Wednesday 10th ....... Your Bassetlaw Today Newsletter

Good morning readers, its Wednesday already and what a packed newsletter we have for you today - time to grab a cuppa and a chocolate digestive.

Canine super heroes, strategy launched to cut littering, our NEW regular opinion piece from Jo White, MP ... and 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 - if you've subscribed you're in the hat.

Todays thought for the day ... "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassem

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 here if you haven't already and remember to send our newsletter to anyone that you think may be interested in 100% FREE local news without an advert to be seen.

Meet the canine heroes Ginny and Barney

Earlier this week, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service took their Fire Investigation dogs Ginny and Barney and put them through their paces at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground

The duo carried out specialist training to detect accelerants within a stadium environment, helping ensure they’re ready to respond in complex, real-world settings.A massive thanks to Ginny, Barney, their handlers and all at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service for keeping us and our communities safe

Edwinstowe Fraudster who exploited man in her care sentenced

A fraudster who exploited a vulnerable man in her care by stealing his money for their own gain has been sentenced.

The victim, who has now passed away, was first made aware of the deceit when he began to receive letters from his energy provider and the local council following failed payments.

Nottinghamshire Police then launched an investigation that included a senior carer responsible for shopping on behalf of him.

Detectives uncovered that at least £20,000 had been taken between January 2019 and June 2021 without the man's consent. The stolen money was spent for the perpetrators own gain, including on their car insurance, fuel, and other miscellaneous items.

This deception left the victim - who was in his 70s at the time - in a precarious financial position.

In fact, once his bank account had been emptied, he had to rely on foodbanks to receive food.

When interviewed by detectives, the former carer claimed they had a good relationship with the victim and was given permission to use his money for the purchases.

This was soon disputed by him though, as access to his bank account was only provided so essential shopping and occasional cash withdrawals could be carried out.

The perpetrator from Edwinstowe, eventually went on to plead guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (5 June), a 15-month jail sentence was handed down, suspended for two years.

The perpetrator is also required to participate in mental health treatment for 12 months.

Detective Constable Akil Kapasi, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said:

"When you are responsible for someone's care, you are entrusted with their physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing because they are unable to manage these things themselves.

"Faced with undeniable evidence, the perpetrator had no choice but to eventually plead guilty.

"Sadly, the victim passed away before he was able to see justice served.

"However, I hope this sends a clear message to offenders that we will do everything in our power to ensure that they are put before the courts."

Mansfield Town FC to take on Retford United FC

In the same week that Mansfield Town Football Club has launched it's new 26/27 kit it has confirmed it's pre-season schedule (to-date) ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

And yes the Stags are taking on the Badgers at Cannon Park on Tuesday July 14 @ 7.00pm

New ‘Binfrastructure’ Strategy aims to cut littering

Bassetlaw District Council is looking at further ways to keep the district clean, attractive and welcoming for residents, businesses and visitors.

As part of a new ‘Binfrastructure Strategy’ the council is targeting littering and how to prevent it, through education, community engagement and enforcement and to make sure people are properly disposing of their waste.

It also includes plans to make sure the right bin is in the right place for the right reason, ensuring they are well located, accessible and fit for purpose.

Cllr Darrell Pulk said:

“We know clean public spaces are fundamental to community pride, wellbeing and how safe people feel in their neighbourhoods.

“This strategy provides a clear approach on further ways to keep the district clean, attractive and welcoming through education, engagement, infrastructure, review and enforcement.”

Under the strategy, the anti-littering messaging will be strengthened to highlight the impact it has and everyone’s role in preventing it, while volunteers, community groups and businesses will be supported to take pride in their local areas and play an active role in keeping them clean.

A review of all litter bins to assess their usage, condition and location will also take place with plans to investigate the option of smart bins in key locations including technology signaling when they need to be emptied.

Finally, the council will continue its zero-tolerance approach on littering, flytipping and dog fouling making full use of enforcement powers such as fixed penalty notices and prosecutions where appropriate.

The ‘Binfrastructure’ Strategy has been backed by Cabinet members at a meeting held on Tuesday 2^nd June 2026 and will now go to Full Council on Thursday 18^th June 2026 for final approval.

Our three interesting facts for today ....

Houses on streets with rude names are cheaper

Frederick William of Prussia decreed that anyone refusing to plant potatoes would have their noses and ears cut off

People with 'autotopagnosia' literally cannot tell their arse from their elbow

New Police Station Is a Win for Worksop, But We Must Go Further

For too long, people have told me they want to see more police on our streets. You have told me you want officers who are visible and part of daily life in Worksop. Not hidden away, but an active presence in the town centre, where people can see them and speak to them.

That is why I welcome the plans for a new police station on Bridge Street. It will put policing back in the heart of the town. It gives shoppers, visitors, businesses and residents more confidence that the police are on hand to keep the town centre safe.

