Derby Telegraph
Elderly couple found dead as suspected gas leak probed
THE bodies of a man and a woman have been discovered at their Derbyshire home after a suspected gas leak. Police confirmed that a married couple – a man aged 89 and a woman aged 90 – were found dead in their house on Friday morning. “Officers were...
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Community hails binman Nathan for making ‘real difference’
A CITY binman has been praised for going “above and beyond” to help residents in his community. Nathan Johnson started working for Derby City Council 11 years ago, and is now inspiring hundreds of people as his dayto-day work now stretches far beyond...
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Driver Tasered as police chase across city ends in crash
A CAR chase across the city yesterday ended in a crash before the driver was Tasered and arrested. Manor Road was closed for around five hours following the morning incident.
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Sex offender with 121 victims could be handed a life sentence
“A LIFE sentence is not out of the question” for one of Derby’s worst sex offenders, who admitted carrying out crimes against 121 young victims. Court heard how Siah Riley created a fake internet profile, posing as a teenage boy and persuaded his...
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City and bus firm meet over ‘terrible service’ complaints
THE City Council have held talks with bus company Arriva over the state of the city’s roads in the wake of complaints of “terrible service” on the buses. A meeting between bosses of the bus firm and councillors looked for improvements after concerns...
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39 new city homes to be built despite land dispute
DOZENS of new city homes have been given the go-ahead despite a dispute over whether the land they would be built on is designated public space. Urban Investments Nottingham Ltd has been granted permission to build 39 homes on green land off Lavinia...
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Man dies after entering into floodwater in police chase
A MAN died after he entered a flooded brook during a police chase in a Derbyshire village. Officers had been pursuing a vehicle towing a caravan that was believed to have been stolen from Oakerthorpe, near Alfreton, in the early hours of...
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One word is crucial for future of city building
CONCERNS were raised during a 40-minute discussion over the change of one word amid fears that demolishing Derby’s Assembly Rooms could leave the city with a huge hole.
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Operation to ‘clear’ city of serious crime sees more than 50 arrested
A JOINT project between Derbyshire police and Derby City Council working to uproot gangs and criminals from a crime-hit corner of the city has seen more than 50 arrests over the past four months. Project Flex, an 18-month operation which began in...
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Resident on gas explosion street not sure if she’ll ever go home
A RESIDENT of a street where an explosion destroyed three houses eight months ago says she is still suffering the consequences. Last June, a gas explosion in a terraced property on Eden Street, Alvaston, shocked a Derby community to its core. Paul...
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Jail for boss of home where gran died after fall
DERBY care home manager Lindsey Foster, who told staff to lie about a grandmother’s fall from an unsecured wheelchair, has been jailed. Shirley Froggett, 84, never recovered from her injuries and died of pneumonia in 2018.
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Work on new city bridge could still be 3 years away
WORK on a new bridge at Darley Abbey Mills might not start until 2029. Derby City Council says new plans being drawn up “lay the groundwork for restoring crucial access” and are a “major milestone in the project”.
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Former PCC quits Tories
CITY residents will face £70 fines for leaving their bins out when a trial held last year is rolled out across the whole of Derby. The council is preparing an enforcement programme from April to help keep streets clean.
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Life of peacemaker Liam ‘needlessly taken by people who behaved like savages’
A TEENAGER killed while trying to stop a fight was “needlessly taken by people who behaved like savages”. Liam Derrett was punched by Kai Donachie and Joshua Harris in Ilkeston Market Place last June, the latter causing him to fall and hit his...
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No work on horizon for ‘hazardous’ roundabout
CALLS have been made for an urgent investigation into a busy Derby roundabout, which has been described as “unsafe” and “no longer fit for its traffic level”. Safety concerns have been raised for both motorists and pedestrians at Palm Court Island on...
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Hippodrome owner in talks with council over ‘way forward’
What remains of the Hippodrome in Derby THE owner of Derby’s former Hippodrome theatre says he is hopeful that a solution can be found soon for the building. Christopher Anthony, who has owned the building since 2007 when he bought it for £375,000,...
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£2.40
COUNCIL tax will rise to fund the police and crime commissioner, despite the role being labelled a “failed experiment” and set to be scrapped. The East Midlands mayor says there is strong support for a £1.25 monthly increase to protect policing...
