Vulnerable Disabled Woman Assaulted, Lloyds Leave Worksop, Leader's Column & More
Happy Tuesday everyone and a massive welcome to all our new subscribers. I really hope you enjoy the daily read as subscribers now receive 7 - YES SEVEN FREE newsletters every week. There are 5 workday newsletters Monday - Friday, a roundup newsletter at the weekend and a weekly planning newsletter covering everything planning in Bassetlaw every Monday.
Grab a brew, open the jammy dodgers and enjoy today's edition.
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 - current subscribers will be entered automatically.
Todays thought for the day ... “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” - Dolly Parton
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
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter if you haven't already and remember to send us your pictures from around Bassetlaw, we may feature it on our newsletter.
A pair of robbers have appeared in court after a vulnerable disabled woman was assaulted in her bed in Retford.
Kevin Harrison, 39, and Terri Styring, 34, burst into their victim's Retford home on September 20 last year while wearing face coverings.
After entering through an unlocked door, they demanded money.
After an emergency alarm was activated, one of the group began to punch the victim in the forehead and chest area.
After the struggle, they left with the victim's mobile phone.
After extensive support from neighbourhood officers, Harrison, of Wellington Square, Retford – who was known to the victim – was arrested three days later.
Styring, of no fixed address, was arrested nine days later.Both had been caught on CCTV on their way to and from the crime scene.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday 10 June, they both pleaded guilty to robbery. Accounting for the time they had both spent in prison on remand, they were each given suspended sentences of 18 months and handed restraining orders prohibiting any further contact with the victim for a period of five years.
Detective Constable Lisa Porter said:
"This was a despicable crime perpetrated against a very vulnerable woman.
"In fact, the only reason they were able to gain entry was because she'd had to unlock the door so her carers could come in.
"What followed was a cowardly attack that both people involved were equally culpable for."
Content and image courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police
Proposed upgrades to the A46 Nettleham roundabout
By: Jamie Waller, LDRS
A major new scheme which would drastically improve traffic on Lincoln’s Nettleham Road roundabout has been backed by officials.
The initiative would see an extra lane added to the roundabout and a footbridge would also be created over the A46 to help improve traffic in the area.
Sam Edwards, head of highways and economic infrastructure at Lincolnshire County Council, said drivers would see a huge difference once it was finished.
“The best comparison is when we finished the nearby Riseholme roundabout back in 2020, it removed the vast majority of congestion there – that’s exactly what we’re expecting here,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The council’s Highways committee gave approval for the project on Monday, June 8, and is expected to be signed off by the Executive councillor soon.
The scheme will help walkers and cyclists move between Lincoln and the nearby villages without crossing the busy dual-carriageway.
A report said the roundabout is “currently operating over capacity, with significant peak-time queuing on all approaches” and safety concerns around the crossing facilities.
The extra lanes and footbridge should be ready by spring 2028 if approval is given.
The cost of the project is estimated at between £7.4million and £12.1million, paid for by grants, with the expected cost just under £10million.
Once work has begun, attention is likely to turn to the next proposed scheme which will be for the neighbouring Wragby Road roundabout in Lincoln.
Mr Edwards said: “You can never eliminate traffic, you only redistribute it.
“Riseholme roundabout improvements moved some of the issues to Nettleham – hence why we’re doing it now – and we expect this will move some of the issues to Wragby Road.
“We’re preparing a similar scheme for there which will improve the size of the roundabout and eliminate congestion problems there too.”
A meeting in July will seek funding to begin designing the project, which Mr Edwards said would be three or four years away.
Our three interesting facts for today ....
On the set of JAWS, the shark was nicknamed Bruce after Steven Spielberg's lawyer
The first crime prosecuted using fingerprint evidence was the theft of some billiard balls
Between 1935 and 1937, Wisconsin law required all restaurant meals to be served with free cheese
New Visit East Midlands tourism awards to celebrate the region’s best visitor experiences
Businesses across the East Midlands are encouraged to enter the Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards, which brings together two established tourism awards programmes under a single East Midlands identity, celebrating the people and organisations which make the region a great place to visit.