The plan is for Nottinghamshire Police to move from their current base inside Queen’s Buildings to Bridge Street. Bassetlaw District Council has agreed to transfer the building to the police. There is still a process to follow, but this is a major step in the right direction.

I want to be absolutely clear that this new police station will not come at the expense of policing in Retford, Harworth, or anywhere else in Bassetlaw. This is not about creating one single police station for the whole district.

Before the general election, I met with Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden. We agreed then that a stronger police presence would be a joint priority. I am pleased that this commitment is now moving forward.

We should also be honest about how we got here.

Over many years, local policing and justice in Bassetlaw has been hollowed out. The closure of custody cells in Worksop was a travesty. It meant people arrested locally have to be transported to Mansfield instead. I have heard first-hand from local police officers about the time this takes out of their day. An arrest can mean officers spending valuable time travelling to and from Mansfield, when that time could be better spent responding to crime and supporting residents here in Bassetlaw.

The loss of Worksop Magistrates’ Court created the circumstances for the prison cell closure because the costs of running them were shared with the police.

These decisions did not happen by accident. They followed years of cuts and a policy that expected towns like ours to make do with less. The result has been that important public services were taken further away from the people who rely on them.

The new police station is a chance to turn the page. It will not fix everything on its own. But it is a clear sign that Worksop is being listened to again.

Re-instating custody cell provision in Worksop remains a key campaign priority for me. I will continue to demand that we get this investment.

When someone is arrested in Bassetlaw, there must be the appropriate provision here in our area.

This new station is very welcome. It is progress. But it must be the start, not the end.

Win tickets to see Beyond Van Gogh or Beyond Monet

Bill Elms at Beyond Van Gogh Credit: Andy Teebay

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/ .

New £107 million investment plan to accelerate growth in the East Midlands

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has announced a new investment plan that will make £107 million funding available to drive inclusive growth across the region.

The Local Growth Fund – approved at the latest EMCCA Board meeting on June 8, 2026 – will provide investment for programmes focused on business growth, employment and skills, infrastructure, regeneration, innovation, and community resilience from 2026-30.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:

“This £107m investment plan is a major opportunity to accelerate delivery of our Local Growth Plan and ensure the East Midlands is a region where people and businesses can thrive.

“We are investing in the skills people need to access good jobs, supporting businesses to innovate and grow, unlocking regeneration opportunities, and creating stronger, more vibrant communities.

“Our approach is focused on inclusive growth, ensuring that every part of the region benefits from investment, opportunity, and renewed confidence in the future of the East Midlands.”

The Local Growth Fund will support five key areas:

Developing skills and employment opportunities
About £17m will be invested into an “Opportunity Escalator” programme to support people into work, help young people connect to training and employment pathways, and work with employers to develop a more productive and inclusive workforce. This builds on significant existing regional investment in skills and employment support programmes.

Supporting local businesses
£21m will accelerate business growth and investment through an expanded regional business support offer, a new Business Investment Fund to stimulate private sector investment, and assist SMEs with energy resilience and targeted support for the visitor economy, including cultural and sporting assets and destination marketing.

Driving innovation in advanced manufacturing and clean energy
£12m is committed to cluster development and innovation, helping strengthen the East Midlands’ high-value sectors. Funding will drive innovation programmes, business acceleration, mentoring, commercialisation activity, and the development of regional supply chains and skills opportunities.

Unlocking strategic sites for regeneration
£32m will be used to unlock key sites for housing, regeneration, and employment growth. Investment will support land remediation, infrastructure improvements, flood mitigation, energy and utilities provision, and regeneration finance to accelerate delivery and attract further private sector investment.

Helping our communities to thrive
£20m will be invested into “Thriving Places” initiatives, including digital connectivity, local centre regeneration, rural development, community energy projects, and programmes to strengthen community resilience.

The Local Growth Fund complements EMCCA’s wider investment portfolio, including major transport investment, housing and regeneration funding, support for the East Midlands Investment Zone, and community development programmes already underway across the region.

The delivery of the Local Growth Fund supports the East Midlands Growth Plan and is aligned with Mayor Claire’s priorities to boost productivity, support businesses, create better jobs, and ensure communities across the region benefit from long-term economic growth.

The East Midlands Growth Plan is a 10-year strategy built around three core pillars: enabling growth, maximising high impact sectors, and creating thriving places. Delivery of the East Midlands Growth Plan will mean:

60,000+ more people in work;
210,000 more people with skilled qualifications;
100,000+ new homes built;
£13 billion added to the economy;
1GW additional clean community energy generation.

Further details on delivery and allocations to each project will be announced as implementation of the Local Growth Fund progresses.

Worksop Town FC have published their pre-season schedule ahead of the forthcoming 26/27 season and what an offering it is.

Included are matches against Retford FC and a Barnsley XI however the one we are looking forward to is on August 1 at 3.00pm as the the Tigers, a Step 2 side take on the mighty Blades - Sheffield United at The Windsor Foodservice Stadium on Babbage Way.