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Man admits to causing explosion that wrecked homes
A 57-year-old man has admitted causing an explosion that destroyed homes in Eden Street, Alvaston. Paul Solway pleaded guilty to six counts of damaging property and being reckless as to whether life was endangered at Derby Crown Court. Paul Solway...
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Clarity plea as ‘best’ city pub now ‘in middle of building site’
THE landlord of Derby’s reigning ‘best pub’ has revealed his frustration at relentless and disruptive roadworks affecting his business. Martin Roper fears that the Exeter Arms being in “the middle of a building site” will continue to affect trade if...
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Guildhall Theatre opening delayed beyond 2027
THE reopening of the Guildhall Theatre in Derby can no longer take place in 2027, the city council has announced. It was hoped that renovation of the Grade II-listed venue would allow its doors to open again late next year. The theatre closed seven...
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Teen jailed for 10 years after driving ‘like an idiot’ and killing friend
A TEENAGE driver killed one passenger and left another with multiple fractures in a head-on crash in Derby. A court heard how Kiran Hanson was “driving like an idiot” before losing control of his car, ending the life of 22-year-old Benn...
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Vital work to pave way for reopening of the Guildhall in city
WORK which would pave the way for the restoration and reopening of Derby’s Guildhall Theatre has been approved. Seven years after it shut, a £25million revival of the Grade II-listed building has taken a significant step forward. The venue closed in...
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10 years of helping city to battle addiction
JAZ Rai is marking the 10-year anniversary of his charity helping recovering alcoholics. The Rolls-Royce worker used to drink “a bottle of vodka a day” before setting up the Sikh Recovery Network.
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Woman is accused of murdering and burying her partner
A WOMAN who allegedly murdered, dismembered and buried her partner then “got on with her life as though nothing had happened” for 15 years while the body remained undiscovered, a jury has been told. The opening day of the trial of Anna Podedworna...
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Council hits back at market critics after 51,000 Christmas visitors
DERBY City Council has responded to claims that footfall at the new Market Hall was “dropping off a cliff” by revealing that 51,000 people visited last month. December and the city’s Christmas lights switch-on was hailed a success following its move...
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MP slams ‘unfair’ airport parking
FULL demolition of the Showcase cinema site has been approved – with Burger King, Starbucks and Greggs to take its place. The building has been left half bulldozed in recent years.
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City apology over storm preparation
DERBY City Council leader Nadine Peatfield has apologised for the authority’s failures in dealing with Storm Goretti. Councillor Peatfield said she was told the city’s grit bins had been replenished ahead of the snowstorm – but some were not. But,...
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City council is ‘leading the way’ on AI as it saves £12m
THE use of artificial intelligence (AI) has saved Derby City Council at least £12 million and removed the need to fill 100 vacant roles, officials have said. The authority says it is now exploring further ways in which it can use AI. Chief executive...
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No action on city asylum hotels in breach of regulations
CITY hotels housing asylum seekers are in breach of planning regulations. But the council said enforcement on the Midland and Station hotels, near the station, is “not considered appropriate given the level of harm”.
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FREE£2 SHOP BET WITH William HILL
AN area of the city centre currently used as a car park will create a vital shortcut – and become a “cultural food and drinks hub” after plans were approved. The St James Yard development will establish a pedestrian link between Sadler Gate and St...
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Burglary gang jailed for raids totalling £1m
George Lleshaj Krisjian Dedndreaj Kristian Gropcaj A GANG of burglars has been brought to justice after a series of high-value burglaries across the East Midlands and the UK. Five men stole belongings worth over £1million and pleaded guilty to...
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Traders tell of misery over Christmas ‘ghost town’
TRADERS on what would normally be one of Derby’s busiest streets claim it has become a “ghost town” after seeing a huge fall in trade over Christmas. Many are blaming the closure of a Derbion entrance at one end of Albion Street. The entrance was...
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Hippodrome: Council ‘looking to make it safe, not demolition’
A REPORT into the Derby Hippodrome building commissioned by its owners recommends more demolition because it claims it is “imminently dangerous”. The claims have been denied by the city council, which says its own report has come out very...
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New fears over demolition change for Assembly Rooms
A PLANNING application that would allow the Assembly Rooms to be demolished without a clear plan to replace it has raised concerns. Councillors and heritage experts have expressed fears that an application to vary the details of a condition weakens...
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College plans extension to cope with student boom
DERBY College wants to build an extension to cope with increased demand for its courses. It says it is needed to house courses in brickwork, joinery, plastering and plumbing for pre-16 and post-16 students and apprentices.
