Live Chat service is available from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week. Navigate back to the home page of our website and look for the blue icon in the corner.
Call 999 if:
- a serious offence is in progress or has just been committed
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If you wish to anonymously report crime or suspicious behaviour, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Retford F.C. Receive Green Light for New Rail Development from Bassetlaw Planners
Bassetlaw District Council has approved plans for the development of a new 3G artificial grass pitch at the Rail Ground, following a decision made on Monday 20 April.
The approval represents a major milestone for the club and the wider community, paving the way for the delivery of a modern, all‑weather playing surface that will support football at all levels. The proposed floodlit 3G pitch will enable year‑round use, improve training and match provision, and significantly enhance facilities at the Rail Ground for clubs, schools and community groups.
Speaking following the decision, Chris Woodhead, Chairman, said: “We’ve got this passed, so now is where the hard work starts as we finalise the funding and begin the groundworks. It’s not going to happen overnight, but this is another significant step in the club’s history. I’m delighted it’s been passed and would like to thank the local councillors, MP and the local community for their support throughout the application process.”
“I would also like to thank Roger Eyre and Paul Watson our planning advisors who have supported us throughout.”
Looking ahead he said, “This has come at a great time for us as we move up to Step 5 of the pyramid and it will enhance our facilities hugely.”
The new pitch will help reduce weather‑related postponements, support player development, and increase participation across all age groups, ensuring the Rail Ground continues to play a central role in local sport.
Further updates on funding, timescales and construction will be shared as the project progresses.
Content courtesy of Retford F.C.
Shirebrook based Frasers Group has acquired two major UK retail destinations, significantly increasing its presence in the outlet sector.
The group has purchased York Designer Outlet and East Midlands Designer Outlet, which together attract almost 7.8 million visitors a year.
York Designer Outlet comprises around 250,000 sq ft of retail space and hosts approximately 120 brands, with annual footfall of 4.3 million. East Midlands Designer Outlet spans 170,000 sq ft, includes more than 65 brands and attracts around 3.5 million visitors annually.
The acquisitions further position Frasers as both a landlord and operator within the outlet market, increasing its exposure to physical retail at a time when the group continues to invest in its property portfolio.
Chief executive Michael Murray said the deals support the company’s wider growth plans.
“These strategic acquisitions reinforce our vision, leveraging strong partnerships with leading global brands to unlock mutual value – supporting their outlet strategies while driving growth,” he said.
“Today, we own over one-fifth of the UK outlet market and have a clear ambition to grow our share further.”
The purchases form part of the group’s ongoing Elevation Strategy, which focuses on strengthening its retail ecosystem through a combination of brand investment and property ownership.
Image and content courtesy of www.thebusinessdesk.com
Can you figure out today's puzzle?
First figure out the nine letter solution and then find as many words as you can in today's panagram that contain the letter E.
Our last panagram was FLUMMOXES. Read our next newsletter for the solution to today's puzzle.
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Justin Doddy, Editor
Bassetlaw Today
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