Applications for the Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards open on 15 June, with winners announced at a regional awards ceremony in March 2027.
The awards will recognise excellence across tourism, hospitality, accommodation, attractions, food and drink, experiences and accessible tourism. They are part of a new regional approach to promoting the East Midlands as a destination and celebrating the businesses and individuals who help visitors enjoy everything the region has to offer.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “The East Midlands has an incredible tourism offer, from our vibrant cities and market towns to our heritage, culture and stunning landscapes. The businesses and people working in the visitor economy make a huge contribution to our region and deserve to be recognised for the role they play in attracting visitors and supporting local jobs.
“Tourism brings investment into our communities, supports businesses of all sizes and helps create places where people want to live, work and visit. These awards will help shine a spotlight on the outstanding businesses that are driving the visitor economy forward and contributing to the region’s growth.”
The Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards are the first to bring the region’s tourism awards together under a single East Midlands banner.
Working alongside the East Midlands' accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships - Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby and Visit Nottinghamshire - the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is supporting a joined-up approach to raise the profile of tourism businesses across the region and showcase their achievements on a larger stage.
The new programme will include one regional awards event, helping to highlight the quality and variety of visitor experiences available across the East Midlands.
Mayor Claire said:
“Bringing our tourism awards together under one East Midlands banner is an important step forward."
Tourism attracts about 76 million visits to the East Midlands each year, supporting businesses and communities from bustling city centres to rural destinations.
From city attractions and cultural venues to independent cafés, restaurants, hotels and countryside destinations, visitors contribute to communities across the region and help support local businesses.
The Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards will celebrate the people, businesses and organisations that help create memorable experiences for visitors while showcasing the breadth and quality of the region’s tourism offer.
Megan Powell Vreeswijk, chief executive officer of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire including Visit Nottinghamshire, said:
“The launch of the Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen collaboration across the region while continuing to celebrate the unique strengths of our individual destinations. As part of this new approach, the Nottinghamshire awards will evolve to become the Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards - Nottinghamshire, providing a stronger regional identity, while maintaining a dedicated platform to recognise excellence across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
“Importantly, the awards will continue to operate independently at a local level, ensuring businesses from across our city and county can gain recognition for their achievements and progress through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
“Tourism is a vital part of Nottinghamshire’s economy, contributing £2.53 billion annually and supporting more than 22,500 jobs. Nottinghamshire is known for producing national finalists and winners and we look forward to continuing to champion the outstanding tourism, hospitality and visitor economy businesses that help make our destination such a special place to visit.”
Jo Dilley, Visit Peak District & Derbyshire managing director, said: “The Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards have a proud track record of recognising and celebrating the businesses, organisations and individuals that make our destination such a special place to visit. The new Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards - Derbyshire build on that success, ensuring Derbyshire continues to have its own dedicated awards programme while benefiting from greater regional visibility and collaboration.
“Our visitor economy is home to world-class accommodation providers, attractions, restaurants, experiences and tourism professionals. These awards are an opportunity to showcase that excellence, celebrate achievement and inspire businesses to continue raising standards for visitors. We encourage businesses of all sizes to enter and take advantage of the recognition, profile and opportunities that the awards can bring.”
Businesses taking part will also have the chance to progress to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, providing further recognition for outstanding tourism businesses from across the East Midlands.
Further information about award categories, eligibility criteria and how to enter will be available from 15 June 2026.
Visit Nottinghamshire:
https://www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk/nottinghamshire-tourism-awards
Visit Peak District & Derbyshire:
https://visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/events/category/tourism-awards
Win tickets to see Beyond Van Gogh or Beyond Monet
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Lloyds Bank Announces Closure of Worksop Branch
Lloyds Bank has confirmed that its Worksop branch on Bridge Street will close on 11 November 2026, citing significant changes in customer banking habits, with more people now choosing to bank online, via mobile apps, or over the phone.
The closure will affect the branch at 65 Bridge Street, although customers will continue to have access to banking services through alternative channels, including online banking, the Lloyds mobile app, local Post Office services, and the nearby Halifax branch on Bridge Street.
According to Lloyds, around 550 customers regularly use the branch each month, with many already using other branches, digital banking services, or the Post Office for their banking needs.
