Thursday Edition - Mayor Goes Viral, Heritage Skills Update, Skeletal Remains Identified & More

Good morning readers and happy Thursday to you all. Well I think its fair to say that we'll all associate the Mayor with the 'Nasty' song for a while to come after her teams TikTok blunder this week. For this and the rest of the latest news here is today's edition covering all things Bassetlaw and surrounding areas, and of course - your daily puzzle fix.

Todays thought for the day ... "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." — J.K. Rowling

Enjoy the read and have a great day wherever you are in Bassetlaw.

Justin Doddy, Editor

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Detectives believe they have identified human remains

Detectives believe they have identified human remains found at the side of a busy road.

Officers were called to a wooded area next to the A617 Rainworth Bypass on Saturday 23 May by members of the public.

Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, officers believe they have established the person's identity.

His family have been informed of the update, and they are being supported by specialist officers.

Detectives and specialist archaeologists have been at the site since the discovery was made and will remain at the scene for a number of days.

A post-mortem will be carried out in due course to formally identity the man and his cause of death.

Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

"Although formal identification is yet to take place, we believe this man has now been identified.

"Specialist officers are supporting his family at what we know will be a difficult time for them.

“As we work to understand how and when this man died, we would like to thank the public for their assistance and reassure them that there is no wider risk to them."

New Walking Routes Unveiled in Langold and Worksop

There’s even more reason to get out and about over the next few weeks as Bassetlaw District Council has launched two new walking routes in Langold and Worksop.

The routes, located in Langold Country Park and The Canch in Worksop, have been shaped by local input, with residents helping to name them in a way that reflects the history and heritage of each area.

With Move More in May also coming to a close, and as part of National Walking Month, there is no better way to get active and enjoy some of Bassetlaw’s award-winning parks and open spaces.

In Langold, the Green Lady Trail, takes its inspiration from a local myth about a woman said to wander near the lake. While in Worksop, The Gatehouse Walk at connects the nearby gatehouse and its links back to the 14th century, with Worksop’s award-winning park.

These new additions build on the routes already created elsewhere in the district, joining The King’s Ramble at Kings’ Park in Retford and Miner’s Mile at Tom Simpson Recreation Ground in Harworth and Bircotes. Each route is roughly a mile long, making them easy, accessible ways for people to take in the scenery and enjoy their local green space.

Cllr Darrell Pulk, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “It’s fantastic to see these brand-new walking routes now open, adding even more value to these well-loved parks and complementing the routes we’ve introduced in Retford and Harworth.

“These routes give residents even more opportunities to get outside, stay active and enjoy our green spaces. Whether it’s a short stroll or part of a daily routine, we’re encouraging everyone to make the most of them and take a step towards a healthier lifestyle.”

To make the routes easy to follow, blue posts with orange marker discs have been installed along the way, alongside new display boards which include maps and explain the thinking behind the route names.

Locally, councillors have welcomed the additions. Cllr Gill Freeman, Ward Member for Langold, said: “I’m really pleased to see this route introduced at Langold Country Park, right in the heart of our community. It’s a great addition to a much-loved space and gives people even more reason to get out, enjoy the area and stay active.”

Cllr John Shephard, Cllr Josie Potts and Cllr Clayton Tindle, Ward Members for Worksop South-East, added: “We’re delighted to see this new walking route open at The Canch. It’s a great addition to one of Worksop’s most popular parks, helping to encourage people to get outdoors, stay active and make the most of this much-loved space. It’s something residents of all ages will be able to enjoy.”

The timing also ties in with Move More in May, where there’s still time for residents to get involved and help reach the ambitious target of 45 million moves, the equivalent of walking around Clumber Park 7,358 times. Whether it’s a short daily walk, cycling or simply getting active in the park, every move counts.

People can sign up and track their progress via the Let’s Get Going website:
https://www.letsgetgoing.com/events/category/move-more-in-may/

Pictured: Cllr Darrell Pulk, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Stephanie Garner, Parks Operation Officer, Cllr Gill Freeman, Ward Member for Langold, Shane Atkins, Interim Head of Neighbourhood Services.

TikTok video removed from East Midlands Mayor’s profile after X-rated lyric gaffe

Pictured: Mayor Claire Ward and Ariana Grande

By: Joseph Connolly

A video of East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward welcoming chancellor Rachel Reeves to the UK Real Estate, Infrastructure and Investment forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds has been removed from TikTok after it was noticed that the song overlayed on top contained sexually explicit lyrics.

The clip, posted after the event last Wednesday (may 20), used the song ‘Nasty’ from Ariana Grande’s 2020 album ‘Positions’ over footage of the Mayor and the chancellor embracing before the Mayor is seen to lead her Labour colleague into the ‘East Midlands’ tent at the conference.

But the snippet of the audio used came from a portion of the track with particularly suggestive wording.