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Could 2026 see work finally start on city ‘carbuncle’?
A SITE once referred to as “the carbuncle of the city” could finally be developed in 2026, nearly 30 years after it was vacated. Duckworth Square has improved in the past couple of years, thanks to the development of the Vaillant Live arena and the...
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Tenants facing rent rises to pay for new council homes
THOUSANDS of council homes are set to be built in Derby but rents are set to rise for many tenants to help pay for them. The city’s ruling councillors are set to approve “an ambitious new plan to reverse trends of declining housing stock”. But people...
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key city projects in pipeline for 2026
DERBY City Council will hope to build on the projects it completed this year with more in 2026. Ten key projects could shape the future of the city next year, with the likes of restoring the Guildhall Theatre, as well as work on Darley Abbey...
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While our city centre is facing struggles, Normanton thrives ...what’s the secret?
DERBY city centre has been urged to take inspiration from the thriving streets around Normanton Road. Councillor and former Derbyshire police and crime commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa, who knows the area well, says it is full of independent businesses,...
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Security is called in for council workers removing city flags
SECURITY guards have been appointed in Derby to protect workers removing England and Union Flags after they were subjected to “threatening behaviour”. Derby City Council says it has used third-party security because of “threats towards contractors...
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Free climber felt ill before Spanish bridge fall death
AN experienced ‘rooftopper’ began feeling unwell before falling to his death when climbing Spain’s highest bridge. Lewis Stevenson was scaling the 630ft-high Castilla La Mancha in Talavera de la Reina when the fatal fall happened on Sunday, October...
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Could this radical idea help save our green spaces?
A DEVELOPER has come up with a radical idea to build new homes and help preserve Derby’s green spaces at the same time. Hugh Dennis, managing director of the Little Ships company and who is also behind the housing development at the former Cotton Lane...
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City’s leader reveals she has received death threats
DERBY City Council’s leader has revealed that she has received death threats as she launched a new campaign against hate. Councillor Nadine Peatfield spoke out during the launch of “No Place for Hate in Derby”. She said the threats had left her...
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What now for Elvaston Castle?
AN attempt to sell Elvaston Castle estate has been unsuccessful and the estate is no longer being marketed for sale. Instead, conversations are under way to “restore this valuable heritage asset” for the “enjoyment of all residents”. In March this...
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Reform-run council looks set to spend millions – to save money
DERBYSHIRE County council is to spend £5 million on private companies to investigate how it can save millions of pounds, which could include job cuts. The Reform UK-run authority will hire consultants to assess potential changes which can be made to...
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‘Trouble’ at Mills fear for traders as key crossing is closed off
THE closure of a key footbridge has left dozens of businesses “massively concerned” at being cut off from customers. Derby City Council has closed Walter’s Walkway, the temporary pedestrian crossing over the Derwent which leads to Darley Abbey Mills,...
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City to miss its target on landmark demolition
DERBY City Council’s plans to demolish the long-closed Assembly Rooms have been delayed, casting doubt on the wider Market Place redevelopment. Although council leader Nadine Peatfield hoped demolition would begin by the end of 2025, it is now...
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More towers on way as city project is approved
A DERBY marketing expert is calling on companies to “take the gamble” on bringing more people into the industry by taking advantage of the Government’s decision to fully fund apprenticeships. Claire MacDonald, below, director of teaching and learning...
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Fraudster is jailed after using Covid money for shares
A DERBY businessman who spent Covid support scheme money on online trading platforms has been jailed. Temidola Ojelabi secured £80,000 from two Bounce Back Loan applications. Businesses were only entitled to a single loan.
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Redundancy is not on the cards as city eyes £26m investment
DERBY City Council is optimistic it will be able to protect essential services and invest around £26 million in the next financial year. The authority is hoping to get a better financial deal from the Government, to be announced next week under “fair...
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City road to be resurfaced for third time after errors
A CITY road will be closed and resurfaced for the third time in three years. Work on Chapel Street in Spondon will be done overnight as it has become a “sensitive issue” among residents.
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‘More pub closures inevitable’ as tax bills set to soar
A CITY landlord has warned that more pub closures are “bound to happen” as tax bills shoot up to unaffordable levels. The Brunswick Inn’s Alan Pickersgill sees a bleak future for several pubs across Derby, including his own – one of the city’s most...
