Thursday Edition - Thief Gets County Wide Ban, Have Your Say on HMOs, Skeletal Remains Update & More
Good morning readers and happy Thursday to you all. Its been a busy news week in Bassetlaw and surrounds!
Our pick of the full length stories from the last 24 hours are in today's edition, including of course - your daily puzzle fix.
You will also see that throughout June we are running a fabulous competition to win tickets to 'Beyond Van Gogh' or 'Beyond Monet' for the opening week of the exhibition at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham. This competition can only be won by one of our amazing newsletter subscribers. Spread the word.
Todays thought for the day ... "Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you." — Walt Whitman
Enjoy the read and have a great day wherever you are in Bassetlaw.
Justin Doddy, Editor
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter here if you haven't already and please forward our newsletter to anyone that you think would like a good read.
BASSETLAW: New plans for world-first energy plant site where thousands of jobs could be made
By: Lauren Monaghan
New details have emerged for a world-first energy plant where thousands of jobs will be created.
The £2.5 billion Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) Fusion project on the former West Burton A power station – near Retford – is a government-backed scheme that has been in the pipeline for several years.
The new energy plant is hoping to be the first of its kind in the world, with STEP Fusion focusing on a new type of energy replicating that of the sun.
It ultimately aims to make the UK capable of building a consistent fusion energy supply, with first operations targeted for 2040.
Some 10,000 jobs are expected to be created from the development of the site.
The wider development of the area is expected also due to an increase in business and trade in North Nottinghamshire.
In an update for the transforming site, plans have been put forward to Bassetlaw District Council by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd for a new temporary modular data centre (MDC) building to be built on a car park off South Road.
Data centres are buildings that house “high performance computing equipment” and servers to store data for a company.
With its ‘modular’ nature, the MDC will not be built from the ground up and will be built from prefabricated components, which allows businesses to quickly assemble data centres and strategically put the computing capacity where it is needed.
Dr Patricia Verrier, CITP, Head of Engineering – Computing, Modelling and Simulation:
“The modular data centre is a small facility that will host high performance computing systems and data infrastructure for the STEP Fusion Programme at West Burton.
“The MDC is a significant capital investment for the site and provides sovereign capability outside of the research clusters that we currently work with. It will help support future site development and operations over the next decade.
“The centre will be constructed over the summer and be operational later this year – this coincides with other technical demonstration opportunities being developed.”
In June 2025, the government announced it would be investing £2.5 million in the STEP Fusion project to be spent over five years.
One month later, a large section of the decommissioned power station was blown up to make way for the new energy site, including the turbine hall and DA (deaerator) bay.
The demolition is expected to be fully completed by early 2028.
Bassetlaw District Council is carrying out consultation on proposed new measures
Bassetlaw District Council is carrying out consultation on proposed new measures which will provide greater control of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in parts of Worksop and Retford.
Under the plans discussed by the Council’s Planning Committee on 20th May 2026, amendments would be made to the existing Worksop Central Area Article 4 Direction in addition to the creation of a new one covering the Retford Station area, which would mean change of use from a dwelling to a small HMO would require planning permission.
Currently, HMOs that house between six and three people do not require planning permission, and there are few restrictions on how many HMOs can be in a single area.
Cllr Steve Scotthorne, Cabinet Member for Identity, Planning and Place said:
“HMOs can provide a more affordable form of housing for residents, but an over concentration can have a negative impact on community’s quality of life.
“Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in HMOs in some areas of Worksop and Retford, with some residents expressing concern about the impact on their neighbourhoods.
“Through the planning process Article 4 Directions will allow us to consider all HMOs in these areas, leading to better distribution and helping us to maintain mixed and balanced communities.
“I encourage everyone to have their say on the proposals”.
The proposed Article 4 Directions would give greater control over the number and location of HMOs in each area, as well as providing greater transparency, clarity and certainty to developers and communities about how they will be managed.
The planning process for large HMOs for more than six people remain unchanged as planning permission is required for all large HMOs irrespective of location.
The plans will now be subject to consultation, which is scheduled to take place between 1st June and 13th July 2026, and will only come into force if confirmed by the Planning Committee within two years. Further information is available on the Council’s website.