The song, referring to the female genitalia, says:

“I just wanna make time for ya (yeah)

Swear it’s just right for ya

Like this ***** designed for ya (yeah)”

The video had garnered nearly 45,000 views at the time of its deletion, in less than a week online – far more than the other posts on the Mayor’s “mayor.claire” account, which average under 1,000.

Most commenters did not appear to notice the questionable choice of music, with many instead focusing on the politicians themselves and one remarking that the video made it look like Rachel Reeves was meeting Rachel Reeves due to the pair’s similar hair colour and green suits.

But one comment, which received 34 likes, said: “Can someone pls explain the choice of song…”

The track, which is packed full of innuendos, also contains phrases like “don’t wanna wait on it, tonight, I wanna get nasty” and “promise I’m a give it to you like you never had it, I do it so good, it’s gon’ be hard to break the habit”.

But sections are also more clean, with lyrics such as “know I would sign on the line for ya (yeah), bet I look nice on you (yeah), open my mind for ya (yeah)”.

The chancellor was visiting UKREiiF to give a speech on regeneration and devolution around the country and announced plans to give more transport powers to mayors – making it easier to do things like building tram networks.

She also announced the creation of a new “Mass Transit Taskforce” group to look into why big transport projects like tram networks are so complex and to study the work of other countries’ transport networks to make recommendations as to how they can be delivered more quickly for cities.

The Mayor and the chancellor are good friends and have been seen together in public before.

A spokesperson for the East Midlands Combined County Authority said:

“We have immediately removed the video. It was genuine human error, the full extent of the lyrics hadn’t been checked during what was an exceptionally busy week. We will make sure to be more careful in future"

Our three interesting facts for today ....

Humans and bees are the only species elephants fear

Ewan McGregor's brother used to be a Tornado pilot who flew with the call sign 'Obi-Two'

There are eight places on Earth called Puffin Island

Nottinghamshire Police see increase in calls about general noise.

Nottinghamshire Police have advised that they are currently seeing an increase in calls about general noise, such as loud music, garden gatherings, or neighbour disturbances.

They understand that these situations can be frustrating however advise that many noise concerns are not police matters and are usually best dealt with by your local council.

Your local council’s environmental health team has the powers to assess and take action where needed.

There are some circumstances where police involvement may be necessary, such as if noise is linked to anti-social behaviour in a public place, or if there is evidence of crime or an immediate risk to safety.

By contacting the right service first, you can help ensure your issue is resolved more quickly and keep the 101 and 999 lines free for those who need them most.

Heritage Skills Project preserves valued historic buildings

Work carried out as part of a joint Heritage Construction Skills Project involving Bassetlaw District Council has helped to preserve three valued historic buildings.

For the second year, the council teamed up with Pinnacle Conservation to deliver free foundation classes in practical skills including stone masonry, joinery and lime plastering/pointing.

Students have been learning on the job while carrying out repairs at Bassetlaw Museum, Retford Road Chapel in Worksop and the Walks of Life Museum in Tuxford.

Adam Hickey Managing Director of Pinnacle Conservation said:

“There is a growing demand for skilled craftspeople who understand how to work sensitively with historic buildings, and programmes like this are essential in meeting that need.

“This programme alongside repairing historic buildings, is about investing in people and securing the future of our heritage. Working alongside our team on live conservation projects gives learners an authentic experience of the heritage sector and the pride that comes with protecting important local landmarks.

“Seeing participants progress into apprenticeships and further training is exactly the outcome we hoped for, and we’re proud to continue this partnership with Bassetlaw District Council.”

The course was established to meet the increasing demand for repairs on historical buildings, of which the district has a high number, and a limited number of skilled individuals and businesses specialising in this type of work.

As well as carrying out vital repairs, one of the students who completed the course has gone on to secure an apprenticeship at Pinnacle and is now on a course at York College.

Cllr Charles Adams, Cabinet Member for Business and Skills, said:

“This joint project has been a great success in engaging and supporting residents to enter the specialist heritage construction industry.

“As well as providing a steppingstone into the sector, their work has also contributed to the preservation and revitalisation of some of our most valued historic buildings.”

The heritage skills programme has been supported by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) with funding provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Essential Tree Safety Work Near Langold Country Park

Bassetlaw District Council have advised that as part of their ongoing safety checks across parks and open spaces, they’ve identified several Ash trees along the A60 near Langold Country Park that are affected by Ash Dieback.

Sadly, the disease has already caused branches to fall — including one incident that damaged a passing vehicle.

To keep everyone safe, essential tree works, including felling, will now be taking place.

These works are close to the busy A60 between Costhorpe and Langold, so some disruption is expected.

Bassetlaw District Council wish to thank everyone in advance for their patience while they carry out this important safety work.

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 W.

Our last panagram was AESTHETES. Read our next newsletter for the solution to today's puzzle.

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Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.

Justin Doddy, Editor