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No return home for city evacuees
RESIDENTS faced spending a second night away from their homes yesterday as work continued to make sure the area was safe following a major incident in the city. Police were searching a house in Normanton yesterday afternoon as hundreds of residents...
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Controlled blast in city after 200 homes evacuated and two arrested
POLICE declared a major incident in Derby yesterday and more than 200 homes were evacuated as a precaution after two men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences. Police put an evacuation zone in place after carrying out a warrant acting on...
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Three more are convicted over violence at sporting event
THREE more men have been found guilty of being involved in a huge fight involving knives and guns in Derby. People were injured when violence broke out between two groups attending a kabbadi tournament in Alvaston in the summer of 2023. Now Boota...
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Councillors smell trouble as city seeks bidders for new food waste site
DERBY City Council is being urged to ensure a new food waste site will not lead bad smells and disruption. The city is seeking a contract with a firm “to provide a tipping location for food waste vehicles” ahead of a switch to weekly collections from...
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Lights out
MORE than 540 people have signed a petition opposing plans to install traffic lights at a busy junction which has been handed over to Derby City Council. It is now hoped a public consultation can take place to determine the future of a proposal to fit...
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Neighbours’ relief over future of ex-school site
NEIGHBOURS say they are relieved after the future of an unused patch of land that could be used for a Travellers site appears to have been resolved. The former Ivy School, off Osmaston Road and Bateman Road in Derby, could soon be used for new homes...
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City election ‘limbo’ as councils shake-up goes on
CONFUSION surrounds how the next local authority elections in Derby will work – with the current situation described as “a complete mess” by opponents. “No definitive answers” can be given on how the next elections in 2027 will be structured and there...
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New row over homes plan as Govt urged to step in ‘urgently’
THE Government has been urged to review a decision to allow more than 250 homes to be built on the edge of Derby. Spondon councillors Jonathan Smale, Chris Poulter and Nicola Roulstone have written to the Housing Secretary Steve Reed and called for...
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Fears of links to grooming gangs leave city on ‘tenterhooks’
A REVIEW looking at whether child sex offence cases or reports in Derbyshire could be linked to the national grooming gangs inquiry has left the city on “tenterhooks”. Derbyshire Constabulary has neither confirmed nor denied any local links to the...
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IT’S NOT FINE
A NEW traffic camera fiited on a busy city road is nothing more than “a cash cow designed to catch out legitimate drivers making honest mistakes”, councillors claim. The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera sits at the junctions of...
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New design revealed for old job centre
NEW designs have been revealed for a former job centre in Derby that has stood empty for eight years. The developer says it would be called “The Forest” and would incorporate vertical gardens running the height of the building, transforming its...
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Council not calling time on city HQ
DERBY’S Council House will be a frontrunner to be the home of a new council, says the city’s leader. Nadine Peatfield accepted there was “technically” uncertainty over the future of the city council’s HQ on Corporation Street as the authority could...
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City warned of ‘years of traffic chaos’ in protests
CAMPAIGNERS have warned long traffic queues at a city junction are “just a taste of what motorists may face” when major A38 upgrades start. The ‘Stop The A38 Expansion’ held a protest at the Five Lamps junction after a City Council project for road...
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Traveller site and 16 areas for new homes in future blueprint
DERBY City Council’s new draft local plan has identified land off Pride Parkway, Wilmorton, as a possible Gypsy and Traveller site. The site is one of many in the plan that have been identified for housing development over the next 18 years. It is at...
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DERBY REMEMBERS
PAST and present members of the armed forces joined with civic leaders and the people of Derby on Remembrance Sunday to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for our country. The city’s annual parade and the two-minute silence were both...
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Maternity services improve but concerns remain
MATERNITY services hospitals in Derby and Burton have improved but concerns for patient safety remain. In a new but significantly delayed inspection, the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care, rated services as...
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Plan could see at least 400 homes built next to A52
AT least 400 new homes could be built off the A52 in Derby. The development would be situated on land off Stoney Lane in Spondon. The plans are part of Derby City Council’s new draft local plan, which earmarks where new houses can be built in the...
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Extra patrols in city centre ‘are making a difference’
INCREASED public safety patrols in the city centre have left shoppers and businesses feeling safer. The city council said more public protection officers would be on the streets to reassure visitors following high-profile crimes including a fatal...
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