Send comments to Planningpolicy@bassetlaw.gov.uk or by post to Planning Policy Team, Bassetlaw District Council, Queens Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 2AH.
Any representations must be made by 5.00pm on 13 July 2026.
4Uth award nominations deadline approaching fast
Do you know a young person who deserves to be recognised and celebrated, if so now is the time to nominate them!
Have you been inspired by someone playing an active role in their community?
Has a young person overcome personal challenges? Do you know someone who works hard, despite facing many hurdles?
There are lots of reasons to nominate a young person for their achievements. Find out more and how to nominate at https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/education/youth-services/4uth-award
⚠️ Nominations close on Friday 19 June
Our three interesting facts for today ....
The first real murder on the Orient Express took place the year after Agatha Christie's novel came out
When Frinton-on-Sea, Essex got its first pub in 2000, locals described it as the worst thing to hit the town since the Luftwaffe
A Portuguese way of telling someone to leave you alone is: 'Go away and comb monkeys'
Win tickets to see Beyond Van Gogh or Beyond Monet
Win a pair of tickets or a family ticket (5 tickets) for Beyond Van Gogh or Beyond Monet for the opening week of the exhibition at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.
To be in the draw all you need to do is sign up to our 100% Free daily digital newsletter. Current subscribers will be entered automatically.
Full details can be found at: https://bassetlaw-today.ghost.io/competition-2/ .
Sutton thief banned from stores county wide
A well-known thief has been banned from entering multiple shops in Sutton-in-Ashfield and across the county.
Lester Moore, aged 47, has been convicted of dozens of theft offences and has served multiple prison sentences.
Most recently, he was convicted of stealing Easter eggs from Tesco Express in Lakeside.
Officers have now secured a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from Screwfix, Asda, Heron Foods and Boots in Sutton, and the following stores anywhere in Nottinghamshire:
- Tesco
- Home Bargains
- The Range
- Boyes
- Matalan
- Pets at Home
- Co-op
- Poundland
The order, granted at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 28 May, lasts for a period of five years.
Any breach is a criminal offence in its own right and may lead to an immediate custodial sentence.
Sergeant Tim Hather, of the Sutton-in-Ashfield neighbourhood policing team, said:
"Moore is a prolific local offender who has been responsible for a very large number of shop thefts over the last few years.
"Despite being given numerous chances to change his ways, he has continued to offend time and again.
"Criminal Behaviour Orders of this type are highly effective tools in the fight against shoplifting, and I am delighted we have now secured one against Moore.
"If he does not abide by it, he can expect to be arrested immediately and put before a court. So if you see him in any of these locations, we want to know."
A post-mortem is due be carried out in order to investigate the cause of death after human remains were found in woodland near Mansfield.
Members of the public found the remains in a wooded area next to the A617 Rainworth Bypass around 2.45pm on 23 May.
Specialist archaeologists, anthropologists, detectives, and Police search teams have been at the site since the discovery was made.
The work of the archaeologists and anthropologists has now concluded at the scene and the human remains have been recovered from the site.
The cordon will remain in place whilst the post-mortem takes place, but Police anticipate it will be lifted over the coming days.
DNA analysis of the remains will then occur, which will allow Police to formally identify the person.The results of this are not expected until next week at the earliest.
Detective Inspector Stuart Barson said:
“Now we have recovered the human remains, the investigation will progress into the post-mortem stage.
“There will be a number of experts involved in this process again as we work hard to formally identify the person and also establish the circumstances surrounding their death.
"DNA analysis will then take place, which gives us the ability to accurately and objectively confirm the identity of the remains.
“Due to the complexity of these next steps in the investigation, this process will take us some time.
"But the public can be assured we are doing everything possible to progress this investigation thoroughly.
"The family of the person we believe this to be have been kept informed of this process and continue to be supported by our officers.
“We would like to thank the public for their patience and reassure them that we do not believe there to be a wider risk to the public.
“As always, we will continue to provide updates when we have them."
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 S.
Our last panagram was INEBRIATE. 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
Bassetlaw Today
P.S. Your feedback about this newsletter is important to me. You can email me your feedback to news@bassettlawtoday.co.uk