The bank says it has assessed the impact on customers, including access to cash and transport links, and has worked with LINK to review local cash access arrangements before making the decision.
The announcement marks another change for the high street banking landscape, as financial services continue to shift towards digital channels. Residents and businesses who rely on in-person banking are encouraged to review the alternative services available ahead of the closure.
The full branch address is: 65 Bridge Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 1DH
Leader's Column 12/06/2026
Cllr Julie Leigh, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council:
Plans for a new Police Station in the heart of Worksop were announced last week by myself, Gary Godden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, alongside Bassetlaw MP Jo White.
This is an exciting opportunity for our town and the wider district, and one that has been in development behind the scenes for some time. Subject to endorsement by the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, discussions will move forward to transfer ownership of 73 Bridge Street to the Police and Crime Commissioner, who is responsible for Nottinghamshire Police’s estate.
The proposal would see Nottinghamshire Police relocate from Queen’s Buildings and establish a new front-counter service and operational facilities in the town centre. This would support our shared ambition to enhance policing, improve accessibility and visibility, and play an important role in creating a safer, more vibrant town centre for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
Looking ahead, we are preparing to create a new Local Plan for Bassetlaw. This plan will help to ensure future growth is carefully managed, supported by the infrastructure and services our communities need, while protecting our environment and making the most of the once-in-a-generation opportunities presented by the Trent Valley Supercluster.
Although our current Local Plan was only adopted in 2024, it will need to be reviewed by 2028-29. Beginning work now means we can have a new plan ready at the right time, providing certainty for residents and helping to guard against speculative development.
As these early stages progress, we will set out a clear timetable so residents know exactly when and how they can have their say. I look forward to sharing further details on how local people can get involved in the months ahead.
Finally, I was delighted to visit the Priory Centre site last week and see first-hand the excellent progress being made on this transformational development.
If you haven’t been into Worksop town centre recently, the change is already remarkable. With part of the old building now demolished and construction preparations well underway, the scale of the project is becoming clear. It is exciting to see the foundations being laid for a new destination that will bring modern leisure and entertainment facilities back to the heart of our town.
Work is also progressing at pace on the new bridge that will span the Chesterfield Canal and connect the Priory Centre with Dock Road, improving access and helping to unlock the full potential of the site.
We will continue to keep residents updated on this and other major projects through our website and social media channels as we work together to deliver a stronger, safer and more prosperous future for Bassetlaw.
Two weeks to go until Rural and Wildlife Crime Showcase
Families, farmers, and members of Nottinghamshire’s countryside communities are invited to the fifth annual rural showcase.
The event aims to promote all the work being done to tackle rural and wildlife crime and demonstrate the effectiveness of partnership working.
Visitors of all ages can get a first-hand look at the equipment used to keep communities safe from the drone and off-road bikes team.
The showcase will be held at Rufford Abbey Country Park, near Newark, between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 27 June.
Officers from Nottinghamshire Police's heritage crime team will be on hand, and there's the opportunity to meet one of the force's police dogs.
Visitors will also get the chance to chat with the Criminal Scene Investigation (CSI) department to get an insight into how they investigate wildlife crime.
This year the event will feature even more partner organisations, including the RSPCA, Environment Agency, Via's Rights of Way team, and the British Horse Society.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service will be in attendance with one of their fire engines for guests to climb aboard.
Attendees are encouraged to chat with Bransby Horses about equine welfare, as well as the force's wildlife crime officers to discuss all the work they do to protect local wildlife.
The park’s café and facilities will be available during the showcase in the scenic surroundings of the park. All day parking will cost £7.
Rural and Wildlife Crime Partnerships Manager Juliet Marshall said:
“This showcase is all about us showing the hard work being done by the force alongside our partners to protect our rural communities.
“It also gives the public the perfect opportunity to interact with officers and discuss issues that matter to them.
“We have a lot of fun activities planned and ways for everyone to get involved to show you how we’re listening and tackling the crime that matters to you.
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
P.S. Your feedback about this newsletter is important to me. You can email me your feedback to news@bassettlawtoday.co.uk