Whatever your team get along and support non-league football

Faith school transport scheme consultation still open

A consultation into the future of Nottinghamshire County Council’s discretionary faith transport scheme is still open for everyone to have their say.

The consultation, which closes on 12 June, comes as part of a review into the county council’s discretionary scheme which offers a discounted travel pass for pupils attending a school on the grounds of faith where statutory low-income eligibility does not apply.

The scheme also offers free travel for primary aged children eligible for free school meals where the chosen faith school is between two and 20 miles from home, extended free travel for secondary‑age pupils eligible for free school meals where the chosen faith school is up to 25 miles away from home and a large family concession where families attending the nearest suitable denominational school pay for only the two youngest children.

The review forms part of the council’s wider efforts to address significant financial challenges to ensure essential services can be protected whilst balancing the budget. Last year, the discretionary scheme cost approximately £1.25 million with families contributing 20% towards the cost and the council covering the remaining £1 million.

The scheme currently benefits children across 15 faith schools, 10 of which are in Nottinghamshire with the remaining five schools in Nottingham City, Derbyshire and Doncaster.

Primary schools affected include: St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary School, West Bridgford; Good Shepherd Primary Catholic Voluntary Academy, Woodthorpe; St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, Mansfield; English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Long Eaton; and Burntstump Seely Infant School, Arnold.

Secondary schools affected include: Christ the King Catholic Voluntary Academy, Arnold; The Trinity Catholic School, Aspley; The Becket Catholic School, West Bridgford; All Saints Catholic Voluntary Academy, Mansfield; St John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy, Ilkeston; The McAuley Catholic High School, Doncaster; The National Church of England Academy, Hucknall; The Bluecoat Church of England Academy, Aspley; Emmanuel School, West Bridgford; and The Minster School, Southwell.

Nottinghamshire County Council is one of the only councils locally to still offer a discretionary faith transport scheme with similar schemes in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire no longer offered.

The county council’s consultation sets out four options which are under consideration after engagement with local Catholic and Anglican diocese and school leaders.

Options include maintaining the policy in its current form, removing the scheme from September 2027, removing the scheme from September 2031 or increasing the parental contribution towards the scheme.

Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “There is just under a week left to give views as part of our consultation and we’re keen to hear from as many people as possible to help us shape the future of the scheme.

“We’re incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with the faith community and highly value the education they provide to families across Nottinghamshire. While it’s never easy to review valued services such as our discretionary faith transport scheme, our aim is to ensure we safeguard what matters most for everyone.

“We are facing significant financial pressures across all services, and we are undertaking this review of the discretionary faith-based school travel as part of our efforts to address these financial pressures and deliver a balanced budget.

“I’d like to reassure everyone that this review only covers our discretionary faith transport offer and that it doesn’t affect our statutory home-to-school transport offer.”

To find out more about the options and have your say visit the county council’s website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/faithschooltransport

World Cup 2026: Football Experts to emerge from Hibernation

This is an AI created image and is in no way intended to represent any individual, past or present.

For three years and eleven months a breed of people lie dormant ... they have no detectable interest in football but then in true Lazarus style they emerge - in workplaces, pubs, the gym, on buses ...... football experts are everywhere!

These experts suddenly think they know about every team, the strength of each squad, what systems they should play in different matches, why a team deserves to be there, the colour of the ball, half time entertainment, water breaks, new rules, the list is endless.

We are about to watch the second world cup ever in the USA, the first since 1994 when Brazil won on penalties. 24 teams competed in 1994 however over the last 32 years FIFA have created a monster competition that now has 48 teams, being played over three countries with over 100 matches to be played. Running from Jun 11, 2026 to Jul 19, 2026 the re-awakened football expert truly has their work cut out for them in 2026.

Sweepstakes now require two or three teams per person in normal size offices, wall charts take over whole walls and the football expert is quietly telling someone that Cape Verde have an outside chance at 2500/1.

This year the football expert will also be an expert on world events and talking politics, wondering why referees are not being allowed into the USA and seriously thinking that Donald will get a run out for the USA.

Genuine football fans who suffer the pain of watching their team every week, pay for their dodgy fire sticks, pay for over priced shirts and suffer with VAR now have to endure the World Cup football expert at every turn.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel .... like the majority of contagions, these football experts will return to their hibernation by the end of July while the true supporter dreams of league success for their local team in 2027/27 and laments being one of the 47 teams to return home without the 18 Karat gold (exterior), 36 cm high, 6.142kg FIFA World Cup Trophy.

But maybe, just maybe ........ 2030 in Morocco, Portugal and Spain will be the one.

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 R.

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

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.

We want to be open with you about these conversations so you’re aware that a fee may need to be introduced in the future. If that happens, we hope you’ll continue to stand with us and support the publication.

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

Justin Doddy, Editor